Washing machine and liquid additive supply device for washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine including a liquid additive supply device capable of supplying a liquid additive from a reservoir tank despite a low level of liquid additive left therein. The reservoir tank has an inclined bottom surface. A suction nozzle is disposed proximate to, or adjoins, the lower side of the inclined bottom surface. Due to the inclined bottom surface, the liquid additive tends to gather on its lower side and the suction nozzle opening can remain under the liquid additive even if there is only a small amount left in the reservoir tank. This advantageously improves usage efficiency of the liquid additive loaded in the washing machine by reducing the unusable amount thereof.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is based on and claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0017542, filed on Feb. 16, 2016, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference for all purposes.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to washing machines, and, more particularly, to liquid additive supply devices for washing machines.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Washing machines are commonly used to wash laundry or other objects by using friction between water and the laundry in combination with emulsification of detergent. A modern automatic washing machine is capable of automatically performing washing, rinsing and dewatering in an integrated process once it is started.[0004]Depending on the type of the washing tub used for containing laundry, washing machines may be classified into types including a top-loading type (in which a washing tub is upright) and a drum type (in which a washin...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008]Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a mechanism of continuously supplying a liquid additive from a container in a washing machine even when there is only a small amount left therein, thereby significantly reducing the unusable amount of liquid additive left in the container. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a washing machine including: a drum configured to accommodate washing objects; and a liquid additive supply device configured to supply a liquid additive to the drum, wherein the liquid additive supply device includes: a reservoir tank configured to store the liquid additive; and a suction nozzle extending toward a bottom of the reservoir tank and configured to draw the liquid additive from the reservoir tank, wherein an opening end of the suction nozzle adjoins the bottom of the reservoir tank.

[0025]The reservoir tank of the present invention may have an inclined surface so that any amount of liquid additive left in the tank tends to gather on the lower side. Therefore, even if there is only a small amount left in the tank, the opening of the suction nozzle can remain under the liquid additive and thus still draw the liquid additive therefrom. This advantageously improves usage efficiency of the liquid additive loaded to the washing machine by reducing the unusable amount.

Problems solved by technology

In a washing machine using powder detergent, the detergent supply device can only be installed in the upper portion of the tub as it would not be easy to move powder detergent upward if it was added at a lower position.

However, in a conventional washing machine that can use liquid detergent, when only a small amount of liquid detergent is left in the liquid detergent container, it may be difficult to pump and supply the residual amount to the detergent supply device (see, e,g, Korea Patent Application Publication No. 10-2010-0081254 (published on Jul. 14, 2010)).

Thus, a user commonly has to load extra liquid detergent that is not actually used in a washing operation.

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