JP7611542B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a washing machine.

The washing machine described in the following Patent Document 1 includes a washing and spin-drying tub and a water supply device for putting detergent and the like on water into the washing and spin-drying tub. The water supply device includes a detergent container and a device main body that holds the detergent container so that it can be pulled out. The detergent container includes a tray section in which a powder detergent storage section, a liquid detergent storage section, and a finishing agent storage section are partitioned side by side. The device main body includes a case that stores the detergent container and a water sprinkling chamber attached to the upper inside part of the case. In the washing process of the washing machine, water is sprinkled from the water sprinkling chamber onto the powder detergent storage section and the liquid detergent storage section. When powder detergent is stored in the powder detergent storage section, the powder detergent in the powder detergent storage section flows out of the detergent container on the water and is supplied into the washing and spin-drying tub. When liquid detergent is stored in the liquid detergent storage section, the liquid detergent in the liquid detergent storage section flows out of the detergent container on the water and is supplied into the washing and spin-drying tub. In the final rinse process after the washing process, water is sprayed from the spray chamber onto the finishing agent storage section, causing the finishing agent in the storage section to flow out of the detergent container on the water and be supplied to the washing and spin-drying tub.

JP 2000-342894 A

The detergent container of the washing machine in Patent Document 1 has three storage compartments, one for powder detergent, one for liquid detergent, and one for finishing agent, which raises concerns about the container becoming too large. Conversely, if the detergent container is made smaller, there is a concern that the water in the storage compartment sprayed by the spraying unit will overflow into the adjacent storage compartment. For example, if the water in the powder detergent storage compartment overflows into the finishing agent storage compartment when spraying water into the powder detergent storage compartment during the washing process, the finishing agent in the finishing agent storage compartment, i.e., the fabric softener, will flow out, and since there is no fabric softener present during the final rinsing process, when fabric softener should be used, fabric softener cannot be supplied to the washing and spin tub.

This invention was made against this background, and aims to provide a washing machine that can prevent the fabric softener from running out before it is actually used, in a configuration in which detergent or fabric softener can be poured into the washing tub on water.

The present invention relates to a washing machine including a washing tub for storing laundry, a water supply channel for supplying water into the washing tub, and a water injection unit for pouring detergent or fabric softener into the washing tub on the water from the water supply channel, the water injection unit being a case having an inlet facing the washing tub from above and a bottom wall extending diagonally downward in the depth direction of the case and connected to the inlet, a container housed in the case so as to be able to be pulled out from the case, the container comprising a detergent inlet section for containing detergent and supplied with water from the water supply channel, a fabric softener inlet section arranged side by side with the detergent inlet section for containing fabric softener and supplied with water from the water supply channel, and a water injection unit arranged between the detergent inlet section and the fabric softener inlet section for containing fabric softener in the depth direction. The washing machine includes a container having a partition rib extending in the depth direction and an escape groove disposed between the partition rib and the fabric softener feed section and extending in the depth direction, the detergent feed section has a first bottom wall having a first through hole formed therein and facing the bottom wall from above, and a first pipe portion protruding upward within the detergent feed section while surrounding the first through hole, the fabric softener feed section has a second bottom wall having a second through hole formed therein and facing the bottom wall from above, and a second pipe portion protruding upward within the fabric softener feed section while surrounding the second through hole, and the escape groove has a groove bottom extending diagonally downward toward the feed opening, and an escape hole provided at the end of the groove bottom on the feed opening side and facing the bottom wall from above.

The present invention is also characterized in that the depth direction includes a rear side away from the input port and a front side approaching the input port, and the rear end of the groove bottom is positioned on the rear side of the first through hole, and the front end of the groove bottom is positioned on the front side of the first through hole.

The present invention is also characterized in that the first through hole is disposed on the rear side of the center of the first bottom wall in the depth direction, the second through hole is disposed on the rear side of the center of the second bottom wall in the depth direction, the portion of the first bottom wall closer to the front side than the first through hole extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side, and the portion of the second bottom wall closer to the front side than the second through hole extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side.

The present invention is also characterized in that between the fabric softener dispenser and the partition rib, drainage holes are provided that are open on both the upper and lower sides, the escape groove has an inclined plate that forms the groove bottom, the water injection unit further includes a sprinkler section having a sprinkler outlet that receives water from the water supply channel and sprinkles water from the sprinkler outlet into the container, and the sprinkler outlet has a first sprinkler outlet positioned directly above the detergent dispenser, a second sprinkler outlet positioned directly above the fabric softener dispenser, and a third sprinkler outlet positioned directly above the water drainage hole.

The present invention is also characterized in that a straightening rib is provided in the area of the underside of the second bottom wall closer to the detergent dispenser than the second through hole, and extends from the back side to the front side so as to approach the detergent dispenser.

According to the present invention, a container housed in a case in a water injection unit of a washing machine includes a detergent dispenser and a fabric softener dispenser arranged side by side. A user can pull out the container from the case to dispense a detergent into the detergent dispenser and a fabric softener into the fabric softener dispenser. In a washing step of a washing machine, water from a water supply channel is supplied to the detergent dispenser, thereby causing a water level in the detergent dispenser to rise. When the water level in the detergent dispenser rises to the upper end of the first pipe, the detergent in the detergent dispenser falls on the water through the internal space of the first pipe and the first through hole onto the bottom wall of the case, flows down along the inclination of the bottom wall to the dispenser opening of the case, and is dispensed from the dispenser opening into a washing tub. In a rinsing step after the washing step, water from the water supply channel is supplied to the fabric softener dispenser, thereby causing a water level in the fabric softener dispenser to rise. When the water level in the fabric softener dispenser rises to the upper end of the second tube section, the fabric softener in the fabric softener dispenser rides on the water, passes through the internal space of the second tube section and the second through hole, falls onto the bottom wall of the case, flows down along the slope of the bottom wall to the dispense port of the case, and is dispensed into the washing tub from the dispense port.
Since the partition rib is disposed between the detergent input section and the fabric softener input section, the partition rib blocks water that overflows from the detergent input section and attempts to reach the fabric softener input section during the washing process. Furthermore, since the escape groove is disposed between the partition rib and the fabric softener input section, even if the water overflowing from the detergent input section goes over the partition rib, this water is received in the escape groove. The water received in the escape groove flows along the inclination of the groove bottom of the escape groove to the escape hole, falls from the escape hole onto the bottom wall of the case, flows down along the inclination of the bottom wall to the input port, and is input from the input port into the washing tub. As a result, the water in the detergent input section is less likely to reach the fabric softener input section, so that the fabric softener in the fabric softener input section can be prevented from running out before the rinsing process, which is the timing for use.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, in the depth direction of the case, the rear end of the groove bottom of the escape groove is positioned further back than the first through hole of the detergent input section, and the front end of the groove bottom is positioned further forward than the first through hole. This allows the escape groove to receive water that has overflowed from the detergent input section and climbed over the partition rib over a wide range in the depth direction. This makes it even more difficult for water in the detergent input section to reach the fabric softener input section, making it even more difficult to prevent the fabric softener in the fabric softener input section from running out before it is supposed to be used.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, in the first bottom wall in which the first through hole is formed biased toward the rear in the detergent dispenser, the portion closer to the front than the first through hole extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side. Similarly, in the second bottom wall in which the second through hole is formed biased toward the rear in the fabric softener dispenser, the portion closer to the front than the second through hole extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side. As a result, a space is secured between the front portions of the first and second bottom walls and the bottom walls, respectively, which expands vertically as it approaches the front side. Therefore, water that falls onto the bottom wall of the case from the detergent dispenser or fabric softener dispenser can flow smoothly in this space and be supplied into the washing tub from the dispenser opening.

According to the present invention, the drain hole is disposed between the detergent input section and the partition rib, so that even if the water overflowing from the detergent input section tries to flow toward the partition rib, the water will drop from the drain hole onto the bottom wall of the case, flow down along the inclination of the bottom wall to the input port, and be input from the input port into the washing tub. Even if the water that has fallen onto the bottom wall of the case from the drain hole fills the area at the back of the case, a flow path that guides the water to the input port is secured below the inclined plate that constitutes the bottom of the escape groove, so that the water can be prevented from entering the fabric softener input section from the back. As a result, the water in the detergent input section is less likely to reach the fabric softener input section, so that the fabric softener in the fabric softener input section can be further prevented from running out before it is supposed to be used.
The sprinkler unit that receives water from the water supply passage sprinkles water from the first sprinkler outlet onto the detergent input section and the second sprinkler outlet onto the fabric softener input section, but from the third sprinkler outlet located directly above the drainage hole, it does not sprinkle water onto the detergent input section or the fabric softener input section, but directly onto the drainage hole. In other words, the sprinkler unit releases excess water from the water received from the water supply passage into the drainage hole, thereby preventing the water in the detergent input section from overflowing into the fabric softener input section. This makes it even more difficult for the water in the detergent input section to reach the fabric softener input section, making it even more difficult to prevent the fabric softener in the fabric softener input section from running out before it is supposed to be used.

In addition, according to the present invention, the straightening rib provided on the underside of the second bottom wall in the area closer to the detergent inlet than the second through hole guides the water that flows down from the drainage hole between the detergent inlet and the partition rib onto the bottom wall of the case to the detergent inlet side, i.e., the center side of the container, so that this water can smoothly merge with other water flowing on the bottom wall.

1 is a schematic vertical sectional right side view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a water injection unit included in the washing machine. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container included in the water injection unit. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container with some parts removed. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container seen from below. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6. FIG. 4 is a plan view of the water injection unit with some parts removed. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a water spray section included in the water injection unit. FIG. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. 10 . 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line CC in FIG. 10 . 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 10 . 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E of FIG. 10.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional right side view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is referred to as the left-right direction X of the washing machine 1, the left-right direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction Y of the washing machine 1, and the up-down direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the up-down direction Z of the washing machine 1. In the left-right direction X, the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the left side X1, and the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the right side X2. In the front-rear direction Y, the left side is referred to as the front side Y1, and the right side is referred to as the rear side Y2. In the up-down direction Z, the upper side is referred to as the upper side Z1, and the lower side is referred to as the lower side Z2. The left-right direction X and the front-rear direction Y coincide with the horizontal direction H, and the up-down direction Z coincides with the vertical direction V.

Washing machine 1 includes a washer-dryer with a drying function, but below, washing machine 1 will be described using as an example a washing machine that performs only a washing operation without the drying function. Washing machine 1 includes a housing 2, an outer tub 3 housed in housing 2, a washing tub 4 housed in outer tub 3, a rotor 5 housed in washing tub 4, an electric motor 6 that generates a driving force to rotate washing tub 4 and rotor 5, and a transmission mechanism 7 that switches the destination of the driving force generated by motor 6.

The housing 2 is made of, for example, metal, and is formed in a box shape. The top surface 2A of the housing 2 is formed, for example, at an angle with respect to the horizontal direction H so as to extend to the upper side Z1 as it approaches the rear side Y2. An opening 2B that communicates between the inside and the outside of the housing 2 is formed on the top surface 2A. A door 9 for opening and closing the opening 2B is provided on the top surface 2A. A display operation unit 10 consisting of, for example, a touch panel is provided in an area on the top surface 2A, on the front side Y1 of the opening 2B. By operating the display operation unit 10, a user can freely select washing conditions and instruct the washing machine 1 to start or stop operation. Information related to the washing operation is visually displayed on the display operation unit 10.

The outer tank 3 is made of resin, for example, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The outer tank 3 has a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 3A arranged along the vertical direction Z, a bottom wall 3B that closes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the lower side Z2, and a ring-shaped annular wall 3C that borders the edge of the upper side Z1 of the circumferential wall 3A and protrudes toward the center of the circumferential wall 3A. An opening 3D is formed inside the annular wall 3C. The opening 3D is located directly below the opening 2B of the housing 2. The hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A is exposed to the upper side Z1 from the opening 3D. The bottom wall 3B is formed in a disk shape extending along the horizontal direction H, and a through hole 3E that penetrates the bottom wall 3B is formed at the center of the bottom wall 3B.

The washing machine 1 further includes a water injection unit 11 that separately stores detergent and fabric softener, a water supply channel 12 that connects a faucet (not shown) and the water injection unit 11, and a bath water pump 14 that is connected to a hose 13 that is submerged in bath water. The water injection unit 11 is disposed on the upper side Z1 of the outer tub 3 in the housing 2, on the rear side Y2 of the opening 3D of the outer tub 3. The water injection unit 11 includes a detergent dispenser 15 that accommodates detergent, and a fabric softener dispenser 16 that accommodates fabric softener. The detergent dispenser 15 and the fabric softener dispenser 16 are disposed side by side along the left-right direction X. The water supply channel 12 branches into a first branch channel 12A and a second branch channel 12B, and each of the first branch channel 12A and the second branch channel 12B is connected to the water injection unit 11. A first water supply valve 17 that can be opened and closed is provided in the first branch 12A, and a second water supply valve 18 that can be opened and closed is provided in the second branch 12B.

When the first water supply valve 17 is opened with the second water supply valve 18 closed, tap water from the faucet flows through the first branch path 12A into the detergent input section 15, and is then supplied to the outer tub 3 carrying the detergent in the detergent input section 15. If there is no detergent in the detergent input section 15, only tap water is supplied to the outer tub 3. When the second water supply valve 18 is opened with the first water supply valve 17 closed, tap water from the faucet flows through the second branch path 12B into the fabric softener input section 16, and is then supplied to the outer tub 3 carrying the fabric softener in the fabric softener input section 16. If there is no fabric softener in the fabric softener input section 16, only tap water is supplied to the outer tub 3.

The bath water pump 14 is connected to the water injection unit 11 via the bath water supply passage 19. When driven, the bath water pump 14 sucks in bath water and causes it to flow into the detergent input section 15. As a result, the bath water is supplied into the outer tub 3 through the detergent input section 15. The dashed arrows in Figure 1 indicate the tap water and bath water supplied from the water injection unit 11 into the outer tub 3. The water injection unit 11, the water supply passage 12, and the bath water pump 14 will be described in detail below.

A drainage channel 20 is connected to the outer tub 3 from the underside Z2, and the water in the outer tub 3 is discharged from the drainage channel 20 to the outside of the machine. A drainage valve 21 is provided midway along the drainage channel 20, which is opened and closed to start and stop drainage. When the drainage valve 21 is closed and the first water supply valve 17 or the second water supply valve 18 is opened or the bath water pump 14 is driven, water from the water injection unit 11 is supplied to the outer tub 3 and accumulates therein.

The washing tub 4 is made of, for example, metal, has a central axis J extending in the vertical direction Z, is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is slightly smaller than the outer tub 3, and can accommodate laundry Q inside. The washing tub 4 has a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 4A arranged along the vertical direction Z, and a bottom wall 4C that closes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A from the lower side Z2.

The inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A is the inner circumferential surface of the washing tub 4. The upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A is an opening 4B that exposes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A to the upper side Z1. The opening 4B is in communication with the opening 3D of the annular wall 3C of the outer tub 3 and the opening 2B of the housing 2 from the lower side Z2. A user of the washing machine 1 opens the door 9 to open the opening 2B, opening 3D, and opening 4B, and puts laundry Q in and out of the washing tub 4 through the opening 2B, opening 3D, and opening 4B.

The washing tub 4 is housed coaxially in the outer tub 3 and is arranged along the vertical direction Z. When housed in the outer tub 3, the washing tub 4 can rotate around the central axis J. A plurality of through holes (not shown) are formed in the circumferential wall 4A and bottom wall 4C of the washing tub 4, and water in the outer tub 3 can move between the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4 through the through holes. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 and the water level in the washing tub 4 are the same. In addition, water from the water injection unit 11 is supplied directly into the washing tub 4 from the upper side Z1 by dropping through the inlet/outlet 4B of the washing tub 4.

The bottom wall 4C of the washing tub 4 is formed in a disk shape extending generally parallel to the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3 at a distance Z1, and a through hole 4D is formed in the bottom wall 4C at the circular center position that coincides with the central axis J. A tubular support shaft 22 is provided in the bottom wall 4C and extends to the lower side Z2 along the central axis J while surrounding the through hole 4D. The support shaft 22 is inserted into the through hole 3E in the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3, and the lower end of the support shaft 22 is located on the lower side Z2 of the bottom wall 3B.

The rotor 5 is a so-called pulsator, formed in a disk shape with the central axis J as the circular center, and arranged concentrically with the washing tub 4 along the bottom wall 4C inside the washing tub 4. A plurality of blades 5A arranged radially are provided on the upper surface of the rotor 5 facing the entrance/exit 4B of the washing tub 4 from the lower side Z2. The rotor 5 is provided with a rotating shaft 23 that extends from the circular center to the lower side Z2 along the central axis J. The rotating shaft 23 is inserted into the hollow portion of the support shaft 22, and the lower end of the rotating shaft 23 is located on the lower side Z2 below the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3.

The motor 6 is disposed inside the housing 2, below the outer tub 3, at Z2. The motor 6 has an output shaft 24 that rotates about a central axis J. The transmission mechanism 7 is interposed between the lower ends of the support shaft 22 and the rotating shaft 23, and the upper end of the output shaft 24. The transmission mechanism 7 selectively transmits the driving force output by the motor 6 from the output shaft 24 to one or both of the support shaft 22 and the rotating shaft 23. A known clutch or the like is used as the transmission mechanism 7.

When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the support shaft 22, the washing tub 4 rotates around the central axis J. When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 23, the rotor 5 rotates around the central axis J. Since the rotation direction of the output shaft 24 of the motor 6 can be changed, each of the washing tub 4 and the rotor 5 can rotate not only in one direction, but also in the other direction opposite to that one direction.

The washing machine 1 further includes a control unit 25 configured by a microcomputer and the like. The control unit 25 executes a washing operation by controlling the operation of the motor 6, the transmission mechanism 7, the bath water pump 14, the first water supply valve 17, the second water supply valve 18, and the drain valve 21. The washing operation includes a washing process for washing the laundry Q in the washing tub 4, a rinsing process for rinsing the laundry Q after the washing process, and a dewatering process for dewatering the laundry Q after the rinsing process. The rinsing process may be executed multiple times, and the last rinsing process is called a final rinsing process. The dewatering process includes an intermediate dewatering process executed immediately after the washing process or the rinsing process, and a final dewatering process executed at the end of the washing operation.

In the washing process, the control unit 25 first supplies water to the washing tub 4 by opening the first water supply valve 17 for a predetermined time with the drain valve 21 closed. As a result, the detergent in the detergent dispenser 15 is supplied to the washing tub 4 by the tap water from the water supply passage 12. At this time, the control unit 25 may supply bath water to the washing tub 4 by driving the bath water pump 14. When the water level in the washing tub 4 rises to a predetermined water level, the control unit 25 stops the water supply and then controls the motor 6 and the transmission mechanism 7 to rotate the rotor 5. As a result, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is washed by being agitated and having dirt broken down by the detergent. Finally, the control unit 25 drains the washing tub 4 by opening the drain valve 21.

In the rinsing process, the control unit 25 first stores tap water in the washing tub 4 by opening the first water supply valve 17 for a predetermined time while keeping the drain valve 21 closed. In the final rinsing process, the control unit 25 stores tap water with dissolved fabric softener in the washing tub 4 by opening the second water supply valve 18 for a predetermined time instead of the first water supply valve 17. Next, the control unit 25 rotates the rotor 5 by controlling the motor 6 and the transmission mechanism 7. This rinses the laundry Q in the washing tub 4, and the fabric softener permeates the laundry Q. Finally, the control unit 25 drains the washing tub 4.

In the spin-drying process, the control unit 25 rotates the washing tub 4 at a predetermined spin-drying speed by controlling the motor 6 and the transmission mechanism 7 with the drain valve 21 open. As a result, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is dehydrated by the action of centrifugal force. Note that the operating conditions may be different between the intermediate spin-drying process and the final spin-drying process. For example, the spin-drying speed in the final spin-drying process may be higher than the spin-drying speed in the intermediate spin-drying process.

Next, the water injection unit 11 will be described in detail. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the water injection unit 11. The water injection unit 11 includes a case 30 that forms the housing of the water injection unit 11, a container 31 that contains detergent and fabric softener, and a water spray unit 32 that is disposed in the upper part of the case 30 and receives water from the water supply channel 12 and sprays the water into the container 31.

The case 30 is formed in a box shape that is slightly flattened in the vertical direction Z. In this embodiment, the depth direction of the case 30 is the front-rear direction Y, but the case 30 may also be configured so that the depth direction is the left-right direction X. The case 30 has a left wall 35, a right wall 36, a rear wall 37 that is installed between the rear ends of the left wall 35 and the right wall 36, a top wall 38 that is installed between the upper ends of the left wall 35 and the right wall 36 and is also connected to the upper end of the rear wall 37, and a bottom wall 39 that is installed between the lower ends of the left wall 35 and the right wall 36 and is also connected to the lower end of the rear wall 37. The left wall 35 and the right wall 36 are plates that extend in the front-rear direction Y and the vertical direction Z, and are arranged parallel to each other. The rear wall 37 is a plate that extends in the left-right direction X and the vertical direction Z.

The top wall 38 is a generally rectangular plate extending in the horizontal direction H. Flange-shaped brackets 40 for fixing the case 30 to the housing 2 are provided at the four corners of the top wall 38. A first connector 41, a second connector 42, a third connector 43, and a fourth connector 44 are provided on the upper surface of the top wall 38.

The first connector 41 is tubular and extends in the left-right direction X, and is disposed in the right region of the top wall 38. The left end of the first connector 41 is disposed approximately in the center of the top wall 38 in a plan view. A first through hole 38A is formed in the top wall 38 directly below the left end of the first connector 41, penetrating the top wall 38 in the up-down direction Z. The first through hole 38A is in communication with the internal space of the first connector 41 from the lower side Z2. The right end of the first connector 41 is connected to the first branch passage 12A in the water supply passage 12.

The second connector 42 is tubular and extends in the left-right direction X. It is shorter than the first connector 41 and is disposed adjacent to the right end of the first connector 41 from the rear side Y2. A second through hole 38B penetrating the top wall 38 in the up-down direction Z is formed in the top wall 38 at a position directly below the left end of the second connector 42. The second through hole 38B is in communication with the internal space of the second connector 42 from the lower side Z2. The right end of the second connector 42 is connected to the second branch passage 12B in the water supply passage 12.

The third connector 43 is tubular and extends in the left-right direction X, and is disposed in the left region of the top wall 38. Like the first connector 41, the third connector 43 is disposed approximately in the center of the top wall 38 in the front-rear direction Y, and is disposed next to the left side X1 of the first connector 41. A third through hole 38C is formed in the top wall 38 directly below the right end of the third connector 43, penetrating the top wall 38 in the up-down direction Z. The third through hole 38C is in communication with the internal space of the third connector 43 from the lower side Z2. The left end of the third connector 43 is connected to the bath water supply channel 19.

The fourth connector 44 is tubular and extends from the left end of the first connector 41 at an angle to the left side X1 and rear side Y2, and is disposed in the rear region of the ceiling wall 38. The internal space of the fourth connector 44 is in communication with the internal space of the first connector 41 from the rear side Y2. The rear end of the fourth connector 44 is connected to the bath water pump 14 via a relay path 45.

The bottom wall 39 is a plate that extends at an angle with respect to the horizontal direction H. Specifically, the bottom wall 39 extends downward toward the front side Y1. The case 30 has an opening 30A bordered by the front ends of the left wall 35, right wall 36, top wall 38, and bottom wall 39. The opening 30A is rectangular and elongated in the left-right direction X. The space surrounded by the left wall 35, right wall 36, rear wall 37, top wall 38, and bottom wall 39 is the internal space 30B of the case 30, and the internal space 30B is exposed to the front side Y1 from the opening 30A.

The lower end of the opening 30A is called the input port 30C. The bottom wall 39 extends diagonally downward in the front-rear direction Y and is connected to the input port 30C (see also FIG. 12 described later). The rear end of the input port 30C is bordered by the front end of the bottom wall 39. The input port 30C is a long and narrow slit in the left-right direction X, and faces the inside of the washing tub 4 from the upper side Z1 through the opening 3D of the outer tub 3 and the entrance/exit 4B of the washing tub 4 (see FIG. 1). In the front-rear direction Y, the front side Y1 is the near side approaching the input port 30C, and the rear side Y2 is the far side away from the input port 30C. The near side and the far side are directions based on the user positioned at the front side Y1 of the washing machine 1.

The container 31 is normally housed in the case 30, but can be pulled out from the case 30 to the front side Y1 through the opening 30A. The following description is based on the assumption that the container 31 is housed in the case 30. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the container 31. The container 31 has a handle 50 (see also Figure 2) exposed to the front side Y1 from the opening 30A when housed in the case 30, the detergent input section 15 and fabric softener input section 16 described above, and a partition rib 51 and an escape groove 52 arranged between the detergent input section 15 and the fabric softener input section 16.

The handle 50 is a long, plate-like shape that is approximately the same size as the opening 30A of the case 30, and the four corners of the handle 50 are rounded into an arc. The handle 50 has a recess 50A that is recessed from its bottom end toward the upper side Z1 (see FIG. 7 described later). The user places their fingers in the recess 50A to pull out the container 31.

The detergent dispenser 15 and fabric softener dispenser 16 are each tray-shaped and connected to the handle 50 from the rear side Y2. The detergent dispenser 15 is disposed on the left side X1 of the fabric softener dispenser 16. The detergent dispenser 15 has the same size as the fabric softener dispenser 16 in the front-rear direction Y, but is approximately twice as large as the fabric softener dispenser 16 in the left-right direction X. A first lid member 53 is attached to the detergent dispenser 15, and a second lid member 54 is attached to the fabric softener dispenser 16.

4 is a perspective view of the container 31 with the first lid member 53 and the second lid member 54 removed. The detergent dispenser 15 has a first bottom wall 55 formed of a horizontal plate, a first left wall 56 rising from the left end of the first bottom wall 55 and extending in the front-to-rear direction Y, and a first right wall 57 rising from the right end of the first bottom wall 55 and extending in the front-to-rear direction Y. The detergent dispenser 15 further has a first rear wall 58 rising from the rear end of the first bottom wall 55 and spanning between the rear ends of the first left wall 56 and the first right wall 57, and a first front wall 59 rising from the front end of the first bottom wall 55 and spanning between the front ends of the first left wall 56 and the first right wall 57. The space surrounded by the first bottom wall 55, the first left wall 56, the first right wall 57, the first rear wall 58, and the first front wall 59 is the internal space 15A of the detergent dispenser 15, and the internal space 15A is open to the upper side Z1.

A circular first through hole 55A is formed in the first bottom wall 55, penetrating the first bottom wall 55 in the up-down direction Z. The first through hole 55A is located on the rear side Y2 of the center C1 of the first bottom wall 55 in the front-rear direction Y. In other words, the first through hole 55A is located at a rearward position in the first bottom wall 55. A portion 55B of the first bottom wall 55 on the rear side Y2 of the first through hole 55A extends substantially horizontally, while a portion 55C on the front side Y1 of the first through hole 55A extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side Y1 (see also FIG. 12).

The detergent input section 15 further has a first tube section 15B in the shape of a circular tube that protrudes to the upper side Z1 while surrounding the first through hole 55A in the detergent input section 15, i.e., in the internal space 15A. The portion 55D of the first bottom wall 55 surrounding the first tube section 15B is tapered so as to descend slightly as it approaches the first tube section 15B (see also FIG. 12). The lower end of the first tube section 15B protrudes from the first bottom wall 55 to the lower side Z2 and constitutes the lower end of the first bottom wall 55 (see FIG. 11 described later). The internal space of the first tube section 15B constitutes the first through hole 55A and is open to each of the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2. A reinforcing rib 15C extending in the vertical direction Z and connected to the first bottom wall 55 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the first tube section 15B.

The first lid member 53 (see FIG. 3) described above is disposed within the detergent dispenser 15 and attached to the first pipe portion 15B. The first lid member 53 has a first top plate portion 53A that faces the upper end of the first pipe portion 15B from the upper side Z1 across a gap, and a cylindrical first tube portion 53B that extends from the center of the first top plate portion 53A to the lower side Z2 and surrounds the first pipe portion 15B (see FIG. 12). The first top plate portion 53A is a substantially rectangular flat plate that extends substantially horizontally. The lower end of the first tube portion 53B is disposed away from the first bottom wall 55 toward the upper side Z1.

A first guide rail 60 is provided at the upper end of the first left wall 56, extending linearly along the front-rear direction Y. The rear end of the first guide rail 60 is positioned rearward Y2 from the first rear wall 58. The first front wall 59 extends at an angle toward the upper front side. The first front wall 59 is connected to the handle 50 from the rear side Y2.

The fabric softener dispenser 16 has a second bottom wall 65 formed of a horizontal plate, a second left wall 66 rising from the left end of the second bottom wall 65 and extending in the front-rear direction Y, and a second right wall 67 rising from the right end of the second bottom wall 65 and extending in the front-rear direction Y. The fabric softener dispenser 16 further has a second rear wall 68 rising from the rear end of the second bottom wall 65 and spanning between the rear ends of the second left wall 66 and the second right wall 67, and a second front wall 69 rising from the front end of the second bottom wall 65 and spanning between the front ends of the second left wall 66 and the second right wall 67. The space surrounded by the second bottom wall 65, the second left wall 66, the second right wall 67, the second rear wall 68, and the second front wall 69 is the internal space 16A of the fabric softener dispenser 16, and the internal space 16A is open to the upper side Z1.

A circular second through hole 65A is formed in the second bottom wall 65, penetrating the second bottom wall 65 in the up-down direction Z. The second through hole 65A is located on the rear side Y2 of the center C2 of the second bottom wall 65 in the front-rear direction Y. In other words, the second through hole 65A is located at a rearward position in the second bottom wall 65. A portion 65B of the second bottom wall 65 on the rear side Y2 of the second through hole 65A extends substantially horizontally, while a portion 65C on the front side Y1 of the second through hole 65A extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side Y1.

The fabric softener dispenser 16 further has a second tube 16B in the shape of a circular tube that protrudes to the upper side Z1 while surrounding the second through hole 65A in the fabric softener dispenser 16, i.e., in the internal space 16A. The portion 65D of the second bottom wall 65 surrounding the second tube 16B is tapered so as to descend slightly as it approaches the second tube 16B. The lower end of the second tube 16B protrudes from the second bottom wall 65 to the lower side Z2 and constitutes the lower end of the second bottom wall 65 (see FIG. 11). The internal space of the second tube 16B constitutes the second through hole 65A and is open to the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2. The outer peripheral surface of the second tube 16B is provided with a reinforcing rib 16C that extends in the vertical direction Z and connects to the second bottom wall 65.

The second lid member 54 (see FIG. 3) described above is disposed in the fabric softener dispenser 16 and attached to the second tube 16B. The second lid member 54 is configured in the same manner as the first lid member 53. The second lid member 54 has a second top plate portion 54A that faces the upper end of the second tube 16B from the upper side Z1 across a gap, and a cylindrical second tube portion 54B that extends from the center of the second top plate portion 54A to the lower side Z2 and surrounds the second tube portion 16B. The second top plate portion 54A is a substantially rectangular flat plate that extends substantially horizontally. The lower end of the second tube portion 54B is disposed away from the second bottom wall 65 toward the upper side Z1.

Strictly speaking, the second left wall 66 is longer toward the rear side Y2 than the second right wall 67, and the rear end 66A of the second left wall 66 protrudes toward the rear side Y2 beyond the second rear wall 68. A second guide rail 70 extending linearly along the front-rear direction Y is provided at the upper end of the second right wall 67. The rear end of the second guide rail 70 is positioned rearward Y2 beyond the second rear wall 68. The second rear wall 68 is positioned in the same position as the first rear wall 58 of the detergent dispenser 15 in the front-rear direction Y. The second front wall 69 extends at an angle toward the upper front side. The second front wall 69 is connected to the handle 50 from the rear side Y2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the container 31 as viewed from the bottom side Z2. A straightening rib 71 protruding to the bottom side Z2 is provided on the underside of the second bottom wall 65 of the fabric softener dispenser 16 in the area on the left side X1 of the second through-hole 65A, i.e., on the detergent dispenser 15 side. The straightening rib 71 has a rear end 71A and a front end 71B extending in the front-rear direction Y, and an intermediate portion 71C that slopes from the rear end 71A to the left side X1 and connects to the front end 71B. Therefore, the straightening rib 71 as a whole extends closer to the detergent dispenser 15 on the left side X1 as it moves from the rear side Y2 to the front side Y1.

6 is a plan view of the container 31. The partition rib 51 is a vertical plate disposed between the first right wall 57 of the detergent dispenser 15 and the second left wall 66 of the fabric softener dispenser 16, and extends from the handle 50 to the rear side Y2 along the front-rear direction Y. The partition rib 51 is disposed parallel to the first right wall 57 and the second left wall 66 in a plan view. The upper end of the partition rib 51 is disposed at a position higher than the upper ends of the first right wall 57 and the second left wall 66 (see FIG. 11). The rear end 51A of the partition rib 51 is disposed on the rear side Y2 of the first rear wall 58 of the detergent dispenser 15 and the second rear wall 68 of the fabric softener dispenser 16. A slit-shaped drain hole 75 extending in the front-rear direction Y is provided between the partition rib 51 and the first right wall 57. The drain hole 75 is open to each of the upper side Z1 and the lower side Z2. The container 31 has multiple connecting parts 76 that are arranged in the drainage holes 75 and bridge between the first right wall 57 and the partition rib 51. These connecting parts 76 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction Y. The rearmost connecting part 76 is bridged between the rear end of the first right wall 57 and the partition rib 51.

The escape groove 52 is disposed between the partition rib 51 and the second left wall 66 of the fabric softener dispenser 16, and extends in the front-rear direction Y. The partition rib 51 is the side wall on the left side X1 of the escape groove 52, and the second left wall 66 is the side wall on the right side X2 of the escape groove 52. The container 31 includes a plate-shaped inclined plate 77 that is installed between the partition rib 51 and the second left wall 66 and extends in the front-rear direction Y. The inclined plate 77 constitutes the groove bottom 52A of the escape groove 52, and is inclined downwardly over almost the entire area toward the front side Y1.

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A in Figure 6. At the groove bottom 52A of the escape groove 52, the rear end 52B is located on the rear side Y2 of the first through hole 55A of the first bottom wall 55 of the detergent input section 15, and the front end 52C is located on the front side Y1 of the first through hole 55A. The rear end 52B extends along the horizontal direction H. At the groove bottom 52A, the intermediate portion 52D connecting the rear end 52B and the front end 52C extends obliquely downward toward the front side Y1. At the boundary between the rear end 52B and the intermediate portion 52D, a convex portion 52E is provided that protrudes upward Z1 and extends in the left-right direction X. The front end 52C is connected to the front end, i.e., the lower end, of the intermediate portion 52D. The front end 52C is provided with an escape hole 52F that penetrates the inclined plate 77 in the up-down direction Z.

Figure 8 is a plan view of the water injection unit 11 with the top wall 38 of the case 30 removed. The water sprinkler section 32 includes a first water sprinkler tray 81 arranged directly above the detergent dispenser 15 and a second water sprinkler tray 82 arranged directly above the fabric softener dispenser 16. Each of the first water sprinkler tray 81 and the second water sprinkler tray 82 is a substantially rectangular tray that is long in the front-to-rear direction Y in a plan view. A plurality of water sprinkler ports 83 formed by through holes are formed in each of the bottom plate 81A of the first water sprinkler tray 81 and the bottom plate 82A of the second water sprinkler tray 82. The water sprinkler ports 83 include a plurality of first water sprinkler ports 83A arranged so as to be distributed over almost the entire area of the bottom plate 81A, a plurality of second water sprinkler ports 83B arranged so as to be distributed over the entire area of the bottom plate 82A, and a plurality of third water sprinkler ports 83C arranged in the front-to-rear direction Y along the right end of the bottom plate 81A.

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the first sprinkler tray 81. The first sprinkler outlet 83A includes a number of slits 83AA aligned in the front-to-rear direction Y, and a number of round holes 83AB arranged around each slit 83AA. Each slit 83AA is elongated in the left-to-right direction X. The second sprinkler outlets 83B are a number of round holes (see Figure 8). Each of the third sprinkler outlets 83C is a rectangular hole and is located away from the group of first sprinkler outlets 83A to the right X2.

Figure 10 is a plan view of the water injection unit 11. Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line B-B in Figure 10. The water sprinkler section 32 is disposed in the upper part of the internal space 30B of the case 30. Specifically, in the water sprinkler section 32, the first water sprinkler tray 81 and the second water sprinkler tray 82 are disposed side-by-side in the upper part of the internal space 30B such that the first water sprinkler tray 81 is located to the left X1 of the second water sprinkler tray 82.

The first sprinkler tray 81 is positioned directly above the detergent dispenser 15. In this state, all of the first sprinkler ports 83A are positioned directly above the detergent dispenser 15, but all of the third sprinkler ports 83C located at the right end are positioned directly above the drainage holes 75 to the right of the detergent dispenser 15 (see also FIG. 8). A pair of first fixing ribs 85, one on each side, are provided in the left region of the underside of the top wall 38 of the case 30, sandwiching the first sprinkler tray 81. The first sprinkler tray 81 is fixed to the top wall 38 by the claws 85A provided on each first fixing rib 85 hooking onto the outer periphery of the first sprinkler tray 81 from the lower side Z2. The first through hole 38A and the third through hole 38C of the top wall 38 are in communication with the inside of the first sprinkler tray 81 from the upper side Z1 (see FIGS. 2 and 8). The first watering tray 81 may be removable from the opening 30A of the case 30.

The second watering tray 82 is disposed directly above the fabric softener dispenser 16. In this state, all the second watering ports 83B of the second watering tray 82 are disposed directly above the fabric softener dispenser 16. A pair of second fixed ribs 86 are provided on the right region of the lower surface of the top wall 38, sandwiching the second watering tray 82. The second watering tray 82 is fixed to the top wall 38 by hooking the claws 86A of each second fixed rib 86 onto the outer periphery of the second watering tray 82 from the lower side Z2. The second through hole 38B of the top wall 38 is in a state in which it communicates with the inside of the second watering tray 82 from the upper side Z1 (see Figures 2 and 8). The second watering tray 82 may be able to be pulled out from the opening 30A of the case 30. The upper end of the partition rib 51 described above is disposed between the first fixed rib 85 on the right side X2 and the second fixed rib 86 on the left side X1.

At the connecting portion between the left wall 35 and the top wall 38 of the case 30, a first guide groove 30D extending in the front-rear direction Y is formed as part of the internal space 30B of the case 30. At the connecting portion between the right wall 36 and the top wall 38 of the case 30, a second guide groove 30E extending in the front-rear direction Y is formed as part of the internal space 30B. In the container 31, the first guide rail 60 on the left side X1 is received in the first guide groove 30D, and the second guide rail 70 on the right side X2 is received in the second guide groove 30E. As a result, the container 31 is supported by the case 30 so as to be slidable in the front-rear direction Y, and can be pulled out of the case 30 as described above. Therefore, the user can pull the container 31 out of the case 30 and put detergent in the detergent dispenser 15 or put fabric softener in the fabric softener dispenser 16.

The detergent contained in the detergent dispenser 15 is a liquid detergent that has been used by the user recently. The detergent dispenser 15 may also accommodate liquid bleach in addition to the detergent. The fabric softener dispenser 16 accommodates liquid fabric softener. The "MAX" mark M displayed on the first top plate 53A of the first lid member 53 or the second top plate 54A of the second lid member 54 indicates the upper limit of the amount of detergent or fabric softener that can be accommodated, so the user should accommodate detergent or fabric softener to an extent that does not exceed this mark M. When the case 30 is returned to the container 31 by the user, as shown in FIG. 11, the first bottom wall 55 of the detergent dispenser 15 and the second bottom wall 65 of the fabric softener dispenser 16 are arranged on the upper side Z1 of the bottom wall 39 of the case 30 with a gap therebetween, and the first through hole 55A of the first bottom wall 55 and the second through hole 65A of the second bottom wall 65 face the bottom wall 39 from the upper side Z1.

A first engagement portion 88, for example, a convex portion, is provided on each of the first guide rail 60 and the first guide groove 30D, and a second engagement portion 89 similar to the first engagement portion 88 is provided on each of the second guide rail 70 and the second guide groove 30E (see FIG. 8). The first engagement portions 88 of the first guide rail 60 and the first guide groove 30D engage with each other, and the second engagement portions 89 of the second guide rail 70 and the second guide groove 30E engage with each other, so that the container 31 in the case 30 is positioned so as not to move toward the front side Y1 on its own. In this way, the washing operation is performed with the container 31 housed in the case 30, and the water injection unit 11 puts detergent or fabric softener on water from the water supply passage 12 and pours it into the washing tub 4. In other words, the water injection unit 11 selectively pours either detergent or fabric softener into the washing tub 4 when water is supplied.

Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C in Figure 10. Note that Figure 12 shows a vertical cross section of the water injection unit 11 in the first pipe section 15B of the detergent dispenser 15, but this vertical cross section is almost the same as the vertical cross section of the water injection unit 11 in the second pipe section 16B of the fabric softener dispenser 16.

During the washing process, the first water supply valve 17 opens as described above, so that tap water in the water supply line 12 flows into the first connector 41 through the first branch line 12A and falls into the first sprinkler tray 81 of the sprinkler section 32 from the first through hole 38A in the top wall 38 of the case 30 (see also FIG. 2). As a result, the first sprinkler tray 81 is filled with tap water, and water is sprayed from each first sprinkler port 83A into the detergent input section 15 directly below. Therefore, tap water is supplied from the water supply line 12 into the detergent input section 15. In addition, part of the tap water that flows into the first connector 41 flows through the relay line 45 and is supplied to the bath water pump 14 as priming water. When the bath water pump 14 is driven, bath water flows through the hose 13 and the bath water supply passage 19 into the third connector 43, and falls into the first sprinkler tray 81 of the sprinkler section 32 from the third through hole 38C in the top wall 38 of the case 30 (see also FIG. 2). As a result, the first sprinkler tray 81 is filled with bath water, and water is sprayed from each first sprinkler port 83A into the detergent input section 15 directly below.

In the washing process, the water level in the detergent input section 15 rises as tap water and/or bath water is supplied to the detergent input section 15 in this manner. The water in the detergent input section 15 also enters the gap 90 between the first pipe section 15B and the first tubular section 53B of the first lid member 53. When the water level in the detergent input section 15, i.e., the water level in the gap 90, rises to the upper end of the first pipe section 15B, the detergent in the detergent input section 15 falls on the water through the internal space of the first pipe section 15B and the first through hole 55A onto the bottom wall 39 of the case 30 due to the siphon effect, as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 12, and flows down along the slope of the bottom wall 39 to the input port 30C of the case 30, and is input from the input port 30C into the washing tub 4.

In the rinsing process after the washing process, specifically the final rinsing process, the second water supply valve 18 opens as described above, so that tap water in the water supply passage 12 flows into the second connector 42 through the second branch passage 12B and falls into the second sprinkler tray 82 of the sprinkler section 32 from the second through hole 38B in the top wall 38 of the case 30 (see also FIG. 2). As a result, the second sprinkler tray 82 is filled with tap water, which is sprayed from each second sprinkler port 84 into the fabric softener dispenser 16 directly below. Therefore, tap water is supplied from the water supply passage 12 into the fabric softener dispenser 16.

As tap water is supplied to the softener dispenser 16 in this manner, the water level in the softener dispenser 16 rises. The water in the softener dispenser 16 also enters the gap 91 between the second tube 16B and the second tubular portion 54B of the second lid member 54. When the water level in the softener dispenser 16, i.e., the water level in the gap 91, rises to the upper end of the second tube 16B, the detergent in the softener dispenser 16 rides on the water and falls through the internal space of the second tube 16B and the second through hole 65A onto the bottom wall 39 of the case 30, as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 12, and then flows down along the slope of the bottom wall 39 to the dispenser opening 30C of the case 30, from which it is dispensed into the washing tub 4.

As described above, in the first bottom wall 55 of the detergent dispenser 15, the portion 55C on the front side Y1 beyond the first through hole 55A extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side Y1, and in the second bottom wall 65 of the fabric softener dispenser 16, the portion 65C on the front side Y1 beyond the second through hole 65A extends diagonally upward as it approaches the front side Y1. As a result, between each of the portions 55C and 65C and the bottom wall 39 that extends diagonally downward as it approaches the front side Y1, a space 93 that expands in the vertical direction Z as it approaches the front side Y1 is secured. Therefore, water that has fallen onto the bottom wall 39 of the case 30 from the detergent dispenser 15 or fabric softener dispenser 16 can flow smoothly through this space 93 and be supplied from the dispenser 30C into the washing tub 4.

During the washing process, when the first water supply valve 17 is fully open and both tap water and bath water are supplied to the detergent dispenser 15, the amount of water supplied to the detergent dispenser 15 is at its maximum. When the amount of water supplied to the detergent dispenser 15 is at its maximum, it is assumed that the water drained from the first through hole 55A in the detergent dispenser 15 will not be able to keep up with the water supply. If the water in the detergent dispenser 15 continues to be unable to keep up with the water drained and overflows into the fabric softener dispenser 16 due to the water not being able to keep up with the water supply, the fabric softener in the fabric softener dispenser 16 will be carried away by the water, and the required amount of fabric softener cannot be supplied to the washing tub 4 in the subsequent final rinsing process.

As shown in FIG. 11, the partition rib 51 is disposed between the detergent dispenser 15 and the fabric softener dispenser 16, so that the water that overflows from the detergent dispenser 15 and attempts to reach the fabric softener dispenser 16 during the washing process (see the dashed arrow in FIG. 11) is blocked by the partition rib 51. The upper end of the partition rib 51 is disposed between the first fixed rib 85 on the right side X2 and the second fixed rib 86 on the left side X1, so that a labyrinth structure 92 is formed around the upper end of the partition rib 51. Therefore, it is difficult for the water that overflows from the detergent dispenser 15 to reach the upper end of the partition rib 51 and overcome the partition rib 51 to the fabric softener dispenser 16 side.

The escape groove 52 is disposed between the partition rib 51 and the fabric softener dispenser 16, so that even if water overflowing from the detergent dispenser 15 climbs over the partition rib 51, the water is received in the escape groove 52. As shown in FIG. 13, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line D-D in FIG. 10, the groove bottom 52A of the escape groove 52 extends obliquely downward toward the inlet 30C of the case 30, and an escape hole 52F is formed in the front end 52C of the groove bottom 52A on the inlet 30C side, facing the bottom wall 39 of the case 30 from the upper side Z1.

Therefore, as shown by the dashed arrow in FIG. 13, the water received in the escape groove 52 flows along the inclination of the groove bottom 52A of the escape groove 52 to the escape hole 52F, falls from the escape hole 52F onto the bottom wall 39 of the case 30, flows down along the inclination of the bottom wall 39 to the input port 30C, and is input from the input port 30C into the washing tub 4. This makes it difficult for the water in the detergent input section 15 to reach the fabric softener input section 16. Also, as described later, the water filling the back side of the case 30 can be released to the front side Y1 through the space 94 (see FIG. 14) on the lower side Z2 of the escape groove 52. In particular, the escape hole 52F is not provided in the entire area of the escape groove 52, but is provided only in the front end 52C on the input port 30C side, so that it is located away from the upper end of the fabric softener input section 16 to the lower side Z2. Therefore, even if water flowing on the bottom wall 39 accidentally blows up from the escape hole 52F into the escape groove 52, it is difficult for this water to reach the upper end of the fabric softener dispenser 16 and flow into the fabric softener dispenser 16. Also, the water that blows up from the escape hole 52F into the escape groove 52 flows along the slope of the groove bottom 52A as described above, returns to the escape hole 52F, and falls to the bottom wall 39. This prevents the fabric softener in the fabric softener dispenser 16 from running out before the final rinsing step, which is the timing for its intended use. Also, since there are only two dispensers in the water dispenser unit 11 for dispensing detergent, etc., the detergent dispenser 15 and the fabric softener dispenser 16, the water dispenser unit 11 can be made smaller.

The inclination angle of the acute angle of the upper surface of the groove bottom 52A of the escape groove 52 with respect to the horizontal direction H is called the inclination angle α, and the inclination angle of the acute angle of the upper surface of the bottom wall 39 of the case 30 with respect to the horizontal direction H is called the inclination angle β. In this embodiment, the inclination angle α is equal to or greater than the inclination angle β, and specifically, the inclination angle α is about 15 degrees and the inclination angle β is about 5 degrees, but these values can be changed as appropriate. The inclination angle α may also be equal to or less than the inclination angle β. In any case, a relatively large space 94 is secured in the vertical direction Z between the bottom wall 39 and the groove bottom 52A on the upper side Z1 of the bottom wall 39. Therefore, the water that has fallen onto the bottom wall 39 of the case 30 from the detergent inlet 15 or the fabric softener inlet 16 can be smoothly flowed to the front side Y1 in this space 94 and supplied from the inlet 30C into the washing tub 4. This ensures a flow path that leads the water that has lost its place at the rear end of the bottom wall 39 to the inlet 30C. If you want to increase the inclination angle α, it is recommended that you position the rear end 52B of the groove bottom 52A near the center C3 of the internal space 15A of the detergent dispenser 15 in the vertical direction Z.

The rear end 52B of the groove bottom 52A is located on the rear side Y2 of the first through hole 55A of the detergent input section 15, and the front end 52C of the groove bottom 52A is located on the front side Y1 of the first through hole 55A. Specifically, the rear end 52B is preferably located near the rear wall 37 of the case 30, and the front end 52C is preferably located at a position extended from the center of the first through hole 55A to the front side Y1 by approximately the same distance as the distance γ in the front-rear direction Y connecting the center of the first through hole 55A and the rear end of the rear end 52B. This allows the escape groove 52 to receive water that has overflowed from the detergent input section 15 and climbed over the partition rib 51 over a wide range in the front-rear direction Y. Therefore, the water in the detergent input section 15 is more unlikely to reach the fabric softener input section 16, which makes it more likely that the fabric softener in the fabric softener input section 16 will run out before its intended use.

The rear end 52B of the groove bottom 52A and the rear end 51A of the partition rib 51 are positioned to protrude further toward the rear side Y2 than the first rear wall 58 of the detergent dispenser 15. Furthermore, the rear end 66A (see FIG. 4) of the second left wall 66 of the fabric softener dispenser 16 also protrudes further toward the rear side Y2 than the first rear wall 58. In this case, even if the rear of the case 30 is filled with water, these rear ends 51A, 52B, and 66A can prevent the water from entering the fabric softener dispenser 16 through the second rear wall 68 of the fabric softener dispenser 16.

As shown in Fig. 14, which is a cross-sectional view taken along the line E-E of Fig. 10, a drain hole 75 is disposed between the detergent dispenser 15 and the partition rib 51. Therefore, even if water overflowing from the detergent dispenser 15 attempts to flow toward the partition rib 51, this water falls from the drain hole 75 onto the bottom wall 39 of the case 30, flows down along the inclination of the bottom wall 39 to the inlet 30C, and is dispensed from the inlet 30C into the washing tub 4. Even if the water that has fallen from the drain hole 75 onto the bottom wall 39 fills the rear side Y2 area of the case 30, a space 94 that guides this water toward the inlet 30C is secured as a flow path on the lower side Z2 of the inclined plate 77 that constitutes the groove bottom 52A of the escape groove 52, so that the space 94 can prevent this water from entering the fabric softener dispenser 16 from the rear side Y2. Therefore, the water in the detergent dispenser 15 is less likely to reach the fabric softener dispenser 16, which further prevents the fabric softener in the fabric softener dispenser 16 from running out before the rinsing process, which is the time for its intended use.

The sprinkler section 32, which receives water from the water supply passage 12, sprinkles water from the first sprinkler outlet 83A to the detergent input section 15 and from the second sprinkler outlet 83B to the fabric softener input section 16, but from the third sprinkler outlet 83C located directly above the drainage hole 75, it does not sprinkle water on the detergent input section 15 or the fabric softener input section 16, but directly on the drainage hole 75 between the detergent input section 15 and the partition rib 51 (see Figures 8 and 11). In other words, the sprinkler section 32 releases excess water from the water received from the water supply passage 12 to the drainage hole 75, so that the water in the detergent input section 15 can be prevented from overflowing into the fabric softener input section 16. Therefore, the water in the detergent input section 15 is less likely to reach the fabric softener input section 16, so that the fabric softener in the fabric softener input section 16 can be further prevented from running out before the intended use timing.

In addition, the straightening rib 71 provided on the underside of the second bottom wall 65 of the fabric softener dispenser 16 guides the water that flows vigorously from the drainage hole 75 onto the bottom wall 39 of the case 30 to the detergent dispenser 15 side, that is, to the space 94 on the central side of the container 31 in the left-right direction X, allowing this water to smoothly merge with other water flowing on the bottom wall 39 (see also FIG. 5). This prevents the water that flows down from the drainage hole 75 onto the bottom wall 39 from splashing left and right at the dispenser opening 30C, which can spoil the appearance of the dispenser.

This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

For example, the washing machine 1 in the above-described embodiment is a vertical washing machine in which the central axis J of the washing tub 4 extends in the up-down direction Z, i.e., the vertical direction V, but the washing tub 4 of a vertical washing machine may be disposed at an angle such that the central axis J is inclined in the front-to-back direction Y with respect to the vertical direction V.

LIST OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine 4 Washing tub 11 Water injection unit 12 Water supply passage 15 Detergent dispenser 15B First pipe section 16 Fabric softener dispenser 16B Second pipe section 30 Case 30A Dispensing port 31 Container 32 Spray section 39 Bottom wall 51 Partition rib 52 Relief groove 52A Groove bottom 52B Rear end 52C Front end 52F Relief hole 55 First bottom wall 55A First through hole 55C Front portion 65 Second bottom wall 65A Second through hole 65C Front portion 71 Flow straightening rib 75 Water drain hole 77 Inclined plate 83 Spray nozzle 83A First sprinkler nozzle 83B Second sprinkler nozzle 83C Third sprinkler nozzle C1 Center of first bottom wall 55 C2 Center of second bottom wall 65 Q Laundry Y Front-rear direction Y1 Front side Y2 Rear side Z1 Top side Z2 Bottom side

Claims (5)

A washing tub for storing laundry;
A water supply channel for supplying water into the washing tub;
a water injection unit that pours detergent or fabric softener into the washing tub with water from the water supply channel,
The water injection unit includes:
A case having an input port facing the washing tub from above and a bottom wall extending obliquely downward in a depth direction of the case and connected to the input port;
a container accommodated in the case so as to be removable from the case, the container having a detergent input section for storing a detergent and to which water from the water supply channel is supplied, a fabric softener input section arranged side by side with the detergent input section for storing a fabric softener and to which water from the water supply channel is supplied, a partition rib arranged between the detergent input section and the fabric softener input section and extending in the depth direction, and an escape groove arranged between the partition rib and the fabric softener input section and extending in the depth direction , wherein a gap through which water overflowing from the detergent input section and climbing over the partition rib passes is located between an upper end of the partition rib and a top wall of the case ,
the detergent input section has a first bottom wall having a first through hole formed therein and facing the bottom wall from above, and a first pipe section protruding upward within the detergent input section while surrounding the first through hole,
the fabric softener dispenser includes a second bottom wall having a second through hole formed therein and facing the bottom wall from above, and a second pipe portion protruding upward within the fabric softener dispenser while surrounding the second through hole,
The relief groove has a groove bottom extending obliquely downward toward the input port, and a relief hole provided at an end of the groove bottom on the input port side and facing the bottom wall from above,
In the washing machine, drain holes that are open on both the upper and lower sides are provided between the detergent input section and the partition rib. The depth direction includes a back side away from the insertion port and a front side approaching the insertion port,
The end portion on the inner side of the groove bottom is disposed on the inner side of the first through hole,
The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the front end of the groove bottom is positioned closer to the front than the first through hole. the first through hole is disposed on the back side of a center of the first bottom wall in the depth direction, and the second through hole is disposed on the back side of a center of the second bottom wall in the depth direction,
a portion of the first bottom wall that is closer to the front side than the first through hole extends obliquely upward toward the front side,
The washing machine according to claim 2 , wherein a portion of the second bottom wall that is closer to the front side than the second through hole extends obliquely upward toward the front side. The relief groove has an inclined plate that forms the groove bottom,
The water injection unit further includes a sprinkler unit having a sprinkler port, the sprinkler unit receiving water from the water supply channel and sprinkling water into the container from the sprinkler port,
The washing machine according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the sprinkler nozzle includes a first sprinkler nozzle disposed directly above the detergent dispenser, a second sprinkler nozzle disposed directly above the fabric softener dispenser, and a third sprinkler nozzle disposed directly above the drain hole. The washing machine according to claim 4, wherein a straightening rib is provided in the area of the underside of the second bottom wall closer to the detergent dispenser than the second through hole, and the straightening rib extends from the back side to the front side so as to approach the detergent dispenser.

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