WO2011080088A2

WO2011080088A2 - A washing machine comprising a detergent box

Info

Publication number: WO2011080088A2
Application number: PCT/EP2010/069879
Authority: WO
Inventors: Korhan Ozkalay
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2009-12-30
Filing date: 2010-12-16
Publication date: 2011-07-07
Also published as: CN102666965A; PL2519676T3; EP2519676B1; EP2519676A2; CN102666965B; WO2011080088A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine (1) comprising a detergent box (2) having at least two outer compartments (3, 103) wherein cleaning agents are placed and at least one middle compartment (4) located between the outer compartments (3, 103), wherein cleaning agents are placed, a flushing device (5) placed onto the detergent box (2), providing water to be directed into the detergent box (2), a lid (6) located on the flushing device (5), providing water taken from mains to pass to the flushing device (5), a first water inlet (7) located on the lid (6), transferring water taken thereby from mains to the flushing device (5) in an angular way and a second water inlet (8) located on the lid (6), transferring water taken thereby from mains to the flushing device (5) such as to block the water transferred from the first water inlet (7).

Description

A WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING A DETERGENT BOX

[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a

detergent box wherein cleaning agents are placed.

[0002] The washing machines comprise detergent boxes wherein cleaning agents such as detergent, softener etc. are placed. The cleaning agents placed in separate compartments from each other in the detergent box are transferred to the washing tub after being mixed with the wash water.

Water is supplied to the detergent box from the mains by means of valves. Since separate compartments are provided in the detergent box for each cleaning agent, water is required to be supplied to each compartment by means of separate valves. Such a cost increasing problem is solved by detergent boxes having the feature of water supply by colliding in the state of the art. For example, in detergent boxes wherein colliding water supply is performed, while water is taken from mains by means of two valves disposed such as to be angular to each other and directed to separate compartments, water taken simultaneously from two valves by being collided to each other is directed to a third compartment. Thus, water can be supplied to three separate compartments by using two valves.

[0003] In detergent boxes with three separate compartments, one compartment is reserved for loading detergent to be used in the main washing, one compartment in the pre-washing step and the third compartment left is reserved for softener used in the first rinsing step. Since the flow angle of the water during water supply is important in terms of effective sweeping of the detergent in the compartment, the compartment wherein colliding water supply is performed is generally used as softener compartment. Due to colliding water supply, softener compartment being located in the middle of the detergent box causes some problems. For example, while loading cleaning agent into the detergent box, softener running into the detergent compartment or detergent running into the softener compartment is an undesired situation.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein cleaning agents are prevented from mixing up with one another while loading cleaning agents into the detergent box.

[0005] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a flushing device which is placed onto a detergent box having more than one compartment wherein cleaning agents are placed and which has a third channel colliding water taken from the mains through two separate water inlets and directing it to an outer compartment located in the vicinity of the outer edge of the detergent box. Water is taken from the mains by means of two separate water inlets placed onto the flushing device, disposed on the lid, placed such as to be angular to each other. When water is taken only from the first water inlet, water is directed to one outer compartment by means of the first channel, when water is taken only from the second water inlet, water is directed to the middle compartment by means of the second channel, when water is taken from both of the water inlets, water is directed to the other outer compartment by means of the third channel. The middle compartment is between the outer compartments. At least some portion of the third compartment passes over the first channel or the second channel such as not to block the water flowing through the other channels. By means of water being taken simultaneously from two water inlets, being collided and being directed to an outer compartment by means of the third channel, possibility of placing cleaning agents such as softener etc. to the outer compartment arises. Placing liquid cleaning agents into the outer compartment prevents liquid cleaning agent during loading from slipping into the other compartments wherein powdered cleaning agents are placed.

[0006] The flushing device comprises a bridge which is located on the third

channel and which passes over the second channel. By means of the bridge, water flowing through the second channel and also through the third channel is provided to continue on its way in a continuous manner.

[0007] In an embodiment of the present invention, the third channel is almost

L-shaped. The bend portion of the third channel forming the corner of the L is located almost in the middle of the flushing device. Thus, water is delivered to the outer compartment whereto water is carried by the third channel from almost the middle of the compartment. Thus, liquid cleaning agent placed into the compartment is provided to be mixed with water in an efficient manner and to be directed to the tub.

[0008] In another embodiment of the present invention, a tunnel each of which aligns with each channel when the lid is placed onto the flushing device is disposed on the lid. Thus, the open top structure of the channels on the flushing device transforms into closed form when the tunnels seat thereon. By means of the tunnels, the cross-sectional areas of the channels expand.

[0009] By means of the present invention, in the detergent box supplied by two water inlets angular to each other, a flushing device having a channel which provides water taken from two water inlets to be directed to an outer compartment of the detergent box by being collided is obtained.

[0010] The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[001 1] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of a washing machine.

[0012] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a detergent box, a flushing device and a lid.

[0013] Figure 3 - is the exploded view of a flushing device and a lid.

[0014] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of a lid.

[0015] Figure 5 - is the schematic view of a flushing device and a lid when the lid is mounted onto the flushing device.

[0016] Figure 6 - is the partial exploded view of a flushing device and a lid.

[0017] Figure 7 - is the partial perspective view of a flushing device and a lid.

[0018] Figure 8 - is the partial perspective view of a flushing device and a lid from a different angle.

[0019] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Detergent box

3. , 103 Outer compartment

4. Middle compartment

5. Flushing device

6. Lid 7. First water inlet

8. Second water inlet

9. , 109, 209 Channel

10. , 1 10, 210 Tunnel

1 1. Bridge

[0020] The washing machine (1 ) comprises a detergent box (2) having at least two outer compartments (3, 103) wherein cleaning agents are placed and at least one middle compartment (4) located between the outer

compartments (3, 103), wherein cleaning agents are placed, a flushing device (5) placed onto the detergent box (2), providing water to be directed into the detergent box (2), a lid (6) located on the flushing device (5), providing water taken from mains to pass to the flushing device (5), a first water inlet (7) located on the lid (6), transferring water taken thereby from mains to the flushing device (5) in an angular way and a second water inlet (8) located on the lid (6), transferring water taken thereby from mains to the flushing device (5) such as to block the water transferred from the first water inlet (7).

[0021] The flushing device (5) comprises a first channel (9), when water is taken only from the first water inlet (7), directing water to the outer compartment (3), a second channel (109), when water is taken only from the second water inlet (8), directing water to the middle compartment (4) and a third channel (209), when water is taken from both water inlets (7, 8), directing water to the outer compartment (103) such as not to block the water flowing in the first channel (9) or the second channel (109), at least partially passing over the first channel (9) or the second channel (109).

[0022] Water taken by the two valves connected to the mains is delivered to the channels (9, 109, 209) located on the flushing device (5) by means of the first water inlet (7) and the second water inlet (8) and to the compartments (3, 4) wherein cleaning agents are placed by means of the holes located at the base of the channels (9, 109, 209). The first water inlet (7) and the second water inlet (8) are placed onto the lid (6) such that there is a certain angle therebetween. When water is taken simultaneously from the first water inlet (7) and the second water inlet (8), water coming from both water inlets (7, 8) collide and at least some of it is directed to the third channel (209) located at the bisector of two water inlets (7, 8). At least some portion of the third channel (209) passes over the second channel (109) such as not to block the water flow in the second channel (109). By water flowing through the third channel (209) being directed to the outer compartment (103), cleaning agent in the third compartment (103) is provided to be delivered to the tub by being mixed with water.

[0023] The third compartment (103) to which water is delivered by means of the third channel (209) is preferable used for placing liquid cleaning agents such as softener etc. therein. The outer compartment (103) being positioned at the outer edge of the detergent box (2) provides the middle compartment (4) to be used for placing powdered cleaning agents such as detergent etc. Thus, liquid cleaning agents are prevented from slipping into other compartments (3, 4) during loading into the outer compartment (103). Moreover, by providing the volume of the middle compartment (4) to be increased, amount of detergent to be loaded into the middle

compartment (4) is provided to be increased.

[0024] The flushing device (5) furthermore comprises a bridge (1 1 ) which is

located on the third channel (209) and which passes over the second channel (109). The bridge (1 1 ) provides water flowing through the second channel (109) passing therebelow and also water flowing through the third channel (209) passing thereabove to continue to flow continuously.

[0025] In an embodiment of the present invention, the third channel (209) is

almost L-shaped. The third channel (209) is composed of a first segment (A) located at the bisector of the first water inlet (7) and the second water inlet (8), extending almost to the middle of the flushing device (5) and a second segment (B) extending perpendicular to the first segment (A) starting from the end of the first segment (A), directing water flowing through the first segment (A) to the outer compartment (103). The first segment (A) forms one leg of the L-shaped third channel (209) and the second segment (B) forms the second leg thereof perpendicular thereto. The flow direction of water in the second segment (B) is perpendicular to the flow direction of water in the first segment (A). [0026] The washing machine (1 ) comprises more than one tunnel (10, 1 10, 210) located on the lid (6), expanding the cross-sectional areas of the channels (9, 109, 209) by covering the channels (9, 109, 209) when the lid (6) is placed onto the flushing device (5). When the lid (6) is placed onto the flushing device (5), the first tunnel (10) covers the first channel (9), the second tunnel (1 10) covers the second channel (109) and the third tunnel (210) covers the third channel (209). The height of the third channel (209) passed over the second channel (109) is kept at a lower value such as not to prevent the flow of water in the second channel (109). The third tunnel (210) covering the third channel (209) forms a closed structure together with the third channel (209). The third tunnel (210) compensates the low level structure of the third channel (209). Thus, a large portion of water flowing through the third channel (209) is provided to flow in the third tunnel (210). The third tunnel (210) is L-shaped in compliance with the structure of the third channel (209) and blocks the second tunnel (1 10). Tunnels (10, 1 10, 210) increase the speed of water flowing therethrough by expanding the cross-sectional area of channels (9, 109, 209). Thus, it is provided that less bubbles form in water, water delivered to the

compartments (3, 4) is provided to better sweep the cleaning agents in the compartments (3, 4)

[0027] By means of the flushing device (5) located in the washing machine (1 ) of the present invention, the compartment (103) wherein liquid cleaning agent is loaded such as to prevent cleaning agents from mixing with each other during loading is provided to be located outer side of the detergent box (2).

[0028] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the

embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments. These different embodiments should also be considered within the scope of the claims of the present invention, too.

Claims

1. A washing machine (1 ) comprising

- a detergent box (2) having at least two outer compartments (3, 103) wherein cleaning agents are placed and at least one middle compartment (4) located between the outer compartments (3, 103), wherein cleaning agents are placed,

- a flushing device (5) placed onto the detergent box (2), providing water to be directed into the detergent box (2)

- a lid (6) located on the flushing device (5), providing water taken from mains to pass to the flushing device (5)

- a first water inlet (7) located on the lid (6), transferring water taken thereby from mains to the flushing device (5) in an angular way

- a second water inlet (8) located on the lid (6), transferring water taken thereby from mains to the flushing device (5) such as to block the water transferred from the first water inlet (7),

characterized by the flushing device (5) having

- a first channel (9), when water is taken only from the first water inlet (7), directing water to the outer compartment (3)

- a second channel (109), when water is taken only from the second water inlet (8), directing water to the middle compartment (4) and

- a third channel (209), when water is taken from both water inlets (7, 8), directing water to the outer compartment (103) such as not to block the water flowing through the first channel (9) or the second channel (109), at least partially passing over the first channel (9) or the second channel (109).

2. A washing machine (1 ) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the flushing device (5) comprising a bridge (1 1 ) which is located on the third channel (209) and which passes over the second channel (109).

3. A washing machine (1 ) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the third channel (209) which is almost L-shaped.

4. A washing machine (1 ) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by more than one tunnel (10, 1 10, 210) located on the lid (6), expanding the cross-sectional areas of the channels (9, 109, 209) by covering the channels (9, 109, 209) when the lid (6) is placed onto the flushing device (5).