WO2013169005A1

WO2013169005A1 - Laundry treatment machine

Info

Publication number: WO2013169005A1
Application number: PCT/KR2013/004034
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang Heon Lee
Original assignee: Lg Electronics Inc.
Priority date: 2012-05-08
Filing date: 2013-05-08
Publication date: 2013-11-14
Also published as: KR20130125198A

Abstract

Provided is a laundry treatment machine. The laundry treatment machine includes a water storing tub, a washing tub that is rotatably provided in the water storing tub to receive laundry, a laundry additive box for storing a laundry additive that will be supplied into the washing tub, a laundry additive box housing in which the laundry additive box is inserted and which is provided with a predetermined passage for guiding water supplied from an external water source, and at least one spray nozzle that is disposed at a lower side of an area, in which the laundry additive box is inserted, to supply the water supplied through the passage formed in the laundry additive box housing into the washing tub.

Description

LAUNDRY TREATMENT MACHINE

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment machine.

A laundry treatment machine generally refers to a device for performing washing, rinsing, and spin-drying processes to remove contaminants from clothes, bedclothes, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as “laundry”) by using water, laundry additive, and mechanical action.

The laundry treatment machine may be classified in accordance with a laundry loading type into a top-loading type and a front-loading type.

The top-loading type is structured such that a washing tub rotates about a vertical axis and the laundry is loaded from the top of the machine. The top-loading type may be further classified into an agitator type having a washing rod that is vertically elected at a center of a washing tub and a pulsator type having a washing blade provided at a lower portion of the washing tub.

The front-loading type is structure such that a washing tub rotates about a horizontal axis and the laundry is loaded from a front portion. Generally, a drum type laundry treatment machine may be generally described as the front-loading type. In the drum type laundry treatment machine, the laundry is lifted by a drum rotating about the horizontal axis and falls down, in the course of which the laundry is washed.

In the related art laundry treatment machine, a laundry additive box is slidably installed in a laundry additive box housing. The water supplied to the laundry additive box dissolves the laundry additive and is then supplied into the washing tub. In addition, in the related art laundry treatment machine, a spray nozzle for spraying the water into the washing tub used to be provided. In this case, a waster passage for supplying the laundry additive box and a water passage for supplying the water to the spray nozzle are independently formed without any relations therebetween. Therefore, the water passage structure is complicated, resulting in that there is a space limitation for the installation.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment machine that utilizes a space under a laundry additive box to install a spray nozzle.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment machine having a water passage for supplying water to a spray nozzle, which is formed in a laundry additive box housing.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a laundry treatment machine including:

a water storing tub;

a washing tub that is rotatably provided in the water storing tub to receive laundry;

a laundry additive box for storing a laundry additive that is supplied into the washing tub;

a laundry additive box housing in which the laundry additive box is inserted and which is provided with a predetermined passage for guiding water supplied from an external water source; and

at least one spray nozzle that is disposed at a lower side of an area, in which the laundry additive box is inserted, to supply the water supplied through the passage formed in the laundry additive box housing into the washing tub.

According to the present invention, as the spray nozzle is installed by using a useless space under the laundry additive box, the space utilization can be improved.

In addition, since the water passage for supplying the water to the spray nozzle is formed in the laundry additive box housing, the water passage structure that was complicated as the water passage for supplying the water into the laundry additive box and the water passage for supplying the water to the spray nozzle are not adjacent to each other but spaced apart from each other in the related art laundry treatment machine, can be simplified, thereby solving the space limitation.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

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

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry treatment machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the laundry treatment machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a laundry additive supplying unit illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a laundry additive box housing illustrated in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the laundry treatment machine of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 6a through 6d are schematic views illustrating a variety of different embodiments of a spray nozzle;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a control relationship between major components of a laundry treatment machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, the shapes and dimensions may be exaggerated for clarity, and the same reference numerals will be used throughout to designate the same or like components.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a laundry treatment machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view illustrating an internal structure of the laundry treatment machine of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a laundry additive supplying unit illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a laundry additive box housing illustrated in FIG. 3. FIG. 5 is a top view of the laundry treatment machine of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a laundry treatment machine 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a case that defines an outer appearance of the machine and is provided with a laundry entrance, a water storing tub 13 provided in the case, a washing tub 14 that is rotatably provided in the water storing tub 13, and a laundry additive supplying unit 100 for supplying laundry additive to the water storing tub 13 and/or the washing tub 14.

In this exemplary embodiment, the casing includes a cabinet 11 having an opened top and a top cover 12 that covers the opened top of the cabinet 11 and is provided with the laundry entrance formed at a top-center thereof, and to which a door 26 is pivotally coupled. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure.

A suspending unit for suspending the water storing tub 13 on the case. The suspending unit includes a supporting rod 15 having a first end that is pivotally coupled to the top cover 12 and a damper 16 for connecting a second end of the supporting rod 15 to the water storing tub 13. The vibration of the water storing tub 13 is absorbed by the damper 16.

The washing tub 14 is rotatably provided in the water storing tub 13 and a pulsator 17 is rotatably provided on a bottom of the washing tub 14. A driving unit 18 is for providing torque for rotating the washing tub 14 and/or the pulsator 17 and includes a clutch unit for selectively transferring the torque to the washing tub 14 and/or the pulsator 17. By the proper switching operation of the clutch unit, the washing tub 14 and the pulsator 17 are integrally rotated or only one of the washing tub 14 and the pulsator 17 is rotated. In addition, a plurality of water holes 14a through which the washing water flows between the water storing tub 13 and the washing tub 14 is provided in the water storing tub 13.

A ring-shaped waster storing tub cover 27 may be provided on a top end of the water storing tub 13. An opening through which the laundry is loaded and unloaded is formed at a central portion of the water storing tub cover 27. When the rotation of the washing tub 14 is properly controlled during washing and spin-drying, the water circulation, in which the washing water ascends along a space defined between the water storing tub 13 and the washing tub 14 by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the washing tub 14. At this point, the ascended washing water is guided along a rear surface of the water storing tub cover 27 and poured into the water storing tub 13 or the washing tub 14, is realized.

The laundry treatment machine 1 includes a water supply unit for supplying the washing water into the water storing tub 13 and a drain unit for draining the washing water out of the water storing tub 13. The water supply unit includes a water supply passage 23 connected to an outer water source such as a water tap and a water supply valve 24 for controlling the water supply passage. The water drain unit includes a drain passage 20 connected to the water storing tub 13, a drain valve 19 for controlling the drain passage 20, and a pump 21 provided on the drain passage 20.

There is no need to form the water supply passage 23 with one passage. That is, the water supply passage 23 may be variously formed in accordance with the number of the outer water sources or the structure of the laundry additive unit 100 receiving the water from the outer water source or the structure of a spray nozzle 160. First and second passages that will be described later may be understood as components of the water supply passage 23.

Likewise, there is no need to limit the structure of the water supply valve 24. As far as it can control the water supply passage 23, any structure will be possible for the water supply valve 24. As described above, the water supply passages 23 may be formed with a plurality of passages in response to the various embodiments. In one embodiment, the water supply valve 24 may include a first water supply valve 24a, a second water supply valve 24b, and a third water supply valve 24c. This will be described later with reference to FIG. 7.

The laundry additive 100 includes a laundry additive box housing 130 and a laundry additive box 120 that is slidably inserted in the laundry additive box housing 130. The laundry additive supply unit 100 may be provided in the case so that a user can easily slide in and out the laundry additive box 120. Particularly, the laundry additive supply unit 100 may be provided in the top cover 12.

The top cover 12 may be provided with a whitening agent receiving portion for receiving a whitening agent. When the washing water is supplied from the water supply passage 23 to the whitening agent receiving portion, the whitening agent dissolved in the washing water is supplied into the water storing tub 13.

A control panel 25 includes an input device through which the user can input a variety of control commands such as a course set, an operation time set, and a reservation set, and the like and a display device for displaying a variety of information on an operational state of the laundry treatment machine. The input device may be formed of a dial type, a touch type, a push button type, or the like. The display device may be formed with a liquid crystal display, a light emitting diode, or the like. In addition, when the control panel is provided with a touch pad, the touch pad may function as not only the input device but also the display device.

An exemplary embodiment of the laundry additive supply unit will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

As described above, the laundry additive supply unit 100 includes the laundry additive box 120 for receiving the laundry additive that will be supplied into the washing tub 14 or the water storing tub 13 and the laundry additive box housing 130 in which the laundry additive box 120 is inserted. The laundry additive box housing 130 is provided with a passage for guiding the water supplied from the outer water source.

The laundry additive box 120 is disposed to be capable of slide in and out the laundry additive box housing 130.

In one embodiment, the inner space of the laundry additive box 120 may be divided into a plurality of sections so that the softener and the detergent can be received in the respective sections. The section in which the detergent is received may be further divided into two sections in which the powder detergent and the liquid detergent can be respectively received.

The laundry additive box housing 130 includes a dispensing unit 110 provided with a passage having a predetermined pattern for guiding the water supplied from the water supply passage 23 and a housing main body 140 that provides a space for receiving the laundry additive box 120 under the dispensing unit 110 and directs the water supplied via the laundry additive box 120 to the washing tub 14 or the water storing tub 13. In this exemplary embodiment, the dispensing unit 110 and the housing main body 140 are as an one body. However, the present invention is not limited to this structure. That is, the dispensing unit 110 and the housing main body 140 may be formed as independent components and assembled with each other.

The spray nozzle 160 is for spraying the water supplied through the passage formed in the laundry additive box housing 130 into the washing tub 14. The spray nozzle 160 is disposed at a lower side of an area where the laundry additive box 120 is received.

The laundry additive box housing 130 may be provided with a first passage for supplying the water into the laundry additive box 120 and a second passage for supplying the water into the spray nozzle 160. Both of the first and second passages are passages for allowing the water supplied from the outer water source to flow. That is, the first and second passages constitute the water supply passage 23.

In addition, the first and second passages may have a partly overlapping section. Even in this case, the water flowing along the first passage passes through the laundry additive box 120 and the water flowing along the second passage is directed to the spray nozzle 160. That is, the first and second passages can be discriminated functionally and structurally.

Meanwhile, the passage having the predetermined pattern for guiding the water supplied through the water supply passage 23 is formed on the dispensing unit 110. In this exemplary embodiment, the passage is formed between a dispensing plate 110a and a pair of passage forming ribs 113 protruding upward from the dispensing plate 110a. A boundary defining ribs 111 may be formed along an edge of the dispensing plate 110a so that the water can flow within a predetermined range.

In more detail, the water directed between the

passage forming ribs

113a and 113b flows along a main passage 116 and a dispensing passage 118 for converting a flow direction of the washing water supplied along the main passage 116. The flow direction of the water directed along the main passage 116 is changed while it collides with the boundary defining rib 111, after which it flows along the dispensing passage 118. Especially, the path of the water flowing along the dispensing passage 118 includes a section where the flow direction of the water is opposite to the direction when the water flows along the main passage 116. That is, the flow direction of the water is changed at a downstream side of the main passage 116 while it collides with the boundary defining rib 11, after which it flows along the dispensing passage 118. At this point, as the water flowing along dispensing

passages

118a and 118b passes through a predetermined section, the flow direction of the water is opposite to the direction when the water passes through the main passage 116. That is, the water flows in a direction from the downstream side to an upstream side.

In the exemplary embodiment, the main passage 116 is formed between the

first ribs

113a and 113b facing each other and the dispensing passage 118 is formed between

second ribs

115a and 115b bent from the first rib 113 and the boundary defining rib 11. In addition, the dispensing passage 118 is formed in a symmetrical structure with reference to the main passage 116.

Meanwhile, a plurality of water holes H on the main passage 116 and/or the dispensing passage 118. The water flowing along the

passages

116 and 118 is supplied into the laundry additive box 120 through the water holes H.

Referring to FIG. 4, the laundry additive box housing 130 includes a first water inlet 112 through which the water is directed to the first passage directed to the laundry additive box 120 and a second water inlet 150 through which the water is directed to the second passage directed to the spray nozzle 160.

The first water inlet 112 may include a cool water inlet 112a through which the cool water is introduced and a warm water inlet 112b through which the warm water is introduced. The water introduced through the

inlets

112a and 112b is collected in the main passage 116 formed on the dispensing plate 110a.

Meanwhile, the laundry treatment machine 1 may further include a first water supply valve 24a for controlling the water supply through the cool water inlet 112a, a second water supply valve 24b for controlling the water supply through the warm water inlet 112b, and a third water supply valve 24c for controlling the water supply through the second water inlet 150. The

water supply valves

24a, 24b, 24c are properly controlled by a control unit 29 in washing and rinsing cycles (See FIG. 7).

The first water inlet 112 and/or the second water inlet 150 may be formed with the laundry additive box housing 130 as an one body. In one embodiment, they may be formed through injection molding using synthetic resin. Likewise, the first passage and/or the second passage may be integrally formed with the laundry additive box housing 130. In the exemplary embodiment, the

inlets

112 and 150 are formed in the housing main body 140. The passage passing through the cool and

warm water inlets

112a and 112b and the dispensing plate 110a extends from the housing main body 140 to the dispensing unit 110. The passage passing through the second water inlet 150 and the spray nozzle 160 is formed in the housing main body 140. However, the present invention is not limited to this exemplary embodiment. For example, the

inlets

112 and 150 may be formed on the dispensing unit 110. In this case, the passage connecting the inlet 150 to the spray nozzle 160 may extend from the dispensing unit 110 to the housing main body 140.

Meanwhile, the second passage may be disposed to partly pass through a lower side of a guide surface 145. Particularly, when the laundry additive box housing 130 is formed through the injection molding using the synthetic resin, the laundry additive box housing 130 and the passage for supplying the water to the spray nozzle 160 may be integrally formed with each other by injection-molding the resin on a portion except for the passages 151 to 154.

The spray nozzle 160 may be formed with a plurality of

nozzles

160a, 160b, 160c, and 160d. In this case, the second passage for supplying the water to the spray nozzle 160 may include a plurality of

passages

151, 152, 153, and 154 branched off from the second water inlet 150 in response to the

respective nozzles

160a, 160b, 160c, and 160d. The

spray nozzles

160a, 160b, 160c, and 160d may be arranged in parallel with each other on the laundry additive box hosing 130.

Referring to FIG. 5, the water storing tub cover 27 may be provided with a separation preventing portion 28 protruding toward a central opening. The separation preventing portion 28 is for preventing the laundry from rushing out of the washing tub 14. Therefore, even when the laundry rotates at a high speed, the laundry collides with the separation preventing portion 28 and moves again into the washing tub 14, thereby preventing the laundry from being separated from the washing tub 14.

When the water supplied via the laundry additive box 120, that is, not the water sprayed through the spray nozzle 160 but the water flowing along the guide surface 145, is supplied into the washing tub 14 or the water storing tub 13, at least some of the water may be scattered by the separation preventing portion 28. Furthermore, when the water pressure is low, the water falls down to the separation preventing portion 28, In this case, the water may be further scattered by the separation preventing portion 28. Therefore, in order to supply the water to the water storing tub 13 or the washing tub 14 without being scattered by the separation preventing portion 28, the separation preventing portion 28 may be formed in a matrix frame structure of a mesh frame structure that can provide spaces or gaps through which the water can pass.

The spray nozzle 160 is disposed above the separation preventing portion 28. In order for the water sprayed from the spray nozzle 160 not to interfere with the separation preventing portion 28, the spraying direction of the spray nozzle 160 may be designed not to be directed toward the separation preventing portion 28. To realize this, the shape of the spray hole and opening direction of the spray hole of the spray nozzle 160 should be determined in advance. A variety of different embodiments on this regard will be described later with reference to FIG. 6.

Meanwhile, the water supplied through the first passage pours into the water storing tub 13 or the washing tub 14 via the laundry additive box 120. To this end, one side of the housing main body 140 is opened and a pouring opening through which the water is poured via the laundry additive box 120 is formed. The spray nozzle 160 is disposed below the pouring opening. At this point, the spray nozzle 160 may be disposed at an area protruding frontward from the pouring opening. Furthermore, in order to completely avoid the interference with the separation preventing portion 28, the spray nozzle 160 may be disposed at an area further protruding frontward than the separation preventing portion 28.

FIG. 6 illustrates a variety of different embodiments of the spray nozzle. Referring to FIG. 6a, a spray nozzle 160 includes a nozzle main body 161 formed in a dome-shape protruding from a rear surface of the housing main body 140 toward the washing tub 14 (

spray nozzles

260, 360, and 460 that will be described later are same as this structure). A slit-shaped spray opening 163 is formed through the nozzle main body 161. According to this structure, the washing water forms a water film while passing through the slit-shaped spray opening 163 and thus the spray can be realized toward the larger area.

Referring to FIG. 6b, a spray nozzle 260 includes a dome-shaped nozzle main body 261 same as that shown in FIG. 6a and a spray opening 263 formed in the nozzle main body 261. A width of the spray opening 263 is not uniform and the opening direction of the spray opening 263 is slanted to a side. That is, opposite boundary ends of the spray opening 263 are asymmetrically formed with reference to a center of the nozzle main body 261. At this point, an angle between the opposite boundary ends may be about 30 degrees.

Referring to FIG. 6c, a spray nozzle 360 includes a nozzle main body 361 and a slit 363 formed in the nozzle main body 361. Unlike the nozzle main body shown in FIG. 6a, a length of the slit 363 is limited. The length of the slit 363 may be set considering a spray width of the water.

Referring to FIG. 6d, a spray nozzle 460 includes a nozzle main body 461 and a circular-shaped spray opening 463. The spray opening 463 is slanted from the center of the nozzle main body 461 to a side.

The spray nozzles described with reference to FIGS. 6a to 6d may be integrally formed with the laundry additive box housing 130. However, the present invention is not limited to this. They may be formed as separated parts and assembled with the laundry additive box housing 130.

Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Claims

A laundry treatment machine comprising:

a water storing tub;

a washing tub that is rotatably provided in the water storing tub to receive laundry;

a laundry additive box for storing a laundry additive that is supplied into the washing tub;

a laundry additive box housing in which the laundry additive box is inserted and which is provided with a predetermined passage for guiding water supplied from an external water source; and

at least one spray nozzle that is disposed at a lower side of an area, in which the laundry additive box is inserted, to supply the water supplied through the passage formed in the laundry additive box housing into the washing tub.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the passage formed in the laundry additive box housing comprises:

a first passage for supplying the water into the laundry additive box; and

a second passage for supplying the water to the spray nozzle.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the laundry additive box housing comprises:

a pouring opening for pouring the water, which is supplied through the first passage and passes via the laundry additive box, into the water storing tub or the washing tub, wherein the spray nozzle is disposed under the pouring opening and further protruded frontward than the pouring opening.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the spray nozzles are disposed in parallel with each other on the laundry additive box housing.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the spray nozzle is formed with the laundry additive box housing as one body.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, further comprising:

a ring-shaped water storing tub cover that is provided on a top of the water storing tub and provided with a central opening through which the laundry can be loaded; and

a separating preventing portion that protrudes toward a central portion of the central opening of the water storing tub cover to prevent the laundry from being separated out of the washing tub,

wherein the spray nozzle is disposed above the separation preventing portion and has a spray direction that is not directed toward the separation preventing portion.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 6, wherein the spray nozzle further protrudes frontward than the separation preventing portion.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the laundry additive box housing comprises a spray water inlet through which the water that is to be supplied to the second passage is introduced, wherein the second passage comprises at least one spray water supply passage that is branched off from the spray water inlet in response to the number of the spray nozzles.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the second passage is formed with the laundry additive box housing as an one body.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the laundry additive box housing comprises a guide surface for guiding the water supplied through the first passage such that the water flows toward the water storing tub or the washing tub via the laundry additive box,

Wherein the spray water supply passage extends toward the spray nozzle while passing through a lower side of the guide surface.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 1, wherein the spray nozzle comprises a nozzle main body formed in a dome shape and provided with a spray opening through which the water is sprayed.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 11, wherein the spray opening is formed in a slit shape.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 12, wherein opposite boundary ends of the slit-shape spray opening is asymmetrically formed with reference to a center of the nozzle main body.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 11, wherein the spray opening is formed at a location spaced apart from a center of the nozzle main body by a predetermined distance.
The laundry treatment machine of claim 2, wherein the first passage comprises a cool water passage for guiding cool water and a warm water passage for guiding warm water; and

the laundry treatment machine comprises a first water supply valve for controlling the cool water passage and a second water supply valve for controlling the warm water passage.