WO2012060477A1

WO2012060477A1 - Portable washing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2012060477A1
Application number: PCT/KR2010/007585
Authority: WO
Inventors: Roshy M. John
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2010-11-01
Filing date: 2010-11-01
Publication date: 2012-05-10
Also published as: KR101527040B1; KR20130073969A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable washing machine. The portable washing machine includes a washing robot (1) positioned in a holding space (R) which holds laundry and washing water, and a water supply unit (3) detachably provided to a water supply portion (F) which supplies the washing water to the holding space (R) for opening / closing the water supply portion (F). The washing robot (1) includes a body (11) and impellers (12) on opposite ends of the body (11), which is substantially cylindrical with projections (111) on an outside surface extending in the length direction. The body (11) further includes a drain hole (1413) to drain washing water out of the inside of the body (11).

Description

PORTABLE WASHING MACHINE

The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly, to a washing machine a user can carry.

In general, the washing machine is a general term of domestic appliances which can wash, dry, and wash and dry laundry.

Dirt is removed from the laundry by actions of washing water and detergent supplied to the washing machine, and the laundry is dried as moisture is removed from the laundry by a hot air supply unit mounted to the washing machine.

In the meantime, in related art washing machines, there are pulsating type washing machines and drum type washing machines.

The pulsating type washing machine washes the laundry by using friction between a water circulation and the laundry caused by rotation of a pulsator in a tub which holds the laundry.

The drum type washing machine is provided with a rotatable drum in the tub which holds the washing water, and washes the laundry, not only by friction between the laundry in the drum and the washing water in the tub caused by rotation of the drum, but also by repetitive lifting and dropping of the laundry.

Since the related art washing machines require the drum or the tub for holding certain amounts of the laundry and the washing water, the related art washing machines have a problem in that a user can not carry the washing machine.

To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a portable washing machine.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a portable washing machine includes a body for washing laundry while moving within a holding space which holds laundry and washing water, and a control unit for controlling the body such that the body can move within the holding space.

In this case, the portable washing machine can further include impellers rotatably provided to opposite ends of the body.

And, the portable washing machine can further include projections from an outside circumferential surface of the body for being brought into contact with the laundry held in the holding space.

And, the projections can be extensions in a length direction of the body.

In the meantime, the portable washing machine can further include a drain unit provided in the body for draining the washing water from the holding space to an outside of the holding space.

The drain unit can include a drain pipe provided to pass through the outside circumferential surface of the body for introduction of the washing water, and a drain pump for pressurizing the washing water introduced to the drain pipe.

And, the portable washing machine can further include a position sensor for sensing a position of the drain pipe with respect to a bottom surface of the holding space.

And, the control unit can change a position of the body with reference to a signal the position sensor provides thereto such that the drain pipe can be positioned at an angle at which the drain pipe can drain the washing water from the holding space to the outside of the holding space.

In the meantime, the portable washing machine can further include a communication unit provided in the body for enabling data transmission/reception to/from an external device.

And, the portable washing machine can further include a water supply unit detachably provided to the water supply portion which supplies the washing water to the holding space so as to be able to make data transmission/ reception to/from the communication unit.

In this case, the water supply unit can include a water supply unit body detachable from the water supply portion, a water supply unit communication unit provided to the water supply unit body for enabling data transmission/ reception to/from the communication unit, and a water supply valve provided to the water supply unit body for opening/closing the water supply portion selectively.

In the meantime, the water supply unit can further include an input unit for selecting a washing course, wherein the washing course can be defined as a pattern of the body moving within the holding space.

The portable washing machine can further include an entangling sensor provided in the body for sensing entangling of the impeller with the laundry in the holding space.

In this case, the entangling sensor senses a number of revolutions of the impeller for sensing the entangling of the laundry with the impeller.

And, the portable washing machine further can include a motor provided in the body for rotating the impeller, and the entangling sensor senses a change of an intensity of a current being supplied to the motor for sensing the entangling of the laundry with the impeller.

In the meantime, the portable washing machine can further include a water level sensor for sensing a water level of the washing water held in the holding space by introducing the washing water from the holding space to the body.

In this case, the body can further include a washing water introduction pipe provided for introducing the washing water from the holding space to the body, and the water level sensor can include floating means for floating in the washing water introduction pipe following a water level of the holding space, and sensing means fixed to an outside of the washing water introduction pipe for sensing movement of the floating means.

And, the portable washing machine can further include a contamination level sensor for measuring an extent of contamination of the washing water held in the holding space by introducing the washing water from the holding space to the body.

And, the body can further include a washing water introduction pipe provided to introduce the washing water from the holding space to the body, and the contamination level sensor includes light emitting means provided to an outside of the washing water introduction pipe, and light receiving means provided to the outside of the washing water introduction pipe for enabling to receive a light from the light emitting means.

The present invention has following advantageous effects.

The present invention can provide an effect of providing the portable washing machine.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portable washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate sections each showing a washing robot provided to the portable washing machine.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of power transmission means provided to the washing robot.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of the sensing unit provided to a washing robot.

FIG. 6 illustrates a block diagram of a washing robot provided to a portable washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a section of a water supply unit applicable to a portable washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a charging unit applicable to a portable washing machine of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A ~9D illustrate schematic views showing an operation process of the portable washing machine of the present invention.

Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

As far as there is no particular definition, all terms in the specification are the same with a general meaning of the term understood by persons skilled in this field of art, and, if the term used in the specification conflicts with the general meaning of the term, the meaning of the term used in the specification prevails.

In the meantime, a configuration or a control method of a device described hereinafter is provided only for describing embodiment(s) of the present invention, but not for limiting scope of patent rights of the present invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a portable washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the portable washing machine 100 includes a washing robot 1 positioned in a holding space R which holds laundry and washing water, and a water supply unit 3 detachably provided to a water supply portion F which supplies the washing water to the holding space R for opening/closing the water supply portion, selectively.

However, since the water supply unit 3 is configured to make automatic supply of the washing water, and enable to select a particular pattern from various washing patterns set to the washing robot 1, if the portable washing machine is configured to be such a type that the user supplies the washing water to the holding space R manually and inputs the washing pattern to the washing robot 1 directly, the water supply unit is not essential in the portable washing machine of the present invention.

That is, the portable washing machine of the present invention can only have the washing robot 1, or can have both the washing robot and the water supply unit.

Hereinafter, for convenience's sake, the present invention will be described with reference to the portable washing machine having the washing robot and the water supply unit provided thereto.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate sections each showing a washing robot provided to the portable washing machine, wherein the washing robot 1 includes a body 11 which forms an exterior of the washing robot 1, and

impellers

121 and 123 provided to opposite ends of the body.

The body 11 is cylindrical substantially, with projections 111 on an outside circumferential surface of the body extended in a length direction of the body. It is preferable that the projection 111 which is a portion of the washing robot 1 to be brought into contact with the laundry has a semicircular section as shown in FIG. 1 for preventing the laundry from damaging by the projection 111. In the meantime, it is preferable that the projections 111 are spaced a distance along the outside circumferential surface of the body 11 for providing a suction hole of a water drain pipe 141 (to be described later) in the space between the projections for making introduction of the washing water easy.

The impeller can include a first impeller 121 and a second impeller 123 rotatably provided to opposite ends of the body 11.

The first impeller 121 and the second impeller 123 receive rotation power from a driving unit 13 in the body 11, and the driving unit can include a first motor 131, a second motor 133, and power transmission means 135 for transmission of torques from the

motors

131 and 133 to the

impellers

121 and 123.

Though the power transmission means 135 can have a variety of configurations, an epicyclic gearing system disclosed in FIG. 4 can be an example. In this case, it is preferable that a rotation shaft of the first impeller 121 is connected to a ring gear 1357 through one side of the body 11, and a rotation shaft S of the first motor 131 is coupled to a sun gear 1351, and planetary gears 1353 connected with a carrier 1355 are provided between the ring gear and the sun gear. In this case, if the rotation shaft S of the first motor rotates while keeping the carrier 1355 stationary, the planetary gears will rotate (can not revolve along the ring gear). And, the ring gear coupled to the rotation shaft of the first impeller will be rotated by the rotation of the planetary gears. Therefore, the torque can be provided from the first motor to the first impeller.

Since the second impeller 123 and the second motor 133 are also coupled through the power transmission means 135 described above, description of the power transmission means which transmits the torque from the second motor to the second impeller will be omitted.

A drain unit 14 provided to the washing robot 1 will be descried with reference to FIG. 3. As shown in FIG. 3, the drain unit 14 includes a drain pipe 141 passed through the body 11, and a drain pump 143 for pressurizing the washing water introduced to the drain pipe.

That is, the body 11 has a suction hole 1411 and a drain hole 1413 in an outside circumferential surface for introduction/drainage of the washing water into/out of an inside of the body, the drain pipe 141 connects the suction hole and the drain hole passed through the inside of the body, and the drain pump 143 is in communication with the drain pipe 141 for draining the washing water introduced through the suction hole to the drain hole.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the suction hole and the drain hole are provided in the outside circumferential surface of the body 11 in a space between the projections 111. Since the body moves within the holding space by rotation of the impeller 12, if the suction hole or the drain hole is provided in the projection, the suction hole or the drain hole is liable to be blocked by a bottom surface of the holding space R or the laundry during the body moves within the holding space R. The blocking of the suction hole or the drain hole causes difficulty in circulation of the washing water from the holding space through the drain pipe at an initial stage of washing, and in draining the washing water from the holding space to an outside through the drain pipe at the time of finish of the washing.

Moreover, referring to FIG. 2, the washing robot 1 can further include a sensing unit 15 provided in the body 11 for collecting data required for washing.

The sensing unit 15 can include at least one of a water level sensor 153 for sensing a water level of the washing water supplied to the holding space R, a contamination level sensor 155 for sensing a level of contamination of the washing water in the holding space, an entangling sensor 157 for sensing entangling of the laundry with the

impellers

121 and 123 in the holding space R, and a position sensor 159 (not shown) for determining a position of the drain pipe 1411 with respect to the bottom surface of the holding space R. However, the present invention will be described with reference to the washing robot 1 which is provided with all of the foregoing sensors, and, in this case, it is preferable that the sensors are connected to a control unit 16 (See FIG. 5), electrically.

The water level sensor 153 and the contamination level sensor 155 can be provided to the washing water introduction pipe 151 in the body 11. Referring to FIG. 7, the washing water introduction pipe 151 has an inlet 1513 in the outside circumferential surface of the body 11 for introduction of the washing water from the holding space R to the body, and, it is preferable that the inlet 1513 is provided in the outside circumferential surface of the body having no projection 111 formed thereon.

In this case, the water level sensor 153 can include a floating means 1531 movably provided in the washing water introduction pipe 151, and sensing means 1533 for sensing movement of the floating means.

The floating means 1531 can be provided to move within the washing water introduction pipe 151 by a floating force. Once the washing water is supplied to the holding space R, the washing water will be introduced into the washing water introduction pipe through the inlet 1513, and the floating means in the washing water introduction pipe will be elevated to a height corresponding to a height of the washing water supplied to the holding space R by the floating force.

In this case, it is preferable that the sensing means 1533 can be a reed switch or a hall effect sensor for sensing movement of the floating means connected to the control unit 16 (See FIG. 6), electrically.

If the sensing means is the reed switch, it is preferable that the sensing means further includes a contact portion (not shown) provided in the washing water introduction pipe so as to be brought into contact with the floating means, and if the sensing means is the hall effect sensor, it is preferable that the floating means is further provided with a magnet.

It is preferable that the sensing means 1533 is provided in the washing water introduction pipe 151 at a position the same with a proper water level in the holding space R required for washing the laundry. That is, if the proper water level is a water level at which one half of the washing robot 1 is submerged, the sensing means will be provided at a position corresponding to a radius of the body 11 from the inlet 1513.

The control means 16 transmits a signal to a water supply unit control unit 36 (See FIG. 6) through a communication unit 17 (See FIG. 5) to close a water supply valve 331 (See FIG. 9) of the water supply unit 3, if the control unit 16 determines through the sensing means that the proper level of the washing water is supplied to the holding space R.

The contamination level sensor 155 is a means for detecting a contamination level of the washing water in the holding space R. Therefore, the washing robot enables to determine a time for replacing the washing water in middle of the washing laundry. Though there can be a variety of sensors for measuring the level of contamination of the washing water in the holding space R, the contamination level sensor 155 will be described taking a contamination level sensor having light emitting means and light receiving means as an example, hereafter.

The contamination level sensor 155 having the light emitting means 1551 and the light receiving means 1553 is provided to an outside of the washing water introduction pipe 151 preferably such that intensity of a light from the light emitting means can be sensed by the light receiving means. That is, the light emitting means and the light receiving means can be provided on an outside of the washing water introduction pipe opposite to each other, and in this case, it is preferable that the light emitting means and the light receiving means are connected to the control unit 16 in the washing robot 1.

The light receiving means 1553 is a means which can sense intensity of the light from the light emitting means 1551. Therefore, if contamination of the washing water in the holding space R is heavy, the washing water will contain much contaminant, and if the washing water contains much contaminant, since the intensity of the light the light receiving means senses is lower than a case the washing water contains little contaminant, the control unit 16 can determine the time of washing water replacement according to the intensity of the light the light receiving means senses.

In the meantime, if the replacement of the washing water in the holding space R is required, the control unit 16 drains the washing water from the holding space R to an outside of the holding space through the drain unit 14, and transmits a signal to a water supply unit communication unit 32 through the communication unit 17, and the control unit 36 of the water supply unit 3 opens the water supply valve 331 at the time the water supply unit communication unit 32 receives a washing water replacing signal, for supplying the washing water to the holding space R.

The entangling preventive means 157 will be described with reference to FIG. 2.

The washing robot 1 washes the laundry by a water flow in the holding space R and contact between the laundry and the projections 111 during the body 11 moves within the holding space by the impellers. Therefore, if the impellers 121 and the 123 of the washing robot 1 and the laundry entangle, since it is difficult to expect the washing with the washing robot, the entangling preventive means 157 can be provided for determining whether the

impellers

121 and 123 of the washing robot 1 and the laundry in the holding space R entangle or not.

The entangling preventive means 157 can be provided as means for sensing a change of a rotation speed or a number of revolutions of the first motor 131 and the second motor 133, or as means for sensing a change of a current supplied to the motors.

At first, entangling sensing means of an encoder type which can sense the change of the number of revolutions of the motor will be described as an example. The entangling sensing means of an encoder type can include a circular disk 1571 provided to a rear side of the first motor and the second motor so as to be rotatable the same with the rotation shaft of the motor, a plurality of slots 1573 passed through the circular disk along a circumference of the circular disk 1571, and light emitting means 1575 and light receiving means 1577 arranged opposite to the slot, wherein the light emitting means 1575 and the light receiving means 1577 are connected to the control unit 16 through a PCB, electrically.

In this case, the control unit 16 can determine whether the entangling of the laundry takes place or not with reference to a period of sensing of the light from the light emitting means by the light receiving means 1577. That is, if there is no entangling of the laundry, though the light receiving means will receive the light from the light emitting means at fixed periods, if the entangling of the laundry takes place, since the period in which the light receiving means receives the light from the light emitting means will become longer, the control unit 16 can determine the entangling of laundry by this.

In the meantime, in a case the entangling of the laundry is sensed by the change of the currents being supplied to the motor, the control unit 16 can serve as an entangling sensing means. Since loads on the first motor and the second motor increase if the entangling of the laundry takes place, currents to the motors will also increase. Therefore, only if the control unit 16 measures the currents to the first motor and the second motor periodically, the entangling of the laundry can be determined.

If the entangling preventive means 157 senses the entangling of the laundry, the control unit 16 of the washing robot can control the

motors

131 and 133 such that the

impellers

121 and 123 rotate in a rotation direction opposite to the rotation direction before the entangling of the laundry takes place, to resolve the entangling of the laundry.

Different from above, the control unit 16 can also give notice of the entangling of the laundry to the user through announcing means (not shown), such as a speaker, provided to the water supply unit 3 or an inside of the body 11 of the washing robot 1 if the entangling of the laundry takes place.

If the washing is finished, the washing robot 1 is required to drain the washing water from the holding space R to an outside of the holding space R through the drain unit 14. In order to drain the washing water to the outside of the holding space R as much as possible, it is preferable that the suction hole 1411 of the drain pipe 141 is directed to the bottom surface of the holding space. The position sensor (not shown) can give information so that the control unit 16 controls a position of the washing robot 1 to direct the suction hole 1411 to the bottom surface of the holding space R.

Though a variety of sensors can be applied as the position sensor as far as the senor can determine the position of the suction hole 1411, the position sensor will be described taking an accelerometer as an example.

The accelerometer provided as the position sensor 159 (See FIG. 5) is provided on the PCB for providing information on an extent of tilting of the body 11 or a position of the drain pipe 1411 to the control unit 16. Therefore, the control unit 16 can determine an angle q (See FIG. 9B) the drain pipe 141 and the bottom surface of the holding space R through the position sensor.

If it is intended to drain the washing water from the holding space, it is preferable that the control unit 16 controls the position of the washing robot 1 such that the angle q between the drain pipe 141 and the bottom surface of the holding space R is between 60° to 70°. This is because the draining of the washing water from the holding space R to the outside of the holding space R is easy (See FIG. 9D) when the drain pipe forms 60° to 70 with the bottom surface of the holding space R.

Moreover, the control unit 16 is required to determine whether the washing water is being drained from the holding space R or not through the water level sensor. If the suction hole 1411 of the drain pipe is blocked by the laundry or a foreign matter, the washing water can not be drained from the holding space even if the position of the drain pipe is proper.

Therefore, it is preferable that the control unit observes whether the water level is being reduced or not through the water level sensor. In this case, if the control unit determines that the water level is not being reduced, the control unit will control the impellers to change the position of the washing robot 1 so as to solve the above problem.

In the meantime, the washing robot 1 can further include a communication unit 17 which can make radio communication with the water supply unit communication unit 32 provided to the water supply unit 3.

Referring to FIG. 5, elements of the washing robot 1 are connected to the control unit 16. That is, the washing robot 1 has the control unit 16 provided in the body 11 which forms an exterior of the washing robot 1, and the control unit 16 is electrically connected to the

motors

131 and 133 which drive the

impellers

121 and 123, the entangling

sensor

1571 and 1573, the position sensor 159, the water level sensor 153, the contamination level sensor 155, a connector 1511 connected to a battery 18, and the drain pump 143.

As described before, though the portable washing machine of the present invention can only have the washing robot 1, if the portable washing machine of the present invention includes the water supply unit 3, the portable washing machine of the present invention can control drain and supply of washing water from/to the holding space R by the portable washing machine itself.

Referring to FIG. 1, it is preferable that the water supply unit 3 has a water supply portion connection hole 33 in the water supply unit body 31 for detachably coupling to the water supply portion F which supplies the washing water. The water supply portion connection hole 33 has a water supply valve 331, such as a solenoid valve, which can open/close the water supply portion F selectively provided thereto, and the water supply valve 331 can open the water supply portion selectively owing to the water supply unit control unit 36.

In the meantime, the water supply unit 3 can further include an input unit 34 for applying a control order, such as a washing course, to the washing robot 1. Since the washing robot 1 can have movement within the holding space R varied with the rotation speed and direction of the impellers, and have washing capability varied with supply/drain periods of the washing water, the washing course can be defined as an operation pattern of the washing robot 1 which can be categorized by the movement of the body within the holding space R and the washing water supply/drain periods.

For this, the water supply unit 3 can include the water supply unit communication unit 32 which can make radio communication with the communication unit 17 of the washing robot 1, and can further include a display unit 35 for informing a control order the user selects or information on the washing robot 1 to the user.

Referring to FIG. 6, elements of the water supply unit 3 are connected to the water supply unit control unit 36, electrically.

The speaker 38 provided to the water supply unit 3, which is means for informing particular information to the user, can be provided for informing failure of the washing robot 1 or the entangling of the laundry with the impeller to the user. In the meantime, it is preferable that the water supply unit 3 has the battery 37 for enhancing portability of the portable washing machine of the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a charging unit 5 for charging the washing robot 1. The portable washing machine 100 can also further include the charging unit 5 taking the portability of the present invention into account.

The charging unit 5 can include a body receiving portion 51 for seating the outside circumferential surface of the body thereon, and an inserting portion 53 projected from the body receiving portion 51 to have a connector contact portion 531.

The inserting portion 53 is placed in the inlet 1513 of the washing water introduction pipe 151 of the washing robot 1, and the connector contact portion 531 connected to an external power source is brought into contact with the connector 1511 provided to the washing water introduction pipe when the inserting portion is placed in the inlet 1531. Therefore, only if the user places the washing water introduction pipe of the washing robot in the inserting portion 53, the battery of the washing robot can be charged.

FIGS. 9A ~9D illustrate schematic views showing an operation process of the portable washing machine of the present invention. A washing process of the portable washing machine of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 9A ~ 9D.

At first, the user positions the holding space R holding the laundry L such that the washing water can be introduced to the holding space R from the water supply portion F. In this instance, the user fastens the water supply unit 3 to the water supply portion F, and introduces the washing robot 1 to the holding space R holding the laundry L (FIG. 9A). In this instance, if it is washing with detergent, the detergent will also be supplied to the holding space R.

The user applies a selection signal of a washing course and a washing start signal to the input unit 34 of the water supply unit 3. Upon reception of the signals, the water supply unit control unit 36 opens the water supply valve 331 to supply the washing water from the water supply portion F to the holding space R for the washing robot 1 to progress soaking of the laundry (FIG. 9B).

The water supply unit 3 supplies the washing water until reception of a signal from the communication unit 17 that the washing water is supplied to a preset water level, and the washing robot measures whether the washing water is supplied to the preset water level or not through the water level sensor while the washing water is being supplied.

While the washing water is being supplied to the holding space R, the washing robot 1 carries out laundry soaking which is a step in which the laundry is made to wet with the washing water by circulating the washing water in the holding space through the drain pipe 141 and the drain pump and dissolving the detergent in the washing water. For making more effective laundry soaking, the washing robot can be controlled to move within the holding space at the same time with the washing water circulation.

In the meantime, if it is determined that a proper amount of the washing water is supplied to the holding space R, the water supply unit 3 stops the washing water supply with the water supply valve 331, and the washing robot 1 starts washing, regularly (FIG. 9C).

The washing of the laundry is progressed by friction between a water flow and the laundry taken place as the impellers of the washing robot 1 rotate, a chemical action of the detergent, and friction between the projections 111 on the washing robot 1 and the laundry. Since it is liable that the impeller entangles with the laundry in the washing process, the control unit 16 of the washing robot observes whether the impeller is entangled with the laundry through the entangling sensor, and, if the impeller is entangled, the control unit 16 informs the entangling to the user through the speaker 37 or the display unit 35.

In the meantime, it is preferable that the washing robot has a plurality of washing courses set thereto for producing movements categorized according to kinds of the laundry and the level of the contamination of the laundry. In this case, the washing course can be defined as a combination of the rotation speed of the impeller, a rotation direction of the impeller, a number of times of water supply/drain, periods of the water supply/drain, a washing time period, and so on.

Upon finishing the washing course set thus, the washing robot 1 drains the washing water from the holding space R to the outside of the holding space R (FIG. 9D).

Since the washing water can not be drained to the outside of the holding space if the angle of the drain pipe is vertical to the bottom surface, it is preferable that the drain pipe 141 provided to the washing robot 1 is controlled to be an angle of 60° ~ 70° with respect to the bottom surface. For this, the control unit 16 of the washing robot 1 determines whether the drain pipe 141 is positioned at a preset angle with respect to the bottom surface or not through the position sensor 159, and drives the drain pump if the drain pipe 141 is positioned at the preset angle, for draining the washing water from the holding space to the outside of the holding space.

Finish of the draining of the washing water can be determined through the water level sensor provided to the washing robot, and upon finishing the draining of the washing water, the washing robot provides a wash finish signal to the water supply unit 3 through the communication unit 17. If the water supply unit communication unit 32 receives the washing finish signal, the water supply unit control unit 36 informs the finish of the washing through the speaker 37 or the display unit 35 to the user.

Through the foregoing steps, the present invention can provide the portable washing machine which can wash laundry anywhere as far as the holding space R and the water supply portion are provided.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

A portable washing machine comprising:

a body for washing laundry while moving within a holding space which holds laundry and washing water; and

a control unit for controlling the body such that the body can move within the holding space.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising impellers rotatably provided to opposite ends of the body.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising projections from an outside circumferential surface of the body for being brought into contact with the laundry held in the holding space.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the projections are extensions in a length direction of the body.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a drain unit provided in the body for draining the washing water from the holding space to an outside of the holding space.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 5, wherein the drain unit includes;

a drain pipe provided to pass through the outside circumferential surface of the body for introduction of the washing water thereto, and

a drain pump for pressurizing the washing water introduced to the drain pipe.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a position sensor for sensing a position of the drain pipe with respect to a bottom surface of the holding space.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 7, wherein the control unit changes a position of the body with reference to a signal provided by the position sensor such that the drain pipe is positioned at an angle at which the drain pipe can drain the washing water from the holding space to the outside of the holding space.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a communication unit provided in the body for enabling data transmission/reception to/from an external device.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a water supply unit detachably provided to a water supply portion which supplies the washing water to the holding space, wherein the water supply unit is able to make data transmission/reception to/from the communication unit.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the water supply unit includes;

a water supply unit body detachable from the water supply portion,

a water supply unit communication unit provided to the water supply unit body for enabling data transmission/ reception to/from the communication unit, and

a water supply valve provided to the water supply unit body for opening/closing the water supply portion selectively.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 10, wherein the water supply unit further includes an input unit for selecting a washing course,

wherein the washing course is defined as a pattern of the body moving within the holding space.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an entangling sensor provided in the body for sensing entangling of the impeller with the laundry in the holding space.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 13, wherein the entangling sensor senses a number of revolutions of the impeller for sensing the entangling of the laundry with the impeller.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a motor provided in the body for rotating the impeller, and the entangling sensor senses a change of an intensity of a current being supplied to the motor for sensing the entangling of the laundry with the impeller.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a water level sensor for sensing a water level of the washing water held in the holding space by introducing the washing water from the holding space to the body.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 16, wherein the body further includes a washing water introduction pipe provided for introducing the washing water from the holding space to the body, and

the water level sensor includes;

floating means for floating in the washing water introduction pipe following a water level of the holding space, and

sensing means fixed to an outside of the washing water introduction pipe for sensing movement of the floating means.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a contamination level sensor for measuring a level of contamination of the washing water held in the holding space by introducing the washing water from the holding space to the body.
The portable washing machine as claimed in claim 18, wherein the body further includes a washing water introduction pipe provided to introduce the washing water from the holding space to the body, and

the contamination level sensor includes light emitting means provided to an outside of the washing water introduction pipe, and

light receiving means provided to the outside of the washing water introduction pipe for enabling to receive a light from the light emitting means.