Washing machine and clothing treatment apparatus
A washing machine includes a cabinet, a tub disposed within the cabinet, and a detergent supplier configured to supply detergent to the tub, wherein the detergent supplier includes a detergent container, and a detergent pump dockable with the detergent container, the detergent pump includes a first case including a detector having at least a portion located within the detergent container, an inlet portion formed to allow detergent to be introduced from the detergent container, and an outlet portion formed to allow the detergent introduced through the inlet portion to be discharged, a second case couplable to the first case, the second case including a terminal electrically connectable to the detector, and a pump configured to draw in detergent through the inlet portion and discharge the drawn-in detergent through the outlet portion.
1 . A washing machine, comprising:
a cabinet;
a tub disposed in the cabinet; and
a detergent supplier configured to supply detergent to the tub;
wherein the detergent supplier comprises:
a detergent container to store the detergent to be supplied, the detergent container including a detection hole; and
a detergent pump dockable with the detergent container, the detergent pump comprising:
a first case including:
a detector configured to detect an amount of the detergent in the detergent container;
a detector insertion portion configured to be inserted into the detection hole of the detergent container based on the detergent pump being docked with the detergent container, one end of the detector being configured to pass through the detector insertion portion and be located inside the detergent container;
an inlet portion configured to allow the detergent to be introduced from the detergent container therethrough; and
an outlet portion configured to allow the detergent introduced through the inlet portion to be discharged therethrough;
a second case coupled to the first case, the second case including a terminal electrically connectable to the detector; and
a pump configured to introduce the detergent from the detergent container through the inlet portion and discharge the introduced detergent through the outlet portion.
2 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the detergent pump includes a pump connector electrically connected to the terminal and mounted on the pump.
3 . The washing machine of claim 2 , wherein
the pump includes a pump motor configured to generate power to introduce the detergent through the inlet portion and discharge the introduced detergent through the outlet portion, and
the pump connector is electrically connected to the pump motor.
4 . The washing machine of claim 3 , wherein the detergent pump comprises:
a sensing wire disposed within the detergent pump to electrically connect the terminal and the pump connector, and
a pump wire disposed within the detergent pump to electrically connect the pump motor and the pump connector.
5 . The washing machine of claim 4 , wherein the detector insertion portion is a first detector insertion portion, and
wherein the terminal further comprises:
a second detector insertion portion located at one end of the terminal and into which the detector is inserted, and
a wire fixing portion located at an other end of the terminal opposite to one end of the terminal where the first detector insertion portion is located and fixing the sensing wire.
6 . The washing machine of claim 2 , wherein the detector is configured to detect the amount of detergent in the detergent container based on current being generated by the pump connector.
7 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein
the first case further includes a connection portion connecting the inlet portion and the outlet portion, and
the second case further includes a guide portion that, together with the connection portion, forms a connection passage that guides the detergent introduced through the inlet portion to the outlet portion.
8 . The washing machine of claim 7 , wherein the detergent pump includes a passage sealer configured to seal the connection passage formed between the connection portion and the guide portion.
9 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein
the detergent supplier includes a housing having an opening that allows the detergent container to be inserted and removed, and
the detergent pump is mounted on the housing.
10 . The washing machine of claim 9 , wherein the outlet portion is configured to discharge the detergent introduced through the inlet portion into the housing.
11 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein the terminal further includes at least one support protrusion protruding from an inner circumferential surface into which the detector is inserted, the at least one support protrusion to contact the inserted detector to conduct current to the inserted detector.
12 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein
the detergent pump includes a hole sealer disposed on an outer side of the detector, the hole sealer configured to seal the detection hole based on the detector insertion portion being inserted into the detection hole.
13 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein
the pump includes a pump motor and a pumping portion configured to perform a pumping motion while the pump motor is operating, and
the second case includes a pumping hole formed to communicate with the pumping portion.
14 . The washing machine of claim 1 , wherein
the second case further includes a terminal mounting portion on which the terminal is mounted, and
the terminal further includes a terminal support portion disposed inside of the terminal mounting portion to support the terminal.
15 . A clothing treating apparatus, comprising:
a tub; and
a detergent supplier configured to supply detergent to the tub;
wherein the detergent supplier comprises:
a detergent container to store the detergent to be supplied, the detergent container including a detection hole, and
a detergent pump dockable with the detergent container,
wherein the detergent pump comprises:
a first case including:
a detector to detect an amount of the detergent in the detergent container;
a detector insertion portion configured to be inserted into the detection hole of the detergent container based on the detergent pump being docked with the detergent container, one end of the detector being configured to pass through the first detector insertion portion and be located inside the detergent container; and
an inlet portion configured to allow the detergent to be introduced from the detergent container therethrough,
a second case coupled to the first case, the second case including a terminal electrically connectable to the detector,
a pump configured to introduce the detergent from the detergent container through the inlet portion; and
a pump connector configured to supply power to the terminal and the pump.