washing machine
Patent Information
- Application Number
- JP2025153722
- Authority / Receiving Office
- JP · JP
- Patent Type
- Patents
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-09-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-13
- Estimated Expiration
- 2041-06-14
Smart Images
Figure 0007888832000001 
Figure 0007888832000002 
Figure 0007888832000003
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to washing machines.
Background Art
[0002] In recent years, for the convenience of users, washing machines equipped with an automatic dosing device have been developed, in which a washing treatment agent is stored in advance in a treatment agent tank for automatic dosing for a plurality of times, and the required amount is automatically dosed from the treatment agent tank during each washing operation. On the other hand, there remains a need for users to manually dose the treatment agent for each operation. Therefore, even in washing machines equipped with an automatic dosing device, a conventional treatment agent case, that is, a treatment agent case for manual dosing for manually dosing the washing treatment agent used in one operation for each operation, is provided.
[0003] Considering the workability of the user and the like, the treatment agent tank and the treatment agent case are preferably arranged at positions close to each other. For example, in the same storage space, it is conceivable to arrange the treatment agent case with a high user operation frequency close to the user and the treatment agent tank with a low operation frequency at a position away from the user. In this case, for the compactness of the product, it is preferable to arrange the treatment agent tank and the treatment agent case as closely as possible.
[0004] The user may periodically take out the treatment agent tank outside the machine for cleaning. However, in the above case, since there is no gap between the treatment agent tank and the treatment agent case, it is not easy to take out the treatment agent tank, which is particularly larger in size and weight than the treatment agent case.
Prior Art Documents
Patent Documents
[0005]
Patent Document 1
Summary of the Invention
Problems to be Solved by the Invention
[0006] Therefore, in a washing machine in which the treatment agent tank and the treatment agent case are arranged side by side, the present invention provides a washing machine that makes it easier to remove the treatment agent tank, thereby improving user convenience. [Means for solving the problem]
[0007] The washing machine of this embodiment comprises an outer box formed in the shape of a box, a water tank provided inside the outer box, a storage compartment provided inside the outer box and having an opening formed by opening the top surface of the outer box, a detergent case that receives the detergent used for one cycle and supplies the detergent to the water tank, and a detergent tank capable of storing detergent used for multiple cycles. The storage compartment is capable of housing the detergent case and the detergent tank horizontally in the same space within the storage compartment. With the detergent case and the detergent tank housed in the storage compartment, a handle provided on the detergent tank can be operated through the opening. [Brief explanation of the drawing]
[0008] [Figure 1] A schematic perspective view showing the configuration of the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 2] A schematic diagram showing the internal configuration of the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 3] A plan view schematically showing the configuration around the housing section with the cover member removed, for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4] A perspective view showing the configuration around the storage compartment with the cover member open for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 5] A cross-sectional view of the washing machine according to the first embodiment, showing the area around the housing along line AA in Figure 3 with the cover member removed. [Figure 6] A perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the treatment agent tank for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] Front view showing the schematic configuration of the treatment agent tank for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 8]A cross-sectional view showing the schematic configuration of the treatment agent tank along line BB in Figure 6 for the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 9] This is a perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the storage section of a washing machine according to the first embodiment, with the treatment agent case housed and the treatment agent tank removed. [Figure 10] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along line CC illustrating the schematic configuration around the processing agent tank in a state where the regulated part and the restricted part are fitted together, for a washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 11] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view along the CC line illustrating the schematic configuration around the processing agent tank in a washing machine according to the first embodiment, with the regulated part and the restricted part separated. [Figure 12] This is an enlarged front view showing the schematic configuration around the regulating mechanism of the washing machine according to the first embodiment, in a state where the regulating part and the regulated part are fitted together. [Figure 13] This is an enlarged front view showing the schematic configuration around the regulating mechanism of the washing machine according to the first embodiment, with the regulating part and the regulated part detached. [Figure 14] A schematic diagram showing the area around the handle, with the ellipse D in Figure 4 enlarged, illustrating the washing machine according to the first embodiment. [Figure 15] A perspective view showing the configuration around the storage section when one of the treatment agent tanks is not fully installed in the washing machine according to the first embodiment, with the cover member open. [Figure 16] A perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the treatment agent tank for the washing machine according to the second embodiment. [Figure 17] A plan view schematically showing the configuration around the housing section with the cover member removed, for the washing machine according to the second embodiment. [Figure 18] A perspective view showing the schematic configuration of the processing agent tank for a washing machine according to another embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]
[0009] Several embodiments will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and their descriptions are omitted.
[0010] (First Embodiment) First, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 15. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the washing machine 10 includes an outer case 11, a water tub 12, a rotary tub 13, a rotary tub motor 14, a drainage mechanism 15, an operation panel 16, a water supply mechanism 17, and a detergent input mechanism 20. In FIG. 1, the installation surface side of the washing machine 10, that is, the vertically lower side, is defined as the lower side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side of the installation surface, that is, the vertically upper side, is defined as the upper side of the washing machine 10. Also, the left-right direction when the washing machine 10 is viewed from the front is defined as the left-right direction of the washing machine 10. The washing machine 10 is, for example, a drum-type washing machine of a horizontal-axis type in which the rotation axis of the rotary tub 13 is horizontal or an inclined-axis type in which it slopes downward toward the rear.
[0011] The washing machine 10 may, for example, have a drying function of a heat pump type or a heater type, or may not have it. The outer case 11 is generally formed in a rectangular box shape by a member such as a steel material or a resin material, and constitutes the outer shell of the washing machine 10. In the case of this embodiment, the top surface portion 111 of the outer case 11 is formed as a flat surface. The water tub 12 is disposed inside the outer case 11 and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The rotary tub 13 is rotatably disposed inside the water tub 12. In this case, the water tub 12 and the rotary tub 13 function as a washing tub for accommodating laundry. The rotary tub motor 14 is provided outside the water tub 12. The rotary tub motor 14 is connected to the rotary tub 13 and rotates the rotary tub 13 by driving.
[0012] The drainage mechanism 15 shown in FIG. 2 has a function of discharging the water stored in the water tub 12 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drainage mechanism 15 includes a drainage path 151 and a drain valve 152. The drainage path 151 is constituted by, for example, a flexible drainage hose. One end thereof is connected to the drain valve 152, and the other end is drawn out to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain valve 152 is constituted by, for example, an on-off valve for liquid that can be opened and closed electromagnetically. The drain valve 152 is provided between the drain port 121 provided at the bottom of the water tub 12 and the drainage path 151 and opens and closes the drainage path 151.
[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the operation panel 16 is provided at the front side portion of the top surface portion 111 of the outer case 11. Although not shown in detail, the operation panel 16 is provided with a power switch, a start key, and various operation keys for the user to set a washing operation course and the like. Note that the power switch may be provided separately from the operation panel 16. When executing a washing operation, the user can select and operate using the operation panel 16 whether to automatically add a washing treatment agent or manually add a single dose of the washing treatment agent. In the present embodiment, the washing treatment agent is a concept including liquid or powder detergents, softening finishing agents, and fragrance agents, but is not limited to these as long as it is a chemical agent used in a washing operation.
[0014] The water supply mechanism 17 is provided, for example, at the upper left back portion above the water tank 12 in the outer case 11. The water supply mechanism 17 supplies water into the water tank 12 by receiving water from a water supply source such as a water supply. As shown in FIG. 2 for example, the water supply mechanism 17 has a connection port 171, a water supply path 172, and a water supply valve 173. The connection port 171 is provided on the top surface portion 111 of the outer case 11 so as to be exposed at the left back portion. The connection port 171 is connected to an external water source such as a faucet of a water supply via a hose, for example.
[0015] The water supply path 172 is a path connecting from the connection port 171 to the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13. The treatment agent input mechanism 20 is provided, for example, in the middle of the water supply path 172 and has a function of including a washing treatment agent in the water flowing through the water supply path 172 and supplying it into the water tank 12 and the rotary tank 13. As shown in FIG. 2, the treatment agent input mechanism 20 includes a housing portion 21, a pump 22, a cover member 23, a treatment agent case 30, and a treatment agent tank 40.
[0016] The housing section 21 is constructed in the shape of a box or container from a resin or metal material and has an opening 211 that opens upwards. The housing section 21 is located inside the outer box 11. The upper end of the housing section 21, i.e., the opening 211, is located below the top surface 111. In this embodiment, the housing section 21 constitutes part of the water supply path 172. In this case, the outlet of the water supply valve 173 is connected directly or indirectly to the housing section 21. The housing section 21 is then connected directly or indirectly to the water tank 12.
[0017] The pump 22, together with the treatment agent tank 40, constitutes an automatic dispensing device for automatically supplying laundry treatment agent to the water tank 12 and the rotating tub 13 during operation. The pump 22 has the function of drawing a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 40 during operation and introducing the drawn-out laundry treatment agent into a section of the water supply path 172. As a result, the laundry treatment agent supplied to the water supply path 172 is supplied to the water tank 12 and the rotating tub 13 by the flow of water in the water supply path 172. In this way, the washing machine 10 can automatically supply a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent to the water tank 12 and the rotating tub 13 during operation.
[0018] The cover member 23 is rotatably mounted on the outer box 11 and rotates to open and close the opening 211 of the housing section 21. It is also foldable and rotatable in the folded state. That is, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, the cover member 23 is rotatably attached to the top surface 111 of the outer box 11 and is configured to open and close the opening 211 of the housing section 21. In this embodiment, the cover member 23 is configured to be foldable into at least two sections. The cover member 23 is configured to open and close the opening 211 by rotating in a state where it is folded into at least two sections.
[0019] The treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are detachably housed in the storage section 21. The treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are arranged adjacent to each other within the storage section 21. The treatment agent case 30 can be positioned closer to the user who is standing at the front of the washing machine 10 to operate it, while the treatment agent tank 40 can be positioned further away from the user. For example, the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 can be arranged in a straight line in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction.
[0020] In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 3 to 5, the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed side by side in the front-to-back direction within the storage section 21. The treatment agent case 30 is positioned closer to the user who is standing in front of the washing machine 10, that is, on the front side of the washing machine 10. In other embodiments, when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are arranged side by side in the left-to-right direction, the treatment agent case 30 can be positioned closer to the user who is standing in front of the washing machine 10, that is, on the center side of the washing machine 10, than the treatment agent tank 40.
[0021] The treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in close proximity within the storage section 21. That is, the surface of the treatment agent case 30 facing the treatment agent tank 40 is in close proximity to the surface of the treatment agent case 30 facing the treatment agent tank 40. Therefore, although there is no space for the user to insert their fingers between the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40, the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 can each be removed from the storage section 21 independently. In other words, the user can remove the treatment agent case 30 from the storage section 21 independently without moving the treatment agent tank 40, or the treatment agent tank 40 from the storage section 21 independently without moving the treatment agent case 30.
[0022] The treatment agent case 30 receives the treatment agent to be used in one operation and also has the function of supplying the treatment agent, which was added, for example, before or at the start of operation, to the water tank 12 during operation. The treatment agent case 30 is made of resin, for example, and is configured as a container that is rectangular in shape, long in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction, and has an open top.
[0023] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the treatment agent case 30 has a wall portion 31, a bottom portion 32, a partition portion 33, and one or more input portions 34, 35 (in this case, two). The wall portion 31 forms the outer periphery of the container shape of the treatment agent case 30. The wall portion 31 has a front wall portion 311, left and right side wall portions 312, and a back wall portion 313. The front wall portion 311 forms the front surface of the treatment agent case 30. The left and right side wall portions 312 form the left and right surfaces of the treatment agent case 30. The back wall portion 313 forms the rear surface of the treatment agent case 30.
[0024] The bottom portion 32 forms the bottom surface of the container shape of the treatment agent case 30. The partition portion 33 divides the space within the container shape of the treatment agent case 30 in the front-to-back direction or left-to-right direction, dividing it into an input section 34 and an input section 35. In this embodiment, the partition portion 33 extends in the left-to-right direction, dividing the space within the treatment agent case 30 in the front-to-back direction.
[0025] The input sections 34 and 35 are each formed in a container shape with a downward recess, and can receive laundry detergent inside. The input sections 34 and 35 are the parts that receive laundry detergent from the user, and have openings at the top. The user puts the laundry detergent into the detergent case 30 through the openings at the top of the input sections 34 and 35.
[0026] The input units 34 and 35 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction. In this embodiment, the input units 34 and 35 are arranged side by side in the front-to-back direction. For example, input unit 34 receives detergent internally, and input unit 35 receives fabric softener internally. In this embodiment, input unit 34 is located behind input unit 35. Input unit 34 receives the amount of detergent to be used in one run from the user and supplies the detergent into the water tank 12. The detergent may be in liquid or powder form. Input unit 35 receives the amount of fabric softener to be used in one run from the user and supplies the fabric softener into the water tank 12. The fabric softener is usually in liquid form, but is not limited to that.
[0027] As shown in Figure 2, the treatment agent case 30 has a communication hole 36 formed in its bottom 32. The treatment agent case 30 receives water supplied into the storage section 21 through the water supply valve 173. When laundry treatment agent is placed in the treatment agent case 30, the laundry treatment agent is flushed out through the communication hole 36 in the bottom 32 along with the water supplied to the treatment agent case 30 and supplied into the water tank 12.
[0028] The upper end of the wall portion 31 that forms the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30 is located on a plane that extends horizontally. In other words, the upper end of the wall portion 31 forms a plane S1 that extends horizontally, as shown in Figure 5. To put it another way, the upper end of the wall portion 31 is located on a plane S1 that extends horizontally. Furthermore, the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 is parallel to the plane formed by the top surface portion 111. In this embodiment, the upper end of the wall portion 31 forms the upper end of the treatment agent case 30.
[0029] The treatment agent tank 40 is configured to store an amount of treatment agent used for multiple cycles. The treatment agent tank 40 is, for example, made of resin and is a hollow, rectangular container that is long in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction, and can store liquid laundry treatment agent. The treatment agent tank 40 has a sufficient capacity to store an amount of laundry treatment agent used for multiple cycles. In this case, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 40 is not particularly limited, but considering the convenience of the user, it is preferable to set it to at least several hundred mL to about 2 L.
[0030] As shown in Figures 2 to 8, the treatment agent tank 40 includes a tank body 41, an upper member 42, a tank outlet 43, and a leak prevention valve 44. The tank body 41 constitutes the outer shell of the treatment agent tank 40 and is made of synthetic resin such as plastic. The upper member 42 is generally rectangular in shape and covers the tank body 41 from above, opening and closing the opening at the top of the tank body 41. In other words, the upper member 42 constitutes the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40. The tank outlet 43 is an opening through which the laundry treatment agent sucked out of the treatment agent tank 40 by the pump 22 passes. The leak prevention valve 44 has the function of preventing the treatment agent stored in the tank body 41 from leaking out of the tank outlet 43 to the outside of the tank body 41 when the treatment agent tank 40 is removed from the housing 21 and the connection part 24 between the tank outlet 43 and the pump 22 is not connected.
[0031] In this embodiment, the tank body 41 is formed in the shape of a generally rectangular parallelepiped container with an opening at the top, and has a front portion 411, side portions 412, a rear portion 413, and a bottom portion 414. The front portion 411 constitutes the front of the tank body 41. The side portions 412 constitute the left and right sides of the tank body 41. The rear portion 413 constitutes the rear of the tank body 41. The bottom portion 414 constitutes the bottom of the tank body 41.
[0032] The upper member 42 has a frame member 421, an inlet 422, and a lid member 423. The frame member 421 and the lid member 423 are made of synthetic resin, such as plastic, similar to the tank body 41. The frame member 421 forms the outer shell of the upper member 42. The frame member 421 is formed in the shape of a rectangular frame with an open interior. The inlet 422 forms the opening of the frame member 421 and connects the inside and outside of the treatment agent tank 40 when the upper member 42 is attached to the tank body 41.
[0033] The lid member 423 is plate-shaped and opens and closes the input opening 422. The lid member 423 is attached to the upper member 42 by a hinge (not shown) and is configured to open and close the input opening 422. When the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in the housing 21, the user can open the cover member 23 and the lid member 423 to expose the input opening 422 and pour the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent tank 40 through the input opening 422. Alternatively, the user can remove the treatment agent tank 40 from the housing 21, open the lid member 423 to expose the input opening 422, and pour the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent tank 40 through the input opening 422.
[0034] The frame member 421 and the lid member 423 are provided flush with each other, so to speak, with their upper surfaces being on the same plane. The upper surface of the upper member 42 forms a plane S2 that extends horizontally as a whole, as shown in Figures 5, 7, and 8. In other words, the upper surface of the upper member 42 is located on the plane S2 that extends horizontally. As shown in Figure 5, when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing section 21, the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 is parallel to the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30.
[0035] The tank outlet 43 is formed as an opening that penetrates the lower rear part of the tank body 41, in this case a part of the rear portion 413, in the thickness direction. The pump 22 is located on the outside of the housing 21, in this case behind the housing 21. As shown in Figure 9, the housing 21 has a connecting portion 24. The connecting portion 24 is formed as a tube that penetrates the housing 21 and connects the inside of the housing 21 to the pump 22. The connecting portion 24 is located on the surface of the treatment agent tank 40 that faces the treatment agent case 30. In other words, the tank outlet 43 is located on the surface opposite to the handle portion 50. In this embodiment, the connecting portion 24 is located on the wall surface of the housing 21 that faces the rear portion 413 when the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in the housing 21.
[0036] The leak prevention valve 44 is located between the tank outlet 43 and the inside of the tank body 41. When the tank outlet 43 is connected to the connection part 24, the leak prevention valve 44 opens the gap between the tank outlet 43 and the inside of the tank body 41. This allows the pump 22 to suck out the laundry detergent stored in the tank body 41. On the other hand, when the tank outlet 43 is not connected to the connection part 24, the leak prevention valve 44 closes the gap between the tank outlet 43 and the inside of the tank body 41, thereby preventing the laundry detergent in the tank body 41 from flowing out of the tank outlet 43.
[0037] When the treatment agent tank 40 is placed in the containment section 21, the connection section 24 is inserted into the tank outlet 43. The connection section 24 is connected to the leak prevention valve 44, thereby connecting the inside of the tank body 41 to the pump 22. In other words, with the connection section 24 inserted into the tank outlet 43, the connection section 24 connects the inside of the tank body 41 to the pump 22.
[0038] As shown in Figure 3, the washing machine 10 is equipped with one or more processing agent tanks 40, in this case two. In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 is equipped with a detergent tank 401 and a finishing agent tank 402 as processing agent tanks 40. The detergent tank 401 is for storing an amount of detergent, in this case liquid detergent, that will be used for multiple washes. The finishing agent tank 402 is for storing an amount of fabric softener, in this case liquid fabric softener, that will be used for multiple washes.
[0039] The treatment agent tank 40 has a handle 50. When the user removes the treatment agent tank 40 from the storage section 21, they can grasp the handle 50 and pull the treatment agent tank 40 diagonally upward. The handle 50 is provided on the upper part of the tank body 41, in this case on the upper part of the front section 411.
[0040] The handle portion 50 protrudes forward from the front portion 411 and is formed in a U-shape when viewed from above. As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the handle portion 50 has a front portion 51, left and right side portions 52, and a recess 53. The front portion 51 forms the front surface of the handle portion 50 that is perpendicular to the front-rear direction, that is, the surface that extends in the vertical and left-right directions. In this case, perpendicular to the front-rear direction does not necessarily mean that it must be strictly orthogonal to the front-rear direction, but rather that it includes a component perpendicular to the front-rear direction.
[0041] In this embodiment, the front portion 51 is composed of a first surface 511 extending in the vertical direction and a second surface 512 located below the first surface 511 and inclined with respect to the vertical direction. The vertical length of the first surface 511 is set to approximately 1 / 3 to 2 / 3 of the vertical length of the entire front portion 411. In this embodiment, the vertical length of the first surface 511 is set to approximately 1 / 2 of the vertical length of the entire front portion 411.
[0042] The second surface 512 slopes downward from the lower end of the first surface 511 toward the rear. The upper end of the second surface 512 is connected to the lower end of the first surface 511, and the lower end of the second surface 512 is connected to the front part 411 of the tank body 41.
[0043] The left and right side portions 52 form the left and right sides of the handle portion 50. In this embodiment, the left and right side portions 52 form surfaces perpendicular to the left-right direction. In this case, perpendicular to the left-right direction does not necessarily mean strictly orthogonal to the left-right direction, but rather means including a component perpendicular to the left-right direction. The side portions 52 extend from the left and right ends of the front portion 51 to the front portion 411 of the tank body 41. That is, the front ends of the side portions 52 are connected to the left and right ends of the front portion 51, and the rear ends of the side portions 52 are connected to the front portion 411 of the tank body 41.
[0044] The recess 53 is formed in a concave shape by recessing a part of the front portion 51 toward the rear. The recess 53 receives the user's fingers when gripping the handle portion 50, making it easier for the user to grip it. In this case, the recess 53 is located at the lower part of the front portion 51. That is, the recess 53 is provided while leaving the upper part of the front portion 51 untouched, and extends from the lower end of the second surface 512 to approximately the center of the first surface 511 in the vertical direction. When gripping the handle portion 50, the user can, for example, insert their thumb into the recess 53 from the front and insert their other fingers between the handle portion 50 and the tank body 41 from the rear of the front portion 51.
[0045] The vertical length of the recess 53 can be set to a length that allows, for example, an adult user's thumb to be placed or inserted. Specifically, the vertical length of the recess 53 may be set to, for example, 1 cm to 4 cm. The vertical length of the recess 53 may also be set to, for example, 2 cm to 3 cm.
[0046] Furthermore, the recess 53 is located in the left-right center of the handle portion 50. Since the left-right centerlines of the handle portion 50 and the tank body 41 coincide, it can also be said that the recess 53 is located in the left-right center of the tank body 41. Therefore, when a user puts their fingers into the recess 53 and grasps the handle portion 50, they are grasping the left-right center of the treatment agent tank 40. Consequently, even when the treatment agent tank 40 is heavy due to a large amount of laundry treatment agent stored inside, the user can stably hold the treatment agent tank 40.
[0047] The recess 53 forms a curved surface or plane extending from the front part 51 toward the rear. In other words, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, the recess 53 is formed in a tunnel shape extending in the front-rear direction, having a three-dimensional curved surface or multiple planes. That is, the recess 53 has a three-dimensional structure. When a user inserts their fingers into the recess 53, the recess 53 comes into contact with the user's fingers at at least multiple points. Therefore, even if the processing agent tank 40 is heavy, the user's fingers can support the handle part 50 over a wide area. Thus, compared to cases where the user's fingers and the handle part 50 make point contact or line contact, the user's fingers receive the reaction force from the handle part 50 distributed over a wider area. As a result, the processing agent tank 40 can be supported stably, and the handle part 50 is less likely to dig into the user's fingers, improving the feel of operation.
[0048] The recess 53 extends from the front portion 51 to the front portion 411 of the tank body 41. The length of the recess 53 in the front-rear direction only needs to be long enough to support the user's fingers, and in other embodiments, for example, the recess 53 does not need to be connected to the front portion 411 of the tank body 41. Furthermore, the recess 53 does not need to form a continuous surface, and may have notches, slits, etc.
[0049] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the recess 53 has a curved upper surface, and when viewed from the front, the upper part is semicircular, or dome-shaped. In this case, when a user inserts their fingers, the recess 53 fits more easily to the curved fingers, allowing for a more stable grip. Note that the shape of the recess 53 is not limited to a dome shape. For example, in other embodiments, the upper part may be flat. In this case, when a user removes the processing agent tank 40 upward, the surface perpendicular to the direction in which the user's fingers push the handle 50 (in this case, an upward force) becomes wider, so the reaction force received by the user's fingers from the handle 50 is distributed over a wider area, improving the user's feel of operation.
[0050] As shown in the vertical cross-sectional view of Figure 8, the upper end portion 531 of the recess 53 extends horizontally from front to rear. In other words, when comparing the height from the bottom portion 414 of the treatment agent tank 40, the height position of the front end portion of the upper end portion 531 of the recess 53 is set to be the same as the height position of the rear end portion of the upper end portion 531, in this case the connection portion with the front portion 411 of the treatment agent tank 40.
[0051] In other embodiments, the upper end of the recess 53 may be configured to be inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. For example, the upper end 531 may be inclined downwards from front to rear. In this case, since the user inserts their fingers into the recess 53 from above, the direction of insertion by the user coincides with the inclination direction of the recess 53, making it easier for the user to insert their fingers.
[0052] On the other hand, the upper end portion 531 may be inclined upward from front to rear. In this case, after the treatment agent tank 40 is removed from the storage portion 21, it is assumed that the user's fingers will be inserted into the recess 53 from below, for example, when gripping the treatment agent tank 40 placed on the top surface portion 111 of the outer box 11. When the upper end portion 531 is inclined upward from front to rear, the direction of insertion of the user and the inclination direction of the recess 53 coincide, making it easier for the user to grip the handle portion 50.
[0053] Furthermore, the washing machine 10 is equipped with a regulating mechanism 60, as shown in Figures 10 to 13. The regulating mechanism 60 restricts the movement of the treatment agent tank 40 when it is housed in the housing 21. It also ensures that the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in a predetermined position in the housing 21, and ensures that the connection between the tank outlet 43 of the treatment agent tank 40 and the connection part 24 of the pump 22 is secure.
[0054] The regulating mechanism 60 comprises a pair of regulating parts 61 and a restricted part 62. The pair of regulating parts 61 and the restricted part 62 fit together when the treatment agent tank 40 is housed in the housing part 21, thereby restricting the upward, left-right, and forward-backward movement of the treatment agent tank 40.
[0055] In this embodiment, the pair of restricting portions 61 are provided projecting upward from the bottom 212 of the housing portion 21. The restricted portion 62 is provided projecting downward from the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41. In this case, the restricting portions 61 are integrally molded with the housing portion 21, for example, from resin or a metal material. The restricted portion 62 is also integrally molded with the tank body 41, for example, from resin or the like.
[0056] The position of the tip 621 of the restricted portion 62 is set to be approximately the same as or higher than the lower end of the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41. In other words, the restricted portion 62 is located in a recess 45 provided in the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41. The recess 45 is formed by recessing a part of the front end of the bottom surface 414 upwards. The restricted portion 62 protrudes downwards from the upper surface of the recess 45. Therefore, even when the treatment agent tank 40 is removed from the housing 21 and placed, for example, on the top surface 111 of the outer box 11, the restricted portion 62 does not protrude from the lowest part of the bottom surface 414 of the tank body 41, and the treatment agent tank 40 can stand independently.
[0057] As shown in Figures 12 and 13, the pair of restricting portions 61 are formed in a generally rectangular plate shape that is elongated in the vertical direction and are arranged facing each other. The opposing surfaces of the restricting portions 61, that is, the surfaces facing the restricted portion 62, are provided with recesses 611 to receive the tip portion 621 of the restricted portion 62. The recesses 611 are formed by recessing the surface of the restricting portion 61 facing the restricted portion 62 in the thickness direction of the restricting portion 61.
[0058] The restricted portion 62 is formed in a generally rectangular plate shape that extends in the vertical and horizontal directions, with its tip portion 621 bulging in the horizontal direction, that is, toward the recessed portion 611 of the restricted portion 61. The horizontal width dimension L1 of the tip portion 621 is set to be greater than the distance L2 between opposing restricted portions 61. The horizontal width dimension L1 of the tip portion 621 is set to be approximately the same as the maximum width between the recessed portions 611 of the restricted portion 61.
[0059] Since the upper end of the restricting portion 61 is a free end, the restricting portion 61 bends in the left-right direction due to external force. When the user places the treatment agent tank 40 into the housing portion 21, the restricted portion 62 is inserted between the pair of restricting portions 61. When the restricted portion 62 is inserted between the pair of restricting portions 61 from above, each restricting portion 61 bends outward, that is, away from the restricted portion 62, to receive the restricted portion 62. Figure 12 shows the state in which the pair of restricting portions 61 and the restricted portion 62 are fitted together. When the treatment agent tank 40 is fully housed in the housing portion 21, that is, when the bottom portion 414 of the treatment agent tank 40 reaches the bottom portion 212 of the housing portion 21, the tip portion 621 of the restricted portion 62 reaches the recess portion 611. The tip portion 621 is housed between the pair of recess portions 611, and the restricting portion 61 is released from its bent state.
[0060] On the other hand, when the user removes the processing agent tank 40 from the housing section 21, the tip 621 of the restricted section 62 disengages from the recessed section 611, causing the pair of restricting sections 61 to bend outward, that is, away from the restricted section 62. When the tip 621 of the restricted section 62 goes over the restricting section 61, the restricting section 61 is released from its bent state. Figure 13 shows the state in which the engagement between the pair of restricting sections 61 and the restricted section 62 is disengaged.
[0061] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the restricted portion 62 is located on the bottom portion 414, closer to the front portion 411. When a user located at the front of the washing machine 10 removes the processing agent tank 40, the user first lifts the handle portion 50 so that it rotates upward using the rear portion 413 of the bottom portion 414 as a pivot point. In this case, compared to the case where the regulating mechanism 60 is located closer to the rear portion 413 of the tank body 41, the engagement between the regulating portion 61 and the restricted portion 62 can be disengaged by slightly lifting the handle portion 50 upward.
[0062] In this case, the upward movement distance H required for the regulating portion 61 and the regulated portion 62 to disengage, that is, the movement distance H required for the tip portion 621 of the regulated portion 62 to move over the regulated portion 62 as shown in Figure 12, can be set to, for example, 1 cm to 3 cm. In this embodiment, the upward movement distance H required for the regulating portion 61 and the regulated portion 62 to disengage can be set to, for example, 2 cm.
[0063] As shown in Figures 9, 10, and 13, the treatment agent case 30 has a notch 37. The notch 37 is formed by cutting out a portion of the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30 so as to be recessed downwards. The notch 37 is provided in the portion of the wall portion 31 that faces the treatment agent tank 40, in this case the back wall portion 313. More specifically, the notch 37 is provided in a position that faces the handle portion 50 of each treatment agent tank 401, 402. Therefore, when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing portion 21, a portion of the front portion 51 of the handle portion 50 is exposed to the user side, in this case the front, through the notch 37. In other words, the user can access the handle portion 50 through the notch 37.
[0064] In this embodiment, the height of the upper end of the back wall portion 313 is set to be approximately the same as the height of the upper end of the front portion 51 of the handle portion 50 when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the storage portion 21. Therefore, if the notch portion 37 is not provided, the front portion 51 of the handle portion 50 will be covered by the back wall portion 313, making it difficult for the user to see and grasp.
[0065] In this embodiment, with the treatment agent case 30 and treatment agent tank 40 housed in the housing section 21, the portion of the front section 51 exposed by the notch 37 is a part of the first surface 511. In this embodiment, the upper end of the recess 53 is slightly visible from the user's side, but in other embodiments, the recess 53 may not be visible from the user's side when the treatment agent case 30 and treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing section 21.
[0066] When the processing agent tank 40 is pulled upward by a distance H, that is, when the restricted portion 62 goes over the restricting portion 61, the recess 53 is exposed from the notch 37 toward the user, in this case toward the front, as shown in Figure 11. Therefore, with the restricted portion 62 having gone over the restricting portion 61, the recess 53 is visible to the user and the user can insert their fingers into it.
[0067] When a user wants to remove the treatment agent tank 40 housed in the storage section 21, they first grasp the front part 51 of the handle 50 exposed from the notch 37 and pull it upward as shown by the arrow in Figure 10. When the user pulls the treatment agent tank 40 upward by a distance H and the restricted part 62 moves over the restricting part 61 as shown in Figure 11, the recess 53 is exposed from the notch 37. The user can then securely grasp the handle 50 by, for example, inserting their thumb into the recess 53 and placing their other fingers on the first surface 511 from behind. After that, the user can pull the treatment agent tank 40 further upward or diagonally upward to remove it from the storage section 21.
[0068] Figures 3 and 4 show the state in which the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing 21, with the cover member 23 removed or open. In this case, the upper end of the wall portion 31 forming the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30 and the upper member 42 forming the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40 are exposed upward from the opening 211 of the housing 21. In other words, with the cover member 23 open, there is no structure covering the treatment agent case 30 and the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 from above. Therefore, a user looking into the housing 21 from above can see the entire upper part of the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 at once.
[0069] Furthermore, with the cover member 23 open, the upper member 42 of the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are not covered from above, so the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 can be independently pulled upward and removed. Also, the treatment agent case 30 can be installed in the housing section 21 with the treatment agent tank 40 housed in the housing section 21, and the treatment agent tank 40 can be installed in the housing section 21 with the treatment agent case 30 housed in the housing section 21. In this case, the treatment agent tank 40 can be installed in the housing section 21 by inserting it downward. In this case, upward and downward do not necessarily mean only movement in a direction strictly perpendicular to the floor, but mainly include movement in the vertical direction. Also, upward and downward can be said to refer to movement in a direction that the user operating the device perceives as being removed upward or inserted downward.
[0070] In this embodiment, the treatment agent tank 40 has a shape that protrudes slightly toward the rear at the lower part where the tank outlet 43 is located, but the depth dimension of the treatment agent tank 40 is set to be approximately the same at the top and bottom of the treatment agent tank 40. In other words, the depth dimension from the front part 51 of the handle 50 of the treatment agent tank 40 to the rear part 413 of the tank body 41 is set to be approximately the same as the depth dimension from the front part 411 to the rear part 413 at the bottom of the treatment agent tank 40. In this case, the foremost part of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., the handle 50, is in close contact with the treatment agent case 30, and the rearmost part of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., the rear end of the upper member 42 or the rear part 413, is in close contact with the rear wall of the housing part 21. Therefore, if the treatment agent tank 40 is moved strictly in the vertical direction, there is a risk that the treatment agent tank 40 and the treatment agent case 30 or housing part 21 may collide along the way, restricting the movement of the treatment agent tank 40.
[0071] Therefore, when removing the treatment agent tank 40 from the housing section 21, the user first lifts the treatment agent tank 40 so that the top of the treatment agent tank 40 is above the opening 211. Then, the user may pull the treatment agent tank 40 slightly forward while lifting it until the bottom of the treatment agent tank 40 is above the opening 211. Alternatively, the user may rotate the handle section 50 slightly upward and diagonally backward, using the center of the treatment agent tank 40 as the pivot point, while lifting the bottom of the treatment agent tank 40 until the bottom of the treatment agent tank 40 is above the opening 211.
[0072] Furthermore, when the user installs the treatment agent tank 40 into the housing section 21, the user first moves the treatment agent tank 40 downwards while holding it, inserting the lower part of the treatment agent tank 40 below the opening 211. The user may then push the treatment agent tank 40 slightly backwards and insert it further downwards until the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40 is inserted below the opening 211. Alternatively, the user may rotate the handle section 50 slightly downwards and diagonally forwards, using the center of the treatment agent tank 40 as the pivot point, and move it downwards until the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40 is inserted below the opening 211.
[0073] As described above, when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing section 21, the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 is parallel to the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30. Furthermore, planes S1 and S2 are parallel to the top surface 111. Therefore, when housing the treatment agent tank 40 in the housing section 21, the user may compare planes S1 and S2, or the top surface 111 and plane S2. In this case, if it can be visually confirmed that planes S1 and S2, or the top surface 111 and plane S2, are parallel to each other, it can be concluded that the treatment agent tank 40 is securely installed in the housing section 21.
[0074] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 15, for example, when the treatment agent tank 40 is not fully installed in the housing 21, in a so-called half-inserted state, planes S1 and S2 are not parallel to each other. Therefore, the user can visually confirm that the treatment agent tank 40 is in a half-inserted state if planes S1 and S2 are not parallel.
[0075] Here, for the convenience of the user, it is preferable that the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40, both of which are where the laundry treatment agent is added, are located in the same part. Furthermore, in order to make the overall product compact, it is preferable that the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed as closely together as possible. On the other hand, if the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed closely together, it is anticipated that it will be difficult to remove the treatment agent tank 40, which is larger than the treatment agent case 30, on its own. In this case, if the configuration requires the treatment agent case 30 to be removed in order to remove the treatment agent tank 40, the user will have to remove the treatment agent case 30 even if they only want to remove the treatment agent tank 40, which will increase the number of steps and be troublesome. In addition, the treatment agent case 30 may be wet with water or laundry treatment agent, so the user may have trouble finding a place to put the wet treatment agent case 30.
[0076] In contrast, according to the embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 comprises an outer casing 11, a water tank 12, a storage section 21, a treatment agent case 30, and a treatment agent tank 40. The outer casing 11 is formed in the shape of a box. The water tank 12 is provided inside the outer casing 11. The storage section 21 is provided inside the outer casing 11 and has an opening 211 formed by opening the top surface 111 side of the outer casing 11. The treatment agent case 30 is configured to receive the laundry treatment agent to be used in one cycle and to supply the put-in laundry treatment agent to the water tank 12. The treatment agent tank 40 is configured to store laundry treatment agent to be used in multiple cycles. The storage section 21 is configured to accommodate the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 horizontally inside. The treatment agent tank 40 can be attached to or removed from the storage section 21 when the treatment agent case 30 is housed in the storage section 21.
[0077] According to this, the user can attach and detach the treatment agent tank 40 from the storage section 21 independently of attaching and detaching the treatment agent case 30. Therefore, the treatment agent tank 40 is easy to remove, and a washing machine with improved user convenience can be provided.
[0078] The treatment agent tank 40 is configured to be inserted downwards and attached to the storage section 21 with the treatment agent case 30 housed in the storage section 21, or pulled upwards and removed from the storage section 21.
[0079] According to this design, the storage compartment 21 is open on the top surface 111 side, allowing the user to look into the storage compartment 21 from above. In this position, the user can remove the treatment agent tank 40 upwards or install it downwards, so the user's arm movements when attaching or detaching the treatment agent tank 40 are limited to pulling it towards their body or extending it away from their body. Therefore, compared to movements in other directions, the user can apply force more easily, making the attachment and detachment of the treatment agent tank 40 simpler. Thus, a washing machine with improved user convenience can be provided.
[0080] The washing machine 10 is equipped with a cover member 23 that opens and closes the opening 211 of the storage section 21. When the cover member 23 is open and the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the storage section 21, the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30, i.e., the wall portion 31, and the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., the outer periphery of the upper member 42, are exposed upward from the opening 211.
[0081] Although the treatment agent tank 40 is larger in dimensions than the treatment agent case 30, the entire upper member 42 is exposed through the opening 211, making it easy to remove from the storage section 21. Furthermore, the user can visually inspect both the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30 and the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 at the same time. Therefore, if the treatment agent tank 40 is not fully installed in the storage section 21, the user can easily notice the partially inserted state by comparing the positions of both. Thus, a washing machine with improved user convenience can be provided.
[0082] With the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 housed in the housing section 21, the upper end of the treatment agent case 30 extends parallel to the plane S2 formed by the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40, i.e., the upper member 42. In other words, the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30 and the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 extend parallel to each other.
[0083] According to this, if the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40 is not parallel to the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30, it is suspected that the treatment agent tank 40 is only partially inserted, that is, that the connection between the tank outlet 43 and the connection portion 24 is incomplete. Therefore, the user can visually confirm that the treatment agent tank 40 is fully installed in the housing portion 21 by comparing the plane S1 formed by the upper end of the wall portion 31 of the treatment agent case 30 with the plane S2 formed by the upper member 42 of the treatment agent tank 40. Thus, a washing machine with improved user convenience can be provided.
[0084] The housing section 21 houses multiple treatment agent tanks, in this case two, 401 and 402. The upper member 42 of treatment agent tank 401 and the upper member 42 of treatment agent tank 402 form a plane S2 that extends parallel to each other. Therefore, the user can visually confirm whether the upper member 42 of treatment agent tank 401 and the upper member 42 of treatment agent tank 402 are properly fitted together by comparing them.
[0085] The washing machine 10 includes a pump 22, a tank outlet 43, and a connecting part 24. The pump 22 has the function of drawing a predetermined amount of laundry detergent from the detergent tank 40 and supplying the drawn-out detergent to the water tank 12. The tank outlet 43 is an opening formed in the detergent tank 40 and serves as the outlet when supplying the laundry detergent from the detergent tank 40 to the water tank 12. The connecting part 24 has the function of connecting the pump 22 and the tank outlet 43. The detergent case 30 is provided with respect to the detergent tank 40 on the side opposite to the side where the tank outlet 43 is located, that is, the side opposite to the rear part 413, that is, the front part 411.
[0086] Ensuring a secure connection between the pump 22 and the treatment agent tank 40 is necessary to prevent problems such as leakage from the treatment agent tank 40 or failure of automatic dispensing. According to this embodiment, if the treatment agent case 30 is floating after the treatment agent tank 40 has been placed in the housing section 21, the user can push the treatment agent case 30 towards the treatment agent tank 40, that is, push it inwards, to position the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 in the predetermined location. Furthermore, pushing the treatment agent case 30 towards the treatment agent tank 40, that is, pushing it inwards, ensures a secure connection between the pump 22 and the treatment agent tank 40. Moreover, the user can use the positional relationship between the treatment agent case 30 and the part of the treatment agent tank 40 facing the treatment agent case 30, i.e., the front part 411 and the handle part 50, to position the treatment agent tank 40 when installing it. Therefore, the operation of installing the treatment agent tank 40 becomes easier, and a washing machine with improved user convenience can be provided.
[0087] The treatment agent tank 40 has a handle portion 50 on the side facing the treatment agent case 30, which allows the user to place their fingers on it. The wall portion 31 that constitutes the outer periphery of the treatment agent case 30 has a notch portion 37 at the upper part on the side facing the treatment agent tank 40.
[0088] According to this design, at least a portion of the handle portion 50 is exposed to the user when the treatment agent case 30 and the treatment agent tank 40 are housed in the housing portion 21. Therefore, even when the treatment agent case 30 is housed in the housing portion 21, the user can easily grasp the handle portion 50 through the notch portion 37 and pull up the treatment agent tank 40. Thus, the removal operation of the treatment agent tank 40 becomes easier, and a washing machine with improved user convenience can be provided.
[0089] (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 16 and 17. The washing machine 10 of the second embodiment has one or more recesses 70 in the treatment agent tank 40. The recesses 70 are formed by recessing at least a portion of the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40 toward the inside of the treatment agent tank 40. The recesses 70 are formed so that a user's fingers can be inserted into them, and the user can grasp the treatment agent tank 40 by placing or inserting their fingers into the recesses 70 when removing or installing the treatment agent tank 40 from the storage section 21. Note that Figure 16 shows the treatment agent tank 40 with the lid member 423 omitted.
[0090] The recess 70 may be formed on the front, back, or side of the treatment agent tank 40. In this embodiment, the recess 70 is provided on the side of the treatment agent tank 40, as shown in Figure 16. The recess 70 can be formed on the outer surface of the treatment agent tank 40, on the side where multiple adjacent treatment agent tanks 401 and 402 face each other. Figure 16 shows a detergent tank 401, in which case the recess 70 is provided on the side facing the finishing agent tank 402, i.e., the right side. The finishing agent tank 402 may have the recess 70 on the side facing the detergent tank 401, i.e., the left side, as shown in Figure 17.
[0091] In this case, the positions of the recesses 70 in the detergent tank 401 and the finishing agent tank 402 are set to face each other. Therefore, when the treatment agent tanks 401 and 402 are housed in the housing 21, a space is formed between the treatment agent tank 401 and the treatment agent tank 402 that has a width of at least twice the depth of each recess 70. The user can insert their fingers into the space formed jointly by the two recesses 70 to reliably remove the treatment agent tank 40 from the housing 21 or install it into the housing 21.
[0092] As shown in Figure 16, the recess 70 is formed extending vertically across the upper member 42 and the entire side portion 412 of the tank body 41. In other embodiments, the recess 70 may be formed only in the upper member 42, or it may be provided in the upper member 42 and a part of the upper portion of the side portion 412.
[0093] The recess 70 can be positioned close to the center of gravity of the treatment agent tank 40. For example, the recess 70 can be positioned in the center of the treatment agent tank 40 in the left-right direction, the center in the front-back direction, or near these locations. In this embodiment, the recess 70 is positioned slightly forward of the center point of the front-back length dimension of the treatment agent tank 40. In this case, the recess 70 is positioned at the center point of the front-back length dimension of the upper member 42.
[0094] The depth of the recess 70 can be set to a size that allows, for example, an adult's thumb to be placed in or inserted into the recess. Specifically, the depth of the recess 70 may be set to 0.5 cm to 2 cm. Specifically, the depth of the recess 70 may be set to 1 cm to 1.5 cm.
[0095] Here, since the handle portion 50 is provided to protrude forward from the tank body 41, it is located somewhat away from the center of gravity of the treatment agent tank 40. For example, if a large amount of laundry treatment agent is stored in the treatment agent tank 40, the combined weight of the treatment agent tank 40 and the laundry treatment agent can be considerable, and for users with less strength, it may be difficult to grasp the handle portion 50, which is far from the center of gravity, and support the treatment agent tank 40.
[0096] In contrast, according to the second embodiment described above, the treatment agent tank 40 of the washing machine 10 has a recess 70 formed by recessing at least a portion of its upper part toward the inside of the treatment agent tank 40.
[0097] According to this, when attaching or detaching the treatment agent tank 40, the user can grasp the treatment agent tank 40 from above. Since the recess 70 is located at least on the upper part of the treatment agent tank 40, that is, on the upper part of the tank body 41, the distance from the center of gravity of the treatment agent tank 40 is shorter compared to the position of the handle 50. Therefore, even when a large amount of laundry treatment agent is stored, the user can hold the treatment agent tank 40 more stably by gripping the recess 70. Thus, user operability is improved.
[0098] In this embodiment, one recess 70 is provided in each treatment agent tank 40, but in other embodiments, multiple recesses 70 may be provided in each treatment agent tank 40. For example, in the example shown in Figure 18, two recesses 70 are provided in each treatment agent tank 40. In this case, the recesses 70 are provided on the left and right sides of the treatment agent tank 40. In yet another embodiment, the recesses 70 may be provided on the front and rear surfaces of the treatment agent tank 40. Note that Figure 18 shows the treatment agent tank 40 with the lid member 423 omitted.
[0099] Furthermore, if the treatment agent tank 40 is provided with a recess 70, the user can easily remove the treatment agent tank 40 from the storage section 21 by gripping the recess 70 without having to grip the handle portion 50. Therefore, in this case, the treatment agent case 30 may be configured without a notch portion 37. Alternatively, the treatment agent tank 40 may be configured without a handle portion 50.
[0100] Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described above, these embodiments are presented as examples only 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 modifications 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]
[0101] 10...Washing machine, 11...Outer box, 12...Water tank, 21...Storage section, 211...Opening, 212...Bottom, 22...Pump, 23...Cover member, 30...Treatment agent case, 31...Wall section, 37...Notch section, 40...Treatment agent tank, 41...Tank body, 43...Tank outlet, 50...Handle section, 51...Front section, 52...Side section, 53...Recess, 70...Correction (Second embodiment)
Claims
1. An outer box formed in the shape of a box, A water tank provided inside the aforementioned outer box, A storage compartment provided inside the outer box, having an opening formed by opening the top surface of the outer box, A processing agent case that receives the laundry processing agent to be used in one cycle and supplies the added laundry processing agent to the water tank, It is equipped with a treatment tank capable of storing laundry treatment agents used for multiple cycles, The aforementioned storage section is capable of housing the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank horizontally within the same space within the storage section. With the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank housed in the storage section, the handle provided on the treatment agent tank can be operated through the opening. washing machine.
2. At least a portion of the handle is provided above the upper end of the treatment agent case. The washing machine according to claim 1.
3. The aforementioned treatment agent tank can be attached to and detached from the housing without removing the treatment agent case. The washing machine according to claim 1.
4. The aforementioned treatment agent tank is provided with an inlet, which is an opening into which the laundry treatment agent is put. The aforementioned input port is provided close to a part of the outer periphery of the treatment agent tank. When the processing agent tank is divided in plan view into a first region including the inlet and a second region not including the inlet, the handle portion is provided in the first region. The washing machine according to claim 1.
5. The aforementioned processing agent case is housed in the user-facing portion of the storage section. The aforementioned treatment agent tank is provided with an inlet, which is an opening into which the laundry treatment agent is put. The aforementioned input port is provided in the portion of the treatment agent tank closest to the treatment agent case. The washing machine according to claim 1.
Citation Information
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