Detergent supply apparatus and washing machine

• US 20090288454A1
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Young Ho, Lee, Sang Hoon, Kim, Jae Hyun, Lee, Jong Min
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,781 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 68/17.R
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 39/022 in a liquid state D06F39/024 takes precedence

Abstract

A detergent supply apparatus comprising a storage space adjacent to a washing space in which washing is performed, a detergent bottle seat provided in the storage space and adapted to receive a detergent bottle containing a liquid detergent, a detergent reservoir in fluid communication with the detergent bottle, and a connecting part adapted to fix a portion of the detergent bottle to the detergent reservoir such that the liquid detergent can flow through the connecting part and into the detergent reservoir by gravitational force.

Claims

1. A detergent supply apparatus comprising:

a storage space adjacent to a washing space in which washing is performed;

a detergent bottle seat provided in the storage space and adapted to receive a detergent bottle containing a liquid detergent;

a detergent reservoir in fluid communication with the detergent bottle; and

a connecting part adapted to fix a portion of the detergent bottle to the detergent reservoir such that the liquid detergent can flow through the connecting part and into the detergent reservoir by gravitational force.

2. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, the detergent bottle seat comprising an upper surface and a lower surface,

wherein the upper surface is adapted to receive the detergent bottle;

and

wherein the detergent reservoir extends along at least a portion of the lower surface.

3. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detergent bottle seat extends between at least a length of each of the detergent bottle and the detergent reservoir,

4. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the detergent bottle seat is formed to fit a contour of a surface of the detergent bottle.

5. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the detergent bottle seat includes a detergent bottle fixing protrusion adapted to fix the detergent bottle to the detergent bottle seat.

6. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the detergent bottle seat is formed of an elastic member that is adapted to conform to a contour of a surface of the detergent bottle.

7. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the detergent bottle seat includes a detergent bottle support adapted to support the detergent bottle, and prevent lateral movement or axial rotation.

8. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the connecting part includes a fixing part that holds a detergent outlet of the detergent bottle in a fixed relation to the reservoir.

9. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fixing part opens a valve of the detergent bottle so that the liquid detergent is dispensed from the detergent bottle.

10. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting part includes a detergent inlet adapted to receive the liquid detergent flowing from the detergent bottle, and a sealing member that prevents liquid detergent flowing from the detergent bottle into the detergent inlet from escaping from the detergent inlet.

11. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting part includes:

a detergent inlet adapted to receive the liquid detergent flowing from the detergent bottle into the detergent reservoir; and

a check valve that prevents a back-flow of the liquid detergent from the detergent reservoir.

12. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detergent bottle seat and the connecting part are arranged on the inside of the storage space, and wherein the detergent bottle is seated on the detergent bottle seat inside the storage space.

13. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the detergent reservoir includes a sensor that senses a level of liquid detergent stored in the reservoir.

17. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the detergent bottle seat is formed of an elastic member that is adapted to conform to a contour of a surface of the detergent bottle.

18. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the detergent bottle seat includes a detergent bottle support adapted to support the detergent bottle, and prevent lateral movement or axial rotation.

19. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein

the connecting part includes a fixing part that holds a detergent outlet of the detergent bottle in a fixed relation to the reservoir.

20. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 8, wherein the fixing part opens a valve of the detergent bottle so that the liquid detergent is dispensed from the detergent bottle.

21. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting part includes a detergent inlet adapted to receive the liquid detergent flowing from the detergent bottle, and a sealing member that prevents liquid detergent flowing from the detergent bottle into the detergent inlet from escaping from the detergent inlet.

22. The detergent supply apparatus of claim 1, wherein the connecting part includes:

a detergent inlet adapted to receive the liquid detergent flowing from the detergent bottle into the detergent reservoir; and

a check valve that prevents a back-flow of the liquid detergent from the detergent reservoir.

24. The washing machine of claim 12, wherein the detergent reservoir includes a sensor that senses a level of liquid detergent stored in the reservoir.

14. A washing machine comprising:

a washing tub adapted to wash laundry;

a storage drawer provided under the washing tub;

a detergent bottle seat provided in the storage drawer and adapted to receive a detergent bottle containing a liquid detergent;

a detergent tube to transport liquid detergent to the washing tub; and

a connecting part adapted to receive a portion of the detergent bottle such that the liquid detergent can flow through the connecting part and into the detergent tube.

15. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the detergent bottle seat is formed to fit a contour of a surface of the detergent bottle.

16. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the detergent bottle seat includes a detergent bottle fixing protrusion adapted to fix the detergent bottle to the detergent bottle seat.

23. The washing machine of claim 14, wherein the detergent bottle seat and the connecting part are arranged inside of the storage drawer, wherein the detergent bottle is seated on the detergent bottle seat inside the storage drawer.

25. A method for automatically supplying a liquid detergent to a washing machine comprising:

automatically determining a size of a load in a tub;

sensing if a level of liquid received in a liquid reservoir, from a liquid storage bottle fixed in fluid communication to the liquid reservoir, is sufficient for washing the load of the determined size;

activating a detergent pump to draw a predetermined amount of liquid detergent from the liquid reservoir; and

supplying the liquid detergent to the tub to be used during a washing cycle.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

mixing the liquid detergent with water in a mixing part prior to supplying the liquid detergent to the tub.