Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine having a water supply unit provided with a branch pipe. The washing machine includes a main body, a tub provided within the main body, a water supply hose connected to a water supply source to supply water to the tub, the water supply unit including channels defined by at least one inlet and at least one outlet and at least one structure discriminated from the channels, at least one of the at least one inlet and the at least one outlet being connected to the water supply hose, and a branch pipe provided on the water supply unit to allow a portion of water introduced into the water supply unit to branch off and be discharged to the outside of the water supply unit.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2010-0073968, filed on Jul. 30, 2010, and No. 2010-0091569, filed on Sep. 17, 2010, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND[0002]1. Field[0003]Embodiments relate to a washing machine having a water supply unit provided with a branch pipe allowing a portion of water supplied to a tub to be utilized for purposes other than washing.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]In general, a washing machine is an apparatus which includes a drum to receive laundry, for example, such as clothes, and a motor to drive the drum, and performs a series of washing, rinsing and spin-drying cycles using rotation of the drum.[0006]The washing machine is provided with a door glass on the front surface thereof such that the inside of the washing machine can be viewed. During the washing or rinsing cycle,...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0018]The water supply unit may be a backflow prevention device provided to prevent wash water from flowing backward and being introduced into the water supply source.

[0030]In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes a main body, a tub provided within the main body, a water supply hose connected to a water supply source to supply water to the tub, and a backflow prevention device mounted on the water supply hose to prevent wash water in the tub from flowing backward and being introduced into the water supply source, wherein the backflow prevention device includes a backflow prevention part provided with an inlet and an outlet, an inlet channel communicating with the inlet, outlet channels communicating with the outlet, and a backflow blocking unit disposed in the backflow prevention part to prevent water from flowing backward into the inlet channel, and the outlet channels include a first outlet channel and a second outlet channel formed separately from the first outlet channel.

[0034]In accordance with another aspect, a washing machine includes a main body provided with an inlet through which laundry is put into the main body, a tub formed within the main body and provided with an opening corresponding to the inlet, a door to open and close the inlet, a gasket to shield a space between the inlet and the opening, a water supply hose connected to a water supply source to supply water to the tub, a door washing hose connected to a wash water spray hole formed on the gasket, and a backflow prevention device mounted on the water supply hose to prevent wash water from flowing backward along the water supply hose and being introduced into the water supply source, wherein the backflow prevention device includes a case, an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe communicating with the inside of the case and protruded to the outside of the case, a backflow blocking unit disposed at the inside of the case, and a branch pipe forming a channel separately from the outlet pipe, and the branch pipe is connected to the door washing hose.

Problems solved by technology

These detergents or contaminants not only provide a bad impression to a user but also contact the laundry and thus re-contaminate the laundry while the laundry is taken out of the drum after completing washing of the laundry.

The backflow of water is introduced into the external water supply source and is then contaminates the external water supply source, thereby causing environmental problems.

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