Washing machine comprising detergent supply device

Abstract

A washing machine comprises a housing, a tub, which is disposed in the housing, a detergent supply device, which includes a detergent container to accommodate detergent and a discharge pump to discharge the detergent, a circulating pipe structure of which one end and another end are coupled to the tub so as to fluidically communicate therewith, and a circulating pump to generate a water flow in one direction within the circulating pipe structure. The circulating pipe structure includes a mixing portion having a mixing pipe coupled to the discharge pump so as to fluidically communicate therewith. The water flow from the lower portion of the mixing pipe toward the upper portion of the mixing pipe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washer, comprising:
 a housing;   a tub disposed in the housing;   a detergent supply device including:
 a detergent container configured to receive a detergent; and 
 a discharge pump configured to discharge the received detergent from the detergent container; 
   a circulation pipe structure having one end and another end coupled with the tub to fluid-communicate with the tub, respectively; and   a circulation pump configured to generate a water flow in one direction in the circulation pipe structure,   wherein the circulation pipe structure includes a mixing portion having a mixing pipe coupled with the discharge pump to fluid-communicate with the discharge pump, and   wherein the water flow flows from a lower portion of the mixing pipe to an upper portion of the mixing pipe.   
     
     
         2 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the housing includes a lower surface configured to be positioned adjacent to a floor surface, and
 wherein the lower portion of the mixing pipe is a portion further adjacent to the lower surface than the upper portion of the mixing pipe.   
     
     
         3 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the circulation pipe structure includes:
 a first pipe connected to one side of the mixing pipe; and   a second pipe connected to another side of the mixing pipe.   
     
     
         4 . The washer of  claim 3 , wherein a first cross-sectional area of the first pipe is larger than a second cross-sectional area of the second pipe. 
     
     
         5 . The washer of  claim 3 , wherein a maximum cross-sectional area of the mixing pipe is larger than at least one of a first cross-sectional area of the first pipe and a second cross-sectional area of the second pipe. 
     
     
         6 . The washer of  claim 3 , wherein the water flow flows from the first pipe to the second pipe. 
     
     
         7 . The washer of  claim 3 , wherein the mixing pipe includes:
 a first connection portion connected to the first pipe; and   a second connection portion connected to the second pipe, and   wherein a diameter of the first connection portion is larger than a diameter of the second connection portion.   
     
     
         8 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the mixing pipe extends in a direction perpendicular to a ground. 
     
     
         9 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge pump includes a discharge port directly connected to a flow path in the mixing pipe to discharge the received detergent from the detergent container. 
     
     
         10 . The washer of  claim 1 , wherein the one end or the another end of the circulation pipe structure is connected to a lower side of the tub, and
 wherein the detergent supply device is disposed on the lower side of the tub.   
     
     
         11 . A washer, comprising:
 a tub disposed in a housing;   a detergent supply device including:
 a detergent container to receive a detergent; and 
 a discharge pump to discharge the received detergent from the detergent container; 
   a mixing portion having a mixing pipe coupled with the discharge pump to fluid-communicate with the discharge pump;   an inlet pipe to fluid-communicate with the tub;   a first pipe having one end connected to a lower portion of the mixing pipe and another end connected to the inlet pipe;   a second pipe having one end connected to an upper portion of the mixing pipe and another end connected to the tub; and   a circulation pump to generate a water flow to flow in an order of the inlet pipe, the first pipe, the mixing pipe, and the second pipe.   
     
     
         12 . The washer of  claim 11 , wherein a cross-sectional area of the first pipe is larger than a cross-sectional area of the second pipe. 
     
     
         13 . The washer of  claim 11 , wherein a maximum cross-sectional area of the mixing pipe is larger than a cross-sectional area of the first pipe. 
     
     
         14 . The washer of  claim 11 , wherein the discharge pump includes a discharge port to discharge the received detergent from the detergent container and directly connected to the mixing pipe of the mixing portion. 
     
     
         15 . A washer, comprising:
 a housing;   a tub disposed in the housing;   a detergent supply device including:
 a detergent container to receive a detergent; and 
 a discharge pump having a discharge port configured to discharge the received detergent from the detergent container; 
   a circulation pipe structure having one end and another end coupled with the tub, respectively, to fluid-communicate with the tub; and   a circulation pump configured to generate a water flow in one direction in the circulation pipe structure,   wherein the circulation pipe structure includes a mixing portion having a mixing pipe directly connected to the discharge port and configured to flow the water flow in the one direction.