Clothes treatment apparatus

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus capable of suppressing an amount of deformation when a decorative plate unit receives a load and suppressing occurrence of waviness or sink marks on a front plate.SOLUTION: A laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes an outer box containing a storage tub, wherein the outer box includes a front plate constituting at least a part of a front surface of the outer box, a reinforcing plate provided behind the front plate and reinforcing the outer box, and a decorative plate unit constituting at least a part of an upper surface of the outer box, the decorative plate unit is provided between the front plate and the reinforcing plate, a front portion of the decorative plate unit is held by the front plate, and a rear portion of the decorative plate unit is fixed to the reinforcing plate.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 10

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a clothing treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent document 1 discloses a washing machine comprising an outer box that houses a clothing storage tub, a front panel that forms the front part of the outer box, and a decorative plate unit that is provided on the top of the front panel and has an operation display area that allows input by pressing down on the operating section. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-039391 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The present disclosure provides a washing machine that can reduce waviness on the design surface and prevent sink marks by simplifying the mold structure used to manufacture the front panel and suppressing differential shrinkage due to heat during molding of the front panel when the operating unit is pressed down and the decorative plate unit is subjected to a load, thereby suppressing deformation of the decorative plate unit and stabilizing the pressing force of the operating unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] The clothing treatment device of the present disclosure comprises an outer box containing a storage tub, the outer box including a front panel that forms at least a portion of the front surface of the outer box, a reinforcing plate that is provided behind the front panel and reinforces the outer box, and a decorative plate unit that forms at least a portion of the top surface of the outer box, the decorative plate unit being provided between the front panel and the reinforcing plate, with the front portion of the decorative plate unit being held by the front panel and the rear portion of the decorative plate unit being fixed to the reinforcing plate. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The washing machine of the present disclosure can suppress the amount of deformation of the decorative plate unit when it receives a load, and can also suppress the occurrence of waviness or sink marks on the front panel. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a washing machine [Figure 2] Exploded perspective view of a washing machine [Figure 3] View of the outer box from above [Figure 4] Exploded perspective view of the decorative plate unit [Figure 5] Perspective view of the superstructure from above [Figure 6] Perspective view of the upper structure from below [Figure 7] Perspective view of the lower support [Figure 8] Top view of the lower support [Figure 9] Top view of the front of the outer box [Figure 10] Diagram showing the mounting structure of the decorative plate unit [Figure 11] Close-up of the front of the superstructure [Figure 12] A diagram showing the attachment structure of the side of the upper structure [Figure 13] Close-up of the rear of the superstructure [Figure 14] Close-up of the rear of the superstructure DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] (Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors came up with the idea for this disclosure, washing machines were known that had a receiving shape on the top of the front panel for placing a decorative plate unit, and the decorative plate unit and receiving shape were arranged at an angle to the horizontal. The inventors of the present invention discovered that when attempting to provide a substantially horizontal decorative plate unit to give the washing machine a cubic appearance, it becomes difficult to form a support shape on the top of the front plate. More specifically, when attempting to provide a substantially horizontal support shape on the top of the front plate, the mold structure becomes complex, and heat accumulation at the base of the support shape causes differential shrinkage, making it easy for waviness and sink marks to form on the design surface during molding of the support shape. The inventors have come up with the subject matter of the present disclosure to solve this problem.

[0009] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a clothing processing device that suppresses the amount of deformation of the decorative plate unit when the decorative plate unit is subjected to a load, thereby stabilizing the pressing force of the operating part, simplifying the mold structure during manufacturing, suppressing the occurrence of differences in thermal shrinkage during molding, and reducing waviness on the design surface and suppressing the occurrence of sink marks.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, in some cases, more detailed explanation than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanation of already well-known matters or redundant explanation of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0011] [1. Embodiment 1] [1-1.Configuration] [1-1-1. Washing machine configuration] An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the description, unless otherwise specified, the directions such as front, back, left, right, and up and down are the same as those when viewing the washing machine from the front in Figure 1. The washing machine 1 is an example of a clothing processing device.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a washing machine 1 according to the present disclosure. 1 is configured by housing a clothes storage tub (storage tub) consisting of a water tub and a rotating tub (not shown) inside an outer box 10. Washing machine 1 is a so-called drum-type washing machine in which the rotation axis of the rotating layer is slightly inclined relative to the horizontal.

[0013] The outer box 10 constitutes the exterior of the washing machine 1 and is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. The outer box 10 has a base 11, a front panel 21, outer box side panels (hereinafter referred to as an outer box left panel 16 and an outer box right panel 17), an outer box rear panel 45, an outer box top panel 55, and a decorative plate unit 100. The base 11 constitutes the bottom of the outer box 10. The outer box right panel 17 and the outer box left panel 16 are rectangular flat panels that are long in the vertical direction. The outer box right panel 17 and the outer box left panel 16 are respectively disposed at the left and right ends of the upper surface of the base 11. The decorative plate unit 100 is provided above the front panel 21. The decorative plate unit 100 and the outer box top panel 55 constitute an upper surface 59 of the washing machine 1. The upper surface 59 is formed flush. The upper surface 59 may be partially inclined, or may have an uneven portion, for example, the rear portion of the upper surface 59 may not be flush.

[0014] As shown in Fig. 2, an opening (hereinafter referred to as round hole 13) is provided in the center of front plate 21, and a lid 15 is provided to openably and closably cover round hole 13. An upper reinforcing member 70 is provided to straddle the upper parts of outer box left plate 16 and outer box right plate 17. Upper reinforcing member 70 is formed by bending a metal plate into a substantially L-shape. Upper reinforcing member 70 has a bridging portion 72 and stay portions 71R, 71L, and is supported by the upper ends of outer box left plate 16 and outer box right plate 17 via stay portions 71R, 71L.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 3 , the upper reinforcing member 70 is located behind the bisector AA in the front-to-rear direction of the outer box 10, i.e., toward the rear in the front-to-rear direction of the outer box 10. A reinforcing plate 80 is provided inside the outer box 10, near the front, connecting the outer box right panel 17 and the outer box left panel 16 to reinforce the outer box 10. The reinforcing plate 80 is a metal plate-shaped unit with a hole through which a washing tub (not shown) passes. The reinforcing plate 80 is composed of a reinforcing portion that rises approximately perpendicular to the base 11 and a reinforcing-plate-side support portion 82 that bends horizontally at the upper end of the reinforcing portion toward the rear of the washing machine 1. The reinforcing-plate-side support portion 82 includes a left support portion 82b and a right support portion 82c formed at both left-to-right end portions, and a center portion 82d formed in the center in the left-to-right direction. Each of the reinforcing plate side support portions 82 is provided with a fastening hole 82 a, and the decorative plate unit 100 is fixed to the reinforcing plate side support portion 82 .

[0016] A first cutout 85 is formed between the left support portion 82b and the central portion 82d. A second cutout 86 is formed between the central portion 82d and the right support portion 82c. [1-1-2. Composition of the decorative plate unit]

[0017] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the decorative plate unit 100. As shown in FIG. The decorative plate unit 100 includes a control board 116, a box-shaped lower support body 130 that supports the control board 116, an upper structure 110, and a membrane sheet 150 made of a polyethylene terephthalate resin film that is provided on the upper part of the upper structure 110. The upper structure 110 is fastened together with the lower support body 130 to the reinforcing plate side support part 82 with screws (fastening members) 101. The decorative plate unit 100 includes an operation display area 200 having various settings related to the operation of the washing machine 1 and various operation sections used by the user to operate the washing machine 1. The operation display area 200 may cover the entire top surface of the decorative plate unit 100.

[0018] Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the upper structure 110 as seen from above. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the upper structure 110 as seen from below. The upper structure 110 has a rectangular, flat top plate 111 and side plate portions 114 extending downward substantially perpendicularly from the top plate portion 111. The side plate portions 114 are slightly smaller than the circumferential size of the top plate portion 111 and have a shape that surrounds it on all four sides. A plurality of hook-shaped mating claws 120 are provided at equal intervals on the side plate portion 114a on the front side. The mating claws 120 extend downward and have protrusions at their lower ends that protrude toward the front surface.

[0019] The top plate 111 has downwardly extending retaining ribs 121 at both ends and the front end. The top plate 111 also has downwardly extending closing ribs 122 between the retaining ribs 121 provided at the left and right ends of the top plate 111 and the left and right side plate portions 114b, 114c. The top plate 111 also has second fitting claws 123 between the retaining ribs 121 provided at the left and right ends of the top plate 111 and each closing rib 122. The second mating claw 123 extends downward and has a protrusion at its lower end that projects to the front surface.

[0020] 6, a plurality of position restriction ribs 125 extending rearward and upward from the upper structure 110 are provided on the rear portion of the back surface of the upper structure 110. The position restriction ribs 125 are formed integrally with the rear side plate portion 114d and the back surface of the top plate portion 111. Recesses 113 that fit with the lower supports 130 are formed at both ends on the rear surface of the upper structure 110. (Positioning Restriction)

[0021] Approximately U-shaped rear support portions 126 are provided at the rear of the rear surface of the upper structure 110 and between the position restriction ribs 125. The rear support portions 126 are provided at both ends and the center of the upper structure 110. The rear support portion 126 has a connection hole 126a formed in the bottom surface thereof.

[0022] A gutter-shaped drain groove 127 is formed on the surface of the upper structure 110 between the rear side plate portion 114d and the rear end 111a of the top plate portion 111. The drain groove 127 is formed in the left-right direction and is continuous between each of the rear support portions 126. When the decorative plate unit 100 is arranged, the drain groove 127 is located above the wiring arrangement portion 87 so as to cover the wiring arrangement portion 87 in the left-right direction. Therefore, the decorative plate unit 100 according to this embodiment has the effect of preventing water from splashing on the electronic components located below the center of the housing, even if water splashes on the washing machine 1 from the outside.

[0023] Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the lower support 130. Fig. 8 is a top view of the lower support 130. The lower support 130 has a rectangular, flat bottom plate 131 and side plate portions 135 provided along the circumferential direction of the bottom plate portion 131. A first protrusion 133 extending forward is formed on the side plate portion 135. A plurality of insertion ribs 137 extending downward are provided at equal intervals on the first protrusion 133. By providing equal intervals for the insertion ribs 137, the occurrence of gaps can be suppressed. Note that some of the intervals may not be equal.

[0024] At both ends of the bottom plate portion 131 of the lower support 130, convex portions 131b that fit into concave portions 113 provided in the upper structure 110 are formed to protrude upward. The bottom plate portion 131 is provided with a wiring hole 131a through which a cable can be routed. A connector is inserted into the wiring hole 131a. A first fixing portion 141 for fixing a cable and a second fixing portion 143 for fixing a cable, which is provided rearward of the first fixing portion 141, are provided at the rear end of the bottom plate portion 131. Fixing holes 141a and 143a are formed in the first fixing portion 141 and the second fixing portion 143, respectively. Fixing devices (not shown) are fixed to the fixing holes 141a and 143a, and multiple cables extending from a control means provided at the bottom of the outer casing to a vibration detection means (3D sensor) provided above the storage tank are fixed together via the fixing devices (not shown).

[0025] The rear end of the bottom plate portion 131 is provided with receiving portions 140. The receiving portions 140 are provided at both ends and the center portion. The receiving portions 140 are provided with positioning restriction holes 140a. When the upper structure 110 and the lower support 130 are connected, a rear support portion 126 provided on the upper structure 110 is fastened to the receiving portion 140. When the upper structure 110 and the lower support 130 are connected, the side plate portions 114 of the upper structure 110 fit inside the lower support 130. In other words, the top surface of the decorative plate unit 100 is formed by the top plate portion 111 of the upper structure 110, and the side and bottom surfaces of the decorative plate unit 100 are formed by the side plate portions 135 and bottom plate portion 131 of the lower support 130.

[0026] [1-1-3. Plaque unit placement] FIG. 9 is a top view of the front part of the outer box 10. FIG. A decorative plate unit 100 (see FIG. 4) is attached to the front of the outer box 10. The decorative plate unit 100 has an operation display area 200 having an operation unit 118 made up of buttons and a display panel 117 made up of LEDs and a liquid crystal panel, and the operation unit 118 and the display panel 117 are connected to a control board 116 by a wiring cable (not shown).

[0027] FIG. 10 shows the mounting structure of the decorative plate unit 100. Decorative plate unit 100 includes a control board 116, which is sandwiched between upper structure 110 and lower support 130. A membrane sheet 150 is disposed on the upper part of upper structure 110. An operating unit 118 is supported on upper structure 110, and pressing down operating unit 118 allows input to control board 116, which in turn allows input to a control device (not shown) of washing machine 1.

[0028] A front panel support part 30 extending inward of the outer box 10 is provided at the upper front part of the front panel 21. A reinforcing plate support part 82 that is bent horizontally is formed at the upper end of a reinforcing plate 80 that reinforces the outer box 10. The front panel support part 30 is provided at a position higher than the reinforcing plate support part 82 at the upper end of the reinforcing plate 80. The front panel support part 30 protrudes inward from the front panel 21 in a direction perpendicular to the front panel 21.

[0029] The lower support body 130 has a first support piece 132 extending upward from its front end. A first protruding piece 133 that protrudes toward the front panel 21 is formed on the upper part of the first support piece 132, at a position slightly below the upper end of the first support piece 132.

[0030] The first protrusion 133 is placed on the front panel support part 30 of the front panel 21, and the upper structure 110 is placed over it. As shown in Figure 11, a fitting claw 120 is formed in the front part of the upper structure 110, and a fitting hole 30a into which the fitting claw 120 fits is formed in the front panel support part 30 at the front of the front panel 21. The front part of the decorative plate unit 100 is fixed to the front panel support part 30 at the front of the front panel 21 by a so-called snap fit, in which the fitting claw 120 engages with the fitting hole 30a.

[0031] A retaining rib 121 extending downward is formed on the front portion of the upper structure 110. When the front portion of the decorative plate unit 100 is attached to the front panel support portion 30 of the front panel 21 by so-called snap fitting, a so-called labyrinth structure is formed by the retaining rib 121 and the protrusion 134 of the first support piece 132, which prevents insects and the like from entering from outside.

[0032] 10, the receiving portion 140 provided on the lower support body 130 is placed on the reinforcing plate-side supporting portion 82 of the reinforcing plate 80. The upper structure 110 is provided with a third support piece 136 that extends downward from the rear end, bends at the lower end, and extends horizontally. The third support piece 136 is fastened to the reinforcing plate 80 with screws 101, sandwiching the receiving portion 140 therebetween.

[0033] FIG. 11 shows the mounting structure of the side of the decorative plate unit. Although not shown, a plurality of front panel support parts 30 are provided on the left and right sides of the front panel 21, each having substantially the same configuration as the front panel support parts 30 (see FIG. 10) at the front of the decorative plate unit. Firing holes 30a are provided in the front panel support parts 30. As shown in FIG. 6, second fitting claws 123 that fit into the fitting holes 30a are provided on the left and right sides of the upper structure 110. As shown in FIG. 12, the left and right sides of the decorative plate unit 100 are fixed to the front panel support parts 30 on the left and right sides of the front panel 21 by a so-called snap fit, in which the second fitting claws 123 engage with the fitting holes 30a, in the same way as the front part.

[0034] 13 and 14 are enlarged views of the rear of the upper structure 110 of FIG. 13 and 14, the outer box upper plate 55 is provided with a downwardly extending front-rear restricting rib 60 and a vertical restricting rib 61. A substantially V-shaped front-rear position restricting rib 125A (position restricting rib 125) is formed at the rear of the upper structure 110. A step portion 125a of the front-rear position restricting rib 125A abuts against the front-rear restricting rib 60, thereby preventing the outer box upper plate 55 from shifting forward or backward.

[0035] 14, the outer box upper plate 55 is provided with a vertical regulation rib 61 having a protruding end 61a at its lower end. In addition, a downward protrusion 62 is provided at the front end of the outer box upper plate 55. A substantially L-shaped vertical position regulation rib 125B (position regulation rib 125) is formed at the rear of the upper structure 110. The vertical position regulation rib 125B engages above the protruding end 61a of the vertical regulation rib 61 and below the protrusion 62 of the outer box upper plate 55, thereby preventing the outer box upper plate 55 from shifting up and down.

[0036] [1-2. Effects, etc.] The assembly and installation of the plaque unit 100 will now be described. The decorative plate unit 100 is assembled by accommodating the control board 116 in the box-shaped lower support 130 and fitting the protrusion 131b of the lower support 130 into the recess 113 of the upper structure 110. At this time, the rear support 126 provided on the upper structure 110 is fastened to the receiving portion 140 of the lower support 130. After assembling the decorative plate unit 100, the rear of the decorative plate unit 100 is supported at the reinforcing plate side support portion 82 of the reinforcing plate 80, while the engaging claw 120 of the upper structure 110 provided at the front of the decorative plate unit 100 and the second engaging claw 123 of the upper structure 110 provided at the side of the decorative plate unit 100 are fixed to the front plate side support portion 30 of the front plate 21. Next, the front part of the outer box upper plate 55 is fitted into the position restricting rib 125 provided at the rear part of the upper structure 110 of the decorative plate unit 100.

[0037] After the decorative plate unit 100 is attached to the washing machine 1, the user presses the operating unit 118 provided on the decorative plate unit 100 at the top of the washing machine 1 to set or operate the washing machine 1. At this time, the load exerted by the user pressing the operating unit 118 also applies a load to the decorative plate unit 100. The decorative plate unit 100, which is made of resin or the like, tends to deform due to the load from the user, but because the lower part is supported by the reinforcing plate 80, deformation of the decorative plate unit 100 is suppressed. This stabilizes the pressing force of the operating unit 118 provided on the decorative plate unit 100.

[0038] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, the washing machine 1 of this embodiment comprises an outer box 10 containing a storage tub, and the outer box 10 includes a front panel 21 that forms at least a part of the front surface of the outer box 10, a reinforcing plate 80 that is provided behind the front panel 21 and reinforces the outer box 10, and a decorative plate unit 100 that forms at least a part of the top surface of the outer box 10, the decorative plate unit 100 being provided between the front panel 21 and the reinforcing plate 80, with the front part of the decorative plate unit 100 being held by the front panel 21 and the rear part of the decorative plate unit 100 being fixed to the reinforcing plate 80. This reduces the amount of deformation of the decorative plate unit 100 when it receives a load, and also reduces the occurrence of waviness or sink marks on the front plate 21.

[0039] In addition, in the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, a front panel side support portion 30 formed horizontally is provided on the upper part of the front panel 21, and a reinforcing plate side support portion 82 formed horizontally is provided on the reinforcing plate 80, and the decorative plate unit 100 is placed on the front panel side support portion 30 and the reinforcing plate side support portion 82. This makes it possible to suppress the amount of deformation of the decorative plate unit 100 when it receives a vertical load.

[0040] In addition, in the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the outer box 10 further includes an outer box upper plate 55 that forms at least a part of the upper surface of the outer box 10, the upper end of the front plate 21 is located at approximately the same height as the outer box upper plate 55, and the upper surface of the decorative plate unit 100 is formed approximately horizontally. This improves the design and allows the upper surface of the outer box 10 to have a substantially horizontal portion.

[0041] In addition, in the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the decorative plate unit 100 includes a control board 116, a lower support body 130 that supports the control board 116, and an upper structure 110, and the upper structure 110 is fastened to the reinforcing plate side support portion 82 together with the lower support body 130 by screws (fastening members) 101. This allows the decorative plate unit 100 to bear a vertical load.

[0042] In addition, in washing machine 1 of the present embodiment, reinforcing plate side support portion 82 is provided at a position lower than front plate side support portion 30. In this way, the reinforcing plate 80 provided inside the outer box 10 and at a position lower than the upper surface of the outer box 10 can be used as a member for fixing the decorative plate unit 100.

[0043] In addition, in the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the front part of the decorative plate unit 100 is inserted into the front plate 21 or held by a claw engagement, and the rear part of the decorative plate unit 100 is fastened to the reinforcing plate 80 with a screw (fastening member) 101. This prevents the need for a separate fastening member at the front of the decorative plate unit 100 that forms the front end of the outer box 10, and fastens the rear of the decorative plate unit 100 with a screw (fastening member) 101, ensuring strength against vertical loads.

[0044] In addition, according to the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the decorative plate unit 100 is formed with an engaging claw 120, and the front panel side support portion 30 is formed with an engaging hole 30a into which the engaging claw 120 fits, and the decorative plate unit 100 is fixed to the front panel side support portion 30 by fitting the engaging claw 120 into the engaging hole 30a. According to this, the decorative plate unit 100 can be easily fixed to the front plate side support part 30 at the front part of the front plate 21 by so-called snap fit, in which the fitting claws 120 are engaged with the fitting holes 30a.

[0045] In addition, according to the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the mating claw 120 and the second mating claw 123 are formed on the front and both sides of the decorative plate unit 100, and the front plate side support portion 30 and the mating hole 30a are formed on the front and both sides of the front plate 21. This allows the front and both side portions of the decorative plate unit 100 to be easily fixed to the ribs on the front and both side portions of the front plate 21 by a so-called snap fit in which the mating claws 120 and second mating claws 123 are engaged with the mating holes 30a.

[0046] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the decorative plate unit 100 comprises a lower support 130 and an upper structure 110 that sandwich the control board 116, the lower support 130 comprises a first support piece 132 extending upward, and the upper part of the first support piece 132 comprises a first protrusion 133 that protrudes toward the front panel 21 at a position slightly below the upper end of the first support piece 132, the first protrusion 133 being placed on the front panel side support portion 30 of the front panel 21, the upper structure 110 comprises a retaining rib 121 extending downward, and when the decorative plate unit 100 is placed on the front panel side support portion 30 of the front panel 21, a labyrinth structure is formed by the retaining rib 121 and the protrusion 134 of the first support piece 132. According to this, a labyrinth structure is formed by the holding rib 121 and the protrusion 134 of the first support piece 132, which prevents insects and the like from entering.

[0047] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the outer box upper plate 55 of the outer box 10 has a downwardly extending front-rear regulating rib 60, and the decorative plate unit 100 has a front-rear position regulating rib 125A that engages with the front-rear regulating rib 60. According to this, the front-rear position restricting rib 125A of the decorative plate unit 100 engages with the front-rear restricting rib 60 of the outer box upper plate 55, thereby restricting the outer box upper plate 55 from shifting forward or backward.

[0048] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the outer box upper plate 55 of the outer box 10 has a vertical regulating rib 61 extending downward, and the decorative plate unit 100 has a vertical position regulating rib 125B that engages with the vertical regulating rib 61. According to this, the vertical position restricting rib 125B of the decorative plate unit 100 engages with the vertical restricting rib 61 of the outer box upper plate 55, thereby restricting the outer box upper plate 55 from shifting vertically.

[0049] In addition, according to the washing machine 1 of this embodiment, the decorative plate unit 100 is provided with a control board 116, and the control board 116 is clamped between a lower support body 130 that supports the control board 116 and an upper structure 110 that holds the operating unit 118, and the front end of the lower support body 130 is fixed to the front plate side support portion 30, and the rear end of the lower support body 130 is fixed to the upper end of the reinforcing plate 80. This allows the pressing force of the operating part of the decorative plate unit 100 to be stabilized with a simple configuration even when the upper structure 110 and the lower support 130 are two members.

[0050] (Other embodiments) As described above, the above-described embodiments have been described as examples disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to these, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the above-described embodiments to create new embodiments. Therefore, other embodiments will be exemplified below.

[0051] In the above-described embodiment, the upper reinforcing member 70 is provided near the rear of the washing machine 1 in a top view. However, the upper reinforcing member 70 may be provided near the front.

[0052] In the above-described embodiment, the decorative plate unit 100 is provided with a button-type operation unit 118. However, the operation unit may be, for example, a touch-type operation unit that senses the user's finger and accepts input. In this case, there is no need to press the operation unit, but there is still a possibility that a load will be applied to the decorative plate unit, and therefore the effects of the present invention are similarly achieved. Furthermore, for example, a decorative plate unit without an operating part may be used. In this case, since there is no operating part, there is no need to press it, but since there is still a possibility that a load will be applied to the decorative plate unit due to the user's actions, etc., the effect of the present invention is similarly achieved.

[0053] In the embodiment described above, the decorative plate unit 100 is composed of the upper structure 110 and the lower support 130, the first protrusion 133 of the lower support 130 is fixed to the front panel side support part 30 of the front panel 21, and the receiving part 140 of the lower support 130 is fixed to the support part 82 of the reinforcing plate 80. However, the lower support 130 may be divided into multiple parts, for example, two parts: a part that holds the control board 116 on the lower support 130, and a part that is fixed to the front panel side support part 30 of the front panel 21 and to the support part 82 of the reinforcing plate 80.

[0054] It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology of the present disclosure, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. may be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

[0055] (Addendum) The above description of the embodiments discloses the following techniques.

[0056] (Technology 1) A clothing processing device comprising an outer box containing a storage tub, the outer box including a front panel that forms at least a portion of the front surface of the outer box, a reinforcing plate that is provided behind the front panel and reinforces the outer box, and a decorative plate unit that forms at least a portion of the top surface of the outer box, the decorative plate unit being provided between the front panel and the reinforcing plate, with the front portion of the decorative plate unit being held by the front panel and the rear portion of the decorative plate unit being fixed to the reinforcing plate. This reduces the amount of deformation of the decorative plate unit when it receives a load, and also prevents waviness and sink marks from occurring on the front panel.

[0057] (Technology 2) A clothing processing device as described in Technology 1, in which a front plate side support portion formed horizontally is provided on the upper part of the front plate, a reinforcing plate side support portion formed horizontally is provided on the reinforcing plate, and the decorative plate unit is placed on the front plate side support portion and the reinforcing plate side support portion. This makes it possible to suppress the amount of deformation of the decorative plate unit when it is subjected to a vertical load.

[0058] (Technology 3) The clothing processing device described in Technology 1 or Technology 2, wherein the outer box further includes an outer box upper plate that constitutes at least a part of the upper surface of the outer box, the upper end of the front plate is located at approximately the same height as the outer box upper plate, and the upper surface of the decorative plate unit is formed approximately horizontally. This improves the design and allows a substantially horizontal portion to be formed on the top surface.

[0059] (Technology 4) The decorative plate unit includes a control board, a lower support body that supports the control board, and an upper structure, and the upper structure is fastened to the reinforcing plate side support portion together with the lower support body by a fastening member. This allows the decorative plate unit to bear a vertical load.

[0060] (Technology 5) The clothing processing device according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, wherein the reinforcing plate side support portion is provided at a lower position than the front plate side support portion. With this, the reinforcing plate provided inside the outer box at a position lower than the top surface of the outer box can be used as a member for fixing the decorative plate unit.

[0061] (Technology 6) A clothing processing device described in any of Technology 1 to Technology 5, wherein the front part of the decorative plate unit is inserted into the front plate or held by a claw engagement, and the rear part of the decorative plate unit is fastened to the reinforcing plate by a fastening member. This avoids the need to provide a separate fastening member at the front of the decorative plate unit that forms the front end of the outer box, and instead provides fastening with a fastening member at the rear of the decorative plate unit, ensuring strength against vertical loads. [Industrial Applicability]

[0062] The present disclosure is applicable to a washing machine that has a decorative plate unit on the top surface of the washing machine body. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Washing machine (clothing treatment device) 10 outer box 15 Lid 16 Left panel of outer box 17 Right panel of outer box 21 Front panel 30 Front plate support part 30a fitting hole 55 Outer box top plate 60 Front and rear control rib 61 Vertical control rib 62 downward protrusion 70 Upper reinforcement member 80 Reinforcement plate 82 Support part 82a Fastening hole 100 Plaque Units 105 Control board 110 Superstructure 116 Control board 117 Display Panel 118 Operation section 120 Interlocking claws 121 Retaining rib 123 Second mating claw (matting claw) 125 Position control rib 125A Front and rear position control rib 125B Vertical position control rib 126 Rear support 127 Drain 130 Lower support 131a Wiring hole 132 1st support piece 133 First Projection 134 protrusion 136 Third support piece 140 Receiving part 150 membrane sheet 200 Operation display area

Claims

1. An outer box containing a storage tank is provided, The outer box is a front panel that constitutes at least a part of the front surface of the outer box; a reinforcing plate provided behind the front plate and reinforcing the outer box; a decorative plate unit that forms at least a part of the top surface of the outer box; Including, The decorative plate unit is provided between the front plate and the reinforcing plate, The front portion of the decorative plate unit is held by the front plate, The rear portion of the decorative plate unit is fixed to the reinforcing plate. Clothes treatment device.

2. A front plate support portion formed in a horizontal direction is provided on an upper portion of the front plate, The reinforcing plate is provided with a reinforcing plate side support portion formed in a horizontal direction, The decorative plate unit is placed on the front plate side support portion and the reinforcing plate side support portion. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 .

3. The outer box further includes an outer box top plate that forms at least a part of an upper surface of the outer box, The upper end of the front plate is located at approximately the same height as the upper plate of the outer box, The upper surface of the decorative plate unit is formed substantially horizontally. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 .

4. The decorative plate unit includes a control board, a lower support that supports the control board, and an upper structure; the upper structure is fastened to the reinforcing plate side support portion together with the lower support body by fastening members; The clothing treatment device according to claim 2 .

5. The reinforcing plate side support portion is provided at a lower position than the front plate side support portion. The clothing treatment device according to claim 2 .

6. The front portion of the decorative plate unit is inserted into the front plate or held by a claw engagement, and the rear portion of the decorative plate unit is fastened to the reinforcing plate by a fastening member. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 .

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