Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine includes a dispenser having an opening, a detergent box movable within the dispenser through the opening, a locking unit for locking or unlocking the detergent box in the dispenser, and an elastic member, between the detergent box and the dispenser, to apply an elastic force to the detergent box in a withdrawal direction when the locking unit unlocks the detergent box.

1 . A washing machine comprising: 
 a dispenser having an opening;    a detergent box movable within the dispenser through the opening;    a locking unit for locking or unlocking the detergent box in the dispenser; and    an elastic member, between the detergent box and the dispenser, to apply an elastic force to the detergent box in a withdrawal direction when the locking unit unlocks the detergent box.    
   
   
       2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein one side of the elastic member is connected to one of the detergent box or the dispenser, and another side of the elastic member is in elastic contact with the other of the detergent box or the dispenser.  
   
   
       3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of elastic members with different heights are provided between the detergent box and dispenser.  
   
   
       4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member comprises at least one torsion spring.  
   
   
       5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , wherein the torsion spring comprises: 
 a first coil part which is elastically twisted and connected to a support part within the dispenser;    a contact part in contact with a rear part of the detergent box; and    a second coil part which is elastically twisted and provided between the first coil part and the contact part.    
   
   
       6 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
 a release prevention member, at the rear part of the detergent box, to prevent arbitrary release of the contact part.    
   
   
       7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the contact part is partially bent, and wherein the release prevention member includes a first release prevention protrusion provided at the rear part of the detergent box and inserted into the bent part of the contact part.  
   
   
       8 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the release prevention member includes a second release prevention protrusion around a portion with which the contact part contacts on the rear part of the detergent box, the second release prevention protrusion preventing movement of the contact part.  
   
   
       9 . The washing machine of  claim 5 , wherein positioning protrusions are provided at side parts on an inner surface of the dispenser housing, one or more of the positioning protrusions mounting the contact part and preventing sag of the coil spring.  
   
   
       10 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic member comprises a plate spring.  
   
   
       11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the plate spring comprises: 
 a connecting part connected to a support part within the dispenser; and    a contact part connected to the connecting part at one side and in contact with the rear part of the detergent box at another side.    
   
   
       12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein a release prevention member is provided at a rear part of the detergent box to prevent arbitrary release of the contact part.  
   
   
       13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the contact part is partially bent, and wherein the release prevention member comprises: 
 a release prevention protrusion which protrudes from the rear part of the detergent box and which is inserted into the bent part of the contact part.    
   
   
       14 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the contact part is bent in a substantially ‘S’ shape.  
   
   
       15 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein the release prevention member comprises a release prevention groove part which is provided at the rear part of the detergent box and which is inserted into the contact part.  
   
   
       16 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein positioning protrusions are provided on an inner surface of the side parts of the dispenser housing, and mount the contact part and prevent sag of the plate spring.  
   
   
       17 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a damping unit, located at the dispenser and detergent box, to limit a withdrawal speed of the detergent box.    
   
   
       18 . The washing machine of  claim 17 , wherein the damping unit comprises: 
 a rotary damper part provided at one of the dispenser or the detergent box and having a pinion gear for dampening rotation; and    a rack gear part at the other one of the dispenser or detergent box in a movement direction of the detergent box, wherein the rack gear part meshes with the pinion gear of the rotary damper part.    
   
   
       19 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit is provided at the dispenser and detergent box, and wherein the locking unit locks the detergent box when the detergent box is inserted into the dispenser and unlocks the locked detergent box when the detergent box is pressed into the dispenser.  
   
   
       20 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein a catch jaw is provided on an inner surface of the dispenser, wherein the detergent box has a height control protrusion which is controllable in height and provided to correspond to the catch jaw, and wherein the detergent box is caught by the catch jaw to set a withdrawal distance and avoids being caught by the catch jaw to disengage from the opening.