JP7610926B2 - Tank and washing machine using same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a tank for refilling washing liquid and a washing machine for washing clothes, etc.

In recent years, washing machines have become known that are equipped with a laundry treatment liquid dispenser that can measure laundry treatment liquid such as detergent and fabric softener (finishing agent) contained in a tank and automatically dispense the appropriate amount of laundry treatment liquid into the water tub (washing and spin-drying layer).

As an example of a laundry treatment liquid dispenser that can dispense automatically, Patent Document 1 discloses a detergent dispenser body that is a tank with a lid that is located at the rear of the housing and has a removable structure, and that can automatically dispense either powdered detergent or liquid detergent selectively by simply changing the powder adapter and liquid adapter in the same tank.

JP 2002-102589 A

In the configuration disclosed in Patent Document 1, a box-shaped tank protrudes upward from the rear of the washing machine, which makes the washing machine lose its overall unity, and it is not possible to switch between powder and liquid detergent without changing the adapter. In addition, it is difficult to wipe the tank lid and washing machine lid when cleaning them. In addition, there is no handle, making it difficult for users to easily remove them.

The objective of the present invention is to provide a washing machine that is easy to clean while maintaining a high level of design.

To solve the above problem, the washing machine of the present invention has a housing, a lid that covers an inlet for putting laundry in, a washing tub into which laundry is put, and a tank that is arranged behind the lid and can be filled with laundry treatment liquid, the tank has a tank lid that covers the laundry treatment liquid inlet through which laundry treatment liquid is put in, and the lid and the tank lid are configured to be approximately parallel when closed and have an inclined surface that slopes downward from the rear end to the front end.

The tank that can be filled with the laundry treatment liquid of the present invention has a tank device into which the laundry treatment liquid is poured from an inlet, a tank lid that covers the inlet, and a tank gripping portion that is provided at the rear and includes a recess for gripping, and when the tank lid is closed, it has a slope that slopes downward from the rear end toward the front end.

The present invention provides a washing machine that is easy to clean while maintaining a high level of design.

1 is a perspective view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention in a closed state; FIG. 1 is a side view of a washing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention; 1 shows an arrangement diagram of the top cover, lid body, and tank lid of the washing machine of the present invention. 1 is a rear perspective view of one side of a tank of the washing machine of the present invention; FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the present invention taken along line A-A in FIG. 4 . FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the cross-sectional view A-A of FIG. 4 according to the present invention. 2 is a rear perspective view of the tank of the washing machine of the present invention, seen from the other side. FIG.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings as appropriate.

Figures 1 and 2 are diagrams showing the exterior configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the following explanation, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction are indicated.

Figure 1 is an external perspective view showing a vertical washer-dryer according to the first embodiment.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the washing machine 1 comprises a housing 3 that constitutes the outer shell and is supported by a base 2. A top cover 4 that is supported by the housing 3 is provided on the top of the housing 3. A lid 5 that covers a clothes inlet through which clothes and the like are put is provided above the top cover 4, and two tanks 6 that have tank lids 6a and tank containers 6b (see Figure 4) into which laundry treatment liquid is put (filled) from the inlet are provided above the tanks 6 and at the rear of the top cover 4, water supply related parts such as a water supply solenoid valve 7 are built in.

The surface of the lid 5 is provided with a lid glass 5b, and a handle 5a is provided on the front side of the lid 5, so that the lid can be opened by the operator placing his or her fingers on it and pulling it upward.

The washing tub 8, which is a washing and spin-drying tub, holds clothes and is designed to allow water or washing treatment liquid to be poured in for washing or spin-drying.

The washing machine 1 also has a flow path that allows the laundry treatment liquid to be poured into the washing tub 8 after being poured into the tank 6. It also has a mechanism that allows the laundry treatment liquid to be measured and an appropriate amount of laundry treatment liquid to be poured into the washing tub 8 when detergent treatment liquid is poured into the washing tub.

Figure 3 is an enlarged view of the area above the top cover 4 in Figure 2, and explains the arrangement of the top cover 4, the lid body 5, and the tank lid 6a. The lid body 5 is in a closed state.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lid 5 has a downward sloping surface when closed. The tank lid 6a of the tank 6 provided behind the lid 5 also has a downward sloping surface toward the front, and is provided approximately parallel to the sloping surface of the lid 5. In other words, the lid 5 and the tank lid 6a have approximately parallel sloping surfaces that slope downward from the rear end to the front end when closed. This makes it appear as if the lid and the tank lid are one piece when viewed from the front, giving the user a sense of unity with the entire washing machine. In addition, when cleaning the tank lid and the washing machine lid, they can be wiped easily, providing a washing machine that is easy to clean while maintaining a high level of design.

Specifically, because the lid body 5 and the tank lid 6a are continuous, when cleaning the lid body 5 and the tank lid 6a (so-called wiping), the top surface of the washing machine 1 can be cleaned by pressing the surface of the lid body 5 or the tank lid 6a.

Figure 4 shows a rear perspective view of the tank 6 with the tank lid 6a closed.

As described above, the tank 6 includes a tank container 6b in which the laundry treatment liquid is filled, and a tank lid 6a located above the tank container 6b. In addition, a tank grip 6c is provided at the rear (back side) of the tank 6 for lifting the tank 6 when cleaning or filling the tank container 6b with laundry treatment liquid.

This tank gripping part 6c has a recess at the rear of the tank for gripping, and when you reach behind where the tank 6 is located from the front of the washing machine 1 and hook your fingers into the recess, your palm will touch the surface of the tank lid 6a. The hand fits the tank 6, making it easy to remove. This is because the tank lid 6a has an inclined surface relative to the tank holder 6b, making it easy to hook your fingers onto the tank gripping part 6c when gripping the tank 6. Also, in Figure 4, the tank gripping part 6c is located in the center of the tank 6, allowing for a more stable grip when holding the tank 6.

Although FIG. 4 only describes one tank 6, as shown in FIG. 1, two tanks 6 are provided, one tank 6 is arranged in parallel with the other tank 6 in the longitudinal direction, and both tanks 6 have the same configuration. In other words, the tanks 6 include a first tank (e.g., the right tank in FIG. 1) filled with a first laundry treatment liquid, and a second tank (e.g., the left tank in FIG. 1) arranged adjacent to the first tank in the longitudinal direction and filled with a second laundry treatment liquid different from the first laundry treatment liquid, and the first tank lid of the first tank and the second tank lid and lid body of the second tank are parallel when closed, and have a structure with a slope that descends from the rear end to the front end. This provides a sense of unity, ensures high design, and provides a washing machine that is easy to clean.

This will be explained in detail using Figures 5 and 6.

Figure 5 shows a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 4, and Figure 6 shows an oblique view of the cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in Figure 4.

In the tank 6, the surface of the tank lid 6a is provided with an inclined portion or a curved portion relative to the tank container 6b. First, the tank lid 6a is structured so that the inclined portion (hereinafter referred to as the first inclined portion 16) that is approximately parallel to the lid body 5 can be touched by the user from the base of the hand to the ball of the little finger and the ball of the thumb when gripping the tank. Next, the inclined portion (hereinafter referred to as the second inclined portion 17) that is integrally formed behind the first inclined portion 16 forms an inclined portion or a curved portion that slopes downward toward the tank gripping portion 6c. Because it has such an inclined portion or curved portion, it is structured so that the user can touch it with the pads of their fingers when gripping the tank 6. In other words, the inclined surface of the tank lid 6a is structured so that it has a first inclined portion 16 that is parallel to the inclined surface of the lid body 5 on the front surface, and a second inclined portion 17 that is integrally formed with the first inclined portion 16 and slopes downward on the rear surface. In this way, by providing the first inclined portion 16 and the second inclined portion 17, and providing a tank gripping portion 6c, which is a recessed portion, at the end of the first inclined portion 16 and the second inclined portion 17, the tank 6 can be gripped while being in contact with most of the palm of the hand, and the tank 6 can be easily and stably attached and detached, and good operability can be obtained.

Figure 7 shows a rear perspective view from the side opposite to that shown in Figure 4.

The tank 6 has a protrusion 18 on one side adjacent to the top cover 4. Although not shown, the inner wall of the top cover 4 adjacent to the tank 6 also has a protrusion, and the protrusion 18 on the tank 6 side and the protrusion on the top cover 4 side lap when the tank 6 is attached inside the top cover 4. This means that when the tank 6 is attached, it comes into contact with the protrusion on the top cover 4 side, and the tank 6 side (side) flexes, giving a clicking sensation when it is attached. Note that by arranging the protrusion on the top cover 4 vertically and above the protrusion 18 of the tank 6, the two protrusions come into contact with each other during the tank 6 attachment, giving a clicking sensation, and when the tank 6 is completely attached inside the top cover 4, the two protrusions do not come into contact. By arranging the protrusion on the top cover 4 vertically and above the protrusion 18 of the tank 6, the protrusion on the top cover 4 side plays the role of a stopper, which also has the effect of preventing the tank 6 from coming off due to vertical vibration. The other tank 6 also has a protrusion. In other words, of the two tanks 6, a protrusion 18 is provided on one side of one tank 6 and on the other side of the other tank 6.

In the above embodiment, the configuration has been described, but at least a part of each configuration may be adopted. For example, each of the described configurations may be selected and appropriately combined, or a configuration may be provided that includes one of the described configurations. Furthermore, the configuration described in the above embodiment is an example of the present invention, and various other forms are possible within the scope of the claims.

1. Washing machine
2 Base 3 Housing 4 Top cover 5 Lid body 5a Handle 6 Tank 6a Tank lid 6b Tank device 6c Tank grip portion 8 Washing tub 9 Outer tub 16 First inclined portion 17 Second inclined portion 18 Convex portion

Claims (5)

A housing and
A lid body for covering an input port for inputting laundry;
A washing tub into which the laundry is put;
a tank disposed behind the lid and capable of being filled with a laundry treatment liquid;
The tank has a tank lid for covering a laundry treatment liquid inlet for introducing the laundry treatment liquid,
the lid body and the tank lid are substantially parallel to each other when closed, and have an inclined surface that slopes downward from the rear end of the first inclined portion of the tank lid toward the front end thereof,
The inclined surface of the tank lid has a first inclined portion on a front surface thereof parallel to the inclined surface of the lid body, and a second inclined portion formed rearward and downwardly behind the first inclined portion,
The tank has a tank gripping portion including a recess for lifting at the rear of the tank and below the second inclined portion.
A washing machine characterized by: 2. The washing machine according to claim 1,
The tank includes a first tank filled with a first laundry treatment liquid, and a second tank arranged adjacent to the first tank in a longitudinal direction and filled with a second laundry treatment liquid different from the first laundry treatment liquid,
The first tank lid of the first tank and the second tank lid and the lid body of the second tank are parallel and continuous when closed, and have an inclined surface that descends from the rear end of the first inclined portion toward the front end. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,
The tank grip portion is disposed in a central portion of the tank, A tank arranged behind a lid of the washing machine and capable of being filled with a laundry treatment liquid,
a tank device into which the laundry treatment liquid is introduced through an inlet;
A tank lid that covers the inlet,
The tank lid has an inclined surface that slopes downward from the rear end of the first inclined portion toward the front end when the tank lid is closed,
The inclined surface of the tank lid has a first inclined portion on a front surface thereof, the first inclined portion being parallel to and continuous with the inclined surface of the lid body, and a second inclined portion formed rearward and downwardly behind the first inclined portion,
a tank gripping portion provided rearward and below the second inclined portion and including a recess for lifting;
A tank characterized by: 5. The tank according to claim 4,
A tank, wherein the first inclined surface of the tank lid is approximately parallel to the inclined surface of the lid body of the washing machine when closed.

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