U.S. patent application number 13/317639 was filed with the patent office on 2012-05-24 for detergent supply device and washing machine having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Seok Jin LEE.
Application Number | 20120125055 13/317639 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46063049 |
Filed Date | 2012-05-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120125055 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LEE; Seok Jin |
May 24, 2012 |
Detergent supply device and washing machine having the same
Abstract
A washing machine including a machine body, an upper case
coupled to the upper part of the machine body, a rotary tub
rotatably disposed in the machine body, a detergent supply device
coupled to the upper case to supply detergent into the rotary tub,
and a water supply valve connected between an external water supply
source and the detergent supply device, wherein the detergent
supply device includes a detergent box having a first guide member
in which the detergent is put and a second guide member to change a
flow direction of wash water flowing along the first guide member
and a water supply frame having a connection part connected to the
water supply valve and a water supply part communicating with the
connection part to supply water to the detergent box.
Inventors: |
LEE; Seok Jin; (Hwaseong-si,
KR) |
Assignee: |
SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO.,
LTD.
Suwon-si
KR
|
Family ID: |
46063049 |
Appl. No.: |
13/317639 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/17R |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/028 20130101;
D06F 39/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
68/17.R |
International
Class: |
D06F 39/02 20060101
D06F039/02; D06F 21/00 20060101 D06F021/00; D06F 35/00 20060101
D06F035/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 18, 2010 |
KR |
10-2010-0114761 |
Claims
1. A washing machine comprising: a machine body; an upper case
coupled to an upper part of the machine body; a rotary tub
rotatably disposed in the machine body; a detergent supply device
coupled to the upper case to supply detergent into the rotary tub;
and a water supply valve connected to the detergent supply device,
wherein the detergent supply device comprises: a detergent box
having a first guide member in which the detergent is put and a
second guide member to change a flow direction of wash water
flowing along the first guide member; and a water supply frame
having a connection part connected to the water supply valve and a
water supply part communicating with the connection part to supply
water to the detergent box.
2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water
supply frame comprises: at least one first water supply hole to
guide water introduced into the water supply part upstream of the
first guide member; and at least one second water supply hole to
guide water introduced into the water supply part downstream of the
first guide member.
3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the detergent
box comprises a cutout to prevent wash water in the detergent box
from being discharged to the water supply frame, and the cutout is
provided at an upper part of the detergent box adjacent to the
water supply frame.
4. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the connection
part comprises a residual water removal hole communicating with the
connection part to remove residual water in the detergent supply
device.
5. The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a
cover frame coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame to
cover the water supply part, wherein the cover frame is thermally
welded to the water supply frame.
6. The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the detergent
supply device is provided at a front thereof with a third guide
member to guide wash water discharged through the cutout into the
rotary tub together with the second guide member.
7. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the connection
part further comprises a bent part formed by bending one end
thereof, the bent part has a fixing rib protruding downward from an
outer circumference thereof, and the upper case has a fixing hole
corresponding to the fixing rib.
8. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water
supply frame comprises a detergent introduction port through which
detergent is introduced, and the cover frame comprises a cover
member to open and close the detergent introduction port.
9. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the upper case
comprises a fourth guide member disposed below the second guide
member to change a flow direction of wash water flowing along the
second guide member.
10. The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the third
guide member and the fourth guide member constitute a discharge
port through which the wash water having passed through the first
guide member and the second guide member falls into the rotary
tub.
11. The washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the first
guide member is inclined downward to the second guide member, and
the second guide member is inclined downward to the fourth guide
member.
12. A washing machine comprising: a machine body; a rotary tub
rotatably disposed in the machine body; a detergent supply device
disposed above the rotary tub, the detergent supply device having a
detergent box to store detergent; and a water supply valve
connected to the detergent supply device, wherein the detergent
supply device comprises: a water supply frame having at least one
water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water
supply valve to the detergent box; and the detergent box comprising
a first channel into which the water having passed through the
water supply hole is introduced, a second channel disposed below
the first channel to guide wash water in a different direction than
the first channel, and a third channel provided at an outside of
the detergent box to guide the wash water falling from an upper
part of the detergent box into the rotary tub.
13. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the
detergent box comprises a cutout to guide the wash water in the
upper part of the detergent box to the third channel.
14. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the water
supply hole comprises: at least one first water supply hole to
guide water introduced through the water supply valve to one side
of the detergent box; and at least one second water supply hole to
guide water introduced through the water supply valve to the other
side of the detergent box.
15. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the water
having fallen through the second water supply hole is supplied to
the wash water having passed through the first channel to prevent
bubble generation.
16. The washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the water
supply frame further comprises a connection part coupled to the
water supply valve, and the connection part has an air introduction
port communicating with the connection part to allow external air
to be introduced into the connection part therethrough.
17. The washing machine according to claim 12, further comprising
an upper case coupled to an upper part of the machine body, wherein
the upper case defines a fourth channel disposed at a lower part of
the detergent supply device to guide wash water in a different
direction than the second channel together with the detergent
box.
18. The washing machine according to claim 17, wherein the first
channel, the second channel and the fourth channel communicate with
one another to constitute a route along which wash water flows, the
route being formed in an approximately `S` shape.
19. The washing machine according to claim 14, wherein the water
supply frame comprises a detergent introduction port through which
detergent is introduced, and the first water supply hole and the
second water supply hole are disposed around an outside of the
detergent introduction port.
20. The washing machine according to claim 19, wherein the
detergent introduction port is disposed so as to be exposed from
the top of the upper case.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2010-0114761, filed on Nov. 18, 2010 in the
Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a detergent
supply device to supply detergent into a washing machine and a
washing machine having the same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A washing machine washes laundry using electric power.
Generally, the washing machine includes a tub to contain wash
water, a rotary tub rotatably mounted in the tub, a pulsator
rotatably mounted at the bottom of the rotary tub, and a motor to
drive the rotary tub and the pulsator.
[0006] When the rotary tub and the pulsator are rotated by the
motor in a state in which laundry and wash water are contained in
the rotary tub, the pulsator stirs the laundry in the rotary tub
together with the wash water to remove contaminants from the
laundry.
[0007] Generally, a detergent supply device of a fully automatic
washing machine is mounted in a door of the washing machine to
supply powder detergent or liquid detergent (rinse) into the rotary
tub according to washing conditions, such as a washing cycle or a
rinsing cycle.
SUMMARY
[0008] It is an aspect of the present disclosure to provide an
improved detergent supply device to uniformly supply detergent into
a rotary tub and a washing machine having the same.
[0009] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in
part in the description which follows and, in part, will be
apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the
disclosure.
[0010] In accordance with one aspect of the present disclosure, a
washing machine includes a machine body, an upper case coupled to
the upper part of the machine body, a rotary tub rotatably disposed
in the machine body, a detergent supply device coupled to the upper
case to supply detergent into the rotary tub, and a water supply
valve connected between an external water supply source and the
detergent supply device, wherein the detergent supply device
includes a detergent box having a first guide member in which the
detergent is put and a second guide member to change a flow
direction of wash water flowing along the first guide member and a
water supply frame having a connection part connected to the water
supply valve and a water supply part communicating with the
connection part to supply water to the detergent box.
[0011] The water supply frame may include at least one first water
supply hole to guide water introduced into the water supply part
upstream of the first guide member and at least one second water
supply hole to guide water introduced into the water supply part
downstream of the first guide member.
[0012] The detergent box may include a cutout to prevent wash water
in the detergent box from being discharged to the water supply
frame, and the cutout may be provided at the upper part of the
detergent box adjacent to the water supply frame.
[0013] The connection part may include a residual water removal
hole communicating with the connection part to remove residual
water in the detergent supply device.
[0014] The washing machine may further include a cover frame
coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame to cover the
water supply part, wherein the cover frame may be thermally welded
to the water supply frame.
[0015] The detergent supply device may be provided at the front
thereof with a third guide member to guide wash water discharged
through the cutout into the rotary tub together with the second
guide member.
[0016] The connection part may further include a bent part formed
by bending one end thereof, the bent part may have a fixing rib
protruding downward from an outer circumference thereof, and the
upper case may have a fixing hole corresponding to the fixing
rib.
[0017] The water supply frame may include a detergent introduction
port through which detergent is introduced, and the cover frame may
include a cover member to open and close the detergent introduction
port.
[0018] The upper case may include a fourth guide member disposed
below the second guide member to change a flow direction of wash
water flowing along the second guide member.
[0019] The third guide member and the fourth guide member may
constitute a discharge port through which the wash water having
passed through the first guide member and the second guide member
falls into the rotary tub.
[0020] The first guide member may be inclined downward to the
second guide member, and the second guide member may be inclined
downward to the fourth guide member.
[0021] In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure,
a washing machine includes a machine body, a rotary tub rotatably
disposed in the machine body, a detergent supply device disposed
above the rotary tub, the detergent supply device having a
detergent box to store detergent, and a water supply valve
connected between an external water supply source and the detergent
supply device, wherein the detergent supply device includes a water
supply frame having at least one water supply hole to guide water
introduced through the water supply valve to the detergent box and
the detergent box including a first channel into which the water
having passed through the water supply hole is introduced, a second
channel disposed below the first channel to guide wash water in a
different direction than the first channel, and a third channel
provided at the outside of the detergent box to guide the wash
water falling from the upper part of the detergent box into the
rotary tub.
[0022] The detergent box may include a cutout to guide the wash
water in the upper part of the detergent box to the third
channel.
[0023] The water supply hole may include at least one first water
supply hole to guide water introduced through the water supply
valve to one side of the detergent box and at least one second
water supply hole to guide water introduced through the water
supply valve to the other side of the detergent box.
[0024] The water having fallen through the second water supply hole
may be supplied to the wash water having passed through the first
channel to prevent bubble generation.
[0025] The water supply frame may further include a connection part
coupled to the water supply valve, and the connection part may have
an air introduction port communicating with the connection part to
allow external air to be introduced into the connection part
therethrough.
[0026] The washing machine may further include an upper case
coupled to the upper part of the machine body, wherein the upper
case may define a fourth channel disposed at the lower part of the
detergent supply device to guide wash water in a different
direction than the second channel together with the detergent
box.
[0027] The first channel, the second channel and the fourth channel
may communicate with one another to constitute a route along which
wash water flows, the route being formed in an approximately `S`
shape.
[0028] The water supply frame may include a detergent introduction
port through which detergent is introduced, and the first water
supply hole and the second water supply hole may be disposed around
the outside of the detergent introduction port.
[0029] The detergent introduction port may be disposed so as to be
exposed from the top of the upper case.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0030] These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become
apparent and more readily appreciated from the following
description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings of which:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine according to
an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine
according to the embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a detergent supply
device of FIG. 2 in a state in which a cover member is open;
[0034] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detergent supply device
according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent
supply device shown in FIG. 4; and
[0036] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the detergent supply device
taken along line I-I of FIG. 4.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0037] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout.
[0038] FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a washing machine 1 according
to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 2 is a perspective
view of the washing machine according to the embodiment of the
present disclosure, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a
detergent supply device of FIG. 2 in a state in which a cover
member is open.
[0039] As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 1 includes a machine
body 10 forming the external appearance thereof, a tub 20 disposed
in the machine body 10, a rotary tub 30 rotatably disposed in the
tub 20, and a drive unit 40 disposed below the tub 20 to rotate the
rotary tub 30.
[0040] Above the machine body 10 is provided an upper case 150
having a laundry introduction port 14, through which laundry is
introduced into the rotary tub 30. A door 16 to open and close the
laundry introduction port 14 is provided at the upper case 150.
[0041] To the outside of the tub 20 is connected a suspension 21 to
support the tub 20 in a state in which the tub 20 is suspended from
the machine body 10. To the top of the tub 20 is coupled an annular
tub cover 70 to cover the tub 20.
[0042] The rotary tub 30 is rotatably disposed in the tub 20. The
rotary tub 30 has a plurality of through holes 31.
[0043] A pulsator 35 is rotatably mounted at the bottom of the
rotary tub 30. The pulsator 35 functions to stir laundry placed in
the rotary tub 30 together with wash water.
[0044] The drive unit 40 includes a clutch 41 to rotate the rotary
tub 30 and the pulsator 35 and a drive motor 43 to drive the clutch
41. The drive motor 43 is connected to the clutch 41 via a pulley
and a belt to transmit drive force to the rotary tub 30 and the
pulsator 35.
[0045] Above the tub 20 is mounted a water supply valve 53 to
supply water to the tub 20. The water supply valve 53 is directly
connected between an external water supply source and a detergent
supply device 100 to supply water to the detergent supply device
100.
[0046] The detergent supply device 100 includes a water supply
frame 210 directly coupled to the upper part of the upper case 150
and a detergent box 310 coupled to the lower part of the water
supply frame 210 to store detergents. The upper case 150 is
provided with a discharge port 328 through which wash water having
passed through the detergent box 310 is discharged.
[0047] Water supplied through the water supply valve 53 flows
through the detergent supply device 100 with the result that the
water is supplied into the tub 20 together with the detergent.
[0048] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a detergent introduction port 212
and a rinse introduction port 214 of the detergent supply device
100 are provided so as to be directly exposed from the top of the
upper case 150.
[0049] A user may open only a cover member 216 to open and close
the detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse introduction port
214 without opening the door 16 to open and close the laundry
introduction port 14 to directly introduce detergent or rinse into
the detergent supply device 100. Also, during a washing cycle,
detergent may be conveniently introduced through the detergent
introduction port 212 without stopping the operation of the washing
machine 1 to open the door 16.
[0050] Hereinafter, the structure and operation of a detergent
supply device 100 according to an embodiment of the present
disclosure will be described in detail.
[0051] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a detergent supply device
100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, FIG. 5 is
an exploded perspective view of the detergent supply device shown
in FIG. 4, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the detergent supply
device taken along line I-I of FIG. 4.
[0052] As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the detergent supply device 100
includes a detergent box 310 to store detergent and rinse, a water
supply frame 210 to supply water to the detergent box 310 and a
cover frame 270 coupled to the upper part of the water supply frame
210.
[0053] The detergent box 310 includes a first storage part 312 to
store a solid detergent and a second storage part 314 to store
liquid detergent, such as rinse or a fabric softener. The first
storage part 312 and the second storage part 314 are partitioned
from each other by a partition 316.
[0054] The first storage part 312 includes a first guide member 321
in which the solid detergent is placed and a second guide member
322 provided below the first guide member 321.
[0055] One end of the first guide member 321 is adjacent to a water
supply part 220 provided at the water supply frame 210 to guide
water falling from the water supply part 220 so that the water
flows along the first guide member 321.
[0056] The first guide member 321 is inclined downward to the
second guide member 322 so that water introduced into one end of
the first guide member 321 is mixed with the detergent and flows to
the second guide member 322.
[0057] The second guide member 322 is provided below the first
guide member 321 to change the flow direction of the wash water
having passed through the first guide member 321. The second guide
member 322 is inclined downward to a third guide member 323
provided at the upper case 150 so that wash water introduced to the
second guide member 322 naturally flows to the third guide member
323.
[0058] The second guide member 322 may have a cutout 332a. The
cutout 332a is formed by cutting one end of the second guide member
322 adjacent to the water supply frame 210. When the level of wash
water stored in the first storage part 312 is excessively
increased, for example, due to blockage of a detergent discharge
port, the wash water is naturally introduced into the rotary tub 30
through the cutout 332a.
[0059] The second guide member 322 is provided at the front thereof
with a third guide member 323.
[0060] The third guide member 323 may be integrally formed at the
upper case 150. One end of the third guide member 323 is coupled to
the upper part of the detergent supply device 100. The third guide
member 323 extends toward the rotary tub 30. The third guide member
323 functions to guide wash water discharged through the cutout
332a into the rotary tub 30 together with the second guide member
322.
[0061] Below the second guide member 322 is provided a fourth guide
member 324 to change the flow direction of wash water having passed
through the second guide member 322. The fourth guide member 324 is
integrally formed at the upper case 150. The fourth guide member
324 is inclined downward to the rotary tub 30 to guide wash water
introduced into the fourth guide member 324 via the second guide
member 322 so that the wash water naturally falls into the rotary
tub 30.
[0062] The third guide member 323 and the fourth guide member 324
constitute a discharge port 328. Wash water flowing along the
fourth guide member 324 is discharged into the rotary tub 30
through the discharge port 328.
[0063] The first guide member 321 is provided at the top thereof
with a first channel 351 through which water falling from the water
supply part 220 flows in a state in which the water is mixed with
detergent. The bottom of the first guide member 321 and the top of
the second guide member 322 constitute a second channel 352 to
guide wash water discharged from the first channel 351 in a
different direction than the first channel 351.
[0064] The front F of the second guide member 322 and the third
guide member 323 constitute a third channel 353 to guide wash water
discharged through the cutout 332a into the rotary tub 30. The
bottom of the second guide member 322 and the top of the fourth
guide member 324 constitute a fourth channel 354 to guide wash
water discharged from the second channel 352 in a different
direction than the second channel 352.
[0065] The first channel 351, the second channel 352 and the fourth
channel 354 communicate with one another to constitute a route 350
along which wash water flows. The route 350 is formed in an `S`
shape to change the flow direction of wash water twice.
[0066] Wash water flowing along the route 350, constituted by the
first channel 351, the second channel 352 and the fourth channel
354, is uniformly introduced into the rotary tub 30 in a state in
which water and detergent are uniformly mixed.
[0067] In the second storage part 314 is provided a siphon device
362 to move a liquid detergent stored in the second storage part
314 into the rotary tub 30 using a siphon principle. The siphon
device 362 includes a siphon protrusion 362a protruding a
predetermined length from the bottom of the second storage part 314
and a siphon cap 362b coupled to the outer circumference of the
siphon protrusion 362a. When the level of liquid detergent stored
in the second storage part 314 reaches a predetermined level, the
liquid detergent rises through a space between the siphon
protrusion 362a and the siphon cap 362b and is introduced into the
rotary tub 30 through a through hole (not shown) formed inside the
siphon protrusion 362a.
[0068] A cutout 332b may be provided at a side wall 342 defining
the second storage part 314. The cutout 332b is formed by cutting a
portion of the upper part of the side wall 342 adjacent to the
water supply frame 110. When the level of wash water containing a
liquid detergent stored in the second storage part 314 is
excessively increased, for example, due to blockage of the through
hole (not shown) formed inside the siphon protrusion 362a, the wash
water is naturally introduced into the rotary tub 30 through the
cutout 332b.
[0069] The water supply frame 210, coupled to the upper part of the
detergent box 310, includes a detergent introduction port 212, a
rinse introduction port 214, a connection part 230 connected to the
water supply valve 53, and a water supply part 220 communicating
with the connection part 230 to supply water into the detergent box
310.
[0070] The detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse
introduction port 214 are formed through the upper part of the
water supply frame 210. The detergent introduction port 212 and the
rinse introduction port 214 are partitioned from each other by a
rib 218. The first storage part 312 is disposed below the detergent
introduction port 212, and the second storage part 314 is disposed
below the rinse introduction port 214.
[0071] One end of the connection part 230 communicates with the
water supply part 220, and the other end of the connection part 230
is bent to form a bent part 232. The bent part 232 is coupled to
the water supply valve 53. The bent part 232 has a fixing rib 236
protruding downward from the outer circumference thereof. The
fixing rib 236 is coupled into a fixing hole 162 provided at the
upper case 150 in a shape corresponding to the fixing rib 236 to
prevent the detergent supply device 100 from being moved by water
pressure during supply of water into the detergent supply device
100.
[0072] A plurality of connection parts 230 is provided at the rear
of the detergent box 310 to supply hot water or cold water to the
first storage part 312 and the second storage part 314.
[0073] Also, each of the connection parts 230 may include a
residual water removal hole 238 to remove residual water in a
corresponding one of the connection parts 230 of the detergent
supply device 100.
[0074] The residual water removal holes 238 communicate with the
respective connection parts 230 so that external air is introduced
into the connection parts 230. Air introduced through the residual
water removal holes 238 due to pressure difference between the
connection parts 230 and the outside discharges the residual water
in the connection parts 230 out of the detergent supply device 100
through water supply holes 222a and 222b.
[0075] Meanwhile, the residual water removal holes 238 may be
viewed as air introduction holes since external air is introduced
through the residual water removal holes 238.
[0076] The water supply part 220 includes at least one first water
supply hole 222a to guide water introduced through the connection
parts 230 upstream of the first guide member 321, at least one
second water supply hole 222b to guide water introduced through the
connection parts 230 downstream of the first guide member 321, and
a water supply channel 224 connected between the first water supply
hole 222a and the second water supply hole 222b.
[0077] The water supply channel 224 is disposed around the
detergent introduction port 212 to guide water introduced through
the connection parts 230 so that the water flows along the water
supply channel 224 and falls through the first water supply hole
222a or the second water supply hole 222b.
[0078] The first water supply hole 222a is provided at one side of
the water supply channel 224 adjacent to the connection parts 230
to guide some of the water introduced through the connection parts
230 so that some of the water falls upstream of the first guide
member 321, detergent is dissolved in the water, and the water
containing the detergent flows to the lower part of the detergent
box 310.
[0079] The second water supply hole 222b is provided at the other
side of the water supply channel 224. Water not falling through the
first water supply hole 222a falls downstream of the first guide
member 321 through the water supply channel 224 and the second
water supply hole 222b to prevent bubbles from being generated in
the wash water having passed through the first channel 352.
[0080] The wash water flowing along the first channel 351 may
collide with the back B of the second guide member 322 depending
upon the amount or speed of the wash water. In this case, bubbles
are generated with the result that the detergent is not uniformly
mixed with the water. Also, the wash water containing the bubbles
does not smoothly flow in the detergent box 310, and the detergent
is not uniformly attached to the laundry in the rotary tub 30. As
shown in FIG. 6, water falling through the second water supply hole
222b enables wash water flowing to the back B of the second guide
member 322 to flow to the second channel 352 without collision with
the back B of the second guide member 322, thereby preventing
bubbles from being generated in the wash water.
[0081] The cover frame 270 is coupled to the upper part of the
water supply frame 210. The cover frame 270 is coupled to the upper
part of the water supply frame 210 by thermal welding to prevent
water introduced into the water supply channel 224 provided at the
water supply frame 210 from leaking out of the detergent supply
device 100.
[0082] The cover member 216 is provided at the cover frame 270 to
open and close the detergent introduction port 212 and the rinse
introduction port 214. The cover member 216 may be rotatably
coupled to the cover frame 270. As previously described, a user may
open only the a cover member 216 to open and close the detergent
introduction port 212 and the rinse introduction port 214 without
opening the door 16 to open and close the laundry introduction port
14 to directly introduce detergent or rinse into the detergent
supply device 100.
[0083] As is apparent from the above description, detergent and
laundry are uniformed mixed during washing, thereby improving
washing efficiency.
[0084] Also, a user may conveniently introduce detergent into a
detergent supply device.
[0085] Although a few embodiments of the present disclosure have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without
departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *