Washing machine

Abstract

To allow a user to easily grasp a residual amount of a washing treatment agent in a tank by a visual observation, regarding the tank used for an automatic input device of the washing treatment agent.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: an outer case; a water tub provided in the outer case; a storage part formed in a container-like shape on a front surface part of the outer case, and having an opening part opened frontward; a container stored in the storage part, and constituted so as to be drawn out in a frontward / backward direction; a treatment agent tank stored in the container, constituted by a member at least a part which is transparent or translucent, and capable of storing a washing treatment agent used for a plurality of times of operations; and a window part provided at a part of the outer case, and constituted by a transparent or translucent member.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to washing machines.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in order to meet the demand for improving user convenience, washing machines equipped with an automatic dosing device have been developed. In such a configuration, the automatic dosing device stores a plurality of doses of washing treatment agents such as detergents and fabric softeners in a tank in advance, and automatically discharges the required amount from the tank into the water tub during the washing operation. In such a configuration, the user needs to grasp the remaining amount of the washing treatment agent in the tank in order to know when to replenish the washing treatment agent in the tank.

[0003] As a method of notifying the user of the remaining amount in the tank, for example, it is conceivable to provide a sensor or the like that detects the remaining amount. However, providing such a sensor requires space for installing the sensor itself and a circuit board or the like for processing the signal output from the sensor, which results in an increase in the size of the washing machine. In addition, providing a sensor, a circuit board, etc. increases the number of parts and the assembly work, which results in an increase in cost.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] Therefore, a washing machine is provided in which a user can easily visually grasp the remaining amount of the washing treatment agent in a tank used for an automatic dosing device for the washing treatment agent.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The washing machine according to the embodiment includes an outer case, a water tank provided inside the outer case, a storage portion formed in a container shape on the front portion of the outer case and having an opening that is open forward, a container that is stored in the storage portion and configured to be pullable in the front-rear direction, a treatment agent tank that is stored in the container and is configured of at least a part of a transparent or translucent member and can store a washing treatment agent used for a plurality of operations, and a window portion provided in a part of the outer case and configured of a transparent or translucent member.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0007]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 12

Figure 13

Figure 14

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0008] Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted.

[0009] (First Embodiment) First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 10 includes an outer box 11, a door 12, a water tub 13, a rotary tub 14, a rotary tub motor 15, a drainage mechanism 16, a control device 17, an operation panel 18, a water supply mechanism 20, and a loading mechanism 30. In FIG. 1, the installation surface side of the washing machine 10, that is, the vertically downward side, is defined as the lower side of the washing machine 10, and the side opposite to the installation surface, that is, the vertically upward side, is defined as the upper side of the washing machine 10. Also, the left-right direction when the washing machine 10 is viewed from the front is defined as the left-right direction of the washing machine 10. The washing machine 10 is, for example, a horizontal-axis type or an inclined-axis type drum washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 14 is horizontal or slopes downward and backward.

[0010] The washing machine 10 may, for example, have a heat pump type or heater type drying function, or may not be provided with such a function. The outer box 11 is generally formed in a rectangular box shape by a member such as a steel material or a resin material, and constitutes the outer shell of the washing machine 10. In the case of this embodiment, the top surface portion 112 of the outer box 11 is formed as a flat surface. Also, an entrance / exit 113 is formed in the front surface portion 111 of the outer box 11 to communicate the inside and outside of the outer box 11 and allow laundry to be put in and taken out. The door 12 is rotatably fixed to the front surface portion 111 of the outer box 11 by a hinge (not shown) and opens and closes the entrance / exit 113.

[0011] The water tub 13 is disposed inside the outer case 11 and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The rotary tub 14 is rotatably disposed inside the water tub 13. In this case, the water tub 13 and the rotary tub 14 function as a washing tub for accommodating laundry. The rotary tub motor 15 is provided outside the water tub 13 and is connected to the rotary tub 14. The rotary tub motor 15 is electrically connected to the control device 17 and is driven based on a control signal from the control device 17 to rotate the rotary tub 14.

[0012] The drainage mechanism 16 shown in FIG. 2 has a function of discharging the water stored in the water tub 13 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drainage mechanism 16 has a drainage path 161 and a drain valve 162. The drainage path 161 is constituted by, for example, a flexible drainage hose. One end thereof is connected to the drain valve 162, and the other end is drawn out to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain valve 162 is constituted by, for example, an on-off valve for liquid that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The drain valve 162 is provided between the drain port 131 provided at the bottom of the water tub 13 and the drainage path 161 and opens and closes the drainage path 161. The drain valve 162 is electrically connected to the control device 17 and opens and closes the drainage path 161 based on a control signal from the control device 17.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 3, the control device 17 is mainly constituted by a microcomputer having, for example, a CPU 171 and a storage area 172 such as a ROM, a RAM, and a rewritable flash memory, and controls the entire washing machine 10. In the case of this embodiment, the control device 17 controls the driving of the rotary tub motor 15, the drainage mechanism 16, the operation panel 18, and the water supply mechanism 20 during the washing operation.

[0014] The washing operation is an operation method including at least one of a washing step, a dehydration step, and a rinsing step. The control device 17 may execute a drying operation following the washing operation or alone.

[0015] As shown in Fig. 1, the operation panel 18 is provided at the front side portion of the top surface portion 112 of the outer box 11. Although not shown in detail, the operation panel 18 is provided with a start key, a pause key, and various operation keys for the user to set the washing operation course and the like. When the user executes the washing operation, the user can select and operate whether to automatically add the washing treatment agent or manually add the washing treatment agent for one time using the operation panel 18. In this embodiment, the washing treatment agent is a concept including liquid or powder detergents, softening finishing agents, and fragrance agents, but is not limited to these as long as it is a chemical agent used in the washing operation.

[0016] The water supply mechanism 20 is provided, for example, at the upper left rear part above the water tank 13 in the outer box 11. The water supply mechanism 20 receives water from a water supply source such as a water supply and supplies the water into the water tank 13. As shown in Fig. 2, for example, the water supply mechanism 20 has a water inlet 21, a water supply path 22, a first water supply valve 23, and a second water supply valve 24. The water inlet 21 is provided on the top surface portion 112 of the outer box 11 so as to be exposed at the left rear part. The water inlet 21 is connected to an external water source such as a faucet of a water supply via a hose, for example.

[0017] The water supply path 22 is a path connecting from the water inlet 21 to the water tank 13 and the rotary tank 14. The water supply path 22 branches into two at the downstream side of the water inlet 21 and is respectively connected to the inlet portion of the first water supply valve 23 and the inlet portion of the second water supply valve 24. The first water supply valve 23 and the second water supply valve 24 are liquid on-off valves that can be opened and closed electromagnetically, and are provided downstream of the water inlet 21 in the water supply path 22. The first water supply valve 23 and the second water supply valve 24 are electrically connected to the control device 17 and open and close the water supply path 22 based on a control signal from the control device 17.

[0018] The water supply path 22 is composed of a first water supply path 221, a second water supply path 222, and a third water supply path 223. Although details will be described later, the first water supply path 221 is a path for supplying water from an external water source to the input mechanism 30 in the washing process. The second water supply path 222 is a path for supplying water from an external water source to the input mechanism 30 in the rinsing process. The first water supply valve 23 is provided between the water inlet 21 and the first water supply path 221. The second water supply valve 24 is provided between the water inlet 21 and the second water supply path 222. The third water supply path 223 is provided downstream of the first water supply path 221 and the second water supply path 222, and connects the input mechanism 30 and the water tank 13. A supply unit 25 is provided in the middle of the third water supply path 223.

[0019] The input mechanism 30 is provided, for example, in the middle of the water supply path 22, and has a function of including a laundry treatment agent in the water flowing through the water supply path 22 and supplying it into the water tank 13 and the rotating tank 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the input mechanism 30 includes a housing portion 31, a pump 32, a container 40, a treatment agent case 50, and a treatment agent tank 60.

[0020] The housing portion 31 is formed in a box or container shape by a resin or metal member, and has an opening 311 that opens forward. The housing portion 31 is provided inside the outer box 11. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the housing portion 31 is located at the front end in the upper part of the outer box 11. Preferably, the housing portion 31 is provided closer to the left and right side portions of the outer box 11, in this case the left side portion, in order to avoid interference with the water tank 13. That is, the housing portion 31 is closer to the front surface portion 111 of the outer box 11, above the water tank 13 and closer to the right or left side of the water tank 13, in this case closer to the left side. The front end of the housing portion 31, that is, the opening 311, is located on the front surface portion 111 of the outer box 11.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 6, the housing portion 31 has left and right side portions 312, a back portion 313, an upper portion 314, and a bottom portion 315. The left and right side portions 312 form the left and right surfaces of the housing portion 31. The left and right side portions 312 have support portions 312a that slidably support the container 40. The support portions 312a, for example, project from the left and right side portions 312 and extend in the front-rear direction, that is, the sliding direction of the container 40. The back portion 313 forms the rear-side surface of the housing portion 31, that is, the surface facing the opening 311. The upper portion 314 forms the ceiling surface of the housing portion 31. The upper portion 314 is provided with a first housing portion inlet 33 and a second housing portion inlet 34. The first housing portion inlet 33 and the second housing portion inlet 34 are inlets of the first water supply path 221 and the second water supply path 222 to the housing portion 31. The bottom portion 315 forms the lower surface of the housing portion 31. The bottom portion 315 is provided with a housing portion outlet 35. The housing portion outlet 35 is an outlet from the housing portion 31 to the third water supply path 223.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the housing portion 31 constitutes a part of the water supply path 22. In this case, the outlets of the water supply valves 23 and 24 are connected to the first housing portion inlet 33 and the second housing portion inlet 34 of the housing portion 31 by the first water supply path 221 and the second water supply path 222, respectively. The housing portion 31 is connected to the water tank 13 by the third water supply path 223 via the housing portion outlet 35.

[0023] Furthermore, the housing portion 31 has a receiving portion 36. The receiving portion 36 is fitted with a part of the container 40 and restricts the movement of the container 40 in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the receiving portion 36 is formed in a groove shape that recesses upward from approximately the central portion of the upper portion 314 in the left-right direction and extends in the front-rear direction, that is, the sliding direction of the container 40. The shape of the receiving portion 36 is not limited to this, and in other embodiments, for example, the receiving portion 36 may be a rib protruding downward from the upper portion 314.

[0024] The receiving portion 36, together with the left and right support portions 312a, serves as a guide that restricts the sliding direction of the container 40 when the container 40 is inserted into and removed from the housing portion 31, and holds the housing portion 31 when the container 40 is housed in the housing portion 31, suppressing rattling and deformation of the housing portion 31.

[0025] The pump 32, together with the treatment agent tank 60, constitutes an automatic dosing device for automatically supplying the laundry treatment agent into the water tank 13 and the rotary tub 14 during operation. The pump 32 has a function of sucking a predetermined amount of the laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 60 during operation and supplying the sucked laundry treatment agent to a supply section 25 provided in the middle of the water supply path 22. Thereby, the laundry treatment agent supplied in the middle of the water supply path 22 rides on the flow of the water flowing in the water supply path 22 and is supplied into the water tank 13 and the rotary tub 14. Thus, the washing machine 10 can automatically supply a predetermined amount of the laundry treatment agent into the water tank 13 and the rotary tub 14 during operation. The pump 32 is electrically connected to the control device 17 and supplies the laundry treatment agent to the supply section 25 under the control of the control device 17.

[0026] In the present embodiment, the pump 32 is provided behind the housing section 31. In another embodiment, the pump 32 may be provided behind the container 40, particularly behind the treatment agent tank 60, within the housing section 31. In yet another embodiment, the main body of the pump 32 may be provided inside the treatment agent tank 60.

[0027] The pump 32 has a pump connection port 321. The pump connection port 321 extends from the main body of the pump 32 toward the treatment agent tank 60 and connects the treatment agent tank 60 and the main body of the pump 32. The pump connection port 321 is provided so as to penetrate the back portion 313 of the housing section 31.

[0028] The container 40 is formed in a generally rectangular shape that is open upward. The container 40 is detachably accommodated in the housing section 31. The container 40 is slidable in the front-rear direction, and the user can pull out the container 40 forward from the housing section 31 or push it back rearward to accommodate it in the housing section 31.

[0029] The container 40 has a front portion 41, left and right side portions 42, a back portion 43, a bottom portion 44, a container outlet 45, and a partition portion 46. The front portion 41 forms the front surface of the container 40 and is flush with the front surface portion 111 of the outer box 11. The front portion 41 functions as a door for opening and closing the opening 311 of the accommodating portion 31. A handle portion (not shown in detail) is provided on the front portion 41, and the user can hold the handle portion and slide the container 40 in the front-rear direction.

[0030] The left and right side portions 42 form the left and right surfaces of the container 40. Supported portions 421 are provided on the left and right side portions 42. The supported portions 421 are slidably supported by the support portions 312a of the accommodating portion 31. The supported portions 421 are formed, for example, by recessing the left and right side portions 42 in the thickness direction and extending in the front-rear direction, that is, the sliding direction of the container 40. Note that the shapes of the support portions 312a and the supported portions 421 are not limited to the above shapes as long as the container 40 is slidably supported by the support portions 312a via the supported portions 421. For example, in other embodiments, the support portions 312a may be formed by recessing the side portions 312 in the thickness direction, and the supported portions 421 may be formed to protrude toward the outside of the container 40, or the support portions 312a and the supported portions 421 may be constituted by a rail mechanism.

[0031] The back portion 43 forms the back surface of the container 40. The back portion 43 has a through hole 431 for passing through the pump connection port 321. The through hole 431 may be an opening provided to penetrate the back portion 43 in the thickness direction, or may be formed by notching a part of the upper portion of the back portion 43. In the present embodiment, the through hole 431 is provided to penetrate the back portion 43 in the thickness direction.

[0032] The bottom portion 44 forms the lower surface of the container 40. A container outlet 45 is formed in the bottom portion 44. The container outlet 45 is a hole formed to penetrate the bottom portion 44 in the thickness direction, and communicates the inside of the container 40 with the lower part of the container 40 inside the accommodating portion 31.

[0033] As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7 and the like, the partition portion 46 partitions the space inside the container 40 into a plurality of spaces, in this case, two spaces. In the present embodiment, the partition portion 46 partitions the space inside the container 40 into a space in the left-right direction, that is, a space for accommodating the treatment agent tank 60 and a space for accommodating the treatment agent case 50. The partition portion 46 is generally formed in a plate shape, protrudes upward from a generally central portion in the left-right direction of the bottom portion 44, and extends in the front-rear direction from the front portion 41 to the back portion 43. Further, the partition portion 46 extends to the upper portion 314 of the accommodating portion 31.

[0034] As shown in FIG. 6, the upper end portion 461 of the partition portion 46 is fitted with the receiving portion 36 in a state where the container 40 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 31. In the present embodiment, the upper end portion 461 of the partition portion 46 is inserted into the receiving portion 36 formed in a groove shape. Therefore, the partition portion 46, together with the supported portion 421, serves as a guide for restricting the sliding direction when the container 40 is inserted and removed from the accommodating portion 31, and in a state where the container 40 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 31, it restricts the movement of the container 40 to suppress rattling and deformation. In addition, for example, in other embodiments where the receiving portion 36 forms a convex strip, a groove shape for receiving the convex strip may be provided at the upper end portion 461 of the partition portion 46, and thus, a configuration in which the receiving portion 36 and the upper end portion 461 of the partition portion 46 are fitted together may be adopted.

[0035] The treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are detachably accommodated in the container 40. The container 40 can be accommodated in the accommodating portion 31 in a state where the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are accommodated inside. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are arranged adjacent to each other in the accommodating portion 31 and are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. In the case of the present embodiment, the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction in the accommodating portion 31. And the treatment agent case 50 is located closer to the center in the left-right direction of the outer box 11, in this case, on the right side, than the treatment agent tank 60. That is, the treatment agent tank 60 is located closer to the left and right side surfaces of the outer box 11, in this case, the left side surface side, than the treatment agent case 50.

[0036] The treatment agent case 50 receives the input of the laundry treatment agent used in one operation, and is for supplying the treatment agent input before or at the start of the operation to the water tank 13 during the operation. The treatment agent case 50 is made of, for example, resin, and is configured in a rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction and has an open upper portion. The treatment agent case 50 has one or a plurality, in this case two, recessed portions 51, 52 and two case-side inlets 53, 54.

[0037] The recessed portions 51, 52 are formed by being recessed downward, and can each receive the laundry treatment agent inside. The recessed portions 51, 52 are provided side by side in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the recessed portions 51, 52 are provided side by side in the front-rear direction. In this embodiment, the recessed portion 51 is provided deeper than the recessed portion 52. For example, the recessed portion 51 receives the detergent inside, and the recessed portion 52 receives the softening agent inside.

[0038] The case-side inlets 53, 54 are portions that receive the input of the laundry treatment agent from the user, and are each formed by the openings at the upper parts of the recessed portions 51, 52. The user inputs the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent case 50 from the case-side inlets 53, 54.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the treatment agent case 50 has communication holes 511, 521 formed at the bottoms of the recessed portions 51, 52 respectively. The treatment agent case 50 receives the water supplied into the storage portion 31 through the first water supply valve 23 or the second water supply valve 24. At that time, when the laundry treatment agent is input into the treatment agent case 50, the laundry treatment agent is washed together with the water supplied to the treatment agent case 50. It is drained from the communication holes 511, 521 provided at the bottoms of the recessed portions 51, 52 and supplied into the water tank 13. The communication holes 511, 521 penetrate the bottoms of the recessed portions 51, 52 in the thickness direction, and communicate the inside of the treatment agent case 50 with the space below the treatment agent case 50, that is, the bottom 315 side of the storage portion 31.

[0040] The water supplied into the housing part 31 from the first housing part inlet 33 through the first water supply valve 23 and the first water supply path 221 is poured into the recessed part 51. When detergent is put into the recessed part 51, the water flows out from the communication hole 511 while dissolving the detergent and reaches the bottom 315 of the housing part 31 from the container outlet 45. The water supplied into the housing part 31 from the second housing part inlet 34 through the second water supply valve 24 and the second water supply path 222 is poured into the recessed part 52. When a fabric softener is put into the recessed part 52, the water flows out from the communication hole 521 while dissolving the fabric softener and reaches the bottom 315 of the housing part 31 from the container outlet 45.

[0041] The laundry treatment agent such as detergent or fabric softener manually put by the user into the recessed part 51 or 52 reaches the water tank 13 through the same path downstream of the container outlet 45. That is, the water flowing into the third water supply path 223 through the container outlet 45 and the housing part outlet 35 is poured into the water tank 13 via the supply part 25. In the water supply path 22, the supply part 25 is located downstream of the housing part 31 in which the treatment agent case 50 is accommodated and upstream of the water tank 13.

[0042] The treatment agent tank 60 is configured to be able to store an amount of liquid treatment agent used for multiple operations. The treatment agent tank 60 is made of, for example, resin, and is a hollow container in a rectangular shape long in the front-rear direction or left-right direction (in this case, the front-rear direction), and can store the liquid laundry treatment agent. The treatment agent tank 60 has a sufficient capacity to store the amount of laundry treatment agent used in multiple operations. In this case, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 60 is not particularly limited, but considering the convenience of the user, it is preferably set to at least about several hundred mL to 2 L.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 5, 6, etc., the treatment agent tank 60 has a tank body 61, a lid member 62, a tank outlet 63, a handle part 64, and a filter member and a leak prevention valve (not shown), etc. The tank body 61 constitutes the outer shell of the treatment agent tank 60 and is made of a synthetic resin such as plastic.

[0044] In the case of this embodiment, the tank body 61 is formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and has a front surface portion 611, side surface portions 612, a rear surface portion 613, a bottom surface portion 614, an upper surface portion 615, and a tank-side inlet 616. The front surface portion 611 constitutes the front surface of the tank body 61. The side surface portions 612 constitute the left and right side surfaces of the tank body 61. The rear surface portion 613 constitutes the rear surface of the tank body 61. The bottom surface portion 614 constitutes the bottom surface of the tank body 61. And the upper surface portion 615 constitutes the upper surface of the tank body 61. The tank-side inlet 616 is formed by penetrating a part of the upper surface portion 615, for example, in a rectangular shape, and communicates the inside and the outside of the tank body 61.

[0045] The lid member 62 is plate-shaped and is made of a synthetic resin such as plastic, similar to the tank body 61. The lid member 62 is attached to the upper surface portion 615 of the tank body 61 by a hinge (not shown) and is configured to be able to open and close the tank-side inlet 616. As shown in FIG. 4, the user can pull out the container 40, open the lid member 62 in a state where the treatment agent tank 60 is housed in the container 40, and replenish the washing treatment agent into the tank body 61 through the tank-side inlet 616.

[0046] The tank outlet 63 is provided at the lower rear portion of the tank body 61, in this case, at the rear surface portion 613. When the treatment agent tank 60 is housed in the housing portion 31, the pump connection port 321 of the pump 32 is inserted into the tank outlet 63. Thereby, the inside of the tank body 61 and the pump 32 are connected.

[0047] The handle portion 64 is provided at the upper portion of the tank body 61, in this case, at the upper portion of the front surface portion 611. When the user takes out the treatment agent tank 60 from the housing portion 31 as needed, the user can grip the handle portion 64 and pull out the treatment agent tank 60 upward.

[0048] A leak prevention valve (not shown) is connected to the tank outlet 63. The leak prevention valve has a function of preventing the processing agent stored in the processing agent tank 60 from leaking out of the tank outlet 63 to the outside of the processing agent tank 60 when the processing agent tank 60 is removed from the housing portion 31 and the pump connection port 321 is not connected to the tank outlet 63.

[0049] At least the front surface portion 611 of the tank body 61 is made of a transparent or translucent member. In the present embodiment, the processing agent tank 60, and the tank body 61 of the processing agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or translucent member. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent stored in the processing agent tank 60 shown in FIG. 7 from the outside of the processing agent tank 60.

[0050] Note that a part or all of the front surface portion 611 may be made of a transparent or translucent member, and the other parts of the tank body 61 may be made of an opaque member. However, by forming the entire tank body 61 of a transparent or translucent member, it becomes possible to integrally mold the tank body 61, reduce the number of parts during manufacturing, and reduce the risk of leakage or the like due to aging deterioration during use.

[0051] FIG. 7 is a front view of the container 40 in a state of being housed in the housing portion 31. The container 40 has a window portion 100. The window portion 100 is made of a transparent or translucent member, and enables the user to visually recognize the inside of the housing portion 31 from outside the washing machine 10 when the container 40 is housed in the housing portion 31. In the present embodiment, the window portion 100 is provided on the whole or a part of the front portion 41 of the container 40. In this case, the window portion 100 is provided on the whole of the front portion 41. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent stored in the processing agent tank 60 from the outside in front in this case when the processing agent tank 60 is housed in the housing portion 31.

[0052] Note that the window portion 100 does not necessarily need to be provided across the entire front portion 41. As long as the liquid level H of the washing treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 can be visually recognized, especially when the washing treatment agent is running low, it suffices that the liquid level H can be visually recognized. Therefore, in other embodiments, the window portion 100 may be provided at a position facing the treatment agent tank 60 in the front portion 41, that is, on the left side in this case, or further, may be provided at a position facing the liquid level H that has become lower, that is, at the lower left portion in this case.

[0053] Examples of the transparent or translucent members constituting the tank body 61 and the window portion 100 include, but are not limited to, acrylic, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, or glass. The members constituting the tank body 61 and the window portion 100 may be the same member or different members. Also, being translucent means having transparency to such an extent that the liquid level H of the washing treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 can be visually recognized through the tank body 61 and the window portion 100.

[0054] The washing machine 10 includes one or more treatment agent tanks 60. In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 includes one treatment agent tank 60. The treatment agent tank 60 is configured to be able to store, as the washing treatment agent, for example, either a detergent or a fabric softener inside. In this case, the user inputs the type of the washing treatment agent put into the treatment agent tank 60 by operating the operation panel 18 or the like.

[0055] The control device 17 receives an operation by the user on the operation panel 18 or the like and stores the type of the washing treatment agent stored inside the treatment agent tank 60 in the storage area 172. Then, the control device 17 controls the driving of each component during the washing operation according to the type of the washing treatment agent stored inside the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the storage area 172. The control device 17 distinguishes the type of the washing treatment agent according to whether it is to be put into the washing step or the rinsing step. Examples of the washing treatment agent to be put into the washing step include, but are not limited to, detergents. Examples of the washing treatment agent to be put into the rinsing step include, but are not limited to, fabric softeners.

[0056] Figure 8 shows the control details of the driving of each component in the washing process, dehydration process, and rinsing process when detergent is stored in the treatment agent tank 60 and automatic input is selected as the detergent input method. In FIGS. 8 and 9, ON means the state where the pump 32 is driven, and OFF means the state where the pump 32 is stopped. In this case, as a washing operation, the control device 17, for example, sequentially executes a washing process, a draining process, a dehydration process, a rinsing process, a draining process, a dehydration process, a second rinsing process, and a draining process and a dehydration process.

[0057] In the disclosure of the washing operation, it is assumed that the first water supply valve 23, the second water supply valve 24, and the drain valve 162 are all closed and the pump 32 is stopped. When the control device 17 starts the washing process, it drives the pump 32 to suck out the detergent from the treatment agent tank 60 and discharge it to the supply unit 25. When the type of the washing treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the storage area 172 is detergent, the control device 17 drives the pump 32 in the washing process.

[0058] When a predetermined amount of detergent is discharged, the control device 17 stops the pump 32 and opens the first water supply valve 23. Thereby, water from an external water source is supplied to the first water supply path 221 through the water supply port 21 and the first water supply valve 23. The water that has reached the storage unit 31 flows into the third water supply path 223 through the first storage unit inlet 33, the recessed portion 51, the communication hole 511, the storage unit outlet 35, and the container outlet 45. The water that has reached the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tank 13 while dissolving the detergent supplied to the supply unit 25 by the pump 32.

[0059] When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tank 13 in the washing process, the control device 17 closes the first water supply valve 23. Then, when a predetermined period of the washing process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the washing process and executes the draining process. In the draining process, the control device 17 opens the drain valve 162 to drain the water in the water tank 13.

[0060] When the drainage from the water tank 13 is completed or the water level in the water tank 13 drops to a predetermined position, the control device 17 ends the drainage process and starts the dehydration process. In the dehydration process, the control device 17 drives the rotary tub motor 15 with the drain valve 162 open to discharge the moisture removed from the clothes outside the machine.

[0061] When a predetermined period of the dehydration process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the dehydration process and starts the first rinsing process. Here, the soaking rinse will be described. When the rinsing process starts, the control device 17 closes the drain valve 162 and opens the second water supply valve 24. As a result, water from an external water source is supplied to the second water supply path 222 through the water supply port 21 and the second water supply valve 24.

[0062] The water that reaches the storage unit 31 is injected into the recess 52 through the second storage unit inlet 34 and the case-side inlet 54. When a fabric softener is put into the recess 52 by the user, the water flows through the communication hole 521, the storage unit outlet 35, and the container outlet 45 while washing away the fabric softener inside the recess 52 and flows into the third water supply path 223. The water that reaches the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tank 13 while dissolving the fabric softener. That is, when the type of the washing treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the storage area 172 is a detergent, the control device 17 does not drive the pump 32 in the rinsing process.

[0063] When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tank 13 in the rinsing process, the control device 17 closes the second water supply valve 24. Then, when a predetermined period of the rinsing process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the rinsing process and executes the drainage process and the dehydration process again. The operations of each component in the drainage process and the dehydration process are as described above.

[0064] Subsequently, the control device 17 executes the second rinsing process. The operations of each component in the second rinsing process are the same as those of each process in the first rinsing process. Note that the control device 17 may set the water volume and the operation period in the first and second rinsing processes to be the same or different values. Following the second rinsing process, the control device 17 executes the drainage process and the dehydration process. Thus, the washing operation ends.

[0065] FIG. 9 shows the control details of the driving of each component in the washing process, the dehydration process, and the rinsing process when a softening agent is stored in the treatment agent tank 60 and automatic input is selected as the detergent input method. Here, the parts different from those shown in FIG. 7 will be described.

[0066] When the type of the washing treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the storage area 172 is a softening agent, the control device 17 does not drive the pump 32 in the washing process. When the washing process starts, the control device 17 opens the first water supply valve 23. As a result, water from an external water source is supplied to the first water supply path 221 through the water supply port 21 and the first water supply valve 23. The water that reaches the storage part 31 is injected into the recessed part 51 through the first storage part inlet 33 and the case-side input port 53. When the user has input detergent into the recessed part 51, the water flows into the third water supply path 223 through the communication hole 511, the storage part outlet 35, and the container outlet 45 while flushing the detergent inside the recessed part 51. The water that reaches the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tank 13 while dissolving the detergent.

[0067] When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tank 13 in the washing process, the control device 17 closes the first water supply valve 23. Then, when a predetermined period of the washing process has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the washing process and executes the drainage process and the dehydration process respectively.

[0068] When the type of the laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 stored in the memory area 172 is a fabric softener, the control device 17 drives the pump 32 in the rinsing step. When starting the first rinsing step, the control device 17 drives the pump 32 to suck out the fabric softener from the treatment agent tank 60 and discharge it to the supply unit 25.

[0069] When a predetermined amount of the fabric softener is discharged, the control device 17 stops the pump 32 and opens the second water supply valve 24. Thereby, water from an external water source is supplied to the second water supply path 222 through the water supply port 21 and the second water supply valve 24. The water that has reached the storage unit 31 flows into the third water supply path 223 through the second storage unit inlet 34, the recessed portion 52, the communication hole 521, the storage unit outlet 35, and the container outlet 45. The water that has reached the third water supply path 223 is supplied to the water tank 13 while dissolving the fabric softener supplied to the supply unit 25 by the pump 32.

[0070] When a predetermined amount of water is supplied to the water tank 13 in the rinsing step, the control device 17 closes the second water supply valve 24. Then, when a predetermined period of the rinsing step has elapsed, the control device 17 ends the rinsing step and executes the drainage step and the dehydration step again.

[0071] Here, even if the washing machine is provided with an automatic dosing device, if the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank becomes empty without the user noticing, the automatic dosing cannot be performed. However, a liquid level sensor using a hall IC or the like is expensive. On the other hand, when the liquid level sensor is not provided, if the user has to pull out the container 40 from the storage unit 31 every time the washing operation is performed, open the lid member 62 of the treatment agent tank 60, and check the liquid level of the laundry treatment agent stored inside the treatment agent tank 60, then manual dosing has to be done every time, and the user's effort is not much different.

[0072] In contrast, according to the present embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 includes an outer case 11, a water tub 13, a storage portion 31, a container 40, a treatment agent tank 60, and a window portion 100. The water tub 13 is provided inside the outer case 11. The storage portion 31 is formed in a container shape on the front surface portion 111 of the outer case 11 and has an opening portion 311 that is open forward. The container 40 is stored in the storage portion 31 and is configured to be pullable in the front-rear direction. The treatment agent tank 60 is stored in the container 40, at least a part of which is made of a transparent or translucent member, and can store a washing treatment agent used for a plurality of operations. The window portion 100 is provided on a part of the outer case 11, in this case, the front surface portion 111, and is made of a transparent or translucent member.

[0073] According to this, since at least a part of the treatment agent tank 60, in this embodiment, the tank main body 61 including at least the front surface portion 611 is made of a transparent or translucent member, the liquid level H inside the treatment agent tank 60 can be visually recognized from the outside of the treatment agent tank 60 without opening the lid member 62 of the treatment agent tank 60. Further, since the window portion 100 is provided on the front surface portion 111 of the outer case 11, the liquid level H of the washing treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 housed inside can be visually recognized through the window portion 100. Therefore, even without providing an expensive liquid level sensor, the user can recognize the storage amount of the washing treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60, so there is no need to pull out the container 40 every time. The user can easily grasp the remaining amount of the washing treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 visually, improving the convenience for the user.

[0074] Here, when providing an automatic dosing device in the washing machine, if the treatment agent tank for the automatic dosing device and the treatment agent case for manual dosing are provided at different positions, the volume required to accommodate each of them will increase. As a result, when there is a restriction on the volume of the entire washing machine, there is a risk of squeezing the capacity of the water tub and the rotary tub.

[0075] On the other hand, the washing machine 10 includes a storage portion 31 in the front portion 111 of the outer box 11. The storage portion 31 can accommodate therein a detergent tank 60 for automatic input, which can store a washing detergent used for multiple operations, and a detergent case 50 that receives a washing detergent for one operation input by the user.

[0076] According to this, since the washing machine 10 accommodates the detergent tank 60 and the detergent case 50 in the same space, the volume required for the input mechanism 30 can be reduced as compared with the case where they are accommodated in separate spaces. Therefore, even if an automatic input device is provided in the washing machine 10, the volumes of the water tank 13 and the rotary tub 14 are not excessively compressed. Furthermore, since the detergent case 50 and the detergent tank 60 are provided in the front portion 111 of the outer box 11, it becomes easier for the user standing in front of the washing machine 10 to input the washing detergent.

[0077] The window portion 100 is provided in the front portion 41 of the container 40. At least the front surface portion 611 of the detergent tank 60 is made of a transparent or translucent member.

[0078] According to this, the user can check the remaining amount of the washing detergent stored in the detergent tank 60 from the front side. Therefore, compared with the case where the detergent tank 60 is provided closer to the back of the outer box 11, there is no need to peek in to check the liquid level H. Thus, it becomes easier for the user standing in front of the washing machine 10 to visually recognize the amount of the washing detergent in the detergent tank 60. The user can easily grasp the remaining amount of the washing detergent in the detergent tank 60 visually, improving the convenience for the user.

[0079] Note that one or more scales indicating the remaining amount of the washing detergent stored in the detergent tank 60 may be provided on the window portion 100 or the front surface portion 611 of the detergent tank 60.

[0080] Also, in this embodiment, the window portion 100 is provided in the entire front portion 41, but the window portion 100 does not necessarily have to be provided in the entire front portion 41. In other embodiments, it may be provided in a part of the front portion 41. In this case, the position of the window portion 100 is set so that the user can visually recognize the liquid level H of the laundry treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 through the window portion 100 from the front side of the washing machine 10. Therefore, in other embodiments, the window portion 100 may be provided at a position facing the treatment agent tank 60 in the front portion 41, that is, the left side portion in this case. Furthermore, since the user needs to confirm the state where the laundry treatment agent has become less, especially, the window portion 100 may be provided at a position facing the lowered liquid level H, that is, the lower left portion in this case.

[0081] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the window portion 100 is composed of a transparent or translucent member. However, in other embodiments, for example, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, a part of the front portion 41 may be opened or notched to form the window portion 101. In this case, the window portion 101 communicates the space inside and outside the container 40. Therefore, with the window portion 101, a part of the treatment agent tank 60 is exposed outward in a state where the treatment agent tank 60 is housed in the container 40. Thus, even with such a configuration, the user can visually confirm the amount of the laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 through the window portion 101. The window portion 101 may be, for example, a rectangular opening as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, or may be a slit-shaped one obtained by notching the front portion 41 from the upper and lower ends or the left and right ends of the front portion 41 to a predetermined position. Also in this case, the window portion 101 may be provided at a position facing the treatment agent tank 60 in the front portion 41, that is, the left side portion in this case. Furthermore, since the user needs to confirm the state where the laundry treatment agent has become less, especially, the window portion 101 may be provided at a position facing the lowered liquid level H, that is, the lower left portion in this case.

[0082] Here, it is desirable that the treatment agent case 50 be provided closer to the user, that is, closer to the front portion 111 of the washing machine 10, so that the user can easily manually add the washing treatment agent. Although it is also possible to arrange the treatment agent case 50 and the treatment agent tank 60 in the front-rear direction, in that case, if the treatment agent case 50 is placed in the front, the treatment agent tank 60 will be located deeper, that is, away from the user. When the treatment agent tank 60 is arranged deeper, it will be impossible to add the washing treatment agent to the treatment agent tank 60 without pulling out the container 40 significantly. Also, when the user cleans the container 40 and the treatment agent tank 60, the treatment agent tank 60 cannot be removed without pulling out the container 40 significantly.

[0083] In contrast, the washing machine 10 includes a treatment agent case 50. The treatment agent case 50 receives the input of the washing treatment agent used in one operation. The treatment agent case 50 is arranged side by side with the treatment agent tank 60 in the left-right direction within the container 40.

[0084] According to this, by arranging both the treatment agent tank 60 and the treatment agent case 50 to face the user side, without changing the ease with which the user adds the washing treatment agent to the treatment agent case 50, operations such as adding the washing treatment agent to the treatment agent tank 60 or removing the treatment agent tank 60 can be facilitated without significantly pulling out the container 40. Therefore, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0085] The container 40 has a partition portion 46 that extends in the front-rear direction and separates the space for accommodating the treatment agent tank 60 and the space for accommodating the treatment agent case 50. The accommodating portion 31 has a receiving portion 36 that extends in the front-rear direction at the upper portion 314 and slidably receives the partition portion 46. In a state where the container 40 is accommodated in the accommodating portion 31, the partition portion 46 and the receiving portion 36 are fitted together.

[0086] According to this, the partition portion 46 can suppress water passing through the water supply path 22 from entering the space on the side of the treatment agent tank 60 from the space on the side of the treatment agent case 50. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the periphery of the treatment agent tank 60 from getting wet and being soiled by the laundry treatment agent. Further, when the partition portion 46 is fitted with the receiving portion 36, the partition portion 46 serves as a guide in the moving direction when the container 40 is inserted and removed, and can suppress rattling and deformation of the container 40 in a state where the container 40 is accommodated in the accommodation portion 31.

[0087] Here, since the treatment agent tank 60 stores a plurality of times' worth of laundry treatment agent inside, it requires a larger volume than the treatment agent case 50 that receives one time's worth of laundry treatment agent. On the other hand, considering the ease of input by the user, a certain area of the case-side inlets 53 and 54 of the treatment agent case 50 is also necessary.

[0088] The water tank 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open front surface. The treatment agent tank 60 is accommodated at a position farther from the center of the outer box 11 in the left-right direction than the treatment agent case 50. to In other words, the treatment agent case 50 is accommodated closer to the center in the left-right direction of the outer box 11 than the treatment agent tank 60. More specifically, the treatment agent tank 60 is provided at a position farther from the axis of the water tank 13 than the treatment agent case 50.

[0089] Since the water tank 13 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the front-rear direction as the axis, the clearance between the top surface portion 112 of the outer box 11 and the water tank 13 becomes larger toward the outer side in the left-right direction of the outer box 11, that is, farther from the axis of the water tank 13. That is, the space between the outer box 11 and the water tank 13 becomes wider toward the outer side in the left-right direction of the outer box 11. Therefore, by providing the treatment agent tank 60, which has a larger volume than the treatment agent case 50, closer to the outer side of the outer box 11, on the left side surface in the case of this embodiment, it is possible to secure the capacity of the treatment agent tank 60 while also securing the area of the case-side inlets 53 and 54 of the treatment agent case 50. Thus, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0090] Here, for example, an electromagnetic water supply valve has a complex structure, so the unit price of parts is high and the volume is also large. Consider the case where a washing machine is provided with an automatic dosing device and the water supply path for automatic dosing and the water supply path for manual dosing are provided separately. In that case, since a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path for automatic dosing and a water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path for manual dosing are each required, the raw material cost of the washing machine increases. In addition, if a large number of water supply valves are provided, there is a risk that the overall volume of the washing machine will increase.

[0091] On the other hand, the washing machine 10 includes a water tank 13, a water supply path 22, a first water supply valve 23 and a second water supply valve 24 as water supply valves, and a supply unit 25. The water tank 13 is provided inside the outer box 11. The water supply path 22 supplies water from an external water source to the water tank 13. The first water supply valve 23 and the second water supply valve 24 open and close the water supply path 22. The supply unit 25 is a part provided in the middle of the water supply path 22 where the washing treatment agent is supplied from the treatment agent tank 60. The supply unit 25 is provided in the water supply path 22 downstream of the treatment agent case 50 and upstream of the water tank 13.

[0092] According to this, by sharing the water supply paths for automatic dosing and manual dosing, the water supply valves for automatic dosing and manual dosing can also be shared. Therefore, it is possible to contribute to the compactification and cost reduction of the washing machine 10. In addition, if the supply unit 25 where the detergent is supplied by the automatic dosing device is provided upstream of the treatment agent case 50, when automatic dosing is used, water may foam in the treatment agent case 50, and there is a risk that water may not flow smoothly from the treatment agent case 50 or may overflow from the treatment agent case 50. In the present embodiment, by providing the supply unit 25 on the downstream side of the treatment agent case 50, the water supplied to the treatment agent case 50 becomes water that does not contain the washing treatment agent, and the generation of foaming in the treatment agent case 50 can be suppressed.

[0093] For example, when a treatment agent case and a plurality of treatment agent tanks are accommodated in the accommodating portion, the capacity per treatment agent tank 60 has to be reduced. In that case, the user has to frequently add the laundry treatment agent to the treatment agent tank, and the effect of automatic addition cannot be fully exerted. On the other hand, when there is only one treatment agent tank, there is only one type of laundry treatment agent that can be automatically added. In this case, for example, if the laundry treatment agent that can be automatically added is fixed to either the detergent or the fabric softener, there is a possibility that the user's preferences and needs cannot be met.

[0094] In contrast, the accommodating portion 31 can accommodate one treatment agent tank 60. The laundry treatment agent to be put into the treatment agent tank 60 can be arbitrarily selected by the user.

[0095] According to this, by having only one treatment agent tank 60 provided in the accommodating portion 31, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 60 can be increased. In addition, since the laundry treatment agent to be automatically added can be selected according to the user's preferences and needs, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0096] The washing machine 10 includes a pump 32 and a control device 17. The pump 32 sucks a certain amount of the laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 60 and supplies it to the water tank 13. The control device 17 controls the driving of the pump 32. The control device 17 stores the type of the laundry treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 and controls the driving of the pump 32 according to the stored type of the laundry treatment agent. In this case, specifically, the control device 17 controls when to drive the pump 32 in which process.

[0097] According to this, no matter which laundry treatment agent the user puts into the treatment agent tank 60, the control device 17 can drive the pump 32 in a necessary process, such as the washing process or the rinsing process, to execute automatic addition. Therefore, the appropriate laundry treatment agent can be automatically added at an appropriate time. Thus, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0098] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 10. In the second embodiment, unlike the first embodiment, the direction in which the user can visually recognize the liquid level H of the washing treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 is different. That is, in this embodiment, the user can visually recognize the liquid level H of the washing treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 from obliquely above in front of the washing machine 10.

[0099] In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 includes a window portion 102 instead of the window portion 100 of the first embodiment. The window portion 102 is provided on the top surface portion 112 of the outer box 11. In this case, the window portion 102 is provided above the storage portion 31 on the top surface portion 112. The position of the window portion 102 may be any position where the liquid level H in the treatment agent tank 60 can be visually recognized when the user views from obliquely above in front of the washing machine 10. For example, it may be set to the entire portion where the storage portion 31 is projected when viewed from the bottom surface, or it may be set to the entire portion where the treatment agent tank 60 is projected.

[0100] In this embodiment, the position of the window portion 102 is set to include at least a part of the portion where the treatment agent tank 60 is projected when viewed from the bottom surface. That is, the window portion 102 is provided at a portion near the left front end of the top surface portion 112.

[0101] Also, in this embodiment, at least a part of the upper surface portion 615 of the treatment agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or translucent member. In this case, in addition to the tank body 61, the lid member 62 is made of a transparent or translucent member. Note that if the user can visually recognize the liquid level H of the washing treatment agent in the treatment agent tank 60 accommodated in the storage portion 31 through the window portion 102, all or part of the upper surface portion 615 may be made of a transparent or translucent member, or only all or part of the lid member 62 may be made of a transparent or translucent member.

[0102] According to this embodiment, the window portion 102 is provided on the top surface portion 112 of the outer box 11. At least a part of the upper surface portion 615 of the treatment agent tank 60 is made of a transparent or translucent member.

[0103] Also according to this embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment are achieved. Also in this case, since the user can visually recognize the inside of the treatment agent tank 60 from diagonally above and in front of the washing machine 10, it is not necessary to bend down to check the liquid level H. Therefore, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0104] In this embodiment, the window portion 102 is made of a transparent or translucent member. However, in other embodiments, a part of the top surface portion 112 may be opened or notched to form the window portion.

[0105] Furthermore, one or a plurality of scales indicating the remaining amount of the washing treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank 60 may be provided on the inner wall of the treatment agent tank 60, for example, on the left and right side walls.

[0106] (Another embodiment) In each of the above embodiments, the recessed portions 51 and 52 of the treatment agent case 50 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction. However, in another embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, they may be arranged side by side in the left-right direction. In this case, since both the case-side inlets 53 and 54 are closer to the user, it becomes easier for the user to pour the washing treatment agent.

[0107] In still another embodiment, for example, as shown in FIG. 12, a plurality of treatment agent tanks 60 (two in this case) may be accommodated in the accommodation portion 31. In this case, although the volume per treatment agent tank 60 and the volume of the treatment agent case become smaller, since a plurality of washing treatment agents can be automatically poured, the convenience for the user is improved.

[0108] As described above, some embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and changes can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and their modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are also included in the invention described in the claims and its equivalent scope.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0109] 10... Washing machine, 11... Outer box, 111... Front part, 112... Top surface part, 13... Water tank, 16... Control device, 22... Water supply path, 221... First water supply path (water supply path), 222... Second water supply path (water supply path), 23... First water supply valve (water supply valve), 24... Second water supply valve (water supply valve), 25... Supply part, 31... Accommodation part, 311... Opening part, 32... Pump, 36... Receiving part, 40... Container, 41... Front part, 46... Partition part, 50... Detergent case, 60... Detergent tank, 615... Top surface part, 100, 101, 102... Window parts

Claims

1. An outer case, a water tank provided inside the outer case, a storage portion formed in a container shape on the front surface portion of the outer case and having an opening portion opened forward, a container accommodated in the storage portion and configured to be pullable in the front-rear direction, a treatment agent tank accommodated in the container, at least a part of which is formed of a transparent or translucent member and capable of storing a washing treatment agent used for a plurality of operations, a window portion provided on a part of the outer case and formed of a transparent or translucent member, a treatment agent case for receiving the input of a washing treatment agent used in one operation, and comprising: the window portion is provided at the front portion of the container, at least the front surface portion of the treatment agent tank is formed of a transparent or translucent member, the treatment agent case is arranged side by side in the left-right direction in the container without being arranged side by side in the front-rear direction with the treatment agent tank, the water tank is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open front surface, the treatment agent tank is accommodated at a position farther from the center in the left-right direction of the outer case than the treatment agent case, the container has a partition portion extending in the front-rear direction and separating a space for accommodating the treatment agent tank and a space for accommodating the treatment agent case, the storage portion has a receiving portion extending in the front-rear direction at the upper portion and slidably receiving the partition portion, in a state where the container is accommodated in the storage portion, the partition portion and the receiving portion are fitted together, a washing machine.

2. An outer case, a water tank provided inside the outer case, a storage portion formed in a container shape on the front surface portion of the outer case and having an opening portion opened forward, a container accommodated in the storage portion and configured to be pullable in the front-rear direction, a treatment agent tank accommodated in the container, at least a part of which is formed of a transparent or translucent member and capable of storing a washing treatment agent used for a plurality of operations, a window portion provided on a part of the outer case and formed of a transparent or translucent member, a treatment agent case for receiving the input of a washing treatment agent used in one operation, and comprising: the window portion is provided on the top surface portion of the outer case, at least a part of the upper surface portion of the treatment agent tank is formed of a transparent or translucent member, the treatment agent case is arranged side by side in the left-right direction in the container without being arranged side by side in the front-rear direction with the treatment agent tank, the water tank is formed in a cylindrical shape with an open front surface, the treatment agent tank is accommodated at a position farther from the center in the left-right direction of the outer case than the treatment agent case, The container has a partition portion that extends in the front-rear direction and separates a space for accommodating the treatment agent tank and a space for accommodating the treatment agent case. The accommodating portion has a receiving portion that extends in the front-rear direction at the upper part and slidably receives the partition portion. In a state where the container is accommodated in the accommodating portion, the partition portion and the receiving portion are fitted together. Washing machine.

3. A water supply path for supplying water from an external water source to the water tank, A water supply valve for opening and closing the water supply path, A supply portion provided in the middle of the water supply path and for supplying the washing treatment agent from the treatment agent tank, and is provided. The supply portion is provided downstream of the treatment agent case and upstream of the water tank in the water supply path. The washing machine according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The accommodating portion can accommodate one treatment agent tank. The washing treatment agent to be put into the treatment agent tank can be arbitrarily selected by the user. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. A pump for sucking a fixed amount of the washing treatment agent from the treatment agent tank and supplying it to the water tank, A control device for controlling the driving of the pump, and is provided. The control device stores the type of the washing treatment agent stored in the treatment agent tank and controls the driving of the pump according to the stored type of the washing treatment agent. The washing machine according to claim 4.

6. The treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank are detachably accommodated in the container. The washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5.

Images