Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine includes a detergent dispenser with a removable detergent box, a locking unit, and an automatic withdrawing unit. The locking unit may lock or unlock the detergent box once it is inserted into the dispenser. The automatic withdrawing unit utilizes a wire wound on a spring biased reel to pull the detergent box to a withdrawn state when the locking unit is unlocked.

1 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a dispenser that dispenses washing aids into a tub of the washing machine;   a detergent box that is movably mounted in the dispenser, wherein the detergent box can be withdrawn from the dispenser to an open position at which washing aids can be placed in the detergent box;   a locking unit that operates to lock the detergent box in a closed position within the dispenser; and   an automatic withdrawing unit that includes a tension member coupled between the detergent box and the dispenser, wherein the tension member applies a force to the detergent box that biases the detergent box to the open position.   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the tension member comprises an elongated, thin flexible member. 
   
   
       3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic withdrawing unit further comprises:
 a housing;   a shaft that is rotatably mounted on the housing   a reel mounted on the shaft, wherein the tension member is coupled to and wound upon the shaft; and   an elastic member that biases the shaft to rotate in a direction that causes the tension member to be wound up around the reel.   
   
   
       4 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein a first end of the tension member is coupled to the shaft, wherein the housing is coupled to one of the dispenser and the detergent box, and wherein a second end of the tension member is coupled to the other of the dispenser and the detergent box. 
   
   
       5 . The washing machine of  claim 4 , further comprising a holder coupled to the second end of the tension member. 
   
   
       6 . The washing machine of  claim 5  wherein the holder is U-shaped. 
   
   
       7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the U-shaped holder is received in a catch portion on the other of the dispenser and the detergent box. 
   
   
       8 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the elastic member comprises a spring that is also wound upon the shaft. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein a first end of the spring is coupled to the shaft and wherein a second end of the spring is coupled to the housing. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the housing has at least one doorway for enabling entrance and exit of the tension member. 
   
   
       11 . The washing machine of  claim 10 , wherein the housing includes first and second doorways located on opposite sides of the housing such that the housing can be mounted in two different orientations. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the housing comprises a partitioning wall that partitions a space inside the housing into a reel space and an elastic member space. 
   
   
       13 . The washing machine of  claim 3 , wherein the automatic withdrawing unit further comprises a damping unit that limits a rotational speed of the shaft. 
   
   
       14 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein the damping unit comprises a rotary damper mounted on the housing and coupled to the shaft. 
   
   
       15 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the automatic withdrawing unit further comprises a damping unit for limiting a withdrawal speed of the detergent box. 
   
   
       16 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein a catch member is provided on the dispenser, and wherein a protrusion is provided on the detergent box, and wherein the protrusion is caught on the catch member when the detergent box withdraws out of the dispenser to the open position to prevent the detergent box from withdrawing further out of the dispenser. 
   
   
       17 . The washing machine of  claim 16 , wherein one of the catch member and the protrusion are movable such that the protrusion can be prevented from being caught on the catch member as the detergent box moves in the withdrawal direction, thereby allowing the detergent box to be completely withdrawn from the dispenser. 
   
   
       18 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the locking unit operates such that when the detergent box is pressed into the dispenser to the closed position, the locking unit locks the detergent box in the closed position against the bias of the tension member. 
   
   
       19 . The washing machine of  claim 18 , wherein the locking member also operates such that when the detergent box is in the closed position, and a user pushes the detergent box further into the dispenser and then releases the detergent box, the locking unit releases the detergent box such that the automatic withdrawing unit causes the detergent ox to move to the open position. 
   
   
       20 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the detergent box has flanges that extend along sides of the detergent box, and further comprising guide units mounted on opposite sides of the dispenser, wherein the flanges on the sides of the detergent box are received in and guided by the guide units. 
   
   
       21 . The washing machine of  claim 20 , wherein the flanges include horizontally extending portions that extend horizontally away from sides of the detergent box, and vertically extending portions that extend vertically from the horizontal portions. 
   
   
       22 . The washing machine of  claim 21 , wherein the guide units include rollers having grooves therein, wherein the grooves of the rollers receive the vertically extending portions of the flanges. 
   
   
       23 . A dispenser for dispensing wash aids into a wash tub of a washing machine, comprising:
 a housing;   a detergent box that is movably mounted in the housing, wherein the detergent box can be withdrawn from the housing to an open position at which washing aids can be placed in the detergent box;   a locking unit that operates to lock the detergent box in a closed position within the housing; and   an automatic withdrawing unit that includes a tension member coupled between the housing and the detergent box, wherein the tension member applies a force to the detergent box that biases the detergent box to the open position.