Detergent feeding device and washing machine having the same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing machine including a body, a tub disposed within the body to retain water, a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub, a detergent feeding device to supply detergent and water to the tub. The detergent feeding device includes a detergent housing installed in the body, a detergent case installed in the detergent housing to store liquid detergent, and a detergent introduction module to introduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergent case into the detergent housing. As the detergent introduction module is installed on the outer surface of the detergent case, placement of electrical components inside the detergent case is avoided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a body;   a tub disposed within the body to retain water;   a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub;   a detergent feeding device to supply detergent and water to the tub; and   a control unit to control the detergent feeding device,   wherein the detergent feeding device comprises a detergent housing installed in the body, a detergent case installed in the detergent housing to store liquid detergent, and a detergent introduction module installed on an outer surface of the detergent case to communicate with an inside of the detergent case and adapted to introduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergent case into the detergent housing according to a command transferred from the control unit.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent introduction module is detachably installed on the outer surface of the detergent case. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent introduction module comprises at least one detergent pump to pump the liquid detergent in the detergent case to discharge the liquid detergent into the detergent housing. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the detergent pump comprises a first gear formed in an annular shape and provided with teeth on an inner circumferential surface thereof, a second gear formed to have an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the first gear and provided with teeth on an outer circumferential surface thereof to engage with the teeth provided on the inner circumferential surface of the first gear, and a detergent pump motor to generate rotary power to rotate the second gear. 
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the detergent introduction module comprises a housing provided with a channel connected to the detergent case to guide discharge of the liquid detergent,
 wherein the detergent introduction module housing comprises a chamber allowing the first gear and the second gear to be rotatably installed therein, an inflow guide channel to communicate with the detergent case to guide the liquid detergent to the chamber, a discharge guide channel to guide discharge of the liquid detergent to an upper side in the chamber, and a discharge guide pipe connected to an upper end of the discharge guide channel to discharge the liquid detergent downward.   
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the detergent case is installed in the detergent housing to be movable forward and backward; and   the detergent introduction module is installed at a rear surface of the detergent case.   
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 6 , further comprising a first connector provided at a rear side of the detergent introduction module, and a second connector provided at an inner rear side of the detergent housing to be selectively connected to the first connector depending on a position of the detergent case. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the detergent case comprises a main detergent storage part to store main detergent in a liquid state and a sub-detergent storage part to store sub-detergent in liquid state; and   the at least one detergent pump comprises a main detergent pump to pump out the main detergent stored in the main detergent storage part, and a sub-detergent pump to pump out the sub-detergent stored in the sub-detergent storage.   
     
     
         9 . A detergent feeding device comprising:
 a detergent housing;   a detergent case installed in the detergent housing to store liquid detergent; and   a detergent introduction module installed on an outer surface of the detergent case to communicate with an inside of the detergent case to introduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergent case into the detergent housing.   
     
     
         10 . The detergent feeding device according to  claim 9 , wherein the detergent introduction module is detachably installed on the outer surface of the detergent case. 
     
     
         11 . The detergent feeding device according to  claim 9 , wherein the detergent introduction module comprises at least one detergent pump to pump out the liquid detergent in the detergent case to discharge the liquid detergent into the detergent housing. 
     
     
         12 . The detergent feeding device according to  claim 11 , wherein the detergent pump comprises a first gear formed in an annular shape and provided with teeth on an inner circumferential surface thereof, a second gear formed to have an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the first gear and provided with teeth on an outer circumferential surface thereof to engage with the teeth provided on the inner circumferential surface of the first gear, and a detergent pump motor to generate rotary power to rotate the second gear. 
     
     
         13 . The detergent feeding device according to  claim 12 , wherein the detergent introduction module comprises a detergent introduction module housing provided with a channel connected to the detergent case to guide discharge of the liquid detergent,
 wherein the detergent introduction module housing comprises a chamber allowing the first gear and the second gear to be rotatably installed therein, an inflow guide channel to communicate with the detergent case to guide the liquid detergent to the chamber, a discharge guide channel to guide discharge of the liquid detergent to an upper side in the chamber, and a discharge guide pipe connected to an upper end of the discharge guide channel to discharge the liquid detergent downward.   
     
     
         14 . The detergent feeding device according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the detergent case is installed in the detergent housing to be movable forward and backward; and   the detergent introduction module is installed at a rear surface of the detergent case.   
     
     
         15 . The detergent feeding device according to  claim 14 , further comprising a first connector provided at a rear side of the detergent introduction module, and a second connector provided at an inner rear side of the detergent housing to be selectively connected to the first connector depending on a position of the detergent case. 
     
     
         16 . The detergent feeding device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 the detergent case comprises a main detergent storage part to store main detergent in a liquid state and a sub-detergent storage part to store sub-detergent in a liquid state; and   the at least one detergent pump comprises a main detergent pump to pump the main detergent stored in the main detergent storage part, and a sub-detergent pump to pump the sub-detergent stored in the sub-detergent storage.   
     
     
         17 . A washing machine comprising:
 a body;   a tub disposed within the body to retain water;   a spin basket rotatably installed in the tub;   a detergent feeding device to supply detergent and water to the tub; and   a control unit to control the detergent feeding that allows for a user to set how much liquid detergent is supplied to tub;   wherein the detergent feeding device comprises;
 a detergent housing; 
 a detergent case installed in the detergent housing to store liquid detergent; and 
 a detachable detergent introduction module comprising at least one pump is installed on an outer surface of the detergent case to communicate with an inside of the detergent case to introduce the liquid detergent stored in the detergent case into the detergent housing.