Washing agent pump and laundry treating apparatus having the same

A washing agent pump, comprising:

• a passage body having a passage for a liquid washing agent including a liquid detergent or a liquid softener and a pressurized space, and provided with an intake valve that opens and closes an inlet port of the pressurized space and a discharge valve that opens and closes an outlet port of the pressurized space;
• a cylinder disposed at one side of the passage body to communicate with the pressurized space;
• a piston disposed within the cylinder in a reciprocating manner;
• a piston operating unit that operates the piston to reciprocate;
• and
• a residual quantity detecting unit detecting a low level of the liquid washing agent, and provided with an air pocket cavity and electrodes to contact the liquid washing agent in the passage,
• wherein the air pocket cavity is defined by an air pocket forming portion and an air pocket cover coupled to an upper end of the air pocket forming portion, the air pocket forming portion having a lower end in communication with the passage of the passage body and the upper end protruding upwardly from the passage body in an open state,
• wherein the electrodes are provided at the air pocket cover and downwardly extend into the air pocket forming portion to contact the liquid washing agent,
• wherein the air pocket cavity is configured to communicate with the passage of the passage body at a lower portion thereof and upwardly protrude from the passage to accommodate air in a compressed state therein, so as to prevent bubble generated due to a flow of the liquid washing agent with air from upwardly moving toward the electrodes,
• wherein the lower portion of the air pocket cavity is disposed below lower ends of the electrodes,
• wherein the air pocket forming portion has a rectangular parallelepiped shape,
• wherein the air pocket forming portion is provided with coupling portions to which coupling members inserted through the air pocket cover are coupled.