Patent ID: 8302432

Claim:
A washing machine comprising: a main body; a water tub which is disposed in the main body; a drain line in which washing water drained from the water tub flows; a circulation line in which washing water returning to the water tub flows; a discharge line in which washing water discharged out of the main body flows; a pump which flows the washing water such that the washing water drained from the water tub returns to the water tub or is discharged out of the main body; a flow path switching device having a single reciprocating member which opens and closes the circulation line or the discharge line; and an operating unit which operates the flow path switching device, wherein the flow path switching device further includes a hollow pipe in which the reciprocating member is slidably disposed, the hollow pipe includes a suction port through which the washing water pressured by the pump is sucked, a first drain port connected to the circulation line, and a second drain port connected to the discharge line, wherein the first drain port is farther from the pump than the second drain port, and the reciprocating member is biased such that the reciprocating member closes the second drain port and opens the first drain port at a first position until the operating unit operates the flow path switching device, and closes the first drain port and opens the second drain port at a second position according to an operating state of the operating unit.