Washing machine

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a washing machine that includes an integrated tub/drum configured to store washing water, hold or accommodate laundry, and rotate. A water drain guide and/or groove, which guides residual water in the integrated tub/drum toward a discharge region of the integrated tub/drum when the laundry is spin-dried, is in or on an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 an integrated tub/drum configured to store washing water, hold laundry, and rotate, and   a water drain guide and/or groove in or on an inner circumferential surface of the integrated tub/drum, configured to guide water in the integrated tub/drum to a discharge region of the integrated tub/drum.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated tub/drum has a truncated conical shape and first and second side or end surfaces that intersect a rotation axis and have different areas, and the water drain guide and/or groove has a direction traversing a region between one side or end surface of the integrated tub/drum having a relatively large area and another side or end surface having a relatively small area. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the water drain guide and/or groove has a rectilinear shape. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the water drain guide and/or groove has a spiral and/or curved shape. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the water drain guide and/or groove has a curve in a same direction in which the integrated tub/drum rotates. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and/or penetrating a surface of the integrated tub/drum;   one or more water pipes in the integrated tub/drum and through the hollow rotary shaft; and   a supporting frame that rotatably supports the hollow rotary shaft.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the surface of the integrated tub/drum coupled to and/or penetrated by the hollow rotary shaft is a first end surface that has a larger area than a second end surface of the integrated tub/drum opposite to the first end surface. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more water pipes include a water drain pipe that is bent downward in the integrated tub/drum. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more water pipes further include a water supply pipe. 
     
     
         10 . The washing machine of  claim 9 , wherein the water supply pipe is bent upward, leftward or rightward. 
     
     
         11 . The washing machine of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 a drive shaft coupled to the second end surface of the integrated tub/drum; and   a drive motor configured to rotate the drive shaft.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the drive shaft is hollow, and the washing machine further includes a water supply pipe in the integrated tub/drum through the drive shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more water pipes further include a water supply pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 2 , comprising:
 a hollow rotary shaft coupled to and/or penetrating a first end surface of the integrated tub/drum;   one or more water pipes through the hollow rotary shaft and extending into in the integrated tub/drum; and   a supporting frame that rotatably supports the hollow rotary shaft.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more water pipes include a water drain pipe that extends downward in the integrated tub/drum, and a water supply pipe that extends upward, left and/or right in the integrated tub/drum.