KR-102961650-B1 - Detergent remaining amount detection device for washing machine

Abstract

The present invention relates to a detergent residue detection device for a washing machine that detects the remaining amount of liquid detergent filled in a detergent tank and provides information regarding the number of washes that can be used thereafter. The device for detecting the remaining amount of detergent in a washing machine comprises a pair of electrode detection means installed in a detergent tank to be impregnated with liquid detergent, and a control unit that supplies current to the pair of electrode detection means and extracts the remaining amount of liquid detergent by utilizing a change in electrical characteristics measured between the pair of electrode detection means according to the liquid detergent level and provides it to a display unit. At least one of the pair of electrode detection means is composed of a resistance electrode rod, wherein the resistance electrode rod is composed of an electrode rod of a single material having a predetermined resistance, or is composed of an electrode rod of a composite material having a predetermined resistance by mixing an insulating material and a conductive material.

Inventors

• 김윤찬

Dates

Publication Date

20260507

Application Date

20230607

Claims (5)

1. As a device for detecting the remaining amount of detergent in a washing machine, A pair of electrode sensing means installed in a detergent tank to be impregnated with liquid detergent; and A control unit that supplies current to a pair of electrode sensing means and extracts the remaining amount of liquid detergent using a change in electrical characteristics measured between the electrode sensing means and provides it to a display unit; At least one of the pair of electrode sensing means is composed of a resistance electrode rod having a different resistance depending on the length exposed above the surface of the liquid detergent, and The above resistance electrode rod is composed of an electrode rod made of a single material having a predetermined resistance, or is composed of an electrode rod made of a composite material having a predetermined resistance by mixing an insulating material and a conductive material. A washing machine detergent residue detection device, wherein the control unit extracts the remaining amount of liquid detergent based on the measured value of electrical characteristics that appear differently between a pair of resistance electrode rods depending on the length of the resistance electrode rod exposed above the surface of the liquid detergent.
2. In claim 1, the control unit is, A washing machine detergent residue detection device capable of calculating and providing information on the number of subsequent washes based on the remaining amount of extracted liquid detergent to a display unit.
3. In claim 1, the resistance electrode rod, A washing machine detergent residue detection device composed of a material having an electrical resistance of 10Ω to 100MΩ.
4. In claim 1, the pair of electrode sensing means comprises, A washing machine detergent residue detection device, wherein the end portion is installed at the same height, spaced apart from the bottom surface of the detergent tank by a predetermined distance.
5. In claim 1, the pair of electrode sensing means comprises, A washing machine detergent residue detection device, wherein the end portions are installed at different heights spaced apart from the bottom surface of the detergent tank by a predetermined distance.

Description

Detergent remaining amount detection device for washing machine The present invention relates to a device for detecting the remaining amount of detergent in a washing machine, and more specifically, to a detergent remaining amount detection device for a washing machine that detects the remaining amount of liquid detergent filled in a detergent tank and provides information on the number of washes that can be used thereafter. Generally, a washing machine is a device that removes various contaminants attached to laundry by utilizing the emulsification action of detergent, friction of water flow resulting from the rotation of the washing drum, and the impact of the washing drum on the laundry. Such washing machines are broadly classified into pulsator washing machines, which wash using water flow generated by rotating a plate-shaped pulsator, and drum washing machines, which wash using the drop and friction of the laundry and the washing water supplied into the drum as the horizontal drum rotates. Recently, fully automatic washing machines are being released in which a series of processes including washing, rinsing, and spinning are performed automatically, eliminating the need for intermediate user operation. To this end, the washing machine is equipped with a detergent dispenser that automatically supplies an appropriate amount of detergent according to the amount of laundry, and when washing water is supplied to the tub, the detergent dispenser operates so that the detergent is supplied into the tub along with the washing water. Detergents used for laundry include solid powder detergents and liquid detergents, and the structure of the washing machine for supplying detergent varies slightly depending on the type of detergent used. Washing machines using liquid detergent have the advantage of greater flexibility in the installation location of the detergent dispenser compared to those using powder detergent. Specifically, because it is difficult to draw powder detergent upwards, the placement of the dispenser in powder detergent washing machines is limited to the upper part of the tub. However, since liquid detergent can be drawn upwards using devices capable of forcing fluid flow, such as pumps, the dispenser can be installed at the lower part of the tub. Therefore, washing machines using liquid detergent offer greater flexibility in component placement compared to those using powder detergent. Furthermore, since it is difficult to control the supply amount of powder detergent, users must manually dispense the appropriate amount of detergent according to the load of laundry during each wash cycle. In contrast, because the supply amount of liquid detergent can be easily controlled using a flow controller, washing machines using liquid detergent have the advantage of storing a large amount of detergent at once and automatically supplying a fixed amount into the tub during each wash cycle. On the other hand, while washing machines using liquid detergent offer the aforementioned advantages compared to those using powder detergent, they also present the inconvenience of requiring users to frequently check the remaining detergent level. This is because if the remaining liquid detergent is insufficient, the laundry may not be washed properly. To address these problems, Korean Published Patent No. 10-2011-0004748 (Patent Document 1) introduces a device and method for detecting the remaining amount of liquid detergent. The remaining amount detection device of Patent Document 1 is configured such that a pair of electrode rods are installed in a liquid detergent storage tank with their ends positioned differently, and the control unit determines a shortage state when the liquid detergent is not detected by either pair of electrode rods. In other words, the remaining amount detection device of Patent Document 1 has a limitation in that it can only detect the presence or absence of detergent, i.e., a shortage state where the liquid detergent level drops below a certain level, but it cannot detect the actual remaining amount, i.e., the current level of the liquid detergent remaining in the storage tank. Consequently, the user cannot know how many more washes can be performed using the remaining liquid detergent. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the main configuration of a detergent residue detection device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of detergent residue detection according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a drawing showing a modified example of a detergent residue detection device according to the present embodiment. The technical problems achieved by the present invention and its implementation will be clarified by the preferred embodiments described below. Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be examined in detail with reference to the attached drawings. It should be understood that the differences in the embodiments described below are not mutu