CN115354476A - Clothes treating device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a clothes processing device, which can restrain the large-scale and complex structure of a water injection box even if the water injection box is provided with a manual input part and an automatic input part. The clothes treatment device of the embodiment comprises: a processing tub for accommodating laundry; a water supply part supplying water into the laundry treating tub; and a water injection cartridge provided in the water supply unit, the water injection cartridge including: a cartridge main body portion; and a water channel part which supplies water into the box main body part, wherein the water channel part can be separated from the box main body part.

Description

Clothes treating device

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a laundry treating apparatus.

Background

A washing machine, which is an example of a laundry treatment apparatus for performing a predetermined treatment on laundry, includes a manual input unit into which a user manually inputs a laundry treatment agent such as a detergent or a softener. In recent years, in order to meet the demand for improved convenience for users, a washing machine has been developed which includes an automatic loading unit that stores a laundry treating agent in an amount corresponding to a plurality of operations in advance in a tank for automatic loading and automatically loads a required amount of the laundry treating agent from the tank into a tub during the operation. That is, in recent years, development of a washing machine including both a manual input unit and an automatic input unit has been advanced.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a structure of a washing machine including a water supply box in a water supply unit for supplying water into a water tub. The water filling cartridge includes both a manual input unit and an automatic input unit.

Documents of the prior art

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open No. 2020-195578

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, in the conventional configuration, the water injection cartridge is increased in size and complicated in configuration as both the manual input portion and the automatic input portion are provided in the water injection cartridge. In particular, since the automatic supply unit is provided, at least a pump or the like for sucking the laundry treating agent from the tank is required, and the presence of the components such as the pump or the like becomes an important factor that increases the size of the cartridge and complicates the structure.

In the conventional configuration, a water passage portion for supplying water into the water injection cartridge is integrally provided in the water injection cartridge. Therefore, a space for assembling the pump, for example, a space for slidably moving the pump toward the installation position, i.e., a large space to some extent, must be secured in advance between the water filling cartridge and the water channel unit. This also becomes an important factor that leads to an increase in size and complication of the structure of the water injection cartridge.

Therefore, the present embodiment provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of suppressing an increase in size and complication of the structure of a water pouring box even when the water pouring box includes both a manual input unit and an automatic input unit.

Means for solving the problems

The clothes treatment device of the embodiment comprises: a laundry treating tub for accommodating laundry; a water supply part supplying water into the laundry treating tub; and a water injection cartridge provided in the water supply unit, the water injection cartridge including: a cartridge main body portion; and a water channel part for supplying water into the box main body part, wherein the water channel part can be separated from the box main body part.

Effects of the invention

According to the laundry treating apparatus of the present invention, even when both the manual input unit and the automatic input unit are provided in the water injection cartridge, the water injection cartridge can be prevented from being increased in size and from being complicated in structure.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal side view schematically showing a configuration example of a washing machine according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration example of the water filling cartridge according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 3 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration example of the water filling cartridge according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 4 is a right side view schematically showing a configuration example of the water filling cartridge according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a front view schematically showing a configuration example of the water filling cartridge according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the inside of the water channel portion of the present embodiment.

Fig. 7 is a plan view schematically showing an example of the internal structure of the water channel portion according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 8 is a rear view schematically showing an example of the structure of the water supply valve unit according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 9 is a plan view schematically showing a configuration example of the water pouring box according to the present embodiment, and is a view showing an example of a state in which the water path portion is separated from the box main body portion.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the cartridge main body according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 11 is a right side view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the cartridge main body according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 12 is a perspective view schematically showing an example of the configuration of the water passage unit according to the present embodiment.

Fig. 13 is a right side view schematically showing a configuration example of the water passage portion of the present embodiment.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, an embodiment of a laundry treatment apparatus will be described with reference to the drawings. The washing machine 10 illustrated in fig. 1 is an example of a laundry treatment apparatus that can perform a predetermined treatment on laundry, and in this case, the predetermined treatment includes at least: a washing process for washing laundry, a rinsing process for rinsing laundry, and a dehydrating process for dehydrating laundry. The washing machine 10 is a so-called horizontal-axis type drum-type washing machine in which the rotation center axis of the tub extends in the horizontal direction or in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction.

The washing machine 10 includes a washing tub 12 for washing laundry inside a substantially rectangular box-shaped outer casing 11 constituting an outer periphery thereof. The washing tub 12 is an example of a laundry processing tub, and is a drum including a rotatable tub having a cylindrical shape with a bottom, rotatably provided inside the tub having a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The drum has a plurality of small holes in its circumferential wall and a plurality of baffles (pockets) on its inner circumferential surface for raising the laundry. The user can receive laundry in the drum through a laundry entrance provided in the front surface of the outer box 11, not shown, and can take out the laundry from the drum. A door 13 for opening and closing the laundry entrance is provided on the front surface of the outer case 11. In this case, the door 13 is provided to be rotatable in the left and right direction of the washing machine 10.

The washing machine 10 includes a water supply unit 14 for supplying water into the washing tub 12 and a drain unit, not shown, for draining the water in the washing tub 12 to the outside of the machine. Although not shown in detail, the water supply unit 14 is configured to include a water injection cartridge 100 and the like described below in detail, for example, in a water supply path extending from a water source such as a tap water pipe to the washing tub 12. The drain unit is provided with a drain valve and the like in the middle of a drain path extending from the bottom of the washing tub 12 to the outside of the machine.

Next, a configuration example of the water filling cartridge 100 provided in the water supply unit 14 will be described in further detail. As illustrated in fig. 2 to 5, the water injection cartridge 100 includes a cartridge main body 101 and a water channel 102.

The cartridge main body 101 is a main body member constituting the water filling cartridge 100, and in this case, is formed in a substantially rectangular container shape elongated in the front-rear direction of the washing machine 10. As illustrated in fig. 4, the bottom of the cartridge main body 101 is inclined gradually from the front side to the rear side, and includes a water outlet 103 at the lowest portion thereof. The water outlet 103 is connected to an upper portion of the washing tub 12 via a water supply hose not shown. As illustrated in fig. 5, when the bottom of the casing main body 101 is viewed from the front of the washing machine 1, the left side, i.e., the left side of the outer casing 11, is lower than the right side, i.e., the washing tub 12.

As illustrated in fig. 2 and 3, a water supply valve unit 104 and a bathing water pump 105 are provided behind the cassette main body 101. The water supply valve unit 104 and the bathing water pump 105 are arranged in parallel along the left-right direction of the washing machine 10. In this case, the water supply valve unit 104 is disposed on the left side, i.e., the left side surface side of the outer box 11 when viewed from the front side of the washing machine 1, and the bath water pump 105 is disposed on the right side, i.e., the washing tub 12 side when viewed from the front side of the washing machine 1.

As illustrated in fig. 3, a manual input unit 106 and a tank storage unit 107 are provided inside the cartridge main body 101. In this case, the manual input portion 106 is provided on the front side in the cartridge main body 101, and the tank housing portion 107 is provided on the rear side in the cartridge main body 101.

The manual input unit 106 includes a plurality of input units, and in this case, includes a manual detergent input unit 108 and a manual softener input unit 109. The user can manually input the detergent into the manual detergent input unit 108 by an amount corresponding to, for example, one operation. On the other hand, the user can manually input the softener in an amount corresponding to, for example, one operation into the softener manual input unit 109.

The manual detergent input portion 108 and the manual softener input portion 109 extend in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10. In this case, the manual detergent input unit 108 is provided on the rear side of the manual input unit 106. On the other hand, the softener manual input unit 109 is provided on the front side of the manual input unit 106. The water pouring box 100 may have a structure in which a manual detergent input unit 108 is provided on the front side of the manual input unit 106, and a manual softener input unit 109 is provided on the rear side of the manual input unit 106.

The tank housing portion 107 has a substantially rectangular open space with an open top formed behind the manual input portion 106. In this case, the detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 can be detachably stored. In this case, both the detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 can be attached to and detached from the tank housing portion 107 from above.

The detergent tank 110 is a tank of a rectangular container shape storing a detergent as an example of a laundry treatment agent, and in this case, is a tank of a rectangular container shape storing a detergent for washing laundry in the washing tub 12. The detergent tank 110 can store detergent in an amount corresponding to a plurality of operations. The detergent in the detergent tank 110 can be supplied through a supply port provided in the upper portion of the detergent tank 110.

On the other hand, the softener tank 111 is a rectangular container-shaped tank that stores a softener as an example of a laundry treatment agent, and in this case, a rectangular container-shaped tank that stores a softener for softening laundry in the washing tub 12. The softener tank 111 can store therein the amount of softener corresponding to a plurality of runs. The softener in the softener tank 111 can be supplied through a supply port provided in the upper part of the softener tank 111.

In this case, the detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 are housed in the tank housing portion 107 along the front-rear direction of the washing machine 10. In this case, the detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 are housed in parallel in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10 in the tank housing portion 107.

The cartridge 100 further includes a pump unit 112. The pump unit 112 is an example of a treatment agent suction portion that sucks the laundry treatment agent from the inside of the detergent tank 110 and the inside of the softener tank 111. In this case, a pump unit housing portion 113 recessed in a rectangular concave shape is provided on a wall portion on the tank housing portion 107 side, which is a rear wall portion of the cartridge main body portion 101. The pump unit 112 is provided to be fitted into the pump unit housing 113. The pump unit 112 includes a detergent metering pump 114 and a softener metering pump 115.

The detergent metering pump 114 is configured to suck and send a liquid by driving a piston by an actuator including, for example, a motor and a solenoid (solenoid). The detergent metering pump 114 sucks a predetermined amount of detergent from the detergent tank 110, and in this case, sucks an amount of detergent used for one operation. Then, the detergent metering pump 114 feeds the detergent sucked by the pump into an automatic feeding path, not shown.

The softener metering pump 115 is configured to drive a piston by an actuator including, for example, a motor and a solenoid, and to send out the suction liquid. The softener is sucked up by a predetermined amount from the softener tank 111 by the metering pump 115, and in this case, the amount of the softener used in one run is sucked up. The softener sucked by the softener pump 115 is sent out to an automatic feeding path, not shown.

The front end of the automatic loading path, not shown, is connected to the bottom of the cartridge main body 101. Thus, a predetermined amount of the detergent sucked from the detergent tank 110 by the detergent metering pump 114 or a predetermined amount of the softener sucked from the softener tank 111 by the softener metering pump 115 is supplied into the cartridge main body 101 through an automatic feed path not shown, and then automatically fed from the inside of the cartridge main body 101 into the cleaning tub 12 through a water supply hose not shown. That is, the pump unit 112 constitutes a part of an automatic supply unit that automatically supplies the laundry treating agent in the detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 into the washing tub 12.

The water channel 102 is a component for supplying tap water supplied from the water supply valve unit 104 or bath water supplied from the bath water pump 105 into the cassette main body 101. An upstream portion 116 of the water passage portion 102 extends linearly in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10 rearward of the cartridge main body portion 101 and forward of the water supply valve unit 104 and the bathing water pump 105. That is, the upstream portion 116 of the water path portion 102 extends linearly in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10 between the cartridge body 101, the water supply valve unit 104, and the bathing water pump 105.

Further, the downstream portion 117 of the water passage portion 102 extends linearly in the front-rear direction of the washing machine 10 on the side of the cartridge main body portion 101. In this case, the downstream portion 117 of the water channel portion 102 is disposed on the right side of the box main body portion 101 when viewed from the front side of the washing machine 10. Further, a downstream portion 117 of the waterway portion 102 extends in a substantially or completely right-angled direction with respect to an upstream portion 116 of the waterway portion 102. That is, the base end portion of the downstream portion 117 of the water channel portion 102 is connected to the tip end portion of the upstream portion 116 of the water channel portion 102 at a substantially or completely right angle, and in this case, is connected to the right end portion of the upstream portion 116 of the water channel portion 102 as viewed from the front side of the washing machine 10 at a substantially or completely right angle.

As illustrated in fig. 6 and 7, a plurality of water passages are provided inside the water passage portion 102, and in this case, a main water passage 118, a softener water passage 119, and a bath water passage 120 are provided. In this case, the water passage portion 102 is integrally provided with a main water passage 118, a softener water passage 119, and a bath water passage 120. In addition, the main water passage 118, the softener water passage 119, and the bath water passage 120 are partitioned by ribs in the water passage portion 102. The main water path 118, the softener water path 119, and the bath water path 120 are provided as water paths for supplying water into the cartridge main body 101. In this case, the main water passage 118, the softener water passage 119, and the bath water passage 120 are water passages capable of supplying water to the manual feed portion 106, in particular, of the cartridge main body 101.

The main water passage 118 is a water passage for injecting normal water supplied from a water source outside the washing machine 10, such as a tap water pipe, into the manual detergent input portion 108 in the cartridge main body 101. The softener water path 119 is a water path for injecting normal water from a water source outside the washing machine 10, such as a tap water pipe, into the softener manual input portion 109 in the cartridge main body 101. The bath water path 120 is a path for injecting bath water supplied from a water source outside the washing machine 10 such as a bathtub into the manual detergent input unit 108 in the cartridge main body 101.

In this case, the main water passage 118 is provided on the innermost side of the water passage portion 102, that is, on the cartridge main body portion 101 side. The main water channel 118 is provided along the rear wall portion and the right wall portion of the cartridge main body 101 from the upstream portion 116 to the downstream portion 117 of the water channel 102.

The softener water passage 119 is provided on the side opposite to the cartridge body 101 which is the outermost one of the water passage portions 102. The softener water passage 119 is provided along the rear wall portion and the right wall portion of the cartridge main body 101 from the upstream portion 116 to the downstream portion 117 of the water passage portion 102.

The bath water channel 120 is provided so as to be sandwiched between the softener channels 119 of the main channel 118 at the downstream portion 117 of the channel portion 102. In this case, the bath water channel 120 is not provided in the upstream portion 116 of the water channel 102, but is provided in the downstream portion 117 of the water channel 102.

The water channel portion 102 is formed as a water channel in which a main water channel 118 is adjacent to a softener water channel 119 at an upstream portion 116 thereof. The water passage portion 102 is formed in a downstream portion 117 thereof, and includes a main water passage 118 not adjacent to the softener water passage 119 and a bath water passage 120 interposed between the main water passage 118 and the softener water passage 119. The water passage portion 102 is configured such that, at a downstream portion 117 thereof, a main water passage 118 is adjacent to an inner side of the bath water passage 120, and a softener water passage 119 is adjacent to an outer side of the bath water passage 120.

As illustrated in fig. 7, the water channel 102 includes a water supply valve unit installation unit 102A and a bathing water pump installation unit 102B. The water supply valve unit installation unit 102A and the bathing water pump installation unit 102B are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10 at the rear of the upstream portion 116 of the water channel unit 102. In this case, the water supply valve unit installation part 102A is provided on the left side and the bath water pump installation part 102B is provided on the right side when viewed from the front side of the washing machine 10.

The water supply valve unit 104 is constituted by, for example, a liquid on-off valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The drain valve provided in the drain unit is also constituted by, for example, a liquid on-off valve that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. As illustrated in fig. 8, the water supply valve unit 104 is configured to integrally include a plurality of water supply valves, and in this case, includes four water supply valves 104a, 104b, 104c, and 104d.

The distal end of the water supply valve 104a is connected to the base end of the main water passage 118 via a water passage portion not shown. The water supply valve 104a introduces normal water supplied from a water source, such as a tap water pipe, outside the washing machine 10 into the main water path 118.

The distal end portion of the water supply valve 104b is connected to the base end portion of the softener water passage 119 via a water passage portion, not shown. The water supply valve 104b guides normal water supplied from a water source such as a tap water pipe outside the washing machine 10 into the softener water path 119.

The distal end portion of the water supply valve 104c is connected to a connection portion between the pump unit 112 and an automatic charging path, not shown, via a water passage portion, not shown. The water supply valve 104c guides normal water supplied from a water source such as a tap water pipe outside the washing machine 10 to a connection portion of the pump unit 112 and the automatic input path. Thus, the detergent fed out into the automatic supply path by the detergent metering pump 114 or the softener fed out into the automatic supply path by the softener metering pump 115 is introduced into the cartridge main body 101 by the normal water supplied from the water supply valve 104 c. Then, the detergent or softener introduced into the cartridge main body 101 is supplied into the washing tub 12 via the water supply hose together with the normal water supplied from the water supply valve 104 c.

In this case, the water supply valve 104d is a water supply valve equipped in advance. Water supply valve 104d is applicable as a water supply valve for supplying washing water, which will be described later, for washing various objects to be washed, such as drying pipes, not shown, provided in washing machine 10. The water supply valve 104d can be used not only as a water supply valve for washing but also as a water supply valve for other purposes.

The distal end of the bath water pump 105 is connected to the proximal end of the bath water passage 120 via a water passage portion, not shown. The bath pump 105 sucks bath water from a water source such as a bathtub outside the washing machine 10, and introduces the sucked bath water into the bath water passage 120.

As illustrated in fig. 9, the water injection cartridge 100 has a structure in which at least the water channel part 102 can be separated from the cartridge main body part 101. That is, the water injection cartridge 100 is not configured such that the water passage portion 102 is integrally provided in the cartridge main body portion 101, but is configured such that the water passage portion 102 is provided separately from the cartridge main body portion 101.

As illustrated in fig. 3, the water filling box 100 includes a manual input unit 106, a tank storage unit 107, a pump unit 112, and an upstream portion 116 of the water channel 102 in this order from the front side in the front-rear direction of the washing machine 10, and further includes a water supply valve unit 104 and a bathing water pump 105 arranged in parallel along the left and right directions behind the upstream portion 116 of the water channel 102. In the water injection cartridge 100, the tank storage portion 107 is provided between the manual input portion 106 and the upstream portion 116 of the water channel portion 102.

As illustrated in fig. 10, a connection port 121 is provided on a side portion of the cartridge main body 101, and in this case, the connection port 121 is provided on a right side portion when viewed from the front side of the washing machine 10. In this case, the connection port 121 is formed as a rectangular opening elongated in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge main body 101. The connection port 121 is provided at a side portion of the casing main body 101 which becomes a long side, and in this case, the connection port 121 is provided at a right side portion when viewed from the front side of the washing machine 10. The connection port 121 is provided at the front side of the right side of the long side of the cartridge main body 101. In other words, the connection port 121 is provided in a portion located on the side of the manual insertion portion 106 in the cartridge body 101 at the right side of the long side of the cartridge body 101.

In this case, the connection port 121 at the front end of the downstream portion 117 of the water channel portion 102 is connected to the connection port 121 provided at the right side of the cartridge main body 101. Accordingly, the front end of the water passage 102 is connected to the front side of the long side of the box main body 101, and in this case, to the right side of the box main body 101 as viewed from the front side of the washing machine 10. Water channel 102 connected to connection port 121 is capable of supplying water into manual input unit 106 in case main body 101 from the side thereof, and in this case, water can be supplied into manual input unit 106 from the right side when viewed from the front side of washing machine 10.

As illustrated in fig. 11, a rectangular frame-shaped sealing member (packing) 122 is provided between the distal end of the water path portion 102 and the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101 so as to conform to the opening shape of the connection port 121. The seal 122 is an example of a watertight portion. The seal 122 is interposed between the distal end of the water channel 102 and the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101, thereby connecting the distal end of the water channel 102 to the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101 in a watertight state.

As illustrated in fig. 10, a frame-shaped wall portion 123 is provided around the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101 so as to surround the connection port 121. The frame-shaped wall 123 is provided with a locking hole 124. In this case, the locking hole portion 124 is provided above the frame-shaped wall portion 123. The locking hole 124 has a slit shape that penetrates a part of the frame-shaped wall 123, and in this case, penetrates an upper part of the frame-shaped wall 123. The locking hole portion 124 is a slit-shaped opening that is long along the longitudinal direction of the cartridge main body portion 101, in other words, along the longitudinal direction of the connection port 121.

On the other hand, as illustrated in fig. 12, a locking piece 125 is provided at the distal end of the water channel 102. In this case, the locking piece 125 is provided on the upper surface of the distal end of the water channel 102. The locking piece 125 protrudes upward in a plate shape from the upper surface of the distal end of the water channel 102. The locking piece 125 is a vertically long plate-shaped piece extending along the longitudinal direction of the cartridge main body 101, in other words, along the longitudinal direction of the connection port 121.

When the distal end of the water channel 102 is connected to the connection port 121 of the cartridge body 101, the locking piece 125 on the water channel 102 side fits into the locking hole 124 on the cartridge body 101 side. This allows the distal end of the water channel 102 to be engaged with the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101. That is, the locking piece 125 on the water channel portion 102 side and the locking hole 124 on the cartridge body 101 side function as an example of a locking portion for locking the distal end portion of the water channel portion 102 to the connection port 121 of the cartridge body 101.

Further, a flange 125a protruding outward in a rectangular shape is provided at the foremost end of the water channel 102. The locking piece 125 is provided on the upstream side of the flange 125a. Further, a small gap is formed between the locking piece 125 and the flange 125a.

As illustrated in fig. 10 and 11, a fastening protrusion 126 is provided on a side portion of the box main body 101, and in this case, the fastening protrusion 126 is provided on a right side portion of the box main body 101 as viewed from the front side of the washing machine 10. In this case, the fastening protrusion 126 is positioned below the connection port 121, i.e., on the opposite side of the locking hole 124. Further, the fastening projection 126 linearly projects rightward from the right side surface of the cartridge main body 101.

On the other hand, as illustrated in fig. 13, a fastening piece 127 is provided at the distal end of the water channel 102. In this case, the fastening piece 127 is provided on the lower surface of the distal end of the water channel 102. That is, the fastening piece 127 is positioned on the opposite side of the locking piece 125 from the distal end of the water channel 102. The locking piece 125 protrudes downward in a plate shape from the lower surface of the distal end of the water channel 102. Further, a screw hole 127a is provided at a distal end portion of the fastening piece portion 127.

When the distal end of the water path portion 102 is connected to the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body portion 101, a screw, not shown, is inserted into the screw hole 127a of the fastening piece portion 127 on the water path portion 102 side and screwed into the fastening protrusion portion 126 on the cartridge main body portion 101 side. This enables the distal end of the water channel 102 to be firmly fastened to the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101.

That is, according to the water injection cartridge 100 of the present disclosure, the distal end portion of the water channel portion 102 is firmly fixed to the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body portion 101 by locking the locking piece portion 125 to the locking hole portion 124 at the upper portion thereof. The distal end of the water channel 102 is firmly fixed to the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101 at the lower portion thereof by fastening the fastening piece 127 to the fastening protrusion 126.

As illustrated in fig. 2 to 5, the water injection cartridge 100 further includes a pressure dissolving device 130. The pressure dissolving device 130 pressurizes water flowing into the pressure dissolving device 130 from a water supply hose 131 and supplies the water into the cartridge main body 101. That is, the pressurized dissolving device 130 is configured to be capable of pressurizing water by increasing the amount of water flowing into the pressurized dissolving device 130 to be larger than the amount of water flowing out of the pressurized dissolving device 130, for example, by making the flow area of the inlet port through which water flows into the pressurized dissolving device 130 larger than the flow area of the outlet port through which water flows out of the pressurized dissolving device 130.

In addition, the pressurized dissolving device 130 increases the internal pressure by pressurizing water, and thus the air in the pressurized dissolving device 130 is easily dissolved in the water stored in the pressurized dissolving device 130. This enables the pressurized dissolving device 130 to supply water in which a larger amount of air is dissolved than in normal water that does not pass through the pressurized dissolving device 130.

The water injection cartridge 100 is provided with a known fine bubble generator, not shown, at the outlet of the pressure dissolving device 130. The fine bubble generator has a throttle flow path portion on the upstream side, i.e., the pressure dissolving device 130 side, and a linear flow path portion on the downstream side, i.e., the cartridge main body portion 101 side. The throttle passage section is a tapered passage having a passage area gradually decreasing from the upstream side to the downstream side. On the other hand, the linear flow path portion is a straight flow path having substantially or completely the same flow path area from the upstream side to the downstream side. The fine bubble generator has a collision portion at a boundary portion between the throttle passage portion and the linear passage portion. The collision portion protrudes toward the center of the flow path.

According to the fine bubble generator configured as described above, if water flows into the throttle passage section which is the upstream side, the flow passage area is gradually reduced in the throttle passage section, and the flow velocity is increased and cavitation (cavitation) due to pressure reduction is generated based on the so-called bernoulli theorem of fluid dynamics. Then, the high-speed flow collides with the collision portion, thereby generating finely divided fine bubbles in the flowing water. Thus, the fine-bubble generator causes a large amount of air dissolved in the water passing through the fine-bubble generator to be deposited as fine bubbles, and supplies water containing the fine bubbles in an amount larger than that before the water passes through the fine-bubble generator.

Here, generally, bubbles called fine bubbles or microbubbles (fine bubbles) are classified as follows according to the particle size of the bubbles. For example, bubbles having a particle size of 50nm to less than 1000nm, i.e., nanometer level, are called ultra fine bubbles (ultra fine bubbles). On the other hand, the air bubbles having a particle size of about several micrometers to 100 μm, i.e., on the micrometer scale, are called micro bubbles (micro bubbles). In the present embodiment, the nano-scale fine bubbles, the ultra-fine bubbles, and the nano-bubbles are synonymous and mean the nano-scale bubbles.

The nanobubbles can prevent the detergent from being micelled by the interaction with the surfactant contained in the detergent, thereby improving the cleaning ability. Further, the nano bubbles have a fine particle size, and therefore can penetrate deep into the fibers, and exhibit a cleaning effect of removing dirt and residual detergent components, i.e., surface active components, from the laundry.

In addition, the micro bubbles are negatively charged as an electrical characteristic, and thus are easily electrostatically adsorbed to dirt such as positively charged sebum dirt attached to clothes. The dirt peeled from the laundry by the electrical reaction with the micro bubbles remains attached to the surface of the micro bubbles, and floats on the water surface due to the buoyancy of the micro bubbles, and is retained. Furthermore, the negatively charged micro-bubbles on the surface of the bubbles repel each other without being bound to each other, and are dispersed in the liquid, so that the dirt removed from the laundry can be inhibited from being attached to the laundry again in the washing water.

In the case of the single body, the fine bubble generator mainly has a function of precipitating nano-bubbles, which are nano-level fine bubbles, but by increasing the amount of air dissolved in water passing through the fine bubble generator, micro-bubbles, which are micro-level fine bubbles having a large particle size, can be precipitated. That is, if the amount of air dissolved in water increases, the nano bubbles generated after passing through the fine bubble generator also increase, and as a result, it is presumed that a part of the generated nano bubbles are combined with each other to develop into micro bubbles.

In the present embodiment, a pressure dissolving device 130 is provided upstream of the fine bubble generator. Therefore, the amount of air contained in the water passing through the fine bubble generator can be increased. As a result, a large amount of nano bubbles and micro bubbles can be generated in the water after passing through the micro bubble generator, and as a result, the cleaning effect by the nano bubbles and the effect of suppressing the reattachment of the dirt due to the micro bubbles can be simultaneously obtained.

In the present embodiment, the pressure dissolving apparatus 130 is attached to the cartridge main body 101. However, the pressure dissolving device 130 may be attached to the water channel 102. The pressure dissolving device 130 may be provided as a separate component that can be separated from both the cartridge main body 101 and the water channel 102.

According to the configuration example in which the pressure dissolving device 130 is provided in the cartridge main body 101, the pressure dissolving device 130 can be integrally unitized with the cartridge main body 101, and the water tightness, pressure resistance, and the like of the water path connecting the pressure dissolving device 130 and the cartridge main body 101 can be improved.

Further, according to the configuration example in which the pressurized dissolving device 130 is provided in the water channel portion 102, the pressurized dissolving device 130 can be integrally unitized with the water channel portion 102, and the pressurized dissolving device 130 can also be connected to the cartridge main body portion 101 along with the connection of the water channel portion 102 to the cartridge main body portion 101. In this configuration example, a seal, a locking portion, or the like may be provided at a connection portion between the pressure dissolving device 130 on the water path portion 102 side and the cartridge main body portion 101. This can improve the water tightness and pressure resistance of the connection portion between the pressurized dissolving device 130 on the water channel 102 side and the cartridge main body 101.

In the case of a separate structure in which the pressure dissolving device 130 can be separated from both the cartridge main body 101 and the water channel 102, a seal, a locking portion, or the like may be provided at a connection portion between the pressure dissolving device 130 and the cartridge main body 101. This can improve the water tightness and pressure resistance of the connection portion between the pressure dissolving device 130 and the cartridge main body 101.

According to the washing machine 10 of the present application as illustrated above, the water supply cartridge 100 is configured to be separable from the cartridge main body 101 by the water path portion 102. According to this configuration example, the water filling cartridge 100 can be formed by attaching the water channel 102 to the cartridge main body 101 after the pump unit 112 constituting a part of the automatic injection unit is attached to the cartridge main body 101. Therefore, it is not necessary to greatly secure a space for assembling the pump unit 112, for example, a space for sliding the pump unit 112 to the pump unit housing portion 113, which is an installation position, between the cartridge main body portion 101 and the water channel portion 102, and therefore, compared to a water injection cartridge having a conventional configuration in which the water channel portion is integrally provided in the cartridge main body portion, it is possible to suppress an increase in size and complication of the structure of the water injection cartridge 100.

Further, according to washing machine 10, tank receiving portion 107, which is a large component of water supply cartridge 100, is provided between manual input portion 106 and upstream portion 116 of water channel portion 102. According to this configuration example, the manual input unit 106 and the upstream portion 116 of the water channel unit 102, which are other components of the water filling cartridge 100, can be disposed in front of and behind the tank storage unit 107, which is a large component of the water filling cartridge 100, and the pump unit 112, the water supply valve unit 104, the bathing water pump 105, and the like can be disposed. That is, according to the configuration example of the present application, various components constituting water pouring box 100 can be arranged in a row in the front and rear thereof, centering on tank housing portion 107 which is a large component, and various components of water pouring box 100 can be compactly housed along the front and rear direction of washing machine 10.

In particular, since the washing machine 10 of the present invention is a horizontal-shaft type drum-type washing machine in which the rotation center axis of the rotary tub extends in the horizontal direction or in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction, a space along the front-rear direction of the washing machine 10 is easily secured on the side of the upper portion of the cylindrical washing tub 12. In addition, in a space along the front-rear direction of washing machine 10 secured at the side of the upper portion of washing tub 12, water filling cartridge 100 having various components arranged along the front-rear direction of washing machine 10 can be accommodated without difficulty. This makes it possible to effectively utilize the limited space in the outer case 11 and to arrange various components of the water filling cartridge 100. Therefore, although the water injection cartridge 100 includes the manual input portion and the automatic input portion, the water injection cartridge 100 can be compactly stored in the outer case 11, and an increase in size of the outer case 11, in other words, the washing machine 10 can be suppressed.

In addition, according to the washing machine 10, the box main body 101 includes, on the tank storage portion 107 side, a pump unit 112 that sucks the laundry treatment agent from the inside of the detergent tank 110 and the inside of the softener tank 111. According to this configuration example, the distance between the pump unit 112 and the detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 housed in the tank housing portion 107 can be shortened as much as possible, and the suction of the laundry treatment agent from the inside of the detergent tank 110 and the inside of the softener tank 111 by the pump unit 112 can be performed efficiently and quickly.

Further, according to the washing machine 10, the pump unit 112 is provided in the pump unit housing portion 113 recessed in a rectangular concave shape in the wall portion of the box main body portion 101. According to this configuration example, the amount of projection of the pump unit 112 from the wall surface of the cartridge main body 101 can be suppressed, and the pump unit 112 can be compactly housed. Further, by housing the pump unit 112 in such a compact manner, the overall size of the water filling cartridge 100 can be suppressed from increasing.

Further, according to the washing machine 10, the water injection cartridge 100 includes the locking hole 124 and the locking piece 125 for locking the water channel 102 to the cartridge body 101. According to this configuration example, even in a configuration in which the water path portion 102 can be separated from the cartridge main body portion 101, the water path portion 102 can be stably connected to the cartridge main body portion 101. The water injection capsule 100 may have a locking piece portion 125 in the capsule body 101 and a locking hole portion 124 in the water passage portion 102. The locking portion can be configured to be capable of locking the water channel portion 102 to the cartridge main body portion 101, and various configurations such as a locking configuration by a claw portion and a claw hole portion can be applied.

In addition, according to washing machine 10, water filling cartridge 100 is configured such that the front end of water path portion 102 is connected to the side of cartridge main body portion 101. According to this configuration example, in the configuration in which the water channel portion 102 can be separated from the cartridge main body portion 101, the distal end portion of the water channel portion 102 is connected to the side portion of the cartridge main body portion 101, whereby the water can be supplied from the water channel portion 102 into the cartridge main body portion 101.

That is, for example, in the configuration disclosed in patent document 1, that is, in the configuration in which the distal end portion of the water channel portion forms a part of the upper surface of the box main body portion, if it is assumed that the water channel portion can be separated from the box main body portion, when the distal end portion of the water channel portion is connected to the box main body portion, it is necessary to consider, for example, securing of water tightness of the connection portion, positional displacement of the distal end portion of the water channel portion with respect to the manual input portion in the box main body portion, and the connection work thereof involves great difficulty and labor.

In contrast, according to the water injection cartridge 100 of the present invention, the water channel 102 can be connected to the side of the cartridge main body 101 only at the distal end of the water channel 102, thereby allowing water to be supplied from the water channel 102 into the cartridge main body 101. Therefore, even with a configuration in which the water channel portion 102 can be separated from the cartridge main body portion 101, the operation of connecting the distal end portion of the water channel portion 102 to the cartridge main body portion 101 can be performed without great difficulty or effort.

In addition, according to washing machine 10, water filling cartridge 100 is configured such that the front end portion of water path portion 102 is connected to the side portion of cartridge main body 101 that becomes the long side. According to this configuration example, the above-described locking hole 124 and locking piece 125 can be provided long in the longitudinal direction of the cartridge main body 101. This allows the distal end of the water path portion 102 to be more firmly connected to the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body 101.

Further, according to washing machine 10, water filling cartridge 100 includes seal 122 for connecting the front end of water channel 102 to connection port 121 of cartridge main body 101 in a watertight manner. According to this configuration example, even in the configuration in which the water channel portion 102 can be separated from the cartridge main body portion 101, water leakage at the connection portion between the distal end portion of the water channel portion 102 and the connection port 121 of the cartridge main body portion 101 can be suppressed.

In addition, according to the washing machine 10, the water passage portion 102 integrally includes a plurality of water passages, and in this case, the main water passage 118, the softener water passage 119, and the bath water passage 120 are integrally provided. According to this configuration example, the water passage portion 102 having the plurality of water passages can be easily formed as compared with a water passage configuration in which the plurality of water passages are separate bodies. Further, compared to a water channel configuration in which a plurality of water channels are separate bodies, the rigidity and strength of the water channel portion 102 can be improved, and deformation and breakage of the water channel portion 102 can be suppressed.

In addition, according to washing machine 10, water filling cartridge 100 has a structure in which cartridge main body 101 and water passage 102 do not substantially overlap or completely overlap when viewed from above. This can ensure a sufficient space for disposing the pump unit 112 between the cartridge main body 101 and the water channel 102.

The present embodiment is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and expansions can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, the water injection cartridge 100 may be configured such that at least the water path portion 102 is separable from the cartridge main body portion 101, and the components other than the water path portion 102 may be configured such that they are separable from the cartridge main body portion 101 or may not be separable from the cartridge main body portion 101.

The water filling cartridge 100 may be configured such that the tank storage portion 107 is provided between the manual input portion 106 and the water channel portion 102, and the positional relationship of other components may be appropriately changed and implemented as long as the conditions are satisfied.

The water filling cartridge 100 is preferably configured such that the pump unit 112 is disposed as close as possible to the tank housing portion 107. However, the water filling cartridge 100 may have another component interposed between the tank housing portion 107 and the pump unit 112, for example.

The front end of the water channel 102 may be connected to, for example, the left side of the cartridge body 101 without being connected to the right side. The front end of the water channel 102 may be connected to the front and rear portions of the cartridge main body 101, which are short sides, without being connected to the right and left sides of the cartridge main body 101, which are long sides.

The water passage unit 102 may be configured such that all water passages are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction, or may be configured such that some water passages are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. The water passage unit 102 may be configured such that all water passages are vertically overlapped, or may be configured such that a part of the water passages are vertically overlapped.

The detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 may be detachably provided not in the tank housing portion 107 along the vertical direction of the washing machine 10 but, for example, along the horizontal direction of the washing machine 10 or along the front-rear direction of the washing machine 10.

The shapes of the detergent tank 110 and the softener tank 111 are not limited to rectangular parallelepiped shapes, and various shapes can be applied. The shape, size, and the like of the detergent tank 110 may be different from those of the softener tank 111.

The tank is not limited to the detergent tank 110 for storing detergent and the softener tank 111 for storing softener, and may be, for example, a deodorant tank for storing deodorant, a bactericide tank for storing bactericide, a bleach tank for storing bleach, or the like. That is, as long as the tank stores a treating agent for performing some treatment on laundry, various types of tanks can be appropriately used. The plurality of tanks housed in the tank housing portion 107 may be tanks that store the same type of treatment agent, or may be tanks that store different types of treatment agents. In addition, the washing machine 10 may be configured to accommodate three or more tanks in the tank accommodation portion 107. In addition, the washing machine 10 may be configured to accommodate one tank in the tank accommodation portion 107. The detergent metering pump 114 and the softener metering pump 115 are not limited to pumps that suck liquid, and may be pumps that push out liquid, for example.

The present embodiment can also be applied to a so-called vertical axis type washing machine in which the rotation center axis of the rotary tub extends in the vertical direction. Further, the present embodiment can also be applied to a washing machine having a drying function. Further, the present embodiment can also be applied to a washing machine having no drying function. The present embodiment can be applied to various kinds of clothes treatment apparatuses as long as the apparatus can perform some treatment on clothes, such as deodorization, sterilization, bleaching, and the like, for example.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are merely provided as examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in other various forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalent scope thereof.

Description of the reference numerals

In the drawings, 10 denotes a washing machine (laundry treatment device), 12 denotes a washing tub (laundry treatment tub), 14 denotes a water supply part, 100 denotes a water injection box, 101 denotes a box main body part, 102 denotes a water path part, 106 denotes a manual input part, 107 denotes a tank storage part, 108 denotes a manual input part (manual input part) for detergent, 109 denotes a manual input part (manual input part) for softener, 110 denotes a tank (tank) for detergent, 111 denotes a tank (tank) for softener, 112 denotes a pump unit (treatment agent suction part), 118 denotes a main water path (water path), 119 denotes a water path (water path) for softener, 120 denotes a water path (water path) for washing water, 122 denotes a seal (water seal part), 124 denotes a locking hole part (locking part), and 125 denotes a locking piece (locking part).

Claims (8)

1. A clothes treatment device is provided with:

a laundry treating tub for accommodating laundry;

a water supply part supplying water into the laundry treating tub; and

a water injection box provided at the water supply part,

the water injection cartridge is provided with:

a cartridge main body portion; and

a water path part for supplying water into the box main body part,

the water path portion is separable from the cartridge main body portion.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1,

the box main body portion includes:

a manual input part for inputting the clothes treating agent by a user; and

a tank accommodating part accommodating a tank storing a laundry treating agent in an amount corresponding to a plurality of operations,

the tank accommodating portion is provided between the manual input portion and the water passage portion.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2,

the cartridge main body portion includes a treatment agent suction portion that sucks a laundry treatment agent from the inside of the can on the can storage portion side.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,

the water channel part is locked to the box main body part.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4,

the water path portion is connected to a side portion of the cartridge main body portion.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5,

the box main body part is formed into a rectangular shape with a longitudinal length,

the water path portion is connected to a side portion of a long side of the cartridge main body portion.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,

and a watertight part connecting the water path part to the box main body part in a watertight manner.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 7,

the water channel unit integrally includes a plurality of water channels.

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