Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine includes a cabinet constituting the external appearance of the washing machine, a tub mounted in the cabinet for receiving wash water, a drum rotatably mounted in the tub for receiving laundry to be washed, a circulation unit for circulating wash water in the inner lower part of the tub through the upper part of the tub, and at least one circulation nozzle for spraying the wash water, supplied by the circulation unit, inwardly of the drum along a rotation axis of the drum in a longitudinal direction of the drum. According to the present invention, it is possible to improve washing or rinsing efficiency of the washing machine.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a cabinet;   a tub provided in the cabinet for accommodating wash water therein;   a drum rotatably provided in the tub for rotation about a generally horizontal axis and for accommodating laundry to be washed;   a circulation unit for circulating wash water located in the inner lower part of the tub; and   at least one circulation nozzle for spraying the wash water supplied by the circulation unit into the drum along the inside of the drum between a front portion of the drum and a rear portion of the drum.   
   
   
       2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circulation nozzle is configured to spray the wash water from the front portion of the drum to the rear portion of the drum. 
   
   
       3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one circulation nozzle is directly mounted at the tub. 
   
   
       4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one circulation nozzle is mounted adjacent to an opening of the tub at an upper part of the tub. 
   
   
       5 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one circulation nozzle protrudes inwardly of the drum such that the at least one circulation nozzle prevents the laundry from being stuck between the tub and the drum. 
   
   
       6 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a steam generator for generating steam to be supplied into the drum; and   a steam nozzle for spraying the steam supplied from the steam generator into the drum.   
   
   
       7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , wherein the steam nozzle is directly mounted to an upper portion of the tub adjacent to an opening of the tub. 
   
   
       8 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising a water outlet for supplying the wash water into the drum in a direction different from the circulation nozzle. 
   
   
       9 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the circulation nozzle and the water outlet are directly mounted to the tub. 
   
   
       10 . The washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the circulation nozzle and the water outlet are mounted adjacent to an opening of the tub such that the circulation nozzle and the water outlet are located symmetrical to each other from the middle of the upper part of the tub. 
   
   
       11 . The washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the circulation nozzle is directed toward a center of the drum, and the water outlet is directed toward an entrance of the drum. 
   
   
       12 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , wherein the water pressure of the wash water supplied to the circulation nozzle is higher than that of the wash water supplied to the water outlet. 
   
   
       13 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water outlet for supplying the wash water into the drum in a direction different from the circulation nozzle;   a steam generator for generating steam to be supplied into the drum; and   a steam outlet for supplying the steam into the drum.   
   
   
       14 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the water outlet comprises a spray nozzle configured to spray the wash water into the drum. 
   
   
       15 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the steam outlet comprises a spray nozzle configured to spray the steam into the drum. 
   
   
       16 . The washing machine according to  claim 13 , wherein the circulation nozzle, the water outlet, and the steam outlet are directly mounted to the tub at an upper part of the tub adjacent to an opening of the tub. 
   
   
       17 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a water outlet for supplying the wash water into the drum in a direction different from the circulation nozzle;   a steam generator for generating steam to be supplied into the drum; and   a steam outlet for supplying the steam into the drum, the steam outlet being formed as one body with one of the circulation nozzle and the water outlet.   
   
   
       18 . The washing machine according to  claim 17 , wherein the circulation nozzle, the water outlet, and the steam outlet are directly mounted to the tub at an upper part of the tub adjacent to an opening of the tub.