Abstract:
A detergent container of a washing machine in accordance with the present invention comprises a powdered detergent chamber to store powdered detergent, an outlet to discharge powdered detergent mixed with water in the powdered detergent chamber, a subsidiary detergent chamber to store bleach or fabric softner, a drain passage to guide powdered detergent mixed with water from the powdered detergent chamber to the outlet, and a bypass passage to allow powdered detergent mixed with water to bypass from the powdered detergent chamber to the drain passage. Even though an excessive volume of powdered detergent is placed in the powdered detergent chamber and the drain passage is clogged, powdered detergent mixed with water can be drained from the detergent container through the bypass passage, thus powdered detergent can be supplied to a tub of the washing machine without a hitch.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a detergent container of a washing machine, more particularly, which is capable of supplying powdered detergent mixed with water to a tub without suspending, by preventing a drain passage of the detergent container from clogging due to powdered detergent stored in the detergent container. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   A washing machine is to decontaminate dirt on clothes or bedding (hereinafter referred as “laundry”) contained in a drum. It cleans laundry through washing, rinsing, dehydrating and drying. 
     FIG. 1  shows a drum-type washing machine having a detergent container based on the prior art, and  FIG. 2  shows the detergent container which stores a large quantity of powdered detergent based on the prior art. 
   The conventional drum-type washing machine comprises a cabinet  2  which defines an outer appearance of the washing machine, a tub  4  mounted in the cabinet  2 , the drum  6  rotatably set in the tub  4  to wash laundry, a plurality of lifters  8  placed in an inner side of the drum  6 , which lifts up laundry to fall from predetermined height by gravity, and a motor (not shown) installed in a rear of the tub  4  to generate power (see  FIG. 1 ). 
   A front cover  10  is mounted on a front of the cabinet  2 , and a door  12  is set on the front cover  10 . 
   A top plate  14  is placed on a top of the cabinet  2 , and a control panel  11  to manipulate the washing machine is placed between the top plate  14  and the front cover  10 . A water supplier  20  and a detergent supply apparatus  30  are installed in a top side of the cabinet  2 . 
   The water supplier  20  includes a plurality of water supply valves  24  to control water supplied through an external hose  22 , a plurality of water supply hoses  26  to guide water through the water supply valve  24  to the detergent supply apparatus  30 , and a bellows tube  28  to guide water and detergent through the detergent supply apparatus  30  to the inside of the tub  4 . 
   The detergent supply apparatus  30  includes a housing  32  connected to the bellows tube  28 , the detergent container  40  inserted into the housing  32 , and a dispenser  34  installed in a top of the housing  32  and connected to the water supply hose  26  to supply water to the detergent container  40 . 
   After laundry is loaded in the drum  6  and detergent is accommodated in the detergent container  40 , water is supplied by the water supplier  20 . Detergent is mixed in water through the detergent supply apparatus  30 , and is supplied to the tub  4 . As soon as a predetermined quantity of water and detergent is filled in the tub  4 , the drum  6  is rotated to wash, rinse and dehydrate. 
   The conventional detergent container  40  comprises a powdered detergent chamber  42  which stores powdered detergent, a detergent chamber  46  having an outlet  44  to discharge detergent in the powdered detergent chamber  42  together with water, which is open at its rear, and a subsidiary detergent chamber  48  located in a side of the outlet  44  to store agents, e.g. bleach and fabric softner (see  FIG. 2 ). 
   The subsidiary detergent chamber  48  is parted from a bottom of the detergent chamber  46  by predetermined distance to provide a drain passage  49  of water and detergent between the powdered detergent chamber  42  and the outlet  44 . 
   When water is supplied to the powdered detergent chamber  42  from the dispenser  34 , powdered detergent with water passes the drain passage  49 , drains to the housing  32  through the outlet  44 , and then gets to the tub  4  through the bellow tube  28 . 
   In the conventional detergent container of the washing machine, as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , when excessive powdered detergent is put in the powdered detergent chamber  42 , even though water is supplied, the powdered detergent comes to clog an entrance of the drain passage  49 , thus water and detergent cannot drain from the detergent container  40 . 
   As the drain passage  49  gets clogged by detergent and water supply is continued, water mixed with detergent comes to flow over the detergent chamber  42 , and flows to the subsidiary detergent chamber  48 . Then, water flows backward to the dispenser  34 , while a lot of bubbles are arisen. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a detergent container which is capable of preventing a drain passage of the detergent container from clogging due to detergent, besides smoothly supplying water and detergent to a tub. 
   A detergent container of a washing machine with an aspect of the present invention to fulfill the foregoing needs comprises a powdered detergent chamber to store powdered detergent, an outlet to drain powdered detergent mixed with water contained in the powdered detergent chamber, a subsidiary detergent chamber to store bleach or fabric softner, a drain passage to guide powdered detergent mixed with water from the powdered detergent chamber to the outlet, and a bypass passage to make powdered detergent mixed with water detoured to the drain passage from the powdered detergent chamber. 
   The bypass passage is formed between the powdered detergent chamber and the subsidiary detergent chamber by a partition member, installed apart from the subsidiary detergent chamber at a regular interval toward the powdered detergent chamber. 
   The partition member is provided by a partition plate. 
   The partition plate is separated from a bottom of the detergent container by predetermined distance, and is vertically set in the detergent container. At least one end of the partition plate is fixed to one end of the detergent container. 
   A top of the partition plate is placed lower than that of the subsidiary detergent chamber and the detergent container. A bottom of the partition plate is placed lower than that of the subsidiary detergent chamber as well. 
   The powdered detergent chamber is partitioned into a main detergent storing section and a preliminary detergent storing section. The partition plate is installed in at least one, either between the main detergent storing section and the subsidiary detergent chamber or between the preliminary detergent storing section and the subsidiary detergent chamber. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which: 
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective view of a drum-type washing machine having a detergent supply apparatus, according to the prior art. 
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view of a detergent container which stores a large amount of powdered detergent, according to the prior art. 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the detergent supply apparatus having the detergent container, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 4  is a plane view of the detergent container, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view of the detergent container which stores a small amount of powdered detergent, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6  is a sectional view of the detergent container which stores a large amount of powdered detergent, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 7  is a sectional view of the detergent container having a bypass plate, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 8  is a sectional view of the detergent container having the bypass plate, according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     FIG. 3  shows a detergent supply apparatus having a detergent container, according to the embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  shows the detergent container, according to the embodiment of the present invention. And,  FIGS. 5 and 6  show the detergent container which stores a small/large amount of powdered detergent, according to the embodiment of the present invention. 
   As shown in  FIG. 3  or  5 , the detergent supply apparatus having the detergent container comprises a housing  50  installed in a front of a washing machine and connected to a bellows tube  28 , which is open at its front and top, the detergent container  60  inserted into the housing  50 , and a dispenser  70  mounted in a top of the housing  50  and connected to a water supply hose  26  to dispense water to the detergent container  60 . 
   An overflow  52  is configured in the housing  50 , where water and detergent from the detergent container  60  is discharged to the bellows tube  28 . 
   The detergent container  60  comprises a powdered detergent chamber  62  replenished with powdered detergent, a detergent chamber  66  having an outlet  64  which is open at its rear, a subsidiary detergent chamber  68  located a side of the outlet  64  to store bleach or fabric softner, and spaced apart from a bottom of the detergent chamber  66  to provide a drain passage  69  between the powdered detergent chamber  62  and the outlet  64 , and a bypass passage  80  located between the powdered detergent chamber  62  and the subsidiary detergent chamber  68 , not to clog the drain passage  69  by powdered detergent. 
   A front panel  67  having a handle  67   b  is mounted on a front of the detergent chamber  66 , which is open at its rear and top. A ventilation hole  67   c  is existed on a bottom of the front panel  67 , so as to inflow external air in the housing  50 . 
   A partition wall  66   f  is formed, dividing the powdered detergent chamber  62  to include a main detergent storing section  62   a  and a preliminary detergent storing section  62   b , which is separated from both sidewalls  66   d ,  66   e  of the detergent chamber  66  by predetermined distance. 
   The partition wall  66   f  also partitions the outlet  64  into a main detergent outlet  64   a  connected to the main detergent storing section  62   a , and a preliminary detergent outlet  64   b  connected to the preliminary detergent storing section  62   b.    
   The subsidiary detergent chamber  68  is partitioned into a bleach storing section  68   a  in a side of the main detergent outlet  64   a , and a fabric softner storing section  68   b  in a side of the preliminary detergent outlet  64   b.    
   The bleach storing section  68   a  has a siphon  90  protruded and a siphon cover  91  which provides a water drain passage with the siphon  90 . 
   The bleach storing section  68   a  is positioned in a rear and top of the main detergent storing section  62   a . Its bottom  68   c  is distant from a bottom  66   a  of the main detergent storing section  66   a , which is open at its top. 
   The siphon cover  91  is enough to cover a top surface of the bleach storing section  68   a , a hook for being connected to the bleach storing section  68   a  and a hole  92  for placing bleach are formed therein. 
   A bottom of the siphon cover  91  has a siphon tube  93  that bleach and water moves upward at an interval with the siphon  90 , apart from the siphon  90  by predetermined distance. 
   The fabric softner storing section  68   b  is situated a side of the bleach storing section  68   a . The fabric softner storing section  68   b , like the bleach storing section  68   a , has a siphon  96  protruded and a siphon cover  97  which provides a water drain passage with the siphon  96 . 
   A bottom of the siphon cover  97  has a siphon tube  99  that fabric softner and water moves upward at an interval with the siphon  96 , apart from the siphon  96  by predetermined distance. 
   The bypass passage  80  is placed between the subsidiary detergent chamber  68  and the powdered detergent chamber  66 , and is configured by a partition member vertically set, spaced apart from the subsidiary detergent chamber  68  toward the powdered detergent chamber  62  at a regular interval. 
   The partition member is provided by a partition plate  82  which includes a 1 st  plate  83  vertically mounted between the main detergent storing section  62   a  and the bleach storing section  68   a , and a 2 nd  plate  84  vertically mounted between the preliminary detergent storing section  62   b  and the fabric softner storing section  68   b.    
   A top  82   a  of the partition plate  82  is placed lower than a top  66   c  of the powdered detergent chamber  62  and a top of the subsidiary detergent chamber  68 . And, a bottom  82   b  of the partition plate  82  is separated from a bottom  66   a  of the detergent container by predetermined distance, so as to connect the powdered detergent chamber  62  and the drain passage  69 . The bottom  82   b  of the partition plate is placed lower than a bottom  68   c  of the subsidiary detergent chamber. It prevents that powdered detergent is excessively discharged through a space  86  between the bottom  82   b  of the partition plate  82  and the bottom  66   a  of the detergent container. A side of the partition plate  82  is fixed to the detergent container by being connected to the sides  66   d ,  66   e  of the detergent container and the partition wall  66   f , or is configured in a body of the detergent container. The partition plate  82 ′ including the 1 st  plate  83 ′ and the 2 nd  plate  84 ′, as shown in  FIG. 8 , may have an opening  86 ′ at a lower part of the plate smaller than the drain passage  69 , and a plurality of holes  86   a  at an upper part of the plate through which powdered detergent mixed with water flows to the bypass passage. 
   The dispenser  70  includes a front cover  72  and a bottom cover  78  having a main detergent water supply passage  73 , a preliminary detergent water supply passage  74 , a bleach water supply passage  75 , and a fabric softner water supply passage  76 . 
   A process with respect to the detergent container of the washing machine based on the embodiment of the present invention will be explained below. 
   Laundry is loaded in the drum  6 , powdered detergent is placed in the powdered detergent chamber  62  of the detergent container  60 , and washing operation is initiated by feeding water from a water supplier and detergent from the detergent container  60  to a tub  4 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 5 , when an adequate or a small amount of powdered detergent is received in the powdered detergent chamber  62  of the detergent container  60 , water supplied from the water supplier drops into an open top side of the powdered detergent chamber  62  through the dispenser  70 . Dropped water is mixed with powdered detergent, and flows in the outlet  64 , after passing through the space  86  between the partition plate  82  and the bottom  66   a  of the detergent container and subsequently the drain passage  69 , and then discharges to the housing  50 . 
   Water and powdered detergent discharged to the housing  50  is supplied to the tub  4  by flowing in the bellows tube  28  through the overflow  52 . 
   Referring to  FIG. 6 , when an excessive amount of powdered detergent is received in the powdered detergent chamber  62  of the detergent container  60 , water supplied from the water supplier drops into the open top side of the powdered detergent chamber  62  through the dispenser  70 . Dropped water mixed with powdered detergent is intended to flow in the drain passage  69  through the space  86 . 
   However, water and powdered detergent cannot pass through the space  86 , since the space  86  is clogged by powdered detergent fully filled therein. 
   As water is continuously supplied through the dispenser  70  to the powdered detergent chamber  62 , a water level of the powdered detergent chamber  62  becomes higher. When the water level exceeds height of the partition plate  82 , water mixed with powdered detergent falls through the bypass passage  80  beyond the top side  82   a  of the partition plate  82 . 
   Water and powdered detergent fallen through the bypass passage  80  flows in the outlet  64  through the drain passage  69 , and discharges to the housing  50 . Water and powdered detergent fallen through the bypass passage  80  washes out powdered detergent piled up the bottom side of the partition plate  82 , and moves to the outlet  64 . Water and powdered detergent is successfully discharged through the space  86 , after predetermined time. 
   Although excessive powdered detergent is accommodated in the powdered detergent chamber  62  of the detergent container  60 , the drain passage  69  is not clogged, and water and detergent is supplied to the tub  4  without any trouble. 
   While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims. 
   As describe above, the present invention provides a detergent container of a washing machine, even though powdered detergent is oversupplied, which prevents a drain passage from clogging and smoothly supplies water and powdered detergent to a tub at all times, resulting in improving the quality of the washing machine and enhancing the value of the washing machine.