JP7603371B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a washing machine.

For example, drum-type washing machines generally have a removable detergent case at the top front of the main body, and the user places the required amount of detergent and fabric softener in the detergent case before starting the wash cycle, which then feeds the detergent and fabric softener into the water tub along with the water supply during the wash cycle. In recent years, in response to demands for improved user convenience, in addition to the manual detergent case, it has been considered to provide an automatic dispenser that stores multiple loads of laundry treatment agents such as detergent and fabric softener in the tank in advance, and automatically dispenses the required amount from the tank into the water tub by driving a pump during the wash cycle (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2017-74082 A

In the above-mentioned automatic dispenser, the tank that stores the laundry treatment agent is removably mounted in the tank housing, and can be removed when refilling the laundry treatment agent. When the tank is mounted in the tank housing, the outlet for the laundry treatment agent, which is mounted at the bottom of the tank, is connected to the suction port of the pump. At this time, a check valve is provided at the outlet of the tank, and the valve is open when the tank is mounted, and closes when the tank is removed, preventing the laundry treatment agent from leaking.

However, in the above configuration, when the laundry treatment agent adheres to the check valve and sticks to it after a long period of use, or when a foreign object gets caught in the check valve, the function of the check valve is impaired, and therefore there is a risk that the laundry treatment agent remaining in the tank will leak out when the tank is removed.
In view of this, a washing machine equipped with an automatic dispenser for a laundry treatment agent is provided that is excellent in preventing the laundry treatment agent from leaking to the outside when a tank that contains the laundry treatment agent is removed.

A washing machine according to an embodiment is equipped with an automatic dispensing device that automatically dispenses laundry treatment agent into a water tub provided within a main body, the automatic dispensing device comprising a tank storage section provided in the main body, a tank for storing laundry treatment agent and removably attached to the tank storage section, a pump for pumping the laundry treatment agent from the tank , and a remaining amount notification device that detects the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent in the tank and notifies the user when the liquid level drops to a level at which replenishment is recommended, the remaining amount notification device having a float that oscillates according to the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent in the tank, and the tank has a connection port that is connected to the suction port of the pump when attached to the tank storage section, the connection port being provided on a peripheral wall portion above the bottom of the tank, at a position higher than the liquid level at which replenishment is recommended and lower than the liquid level at which the float stops .

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a drum-type washing machine according to an embodiment. Left side view of the water supply mechanism A top view of the water supply mechanism when the storage case is pulled out. Rear perspective view of detergent tank Right side cross-sectional view of detergent tank A longitudinal sectional right side view of the detergent tank showing the warning level Enlarged right side view of the connection port

One embodiment of the present invention applied to a drum-type washing machine will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the external appearance of a drum-type washing machine as a washing machine according to this embodiment. Here, the main body 1 constituting the outer case of the drum-type washing machine is in the shape of a substantially rectangular box, and a circular entrance 2 through which clothes are put in and taken out is provided at the front part of the main body 1, located approximately in the center, and a door 3 is attached so as to be able to open and close the entrance 2.

A power switch 4 and an operation panel 5 are provided on the front right part of the top surface of the main body 1. Although not shown, the operation panel 5 is provided with a start key and various operation keys for the user to set the washing operation course, etc. At this time, when executing the washing operation, the user can select on the operation panel 5 whether to automatically add the washing treatment agent, i.e., detergent and fabric softener, using the automatic addition device 17 described later, or to manually add one dose of detergent and fabric softener using the manual supply mechanism 19. The operation panel 5 is provided with a display unit 6, which, although not shown, displays the necessary information such as the washing course of the washing operation to be executed and the washing operation time. The display unit 6 also notifies the user by displaying text that the amount of detergent and fabric softener remaining in the tanks 31 and 32 described later is low.

Although not shown, a water tub that is generally cylindrical with an open front and communicates with the inlet/outlet 2 and that stores wash water is provided within the main body 1 and is elastically supported via an elastic support mechanism. A drum is provided within the water tub as a storage tub for storing clothes. This drum is cylindrical with a diameter slightly smaller than the water tub, and its rear center is connected to a drive mechanism consisting of a drum motor or the like and driven to rotate. Also provided within the main body 1 is a water supply mechanism 8 located at the upper left of the water tub for supplying water to the water tub. This water supply mechanism 8 will be described later. A drain is provided at the bottom of the water tub, and a drain pipe is connected to the drain via a drain valve.

Although not shown, a drying mechanism is provided within the main body 1 to circulate and supply warm air for drying within the water tank and, ultimately, the drum. This drying mechanism includes a dry air circulation duct that forms an air passage outside the water tank, and a drying unit located midway through the duct that dehumidifies and heats the circulating air to generate dry air. The drying unit is configured, for example, by incorporating a heat pump and a blower within a case. Furthermore, various sensors are provided within the main body 1, such as a water level sensor that detects the water level in the water tank, a temperature sensor that detects the temperature in the drum, and a rotation sensor that detects the rotational position of the drum motor.

The water supply mechanism 8, automatic insertion device 17, and manual insertion mechanism 19 will now be described. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the water supply mechanism 8 includes a water supply valve unit 12 provided at the rear of the upper left side of the main body 1, a water supply case 13 provided at the front of the upper left side of the main body 1, an automatic water supply path 14 and a manual water supply path 15 connecting the water supply valve unit 12 to the water supply case 13, and a water supply hose 16 for supplying water from the water supply case 13 to the tank.

In addition to the water supply mechanism 8, an automatic dispenser 17 is provided in the upper left part of the main body 1 for automatically dispensing liquid detergent and fabric softener as laundry treatment agents into the water tub through the water supply case 13. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a manual dispenser mechanism 19 is built in that, when a user pre-fills a single load of detergent (liquid, powder) and fabric softener as laundry treatment agents into a storage case 18 as a manual storage section, the detergent and fabric softener are supplied to the water tub together with the water supply.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the water supply valve unit 12 is provided with a frame 12a and multiple water supply valves that open and close electromagnetically. In this embodiment, an automatic water supply valve 21 and a manual detergent water supply valve 22 are provided on the left and right sides of the upper section of the frame 12a (see Figure 3), and a manual fabric softener water supply valve 20 (see Figure 2) is provided on the lower section. As shown in Figure 1, a connection pipe 23 is provided on the upper section of the water supply valve unit 12 so as to be exposed on the upper surface of the main body 1, and a water faucet is connected to this connection pipe 23 as a water supply source. Although not shown in detail, the connection pipe 23 branches into three at the bottom and is connected to the inlets of the water supply valves 20 to 22, respectively.

The outlet of the automatic water supply valve 21 is connected to the inlet of the automatic water supply path 14. The outlet of the manual detergent water supply valve 22 is connected to the inlet of the detergent flow path of the manual water supply path 15, and the outlet of the manual fabric softener water supply valve 20 is connected to the inlet of the fabric softener flow path of the manual water supply path 15. The automatic water supply path 14 and the manual water supply path 15 will be described later. As shown in FIG. 3, a bath water pump 24 for pumping up leftover bath water, etc. is built into the right side of the water supply valve unit 12.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the water injection case 13 is made of plastic and is in the shape of a rectangular box with an open top, and is located at the left end of the upper front side of the main body 1. A flow path forming member 25 that forms the manual water supply path 15 is located in the top opening of the water injection case 13. Although not shown in Fig. 3, the top surface of the flow path forming member 25 is covered with a lid member. The bottom of the water injection case 13 gently slopes downward toward the rear, and the tip of the water supply hose 16 is connected to the lower rear end, and the rear end of the water supply hose 16 is connected to the water supply port of the water tank (not shown). An opening is provided in the front of the water injection case 13 through which the storage case 18 is inserted and removed, and this opening faces the opening in the upper left front of the main body 1.

As shown in FIG. 3, the storage case 18 is made of plastic and has a manual detergent storage section 18a and a manual fabric softener storage section 18b, both of which are thin and open at the top and somewhat long from front to back, side by side and integrated. The manual detergent storage section 18a stores, for example, a single dose of detergent, in this case liquid detergent or powder detergent, while the manual fabric softener storage section 18b stores a single dose of fabric softener, known as a softener, as needed. Although not shown in detail, the manual detergent storage section 18a has an open rear end that serves as a detergent discharge section. The manual fabric softener storage section 18b also has a so-called siphon-type discharge section.

The storage case 18 is of a so-called drawer type, which is provided inside the water filling case 13 so as to be removable from the front side. At this time, as shown in FIG. 1, a front door 26 having a handle 26a is connected to the front end of the storage case 18. The storage case 18 can be removed and inserted between a storage position (see FIG. 1) in which the front door 26 closes the opening at the upper left front side inside the main body 1, and a drawer position (see FIG. 3) in which the front door 26 is pulled forward from the storage position. In the storage position, the storage case 18 is arranged to be located at the top inside the water filling case 13.

As shown in FIG. 3, the manual water supply path 15 extends to the right from the front of the water supply valve unit 12, then extends forward to bypass the right side of the tank housing of the automatic dispenser 17 (described later), and then bends to the left to reach the top of the water injection case 13. As described above, the manual water supply path 15 is configured with two flow paths, a detergent flow path 27 and a fabric softener flow path 28, by dividing the upper surface of the plastic flow path forming member 25 by a rib.

The detergent flow path 27 has an inlet 27a connected to the outlet of the manual detergent water supply valve 22, extends to the upper left part of the water supply case 13, i.e., above the manual detergent storage section 18a of the storage case 18, and has multiple small-diameter water spray holes 27b arranged side by side in the front and rear on the left and right parts. The fabric softener flow path 28 has an inlet 28a connected to the outlet of the manual fabric softener water supply valve 20, extends to the upper right part of the water supply case 13, i.e., above the manual fabric softener storage section 18b of the storage case 18, and has three slightly larger water injection holes 28b arranged side by side in the front and rear.

The above configuration constitutes the manual supply mechanism 19. In this manual supply mechanism 19, when the manual detergent water supply valve 22 is opened, tap water supplied from the connection pipe 23 passes through the detergent flow path 27 of the manual water supply path 15 and is sprayed in a shower-like manner from the spray hole 27b into the manual detergent storage section 18a of the storage case 18. The water supplied to the manual detergent storage section 18a flows to the bottom of the water supply case 13 while dissolving the stored detergent, and is supplied into the water tank through the water supply hose 16.

In addition, in this manual supply mechanism 19, when the manual softener water supply valve 20 is opened, tap water supplied from the connection pipe 23 passes through the softener flow path 28 of the manual water supply path 15 and is injected from the water injection hole 28b into the manual softener storage section 18b of the storage case 18. The water supplied to the manual softener storage section 18b is supplied from the water injection case 13 through the water supply hose 16 into the water tub while dissolving the stored fabric softener.

Now, the automatic dispenser 17 will be described. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the automatic dispenser 17 is equipped with a tank case 29 as a tank storage section provided on the rear side of the water injection case 13, and a pump 30 provided at the rear of the tank case 29. The tank case 29 is an approximately rectangular box shape that is open at the top and somewhat long from front to back, and as shown in Figure 1, a detergent tank 31 and a fabric softener tank 32, both of which are rectangular boxes elongated in the front to back direction, are arranged side by side inside the tank case 29 and can be removed upward, i.e., can be attached and detached.

In this case, the detergent tank 31 contains liquid detergent that can be used for multiple washes, and the fabric softener tank 32 contains fabric softener that can be used for multiple washes. As shown in FIG. 1, an access opening 33 corresponding to the top of the tank case 29 is provided on the top surface of the main body 1, and a lid 34 is provided for opening and closing the access opening 33. The user can refill the detergent and fabric softener by opening the lid 34 and removing the detergent tank 31 and fabric softener tank 32 upward. The detailed configurations of the detergent tank 31 and fabric softener tank 32 will be described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pump 30 has two suction ports 30a, 30b facing forward, and two discharge ports (not shown) facing downward, and is configured with a motor as its drive source. The pump 30 is configured to switch between the suction ports 30a, 30b that suck in liquid and the discharge port that discharges liquid by switching the rotation direction (current flow direction) of the motor. The two discharge ports of the pump 30 are located above the discharge section midway through the automatic water supply path 14, which will be described later.

At this time, the suction port 30a on one side of the pump 30, i.e., the left side, is connected to the detergent tank 31 side, and the motor is rotated in one direction to draw up the detergent in the detergent tank 31 and discharge it from the outlet on the other side, i.e., the left side. The suction port 30b on the other side of the pump 30, i.e., the right side, is connected to the fabric softener tank 32 side, and the motor is rotated in the other direction to draw up the fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 32 and discharge it from the outlet on the other side, i.e., the right side. The discharge amount of detergent and fabric softener, i.e., the amount supplied to the discharge part in the middle of the automatic water supply path 14, is controlled by the driving time of the pump 30. The connection structure between the suction ports 30a, 30b of the pump 30 and the tanks 31, 32 will also be described later.

As shown in FIG. 2, the automatic water supply path 14 includes a first joint member 35, a second joint member 36, and a connecting hose 37 that connects them. The first joint member 35 is located at the bottom between the water supply valve unit 12 and the tank case 29, and includes a case portion 35a that is rectangular and slightly long from side to side and thin from top to bottom, an inlet pipe 35b, and an outlet pipe portion 35c.

At this time, although not shown, the discharge port of the pump 30 is connected to the upper surface of the case portion 35a, and the inside of the case portion 35a into which the laundry treatment agent falls is the discharge portion, and this portion is the mixing space 38 in which the laundry treatment agent and water are mixed. The inlet pipe 35b is configured to extend upward from the rear end portion on the right side of the upper surface of the case portion 35a, and its upper end, which is the inlet end portion of the automatic water supply path 14, is connected to the outlet portion of the automatic water supply valve 21. The outlet pipe portion 35c is provided so as to protrude forward from the front left end portion of the case portion 35a.

As a result, the mixing space 38 of the case 35a, which is the portion where the laundry treatment agent is discharged by the pump 30, is positioned lower than the inlet end of the upper end of the inlet pipe 35b. In this embodiment, the outlet pipe 35c has a larger flow path diameter than the inlet pipe 35b. Although not shown in detail, the inner bottom of the case 35a is gently inclined downward toward the outlet pipe 35c at the front left side, so that all the liquid in the mixing space 38 is discharged from the outlet pipe 35c.

The second coupling member 36 is L-shaped when viewed from above, and one end is connected to a connection hole provided in the lower part of the left side wall, which is the peripheral wall of the water injection case 13, and constitutes the outlet end of the automatic water supply path 14. Although not shown, the connection hole is located lower than the storage case 18. The other end side of the second coupling member 36 is arranged facing backward along the side wall of the water injection case 13, and as shown in FIG. 2, the outlet pipe portion 35c of the first coupling member 35 and the other end side of the second coupling member 36 are connected by the connecting hose 37. The second coupling member 36 is provided at a position slightly lower than the outlet pipe portion 35c, and the connecting hose 37 is gently inclined downward toward the front.

In this way, in the automatic water supply path 14, when the automatic water supply valve 21 is opened, tap water supplied from the connection pipe 23 flows from the inlet pipe 35b of the first joint member 35 into the case portion 35a, i.e., the mixing space 38, and is mixed with detergent or fabric softener if they are supplied to the discharge portion. The mixed wash water is discharged from the outlet pipe portion 35c, passes through the connecting hose 37, and flows into the lower part of the water supply case 13 from the connection hole 13a through the second joint member 36. It then flows backward under the storage case 18 and is supplied to the water tub through the water supply hose 16.

In this way, the automatic dispenser 17 can supply the required amount of detergent contained in the detergent tank 31 to the discharge section by driving the pump 30, and can also supply the required amount of fabric softener contained in the fabric softener tank 32 to the discharge section. When the automatic water supply valve 21 is turned on and water is supplied to the automatic water supply path 14 while detergent or fabric softener is being supplied to the discharge section by driving the pump 30, the water is mixed with the detergent or fabric softener at the discharge section, dissolves the detergent or fabric softener, flows as wash water, and is supplied to the water tub through the water supply case 13.

Now, the detergent tank 31 and fabric softener tank 32 will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 7. The detergent tank 31 and fabric softener tank 32 have the same structure, but differ in width, i.e., the detergent tank 31 has a slightly larger capacity than the fabric softener tank 32. Therefore, Figures 4 to 7 show the detergent tank 31 as a representative, and the following will describe this detergent tank 31.

The detergent tank 31 is made of plastic, for example, and is configured in the shape of a generally rectangular box with the sides facing forward and a relatively narrow width. As shown in Figures 4 to 6, a refill opening 31a is formed at the front of the top surface of the detergent tank 31, and a lid 39 that opens and closes this opening 31a is attached so as to be able to be opened and closed. A handle 40 for attachment and detachment is also integrally provided at the top end of the front side of the detergent tank 31. This allows the user to perform operations such as opening the lid 34 of the main body 1, grasping the handle 40 to remove the detergent tank 31 upward from the tank case 29, opening the lid 39 to refill the detergent through the opening 31a, and then closing the lid 39 and attaching it to the tank case 29 again.

As shown in Figures 4 to 6, the lower half of the rear side of the peripheral wall of the detergent tank 31 is provided with a bulging portion 31b that protrudes backward, and a connection port 41 is provided near the upper portion of this bulging portion 31b. When the detergent tank 31 is attached to the tank case 29, the tip of the suction port 30a of the pump 30 is inserted relatively to the connection port 41 to connect it. Therefore, the connection port 41 is provided at a position on the peripheral wall above the bottom of the detergent tank 31. Also, at this time, as shown in Figure 6, the connection port 41 is provided at a position higher than the alarm liquid level L described later. In addition, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, a mesh-like filter member 53 is provided in the detergent tank 31 to prevent dirt and the like contained in the detergent from being sucked in by the pump 30.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, a suction pipe 42 is provided in the detergent tank 31 so that the pump 30 can suck up the detergent inside the detergent tank 31. The suction pipe 42 is configured in an inverted L-shape or T-shape, with one end connected to the connection port 41 and the other end extending toward the bottom of the detergent tank 31, with the lower end opening near the bottom. More specifically, as shown in Figure 7, the suction pipe 42 is configured to integrally include a horizontal pipe section 43 that extends horizontally from the tip connected to the connection port 41 toward the inside, i.e., the front, of the detergent tank 31, and a hanging pipe section 44 that is connected to the horizontal pipe section 43 and extends downward from the front lower surface of the horizontal pipe section 43 to near the bottom of the detergent tank 31.

As shown in FIG. 7, the end of the horizontal pipe section 43 opposite the connection port 41, i.e., the front end, is an opening 43a, and a cylindrical cap member 45 is detachably attached to the front end of the horizontal pipe section 43 to close the opening 43a. In this case, the cap member 45 has a plurality of engagement holes 45a on its outer wall, and these engagement holes 45a engage with a plurality of claws 43b provided on the outer surface of the horizontal pipe section 43, so that the cap member 45 is attached to the front end of the horizontal pipe section 43.

In this embodiment, a check valve 46 is incorporated inside the horizontal pipe section 43 of the suction pipe 42 to prevent liquid from leaking from the detergent tank 31 to the outside. At this time, a partition wall 47 having an opening 47a is provided in the horizontal pipe section 43 so as to divide the horizontal pipe section 43 into a front and a rear section. The check valve 46 is configured to have a valve body 46a that moves in the front-rear direction to open and close the opening 47a, and a coil spring 48 that urges the valve body 46a backward, i.e., in the direction to close the opening 47a. The coil spring 48 is provided between the valve body 46a and the cap member 45. The valve body 46a also has a push-in pin 46b that extends backward as an integral part of it.

When the detergent tank 31 is removed from the tank case 29, i.e., when the suction port 30a of the pump 30 is not connected to the connection port 41, the spring force of the coil spring 48 presses the valve body 46a of the check valve 46 against the partition wall 47 to close the opening 47a, blocking communication between the horizontal pipe section 43 and the hanging pipe section 44. On the other hand, when the detergent tank 31 is attached to the tank case 29 and the suction port 30a of the pump 30 is connected to the connection port 41, the suction port 30a pushes the push pin 46b forward, and the valve body 46a of the check valve 46 moves forward against the spring force of the coil spring 48 to open the opening 47a, thereby connecting the horizontal pipe section 43 and the hanging pipe section 44.

Furthermore, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, a remaining amount notification device 49 is provided which detects the detergent level in the detergent tank 31 and notifies the user when the detergent level drops to a level at which refilling is recommended, i.e., notification level L. In this embodiment, the remaining amount notification device 49 is configured by providing a swing lever 50 in the detergent tank 31 and a magnetic sensor 51 at the bottom of the tank case 29. The upper end of the swing lever 50 is pivotally supported at the upper rear end of the side wall inside the detergent tank 31, and the lower part extends diagonally forward. A rectangular plate-shaped float portion 50a is integrally provided at the lower end of the swing lever 50, and a permanent magnet 52 is attached to the float portion 50a.

The float portion 50a functions as a float that floats on the detergent liquid surface so that the liquid level is at its center, and as a result, the swing lever 50 swings between the position shown by the solid line and the position shown by the imaginary line in FIG. 5 according to the height of the detergent liquid level in the detergent tank 31. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, when the detergent liquid level in the detergent tank 31 is equal to or higher than the liquid level L0, the swing lever 50 stops with the float portion 50a in a position where it touches the front wall. When the detergent in the detergent tank 31 falls below the liquid level L0, the float portion 50a descends, and when it falls to the warning level L, which is the liquid level at which refilling of detergent is recommended, as shown in FIG. 6, the magnetic sensor 51 detects the permanent magnet 52. At this time, the detection signal of the magnetic sensor 51 is input to a control device (not shown).

The remaining amount notification device 49 detects that the detergent in the detergent tank 31 has fallen below the notification level L at which detergent refilling is recommended, and in response to this detection, a notification is issued to the user, for example, a display on the display unit 6 urging the user to refill the detergent. As described above, the connection port 41 is provided at a position higher than the notification level L. Although not shown or described separately, the fabric softener tank 32 also has the same configuration as the detergent tank 31, and the suction port 30b of the pump 30 is connected to the connection port 41 provided at a position higher than the notification level L of the fabric softener tank 32, and the remaining amount notification device 49 issues a notification when the level of the fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 32 falls to the notification level L.

The control device is mainly composed of a microcomputer, for example, and controls the entire washing machine. The control device controls the water supply valves 21, 21, 22 of the water supply valve unit 12, the pump 30 of the automatic inserter 17, the drum motor, the drain valve, the drying unit, etc., based on input signals from various sensors and pre-stored control programs in accordance with the operation course, etc., set by the user on the operation panel 5. This automatically executes the washing operation consisting of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the spin-drying process, and the drying operation. Details of each process of these washing and drying operations are well known, so they will not be described here. Also, as described above, when the control device detects that the detergent or fabric softener has fallen below the warning level L using the remaining amount warning device 49, it warns the user of this, i.e., displays the information on the display unit 6.

In this embodiment, when a user starts a washing operation, the user selects on the operation panel 5 whether to automatically dispense detergent and fabric softener using the automatic dispenser 17, or to manually dispense one dose of detergent and fabric softener using the storage case 18 of the manual dispenser 19. When automatic detergent and fabric softener dispensing is selected, the control device supplies a required amount of detergent to the discharge section using the automatic dispenser 17 before starting water supply for the washing process, and then turns on the automatic water supply valve 21 to supply water. Also, before the final rinsing process, the automatic dispenser 17 supplies a required amount of fabric softener to the supply section, and then opens the automatic water supply valve 21 to supply water. Water is supplied so that the water level in the water tub corresponds to the amount of fabric based on the result of detecting the amount of fabric in the drum.

Next, the operation and effect of the washing machine configured as above will be described. In preparation for using the automatic dispenser 17, the user places detergent in the detergent tank 31 and fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 32. To run the washing machine, the user operates the power switch 4 to turn on the power and place clothes in the drum. The user also selects an operation course using the operation panel 5. In addition, the user can select either automatic or manual dispense of detergent and fabric softener. When the washing operation starts, the control device controls each mechanism of the washing machine and automatically executes the washing operation consisting of the well-known washing, rinsing, and spin-drying steps.

At this time, if automatic detergent dispensing is selected, the pump 30 of the automatic dispensing device 17 is controlled to suck detergent from the detergent tank 31 through the suction port 30a before the start of water supply for the wash stroke. At this time, the suction port 30a of the pump 30 is connected, i.e. inserted, to the connection port 41 of the detergent tank 31, so that the push-in pin 46b is pushed in and the check valve 46 is open, and detergent is sucked up from the lower end of the hanging tube section 44 of the suction tube 42 at the bottom of the detergent tank 31 and sucked through the horizontal tube section 43. By driving the pump 30 for a predetermined time, the required amount of detergent is supplied to the discharge section, i.e. the mixing space 38, midway through the automatic water supply path 14.

After that, when the automatic water supply valve 21 is opened, water from the water supply source is supplied to the automatic water supply path 14. At this time, water flows from the inlet pipe 35b of the first joint member 35 into the mixing space 38 of the case portion 35a and is mixed with the detergent supplied to the discharge portion. The mixed wash water passes through the outlet pipe portion 35c, the connecting hose 37, and the second joint member 36, and flows into the lower part of the water injection case 13 from the connection hole 13a. It then flows backward under the storage case 18 and is supplied into the water tub through the water supply hose 16. In this way, wash water with detergent dissolved in it is automatically supplied to the water tub, and the washing cycle is carried out.

After this, the process progresses, and just before the water supply for the final pre-rinse process, if automatic dispensing is selected, the pump 30 of the automatic dispensing device 17 is driven in the reverse direction, and this time the fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 32 is sucked in through the suction pipe 42 from the suction port 30b. By driving the pump 30 for a predetermined time, the required amount of fabric softener is supplied to the discharge part, i.e., the mixing space 38, in the middle of the automatic water supply path 14. After this, the automatic water supply valve 21 is opened, and the water flowing through the automatic water supply path 14 dissolves the fabric softener in the mixing space 38, and the wash water containing the fabric softener is supplied into the water tub through the water supply case 13, and the final pre-rinse process is performed. After this, the spin cycle and other processes are performed.

When the washing operation is repeated while the automatic dispenser 17 automatically dispenses detergent and fabric softener, the detergent in the detergent tank 31 and the fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 32 gradually decrease. As described above, when the remaining amount notification device 49 detects that the detergent in the detergent tank 31 has fallen below the notification level L at which it is recommended to replenish the detergent, a message is displayed on the display unit 6 urging the user to replenish the detergent, and a message is sent to the user. Similarly, when the level of the fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 32 falls to the notification level L, a message is displayed on the display unit 6 urging the user to replenish the fabric softener.

When the user sees a notification on the display unit 6 encouraging refilling of laundry treatment agent, or when the user feels from experience that refilling is about to occur, the user refills the laundry treatment agent in the tanks 31, 32. Now, when the user refills the detergent tank 31 with detergent, the user opens the lid 34 on the top of the main body 1, removes the detergent tank 31 upward, opens the lid body 39, refills the detergent, and then installs it back into the tank case 29. At this time, the connection port 41 of the detergent tank 31 is not located at the bottom of the tank 31, but on the peripheral wall above it, i.e., it is provided at a relatively high position.

Therefore, even if detergent remains in the detergent tank 31 when the detergent tank 31 is removed from the tank case 29, the liquid level rarely rises above the position of the connection port 41, and in most cases the liquid level of the detergent is lower than the position of the connection port 41. This prevents the detergent from leaking out of the connection port 41. Furthermore, when the detergent tank 31 is removed from the tank case 29, the suction port 30a of the pump 30 is disconnected from the connection port 41 and the check valve 46 is in a closed state, so leakage can be prevented even more effectively. Note that the fabric softener tank 32 can also be refilled in the same way, and similarly, fabric softener is effectively prevented from leaking out of the connection port 41.

In this manner, according to this embodiment, the connection port 41, which is the outlet for the laundry treatment agent in the tanks 31, 32 of the automatic dosing device 17, is configured to be located not at the bottom of the tanks 31, 32 but on the peripheral wall above it. As a result, according to this embodiment, since the connection port 41 is located at a relatively high position in a device equipped with the automatic dosing device 17 for laundry treatment agent, it is possible to obtain the excellent effect of preventing the laundry treatment agent from leaking to the outside when the tanks 31, 32 containing the laundry treatment agent are removed.

In particular, in this embodiment, a remaining amount notification device 49 is provided that detects the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent in the tanks 31, 32 and notifies the user when the liquid level drops to a notification level L at which refilling is recommended, and the connection port 41 is provided at a position higher than the notification level L. As a result, the user will remove the tanks 31, 32 mostly when the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent is lower than the position of the connection port 41, which further enhances the effect of preventing the laundry treatment agent from leaking out of the connection port 41.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, a suction pipe 42 is provided in the tanks 31, 32, one end of which is connected to the connection port 41 and the other end of which extends toward the bottom of the tanks 31, 32. As a result, even if the connection port 41 is located relatively high in the tanks 31, 32, the suction pipe 42 allows the pump 30 to pump up the laundry treatment agent at the bottom of the tanks 31, 32. As a result, the internal volume of the tanks 31, 32 can be fully utilized.

In addition, in this embodiment, a check valve 46 is provided inside the suction pipe 42 to prevent liquid from leaking from inside the tanks 31, 32 to the outside. This is expected to also provide a leakage prevention effect from the check valve 46, further enhancing the leakage prevention effect. If leakage is prevented only by the check valve 46, the laundry treatment agent may adhere to the check valve over a long period of use and become stuck there, and if a foreign object becomes caught in the check valve, the function of the check valve may be impaired. However, in this embodiment, the configuration of the connection port 41 itself provides a leakage prevention effect, so the leakage prevention effect provided by the check valve 46 can be added.

In this embodiment, an opening 43a is provided on the side opposite the connection port 41 of the horizontal pipe section 43 of the suction pipe 42, and the opening 43a is removably closed by a cap member 45. This makes it easy to perform maintenance inside the horizontal pipe section 43, specifically repairing or replacing the check valve 46 in the event of a malfunction such as a damaged packing, by removing the cap member 45.

In the above embodiment, the detergent tank and fabric softener tank are configured as narrow rectangular boxes, but the shape and structure of the tanks can be modified in various ways. The connection port can be provided on the peripheral wall of the tank at the front, back, left, or right. The suction pipe can be configured in various ways, and may not have a check valve. Although the detergent tank and fabric softener tank are configured to automatically supply only detergent or only fabric softener as laundry treatment agents, the remaining amount detection device may be configured to use an optical sensor or a capacitance sensor, etc.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the horizontal pipe section 43 is provided in a form that extends horizontally, but the horizontal pipe section means a pipe in the horizontal direction, and may extend at an angle to the horizontal direction. The overall configuration of the automatic dispenser is not limited to the above embodiment, and may be, for example, a piston pump used as a pump for transferring detergent, or may be one that supplies detergent by opening and closing an electromagnetic valve. The configuration of the automatic water supply path can also be modified in various ways. In addition, in the above embodiment, it is applied to a drum-type washing machine with a drying function, but it can also be applied to a so-called vertical axis washing machine, and may be a washing machine without a drying function.

Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

In the drawings, 1 is a main body, 8 is a water supply mechanism, 12 is a water supply valve unit, 13 is a water injection case, 14 is an automatic water supply path, 15 is a manual water supply path, 17 is an automatic dispenser, 18 is a storage case, 19 is a manual supply mechanism, 20 is a manual softener water supply valve, 21 is an automatic water supply valve, 22 is a manual detergent water supply valve, 23 is a connection pipe, 29 is a tank case (tank storage section), 30 is a pump, 30a, 30b indicates the suction port, 31 is the detergent tank (tank), 32 is the fabric softener tank (tank), 33 is the inlet/outlet, 34 is the lid, 39 is the lid body, 41 is the connection port, 42 is the suction tube, 43 is the horizontal tube section, 43a is the opening, 44 is the hanging tube section, 45 is the cap member, 46 is the check valve, 49 is the remaining amount detection device, 50 is the swing lever, 50a is the float section, 51 is the magnetic sensor, and 52 is a permanent magnet.

Claims (3)

A washing machine equipped with an automatic dispenser that automatically dispenses a laundry treatment agent into a water tub provided in a main body,
The automatic dispenser includes a tank housing section provided in the main body, a tank for storing a laundry treatment agent and removably attached to the tank housing section, and a pump for pumping the laundry treatment agent from the tank.
a residual amount notification device for detecting the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent in the tank and notifying the user when the liquid level drops to a level at which refilling is recommended;
the remaining amount indicating device has a float that swings in response to the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent in the tank,
The tank includes:
A check valve is provided to prevent liquid from leaking from the inside of the tank to the outside.
a connection port which is connected to the suction port of the pump when the tank is mounted in the tank accommodation portion is provided on a peripheral wall portion above the bottom of the tank, at a position higher than the liquid level at which refilling is recommended and at a height which is located in a lower half of the peripheral wall portion ;
The float stops at a position where it contacts the peripheral wall portion on the side opposite to the peripheral wall portion on the side where the connection port is provided . The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a suction pipe is provided in the tank, one end of which is connected to the connection port, and the other end of the suction pipe extends toward the bottom of the tank. the suction pipe includes a horizontal pipe portion extending horizontally from a tip portion connected to the connection port toward the inside of the tank, and a hanging pipe portion extending downward from the horizontal pipe portion,
3. The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein an opening is provided at an end of said horizontal pipe portion opposite said connection port, and said opening is detachably closed by a cap member.

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