CN108691152B

CN108691152B - Washing machine

Info

Publication number: CN108691152B
Application number: CN201810069235.4A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 池田阳祐; 长井智; 臼井良典; 西村博司
Original assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Current assignee: Toshiba Lifestyle Products and Services Corp
Priority date: 2017-04-05
Filing date: 2018-01-24
Publication date: 2021-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2038-01-24
Also published as: JP2018175049A; JP7061844B2; CN108691152A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine which is provided with a housing for a detergent treatment agent in a water injection structure and which is capable of performing control according to the type of the detergent treatment agent housed therein. The washing machine of the embodiment comprises: a water injection structure part having a washing treatment agent housing part housing a washing treatment agent; and a water supply mechanism for supplying water into the water tank together with the washing agent in the washing agent accommodating part via the water injection structure part; the washing treatment agent storage part is provided with a first storage part and a second storage part, the second storage part is detachably mounted relative to the first storage part and stores washing treatment agents of different types from the first storage part, a magnetic part is arranged on the second storage part, and a magnetic detection part is arranged on the water injection structure part, and the magnetic detection part detects the magnetic part when the second storage part is mounted on the first storage part.

Description

Washing machine

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.

Background

In general, in a washing machine which automatically executes each course of washing including washing, rinsing, dewatering, and the like, a drawer-type storage box such as a detergent is provided in a water supply box portion, and the detergent or softener is automatically supplied into a water tank while supplying water (see, for example, patent document 1). As the above-described container box for detergent and the like, there is known a container box for detergent and the like which is provided with a powder detergent storage portion for storing a powder detergent, a siphon-type liquid detergent storage portion for storing a liquid detergent, and a siphon-type softener storage portion for storing a softener in parallel. In this case, the powder detergent storage unit is flushed with water with a high force to prevent detergent from remaining, and the liquid detergent storage unit is supplied with water slowly at a low flow rate (flow rate) to suppress foaming.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2016-

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In the above-described structure, since the three storage portions are provided in parallel in the storage box for the detergent or the like, the storage box for the detergent or the like may be large in size as a whole and may have a large installation space. Accordingly, the present invention provides a washing machine including a housing for a detergent treatment agent in a water injection structure, which can be made compact and can perform control according to the type of the detergent treatment agent housed therein.

Means for solving the problems

The washing machine of the embodiment comprises: a water tank for storing washing water; a water injection structure part having a washing treatment agent housing part housing a washing treatment agent; and a water supply mechanism capable of supplying water from a water supply source into the water tank together with the washing treatment agent in the washing treatment agent storage part via the water injection structure part; the washing treatment agent storage part comprises a first storage part and a second storage part, the second storage part is detachably mounted relative to the first storage part and stores washing treatment agent of different types from the first storage part, a magnetic part is arranged on the second storage part, a magnetic detection part is arranged on the water injection structure part, and the magnetic detection part detects the magnetic part when the second storage part is mounted on the first storage part.

In addition, the washing machine of the embodiment is provided with: a water tank for storing washing water; a water injection structure part having a washing treatment agent housing part housing a washing treatment agent; and a water supply mechanism capable of supplying water from a water supply source into the water tank together with the washing treatment agent in the washing treatment agent storage part via the water injection structure part; the washing treatment agent storage part comprises a first storage part and a second storage part, the second storage part is detachably mounted relative to the first storage part and stores washing treatment agents of different types from the first storage part, the first storage part is provided with a magnetic part, the water injection structure part is provided with a magnetic detection part for detecting the magnetic part, and the second storage part is further provided with a shielding part which shields the detection of the magnetic part by the magnetic detection part when the second storage part is mounted in the first storage part.

Thus, a washing machine can be obtained which is provided with a housing for a detergent treatment agent in a water injection structure, which can be made compact, and which can be controlled in accordance with the type of detergent treatment agent housed.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional side view schematically showing the structure of a washing machine according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a laundry entrance portion of the washing machine in a state where the storage box is pulled out.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a water pouring box portion of the detergent container box drawn out.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional side view of the cartridge.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the water injection cartridge.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the detergent storage case together with a water supply path.

Fig. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent storage case as viewed from above.

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent storage case as viewed from below.

Fig. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a water filling cartridge according to a second embodiment.

Fig. 10 is an exploded perspective view of the detergent storage case.

Fig. 11 is a bottom view of the detergent container.

Description of the reference numerals

1: the washing machine 2: outer case

3: and (4) top cover: water tank

10: washing tank 12: impeller (mixing body)

15: the drive mechanism 20: water supply mouth

21: the control device 24: operation panel

25: the water supply mechanism 26: water injection box (Water injection structure)

26 a: front surface opening 27: water supply valve unit

29: water supply hose 30: upper box

31: the lower box 33: detergent container (cleaning treatment agent container)

34: upper water passage portion 35: main flow path

36: flow path for softener 37: flow path for foam water

39: main opening-closing valve 40: opening and closing valve for softener

41: open/close valve 44 for foam water: bottom water-through part

47: first receiving portion 48: softener container

49. 63: second housing portion 52: siphon part

53: cover portion 54: gripping part

55. 61: magnets (magnetic members) 57, 62: reed switch (magnetic testing parts)

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments applied to a so-called vertical axis type full automatic washing machine will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the common portions, and new drawings and overlapping descriptions are omitted.

(1) First embodiment

A first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 8. Fig. 1 schematically shows the overall structure of a washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment. Here, the washing machine 1 includes an outer casing 2 made of, for example, a steel plate and configured in a rectangular box shape as a whole, and a top cover 3 made of a synthetic resin is provided on an upper portion of the outer casing 2.

A water tank 4 for storing washing water is provided in the outer casing 2, and the water tank 4 is elastically suspended and supported by an elastic suspension mechanism 5 having a known structure. A drain port 6 is formed in the bottom of the water tank 4. A drain path 8 is connected to the drain port 6, and the drain path 8 includes an electronically controlled drain valve 7. Although not shown in detail, an air collection box is provided at the bottom of the water tank 4, and a water level sensor that detects the water level in the water tank 4 through an air pipe connected to the air collection box is provided.

A vertical axis type washing tank 10 which also serves as a dewatering tank is rotatably provided in the water tank 4. The washing tank 10 has a bottomed cylindrical shape, and a plurality of dewatering holes 10a are formed in a peripheral wall portion thereof. A liquid-sealed rotary balancer 11, for example, is attached to an upper end of the washing tub 10. In addition, a pulsator 12 constituting a stirring unit is disposed at an inner bottom of the washing tub 10. Laundry, not shown, is accommodated in washing tub 10, and washing operation including a process of washing, rinsing, and dehydrating the laundry is performed.

As shown in fig. 1, pump blades 12a are integrally provided on the back surface of the pulsator 12, and a pump chamber 9 including a centrifugal pump is formed in the inner bottom of the washing tub 10. Although not shown, three pumping paths are provided in a side wall portion of the washing tub 10, the three pumping paths extending upward from respective outlet portions located at three positions at intervals of, for example, 120 degrees on the outer periphery of the pump chamber 9, and by rotation of the pulsator 12, the washing liquid (water with detergent dissolved therein, and the like) in the washing tub 10 rises from the pump chamber 9 along the pumping paths and is ejected (sprinkled) from the upper portion of the washing tub 10.

A driving mechanism 15 of a known structure is disposed on the outer bottom of the water tank 4. The drive mechanism 15 includes, for example, a washing machine motor including an outer rotor type dc three-phase brushless motor, a hollow tub shaft 18, a stirring shaft 19 penetrating the tub shaft 18, a clutch mechanism for selectively transmitting a rotational drive force of the washing machine motor to the tub shaft 18 and the stirring shaft 19, and the like. The washing tub 10 is connected to the upper end of the tub shaft 18, and the pulsator 12 is connected to the upper end of the agitating shaft 19.

The clutch mechanism is controlled by a control device 21 described later, for example, using a solenoid as a drive source. In the washing and rinsing (washing stroke), the clutch mechanism transmits the driving force of the washing machine motor to the pulsator 12 through the agitating shaft 19 in a state where the washing tub 10 is fixed (stopped), thereby directly rotating the pulsator 12 in the forward and reverse directions. In addition, the clutch mechanism transmits the driving force of the washing machine motor to the washing tub 10 via the tub shaft 18 in a state where the tub shaft 18 and the agitation shaft 19 are connected during the dehydration (dehydration stroke), etc., and directly rotates and drives the washing tub 10 (and the pulsator 12) at a high speed in one direction.

On the other hand, a water tank cover 13 is attached to an upper portion of the water tank 4. The water tank cover 13 is provided with an opening 13a for taking in laundry at a substantially central portion thereof, and an inner lid 14 for opening and closing the opening 13a is attached thereto. Further, a water supply port 20 for supplying water into the water tank 4 by a water supply mechanism described later is provided in a rear portion of the water tank cover 13. Although not shown, a drying unit for supplying drying air into the water tub 4 to dry the laundry is provided in the top cover 3, and a connection port for connecting an air supply duct and an exhaust duct of the drying unit to each other is provided in the water tub cover 13.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the top cover 3 has a thin hollow box shape with an open lower surface and an upper surface inclined downward toward the front. A substantially circular laundry entrance 3a is formed in the center of the top cover 3 above the washing tub 10 (above the opening 13a of the tub cover 13). A cover 23 is provided on the upper surface of the top cover 3 so as to be openable and closable, and the cover 23 has a rectangular panel shape as a whole and opens and closes the doorway 3 a.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, a laterally long operation panel 24 is provided on the front edge of the upper surface of the top cover 3. Although not shown in detail, the operation panel 24 includes an operation unit for turning on/off the power supply, various settings, instructions, and the like of the washing machine 1 by a user, a display unit for performing necessary display, and the like. A control device 21 (electronic unit) is provided on the back side of the operation panel 24. The control device 21 is mainly configured by a computer, and controls each process of the washing operation such as washing, rinsing, and spin-drying, and a process of drying by the drying unit by the whole washing machine 1.

As shown in fig. 1, a water supply mechanism (water supply means) 25 for supplying water into the water tank 4 is provided at the rear of the top cover 3. The water supply mechanism 25 will be described in detail below. As shown in fig. 3 and the like, the water supply mechanism 25 includes a water filling cartridge 26 as a water filling structure, a water supply valve unit 27, a water supply pump 28 (see fig. 3 and 5) for sucking bath water and the like, a water supply hose 29, and the like. A connection port 27a is provided at an upper portion of the water supply valve unit 27, and a distal end portion of a connection hose, not shown, connected to a faucet of a tap water pipe as a water supply source is connected to the connection port 27 a.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the water filling cartridge 26 is configured by combining an upper cartridge 30 and a lower cartridge 31 both made of plastic, and is configured in a substantially rectangular box shape as a whole. A pump arrangement portion 32 is provided on the rear side of the left portion of the lower cartridge 31, and the water supply pump 28 is mounted on the pump arrangement portion 32. As shown in fig. 2, a front surface of the water filling box 26 (lower box 31) faces the doorway 3a of the top cover 3, and a horizontally long rectangular front surface opening 26a is provided (see fig. 2, 3, and the like). As will be described in detail later, a drawer-type detergent storage case 33 serving as a detergent storage portion is disposed in the water injection case 26 so as to be able to be pulled out forward through the front surface opening 26a, and the drawer-type detergent storage case 33 stores detergent and a softener serving as a detergent.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, the water supply valve unit 27 is assembled in the upper case 30, and an upper water passage portion 34 for supplying water to the detergent storage case 33 is provided. As shown in fig. 6, the upper water passage portion 34 includes a main flow path 35, a softener flow path 36, a foam water flow path 37, and a pump flow path 38 (only a part of which is shown). An outlet pipe 28a (fig. 3) of the water supply pump 28 is connected to an inlet of the pump flow path 38. As shown in fig. 5 and the like, the upper surface of the upper water passage portion 34 is closed by a lid portion 34 a.

As shown in fig. 4 and 5, the water supply valve unit 27 includes three on-off valves, namely, a main on-off valve 39 that is electromagnetically opened and closed, a softener on-off valve 40, and a foam water on-off valve 41. Although not shown in detail, an outlet portion of the main opening/closing valve 39 is connected to an inlet of the main channel 35, and by opening the main opening/closing valve 39, the tap water supplied from the connection port 27a is supplied to the main channel 35.

The outlet portion of the opening/closing valve 40 for conditioner is connected to the inlet of the flow path 36 for conditioner (fig. 6), and tap water supplied from the connection port 27a is supplied to the flow path 36 for conditioner by opening the opening/closing valve 40 for conditioner. The outlet portion of the open/close valve 41 for foam water is connected to the inlet of the flow path 37 (fig. 6) for foam water, and tap water supplied from the connection port 27a is supplied to the flow path 37 for foam water by opening the open/close valve 41 for foam water. At this time, although not shown, a microbubble generator that generates a large number of fine bubbles is incorporated in the outlet portion of the open/close valve 41 for foam water, and the microbubble generator is configured to supply the micro-bubble water to the flow path 37 for foam water. The operation of the water supply valve unit 27 is controlled by the control device 21.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 4 and 5, the lower case 31 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape having upright walls at three side portions except for the front surface side (front surface opening portion 26a), and a circular water outlet 42 is formed at a position located at the front portion of the right end portion at the inner bottom portion of the lower case 31. As shown in fig. 4, the bottom surface of the lower case 31 is gently inclined downward toward the outlet 42. Further, a plurality of ribs 43 are formed at a position below the detergent storage case 33 in the inner bottom of the lower case 31, and a bottom water passage portion 44 for allowing water to flow to the outlet 42 while securing a space for water passage by the ribs 43 is provided. As shown in fig. 1, the outlet 42 of the water injection cartridge 26 (lower cartridge 31) is connected to the water supply port 20 via a serpentine water supply hose 29.

Further, a partition wall 45 for partitioning the inside of the lower case 31 into front and rear is integrally provided in the lower case 31 at a position located on the rear side of the detergent storage case 33. Thus, a rear water passage 46 is formed in the lower case 31 at a position behind the partition wall 45, and water overflowing from the detergent storage case 33 flows into the rear water passage. As shown in fig. 5, the partition wall 45 has an opening 45a formed partially in the right end side of the lower edge portion thereof. This provides a structure in which the water flowing through the rear water channel 46 flows to the bottom water passage 44 through the opening 45 a.

Next, the detergent storage case 33 will be described with reference to fig. 6 to 8. The detergent storage case 33 is made of plastic, and has a front cover 33a on the front surface thereof for closing the front opening 26a when stored in the water pouring case 26. As shown in fig. 5 and the like, a first storage portion 47 for storing a powder detergent as a cleaning treatment agent and a softener storage portion 48 for storing a liquid softener as a cleaning treatment agent are integrally provided on the back surface side of the front cover 33a, for example, in a left-right parallel arrangement. As shown in fig. 4 and 8, a hand-engaging portion 33b is provided on the front cover 33 a.

As shown in fig. 3, 4, 7, and the like, the left first receiving portion 47 has a slightly wide rectangular container shape with an open top surface, and has a gently inclined structure in which the bottom surface thereof is inclined downward toward the rear (fig. 4). As shown in fig. 7, an outlet 47a is formed from the bottom rear side to the rear side of the first housing portion 47. As will be described later, a second storage portion 49 for storing, for example, a liquid detergent as a cleaning agent is detachably attached to the first storage portion 47.

As shown in fig. 6, 7, and the like, the softener housing portion 48 has a substantially rectangular container shape that is slightly narrower than the first housing portion 47 and slightly smaller in the front-rear direction. The softener container 48 has a gentle slope with a lowest portion at a bottom surface portion thereof near the rear end portion, and as shown in fig. 8, an outlet hole 48a is formed at the lowest portion. Further, a siphon portion 50 is provided in the softener storage portion 48 at a position above the outlet hole 48 a.

As is well known, the siphon portion 50 has a cylindrical portion 50a in a circular tube shape extending upward from the bottom surface of the softener storage portion 48, and a lid portion 51 fitted into the cylindrical portion 50a from above. The cylindrical portion 50a has a through hole penetrating vertically, and its lower end opening portion coincides with the outlet hole 48 a. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the cover portion 51 has a cylindrical portion 51a having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 50a and an open lower surface, and integrally has a substantially rectangular plate-like portion 51b at a position where the plate-like portion 51b closes the upper surface portion of the cylindrical portion 51 a. The siphon portion 50 constitutes a siphon-type liquid outflow structure.

Although not shown in detail, the cover 51 is provided so as to cover the lower end of the cylindrical portion 51a with a slight distance from the bottom surface of the softener storage portion 48, with a gap between the cover and the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 50a and a gap between the cover and the upper end opening 50b of the cylindrical portion 50 a. At this time, the plate-like portion 51b is located at the same height as the upper surface portion of the softener storage portion 48, and serves as a reference for the storage capacity of the softener for the user.

When water is supplied into the softener storage portion 48 from above and the water level gradually rises, the water level rises between the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 50a and the inner periphery of the cylindrical portion 51a of the cover 51, and when the water exceeds the upper end opening portion 50b of the cylindrical portion 50a, the water in the softener storage portion 48 is discharged from the outlet hole 48a via the cylindrical portion 50a according to the siphon principle. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, 7, and the like, a plate-shaped portion 48b is provided in the softener storage portion 48 so as to extend substantially horizontally rearward from the upper end portion of the rear wall portion thereof. The plate-like portion 48b is provided so as to extend inward to a position corresponding to the rear end of the first receiving portion 47.

The second receiving portion 49 is formed in a container shape having a size that fits into the first receiving portion 47 so as to overlap from above, and is configured in a shape that becomes narrower toward the rear as shown in fig. 6, 7, and the like. The bottom surface of second receiving portion 49 has a gentle slope with the lowest rear end portion, and as shown in fig. 8, outlet hole 49a is formed in the lowest portion. As shown in fig. 4, in the attached state of second receiving portion 49 to first receiving portion 47, outlet port 49a faces outlet portion 47a of the bottom surface of first receiving portion 47. In addition, a siphon portion 52 is provided in the second housing portion 49 at a position above the outlet hole 49 a. The siphon portion 52 constitutes a siphon-type liquid outflow structure.

The siphon portion 52 has a cylindrical portion 52a of a circular tube shape extending upward from the bottom surface of the second housing portion 49, similarly to the siphon portion 50 of the softener housing portion 48, and has a lid portion 53 fitted into the cylindrical portion 52a from above. The cylindrical portion 52a has a through hole penetrating vertically, and its lower end opening portion coincides with the outlet hole 49 a. As shown in fig. 4 and the like, the lid portion 53 has a cylindrical portion 53a having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical portion 50a and an open lower surface, and integrally has a plate-like portion 53b extending substantially horizontally forward at a position closing the upper surface of the cylindrical portion 53 a. As shown in fig. 7 and the like, the plate-like portion 53b is configured to be narrow on the rear side and wide on the front end.

Although not shown in detail, the cover portion 53 is provided so as to cover the lower end of the cylindrical portion 53a with a slight distance from the bottom surface of the second receiving portion 49, with a gap between the cover portion and the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 52a and a gap between the cover portion and the upper end opening portion 52b of the cylindrical portion 52 a. At this time, the front edge of the plate-like portion 53b is located at a height equal to the upper surface portion of the second storage portion 49, and serves as a reference for the user for the storage capacity of the liquid detergent.

In addition, as shown in fig. 6, in the attached state of the lid portion 53, a gap S1 is formed between the left and right portions of the lid portion 53 and the side wall of the second receiving portion 49, so that water falls into the second receiving portion 49. In the attached state of the second receiving portion 49, a gap S2 is formed between the left and right outer wall portions at the rear thereof and the side wall of the first receiving portion 47 to allow water to fall into the first receiving portion 47.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 6, 7, and the like, a hand grip 54 for a hand is integrally provided on the right half of the front side of the second receiving portion 49 so as to protrude forward. On the upper surface of the grip 54, the second storage portion 49 is described as a storage portion for storing the liquid detergent. As shown in fig. 7 and 8, in the present embodiment, a magnet (permanent magnet) 55 as a magnetic member is provided on the lower surface (back surface) of the hand 54. The magnet 55 is formed in a substantially square plate shape, is housed from below in a square cylindrical portion 54a having an open lower surface and integrally provided on the back surface side of the gripper portion 54, and is attached in a slip-off preventive state by a holding member 56 made of a metal plate spring.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 3, 4, and the like, a reed switch 57 as a magnetism detection member for detecting magnetism of the magnet 55 is provided at an upper portion of the front surface opening 26a of the front edge portion of the water injection cartridge 26 (upper cartridge 30). The reed switch 57 is provided so as to be positioned above the grip portion 54 in a state where the second storage portion 49 is attached to the detergent storage box 33 and the detergent storage box 33 is stored in the water filling box 26. The detection signal of the reed switch 57 is input to the control device 21. As shown in fig. 6, the upper surface of the front edge of the first housing portion 47 is provided with a housing portion for housing the powder detergent at a position on the left half (left side where the grip portion 54 is disposed).

With the above configuration, when the user wants to use the powdered detergent during the washing operation, the user pulls out the detergent containing box 33 from the water injection box 26, and with the second storage portion 49 removed, stores a required amount of the powdered detergent in the first storage portion 47, and stores the detergent containing box 33 in the water injection box 26. On the other hand, when a liquid detergent is used, the detergent storage case 33 is pulled out, the second storage portion 49 is attached to the first storage portion 47, and a required amount of the liquid detergent is stored in the second storage case 49. When the softener is used in the rinsing stroke, a required amount of the softener is previously charged into the softener storage portion 48 together with the above.

Fig. 6 shows the positional relationship between the detergent storage case 33 and the respective flow paths of the upper water passage 34 provided in the upper case 30. The main flow path 35 has a plurality of main water injection holes 35a above a front portion (front of the cover 53) of the first receiving portion 47 (second receiving portion 49). When the main closing valve 39 of the water supply valve unit 27 is opened, the tap water is injected from the main water injection hole 35a into the first storage portion 47 (or the second storage portion 49) in a shower-like manner through the main flow path 35.

The softener flow path 36 has a plurality of softener water injection holes 36a in an upper portion (upper portion of the cover 51 and the front portion) of the softener storage portion 48. When the softener open/close valve 40 is opened, tap water is injected into the softener storage portion 48 in a shower-like manner from the softener water injection hole 36a via the softener flow path 36. The outlet end of the foam water flow path 37 is connected to the middle of the main flow path 35. Thus, when the foam water on-off valve 41 is opened, foam water containing a large number of fine bubbles is injected in a shower-like manner from the main water injection hole 35a through the foam water flow path 37 and further through the main flow path 35.

Next, the operation of the washing machine 1 configured as described above will be described. To start the washing operation, the user turns on the power of washing machine 1 to store the laundry in washing tub 10. Then, the detergent storage box 33 is pulled out, and a required amount of powdered detergent is put into the first storage portion 47 with the second storage portion 49 removed. Alternatively, a required amount of liquid detergent is put into the second storage portion 49 in a state of being mounted in the first storage portion 47. When a softener is used, the softener is put into the softener storage portion 48 in advance. After that, the detergent storage box 33 is stored in the water pouring box 26, and then the user performs the start operation using the operation panel 24.

Then, the control device 21 controls each mechanism of the washing machine 1 based on input signals from each sensor and a control program stored in advance in accordance with a setting operation or the like performed by a user on the operation panel 24, and automatically executes a washing operation including each course of known washing, rinsing, and spin-drying. The user can specify, by setting the operation panel 24, not only the supply of normal tap water but also the supply of bath water or the like by the water supply pump 28 or the supply of microbubble water. Further, the explanation of the washing operation using the bath water or the micro bubble water is omitted here.

When a washing operation using tap water is to be started, a detection signal from the reed switch 57 is inputted to the control device 21. That is, when the second storage portion 49 for storing the liquid detergent is mounted in the detergent storage box 33 in the water injection box 26, a detection signal of the magnet 55 mounted in the second storage portion 49 is output from the reed switch 57. When the second receiving portion 49 is not mounted, the reed switch 57 does not output a detection signal. Thus, the control device 21 can determine whether or not the second storage portion 49 is mounted in the detergent storage box 33, in other words, whether or not the liquid detergent is used in the washing process.

At the start of the washing stroke, water is supplied into water tub 4 (washing tub 10) by water supply mechanism 25 until a predetermined water level is reached. In this water supply, the main on-off valve 39 is opened by the controller 21, and water is supplied to the detergent storage box 33 through the main flow path 35. Further, the water supply is performed by: while the detergent contained in the detergent container 33 is dissolved by the injected water, the water is made to flow to the water passage portion 44 provided at the bottom of the lower case 31 of the water injection case 26, and the water in which the detergent is dissolved is supplied from the outlet 42 to the water tank 4 via the water supply hose 29.

At this time, the controller 21 controls the main on-off valve 39 to perform a continuous water supply operation for continuously (continuously) opening the main on-off valve 39 when the second storage portion 49 is not mounted in the detergent storage box 33. On the other hand, when the second storage portion 49 is attached to the detergent storage case 33, the intermittent water supply operation is performed by alternately repeating opening and closing of the main on-off valve 39. The intermittent water supply operation is performed by repeatedly opening main on-off valve 39 for, e.g., 3 seconds and closing it for 5 seconds.

First, when the second storage portion 49 is not mounted, that is, when the powder detergent is stored in the first storage portion 47, the control device 21 continuously opens the main opening/closing valve 39 during water supply. By the continuous opening of the main opening/closing valve 39, the tap water is injected into the first housing portion 47 from above through the main flow path 35 in a shower-like manner from the water injection hole 35 a. By containing the powdered detergent in the first containing portion 47 in advance, the powdered detergent is dissolved in water and flows down from the outlet portion 47a to the bottom water passing portion 44, and the water in which the detergent is dissolved is supplied to the water tank 4 via the outlet 42.

At this time, although tap water is continuously supplied into the first storage unit 47, the amount of supplied water per unit time is relatively large, but the water easily flows down from the outlet portion 47a having a large opening together with the powdered detergent, and the powdered detergent can be washed without leaving any residue. In addition, since the amount of supplied water is large, the supply of water is completed in a relatively short time. Although there is a possibility that water may overflow from the first storage portion 47, the overflow water flows into the rear water passage 46 beyond the partition wall 45, flows into the bottom water passage 44 through the relatively small opening 45a, joins the water flowing out of the outlet portion 47a, and is supplied from the outlet 42 to the water tank 4.

On the other hand, when the second storage portion 49 is attached to the detergent storage box 33, that is, when the liquid detergent is stored in the second storage portion 49, the control device 21 intermittently opens the main opening/closing valve 39 during the water supply. When the main opening/closing valve 39 is opened, tap water is injected into the second storage portion 49 from above through the main flow path 35 in a shower-like manner from the main water injection hole 35 a. When the main opening/closing valve 39 is opened for, for example, 3 seconds, the water level in the second storage portion 49 gradually rises and exceeds the upper end opening 52b of the cylindrical portion 52a of the siphon portion 52, and the water continuously flows out from the outlet hole 49a (fig. 8) together with the liquid detergent.

The water (washing water) in which the liquid detergent is dissolved flows out from outlet hole 49a, flows down to bottom water passage 44 through outlet 47a of first storage unit 47, and is supplied to water tub 4 through outlet 42. After 3 seconds of water supply, main on-off valve 39 is closed for, for example, 5 seconds. During this period, the water supply into second receiving portion 49 is stopped, and the water level in second receiving portion 49 is lowered, so that water is hardly present. By repeating such an intermittent water supply operation, the liquid detergent in the second storage portion 49 is gradually supplied into the water tank 4 together with water.

In this way, the second storage unit 49 is supplied with water slowly with a relatively small amount of water supplied per unit time (flow rate of water) by the intermittent water supply operation. This prevents the liquid detergent from being vigorously mixed with a large amount of water in the second storage portion 49, thereby suppressing foaming. Therefore, it is possible to prevent a large amount of foam of the liquid detergent from leaking from the detergent storage case 33 and the water pouring case 26.

After the washing stroke is completed, in the rinsing stroke, for example, 2 times of rinsing with the accumulated water is performed, and in the first rinsing with the accumulated water, water is supplied through the main flow path 35. Further, in the final water storage rinsing in the rinsing stroke, the opening/closing valve 40 for the conditioner is opened, and water is supplied through the flow path 36 for the conditioner. As a result, water is injected from above into the softener storage portion 48 in a shower-like manner, and while the softener stored in the softener storage portion 48 is dissolved in water, the water in which the softener is dissolved is discharged from the outlet hole 48a (fig. 8) via the siphon portion 50, flows down to the bottom water passage portion 44, and is supplied to the water tank 4 via the outlet 42.

In this way, according to the washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, the following operation and effects can be obtained. That is, in the present embodiment, the detergent storage box 33 includes the first storage portion 47 and the second storage portion 49 detachably attached to the first storage portion 47 and storing different types of detergents, the magnet 55 is provided in the second storage portion 49, and the reed switch 57 for detecting the magnet 55 is provided in the water injection box 26.

Thus, by storing a predetermined type of detergent (powdered detergent) in the first storage section 47 of the water injection structure in advance with the second storage section 49 removed, the detergent in the first storage section 47 can be supplied into the water tank 4 while dissolving it in water from the water supply source by the water supply mechanism 25. On the other hand, when the user wants to use a different type of detergent (liquid detergent), the second storage portion 49 can be attached to the first storage portion 47, and the liquid detergent can be stored in the second storage portion 49. Thus, water supply mechanism 25 can supply the liquid detergent in second storage unit 49 into water tank 4 while dissolving the liquid detergent in the water from the water supply source.

In this case, since the second storage portion 49 is attached to and detached from the first storage portion 47 and only one of the second storage portion 49 and the first storage portion 47 is used, the overall size of the detergent storage box 33 can be made compact as compared with a case where the first storage portion 47 and the second storage portion 49 are separately provided, and space saving can be achieved. In addition, in a state where the second receiving portion 49 is attached to the first receiving portion 47, the magnet 55 provided in the second receiving portion 49 is detected by the reed switch 57, and the control device 21 can reliably determine that the second receiving portion 49 is attached. Further, the water supply operation can be controlled according to the type of the detergent contained therein.

In the present embodiment, since the siphon portion 52, which is a siphon type liquid outflow structure, is provided in the second storage portion 49, the second storage portion 49 can be provided as a member suitable for storing a liquid detergent, the liquid detergent can be prevented from leaking when not needed, and the liquid detergent can be reliably discharged when needed (when put in). Further, since the first storage unit 47 is configured to store the powder detergent, the liquid detergent and the powder detergent can be used separately, and they can be reliably supplied to the water tank 4, and water supply control can be performed in accordance with each detergent.

In particular, in the present embodiment, the detergent storage case 33 is stored so as to be accessible from the front opening 26a of the water pouring case 26, and the reed switch 57 is provided at a position located at the upper part of the front part of the water pouring case 26 (upper case 30). The reed switch 57 can be disposed at a position where it does not interfere with other members and where it is possible to suppress unnecessary enlargement of the water filling cartridge 26. On the other hand, since the magnet 55 is provided at a position outside the upper surface opening of the second storage portion 49 for introducing the liquid detergent, the storage capacity of the liquid detergent can be secured without narrowing the space for storing the liquid detergent. In the present embodiment, since the magnet 55 is provided at a position located on the front surface of the second housing portion 49, that is, on the back surface side of the grip portion 54, the magnet 55 can be provided without hindrance.

(2) Second embodiment

A second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 9 to 11. The second embodiment is different from the first embodiment described above in the arrangement of the magnet 61 as the magnetic member and the reed switch 62 as the magnetic detection member. That is, in the present embodiment, the detergent storage case 33 of the washing treatment agent storage portion is also configured with the first storage portion 47 and the softener storage portion 48 arranged in parallel in the left-right direction, and is stored in the water filling case 26 of the water filling structure portion so as to be removable.

The second storage portion 63 for storing the liquid detergent is detachably attached to the first storage portion 47. The second receiving portion 63 has substantially the same configuration as the second receiving portion 49 of the first embodiment except for the configuration of the gripper portion 54, but as shown in fig. 10 and 11, a rectangular plate-shaped attachment piece portion 64 is integrally provided at the rear edge portion of the second receiving portion 63 so as to protrude in a substantially horizontal direction.

In the present embodiment, a square tubular portion 64a having an open lower surface is integrally provided on the lower surface side of the attachment piece portion 64, the magnet 61 is housed in the square tubular portion 64a, and the magnet 61 is attached in a slip-off preventive manner by a holding member 65 made of a metal plate spring. The magnet 61 is disposed outside the upper surface opening of the second storage portion 63 for introducing the liquid detergent. As shown in fig. 9, a reed switch 62 for detecting the magnetism of the magnet 61 is provided at a position located at the rear portion (rear wall portion) of the water injection case 26 (upper case 30).

According to the second embodiment, since the reed switch 62 is provided at the position located at the rear of the water injection cartridge 26 (upper cartridge 30), the reed switch 62 can be disposed at the position where it does not interfere with other members and unnecessary increase in size of the water injection cartridge 26 can be suppressed, as in the first embodiment. Since the magnet 61 is provided at a position outside (rear side) the upper surface opening of the second storage portion 63 for introducing the liquid detergent, the storage capacity of the liquid detergent can be secured without narrowing the space for storing the liquid detergent, and the magnet 61 can be provided without hindrance.

(3) Third embodiment

Although not shown in the drawings, the third embodiment can be configured as follows. That is, in the first embodiment, the magnet 55 as a magnetic member is provided in the second housing portion 49, and the reed switch 57 as a magnetic detection member for detecting attachment of the second housing portion 49 by the detection magnet 55 is provided in the water injection cartridge 26. In contrast, in the third embodiment, the following structure may be provided: a magnet as a magnetic member is provided in the first housing portion 47, a reed switch 57 as a magnetic detection member is provided on the water injection cartridge 26 side, and a shielding member that shields the detection of the magnet by the reed switch 57 in a state where the second housing portion 49 is attached to the first housing portion 47 is further provided in the second housing portion 49.

Thus, in a state where the second receiving portion 49 is not attached to the first receiving portion 47, the reed switch 57 detects the magnet provided in the first receiving portion 47, and it can be determined that the second receiving portion 49 is not attached. On the other hand, in a state where the second receiving portion 49 is attached to the first receiving portion 47, the shielding member provided in the second receiving portion 49 makes it impossible to detect the magnet of the first receiving portion 47 by the reed switch 57, and therefore, it can be determined that the second receiving portion 49 is attached. Therefore, according to the third embodiment, the same operation and effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

(4) Other embodiments

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and although not shown in the drawings, the present invention can be extended or modified as follows. That is, a magnetic member (magnet 55) may be provided on a side surface portion of the second housing portion 49, and a magnetism detection member (reed switch 57) may be provided at a position located on a side portion of the water filling cartridge 26. Alternatively, the magnet 55 may be provided on the lower surface of the hand 54 at the distal end of the second housing portion 49, and the reed switch 57 may be provided at a position lower than the front portion of the water filling cartridge 26 (lower cartridge 31). Accordingly, the magnet 55 and the reed switch 57 can be arranged at positions that do not interfere with each other and that can suppress the size of the entire device.

In the above embodiment, both the detergent storage portion and the softener storage portion 48 are provided in the detergent storage box provided in the water injection box, but the softener storage portion 48 may be omitted. The detergent container box can be arranged in a front-rear long manner without arranging the detergent container part and the softener container part in the left-right direction, and thus, the detergent container box can be arranged in parallel in the front-rear direction. Further, instead of being provided in the water filling box so as to be able to be pulled out, the detergent containing box may be configured such that, for example, a first storage part that is opened and closed by a lid is fixedly provided in the washing machine main body that is the water filling structure part. In this case, the attachment/detachment of the second storage unit can be detected by a magnetic detection member provided in the washing machine main body.

In the above embodiment, the present invention is applied to a vertical axis type washing machine, but the present invention is not limited to the vertical axis type washing machine, and can be applied to all washing machines such as a drum type washing machine. Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are provided as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These new embodiments can be implemented in other various ways, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope equivalent to the invention described in the claims.

Claims

1. A washing machine is provided with:

a water tank for storing washing water;

a water injection structure part having a washing treatment agent housing part housing a washing treatment agent; and

a water supply mechanism capable of supplying water from a water supply source into the water tank together with the washing treatment agent in the washing treatment agent storage part via the water injection structure part;

the washing treatment agent storage part is provided with: a first housing unit that houses a washing treatment agent; and a second housing portion housed in the first housing portion, the second housing portion being detachably attached to the first housing portion and housing a different kind of washing treatment agent from the first housing portion,

a magnetic member provided in the second housing part and a magnetic detection member provided in the water injection structure part, the magnetic detection member detecting the magnetic member in a state where the second housing part is attached to the first housing part,

the washing machine determines whether the second storage unit is mounted in the washing treatment agent storage unit based on a detection signal generated by the magnetic detection means, performs a continuous water supply operation when the second storage unit is not mounted in the washing treatment agent storage unit, and performs an intermittent water supply operation when the second storage unit is mounted in the washing treatment agent storage unit, the intermittent water supply operation having a smaller amount of water supplied per unit time than the continuous water supply operation.

2. A washing machine is provided with:

a water tank for storing washing water;

a magnetic member is provided in the first housing part, a magnetic detection member for detecting the magnetic member is provided in the water injection structure part, and a shielding member for shielding the magnetic member from detection in a state where the second housing part is attached to the first housing part is further provided in the second housing part,

3. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the second accommodating part is provided with a siphon type liquid outflow structure part.

4. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the first housing portion houses a powdered detergent, and the second housing portion houses a liquid detergent.

5. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the water injection structure part is in a box shape with an opening part on the front surface, the washing treatment agent accommodating part is accommodated in a mode of being taken in and out from the opening part, and the magnetic detection part is arranged at the position of the upper part of the front part of the water injection structure part.

6. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the water injection structure part is in a box shape with an opening part on the front surface, the washing treatment agent accommodating part is accommodated in a mode of being taken in and out from the opening part, and the magnetic detection part is arranged at the rear part of the water injection structure part.

7. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the water injection structure part is in a box shape with an opening part on the front surface, the washing treatment agent accommodating part is accommodated in a mode of being taken in and out from the opening part, and the magnetic detection part is arranged at a position at the side part of the water injection structure part.

8. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the water injection structure part is in a box shape with an opening part on the front surface, the washing treatment agent accommodating part is accommodated in a mode of being taken in and out from the opening part, and the magnetic detection part is arranged at the position of the lower part of the front part of the water injection structure part.

9. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the magnetic member is provided in the cleaning agent storage portion at a position outside the opening for feeding the cleaning agent.

10. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,

the water injection structure is in the shape of a box having an opening on the front surface, the washing treatment agent storage part is stored in a manner of being taken in and out from the opening, a hand grip for a hand is arranged on the front surface of the second storage part, and the magnetic part is arranged at the position on the back surface side of the hand grip.