washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine capable of achieving downsizing of a structure for discharging water to a door.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: an outer box having an opening part for communicating the inside part and the outside part; a water tub formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape and provided in the outer box; a door provided at the outer box and configured to open / close the opening part; a circulation path for circulating the water in the water tub; and a washing path which is constituted by using the same member as the member that constitutes part of the circulation path, and where water from a water source of the outside part is supplied. The outlet of the washing path is positioned further on the front side than an end part on the water tub side in the inside portion of the door.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, there has been a desire to wash a larger amount of laundry at once, and in order to increase the capacity of the laundry, the internal volume of the rotating tub has been increased. On the other hand, the installation space for the washing machine in the living space is limited, and it is difficult to increase the size of the washing machine itself in accordance with the increase in the size of the rotating tub. Therefore, in order to increase the internal volume of the rotating tub without increasing the size of the washing machine itself, it is necessary to reduce the size of the internal structure of the washing machine and secure space for the rotating tub.

[0003] By the way, conventionally, a structure has been adopted in which an injection port is provided in a circulation path for circulating water in a water tank, and the water passing through the circulation path is injected into the water tank from the injection port. On the other hand, there is a desire to clean detergents and the like attached to the inside of the door that opens and closes the opening for taking in and out the laundry, and to keep the inside of the door clean. In this case, if the structure for injecting the water passing through the circulation path into the water tank and the structure for cleaning the inside of the door are arranged independently, there is a possibility of hindering the miniaturization of the internal structure of the washing machine.

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 capable of reducing the size of the structure for draining water to the door is provided.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The washing machine of this embodiment comprises an outer casing having an opening that connects the inside and outside; a water tank formed in the shape of a bottomed cylindrical container and provided inside the outer casing; a door provided on the outer casing that opens and closes the opening; a circulation path for circulating the water in the water tank; and a washing path, which is constructed using the same materials as those that constitute a part of the circulation path and is supplied with water from an external water source, wherein the outlet of the washing path is located forward of the end on the water tank side of the inner portion of the door. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A schematic longitudinal cross-sectional right side view showing an example of a washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic front view showing an example of a water tank cover according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic rear view showing an example of a water tank cover with a water channel forming member attached to it, for a washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] This figure shows an enlarged view of the X4 portion of Figure 3, which represents the aquarium cover according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] The positional relationship between the door cleaning discharge unit and the circulation path discharge unit according to the first embodiment is shown in the cross-sectional view along the line X5-X5 in Figure 4. [Figure 6] A cross-sectional view showing the area around the discharge section of the circulation path according to the first embodiment, along the line X6-X6 in Figure 4. [Figure 7] A cross-sectional view showing the area around the door cleaning discharge section according to the first embodiment, along the line X7-X7 in Figure 4. [Figure 8] This cross-sectional view schematically shows an example of a washing machine according to the second embodiment in which a wall portion is provided in the water channel forming member. [Figure 9] This is a schematic rear view showing an example of a water tank cover with a water channel forming member attached, for a washing machine according to the third embodiment. [Figure 10] This figure shows an enlarged view of the X10 portion of Figure 9, which represents the aquarium cover according to the third embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] Hereinafter, several embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, substantially identical elements will be denoted by the same reference numerals, and their descriptions will be omitted. Furthermore, in the following embodiments, the terms "first" and "second" attached to the components are merely for distinguishing similar components and do not imply superiority or inferiority between components or temporal elements.

[0009] (First Embodiment) The washing machine 10 shown in Figure 1 is a drum-type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotating drum 13 is either a horizontal axis type, where the axis of rotation is directed horizontally, or an inclined axis type, where the axis of rotation is inclined downward toward the rear. The washing machine 10 may or may not have a drying function. As shown in Figure 1, the washing machine 10 comprises an outer casing 11, a water tank 12, a rotating drum 13, a water tank cover 14, a water channel forming member 15, a door 16, and a motor 17. In Figure 1, the side of the washing machine 10 that is on the installation surface, i.e., the vertically downward side, is referred to as the bottom of the washing machine 10, and the side opposite the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upward side, is referred to as the top of the washing machine 10. The side of the washing machine 10 that is in front of the user, i.e., the left side of the paper in Figure 1, is referred to as the front of the washing machine 10, and the side opposite the user, i.e., the rear of the washing machine 10, is referred to as the rear of the washing machine 10. Furthermore, when the rotating drum 13 is rotated, the direction of travel of the outer surface of the rotating drum 13 is referred to as the circumferential direction. Furthermore, the direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the rotating tank 13 is referred to as the radial direction.

[0010] The outer casing 11 is formed in the shape of a roughly rectangular hollow box, for example, from a stainless steel plate. The outer casing 11 constitutes the outer shell of the washing machine 10. The outer casing 11 has an opening 111 in its front portion that connects the inside and outside of the outer casing 11. Both the water tank 12 and the rotating tub 13 are formed in the shape of a so-called bottomed cylinder, with one side in the axial direction, i.e., the front side, open and the other side, i.e., the rear side, having a bottom. The water tank 12 is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown) provided inside the outer casing 11. As shown in Figure 1, the water tank 12 has a drain port 121. The drain port 121 is located near the rear bottom of the water tank 12 and connects the inside and outside of the water tank 12.

[0011] The rotating tub 13 is rotatably positioned within the water tank 12. The rotating tub 13 is rotationally driven by a motor 17. The rotating tub 13 has numerous holes 131. The holes 131 are formed over almost the entire circumference of the rotating tub 13 and function as water passages for water to enter and exit during processes such as washing, rinsing, and dewatering. In addition, several baffles (not shown) are provided on the inner circumference of the rotating tub 13. The baffles have the function of agitating and stirring the laundry contained in the rotating tub 13.

[0012] The tank cover 14 is made of synthetic resin, for example, and is installed on the front side, or opening side, of the tank 12. The tank cover 14 has a tank opening 141, a supply port 142, and a wall portion 20. The tank opening 141 is located in the center of the tank cover 14. The tank opening 141 is formed by penetrating the tank cover 14 axially, for example, in a circular shape, and connects the inside and outside of the tank 12. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the supply port 142 is located at the bottom of the tank cover 14, slightly to the left of the center of the tank cover 14 in the left-right direction. The supply port 142 is the part that connects the tank cover 14 to the circulation hose 44.

[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the wall portion 20 is formed protruding from the rear surface 143 of the aquarium cover 14, that is, the surface on the aquarium 12 side. The wall portion 20 can be composed of multiple wall portions of different shapes, in this case, for example, a first wall portion 21 and a second wall portion 22. As shown in Figure 3, the first wall portion 21 is formed along the circumferential and radial directions of the aquarium cover 14, extending from the lower to the upper part of the aquarium cover 14. As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the second wall portion 22 is formed above the aquarium opening 141 and extends along the radial direction of the aquarium cover 14. In this case, the second wall portion 22 is composed of multiple stepped shapes in a front view or a rear view. The second wall portion 22 is not limited to multiple stepped shapes, but may also be composed of straight lines. The second wall portion 22 is for partitioning the area separated by the rear surface 143 of the aquarium cover 14 and the first wall portion 21. The wall portion 20 may be formed integrally with the aquarium cover 14, or it may be a separate component.

[0014] The water channel forming member 15 is made of, for example, synthetic resin and covers a part of the rear surface 143 of the water tank cover 14. In this case, the water channel forming member 15 is configured to cover the range including the wall portion 20. The water channel forming member 15 is attached to the water tank cover 14 by, for example, snap fit, screws, or the like. The water channel forming member 15 may be fixed to the water tank cover 14 by welding, an adhesive, or the like. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3 and the like, a space S is formed between the rear surface 143 of the water tank cover 14, the wall portion 20, and the water channel forming member 15. This space S has a size that allows a liquid such as water to pass through. The second wall portion 22 functions as a wall that closes the space S. That is, the space S is divided into a plurality of spaces with the second wall portion 22 as a boundary.

[0015] The door 16 is provided on the front side of the outer box 11 and opens and closes the opening 111. The door 16 has a window portion 161. The window portion 161 is made of, for example, a transparent or translucent member. Therefore, the user can visually recognize the inside of the rotating tank 13 from the outside through the window portion 161. As shown in FIG. 1, the window portion 161 is configured to bulge so as to enter the inside of the water tank 12. And the end portion of the window portion 161 on the water tank 12 side is arranged at a position overlapping the water tank cover 14.

[0016] The motor 17 is provided outside the bottom of the water tank 12. Although not shown in detail, the motor 17 is, for example, a brushless direct drive motor whose rotation speed can be changed. The motor 17 is connected to the rotating tank 13 and has a function of relatively rotating the rotating tank 13 with respect to the water tank 12. In this case, the shaft portion 171 of the motor 17, the central axis of the water tank 12, and the rotation axis of the rotating tank 13 overlap each other.

[0017] In addition, the washing machine 10 includes a water injection mechanism 30, a circulation and drainage device 40, and a cleaning device 50. The water injection mechanism 30 has a function of supplying water from an external water source such as a water supply to the water tank 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the water injection mechanism 30 includes a water supply valve 31, a water injection case 32, and a water injection hose 33. The water supply valve 31 is configured to be electromagnetically opened and closed. The water supply valve 31 is connected to an external water source such as a faucet of a water supply not shown. Then, the water supply valve 31 opens and closes a path from the external water source to the inside of the water tank 12 through the water injection case 32.

[0018] The water injection case 32 is configured to be able to store a laundry treatment agent inside. The laundry treatment agent includes, for example, detergents such as powder detergents and liquid detergents, and finishing agents such as fabric softeners and fragrances. The water injection hose 33 is, for example, a flexible hose and is configured in a cylindrical shape. One end of the water injection hose $33$ is connected to the water injection case 32, and the other end is connected to the water tank 12. The water injection hose 33 has a function of injecting the water that has flowed into the water injection case 32 from an external water source into the water tank 12. When water flows into the water injection case 32 in a state where a laundry treatment agent is stored in the water injection case 32, the laundry treatment agent in the water injection case 32 mixes with the water flowing in the water injection case 32 and then flows through the water injection hose 33 into the water tank 12.

[0019] The circulation and drainage device 40 has a function of circulating the water in the water tank 12 and a function of draining the water in the water tank 12 outside the washing machine 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the circulation and drainage device 40 includes a connection hose 41, a filter unit 42, a circulation pump 43, a circulation hose 44, a drain valve 45, and a drain hose 46. The connection hose 41 is, for example, a flexible hose. One end of the connection hose 41 is connected to the drain port 121, and the other end is connected to the filter unit 42. The filter unit 42 is provided between the drain port 121 and the drain valve 45. The filter unit 42 has a mesh filter (not shown) inside, and the filter collects lint and dust contained in the water passing through the filter unit 42.

[0020] The circulation pump 43 is used to pump water from the tank 12 through the drain port 121 and the connecting hose 41 and to refill the tank 12. The circulation hose 44 is made of, for example, a flexible hose. One end of the circulation hose 44 is connected to the circulation pump 43, and the other end is connected to the supply port 142. In other words, the circulation hose 44 connects the circulation pump 43 and the tank cover 14. The drain valve 45 is configured to be opened and closed electromagnetically. One end of the drain hose 46 is connected to the drain valve 45, and the other end is led out of the washing machine 10.

[0021] When the drain valve 45 is opened while water is stored in the tank 12, the water stored in the tank 12 is discharged outside the washing machine 10 through the drain hose 46. In other words, the drain valve 45 opens and closes the drainage path for draining the water stored in the tank 12 to the outside. On the other hand, when the circulation pump 43 is driven while the drainage path is closed by the drain valve 45, the circulation pump 43 pumps water from the tank 12 through the drain port 121 and connecting hose 41 and supplies the water stored in the tank 12 to the supply port 142 via the circulation hose 44.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1, the cleaning device 50 can be configured, for example, with an on-off valve 51, a cleaning water hose 52, and a nozzle section 53. The on-off valve 51 is configured to be electromagnetically openable and closed, and is located downstream of the water supply valve 31. The on-off valve 51 opens and closes the water path supplied from an external water source to the nozzle section 53. One end of the cleaning water hose 52 is connected to the on-off valve 51, and the other end is connected to the nozzle section 53.

[0023] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the nozzle portion 53 is located, for example, on the upper part of the water tank cover 14, slightly to one side relative to the center of the water tank cover 14 in the left-right direction, in this case, slightly to the right. That is, the nozzle portion 53 is located in a different direction from the supply port 142 in the left-right direction of the water tank cover 14. The nozzle portion 53 is the part that connects the cleaning water hose 52 and the water tank cover 14.

[0024] The nozzle portion 53 is formed, for example, in a cylindrical shape extending substantially vertically, and is provided penetrating the water tank cover 14 and the first wall portion 21 in the thickness direction. The nozzle portion 53 communicates with the space S formed between the water tank cover 14 and the water channel forming member 15, and is configured to allow water supplied from an external water source to be introduced into the space S. Note that the nozzle portion 53 is not limited to extending substantially vertically, but may also be inclined.

[0025] Next, an example of the configuration of the tank cover 14 and its surrounding parts will be described. In this embodiment, the tank cover 14 has a circulation discharge section 61 and a door cleaning discharge section 62, as shown in Figures 3 to 7. The circulation discharge section 61 is located at the top of the tank opening 141 and is provided at one location on each side of the left and right center of the tank cover 14 in the left-right direction, for a total of two locations. The circulation discharge section 61 is located on the rear side of the tank cover 14, that is, on the tank 12 side.

[0026] As shown in Figure 5, the circulation discharge section 61 is formed by penetrating the bottom surface 144 of the water tank cover 14 in the thickness direction and is formed, for example, in a rectangular shape. The circulation discharge section 61 is for supplying water that has flowed through the space between the water tank cover 14 and the water channel forming member 15 directly into the water tank 12 via the supply port 142. Direct means that the water discharged from the circulation discharge section 61 is supplied into the water tank 12 without flowing through other members such as the window section 161.

[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the door cleaning discharge section 62 is located, for example, above the water tank opening 141, and slightly to one side of the water tank cover 14's center in the left-right direction, in this case, slightly to the right. As shown in Figure 5, the door cleaning discharge section 62 is located at a position offset from the circulation discharge section 61 in the axial direction of the water tank 12, and does not overlap with the circulation discharge section 61 in the left-right direction of the water tank 12. In this case, the door cleaning discharge section 62 is located further to the right in the left-right direction of the water tank 12 than the circulation discharge section 61. The door cleaning discharge section 62 is formed by penetrating the first wall section 21 and the bottom surface 144 of the water tank cover 14 in the thickness direction, and is formed in a cylindrical shape, for example, extending substantially vertically. The opening area of ​​the door cleaning discharge section 62 is smaller than the opening area of ​​the circulation discharge section 61, as shown in Figure 5. Note that the door cleaning discharge section 62 is not limited to a configuration extending substantially vertically, but may also be inclined.

[0028] As shown in Figures 5 and 7, the door cleaning discharge section 62 is located on the front side of the water tank cover 14, that is, on the opening 111 side, and is positioned to overlap horizontally with the window section 161, that is, to overlap in a plan view. In this case, as shown in Figure 7, the door cleaning discharge section 62 is located on the front side of the end of the window section 161 on the water tank 12 side, that is, on the opening 111 side. The door cleaning discharge section 62 is for discharging water that has flowed from an external water source through the cleaning device 50 through the space S between the water tank cover 14 and the water channel forming member 15 to the window section 161 of the door 16. In this case, the door cleaning discharge section 62 opens toward the window section 161. Therefore, the door cleaning discharge section 62 can spray water toward the window section 161.

[0029] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 1, the washing machine 10 can be configured to include, for example, a water supply path 71, a circulation path 72, and a door cleaning path 73. The water supply path 71 is, for example, a path that goes through the water supply mechanism 30 to the water tank 12. The circulation path 72 is, for example, a path that goes through the connecting hose 41, the filter section 42, the circulation pump 43, the circulation hose 44, the supply port 142, the space S, and the circulation discharge section 61 to the water tank 12. In other words, the circulation path 72 is a path that circulates the water in the water tank 12. When the circulation pump 43 is driven with the drain valve 45 closed, the circulation pump 43 pumps up the water in the water tank 12, and then the water is injected back into the water tank 12 from the circulation discharge section 61. In this case, the circulation path 72 constitutes a path that flows water in the direction indicated by the black arrow A in Figure 6.

[0030] The door cleaning path 73 is a path that passes through the water supply valve 31, the on-off valve 51, the cleaning device 50, the space S, and the door cleaning discharge section 62 to reach the window section 161. In other words, the door cleaning path 73 is a path that flows water supplied from an external water source to the window section 161 to clean it. When the water supply valve 31 and the on-off valve 51 are opened, the water supplied from the external water source flows through the cleaning water hose 52 to the door cleaning discharge section 62 and then to the window section 161, and is then supplied into the water tank 12. In this case, the door cleaning path 73 constitutes a path that flows water in the direction indicated by the black arrow B in Figure 7.

[0031] The door cleaning path 73 is a path through which water supplied from an external water source reaches the window section 161 without passing through the water tank 12 or the water filling case 32. Therefore, water free from detergent components and dirt removed from laundry can be supplied to the window section 161. As a result, the window section 161 can be efficiently cleaned while preventing the re-adhesion of detergent components and dirt to the window section 161.

[0032] In this embodiment, the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 are configured to include a space S as a common component. As described above, the space S is formed between the rear surface 143 of the tank cover 14, the wall portion 20, and the water channel forming member 15. In other words, the door cleaning path 73 is constructed using the same components as those that constitute a part of the circulation path 72, in this case the tank cover 14 and the water channel forming member 15. To put it another way, the water channel forming member 15 forms a part of the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 between itself and the tank cover 14. By constructing the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 using the same components in this way, the components can be standardized and the internal structure of the washing machine 10 can be optimized.

[0033] On the other hand, space S is partitioned by the second wall 22, as shown in Figure 3. Therefore, the water flowing through the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 is separated by the second wall 22 and does not mix with each other. This effectively prevents interference between the water flowing through each path 72 and 73, thereby preventing obstruction of smooth water flow.

[0034] According to the embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 comprises an outer casing 11, a water tank 12, a door 16, a circulation path 72, and a door cleaning path 73. The outer casing 11 has an opening 111 that connects the inside and outside. The water tank 12 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, is provided inside the outer casing 11, and is connected to the opening 111. The door 16 is provided on the outer casing 11 and opens and closes the opening 111. The circulation path 72 circulates the water in the water tank 12. The door cleaning path 73 is constructed using the same materials as those that constitute part of the circulation path 72, and flows water to the door 16 to clean it.

[0035] According to this, by using common components for the components that make up the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73, the internal structure of the washing machine 10 can be optimized, or in other words, the internal structure of the washing machine 10 can be miniaturized, compared to when the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 are individually constructed with separate parts. Furthermore, the structure for discharging water to the door 16 can be miniaturized. As a result, the space inside the washing machine 10 can be reduced, and consequently, the size of the washing machine 10 can be suppressed. In addition, since there is no need to provide dedicated parts for each path 72 and 73, the number of parts can be reduced, improving the ease of assembly.

[0036] The washing machine 10 further includes a tank cover 14 and a water channel forming member 15. The tank cover 14 is provided on the side of the opening 111 of the tank 12. The water channel forming member 15 covers a portion of the surface of the tank cover 4 on the tank 12 side, forming a circulation path 72 and a portion of the door cleaning path 73 between itself and the tank cover 14.

[0037] According to this, the water tank cover 14 can be effectively used as a component of the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73. This makes it possible to reduce the number of parts and minimize the decrease in the ease of assembly of the washing machine 10.

[0038] The tank cover 14 has a wall portion 20. The wall portion 20 is formed to protrude from the tank cover 14 toward the channel forming member 15 and is covered by the channel forming member 15 to form the wall of the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73. With this configuration, the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 can be constructed with a simple configuration by covering the wall portion 20 provided on the tank cover 14 with the channel forming member 15.

[0039] (Second Embodiment) A second embodiment will be described with reference to Figure 8. In the second embodiment shown in Figure 8, the configuration of the water tank cover 14 and the water channel forming member 15 differs from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, in the first embodiment, the wall portion 20 is provided on the rear surface 143 of the water tank cover 14. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the wall portion is provided on the front side of the water channel forming member 15, that is, on the surface facing the water tank cover 14, rather than on the water tank cover 14. That is, in this embodiment, instead of the wall portion 20 of the first embodiment, the water channel forming member 15 has a wall portion 80 that is formed to protrude from the water channel forming member 15 toward the water tank cover 14, and is covered by the water tank cover 14, forming the wall of the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73.

[0040] In this case, the wall portion 80 has a first wall portion 81 and a second wall portion 82. The first wall portion 81 and the second wall portion 82 can be constructed with the same shape as the first wall portion 21 and the second wall portion 22, respectively. Therefore, as shown in Figure 8, by covering the wall portion 80 of the water channel forming member 15 with the rear surface 143 of the water tank cover 14, a space S is formed, and a circulation path 72 and a door cleaning path 73 can be constructed. Note that the wall portion 80 may be formed integrally with the water channel forming member 15, or it may be a separate part.

[0041] According to this second embodiment, by covering the wall portion 80 provided on the water channel forming member 15 with the water tank cover 14, the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 can be configured with a simple structure. Furthermore, since the water tank cover 14 is larger and has a more complex structure than the water channel forming member 15, changing the shape of the wall portion 20, for example, would be a considerable burden. Therefore, by providing the wall portion 80 on the water channel forming member 15 side, it becomes easier to flexibly respond to changes in the shape of the wall portion 80 and, consequently, to changes in the design of the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73.

[0042] (Third embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10. In the third embodiment shown in Figures 9 and 10, the water source used for door cleaning differs from that of the above embodiments. In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 does not have a washing device 50 and a circulation discharge unit 61, but as shown in Figure 10, a water passage 221 is formed in the second wall 22. The water passage 22 can be configured in a circular shape, for example, penetrating the second wall 22 in the thickness direction. The water passage 22 is for guiding a portion of the water flowing through the circulation path 72 to the door cleaning path 73. That is, in this embodiment, the door cleaning path 73 can be configured as part of the circulation path 72. The door cleaning path 73 is a path that directs a portion of the water flowing through the circulation path 72 to the window 161 to clean the window 161. There may be one water passage 22, or there may be multiple. Also, the shape of the water passage 22 is not limited to a circular shape, but may be rectangular or elliptical.

[0043] This configuration also allows for the optimization of the internal structure of the washing machine 10, or in other words, the miniaturization of the internal structure of the washing machine 10, compared to the case where the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73 are individually constructed with separate parts, by using common components for the components that make up the circulation path 72 and the door cleaning path 73. Furthermore, by changing the shape of the water passage section 22, the amount of water per unit time flowing from the circulation path 72 to the door cleaning path 73 can be easily adjusted, thus allowing for flexible adaptation to changes in the design of the door cleaning path 73.

[0044] Furthermore, the above embodiments can be combined with each other. Also, it is possible to extract and combine only the characteristic features of two or more embodiments. The embodiments described above 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, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0045] 10...Washing machine, 11...Outer box, 111...Opening, 12...Water tank, 14...Water tank cover, 15...Water channel forming member, 16...Door, 20, 80...Wall section, 72...Circulation path, 73...Door cleaning path

Claims

1. An outer box having an opening that connects the inside and the outside, A water tank formed in the shape of a bottomed cylindrical container and provided inside the outer box, The outer box is provided with a door that opens and closes the opening, A circulation path for circulating the water in the aforementioned tank, The system includes a washing path which is constructed using the same components as those that constitute part of the aforementioned circulation path, and to which water is supplied from an external water source, The same member includes a tank cover provided on the opening side of the tank, The outlet of the aforementioned cleaning path is formed in the tank cover and is located forward of the end of the door on the tank side. washing machine.

2. The system further includes a wall that separates the circulation path and the cleaning path. The outlet of the circulation path and the outlet of the washing path are located in positions that do not overlap with each other in the left-right direction of the water tank. The washing machine according to claim 1.

3. The water channel forming member further comprises covering a part of the water tank side surface of the water tank cover and forming a part of the circulation path and the cleaning path between itself and the water tank cover, The tank cover has a wall portion that protrudes from the tank cover toward the channel forming member and is covered by the channel forming member, forming the wall of the circulation path and the washing path. The washing machine according to claim 1.

4. The water channel forming member further comprises covering a part of the water tank side surface of the water tank cover and forming a part of the circulation path and the cleaning path between itself and the water tank cover, The channel forming member has a wall portion that protrudes from the channel forming member toward the tank cover side, is covered by the tank cover, and constitutes the wall of the circulation path and the washing path. The washing machine according to claim 1.

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