Clothing treatment apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a clothing treatment apparatus comprising: a cabinet; a tub disposed inside the cabinet and storing water; a circulation unit that communicates with the tub and includes a circulation passage through which water discharged from the tub is supplied back to the tub; a detergent supply unit which is connected to the circulation passage and supplies detergent; a first detergent pipe and a second detergent pipe which connect the detergent supply unit to the circulation passage so as to allow the detergent of the detergent supply unit to flow into the circulation passage; and a circulation pump provided in the circulation unit to supply water of the circulation passage to the tub, wherein, with respect to the flow of water in the circulation passage, the first detergent pipe is connected to the circulation passage upstream of the circulation pump, and the second detergent pipe is connected to the circulation passage downstream of the circulation pump.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, more specifically, to a laundry treating apparatus that may perform a refreshing cycle such as sterilization, wrinkle removal, deodorization, and drying of laundry.BACKGROUND

[0002] In general, a laundry treating apparatus is a home appliance that removes foreign substances from laundry using water and detergent, and includes a tub that stores water therein, a water supplier that supplies water to the tub, and a detergent supplier that is disposed on a flow channel connecting the water supplier with the tub and supplies detergent together with water to the tub.

[0003] In an existing laundry treating apparatus, the detergent supplier is in communication with the water supplier, so that when water is supplied to the tub, the detergent stored in the detergent supplier and water are supplied to the tub together.

[0004] Although such an existing laundry treating apparatus is able to guarantee a user autonomy to select a type and an amount of detergent required, there is a fundamental problem in that it is difficult to expect an appropriate amount of detergent required to be injected.

[0005] In addition, such a laundry treating apparatus also has an inconvenience of having to inject new detergent every time laundry washing is performed because all the detergent stored in the detergent supplier is injected into the tub when the detergent supplier receives water. In addition, such a laundry treating apparatus has a problem in that the laundry is damaged as non-completely mixed highly concentrated detergent comes into direct contact with the laundry.

[0006] To overcome such a problem, a laundry treating apparatus in which the detergent supplier is controlled by a controller disposed in the laundry treating apparatus to supply the appropriate amount of detergent has emerged (See Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2008-0089086).

[0007] The existing laundry treating apparatus is designed such that the detergent is supplied to a liquid detergent mixing portion disposed in a bellows that allows the tub and a circulation mechanism to be in communication with each other, so that the detergent supplied to the bellows and water discharged from the tub are supplied back to the tub via the circulation mechanism, thereby indirectly injecting the detergent into the tub.

[0008] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies the detergent only to the bellows between the tub and the circulation mechanism, there is a limitation in efficiently mixing the detergent with water circulating in the circulation mechanism.

[0009] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies a first detergent and a second detergent into one space, there is a problem that the first detergent and the second detergent clump together and remain in the bellows.

[0010] In addition, there is a laundry treating apparatus that supplies first detergent and second detergent to the tub by connecting a first detergent supply pipe that supplies the first detergent and a second detergent supply pipe that supplies the second detergent to a first connection pipe through which water of the tub is discharged and supplying the detergents, respectively (See Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2021-0060386).

[0011] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies the detergents as both a first detergent connection pipe and a second detergent connection pipe are connected to a first connection pipe through which the water in the tub is quickly discharged, there is a problem that the detergent may not be sufficiently dissolved in the first connection pipe.

[0012] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies both the first detergent and the second detergent to the first connection pipe, there is a problem that the first detergent and the second detergent are stuck inside the first connection pipe.SUMMARYTechnical Problem

[0013] The present application aims to provide a structure in which detergent pipes are respectively connected to locations upstream and downstream of a circulation pump to supply detergents, thereby more effectively mixing the detergents with water.

[0014] The present application aims to provide a structure in which first and second detergents are respectively supplied to locations upstream and downstream of a circulation pump, thereby preventing the first and second detergents from clumping together.

[0015] The present application aims to provide a structure in which a piping structure may be simplified and detergent may be efficiently supplied by reducing a length of a detergent pipe that allows a detergent supplier and a housing to be in communication with each other.

[0016] The present application aims to provide a port structure in which water and detergent may be effectively mixed with each other inside a housing.Technical Solutions

[0017] To solve the above-described problems, provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet, a tub disposed inside the cabinet and constructed to store water therein, a circulator including a circulation flow channel in communication with the tub and constructed to supply water discharged from the tub back to the tub, a detergent supplier that is in communication with the circulation flow channel and supplies detergents, a first detergent pipe and a second detergent pipe connecting the detergent supplier with the circulation flow channel and constructed to allow the detergents of the detergent supplier to flow into the circulation flow channel, and a circulation pump that is disposed in the circulator and supplies water of the circulation flow channel to the tub, wherein, based on a flow of water in the circulation flow channel, the first detergent pipe is connected to the circulation flow channel at a location upstream of the circulation pump and the second detergent pipe is connected to the circulation flow channel at a location downstream of the circulation pump.

[0018] The circulation flow channel may be defined to include a housing where one of the detergents supplied from one of the first detergent pipe and the second detergent pipe and water discharged to the tub are introduced and including the circulation pump.

[0019] The housing may include a water collecting housing in communication with the tub and where water discharged from the tub is introduced, and a circulation housing disposed downstream of the water collecting housing based on the flow by the circulation pump, and constructed to discharge water introduced into the water collecting housing to outside of the housing, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the water collecting housing, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the circulation housing.

[0020] The housing may include a first detergent port connected with the first detergent pipe, and a second detergent port disposed downstream of the first detergent port and connected with the second detergent pipe, and the first detergent port may be disposed on the water collecting housing, and the second detergent port may be disposed on the circulation housing.

[0021] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a tub drainage pipe connecting the tub with the housing at a location upstream of the circulation pump, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the tub drainage pipe, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the housing.

[0022] The housing may include a water collecting housing connected to the tub drainage pipe and where water discharged from the tub is introduced, and a circulation housing disposed downstream of the water collecting housing based on the flow by the circulation pump, and constructed to discharge water introduced into the water collecting housing, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the circulation housing.

[0023] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a tub circulation pipe disposed on a downstream side of the housing and connecting the housing with the tub, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the housing, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the tub circulation pipe.

[0024] One side closer to the housing among both ends of the tub circulation pipe may be branched into a circulation port connection portion connected with the housing and a detergent inflow portion connected with the second detergent pipe.

[0025] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a tub drainage pipe connecting the tub with the housing at a location upstream of the circulation pump, and a tub circulation pipe connecting the housing with the tub at a location downstream of the circulation pump, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the tub drainage pipe, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the tub circulation pipe.

[0026] The detergent pipe may be constructed to supply a first detergent among the detergents of the detergent supplier, and the second detergent pipe may be constructed to supply a second detergent among the detergents of the detergent supplier, and the first detergent and the second detergent may have different chemical compositions.Advantageous Effects

[0027] The present application provides the structure in which the detergent pipes are respectively connected to the locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump to supply the detergents, thereby more effectively mixing the detergents with water.

[0028] The present application provides the structure in which the first and second detergents are respectively supplied to the locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump, thereby preventing the first and second detergents from clumping together.

[0029] The present application may simplify the piping structure and efficiently supply the detergent by reducing the length of the detergent pipe that allows the detergent supplier and the housing to be in communication with each other.

[0030] The present application may provide the port structure in which water and the detergent may be effectively mixed with each other inside the housing.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing interior of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a movement of water and detergent in a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing laundry treatment performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a detergent supplier and a pump assembly of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 1-1′ in FIG. 6.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 2-2′ in FIG. 6.

[0039] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3′ in FIG. 6.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent according to a first embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing a second embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0042] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent according to a second embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0043] FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view showing a third embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0044] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a specific example of a third embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0045] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing according to a third embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0046] FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0047] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing according to a fourth embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0048] (a) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that water has introduced into a detergent pipe connected to a location downstream of a circulation pump.

[0049] (b) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that water has not been introduced into a detergent pipe because of a check valve equipped in the detergent pipe in (a) in FIG. 18.BEST MODE

[0050] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration or a control method of an apparatus to be described below is only for describing embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Further, reference numerals used in the same manner throughout the present document represent the same components.

[0051] A specific term used in the present document is only for convenience of description and is not used as a limitation of the illustrated embodiment.

[0052] To describe the present disclosure, the description will be made based on a spatial rectangular coordinate system by an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis orthogonal to each other. Each axial direction (an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction) means both directions in which each axis extends. Attachment of a ‘+’ sign before each axial direction (a +X-axis direction, a +Y-axis direction, and a +Z-axis direction) means a positive direction that is one of both directions in which each axis extends. Attachment of a “−” sign before each axial direction (a −X-axis direction, a −Y-axis direction, and a −Z-axis direction) means a negative direction that is the other one of both directions in which each axis extends.

[0053] Expressions referring to directions such as “front (+X) / rear (−X) / left (+Y) / right (−Y) / up (+Z) / down (−Z)” to be described below are defined along the XYZ coordinate axes, but are intended to describe the present disclosure such that the present disclosure may be clearly understood, and each direction may be defined differently depending on a reference.

[0054] Use of terms in which expressions such as ‘first, second, and third’ are attached before components to be mentioned below is only to avoid confusion of the components referred to, and is irrelevant to an order, an importance, or a master-slave relationship between the components.

[0055] For example, an invention including only the second component without the first component may be implemented.

[0056] A singular expression used in the present document includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0057] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100 that forms the outer appearance of the apparatus and includes a front panel 110 forming a front surface.

[0060] The front panel 110 may be a surface of the cabinet 100 that is visible when the laundry treating apparatus 1 is viewed from the front (in an X-axis direction). A control panel (not shown) may be disposed on the front panel 110, so that a user may easily control laundry treatment of the laundry treating apparatus 1.

[0061] The front panel 110 may include a door panel 120 having an inlet 125 (see FIG. 2) at a front side thereof and a supply panel 140 disposed under the door panel 120. In addition, the front panel 110 has a door 130 that is capable of opening and closing the inlet 125.

[0062] The door panel 120 includes the inlet 125, so that laundry is able to be put into the cabinet 100. The door panel may include the control panel (not shown) for inputting a command that may control the laundry treatment of the laundry treating apparatus 1. Because the control panel is disposed at the front side of the cabinet 100 where the inlet is defined, the user may easily manipulate both the input of the laundry and the treatment of the laundry to perform the laundry treatment, thereby increasing convenience.

[0063] The supply panel 140 may be located under the door panel 120. The door panel 120 may be equipped with an apparatus that is used relatively infrequently by the user. For example, the door panel 120 may be equipped with a detergent supplier, a lint filter, and the like, which are necessary for maintenance and repair of the laundry treating apparatus 1.

[0064] That is, the door panel 120 may be equipped with the apparatus that is used frequently by the user, and the supply panel 140 may be equipped with the apparatus that is used relatively infrequently by the user.

[0065] The supply panel 140 may have a through-hole (not shown), so that at least a portion of a detergent drawer 415 of a detergent supplier 400 (see FIG. 2) or a filter assembly 390 of a pump assembly 300 (see FIG. 2) is exposed to the outside of the supply panel 140.

[0066] The supply panel 140 may include a supply cover 145 that covers the supply panel to protect and cover the detergent drawer 415 or the filter assembly 390 exposed to the outside.

[0067] The supply panel 140 may be recessed rearward (in a −X-axis direction) of the door panel 120, and the supply cover 145 may be constructed to cover the supply panel 140 by an amount of the recession. In this case, when the supply cover 145 covers the supply cover, a front surface of the supply cover 145 is constructed such that a step difference with a front surface of the door panel 120 is minimized, so that overall sense of unity and aesthetics of the front panel 110 may be improved.

[0068] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing interior of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a drum 150 rotatably disposed inside the cabinet 100, a tub 170 that accommodates the drum therein and stores water therein, the pump assembly 300 that is in communication with the tub and into which water discharged from the tub is introduced, and the detergent supplier 400 that supplies detergent to the tub or the pump assembly.

[0070] The drum 150 may be rotatable inside the tub 170 by a driver 155. The drum 150 may be opened such that a front side thereof is in communication with the inlet 125, and thus may accommodate therein the laundry input via the inlet 125. The drum 150 may be rotated by the driver 155 to perform the laundry treatment.

[0071] The drum 150 includes a drum hole 151. The drum 150 may allow external water to be introduced thereinto via the drum hole 151 such that water and the laundry are mixed together, and may discharge internal water into the tub 170 via the drum hole 151.

[0072] The driver 155 may be constructed such that one side thereof is coupled to a rear surface of the cabinet and the other side thereof extends through a rear surface of the tub 170 and is connected to a rear surface of the drum 150, thereby rotating the drum.

[0073] The tub 170 may have an open front side, so that the drum 150 may be accommodated inside and water supplied from the outside may be stored. The opening at the front side of the tub 170 and the inlet 125 at the front side of the drum may both be in communication with the inlet 125, and a gasket (not shown) may be disposed to prevent water from leaking.

[0074] The tub 170 may be supported inside the cabinet 100 by a support 175. The support 175 may not only support the tub 170 inside the cabinet, but may also include a buffer apparatus to offset the vibration of the tub caused by rotation of the driver.

[0075] The pump assembly 300 may be in communication with the tub 170, so that water discharged from the tub may be introduced thereinto, and the introduced water may be supplied back to the tub 170 or discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100.

[0076] The pump assembly 300 may be constructed such that water discharged from the tub 170 and the detergent supplied from the detergent supplier 400 may be introduced thereinto and mixed together. The pump assembly 300 may re-supply detergent liquid in which water and the detergent are mixed together to the tub 170.

[0077] More specifically, the pump assembly 300 may include a housing 310 (see FIG. 6) into which water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced and forming at least a portion of an outer appearance of the pump assembly 300, a circulation pump 330 (see FIG. 6) that is disposed in the housing 310 and allows water introduced into the housing 310 to flow and be re-supplied to the tub 170, and a drainage pump 350 (see FIG. 6) that discharges water introduced into the housing 310 to the outside.

[0078] The pump assembly 300 may include the filter assembly 390 to filter out foreign substances or lint remaining in water introduced from the tub. The filter assembly 390 may be constructed such that at least a portion thereof is exposed from the supply panel 140 and is extendable in a front and rear direction from the pump assembly 300, so that the user may easily remove the foreign substances, the lint, and the like captured in the filter assembly 390 by extending the filter assembly 390 without disassembling the cabinet 100.

[0079] The pump assembly 300 may be in communication with the tub via a tub drainage pipe 211 and a tub circulation pipe 213, and water may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 via a pump drainage pipe 215.

[0080] The tub drainage pipe 211 may allow the tub and the pump assembly 300 to be in communication with each other such that water discharged from the tub 170 flows to the pump assembly 300.

[0081] The tub circulation pipe 213 may allow the pump assembly 300 and the tub 170 to be in communication with each other such that water supplied from the pump assembly 300 flows to the tub 170 by the circulation pump 330 (see FIG. 3).

[0082] The pump drainage pipe 215 may allow the pump assembly 300 and the outside to be in communication with each other such that water introduced into the pump assembly 300 may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 via the drainage pump 350 (see FIG. 3).

[0083] The detergent supplier 400 may include a detergent casing 410 coupled to the supply panel 140 from the rear and having an open front side, and the detergent drawer 415 that is extendable in the front and rear direction from the open front side of the detergent casing 410. A detergent storage 430 (see FIG. 3) may be disposed in the detergent drawer 415.

[0084] The detergent supplier 400 may include a detergent pump 440 (see FIG. 6) that allows the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 to flow to the outside of the detergent storage 430.

[0085] The detergent supplier 400 may supply the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 to the tub 170 or the pump assembly 300. The detergent supplier 400 of the present disclosure may be equipped with the detergent pump 440 (see FIG. 3) to supply the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 to the tub 170 or the pump assembly 300, and preferably, the detergent supplier 400 may be equipped to supply the detergent to the pump assembly 300 for purposes of piping simplification and coupling stabilization of a detergent pipe 450 (see FIG. 3).

[0086] In addition, a detergent pipe 450 (see FIG. 6) that allows the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 to be in communication with each other, and allows the detergent discharged by the detergent pump 440 to flow to the pump assembly 300 may be further included.

[0087] More specifically, the detergent pipe 450 may connect the detergent supplier 400 to at least one of the tub 170, the tub drainage pipe 211, the tub circulation pipe 213, and the pump assembly 300, so that the detergent stored in the detergent supplier 400 may be directly supplied to the at least one.

[0088] The detergent storage 410 may include a first detergent storage 411 (see FIG. 10) storing first detergent, and a second detergent storage 412 (see FIG. 10) storing second detergent.

[0089] In this regard, one of the first detergent and the second detergent may be a laundry detergent used in a laundry washing cycle of the laundry treating apparatus, and the other may be a softener used in a rinsing cycle of the laundry treating apparatus. However, the first detergent and the second detergent of the present disclosure may not be limited thereto, and may be laundry detergents or softeners having the same chemical composition as each other. That is, as long as the first detergent and the second detergent are for treating the laundry accommodated in the drum 150, the first detergent and the second detergent may be the same as or different from each other.

[0090] The detergent pump 440 may include a first detergent pump 441 (see FIG. 6) that is disposed in the first detergent storage 411 and discharges the first detergent and a second detergent pump 442 (see FIG. 6) that is disposed in the second detergent storage 442 and discharges the second detergent.

[0091] The detergent pipe 450 may include a first detergent pipe 451 (see FIG. 6) that is in communication with the first detergent pump 441 and supplies the first detergent therethrough and a second detergent pipe 452 (see FIG. 6) that is in communication with the second detergent pump 442 and supplies the second detergent therethrough.

[0092] The first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 may allow the detergent storage 410 and the pump assembly 300 to be in communication with each other, thereby supplying the first detergent and the second detergent to the pump assembly 300, respectively.

[0093] It should be understood that the laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure is not limited in the type of detergent to be injected or the number of detergent pipes 450.

[0094] That is, the detergent pipe of the present disclosure may be equipped with not only the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452, but also a plurality of detergent pipes 450, or may also be equipped with one detergent pipe 450.

[0095] In addition, the detergent supplier 400 of the present disclosure is located below the tub 170, but is not limited thereto, and is able to be located above the tub 170.

[0096] The detergent supplier400 of the present disclosure is exemplified as an automatic detergent supplier that automatically supplies the appropriate amount of detergent at an appropriate time by a controller, but is not necessarily limited thereto and is able to be a manual detergent supplier that supplies the detergent to the tub 170 together with water supplied from an external source. In addition, the present disclosure may be a laundry treating apparatus equipped with both the automatic detergent supplier and the manual detergent supplier.

[0097] The detergent supply and water circulation of the detergent supplier 400 will be described later.

[0098] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a movement of water and detergent in a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0099] Referring to FIG. 3, water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced into the housing 310 of the pump assembly 300 via the tub drainage pipe 211. Water introduced into the housing 310 may be re-supplied to the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213 by the circulation pump 330.

[0100] Here, the tub drainage pipe 211, the housing 310, and the tub circulation pipe 213 may be defined as a “circulation flow channel” through which water discharged from the tub 170 circulates and is re-supplied to the tub 170.

[0101] In addition, water introduced into the housing 310 may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet via the pump drainage pipe 215 by the drainage pump 450. That is, the tub drainage pipe 211, the housing 310, and the pump drainage pipe 215 may be defined as a “drainage flow channel” through which water inside the tub 170 is discharged to the outside.

[0102] In one example, when the detergent pipe 450 includes a plurality of detergent pipes, the detergent may not be sufficiently mixed with water when the plurality of detergent pipes are connected only to the tub drainage pipe 211 or only to the tub circulation pipe 213 to supply the detergents.

[0103] For example, when the detergent pipe 450 includes the plurality of detergent pipes and the plurality of detergent pipes are all connected only to the tub drainage pipe 211, a certain amount of detergent is injected into the tub drainage pipe 211. In this regard, because the detergent in a relatively high concentration state before being mixed with water is supplied to the tub drainage pipe 211, mixing of water and the detergent may not occur sufficiently within the tub drainage pipe 211, and thus there may be a limitation in increasing a contact area between water and the detergent.

[0104] In addition, the tub drainage pipe 211 provides a flow channel through which water stored in the tub 170 is discharged. Because a flow rate of water is high, the mixing with the detergent may not occur effectively.

[0105] Accordingly, in the present disclosure, the detergent pipes 450 may be connected to locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump 330, respectively, based on water flowing through the circulation flow channel by the circulation pump 330, and supply detergents (see FIGS. 10, 13, 15, and 17).

[0106] Accordingly, a detergent supplied to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330 may be actively mixed with water while passing through the circulation pump 330 and transition from a relatively high concentration state to a relatively low concentration state, and a detergent supplied to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 may be diffused into water inside the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213 and transition from the relatively high concentration state to the relatively low concentration state.

[0107] That is, the present disclosure may increase the contact area and a contact time of water and the detergent within the circulation flow channel and allow the detergent to be mixed with water more effectively by supplying a certain amount of detergent separately to locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0108] In addition, in the present disclosure, one of a first detergent pipe 451 and a second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330 and the other may be connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0109] Accordingly, the first detergent supplied via the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent supplied via the second detergent pipe 452 are separately supplied to the locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump 330. The first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from clumping together and becoming stuck within the circulation flow channel.

[0110] That is, the present disclosure may prevent the first detergent and the second detergent from being clumped and stuck by supplying the first detergent and the second detergent to different spaces of the circulation flow channel.

[0111] In addition, the first detergent is discharged to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, passes through the circulation pump 330, and reaches the second detergent pipe 452 in the relatively low concentration state. Further, the second detergent is discharged to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, passes through the tub 170, and reaches the first detergent pipe 451 in the relatively low concentration state.

[0112] That is, in the present disclosure, the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 may be arranged such that the detergents in the relatively high concentration state are prevented from reaching the different detergent pipes.

[0113] Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the first detergent pipe 451 is described as being connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, and the second detergent pipe 452 is described as being connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, but the present disclosure should be interpreted as not being limited thereto.

[0114] To improve reliability of the water circulation by the circulation flow channel and the drainage flow channel, the circulation pump 330 and the drainage pump 350 may be controlled by the controller (not shown), so that when one pump operates, the other one may stop operating.

[0115] In addition, the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 of the detergent supplier 400 may be discharged to the outside of the detergent storage 430 by the detergent pump 440 and supplied to the pump assembly 300, preferably the housing 310, via the detergent pipe 450. That is, the detergent supplier 400, the detergent pipe 450, the housing 310, and the tub circulation pipe 213 may be defined as a “detergent supply flow channel”. That is, the detergent supplier 400 may supply the detergent to the tub 170 via the detergent supply flow channel.

[0116] In one example, when the detergent is directly supplied to the tub 170, the detergent that has not been completely mixed with water comes into contact with the laundry inside the drum 150, so that the laundry may be damaged depending on a material of the laundry, and the laundry may capture the detergent, causing the concentration of the detergent inside the tub to become uneven.

[0117] Accordingly, the present disclosure may increase efficiency of the laundry treatment by supplying water and the detergent together to the housing 310 of the pump assembly 300, mixing them, and then supplying them to the tub 170.

[0118] More specifically, the housing 310 may define a space in which water introduced from the tub drainage pipe 211 and the detergent introduced from the detergent pipe 450 are mixed together.

[0119] When the detergent supplied via the detergent supply flow channel is supplied to the housing 310, water and the detergent are mixed together inside the housing 310 to form a laundry solution, and then the a laundry solution is supplied to the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213, so that the detergent may be supplied to the tub 170 at a more uniform concentration, compared to when the detergent is directly supplied to the tub 170.

[0120] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing laundry treatment performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 4, the laundry treatment of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include sensing an amount of laundry loaded into the drum 150 (S10), supplying the detergent (S20), performing the laundry washing cycle during the laundry treatment by rotating the driver 155 based on a set algorithm (S30), primarily rinsing the laundry accommodated in the drum 150 (S40), supplying the softener via the detergent supplier 400, secondarily rinsing the laundry accommodated in the drum 150 (S60), and draining water accommodated inside the tub 170 and dehydrating the laundry (S70).

[0122] Although not shown in the drawing, steps before and after the laundry washing cycle (S30), primary rinsing (S40), and secondary rinsing (S60) steps may include supplying water to the tub 170 and discharging water from the tub.

[0123] The laundry amount sensing step (S10) may measure the amount (a weight) of the laundry accommodated in the drum 150 by a difference in current values sensed by rotating the driver 155. Values of a first detergent amount and a second detergent amount, which will be described later, may be determined in advance based on the measured laundry amount.

[0124] The laundry detergent supply step (S20) is a step of supplying the detergent used in the laundry washing cycle (S30). The laundry detergent supply step (S20) may include operating the circulation pump 330 (S21), determining a supply amount of the first detergent based on the measured laundry amount value by the controller (not shown) (S23), and operating the first detergent pump 441 to supply the first detergent to the housing 310 (S25).

[0125] Here, an order in which the first detergent and the second detergent are injected is irrelevant. That is, the laundry detergent supply step (S20) may be a step of operating the second detergent pump 442 and supplying the second detergent, unlike the drawing.

[0126] In addition, the circulation pump operating step (S21) and the detergent amount determination step (S23) may be performed in a reverse order. That is, as long as the first detergent injection step (S25) is the last step of the laundry detergent supply step (S20), it shall be considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0127] In the primary rinsing step (S40), the detergent may not be supplied, but external water may be supplied, so that the driver 155 may be rotated by the controller based on a set algorithm.

[0128] The softener supply step (S50) may include operating the circulation pump (S51), determining a detergent amount of the second detergent set in advance based on the laundry amount value measured in the laundry amount sensing step (S10) (S53), and supplying the second detergent by the second detergent pump 442 based on the set detergent amount.

[0129] In the softener supply step (S50), the first detergent may be supplied or detergent the same as the first detergent may be supplied. Furthermore, as long as the softener supply step (S50) involves the supply of the second detergent, an order of the circulation pump operating step (S51) and the detergent amount determination step (S53) may be changed.

[0130] As described above, times at which the first detergent and the second detergent are supplied by the detergent supplier 400 may be different from each other. Alternatively, the first detergent and the second detergent may be supplied at the same time in the laundry detergent supply step (S20) and the softener supply step (S50).

[0131] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 at a lower portion of the cabinet 100 in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0132] Referring to FIG. 5, the cabinet 100 may include the base 190 that is disposed at the lower portion thereof and provides a space in which various equipment may be installed.

[0133] The detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be coupled to the base 190. The detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be disposed at the rear (in the −X-axis direction) of the supply panel 140, and may be at least partially exposed to the outside when the supply cover 145 is opened.

[0134] In addition, the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be in communication with each other via the detergent pipe 450. The detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be disposed adjacent to each other to reduce an extension length of the detergent pipe 450 and simplify a piping structure.

[0135] Specifically, the detergent supplier 400 may be disposed adjacent to a first panel among panels forming both side surfaces (in the Y-axis) of the cabinet 100, and the pump assembly 300 may be disposed adjacent to a second panel facing the first panel among the panels forming both side surfaces of the cabinet 100, so that they may be arranged in parallel with each other in a width direction of the cabinet.

[0136] The housing 310 of the pump assembly 300 may be disposed below the tub 170, and may be in communication with the tub drainage pipe 213, the tub circulation pipe 213, the pump drainage pipe 215, and the detergent pipe 450.

[0137] In other words, to simplify a piping relationship of pipes connected to the housing 310 of the pump assembly, the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be arranged in parallel with each other in the width direction at a location below the tub 170.

[0138] With such a structure, a piping structure may be simplified.

[0139] In one example, the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 of the detergent pipe 450 may be connected to different locations on the housing 310.

[0140] Specifically, one of the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, and the remaining pipe may be connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0141] With such an arrangement structure, each of the first detergent discharged from the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent discharged from the second detergent pipe 452 may be more efficiently mixed within the circulation flow channel.

[0142] A connection relationship between the detergent pipe 450 and the housing 310 will be described later.

[0143] Hereinafter, the pump assembly 300 according to first to third embodiments will be described, but this is only for a purpose of describing in detail a connection relationship between the pump assembly 300 and the detergent pipe 450, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to respective embodiments to be described later.

[0144] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300a according to a first embodiment.

[0145] Referring to FIG. 6, the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment may include the housing 310 to which the tub pipes 211 and 213, the pump drainage pipe 215, and the detergent pipe 450 are connected and defining a space in which a fluid flows therein, the circulation pump 330 that is disposed on the housing 310 and re-supplies water introduced into the housing 310 to the tub 170, the drainage pump 350 that is disposed on the housing 310 and discharges water introduced into the housing 310 to the outside, and the filter assembly 390 (see FIG. 8) that is disposed inside the housing 310 and filters the foreign substances or the lint.

[0146] A pump assembly 300a according to a first embodiment is structured such that both the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 are connected to the housing 310, unlike in other embodiments to be described later.

[0147] In the structure of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment, the detergent pipe 450 directly connects the detergent supplier 400 to the pump assembly 300, preferably the housing 310, thereby minimizing transmission of the vibration occurring in the tub 170 to the detergent pipe 450.

[0148] More specifically, the vibration occurred in the tub 170 may be primarily attenuated by the support 175, and secondarily attenuated by a bellows that may be formed in the tub drainage pipe 211 or the tub circulation pipe 213, so that the vibration may be applied to the pump assembly 300 to a minimum. In addition, the pump assembly 300 may be coupled to a base 190 (see FIG. 6) disposed on a bottom surface of the cabinet 100, and the vibration may be attenuated thirdly by the base 190.

[0149] That is, by connecting the detergent pipe 450 to the pump assembly 300, where the vibration of the tub is attenuated to the maximum, and supplying the detergent, the reliability of the detergent supply of the detergent supplier 400 by the detergent pipe 450 may be improved.

[0150] In one example, the housing 310 may include a water collecting housing 311 into which water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced and to which the tub drainage pipe 211 is connected, a circulation housing 313 that is in communication with the water collecting housing 311 and provides a space where the circulation pump 330 is coupled, and a drainage housing 315 that is in communication with the water collecting housing 311 and provides a space where the drainage pump 350 is coupled.

[0151] In addition, the housing 310 may include housing ports 361, 363, and 365 that provide spaces where the tub pipes 211 and 213 and the pump drainage pipe 215 are connected, and detergent ports 371 and 372 connected to the detergent pipe 450 and into which the detergent is introduced.

[0152] The housing ports 361, 363, and 365 may protrude to the outside of the housing. The housing ports 361, 363, and 365 may include a water collecting port 361 that is disposed on the water collecting housing 311, is connected to the tub drainage pipe 211, and receives water stored in the tub, a circulation port 363 disposed on the circulation housing 313 and through which water or the detergent introduced into the circulation housing 313 by the circulation pump 330 is discharged to the tub circulation pipe 213, and a drainage port 365 disposed on the drainage housing 315 and through which water introduced into the drainage housing 315 by the drainage pump 350 is discharged to the pump drainage pipe 215.

[0153] As shown in the drawing, the water collecting port 361 may extend rearward of the housing 310. Accordingly, water introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 may hit a front side of the water collecting housing 311 once and form an irregular waterflow inside, thereby improving efficiency of mixing with the detergent introduced by the detergent pipe.

[0154] In addition, the water collecting port 361 and the drainage port 365 may be disposed in parallel with each other for the piping simplification. Preferably, the water collecting port 361 and the drainage port 365 may be formed by extending rearward of the housing 310.

[0155] The circulation port 363 may be disposed so as not to face the water collecting port 361 and a circulation hole 3113 (see FIG. 9) of the water collecting housing 311.

[0156] In other words, because a flow angle of the fluid changes while water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 by the water collecting port 361 passes through the circulation housing 313 and the circulation port 363, mixing efficiency of water and the detergent may be improved accordingly.

[0157] Preferably, the water collecting port 361 may be disposed to extend rearward from the water collecting housing 311, the circulation housing 311 may be disposed to extend laterally from the water collecting housing 311, and the circulation port 363 may be disposed to extend upward from the water collecting housing 311.

[0158] The detergent ports 371 and 372 may be formed to protrude outward from the housing 310. The detergent ports 371 and 372 may include a first detergent port 371 connected to the first detergent pipe 451, and a second detergent port 372 connected to the second detergent pipe 452.

[0159] In the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment, the first detergent pipe 451 is connected to the water collecting housing 311, and the second detergent pipe 452 is disposed on the circulation housing 313 so as to be disposed downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0160] The first detergent port 371 may extend not parallel to the water collecting port 361, preferably perpendicular thereto, and the second detergent port 372 may extend so as not to face the circulation port 363 and the circulation hole 3113, preferably perpendicular thereto.

[0161] In addition, the first detergent port 371 may be disposed to extend upward from the water collecting port 361 or the water collecting housing 311, and the second detergent port 372 may extend rearward from the circulation port 363 or the circulation housing 313.

[0162] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 1-1′ in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 2-2′ in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3′ in FIG. 6. Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0163] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the circulation housing 313. As described above, the circulation housing 313 may provide a space in which the circulation pump 330 is disposed such that water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 is discharged.

[0164] That is, at least a portion of the circulation pump 330, preferably a circulation impeller 3331 of the circulation pump 330, may be disposed inside the circulation housing 313, so that water introduced into the circulation housing 311 may flow into the tub circulation pipe 213 via the circulation housing 313 and the circulation port 363.

[0165] The circulation housing 313 may include the circulation port 363 through which water is discharged, and the second detergent port 372 disposed in the circulation port 363 or the circulation housing 313. Water introduced via the water collecting housing 311 is introduced into the circulation housing 313 via the circulation hole 3113.

[0166] In addition, the circulation housing 313 may include the second detergent port 372, so that the second detergent may be introduced into the circulation housing 313.

[0167] Water and the detergent introduced into the circulation housing 313 may be mixed with each other in an internal space of the circulation housing 313, and may be discharged together to the tub circulation pipe 213 via the circulation port 363 by the circulation impeller 3331 and supplied to the tub 170.

[0168] The second detergent port 372 may be disposed so as not to face the circulation port 363, preferably perpendicular thereto. As the second detergent port 372 is disposed in this manner, an angle between a flow direction of water discharged to the circulation port 363 and a flow direction of the detergent introduced into the second detergent port 372 is maximized, thereby allowing water and the detergent to be mixed together better.

[0169] In addition, a detergent check valve 375 may be disposed in the second detergent pipe 452 or the second detergent port 372. The detergent check valve is designed to allow only a movement of the fluid from the detergent supplier 400 toward the pump assembly 300, and to block a movement of the fluid from the pump assembly 300 to the detergent supplier 400.

[0170] In addition, the detergent check valve 375 may be disposed not only in the second detergent pipe 452 or the second detergent port 372, but also in the first detergent pipe 451 or the first detergent port 371.

[0171] In the drawing, the second detergent port 372 is disposed on the circulation housing 313 as an example, but a case in which the first detergent port 371 is disposed on the circulation housing 313 and the second detergent port 372 is disposed on the water collecting housing 311 may also be considered to belong to the pump assembly 300a of the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0172] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the water collecting housing 311. Referring to FIG. 8, the water collecting housing 311 may include the water collecting port 361 and the first detergent port 371, and may have a space in which the fluid may flow defined therein.

[0173] That is, water introduced from the tub drainage pipe 211 via the water collecting port 361 and the detergent introduced from the first detergent pipe 451 via the first detergent port 371 may be introduced into the water collecting housing 311.

[0174] As described above, the first detergent port 371 and the water collecting port 361 are arranged so as not to face each other, so that the flow direction of water introduced from the water collecting port 361 and the flow of the detergent introduced from the first detergent port 371 are misaligned with each other, preferably perpendicular to each other, thereby improving the mixing efficiency with water without precipitating highly concentrated detergent.

[0175] In addition, the first detergent port 371 or the first detergent pipe 451 may include the detergent check valve 375, so as to allow a movement of the fluid from the detergent supplier 400 to the water collecting housing 311 and block a movement of the fluid from the water collecting housing 311 to the detergent supplier 400.

[0176] In addition, the water collecting housing 311 may be a first space where water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced into the pump assembly 300, and the foreign substances or the lint discharged from the tub 170 may be introduced thereinto together.

[0177] Accordingly, the water collecting housing 311 of the pump assembly 300 of the present disclosure may be equipped with the filter assembly 390. The filter assembly 390 is constructed such that at least a portion thereof is disposed in the internal space of the water collecting housing 311 and is able to be extended from the water collecting housing 311.

[0178] The filter assembly 390 may include a filter handle 391 that is positioned outside the water collecting housing 311 and is exposed from the supply panel 140, a filter member 393 that extends from the filter handle 391 in a rearward direction of the water collecting housing 311 and filters the foreign substances or the lint, and a filter sealing 395 that seals a space between the filter member 393 or the filter handle 391 and the water collecting housing 311 such that water does not leak.

[0179] The user may open the supply cover 145, hold the filter handle 391 exposed through the supply panel 140, and extend the filter handle 391 forward to separate the filter assembly 390 from the water collecting housing 311.

[0180] The user may wash the separated filter assembly 390 or replace the filter assembly 390, and then push the same back rearward from the supply panel 140 to mount the filter assembly 390 in the water collecting housing 311.

[0181] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly 300a. Referring to FIG. 9, the circulation housing 313 may be disposed on one side of the water collecting housing 311, and the drainage housing 315 may be disposed on the other side of the water collecting housing 311.

[0182] The circulation pump 330 may include a circulation pump casing 331 forming at least a portion of an outer appearance of the circulation pump, and a circulation motor assembly 333 disposed inside the circulation pump casing 331.

[0183] The circulation pump casing 331 may be constructed to accommodate at least a portion of the circulation motor assembly 333 therein, and may be coupled to the circulation housing 313.

[0184] That is, the circulation housing 313 may be formed in a shape in which one side facing the water collecting housing 311 is open, and the circulation pump casing 331 may be constructed to shield the open portion.

[0185] The circulation motor assembly 333 may be at least partially accommodated in the circulation pump casing 331, and the remaining portion thereof may be accommodated in the circulation housing 313.

[0186] The circulation motor assembly 332 may include the circulation impeller 3331 that is rotatably disposed in the circulation housing 313, a circulation motor 3333 that is accommodated in the circulation pump casing 331 and generates a driving force, and a rotation shaft 3332 that connects the circulation motor 3333 with the circulation impeller 3331 and transmits the driving force of the circulation motor 3333 to the circulation impeller 3331.

[0187] The drainage pump 350 may include a drainage pump casing 351 forming at least a portion of an outer appearance of the circulation pump, and a drainage motor assembly 353 disposed inside the drainage pump casing 351.

[0188] The drainage pump casing 351 may be constructed to accommodate at least a portion of the drainage motor assembly 353 therein, and may be coupled with the drainage housing 315.

[0189] That is, the drainage housing 315 may be formed in a shape in which one side facing the water collecting housing 311 is open, and the drainage pump casing 351 may shield the open portion.

[0190] The drainage motor assembly 353 may be at least partially accommodated in the drainage pump casing 351, and the remaining portion thereof may be accommodated in the drainage housing 315.

[0191] The drainage motor assembly 353 may include a drainage impeller 3531 that is rotatably disposed in the drainage housing 315, a drainage motor 3533 that is accommodated in the drainage pump casing 351 and generates a driving force, and a rotation shaft 3352 that connects the drainage motor 3533 with the drainage impeller 3531 and transmits the driving force of the drainage motor 3533 to the drainage impeller 3531 and rotates the same.

[0192] The water collecting housing 311 may be connected to each of the circulation housing 313 and the drainage housing 315. More specifically, the water collecting housing 311 may have the circulation housing 313 disposed on one side thereof, and may include the circulation hole 3113 in communication with the circulation housing 313. In addition, the water collecting housing 311 may have the drainage housing 315 on the other side thereof, and may include a drainage hole 3115 in communication with the drainage housing 315.

[0193] In other words, water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the tub drainage pipe 211 may move to the circulation housing 313 via the circulation hole 3113 or move to the drainage housing 315 via the drainage hole 3115.

[0194] In addition, the detergent introduced via the first detergent pipe 451 may also move to the circulation housing 313 via the circulation hole 3113.

[0195] The circulation hole 3113 allows the water collecting housing 311 and the circulation housing 313 to be in communication with each other, and preferably has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the water collecting housing 311 or the circulation housing 313.

[0196] As the circulation hole 3113 is formed with such a size, a pressure increases as water and the detergent introduced into the water collecting housing 311 pass through a narrow passage (the circulation hole 3113), and as a result, the mixing efficiency of water and the detergent may increase.

[0197] Although the present disclosure exemplifies that the housing 310, the circulation pump casing 331, and the drainage pump casing 351 are coupled with each other to form an overall outer appearance of the pump assembly 300, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it should be understood that the housing 310, the circulation pump 330, and the drainage pump 350 may each be implemented in a structure in which they are separated and spaced apart from each other and are in communication with each other by separate pipes.

[0198] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing circulation of water and the detergent along the pump assembly 300a of the first embodiment.

[0199] Referring to FIG. 10, water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the tub drainage pipe 211, and the first detergent stored in the first detergent storage 431 is also introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the first detergent pipe 451.

[0200] Water and the first detergent introduced into the water collecting housing 311 are introduced into the circulation housing 313 by the flow generated by the circulation pump 330.

[0201] In addition, in the circulation housing 313, the second detergent stored in the second detergent storage 432 is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the second detergent pipe 452.

[0202] In other words, the first detergent and the second detergent introduced into the circulation housing 313 may be mixed with water and discharged to the outside of the circulation housing 313 via the circulation port 363.

[0203] According to the pump assembly 300a of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, not only may the detergent pipe 450 be minimized from being damaged by the vibration of the tub 170, but also the first detergent and the second detergent may be minimized from clumping together and being stuck.

[0204] When the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the first tub pipe 451, it will be mixed with water inside the water collecting housing 311, be introduced into the circulation housing 313, and be actively mixed with water by a vortex caused by the circulation impeller 3331, so that it may become in the relatively low concentration state.

[0205] Then, the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state is supplied to the circulation housing 313 or the circulation port 363 from the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 via the second tub pipe 452.

[0206] In this regard, the first detergent and the second detergent may come into contact with each other at the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, but because the first detergent in the relatively low concentration state and the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state come into contact with each other, the first detergent and the second detergent may be minimized from clumping together and being stuck within the circulation flow channel.

[0207] In other words, more specifically, according to first to fourth embodiments of the present disclosure, the first detergent in the high concentration state and the second detergent in the high concentration state may be prevented from being mixed together.

[0208] In addition, as described above, the circulation flow channel may be defined to include the tub drainage pipe 211, the housing 310, and the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0209] In the first to fourth embodiments, based on a fluid flowing by the circulation pump 330 in the circulation flow channel, upstream of the circulation pump 330 may include the tub drainage pipe 211 and the water collecting housing 311, and downstream of the circulation pump 330 may include the circulation housing 313 and the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0210] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300b of a second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent by the pump assembly 300b.

[0211] A description redundant with the description of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment above will be omitted.

[0212] Referring to FIG. 11, the pump assembly 300b according to the second embodiment has a first detergent port 371, which is connected to a first detergent pipe 451, connected to a circulation port 361 on the circulation housing 313. A second detergent port 372 connected to the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed on the tub drainage pipe 211, or the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected to the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0213] Unlike in the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment described above, based on the flow of water flowing by the circulation pump 330 in the housing 310, the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, and the first detergent pipe 451 is connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, more specifically, upstream of the water collecting housing 311 of the pump assembly 300b.

[0214] Accordingly, the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state supplied by the first detergent pipe 451 may be mixed to some extent with water discharged from the tub 170 in the tub drainage pipe 211, then be mixed again by a vortex that may occur in the internal space of the water collecting housing 311 and lower a degree of concentration, and then pass through the circulation housing 313 equipped with the circulation pump 330 and become in the low concentration state by strong rotation by the impeller 3131.

[0215] The second detergent in the relatively high concentration state supplied by the second detergent pipe 452 may be supplied to the circulation housing 313 or the circulation port 363 located downstream of the circulation housing 313 by the second detergent port 372.

[0216] That is, as the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state is supplied in a section where the first detergent is dissolved in the low concentration state, not only may the first detergent and the second detergent be effectively mixed with water throughout the circulation flow channel, but also the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state and the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state may be prevented from being mixed with each other.

[0217] It is preferable that the second detergent port 372 is disposed on the circulation port 363. This is because the second detergent may be supplied while the first detergent is sufficiently mixed with water and dissolved, and the detergent remaining in the pump assembly 300b may be minimized because the circulation port 363 is disposed at the most downstream of the pump assembly 300b based on water flowing through the pump assembly 300b by the circulation pump 330.

[0218] Referring to FIG. 12, water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 is discharged from the housing 310 by the circulation port 363 and flows to the tub 170 along the tub circulation pipe 213. The first detergent is supplied to the tub drainage pipe 211, which is located upstream of the water collecting housing 311, via the first detergent pipe 451. The second detergent may be supplied to the circulation housing 313 or the circulation port 363, which is located downstream of the water collecting housing 311, via the second detergent pipe 452.

[0219] The first detergent and the second detergent may be sufficiently mixed with water drained from the tub 170 along the circulation flow channel by water flowing by the circulation pump 330 and then supplied back to the tub 170.

[0220] FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300c of a third embodiment, FIG. 14 is a specific example of the pump assembly 300c, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing by the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment.

[0221] FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate the pump assembly 300c according to the third embodiment, and a description redundant with the descriptions of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment and the pump assembly 300b according to the second embodiment above will be omitted.

[0222] Referring to FIG. 13, the first detergent pipe 451 may be connected to the water collecting housing 311 by the first detergent port 371 and supply the first detergent to a location downstream of the circulation pump 330. Because the first detergent pipe 451 is directly connected to the water collecting housing 311, influence caused by the vibration of the tub 170 may be minimized.

[0223] In addition, the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213. The second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 by the second detergent port (not shown), or the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected thereto.

[0224] Because the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment discharges the second detergent to the location downstream of the pump assembly 310, the first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from being in direct contact with each other inside the pump assembly 300c.

[0225] In addition, because the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 and may be disposed further away from the circulation pump 330, influence of the vibration by the circulation pump 330 may also be minimized.

[0226] Referring to FIG. 14, this is one specific embodiment of the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment. According to FIG. 14, the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed close to the circulation port 363.

[0227] More specifically, the tub circulation pipe 213 may be connected to the tub 170 at one side and connected to the pump assembly 300c at the other side. In this regard, the second detergent pipe 452 may be located closer to the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213 than to one side.

[0228] With such an arrangement, a length of a pipe of the second detergent pipe 452 may be reduced. By concentrating the piping structure on the pump assembly 300 disposed under the tub 170, a center of gravity may be concentrated on the pump assembly 300 and structural stability may be achieved.

[0229] In addition, the tub circulation pipe 213 may be formed in a shape in which the other side is branched into a detergent inflow portion 2131 to which one of the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 is connected and a circulation port connection portion 2132 connected to the circulation port 363. Based on the diagram, a case in which the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the detergent inflow portion 2131 will be described.

[0230] The detergent inflow portion 2131 and the circulation port connection portion 2132 may be formed integrally by extending from the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213, or may be formed as separate connector members and connected to the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213. FIG. 14 illustrates a structure in which the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213 is formed integrally with the detergent inflow portion 2131 and the circulation port connection portion 2132.

[0231] That is, a distal end at the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213 is branched into the portions and the portions are connected to the circulation port 363 and the second detergent pipe 452, respectively, so that water and the second detergent may be introduced together at the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0232] With such a structure, because the second detergent pipe 452 may be positioned close to the circulation pump 330, water discharged from the circulation port 363 at a relatively high flow rate by the circulation pump 330 and the detergent supplied from the second detergent pipe 452 may be brought into contact with each other, so that the detergent discharged from the second detergent pipe 452 may be effectively mixed with water.

[0233] Because the second detergent may continuously be in contact with water while moving from the other side to one side of the tub circulation pipe 213, a contact time and a contact trajectory with water may be increased, so that the detergent may be mixed more smoothly with water while passing through the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0234] In addition, the detergent inflow portion 2131 may form an acute angle based on one side thereof connected to the circulation port connection portion 2132 and the housing 310. That is, the detergent inflow portion 2131 may form the acute angle with the circulation port 363.

[0235] In other words, referring to an enlarged view at a right side of FIG. 14, because an incident angle between the second detergent supplied from the second detergent pipe 452 connected to the detergent inflow portion 2131 and water discharged from the circulation port 363 connected to the circulation port connection portion 2132 corresponds to the acute angle, the second detergent may be mixed without interfering with the movement of water, and thus a contact area between the second detergent and water may be further increased. As a result, the second detergent may be effectively mixed with water.

[0236] When, on the contrary, the incident angle between the second detergent and water becomes greater than a right angle, the second detergent may be supplied to the tub circulation pipe 213 in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of water introduced from the circulation port connection portion 2132. In this case, because the direction of movement of the second detergent and the direction of movement of water are opposite to each other, bubbles may be generated because of friction between the second detergent and water. When the bubbles are generated in the tub circulation pipe 213, movement inside the tub circulation pipe 213 may be impeded, or the second detergent may be stuck inside the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0237] In one example, the second detergent pipe 452 is equipped with a detergent check valve 375 to block water from being introduced into the second detergent pipe 452, but to allow the detergent from the second detergent pipe 452 to be supplied to the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0238] The pump assembly 300c according to FIG. 14 is one of various structures of the pump assembly 300c according to the third embodiment, and the third embodiment of the present disclosure should be interpreted as not being limited to the pump assembly 300c according to FIG. 14.

[0239] Referring to FIG. 15, water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 flows into the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213 by the circulation port 361.

[0240] The first detergent is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 by the first detergent pipe 451. The first detergent introduced into the water collecting housing 311 may be mixed with water and be introduced into the circulation housing 313, and may be in the relatively low concentration state by the strong flow generated by the circulation pump 330 in the circulation housing 313.

[0241] The second detergent is introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 or the detergent inflow portion 2131 by the second detergent pipe 452. The second detergent introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 is mixed with water introduced from the circulation port 363 and moves to the tub 170. The second detergent that has moved to the tub 170 may be in the relatively low concentration state.

[0242] With such a structure, the first detergent and the second detergent may be supplied to the tub 170 in the relatively low concentration state, that is, in a state in which detergent concentration is minimized by sufficient mixing with water.

[0243] FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300d of a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing by the pump assembly 300d of the fourth embodiment.

[0244] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the pump assembly 300d according to the fourth embodiment, and a description redundant with the descriptions of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment to the pump assembly 300c according to the third embodiment above will be omitted.

[0245] Referring to FIG. 16, the first detergent pipe 451 may be connected to the tub drainage pipe 211. The first detergent pipe 451 may be connected to the tub drainage pipe 211 by the first detergent port (not shown), or a distal end of the first detergent pipe 451 may be directly connected to the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0246] The second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213. The second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 by the second detergent port (not shown) or a distal end of the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected to the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0247] That is, in the fourth embodiment, the first detergent pipe 451 is connected to the pump assembly 300d at a location upstream of the water collecting housing 311, and the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the pump assembly 300d at a location downstream of the circulation housing 313.

[0248] With such a structure, the first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from being in direct contact with each other inside the pump assembly 300d. In addition, a distance between a point where the first detergent is supplied and a point where the second detergent is supplied may be as great as possible based on the flow of the fluid in the circulation flow channel (including the tub drainage pipe, the housing, and the tub circulation pipe), so that the first detergent and the second detergent may come into contact with each other while sufficiently dissolved in water.

[0249] Referring to FIG. 16, the first detergent is introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 by the first detergent pipe 451. The first detergent introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 is mixed with water, passes through the water collecting housing 311 and the circulation housing 313 in sequence, and flows into the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0250] At this time, the first detergent introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 is in the relatively high concentration state, but is able to become in the relatively low concentration state when it passes through the water collecting housing 311 and the circulation housing 313 in sequence and reaches the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0251] The second detergent is introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 by the second detergent pipe 452 and flows into the tub 170 together with water introduced from the circulation port 363. At this time, the second detergent introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 is in the relatively high concentration state, but is able to become in the relatively low concentration state when it passes through the tub circulation pipe 213 and the tub 170 and reaches the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0252] With such a structure, the first detergent and the second detergent may be supplied to the tub 170 in the relatively low concentration state, that is, in a state in which the detergent concentration is minimized by the sufficient mixing with water.

[0253] In addition, by making the movement distance of the fluid between a connection point of the circulation flow channel and the first detergent pipe 451 and a connection point of the circulation flow channel and the second detergent pipe 452 as great as possible, the direct contact between the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state and the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state within the circulation flow channel may be prevented.

[0254] In addition, because the first detergent and the second detergent are supplied in a distributed manner to the upstream and the downstream respectively based on the flow of the circulation pump 330 within the circulation flow channel, the detergent may be mixed more effectively in water, and as a result, a detergent solution in which water and the detergent are sufficiently mixed may be supplied into the tub 170.

[0255] Although the above-description has been given with the example of the case in which the first detergent and the second detergent are discharged together such that supply times thereof overlap each other, when constructed with a structure similar to the pump assemblies 300a, 300b, 300c, and 300d according to the first to fourth embodiments described above, it should be interpreted as falling within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, even when the supply times of the first detergent and the second detergent do not overlap each other as in FIG. 4, it should be understood as falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0256] Further, as described above, the distinction between the first detergent and the second detergent is only for convenience of description. The first detergent and the second detergent may be the same, or may be different, such as one being the laundry detergent and the other being the fabric softener.

[0257] (a) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that the second detergent pipe 452 does not have the detergent check valve 375, and (b) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that the second detergent pipe 452 is equipped with the detergent check valve 375.

[0258] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452, more preferably, the second detergent pipe 452 may be equipped with the detergent check valve 375.

[0259] In the present disclosure, as the detergent check valve 375 is disposed in the second detergent pipe 452, an amount of the second detergent supplied by the detergent supplier 400 may become constant.

[0260] Based on the movement of the fluid flowing in the circulation flow channel, a negative pressure may be formed upstream of the circulation pump 330 and a positive pressure may be formed downstream of the circulation pump 330 by the circulation pump 330.

[0261] In addition, when the first detergent is supplied, a positive pressure may be formed inside the first detergent pipe 451 by the first detergent pump 441, and when the second detergent is supplied, a positive pressure may be formed inside the second detergent pipe 452 by the second detergent pump 442.

[0262] However, when the detergent is not supplied and only water is circulated (for example, the primary rinsing (S40) step in FIG. 4), the first detergent pump 441 and the second detergent pump 442 may not operate.

[0263] Because the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 are in association with the circulation flow channel, a negative pressure may be formed inside the first detergent pipe 451 and a positive pressure may be formed inside the second detergent pipe 452 by the circulation pump 330.

[0264] When the negative pressure is formed inside the first detergent pipe 451, a small amount of water or the first detergent remaining inside the first detergent pipe 451 may be discharged to the inside of the circulation flow channel (specifically, upstream of the circulation pump 330) by the pressure. As a result, no water remains inside the first detergent pipe 451 by the pressure.

[0265] Because no water remains inside the first detergent pipe 451 even when the first detergent pump 441 is stopped (i.e., because water is not pumped by the first detergent pump 441), the amount of the first detergent supplied by the first detergent pump 441 may be constant.

[0266] In other words, when water remains inside the first detergent pipe 451, water is also supplied when the detergent pump 441 is operated by the controller, so that the amount of the first detergent supplied may be less than a preset detergent amount by an amount of remaining water.

[0267] However, in the present disclosure, because the negative pressure is formed inside the first detergent pipe 451 and water is not introduced into the first detergent pipe 451, even when the laundry treatment is repeated several times, the first detergent supply amount may be constant as an amount calculated by the controller.

[0268] On the other hand, referring to (a) in FIG. 18, a positive pressure may be formed inside the second detergent pipe 452. When the circulation pump 330 operates while the second detergent pump 442 is stopped, the detergent remaining in the second detergent pipe 452 is not discharged to the circulation flow channel because of the positive pressure.

[0269] That is, when the circulation pump 330 operates while the second detergent pump 442 is stopped, water may be introduced into the second detergent pipe 452 by an amount corresponding to a predetermined distance a of a length L of the second detergent pipe, and the second detergent may remain by an amount corresponding to a predetermined distance b.

[0270] At this time, when the second detergent pump 442 is operated to discharge the second detergent by an amount calculated by the controller, the amount of second detergent may not be constant because water and the second detergent are discharged together from the second detergent pipe 452.

[0271] In other words, when the fluid inside the second detergent pipe 452 is supplied by an amount corresponding to the predetermined length L via the second detergent pump 442, because water occupies the second detergent pipe 452 by the amount corresponding to the predetermined distance a, an amount of the detergent supplied corresponding to the distance b is reduced.

[0272] As a result, when the laundry treatment is repeated several times, there may be a problem that the amount of the second detergent supplied from the second detergent pipe 452 is not constant.

[0273] To solve such a problem, as shown in (b) in FIG. 18, in the present disclosure, the detergent check valve 375 may be disposed at a distal end of the second detergent pipe 452.

[0274] Even when the positive pressure is formed in the tub circulation pipe 213 by the detergent check valve 375, the inside of the second detergent pipe 452 may not be affected by the positive pressure, so that water may not be introduced into the second detergent pipe 452. At this time, the length L of the second detergent pipe 452 and the length b of the second detergent filled in the second detergent pipe 452 may be the same, and as a result, the supply of the detergent by the second detergent pump 442 may be constant.

[0275] Accordingly, in the present disclosure, even when the laundry treatment is repeated several times, the supply of the detergent by the detergent pipe connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 may become constant.

[0276] In one example, even when the check valve 375 is equipped in both the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe, it will be considered to falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0277] In addition, as described above, for the distinction between the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452, it has been described that the first detergent pipe 451 is disposed upstream of the circulation pump 330 for convenience of description, but it should be understood that it falls within the scope of the present disclosure even when the first detergent pipe 451 is disposed at the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 and the second detergent pipe 452 is disposed at the location upstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0278] Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be variously improved and changed without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure provided by the following patent claims.

Examples

first embodiment

[0144]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300a according to a

[0145]Referring to FIG. 6, the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment may include the housing 310 to which the tub pipes 211 and 213, the pump drainage pipe 215, and the detergent pipe 450 are connected and defining a space in which a fluid flows therein, the circulation pump 330 that is disposed on the housing 310 and re-supplies water introduced into the housing 310 to the tub 170, the drainage pump 350 that is disposed on the housing 310 and discharges water introduced into the housing 310 to the outside, and the filter assembly 390 (see FIG. 8) that is disposed inside the housing 310 and filters the foreign substances or the lint.

[0146]A pump assembly 300a according to a first embodiment is structured such that both the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 are connected to the housing 310, unlike in other embodiments to be described later.

[0147]In the structure of th...

second embodiment

[0210]FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300b of a second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent by the pump assembly 300b.

[0211]A description redundant with the description of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment above will be omitted.

[0212]Referring to FIG. 11, the pump assembly 300b according to the second embodiment has a first detergent port 371, which is connected to a first detergent pipe 451, connected to a circulation port 361 on the circulation housing 313. A second detergent port 372 connected to the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed on the tub drainage pipe 211, or the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected to the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0213]Unlike in the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment described above, based on the flow of water flowing by the circulation pump 330 in the housing 310, the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the location downstr...

third embodiment

[0224]Because the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment discharges the second detergent to the location downstream of the pump assembly 310, the first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from being in direct contact with each other inside the pump assembly 300c.

[0225]In addition, because the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 and may be disposed further away from the circulation pump 330, influence of the vibration by the circulation pump 330 may also be minimized.

[0226]Referring to FIG. 14, this is one specific embodiment of the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment. According to FIG. 14, the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed close to the circulation port 363.

[0227]More specifically, the tub circulation pipe 213 may be connected to the tub 170 at one side and connected to the pump assembly 300c at the other side. In this regard, the second detergent pipe 452 may be located closer to the other side of the tub...

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus, more specifically, to a laundry treating apparatus that may perform a refreshing cycle such as sterilization, wrinkle removal, deodorization, and drying of laundry.BACKGROUND

[0002] In general, a laundry treating apparatus is a home appliance that removes foreign substances from laundry using water and detergent, and includes a tub that stores water therein, a water supplier that supplies water to the tub, and a detergent supplier that is disposed on a flow channel connecting the water supplier with the tub and supplies detergent together with water to the tub.

[0003] In an existing laundry treating apparatus, the detergent supplier is in communication with the water supplier, so that when water is supplied to the tub, the detergent stored in the detergent supplier and water are supplied to the tub together.

[0004] Although such an existing laundry treating apparatus is able to guarantee a user autonomy to select a type and an amount of detergent required, there is a fundamental problem in that it is difficult to expect an appropriate amount of detergent required to be injected.

[0005] In addition, such a laundry treating apparatus also has an inconvenience of having to inject new detergent every time laundry washing is performed because all the detergent stored in the detergent supplier is injected into the tub when the detergent supplier receives water. In addition, such a laundry treating apparatus has a problem in that the laundry is damaged as non-completely mixed highly concentrated detergent comes into direct contact with the laundry.

[0006] To overcome such a problem, a laundry treating apparatus in which the detergent supplier is controlled by a controller disposed in the laundry treating apparatus to supply the appropriate amount of detergent has emerged (See Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2008-0089086).

[0007] The existing laundry treating apparatus is designed such that the detergent is supplied to a liquid detergent mixing portion disposed in a bellows that allows the tub and a circulation mechanism to be in communication with each other, so that the detergent supplied to the bellows and water discharged from the tub are supplied back to the tub via the circulation mechanism, thereby indirectly injecting the detergent into the tub.

[0008] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies the detergent only to the bellows between the tub and the circulation mechanism, there is a limitation in efficiently mixing the detergent with water circulating in the circulation mechanism.

[0009] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies a first detergent and a second detergent into one space, there is a problem that the first detergent and the second detergent clump together and remain in the bellows.

[0010] In addition, there is a laundry treating apparatus that supplies first detergent and second detergent to the tub by connecting a first detergent supply pipe that supplies the first detergent and a second detergent supply pipe that supplies the second detergent to a first connection pipe through which water of the tub is discharged and supplying the detergents, respectively (See Korean Patent Application Publication No. 2021-0060386).

[0011] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies the detergents as both a first detergent connection pipe and a second detergent connection pipe are connected to a first connection pipe through which the water in the tub is quickly discharged, there is a problem that the detergent may not be sufficiently dissolved in the first connection pipe.

[0012] Because the existing laundry treating apparatus supplies both the first detergent and the second detergent to the first connection pipe, there is a problem that the first detergent and the second detergent are stuck inside the first connection pipe.SUMMARYTechnical Problem

[0013] The present application aims to provide a structure in which detergent pipes are respectively connected to locations upstream and downstream of a circulation pump to supply detergents, thereby more effectively mixing the detergents with water.

[0014] The present application aims to provide a structure in which first and second detergents are respectively supplied to locations upstream and downstream of a circulation pump, thereby preventing the first and second detergents from clumping together.

[0015] The present application aims to provide a structure in which a piping structure may be simplified and detergent may be efficiently supplied by reducing a length of a detergent pipe that allows a detergent supplier and a housing to be in communication with each other.

[0016] The present application aims to provide a port structure in which water and detergent may be effectively mixed with each other inside a housing.Technical Solutions

[0017] To solve the above-described problems, provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet, a tub disposed inside the cabinet and constructed to store water therein, a circulator including a circulation flow channel in communication with the tub and constructed to supply water discharged from the tub back to the tub, a detergent supplier that is in communication with the circulation flow channel and supplies detergents, a first detergent pipe and a second detergent pipe connecting the detergent supplier with the circulation flow channel and constructed to allow the detergents of the detergent supplier to flow into the circulation flow channel, and a circulation pump that is disposed in the circulator and supplies water of the circulation flow channel to the tub, wherein, based on a flow of water in the circulation flow channel, the first detergent pipe is connected to the circulation flow channel at a location upstream of the circulation pump and the second detergent pipe is connected to the circulation flow channel at a location downstream of the circulation pump.

[0018] The circulation flow channel may be defined to include a housing where one of the detergents supplied from one of the first detergent pipe and the second detergent pipe and water discharged to the tub are introduced and including the circulation pump.

[0019] The housing may include a water collecting housing in communication with the tub and where water discharged from the tub is introduced, and a circulation housing disposed downstream of the water collecting housing based on the flow by the circulation pump, and constructed to discharge water introduced into the water collecting housing to outside of the housing, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the water collecting housing, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the circulation housing.

[0020] The housing may include a first detergent port connected with the first detergent pipe, and a second detergent port disposed downstream of the first detergent port and connected with the second detergent pipe, and the first detergent port may be disposed on the water collecting housing, and the second detergent port may be disposed on the circulation housing.

[0021] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a tub drainage pipe connecting the tub with the housing at a location upstream of the circulation pump, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the tub drainage pipe, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the housing.

[0022] The housing may include a water collecting housing connected to the tub drainage pipe and where water discharged from the tub is introduced, and a circulation housing disposed downstream of the water collecting housing based on the flow by the circulation pump, and constructed to discharge water introduced into the water collecting housing, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the circulation housing.

[0023] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a tub circulation pipe disposed on a downstream side of the housing and connecting the housing with the tub, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the housing, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the tub circulation pipe.

[0024] One side closer to the housing among both ends of the tub circulation pipe may be branched into a circulation port connection portion connected with the housing and a detergent inflow portion connected with the second detergent pipe.

[0025] The laundry treating apparatus may further include a tub drainage pipe connecting the tub with the housing at a location upstream of the circulation pump, and a tub circulation pipe connecting the housing with the tub at a location downstream of the circulation pump, and the first detergent pipe may be connected to the tub drainage pipe, and the second detergent pipe may be connected to the tub circulation pipe.

[0026] The detergent pipe may be constructed to supply a first detergent among the detergents of the detergent supplier, and the second detergent pipe may be constructed to supply a second detergent among the detergents of the detergent supplier, and the first detergent and the second detergent may have different chemical compositions.Advantageous Effects

[0027] The present application provides the structure in which the detergent pipes are respectively connected to the locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump to supply the detergents, thereby more effectively mixing the detergents with water.

[0028] The present application provides the structure in which the first and second detergents are respectively supplied to the locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump, thereby preventing the first and second detergents from clumping together.

[0029] The present application may simplify the piping structure and efficiently supply the detergent by reducing the length of the detergent pipe that allows the detergent supplier and the housing to be in communication with each other.

[0030] The present application may provide the port structure in which water and the detergent may be effectively mixed with each other inside the housing.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing interior of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0033] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a movement of water and detergent in a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0034] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing laundry treatment performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0035] FIG. 5 is a rear view of a detergent supplier and a pump assembly of the present disclosure.

[0036] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0037] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 1-1′ in FIG. 6.

[0038] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 2-2′ in FIG. 6.

[0039] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3′ in FIG. 6.

[0040] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent according to a first embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0041] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing a second embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0042] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent according to a second embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0043] FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view showing a third embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0044] FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a specific example of a third embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0045] FIG. 15 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing according to a third embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0046] FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view showing a fourth embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0047] FIG. 17 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing according to a fourth embodiment of a pump assembly.

[0048] (a) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that water has introduced into a detergent pipe connected to a location downstream of a circulation pump.

[0049] (b) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that water has not been introduced into a detergent pipe because of a check valve equipped in the detergent pipe in (a) in FIG. 18.BEST MODE

[0050] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. A configuration or a control method of an apparatus to be described below is only for describing embodiments of the present disclosure, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Further, reference numerals used in the same manner throughout the present document represent the same components.

[0051] A specific term used in the present document is only for convenience of description and is not used as a limitation of the illustrated embodiment.

[0052] To describe the present disclosure, the description will be made based on a spatial rectangular coordinate system by an X-axis, a Y-axis, and a Z-axis orthogonal to each other. Each axial direction (an X-axis direction, a Y-axis direction, and a Z-axis direction) means both directions in which each axis extends. Attachment of a ‘+’ sign before each axial direction (a +X-axis direction, a +Y-axis direction, and a +Z-axis direction) means a positive direction that is one of both directions in which each axis extends. Attachment of a “−” sign before each axial direction (a −X-axis direction, a −Y-axis direction, and a −Z-axis direction) means a negative direction that is the other one of both directions in which each axis extends.

[0053] Expressions referring to directions such as “front (+X) / rear (−X) / left (+Y) / right (−Y) / up (+Z) / down (−Z)” to be described below are defined along the XYZ coordinate axes, but are intended to describe the present disclosure such that the present disclosure may be clearly understood, and each direction may be defined differently depending on a reference.

[0054] Use of terms in which expressions such as ‘first, second, and third’ are attached before components to be mentioned below is only to avoid confusion of the components referred to, and is irrelevant to an order, an importance, or a master-slave relationship between the components.

[0055] For example, an invention including only the second component without the first component may be implemented.

[0056] A singular expression used in the present document includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0057] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a laundry treating apparatus and a method for controlling the same will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings.

[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an outer appearance of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0059] As illustrated in FIG. 1, a laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a cabinet 100 that forms the outer appearance of the apparatus and includes a front panel 110 forming a front surface.

[0060] The front panel 110 may be a surface of the cabinet 100 that is visible when the laundry treating apparatus 1 is viewed from the front (in an X-axis direction). A control panel (not shown) may be disposed on the front panel 110, so that a user may easily control laundry treatment of the laundry treating apparatus 1.

[0061] The front panel 110 may include a door panel 120 having an inlet 125 (see FIG. 2) at a front side thereof and a supply panel 140 disposed under the door panel 120. In addition, the front panel 110 has a door 130 that is capable of opening and closing the inlet 125.

[0062] The door panel 120 includes the inlet 125, so that laundry is able to be put into the cabinet 100. The door panel may include the control panel (not shown) for inputting a command that may control the laundry treatment of the laundry treating apparatus 1. Because the control panel is disposed at the front side of the cabinet 100 where the inlet is defined, the user may easily manipulate both the input of the laundry and the treatment of the laundry to perform the laundry treatment, thereby increasing convenience.

[0063] The supply panel 140 may be located under the door panel 120. The door panel 120 may be equipped with an apparatus that is used relatively infrequently by the user. For example, the door panel 120 may be equipped with a detergent supplier, a lint filter, and the like, which are necessary for maintenance and repair of the laundry treating apparatus 1.

[0064] That is, the door panel 120 may be equipped with the apparatus that is used frequently by the user, and the supply panel 140 may be equipped with the apparatus that is used relatively infrequently by the user.

[0065] The supply panel 140 may have a through-hole (not shown), so that at least a portion of a detergent drawer 415 of a detergent supplier 400 (see FIG. 2) or a filter assembly 390 of a pump assembly 300 (see FIG. 2) is exposed to the outside of the supply panel 140.

[0066] The supply panel 140 may include a supply cover 145 that covers the supply panel to protect and cover the detergent drawer 415 or the filter assembly 390 exposed to the outside.

[0067] The supply panel 140 may be recessed rearward (in a −X-axis direction) of the door panel 120, and the supply cover 145 may be constructed to cover the supply panel 140 by an amount of the recession. In this case, when the supply cover 145 covers the supply cover, a front surface of the supply cover 145 is constructed such that a step difference with a front surface of the door panel 120 is minimized, so that overall sense of unity and aesthetics of the front panel 110 may be improved.

[0068] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing interior of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0069] As illustrated in FIG. 2, the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a drum 150 rotatably disposed inside the cabinet 100, a tub 170 that accommodates the drum therein and stores water therein, the pump assembly 300 that is in communication with the tub and into which water discharged from the tub is introduced, and the detergent supplier 400 that supplies detergent to the tub or the pump assembly.

[0070] The drum 150 may be rotatable inside the tub 170 by a driver 155. The drum 150 may be opened such that a front side thereof is in communication with the inlet 125, and thus may accommodate therein the laundry input via the inlet 125. The drum 150 may be rotated by the driver 155 to perform the laundry treatment.

[0071] The drum 150 includes a drum hole 151. The drum 150 may allow external water to be introduced thereinto via the drum hole 151 such that water and the laundry are mixed together, and may discharge internal water into the tub 170 via the drum hole 151.

[0072] The driver 155 may be constructed such that one side thereof is coupled to a rear surface of the cabinet and the other side thereof extends through a rear surface of the tub 170 and is connected to a rear surface of the drum 150, thereby rotating the drum.

[0073] The tub 170 may have an open front side, so that the drum 150 may be accommodated inside and water supplied from the outside may be stored. The opening at the front side of the tub 170 and the inlet 125 at the front side of the drum may both be in communication with the inlet 125, and a gasket (not shown) may be disposed to prevent water from leaking.

[0074] The tub 170 may be supported inside the cabinet 100 by a support 175. The support 175 may not only support the tub 170 inside the cabinet, but may also include a buffer apparatus to offset the vibration of the tub caused by rotation of the driver.

[0075] The pump assembly 300 may be in communication with the tub 170, so that water discharged from the tub may be introduced thereinto, and the introduced water may be supplied back to the tub 170 or discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100.

[0076] The pump assembly 300 may be constructed such that water discharged from the tub 170 and the detergent supplied from the detergent supplier 400 may be introduced thereinto and mixed together. The pump assembly 300 may re-supply detergent liquid in which water and the detergent are mixed together to the tub 170.

[0077] More specifically, the pump assembly 300 may include a housing 310 (see FIG. 6) into which water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced and forming at least a portion of an outer appearance of the pump assembly 300, a circulation pump 330 (see FIG. 6) that is disposed in the housing 310 and allows water introduced into the housing 310 to flow and be re-supplied to the tub 170, and a drainage pump 350 (see FIG. 6) that discharges water introduced into the housing 310 to the outside.

[0078] The pump assembly 300 may include the filter assembly 390 to filter out foreign substances or lint remaining in water introduced from the tub. The filter assembly 390 may be constructed such that at least a portion thereof is exposed from the supply panel 140 and is extendable in a front and rear direction from the pump assembly 300, so that the user may easily remove the foreign substances, the lint, and the like captured in the filter assembly 390 by extending the filter assembly 390 without disassembling the cabinet 100.

[0079] The pump assembly 300 may be in communication with the tub via a tub drainage pipe 211 and a tub circulation pipe 213, and water may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 via a pump drainage pipe 215.

[0080] The tub drainage pipe 211 may allow the tub and the pump assembly 300 to be in communication with each other such that water discharged from the tub 170 flows to the pump assembly 300.

[0081] The tub circulation pipe 213 may allow the pump assembly 300 and the tub 170 to be in communication with each other such that water supplied from the pump assembly 300 flows to the tub 170 by the circulation pump 330 (see FIG. 3).

[0082] The pump drainage pipe 215 may allow the pump assembly 300 and the outside to be in communication with each other such that water introduced into the pump assembly 300 may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 100 via the drainage pump 350 (see FIG. 3).

[0083] The detergent supplier 400 may include a detergent casing 410 coupled to the supply panel 140 from the rear and having an open front side, and the detergent drawer 415 that is extendable in the front and rear direction from the open front side of the detergent casing 410. A detergent storage 430 (see FIG. 3) may be disposed in the detergent drawer 415.

[0084] The detergent supplier 400 may include a detergent pump 440 (see FIG. 6) that allows the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 to flow to the outside of the detergent storage 430.

[0085] The detergent supplier 400 may supply the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 to the tub 170 or the pump assembly 300. The detergent supplier 400 of the present disclosure may be equipped with the detergent pump 440 (see FIG. 3) to supply the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 to the tub 170 or the pump assembly 300, and preferably, the detergent supplier 400 may be equipped to supply the detergent to the pump assembly 300 for purposes of piping simplification and coupling stabilization of a detergent pipe 450 (see FIG. 3).

[0086] In addition, a detergent pipe 450 (see FIG. 6) that allows the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 to be in communication with each other, and allows the detergent discharged by the detergent pump 440 to flow to the pump assembly 300 may be further included.

[0087] More specifically, the detergent pipe 450 may connect the detergent supplier 400 to at least one of the tub 170, the tub drainage pipe 211, the tub circulation pipe 213, and the pump assembly 300, so that the detergent stored in the detergent supplier 400 may be directly supplied to the at least one.

[0088] The detergent storage 410 may include a first detergent storage 411 (see FIG. 10) storing first detergent, and a second detergent storage 412 (see FIG. 10) storing second detergent.

[0089] In this regard, one of the first detergent and the second detergent may be a laundry detergent used in a laundry washing cycle of the laundry treating apparatus, and the other may be a softener used in a rinsing cycle of the laundry treating apparatus. However, the first detergent and the second detergent of the present disclosure may not be limited thereto, and may be laundry detergents or softeners having the same chemical composition as each other. That is, as long as the first detergent and the second detergent are for treating the laundry accommodated in the drum 150, the first detergent and the second detergent may be the same as or different from each other.

[0090] The detergent pump 440 may include a first detergent pump 441 (see FIG. 6) that is disposed in the first detergent storage 411 and discharges the first detergent and a second detergent pump 442 (see FIG. 6) that is disposed in the second detergent storage 442 and discharges the second detergent.

[0091] The detergent pipe 450 may include a first detergent pipe 451 (see FIG. 6) that is in communication with the first detergent pump 441 and supplies the first detergent therethrough and a second detergent pipe 452 (see FIG. 6) that is in communication with the second detergent pump 442 and supplies the second detergent therethrough.

[0092] The first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 may allow the detergent storage 410 and the pump assembly 300 to be in communication with each other, thereby supplying the first detergent and the second detergent to the pump assembly 300, respectively.

[0093] It should be understood that the laundry treating apparatus 1 of the present disclosure is not limited in the type of detergent to be injected or the number of detergent pipes 450.

[0094] That is, the detergent pipe of the present disclosure may be equipped with not only the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452, but also a plurality of detergent pipes 450, or may also be equipped with one detergent pipe 450.

[0095] In addition, the detergent supplier 400 of the present disclosure is located below the tub 170, but is not limited thereto, and is able to be located above the tub 170.

[0096] The detergent supplier400 of the present disclosure is exemplified as an automatic detergent supplier that automatically supplies the appropriate amount of detergent at an appropriate time by a controller, but is not necessarily limited thereto and is able to be a manual detergent supplier that supplies the detergent to the tub 170 together with water supplied from an external source. In addition, the present disclosure may be a laundry treating apparatus equipped with both the automatic detergent supplier and the manual detergent supplier.

[0097] The detergent supply and water circulation of the detergent supplier 400 will be described later.

[0098] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a movement of water and detergent in a laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0099] Referring to FIG. 3, water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced into the housing 310 of the pump assembly 300 via the tub drainage pipe 211. Water introduced into the housing 310 may be re-supplied to the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213 by the circulation pump 330.

[0100] Here, the tub drainage pipe 211, the housing 310, and the tub circulation pipe 213 may be defined as a “circulation flow channel” through which water discharged from the tub 170 circulates and is re-supplied to the tub 170.

[0101] In addition, water introduced into the housing 310 may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet via the pump drainage pipe 215 by the drainage pump 450. That is, the tub drainage pipe 211, the housing 310, and the pump drainage pipe 215 may be defined as a “drainage flow channel” through which water inside the tub 170 is discharged to the outside.

[0102] In one example, when the detergent pipe 450 includes a plurality of detergent pipes, the detergent may not be sufficiently mixed with water when the plurality of detergent pipes are connected only to the tub drainage pipe 211 or only to the tub circulation pipe 213 to supply the detergents.

[0103] For example, when the detergent pipe 450 includes the plurality of detergent pipes and the plurality of detergent pipes are all connected only to the tub drainage pipe 211, a certain amount of detergent is injected into the tub drainage pipe 211. In this regard, because the detergent in a relatively high concentration state before being mixed with water is supplied to the tub drainage pipe 211, mixing of water and the detergent may not occur sufficiently within the tub drainage pipe 211, and thus there may be a limitation in increasing a contact area between water and the detergent.

[0104] In addition, the tub drainage pipe 211 provides a flow channel through which water stored in the tub 170 is discharged. Because a flow rate of water is high, the mixing with the detergent may not occur effectively.

[0105] Accordingly, in the present disclosure, the detergent pipes 450 may be connected to locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump 330, respectively, based on water flowing through the circulation flow channel by the circulation pump 330, and supply detergents (see FIGS. 10, 13, 15, and 17).

[0106] Accordingly, a detergent supplied to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330 may be actively mixed with water while passing through the circulation pump 330 and transition from a relatively high concentration state to a relatively low concentration state, and a detergent supplied to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 may be diffused into water inside the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213 and transition from the relatively high concentration state to the relatively low concentration state.

[0107] That is, the present disclosure may increase the contact area and a contact time of water and the detergent within the circulation flow channel and allow the detergent to be mixed with water more effectively by supplying a certain amount of detergent separately to locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0108] In addition, in the present disclosure, one of a first detergent pipe 451 and a second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330 and the other may be connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0109] Accordingly, the first detergent supplied via the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent supplied via the second detergent pipe 452 are separately supplied to the locations upstream and downstream of the circulation pump 330. The first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from clumping together and becoming stuck within the circulation flow channel.

[0110] That is, the present disclosure may prevent the first detergent and the second detergent from being clumped and stuck by supplying the first detergent and the second detergent to different spaces of the circulation flow channel.

[0111] In addition, the first detergent is discharged to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, passes through the circulation pump 330, and reaches the second detergent pipe 452 in the relatively low concentration state. Further, the second detergent is discharged to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, passes through the tub 170, and reaches the first detergent pipe 451 in the relatively low concentration state.

[0112] That is, in the present disclosure, the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 may be arranged such that the detergents in the relatively high concentration state are prevented from reaching the different detergent pipes.

[0113] Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the first detergent pipe 451 is described as being connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, and the second detergent pipe 452 is described as being connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, but the present disclosure should be interpreted as not being limited thereto.

[0114] To improve reliability of the water circulation by the circulation flow channel and the drainage flow channel, the circulation pump 330 and the drainage pump 350 may be controlled by the controller (not shown), so that when one pump operates, the other one may stop operating.

[0115] In addition, the detergent stored in the detergent storage 430 of the detergent supplier 400 may be discharged to the outside of the detergent storage 430 by the detergent pump 440 and supplied to the pump assembly 300, preferably the housing 310, via the detergent pipe 450. That is, the detergent supplier 400, the detergent pipe 450, the housing 310, and the tub circulation pipe 213 may be defined as a “detergent supply flow channel”. That is, the detergent supplier 400 may supply the detergent to the tub 170 via the detergent supply flow channel.

[0116] In one example, when the detergent is directly supplied to the tub 170, the detergent that has not been completely mixed with water comes into contact with the laundry inside the drum 150, so that the laundry may be damaged depending on a material of the laundry, and the laundry may capture the detergent, causing the concentration of the detergent inside the tub to become uneven.

[0117] Accordingly, the present disclosure may increase efficiency of the laundry treatment by supplying water and the detergent together to the housing 310 of the pump assembly 300, mixing them, and then supplying them to the tub 170.

[0118] More specifically, the housing 310 may define a space in which water introduced from the tub drainage pipe 211 and the detergent introduced from the detergent pipe 450 are mixed together.

[0119] When the detergent supplied via the detergent supply flow channel is supplied to the housing 310, water and the detergent are mixed together inside the housing 310 to form a laundry solution, and then the a laundry solution is supplied to the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213, so that the detergent may be supplied to the tub 170 at a more uniform concentration, compared to when the detergent is directly supplied to the tub 170.

[0120] FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing laundry treatment performed according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0121] Referring to FIG. 4, the laundry treatment of the laundry treating apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include sensing an amount of laundry loaded into the drum 150 (S10), supplying the detergent (S20), performing the laundry washing cycle during the laundry treatment by rotating the driver 155 based on a set algorithm (S30), primarily rinsing the laundry accommodated in the drum 150 (S40), supplying the softener via the detergent supplier 400, secondarily rinsing the laundry accommodated in the drum 150 (S60), and draining water accommodated inside the tub 170 and dehydrating the laundry (S70).

[0122] Although not shown in the drawing, steps before and after the laundry washing cycle (S30), primary rinsing (S40), and secondary rinsing (S60) steps may include supplying water to the tub 170 and discharging water from the tub.

[0123] The laundry amount sensing step (S10) may measure the amount (a weight) of the laundry accommodated in the drum 150 by a difference in current values sensed by rotating the driver 155. Values of a first detergent amount and a second detergent amount, which will be described later, may be determined in advance based on the measured laundry amount.

[0124] The laundry detergent supply step (S20) is a step of supplying the detergent used in the laundry washing cycle (S30). The laundry detergent supply step (S20) may include operating the circulation pump 330 (S21), determining a supply amount of the first detergent based on the measured laundry amount value by the controller (not shown) (S23), and operating the first detergent pump 441 to supply the first detergent to the housing 310 (S25).

[0125] Here, an order in which the first detergent and the second detergent are injected is irrelevant. That is, the laundry detergent supply step (S20) may be a step of operating the second detergent pump 442 and supplying the second detergent, unlike the drawing.

[0126] In addition, the circulation pump operating step (S21) and the detergent amount determination step (S23) may be performed in a reverse order. That is, as long as the first detergent injection step (S25) is the last step of the laundry detergent supply step (S20), it shall be considered within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0127] In the primary rinsing step (S40), the detergent may not be supplied, but external water may be supplied, so that the driver 155 may be rotated by the controller based on a set algorithm.

[0128] The softener supply step (S50) may include operating the circulation pump (S51), determining a detergent amount of the second detergent set in advance based on the laundry amount value measured in the laundry amount sensing step (S10) (S53), and supplying the second detergent by the second detergent pump 442 based on the set detergent amount.

[0129] In the softener supply step (S50), the first detergent may be supplied or detergent the same as the first detergent may be supplied. Furthermore, as long as the softener supply step (S50) involves the supply of the second detergent, an order of the circulation pump operating step (S51) and the detergent amount determination step (S53) may be changed.

[0130] As described above, times at which the first detergent and the second detergent are supplied by the detergent supplier 400 may be different from each other. Alternatively, the first detergent and the second detergent may be supplied at the same time in the laundry detergent supply step (S20) and the softener supply step (S50).

[0131] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 at a lower portion of the cabinet 100 in an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0132] Referring to FIG. 5, the cabinet 100 may include the base 190 that is disposed at the lower portion thereof and provides a space in which various equipment may be installed.

[0133] The detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be coupled to the base 190. The detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be disposed at the rear (in the −X-axis direction) of the supply panel 140, and may be at least partially exposed to the outside when the supply cover 145 is opened.

[0134] In addition, the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be in communication with each other via the detergent pipe 450. The detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be disposed adjacent to each other to reduce an extension length of the detergent pipe 450 and simplify a piping structure.

[0135] Specifically, the detergent supplier 400 may be disposed adjacent to a first panel among panels forming both side surfaces (in the Y-axis) of the cabinet 100, and the pump assembly 300 may be disposed adjacent to a second panel facing the first panel among the panels forming both side surfaces of the cabinet 100, so that they may be arranged in parallel with each other in a width direction of the cabinet.

[0136] The housing 310 of the pump assembly 300 may be disposed below the tub 170, and may be in communication with the tub drainage pipe 213, the tub circulation pipe 213, the pump drainage pipe 215, and the detergent pipe 450.

[0137] In other words, to simplify a piping relationship of pipes connected to the housing 310 of the pump assembly, the detergent supplier 400 and the pump assembly 300 may be arranged in parallel with each other in the width direction at a location below the tub 170.

[0138] With such a structure, a piping structure may be simplified.

[0139] In one example, the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 of the detergent pipe 450 may be connected to different locations on the housing 310.

[0140] Specifically, one of the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, and the remaining pipe may be connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0141] With such an arrangement structure, each of the first detergent discharged from the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent discharged from the second detergent pipe 452 may be more efficiently mixed within the circulation flow channel.

[0142] A connection relationship between the detergent pipe 450 and the housing 310 will be described later.

[0143] Hereinafter, the pump assembly 300 according to first to third embodiments will be described, but this is only for a purpose of describing in detail a connection relationship between the pump assembly 300 and the detergent pipe 450, and it should be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to respective embodiments to be described later.

[0144] FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300a according to a first embodiment.

[0145] Referring to FIG. 6, the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment may include the housing 310 to which the tub pipes 211 and 213, the pump drainage pipe 215, and the detergent pipe 450 are connected and defining a space in which a fluid flows therein, the circulation pump 330 that is disposed on the housing 310 and re-supplies water introduced into the housing 310 to the tub 170, the drainage pump 350 that is disposed on the housing 310 and discharges water introduced into the housing 310 to the outside, and the filter assembly 390 (see FIG. 8) that is disposed inside the housing 310 and filters the foreign substances or the lint.

[0146] A pump assembly 300a according to a first embodiment is structured such that both the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 are connected to the housing 310, unlike in other embodiments to be described later.

[0147] In the structure of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment, the detergent pipe 450 directly connects the detergent supplier 400 to the pump assembly 300, preferably the housing 310, thereby minimizing transmission of the vibration occurring in the tub 170 to the detergent pipe 450.

[0148] More specifically, the vibration occurred in the tub 170 may be primarily attenuated by the support 175, and secondarily attenuated by a bellows that may be formed in the tub drainage pipe 211 or the tub circulation pipe 213, so that the vibration may be applied to the pump assembly 300 to a minimum. In addition, the pump assembly 300 may be coupled to a base 190 (see FIG. 6) disposed on a bottom surface of the cabinet 100, and the vibration may be attenuated thirdly by the base 190.

[0149] That is, by connecting the detergent pipe 450 to the pump assembly 300, where the vibration of the tub is attenuated to the maximum, and supplying the detergent, the reliability of the detergent supply of the detergent supplier 400 by the detergent pipe 450 may be improved.

[0150] In one example, the housing 310 may include a water collecting housing 311 into which water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced and to which the tub drainage pipe 211 is connected, a circulation housing 313 that is in communication with the water collecting housing 311 and provides a space where the circulation pump 330 is coupled, and a drainage housing 315 that is in communication with the water collecting housing 311 and provides a space where the drainage pump 350 is coupled.

[0151] In addition, the housing 310 may include housing ports 361, 363, and 365 that provide spaces where the tub pipes 211 and 213 and the pump drainage pipe 215 are connected, and detergent ports 371 and 372 connected to the detergent pipe 450 and into which the detergent is introduced.

[0152] The housing ports 361, 363, and 365 may protrude to the outside of the housing. The housing ports 361, 363, and 365 may include a water collecting port 361 that is disposed on the water collecting housing 311, is connected to the tub drainage pipe 211, and receives water stored in the tub, a circulation port 363 disposed on the circulation housing 313 and through which water or the detergent introduced into the circulation housing 313 by the circulation pump 330 is discharged to the tub circulation pipe 213, and a drainage port 365 disposed on the drainage housing 315 and through which water introduced into the drainage housing 315 by the drainage pump 350 is discharged to the pump drainage pipe 215.

[0153] As shown in the drawing, the water collecting port 361 may extend rearward of the housing 310. Accordingly, water introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 may hit a front side of the water collecting housing 311 once and form an irregular waterflow inside, thereby improving efficiency of mixing with the detergent introduced by the detergent pipe.

[0154] In addition, the water collecting port 361 and the drainage port 365 may be disposed in parallel with each other for the piping simplification. Preferably, the water collecting port 361 and the drainage port 365 may be formed by extending rearward of the housing 310.

[0155] The circulation port 363 may be disposed so as not to face the water collecting port 361 and a circulation hole 3113 (see FIG. 9) of the water collecting housing 311.

[0156] In other words, because a flow angle of the fluid changes while water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 by the water collecting port 361 passes through the circulation housing 313 and the circulation port 363, mixing efficiency of water and the detergent may be improved accordingly.

[0157] Preferably, the water collecting port 361 may be disposed to extend rearward from the water collecting housing 311, the circulation housing 311 may be disposed to extend laterally from the water collecting housing 311, and the circulation port 363 may be disposed to extend upward from the water collecting housing 311.

[0158] The detergent ports 371 and 372 may be formed to protrude outward from the housing 310. The detergent ports 371 and 372 may include a first detergent port 371 connected to the first detergent pipe 451, and a second detergent port 372 connected to the second detergent pipe 452.

[0159] In the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment, the first detergent pipe 451 is connected to the water collecting housing 311, and the second detergent pipe 452 is disposed on the circulation housing 313 so as to be disposed downstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0160] The first detergent port 371 may extend not parallel to the water collecting port 361, preferably perpendicular thereto, and the second detergent port 372 may extend so as not to face the circulation port 363 and the circulation hole 3113, preferably perpendicular thereto.

[0161] In addition, the first detergent port 371 may be disposed to extend upward from the water collecting port 361 or the water collecting housing 311, and the second detergent port 372 may extend rearward from the circulation port 363 or the circulation housing 313.

[0162] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 1-1′ in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 2-2′ in FIG. 6, and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line 3-3′ in FIG. 6. Referring to FIGS. 7 to 9, the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment will be described.

[0163] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the circulation housing 313. As described above, the circulation housing 313 may provide a space in which the circulation pump 330 is disposed such that water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 is discharged.

[0164] That is, at least a portion of the circulation pump 330, preferably a circulation impeller 3331 of the circulation pump 330, may be disposed inside the circulation housing 313, so that water introduced into the circulation housing 311 may flow into the tub circulation pipe 213 via the circulation housing 313 and the circulation port 363.

[0165] The circulation housing 313 may include the circulation port 363 through which water is discharged, and the second detergent port 372 disposed in the circulation port 363 or the circulation housing 313. Water introduced via the water collecting housing 311 is introduced into the circulation housing 313 via the circulation hole 3113.

[0166] In addition, the circulation housing 313 may include the second detergent port 372, so that the second detergent may be introduced into the circulation housing 313.

[0167] Water and the detergent introduced into the circulation housing 313 may be mixed with each other in an internal space of the circulation housing 313, and may be discharged together to the tub circulation pipe 213 via the circulation port 363 by the circulation impeller 3331 and supplied to the tub 170.

[0168] The second detergent port 372 may be disposed so as not to face the circulation port 363, preferably perpendicular thereto. As the second detergent port 372 is disposed in this manner, an angle between a flow direction of water discharged to the circulation port 363 and a flow direction of the detergent introduced into the second detergent port 372 is maximized, thereby allowing water and the detergent to be mixed together better.

[0169] In addition, a detergent check valve 375 may be disposed in the second detergent pipe 452 or the second detergent port 372. The detergent check valve is designed to allow only a movement of the fluid from the detergent supplier 400 toward the pump assembly 300, and to block a movement of the fluid from the pump assembly 300 to the detergent supplier 400.

[0170] In addition, the detergent check valve 375 may be disposed not only in the second detergent pipe 452 or the second detergent port 372, but also in the first detergent pipe 451 or the first detergent port 371.

[0171] In the drawing, the second detergent port 372 is disposed on the circulation housing 313 as an example, but a case in which the first detergent port 371 is disposed on the circulation housing 313 and the second detergent port 372 is disposed on the water collecting housing 311 may also be considered to belong to the pump assembly 300a of the first embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0172] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the water collecting housing 311. Referring to FIG. 8, the water collecting housing 311 may include the water collecting port 361 and the first detergent port 371, and may have a space in which the fluid may flow defined therein.

[0173] That is, water introduced from the tub drainage pipe 211 via the water collecting port 361 and the detergent introduced from the first detergent pipe 451 via the first detergent port 371 may be introduced into the water collecting housing 311.

[0174] As described above, the first detergent port 371 and the water collecting port 361 are arranged so as not to face each other, so that the flow direction of water introduced from the water collecting port 361 and the flow of the detergent introduced from the first detergent port 371 are misaligned with each other, preferably perpendicular to each other, thereby improving the mixing efficiency with water without precipitating highly concentrated detergent.

[0175] In addition, the first detergent port 371 or the first detergent pipe 451 may include the detergent check valve 375, so as to allow a movement of the fluid from the detergent supplier 400 to the water collecting housing 311 and block a movement of the fluid from the water collecting housing 311 to the detergent supplier 400.

[0176] In addition, the water collecting housing 311 may be a first space where water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced into the pump assembly 300, and the foreign substances or the lint discharged from the tub 170 may be introduced thereinto together.

[0177] Accordingly, the water collecting housing 311 of the pump assembly 300 of the present disclosure may be equipped with the filter assembly 390. The filter assembly 390 is constructed such that at least a portion thereof is disposed in the internal space of the water collecting housing 311 and is able to be extended from the water collecting housing 311.

[0178] The filter assembly 390 may include a filter handle 391 that is positioned outside the water collecting housing 311 and is exposed from the supply panel 140, a filter member 393 that extends from the filter handle 391 in a rearward direction of the water collecting housing 311 and filters the foreign substances or the lint, and a filter sealing 395 that seals a space between the filter member 393 or the filter handle 391 and the water collecting housing 311 such that water does not leak.

[0179] The user may open the supply cover 145, hold the filter handle 391 exposed through the supply panel 140, and extend the filter handle 391 forward to separate the filter assembly 390 from the water collecting housing 311.

[0180] The user may wash the separated filter assembly 390 or replace the filter assembly 390, and then push the same back rearward from the supply panel 140 to mount the filter assembly 390 in the water collecting housing 311.

[0181] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the filter assembly 300a. Referring to FIG. 9, the circulation housing 313 may be disposed on one side of the water collecting housing 311, and the drainage housing 315 may be disposed on the other side of the water collecting housing 311.

[0182] The circulation pump 330 may include a circulation pump casing 331 forming at least a portion of an outer appearance of the circulation pump, and a circulation motor assembly 333 disposed inside the circulation pump casing 331.

[0183] The circulation pump casing 331 may be constructed to accommodate at least a portion of the circulation motor assembly 333 therein, and may be coupled to the circulation housing 313.

[0184] That is, the circulation housing 313 may be formed in a shape in which one side facing the water collecting housing 311 is open, and the circulation pump casing 331 may be constructed to shield the open portion.

[0185] The circulation motor assembly 333 may be at least partially accommodated in the circulation pump casing 331, and the remaining portion thereof may be accommodated in the circulation housing 313.

[0186] The circulation motor assembly 332 may include the circulation impeller 3331 that is rotatably disposed in the circulation housing 313, a circulation motor 3333 that is accommodated in the circulation pump casing 331 and generates a driving force, and a rotation shaft 3332 that connects the circulation motor 3333 with the circulation impeller 3331 and transmits the driving force of the circulation motor 3333 to the circulation impeller 3331.

[0187] The drainage pump 350 may include a drainage pump casing 351 forming at least a portion of an outer appearance of the circulation pump, and a drainage motor assembly 353 disposed inside the drainage pump casing 351.

[0188] The drainage pump casing 351 may be constructed to accommodate at least a portion of the drainage motor assembly 353 therein, and may be coupled with the drainage housing 315.

[0189] That is, the drainage housing 315 may be formed in a shape in which one side facing the water collecting housing 311 is open, and the drainage pump casing 351 may shield the open portion.

[0190] The drainage motor assembly 353 may be at least partially accommodated in the drainage pump casing 351, and the remaining portion thereof may be accommodated in the drainage housing 315.

[0191] The drainage motor assembly 353 may include a drainage impeller 3531 that is rotatably disposed in the drainage housing 315, a drainage motor 3533 that is accommodated in the drainage pump casing 351 and generates a driving force, and a rotation shaft 3352 that connects the drainage motor 3533 with the drainage impeller 3531 and transmits the driving force of the drainage motor 3533 to the drainage impeller 3531 and rotates the same.

[0192] The water collecting housing 311 may be connected to each of the circulation housing 313 and the drainage housing 315. More specifically, the water collecting housing 311 may have the circulation housing 313 disposed on one side thereof, and may include the circulation hole 3113 in communication with the circulation housing 313. In addition, the water collecting housing 311 may have the drainage housing 315 on the other side thereof, and may include a drainage hole 3115 in communication with the drainage housing 315.

[0193] In other words, water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the tub drainage pipe 211 may move to the circulation housing 313 via the circulation hole 3113 or move to the drainage housing 315 via the drainage hole 3115.

[0194] In addition, the detergent introduced via the first detergent pipe 451 may also move to the circulation housing 313 via the circulation hole 3113.

[0195] The circulation hole 3113 allows the water collecting housing 311 and the circulation housing 313 to be in communication with each other, and preferably has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the water collecting housing 311 or the circulation housing 313.

[0196] As the circulation hole 3113 is formed with such a size, a pressure increases as water and the detergent introduced into the water collecting housing 311 pass through a narrow passage (the circulation hole 3113), and as a result, the mixing efficiency of water and the detergent may increase.

[0197] Although the present disclosure exemplifies that the housing 310, the circulation pump casing 331, and the drainage pump casing 351 are coupled with each other to form an overall outer appearance of the pump assembly 300, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and it should be understood that the housing 310, the circulation pump 330, and the drainage pump 350 may each be implemented in a structure in which they are separated and spaced apart from each other and are in communication with each other by separate pipes.

[0198] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing circulation of water and the detergent along the pump assembly 300a of the first embodiment.

[0199] Referring to FIG. 10, water discharged from the tub 170 is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the tub drainage pipe 211, and the first detergent stored in the first detergent storage 431 is also introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the first detergent pipe 451.

[0200] Water and the first detergent introduced into the water collecting housing 311 are introduced into the circulation housing 313 by the flow generated by the circulation pump 330.

[0201] In addition, in the circulation housing 313, the second detergent stored in the second detergent storage 432 is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the second detergent pipe 452.

[0202] In other words, the first detergent and the second detergent introduced into the circulation housing 313 may be mixed with water and discharged to the outside of the circulation housing 313 via the circulation port 363.

[0203] According to the pump assembly 300a of the first embodiment of the present disclosure, not only may the detergent pipe 450 be minimized from being damaged by the vibration of the tub 170, but also the first detergent and the second detergent may be minimized from clumping together and being stuck.

[0204] When the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 via the first tub pipe 451, it will be mixed with water inside the water collecting housing 311, be introduced into the circulation housing 313, and be actively mixed with water by a vortex caused by the circulation impeller 3331, so that it may become in the relatively low concentration state.

[0205] Then, the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state is supplied to the circulation housing 313 or the circulation port 363 from the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 via the second tub pipe 452.

[0206] In this regard, the first detergent and the second detergent may come into contact with each other at the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, but because the first detergent in the relatively low concentration state and the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state come into contact with each other, the first detergent and the second detergent may be minimized from clumping together and being stuck within the circulation flow channel.

[0207] In other words, more specifically, according to first to fourth embodiments of the present disclosure, the first detergent in the high concentration state and the second detergent in the high concentration state may be prevented from being mixed together.

[0208] In addition, as described above, the circulation flow channel may be defined to include the tub drainage pipe 211, the housing 310, and the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0209] In the first to fourth embodiments, based on a fluid flowing by the circulation pump 330 in the circulation flow channel, upstream of the circulation pump 330 may include the tub drainage pipe 211 and the water collecting housing 311, and downstream of the circulation pump 330 may include the circulation housing 313 and the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0210] FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300b of a second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent by the pump assembly 300b.

[0211] A description redundant with the description of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment above will be omitted.

[0212] Referring to FIG. 11, the pump assembly 300b according to the second embodiment has a first detergent port 371, which is connected to a first detergent pipe 451, connected to a circulation port 361 on the circulation housing 313. A second detergent port 372 connected to the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed on the tub drainage pipe 211, or the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected to the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0213] Unlike in the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment described above, based on the flow of water flowing by the circulation pump 330 in the housing 310, the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330, and the first detergent pipe 451 is connected to the location upstream of the circulation pump 330, more specifically, upstream of the water collecting housing 311 of the pump assembly 300b.

[0214] Accordingly, the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state supplied by the first detergent pipe 451 may be mixed to some extent with water discharged from the tub 170 in the tub drainage pipe 211, then be mixed again by a vortex that may occur in the internal space of the water collecting housing 311 and lower a degree of concentration, and then pass through the circulation housing 313 equipped with the circulation pump 330 and become in the low concentration state by strong rotation by the impeller 3131.

[0215] The second detergent in the relatively high concentration state supplied by the second detergent pipe 452 may be supplied to the circulation housing 313 or the circulation port 363 located downstream of the circulation housing 313 by the second detergent port 372.

[0216] That is, as the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state is supplied in a section where the first detergent is dissolved in the low concentration state, not only may the first detergent and the second detergent be effectively mixed with water throughout the circulation flow channel, but also the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state and the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state may be prevented from being mixed with each other.

[0217] It is preferable that the second detergent port 372 is disposed on the circulation port 363. This is because the second detergent may be supplied while the first detergent is sufficiently mixed with water and dissolved, and the detergent remaining in the pump assembly 300b may be minimized because the circulation port 363 is disposed at the most downstream of the pump assembly 300b based on water flowing through the pump assembly 300b by the circulation pump 330.

[0218] Referring to FIG. 12, water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 is discharged from the housing 310 by the circulation port 363 and flows to the tub 170 along the tub circulation pipe 213. The first detergent is supplied to the tub drainage pipe 211, which is located upstream of the water collecting housing 311, via the first detergent pipe 451. The second detergent may be supplied to the circulation housing 313 or the circulation port 363, which is located downstream of the water collecting housing 311, via the second detergent pipe 452.

[0219] The first detergent and the second detergent may be sufficiently mixed with water drained from the tub 170 along the circulation flow channel by water flowing by the circulation pump 330 and then supplied back to the tub 170.

[0220] FIG. 13 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300c of a third embodiment, FIG. 14 is a specific example of the pump assembly 300c, and FIG. 15 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing by the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment.

[0221] FIGS. 13 to 15 illustrate the pump assembly 300c according to the third embodiment, and a description redundant with the descriptions of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment and the pump assembly 300b according to the second embodiment above will be omitted.

[0222] Referring to FIG. 13, the first detergent pipe 451 may be connected to the water collecting housing 311 by the first detergent port 371 and supply the first detergent to a location downstream of the circulation pump 330. Because the first detergent pipe 451 is directly connected to the water collecting housing 311, influence caused by the vibration of the tub 170 may be minimized.

[0223] In addition, the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213. The second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 by the second detergent port (not shown), or the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected thereto.

[0224] Because the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment discharges the second detergent to the location downstream of the pump assembly 310, the first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from being in direct contact with each other inside the pump assembly 300c.

[0225] In addition, because the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 and may be disposed further away from the circulation pump 330, influence of the vibration by the circulation pump 330 may also be minimized.

[0226] Referring to FIG. 14, this is one specific embodiment of the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment. According to FIG. 14, the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed close to the circulation port 363.

[0227] More specifically, the tub circulation pipe 213 may be connected to the tub 170 at one side and connected to the pump assembly 300c at the other side. In this regard, the second detergent pipe 452 may be located closer to the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213 than to one side.

[0228] With such an arrangement, a length of a pipe of the second detergent pipe 452 may be reduced. By concentrating the piping structure on the pump assembly 300 disposed under the tub 170, a center of gravity may be concentrated on the pump assembly 300 and structural stability may be achieved.

[0229] In addition, the tub circulation pipe 213 may be formed in a shape in which the other side is branched into a detergent inflow portion 2131 to which one of the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 is connected and a circulation port connection portion 2132 connected to the circulation port 363. Based on the diagram, a case in which the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the detergent inflow portion 2131 will be described.

[0230] The detergent inflow portion 2131 and the circulation port connection portion 2132 may be formed integrally by extending from the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213, or may be formed as separate connector members and connected to the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213. FIG. 14 illustrates a structure in which the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213 is formed integrally with the detergent inflow portion 2131 and the circulation port connection portion 2132.

[0231] That is, a distal end at the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213 is branched into the portions and the portions are connected to the circulation port 363 and the second detergent pipe 452, respectively, so that water and the second detergent may be introduced together at the other side of the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0232] With such a structure, because the second detergent pipe 452 may be positioned close to the circulation pump 330, water discharged from the circulation port 363 at a relatively high flow rate by the circulation pump 330 and the detergent supplied from the second detergent pipe 452 may be brought into contact with each other, so that the detergent discharged from the second detergent pipe 452 may be effectively mixed with water.

[0233] Because the second detergent may continuously be in contact with water while moving from the other side to one side of the tub circulation pipe 213, a contact time and a contact trajectory with water may be increased, so that the detergent may be mixed more smoothly with water while passing through the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0234] In addition, the detergent inflow portion 2131 may form an acute angle based on one side thereof connected to the circulation port connection portion 2132 and the housing 310. That is, the detergent inflow portion 2131 may form the acute angle with the circulation port 363.

[0235] In other words, referring to an enlarged view at a right side of FIG. 14, because an incident angle between the second detergent supplied from the second detergent pipe 452 connected to the detergent inflow portion 2131 and water discharged from the circulation port 363 connected to the circulation port connection portion 2132 corresponds to the acute angle, the second detergent may be mixed without interfering with the movement of water, and thus a contact area between the second detergent and water may be further increased. As a result, the second detergent may be effectively mixed with water.

[0236] When, on the contrary, the incident angle between the second detergent and water becomes greater than a right angle, the second detergent may be supplied to the tub circulation pipe 213 in a direction opposite to a direction of movement of water introduced from the circulation port connection portion 2132. In this case, because the direction of movement of the second detergent and the direction of movement of water are opposite to each other, bubbles may be generated because of friction between the second detergent and water. When the bubbles are generated in the tub circulation pipe 213, movement inside the tub circulation pipe 213 may be impeded, or the second detergent may be stuck inside the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0237] In one example, the second detergent pipe 452 is equipped with a detergent check valve 375 to block water from being introduced into the second detergent pipe 452, but to allow the detergent from the second detergent pipe 452 to be supplied to the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0238] The pump assembly 300c according to FIG. 14 is one of various structures of the pump assembly 300c according to the third embodiment, and the third embodiment of the present disclosure should be interpreted as not being limited to the pump assembly 300c according to FIG. 14.

[0239] Referring to FIG. 15, water introduced into the water collecting housing 311 flows into the tub 170 via the tub circulation pipe 213 by the circulation port 361.

[0240] The first detergent is introduced into the water collecting housing 311 by the first detergent pipe 451. The first detergent introduced into the water collecting housing 311 may be mixed with water and be introduced into the circulation housing 313, and may be in the relatively low concentration state by the strong flow generated by the circulation pump 330 in the circulation housing 313.

[0241] The second detergent is introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 or the detergent inflow portion 2131 by the second detergent pipe 452. The second detergent introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 is mixed with water introduced from the circulation port 363 and moves to the tub 170. The second detergent that has moved to the tub 170 may be in the relatively low concentration state.

[0242] With such a structure, the first detergent and the second detergent may be supplied to the tub 170 in the relatively low concentration state, that is, in a state in which detergent concentration is minimized by sufficient mixing with water.

[0243] FIG. 16 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300d of a fourth embodiment, and FIG. 17 is a diagram showing water and detergent flowing by the pump assembly 300d of the fourth embodiment.

[0244] FIGS. 16 and 17 illustrate the pump assembly 300d according to the fourth embodiment, and a description redundant with the descriptions of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment to the pump assembly 300c according to the third embodiment above will be omitted.

[0245] Referring to FIG. 16, the first detergent pipe 451 may be connected to the tub drainage pipe 211. The first detergent pipe 451 may be connected to the tub drainage pipe 211 by the first detergent port (not shown), or a distal end of the first detergent pipe 451 may be directly connected to the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0246] The second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213. The second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 by the second detergent port (not shown) or a distal end of the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected to the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0247] That is, in the fourth embodiment, the first detergent pipe 451 is connected to the pump assembly 300d at a location upstream of the water collecting housing 311, and the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the pump assembly 300d at a location downstream of the circulation housing 313.

[0248] With such a structure, the first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from being in direct contact with each other inside the pump assembly 300d. In addition, a distance between a point where the first detergent is supplied and a point where the second detergent is supplied may be as great as possible based on the flow of the fluid in the circulation flow channel (including the tub drainage pipe, the housing, and the tub circulation pipe), so that the first detergent and the second detergent may come into contact with each other while sufficiently dissolved in water.

[0249] Referring to FIG. 16, the first detergent is introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 by the first detergent pipe 451. The first detergent introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 is mixed with water, passes through the water collecting housing 311 and the circulation housing 313 in sequence, and flows into the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0250] At this time, the first detergent introduced into the tub drainage pipe 211 is in the relatively high concentration state, but is able to become in the relatively low concentration state when it passes through the water collecting housing 311 and the circulation housing 313 in sequence and reaches the tub circulation pipe 213.

[0251] The second detergent is introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 by the second detergent pipe 452 and flows into the tub 170 together with water introduced from the circulation port 363. At this time, the second detergent introduced into the tub circulation pipe 213 is in the relatively high concentration state, but is able to become in the relatively low concentration state when it passes through the tub circulation pipe 213 and the tub 170 and reaches the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0252] With such a structure, the first detergent and the second detergent may be supplied to the tub 170 in the relatively low concentration state, that is, in a state in which the detergent concentration is minimized by the sufficient mixing with water.

[0253] In addition, by making the movement distance of the fluid between a connection point of the circulation flow channel and the first detergent pipe 451 and a connection point of the circulation flow channel and the second detergent pipe 452 as great as possible, the direct contact between the first detergent in the relatively high concentration state and the second detergent in the relatively high concentration state within the circulation flow channel may be prevented.

[0254] In addition, because the first detergent and the second detergent are supplied in a distributed manner to the upstream and the downstream respectively based on the flow of the circulation pump 330 within the circulation flow channel, the detergent may be mixed more effectively in water, and as a result, a detergent solution in which water and the detergent are sufficiently mixed may be supplied into the tub 170.

[0255] Although the above-description has been given with the example of the case in which the first detergent and the second detergent are discharged together such that supply times thereof overlap each other, when constructed with a structure similar to the pump assemblies 300a, 300b, 300c, and 300d according to the first to fourth embodiments described above, it should be interpreted as falling within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, even when the supply times of the first detergent and the second detergent do not overlap each other as in FIG. 4, it should be understood as falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0256] Further, as described above, the distinction between the first detergent and the second detergent is only for convenience of description. The first detergent and the second detergent may be the same, or may be different, such as one being the laundry detergent and the other being the fabric softener.

[0257] (a) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that the second detergent pipe 452 does not have the detergent check valve 375, and (b) in FIG. 18 is a diagram showing that the second detergent pipe 452 is equipped with the detergent check valve 375.

[0258] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one of the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452, more preferably, the second detergent pipe 452 may be equipped with the detergent check valve 375.

[0259] In the present disclosure, as the detergent check valve 375 is disposed in the second detergent pipe 452, an amount of the second detergent supplied by the detergent supplier 400 may become constant.

[0260] Based on the movement of the fluid flowing in the circulation flow channel, a negative pressure may be formed upstream of the circulation pump 330 and a positive pressure may be formed downstream of the circulation pump 330 by the circulation pump 330.

[0261] In addition, when the first detergent is supplied, a positive pressure may be formed inside the first detergent pipe 451 by the first detergent pump 441, and when the second detergent is supplied, a positive pressure may be formed inside the second detergent pipe 452 by the second detergent pump 442.

[0262] However, when the detergent is not supplied and only water is circulated (for example, the primary rinsing (S40) step in FIG. 4), the first detergent pump 441 and the second detergent pump 442 may not operate.

[0263] Because the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 are in association with the circulation flow channel, a negative pressure may be formed inside the first detergent pipe 451 and a positive pressure may be formed inside the second detergent pipe 452 by the circulation pump 330.

[0264] When the negative pressure is formed inside the first detergent pipe 451, a small amount of water or the first detergent remaining inside the first detergent pipe 451 may be discharged to the inside of the circulation flow channel (specifically, upstream of the circulation pump 330) by the pressure. As a result, no water remains inside the first detergent pipe 451 by the pressure.

[0265] Because no water remains inside the first detergent pipe 451 even when the first detergent pump 441 is stopped (i.e., because water is not pumped by the first detergent pump 441), the amount of the first detergent supplied by the first detergent pump 441 may be constant.

[0266] In other words, when water remains inside the first detergent pipe 451, water is also supplied when the detergent pump 441 is operated by the controller, so that the amount of the first detergent supplied may be less than a preset detergent amount by an amount of remaining water.

[0267] However, in the present disclosure, because the negative pressure is formed inside the first detergent pipe 451 and water is not introduced into the first detergent pipe 451, even when the laundry treatment is repeated several times, the first detergent supply amount may be constant as an amount calculated by the controller.

[0268] On the other hand, referring to (a) in FIG. 18, a positive pressure may be formed inside the second detergent pipe 452. When the circulation pump 330 operates while the second detergent pump 442 is stopped, the detergent remaining in the second detergent pipe 452 is not discharged to the circulation flow channel because of the positive pressure.

[0269] That is, when the circulation pump 330 operates while the second detergent pump 442 is stopped, water may be introduced into the second detergent pipe 452 by an amount corresponding to a predetermined distance a of a length L of the second detergent pipe, and the second detergent may remain by an amount corresponding to a predetermined distance b.

[0270] At this time, when the second detergent pump 442 is operated to discharge the second detergent by an amount calculated by the controller, the amount of second detergent may not be constant because water and the second detergent are discharged together from the second detergent pipe 452.

[0271] In other words, when the fluid inside the second detergent pipe 452 is supplied by an amount corresponding to the predetermined length L via the second detergent pump 442, because water occupies the second detergent pipe 452 by the amount corresponding to the predetermined distance a, an amount of the detergent supplied corresponding to the distance b is reduced.

[0272] As a result, when the laundry treatment is repeated several times, there may be a problem that the amount of the second detergent supplied from the second detergent pipe 452 is not constant.

[0273] To solve such a problem, as shown in (b) in FIG. 18, in the present disclosure, the detergent check valve 375 may be disposed at a distal end of the second detergent pipe 452.

[0274] Even when the positive pressure is formed in the tub circulation pipe 213 by the detergent check valve 375, the inside of the second detergent pipe 452 may not be affected by the positive pressure, so that water may not be introduced into the second detergent pipe 452. At this time, the length L of the second detergent pipe 452 and the length b of the second detergent filled in the second detergent pipe 452 may be the same, and as a result, the supply of the detergent by the second detergent pump 442 may be constant.

[0275] Accordingly, in the present disclosure, even when the laundry treatment is repeated several times, the supply of the detergent by the detergent pipe connected to the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 may become constant.

[0276] In one example, even when the check valve 375 is equipped in both the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe, it will be considered to falling within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0277] In addition, as described above, for the distinction between the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452, it has been described that the first detergent pipe 451 is disposed upstream of the circulation pump 330 for convenience of description, but it should be understood that it falls within the scope of the present disclosure even when the first detergent pipe 451 is disposed at the location downstream of the circulation pump 330 and the second detergent pipe 452 is disposed at the location upstream of the circulation pump 330.

[0278] Although the present disclosure has been illustrated and described with respect to the specific embodiments, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be variously improved and changed without departing from the technical idea of the present disclosure provided by the following patent claims.

Examples

first embodiment

[0144]FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300a according to a

[0145]Referring to FIG. 6, the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment may include the housing 310 to which the tub pipes 211 and 213, the pump drainage pipe 215, and the detergent pipe 450 are connected and defining a space in which a fluid flows therein, the circulation pump 330 that is disposed on the housing 310 and re-supplies water introduced into the housing 310 to the tub 170, the drainage pump 350 that is disposed on the housing 310 and discharges water introduced into the housing 310 to the outside, and the filter assembly 390 (see FIG. 8) that is disposed inside the housing 310 and filters the foreign substances or the lint.

[0146]A pump assembly 300a according to a first embodiment is structured such that both the first detergent pipe 451 and the second detergent pipe 452 are connected to the housing 310, unlike in other embodiments to be described later.

[0147]In the structure of th...

second embodiment

[0210]FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view of a pump assembly 300b of a second embodiment, and FIG. 12 is a diagram showing circulation of water and detergent by the pump assembly 300b.

[0211]A description redundant with the description of the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment above will be omitted.

[0212]Referring to FIG. 11, the pump assembly 300b according to the second embodiment has a first detergent port 371, which is connected to a first detergent pipe 451, connected to a circulation port 361 on the circulation housing 313. A second detergent port 372 connected to the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed on the tub drainage pipe 211, or the second detergent pipe 452 may be directly connected to the tub drainage pipe 211.

[0213]Unlike in the pump assembly 300a according to the first embodiment described above, based on the flow of water flowing by the circulation pump 330 in the housing 310, the second detergent pipe 452 is connected to the location downstr...

third embodiment

[0224]Because the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment discharges the second detergent to the location downstream of the pump assembly 310, the first detergent and the second detergent may be prevented from being in direct contact with each other inside the pump assembly 300c.

[0225]In addition, because the second detergent pipe 452 may be connected to the tub circulation pipe 213 and may be disposed further away from the circulation pump 330, influence of the vibration by the circulation pump 330 may also be minimized.

[0226]Referring to FIG. 14, this is one specific embodiment of the pump assembly 300c of the third embodiment. According to FIG. 14, the second detergent pipe 452 may be disposed close to the circulation port 363.

[0227]More specifically, the tub circulation pipe 213 may be connected to the tub 170 at one side and connected to the pump assembly 300c at the other side. In this regard, the second detergent pipe 452 may be located closer to the other side of the tub...

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising:a cabinet;a tub disposed inside the cabinet and constructed to store water therein;a circulator including a circulation flow channel in communication with the tub and constructed to supply water discharged from the tub back to the tub;a detergent supplier in communication with the circulation flow channel and configured to supply detergents;a first detergent pipe and a second detergent pipe connecting the detergent supplier with the circulation flow channel and constructed to allow the detergents of the detergent supplier to flow into the circulation flow channel; anda circulation pump disposed in the circulator and configured to supply water of the circulation flow channel to the tub,wherein, based on a flow of water in the circulation flow channel, the first detergent pipe is connected to the circulation flow channel at a location upstream of the circulation pump and the second detergent pipe is connected to the circulation flow channel at a location downstream of the circulation pump,wherein the circulation flow channel includes a housing where one of the detergents supplied from one of the first detergent pipe and the second detergent pipe and water discharged to the tub are introduced and including the circulation pump.

2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the housing includes:a water collecting housing in communication with the tub and where water discharged from the tub is introduced; anda circulation housing disposed downstream of the water collecting housing based on the flow by the circulation pump, and constructed to discharge water introduced into the water collecting housing to outside of the housing.

3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first detergent pipe is connected to the water collecting housing, and the second detergent pipe is connected to the circulation housing.

4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the housing includes:a first detergent port connected with the first detergent pipe; anda second detergent port disposed downstream of the first detergent port and connected with the second detergent pipe.

5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first detergent port is disposed on the water collecting housing, and the second detergent port is disposed on the circulation housing.

6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tub drainage pipe connecting the tub with the housing at a location upstream of the circulation pump.

7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 6, wherein the first detergent pipe is connected to the tub drainage pipe, and the second detergent pipe is connected to the housing.

8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein the housing includes:a water collecting housing connected to the tub drainage pipe and where water discharged from the tub is introduced; anda circulation housing disposed downstream of the water collecting housing based on the flow by the circulation pump, and constructed to discharge water introduced into the water collecting housing.

9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second detergent pipe is connected to the circulation housing.

10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a tub circulation pipe disposed on a downstream side of the housing and connecting the housing with the tub.

11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first detergent pipe is connected to the housing, and the second detergent pipe is connected to the tub circulation pipe.

12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein one side closer to the housing among both ends of the tub circulation pipe is branched into a circulation port connection portion connected with the housing and a detergent inflow portion connected with the second detergent pipe.

13. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:a tub drainage pipe connecting the tub with the housing at a location upstream of the circulation pump; anda tub circulation pipe connecting the housing with the tub at a location downstream of the circulation pump.

14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first detergent pipe is connected to the tub drainage pipe, and the second detergent pipe is connected to the tub circulation pipe.

15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first detergent pipe is constructed to supply a first detergent among the detergents of the detergent supplier, and the second detergent pipe is constructed to supply a second detergent among the detergents of the detergent supplier,wherein the first detergent and the second detergent have different chemical compositions.

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