Patent Description:
A washing machine is generally provided with a clothes treating agent input device that contains a pre-added treating agent and inputs the treating agent to a washing chamber during running of a washing program. In an existing liquid/colloidal treating agent input device, a treating agent is generally in contact with electric parts. These electric parts include gear pumps, peristaltic pumps, valves, vacuum pumps, and the like for pumping liquid. The liquid flows into a pump body and then flows out. It is extremely inconvenient to change a type of treating agent. In addition, most gear pumps and peristaltic pumps are expensive and bulky, occupy a large space in mass production, and have high costs.

In most existing treating agent input devices, the treating agent is in contact with air, so that it is difficult to ensure that the treating agent does not dry out after being stored for a long time, especially when used in high-temperature situations, such as near a heating part or high-temperature part, or beside a drying tunnel of a laundry dryer. If not used by a user for a long time, water in the treating agent evaporates and dries out, which increases the viscosity, and even affects the operation of the pump body.

An existing treating agent input device generally uses contact sensing, that is, a probe or sensor is in contact with the liquid to sense whether a remaining amount of the treating agent is insufficient. This type of sensing is prone to errors, such as an impact of liquid level fluctuations, a tilt angle of the whole machine, and the viscosity of the liquid (if the liquid is viscous, the liquid sticks to the sensor, which is related to surface tension thereof). In addition, it is inconvenient to change a type of liquid.

Some bottled treating agent input devices are provided with a valve at an outlet. After the valve is opened, a liquid or colloidal treating agent flows out from the outlet under the action of gravity. Due to the limitation of an internal space and structure of the washing machine, the outlet is often set on a side surface instead of a bottom surface of a mounted treating agent bottle. Therefore, residues are prone to remaining, and it is difficult to completely empty the treating agent, thereby resulting in waste.

<CIT> discloses to a dispensing system for liquid or viscous treating agents for use in a washing machine. From <CIT> a washing machine capable to automatically supplying detergents to a washing tub by using a removable detergent dispenser is known. Further state of the art is known from <CIT> and <CIT>.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a washing machine with improved treating agent input device which helps to reduce waste.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a washing machine, including a treating agent input device for inputting a liquid or colloidal treating agent into a washing chamber. The treating agent input device includes an independent treating agent container, a mounting chamber for receiving the treating agent container, and a mixing chamber for receiving the treating agent and water. The mixing chamber is connected to a water inlet passage and a liquid outlet passage separately. The liquid outlet passage is connected to the washing chamber, to introduce a mixed liquid of the treating agent and water into the washing chamber. A pressing-type suction device is mounted on the treating agent container, and the suction device includes a reciprocating pressure head and a conveying channel connected to the pressure head and in fluid communication with the treating agent container. The pressure head includes a liquid outlet, and the liquid outlet is in space communication with the mixing chamber, so that the treating agent enters the mixing chamber after passing through the liquid outlet. A pressure applying device controlled by a control device is disposed opposite to the pressure head, and can push the pressure head to move in a direction towards the treating agent container, to pump the treating agent out of the treating agent container, wherein a piston is disposed in the treating agent container, wherein the piston moves toward the pressure head under the action of a pressure difference as an amount of the treating agent decreases.

The independent treating agent container may be taken out of the mounting chamber, which is convenient for overall replacement, or addition of the treating agent to the treating agent container. It is especially convenient for overall replacement of the treating agent container and the suction device containing the treating agent as a whole. Therefore, it is very convenient for a user to change a type of the treating agent, and there is no need to consider the residual and cross contamination of different treating agents. Moreover, the treating agent is completely separated from an electrical device, which greatly prolongs the service life of the electrical device and reduces costs of the electrical device required for pumping liquid. The treating agent directly falls into the mixing chamber from the liquid outlet of the pressure head, so that sealing requirements do not need to be considered, and the complexity of assembly is reduced. Moreover, while improving the user experience and the product grade, this type of bottle-pressing treating agent container is not expensive and is suitable for mass production.

The suction device may include an elastic device that acts on the pressure head to reset the pressure head.

A check valve that restricts the treating agent in the conveying channel from returning to the treating agent container may be disposed in the conveying channel. A bottom end of the elastic device may abut against the check valve.

The pressure applying device may include a drive portion and a movable portion driven by the drive portion, and the movable portion is driven to push the pressure head to move.

In some implementations, the drive portion includes a motor, and the movable portion includes a reciprocating mechanism or a rotating mechanism, so that the pressure head can be pushed for a plurality of times under the drive of the motor.

In some implementations, the movable portion includes a cam.

In some implementations, the pressure applying device includes a solenoid valve, and the solenoid valve includes a valve plug that can reciprocate to push the pressure head.

In some implementations, the control device is configured to control, according to a pre-obtained required delivery amount of the treating agent, a quantity of times for which the pressure applying device pushes the pressure head. A stroke of the pressure applying device to push the pressure head is generally fixed. Therefore, an amount of the treating agent that can be pumped out each time the pressure head is pushed is pre-measured, and then the quantity of times for which the pressure head needs to be pushed is calculated according to the required delivery amount of the treating agent. The required delivery amount of the treating agent may be set by the user, or obtained by the control device according to a program setting or a detected related parameter during running of a program.

In some implementations, the mounting chamber is provided with a mouth, and the treating agent container is mounted in the mounting chamber through the mouth.

In some implementations, the washing machine includes a cover portion for closing or opening the mouth.

In some implementations, the washing machine includes a detection device that is disposed adjacent to the treating agent container and that can send a detected signal associated with a remaining amount of the treating agent to the control device. Because the detection device is not in contact with the treating agent, a detection result is not affected by the viscosity of the treating agent, or the like and can be more accurate, and the service life of the detection device is prolonged.

In some implementations, the detection device includes a load cell disposed under the treating agent container. By using the load cell, the remaining amount of the treating agent can be obtained intuitively, so that the user can be reminded in time.

In some implementations, the mounting chamber is provided with a stop portion that limits axial movement of the treating agent container. The stop portion can ensure that the treating agent container does not move when the pressure applying device pushes the pressure head, so that a liquid pumping action can be performed effectively and accurately.

In some implementations, the stop portion includes a stop block disposed close to the treating agent container, and the stop block can move between a first position at which the axial movement of the treating agent container is blocked and a second position at which the axial movement of the treating agent container is allowed.

In some implementations, an unlocking member acts on the stop block, so that the stop block moves from the first position to the second position.

In some implementations, an elastic member is disposed in the mounting chamber, and the elastic member acts on an end surface of the treating agent container close to the pressure head along an axial direction of the treating agent container, so that when the stop block moves from the first position to the second position, the treating agent container is pushed to move in a direction of exiting the mounting chamber. In this way, at least a part of the treating agent container may be pushed out of the mounting chamber, thereby making it convenient for the user to take out the treating agent container and facilitating replacement or addition of the treating agent.

The foregoing embodiments may be combined in various ways within the scope of the appended claims.

Some specific implementations of the present invention are illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in <FIG>, a washing machine <NUM> includes a box body <NUM>. A washing chamber <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>) for treating clothes is disposed in the box body <NUM>. An independent treating agent input device <NUM> is further disposed in the box body, and may input a liquid or colloidal treating agent to the washing chamber <NUM> during running of a clothes treating program, especially a washing program.

The treating agent input device <NUM> includes an independent treating agent container <NUM> that may be accommodated in a mounting chamber <NUM> disposed in the box body <NUM>. The mounting chamber <NUM> is provided with a mouth <NUM> disposed on a front side of the box body <NUM>. The treating agent container <NUM> is mounted in the mounting chamber <NUM> through the mouth <NUM>. The cover portion <NUM> for closing or opening the mouth <NUM> is hinged on the box body <NUM>. A stop portion <NUM> is disposed close to the bottom of the treating agent container <NUM>, to limit axial movement of the treating agent container <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the treating agent input device <NUM> includes a mixing chamber <NUM> disposed adjacent to the mounting chamber <NUM>. Actually, the mixing chamber <NUM> and the mounting chamber <NUM> are in space communication. The mixing chamber <NUM> is connected to a water inlet passage <NUM> and a liquid outlet passage <NUM> separately. The liquid outlet passage <NUM> is connected to the washing chamber <NUM>, to introduce a mixed liquid of the treating agent and water into the washing chamber <NUM>.

A pressing-type suction device <NUM> is mounted on the treating agent container <NUM>. The suction device <NUM> includes a reciprocating pressure head <NUM> and a conveying channel <NUM> connected to the pressure head <NUM> and extending into the treating agent container <NUM> (as shown in <FIG>). The pressure head <NUM> includes a liquid outlet <NUM>. The liquid outlet <NUM> is in space communication with the mixing chamber <NUM>, so that the treating agent enters the mixing chamber <NUM> after passing through the liquid outlet <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the pressure head <NUM> is located above the mixing chamber <NUM>, and the liquid outlet <NUM> is disposed downwards, so that the treating agent flows out of the liquid outlet <NUM> and then enters the mixing chamber <NUM> under the action of gravity. In another implementation, the mounting chamber <NUM> and the mixing chamber <NUM> may be alternatively connected by a pipe, and the treating agent enters the mixing chamber <NUM> through the pipe.

A pressure applying device <NUM> controlled by a control device <NUM> is disposed opposite to the pressure head <NUM>, and can push the pressure head <NUM> to move in a direction towards the treating agent container <NUM>, to pump the treating agent out of the treating agent container <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the pressure applying device <NUM> includes a drive portion <NUM> and a movable portion <NUM> driven by the drive portion <NUM>. The movable portion <NUM> may include a reciprocating mechanism, a rotating mechanism, and the like, for example, include a cam. The drive portion <NUM> includes a motor. In an embodiment, the motor drives the cam to rotate, and the cam then pushes the pressure head <NUM> to move. The movable portion <NUM> in <FIG> represents a side structure of the cam. A front view thereof, that is, a view along an axis of rotation, is a normal cam structure. For a person skilled in the art, the relationship between the cam structure and the pressure head <NUM> may be understood with reference to the foregoing text and <FIG>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the pressure applying device <NUM> may further include a solenoid valve <NUM>. The solenoid valve <NUM> includes a valve plug <NUM> that can reciprocate to push the pressure head <NUM>, a first spring <NUM> acting on the valve plug <NUM> in an axial direction, and a coil <NUM> disposed around the valve plug <NUM>. An electromagnetic force is generated by the coil <NUM> through electrification, and the electromagnetic force is removed after a power-off. The electromagnetic force fits in with the first spring <NUM> to cause the valve plug <NUM> to reciprocate.

The pressure applying device <NUM> is not limited to the foregoing specific embodiment, and may further include various other mechanisms that may periodically push adjacent members to move axially.

The control device <NUM> is configured to control, according to a pre-obtained required delivery amount of the treating agent, a quantity of times for which the pressure applying device <NUM> pushes the pressure head <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the suction device <NUM> includes an elastic device <NUM> that acts on the pressure head <NUM> to reset the pressure head <NUM>.

A check valve <NUM> that restricts the treating agent in the conveying channel <NUM> from returning to the treating agent container <NUM> is disposed in the conveying channel <NUM>. A bottom end of the elastic device <NUM> abuts against the check valve <NUM>. In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the check valve <NUM> is a round ball, and the elastic device <NUM> is a spring.

As shown in <FIG>, a piston <NUM> is disposed in the treating agent container <NUM>. As the amount of the treating agent decreases, the piston <NUM> moves toward the pressure head <NUM> under the action of a pressure difference, so that the treating agent is fully used. The functional features of the parts and components are simply described in <FIG> merely in a schematic manner, and may be different in an actual application. For example, in an embodiment including the piston <NUM>, the conveying channel <NUM> is made shorter, so that the treating agent in the treating agent container <NUM> may be fully discharged, reducing waste. In another embodiment, a straw may be connected to the bottom of the conveying channel <NUM>, and a bottom mouth of the straw is located at the bottom of an internal space of the treating agent container <NUM>, so that the treating agent may be fully discharged through the straw.

As shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, a detection device <NUM> is disposed in the mounting chamber <NUM> and adjacent to the treating agent container <NUM>. A signal associated with a remaining amount of the treating agent may be obtained by using the detection device <NUM>, and the signal is sent to the control device <NUM>. The control device <NUM> may then send a remaining amount prompt signal according to information about the remaining amount of the treating agent. For example, a display device may be controlled to display the remaining amount of the treating agent, or a warning signal may be sent when the remaining amount is less than a set value, to remind the user to perform replacement.

In various embodiments, the detection device <NUM> may be a load cell disposed below the treating agent container <NUM>, or may be an optical sensor that detects a liquid level change in the treating agent container <NUM> or a position of the piston <NUM>. Alternatively, the position of the piston <NUM> may be detected in another manner, for example, by using a magnetic field induction sensor, and a magnetic substance is disposed in the piston <NUM>.

Because the pressure applying device <NUM> exerts a thrust on the pressure head <NUM>, a stop portion <NUM> that limits axial movement of the treating agent container <NUM> is disposed in the mounting chamber <NUM>.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the stop portion <NUM> includes a stop block <NUM> disposed close to the bottom of the treating agent container <NUM>.

The bottom of the stop block <NUM> is provided with a second spring <NUM>. Under the action of the second spring <NUM>, the stop block <NUM> may extend into the space in the mounting chamber <NUM>, to fit in with a groove <NUM> on the treating agent container <NUM> to limit the axial movement of the treating agent container <NUM>, and the stop block <NUM> is in a first position in this case. An unlocking member <NUM> fits in with an oblique surface of the stop block <NUM> in a slidable manner. The user presses the unlocking member <NUM> to force the stop block <NUM> out of fitting in with the groove <NUM>, thereby allowing the treating agent container <NUM> to move axially, and the stop block <NUM> is in a second position in this case.

In the embodiment shown in <FIG>, compared with the embodiment shown in <FIG>, the unlocking member is eliminated. When in the first position, a stop block <NUM> extends into the mounting chamber <NUM> and is blocked on a bottom surface <NUM> of the treating agent container <NUM>. Alternatively, the stop block may extend into a groove <NUM> disposed on the bottom surface <NUM> of the treating agent container <NUM>. If the treating agent container <NUM> needs to be taken out, the stop block <NUM> is pressed directly.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, a third spring <NUM> is disposed in the mounting chamber <NUM>. The third spring <NUM> acts on an end surface <NUM> of the treating agent container <NUM> close to the pressure head <NUM> along an axial direction of the treating agent container <NUM>. Therefore, after the movement limitation of the treating agent container <NUM> is lifted, that is, when the stop blocks <NUM> and <NUM> move from the first position to the second position, the treating agent container <NUM> is pushed to move in a direction of exiting the mounting chamber <NUM>, thereby making it convenient for the user to take out the treating agent container <NUM> for replacement.

Claim 1:
A washing machine, comprising a washing chamber (<NUM>), a water inlet passage (<NUM>), a liquid outlet passage (<NUM>), and a treating agent input device (<NUM>) for inputting a liquid or colloidal treating agent into the washing chamber (<NUM>), wherein: the treating agent input device (<NUM>) comprises an independent treating agent container (<NUM>), a mounting chamber (<NUM>) for receiving the treating agent container (<NUM>), and a mixing chamber (<NUM>) for receiving the treating agent and water, the mixing chamber (<NUM>) is connected to the water inlet passage (<NUM>) and the liquid outlet passage (<NUM>) separately, the liquid outlet passage (<NUM>) is connected to the washing chamber, to introduce a mixed liquid of the treating agent and water into the washing chamber, a pressing-type suction device (<NUM>) is mounted on the treating agent container (<NUM>), the suction device (<NUM>) comprises a reciprocating pressure head (<NUM>) and a conveying channel (<NUM>) connected to the pressure head (<NUM>) and in fluid communication with the treating agent container (<NUM>), the pressure head (<NUM>) comprises a liquid outlet (<NUM>), the liquid outlet (<NUM>) is in space communication with the mixing chamber (<NUM>), so that the treating agent enters the mixing chamber (<NUM>) after passing through the liquid outlet (<NUM>), and a pressure applying device (<NUM>) controlled by a control device (<NUM>) is disposed opposite to the pressure head (<NUM>), and can push the pressure head (<NUM>) to move in a direction towards the treating agent container (<NUM>), to pump the treating agent out of the treating agent container (<NUM>), characterized in that a piston (<NUM>) is disposed in the treating agent container (<NUM>), wherein the piston (<NUM>) moves toward the pressure head (<NUM>) under the action of a pressure difference as an amount of the treating agent decreases.