CN107268239B

CN107268239B - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN107268239B
Application number: CN201710176950.3A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 臼井良典; 长野佑太; 远藤裕士
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2016-04-07
Filing date: 2017-03-22
Publication date: 2020-05-05
Anticipated expiration: 2037-03-22
Also published as: JP2017185088A; CN107268239A

Abstract

The washing machine of the present invention comprises: a water supply box having a storage part capable of storing a washing treatment agent containing a surfactant; a water injection box which is configured to be able to insert and extract the water supply box; and a water supply device for supplying water to the water supply box. In a state that the water supply box is inserted into the water injection box, a gap between the water supply box and the water injection box constitutes an agitation chamber of the washing treatment agent. The water supply device has a main water supply valve for supplying water to the storage part and an auxiliary water supply valve for supplying water to the stirring chamber without passing through the storage part.

Description

Washing machine

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.

Background

Conventionally, a detergent such as a powder detergent or a liquid detergent is put into a detergent box provided on an inner peripheral wall of a dehydration tub. The detergent put into the detergent box is introduced into water supplied from the upper part of the detergent box and is supplied to the bottom of the water tank. Then, the detergent supplied into the water tank is agitated by the pulsator, and dispersed and dissolved in the water from the initial stage of the water supply stroke to exert a cleaning force. However, this method has the following technical problems: in a state that a large amount of clothes are put into the dehydration tank, it is difficult for a user to put detergent into the input box.

On the other hand, in order to facilitate the user's operation of putting in the detergent, there is a structure in which a detergent box is provided in a water injection box provided at the rear of a top cover. However, in this structure, the detergent is mixed with water in the water injection box and directly injected to the laundry in the dehydration tub. Therefore, in such a structure, since the detergent is not directly stirred by the pulsator, it is difficult to sufficiently disperse and dissolve the detergent in the washing liquid.

Prior art documents

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2011-240078

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of sufficiently dispersing and dissolving a powder detergent, a liquid detergent, or a softener in a washing liquid.

Means for solving the technical problem

A washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a water supply box having a storage part capable of storing a washing treatment agent containing a surfactant; a water supply cartridge configured to be insertable into and removable from the water supply cartridge; and a water supply device for supplying water to the water supply box. In a state where the water supply cartridge is inserted into the water injection cartridge, a gap between the water supply cartridge and the water injection cartridge constitutes an agitation chamber of a washing treatment agent. The water supply device includes a main water supply valve for supplying water to the storage unit, and an auxiliary water supply valve for supplying water to the stirring chamber without passing through the storage unit.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment, and is a perspective view showing a state in which a lid is closed.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the washing machine according to the embodiment, and is a perspective view showing a state where the water supply box is pulled out with the lid opened.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view showing a schematic structure of a washing machine according to an embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a water supply mechanism unit for a washing machine according to an embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing a schematic structure of a water supply box of the washing machine according to the embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a side view of the water supply mechanism unit of the washing machine according to the embodiment, as viewed from the direction of arrow X6 in fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the washing machine according to the embodiment, showing a water supply mechanism unit to which a water supply box is attached, along the line X7-X7 of fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a diagram showing a structure of a powder detergent storage part of the washing machine according to the embodiment, and is a sectional view of a water supply mechanism unit shown along line X8-X8 in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a diagram showing a structure of a powder detergent storage part of the washing machine according to the embodiment, and is a sectional view of a water supply mechanism unit shown along line X9-X9 in fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of a powder detergent storage unit in the washing machine according to the embodiment, and is a sectional view of a water supply mechanism unit shown along line X10-X10 in fig. 7.

Fig. 11 is a diagram showing the structure of the water supply device 32 for the washing machine according to the embodiment, and is a sectional view of the water supply mechanism unit shown along the line X11-X11 in fig. 6.

Detailed Description

Next, a washing machine according to an embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. In the embodiment, substantially the same constituent parts are given the same reference numerals, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the following description, the installation surface side of the washing machine 10, that is, the vertically lower side is the lower side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side to the installation surface, that is, the vertically upper side is the upper side of the washing machine 10. The left side of the drawing sheet in fig. 3 is the front side of the washing machine 10.

As shown in fig. 1, washing machine 10 includes washing machine body 12, water tub 20, rotary tub 22, operation panel 15, and cover 16. The washing machine 10 is a so-called vertical axis type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 22 is oriented in the vertical direction. The washing machine body 12 constitutes a housing of the washing machine 10. The washing machine main body 12 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, for example, from a steel plate or the like, and has an opening in an upper surface portion 14 of the upper portion. The cover 16 is provided at an upper portion of the washing machine body 12 to open and close an upper opening portion. An operation panel 15 is provided on the front upper surface of the washing machine body 12. The operation panel 15 includes various operation keys and a display unit.

The water tank 20 is housed inside the washing machine body 12. The water tub 20 is elastically supported in the washing machine main body 12 by an elastic suspension support mechanism, not shown. The water tank 20 has an opening on the upper side and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a tank bottom on the lower side. The opening of the water tank 20 functions as a laundry inlet 18. The water tank 20 has a middle cover 181. The middle cover 181 is provided at the upper portion of the water tank 20 to open and close the laundry inlet 18.

The rotating tub 22 is rotatably provided inside the water tub 20. The rotary tub 22 has an opening on the upper side and is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape having a rotary tub bottom on the lower side. The rotary tub 22 is used during washing, rinsing, and dewatering operations of laundry, and the rotary tub 22 has dewatering holes, not shown, formed in a plurality of portions of the peripheral wall portion to allow water to pass therethrough.

As shown in fig. 3, the washing machine 10 includes a pulsator 26, a balance ring 28, a water supply mechanism unit 30, and a water supply device 32. The pulsator 26 is rotatably provided at the inner bottom of the rotary tub 22. The balance ring 28 is attached to the upper end peripheral edge of the rotary tub 22. As shown in fig. 3, water supply box 40 is located above laundry inlet 18 and is provided at the rear portion of the inner peripheral surface of washing machine body 12. The water supply mechanism unit 30 is provided at a side portion of the upper inner circumferential surface of the laundry inlet 18, and includes a water supply box 40 for introducing a powder detergent, a liquid bleaching agent, a softener, and the like. The water supply device 32 is provided at an upper portion of the water supply box 40.

As shown in fig. 3, the washing machine 10 includes a motor 24 and a mechanism 25. The motor 24 and the mechanism 25 are disposed at the outer bottom of the water tub 20. The mechanism portion 25 includes a clutch not shown. The mechanism unit 25 can switch between a case where only the rotation of the motor 24 is transmitted to the pulsator 26 and only the pulsator 26 is rotated, and a case where the pulsator 26 and the rotary tub 22 are rotated simultaneously, by a clutch not shown.

As shown in fig. 4, the water supply mechanism unit 30 has a water supply device 32, a water supply valve unit 33, a water filling cartridge 36, and a water supply cartridge 40. The water supply device 32 includes a water supply valve unit 33 and a bath water intake unit 34 c. The water supply valve unit 33 has a water supply pipe 34a, a first water supply valve 331, a second water supply valve 332, and a third water supply valve 333. As the water supply source, for example, a tap of tap water is connected to the water supply pipe 341 a. The water supplied from the water supply pipe 34a is distributed by the first, second, and third

water supply valves

331, 332, and 333, and is supplied to the water supply device 32.

The water supply mechanism unit 30 has main

water supply valves

331, 332 for supplying water to the powder detergent storage part 42, the liquid detergent storage part 46, and the softener storage part 50. The first water supply valve 331 is a main water supply valve for supplying water to the conditioner storage part 50. The second water supply valve 332 is a main water supply valve for supplying water to the powder detergent storage part 42 and the liquid detergent storage part 46. The first and second

water supply valves

331 and 332 are provided at an upper section of the water supply valve unit 33. The third water supply valve 333 is an auxiliary water supply valve for supplying water to the stirring chamber 60 without passing through the

reservoirs

42, 46, and 50. The third water supply valve 333 is provided at a lower portion of the rear side surface of the water supply valve unit 33. The water supplied from the first and second

water supply valves

331 and 332 is supplied into the water supply device 32. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, water supplied from the third water supply valve 333 is supplied to the stirring chamber 60 of the water filling cartridge 36.

As shown in fig. 4, the water supply pipe 34b is connected to a bath water intake unit 34 c. The water supply pipe 34b is connected to an upper portion of the water supply device 32. The bath water obtained from the bath water intake unit 34c is supplied into the water supply device 32 from the upper portion of the water supply device 32 through the water supply pipe 34 b. The cartridge 36 is provided at a lower portion of the water supply device 32. The water filling cartridge 36 is formed in a substantially box shape. The water supply cartridge 40 is configured to be inserted into and removed from the inside of the water injection cartridge 36 through an opening formed in the front portion of the water injection cartridge 36. The starting water pipe 35 is connected to the bath water intake unit 34 c. The starting water pipe 35 supplies the starting water at the time of obtaining the bath water to the bath water intake unit 34 c. The starting water pipe 35 is connected to the water supply device 32, and starting water is supplied from the water supply device 32.

As shown in fig. 5, the water supply box 40 has a powder detergent storage part 42, a liquid detergent storage part 46, and a softener storage part 50. The powder detergent storage 42 is a container-shaped area for storing the powder detergent as the surfactant and the bleaching agent. The liquid detergent storage unit 46 is a container-shaped area for storing a liquid detergent as a surfactant and a bleaching agent. The softener storage unit 50 is a container-like region for charging and storing a softener as a surfactant. Here, these substances containing a powder detergent, a liquid detergent, and a softener as a surfactant are referred to as a washing treatment agent. The powder detergent storage 42, the liquid detergent storage 46, and the softener storage 50 are storage sections capable of storing a washing treatment agent containing a surfactant.

As shown in fig. 5, the water feeding box 40 has a powder detergent outflow port 44. The powder detergent outflow port 44 is an opening portion provided at a rear portion of the bottom of the powder detergent storage portion 42. The powdered detergent put into the powdered detergent storage 42 is washed away by the water supplied to the powdered detergent storage 42, and flows out of the water supply box 40 from the powdered detergent outflow port 44 together with the water. As shown in fig. 8, the water feed box 40 has an inclined portion 421. The inclined portion 421 is a portion constituting the bottom of the powder detergent storage portion 42, and is gently inclined so as to become lower from the front side toward the rear side of the powder detergent storage portion 42, that is, the powder detergent outflow port 44.

As shown in fig. 5 and 9, the water supply box 40 has a liquid detergent outlet portion 48. A liquid detergent outlet portion 48 is provided at the bottom of the liquid detergent storage portion 46. As shown in fig. 9, the liquid detergent outlet portion 48 has a cap 48a, a cylindrical portion 48b, and a lower hole 48c, and functions as a siphon. When the water supplied to the liquid detergent storage part 46 is accumulated to the upper portion of the cap 48a, the water flows through the cylindrical part 48b from between the cap 48a and the cylindrical part 48b by the siphon action of the liquid detergent outlet part 48, and flows out to the lower outside of the liquid detergent storage part 46 from the lower hole 48 c. Therefore, the liquid detergent put into the liquid detergent storage portion 46 flows together with the water supplied to the liquid detergent storage portion 46, and flows out of the water supply cartridge 40 from the liquid detergent outlet portion 48.

As shown in fig. 5 and 10, the water supply cartridge 40 has a softener outlet portion 52. The softener outlet part 52 is provided at the bottom of the softener storage part 50. The softener outlet portion 52 has a cap 52a, a cylindrical portion 52b, and a lower hole 52c, and functions as a siphon tube. When the water supplied to the conditioner storage part 50 accumulates to the upper part of the cap 52a, the water flows from between the cap 52a and the cylinder 52b through the cylinder 52b by the siphon action of the conditioner outlet part 52, and flows out to the lower outside of the conditioner storage part 50 from the lower hole 52 c. Therefore, the softener put into the softener storage portion 50 flows together with the water supplied to the softener storage portion 50, and flows out to the outside of the water supply cartridge 40 from the softener outlet portion 52.

As shown in fig. 7 and 10, a gap S is formed between the water feed box 40 and the water injection box 36. In detail, the space S is a space formed between the rear end portion 402 of the powder detergent storage portion 42, the rear end portion 403 of the liquid detergent storage portion 46, and the rear end portion 404 of the softener storage portion 50 of the water supply cartridge 40 and the rear wall 362 of the water injection cartridge 36. The space S is a space formed between the lower surfaces 405 of the powder detergent storage 42, the liquid detergent storage 46, and the softener storage 50 of the water supply cartridge 40 and the bottom surface 363 of the water injection cartridge 36. The space S constitutes an agitation chamber 60, and the agitation chamber 60 is used for agitating the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, the bleaching agent, the softener, and the supplied water. That is, the space S constitutes the agitation chamber 60 of the washing treatment agent containing the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, and the softener as the surfactant.

As shown in fig. 7, the water filling cartridge 36 has a water supply port 54. The water supply port 54 is provided at the right side surface of the water filling cartridge 36 and is connected to a third water supply valve 333. Water from the water source is supplied to the agitating chamber 60 through the third water supply valve 333 and the water supply port 54. The water supplied from the third water supply valve 333 is supplied into the water filling cartridge 36 in the left-right direction, here, to the left as indicated by an arrow P in fig. 7.

A part of the water supplied from the third water supply valve 333 into the water injection cartridge 36 flows through the softener storage part 50, the liquid detergent storage part 46, and the rear part of the powder detergent storage part 42 in the agitation chamber 60, then flows through the bottom of the agitation chamber 60, and flows out of the water injection cartridge 36 through the outlet 361, thereby being supplied into the water tank 20. The remaining water supplied from the third water supply valve 333 into the water filling box 36 flows through the bottom of the stirring chamber 60, and flows out of the water filling box 36 through the outlet 361, and is supplied into the water tank 20. At this time, the water supplied from the third water supply valve 333 into the water filling box 36 is reflected by the side wall of the water filling box 36 and is inverted, thereby stirring the entire region of the stirring chamber 60. In the left-right direction in the drawing, when the front-back direction in fig. 7, which is the direction of insertion and removal of the water feed box 40, is set as a first direction and the left-right direction in fig. 7, which is a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, is set as a second direction, the water supplied from the third water supply valve 333 is directed in the second direction.

Here, the third water supply valve 333 may be provided with a fine bubble generator 334 so that water containing fine bubbles can be supplied to the stirring chamber 60.

The micro-bubble generator 334 is capable of mainly generating bubbles including ultra-fine bubbles having a spherical equivalent diameter of about 50 nm to 1 μm, for example. In general, fine bubbles are classified as follows according to the spherical equivalent diameter of the bubbles. For example, bubbles having a diameter of 1 mm or more are called millimeter bubbles, fine bubbles having a diameter of about 1 to several hundreds of micrometers are called micro bubbles, and fine bubbles having a diameter of less than 1 micrometer are called ultra fine bubbles or nano bubbles. Fine bubbles of several hundred micrometers or less including microbubbles and ultrafine bubbles are collectively called microbubbles.

When the bubbles are formed into ultrafine bubbles having a bubble diameter of less than 1 μm, the bubbles are smaller than the wavelength of light, and thus cannot be recognized by naked eyes, and the liquid becomes transparent. It is known that these fine bubbles have a large total surface area, a low floating speed, a large internal pressure, and the like, and therefore have excellent cleaning ability for an object in a liquid.

For example, the ultrafine bubbles have the following properties. That is, the ultrafine bubbles stay in the water for a long time while undergoing brownian motion. The substance is decomposed by energy generated by crushing due to the self-pressurization effect, and radicals are generated. Because the surfaces of the bubbles are negatively charged, the ultra-fine bubbles repel each other and do not combine.

Further, since the ultrafine bubbles have a negative charge on the surface, a detergent, a softener, or the like, which is a surfactant that is easily positively charged, is easily adsorbed. Therefore, the water containing the ultrafine bubbles (hereinafter referred to as ultrafine bubble water, abbreviated as UFB water) can disperse the detergent and the softener in the water in a shorter time than the normal tap water. Therefore, when UFB water is used, the detergent and softener are dissolved well, and the phenomenon that the remaining powder detergent, which is not dissolved, flows into water tank 20 can be minimized. Based on such properties, since a detergent and a softening agent can be effectively utilized when washing is performed using UFB water, a high cleaning effect and a high softening effect can be expected.

Further, since the micro bubbles having a spherical equivalent diameter of about 1 to several hundreds of micrometers also have a negative charge, water containing micro bubbles (hereinafter referred to as micro bubble water) has an effect of dispersing the detergent and softener in water in a shorter time than ordinary tap water. However, since the micro bubbles have a larger sphere-equivalent diameter than the ultra fine bubbles, the micro bubbles stay in water for a shorter time than the ultra fine bubbles. Therefore, when UFB water is used, the time for which ultrafine bubbles stay in the water is long, and the dispersing effect of the detergent and softener is further improved as compared with micron bubble water.

As shown in fig. 7 and the like, water supplied from the third water supply valve 33 is supplied to the stirring chamber 60 at the rear of the water supply cartridge 40. Here, the water flowing through the water supply device 32 is supplied from the upper portion of the water supply box 40 into the water supply box 40. Arrows in fig. 8, 9, and 10 show the flow of water supplied from the water supply device 32.

As shown in fig. 8, the powder detergent outflow port 44 communicates with the agitation chamber 60. Therefore, when washing is performed using the powder detergent, the powder detergent stored in the powder detergent storage 42 is washed away by the water supplied to the powder detergent storage 42, flows out from the powder detergent outflow port 44, and reaches the agitation chamber 60. In addition, as shown in FIG. 9, the liquid detergent outlet port 48 communicates with the agitation chamber 60. Therefore, when washing is performed using a liquid detergent, the liquid detergent stored in the liquid detergent storage portion 46 is washed away by the water supplied to the liquid detergent storage portion 46, flows out from the liquid detergent outlet portion 48, and reaches the agitation chamber 60. Also, as shown in fig. 10, the softener outlet portion 52 communicates with the stirring chamber 60. Therefore, at the time of rinsing with the conditioner, the conditioner stored in the conditioner storage portion 50 is washed away by the water supplied to the conditioner storage portion 50, and flows out from the conditioner outlet portion 52 to reach the agitation chamber 60.

The powdered detergent, the liquid detergent, or the softener, which reaches the stirring chamber 60, is stirred by the water rapidly supplied from the third water supply valve 333 in the lateral direction, i.e., the right direction, and is thus efficiently dispersed and dissolved. Further, when UFB water generated by the fine bubble generator 334 is used as described above, the dispersion efficiency and dissolution efficiency of the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, and the softener can be improved, and the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, and the softener can be dissolved more favorably.

The powder detergent, the liquid detergent, or the softener, which is dispersed and dissolved in the water supplied from the third water supply valve 333, flows forward in the space S between the lower surfaces of the powder detergent storage part 42, the liquid detergent storage part 46, and the softener storage part 50 and the water injection cartridge 36. Then, the water flows out of the water filling cartridge 36 through an outlet 361 provided at a lower portion of the front of the water filling cartridge 36, and is supplied into the water tank 20.

As shown in fig. 11, the water supply device 32 has water paths I1, I2, J, K1 to K5, R. A plurality of water injection holes 62 are provided in each water passage. The second water supply valve 332 is connected to the water path K1. The water supplied to the water path K1 is guided to the water paths K2 to K5. A start water pipe 35, not shown in fig. 11, is connected to an upper portion of the water passage K1. Further, as shown in fig. 4, the starting water pipe 35 is connected to the bath water intake unit 34 c. Waterway J and waterway K1 are intersected in a region V. In this case, in the region V, the waterway J passes through the upper side of the waterway K1.

As shown in fig. 11, a water supply valve unit 33 is connected to the right side surface of the water supply device 32. The first water supply valve 331 is connected to the water path J. The second water supply valve 332 is connected to the water path K1. The second water supply valve 332 is controlled to be opened to supply water during the washing operation. The first water supply valve 331 is controlled to be opened during the rinsing operation to supply water. During the washing operation, the water supplied from the second water supply valve 332 is guided from the water passage K1 to the water passage K2 and reaches the supply region M where the water is supplied to the liquid detergent storage portion 46. The supply region M is located at a position corresponding to the liquid detergent storage part 46, specifically, above the liquid detergent storage part 46.

A part of the water reaching the supply region M drops from the water injection holes 62 into the liquid detergent storage part 46, and the rest of the water flows through the supply region M without dropping from the water injection holes 62 provided in the supply region M. The liquid detergent is washed away by the water supplied to the liquid detergent storage portion 46, and flows out from the liquid detergent outlet portion 48 to reach the agitation chamber 60. Then, the liquid detergent reaching the stirring chamber 60 is stirred by the water supplied rapidly from the water supply port 54 of the third water supply valve 333 directed in the lateral direction, i.e., the right direction.

The water flowing through the supply region M is guided from the water passage K2 to the water passage K3, and reaches the supply region L where the water is supplied to the powder detergent storage part 42. The supply region L is present at a position corresponding to the powder detergent storage part 42, specifically, above the powder detergent storage part 42. A part of the water reaching the supply region L falls from the water injection holes 62 into the powder detergent storage part 42, and the rest of the water flows through the supply region L without falling from the water injection holes 62 provided in the supply region L.

In this case, as shown in fig. 8, the water supply device 32 has a water injection hole 63. The water injection hole 63 is provided in the water passage K3 and is formed to face forward. A part of the water flowing through the water path K3 flows out of the water supply device 32 through the water filling hole 63. The water flowing out of the water injection hole 63 is supplied so as to collide with the inclined portion 421 on the front side of the powder detergent storage portion 42. Then, the powder detergent stored in the powder detergent storage 42 is washed away by the water supplied from the water injection hole 63, flows out from the powder detergent outflow port 44, and reaches the agitation chamber 60.

In this case, as shown by arrows in fig. 8, the water supplied from the water injection hole 63 flows along the inclined portion 421 from the rear of the powder detergent storage part 42 toward the front, that is, the powder detergent outflow port 44. Thus, the powdered detergent accumulated in the powdered detergent storage 42 is efficiently washed away along the inclined portion 421 by the water toward the powdered detergent outlet 44. Therefore, the detergent residue in the powder detergent storage part 42 is reduced. Also, the powdered detergent reaching the agitation chamber 60 is agitated by the water abruptly supplied from the third water supply valve 333 in the lateral direction, i.e., the right direction.

As shown in fig. 11, the water flowing through the supply region L is guided to the water passages K4 and K5. Waterway K5 is located behind waterway K4. The length of the water passage K5 is shorter than the length of the water passage K4. The water passage K5 located on the rear side of the water passage K4 is used to supply water to the rear portions of the water supply box 40 and the water supply box 36 where detergent is likely to remain. This can suppress the detergent remaining in the rear portions of the water feed box 40 and the water feed box 36, in which the detergent is likely to remain. The water paths K4 and K5 are located above the stirring chamber 60. The water introduced into the water paths K4 and K5 flows through the water injection hole 62 and drops into the stirring chamber 60. The water falling into the stirring chamber 60 joins the water supplied from the water supply port 54, which is the third water supply valve 333, and promotes the flow of the water falling from the water supply box 40 into the water tank 20.

The water supplied from the first water supply valve 331 is guided to the water passage J, and flows through the region V of the vertically crossing structure on the way, and further reaches the supply region N for supplying to the softener storage unit 50. The supply region N is located above the softener storage portion 50. The water that reaches the supply region N falls from the water injection holes 62 of the supply region N into the conditioner storage part 50. The water dropped into the softener storage 50 flushes the softener stored in the softener storage 50 and flows out from the softener outlet 52 into the stirring chamber 60. The softener reached to the stirring chamber 60 is stirred by the water abruptly supplied from the third water supply valve 333 in the lateral direction, i.e., the right direction. Then, the water supplied from the third water supply valve 333 is supplied to the agitation chamber 60 without passing through the powder detergent storage part 42, the liquid detergent storage part 46, and the softener storage part 50, i.e., a storage part capable of storing a washing treatment agent including a surfactant.

In addition, when the third water supply valve 333 is further provided with the fine bubble generator 334, the UFB water generated by the fine bubble generator 334 further disperses and dissolves the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, and the softener. This can suppress the occurrence of dissolution residues of the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, and the softener, and thus can exert and improve the cleaning performance and the softener performance without causing waste.

According to the washing machine 10 of the embodiment of the present invention, the following effects are obtained.

The washing machine 10 includes a water supply box 40, a water filling box 36, and a water supply device 32. The water supply box 40 has

storage parts

42, 46, 50 capable of storing a washing treatment agent containing a surfactant. The water feed box 36 is configured to be able to insert and remove the water feed box 40. The water supply device 32 supplies water to the water supply cartridge 40. In the case where the water supply cartridge 40 is inserted into the water filling cartridge 36, a space S is formed between the water supply cartridge 40 and the water filling cartridge 36. The space S constitutes the stirring chamber 60.

The water supply device 32 has a first water supply valve 331 and a second water supply valve 332 as main water supply valves. The first water supply valve 331 is a main water supply valve for supplying water to the conditioner storage part 50. The second water supply valve 332 is a main water supply valve for supplying water to the powder detergent storage part 42 and the liquid detergent storage part 46. Also, the water supply device 32 has a third water supply valve 333 as an auxiliary water supply valve. The third water supply valve 333 is an auxiliary water supply valve for supplying water to the stirring chamber 60.

When the front-rear direction, which is the direction in which the water feed box 40 is inserted and removed, is a first direction and the left-right direction, which is a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, is a second direction, the direction in which water supplied from the third water feed valve is directed is the second direction.

That is, the third water supply valve 333 (auxiliary water supply valve) supplies water in the second direction, i.e., the left-right direction in the drawing. The place to which water is supplied is the agitating chamber 60, which is a gap S formed between the

rear end portions

402, 403, 404 of the powder detergent storage part 42, the liquid detergent storage part 46, and the softener storage part 50, which are the water supply cartridge 40, and the rear wall 362 of the water injection cartridge 36, and between the lower surface 405 of the powder detergent storage part 42, the liquid detergent storage part 46, and the softener storage part 50, and the bottom surface 363 of the water injection cartridge 36.

Thus, the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, and the softener, which are transferred to the agitation chamber 60, are agitated by the strong water flow from the lateral direction, which is supplied from the third water supply valve 333 (auxiliary water supply valve). This makes it possible to sufficiently disperse and dissolve the powder detergent, liquid detergent, or softener flowing out from the

storage parts

42, 46, and 50. Therefore, the washing performance and the softening effect can be improved.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, in the agitation chamber 60, water can be supplied to portions corresponding to the powder detergent storage portion 42, the liquid detergent storage portion 46, and the softener storage portion 50, respectively, from the left-right direction, that is, the lateral direction in common. Therefore, it is not necessary to provide auxiliary water supply valves corresponding to the

reservoirs

42, 46, and 50, respectively. Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the number of auxiliary water supply valves can be reduced as compared with the case where auxiliary water supply valves are provided corresponding to the

respective reservoirs

42, 46, and 50, respectively, and as a result, an increase in cost can be suppressed.

In addition, according to the washing machine 10, the micro-bubble generator 334 may be provided in the third water supply valve 333 (auxiliary water supply valve). Accordingly, the water supplied to the agitation chamber 60 is UFB water or micro bubble water, which is water containing fine bubbles, and thus, the dispersion efficiency and dissolution efficiency of the powder detergent, the liquid detergent, and the softener are improved. Therefore, the residual dissolution of the powder detergent, the liquid detergent and the softener is reduced, and therefore, the washing performance and the softener performance can be further improved.

In the above description of the embodiment, an example of a so-called vertical axis type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the spin basket is oriented in the vertical direction is shown and described as the washing machine 10, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the washing machine 10 may be a so-called horizontal-axis drum-type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the spin basket is horizontal or inclined downward toward the rear.

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 other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims

1. A washing machine is provided with:

a water supply box having a storage part capable of storing a washing treatment agent containing a surfactant;

a water supply cartridge configured to be insertable into and removable from the water supply cartridge; and

a water supply device for supplying water to the water supply box;

a space between the water supply box and the water injection box constitutes an agitation chamber for agitating the washing treatment agent and the supplied water in a state where the water supply box is inserted into the water injection box;

the water supply device comprises a main water supply valve for supplying water to the storage part and an auxiliary water supply valve for supplying water to the stirring chamber without passing through the storage part;

the stirring chambers are arranged between the rear end part of the water supply box and the rear wall of the water injection box and between the lower surface of the water supply box and the bottom surface of the water injection box;

the washing treatment agent reaching the stirring chamber by supplying water from the main water supply valve to the storage part is stirred by the water supplied from the auxiliary water supply valve and reflected and inverted at the side wall of the water injection box.

2. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1,

when a direction in which the water supply cartridge is inserted and removed is a first direction and a direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction is a second direction, a direction in which water supplied from the auxiliary water supply valve is directed is the second direction.

3. The washing machine as claimed in claim 1,

a powder detergent storage unit for storing a powder detergent;

an opening part capable of discharging the powder detergent stored in the powder detergent storage part is formed at the rear part of the powder detergent storage part;

the opening portion is communicated with the stirring chamber.

4. A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the auxiliary water supply valve is provided with a micro-bubble generator.