CN114059315A - Detergent feeding device and washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The detergent feeding device is provided with: a detergent input unit into which a detergent is input; a softener input unit into which the softener is input; and a detergent water passage path for guiding water to the detergent input part. The detergent water passage path is provided with a path branch which branches flowing water into a first side path, a second side path and a central path. The end parts of the first side path and the second side path are connected with the fourth side path.

Description

Detergent feeding device and washing machine

Technical Field

One aspect of the present invention relates to a detergent supply device for supplying detergent to a washing machine, and a washing machine including the detergent supply device.

Background

A washing machine including a detergent supply unit for supplying a detergent into a washing tub is known.

In such a detergent supply section, a user supplies a detergent during use, and the detergent is diluted with water and flows into the water tank (see, for example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2017-74287).

Disclosure of Invention

In the washing machine described in jp 2017-74287 a, a detergent storage part for storing detergent and a water supply path for supplying water to the detergent storage part are provided, a water supply port as a small hole is provided in a bottom surface of the water supply path, and water from the water supply port is supplied from the upper parts of the rear part and both side parts of the detergent storage part.

However, in the above-described washing machine, the following may be caused: the water supply path is not uniform in water amount, and water is excessively supplied from the small holes in the middle of the water supply path, and the water cannot reach the end, or water is not supplied through the small holes in the middle, so that water cannot be uniformly supplied from the entire circumference of the detergent storage part. This may cause a problem that the detergent remains without completely flowing.

An aspect of the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a detergent supply device and a washing machine that can prevent a detergent locally accumulated from remaining by allowing sufficient water to flow through the entire circumference of a detergent storage portion.

A detergent supply device according to an aspect of the present invention is a device for supplying a detergent to a washing machine, the detergent supply device including: a first input part for inputting a first detergent; a second input part for inputting a second detergent; a tap water supply port for taking in water to be injected into the first and second injection portions; a first water passage for guiding the water taken in from the tap water supply port to the first input unit; and a main body discharge unit that discharges a detergent that is put into the washing machine, wherein the first input unit has a first input port that is open in a rectangular shape in a plan view, the first input port has a first side and a second side that are opposite to each other and a third side and a fourth side that are opposite to each other in a plan view, the first water passage path is provided with a path branch that branches flowing water into a first side path, a second side path, and a central path, the first side path is provided along the first side, the second side path is provided along the second side, the central path is provided along the third side, and a distal end portion of the first side path and the second side path is connected to a fourth side path provided along the fourth side.

In the detergent dispenser according to the aspect of the present invention, the first inlet may include a side rib provided upright along the first side, the second side, and the third side, and the side rib may include a slit through which water flows into the first inlet.

In the detergent dispenser according to the aspect of the present invention, the side ribs may be provided with flow straightening ribs that protrude into the respective paths.

In the detergent dispenser according to the aspect of the present invention, the plurality of slits may be provided, and the respective slits may have different widths.

In the detergent dispenser according to the aspect of the present invention, the distance from the branch of the path to the second side may be longer than the distance from the branch of the path to the first side, and the end portion of the central path may merge with the second side path.

In the detergent dispenser according to the aspect of the present invention, the central passage may be located at the center of the first water passage between the first side passage and the second side passage in a passage width direction along a cross section of the first water passage, and the width of the central passage in the passage width direction may be narrower than the width of the first side passage and the width of the second side passage.

In the detergent dispenser according to the aspect of the present invention, a protruding portion protruding upward may be provided on a bottom surface of the first side path and the second side path.

The detergent dispenser according to an aspect of the present invention may be configured such that the detergent dispenser includes a second water passage for guiding water taken in from the tap water supply port to the second inlet portion, the second inlet portion may include a second inlet port having an upper opening, and the second inlet port may include a protrusion rib standing along an outer periphery thereof.

In the detergent dispenser according to the aspect of the present invention, the bottom surface of the second water passage may be inclined so as to become lower toward the tip.

A washing machine according to an aspect of the present invention includes the detergent supply device according to the present invention.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the first water passage path is branched into 3, so that water passing through the first side path and the second side path can be secured, water can be distributed over the entire circumference including the first inlet port on the fourth side, and sufficient water can be flowed through the entire circumference, thereby preventing detergent from remaining in a local reservoir.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an appearance of a detergent dispensing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an example of an external appearance of a washing machine using a detergent dispenser.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the detergent dispenser.

Fig. 4 is a rear view of the detergent dispenser with the rear cover removed from the cartridge body.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a portion of the cartridge main body from which the manual insertion housing is removed.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of a detergent dispenser for explaining a detergent dispensing operation.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the manual input housing.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the manual input housing shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the manual container.

FIG. 10A is an enlarged plan view showing an enlarged structure of the softener inlet side of FIG. 9.

Fig. 10B is an enlarged plan view showing the detergent inlet side of fig. 9 in an enlarged manner.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a main portion showing a section at an arrow a-a of fig. 10A.

Detailed Description

An embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. First, a basic configuration of a detergent supply device 10 to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied and an operation at the time of detergent supply will be briefly described.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an external appearance of a detergent dispenser 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention, and fig. 2 is a perspective view showing an external appearance example of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, the detergent is a detergent to be put into the washing tub of the washing machine 1 from the detergent putting device 10, and is a laundry treatment agent such as a powder detergent, a liquid detergent, and a softener. In addition, a detergent and a laundry treatment agent that are liquid in a detergent are sometimes called a liquor. In fig. 2, a drum-type washing machine is illustrated as the washing machine 1, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and a washing machine to which the present invention is applied may be a vertical-type washing machine.

As shown in fig. 1, the detergent dispenser 10 can mount a detergent box 110, a conditioner box 120, and a manual dispenser housing 130 on a housing body 100. The detergent box 110 and the softener box 120 are boxes for containing a liquid agent to be automatically put into a washing tub of the washing machine 1, and the detergent box 110 contains a liquid detergent and the softener box 120 contains a softener, a bleaching agent, and the like. The manual input case 130 is a case for a user to manually input detergent, and includes a detergent input portion 131 and a softener input portion 132. The detailed structure of the manual input housing 130 will be described with reference to fig. 7 described later.

A valve mechanism 140 is installed behind the detergent dispenser 10. The valve mechanism 140 has a tap water supply port 141 for allowing the supplied tap water to flow into the detergent dispenser 10. Further, a plurality of electromagnetic valves are provided inside the valve mechanism 140, and tap water can be supplied to the detergent dispenser 10 through different paths by appropriately controlling the opening and closing of the plurality of electromagnetic valves.

The detergent dispenser 10 is disposed in the washing machine 1 shown in fig. 2 in the vicinity of the upper left side when viewed from the front side (the side where the door 2 is disposed) of the washing machine 1. A cover 3 and a cover 4 are disposed on the upper surface of the washing machine 1. When the cover 3 is opened, the detergent input portion 131 and the softener input portion 132 in the detergent input device 10 are exposed, and the user can manually input the liquid agent. The manual input case 130 is configured to be not detachable from the detergent input device 10. Further, when the cover 4 is opened, the detergent box 110 and the conditioner box 120 are exposed, and the user can pull out the detergent box 110 or the conditioner box 120 with respect to the washing machine 1. Thus, the user can remove the detergent box 110 or the conditioner box 120 to replenish the liquid.

In addition, in a state where detergent dispensing device 10 is attached to washing machine 1, tap water supply port 141 is exposed near the rear portion of the upper surface of washing machine 1. Thus, the tap water supply port 141 is connected to the hose through the tap water tap, and can receive the supply of tap water.

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the detergent dispenser 10 shown in fig. 1, and fig. 4 is a rear view of the detergent dispenser 10 with the rear cover 101 removed from the casing body 100.

As shown in fig. 3, a liquid agent exchange chamber is provided on the back surface of the detergent dispenser 10, and a rear cover 101 is attached to the liquid agent exchange chamber.

As shown in fig. 4, a first groove 102, which is a part of a first water supply path P1 described later, and a second groove 103, which is a part of a second water supply path P2 described later, are formed in the rear surface of the case main body 100. Further, although the grooves are formed in the rear surface of the case main body 100, the grooves function as the cylindrical first water supply path P1 and second water supply path P2 when the rear cover 101 is attached to the case main body 100.

In the first tank 102, an inlet 102a for allowing tap water to flow from the valve mechanism 140 is provided at an upstream end of the water supply path, and an outlet 102b for allowing tap water (or a mixed liquid of tap water and a liquid detergent) to flow out is provided at a downstream end of the water supply path. Similarly, in the second tank 103, an inlet 103 for allowing tap water to flow from the valve mechanism 140 is provided at the upstream end of the water supply path, and an outlet 103b for allowing tap water (or a mixture of tap water and the softener) to flow out is provided at the downstream end. Further, a check valve 104 connected to the detergent box 110 is provided in the middle of the first groove 102, thereby preventing backflow from the first water supply path P1 to the detergent box 110, or leakage from the first water supply path P1 to the upper surface of the case main body 100 when the detergent box 110 is not mounted or incompletely mounted. A check valve 105 connected to the conditioner box 120 is provided in the middle of the second groove 103 to prevent backflow from the second water supply path P2 to the conditioner box 120 or leakage from the second water supply path P2 to the upper surface of the housing body 100 when the conditioner box 120 is not mounted or is not fully mounted. The mixed liquid of the water and the liquid detergent flowing out of the outlet 102b and the outlet 103b flows into the detergent input portion 131 of the manual input case 130.

Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a portion of the case main body 100 from which the manual input case 130 is removed.

As shown in fig. 3 to 5, a main body discharge portion 106 is provided on the bottom surface of the case main body 100 directly below the detergent input portion 131 of the manual input case 130. The water flowing into the detergent input portion 131 is supplied to the washing tub of the washing machine 1 through the main body discharge portion 106. As will be described in detail later, the water flowing into the softener inlet 132 of the manual inlet case 130 is also supplied to the washing tub of the washing machine 1 through the body outlet 106.

Next, a detergent supply operation in the detergent supply device 10 will be described with reference to fig. 6.

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the detergent dispenser 10 for explaining the detergent dispensing operation.

As shown in fig. 6, in the valve mechanism 140, the water supply path from the city water supply port 141 is divided into a third water supply path P3 and a fourth water supply path P4, the third water supply path P3 is connected to the first water supply path P1 on the case main body 100 side, and the fourth water supply path P4 is connected to the second water supply path P2. The electromagnetic valve 142 and the negative pressure pipe 144 are disposed in the third water supply path P3 in this order from the upstream side. The electromagnetic valve 143 and the negative pressure pipe 145 are arranged in this order from the upstream side in the fourth water supply path P4. The negative pressure pipe 144 and the negative pressure pipe 145 can generate a negative pressure in the fifth water supply path P5 by the contraction flow effect. The negative pressure pipe 144 and the negative pressure pipe 145 are connected by a fifth water supply path P5, and a flow meter 146 is disposed in the fifth water supply path P5. However, the valve mechanism 140 in fig. 6 does not show all the water supply paths and the electromagnetic valves.

The check valve 107 is provided on the downstream side of the check valve 104 (specifically, on the downstream side of the outlet 102b of the first groove 102) in the first water supply path P1. The check valve 108 is provided on the downstream side of the check valve 105 (specifically, on the downstream side of the outlet 103b of the second groove 103) in the second water supply path P2. The check valve 107 and the check valve 108 are configured using float valves, and the check valve 107 and the check valve 108 are opened and closed by the water flow in the first water supply path P1 and the second water supply path P2, respectively. The first water supply path P1 and the second water supply path P2 further join at the downstream side, and flow into the detergent inlet 131 of the manual inlet case 130 as described above.

First, a detergent supply operation (automatic liquid detergent supply operation) in a case where a predetermined amount of liquid detergent is automatically supplied from the detergent box 110 will be described. In the first stage of the detergent supply operation, water is supplied from the tap water supply port 141 while both the electromagnetic valves 142 and 143 are opened. The tap water flowing through the first water supply path P1 and the second water supply path P2 pushes up the check valve 107 and the check valve 108, which are float valves, to open states, respectively. By this first stage operation, tap water flows out to detergent inlet 131 as first to fourth water supply paths P1 to P4 are filled up. At this time, the check valves 104 and 105 are both in the closed state, and the liquid does not flow into the first water supply path P1 and the second water supply path P2 from the detergent box 110 and the conditioner box 120. Further, the flow in the fifth water supply path P5 hardly occurs.

When all of the first to fourth water supply paths P1 to P4 are filled with tap water by the first-stage operation, the solenoid valve 142 and the solenoid valve 143 are temporarily closed, and the check valve 107 and the check valve 108, which are float valves, are lowered to be in a closed state.

Next, as a second stage, only the electromagnetic valve 143 is opened to supply water from the tap water supply port 141. As a result, a flow from the fourth water supply path P4 to the second water supply path P2 occurs, and a negative pressure is generated in the negative pressure pipe 145. Due to this negative pressure, tap water flows from the negative pressure pipe 144 to the negative pressure pipe 145 in the fifth water supply path P5. On the other hand, since the solenoid valve 142 and the check valve 107 are both in the closed state, the inside of the first water supply path P1 is also in a negative pressure, and the check valve 104 is opened by the negative pressure, so that the liquid detergent is introduced from the detergent box 110 into the first water supply path P1.

Further, the check valve 104 is held in a closed state by biasing a valve member therein toward the detergent box 110 by a spring not shown, and is opened when the valve member is pulled out by a negative pressure from the first water supply path P1. The check valve 105 provided in the second water supply path P2 is also configured in the same manner as the check valve 104.

In the second stage of action, the same amount of liquid detergent as the tap water flowing in the fifth water supply path P5 is introduced from the detergent box 110 into the first water supply path P1. Therefore, in the second stage, when the flow rate of the tap water flowing through the fifth water supply path P5 is measured by the flow meter 146 and the measured value of the flow meter 146 reaches a predetermined value, the electromagnetic valve 143 is closed, and the operation in the second stage is terminated. In addition, at the end time point of the second stage, the liquid detergent introduced from the detergent box 110 stays only in the first water supply path P1, and does not flow into the fifth water supply path P5.

In the next third stage, both the electromagnetic valve 142 and the electromagnetic valve 143 are opened again, and water is supplied from the tap water supply port 141. Thus, the mixed liquid of the tap water and the liquid detergent is sent from the first water supply path P1 to the detergent loading part 131, and the tap water is sent from the second water supply path P2 to the detergent loading part 131. When a sufficient amount of water is supplied to replace all of the first to fourth water supply paths P1 to P4 with tap water, the electromagnetic valves 142 and 143 are closed, and the automatic liquid detergent supply operation is completed.

In the above-described automatic input operation of the liquid detergent, a predetermined amount of the liquid detergent is introduced from the detergent box 110 into the first water supply path P1 in the second stage, but the maximum predetermined amount that can be introduced is determined so that the introduced liquid detergent does not flow into the fifth water supply path P5. Therefore, when it is desired to supply the detergent exceeding the maximum predetermined amount into the washing tank, the automatic supply operation may be performed a plurality of times.

The detergent input operation (automatic softener input operation) when a predetermined amount of softener is automatically input from the softener box 120 can be performed in the same manner as the automatic liquid detergent input operation. However, in the automatic softener throwing operation, only the solenoid valve 142 is opened in the second stage. Thus, in the automatic softener supply operation, negative pressure is generated in the second water supply path P2, the check valve 105 opens, and the softener is introduced from the softener cartridge 120 into the second water supply path P2.

When the detergent is manually supplied, a predetermined amount of detergent (liquid detergent or powder detergent corresponding to the first detergent) is supplied from the user to the detergent supply portion 131 of the manual supply case 130. At this time, water is supplied in a state where both the solenoid valve 142 and the solenoid valve 143 are opened. When water is supplied in a state where both of the solenoid valves 142 and 143 are opened, only tap water is supplied to the detergent input portion 131 because the check valves 104 and 105 are kept closed. That is, the detergent in the detergent input portion 131 can be dissolved and input into the washing tank by tap water supplied to the detergent input portion 131.

Finally, when the softener is manually input, a user inputs a predetermined amount of the softener (corresponding to the second detergent) into the softener input portion 132 of the manual input case 130. However, in this case, the water is supplied to the softener feeding part 132 through the water supply paths of other systems without using the first to fourth water supply paths P1 to P4. That is, the valve mechanism 140 supplies water from the tap water supply port 141 using another electromagnetic valve and a water supply path, which are not shown in fig. 6. In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 4, water is supplied to the softener feeding portion 132 by the third groove portion 151 formed in the back surface of the case main body 100. The third tank 151 is provided with an inlet 151a through which tap water flows in and an outlet 151b through which tap water flows out.

A drain portion having a siphon structure is formed on the bottom surface of the softener supply portion 132. Therefore, when the water level in softener feeding part 132 becomes a predetermined height or more by supplying water to softener feeding part 132, the mixed liquid of tap water and softener is discharged from the water discharge part and fed into the washing tub from main body discharge part 106. The structure of the drainage portion provided in the softener feeding portion 132 will be described with reference to fig. 11 described later.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing the manual input housing 130, and fig. 8 is a plan view of the manual input housing 130 shown in fig. 7.

The manual input housing 130 is composed of a manual container 134 and a manual lid 133. The manual cover 133 covers the upper surface of the manual container 134, and is provided with openings corresponding to the detergent input portion 131 (an example of a first input portion) and the softener input portion 132 (an example of a second input portion). That is, even in a state where the manual container 134 covers the manual lid 133, the detergent and the softener can be put into the detergent input portion 131 and the softener input portion 132.

The manual container 134 is provided with a detergent input portion 131 and a softener input portion 132, which are formed with a bottom surface recessed downward. Detergent discharge port 131b opened downward is provided in detergent input portion 131, and softener discharge port 132b opened downward is provided in softener input portion 132 (see fig. 9 described later). Further, a drain cover 135 covering the softener discharge port 132b is provided in the softener feeding portion 132.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing the manual container 134, fig. 10A is an enlarged plan view showing the softener inlet 132a side of fig. 9 in an enlarged manner, and fig. 10B is an enlarged plan view showing the detergent inlet 131a side of fig. 9 in an enlarged manner. In fig. 9, only a part of reference numerals are omitted in consideration of easy visibility of the drawing, and the parts denoted with reference numerals in fig. 10A and 10B correspond to the parts of fig. 9.

Fig. 9 to 10B show a state where the manual cover 133 and the drain cover 135 are removed from the manual input case 130 shown in fig. 8. A detergent inlet 131a (an example of a first inlet) opened by the detergent inlet 131 and a softener inlet 132a (an example of a second inlet) opened by the softener inlet 132 are provided on the upper surface of the manual container 134. Further, the manual container 134 is provided with a detergent water passage port 136a for introducing the tap water passing through the check valve 107 or 108 into the detergent input portion 131, and a softener water passage port 137a for introducing the tap water passing through the third groove portion 151 into the softener input portion 132. In the present embodiment, a pipe connected to the detergent water passage port 136a and the softener water passage port 137a is provided, and water is lifted up from the pipe and sent to the manual container 134. Further, not limited to this, water may be supplied from above the portions corresponding to the detergent water passage port 136a and the softener water passage port 137 a.

The manual container 134 is provided with a detergent passage wall 136b, and the detergent passage wall 136b is provided upright so as to surround the detergent water inlet 136a and the detergent inlet 131 a. A detergent water passage TP1 (an example of a first water passage) for guiding water from the detergent water inlet 136a to the detergent inlet 131a is formed in a region surrounded by the detergent passage wall 136 b. Further, similarly to the detergent path wall 136b, a softener path wall 137b is provided in the manual container 134, and the softener path wall 137b is provided upright so as to surround the periphery of the softener water inlet 137a and the softener inlet 132 a. A softener water passage TP2 (an example of a second water passage) for guiding water from the softener water port 137a to the softener inlet 132a is formed in the region surrounded by the softener passage wall 137 b. In the present embodiment, the detergent path wall 136b and the softener path wall 137b are partially connected to each other, and there is a portion used in common, but the detergent water passage path TP1 may be separated from the softener water passage path TP 2.

The detergent water passage TP1 is provided with a passage branch 136c that branches the flowing water. Specifically, the detergent water passage TP1 is provided with a first branch rib 136d and a second branch rib 136 e. The first branch rib 136d and the second branch rib 136e extend from the path branch 136c toward the downstream side in the water flow direction. The detergent water passage path TP1 is partitioned by the first branch rib 136d and the second branch rib 136e, and the downstream side of the path branch 136c is branched into three paths, i.e., a first side path TP11, a second side path TP12, and a center path TP 13. The path branch 136c is provided between the detergent water inlet 136a and the detergent inlet 131a, and distributes water to the first side path TP11, the second side path TP12, and the center path TP13 before reaching the detergent inlet 131 a.

The central path TP13 is located at the center of the detergent water flow path TP1 in the path width direction (the left-right direction in the vicinity of the path branch 136c in fig. 10A) along the cross section of the detergent water flow path TP1, and the detergent water flow path is sandwiched between the first side path TP11 and the second side path TP12, and the width in the path width direction is narrower than the first side path TP11 and the second side path TP 12. Specifically, the width of the first side path TP11 (first path width TW1) and the width of the second side path TP12 (second path width TW2) are substantially the same, and the width of the central path TP13 (third path width TW3) is narrower than the other widths.

In the detergent water passage path TP1, the flow rate is large near the center and small near the wall surface (end). Therefore, when the flow rate is trisected to a uniform width, the flow rate at the center becomes large, and the flow rate cannot be divided into uniform components. Therefore, by adjusting the flow rate by reducing the width of the center path TP13, the flow rates in the three paths can be equalized.

The detergent inlet 131a is substantially rectangular in plan view and has rounded corners. Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, the long sides of the detergent inlet 131a facing each other are referred to as a first side 131c and a second side 131d, and the short sides facing each other are referred to as a third side 131e and a fourth side 131 f. The first side 131c (upper side in fig. 10B) is located closer to the path branch 136c (upper right in fig. 10B) than the second side 131d (lower side in fig. 10B). Further, the third side 131e (in fig. 10B, the right side) is located at a position closer to the path branch 136c than the fourth side 131f (in fig. 10B, the left side). The detergent discharge port 131b is located on the fourth side 131f of the detergent input portion 131 with respect to the center.

The detergent path wall 136b is formed to surround a position slightly distant from the detergent inlet 131a in a plan view, and a space between the detergent path wall 136b and the detergent inlet 131a is a bottom surface of the detergent water passage TP1 for allowing water to flow along the outer periphery of the detergent inlet 131 a. Specifically, the first side path TP11 is disposed along the first side 131c, and the end of the first branching rib 136d is connected to the corner between the first side 131c and the third side 131 e. The second branching rib 136e extends along the third side 131e, terminating near the corner between the second side 131d and the third side 131 e. That is, around the third side 131e, the second branch rib 136e extends to divide a region from the detergent inlet 131a (the third side 131e) to the detergent path wall 136b, a region from the third side 131e to the second branch rib 136e is defined as a central path TP13, and a region from the second branch rib 136e to the detergent path wall 136b is defined as a second side path TP 12. The end portion of the central path TP13 merges with the second side path TP12, and a path junction 136k is provided near the corner between the second side 131d and the third side 131e so that the central path TP13 merges with the second side path TP 12. Further, the end portions of the first side path TP11 and the second side path TP12 are connected to a fourth side path TP14 disposed along the fourth side 131 f.

As described above, by dividing the detergent water flow path TP1 into three, the water passing through the first side path TP11 and the second side path TP12 can be secured, the water can be distributed over the entire circumference of the detergent inlet 131a including the fourth side 131f, and the detergent that has been locally accumulated can be prevented from remaining by flowing a sufficient amount of water over the entire circumference. Further, since the distance from the path branch 136c is long, the surplus water is supplied to the second side path TP12, in which the flow rate is insufficient and the water is likely to flow, through the center path TP13, and thus the water can be reliably supplied from the second side path TP 12.

A side rib 136f is provided upright along the first side 131c, the second side 131d, and the third side 131e on the outer periphery of the detergent inlet 131 a. The side rib 136f is provided with a slit 136h formed by a partial interruption, and water flows into the detergent inlet 131a through the slit 136 h. By providing the side rib 136f in this way, the flow rate in each path can be adjusted, and water can be made to flow to the first input portion via the slit 136 h.

The slits 136h are formed in plural at appropriate intervals, and the width of the opening of each slit 136h is not uniform. That is, the amount of water flowing down is large in the wide-opening slit 136h, and the amount of water flowing down is small in the narrow-opening slit 136 h. The width of the opening of the slit 136h can be adjusted as appropriate depending on the position and the distance to be provided, and for example, a portion where a supply amount is desired to be increased, such as the angle of the detergent inlet 131a, can be enlarged or the vicinity of the enlarged portion can be reduced. By adjusting the width of the slit 136h in this way, the difference in flow rate at the location where the slit is provided can be eliminated. This makes it possible to reliably increase the amount of water at the site to be supplied, or to reduce the outflow amount, and to feed water further downstream.

The side rib 136f is provided with a rectifying rib 136g protruding inward of each path. The amount of water flowing down from the slit 136h can be adjusted by appropriately blocking the water flow by the rectifying rib 136 g.

The bottom surfaces of the first side path TP11 and the second side path TP12 have projecting portions 136j projecting upward at portions along the first side 131c and the second side 131 d. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 136j is formed to be slightly higher than the bottom surfaces of the first side path TP11 and the second side path TP12, and extends in a direction inclined from the detergent path wall 136b toward the detergent inlet 131a toward the downstream. When the flow rate is high, the water passes through the path in a direction extending along the path too much, and the water may not flow down from a desired portion. In the present embodiment, the protrusion 136j interferes with the water flowing on the bottom surface, so that the water can flow down from the vicinity of the protrusion 136j toward the detergent inlet 131a while changing the direction of the water flow.

The softener inlet 132a has a substantially rectangular shape in plan view and has rounded corners. Hereinafter, for the sake of explanation, the long sides of the softener inlet 132a that face each other are referred to as a softener first side 132c (upper side in fig. 10A) and a softener second side 132d (lower side in fig. 10A), and the short sides that face each other are referred to as a softener third side 132e (right side in fig. 10A) and a softener fourth side 132f (left side in fig. 10A). The softener water passage port 137a (upper right in fig. 10A) is located near a corner between the softener first side 132c and the softener third side 132 e. The softener discharge port 132b is located closer to the softener fourth side 132f than the center of the softener input portion 132. A communication wall 132g is provided around the softener discharge port 132b to stand upward.

The softener path wall 137b is formed to surround a position slightly distant from the softener inlet 132a in a plan view, and a space between the softener path wall 137b and the softener inlet 132a becomes a bottom surface of the softener water passage TP2 for flowing water along the outer periphery of the softener inlet 132 a.

A transcendental rib 137c is provided upright along the first softener side 132c, the second softener side 132d, and the third softener side 132e on the periphery of the softener inlet 132 a. The overtaking rib 137c is set to be slightly higher than the bottom surface of the softener water passage TP 2. By adjusting the amount of water flowing down through softener inlet 132a by overtaking rib 137c, water can be distributed over the entire circumference of softener inlet 132 a. Further, by adjusting the height of the overtaking rib 137c, when the amount of water is large, the water can be overflowed and supplied from above the overtaking rib 137 c. The overtaking rib 137c does not completely surround the outer periphery of the softener inlet port 132a, and may be interrupted at a portion where an increase in the amount of water is desired, such as a corner portion or a downstream portion of each path.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a main portion showing a section of an arrow a-a in fig. 10A. In fig. 11, in order to show the structure of the drain portion, not only the manual container 134 but also a drain portion cover 135 covering the softener discharge port 132b are shown.

The bottom surface of the softener water passage path TP2 is inclined so as to become lower toward the tip. For example, an inclined portion 137d is provided at a portion along the first softener side 132c shown in fig. 11, and the inclined portion 137d is configured such that the softener third side 132e side is higher and the softener fourth side 132f side is lower. By providing the softener water passage path TP2 with an inclination in this way, water can easily flow toward the tip, and residual water in the path can be prevented. While the inclined portion 137d is shown in fig. 11 as being disposed around the first softener side 132c, the inclined portion 137d may be disposed around the second softener side 132d, the third softener side 132e, and the fourth softener side 132 f.

The drain cover 135 has a substantially cylindrical suction portion 135a whose lower surface is open, and the suction portion 135a covers the upper side and the periphery of the through wall 132 g. That is, the through wall 132g is housed inside the suction portion 135a, and a siphon structure is formed by providing a gap between the outer wall of the through wall 132g and the inner wall of the suction portion 135a (hereinafter, referred to as a suction path). A suction port 135b is formed by partially cutting out a lower end of the suction portion 135 a.

At the water discharge portion of the softener feeding portion 132, water and the softener enter the suction path via the suction port 135 b. In the suction path, the water and the softener are lifted to the upper end of the conductive wall 132g by a siphon action, and are discharged to the outside from the discharge portion 132h provided on the bottom surface through the softener discharge port 132 b.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not to be construed as limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not to be interpreted only by the above-described embodiments, but is defined by the claims. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

Claims (10)

1. A detergent feeding device for feeding a detergent to a washing machine, comprising:

a first input part for inputting a first detergent;

a second input part for inputting a second detergent;

a tap water supply port for taking in water to be injected into the first and second injection portions;

a first water passage for guiding the water taken in from the tap water supply port to the first input unit; and

a main body discharge part for discharging the detergent thrown into the washing machine,

the first input part is provided with a first input port which is rectangular open in a plan view,

the first inlet has a first side and a second side opposite to each other and a third side and a fourth side opposite to each other in a top view,

the first water passage path is provided with a path branch which branches flowing water into a first side path, a second side path and a central path,

the first side path is disposed along the first side,

the second side path is disposed along the second side,

the central pathway is disposed along the third side,

the end portions of the first side path and the second side path are connected to a fourth side path provided along the fourth side.

2. The detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim 1,

the first inlet is provided with a side rib vertically arranged along the first side, the second side and the third side,

the side rib is provided with a slit for water to flow into the first input port.

3. The detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim 2,

the side ribs are provided with rectifying ribs which project inwardly toward the respective paths.

4. The detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,

the slit is provided with a plurality of slits, and the width of the opening of each slit is not uniform.

5. The detergent feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 4,

the distance from the path branch to the second side is longer than the distance from the path branch to the first side,

an end portion of the central path merges with the second side path.

6. The detergent feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,

the center path is located at the center of the first water passage path, and is sandwiched between the first side path and the second side path in a path width direction along a cross section of the first water passage path, and the width in the path width direction is narrower than the first side path and the second side path.

7. The detergent feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the bottom surfaces of the first side path and the second side path are provided with protruding portions protruding upward.

8. The detergent feeding device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the detergent supply device has a second water passage for guiding the water taken in from the tap water supply port to the second supply part,

the second input part is provided with a second input port with an upper opening,

the second input port is provided with an overrunning rib which is vertically arranged along the periphery.

9. The detergent dispensing apparatus according to claim 8,

the bottom surface of the second water passage is inclined so as to become lower toward the distal end.

10. A washing machine comprising the detergent supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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