Accessory used for washing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11021824-B2
Application number	US-201716091349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2017
Priority date	Apr 8, 2016
Publication date	Jun 1, 2021
Grant date	Jun 1, 2021

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accessory used for a top-loading washing machine having: a cabinet for forming the outer appearance thereof; a drum rotatably provided in the cabinet, and of which the upper surface is opened so as to accommodate objects to be treated; and a laundry inlet provided at the upper surface of the cabinet, and washing machine accessory comprises: a body forming the exterior thereof and having a closed inner space; one or more ultrasonic wave generators provided inside the body; and a control unit formed so as to control the ultrasonic wave generator, wherein the body is formed in a shape in which a cross sectional area thereof is gradually reduced from the bottom toward the top thereof, such that the center of gravity of the body is located at the lower side thereof.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A washer accessory used for a washer of a top loading type including a cabinet, a drum rotatably installed within the cabinet, the drum having an open top side to receive a treatment target therein, and a laundry entrance provided to a top side of the cabinet, the washer accessory comprising:
a body forming an exterior by having a sealed internal space;
at least one ultrasonic generator provided inside the body;
a turbidity sensor configured to sense a turbidity of a washing or rinsing water received within the drum;
a third communication module configured to communicate with at least one of a first communication module provided to the washer or a second communication module provided to an external terminal; and
a control unit configured to control the at least one ultrasonic generator,
wherein the body is formed in a manner that a weight center of the body is located at a lower side,
wherein the at least one ultrasonic generator is provided to a lower part within the body, and
wherein data sensed by the turbidity sensor is transmitted to at least one of the first communication module or the second communication module through the third communication module.

2. The washer accessory of claim 1 , wherein the body is formed in a manner that a cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward a top side from a bottom side.

3. The washer accessory of claim 1 , wherein the turbidity sensor is disposed inside the body, wherein a sensing window is formed at a location corresponding to the turbidity sensor in the body, and wherein the sensing window is formed of a transparent material.

4. The washer accessory of claim 3 , wherein a weight of the body is determined so that at least one portion of the body is submerged in a washing or rinsing water at a height equal to or greater than a height of the turbidity sensor in the body.

5. The washer accessory of claim 4 , wherein the turbidity sensor is disposed above the at least one ultrasonic generator.

6. The washer accessory of claim 4 , wherein at least one weight for adjusting a total weight of the washer accessory is detachably provided inside of the body.

7. The washer accessory of claim 3 , wherein the turbidity sensor is located at a radial-direction center portion of the body, and wherein a pair of sensing windows are provided to oppose each other at a height corresponding to the turbidity sensor.

8. The washer accessory of claim 1 , wherein the data sensed by the turbidity sensor is transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module through the third communication module when a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle end.

9. The washer accessory of claim 8 , further comprising a memory storing information of an additional rinsing count corresponding to the turbidity of the washing or rinsing water in form of a table, wherein the information of the additional rinsing count corresponding to the data is transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module through the third communication module together with the data sensed by the turbidity sensor.

10. The washer accessory of claim 9 , wherein when the data sensed by the turbidity sensor and the information of the additional rinsing count are transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module, a stop signal for stopping the washer for a preset time is transmitted together.

11. The washer accessory of claim 9 , wherein the third communication module receives information of an additional rinsing count actually performed in the washer from one of the first communication module and the second communication module and wherein if the control unit determines that an additional rinsing count transmitted from the third communication module is different from the actually performed additional rinsing count, a turbidity of a rinsing water in a last rinsing cycle and information of an additional rinsing count corresponding to the turbidity are transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module through the third communication module.

12. The washer accessory of claim 11 , wherein the turbidity of the rinsing water in the last rinsing cycle and the information of the additional rinsing count corresponding to the turbidity are transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module, a stop signal for stopping the washer for a preset time is transmitted together.

13. The washer accessory of claim 1 , wherein the at least one ultrasonic generator comprises a plurality of ultrasonic generators that are disposed on a bottom side of the body along a circumferential direction of the body and that are spaced apart from each other with a preset spacing.

14. A washer accessory, comprising:
a body having a sealed internal space;
a plurality of ultrasonic generators provided inside the body;
a turbidity sensor configured to sense a turbidity of a washing or rinsing water received within a drum of a washer;
a third communication module configured to communicate with at least one of a first communication module provided to the washer or a second communication module provided to an external terminal; and
a control unit configured to control the ultrasonic generators,
wherein the body is formed in a manner that a cross-sectional area gradually decreases toward a top side from a bottom side,
wherein the body is formed in a manner that a weight center of the body is located at a lower side, and
wherein data sensed by the turbidity sensor is transmitted to at least one of the first communication module or the second communication module through the third communication module.

15. The washer accessory of claim 14 , wherein the data sensed by the turbidity sensor is transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module through the third communication module when a washing cycle and a rinsing cycle end.

16. The washer accessory of claim 15 , further comprising a memory storing information of an additional rinsing count corresponding to the turbidity of the washing or rinsing water in form of a table, wherein the information of the additional rinsing count corresponding to the data is transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module through the third communication module together with the data sensed by the turbidity sensor.

17. The washer accessory of claim 16 , wherein the third communication module receives information of an additional rinsing count actually performed in the washer from one of the first communication module and the second communication module and wherein if the control unit determines that an additional rinsing count transmitted from the third communication module is different from the actually performed additional rinsing count, a turbidity of a rinsing water in a last rinsing cycle and information of an additional rinsing count corresponding to the turbidity are transmitted to the at least one of the first communication module and the second communication module through the third communication module.

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc
• Univ Yonsei Iacf

Inventors

• Lee Chunbae
• Kang Younah
• Jun Soojin
• Lee Sangwon

Classifications

• D06F34/22

  Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity · CPC title

• D06F19/00 Primary

  Washing machines using vibrations for washing purposes · CPC title

• D06F7/04

  of the vibrator type · CPC title

• D06F2105/58

  Indications or alarms to the control system or to the user · CPC title

• D06F34/05

  for wireless communication between components, e.g. for remote monitoring or control · CPC title