Washing machine and liquid additive supply device for the same

• US 10,161,077 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2016
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation (Dayou Holdings Co.,Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Dongbu Daewoo Electronics Corporation (Dayou Holdings Co.,Ltd.)
• Inventors: Lee, Jong Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): Perrin, Joseph L.
• Application Number:
  US15/287,541
• Publication Number:
  US 20170233933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/00 Parameters monitored or detected for the control of domestic laundry washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/18 Washing liquid level
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/58 Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/14 Arrangements for detecting or measuring specific parameters
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 37/02 Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/088 Liquid supply arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/10 Filtering arrangements

Abstract

A washing machine with a liquid additive supply device capable of sensing an amount of liquid additive contained therein. A buoyancy body and a sensing unit are disposed in a reservoir tank of the liquid additive supply device. The vertical position and therefore the distance between the buoyancy body and a sensing unit vary with the surface level of liquid additive in the reservoir tank due to buoyancy effect. The buoyancy body may include a magnetic body and the sensing unit can detect the intensity of the magnetic body. The surface level of the liquid additive is too low, the sensing unit can generate a signal indicative of liquid additive shortage.

Claims

1. A liquid additive supply device for a washing machine, comprising:

a reservoir tank;

a buoyancy body disposed inside the reservoir tank, wherein the buoyancy body is operable to move in accordance with a surface level of a liquid additive contained in the reservoir tank; and

a sensor unit disposed inside the reservoir tank,

wherein the buoyancy body comprises;

a buoy portion on which the buoyancy force is exerted, the buoy portion comprising a magnetic body disposed therein; and

a lever arm coupled to the reservoir tank through a hinge,

wherein the hinge is installed on a bottom surface of the reservoir tank and the buoy portion is operable to pivot with the lever arm,

wherein one end of the lever arm is connected to the buoy portion and the other end of the lever arm is configured to contact the bottom surface of the reservoir tank, and

wherein the sensor unit is configured to sense a magnetic field of the magnetic body to sense approach of the buoyancy body thereto in a non-contact manner.

2. The liquid additive supply device of claim 1, wherein the buoyancy body is installed in a lower portion of the reservoir tank, and wherein a distance between the buoyancy body and the sensor unit varies with the surface level of the liquid additive.

3. The liquid additive supply device of claim 2, wherein the sensor unit is disposed at one side of the reservoir tank in a position facing the buoyancy body.

4. The liquid additive supply device of claim 1 further comprising:

a control unit configured to receive a signal from the sensor unit and to determine a shortage of the liquid additive based on the signal; and

a display unit configured to receive a control signal from the control unit and to generate an indication about the shortage of the liquid additive.

5. The liquid additive supply device of claim 4, wherein the display unit comprises at least one of an alarm and a flickering monitor.

6. The liquid additive supply device of claim 1, wherein the buoy portion further comprises:

an air chamber enclosed in the buoy portion and filled with air,

wherein the magnetic body is disposed in a position facing the sensor unit and configured to generate a magnetic field.

7. The liquid additive supply device of claim 1, wherein the liquid additive is detergent or fabric softener.

8. A washing machine comprising:

a drum configured to contain a washing object; and

a liquid additive supply device configured to supply a liquid additive to the drum and said liquid additive supply device comprising;

a reservoir tank configured to contain the liquid additive; and

a buoyancy body disposed in the reservoir tank, wherein a vertical position of the buoyancy body varies with a varying surface level of the liquid additive in the reservoir tank,

wherein the buoyancy body comprises;

a buoy portion on which a buoyancy force is exerted, the buoy portion comprising a magnetic body disposed therein; and

a lever arm coupled to the reservoir tank through a hinge,

wherein the hinge is installed on a bottom surface of the reservoir tank and the buoy portion is operable to pivot with the lever arm,

wherein one end of the lever arm is connected to the buoy portion and the other end of the lever arm is configured to contact the bottom surface of the reservoir tank, and

wherein the liquid additive supply device further comprises a sensor unit disposed inside the reservoir tank and the sensor unit is configured to sense a magnetic field of the magnetic body to sense approach of the buoyancy body thereto in a non-contact manner.

9. The washing machine of claim 8 further comprising a washing water supply unit configured to supply washing water into the drum, wherein a distance between the buoyancy body and the sensor unit varies in accordance with the surface level of the liquid additive in the reservoir tank.

10. The washing machine of claim 9, wherein the liquid additive is detergent or fabric softener.

11. The washing machine of claim 8 further comprising:

a control unit configured to receive a signal from the sensor unit to determine a liquid additive shortage; and

a display unit configured to receive a control signal from the control unit and to generate a notification of the liquid additive shortage.

12. The washing machine of claim 11, wherein the display unit comprises at least one of an alarm and a flickering monitor.

13. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the buoy portion comprises an air chamber enclosed in the buoy portion and filled with air.

14. The washing machine of claim 8, wherein the reservoir tank comprises multiple compartments.

15. The washing machine of claim 8 further comprising a filter disposed inside the reservoir tank.