Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a top plate seated on the upper surface of a cabinet that accommodates a washing tub therein, the top plate having a laundry inlet and having a box housing formed on the rear surface; a top cover that is rotatably connected to the top plate and opens and closes the laundry inlet; a detergent box that slides into the box housing and has a recessed detergent introduction part formed therein; and a detergent mixer provided inside the detergent introduction part. A central shaft that passes through the bottom of the detergent introduction part extends from the bottom of the central part of the detergent mixer, a mixer gear is coupled to the central shaft, a rack is provided on the lower surface of the box housing, and the rack is directly or indirectly connected to the mixer gear.

Description

washing machine

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine.

[0002] Typically, the detergent supply device of a washing machine has a space formed to accommodate solid detergent and liquid detergent, and as washing water is supplied to the space, the detergent and washing water are supplied together to the washing drum.

[0003] When detergent is supplied in powder or solid form, if the temperature of the washing water is low, the detergent does not dissolve well and is often supplied to the washing drum in a lumpy form.

[0004] To improve these problems, a mixing member for mixing detergent is provided within the detergent box. The mixing member provided in a conventional detergent supply device includes a propeller shape that rotates due to the water pressure of the supplied washing water, thereby mixing the detergent and water.

[0005] The conventional detergent mixing device had the disadvantage of not being able to operate before washing water was supplied, and thus detergent mixing was not possible.

[0006] (Patent Document 1) Korean Patent No. 10-2488736 (January 11, 2023)

[0007] The present invention is proposed to improve the above problems.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a top plate which is mounted on the upper surface of a cabinet which accommodates a washing tub therein, has a laundry inlet formed therein, and has a box housing formed thereon at the rear; a top cover which is rotatably connected to the top plate to open and close the laundry inlet; a detergent box which is slidably inserted into the box housing and has a detergent inlet formed therein recessed therein; and a detergent mixer which is provided inside the detergent inlet, wherein a central axis extending from the bottom of the center of the detergent mixer and penetrating the bottom of the detergent inlet extends, a mixer gear is coupled to the central axis, a rack is provided on the bottom of the box housing, and the rack is directly or indirectly connected to the mixer gear.

[0009] The washing machine according to the present invention further includes a pinion provided on the bottom of the detergent box and meshed with the rack and the mixer gear.

[0010] The diameter of the above mixer gear is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the pinion.

[0011] The above detergent mixer comprises a mixer body; and a plurality of mixing blades extending radially from an outer surface of the mixer body.

[0012] The above-described plurality of mixing blades include first mixing blades and second mixing blades that are formed alternately in the circumferential direction of the mixer body.

[0013] The first mixing blade includes a wing body extending radially from the mixer body and an extension extending circumferentially from an end of the wing body, and a plurality of cut grooves are formed in the wing body, and the plurality of cut grooves are characterized in that they are sunken upward from the lower end of the wing body to a predetermined depth.

[0014] The second mixing blade includes a wing body extending radially from the mixer body and an extension extending circumferentially from an end of the wing body, and a single cut groove is formed in the wing body, and the single cut groove is characterized in that it is sunken upward from the lower end of the wing body to a predetermined depth.

[0015] The trajectory of the above single incision groove is characterized in that it is formed between the trajectories of the multiple incision grooves.

[0016] According to the washing machine according to the embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration, since the detergent mixer rotates from the process of pouring detergent into the detergent box and closing the detergent drawer, there is an advantage in that the detergent mixing performance increases.

[0017] Additionally, since an extension is provided to gather the detergent in the center, there is an advantage in that the detergent mixing is more effective.

[0018] Figure 1 is an enlarged view of a washing machine equipped with a detergent mixer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0019] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detergent mixer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0020] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view showing the bottom of an open detergent box.

[0021] Hereinafter, a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0022] FIG. 1 is an enlarged view of a washing machine equipped with a detergent mixer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Referring to FIG. 1, a washing machine (10) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a top plate (11) having a laundry inlet (111) formed therein, a top cover (12) (or door) rotatably coupled to the top plate (11) to open and close the laundry inlet (111), and a detergent box (20) provided to be inserted and removed at the rear of the top plate (11).

[0024] Although this embodiment exemplifies a top-loading washing machine comprising the top plate (11), it should be noted that the detergent box concept of the present invention is equally applicable to front-loading washing machines. Since the detergent box is provided in the form of a drawer in both top-loading and front-loading washing machines, the detergent mixer structure of the present invention can be equally applied to front-loading washing machines as well as top-loading washing machines.

[0025] The above detergent box (20) includes a box body (21) having a detergent inlet (211) and a rinse inlet (212) formed therein, a handle (22) coupled to the front of the box body (21), and a detergent mixer (22) mounted inside the detergent inlet (211).

[0026] The detergent inlet (211) and rinse inlet (212) may be formed to be sunken downward to a predetermined depth so that detergent or rinse can be filled. In addition, the detergent mixer (22) may be rotatably coupled to the bottom of the box half (21), particularly the detergent inlet (211).

[0027] Figure 2 is a perspective view of a detergent mixer according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[0028] Referring to FIG. 2, a detergent mixer (22) according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a mixer body (221) having a central axis (224: see FIG. 3) protruding from the bottom surface, and a plurality of mixing blades extending radially from the outer circumferential surface of the mixer body (221). The central axis (224) penetrates the bottom of the box body (21) and protrudes to the outside.

[0029] In detail, the above mixer body (221) may be formed in a conical shape, but is not limited thereto.

[0030] The above-mentioned plurality of mixing wings can be formed by alternating the first mixing wing (222) and the second mixing wing (223) in the circumferential direction.

[0031] The first mixing blade (222) includes a blade body (2221) extending radially from the mixer body (221), and an extension portion (2222) extending circumferentially from an end of the blade body (2221). A plurality of cut grooves (2223) may be formed in the blade body (2221), and the plurality of cut grooves (2223) may be formed in a shape in which they are sunken upward from the lower end of the blade body (2221) to a predetermined depth. For example, the plurality of cut grooves (2223) may be provided as a pair.

[0032] The second mixing blade (223) includes a blade body (2231) extending radially from the mixer body (221), and an extension portion (2232) extending circumferentially from the blade body (2231). A single cut groove (2233) may be formed in the blade body (2231). The single cut groove (2233) may be formed at a point corresponding to a point between the pair of cut grooves (2223) in the circumferential direction. In other words, the rotational trajectory of the single cut groove (2233) may be formed between the trajectories of the pair of cut grooves (2223).

[0033] By this structure, as the detergent mixer (22) rotates, two detergent peaks are formed by the first mixing blade (222), and then the second mixing blade (223) follows, and the action of reducing the two peaks to one detergent peak is repeated, thereby evenly mixing the detergent.

[0034] In addition, by forming the extension (2222), there is an effect of minimizing the phenomenon of the detergent being pushed out of the detergent mixer (22) and gathering the detergent toward the mixer body (221).

[0035] Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view showing the bottom of an open detergent box.

[0036] Referring to Fig. 3, the detergent box (20) is slidably inserted and withdrawn inside the box housing (13) formed on the top plate (11).

[0037] In detail, a rack (14) is formed in the front-back direction on the bottom surface of the box housing (13), and a pinion (15) that engages with the rack (14) can be coupled to the bottom surface of the box body (21).

[0038] In addition, a mixer gear (16) is coupled to the central axis of the mixer body (221), and the mixer gear (16) meshes with the pinion (15). The diameter of the mixer gear (16) is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the pinion (15), so that when the pinion (15) rotates once, the mixer gear (16) can rotate multiple times.

[0039] According to this structure, when the user holds the handle (22) and pulls the box body (21) forward, the pinion (15) meshed with the rack (14) rotates, and accordingly, the mixer gear (16) meshed with the pinion (15) rotates together, causing the detergent mixer (22) to rotate. The same operation is performed in the process of pushing the detergent box (20) into the box housing (13). Therefore, even without a separate electric driving means or a supply of washing water, the detergent mixer (22) rotates during the withdrawal and insertion process of the detergent box (20), so that the detergent can be mixed primarily during the process of pouring the detergent into the detergent inlet (211) and then closing the detergent box (20).

[0040] And, when washing water is supplied, the above-mentioned formulation mixer (22) is secondarily rotated by the water pressure of the washing water. Here, it is noted that a structure in which the rack (14) is directly connected to the above-mentioned mixer gear (16) is also possible.

Claims

1. A top plate which is mounted on the upper surface of a cabinet which accommodates a washing tub inside, forms a laundry inlet, and forms a box housing on the rear; A top cover rotatably connected to the top plate to open and close the laundry inlet; A detergent box that is slidably inserted into the above box housing and has a detergent injection portion sunken into the interior; and Including a detergent mixer provided inside the detergent inlet, A central axis extending through the bottom of the detergent inlet portion extends from the center bottom of the detergent mixer. A mixer gear is coupled to the above central axis, A rack is provided on the bottom of the above box housing, A washing machine, characterized in that the above rack is directly or indirectly connected to the above mixer gear.

2. In paragraph 1, A washing machine further comprising a pinion provided on the bottom of the detergent box and meshed with the rack and the mixer gear.

3. In paragraph 2, A washing machine, characterized in that the diameter of the above mixer gear is designed to be smaller than the diameter of the above pinion.

4. In paragraph 1, The above detergent mixer, Mixer body; A washing machine comprising a plurality of mixing blades extending radially from an outer surface of the mixer body.

5. In paragraph 4, The above multiple mixed wings, A washing machine comprising first mixing blades and second mixing blades formed alternately in the circumferential direction of the mixer body.

6. In paragraph 5, The above first mixing wing, A wing body extending radially from the above mixer body, Including an extension extending in a circumferential direction from an end of the above wing body, A plurality of incision grooves are formed on the above wing body, A washing machine, characterized in that the plurality of cutting grooves are sunken upward from the lower part of the wing body to a predetermined depth.

7. In paragraph 6, The above second mixing wing, A wing body extending radially from the above mixer body, Including an extension extending in a circumferential direction from an end of the above wing body, A single incision groove is formed in the above wing body, A washing machine, characterized in that the single incision groove is sunken upward from the lower part of the wing body to a predetermined depth.

8. In paragraph 7, A washing machine, characterized in that the trajectory of the single incision groove is formed between the trajectories of the plurality of incision grooves.

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