JP7628909B2 - Clothes Processing Equipment - Google Patents

Description

An embodiment of the present invention relates to a clothing processing device.

Conventionally, washing machines are known in which a treatment agent case is provided inside an outer box, and the user manually adds the laundry treatment agent to be used for each wash cycle after each cycle. In the case of so-called drum-type washing machines, the treatment agent case is sometimes provided on the front part of the outer box so that it can be pulled out forward. In the case of so-called vertical washing machines, the treatment agent case is sometimes provided inside the top cover so that it can be pulled out forward.

In recent years, washing machines have become known that are equipped with an automatic dispenser that stores multiple loads of laundry treatment agent in a treatment agent tank and automatically dispenses a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent during a wash cycle. In consideration of the convenience of users who dispense laundry treatment agent, washing machines have been developed in which the treatment agent tank and treatment agent case are installed in the same storage compartment. However, there was room for improvement in the configuration of the storage compartment that houses the treatment agent tank and treatment agent case from the perspective of user convenience and cleanliness.

JP 2018-011618 A

Therefore, we provide a clothing processing device that improves user convenience and cleanliness.

The clothing treatment device of the embodiment includes a box-shaped outer case, a water tub provided within the outer case, a storage section provided within the outer case and having an opening formed on the top surface side of the outer case, a treatment agent case formed in a container shape with an open top and receiving a laundry treatment agent for one washing run from a user and supplying it to the water tub, and a treatment agent tank formed in a container shape and capable of storing a laundry treatment agent for multiple washing runs inside. The storage section detachably stores the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in a horizontally aligned state, and has a partition section that at least partially divides a space for storing the treatment agent case from a space for storing the treatment agent tank.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a washing machine according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a configuration around a storage section with a cover member opened in the washing machine according to the embodiment; FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a storage section of a washing machine according to an embodiment with a cover member removed; FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a storage section of a washing machine according to an embodiment with a cover member removed and a treatment agent case and a treatment agent tank removed; FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit taken along line AA in FIG. 5, viewed from the direction of arrow B, of a washing machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit taken along line CC of FIG. 5 in the washing machine according to the embodiment. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a storage section of a washing machine according to an embodiment with a treatment agent case removed and a cover member removed; FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a treatment agent case of a washing machine according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a front view showing a treatment agent case of a washing machine according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a rear view showing a treatment agent case of a washing machine according to an embodiment; FIG. 1 is a right side view showing a treatment agent case of a washing machine according to an embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the storage unit of the washing machine according to the embodiment, taken along line D-D of FIG. 4 with the treatment agent tank removed. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a storage unit of a washing machine according to an embodiment, taken along line E-E of FIG. 4 with the treatment agent tank removed.

One embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a washing machine 10 as a clothes treatment device includes an outer box 11, a water tub 12, a rotating tub 13, a rotating tub motor 14, a drainage mechanism 15, an operation panel 16, a water supply mechanism 20, and a treatment agent injection mechanism 30. In Fig. 1, the installation surface side of the washing machine 10, i.e., the vertically lower side, is the lower side of the washing machine 10, and the opposite side of the installation surface, i.e., the vertically upper side, is the upper side of the washing machine 10. The left-right direction when the washing machine 10 is viewed from the front is the left-right direction of the washing machine 10. The washing machine 10 is, for example, a horizontal axis type in which the rotation axis of the rotating tub 13 is horizontal, or an oblique axis type inclined downward toward the rear, which is a drum type washing machine.

The washing machine 10 may or may not have a drying function, such as a heat pump or heater. The outer box 11 is made of, for example, steel or resin material and has a rectangular box shape as a whole, forming the outer shell of the washing machine 10. In this embodiment, the top surface 111 of the outer box 11 is formed as a flat surface. The water tub 12 is disposed in the outer box 11 and is elastically supported by a suspension (not shown). The rotating tub 13 is disposed rotatably in the water tub 12. In this case, the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13 function as a washing tub that contains laundry. The rotating tub motor 14 is provided outside the water tub 12. The rotating tub motor 14 is connected to the rotating tub 13 and rotates the rotating tub 13 when driven.

The drain mechanism 15 shown in FIG. 2 has a function of draining water stored in the water tub 12 to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain mechanism 15 has a drain path 151 and a drain valve 152. The drain path 151 is, for example, a flexible drain hose, one end of which is connected to the drain valve 152 and the other end of which is pulled out to the outside of the washing machine 10. The drain valve 152 is, for example, a liquid opening/closing valve that can be electromagnetically opened and closed. The drain valve 152 is provided between the drain outlet 121 provided at the bottom of the water tub 12 and the drain path 151, and opens and closes the drain path 151.

The operation panel 16 is provided on the front part of the top surface 111 of the outer box 11 as shown in FIG. 1. 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 the washing operation course, etc. The power switch may be provided separately from the operation panel 16. When executing the washing operation, the user can select using the operation panel 16 whether to automatically add laundry treatment agent or to manually add one load of laundry treatment agent. In this embodiment, the concept of laundry treatment agent includes liquid or powder detergent, fabric softener, and fragrance, but is not limited to these as long as it is an agent used in the washing operation.

The water supply mechanism 20 is provided, for example, above the water tank 12 inside the outer casing 11. The water supply mechanism 20 receives water from an external water source, such as a water tap, and supplies the water to the water tank 12. As shown in FIG. 2, for example, the water supply mechanism 20 has a connection port 21, a water supply path 22, and a water supply valve 23. The connection port 21 is provided so as to be exposed at the left rear part of the top surface 111 of the outer casing 11. The connection port 21 is connected to the external water source, for example, via a hose. The water supply path 22 is a path that connects the connection port 21 to the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13. The water supply valve 23 is an opening/closing valve for liquid that can be electromagnetically opened and closed.

The washing machine 10 can use, for example, tap water and bath water as external water sources. The washing machine 10 has a tap water connection port 211 and a bath water connection port 212 as connection ports 21. The washing machine 10 also has a first water supply path 221, a second water supply path 222, and a third water supply path 223 as water supply paths 22. The washing machine 10 also has a first water supply valve 231 and a second water supply valve 232 as water supply valves 23.

The tap water connection port 211 is connected to a tap or the like via a hose, for example, and functions as an inlet to the first tap water supply path 221 and the third tap water supply path 223. The bath water connection port 212 is connected to a bathtub in which bath water is stored via a hose and a water intake pump, for example, and functions as an inlet to the second bath water supply path 222.

The first water supply path 221 and the third water supply path 223 connect the tap water connection port 211 to the water tub 12 and the spin tub 13. The first water supply path 221 is a path used when adding a laundry treatment agent, such as a detergent, in the washing process. The third water supply path 223 is a path used when adding a laundry treatment agent, such as a finishing agent, in the rinsing process. The second water supply path 222 connects the bath water connection port 212 to the water tub 12 and the spin tub 13. The second water supply path 222 is a path used when adding a laundry treatment agent, such as a detergent, in the washing process.

The first water supply valve 231 is, for example, a three-way valve, and opens and closes the first water supply path 221 and the third water supply path 223. The second water supply valve 232 opens and closes the second water supply path 222. Note that a configuration may be provided in which separate water supply valves are provided to open and close the first water supply path 221 and the third water supply path 223, respectively.

The treatment agent injection mechanism 30 is provided, for example, midway through the water supply path 22, and has the function of introducing a laundry treatment agent into the water flowing through the water supply path 22 to supply water containing the laundry treatment agent into the water tub 12 and the rotating tub 13. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the treatment agent injection mechanism 30 is composed of a storage section 31, a pump 32, a cover member 33, a treatment agent case 40, and a treatment agent tank 50.

As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the storage section 31 is made of resin or metal and has a box or container shape, and has an opening 34 that opens toward the top. As shown in Figure 1, the storage section 31 is provided at the top inside the outer box 11. The storage section 31 is provided near the left and right sides of the outer box 11, in this case near the left side. The top end of the storage section 31, i.e., the opening 34, is located slightly below the top surface 111. The cover member 33 fits into the space between the opening 34 and the top surface 111.

The storage section 31 constitutes a part of the water supply path 22. In this case, the outlet side of the water supply valve 23 in the water supply path 22 is directly or indirectly connected to the storage section 31. The storage section 31 is then directly or indirectly connected to the water tank 12. In this embodiment, the water supply pipe 24 extends from the outlet side of each water supply valve 231, 232 to the storage section 31. The water supply pipe 25 extends from the storage section 31 to the water tank 12. In other words, the water supply path 22 is configured to include the connection port 21, the water supply valve 23, the water supply pipe 24, the storage section 31, and the water supply pipe 25 in this order with respect to the direction in which the water flows.

The pump 32, together with the treatment agent tank 50, constitutes an automatic dispenser for automatically supplying laundry treatment agent into the water tub 12 and the spin tub 13 during operation. The pump 32 has the function of sucking out a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent from the treatment agent tank 50 during operation and dispensing the sucked laundry treatment agent into a midway portion of the water supply path 22. As a result, the laundry treatment agent supplied midway through the water supply path 22 is supplied into the water tub 12 and the spin tub 13 together with the water flowing through the water supply path 22. In this way, the washing machine 10 can automatically supply a predetermined amount of laundry treatment agent into the water tub 12 and the spin tub 13 during operation.

The cover member 33 is rotatably attached to the outer box 11 and opens and closes the opening 34 of the storage section 31 by rotation, and is configured to be foldable and rotatable in a folded-out state. That is, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the cover member 33 is rotatably attached to the top surface 111 of the outer box 11 and is configured to be able to open and close the opening 34 of the storage section 31. In this embodiment, the cover member 33 is configured to be foldable at least in two. The cover member 33 is configured to be able to open and close the opening 34 by rotating in a folded-out state at least in two.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 9, the storage section 31 has an outer periphery 35, a bottom 36, a water inlet 37, a storage section outlet 38, a water inlet passage 363, and a partition 60. The outer periphery 35 forms the outer periphery of the storage section 31. The bottom 36 forms the bottom of the storage section 31. The water inlet 37 is an opening formed in the outer periphery 35, which exposes the downstream end of the water supply pipe 24 toward the storage section 31 and functions as an inlet of the water supply path 22 to the storage section 31. The storage section outlet 38 is an opening formed in the lower part of the storage section 31, to which the upstream end of the water supply pipe 25 is connected and functions as an outlet from the storage section 31 of the water supply path 22. The water inlet passage 363 is a passage for water and laundry treatment agent provided toward the storage section outlet 38 in the downstream part of the storage section 31. The partition 60 at least partially divides the storage section 31 into a plurality of spaces. In this case, the partition 60 separates the space into a case housing section 311, which is the space that houses the treatment agent case 40, and a tank housing section 312, which is the space that houses the treatment agent tank 50.

The treatment agent case 40 and the treatment agent tank 50 are removably housed in the storage section 31 as shown in Figures 3 and 4. The treatment agent case 40 and the treatment agent tank 50 are arranged adjacent to each other in the storage section 31. For example, the treatment agent case 40 and the treatment agent tank 50 are arranged in a straight line in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction. In this case, in the storage section 31, the case storage section 311 is arranged on the side closer to a user who stands at the front of the washing machine 10 to operate it, and the tank storage section 312 can be arranged on the side farther from the user than the case storage section 311.

In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the treatment agent case 40 and the treatment agent tank 50 are stored side by side in the front-to-rear direction in the storage section 31. The treatment agent case 40 is located in front of the treatment agent tank 50, i.e., closer to a user standing at the front of the washing machine 10 to operate it. In other embodiments, when the treatment agent case 40 and the treatment agent tank 50 are arranged side by side in the left-to-right direction, the treatment agent case 40 can be located closer to the center of the washing machine 10 in the left-to-right direction than the treatment agent tank 50, i.e., closer to a user standing at the front of the washing machine 10 to operate it.

The treatment agent case 40 has the function of receiving the treatment agent to be used in one operation, which is manually added by the user, for example, before operation or at the start of operation, and supplying the added treatment agent to the water tank 12 and the rotating tank 13 during operation. The treatment agent case 40 is made, for example, of resin, and is configured as a rectangular container that is long in the front-to-back or left-to-right directions and has an open top. In this embodiment, the treatment agent case 40 is formed as a rectangle that is long in the left-to-right direction overall.

The treatment agent case 40 is formed in a container shape that is recessed downward as shown in Figures 9 to 14. The treatment agent case 40 has one or more (in this case, two) input sections 401, 402. The user inputs the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent case 40 from the openings at the top of the input sections 401, 402. The input sections 401, 402 receive the laundry treatment agent manually input by the user. The input section 401 receives, for example, a powder or liquid detergent as the laundry treatment agent. The input section 401 receives, for example, a liquid finishing agent as the laundry treatment agent. The input section 401 and the input section 402 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the input section 401 and the input section 402 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction, with the input section 401 being located farther from the user, i.e., on the back side, and the input section 402 being located closer to the user, i.e., on the front side.

The treatment agent tank 50 is configured to be able to store an amount of laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple runs. The treatment agent tank 50 is, for example, made of resin, and is configured as a hollow rectangular container that is long in the front-to-back or left-to-right direction, and is capable of storing liquid laundry treatment agent. The treatment agent tank 50 has a sufficient capacity to store an amount of laundry treatment agent to be used for multiple runs. In this case, the capacity of the treatment agent tank 50 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.

As shown in Figures 2 to 4, the treatment agent tank 50 has a tank body 51, a tank inlet 52, a lid member 53, and a tank outlet 54. The tank body 51 forms the outer shell of the treatment agent tank 50 and is made of synthetic resin such as plastic. The tank inlet 52 is formed at the top of the tank body 51 and opens upward. The lid member 53 is rotatably attached to the tank body 51 and opens and closes the tank inlet 52. The user opens the lid member 53 and pours the laundry treatment agent into the treatment agent tank 50 through the tank inlet 52.

The tank outlet 54 is an opening that penetrates, for example, a part of the back part of the tank body 51, and is an opening through which the laundry treatment agent sucked out of the treatment agent tank 50 by the pump 32 passes. The pump 32 is provided on the outside of the storage section 31, in this case behind the storage section 31. The pump 32 has a connection section 321. The connection section 321 is formed in a tubular shape that penetrates the storage section 31, and connects the inside of the storage section 31 and the pump 32. When the treatment agent tank 50 is attached to the storage section 31, the connection section 321 is inserted into the tank outlet 54, and the pump 32 and the inside of the treatment agent tank 50 are connected.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the washing machine 10 is provided with one or more (in this case, two) treatment agent tanks 50. In this embodiment, the washing machine 10 is provided with a detergent tank 501 and a finishing agent tank 502 as the treatment agent tanks 50. The detergent tank 501 is for storing an amount of detergent used for multiple operations, in this case liquid detergent. The finishing agent tank 502 is for storing an amount of finishing agent used for multiple operations, in this case liquid finishing agent. The treatment agent tank 501 and the treatment agent tank 502 are arranged side by side in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the treatment agent tank 501 and the treatment agent tank 502 are arranged side by side in the left-right direction, with the treatment agent tank 501 being located farther from the axis of the water tub 12, in this case the left side, and the treatment agent tank 502 being located closer to the axis of the water tub 12, in this case the right side.

As shown in Figures 4 to 8, the outer periphery 35 of the storage section 31 is composed of a front section 351, a left section 352, a right section 353, and a back section 354. The front section 351 forms the front surface of the storage section 31. The left section 352 and the right section 353 form the left and right side surfaces of the storage section 31, respectively. The back section 354 forms the back surface of the storage section 31. The front section 351 has a step section 3511. The step section 3511 is provided at a position a predetermined distance below the opening 34 of the storage section 31, and protrudes toward the inside of the storage section 31. The step section 3511 is formed in an elongated rectangle with its longer sides in the left-right direction.

The step 3511 is provided over a portion or the entire width of the storage section 31 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the step 3511 is provided over a portion of the width of the storage section 31 in the left-right direction. Specifically, the step 3511 is provided closer to the water inlet 37, that is, on the right side of the storage section 31. In other words, the step 3511 extends from the right side section 353 where the water inlet 37 is provided toward the water inlet passage 363, that is, to the left.

The left end of the step 3511 is provided at a position away from the left side portion 352. In this embodiment, the step 3511 is provided across at least the entire left-right width of the first bottom 361. The left-right width of the step 3511 can be set to, for example, at least 1/2 to at least 3/4 of the left-right width of the storage section 31. In this embodiment, the left-right width of the step 3511 is set to approximately 2/3 of the left-right width of the storage section 31.

The height position of the step portion 3511 from the floor surface is set to be approximately constant across the entire width of the step portion 3511. In other words, the step portion 3511 forms a surface that extends in a horizontal direction. The step portion 511 functions as a support portion that supports the treatment agent case 40.

As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, one or more water inlets 37 (three in this case) are provided near the center of the washing machine 10 in the left-right direction on the outer periphery 35 of the storage section 31. In this embodiment, the multiple water inlets 37 are provided in a row in the front-rear direction near the front end of the right side section 353. The first water inlet 371 and the second water inlet 372 face the detergent inlet 401 when the treatment agent case 40 is stored in the storage section 31, and supply water to the detergent inlet 401. The third water inlet 373 faces the finishing agent inlet 402 when the treatment agent case 40 is stored in the storage section 31, and supply water to the finishing agent inlet 402. The first water inlet 371 constitutes a part of the first water supply path 221. The second water inlet 372 constitutes a part of the second water supply path 222. The third water inlet 373 constitutes a part of the third water supply path 223.

As shown in FIG. 5 etc., the bottom 36 includes a first bottom 361, a second bottom 362, and a water injection passage 363. The first bottom 361 constitutes at least a part of the bottom of the case housing section 311. In this embodiment, the first bottom 361 is provided at the front of the bottom 36. The first bottom 361 is surrounded by the front section 351 and the right side section 353. The second bottom 362 constitutes at least a part of the bottom of the tank housing section 312. In this embodiment, the second bottom 362 is provided at the back of the bottom 36. The second bottom 362 is surrounded by the back section 354, the left side section 352, and the right side section 353.

The water injection passage 363 is formed between the case housing 311 and the tank housing 312, and forms the bottom of a part of the case housing 311 and a part of the tank housing 312. The water injection passage 363 is provided in a direction away from the water injection port 37 relative to the first bottom 361. In this embodiment, the water injection passage 363 is provided on the left side in a direction away from the center of the left-right direction of the washing machine 10 of the first bottom 361. The water injection passage 363 extends from the front part 351 of the housing 31 to the housing outlet 38 and is surrounded by the front part 351 and the left side part 352. The downstream part of the water injection passage 363, that is, the back side part, protrudes toward the second bottom 362. Therefore, the second bottom 362 is formed in an inverted L shape with a part recessed toward the back side in a plan view corresponding to the downstream part of the water injection passage 363.

6 and 7, the water injection passage 363 is set at a lower height from the floor than the first bottom 361 and the second bottom 362. Therefore, the water injection passage 363 forms the part with the lowest height in the storage section 31. Furthermore, the water injection passage 363 is inclined so as to descend from the front end to the rear end, that is, toward the storage section outlet 38. This inclination angle can be set, for example, from 0.5° to 2°. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the water injection passage 363 with respect to the front-to-rear direction is set to approximately 1°.

As shown in Figs. 6 to 8, a rising portion 39 is formed at the downstream portion of the water injection passage 363, i.e., the rear end portion. The rising portion 39 forms a surface that extends in a generally vertical direction and connects the water injection passage 363 and the second bottom portion 362. In this embodiment, the rising portion 39 is bent and is formed to include a surface that is generally perpendicular to the front-rear direction and a surface that is perpendicular to the left-right direction. In other words, the rising portion 39 is configured to include a portion that faces the front portion 351 of the storage portion 31 and a portion that faces the left side portion 352. The rising portion 39 is formed below the tank storage portion 312. In other words, when the treatment agent tank 50 is stored in the storage portion 31, the rising portion 39 is provided so as to be located below the treatment agent tank 50 (in this case, the detergent tank 501).

The water injection passage 363 is connected to the tank storage section 312 at the downstream portion, i.e., the rear end. Therefore, for example, when a user cleans the tank storage section 312 by pouring water into it, the water can be drained from the storage section outlet 38 via the water injection passage 363.

The storage section outlet 38 is an opening formed in the rising portion 39. Therefore, the storage section outlet 38 is formed below the tank storage section 312 as shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the storage section outlet 38 is provided in a portion of the rising portion 39 that forms a surface perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, that is, on a surface that is approximately perpendicular to the direction of travel of the water flowing through the water injection passage 363. The storage section outlet 38 is formed penetrating the rising portion 39 in the front-to-rear direction, that is, in the thickness direction of the rising portion 39. The storage section outlet 38 is connected to the water tank 12 via the water supply pipe 25.

The first bottom 361 and the second bottom 362 are inclined downward from the water inlet 37 side toward the water inlet passage 363 side or the storage section outlet 38 side. In other words, the first bottom 361 and the second bottom 362 are inclined downward in the direction away from the center in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10, in this case toward the left side. Therefore, water injected from the water inlet 37 into the case storage section 311 naturally reaches the water inlet passage 363 along the inclination of the first bottom 361. Furthermore, since the water inlet passage 363 is inclined toward the storage section outlet 38, it is easy to drain the water from the storage section outlet 38.

The first bottom 361 is basically set at a higher height from the floor than the second bottom 362. Therefore, the difference in height between the first bottom 361 and the water injection passage 363 is greater, and water injected from the water injection port 37 into the case storage section 311 is more likely to flow down into the water injection passage 363 with force. In addition, the height at which water falls from the water injection port 37 onto the first bottom 361, whether through the treatment agent case 40 or not, is set relatively low, so excessive splashing of water at the first bottom 361 is suppressed.

As shown in Figures 5 to 8, the partition wall 60 is provided to protrude upward from between the first bottom 361 and the second bottom 362. The partition wall 60 prevents water poured into the case housing portion 311 from the water inlet 37 from entering the tank housing portion 312. In this embodiment, the partition wall 60 extends in the left-right direction and divides the case housing portion 311 and the tank housing portion 312 in the front-rear direction.

The partition 60 is provided over a portion or the entire width of the storage section 31 in the left-right direction. In this embodiment, the partition 60 is provided over a portion of the left-right width of the storage section 31. The partition 60 is provided at least near the water inlet 37, that is, on the right side of the storage section 31. In other words, the partition 60 extends from the right side 353 where the water inlet 37 is provided toward the water inlet passage 363, that is, to the left.

The left end of the partition 60 is located away from the left side portion 352. In this embodiment, the base of the left end of the partition 60, i.e., the connection with the bottom 36, generally coincides with the boundary between the first bottom 361 and the water injection passage 363. In other words, the partition 60 is located across at least the entire width of the first bottom 361. The left-right width of the partition 60 can be set to, for example, 1/2 to 3/4 or more of the left-right width of the storage section 31. In this embodiment, the left-right width of the partition 60 is set to approximately 2/3 of the left-right width of the storage section 31.

As shown in FIG. 7, the height position of the upper end 61 of the partition 60 from the floor surface is set to be generally constant across the entire width of the partition 60. In other words, the upper end 61 of the partition 60 extends in a horizontal direction. The partition 60 functions as a support that supports the treatment agent case 40, similar to the step 3511. The partition 60 and the step 3511 are disposed opposite each other. In this embodiment, the width dimension in the left-right direction of the partition 60 and the width dimension in the left-right direction of the step 3511 are set to be generally the same.

As shown in Figures 9 to 14, the treatment agent case 40 has walls 41, 42, an upper edge 43, a partition 44, a bottom 45, a bottom opening 46, a drain tube 47, and support portions 48, 49. The walls 41, 42 form the outer periphery of the container-shaped treatment agent case 40. The upper edge 43 is formed to protrude upward from the walls 41, 42, and has the function of preventing the laundry treatment agent from spilling or scattering from the treatment agent case 40. The partition 44 is provided between the input portion 401 and the input portion 402, and has the function of preventing the laundry treatment agent from entering or scattering into one of the input portions 401, 402 when the user inputs the laundry treatment agent into the other.

The bottom 45 forms the bottom surface of the container-shaped treatment agent case 40. The bottom opening 46 is an opening formed in the bottom surface of the detergent input section 401, and serves as an outlet from the treatment agent case 40 for the water poured into the detergent input section 401 and the detergent input. The drain tube 47 is provided to protrude upward from the bottom 45 of the finishing agent input section 402. The drain tube 47, together with the cap 70, constitutes a siphon mechanism that discharges the water poured into the finishing agent input section 402 and the finishing agent input from the treatment agent case 40. Although not shown in detail, the cap 70 has a tube portion formed in a hollow, bottomed tube shape that is closed at the top and open at the bottom, and the tube portion is configured so that the drain tube 47 can be inserted into it.

One or more (in this case six) supported parts 48, 49 are provided on the outer surface of the treatment agent case 40. The supported part 48 is provided on the outer surface of the treatment agent case 40 on the detergent input section 401 side. The supported part 49 is provided on the outer surface of the treatment agent case 40 on the finishing agent input section 402 side. When the treatment agent case 40 is housed in the housing section 31, the supported parts 48, 49 are supported from below by directly or indirectly contacting the step part 3511 or the upper end part 61 of the partition part 60 as a support part. In this embodiment, the supported part 48 is supported by directly contacting the upper end part 61 of the partition part 60. The supported part 49 is supported by directly contacting the upper end part 61 of the step part 3511.

The walls 41 and 42 form the outer peripheries of the detergent dispenser 401 and the finishing agent dispenser 402, respectively. The wall 41 includes a front wall 411, a left wall 412, a right wall 413, and a rear wall 414. The front wall 411 forms the front surface of the detergent dispenser 401. The left wall 412 and the right wall 413 form the left and right surfaces of the detergent dispenser 401. The rear wall 414 forms the rear surface of the detergent dispenser 401. The wall 42 includes a front wall 421, a left wall 422, a right wall 423, and a rear wall 424. The front wall 421 forms the front surface of the finishing agent dispenser 402. The left wall 422 and the right wall 423 form the left and right surfaces of the finishing agent dispenser 402. The rear wall 424 forms the rear surface of the finishing agent feed section 402. The upper ends of the walls 41 and 42 are located on a surface that extends generally horizontally throughout the entire treatment agent case 40. In other words, the height positions of the upper ends of the walls 411, 412, 413, 414, 421, 422, 423, and 424 from the floor surface are set to be generally the same.

As shown in Figures 10-14, each wall portion 411, 412, 413, 414 of the detergent input portion 401 is inclined so that it approaches the bottom opening 46 as it goes downward. In other words, each wall portion 411, 412, 413, 413 is inclined so that it approaches the center of the detergent input portion 401 as it goes downward. This makes it easier for the laundry treatment agent and water input into the detergent input portion 401 to be discharged from the bottom opening 46.

13 and 14, the surface 62 of the partition 60 on the case storage section 311 side is inclined along the inclination of the back wall 414. In other words, the surface 62 forms an inclined surface that decreases toward the front. The surface 62 forms a surface that is close to and parallel to the back wall 414 over almost the entire width of the partition 60 in the left-right direction. In other words, the surface 62 forms a surface that is close to and parallel to the back wall 414 over at least the entire width of the bottom opening 46 in the left-right direction. Therefore, there is a slight gap or no gap between the surface 62 and the back wall 414 and they are in surface contact. As a result, even if water or laundry treatment agent that has fallen from the bottom opening 46 bounces upward on the first bottom 361, it is suppressed from entering the tank storage section 312 through the gap between the partition 60 and the treatment agent case 40. In this embodiment, a slight gap is formed between the surface 62 and the back wall 414. In other embodiments, the surface portion 62 and the rear wall portion 414 may be in surface contact.

Here, we consider a case where all of the water injected into the detergent input section 401 falls approximately vertically downward from the bottom opening 46 to the first bottom 361. In this case, there is a risk that the water will bounce off the first bottom 361 and splash away due to the difference in height from the bottom opening 46 to the first bottom 361 and the fact that the first bottom 361 forms a surface that is approximately perpendicular to the direction in which the water falls. In contrast, in this embodiment, the bottom opening 46 is provided above the surface 62 in an area that at least partially overlaps with the surface 62 in a plan view. In other words, the bottom opening 46 and the surface 62 at least partially overlap in the vertical direction. The surface 62 overlaps in the vertical direction with at least the front portion of the bottom opening 46, but not with the rear portion, i.e., the side closer to the tank storage section 312.

As a result, at least a portion of the water that passes through the bottom opening 46 does not fall directly onto the first bottom 361, but falls onto the inclined surface 62. Since the height difference between the bottom opening 46 and the surface 62 is smaller than the height difference between the bottom opening 46 and the first bottom 361, the water that falls onto the surface 62 is less likely to splash than if it fell onto the first bottom 361. In addition, since the surface 62 is inclined, the water that falls onto the surface 62 is guided further downward along the inclination of the surface 62. In this case, since the surface 62 is inclined toward the center of the case storage section 311 as it goes downward, in other words, in a direction away from the tank storage section 312, the water that falls onto the surface 62 is guided in a direction away from the tank storage section 312. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the splashing of water that falls from the bottom opening 46 and the intrusion into the tank storage section 312. In addition, the surface portion 62 overlaps vertically with the side closer to the tank housing portion 312, effectively preventing water from entering the tank housing portion 312.

The upper end of the rear wall 414 of the detergent dispenser 401 protrudes toward the outside of the detergent dispenser 401, i.e., toward the rear. In addition, the upper end of the front wall 421 of the finishing agent dispenser 402 protrudes toward the outside of the finishing agent dispenser 402, i.e., toward the front. Therefore, the cross-sectional area of the treatment agent case 40 is set to be smaller at the lower end of the treatment agent case 40 than at the upper end of the treatment agent case 40 or the upper ends of the walls 41, 42.

The upper edge 43 has a front edge 431, a left edge 432, and a back edge 433. The front edge 431 extends upward from the upper end of the front wall 421 to form the front surface of the upper edge 43. The left edge 432 extends upward from the upper ends of the left walls 412 and 422 to form the left surface of the upper edge 43. The back edge 433 extends upward from the upper end of the back wall 414 to form the rear surface of the upper edge 43. The upper side of the right wall 413 and 423 faces the water inlet 37 and serves as the inlet for water to the treatment agent case 40, so the upper edge 43 is not provided. The height position of the upper end of the upper edge 43 from the floor surface is approximately the same as the height position of the opening 34 from the floor surface.

In FIG. 4, the partition wall 60 is indicated by a dashed line. When the treatment agent case 40 is attached to the storage section 31, the treatment agent case 40 is positioned so that at least a portion of the treatment agent case 40 overlaps with the partition wall 60 in a plan view. In other words, the treatment agent case 40 is stored in the storage section 31 so that at least a portion of the treatment agent case 40 overlaps with the partition wall 60 in the up-down direction. In this case, at least a portion of the back edge portion 433 and at least a portion of the upper portion of the back wall portion 414 are located above the partition wall 60. Therefore, when the treatment agent case 40 is attached to the storage section 31, the upper end portion 61 of the partition wall 60 is not visible to the user.

In FIG. 4, the step 3511 is indicated by a dashed line. When the treatment agent case 40 is attached to the storage unit 31, the treatment agent case 40 is positioned so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the step 3511 in a plan view. In other words, the treatment agent case 40 is stored in the storage unit 31 so that at least a portion of it overlaps with the step 3511 in the up-down direction. In this case, at least a portion of the front edge portion 431 and at least a portion of the upper portion of the front wall portion 421 are located above the step 3511. Therefore, when the treatment agent case 40 is attached to the storage unit 31, the step 3511 is not visible to the user.

As shown in FIG. 14, the height position of the upper end of the water inlet 371, 372, 373 from the floor surface is set lower than the height position of the upper end of the upper edge 43 from the floor surface. In other words, the front edge 431, the left edge 432, and the back edge 433 extend higher than the water inlet 371, 372, 373. Therefore, the water injected from the water inlet 371, 372, 373 into each input part 401, 402 is prevented from splashing outside the treatment agent case 40. The height position of the upper end of the right wall part 413, 423 from the floor surface is set lower than the height position of the upper end of the water inlet 37 from the floor surface, and the part surrounded by the upper end of the right wall part 413, 423, the front edge part 431, and the back edge part 433 becomes the inlet of water to each input part 401, 402.

In this embodiment, the height position of the lower end of the first water inlet 371 and the third water inlet 373 from the floor surface is set to be equal to or higher than the height position of the upper end of the right wall portion 413, 423 from the floor surface. More specifically, the height position of the lower end of the first water inlet 371 and the third water inlet 373 from the floor surface is set to be approximately the same as the height position of the upper end of the right wall portion 413, 423 from the floor surface. Therefore, when the first water supply valve 231 is opened to the first water supply path 221 side, the water that has come to the first water inlet 371 through the water supply pipe 24 passes above the upper end of the right wall portion 413 and is poured into the input portion 401. Also, when the first water supply valve 231 is opened to the third water supply path 223 side, the water that has come to the third water inlet 373 through the water supply pipe 24 passes above the upper end of the right wall portion 423 and is poured into the input portion 402.

On the other hand, the height position of the lower end of the second water inlet 372 from the floor surface is set lower than the height position of the upper end of the right wall portion 413, 423 from the floor surface. In other words, when the treatment agent case 40 is stored in the storage portion 31, the second water inlet 372 is partially exposed and partially covered by the treatment agent case 40. Therefore, when the second water supply valve 232 is opened and water flows into the second water supply path 222, part of the water that has reached the second water inlet 372 through the water supply pipe 24 passes above the upper end of the right wall portion 413 and is injected into the input portion 401. The remaining part passes between the right wall portion 413 and the right side portion 353 of the storage portion 31 and flows down to the first bottom portion 361. At this time, the water that is not poured into the input section 401 from the second water inlet 372 runs along the outer surface of the right wall section 413 of the treatment agent case 40 and the outer periphery 35 of the storage section 31, spilling or overflowing from the treatment agent case 40, washing away the laundry treatment agent that has adhered to the outside of the treatment agent case 40.

The partition 44 divides the upper space in the treatment agent case 40 in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, dividing it into the input section 401 side and the input section 402 side. In this embodiment, the partition 44 extends in the left-right direction and divides the space in the treatment agent case 40 in the front-rear direction. In this case, extending in the left-right direction does not mean only extending strictly parallel to the left-right direction, but means extending in a direction that mainly includes a left-right component. In this embodiment, the partition 44 is inclined with respect to the left-right direction. For example, the partition 44 is formed so that the right end portion closer to the center in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10 is closer to the front than the left end portion closer to the outside in the left-right direction of the washing machine 10. That is, the input section 401 and the input section 402 are each formed to be approximately trapezoidal in a plan view as a whole. The bottom opening 46 is also formed to be approximately trapezoidal in a plan view as a whole.

The partition 44 extends above the upper ends of the water inlets 371, 372, and 373. Therefore, the partition 44 prevents water from entering the finishing agent inlet 402 when water is poured into the detergent inlet 401 from the first water inlet 371 or the second water inlet 372. The partition 44 also prevents water from entering the detergent inlet 401 when water is poured into the finishing agent inlet 402 from the third water inlet 373.

The partition 44 is provided with a notch 441. The notch 441 functions as an overflow section that causes water to overflow onto the input section 401 side when a large amount of water is poured into the input section 402 side at once and the drainage from the drain tube 47 cannot keep up.

The bottom 45 forms the bottom surface of the container shape of the treatment agent case 40. The bottom 45 forms the bottom surface of the container shape of at least one of the input part 401 or the input part 402. In this embodiment, the bottom 45 forms the bottom surface of the container shape of the input part 402.

The bottom opening 46 is an opening formed by penetrating the container-shaped bottom of the input part 401 in the thickness direction, and connects the inside of the input part 401 to the space below the input part 401. The bottom opening 46 has the function of pouring out the powdered or liquid laundry treatment agent and the injected water fed into the input part 401 and flowing them to the outside of the treatment agent case 40, that is, the downstream part in the storage part 31. In this embodiment, the part corresponding to the bottom of the container-shaped input part 401 is entirely open to form the bottom opening 46, but in other embodiments, the input part 401 may have a bottom 45 and a bottom opening 46 in a part of the bottom 45.

The bottom opening 46 is provided closer to the water inlet 37 of the treatment agent case 40 in plan view, i.e., closer to the right in this case. The left-right width of the bottom opening 46 can be set, for example, to about 1/3 to about 2/3 of the left-right width of the treatment agent case 40. In this embodiment, the left-right width of the bottom opening 46 is set to about 1/3 to about 2/3 of the left-right width of the treatment agent case 40.

As shown in FIG. 4, the end of the bottom opening 46 on the side opposite the water inlet 37, i.e., the left end in this case, is located at approximately the same position as the left end of the partition 60 in the left-right direction, or closer to the water inlet 37 than the partition 60, i.e., on the right side in this case. Here, the side opposite the water inlet 37 means the side away from the water inlet 37. In this embodiment, the end of the bottom opening 46 on the side opposite the water inlet 37 is located at approximately the same position as the left end of the partition 60 in the left-right direction. In other words, the bottom opening 46 is located vertically above the first bottom 361. Therefore, the bottom opening 46 does not overlap with the water inlet passage 363 in the up-down direction in a plan view. In other words, the bottom opening 46 is provided in an area closer to the water inlet 37 than the water inlet passage 363 in a plan view.

A portion of the laundry treatment agent put into the input section 401 by the user immediately falls from the bottom opening 46 to the first bottom 361. When the first water supply valve 231 or the second water supply valve 232 is opened and water is poured into the input section 401 through the first water inlet 371 or the second water inlet 372, the water falls from the bottom opening 46 while washing away the laundry treatment agent remaining in the input section 401. The first bottom 361 forms a slope that descends toward the opposite water inlet 37 side, that is, toward the left in this case. Therefore, the water or water containing the laundry treatment agent that reaches the first bottom 361 flows toward the opposite water inlet 37 side, that is, generally toward the left in this case. Then, when the water or water containing the laundry treatment agent reaches the water inlet passage 363, it flows toward the storage section outlet 38 according to the slope of the water inlet passage 363 that descends toward the rear. In other words, the water that flows out of the bottom opening 46 or the water that contains the laundry treatment agent does not flow in a straight line toward the storage outlet 38, but flows toward the left side, then turns approximately 90 degrees and flows toward the rear.

As shown in Figures 4 and 10 to 13, the drain tube 47 is provided on the side of the treatment agent case 40 opposite the water injection port 37, i.e., in this case, toward the left, in a plan view. In this embodiment, the drain tube 47 is provided to the left of the left end of the bottom opening 46. The drain tube 47 is located vertically above the water injection passage 363.

As shown in Figures 13 and 14, the bottom opening 46 and the lower end of the drain tube 47 are located at the lower end of the treatment agent case 40. The lower end of the treatment agent case 40 is located below the upper end 61 of the partition 60. The lower end of the treatment agent case 40 is also located below the step 3511. In other words, the depth dimension of the treatment agent case 40 from the opening 34 is set deeper than the depth dimensions of the upper end 61 of the partition 60 and the step 3511 from the opening 34.

The water or laundry treatment agent flowing out of the drain tube 47 falls and reaches the first bottom 361. In this case, the water or water containing the laundry treatment agent flowing out of the drain tube 47 falls into the water injection passage 363. Thereafter, the water or water containing the laundry treatment agent flows toward the storage section outlet 38 according to the inclination of the water injection passage 363 descending toward the rear.

In the downstream part of the storage section 31, water or water containing laundry treatment agent flows toward the storage section outlet 38 in a direction perpendicular to the long side of the treatment agent case 40. In this case, in the downstream part of the storage section 31, water or water containing laundry treatment agent flows toward the storage section outlet 38 in the front-to-rear direction. Here, the direction perpendicular to the long side of the treatment agent case 40 or the front-to-rear direction does not necessarily mean a direction that intersects at a 90° angle strictly or only the front-to-rear direction, but rather means a direction perpendicular to the long side of the treatment agent case 40 or a direction that mainly includes a front-to-rear component.

As shown in Figures 9 to 14, the multiple supported parts 48 are formed on the outer surface side of the back wall part 414, protruding downward from the upper end part that protrudes outward. The multiple supported parts 49 are formed on the outer surface side of the front wall part 421, protruding downward from the upper end part that protrudes outward. The multiple supported parts 48, 49 (six in this case) are arranged at approximately equal intervals in the left-right direction. The supported parts 48, 49 are provided in the parts that face the partition part 60 or the step part 3511 when the treatment agent case 40 is contained in the storage part 31. In this embodiment, the partition part 60 and the step part 3511 are provided near the water inlet 37 of the storage part 31, that is, on the right side in this case. Therefore, the supported parts 48, 49 are not provided over the entire left-right direction of the treatment agent case 40, but are provided near the water inlet 37, that is, to the right. In other embodiments, the supported portions 48, 49 may be provided across the entire left-right direction of the treatment agent case 40.

Each supported portion 48, 49 is formed in a plate shape, and the lower end forms a surface that extends in a horizontal direction. The lower end of each supported portion 48, 49 becomes a contact surface that contacts the upper end 61 of the partition portion 60 and the step portion 3511 when the treatment agent case 40 is attached to the storage portion 31.

The treatment agent case 40 will not be properly stored in the storage unit 31 unless it is attached in the appropriate orientation. In other words, because the treatment agent case 40 is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, it is possible that the user may mistakenly attach it to the storage unit 31 rotated, for example, by 180 degrees. However, if it is not oriented appropriately, at least one of the supported portions 48, 49 will interfere with the storage unit 31, and the treatment agent case 40 will not be properly stored in the storage unit 31.

12, the vertical length dimension L1 of the supported portion 48 is set shorter than the vertical length dimension L2 of the supported portion 49. That is, the lower end of the supported portion 48 is located higher than the lower end of the supported portion 49. As shown in FIG. 14, the depth position D1 of the upper end 61 of the partition portion 60 from the top surface 111 is set shallower than the depth position D2 of the step portion 3511 from the top surface 111. That is, the upper end 61 of the partition portion 60 is located higher than the step portion 3511. Therefore, the installation surface of the supported portion 48 and the upper end 61 of the partition portion 60 is located higher than the installation surface of the supported portion 49 and the step portion 3511. In other words, the installation surface of the supported portion 48 with respect to the storage portion 31 and the installation surface of the supported portion 49 with respect to the storage portion 31 are set to be different in height. The difference between length dimension L2 and length dimension L1 is set to be equal to the difference between depth position D2 and depth position D1.

When the treatment agent case 40 is inserted into the storage section 31 after being rotated 180 degrees, the supported portion 49 comes into contact with the upper end 61 of the partition section 60 before the supported portion 48 comes into contact with the step portion 3511. In other words, the treatment agent case 40 protrudes above the opening 34 and is restricted from moving downward. In addition, because the supported portion 48 and the step portion 3511 are not in contact, the treatment agent case 40 is slightly tilted and wobbly. Therefore, the user can easily recognize that the orientation of the treatment agent case 40 is not appropriate.

The space for housing the treatment agent case 40 and the space for housing the treatment agent tank 50 are located within a single housing section 31. In this case, if left as is, the laundry treatment agent put into the treatment agent case 40 by the user and the water poured into the treatment agent case 40 from the water inlet 37 may flow or splash into the space housing the treatment agent tank 50. Furthermore, since water is not actively poured into the storage space of the treatment agent tank 50 during the washing operation, if the laundry treatment agent or water containing the laundry treatment agent adheres to the outer surface of the treatment agent tank 50, it may not be washed away during the washing operation and may become stuck there.

In contrast, according to the present embodiment described above, the washing machine 10 as a clothing treatment device includes an outer box 11, a water tub 12, a storage section 31, a treatment agent case 40, and a treatment agent tank 50. The outer box 11 is formed in a box shape. The water tub 12 is provided inside the outer box 11. The storage section 31 is provided inside the outer box 11 and has an opening 34 formed on the top surface 111 side of the outer box 11. The treatment agent case 40 is formed in a container shape with an open top, and receives laundry treatment agent for one washing run from the user and supplies it to the water tub 12. The treatment agent tank 50 is formed in a container shape and is configured to store laundry treatment agent for multiple washing runs inside. The storage section 31 detachably stores the treatment agent case 40 and the treatment agent tank 50 in a horizontally aligned state. The storage section 31 has a partition section 60. The partition 60 at least partially separates the case housing section 311, which is the space that houses the treatment agent case 40, from the tank housing section 312, which is the space that houses the treatment agent tank 50.

By providing the partition 60, water poured into the treatment agent case 40 from the water inlet 37 can be prevented from flowing into the treatment agent tank 50 or splashing into it. This allows the exterior surface of the treatment agent tank 50 and the inside of the tank storage section 312, which is the storage space for the treatment agent tank 50, to be kept clean, reducing the burden of cleaning and other tasks on the user. This provides a washing machine 10 that is more convenient for the user and more clean.

Here, we consider the case where the height position of the upper end 61 of the partition 60 is lower than the height position of the bottom opening 46. In this case, even if it is possible to prevent the water flowing through the bottom 36 of the case housing 311 from flowing out into the tank housing 312, there is a risk that the laundry treatment agent or water flowing down from the bottom opening 46 will pass over the partition 60 and enter the tank housing 312.

In contrast, the treatment agent case 40 has a bottom opening 46 at the bottom that connects the inside and outside of the treatment agent case 40. The height position of the upper end 61 of the partition section 60 from the floor surface is set higher than the height position of the bottom opening 46 from the floor surface when the treatment agent case 40 is contained in the storage section 31.

This effectively prevents the laundry treatment agent or water flowing down from the bottom opening 46 from passing over the partition 60 and entering the tank storage section 312. This allows the treatment agent tank 50 and the tank storage section 312 to be kept clean, reducing the burden of cleaning and other tasks on the user. This provides a washing machine 10 that is more convenient and clean for the user.

The partition wall 60 is provided at least in the area that overlaps with the bottom opening 46 when viewed from a direction parallel to the direction in which the treatment agent case 40 and the treatment agent tank 50 are aligned. In this embodiment, the partition wall 60 is provided at least in the area that overlaps with the bottom opening 46 when viewed in the front-rear direction, i.e., when viewed from the front.

In other words, the partition wall 60 is provided in an area that overlaps at least the right end to the left end of the bottom opening 46 in the left-right direction when viewed from the front. This prevents the laundry treatment agent or water that has flowed downward from the bottom opening 46 from entering the tank storage section 312. This allows the treatment agent tank 50 and the tank storage section 312 to be kept clean, reducing the burden of cleaning and other tasks on the user. This provides a washing machine 10 that is more convenient for the user and cleaner.

Here, the partition 60 may reduce the free space in the storage section. For example, if the partition 60 is provided on the rear side of the treatment agent case 40, that is, closer to the tank storage section 312, the tank storage section 312 may become narrower, which may put pressure on the volume of the treatment agent tank 50. In this case, the user may need to add laundry treatment agent to the treatment agent tank 50 more frequently, and the advantage of automatic addition may not be fully realized. On the other hand, if an attempt is made to secure the volume of the treatment agent tank 50, the case storage section 311 may become narrower, and the treatment agent case 40 may need to be made smaller. In this case, it may become difficult to add laundry treatment agent to the case storage section 311, which may worsen the user's workability. In addition, even if the partition 60 is provided, if there is a gap between the partition 60 and the treatment agent case 40, water or laundry treatment agent splashed or scattered from the case storage section 311 may enter the tank storage section 312.

In contrast, at least a portion of the upper edge 43 of the treatment agent case 40 overlaps with the partition 60 in the vertical direction when the treatment agent case 40 is housed in the storage section 31. In this case, at least a portion of the back edge 433 overlaps with the partition 60 in the vertical direction. The partition 60 supports the treatment agent case 40 when the treatment agent case 40 is housed in the storage section 31.

As a result, since the partition 60 is provided below the treatment agent case 40, the area of the treatment agent case 40 can be secured in a plan view. This maintains ease of operation for the user when adding laundry treatment agent. Furthermore, since the partition 60 and the treatment agent case 40 are in contact, it is possible to prevent splashed laundry treatment agent and water from entering the tank storage section 312 through the gap between the treatment agent case 40 and the partition 60. This allows the treatment agent tank 50 and the tank storage section 312 to be kept clean, reducing the burden of cleaning and other tasks on the user.

Furthermore, the face 62 of the partition 60, which faces the treatment agent case 40, extends parallel to the wall 41 of the treatment agent case 40 (in this case, the rear wall 414). In this embodiment, the front face 62 of the partition 60 forms an inclined surface that follows the inclination of the rear wall 414.

This more effectively prevents the laundry treatment agent or water that has splashed through the gap between the treatment agent case 40 and the partition 60 from entering the tank storage section 312. This provides a washing machine 10 that is more convenient and clean for the user.

The storage section 31 has a step 3511 formed on the outer periphery 35 (in this case the front part 351) that faces the partition 60, which protrudes downward toward the inside of the storage section 31 and recesses upward toward the outside of the storage section 31. The partition 60 and the step 3511 face each other and support the treatment agent case 40.

As a result, the storage section 31 supports the treatment agent case 40 not only from the rear wall section 414 side but also from the opposing front wall section 421 side, so that the treatment agent case 40 can be stably held. Therefore, rattling and tilting of the treatment agent case 40 can be suppressed.

Here, the treatment agent case 40 has, for example, a finishing agent dispenser 402 in front of the user and a detergent dispenser 401 on the rear side. The treatment agent case 40 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape, so even if it is rotated 180 degrees, its external shape in a plan view does not change. Therefore, there is a possibility that the user may mistakenly rotate it 180 degrees and attach it to the storage unit 31, resulting in an inappropriate alignment of the detergent dispenser 401 and the finishing agent dispenser 402. If the treatment agent case 40 can be attached to the storage unit 31 even in an inappropriate orientation, there is a risk that the laundry operation will not be performed normally, such as the laundry treatment agent or water overflowing or not flowing, or the area around the storage unit 31 becoming dirty.

In contrast, the height position of the upper end 61 of the partition 60 is set to be different from the height position of the step 3511. In this embodiment, the height position of the upper end 61 of the partition 60 is set higher than the height position of the step 3511. In other words, the height position of the lower end of the supported portion 48 closer to the partition 60 of the treatment agent case 40 is set to be different from the height position of the lower end of the supported portion 49 closer to the step 3511.

Accordingly, even if the treatment agent case 40 is rotated, for example, 180 degrees to be attached to the storage section 31, when the step portion 3511 is brought into contact with the supported portion 48 while the partition portion 60 is in contact with the supported portion 49, the treatment agent case 40 will tilt downward toward the front side. Therefore, when the treatment agent case 40 is rotated, for example, 180 degrees, it cannot be attached to the storage section 31 in a normal state. This makes it possible to avoid a situation in which the user mistakenly rotates the treatment agent case 40 180 degrees to attach it to the storage section 31, resulting in the laundry treatment agent not being dispensed normally. Thus, a washing machine 10 is provided that is more convenient for the user and cleaner.

Here, the water poured into the treatment agent case 40 from the water inlet 37 falls to the bottom 36 relatively close to the water inlet 37 due to gravity. Also, since the bottom opening 46 is provided closer to the water inlet 37 in terms of the left-right width of the treatment agent case 40, the laundry treatment agent added by the user and the water poured from the water inlet 37 are more likely to fall to the bottom 36 near the water inlet 37.

The storage section 31 has a water inlet 37 that serves as an inlet for supplying water from an external water source to the treatment agent case 40 when the treatment agent case 40 is stored in the storage section 31. The case storage section 311 and the tank storage section 312 are connected below the treatment agent case 40 on the opposite side to the water inlet 37 of the storage section 31, that is, on the opposite side in the left-right direction in this case. Specifically, the case storage section 311 and the tank storage section 312 are connected in the left part opposite the water inlet 37 provided on the right side of the storage section 31. In this case, the case storage section 311 and the tank storage section 312 are connected at least below the treatment agent case 40. In this embodiment, the case storage section 311 and the tank storage section 312 are connected over the entire height direction of the storage section 31 above the water inlet passage 363 provided on the left part of the storage section 31.

That is, the partition 60 separates the case storage section 311 and the tank storage section 312 at least in the portion close to the water inlet 37. The water inlet 37 and the communicating section are provided on the opposite side of the extension direction of the partition 60 (in this case, the left-right direction). In other words, the water inlet 37 is provided on the right side of the storage section 31, and the communicating section is provided on the left side of the storage section 31. Therefore, even if water is poured in from the water inlet 37 and flows down and splashes or splashes against the bottom 36, it is prevented from entering the tank storage section 312. This makes it easier to keep the treatment agent tank 50 and the tank storage section 312 clean.

In another embodiment, the case storage section 311 and the tank storage section 312 may be configured to communicate with each other at a portion opposite the water inlet 37 in the front-rear direction. For example, if the water inlet 37 is provided at the front portion 351, the case storage section 311 and the tank storage section 312 may be configured to communicate with each other at a portion on the rear side of the case storage section 311 opposite the water inlet 37 in the front-rear direction.

Furthermore, the storage section 31 has a water inlet 37, a storage section outlet 38, and a water inlet passage 363. The water inlet 37 is a supply port that supplies water from an external water source to the treatment agent case 40 when the treatment agent case 40 is stored in the storage section 31. The storage section outlet 38 is connected directly or indirectly to the water tank 12 and is an outlet from the storage section 31 for water poured into the treatment agent case 40. The water inlet passage 363 guides water poured from the water inlet 37 and laundry treatment agent put into the treatment agent case 40 by the user to the storage section outlet 38. The water inlet passage 363 is connected to the tank storage section 312 at the opposite side of the water inlet 37 of the storage section 31 (in this case, the opposite side in the left-right direction).

In the above embodiment, the height positions of the contact surfaces between the supported parts 48, 49 and the upper end 61 or step 3511 of the partition part 60 supporting each part are set to be different, thereby preventing erroneous installation of the treatment agent case 40, but this is not limited to the above. For example, the shapes of the contact surfaces between the supported parts 48, 49 and the upper end 61 or step 3511 of the partition part 60 supporting each part may be configured to be compatible with each other in a correct combination, but incompatible with an incorrect combination, thereby preventing erroneous installation of the treatment agent case 40.

Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, this embodiment is presented as an example and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. This new embodiment can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the invention. These embodiments and modifications are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention and its equivalents described in the claims.

10... washing machine (clothing treatment device), 11... outer box, 111... top surface, 12... water tub, 31... storage section, 311... case storage section, 312... tank storage section, 35... outer periphery, 351... front section (outer periphery), 3511... step section, 352... left side section (outer periphery), 353... right side section (outer periphery), 354... back section (outer periphery), 37... water inlet, 371... first water inlet (water inlet), 372...second water inlet (water inlet), 373...third water inlet (water inlet), 38...container outlet, 40...treatment agent case, 43...upper edge, 431...front edge (upper edge), 432...left edge (upper edge), 433...back edge (upper edge), 46...bottom opening, 46...bottom opening, 48, 49...supported part 50...treatment agent tank, 60...partition, 61...upper end, 62...face

Claims (8)

An outer box formed in a box shape;
A water tank provided in the outer box;
A storage section provided in the outer box and having an opening formed on a top surface side of the outer box;
a treatment agent case formed in a container shape with an open top, receiving a laundry treatment agent for one washing operation by a user and supplying the laundry treatment agent to the water tub;
The washing machine includes a treatment tank formed in a container shape and capable of storing a laundry treatment agent for multiple washing operations therein,
the storage section stores the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in a horizontally aligned state so as to be detachable through the opening , and has a partition section that at least partially separates a space for storing the treatment agent case from a space for storing the treatment agent tank,
a space for accommodating the treatment agent case and a space for accommodating the treatment agent tank are in communication with each other at least at an upper portion of the storage section;
Clothes treatment device. An outer box formed in a box shape;
A water tank provided in the outer box;
A storage section provided in the outer box and having an opening formed on a top surface side of the outer box;
a treatment agent case formed in a container shape with an open top, receiving a laundry treatment agent for one washing operation by a user and supplying the laundry treatment agent to the water tub;
The washing machine includes a treatment tank formed in a container shape and capable of storing a laundry treatment agent for multiple washing operations therein,
the storage section detachably stores the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in a horizontally aligned state, and has a partition section that at least partially separates a space for storing the treatment agent case from a space for storing the treatment agent tank,
the treatment agent case has a bottom opening at a bottom thereof, the bottom opening communicating the inside and the outside of the treatment agent case;
a height position of an upper end of the partition portion is set to be higher than a height position of the bottom opening in a state in which the treatment agent case is accommodated in the accommodation portion,
The partition is provided at least in an area that overlaps with the bottom opening when viewed from a direction parallel to a direction in which the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank are aligned. An outer box formed in a box shape;
A water tank provided in the outer box;
A storage section provided in the outer box and having an opening formed on a top surface side of the outer box;
a treatment agent case formed in a container shape with an open top, receiving a laundry treatment agent for one washing operation by a user and supplying the laundry treatment agent to the water tub;
The washing machine includes a treatment tank formed in a container shape and capable of storing a laundry treatment agent for multiple washing operations therein,
the storage section detachably stores the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in a horizontally aligned state, and has a partition section that at least partially separates a space for storing the treatment agent case from a space for storing the treatment agent tank,
With the treatment agent case housed in the housing section,
an upper edge portion of the treatment agent case at least partially overlaps with the partition wall in the vertical direction;
The partition portion supports the treatment agent case. An outer box formed in a box shape;
A water tank provided in the outer box;
A storage section provided in the outer box and having an opening formed on a top surface side of the outer box;
a treatment agent case formed in a container shape with an open top, receiving a laundry treatment agent for one washing operation by a user and supplying the laundry treatment agent to the water tub;
The washing machine includes a treatment tank formed in a container shape and capable of storing a laundry treatment agent for multiple washing operations therein,
the storage section detachably stores the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in a horizontally aligned state, and has a partition section that at least partially separates a space for storing the treatment agent case from a space for storing the treatment agent tank,
A surface of the partition portion facing the treatment agent case extends parallel to a wall of the treatment agent case. An outer box formed in a box shape;
A water tank provided in the outer box;
A storage section provided in the outer box and having an opening formed on a top surface side of the outer box;
a treatment agent case formed in a container shape with an open top, receiving a laundry treatment agent for one washing operation by a user and supplying the laundry treatment agent to the water tub;
The washing machine includes a treatment tank formed in a container shape and capable of storing a laundry treatment agent for multiple washing operations therein,
the storage section detachably stores the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in a horizontally aligned state, and has a partition section that at least partially separates a space for storing the treatment agent case from a space for storing the treatment agent tank,
the housing portion has a step portion formed on an outer periphery facing the partition portion so as to protrude downward toward the inside of the housing portion and to be recessed upward toward the outside of the housing portion,
The partition portion and the step portion face each other and support the treatment agent case. The clothing processing device according to claim 5 , wherein a height position of an upper end of the partition portion is set to be different from a height position of the step portion. An outer box formed in a box shape;
A water tank provided in the outer box;
A storage section provided in the outer box and having an opening formed on a top surface side of the outer box;
a treatment agent case formed in a container shape with an open top, receiving a laundry treatment agent for one washing operation by a user and supplying the laundry treatment agent to the water tub;
The washing machine includes a treatment tank formed in a container shape and capable of storing a laundry treatment agent for multiple washing operations therein,
the storage section detachably stores the treatment agent case and the treatment agent tank in a horizontally aligned state, and has a partition section that at least partially separates a space for storing the treatment agent case from a space for storing the treatment agent tank,
the storage section has a water inlet serving as an inlet for supplying water from an external water source to the treatment agent case in a state in which the treatment agent case is stored in the storage section,
A laundry treatment device, wherein the space housing the treatment agent case and the space housing the treatment agent tank are in communication with each other below the treatment agent case, at a portion of the storage section opposite the water inlet. the treatment agent case has a bottom opening at a bottom thereof, the bottom opening communicating the inside and the outside of the treatment agent case;
The clothing treatment device according to claim 1 , wherein the height position of the upper end of the partition is set to be higher than the height position of the bottom opening when the treatment agent case is housed in the storage section.

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