CN114687150A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a washing machine which does not affect the size of the whole washing machine, increases the capacity of a treating agent tank for automatic feeding, and considers the convenience of a user in manual feeding. The washing machine is provided with: a water containing barrel; a throwing container which receives a throwing of a treating agent used in a washing operation of one amount from a user and supplies the thrown treating agent to a water drum; and an automatic input device for automatically inputting a prescribed amount of treating agent into the water barrel. The automatic loading device includes a treatment agent tank capable of storing a plurality of cleaning operations of treatment agent, and the loading container is configured to accommodate the treatment agent tank therein.

Description

Washing machine

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.

Background

In recent years, in order to improve user convenience, a washing machine has been developed which is provided with an automatic charging device that stores a washing treatment agent in a tank for automatic charging in advance in a plurality of amounts and automatically charges a necessary amount from the tank at each washing operation. In this case, in order to reduce the number of times the user puts in the treating agent, it is convenient for the user to increase the volume of the tank. When the volume of the tank is increased, the volume of the entire washing machine is also likely to increase. In addition, such a washing machine may include a supply unit for manually supplying a necessary amount of the treating agent during each washing operation, so that the user can select the treating agent according to the preference and the type of laundry. If the input portion is too small, it is difficult for the user to input the treating agent.

On the other hand, in recent years, in residential situations and the like, a washing machine which can be installed even in a limited space by downsizing the washing machine is desired. In order to miniaturize the washing machine, at least one or both of the tank for automatic input and the input part for manual input must be miniaturized.

Prior art documents:

patent documents:

patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2018-011618

Disclosure of Invention

Therefore, a washing machine is provided which does not affect the size of the whole washing machine, increases the capacity of a treatment agent tank for automatic feeding, and considers the convenience of a user in manual feeding.

The washing machine of the embodiment comprises: a water containing barrel; a throw-in container which receives a throw-in of a treating agent used in a washing operation of one amount from a user and supplies the thrown-in treating agent to the tub; and an automatic throwing device which automatically throws a prescribed amount of the treating agent into the water bucket. The automatic loading device includes a treatment agent tank capable of storing a plurality of cleaning operations of the treatment agent, and the loading container is configured to accommodate the treatment agent tank therein.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of an external appearance of a washing machine according to a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the washing machine according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the washing machine according to the first embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the input container of the washing machine according to the first embodiment, in which one treatment agent tank is accommodated and the other treatment agent tank is removed.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a treatment agent tank for the washing machine of the first embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing an example of a treatment agent tank for the washing machine of the first embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the input container along the line x 7-x 7 in fig. 4 for the washing machine of the first embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment taken along line x 8-x 8 in fig. 7 showing an example of the internal structure of the input container.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the input container with the treatment agent cartridge detached for the washing machine of the first embodiment along line x 7-x 7 of fig. 4.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the washing machine of the first embodiment showing an example of the internal structure of the input container with the treatment agent tank removed, along the line x 7-x 7 in fig. 4.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of the control content executed in the control device for the washing machine of the first embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the washing machine according to the second embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the control content executed in the control device for the washing machine of the second embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a block diagram showing an example of an electrical configuration of the washing machine according to the third embodiment.

Fig. 15 is a flowchart showing an example of the control content executed in the control device for the washing machine of the third embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the input container in the washing machine according to the fourth embodiment (corresponding to the view in fig. 7).

Fig. 17 is a sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the input container in the washing machine according to the fourth embodiment (corresponding to the view in fig. 8).

Fig. 18 is a sectional view showing an example of an external appearance of the washing machine according to the fifth embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of the washing machine according to the fifth embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a sectional view showing an example of the internal structure of the input container in the washing machine according to the fifth embodiment (corresponding to FIG. 7)

Fig. 21 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a washing machine according to another embodiment.

Description of the reference numerals

10 … washing machine, 12 … tub, 14 … control device, 145 … report process portion, 17 … operation panel (operation portion), 182 … first water supply path, 183 … second water supply path, 185 … first water supply valve, 186 … second water supply valve, 187 … third water supply valve (water supply valve), 20 … throw-in mechanism, 21 … throw-in container, 211 … front wall portion (wall portion), 212 … side wall portion (wall portion), 213 … rear wall portion (wall portion), 214 … bottom portion (wall portion), 23 … water inlet, 26 … tank sensing portion, 27 … cartridge sensing portion, 30 … automatic throw-in device, 31 82 31 … treating agent tank, 336 … tank opening portion, 39 … supporting portion, 40 … treating agent cartridge, 50 … holding portion, 100 … washing machine, 102 … tub, 300 … throw-in mechanism, 301 …, 302 … throw-in container, 304 … water inlet

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, washing machines according to various embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially the same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

(first embodiment)

A first embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 1 to 11. As shown in fig. 1 to 3, the washing machine 10 includes an outer cabinet 11, a tub 12, a revolving tub 13, a control device 14, a revolving tub motor 15, a drainage mechanism 16, an operation panel 17, a water supply mechanism 18, and a loading mechanism 20. The loading mechanism 20 includes an automatic loading device 30 and a treatment agent cartridge 40, which will be described in detail later. The automatic loading device 30 for automatically loading the treating agent includes a treating agent tank 31 capable of storing therein the treating agent for a plurality of times of the cleaning operation. In addition, the treatment agent cartridge 40 internally receives and stores the treatment agent when the user manually puts the treatment agent. In fig. 1, a vertical lower side, which is an installation surface side of washing machine 10, is defined as a lower side of washing machine 10, and a vertical upper side, which is an opposite side to the installation surface, is defined as an upper side of washing machine 10. The washing machine 10 is a horizontal-axis type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 is horizontal or an inclined-axis type washing machine in which the rotation axis is inclined downward toward the rear.

The washing machine 10 may or may not have a heat pump type or heater type drying function, for example. The tub 12 is disposed in the outer case 11 and elastically supported by a suspension, not shown. The tub 13 is rotatably disposed within the tub 12. In this case, the tub 12 and the tub 13 function as a washing tub for storing laundry.

As shown in fig. 3, the control device 14 is configured mainly of a microcomputer having a CPU141, a ROM, a RAM, and a storage area 142 such as a rewritable flash memory, for example, and controls the entire washing machine 10. In the present embodiment, the control device 14 controls the driving of the rotary tub motor 15, the drainage mechanism 16, the operation panel 17, the water supply mechanism 18, and the automatic charging device 30. The tub motor 15 is provided outside the tub 12 and connected to the tub 13. The rotary tub motor 15 is electrically connected to the control device 14, and is driven to rotate the rotary tub 13 based on a control signal from the control device 14.

The drain mechanism 16 shown in fig. 2 has a function for draining the water stored in the tub 12 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain mechanism 16 includes a drain path 161 and a drain valve 162. The drain path 161 is formed of, for example, a flexible drain hose, and has one end connected to the drain valve 162 and the other end led out to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain valve 162 is, for example, a liquid on-off valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The drain valve 162 is provided between the drain opening 121 provided at the bottom of the tub 12 and the drain path 161. The drain valve 162 is electrically connected to the control device 14, and opens and closes the drain path 161 based on a control signal from the control device 14.

The operation panel 17 is provided on the front side of the upper surface of the outer box 11 and is electrically connected to the controller 14. Although not shown in detail, the operation panel 17 is provided with a power switch, a start key, various operation keys for setting a washing operation program by a user, and the like. When executing the cleaning operation, the user can select, using the operation panel 17, whether to use the treatment agent automatically charged by the automatic charging device 30 or to use the treatment agent of one amount manually charged by the treatment agent cartridge 40. In the present embodiment, the treatment agent includes a detergent, a softening finish, and the like.

As shown in fig. 1, the water supply mechanism 18 is provided, for example, in the upper left inner portion of the tub 12 in the outer box 11. The water supply mechanism 18 receives water from a water supply source such as tap water, for example, and supplies the water into the tub 12. As shown in fig. 2, for example, the water supply mechanism 18 includes a water supply port 181, a first water supply path 182, a second water supply path 183, a supply unit 184, a first water supply valve 185, and a second water supply valve 186. The water supply port 181 is exposed to the left side of the upper surface of the outer box 11. The water supply port 181 is connected to an external water source such as a tap of tap water via a hose, for example.

The water supply paths 182, 183 are paths connecting the water supply port 181 with the tub 12 and the tub 13. The first water supply path 182 connects the water supply port 181, the first water supply valve 185, the treating agent case 40, the tub 12, and the tub 13. That is, the first water supply path 182 has a function of supplying the treating agent, which is manually thrown into the treating agent cartridge 40 by the user, to the tub 12 and the tub 13. The second water supply path 183 connects the water supply port 181, the second water supply valve 186, the supply part 184, the tub 12, and the tub 13. The second water supply path 183 has a function of supplying the treating agent discharged to the supply part 184 by the automatic plunging device 30 to the tub 12 and the tub 13. That is, the second water supply path 183 has a function of supplying the treating agent thrown in by the automatic throw-in device 30 to the tub 12 and the tub 13. In the present embodiment, the second water supply path 183 is downstream of the automatic loading device 30, and upstream portions of the tub 12 and the swing tub 13 are connected to and merged with a downstream portion of the treatment agent case 40 of the first water supply path 182. In another embodiment, the first water supply path 182 and the second water supply path 183 may be independent from each other and may not merge until reaching the tub 12 and the tub 13.

The supply unit 184 is provided in the middle of the second water supply path 183, upstream of the point of intersection with the first water supply path 182, and is a portion to which the treatment agent is supplied by the automatic loading device 30. The water supply valves 185 and 186 are opening and closing valves for liquid that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The first water supply valve 185 is provided between the water supply port 181 and the first water supply path 182. The second water supply valve 186 is provided between the water supply port 181 and the second water supply path 183. First water supply valve 185 and second water supply valve 186 are electrically connected to controller 14, and open and close first water supply path 182 and second water supply path 183, respectively, based on a control signal from controller 14.

As shown in fig. 1, 2, 4, and the like, the loading mechanism 20 further includes a loading container 21 and a container cover 22. The input container 21 is formed in a box shape with an open top surface and is provided inside the outer box 11. The loading container 21 includes a front wall 211, left and right side walls 212, a rear wall 213, a bottom 214, and a partition 215. The front wall 211 constitutes an inner surface of the front side of the loading container 21. The left and right side wall portions 212 constitute left and right inner surfaces of the loading container 21. The rear wall 213 forms the rear inner surface of the loading container 21. The bottom 214 forms an inner surface of the lower side of the loading container 21. The front wall 211, the left and right side walls 212, the rear wall 213, and the bottom 214 constitute a wall surrounding the space inside the loading container 21.

The partition portion 215 protrudes upward from the bottom portion 214, is formed in a plate shape extending from the front wall portion 211 toward the rear wall portion 213, and divides the space inside the input container 21 in the left-right direction. The space on the left side of partition 215 is, for example, a space into which detergent is put. The space on the right side of the partition 215 is, for example, a space into which the softening finishing agent is introduced. In the present embodiment, the partition portion 215 is formed integrally with the front wall portion 211 and the rear wall portion 213 of the input container 21, and constitutes a part of a wall portion of a space surrounding the interior of the input container 21. In other embodiments, the partition 215 may be detachable from the input container 21, or the partition 215 may not be provided.

The input container 21 has a water injection port 23, a container outlet 24, and a connection port 25. The water filling port 23 is provided to penetrate through a part of the upper portion of the wall portion, which is the upper portion of the input container 21. The water filling port 23 is provided in, for example, the front wall portion 211 or the left and right side wall portions 212. In the present embodiment, the water filling port 23 is provided in front of the left and right side walls 212. The water filling port 23 constitutes a part of the first water supply path 182, and functions as an inlet of water to the input container 21. More specifically, the water injection port 23 supplies water from an external water source into the treatment agent cartridge 40, and functions as an inlet for water for dissolving the treatment agent stored in the treatment agent cartridge 40.

The container outlet 24 is provided through a part of the bottom portion 214. In this case, the container outlet 24 is provided, for example, at a position near the center of the input container 21 in the back of the bottom 214. The bottom portion 214 may be inclined so as to descend toward the container outlet 24, as shown in fig. 7 and the like, for example. The tank outlet 24 constitutes a part of the first water supply path 182, and functions as an outlet for the water and the treatment agent put into the tank 21. In this case, the treatment agent cartridge body 40 is located downstream of the water injection port 23 and upstream of the container outlet 24.

The connection port 25 is formed through a part of the rear wall portion 213. The connection port 25 connects the inside and the outside of the input container 21, in this case, the outside of the input container 21 and the inside of the washing machine outer box 11. The connection port 25 functions as an outlet of the treatment agent from the input container 21 when the treatment agent is input into the tub 12 by the automatic input device 30.

The container cover 22 is rotatably attached to the outer box 11 and opens and closes an opening on the upper surface of the input container 21. The lid 22 is flush with the upper surface of the outer casing 11 of the washing machine 10 in a state where the opening of the upper surface of the input container 21 is closed.

In this case, as shown in fig. 4, the first water supply path 182 includes a first water supply path 182a for detergent and a first water supply path 182b for finishing agent. The first water supply valve 185 includes a first water supply valve 185a for detergent and a first water supply valve 185b for softening finish. Hereinafter, the first water supply path 182a and the first water supply path 182b are collectively referred to as a first water supply path 182 without distinction. Similarly, the first water supply valve 185a and the first water supply valve 185b are collectively referred to as a first water supply valve 185. In the present embodiment, the second water supply path 183 and the second water supply valve 186 are common to those for detergent and for finishing agent. That is, each of the washing machines 10 includes one second water supply path 183 and one second water supply valve 186. In another embodiment, the washing machine 10 may include, for example, a plurality of second water supply paths 183 for detergent and a plurality of second water supply valves 186 for soft finishing.

The first water supply path 182 includes a first water supply valve 185, a water injection port 23, a treatment agent cartridge 40, and a container outlet 24. The second water supply path 183 includes a second water supply valve 186 and a supply unit 184.

The treatment agent cartridge 40 is detachably provided inside the input container 21. In this case, as shown in fig. 4, the treatment agent cartridge 40 is provided in two, one, in the right and left spaces of the partition 215. A treatment agent case 40a for a detergent is provided on the left side of the partition 215. A treatment agent cartridge 40b for a soft finishing agent is provided on the right side of the partition 215. Hereinafter, the process agent cartridges 40a and 40b will be generically referred to as the process agent cartridge 40 without distinction.

The treatment agent cartridge 40 has a cartridge body 41 and a lid 42. The box body 41 is formed in a box shape with at least a part of the upper surface opened, and is provided above the bottom 214 of the input container 21. The cartridge body 41 has a function of receiving and storing a washing treatment agent manually input by a user. The case body 41 has a front face 411, right and left side faces 412, a back face 413, a bottom face 414, and an upper portion 415. The front face 411 constitutes a front face of the cartridge body 41. The left and right side portions 412 constitute left and right side surfaces of the box body 41. The rear surface 413 constitutes a rear surface of the case body 41. The bottom surface 414 forms a box-shaped bottom of the box body 41. The upper portion 415 constitutes an upper surface of the cartridge body 41.

The cartridge body 41 also has a siphon portion 416 and an upper opening 417. The siphon portion 416 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape in which a part of the bottom surface portion 414 protrudes upward and is opened in the vertical direction. The siphon portion 416 communicates the space inside the cartridge body 41 with the space on the bottom portion 214 side of the input container 21 in the state where the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. The upper opening 417 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape by penetrating a part of the upper portion 415. The upper opening 417 communicates the space inside the cartridge body 41 with the space inside the input container 21 outside the cartridge body 41 in a state where the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21.

The lid 42 is formed in a hollow bottomed cylindrical shape having a closed upper portion and an open lower portion. The lid 42 can insert the siphon 416 inside. The water is supplied to the treating agent case 40 from an external water source, and when the water level reaches a predetermined height or more, the water inside the case body 41 is discharged to the outside of the treating agent case 40 through the siphon portion 416 due to a siphon phenomenon.

The position of the front surface 411 of the treatment agent case 40 is set forward of the position of the inlet. Therefore, when water is supplied to the input container 21 through the inlet, the water easily enters the inside of the treatment agent case 40. The front portion 411 of the treatment agent case 40 is directly or indirectly in contact with the front wall portion 211 of the input container 21. That is, a space into which, for example, a finger of a user enters is not provided between the front surface 411 of the treatment agent cartridge 40 and the front wall 211 of the input container 21. In the present embodiment, the front surface 411 of the treatment agent case 40 directly contacts the front wall 211 of the input container 21. Therefore, when the user manually introduces the treatment agent from above the introduction container 21, the treatment agent is likely to enter the treatment agent cartridge 40, and is less likely to enter between the introduction container 21 and the treatment agent cartridge 40.

The automatic loading device 30 has a function of storing a plurality of amounts of the treating agent in advance and automatically supplying a predetermined amount of the treating agent into the tub 12 each time in a plurality of washing operations. As shown in fig. 1 to 3, 7 to 9, and the like, the automatic loading device 30 includes a treatment agent tank 31 and a loading pump 32.

As shown in fig. 5 and 6, the treatment agent tank 31 is a rectangular hollow container and can store a liquid treatment agent therein. In this case, the treating agent tank 31 has a capacity sufficient to store the treating agent used in a plurality of runs. In this case, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 31 is not particularly limited, but is preferably set to at least about several hundred mL to 2L in consideration of user convenience. In the present embodiment, the automatic loading device 30 includes two treatment agent tanks 31. In this case, one of the two treating agent tanks 31 is used to store a detergent as a treating agent. In addition, the other of the two treating agent tanks 31 is used to store a softening finish as a treating agent.

The capacities of the two treating agent tanks 31 may be the same or different. However, in a typical wash run, the detergent is consumed more than the softening finish. Thus, it is preferable that the capacity of the treating agent tank 31 for storing detergent of the two treating agent tanks 31 is larger than the capacity of the treating agent tank 31 for storing the softening finish.

The input container 21 is configured to be able to accommodate two treatment agent tanks 31 arranged in a left-right or front-back direction. In the present embodiment, the input container 21 can accommodate the treatment agent tanks 31 in a left-right arrangement as shown in fig. 1. Fig. 4 shows a state in which the treatment agent tank 31 for detergent is accommodated in the input container 21 and the treatment agent tank 31 for a softening finish is removed from the input container 21. Each treatment agent tank 31 is detachably accommodated in the input container 21. The user can replenish the treatment agent in each treatment agent tank 31 with the container cover 22 opened.

The treatment agent tank 31 can be housed above the treatment agent case 40 in the input container 21. As shown in fig. 7, 8, and the like, the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 are arranged so that the treatment agent tank 31 is vertically overlapped.

In this case, the treatment agent tank 31 is disposed behind the treatment agent cartridge 40. That is, the position of the front surface 331 of the treatment agent tank 31 is set to be rearward of the position of the front surface 411 of the treatment agent cartridge 40. Therefore, when the user manually injects the treatment agent into the injection container 21 or supplies water from the injection port to the injection container 21, the treatment agent and the water easily enter the treatment agent cartridge 40 without touching the treatment agent tank 31.

The automatic charging device 30 has a number of charging pumps 32 corresponding to each treatment agent tank 31. In the present embodiment, since the automatic loading device 30 includes two treatment agent tanks 31, two loading pumps 32 are provided. In fig. 2, 2 sets of treatment agent tanks 31 and 1 set of input pumps 32 are shown. The input pump 32 has a pump connection portion 321 on the inflow side, and is connected to the treatment agent tank 31 via the pump connection portion 321. Thereby, the treatment agent tank 31 is connected to the supply section 184 via the corresponding charge pump 32. The charge pump 32 is, for example, a syringe pump, and sucks a certain amount of the treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 31 and discharges the treatment agent to the supply unit 184.

In this case, the main body of the input pump 32 is provided outside the input container 21. In the present embodiment, the input pump 32 is provided on the rear side of the input container 21, that is, on the outer side of the rear wall portion 213. The pump connection portion 321 connects the inside and the outside of the input container 21 via a connection port 25 provided in a wall portion of the input container 21, in this case, the rear wall portion 213. In another embodiment, the main body of the input pump 32 may be provided inside the input container 21. In another embodiment, the main body of the charge pump 32 may be provided inside the treatment agent tank 31.

In this configuration, when second water supply valve 186 is opened, tap water supplied from water supply port 181 flows into second water supply path 183 and passes through supply unit 184. By the operation of the automatic loading device 30, a required amount of the treating agent is supplied to the supply unit 184 in advance before the operation of the second water supply valve 186. When the treating agent is stored in the supply portion 184, the water passing through the second water supply path 183 flows while dissolving the treating agent, and is supplied into the tub 12. In this manner, the automatic input device 30 automatically inputs a predetermined amount of treating agent into the tub 12 during the operation of the washing machine 10.

Next, the detailed structure of the treatment agent tank 31 will be described with reference to fig. 5 to 6. As shown in fig. 6 and the like, the treatment agent tank 31 includes a tank main body 33, a lid member 34, a filter member 35, a tank outlet 36, a pipe portion 37, a leak prevention valve 38, and one or more, in this case, two support portions 39. The tank main body 33 constitutes an outer shell of the treatment agent tank 31, and is made of, for example, synthetic resin such as plastic.

In the present embodiment, the tank main body 33 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and includes a front surface 331, a side surface 332, a rear surface 333, a bottom surface 334, and an upper surface 335. The front surface portion 331 constitutes the front surface of the tank main body 33. The side surface portions 332 constitute left and right side surfaces of the tank main body 33. The back surface part 333 constitutes the back surface of the tank main body 33. The bottom surface portion 334 constitutes the bottom surface of the tank main body 33. The upper surface portion 335 forms an upper surface of the tank main body 33. The tank main body 33 has a tank opening 336. The tank opening 336 is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape so as to penetrate a part of the upper surface 335, and communicates the inside and the outside of the tank main body 33.

The lid member 34 is plate-shaped and is made of, for example, synthetic resin such as plastic, as in the case of the tank main body 33. The lid member 34 is attached to the upper surface portion 335 of the can main body 33 by a hinge, not shown, and is configured to be able to open and close the can opening portion 336. The user can open the lid member 34 and replenish the treatment agent into the tank main body 33 through the tank opening portion 336.

The filter member 35 is formed in a mesh shape, for example, and is provided in the tank main body 33. The filter member 35 partitions a space on the tank opening 336 side and a space in which the pipe portion 37 is provided in the internal space of the tank main body 33. Thus, the filter member 35 has a function of collecting garbage and the like contained in the detergent when the detergent replenished into the tank main body 33 from the tank opening 336 is sucked into the charge pump 32 from the pipe portion 37.

The tank outlet 36 is provided at the lower rear portion of the tank main body 33, in this case, the back surface portion 333. A pump connection 321 for feeding the pump 32 is inserted into the tank outlet 36. The pump connection portion 321 extends from the outside to the inside of the input container 21 through the connection port 25 of the input container 21. Thereby, the charge pump 32 is connected to the inside of the tank main body 33. The pipe portion 37 is connected to the tank outlet 36 and extends vertically downward to the vicinity of the bottom surface portion 334 of the tank main body 33. The lower end of the pipe portion 37 is slightly separated from the bottom surface portion 334 of the tank main body 33.

A leak-proof valve 38 is provided between the tank outlet 36 and the pipe portion 37. The leak-proof valve 38 has the following functions: when the treatment agent tank 31 is detached from the input container 21 and the pump connection portion 321 is not connected to the tank outlet 36, the treatment agent stored in the tank main body 33 is prevented from leaking from the tank outlet 36 to the outside of the tank main body 33. The leak prevention valve 38 opens between the tank outlet 36 and the pipe portion 37 when the pump connection portion 321 is connected to the tank outlet 36. Thereby, the input pump 32 can suck out the treatment agent stored in the tank main body 33. On the other hand, when the pump connection portion 321 is not connected to the tank outlet 36, the leak prevention valve 38 closes the space between the tank outlet 36 and the pipe portion 37, thereby preventing the treatment agent in the tank main body 33 from flowing out from the tank outlet 36 to the outside.

The support portion 39 has a function of holding at least a part of the tank main body 33, that is, at least a part of the front surface portion 331, the side surface portion 332, the rear surface portion 333, and the bottom surface portion 334, at a position separated from the wall portion of the input container 21 in a state where the treatment agent tank 31 is accommodated in the input container 21. In the present embodiment, in a state where the treatment agent tank 31 is housed in the input container 21, at least the bottom surface portion 334 of the tank main body 33 is located at a position separated from the bottom portion 214 of the input container 21. Thus, when water is injected from the water injection port 23, the water can reach the container outlet 24 through a gap formed between the treating agent tank 31 and the bottom 214 of the input container 21 without being blocked by the treating agent tank 31.

The support portion 39 is formed in a plate shape, for example, and extends downward from the left and right end portions of the bottom surface portion 334. In the present embodiment, the support portion 39 is formed integrally with the tank main body 33. In another embodiment, the support portion 39 may be formed separately from the tank main body 33. In a state where the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 are accommodated in the input container 21, at least a part of the treatment agent cartridge 40 is positioned between the two support portions 39.

In the present embodiment, in a state where the treatment agent tank 31 is housed in the input container 21, at least a part of the tank main body 33 is located at a position separated from a wall portion of the input container 21. In the present embodiment, at least the front portion 331 of the tank main body 33 is located at a position separated from the front wall 211 of the input container 21. The space between the tank main body 33 and the wall of the input container 21 functions as an input path when the user inputs the treatment agent into the treatment agent cartridge 40. The treatment agent tank 31 is set such that the tank opening 336 is located rearward of the water filling port 23. In the present embodiment, the treatment agent tank 31 is set such that the front surface 331 is located rearward of the water injection port 23. That is, the front surface 331 is located at a position not overlapping the water filling port 23 in a plan view and is located closer to the center of the loading container 21 than the water filling port 23. Therefore, when water is supplied from the water inlet 23, the water is prevented from directly splashing on the treatment agent tank 31, particularly the upper surface portion 335.

As shown in fig. 9 or 10, the washing machine 10 can be operated in a state where only one of the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. That is, when the user uses only one of the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent case 40, the washing machine 10 can perform the washing operation with the other removed. In addition, the mode of detergent input and the mode of soft finishing agent input can be independently selected. That is, the detergent can be automatically fed, the softening finish can be manually fed, or conversely, the detergent can be manually fed, and the softening finish can be automatically fed. Of course, the detergent and the softening finish may be put in the same mode.

The loading mechanism 20 includes a tank sensing unit 26 and a cartridge sensing unit 27. The tank sensing unit 26 senses that the treatment agent tank 31 is contained in the input container 21. The cartridge sensing unit 27 senses that the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. In this case, the sensing portions 26 and 27 may be contact sensors that physically sense the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40, or may be non-contact sensors.

In the present embodiment, the sensing portions 26 and 27 are non-contact magnetic sensors such as hall ICs. The treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 have sensed portions 28, 29, respectively. The sensed parts 28 and 29 are configured to include, for example, permanent magnets. The controller 14 stores the strength of the magnetic field sensed by the sensing portions 26 and 27 in the storage area 142 in a state where the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 are stored in the input container 21. Then, the control device 14 compares the intensity of the magnetic field stored in the storage area 142 with the intensity of the magnetic field sensed by each of the sensing portions 26 and 27, and determines whether or not the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 are stored in the input container 21.

One sensor 26, 27 is provided for each of the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40. That is, in the present embodiment, two sensing portions 26 and 27 are provided corresponding to the treatment agent tank 31 or the treatment agent cartridge 40 for the detergent and the softening finishing agent, respectively.

The sensed part 28 is provided in the tank main body 33 of the treatment agent tank 31. More specifically, the sensed part 28 is provided on a side surface 332 close to the side wall 212 of the loading container 21. In this case, the sensing target portion 28 may be embedded in the side surface portion 332. The sensing unit 26 is provided at a position facing the sensed portion 28 on the side wall portion 212 of the input container 21. The sensing portion 26 may be embedded in the sidewall 212 without being exposed to the outside.

The sensed part 29 is provided in the cartridge body 41 of the treatment agent cartridge 40. More specifically, the sensed part 29 is provided on the back 413 of the treatment agent case 40. In this case, the sensed part 29 may be embedded in the back part 413. The sensing portion 27 is provided at a position facing the sensed portion 29 in the rear wall portion 213 of the input container 21. The sensor 27 may be embedded outside the input container 21 of the rear wall 213 and not exposed on the input container 21 side.

In the present embodiment, the storage area 142 of the control device 14 stores programs for executing the tank sensing determination process, the cartridge sensing determination process, and the report process. The control device 14 executes the program in the CPU141, thereby virtually implementing the tank sensing determination processing section 143, the cartridge sensing determination processing section 144, and the report processing section 145 by software. The tank sensing and determination processing unit 143, the cartridge sensing and determination processing unit 144, and the report processing unit 145 may be implemented in hardware as an integrated circuit integrated with the control device 14, for example.

The tank sensing determination processing section 143 can execute the tank sensing determination processing. The tank sensing determination process is a process of determining the presence or absence of the accommodated treatment agent tank 31 based on the output of the tank sensing portion 26. In addition, the cartridge sensing determination processing section 144 can execute cartridge sensing determination processing. The cartridge sensing determination process is a process of determining the presence or absence of the accommodated treatment agent cartridge 40 based on the output of the cartridge sensing portion 27.

The report processing unit 145 can perform report processing. The reporting process is a process of reporting information related to the washing machine 10 to the user. Specifically, the report processing is the following processing: when the setting contents of the automatic or manual input do not match the storage state of the treatment agent tank 31 or the treatment agent cartridge 40, information urging improvement of the state is reported to the user using a display unit, a speaker, or the like, not shown, of the operation panel 17. In the present embodiment, when the automatic loading is set by the user input to the operation panel 17 and the tank sensing determination processing section 143 detects that the treatment agent tank 31 is not stored in the loading container 21, the report processing section 145 reports to the user that the treatment agent tank 31 is not stored, and reports information urging the storage of the treatment agent tank 31. When the manual input is set by the user through the input to the operation panel 17 and the cartridge sensing and determining processing unit 144 detects that the processing agent cartridge 40 is not stored in the input container 21, the report processing unit 145 reports to the user that the processing agent cartridge 40 is not stored, and reports information urging the storage of the processing agent cartridge 40. The report processing unit 145 reports to the user using a display unit, a speaker, and the like, not shown, of the operation panel 17.

Next, referring to fig. 11, the control contents of the tank sensing determination process in the tank sensing determination processing section 143, the cartridge sensing determination process in the cartridge sensing determination processing section 144, and the report process in the report processing section 145 will be described. In this case, the processing performed by the control device 14 is performed before the start of the washing operation. In the following description, the control operations of the tank sensing and determination processing unit 143, the cartridge sensing and determination processing unit 144, and the report processing unit 145 will be described as the control operations of the control device 14. At the start of the flowchart of fig. 11, it is assumed that the power supply of washing machine 10 is on and the washing operation is set by the user operating operation panel 17.

When the process is started (started), first, in step S11, the control device 14 determines whether the input content to the operation panel 17 by the user is automatically inputted or manually inputted. The washing machine 10 is set to be automatically put in at the factory shipment. In addition, when the storage area 142 stores the setting contents of the previous use and the user does not perform an input operation on the panel 17, the control device 14 makes the setting contents of the automatic input or the manual input the same as the setting of the previous use.

If the setting content is automatic input ("automatic input" in step S11), the control device 14 executes a tank sensing determination process (step S12). When the treatment agent tank 31 is sensed (yes in step S12), the control device 14 ends the processing related to the setting of the input mode (end). In a case where the treatment agent tank 31 is not sensed (no in step S12), the control device 14 executes a notification process (step S13). Thus, the user receives a report indicating that the treatment agent tank 31 is not stored in the input container 21. Then, the control device 14 ends the processing related to the setting of the input mode (end).

If the setting content is the manual input ("manual input" in step S11), the control device 14 executes the cartridge sensing determination process (step S14). When the treatment agent cartridge 40 is sensed (yes in step S14), the control device 14 ends the processing related to the setting of the loading mode (end). In a case where the treatment agent cartridge 40 is not sensed (no in step S14), the report processing part 145 performs a report process (step S15). Thus, the user receives a report indicating that the treatment agent cartridge 40 is not stored in the loading container 21. Then, the control device 14 ends the processing related to the setting of the input mode (end).

Then, the control device 14 performs the washing operation as it is in a case where the setting content is the automatic mode and the treatment agent tank 31 is sensed, or in a case where the setting content is the manual mode and the treatment agent cartridge 40 is sensed. When the report processing is executed, the control device 14 does not execute the cleaning operation until there is improvement by the user, that is, until the setting of the treatment agent tank 31 or the treatment agent cartridge 40 or the operation of changing the input mode is performed. In another embodiment, the controller 14 may be configured to execute the cleaning operation after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without improvement by the user when the report processing is executed.

According to the above-described embodiment, the washing machine 10 includes the tub 12, the input container 21, and the automatic input device 30. The input container 21 is configured to be able to receive input of a treatment agent used in a washing operation in one amount from a user and supply the input treatment agent to the tub. The automatic loading device 30 is configured to automatically load a predetermined amount of the treating agent into the tub 12. The automatic loading device 30 has a treatment agent tank 31 capable of storing a plurality of cleaning operation amounts of treatment agent. The input container 21 is configured to accommodate the treatment agent tank 31 therein.

Accordingly, the space in the washing machine 10 can be shared by the treatment agent tank 31 for automatic input and the input container 21 for manual input, and the volumes of the treatment agent tank 31 and the input container 21 can be increased. By increasing the volume of the treating agent tank 31, the treating agent that can be stored at one time increases, and therefore the number of times the user replenishes the treating agent decreases, and the user's labor decreases. Further, since the input container 21, which is easily miniaturized by providing both the automatic input device 30 and the input container 21, can be increased in size, the treatment agent can be easily input even when the user manually inputs the treatment agent. Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine in which the capacity of the treatment agent tank 31 for automatic introduction is increased without affecting the size of the whole washing machine, and in which the convenience of the user in the manual introduction is taken into consideration.

The washing machine 10 further includes a treatment agent case 40. The treatment agent cartridge 40 is provided in the input container 21 and is configured to store a treatment agent input from a user. The treatment agent tank 31 is provided above the treatment agent cartridge 40 in the input container 21.

Accordingly, the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent case 40 are vertically arranged, and the space in the washing machine 10 can be effectively used. Further, it is believed that users utilize automated engagement more than manual engagement. By disposing the treatment agent tank 31 above the treatment agent cartridge 40, the treatment agent can be easily replenished to the treatment agent tank 31 without the user taking out the treatment agent tank 31 from the input container 21. Thus, user convenience is improved.

In this case, the treating agent cartridge 40 receives water from the water inlet 23 provided at the upper portion and flows inward, and the treating agent and the water flow through the siphon portion 416 provided at the lower portion and the first water supply path 182 of the tank outlet 24 provided at the bottom portion 214 of the input tank 21. Therefore, when the treatment agent cartridge 40 is provided at the upper side, a mechanism for preventing the water containing the treatment agent from splashing on the treatment agent tank 31 is required. On the other hand, the treatment agent tank 31 sucks the treatment agent from the tank outlet 36 by the input pump 32 and flows to the second water supply path 183. In the present embodiment, since the treatment agent tank 31 is provided above, there is no fear that water passing through the treatment agent cartridge 40 is splashed into the treatment agent tank 31.

In addition, the washing machine 10 can perform the washing operation in a state where only one of the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. That is, the washing machine 10 can perform the washing operation in a state where either the treatment agent tank 31 or the treatment agent cartridge 40 is removed from the input container 21.

Accordingly, the user may install only the treatment agent tank 31 or only the treatment agent cartridge 40 in the input container 21. In addition, the user can set both the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40. Therefore, the configuration of the container 21 can be selected according to the preference of the user, and the configuration of the container can be selected conveniently and freely.

When water injected from the water injection port 23 enters the treating agent tank 31 in which the treating agent is stored for a long time, the treating agent in the treating agent tank 31 may be diluted or impurities may be mixed, thereby deteriorating the quality of the treating agent.

On the other hand, the input container 21 has a water injection port 23 for injecting water into the treatment agent cartridge 40. The treatment agent tank 31 has a tank opening 336 through which the treatment agent can be replenished. The tank opening 336 is provided at a position not overlapping the water filling port in the vertical direction in a state where the treatment agent tank 31 is provided in the input container 21.

Accordingly, even if water is injected from the water injection port 23 in a state where the treatment agent tank 31 is accommodated in the input container 21, the water is prevented from entering the treatment agent tank 31 through the tank opening 336. Therefore, deterioration in the quality of the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 31 can be suppressed.

The washing machine 10 further includes a first water supply path 182 and a second water supply path 183. The first water supply path 182 is a path through which the treating agent stored in the input container 21 and outside the treating agent tank 31 is input into the tub 12. The second water supply path 183 is a path for introducing the treating agent stored in the treating agent tank 31 into the tub 12. The second water supply path 183 is not inserted into the container 21 and is a portion outside the treatment agent tank 31.

Accordingly, since the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 31 is not charged into the charging container 21, when the automatic charging device 30 is used, the treatment agent can be prevented from adhering to the outer surface of the treatment agent tank 31 and being contaminated.

Here, the case where the treatment agent tank 31 is in contact with the wall portions 211, 212, 213, and 214 of the input container 21 is examined. In this case, when the treatment agent tank 31 is manually thrown in with it being accommodated in the throw-in container 21, there is a possibility that water including water injected from the water injection port 23 and the treatment agent stored in the treatment agent case 40 is blocked by the treatment agent tank 31 and cannot exit from the container outlet 24, and cannot reach the water tub 12.

In contrast, the treatment agent tank 31 is at least partially separated from the wall portions 211, 212, 213, and 214 of the input container 21 in the state of being accommodated in the input container 21. In this case, the front surface 331 and the bottom surface 334 of the treatment agent tank 31 are separated from the front wall 211 and the bottom 214 of the input container 21, respectively.

Accordingly, the water including the water injected from the water injection port 23 and the treatment agent stored in the treatment agent cartridge 40 passes through the gap between the treatment agent tank 31 and the input container 21 and reaches the container outlet 24. Thus, it is possible to suppress the water and the treating agent from being supplied to the tub 12 through the first water supply path 182.

In the present embodiment, the partition 215 is provided, but the partition 215 may not be provided. In this case, the water supplied from the first and second water supply paths 182a and 183a on the detergent side and the water supplied from the first and second water supply paths 182b and 183b on the finishing agent side can move freely with each other inside the input container 21. Here, for example, a case where the detergent is manually input and the softening finishing agent is automatically input is considered. If the controller 14 opens the first water supply valve 185a and fills water into the input container 21, the water containing the detergent may move to the portion of the treatment agent tank 31 for the soft finishing agent because the partition 215 is not provided. In this case, if the treatment agent tank 31 is provided in contact with the bottom 214 of the input container 21, there is a concern that the outer periphery of the treatment agent tank 31 for the soft finishing agent is contaminated with water containing the detergent. The same applies to the case where the detergent is automatically fed and the softening finish is manually fed.

In contrast, the bottom 334 of the treatment agent tank 31 is separated from the front wall 211 and the bottom 214 of the input container 21. Therefore, even in the case where the partition portion 215 is not provided, it is possible to suppress the treatment agent tank 31 from being contaminated on the outer periphery by a treatment agent of a different type from the treatment agent stored inside.

The washing machine 10 further includes an operation panel 17 as an operation unit, a control device 14, a tank sensing unit 26, and a report processing unit 145. The operation panel 17 receives operations from the user to switch between an automatic mode for loading the treating agent in the treating agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for loading the treating agent loaded into the loading container 21 into the tub 12. The control device 14 executes an operation in either an automatic mode or a manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation panel 17. The tank sensing unit 26 senses that the treatment agent tank 31 is accommodated in the input container 21. The report processing part 145 reports information related to the washing machine to the user. When the tank sensing unit 26 does not sense the treatment agent tank 31, the control device 14 executes a report process by the report processing unit 145 to report that the treatment agent tank 31 is not installed.

Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the user from selecting the operation automatic mode without noticing the absence of the treatment agent tank 31. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the cleaning operation from being performed without the treatment agent, or the automatic loading device 30 from unnecessarily operating and causing wear of parts and the like.

The washing machine 10 further includes an operation panel 17 as an operation unit, a control device 14, a box sensing unit 27, and a report processing unit 145. The operation panel 17 receives operations from the user to switch between an automatic mode for introducing the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for introducing the treatment agent introduced into the treatment agent cassette 40 into the tub 12. The control device 14 executes an operation in either an automatic mode or a manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation panel 17. The cartridge sensing unit 27 senses that the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. The report processing part 145 reports information related to the washing machine to the user. When the cartridge sensing portion 27 does not sense the processing agent cartridge 40, the control device 14 executes a report process for reporting that the processing agent cartridge 40 is not set by the report processing portion 145.

Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the user from selecting the manual mode of operation without noticing the absence of the treatment agent cartridge 40. Thus, it is possible to suppress the cleaning operation from being performed without the treatment agent.

(second embodiment)

Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 12 and 13. In the second embodiment, the storage area 142 of the control device 14 also stores programs for executing the automatic mode prohibition processing and the manual mode prohibition processing. The control device 14 executes the program in the CPU141, thereby virtually realizing the automatic mode prohibition processing unit 146 and the manual mode prohibition processing unit 147. The automatic mode prohibition processing unit 146 and the manual mode prohibition processing unit 147 may be implemented in hardware, for example, as an integrated circuit integrated with the control device 14.

The automatic mode prohibition processing unit 146 can execute the automatic mode prohibition processing. The automatic mode prohibition processing is processing for prohibiting the user from selecting an automatic input operation. The manual mode prohibition processing unit 147 can execute the manual mode prohibition processing. The manual mode prohibition processing is processing for prohibiting the user from selecting the manual input. In the present embodiment, the report process is a process of reporting to the user that neither the treatment agent tank 31 nor the treatment agent cartridge 40 is stored in the input container 21.

Next, referring to fig. 13, the control content of the control device 14 including the automatic mode prohibition processing performed by the automatic mode prohibition processing unit 146 and the manual mode prohibition processing performed by the manual mode prohibition processing unit 147 will be described. In the following description, the control operations of the automatic mode prohibition processing unit 146 and the manual mode prohibition processing unit 147 are both described as the control operations of the control device 14.

When the control device 14 starts the process (start), first, in step S21, the control device 14 executes the tank sensing determination process. When the treatment agent tank 31 is sensed (yes in step S21), the control device 14 advances the process to step S23. If the treatment agent tank 31 is not sensed (no in step S21), the control device 14 advances the process to step S22. The control device 14 executes the automatic mode prohibition processing in step S22. Thus, the user cannot select the operation automatic input.

Next, the control device 14 executes the cartridge sensing determination process in step S23. If the treatment agent cartridge 40 is sensed (yes in step S23), the control device 14 advances the process to step S25. If the treatment agent tank 31 is not sensed (no in step S23), the control device 14 advances the process to step S24. The control device 14 executes the manual mode prohibition processing in step S24. Thus, the user cannot select the operation manual input.

Next, the control device 14 determines in step S25 whether or not both the automatic insertion and the manual insertion are prohibited. If at least one or both of the automatic input and the manual input is not prohibited (no in step S25), the control device 14 ends the process (end). If both the automatic input and the manual input are prohibited (yes in step S25), the control device 14 advances the process to step S26. In step S26, the control device 14 executes a report process. Thus, the user receives a report that neither the treatment agent tank 31 nor the treatment agent cartridge 40 is stored in the input container 21. After that, the control device 14 ends the process (end).

When the report processing is executed, the control device 14 does not execute the cleaning operation until there is improvement of the user, that is, the setting of the treatment agent tank 31 or the treatment agent cartridge 40. In another embodiment, the controller 14 may be configured to execute the cleaning operation after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without improvement of the user when the report processing is executed.

According to the embodiment described above, the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

The washing machine 10 further includes an operation panel 17 as an operation unit, a control device 14, and a tank sensor 26. The operation panel 17 receives operations from the user to switch between an automatic mode for loading the treating agent in the treating agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for loading the treating agent loaded into the loading container 21 into the tub 12. The control device 14 executes an operation in either an automatic mode or a manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation panel 17. The tank sensing unit 26 senses that the treatment agent tank 31 is accommodated in the input container 21. The control device 14 executes automatic mode prohibition processing for disabling selection of the automatic mode when the tank sensing portion 26 does not sense the treatment agent tank 31.

Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the user from selecting the operation automatic mode without noticing the absence of the treatment agent tank 31. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the cleaning operation from being performed without the treatment agent, or the automatic loading device 30 from unnecessarily operating and causing wear of parts and the like. Further, since the selection operation itself of the automatic mode cannot be performed, the user does not take much effort in receiving a report after the erroneous setting and performing the selection operation again. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be further improved.

The washing machine 10 includes an operation panel 17 as an operation unit, a control device 14, and a casing sensing unit 27. The operation panel 17 receives operations from the user to switch between an automatic mode for introducing the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for introducing the treatment agent introduced into the treatment agent cassette 40 into the tub 12. The control device 14 executes an operation in either an automatic mode or a manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation panel 17. The cartridge sensing unit 27 senses that the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. The control device 14 executes manual mode prohibition processing that disables selection of the manual mode in a case where the cartridge sensing portion 27 does not sense the processing agent cartridge 40.

Accordingly, it is possible to avoid the user from selecting the manual mode of operation without noticing the absence of the treatment agent cartridge 40. Thus, it is possible to suppress the cleaning operation from being performed without the treatment agent. Further, since the manual mode selection operation itself cannot be performed, the user does not take much effort to perform the selection operation again by receiving a report after the erroneous setting. Therefore, the convenience of the user can be further improved.

Washing machine 10 further includes a tank sensing unit 26, a box sensing unit 27, and a report processing unit 145. The tank sensing unit 26 senses that the treatment agent tank 31 is accommodated in the input container 21. The cartridge sensing unit 27 senses that the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. The report processing part 145 reports information related to the washing machine 10 to the user. When the tank sensing unit 26 does not sense the treatment agent tank 31 and the cartridge sensing unit 27 does not sense the treatment agent cartridge 40, the control device 14 executes a report process of reporting this fact by the report processing unit 145.

Accordingly, the user can receive the report when neither the treatment agent tank 31 nor the treatment agent cartridge 40 is stored in the input container 21, and therefore, the execution of the cleaning operation can be suppressed when there is no treatment agent.

(third embodiment)

Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 14 and 15. In the third embodiment, the storage area 142 of the control device 14 further stores programs for executing the automatic mode setting processing and the manual mode setting processing. The control device 14 can virtually realize the automatic mode setting processing unit 148 and the manual mode setting processing unit 149 by executing the program in the CPU 141. The automatic mode setting processing unit 148 and the manual mode setting processing unit 149 may be implemented in hardware as an integrated circuit integrated with the control device 14, for example.

The automatic mode setting processing portion 148 can execute automatic mode setting processing. The automatic mode setting process is a process of setting automatic input without a selection operation from the user on the operation panel 17. The manual mode setting processing unit 149 can execute the manual mode setting processing. The manual mode setting process is a process of setting manual input without a selection operation from the user on the operation panel 17. In the present embodiment, the report process is a process of reporting to the user that neither the treatment agent tank 31 nor the treatment agent cartridge 40 is stored in the input container 21.

Next, referring to fig. 15 as well, the control content of the control device 14 including the automatic mode setting process performed by the automatic mode setting processing unit 148 and the manual mode setting process performed by the manual mode setting processing unit 149 will be described. In the following description, the control operations of the automatic mode setting processing unit 148 and the manual mode setting processing unit 149 will be described as the control operations of the control device 14.

When the control device 14 starts the process (start), first, in step S31, the control device 14 executes the tank sensing determination process. When the treatment agent tank 31 is sensed (yes in step S31), the control device 14 advances the process to step S32. The control device 14 executes the cartridge sensing determination process in step S32. When the processing agent cartridge 40 is sensed (yes in step S32), the control device 14 ends the process without changing the setting content of the input mode (end). In this case, if there is a setting operation by the user in advance, the control device 14 next executes the washing operation with the setting contents, and if there is no setting operation by the user, the control device 14 next executes the washing operation in the previous set input mode.

In a case where the treatment agent cartridge 40 is not sensed (no in step S32), the control device 14 executes the automatic mode setting process (step S33). After that, the control device 14 ends the process (end). In this case, the control device 14 next performs the washing operation in the automatic mode.

If the treatment agent tank 31 is not sensed (no in step S31), the control device 14 advances the process to step S34. In step S34, control device 14 executes a manual mode setting process. Next, the control device 14 executes the cartridge sensing determination process in step S35. In a case where the treatment agent cartridge 40 is sensed (yes in step S35), the control device 14 ends the process (end). In this case, the control device 14 next performs the washing operation in the manual mode.

In a case where the treatment agent cartridge 40 is not sensed (no in step S32), the control device 14 executes the report processing in step S36. Thus, the user receives a report that neither the treatment agent tank 31 nor the treatment agent cartridge 40 is stored in the input container 21. After that, the control device 14 ends the process (end).

In the case where the control device 14 executes the report processing, the washing operation is not executed until there is improvement of the user, that is, the setting of the treatment agent tank 31 or the treatment agent cartridge 40. In another embodiment, the controller 14 may be configured to execute the cleaning operation after a predetermined period of time has elapsed without improvement of the user when the report processing is executed.

According to the embodiments described above, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the washing machine 10 includes the operation panel 17 as an operation portion, the control device 14, and the tank sensing portion 26. The operation panel 17 receives operations from the user to switch between an automatic mode for loading the treating agent in the treating agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for loading the treating agent loaded into the loading container 21 into the tub 12. The control device 14 executes an operation in either an automatic mode or a manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation panel 17. The tank sensing unit 26 senses that the treatment agent tank 31 is accommodated in the input container 21. The control device 14 executes manual mode setting processing for setting the operation based on the manual mode when the tank sensing portion 26 does not sense the treatment agent tank 31.

Accordingly, if the treatment agent tank 31 is not stored, the manual mode is automatically set. Therefore, the user does not need to select the manual mode of operation by himself. Thus, user convenience is improved.

The washing machine 10 includes an operation panel 17 as an operation unit, a control device 14, and a casing sensing unit 27. The operation panel 17 receives operations from the user to switch between an automatic mode for introducing the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for introducing the treatment agent introduced into the treatment agent cassette 40 into the tub 12. The control device 14 executes an operation in either an automatic mode or a manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation panel 17. The cartridge sensing unit 27 senses that the treatment agent cartridge 40 is accommodated in the input container 21. The control device 14 executes an automatic mode setting process of setting the operation based on the automatic mode in a case where the cartridge sensing portion 27 does not sense the processing agent cartridge 40.

Accordingly, if the treatment agent cartridge 40 is not stored, the automatic mode is automatically set. Therefore, the user does not need to select the operation automatic mode by himself. Thus, user convenience is improved.

(fourth embodiment)

Next, a fourth embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 16 and 17. In the present embodiment, the treatment agent tank 31 does not have the support portion 39. Instead, the loading container 21 includes a holding portion 50. The holding portion 50 has a function of holding the treatment agent tank 31 at a position separated from the bottom 214 of the input container 21. In this case, the holding portion 50 is provided to protrude from the left and right side wall portions 212 and the partition portion 215 of the input container 21 toward the treatment agent tank 31. The position of the holding portion 50 is set at least above the position of the treatment agent cartridge 40. In the present embodiment, the position of the holding portion 50 is set to a position in contact with the bottom surface portion 334 of the treatment agent tank 31. The treatment agent tank 31, in this case, the bottom surface portion 334 of the treatment agent tank 31, is held by 1 set of holding portions 50 protruding from the side wall portion 212 and the partition portion 215 of the input container 21. Thereby, the bottom surface 334 of the treatment agent tank 31 is held at a position separated from the bottom 214 of the input container 21.

In another embodiment, the position of the holding portion 50 may be set to a position corresponding to the side surface portion 332 of the treatment agent tank 31. In this case, for example, steps may be provided on the left and right side surface portions 332, and the holding portion 50 may be locked to the steps of the side surface portions 332 to hold the treatment agent tank 31.

The control device 14 may execute any of the controls described in the first to third embodiments. According to the present embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

(fifth embodiment)

Next, a fifth embodiment will be described with reference to fig. 18, 19, and 20. In the present embodiment, a so-called vertical washing machine 100 in which the rotation axis of the tub is oriented in the vertical direction includes a loading mechanism 20. The washing machine 100 may or may not have a drying function.

The washing machine 100 is provided with a washing machine main body 101, a tub 102, a tub 103, a motor 104, and a drain valve 105. The left side of fig. 18 is the front side of washing machine 100, and the right side of fig. 18 is the rear side of washing machine 100. In this case, the user is usually located at the front side of the washing machine 100. The vertical lower side, which is the installation surface side of washing machine 100, is set as the lower side of washing machine 100, and the vertical upper side, which is the opposite side to the installation surface, is set as the upper side of washing machine 100. The directions perpendicular to the front-back direction and the vertical direction of the washing machine 100 are defined as the lateral direction, which is the width direction of the washing machine 100.

As shown in fig. 18, the washing machine main body 101 includes an outer case 200, a top cover 201, a main body cover 202, and a rear cover 203. The outer case 200 constitutes an outer case of the washing machine 100. The outer box 200 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, for example, of a steel plate, and has an open upper side. The tub 102 is accommodated inside the washing machine main body 101, i.e., inside the outer cabinet 200. The tub 103 is accommodated inside the tub 102. The tub 102 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with an upper side opened.

As shown in fig. 18, the top cover 201 has a top cover opening 2011 and is formed in a rectangular ring shape. The top cover 201 is provided on the upper portion of the outer case 200. The main body cover 202 is provided on the top cover 201, and opens and closes a top cover opening 2011. The rear cover 203 is formed in a rectangular shape elongated in the left-right direction of the washing machine 100. The rear cover 203 is provided at the rear end of the upper portion of the top cover 201.

The washing machine 100 includes a loading mechanism 300 instead of the loading mechanism 20. The loading mechanism 300 includes a storage portion 301 and a loading container 302 instead of the loading container 21. The receiving portion 301 is provided at the upper rear portion in the washing machine main body 101 and is inside the top cover 201. The housing portion 301 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape, and one surface thereof is open at the front in this case.

The housing section 301 has a connection port 303, a water injection port 304, and a housing section outlet 305. The connection port 303 communicates the inside of the housing portion 301 with the outside, in this case, the inside of the outer box 200. Although not shown in detail, the connection port 303 is provided on the rear portion of the accommodating portion 301 opposite to the opening. The water filling port 304 is formed through the upper portion of the housing 301 near the opening. The water filling port 304 functions as an inlet of water to the housing portion 301 of the first water supply path 182. The receiving portion outlet 305 is formed through a part of the lower portion of the receiving portion 301. The housing outlet 305 functions as an outlet for water or a treatment agent from the housing 301 in the first water supply path 182.

The input container 302 is formed in a substantially rectangular box shape having an open upper portion, and is accommodated in the accommodating portion 301 in a removable manner. Although not shown in detail, the receiving portion 301 is provided with a rail on which the input container 302 can slide in the front-rear direction, and thus the input container 302 can be inserted and removed. The input container 302 has a container outlet 3021 formed through a part, in this case, a part of the bottom. The tank outlet 3021 functions as an outlet for water or a treatment agent from the input tank 302 in the first water supply path 182.

The treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 are housed in the input container 302. In this case, the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 are arranged in a vertical arrangement with the treatment agent tank 31 facing upward, as in the above-described embodiments. The position of the front surface 331 of the treatment agent tank 31 is set to be rearward of the position of the front surface 411 of the treatment agent cartridge 40.

The input pump 32 of the automatic input device 30 is provided outside the storage section 301, in this case, behind the storage section 301. In another embodiment, the input pump 32 may be provided inside the storage portion 301. In another embodiment, the input pump 32 may be provided inside the treatment agent tank 31. The pump connection portion 321 is connected to the tank outlet 36 of the treatment agent tank 31 in the housing portion 301 through the connection port 303.

As shown in fig. 20, when the input container 302 is pulled out from the housing 301 in the direction of arrow a, at least a part of the treatment agent tank 31 and the treatment agent cartridge 40 simultaneously input into the container 302 is pulled out from the housing 301. The user can draw out the input container 302 from the housing 301 to replenish the treatment agent tank 31 with the treatment agent or input the treatment agent into the treatment agent cartridge 40.

When the first water supply valve 185 is opened in a state where the input container 302 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 301, water from the external water source is supplied from the water inlet 304 to the accommodating portion 301 through the first water supply path 182. The water that has reached the housing portion 301 and the input container 21 through the water inlet 304 is injected into the treatment agent cartridge 40 in the input container 302. Thereafter, the water containing the treatment agent enters the downstream of the input mechanism 300 through the siphon portion 416 of the treatment agent cartridge 40, the container outlet 3021 of the input container 21, and the storage portion outlet 305, and is supplied to the tub 102.

In the present embodiment, the washing machine 100 includes a tank sensor 204 and a tank sensor 205 instead of the tank sensor 26 and the box sensor 27 of the above embodiments. In this case, the tank sensing portion 204 and the tank sensing portion 205 are both provided outside the wall portion of the storage portion 301, that is, on the opposite side of the input container 302. The tank sensing portion 204 is provided outside the left and right wall portions of the housing portion 301, and is located at a position corresponding to the sensed portion 28 provided on the side surface portion 332 of the treatment agent tank 31. The cartridge sensing portion 205 is provided outside a wall portion on the back side of the housing portion 301 and at a position corresponding to the sensed portion 29 provided on the back side portion 413 of the treatment agent cartridge 40.

The control device 14 may execute any of the controls described in the first to third embodiments. The loading mechanism 300 may be configured such that the treatment agent tank 31 has the support portion 39, or the loading container 302 has the holding portion 50. According to the present embodiment, the same operational effects as those of the above-described embodiments can be obtained.

(other embodiments)

In another embodiment, the washing machine 10 according to each of the above embodiments may include a single third water supply valve 187 instead of the first water supply valve 185 and the second water supply valve 186, as shown in fig. 21 as an example. In this case, when the controller 14 opens the third water supply valve 187, water from the external water source is supplied to both the first water supply path 182 and the second water supply path 183.

According to the present embodiment, washing machine 10 includes third water supply valve 187 for connecting an external water source to first water supply path 182 and second water supply path 183, and control device 14 for controlling opening and closing of third water supply valve 187.

Accordingly, since water can be supplied to the first water supply path 182 and the second water supply path 183 through one water supply valve, the control performed by the control device 14 does not become excessively complicated. Also, the manufacturing cost can be reduced by reducing the number of water supply valves. Further, since the outer periphery of the treatment agent tank 31 can be washed with water passing through the first water supply path 182 each time the automatic introduction is performed, the treatment agent tank 31 can be kept clean even if the treatment agent leaks to the outside of the treatment agent tank 31.

Fig. 21 shows an example of the oblique-axis drum-type washing machine 10, but a third water supply valve 187 may be applied to a horizontal-axis drum-type washing machine or a vertical-type washing machine 100.

In each of the above embodiments, the treatment agent cartridge 40 is configured to be suitable for a liquid treatment agent having the siphon portion 416, but in other embodiments, a cartridge outlet, not shown, formed through the bottom surface portion 414 may be configured instead of the siphon portion 416. In this case, the treatment agent cartridge 40 is configured to be suitable for charging the powdery treatment agent. Further, the treatment agent cartridge 40 may have a cartridge outlet in addition to the siphon portion 416. In this case, the inside of the treatment agent cartridge 40 may be divided into, for example, 2 right and left partitions, one of which is provided with the siphon portion 416 for the liquid treatment agent, and the other of which is provided with the cartridge outlet for the powdery treatment agent.

In addition, in the washing machine 10 and the washing machine 100, when the user manually introduces the treatment agent, the treatment agent may be directly introduced into the introduction container 21 without using the treatment agent cartridge 40. In this case, the same effects as those of the above embodiments can be obtained.

In addition, the above embodiments may be combined.

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 invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Claims (12)

1. A washing machine is provided with:

a water containing barrel;

a throw-in container which receives a throw-in of a treating agent used in a washing operation of one amount from a user and supplies the thrown-in treating agent to the tub; and

an automatic throwing device which automatically throws a prescribed amount of the treating agent into the water tub,

the automatic charging device has a treating agent tank capable of storing a plurality of amounts of the treating agent for a washing operation,

the input container is configured to accommodate the treatment agent tank therein.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein,

further comprises a treatment agent cartridge provided in the input container and capable of storing the treatment agent input from a user,

the treatment agent tank is provided above the treatment agent box body in the input container.

3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein,

the cleaning operation can be performed in a state where only one of the treatment agent tank or the treatment agent cartridge is accommodated in the input container.

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

the input container has a water injection port for injecting water into the treatment agent cartridge,

the treatment agent tank has a tank opening portion capable of replenishing the treatment agent,

the tank opening is provided at a position not overlapping the water filling port in the vertical direction in a state where the treatment agent tank is provided in the input container.

5. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:

a first water supply path for introducing the treating agent stored in the introduction container and outside the treating agent tank into the water tub; and

a second water supply path for feeding the treating agent stored in the treating agent tank to the water tub,

the second water supply path is not through the input container and is a part outside the treatment agent tank.

6. The washing machine according to claim 5, comprising:

a water supply valve connecting an external water source with the first water supply path and the second water supply path; and

and a control device for controlling the opening and closing of the water supply valve.

7. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

the treatment agent tank is at least partially separated from a wall portion of the input container in a state of being accommodated in the input container.

8. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive, from a user, an operation for switching between an automatic mode for throwing the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for throwing the treatment agent thrown into the throw-in container into the tub;

a control device that executes an operation in either the automatic mode or the manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation unit;

a tank sensing unit that senses that the treatment agent tank is stored in the input container; and

a report processing part reporting information related to the washing machine to a user,

the control device executes an automatic mode prohibition process for disabling selection of the automatic mode or an alarm process for giving an alarm that the treatment agent tank is not set, when the tank sensing unit does not sense the treatment agent tank.

9. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive, from a user, an operation for switching between an automatic mode for throwing the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for throwing the treatment agent thrown into the throw-in container into the tub;

a control device that executes an operation in either the automatic mode or the manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation unit; and

a tank sensing and determining section for sensing that the treatment agent tank is accommodated in the input container,

the control device executes a manual mode setting process of setting an operation based on the manual mode in a case where the treatment agent tank is not sensed by the tank sensing determination processing part.

10. The washing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive, from a user, an operation for switching between an automatic mode for throwing the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for throwing the treatment agent thrown into the treatment agent cassette into the tub;

a control device that executes an operation in either the automatic mode or the manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation unit;

a cartridge sensing unit that senses that the treatment agent cartridge is accommodated in the input container; and

a report processing part reporting information related to the washing machine to a user,

the control device executes at least one of a manual mode prohibition process of disabling selection of the manual mode or a report process of reporting that the treatment agent cartridge is not set by the report processing unit, when the cartridge sensing unit does not sense the treatment agent cartridge.

11. The washing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, further comprising:

an operation unit configured to receive, from a user, an operation for switching between an automatic mode for throwing the treatment agent in the treatment agent tank into the tub and a manual mode for throwing the treatment agent thrown into the throw-in container into the tub;

a control device that executes an operation in either the automatic mode or the manual mode based on a selection operation performed on the operation unit; and

a cartridge sensing unit that senses that the treatment agent cartridge is stored in the input container,

the control device executes an automatic mode setting process of setting an operation based on the automatic mode in a case where the cartridge sensing portion does not sense the treatment agent cartridge.

12. The washing machine according to any one of claims 2 to 4, comprising:

a tank sensing unit that senses that the treatment agent tank is stored in the input container;

a cartridge sensing unit that senses that the treatment agent cartridge is accommodated in the input container;

a report processing unit for reporting information related to the washing machine to a user; and

and a control device that executes a report process of reporting that the treatment agent cartridge is not sensed by the cartridge sensing unit and the tank sensing unit.

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