Laundry processing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention provides a laundry processing apparatus comprising: a cabinet provided with an opening; a drawer body provided to allow insertion and withdrawal from the cabinet through the opening; a drawer panel, fixed to the drawer body, for opening and closing the opening; a tub, provided in the drawer body, for providing a space for storing water; a drum, rotatably provided inside the tub, for providing a space for storing laundry; a detergent storage part, provided in the drawer panel, for providing a space for storing the detergent; and a detergent supply part for supplying the detergent stored in the detergent storage part to the tub.

1 . A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a cabinet that defines an opening;   a drawer body configured to insert into and withdraw from the cabinet through the opening;   a drawer panel coupled to the drawer body and configured to open and close at least a portion of the opening;   a tub located in the drawer body and configured to store water;   a drum that is located inside of the tub, that is configured to rotate relative to the tub, and that is configured to receive laundry;   a detergent storage unit that is located at the drawer panel and that defines a detergent space configured to store detergent; and   a detergent supply unit configured to supply, to the tub, detergent from the detergent space.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent storage unit comprises:
 a storage device located in the drawer panel and configured to store detergent;   a detergent introduction opening that allows introduction of detergent into the storage device; and   a storage device door configured to open and close at least a portion of the detergent introduction opening.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the storage device comprises:
 a first body located inside of the drawer panel; and   a second body that is located outside of the drawer panel, that is configured to communicate with the first body, and that is configured to, based on the drawer panel closing the opening of the cabinet, be positioned between the opening of the cabinet and a top surface of the drawer body.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first body has a first top surface,
 wherein the second body has a second top surface, and   wherein at least one of the first top surface or the second top surface defines the detergent introduction opening.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the storage device further comprises a slope surface configured to guide detergent from an inside of the second body to the first body. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the drawer panel has a top surface that defines the detergent introduction opening. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the storage device door comprises:
 a cover located on the top surface of the drawer panel and configured to open and close the detergent introduction opening;   a connection body that extends from the cover towards a bottom surface of the drawer panel and that is configured to rotatably couple the cover to the storage device; and   a guide that connects the cover to the connection body and that is configured to guide detergent to the detergent introduction opening.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the storage device is configured to be separated from the drawer panel. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the detergent supply unit comprises:
 a detergent supply pipe that connects the storage device to the tub; and   a valve configured to open and close the detergent supply pipe.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the detergent supply unit comprises:
 a chamber defined inside of the drawer panel;   a first flow path that connects the chamber to the storage device;   a second flow path that connects the chamber to the tub;   a first valve that is configured to open and close the first flow path and that allows flow of detergent from the storage device to the chamber through the first flow path;   a second valve that is configured to open and close the second flow path and that allows discharge of detergent from the chamber through the second flow path; and   a piston that is located inside of the chamber, that is configured to move relative to the chamber, and that is configured to open and close at least one of the first valve or the second valve based on movement relative to the chamber.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the detergent supply unit comprises:
 a detergent supply pipe that connects the storage device to the tub;   a housing located inside of the drawer panel and configured to accommodate at least a portion of the detergent supply pipe; and   a pressure unit that is located inside of the housing, that is configured to rotate relative to the housing, and that is configured to change a diameter of the detergent supply pipe based on rotation relative to the housing, and   wherein the pressure unit is configured to, based on a change of the diameter of the detergent supply pipe by rotation relative to the housing, cause one of flow of detergent from the storage device to the tub or flow of water from the tub to the storage device.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure unit comprises:
 a support frame located inside of the housing and configured rotate relative to the housing; and   a roller located at the support frame and configured to, based on rotation of the support frame relative to the housing, apply pressure to the detergent supply pipe to reduce the diameter of the detergent supply pipe.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the roller is configured to rotate relative to the support frame. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the pressure unit is further configured to rotate relative to the housing in a first direction and a second direction opposite to the first direction. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the pressure unit is further configured to:
 cause flow of detergent from the storage device to the tub based on rotation in the first direction; and   cause flow of water from the tub to the storage device based on rotation in the second direction.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the detergent supply pipe is arranged along an inner surface of the housing and surrounds at least a portion of the pressure unit. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the first top surface of the first body extends to the second top surface of the second body,
 wherein the first top surface defines a first portion of the detergent introduction opening, and   wherein the second top surface defines a second portion of the detergent introduction opening.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the connection body is located vertically above the opening of the cabinet. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the storage device door is configured to protrude toward the opening of the cabinet based on the storage device door opening the detergent introduction opening. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the detergent storage unit further comprises a shaft that rotatably couples the connection body to the storage device.