DETERGENT SUPPLY DEVICE AND WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING SAME

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments of the disclosure relate to a detergent supply device and a washing machine having the same.

BACKGROUND ART

A washing machine is a home appliance that washes clothes, towels, bedding, etc. There are two types of washing machines: drum washing machines, which wash laundry by rotating the drum to repeatedly raise and lower the laundry, and electric washing machines, which wash laundry by the water flow generated by a rotating pulsator.

The washing machine is equipped with a detergent container configured to store detergent to be supplied into the inside of the tub. The detergent container is installed so that the user may open and close it by pushing or pulling it into/from the housing of the washing machine. Recently, more and more washing machines are adopting an automatic detergent supply device including a detergent container and a discharge pump. A washing machine with an automatic detergent supply device may store several dozen doses of liquid detergent or rinsing agent in the detergent container, and discharge a required amount of detergent or rinsing agent automatically from the detergent container into the tub by the discharge pump during each washing cycle. Typically, in a washing machine with an automatic detergent supply device, when the detergent container is docked to the discharge pump, the discharge pump pressurizes an elastic valve provided inside the detergent container, and the detergent container may be pushed out of the housing by the elastic force (or repulsive force) generated by the pressurization of the discharge pump. When a separate lever or hook structure is added in a space outside the detergent container to prevent the detergent container from being pushed to open outside the housing, the connection structure between the housing and the detergent container is complicated, and the volume and weight of the automatic detergent supply device increase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Technical Solution

Various embodiments of the disclosure may provide a simple structure that offsets the elastic force (or repulsive force) generated by the valve without a complicated fixing structure outside the detergent container, such as a lever or a hook.

Aspects of embodiments 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 presented embodiments.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, provided is a detergent supply device for a washing machine to supply a detergent, the detergent supply device including 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.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the plunger may include 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 may include 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. The link guide unit may include 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.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the locking portion may be positioned on a straight line extending along a length of the connecting rod.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, while the guide protrusion may be fixed to the locking portion, the detergent container is pressed in the second direction.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the valve assembly may include 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.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the elastic body may have a first end supported on a surface of the head portion and a second end supported by a portion of the plunger housing.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the connecting rod may pass through the plunger housing so that the free end is positioned outside the plunger housing.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the link guide unit may include 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.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the link guide unit may include 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.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the link guide unit may protrude upward from a bottom surface of the detergent container.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, provided is a washing machine including 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.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the plunger may include 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 may include 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. The link and the connecting rod may align on a straight line while the guide protrusion is at the second position.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the valve assembly may include 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.

According to an embodiment of the disclosure, the link guide unit may protrude upward from a bottom surface of the detergent container.

In the washing machine according to various embodiments of the disclosure, a link and link guide portion structure pressurizing the detergent container in the opposite direction to the elastic force (or repulsive force) of the valve is added inside the detergent container to offset the elastic force (or repulsive force) of the valve, preventing the detergent container from being pushed to protrude outside the housing even without a separate fixing structure outside the detergent container.

Effects achievable in example embodiments of the disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, but other effects not mentioned may be apparently derived and understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments of the disclosure pertain, from the following description. In other words, unintended effects in practicing embodiments of the disclosure may also be derived by one of ordinary skill in the art from example embodiments of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the disclosure will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the exterior of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a washing machine according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a detergent supply device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a detergent supply device according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which a detergent container and a discharge pump are disassembled from the detergent supply device of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a detergent container and a valve assembly according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a detergent container according to an embodiment of the disclosure is undocked from a discharge pump;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which a detergent container is docked to a discharge pump according to an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of FIG. 9; and

FIGS. 11A to 11E are views illustrating a process in which a valve assembly operates as a detergent container is docked or undocked according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

Reference may be made to the accompanying drawings in the following description, and specific examples that may be practiced are shown as examples within the drawings. Other examples may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the various examples.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The terms as used herein are provided merely to describe some embodiments thereof, but are not intended to limit the technical features of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As used herein, the term ‘and/or’ should be understood as encompassing any and all possible combinations by one or more of the enumerated items. As used herein, such terms as “1st” and “2nd,” or “first” and “second” may be used to simply distinguish a corresponding component from another, and does not limit the components in other aspect (e.g., importance or order).

When a (e.g., first) component is mentioned as “coupled to,” “connected to,” “supported by,” or “contacting” another (e.g., second) component with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively,” the component may be directly or indirectly coupled to, connected to, supported by, or contact the other component.

It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “have,” as used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Throughout the specification, when one component is positioned “on” another component, the first component may be positioned directly on the second component, or other component(s) may be positioned between the first and second component.

As used herein, the terms “configured to” may be interchangeably used with the terms “suitable for,” “having the capacity to,” “designed to,” “adapted to,” “made to,” or “capable of” depending on circumstances. The term “configured to” does not essentially mean “specifically designed in hardware to.” Rather, the term “configured to” may mean that a device can perform an operation together with another device or parts. For example, a ‘device configured (or set) to perform A, B, and C’ may be a dedicated device to perform the corresponding operation or may mean a general-purpose device capable of various operations including the corresponding operation.

The terms “upper side”, “lower side”, and “front and rear directions” used in the disclosure are defined with respect to the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

In the disclosure, the above-described description has been made mainly of specific embodiments, but the disclosure is not limited to such specific embodiments, but should rather be appreciated as covering all various modifications, equivalents, and/or substitutes of various embodiments. With regard to the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used to refer to similar or related elements.

The washing machine according to various embodiments of the disclosure may be an example of a clothing treatment device. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a top-loading washing machine in which an opening for inserting or withdrawing laundry faces upward, or a front-loading washing machine in which an opening for inserting or withdrawing laundry faces forward. The top-loading washing machine may wash laundry using a water flow generated by a rotating body such as a pulsator. The front-loading washing machine may wash laundry by repeatedly raising and dropping the laundry by rotating the drum. The front-loading washing machine may include a lifter for raising laundry. The washing machine according to various embodiments may include a washing machine having various loading and washing schemes other than the top-loading and front-loading washing machines described above. In the disclosure, a case of a front-loading washing machine is mainly described, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

Hereinafter, an example washing machine is described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating the exterior of a washing machine according to an example. FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a washing machine according to an example.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a housing 10 for receiving various components therein. The housing 10 may have an overall hexahedral shape. The housing 10 may include an opening formed in one surface thereof. Two or more of the surfaces of the housing 10 may be integrally formed. Each surface of the housing 10 may be separately manufactured and assembled. The housing 10 may be, e.g., press-molded with an iron plate material or injection-molded with a resin material.

In an example, a door 20 for opening and closing the corresponding opening may be provided in a portion corresponding to the opening of the housing 10. The door 20 may be rotatably coupled to a hinge fixed to one surface of the housing 10. For example, at least a portion of the door 20 may be provided to be transparent or translucent so as to be visible inside. The user may open and close the door 20 to put the laundry into the drum 40 positioned inside the housing 10 or withdraw the laundry from the drum 40. For example, the door 20 may be locked by a locking device (not shown) so as not to be opened while the washing machine 1 is running. In an example, the door 20 may include a door frame 21 and a glass member 22. The glass member 22 may be formed of, e.g., a transparent tempered glass material to see through the inside of the housing 10, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a tub 30 fixedly disposed inside the housing 10. The tub 30 may have a substantially cylindrical shape with one side open. A tub opening 31 may be provided in the front surface of the tub 30 at a position corresponding to the opening of the housing 10. The tub 30 may store washing water. A drain port 32 for draining washing water may be provided under the tub 30. The drain port 32 may be connected to, e.g., the drain device 80.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a damper 12. The damper 12 may be provided to connect the housing 10 and the tub 30. One side of the damper 12 may be fixed to the inner surface of the housing 10 and the other side of the damper 12 may be fixed to the tub 30. The damper 12 may be provided to attenuate vibration by absorbing vibration energy transferred to the tub 30 and/or the housing 10 when the drum 40 rotates.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a drum 40 provided inside the tub 30. The drum 40 may have a substantially cylindrical shape with one side open. A front plate 43 and a rear plate 44 may be disposed on the front surface and the rear surface, respectively, of the drum 40. The front plate 43 may be provided with a drum opening at a position corresponding to the opening of the housing 10 and the tub opening 31 of the tub 30. The drum 40 may receive laundry. The drum 40 may receive rotational power from the driving device 60 and rotate inside the tub 30. The drum 40 may perform washing, rinsing, and/or spinning while rotating inside the tub 30.

In an example, the drum 40 may include a lifter 41 and/or a plurality of through holes 42. For example, the lifter 41 may lift the laundry while the drum 40 rotates so that the laundry repeatedly rises and falls, thereby evenly washing laundry on several surfaces thereof. The through hole 42 may be, e.g., a passage formed so that the washing water received in the tub 30 flows into the drum 40 or the washing water inside the drum 40 is discharged to the outside. In an example, the lifter 41 or the through hole 42 may be omitted.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a control panel 50 that supports interaction between the user and the washing machine 1. In an example, the control panel 50 may be disposed at an upper end of the front surface of the housing 10 as illustrated in FIG. 1, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. In an example, the control panel 50 may include an input unit 51 and a display unit 52.

The input unit 51 may include, e.g., any type of user input means for obtaining a user input for controlling the washing machine 1. The user may input power on/off, washing setting information (e.g., operation start/stop, course selection, time selection, etc.) of the washing machine 1 through the input unit 51. For example, the input unit 51 may be a tact switch, a push switch, a slide switch, a toggle switch, a micro switch, or a touch switch, but the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the input unit 51 may be in the form of a jog shuttle that the user may grip and rotate. In an example, the input unit 51 may include an infrared sensor. The user may remotely input the setting information through the remote control, and the input setting information may be received by the input unit 51 as an infrared signal. In an example, the input unit 51 may include a microphone. Setting information by the user's voice may be obtained through a microphone.

The display unit 52 may display various washing setting information and/or operation state information about the washing machine 1 input from the user. The display unit 52 may include various types of display panels such as an LCD, an LED, an OLED, a QLED, and a micro LED. For example, the display unit 52 may be implemented as a touch screen with a touch pad provided on the front surface thereof, but the disclosure is not limited to a specific type of display means. In an example, the display unit 52 may include any type of audio display means including a speaker, and may display each of the above-described information as an auditory signal through the audio display means. In an example, the display unit 52 may operate to audibly provide the user with information for guiding the user's input and/or information related to the ongoing process.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a driving device 60 for rotating the drum 40. The driving device 60 may include a motor 61 and a driving shaft 62 for transferring the driving force generated by the motor 61 to the drum 40. The motor 61 may include a fixed stator 611 and a rotor 612 that rotates by electromagnetically interacting with the stator 611 to convert an electric force into a mechanical rotational force. The rotational force generated by the motor 61 may be transferred to the drum 40 through the driving shaft 62. The driving shaft 62 may be press-fitted into the rotor 612 of the motor 61 to rotate together with the rotor 612. The driving shaft 62 may, e.g., partially penetrate the rear wall of the tub 30 to connect the drum 40 and the motor 61. The driving device 60 may rotate the drum 40 forward or backward to perform washing, rinsing, and/or spinning operations.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a water supply device 70 for supplying washing water to the drum 40 and/or the tub 30. The water supply device 70 may include at least one water supply pipe 71 and at least one water supply valve 72. The at least one water supply pipe 71 may be provided to supply washing water into the tub 30 using an external water supply source. One of the at least one water supply pipe 71 may be connected to a detergent supply device 13 provided in the housing 10. Here, the detergent supply device 13 may include a detergent container partitioned into a plurality of spaces inside, and a detergent, a rinsing agent, or the like may be put into each space of the detergent container. The washing water passing through the detergent supply device 13 may be supplied to the tub 30 together with the detergent (or rinsing agent) through the detergent supply pipe 131. Another one of the at least one water supply pipe 71 may be directly connected to the tub 30. For example, the washing water supplied through the water supply pipe 71 directly connected to the tub 30 may be directly supplied to the tub 30 without going through an intermediate component such as the detergent supply device 13.

In an example, the washing machine 1 may include a drain device 80 for draining the washing water received in the drum 40 and/or the tub 30. The drain device 80 may include a drain valve 81, a first drain pipe 82, a second drain pipe 83, and a pump chamber 84. The drain device 80 may be disposed, e.g., under the tub 30 to discharge the washing water discharged from the tub 30 to the outside of the washing machine 1.

In an example, the drain valve 81 may be provided to open and close the drain port 32. When the drain valve 81 is opened, the washing water received in the tub 30 may flow through the drain port 32 to the drain device 80. In an example, the first drain pipe 82 and the second drain pipe 83 may form a flow path that guides washing water to be discharged to the outside. For convenience of description, the upper stream of the pump chamber 84 is referred to as the first drain pipe 82 and the lower stream is referred to as the second drain pipe 83. The first drain pipe 82 and the second drain pipe 83 may be integrally formed. The first drain pipe 82 may have, e.g., one end connected to the drain port 32 and the other end connected to the pump chamber 84. The washing water may move into the pump chamber 84 along the first drain pipe 82. The second drain pipe 83 may have, e.g., one end connected to the pump chamber 84 and the other end connected to the outside of the washing machine 1. Accordingly, the washing water passing through the pump chamber 84 may be discharged to the outside of the washing machine 1 along the second drain pipe 83.

In an example, the pump chamber 84 may be provided under the tub 30 to store washing water drained from the tub 30. Inside the pump chamber 84, e.g., a drain pump 841 for discharging the stored washing water to the outside may be provided. The washing water pumped by the drain pump 841 may be guided to the outside of the housing 10 through the second drain pipe 83.

According to an embodiment, the washing machine 1 may include a balancer 150. The balancer 150 may include, e.g., a balancer housing 151 forming an annular channel 151a and a plurality of mass bodies 153 disposed on the annular channel 151a to perform a balancing function of the drum 40 while moving along the annular channel 151a. The plurality of mass bodies 153 may have, e.g., a ball shape (a spherical shape). The plurality of mass bodies 153 of the drum 40 may move in a direction opposite to the direction of the eccentricity generated in the drum 40 by the laundry when the drum 40 rotates, compensating for the eccentricity generated by the laundry.

According to an embodiment, the washing machine 1 may include a vibration sensor 106. The vibration sensor 106 may be disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the drum 40 to sense vibration of the drum 40. For example, the vibration sensor 106 may be disposed in a front direction and/or rear direction of the drum 40. Here, the front direction of the drum 40 may refer to a direction toward the front plate 43, and the rear direction of the drum 40 may refer to a direction toward the rear plate 44. The vibration sensor 106 may detect vibration while the drum 40 rotates.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a portion of a detergent supply device according to an embodiment. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a portion of a detergent supply device according to an embodiment.

For convenience of understanding, only the respective portions of the detergent container and discharge pump constituting the detergent supply device are illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. One of ordinary skill in the art would be able to provide a detergent supply device 300 that is inserted to or out from a washing machine (e.g., the washing machine 1 of FIG. 1) by adding conventional components for constituting a detergent supply device to the illustrated configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the detergent supply device 300 may include a detergent container 310, a discharge pump 320, and a valve assembly 330. The detergent supply device 300 may be configured to store several dozen doses of detergent and/or rinsing agent in the detergent container 310, and discharge a required amount of detergent and/or rinsing agent automatically into the tub (e.g., the tub 30 of FIG. 2) by the discharge pump 320 during each washing cycle. The detergent supply device 300 may be disposed, e.g., at an upper portion of the washing machine 1 or above the tub (e.g., the tub 30 of FIG. 2), but is not limited thereto, and may be disposed under the tub 30 or in other areas.

According to an example, the inside of the detergent container 310 may be divided into a plurality of spaces. A detergent or a rinsing agent may be added to each space of the detergent container 310. The detergent container 310 may be provided to be coupled to be slidable in the front-rear direction of the housing 10, for example. If the detergent box 310 is inserted into the housing 10, the detergent container 310 may be docked to the discharge pump 320. Here, docking of the detergent container 310 to the discharge pump 320 may refer to fluid-communicably connecting the detergent container 310 to the discharge pump 320. FIGS. 3 and 4 are views shown in a state in which the detergent container 310 is docked to the discharge pump 320. The detergent container 310 may be undocked from the discharge pump 320 as it is withdrawn from the housing 10. Here, undocking of the detergent container 310 from the discharge pump 320 may refer to breaking the fluid connection between the detergent container 310 and the discharge pump 320.

According to an example, the discharge pump 320 may be fluid-communicatively coupled to the detergent container 310. The discharge pump 320 may be provided to discharge detergent or rinsing agent contained in the detergent container 310. The discharge pump 320 may supply, for example, a detergent or rinsing agent accommodated in the detergent box 310 to the tub 30.

According to an example, the valve assembly 330 may be mounted in the detergent container 310. The valve assembly 330 may be disposed in each portion of the detergent container 310 in which a detergent or a rinsing agent is accommodated. For example, when the detergent container 310 is partitioned into a plurality of spaces, one valve assembly 330 may be disposed in each space.

According to an example, the valve assembly 330 may include a plunger housing 331, a plunger 332, and a link 333.

According to an example, the plunger housing 331 may be seated on the seating portion 311 formed around the opening (e.g., the opening 315 of FIG. 5) of the detergent container 310. The plunger housing 331 may include a coupling protrusion 3311 formed to be inserted into and coupled to the coupling recess 3111 formed in the seating portion 311. The plunger housing 331 may be coupled to the seating portion 311 as the coupling protrusion 3311 of the plunger housing 331 is fitted into the coupling recess 3111 of the seating portion 311.

According to an example, the plunger housing 331 may be fixed by a fixing protrusion 312 formed on a lower portion of the detergent container 310. The fixing protrusion 312 may be formed to extend inward from one surface of the detergent container 310. For example, the fixing protrusion 312 may be formed to extend upward from the bottom surface 310a of the detergent container 310. For example, the fixing protrusion 312 may be formed to extend in a direction horizontal to the bottom surface 310a from the side surface 310b of the detergent container 310. If the detergent container 310 and the discharge pump 320 are docked, an elastic body (e.g., the elastic body 336 of FIG. 6) accommodated in the plunger housing 331 may be compressed toward the front of the housing 10. The plunger housing 331 is fixed to the fixing protrusion 312 to maintain a predetermined position in the detergent container 310 even when an elastic force is generated by the compressed elastic body 336.

According to an example, the plunger 332 may be partially accommodated in the plunger housing 331. For example, if the detergent container 310 is inserted, the plunger 332 may be moved in a direction opposite to the drawn-in direction. For example, if the detergent container 310 is withdrawn, the plunger 332 may be moved in a direction opposite to the drawn-out direction.

According to an example, the link 333 may be rotatably coupled to the plunger 332. The link 333 may be coupled to a free end (e.g., the free end 3322a of FIG. 6) of the plunger 332, e.g., an end portion of the plunger 332 positioned opposite to an end portion accommodated in the plunger housing 331. In an example, a portion of the link 333 may overlap up and down on the free end 3322a of the plunger 332, and the overlapping portion may be coupled by a screw.

According to an example, the link 333 may include a guide protrusion 3331 formed on one side to protrude downward. The guide protrusion 3331 may be formed to protrude downward from one end portion of the link 333 (or toward the bottom surface 310a of the detergent container 310).

According to an example, the detergent container 310 may include a link guide unit 313 into which the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 is inserted, and provided to guide the movement of the guide protrusion 3331 as the plunger 332 moves. For example, one link guide unit 313 may be formed in each of the plurality of partitioned spaces of the detergent container 310. The guide protrusion 3331 may be inserted into the link guide unit 313 and moved along the guide rail 314 of the link guide unit 313.

According to an example, the link guide unit 313 may be formed to protrude upward from the bottom surface 310a of the detergent container 310. The link guide unit 313 may be integrally formed with the bottom surface 310a of the detergent container 310, but is not limited thereto, and may be separately manufactured and then coupled. The link guide unit 313 may protrude from a surface other than the bottom surface 310a of the detergent container 310.

According to an example, the link guide unit 313 may include a guide rail 314 dug, or recessed, from the top to the bottom. The guide rail 314 may be a portion into which the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 is inserted. As the link 333 is moved by the linear motion of the plunger 332, the guide protrusion 331 may move along the dug shape, e.g., a groove, of the guide rail 314.

According to an example, if the plunger 332 moves linearly in the front-rear direction of the housing 10 as the detergent container 310 is inserted or withdrawn, the link 333 may move linearly with the plunger 332 while being partially rotated as the guide protrusion 331 is moved along the path of the guide rail 314. In this case, the link 333 may rotate and move on a horizontal plane using a portion coupled to the plunger 332 as a rotation axis.

According to an example, the detergent supply device 300 may include a detergent container housing (not shown). The detergent container housing may be provided to provide a space in which the detergent container 310 is inserted when the detergent container 310 is inserted to the housing of the washing machine 1 (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2). The discharge pump 320 may be disposed outside the detergent container housing. If the detergent container 310 is docked to the discharge pump 320, one surface of the detergent container housing may be positioned between the detergent container 310 and the discharge pump 320.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a state in which a detergent container and a discharge pump are disassembled from the detergent supply device of FIG. 3.

According to an example, the discharge pump 320 may include an inflow portion 321 forming a flow path through which detergent (or rinsing agent) is introduced from the detergent container 310. The inflow portion 321 may pass through the opening 315 of the detergent container 310 when the detergent container 310 is docked to the discharge pump 320.

According to an example, the discharge pump 320 may include a water level sensor 322 for detecting the amount of detergent or rinsing agent accommodated in the detergent container 310. The water level sensor 322 may be positioned above the inflow portion 321, e.g., but is not limited thereto. The water level sensor 322 may pass through the detergent container 310 together with the inflow portion 321 when the detergent container 310 is docked to the discharge pump 320. The water level sensor 322 may pass through an opening 315 provided in the rear of the detergent container 310.

According to an example, the discharge pump 320 may include a discharge portion 323 provided to pump detergent or rinsing agent introduced from the detergent container 310 through the inflow portion 321 and discharge it to a tub (e.g., the tub 30 of FIG. 2). The detergent or rinsing agent discharged from the discharge portion 323 may be introduced into the tub (e.g., the tub 30 of FIG. 2) through a separate connection structure (e.g., a connection pipe).

According to an embodiment, the detergent container 310 may include an opening 315 in the rear side thereof. The opening 315 may be configured to allow some of the components of the discharge pump 320 to pass therethrough when the detergent container 310 is docked to the discharge pump 320. For example, the opening 315 may include a first opening 315a formed to allow the inflow portion 321 of the discharge pump 320 to pass therethrough and a second opening 315b formed to allow the water level sensor 322 of the discharge pump 320 to pass therethrough.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a detergent container and a valve assembly according to an embodiment.

The detergent container 310 and the valve assembly 330 illustrated in FIG. 6 may be overall identical or similar to the detergent container 310 and the valve assembly 330 illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 5. No duplicate description is given below. In FIG. 6, the structure of the valve assembly 330 mounted in one of the plurality of spaces partitioned in the detergent container 310 is disassembled and illustrated, but the same structure may be applied to the other spaces (not illustrated) in the detergent container 310.

According to an example, the valve assembly 330 may include a plunger housing 331, a plunger 332, an elastic body 336, and a link 333.

According to an example, the plunger housing 331 may be mounted in the detergent container 310. The plunger housing 331 may be coupled to be fixed to the detergent container 310. The plunger housing 331 may be disposed to surround the opening 315 of the detergent container 310. The plunger housing 331 may form a receiving space in which a portion of the plunger 332 is accommodated. The head portion 3321 of the plunger 332 may be accommodated in the receiving space of the plunger housing 331. The head portion 3321 of the plunger 332 may be accommodated to be movable within the receiving space of the plunger housing 331.

According to an example, the plunger 332 may include a head portion 3321 and a connecting rod 3322. The head portion 3321 may be, e.g., a portion pressed by the inflow portion 321 of the discharge pump 320. The head portion 3321 may have, e.g., a cylindrical shape. The connecting rod 3322 may be connected to, e.g., the head portion 3321. The connecting rod 3322 may be formed to extend from one surface of the head portion 3321. The connecting rod 3322 may extend in a direction perpendicular to one surface of the head portion 3321. The connecting rod 3322 and the head portion 3321 may be integrally formed, but the disclosure is not limited thereto.

According to an example, the free end 3322a of the connecting rod 3322 may be positioned outside the plunger housing 331. The connecting rod 3322 may be disposed to penetrate the plunger housing 331, for example. The connecting rod 3322 may connect the head portion 3321 of the plunger 332 accommodated in the plunger housing 331 to the link 333 outside the plunger housing 331. The connecting rod 3322 may be configured to transfer, e.g., a force applied to the head portion 3321 to the link 333.

According to an example, the connecting rod 3322 may include a hook 3322b formed to protrude from an outer circumferential surface thereof. The hook 3322b may be formed to extend along the length direction of the connecting rod 3322, for example. For example, a plurality of hooks 3322b may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other at predetermined intervals along the circumferential direction of the outer circumferential surface of the connecting rod 3322. The hook 3322b may be provided to be stuck to the outer surface of the plunger housing 331 when the detergent container 310 is withdrawn and the plunger 332 moves in the opposite direction to the drawn-out direction. The hook 3322b may serve to prevent the plunger 332 from being separated from the plunger housing 331 to form a gap as the plunger 332 moves within the plunger housing 331.

According to an example, the elastic body 336 may be disposed between the plunger housing 331 and the plunger 332. One side of the elastic body 336 may be supported by the head portion 3321 of the plunger 332. The other side of the elastic body 336 may be supported by a portion of the plunger housing 331. For example, the other side of the elastic body 336 may be supported by some of the inner surfaces of the plunger housing 331. If the elastic body 336 is compressed by the movement of the plunger 332, the elastic body 336 may provide forces in different directions to the inner surface of the plunger housing 331 and the plunger 332 side, respectively. If pressed, the elastic body 336 may provide an elastic force in a direction opposite to the pressed direction. The elastic body 336 may be, e.g., a spring.

According to an example, the link 333 may be rotatably coupled to one end portion of the connecting rod 3322 of the plunger 332. For example, the link 333 may be coupled to the free end 3322a of the connecting rod 3322. Each of the link 333 and the connecting rod 3322 may have a through portion or a recess formed in, e.g., a vertically overlapping portion. For example, one end portion of the link 333 and the free end 3322a of the connecting rod 3322 may be coupled by vertically overlapping each other. A coupling portion 334 is inserted into the through portion or the recess so that the link 333 and the connecting rod 3322 may be coupled to each other. The coupling portion 334 may be, e.g., a screw.

According to an example, the link 333 may include a guide protrusion 3331 protruding downward from one side. The guide protrusion 3331 may be positioned at an end portion far from the plunger 332. The guide protrusion 3331 may be formed to protrude downward (or toward the bottom surface 310a of the detergent container 310). The guide protrusion 3331 may be a portion inserted into the link guide unit 313.

According to an example, the valve assembly 330 may include a sealing member 335. The sealing member 335 may have an annular shape. The sealing member 335 may be disposed to surround the outer circumferential surface of the head portion 3321 of the plunger 332. The sealing member 335 may tightly contact the inner circumferential surface of the plunger housing 331 while the head portion 3321 is accommodated in the plunger housing 331. While the detergent container 310 is inserted or withdrawn so that the head portion 3321 is moved, the sealing member 335 may remain in tight contact with the inner surface of the plunger housing 331. In other words, while the head portion 3321 moves in the front-rear direction, the sealing member 335 may move together with the head portion 3321 while in tight contact with the plunger housing 331.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a state in which a detergent container is undocked from a discharge pump. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ of FIG. 7.

Here, the undocked state of the detergent container 310 may refer to a state in which the detergent container 310 is withdrawn to the outside of the housing (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2) and the fluid coupling with the discharge pump 320 is released. The user may undock the detergent container 310 by pulling the detergent container 310. If the detergent container 310 is undocked, at least a portion of the detergent container 310 may be exposed to the outside of the housing 10. The detergent or rinsing agent may be injected into the detergent container 310 using the exposed portion of the detergent container 310.

The detergent container 310, the discharge pump 320, and the valve assembly 330 illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 may have substantially the same components as the detergent container 310, the discharge pump 320, and the valve assembly 330 illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 7, a portion of the plunger housing 331 is not shown for convenience of description, but in FIG. 8, the configuration of the plunger housing 331 is reflected.

According to an example, the valve assembly 330 may be configured to close the opening 315 in a state in which the detergent container 310 is withdrawn. The plunger 332, which was pressed forward (e.g., in the drawn-out direction) through the elastic body 336 in the drawn-in state, is moved to the opening 315 as the detergent container 310 is withdrawn, closing the opening 315. For example, the plunger 332 may be moved in the −x-axis direction (e.g., in the drawn-in direction) by the elastic restoring force of the elastic body 336.

While the plunger 332 is moved toward the opening 315 of the detergent container 310, the link 333 connected to the plunger 332 may also be moved. In this case, the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 may be moved along the guide rail 314 of the link guide unit 313. In the disclosure, the place where the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 is positioned in a state in which the detergent container 310 is withdrawn to be undocked from the discharge pump 320 is referred to as a first position P1.

According to an example, the connecting rod 322 of the plunger 332 may include a first through portion 3322c. The first through portion 3322c may be positioned on the free end 3322a side of the connecting rod 3322. According to an example, the link 333 may include a second through portion 3332. The second through portion 3332 may be positioned at an end portion of the link 333. The second through portion 3332 may be positioned to overlap the first through portion 3322c. A coupling portion 334 may be inserted into the portion where the first through portion 3322c and the second through portion 3332 overlap to couple the plunger 332 and the link 333.

According to an example, the diameter of the first through portion 3322c may be smaller than the diameter of the second through portion 3332. The diameter of the first through portion 3322c may be, e.g., smaller than the diameter of the portion into which the coupling portion 334 is inserted by a predetermined length. For example, the diameter of the first through portion 3322c may be 0.05 mm smaller than the diameter of the portion into which the coupling portion 334 is inserted. Therefore, when the coupling portion 334 is inserted into the first through portion 3322c, the coupling portion 334 may be inserted in a forced press-fitting manner. The diameter of the second through portion 3332 may be, e.g., larger than the diameter of the portion into which the coupling portion 334 is inserted by a predetermined length. For example, the diameter of the second through portion 3332 may be 0.1 mm larger than the diameter of the portion into which the coupling portion 334 is inserted. Accordingly, a gap may occur between the outer circumference of the insertion portion of the coupling portion 334 and the inner circumference of the link 333. As a gap occurs between the coupling portion 334 and the link 333, the link 333 may rotate using the coupling portion 334 as a rotation axis. For convenience of description, the drawing is somewhat exaggerated to express the difference in diameter between the first through portion 3322c and the second through portion 3332.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state in which a detergent container is docked to a discharge pump. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of FIG. 9.

Here, the docked state of the detergent container 310 may refer to a state in which the detergent container 310 is inserted to the housing (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2) to be fluidly coupled to the discharge pump 320. The user may dock the detergent container 310 to the discharge pump 320 by pushing the detergent container 310 to the inside (or rear) of the housing 10.

The detergent container 310, the discharge pump 320, and the valve assembly 330 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 may have substantially the same components as the detergent container 310, the discharge pump 320, and the valve assembly 330 illustrated in FIG. 3. In FIG. 9, a portion of the plunger housing 331 is not shown for convenience of description, but in FIG. 10, the configuration of the plunger housing 331 is reflected.

According to an example, while the detergent container 310 is inserted, the inflow portion 321 of the discharge pump 320 may pass through the opening 315 of the detergent container 310 to pressurize the plunger 332. In this case, the plunger 332 may be moved in a direction (e.g., +x-axis direction) opposite to the direction in which the detergent container 310 is inserted with respect to the detergent container 310.

According to an example, the inflow portion 321 may include an inlet 3211 which is an entrance through which the detergent or rinsing agent is introduced from the detergent container 310. The inlet 3211 may be positioned in an end portion of the inflow portion 321. The inlet 3211 may be formed to be open downward (or to the bottom surface 310a side of the detergent container 310), but is not limited thereto. When the inflow portion 321 passes through the opening 315 of the detergent container 310, the inlet 3211 may be positioned in the detergent container 310.

According to an example, the water level sensor 322 may protrude less than the inflow portion 321. During the docking process of the detergent container 310, the water level sensor 322 may also be inserted to the detergent container 310 together with the inflow portion 321. In this case, an end portion of the water level sensor 322 may be formed to protrude less than the inflow portion 321 to avoid contact with the head portion 3321 of the plunger 332. The water level sensor 322 may be formed to protrude less in the direction toward the plunger 332 than the inflow portion 321, for example. As the water level sensor 322 is formed not to be in physical contact with the head portion 3321 of the plunger 332, damage or failure of the water level sensor 322 may be prevented.

According to an example, the link 333 may be moved together as the plunger 332 moves. For example, when a force is applied to the plunger 332 in the +x-axis direction, the applied force may be transferred to the link 333. For example, if the plunger 332 moves in the +x-axis direction, the link 333 may also be moved in the +x-axis direction. If the link 333 is moved according to the movement of the plunger 332, the guide protrusion 331 of the link 333 inserted into the link guide unit 313 may be moved along the guide rail 314. As the guide protrusion 3331 is moved, the link 333 may be rotated using the coupling portion 334 as a rotation axis. In other words, the link 333 may move linearly together according to the linear movement of the plunger 332 while simultaneously rotating around the coupling portion 334 along the movement path on the guide rail 314 of the guide protrusion 331.

According to an example, the link guide unit 313 of the detergent container 310 may include a locking portion 3131 for fixing the movement of the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 in a state in which the detergent container 310 is docked (or inserted). If the detergent container 310 is docked, the compressed elastic body 336 may apply an elastic force to the plunger 332 in a direction opposite to the compression. The force applied to the plunger 332 is transferred to the link 333, and the guide protrusion 331 of the link 333 is stuck to the locking portion 3131 to fix the movement of the plunger 332. As a result, the force by which the elastic body 336 presses the plunger 332 may be transferred to the detergent container 310 through the link 333. For example, in a state in which the detergent container 310 is docked (or inserted), the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 may be stuck to the locking portion 3131 to pressurize the detergent container 310 in the drawn-in direction. Here, the drawn-in direction may refer to a direction in which the detergent container 310 is inserted to the housing (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2). According to an example, the locking portion 3131 of the link guide unit 313 may be positioned on a virtual straight line L extending along the length direction of the connecting rod 3322.

According to an example, the elastic body 336 compressed in a state in which the detergent container 310 is docked (or inserted) may pressurize the plunger housing 331 with a first force. The first force may be transferred to the detergent container 310 coupled to the plunger housing 331. In other words, the first force may be indirectly applied to the detergent container 310 by the elastic body 336 in the docked state or drawn-in state.

According to an example, the elastic body 336 compressed in a state in which the detergent container 310 is docked (or inserted) may pressurize the plunger 332 with a second force acting in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first force acts. For example, the elastic body 336 may pressurize the head portion 3321 of the plunger 332 with the second force. The second force applied to the head portion 3321 may be transferred to the link 333 through the connecting rod 3322. In other words, the second force may also be applied to the link 333 by the force transferred from the head unit 3321. The link 333 may transfer the second force to the detergent container 310 by the guide protrusion 3331 stuck to the locking portion 3131 of the link guide unit 313 of the detergent container 310. In other words, the second force may be indirectly applied to the detergent container 310 by the elastic body 336 in the docked state or drawn-in state.

As described above, the disclosure has a structure in which the first force and the second force are transferred to the detergent container 310 by the elastic body 336 in a state in which the detergent container 310 is docked (or inserted). The first force and the second force are forces facing in opposite directions, and may be offset from each other. For example, the first force and the second force may be in equilibrium with each other. Conventionally, a separate fixing device is provided to prevent the detergent container 310 from moving outward of the housing (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2) as the force pressurizing the plunger housing 331 by the elastic force of the elastic body 336 is transferred to the detergent container 310, and thus, an additional space for the separate fixing device is required. However, in the disclosure, a valve assembly 330 for fixing the detergent container 310 in the detergent container 310 is provided without the need for an additional space other than the existing space occupied by the detergent container 310.

In the disclosure, the place where the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 is positioned in a state in which the detergent container 310 is inserted to be docked to the discharge pump 320 is referred to as a second position P2. The second position P2 may be a position of the guide protrusion 3331 when it is stuck to the locking portion 3131 of the link guide unit 313. When the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 is at the second position P2, the first force and the second force may be in equilibrium with each other.

FIGS. 11A to 11E are views illustrating a process in which a valve assembly operates as a detergent container is docked or undocked according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 11A to 11E are drawings for specifically describing the operation of the link 333 while the detergent container 310 in the detergent supply device 300 illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 10 is inserted to or withdrawn from the housing (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2).

According to an example, the link guide unit 313 may include a guide rail 314 configured to insert the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333. The guide rail 314 may include a recess dug to guide the movement of the guide protrusion 3331. The guide rail 314 may include a first guide recess 3141, a locking recess 3142, an unlocking recess 3143 and a second guide recess 3144. The guide rail 314 may have, e.g., a closed loop (or circulation) path. For example, the first guide recess 3141 may be positioned between the locking recess 3142 and the second guide recess 3144. For example, the locking recess 3142 may be positioned between the first guide recess 3141 and the unlocking recess 3143. For example, the unlocking recess 3143 may be positioned between the locking recess 3142 and the second guide recess 3144. For example, the second guide recess 3144 may be positioned between the unlocking recess 3143 and the first guide recess 3141.

FIGS. 11A to 11C illustrate the operation of the valve assembly 330 while the detergent container 310 is docked to the discharge pump 320. The position of the guide protrusion 3331 illustrated in FIG. 11A may be the first position P1 and the position of the guide protrusion 3331 illustrated in FIG. 11C may be the second position P2.

If the detergent container 310 is inserted to the housing (e.g., the housing 10 of FIG. 2), the plunger 332 may be moved in a direction opposite to the drawn-in direction by pressurization of the inflow portion (e.g., the inflow portion 321 of FIG. 5). As the plunger 332 moves in a direction opposite to the drawn-in direction, the link 333 coupled to the plunger 332 may also move in a direction opposite to the drawn-in direction. In this case, the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 may contact the sidewall of the first guide recess 3141 and move along the sidewall. According to an example, the first guide recess 3141 may be a portion that guides the movement of the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 while the detergent container 310 is inserted so that the plunger 332 is pressed by the inflow portion 321.

If the detergent container 310 is inserted to the housing 10 to the maximum, the guide protrusion 3331 may be positioned to be stopped from further movement in the guide rail 314 in a direction opposite to the drawn-in direction, as illustrated in FIG. 11B. In other words, when the user pushes the detergent container 310 to a position where the detergent container 310 is no longer being inserted, the detergent container 310 may be inserted to the housing 10 to the maximum.

After the detergent container 310 is inserted to the maximum, if the force for drawing in the detergent container 310 is released, the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 may be moved to the locking recess 3142. If the force for drawing in the detergent container 310 is released, the guide protrusion 331 is moved back in the drawn-in direction by the elastic force of the compressed elastic body 336 and, as it is stuck to the locking portion 3131 as illustrated in FIG. 11C, the guide protrusion 331 may be fixed to the locking recess 3142. The release of the force for drawing in the detergent container 310 may indicate that the user releases the force for pushing the detergent container 310. According to an example, the locking recess 3142 may be a portion provided so that the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 is stuck to the locking portion 3131 in a state in which the detergent container 310 is completely inserted.

FIGS. 11C to 11E illustrate the operation of the valve assembly 330 while the detergent container 310 docked to the discharge pump 320 is undocked.

The user may push the detergent container 310 to undock the detergent container 310 docked to the discharge pump 320. If the detergent container 310 is pushed while the guide protrusion 3331 is seated in the locking recess 3142, the guide protrusion 3331 may move along the sidewall of the unlocking recess 3143. According to an example, the unlocking recess 3143 may be a portion provided to unlock the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 stuck to the locking portion 3131 in the drawn-in detergent container 310. For example, if the detergent container 310 is pushed while docked, the guide protrusion 3331 may be positioned as illustrated in FIG. 11D.

When the detergent container 310 is pulled back in the drawn-out direction after pushed, the guide protrusion 3331 may be moved along the sidewall of the second guide recess 3144. In other words, the guide protrusion 3331 may be moved in a direction opposite to the drawn-out direction. According to an example, the second guide recess 3144 may be a portion guiding the movement of the guide protrusion 3331 of the link 333 while the pressurization to the plunger 332 by the inflow portion 321 is released as the detergent container 310 is withdrawn. The guide protrusion 3331 may move along the second guide recess 3144 as illustrated in FIG. 11E while the detergent container 310 is withdrawn. If the drawn-out of the detergent container 310 is completed (or If undocked), the guide protrusion 3331 may be positioned back as illustrated in FIG. 11A.

The terms as used herein are provided merely to describe some embodiments thereof, but are not intended to limit the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, each of such phrases as “A or B,” “at least one of A and B,” “at least one of A or B,” “A, B, or C,” “at least one of A, B, and C,” and “at least one of A, B, or C,” may include all possible combinations of the items enumerated together in a corresponding one of the phrases. As used herein, the term ‘and/or’ should be understood as encompassing any and all possible combinations by one or more of the enumerated items. As used herein, the terms “include,” “have,” and “comprise” are used merely to designate the presence of the feature, component, part, or a combination thereof described herein, but use of the term does not exclude the likelihood of presence or adding one or more other features, components, parts, or combinations thereof. As used herein, the terms “first” and “second” may modify various components regardless of importance and/or order and are used to distinguish a component from another without limiting the components.

Meanwhile, the terms “upper side”, “lower side”, and “front and rear directions” used in the disclosure are defined with respect to the drawings, and the shape and position of each component are not limited by these terms.

	Number	Date	Country
Parent	PCT/KR2023/013915	Sep 2023	WO
Child	19176960		US

DETERGENT SUPPLY DEVICE AND WASHING MACHINE COMPRISING SAME

Information

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Date Filed

Date Published

Inventors

Original Assignees

CPC

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Abstract

Description

Claims

Priority Claims (1)

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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