Washing machine with detergent supply unit

Abstract

A washing machine with a detergent supply unit that allows a user to selectively put a powdered or liquid detergent into the same detergent input space and is capable of controlling flow of the detergent in the detergent input space to uniformly mix the detergent in wash water. The detergent supply unit includes a detergent container, at least one detergent input space formed in the detergent container, and a control member disposed in the detergent input space for controlling flow of a detergent in the detergent input space. Alternatively, the control member is disposed in the detergent input space for increasing or decreasing time for which the detergent stays in the detergent input space.

1 . A washing machine with a detergent supply unit, comprising: 
 a detergent container;    at least one detergent input space formed in the detergent container; and    a control member disposed in the detergent input space for controlling flow of a detergent in the detergent input space.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein 
 the at least one detergent input space has at least two sides, an open upper part and an open rear end, the detergent input space being configured such that a powdered or liquid detergent is selectively put into the detergent input space, and    the control member is connected to opposite sides of the detergent input space such that the control member is moved downward to increase time for which the liquid detergent stays in the detergent input space when the liquid detergent is put into the detergent input space and such that the control member is moved upward when the powdered detergent is put into the detergent input space.    
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein 
 the detergent input space is provided at said opposite sides thereof with vertical movement guide grooves, and    the control member is provided at opposite ends thereof with vertical movement guide protrusions, the vertical movement guide protrusions of the control member being engaged in the vertical movement guide grooves of the detergent input space, respectively, such that the vertical movement guide protrusions are moved vertically along the vertical movement guide grooves for guiding the vertical movement of the control member.    
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the vertical movement guide grooves are vertically formed at the upper part of said opposite sides of the detergent input space, respectively, such that each of the vertical movement guide grooves has a predetermined vertical length, and    the vertical movement guide protrusions are disposed at the upper parts of said opposite ends of the control member, respectively.    
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the vertical movement guide protrusions are tightly fitted in the vertical movement guide grooves, respectively, whereby the control member may be held at least at one of an uppermost and a lowermost position in the detergent input space.  
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the vertical movement guide protrusions are engaged in the vertical movement guide grooves, respectively, such that the control member is not rotated about the vertical movement guide protrusions.  
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the control member is disposed adjacent to the open rear end of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the control member is disposed between the front end and the open rear end of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the bottom of the detergent input space is inclined downward from the front end to the rear end of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the control member has a height less than that of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the at least one detergent input space comprises a plurality of detergent input spaces, said plurality of detergent input spaces are divided from each other, and the control member is disposed in at least one of the plurality of detergent input spaces.  
   
   
       12 . The washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising: 
 a water tub for receiving wash water; and    a water supply unit for supplying wash water into the water tub, wherein    the detergent supply unit is disposed on a water supply channel between the water supply unit and the water tub such that the wash water is supplied from the water supply unit to the water tub through the detergent input space, whereby    the wash water is introduced into the detergent input space from the open upper part of the detergent input space, and is then discharged out of the detergent input space through the open rear end of the detergent input space such that the detergent put in the detergent input space is mixed in the wash water passing through the detergent input space, and is then supplied into the water tub.    
   
   
       13 . A washing machine with a detergent supply unit, comprising: 
 a detergent container;    at least one detergent input space formed in the detergent container; and    a control member disposed in the detergent input space for increasing or decreasing time for which a detergent stays in the detergent input space.    
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein 
 the at least one detergent input space has at least two sides, an open upper part and an open rear end, the detergent input space being configured such that at least one of a powdered and a liquid detergent may be selectively put into the detergent input space, and    the control member is connected to opposite sides of the detergent input space such that the control member is moved downward to increase time for which the liquid detergent stays in the detergent input space when the liquid detergent is put into the detergent input space and such that the control member is moved upward when the powdered detergent is put into the detergent input space.    
   
   
       15 . The washing machine according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 separation-preventing members disposed at said opposite sides of the detergent input space, respectively, for preventing the control member from being separated from the detergent input space.    
   
   
       16 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the separation-preventing members are configured to surround opposite ends of the control member while the control member is movable vertically, the separation-preventing members extending inward from said opposite sides of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       17 . The washing machine according to  claim 16 , wherein each of the separation-preventing members comprises: 
 an upper rib for supporting the upper end of the control member maximally moved upward;    a first side rib disposed in front of the control member; and    a second side rib disposed at the rear of the control member.    
   
   
       18 . The washing machine according to  claim 16 , wherein 
 the detergent input space is provided at said opposite sides thereof with vertical movement guide grooves, the vertical movement guide grooves being disposed inside the separation-preventing members, and    the control member is provided at said opposite ends thereof with vertical movement guide protrusions, the vertical movement guide protrusions of the control member being engaged in the vertical movement guide grooves of the detergent input space, respectively, such that the vertical movement guide protrusions are moved vertically along the vertical movement guide grooves for guiding the vertical movement of the control member.    
   
   
       19 . The washing machine according to  claim 18 , wherein 
 the vertical movement guide grooves are vertically formed at the upper part of both sides of the detergent input space, respectively, such that each of the vertical movement guide grooves has a predetermined vertical length, and    the vertical movement guide protrusions are disposed at the upper parts of both ends of the control member, respectively.    
   
   
       20 . The washing machine according to  claim 19 , wherein each of the vertical movement guide grooves comprises: 
 an upper end groove formed at the upper end thereof for allowing the corresponding vertical movement guide protrusion to be positioned therein when the control member is maximally moved upward;    a lower end groove formed at the lower end thereof for allowing the corresponding vertical movement guide protrusion to be positioned therein when the control member is maximally moved downward; and    a connection groove connected between the upper end groove and the lower end groove, wherein    the upper end groove and the lower end groove are depressed more deeply than the connection groove, and the upper and lower end grooves are provided at the lower and upper end parts thereof with slope parts, respectively, the slope parts being inclined toward the connection groove for guiding the movement of the vertical movement guide protrusion to the connection groove.    
   
   
       21 . The washing machine according to  claim 18 , wherein the control member comprises: 
 a vertical-moving plate whose lower end comes into contact with the bottom of the detergent input space when the control member is maximally moved downward; and    a push plate having the upper end connected to the vertical-moving plate and the lower part vertically extending while being spaced apart from the vertical-moving plate such that the push plate is elastically supported by the first side ribs, the lower end of the push plate approaching the vertical-moving plate when the push plate is pushed toward the vertical-moving plate.    
   
   
       22 . The washing machine according to  claim 21 , wherein the first side ribs are provided with step-shaped parts, respectively, such that the lower end of the push plate is engaged with the step-shaped parts when the control member is maximally moved upward, and the lower end of the push plate is disengaged from the step-shaped parts when the push plate is pushed toward the vertical-moving plate.  
   
   
       23 . The washing machine according to  claim 20 , wherein the control member comprises: 
 a vertical-moving plate whose lower end comes into contact with the bottom of the detergent input space when the control member is maximally moved downward; and    protrusion-forming plates formed at both ends of the vertical-moving plate while extending along said opposite sides of the detergent input space such that the vertical movement guide protrusions are formed at the protrusion-forming plates, respectively, and    the protrusion-forming plates are provided around the vertical movement guide protrusions with cutout parts for maintaining the vertical movement guide protrusions in a flexible state.    
   
   
       24 . The washing machine according to  claim 23 , wherein the control member further comprises: 
 a holding plate for connecting the upper ends of the protrusion-forming plates.    
   
   
       25 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the control member is disposed adjacent to the open rear end of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       26 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the control member is disposed between the front end and the open rear end of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       27 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the bottom of the detergent input space is inclined downward from the front end to the rear end of the detergent input space.  
   
   
       28 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the control member comprises: 
 a vertical-moving plate whose lower end comes into contact with the bottom of the detergent input space when the control member is maximally moved downward, the vertical-moving plate being provided at a predetermined position of the lower end thereof with a gap-forming part for forming a predetermined gap between the vertical-moving plate and the bottom of the detergent input space while the vertical-moving plate is in contact with the bottom of the detergent input space.    
   
   
       29 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 a water tub for receiving wash water; and    a water supply unit for supplying wash water into the water tub, wherein    the detergent supply unit is disposed on a water supply channel between the water supply unit and the water tub such that the wash water is supplied from the water supply unit to the water tub through the detergent input space, whereby    the wash water is introduced into the detergent input space from the open upper part of the detergent input space, and is then discharged out of the detergent input space through the open rear end of the detergent input space such that the detergent put in the detergent input space is mixed in the wash water passing through the detergent input space, and is then supplied into the water tub.