Patent Abstract:
A washing machine including a casing provided with an opening for introducing laundry into the washing machine; a tub supportably installed in the casing; a drum rotatably located in the tub; driving means for rotating the drum; and a door installed at the casing for opening and closing the opening of the casing, and provided with air suction ports for drawing external air into the drum. The washing machine dries a small quantity of the laundry without application of any additional drying pipe or heater.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This Nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) on patent application Ser. No(s). 10-2002-0078333 filed in KOREA on Dec. 10, 2002, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine, which sucks in external air in a dehydration mode so as to dry laundry. 
   2. Description of the Related Art 
   Generally, a drum-type washing machine is an apparatus for washing laundry, i.e., clothing, bedding, etc., in a drum so that contaminants such as dirt stuck to the laundry are eliminated through wash, rinse and dehydration modes using the action of a detergent and water. 
     FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional drum-type washing machine.  FIG. 2  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the conventional drum-type washing machine. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the conventional drum-type washing machine comprises a casing  2 , a tub  8  supported by a spring  6  and a damper  7  in the casing  2 , a motor  14  installed at the rear surface of the tub  8 , and a drum  20  rotatably installed in the tub  8  and connected to a rotary shaft  15  of the motor  14 . 
   Lifts  22  for lifting the laundry (m) and then dropping the laundry (m) are provided at an inner wall of the drum  20 , and a plurality of holes  24  for passing wash water therethrough are formed through the circumference of the drum  20 . 
   Openings  2   a ,  8   a  and  20   a , for putting the laundry into the washing machine therethrough, are respectively formed through front surfaces of the casing  2 , the tub  8  and the drum  20 , and a door  30  is attached to the front surface of the casing  2  so as to open and close the openings  2   a ,  8   a  and  20   a.    
   The door  30  includes a transparent window  32  for allowing a user to view the inside of the drum  20  therethrough, and a door frame  34  connected to the circumference of the transparent window  32 . One side of the door frame  34  is rotatably connected to the casing  2  adjacent to the opening  2   a.    
   A feed unit  42 , for feeding wash water or a detergent required to wash the laundry, is installed on the upper surface of the tub  8 . A drain pipe  44 , for connecting the inside of the tub  8  to the outside of the tub  8 , is connected to the lower surface of the tub  8 , and a drain pump  46  is installed in the middle of the drain pipe  44 . 
   Here, reference numeral  48  represents a gasket arranged between the opening  8   a  of the tub  8  and the opening  2   a  of the casing  2 . 
   Hereinafter, operation of the above-described conventional drum-type washing machine will be described in detail. 
   First, after the laundry (m) is put into the drum  20 , the door  30  is closed into the casing  2 , and the washing machine is operated. Then, wash water and a detergent are supplied to the inside of the tub  8  from the feed unit  42  connected to the lower surface of the tub  8  so that the lower portion of the drum  20  is immersed in the wash water and the laundry within the drum  20  is wet by the wash water. 
   Thereafter, the motor  14  is driven so that the drum  20  is rotated. Then, the laundry contained in the drum  20  is lifted and dropped by the lifts  22 , thereby being cleaned by the action of the wash water and the detergent. 
   After the above-described wash mode is terminated, wastewater in the tub  8  is discharged to the outside through the drain pump  46  and the drain pipe  44 . 
   Thereafter, the washing machine is operated in a rinse mode several times in order to rinse the laundry for removing the residue of the detergent from the laundry. Here, clean water is supplied to the tub  8  through the feed unit  42 , and the motor  14  is driven so that the drum  20  is rotated. Then, the laundry contained in the drum  20  is lifted and dropped by the lifts  22 , thereby being rinsed. Wastewater containing the residue of the detergent is discharged to the outside through the drain pump  46  and the drain pipe  44 . 
   After several repetitions of the above-described rinse mode, the washing machine is operated in a dehydration mode for dehydrating the laundry. 
   That is, when the motor  14  rotates the drum  20  at a high speed, the laundry (m) contained in the drum  20  is centrifugally dehydrated, and then moisture exhausted from the laundry (m) is collected in the tub  8  through the holes  24  of the drum  20  and discharged to the outside through the drain pump  46  and the drain pipe  44 . 
   The above-described drum-type washing machine requires a separate dry pipe or heater, and a dry mode, in case that the laundry (m) in the drum  20  is dried after the wash, rinse and dehydration modes, thus causing an increase in cost and time taken to dry the laundry (m). 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a washing machine, into which external air is introduced in a dehydration mode so as to dry laundry therein, thereby simply drying a small quantity of the laundry without application of any additional drying pipe or heater. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a washing machine comprising: a casing provided with an opening for putting laundry into the washing machine therethrough; a tub supportably installed in the casing; a drum rotatably located in the tub; driving means for rotating the drum; and a door installed at the casing for opening and closing the opening of the casing, and provided with air suction ports for sucking external air into the drum therethrough. 
   Preferably, the door may be provided with a plurality of the air suction ports. 
   Further, preferably, heating means for heating sucked air may be respectively provided in the air suction ports. 
   Moreover, preferably, the door may include means for opening and closing the air suction ports. 
   More preferably, the means for opening and closing the air suction ports may include shielding plugs for respectively shielding the air suction ports. 
   Preferably, the means for opening and closing the air suction ports may include a driving plate rotatably installed at the front surface of the door and provided with holes corresponding to the air suction ports. 
   More preferably, the driving plate may be provided with hooks latched on the door. 
   Preferably, the means for opening and closing the air suction ports may include a driving plate rotatably installed at the front surface of the door and provided with holes corresponding to the air suction ports, and rotary means for rotating the driving plate. 
   More preferably, the rotary means may include a driving gear, for rotating the driving plate, provided with teeth engaged with gear teeth formed along an outer circumference of the driving plate, and a motor for rotating the driving gear. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a conventional drum-type washing machine; 
       FIG. 2  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the conventional drum-type washing machine; 
       FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of a drum-type washing machine in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a wash or rinse mode in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a dehydration mode in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of a drum-type washing machine in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 7  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a wash or rinse mode in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 8  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a dehydration mode in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 9  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a drum-type washing machine in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Now, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the annexed drawings. 
     FIGS. 3 to 5  illustrate a drum-type washing machine in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. More specifically,  FIG. 3  is an exploded perspective view of the drum-type washing machine,  FIG. 4  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a wash or rinse mode, and  FIG. 5  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a dehydration mode. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a casing  52  provided with an opening  51  for putting the laundry into the washing machine therethrough, a tub  60  supportably installed in the casing  52 , a drum  70  rotatably arranged in the tub  60 , a motor  80  for rotating the drum  70 , and a door  90  installed at the casing  52  so as to open and close the opening  51  of the casing  52 , and provided with air suction ports  92  for sucking in external air (A). 
   The tub  60  is suspensibly supported to the casing  52  by a spring  62  and a damper  63 , and provided with an opening  61  at a front surface thereof in the rear of the opening  51  of the casing  52  for putting the laundry into the tub  60  therethrough. 
   Further, feed hoses  65 , a feed valve  66 , a detergent box  67  and a connection hose  68  are installed above the upper surface of the tub  60 , thereby forming a route for feeding wash water or a detergent. 
   That is, one end of each of the feed hoses  65  is connected to a water service pipe, and the other end of each of the feed hoses  65  is connected to the detergent box  67  so that the wash water is supplied to the drum-type washing machine. The feed valve  66  is installed at the feed hoses  65 , thereby intermittently controlling the water supply. The detergent box  67  stores a detergent, and the wash water supplied from the feed hoses  65 . One end of the connection hose  68  is connected to the detergent box  67 , and the other end of the connection hose  68  is connected to the tub  60  so that the detergent or water discharged from the detergent box  67  is introduced into the tub  60 . 
   The drum  70  has a cylindrical shape, and is provided with an opening  71  at a front surface thereof in the rear of the opening  51  of the casing  52 , a plurality of holes  74  formed through the circumference of the drum  70  for passing wash water therethrough, and lifts  76  for lifting and dropping the laundry in the drum  70 . 
   The motor  80  is installed at the rear surface of the tub  60 , and a rotary shaft of the motor  80  passes through the rear surface of the tub  60  and is connected to a rotary axis of the drum  70 . 
   The door  90  includes a transparent window  94  for allowing a user to view the inside of the drum  70  therethrough, and a door frame  96  connected to the circumference of the transparent window  94 . One side of the door frame  96  is connected to a hinge  52   b  fixed to a designated area of the casing  52  adjacent to the opening  51 . 
   Preferably, a plurality of the air suction ports  92  are formed through the door  90 . Although the air suction ports  92  may be formed through the transparent window  94  of the door  90 , it is preferable that the air suction ports  92  are formed through the door frame  96  of the door  90 . 
   The door  90  is provided with a means for opening and closing the air suction ports  92 . The above means for opening and closing the air suction ports  92  includes shielding plugs  100  for respectively shielding the air suction ports  92 . 
   Preferably, the shielding plugs  100  are made of an elastic material such as rubber, etc. Each of the shielding plugs  100  has a size larger than or the same as that of each of the air suction ports  92 , and is provided with hooks  102  extending upward and downward or toward right and left from both sides of the shielding plug  100  so that the hooks  102  are inserted into the air suction port  92 . 
   The above-described drum-type washing machine provided with the air suction ports  92  further comprises a heating means  110  for improving the drying efficiency by means of air (A) sucked into the drum  70  through the air suction ports  92  of the door  90 . Preferably, the heating means  110  are respectively located in the air suction ports  92  of the door  90 . 
   Preferably, each of the heating means  10  includes a heating unit for generating heat by power supplied thereto in a dehydration mode of the washing machine, and a waterproof housing surrounding the circumference of the heating unit, being heated by the heating unit, and serving to prevent the heating unit from being short-circuited by water. 
   A drain/exhaust means is connected to the lower portion of the tub  60  so that water or air (A) in the tub  60  is drained or exhausted to the outside through the drain/exhaust means. 
   The drain/exhaust means includes a drain/exhaust hose  122  connected to the lower surface of the tub  60  for discharging wastewater to the outside, and a drain/exhaust pump  126  connected to the drain/exhaust hose  122 . 
   Here, reference numeral  128  represents a gasket arranged between the opening  61  of the tub  60  and the opening  51  of the casing  52 . 
   Hereinafter, operation of the above-described drum-type washing machine in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. 
   First, after laundry (m) is put into the drum  70 , the air suction ports  92  of the door  90  are closed by the shielding plugs  100 , the door  90  is closed into the casing  52 , and the washing machine is operated. Then, wash water and a detergent are supplied to the inside of the tub  60  so that the lower portion of the drum  70  is immersed in the wash water containing the detergent and the laundry within the drum  70  is wetted by the wash water containing the detergent. 
   Thereafter, the motor  80  is driven so that the drum  70  is rotated. Then, the laundry (m) contained in the drum  70  is lifted and then dropped by the lifts  76 , thereby being cleaned by the action of the wash water and the detergent. 
   Here, the wash water containing the detergent is splashed to the inner circumference of the gasket  128  or the inner surface of the door  90 . However, since the air suction ports  92  of the door  90  are closed by the shielding plugs  100 , the outflow of the wash water containing the detergent is prevented. 
   After the above-described operation of the drum-type washing machine in a wash mode is terminated, wastewater in the tub  60  is discharged to the outside through the drain/exhaust hose  122  and the drain/exhaust pump  126 . 
   Thereafter, the drum-type washing machine is operated in a rinse mode several times in order to rinse the laundry (m) so that the residue of the detergent is eliminated from the laundry (m). That is, clean water is supplied to the tub  60 , and the motor  80  is driven so that the drum  70  is rotated. Then, the laundry (m) contained in the drum  70  is lifted and dropped by the lift  76 , thereby being rinsed. Wastewater containing the residue of the detergent is discharged to the outside through the drain/exhaust hose  122  and drain/exhaust pump  126 . 
   The same as the wash mode, the wastewater containing the detergent is splashed to the inner circumference of the gasket  128  or the inner surface of the door  90  in the rinse mode. However, since the air suction ports  92  of the door  90  are closed by the shielding plugs  100 , the outflow of the wastewater containing the detergent is prevented. 
   After several repetitions of the above-described rinse mode, the washing machine is operated in a dehydration mode for dehydrating the laundry (m). 
   That is, when the motor  80  rotates the drum  70  at a high speed, the laundry (m) contained in the drum  70  is centrifugally dehydrated, and then moisture exhausted from the laundry (m) is collected in the tub  60  through the holes  74  of the drum  70  and discharged to the outside through the drain/exhaust hose  122  and the drain/exhaust pump  126 . 
   In case that the shielding plugs  100  are respectively separated from the air suction ports  92  prior to or during the dehydration mode, external air (A) is sucked into the drum-type washing machine through the opened air suction ports  92 , and the sucked air contacts the laundry (m) through the inside of the gasket  128  and the openings  61  and  71  of the tub  60  and the drum  70 , thereby assisting the laundry (m) to be dried. 
   Further, the heating means  110  are operated in the dehydration mode, thereby heating and drying the air sucked into the drum-type washing machine through the air suction ports  92 . Then, the heated and dried air promotes the laundry (m) to be dried. 
   The air, which contacts the laundry (m) so as to assist the drying of the laundry (m), is exhausted toward the tub  60  through the holes  74  of the drum  70 , and then exhausted to the outside through the drain/exhaust hose  122  and the drain/exhaust pump  126 . 
     FIGS. 6 to 8  illustrate a drum-type washing machine in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. More specifically,  FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the drum-type washing machine,  FIG. 7  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a wash or rinse mode, and  FIG. 8  is a longitudinal-sectional view of the drum-type washing machine in a dehydration mode. 
   Since the drum-type washing machine, as shown in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , in accordance with the second embodiment comprises the same elements as those of the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the first embodiment except for the means for opening and closing the air suction ports  92  of the door  90 , the above same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed descriptions thereof are omitted because they are considered to be unnecessary. 
   The drum-type washing machine in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention comprises a driving plate  150  rotatably installed at the front surface of the door  90  and serving as a means for opening and closing the air suction ports  92  of the door  90 . The driving plate  150  is provided with holes  152  corresponding to the air suction ports  92  of the door  90 . 
   Preferably, the driving plate  150  is designed such that each of the holes  152  has the same size of that of each of the air suction ports  92 , and rotatably fixed on the door frame  96  of the door  90 . 
   That is, the driving plate  150  is provided with a plurality of hooks  154  protruded from the rear surface of the driving plate  150  and latched on the circumference of the door frame  96 . Accordingly, since the driving plate  150  is located in front of the door frame  96  so that the hooks  154  of the driving plate  150  are latched on the circumference of the door frame  96  of the door  90 , the driving plate  150  can be rotatably installed at the front surface of the door frame  96  without separation. 
   Further, the driving plate  150  can be rotated by the manipulation of a user prior to or during a dehydration mode. Here, it is preferable that the driving plate  150  has a hand grip  158  in a concave or convex shape so that the user easily catches the hand grip  158  in order to rotate the driving plate  150 . 
   In the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention, the driving plate  150  is rotated under the condition that the driving plate  150  is installed at the door  90 , thus opening or closing the air suction ports  92  of the door  90 . 
   Other operations of the drum-type washing machine of the second embodiment are the same as those of the drum-type washing machine of the first embodiment, and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted. 
     FIG. 9  is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a drum-type washing machine in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
   The drum-type washing machine in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention further comprises a rotary means  200  for automatically rotating the driving plate  150  in addition to the elements of the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
   The rotary means  200  includes a driving gear  202  provided with teeth engaged with gear teeth formed along the outer circumference of the driving plate  150  so that the driving plate  150  is rotated at a designated angle, and a motor  204  for rotating the driving gear  202  so that the holes  152  of the driving plate  150  correspond to the air suction ports  92  of the door  90  in a dehydration mode, but do not correspond to the air suction ports  92  of the door  90  in other modes rather than the dehydration mode. 
   In the drum-type washing machine in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention, the driving plate  150  in the dehydration mode is automatically rotated so that the holes  152  of the driving plate  150  correspond to the air suction ports  92  of the door  90 , thereby allowing external air (A) to be sucked into the drum  70  and the sucked air to dry the laundry (m) in the drum  70 . 
   As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a washing machine comprising air suction ports formed at a door, which sucks in external air in a dehydration mode, thereby assisting laundry to be dried and improving drying efficiency. 
   Since a large quantity of external air is sucked into the washing machine through a plurality of the air suction ports formed at the door, the washing machine of the present invention rapidly dries the laundry. 
   The washing machine of the present invention further comprises a means for opening and closing the air suction ports of the door, thus preventing wash water containing a detergent from flowing out in a wash or rinse mode. 
   The means for opening and closing the air suction ports includes shielding plugs for shielding the air suction ports made of an elastic material and provided with hooks inserted into the air suction ports, thereby rapidly and simply opening and closing the air suction ports of the door. 
   Otherwise, the means for opening and closing the air suction ports includes a driving plate rotatably installed at a front surface of the door and provided with holes corresponding to the air suction ports, and the driving plate is rotated, thereby rapidly and simply opening and closing the air suction ports of the door. 
   The driving plate is provided with a hand grip at one side thereof, thereby being conveniently manipulated by a user. 
   The washing machine of the present invention rotates the driving plate using a rotary force generated from a motor in order to open and close the air suction ports, thereby automatically opening and closing the air suction ports of the door. 
   The washing machine of the present invention comprises a drain/exhaust means connected to a tub so that water or air in the tub is drained or exhausted to the outside therethrough, thereby easily sucking in and exhausting air. 
   The washing machine of the present invention comprises a heating means respectively installed in the air suction ports, thereby improving laundry-drying efficiency. 
   Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 3