The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a filtering member for filtering the washing water.

In washing machines, the laundry is loaded into a drum disposed in a washing tub supplied with detergent-water mixture and is washed in the drum which is rotated. During the washing process, fibers separated from the laundry subjected to both mechanical and chemical effects are discharged, together with the water discharged at the end of the washing process, to the waste water line whereto the washing machine is connected. Each washing process causes approximately 1 milligrams of fibers to enter the waste water line together with the discharged water. It is determined that more than half of microplastic accumulation in the nature is caused by waste waters originating from washing machines. Especially, taking into account the damage caused by synthetic fibers and particles in the nature, it is observed that waste waters originating from washing machines causes a critical environmental pollution. Therefore, the use of filtering members which filter the washing water is becoming widespread. The filtering members are preferably disposed in the detergent drawer housing so as to be easily accessed by the user. However, if the detergent swept with the water supplied into the detergent drawer reaches the filtering member, it causes the clogging of the filtering member, disrupts the flow by creating a barrier against the water coming from the filtering member and causes bad odors in the course of time.

In the state of the art Japanese Patent Application No. JP2018143524, a washing machine is disclosed, comprising a filter which is disposed into a housing arranged on the body.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washing machine wherein the detergent-water mixture is prevented from reaching the filtration unit.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a housing which is arranged on the body, which is connected to the tub by means of a delivery line and wherein a drawer having at least one partition suitable for loading detergent is placed; a first base section which is arranged on the housing base so as to be under the partition when the drawer is in the housing and on which a first outlet opening which opens into the delivery line and which receives the water coming from the partition is provided; and a second base section which is arranged on the housing base so as to be under the filtering member and on which a second outlet opening which receives the water coming from the filtering member is provided. Thus, the flow of the detergentwater mixture coming from the partition and the flow of the filtered water coming from the filtering member are separated so as to prevent detergent from accumulating on or around the filtering member.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first base section is configured to be at least partially inclined towards the first outlet opening so as to enable the water coming from the partition to flow towards the first outlet opening with the effect of gravity. Thus, the water coming from the partition is enabled to directly reach the first outlet opening without accumulating on the first base section, and is prevented from reaching the second base section.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the second base section is configured to be at least partially inclined towards the second outlet opening so as to enable the water coming from the filtering member to flow towards the second outlet opening with the effect of gravity. Thus, the water coming from the filtering member is enabled to directly reach the second outlet opening without accumulating on the second base section, and is prevented from reaching the first base section.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the second base section is in the form of a depression so as to form a recess on the housing. The first base section and the second base section are separated from each other so as to create a difference of level therebetween. Thus, the distance between the filtering member and the second base section is increased, preventing the detergent-water mixture from reaching the filtering member.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a vertical wall is provided between the first base section and the second base section, and the second outlet opening is arranged on the vertical wall. Thus, the connection of the line to the second outlet opening is facilitated.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the second outlet opening is connected to the delivery line by means of an intermediate line. The intermediate line enables the filtered water taken from the second outlet opening to be delivered to the delivery line by bypassing the first base section. Thus, the water supplied to both the partition and the filtering member is completely cleansed of detergent and then delivered back to the tub.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate line is oval. By means of the form which is narrow in the vertical direction and widens towards the sides, the intermediate line is configured to be wide enough for the water coming from the second outlet opening to flow without difficulty, and a safe distance is left between the moving tub and the intermediate line.

By means of the present invention, by regulating the flows of the filtered water and the detergent-water mixture in the housing, the accumulation of detergent on the housing is decreased, and the detergent is prevented from reaching the filtering member.

The washing machine realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the washing machine related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 - is the exploded view of the housing, the drawer, the dispenser and the filtering member related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 - is the top view of the first base section and the second base section of the housing related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 4 - is the sideways cross-sectional view of the housing, the drawer, the dispenser and the filtering member related to another embodiment of the present invention. The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washing machine

2. Body

3. Tub

4. Delivery line

5. Housing

6. Dispenser

7. Partition

8. Drawer

9. Supply line

10. Filtering member

11. First outlet opening

12. First base section

13. Second outlet opening

14. Second base section

15. Vertical wall

16. Intermediate line

17. Supply line inlet

The washing machine (1) comprises a body (2); a drum (3) wherein the washing process is performed; a housing (5) which is provided in the body (2) and which opens into the tub (3) by means of a delivery line (4); and a drawer (8) which is disposed into the housing (5) and which has at least one partition (7) suitable for loading cleaning agents therein, supplied with water by means of a dispenser (6); and a filtering member (10) which is disposed into the housing (5) and which filters the water supplied thereon by means of a supply line (9). The dispenser (6) provided on the housing (5) delivers water into the partition (7) and thus, the detergent in the partition (7) is swept with water so as to flow onto a first base section (12) of the housing (5) remaining under the partition (7). The detergent-water mixture flows over the first base section (12) and reaches the delivery line (4) through a first outlet opening (11) and then is delivered into the tub (3) through the delivery line (4). A supply line inlet (17) on the housing (5) is connected to the supply line (9) and enables the water coming from the supply line (9) to be supplied to the filtering member (10). The filtering member (10) has at least one filter (not shown in the figures) which filters fibers and particles in the water. The filter is preferably a mesh filter which filters the fibers and particles in the water coming from the supply line (9). The filter is preferably is a microfilter suitable for filtering micro particles.

The washing machine (1) of the present invention comprises the first base section (12) which remains under the partition (7) and on which the first outlet opening (11) which opens into the delivery line (4) and which receives the water coming from the partition (7) is provided; and a second base section (14) remains under the filtering member (10) and on which a second outlet opening (13) which receives the water coming from the filtering member (10) is provided. The filtering member (10) is positioned in the housing (5) so as to be behind the drawer (8). The water supplied to the filtering member (10) by means of the supply line (9) is filtered and then flows onto the second base section (14) remaining under the filtering member (10). By means of the second outlet opening (13) on the second base section (14), the filtered water reaches an intermediate line (16) connected to the second outlet opening (13). The first base section (12) and the second base section (14) enable the flow of the water coming from the partition (7) and the flow of the water coming from the filtering member (10) to be separated. Thus, almost the entire detergent-water mixture is directed towards the delivery line (4) through the first outlet opening (11) and the detergent is prevented from accumulating in the vicinity of the filtering member (10), in other words on the second base section (14).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the first base section (12) is configured to be vertically inclined so as to enable the water coming from the partition (7) to flow towards the first outlet opening (11) with the effect of gravity. The first base section (12) has a vertically inclined form, and the first outlet opening (11) is arranged at the lowest part of the first base section (12). The water flowing from the partition (7) onto the first base section (12) flows downwards to reach the first outlet opening (11). The inclined form of the first base section (11) enables the water coming from the partition (7) to be directed to the first outlet opening (11) so as to regulate the flow thereof, and thus the accumulation of detergent in the housing (5) is decreased.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the second base section (14) is configured to be vertically inclined so as to enable the water coming from the filtering member (10) to flow towards the second outlet opening (13) with the effect of gravity. The second base section (14) has a vertically inclined form, and the second outlet opening

(13) is arranged at the lowest part of the second base section (14). The water flowing from the filtering member (10) onto the second base section (14) flows downwards to reach the second outlet opening (13). The inclined form of the second base section (14) enables the water coming from the filtering member (10) to be directed to the second outlet opening (13) so as to regulate the flow thereof, and thus, even if the detergent reaches the second base section (14), it is swept with the water coming from the filtering member (10).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the second base section (14) is in the form of a recess on the housing (5) so as to be positioned at a level at least partially lower than the first base section (12). The second base section (14) is positioned behind the first base section (12). The lower part of the second base section (14) whereon the second outlet opening (13) is arranged is lower than the upper part of the first base section (12) adjacent to the second base section (14). Thus, a recess is formed under the filtering member (10), and the water coming from the filtering member (10) is prevented from reaching the first base section (12). This embodiment is advantageous in case the amount of water coming from the filtering member is high, and the water coming from the filtering member (10) is prevented from reaching the first base section (12) and mixing with the detergent residues and/or the detergent- water mixture on the first base section (12). In another embodiment of the present invention, a vertical wall (15) extends between the first base section (12) and the second base section (14), and the second outlet opening (13) is arranged on the vertical wall (15). The second outlet opening (13) is provided on the vertical wall (15) extending from the second base section (14) towards the first base section (12). A gap remains at the lower side of the housing (5) due to the difference of level between the rear side of the first base section (12) adjacent to the second base section (14) and the front side of the second base section (14). By positioning the second outlet opening (13) on the vertical wall (15) provided at the front side of the second base section (14), the intermediate line (16) connected to the second outlet opening (13) is disposed in said gap. This embodiment is advantageous in that the distance between the tub (3) and the housing (5) is short. Thus, the connection of the intermediate line (6) is outside the movement area of the tub (3).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the washing machine (1) comprises an intermediate line (16) one end of which is connected to the second outlet opening (13) and the other end to the delivery line (4). The intermediate line (16) enables the water coming from the filtering member (10) to be delivered to the delivery line (4) without passing over the first base section (12). Thus, the water coming from the filtering member (10) is delivered to the tub (3) by means of the delivery line (4) without mixing with the detergent in the housing (5). Consequently, the used water coming from the filtering member (10) is enabled to return to the tub (3) and is prevented from mixing with water and causing residues at the first base section (12), thereby ensuring hygiene.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the intermediate line (16) has an elliptical cross-section. The intermediate lien (16), which has an oval form such that the width in the vertical plane is smaller than the width in the horizontal plane, extends towards the delivery line (4) under the first base section (12). Thus, the long radius of the delivery line (4) can be wide enough in the horizontal plane so as to ease the flow of water while the short radius thereof in the vertical plane can be small enough to be outside the movement area of the tub (3). By means of the present invention, the water coming from the filtering member (10) is prevented from causing dirt in the housing (5) while the detergent-water mixture is prevented from mixing with the used water coming from the filtering member (10) and causing accumulation. The flows of the filtered water and the detergent-water mixture in the housing (5) are almost completely separated from each other, ensuring hygiene.