Patent Application
20250101663
This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2023-0129270 filed on Sep. 26, 2023, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus.
Generally, a laundry treating apparatus, like a washing machine that performs a washing cycle to remove foreign substances from laundry, includes a cabinet forming an outer appearance thereof, a tub accommodated inside the cabinet to store water therein, and a drum accommodated in the tub to store the laundry therein.
An existing laundry treating apparatus is equipped with a water supply that is in communication with an external water supply source and supplies water to the tub, and thus, is able to receive water and wash the laundry together with detergent.
A door I may be disposed in front of a drum D accommodated inside the tub T to open and close, and a gasket G that prevents water or the laundry accommodated in the tub T from leaking out of the tub T may be disposed between the tub T and the door I.
A nozzle N that sprays water into the drum D by being connected to the external water supply source and receiving water may be installed in the tub T or the gasket G. The nozzle N may spray water toward a lower portion of the drum D so as to wet the laundry accommodated in the drum D.
Therefore, the existing laundry treating apparatus is able to first evenly wet the laundry while water is supplied.
(a) in
When water is supplied to the tub T, the detergent may be supplied together via a detergent box connected to a water supply pipe. Further, as the drum D rotates and a physical force is transmitted to the laundry, the foreign substances may be removed from the laundry while the laundry rubs against water and the detergent.
In this process, bubbles resulted from the detergent may be generated in water accommodated in the tub T, and generated bubbles E may be disposed at the highest water level because of a specific gravity thereof lower than that of water.
As a result, a state in which a lot of bubbles E are attached may be maintained as it is except for an area where the nozzle N is installed in the gasket G.
In addition, because water sprayed from the nozzle N is directed only toward the inside of the drum D, the bubbles E may be attached to the door I, which is disposed forward of the nozzle N.
The bubbles attached to the gasket G and the door I may not only be organic matter generated by the detergent, but may also be coupled with the foreign substances removed from the laundry, and may remain as it is even after all of water in the tub T is drained. In addition, the remaining bubbles may act as nutrients for bacteria such as mold to grow, which may cause the inside of the laundry treating apparatus to deteriorate.
In one example, in the case of the gasket G, an area far from the nozzle N may be washed of the bubbles or the foreign substances by water remaining in the tub T or water sprayed from the nozzle N.
The nozzle N is generally installed at an upper portion of the gasket G so as to spray water up to a rear surface of the drum and to continuously spray water even when water is accommodated in the tub T, and the portion where the nozzle N is installed is set so as not to be submerged in water even when water is accommodated inside the tub T to the highest level.
Therefore, an area of the gasket G adjacent to the nozzle N and the upper area of the gasket G have no opportunity to be washed, so that the bubbles or the foreign substances always remain.
As a result, the existing laundry treating apparatus has a problem of rather contaminating the laundry by the remaining bubbles or foreign substances even after the washing cycle is completed.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may clean not only a drum but also an inner surface of a gasket with water.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may also clean an area of a gasket adjacent to a nozzle.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may also clean an upper area of a gasket that is not submerged in water.
The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus that may also clean a rear surface of a door.
To solve the above-described problems, the present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet having an opening formed in a front surface thereof, a tub accommodated in the cabinet to store water therein, wherein the tub includes an inlet in communication with the opening, a drum rotatably accommodated in the tub to store laundry therein, a driver that is coupled to a rear surface of the tub and rotates the drum, a gasket connecting the opening with the inlet to prevent water and the laundry from leaking into the cabinet, a water supply including a water supply valve coupled to the cabinet and connected to an external water supply source, and a water supply pipe supplying water from the water supply valve to the tub, and a sprayer that is coupled to an upper portion of the gasket and receives water from the water supply pipe and sprays water into the drum.
The sprayer may spray water also onto an inner circumferential surface of the gasket.
The sprayer may spray water onto at least one of portions of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket disposed on both sides of the sprayer.
The sprayer may spray water onto the inner circumferential surface of the gasket or a rear portion of the gasket.
The sprayer may include an inflow pipe coupled to a distal end of the water supply pipe, an installation plate extending from an outer surface of the inflow pipe and seated on the gasket, and a spray nozzle extending downward from the installation plate to spray water.
The spray nozzle may include a guide body protruding from the inner circumferential surface of the gasket and having a hollow in communication with the inflow pipe, a main spray hole penetrating through a rear portion of the guide body to discharge water toward a drum rear surface, and a cleaning hole penetrating through the guide body so as to be spaced apart from the main spray hole and spraying water toward the inner circumferential surface of the gasket.
The cleaning hole may include a first cleaning hole penetrating through one side of the guide body and formed on one side of the main spray hole, and a second cleaning hole penetrating through the other side of the guide body and formed on the other side of the main spray hole.
The guide body may further include a cleaning slit recessed on at least one of both sides of the main spray hole to disperse water sprayed from the cleaning hole rearward.
The cleaning slit may be formed separately from the main spray hole.
The spray nozzle may include a blocking rib extending in both lateral directions at a location at the rear of the cleaning hole to block water sprayed from the cleaning hole from being sprayed forward, and the cleaning slit may be formed to be recessed to the blocking rib from the surface of the guide body on said both sides of the main spray hole.
The cleaning slit may be formed such that a height thereof decreases in a direction from the surface of the guide body to the cleaning hole.
A bottom surface of the cleaning slit may have a downward inclination from the cleaning hole to the surface of the guide body.
The cleaning slit may include a first cleaning slit extending from the first cleaning hole to the surface of the guide body, and a second cleaning slit extending from the second cleaning hole to the surface of the guide body.
Angles of the first cleaning slit and the second cleaning slit may be different from each other.
The spray nozzle may further include an auxiliary spray hole formed upward of the main spray hole and spraying water more rearwardly than the main spray hole.
The auxiliary spray hole may be formed in an upper portion of the guide body.
The spray nozzle may further include a partition rib disposed inside the auxiliary spray hole to branch sprayed water.
The present disclosure may clean not only the drum but also the inner surface of the gasket with water.
The present disclosure may also clean the area of the gasket adjacent to the nozzle.
The present disclosure may also clean the upper area of the gasket that is not submerged in water.
The present disclosure may also clean the rear surface of the door.
The present disclosure may also clean the upper portion of the rear surface of the door.
Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the present document, identical or similar components are assigned identical or similar reference numerals even in different embodiments, and descriptions thereof are replaced with the first description. A singular expression used herein includes a plural expression unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In addition, when describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known technology may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and the technical ideas disclosed herein should not be construed as being limited by the attached drawings.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may be equipped as one of a washing machine 1 and a dryer 2, or may include at least one of a composite apparatus 4 in which the washing machine 1 and the dryer 2 are integrated, and an auxiliary apparatus 5 disposed beneath the composite apparatus 4.
A following description will be based on the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure being equipped as the composite apparatus 4 and the auxiliary apparatus 5 disposed beneath the composite apparatus 4. However, this is only for a purpose of description, and the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure does not exclude the washing machine 1, the dryer 2, or a form in which the washing machine 1 and the dryer 2 are arranged in a vertical direction.
The composite apparatus 4 of the present disclosure may include a cabinet 10 forming an outer appearance thereof. An opening through which laundry may be withdrawn and inserted may be formed in a front surface of the cabinet 10, and the opening may be opened and closed by a door 200.
The door 200 may be rotatably coupled to the cabinet 10 so as to selectively open and close the opening. When the door 200 is fixed or locked to the cabinet 10, only a transparent material may be exposed from a front surface thereof. To this end, the front surface of the door 200 may be made of glass or a transparent material such as plastic or acrylic.
A control panel 100 that receives a command to control the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure or displays information to the outside may be disposed above the door 200.
The cabinet may include a front panel 11 forming a front surface thereof, and the control panel 100 may be installed on the front panel 11.
The control panel 100 may be equipped with an inputter to receive various commands from the user. The control panel 100 may be equipped with a display portion that displays information of the laundry treating apparatus on the outside. At least a portion of the control panel 100 may be equipped as a touch panel to perform both functions of the inputter and the display.
The control panel 100 may have a width greater than a height, and may be formed in an oval shape or a shape like a running track. Therefore, the control panel 100 may display more information or more easily display completed sentences, phrases, and the like than when it is formed in a circular shape.
The control panel 100 may receive a command to perform a course or display a state of performing the course, information necessary to perform the course or the like.
The control panel 100 may include one or more of a plurality of buttons or a touch panel for receiving the command from the user, a microphone for receiving a user's voice, a camera or a proximity sensor for receiving a user's operation or state, a screen for displaying visual information to the user, and a speaker for transmitting auditory information to the user.
When the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure is equipped in a front-load type in which the opening is formed in the front surface of the cabinet, the control panel 100 may be disposed above the door 200 on the front surface of the cabinet 10. Thus, accessibility and identifiability may be secured.
In one example, when the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure is equipped in a top-load type in which the opening is formed in a top surface of the cabinet, the control panel 100 may be disposed in front of the door 200 on the top surface of the cabinet 10.
When the auxiliary apparatus 5 is disposed beneath the composite apparatus 4, the control panel 100 may be equipped as a composite panel that may control at least one of the composite apparatus 4 and the lower auxiliary apparatus 5 at the same time.
When the composite apparatus 4 of the present disclosure performs an operation of the dryer 2, a filter 99 that filters drum air from the outside of the drum may be disposed in an upper portion of the cabinet 10.
The filter 99 may filter foreign substances in a circulation duct that is accommodated inside the cabinet 10 and circulates air, and the circulation duct may be disposed inside the cabinet 10 closer to the upper portion than to a lower portion of the cabinet 10 such that the filter 99 is able to be withdrawn upward from a top panel 13 of the cabinet. A structure of the circulation duct will be described later.
The door 200 may be coupled to the cabinet 10 in a push button form. When the door 200 is pressed toward the cabinet 10, the door 200 may sequentially repeat opening and closing the opening.
When the door 200 is formed in the push button form, even in a situation in which the user is not able to pull the door 200, such as when the user is holding the laundry in both hands, the door 200 may be sequentially fixed to the cabinet 10 or separated from the cabinet 10 when a pressure is applied toward the opening or the cabinet 10.
The door 200 is rotatably coupled to a hinge disposed on one side of the opening. Therefore, it is preferable that a locker that couples or fixes the door 200 to the cabinet 10 is installed in an area opposite to the hinge with respect to the opening.
The door 200 may have a pressing portion 250 that induces the user to press a place corresponding to the locker on an outer surface thereof. The pressing portion 250 may be marked on a surface to be distinguished from other areas, or may be equipped as a separate light or the like to be visually distinguished.
The door 200 may further include a sensor 240 that receive a user's pressurization or touch and separates the door 200 from the cabinet 10.
The sensor 240 may be equipped as a component that may detect a user's physical contact. For example, the sensor 240 may include any component as long as it is able to sense the user's physical contact, such as a touch film, a touch panel, a physical button, a piezoelectric element, and the like installed on the door 200.
The door 200 may be opened at the cabinet 10 even when it is not pressed toward the cabinet 10 when the user touches or presses the sensor 240. As a result, the door 200 may be prevented in advance from being damaged or scratched when pressed by the user, an object, or the like.
The sensor 240 may be disposed near the pressing portion 250. Accordingly, the user may intuitively recognize that the sensor 240 and the pressing portion 250 are areas that receive a user's input.
The sensor 240 may be built in the door 200, but may be marked on the outer surface of the door 200. Accordingly, the sensor 240 may further include a separate light emitting body. In one example, an area where the sensor 240 is installed may be indicated via marking, shading, and the like on the surface of the door 200.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may additionally include the auxiliary apparatus 5 disposed beneath the composite apparatus 4. The auxiliary apparatus 5 may be disposed beneath the composite apparatus 4, and the composite apparatus 4 may be disposed on top of the auxiliary apparatus 5.
The auxiliary apparatus 5 may include an auxiliary cabinet 10b disposed beneath the cabinet 10 of the composite apparatus 4, and a drawer 80 that is extended forward from the auxiliary cabinet 10b.
An auxiliary inputter 84 that may receive an extension command for extending the drawer 80 forward from the user may be disposed at a front side of the drawer 80.
The multi-function inputter 84 may be equipped as any component as long as it is able to receive the extension command by coming into contact with a user's body. For example, the multi-function inputter 84 may be equipped as a touch panel or a button.
An installation vertical level of the composite apparatus 4 may become higher because of the auxiliary apparatus 5. Therefore, when the composite apparatus 4 is equipped in the front-load type in which the door 200 is disposed in front of the cabinet 10, a location of an opening 14 also becomes higher, so that the user may easily access the door 200 without bending his or her back.
Detailed configurations of the composite apparatus and the auxiliary apparatus will be described later.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a tub 20 accommodated inside the cabinet 10 to store water therein, and a drum 30 rotatably accommodated in the tub 20 to store water therein.
The tub 20 may include a tub body 21 formed in a cylindrical shape and including an inlet 22 at a front side thereof.
The tub body 21 may be made of a plastic material or the like, and the inlet 22 may protrude from a front side of the tub body 21 in a cylindrical shape that has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the tub body 21.
The inlet 22 may be in communication with the opening 14 of the cabinet 10.
In one example, the tub 20 may further include a gasket 23 sealing a space between the inlet 22 and the opening 14.
The gasket 23 may be formed as a separate component from the tub body 21. The gasket 23 may be formed in a ring shape that seals the space between the inlet 22 and the opening 14.
The gasket 23 may be made of an elastic material. Therefore, even when vibration occurs in the tub 20, the gasket 23 may maintain the state of sealing the space between the opening 14 and the inlet 22, and may prevent the vibration from being transmitted to the opening 14 or the door 200.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a water supply portion 50 that supplies water to the tub 20, and a drainage portion 60 that drains water from the tub 20.
The water supply portion 50 may include a water supply valve 51 that is coupled to the cabinet 10 and connected to an external water supply source to selectively supply water, and a water supply pipe 52 that extends from the water supply valve 51 and transmits water supplied from the external water supply source. The water supply pipe 52 may be coupled to the tub body 21, or may have a distal end coupled to the gasket 23.
As long as the water supply pipe 52 is able to supply water to the tub 20, the water supply pipe 52 may be coupled to any portion of the tub 20.
The water supply pipe 52 of the water supply portion 50 may be connected to a gasket 24. A sprayer 500 coupled to a distal end of the water supply pipe 52 may be installed on the gasket 24. The sprayer 500 may evenly spray water supplied from the water supply pipe 52 into the drum 30.
The drainage portion 60 may include a discharge pipe 61 that is connected to a lower portion of the tub 20 to discharge water from the tub 20, a drainage pump 62 that provides power to discharge water supplied from the discharge pipe 61 to the outside of the cabinet 10, and a drainage pipe 63 that extends from the drainage pump 62 to the outside of the cabinet 10 to discharge water.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a water level sensor 24 that senses a water level of the tub 20. The water level sensor 24 may be equipped as any component as long as it is able to sense the water level inside the tub 20. For example, the water level sensor 24 may include a communication pipe in communication with the tub 20 and having a closed distal end, and a device positioned on the communication pipe to sense a pressure change inside the communication pipe.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a support 70 that supports the tub 20 inside the cabinet 10.
The support 70 may include at least one of a suspension that supports a lower portion of the tub 20 and a spring that supports an upper portion of the tub 20.
In addition, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a heat supply portion 90 that may circulate air inside the tub 20 or the drum 30 and may heat the air.
The heat supply portion 90 may be disposed downward of the tub 20.
However, because the tub 20 is the closest component to the drum 30 and the drainage portion 60 is disposed beneath the tub 20, the heat supply portion 90 may be seated on the tub 20.
The heat supply portion 90 may be disposed to be seated on the tub 20. That is, the heat supply portion 90 may be disposed upward of the opening of the tub.
The heat supply portion 90 may include at least one of a circulation flow channel 91 extending from the tub 20 in at least one of a front and rear direction and a left and right direction to circulate air inside the tub 20, an evaporator 92 accommodated in the circulation flow channel 91 to cool the air and condense moisture, a condenser 93 disposed downstream of the evaporator to heat the air, a compressor 94 disposed outside the circulation flow channel 91 to supply a refrigerant that heats the air to the condenser 93, an expansion valve that expands and cools the refrigerant discharged from the condenser 93 and delivers the refrigerant to the evaporator 92, and a circulation fan 96 disposed inside the circulation flow channel 91 to provide power to circulate the air.
The circulation flow channel 91 may be constructed such that one end is connected to an upper rear portion of the tub body 21 and the other end is connected to an upper front portion of the tub body 21 or to the gasket 23.
The circulation fan 96 may operate such that air is sucked into the circulation flow channel 91 from the rear of the drum 30 and the air is discharged into the drum body 31 via the entrance 35.
Accordingly, hot air generated from the heat supply portion 90 may be introduced into the entrance 35 and evenly supplied to the drum 30, and the laundry may be evenly dried. In addition, air that has dried the laundry may be introduced into one end of the circulation flow channel 91 without difficulty by passing through the through-hole 33 by a negative pressure provided by the circulation fan 96.
As a result, the heat supply portion 90 may be constructed to supply hot air into the drum body 31 even when the drum 30 is accommodated in the tub 20, has a plurality of through-holes 33 formed in the outer circumferential surface thereof, and thus has high air resistance.
The heat supply portion 90 may omit a water collector and a water storage tank that collect condensate because the tub 20 is disposed thereunder. That is, water condensed inside the circulation flow channel 91 may be collected in the tub 20 and discharged to the drainage portion 60.
The circulation flow channel 91 may be disposed to extend in a ‘¬’-shape on the tub 20 to secure a volume for air to flow or area sizes of the evaporator and the condenser.
That is, the circulation flow channel 91 may extend forward from one side at an upper rear portion of the tub body 21, and then extend toward the other side at an upper front portion of the tub body 21.
The circulation flow channel 91 may include an inflow portion 91a extending from the rear portion to the front portion of the tub body 21, a flowing portion 91b extending from the inflow portion to the other side of the front portion of the tub body 21 or to the gasket 23, and an exhaust portion 91c extending downward from the flowing portion and in communication with a space formed inward of the gasket 23.
The duct may extend in the left and right direction on the tub 20, and the filter 99, the evaporator 92, and the condenser 93 may be sequentially disposed therein.
The circulation fan 96 may be constructed to be in communication with the circulation flow channel 91.
The circulation fan 96 may be installed inside the circulation flow channel 91, and may include a housing connecting the flowing portion with the exhaust portion.
The circulation fan 96 may be disposed at the front portion of the tub body 21 to evenly distribute a weight of the rear portion of the tub body 21 to which the driver 40 is coupled.
The circulation fan 96 may be operated such that air flows from the inflow portion to the exhaust portion.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may perform a plurality of courses for treating the laundry based on the above configuration. The courses can include a washing course that removes foreign substances from the laundry and a drying course that removes moisture from the laundry.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include an integrated controller that integrates a controller that performs the washing course with a controller that performs the drying course. The integrated controller may be built into the control panel 100 or may be disposed separately from the control panel 100 and mounted inside the cabinet 10.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a detergent box 700 that stores therein the detergent to be supplied to the tub 20.
The detergent box 700 may be disposed downward of the tub 20. The detergent box 700 may be prevented from interfering with the heat supply portion 90 disposed above, and may be exposed to the user without difficulty even when the composite apparatus 4 is raised because of the auxiliary apparatus 5.
The detergent box 700 may be equipped with a detergent body that accommodates the detergent therein, and a detergent pump that sprays the detergent accommodated in the detergent body into the tub 20. Accordingly, water from the tub 20 may be prevented from arbitrarily infiltrating into the detergent box 700, or the detergent may be prevented from being arbitrarily supplied into the detergent box 700.
The detergent box 700 may supply the detergent to at least one of the drainage portion 60 and the circulator 65.
When supplying the detergent to the circulator 65, the detergent may be supplied to the tub 20 while operating the circulation pump or the like, the detergent may be more easily dissolved in water during the circulation process, and the detergent may be evenly supplied to the laundry.
A filter 800 may be disposed between the drainage pump 62 and the circulator 65, so that the foreign substances discharged from the tub 20 may be prevented from being re-introduced into the circulator 65.
The filter 800 may be exposed forward on one side of the detergent box 700 and may be detachable forward.
The cabinet may further include a base 15 that supports the filter 800 and the detergent box 700.
The base 15 may form a bottom surface of the cabinet 10.
The base 15 may support the support 70, and may support the detergent box 700 and the filter 800 so as not to interfere with the support 70.
The detergent box 700 may be detachably disposed on the base 15, and may be withdrawable forward from the base 15. As a result, the user may continuously replenish the detergent in the detergent box 700, and may also wash the detergent box 700.
A step panel 16 that guides the withdrawal and the insertion of at least one of the detergent box 700 and the filter 800 and is disposed under the front panel 11 may be further included in front of the base 15.
The step panel 16 may have a hole through which the detergent box 700 and the filter 800 are withdrawn and inserted, and may block the base 15 from being exposed to the outside.
The step panel 16 may be formed separately from the front panel 11. As a result, the front panel 11 and the step panel 16 may be made of different materials. As a result, even when the front panel 11 is made of a metal material or the like that is rigid or difficult to form, the step panel 16 may be made of a material that is easy to form so as to guide the withdrawal and the insertion of at least one of the detergent box 700 and the filter 800 or expose at least one of those.
The drum 30 may include a drum body 31 that is rotatably disposed in the tub body 21 to store the laundry therein, and the entrance 35 that is disposed in front of the drum body 31 and is in communication with the inlet 22 and the opening 14.
The drum body 31 may be formed in a cylindrical shape, and through-holes 33 that are in communication with the inside of the tub body 21 may be formed in a rear surface or an outer circumferential surface thereof. The drum body 31 may be made of a metal material.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may include a driver 40 having the same structure as that in the general washing machine 1. The driver 40 may be coupled to the tub 20 to rotate the drum 30.
The driver 40 may include a stator 41 coupled to a rear portion of the tub body 21, a rotor 42 rotated by the stator 41, and a rotation shaft 43 connecting the rotor 42 with the drum 30.
The tub body 21 may have a bearing housing installed on a rear surface thereof that allows the rotation shaft 43 to pass therethrough and rotatably supports the rotation shaft 43.
The laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a circulator 65 that recirculates and supplies water from the tub 20.
The circulator 65 may include a circulation pump that is in communication with the drainage pump 62 or is disposed on one side of the drainage pump 62, and a circulation hose that re-supplies water drained from the tub body 21 to the tub 20.
As a result, water may also be saved by reusing water from the tub 20 during the washing cycle or a rinsing process, and a cleaning efficiency may also be increased by evenly dissolving the detergent or the like via the circulator 65.
The door 200 may include a front surface 210 forming a front surface of the door, a door frame 220 forming a side surface of the door 200, coupled to the front surface 210, and seated on the seating portion 12, and a rear portion 230 coupled to a rear portion of the door frame 220.
The front surface 210 and the rear portion 230 may be made of a transparent material, and the door frame 220 may be formed in a ring shape, so that the inside of the inlet 22 may be exposed forward of the cabinet 10.
The rear portion 230 may be coupled to the door 200 and inserted into the gasket 23, and may be inserted into the inlet 22 with a lower portion protruding further than an upper portion thereof.
The rear portion 230 may prevent water or the laundry accommodated in the tub body 21 or the drum 30 from approaching the gasket 23. Accordingly, even when the drum 30 rotates rapidly, the laundry or water may be prevented from being deposited on the gasket 23 or leaking into the cabinet 10.
In addition, the laundry may also be prevented from being concentrated in the inlet 22, as the laundry collides with the rear portion 230 and moves back into the drum 30.
The sprayer 500 may be coupled to the gasket 23 and spray water into the inlet 22. As a result, the sprayer 500 may evenly spray water to a lower portion of the drum body 31 without being obstructed by the outer circumferential surface of the drum 30 or the entrance 35, compared to when the sprayer 500 is coupled to the tub body 21.
The sprayer 500 is mainly intended to spray water directly onto the laundry while supplying water to the tub 20, so that it may be common to spray water rearwardly of the door 200.
However, the sprayer 500 of the present disclosure may also spray at least some of water onto an inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 or the rear portion 230 to clean the gasket 23 and the rear portion 230. As a result, even when there are bubbles or foreign substances remaining on the gasket 23 and the rear portion 230, they may be washed away during the water spraying process.
As a result, the remaining bubbles on the rear portion 230 of the door may be minimized even in the washing cycle, so that a washing process may be disclosed as it is. Further, when the washing cycle ends, the detergent and foreign substances may be prevented from remaining inside the laundry treating apparatus, so that cleanliness may be maintained.
In the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, the water supply pipe 52 extending from the water supply valve 51 or an auxiliary pipe branched from the water supply pipe 52 may be directly connected to a spray nozzle 540. The spray nozzle 540 may have one end coupled to a distal end of the water supply pipe 52 and the other end coupled to the gasket 23 to spray water into the gasket 23.
The gasket 23 may include a nozzle installation hole 231 to which the spray nozzle is coupled, and an air inflow hole 233 in communication with the circulation flow channel 91. The nozzle installation hole 231 may be formed closer to an upper portion of the gasket 23 than to a lower portion of the gasket, and the air inflow hole 233 may be formed to be eccentric to one side from the upper portion of the gasket 23 in consideration of the arrangement of the circulation duct 91.
In one example, the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure may further include a steam supply that may supply steam into the tub 20. The steam supply may also be coupled to the gasket 23, so that steam may be supplied to the laundry accommodated in the drum 30.
In this case, the gasket 23 may include a steam supply hole 232 to which a steam pipe for receiving steam is coupled, on one side of the nozzle installation hole 231.
The nozzle installation hole 231 may be positioned higher than the air inflow hole 233.
The sprayer 500 may be coupled to the nozzle installation hole 231 and spray water onto a bottom surface of the drum 30. Furthermore, the sprayer 500 may spray water onto at least one of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 and the rear portion 230 of the door even when coupled to the nozzle installation hole 231.
The sprayer 500 of the present disclosure may include an inflow pipe 510 coupled to a distal end of the water supply pipe 52 or the branch pipe branched from the water supply pipe 52 and having at least a portion inserted into the gasket 23, and the spray nozzle 540 disposed under the inflow pipe 510 and exposed to the inner surface of the gasket 23.
The inflow pipe 510 may include a guide hollow that guides water supplied from the water supply pipe 52 or the like to the spray nozzle 540, and the spray nozzle 540 may be disposed at a distal end of the inflow pipe 510 to spray the supplied water to the outside of the sprayer 500.
The sprayer 500 may further include an installation plate 530 that is disposed between the inflow pipe 510 and the spray nozzle 540 and has an area size greater than those of the inflow pipe 510 and the spray nozzle 540 to prevent the sprayer 500 from being deviated from the gasket 23.
The inflow pipe 510 may be disposed on one surface of or on top of the installation plate 530, and the spray nozzle 540 may be disposed on the other surface of or beneath the installation plate 530.
The inflow pipe 510, the spray nozzle 540, and the installation plate 530 may be equipped as separate members or may all be manufactured integrally.
The installation plate 530 may be seated on the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 connecting the opening 14 with the inlet 22.
Because an outer side of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 is an area where the rear portion 230 of the door 200 is inserted, the installation plate 530 may be exposed to the outer side of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23, and the spray nozzle 540 may also be exposed to the outer side of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23.
The installation plate 530 may be seated on an inner side of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 and not be exposed to the outside of the gasket 23, and only the spray nozzle 540 may protrude to the outer side of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 and be exposed to the outside of the gasket 23.
The installation plate 530 may prevent the sprayer 500 from being deviated to the outside of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23, even when a high water pressure is applied to the inflow pipe 510.
From another perspective, the inflow pipe 510 may be formed in a shape of a pipe that is coupled to the distal end of the water supply pipe 52 and receives water, and the installation plate 530 may extend outward from an outer surface disposed between one end and the other end of the inflow pipe 510 and may be seated on the gasket 23. The installation plate 530 may be formed in a flat or plate shape.
The spray nozzle 540 may extend from the installation plate 530 in a direction opposite to an extension direction of the inflow pipe 510 and spray water.
When the installation plate 530 is installed on the upper portion of the gasket 23, the spray nozzle 540 may extend downward of the installation plate 530.
The spray nozzle 540 may include a plurality of through-holes to spray water in various directions. Accordingly, water sprayed to a plurality of areas may be supplied with the single inflow pipe 510, thereby simplifying a configuration of the sprayer 500.
The spray nozzle 540 may include a guide body 541 that protrudes from the inner surface of the gasket 23 to the inlet 22 and has a hollow in communication with the inflow pipe 510.
The guide body 541 may have any shape and size as long as a plurality of through-holes in communication with the hollow do not interfere with or are not connected to each other.
The guide body 541 may be formed in a spherical shape as illustrated, but may also be formed in a rod shape or a disc shape.
A cross-sectional area or a diameter of the guide body 541 may be equal to or greater than that of the inflow pipe 510.
The spray nozzle 540 may include a main spray hole 542 that extends through the guide body 541 and discharges water toward the drum rear surface, and a cleaning hole 544 that extends through the guide body 541, but is spaced apart from the main spray hole 542 and sprays water toward the gasket 23.
The main spray hole 542 may extend through the guide body 541 at an angle. As a result, water discharged from the guide body 541 may be directly sprayed toward the lower portion of the drum 30. The laundry disposed at the lower portion of the drum 30 may be directly wetted by the main spray hole 542.
The main spray hole 542 may spray water in a front and rear direction in the gasket 23 or toward the driver 40. As a result, water may be supplied to a rear portion of the drum 30 as much as possible.
The spray nozzle 540 of the present disclosure may further include the cleaning hole 544 formed on at least one of both sides of the main spray hole 542 to spray water toward the gasket 23.
The cleaning hole 544 may be in communication with the inflow pipe 510 to receive water from the inflow pipe 510 and spray water. Inside the guide body 541, the cleaning hole 544 and the inflow pipe 510 may be in communication with each other, and the main spray hole 542 and the inflow pipe 510 may be in communication with each other, but the cleaning hole 544 and the main spray hole 542 may not be in communication with each other and may be completely separated from each other.
As a result, all of cleaning water introduced into the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed toward the gasket 23. The cleaning hole 544 may extend in the guide body 541 toward the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23. The cleaning hole 544 may be disposed to spray water toward the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 at an installed portion.
Therefore, the sprayer 500 may spray water onto at least one of portions of the inner surface of the gasket 23 facing both sides of the sprayer, and directly clean the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23.
Because the cleaning hole 544 may allow both sides where the sprayer 500 is installed to be cleaned, an entirety of the inner surface of the gasket 23 starting from an upper end of the gasket 23 may be cleaned.
In one example, the spray nozzle 540 may include an auxiliary spray hole 543 formed above the main spray hole 542 and spraying water further rearward than the main spray hole 542.
The auxiliary spray hole 543 may extend through an upper portion of the guide body 541 and be in communication with the inflow pipe 510.
The auxiliary spray hole 543 may be formed in the upper portion of the guide body 541, and to secure a flow rate, the installation plate 530 may have an area adjacent to the portion where the auxiliary spray hole 543 is formed extending in a stepped manner to be away from the guide body 541.
In one example, the sprayer 500 may further include a steam pipe 520 that is disposed to be spaced apart from the inflow pipe 510 on the installation plate 530 and receives steam. The steam pipe 520 may include a steam hollow 521 through which steam passes and is discharged.
The sprayer 500 may simplify a configuration coupled to the gasket 23 by integrally forming the spray nozzle 540 and the steam pipe 520.
The sprayer 500 may further include a blocking rib 550 extending to both sides of the guide body 541.
The blocking rib 550 may prevent water sprayed from the spray nozzle 540 from being unnecessarily sprayed forward, and may concentrate water sprayed from the spray nozzle 540 to be sprayed at least to both sides and behind the spray nozzle 540.
As a result, the flow rate of water sprayed to the rear portion 230 of the door and the gasket 23, where foreign substances or bubbles may be stuck, may be secured, thereby maximizing cleaning power.
(a) in
The main spray hole 542 may be formed such that an area size thereof increases as it goes from the inflow pipe 510 to a surface of the guide body 541. As a result, a pressure of water discharged from the main spray hole 542 gradually decreases, so that when water is sprayed from the main spray hole 542, water may spread with an area size greater than the area size of the main spray hole 542.
As a result, water may be evenly sprayed not only onto the laundry disposed in a spray direction of the main spray hole 542 or the bottom surface of the drum, but also to both sides.
The spray nozzle 540 may further include a dispersion rib 5431 extending from the guide body 541 downward of the main spray hole 542.
The dispersion rib 5431 may extend from the guide body 541 at an inclination different from an inclination at which the main spray hole 542 extends from the guide body 541.
The dispersion rib 5431 may extend at an inclination that is gentler than the inclination of the main spray hole 542, for example, may extend at 90 degrees.
As a result, the dispersion rib 5431 may be disposed on the guide body 541 to collide with at least a portion of water discharged from the main spray hole 542.
The dispersion rib 5431 may disperse water sprayed from the main spray hole 542 to left and right. Accordingly, among the laundry pieces accommodated in the drum body 31, not only laundry disposed directly behind the main spray hole 542 but also laundry disposed on both sides of the main spray hole 542 may be supplied with water sprayed from the main spray hole 542.
The dispersion rib 5431 may be formed in an upwardly convex shape and may have a high point facing the main spray hole 542.
An area size of the dispersion rib 5431 may be equal to or greater than an area size of a distal end of the main spray hole 542.
The guide body 541 may further include a cleaning slit 545 that is recessed on at least one of both sides of the main spray hole 542 to the cleaning hole 544 and guides water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544.
The cleaning hole 544 extends through the guide body 541 toward the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23. However, the cleaning slit 545 is formed so as to extend from a rear portion of the guide body 541 to the cleaning hole 544 and induces at least a portion of water discharged from the cleaning hole 544 to be discharged to the rear portion of the guide body 541.
The cleaning slit 545 may induce water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 to be evenly sprayed in a fan shape to a 90-degree area between an extension direction of the cleaning hole 544 and an extension direction of the main spray hole 542.
The cleaning slit 545 may disperse water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 at various angles.
As a result, water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed not only onto a portion of the inner surface of the gasket 23 facing the cleaning hole 544, but also onto portions of the inner surface of the gasket 23 adjacent to the area facing the cleaning hole 544.
In addition, because of the cleaning slit 545, water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may clean both sides of the inlet 22 and the drum entrance 35, and may evenly wet the laundry accommodated in the drum body 31.
The cleaning slit 545 may be formed such that a height or a width thereof decreases as it approaches the cleaning hole 544 from the surface of the guide body 541. As a result, water introduced from the cleaning hole 544 into the cleaning slit 545 may be sprayed while spreading widely and evenly.
A bottom surface of the cleaning slit 545 may be disposed to be inclined such that a height decreases from the cleaning hole 544 to the surface of the guide body 541.
Therefore, water sprayed from the cleaning slit 545 may not be completely introduced into the drum 30, but may be more reliably distributed to the gasket 23, the door rear portion 230, the inlet 22, and the drum entrance 35. As a result, bubbles and foreign substances may be removed from all of the gasket 23, the door rear portion 230, the inlet 22, and the drum entrance 35.
In one example, the cleaning slit 545 may be formed separately from the main spray hole 542. The main spray hole 542 may be spaced apart from the cleaning slit 545 to prevent water sprayed from the main spray hole 542 from being distributed to the cleaning slit 545. Therefore, the flow rate and the pressure of water supplied from the main spray hole 542 to the rear portion of the drum 30 may be secured.
The cleaning hole 544 may include a first cleaning hole 5441 that extends through one side of the guide body 541 and is formed on one side of the main spray hole, and a second cleaning hole 5442 that extends through the other side of the guide body 541 and is formed on the other side of the main spray hole.
The first cleaning hole 5441 and the second cleaning hole 5442 may be formed to spread within an angle range of 90 degrees and 180 degrees. As a result, the nozzle 500 may evenly clean both side surfaces of the installed gasket 23.
The cleaning slit 545 may include a first cleaning slit 5451 that extends through one side of the guide body 541 and is disposed on one side of the main spray hole, and a second cleaning slit 5452 that extends through the other side of the guide body 541 and is disposed on the other side of the main spray hole.
The cleaning slit 545 may include a first cleaning slit 5441 that extends from the first cleaning hole 5441 to the surface of the guide body 541, and a second cleaning slit 5442 that extends from the second cleaning hole 5442 to the surface of the guide body 541.
Angles of the first cleaning slit 5441 and the second cleaning slit 5442 may be different from each other, and cross-sectional areas thereof may also be different from each other.
Therefore, when the sprayer 500 is installed to be biased to one side from an upper end of the gasket 23, a flow rate and an area size of water sprayed from the first cleaning slit 5441 and the second cleaning slit 5442 may be adjusted to be as uniform as possible. In addition, even when the sprayer 500 is installed at the upper end of the gasket 23, a spray direction of water may be adjusted such that water is not sprayed into the air inflow hole 233.
The cleaning slit 545 may be formed on both sides of the main spray hole 542 to be recessed to the blocking rib 550. Accordingly, water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed more intensively behind the blocking rib 550.
As a result, the sprayer 500 may spray water more intensively toward a rear area than the front surface of the gasket 23. In other words, a clean flow rate may be secured more intensively at an area where there is a high probability that bubbles or foreign substances will adhere on the gasket 23 and the rear surface 230 of the door.
In one example, the auxiliary spray hole 543 may have a width greater than that of the main spray hole 542. In addition, because the auxiliary spray hole 543 is formed above the main spray hole 542, water sprayed from the auxiliary spray hole 543 may spread more widely downward.
Therefore, the auxiliary spray hole 543 may spray water to the lower portion of the drum 30 with a wider area.
In one example, the auxiliary spray hole 543 may further include a partition rib 5431 that partitions the interior of the auxiliary spray hole 543.
The partition rib 5431 may be disposed inside the auxiliary spray hole 543 to branch sprayed water into various directions or to evenly spray water from the auxiliary spray hole 543.
The partition rib 5431 may include a plurality of partition ribs arranged at a predetermined distance apart from each other along the width of the auxiliary spray hole 543.
The partition rib 5431 may be disposed such that a width from one side of the auxiliary spray hole 543 to the partition rib 5431 is greater than a width between the partition ribs 5431.
As a result, water supplied from the auxiliary spray hole 543 may be supplied more to both sides of the auxiliary spray hole 543 than to a center of the auxiliary spray hole 543.
Accordingly, a larger amount of water than that sprayed from the main spray hole 542 may be sprayed onto both sides of the lower portion of drum 30 to ensure that the laundry disposed at the lower portion of the drum 30 is evenly wetted.
Specifically, (a) in
Referring to
In addition, the sprayer 500 may spray water supplied from the inflow pipe 510 to an entirety of an area from both sides to a rear portion.
However, the sprayer 500 may not spray water forward.
The sprayer 500 may be disposed between the front surface of the gasket 23 and the rear surface of the gasket 23 on top of the gasket 23.
For example, the sprayer 500 may be positioned closer to the front surface of the gasket 23.
In addition, the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 and the rear surface of the gasket 23 are more likely to be densely covered with bubbles or foreign substances than the front surface of the gasket 23.
In addition, the spray nozzle 540 of the sprayer 500 receives water via the single inflow pipe 510, but sprays water via a plurality of exhaust portions such as the main spray hole 542, the auxiliary spray hole 543, and the cleaning hole 544.
Therefore, spraying water to the front surface of the gasket 23 may unnecessarily reduce an amount and a flow rate of water sprayed via the main spray hole 542, the auxiliary spray hole 543, and the cleaning hole 544.
In addition, because it is difficult for bubbles or foreign substances to reach the front surface of the gasket 23 because of the rear surface 230 of the door, it may not be necessary to spray water.
In summary, the sprayer 500 of the present disclosure may be equipped to intensively spray water only toward the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 and the rear surface of the gasket 23, not toward the front surface of the gasket 23, such that cleaning water sprayed from the main spray hole 542, the auxiliary spray hole 543, and the cleaning hole 544 may secure a water pressure and a flow rate that may guarantee the cleaning power.
Water A sprayed from the auxiliary spray hole 543 may be sprayed toward the rear portion of the drum.
Water B sprayed from the main spray hole 542 may be sprayed toward the rear portion of the drum, but because the main spray hole 542 is formed to be inclined downwardly of the auxiliary spray hole 543, the main spray hole 542 may spray water to an area closer to the entrance 35 when compared with the auxiliary spray hole 543.
In addition, water B sprayed from the main spray hole 542 may be dispersed in both rear-lateral directions by the dispersion rib 5431. As a result, some of water sprayed from the main spray hole 542 may be sprayed not only in a width direction of the lower portion of the drum 30, but also to the gasket 23 and the rear portion 230 of the door.
Water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed in both lateral directions. Therefore, water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may clean the gasket 23.
In addition, a portion of water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed in a fan shape in an area extending from the both sides C to the rear portion A by the cleaning slit 545.
That is, because water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 is sprayed to the entire area extending from both side surfaces to the rear portion by the cleaning slit 545, an amount and a pressure per unit area size of water discharged radially may be smaller than an amount and a pressure of water entering the cleaning hole 544 from the inflow pipe 510.
That is, because water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 is dispersed over a 180-degree area from one side to the rear portion and the other side, water may not be able to be sprayed far, but may be sprayed only to an adjacent area and fall downward.
As a result, water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be supplied intensively to an area near the spray nozzle 540.
Nevertheless, water sprayed in the 180-degree area via the cleaning hole 544 may have sufficient cleaning power to remove bubbles or foreign substances adhering to the gasket 23 and the rear portion 230 of the door.
Accordingly, water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may clean not only the gasket 23 but also the rear surface 230 of the door.
In addition, at least some of water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed toward the front surface of the gasket 23. However, a portion of water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544, which flows toward the front surface or in both lateral directions, may be blocked by or come into contact with the blocking rib 550 and fall downwards by gravity while flowing along an extension direction of the blocking rib 550.
When a portion of water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544, which is blocked by the blocking rib 550 and falls downwards, falls with gravity acceleration, the same effect as water being sprayed downwards from the installation plate 530 may be achieved.
As a result, a portion of water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544, which comes into contact with the blocking rib 550, may clean the rear surface 230 of the door while reaching the rear surface 230 located under the installation plate 530. That is, water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may clean an entire area of the rear surface 230 while going down from an upper portion to a lower portion of the rear surface 230.
As a result, water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be intensively sprayed onto the gasket 23 and the door 200, and may evenly clean an upper portion to a lower portion of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 and the upper portion to the lower portion of the rear surface 230 of the door.
The sprayer 500 may be coupled to the upper portion of the gasket 23 and may be disposed between the front surface and the rear surface of the gasket 23.
The sprayer 500 may be coupled at a location closer to the front surface than to the rear surface of the gasket 23.
Water A sprayed via the auxiliary spray hole 543 may be sprayed rearwards. That is, a portion, which is sprayed from the auxiliary spray hole 543, of water sprayed from the 1 spray nozzle 540 may be sprayed farthest.
Water B sprayed via the main spray hole 542 may be sprayed toward a rear-lower portion. Therefore, the main spray hole 542 may spray water to an area closer to the drum entrance 35 compared to the auxiliary spray hole 543.
In addition, water B sprayed from the main spray hole 542 may collide with the dispersion rib 5431 disposed below and be dispersed left and right. Therefore, while being sprayed toward the rear-lower portion, water may also be sprayed to both side surfaces.
Water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed toward the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 or both side surfaces of the spray nozzle 540. Therefore, the cleaning hole 544 may allow the cleaning to be performed starting from both side surfaces of the spray nozzle 540.
In this regard, a portion of water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be sprayed rearwards and toward the rear-lower portion by the cleaning slit 545, but may not escape the vicinity of the gasket 23 because of small water amount and low water pressure. Therefore, water C sprayed from the cleaning slit 545 may be supplied intensively to the rear portion 230 of the door, the inlet 22, or the drum entrance 25.
Referring to (a) in
Referring to (b) in
In addition, at least a portion of water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may be inserted into the air inflow hole 233 to clean bubbles or foreign substances that may have penetrated into the air inflow hole 233.
In one example, the gasket 23 may further include a protrusion 244 that guides water C sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 to flow along the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23. The protrusion 244 may be formed in a shape in which water may be reflected to the lower portion of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 when water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 collides therewith.
The protrusion 244 may be disposed at a location facing the air inflow hole 233.
Water sprayed from the cleaning hole 544 may completely clean the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23, and wash away all bubbles or foreign substances E attached to the gasket 23 toward the lower portion of the gasket 23 or toward water contained in the tub 20.
(a) in
Referring to (a) in
That is, the sprayer 500 may include the inflow pipe 510, the steam pipe 520, the installation plate 530, the spray nozzle 540, and the blocking rib 550.
The spray nozzle 540 may include the guide body 541, the main spray hole 542, the auxiliary spray hole 543, the cleaning hole 544, and the cleaning slit 545.
Referring to (b) in
As described above, when water introduced from the inflow pipe 510 is discharged to the additional cleaning hole 546, flow rates of water sprayed to the main spray hole 542, the auxiliary spray hole 543, the cleaning hole 544, and the cleaning slit 545 may be reduced. In addition, the front surface of the gasket 23 may not require the cleaning because it is difficult for foreign substances or bubbles to adhere thereto.
However, when the cleaning of the front surface of the gasket 23 is required depending on shapes, sizes, and the like of the gasket 23 and the door rear surface 230, the sprayer 500 may further include the additional cleaning hole 546.
The additional cleaning hole 546 may extend through a front portion of the guide body 541, so that water supplied from the inflow pipe 510 may be sprayed toward the front portion of the gasket 23.
The additional cleaning hole 546 may have any configuration and shape as long as it is able to spray water toward the front portion of the gasket 23 from the sprayer 500. That is, the additional cleaning hole 546 may be formed so as to extend through the guide body 541 from the front portion to the rear portion, or may be formed so as to be recessed in both sides of the guide body 541 like the cleaning slit 545.
For example, the additional cleaning hole 546 may be formed so as not to be in communication with the main spray hole 542 or the auxiliary spray hole 543. As such, water discharged via the main spray hole 542 or the auxiliary spray hole 543 may be prevented from flowing out to the additional cleaning hole 546.
To this end, the additional cleaning hole 546 may be formed behind the main spray hole 542 or the auxiliary spray hole 543 to be spaced apart therefrom in at least one of both lateral directions.
Water sprayed from the additional cleaning hole 546 may be sprayed to the front portion of the gasket 23 or the rear surface 230 of the door. Therefore, for water to be supplied to an entirety of a front inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 and the rear surface 230 of the door, the additional cleaning hole 546 may be formed behind the main spray hole 542 or the auxiliary spray hole 543 on each of both sides thereof.
As a result, water may be sprayed as evenly as possible in both front-lateral directions from the sprayer 500, and bubbles or foreign substances that may be attached to the front surface of the gasket 23, an uppermost end of the rear surface 230 of the door 200, and the like may be cleaned.
The additional cleaning hole 546 may be formed to extend through the guide body 541 on each of both sides of the main spray hole 542 or the auxiliary spray hole 543 in the guide body 541. A separation rib 5461 disposed in front of the main spray hole 542 or the auxiliary spray hole 543 may be included between the plurality of additional cleaning holes 546.
The additional cleaning hole 546 may be formed in front of the blocking rib 550 and at the rear of the cleaning slit 545. That is, the additional cleaning hole 546 may be formed symmetrically with the cleaning slit 545 with respect to the blocking rib 550.
(a) in
Referring to (a) in
As the flow rates or the pressures of the water A, B, and C sprayed from the main spray hole 542, the auxiliary spray hole 543, and the cleaning hole 544 are reduced, a flow rate and a pressure of water D sprayed from the additional cleaning hole 546 may be increased.
Water D sprayed from the additional cleaning hole 546 may be sprayed forward from the sprayer 500.
The water D sprayed from the additional cleaning hole 546 may be sprayed in both lateral directions of the separation rib 5461. Portions of the gasket 23 and the rear surface 230 of the door facing the separation rib 5461 are likely to correspond to an uppermost end of the gasket 23 and an uppermost end of the rear surface 230 of the door, and may have a very low probability of foreign substances or bubbles being attached.
Therefore, the water sprayed from the additional cleaning hole 546 may be sprayed to portions except for the uppermost end of the gasket 23 and the uppermost end of the rear surface 230 of the door by the separation rib 5461. Therefore, water may be sprayed to portions of the front surface of the gasket 23 and the rear surface 230 of the door where the probability of bubbles or foreign substances being attached is higher.
Referring to (b) in
Therefore, the rear surface 230 of the door may be cleaned more reliably.
Because the water D sprayed from the additional cleaning hole is intensively sprayed onto the front surface of the gasket located in front of the sprayer 500, the effect of cleaning the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 may not be great.
However, because the water D sprayed from the additional cleaning hole unconditionally collides with the rear surface 230 of the door, the rear surface 230 of the door may be cleaned with a greater flow rate.
In one example, the directions A, B, and C of water sprayed from the main spray hole 542, the auxiliary spray hole 543, and the cleaning hole 544 in the sprayer 500 of the additional embodiment may be the same as those when the additional cleaning hole 546 is not formed, but the flow rates thereof may be smaller than those when the additional cleaning hole 546 is not formed.
Therefore, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, when there is a need for cleaning the rear surface 230 of the door or when the cleaning of the front surface of the gasket 23 is important, the sprayer 500 may include the additional cleaning hole 546. However, in the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, when the wetting of the laundry accommodated in the drum 30 and the cleaning of the inner circumferential surface of the gasket 23 are important, the additional cleaning hole 546 of the sprayer 500 may be omitted. As described above, even when the additional cleaning hole 546 of the sprayer 500 is omitted, the rear surface 230 of the door may be cleaned.
The present disclosure may be modified and implemented in various forms, so that the scope of rights thereof is not limited to the above-described embodiments. Therefore, when the modified embodiment includes elements of the claims of the present disclosure, it should be considered to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2023-0129270 | Sep 2023 | KR | national |
