washing machine

Abstract

The objective was to create a washing machine that, even if it has a first laundry agent storage section, a second laundry agent storage section, and an overflow section, is designed to prevent water from flowing from one storage section to the other due to overflow. [Solution] The washing machine is equipped with a case 54 into which a laundry detergent is dispensed. The case 54 includes a first laundry detergent storage section 60, a second laundry detergent storage section 62 aligned horizontally with respect to the first laundry detergent storage section 60, a first water supply section 56 that dispenses water supplied from a water supply section 160 into the first laundry detergent storage section 60 and the second laundry detergent storage section 62, a first overflow hole 60d that is open to allow water to flow horizontally, and a first partition section 64 that faces the first overflow hole 60d horizontally. The first overflow hole 60d is open to the second laundry detergent storage section 62 while communicating with the first laundry detergent storage section 60.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a washing machine.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as disclosed in Patent Document 1 below, a technique of providing an overflow portion in a water supply case into which a detergent is poured is known. In Patent Document 1, a water receiving portion is provided on the right side and a washing aid storage portion is provided on the left side so as to divide the water supply case in the width direction. A detergent is poured into the water receiving portion, and a softener is poured into the washing aid storage portion. Further, in the prior art of Patent Document 1, a notch portion is formed in the water receiving portion.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, in the prior art of Patent Document 1, the washing aid storage portion is provided so as to avoid the notch portion. Therefore, in the case of the configuration according to Patent Document 1, even if it is possible to prevent washing water from flowing from the notch portion of the water receiving portion into the washing aid storage portion during overflow, there is a problem that the size or shape of the washing aid storage portion changes with respect to the water receiving portion.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine capable of making it difficult for water to flow from one storage portion to the other storage portion due to overflow even if an overflow portion is provided in the arrangement of the first washing treatment agent storage portion and the second washing treatment agent storage portion.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The washing machine of the present invention, provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, comprises a washing tub including a water tank and a rotating tub rotatably provided in the water tank, a main body that houses the washing tub, and a case into which a laundry detergent is put, wherein the case has a first laundry detergent storage section capable of storing a first laundry detergent for putting into the washing tub, a second laundry detergent storage section capable of storing a second laundry detergent for putting into the washing tub and provided to be aligned left and right with respect to the first laundry detergent storage section, a water supply section that pours water supplied from a water supply section into either one or both of the first laundry detergent storage section and the second laundry detergent storage section, an overflow hole that opens to allow water to flow in the left and right direction, and a first partition section that faces the overflow hole in the left and right direction, wherein the overflow hole is open to the second laundry detergent storage section while communicating with the first laundry detergent storage section.

[0007] In the washing machine of the present invention, the overflow hole provided in the case is open so as to face the second laundry treatment agent storage section while communicating with the first laundry treatment agent storage section. Furthermore, in the washing machine of the present invention, the overflow hole is provided so as to allow water to flow in the left-right direction where the first laundry treatment agent storage section and the second laundry treatment agent storage section are aligned, while a first partition is provided so as to face the overflow hole in the left-right direction. Therefore, in the washing machine of the present invention, even if water poured into the case by the water injection section overflows from the overflow hole that opens to the first laundry treatment agent storage section, the first partition can prevent water from flowing into the second laundry treatment agent storage section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, even if a first laundry agent storage section, a second laundry agent storage section, and an overflow section are provided, it is possible to realize a washing machine that makes it difficult for water to flow from one storage section to the other due to overflow. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1]This is a perspective view showing a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of the washing machine. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view of the washing machine above the cover shown in Figure 1, with the rear cover, support cover, and lid removed. [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the part of the washing machine above the cover, as seen from the rear. [Figure 5] Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the part of the washing machine above the cover. [Figure 6] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the manual water dispenser, automatic water dispenser, and water supply unit of the washing machine. [Figure 7] Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the manual input section. [Figure 8] Figure 7 is an exploded perspective view showing the case of the manual input section. [Figure 9] (a) is a plan view of the manual dispensing unit shown in Figure 7, and (b) is a plan view showing the state in (a) with the liquid detergent storage unit removed. [Figure 10] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the manual dispensing section at the location where the first laundry treatment agent storage section is provided. [Figure 11] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the manual dispensing section at the location where the second laundry treatment agent storage section is provided. [Figure 12] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the manual water inlet section, taken from a horizontal plane at the height where the overflow section is located. [Figure 13] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the automatic feed-in unit. [Figure 14] Figure 6 is a perspective view showing a cross-sectional view of the automatic feed-in unit. [Figure 15] Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a cross-sectional view of the tank equipped with the automatic dispensing unit. [Figure 16] Figure 1 is a plan view showing the water supply section of the washing machine. [Figure 17]It is a perspective view showing a water supply unit included in the washing machine shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 18] It is a cross-sectional view showing a state as viewed from the rear side of a portion above the cover portion of the washing machine shown in FIG. 1. [Figure 19] It is a cross-sectional view showing a manual input unit according to a modified example. [Figure 20] It is a block diagram showing a control target related to a water supply control unit. [Figure 21] It is a flowchart showing a control flow by a water supply control unit according to a first aspect (pattern 1) when automatic input is used in the washing process. [Figure 22] It is a flowchart showing a control flow by a water supply control unit according to a second aspect (pattern 2) when automatic input is used in the washing process. [Figure 23] It is a flowchart showing a control flow by a water supply control unit when automatic input is used in the final rinsing process. [Figure 24] It is a flowchart showing a water supply control flow in the intermediate rinsing process. [Figure 25] It is a flowchart showing a control flow for selecting and controlling a water injection path according to each step of the washing process and the rinsing process in the operation of the washing machine.

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0010] Hereinafter, the washing machine 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the directions and positional relationships such as the vertical direction, the left - right direction, and the depth direction are described based on the state where the washing machine 10 is installed in the normal usage mode.

[0011] As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine 10 according to the present embodiment is of a vertical type. That is, the washing machine 10 is a vertical - type washing machine in which the central axis of the washing tub 20 extends in the vertical direction (perpendicular direction) or is inclined at a predetermined angle (for example, an angle within 10 degrees) with respect to the vertical direction.

[0012] As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the washing machine 10 according to this embodiment mainly comprises a washing tub 20, a housing 30, a manual dispensing unit 50, an automatic dispensing unit 100, and a water supply unit 160. In addition, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the washing machine 10 also includes, in addition to these components, a motor 12 for rotating the washing tub 20, an operation unit 13 for inputting and selecting washing cycles, a display unit 14 for displaying the washing operation status, a drain unit 17 for draining water from the washing tub 20, a control unit for controlling the motor 12 and other components to perform washing, and a power supply unit for supplying power to the motor 12, control unit, and other drive means.

[0013] As shown in Figure 2, the washing tub 20 is composed of a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24. The water tank 22 is a tank-shaped structure provided inside the housing 30 for storing washing water. The rotating tub 24 is rotatably supported inside the water tank 22.

[0014] The housing 30 has a main body portion 32 and a cover portion 34. The main body portion 32 is the part of the housing 30 that is located below the cover portion 34 in the vertical direction. The main body portion 32 has a box-like appearance with an open top. The main body portion 32 mainly functions as the part that houses the washing tub 20. When viewed from above, the main body portion 32 has a rectangular or similar shape. The upper end of the main body portion 32 is located above the upper end of the washing tub 20.

[0015] The cover portion 34 is located above the main body portion 32. As shown in Figures 1 and 5, the cover portion 34 includes a main body cover portion 36, rear cover portions 38 and 39, a support cover portion 40, and a lid portion 42.

[0016] The main body cover portion 36 is provided on the upper side of the main body portion 32. In plan view, the main body cover portion 36 has a rectangular or similar shape. In plan view, the main body cover portion 36 has an opening 36a for loading laundry approximately in the center. The top surface of the main body cover portion 36 is formed to slope downward toward the front. This configuration allows the washing machine 10 to easily load and unload laundry from the washing tub 20.

[0017] As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the main body cover portion 36 has an inner circumferential wall portion 36b that extends downward from the opening edge of the opening 36a, and an outer circumferential wall portion 36c that extends downward from the outer circumferential edge of the top surface. The main body cover portion 36 is designed to arrange various components in the space between the inner circumferential wall portion 36b and the outer circumferential wall portion 36c. Specifically, the main body cover portion 36 has the operation unit 13 and the display unit 14 in the front space, and the manual dispensing unit 50, the automatic dispensing unit 100, and the water supply unit 160 in the rear space. In addition to these, the main body cover portion 36 also has components such as control circuit units arranged in the space between the aforementioned inner circumferential wall portion 36b and outer circumferential wall portion 36c. In this way, the washing machine 10 arranges various components in the limited space formed inside the main body cover portion 36.

[0018] As shown in Figure 5, the rear cover portions 38 and 39 are components provided on the rear side (rear side in the depth direction) of the main body cover portion 36, covering the main body cover portion 36 from above. That is, as shown in Figures 3 to 5, the portion on the rear side of the main body cover portion 36 to which the manual dispensing portion 50, automatic dispensing portion 100, and water supply portion 160 are assembled is open upwards. This allows for the manual dispensing portion 50, automatic dispensing portion 100, and water supply portion 160 to be attached and detached by accessing them from above when the main body cover portion 36 is assembled on the upper side of the main body portion 32. The rear cover portions 38 and 39 can cover and close the portion of the open area on the rear side of the main body cover portion 36, excluding a part of it (in this embodiment, the area including the tank housing portion 150 and housing portion 52).

[0019] The support cover portion 40 is attached to cover the tank housing portion 150 and housing portion 52 described above from above and is connected to the main body cover portion 36. The support cover portion 40 can close off any open portions even when the rear cover portions 38 and 39 are attached to the main body cover portion 36. In combination with the rear cover portions 38 and 39, the support cover portion 40 can close off any open portions on the rear side of the main body cover portion 36 that are open upwards. Furthermore, the support cover portion 40 is connected to the main body cover portion 36 so as to cover the first water injection portion 56, which will be described in detail later, from above.

[0020] The cover section 34 is composed of a combination of the main body cover section 36, rear cover sections 38 and 39, and support cover section 40, as described above. Therefore, the cover section 34 can be assembled by attaching the rear cover section 38 to the main body cover section 36, and then attaching the support cover section 40, with the components such as the case 54 of the manual dispensing section 50, the automatic dispensing section 100 (tank housing section 150), and the water supply section 160, which will be described in detail later, already incorporated into the main body cover section 36. Furthermore, if it is necessary to access the space behind the main body cover section 36 for maintenance or other purposes, the cover section 34 can be disassembled by removing the rear cover section 38 and support cover section 40 in the reverse order of the assembly procedure described above. Therefore, the cover section 34 can be opened and closed in stages in the open portion at the rear of the main body cover section 36. This makes it easy to assemble various components and perform maintenance on the space behind the main body cover section 36 of the washing machine 10. Note that the rear cover section 38 and the rear cover section 39 may be a single integrated part.

[0021] The lid portion 42 opens and closes the opening 36a for loading laundry in the main body cover portion 36. The lid portion 42 is rotatably supported on the cover portion 34 (support cover portion 40 in this embodiment).

[0022] The manual dispensing unit 50 is where the user sets the detergent for each wash cycle. When the wash cycle starts and water is supplied, the detergent set in the manual dispensing unit 50 is added to the washing tub 20. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the manual dispensing unit 50 has a storage section 52, a case 54, and a first water supply section 56.

[0023] The housing section 52 is the part that houses the case 54. As shown in Figure 3, the housing section 52 is a space formed between the inner peripheral wall 36b and the outer peripheral wall 36c of the main body cover section 36 in the cover section 34 of the housing 30, and is located on the rear side (rear side in the depth direction) of the main body section 32. The washing water (water mixed with laundry detergent) discharged from the case 54 is poured into the washing tub 20 from the outlet 51 of the housing section 52.

[0024] Case 54 is positioned at the rear side (rear side in the depth direction) of the main body 32, housed within the storage section 52. Case 54 is the section into which the laundry detergent is dispensed. Case 54 has a volume sufficient to dispense enough laundry detergent for one cycle. As shown in Figures 7 to 9, Case 54 is equipped with a first laundry detergent storage section 60 and a second laundry detergent storage section 62 arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the first laundry detergent storage section 60 is located on the right side in the left-right direction, and the second laundry detergent storage section 62 is located on the left side in the left-right direction. However, it is also possible to have a configuration where the first laundry detergent storage section 60 is located on the left side in the left-right direction, and the second laundry detergent storage section 62 is located on the right side in the left-right direction.

[0025] The first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 stores the first laundry treatment agent for use in the washing tub 20. The first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 has a powder detergent storage section 60a capable of storing powder detergent. The first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 is located in the lower vertical region of the case 54. The first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 is also equipped with a liquid detergent storage section 60b that can be detachably attached to the powder detergent storage section 60a.

[0026] The powder detergent storage section 60a has a concave shape with an open top, allowing enough powder detergent for one wash to be added as a laundry agent. In this embodiment, the powder detergent storage section 60a has a bathtub-like shape. As shown in Figures 8, 9, and 10, the powder detergent storage section 60a has a laundry agent discharge port 60c at the back in the depth direction, on the bottom side. Therefore, by introducing water into the powder detergent storage section 60a with powder detergent added as a laundry agent, the powder detergent can be discharged to the outside of the case 54 from the laundry agent discharge port 60c.

[0027] As shown in Figures 8, 9, and 12, the powder detergent storage section 60a has a first overflow hole 60d (overflow hole). The first overflow hole 60d is located between the first overflow hole and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62, which will be described in detail later. In this embodiment, the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 is located adjacent to the right side of the powder detergent storage section 60a. Therefore, the first overflow hole 60d is located on the right side of the circumferential surface of the powder detergent storage section 60a, specifically on the right wall surface of the powder detergent storage section 60a.

[0028] The first overflow hole 60d is open to allow water to flow in the left-right direction. Specifically, as shown in Figure 12, the first overflow hole 60d is formed to communicate with the first laundry detergent storage section 60 and open toward the second laundry detergent storage section 62. In this embodiment, the first overflow hole 60d is formed by making a notch in the wall surface of the circumferential surface of the powder detergent storage section 60a that faces toward the second laundry detergent storage section 62. The first overflow hole 60d is located above the first siphon tube 60g of the liquid detergent storage section 60b, which will be described in detail later.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the powder detergent storage section 60a has a third overflow hole 60e and a fourth overflow hole 60f in addition to the first overflow hole 60d. The third overflow hole 60e is located on the opposite side of the first overflow hole 60d (the left wall surface of the powder detergent storage section 60a in this embodiment) and at the rear (back) side of the powder detergent storage section 60a. The third overflow hole 60e and the fourth overflow hole 60f are formed in the same way as the first overflow hole 60d, by cutting out the wall surface forming the powder detergent storage section 60a. In this way, the powder detergent storage section 60a is provided with three overflow holes, consisting of the first overflow hole 60d, the third overflow hole 60e, and the fourth overflow hole 60f, on the right, left, and rear sides.

[0030] The openings forming the first overflow hole 60d, the third overflow hole 60e, and the fourth overflow hole 60f can each be notches that open upward toward the top of the housing 52, but it is preferable that some or all of these be connected from one end to the other on the upper side of the opening forming the overflow hole. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 8 and 9, the first overflow hole 60d and the third overflow hole 60e are connected from one end to the other on the upper side of the opening forming them by connecting parts 60m and 60n. As a result, the first overflow hole 60d and the third overflow hole 60e are able to discharge overflow water below the connecting parts 60m and 60n.

[0031] As shown in Figure 8, the liquid detergent storage section 60b is a container-like structure that can be filled and removed from an open section located at the top of the powder detergent storage section 60a. The liquid detergent storage section 60b has a concave shape with an open top. In this embodiment, the liquid detergent storage section 60b has a bathtub-like shape that is slightly smaller than the powder detergent storage section 60a. Liquid detergent can be added to the liquid detergent storage section 60b as a laundry agent.

[0032] The liquid detergent storage section 60b is equipped with a siphon mechanism for discharging the liquid detergent stored inside to the outside. Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 10, the liquid detergent storage section 60b has a first siphon tube 60g installed so as to extend upward from the bottom. The first siphon tube 60g is cylindrical, and its upper end is located below the first overflow hole 60d. The first siphon tube 60g also penetrates vertically and opens toward the bottom surface of the liquid detergent storage section 60b. This opening functions as an outlet for discharging liquid detergent from the liquid detergent storage section 60b.

[0033] Furthermore, a removable first siphon cap 60h is attached to the first siphon tube 60g. The first siphon cap 60h is a cylindrical member with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the first siphon tube 60g, with one end open in the axial direction and the other end closed. The first siphon cap 60h is attached so as to cover the first siphon tube 60g by inserting the first siphon tube 60g with the open end facing downwards. Because the liquid detergent reservoir 60b is equipped with a siphon mechanism configured in this way, when the liquid level inside the liquid detergent reservoir 60b reaches a certain level, liquid detergent is drawn out of the liquid detergent reservoir 60b by the principle of siphon.

[0034] As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the liquid detergent reservoir 60b has support pieces 60i, 60j, and 60k that can engage with and detach from the first overflow hole 60d, the third overflow hole 60e, and the fourth overflow hole 60f provided in the powder detergent reservoir 60a. Therefore, the liquid detergent reservoir 60b can be engaged with the powder detergent reservoir 60a by engaging the support pieces 60i, 60j, and 60k with the first overflow hole 60d, the third overflow hole 60e, and the fourth overflow hole 60f.

[0035] The second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 is capable of storing a second laundry treatment agent to be added to the washing tub 20. The second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 is capable of storing laundry aids such as fabric softener and bleach as the second laundry treatment agent. The second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 is provided so as to be aligned with the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 in the left-right direction.

[0036] The second laundry detergent storage section 62 has a concave shape with an open top. In this embodiment, the second laundry detergent storage section 62 has a bathtub-like shape. The second laundry detergent storage section 62 is approximately the same size as the liquid detergent storage section 60b. Specifically, the second laundry detergent storage section 62 is smaller in depth (front-to-back direction) and left-to-right direction than the powder detergent storage section 60a. In addition, the depth (length in the vertical direction) of the second laundry detergent storage section 62 is also smaller than that of the powder detergent storage section 60a. The upper end (open end) and the front end (front-to-back direction) of the second laundry detergent storage section 62 are formed to be approximately the same as those of the powder detergent storage section 60a described above.

[0037] The second laundry detergent storage section 62, like the liquid detergent storage section 60b, is equipped with a siphon mechanism for discharging the liquid detergent stored inside to the outside. Specifically, as shown in Figures 8 and 11, the second laundry detergent storage section 62 has a second siphon tube 62a installed so as to extend upward from the bottom. The second siphon tube 62a is cylindrical. The second siphon tube 62a also penetrates vertically and opens toward the bottom surface of the second laundry detergent storage section 62. This opening functions as a discharge port for discharging the laundry detergent (a laundry aid in this embodiment) from the second laundry detergent storage section 62.

[0038] A removable second siphon cap 62b is attached to the second siphon tube 62a. The second siphon cap 62b is a cylindrical member with an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the second siphon tube 62a. The second siphon cap 62b is open at one end in the axial direction and closed at the other end. The second siphon cap 62b is attached to the second siphon tube 62a with the open end facing downwards. By inserting the second siphon tube 62a into the second siphon cap 62b, the second siphon cap 62b is attached so as to cover the second siphon tube 62a. Because the second laundry detergent storage section 62 is equipped with a siphon mechanism configured in this way, when the liquid level inside the second laundry detergent storage section 62 reaches a certain level, liquid detergent is drawn out from the second laundry detergent storage section 62 by the principle of siphon.

[0039] As shown in Figures 8, 9, and 12, the second laundry detergent storage section 62 has a second overflow hole 62c (overflow hole). The second overflow hole 62c is located on the side of the first laundry detergent storage section 60 in the left-right direction and is provided to penetrate in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the first laundry detergent storage section 60 is located to the left of the second laundry detergent storage section 62. Therefore, the second overflow hole 62c is provided on the left wall surface of the wall surface that constitutes the circumferential surface of the second laundry detergent storage section 62. Furthermore, the second overflow hole 62c is located at a position offset in the front-rear direction from the first overflow hole 60d provided in the powder detergent storage section 60a.

[0040] As shown in Figure 12, a first partition 64 is provided at a position opposite to the first overflow hole 60d described above. The first partition 64 is provided so as to face the first overflow hole 60d in the left-right direction. The first partition 64 can be provided in the second laundry detergent storage section 62, or it can be provided between the first laundry detergent storage section 60 and the second laundry detergent storage section 62. For example, the first partition 64 can be provided between the first laundry detergent storage section 60 and the second laundry detergent storage section 62, extending from the bottom wall of the storage section 52. In this embodiment, the first partition 64 functions on the wall surface of the circumferential surface of the second laundry detergent storage section 62 that faces the first laundry detergent storage section 60 (powder detergent storage section 60a) (the left wall surface of the second laundry detergent storage section 62).

[0041] As shown in Figure 12, a second partition 66 is provided in the middle of the front-to-back direction between the first overflow hole 60d and the second overflow hole 62c described above. The second partition 66 is a wall-like structure that extends along the left-to-right direction. The second partition 66 can be configured in any way that can suppress the flow of water in the front-to-back direction between the first overflow hole 60d and the second overflow hole 62c. In this embodiment, the second partition 66 is composed of a wall surface that extends in the left-to-right direction, spanning the circumferential wall surface (right wall surface) of the first laundry detergent storage section 60 (powder detergent storage section 60a) where the first overflow hole 60d is provided, and the circumferential wall surface (left wall surface) of the second laundry detergent storage section 62 where the second overflow hole 62c is provided.

[0042] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 12, a third partition 68 is provided at a position opposite the second overflow hole 62c. The third partition 68 is provided so as to face the second overflow hole 62c in the left-right direction. The third partition 68 can be provided in the first laundry detergent storage section 60, or it can be provided between the first laundry detergent storage section 60 and the second laundry detergent storage section 62. In this embodiment, the third partition 68 functions as the wall surface of the circumferential surface of the first laundry detergent storage section 60 (powder detergent storage section 60a) that faces the second laundry detergent storage section 62 (the right-hand wall surface of the powder detergent storage section 60a).

[0043] The first water injection section 56 (water injection section) injects water supplied from the water supply section 160, which will be described in detail later, into the case 54. The first water injection section 56 can inject water into either the first laundry agent storage section 60 or the second laundry agent storage section 62, or both. In this embodiment, the first water injection section 56 is configured to inject water into both the first laundry agent storage section 60 and the second laundry agent storage section 62. As shown in Figures 7, 10, and 11, the first water injection section 56 is located on the upper side of the case 54. The first water injection section 56 includes a first compartmentalized area 70, a second compartmentalized area 72, a water injection hole 74, an overflow path 76, and an overflow hole 78 (see Figure 11).

[0044] The first compartmentalized area 70 and the second compartmentalized area 72 are provided by partitioning the interior of a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped water filling container 80, which is provided so as to cover the case 54 from above. The first compartmentalized area 70 and the second compartmentalized area 72 are provided in correspondence with the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 provided in the case 54. The first compartmentalized area 70 is the area located directly above the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60, and the second compartmentalized area 72 is the area located directly above the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62.

[0045] The water inlet holes 74 are located at the bottom of the area in the water container 80 where the first compartment 70 and the second compartment 72 are provided. Numerous water inlet holes 74 are provided at a distance from the first compartment 70 and the second compartment 72. Therefore, when water supplied from a water source is introduced into the first compartment 70 and the second compartment 72, water can be introduced into the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 from the numerous dispersed water inlet holes 74.

[0046] The overflow path 76 is the path through which the overflow generated in the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72 flows. The overflow path 76 includes the first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84. The first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 are located at positions that are offset to the rear (backward in the depth direction) relative to the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72, respectively. The first overflow path 82 is a path within the water supply container 80 that communicates with the first compartment area 70 while being partitioned relative to the second compartment area 72. The second overflow path 84 is a path that communicates with the second compartment area 72 while being partitioned relative to the first compartment area 70. The first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 are in communication with each other. Furthermore, the overflow path 76 is configured so that the second overflow path 84 descends from the first overflow path 82.

[0047] The overflow hole 78 discharges water from inside the overflow path 76 to the outside of the overflow path 76. The overflow hole 78 is a hole located above the case 54 but outside the projection range of the case 54. Specifically, as described above, in this embodiment, the portion forming the second laundry agent storage section 62 is located in front of the portion forming the first laundry agent storage section 60 on the rear side (rear side in the depth direction) of the case 54. Therefore, on the rear side of the case 54, there is a space in the region adjacent to the first laundry agent storage section 60 in the left-right direction (to the right in this embodiment) and behind the second laundry agent storage section 62. The overflow hole 78 opens downward in the region corresponding to this space. Furthermore, the portion forming the overflow hole 78 is composed of a cylindrical or nozzle-shaped portion that extends downward in the aforementioned space. The first overflow path 76 also has an overflow hole 77 that discharges water in the path to the outside of the overflow path 76. The overflow hole 77 is a hole located above the case 54. The water flowing out from the overflow hole 77 flows into the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60.

[0048] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the automatic dispensing unit 100 comprises a tank 110, an automatic dispensing means 120, and a second water injection unit 130. The automatic dispensing unit 100 can have one tank 110 or multiple tanks 110. In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 6, the automatic dispensing unit 100 is provided with two tanks 110. Furthermore, the automatic dispensing unit 100 is configured with the two tanks 110, 110 arranged side by side in the left-right direction.

[0049] The automatic dispensing unit 100 dispenses the laundry detergent stored in the tank 110 from the tank 110 to the second water injection unit 130 by operating the automatic dispensing means 120, and then dispenses it from the second water injection unit 130 to the washing tub 20 via the automatic dispensing path 132. The automatic dispensing unit 100 is designed so that the tank 110, which stores the laundry detergent (liquid such as liquid detergent), can be attached to and detached from the tank housing unit 150, which is provided in the space formed between the inner circumferential wall 36b and the outer circumferential wall 36c on the rear side of the main body cover unit 36. The automatic dispensing unit 100 is used with the tank 110 housed in the tank housing unit 150. Furthermore, by removing the tank 110 from the tank housing unit 150, the automatic dispensing unit 100 can be used to replenish the laundry detergent in the tank 110, perform maintenance on the tank 110, and perform other tasks.

[0050] As shown in Figures 13 to 15, the tank 110 comprises at least a tank body 112 and an upper cover body 114. In this embodiment, the tank 110 further comprises a suction pipe 115 and a filter 116. The tank body 112 constitutes a storage section for containing the laundry treatment agent. The upper cover body 114 functions as a cover that closes an open section formed on the upper side of the tank body 112. The suction pipe 115 sucks up the laundry treatment agent stored inside the tank body 112. The filter 116 is provided to prevent dirt and other debris from being sucked into the suction pipe 115.

[0051] The tank body 112 has a box-like shape with an open top. The tank body 112 has a front chamber 112a and a rear chamber 112b. The rear chamber 112b extends rearward from the top of the front chamber 112a. In a side view (viewed from the left or right), the tank body 112 has a shape like a rotated "L". When in use, the tank body 112 is formed so that the bottom wall of the rear chamber 112b is higher than the bottom wall of the front chamber 112a. Furthermore, the bottom wall of the rear chamber 112b is formed to slope downward toward the front chamber 112a. This is designed to prevent laundry detergent from remaining in the rear chamber 112b. The area behind the front chamber 112a and below the rear chamber 112b is designated as an area for arranging the automatic dispensing means 120, which will be described in detail later.

[0052] The upper cover body 114 is made of a plate-shaped member that is large enough to cover the upper opening of the tank body 112. The upper cover body 114 is provided with an opening 114a that can be used for purposes such as pouring in laundry detergent. The upper cover body 114 is also provided with a lid 114b for opening and closing the opening 114a.

[0053] The suction pipe 115 is located inside the tank body 112. In this embodiment, the suction pipe 115 is attached to a wall surface (rear wall) erected on the rear side of the front chamber 112a. The suction pipe 115 is bent in a roughly "L" shape. The suction pipe 115 is installed so as to extend forward from the rear wall of the front chamber 112a, then curve and extend downward.

[0054] The filter 116 is installed inside the tank body 112 (in this embodiment, the front chamber 112a) so as to surround the suction pipe 115. In this embodiment, the filter 116 comprises a filter front wall portion 116a, a filter upper wall portion 116b, and a filter inclined wall portion 116c.

[0055] The filter front wall portion 116a is the part that is erected in front of the suction pipe 115. Inside the tank body 112, the filter front wall portion 116a is provided so as to face the rear wall portion of the front chamber 112a via the suction pipe 115. The filter upper wall portion 116b is the part that extends in the front-rear direction above the suction pipe 115. The filter upper wall portion 116b is the part that extends from the upper end of the filter front wall portion 116a to the bottom wall portion of the rear chamber 112b. The filter inclined wall portion 116c is the part that is inclined to connect the upper end of the filter front wall portion 116a and the filter upper wall portion 116b. The filter 116 is formed so that its width approximately matches the length from one side wall to the other side wall in the left-right direction within the tank body 112. Therefore, when the filter 116 is placed inside the tank body 112, the suction pipe 115 is positioned within the area enclosed by both side walls of the tank body 112, the rear wall of the front chamber 112a, and the front wall 116a of the filter.

[0056] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the automatic dispensing means 120 is provided in the area behind the front chamber 112a and below the rear chamber 112b of the tank 110. The automatic dispensing means 120 is provided for each tank 110. In this embodiment, since there are two tanks 110, there are also two automatic dispensing means 120, each of which can be operated independently.

[0057] The automatic dispensing means 120 includes a pump 122 for sucking and discharging the laundry detergent. Furthermore, the automatic dispensing means 120 includes a suction-side connection part 124 and a discharge-side connection part 126. The pump 122 is connected by piping to the suction-side connection part 124 and the discharge-side connection part 126. The suction-side connection part 124 is connected to a suction pipe 115 provided in the tank 110 when the tank 110 is set in the tank housing part 150. The discharge-side connection part 126 is connected to the second water injection part 130, which will be described in detail later. Therefore, by operating the pump 122 with the tank 110 set in the tank housing part 150, the automatic dispensing means 120 can suck the laundry detergent stored inside the tank 110 and supply it to the second water injection part 130.

[0058] As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the second water injection unit 130 is located below the tank 110 and the automatic dispensing means 120 described above. As shown in Figure 16, the second water injection unit 130 has an automatic dispensing path 132, a treatment agent supply port 134, and a water supply port 136.

[0059] The automatic dispensing path 132 is a path through which water supplied from the water supply unit 160 and laundry detergent discharged from the tank 110 flow in and are discharged toward the washing tub 20. The automatic dispensing path 132 has an outlet 138 on the downstream side (discharge side toward the washing tub 20) from the upstream side in the flow direction of the laundry detergent and water. The automatic dispensing path 132 is preferably formed so that the flow path width widens along the entire path from the upstream side toward the downstream side, or in the portion from the middle of the path toward the outlet 138. In this embodiment, the automatic dispensing path 132 is formed so that the flow path width widens from the middle of the path, downstream of the detergent supply port 134 and the water supply port 136 toward the outlet 138.

[0060] The automatic dispensing path 132 can extend in a straight line from the upstream side to the downstream side (discharge port 138 side), but in this embodiment it is formed to form a meandering path. This is expected to promote the agitation of the laundry detergent and water supplied to the automatic dispensing path 132 as they pass through it.

[0061] The treatment agent supply port 134 is a supply port for introducing the laundry treatment agent discharged from the tank 110 into the automatic dispensing path 132. In this embodiment, since there are two tanks 110, there are also two treatment agent supply ports 134. Furthermore, the treatment agent supply port 134 is provided to communicate with a curved section in the automatic dispensing path 132. Specifically, the treatment agent supply port 134 is provided to communicate with a position on the outer side in the direction of the radius of curvature of the curved section in the automatic dispensing path 132. This is expected to have the effect of suppressing the accumulation of the laundry treatment agent supplied from the treatment agent supply port 134 to the automatic dispensing path 132 in a localized area.

[0062] The water supply port 136 is a supply port for introducing water supplied from the water supply unit 160, which will be described in detail later, into the automatic dispensing path 132. The water supply port 136 is located upstream of the point where it communicates with the treatment agent supply port 134, and is configured to communicate with the automatic dispensing path 132. This is expected to improve the reliability of the laundry treatment agent introduced from the treatment agent supply port 134 into the automatic dispensing path 132 being supplied to the washing tub 20 from the discharge port 138.

[0063] The water supply unit 160 is capable of supplying water to the manual dispensing unit 50 and the automatic dispensing unit 100 described above. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the water supply unit 160 comprises a water source connection unit 170, a manual water supply unit 180, and an automatic water supply unit 190. The water source connection unit 170 is the part that is connected to the water source. In this embodiment, the water source connection unit 170 is the part that is connected to the tap of the water supply, which is the water source, via a hose or the like. In addition, the manual water supply unit 180 and the automatic water supply unit 190 are branched off from the water supply unit 160. The water source connection unit 170 is for supplying water to the manual dispensing unit 50. The automatic water supply unit 190 is for supplying water to the automatic dispensing unit 100.

[0064] The manual water supply unit 180 is in communication with the first water injection unit 56 of the manual input unit 50. The manual water supply unit 180 has a first manual water supply unit 182 and a second manual water supply unit 184. As shown in Figures 7 and 10, the first manual water supply unit 182 is provided to communicate with the first compartmentalized area 70 provided in the first water injection unit 56, corresponding to the first laundry agent storage unit 60. Also, as shown in Figures 7 and 11, the second manual water supply unit 184 is provided to communicate with the second compartmentalized area 72 provided in the first water injection unit 56, corresponding to the second laundry agent storage unit 62.

[0065] The first manual water supply unit 182 and the second manual water supply unit 184 are each formed in a cylindrical shape and are formed to extend in the direction in which the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72 are aligned (first direction). In this embodiment, since the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72 are arranged to be aligned in the left-right direction, the first manual water supply unit 182 and the second manual water supply unit 184 are also formed to extend in the left-right direction. Furthermore, the first manual water supply unit 182 and the second manual water supply unit 184 are arranged to extend in directions parallel to each other (approximately parallel in this embodiment). The first manual water supply unit 182 and the second manual water supply unit 184 are located at separate positions in a direction intersecting the first direction (front-back direction in this embodiment).

[0066] As described above, the first manual water supply unit 182 can supply water from the water source to the first compartment area 70 of the first water injection unit 56. The water supplied to the first compartment area 70 flows down to the first laundry detergent storage unit 60 (powder detergent storage unit). Similarly, the second manual water supply unit 184 can supply water from the water source to the first compartment area 70 of the first water injection unit 56. The water supplied to the second compartment area 72 flows down to the second laundry detergent storage unit 62 (auxiliary agent storage unit).

[0067] The automatic water supply unit 190 is connected to the second water injection unit 130 of the automatic water supply unit 100 via a pipe section 192. As shown in Figures 17 and 18, the pipe section 192 is provided with a downward slope from the upstream side (water source side) to the downstream side (second water injection unit 130 side) in the direction of water flow. Also, as shown in Figure 18, the pipe section 192 is arranged to pass through a space extending in the left-right direction provided behind the case 54 that constitutes the manual water supply unit 50. The pipe section 192 is provided independently of the components such as the case 54 that constitute the manual water supply unit 50, and the components such as the tank 110 and tank housing 150 that constitute the automatic water supply unit 100. Therefore, the pipe section 192 is simpler and offers greater layout flexibility compared to a configuration in which a flow path is formed inside the components that make up the manual water supply unit 50 and the automatic water supply unit 100 to connect the second water injection unit 130 and the automatic water supply unit 190.

[0068] As shown in Figure 18, the second water inlet 130, the first water inlet 56, and the water supply 160 are arranged in this order in the left-right direction (second direction). The connection part (water supply port 136) of the second water inlet 130 to the water supply 160 is located on the side of the first water inlet 56 (water supply 160) in the second direction of the second water inlet 130. In this embodiment, when manual dispensing is used, the water supply valve 163 of the automatic dispensing water supply 190 is closed and the water supply valves 161 and 162 of the manual dispensing water supply 180 are open, and the laundry water discharged from the outlet 51 pours onto the laundry. However, when automatic dispensing is used, the water supply valve 163 of the automatic dispensing water supply 190 is open and the water supply valves 161 and 162 of the manual dispensing water supply 180 are closed, and the laundry water discharged from the outlet 138 pours onto the laundry. Because the discharge port 51 is located on one side in the left-right direction, when using manual dispensing (first manual water supply unit 182: open state, second manual water supply unit 184: closed state), the washing water is poured onto the laundry located on one side in the left-right direction, making it difficult for the laundry located on the other side to get wet. Ensuring that the laundry on the other side also gets plenty of water can be expected to improve the washing effect. On the other hand, because the discharge port 138 is located on the other side in the left-right direction, when using automatic dispensing (automatic water supply unit 190: open state, manual water supply unit: closed state), the washing water is poured onto the laundry located on the other side in the left-right direction, making it difficult for the laundry located on one side to get wet. Ensuring that the laundry on the one side also gets plenty of water can be expected to improve the washing effect. To solve this problem, it is preferable to supply water to the washing tub 20 from both the automatic dispensing route and the manual dispensing route. Specifically, in the case of manual or automatic water dispensing, water is supplied from the manual water supply unit 180 to the case 54, and from the automatic water supply unit 190 to the second water inlet unit 130, so that water falls on both the left and right sides of the washing tub 20.

[0069] More specifically, in the washing process when automatic dispensing is used, the water supply valve 163 of the automatic water supply unit 190 is opened to operate the automatic dispensing unit 100, and washing water containing the laundry detergent is poured into the washing tub 20 from the discharge port 138. At the same time, the water supply valves 161 and 162 of the manual water supply unit 180 (first manual water supply unit 182: open, second manual water supply unit 184: closed) are opened to supply water to the case 54. In the washing process when manual dispensing is used, the operation of the automatic dispensing unit 100 is stopped (not operated), and the water supply valves 161 and 162 of the automatic water supply unit 190 and the manual water supply unit 180 (first manual water supply unit 182: open, second manual water supply unit 184: closed) are opened to supply water to the second water injection unit 130 and the case 54 (first laundry detergent storage unit 60). The water supply control unit can adjust the water supply unit 170 as appropriate to determine the ratio of the amount of water discharged from outlet 51 to the amount of water discharged from outlet 138, but it is preferable to set the ratio to 1:1, for example.

[0070] Furthermore, during the rinsing process after the spin-drying process, since the laundry is gathered to the outside of the washing tub 20 during the spin-drying process, water is supplied to the washing tub 20, causing water to splash back from the bottom of the washing tub 20 and resulting in a large amount of water droplets adhering to the inside of the lid 42. To solve this problem, it is preferable to supply water to the washing tub 20 from both the automatic supply path and the manual supply path. Specifically, water is supplied to the case 54 from the manual water supply section 180 (first manual water supply section 182: open or closed state, second manual water supply section 184: open state), and water is supplied to the second water inlet section 130 from the automatic water supply section 190, so that water falls on both the left and right sides of the washing tub 20. Note that in the case of rinsing using manual dispensing, the operation of the automatic dispensing section 100 is stopped (not operated). Furthermore, the total amount of water discharged from outlet 51 and outlet 138 may be greater or less than the total amount when using either manual or automatic water supply, but it is preferable that they be the same. In addition, the water supply control unit can appropriately adjust the water supply unit 170 to determine the distribution between the amount of water discharged from outlet 51 and the amount of water discharged from outlet 138, but it is preferable to set the ratio to, for example, 1:1.

[0071] In addition, during the final rinse cycle of one or more rinse cycles, if automatic dispensing is used, the water supply valve 163 of the automatic water supply unit 190 is opened to operate the automatic dispensing unit 100, and water containing laundry aids (e.g., fabric softener) is dispensed into the washing tub 20 from the outlet 138. At the same time, the water supply valves 161 and 162 of the manual water supply unit 180 (at least one of the first manual water supply unit 182 and the second manual water supply unit 184: open) are opened to supply water to the case 54. In the case of manual dispensing, with the operation of the automatic dispensing unit 100 stopped (not operating), the water supply valves 161 to 163 of the automatic water supply unit 190 and the manual water supply unit 180 (first manual water supply unit 182: open or closed, second manual water supply unit 184: open) are opened to supply water to the second water injection unit 130 and the case 54 (second laundry agent storage unit 62). The total amount of water discharged from outlet 51 and outlet 138 may be greater or less than the total amount when using either manual or automatic water supply, but it is preferable that they be the same. The water supply control unit can adjust the water supply unit 170 as appropriate to distribute the amount of water discharged from outlet 51 and outlet 138, but it is preferable to set the ratio to, for example, 1:1.

[0072] Here, the washing machine 10 described above is configured to pour water into the washing tub 20 from the rear, as shown in Figure 2, etc. Therefore, in order to supply water to the washing tub 20 without bias, it is desirable to configure the washing machine so that the water discharged from the rear of the washing tub 20 can also reach the front. More specifically, in the washing machine 10, the washing tub 20 includes a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24 that is rotatably provided inside the water tank 22. A motor 12 is provided at the bottom of the water tank 22. A belt is suspended between a pulley provided on the output shaft of the motor 12 and a pulley at the lower end of the rotating shaft. The rotating shaft connected to the pulsator 26 penetrates the center of the bottom surface of the water tank 22 at the position of the rotation axis C of the washing tub 20. The pulsator 26 is attached to the upper end of the rotating shaft. The pulsator 26 is provided on the bottom surface of the rotating tub 24 and agitates the washing water by rotating under the driving force of the motor 12. Given this configuration, the washing machine 10 should be configured such that water discharged from the rear of the washing tub 20 can also reach the front. To achieve this configuration, for example, the manual water dispenser 50 should be configured as shown in the modified example in Figure 19. The modified manual water dispenser 50 will be described below.

[0073] The modified manual water dispenser 50 shown in Figure 19 has a storage section 52 that includes an inclined guide mechanism 400 for guiding the washing water from the case 54. The inclined guide mechanism 400 has a bottom wall section 410 that slopes upward from the front discharge port 51 towards the rear. The bottom wall section 410 has a first bottom wall 412 that slopes upward from the discharge port 51 towards the rear at a first gradient, and a second bottom wall 414 that slopes upward at a second gradient smaller than that of the first bottom wall 412. The position where the bottom wall section 410 switches from the second gradient to the first gradient (gradient change position 416) is located on the side closer to the discharge port 51 in the front-rear direction of the storage section 52. With this configuration, the water discharged from the rear of the case 54 can flow from the rear to the front of the storage section 52.

[0074] To explain the size of each part in more detail, the end of the bottom surface 60x of the first water inlet section 60 is located horizontally at a distance A behind the gradient change position 416. The distance A is preferably 90 to 100 mm (95 mm in this embodiment). The end of the bottom surface 60x of the first water inlet section 60 is located vertically at a distance B above the gradient change position 416. The distance B is preferably 25 to 35 mm (31 mm in this embodiment). The inclination θ1 of the first bottom wall 412 is preferably in the range of 40 to 80 degrees (59 degrees in this embodiment). The inclination θ2 of the second bottom wall 414 is preferably in the range of 3 to 10 degrees (5 to 6 degrees in this embodiment). The ratio (θ1 / θ2) of the inclination θ1 of the first bottom wall 412 and the inclination θ2 of the second bottom wall 414 is preferably in the range of 5 to 15. Furthermore, the distance C between the gradient change position 416 and the end of the outlet 51 should be 3 to 10 mm (4 mm in this embodiment). The opening width D of the outlet 51 should be 20 to 30 mm (25 mm in this embodiment). In addition, the height distance E between the gradient change position 416 and the lower end of the outlet 51 should be 10 to 15 mm (12 mm in this embodiment).

[0075] The water containing the laundry detergent discharged from case 54 flows from rear to front, due to the bottom wall section 410 which slopes upward from the front outlet 51 towards the rear. This efficiently guides the water containing the laundry detergent discharged from case 54 towards the outlet 51. Furthermore, since the bottom wall section 410 has a first bottom wall 412 and a second bottom wall 414, the water containing the laundry detergent can be efficiently guided to the outlet 51, preventing water from accumulating at the rear. By making the first bottom wall 412 have a greater slope than the second bottom wall 414, the water flow near the outlet 51 is accelerated, enabling more efficient drainage.

[0076] The first water injection section 56 has a water injection hole 74 located directly above the case and an overflow hole 78 located at the rear of the housing section 52. Water discharged from the overflow hole 78 flows from the rear to the front of the housing section 52. With this configuration, even if there is excessive water injection, the overflow can be efficiently drained from the rear to the front of the housing section 52. Multiple water injection holes 74 are provided for each of the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72, allowing the injected water to be distributed and supplied to each compartment area.

[0077] The first water injection section 56 has an overflow path 76. The overflow path 76 includes a first overflow path 82 that communicates with the first compartment area 70 and is partitioned from the second compartment area 72, and a second overflow path 84 that communicates with the second compartment area 72 and is partitioned from the first compartment area 70. The first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 are in communication, and the second overflow path 84 is provided to descend from the first overflow path 82. With this configuration, the overflow generated in the first compartment area 70 can be efficiently guided from the first overflow path 82 to the second overflow path 84. In addition, the overflow path 76 has a gentle curve at the point where the first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 communicate, allowing for smooth guidance of the water flow. The downstream end of the second overflow path 84 is connected to an overflow hole 78, ensuring reliable discharge of the overflow. In this embodiment, the powder detergent storage section 60a is provided with a first overflow hole 60d (overflow hole 1), a third overflow hole 60e (overflow hole 2), and a fourth overflow hole 60f (overflow hole 3), and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 is provided with a second overflow hole 62c. By providing multiple overflow holes in this way, overflow water can be efficiently discharged. In addition, the gentle curve at the connection between the first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 has the function of guiding the water flow so that it flows smoothly without stagnation.

[0078] The outlets 51 and 138 are positioned side by side in the left-right direction. Specifically, outlet 51 is located on one side in the left-right direction (for example, the right side), and outlet 138 is located on the other side in the left-right direction (for example, the left side). This arrangement allows washing water to be supplied from both the left and right sides of the washing tub 20, ensuring that the washing water is evenly distributed throughout the laundry. In particular, during the washing process, supplying water from both sides allows the clothes to absorb water evenly, improving the washing effect. Furthermore, the water flows supplied from the left and right outlets 51 and 138 interfere with each other, increasing the agitation effect of the washing water and improving the washing effect. This arrangement also has the effect of suppressing water splashing caused by uneven distribution of laundry.

[0079] Here, as described above, when controlling the washing and rinsing processes using both the path from the second water supply unit 130 to the washing tub 20 (automatic water supply path 210a) and the path from the case 54 of the manual water supply unit 50 to the washing tub 20 (manual water supply path 210b), it is advisable to provide a control unit (water supply control unit 310) to realize such control. In such a configuration, the water supply control unit 310 should have the configuration shown in Figure 20 and perform the following control.

[0080] Specifically, the water supply control unit 310 controls the supply of water to the second water injection unit 130 and the case 54 during the washing and rinsing processes. Specifically, during the rinsing process after the spin-drying process, if water is supplied to the washing tub 20 with the laundry gathered towards the outside of the tub, water tends to splash back from the bottom of the washing tub 20, causing a large amount of water droplets to adhere to the inside of the lid 42. This accumulation of water droplets makes it difficult to see inside the washing tub 20 through the lid 42 and can lead to the formation of limescale. To solve these problems, the water supply control unit 310 controls the supply of water to both the second water injection unit 130 and the case 54. This allows for a uniform supply of water to the laundry from both the left and right sides, suppressing water splashing.

[0081] During the washing and rinsing processes, the water supply control unit 310 controls the distribution of water discharged from outlet 51 and outlet 138 by adjusting the opening degree of each water supply valve 161 to 163 via the water volume distribution control unit 320. Specifically, by setting the distribution of water discharged from outlet 51 and outlet 138 to a ratio of, for example, 1:1, a more uniform water supply becomes possible. In addition, the water volume distribution control unit 320 has a function to automatically adjust the opening degree of the water supply valves in response to fluctuations in water pressure, thereby maintaining an appropriate water volume distribution at all times.

[0082] When automatic dispensing is used in the washing process, with the automatic dispensing unit 100 driven, the water supply control unit 310 supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and also to the manual dispensing path 210b of the case 54. For water supply control at this time, for example, the following control pattern 1 or pattern 2 can be executed.

[0083] When performing control according to pattern 1, as shown in Figure 21, first, with the automatic dispensing unit 100 driven to dispense detergent, the water supply control unit 310 executes step S11, which supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a for t1 seconds (for example, 10 seconds). Next, it executes step S12, which stops the driving of the automatic dispensing unit. Then, it executes step S13, which stops the water supply to the automatic dispensing path 210a for t2 seconds (for example, 10 seconds) and supplies water to the manual dispensing path 210b (first laundry detergent storage unit 60) for t2 seconds (for example, 10 seconds). Finally, it executes step S14, which determines whether the amount of detergent dispensed has reached a predetermined amount. If the amount of detergent dispensed has not reached a predetermined amount, the control unit returns the control flow to step S11. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S14 that the amount of detergent to be dispensed has reached a predetermined amount, the automatic dispensing unit 100 is stopped, and step S15 is executed to supply water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b (first laundry detergent storage unit 60) until the set water level is reached, and then the control is terminated. Note that in step S15, the configuration is not limited to supplying water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b simultaneously, and there may be a time difference.

[0084] When controlling according to Pattern 2, as shown in Figure 22, first, while maintaining the state in which the automatic dispensing unit 100 is driven to dispense detergent, the water supply control unit 310 executes step S21, which supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a for t3 seconds (for example, 10 seconds). Next, it executes step S22, which stops the water supply to the automatic dispensing path 210a and supplies water to the manual dispensing path 210b (first laundry agent storage unit 60) for t4 seconds (for example, 10 seconds). Subsequently, it executes step S23, which stops the water supply to the manual dispensing path 210b and supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a for t5 seconds (for example, 10 seconds). Then, it executes step S24 to determine whether the amount of detergent dispensed has reached a predetermined amount. If the predetermined amount has not been reached, it returns to step S22. On the other hand, if the amount of detergent dispensed has reached a predetermined amount, it executes step S25, which simultaneously supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b (first laundry agent storage unit 60) until the set water level is reached. Furthermore, in step S25, the configuration is not limited to supplying water to the automatic supply path 210a and the manual supply path 210b simultaneously; there may be a time difference.

[0085] When using automatic dispensing in the final rinse cycle, with the automatic dispensing unit 100 driven to dispense fabric softener, the water supply control unit 310 supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and also to the manual dispensing path 210b (second laundry agent storage unit 62) of the case 54. As for the water supply control at this time, as shown in Figure 23, first, while maintaining the state in which the automatic dispensing unit 100 is driven, the water supply control unit 310 executes step S31, which supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a for t6 seconds (for example, 15 seconds). Next, it stops the water supply to the automatic dispensing path 210a and executes step S32, which supplies water to the manual dispensing path 210b (second laundry agent storage unit 62) for t7 seconds (for example, 10 seconds). Subsequently, it stops the water supply to the manual dispensing path 210b and executes step S33, which supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a for t8 seconds (for example, 15 seconds). Then, step S34 is executed to determine if the amount of fabric softener to be added has reached a predetermined amount. If the predetermined amount has not been reached, the process returns to step S32. If the predetermined amount has been reached, step S35 is executed to simultaneously supply water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b (first laundry processing agent storage section 60) and to terminate the process. Note that in step S35, the configuration is not limited to simultaneously supplying water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b; there may be a time difference. Also, between steps S34 and S35, the processes of steps S32 and S33 may be repeated. Note that in the operation mode in which two rinses are performed, the first rinse process is controlled using the same steps as the washing process, and the second rinse process is controlled using the steps S31 to S36 described above.

[0086] If automatic dispensing is not used during the washing process, the water supply control unit 310 supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b (first laundry agent storage section 60) with the automatic dispensing unit 100 stopped. At this time, since the second laundry agent storage section 62 may contain fabric softener, water is not supplied to the second laundry agent storage section 62. This prevents fabric softener from being added during the washing process.

[0087] As water supply control during the final rinse process when automatic dispensing is not used, as shown in Figure 24, with the automatic dispensing unit 100 stopped, the water supply control unit 310 stops supplying water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and performs step S41, which supplies water to the manual dispensing path 210b (second laundry detergent storage unit 62) for t9 seconds (for example, 10 seconds). At this time, since there is no detergent remaining in the first laundry detergent storage unit 60, water can also be supplied to the first laundry detergent storage unit 60. This makes it possible to supply water more uniformly.

[0088] Then, step S42 is performed, in which the water supply to the manual dispensing path 210b is stopped and water is supplied to the automatic dispensing path 210a for t10 seconds (for example, 15 seconds). In step S43, it is determined whether a predetermined time s has elapsed. If the predetermined time s has not elapsed, the process returns to step S41; if it has elapsed, the process proceeds to step S44. In step S44, water is supplied to both the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b (first laundry treatment agent storage section 60) simultaneously, and the process ends. Note that in step S44, the configuration is not limited to supplying water to both the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b simultaneously; there may be a time difference.

[0089] For water supply control during the intermediate rinsing process, the control unit either performs the same water supply control as in the washing process, or supplies water to both the automatic supply path 210a and the manual supply path 210b. This enables a uniform water supply even during the intermediate rinsing process.

[0090] The control unit performs the water supply control described above in accordance with the flowchart shown in Figure 25. Specifically, the water supply control unit 310 selects and controls the water supply route according to each process of the washing and rinsing processes during the operation of the washing machine 10. The control by the water supply control unit 310 will be described below.

[0091] The control unit first determines in the process determination process (step 101) whether the process to be executed is a washing process or a rinsing process. If it is a washing process, the control unit determines whether to use automatic dispensing in the automatic dispensing use determination process (step S102), and determines the subsequent control content based on the determination result. If it is a rinsing process, the control unit performs a rinsing process determination process (step S103) to determine whether the rinsing process is a final rinse or an intermediate rinse, and determines the subsequent control content based on the determination result.

[0092] If the automatic dispensing usage determination process (step S102) described above determines that automatic dispensing should be used during the washing process, the control unit performs an automatic dispensing drive process (step S111) to put the automatic dispensing unit 100 into a driven state. In the automatic dispensing drive process (step S111), the water supply control unit 310 is executed by controlling the water supply, for example, by controlling according to pattern 1 shown in Figure 21 or by controlling according to pattern 2 shown in Figure 22.

[0093] On the other hand, if the automatic dispensing usage determination process (step S102) described above determines that automatic dispensing should not be used in the washing process, the control unit performs an automatic dispensing stop process (step S121), stopping the automatic dispensing unit 100 while simultaneously supplying water to both the automatic dispensing path 210a and the manual dispensing path 210b. At this time, the water supply control unit 310 stops the water supply to the second laundry agent storage unit 62.

[0094] Furthermore, if the process determination process (step S101) determines that it is a rinsing process, the control unit performs a rinsing process determination process (step S103) to determine whether the rinsing process is a final rinse or an intermediate rinse. If it is determined that it is a final rinse, the control unit performs a final rinse control process (step S131) ​​to control the water supply for the final rinse, depending on whether automatic dispensing is used. Specifically, if automatic dispensing is used in the final rinse, the water supply control unit 310 sequentially performs the following operations according to the flow in Figure 23: supplying water to the automatic dispensing path 210a (for a predetermined time: e.g., 15 seconds), supplying water to the manual dispensing path 210b (second laundry agent storage section 62) (for a predetermined time: e.g., 10 seconds), and supplying water to the automatic dispensing path 210a again (for a predetermined time: e.g., 15 seconds). On the other hand, if automatic dispensing is not used in the final rinse, the water supply control unit 310 alternately supplies water to the automatic dispensing path 210a and the second laundry treatment agent storage unit 62 according to the flow in Figure 24. However, simultaneous water supply control may be performed, supplying water to both the second laundry treatment agent storage unit 62 and the first laundry treatment agent storage unit 60.

[0095] Furthermore, if the rinsing process is determined to be an intermediate rinse in the rinsing process determination process (step S103), the water supply control unit 310 performs the intermediate rinse water supply process. The intermediate rinse water supply process is achieved by performing the same control as the washing process described above, or by performing control to supply water simultaneously to both the automatic supply path 210a and the manual supply path 210b.

[0096] In each of the above-described control systems, the water supply control unit 310 controls the amount of water supplied from each route by adjusting the opening degree of each water supply valve 161 to 163 via the water volume distribution control unit 320. Specifically, when both the automatic supply route 210a and the manual supply route 210b are used, the water supply control unit 310 controls the water supply so that the ratio of the water supplied from both routes is 1:1.

[0097] <Effects> The effects and other benefits obtained by the configuration of the washing machine 10 described above will be explained below for each aspect of the present invention.

[0098] [Regarding the washing machine 10 according to the first aspect of the present invention] Conventionally, as disclosed in the patent document related to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-29710, a technique is known in which an overflow section is provided in the water supply case into which detergent is dispensed. Patent document 1 discloses a configuration in which a water receiving section is provided on the right side and a laundry aid storage section is provided on the left side, dividing the water supply case in the width direction, with detergent being dispensed into the water receiving section and fabric softener into the laundry aid storage section. Furthermore, in the prior art described in the patent document, the notch is formed in the water receiving section.

[0099] In the prior art described in the above-mentioned patent document, the laundry aid reservoir is configured to avoid the notch. Therefore, even if the configuration described in Patent Document 1 prevents laundry water from flowing from the notch in the water receiving section into the laundry aid reservoir during overflow, there is a problem in that the size or shape of the laundry aid reservoir changes in relation to the water receiving section.

[0100] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a washing machine that, even if it is provided with a first laundry agent storage section, a second laundry agent storage section, and an overflow section, is capable of preventing water from flowing from one storage section to the other due to overflow.

[0101] (1-1) The washing machine 10 of the present invention, provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, comprises a washing tub 20 including a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24 rotatably provided in the water tank 22, a main body 32 housing the washing tub 20, and a case 54 into which a laundry detergent is put, wherein the case 54 includes a first laundry detergent storage section 60 capable of storing a first laundry detergent for putting into the washing tub 20, and a second laundry detergent storage section 6 capable of storing a second laundry detergent for putting into the washing tub 20, and is provided so as to be aligned left and right with respect to the first laundry detergent storage section 60 2. The device comprises a water supply section (first water supply section 56) that supplies water from the water supply section 160 to either or both of the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62, an overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) that is open to allow water to flow in the left-right direction, and a first partition section 64 that faces the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) in the left-right direction, wherein the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) is open to the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 while communicating with the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60.

[0102] In the washing machine 10 of the present invention, the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) provided in the case 54 is open to the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 while communicating with the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60. Furthermore, in the washing machine 10 of the present invention, the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) is provided to allow water to flow in the left-right direction where the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 are aligned, while the first partition section 64 is provided so as to face the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) in the left-right direction. Therefore, even if water poured into the case 54 by the water injection section (first water injection section 56) overflows from the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) that opens to the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60, the first partition section 64 can prevent water from flowing into the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62.

[0103] (1-2) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (1-1) above, the first partition 64 is provided in at least the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62, or is provided between the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62.

[0104] By having the configuration described in (1-2) above, the washing machine 10 of the present invention can further suppress the overflow of water from flowing into the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 by the first partition section 64.

[0105] (1-3) The washing machine 10 of the present invention described in (1-1) above is equipped with a housing section 52 that houses the case 54, and the first partition section 64 is provided in the housing section 52.

[0106] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (1-3) above, can prevent overflow water from flowing into the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 by the first partition section 64 provided in the storage section 52.

[0107] (1-4) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention relating to any of (1-1) to (1-3) described above, the case 54 has connecting parts 60m and 60n that connect the first laundry treatment agent storage part 60 and the second laundry treatment agent storage part 62 above the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d).

[0108] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (1-4) above, can discharge overflow water from the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) while the water level is low, below the connection points 60m and 60n. As a result, the washing machine 10 of the present invention can more reliably suppress the leakage of overflow water.

[0109] (1-5) The washing machine 10 of the present invention relating to any of (1-1) to (1-4) described above has a powder detergent storage section 60a capable of storing powder detergent as the first laundry detergent storage section 60, and a liquid detergent storage section 60b capable of storing liquid detergent is detachably provided in the powder detergent storage section 60a, and the liquid detergent storage section 60b has a support piece 60i that can engage with and detach from the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) provided in the powder detergent storage section 60a.

[0110] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (1-5) above, can effectively utilize the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) when attaching or detaching the liquid detergent storage section 60b to the powder detergent storage section 60a.

[0111] (1-6) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention relating to any of (1-1) to (1-5) described above, at least one of the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 and the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 is equipped with a siphon tube 60g, 62a that protrudes upward and a siphon cap 60h, 62b that is placed over the siphon tube 60g, 62a, and the overflow hole (first overflow hole 60d) is located above the siphon tube 60g, 62a.

[0112] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (1-6) above, can reliably draw up the laundry treatment agent using a siphon mechanism equipped with siphon tubes 60g and 62a and siphon caps 60h and 62b.

[0113] (1-7) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention relating to any of (1-1) to (1-6) described above, the second laundry treatment agent storage section 62 has a second overflow hole 62c that penetrates in the left-right direction at a position on the side of the first laundry treatment agent storage section 60 in the left-right direction, and the second overflow hole 62c is offset in the front-rear direction from the first overflow hole 60d which serves as the overflow hole.

[0114] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (1-7) above, can prevent overflow water discharged from one of the first overflow holes 60d and the second overflow hole 62c from flowing into the other overflow hole.

[0115] (1-8) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (1-7) above, the case 54 has a second partition 66 extending along the left-right direction, and the second partition 66 is positioned between the first overflow hole 60d and the second overflow hole 62c.

[0116] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (1-8) above, can suppress the flow of overflow water discharged from one of the overflow holes, the first overflow hole 60d and the second overflow hole 62c, with the second partition 66, thereby preventing it from flowing into the other overflow hole.

[0117] (1-9) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention relating to any of (1-1) to (1-8) described above, the water inlet (first water inlet 56) has a water inlet hole 74 located directly above the case 54 and an overflow hole 78 located outside the projection range of the case 54.

[0118] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, with the configuration described in (1-9) above, can accurately supply water from the water inlet hole 74 provided in the water inlet section (first water inlet section 56) to the case 54, and can also discharge any overflow water to the outside of the case 54.

[0119] [Regarding the washing machine 10 according to a second aspect of the present invention] Conventionally, the patent document related to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-59340 discloses a washing machine comprising a housing, a washing tub provided inside the housing for storing laundry, an outer tub that rotatably encloses the washing tub, a water supply unit disposed inside the housing for supplying water to the washing tub or the outer tub, a liquid tank for storing liquid agents, and an automatic liquid agent dispenser for dispensing the liquid agent stored in the liquid tank into the washing tub, with the water supply unit located behind the detergent case.

[0120] In the aforementioned patent document, the water supply unit housing has first and second water supply paths for supplying water to the detergent case, and a third water supply path for supplying water to the automatic liquid dispenser, which presents a problem in that the flow path design in the water supply unit housing becomes complex.

[0121] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a washing machine that can simplify the flow path structure.

[0122] (2-1) The washing machine 10 of the present invention, provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, includes a washing tub 20 including a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24 rotatably provided in the water tank 22, a main body 32 that houses the washing tub 20, a case 54 into which enough laundry detergent for one wash is put, a first water supply unit 56 that pours water flowing in from a water supply unit 160 into the case 54, a detergent supply port 134 into which the laundry detergent flows, and a water supply port 134 into which water flows from the water supply unit 160. The water supply unit 160 comprises a second water supply unit 130 having a water supply port 136, and an automatic dispensing unit 100 that discharges laundry detergent stored in the tank 110 from the detergent supply port 134 to the second water supply unit 130 and dispenses it from the second water supply unit 130 into the washing tub 20. The water supply unit 160 has a manual water supply unit 180 that communicates with the first water supply unit 56 and an automatic water supply unit 190 that communicates with the second water supply unit 130 via a pipe unit 192.

[0123] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (2-1) above, only needs to be provided with a manual water supply section 180 that communicates with the first water injection section 56 and an automatic water supply section 190 that communicates with the second water injection section 130 via a pipe section 192, thereby simplifying the flow path structure.

[0124] (2-2) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (2-1) above, the first water supply unit 56 has a first compartmentalized area 70 and a second compartmentalized area 72 partitioned from the first compartmentalized area 70, and the manual water supply unit 180 has a first manual water supply unit 182 that supplies water to the first compartmentalized area 70 and a second manual water supply unit 184 that supplies water to the second compartmentalized area 72.

[0125] By having the configuration described in (2-2) above, the washing machine 10 of the present invention can simplify the flow path structure for supplying water to the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72.

[0126] (2-3) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (2-2) above, the first manual water supply unit 182 and the second manual water supply unit 184 extend in the first direction, and the first compartmentalized area 70 and the second compartmentalized area 72 are aligned in the first direction.

[0127] By having the configuration described in (2-3) above, the washing machine 10 of the present invention allows for a simple configuration of the first manual water supply unit 182 and the second manual water supply unit 184 that supply water to the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72.

[0128] (2-4) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (2-2) above, the case 54 has a powder detergent storage section 60a capable of storing powder detergent, and an auxiliary agent storage section (second laundry treatment agent storage section 62) arranged in the left-right direction relative to the powder detergent storage section 60a and capable of storing laundry aids, and water supplied to the first compartment area 70 flows down to the powder detergent storage section 60a, and water supplied to the second compartment area 72 flows down to the auxiliary agent storage section (second laundry treatment agent storage section 62).

[0129] By having the configuration described in (2-4) above, the washing machine 10 of the present invention can simplify the flow path structure for the powder detergent storage section 60a and the auxiliary agent storage section (second laundry treatment agent storage section 62).

[0130] (2-5) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (2-1) above, the second water injection section 130, the first water injection section 56, and the water supply section 160 are arranged in the second direction in that order, and the connection portion of the second water injection section 130 to the water supply section 160 is located on the side of the first water injection section 56 in the second direction of the second water injection section.

[0131] By having the configuration described in (2-5) above, the washing machine 10 of the present invention can simplify the flow path structure consisting of the second water injection section 130, the first water injection section 56, and the water supply section 160.

[0132] (2-6) In the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (2-5) above, the second direction is the left-right direction, and it is equipped with a pipe section 192 that connects the water supply section 160 and the connection section of the second water injection section 130, and the rear side of the case 54 has a space that extends in the left-right direction, and the pipe section 192 is arranged to pass through the space.

[0133] By adopting the configuration described in (2-6) above, the washing machine 10 of the present invention simplifies the flow path configuration compared to cases where a flow path is formed inside other components instead of a pipeline, while effectively utilizing the space extending in the left-right direction located at the rear of the case 54 for the arrangement of the pipeline.

[0134] [Regarding the washing machine 10 (top-loading washing machine) according to the third aspect of the present invention] Conventionally, as disclosed in the patent document related to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-59340, a vertical washing machine has been provided that comprises a housing, a washing tub provided inside the housing for storing laundry, an outer tub that rotatably encloses the washing tub, a water supply unit disposed inside the housing for supplying water to the washing tub or the outer tub, a liquid tank for storing a liquid agent, an automatic liquid agent dispenser for dispensing the liquid agent stored in the liquid agent tank into the washing tub, and a tank housing section for housing the liquid agent tank.

[0135] However, the aforementioned patent documents do not specifically disclose any techniques for facilitating the incorporation of automatic feeding units or tank housing units during the assembly of the device.

[0136] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a vertical washing machine with a configuration that makes it easy to incorporate an automatic dispensing unit and a tank storage unit.

[0137] (3-1) The vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention described above comprises a washing tub 20 including a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24 rotatably provided in the water tank 22, a main body 32 that houses the washing tub 20, a main body cover 36 provided on the upper side of the main body 32, a rear cover 38 provided to cover the main body cover 36, a case 54 located on the rear side in the front-rear direction of the main body 32 into which a laundry treatment agent is put, a lid 42 that opens and closes the opening 36a for putting laundry into the main body cover 36, and a support cover 40 that rotatably supports the lid 42, wherein the support cover 40 is attached to the main body cover 36 with the case 54 assembled in the main body cover 36, and the rear cover 38 and 39 are attached to the main body cover 36 with the support cover 40 attached.

[0138] The vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (3-1) above, allows the support cover portion 40 to be attached to the main body cover portion 36 when the case 54 is assembled into the main body cover portion 36. Furthermore, the washing machine of the present invention allows the rear cover portions 38 and 39 to be attached to the main body cover portion 36 when the support cover portion 40 is attached. Therefore, by having the configuration described in (3-1) above, it is possible to provide a vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) that makes it easy to assemble components such as the case 54 into the main body cover portion 36.

[0139] (3-2) In the vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention as described in (3-1) above, an automatic dispensing unit 100 that dispenses laundry detergent stored in a tank 110 into the washing tub 20 via an automatic dispensing path 132, and a second water supply unit 130 having the automatic dispensing path 132 into which water from a water supply unit 160 flows, wherein the second water supply unit 130 is located below the tank 110.

[0140] Even when the vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention is configured to include an automatic water dispensing unit 100 and a second water filling unit 130 as described in (3-2) above, these components can be easily incorporated into the main body cover 36.

[0141] (3-3) In the vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention as described in (3-1) above, the washing machine is equipped with an automatic dispensing unit 100 that dispenses the laundry detergent stored in the tank 110 into the washing tub 20 via an automatic dispensing path 132, and a tank housing unit 150 that houses the tank 110, and the support cover unit 40 is connected to the main body cover unit 36 ​​so as to cover the tank housing unit 150 from above.

[0142] The vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention, by having the configuration described in (3-3) above, makes it easier to incorporate the tank housing section 150 into the main body cover section 36.

[0143] (3-4) In the vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention as described in (3-1) above, a first water supply unit 56 for supplying water that has flowed in from the water supply unit 160 into the case 54 is provided on the upper side of the case 54, and the support cover unit 40 is connected to the main body cover unit 36 ​​so as to cover the first water supply unit 56 from above.

[0144] Even when the vertical washing machine (washing machine 10) of the present invention is configured to have the first water inlet 56 as described in (3-4) above on the upper side of the case 54, these components can be easily incorporated into the main body cover 36.

[0145] [Regarding the washing machine 10 according to the fourth aspect of the present invention] Conventionally, as disclosed in the patent document related to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-59340, a washing machine has been provided that comprises a housing, a washing tub provided inside the housing for storing laundry, an outer tub that rotatably encloses the washing tub, a water supply unit disposed inside the housing for supplying water to the washing tub or the outer tub, a liquid tank for storing liquid agents, and an automatic liquid agent dispenser for dispensing the liquid agent stored in the liquid tank into the washing tub, with the water supply unit located behind the detergent case.

[0146] In the above-mentioned patent document, since the water supply unit housing has first and second water supply paths for supplying water to the detergent case, no measures are disclosed or suggested regarding measures to prevent overflow of the water supply section that injects water into the detergent case.

[0147] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a washing machine that can implement measures to prevent water overflow from the water filling section.

[0148] (4-1) The washing machine 10 of the present invention, provided to solve the above-mentioned problems, comprises a washing tub 20 including a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24 rotatably provided in the water tank 22, a main body 32 housing the washing tub 20, a case 54 into which a laundry detergent is put, and a first water supply unit 56 that pours water flowing in from a water supply unit 160 into the case 54, wherein the first water supply unit 56 has an overflow path 76 and an overflow hole 78 for discharging the water in the overflow path 76 to the outside of the overflow path 76.

[0149] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, with the configuration described in (4-1) above, can discharge water to the outside via the overflow path 76 and the overflow hole 78 even if an overflow occurs in the first water inlet 56 for filling the case 54. Therefore, the washing machine of the present invention, with the configuration described in (4-1) above, can provide a washing machine that can take measures to prevent water from overflowing into the first water inlet 56.

[0150] (4-2) In the washing machine of the present invention as described in (4-1) above, the first water inlet section 56 is located on the upper side of the case 54, and the overflow hole section 78 is located outside the projection range of the case 54.

[0151] By configuring the washing machine 10 of the present invention as described in (4-2) above, it is possible to more reliably discharge the overflow water generated in the first water inlet section 56 to the outside of the case 54.

[0152] (4-3) In the washing machine of the present invention as described in (4-1) above, the first water inlet 56 has a first partitioned area 70 and a second partitioned area 72 partitioned with respect to the first partitioned area 70, and the overflow path 76 includes a first overflow path 82 that communicates with the first partitioned area 70 and is partitioned with respect to the second partitioned area 72, and a second overflow path 84 that communicates with the second partitioned area 72 and is partitioned with respect to the first partitioned area 70, the first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 are in communication, and the second overflow path 84 has the overflow hole 78.

[0153] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, with the configuration described in (4-3) above, can discharge the overflow water generated in the first compartment area 70 and the second compartment area 72 into the first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84, respectively. Furthermore, since the first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 are connected and the second overflow path 84 is provided with an overflow hole 78, the overflow water that enters the first overflow path 82 and the second overflow path 84 can be discharged to the outside through the overflow hole 78.

[0154] (4-4) In the washing machine of the present invention as described in (4-3) above, the overflow path is provided such that the second overflow path 84 descends from the first overflow path 82.

[0155] The washing machine 10 of the present invention, with the configuration described in (4-4) above, can smoothly move the overflow water that flows into the first overflow path 82 toward the second overflow path 84 and discharge it to the outside from the overflow hole 78.

[0156] [Regarding the washing machine 10 according to the fifth aspect of the present invention] Conventionally, as disclosed in the patent document related to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2022-59340, a washing machine has been provided that comprises a housing, a washing tub provided inside the housing for storing laundry, an outer tub that rotatably encloses the washing tub, a water supply unit disposed inside the housing for supplying water to the washing tub or the outer tub, a liquid tank for storing liquid agents, an automatic liquid agent dispenser for dispensing the liquid agent stored in the liquid tank into the washing tub, and a detergent case.

[0157] While the aforementioned patent document discloses the discharge of water from an automatic liquid dispenser and a detergent case to the washing tub via the lower part of the flow path, it does not specifically disclose or suggest a configuration having a separate path for discharging water from the automatic liquid dispenser to the washing tub and another path for discharging water from the detergent case to the washing tub.

[0158] Therefore, the present invention aims to provide a top-loading washing machine that can supply water to the washing tub through an automatic water supply route and also through a manual water supply route.

[0159] (5-1) The vertical washing machine 10 of the present invention includes a washing tub 20 including a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24 rotatably provided in the water tank 22, a main body 32 that houses the washing tub 20, a case 54 into which enough laundry detergent for one wash is put, a housing 52 that houses the case 54 and has a first discharge port (discharge port 51), a detergent supply port 134 into which the laundry detergent flows, a water supply port 136 into which water from the water supply port 160 flows, and a second discharge port (discharge port) for putting the laundry detergent into the washing tub 20. The device comprises a water injection unit (second water injection unit 130) having 138), an automatic dispensing unit 100 that dispenses laundry treatment agent stored in the tank 110 into the water injection unit (second water injection unit 130) from the treatment agent supply port 134, and a water supply control unit 310 that controls the water supply unit 160. The first discharge port (discharge port 51) and the second discharge port (discharge port 138) are located side by side in the left-right direction, and the water supply control unit 310 supplies water to the second water injection unit 130 and to the case 54 during the washing process.

[0160] According to the vertical washing machine of the present invention as described in (5-1) above, water can be supplied to the washing tub 20 from an automatic dispensing path and also from a manual dispensing path. This makes it possible to supply washing water from both the left and right sides of the washing tub 20, allowing the washing water to be distributed evenly throughout the laundry.

[0161] (5-2) The vertical washing machine 10 of the present invention includes a washing tub 20 including a water tank 22 and a rotating tub 24 rotatably provided in the water tank 22, a main body 32 that houses the washing tub 20, a case 54 into which enough laundry detergent for one wash is put, a housing 52 that houses the case 54 and has a first discharge port (discharge port 51), a first water supply 56 that pours water flowing in from the water supply 160 into the case 54, a detergent supply port 134 into which the laundry detergent flows, a water supply port 136 into which water from the water supply 160 flows, and the washing tub 20 The system comprises a second water injection unit 130 having a second discharge port (discharge port 138) for introducing a processing agent, an automatic dispensing unit 100 that introduces the laundry processing agent stored in the tank 110 into the second water injection unit 130 from the processing agent supply port 134, and a water supply control unit 310 that controls the water supply unit 160. The first discharge port (discharge port 51) and the second discharge port (discharge port 138) are located side by side in the left-right direction, and the water supply control unit 310 supplies water to the second water injection unit 130 and to the case 54 during the rinsing process after the dewatering process.

[0162] According to the vertical washing machine of the present invention as described in (5-2) above, water can be supplied to the washing tub 20 from both the automatic water supply route and the manual water supply route during the rinsing process. This enables uniform water supply from both the left and right sides of the washing tub 20 during the rinsing process, thereby achieving effective rinsing.

[0163] (5-3) In the configuration of the vertical washing machine 10 of the present invention described in (5-1) and (5-2) above, the storage section 52 has a bottom wall portion 410 that slopes upward from the front discharge port 51 in the front-rear direction toward the rear, and the bottom wall portion 410 preferably has a first bottom wall 412 that slopes upward from the discharge port 51 toward the rear with a first gradient, and a second bottom wall 414 that slopes upward with a second gradient smaller than that of the first bottom wall 412.

[0164] By adopting the configuration described in (5-3) above, the water containing the laundry treatment agent discharged from case 54 can be efficiently guided toward the discharge port 51.

[0165] (5-4) In the configuration of the vertical washing machine 10 of the present invention described in (5-1) and (5-2) above, the position of change of the bottom wall portion 410 where it switches from the second slope to the first slope is preferably located on the side closer to the discharge port 51 in the front-to-back direction of the storage portion 52.

[0166] By adopting the configuration described in (5-4) above, the acceleration effect of the water flow due to the large gradient at the first bottom wall 412 can be efficiently utilized, enabling more reliable water injection.

[0167] (5-5) In the configuration of the vertical washing machine 10 of the present invention described in (5-1) and (5-2) above, the water discharged from the rear of the case 54 flows from the rear to the front of the storage section 52.

[0168] By adopting the configuration described in (5-5) above, the water discharged from the case 54 can be efficiently guided from the rear to the front of the storage section 52, thereby preventing water stagnation.

[0169] (5-6) In the configuration of the vertical washing machine 10 of the present invention described in (5-1) and (5-2) above, the first water inlet section 56 has a water inlet section 74 located directly above the case 54 and an overflow section 78 located at the rear of the housing section 52, and the water discharged from the overflow section 78 flows from the rear to the front of the housing section 52.

[0170] By adopting the configuration described in (5-6) above, even in the event of excessive water injection, the overflow can be efficiently drained from the rear to the front of the containment section 52. Furthermore, the distributed supply through the water injection holes 74 enables appropriate water supply to each compartment area.

[0171] (5-7) In the configuration of the vertical washing machine 10 of the present invention described in (5-1) and (5-2) above, the storage section 52 may have a bottom wall section 410 that slopes upward from the front discharge port 51 in the front-rear direction toward the rear.

[0172] By adopting the configuration described in (5-7) above, the water containing the laundry treatment agent discharged from case 54 can be efficiently guided toward the discharge port 51.

[0173] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications described above, and other embodiments may exist in the spirit and teachings thereof, without departing from the scope of the claims. The components of the embodiments described above may be arbitrarily selected and combined. Furthermore, any component of the embodiments may be arbitrarily combined with any component described in the means for solving the invention, or any component that embodies any component described in the means for solving the invention. We intend to obtain rights for these as well in amendments or divisional applications of this application. [Industrial applicability]

[0174] The present invention can be suitably used in washing machines in general. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0175] 10: Washing machine 20: Washing machine tub 22: Aquarium 24: Rotating tank 32: Main body 34: Cover section 36: Main body cover 36a: Opening 38: Rear cover section 40: Support cover section 42: Lid 52: Containment Unit 54: Case 56:First water injection part 60: First laundry treatment agent storage section 60a: Powder detergent storage section 60b: Liquid detergent storage section 60d: First overflow hole 60g: First siphon tube 60h: First siphon cap 60i: Support piece 60j: Support piece 60k: Support piece 60m: Connection part 60n: Connection part 62: Second laundry treatment agent storage section 62a: Second siphon tube 62b: Second siphon cap 62c:Second overflow hole 64: First partition section 66: Second partition section 70: First Section Area 72: Second Section Area 74:Water injection hole 76: Flood path 78: Overflow hole 82: First flood path 84: Second flood channel 100: Automatic loading section 110: Tank 114a:Aperture 130:Second water injection part 132: Automatic feeding route 134: Treatment agent supply port 136: Water supply port 150: Tank housing 160: Water supply section 180: Manual water supply part 182: First manual water supply section 184:Second manual water supply section 190: Automatic water supply unit 192: Pipe section

Claims

1. A washing tub including a water tank and a rotating tub rotatably provided within the water tank, The main body housing the washing tub, In cases where laundry treatment agents are added, It is equipped with, The aforementioned case is, A first laundry treatment agent storage section capable of storing the first laundry treatment agent to be put into the washing tub, A second laundry treatment agent storage section is provided to store a second laundry treatment agent for being added to the washing tub, and is arranged to be aligned left and right with respect to the first laundry treatment agent storage section. A water supply unit that pours water supplied from the water supply unit into either or both of the first laundry treatment agent storage unit and the second laundry treatment agent storage unit, An overflow hole that is open to allow water to flow in the left-right direction, A first partition portion facing the overflow hole in the left-right direction, It has the following characteristics: A washing machine characterized in that the overflow hole is open so as to be toward the second laundry treatment agent storage section while communicating with the first laundry treatment agent storage section.

2. The washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first partition is provided at least in the second laundry agent storage section, or provided between the first laundry agent storage section and the second laundry agent storage section.

3. It comprises a housing section for housing the aforementioned case, The washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the first partition is provided in the storage section.

4. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the case has a connecting portion that connects the first laundry treatment agent storage portion and the second laundry treatment agent storage portion above the overflow hole.

5. The first laundry treatment agent storage section has a powder detergent storage section capable of storing powder detergent, The powder detergent storage section is detachably provided with a liquid detergent storage section capable of storing liquid detergent. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the liquid detergent storage section has a support piece that can engage with and disengage from the overflow hole provided in the powder detergent storage section.

6. At least one of the first laundry treatment agent storage section and the second laundry treatment agent storage section includes a siphon tube that protrudes upward, A siphon cap is placed over the siphon tube, Equipped with, The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the overflow hole is located above the siphon tube.

7. The second laundry treatment agent storage section has a second overflow hole that penetrates in the left-right direction, at a position on the side of the first laundry treatment agent storage section in the left-right direction. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the second overflow hole is offset in the front-rear direction from the first overflow hole which serves as the overflow hole.

8. The case has a second partition extending along the left-right direction, The washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the second partition is disposed between the first overflow hole and the second overflow hole.

9. The water injection section is, A water inlet located directly above the aforementioned case, A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by having an overflow hole located outside the projection range of the case.

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