Detergent supply device and washing machine comprising same

Abstract

A detergent supply device including a detergent container including an opening in a rear of the detergent container; a discharge pump including an inflow portion; and a valve assembly mounted in the detergent container, and including a plunger, an elastic body, and a link guide unit coupled to the plunger. While the detergent container is inserted into the washing machine the inflow portion passes through the opening of the detergent container to press the plunger so that the plunger compresses the elastic body and thereby generates an elastic force in the elastic body, and a force in the second direction against the plunger is transferred to the link guide unit to offset a force in the first direction against the detergent container. While the detergent container is withdrawn from the washing machine, the elastic body presses the plunger to close the opening of the detergent container.

1 . A detergent supply device for a washing machine to supply a detergent, the detergent supply device comprising:
 a detergent container configured to accommodate the detergent, and including an opening in a rear of the detergent container;   a discharge pump including an inflow portion, and configured to discharge the detergent from the detergent container; and   a valve assembly mounted in the detergent container, and including:
 a plunger, 
 an elastic body, and 
 a link guide unit coupled to the plunger, 
   wherein the detergent container, the discharge pump, and the valve assembly are configured so that:
 while the detergent container is inserted into the washing machine:
 the inflow portion passes through the opening of the detergent container to press the plunger so that the plunger compresses the elastic body and thereby generates an elastic force in the elastic body, the elastic force including a force in a first direction against the detergent container and a force in a second direction against the plunger, and 
 the force in the second direction against the plunger is transferred to the link guide unit to offset the force in the first direction against the detergent container, and 
 
 while the detergent container is withdrawn from the washing machine:
 the elastic body presses the plunger to close the opening of the detergent container. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the plunger includes:
 a head portion configured to be pressed by the inflow portion when the detergent container is inserted into the washing machine, and 
 a connecting rod connected to the head portion, 
   the valve assembly includes:
 a link coupled to a free end of the connecting rod so that the link is rotatable about the free end of the connecting rod, and having a guide protrusion projecting from one side, and 
   the link guide unit includes:
 a locking portion in which the guide protrusion of the link is inserted as the plunger moves while the detergent container is being inserted into the washing machine, and configured to fix movement of the guide protrusion when the detergent container is inserted into the washing machine. 
   
     
     
         3 . The detergent supply device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the locking portion is positioned on a straight line extending along a length of the connecting rod.   
     
     
         4 . The detergent supply device of  claim 2 , wherein
 while the guide protrusion is fixed to the locking portion, the detergent container is pressed in the second direction.   
     
     
         5 . The detergent supply device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the valve assembly includes a plunger housing mounted in the detergent container and having a receiving space in which the head portion of the plunger is accommodated so as to be movable.   
     
     
         6 . The detergent supply device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the elastic body has a first end supported on a surface of the head portion and a second end supported by a portion of the plunger housing.   
     
     
         7 . The detergent supply device of  claim 5 , wherein
 the connecting rod passes through the plunger housing so that the free end is positioned outside the plunger housing.   
     
     
         8 . The detergent supply device of  claim 2 , wherein
 the link guide unit includes:
 a first guide recess to guide the movement of the guide protrusion of the link while the detergent container is being inserted so that the plunger pressurizes the inflow portion, and 
 a locking recess to cause the guide protrusion to be locked to the locking portion when an insertion of the detergent container is completed. 
   
     
     
         9 . The detergent supply device of  claim 8 , wherein
 the link guide unit includes a second guide recess to guide the movement of the guide protrusion of the link while the detergent container is withdrawn so as to release the pressing force of the inflow portion on the plunger.   
     
     
         10 . The detergent supply device of  claim 1 , wherein
 the link guide unit protrudes upward from a bottom surface of the detergent container.   
     
     
         11 . A washing machine, comprising:
 a housing; and   a detergent supply device including:
 a detergent container, including an opening at a rear of the detergent container, configured to be inserted into, and withdrawn from, the housing, and including:
 a link guide unit including a locking portion, 
 
 a discharge pump including an inflow portion, and configured to discharge a detergent from the detergent container, and 
 a valve assembly mounted in the detergent container, and including:
 a plunger configured to open and close the opening, and 
 a guide protrusion rotatably coupled to an end portion of the plunger, and protruding into the link guide unit, 
 
   wherein the detergent container, the discharge pump, and the valve assembly are configured so that:
 while the detergent container is being inserted into the housing, the inflow portion presses the plunger and passes through the opening of the detergent container, and the link guide unit guides a movement of the guide protrusion between a first position at which the guide protrusion is located when the detergent container is undocked, and a second position at which the guide protrusion is located when the detergent container is docked, and 
 the guide protrusion is fixed to the locking portion while the guide protrusion is at the second position. 
   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine of  claim 11 , wherein
 the plunger includes:
 a head portion configured to be pressed by the inflow portion when the detergent container is inserted into the washing machine, and 
 a connecting rod extending from the head portion, 
   the valve assembly includes a link coupled to an end of the connecting rod so that the link is rotatable around the end of the connecting rod, and having the guide protrusion extending from one side, and   the link and the connecting rod align on a straight line while the guide protrusion is at the second position.   
     
     
         13 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein
 the valve assembly includes a plunger housing mounted in the detergent container and having a receiving space in which the head portion of the plunger is accommodated so as to be movable.   
     
     
         14 . The washing machine of  claim 13 , wherein
 the valve assembly includes an elastic body having a first end supported on a surface of the head portion, and a second end supported by a portion of the plunger housing.   
     
     
         15 . The washing machine of  claim 12 , wherein
 the link guide unit protrudes upward from a bottom surface of the detergent container.