JP2021058374A - Washing treatment liquid tank and washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a washing treatment liquid tank and a washing machine capable of allowing a tank body to self-stand without interference with a washing machine component in a state where it is removed from the washing machine and arranged with a bottom part down even when a part of the bottom part of the tank body is made shallow.SOLUTION: A washing treatment liquid tank comprises a tank body 15a for storing a washing treatment liquid, a discharge part 25 provided on a bottom part side in the tank body 15a and forming a discharge port of the washing treatment liquid, a folding leg 23 forming a part of a leg 22 extending from a bottom part of the tank body 15a for allowing the tank body 15a to self-stand and freely foldable at a base end side, and a leg housing part 21 forming a part of a bottom plate 15a1 of the bottom part, higher than the other part of the bottom plate 15a1 to form a recess of the bottom part when viewed from a lower side, and for housing the folding leg 23 folded.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a washing liquid tank and a washing machine.

As a background technique in this technical field, there is Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-11618 (Patent Document 1). In this publication, "a housing, a water tank provided inside the housing, an automatic washing treatment liquid charging means for supplying the washing treatment liquid into the water tank, and a detergent for supplying the washing treatment liquid into the water tank" are described. The washing treatment liquid supply means includes a charging port, a water supply means for supplying water to the washing treatment liquid automatic charging port and the detergent charging port, and a control means for controlling the washing treatment liquid supply means, and the washing treatment liquid supply means is the washing. It has a tank for holding the treatment liquid inside and a transport pump for transporting the washing treatment liquid from the inside of the tank to the outside of the tank, and the washing treatment liquid automatic charging means is located on the upper side of the housing. It is characterized in that it is arranged and is arranged between the detergent inlet and the water supply means "(see summary).

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2018-11618

In Patent Document 1, liquid detergents, fabric softeners, and other liquid agents that are put into water in a washing tub and bring about effects such as washing and softening on laundry (referred to as "washing treatment liquid" in the present specification). ) Is disclosed. This tank is provided in the washing machine, and the washing treatment liquid in the tank is discharged into the washing tub in a required amount by a predetermined device from a discharge portion provided on the bottom side of the tank.
Here, for example, the number of parts in the washing machine increases, and in order to save space in the washing machine, for example, the tank body for storing the washing treatment liquid in the tank (washing treatment liquid tank) as in Patent Document 1. It is conceivable that the whole of can not be deepened. At this time, a part of the bottom of the tank body is made shallow so as not to interfere with the washing machine parts under it.

However, if the washing process liquid tank is removable from the washing machine body, and when it is removed from the washing machine body, the bottom side is facing down and it is intended to stand on a table or the like, the bottom of the bottom of the tank body is used. The washing treatment liquid tank is tilted toward the shallow part of the washing machine, and the washing treatment liquid tank cannot stand on its own with the washing machine main body removed. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a leg for allowing the washing liquid tank to stand on its own on the shallow side of the bottom of the tank body, but this causes the legs to interfere with the washing machine parts. There is a problem that it will be done.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the bottom of a part of the bottom of the tank body is made shallow, when the bottom is removed from the washing machine, the bottom can be turned down and the washing machine can stand on its own without interfering with the washing machine parts. The subject is to provide a washing machine.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises a tank body for storing the washing treatment liquid, a discharge portion provided on the bottom side of the tank body and serving as a discharge port for the washing treatment liquid, and a bottom portion of the tank body. A folding leg that extends and forms a part of the leg that makes the tank body stand on its own and is foldable on the base end side, and a part of the bottom plate that forms the bottom, and is more than the other part of the bottom plate. It is characterized in that it is raised and has a concave portion at the bottom when viewed from below, and is provided with a leg accommodating portion for accommodating the folded leg portion.

According to the present invention, even if the bottom of a part of the bottom of the tank body is shallow, when the bottom is removed from the washing machine, the bottom can be turned down and the washing machine can stand on its own without interfering with the washing machine parts. A washing machine can be provided.
Issues, configurations and effects other than those described above will be clarified by the description of the following embodiments.

It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a perspective view which shows the detergent and the like addition device built in the upper part of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a side view of the washing process liquid tank of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a perspective view seen from the bottom surface side of the washing treatment liquid tank of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is a front view of the washing process liquid tank of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention. It is an enlarged view of the part A of FIG. It is a perspective view which looked at the tank storage part of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention from the upper side. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the work of storing the washing process liquid tank of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention in a tank storage part with time. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the work of storing the washing process liquid tank of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention in a tank storage part with time. It is a vertical cross-sectional view which shows the work of storing the washing process liquid tank of the washing machine which concerns on one Example of this invention in a tank storage part with time.

Hereinafter, examples of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the drawings, the directions of up, down, left, right, front and back as seen from the washing machine are indicated by arrows as appropriate.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. The washing machine 1 shown in this example is a drum type washing machine, but the present invention may be carried out as a vertical type washing machine. Further, the washing machine 1 may or may not have the function of a dryer. An opening / closing door 2 of the washing tub 4 inside the washing machine 1 is provided on the front surface of the housing 1a of the washing machine 1. The opening / closing door 2 can be opened / closed manually and has a substantially circular outer shape. The door frame 3 of the opening / closing door 2 is provided with a transparent door glass 5 that allows the washing tub 4 to be seen from the outside.

An operation panel 6 that receives various operations from the user and displays various messages is provided on the upper part of the housing 1a. A tank opening / closing lid 7 for opening / closing the upper part of the tank storage portion 11 (FIG. 2), which will be described later, is also provided on the upper part of the housing 1a. A detergent inlet opening / closing lid 8 for opening / closing the detergent inlet 12 described later is also provided on the upper portion of the housing 1a.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a detergent or the like charging device built in the upper part of the washing machine 1. Below the upper part of the housing 1a in the washing machine 1, a detergent or the like charging device 13 is provided as shown by a alternate long and short dash line. The detergent charging device 13 includes an automatic washing treatment liquid charging device 14 and a detergent charging port 12. The detergent inlet 12 is an inlet that opens by opening the detergent inlet opening / closing lid 8 and allows the user to manually charge the detergent or the like into the washing tub 4 from the outside.

The automatic washing treatment liquid charging device 14 is a device for automatically charging the washing treatment liquid stored in the washing tub 4 into the washing tub 4. The type of the washing treatment liquid that can be automatically charged by this device may be one type or a plurality of types. In this embodiment, there are two types, specifically, for example, a liquid detergent and a softener. The automatic washing treatment liquid charging device 14 includes a tank storage unit 11. The tank storage unit 11 is a tray-shaped container, and the washing treatment liquid tank can be detachably stored inside. The number of washing treatment liquid tanks is the same as the number of types of washing treatment liquid that can be automatically charged by the automatic washing treatment liquid charging device 14. That is, one washing treatment liquid tank corresponds to one kind of washing treatment liquid. In this embodiment, since it is possible to add two types of washing treatment liquids, a liquid detergent and a softener, two washing treatment liquid tanks, a washing treatment liquid tank 15 and a washing treatment liquid tank 16, are stored in the tank storage unit 11. It is detachably stored inside. Of the washing liquid tank 15 and the washing liquid tank 16, which may be for liquid detergent or which may be for softener. In each of the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16, the type of washing treatment liquid corresponding to each is stored inside.

The washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 are provided in the tank bodies 15a and 16a for storing the washing treatment liquid inside, the lids 15b and 16b covering the entire upper part of the tank bodies 15a and 16a, and the lids 15b and 16b, respectively. It is provided with opening / closing lids 15c and 16c provided. The opening / closing lids 15c and 16c are lids that can be opened to charge and store the washing treatment liquid in the tank bodies 15a and 16a, respectively. Further, the lids 15b and 16b may be fixed to the upper parts of the tank bodies 15a and 16a, or may be detachable.

The automatic washing treatment liquid charging device 14 discharges each washing treatment liquid stored inside each of the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 from the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16, and discharges the discharged washing treatment liquid. It is provided with a supply device 17 that serves as a drive source for charging into the washing tub 4. As the supply device 17, a piston pump, a gear pump, or the like can be used. The supply device 17 charges the washing treatment liquid in the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 into the washing tub 4 via a predetermined liquid distribution system. The washing machine 1 charges each washing treatment liquid into the washing tub 4 at a predetermined timing according to the weight of the laundry or the like under the control of a control device (not shown) (details are omitted because it is a known technique). To do).

By the way, when the number of parts in the washing machine increases, such as by providing strong parts of the washing machine 1 to increase the strength, it may be desired to reduce the size of the tank storage portion 11 in order to save space in the washing machine 1 as a whole. is there.
That is, it may be necessary to make a part of the tank storage portion 11 shallow in order to reduce the size of the tank storage portion 11. As a result, for example, when the entire tank body for storing the washing liquid in the tank (washing liquid tank) cannot be made deep as in Patent Document 1, a part of the bottom of the tank bodies 15a and 16a has a shallow bottom. It can be prevented from interfering with the washing machine parts underneath.

Even if a part of the bottom of the tank bodies 15a and 16a has a shallow bottom, if the width is expanded to some extent, it is not necessary to reduce the amount of the washing treatment liquid that can be stored in the tank bodies 15a and 16a.

However, if the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 are removable from the washing machine 1 and can stand on a table or the like with the bottom side facing down when removed from the washing machine 1, the tank body 15a , 16a, the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 are tilted toward the shallow portion of the bottom of the bottom, and the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 cannot be made to stand on their own in a state of being removed from the washing machine 1. In order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide legs for making the washing treatment liquid tank self-supporting on the shallow portion side of the bottom of the tank bodies 15a and 16a. In this case, the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 are provided. There is a problem that the legs and the washing machine parts interfere with each other when the washing machine 1 is mounted on the washing machine 1.

Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the bottom of a part of the bottom of the tank bodies 15a and 16a is made shallow, it can stand on its own with the bottom facing down without interfering with the washing machine parts when it is removed from the washing machine 1. The washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 and the washing machine 1 will be specifically described.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the washing treatment liquid tank 15. In this embodiment, only the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is illustrated and described, and the washing treatment liquid tank 16 is not shown. However, as will be described later, the washing treatment liquid tank 16 also has a structure similar to that of the washing treatment liquid tank 15.
The washing treatment liquid tank 15 includes a tank body 15a for storing the washing treatment liquid. The tank body 15a has a substantially rectangular shape in both top and bottom views. A part of the bottom plate 15a1 at the bottom of the tank body 15a, for example, a part on one end side in the longitudinal direction of the washing liquid tank 15, in this example, the front side part is higher than the rear side part, and from the bottom side. It forms a leg accommodating portion 21 which is a concave portion when viewed. From the rearmost portion of the bottom plate 15a1, even if the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is removed from the washing machine 1, the leg portion 22 for standing on its own with the bottom side facing down extends downward.

A folding leg portion 23, which will be described later, is provided at the end edge portion of the leg accommodating portion 21 forming a concave portion at the foremost portion of the bottom plate 15a1. The folding leg portion 23 can be folded and pulled out freely on the base end side thereof, and in the state of being pulled out as shown in FIG. 3, the leg portion 22 and the folding leg portion 23 are combined with the washing treatment liquid tank 15 (tank body 15a). ) Can stand on its own with the bottom side down. That is, the folding leg portion 23 forms a part of the leg portion of the washing treatment liquid tank 15 (tank body 15a). The bottom of the washing liquid tank 15 has a rectangular shape (rectangular shape) when viewed from below, and the folding leg portion 23 extends from a portion forming one side (short side on the front side).

A radius 23a is attached to the front side of the tip of the folding leg portion 23.
Both ends of the tank body 15a are rotatably attached to the upper part of the front part and the upper part of the rear part of the tank body 15a, respectively, and the user holds the washing treatment liquid tank 15 in his / her hand when attaching / detaching the washing treatment liquid tank 15 to / from the tank storage part 11. Handle 24 is provided. On the bottom side of the tank body 15a, for example, the rear side of the bottom plate 15a1, a discharge portion 25 serving as a discharge port for the washing treatment liquid in the tank body 15a is provided.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view seen from the bottom surface side of the washing treatment liquid tank. FIG. 5 is a front view of the washing treatment liquid tank. The leg accommodating portion 21 is provided at a position on the right side in front of the bottom of the tank body 15a. The bottom plate 15a1 on the left side of this is substantially the same height as the bottom plate 15a1 behind the bottom of the tank body 15a. The bottom plate 15a1 of the leg accommodating portion 21 is inclined so that the height gradually increases toward the front. The folded leg portion 23 can be accommodated in the leg accommodating portion 21.

The base end portion of the folding leg portion 23 is rotatably supported by the front end edge portion of the leg accommodating portion 21 by a predetermined mechanism. A urging member 26 for urging the folding leg portion 23 in the direction of ejecting the folding leg portion 23 from the leg accommodating portion 21 is provided at a portion where the folding leg portion 23 is attached to the bottom portion of the tank body 15a. The urging member 26 is, for example, a torsion coil spring.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion A in FIG. As shown in the figure, the base end portion 23b of the pulled-out folded leg portion 23 abuts on the front end edge portion of the leg accommodating portion 21 so that the rotation of the leg accommodating portion 21 is kept within a certain range. A first locking portion 21a that locks to is provided. As a result, the first locking portion 21a is locked so as to stop the tip end side of the folding leg portion 23 protruding from the leg accommodating portion 21 by the urging force of the urging member 26 to a predetermined position below the tank body 15a. To do. At this time, even if a sufficient amount of washing liquid is stored in the tank body 15a and the weight of the tank body 15a is heavy, the folding leg portion 23 is moved to the front side by the first locking portion 21a to a certain extent or more. On the contrary, the folding leg portion 23 does not buckle toward the leg accommodating portion 21 due to the urging force of the urging member 26. That is, the folding leg portion 23 can be made to stand against the weight of the tank body 15a by the urging force of the first locking portion 21a and the urging member 26.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the tank storage portion as viewed from above. The tank storage portion 11 is a substantially rectangular tray that is slightly long to the left and right when viewed from above. The right side of the tank storage portion 11 is a storage space 31 for storing the washing treatment liquid tank 15, and the left side is a storage space 32 for storing the washing treatment liquid tank 16.
A part of the bottom portion 31a in the storage space 31 is higher than the other parts. In this example, the front portion 31a1 of the bottom portion 31a is higher in height than the rear portion 31a2. Although not as high as the storage space 31, a part of the bottom 32a of the storage space 32 is also higher than the other parts. In this example, the front portion 32a1 of the bottom portion 32a is higher in height than the rear portion 32a2.

The shape of the bottom portion 31a generally matches the shape of the bottom portion of the washing treatment liquid tank 15, and the washing treatment liquid tank 16 can be accurately stored and stably held. The bottom portion 32a of the storage space 32 is also shaped so that the washing treatment liquid tank 16 can be accurately stored and stably held. A rib-shaped guide member 33 whose upper surface is gradually inclined downward from the front to the rear from the bottom 31a side in the storage space 31, specifically, from the front side surface 31b to the front portion 31a1 of the bottom 31a. Is provided. Then, a rib-shaped second locking member extending upward is located near the guide member 33 on the bottom 31a side in the storage space 31, specifically, slightly behind the guide member 33 on the bottom 31a. 34 is provided.

Further, a rib-shaped guide member 35 is provided from the front side surface 32b of the storage space 32 to the front portion 32a1 of the bottom 32a so that the surface is gradually inclined downward from the front to the rear. A rib-shaped second locking member 36 extending upward from the bottom 32a is provided from the rear end of the guide member 35.
Next, the action and effect of this example will be described.
By mounting the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 in which the washing treatment liquids are stored in the tank storage portion 11, each washing treatment liquid is supplied to the washing tub in a predetermined amount at a predetermined timing by using the supply device 17 as a drive source. It can be thrown into 4.

Further, the height of the front portion 31a1 of the bottom portion 31a of the bottom portion of the tank storage portion 11 is higher than that of the rear portion 31a2. Further, the height of the front portion 32a1 of the bottom portion 32a is higher than that of the rear portion 32a2. As a result, the heights of the front portion 31a1 of the bottom portion 31a and the front portion 32a1 of the bottom portion 32a are increased, and the washing machine parts such as the strength parts of the washing machine 1 provided in the lower part of the tank storage portion 11 interfere with the tank storage portion 11. The washing machine 1 can be made compact without doing so. In this case, since the width size of the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 is expanded to some extent, the amount of the washing treatment liquid that can be stored in the washing treatment liquid tanks 15 and 16 does not decrease.

Corresponding to the fact that the height of the inner bottom portion of the tank storage portion 11 is not uniform, the bottom portion of the washing treatment liquid tank 15 also has a high portion and a low height portion. However, even if the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is taken out from the tank storage portion 11, if the tip side of the folding leg portion 23 is pulled out downward, the washing treatment liquid tank 15 does not tilt and is made to stand on its own with its bottom as the lower side. The washing treatment liquid tank 15 can be set up.

In this case, the folding leg portion 23 may be manually pulled out from the leg accommodating portion 21 by the user, but in this embodiment, the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is provided with the urging member 26. Therefore, if the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is taken out from the tank storage portion 11, the folding leg portion 23 is automatically pulled out from the leg accommodating portion 21 by the urging force of the urging member 26. It can be used easily.

Further, even if the folding leg portion 23 is urged by the urging member 26, the tip end side of the folding leg portion 23 is rotated only to a predetermined position below the tank body 15a by the first locking portion 21a, and more than that. Does not come forward. On the other hand, the folding leg portion 23 is urged in the opposite direction by the appropriate urging force of the urging member 26. Therefore, even if a sufficient amount of the washing liquid is stored in the washing liquid tank 15, the folding leg portion 23 does not buckle in the state where the washing liquid tank 15 is self-supporting.

Next, the operation of storing the washing treatment liquid tank 15 in the tank storage portion 11 will be described. 8 to 10 are vertical cross-sectional views showing the work of storing the washing treatment liquid tank 15 in the tank storage portion 11 in this order over time. FIG. 8 shows a state immediately before the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is stored in the tank storage unit 11.

FIG. 9 shows a state in which the product is stored to a certain depth. At this time, the tip of the folding leg portion 23 comes into contact with the guide member 33 and moves on the surface of the slide-shaped guide member 33. As a result, the folding leg portion 23 is guided by the guide member 33 to perform the folding operation. As a result, the folding leg portion 23 is folded as the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is deeply stored in the tank storage portion 11, and is accommodated in the leg accommodating portion 21.
At this time, since the radius 23a is formed on the guide member 33 side of the tip of the folding leg 23, the tip of the folding leg 23 smoothly slides and moves on the guide member 33 to fold. The operation of accommodating the tatami leg portion 23 in the leg accommodating portion 21 becomes smooth.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the folded leg portion 23 is folded and completely accommodated in the leg accommodating portion 21. In this way, the folding leg portion 23 can be folded without manual operation simply by storing the washing treatment liquid tank 15 in the tank storage portion 11, so that the folding leg portion 23 can be easily accommodated in the leg accommodating portion 21. It becomes.

As shown in FIG. 10, when the folding leg portion 23 is folded and completely accommodated in the leg accommodating portion 21, and the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is completely accommodated in the tank accommodating portion 11, the folding leg portion 23 The tip portion abuts on the second locking member 36 and is locked. As a result, rattling in the longitudinal direction of the washing treatment liquid tank 15 can be suppressed to some extent after the washing treatment liquid tank 15 is stored in the tank storage portion 11.
The washing treatment liquid tank 16 has the same basic configuration as the washing treatment liquid tank 15, and the washing treatment liquid tank 16 can also exert the effects of the above-mentioned action and effect of the washing treatment liquid tank 15. In this case, the guide member 35 has the same effect as the guide member 33, and the second locking member 36 has the same effect as the second locking member 34.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described examples, and includes various modifications. For example, the above-described embodiment has been described in detail in order to explain the present invention in an easy-to-understand manner, and is not necessarily limited to the one including all the described configurations.

1 Washing machine 11 Tank storage part 15 Washing treatment liquid tank 15a Tank body 15a 1 Bottom plate 16 Washing treatment liquid tank 17 Supply device 21 Leg storage part 21a First locking member 22 Leg part 23 Folding leg part 23a Earl 25 With discharge part 26 Force member 33 Guide member 34 Second locking member 35 Guide member 36 Second locking member

Claims (9)

The tank body that stores the washing liquid and
A discharge portion provided on the bottom side of the tank body and serving as a discharge port for the washing treatment liquid,
A folding leg that extends from the bottom of the tank body and forms a part of a leg that makes the tank body stand on its own and is foldable on the base end side.
A leg accommodating portion that forms a part of the bottom plate forming the bottom portion, is higher than the other portion of the bottom plate, forms a recess of the bottom portion when viewed from below, and accommodates the folded leg portion. A washing liquid tank characterized by being equipped with. The washing treatment liquid tank according to claim 1, wherein the leg accommodating portion is formed on one end side of the bottom portion in the longitudinal direction when the bottom portion is viewed from below. The washing treatment liquid according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the bottom portion has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from the lower side, and the folding leg portion extends from a portion forming one side of the rectangular shape. tank. A portion 1 to claim 1, wherein a portion to which the folded leg portion is attached to the bottom portion is provided with an urging member for urging the folded leg portion in a direction of ejecting the folded leg portion from the leg accommodating portion. The washing treatment liquid tank according to any one of claims 3. By locking the folded leg portion protruding from the leg accommodating portion by the urging member, the tip end side of the folded leg portion is extended below the bottom portion against the weight of the tank body. The washing treatment liquid tank according to claim 4, further comprising a first locking member. The washing treatment liquid tank according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the folded leg portion has a radius on the surface of the tip portion. The washing tub and
The washing treatment liquid tank according to any one of claims 1 to 6.
A tank storage unit that detachably stores the washing liquid tank and
A washing machine including a supply device for supplying the washing treatment liquid in the tank body to the washing tub via the discharge portion. It is provided on the bottom side inside the tank storage portion, and when the washing treatment liquid tank is stored in the tank storage portion, the folding leg portion is brought into contact with the folding leg portion and the folding leg portion is slid to cause the folding. The washing machine according to claim 7, further comprising a guide member for folding the legs and accommodating the legs in the leg accommodating portion. It is characterized by including a second locking member provided near the guide member on the bottom side and locking the tip end portion of the folded leg portion accommodated in the leg accommodating portion by the guide member. The washing machine according to claim 8.

Images