Washing Machine

Abstract

A washing machine according to the present invention is configured such as to prevent intrusion of water into an ozone generator ( 42 ). That is, the washing machine is configured such that an introduction tube ( 43 ) extends downward from the ozone generator ( 42 ) to be connected to an air duct member ( 31 ). With this arrangement, even if water is condensed in the introduction tube ( 43 ) due to a temperature difference between the inside and the outside of the introduction tube ( 43 ), water droplets resulting from the water condensation do not intrude into the ozone generator ( 42 ), but fall down toward the air duct member ( 31 ) by their gravity. Further, even if water bubbles and detergent bubbles generated in an outer tub ( 7 ) during a washing process enter the introduction tube ( 43 ) and are broken to form water droplets, these water droplets, like the water drops resulting from the water condensation, do not intrude into the ozone generator ( 42 ), but fall down toward the air duct member ( 31 ) by their gravity.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a washing tub in which laundry is contained;   an air duct through which air is introduced into the washing tub;   a gas generator which generates a gas effective for cleaning the laundry contained in the washing tub, the gas generator being disposed above the washing tub; and   a conduit through which the gas generated by the gas generator is introduced into the air duct, the conduit extending downward from the gas generator to be connected to the air duct.   
   
   
       2 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 ,
 wherein the gas generator includes a gas generating member having a gas generating surface that generates the gas effective for cleaning the laundry,   wherein the gas generating member is disposed with its gas generating surface being perpendicular to a horizontal plane or inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.   
   
   
       3 . A washing machine comprising:
 a washing tub in which laundry is contained;   an air duct through which air is introduced into the washing tub;   a gas generator which generates a gas effective for cleaning the laundry contained in the washing tub,   a conduit through which the gas generated by the gas generator is introduced into the air duct, the conduit communicating with the air duct and the gas generator;   wherein the gas generator includes a gas generating member having a gas generating surface that generates the gas effective for cleaning the laundry;   wherein the gas generating member is disposed with its gas generating surface being perpendicular to a horizontal plane or inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.   
   
   
       4 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an air blower which supplies the air into the washing tub from the air duct, the air blower being disposed in the air duct;   wherein the conduit is connected to a portion of the air duct upstream of the air blower with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows from the air duct to the washing tub;   wherein the air blower is disposed adjacent the gas generator.   
   
   
       5 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a first water supply unit which supplies water into the washing tub;   a housing which accommodates the first water supply unit and the gas generator in adjacent relation and serves as an outer casing of the washing machine; and   a wall provided in the housing to isolate the first water supply unit and the gas generator from each other.   
   
   
       6 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 5 ,
 wherein the housing has a load/unload opening through which the laundry is loaded into and unloaded from the washing tub;   the washing machine further comprising:   a door which covers and uncovers the load/unload opening, the door being provided in the housing in a slidable manner;   wherein the gas generator is disposed in a door sliding region of the housing in which the door is slid;   wherein the first water supply unit is disposed outside the door sliding region in the housing.   
   
   
       7 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the sliding of the door is guided by the wall. 
   
   
       8 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a second water supply unit which supplies water into the washing tub;   wherein the air blower is disposed between the second water supply unit and the gas generator.   
   
   
       9 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 8 ,
 wherein the second water supply unit is disposed outside the door sliding region in the housing.   
   
   
       10 . A washing machine comprising:
 a washing tub in which laundry is contained;   a gas generator which generates a gas effective for cleaning the laundry contained in the washing tub; and   a conduit through which the gas generated by the gas generator is introduced into the washing tub;   wherein the gas generator includes a gas generating member having a gas generating surface that generates the gas effective for cleaning the laundry,   wherein the gas generating member is disposed with its gas generating surface being perpendicular to a horizontal plane or inclined with respect to the horizontal plane.   
   
   
       11 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a first water supply unit which supplies water into the washing tub;   a housing which accommodates the first water supply unit and the gas generator in adjacent relation and serves as an outer casing of the washing machine; and   a wall provided in the housing to isolate the first water supply unit and the gas generator from each other.   
   
   
       12 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 11 ,
 wherein the housing has a load/unload opening through which the laundry is loaded into and unloaded from the washing tub;   the washing machine further comprising:   a door which covers and uncovers the load/unload opening, the door being provided in the housing in a slidable manner;   wherein the gas generator is disposed in a door sliding region of the housing in which the door is slid,   wherein the first water supply unit is disposed outside the door sliding region in the housing.   
   
   
       13 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the sliding of the door is guided by the wall. 
   
   
       14 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 an air blower which supplies the air into the washing tub from the air duct, the air blower being disposed in the air duct;   wherein the conduit is connected to a portion of the air duct upstream of the air blower with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows from the air duct to the washing tub;   wherein the air blower is disposed adjacent the gas generator.   
   
   
       15 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an air blower which supplies the air into the washing tub from the air duct, the air blower being disposed in the air duct;   wherein the conduit is connected to a portion of the air duct upstream of the air blower with respect to an air flowing direction in which the air flows from the air duct to the washing tub;   wherein the air blower is disposed adjacent the gas generator.   
   
   
       16 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a first water supply unit which supplies water into the washing tub;   a housing which accommodates the first water supply unit and the gas generator in adjacent relation and serves as an outer casing of the washing machine; and   a wall provided in the housing to isolate the first water supply unit and the gas generator from each other.   
   
   
       17 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a first water supply unit which supplies water into the washing tub;   a housing which accommodates the first water supply unit and the gas generator in adjacent relation and serves as an outer casing of the washing machine; and   a wall provided in the housing to isolate the first water supply unit and the gas generator from each other.   
   
   
       18 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 17 ,
 wherein the housing has a load/unload opening through which the laundry is loaded into and unloaded from the washing tub;   the washing machine further comprising:   a door which covers and uncovers the load/unload opening, the door being provided in the housing in a slidable manner;   wherein the gas generator is disposed in a door sliding region of the housing in which the door is slid;   wherein the first water supply unit is disposed outside the door sliding region in the housing.   
   
   
       19 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 16 ,
 wherein the housing has a load/unload opening through which the laundry is loaded into and unloaded from the washing tub;   the washing machine further comprising:   a door which covers and uncovers the load/unload opening, the door being provided in the housing in a slidable manner;   wherein the gas generator is disposed in a door sliding region of the housing in which the door is slid;   wherein the first water supply unit is disposed outside the door sliding region in the housing.   
   
   
       20 . A washing machine as set forth in  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a second water supply unit which supplies water into the washing tub;   wherein the air blower is disposed between the second water supply unit and the gas generator.