Clothing processing equipment

Abstract

To provide a clothing treatment device capable of easily performing attaching / detaching of a tank.SOLUTION: A clothing treatment device includes: a clothing treatment tub for storing clothing; a tank for storing a clothing treatment agent for treating clothing; and an automatic input part for inputting the clothing treatment agent stored in the tank into the clothing treatment tub. On a surface for forming an outer contour of the tank, a concave holding part is provided.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 18

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a clothing treatment apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, in a washing machine which is an example of a clothing treatment apparatus that performs a predetermined treatment on clothing, in order to meet the demand for improving the convenience of the user, a plurality of times' worth of clothing treatment agents such as detergents and fabric softeners are stored in advance in a tank for automatic supply, and a configuration including an automatic supply unit that automatically supplies the required amount from the tank into the water tank during operation has been developed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a washing machine having such an automatic supply function, for example, a configuration is required to enable easy attachment and detachment of the tank, such as detaching the tank with one hand.

[0005] Therefore, the present embodiment provides a clothing treatment apparatus that enables easy attachment and detachment of the tank.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] The clothing treatment apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a clothing treatment tank that houses clothing, a tank that stores a clothing treatment agent for treating the clothing, and an automatic supply unit that supplies the clothing treatment agent stored in the tank into the clothing treatment tank. Among the surfaces forming the outer contour of the tank, on one of the surfaces facing each other in the horizontal direction onlyThe tank has a concave gripping portion, and the tank is equipped with a supply port for replenishing the garment treatment agent inside, with the gripping portion located to the side of the supply port. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] A schematic side view showing an example of the washing machine configuration according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic plan view showing an example of the upper part of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 3] This perspective view schematically shows an example of the configuration of the automatic feeding device and its surrounding parts according to this embodiment. [Figure 4] A schematic cross-sectional front view showing an example of the configuration of the water-filling case according to this embodiment. [Figure 5] A schematic longitudinal cross-sectional side view showing an example of the configuration of the water-filling case according to this embodiment. [Figure 6] This figure schematically shows an example of the configuration of the water supply valve unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 7] A schematic perspective view (1) showing an example of the rear configuration of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 8] A schematic perspective view (part 2) showing an example of the rear configuration of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 9] A schematic perspective view (part 3) showing an example of the rear configuration of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 10] A schematic perspective view (part 4) showing an example of the rear configuration of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 11] A schematic perspective view (part 5) showing an example of the rear configuration of the washing machine according to this embodiment. [Figure 12] A schematic perspective view showing an example of the configuration of the automatic feeding device according to this embodiment. [Figure 13] A schematic perspective view (1) showing an example of the configuration of a case containing the tank according to this embodiment. [Figure 14] A schematic perspective view (part 2) showing an example of the configuration of a case containing the tank according to this embodiment. [Figure 15] This plan view schematically shows an example of the configuration of the case housing the tank body according to this embodiment. [Figure 16] Perspective view schematically showing a configuration example of a case according to this embodiment from the bottom side [Figure 17] Side view schematically showing a configuration example of an automatic feeder according to this embodiment with a part in cross-section [Figure 18] Perspective view schematically showing a configuration example of a detergent tank according to this embodiment [Figure 19] Side view schematically showing a configuration example of a detergent tank according to this embodiment [Figure 20] Perspective view schematically showing a configuration example of a fabric softener tank according to this embodiment [Figure 21] Side view schematically showing a configuration example of a fabric softener tank according to this embodiment [Figure 22] Perspective view schematically showing configuration examples of a detergent tank and a fabric softener tank according to this embodiment [Figure 23] Perspective view exemplifying a case where a detergent tank is detachable within a case according to this embodiment [Figure 24] Front view schematically showing a configuration example of a fabric softener case according to this embodiment [Figure 25] Vertical side view schematically showing a configuration example of a tank according to this embodiment [Figure 26] Vertical side view schematically showing a configuration example of a supply port according to a modification of this embodiment [Figure 27] Perspective view schematically showing a configuration example of the rear part inside a tank according to this embodiment [Figure 28] Plan view schematically showing a configuration example of the rear part inside a tank according to this embodiment [Figure 29] Side view schematically showing a configuration example of a case housing a tank according to a modification of this embodiment [Figure 30] Side view schematically showing a configuration example of a tank according to a modification of this embodiment [Figure 31] Front view (part 1) schematically showing a configuration example of a tank according to a modification of this embodiment [Figure 32] Front view (part 2) schematically showing a configuration example of a tank according to a modification of this embodiment [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] The following describes one embodiment of a garment processing device with reference to the drawings. The washing machine 1 illustrated in Figure 1 is a so-called vertical-axis type washing machine in which the rotational axis of the rotating drum extends in the vertical direction. The washing machine 1 is an example of a garment processing device capable of performing predetermined processes on clothes, in this case, a washing process to wash clothes, a rinsing process to rinse clothes, and a dewatering process to dewater clothes, and is equipped with a water tank 3 inside an outer casing 2 that constitutes the outer shell of the device body. The water tank 3 is an example of a garment processing tank in which clothes are contained, and is a bottomed cylindrical shape with an open top. Inside the water tank 3, a bottomed cylindrical rotating drum (not shown) with an open top is rotatably provided. A pulsator (not shown) for agitating the clothes in the rotating drum and the water in the water tank 3 is rotatably provided at the bottom of the rotating drum. A balance ring (not shown) for suppressing vibration of the water tank 3 is provided at the top of the water tank 3. An inner lid may or may not be provided at the top opening of the water tank 3.

[0009] The outer casing 2 has a configuration in which a top cover 2B is attached to the top of a roughly rectangular outer casing body 2A that is open at the top. A clothing opening 4 for loading and unloading clothes is provided in the approximate center of the top cover 2B. This clothing opening 4 is opened and closed by a lid 5 that is rotatably provided on the top of the outer casing 2. The washing machine 1 is located at the rear of the outer casing 2 and has a machine room 6. In this case, the machine room 6 is located behind the clothing opening 4 in the space within the top cover 2B. Various drive system components such as an automatic dispensing device 100, a water filling case 200, and a water supply valve unit 300 are housed inside the machine room 6. The automatic dispensing device 100 is an example of an automatic dispensing unit, and is a device for automatically dispensing a predetermined amount of clothing treatment agent into the water tank 3 along with water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300 during a well-known washing operation for washing clothes.

[0010] Next, an example of the configuration inside the machine room 6 will be described in detail. As illustrated in Figure 2, the machine room 6 forms a horizontally elongated space extending horizontally from the outer box 2 behind the clothing entrance 4. Inside this machine room 6, the automatic dispensing device 100, the water filling case 200, and the water supply valve unit 300 are arranged in a line along the horizontal direction of the outer box 2. In addition, within the machine room 6, the water supply valve unit 300 is located to the side of the water filling case 200, in this case to the right when viewed from the front side of the washing machine 1. Furthermore, within the machine room 6, the water supply valve unit 300 is positioned in front of the rear end of the automatic dispensing device 100 and the rear end of the water filling case 200. In this case, the entire water supply valve unit 300 is positioned in front of the rear end of the automatic dispensing device 100 and the rear end of the water filling case 200. Note that the water supply valve unit 300 may also be positioned such that at least a part of it is positioned in front of the rear end of the automatic dispensing device 100 and the rear end of the water filling case 200.

[0011] Furthermore, within the machine room 6, the water filling case 200 is positioned between the automatic dispensing device 100 and the water supply valve unit 300 in the lateral direction of the outer casing 2. In other words, the water filling case 200 is positioned sandwiched between the automatic dispensing device 100 and the water supply valve unit 300 from the lateral direction of the outer casing 2. A water level sensor 400 is also housed inside the machine room 6. In this case, the water level sensor 400 is housed in the space to the right of the water supply valve unit 300, in this case when viewed from the front of the washing machine 1. The water level sensor 400 is connected via an air tube to an air trap (not shown) located at the bottom of the water tank 3, and is capable of detecting the water level in the water tank 3 by detecting the air pressure in the air trap, which fluctuates in accordance with changes in the water level in the water tank 3.

[0012] Next, an example of the configuration of the automatic feeding device 100 will be described in detail. As illustrated in Figure 3, the automatic feeding device 100 is located on the left side of the rear of the top cover 2B, more specifically, on the left side of the machine room 6.

[0013] The automatic dispensing device 100 is equipped with a roughly rectangular box-shaped case housing 101 with an open front. This case housing 101 is firmly fixed to, for example, a metal bottom plate 6a that forms the bottom surface of the machine room 6, for example, by screws. As a result, the case housing 101 is fixed to the main body of the washing machine 1 in an immovable manner. The open front of the case housing 101 is fixed to the rear wall of the clothes opening 4, and is open towards the front at the rear wall of the clothes opening 4. As will be described in more detail later, a roughly rectangular box-shaped case 102 with an open top is housed inside the case housing 101 so as to be removable along the front-to-back direction of the washing machine 1. In addition, multiple tanks, in this case a detergent tank 103 and a fabric softener tank 104, are detachably housed inside this case 102.

[0014] The detergent tank 103 stores detergent for washing clothes in the water tank 3, as an example of a clothing treatment agent. The detergent tank 103 is a roughly rectangular container-shaped treatment agent tank with dimensions and a shape that allows it to store enough detergent for multiple cycles. Replenishing the detergent in the detergent tank 103 can be done by opening the replenishment port 142 located at the top of the tank 103. On the other hand, the fabric softener tank 104 stores fabric softener for softening clothes in the water tank 3, as an example of a clothing treatment agent. The fabric softener tank 104 is a roughly rectangular container-shaped treatment agent tank with dimensions and a shape that allows it to store enough fabric softener for multiple cycles. Replenishing the fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 104 can be done by opening the replenishment port 152 located at the top of the tank 104.

[0015] Furthermore, the automatic dispensing device 100 is equipped with a detergent metering pump 105 and a fabric softener metering pump 106 at the rear of the case housing 101. The detergent metering pump 105 is a pump configured to suck up and deliver liquid by driving a piston with an actuator such as a motor or solenoid. The detergent metering pump 105 sucks up a predetermined amount of detergent, in this case the amount for one operation, from the detergent tank 103 housed in the case housing 101, and delivers the sucked-up detergent into the automatic dispensing path 107 from the outlet 105a. The outlet 105a is provided at the bottom of the detergent metering pump 105 and is directed downward.

[0016] The fabric softener metering pump 106 is a pump configured to suck up and deliver liquid by driving a piston, for example, with a motor or solenoid. The fabric softener metering pump 106 sucks up a predetermined amount of fabric softener, in this case the amount for one operation, from the fabric softener tank 104 housed in the case housing 101, and delivers the sucked-up fabric softener into the automatic dispensing path 107 from the outlet 106a. The outlet 106a is provided at the bottom of the fabric softener metering pump 106 and is directed downward.

[0017] The detergent measuring pump 105 and the fabric softener measuring pump 106 are both examples of drive means controlled by a control device (not shown) that controls the overall operation of the washing machine 1.

[0018] The automatic dispensing path 107 constitutes an automatic water supply path for dispensing, connecting from the water supply valve unit 300 to the water filling case 200 via the mixing section 108. The mixing section 108 is located behind the automatic dispensing device 100, below the detergent metering pump 105 and the fabric softener metering pump 106. The mixing section 108 has an internal space, which serves as a mixing chamber for mixing the garment treatment agent supplied from the detergent tank 103 or fabric softener tank 104 with the water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300. The top of the mixing section 108 is also provided with a plurality of connection ports, in this case two, 108a and 108b, which communicate with the internal mixing chamber. The connection ports 108a and 108b are provided facing upward from the top of the mixing section 108.

[0019] One of these connection ports, 108a, is connected to the outlet 105a of the detergent measuring pump 105, and the other connection port, 108b, is connected to the outlet 106a of the fabric softener measuring pump 106. Therefore, the detergent discharged from the outlet 105a of the detergent measuring pump 105 is introduced into the mixing chamber from connection port 108a, and the fabric softener discharged from the outlet 106a of the fabric softener measuring pump 106 is introduced into the mixing chamber from connection port 108b.

[0020] Furthermore, the mixing unit 108 is equipped with an upstream connection part located above and a downstream connection part located below. The upstream connection part is connected to the water supply valve unit 300 via an upstream connection path 109. The downstream connection part is connected to the water filling case 200 via a downstream connection path 110. Water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300 flows into the mixing chamber of the mixing unit 108 via the upstream connection path 109 and the upstream connection part, and then flows out into the water filling case 200 via the downstream connection part and the downstream connection path 110.

[0021] In this process, as the water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300 flows through the mixing unit 108 to the water filling case 200, the water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300 and the garment treatment agents supplied from the detergent metering pump 105 and the fabric softener metering pump 106 are mixed in the mixing chamber of the mixing unit 108. As a result, water mixed with the garment treatment agents is supplied to the water filling case 200. The water containing the garment treatment agents supplied to the water filling case 200 is then supplied from the water filling case 200 into the water tank 3.

[0022] As described above, the automatic dispensing device 100 is configured to automatically dispense, for example, a predetermined amount of clothing treatment agent for one wash into the water tank 3 along with the water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300 during a well-known washing operation, such as washing clothes.

[0023] Next, an example of the configuration of the water filling case 200 will be described in detail. The water filling case 200 is primarily a component for pouring water into the water tank 3. As illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the water filling case 200 is equipped with a substantially rectangular box-shaped case housing 201 with an open front. This case housing 201 is firmly fixed to, for example, a metal bottom plate 6a that forms the bottom surface of the machine room 6, for example, by screws. The open front of the case housing 201 is fixed to the rear wall of the clothing entrance 4, and is open towards the front at the rear wall of the clothing entrance 4. Inside this case housing 201, a substantially rectangular box-shaped case 202 with an open top is housed so as to be retractable along the front-to-back direction of the washing machine 1. In addition, a plurality of manual garment processing agent dispensers, in this case a manual detergent dispenser 203 and a manual fabric softener dispenser 204, are integrally provided inside this case 202.

[0024] The manual detergent dispenser 203 is an example of a manual dispenser for the user to manually dispense detergent. Similarly, the manual fabric softener dispenser 204 is an example of a manual dispenser for the user to manually dispense fabric softener.

[0025] The upper surface 205 of the water filling case 200 is an inclined surface that slopes downward from the rear to the front. In addition, the upper surface 205 of the water filling case 200 has multiple channels for the water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300, such as a detergent channel for supplying water to the manual detergent dispenser 203, a fabric softener channel for supplying water to the manual fabric softener dispenser 204, and a bath water channel for draining bath water. In other words, the water supply valve unit 300 is also connected to the water filling case 200 and is configured to be able to supply water to the water filling case 200 as well.

[0026] The water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300 flows through the channel on the upper surface 205 of the water filling case 200 and is supplied to the manual detergent dispenser 203 or the manual fabric softener dispenser 204 inside the water filling case 200. The water supplied to the manual detergent dispenser 203 or the manual fabric softener dispenser 204 dissolves the detergent in the manual detergent dispenser 203 or the fabric softener in the manual fabric softener dispenser 204. The water in which the detergent or fabric softener has been dissolved inside the water filling case 200 is then supplied from the water filling case 200 into the water tank 3. In this way, the washing machine 1 is configured to supply clothing treatment agents manually added by the user to the water tank 3 along with the water.

[0027] Next, an example of the configuration of the water supply valve unit 300 will be described in detail. The water supply valve unit 300 is primarily a component for supplying water to the automatic dispensing device 100 and the water filling case 200. As illustrated in Figure 6, the water supply valve unit 300 has a configuration that integrates multiple, in this case, three, water supply valves 301, 302, and 303. These water supply valves 301, 302, and 303 are supplied with water from a water source not shown, such as a water supply system.

[0028] Of these, the water supply valve 301 is a water supply valve for supplying water to the manual detergent dispenser 203 of the water filling case 200, and its water inlet 301a is connected to a detergent flow path provided on the upper surface 205 of the water filling case 200. The water supply valve 302 is a water supply valve for supplying water to the manual fabric softener dispenser 204 of the water filling case 200, and its water inlet 302a is connected to a fabric softener flow path provided on the upper surface 205 of the water filling case 200. The water supply valve 303 is a water supply valve for supplying water to the mixing unit 108, and its water inlet 303a is connected to the upstream connection part of the mixing unit 108 via the mixing unit water supply path 304 and the upstream connection path 109 described above. The water inlet 303a of the water supply valve 303 is an example of a mixing unit water inlet.

[0029] The water supply path 304 for the mixing section is a component for connecting the water inlet 303a of the water supply valve 303 to the mixing section 108. In this case, as illustrated in Figure 5, the water supply path 304 for the mixing section passes between the upper surface 205 of the water filling case 200 and the manual detergent dispenser 203 and manual fabric softener dispenser 204. The water supply path 304 for the mixing section also penetrates the water filling case 200 along the lateral direction of the outer casing 2. Furthermore, the water supply path 304 for the mixing section extends in a straight line inside the water filling case 200 without bending or curving.

[0030] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 2, a well-known bath water pump 305 is provided near the water supply valve unit 300. The bath water pump 305 draws in bath water stored in, for example, a bathtub located outside the washing machine 1 and supplies it to the bath water flow path of the water supply case 200. The bath water supplied to the water supply case 200 is then supplied to the manual detergent dispenser 203, where it dissolves the detergent. The bath water with the dissolved detergent is then supplied from the water supply case 200 into the water tank 3. In this way, the washing machine 1 can also supply clothing treatment agents manually added by the user to the water tank 3 along with the bath water.

[0031] Within the machine room 6, the water supply valve unit 300 and the bath water pump 305 are arranged side by side along the front-to-back direction of the outer casing 2. The bath water pump 305 is positioned in front of the water supply valve unit 300. In this case, the entire bath water pump 305 is positioned in front of the water supply valve unit 300. However, the bath water pump 305 may also be positioned such that at least a portion of it is in front of the water supply valve unit 300.

[0032] Next, we will describe in more detail an example of the configuration of the automatic dispensing device 100, particularly the configuration examples of the case housing section 101, case 102, detergent tank 103, and fabric softener tank 104. As illustrated in Figures 7 to 12, the automatic dispensing device 100 has a configuration in which a roughly rectangular box-shaped case 102 is retractably housed inside a roughly rectangular box-shaped case housing section 101.

[0033] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 13 to 15, the case 102 includes a roughly rectangular box-shaped case body 120 with an open top. The case body 120 is configured to accommodate multiple, in this case, the detergent tanks 103 and fabric softener tanks 104 described above. The detergent tanks 103 and fabric softener tanks 104 can also be accommodated side by side inside the case body 120.

[0034] A front wall portion 121 is provided at the front of the case body portion 120. The upper end of the front wall portion 121 is higher than the upper end of the case body portion 120. In addition, viewing windows 122 and 123 are provided at both ends of the front wall portion 121 in the lateral direction. Both viewing windows 122 and 123 penetrate the front wall portion 121 in the front-to-back direction. In this case, the viewing windows 122 and 123 are rectangular in shape and are long in the vertical direction. Of these, viewing window 122 is a viewing window for checking the remaining amount of detergent in the detergent tank 103 housed inside the case body portion 120. On the other hand, viewing window 123 is a viewing window for checking the remaining amount of fabric softener in the fabric softener tank 104 housed inside the case body portion 120.

[0035] Furthermore, rail sections 124 are provided on both lateral sides of the case body 120, extending linearly along the direction in which the case 102 is pulled out. In this case, the rail sections 124 are provided linearly along the upper end of the case body 120.

[0036] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 16, the case 102 is equipped with a hanging portion 102A. In this case, the hanging portion 102A is provided at the lower part of the front wall portion 121. The hanging portion 102A is also located in the central part of the lower part of the front wall portion 121 in the lateral direction. The hanging portion 102A is also provided in a rectangular concave shape that is elongated in the lateral direction.

[0037] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the case 102, in this case the bottom surface of the case body 120, is provided with multiple projections 126 located on the front side, in this case two projections 126. The projections 126 are provided on both sides of the hanging portion 102A in the lateral direction. The front surface of the projection 126 is formed in a planar shape that follows the front wall portion 121. The rear side of the projection 126 is a sloped portion that gradually rises from the front to the rear. In this case, the sloped portion is composed of multiple ribs extending in the front-rear direction. The projection 126 configured in this way functions as an example of a closure-promoting portion, as will be described in more detail later.

[0038] As illustrated in Figure 17, a stopper 125 is provided on the rail section 124 of the case 102. In this case, the stopper 125 is located behind the center of the rail section 124 in the longitudinal direction. More specifically, the stopper 125 is located on the lower side of the rail section 124. Furthermore, the stopper 125 is located behind the rear ends of the supply ports 142 and 152 when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed in the case 102. Also, the stopper 125 is located behind the rear ends of the closed lids 149 and 159 when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed in the case 102. The stopper 125 is configured as a flat wall portion perpendicular to the direction in which the case 102 is pulled out relative to the case housing section 101, in other words, perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the rail section 124. Furthermore, the rail portion 124 of case 102 does not have a stopper or a component equivalent to a stopper in the portion of its lower side that is behind the stopper 125.

[0039] On the other hand, a groove 129 is provided on the inner surface of the side wall of the case housing 101, extending linearly in the direction in which the case 102 is pulled out. A protrusion 130, formed in an upward convex shape, is provided at the front end of the groove 129. The protrusion 130 is an example of a locking part. When the case 102 is pulled out from inside the case housing 101, the stopper 125 on the case 102 side locks onto the protrusion 130 on the case housing 101 side from the rear at a position where the amount pulled out is a predetermined amount. As a result, the amount that the case 102 is pulled out from the case housing 101 is restricted to a predetermined amount at which the stopper 125 locks onto the protrusion 130.

[0040] Furthermore, when the stopper 125 is locked to the protrusion 130, in other words, when the amount of case 102 pulled out from case housing 101 is a predetermined amount, the tanks 103 and 104 cannot be removed from case 102. That is, when the stopper 125 is locked to the protrusion 130, a part of the tanks 103 and 104, in this case the rear part, is housed inside case housing 101. Also, when the stopper 125 is locked to the protrusion 130, the distance D1 from the upper end of the front part to the lower end of the rear part of the part of the tanks 103 and 104 housed inside case housing 101 is greater than the distance D2 from the bottom surface of case 102 to the top surface of case housing 101. Therefore, when the stopper 125 is locked in place with the protrusion 130, attempting to remove the tanks 103 and 104 from the case 102 will cause the upper surfaces of the tanks 103 and 104 to come into contact with the upper surface of the case housing 101, thereby preventing the tanks 103 and 104 from being removed from the case 102.

[0041] Furthermore, the rail portion 124 of case 102 is provided with a contact portion 131. In this case, the contact portion 131 is located behind the longitudinal center of the rail portion 124. More specifically, the contact portion 131 is located on the upper side of the rail portion 124. Also, the contact portion 131 is located at the rearmost end of the rail portion 124. In addition, the contact portion 131 is formed in a convex shape toward upward. When the rail portion 124 is slidably housed in the groove portion 129, the tip of the contact portion 131 abuts against the upper surface of the groove portion 129.

[0042] In particular, the contact portion 131 contacts the upper surface of the groove portion 129 even when the amount of case 102 pulled out from the case housing portion 101 is a predetermined amount. This prevents the case 102 from tilting downwards at the front due to the weight of the case 102 itself and the weight of the tanks 103 and 104 housed inside the case 102. Consequently, it prevents the case 102 from falling out of the case housing portion 101 due to its own weight.

[0043] Here, the distance D3 between the stopper 125 on the case 102 side and the contact portion 131 on the case housing 101 side is longer than the distance D4 between the upper surface of the case housing 101 and the upper surface of the groove portion 129. With this configuration, when the case 102, which has been pulled out by a predetermined amount from the case housing 101, attempts to tilt forward and downward, the contact portion 131 contacts the upper surface of the groove portion 129, thereby adequately resisting that downward movement. Therefore, the case 102 can be prevented from falling out even more reliably. Note that the washing machine 1 may also be configured without the contact portion 131. With this configuration, when the amount pulled out from the case housing 101 reaches a predetermined amount, the case 102 attempts to tilt forward and downward, making it easier to remove the case 102 from inside the case housing 101.

[0044] Next, the configuration examples of the detergent tank 103 and the fabric softener tank 104 will be described in more detail. As illustrated in Figures 18 and 19, the detergent tank 103 is composed of a tank body 140 and a cover 141. The tank body 140 constitutes the main body of the detergent tank 103 and, as illustrated in Figure 15, is a substantially rectangular container with an open top. Inside the tank body 140, there is a space in which detergent can be stored. The cover 141 is detachably attached to the top of the tank body 140 and closes the top opening of the tank body 140. As illustrated in Figure 22, the cover 141 is provided with a refill port 142 for replenishing detergent inside the detergent tank 103, more specifically, inside the tank body 140. In this case, the refill port 142 opens in a substantially rectangular shape on the front side of the cover 141.

[0045] The detergent tank 103 has a gripping portion 143. The gripping portion 143 is provided in a semicircular recess on the side surface of the tank body 140, which forms the outer casing of the detergent tank 103. The gripping portion 143 extends linearly between one end and the other end of the side surface of the tank body 140, which forms the outer casing of the detergent tank 103. More specifically, the gripping portion 143 extends linearly without bending or curving between the upper and lower ends of the side surface of the tank body 140. In other words, the upper end of the gripping portion 143 reaches the upper end of the side surface of the tank body 140, and the lower end reaches the lower end of the side surface of the tank body 140. The gripping portion 143 is also located to the side of the refill port 142 provided in the cover portion 141. The gripping portion 143 may be located away from the side of the supply port 142 provided in the cover portion 141, for example, in front of or behind the side of the supply port 142.

[0046] The grip portion 143 is provided on one of the surfaces of the tank body 140 that are opposite to each other in the lateral direction. In this case, the grip portion 143 is provided on the inside surface, i.e., the surface facing the fabric softener tank 104, when the detergent tank 103 is housed in the case 102. Alternatively, the detergent tank 103 may have the grip portion 143 provided on the other of the surfaces of the tank body 140 that are opposite to each other in the lateral direction, in this case, on the outside surface, i.e., the surface opposite to the fabric softener tank 104, when the detergent tank 103 is housed in the case 102. Furthermore, the detergent tank 103 may have the grip portion 143 provided on both of the surfaces of the tank body 140 that are opposite to each other in the lateral direction.

[0047] As illustrated in Figure 15, the gripping portion 143 is provided by pushing the side surface of the tank body 140 inward without changing its thickness. Therefore, within the tank body 140, detergent can be stored in the surrounding area, including the area in front of and behind the gripping portion 143.

[0048] Furthermore, the detergent tank 103 is also equipped with a hanging portion 144. In this case, the hanging portion 144 is provided on the tank body portion 140, which constitutes part of the detergent tank 103, and more specifically, it is provided within the grip portion 143 provided on the tank body portion 140. The hanging portion 144 is a component that allows the user's fingers to grip it when removing the detergent tank 103 from the case 102. The hanging portion 144 is provided in a flat plate shape perpendicular to the direction in which the grip portion 143 extends. Also, the hanging portion 144 is provided in the middle part of the grip portion 143, in this case, above the center in the vertical direction.

[0049] As illustrated in Figures 20 and 21, the fabric softener tank 104 is composed of a tank body 150 and a cover 151. The tank body 150 constitutes the main body of the fabric softener tank 104 and, as illustrated in Figure 15, is a roughly rectangular container with an open top. Inside the tank body 150, there is a space in which fabric softener can be stored. The cover 151 is detachably attached to the top of the tank body 150 and closes the top opening of the tank body 150. As illustrated in Figure 22, the cover 151 is provided with a refill port 152 for replenishing fabric softener inside the fabric softener tank 104, more specifically, inside the tank body 150. In this case, the refill port 152 opens in a roughly rectangular shape on the front side of the cover 151.

[0050] The fabric softener tank 104 has a gripping portion 153. The gripping portion 153 is provided in a semicircular recess on the surface forming the outer casing of the fabric softener tank 104, in this case, on the side surface of the tank body portion 150. The gripping portion 153 also extends in a straight line between one end and the other end of the side surface forming the outer casing of the fabric softener tank 104, in this case, on the side surface of the tank body portion 150. More specifically, the gripping portion 153 extends in a straight line without bending or curving between the upper end and lower end of the side surface of the tank body portion 150. In other words, the upper end of the gripping portion 153 reaches the upper end of the side surface of the tank body portion 150, and the lower end reaches the lower end of the side surface of the tank body portion 150. The gripping portion 153 is also provided to the side of the refill port 152 provided on the cover portion 151. The gripping portion 153 may be located away from the side of the supply port 152 provided in the cover portion 151, for example, in front of or behind the side of the supply port 152.

[0051] The grip portion 153 is provided on one of the surfaces of the tank body 150 that are opposite to each other in the lateral direction. In this case, the grip portion 153 is provided on the inside surface, i.e., the surface facing the detergent tank 103, when the fabric softener tank 104 is housed in the case 102. Alternatively, the fabric softener tank 104 may have the grip portion 153 provided on the other of the surfaces of the tank body 150 that are opposite to each other in the lateral direction, in this case, on the outside surface, i.e., the surface opposite to the detergent tank 103, when the fabric softener tank 104 is housed in the case 102. Furthermore, the fabric softener tank 104 may have the grip portion 153 provided on both of the surfaces of the tank body 150 that are opposite to each other in the lateral direction.

[0052] As illustrated in Figure 15, the gripping portion 153 is provided by pushing the side surface of the tank body 150 inward without changing its thickness. Therefore, it is possible to store softener in the surrounding area of ​​the tank body 150, including the area in front of and behind the gripping portion 153.

[0053] Furthermore, the fabric softener tank 104 is further equipped with a hanging portion 154. In this case, the hanging portion 154 is provided on the tank body portion 150, which constitutes a part of the fabric softener tank 104, and more specifically, it is provided within the grip portion 153 provided on the tank body portion 150. The hanging portion 154 is a component that allows the user's fingers to grip it when removing the fabric softener tank 104 from the case 102. The hanging portion 154 is provided in a flat plate shape perpendicular to the direction in which the grip portion 153 extends. Also, the hanging portion 154 is provided in the middle part of the grip portion 153, in this case, above the center in the vertical direction.

[0054] Furthermore, the detergent tank 103 has a semicircular recess 145 inwardly recessed in a position corresponding to the upper part of the grip portion 143 within the cover portion 141. In this case, the hanging portion 144 is located directly below this recess 145. Similarly, the fabric softener tank 104 has a semicircular recess 155 inwardly recessed in a position corresponding to the upper part of the grip portion 153 within the cover portion 151. In this case, the hanging portion 154 is located directly below this recess 155.

[0055] In this embodiment, the detergent tank 103 has a grip portion 143 and a recess 145 on the surface facing another tank, in this case the fabric softener tank 104. The detergent tank 103 also has the grip portion 143 and recess 145 positioned opposite the grip portion 153 and recess 155 of the other tank, the fabric softener tank 104. The fabric softener tank 104 also has a grip portion 153 and a recess 155 on the surface facing another tank, in this case the detergent tank 103. The fabric softener tank 104 also has the grip portion 153 and recess 155 positioned opposite the grip portion 143 and recess 145 of the other tank, the detergent tank 103.

[0056] With this configuration, when the detergent tank 103 and fabric softener tank 104 are housed in the case body 120 of the case 102, the semi-circular recessed grip portion 143 and recess 145 face each other, and the similarly semi-circular recessed grip portion 153 and recess 155 are in a state of opposition, forming a nearly circular space surrounded by these grip portion 143 and recess 145 and grip portion 153 and recess 155. As a result, when a user removes the detergent tank 103 and fabric softener tank 104 from the case body 120 of the case 102, they can insert their fingers into this space and place their fingers on the hanging portion 144 and hanging portion 154, making it easy to remove the detergent tank 103 and fabric softener tank 104.

[0057] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 18 to 21, the detergent tank 103 and the fabric softener tank 104 are provided with inwardly recessed recesses 146 and 156. In this case, the recesses 146 and 156 are located at the lower front portion of the tank body parts 140 and 150, which constitute part of the tanks 103 and 104. The recesses 146 and 156 are rectangular in shape. The recess 146 is located on the inside of the tank body part 140, in this case on the fabric softener tank 104 side. The recess 156 is located on the inside of the tank body part 150, in this case on the detergent tank 103 side. When the tanks 103 and 104 are installed in the case body part 120, these recesses 146 and 156 face each other in the lateral direction, thereby forming a space capable of accommodating the hanging portion 102A of the case 102.

[0058] Furthermore, tanks 103 and 104 are provided with tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 within recesses 146 and 156. The tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 are examples of positioning parts, and in this case, they protrude linearly downward from the upper surface of recesses 146 and 156. Also, as illustrated in Figure 23, the tip of tank-side protrusion 147 is provided with an elastically deformable clamping piece. Also, as illustrated in Figure 24, the tip of tank-side protrusion 157 is provided with an elastically deformable clamping piece. In addition, the amount of protrusion of tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 is smaller than the amount of recess in recesses 146 and 156; that is, the tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 do not protrude below the bottom surface of tanks 103 and 104. In other words, although the tanks 103 and 104 are equipped with tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 that project downward, the entirety of these tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 is housed inside the recesses 146 and 156, thus maintaining a flat bottom surface for the tanks 103 and 104.

[0059] On the other hand, as illustrated in Figure 23, inside the case body 120, located behind the hanging portion 102A, there are multiple, in this case two, case-side protrusions 132 provided on the left and right sides. The case-side protrusions 132 are an example of positioning portions, and in this case, they protrude linearly upward from the bottom surface of the case body 120. Furthermore, the tip of the case-side protrusion 132 is provided with a circularly bulging portion that can be gripped by the clamping portions of the tank-side protrusions 147 and 157.

[0060] When the tanks 103 and 104 are installed inside the case body 120, the hanging portion 102A of the case 102 is fitted into the space formed by the recesses 146 and 156. This positions the lower front portion of the tanks 103 and 104 by the hanging portion 102A. Furthermore, the case-side protrusion 132 on the case 102 is sandwiched between the tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 on the tanks 103 and 104. This further ensures the precise positioning of the lower front portion of the tanks 103 and 104.

[0061] Furthermore, the aforementioned viewing windows 122 and 123 are positioned to avoid the aforementioned recesses 146 and 156 when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed within the case body 120. In this case, they are positioned outside the recesses 146 and 156 in the lateral direction. In the parts of the tanks 103 and 104 where the recesses 146 and 156 are located, the clothing treatment agent is stored above the recesses 146 and 156, making it impossible to accurately reflect and display the remaining amount of clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104. Therefore, by providing the viewing windows 122 and 123 to correspond to positions that avoid the recesses 146 and 156, the remaining amount of clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104 can be accurately reflected and displayed in the viewing windows 122 and 123.

[0062] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 14, when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed within the case body 120, the upper end of the outer peripheral wall portion constituting the outer periphery of the case body 120 is lower than the upper surface of the tanks 103 and 104 housed within the case body 120. Also, the upper end of the rear wall portion 120a provided at the rear of the case body 120 is lower than the lower ends of the pump connection portions 148 and 158 provided at the rear of the tanks 103 and 104. The pump connection portions 148 and 158 protrude cylindrically from the rear surface of the tanks 103 and 104 toward the rear. As described above, the case housing portion 101 is configured to be immovable relative to the main body of the washing machine 1. The pump connection portion 148 of the detergent tank 103 is connected to the garment treatment agent suction port (not shown) of the detergent metering pump 105 as the case 102 housing the detergent tank 103 is pushed into the case housing portion 101. Furthermore, the pump connection portion 158 of the fabric softener tank 104 is connected to the garment softener suction port (not shown) of the fabric softener metering pump 106 as the case 102 containing the fabric softener tank 104 is pushed into the case housing portion 101.

[0063] In this case, the rear wall portion 120a of the case body 120 is configured such that its upper end is at a height that is spaced apart from the lower ends of the pump connection portions 148 and 158 of the tanks 103 and 104. Alternatively, the rear wall portion 120a of the case body 120 may be configured such that its upper end is at a height that contacts the lower ends of the pump connection portions 148 and 158 of the tanks 103 and 104.

[0064] Furthermore, the detergent tank 103 and the fabric softener tank 104 are further equipped with lids 149 and 159 for opening and closing the refill ports 142 and 152. As illustrated in Figure 25, the lids 149 and 159 integrally comprise lid body portions 149a and 159a and insertion portions 149b and 159b. The lid body portions 149a and 159a are in the shape of a roughly rectangular plate, larger than the refill ports 142 and 152. The side ends of the lid body portions 149a and 159a, in this case the ends on the side where the recesses 145 and 145 of the cover portions 141 and 151 are provided, are positioned outside the most recessed part of the recesses 145 and 145 when the lids 149 and 159 are closed and the refill ports 142 and 152 are closed.

[0065] Furthermore, pivot shafts 149c and 159c extending laterally are provided at the base ends of the lid body portions 149a and 159a. On the other hand, as illustrated in Figure 22, bearing portions 160 and 170 are provided at the rear of the supply ports 142 and 152. The pivot shafts 149c and 159c of the lid body portions 149a and 159a are rotatably supported by these bearing portions 160 and 170. These bearing portions 160 and 170 are provided with ventilation holes 160a and 170a that penetrate the cover portions 141 and 151 and allow air to pass through.

[0066] The insertion portions 149b and 159b are larger than the supply ports 142 and 152, and smaller than the lid body portions 149a and 159a, and are roughly rectangular in shape. These insertion portions 149b and 159b are the parts that are inserted into the supply ports 142 and 152 when the lids 149 and 159 are in a closed state, blocking the supply ports 142 and 152. In this closed state, the insertion portions 149b and 159b themselves do not directly contact the inner surface of the supply ports 142 and 152. Packings 161 and 171, made of, for example, rubber, are attached around these insertion portions 149b and 159b. The packings 161 and 171 integrally comprise packing body portions 161a and 171a, which are formed in a substantially rectangular frame shape to surround the insertion portions 149b and 159b, and packing pieces 161b and 171b that extend outward from the packing body portions 161a and 171a.

[0067] The packings 161 and 171 seal the gap between the lids 149 and 159 and the supply ports 142 and 152 when the lids 149 and 159 are closed. More specifically, when the lids 149 and 159 are closed, the packings 161 and 171 seal the gap formed between the sides of the insertion portions 149b and 159b and the inner surfaces of the supply ports 142 and 152 in a watertight and airtight state.

[0068] Here, the inner surfaces of the supply ports 142 and 152 are flat at the top, extending vertically, and inclined at the bottom, gradually sloping downwards toward the inside of the supply ports 142 and 152. When the lids 149 and 159 close the supply ports 142 and 152, the packing pieces 161b and 171b of the packings 161 and 171 are in contact with the upper part of the inner surface of the supply ports 142 and 152, that is, the flat part that extends vertically.

[0069] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 26, the washing machine 1 may be configured such that at least a portion of the inner surface of the refill ports 142, 152, in this case the rear surfaces 142a, 152a, are entirely inclined. With this configuration, as the lids 149, 159 rotate from a closed position that closes the refill ports 142, 152 to an open position that opens the refill ports 142, 152, the contact area of ​​the packing pieces 161b, 171 of the packings 161, 171 in contact with the inclined surface of the refill ports 142, 152 gradually decreases. In other words, as the lids 149, 159 are rotated towards the open position, the sealing strength of the packings 161, 171 against the refill ports 142, 152 gradually decreases, making it easier to open the lids 149, 159 without requiring much force.

[0070] Although detailed illustrations are omitted, in the closed state where the lids 149 and 159 block the supply ports 142 and 152, the contact area of ​​the packings 161 and 171 in contact with the inner surface of the supply ports 142 and 152 on the side opposite to the pivot axes 149c and 159c of the lids 149 and 159, in this case the front side, may be configured such that it is smaller than the contact area of ​​the packings 161 and 171 in contact with the inner surface of the supply ports 142 and 152 on the side of the pivot axes 149c and 159c, in this case the rear side. With this configuration, the contact area of ​​the packings 161 and 171 with the supply ports 142 and 152 on the tip side of the lids 149 and 159, i.e., the free-rotating end side, can be reduced, and the sealing strength can be weakened. Therefore, the lids 149 and 159 can be opened more easily without applying a large force to the tip of the lids 149 and 159. Such a configuration can be achieved, for example, by offsetting the insertion portions 149b and 159b to the rear in the lids 149 and 159, or by making the amount of protrusion of the portion of the packing piece 161b and 171b of the packing 161 and 171 that is located in front of the insertion portions 149b and 159b smaller than the amount of protrusion of the portion located behind the insertion portions 149b and 159b.

[0071] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 8, when the case 102 is pulled out to a predetermined amount from the case storage section 101, the user can operate the multiple tanks housed within the case 102, in this case the detergent tank 103 and the fabric softener tank 104. Specifically, as illustrated in Figure 9, when the case 102 is pulled out to a predetermined amount from the case storage section 101, a portion of the case 102, in this case the rear portion, is stored within the case storage section 101. In this state, the lids 149 and 159 of the detergent tank 103 and the fabric softener tank 104 housed within the case 102 can be opened and closed. Therefore, the user can open the lids 149 and 159 to replenish the clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104.

[0072] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 7, when the case 102 is housed to the deepest part of the case housing 101, it is locked to prevent it from being unintentionally pulled out due to its own weight or vibrations during operation. Also, as illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the case 102 can be completely removed from the case housing 101. Next, an example of a configuration that makes this possible will be described. Note that the tanks 103 and 104 can be removed from the case 102 by completely removing the case 102 from the case housing 101.

[0073] As illustrated in Figures 10 and 11, the front of the bottom surface of the case housing 101 is provided with a recessed portion 172 that slopes downward. When the case 102 is housed in the deepest part of the case housing 101, the front surface of the projection 126 engages with the front surface of the recess 172, locking the case 102 in place and preventing it from being pulled out. However, by slightly pushing the case 102 upward from this position and disengaging the projection 126 from the recess 172, the case 102 can be pulled out of the case housing 101. As described above, when the amount the case 102 has been pulled out from the case housing 102 reaches a predetermined amount, the stopper 125 on the case 102 side engages with the protrusion 130 on the case housing 101 side. This restricts the amount the case 102 can be pulled out to a predetermined amount. Then, by lifting the case 102 upwards from this state and detaching the stopper 125 from the protrusion 130, the case 102 can be completely removed from inside the case housing 101.

[0074] Then, when installing the case 102 back into the case housing 101, the case 102 is lifted slightly upward while being inserted into the case housing 101 so that the stopper 125 on the case 102 side fits into the rear side of the protrusion 130 on the case housing 101 side. At this time, since the rear side of the projection 126 is inclined, this inclined part comes into contact with the front end of the lower surface of the case housing 101. Therefore, as the case 102 is pushed into the case housing 101, the inclined part of the projection 126 slides along the front end of the lower surface of the case housing 101, thus assisting in pushing the case 102 upward. When the case 102 is pushed further into the case housing 101, the projection 126 fits into the recess 172, and the case 102 is locked in place as it is housed in the innermost part of the case housing 101.

[0075] By pushing the case 102 into the case housing 101 as described above, the case 102 can be retractably installed within the case housing 101. When installing the case 102 into the case housing 101 in this manner, if the tanks 103 and 104 are housed inside the case 102, the case 102 containing the tanks 103 and 104 is pushed upward when it is housed within the case housing 101. Consequently, the lids 149 and 159 on the tops of the tanks 103 and 104 are pushed in a closing direction, contacting the upper surface of the case housing 101 and closing the supply ports 142 and 152. In other words, the closing of the supply ports 142 and 152 by the lids 149 and 159 is facilitated. This facilitating closing action of the lids 149 and 159 is achieved based on the upward pushing of the case 102 and the presence of the projection 126 on the bottom surface of the case 102. As described above, the projection 126 has the function of assisting in pushing the case 102 upward, and therefore functions as an example of a closure-promoting part that facilitates the closure of the supply ports 142 and 152 by the lids 149 and 159.

[0076] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 25, hollow protrusions 164 and 174 are provided inside the tanks 103 and 104, located at the rear and projecting inward from the pump connection parts 148 and 158 into the tank body parts 140 and 150. In this case, the protrusions 164 and 174 are cylindrical in shape. These protrusions 164 and 174 are not components provided as separate parts to the tank body parts 140 and 150, but rather components provided as identical parts to the tank body parts 140 and 150. That is, the protrusions 164 and 174 are provided integrally with the tank body parts 140 and 150, and continuously without interruption, for example, by resin molding.

[0077] Check valves 165 and 175 are housed inside the protrusions 164 and 174. Additionally, biasing members 166 and 176, composed of springs or the like, are housed inside the protrusions 164 and 174. The biasing members 166 and 176 bias the check valves 165 and 175 in a direction that closes the flow path formed within the protrusions 164 and 174, in this case, towards the pump connection sections 148 and 158. This prevents the clothing treatment agent, which has been drawn from the pump connection sections 148 and 158 towards the pumps 105 and 106, from flowing back into the tanks 103 and 104. Furthermore, when the check valves 165 and 175 receive a pressing force generated as the pumps 105 and 106 reciprocate their pistons, they move against the biasing force of the biasing members 166 and 176 in a direction that opens the flow path formed within the protrusions 164 and 174, in this case, on the opposite side from the pump connection parts 148 and 158. This allows the pumps 105 and 106 to suck up the clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104. In other words, with respect to the tanks 103 and 104, as the pumps 105 and 106 reciprocate their pistons, the check valves 165 and 175 also reciprocate within the protrusions 164 and 174, causing the flow path to open and close. Consequently, the clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104 is sucked out in conjunction with the operation of the pumps 105 and 106.

[0078] Furthermore, the cap portions 167 and 177 are attached to the tips of the protrusions 164 and 174, that is, the open ends that open within the tank body portions 140 and 150, with the check valves 165 and 175 and the biasing members 166 and 176 housed within the protrusions 164 and 174. This prevents the check valves 165 and 175 and the biasing members 166 and 176 housed within the protrusions 164 and 174 from coming out of the protrusions 164 and 174.

[0079] The cap portions 167 and 177 integrally include hollow straw portions 168 and 178 that extend linearly downward within the tank body portions 140 and 150. In this case, the straw portions 168 and 178 are formed in a cylindrical shape, and their lower ends extend to a height slightly separated from the bottom surface of the tank body portions 140 and 150.

[0080] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figures 27 and 28, the upper parts of the protruding portions 164 and 174 are provided with convex portions 164a and 174a that protrude upward. In this case, the convex portions 164a and 174a are formed in a cylindrical shape. On the other hand, the upper parts of the cap portions 167 and 177 are provided with recessed portions 167a and 177a that are smoothly curved toward the tip of the cap portions 167 and 177. When the cap portions 167 and 177 are attached to the protruding portions 164 and 174, the protruding portions 164a and 174a fit into the recessed portions 167a and 177a. As a result, the cap portions 167 and 177 are positioned relative to the protruding portions 164 and 174 with the straw portions 168 and 178 extending downward within the tank body portions 140 and 150. In other words, the convex portions 164a, 174a and the recessed portions 167a, 177a cooperate with each other to function as an example of a positioning part that positions the cap portions 167, 177 so that the straw portions 168, 178 extend downward.

[0081] Furthermore, the protruding parts 164 and 174 are equipped with claw portions 164b and 174b on both the left and right sides. The claw portions 164b and 174b protrude outward from the sides of the protruding parts 164 and 174. The cap portions 167 and 177 are equipped with claw holes 167b and 177b on both the left and right sides. When the cap portions 167 and 177 are attached to the protruding parts 164 and 174, the claw portions 164b and 174b engage with the claw holes 167b and 177b. This allows the cap portions 167 and 177 to be locked and fixed to the protruding parts 164 and 174. In other words, the claw portions 164b and 174b and the claw holes 167b and 177b cooperate with each other to function as an example of a locking mechanism that locks the cap portions 167 and 177 to the protruding parts 164 and 174. Furthermore, the claw portions 164b, 174b and claw holes 167b, 177b, which function as examples of locking parts, are positioned to avoid the convex portions 164a, 174a and recessed portions 167a, 177a, which function as examples of the positioning parts described above.

[0082] As illustrated above, the washing machine 1 according to this embodiment is provided with concave gripping portions 143 and 153 on the surfaces forming the outer casings of the tanks 103 and 104. With this configuration, the user can easily grasp the tanks 103 and 104 by placing their fingers on these gripping portions 143 and 153, and therefore, handling the tanks 103 and 104, such as attaching and detaching them from the case 102, becomes easier. Furthermore, the user can grasp the detergent tank 103 or the fabric softener tank 104 with one hand, for example, further improving ease of use.

[0083] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the tanks 103 and 104 have gripping portions 143 and 153 on one of the opposing surfaces that form the outer casing of the tanks 103 and 104. This configuration avoids complicating the appearance of the tanks 103 and 104. Alternatively, the tanks 103 and 104 may have gripping portions 143 and 153 on both of the opposing surfaces that form the outer casing of the tanks 103 and 104, and this configuration makes the tanks 103 and 104 even easier to grip.

[0084] Furthermore, the washing machine 1 is equipped with multiple removable tanks 103 and 104. Each tank 103 and 104 has gripping portions 143 and 153 on the surface facing the other tank 104 and 103. Additionally, each tank 103 and 104 has its gripping portions 143 and 153 positioned opposite the gripping portions 153 and 133 of the other tank 104 and 103. With this configuration, when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed in the case 102, a substantially circular space is formed surrounded by the gripping portions 143 and 153. As a result, when the user removes the detergent tank 103 or fabric softener tank 104 from the case body 120 of the case 102, they can easily remove the detergent tank 103 or fabric softener tank 104 by inserting their fingers into this space. Furthermore, the number of gripping parts 143 and 153 provided on each of the tanks 103 and 104 can be minimized, and the reduction in space inside the tanks 103 and 104 that occurs due to the formation of the gripping parts 143 and 153, in other words, the reduction in the amount of clothing treatment agent that can be stored can be minimized.

[0085] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the gripping portions 143 and 153 extend between one end and the other end of the surface forming the outer casing of the tanks 103 and 104, in this case, between the upper end and the lower end. With this configuration, the gripping portions 143 and 153 can be made as large as possible, making it even easier to grip the tanks 103 and 104.

[0086] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the tanks 103 and 104 are equipped with refill ports 142 and 152 for replenishing the garment treatment agent inside, and the gripping parts 143 and 153 are located to the sides of these refill ports 142 and 152. With this configuration, the user can use their fingers gripping the gripping parts 143 and 153 to further press down on the lids 149 and 159 that close the refill ports 142 and 152, thereby preventing the lids 149 and 159 of the tanks 103 and 104 from opening and spilling out.

[0087] Furthermore, tanks 103 and 104 may be configured with gripping portions 143 and 153 located off-center from the sides of the refill ports 142 and 152. With this configuration, there is no need to reduce the opening area of ​​the refill ports 142 and 152 due to the formation of the gripping portions 143 and 153. Therefore, a larger opening area for the refill ports 142 and 152 can be secured, making it easier to refill the clothing treatment agent.

[0088] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the gripping parts 143 and 153 have hooking parts 144 and 145 on which the user's fingers can be placed. With this configuration, the user can easily remove the tanks 103 and 104 from inside the case 102 by placing their fingers on these hooking parts 144 and 145.

[0089] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the hanging parts 144 and 145 are provided on the tank body parts 140 and 150 that constitute the main body of the tanks 103 and 104. With this configuration, the user can place their fingers on the main body of the tanks 103 and 104 to remove them, and the tanks 103 and 104 can be removed stably.

[0090] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, within the machine room 6, the automatic dispensing device 100, the water filling case 200, and the water supply valve unit 300 are arranged side by side along the lateral direction of the outer casing 2. Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, within the machine room 6, the water supply valve unit 300 is positioned in front of the rear end of the automatic dispensing device 100 and the rear end of the water filling case 200. Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, within the machine room 6, the water filling case 200 is positioned between the automatic dispensing device 100 and the water supply valve unit 300 in the lateral direction of the outer casing 2.

[0091] In this way, by housing the automatic water dispenser 100, the water filling case 200, and the water supply valve unit 300 in a so-called side-by-side arrangement within the machine room 6, the limited space within the outer casing 2 can be effectively utilized, allowing multiple components, in this case at least the automatic water dispenser 100, the water filling case 200, and the water supply valve unit 300, to be housed compactly and without difficulty. Consequently, the overall size of the washing machine 1 can be suppressed.

[0092] Furthermore, in the washing machine 1, since the water filling case 200 and water supply valve unit 300 are not located behind the automatic dispensing device 100, at least the depth dimension of the automatic dispensing device 100 can be made larger. Therefore, the tanks 103 and 104 provided in the automatic dispensing device 100 can be made larger, and the capacity of the tanks 103 and 104, that is, the amount of clothing treatment agent that can be stored, can be increased.

[0093] Furthermore, with the washing machine 1, by applying the above-described arrangement, relatively large components such as the automatic dispensing device 100, the water filling case 200, and the water supply valve unit 300 can be compactly and easily housed inside the machine room 6 formed at the rear of the outer casing 2.

[0094] Furthermore, the washing machine 1 is equipped with a mixing unit 108 behind the automatic dispensing device 100 that mixes the garment treatment agent supplied from tanks 103 and 104 with water supplied from the water supply valve unit 300. With this configuration, the garment treatment agent can be mixed with water before being supplied to the water tank 3, and the washing performance of clothes can be improved by using water in which the garment treatment agent is uniformly dissolved. In addition, by placing the relatively small mixing unit 108 behind the automatic dispensing device 100, the limited space in the machine room 6 can be used effectively.

[0095] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the water supply valve unit 300 is equipped with a dedicated water inlet 303a for supplying water to the mixing unit 108. With this configuration, a sufficient amount of water can be reliably supplied to the mixing unit 108, and water in which the clothing treatment agent has been sufficiently dissolved can be supplied to the water tank 3.

[0096] Furthermore, the washing machine 1 is equipped with a water supply route 304 for the mixing section, which connects a water inlet 303a dedicated to the mixing section to the mixing section 108. This water supply route 304 for the mixing section passes between the top surface 205 of the water filling case 200 and the manual detergent dispenser 203 and manual fabric softener dispenser 204. The water supply route 304 for the mixing section also penetrates the water filling case 200 along the lateral direction of the outer casing 2. In addition, the water supply route 304 for the mixing section extends in a straight line inside the water filling case 200 without bending or curving.

[0097] In other words, the water supply path 304 for the mixing section is configured to minimize its flow resistance. Therefore, water can be efficiently supplied from the water supply valve unit 300 to the mixing section 108, further promoting the mixing of the clothing treatment agent and water.

[0098] Furthermore, in the washing machine 1, the water supply valve unit 300 and the bath water pump 305 are arranged side by side along the front-to-back direction of the outer casing 2. The bath water pump 305 is also positioned in front of the water supply valve unit 300. With this arrangement, the limited space inside the outer casing 2 can be used effectively, and the bath water pump 305 can also be accommodated without difficulty.

[0099] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the automatic dispensing device 100 is equipped with a case 102 having a hook portion 102A on which the user's fingers can be placed. This case 102 is configured to be retractable from within the case housing portion 101 of the automatic dispensing device 100, and the tanks 103 and 104 can be housed within this case 102. With this configuration, operations on multiple tanks 103 and 104, such as replenishing laundry treatment agents into the tanks 103 and 104 or attaching and detaching items inside the tanks 103 and 104, can be performed at once. In other words, the user can perform various operations on multiple tanks 103 and 104 by pulling out a single case 102.

[0100] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the upper end of the outer peripheral wall portion constituting the outer periphery of the case 102 is lower than the upper surface of the tanks 103 and 104 housed within the case 102. With this configuration, the user can easily hold the upper side of the tanks 103 and 104, and therefore, attaching and detaching the tanks 103 and 104 to the case 102 becomes even easier. At this time, the user may attach and detach the tanks 103 and 104 by holding the gripping portions 143 and 153, or by holding parts other than the gripping portions 143 and 153.

[0101] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, when a portion of the case 102, in this case the rear portion, is stored inside the case housing 101 of the automatic dispensing device 100, the tanks 103 and 104 housed inside the case 102 are in a state where the lids 149 and 159 of the replenishment ports 142 and 152 can be opened and closed. Therefore, the user can replenish the garment treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104 without completely removing the case 102 from inside the case housing 101 of the automatic dispensing device 100.

[0102] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the tanks 103 and 104 are provided with tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 that position the tanks 103 and 104 within the case 102. With this configuration, displacement of the tanks 103 and 104 within the case 102 can be suppressed, and the case 102 containing the tanks 103 and 104 can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the case housing section 101.

[0103] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the automatic dispensing device 100 is equipped with pumps 105 and 106 that draw laundry treatment agent from tanks 103 and 104, and tanks 103 and 104 are equipped with pump connection parts 148 and 158 that are connected to pumps 105 and 106. The upper end of the rear wall portion 120a provided at the rear of the case 102 is lower than the lower end of the pump connection parts 148 and 158. With this configuration, the pump connection parts 148 and 158 can be connected to the pumps 105 and 106 without contacting or interfering with the rear wall portion 120a of the case 102. Therefore, the connection between the pump connection parts 148 and 158 and the pumps 105 and 106 can be made accurately without misalignment or other problems.

[0104] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the case 102 is equipped with viewing windows 122 and 123 that allow the user to visually check the remaining amount of clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104 housed within the case 102. With this configuration, the user can easily check the remaining amount of clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104 through the viewing windows 122 and 123 without having to remove the tanks 103 and 104 from the case 102. In this case, the viewing windows 122 and 123 are provided on the front wall portion 121 of the case 102. Therefore, the user can easily check the remaining amount of clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104 through the viewing windows 122 and 123 without having to pull the case 102 out of the case housing portion 101.

[0105] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the tanks 103 and 104 have recesses 146 and 156 at their lower parts that are recessed inward, and these recesses 146 and 156 are equipped with tank-side protrusions 147 and 157. With this configuration, the bottom surfaces of the tanks 103 and 104 can be kept flat while providing the tank-side protrusions 147 and 157 for positioning. Therefore, the tanks 103 and 104 can be stably placed on the floor or other surface, and it is easy to replenish the garment processing agent into the tanks 103 and 104.

[0106] Furthermore, in the washing machine 1, the viewing windows 122 and 123 are positioned to avoid the areas where the recesses 146 and 156 are located when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed in the case 102. With this configuration, the exact remaining amount of clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104 can be checked through the viewing windows 122 and 123, at a position that avoids the recesses 146 and 156 and the area above them, where the remaining amount of clothing treatment agent is not accurately indicated. It is also preferable that at least the tank bodies 140 and 150 of the tanks 103 and 104 be made of a transparent or translucent material. This makes it even easier for the user to see the remaining amount of clothing treatment agent in the tanks 103 and 104.

[0107] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the tanks 103 and 104 are equipped with hollow protrusions 164 and 174 that project inward from the tanks 103 and 104, check valves 165 and 175 housed within the protrusions 164 and 174, and caps 167 and 177 that are attached to the open ends of the protrusions 164 and 174 when the check valves 165 and 175 are housed within the protrusions 164 and 174. The protrusions 164 and 174 are provided as identical parts to the tanks 103 and 104. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the laundry treatment agent from leaking out of the tanks 103 and 104, even while providing the tanks 103 and 104 with hollow protrusions 164 and 174 that project inward from the tanks 103 and 104.

[0108] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the cap portions 167 and 177 are equipped with hollow straw portions 168 and 178 that extend downward within the tanks 103 and 104. With this configuration, the cap portions 167 and 177, which have the straw portions 168 and 178, can be treated as a single part, and the number of parts can be reduced compared to when the cap portion and the straw portion are separate parts. In addition, assembly can be improved.

[0109] Furthermore, in the washing machine 1, the protrusions 164 and 174 are configured in a cylindrical shape. The washing machine 1 is equipped with a positioning section that positions the cap sections 167 and 177 relative to the cylindrical protrusions 164 and 174 so that the straw sections 168 and 178 extend downward within the tanks 103 and 104. The convex portions 164a and 174a and recessed portions 167a and 177a that constitute this positioning section are provided on the upper parts of the protrusions 164 and 174 and the cap sections 167 and 177. With this configuration, when attaching the cap sections 167 and 177 to the protrusions 164 and 174, the positioning section is easily visible from above, and therefore, the positioning of the cap sections 167 and 177 relative to the protrusions 164 and 174 can be easily performed.

[0110] Furthermore, in the washing machine 1, the claw portions 164b, 174b and claw holes 167b, 177b that constitute the locking portion for engaging the cap portions 167, 177 with the protrusions 164, 174 are positioned to avoid the convex portions 164a, 174a and recessed portions 167a, 177a that constitute the positioning portion. With this configuration, the cap portions 167, 177 can be firmly fixed to the protrusions 164, 174 while accurately positioning them relative to the protrusions 164, 174, and misalignment of the cap portions 167, 177 relative to the protrusions 164, 174 can be suppressed even after installation.

[0111] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the automatic dispensing device 100 is equipped with a stopper 125 that restricts the amount of case 102 pulled out from case housing 101 to a predetermined amount. The stopper 125 is located behind the rear ends of the refill ports 142 and 152 when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed inside case 102. The stopper 125 is also located behind the rear ends of the lids 149 and 159 of the refill ports 142 and 152 when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed inside case 102. With this configuration, the user can replenish the garment treatment agent into the tanks 103 and 104 from the refill ports 142 and 152 without completely removing case 102 from the automatic dispensing device 100.

[0112] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, as the case 102 is pushed into the case housing 101, which is fixed immovably to the main body, the tanks 103 and 104 are connected to the pumps 105 and 106. In other words, according to the washing machine 1, since the case housing 101 of the automatic dispensing device 100, which includes the pumps 105 and 106, is firmly fixed immovably to the main body of the washing machine 1, the tanks 103 and 104 can be reliably connected to the pumps 105 and 106 by pushing the case 102 into this case housing 101.

[0113] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the case storage section 101 is equipped with a protrusion 130 that engages with a stopper 125 when the amount of case 102 pulled out from the case storage section 101 of the automatic dispensing device 100 reaches a predetermined amount. With this configuration, when the user pulls out case 102, the amount of pull-out can be reliably restricted to a predetermined amount, and it is possible to prevent case 102 from being unintentionally completely removed from the case storage section 101.

[0114] Furthermore, in the washing machine 1, when the stopper 125 is locked to the protrusion 130, the tanks 103 and 104 cannot be removed from inside the case 102. This configuration prevents the tanks 103 and 104 from unintentionally coming loose from inside the case 102 or falling out of the case 102.

[0115] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the case housing section 101 is provided with a groove 129 that extends in the direction from which the case 102 is pulled out, and the case 102 is provided with a contact portion 131 that abuts against the upper surface of the groove 129. With this configuration, when the case 102 is pulled out from inside the case housing section 101, the contact portion 131 abuts against the upper surface of the groove 129, thereby preventing the case 102 from falling out of the case housing section 101 due to its own weight.

[0116] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the distance D3 between the stopper 125 on the case 102 side and the contact portion 131 on the case housing 101 side is longer than the distance D4 between the upper surface of the case housing 101 and the upper surface of the groove 129. With this configuration, the tilting of the case 102 due to its own weight can be further suppressed, and the case 102 can be more reliably prevented from falling out of the case housing 101.

[0117] Furthermore, in the case of washing machine 1, when the lids 149, 159 are in a closed state that blocks the supply ports 142, 152, gaskets 161, 171 are provided to seal the space between the lids 149, 159 and the supply ports 142, 152. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the clothing treatment agent in tanks 103, 104 from spilling out from between the lids 149, 159 and the supply ports 142, 152, and to prevent the clothing treatment agent in tanks 103, 104 from drying out and hardening due to ventilation through the gap between the lids 149, 159 and the supply ports 142, 152.

[0118] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the cover parts 141 and 151 that constitute part of the tanks 103 and 104 are equipped with vents 160a and 170a through which air can pass. With this configuration, even if the gap between the lids 149 and 159 and the supply ports 142 and 152 is sealed by the packings 161 and 171, ventilation can be ensured inside and outside the tanks 103 and 104, meaning that the inside of the tanks 103 and 104 can be opened to atmospheric pressure. Therefore, the suction of the garment treatment agent from inside the tanks 103 and 104 to the pumps 105 and 106 can be carried out smoothly. Note that since the vents 160a and 170a have a small opening area, it is almost impossible or impossible for the garment treatment agent to spill out from these vents 160a and 170a, or for the garment treatment agent inside the tanks 103 and 104 to dry out and harden due to the ventilation through these vents 160a and 170a.

[0119] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the vents 160a and 170a are provided on the bearing parts 160 and 170 that rotatably support the pivot shafts 149c and 159c of the lids 149 and 159. With this configuration, the vents 160a and 170a can be made less noticeable from the outside, and the deterioration of the appearance of the tanks 103 and 104 that would occur due to the provision of the vents 160a and 170a can be suppressed. In addition, if clothing treatment agent is attached to the underside of the lids 149 and 159, when the lids 149 and 159 are opened, the clothing treatment agent can be returned to the tanks 103 and 104 through the vents 160a and 170a. Also, when washing the cover parts 141 and 151, water can be passed through the vents 160a and 170a, making it easier to wash away clothing treatment agent attached to the bearing parts 160 and 170. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the garment treatment agent becoming stuck and difficult to remove in the bearing portions 160 and 170.

[0120] Furthermore, the washing machine 1 is configured such that at least a portion of the inner surface of the refill ports 142, 152 is inclined, so that as the lids 149, 159 rotate from a closed position that closes the refill ports 142, 152 to an open position that opens the refill ports 142, 152, the contact area between the packing pieces 161b, 171 of the packings 161, 171 and the inclined surface of the refill ports 142, 152 gradually decreases. This allows the user to open the lids 149, 159 without requiring much force, thereby improving ease of use.

[0121] Furthermore, in the closed state where the lids 149 and 159 block the refill ports 142 and 152, the washing machine 1 may be configured such that the contact area of ​​the packings 161 and 171 in contact with the inner surface of the refill ports 142 and 152 on the side opposite to the pivot axes 149c and 159c of the lids 149 and 159 is smaller than the contact area of ​​the packings 161 and 171 in contact with the inner surface of the refill ports 142 and 152 on the side of the pivot axes 149c and 159c of the lids 149 and 159. This configuration also allows the user to open the lids 149 and 159 without requiring much force, thereby improving ease of use.

[0122] Furthermore, according to the washing machine 1, the bottom surface of the case 102 is provided with a projection 126 that functions as a closure-promoting part to facilitate the closure of the supply ports 142 and 152 by the lids 149 and 159. With this configuration, when the case 102 containing the tanks 103 and 104 is placed back into the case housing 101, the projection 126 pushes the case 102 upward. This causes the lids 149 and 159 to be pushed downward by the upper surface of the case housing 101, thereby facilitating the closure of the supply ports 142 and 152 by the lids 149 and 159. Therefore, for example, it is possible to avoid the case 102 being placed back into the case housing 101 with insufficient closure of the supply ports 142 and 152 by the lids 149 and 159, and to suppress the occurrence of situations in which the clothing treatment agent spills out from the tanks 103 and 104 inside the case housing 101. Furthermore, when the case 102 is pulled out from the case housing 101, it is possible to prevent the clothing treatment agent from spilling out of the tanks 103 and 104. In particular, in this embodiment, since the lids 149 and 159 are equipped with gaskets 161 and 171, there is a concern that the elasticity of the gaskets 161 and 171 may cause the lids 149 and 159 to not adequately close the supply ports 142 and 152. Therefore, by applying a configuration that promotes the closing of the supply ports 142 and 152 by the lids 149 and 159, this concern can be eliminated.

[0123] This embodiment is not limited to the one described above, and various modifications and extensions can be made without departing from its essence.

[0124] For example, as illustrated in Figure 29, the stopper 125 may be positioned in front of the center of gravity P of the tanks 103 and 104 when the tanks 103 and 104 are housed in the case 102. With this configuration, the predetermined amount that the stopper 125 restricts in terms of the amount the case 102 can be pulled out from the case housing 101 can be shortened, and the case 102 falling out due to its own weight can be suppressed even more reliably. The center of gravity P of the tanks 103 and 104 may be the center of gravity when no clothing treatment agent is stored in the tanks 103 and 104, or it may be the center of gravity when clothing treatment agent is stored in the tanks 103 and 104. Furthermore, the state in which clothing treatment agent is stored in the tanks 103 and 104 may be when the maximum amount of clothing treatment agent is stored in the tanks 103 and 104, or it may be when less than the maximum amount of clothing treatment agent is stored in the tanks 103 and 104.

[0125] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 30, the gripping portions 143 and 153 may not reach one or the other end of the surface forming the outer casing of the tanks 103 and 104. In the example configuration illustrated in Figure 30, the gripping portions 143 and 153 reach the upper end of the surface forming the outer casing of the tanks 103 and 104, but not the lower end. The length of the gripping portions 143 and 153 can also be appropriately changed, for example, to be half the height of the tanks 103 and 104.

[0126] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 31, the gripping portions 143 and 153 may be provided not in the height direction of the tanks 103 and 104, but rather along the depth direction of the tanks 103 and 104, in other words, along the direction in which the case 102 is pulled out. In this case as well, the gripping portions 143 and 153 may reach the front and other ends of the tanks 103 and 104, or they may extend only partway.

[0127] Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 32, the gripping portions 143 and 153 may be provided on both surfaces of the tanks 103 and 104 that face each other in the vertical direction. Although not shown in the illustration, the gripping portions 143 and 153 may also be provided on only one of the surfaces of the tanks 103 and 104 that face each other in the vertical direction. In this case as well, the gripping portions 143 and 153 may reach both the front and other ends of the tanks 103 and 104, or they may extend only partway.

[0128] Furthermore, the tanks applicable to this embodiment are not limited to the detergent tank 103 for storing detergent and the fabric softener tank 104 for storing fabric softener. For example, various types of tanks can be used as appropriate, as long as they store treatment agents used to treat clothing, such as a deodorant tank for storing deodorizers, a deodorant tank for storing odor removers, a disinfectant tank for storing disinfectants, and a bleach tank for storing bleach. Also, the number of tanks is not limited to two; there may be one or three or more. In addition, if multiple tanks are provided, the multiple tanks may store the same type of treatment agent or different types of treatment agents.

[0129] Furthermore, this embodiment can also be applied to so-called horizontal-axis type washing machines in which the rotational axis of the rotating drum extends horizontally or in an inclined direction. Furthermore, this embodiment can also be applied to washing machines with a drying function. Furthermore, this embodiment can also be applied to washing machines without a drying function. Moreover, this embodiment can be applied to various garment processing devices, such as devices that perform some kind of treatment on clothing, such as deodorizing, deodorizing, disinfecting, or bleaching.

[0130] Although 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 implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0131] In the drawing, 1 is the washing machine (clothing processing device), 2 is the outer casing, 3 is the water tank (clothing processing tank), 6 is the machine room, 100 is the automatic dispensing device (automatic dispensing unit), 101 is the case housing unit, 102 is the case, 102A is the hanging unit, 103 is the detergent tank (tank), 104 is the fabric softener tank (tank), 105 is the detergent metering pump (pump), 106 is the fabric softener metering pump (pump), and 108 is the mixing unit. 122, 123 are viewing windows, 125 is a stopper, 126 is a projection (closing promotion part), 129 is a groove, 130 is a protrusion (locking part), 131 is a contact part, 132 is a case-side projection (positioning part), 140, 150 are tank body parts, 141, 151 are cover parts, 142, 152 are refill ports, 143, 153 are gripping parts, 144, 145 are hanging parts, 146, 156 are recesses, 147, 15 7 is the tank-side protrusion (positioning part), 148, 158 are the pump connection parts (connection parts), 149, 159 are the lid, 160, 170 are the bearing parts, 160a, 170a are the vent holes, 161, 171 are the packing, 164, 174 are the protrusions, 164a, 174a are the convex parts (positioning parts), 164b, 174b are the claw parts (locking parts), 165, 175 are the check valves, 167, 177 are the cap parts. 167a and 177a are recessed parts (positioning parts), 167b and 177b are claw holes (locking parts), 168 and 178 are straw parts, 200 is a water filling case, 203 is a manual detergent dispenser (manual dispenser), 204 is a manual fabric softener dispenser (manual dispenser), 300 is a water supply valve unit, 303a is a water inlet (water inlet for the mixing section), 304 is a water supply path for the mixing section, and 305 is a bath water pump.

Claims

1. A garment processing tank for storing clothes, A tank for storing clothing treatment agents for treating clothes, An automatic dispensing unit for dispensing the garment treatment agent stored in the tank into the garment treatment tank, Equipped with, The outer casing of the tank has a concave gripping portion on only one of the surfaces that face each other in the lateral direction, The tank is equipped with a supply port inside for supplying clothing treatment agent, The gripping portion is a garment processing device provided to the side of the supply port.

2. The tank comprises multiple such tanks, One of the multiple tanks is positioned horizontally next to the other tanks. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first tank has the gripping portion on a surface facing the other tank.

3. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein one of the multiple tanks has the gripping portion at a position opposite to the gripping portion of one of the multiple tanks.

4. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the gripping portion extends between one end and the other end of the surface forming the outer casing of the tank, and does not reach either the one end or the other end.

5. The tank comprises a lid for opening and closing the supply port, and a recess that is recessed inward in the tank corresponding to the gripping portion. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side end of the lid is located above and outside the most recessed part of the recess when the supply port is closed.

6. The garment processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gripping portion has a portion on which the user's fingers can be placed.

7. The aforementioned tank is The tank body contains a garment treatment agent, A cover portion that closes the opening of the tank body, Equipped with, The garment processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the hanging portion is provided in the tank body.

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