JP7378184B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a washing machine equipped with an automatic solution dosing means for automatically dispensing a solution.

A washing machine equipped with an automatic liquid dispensing unit includes one or more tanks that can store liquids such as detergent and fabric softener, a tank tray that removably stores the tanks, and an outer tank for taking out the liquids from the tank. A washing machine is known that has a liquid injection device for feeding liquid into the washing machine (Patent Document 1).
According to such a washing machine, the liquid agent can be poured into the outer tank by connecting the check valve of the tank in the vertical direction with respect to the bottom surface of the tank tray.

JP 2021-003272 Publication

In the above-mentioned washing machine, when the tank is removed from the tank tray, there is a risk that the liquid agent from the tank may spill around the connection area between the tank and the tank tray, staining the tank tray. Furthermore, if the liquid agent leaks from the tank onto the tank tray and the tank tray is contaminated, there is a risk that the liquid agent will not work properly due to the liquid agent sticking to the tank tray.
Note that the tank tray corresponds to a liquid agent tank container in this specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a structure that prevents liquid from flowing toward an automatic liquid injection means even if the liquid leaks into a storage section.

The washing machine according to the present invention includes a liquid agent tank for storing a liquid agent to be put into a washing tub, a liquid agent automatic dosing means for automatically putting the liquid agent in the liquid agent tank into the washing tub, and a liquid agent tank in a storage part. and a liquid agent tank accommodating body that accommodates the liquid agent automatic injection means and supports the liquid agent automatic injection means with a support part, and the water supplied to the washing tub passes through a water supply channel via the liquid agent automatic injection means, and then passes through the liquid agent tank storage body through the liquid agent automatic injection means. When the body is viewed from above, there is a water channel that constitutes a part of the water supply channel between the support part and the accommodation part, and the accommodation part has a recess that is recessed downward and extends in the front-rear direction. The bottom wall portion has a rear end portion, and has a communication portion through which the recessed portion and the water channel communicate with each other.

According to the above configuration, even if the liquid agent leaks into the accommodating portion, it is possible to suppress the liquid agent from flowing toward the liquid agent automatic injection means side.

(a) is a perspective view of the washing machine according to the embodiment as seen from above, and (b) is a perspective view of the washing machine with the top door and the detergent case of the detergent charging unit pulled out, as seen from above. It is a front view of a cross-sectional state perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the washing machine. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional state perpendicular to the left-right direction of the washing machine, seen from the left side. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the washing machine with the top wall of the casing removed and the door of the liquid tank open, viewed from above. It is a perspective view of the liquid agent automatic injection unit and the detergent injection unit with the second liquid agent tank taken out, (a) is a view seen from the upper side of the rear side, and (b) is a view seen from the lower side of the rear side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the detergent charging unit seen from the front side, where (a) shows the detergent case pulled out from the detergent box, and (b) shows the detergent case disassembled. (a) is a perspective view of the liquid agent automatic injection unit viewed from the front side above, and (b) is a perspective view of the liquid agent automatic injection unit in an exploded state viewed from the front side upper side. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid agent tank in a disassembled state, in which (a) is a view seen from above on the front side, and (b) is a view seen from below on the rear side. (a) is a cross-section perpendicular to the left-right direction at the connection part of the liquid agent automatic dosing unit, seen from the left side, and (b) is a view showing a cross-section orthogonal to the left-right direction at the bulging part of the liquid agent automatic dosing unit. It is a view seen from the left side. It is a perspective view of a state in which a liquid agent automatic injection means and an upstream waterway formation body are removed from a support body, (a) is a view seen from the front side upper part, and (b) is a view seen from the rear side lower part. . FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the automatic liquid injection means in an exploded state, in which (a) is a view seen from the upper front side, and (b) is a view seen from the lower rear side. (a) is a perspective view of the disassembled state of the cylinder seen from above the front side, (b) is a view of a cross-sectional state orthogonal to the vertical direction of the cylinder seen from above, and (c) is a diagram of the left-right direction of the cylinder. FIG. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the liquid agent automatic injection means and the connecting body removed from the liquid agent tank container, in which (a) is a view seen from the upper rear side and (b) is a view seen from the lower rear side. (a) is a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the vertical direction of the liquid agent automatic injection unit, seen from above, and (b) is a perspective view of a cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction of the liquid agent automatic injection unit, viewed from the upper rear side. This is a rear view of a cross section perpendicular to the front-rear direction of the liquid agent automatic dosing unit, and the enlarged view is a perspective view of the connecting part between the dosing channel forming body and the cylinder, seen from the upper rear side, and the connecting body and dosing channel. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the connecting portion with the forming body, seen from the upper rear side. FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating how a liquid agent tank is accommodated in a housing section of a liquid agent tank accommodating body. It is a figure explaining a liquid agent side water supply channel. It is a perspective view which shows the modification of a door body.

<Embodiment>
1. Overview As shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the washing machine A rotating drum 12, a door 13 that opens and closes the opening of the washing tub 11, a motor 14 that rotates the rotating drum 12, a drying unit 15 that dries the laundry, and a unit that receives water to supply water to the rotating drum 12. A water receiving unit 16, an operation unit 17 for operating the washing operation, a control unit 18 for controlling the washing operation, etc., a drainage unit 19 for draining the washing tub 11, and adding detergent to the washing tub 11. The washing machine has a detergent injection unit 30 for automatically feeding liquid into the washing tub 11, and a liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 for automatically feeding liquid into the washing tub 11.
In the embodiment, a horizontal washing machine, a so-called drum-type washing machine, in which the central axis of the washing tub 11 is arranged horizontally will be described. The same method can be applied to a type washing machine.
Here, the direction in which the central axis of the washing tub 11 extends is defined as the front-back direction, the side where the door 13 is present is defined as the front side, and the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction and the front-back direction is defined as the left-right direction. Note that the right and left positions are based on the state in which the washing machine X is viewed while facing the door 13.
Each part will be explained below.

2. Main Parts (1) Water Receiving Unit As shown in FIG. An opening/closing means 162 for starting and stopping water reception (hereinafter simply referred to as "water"), and a means for distributing water from a connection port 161 to supply it to the detergent injection unit 30 and the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50. and a distribution section 163. The distribution section 163 here has four connection ports 164. Note that the opening/closing means 162 is opened/closed by the control unit 18.
Water received from the water receiving unit 16 has a water supply channel that supplies water to the washing tub 11 via the detergent injection unit 30 and a water supply channel that supplies water to the washing tub 11 via the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50. In order to distinguish between the two water supply channels, for convenience, the water supply channel that passes through the detergent injection unit 30 is referred to as the detergent side water supply channel, and the water supply channel that passes through the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 is defined as the liquid agent side water supply channel.

(1-1) Detergent side water supply channel Water flowing through the detergent side water supply channel flows from the water receiving unit 16 into the washing tub 11 via the detergent input unit 30.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 5(b), the distribution section 163 of the water receiving unit 16 and the detergent input unit 30 are connected by a connection body 165, and the detergent input unit 30 and the washing tub 11 are connected by a connection body. 251 is connected. Note that the connecting bodies 165 and 251 form water channels inside, and can use pipes, hoses, etc. made of resin material, rubber material, or the like.

(1-2) Liquid side water supply channel Water flowing through the liquid side water supply channel flows from the water receiving unit 16 into the washing tub 11 via the liquid automatic injection unit 50 and the detergent injection unit 30. Here, the downstream side of the liquid agent side water supply channel joins the detergent side water supply channel.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 14, the distribution section 163 of the water receiving unit 16 and the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 are connected by the upstream channel forming body 166, and the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 and the detergent injection unit are connected. 30 are connected by a connecting body 252. Note that the connecting body 252 forms a waterway inside, and can use a pipe, a hose, or the like made of a resin material, a rubber material, or the like.
That is, the liquid side water supply channel is configured using the water receiving unit 16, the upstream side channel forming body 166, the liquid agent automatic dosing unit 50, the connection body 252, the detergent dosing unit 30, and the connection body 251. The liquid agent is injected by the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 of the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50.

As shown in FIG. 17, the liquid agent side supply channel 60 is connected to the discharge port of the cylinder 531 that discharges the liquid via the communication channel 61, and is connected to the upper supply channel 601 on the upstream side of the communication channel 61 and from the communication channel 61. The lower water supply channel 602 on the downstream side, the detergent input water channel (not shown in FIG. 17) that passes through the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 and flows into the washing tub 11, and the detergent input water channel and the lower water supply channel 602. and a connecting waterway 603 (shown by a dashed line in FIG. 17).
To explain specifically, the upper water supply waterway 601 is a waterway from point A to points B1 and B2, the communication waterway 61 is a waterway from point B to point C, and the lower water supply waterway 602 is a waterway from point C to point D. The connection waterway 603 and the detergent input side waterway are waterways from point D to the washing tub 11 (not shown in FIG. 17). The lower water supply waterway 602 includes an upper waterway 604 from point C to point E, a middle waterway 605 from point E to points G and H, and a lower waterway 608 from points G and H to point D. Note that point A indicates the starting point of the water supply channel 601 in FIG. 17, and the actual starting point of the water supply channel 601 in this embodiment may be the connection port 164 of the water receiving unit 16.

In addition, when there are multiple liquid agent automatic injection means 53 and the upper water supply channel 601 branches into multiple lines (in this case, there are two liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and 53B), the first liquid agent automatic injection means The upper water supply channel 601A on the side of the means 53A includes a front water channel 606 from point A to point F and a rear water channel 607A from point F to point B1, and the upper water supply channel 601B on the side of the second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B. includes a front water channel 606 from point A to point F and a rear water channel 607B from point F to point B2.
In addition, when there is only one liquid agent automatic injection means 53, it becomes the above-mentioned upper water supply channel 601 without the point F indicating the branch point in FIG. .
The lower water supply channel 602A on the side of the first liquid agent automatic injection means 53A includes an upper water channel 604A from point C1 to point E1, a middle water channel 605A from point E1 to point G, and a lower water channel 602A from point G to point D. The lower water supply channel 602B on the second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B side includes an upper water channel 604B from point C2 to point E2, a middle water channel 605B from point E2 to point H, and a lower water channel 602B on the side of the second automatic liquid injection means 53B. and a lower water channel 608B up to point D. Here, the downstream side of the lower water channel 608B of the second automatic liquid agent injection means 53B from point G coincides with (joins with) the lower water channel 608A of the first automatic liquid agent injection means 53A.
In addition, when there is only one liquid agent automatic injection means 53, the above-mentioned lower water supply channel 602 is formed without the point G indicating the confluence point in FIG. 17.
The upper water supply channel 601 and the lower water supply channel 602 are mainly formed by the upstream water channel forming body 166 and the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50.
In addition, when there are a plurality of liquid agent automatic injection means 53 (two in this case), as shown in FIG. The communication waterway on the input means 53B side is designated as "61B".

(2) Detergent input unit The detergent input unit 30 is arranged in the detergent side water supply channel. As shown in FIG. 6, the detergent charging unit 30 includes a detergent box 31 having an opening 31a on the front side, and a detergent case 32 that is slidably supported with respect to the detergent box 31.
The detergent case 32 here has a powder detergent storage section 321 for powder detergent and a liquid detergent storage section 322 for liquid detergent.
(2-1) Detergent Box The detergent box 31 includes a detergent box main body 33 that is open on the front and top sides, a detergent lid 34 that closes the upper side of the detergent box main body 33, and a detergent cover 35 that covers the detergent lid 34 from above. have.
As shown in FIG. 5, a connecting body 251 connected to the washing tub 11 is connected to the bottom wall side of the detergent box main body 33. A connector 252 that connects to the automatic liquid injection unit 50 is connected to the rear wall of the detergent box main body 33 . Note that water flowing into the detergent box main body 33 from the connecting body 252 passes through the bottom wall portion without passing through the detergent case 32 and flows from the connecting body 251 to the washing tub 11. In this way, the bottom wall portion constitutes a flow path 331.
As shown in FIG. 6, the detergent lid body 34 transfers water flowing in from the connecting portions 341 and 342 connected to the connecting body 165 (see FIG. 5(b)) to the powder detergent accommodating portion 321 of the detergent case 32 and the liquid detergent. It has guide channel portions 343 and 344 that guide toward the housing portion 322 side. Note that the guide flow path sections 343 and 344 are provided with a plurality of through holes 345 through which guided water passes.

(2-2) Detergent Case The detergent case 32 has a decorative member 36 having a handle portion 361 attached to the front side. The detergent case 32 has a powder detergent storage section 321 and a liquid detergent storage section 322 that are long in the front-back direction and are adjacent to each other in the left-right direction. The powder detergent storage section 321 and the liquid detergent storage section 322 are constituted by recesses, the bottom surfaces of which are inclined backward, and a through hole communicating with the detergent box main body 33 is provided at the rear side thereof.
Here, the powder detergent storage section 321 is removably provided with a function imparting section 323 for imparting a washing-related function (for example, antibacterial properties).

(3) Automatic liquid injection unit The automatic liquid injection unit 50 is arranged above the detergent injection unit 30, as shown in FIG. Thereby, the water that has passed through the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 can easily flow downward to the detergent injection unit 30 side.
The liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 is disposed such that it partially or completely overlaps the detergent injection unit 30 in the vertical direction. The front end of the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 is located on the rear side of the front end of the detergent injection unit 30. As a result, a space is formed in front of the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 and above the detergent injection unit 30, in which, for example, the operation unit 17 can be placed.
The rear end of the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 is located on the rear side of the rear end of the detergent injection unit 30. As a result, a space is formed on the lower side of the rear part of the automatic liquid dispensing unit 50 and on the rear side of the detergent dispensing unit 30, in which, for example, a connecting body 252 for connecting the automatic liquid dispensing unit 50 and the detergent dispensing unit 30 is arranged. can do. Moreover, the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 arranged at the rear of the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 can be provided so as to project downward.

As shown in FIG. 7, the liquid agent automatic dosing unit 50 includes a liquid agent tank 51 that stores the liquid to be put into the washing tub 11, and a liquid agent automatic dosing means 53 that automatically puts the liquid in the liquid agent tank 51 into the washing tub 11 side. At least be prepared.
The liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 includes a liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 that accommodates a liquid agent tank 51 in the front part and in which a liquid agent automatic injection means 53 is arranged in the rear part. Although the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 may be directly disposed on the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55, here, it is provided on the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 using a support body 57. That is, the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 includes a support body 57 that supports the liquid agent automatic injection means 53.
Note that here, the liquid agent tank 51 is housed in the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 from above.

There are one or more types of liquid agents, and here there are two types. Therefore, there are two liquid agent tanks 51. For convenience, one of the liquid agents is referred to as a first liquid agent, the other of the liquid agents is referred to as a second liquid agent, and "first" is attached to the name of each component related to the first liquid agent, and "A" is attached to the code of the component, "Second" is added to the name of each component related to the second liquid agent, and "B" is added to the code of the component. For example, the tank that stores the second liquid agent is referred to as the "second liquid agent tank 51B," and the automatic liquid agent injection means that discharges the second liquid agent is referred to as the "second liquid agent automatic input means 53B."
Note that the liquid agent is a detergent for clothes, a fabric softener, an aromatic agent, a disinfectant/sterilizer, etc. For example, the first liquid agent is a detergent for clothes, and the second liquid agent is a fabric softener.

(3-1) Liquid Tank The first liquid tank 51A and the second liquid tank 51B have substantially the same configuration, and will therefore be described as the liquid tank 51.
As shown in FIG. 8, the liquid agent tank 51 includes at least a tank body 511 and an opening/closing means 512 that opens and closes a liquid agent outlet in accordance with the opening and closing of the automatic liquid injection means 53.
The tank body 511 here has a box shape, and the liquid agent tank 51 includes a lid 513 that covers an opening at the top of the tank body 511.
The liquid agent tank 51 includes a float 514 that moves up and down depending on the amount of liquid agent stored. This makes it possible to detect the amount of liquid agent.
The liquid agent tank 51 includes a filter 515 inside the tank body 511. Thereby, it is possible to prevent dust and the like in the tank from flowing toward the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 side.

(3-1-1) Tank body The tank body 511 has a box shape that is long in the front and back direction. Thereby, the first liquid agent tank 51A and the second liquid agent tank 51B can be efficiently arranged in the left-right direction while ensuring the storage amount of the first liquid agent and the second liquid agent.
The tank body 511 has a protrusion 511b that protrudes downward from the bottom wall 511a. The protruding portion 511b is provided at the rear portion of the tank body 511, that is, on the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 side. The protruding portion 511b protrudes in a cylindrical shape with a cylinder axis extending in the front-rear direction so that a circular opening can be formed at the rear end. The inside of the protruding part 511b has a connecting part (fitting part) in which the connecting part 531e of the cylinder 531 is inserted into the rear part of the opening/closing means 512 (see FIG. 9) housed inside, and which connects (fits) with the cylinder 531. ) 511d (see enlarged view of (a) in FIG. 9).
The protrusion 511b is located between both ends in the left and right direction. The rear portion of the bottom wall portion 511a is configured such that left and right side portions 511c of the protrusion portion 511b slope downward (become lower) toward the protrusion portion 511b on the inner surface (bottom surface). This allows the liquid to flow toward the opening/closing means 512 without leaving any liquid behind.
The bottom wall portion 511a is configured such that, on the inner surface (bottom surface), a front portion 511d (portion from the front end to the front end of the protruding portion 511b) becomes lower as it approaches the rear side (opening/closing means 512 side). This allows the liquid to flow toward the opening/closing means 512 without leaving any liquid behind.
On the inner surface (bottom surface) of the bottom wall portion 511a, as a portion 511e, which is a rear portion (a portion from the rear end to the center of the protrusion portion 511b in the front-rear direction) and is located on both left and right sides of the protrusion portion 511b, approaches the front side, It is configured to be low. This allows the liquid to flow toward the opening/closing means 512 without leaving any liquid behind.
Note that the inner surface of the bottom wall portion 511a of the tank body 511 also serves as a guide surface for guiding the liquid to the inlet of the opening/closing means 512.

The tank body 511 includes a positioned portion 511f for being accommodated in a positioned state (fixed state) when the liquid agent tank 51 is accommodated in the liquid agent tank storage body 55 or in the accommodated state. has. Thereby, the connection between the opening/closing means 512 and the connecting portion 531e of the cylinder 531 is maintained.
Here, a snap fit (positioning portion 551f of the liquid agent tank container 55) is used for positioning, and the positioned portion 511f is constituted by an engaging portion that is held (engaged) by the positioning portion 551f. The engaging portion is constituted by a convex portion that protrudes downward from the bottom wall portion 511a, and the convex portion has a columnar or cylindrical shape.

When moving the liquid agent tank 51 in the rear direction with respect to the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 in order to accommodate the liquid agent tank 51 in the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55, the tank body 511 further moves beyond the positioning state by the positioning section 551f. The bottom wall portion 511a has a position restriction portion 511g that restricts movement in the rear direction. Here, the positioning part 551f is used for position regulation, and as shown in FIG. . The opposing portion is constituted by a plate portion that protrudes downward from the bottom wall portion 511a, and the plate portion is constituted by (a part of) a wall portion that protrudes in a U-shape with an open rear side.
Note that the "U"-shaped position regulating section 511g also has a protective function of protecting the positioned section 511f. Furthermore, the positioned portion 511f and the position regulating portion 511g are connected by a connecting portion 511h (see (a) in FIG. 14), and the positioned portion 511f is reinforced.

The liquid agent tank 51 and the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 are arranged such that when the liquid agent tank 51 is housed in the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55, the liquid agent tank 51 is moved from the rear to the front side with respect to the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55, and then moved rearward. It is configured so that it can be accommodated by In other words, the liquid agent tank 51 has a box shape, the housing part 551 of the liquid agent tank housing body 55 is open at the top, and the dimension in the direction in which the liquid agent tank 51 is moved when stored in the housing part of the liquid agent tank 51 is the size of the liquid agent tank 51. If you try to install the liquid agent tank 51 from above in the proper position of the storage part 551, it will have an interference part (a guiding part and a guided part, which will be described later) that interfere with each other. Through the operation, the liquid agent tank 51 can be accommodated in the accommodating portion 551.
The liquid agent tank 51 and the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 have a guide portion (562a) and a guided portion (511k) that guide the liquid agent tank 51 along the above-mentioned trajectory when housing the liquid agent tank 51. Thereby, the opening/closing means 512 and the cylinder 531 can be connected without damaging the connecting portion 531e (projecting portion 531f) of the cylinder 531.
Here, the guide portion is constituted by a guide portion 562a (see FIG. 7B) provided on the upper side wall portion 562 of the liquid agent tank storage body 55, and the guided portion is constituted by a guide portion provided on the side wall portion 511j of the liquid agent tank 51. (See FIG. 8(b)).
The liquid agent tank 51 has a guided portion 511k on at least one of a pair of side wall portions 511j orthogonal to the left-right direction. The guided portion 511k is provided on the side wall portion 511j on the side that is not opposed to the other liquid agent tanks 51A and 51B adjacent in the left and right direction. Note that although the guided portion 511k and the guide portion 562a are each provided at the front portion, they may be provided at other locations as long as they can be guided along the above-mentioned trajectory.

The tank body 511 is moved beyond the positioning state by the positioning section 551f when moving the liquid agent tank 51 in the rear direction relative to the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 in order to accommodate the liquid agent tank 51 in the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55. The side wall portion 511j has a position restricting portion 511m that restricts further rearward movement. Here, the position regulating portion 511m is constituted by a rib portion that protrudes from the side wall portion 511j in the left-right direction and extends in the vertical direction. Note that the position regulating portion 511m approaches or abuts the stepped rib 562b (see (b) of FIG. 7) of the upper wall portion 562 of the liquid agent tank container 55 from the front side.

The tank main body 511 has a partition wall 572 (FIGS. 7 and 8 The rear wall portion 511p has a contact portion 511n that contacts (adjacent to) the rear wall portion 511p. The contact portion 511n is constituted by a convex portion that projects rearward. Thereby, when moving the liquid agent tank 51 in the rear direction with respect to the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 in order to accommodate the liquid agent tank 51 in the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55, it is possible to move the liquid agent tank 51 further backward beyond the positioning state by the positioning section 551f. It is possible to restrict movement to Note that the partition wall portion 572 is a wall portion for partitioning the accommodating portion 551 that accommodates the liquid agent tank 51 and the liquid agent automatic injection means 53.

The tank main body 511 has a positioning part 511q and an engaged part 511r for removably attaching the lid 513 around the opening side end (upper end).

(3-1-2) Connector The opening/closing means 512 is inserted into the protrusion 511b of the tank body 511, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 9(a).
The opening/closing means 512 includes a cylindrical body 512a, a movable body 512b supported within the cylindrical body 512a so as to be movable in the axial direction of the cylinder, and a spring body 512c that biases the movable body 512b toward the outlet 512d of the cylindrical body 512a. have.
The movable body 512b closes the outlet 512d when the liquid tank 51 is removed from the liquid tank housing 55 (not connected to the connecting portion 531e of the cylinder 531), and the liquid tank 51 is not connected to the liquid tank housing 55. In the accommodated state (connected to the connecting portion 531e), the cylinder 531 is pressed by the protruding portion 531f of the connecting portion 531e to open the outlet 512d.
As a result, when the liquid agent tank 51 is housed in the liquid agent tank container 55 (connected to the cylinder 531), the liquid in the liquid agent tank 51 can flow toward the automatic liquid injection means 53 side.

(3-1-3) Lid Body The lid body 513 includes a lid body 513a, a door body 516, and a handle 517, as shown in FIG.
The lid main body 513a has a plate shape, has an opening 513b at the front, and has a recess 513c for accommodating the handle 517 at a portion extending from the center to the rear in the front-rear direction.
The lid body 513a has a positioned portion 513d for the positioning portion 511q of the tank body 511 and an engaging portion 513e for the engaged portion 511r.
Here, the positioning part 511q is constituted by a convex part that protrudes upward, and the positioned part 513d is constituted by a concave part recessed in the left-right direction from both ends in the left-right direction. When the lid body 513 is attached to the tank body 511, the convex portion is inserted (fitted) into the concave portion. Here, the positioned portion 513d and the positioning portion 511q are provided at both left and right end portions on the rear side.
The engaging portion 513e extends downward into a plate shape and is elastically deformable in the front-rear direction. It engages with the engagement portion 511r. The engaging portions 513e are provided at both front and rear ends. Thereby, the lid 513 can be removed and the inside of the tank body 511 can be cleaned, etc. Moreover, the lid body 513 can be firmly attached to the tank body 511.

The lid main body 513a includes a support portion 513f that supports the door body 516 so as to be openable and closable, and a support portion 513g that supports the door body 516 from below. The support portion 513f is constituted by a bearing portion that receives the shaft portion 516b of the door body 516. The shaft portion 516b extends in the left-right direction, and the shaft portion 516b and the support portion 513f (bearing portion) are provided at the rear end portion. A guide groove portion for guiding the shaft portion 516b rearward is provided on the front side of the bearing portion. Thereby, the liquid agent can be replenished into the liquid agent tank 51 without removing the liquid agent tank 51 from the liquid agent tank container 55 (washing machine X).

The lid main body 513a has a support portion 513h that supports the handle 517 so as to be rotatable (up and down). The support portion 513h is constituted by a bearing portion that receives the shaft portion 517b of the handle 517. The shaft portion 517b extends in the front-rear direction, and the shaft portion 517b and the support portion 513h (bearing portion) are provided at both ends of the handle 517 and the recess 513c in the front-rear direction. Thereby, the handle 517 can be accommodated in a space-saving manner. Moreover, the liquid agent tank 51 can be easily taken out from the liquid agent tank container 55 (washing machine X).
Note that the lid 513 has a fitting portion 513j that fits (inserts) into the opening side end of the tank body 511. Thereby, the sealing performance inside the tank can be improved.

(3-1-4) Float As shown in FIG. 8, the float 514 has a main body part 514a, an arm part 514b, and a mounting part 514c, and a detected means 518 (see FIG. 9) is installed in the main body part 514a. It is provided. As a result, when the liquid agent becomes low and the float 514 approaches the bottom wall portion 511a of the tank body 511, it is detected by the detection means 557 (see FIG. 9) provided in the liquid agent tank container 55.
The float 514 is attached to the lid 513 so as to be rotatable about the left-right direction as a rotation axis. The attachment portion 514c is attached to the attached portion 513k of the lid body 513. The attachment part 514c is constituted by a rotation shaft provided in a pair of extension parts of the arm part 514b, and the rotation shaft is rotatably supported by a bearing part (attached part 513k) of the lid body 513a. . The rotation shaft protrudes in a columnar or cylindrical shape from the ends of the pair of extending portions to both sides in the left-right direction. The bearing portion is constituted by a through hole or a recess, and here is constituted by a through hole formed in the plate-shaped rib portion 513m.

(3-1-5) Filter The filter 515 has a plate shape and has a plurality of through holes 515a. The filter 515 is provided so as to cover the opening/closing means 512, as shown in FIG. 9(a). Specifically, as shown in the enlarged view, it is provided so as to straddle the bottom wall portion 511a and the rear wall portion 511s. The rear end portion of the filter 515 is supported by upper and lower support portions 511t and 511u provided on the rear wall portion 511s of the tank body 511. A front end portion of the filter 515 is supported by a support portion 511v of the bottom wall portion 511a of the tank body 511. Thereby, it is possible to prevent dust and the like in the tank from flowing toward the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 side.

(3-2) Liquid agent automatic injection means As shown in FIG. 10, the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 includes a first liquid agent automatic injection means 53A for the first liquid and a second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B for the second liquid. be. The first liquid agent automatic injection means 53A discharges the first liquid sucked from the first liquid agent tank 51A into the water flowing in the upstream channel forming body 166. The second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B discharges the second liquid sucked from the second liquid agent tank 51B into the water flowing in the upstream water channel forming body 166. In this way, the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 functions as a pump.
The first liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and the second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B are configured to be individually controllable by the control unit 18.
The first liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and the second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B are supported by a support 57, and the support 57 is attached to the liquid agent tank container 55, as shown in FIG.
Note that, as shown in FIG. 1, the housing 10 includes an upper door 10b on the top wall portion 10a that allows opening and closing of an opening for taking in and taking out the liquid agent tank 51. The upper door 10b is located above the liquid tank 51 in the accommodated state, and the upper surface of the liquid tank 51 is at an angle of 10 degrees or less with respect to the horizontal direction, and the liquid tank 51 is in the normal position in the insertion/removal direction (in the insertion direction). (back side), the upper door 10b can be closed. In other words, if the upper surface of the liquid agent tank 51 is tilted at a greater angle than a predetermined angle (here, 10 degrees) with respect to the horizontal direction, or if the liquid agent tank 51 is not in the normal position and is in front of the liquid agent tank 51 and the liquid agent tank container 55. When the convex portion 10c of the upper door 19b (see (b) in FIG. 1) does not fit into the gap 564a because there is not a sufficient gap 564a (see (b) in FIG. 9) between the upper door 19b and the wall 564. In this case, the upper door 10b is not closed. Note that the convex portion 10c is recessed, for example, from the surface of the upper door 10b to the back side, and the user uses the recessed portion to open and close the upper door 10b.

Since the first liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and the second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B have substantially the same configuration, they will be described as the liquid agent automatic injection means 53.
As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 includes a cylinder 531 having a liquid suction port and a discharge port, a piston 532 disposed within the cylinder 531, and a piston 532 disposed within the cylinder 531. A reciprocating motor 533 is provided, and the reciprocating movement of a piston 532 sucks and discharges the liquid agent.
Here, the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 includes a base 534 that supports a motor 533 and a cylinder 531, and the base 534 is attached to a support body 57.

(3-2-1) Cylinder As shown in FIG. 11, the cylinder 531 includes a piston accommodating portion 531a that accommodates a piston 532 so as to be able to reciprocate, and a suction path forming portion 531b that forms a suction path for suctioning the liquid agent. and a discharge path configuration portion 531c that configures a discharge path for discharging the liquid agent. The cylinder 531 here has a mounting portion 531d for mounting on the base 534.
The piston accommodating portion 531a is configured so that the piston 532 reciprocates in the horizontal direction. The horizontal direction is a front-back direction, a left-right direction, or a direction intersecting these directions. Here, the piston 532 reciprocates in the front-rear direction, and the piston accommodating portion 531a has a cylindrical shape with a cylinder axis parallel to the front-rear direction. Note that the inner peripheral surface shape of the cross section of the piston housing portion 531a is circular.

The suction path forming portion 531b has a cylindrical shape, and is provided so that its cylindrical axis extends parallel to the cylindrical axis of the piston accommodating portion 531a. The suction path forming part 531b is provided on the front side of the piston accommodating part 531a.
The upstream end (front end) of the suction path forming part 531b is a connecting part 531e that is removably connected to the protruding part 511b of the liquid agent tank 51. The connecting portion 531e fits within the protruding portion 511b. The connecting portion 531e is provided with a packing 537 for improving the sealing performance with the protruding portion 511b.
As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 9(a) and FIG. 12, the connecting portion 531e is formed with a protruding portion 531f that protrudes forward and a support portion 531g that supports the protruding portion 531f. The protruding portion 531f pushes the movable body 512b of the opening/closing means 512 of the liquid agent tank 51 when the liquid agent tank 51 is accommodated in the liquid agent tank housing body 55. As a result, the opening/closing means 512 becomes open, and the liquid in the tank can be sucked into the automatic liquid injection means 53 side.
Note that the support portions 531g are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction, and the liquid agent flows through a space 531h (see (b) and (c) in FIG. 12) between adjacent support portions 531g.

The discharge path forming part 531c has a cylindrical shape and is formed in a state in which it communicates with the suction path forming part 531b. The discharge passage forming part 531c is provided so as to extend such that its cylindrical axis intersects with the suction passage forming part 531b. Here, the cylindrical axis of the discharge path forming part 531c is perpendicular to the direction parallel to the cylindrical axis of the suction path forming part 531b. In other words, when viewed from above, it has a "T" shape. The cylindrical axis of the discharge path forming part 531c is shifted in the vertical direction with respect to the cylindrical axis of the suction path forming part 531b and the piston accommodating part 531a. That is, the cylindrical axis of the discharge path forming part 531c is configured not to intersect with the cylindrical axis of the suction path forming part 531b or the piston accommodating part 531a.

As shown in FIG. 12, the cylinder 531 connects the suction side opening/closing means 535 to the suction path forming part 531b, which becomes open when the piston 532 moves backward (suction) and closes when the piston 532 moves forward (discharge). provided at the upstream end of the The cylinder 531 is provided with a discharge side opening/closing means 536 at the downstream end of the discharge path forming part 531c, which becomes open when the piston 532 moves forward (discharges) and closes when the piston 532 moves backwards (suction). .
As a result, when the piston 532 moves backward (suctions), the suction-side opening/closing means 535 becomes open, and the discharge-side opening/closing means 536 becomes closed, so that the liquid agent is sucked into the cylinder 531. Conversely, when the piston 532 moves forward (discharges), the suction side opening/closing means 535 is closed, and the discharge side opening/closing means 536 is opened, so that the liquid agent is discharged from the cylinder 531. Note that the upstream end opening (opening of the connecting portion 531e) of the suction path forming portion 531b of the cylinder 531 constitutes a suction port, and the end portion constitutes a suction portion. Further, the downstream end opening of the discharge path forming portion 531c constitutes a discharge port, and the end portion constitutes a discharge portion.

(3-2-2) Piston As shown in FIG. 12(a), the piston 532 includes a piston body 532a and a converter 532b that converts the rotational drive of the motor 533 into reciprocating linear drive. The reciprocating motion here is a linear motion, and reciprocating in the front and back direction.
The conversion section 532b utilizes a Scotch yoke mechanism and is configured by a groove-shaped slot that accommodates a drive transmission section 578a (see FIG. 11) on the motor 533 side. The slot extends in a direction perpendicular to the reciprocating motion of piston 532.
The piston 532 has a convex portion 532c that moves within a groove portion 531j extending in the front-rear direction of the cylinder 531. This allows the piston 532 to reciprocate smoothly.

(3-2-3) Motor As shown in FIG. 11, the motor 533 includes a drive transmission member 578 that transmits the drive that causes the piston 532 to reciprocate. The drive transmission member 578 converts the rotational driving force of the motor 533 into linear driving force using a Scotch yoke mechanism, and causes the piston 532 to move linearly. The drive transmission member 578 here has a cylindrical shape with a bottom, and has a drive transmission portion 578a at a position eccentric to the drive shaft 533a of the motor 533. The drive transmission section 578a is composed of a cylindrical pin that projects downward. The drive transmission member 578 is rotatably attached to the drive shaft 533a of the motor 533 with a screw 579d.

(3-2-4) Base As shown in FIG. 11, the base 534 includes a through hole 534a for the drive shaft 533a of the motor 533, a recess 534b for positioning the cylinder 531, and a mounting tool for attaching the cylinder 531. Through hole 534c for screw) 579a, mounting tool for attaching motor 533 (
It has a boss portion 534d having a screw hole for a screw) 579b, a mounting portion (engaging portion) 534e for attaching the base 534 to the support body 57, and the like. Note that the convex portion 531k of the cylinder 531 fits into the concave portion 534b.

(3-3) Support The support 57 includes a support portion that supports the automatic liquid agent injection means 53 and a partition provided at the front end of the support portion. The support portion is configured by, for example, a plate-shaped support wall portion 571. The partition is configured by, for example, a plate-shaped partition wall 572. Note that the partition wall portion 572 is also a front wall portion.
The partition wall portion 572 partitions the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 side and the liquid agent tank 51 side when the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 and the liquid agent tank 51 are arranged in the liquid agent tank storage body 55. This can prevent the liquid from adhering to electrical equipment such as the motor 533.
The support body 57 has a side wall portion 573 that is perpendicular to the left-right direction and connects to both left and right ends of the support wall portion 571 and the partition wall portion 572.

(3-3-1) Support Wall Part The support wall part 571 supports the two liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and 53B in the left-right direction, and has a rectangular shape or a shape similar to a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction. The support body 57 supports the through hole 571a and the chipped portion 571b so that the motor 533 of the automatic liquid injection means 53 is located above the support wall portion 571, and the cylinder 531 is located below the support wall portion 571. It is included in the wall portion 571.
The liquid agent automatic injection means 53 is attached with the base 534 in contact with the support body 57 from below the support wall portion 571 . At least one of an engagement structure and a threaded structure using screws is used for attachment.
In the engagement structure, the engagement portion 534e of the base 534 of the automatic liquid injection means 53 engages with the through hole 571a of the support wall portion 571 and the peripheral portion of the notch portion 571b. In one of the screwing structures, a screw (not shown) is inserted from above through the through hole 571c of the support wall portion 571 and is screwed into the screw hole of the boss portion 534f of the automatic liquid agent injection means 53. One of the screwing structures is that a screw (not shown) is inserted from the front through the through hole 572c of the lower protruding portion 572b of the partition wall 572 and is screwed into the screw hole 534g of the automatic liquid injection means 53. As shown in FIG. 13(a), has a through hole 571d for the input channel forming body 168 that constitutes a part of the upstream channel forming body 166.

(3-3-2) Partition Wall Part The partition wall part 572 has a plate-shaped part 572a orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The plate-like portion 572a extends vertically from the front end of the support wall portion 571. The partition wall portion 572 has an attachment portion for attaching the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 on the lower side of the plate-like portion 572a. The attachment portion includes a projecting portion 572b extending downward from the lower end of the plate-like portion 572a, and a through hole 572c provided in the projecting portion 572b. A screw inserted through the through hole 572c is screwed into a screw hole 534g of the base 534 of the automatic liquid agent injection means 53.

The partition wall portion 572 has an abutting portion 572d that abuts the upper surface of the cylinder 531 of the automatic liquid injection means 53 on the lower side of the plate-like portion 572a. The contact portion 572d has an arc shape corresponding to the cylindrical cylinder 531. Thereby, the cylinder 531 can be supported in a positioned state, and when the cylinder 531 is connected to the liquid agent tank 51, it is possible to prevent the cylinder 531 from shifting in the left-right direction.

When the liquid agent tank 51 is set, the partition wall portion 572 contacts or comes close to the contact portion 511n (see FIG. 8(b)) of the liquid agent tank 51. The partition wall portion 572 has a surrounding portion 572e surrounding the contact portion 511n of the liquid agent tank 51 in a plate-like portion 572a. The surrounding portion 572e is constituted by a protruding portion that protrudes to the front side, and has a shape corresponding to the outer circumferential shape of the abutment portion 511n, here a rectangular annular shape. Thereby, the liquid agent tank 51 can be positioned.
Note that the surrounding portion 572e has a guide portion 572f that guides the approach of the contact portion 511n. The guide portion 572f protrudes forward in a triangular shape and is formed on a plurality of sides of the lower side and left and right sides of the rectangular surrounding portion 572e.

The support body 57 has a fitting portion 574 that fits into the rear end portion (see FIG. 13) of the upper wall portion 562 of the liquid agent tank storage body 55. The fitting portion 574 is constituted by a groove portion into which the upper wall portion 562 of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 is inserted. The groove portion includes both left and right ends of the partition wall 572, vertical rib portions 572g formed inside both left and right ends of the partition wall 572, and a rear end of the side wall 573. As a result, the support body 57 is attached to the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 while being positioned in the left-right direction, and the contact portion 511n of the liquid agent tank 51 is prevented from fitting with the surrounding portion 572e due to misalignment. can be prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the liquid agent tank 51 from being unable to connect to the connecting portion 531e of the cylinder 531.

(4) Liquid agent tank housing body As shown in FIG. It has a downstream side waterway forming part 555 that forms a middle side waterway 605 and a lower side waterway 608 (see FIGS. 7 and 17) for causing the liquid agent discharged from the tank 51 to flow out of the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 together with water.
Here, the downstream water channel forming portion 555 extends in the left-right direction, and the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 includes a containing portion 551, a downstream water channel forming portion 555, and a support portion 553 in this order from the front side.
The liquid agent tank storage body 55 includes a bottom wall portion 561, an upper wall portion 562 extending upward from both left and right ends of the bottom wall portion 561, and a top wall portion 562 that is continuous with the upper wall portion 562 and extends downward from both left and right ends of the bottom wall portion 561. a lower wall portion 563 extending upward from the front end of the bottom wall portion 561 to connect the pair of upper wall portions 562; and a rear wall portion 565 extending downward from the rear end of the bottom wall portion 561. (See FIG. 13).
The accommodating portion 551 includes a support that supports the front side of the bottom wall portion 561 (the portion in front of the downstream water channel forming portion 555), a pair of upper wall portions 562, a front wall portion 564, and the automatic liquid injection means 53. It is composed of a partition wall portion (front wall portion) 572 of the body 57, and when viewed from above, it has a square shape or a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction.
The support portion 553 is mainly formed on the rear side of the bottom wall portion 561 (the portion rearward of the downstream water channel forming portion 555), and has a rectangular shape or a rectangular shape long in the left-right direction when viewed from above.

(4-1) Accommodating Part The liquid agent tank 51 is inserted into and accommodated in the accommodating part 551 from above on the front side.
The portion of the bottom wall portion 561 corresponding to the storage portion 551 (also referred to as the bottom wall portion 561 of the storage portion 551) is configured such that its upper surface (accommodation surface) is lower on the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 (cylinder 531) side. has been done. In other words, the water and liquid agent on the bottom wall portion 561 of the accommodating portion 551 are configured to flow toward the rear (downstream channel forming portion 555). Thereby, it is possible to suppress water and liquid from accumulating on the bottom wall portion 561.

(4-1-1) Bottom Wall Portion As shown in FIG. 7, the bottom wall portion 561 of the accommodating portion 551 has a first convex portion 551b for holding the liquid agent tank 51 in a state where the top surface is horizontal. ing. This can prevent the liquid agent tank 51 from interfering with the upper door 10b of the housing 10. In other words, the first convex portion 551b has a function of maintaining a constant posture so that the liquid agent tank 51 placed on the inclined bottom wall portion 561 of the storage portion 551 does not interfere with the upper door 10b. The first convex portion 551b is located between the two liquid agent tanks 51A and 51B, and is located at both ends in the front-rear direction.
The bottom wall portion 561 of the accommodating portion 551 has a second convex portion 551k (see (a) of FIG. 13) for holding the liquid agent tank 51 in a state where the upper surface is horizontal. This can prevent the liquid agent tank 51 from interfering with the upper door 10b of the housing 10. The second convex portion 551k is an end portion of the two liquid agent tanks 51A, 51B on the opposite side (outer side) to the side where the other liquid agent tanks 51A, 51B are present in the left-right direction, and is on the extraction side (in the insertion/extraction direction). on the front). The second convex portion 551k supports the liquid agent tanks 51A and 51B with a stepped rib 562b (described later) provided on the insertion side (rear side) in the insertion/extraction direction, but the second convex portion 551k and the stepped rib 562b The positions in the insertion/extraction direction may be reversed.
Note that the "first" and "second" of the first convex portion 551b and the second convex portion 551k are used to distinguish between the two convex portions, and are different from the "first" of the first liquid agent and the second liquid agent. It is different from "second".

As shown in FIG. 7, the bottom wall portion 561 of the storage portion 551 has a bulging portion 551a that bulges out to be close to the bottom wall portion 511a of the liquid agent tank 51 in the storage state. There are two bulging portions 551a corresponding to the liquid agent tanks 51A and 51B, and they are located in the left-right direction (arrangement direction).
The two bulging portions 551a are spaced from each other in the left-right direction, and the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 passes between them. Further, the bulging portion 551a on the side of the first liquid agent tank 51A is provided apart from the upper wall portion 562 facing the first liquid agent tank 51A, and the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51A passes therebetween. In other words, the bulging portion 551a also functions as a guide portion when housing the liquid agent tank 51.
As shown in FIG. 9, the liquid agent tank container 55 is provided with a detection means 557 that detects the amount of liquid in the liquid agent tank 51 using a bulging portion 551a. Here, it is provided on the lower surface (the surface opposite to the accommodation surface) of the bulging portion 551a.
Specifically, the detection means 557 detects the detected means 518 of the float 514 in the liquid agent tank 51 . A magnet can be used as an example of the detection means 518, and a magnetic sensor (for example, a reed sensor) can be used as an example of the detection means 557. Due to the bulging portion 551a, even if the liquid agent tank 51 is accommodated in a state separated from the bottom wall portion 561 by the first convex portion 551b and the second convex portion 551k, the distance between the detection means 518 and the detection means 557 is close. Therefore, detection sensitivity can be increased.
Note that when the liquid in the liquid agent tank 51 decreases, the float 514 is lowered, and the detection means 557 detects the detected means 518, the control unit 18 causes the display unit 171 of the operation unit 17 (see (b) in FIG. 1) to to notify the user that the liquid needs to be refilled. Note that an example of the display section 171 is an LED.

The bottom wall portion 561 of the accommodating portion 551 has a stretched plate portion 551c extending upward between the first liquid agent tank 51A and the second liquid agent tank 51B adjacent to each other on the left and right sides. Thereby, the left and right first liquid agent tanks 51A and second liquid agent tanks 51B are positioned. The stretched plate portions 551c are located at two locations on both ends of the liquid agent tank 51 in the longitudinal direction (back and forth direction). Thereby, the first liquid agent tank 51A and the second liquid agent tank 51B are positioned. Note that the stretched plate portion 551c is provided on the first convex portion 551b.

The bottom wall portion 561 of the accommodating portion 551 has a concave portion 551d at the rear end that is recessed downward and extends in the front-rear direction. The recessed portion 551d is provided corresponding to the protruding portion 511b of the bottom wall portion 511a of the liquid agent tank 51. That is, the recessed portion 551d is for the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51. As shown in FIG. 9(a), the recessed portion 551d has a front end region that is a sloped surface (slanted wall portion) 551j that rises forward, and a rear end that is connected to the downstream water channel forming portion 555 and opened. are doing. As shown in FIG. 13, this open portion becomes a communication portion 551m that communicates with the middle water channel 605 and the lower water channel 608 of the liquid agent side water supply channel 60.
The recessed portion 551d and the liquid agent tank 51 are configured so that the recessed portion 551d does not come into contact with the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 on the communication portion 551m side when the liquid agent tank 51 is accommodated in the housing portion 551. That is, a gap 551n (see the enlarged view of FIG. 9(a)) exists between the concave portion 551d and the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51. As a result, the liquid and water that have flowed into the recessed portion 551d are not restricted from flowing toward the communication portion 551m.

As shown in FIG. 13, the bottom wall portion 561 of the accommodating portion 551 has a standing wall portion 551e extending upward and forming the upper part of the downstream water channel forming portion 555 at the rear end. Thereby, when water or water containing a liquid agent is present on the bottom wall portion 561 of the storage portion 551, it does not flow into the middle water channel 605 or the lower water channel 608 from a portion other than the communication portion 551m.
The standing wall portion 551e is located below the partition wall portion 572 of the support body 57, and together with the partition wall portion 572 constitutes a partition wall. From this viewpoint, the partition wall portion 572 of the support body 57 can be said to be an upper partition wall portion, and the standing wall portion 551e of the liquid agent tank container 55 can be said to be a lower partition wall portion. Note that the standing wall portion 551e is missing a portion corresponding to the recessed portion 551d. Thereby, a communicating portion 551m is formed.

The liquid agent tank housing body 55 has a positioning portion 551f for positioning the liquid agent tank 51 on the bottom wall portion 561. As shown in FIG. 14(a), the positioning portion 551f is configured by a snap fit having a pair of ribs 551g. The rib 551g stands upright from the bottom wall portion 561 and extends in the front-back direction, and on its opposing surface, the center portion 551h in the front-back direction bulges toward the other rib 551g.
When housing the liquid agent tank 51, the pair of ribs 551g are elastically deformed in the direction of separation, and the cylindrical convex portion, which is an example of the positioned portion 511f of the liquid agent tank 51, enters from the front side to the rear side. . Further entry to the rear side is regulated by the front ends of the pair of ribs 551g coming into contact with the position regulating portion 511g of the liquid agent tank 51.

(4-1-2) Side wall portion As shown in FIG. 7(b), the liquid tank accommodating body 55 guides the liquid tank 51 to the storage position when accommodating the liquid tank 51 facing in the left-right direction. The pair of upper side wall portions 562 have guide portions 562a that act as guide portions 562a. The guide portion 562a guides the liquid agent tank 51 to move backward after moving from the rear to the front.
The guide portion 562a is constituted by a convex portion that protrudes from the pair of upper wall portions 562 toward the liquid agent tank 51 side. The guide portion 562a guides the liquid agent tank 51 to the storage position by coming into contact with the guided portion 511k (see (b) of FIG. 8) protruding from the side wall portion 511j of the liquid agent tank 51.
The guide portion 562a is provided so as to come into contact with the guided portion 511k of the liquid agent tank 51 when the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 is inserted into the recessed portion 551d of the accommodating portion 551 from above. This can prevent the protruding portion 531f of the cylinder 531 of the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 on the suction port side from interfering with the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 and being damaged when the liquid agent tank 51 is accommodated.
As shown in FIG. 16, the guide portion 562a has, as an upper surface, an inclined surface 562c that moves forward as it moves downward. This allows the guided portion 511k of the liquid agent tank 51 to easily move forward along the inclined surface. The guide portion 562a has a horizontal surface 562d extending in the insertion/extraction direction as a lower surface. Accordingly, when the liquid agent tank 51 attempts to move upward when moving the liquid agent tank 51 in the insertion direction of the insertion/removal direction, the guided portion 511k of the liquid agent tank 51 comes into contact with the guide portion 562a. In other words, the liquid agent tank 51 can be easily moved in the insertion direction. Moreover, by moving the liquid agent tank 51 in the insertion direction while bringing the guided portion 511k of the liquid agent tank 51 into contact with the guide portion 562a, the liquid agent tank 51 can be guided to a proper position in the insertion direction.
Note that the operation at the time of accommodation will be described later.

The upper wall portion 562 has a stepped rib 562b extending over the bottom wall portion 561 for holding (supporting) the liquid agent tank 51 in a state where the upper surface is horizontal. This can prevent the liquid agent tank 51 from interfering with the upper door 10b of the housing 10.
Note that the stepped rib 562b and the second convex portion 551k are located in the front-rear direction as shown in FIG. 13(a), and there are two first convex portions 551b spaced apart in the front-rear direction. These may be located below the box-shaped liquid agent tank 51, and may hold the liquid agent tank 51.

(4-1-3) Front Wall Section The front wall section 564 has the following functions as shown in FIG. A gap 564a is formed between the front end of the liquid agent tank 51 and the front end of the liquid agent tank 51. This gap 564a is configured such that the front end of the liquid agent tank 51 and the front wall portion 564 are close to or in contact with each other when the guided portion 511k of the liquid agent tank 51 is located in front of the guide portion 562a of the storage portion 551. There is. Thereby, the liquid agent tank 51 can be accommodated while suppressing the dimensions in the front-rear direction. Further, the gap 564a when the liquid agent tank 51 is at the normal position on the insertion side in the insertion/extraction direction is large enough to fit the convex portion 10c of the upper door 10b of the housing 10 (see (b) in FIG. 1).

(4-2) Support portion As shown in FIG. 13, the portion of the bottom wall portion 561 corresponding to the support portion 553 (also referred to as the bottom wall portion 561 of the support portion 553) is recessed downward and extends in the front-rear direction. It has a recessed portion 553a. The recessed portion 553a is provided corresponding to the piston accommodating portion 531a and the piston 532 of the cylinder 531 of the automatic liquid agent injection means 53, as shown in FIG. 14(b). That is, the recessed portion 553a is for the cylinder 531 and the piston 532.
The bottom wall portion 561 of the support portion 553 has an upright wall portion 553b extending upward and forming the upper part of the downstream water channel forming portion 555 at the front end. Note that the standing wall portion 553b is missing a portion corresponding to the recessed portion 553a.

(4-3) Lower water channel forming portion As shown in FIG. 13, the downstream water channel forming portion 555 is provided between the accommodating portion 551 and the support portion 553 in the front-rear direction and recessed downward. There is. Thereby, even if a liquid agent or water exists on the bottom wall portion 561 of the accommodating portion 551, there is no fear that the liquid agent or water will flow from the accommodating portion 551 to the support portion 553 side. Therefore, electrical components and electrical equipment can be installed on the support portion 553 side.
The downstream water channel forming portion 555 has a groove portion 555a and a cylindrical portion 555b. The downstream water channel forming portion 555 forms the middle water channel 605 and the lower water channel 608 of the lower water supply channel 602, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 17.
As shown in FIGS. 14(a) and 15, the groove portion 555a is located below the first input channel forming body 168A and the second input channel forming body 168B. That is, as shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 15, the groove portion 555a is a lower portion located below the lower opening of the input channel portion 168a that extends vertically. As a result, water flowing or dripping from the input channel section 168a or water containing a liquid agent can be received, and a connection section connecting the input channel section 168a and the downstream channel forming section 555 is not required. In addition, the downstream water channel forming portion 555 is formed into a groove portion 555a, so that even if the liquid agent or water flows from the accommodating portion 551 side in normal use, it does not flow out to the supporting portion 553 side.

The groove portion 555a extends in the left-right direction, which is the direction in which the first input channel forming body 168A and the second input channel forming body 168B are arranged side by side. Thereby, the length of the groove portion 555a can be shortened, and the weight of the liquid agent tank container 55 can be reduced.
As shown in FIG. 14(a), part or all of the discharge path forming portion 531c of the cylinder 531 of the automatic liquid agent injection means 53 fits into the groove portion 555a from above. Thereby, in a state in which the cylinder 531 is supported by the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55, the vertical dimension can be reduced. Furthermore, the position of the cylinder 531 is regulated by the groove portion 555a.
The bottom portion of the groove portion 555a has a semicircular (half cylinder) shape, as shown in FIG. 14(b). As shown in FIG. 15, the groove portion 555a is sloped such that the bottom portion thereof decreases downward as it progresses from the upstream side to the downstream side.
The cylindrical portion 555b extends downward from the downstream end of the groove portion 555a. Here, it is extended from one end (left end) in the left-right direction. A connecting body 252 for connecting to the detergent injection unit 30 is connected to the cylindrical portion 555b (see FIG. 5).

(5) Upstream channel forming body The upstream channel forming body 166 includes a connecting body 167 that connects to the water receiving unit 16 and an input channel forming body 168 that is connected to the connecting body 167, as shown in FIG. . The input channel forming body 168 includes a first input channel forming body 168A connected to the first liquid agent automatic input means 53A, and a second input channel forming body 168B connected to the second liquid agent automatic input means 53B. The liquid agent is discharged (injected) from the cylinder 531 of the automatic liquid agent injection means 53 into the water flowing in the input channel forming body 168 .
The upstream water channel forming body 166 is disposed on the downstream water channel forming portion 555 in a portion that vertically overlaps with the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 . Thereby, even if water leaks from the upstream water channel forming body 166, the water flows to the middle water channel 605 and the lower water channel 608. Furthermore, the space above the downstream waterway forming portion 555 can be used effectively.

(5-1) Connecting Body The connecting body 167 is a cylindrical body having a water channel part 167a and a connecting part 167b that connects to the input channel forming body 168, as shown in FIG. Although the shape of the connecting body 167 is not particularly limited, here, it is shaped like an "L", and in order to connect to the two input channel forming bodies 168A, 168B, the two "L" shapes are connected to the left and right sides. It has a shape that looks like it is overlapped in the direction.
As shown in FIG. 17, the connecting body 167 forms a part of the front side waterway 606 of the upper water supply waterway 601 and the rear side waterway 607 when it branches into two input waterway forming bodies 168A and 168B.
The connecting body 167 has a cylindrical shape, as shown in FIG. 15, and can be made of, for example, a pipe, a hose, etc. made of a resin material, a rubber material, or the like.

The water channel portion 167a has a straight pipe shape. Here, the water channel portion 167a is arranged horizontally. More specifically, the water channel portion 167a is arranged to extend in the left-right direction.
A first connecting portion 167Ab for the first input channel forming body 168A is provided at the downstream end of the water channel portion 167a, and a second connecting portion 167Bb for the second input channel forming body 168B is provided upstream of the downstream end. ing.
In the connecting body 167, the cross-sectional area of the internal space between the first connecting part 167Ab and the second connecting part 167Bb in the water channel part 167a is larger than other parts (for example, the inlet side of the upstream water channel forming body 166). It has a smaller diameter portion 167c.
As shown in FIG. 15, the small diameter portion 167c has a small inner diameter. The small diameter portion 167c is provided at a location closer to the first connecting portion 167Ab on the downstream side than the second connecting portion 167Bb. More specifically, the small diameter portion 167c is provided adjacent to or close to the first connecting portion 167Ab.

If there is no need to distinguish between the first connecting portion 167Ab and the second connecting portion 167Bb, they will be referred to as the connecting portion 167b.
The connecting portion 167b is provided to intersect with the water channel portion 167a. Here, the connecting portion 167b is provided perpendicularly to the water channel portion 167a. In other words, the connecting portion 167b is provided so as to extend downward. Thereby, the water in the upstream channel forming body 166 flows smoothly.
The connecting portion 167b here is connected to the input channel forming body 168 in a state in which the upstream end of the input channel forming body 168 is inserted therein.

(5-2) Input channel forming body The first input channel forming body 168A and the second input channel forming body 168B have substantially the same configuration, and therefore will be described as the input channel forming body 168.
As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 15, the input channel forming body 168 includes an input channel section 168a and a connecting section 168b that connects the input channel section 168a and the cylinder 531 of the automatic liquid agent input means 53. The upstream end of the input waterway section 168a is connected to the connection section 167b of the connection body 167. An end of the connecting portion 168b on the opposite side from the input channel portion 168a is connected to an end on the discharge port side of the cylinder 531. From this point of view, the connecting portion 167b can be said to be a communication portion that allows the liquid agent side supply channel 60 (input channel) and the cylinder 531 to communicate with each other.
The input channel portion 168a extends downward and is inserted through the through hole 571d (see (a) in FIG. 13) of the support body 57 of the automatic liquid agent input means 53, so that its tip (lower end) is connected to the downstream side channel forming portion. Located within 555. As a result, water flowing out from the input channel portion 168a flows to the downstream channel forming portion 555. Moreover, the water flowing out from the input channel portion 168a naturally flows toward the downstream channel forming portion 555 due to gravity.
As shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, the input waterway portion 168a forms a rear waterway 607 of the water supply waterway 601 by a portion upstream from the connection portion 168b, and forms a rear waterway 607 of the water supply waterway 602 by a portion downstream from the connection portion 168b. An upper water channel 604 is formed. Further, the connecting portion 168b forms a communicating waterway 61.

The connecting portion 168b is connected to the input waterway portion 168a in a state of crossing. Here, the connecting portion 168b is connected perpendicularly to the input water channel portion 168a. As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 15, the connecting portion 168b has a double cylindrical shape extending in the horizontal direction, and the horizontally extending discharge passage forming portion 531c of the cylinder 531 is inserted therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 10, the input channel forming body 168 and the cylinder 531 have a fixing portion that fixes their connection state. For fixing here, an engagement structure consisting of an engaging part and an engaged part is utilized. The cylinder 531 has a convex portion 531m, and the input channel forming body 168 (connection portion 168b) has a concave portion or a through groove portion 168c. The convex portion 531m has a rib shape that projects radially outward from the outer peripheral surface and extends in the circumferential direction. The through groove portion 168c is provided along the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder portion 168d of the connecting portion 168b. The input channel forming body 168 (connecting portion 168b) has a bulging portion 168e that guides the convex portion 531m to the through groove portion 168c when connecting to the cylinder 531.
When connecting the input channel forming body 168 to the cylinder 531, after inserting the convex portion 531m of the cylinder 531 from the bulging portion 168e of the connecting portion 168b to the through groove portion 168c in the cylinder axis direction of the connecting portion 168b, By rotating around the cylinder axis, the convex portion 531m engages with the through groove portion 168c.
Note that the input channel forming body 168 has a fixing portion 168f for fixing the upstream side channel forming body 166 to the base 534 of the automatic liquid agent injection means 53, as shown in FIG. The fixing portion 168f has a through hole 168g in an overhanging portion provided in the outer cylinder portion 168d of the connecting portion 168b. A screw 579e inserted through the through hole 168g is screwed into a screw hole 534h (see FIG. 11(b)) of a boss formed in the base 534 of the automatic liquid injection means 53.
Note that, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 17, the inner cylindrical portion 168h of the connecting portion 168b is a communication channel that forms a communication channel 61 in which water from the rear channel 607 flows toward the cylinder 531 and then returns to the upper channel 604. It is also a waterway forming part.

As shown in the enlarged view of FIG. 15, the input channel forming body 168 connects the input channel section 168a and the connecting section 168b with the water flowing through the input channel section 168a to the connecting section (communication section) 168b. It has a guide portion 168j that guides inward. The guide portion 168j here is provided on the inner surface of the input waterway portion 168a facing the connection portion 168b, and extends in a plate shape (rib shape) toward the connection portion 168b. In this way, the guide portion 168j guides the water flowing in the input waterway portion 168a toward the cylinder 531 side. Therefore, the guide portion 168j can also be said to be a narrow portion that narrows the water channel flowing within the input water channel portion 168a.
The guide portion 168j extends to a position that is the diameter of the input channel portion 168a and perpendicular to the connecting portion 168b. That is, when viewed from the top and bottom, the side of the cylindrical input channel portion 168a opposite to the connecting portion 168b is closed, and a semicircular opening exists on the connecting portion 168b side. Further, the guide portion 168j is provided on an extension of the cylindrical shaft of the connecting portion 168b. The guide portion 168j is provided so as to extend in a direction perpendicular to the water channel flowing within the input water channel portion 168 (in this case, in a substantially horizontal direction).

3. Accommodation of the liquid agent tank will be explained using FIG. 16. Note that FIG. 16 shows a case in which the liquid agent tank 51 is accommodated (attached), and when the liquid agent tank 51 is to be taken out, it is sufficient to perform the reverse of the case in which the liquid agent tank 51 is accommodated.
Here, a cross-sectional view of the guide portion 562a of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 will be described so that the engagement relationship between the guide portion 562a of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 and the guided portion 511k of the liquid agent tank 51 can be understood.

(1) Insert the rear end portion (protruding portion 511b) of the liquid agent tank 51 to the back side along the bottom wall portion 561 of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55. At this time, when trying to place the protruding part 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 in the recessed part 551d of the bottom wall part 561 of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 from above, as shown in FIG. The portion 511k abuts against the guide portion 562a of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55. Thereby, the protruding portion 531f of the cylinder 531 of the automatic liquid injection means 53 disposed in the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 does not interfere with the liquid agent tank 51, and damage to the protruding portion 531f can be prevented.
(2) When storing the liquid agent tank 51, if the rear end of the liquid agent tank 51 is inserted to the back side along the bottom wall portion 561 of the liquid agent tank housing body 55, the liquid agent tank 51 will be inserted into the liquid agent tank as shown in FIG. 16(a). The guided portion 511k of 51 abuts against the guide portion 562a of the liquid agent tank container 55.
In this state, as shown in the enlarged view, there is little risk that the protruding portion 531f of the cylinder 531 of the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 will enter the rear end opening (connection portion) of the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 and be damaged. .
Then, the liquid agent tank 51 is moved forward with the guided portion 511k in contact with or close to the slope 562c located on the upper surface of the guide portion 562a.

(3) When the guided portion 511k is located in front of the guide portion 562a as shown in FIG. 16(b) due to the movement of the liquid tank 51 to the front side, the front portion of the liquid tank 51 is moved downward as it is. let Even in this state, the protruding portion 531f of the cylinder 531 of the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 does not interfere with the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51, as shown in the enlarged view.
(4) When the front portion of the liquid agent tank 51 is moved downward, the front portion of the liquid agent tank 51 is supported by the first convex portion 551b of the bottom wall portion 561 of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55. Then, while maintaining the supported state, the liquid agent tank 51 is moved to the front side. At this time, since the insertion side portion of the guided portion 511k has a pointed shape (the insertion side is pointed when viewed from the direction perpendicular to the movement direction (insertion direction)), You can move smoothly. Further, the upper surface of the guided portion 511k is close to or in contact with the horizontal surface 562d located on the lower surface of the guide portion 562a, and can restrict upward movement of the liquid agent tank 51.
(5) When the liquid agent tank 51 is moved to the rear side, the connecting portion 531e of the cylinder 531 enters into the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51, and the connecting portion 531e of the cylinder 531 of the automatic liquid injection means 53 enters the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51. It is connected to the connecting portion 511d on the rear end side. As a result, the attachment of the liquid agent tank 51 is completed, and the opening/closing means 512 in the protrusion 511b opens the outlet.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the embodiment is not limited to this embodiment, and, for example, the following modifications may be made. Further, the embodiment and a modification example, or a combination of the modification examples may be used.
Furthermore, even if there are examples not described in the embodiments or modified examples, or there are design changes within a range that does not depart from the gist, they are included in the present invention.

<Modified example>
(1) Although the liquid agent tank 51 had the door body 516 on the lid body 513 that allows the opening 513b to be opened and closed, the lid body does not need to have an opening. In this case, the liquid agent tank must be removed from the washing machine, the lid removed, and the liquid agent refilled. Note that it is more convenient to be able to replenish the liquid agent depending on the open state of the door body, since there is no need to take out the liquid agent tank each time the liquid agent is refilled.
(2) Although the opening 513b of the lid 513 is used to replenish the liquid in the liquid tank 51, the liquid may be refilled by, for example, bringing the liquid container into contact with the door. In this case, as shown in FIG. 18, a guide portion 1516a may be provided to guide the liquid supplied to the back surface of the door body 1516 into the tank body in the open state with the back surface of the door body 1516 facing upward. The guide portion 1516a here is constituted by a pair of ribs, and is provided so that the distance between the pair of ribs decreases as it moves downward.

(3) The liquid agent tank 51 was equipped with a float 514 that was rotatably supported and moved up and down depending on the liquid level. The detected means 518 may be provided within the float. Note that the accommodating portion has a groove, a notch, a hole, etc. into which the liquid agent enters.
(4) Although the liquid agent tank 51 is provided with the filter 515 so as to cover the connecting portion 511d of the protruding portion 511b, a filter may be provided in the opening portion 513b of the lid body 513.

(5) Although the liquid agent tank 51 had the connecting portion 511d within the downwardly projecting protruding portion 511b, the connecting portion may be provided in a protruding portion that protrudes rearward from the rear wall portion, for example. Further, the connecting portion 511d of the liquid agent tank 51 is connected to the connecting portion 531e of the cylinder 531 inserted into the protruding portion 511b, but the connecting portion of the liquid agent tank is inserted into the cylindrical portion of the cylinder and connected to the connecting portion of the cylinder. You can do it like this. The connecting portion 511d of the liquid agent tank 51 is configured to face rearward in the front-rear direction, but may also face downward. In this case, the liquid agent tank is accommodated in the liquid agent tank container by moving the tank up and down.
(6) Although the handle 517 of the liquid agent tank 51 extends along the insertion/removal direction (front/rear direction) in which the liquid agent tank 51 is moved when it is housed, it may extend in a direction intersecting the insertion/removal direction. Note that, considering the insertion/extraction operation, it is more convenient to extend in the same direction as the insertion/extraction direction.

(7) The liquid agent automatic injection means 53 has a suction port for sucking the liquid from the liquid agent tank 51 and a discharge port for discharging the liquid, and only needs to be able to perform suction and discharge according to instructions from the control unit, and is configured to include a cylinder and a piston. Other pumps may be used, such as gear pumps, screw pumps, etc.
(8) The cylinder 531 of the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 includes a piston accommodating portion 531a and a suction path forming portion 531b in a straight line, and the discharge path forming portion 531c is perpendicular to this straight line, but other structures may be used. It may be. In other words, the cylinder 531 only needs to be capable of suctioning and discharging the liquid agent through the operation of the piston, and the direction in which the piston accommodating portion 531a and the suction path forming portion 531b are lined up may coincide with the insertion/removal direction of the liquid agent tank 51. It doesn't have to match. Further, the reciprocating motion of the piston 532 may be other than the front-back direction, for example, the reciprocating motion may be in the up-down direction.

(9) Although the piston 532 of the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 and the motor 533 are linked by a Scotch yoke mechanism, they may be linked by, for example, a cam mechanism or a crank mechanism. Further, depending on the link mechanism, the motor 533 may be located at a position other than above the cylinder 531.
(10) The automatic liquid injection means 53 includes a base 534 that supports the cylinder 531 and the motor 533, and the base 534 is supported by the support 57. For example, the cylinder 531 and the motor 533 are directly supported by the support. may be done. If there are a plurality of liquid agent automatic injection means 53, they may be constructed as a unit with the same configuration and attached to the support body 57 or the liquid agent tank container. Note that the base 534 of the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 is not particularly limited in its configuration as long as it can support the cylinder 531 and the motor 533.

(11) The support body 57 only needs to be able to support the liquid agent automatic injection means 53, and its structure is not particularly limited when focusing on the support function. For example, the support body 57 has a through hole 571a for the liquid agent automatic injection means 53 and a chipped portion 571b, but the through hole may be a chipped portion or the chipped portion may be a through hole. Further, the support body 57 may not have the side wall portion 573 depending on the mounting structure to the liquid agent tank storage body 55. Furthermore, the support body may not be attached to the liquid agent tank container, but may be attached to the housing via another member.
(12) Although the support body 57 has the partition wall part 572 that partitions the storage part 551, the partition wall part may be made of a different member from the support body. It may be provided integrally with the Note that in consideration of the communication portion 551m of the recessed portion 551d of the liquid agent tank 51, it is preferable to provide a partition wall portion other than the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55.

(13) The liquid agent tank housing body 55 was an integrally molded product in which the housing part 551, the support part 553, and the downstream water channel forming part 555 were integrally molded. Good too. Note that, considering the number of parts, an integrally molded product is preferable. Furthermore, in consideration of liquid leakage in the storage section 551 of the liquid agent tank 51, it is preferable to provide at least the storage section 551 and the downstream water channel forming section 555 in one piece.
(14) The two liquid agent automatic injection means 53A, 53B are branched from one front water channel 606 into two rear water channels 607A, 607B, but they may be connected by one water channel forming body. . Specifically, each of the liquid agent automatic injection means 53A, 53B may be connected to the connection port 164 of the water receiving unit 16 through a connection body (such as a hose).
Although the two liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and 53B were provided adjacent to each other in the left-right direction, they may be provided adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction, or may be provided adjacent to each other in the up-down direction. It may also be provided in a direction that intersects these directions.

(15) Water flows through both of the two liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and 53B via the upstream channel forming body 166, but for example, when one liquid agent is input, the other liquid agent automatic injection means 53A and 53B are used. Water may not flow into the charging means. In this case, it can be implemented by connecting a water channel forming body connected to each liquid agent automatic injection means to each connection port of the water receiving unit 16, and controlling the opening and closing of the opening/closing means of the water receiving unit by the control unit. Opening/closing means may be provided in 607A and 607B, and opening/closing may be controlled by a control unit.
(16) Although the input channel forming body 168 had the connecting portion 168b as the communication channel 61, for example, the discharge side opening/closing means 536 may be provided in close proximity to the input channel portion 168a, or the input channel portion 168a may be made thicker. By doing so, the communicating waterway may be eliminated. Further, the guide portion 168j may not be provided depending on the position of the discharge side opening/closing means 536, or may not be provided depending on the extending direction of the connecting portion 168b.
(17) Although the connecting body 167 constituting the upstream water channel forming body 166 had a small diameter portion 167c, for example, the distance of the water channel from the water receiving unit 16 to the first liquid agent automatic injection means 53A, If the distance of the water channel from the water unit 16 to the second liquid agent automatic injection means 53B is approximately equal, it is not necessary to have a small diameter portion. In such an example, the connecting body has an inverted "Y" shape or a "T" shape, and one side of the "Y" shape or the vertical bar side of the "T" shape is connected to the water receiving unit, This is a case where the two sides of the "Y" character or the horizontal bar sides of the "T" shape are each connected to the first liquid agent automatic injection means and the second liquid agent automatic injection means. Note that the shape is not limited to a "Y" or "T" shape, and it is sufficient that one channel is branched into two channels having the same length.

(18) The accommodating portion 551 of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 has a first convex portion 551b, a second convex portion 551k, and a stepped rib 562b, and the upper surface (accommodating surface) of the bottom wall portion 561 and the liquid agent tank 51 Although a gap is provided between them, there is no need to provide a step between the first convex portion 551b, the second convex portion 551k, and the stepped rib 562b. In this case, the bulging portion 551a may not be provided either.
(19) The accommodating portion 551 of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55 had a first convex portion 551b and an extended plate portion 551c on both end sides in the insertion/extraction direction of the liquid agent tank 51, It may have a convex portion 551b and a stretched plate portion 551c. In this case, two guide portions 562a for guiding the liquid agent tank 51 to the accommodation position and two guided portions 511k of the liquid agent tank 51 may be provided in the direction perpendicular to the insertion direction (left and right direction).
(20) The guide portion 562a, which is an example of a guide portion of the housing portion 551 of the liquid agent tank accommodating body 55, protrudes from the upper wall portion 562 toward the liquid agent tank 51 side, and is guided, which is an example of a guided portion of the liquid agent tank 51. Although the portion 511k is guided to the storage position, for example, the guide portion may be formed of a groove portion that guides the guided portion 511k, which is an example of a guided portion that is a protrusion of the liquid agent tank 51. In addition, when using a groove part, the guide part (guide part) of a liquid agent tank accommodating body may be comprised by a convex part, and the guided part of a liquid agent tank may be comprised by a groove part.

(21) The recessed portion 551d of the housing portion 551 of the liquid agent tank housing body 55 is provided on the insertion side (rear side) of the bottom wall portion 561 of the housing portion 551 in the insertion/extraction direction (back and forth direction). may be extended to the extraction side in the insertion/extraction direction so that the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 fits into the protruding portion 511b of the liquid agent tank 51 while being close to the front wall portion 564 of the accommodating portion 551.
(22) The upright wall portion (lower partition wall portion) 551e provided at the end of the insertion side in the insertion/extraction direction of the storage portion 551 of the liquid agent tank storage body 55 is connected to the partition wall portion (upper partition wall portion) of the support body 57. ) 572 constitute a partition wall, but the partition wall may be constructed by standing up further upward. In this case, the communication portion 551m may be in the shape of a groove extending upward, or may be a through hole with a closed periphery.

(23) The downstream water channel forming portion 555 of the liquid agent tank storage body 55 has a cylindrical portion 555b on one side in the direction in which the plurality of liquid agent tanks 51 are arranged side by side (left and right direction), and the groove portion 555a is lower on one side. However, for example, the cylindrical portion 555b may be provided between the adjacent liquid agent tanks 51A and 51B, that is, at the middle portion in the juxtaposition direction, and the groove portion may be configured such that the middle portion in the juxtaposition direction is the lowest. It's okay.
(24) The connection body 252 that connects the liquid agent tank housing 55 and the detergent input unit 30 is connected to the back side (rear side) of the detergent input unit 30, but it may also be connected to the side surface of the detergent box, for example. good.
(25) The water that has passed through the liquid agent automatic injection unit 50 flows into the detergent injection unit 30, but it may also flow directly into the washing tub.

<Invention>
1. Prior Art (1) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2021-003272 In this patent document, a washing machine equipped with an automatic liquid dispensing unit includes one or more tanks capable of storing a liquid detergent or fabric softener, and the tank is detachably attached. It has a tank tray for storing the liquid, and a liquid injection device for taking out the liquid from the tank and introducing it into the outer tank. According to such a washing machine, the liquid agent can be poured into the outer tank by connecting the check valve of the tank in the vertical direction with respect to the bottom surface of the tank tray.
However, with this technique, when the tank is removed from the tank tray, there is a risk that the liquid agent from the tank may spill around the connection area between the tank and the tank tray, staining the tank tray. In addition, if the tank tray was soiled with liquid, there was a risk that the liquid agent would not work properly due to the liquid sticking to the tank tray.
In addition, in the above-mentioned document, when the tank is placed in the tank tray, there is a possibility that the connection part may be damaged, or the lid covering the tank may be closed without the tank fitting properly into the tank tray. Since the pump is provided behind the tank tray, positional adjustment between the pump and the tank may be complicated.
(2) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-80920
In this patent document, a water remaining portion in which water remains when the water supply valve is closed is provided in the water supply path, and an injection port serving as an outlet of the treatment agent injection path is provided in the water remaining portion. With this configuration, in a machine equipped with a function of automatically injecting a washing treatment agent, it is possible to prevent the treatment agent left around the injection port from drying, solidifying, and clogging.
However, with this technique, water constantly enters the treatment agent injection path from the injection port that communicates with the water residual area, which may create a breeding ground for microorganisms such as mold (hygienic problems). Furthermore, since the treatment agent is discharged from the injection port communicating with the water residual portion to the treatment agent injection path, there is a possibility that water may enter the supply pump due to gravity.

(3) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-42184
This patent document describes a pump unit that sucks liquid and discharges it into a washing tub, and supplies either tap water supplied from a water supply port or liquid (detergent and fabric softener) discharged from a liquid tank to a pump knit. To provide a washing machine having a switching valve for cleaning the waterway through which a liquid agent in a tank is supplied to the washing tub.
However, with this technology, the pump unit sucks in the liquid and discharges it directly into the washing tub, so the discharge path is susceptible to the vibrations of the drum (inner tank), and if this path becomes disconnected, there is a risk that automatic dispensing may not be possible. There is. Furthermore, since the pump that sucks the liquid agent sucks and discharges the liquid agent and water, there is a risk that the liquid agents may mix with each other or that water may enter the liquid agent tank side.

(4) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-11618
In this patent document, a tank handle is provided on the upper surface of a detergent tank or a softener tank, and the detergent tank or softener tank is housed in a tank storage container and covered by a tank lid. In this technique, the tank handle is provided so as to protrude upward, which compresses the storage space.

2. Invention 1
(1) First washing machine The first washing machine includes a washing tub, a solution tank for storing a solution to be put into the washing tub, and a solution for automatically putting the solution in the solution tank into the washing tub. The washing tub is equipped with an automatic loading means, and a liquid tank accommodating body that houses the liquid tank in a housing part, the water supplied to the washing tub passes through a water supply channel via the automatic liquid loading means, and the liquid tank is configured to include: The liquid agent tank is accommodated in and out of the storage part by insertion and removal in a first direction, and the liquid agent tank has a connecting part for connecting to the liquid agent automatic injection means in a protruding part that projects downward from the bottom wall part, The liquid agent tank accommodating body has a recessed portion recessed downward corresponding to the protruding portion of the liquid agent tank in the accommodating portion, the protruding portion and the recessed portion extending in the first direction, and the recessed portion extending in the first direction; The recessed portion has a communication portion that communicates with the water supply channel.
As a result, the concave portion of the liquid agent tank accommodating body has a communication portion that communicates with the water supply channel, and the liquid spilled from the liquid agent tank can flow to the communication portion. At this time, the liquid agent may be flushed away with water. Furthermore, since the center (axis) of the connecting portion between the liquid agent tank and the automatic liquid injection means protrudes below the bottom wall of the liquid agent tank, the amount of liquid remaining in the liquid agent tank can be reduced. Furthermore, since the protrusion that protrudes downward from the bottom wall of the liquid tank has a connecting portion with the automatic liquid injection means, the volume of the liquid tank can be increased. Further, the liquid agent tank and the automatic liquid agent injection means (the suction portion thereof) can be reliably connected, and the liquid agent can be stably supplied.
The first direction may be a front-back direction, a left-right direction, an up-down direction, or a direction intersecting these directions. When a detergent charging unit is provided, the water supply channel may or may not pass through the detergent charging unit. The water supply channel may pass through the liquid agent automatic injection means, and an example thereof is the liquid agent side water supply channel in the embodiment. The protrusion may be provided on the extraction side in the first direction (the front side in the embodiment) in the bottom wall of the liquid agent tank, or on the insertion side in the first direction (the rear side in the embodiment). It may be provided on the intermediate side between the extraction side and the insertion side in the first direction, or it may be provided continuously on at least two of the extraction side, the insertion side, and the intermediate side in the first direction. It may be provided as follows.
The communication portion may be configured as long as it communicates with the water supply channel, and may be configured as a notch or a through hole, for example.
Note that the first washing machine focuses on the protrusion in the liquid tank for connection to the automatic liquid dosing means and the recessed part in the liquid tank housing, and the number of automatic liquid dosing means and the number of automatic liquid dosing means in the liquid tank are There are no particular limitations on the number of fluid tanks, how the fluid tank is accommodated in the fluid tank container, the structure of the automatic fluid injection means, the presence or absence of a fluid injection unit, etc.
The first washing machine may or may not have the configurations of the second to seventeenth washing machines of the first invention.

(2) Second washing machine In the second washing machine, in the first washing machine, the communication portion is provided at an insertion side end of the recessed portion in the first direction, and the communication portion is provided at an insertion side end of the recessed portion in the first direction, and The bottom portion of the recessed portion is inclined downward in the first direction from the extraction side to the insertion side, and the liquid agent tank is accommodated in a state in which the protruding portion does not contact the bottom portion of the recessed portion. be done.
Thereby, even if the liquid agent spills when the connection state between the liquid agent tank and the automatic liquid injection means is released, the liquid agent flows toward the communication portion. Furthermore, since the liquid agent tank does not come into contact with the bottom portion, the flow of the liquid agent is not obstructed by the liquid agent tank. Moreover, even if the liquid agent leaks, it is possible to flow the liquid agent to the water supply channel side, so there is no need to provide packing at the connection part of the liquid agent tank to prevent liquid agent leakage, and the number of parts can be reduced.

(3) Third washing machine In the third washing machine, in the first or second washing machine, a portion of the accommodating surface of the accommodating portion located on the extraction side with respect to the recessed portion is separated from the extraction side. It slopes downward toward the recessed portion.
Thereby, even if the liquid spills onto the storage surface when the connection between the liquid agent tank and the automatic liquid injection means is released, the liquid can flow toward the recessed portion, making cleaning easier.

(4) Fourth Washing Machine A fourth washing machine is any one of the first to third washing machines, wherein the inner surface of the bottom wall portion of the liquid agent tank is inclined downward toward the protrusion.
Thereby, the liquid agent in the liquid agent tank can be reliably supplied (flowed) to the protrusion. Further, it is possible to reduce solidification of the liquid (liquid remaining) within the liquid agent tank.

(5) Fifth washing machine The fifth washing machine is any one of the first to fourth washing machines, wherein the liquid tank accommodating body moves the liquid tank in the first direction with respect to the accommodating part. The liquid agent tank accommodating body is accommodated in the housing part by moving it from the extraction side to the insertion side, and the liquid agent tank accommodating body is moved to the insertion side after guiding the liquid agent tank to the extraction side during accommodation. The liquid agent tank has a guided part that is guided by the guide part.
Thereby, when the liquid agent tank is attached or removed (taken in or taken out), the connecting portion of the liquid agent automatic injection means to the liquid agent tank can be protected. In other words, the liquid tank cannot be lifted upward unless the liquid tank is pulled out in the first direction relative to the liquid tank container so that the guided part of the liquid tank follows the guide part of the liquid tank container. I can't. Further, the liquid agent tank can be accommodated in the liquid agent tank accommodating portion without damaging the protruding portion. Furthermore, since the guide portion and the guided portion interfere (slide) when the liquid agent tank is attached, the liquid agent tank can be reliably accommodated in the liquid agent tank accommodating portion and the accommodated state can be maintained.
In addition, although the guide part and the guided part were comprised by the convex part, they may be comprised by a convex part and a groove part.

(6) Sixth washing machine In the sixth washing machine, in any one of the first to fifth washing machines, the liquid tank accommodating body is configured to store the liquid in a state in which the liquid tank is accommodated in the accommodating part. It has a support portion that supports the liquid agent tank so that the upper surface of the tank is horizontal or the angle between the upper surface of the liquid agent tank and the horizontal direction is 10 degrees or less.
Thereby, the liquid agent tank can be stably held in the liquid agent tank accommodating portion. Further, since the upper surface of the liquid agent tank is maintained horizontally, for example, if an upper door is provided above the liquid agent tank accommodating part, it will not interfere with the upper door. Thereby, the upper door can be closed, and the design and aesthetic appearance can be maintained.
An example of the "support part" here is the first convex part (the concept includes a convex strip), the second convex part, and the step between the stepped ribs. Well, the number and shape are not particularly limited. Although the supporting portion is provided on the liquid agent tank housing body, it may be provided on the liquid agent tank, the liquid agent tank and the liquid agent tank housing body, or a dedicated member. When provided on the liquid agent tank side, it may be a supported portion.

(7) Seventh washing machine In the seventh washing machine, in the sixth washing machine, the accommodating section is connected to an end of the liquid tank accommodated in the accommodating section on the extraction side in the first direction. A space is formed between the washing tub, and the housing for accommodating the washing tub is provided with an openable and closable upper door for taking in and out the liquid tank on the top wall, and the upper door is arranged so that the liquid tank is connected to the housing. When the liquid agent tank is housed in the liquid agent tank, a protruding portion of the upper door that is located above the liquid agent tank and that protrudes into the accommodating portion is accommodated in the space, thereby allowing the upper door to be in a closed state.
As a result, the liquid agent tank is housed in the housing portion, so that it does not interfere with the upper door above the liquid agent tank. In addition, the upper door can be closed, allowing the design and aesthetics to be maintained. On the other hand, if the upper door cannot be closed, this means that the liquid agent tank is not correctly accommodated in the liquid agent tank accommodating body, and the user can be informed that the liquid agent tank is not correctly accommodated.

(8) Eighth washing machine A tenth washing machine is any one of the first to seventh washing machines, wherein the liquid agent tank includes a box-shaped tank body having an opening, and a box-shaped tank body having an opening. the lid body includes a lid body having an opening, and a door body that allows the opening of the lid body to be opened and closed; It has a guide portion that guides the supplied liquid agent to the tank body.
Thereby, when replenishing the liquid agent into the liquid agent tank, the liquid agent can be easily refilled with the mouth of a commercially available liquid agent container in contact with the guide portion or the back surface of the door body.
Further, for example, the guide portion can be configured by a pair of ribs, and a simple structure can prevent the liquid agent from leaking into the liquid agent tank accommodating portion or the like.

(9) Ninth washing machine A ninth washing machine is the eighth washing machine, in which the liquid tank has a handle on the lid that can be raised and lowered.
This allows the liquid agent tank to be easily removed using the handle. Additionally, by providing a handle on the lid, it can be used even when the lid is removed from the tank body. Moreover, compared to the case where the liquid agent tank itself is provided with a handle, the occupation rate of the liquid agent tank in the housing portion of the liquid agent tank accommodating body can be reduced.

(10) Tenth washing machine A tenth washing machine is any one of the first to ninth washing machines, in which the liquid agent automatic injection means is supported by a support portion of the liquid agent tank accommodating body, and The accommodating body has the accommodating part on the extraction side in the first direction, and the supporting part on the insertion side in the first direction from the accommodating part. The suction part of the liquid agent automatic injection means is disposed on the insertion side in the first direction in the recessed part of the storage part, and the suction part is connected to the connection part of the liquid agent tank in the recessed part. Connecting.
Thereby, the liquid agent tank container can be provided with a removable liquid agent tank and a fixed automatic liquid agent injection means, and can be made into a unit. Moreover, since the suction part of the liquid agent automatic injection means is connected to the liquid agent tank through the concave portion, even if liquid leakage occurs, the liquid will flow to the communication part.
Note that the support portion may be configured as an integrally molded product as the liquid agent tank accommodating body, or may be configured separately from the liquid agent tank accommodating body and attached to the liquid agent tank accommodating body.

(11) Eleventh washing machine An eleventh washing machine is the tenth washing machine, in which the liquid agent tank accommodating body is located between the support part and the accommodating part of the water supply channel when viewed from above. A suction portion that sucks the liquid from the liquid agent tank in the liquid agent automatic injection means extends in the first direction, and the support portion has a concave portion for the suction portion. The liquid agent automatic injection means is supported by the support portion in a state where a connecting portion of the suction portion to the liquid agent tank is located beyond the water channel and in a recessed portion of the storage portion.
This can prevent the liquid agent leaking into the tank accommodating portion from flowing toward the support portion that supports the automatic liquid agent injection means. Moreover, the liquid agent leaked into the storage part can be flushed into the waterway, which is hygienic.
An example of the "water channel" here is the middle water channel and the lower water channel, but these structures are not particularly limited.

(12) Twelfth washing machine A twelfth washing machine is the tenth or eleventh washing machine, wherein the support section is configured such that a support separate from the liquid tank storage body is attached to the liquid tank storage body. The support body has a wall part perpendicular to the first direction on the extraction side in the first direction, and the accommodating part is partitioned from the support part by the wall part of the support body. There is.
As a result, the support portion and the storage portion can be partitioned without providing a partition wall as a separate structure between the storage portion and the automatic liquid injection means in the liquid agent tank storage body. By separating the wall of the support that supports the automatic liquid injection means from the liquid tank container (having a separate structure), even if the container of the liquid tank container is deformed, the support will not be affected. , positioning accuracy between the liquid agent automatic injection means and the liquid agent tank can be maintained.
Note that an example of the wall portion is the partition wall portion of the embodiment.

(13) Thirteenth washing machine A thirteenth washing machine is the twelfth washing machine, wherein the tank accommodating body extends upward from the accommodating surface of the accommodating portion and also extends along the first direction. The bottom wall portion of the liquid agent tank is inserted into the snap fit from the extraction side in the first direction and engaged with the pair of stretched pieces. The liquid agent tank has an engaging portion, and the wall portion of the liquid agent tank on the insertion side in the first direction has an abutting portion that abuts the wall portion of the support.
This can prevent the liquid agent tank from shifting near the suction section of the automatic liquid injection means. Further, the liquid agent tank can be stably held in the liquid agent tank housing portion. Since the engaging portion is formed to protrude outward from the bottom wall of the liquid agent tank, it does not compress the capacity of the liquid agent tank.
An example of the pair of extending pieces is the pair of ribs of the embodiment, and an example of the engaging portion is the positioned portion.

(14) Fourteenth washing machine The fourteenth washing machine is the twelfth washing machine, and the thirteenth washing machine, wherein the accommodating portion includes a bottom wall portion constituting the accommodating surface, the first direction and the upper and lower sides of the accommodating surface. a pair of side wall portions extending upward from both ends in a second direction perpendicular to the direction; and an end wall portion connecting ends of the bottom wall portion and the pair of side wall portions on the extraction side in the first direction. , the wall portion of the support body, and the wall portion of the support body and the end portion of the side wall portion of the accommodating portion on the insertion side in the first direction have a fitting portion that fits into each other. .
This makes it possible to accurately and easily align the liquid agent tank accommodating body and the support body to which the automatic liquid injection means is attached. In other words, it is possible to easily assemble the liquid agent automatic injection means (support body) to the liquid agent tank container. Further, when cleaning the liquid agent tank container, it is possible to prevent cleaning water from leaking to the liquid agent automatic injection means side.

(15) Fifteenth washing machine The fifteenth washing machine is the fourteenth washing machine, wherein the end wall portion of the storage portion is configured to allow the liquid agent tank accommodated in the storage portion to be removed in the first direction. A space is formed between the side ends.
Thereby, the liquid agent tank can be easily removed from the housing portion of the liquid agent tank accommodating body. In other words, since it is possible to reach the extraction side portion of the liquid agent tank, it is easy to remove the liquid agent tank.

(16) Sixteenth Washing Machine The sixteenth washing machine is the sixth washing machine, further comprising a detection means for detecting the amount of liquid in the liquid tank in the liquid tank housing, and the detection means is , is provided on a surface opposite to the liquid agent tank in a bulging portion that bulges out from the accommodation surface toward the liquid agent tank.
This makes it possible to reduce the risk of liquid, water, etc. entering the detection means, compared to the case where the detection means is provided on the liquid agent tank side of the storage surface. Further, by providing the bulging portion on the storage surface, the space created on the back side of the storage surface can be effectively utilized. In addition, even if a support part for supporting the liquid tank is provided in the liquid tank container, by using the bulging part, the distance between the detection means and the liquid tank can be brought closer (this increases detection accuracy). be able to).
The size and shape of the bulging portion are not particularly limited as long as the sensing means can be disposed thereon.
Note that if the detection means is not provided, the liquid agent tank housing does not need to have a bulging portion. In addition, when the liquid tank is provided with a support part for leveling the liquid tank, a bulging part that bulges out downward is provided in the liquid tank, and the detection means is attached to the unbulged part of the liquid tank housing. It may be provided.

(17) Seventeenth Washing Machine The seventeenth washing machine is the sixteenth washing machine, further comprising a notification means for notifying the replenishment of the liquid in the liquid tank, and the liquid tank is configured to control the amount of liquid in the liquid. Therefore, the notification means includes a float that operates and a means to be detected that is provided on the float and is detected by the detection means, and the notification means detects or detects the means to be detected by the operation of the float. When it runs out, the replenishment will be notified.
Thereby, the remaining amount of the liquid agent can be determined with a simple configuration. Furthermore, a reed switch can be used as the detection means and a magnet can be used as the detected means, which can be implemented at low cost. For example, when using a Hall element, it becomes necessary to mount the Hall element on a substrate, making the configuration complicated.

3. Invention 2
The first washing machine includes a liquid agent tank that stores a liquid agent to be put into a washing tub, a liquid agent automatic dosing means for automatically putting the liquid agent in the liquid agent tank into the washing tub, and a storage part that accommodates the liquid agent tank. a liquid agent tank accommodating body, the liquid agent tank accommodating body is accommodated in the accommodating portion by moving the liquid agent tank from the extraction side to the insertion side in the first direction with respect to the accommodating portion; The liquid agent tank accommodating body has a guide portion that allows the liquid agent tank to move to the insertion side after guiding the liquid agent tank to the extraction side during accommodation, and the liquid agent tank is guided by the guide portion. It has a guided part.
As a result, it is possible to prevent damage to the connection part of the liquid agent automatic injection means to the liquid agent tank and the connection part of the liquid agent tank to the liquid agent automatic injection means, and as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-3272, the connection part is easily damaged. Can solve problems. Note that when the first direction is the left-right direction or the front-back direction, the connecting portion is likely to be damaged.

4. Invention 3
The first washing machine includes a liquid agent tank that stores liquid agent to be put into the washing tub, a liquid agent tank accommodating body that accommodates the liquid agent tank in a storage part, and a detection means for detecting the amount of liquid in the liquid agent tank. The detection means is provided on a surface opposite to the liquid agent tank in a bulging portion that bulges out from the accommodation surface toward the liquid agent tank.
As a result, compared to the case where the detection means is provided on the liquid tank side of the storage surface, it is possible to reduce the risk of liquids, water, etc. intruding into the detection means, and to solve the problem that liquids, etc. easily infiltrate into the detection means. solve.
Note that, when focusing on the bulging portion and the detection means, the liquid agent tank may be housed in the liquid agent tank container in a removable or non-removable manner.

5. Invention 4
The first washing machine includes a liquid agent tank that stores a liquid agent to be put into a washing tub, and the liquid agent tank includes a box-shaped tank body having an opening, and a lid body that covers the opening of the tank body, The lid body includes a lid body having an opening, and a door body that allows the opening of the lid body to be opened and closed, and the door body is in an open state with the back surface of the door body facing upward. It has a guide portion that guides the liquid agent supplied onto the back surface to the tank body.
As a result, when refilling the liquid into the liquid tank, you can easily refill the liquid by keeping the opening of the commercially available liquid container in contact with the guide or the back of the door. Solving difficult problems.
Note that when focusing on replenishing the liquid agent in the liquid agent tank, there are no particular limitations on the configurations of the liquid agent tank accommodating body, the automatic liquid injection means, and the like.

6. Invention 5
The first washing machine includes a liquid agent tank that stores liquid agent to be put into a washing tub, and a liquid agent tank storage body having a housing section for the liquid agent tank, and the liquid agent tank has a box-shaped tank body having an opening. and a lid covering the opening of the tank body, and the lid has a handle that can be raised and lowered.
As a result, the occupation rate of the liquid agent tank in the storage portion can be reduced, and the problem that the occupation rate of the liquid agent tank is large when the liquid agent tank itself is provided with a handle is solved.
In other words, this solves the problem in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-11618 that when a handle is provided on the top surface of a detergent tank, etc., the storage space of the tank is compressed by the handle.
Note that when focusing on the removal of the liquid agent tank from the liquid agent tank container, the configuration of the liquid agent tank container is not particularly limited.

7. Invention 6
The first washing machine includes a liquid agent tank for storing a liquid agent to be put into a washing tub, a liquid agent automatic dosing means for automatically putting the liquid agent in the liquid agent tank into the washing tub, and a storage part that accommodates the liquid agent tank. and a liquid agent tank accommodating body supporting the liquid agent automatic injection means, and water supplied to the washing tub passes through a water supply channel via the liquid agent automatic injection means, and when the liquid agent tank accommodating body is viewed from above, , a water channel forming a part of the water supply channel is provided between the support part and the housing part.
Thereby, it is possible to prevent the liquid agent leaking into the tank accommodating portion from flowing toward the support portion that supports the automatic liquid agent injection means, and it is possible to solve the problem that the liquid agent flows toward the automatic liquid agent injection means side.
Here, the direction in which the liquid agent tank (storage part), the automatic liquid injection means, and the waterway are lined up may be the first direction, the direction perpendicular to the first direction, or It may be in a crossing direction.
Note that when focusing on the positional relationship between the liquid agent tank (storage section), the automatic liquid injection means, and the waterway, the configurations of the liquid agent tank, the liquid agent tank container, the automatic liquid injection means, etc. are not particularly limited. The charging means may be directly attached to the liquid agent tank container.

8. Invention 7
The first washing machine includes a liquid agent tank that stores a liquid agent to be put into a washing tub, a liquid agent automatic dosing means for automatically putting the liquid agent in the liquid agent tank into the washing tub, and a storage part that accommodates the liquid agent tank. and a liquid agent tank accommodating body supporting the liquid agent automatic injection means.
This brings the liquid agent automatic injection means and the liquid agent tank closer together, making it easier to adjust the position.
In other words, it is possible to solve the problem in JP-A-2021-003272 that the pump is provided behind the tank tray and the positional adjustment between the pump and the tank is complicated.

9. Invention 8
The first washing machine includes a liquid agent tank that stores a liquid agent to be put into the washing tub, and a liquid agent tank storage body having a housing section for the liquid agent tank, and the liquid agent tank is arranged in a first position relative to the storage section. The accommodating portion is configured to have a space formed between it and an end of the liquid agent tank accommodated in the accommodating portion on the extraction side in the first direction, and the accommodating portion accommodates the washing tub. The housing is provided with an openable and closable upper door on the top wall for taking in and out the liquid agent tank, and the upper door is arranged above the liquid agent tank when the liquid agent tank is accommodated in the storage part. The upper door can be placed in a closed state by fitting the protruding portion of the upper door that protrudes into the accommodating portion into the space.
As a result, the liquid agent tank is accommodated in the housing portion, so that it does not interfere with the upper door above the liquid agent tank. Additionally, the upper door can be closed, allowing the design and aesthetics to be maintained. On the other hand, if the upper door cannot be closed, this means that the liquid agent tank is not correctly accommodated in the storage section, and the user can be informed that the liquid agent tank is not correctly accommodated. In other words, it is possible to solve the problem in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2021-003272, in which the lid covering the tank is closed without the tank properly fitting into the tank tray.

11 Washing tub 51 Liquid tank 53 Automatic liquid injection means 55 Liquid tank container 60 Liquid side supply waterway (supply waterway)
511 Tank body 511a Bottom wall portion 511b Projection portion 511d Connection portion 551 Accommodation portion 551d Recessed portion 551m Communication portion

Claims (7)

A liquid agent tank that stores liquid agent to be put into the washing tub;
Liquid agent automatic injection means for automatically pouring the liquid agent in the liquid agent tank into the washing tub;
a liquid agent tank accommodating body that accommodates the liquid agent tank in an accommodating part and supports the liquid agent automatic injection means with a support part;
The water supplied to the washing tub passes through the water supply channel via the automatic liquid injection means, and when the liquid tank container is viewed from above, there is a gap between the support section and the storage section of the water supply channel. It has a waterway that forms part of the
The accommodating portion includes a bottom wall portion having a concave portion at the rear end that is recessed downward and extends in the front-rear direction,
having a communication part where the recessed part and the waterway communicate with each other,
The communication portion is a portion that is open toward the waterway at the rear end of the recessed portion,
The communicating part and the water channel are connected so that the liquid agent that has flowed into the recessed part flows from the communicating part to the water channel.
washing machine. The liquid agent tank has a connection part for connecting to the liquid agent automatic injection means in a protruding part that projects downward from the bottom wall part,
A connecting portion of the suction portion of the liquid agent automatic injection means with the liquid agent tank is supported by the support portion in a state where it is located in a recessed portion of the storage portion beyond the water channel;
A washing machine according to claim 1. The recessed portion is recessed downward corresponding to the protrusion of the liquid agent tank,
The liquid agent tank is housed in a state where a gap exists between the protrusion and the recess,
A washing machine according to claim 1 or 2. The support portion is configured by attaching a support separate from the liquid agent tank accommodating body to the liquid agent tank accommodating body,
The support body has a wall portion that partitions the liquid agent automatic injection means and the liquid agent tank.
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A bottom portion of the recessed portion of the liquid agent tank storage body is sloped downward from the front side toward the rear side.
The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4. A portion of the accommodating surface of the accommodating portion located in front of the concave portion is inclined downward from the front side toward the concave portion.
A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5. an inner surface of the bottom wall section slopes downward toward the protrusion;
A washing machine according to claim 2 or 3 .

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