Drawer-type washing machine and process of washing laundry using the same

Abstract

A drawer-type washing machine and process of washing laundry using the washing machine is disclosed. The washing machine has a housing opened at its front to form a cavity. A cabinet, opened at its top, is received in the cavity of the housing such that the cabinet is movable forward or backward relative to the housing. A washing tub unit, consisting of an outer tub and an inner tub, is set within the cabinet. This washing tub unit contains washing water therein, and carries out both a washing operation and a spin-drying operation for laundry contained therein. A drive unit is installed at a position under the outer tub of the washing tub unit, and rotates the inner tub of the washing tub unit. A suspension unit supports the washing tub unit within the cabinet while performing a damping function of attenuating operational vibrations of the washing tub unit. A sliding unit is provided at a movable junction of the housing and the cabinet for allowing a linear sliding movement of the cabinet relative to the housing. In the washing machine, the cabinet is designed to be drawn forward and pushed backward, thus allowing a user to easily put laundry into or take laundry out of the washing tub unit. The washing machine of this invention is also easily installed on a desired area without being critically limited by the vertical space above the top of the washing machine.