Liquid additive supply device for washing machine
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A liquid additive supply device for a washing machine, the liquid additive supply device comprising:
- a main body coupled to a detergent dispenser of the washing machine and configured to contain a liquid additive;
an accommodation part provided in the detergent dispenser;
a magnetic body coupled to the main body;
a mounting/demounting detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to detect a proximity of the magnetic body with respect to the mounting/demounting detection sensor and to generate a sensing signal accordingly;
a buoyancy body rotatably and hingedly coupled to a lower portion of the main body through a connecting arm and comprising a liquid additive residual amount detection magnetic body; and
a residual amount detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to sense proximity of the buoyancy body,wherein the main body comprises a nozzle configured to receive the liquid additive and discharge the liquid additive from the main body,wherein the nozzle is disposed at a rear portion of the main body and comprises a first end portion configured to be coupled to a suction pump and a second end portion adjacent to a bottom surface of the main body, the first end portion being disposed at an upper portion of the rear portion of the main body, and wherein the magnetic body is disposed at a front end portion of the bottom surface the main body.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A liquid additive supplying device in a washing machine. The liquid additive supplying device is removably accommodated in an accommodation part of the detergent dispenser system of the washing machine. A magnetic body and a magnetic sensor in the liquid additive supplying device interplay to detect the presence of the liquid additive supplying device within the accommodation part. The liquid additive supplying device includes another pair of magnetic body and magnetic sensor for detecting the amount of liquid additive contained therein.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A liquid additive supply device for a washing machine, the liquid additive supply device comprising:
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a main body coupled to a detergent dispenser of the washing machine and configured to contain a liquid additive; an accommodation part provided in the detergent dispenser; a magnetic body coupled to the main body; a mounting/demounting detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to detect a proximity of the magnetic body with respect to the mounting/demounting detection sensor and to generate a sensing signal accordingly; a buoyancy body rotatably and hingedly coupled to a lower portion of the main body through a connecting arm and comprising a liquid additive residual amount detection magnetic body; and a residual amount detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to sense proximity of the buoyancy body, wherein the main body comprises a nozzle configured to receive the liquid additive and discharge the liquid additive from the main body, wherein the nozzle is disposed at a rear portion of the main body and comprises a first end portion configured to be coupled to a suction pump and a second end portion adjacent to a bottom surface of the main body, the first end portion being disposed at an upper portion of the rear portion of the main body, and wherein the magnetic body is disposed at a front end portion of the bottom surface the main body. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A washing machine comprising:
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a detergent dispenser comprising an accommodation part and configured to dispense a liquid additive for washing laundry; a liquid additive supply device coupled to the detergent dispenser and comprising; a main body removably coupled to the detergent dispenser and configured to contain a liquid additive; a magnetic body coupled to the main body; a mounting/demounting detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to detect a presence of the main body within the accommodation part by sensing a magnetic field of the magnetic body; and a buoyancy body rotatably and hingedly coupled to a lower portion of the main body through a connecting arm and comprising a liquid additive residual amount detection magnetic body; and a residual amount detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to sense proximity of the buoyancy body, wherein the main body comprises a nozzle configured to receive the liquid additive and discharge the liquid additive from the main body, wherein the nozzle is disposed at a rear portion of the main body and comprises a first end portion configured to be coupled to a suction pump and a second end portion adjacent to a bottom surface of the main body, the first end portion being disposed at an upper portion of the rear portion of the main body, and wherein the magnetic body is disposed at a front end portion of the bottom surface the main body. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A washing machine comprising:
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a detergent dispenser comprising an accommodation part and configured to dispense a liquid additive for washing laundry; a liquid additive supply device coupled to the detergent dispenser and comprising; a main body removably coupled to the detergent dispenser and configured to contain a liquid additive; a magnetic body coupled to the main body; a mounting/demounting detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to detect a presence of the main body within the accommodation part by sensing a magnetic field of the magnetic body; and a buoyancy body rotatably and hingedly coupled to a lower portion of the main body through a connecting arm and comprising a liquid additive residual amount detection magnetic body; and a residual amount detection sensor coupled to the accommodation part and configured to sense proximity of the buoyancy body, wherein the main body comprises a nozzle configured to receive the liquid additive and discharge the liquid additive from the main body, wherein the nozzle is disposed at a rear portion of the main body and comprises an end portion configured to be coupled to a suction pump, the end portion being disposed at an upper portion of the rear portion of the main body, wherein the magnetic body is disposed at a front end portion of a bottom surface the main body, wherein the liquid additive supply device further comprises a filter configured to partition the main body into a first main body portion and a second main body portion, and wherein the nozzle is further disposed in a bottom portion of the second main body portion and configured to receive the liquid additive from the main body and to transport the liquid additive upward from a lower portion of the main body to an upper portion thereof.
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Specification