JP7698478B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

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

In recent years, to meet the demands of users for improved convenience, washing machines have been developed that store multiple loads of laundry treatment agents such as detergent and fabric softener in the tank beforehand and automatically dispense the required amount from the tank into the water tub during the wash cycle. In such a configuration, the user needs to know the remaining amount of laundry treatment agent in the tank in order to know when to refill the tank with laundry treatment agent.

One way to inform the user of the remaining amount in the tank is, for example, to provide a sensor to detect the remaining amount. However, providing such a sensor requires space to accommodate the sensor itself and a circuit board for processing the signal output from the sensor, which results in an increase in the size of the washing machine. Furthermore, providing a sensor and circuit board increases the number of parts and the assembly work, which results in increased costs.

JP 2018-011618 A

Therefore, we provide a washing machine that allows the user to easily visually check the amount of laundry treatment agent remaining in the tank used in the automatic laundry treatment agent dispenser.

The washing machine of the embodiment includes an outer box, a water tub provided within the outer box, a container-shaped storage section formed on the front part of the outer box and having an opening that opens forward, a container that is stored in the storage section and configured to be pulled out in the front-rear direction, a treatment agent tank that is stored in the container and at least a portion of which is made of a transparent or translucent material and is capable of storing laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple runs, and a window section that is provided in a part of the outer box and is made of a transparent or translucent material.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an internal configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment, in which a container is pulled out; FIG. 1 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a container that houses a treatment agent tank and a treatment agent case in a washing machine according to a first embodiment; FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the container taken along line X6-X6 of FIG. 5 for the washing machine according to the first embodiment; 1 is a schematic diagram showing a container and its surroundings from the front in a washing machine according to a first embodiment; 1 is a chart showing the operation of each component over time when automatic dispensing is performed when detergent is stored in the treatment agent tank in the washing machine according to the first embodiment. 1 is a chart showing the operation of each component over time when automatic dispensing is performed when fabric softener is stored in the treatment agent tank in the washing machine according to the first embodiment; FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to another embodiment; FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram showing the washing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the front of the container and its surroundings; FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to a second embodiment; FIG. 13 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a container of a washing machine according to another embodiment. FIG. 13 is a top view showing a schematic configuration of a container of a washing machine according to still another embodiment.

Several embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components in each embodiment will be given the same reference numerals and the description will be omitted.

First Embodiment
First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, the washing machine 10 includes an outer box 11, a door 12, a water tub 13, a rotating tub 14, a rotating tub motor 15, a drainage mechanism 16, a control device 17, an operation panel 18, a water supply mechanism 20, and a loading mechanism 30. In Fig. 1, the installation surface side of the washing machine 10, i.e., the vertically lower side, is the lower side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side of the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upper side, is the upper side of the washing machine 10. The left-right direction when the washing machine 10 is viewed from the front is the left-right direction of the washing machine 10. The washing machine 10 is, for example, a horizontal axis type in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 14 is horizontal, or an oblique axis type inclined downward toward the rear, which is a drum type washing machine.

The washing machine 10 may or may not have a drying function, such as a heat pump or heater. The outer box 11 is made of, for example, steel or resin material and has a rectangular box shape as a whole, forming the outer shell of the washing machine 10. In this embodiment, the top surface 112 of the outer box 11 is formed as a flat surface. The front surface 111 of the outer box 11 is formed with an entrance 113 that connects the inside and outside of the outer box 11 and allows laundry to be put in and taken out. The door 12 is rotatably fixed to the front surface 111 of the outer box 11 by a hinge (not shown), and opens and closes the entrance 113.

The water tub 13 is disposed within the outer box 11 and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The spin tub 14 is disposed rotatably within the water tub 13. In this case, the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14 function as a washing tub that contains laundry. The spin tub motor 15 is provided outside the water tub 13 and connected to the spin tub 14. The spin tub motor 15 is electrically connected to the control device 17 and is driven based on a control signal from the control device 17 to rotate the spin tub 14.

The drain mechanism 16 shown in FIG. 2 has a function of draining water stored in the water tub 13 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain mechanism 16 has a drain path 161 and a drain valve 162. The drain path 161 is, for example, a flexible drain hose, one end of which is connected to the drain valve 162 and the other end of which is pulled out to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain valve 162 is, for example, an electromagnetically operable liquid opening and closing valve. The drain valve 162 is provided between the drain outlet 131 provided at the bottom of the water tub 13 and the drain path 161, and opens and closes the drain path 161. The drain valve 162 is electrically connected to the control device 17, and opens and closes the drain path 161 based on a control signal from the control device 17.

3, the control device 17 is mainly composed of a microcomputer having, for example, a CPU 171 and a memory area 172 such as a ROM, a RAM, and a rewritable flash memory, and controls the entire washing machine 10. In this embodiment, the control device 17 controls the operation of the rotating tub motor 15, the drain mechanism 16, the operation panel 18, and the water supply mechanism 20 during the washing operation.

The washing operation is an operating method that includes at least one of the washing process, the spin-drying process, and the rinsing process. The control device 17 may execute a drying operation following the washing operation or separately.

The operation panel 18 is provided on the front portion of the top surface 112 of the outer box 11 as shown in FIG. 1. Although not shown in detail, the operation panel 18 is provided with a start key, a pause key, and various operation keys for the user to set the washing operation course, etc. When executing the washing operation, the user can select using the operation panel 18 whether to automatically add laundry treatment agent or to manually add one load of laundry treatment agent. In this embodiment, laundry treatment agent is a concept that includes liquid or powder detergent, fabric softener, and fragrance, but is not limited to these as long as it is an agent that can be used in the washing operation.

The water supply mechanism 20 is provided, for example, in the upper left rear part of the water tank 13 inside the outer casing 11. The water supply mechanism 20 receives water from a water supply source, such as a water tap, and supplies water to the water tank 13. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the water supply mechanism 20 has a water supply port 21, a water supply path 22, a first water supply valve 23, and a second water supply valve 24. The water supply port 21 is provided so as to be exposed at the left rear part on the top surface 112 of the outer casing 11. The water supply port 21 is connected to an external water source, such as a water faucet, via a hose, for example.

The water supply path 22 is a path that connects the water supply port 21 to the water tank 13 and the rotating tank 14. The water supply path 22 branches into two downstream of the water supply port 21 and is connected to the inlet of the first water supply valve 23 and the inlet of the second water supply valve 24, respectively. The first water supply valve 23 and the second water supply valve 24 are on-off valves for liquid that can be electromagnetically opened and closed, and are provided downstream of the water supply port 21 in the water supply path 22. The first water supply valve 23 and the second water supply valve 24 are electrically connected to the control device 17 and open and close the water supply path 22 based on control signals from the control device 17.

The water supply path 22 includes a first water supply path 221, a second water supply path 222, and a third water supply path 223. The first water supply path 221 is a path that supplies water from an external water source to the input mechanism 30 in the washing process, as will be described in detail later. The second water supply path 222 is a path that supplies water from an external water source to the input mechanism 30 in the rinsing process. The first water supply valve 23 is provided between the water supply port 21 and the first water supply path 221. The second water supply valve 24 is provided between the water supply port 21 and the second water supply path 222. The third water supply path 223 is provided downstream of the first water supply path 221 and the second water supply path 222, and connects the input mechanism 30 and the water tank 13. A supply unit 25 is provided in the middle of the third water supply path 223.

The dosing mechanism 30 is provided, for example, midway through the water supply path 22, and has the function of soaking the water flowing through the water supply path 22 with the laundry treatment agent and supplying the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the dosing mechanism 30 includes a storage section 31, a pump 32, a container 40, a treatment agent case 50, and a treatment agent tank 60.

The storage section 31 is made of resin or metal and has a box or container shape, and has an opening 311 that opens forward. The storage section 31 is provided inside the outer box 11. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, the storage section 31 is located at the front end of the upper part of the outer box 11. Preferably, the storage section 31 is provided on the left or right side of the outer box 11, in this case the left side, to avoid interference with the water tank 13. In other words, the storage section 31 is located near the front part 111 of the outer box 11, above the water tank 13 and toward the right or left side of the water tank 13, in this case the left side. The front end of the storage section 31, i.e. the opening 311, is located at the front part 111 of the outer box 11.

6, the storage section 31 has left and right side portions 312, a back portion 313, an upper portion 314, and a bottom portion 315. The left and right side portions 312 form the left and right surfaces of the storage section 31. The left and right side portions 312 have support portions 312a that slidably support the container 40. The support portions 312a are formed, for example, protruding from the left and right side portions 312 and extending in the front-rear direction, i.e., in the sliding direction of the container 40. The back portion 313 forms the rear side surface of the storage section 31, i.e., the surface facing the opening portion 311. The upper portion 314 forms the ceiling surface of the storage section 31. The upper portion 314 is provided with a first storage section inlet 33 and a second storage section inlet 34. The first storage section inlet 33 and the second storage section inlet 34 are inlets to the storage section 31 for the first water supply path 221 and the second water supply path 222. The bottom 315 forms the lower surface of the storage section 31. The bottom 315 is provided with a storage section outlet 35. The storage section outlet 35 is an outlet from the storage section 31 to the third water supply path 223.

As shown in FIG. 2, the storage section 31 constitutes a part of the water supply path 22. In this case, the outlets of the water supply valves 23, 24 are connected to the first storage section inlet 33 and the second storage section inlet 34 of the storage section 31 by the first water supply path 221 and the second water supply path 222, respectively. The storage section 31 is connected to the water tank 13 by the third water supply path 223 via the storage section outlet 35.

Furthermore, the storage section 31 has a receiving portion 36. The receiving portion 36 fits into a part of the container 40 to restrict movement of the container 40 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the receiving portion 36 is formed in a groove shape that is recessed upward in roughly the center in the left-right direction of the upper portion 314 and extends in the front-rear direction, i.e., in the sliding direction of the container 40. The shape of the receiving portion 36 is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, for example, the receiving portion 36 may be a convex ridge that protrudes downward from the upper portion 314.

The receiving portion 36, together with the left and right support portions 312a, serves as a guide to regulate the sliding direction of the container 40 when the container 40 is inserted into or removed from the storage portion 31, and also holds the storage portion 31 in a state in which the container 40 is housed therein, thereby preventing the storage portion 31 from rattling or deforming.

The pump 32, together with the treatment agent tank 60, constitutes an automatic dispenser for automatically supplying the laundry treatment agent into the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14 during operation. The pump 32 has the function of sucking out a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 60 during operation and supplying the sucked laundry treatment agent to the supply unit 25 provided in the middle of the water supply path 22. As a result, the laundry treatment agent supplied in the middle of the water supply path 22 is supplied into the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14 by riding on the flow of water flowing in the water supply path 22. In this way, the washing machine 10 can automatically supply a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent into the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14 during operation. The pump 32 is electrically connected to the control device 17 and supplies the laundry treatment agent to the supply unit 25 under the control of the control device 17.

In this embodiment, the pump 32 is provided behind the storage unit 31. In another embodiment, the pump 32 may be provided behind the container 40 in the storage unit 31, particularly behind the treatment agent tank 60. In yet another embodiment, the main body of the pump 32 may be provided inside the treatment agent tank 60.

The pump 32 has a pump connection port 321. The pump connection port 321 extends from the main body of the pump 32 toward the treatment agent tank 60, and connects the treatment agent tank 60 to the main body of the pump 32. The pump connection port 321 is provided by penetrating the back portion 313 of the storage section 31.

The container 40 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape that opens upward. The container 40 is removably stored in the storage section 31. The container 40 is slidable in the front-to-rear direction, and the user can pull the container 40 forward out of the storage section 31 or push it back backward to store it in the storage section 31.

The container 40 has a front 41, left and right side portions 42, a back 43, a bottom 44, a container outlet 45, and a partition portion 46. The front portion 41 forms the front surface of the container 40 and is flush with the front surface 111 of the outer box 11. The front portion 41 functions as a door that opens and closes the opening 311 of the storage portion 31. The front portion 41 is provided with a handle portion (not shown in detail), and a user can hold the handle portion and slide the container 40 in the forward and backward directions.

The left and right side portions 42 form the left and right surfaces of the container 40. The left and right side portions 42 are provided with supported portions 421. The supported portions 421 are slidably supported by the support portions 312a of the storage portion 31. The supported portions 421 are formed, for example, by recessing the left and right side portions 42 in the thickness direction and extending in the front-rear direction, i.e., the sliding direction of the container 40. The shapes of the support portions 312a and the supported portions 421 are not limited to the above shapes as long as the container 40 is slidably supported by the support portions 312a via the supported portions 421. For example, in other embodiments, the support portions 312a may be recessed in the thickness direction of the side portions 312, and the supported portions 421 may be formed to protrude toward the outside of the container 40, or the support portions 312a and the supported portions 421 may be configured by a rail mechanism.

The back portion 43 forms the back surface of the container 40. The back portion 43 has a through hole 431 through which the pump connection port 321 passes. The through hole 431 may be an opening that penetrates the back portion 43 in the thickness direction, or may be formed by cutting out a portion of the upper part of the back portion 43. In this embodiment, the through hole 431 penetrates the back portion 43 in the thickness direction.

The bottom 44 forms the lower surface of the container 40. A container outlet 45 is formed in the bottom 44. The container outlet 45 is a hole formed by penetrating the bottom 44 in the thickness direction, and connects the inside of the container 40 to the lower part of the container 40 inside the storage section 31.

As shown in Figures 5 to 7, the partition 46 divides the space inside the container 40 into multiple spaces, in this case two spaces. In this embodiment, the partition 46 divides the space inside the container 40 in the left-right direction, that is, into a space that houses the treatment agent tank 60 and a space that houses the treatment agent case 50. The partition 46 is formed in a generally plate-like shape, protrudes upward from approximately the center in the left-right direction of the bottom 44, and extends in the front-rear direction from the front 41 to the back 43. The partition 46 also extends to the upper part 314 of the storage section 31.

The upper end 461 of the partition 46 is fitted into the receiving portion 36 when the container 40 is housed in the storage portion 31 as shown in FIG. 6. In this embodiment, the upper end 461 of the partition 46 is inserted into the receiving portion 36 formed in a groove shape. Therefore, the partition 46, together with the supported portion 421, serves as a guide that regulates the sliding direction when the container 40 is inserted and removed from the storage portion 31, and when the container 40 is housed in the storage portion 31, it regulates the movement of the container 40 to suppress rattling and deformation. Note that, for example, in another embodiment in which the receiving portion 36 forms a convex rib, a groove shape that receives the convex rib may be provided in the upper end 461 of the partition 46, thereby allowing the receiving portion 36 and the upper end 461 of the partition 46 to be fitted together.

The treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are removably housed in the container 40. The container 40 can be housed in the storage section 31 with the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 housed inside. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are arranged adjacent to each other in the storage section 31 and are arranged in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are housed side by side in the left-right direction in the storage section 31. The treatment agent case 50 is located closer to the center of the outer box 11 in the left-right direction than the treatment agent tank 60, in this case, the right side. In other words, the treatment agent tank 60 is located closer to the left or right side of the outer box 11 than the treatment agent case 50, in this case, the left side.

The treatment agent case 50 is for receiving the laundry treatment agent to be used in one operation, and for supplying the treatment agent, which has been added, for example, before operation or when operation starts, to the water tub 13 during operation. The treatment agent case 50 is made, for example, of resin, and is configured in the shape of a rectangular container that is long in the front-to-back or left-to-right directions and has an open top. The treatment agent case 50 has one or more (in this case two) recesses 51, 52 and two case-side input ports 53, 54.

The recesses 51 and 52 are formed by being recessed downwards, and each can receive laundry treatment agent inside. The recesses 51 and 52 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction or the left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, the recesses 51 and 52 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction. In this embodiment, the recess 51 is arranged further back than the recess 52. For example, the recess 51 receives detergent inside, and the recess 52 receives fabric softener inside.

The case-side inlets 53 and 54 are used to receive laundry treatment agents from the user, and are formed by openings at the tops of the recesses 51 and 52, respectively. The user pours the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent case 50 through the case-side inlets 53 and 54.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the treatment agent case 50 has communication holes 511 and 521 formed at the bottom of the recesses 51 and 52, respectively. The treatment agent case 50 receives water supplied to the storage section 31 through the first water supply valve 23 or the second water supply valve 24. At that time, if a laundry treatment agent is placed in the treatment agent case 50, the laundry treatment agent is drained together with the water supplied to the treatment agent case 50 through the communication holes 511 and 521 provided at the bottom of the recesses 51 and 52 and supplied to the water tank 13. The communication holes 511 and 521 penetrate the bottom of the recesses 51 and 52 in the thickness direction, and communicate the inside of the treatment agent case 50 with the space below the treatment agent case 50, i.e., the bottom 315 side of the storage section 31.

Water supplied from the first storage inlet 33 through the first water supply valve 23 and the first water supply path 221 into the storage part 31 is poured into the recess 51. If detergent is added to the recess 51, the water flows out of the communication hole 511 while dissolving the detergent, and reaches the bottom 315 of the storage part 31 from the container outlet 45. Water supplied from the second storage inlet 34 through the second water supply valve 24 and the second water supply path 222 into the storage part 31 is poured into the recess 52. If fabric softener is added to the recess 52, the water flows out of the communication hole 521 while dissolving the fabric softener, and reaches the bottom 315 of the storage part 31 from the container outlet 45.

Laundry treatment agents such as detergent or fabric softener manually added by the user to the recessed portion 51 or 52 reach the water tub 13 downstream of the container outlet 45 via the same route. That is, water that flows into the third water supply path 223 through the container outlet 45 and the storage section outlet 35 is poured into the water tub 13 via the supply section 25. In the water supply path 22, the supply section 25 is located downstream of the storage section 31 in which the treatment agent case 50 is stored, and upstream of the water tub 13.

The treatment agent tank 60 is configured to be able to store an amount of liquid treatment agent to be used for multiple operations. The treatment agent tank 60 is made of, for example, resin, and is configured as a rectangular, hollow container that is long in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction (in this case, the front-to-back direction), and can store liquid laundry treatment agent. The treatment agent tank 60 has a sufficient capacity to store an amount of laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple operations. In this case, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 60 is not particularly limited, but it is preferable to set it to at least several hundred mL to about 2 L, taking into consideration user convenience.

As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the treatment agent tank 60 has a tank body 61, a lid member 62, a tank outlet 63, a handle 64, and a filter member and a leak prevention valve (not shown). The tank body 61 forms the outer shell of the treatment agent tank 60 and is made of synthetic resin such as plastic.

In this embodiment, the tank body 61 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape overall, and has a front portion 611, a side portion 612, a rear portion 613, a bottom portion 614, a top portion 615, and a tank-side inlet 616. The front portion 611 constitutes the front of the tank body 61. The side portion 612 constitutes the left and right side surfaces of the tank body 61. The rear portion 613 constitutes the rear surface of the tank body 61. The bottom portion 614 constitutes the bottom surface of the tank body 61. And the top portion 615 constitutes the top surface of the tank body 61. The tank-side inlet 616 is formed by penetrating a portion of the top portion 615, for example in a rectangular shape, and communicates between the inside and outside of the tank body 61.

The lid member 62 is plate-shaped and, like the tank body 61, is made of synthetic resin such as plastic. The lid member 62 is attached to the top surface 615 of the tank body 61 by a hinge (not shown), and is configured to be able to open and close the tank-side inlet 616. As shown in FIG. 4, the user can pull out the container 40, open the lid member 62 with the treatment agent tank 60 housed in the container 40, and refill the laundry treatment agent into the tank body 61 through the tank-side inlet 616.

The tank outlet 63 is provided at the lower rear of the tank body 61, in this case the back surface 613. When the treatment agent tank 60 is accommodated in the accommodation section 31, the pump connection port 321 of the pump 32 is inserted into the tank outlet 63. This connects the inside of the tank body 61 to the pump 32.

The handle portion 64 is provided on the upper portion of the tank body 61, in this case, on the upper portion of the front portion 611. When removing the treatment agent tank 60 from the storage portion 31 as necessary, the user can grasp the handle portion 64 and pull the treatment agent tank 60 upward.

The leak prevention valve (not shown) is connected to the tank outlet 63. The leak prevention valve has the function of preventing the treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 from leaking out of the treatment agent tank 60 from the tank outlet 63 when the treatment agent tank 60 is removed from the storage section 31 and the pump connection port 321 is not connected to the tank outlet 63.

At least the front portion 611 of the tank body 61 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material. In this embodiment, the tank body 61 of the treatment agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material. Therefore, the user can visually check the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 shown in FIG. 7 from outside the treatment agent tank 60.

Note that a part or all of the front portion 611 may be made of a transparent or translucent material, and the other parts of the tank body 61 may be made of an opaque material. However, by making the entire tank body 61 out of a transparent or translucent material, it becomes possible to mold the tank body 61 as a single unit, which reduces the number of parts used during manufacturing and also reduces the risk of leakage due to deterioration over time during use.

Figure 7 is a front view of the container 40 housed in the storage section 31. The container 40 has a window 100. The window 100 is made of a transparent or translucent material, and allows the user to see the inside of the storage section 31 from outside the washing machine 10 when the container 40 is housed in the storage section 31. In this embodiment, the window 100 is provided in the entirety or part of the front section 41 of the container 40. In this case, the window 100 is provided in the entirety of the front section 41. Therefore, the user can see the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 from outside the machine, in this case from the front, when the treatment agent tank 60 is housed in the storage section 31.

The window 100 does not need to be provided over the entire front portion 41, and it is sufficient if the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 can be seen, especially when the laundry treatment agent is running low. Therefore, in other embodiments, the window 100 may be provided at a position on the front portion 41 that faces the treatment agent tank 60, that is, the left side in this case, or even at a position that faces the lowering liquid level H, that is, the lower left side in this case.

The transparent or translucent material constituting the tank body 61 and the window portion 100 may be, for example, acrylic, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, glass, etc., but is not limited to these. The material constituting the tank body 61 and the window portion 100 may be the same material or different materials. In addition, translucency only means that the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 can be seen through the tank body 61 and the window portion 100.

The washing machine 10 has one or more treatment agent tanks 60. In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 has one treatment agent tank 60. The treatment agent tank 60 is configured to be able to store therein a laundry treatment agent, for example, either a detergent or a fabric softener. In this case, the user inputs the type of laundry treatment agent put into the treatment agent tank 60 by operating the operation panel 18 or the like.

The control device 17 receives operation by the user on the operation panel 18, etc., and stores the type of laundry treatment agent stored inside the treatment agent tank 60 in the memory area 172. The control device 17 then controls the operation of each component during the washing operation according to the type of laundry treatment agent stored inside the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the memory area 172. The control device 17 distinguishes between the type of laundry treatment agent depending on whether it is added to the washing process or the rinsing process. An example of a laundry treatment agent added to the washing process is, but is not limited to, a detergent. An example of a laundry treatment agent added to the rinsing process is, but is not limited to, a fabric softener.

Figure 8 shows the control of the operation of each component in the washing, spin-drying, and rinsing processes when detergent is stored in the treatment agent tank 60 and automatic detergent addition is selected as the detergent addition method. Note that in Figures 8 and 9, ON means that the pump 32 is operating, and OFF means that the pump 32 is stopped. In this case, the control device 17 executes, for example, the washing process, draining process, spin-drying process, rinsing process, draining process, spin-drying process, second rinsing process, draining process, and spin-drying process in that order as the washing operation.

In the disclosure of the washing operation, the first water supply valve 23, the second water supply valve 24, and the drain valve 162 are all closed, and the pump 32 is stopped. When the control device 17 starts the washing process, it drives the pump 32 to suck detergent from the treatment agent tank 60 and discharge it into the supply unit 25. If the type of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the memory area 172 is detergent, the control device 17 drives the pump 32 in the washing process.

When a predetermined amount of detergent has been discharged, the control device 17 stops the pump 32 and opens the first water supply valve 23. This allows water from an external water source to pass through the water supply port 21 and the first water supply valve 23 and be supplied to the first water supply path 221. The water that reaches the storage unit 31 flows into the third water supply path 223 through the first storage unit inlet 33, the recessed portion 51, the communication hole 511, the storage unit outlet 35, and the container outlet 45. The water that reaches the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tub 13 while dissolving the detergent supplied to the supply unit 25 by the pump 32.

When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tub 13 during the washing process, the control device 17 closes the first water supply valve 23. Then, when a predetermined period of the washing process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the washing process and executes the draining process. During the draining process, the control device 17 opens the draining valve 162 to drain the water from the water tub 13.

When drainage from the water tub 13 is complete or the water level in the water tub 13 drops to a specified level, the control device 17 ends the drainage process and starts the spin-dry process. During the spin-dry process, the control device 17 drives the rotating tub motor 15 with the drain valve 162 open to drain the water removed from the clothes outside the machine.

When a predetermined period of time has elapsed during the spin cycle, the control device 17 ends the spin cycle and starts the first rinsing cycle. Here, the storage rinsing cycle will be described. When the rinsing cycle starts, the control device 17 closes the drain valve 162 and opens the second water supply valve 24. This allows water from an external water source to pass through the water supply port 21 and the second water supply valve 24 and be supplied to the second water supply path 222.

The water that reaches the storage section 31 is injected into the recessed section 52 through the second storage section inlet 34 and the case side inlet 54. If the user has put fabric softener into the recessed section 52, the water flows into the third water supply path 223 through the communication hole 521, the storage section outlet 35, and the container outlet 45 while washing away the fabric softener inside the recessed section 52. The water that reaches the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tub 13 while dissolving the fabric softener. In other words, if the type of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the memory area 172 is detergent, the control device 17 does not drive the pump 32 in the rinsing process.

When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tub 13 during the rinsing process, the control device 17 closes the second water supply valve 24. Then, when a predetermined period of the rinsing process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the rinsing process and executes the draining process and spin-drying process again. The operation of each component during the draining process and spin-drying process is as described above.

Then, the control device 17 executes a second rinsing process. The operation of each component in the second rinsing process is the same as the operation of each process in the first rinsing process. The control device 17 may set the amount of water and the operation period in the first and second rinsing processes to be the same or to different values. Following the second rinsing process, the control device 17 executes a draining process and a spin-drying process. This completes the washing operation.

Figure 9 shows the control of the drive of each component in the washing, spin-drying, and rinsing processes when fabric softener is stored in the treatment agent tank 60 and automatic detergent dispensing is selected as the detergent dispensing method. Here, we will explain the parts that are different from the case shown in Figure 7.

When the type of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the memory area 172 is fabric softener, the control device 17 does not drive the pump 32 in the washing process. When the washing process starts, the control device 17 opens the first water supply valve 23. As a result, water from an external water source is supplied to the first water supply path 221 through the water supply port 21 and the first water supply valve 23. The water that reaches the storage section 31 is injected into the recessed section 51 through the first storage section inlet 33 and the case side inlet 53. When detergent is added to the recessed section 51 by the user, the water flows into the third water supply path 223 through the communication hole 511, the storage section outlet 35, and the container outlet 45 while washing away the detergent inside the recessed section 51. The water that reaches the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tub 13 while dissolving the detergent.

When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tank 13 during the washing process, the control device 17 closes the first water supply valve 23. Then, when a predetermined period of the washing process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the washing process and executes the draining process and the spin-drying process.

When the type of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the memory area 172 is fabric softener, the control device 17 drives the pump 32 in the rinsing process. When the control device 17 starts the first rinsing process, it drives the pump 32 to suck the fabric softener out of the treatment agent tank 60 and discharge it into the supply unit 25.

When a predetermined amount of fabric softener has been discharged, the control device 17 stops the pump 32 and opens the second water supply valve 24. This allows water from an external water source to pass through the water supply port 21 and the second water supply valve 24 and be supplied to the second water supply path 222. The water that reaches the storage section 31 flows into the third water supply path 223 through the second storage section inlet 34, the recessed section 52, the communication hole 521, the storage section outlet 35, and the container outlet 45. The water that reaches the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tub 13 while dissolving the fabric softener supplied to the supply section 25 by the pump 32.

When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tank 13 during the rinsing process, the control device 17 closes the second water supply valve 24. Then, when a predetermined period of the rinsing process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the rinsing process and executes the draining process and spin-drying process again.

Even if an automatic dispenser is installed in a washing machine, if the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank runs out without the user noticing, automatic dispensing will not be possible, and liquid level sensors using Hall ICs or the like are expensive. On the other hand, if a liquid level sensor is not installed, the user will need to pull out the container 40 from the storage section 31 and open the lid member 62 of the treatment agent tank 60 every time a washing cycle is performed to check the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent stored inside the treatment agent tank 60, which would require the user to do the same amount of work as manually dispensing the laundry treatment agent every time.

In contrast, according to the present embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 includes an outer box 11, a water tub 13, a storage section 31, a container 40, a treatment agent tank 60, and a window section 100. The water tub 13 is provided inside the outer box 11. The storage section 31 is formed in a container shape on the front part 111 of the outer box 11, and has an opening 311 that is open to the front. The container 40 is accommodated in the storage section 31 and configured to be pulled out in the front-rear direction. The treatment agent tank 60 is accommodated in the container 40, and at least a portion of the treatment agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and can store laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple operations. The window section 100 is provided on a part of the outer box 11, in this case the front part 111, and is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

According to this, since at least a part of the treatment agent tank 60, in this embodiment, the tank body 61 including at least the front part 611, is made of a transparent or translucent material, the liquid level H inside the treatment agent tank 60 can be seen from the outside of the treatment agent tank 60 without opening the cover member 62 of the treatment agent tank 60. Furthermore, since a window part 100 is provided on the front part 111 of the outer box 11, the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 contained inside can be seen through the window part 100. Therefore, even without providing an expensive liquid level sensor, the user can recognize the amount of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60, so there is no need to pull out the container 40 every time. The user can easily grasp the remaining amount of laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 by visual inspection, improving user convenience.

When installing an automatic dispenser in a washing machine, if the treatment agent tank for the automatic dispenser and the treatment agent case for manual dispenser are located in different positions, the volume required to accommodate each increases. As a result, if there are restrictions on the overall volume of the washing machine, there is a risk that the capacity of the water tub and spin tub will be strained.

In response to this, the washing machine 10 has a storage section 31 on the front section 111 of the outer box 11. The storage section 31 can store therein a treatment agent tank 60 for automatic dispensing, capable of storing laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple operations, and a treatment agent case 50 for receiving the amount of laundry treatment agent dispensed by the user for one operation.

As a result, the washing machine 10 accommodates the treatment agent tank 60 and the treatment agent case 50 in the same space, so the volume required for the dosing mechanism 30 can be reduced compared to when they are accommodated in separate spaces. Therefore, even if the washing machine 10 is provided with an automatic dosing device, the volume of the water tub 13 and the spin tub 14 is not excessively compressed. Furthermore, because the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are provided on the front portion 111 of the outer box 11, it is easy for a user standing in front of the washing machine 10 to dosing the laundry treatment agent.

The window portion 100 is provided in the front portion 41 of the container 40. At least the front portion 611 of the treatment agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or translucent material.

This allows the user to check the remaining amount of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 from the front side. Therefore, compared to when the treatment agent tank 60 is provided toward the back of the outer box 11, there is no need to look into it to check the liquid level H. This makes it easier for a user standing in front of the washing machine 10 to visually check the amount of laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60. The user can now easily visually grasp the remaining amount of laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60, improving user convenience.

In addition, the window portion 100 or the front portion 611 of the treatment agent tank 60 may be provided with one or more scales indicating the remaining amount of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60.

In addition, in this embodiment, the window 100 is provided over the entire front part 41, but the window 100 does not need to be provided over the entire front part 41, and in other embodiments, it may be provided on a part of the front part 41. In this case, the position of the window 100 is set so that the user can see the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 through the window 100 from the front side of the washing machine 10. Therefore, in other embodiments, the window 100 may be provided at a position on the front part 41 that faces the treatment agent tank 60, that is, on the left side in this case. Furthermore, since the user needs to check the state in particular where the laundry treatment agent is low, the window 100 may be provided at a position that faces the lowered liquid level H, that is, on the lower left side in this case.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the window portion 100 is made of a transparent or translucent material, but in other embodiments, as shown in, for example, Figures 10 and 11, a part of the front portion 41 may be opened or cut out to form the window portion 101. In this case, the window portion 101 communicates the space inside and outside the container 40. Therefore, when the treatment agent tank 60 is housed in the container 40, the window portion 101 exposes a part of the treatment agent tank 60 to the outside. Therefore, even in such a configuration, the user can visually check the amount of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 through the window portion 101. The window portion 101 may be, for example, a rectangular opening as shown in Figures 10 and 11, or may be a slit-like shape in which the front portion 41 is cut out from the upper and lower ends or left and right ends of the front portion 41 to a predetermined position. In this case, the window portion 101 may also be provided in a position of the front portion 41 facing the treatment agent tank 60, that is, in this case, on the left side. Furthermore, since the user needs to be able to check when the laundry treatment agent is running low, the window 101 may be located opposite the lowered liquid level H, in this case at the lower left.

Here, it is desirable that the treatment agent case 50 is provided closer to the user, i.e., closer to the front part 111 of the washing machine 10, so that the user can easily manually add the laundry treatment agent. It is also possible to arrange the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 in the front-to-rear direction, but in that case, if the treatment agent case 50 is placed at the front, the treatment agent tank 60 will be located at the back, i.e., away from the user. If the treatment agent tank 60 is placed at the back, the laundry treatment agent cannot be added to the treatment agent tank 60 unless the container 40 is pulled out far. Also, when the user wants to clean the container 40 or the treatment agent tank 60, the treatment agent tank 60 cannot be removed unless the container 40 is pulled out far.

The washing machine 10 is provided with a treatment agent case 50. The treatment agent case 50 receives the laundry treatment agent to be used in one operation. The treatment agent case 50 is arranged side by side with the treatment agent tank 60 in the left-right direction inside the container 40.

By arranging the treatment agent tank 60 and the treatment agent case 50 so that both face the user, the ease with which the user can add laundry treatment agent to the treatment agent case 50 is not affected, and operations such as adding additional laundry treatment agent to the treatment agent tank 60 and removing the treatment agent tank 60 can be facilitated without having to pull the container 40 out far. This improves user convenience.

The container 40 has a partition 46 that extends in the front-rear direction and separates a space that houses the treatment agent tank 60 from a space that houses the treatment agent case 50. The storage section 31 has a receiving section 36 that extends in the front-rear direction at the top 314 and slidably receives the partition 46. When the container 40 is stored in the storage section 31, the partition 46 and the receiving section 36 are fitted together.

As a result, the partition 46 can prevent water passing through the water supply path 22 from entering the space on the treatment agent case 50 side into the space on the treatment agent tank 60 side. This can prevent the surroundings of the treatment agent tank 60 from getting wet or becoming dirty with the laundry treatment agent. In addition, by fitting the partition 46 into the receiving portion 36, the partition 46 acts as a guide in the direction of movement when the container 40 is inserted or removed, and can prevent rattling or deformation of the container 40 when it is housed in the housing portion 31.

The treatment agent tank 60 is required to store multiple loads of laundry treatment agent inside, and therefore requires a larger volume than the treatment agent case 50, which receives a single load of laundry treatment agent. On the other hand, in consideration of ease of loading by the user, the case-side loading ports 53, 54 of the treatment agent case 50 also require a certain amount of surface area.

The water tank 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open front. The treatment agent tank 60 is accommodated in a position farther from the center in the left-right direction of the outer box 11 than the treatment agent case 50. In other words, the treatment agent case 50 is accommodated closer to the center in the left-right direction of the outer box 11 than the treatment agent tank 60. In other words, the treatment agent tank 60 is provided in a position farther from the axis of the water tank 13 than the treatment agent case 50.

Since the water tank 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with its axis in the front-to-rear direction, the clearance between the top surface 112 of the outer box 11 and the water tank 13 increases the further away from the outer side in the left-right direction of the outer box 11, i.e., the axis of the water tank 13. In other words, the space between the outer box 11 and the water tank 13 increases the further away from the outer side in the left-right direction of the outer box 11. Therefore, by providing the treatment agent tank 60, which has a larger volume than the treatment agent case 50, closer to the outside of the outer box 11, closer to the left side in this embodiment, it is possible to ensure the capacity of the treatment agent tank 60 while also ensuring the area of the case-side inlets 53 and 54 of the treatment agent case 50. This improves user convenience.

For example, an electromagnetic water supply valve has a complex structure, which means that the part cost is high and the volume is large. Let us consider a case where an automatic loading device is provided in a washing machine, and a water supply path for automatic loading and a water supply path for manual loading are provided separately. In that case, a water supply valve is required to open and close the water supply path for automatic loading, and a water supply valve is required to open and close the water supply path for manual loading, which increases the material costs of the washing machine. Furthermore, if multiple water supply valves are provided, there is a risk that the overall volume of the washing machine will become large.

In contrast, the washing machine 10 includes a water tub 13, a water supply path 22, a first water supply valve 23 and a second water supply valve 24 as water supply valves, and a supply unit 25. The water tub 13 is provided inside the outer box 11. The water supply path 22 supplies water from an external water source to the water tub 13. The first water supply valve 23 and the second water supply valve 24 open and close the water supply path 22. The supply unit 25 is provided midway along the water supply path 22 and is a portion through which the laundry treatment agent is supplied from the treatment agent tank 60. The supply unit 25 is provided downstream of the treatment agent case 50 in the water supply path 22 and upstream of the water tub 13.

By sharing the water supply path for automatic and manual loading, the water supply valve for automatic and manual loading can also be shared. This contributes to making the washing machine 10 more compact and less expensive. In addition, if the supply unit 25 to which detergent is supplied by the automatic loading device is provided upstream of the treatment agent case 50, water may foam in the treatment agent case 50 when automatic loading is used, and water may not flow well from the treatment agent case 50 or may overflow from the treatment agent case 50. In this embodiment, by providing the supply unit 25 downstream of the treatment agent case 50, the water supplied to the treatment agent case 50 does not contain laundry treatment agent, and foaming in the treatment agent case 50 can be suppressed.

For example, if a treatment agent case and multiple treatment agent tanks are housed in the storage section, the capacity of each treatment agent tank 60 will inevitably be small. In that case, the user will have to frequently add laundry treatment agent to the treatment agent tank, and the automatic addition function will not be fully effective. On the other hand, if there is only one treatment agent tank, only one type of laundry treatment agent can be automatically added. In this case, if the laundry treatment agent that can be automatically added is fixed to either detergent or fabric softener, for example, there is a risk that the preferences and needs of users cannot be met.

In contrast, the storage section 31 can accommodate one treatment agent tank 60. The user can select the laundry treatment agent to be put into the treatment agent tank 60 at their discretion.

By consolidating the treatment agent tank 60 in the storage section 31 into one, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 60 can be increased. In addition, the user can select the laundry treatment agent to be automatically dispensed according to their preference and need, improving user convenience.

The washing machine 10 includes a pump 32 and a control device 17. The pump 32 draws a certain amount of laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 60 and supplies it to the water tub 13. The control device 17 controls the operation of the pump 32. The control device 17 stores the type of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60, and controls the operation of the pump 32 according to the stored type of laundry treatment agent. In this case, specifically, the control device 17 controls at which process and when the pump 32 is operated.

As a result, no matter which laundry treatment agent the user puts into the treatment agent tank 60, the control device 17 can automatically add the appropriate laundry treatment agent at the appropriate time by driving the pump 32 during the necessary process, for example, the washing process or the rinsing process. This improves user convenience.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 10. In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the direction from which the user can visually check the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 is different. That is, in this embodiment, the user can visually check the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 from diagonally above in front of the washing machine 10.

In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 has a window 102 instead of the window 100 of the first embodiment. The window 102 is provided on the top surface 112 of the outer box 11. In this case, the window 102 is provided on the top surface 112 above the storage section 31. The position of the window 102 may be any position where the liquid level H in the treatment agent tank 60 can be seen when the user looks at the washing machine 10 from diagonally above in front of the washing machine 10. For example, the window 102 may be set over the entire area where the storage section 31 is projected when viewed from the bottom, or the entire area where the treatment agent tank 60 is projected.

In this embodiment, the position of the window 102 is set to include at least a portion of the area onto which the treatment agent tank 60 is projected when viewed from the bottom. In other words, the window 102 is provided in a portion of the top surface 112 near the left front end.

In addition, in this embodiment, at least a portion of the top surface 615 of the treatment agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or translucent material. In this case, in addition to the tank body 61, the lid member 62 is also made of a transparent or translucent material. Note that, as long as the user can visually check the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 contained in the storage section 31 through the window portion 102, all or a portion of the top surface 615 may be made of a transparent or translucent material, or only all or a portion of the lid member 62 may be made of a transparent or translucent material.

According to this embodiment, the window portion 102 is provided on the top surface portion 112 of the outer box 11. At least a portion of the top surface portion 615 of the treatment agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material.

This embodiment also achieves the same effects as the first embodiment. In this case, the user can view the inside of the treatment agent tank 60 from diagonally above the front of the washing machine 10, so there is no need to bend down to check the liquid level H. This improves user convenience.

In this embodiment, the window portion 102 is made of a transparent or translucent material, but in other embodiments, the window portion may be formed by opening or cutting out a portion of the top surface portion 112.

Furthermore, one or more scales indicating the remaining amount of laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 may be provided on the inner walls of the treatment agent tank 60, for example, on the left and right side walls.

(Another embodiment)
In each of the above-described embodiments, the recesses 51, 52 of the treatment agent case 50 are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction, but in another embodiment, they may be arranged side by side in the left-to-right direction, as shown in Fig. 11. In this case, the case-side inlets 53, 54 are both closer to the user, making it easier for the user to add the laundry treatment agent.

In yet another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 12, the storage section 31 may contain multiple treatment agent tanks 60, in this case two. In this case, the volume of each treatment agent tank 60 and the volume of the treatment agent case are smaller, but the laundry treatment agent for multiple documents can be automatically dispensed, improving user convenience.

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 implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and 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.

10... washing machine, 11... outer box, 111... front part, 112... top part, 13... water tank, 16... control device, 22... water supply path, 221... first water supply path (water supply path), 222... second water supply path (water supply path), 23... first water supply valve (water supply valve), 24... second water supply valve (water supply valve), 25... supply part, 31... storage part, 311... opening, 32... pump, 36... receiving part, 40... container, 41... front part, 46... partition part, 50... treatment agent case, 60... treatment agent tank, 615... upper part, 100, 101, 102... window part

Claims (6)

Outer box and
A water tank provided in the outer box;
a container-shaped storage section formed on a front surface of the outer box and having an opening portion that opens forward;
A container that is accommodated in the accommodation portion and configured to be able to be pulled out in a front-rear direction;
a treatment agent tank that is accommodated in the container and is at least partially made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and is capable of storing a laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple operations;
A window portion formed in a part of the outer box and made of a transparent or semi-transparent material;
a treatment agent case for receiving the laundry treatment agent to be used in one operation;
The window is provided at a front portion of the container,
At least a front portion of the treatment agent tank is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material,
the treatment agent case is disposed in the container next to the treatment agent tank in the left-right direction, not in the front-rear direction,
The water tank is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open front,
the treatment agent tank is accommodated at a position farther from the center of the outer box in the left-right direction than the treatment agent case ,
the container has a partition extending in a front-rear direction to separate a space for accommodating the treatment agent tank from a space for accommodating the treatment agent case,
The storage section has a receiving section at an upper portion thereof extending in the front-rear direction and configured to slidably receive the partition section,
When the container is accommodated in the accommodation portion, the partition portion and the receiving portion are fitted together.
washing machine. Outer box and
A water tank provided in the outer box;
a container-shaped storage section formed on a front surface of the outer box and having an opening portion that opens forward;
A container that is accommodated in the accommodation portion and configured to be able to be pulled out in a front-rear direction;
a treatment agent tank that is accommodated in the container and is at least partially made of a transparent or semi-transparent material, and is capable of storing a laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple operations;
A window portion formed in a part of the outer box and made of a transparent or semi-transparent material;
a treatment agent case for receiving the laundry treatment agent to be used in one operation;
The window portion is provided on a top surface portion of the outer box,
At least a part of an upper surface of the treatment agent tank is made of a transparent or semi-transparent material,
the treatment agent case is disposed in the container next to the treatment agent tank in the left-right direction, not in the front-rear direction,
The water tank is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open front,
the treatment agent tank is accommodated at a position farther from the center of the outer box in the left-right direction than the treatment agent case ,
the container has a partition extending in a front-rear direction to separate a space for accommodating the treatment agent tank from a space for accommodating the treatment agent case,
The storage section has a receiving section at an upper portion thereof extending in the front-rear direction and configured to slidably receive the partition section,
When the container is accommodated in the accommodation portion, the partition portion and the receiving portion are fitted together.
washing machine. A water supply path for supplying water from an external water source to the water tank;
a water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply path;
a supply unit provided in the water supply path to which the laundry treatment agent is supplied from the treatment agent tank,
The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the supply unit is provided downstream of the treatment agent case and upstream of the water tub in the water supply path. the storage unit is capable of storing one of the treatment agent tanks,
The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein a user can arbitrarily select the laundry treatment agent to be put into the treatment agent tank. a pump that draws a constant amount of the laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank and supplies the same to the water tub;
A control device that controls the operation of the pump,
The washing machine according to claim 4 , wherein the control device stores a type of the laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank, and controls the operation of the pump in accordance with the stored type of the laundry treatment agent. the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank are detachably housed in the container;
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5 .

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