Washing machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly, a washing machine which has two laundry holding spaces in one washing machine body. The present invention also relates to a washing machine which has a detergent and washing water supply unit mounted to a supplementary drum for treating small volume laundry for improvement of user's convenience. The washing machine includes a cabinet, a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry, a drawer mounted in the cabinet such that the drawer can be pulled out of the cabinet, a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry, and a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry;   a drawer mounted in the cabinet such that the drawer can be pulled out of the cabinet;   a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry; and   a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet includes a partition for dividing an inside space of the cabinet to enable mounting of the main drum and the drawer, separately. 
   
   
       3 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the main drum is mounted in a space formed on an upper side of the partition, and the supplementary drum is mounted in a space formed on a lower side of the partition. 
   
   
       4 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the supplementary drum has a rotation shaft which is vertical to a bottom surface of the drawer. 
   
   
       5 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the supply unit includes;
 a detergent box for holding detergent,   a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, and   a discharge portion at the detergent box for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum.   
   
   
       6 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a supplementary drum door openably mounted to a top of the supplementary drum for introducing the laundry into the supplementary drum, and the detergent box is removably mounted to the supplementary drum door. 
   
   
       7 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the supplementary drum door includes a detergent box opening for receiving the detergent box. 
   
   
       8 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the water supply pipe is connected to the detergent box if the drawer is pushed into the cabinet, and the water supply pipe is disconnected from the detergent box if the drawer is pulled out of the cabinet. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a leakage preventive portion at the water supply pipe for preventing the washing water from leaking. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the supply unit includes;
 a detergent box under the partition,   a water supply pipe above the partition for supplying the washing water to the detergent box,   a discharge portion for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum, and   the partition has a partition pass through hole having the water supply pipe passed therethrough.   
   
   
       11 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the supplementary drum has a rotation shaft which is vertical to a bottom surface of the drawer. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the detergent box includes a detergent box door which can be opened/closed for supplying the detergent to the detergent box when the drawer is pulled out of the drawer, and
 the detergent box door includes a door pass through hole for introduction of the washing water supplied to the detergent box through the water supply pipe.   
   
   
       13 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising a leakage preventive portion having one end connected to an end of the water supply pipe and the other end placed in the door pass through hole, for preventing the washing water from leaking. 
   
   
       14 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the leakage preventive portion is formed of a soft material, such that if the drawer is pulled out of the cabinet, the leakage preventive portion is separated from the door pass through hole, and if the drawer is pushed back into the cabinet, the leakage preventive portion is placed in the door pass through hole. 
   
   
       15 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the leakage preventive portion includes cut portions cut in a direction the same with an axis direction of the water supply pipe. 
   
   
       16 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a main drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet having a space for holding laundry;   a supplementary drum rotatably mounted in the drawer having a space for holding laundry; and   a supply unit for supplying detergent and washing water to the supplementary drum.   
   
   
       17 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the cabinet includes a partition for dividing an inside space of the cabinet to enable mounting of the main drum and the drawer, separately. 
   
   
       18 . The washing machine as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the supply unit includes;
 a detergent box for holding detergent,   a water supply pipe for supplying the washing water to the detergent box, and   a discharge portion which is a passage for introducing the washing water from the detergent box to the supplementary drum.