Detergent supplying apparatus of washing machine

Abstract

Provided is a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine. The apparatus includes a drawer provided with a bleach/softener supplying part for housing and supplying bleach and softener, and a detergent supplying part for housing and supplying detergent; and a drawer cap combined to the drawer to cover an upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part, and provided with a bleach input port and a softener input port, respectively.

Description

This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) on Patent Application No. 10-2005-0057178 filed in Korea on Jun. 29, 2005, Patent Application No. 10-2005-0057179 filed in Korea on Jun. 29, 2005, Patent Application No. 10-2005-0057180 filed in Korea on Jun. 29, 2005 and Patent Application No. 10-2005-0057181 filed in Korea on Jun. 29, 2005, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine provided with a drawer that houses and supplies detergent and is drawn or disengaged outside the washing machine, and more particularly, to a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine, in which a drawer cap is combined to an upper surface of a drawer.

2. Description of the Background Art

In general, a washing machine refers to a device for cleaning a laundry through washing, rinsing, dewatering, and drying to decontaminate clothes and bedclothes (Hereinafter, referred to as “laundry”).

The washing machine is classified as a home washing machine and a commercial washing machine depending on a purpose of use. The home washing machine is installed at each home, and is used for washing the laundry generated by a member of family. The commercial washing machine is separately installed at a shop or dormitory, and is used for leasing its use to a user desiring to wash the laundry in return for a predetermined use fee.

The commercial washing machine is separately provided with a fee processing unit other than a construction of the general home washing machine, and separately requires a control algorithm of the fee processing unit.

The washing machine is provided with a detergent supplying apparatus for housing detergent, bleach, and softener and then, selectively supplying the detergent, the bleach, and the softener at a necessary time.

The detergent supplying apparatus includes a drawer for housing and supplying the detergent, the bleach, and the softener.

The drawer is disposed at a water supplying flow of the washing machine to mix and supply water passing through the water supplying flow of the washing machine, and is constructed such that it is drawn or disengaged outside to input the detergent, the bleach, and the softener.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a drawer used in a conventional washing machine. A detergent supplying part 402 to house and supply detergent is long provided in the front and rear direction at a right side of the drawer 400. A bleach supplying part 404 to house and supply bleach is long provided in the front and rear direction at a center of the drawer 400. A softener supplying part 406 to house softener is long provided in the front and rear direction at a left side of the drawer 400.

In the bleach supplying part 404, a bleach siphon tube 408 is protruded, and the bleach siphon tube 408 is covered with a bleach siphon cap 408′.

In the softener supplying part 406, a softener siphon tube 409 is protruded, and the softener siphon tube 409 is covered with a softener siphon cap 409′.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating another example of a drawer used in the conventional washing machine. A detergent supplying part 412 to house detergent is long provided in the front and rear direction at a right side of the drawer 410. A bleach/softener supplying part 414 to separately house bleach and softener is long provided in the front and rear direction at a left side of the drawer 410.

The bleach/softener supplying part 414 is provided with a box shaped bleach supplying part 416 at an inner and front part, and is provided with a box shaped softener supplying part 418 at an inner and rear part.

In the bleach supplying part 416, a bleach siphon tube 428 is protruded, and the bleach siphon tube 428 is covered with a bleach siphon cap 428′.

In the softener supplying part 418, a softener siphon tube 429 is protruded, and the softener siphon tube 429 is covered with a softener siphon cap 429′.

However, in the conventional detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine, there is a drawback that the drawers 400 and 410 should be very carefully inserted into the washing machine such that the bleach housed in the bleach supplying parts 404 and 416 or the softener housed in the softener supplying parts 406 and 418 do not overflow outside, thereby making it difficult to detach the drawers 400 and 410 and deteriorating a use convenience of the washing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve at least the problems and disadvantages of the background art.

The present invention is to provide a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine, for preventing bleach and softener from easily escaping out of a drawer with a simple structure, thereby stopping a waste of the bleach and the softener and facilitating the detachment of the drawer.

Also, the present invention is to provide a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine, for preventing arbitrary disengagement of a drawer cap mounted on an upper surface of a detergent housing part, and securing a safety and a reliability of the washing machine.

Further, the present invention is to provide a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine, for entirely diluting bleach and softener that are housed in a detergent housing part of a drawer, by water, and improving a performance of discharging the bleach and the softener.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, there is provided a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine, the apparatus including a drawer provided with a bleach/softener supplying part for housing and supplying bleach and softener, and a detergent supplying part for housing and supplying detergent; and a drawer cap combined to the drawer to cover an upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part, and provided with a bleach input port and a softener input port, respectively.

In the drawer, a seating part for lifting a front part of the drawer cap is step-jawed.

In the drawer cap, a hook is protruded from a lower surface of a front part, and, in the drawer, the seating part is provided with a hook hole inserted and hooked by the hook.

The drawer forms a rear part of the bleach/softener supplying part, and a protrusion is protruded from a rear surface of a rear wall part for lifting a rear part of the drawer cap, and the drawer cap is provided with a locking hole locked by the protrusion, and a locking part closely attached to the rear surface of the rear wall part is protruded.

The drawer is disposed at a water supplying flow of the washing machine through an opening provided at the washing machine or is provided with a stopper stopping around the opening such that it is drawn outside and is not completely disengaged from the washing machine. The stopper is provided such that, at the time of drawing the drawer, rear parts of the drawer and the drawer cap are positioned inside the opening.

The bleach/softener supplying part is provided with a drawer partition rib for partitioning it as a bleach supplying part for housing and supplying the bleach and a softener supplying part for housing and supplying the softener.

Siphon tubes are upwardly protruded from lower surfaces of rear parts of the bleach supplying part and the softener supplying part, respectively, and siphon caps are provided at a lower surface of the drawer cap to cover upper ends of the siphon tubes.

In the drawer, a shield unit is provided at lower and front parts of the siphon tubes such that a predetermined air pressure acts on lower parts of the siphon tubes.

The shield unit is a shield wall inclined and provided in rear as going to a lower side, at a position spaced by a distance from lower parts to front parts the siphon tubes.

The drawer cap is provided with a drawer cap partition rib closely attached to the drawer partition rib.

The drawer cap is provided with fitting ribs at positions spaced by a predetermined distance from the drawer cap partition rib such that the drawer partition rib is fitted and fixed between the drawer cap and the drawer cap partition rib.

The drawer cap is provided with a bleach-purposed water supplying port for allowing a passage of water dropping toward the bleach supplying part, and a softener-purposed water supplying port for allowing a passage of water dropping toward the softener supplying part.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the drawer is combined with the drawer cap which covers the upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part and has each of the bleach input port and the softener input port and thus, one drawer cap can stop all the escape of the bleach and the escape of the softener, thereby stopping a waste of the bleach and the softener by a simple structure and cleanly maintaining the around.

Also, there is an advantage that the drawer cap is firmly combined to the drawer and a combination portion is not easily seen from the exterior, thereby making it difficult for a user to separate the drawer cap and preventing the disengagement and loss of the drawer cap.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a commercial drum washing machine employing a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal construction of the commercial drum washing machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of the commercial drum washing machine shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a detergent supplying apparatus shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating a drawer shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section taken along a line A-A of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 illustrates a cross section taken along a line B-B of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view illustrating a drawer and a drawer cap shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a lower part of a drawer shown in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 12 is a cross section of a drawer of FIG. 11 when it is locked by a lower part of an opening of a commercial drum washing machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in a more detailed manner with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a commercial drum washing machine employing a detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine according to the present invention.

In the commercial drum washing machine 1 shown in FIG. 3, when a user selects wanted cleaning course and time, a fee processing unit 2 approves a proper fee based on the selected cleaning course or time. By water and detergent and mechanical action, a laundry is washed, rinsed, dewatered, and dried and thus, is decontaminated.

The fee processing unit 2 is comprised of a coil box 3 and a card reader 4.

The coin box 3, a device for approving a fee using a coin, houses, and mechanically processes a plurality of coins. Thus, it is so great in appearance and weight.

On contrary, the card reader 4, a device for approving the fee using a magnetic card or an integrated circuit (IC) card, electronically reads and processes the card. Thus, it is so small in appearance and weight compared with the coin box 3.

The commercial drum washing machine 1 is simultaneously provided with the coin box 3 and the card reader 4 in order to improve user's convenience.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an internal construction of the commercial drum washing machine shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a main part of the commercial drum washing machine shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 4 or 5, the commercial drum washing machine 1 includes a casing 6 forming an appearance; a tub 20 installed inside the casing 6 such that it can be buffered by a spring 18 and a damper 19; a drum 30 rotatably disposed inside the tub 20 and having a plurality of water holes 22; a lifter 40 installed on an inner circumference surface of the drum 30 and lifting up the laundry by a predetermined height so that the laundry can fall by gravity; and a motor 50 installed in rear of the tub 20 and rotating the drum 30.

The casing 6 includes a base 7; a cabinet 8 installed at an upper side of the base 7 and forming the appearance at left and right parts and a rear part of the commercial drum washing machine 1; a cabinet cover 10 installed in front of the cabinet 8 and having a water doorway 9 at its center; and a top plate 11 installed on an upper surface of the cabinet 8.

A support frame 12 long provided left and right is mounted at a front and upper side of the cabinet 8, and supports left and right parts of the cabinet 8.

An insertion hole 13 is provided back and forth at the support frame 12 to insert a front end of a dispenser housing 252 described later.

A door 14 for opening and closing the water doorway 9 is rotatably installed at the cabinet cover 10.

A control panel 15 is installed at an upper side of the cabinet cover 10 to display an operation state of the commercial drum washing machine and control an operation of the commercial drum washing machine.

The card reader 4 is installed at the control panel 15.

An opening 16 is provided back and forth at the control panel 15 to allow entrance and exit of the drawer 254 described later.

The coin box 3 is installed at an upper side of the top plate 11, and a buffer pad 17 is provided on an upper surface of the top plate 11. The coin box 3 is put and installed on the buffer pad 17.

The coin box 3 and the card reader 4 connect with an electronic equipment of the control panel 15 such that they can transmit a signal, to control an operation by the control panel 15 and display a fee processing state for the exterior.

A wire of the coin box 3 passes through the buffer pad 17 and the top plate 11 and then, is wired toward the control panel 15 along a lower surface of the top plate 11.

A water supplying unit 230 is installed at an upper side of the tub 20.

The water supplying unit 230 includes a water supplying valve 232 for controlling water supplied from an external water source; a water supplying hose 234 for guiding the water passing through the water supplying valve 232; the detergent supplying apparatus 250 for mixing the water guided by the water supplying hose 234, with any one of detergent, softener, and bleach, and discharging the mixture; and a water supplying bellows 236 for guiding and supplying the water, which passes through the detergent supplying apparatus 250 and is mixed with the detergent and the like, into the tub 20. Parts of the water supplying valve 232, the water supplying hose 234, and the detergent supplying apparatus 250, and the water supplying bellows 236 form a water supplying flow of the washing machine.

The water supplying valve 232 is installed to pass through a top of a rear surface of the cabinet 8. The water supplying valve 232 includes cool water valves 232A and 232B for introducing cool water from the exterior, and a hot water valve 232C for introducing hot water from the exterior.

The cool water valves 232A and 232B are provided to have one inlet and two outlets, and the hot water valve 232C is provided to have one inlet and outlet.

The detergent supplying apparatus 250 is installed to communicate between the water supplying hose 234 and the water supplying bellows 236, thereby supplying the detergent, together with the water supplied from the water supplying unit 230, to the tub 20.

The water supplying hose 234 is installed between the water supplying valve 232 and the detergent supplying apparatus 250 to guide the water to the detergent supplying apparatus 250. The water supplying hose 234 includes first and second cool water hoses 234A and 234B connecting between the cool water valves 232A and 232B and the detergent supplying apparatus 250; and a hot water hose 234C connecting between the hot water valve 232C and the detergent supplying apparatus 250.

As shown in FIG. 4, a water draining unit 240 is installed at a lower side of the tub 20 to discharge a washing water used for washing and rinsing, and water dewatered from a bag (Hereinafter, referred to as “washing water”), to the exterior of the commercial drum washing machine.

The water draining unit 240 includes a water draining bellows 242 connecting to a water draining port of the tub 20; a water draining pump 244 connecting with the water draining bellows 242; and a water draining hose 246 for guiding the washing water pumped by the water draining pump, to the exterior of the commercial drum washing machine.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the detergent supplying apparatus shown in FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a plan view illustrating the drawer shown in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 illustrates a cross section taken along a line A-A of FIG. 7, FIG. 9 illustrates a cross section taken along a line B-B of FIG. 6, and FIG. 10 is an exploded view illustrating the drawer and the drawer cap shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the detergent supplying apparatus 250 includes a dispenser housing 252 connecting with the water supplying bellows 236 and opened in its front and top; the drawer 254 for housing and supplying the detergent, the softener, and the bleach; a dispenser cover 256 provided at an opened top of the dispenser housing 252, communicating and connecting with the water supplying hose 234, and supplying water into the drawer 254.

The dispenser housing 252 is installed in rear of the support frame 12 such that it communicates in front with the opening 16 of the control panel 15.

A water draining port 253 is protruded from the dispenser housing 252 to connect with the water supplying bellows 236 such that a mixture liquid of detergent and water dropping from the drawer 254 can be supplied inside the tub 20.

The drawer 254 is inserted into the dispenser housing 252, which is the water supplying flow of the washing machine, through the opening 16 of the control panel 15 and the opening 13 of the support frame 12. The drawer 254 is disposed at the water supplying flow of the washing machine or is drawn to the exterior.

The drawer 254 includes a drawer body 260 provided with a detergent supplying part 262 for housing and supplying the detergent, the softener, and the bleach; and a front panel 270 combined to a front surface of the drawer body 260 and having a handle 272 in its front.

The drawer body 260 is provided with a front part 264 for mounting the front panel 270, in its front.

The drawer 254, specifically, the drawer body 260 includes a detergent supplying part 300 for housing and supplying the detergent; and a bleach/softener supplying part 310 for housing and supplying at least one of the softener and the bleach. A connection part 268 is provided between an upper end of the detergent supplying part 300 and an upper end of the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The detergent supplying part 300 is provided to have the approximately same area as a whole of the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The detergent supplying part 300 is provided to have a box shape opened in its top and rear.

The detergent supplying part 300 is provided with a cutoff wall 302 in its rear to prevent a powder detergent of lump state from dropping from the dispenser cover 256 to the dispenser housing 252 due to sprayed water.

The detergent supplying part 300 is provided with a detergent amount setting wall 304 at a position spaced by a predetermined distance in rear of the front panel 270, to set a capacity of the detergent.

The cutoff wall 302 and the detergent amount setting wall 304 are plate-shaped members horizontally provided left and right. The cutoff wall 302 and the detergent amount setting wall 304 connect, in left and right ends, to left and right wall parts of the detergent supplying part 300, and are spaced apart by a predetermined distance from a bottom surface 301 of the detergent supplying part 300 so that the detergent housed in the detergent supplying part 300 can be discharged to the dispenser housing 252.

The detergent supplying part 300 is provided with a semi-circular shaped discharge hole part 306 at a lower side of the cutoff wall 302 to smoothly discharge the water or the detergent from the detergent supplying part 300.

The detergent amount setting wall 304 is provided such that it is positioned correspondingly to the opening 16 of the control panel 15 at the time of maximally drawing the drawer 254 to the front of the opening 16 of the control panel 15, to set a detergent input space to the detergent supplying part 300.

The detergent amount setting wall 304 is provided such that it is vertically positioned correspondingly to the opening 16 of the control panel 15 at the time of maximally drawing the drawer 254, to limit the capacity of detergent that can be housed in the detergent supplying part 300.

The detergent amount setting wall 304 is provided to be inclined up and down such that its top end is disposed in rear of the opening 16 of the control panel 15 and also, its bottom end is disposed in front of the opening 16.

The detergent amount setting wall 304 is inclined and provided and thus, an injection metal mold is easily taken at the time of ejection molding. The top end of the detergent amount setting wall 304 is positioned inside the opening 16 of the control panel 15 and thus, a phenomenon in which the powder detergent is inputted to a rear space of the detergent amount setting wall 304 is prevented.

The bleach/softener supplying part 310 is provided to wholly have a box shape opened in its top and rear.

In the bleach/softener supplying part 310, a bleach supplying part 311 for housing the bleach and a softener supplying part 312 for housing the softener are long provided back and forth as a whole.

In the bleach supplying part 311 and the softener supplying part 312, rear parts are provided in a box shape whose top is opened, at a position upwardly spaced apart by a predetermined height from a bottom surface 310A of the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

A bleach siphon tube 313 is protruded by a predetermined height from a rear and lower surface of the bleach supplying part 311.

A softener siphon tube 314 is protruded by a predetermined height from a rear and bottom surface of the softener supplying part 312.

The bleach/softener supplying part 310 is provided with a drawer partition rib 315, which forms wall parts of the bleach supplying part 311 and the softener supplying part 312 while partitioning it as the bleach supplying part 311 and the softener supplying part 312.

The drawer partition rib 316 partitions the drawer such that any one 311 of the bleach supplying part 311 and the softener supplying part 312 is positioned at a side and in front of the other one 312.

The drawer partition rib 316 includes a first lower partition rib 316A long provided left and right from a left wall part toward a right wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310 at an inner and front part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310; a second lower partition rib 316B long provided in rear of the first lower partition rib 316A; and a third lower partition rib 316C provided left and right in parallel with a part of the first lower partition rib 316A and then, long provided in rear.

The drawer partition rib 316 is provided such that a front part of the bleach supplying part 311 is greater in left/right width than a rear part thereof and is provided such that a front part of the softener supplying part 312 is larger in left/right width than a rear part thereof. The drawer partition rib 316 allows the bleach to be easily inputted to the front part of the bleach supplying part 311 and allows the softener to be easily inputted to the front part of the softener supplying part 312.

In other words, the first lower partition rib 316A is long provided in the right direction from the left wall part toward the right wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310, and is provided longer than a half of a width between the left wall part and the right wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The second lower partition rib 316B is long provided from a right end to a rear of the first lower partition rib 316B. A width between a left wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310 and the second lower partition rib 316B is provided greater than a width between a right wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310 and the second lower partition rib 316B.

The third lower partition rib 316C is provided in the left direction toward the left wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310 at a rear end of the second lower partition rib 316B, and is long provided in rear from a middle point between the left wall part and the right wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The bleach/softener supplying part 310 structurally serves as a bottleneck section between the second lower partition rib 316B and the right wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310. A mixture of the water and the softener is generally greater in viscosity than a mixture of the water and the bleach. Thus, it is desirable that the bleach supplying part 312 is set and positioned at a side and in front of the softener supplying part 311 in consideration of the bottleneck section, and the bottleneck section is provided.

In other words, the bleach/softener supplying part 310 is provided such that the bleach supplying part 311 is positioned at a side and in front of the softener supplying part 312, and such that the front part of the bleach supplying part 311 is greater in the left/right width than the rear part thereof, and such that the front part of the softener supplying part 312 is larger in the left/right width than the rear part thereof. Thus, a drawn distance of the drawer 254 is minimized while the bleach or the softener can be easily inputted.

In the bleach/softener supplying part 310, the bleach siphon tube 313 is upwardly protruded from the bottom surface of the bleach supplying part 311, and the softener siphon tube 314 is upwardly protruded from the bottom surface of the softener supplying part 312.

The bleach siphon tube 313 and the softener siphon tube 314 interpose the drawer partition rib 316 therebeween. The bleach siphon tube 313 and the softener siphon tube 314 are provided and spaced apart left and right. The bleach siphon tube 313 is positioned at a right side of the third lower partition rib 316C, and the softener siphon tube 314 is positioned at a left side of the third lower partition rib 316C.

A rear wall part 317 is provided at the bleach/softener supplying part 310, and forms the rear parts of the bleach supplying part 311 and the softener supplying part 312.

The rear wall part has overflow parts 317B and 317C at an upper and middle part such that, when the bleach or the softener is excessively inputted or the water is excessively supplied, the bleach and softener or the water can overflow to the dispenser housing 252.

The overflow parts 317B and 317C are provided at a relatively less height than those of other parts of the rear wall part 317.

The bleach supplying part 311 and the softener supplying part 312 are provided to have a structure in which a portion provided with the bleach siphon tube 313 and the softener siphon tube 314 downwardly rises by a predetermined height. A shield wall 318 is provided at the bottom surface 310A of the bleach/softener supplying part 310 such that the bleach siphon tube 313 and the softener siphon tube 314 can be shielded in a lower and front part.

The shield wall 318 is provided at a position spaced apart by a predetermined distance in front of the bleach siphon tube 313 and the softener siphon tube 314 such that, when the drawer 254 is inserted into the opening 16 of the control panel 15, air pressure can be applied to lower ends of the bleach siphon tube 313 and the softener siphon tube 314.

Accordingly, when the drawer 254 is closed, the air pressure is applied to the lower ends of the bleach siphon tube 313 and the softener siphon tube 314. Thus, a phenomenon in which the bleach and the softener stored in the bleach supplying part 311 and the softener supplying part 312 are discharged to the bottom surface of the bleach/softener supplying part 310 through the siphon tubes 313 and 314 and siphon caps 285 and 286 described later is prevented.

The front panel 270 is hooked and combined to the front part 264 of the drawer body 260 and, is connected and fixed by a connection bolt 274.

In other words, a hook hole and a hook are provided at the front part 264 of the drawer body 260 and the front panel 270 to face with each other. Thus, the front panel 270 is combined to the front part 264 of the drawer body 260, and a connection hole or a connection boss are provided to face with each other and are connected and fixed by the connection bolt 274. The front panel 270 is firmly mounted and fixed to the front part 264 of the drawer body 260 and thus, is not easily separated from the drawer body 260.

A drawer cap 280 is provided at the drawer 256 to cover an upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The drawer cap 280 is a kind of cover that prevents the bleach and the softener from overflowing to the exterior beyond the upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part 310. The drawer cap 280 has a size and a shape covering all the upper surface of the bleach supplying part 311 and the upper surface of the softener supplying part 310.

The drawer cap 280, an approximately plate shaped member mounted to cover the upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part 310, is up-fixed in front part to a seating part 319 that is step-jawed at the front part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310, and is up-fixed in rear part to an upper end of the rear wall part 317 provided at a rear surface of the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The hook 281 is downwardly protruded from a front and lower surface of the drawer cap 280. In the detergent box 264, a hook through-hole 319A inserted and hooked by the hook 281 is provided up and down in the seating part 319.

In the drawer 264, a protrusion 317A is backwardly protruded from an upper and rear surface of the rear wall part 317. In the drawer cap 280, a locking hole 282A for locking the protrusion 317A is provided at the rear wall part 317. A locking part 282 is protruded, and is closely attached to a rear surface of the rear wall part 317.

The locking part 282 is closely attached to an upper and rear surface of the rear wall part 317.

If the locking part 282 is positioned in rear of the rear wall part 317 while the locking hole 282A is locked by the protrusion 317A, and its front part is pressed down to insert the hook 281 into the hook hole 319A, the drawer cap 280 is not only firmly mounted on the drawer 254 but also, at the time of drawing the drawer 254, the hook 281 and the protrusion 317A are not exposed outside, thereby limiting disengagement by the user.

In the drawer cap 280, a bleach input port 283 for inputting the bleach and the water is provided correspondingly to the front part of the bleach supplying part 311, and the softener input port 284 for inputting the softener and the water is provided correspondingly to the front part of the softener supplying part 312.

In the drawer cap 280, the bleach input port 283 and the softener input port 294 are provided and opened up and down at the front part of the drawer cap 280, and the bleach input port 283 is provided in front of the softener input port 284.

In the drawer cap 280, the bleach input port 283 and the softener input port 284 are protruded downwardly more than the around, and have box shapes in which square holes are provided at centers.

In the drawer cap 280, a bleach siphon cap 285 covering the bleach siphon tube 313 is provided at a portion corresponding to the bleach siphon tube 313 of the bleach supplying part 311, and a softener siphon cap 286 covering the softener siphon tube 314 is provided at a portion corresponding to the softener siphon tube 314 of the softener supplying part 312.

The drawer cap 280 is provided such that the bleach siphon cap 285 and the softener siphon cap 286 are spaced apart left and right.

The drawer cap 280 has rising parts 289A and 289B in which each of bleach siphon cap 285 and softener siphon cap 286 portions rises downwardly by a predetermined depth.

In the drawer cap 280, there are provided a bleach-purposed water supplying port 287 for allowing a passage of water dropping from the dispenser cover 256 toward the bleach supplying part 311, and a softener-purposed water supplying port 288 for allowing a passage of water dropping from the dispenser cover 256 toward the softener supplying part 312.

The bleach-purposed water supplying port 287 and the softener-purposed water supplying port 288 are protruded downwardly in a square structure from front parts of the rising parts 289A and 289B, and are integrally provided with a plurality of grills, respectively.

In the drawer cap 280, the water dropping from the dispenser cover 256 passes through the bleach-purposed water supplying port 287 and is supplied inside the bleach supplying part 311, thereby promoting dilution of the bleach, and the water dropping from the dispenser cover 256 passes through the softener-purposed water supplying port 288 and is supplied inside the softener supplying part 312, thereby promoting dilution of the softener.

In the drawer cap 280, a drawer cap partition rib 290 closely attached in a lower surface to the drawer partition rib 316 of the drawer body 260 is protruded downwardly.

The drawer cap partition rib 290 includes a first upper partition rib 290A provided left and right to be closely attached to the first lower partition rib 316A; a second upper partition rib 290B closely attached to the second lower partition rib 316B; and a third upper partition rib 290C provided left and right in parallel with a part of the first upper partition rib 290A from a rear end of the second upper partition rib 290B and then, long provided in rear at a middle point of the drawer cap 280.

The first upper partition rib 290A is provided close to a rear surface of the first lower partition rib 316A.

The second upper partition rib 290B is long provided in rear from a left end of the first upper partition rib 290A to be closely attached to a left side of the second lower partition rib 316B.

The third upper partition rib 290C is provided close to a front surface and a left surface of the third lower partition rib 316C.

The drawer cap 280 is provided such that the bleach input port 283 and the softener input port 284 are spaced apart back and forth, interposing the first upper partition rib 290A therebetween.

A first fitting rib 292 closely attached to a front surface of the first lower partition rib 316A is protruded from a front part of the first upper partition rib 290A. Second and third fitting ribs 294 and 296 closely attached to a right surface of the third lower partition rib 316C are protruded from a right side of the third upper partition rib 290C.

At the time of mounting the drawer cap 280, the first lower partition rib 316A is fitted between the first upper partition rib 290A and the first fitting rib 292, and the third lower partition rib 316C is fitted between the third upper partition rib 290C and the second and third fitting ribs 294 and 296.

As shown in FIG. 4, the dispenser cover 256 includes a lower panel 256A mounted on an opened upper surface of the dispenser housing 252; and an upper panel 256B up-mounted on an upper part of the lower panel 256A to form the detergent water supplying flow 330, the bleach water supplying flow 332, and the softener water supplying flow 334, together with the lower panel 256A.

In the lower panel 256A, a hose connection part 338 connecting with the water supplying hose 234 of the water supplying unit 230 is protruded in rear.

The hose connection part 338 includes a first hose connection part 338A connecting with a hot water hose 234C to supply hot water to the detergent water supplying flow 330; and second and third hose connection parts 338B and 338C connecting with first and second cool water hoses 234A and 234B to supply cool water to the bleach water supplying flow 332, the softener water supplying flow 334, and the detergent water supplying flow 330.

In the lower panel 256A, a plurality of water supplying holes 340 are provided at a portion facing the detergent water supplying part 300 and the bleach/softener supplying part 310 of the drawer 254.

The water supplying hole 340 includes a plurality of detergent water supplying holes 342 provided at an upper side of the detergent supplying part 300 to supply the water within the detergent water supplying flow 330 to the detergent supplying part 300; a plurality of bleach water supplying holes 344 provided at an upper side of the bleach supplying part 311 to supply the water within the bleach water supplying flow 332 to the bleach supplying part 311; and a plurality of softener water supplying holes 346 provided at an upper side of the softener supplying part 312 to supply the water from the softener water supplying flow 334 to the softener supplying part 312.

The detergent water supplying hole 342 is provided in plural at a portion facing an inner surface of the detergent supplying part 300. The bleach water supplying holes 344 are provided at portions facing the bleach input port 283 and the bleach-purposed water supplying port 287, respectively. The softener water supplying holes 346 are provided at portions facing the softener input port 284 and the softener-purposed water supplying port 288, respectively.

In the dispenser cover 256, the detergent water supplying flow 330 is provided such that cool water or hot water can flow from the first, second, and third hose connection parts 338A, 338B, and 338C to the detergent water supplying hole 342. The bleach water supplying flow 332 is provided such that cool water can flow from the second and third hose connection parts 338A and 338B to the bleach water supplying hole 344. The softener water supplying flow 334 is provided such that cool water can flow from the second and third hose connection parts 338B and 338C to the softener water supplying hole 346.

In the detergent water supplying flow 330, the bleach water supplying flow 332, and the softener water supplying flow 334, portions where the detergent water supplying hole 342, the bleach water supplying hole 344, and the softener water supplying hole 346 are provided rise downwardly by a predetermined depth compared with other portions.

In the portions where the detergent water supplying hole 342, the detergent water supplying hole 344, and the softener water supplying hole 346 are provided, a capacity of water not only increases but also a backflow to the first, second, and third hose connection parts 338A, 338B, and 338C from the portions where the detergent water supplying hole 342, the bleach water supplying hole 344, and the softener water supplying hole 346 are provided is prevented.

A detergent water supplying rib 331 forming the detergent water supplying flow 330, a bleach water supplying rib 333 forming the detergent water supplying flow 332, and a softener water supplying rib 335 forming the softener water supplying flow 334 are protrusively provided at least any one of the upper panel 256B and the lower panel 256A.

The upper panel 256B and the lower panel 256A are thermally fused and assembled.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a lower part of the drawer shown in FIG. 6, and FIG. 12 is a cross section of the drawer of FIG. 11 when it is locked by a lower part of the opening of the commercial drum washing machine.

In the detergent supplying apparatus 250, a stopper 320 for preventing the drawer 254 from easily disengaging from the washing machine is provided at any one of the drawer 254 and the drawer cap 280.

The stopper 320 is a kind of disengagement prevention unit which, at the time of drawing the drawer 254 to the front, is locked by the lower part of the opening 16 of the control panel 15 and sets a maximal drawn distance of the drawer 254 and also, according to need, entirely disengages the drawer 254 from the commercial drum washing machine 1. The stopper 320 is provided such that it is locked in the drawing direction of the drawer 254 around the opening 16 of the control panel 15.

The stopper 320 can be also integrally provided to the drawer 254, particularly, the drawer body 260, and is of course possible to be integrally provided to the drawer cap 280.

In case where the stopper 320 is provided to the drawer cap 280, when the drawer cap 280 is disengaged from the drawer 254 or the drawer cap 280 is lost, there does not exist a structure stopping its disengagement in the drawer 254 itself, thereby causing a free separation of the drawer 254. Thus, it is desirable that the stopper 320 is integrally provided to the drawer 254.

The stopper 320 can be provided at the upper part of the drawer 254, and is of course possible to be even provided at a lower part of the drawer 254.

In case where the stopper 320 is provided at the upper part of the drawer 254, for example, at the connection part 268 or is provided at an upper surface of the detergent supplying part 300 or the bleach/softener supplying part 310, the stopper 320 is easily recognized by the common user, thereby getting the stopper 320 free from the washing machine and separating the drawer 254. Thus, it is most desirable to provide the stopper 320 at the lower part where it is difficult for the common user to recognize the stopper 320.

In other words, the stopper 320 is provided at the lower part of the drawer 254 and thus, at the time of drawing the drawer 254, is not exposed outside. The stopper 320 is integrally provided to the drawer 254 and thus, makes its disengagement difficult.

The stopper 320 includes a panel part 322 provided and elastically pressable between a lower part of the detergent supplying part 300 and a lower part of the bleach/softener supplying part 310; and a protrusion part 324 downwardly protruded from a lower surface of the panel part 322 to be locked at a lower part of the opening 16 of the control panel 15 at the time of drawing the drawer 254.

The stopper 230 further includes a reinforcement part 323 that links the panel part 322 and the connection part 268.

The panel part 322 is a plate shaped member extrusion-molded integrally with the lower part of the drawer body 260. In the panel part 322, a left part and a right part are connected to the lower parts of the detergent supplying part 300 and the detergent/softener supplying part 310, and an approximate middle part is provided with an elastic part 326 that is elastically deformed up and down.

The panel part 322 is provided in parallel at a lower side of a rear part of the drawer body 260, and is long provided in the front and rear directions between the detergent supplying part 300 and the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The left part and the right part of the panel part 322 are provided with two slits 325A and 325B, respectively, at positions spaced apart from the detergent supplying part 300 and the bleach/softener supplying part 310.

The left slit 325A and the right slit 325B are long provided lengthwise of the panel part 322, and the elastic part 326 is pressably provided between the left slit 325A and the right slit 325B.

In the elastic part 326, a left end and a right end are provided with the left slit 325A and the right slit 325B, respectively, and in the panel part 322, a front end and a rear end are elastically connected.

A middle portion of the elastic part 326 is convexly elastically deformed upwardly as pressed.

The protrusion part 324 is downwardly protruded by a predetermined height at a rear and lower surface of the elastic part 326 such that the rear part of the drawer 254 is positioned in rear of the opening 16 of the control panel 15.

The protrusion part 324 is comprised of ribs protruded in ‘’ shapes at a rear and lower surface of the elastic part 326.

The protrusion part 324 includes a vertical rib 327 long provided left and right from a lower surface of the elastic part 326; and inclination ribs 328 long provided in rear at a left end and a right end of the vertical rib 327, respectively.

The vertical rib 327 is vertically protruded from the lower surface of the elastic part 326, and locked by a lower end of the opening 16 at the time of drawing the drawer 254.

The inclination ribs 328 support the vertical rib 327 and, are upwardly inclined and provided as going from the vertical rib 327 to the rear such that the drawer 254 is easily inserted and mounted on the opening 16.

The protrusion part 324 is preferably positioned in rear rather than a middle of the front and rear direction of the elastic part 326 such that a front end can be greatly deformed upwardly compared with a rear end of the inclination rib 328 at the time of inserting and mounting the drawer 254.

An operation of the above constructed detergent supplying apparatus of the commercial drum washing machine according to the present invention will be described below.

First, when the user pulls the drawer 254 in front of the opening 16 of the control panel 15, the drawer 254 passes through the opening 16 of the control panel 15 and is drawn to the front, and as shown in FIG. 12, the protrusion 324 provided at the lower part of the drawer 254 is locked in front at the lower part of the opening 16 of the control panel 15, and the drawer 254 is opened outside only in an upper surface of the front part and is positioned in a rear part in rear of the opening 16 of the control panel 15.

If the user inputs the detergent to the front of the detergent supplying part 300 of the drawer 254, the detergent is housed within the detergent supplying part 300. If inputting the bleach to the bleach input port 283 of the drawer cap 280, the bleach is housed within the bleach supplying part 311. If inputting the softener to the softener input port 284 of the drawer cap 280, the softener is housed within the softener supplying part 312.

In a state where the detergent, the bleach, and the softener are inputted to the detergent supplying part 262 of the drawer 254 as above, when the drawer 254 is pushed and put into the rear of the opening 16 of the control panel 15, the drawer 254 is deeply inserted into the dispenser housing 252.

If the user manipulates the control panel 15 and sets washing course or time, the commercial drum washing machine calculates a fee based on the set washing course and time, and displays the calculated fee using the control panel 15 or a fee processing unit 110. If the user approves the fee using the fee processing unit 110, the commercial drum washing machine 1 is in a state where driving is possible by the user. The commercial drum washing machine 1 is driven through manipulation of the control panel 15, and the set washing course is executed by the user.

A process of supplying the water through the water supplying unit 230 will be in detail described below.

First, when the water supplying valve 232 is switched on, the external water sequentially passes through the water supplying valve 232 and the water supplying hose 234, and is supplied to the dispenser cover 256 of the detergent supplying apparatus 250.

The water introduced to the dispenser cover 256 drops toward the drawer 254 along any one of the water supplying flows 330, 332, and 334 and any one of the water supplying holes 342, 344, and 346.

The water guided to the detergent water supplying flow 330 of the dispenser cover 256 passes through the detergent water supplying hole 342 and drops inside the detergent supplying part 310. The dropping water is mixed with the detergent housed in the detergent supplying part 310, flows to the rear of the detergent supplying part 310, drops toward a lower part of the dispenser housing 252, and is supplied to the tub 20 through the water supplying bellows 236.

The water guided to the bleach water supplying flow 332 of the dispenser cover 256 drops downwardly through the bleach water supplying hole 344. The water passing through a front-side bleach water supplying hole 344 of the bleach water supplying hole 344 passes through the bleach input port 283 of the drawer cap 280, and is supplied to the front of the bleach supplying part 311. The water passing through a front-side bleach water supplying hole 344 of the bleach water supplying hole 344 passes through the bleach-purposed water supplying port 287 of the drawer cap 280, and is supplied to the rear part of the bleach supplying part 311.

The water supplied to the bleach supplying part 311 is mixed with the detergent, is discharged through the bleach siphon tube 313 and the bleach siphon cap 285, drops downwardly of the dispenser housing 252, and is supplied to the tub 20 through the water supplying bellows 236.

The water guided to the softener water supplying flow 334 of the dispenser cover 256 drops downwardly through the softener water supplying hole 346. The water passing through a front-side softener water supplying hole 346 of the softener water supplying hole 346 passes through the softener input port 284 of the drawer cap 280, and is supplied to a front part of the softener supplying part 311. The water passing through a rear-side softener water supplying hole 346 of the softener water supplying hole 346 passes through the softener-purposed water supplying port 288 of the drawer cap 280, and is supplied to the rear part of the softener supplying part 312.

The water supplied to the softener supplying part 312 is mixed with the softener, is discharged through the softener siphon tube 314 and the softener siphon cap 286, drops toward the lower part of the dispenser housing 252, and is supplied to the tub 20 through the water supplying bellows 236.

Effects of the above-constructed detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention will be described below.

In the above constructed detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the drawer is combined with the drawer cap covering the upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part and having each of the bleach input port and the softener input port and thus, one drawer cap can stop all bleach escape and softener escape, thereby stopping a waste of the bleach and the softener by a simple structure and cleanly maintaining the around.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the seating part is provided at the front part of the detergent housing part, thereby seating the front part of the drawer cap, and the hook is provided at the front and lower surface of the drawer cap, and since the seating part is provided with the hook hole inserted and hooked by the hook, the hook and the hook hole are covered by the front part of the drawer cap, thereby making it difficult for the user to separate the drawer cap, and preventing the disengagement and loss of the drawer cap.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that since the protrusion is provided to the rear wall part of the bleach/softener supplying part, and the locking part is provided with the locking hole locked by the protrusion, at the rear part of the drawer cap, it is difficult to disassemble the rear wall part and the locking part until the drawer is completely disengaged outside of the washing machine, thereby preventing arbitrary disengagement of the drawer cap.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the arbitrary disengagement of the drawer cap is limited, thereby reducing a maintenance cost and improving the merchantability and reliability of the washing machine.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that the drawer is provided with the drawer partition rib partitioning the bleach/softener supplying part as the bleach supplying part and the softener supplying part, and the drawer cap is provided with the drawer cap partition rib closely attached to the drawer partition rib, and the drawer is provided with the fitting rib fitted and fixed between the drawer partition rib and the drawer cap partition rib, thereby limiting the arbitrary disengagement of the engaged drawer cap.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that since the shield means is provided at the lower and front part of the bleach siphon tube and the softener siphon tube, when the detergent box is inserted and mounted, a predetermined air pressure acts on the lower parts of the bleach siphon tube and the softener siphon tube, thereby preventing the bleach housed in the bleach supplying part and the softener housed in the softener supplying part from flowing and being arbitrarily discharged.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that since the drawer cap is provided with the bleach-purposed water supplying port and the softener-purposed water supplying port, the bleach and the softener are completely diluted by the water and discharged, thereby improving a performance of discharging the bleach and the softener.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that since a phlegmatic state of the bleach flowing toward between the bleach siphon tube and the bleach siphon cap is broken down by the water supplied through the bleach-purposed water supplying port, a siphon phenomenon of the bleach is smoothly executed.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that since a phlegmatic state of the softener flowing toward between the softener siphon tube and the softener siphon cap is broken down by the water supplied through the softener-purposed water supplying port, a siphon phenomenon of the softener is smoothly executed.

In the detergent supplying apparatus of the washing machine according to the present invention, there is an advantage that since the bleach-purposed water supplying port and the softener-purposed water supplying port are provided with the plurality of grills, a pressure of the water sprayed through the bleach-purposed water supplying port and the softener-purposed water supplying port is increased, thereby improving a performance of diluting the bleach and the softener.

The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine, the apparatus comprising:

a drawer provided with a bleach/softener supplying part for housing and supplying bleach and softener, and a detergent supplying part for housing and supplying detergent; and

a drawer cap combined to the drawer to cover an upper surface of the bleach/softener supplying part, and provided with a bleach input port and a softener input port, respectively.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detergent supplying part and the bleach/softener supplying part are long provided in front and rear direction at a left side and a right side of the drawer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, in the drawer, a seating part for lifting a front part of the drawer cap is step-jawed.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein, in the drawer cap, a hook is protruded from a lower surface of a front part, and

in the drawer, the seating part is provided with a hook hole inserted and hooked by the hook.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drawer forms a rear part of the bleach/softener supplying part, and a protrusion is protruded from a rear surface of a rear wall part for lifting a rear part of the drawer cap, and

the drawer cap is provided with a locking hole locked by the protrusion, and a locking part closely attached to the rear surface of the rear wall part is protruded.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drawer is disposed at a water supplying flow of the washing machine through an opening provided at the washing machine or is provided with a stopper stopping around the opening such that it is drawn outside and is not completely disengaged from the washing machine.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the stopper is provided such that, at the time of drawing the drawer, rear parts of the drawer and the drawer cap are positioned inside the opening.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the bleach/softener supplying part is provided with a drawer partition rib for partitioning it as a bleach supplying part for housing and supplying the bleach and a softener supplying part for housing and supplying the softener.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the drawer partition rib is provided such that any one of the bleach supplying part and the softener supplying part is positioned at a side and in front of the other one.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein siphon tubes are upwardly protruded from lower surfaces of rear parts of the bleach supplying part and the softener supplying part, respectively, and

siphon caps are provided at a lower surface of the drawer cap to cover upper ends of the siphon tubes.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein, in the drawer, a shield unit is provided at lower and front parts of the siphon tubes such that a predetermined air pressure acts on lower parts of the siphon tubes.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the shield unit is a shield wall inclined and provided in rear as going to a lower side, at a position spaced by a distance from lower parts to front parts the siphon tubes.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the drawer partition rib comprises:

a first lower partition rib provided in left and right direction at an inner and rear part of the bleach/softener supplying part;

a second lower partition rib provided in rear of the first lower partition rib; and

a third lower partition rib provided in left and right direction from the second lower partition rib and then, is provided in rear.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the drawer cap is provided with a drawer cap partition rib closely attached to the drawer partition rib.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the drawer cap partition rib comprises:

a first upper partition rib provided in left and right direction to be closely attached to the first lower partition rib;

a second upper partition rib provided in rear of the first upper partition rib to be closely attached to the second lower partition rib; and

a third upper partition rib provided in left and right direction of the second upper partition rib and then, is provided in rear to be closely attached to the third lower partition rib.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the bleach input port is provided in front of the first upper partition rib, and

the softener input port is provided in rear of the first upper partition rib.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the drawer cap is provided with fitting ribs at positions spaced by a predetermined distance from the drawer cap partition rib such that the drawer partition rib is fitted and fixed between the drawer cap and the drawer cap partition rib.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the drawer cap is provided with a bleach-purposed water supplying port for allowing a passage of water dropping toward the bleach supplying part, and a softener-purposed water supplying port for allowing a passage of water dropping toward the softener supplying part.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the washing machine is a commercial drum washing machine.

20. A detergent supplying apparatus of a washing machine, the apparatus comprising:

a drawer for housing and supplying at least any one of detergent, bleach, and softener; and

a drawer cap combined to the drawer to cover an upper surface of the drawer.