ADDITIVE INJECTING APPARATUS AND LAUNDRY TREATMENT MACHINE INCLUDING THE SAME

• US 20140060123A1
• Filed: 09/03/2013
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Minji, Ye, Sungmin, AHN, Hyukjin
• Granted Patent: US 9,347,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/5.C
• 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 39/40 Steam generating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/203 Laundry conditioning arrangements

Abstract

Provided are an additive injection apparatus and a laundry treatment machine including the same. The additive injection apparatus includes a main body, and additive container, a nozzle, and a floater. The main body is disposed on a path along which a solvent flows and includes an inlet and an outlet for receiving and discharging the solvent, respectively. The additive container holds an additive. The nozzle has a communicating hole for communicating between the main body and the additive container. The floater is disposed in the main body, and rises and falls according to the flow of the solvent to open and close the communicating hole.

Claims

1. An additive injection apparatus for a laundry treating machine, comprising:

a main body disposed on a path along which a solvent flows and comprising an inlet and an outlet for receiving and discharging the solvent, respectively;

an additive container disposed underneath the main body, for holding an additive;

a communicating element for communicating between the main body and the additive container; and

a floater disposed in the main body, for rising and falling according to the flow of the solvent to open and close the communicating element.

2. The additive injection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the floater has a specific gravity larger than the solvent.

3. The additive injection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communicating element comprises a nozzle, and wherein the nozzle comprises a communication hole and an inclination toward the communicating hole such that the floater is urged toward to the communicating hole.

4. The additive injection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the floater has a spherical shape, and the communicating hole is non-circular to reduce a contact area with the floater.

5. The additive injection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the communicating hole has a non-contact section with the floater such that the additive container is in communication with the main body.

6. The additive injection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the nozzle comprises a further inclination that converges upward to the communicating hole.

7. The additive injection apparatus of claim 3, wherein the communicating hole is formed in plurality.

8. The additive injection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the additive has a specific gravity larger than the solvent.

9. The additive injection apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet is arranged lower than the outlet.

10. A laundry treatment machine comprising:

a spray apparatus for spraying a solvent into a drum; and

the additive injection apparatus according to any of preceding claims.

11. The laundry treatment machine of claim 10, wherein the spray apparatus comprises:

a flow passage forming unit comprising an inlet for receiving the solvent passing the additive injection apparatus, an outlet for discharging the solvent, and a flow passage for guiding the solvent from the inlet to the outlet;

a steam generating heater configured for applying heat to the solvent moving along the flow passage to form stream; and

a nozzle arranged on the outlet to spray the generated steam.