Detergent pourer sterilizer and sterilizing method thereby

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a detergent pourer sterilizer. In one aspect, a detergent pourer sterilizer is provided to include a housing including a hollow portion having an open side; a detergent pourer configured to be detachably attached to the housing; a cover member configured to open or close the one open side of the hollow portion; and at least one UV LED configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the hollow portion.

1 . A detergent pourer including:
 a housing including a hollow portion having an open side;   a detergent pourer configured to be detachably attached to the housing;   a cover member configured to open or close the open side of the hollow portion; and   a nozzle installed on the housing positioned to spray high-pressure water toward the detergent pourer.   
     
     
         2 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 19 , wherein the UV LED is installed on at least one of inner surfaces of the housing to emit ultraviolet light toward the detergent pourer. 
     
     
         3 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 19 , wherein the UV LED is installed on an inner surface of the cover member to emit ultraviolet light toward the detergent pourer. 
     
     
         4 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 3 , further comprising: a power supply disposed near the housing to supply power to the UV LED,
 wherein electrical contacts are installed at parts of the cover member and the housing, the parts not contacting each other when the cover member opens the hollow portion and contacting each other when the cover member closes the hollow portion,   wherein the contact of the cover member is connected to the UV LED, and the contact of the housing is connected to the power supply,   wherein the contacts of the cover member and the housing are electrically connected to each other to supply power to the UV LED only when the cover member closes the hollow portion.   
     
     
         5 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 4 , wherein the UV LED is installed on at least one of inner surfaces of the housing to emit ultraviolet light toward the detergent pourer,
 wherein the UV LED installed on the housing is connected to the UV LED installed on the cover member in series.   
     
     
         6 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a switch installed at a part of the cover member, the part not contacting the housing when the cover member opens the hollow portion and contacting the housing when the cover member closes the hollow portion, wherein the switch operates to supply power to the UV LED only when the cover member closes the hollow portion. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises an air injection hole for injecting air toward the hollow portion therethrough and an air discharge hole for discharging the injected air. 
     
     
         9 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 8 , further comprising: a water discharge hole formed in the housing and operating as the air discharge hole. 
     
     
         10 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent pourer includes a material allowing ultraviolet light to be transmitted therethrough. 
     
     
         11 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the detergent pourer or the housing has at least one region of an inner surface coated with photocatalytic material such that photocatalytic material causes photocatalytic reaction with ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         12 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a reflector installed on an inner surface of the housing. 
     
     
         13 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm means to alarm an open state of the cover member when the cover member is opened as power is supplied to the UV LED. 
     
     
         14 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one ultraviolet light emitting diode (UV LED) configured to emit ultraviolet light toward the detergent pourer. 
     
     
         20 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle installed over the upper portion of the housing. 
     
     
         21 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , further comprising additional nozzle to spray water into the detergent pourer. 
     
     
         22 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is connected to a water pipe. 
     
     
         23 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is configured to additionally spray water with a different pressure from when spraying high-pressure water. 
     
     
         24 . The detergent pourer according to  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle operates to spray high-pressure water toward the detergent pourer only when the open side of the hollow portion is closed.