Washing machine

Abstract

To provide a washing machine in which a processing-agent tank and a processing-agent case are arranged adjacent to and alongside each other, wherein the processing-agent tank can be easily taken out, and operability can be improved.SOLUTION: A washing machine includes: an outer box formed in a box shape; a water tub provided inside the outer box; a housing part provided inside the outer box and having an opening formed with a top surface side of the outer box being opened; a processing-agent case for receiving an input of a laundry processing agent used in a single operation and supplying the input laundry processing agent to the water tub; and a processing-agent tank capable of storing a laundry processing agent used for multiple operations. The housing part can accommodate the processing-agent case and the processing-agent tank arranged in a horizontal direction inside the same space of the housing part. In a state where the processing-agent case and the processing-agent tank are accommodated in the housing part, a handle part provided on the processing-agent tank is operable through the opening.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to a washing machine. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, to improve user convenience, washing machines have been developed that are equipped with automatic dosing devices that store multiple loads of laundry treatment agent in a treatment agent tank for automatic dosing and automatically dispense the required amount from the treatment agent tank during each wash run. On the other hand, there remains a need for users to manually dispense the treatment agent for each run. For this reason, even washing machines equipped with automatic dosing devices are equipped with a conventional treatment agent case, i.e., a manual dosing case for manually dispensing the amount of laundry treatment agent to be used in one run.

[0003] Considering user ease of use, it is preferable to position the processing agent tank and the processing agent case in close proximity to each other. For example, in the same storage space, it is conceivable to position the processing agent case that is used more frequently by the user closer to the user and the processing agent tank that is used less frequently farther from the user. In this case, in order to make the product more compact, it is preferable to position the processing agent tank and the processing agent case as close together as possible.

[0004] Users may periodically remove the processing agent tank from the machine to clean it. However, in such cases, because there is no gap between the processing agent tank and the processing agent case, it is not easy to remove the processing agent tank, which is larger in size and weight than the processing agent case. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-011618 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] Therefore, the present invention provides a washing machine in which a treatment agent tank and a treatment agent case are arranged adjacent to each other, and which makes it easy to remove the treatment agent tank, thereby improving user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A washing machine according to an embodiment includes a box-shaped outer casing, a water tub provided within the outer casing, a storage unit provided within the outer casing and having an opening formed by opening the top side of the outer casing, a treatment agent case that receives laundry treatment agent for one run and supplies the loaded laundry treatment agent to the water tub, and a treatment agent tank capable of storing laundry treatment agent for multiple runs. The storage unit can accommodate the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank horizontally aligned within the same space within the storage unit. When the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank are housed in the storage unit, a handle provided on the treatment agent tank can be operated through the opening. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically illustrating a configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a washing machine according to a first embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically illustrating a configuration around a storage section of a washing machine according to a first embodiment with a cover member removed; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a storage section with a cover member opened in the washing machine according to a first embodiment; [Figure 5] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the periphery of the storage section along line AA in FIG. 3 with the cover member removed in the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a treatment agent tank in a washing machine according to a first embodiment; [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a front view showing a schematic configuration of a treatment agent tank in a washing machine according to a first embodiment; [Figure 8]FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of a treatment agent tank in the washing machine according to the first embodiment, taken along line BB in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a storage section of a washing machine according to a first embodiment, with a treatment agent case stored therein and a treatment agent tank removed; [Figure 10] 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the periphery of the treatment agent tank in a state where the regulating portion and the regulated portion are fitted together in the washing machine according to the first embodiment, taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 11] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic configuration of the treatment agent tank and its surroundings in a state where the restricting portion and the restricted portion are disengaged in the washing machine according to the first embodiment, taken along line CC in FIG. [Figure 12] FIG. 1 is an enlarged front view showing a schematic configuration of the regulating mechanism and its surroundings in a state where the regulating portion and the regulated portion are fitted together in the washing machine according to the first embodiment; [Figure 13] FIG. 1 is an enlarged front view showing a schematic configuration of the regulating mechanism and its surroundings in a state where a regulating portion and a regulated portion are disengaged from each other in the washing machine according to the first embodiment; [Figure 14] 5 is a schematic diagram showing the periphery of the handle portion of the washing machine according to the first embodiment, with the area within ellipse D in FIG. 4 enlarged. [Figure 15] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a storage section of a washing machine according to a first embodiment when one treatment agent tank is not completely installed, with a cover member open; [Figure 16] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a treatment agent tank in a washing machine according to a second embodiment; [Figure 17] FIG. 10 is a plan view schematically illustrating a configuration around a storage section of a washing machine according to a second embodiment with a cover member removed; [Figure 18] FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a treatment agent tank in a washing machine according to another embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] Hereinafter, several embodiments will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the same components in each embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0010] (First embodiment) First, a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, washing machine 10 includes an outer case 11, a water tub 12, a rotating tub 13, a rotating tub motor 14, a drainage mechanism 15, an operation panel 16, a water supply mechanism 17, and a treatment agent dispenser mechanism 20. In FIG. 1, the side of the installation surface of washing machine 10, i.e., the vertically lower side, is defined as the lower side of washing machine 10, and the opposite side of the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upper side, is defined as the upper side of washing machine 10. The left-right direction when washing machine 10 is viewed from the front is defined as the left-right direction of washing machine 10. Washing machine 10 is, for example, a horizontal-axis type in which the rotation axis of rotating tub 13 is horizontal, or an inclined-axis type in which the rotation axis is tilted downward toward the rear.

[0011] Washing machine 10 may or may not have a drying function, such as a heat pump or heater. Outer case 11 is generally rectangular and box-shaped, and is made of steel, resin, or other materials, forming the outer shell of washing machine 10. In this embodiment, top surface 111 of outer case 11 is flat. Water tub 12 is disposed within outer case 11 and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). Rotating tub 13 is rotatably disposed within water tub 12. In this case, water tub 12 and rotating tub 13 function as a washing tub that stores laundry. Rotating tub motor 14 is provided outside water tub 12. Rotating tub motor 14 is connected to rotating tub 13 and rotates rotating tub 13 when driven.

[0012] Drain mechanism 15 shown in FIG. 2 has a function of draining water stored in water tub 12 to the outside of washing machine 10. Drain mechanism 15 has drain path 151 and drain valve 152. Drain path 151 is configured, for example, by a flexible drain hose, one end of which is connected to drain valve 152 and the other end of which is drawn out to the outside of washing machine 10. Drain valve 152 is configured, for example, by an on-off valve for liquid that can be electromagnetically opened and closed. Drain valve 152 is provided between drain outlet 121 provided at the bottom of water tub 12 and drain path 151, and opens and closes drain path 151.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1 , the operation panel 16 is provided on the front portion of the top surface 111 of the outer casing 11. Although not shown in detail, the operation panel 16 is provided with a power switch, a start key, various operation keys for the user to set the washing operation course, etc. The power switch may be provided separately from the operation panel 16. When executing a washing operation, the user can select using the operation panel 16 whether to automatically dispense laundry treatment agent or to manually dispense one dose of laundry treatment agent. In this embodiment, the concept of laundry treatment agent includes liquid or powder detergent, fabric softener, and fragrance, but is not limited to these as long as it is an agent used in a washing operation.

[0014] The water supply mechanism 17 is provided, for example, at the rear left portion above the water tub 12 inside the outer casing 11. The water supply mechanism 17 receives water from a water supply source such as a tap and supplies the water to the water tub 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply mechanism 17 has a connection port 171, a water supply path 172, and a water supply valve 173. The connection port 171 is provided so as to be exposed at the rear left portion on the top surface 111 of the outer casing 11. The connection port 171 is connected to an external water source such as a water faucet via a hose, for example.

[0015] The water supply path 172 is a path that connects the connection port 171 to the water tub 12 and the rotatable tub 13. The treatment agent dosing mechanism 20 is provided, for example, midway along the water supply path 172, and has the function of impregnating the water flowing through the water supply path 172 with a laundry treatment agent and supplying the water into the water tub 12 and the rotatable tub 13. As shown in FIG. 2 , the treatment agent dosing mechanism 20 includes a storage section 21, a pump 22, a cover member 23, a treatment agent case 30, and a treatment agent tank 40.

[0016] The storage unit 21 is made of resin or metal and has a box or container shape, and has an opening 211 that opens toward the top. The storage unit 21 is provided inside the outer box 11. The upper end of the storage unit 21, i.e., the opening 211, is located below the top surface 111. In this embodiment, the storage unit 21 forms part of the water supply path 172. In this case, the outlet of the water supply valve 173 is directly or indirectly connected to the storage unit 21. The storage unit 21 is then connected directly or indirectly to the water tank 12.

[0017] Pump 22, together with treatment agent tank 40, constitutes an automatic dispenser for automatically supplying laundry treatment agent into water tub 12 and rotatable tub 13 during operation. Pump 22 has the function of sucking a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent from treatment agent tank 40 during operation and dispensing the sucked laundry treatment agent into a portion of water supply path 172. As a result, the laundry treatment agent supplied to the portion of water supply path 172 is carried by the flow of water flowing through water supply path 172 and supplied into water tub 12 and rotatable tub 13. In this way, washing machine 10 can automatically supply a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent into water tub 12 and rotatable tub 13 during operation.

[0018] The cover member 23 is rotatably provided on the outer box 11 and opens and closes the opening 211 of the storage section 21 by rotation, and is configured to be bendable and rotatable in a folded-out state. That is, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 4, etc., the cover member 23 is rotatably attached to the top surface 111 of the outer box 11 and is configured to be able to open and close the opening 211 of the storage section 21. In this embodiment, the cover member 23 is configured to be bendable at least in two. The cover member 23 is configured to be able to open and close the opening 211 by rotating in a folded-out state at least in two.

[0019] The treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are removably housed in the storage section 21. The treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are arranged adjacent to each other in the storage section 21, with the treatment agent case 30 being arranged on the side closer to a user who stands at the front of the washing machine 10 to operate it, and the treatment agent tank 40 being arranged on the side farther from the user. For example, the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are arranged in a straight line in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction.

[0020] In the present embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 3 to 5, etc., the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are accommodated side by side in the front-to-rear direction within the accommodation section 21. The treatment agent case 30 is located in front of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., closer to a user standing at the front side of the washing machine 10 to operate it. In other embodiments, when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are arranged side by side in the left-to-right direction, the treatment agent case 30 can be arranged closer to the center of the washing machine 10 in the left-to-right direction than the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., closer to a user standing at the front side of the washing machine 10 to operate it.

[0021] The treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in close proximity within the storage section 21. That is, the surface of the treatment agent case 30 facing the treatment agent tank 40 and the surface of the treatment agent case 30 facing the treatment agent tank 40 are close to each other. Therefore, there is no space between the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 for the user to insert their fingers, but the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 can each be removed independently from the storage section 21. That is, the user can remove the treatment agent case 30 independently from the storage section 21 without moving the treatment agent tank 40, or can remove the treatment agent tank 40 independently from the storage section 21 without moving the treatment agent case 30.

[0022] The treatment agent case 30 has the function of receiving the treatment agent to be used in one operation and supplying the treatment agent, which was charged, for example, before operation or at the start of operation, to the water tank 12 during operation. The treatment agent case 30 is made of, for example, resin, and is configured like a rectangular container that is long in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction and has an open top.

[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, etc., the treatment agent case 30 has a wall 31, a bottom 32, a partition 33, and one or more (in this case, two) input sections 34, 35. The wall 31 forms the outer periphery of the container-shaped treatment agent case 30. The wall 31 has a front wall 311, left and right side wall sections 312, and a rear wall section 313. The front wall section 311 forms the front surface of the treatment agent case 30. The left and right side wall sections 312 form the left and right surfaces of the treatment agent case 30. The rear wall section 313 forms the rear surface of the treatment agent case 30.

[0024] The bottom 32 forms the bottom surface of the container-shaped treatment agent case 30. The partition 33 divides the space within the container-shaped treatment agent case 30 in the front-to-rear direction or the left-to-right direction, dividing it into an input section 34 and an input section 35. In this embodiment, the partition 33 extends in the left-to-right direction, dividing the space within the treatment agent case 30 in the front-to-rear direction.

[0025] The input ports 34, 35 are each formed in a container shape with a downward recess, and can receive laundry treatment agent therein. The input ports 34, 35 are portions into which the laundry treatment agent is input by the user, and have openings at the top. The user inputs the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent case 30 through the openings at the top of the input ports 34, 35.

[0026] The input ports 34 and 35 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction or the left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, the input ports 34 and 35 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction. For example, the input port 34 receives detergent therein, and the input port 35 receives fabric softener therein. In this embodiment, the input port 34 is arranged behind the input port 35. The input port 34 receives an amount of detergent to be used in one operation from the user and supplies the detergent into the water tub 12. The detergent may be in liquid or powder form. The input port 35 receives an amount of fabric softener to be used in one operation from the user and supplies the fabric softener into the water tub 12. Fabric softener is usually in liquid form, but this is not limited to this.

[0027] 2, the treatment agent case 30 has a communication hole 36 formed in the bottom 32. The treatment agent case 30 receives water supplied into the storage section 21 through the water supply valve 173. At that time, if a laundry treatment agent has been placed in the treatment agent case 30, the laundry treatment agent is flushed down from the communication hole 36 in the bottom 32 together with the water supplied to the treatment agent case 30 and supplied into the water tub 12.

[0028] The upper end of the wall portion 31 forming the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30 is located on a plane extending in the horizontal direction. That is, the upper end of the wall portion 31 forms a plane S1 extending in the horizontal direction as shown in FIG. 5 . In other words, the upper end of the wall portion 31 is located on the plane S1 extending in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 is parallel to the surface formed by the top surface portion 111. In this embodiment, the upper end of the wall portion 31 forms the upper end of the treatment agent case 30.

[0029] The treatment agent tank 40 is configured to be able to store an amount of treatment agent to be used for multiple operations. The treatment agent tank 40 is made of, for example, resin, and is configured as a rectangular hollow container that is long in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction, and is capable of storing liquid laundry treatment agent. The treatment agent tank 40 has a capacity sufficient to store an amount of laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple operations. In this case, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 40 is not particularly limited, but in consideration of user convenience, it is preferably set to at least about several hundred mL to 2 L.

[0030] As shown in Figures 2 to 8, the treatment agent tank 40 includes a tank body 41, an upper member 42, a tank outlet 43, and a leak prevention valve 44. The tank body 41 forms the outer shell of the treatment agent tank 40 and is made of synthetic resin such as plastic. The upper member 42 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape and covers the tank body 41 from above, opening and closing the opening at the top of the tank body 41. In other words, the upper member 42 forms the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40. The tank outlet 43 is an opening through which the laundry treatment agent sucked out of the treatment agent tank 40 by the pump 22 passes. The leak prevention valve 44 has the function of preventing the treatment agent stored in the tank body 41 from leaking out of the tank body 41 through the tank outlet 43 when the treatment agent tank 40 is removed from the storage section 21 and the tank outlet 43 is not connected to the connection section 24 of the pump 22.

[0031] In this embodiment, the tank body 41 is formed in the shape of a generally rectangular parallelepiped container that is open upward, and has a front surface 411, side surfaces 412, a rear surface 413, and a bottom surface 414. The front surface 411 constitutes the front surface of the tank body 41. The side surfaces 412 constitute the left and right side surfaces of the tank body 41. The rear surface 413 constitutes the rear surface of the tank body 41. The bottom surface 414 constitutes the bottom surface of the tank body 41.

[0032] The upper member 42 has a frame member 421, an inlet 422, and a lid member 423. The frame member 421 and the lid member 423 are made of synthetic resin such as plastic, similar to the tank body 41. The frame member 421 forms the outer shell of the upper member 42. The frame member 421 is formed in a rectangular frame shape with an opening to the inside. The inlet 422 forms an opening in the frame member 421, and when the upper member 42 is attached to the tank body 41, it connects the inside and outside of the treatment agent tank 40.

[0033] The lid member 423 is plate-shaped and opens and closes the inlet 422. The lid member 423 is attached to the upper member 42 by a hinge (not shown) and is configured to be able to open and close the inlet 422. When the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in the storage section 21, the user can open the cover member 23 and the lid member 423 to expose the inlet 422 and then add the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent tank 40 through the inlet 422. Furthermore, the user can remove the treatment agent tank 40 from the storage section 21 and open the lid member 423 to expose the inlet 422 and then add the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent tank 40 through the inlet 422.

[0034] The frame member 421 and the lid member 423 are provided so that their upper surfaces are flush with one another. The upper surface of the upper member 42 forms a plane S2 that extends horizontally as a whole, as shown in Figures 5, 7, and 8. In other words, the upper surface of the upper member 42 is located on the plane S2 that extends horizontally. As shown in Figure 5, when the processing agent case 30 and the processing agent tank 40 are housed in the housing section 21, the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 is parallel to the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall section 31 of the processing agent case 30.

[0035] The tank outlet 43 is formed as an opening that penetrates the lower rear portion of the tank body 41, in this case, a portion of the back surface portion 413, in the thickness direction. The pump 22 is provided outside the storage portion 21, in this case, rearward of the storage portion 21. As shown in FIG. 9 , the storage portion 21 has a connection portion 24. The connection portion 24 is formed in a tubular shape that penetrates the storage portion 21 and connects the interior of the storage portion 21 with the pump 22. The connection portion 24 is provided on a surface of the treatment agent tank 40 opposite to the surface facing the treatment agent case 30. In other words, the tank outlet 43 is provided on the surface opposite the handle portion 50. In this embodiment, the connection portion 24 is provided on the wall surface of the storage portion 21 that faces the back surface portion 413 when the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in the storage portion 21.

[0036] The leak prevention valve 44 is provided between the tank outlet 43 and the inside of the tank body 41. When the tank outlet 43 and the connection part 24 are connected, the leak prevention valve 44 opens the gap between the tank outlet 43 and the inside of the tank body 41. This allows the pump 22 to suck out the laundry treatment agent stored in the tank body 41. On the other hand, when the tank outlet 43 and the connection part 24 are not connected, the leak prevention valve 44 closes the gap between the tank outlet 43 and the inside of the tank body 41, thereby preventing the laundry treatment agent in the tank body 41 from leaking out through the tank outlet 43 to the outside.

[0037] When the processing agent tank 40 is accommodated in the accommodation section 21, the connection part 24 is inserted into the tank outlet 43. The connection part 24 is connected to the leak prevention valve 44, thereby connecting the inside of the tank main body 41 with the pump 22. In other words, when the connection part 24 is inserted into the tank outlet 43, the connection part 24 connects the inside of the tank main body 41 with the pump 22.

[0038] As shown in Fig. 3 etc., the washing machine 10 is equipped with one or more (in this case, two) treatment agent tanks 40. In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 is equipped with a detergent tank 401 and a finishing agent tank 402 as the treatment agent tanks 40. The detergent tank 401 is for storing an amount of detergent, in this case, liquid detergent, used for multiple operations. The finishing agent tank 402 is for storing an amount of fabric softener, in this case, liquid fabric softener, used for multiple operations.

[0039] The processing agent tank 40 has a handle 50. When removing the processing agent tank 40 from the storage section 21, the user can grasp the handle 50 and pull the processing agent tank 40 diagonally upward. The handle 50 is provided on the top of the tank body 41, in this case, on the top of the front surface 411.

[0040] The handle 50 protrudes forward from the front surface 411 and is generally U-shaped when viewed from above. As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the handle 50 has a front portion 51, left and right side portions 52, and a recess 53. The front portion 51 forms a surface perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, i.e., the front surface of the handle 50 that extends in the up-down and left-to-right directions. In this case, being perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction does not necessarily have to be strictly perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, but rather means including a component perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction.

[0041] In this embodiment, the front portion 51 includes a first surface 511 extending in the vertical direction, and a second surface 512 located below the first surface 511 and inclined relative to the vertical direction. The vertical length of the first surface 511 is set to about 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the vertical length of the entire front surface 411. In this embodiment, the vertical length of the first surface 511 is set to about 1 / 2 of the vertical length of the entire front surface 411.

[0042] The second surface 512 is inclined downward toward the rear from the lower end of the first surface 511. The upper end of the second surface 512 is connected to the lower end of the first surface 511, and the lower end of the second surface 512 is connected to the front surface 411 of the tank body 41.

[0043] The left and right side portions 52 form the left and right side surfaces of the handle portion 50. In this embodiment, the left and right side portions 52 form surfaces perpendicular to the left-right direction. In this case, being perpendicular to the left-right direction does not necessarily have to be strictly perpendicular to the left-right direction, but means including a component perpendicular to the left-right direction. The side portions 52 extend from the left and right ends of the front portion 51 to the front surface 411 of the tank body 41. In other words, the front ends of the side portions 52 are connected to the left and right ends of the front portion 51, and the rear ends of the side portions 52 are connected to the front surface 411 of the tank body 41.

[0044] The recess 53 is formed in a concave shape by recessing a portion of the front portion 51 toward the rear. The recess 53 accommodates the user's fingers when gripping the handle portion 50, making it easier for the user to grip. In this case, the recess 53 is located in the lower part of the front portion 51. In other words, the recess 53 is provided so as to leave the upper part of the front portion 51 untouched, and is provided from the lower end of the second surface 512 to approximately the center of the first surface 511 in the up-down direction. When gripping the handle portion 50, the user can, for example, insert their thumb into the recess 53 from the front, and insert the other fingers from the rear of the front portion 51 between the handle portion 50 and the tank body 41.

[0045] The vertical length of recess 53 can be set to a length that allows, for example, an adult user's thumb to be hooked or inserted therein. Specifically, the vertical length of recess 53 may be set to, for example, 1 cm to 4 cm. The vertical length of recess 53 may be set to, for example, 2 cm to 3 cm.

[0046] Furthermore, the recess 53 is provided in the left-right center of the handle 50. Because the left-right center lines of the handle 50 and the tank body 41 coincide, it can also be said that the recess 53 is provided in the left-right center of the tank body 41. Therefore, when a user puts their fingers into the recess 53 and grips the handle 50, they will be gripping the left-right center of the treatment agent tank 40. Therefore, even if a large amount of laundry treatment agent is stored in the treatment agent tank 40 and the overall weight is heavy, the user can hold the treatment agent tank 40 stably.

[0047] The recess 53 forms a curved or flat surface extending rearward from the front portion 51. That is, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the recess 53 is formed like a tunnel extending in the front-rear direction and has a three-dimensional curved surface or multiple flat surfaces. That is, the recess 53 has a three-dimensional configuration. When a user inserts their fingers into the recess 53, the recess 53 contacts the user's fingers at at least multiple points. Therefore, even if the processing agent tank 40 is heavy, the user's fingers can support the handle portion 50 over a surface area. Therefore, compared to when the user's fingers and the handle portion 50 make point contact or line contact, the user's fingers receive a reaction force from the handle portion 50 distributed over a wider area. Therefore, the processing agent tank 40 can be stably supported, and the handle portion 50 is less likely to dig into the user's fingers, improving the operability.

[0048] The recess 53 extends from the front portion 51 to the front surface 411 of the tank body 41. The length of the recess 53 in the front-to-rear direction may be any length that can support the user's fingers, and for example, in other embodiments, the recess 53 may not be connected to the front surface 411 of the tank body 41. Furthermore, the recess 53 does not have to form a continuous surface, and may have a notch, a slit, or the like.

[0049] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the recess 53 has a curved upper surface, which is semicircular when viewed from the front, essentially dome-shaped. In this case, when a user inserts their fingers into the recess 53, the curved surface of the recess 53 makes it easier for the fingers to fit, allowing for a more stable grip. The shape of the recess 53 is not limited to a dome shape. For example, in other embodiments, the upper portion may be flat. In this case, the surface perpendicular to the upward force of the user's fingers pushing the handle portion 50 when the user removes the treatment agent tank 40 upward is wider, so the reaction force that the user's fingers receive from the handle portion 50 is distributed over a wider area, improving the user's operational feel.

[0050] 8, upper end 531 of recess 53 extends horizontally from the front to the rear. In other words, when comparing the height from bottom surface 414 of processing agent tank 40, the height position of the front end of upper end 531 of recess 53 is set to be the same as the height position of the rear end of upper end 531, in this case the connection portion with front surface 411 of processing agent tank 40.

[0051] In other embodiments, the upper end of recess 53 may be configured to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. For example, upper end 531 may be inclined downward from the front to the rear. In this case, since the user inserts a finger into recess 53 from above, the insertion direction of the user and the inclination direction of recess 53 coincide, making it easier for the user to insert the finger.

[0052] On the other hand, upper end 531 may be inclined so as to rise from the front to the rear. In this case, after processing agent tank 40 is removed from storage section 21, it is expected that the user's fingers will be inserted from below into recess 53, for example, when gripping processing agent tank 40 placed on top surface 111 of outer box 11. In this case, if upper end 531 is inclined so as to rise from the front to the rear, the user's insertion direction and the inclination direction of recess 53 will match, making it easier for the user to grip handle 50.

[0053] 10 to 13, the washing machine 10 further includes a regulating mechanism 60. The regulating mechanism 60 regulates movement of the treatment agent tank 40 while the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in the housing part 21. The regulating mechanism 60 also ensures that the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in a predetermined position in the housing part 21, and ensures a reliable connection between the tank outlet 43 of the treatment agent tank 40 and the connection part 24 of the pump 22.

[0054] The regulating mechanism 60 is configured to include a pair of regulating portions 61 and a regulated portion 62. When the processing agent tank 40 is housed in the housing portion 21, the pair of regulating portions 61 and the regulated portion 62 fit together to regulate movement of the processing agent tank 40 in the upward, left-right, and front-rear directions.

[0055] In this embodiment, the pair of regulating portions 61 are provided to protrude upward from the bottom portion 212 of the storage portion 21. The regulated portion 62 is provided to protrude downward from the bottom surface portion 414 of the tank body 41. In this case, the regulating portions 61 are molded integrally with the storage portion 21 using, for example, a resin or metal member. Furthermore, the regulated portion 62 is molded integrally with the tank body 41 using, for example, a resin.

[0056] The position of the tip end 621 of the regulated portion 62 is set to be approximately the same as the position of the lower end of the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41 or higher than the position of the lower end of the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41. In other words, the regulated portion 62 is provided in a recessed portion 45 provided in the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41. The recessed portion 45 is formed by recessing a portion of the front end of the bottom surface 414 upward. The regulated portion 62 protrudes downward from the upper surface of the recessed portion 45. Therefore, even when the processing agent tank 40 is removed from the storage portion 21 and placed on, for example, the top surface 111 of the outer box 11, the regulated portion 62 does not protrude from the lowermost portion of the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41, and the processing agent tank 40 can stand independently.

[0057] 12 and 13, the pair of restricting portions 61 are formed in the shape of roughly rectangular plates that are long in the vertical direction, and are arranged facing each other. A recessed portion 611 that receives a tip end 621 of the restricted portion 62 is provided on the opposing surface of the restricting portion 61, i.e., the surface facing the restricted portion 62. The recessed portion 611 is formed by recessing the surface of the restricting portion 61 that faces the restricted portion 62 in the thickness direction of the restricting portion 61.

[0058] The regulated portion 62 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape extending in the up-down and left-right directions, with a tip portion 621 bulging out in the left-right direction, that is, toward the recessed portion 611 of the regulating portion 61. The left-right width dimension L1 of the tip portion 621 is set to be larger than the distance L2 between the opposing regulating portions 61. The left-right width dimension L1 of the tip portion 621 is set to be approximately the same as the maximum value of the width between the recessed portions 611 of the regulating portions 61.

[0059] Because the upper end of the regulating portion 61 is a free end, the regulating portion 61 bends left and right due to an external force. When a user places the processing agent tank 40 in the storage portion 21, the regulated portion 62 is inserted between the pair of regulating portions 61. When the regulated portion 62 is inserted between the pair of regulating portions 61 from above, the regulating portions 61 bend outward, i.e., in a direction away from the regulated portion 62, to accommodate the regulated portion 62. FIG. 12 shows a state in which the pair of regulating portions 61 and the regulated portion 62 are fitted together. When the processing agent tank 40 is completely placed in the storage portion 21, that is, when the bottom surface portion 414 of the processing agent tank 40 reaches the bottom 212 of the storage portion 21, the tip portion 621 of the regulated portion 62 reaches the recessed portion 611. The tip portion 621 is placed between the pair of recessed portions 611, and the regulating portion 61 is released from its bent state.

[0060] On the other hand, when the user removes the processing agent tank 40 from the storage section 21, the tip end 621 of the regulated portion 62 comes out of the recessed portion 611, causing the pair of regulating portions 61 to bend outward, i.e., in a direction away from the regulated portions 62. When the tip end 621 of the regulated portion 62 climbs over the regulating portion 61, the regulating portion 61 is released from its bent state. Figure 13 shows a state in which the pair of regulating portions 61 and the regulated portion 62 are no longer fitted together.

[0061] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the regulated portion 62 is provided on the bottom surface 414 near the front surface 411. When a user positioned at the front side of the washing machine 10 removes the treatment agent tank 40, the user first lifts the handle 50 so as to rotate it upward around the bottom surface 414 near the back surface 413 as a fulcrum. In this case, compared to when the regulating mechanism 60 is provided near the back surface 413 of the tank body 41, the engagement between the regulating portion 61 and the regulated portion 62 can be released by slightly lifting the handle 50 upward.

[0062] In this case, the upward movement distance required for disengagement between restricting portion 61 and restricted portion 62, i.e., the movement distance H required for tip portion 621 of restricted portion 62 to climb over restricted portion 62 as shown in Fig. 12, can be set to, for example, 1 cm to 3 cm. In this embodiment, the upward movement distance H required for disengagement between restricting portion 61 and restricted portion 62 can be set to, for example, 2 cm.

[0063] As shown in Figures 9, 10, and 13, the treatment agent case 30 has a cutout 37. The cutout 37 is formed by cutting out a portion of the upper end of the wall 31 of the treatment agent case 30 so as to recess it downward. The cutout 37 is provided in the portion of the wall 31 that faces the treatment agent tank 40, in this case the back wall 313. More specifically, the cutout 37 is provided in a position that faces the handles 50 of each treatment agent tank 401, 402. Therefore, when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing 21, a portion of the front 51 of the handle 50 is exposed through the cutout 37 toward the user, in this case forward. In other words, the user can access the handle 50 through the cutout 37.

[0064] In this embodiment, the height position of the upper end of the back wall portion 313 is set to be approximately the same as the height position of the upper end of the front portion 51 of the handle portion 50 when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing portion 21. Therefore, if the cutout portion 37 were not provided, the front portion 51 of the handle portion 50 would be covered by the back wall portion 313, making it difficult for the user to see and hold.

[0065] In this embodiment, when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the storage section 21, only a part of the first surface 511 is exposed by the cutout portion 37 of the front part 51. In this embodiment, the upper end of the recess 53 is slightly visible from the user side, but in other embodiments, it is not necessary that the recess 53 is visible from the user side when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the storage section 21.

[0066] When the treatment agent tank 40 is pulled upward by the distance H, that is, when the regulated portion 62 climbs over the regulating portion 61, the recess 53 is exposed from the cutout portion 37 toward the user (in this case, toward the front) as shown in Fig. 11. Therefore, when the regulated portion 62 climbs over the regulating portion 61, the recess 53 is visible from the user's side, and the user can insert their finger into it.

[0067] When removing the processing agent tank 40 from the storage unit 21, the user first grasps the front portion 51 of the handle 50 exposed from the cutout 37 and pulls it upward as shown by the arrow in FIG. 10 . When the user pulls the processing agent tank 40 upward by a distance H and the regulated portion 62 passes over the regulating portion 61 as shown in FIG. 11 , the recess 53 is exposed from the cutout 37. The user can securely grip the handle 50 by, for example, inserting their thumb into the recess 53 and placing their other fingers against the first surface 511 from behind. Thereafter, the user can further pull the processing agent tank 40 upward or diagonally upward to remove the processing agent tank 40 from the storage unit 21.

[0068] 3 and 4 show a state in which the cover member 23 is removed or opened while the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the storage unit 21. In this case, the upper end of the wall portion 31 forming the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30 and the upper member 42 forming the top of the treatment agent tank 40 are exposed upward from the opening 211 of the storage unit 21. In other words, with the cover member 23 open, there is no structure covering the treatment agent case 30 and the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 from above. Therefore, a user looking into the storage unit 21 from above can see the entire upper part of the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 at once.

[0069] Furthermore, when the cover member 23 is open, the treatment agent case 30 and the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 are not covered from above, and therefore the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 can be independently pulled upward and removed. The treatment agent case 30 can be attached to the storage unit 21 with the treatment agent tank 40 housed therein, and the treatment agent tank 40 can be attached to the storage unit 21 with the treatment agent case 30 housed therein. In this case, the treatment agent tank 40 can be attached to the storage unit 21 by inserting it downward. Note that in this case, "upward" and "downward" do not necessarily mean movement strictly in a direction perpendicular to the floor, but primarily include movement in a vertical direction component. Furthermore, "upward" and "downward" can also refer to movement in a direction that the operating user perceives as being removed upward or inserted downward.

[0070] In this embodiment, the treating agent tank 40 has a shape that protrudes slightly rearward at the lower portion where the tank outlet 43 is provided, but the depth dimension of the treating agent tank 40 is set to be approximately the same at the upper and lower portions of the treating agent tank 40. In other words, the depth dimension from the front portion 51 of the handle portion 50 of the treating agent tank 40 to the back portion 413 of the tank body 41 is set to be approximately the same as the depth dimension from the front portion 411 to the back portion 413 at the lower portion of the treating agent tank 40. In this case, the front portion of the treating agent tank 40, i.e., the handle portion 50, is in close contact with the treating agent case 30, and the rearmost portion of the treating agent tank 40, i.e., the rear end portion or back portion 413 of the upper member 42, is in close contact with the rear wall of the storage section 21. Therefore, if the treating agent tank 40 is moved strictly vertically, the treating agent tank 40 may collide with the treating agent case 30 or the storage section 21 along the way, which could restrict the movement of the treating agent tank 40.

[0071] Therefore, when removing the processing agent tank 40 from the storage section 21, the user first lifts up the processing agent tank 40 so that the top of the processing agent tank 40 is above the opening 211. Then, the user may pull the processing agent tank 40 slightly forward, while lifting it up until the bottom of the processing agent tank 40 is above the opening 211. Alternatively, the user may rotate the handle 50 slightly upward and diagonally backward, using the vicinity of the center of the processing agent tank 40 as the center of rotation, while lifting it up until the bottom of the processing agent tank 40 is above the opening 211.

[0072] Furthermore, when attaching the processing agent tank 40 to the storage section 21, the user first holds the processing agent tank 40 and moves it downward to insert the lower part of the processing agent tank 40 below the opening 211. The user may then push the processing agent tank 40 slightly rearward to insert it further downward, until the upper part of the processing agent tank 40 is inserted below the opening 211. Alternatively, the user may move the handle section 50 downward while slightly rotating it diagonally downward and forward, using the vicinity of the center of the processing agent tank 40 as the center of rotation, until the upper part of the processing agent tank 40 is inserted below the opening 211.

[0073] As described above, when the processing agent case 30 and the processing agent tank 40 are housed in the storage unit 21, the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the processing agent tank 40 is parallel to the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the processing agent case 30. Furthermore, the planes S1 and S2 are parallel to the top surface 111. Therefore, when housing the processing agent tank 40 in the storage unit 21, the user may compare the planes S1 and S2, or the top surface 111 and S2. In this case, if it is visually confirmed that the planes S1 and S2, or the top surface 111 and S2, are parallel to each other, it can be concluded that the processing agent tank 40 is securely attached to the storage unit 21.

[0074] 15, when the processing agent tank 40 is not completely attached to the storage section 21, that is, when the processing agent tank 40 is in a partially inserted state, the planes S1 and S2 are not parallel to each other. Therefore, if the planes S1 and S2 are not parallel to each other, the user can visually recognize that the processing agent tank 40 is in a partially inserted state.

[0075] For user convenience, the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40, both of which are used to dispense laundry treatment agents, are preferably located in the same area. Furthermore, to make the entire product more compact, the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are preferably housed as closely as possible. However, if the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed closely together, it is expected that the treatment agent tank 40, which is larger than the treatment agent case 30, will be difficult to remove independently. In this case, if the treatment agent case 30 must be removed once to remove the treatment agent tank 40, the user will have to remove the treatment agent case 30 even when only wanting to remove the treatment agent tank 40, which increases the number of steps and is cumbersome. Furthermore, the treatment agent case 30 may be surrounded by water or laundry treatment agents, which may cause the user to have trouble finding a place to store the wet treatment agent case 30.

[0076] In contrast, according to the present embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 includes an outer case 11, a water tub 12, a storage section 21, a treatment agent case 30, and a treatment agent tank 40. The outer case 11 is formed in a box shape. The water tub 12 is provided within the outer case 11. The storage section 21 is provided within the outer case 11 and has an opening 211 formed by opening the top surface 111 side of the outer case 11. The treatment agent case 30 is configured to receive the laundry treatment agent to be used in one operation and to supply the introduced laundry treatment agent to the water tub 12. The treatment agent tank 40 is configured to be able to store the laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple operations. The storage section 21 is configured to be able to store the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 horizontally arranged therein. The treatment agent tank 40 can be attached to or detached from the storage section 21 with the treatment agent case 30 stored in the storage section 21.

[0077] This allows the user to attach and detach the treatment agent tank 40 from the storage section 21 independently of attaching and detaching the treatment agent case 30. This makes it easy to remove the treatment agent tank 40, making it possible to provide a washing machine that is more convenient for the user.

[0078] The processing agent tank 40 is configured so that it can be inserted downward to be attached to the storage part 21, or pulled upward to be removed from the storage part 21, with the processing agent case 30 stored in the storage part 21.

[0079] According to this, the storage section 21 is open on the top surface 111 side, and the user is in a state of looking into the storage section 21 from above. In this state, the user can remove the treatment agent tank 40 facing upward or attach it facing downward, so the user's arm movements when attaching or detaching the treatment agent tank 40 involve pulling the user's arm toward the body or sticking it out from the body. Therefore, compared to movements in other directions, the user can apply more force, making it easier to attach and detach the treatment agent tank 40. Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine that is more convenient for the user.

[0080] The washing machine 10 is provided with a cover member 23 that opens and closes the opening 211 of the storage section 21. When the cover member 23 is open and the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are stored in the storage section 21, the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30, i.e., the wall section 31, and the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., the outer periphery of the upper member 42, are exposed upward from the opening 211.

[0081] Although the treatment agent tank 40 is larger in size than the treatment agent case 30, the entire upper member 42 is exposed from the opening 211, making it easy to remove from the storage section 21. Furthermore, the user can visually check the upper end of the wall section 31 of the treatment agent case 30 and the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 at once. Therefore, if the treatment agent tank 40 is not fully inserted into the storage section 21, comparing the positions of the two makes it easy to notice that the treatment agent tank 40 is only partially inserted. Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine that is more convenient for the user.

[0082] When the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing 21, the upper end of the treatment agent case 30 extends parallel to the plane S2 formed by the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., the upper member 42. In other words, the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30 and the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 extend parallel to each other.

[0083] According to this, if the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 is not parallel to the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30, it is suspected that the treatment agent tank 40 is in a partially inserted state, i.e., that the connection between the tank outlet 43 and the connection portion 24 is incomplete. Therefore, by comparing the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30 with the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40, the user can visually confirm that the treatment agent tank 40 is completely attached to the storage portion 21. Therefore, it is possible to provide a washing machine that is more convenient for the user.

[0084] The storage section 21 stores a plurality of, in this case two, processing agent tanks 401, 402. The upper member 42 of the processing agent tank 401 and the upper member 42 of the processing agent tank 402 form a plane S2 that extends parallel to each other. Therefore, by visually comparing the upper member 42 of the processing agent tank 401 and the upper member 42 of the processing agent tank 402, the user can visually confirm that the two are completely attached to each other.

[0085] The washing machine 10 includes a pump 22, a tank outlet 43, and a connection part 24. The pump 22 has a function of sucking a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 40 and supplying the sucked laundry treatment agent to the water tub 12. The tank outlet 43 is an opening formed in the treatment agent tank 40 and serves as an outlet for supplying the laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 40 to the water tub 12. The connection part 24 has a function of connecting the pump 22 and the tank outlet 43. The treatment agent case 30 is provided with respect to the treatment agent tank 40, facing the surface on the side where the tank outlet 43 is provided, i.e., the surface opposite to the back surface 413 in this case, i.e., the front surface 411.

[0086] Ensuring a secure connection between the pump 22 and the processing agent tank 40 is necessary to prevent problems such as leakage from the processing agent tank 40 and failure to perform automatic dispensing. According to this embodiment, if the processing agent case 30 is floating after the processing agent tank 40 is housed in the housing section 21, the user can position the processing agent case 30 and the processing agent tank 40 in the predetermined position by pushing the processing agent case 30 toward the processing agent tank 40, i.e., toward the back in this case. Furthermore, by pushing the processing agent case 30 toward the processing agent tank 40, i.e., toward the back in this case, the connection between the pump 22 and the processing agent tank 40 can be secured. Furthermore, the user can position the processing agent tank 40 when attaching it by utilizing the positional relationship between the processing agent case 30 and the portion of the processing agent tank 40 facing the processing agent case 30, i.e., the front portion 411 and the handle portion 50. Therefore, the processing agent tank 40 can be easily attached, providing a washing machine with improved user convenience.

[0087] The treatment agent tank 40 has a handle 50 on which a user can place their fingers on the side facing the treatment agent case 30. The wall 31 that forms the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30 has a notch 37 at the top of the side facing the treatment agent tank 40.

[0088] As a result, at least a portion of the handle 50 is exposed to the user when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the storage section 21. Therefore, even when the treatment agent case 30 is housed in the storage section 21, the user can grasp the handle 50 through the cutout 37 and easily pull up the treatment agent tank 40. This makes it easy to remove the treatment agent tank 40, and makes it possible to provide a washing machine that is more convenient for the user.

[0089] (Second embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figs. 16 and 17. The washing machine 10 of the second embodiment has one or more recesses 70 in the treatment agent tank 40. The recesses 70 are formed by recessing at least a portion of the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40 toward the interior of the treatment agent tank 40. The recesses 70 are formed so that a user's fingers can be inserted, and the user can hook or insert their fingers into the recesses 70 to grip the treatment agent tank 40 when removing the treatment agent tank 40 from or installing it in the storage section 21. Note that Fig. 16 shows the treatment agent tank 40 without the lid member 423.

[0090] The recess 70 may be formed on any of the front, back, or side of the processing agent tank 40. In this embodiment, the recess 70 is provided on the side of the processing agent tank 40 as shown in FIG. 16. The recess 70 may be formed on the side of the outer periphery of the processing agent tank 40 where adjacent processing agent tanks 401, 402 face each other. FIG. 16 shows the detergent tank 401, in which the recess 70 is provided on the side facing the finishing agent tank 402, i.e., the right side. As shown in FIG. 17, the finishing agent tank 402 may have the recess 70 on the side facing the detergent tank 401, i.e., the left side.

[0091] In this case, the recess 70 provided in the detergent tank 401 and the recess 70 provided in the finishing agent tank 402 are positioned to face each other. Therefore, when the processing agent tanks 401, 402 are housed in the storage unit 21, a space is formed between the processing agent tank 401 and the processing agent tank 402, the width of which is at least twice the depth of the recess of each recess 70. The user can insert their fingers into the space formed jointly by the two recesses 70 to reliably remove the processing agent tank 40 from the storage unit 21 or attach it to the storage unit 21.

[0092] 16, the recess 70 is formed to extend in the vertical direction over substantially the entire upper member 42 and the side surface portion 412 of the tank body 41. In other embodiments, the recess 70 may be formed only in the upper member 42, or may be provided in the upper member 42 and a portion of the upper portion of the side surface portion 412.

[0093] The position of the recess 70 can be set at a position close to the center of gravity of the processing agent tank 40. For example, the position of the recess 70 can be set at the center in the left-right direction of the processing agent tank 40, or the center in the front-rear direction, or in the vicinity of these. In this embodiment, the position of the recess 70 is set at a position slightly forward of the center point of the length dimension of the processing agent tank 40 in the front-rear direction. In this case, the position of the recess 70 is set at the center point of the length dimension of the upper member 42 in the front-rear direction.

[0094] The depth of the recess 70 can be set to a dimension that allows, for example, an adult's thumb to be hooked or inserted into the recess. Specifically, the depth of the recess 70 may be set to 0.5 cm to 2 cm. Specifically, the depth of the recess 70 may be set to 1 cm to 1.5 cm.

[0095] Here, because the handle 50 is provided to protrude forward from the tank body 41, it is located somewhat away from the center of gravity of the treatment agent tank 40. For example, if a large amount of laundry treatment agent is stored in the treatment agent tank 40, the weight of the treatment agent tank 40 and the laundry treatment agent combined may be considerable, and a user with weak strength may find it difficult to grasp the handle 50, which is away from the center of gravity, and support the treatment agent tank 40.

[0096] In contrast, according to the second embodiment described above, the treatment agent tank 40 of the washing machine 10 has a recess 70 formed by recessing at least a part of the upper portion of the treatment agent tank 40 toward the inside.

[0097] This allows the user to grasp the treatment agent tank 40 from above when attaching or detaching the treatment agent tank 40. Because the recess 70 is provided at least in the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., in the upper part of the tank body 41, the distance from the center of gravity of the treatment agent tank 40 is shorter than the position of the handle 50. Therefore, even when a large amount of laundry treatment agent is stored, the user can hold the treatment agent tank 40 more stably by grasping the recess 70. This improves user operability.

[0098] Although one recess 70 is provided in each processing agent tank 40 in this embodiment, in other embodiments, multiple recesses 70 may be provided in each processing agent tank 40. For example, in the example shown in FIG. 18, two recesses 70 are provided in each processing agent tank 40. In this case, the recesses 70 are provided on the left and right side surfaces of the processing agent tank 40. In yet another embodiment, the recesses 70 may be provided on the front and back surfaces of the processing agent tank 40. Note that FIG. 18 shows the processing agent tank 40 without the cover member 423.

[0099] Furthermore, when the processing agent tank 40 is provided with a recess 70, the user can easily remove the processing agent tank 40 from the storage section 21 by gripping the recess 70 without gripping the handle 50. Therefore, in this case, the processing agent case 30 may not be provided with the notch 37. Also, the processing agent tank 40 may not be provided with the handle 50.

[0100] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be embodied in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included within the scope and spirit of the invention, and are also included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents as defined in the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0101] 10... washing machine, 11... outer box, 12... water tank, 21... storage section, 211... opening, 212... bottom, 22... pump, 23... cover member, 30... treatment agent case, 31... wall section, 37... notch section, 40... treatment agent tank, 41... tank body, 43... tank outlet, 50... handle section, 51... front section, 52... side section, 53... recess section, 70... recess section (second embodiment)

Claims

1. an outer box formed in a box shape; a water tank provided in the outer box; a storage section provided in the outer box and having an opening formed by opening a top surface side of the outer box; a treatment agent case that receives the laundry treatment agent to be used in one operation and supplies the received laundry treatment agent to the water tub; a treatment agent tank capable of storing laundry treatment agents to be used for multiple operations; the storage unit is capable of storing the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in the same space within the storage unit, with the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank being arranged side by side in a horizontal direction; a handle provided on the processing agent tank can be operated through the opening when the processing agent case and the processing agent tank are housed in the housing portion; washing machine.

2. At least a portion of the handle is provided above an upper end of the treatment agent case. The washing machine according to claim 1.

3. the processing agent tank is detachable from the storage section without removing the processing agent case; The washing machine according to claim 1.

4. The treatment agent tank is provided with an inlet that is an opening for injecting the laundry treatment agent, the inlet is provided near a part of the outer periphery of the treatment agent tank, When the treatment agent tank is divided into a first region including the inlet and a second region not including the inlet in a plan view, the handle is provided in the first region. The washing machine according to claim 1.

5. the treatment agent case is accommodated in a portion of the accommodation unit closer to the user, The treatment agent tank is provided with an inlet that is an opening for injecting the laundry treatment agent, the inlet is provided in a portion of the treatment agent tank closer to the treatment agent case; The washing machine according to claim 1.

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