JP7486122B2 - washing machine - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a washing machine.

The washing machine described in the following Patent Document 1 includes a washing tub that holds laundry, and an outer tub that holds the washing tub. The outer tub has a roughly cylindrical circumferential wall arranged in the vertical direction, and a ring-shaped annular wall that borders the upper edge of the circumferential wall and protrudes toward the center of the circumferential wall. One end of a water supply passage connected to a faucet is connected to the annular wall. An outlet provided at one end of the water supply passage faces from above an inlet provided at the upper end of the washing tub. When a water supply valve provided midway along the water supply passage opens, water flows through the water supply passage and is discharged from the outlet, passes through the inlet, falls into the washing tub, and is sprayed onto the laundry in the washing tub.

JP 2019-115389 A

In a configuration in which water is poured onto the laundry in the washing tub from the discharge port of the water supply channel, as in the washing machine of Patent Document 1, the water tends to hit the laundry in a lump. In this case, if the water does not hit the laundry well, that is, if the tap water, detergent or other liquid hits the laundry poorly, it is difficult to make the water penetrate the laundry effectively to achieve a washing effect. In addition, if the water hits the laundry too hard, it is possible that the water will bounce back forcefully after hitting the laundry and be thrown out of the washing tub.

This invention was made against this background, and aims to provide a washing machine that can suppress water splashing when pouring water into the washing tub and promote the penetration of water into the laundry in the washing tub.

The present invention is a washing machine including a washing tub that holds laundry, and a water injection unit that has a discharge port facing the inside of the washing tub and pours water into the washing tub from the discharge port, the water injection unit including a unit body that has an injection area into which water is injected, a drop area from which the water injected into the injection area falls, a receiving area that is disposed below the drop area and connected to the discharge port and that receives the water in the drop area, and an air vent area that is connected to the receiving area and sends air into the receiving area, and a partition member that has a horizontal plate portion disposed between the drop area and the receiving area and has a water passage hole that allows the water in the drop area to fall into the receiving area.

The present invention is also characterized in that the partition portion has a slope portion that extends diagonally downward from the edge of the water passage hole in the horizontal plate portion toward the discharge port.

The present invention is also characterized in that multiple discharge ports are provided.

The present invention is also characterized in that the unit body has a bottom wall portion disposed below the horizontal plate portion, and the multiple outlets include a first outlet that passes through the bottom wall portion in the vertical direction, and a second outlet that is disposed next to the first outlet and passes through the bottom wall portion in the vertical direction.

The present invention is also characterized in that the unit body is provided with a connection area located next to the partition member and connecting the drop area and the receiving area, the first outlet is located below the connection area, the second outlet is located below the partition member, and the unit body has an inclined portion extending obliquely downward from above the second outlet toward between the first outlet and the second outlet, and a vertical wall portion that sandwiches the first outlet between the inclined portion.

According to the present invention, in the unit body of the water injection unit that pours water into the washing tub from the discharge port in a washing machine, the water is injected into the injection area, falls in the drop area, and then is received in the receiving area and sent to the discharge port. The water received in the receiving area is mixed with air sent from the air passage area to the receiving area as air bubbles. In particular, in the water injection unit, a horizontal plate portion of the partition member is arranged between the drop area and the receiving area, and a water passage hole is formed in the horizontal plate portion to allow the water in the drop area to fall into the receiving area, so that the water that falls from the drop area to the receiving area is likely to contain air bubbles by being stirred around the water passage hole. When the water that has been foamed and contains air bubbles is poured into the washing tub from the discharge port, it is gently splashed on the laundry in the washing tub and effectively penetrates. Therefore, water splashing can be suppressed when pouring water into the washing tub, and penetration of water into the laundry in the washing tub can be promoted.

In addition, according to the present invention, the partition member has a sloped portion that extends diagonally downward from the edge of the water passage hole in the horizontal plate portion toward the discharge port, and guides the water that falls from the drop area through the water passage hole to the receiving area to the discharge port. This allows the foamed water to be actively sent to the discharge port and then poured down from the discharge port into the washing tub.

In addition, according to the present invention, since multiple outlets are provided, the water injection unit can actively spray foamed water into the washing tub from multiple outlets.

In addition, according to the present invention, each of the first and second outlets that make up the multiple outlets is configured to penetrate the bottom wall of the unit body in the vertical direction, so that the foamed water can be actively sprayed into the washing tub by being discharged downward, i.e., almost directly below.

According to the present invention, the water that falls in the falling area and is received in the receiving area through the connection area is discharged from the first discharge port below the connection area and poured into the washing tub, while containing air bubbles. On the other hand, the water that falls in the falling area and is received in the receiving area through the water passage hole of the horizontal plate part of the partition member is discharged from the second discharge port below the partition member and poured into the washing tub, while containing air bubbles. Here, the inclined part extending diagonally downward from the upper side of the second discharge port to between the first discharge port and the second discharge port guides the foamed water downward at the second discharge port, so that the second discharge port can actively pour the water into the washing tub by discharging the water almost directly below. Also, the vertical wall part sandwiching the first discharge port between the inclined part guides the foamed water downward at the first discharge port, so that the first discharge port can actively pour the water into the washing tub by discharging the water almost directly below.

1 is a schematic vertical sectional right side view of a washing machine according to one embodiment of the present invention; 2 is a right side view in vertical section of a water injection unit included in the washing machine. FIG. 13 is a plan view of a discharge member included in the water injection unit. FIG. FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the discharge member as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 4 . 13 is a plan view of a partition member included in the water injection unit. FIG. FIG. FIG. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the partition member as viewed from a direction different from that of FIG. 8 . FIG. 2 is a perspective view including a partial vertical cross section of the water injection unit.

The following describes in detail an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional right side view of a washing machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the direction perpendicular to the paper surface is referred to as the left-right direction X of the washing machine 1, the left-right direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the front-rear direction Y of the washing machine 1, and the up-down direction in FIG. 1 is referred to as the up-down direction Z of the washing machine 1. In the left-right direction X, the back side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the left side X1, and the front side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is referred to as the right side X2. In the front-rear direction Y, the left side is referred to as the front side Y1, and the right side is referred to as the rear side Y2. In the up-down direction Z, the upper side is referred to as the upper side Z1, and the lower side is referred to as the lower side Z2.

Washing machine 1 includes a washing machine dryer with a drying function, but below, washing machine 1 will be described using as an example a washing machine that performs only a washing operation without the drying function. Washing machine 1 includes a housing 2 forming its outer shell, an outer tub 3 arranged in housing 2, a washing tub 4 housed in outer tub 3, a rotor 5 housed in washing tub 4, an electric motor 6 that generates a driving force to rotate washing tub 4 and rotor 5, and a transmission mechanism 7 that switches the destination of the driving force generated by motor 6.

The housing 2 is formed in a box shape. An opening 2B that connects the inside and outside of the housing 2 is formed in a top panel 2A that constitutes the top surface of the housing 2. A door 8 that opens and closes the opening 2B is provided on the top panel 2A. A display operation unit 9 consisting of a touch panel or the like is provided on the top panel 2A, for example in an area Y1 forward of the opening 2B. By operating the display operation unit 9, a user can freely select washing conditions and instruct the washing machine 1 to start or stop operation. Information related to the washing operation is visually displayed on the display operation unit 9.

The outer tank 3 is made of resin, for example, and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a bottom. The outer tank 3 has a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 3A arranged along the vertical direction Z, a bottom wall 3B that closes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A from the lower side Z2, and a ring-shaped annular wall 3C that rims the edge of the upper side Z1 of the circumferential wall 3A and protrudes toward the center of the circumferential wall 3A. An opening 3D is formed inside the annular wall 3C. The opening 3D is located directly below the opening 2B of the housing 2. The hollow portion of the circumferential wall 3A is exposed to the upper side Z1 from the opening 3D. The bottom wall 3B is formed in a disk shape extending along the horizontal direction, and a through hole 3E that penetrates the bottom wall 3B is formed at the center of the bottom wall 3B. As described later, water is stored in the outer tank 3.

A drainage channel 11 is connected to the outer tub 3 from the lower side Z2, and the water in the outer tub 3 is discharged from the drainage channel 11 to the outside of the machine. A drainage valve 12 is provided in the middle of the drainage channel 11, which is opened and closed to start and stop drainage.

The washing tub 4 is made of metal, for example, has a central axis J extending in the vertical direction Z, is formed into a cylindrical shape with a bottom that is slightly smaller than the outer tub 3, and can accommodate laundry Q inside. The washing tub 4 has a substantially cylindrical circumferential wall 4A arranged along the vertical direction Z, and a bottom wall 4B that closes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A from the lower side Z2.

The space surrounded by the upper end of the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential wall 4A is an entrance/exit 4C that exposes the hollow portion of the circumferential wall 4A to the upper side Z1. The entrance/exit 4C is in communication with the opening 3D of the outer tub 3 and the opening 2B of the housing 2 from the lower side Z2. A user of the washing machine 1 opens the door 8 to open the opening 2B, the opening 3D, and the entrance/exit 4C, and puts laundry Q in and out of the washing tub 4 through the opening 2B, the opening 3D, and the entrance/exit 4C.

The washing tub 4 is housed coaxially within the outer tub 3 and is arranged along the vertical direction Z. When housed within the outer tub 3, the washing tub 4 can rotate around the central axis J. A number of through-holes (not shown) are formed in the circumferential wall 4A and bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4, and water in the outer tub 3 can move between the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4 through the through-holes. Therefore, the water level in the outer tub 3 and the water level in the washing tub 4 are the same.

The bottom wall 4B of the washing tub 4 is formed in a disk shape extending generally parallel to the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3 at a distance Z1, and a through hole 4D is formed in the bottom wall 4B at the circular center position that coincides with the central axis J. A tubular support shaft 13 is provided in the bottom wall 4B, surrounding the through hole 4D and extending to the lower side Z2 along the central axis J. The support shaft 13 is inserted into the through hole 3E in the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3, and the lower end of the support shaft 13 is located on the lower side Z2 of the bottom wall 3B.

The rotor 5 is a so-called pulsator, formed in a disk shape with the central axis J as the circular center, and arranged concentrically with the washing tub 4 along the bottom wall 4B inside the washing tub 4. The rotor 5 has a plurality of blades 5A arranged radially on its upper surface facing the entrance/exit 4C of the washing tub 4 from the lower side Z2. The rotor 5 has a rotating shaft 14 extending from its circular center to the lower side Z2 along the central axis J. The rotating shaft 14 is inserted into the hollow portion of the support shaft 13, and the lower end of the rotating shaft 14 is located on the lower side Z2 below the bottom wall 3B of the outer tub 3.

The motor 6 is disposed in the housing 2 on the lower side Z2 of the outer tub 3. The motor 6 has an output shaft 15 that protrudes to the upper side Z1 and rotates around a central axis J. The transmission mechanism 7 is interposed between the lower ends of the support shaft 13 and the rotating shaft 14 and the upper end of the output shaft 15. The transmission mechanism 7 selectively transmits the driving force output by the motor 6 from the output shaft 15 to one or both of the support shaft 13 and the rotating shaft 14. A known clutch or the like is used as the transmission mechanism 7.

When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the support shaft 13, the washing tub 4 rotates around the central axis J. When the driving force from the motor 6 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 14, the rotor 5 rotates around the central axis J. Since the rotation direction of the output shaft 15 of the motor 6 can be changed, each of the washing tub 4 and the rotor 5 can rotate not only in one direction, but also in the other direction opposite to that one direction.

In relation to the supply of water to the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4, the washing machine 1 further includes a water supply passage 21 that is pulled out of the housing 2 and connected to a faucet (not shown), and a water injection unit 22 that is arranged inside the housing 2 and to which one end 21A of the water supply passage 21 is connected. As will be described in detail later, the water injection unit 22 has a discharge port 23 that faces the entrance/exit 4C of the washing tub 4 from the upper side Z1 and is provided on the above-mentioned top panel 2A. The washing machine 1 further includes a treatment agent supply section 24 that is arranged inside the housing 2 and supplies laundry treatment agents such as detergent and fabric softener to the water injection unit 22, and a bath water supply passage 25 that is connected to the water injection unit 22 inside the housing 2.

In the water supply passage 21, the upstream portion 21B, which is disposed outside the housing 2 and connected to the faucet, and the downstream portion 21C, which is disposed inside the housing 2 and has one end 21A, may be separable, in which case the upstream portion 21B and the downstream portion 21C are connected by a joint (not shown). The downstream portion 21C is provided with a water supply valve 26 that can be opened and closed. The water supply valve 26 is composed of an electromagnetic valve or the like. When the water supply valve 26 is opened, tap water from the faucet flows through the water supply passage 21 and is injected into the water injection unit 22, and then pours from the discharge port 23 into the washing tub 4, where it accumulates in the outer tub 3 and the washing tub 4. When the water supply valve 26 is closed, the supply of tap water is stopped.

The treatment agent supply unit 24 is a device that automatically puts the treatment agent into the washing tub 4 via the water injection unit 22. Specifically, the treatment agent supply unit 24 includes a detergent supply unit 24A that supplies detergent to the water supply channel 21, and a fabric softener supply unit 24B that supplies fabric softener to the water supply channel 21. The detergent supply unit 24A is disposed on the upper side Z1 of the washing tub 4 in the housing 2. Specifically, the detergent supply unit 24A is provided on the upper panel 2A. The detergent supply unit 24A has a detergent storage unit 27 that stores a detergent such as a liquid detergent, a detergent supply channel 28 that connects the lower end of the detergent storage unit 27 and the water injection unit 22, and a detergent supply valve 29 provided on the detergent supply channel 28.

The detergent storage section 27 is formed in a box or tank shape and fixed to the top plate 2A. When the user opens the door 8 of the housing 2, at least the top surface of the detergent storage section 27 is exposed to the opening 2B of the top plate 2A. An openable or detachable lid 30 is provided on the top surface of the detergent storage section 27. When the user accesses the lid 30 from the opening 2B and opens or removes the lid 30, the inside of the detergent storage section 27 is exposed, so that the user can refill the detergent into the detergent storage section 27. The detergent storage section 27 can be pre-stored with an amount of detergent that can perform multiple washing operations. After refilling the detergent, the user closes the lid 30 or attaches it to the detergent storage section 27. The lid 30 may be exposed to the outside of the housing 2, in which case the user can access the lid 30 without opening the door 8. The lid 30 does not have to exist.

The detergent supply passage 28 extends from the lower end of the detergent storage section 27 at least to the lower side Z2 and is connected to the water injection unit 22. In this embodiment, the detergent supply valve 29 is configured by an electromagnetic valve or the like, and the detergent supply valve 29 itself opens and closes to open and close the detergent supply passage 28. In the detergent supply section 24A, when the detergent supply valve 29 opens, the detergent supply passage 28 is opened, so that the detergent in the detergent storage section 27 flows down the detergent supply passage 28 by its own weight and is then supplied to the water injection unit 22. If the water supply valve 26 is open at this time, the detergent supplied to the water injection unit 22 is carried by the tap water injected from the water supply passage 21 into the water injection unit 22 and is supplied from the discharge port 23 into the washing tub 4. When the detergent supply valve 29 closes, the detergent supply passage 28 is blocked, so that the supply of detergent from the detergent storage section 27 is stopped.

The fabric softener supply unit 24B is located in the housing 2 on the upper side Z1 of the washing tub 4, and is specifically provided on the top panel 2A. The fabric softener supply unit 24B has a fabric softener storage unit 31 that stores a fabric softener such as a liquid fabric softener, a fabric softener supply path 32 that connects the lower end of the fabric softener storage unit 31 to the detergent supply path 28, and a fabric softener supply valve 33 provided in the fabric softener supply path 32.

The fabric softener storage section 31 is formed in a box or tank shape and fixed to the top plate 2A. The detergent storage section 27 and the fabric softener storage section 31 are arranged adjacent to each other in the front-rear direction Y in FIG. 1, but in reality, they are arranged apart from each other in the left-right direction X so as to sandwich the opening 2B of the top plate 2A in a plan view. At least the upper surface of the fabric softener storage section 31 is exposed to the opening 2B when the user opens the door 8 of the housing 2. The upper surface of the fabric softener storage section 31 is provided with a lid 34 that can be opened and closed or removed. When the user accesses the lid 34 from the opening 2B and opens or removes the lid 34, the inside of the fabric softener storage section 31 is exposed, so that the user can refill the fabric softener into the fabric softener storage section 31. The fabric softener storage section 31 can be pre-stored with an amount of fabric softener that can perform multiple washing operations. After refilling the fabric softener, the user closes the lid 34 or attaches it to the fabric softener storage section 31. The lid 34 may be exposed to the outside of the housing 2, in which case the user can access the lid 34 without opening the door 8. The lid 34 does not necessarily have to be present.

The fabric softener supply passage 32 extends from the lower end of the fabric softener storage section 31 at least downward Z2 and is connected to the downstream region 28A in the detergent supply passage 28, which is closer to the water injection unit 22 than the detergent supply valve 29. In this embodiment, the fabric softener supply passage 32 connects the fabric softener storage section 31 and the water injection unit 22 via the downstream region 28A. Alternatively, the fabric softener supply passage 32 may be connected directly to the water injection unit 22 without going through the downstream region 28A.

The fabric softener supply valve 33 is composed of an electromagnetic valve or the like, and can open and close the fabric softener supply path 32 by opening and closing the fabric softener supply valve 33 itself. In the fabric softener supply section 24B, when the fabric softener supply valve 33 opens, the fabric softener supply path 32 is opened, so that the fabric softener in the fabric softener storage section 31 flows down the fabric softener supply path 32 and the detergent supply path 28 by its own weight, and is then supplied to the water injection unit 22. If the water supply valve 26 is open at this time, the fabric softener supplied to the water injection unit 22 is carried by the tap water injected from the water supply path 21 into the water injection unit 22, and is supplied from the discharge port 23 into the washing tub 4. When the fabric softener supply valve 33 closes, the fabric softener supply path 32 is blocked, and the supply of fabric softener from the fabric softener storage section 31 is stopped.

A treatment agent pump (not shown) may be provided in the downstream region 28A of the detergent supply path 28, more specifically, in the downstream region 28A closer to the water injection unit 22 than the connection portion with the fabric softener supply path 32, to suck up the treatment agent in the downstream region 28A and discharge it to the water injection unit 22.

In relation to the bath water supply passage 25, an inlet 35 for taking in bath water is provided on the upper panel 2A of the housing 2. One end 25A of the bath water supply passage 25 is connected to the water injection unit 22, and the other end 25B of the bath water supply passage 25 is connected to the inlet 35. The inlet 35 is a hole exposed on the upper surface of the upper panel 2A, i.e., the surface of the housing 2. The inlet 35 may refer to a hole formed in the housing 2, or it may refer to the opening of the other end 25B exposed from this hole.

A bath water pump 36 can be attached to the inlet 35. The bath water pump 36 is an electric pump. The bath water pump 36 also has a hose 37, one end of which is immersed in bath water and the other end of which is connected to the inlet 35. When the bath water pump 36 is driven, bath water outside the housing 2 is sucked into the hose 37 and taken into the bath water supply channel 25 at the inlet 35. The bath water taken into the bath water supply channel 25 is supplied to the water injection unit 22 and then supplied into the washing tub 4 from the discharge port 23. When the bath water pump 36 is stopped, the supply of water by bath water is stopped. Note that the bath water pump 36 may be an external component to the washing machine 1 as in this embodiment. Alternatively, the bath water pump 36 may be provided as part of the washing machine 1, for example, in the middle of the bath water supply channel 25, in which case the only external component for taking in bath water is the hose 37.

The washing machine 1 further includes a control unit 38 configured by a microcomputer or the like. The motor 6, the transmission mechanism 7, the display operation unit 9, the drain valve 12, the water supply valve 26, the detergent supply valve 29, the fabric softener supply valve 33, and the bath water pump 36 are each electrically connected to the control unit 38. When the bath water pump 36 is an external component, it is electrically connected to the control unit 38 via a cable (not shown) configured by at least one of a signal line and a power supply line.

The control unit 38 executes a washing operation by controlling the operation of the motor 6, the transmission mechanism 7, the drain valve 12, the water supply valve 26, the detergent supply valve 29, the fabric softener supply valve 33, and the bath water pump 36. The washing operation includes a washing process for washing the laundry Q in the washing tub 4, a rinsing process for rinsing the laundry Q after the washing process, and a dehydration process for dehydrating the laundry Q after the rinsing process. The rinsing process may be executed multiple times, and the last rinsing process is called the final rinsing process. The dehydration process includes an intermediate dehydration process executed immediately after the washing process or the rinsing process, and a final dehydration process executed at the end of the washing operation.

In the washing process, the control unit 38 first supplies water from the water injection unit 22 into the washing tub 4 by opening the water supply valve 26 for a predetermined time while keeping at least the drain valve 12 and the fabric softener supply valve 33 closed (see the dashed arrow in FIG. 1). At that time, the control unit 38 opens the detergent supply valve 29 for a predetermined time and drives the above-mentioned treatment agent pump for a predetermined time as necessary, thereby supplying the detergent for one washing operation in the detergent storage unit 27 from the outlet 23 on tap water in the water injection unit 22 into the washing tub 4. Note that the control unit 38 may supply bath water into the washing tub 4 by driving the bath water pump 36 instead of opening the water supply valve 26 during water supply. At that time, the control unit 38 supplies the detergent for one washing operation on bath water in the water injection unit 22 from the outlet 23 into the washing tub 4.

When the water level in the washing tub 4 rises to a predetermined level, the control unit 38 stops the water supply and then controls the motor 6 and transmission mechanism 7 to rotate the rotor 5. As a result, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is cleaned by being agitated and having dirt broken down by the detergent. Finally, the control unit 38 drains the washing tub 4 by opening the drain valve 12.

In the rinsing process, the control unit 38 first stores tap water in the washing tub 4 by opening the water supply valve 26 for a predetermined time while keeping at least the drain valve 12 and detergent supply valve 29 closed. Next, the control unit 38 controls the motor 6 and transmission mechanism 7 to rotate the rotor 5. This rinses the laundry Q in the washing tub 4. In particular, when supplying water in the final rinsing process, the control unit 38 opens the fabric softener supply valve 33 for a predetermined time and drives the above-mentioned treatment agent pump for a predetermined time as necessary, so that the fabric softener for one washing run in the fabric softener storage unit 31 is carried on the tap water by the water injection unit 22 and supplied from the discharge port 23 to the washing tub 4. After that, the rotor 5 rotates, so that the fabric softener permeates the laundry Q in the washing tub 4. Finally, the control unit 38 drains the washing tub 4.

In the spin-drying process, the control unit 38 rotates the washing tub 4 at a predetermined spin-drying speed by controlling the motor 6 and the transmission mechanism 7 with the drain valve 12 open. As a result, the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 is dehydrated by the action of centrifugal force. Note that the operating conditions may be different between the intermediate spin-drying process and the final spin-drying process. For example, the spin-drying speed in the final spin-drying process may be higher than the spin-drying speed in the intermediate spin-drying process.

Next, the water injection unit 22 will be described in detail. In the following description, it is assumed that the hose 37 of the bath water pump 36 is removed from the inlet 35, and the inlet 35 is connected to the outside of the machine, i.e., to the outside of the washing machine 1, so that outside air can be drawn into the bath water supply passage 25.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross-sectional right side view of the water injection unit 22. The water injection unit 22 includes a unit body 51 that constitutes the housing of the unit, and a partition member 52 that is incorporated into the unit body 51. The unit body 51 is box-shaped and thin in the left-right direction X. The unit body 51 has a main member 53 that constitutes almost the entire unit body 51, and a discharge member 54 that is arranged on the lower side Z2 of the main member 53.

The main member 53 is a box-like member that is thin in the left-right direction X. The main member 53 has a pair of left and right side walls 61, a top wall 62 that is installed between the upper ends of the left and right side walls 61, a front wall 63 that is installed between the front ends of the left and right side walls 61, and a rear wall 64 that is installed between the rear ends of the left and right side walls 61. Of the left and right side walls 61, only the left side wall 61A on the X1 side is shown in FIG. 2. Each side wall 61 is substantially rectangular when viewed from the left-right direction X, and is a thin plate-like member in the left-right direction X. An inlet 61B that is connected to the downstream region 28A of the detergent supply channel 28 is formed at the upper part of the rear end of the side wall 61A.

The top wall 62 is a plate extending in the front-to-rear direction Y and is thin in the up-to-down direction Z. The front wall 63 is a plate extending in the up-to-down direction Z and is thin in the front-to-rear direction Y. The rear wall 64 is a hollow block having a depth in the front-to-rear direction Y. Within the rear wall 64, a ventilation area 64A is provided, which is formed by a space extending in the up-to-down direction Z. The upper end of the ventilation area 64A is connected to one end 25A of the bath water supply passage 25. The ventilation area 64A is in communication with the outside of the machine via the bath water supply passage 25 and the inlet 35 of the housing 2 (see FIG. 1).

The space surrounded by the pair of left and right side walls 61, the top wall 62, the front wall 63, and the rear wall 64 is the internal space 53A of the main member 53. When the main member 53 exists alone, the internal space 53A is opened to the lower side Z2. The main member 53 further has a guide portion 65 arranged at the upper end of the internal space 53A. The guide portion 65 is a plate-like member arranged directly below the top wall 62 and extending approximately parallel to the top wall 62, and is installed between the left and right side walls 61, as well as between the front wall 63 and the rear wall 64. The guide portion 65 is arranged on the upper side Z1 than the inlet 61B of the side wall 61A on the left side X1. The region of the internal space 53A of the main member 53 above the guide portion 65 on the upper side Z1 is the injection region 53B. The injection region 53B is a space that is flat in the vertical direction Z and long in the front-to-rear direction Y. The rear end of the injection area 53B is connected to one end 21A of the water supply channel 21 (see Figure 1).

A plurality of ribs 61D extending from the guide portion 65 to the lower side Z2 are provided on the inner surface 61C facing the internal space 53A of each of the pair of left and right side walls 61. These ribs 61D are arranged in a line in the front-rear direction Y, and the lower end of each rib 61D is arranged on the upper side Z1 than the lower end of the inner surface 61C. The region of the inner space 53A of the main member 53 below the guide portion 65 in the lower side Z2 has a drop area 53C that is at the same position as the rib 61D in the vertical direction Z, and a receiving area 53D that is arranged on the lower side Z2 of the drop area 53C. The guide portion 65 is formed with a plurality of through holes 65A arranged in the front-rear direction Y that penetrate the guide portion 65 in the vertical direction Z. The through hole 65A located at the most forward side Y1 is formed in a cylindrical shape protruding from the guide portion 65 to the upper side Z1. The injection area 53B on the upper side Z1 of the guide portion 65 is in communication with the drop area 53C via each through hole 65A.

The area between the front end of the drop area 53C and the front end of the receiving area 53D in the internal space 53A of the main member 53 is a connection area 53E that connects the front ends of the drop area 53C and the receiving area 53D. The connection area 53E may be considered to be part of either the drop area 53C or the receiving area 53D.

Figure 3 is a plan view of the discharge member 54. The discharge member 54 is formed in the shape of a tray that is elongated in the front-rear direction Y. The discharge member 54 has a bottom wall portion 54A that has an overall L-shaped shape with a long side in the front-rear direction Y and a rear end portion bent to the left side X1, and a front wall portion 54B that rises from the front end of the bottom wall portion 54A. The discharge member 54 has a left wall portion 54C that is connected to the left end of the front wall portion 54B and rises along the left edge of the bottom wall portion 54A, and a right wall portion 54D that is connected to the right end of the front wall portion 54B and rises along the right edge of the bottom wall portion 54A. The discharge member 54 further has a rear wall portion 54E that is bridged between the rear ends of the left wall portion 54C and the right wall portion 54D and rises from the rear end of the bottom wall portion 54A.

The space surrounded by the bottom wall portion 54A, the front wall portion 54B, the left wall portion 54C, the right wall portion 54D, and the rear wall portion 54E is the internal space 54F of the discharge member 54. In a plan view, the internal space 54F is formed in an L-shape that extends to the rear side Y2 and bends at the rear end to the left side X1. When the discharge member 54 exists alone, the internal space 54F is open to the upper side Z1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the discharge member 54 as viewed from the bottom side Z2. The bottom wall portion 54A is a thin plate in the vertical direction Z. The rear end portion of the bottom wall portion 54A, which is bent to the left side X1, is positioned at a position one step higher than the portion on the front side Y1 of the rear end portion. The portion of the bottom wall portion 54A on the front side Y1 of the rear end portion is configured to be slightly inclined so as to descend toward the front side Y1 (see Figure 2).

The aforementioned discharge port 23 is formed at the front end of the bottom wall portion 54A. The internal space 54F of the discharge member 54 is connected to the discharge port 23 from the upper side Z1. A plurality of discharge ports 23 are provided. In this embodiment, two discharge ports 23 are provided. These discharge ports 23 include a first discharge port 23A penetrating the bottom wall portion 54A in the vertical direction Z, and a second discharge port 23B arranged next to the first discharge port 23A from the rear side Y2 and penetrating the bottom wall portion 54A in the vertical direction Z. The first discharge port 23A is formed in a substantially isosceles trapezoid shape that opens toward the front side Y1. The second discharge port 23B is formed in a substantially rectangular shape, and its left edge is formed to shift to the left side X1 as it moves toward the front side Y1. The rear edge of the first discharge port 23A and the front edge of the second discharge port 23B have substantially the same dimensions in the left-right direction X.

The discharge member 54 further has an inclined portion 54G that forms the boundary between the rear edge of the first discharge port 23A and the front edge of the second discharge port 23B. The inclined portion 54G is plate-shaped and extends from the upper side Z1 of the second discharge port 23B, more specifically, from directly above to between the first discharge port 23A and the second discharge port 23B, diagonally downward and toward the front side Y1, and connects to the rear edge of the first discharge port 23A and the front edge of the second discharge port 23B.

The front wall portion 54B is a vertical wall portion that is thin in the front-rear direction Y and is disposed on the front side Y1 of the inclined portion 54G, sandwiching the first discharge port 23A between itself and the inclined portion 54G.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the discharge member 54 as viewed from the upper side Z1. The left wall portion 54C extends from the left end of the front wall portion 54B to the rear side Y2, inclines to the left side X1 midway, and then bends to the left side X1 and rear side Y2 in turn. The upper end of the left wall portion 54C is formed in a flange shape bent to the left side X1. The right wall portion 54D extends from the right end of the front wall portion 54B to the rear side Y2, and curves to the left side X1 midway. The upper end of the right wall portion 54D is formed in a flange shape bent to the right side X2. The rear wall portion 54E extends linearly along the left-right direction X. Note that the rear end of at least one of the left wall portion 54C and the right wall portion 54D may be considered as part of the rear wall portion 54E.

A ring-shaped groove 54H is formed on the upper end surface of the discharge member 54, bordering the upper ends of the front wall portion 54B, the left wall portion 54C, the right wall portion 54D, and the rear wall portion 54E and surrounding the internal space 54F. The ring-shaped portion surrounding the groove 54H on the upper end surface of the discharge member 54 is called the outer edge portion 54J, and the ring-shaped portion surrounded by the groove 54H on the upper end surface of the discharge member 54 is called the inner edge portion 54K. The outer edge portion 54J and the inner edge portion 54K have an L-shape similar to the internal space 54F in a plan view.

The discharge member 54 is attached to the main member 53 from the lower side Z2 to complete the unit body 51. The main member 53 and the discharge member 54 are fixed to each other, for example, by welding. In the completed unit body 51, the lower ends of the side walls 61, the front wall 63, and the rear wall 64 (see FIG. 2) of the main member 53 are received in the grooves 54H on the upper end surface of the discharge member 54, so that the boundary between the main member 53 and the discharge member 54 is sealed. In addition, the internal space 54F of the discharge member 54 communicates with the receiving area 53D of the main member 53 from the lower side Z2 to form a part of the receiving area 53D (see FIG. 2). In addition, the rear end of the internal space 54F communicates with the lower end of the ventilation area 64A (see FIG. 2) of the rear wall 64 from the lower side Z2, so that the ventilation area 64A is connected to the receiving area 53D. The bottom wall portion 54A of the discharge member 54 forms the bottom wall portion of the entire unit body 51.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the partition member 52. The cross section taken along the line A-A in Figure 6 corresponds to the cross sections in the cross-sectional views of Figures 2 and 11. The partition member 52 is formed in the shape of a hollow block that is elongated in the front-rear direction Y. The partition member 52 has a horizontal plate portion 52A that is long in the front-rear direction Y, a left wall portion 52B that extends along the left edge of the horizontal plate portion 52A to the lower side Z2, and a right wall portion 52C that extends along the right edge of the horizontal plate portion 52A to the lower side Z2.

The horizontal plate portion 52A is a thin plate in the vertical direction Z. The front end portion 52D of the horizontal plate portion 52A is curved in a U-shape toward the right side X2. As shown in FIG. 7, which is a right side view of the partition member 52, the portion of the horizontal plate portion 52A rearward Y2 from the front end portion 52D is a flat portion 52E whose upper surface is approximately horizontal, but the upper surface portion of the front end portion 52D is inclined downward toward the front side Y1. The upper surface portion of the flat portion 52E may also be inclined in the same manner as the front end portion 52D.

As shown in FIG. 8, which is a perspective view of the partition member 52 as viewed from the rear side Y2, the horizontal plate portion 52A is formed with one or more water passage holes 52F penetrating the horizontal plate portion 52A in the up-down direction Z. In this embodiment, three water passage holes 52F are formed in a row at intervals in the front-rear direction Y. Each water passage hole 52F is approximately rectangular. The size and shape of the water passage holes 52F may be the same or may differ depending on the position where the water passage hole 52F is formed. In this embodiment, the first water passage hole 52F from the front side Y1 is formed across the front end portion 52D and the flat portion 52E of the horizontal plate portion 52A, so that it is formed in an approximately parallelogram shape according to the curvature of the front end portion 52D in a plan view. On the other hand, the second water passage hole 52F from the front side Y1 and the third water passage hole 52F from the front side Y1, that is, the rearmost water passage hole 52F, are formed in an approximately square shape with the same size and shape. The dimension of each water passage hole 52F in the left-right direction X is approximately the same as the dimension of the portion of the horizontal plate portion 52A in which the water passage hole 52F is formed in the left-right direction X. In other words, each water passage hole 52F is formed over the entire area of the horizontal plate portion 52A in the left-right direction X, i.e., the width direction. Therefore, the horizontal plate portion 52A is configured to be interrupted at the position where the water passage hole 52F is formed.

The partition member 52 further has a slope portion 52G extending from the edge of the water passage hole 52F in the horizontal plate portion 52A. A slope portion 52G is provided for each water passage hole 52F, and in this embodiment, there are three slope portions 52G. Each slope portion 52G is a generally rectangular inclined plate extending downward and forward from the rear edge 52H extending in the left-right direction X of the corresponding water passage hole 52F, and is installed between the left wall portion 52B and the right wall portion 52C. As shown in FIG. 9, which is a front view of the partition member 52, the lower end of each slope portion 52G is located above the lower ends Z1 of the left wall portion 52B and the right wall portion 52C.

10 is a perspective view of the partition member 52 as seen from the front side Y1. The left wall portion 52B and the right wall portion 52C are thin plates in the left-right direction X. In accordance with the U-shaped curved front end portion 52D of the horizontal plate portion 52A, the left wall portion 52B and the right wall portion 52C are each formed with a U-shaped curved front end portion toward the right side X2, but the portion Y2 rearward of the front end portion is a flat vertical wall along the front-rear direction Y. Note that the front end portion 52D is formed to be curved due to the constraint of another part (not shown) arranged to the left of the water injection unit 22, but if there is no constraint from the other part, the front end portion 52D may be configured to extend linearly in the front-rear direction Y. Note that the other part in this embodiment is the detergent supply unit 24A or the fabric softener supply unit 24B (see FIG. 1) described above. In addition, an ultrasonic cleaning unit (not shown) that generates ultrasonic vibrations to remove partial dirt from the laundry Q is arranged to the right of the water injection unit 22 in this embodiment.

The front edge 52J of the horizontal plate portion 52A is inclined so as to retreat toward the right side X2. As a result, the front end of the right wall portion 52C is positioned rearward Y2 from the front end of the left wall portion 52B. The rear edge 52K of the horizontal plate portion 52A is positioned rearward Y2 from the respective rear ends of the right wall portion 52C and the left wall portion 52B. In the partition member 52, the internal space 52L surrounded by the horizontal plate portion 52A, the left wall portion 52B, and the right wall portion 52C is open to the front side Y1, the rear side Y2, and the lower side Z2.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the completed water injection unit 22, including a vertical cross section in part. The partition member 52 is disposed within the unit body 51. The unit body 51 and the partition member 52 are fixed to each other, for example, by welding. In the partition member 52, the lower ends of the left wall portion 52B and the right wall portion 52C (not shown) are in contact with the inner edge portion 54K (see also Figure 5) of the upper end surface of the discharge member 54 of the unit body 51 from the upper side Z1. The left wall portion 52B is disposed along the inner surface 61C of the side wall 61A on the left side X1 of the main member 53 of the unit body 51, and the right wall portion 52C is disposed along the inner surface 61C of the side wall 61 (not shown) on the right side X2 of the main member 53.

The internal space 52L of the partition member 52 communicates with the internal space 54F of the discharge member 54 from the upper side Z1. The internal space 52L constitutes approximately the upper half of the receiving area 53D, and the internal space 54F constitutes approximately the lower half of the receiving area 53D. As described above, the connection area 53E connecting the front ends of the drop area 53C and the receiving area 53D is located on the front side Y1 of the partition member 52, and is therefore located next to the partition member 52. The horizontal plate portion 52A of the partition member 52 is located between the area Y2 rearward of the front end in the drop area 53C and the area Y2 rearward of the front end in the receiving area 53D. The rear edge 52K of the horizontal plate portion 52A is in contact with the rear wall 64 of the main member 53 from the front side Y1.

The bottom wall portion 54A of the discharge member 54 is disposed on the lower side Z2 than the horizontal plate portion 52A. Of the two discharge ports 23 formed in the bottom wall portion 54A, the first discharge port 23A on the front side Y1 is disposed on the lower side Z2 of the connection region 53E, or more precisely, directly below, and the second discharge port 23B on the rear side Y2 is disposed on the lower side Z2 of the partition member 52, or more precisely, directly below the front end portion 52D of the horizontal plate portion 52A of the partition member 52. Approximately the rear half of the inclined portion 54G of the discharge member 54 is disposed directly above the second discharge port 23B and directly below the front end portion 52D of the horizontal plate portion 52A. Each slope portion 52G of the horizontal plate portion 52A extends obliquely downward from the rear edge 52H of the corresponding water passage hole 52F toward the discharge port 23.

As described above, when the control unit 38 opens the water supply valve 26 during the washing or rinsing process (see FIG. 1), tap water is injected into the rear end of the injection area 53B of the unit body 51 through the water supply passage 21. Then, the tap water in the injection area 53B advances along the guide portion 65 as shown by the dashed arrow A1, and on the way, it flows down from each through hole 65A of the guide portion 65 into the drop area 53C. The water that flows down into the drop area 53C falls in the drop area 53C as shown by the dashed arrow A2 while being guided by the inner surface 61C of each side wall 61 and the rib 61D. At this time, if the control unit 38 has the detergent supply valve 29 or the fabric softener supply valve 33 (see FIG. 1) open, the detergent or fabric softener flows into the drop area 53C from the inlet 61B of the side wall 61A on the left side X1 and falls on the water. In the following description, "water" refers not only to tap water, but also to water in which a treatment agent such as detergent or fabric softener is dissolved.

The water that falls in the drop area 53C hits the horizontal plate portion 52A of the partition member 52 and is agitated so as to swirl vertically as shown by dashed arrow A3. The water agitated in the drop area 53C falls into the receiving area 53D through each water passage hole 52F of the horizontal plate portion 52A as shown by dashed arrow A4, or falls into the receiving area 53D through the connection area 53E as shown by dashed arrow A5. The water that passes through each water passage hole 52F is guided to the discharge outlet 23 by flowing on the slope portion 52G. The water that has finished flowing on the slope portion 52G hits the bottom wall portion 54A and is agitated so as to swirl vertically as shown by dashed arrow A6.

In this way, the receiving area 53D receives the water that has fallen in the falling area 53C. Outside air that has been taken into the bath water supply passage 25 from the inlet 35 of the housing 2 is sent to the rear end of the receiving area 53D by the ventilation area 64A, as shown by the dashed arrow A7, and becomes air bubbles that mix with the water in the receiving area 53D.

The water that is foamed with air bubbles is sent to the discharge port 23. Specifically, the water that falls into the receiving area 53D through the connection area 53E flows down between the front wall portion 54B and the inclined portion 54G of the discharge member 54 as shown by the dashed arrow A8, into the first discharge port 23A, and then pours into the washing tub 4 through the entrance/exit 4C of the washing tub 4 from the first discharge port 23A (see also FIG. 1). On the other hand, the water that falls into the receiving area 53D through each water passage hole 52F of the horizontal plate portion 52A flows down to the front side Y1 along the inclination of the bottom wall portion 54A to reach the second discharge port 23B, and then pours into the washing tub 4 through the entrance/exit 4C of the washing tub 4 from the second discharge port 23B (see also FIG. 1) as shown by the dashed arrow A9.

As described above, in the water injection unit 22 of the washing machine 1, air sent from the ventilation area 64A to the receiving area 53D is mixed into the water received in the receiving area 53D as air bubbles. In particular, the water that falls from the falling area 53C to the receiving area 53D through the water passage hole 52F of the horizontal plate portion 52A of the partition member 52 is likely to contain air bubbles due to being stirred around the water passage hole 52F. When the water that has been foamed by containing air bubbles is poured into the washing tub 4 from the discharge port 23 (see dashed arrows A8 and A9 in FIG. 1), it is gently sprayed on the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 and effectively penetrates it. Therefore, water splashing can be suppressed when pouring water into the washing tub 4, and the penetration of water into the laundry Q in the washing tub 4 can be promoted.

In addition, in the partition member 52, the slope portion 52G extending diagonally downward from the rear edge 52H of the water passage hole 52F in the horizontal plate portion 52A toward the discharge port 23 guides the water that falls from the drop area 53C through the water passage hole 52F to the receiving area 53D to the discharge port 23. This allows the foamed water to be actively sent to the discharge port 23 and poured from the discharge port 23 into the washing tub 4. In addition, by guiding the water in the receiving area 53D to the discharge port 23, it is possible to prevent the water in the receiving area 53D from flowing back into the ventilation area 64A.

In addition, by providing multiple outlets 23, the water injection unit 22 can actively pour the foamed water into the washing tub 4 from the multiple outlets 23. In particular, the first outlet 23A and the second outlet 23B constituting the multiple outlets 23 are each configured to penetrate the bottom wall portion 54A of the unit body 51 in the vertical direction Z, so that the foamed water can be actively poured into the washing tub 4 by being discharged downward, that is, almost directly downward (see also FIG. 1). In addition, by providing multiple outlets 23, the outlet 23 is ensured to be wide as a whole, so that the water is smoothly discharged from the outlet 23, and the flow of water in the water injection unit 22 becomes smooth. Therefore, in the water injection unit 22, air bubbles can be effectively mixed into the water, and the water can be smoothly poured into the washing tub 4.

The water that falls in the drop area 53C and is received in the receiving area 53D through the connection area 53E is discharged from the first discharge port 23A on the lower side Z2 of the connection area 53E in a state containing air bubbles and poured into the washing tub 4. On the other hand, the water that falls in the drop area 53C and is received in the receiving area 53D through the water passage hole 52F of the horizontal plate portion 52A of the partition member 52 is discharged from the second discharge port 23B on the lower side Z2 of the partition member 52 in a state containing air bubbles and poured into the washing tub 4. Here, the inclined portion 54G weakens the forward momentum of the foamed water and guides the water downward at the second discharge port 23B, so that the second discharge port 23B can actively pour the water into the washing tub 4 by discharging the water almost directly below. In addition, the front wall portion 54B weakens the forward momentum of the foamed water and guides the water downward at the first discharge port 23A, so that the first discharge port 23A can actively spray the water into the washing tub 4 by discharging the water almost directly downward.

This invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims.

For example, in the embodiment described above, outside air is supplied to the ventilation area 64A of the water injection unit 22 through the bath water supply channel 25, but a flow path that takes in outside air to the ventilation area 64A may be provided separately from the bath water supply channel 25.

In addition, in this embodiment, the treatment agent supply unit 24 supplies both detergent and fabric softener, but it may supply only one of detergent and fabric softener, in which case the treatment agent supply unit 24 has only one of the detergent storage unit 27 and fabric softener storage unit 31.

In this embodiment, the washing machine 1 is a vertical washing machine with the washing tub 4 arranged vertically, but the central axis J of the washing tub 4 may be arranged along the up-down direction Z, i.e., the vertical direction, or may be arranged at an angle to the vertical direction.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 washing machine 4 washing tub 22 water injection unit 23 outlet 23A first outlet 23B second outlet 51 unit body 52 partition member 52A side plate portion 52F water passage hole 52G slope portion 52H rear edge 53B injection area 53C drop area 53D receiving area 53E connection area 54A bottom wall portion 54B front wall portion 54G inclined portion 64A ventilation area Q laundry Z vertical direction Z1 upper side Z2 lower side

Claims (4)

A washing tub for storing laundry;
a water injection unit having a discharge port facing the inside of the washing tub and pouring water into the washing tub from the discharge port;
The water injection unit includes:
a unit body including an injection area into which water is injected, a drop area from which the water injected into the injection area is dropped, a receiving area disposed below the drop area and connected to the discharge port, for receiving the water from the drop area, and an air vent area connected to the receiving area for sending air into the receiving area;
a partition member having a horizontal plate portion disposed between the drop area and the receiving area and having a water passage hole formed therein for allowing the water in the drop area to drop into the receiving area ;
The partition member has a slope portion extending obliquely downward from an edge of the water passage hole in the horizontal plate portion toward the discharge port . The washing machine according to claim 1 , wherein the discharge port is provided in a plurality of ports. The unit body has a bottom wall portion disposed below the horizontal plate portion,
3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of outlets include a first outlet penetrating the bottom wall portion in the vertical direction, and a second outlet arranged next to the first outlet and penetrating the bottom wall portion in the vertical direction. A washing tub for storing laundry;
a water injection unit having a discharge port facing the inside of the washing tub and pouring water into the washing tub from the discharge port;
The water injection unit includes:
a unit body including an injection area into which water is injected, a drop area from which the water injected into the injection area is dropped, a receiving area disposed below the drop area and connected to the discharge port, for receiving the water from the drop area, and an air vent area connected to the receiving area for sending air into the receiving area;
a partition member having a horizontal plate portion disposed between the drop area and the receiving area and having a water passage hole formed therein for allowing the water in the drop area to drop into the receiving area;
The discharge port is provided in plurality,
The unit body has a bottom wall portion disposed below the horizontal plate portion,
the plurality of discharge ports include a first discharge port that penetrates the bottom wall portion in the up-down direction, and a second discharge port that is arranged next to the first discharge port and penetrates the bottom wall portion in the up-down direction,
The unit body is provided with a connection area located adjacent to the partition member and connecting the drop area and the receiving area,
The first outlet is disposed below the connection region,
The second discharge port is disposed below the partition member,
The unit body has an inclined portion extending diagonally downward from above the second discharge outlet toward between the first discharge outlet and the second discharge outlet, and a vertical wall portion that sandwiches the first discharge outlet between the inclined portion and the vertical wall portion .

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