# US 2019/0169778 A1 · Washing machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0169778 A1 - Document ID: US20190169778A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/267,414 - Filed: 2019-02-05 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-18 - Assignees: Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation - Applicants: Toshiba Lifestyle Products & Services Corporation - Inventors: Tomonori Uchiyama; Hironori Sasaki - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190169778A1 ## CPC - D06F 39/088: {Liquid supply arrangements} - B01F 23/20: Mixing gases with liquids - B01F 25/40: Static mixers (colloid-mills B02C; mixing valves F16K11/00) - D06F 33/00: Control of operations performed in washing machines or washer-dryers (D06F31/00 takes precedence; details of control systems therefor D06F34/00; control of operations performed in domestic laundry dryers D06F58/32) - D06F 35/002: {using bubbles} - D06F 37/12: adapted for rotation or oscillation about a vertical axis - D06F 39/02: Devices for adding soap or other washing agents - D06F 39/028: {Arrangements for selectively supplying water to detergent compartments} - D06F 39/08: Liquid supply or discharge arrangements (supply of soap or other washing agents D06F39/02) - D06F 33/34: of water filling - D06F 39/087: {Water level measuring or regulating devices} - D06F 2103/18: Washing liquid level - D06F 2105/02: Water supply - D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES - B01F: MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING (mixing paints B44D3/06) ## Abstract A washing machine (10) including a wash tub configured by a water tub (13) and a rotary tub (14); a connecting port (21) connected to a water source; a water feeding case (40) connected to the connecting port (21) to receive water from the water source and containing a detergent storing part (42) in which a detergent is stored; a first water feeding port (41) configured to feed water flown into the water feeding case (40) into the wash tub; a minute bubble generator (22) configured to generate minute bubbles in water passing therethrough; a minute bubble water path (B) extending from the connecting port (21) and reaching into the wash tub from the first water feeding port (41) after passing through the minute bubble generator (22) and the detergent storing part (42) inside the water feeding case (40); a tap water path (A) extending from the connecting port (21) to the wash tub without passing through the minute bubble generator (22); a water supplying valve for tap water (31) provided midway of the tap water path (A) and capable of opening and closing the tap water path (A); and a water supplying valve for minute bubble water (32) provided midway of the minute bubble water path (B) and capable of opening and closing the minute bubble water path (B) ## Claims ### Claim 1 A washing machine comprising: a wash tub configured by a water tub and a rotary tub; a connecting port connected to a water source; a water feeding case connected to the connecting port to receive water from the water source and containing a detergent storing part in which a detergent is stored; a first water feeding port configured to feed water flown into the water feeding case into the wash tub; a minute bubble generator configured to generate minute bubbles in water passing therethrough; a minute bubble water path extending from the connecting port and reaching into the wash tub from the first water feeding port after passing through the minute bubble generator and the detergent storing part inside the water feeding case; a tap water path extending from the connecting port to the wash tub without passing through the minute bubble generator; a water supplying valve for tap water provided midway of the tap water path and capable of opening and closing the tap water path; and a water supplying valve for minute bubble water provided midway of the minute bubble water path and capable of opening and closing the minute bubble water path. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the tap water path is path which does not pass through the detergent storing part and which merges with the minute bubble water path in the water feeding case, and wherein the minute bubble water path merges with the tap water path in the water feeding case after passing through the detergent storing part. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a minute bubble water branching path which is branched in a downstream side of the water supplying valve for minute bubble water and the minute bubble generator in the minute bubble water path and which reaches the wash tub without passing through the detergent storing part, and wherein the minute bubble water branching path reaches the wash tub through a second water feeding port which is different from the first water feeding port. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the second water feeding port feeds water between the water tub and the rotary tub. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a tap water branching path which is branched in a downstream side of the water supplying valve for tap water in the tap water path and which reaches the wash tub without passing through the detergent storing part, and wherein the tap water branching path reaches the wash tub through a second water feeding port which is different from the first water feeding port. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the tap water path does not merge with the minute bubble water path in the water feeding case and reaches the wash tub through a second water feeding port different from the first water feeding port. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the water supplying valve for tap water and the water supplying valve for minute bubble water are configured by the same three way valve. ### Claim 8 A washing machine comprising: a wash tub configured by a water tub and a rotary tub; a connecting port connected to a water source; a water feeding case connected to the connecting port to receive water from the water source and containing a detergent storing part in which a detergent is stored; a first water feeding port configured to feed water flown into the water feeding case into the wash tub; a minute bubble generator configured to generate minute bubbles in water passing therethrough; a minute bubble water path extending from the connecting port and reaching into the wash tub from the first water feeding port through the water feeding case by passing through the minute bubble generator and without passing through the detergent storing part; a tap water path extending from the connecting port and reaching into the wash tub from the first water feeding port by passing through the detergent storing part in the water feeding case and without passing through the minute bubble generator; a water supplying valve for tap water provided midway of the tap water path and capable of opening and closing the tap water path; and a water supplying valve for minute bubble water provided midway of the minute bubble water path and capable of opening and closing the minute bubble water path, the tap water path merging with the minute bubble water path in the water feeding case after passing through the detergent storing part. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein in a water supplying step preceding a wash step, a first period is provided in which a minute bubble water containing minute bubbles is supplied to the detergent storing part through the minute bubble generator by opening the water supplying valve for minute bubble water at or before a timing in which a detergent supplied into the detergent storing part is washed down into the wash tub. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The washing machine according to claim 9, further comprising a second period in which water is fed to a set water level by closing the water supplying valve for minute bubble water and opening the water supplying valve for tap water after lapse of the first period in the water supplying step preceding the wash step. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The washing machine according to claim 9, further comprising a third period in which water is fed to a set water level by opening the water supplying valve for minute bubble water and the water supplying valve for tap water after lapse of the first period in the water supplying step preceding the wash step. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the water supplying valve for tap water is also opened during the first period in the water supplying step preceding the wash step. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The washing machine according to claim 8, wherein in a water supplying step preceding a wash step, a first period is provided in which a minute bubble water containing minute bubbles is supplied to the detergent storing part through the minute bubble generator by opening the water supplying valve for minute bubble water at or before a timing in which a detergent supplied into the detergent storing part is washed down into the wash tub. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The washing machine according to claim 13, further comprising a second period in which water is fed to a set water level by closing the water supplying valve for minute bubble water and opening the water supplying valve for tap water after lapse of the first period in the water supplying step preceding the wash step. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The washing machine according to claim 13, further comprising a third period in which water is fed to a set water level by opening the water supplying valve for minute bubble water and the water supplying valve for tap water after lapse of the first period in the water supplying step preceding the wash step. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The washing machine according to claim 13, wherein the water supplying valve for tap water is also opened during the first period in the water supplying step preceding the wash step.