Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus includes a drum for receiving laundry therein. The drum can be directly coupled to a free end of a rotating shaft extending from a driver for providing power to rotate the drum.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus. BACKGROUND

[0002] A laundry treating apparatus includes a washing machine, a dryer, a refresh machine, etc., which is an apparatus capable of removing dust or foreign substances attached to laundry by applying a physical force to the laundry.

[0003] A washing machine is provided to perform a washing course capable of removing foreign substances of laundry by supplying water and a detergent to the laundry.

[0004] A dryer is classified into an exhaust type dryer and a circulation type dryer. The exhaust type dryer and the circulation type dryer are generally provided to perform a drying course to remove moisture contained in laundry by generating hot air at a high temperature through a heater and exposing the laundry to the hot air.

[0005] Recently, a dryer is provided to perform a drying course centrally by omitting a component for supplying water into laundry or discharging water from the laundry and also omitting a tub for accommodating water inside a cabinet. Accordingly, while simplifying an internal structure of the dryer, it has an advantage of improving a drying efficiency by supplying hot air directly to a drum in which the laundry is accommodated.

[0006] Such a dryer can include a drum in which laundry is accommodated, a hot air supplier that supplies hot air into the drum, and a driver that rotates the drum. Accordingly, the dryer is capable of drying the laundry accommodated in the drum by supplying hot air into the drum and exposing a surface of the laundry to the hot air uniformly by rotating the drum. As a result, since the entire surface of the laundry is uniformly contacted with the hot air, drying is completed.

[0007] In one example, the driver needs to be fixed inside the cabinet to rotate the drum. Also, when the driver is provided to rotate a rotating shaft coupled to the drum, the driver must be coupled in parallel with the rotating shaft. However, since the dryer does not have a tub fixed inside the cabinet, there is a limitation that the driver cannot be fixed to the tub as in the washing machine.

[0008] To solve this problem, a dryer that fixes the driver to a rear surface of the cabinet has emerged.

[0009] Figure 1 A structure of a related art dryer in which the driver is coupled to a rear surface of the cabinet is shown.

[0010] Such a dryer can include a cabinet 1 forming an appearance of the dryer, a drum 2 rotatably provided inside the cabinet 1 for accommodating laundry therein, and a driver 3 provided to rotate the drum 2.

[0011] The driver 3 can be provided on a rear surface of the drum 2, and can be provided to rotate the drum 2, and can be coupled to and fixed to the rear panel 11 forming a rear surface of the cabinet 1. Accordingly, the driver 3 can be fixed to the cabinet 1 and rotate the drum 2.

[0012] In the above-described related art dryer, the driver 3 can generally include a stator 31 fixed to the rear panel 11, a rotor 32 rotated by the stator 31, and a rotating shaft 33 coupled with the rotor 32 to rotate the drum 2, and include a decelerator 37 provided to rotate the drum 2 by increasing torque while reducing rpm (revolutions per minute) of the rotating shaft 33.

[0013] Further, the related art dryer generally further includes a fixing portion 4 for fixing the driver 3 to the rear panel 11. The fixing portion 4 can include at least one of a first fixing portion 41 for fixing the stator 31 to the rear panel 11 and a second fixing portion 42 for fixing the rotating shaft 33 to the rear panel 11. Accordingly, the related art dryer can stably rotate the drum 2 by providing the rotating shaft 33 coupled to the drum 2 and the driver 3 parallel to each other.

[0014] However, since the rear panel 11 of the cabinet is made of a thin steel plate, the rear panel 11 is easily deformed or vibrated even under a relatively small external force. Further, since the rear panel 11 receives not only the load of the driver 3 but also the load of the drum 2 through the rotating shaft 33, the rear panel 11 can be difficult to maintain its shape.

[0015] Further, when laundry inside the drum 2 is eccentric or repeatedly falls into the drum 2 as the drum 2 rotates, repeated external forces can be transmitted to the rear panel 11, so that the rear panel 11 can be vibrated.

[0016] When the vibration or the external force is transmitted to the rear panel 11 and the rear panel 11 is even only temporarily bent or deformed, the rotating shaft 33 connecting the driver 3 with the drum 2 can be twisted. Accordingly, unnecessary vibration or noise can occur in the driver 3, and in a severe case, the rotating shaft 33 can be damaged. Further, there is a problem that unnecessary noise is generated when the rear panel 11 is bent or deformed.

[0017] Further, when the rear panel 11 is vibrated, a distance between the rotor 32 and the stator 31 is temporarily changed, so that the rotor 32 can collide with the stator 31 or generate unnecessary vibration and noise.

[0018] Further, when the driver 3 further includes the decelerator 37, the rotation shaft 33 coupled to the decelerator 37 and the deceleration shaft 33a connected from the decelerator 37 to the drum 2 are separated from each other. In this regard, because the decelerator 37 is supported on the rear panel 11 through the stator 31 or the rotation shaft 33, when the rear panel 11 is even slightly deformed, the deceleration shaft 33a and the rotation shaft 33 can be misaligned or displaced from each other.

[0019] In other words, because of the load of the drum 2, the amount of change in the position of the deceleration shaft 33a connected to the drum 2 can be smaller than the amount of change in the position of the rotation shaft 33 connected to the driver 3. Thus, when the rear panel 11 is temporarily bent or deformed, the degree of inclination of the rotation shaft 33 and the deceleration shaft 33a becomes different from each other, so the rotation shaft 33 and the deceleration shaft 33a are misaligned from each other.

[0020] Thus, every time the driver 3 operates, because the rotation shaft 33 and the deceleration shaft 33a are misaligned from each other, the related art laundry treating apparatus cannot guarantee the reliability of the decelerator 37, and there is a problem that the decelerator 37 can be damaged.

[0021] In one example, in order to directly connect the driver 3 to the drum 200 in the dryer, it is necessary to couple the rotation shaft that transmits the power of the driver 3 to the drum 200. However, as described above, in the related art dryer, there is no explanation of a specific structure for coupling the driver 3 to the drum 200, and thus it can be considered to apply the structure of the washing machine that couples the drum 200 and the driver 3 to each other.

[0022] Figure 2 A related art structure for coupling a rotation shaft to a drum is shown.

[0023] Reference Figure 2 In (a) of FIG. 11, the related art laundry treating apparatus has a drum rear surface 220 of a drum 200 coupled to a rear surface of the drum 20, and has a spider 230 coupled to the drum rear surface 220. The spider 230 is not only fixed to the drum rear surface 220, but also extends to a circumferential surface of the drum to fix the drum 200 and form a rotation shaft 234 for rotating the drum 200.

[0024] Thus, because of the presence of the spider 230, the drum 200 can have the rotation shaft 234 protruding to the outside, and the driver can be coupled to the rotation shaft 234 to rotate the drum 200 by rotating the rotation shaft.

[0025] Reference Figure 2In (b) of FIG. 23, the star wheel 230 can be generally fixed by being seated on a coupling surface 227 formed on the rear surface 220 of the drum, and can be fixed by a fixing screw n or the like. The star wheel 230 includes a hub 231 coupled to the center of the rear surface 220 of the drum 2, blades 232 extending radially from the hub 231, fastening holes 233 protruding from the blades 232 to be fastened to the fixing screw n, and a rotation shaft 234 protruding outward from the hub 231 and extending.

[0026] In this regard, the driver can include a motor 63 for rotating the rotation shaft, and a shaft receiving portion 61 extending from the motor 63 to receive and support the rotation shaft. The rotation shaft 234 can be received and supported in the shaft receiving portion 61, and the shaft receiving portion 61 can further include a coupling shaft 62 coupled to the rotation shaft 234 to transmit power of the motor 63 to the rotation shaft 234. The coupling shaft 62 can correspond to a separate driving shaft rotated by the motor 63. In the star wheel 230, a gear shaft 2341 needs to further extend from the rotation shaft 234, which should be separately coupled to the shaft receiving portion 61 or the coupling shaft 62 of the driver.

[0027] Accordingly, the related art laundry treating apparatus has a limitation in that, in order to rotate the drum 200, a separate component is further required to receive and support the rotation shaft 234 and the star wheel 230. Thus, due to the above components, the length of the drum and the driver must be unnecessarily elongated, which is a problem.

[0028] Specifically, due to the star wheel 230 from which the rotation shaft 234 protrudes, in addition to the thickness D of the motor 63, which is an important component for generating power to rotate the drum 200, and the thickness T of the coupling shaft 62, it is required to secure the length A1 of the rotation shaft 234 itself and the support length A2 of the shaft receiving portion 61 required to support the rotation shaft.

[0029] In other words, there is a problem in that an additional length A including the length A1 of the rotation shaft 234 unnecessarily extended and the support length A2 of the shaft receiving portion 61 required to receive and support the rotation shaft 234 therein must be unnecessarily secured.

[0030] In this regard, the length in the front-rear direction of the cabinet is limited, and thus there is a problem in that the length of the drum 200 is reduced by the additional length A, which results in a reduction in the laundry receiving volume. In one example, when the star wheel 230 is depressed and received in the drum rear surface 220, although the thickness of the driver can be reduced by that much, there is still a problem in that the washing volume within the drum is still reduced.

[0031] Further, when the laundry treating apparatus is formed as a dryer, the driver of the dryer should have a reducer which reduces the rotational speed of the motor 63 and increases the torque.

[0032] Generally, the reducer is provided to accommodate two shafts and change the RPM (revolutions per minute) of the two shafts. Accordingly, when the reducer is provided to rotate the drum coupled to the star wheel 230, the reducer should also accommodate and support the rotating shaft 234 protruding from the drum 200, and should also accommodate and support the coupling shaft 62 coupled to the motor 63, so that there is a limitation that the shaft accommodation portion should be ensured as much as to support the shafts.

[0033] As a result, the total length of the reducer is further increased, so that the total thickness of the driver becomes greater, and it is not possible to ensure sufficient drum volume within the cabinet.

[0034] Accordingly, when a dryer directly rotating the rotating shaft protruding from the drum 200 is manufactured, the dryer has a fundamental limitation that the volume of the drum 200 cannot be sufficiently ensured or the cabinet must be unnecessarily long.

[0035] Accordingly, in the related art, due to such a fundamental limitation, the dryer equipped with the driver for directly rotating the existing drum exists only as a patent document, and cannot exist as an actual product. SUMMARY

[0036] TECHNICAL PROBLEM

[0037] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a rotating shaft does not extend from a drum, but a free end of a rotating shaft rotating the drum is inserted into and coupled to the drum.

[0038] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a rotating shaft can extend from a driver generating power, and can be directly inserted or accommodated in a drum and coupled to the drum.

[0039] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus which can sufficiently ensure the length of a drum even when a power-generating motor and a reducer which can convert the output of the motor and transmit the converted output of the motor are provided.

[0040] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a drum directly coupled to a free end of a rotating shaft and rotating.

[0041] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a drum which can install a bushing for accommodating a free end of a rotating shaft therein on a rear surface of the drum.

[0042] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which the total thickness of a decelerator and a motor generating power can be reduced.

[0043] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a motor rotating a rotation shaft of a decelerator providing rotational power to rotate a drum and converting rpm and torque of the rotational power can be maintained.

[0044] The present disclosure aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a decelerator and a motor can be simultaneously inclined or vibrated.

[0045] Technical solutions

[0046] The present disclosure provides a structure in which a driver (decelerator) can be partially accommodated on a rear surface of a drum. A space for partially accommodating a decelerator or the like therein can be defined in the rear surface of the drum.

[0047] The drum and the decelerator or driver can be coupled in a male-female coupling structure. That is, a rotation shaft can extend from the driver, and the drum can be coupled to the rotation shaft by accommodating a free end of the rotation shaft therein.

[0048] The drum can have a separate bushing that can accommodate the free end of the rotation shaft therein, and a portion of the decelerator and at least a portion of a bearing supporting the rotation shaft can be accommodated in a space provided with the bushing.

[0049] The bushing can include a tube extending into the drum to accommodate the rotation shaft therein. The bushing can include a coupling portion formed in a disc shape to be coupled to the rear surface of the drum.

[0050] The tube can be formed with an insertion portion into which an output shaft extending from the decelerator is inserted.

[0051] The rear surface of the drum can include a seating portion recessed into a laundry inlet of the drum, and a mounting surface protruding from the seating portion toward the rear surface of the drum. The seating portion can accommodate the rotation shaft and a portion of the driver therein, and the mounting surface can accommodate a portion of the bushing therein.

[0052] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can have a rotation coupling structure of a drum (female) + a driver (male).

[0053] Specifically, a structure (bushing) for accommodating the rotation shaft therein can be formed on the rear surface of the drum.

[0054] The bushing coupled with the driver (decelerator) shaft can be provided at the center of the rear surface of the drum, and the bushing can include an accommodation groove into which the driver (decelerator) shaft is accommodated and coupled.

[0055] The receiving groove of the bushing can have a sawtooth (a gear groove) defined in the inner circumferential surface. Also, the rotating shaft can have a sawtooth (a helical gear) matching the gear groove.

[0056] The receiving groove of the bushing can be recessed into the drum.

[0057] The bushing can be recessed inward from the rear surface of the drum and coupled to the rear surface of the drum. The bushing can be made of a material having greater rigidity than a material of the rear surface of the drum.

[0058] The bushing can have a coupling surface that extends obliquely from the receiving groove in the direction of the driver to be coupled to the rear surface of the drum, and the bushing can be formed in a tapered shape.

[0059] In one example, the bushing can have a sawtooth only in the receiving groove, and the bushing and the drum can be coupled to each other using a bolt or the like.

[0060] A laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can include a rear case capable of supporting a decelerator that converts power output from a driver.

[0061] The drum can be disposed on one surface (an inner surface) of the rear case, and the driver or the decelerator can be disposed on the other surface (an outer surface) of the rear case.

[0062] To reduce the volume of the driver or the decelerator protruding from the rear surface of the cabinet, the rear case can have a mounting groove recessed into the drum.

[0063] A plurality of brackets coupled with the decelerator can be coupled and fixed to the mounting groove.

[0064] The rear surface of the drum can be separately provided and spaced apart from the rear case.

[0065] The rear surface of the drum can have a seating portion recessed to face the rear case and the mounting groove.

[0066] The seating portion can be at least partially accommodated in the mounting groove. The seating portion can be formed in a shape corresponding to a shape of the receiving groove.

[0067] The seating portion can also at least partially accommodate the decelerator or the driver.

[0068] The driver can include a motor composed of a stator and an outer rotor.

[0069] The decelerator can be at least partially accommodated inside the stator, and the decelerator can be directly coupled to the stator.

[0070] The seating portion can have a support surface bent inward or outward so that the bushing is supported on the rear surface of the drum.

[0071] The mounting surface, which is bent inward or outward again from the support surface and is coupled to the bushing, can be formed at the center of the seating surface.

[0072] The bushing can be connected to the mounting surface using a bolt or the like.

[0073] The bushing can include a coupling surface supported on the protruding surface, a recessed surface extending into the drum from the coupling surface, and a shaft coupling portion extending again toward the outside of the drum from the recessed surface and coupled to the shaft.

[0074] The bushing can be coupled to the rotating shaft protruding from the decelerator.

[0075] Advantages of the Invention

[0076] The present disclosure has the effect that the rotating shaft does not extend from the drum, but the free end of the rotating shaft that rotates the drum is inserted and coupled to the drum.

[0077] The present disclosure has the effect that the rotating shaft can extend from the driver that generates power, and can be directly inserted or accommodated in the drum.

[0078] The present disclosure has the effect that the length of the drum can be sufficiently secured even when a power-generating motor and a decelerator that can convert the output of the motor and transmit the converted output of the motor are provided.

[0079] The present disclosure has the effect that the drum is directly coupled to the free end of the rotating shaft and rotated.

[0080] The present disclosure has the effect that the drum can mount a bushing for accommodating the free end of the rotating shaft therein on the rear surface of the drum. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0081] Figure 1 A related art laundry treating apparatus is illustrated.

[0082] Figure 2 A coupling structure is illustrated in which the drum of the related art laundry treating apparatus is male and the driver is female.

[0083] Figure 3 An appearance of a laundry treating apparatus 10 according to the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0084] Figure 4 An internal configuration of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0085] Figure 5 A drum of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0086] Figure 6An internal configuration of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0087] Figure 7 A structure of a drum of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0088] Figure 8 A structure of a rear case of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0089] Figure 9 A structure in which a driver is coupled to a rear case is illustrated.

[0090] Figure 10 A decelerator of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0091] Figure 11 A coupling structure of a decelerator and a stator of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0092] Figure 12 A final coupling structure of a driver of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0093] Figure 13 A structure in which a driver and a shaft of a drum of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure are coupled to each other is illustrated.

[0094] Figure 14 A structure of a bushing of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0095] Figure 15 A structure in which components of a driver of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure are compactly arranged is illustrated.

[0096] Figure 16 Another embodiment of a bushing and a rear surface of a drum of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0097] Figure 17 A structure in which components arranged at a rear portion of a drum of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure are compactly arranged is illustrated. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0098] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this specification, even though identical and similar reference numerals are assigned to identical and similar components throughout the different embodiments, the description will be replaced by the first description. As used herein, the singular forms are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it is determined that the detailed description of the relevant known technology can obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, the drawings are merely for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed herein, and it should be noted that the technical idea disclosed herein should not be construed as being limited by the drawings.

[0099] Figure 3 An appearance of a laundry treating apparatus 10 according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0100] A laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the disclosure can include a cabinet 100 forming an appearance thereof.

[0101] The cabinet 100 can include a front panel 110 defining a front surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The front panel 110 can have a laundry inlet 111 defined therein to communicate with a drum 200 described later, and a door 130 pivotally coupled to the cabinet to open and close the laundry inlet 111.

[0102] A control panel 117 can be installed on the front panel 110. The control panel 117 can include an input unit 118 to receive a control command from a user and a display 119 to output information such as a control command selectable by the user. The control command can include a drying course or a drying option capable of performing a series of drying processes. A main controller to control a command for executing the drying course or the drying option can be installed in the control panel 177.

[0103] The input unit 118 can be configured to include a power request unit to request to supply power to the laundry treating apparatus, a course input unit to allow the user to select a desired course from a plurality of courses, and an execution request unit to request to start execution of the course selected by the user.

[0104] The display 119 can be configured to include at least one of a display panel capable of outputting text and graphics and a speaker capable of outputting an audio signal and a sound.

[0105] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can include a water reservoir 7 disposed to individually store moisture generated in a laundry drying process therein. The water reservoir 7 can include a water storage tank disposed to be drawn out to an outer side from a side of the front panel 110. The water storage tank can be provided to collect condensed water delivered from a cleaning pump described later. Accordingly, the user can take the water storage tank out of the cabinet 1 to remove the condensed water therefrom, and then install the water storage tank in the cabinet 1 again. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can be placed anywhere without installation of a sewer or the like.

[0106] In one example, the water reservoir 7 can be disposed above the door 130. Accordingly, the user can be able to bend over less when the water storage tank is taken out from the front panel 110.

[0107] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can further include a steam supplier 195 capable of supplying steam to laundry or into the cabinet. The steam supplier 195 can be provided to generate steam by flinging condensed water discharged from laundry, or can be provided to generate steam by receiving fresh water instead of condensed water. The steam supplier 195 can be provided to generate steam by heating water, using ultrasonic waves, or evaporating water.

[0108] Since the steam supplier 195 is provided to generate steam by receiving a certain amount of water, the steam supplier 195 can occupy a certain volume. In this regard, the door and the control panel 117 are mounted on the front panel 110 of the cabinet, and the ducts to supply or discharge air to or from the drum, the water supply duct, etc. can be mounted on the rear panel 120 of the cabinet, so that the steam supplier 195 can be advantageously mounted on the inner surface of the side panel 140 of the cabinet.

[0109] Further, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can include a steam controller 800 provided to individually control the steam supplier 195. The steam controller 800 can be mounted on the control panel 117, but can be provided as a separate control panel to prevent the control panel 117 from being overloaded and to prevent an increase in production cost.

[0110] The steam controller 800 can be provided adjacent to the steam supplier 195. The steam controller 800 can be provided on the side panel 140 on which the steam supplier 195 is mounted to reduce the length of a control line or the like connected to the steam supplier 195.

[0111] Since the steam supplier 195 supplies steam that can contact laundry, it is preferable to generate steam with fresh water. Since the water collected in the reservoir 7 is generated from laundry, there is a high possibility that the water collected in the reservoir 7 contains lint or foreign matter. Thus, the water collected in the reservoir 7 can not be suitable for generating steam.

[0112] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can supply water to the steam supplier 195, but can include a water supplier 160 provided separately from the reservoir 7. The water supplier 160 can be provided to store fresh water therein, or to receive fresh water from the outside and supply the fresh water to the steam supplier 195.

[0113] For example, the water supplier 160 can include an external water supplier 180 that can receive water from an external water supply source and deliver the water to the steam supplier 195, and an internal water supplier 170 that can separately store fresh water therein and supply the fresh water to the steam supplier 195.

[0114] The internal water supplier 170 can further include a water tank 171 provided separately from the water reservoir 7 to store clean water therein. The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can be further provided such that the water tank 171 and the steam supplier 195 are installed at different vertical heights, such that water in the water tank 171 is supplied to the steam supplier 195 by self-loading.

[0115] When a difference in the installation vertical height between the water tank 171 and the steam supplier 195 cannot be ensured, an additional water pump 172 can be required to be installed. In addition, when the water pump 172 is additionally provided, an advantage can be that the space inside the cabinet 1 can be more intensively utilized.

[0116] Accordingly, the water supplier 160 can further include a water pump 172 provided to supply water in the water tank 171 to the steam supplier 195, and a water tank housing 173 to house the water tank 171 and the water pump 172 inside the cabinet.

[0117] The external water supplier 180 can include a direct water valve connected to an external water supply source to receive water.

[0118] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can further include a determination unit 196 to determine whether to supply water to the steam supplier 195 by preferentially using one of the external water supplier 180 and the internal water supplier 170.

[0119] The determination unit 196 can be structurally provided to determine which one of the external water supplier 180 and the internal water supplier 170 is preferentially used.

[0120] In one example, the water tank 171 can be provided to store clean water therein. Preferably, the water tank 171 is provided to be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 100 to be frequently filled with clean water.

[0121] In one example, the water tank 171 can be provided to be taken out of the cabinet 100. Accordingly, a user can easily fill water by taking the water tank 171 out of the cabinet 100.

[0122] The water tank 171 can be provided to be taken out through the front panel 110. However, when the water reservoir is also provided to be taken out through the front panel 110, it can be difficult to ensure an area for taking out the water tank 171 due to an area occupied by the control panel 117 on the front panel 110.

[0123] Accordingly, the water tank 171 can be provided to be taken out through the top panel 130, such that interference with the control panel 117 can be prevented.

[0124] From another perspective, since both the water tank 171 and the water reservoir 7 are provided to store water therein, the user can be confused. To this end, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can be provided such that the water tank 171 and the water reservoir 7 are exposed from the cabinet in different directions and at different positions.

[0125] Accordingly, the water tank 171 can be provided to be exposed through the top panel 130, and the water reservoir 7 can be provided to be exposed through the front panel 110. Accordingly, even when both the water tank 171 and the water reservoir 7 are arranged, the user's confusion can be prevented. In addition, the water tank 171 can have a relatively smaller volume than the water reservoir 7, since the water tank 171 has to store fresh water therein and has to maintain the freshness of the stored water. Accordingly, the user can distinguish the water tank 171 from the water reservoir 7 by the difference in volume.

[0126] Since the water tank 171 has a smaller volume than the water reservoir 7, the water tank 171 can be easily taken out upward. Accordingly, the water tank 171 can be provided to be taken out upward from the top panel 130. As a result, since the directions in which the water tank 171 and the water reservoir 7 are taken out are different from each other, the possibility of the user's confusion can be further reduced.

[0127] The top panel 130 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can include a water tank taking-out hole or taking-out hole 131 defined therein, which is provided such that the water tank 171 is exposed to the outside or the water tank 171 can be taken out to the outside of the cabinet. The water tank taking-out hole 131 can have a cross-sectional area corresponding to or slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of the water tank 171.

[0128] The top panel 130 can further include a taking-out cover 132 provided to shield the water tank taking-out hole 131 to prevent the water tank 171 from being taken out arbitrarily.

[0129] The laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can further include a filter capable of removing foreign substances from the circulating flow passage. The front panel 110 can have a filter mounting hole 113 defined therein through which the filter is taken out or inserted.

[0130] Figure 4 An inside of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0131] The laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can include a drum 200 accommodated in the cabinet 100 to accommodate laundry, a driver M to rotate the drum 200, and a hot air supplier 900 provided to supply hot air to the drum 200.

[0132] The drum 200 can be formed in a cylindrical shape to accommodate laundry therein. Also, because water does not need to be put into the drum 200, and water condensed within the drum 200 does not need to be discharged to the outside, a through-hole defined along the circumference of the drum 200 can be omitted.

[0133] The driver M can be provided to be directly connected to the drum 200 to rotate the drum 200. For example, the driver M can be of a direct drive unit (DD) type. Accordingly, the driver M can control the rotational direction of the drum 200 or the rotational speed of the drum 200 by directly rotating the drum 200 by omitting components such as a belt, a pulley, etc.

[0134] In general, in the case of a DD-type washing machine, the driver M can be coupled to and fixed to a tub in which the drum 200 is accommodated, and the drum 200 can be coupled to the driver M and supported by the tub. However, because the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is provided to centrally perform a drying process, a tub fixed to the cabinet 100 to accommodate the drum 200 therein is omitted.

[0135] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can further include a support 400 provided to fix or support the drum 200 or the driver M within the cabinet 100.

[0136] The support 400 can include a front case 410 provided in front of the drum 200 and a rear case 420 provided behind the drum 100. The front case 410 and the rear case 420 can be formed in a plate shape and provided to face the front surface and the rear surface of the drum 200, respectively. The distance between the front case 410 and the rear case 420 can be the same as the length of the drum 200, or can be provided to be greater than the length of the drum 200. The front case 410 and the rear case 420 can be fixed to and supported by the bottom surface of the cabinet 100 or the hot air supplier 900, which will be described later.

[0137] Because the laundry inlet of the drum 200 is defined in the front surface of the drum 200, the driver M is preferably installed in the rear case 420 rather than the front case. The rear case 420 can be provided such that the driver M is installed and supported in a region thereof facing the rear surface of the drum 200. Accordingly, the driver M can be provided to rotate the drum 200 in a state in which the position thereof is stably fixed by the rear case 420.

[0138] At least one of the front case 410 and the rear case 420 can rotatably support the drum 200. At least one of the front case 410 and the rear case 420 can rotatably accommodate the front end or the rear end of the drum 200 therein.

[0139] For example, the front of the drum 200 can be accommodated and rotatably supported in the front case 410, the rear of the drum 200 can be spaced apart from the rear case 420, and can be indirectly supported by the rear case 420 by being connected to the driver M. Accordingly, the area in which the drum 200 contacts or rubs against the support 400 can be minimized, and unnecessary noise or vibration can be prevented from occurring.

[0140] In one example, the drum 200 can be provided to be rotatably supported by both the front case 410 and the rear case 420.

[0141] The hot air supplier 900 can define a circulation flow passage for discharging air in the drum 200 to the outside and introducing air into the drum 200, and can dry laundry accommodated inside the drum 200 by heating the circulating air or condensing moisture in the circulating air.

[0142] Preferably, the hot air supplier 900 is disposed below the drum 200 so that the laundry inlet of the drum 200 is disposed at a relatively high position, and a user can easily take out laundry located inside the drum 200.

[0143] The hot air supplier 900 can have a plurality of heat exchangers installed therein that cool or heat air flowing therein, and can have a washer 940 installed therein that removes foreign matter attached to the heat exchangers using condensate condensed in the air.

[0144] The hot air supplier 900 can be disposed to receive air inside the drum 200 through the front case 410 and discharge the air toward the rear case 420.

[0145] A duct cover 430 that guides hot air supplied from the hot air supplier 900 to the rear surface of the drum 200 can be coupled to the rear case 420. The duct cover 430 can be disposed to expose the driver M to the outside to cool the driver M. The cabinet 100 can further include a baffle 120 that prevents a safety accident by preventing the duct cover 430 and the driver M from being exposed to the outside.

[0146] The length T1 in the front-rear direction of the cabinet can be defined as the length from the front case 410 to the rear panel 120. Strictly speaking, the length from the front panel 110 to the rear panel 120 is the length of the cabinet. However, because the length from the front case 410 to the rear panel 120 corresponds to the allowable space in which internal components of a laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can be installed, the length of the allowable space (T1 = allowable length) can be simply referred to as the length of the cabinet.

[0147] When the allowable length T1 is determined, the length T2 of the drum 200 and the length T3 of the driver can be determined. Also, the allowable length T1 can include the drum length T2 and the driver length T3, and can be less than or equal to the sum of the drum length T2 and the driver length T3.

[0148] In one example, when the rear panel 120 is omitted, the rear case 420 can form a rear surface of the cabinet.

[0149] Figure 5 A drum of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0150] The drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is rotated by being directly coupled to the driver M, rather than being indirectly rotated by being coupled to a belt or the like. Accordingly, unlike the drum of the related art dryer formed in a cylindrical shape having an open front surface and a rear surface, the drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is provided to be directly coupled to the driver M when a rear portion of the drum 200 is shielded.

[0151] Specifically, the drum 200 can include a drum body 210 formed in a cylindrical shape for accommodating laundry therein, and a drum rear surface 220 coupled to a rear end of the drum body 210 to form a rear surface of the drum.

[0152] The drum rear surface 220 can be provided to shield a rear portion of the drum body 210 to provide a space directly coupled to the driver M. That is, the drum rear surface 220 can be provided to rotate the drum body 210 by being connected to the driver M and directly receiving power from the driver M. As a result, a laundry inlet 211 into which laundry is put can be defined in a front surface of the drum body 210, and a rear portion of the drum body 210 can be shielded by the drum rear surface 220.

[0153] The drum rear surface 220 can have a bushing portion 300 which can be coupled to the driver M. The bushing portion 300 can be provided in the drum rear surface 200 to form a rotation center of the drum 200. The bushing portion 300 can be integrally formed with the drum rear surface 220, but can be made of a material harder or more durable than that of the drum rear surface 220 so as to be firmly coupled to a rotation shaft extending from the driver M. The bushing portion 300 can be seated and coupled to a center of the drum rear surface 220.

[0154] The drum rear surface 220 can include a circumferential portion 221 coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the drum body 210 and a seating portion 223 disposed inside the circumferential portion 221 and capable of being coupled to the driver M. The bushing portion 300 can be accommodated in and coupled to the seating portion 223, and the seating portion 223 can include a through-hole defined therein through which the bushing portion 300 can pass and be accommodated.

[0155] The suction holes 224 through which hot air supplied from the hot air supplier 900 is introduced into the drum body 210 can be defined between the circumferential portion 221 and the seating portion 223. The suction holes 224 can be composed of a plurality of holes defined to pass through the drum rear surface 220, or can be formed as a grid-shaped mesh.

[0156] To prevent the rigidity of the drum rear surface 220 from being reduced due to the suction holes 224, a reinforcing rib 225 that reinforces the rigidity of the drum rear surface 220 can also be provided. The reinforcing rib 225 can extend radially from an outer circumferential surface of the seating portion 223 toward an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential portion 221. In addition, a circumferential rib 226 extending in the circumferential direction of the drum rear surface 220 can also be provided to connect the reinforcing ribs 225 to each other. The suction holes 224 can be defined between the reinforcing ribs 225, the circumferential rib 226, the seating portion 223, and the circumferential portion 221, and can maintain their shapes through the reinforcing ribs 225 and the circumferential rib 226 even when the drum rear surface 220 receives a rotational force transmitted from the driver M.

[0157] In one example, one or more reinforcing beads 212 can be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the drum body 210 to reinforce the rigidity of the drum body 210. The reinforcing beads 212 can be recessed inward or protrude outward along the circumference of the drum body 210. A plurality of reinforcing beads 212 can be provided to be spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction of the drum body 210.

[0158] Accordingly, even when a large amount of laundry is accommodated in the drum body 210 or a sudden rotational force is transmitted through the driver M, the drum body 210 can be prevented from being distorted.

[0159] As a result, the drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can not rotate through a belt or the like, but can rotate when the drum rear surface 220 is directly coupled to the driver M.

[0160] Accordingly, even when the driver M changes a rotational direction or has a large rotational acceleration, the drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can rotate by immediately reflecting this.

[0161] Figure 6 An internal configuration of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0162] As described above, the drum 200 can include a drum body 210 formed in a cylindrical shape having an open front surface and a rear surface, and a drum rear surface 220 coupled to a rear end of the drum body 210 to shield a rear portion of the drum body 210.

[0163] The rotation shaft extending from the driver M can be directly coupled to the bushing portion 300.

[0164] The front case 410 can include a front plate 411 forming a main body, and an inlet communication hole 412 penetrating the front plate 411 to accommodate a front portion of the drum body 210 or a laundry inlet 211. A gasket 413 in which the drum body 210 is accommodated can be provided on an outer peripheral surface of the inlet communication hole 412.

[0165] The gasket 413 can rotatably support the laundry inlet 211 of the drum body 210, and can be provided in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the laundry inlet 211. The gasket 413 can prevent hot air inside the drum 200 from leaking between the drum body 210 and the front plate 411. The gasket 413 can be made of a material based on plastic resin, or can be formed as an elastic body. A separate sealing member can be additionally coupled to an inner peripheral surface of the gasket 413 to prevent laundry or hot air from escaping from the laundry inlet 211 of the drum body 210 to the front plate 411.

[0166] In one example, a duct communication hole 419 can be defined in the inlet communication hole 412 or an inner peripheral surface of the gasket 413, which communicates with the drum body 210 and through which air put into the drum body 210 can be discharged. A flow passage connecting the duct communication hole 419 with the hot air supplier 900 can be defined in the front plate 411. Accordingly, the duct communication hole 419 can guide air discharged from the drum body 210 to be supplied to the hot air supplier 900.

[0167] A filter member blocking foreign matter, lint, or the like discharged from the drum 200 from entering the hot air supplier 900 can be installed in the duct communication hole 419.

[0168] A front wheel 415 can be installed on the front case 410, which is provided in contact with an outer peripheral surface of the drum body 210 to rotatably support the drum 200. The front wheel 415 can be provided to support an outer peripheral surface of the laundry inlet of the drum body 210, and can include a plurality of front wheels provided to be spaced apart from each other along an outer peripheral surface of the inlet communication hole 412. The front wheel 415 can be provided to rotate together while supporting a lower portion of the drum body 210 when the drum 200 rotates.

[0169] Further, a stopper 500 preventing the drum body 210 from deviating can be coupled to the front case 410. The stopper 500 can be provided on a stopper mounting portion 416 provided on the front case 410 and located above the inlet communication hole 412.

[0170] The front case 410 can have a water tank support hole 414 defined therein through which the water storage tank of the water reservoir 7 can be withdrawn or supported. The water tank support hole 414 can be installed in a region corresponding to a portion in which the water reservoir 7 is provided in the front panel 110, and can be defined through the front case 410.

[0171] A cutout 417 that can be supported by the hot air supplier 900 can be defined at a bottom of the front case 410. Due to the presence of the cutout 417, the front case 410 can be prevented from interfering with the hot air supplier 900. The cutout 417 can be provided to communicate with a supply duct of the hot air supplier 900 to deliver air inside the drum supplied to the duct communication hole 419 to the hot air supplier 900.

[0172] The hot air supplier 900 can include a circulation flow passage 920 through which air discharged from the drum 200 can be circulated. The circulation flow passage 920 can be formed in the shape of a duct provided outside the drum 200. The circulation flow passage 920 can include a supply duct 921 that communicates with the duct communication hole 419 and through which air of the drum 200 is supplied, a flow duct 922 through which air supplied from the supply duct 921 flows, and a discharge duct 923 through which air that has passed through the flow duct 922 is discharged.

[0173] The supply duct 921 can be provided to communicate with the cutout 417 of the front case 410 to communicate with the flow passage installed inside the front case 410. The flow duct 922 can be provided to extend from a distal end of the supply duct 921 toward a rear portion of the drum 200, and the discharge duct 923 can be provided at a distal end of the flow duct 922 to guide air to the drum 200.

[0174] In one example, the hot air supplier 900 can have a heat pump 950 installed therein, which is capable of cooling and heating air therein. The heat pump 950 can include an evaporator 951 installed within the flow duct 922 to cool air to condense moisture contained in the air, and a condenser 952 disposed to be spaced apart from the evaporator 951 downstream or toward the discharge duct 923 to heat the air again. The heat pump 950 can further include an expansion valve to cool and guide refrigerant that has passed through the condenser 952 back to the evaporator 951, and a compressor 953 to pressurize and heat refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator 951 and supply the pressurized and heated refrigerant to the condenser 952. The compressor 953 can be disposed outside the flow duct 922.

[0175] The evaporator 951 and the condenser 952 can be provided as heat exchangers through which refrigerant flows.

[0176] The hot air supplier 900 can further include a connector 930 communicating with the discharge duct 923 to guide hot air to the rear of the drum 200 or to the duct cover 430. The connector 930 can be disposed above the discharge duct 923 to guide hot air heated by the condenser 952 to a portion at the rear of the discharge duct 923.

[0177] In one example, the hot air supplier 900 can further include a blower fan 9531 that can flow air inside the drum 200 to the supply duct 921 or put air that has passed through the discharge duct 923 into the drum 200. The blower fan 9531 can be installed within the discharge duct 923 and can be controlled by the main controller together with the driver M.

[0178] The rear case 420 can include a rear plate 421 disposed to face the front plate 411. The rear case 420 can include a mounting portion 429 to which the driver M is coupled and seated. The mounting portion 429 can be disposed to pass through the rear case 420, and the driver M can be mounted on the mounting portion 429 and fixed within the cabinet 100. The mounting portion 429 can support a load of the driver M and can mount the driver M at a position corresponding to a position of the drum rear surface 220.

[0179] In one example, the rear plate 421 can further include an air flow hole 423 communicating with the connector 930 through which air is introduced, and a communication hole 424 to discharge air that has passed through the air flow hole 423 to the drum rear surface 220.

[0180] The duct cover 430 can be coupled to the rear surface of the rear plate 421, which defines a flow passage for flowing air introduced through the connector 930 to the suction hole 224 defined in the drum rear surface 220.

[0181] The duct cover 430 can be coupled to the rear plate 421 and can be spaced apart from the suction hole 224 to define a space for air flow between the rear plate 421 and the duct cover 430.

[0182] The duct cover 430 can be disposed to shield the communication holes 424 so that all of the communication holes 424 are not exposed to the outside. Accordingly, all of the air introduced into the duct cover 430 can be discharged to the communication holes 424, and leakage to the outside can be prevented. The duct cover 430 can accommodate the driver M by being spaced apart from the outer peripheral surface of the driver M to prevent interference with the driver M, but can expose the driver M to the outside to cause cooling of the driver M.

[0183] In one example, the duct cover 430 can be heated by hot air, and the driver M also has a rotating rotor, so that the rear panel 120 can be disposed at the rear of the duct cover 430 to shield the driver M. The rear panel 120 can be coupled to the rear case 420 to block the duct cover 430 and the driver M from being exposed to the outside. The rear panel 120 can be disposed to be spaced apart from the duct cover 430 and the driver M.

[0184] The driver M can include a motor 600 that provides power to rotate the drum 200. The motor 600 can include a stator 610 that generates a rotating magnetic field and a rotor 620 that is rotated by the stator 610.

[0185] The rotor 620 can be an outer rotor type for accommodating the stator 610 therein and rotating along the circumference of the stator 610. In this regard, a rotating shaft can be coupled to the rotor 620, and can be directly connected to the drum 200 through the stator 610 and the mounting portion 429. In this case, the rotor 620 can directly transfer power to rotate the drum 200.

[0186] In one example, the rotor 620 can rotate at a high RPM through the stator 610. For example, the rotor 620 can rotate at a much greater RPM than the RPM at which laundry within the drum 200 can rotate while being attached to the inner wall of the drum 200.

[0187] However, when the laundry within the drum 200 rotates while being continuously attached to the inner wall of the drum 200, there is a problem in that the drying efficiency is reduced because a portion of the laundry attached to the inner wall of the drum is not exposed to the hot air.

[0188] When the rotor 620 rotates at a low RPM to roll or agitate laundry within the drum 200 without attaching the laundry within the drum to the inner wall of the drum 200, a problem can exist in that the output or torque that can be generated by the driver M is not properly utilized.

[0189] Accordingly, the driver M of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can further include a reducer 700 that is capable of increasing torque by reducing RPM while utilizing the maximum output of the motor 600.

[0190] The reducer 700 can be provided to connect the motor 600 to the drum 200. The reducer 700 can convert power of the motor 600 to rotate the drum 200. The reducer 700 can be disposed between the motor 600 and the drum 200 to receive power from the motor 600, convert the power, and transmit the converted power to the drum 200. The reducer 700 is disposed to convert the RPM of the rotor to a small RPM but increase the torque value, and transmit power corresponding to the reduced RPM and the increased torque value to the drum 200.

[0191] Specifically, the reducer 700 can be coupled to a driving shaft 630 that extends from the rotor 620 and rotates together with the rotor 620. The reducer 700 includes a gear box that rotates in engagement with the driving shaft 630 to change the rpm of the driving shaft 630 but increase torque, and is coupled to a rotating shaft 740 that is coupled to the drum 200 to rotate the drum. Accordingly, when the driving shaft 630 rotates, the rotating shaft 740 rotates at a smaller RPM than the driving shaft 630 but can rotate with greater torque.

[0192] The performance of such a reducer 700 depends on whether the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 can remain coaxial to each other. That is, when the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 are misaligned to each other, there is a risk that the coupling of the components constituting the gear box inside the reducer 700 to at least one of the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 can be loose or can be released. Accordingly, the power of the driving shaft 630 can not be properly transmitted to the rotating shaft 740, or the driving shaft 630 can be in vain.

[0193] Furthermore, even when the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 are temporarily misaligned, the gear boxes inside the reducer 700 can be misaligned to each other and collide with each other, thereby generating unnecessary vibration or noise.

[0194] Furthermore, even when the angle by which the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 are misaligned to each other temporarily becomes large, there is a risk that the gear boxes inside the reducer 700 can be completely deviated from their normal positions or damaged.

[0195] As a result, even when the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 are not temporarily kept coaxial with each other or are not arranged side by side with each other, there can be a problem in that the performance of the decelerator 700 cannot be guaranteed, and the drum 200 cannot rotate as intended.

[0196] To this end, a laundry treating apparatus having a decelerator generally fixes the decelerator and the motor to a support body which maintains its original state without being deformed even when an external force is generated.

[0197] For example, a washing machine can employ a scheme in which a tub accommodating a drum is first fixed to a cabinet, and then a motor and a decelerator are fixed to a bearing housing made of a rigid body which is embedded in the tub in an injection molding scheme. Further, a scheme in which a fixing steel plate coupled to the tub is placed outside the tub, and the motor and the decelerator are fixed to the fixing steel plate can be applied.

[0198] Accordingly, even when significant vibrations occur in the tub, the decelerator and the driver can be inclined or vibrated together with the bearing housing or the fixing steel plate. As a result, the decelerator and the driver themselves can always be coupled to each other, and the driving shaft and the rotating shaft can be kept coaxial with each other.

[0199] However, because the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure is formed as a dryer, the tub fixed inside the cabinet is omitted. Further, even when the rear panel 120 of the cabinet is formed as a relatively thin plate and the stator 610 is fixed thereto, the rear panel 120 can be easily vibrated or bent due to a repulsive force when the rotor 620 rotates or the driving shaft 630 rotates. When the rear panel 120 is even temporarily vibrated or bent, the rotating shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 provided to be coupled to the drum 200 are bent, so that the rotating shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 can be misaligned with each other.

[0200] Further, because the rear panel 120 is formed as a thin steel plate, the rear panel 120 can not be able to support both the decelerator 700 and the motor 600. For example, when the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 are coupled in parallel to the rear panel 120, a rotational moment is generated due to the total length and the self-load of the decelerator 700 and the motor 600, so that the decelerator 700 can sag downward. As a result, the rotating shaft 740 coupled to the drum itself can be misaligned with the decelerator 700, so that the rotating shaft 740 can not be kept coaxial with the driving shaft 630.

[0201] Even the rear panel 120 can not be able to support the motor 600 itself. One surface of the rear panel 120 on which the motor 600 is mounted can be bent downward due to the self-load of the motor 600. From the beginning, the rear panel 120 can not be a component suitable for being coupled to the motor 600 itself.

[0202] In one example, it can be considered that the motor 600 is supported when the stator 610 is coupled to the rear case 420. When a large amount of laundry is accommodated in the drum 200 or eccentricity occurs, the rotation shaft 740 can be misaligned along the arrangement of the laundry whenever the drum 200 rotates. In this regard, because the stator 610 is separated from the drum 200 and fixed to the rear case 420, the rotation shaft 740 can vibrate with a different amplitude from the stator 610, or can be inclined at a different angle from the stator 610. Accordingly, the rotation shaft 740 can not be kept coaxial with the drive shaft 630.

[0203] From another perspective, the drum 200 can be supported by the front case 410 and the rear case 420, or the position in which the drum 200 is installed can be fixed at a certain horizontal position by the stopper 500 to be described later. Accordingly, the position of the rotation shaft 740 coupled with the drum 200 can also be fixed at a certain horizontal position. Accordingly, even when vibration occurs in the drum 200, the vibration can be buffered by at least one of the front case 410 and the rear case 420 or by the stopper 500.

[0204] However, when the vibration generated in the drum 200 is transmitted to the motor 600, the amplitude of vibration of the motor 600 and the rear case 420 can be greater than that of the rotation shaft 740 even when the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 are fixed to the rear case 420. Even at this time, there can be a problem in that the drive shaft 630 and the rotation shaft 740 cannot be kept coaxial with each other.

[0205] To solve such a problem, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can fix the motor 600 by coupling the motor 600 to the decelerator 700. In other words, the decelerator 700 itself can serve as a reference point of the entire driver M. That is, the decelerator 700 can serve as a reference of the amount of vibration and the inclination angle of the entire driver M.

[0206] Because the motor 600 is fixed only to the decelerator 700 rather than to another component of the laundry treating apparatus, when vibration is transmitted to the driver M or an external force is transmitted, the motor 600 can always be inclined or vibrated simultaneously with the decelerator 700 when the decelerator 700 is inclined or vibrated.

[0207] As a result, the decelerator 700 and the driver 600 can form one vibration system, and the decelerator 700 and the driver 600 can be kept in a state in which they are fixed to each other without relative movement.

[0208] The stator 610 of the driver 600 can be directly coupled to the decelerator 700 to be fixed. Accordingly, the position in which the driving shaft 630 is mounted with respect to the decelerator 700 can not be changed. The center of the driving shaft 630 and the center of the decelerator 700 can be disposed to coincide with each other, and the driving shaft 630 can rotate while maintaining coaxiality with the center of the decelerator 700.

[0209] The above terms "coaxial" and "coincidence" do not mean a physically perfect coaxial and coincident state, but a concept that recognizes a range of errors acceptable in mechanical engineering or a range of levels acceptable as coaxial or coincident by those skilled in the art. For example, a range in which the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 are misaligned with each other by less than or equal to 5 degrees can be defined as a coaxial or coincident state.

[0210] Because the driving shaft 630 rotates with respect to the decelerator 700 but is fixed to prevent tilting, and the stator 610 is also fixed to the decelerator 700, the distance between the stator 610 and the rotor 620 can be always maintained. As a result, collision of the stator 610 and the rotor 620 can be prevented, and noise or vibration that can occur when the rotor 620 rotates with respect to the stator 610 and its center of rotation changes can be fundamentally blocked.

[0211] The rotating shaft 740 can be disposed to extend inside the decelerator 700 toward the drum 200, can vibrate together with the decelerator 700, and can tilt together with the decelerator 700. That is, the rotating shaft 740 can be disposed to rotate only in the decelerator 700, and its mounting position can be fixed. As a result, the rotating shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 can always be disposed parallel to each other and can be coaxial with each other. In other words, the center of the rotating shaft 740 and the center of the driving shaft 630 can maintain coincidence with each other.

[0212] The decelerator 700 and the motor 600 can be designed to be disposed along a first axis S1 parallel to the ground when there is no load on the drum 200 or the motor 600 does not operate. The driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 can also be disposed parallel along the first axis S1.

[0213] However, when vibration occurs in the drum 200 or vibration occurs in the motor 600, the vibration is transmitted to the decelerator 700, and the decelerator 700 vibrates or tilts, so that the decelerator 700 can temporarily be in a state of tilting toward a second axis S2.

[0214] In this regard, because the motor 600 is in a state of being coupled to the decelerator 700, the motor 600 can vibrate or tilt together with the decelerator 700 to be disposed parallel to the second axis S2. Accordingly, the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 can also be disposed parallel along the second axis S2.

[0215] As a result, even when the decelerator 700 is inclined, the motor 600 can be moved integrally with the decelerator 700, and the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 can be maintained coaxial with each other.

[0216] Accordingly, because the driving shaft 630 and the rotating shaft 740 are always inclined with respect to the decelerator 700, the decelerator 700 can serve as a fulcrum P1 of a lever or a seesaw. That is, the decelerator 700 can serve as a first fulcrum P1 of a vibration system including the motor 600. In one example, the decelerator 700 is coupled to the drum 200 through the rotating shaft 740, and the drum 200 is spaced apart from the rear case 420 so that a load of the drum 200 can be transmitted to the decelerator 700. The system including the drum 200 as well as the motor 600 can form one vibration system, and the decelerator 700 can serve as a reference or a fulcrum P1 of the vibration system.

[0217] Even though the decelerator 700 itself serves as a center or a fulcrum P1 of the vibration system, the decelerator 700 must be fixed or supported within the cabinet 100.

[0218] To this end, the decelerator 700 can be fixedly coupled to the rear case 420. In this case, since the decelerator 700 will be inclined or vibrated in a state of being coupled to the rear case 420, it can be seen that the rear case 420 serves as a center of a vibration system including the decelerator 700, the motor 600, and the drum 200. Even in this case, even though the motor 600 is capable of contacting the rear case 420, the motor 600 can be coupled to and fixed to only the decelerator 700 without being directly coupled to the rear case 420.

[0219] Specifically, the mounting portion 429 of the rear case 420 can serve as a second fulcrum P2 of a lever or a seesaw formed by the decelerator 700, the motor 600, and the drum 200.

[0220] The decelerator 700, the motor 600, and the drum 200 can become parallel to a third axis S3 after being disposed in parallel along the first axis S1. The third axis S3 can pass through the decelerator 700 coupled to the rear case 420. In this regard, because the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 are coupled to each other, the motor 600 can also be disposed in parallel to the third axis S3.

[0221] As a result, the driver 600 and the drum 200 are coupled to the decelerator 700 so that the driver 600 and the drum 200 can be inclined in parallel to each other or simultaneously vibrate with respect to the decelerator 700.

[0222] The drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is supported by the decelerator 700 without being coupled to the belt. Accordingly, when the drum 200 is rotated by the decelerator 700, the drum 200 can be lifted upward or inclined downward by a centrifugal force or the like.

[0223] To prevent this, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can further include a stopper 500 for fixing the position of the drum 200. The stopper 500 can include a front stopper 510 disposed in front of the drum 200 and a rear stopper 520 disposed behind the drum.

[0224] In this regard, the drum 200 can be lifted upward with respect to the rotation shaft 740. Accordingly, the front stopper 510 can be disposed in contact with the upper front portion of the drum.

[0225] In addition, the drum 200 can sag downward due to the weight of laundry. Accordingly, the rear stopper 520 can be disposed in contact with the lower rear portion of the drum 200.

[0226] The front stopper 510 can be coupled to the mounting portion 416 of the front case 410, and the rear stopper 520 can be supported on the upper portion of the heat exchanger 500.

[0227] Figure 7 A stopper 500 supporting a drum 200 of a laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is illustrated.

[0228] The drum 200 is coupled to the free end of the rotation shaft 740 and rotates. The rotation shaft 740 can be fixed to the decelerator 700 to prevent misalignment with the decelerator 700.

[0229] However, the drum 200 can be misaligned upward or downward due to the laundry load or laundry falling during rotation. As a result, the drum 200 can be misaligned upward or downward with respect to the free end of the rotation shaft 740.

[0230] In particular, the drum 200 can vibrate or tilt independently of the free end of the rotation shaft 740. That is, the drum 200 can be made of a material having elastic force, so that a certain degree of deformation thereof can be allowed. This is to prevent excessive vibration or external force from being transmitted to the rotation shaft 740 to prevent the rotation shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 from being misaligned with each other.

[0231] In addition, since the drum 200 is not fixed by a belt or the like, when the drum 200 rotates in a state in which laundry is accommodated therein, excessive vibration energy can be generated.

[0232] In one example, the front case 410 and the rear case 420 are disposed at the front and the rear of the drum 200, respectively. The front case 410 can avoid direct contact with the front surface of the drum 200 through the inlet communication hole 412 and the gasket 413. However, since the rear surface of the drum 200 is directly coupled to the rotating shaft 740, the rear of the drum body 210 is shielded by the drum rear surface 220, and the mounting portion 429, which should fix the driver M, has to be mounted at a portion of the rear case 420 directly facing the drum rear surface 220. In other words, the rear case 420 cannot have a surface facing the drum defined as a through hole like the front case 410.

[0233] Therefore, when the rear case 420 rotatably supports the rear or the rear surface of the drum 200 like the front case 410, there is a risk of direct friction and collision between the drum rear surface 220 and the rear case 420.

[0234] Specifically, due to the presence of the drum accommodation groove 422, the air flow hole 423, and the mounting portion 429, which will be described later, the rear case 420 has many portions interfering with the drum rear surface 220. In this case, when the rear case 420 directly supports the drum 200, the drum rear surface 220 and the rear case 420 can be worn or damaged.

[0235] Therefore, the rear case 420 needs to be kept at a certain distance from the drum 200, and the rear case 420 itself can not be able to directly support the drum 200.

[0236] In addition, when the drum 200 rotates while containing a large amount of laundry therein, the drum 200 can rotate while moving in the direction of the front case 410 or the rear case 420 due to the absence of a belt, etc.

[0237] In consideration of this, the laundry treating apparatus of the disclosure can further include a stopper 500 to limit the motion of the drum 200 within an allowable range.

[0238] The stopper 500 can include a front stopper 510 coupled to the front case 410 to support the front upper end of the drum, a support wheel 533 rotatably disposed on the front case 410 to support the front lower end of the drum, and a rear stopper 520 coupled to the rear case 420 to support the rear lower end of the drum.

[0239] The drum 200 can rotate by being supported by the driver M and the support wheel 533, and the front stopper 510 and the rear stopper 520 can be disposed to limit the drum 200 only when the drum 200 moves excessively. Therefore, the front stopper 510 and the rear stopper 520 can buffer the vibration or the impact temporarily occurring of the drum 200, and can prevent the front stopper 510 and the rear stopper 520 from damaging the drum 200.

[0240] Reference Figure 7In (a) of FIG. 10, the front stopper 510 can include a fixing plate 5111 coupled to the stopper mounting portion 416 of the front case 410, a rod plate 5112 extending rearward from the fixing plate 5111, an extension plate 5113 extending downward from the rod plate 5112, a support plate 512 extending from the extension plate 5113 and disposed at the front upper end of the drum 200, and a felt 513 coupled to a lower portion of the support plate 512 and in contact with the drum 200.

[0241] Accordingly, when the drum 200 is lifted upward, the front stopper 510 can absorb the impact of the drum 200 at a point when the rod plate 5112 and the extension plate 5113 are lifted upward to a certain level, and the felt 513 can rub against the front portion of the drum 200 to limit the drum 200 from being excessively lifted upward.

[0242] The outer peripheral surface of the laundry inlet 211 of the drum 200 can include a contact portion 213 having a diameter smaller than that of the drum body 210 to be in contact with the support wheel 533 or the felt 513. Accordingly, the felt 513 and the support wheel 533 are precisely seated on the contact portion 213 to limit the movement of the drum 200.

[0243] The front stopper 510 can be disposed to be spaced apart from the front upper end of the drum by a certain distance. The certain distance can correspond to the distance by which the drum 200 can deviate from the gasket 413 when rotating, or the range by which the drum 200 can be excessively twisted about the rotation shaft 740.

[0244] Referring to Figure 7 In (b) of FIG. 10, in the front stopper 510, the support plate 512 and the felt 513 can be formed as a contact wheel 532 rotatably in contact with the contact portion 213.

[0245] Accordingly, the support wheel 533 can support a lower portion of the contact portion 213, and the contact wheel can support an upper portion of the contact portion 213 to prevent the drum 200 from deviating from the inlet communication hole 412.

[0246] Referring to Figure 7 In (c) of FIG. 10, accordingly, the rear case 420 and the drum 200 can be disposed to be spaced apart from each other, the rear stopper 520 and the driver M can support the rear portion of the drum 200, and the rear stopper 520 can block the excessive approach of the drum 200 when the drum 200 excessively approaches the rear case 420. As a result, damage due to friction or contact between the rear case 420 and the drum 200 can be prevented.

[0247] The rear stop 520 can be provided at the front of the rear case 420 to prevent the drum rear surface 220 from being in contact with and colliding with the rear case 420. When the drum 200 rotates while the laundry is accommodated therein, since the drum 200 is not fixed with a belt, the drum 200 not only moves upward or downward, but also generates an external force moving forward or backward.

[0248] Since the rear case 420 supports the load of the driver M, the rear case 420 must be made of a material having a thickness greater than that of the front case 410 or having a rigidity greater than that of the front case 410. Thus, since the rear case 420 supports the drum 200 without buffering the movement of the drum 200 when the drum 200 moves downward, the rear case 420 can generate a repulsive force pushing the drum 200 upward.

[0249] In this process, the drum 200 can be strongly pressed against the front case 410, and in a serious case, the door 130 can be forced open.

[0250] Thus, the rear stop 520 can be spaced apart from the rear surface of the drum 200 by a reference distance to allow the drum 200 to move backward to some extent. Thus, the drum 200 can be prevented from pressing the front case 410 excessively.

[0251] The reference distance can be defined as a distance at which, when laundry greater than or equal to a reference laundry amount is accommodated in the drum 200, the rear surface of the drum 200 and the rear stop 520 can come into contact with and be supported by each other when the drum 200 is pushed backward while rotating.

[0252] Thus, the rear stop 520 supports the drum 200 only when the drum 200 moves backward by the reference distance, thereby preventing the rear stop 520 from being worn. A felt that can come into contact with the drum 200 can be attached to the rear stop 520.

[0253] In addition, the drum 200 and the rear case 420 can be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a distance greater than or equal to the reference distance.

[0254] The rear stop 520 can include a support coupling portion 521 supported on a bottom surface of the hot air supplier 900 or the cabinet 100, a support leg 522 extending from the support coupling portion 521 toward the drum 200, an extension 524 extending obliquely forward from the support leg 522, and a limiting portion 525 extending from the extension 524 to face the drum rear surface 220.

[0255] The support leg 522 can further have a cutout groove 523 defined therein to enhance rigidity.

[0256] The extension 524 is inclinedly extended from the support leg 522 to enhance rigidity of the entire rear stopper 520 while buffering an external force applied from the drum 200 to some extent.

[0257] The extension 524 can include an inclined extension 5241 extended forward from the support leg 522 and a straight extension 5242 extended upward from the inclined extension 5241.

[0258] The restriction portion 525 can include a spacer 5251 extended rearward from the straight extension 5242 and spaced apart from the rear surface 220 of the drum, and a load support 5252 extended from the spacer 5251 and disposed to face a lower portion of the rear surface 220 of the drum.

[0259] To enhance rigidity of the load support 5252, a bent portion 5253 provided by bending a free end of the load support 5252 can be further installed.

[0260] The rear stopper 520 can be prevented from directly contacting the rear surface of the drum 200 by the spacer 5251. Instead, it can allow the drum 200 to move rearward to some extent.

[0261] Accordingly, the rear case 420 can be disposed between the rear stopper 520 and the decelerator 700 or the driver 600.

[0262] In one example, the rear stopper 520 can be disposed to be spaced apart from a lower portion of the drum by a certain distance. The certain distance can correspond to a distance by which the drum 200 is deviated from the sealing portion 490 450 or a distance by which the drum 200 is excessively twisted about the rotation shaft 740.

[0263] That is, the straight extension 5242 can be disposed to be spaced apart from the rear surface of the drum 200 by a certain distance.

[0264] Figure 8 The structure of the rear case 420 of the rear case of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0265] The motor 600 is coupled to and fixed to the decelerator 700 such that the decelerator 700 needs to be supported while being disposed on the rear surface of the drum 200 in order to rotate the drum 200 even when the decelerator 700 itself serves as a reference for the position and vibration of the driver M.

[0266] Accordingly, the decelerator 700 can be seated on the rear case 420 and supported inside the housing 100. However, the motor 600 and the drum 200 can be disposed to be spaced apart from the rear case 420. This is to prevent the motor 600 or the drum 200 from interfering with components other than the decelerator 700 and moving independently of the decelerator 700.

[0267] Accordingly, the rear case 420 can function as a fulcrum point of a lever in a vibration system or a rotating system including the decelerator 700, the motor 600, and the drum 200.

[0268] The rear case 420 can include a rear plate 421 disposed on a rear surface of the drum 200 and disposed to face the front plate 411, and a drum accommodation groove 422 protruding from the rear plate 421 to have a shape corresponding to that of the drum rear surface 220. The drum accommodation groove 422 can be spaced apart from the drum rear surface 220, but can protrude from the rear plate 421 to have a diameter and a depth for partially accommodating an outer circumferential surface of the drum rear surface 220. That is, the drum accommodation groove 422 can protrude a first height L1 from the rear plate 421 to cause the drum rear surface 220 to be partially accommodated in a front portion of the rear plate 421. A plurality of communication holes 424 facing the suction holes 224 of the drum rear surface 220 and allowing air to pass therethrough can be defined in the drum accommodation groove 422. Each reinforcing curved portion 426 capable of enhancing rigidity can be disposed between two adjacent communication holes 424. Each reinforcing curved portion 426 is disposed to be recessed or protruded between the two adjacent communication holes 424 to prevent the rigidity of a portion of the rear plate 421 between the two adjacent communication holes 424 from being weakened. The plurality of communication holes 424 are components that allow hot air supplied from the hot air supplier 900 to be supplied to the drum 200. In this regard, because the drum accommodation groove 422 accommodates the drum rear surface 220 therein, the hot air discharged from the communication holes 424 can be caused to be supplied to the suction holes 224. In one example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can further include a sealing portion 450 disposed to seal a space between the drum accommodation groove 422 and the drum rear surface 220, and the sealing portion 450 can be accommodated and installed in the drum accommodation groove 422.

[0269] Accordingly, the drum accommodation groove 422 can provide a space in which the sealing portion 450 can be installed, and enhance the rigidity of the rear plate 421.

[0270] The installation portion 490 can be provided by being recessed into the drum accommodation groove 422 in a direction opposite to a direction in which the drum accommodation groove 422 protrudes. The installation portion 490 can be provided by being recessed a depth L2 from an inner circumferential surface of the drum accommodation groove 422. The installation portion 490 is provided by being recessed into the drum accommodation groove 422 such that the rigidity of the drum accommodation groove 422 can also be strengthened, while the overall rigidity of the rear plate 421 can be strengthened.

[0271] Further, the mounting portion 490 can be disposed closer to the drum rear surface 220 by being recessed forward by L2 into the drum accommodation groove 422. Accordingly, the distance between the reducer 700 mounted and fixed to the mounting portion 490 and the drum rear surface 220 can be reduced, and the length of the rotation shaft 740 connecting the reducer 700 to the drum rear surface 220 can also be reduced by as much, thereby not only securing the durability of the rotation shaft 740 but also reducing the range of angles in which the rotation shaft 740 can be twisted.

[0272] Further, the mounting portion 490 can be recessed into the drum accommodation groove 422, but can have a diameter greater than that of the reducer 700 and the driver 600. Accordingly, at least a portion of the reducer 700 and the motor 600 can be accommodated in the mounting portion 490 to reduce the overall thickness of the cabinet 100.

[0273] The mounting portion 490 can include a shaft through-hole 4291 through which the rotation shaft 740 extending from the reducer 700 passes through the rear plate 421, a mounting surface 4292 provided on the outer circumferential surface of the shaft through-hole 4291 to support the reducer 700, and a mounting groove 4294 extending rearward from the mounting surface 4292 toward the drum accommodation groove. A fastening portion 4293 coupled to the reducer 700 or the coupling portion 800 for coupling the reducer 700 to the mounting surface 4292 can be mounted on the mounting surface 4292.

[0274] In one example, at least a portion of the reducer 700 or the motor 600 can be accommodated in the mounting groove 4294. Accordingly, an electric wire support groove 4295 in which an electric wire supplying a current to the stator 610 can be seated can be defined by being recessed outward from the mounting groove 4294. The mounting groove 4294 can have a diameter greater than that of the driver M.

[0275] In one example, the rear case 420 can further include an air flow hole 423 for delivering hot air supplied from the connector 930 to the duct cover 430. Air introduced into the air flow hole 423 can be introduced into the communication hole 424 along the duct cover 430.

[0276] Figure 9 The motor 600 of the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is shown to be coupled to the reducer 700.

[0277] The reducer 700 can be mounted and supported on the mounting portion 429 to rotate the drum 200. The stator 610 can be directly coupled to and fixed to the reducer 700, and can be spaced apart from the mounting portion 429. The rotor 620 can be supported by the reducer 700 through the drive shaft 630 coupled to the reducer 700, and can be disposed to rotate with respect to the stator 610.

[0278] When the stator 610 is coupled to the decelerator 700, the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 can be disposed in parallel to each other to be disposed along the same axis S. The motor 600 can have a center of rotation disposed on the same axis S, and the decelerator 700 can also have a center of rotation disposed on the same axis S.

[0279] As a result, the rotor 620 can also rotate with respect to the same axis S, and the rotation shaft 740 extending from the decelerator 700 can also rotate with respect to the same axis S.

[0280] The decelerator 700 can be directly coupled to fix the stator 610. The stator 610 can be disposed to be spaced apart from the rear case 420, and can be disposed to be spaced apart from the mounting portion 429.

[0281] In one example, the stator 610 can be supported by being in contact with the rear case 420, and the stator 610 can be additionally coupled to the rear case 420 when the stator 610 is directly fixed to the decelerator 700.

[0282] Because the stator 610 is coupled to the decelerator 700, and the decelerator 700 converts rpm of the driving shaft 630 to rotate the rotation shaft 740, the drum 200 can also rotate with respect to the same axis S.

[0283] Even when the decelerator 700 vibrates or rotates and the same axis S is misaligned, the driving shaft 630 and the rotation shaft 740 can be disposed in parallel to the same axis S.

[0284] As a result, the decelerator 700 can be coupled to and fixed to the rear case 420.

[0285] Because the decelerator 700 is coupled to the rear of the rear case 420 and the drum 200 is disposed in front of the rear case 420, the rear case 420 can be disposed between the drum 200 and the decelerator 700.

[0286] The decelerator 700 can rotate the drum as the drum rotation shaft 740 passes through the rear case 420, and can support the load of the drum through the drum rotation shaft 740.

[0287] In addition, it can be seen that the rear case 420 is disposed between the drum 200 and the motor 600. The decelerator 700 can be disposed between the drum 200 and the motor 600 to be supported by the rear case 420.

[0288] In this regard, both the drum 200 and the motor 600 can be completely spaced apart from the rear case 420. Accordingly, the decelerator 700 can serve as a support center of the drum 200 and the motor 600.

[0289] Also, it can be seen that the drum 200 is disposed in front of the rear case 420 and spaced apart from the rear case, and the motor is disposed behind the rear case 420 and spaced apart from the rear case 420. The decelerator 700 is coupled to the rear case from behind by passing through the rear case to connect the motor 600 and the drum 200 to each other.

[0290] Accordingly, the drum 200 and the motor 600 can be disposed to transmit at least a portion of a load to the rear case 420 through the decelerator 700.

[0291] As a result, the motor 600, the decelerator 700, and the drum 200 can be inclined with respect to the rear case 420 at the same time, or can be vibrated at the same time.

[0292] Also, because the stator 610 is fixed to the decelerator 700, the drive shaft 630 can be inclined with the decelerator 700, or can be vibrated at the same time as the decelerator 700.

[0293] Figure 10 An appearance of the decelerator 700 is illustrated.

[0294] The decelerator 700 can include decelerator housings 710 and 720 that form an appearance of the decelerator 700 and accommodate a gear box therein. The decelerator housings can include a first housing 710 facing the motor 600 and a second housing 720 facing the drum 200.

[0295] Referring to Figure 10 In (a) of FIG. 11, a majority of the gear box inside the decelerator 700 can be accommodated in the first housing 710, and the second housing 720 can be disposed to shield the inside of the decelerator 700. Accordingly, the length of the drum 200 can be further elongated by reducing the total thickness of the decelerator 700.

[0296] The second housing 720 can include a blocking body 722 disposed to shield the first housing 710, a coupling body 721 extending along a circumference of the blocking body 722 and coupled to the first housing 710, and a shaft support 723 disposed to support the rotational shaft 740 in the blocking body 722.

[0297] The blocking body 722 can be formed in a disc shape, and the coupling body 721 can extend from the blocking body 722 toward a portion of the first housing 710 while having a certain thickness.

[0298] In one example, the coupling body 721 can be disposed in the first housing 710 to couple the blocking body 722.

[0299] The shaft support 723 can prevent the rotational shaft 740 from being misaligned to maintain alignment between the rotational shaft 740 and the drive shaft 630.

[0300] The fastening portion 780 can be mounted on the coupling body 721, and the fastening portion can have a certain thickness to fix the reducer 700 to the stator 610 or the mounting portion 429.

[0301] The fastening portion 780 can protrude outward from the coupling body 721, and can be integrally formed with the coupling body 723. The fastening portion 780 can include at least one of a fastening protrusion 781 that can be coupled to the stator 610 and a coupling protrusion 782 that can be coupled to the mounting portion 429. The coupling protrusion 782 can include a plurality of coupling protrusions spaced apart from each other along the outer circumferential surface of the coupling body 721, and the plurality of coupling protrusions can be disposed to be spaced apart from each other at the same angle with respect to the shaft accommodation portion 713.

[0302] Referring to Figure 10 (b) of FIG. 1, the first housing 710 is formed in a multi-step shape to accommodate gears of various diameters. In general, a gear box coupled with the reducer 700 can include a sun gear, a planetary gear that runs around the sun gear, and a ring gear that accommodates the planetary gear therein to cause the planetary gear to rotate. The first housing 710 can include a ring gear housing 711 that is coupled to the second housing 720 and accommodates the ring gear therein, and a planetary gear housing 712 that extends from the ring gear housing 711 to be away from the second housing 720, thereby accommodating one end of the planetary gear therein.

[0303] The planetary gear housing 712 can have a smaller diameter than the ring gear housing 711. However, the center of the planetary gear housing 712 and the center of the ring gear housing 711 can be designed to be disposed on the same axis S.

[0304] A drive shaft 630 rotatably coupled to the rotor 620 can be coupled to the planetary gear housing 712. The drive shaft 630 can be inserted into the first housing 710 and rotatably supported inside the first housing 710 by the gear box.

[0305] A washer 640 for rotatably supporting the rotor 620 can be seated on one surface of the planetary gear housing 712, and a washer protrusion 7121 coupled and fixed with the washer 640 can be installed. Also, the planetary gear housing 712 can further include a washer coupling hole 7122 defined therein, to which the washer 640 can be rotatably coupled.

[0306] The washer protrusion 7121 and the washer coupling hole 7122 can include a plurality of washer protrusions and a plurality of washer coupling holes, respectively, disposed to be spaced apart from each other at a certain angle with respect to the drive shaft 630.

[0307] The fastening protrusion 781 can have a larger cross-sectional area and a greater thickness than the coupling protrusion 782. Accordingly, the coupling force between the fastening protrusion 781 and the stator 610 can be strengthened, and vibrations transmitted from the stator 610 can be more easily endured.

[0308] The stator 610 can be seated on the fastening protrusion 781 and coupled to the fastening protrusion 781 by a separate fixing member. The fastening protrusion can have a fastening protrusion hole 7811 defined therein, to which the fixing member fastening the stator 610 can be fastened, and a screw thread can be formed in the fastening protrusion hole 7811, which can be coupled to the fixing member.

[0309] Figure 11 A structure in which the stator 610 is coupled to the reducer 700 is illustrated.

[0310] The stator 610 can include a main body 611 fastened to the reducer 700 and formed in a ring shape, a fixing rib 612 extending from an inner circumferential surface of the main body 611 and coupled to the fastening protrusion 781, a tooth 614 extending from an outer circumferential surface of the main body 611 along a circumference of the main body 611 and being wound by a coil, a pole shoe 615 provided at a free end of the tooth 614 to prevent the coil from deviating, and a terminal 616 that controls supply of electric current to the coil.

[0311] The main body 611 can have an accommodation space 613 therein, the fixing rib 612 can include a plurality of fixing ribs disposed inside the main body 611 and spaced apart from each other at a certain angle with respect to the accommodation space 613, and a fixing rib hole 6121 can be defined at an inner side of the fixing rib 612, into which a fixing member coupled to the fastening protrusion 781 is installed.

[0312] Since the stator 610 is directly coupled to the reducer 700, the reducer 700 can be coupled to the stator 610 by being at least partially accommodated in the stator 610.

[0313] In particular, when the reducer 700 is accommodated in the stator 610, the thickness of the entire driver M can be reduced to further expand the volume of the drum 200. Furthermore, when the reducer 700 is accommodated in the stator 610, the rotational shaft 740 of the reducer 700 and the driving shaft 630 can be more accurately maintained coaxial with each other.

[0314] To this end, the reducer 700 can have a diameter smaller than that of the main body 611. That is, the first housing 710 and the second housing 720 can have a maximum diameter smaller than that of the main body 611. Accordingly, at least a portion of the reducer 700 can be accommodated and disposed in the main body 611. However, the fastening protrusion 781 can extend to overlap the fixing rib 612 in the reducer housing. Accordingly, the fastening protrusion 781 can be coupled to the fixing rib 612, and portions of the first housing 710 and the second housing 720 can be located inside the main body 611.

[0315] The fixing rib 612 can include a first fixing rib 612a directly coupled to the fastening protrusion 781 and a second fixing rib 612b not directly coupled to the fastening protrusion 781 but capable of supporting the fastening protrusion 781 or the first housing 710.

[0316] The coupling protrusion 782 can be disposed to be misaligned with the fastening protrusion 781 to prevent interference with the fastening protrusion 781.

[0317] Figure 12 A structure in which the motor 600 is coupled to the reducer 700 is illustrated.

[0318] The stator 610 is coupled to the reducer 700. The stator 610 can be coupled to one surface of the reducer 700, but can be coupled to the fastening protrusion 781 protruding outward from the housing of the reducer 700 so that at least a portion of the reducer housing can be accommodated within the main body 611. Accordingly, the center of the main body 611, the center of the reducer 700, and the rotational shaft 740 can always be coaxial with each other.

[0319] In one example, the rotor 620 can be disposed to accommodate the stator 610 while being spaced apart from the pole shoe 615 by a certain distance. Since the driving shaft 630 is fixed to the reducer 700 accommodated in the main body 611, a gap G1 between the rotor 620 and the stator 610 can always be maintained.

[0320] Accordingly, temporary deformation in the stator 610 and prevention of the rotor 620 and the stator 610 from colliding with or rotating with each other can be achieved, thereby preventing noise or unnecessary vibration from occurring.

[0321] In one example, a virtual first diameter line D1 passing through the center of the reducer 700 and the center of the driving shaft 630, a virtual second diameter line D2 passing through the center of the main body 611, and a virtual third diameter line D3 passing through the center of the rotor 620 can all be disposed at the center of rotation of the driving shaft 630.

[0322] Accordingly, since the decelerator 700 itself becomes the rotation center of the driving shaft 630, and the stator 610 is directly fixed to the decelerator 700, it is possible to prevent the driving shaft 630 from being misaligned with the decelerator 700. As a result, it is possible to secure the reliability of the decelerator 700.

[0323] Figure 13 A structure in which the decelerator 700 is coupled to the driver M is shown.

[0324] The drum 200 and the driver M are installed inside the cabinet 100. In this regard, in order to increase the drying capacity, it is necessary to increase at least one of the diameter and the length of the drum 200. Accordingly, the volume of the cabinet 100 is also increased.

[0325] In this regard, since the height and the length of the cabinet 100 are fixed or standardized, in order to expand the drying capacity inside the cabinet 100, it can be necessary to increase the length of the drum 200 as much as possible.

[0326] As the length T3 of the driver increases, the length T2 of the drum decreases, and thus the drying capacity of the drum decreases, and thus it is necessary to secure the length T2 of the drum as much as possible by reducing the length T3 of the driver (see Figure 4 ).

[0327] In order for the rotation shaft to extend from the drum 200 and for the driver M to be coupled while supporting the rotation shaft protruding from the drum, the length of the driver M is increased in the direction of the rotation shaft to sufficiently support and accommodate the rotation shaft.

[0328] Further, when the decelerator 700 is provided as in the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure, the decelerator 700 has no choice but to be elongated in the direction of the rotation shaft to accommodate and support the rotation shaft extending from the drum without distorting the rotation shaft. As the total length T3 of the driver M increases, there is a risk that the length T2 of the drum 200 can decrease.

[0329] Further, a gear box coupled with the driving shaft 630 is present in the decelerator 700, and the gear box has a complex configuration. In this case, since the rotation shaft extending from the drum 200 and the gear box cannot be integrally manufactured, a separate component for coupling the rotation shaft protruding from the drum 200 with the gear box should be added.

[0330] Accordingly, the volume of the decelerator 700 can further increase, such that the length T2 of the drum 200 can further decrease.

[0331] Further, in order for the rotating shaft to protrude from the rear surface of the drum 220 and extend, a star-shaped wheel extending toward the circumference of the rear surface of the drum 220 or the inner circumferential surface of the drum body 210 is required so that the rotating shaft can be fixed to the rear surface of the drum 220. When the star-shaped wheel is coupled to the rear surface of the drum 220, the total length T2 of the drum can be reduced or the internal volume of the drum can be reduced due to the thickness of the star-shaped wheel.

[0332] Therefore, when the driver M accommodates the rotating shaft coming out from the drum and is coupled to the rotating shaft in a male-female coupling manner, as in the related art drum (driver: female, drum: male), the length T3 of the tip of the driver is unnecessarily increased outside the rear surface of the drum 220, and the length T2 of the drum 200 is reduced by that much.

[0333] Therefore, the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure can be provided so that the rotating shaft 740 extends from the driver M, and the drum 200 is coupled to the rotating shaft 740 to rotate. In other words, the rotating shaft 740 can protrude from the driver, and the drum 200 can be coupled to the free end of the rotating shaft 740 to rotate (driver: male, drum: female).

[0334] The center of the rear surface of the drum 220 can be coupled to the free end of the rotating shaft 740 extending from the decelerator 700 to receive the rotational force provided by the rotating shaft 740, thereby rotating the drum body 210.

[0335] From another point of view, because the drum 200 is rotatably supported by the stopper 500 such as the support wheel 533, the front housing, etc., the drum 200 can easily rotate when the rotational force is applied only to the drum 200. Therefore, when the rotating shaft 740 extending from the decelerator 700 applies only the rotational force to the drum 200, the drum 200 can easily rotate.

[0336] Further, because the rotating shaft 740 is accommodated and supported in the decelerator 700, the rear surface of the drum 220 does not require a star-shaped wheel for supporting the rotating shaft 740 so as not to be distorted.

[0337] Therefore, the rotating shaft 740 supported in the decelerator 700 can be simply coupled to the rear surface of the drum 220 to rotate the drum 200.

[0338] The decelerator 700 can be directly coupled to the rear surface of the drum 220. However, the rear surface of the drum 220 needs to have a considerable thickness and rigidity in order to be firmly coupled to the rotating shaft 740. In this case, when the decelerator 700 rotates the drum 200, the weight of the drum 200 can unnecessarily increase, and more energy can be consumed.

[0339] Accordingly, the bushing portion 300 disposed to be coupled with the rotation shaft 740 can be additionally coupled to the drum rear surface 220. That is, the bushing portion 300 can be made of a strong material or thick so as to maintain its shape and rigidity even when coupled to the rotation shaft 740 and changed or rapidly accelerated and rotated in the rotation direction. Also, the drum rear surface 220 can be made of a material softer than that of the bushing portion 300, or can be thinner than the bushing portion 300.

[0340] As a result, the rotation shaft 740 extending from the decelerator 700 can be coupled to the bushing portion 300, and the bushing portion 300 can be coupled to the drum rear surface 220.

[0341] The drum rear surface 220 can include a circumferential portion 221 for shielding a rear portion of the drum body 210 and a seating portion 223 disposed inside the circumferential portion 221 and coupled with the bushing portion 300. The circumferential portion 221 can have a suction hole through which hot air supplied from the hot air supplier 900 is introduced into the drum body 210, and an outer circumferential surface thereof can have a coupling curved portion 2211 which can be fixedly coupled to a rear surface of the drum body 210.

[0342] The seating portion 223 can be located at the center of the drum rear surface 220 and can have a diameter greater than or equal to that of the bushing portion 300. The seating portion 223 can have a mounting hole 222 defined at the center thereof, in which a portion of the bushing portion 300 coupled with the shaft can be accommodated.

[0343] The seating portion 223 can be recessed inward of the circumferential portion 221. The seating portion 223 can be recessed into the circumferential portion 221 to enhance the rigidity of the drum rear surface 220 as a whole, and can disperse a rotational force even when the bushing portion 300 coupled therewith receives the rotational force, to maintain the shape of the drum rear surface 220.

[0344] The seating portion 223 has a diameter greater than that of the decelerator 700 and that of the mounting portion 429, and is recessed forward from the drum rear surface 220 so that at least a portion of the driver M can be accommodated.

[0345] Accordingly, by reducing the distance between the drum 200 and the driver M, the length of the rotation shaft 740 can be further reduced, and the length T2 of the drum can be further increased.

[0346] The mounting portion 223 may include a receiving surface 2231 extending from the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential portion 221 into the roller body 210, and a support surface 2232 extending from the receiving surface 2231 to face the driver M. The bushing portion 300 may be mounted and secured thereon, and a mounting surface 2233 may be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the support surface 2232. A mounting hole 222 may be defined in the inner circumferential surface of the mounting surface 2233, the mounting surface 2233 having a diameter greater than or equal to the diameter of the bushing portion 300, and may further define a connecting groove 2234 for connection to the bushing portion 300 by bolts or welding.

[0347] The bushing portion 300 can be fixed to the mounting surface 2233 and connected to the rear surface 220 of the roller, and can also be connected to the free end of the rotating shaft 740.

[0348] The bushing portion 300 can be connected to the rotating shaft 740 by accommodating the free end of the rotating shaft 740 therein or by partially accommodating the free end of the rotating shaft 740. Therefore, the connection force between the rotating shaft 740 and the bushing portion 300 can be strengthened.

[0349] In one example, the rotating shaft 740 may not be formed in a circular shape, but rather in an elliptical or track shape, wherein the two sides facing each other are semi-circular, while the remaining two sides facing each other are straight. Furthermore, the bushing portion 300 may be configured such that its cross-section makes surface contact with the elliptical or track-shaped rotating shaft 740. Therefore, the rotating shaft 740 can be prevented from rotating futilely within the bushing portion 300.

[0350] Figure 14 An embodiment of the bushing portion 300 is shown.

[0351] refer to Figure 14 In (a), the bushing portion 300 may include a connecting surface 310 and a shaft connecting portion 320, on which a connecting groove 2234 may be disposed and fixed, the shaft connecting portion being disposed within the connecting surface 310 and connected to the rotating shaft 740. The connecting surface 310 may be formed in the shape of a plate and may be supported when the connecting groove 2234 is disposed thereon.

[0352] The bushing portion 300 may have a recessed surface 330 that is recessed into the inner peripheral surface of the connecting surface 310 to further accommodate the rotating shaft 740 therein, and the shaft connecting portion 320 may be located inside the recessed surface 330.

[0353] The shaft connection portion 320 can be formed into a tube shape capable of connecting the rotating shaft 740, and can be configured to extend forward or backward from the inner peripheral surface of the recessed surface 330.

[0354] The recessed surface 330 can be formed in a cylindrical cone shape to be inserted into the mounting hole 222 and can be in contact with and supported by the inner circumferential surface of the mounting hole 222.

[0355] Referring to Figure 14 In (b) of FIG. 11, the coupling surface 310 can include a plurality of bushing coupling portions 312 disposed to extend radially with respect to the recessed surface 330 or the shaft coupling portion 320.

[0356] The bushing coupling portion 312 can further protrude outward from the coupling surface 310. A distance from the recessed surface 330 to an outer surface of the bushing coupling portion 312 can be greater than a distance from the recessed surface 330 to a portion of the coupling surface 310 in which the bushing coupling portion 312 is not formed. The bushing coupling portion 312 can further enlarge an area of the coupling surface 310.

[0357] Further, the bushing coupling portion 312 can further protrude in a thickness direction from the coupling surface 310. That is, the bushing coupling portion 312 can be thicker than the coupling surface 310 or can be formed as the coupling surface 310 is pressed in the thickness direction.

[0358] The bushing coupling portion 312 can protrude from the coupling surface 310 in a direction opposite to the recessed surface 330.

[0359] The bushing coupling portion 312 can be fixed by being seated in the coupling groove 2234 of the seating portion 223 and can be welded to the coupling groove 2234 or fastened to the coupling groove 2234 using a fastening member such as a bolt.

[0360] The bushing coupling portion 312 can further include a coupling hole 311 through which a fastening member can be coupled by passing therethrough. The bushing coupling portion 312 can further protrude from the coupling surface 310 in a thickness direction or in an outward direction to effectively distribute an external force applied from the fastening member.

[0361] The bushing coupling portions 312 can be disposed to be spaced apart from each other by the same angle with respect to the recessed surface 330 or the shaft coupling portion 320. That is, when the number of the bushing coupling portions 312 is n, the bushing coupling portions 312a can be spaced apart from each other by 360 / n degrees. For example, when the number of the bushing coupling portions 312 is 6, the bushing coupling portions 312 can be spaced apart from each other by 60 degrees.

[0362] In one example, the bushing coupling portion 312 can protrude from the coupling surface 310 in two steps. That is, the bushing coupling portion 312 can protrude from the coupling surface 310 with a relatively large diameter, and can further protrude from the protruding portion with a relatively small diameter. Accordingly, the bushing coupling portion 312 itself can effectively disperse external force transmitted from the coupling member, and the surface area coupled with the coupling member can increase.

[0363] Further, the coupling groove 2234 defined in the seating portion 223 of the rear surface 220 of the drum can also be formed in two steps in the same manner as the bushing coupling portion 312, such that the coupling area of the coupling groove 2234 and the bushing coupling portion 312 can increase.

[0364] Further, the bushing coupling portion 312 can be immediately seated and fixed in the coupling groove 2234, such that the installation position of the bushing portion 300 can be easily determined, and the process of coupling the coupling member can also be facilitated.

[0365] In one example, the shaft coupling portion 320 can include a coupling body 321 to which the rotating shaft 740 is coupled. The coupling body 321 can be formed in a tubular shape so that the free end of the rotating shaft 740 can be in surface contact with and accommodated in the coupling body 321. The coupling body 321 can have a cross-sectional shape corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the rotating shaft 740.

[0366] The coupling body 321 can include an inner groove 322 into which the rotating shaft 740 is partially inserted and fixed, and the inner groove 322 can have an area corresponding to that of the rotating shaft 740. The inner peripheral surface of the inner groove 322 can be in surface contact with the rotating shaft 740. That is, the inner groove 322 can have the same shape as the cross-sectional shape of the rotating shaft 740, and can be coupled with and in contact with the outer peripheral surface of the rotating shaft 740.

[0367] Further, the coupling body 321 can include a coupling plate 323 disposed inside the inner groove 322 to face the free end of the rotating shaft 740. The coupling plate 323 can be disposed to face the surface of the free end of the rotating shaft 740, and can contact and support the free end of the rotating shaft 740. The coupling plate 323 can determine the length of the rotating shaft 740 inserted into the shaft coupling portion 320. Further, even when impact or vibration is transmitted to the rotating shaft 740, the coupling plate 323 can prevent the rotating shaft 740 from being excessively inserted.

[0368] Further, the coupling plate 323 can have a rotation shaft coupling groove 3231 defined therein through which a coupling member capable of being coupled with the free end of the rotation shaft passes. The coupling member can be coupled by passing through the rotation shaft coupling groove 3231 and through the rotation shaft 740.

[0369] Accordingly, the rotation shaft 740 can be prevented from being arbitrarily deviated or removed from the bushing part 300. Further, even when the drum 200 is vibrated in the front and rear direction, the position at which the coupling plate 323 is coupled with the rotation shaft 740 can be always fixed.

[0370] The inner groove 322 can firmly fix the rotation shaft 740 so as not to be rotated in vain. To this end, a thread or a groove gear 3221 capable of increasing a contact force with the rotation shaft 740 can be provided on the inner circumferential surface of the inner groove 322.

[0371] A sawtooth capable of being coupled with the groove gear 3221 can be provided on the outer circumferential surface of the rotation shaft 740.

[0372] Accordingly, when the rotation shaft 740 is rotated, the bushing part 300 is rotated at the same rotational speed as the rotation shaft 740, and the bushing part 300 can rotate the drum 200.

[0373] In one example, when the cross section of the rotation shaft 740 is not circular but has a straight line portion like a polygonal or a track shape, and when the cross section of the inner groove 322 also has a shape corresponding to the shape of the cross section of the rotation shaft 740, the rotational force and the rotational direction of the rotation shaft 740 can be immediately transmitted to the inner groove 322.

[0374] Accordingly, even when the rotation shaft 740 is rapidly accelerated or rapidly changes its rotational direction, the inner groove 322 can be rapidly accelerated together with the rotation shaft 740 or can rapidly change its rotational direction. Accordingly, the rotation of the drum 200 can be controlled together with the rotation shaft 740.

[0375] In one example, the coupling plate 323 can be spaced apart from both ends of the coupling body 321 by a certain length. That is, the coupling plate 323 can be positioned inside the coupling body 321, and can define an outer groove at the free end of the coupling body 321 until the coupling plate 323.

[0376] The free end of the coupling body 321 can accommodate the outer circumferential surface of the coupling member inserted into the coupling groove 3231 due to the outer groove, and can block the coupling member from being exposed to the outside of the bushing part 300.

[0377] In one example, the recessed surface 330 can be recessed from the coupling surface 310 by a first length B1. The first length B1 can be set to a length that is less than a diameter of the coupling surface 310 or a diameter of the recessed surface 330.

[0378] Accordingly, the depth of the rotating shaft 740 accommodated in the bushing portion 300 can be increased as much as the depth of the recessed surface 330 and the depth of the shaft coupling portion 320. Accordingly, since the recessed surface 330 is positioned in front of the drum rear surface 220 (in the direction of the laundry inlet 211), the free end of the rotating shaft 740 can also be accommodated to be positioned in front of the drum rear surface 220 (in the direction of the drum laundry inlet). In other words, the rotating shaft 740 can be deeply coupled to the drum 200 to such an extent that the free end of the rotating shaft 740 is positioned within the drum body 210.

[0379] Accordingly, even when the rotating shaft 740 rotates, distortion of the drum body 210 can be eliminated, and the bushing portion 300 can more effectively receive the rotational force of the rotating shaft 740.

[0380] In one example, due to the presence of the recessed surface 330 and the shaft coupling portion 320, the bushing portion 300 is recessed into the drum body 210 only from the drum rear surface 220, and the drum rear surface 220 can be disposed behind the free end of the rotating shaft 740 and the shaft coupling portion 320 (in the direction of the driver).

[0381] Accordingly, while the area in which the rotating shaft 740 and the drum 200 are coupled to each other is increased, the volume of the drum 200 can also be increased.

[0382] In one example, in the shaft coupling portion 320, the coupling body 321 can be disposed to extend in a direction opposite to the recessed surface 330.

[0383] That is, when the recessed surface 330 extends away from the driver M from the coupling surface 310, the coupling body 321 can extend closer to the driver M from the inner circumferential surface of the recessed surface 330.

[0384] The coupling body 321 can extend from the inner circumferential surface of the recessed surface 330 by a length that is less than the length by which the recessed surface 330 extends from the coupling surface 310.

[0385] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the bushing portion 300 from being too long, and to couple to the rotating shaft 740 when at least a portion of the rotating shaft 740 is accommodated in the recessed surface 330. That is, the inner space of the recessed surface 330 can be used as a space in which the rotating shaft 740 is coupled.

[0386] In one example, the coupling body 321 can further include a portion extending away from the driver M from the recessed surface 330. That is, the coupling body 321 can be disposed to extend in the front-rear direction (a direction away from and close to the driver) from the inner circumferential surface of the recessed surface 330 at the same time.

[0387] Figure 15 An embodiment in which the driver M is coupled to the drum 200 is shown.

[0388] The decelerator 700 can be firmly coupled to the rear case 420.

[0389] The motor 600 can be disposed at the rear of the rear case 420 together with the decelerator 700, and the drum rear surface 220 can be disposed in front of the rear case 420 and the decelerator 700.

[0390] The stator 610 of the motor 600 is disposed to be spaced apart from the rear case 420, and the terminal 616 that supplies current to the stator 610 can be disposed close to or can be in contact with the rear case 420, but is not coupled and fixed to the rear case 420.

[0391] The rotor 620 can include a permanent magnet 623 facing the stator 610, a mounting body 622 to which the permanent magnet 623 is coupled, wherein the mounting body 622 is disposed to be spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the stator 610, and a rotor body 621 extending from the mounting body 621 and rotating when facing the stator 610. The rotor body 621 can be formed in a disc shape having a diameter greater than that of the stator 610, and the mounting body 622 can be disposed such that the outer circumferential surface of the stator 610 is accommodated in the outer circumferential surface of the rotor body 621. The rotor body 621 can have a drive shaft 630 coupled to the center thereof, and can define a plurality of inlet holes passing through an area between the drive shaft 630 and the mounting body 622 to allow air to be injected into the stator 610.

[0392] The drive shaft 630 can be coupled to a stud 631 coupled to the center of the rotor body 621 and extend into the decelerator 700.

[0393] A spacer 640 disposed to rotatably support the inner surface of the rotor body 621 can be coupled to the drive shaft 630. The spacer 640 can include a coupling spacer 642 coupled to the drive shaft 630, and a support spacer 641 for supporting the rotor body 621 from the coupling spacer 642.

[0394] Due to the presence of the spacer 640, the rotor 620 and the drive shaft 630 can be prevented from being twisted when rotating.

[0395] In one example, the spacer 640 can not be coupled to the rotor 620, but can be coupled to the decelerator 700 to rotatably support the rotor 620.

[0396] The first housing 710 of the decelerator 700 can be disposed to face the rotor body 621, and the second housing 720 can be coupled to the first housing 710 to face the drum rear surface 220.

[0397] The gear box 730 can be disposed inside the first housing 710 and the second housing 720. The gear box 730 can include a sun gear 731 disposed at or coupled to a free end of the drive shaft 630, at least one planetary gear 732 disposed to rotate in engagement with the sun gear 731, a ring gear 733 coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the planetary gear 732 to cause rotation of the planetary gear 732, and a carrier 734 rotatably supporting the plurality of planetary gears 732.

[0398] The planetary gears 732 can be disposed along a circumference of the sun gear 731. Each of the planetary gears 732 can include a first planetary body 7321 rotating in engagement with the sun gear 731 and the ring gear 733, a second planetary body 7322 which can have a smaller diameter than the first planetary body 7321, and a gear shaft 7323 rotatably supporting the first planetary body 7321 and the second planetary body 7322 with respect to the carrier 734.

[0399] When the sun gear 731 rotates, the planetary gears 732 rotate to rotate the gear shaft 7323, thereby rotating the carrier 734.

[0400] The carrier 734 can include a first carrier 7341 coupled to one end of the gear shaft 7323 and a second carrier 7342 coupled to the other end of the gear shaft 7323.

[0401] The first carrier 7341 and the second carrier 7342 can be formed in a ring shape or a disc shape.

[0402] In one example, a rotation shaft 740 can extend from a rotation center of the second carrier 7342. The rotation shaft 740 can be integrally formed with the second carrier 7342, or can be coupled to the second carrier 7342 and extend.

[0403] The first housing 710 can include a ring gear housing 711 disposed to fix an outer circumferential surface of the first planetary body 7321 or an outer circumferential surface of the ring gear 733, a planetary gear housing 712 extending from the ring gear housing 711 to rotatably accommodate the second planetary body 7322 and the first carrier 7341, and a shaft accommodation portion 713 extending from the planetary gear housing 712 to rotatably support the drive shaft 630.

[0404] The ring gear housing 711 can form a side surface of the first housing 710, and the planetary gear housing 712 can form at least a portion of a surface of the first housing 710 facing the rotor 620 and a side surface. The shaft accommodation portion 713 can be formed in the shape of a tube extending inside the planetary gear housing 712. The shaft accommodation portion 713 can be disposed in a space defined inside the second planetary body 7322 having a smaller diameter than the first planetary body 7321. A drive bearing 770 for rotatably supporting the drive shaft 630 can be included on an inner circumferential surface of the shaft accommodation portion 713. The drive bearing 770 can include a plurality of drive bearings disposed at a distance from each other in a longitudinal direction of the drive shaft 630.

[0405] Accordingly, the drive bearing 770 and the shaft accommodation portion 713 do not protrude outside the reducer 700 but are disposed inside the reducer 700 to reduce the length of a space in which the drive shaft 630 is disposed. That is, the volume of the reducer 700 itself can be reduced, and the distance between the reducer 700 and the motor 600 can also be reduced.

[0406] Accordingly, the total thickness of the driver M can be reduced, and the drive shaft 630 can be prevented from being twisted by coupling the stator 610 closer to the reducer 700.

[0407] Further, since the drive bearing 770 and the shaft accommodation portion 713 are arranged inside the reducer 700, the drive shaft 630 becomes closer to the reducer 700, so that the reducer 700 can be accommodated and arranged inside the stator 610. As a result, at least a portion of the reducer 700 can be arranged by utilizing the space of the motor 600.

[0408] As a result, the length of the drum 200 disposed between the rear case 420 and the front case 410 can also be extended, and the volume of the drum 200 can be increased.

[0409] In one example, the second housing 720 can include a coupling body 721 coupled to the ring gear housing 711, a blocking body 722 disposed to shield the gear case 730 with respect to the coupling body 721, and a shaft support 723 extending from the blocking body 722 to rotatably support a rotation shaft 740. The shaft support 723 can be formed in a tube shape extending from the blocking body 722, and a shaft bearing 760 for rotatably supporting the rotation shaft 740 can be installed inside the shaft support 723.

[0410] The shaft bearing 760 can include a plurality of shaft bearings spaced apart from each other at a distance in a longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft 740.

[0411] The free end of the rotation shaft 740 can be inserted into the drum rear surface 220 and coupled to the drum rear surface. In this regard, the rotation shaft 740 and the drum rear surface 220 can be disposed as close to each other as possible. At least one of the shaft supports 760 can be disposed in front of the drum rear surface 220.

[0412] When the drive shaft 630 is rotated by the rotor 620, the sun gear 731 rotates, and the planetary gear 732 rotates in engagement with the sun gear 731. The first planetary body 7321 rotates in engagement with the ring gear 733, but, since the ring gear 733 is fixed, the first planetary body 7321 rotates along the circumference of the sun gear 731 by reaction.

[0413] The planetary gear 732 rotates the gear shaft 7323, thereby rotating the bracket 734. When the bracket 734 rotates, the rotation shaft 740 extending from the second bracket 7342 rotates.

[0414] In this regard, because the planetary gear 732 is engaged with the sun gear 731, even when the planetary gear 732 rotates in the opposite direction of engagement with the sun gear 731, as the planetary gear 732 rotates with respect to the ring gear 733, the bracket 734 rotates in the same direction as the sun gear 731 by reaction, and thus, the rotation shaft 740 rotates in the same direction as the sun gear 731.

[0415] In one example, because the diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the planetary gear 732 and the diameter of the bracket 734 are greater than the diameter of the sun gear 731, the rotation shaft 740 rotates at a smaller rpm than the sun gear 731. Thus, the rotation shaft 740 rotates at a smaller rpm than the drive shaft 630. However, because there is no waste of energy other than friction loss, the power transmitted to the drive shaft 630 can be transmitted to the rotation shaft 740. Thus, as the rpm of the rotation shaft 740 decreases, the torque as a rotational force can be amplified.

[0416] Because the reducer 700 converts the power corresponding to low torque and high rotation speed generated by the motor 600 into power corresponding to high torque and low rotation speed, it can be defined that the reducer 700 converts the power of the motor 600 and transmits the converted power to the drum 200.

[0417] In one example, the axial direction of the drive shaft 630 and the axial direction of the rotation shaft 740 can be coaxial with each other. In this regard, because the drive shaft 630 is supported inside the reducer 700, and the stator 610 is also fixedly coupled to the reducer 700, the direction formed by the drive shaft 630 and the reducer 700 can be almost always maintained.

[0418] In this regard, since the gear case 730 is fixed inside the decelerator 700 in a gear coupling scheme, and the rotating shaft 740 is also fixed in the gear case 730 through the decelerator housing 720 and the bearing 770, the direction in which the rotating shaft 740 extends from the decelerator 700 can be maintained almost always. Accordingly, the rotating shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 can be maintained coaxial with each other almost always. The rotating shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 can be inclined together with the decelerator housing, or vibrate simultaneously with the decelerator housing.

[0419] The rotating shaft 740 is coupled with the bushing portion 300 by being supported by the shaft support 723 extending from the second housing 720. Specifically, the rotating shaft 740 can be rotatably supported by at least one first bearing 760 provided on an inner circumferential surface of the shaft support 723, and a free end of the rotating shaft 740 can be inserted and fixed to the shaft coupling portion 320.

[0420] Hereinafter, a structure capable of securing the length of the drum 200 by minimizing the space independently occupied by the driver M within the cabinet will be described.

[0421] The total length T3 of the driver M can correspond to the length from the rear surface of the rotor 620 to the free end of the rotating shaft 740. In this regard, when the driver M independently occupies a volume corresponding to the total length T3 in the cabinet 100, the drum length T2 of the drum 200 that can be disposed within the cabinet 100 is reduced, and thus the volume in which laundry can be accommodated can be reduced, and the space utilization within the cabinet 100 can be greatly reduced.

[0422] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can compactly dispose the components of the driver M, or can reduce the space independently occupied by the driver M with respect to the drum 200 or the rear case 420, thereby setting the total length T3 of the driver M to be smaller than the sum of the thicknesses of the components of the driver M.

[0423] First, the total length T3 of the driver M can be set to be smaller than the sum of the thickness T31 of the motor 600 corresponding to the thicknesses of the stator 610 and the rotor 620, the thickness T32 of the entire decelerator 700, and the length T33 of the portion of the rotating shaft 740 exposed to the outside from the decelerator 700.

[0424] Specifically, the decelerator 700 can be at least partially accommodated in the stator 610. That is, the decelerator 700 can be disposed using the internal space of the stator 610, and can be accommodated in the stator 610 by an overlap length E1. The overlap length E1 can correspond to the length from the fastening portion 728 to the shaft accommodation portion 713.

[0425] Therefore, due to the overlap length E1, the actual length T3X of the motor 600 and the reducer 700 can be set to be less than the sum of the thickness T31 of the motor 600 and the length T32 of the reducer. Accordingly, the space occupied by the motor 600 and the reducer 700 can be first reduced by the overlap length E1.

[0426] The overlap length E1 corresponds to a length reduced by the reducer 700 and the motor 600 itself.

[0427] The driver M can reduce the length occupied by the placement relationship with another component.

[0428] Because the reducer 700 is coupled to and supported by the rear case 420, and the motor 600 is not fixed to the rear case 420, the reducer 700 and the motor 600 are positioned on the rear surface of the rear case 420. The length occupied by the driver 600 and the reducer 700 in the rear case 420 can be defined as the installation length T3Y.

[0429] In this regard, the drum 200 is disposed in front of the rear case 420 to be spaced apart from the rear case 420 by a separation distance G so as not to interfere with the rear case 420 during rotation.

[0430] Accordingly, the reducer 700 and the motor 600 are disposed to occupy as much independent space as the installation length T3Y on the rear surface of the rear case 420 and are spaced apart from the drum 200 by the separation distance G, and when the length T33 of the rotation shaft 740 is considered, the length T3 occupied by the driver M can include at least the sum of the installation length T3Y and the separation distance G.

[0431] In order to reduce the length T3 of the driver M, the rear case 420 can be disposed such that the mounting portion 429 is recessed toward the drum rear surface 220 or the bushing portion 300 by the accommodation depth L2. Further, the diameter of the mounting portion 429 can be greater than the diameter of the rotor 620. That is, from the rear plate 421 to the mounting surface 4292, the mounting groove 4294 can be recessed or inclined to extend by the accommodation depth L2. Accordingly, the mounting portion 429 can secure a space for accommodating at least one of the reducer 700 and the motor 600.

[0432] When the reducer 700 and the motor 600 are accommodated and disposed in the mounting portion 429, the reducer 700 and the motor 600 can be disposed to be closer to the drum rear surface 220 than to the rear plate 421 by the accommodation depth L2.

[0433] Accordingly, the installation length T3Y of the reducer 700 and the motor 600 can overlap the separation distance G, and the reducer 700 and the motor 600 can be disposed to at least partially overlap each other in a space corresponding to the separation distance G.

[0434] Accordingly, a portion of the motor 600 and the reducer 700 corresponding to the volume of the accommodation depth L2 of the installation length T3Y can be disposed in a space corresponding to the separation distance G.

[0435] Accordingly, the motor 600 and the reducer 700 can reduce the accommodation depth L2 of the space used within the housing 100 independently of the drum 200.

[0436] Further, because the reducer 700 becomes closer to the drum 200 by the installation portion 490 with the accommodation depth L2, the length T33 of the rotating shaft 740 can be further reduced by as much, so that the entire length T3 of the driver can be reduced.

[0437] In one example, at least a portion of the gear box 730 of the reducer 700 can be made of a non-metallic material. For example, at least one of the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 can be made of a non-metallic material or a resin-based material.

[0438] When the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 are made of a solid metallic material, even if the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 are formed in a small size, durability can be ensured and power can be faithfully transmitted, so that the reliability of the reducer 700 can be improved.

[0439] However, when the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 are made of a metallic material, because the weight of the gear box 730 increases, not only is it more difficult to fix or support the reducer 700 within the housing 100, but heat generated from the motor 600 is also faithfully transmitted to the gear box 730, so that the reducer 700 can be overheated.

[0440] Further, when the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 are all made of a metallic material, vibrations transmitted to the rotating shaft 740 or the driving shaft 630 are faithfully transmitted, so that one of the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 can be damaged, or the rotating shaft 740 or the driving shaft 630 can be twisted.

[0441] Accordingly, at least one of the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 can be made of a non-metallic material. For example, at least one of the rotating shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 can be made of a resin-based material such as reinforced plastic.

[0442] As such, not only can the load of the gear case 730 itself be reduced, but heat transfer from the motor 600 can be blocked, and vibration transmitted to the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 can be partially buffered.

[0443] However, when at least one of the sun gear 731, the planetary gear 732, the ring gear 733, and the carrier 734 is made of a non-metallic material, its volume can become larger than when made of a metallic material, and the reducer thickness T32 can increase.

[0444] In this regard, since the installation portion 429 is recessed from the rear plate 421 by the accommodation depth L2, the increased reducer thickness T32 can be sufficiently buffered. Furthermore, the bushing portion 300 can accommodate the rotating shaft 740 or the shaft support 723 of the reducer 700 through the recessed surface 330 to reduce the increased reducer thickness T32.

[0445] In one example, when the rotating shaft 740 is excessively shortened, since the area where the rotating shaft 740 is coupled with the drum 200 or the bushing portion 300 cannot be sufficiently secured, there can be a problem in that power generated from the driver M cannot be transmitted to the drum 200.

[0446] Even so, when the rotating shaft 740 is formed to be long, there can be an adverse effect of increasing the total length T3 of the driver M.

[0447] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure includes the bushing portion 300 including the recessed surface 330, which can be recessed into the drum 200. Due to the presence of the recessed surface 330, the bushing portion 300 allows the shaft coupling portion 320 to be positioned inside the drum 200.

[0448] Accordingly, even in the case where its length is sufficiently secured, the rotating shaft 740 extending from the reducer 700 can be supported and coupled to the shaft coupling portion 320, and can be positioned inside the drum 200 due to the presence of the recessed surface 330.

[0449] Accordingly, a portion of the rotating shaft 740 corresponding to at least a portion of the length T33 of the rotating shaft 740 is disposed inside the drum 200 due to the bushing portion 300, and thus, the rotating shaft 740 can be reduced in size independently of the space occupied by the drum 200.

[0450] In one example, the reducer 700 can be disposed such that the shaft support 723 supporting the rotating shaft 740 passes through the installation portion 429.

[0451] That is, the shaft support 723 can extend an extension length T3Z from the second housing 720 located on the rear surface of the mounting portion 429 toward the bushing portion 300.

[0452] Accordingly, the actual length T3X of the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 can be a value obtained by adding the mounting length T3Y and the extension length T3Z.

[0453] Accordingly, the decelerator 700 and the bushing portion 300 can also become closer to each other, and the length of the rotational shaft 740 can be further reduced by that much.

[0454] The extension length T3Z can correspond to a length extended from the second housing 720, so that at least a portion of the shaft support 723 can be disposed inside the bushing portion 300. For example, the shaft support 723 can be disposed inside the recessed surface 330 so that at least one of the first bearings 760 disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the shaft support 723 can be disposed inside the bushing portion 300.

[0455] The extension length T3Z can overlap the separation length G. In particular, the extension length T3Z can overlap the length by which the mounting portion 429 and the bushing portion 300 are spaced apart from each other, and can be greater than the length by which the mounting portion 429 and the bushing portion 300 are spaced apart from each other.

[0456] Accordingly, since a portion of the decelerator 700 is located inside the bushing portion 300, the thickness occupied by the decelerator 700 itself, independent of the drum 200, can be further reduced by the overlapping length of the extension length T3Z and the bushing portion 300.

[0457] Further, since the shaft support 723 is spaced apart from the decelerator 700 by the extension length T3Z, a portion of the rotational shaft 740 having the length T33 (i.e., the length by which the rotational shaft 740 extends from the decelerator 700 and is occupied independently of the decelerator 700) can be disposed only inside the drum 200.

[0458] Accordingly, the driver M can not be spaced apart from and independently configured with the rear surface of the drum 200 in its entirety. Accordingly, by utilizing the space of the accommodation depth L2 of the mounting portion 492, the depth B1 of the recessed surface 330, and the extension length T3Z of the shaft support 723 as much as possible, the components of the driver M are disposed in the most compact manner. Accordingly, the space occupied by the driver M in the casing can be only as much as the thickness T3R by which the rear plate 421 is exposed from the rear surface.

[0459] In other words, by utilizing at least one of the space inside the stator 610, the space between the rear surface 220 of the drum and the rear case 420 by the mounting portion 429, the space between the drum 200 and the reducer 700 by the shaft support 723, and the space inside the drum body 210 by the bushing portion 300, the driver M can secure a compact region T3C in which the driver M can not be exposed to the rear surface of the rear case 420.

[0460] Accordingly, the thickness occupied by the driver M inside the case is only the exposed thickness T3R, i.e., the thickness of the region exposed from the rear case 420, and the thickness corresponding to the compact region T3C is subtracted from the entire thickness T3 of the driver M.

[0461] Accordingly, the driver M can additionally occupy only the exposed thickness T3R within the allowable length T1 inside the case 100, and can not independently occupy the compact thickness T3C, and the length T2 of the drum can be secured to be greater by the maximum thickness T3C of the compact region.

[0462] Figure 16 Another embodiment of the bushing portion 300 and the drum rear surface 220 is illustrated.

[0463] The bushing portion 300 can include a coupling surface 310 which can be disposed on the drum rear surface 220, a shaft coupling portion 320 which can be coupled with the rotating shaft 740, and a recessed surface 330 which facilitates positioning of the shaft coupling portion 320 in front of the drum rear surface 220. In this regard, the recessed surface 330 can extend a second length B2 from the coupling surface 310, which is set to be greater than at least one of the diameter of the coupling surface 310, the diameter of the mounting hole 222, and the diameter of the recessed surface 330. That is, the recessed surface 330 can extend deeper into the drum body 210 in order to accommodate more of the rotating shaft 740 therein. Accordingly, the length occupied by the rotating shaft 740 outside the drum rear surface 220 can be further reduced, and the additional region occupied by the driver M can be further reduced.

[0464] In one example, on the drum rear surface 220, an accommodation surface 2231 can extend from the circumferential portion 221 by a length greater than the second length B2. The diameter of the accommodation surface 2231 can be greater than the diameter of the rotor 620 or the stator 610, and can be greater than the diameter of the mounting portion 429. Accordingly, the drum rear surface 220 can be provided to accommodate at least a portion of the mounting portion 429 by the accommodation surface 2231.

[0465] The accommodation surface 2231 can further include a wire avoidance groove 2231a that is recessed outward to avoid the wire support groove 4295 defined in the mounting portion 429.

[0466] Further, the seating portion 223 can utilize the space inside the accommodation surface 2231 to minimize the space occupied by the bushing portion 300 inside the drum body 210. In other words, the bushing portion 300 can minimize the total length of the driver M by utilizing the inside of the drum body 210 as a space for accommodating the rotating shaft 740, but the seating portion 223 can be disposed such that the space occupied by the bushing portion 300 inside the drum body 210 can also be minimized.

[0467] To this end, the seating portion 223 can be disposed to protrude considerably such that the mounting surface 2233 on which the bushing portion 300 is seated in the support surface 2232 becomes closer to the driver M. In other words, the mounting surface 2233 can protrude in a direction opposite to the direction in which the accommodation surface 2231 is recessed and extended from the support surface 2232.

[0468] The coupling surface 310 of the bushing portion 300 can be disposed closer to the driver M than the support surface 2232 because the mounting surface 2233 protrudes from the support surface 2232 outside the drum rear surface 220.

[0469] The coupling groove 2234 can further protrude from the mounting surface 2233 toward the driver M, and the bushing coupling portion 312 can be disposed to accommodate the coupling groove 2234 therein such that the bushing portion 300 can be more firmly fixed to the seating portion 223.

[0470] Further, since the mounting surface 2233 is disposed to be curved into the support surface 2232, the load of the bushing portion 300 is dispersed, and thus the rigidity of the seating portion 223 can be further strengthened. Further, the coupling groove 2234 also protrudes from the mounting surface 2233, which not only strengthens the rigidity of the coupling surface 310 but also firmly supports the fastening member that can be fastened through the coupling groove 2234.

[0471] Figure 17 An embodiment is shown in which the driver M is coupled to the drum rear surface 220 having the seating portion 223 and the mounting surface 2233.

[0472] As described above Figure 15As seen, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure is provided such that the total thickness T3 of the driver M is less than the sum of the thickness T31 of the stator 610 or the motor 600, the thickness T32 of the decelerator 700, and the thickness T33 of the rotating shaft 740. This is because the stator 610, the decelerator 700, and the rotating shaft 740 are compactly disposed to reduce the total thickness of the driver M.

[0473] For example, the decelerator 700 is disposed in the inner space of the stator 610 such that the installation spaces of the stator 610 and the decelerator 700 overlap. Accordingly, the total thickness of the motor 600 and the decelerator 700 is less than the sum of the thickness of the motor 600 and the thickness of the decelerator 700, so that the area occupied by the driver M itself can be reduced. Accordingly, the length T2 of the drum can be increased by the overlapping length of the motor 600 and the decelerator 700.

[0474] Further, in the installation portion 429, the installation surface 4292 is recessed by the installation groove 4294 from the rear plate 421 toward the drum rear surface 220 by the accommodation depth L2. Accordingly, even when the decelerator 700 and the motor 620 are disposed on the rear surface of the rear plate 420, the decelerator 700 and the motor 620 can be disposed closer to the drum 200 by the accommodation depth L2.

[0475] Accordingly, the driver M can reduce the volume it occupies by reducing its thickness itself, and utilize the space between the drum rear surface 220 and the rear plate 420. Accordingly, since the driver M can utilize the space between the drum rear surface 220 and the rear plate 420, the rear panel 120 disposed on the rear surface of the driver M can be disposed closer to the rear plate 420.

[0476] The laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure means that the rear plate 421 can be disposed closer to the rear panel 120 than the rear case 420. Accordingly, since the rear plate 421 can be disposed rearward by the accommodation depth L2, the length T2 of the drum can be further increased by the accommodation depth L2.

[0477] Up to now, the description has focused on compactly disposing the components of the driver M by maximizing the area defined at the rear of the drum rear surface 220.

[0478] Further, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can utilize the inner space of the drum body 210 to compactly dispose the driver M toward the drum 200.

[0479] The laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can overlap the space occupied by the drum 200 and the space occupied by the rear case 420 or the space occupied by the driver M as much as possible. Accordingly, the space occupied by all of the drum 200, the rear case 420, and the driver M can be saved.

[0480] For example, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can dispose the driver M inside the drum body 210 or in a portion of the laundry accommodation space. Accordingly, a space occupied by the driver M in the cabinet 100 can be reduced independently of a space occupied by the drum 200.

[0481] Specifically, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can utilize a portion of a space occupied by the drum 200 within the cabinet 100 as a drum space utilization area C, and at least one of the bushing portion 300, the driver M, and the rear case 420 can be disposed at least partially in the drum space utilization area.

[0482] The drum space utilization area C can correspond to an area that is a portion of the laundry accommodation space inside the drum 200, which is utilized as a space in which at least one of the bushing portion 300, the driver M, and the rear case 420 can be disposed.

[0483] The drum space utilization area C can include a space defined by a seating portion 223 recessed from the drum rear surface 220 toward the laundry inlet 211 of the drum.

[0484] The seating portion 223 can be recessed from the drum rear surface 220 by a utilization length C1. That is, an accommodation surface 2231 of the seating portion 223 can extend obliquely toward the laundry inlet 211 from an inner circumferential surface of the circumferential portion 221 by the utilization length C1. Accordingly, a space defined in an outer surface of the drum rear surface 220 corresponding to the utilization length C1 can be included in the drum space utilization area C.

[0485] A diameter of the accommodation surface 2231 can be greater than a diameter of the mounting portion 429. Accordingly, the accommodation surface 2231 can accommodate at least a portion of the mounting portion 429, and one surface of the accommodation surface 2231 and at least one surface of the mounting portion 429 can be disposed to face each other. Accordingly, a portion of the rear case 420 can be disposed in the drum space utilization area C.

[0486] A separation distance G between the drum rear surface 220 and the rear case 420 can be different due to the drum space utilization area C. For example, the circumferential portion 221 and the rear case 420 can be spaced apart from each other by a first gap Ga, and the support surface 2232 and the mounting surface 4292 can be spaced apart from each other by a second gap Gb that is set to be greater than the first gap Ga.

[0487] In other words, the second gap Gb between the support surface 2232 and the mounting surface 4292 can be secured to be relatively large, but the first gap Ga independent of the driver M can be set to be relatively small, so that the separation space G between the drum 200 and the rear case 420 can be effectively utilized.

[0488] In one example, the decelerator 700 or the motor 600 can be accommodated and installed in the installation portion 429. Accordingly, when the installation portion 429 is accommodated in the accommodation surface 2231, at least a portion of the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 can be disposed in the drum space utilization area C.

[0489] Accordingly, at least a portion of the driver M is disposed in the drum space utilization area C so that the exposed area T3R independently occupied by the driver M at the rear portion of the drum 200 can be minimized as much as possible.

[0490] In one example, a space outside the drum space utilization area C can be regarded as a space utilized by the drum 200. In other words, in terms of the drum, because the drum rear surface 220 can be disposed at a more rearward position, which is a position of an area in which the driving unit M is disposed or a side surface of the driving unit M, the length T2 of the drum can be further extended.

[0491] The drum 200 accommodates a portion or all of the driver M through the seating portion 223 so that the drum rear surface 220 can be disposed at a more rearward position than a front surface of the driver M, thus the drum length T2 can be maximized as much as possible, and the internal volume of the drum can be further extended by an area corresponding to the accommodation length C1.

[0492] Accordingly, due to the drum space utilization area C, the laundry treating apparatus according to the disclosure can not only compactly install components of the driver M, but also can secure a drying capacity as much as possible.

[0493] The drum space utilization area C can further include a space in the drum rear surface 220 occupied by the bushing portion 300.

[0494] Because the bushing portion 300 is a member coupled with the rotating shaft 740, when the bushing portion 300 protrudes from the drum rear surface 220 and is coupled with the rotating shaft 740, the bushing portion 300 can be disposed at a position behind the drum rear surface 220 by the accommodation length C1.

[0495] However, instead of placing a space occupied by the bushing portion 300 outside the drum 200, the space occupied by the bushing portion 300 can be placed inside the drum 200 to reduce a space independently occupied by the bushing portion 300.

[0496] In the bushing portion 300, when the coupling surface 310 is coupled with the drum rear surface 220, the recessed surface 330 can extend a first length B1 or a second length B2 from the drum rear surface 220 into the drum body. Further, the shaft coupling portion 320 in which the rotating shaft 740 is accommodated can further extend in a direction of the laundry inlet 211 on an inner circumferential surface of the recessed surface 330.

[0497] Specifically, the recessed surface 330 and the shaft coupling portion 320 can be located inside the drum 200 by as much as the total bushing length C3, and the drum space utilization area C can be more expanded.

[0498] Therefore, since the bushing portion 300 is disposed inside the drum 200 by as much as the bushing length C3, the volume occupied by the bushing portion 300 independently of the drum 200 can be reduced as much as possible.

[0499] Therefore, the length of the space independently occupied by the bushing portion 300 of the allowable length T1 is reduced, so that the space for fixing the driver M can be increased, or the drum length T2 can be further increased.

[0500] In one example, the bushing length C3 of the bushing portion 300 can be regarded as the length of the rotating shaft 740 accommodated inside the drum 200. That is, the rotating shaft 740 can be accommodated inside the drum 200 by as much as the bushing length C3, so that the drum 200 and the driver M can be disposed more closely to each other in a compact manner.

[0501] Therefore, the length of the rotating shaft 740 extending from the decelerator second housing 720 can be reduced, and it can be prevented as much as possible that the rotating shaft 740 is twisted in the decelerator 700.

[0502] From the perspective of the drum 200, since the bushing length C3 is included in the drum space utilization area C, the drum rear surface 220 can be disposed more rearward than the free end of the rotating shaft 740. Therefore, the drum 200 can utilize the space in which the rotating shaft 740 extends from the drum rear surface 220 and is independently disposed as a laundry accommodation space.

[0503] That is, the drum length T2 can be ensured to be greater.

[0504] In one example, the mounting surface 2233 can further protrude a fixing length C2 from the support surface 2232 toward the outside of the drum rear surface 220. Therefore, the fixing length C2 can overlap the accommodation length C1. Due to the presence of the fixing length C2, the space corresponding to the accommodation length C1 can be doubly used as a space in which the driver M or the mounting portion is disposed and a space in which the bushing portion 300 is disposed.

[0505] Therefore, the area corresponding to the accommodation length C1 can correspond to a space in which the driver M, the mounting portion 429, and the drum 200 are mounted to overlap each other, and can correspond to a space in which the bushing portion 300 and the drum 200 are mounted to overlap each other.

[0506] Because the installation surface 2233 is located on the inner circumferential surface of the support surface 2232, the diameter of the installation surface 2233 is smaller than the diameter of the outer circumferential surface of the accommodation surface 2231 and the support surface 2232. Also, the fixed length C2 is smaller than the accommodation length C1. This is to prevent the installation surface 2233 from being excessively bent on the support surface 2232, and also to prevent the installation surface 2233 from interfering with the driver M.

[0507] Accordingly, the volume of the region corresponding to the fixed length C2 in the rear surface of the drum 220 is smaller than the volume of the region corresponding to the accommodation length C1 in the rear surface of the drum 220.

[0508] In one example, because the installation surface 2233 protrudes from the support surface 2232 by the fixed length C2, the coupling surface 310 of the bushing portion 300 can be disposed closer to the installation portion 429 and can be disposed closer to the reducer 700.

[0509] Accordingly, the length of the rotation shaft 740 can be further reduced, and the rear surface of the drum 220 and the reducer 700 can become closer to each other. For example, the rotation shaft 740 can be disposed close to the rear surface of the drum 220 to such an extent that the first bearing 760 supporting the rotation shaft 740 in the reducer 700 is positioned within the recessed surface 330.

[0510] To this end, it can be further ensured that the rotation shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 are installed in parallel to each other, and the possibility of the rotation shaft 740 being bent or damaged can be prevented even under the load of the drum 200 and the laundry.

[0511] In summary, because of the existence of the drum space utilization region C, the components of the driver M can be compactly disposed toward the rear surface of the drum 220.

[0512] The accommodation length C1 can allow the reducer 700 and the motor 600 to approach the rear surface of the drum 220, and the reducer 700 and the motor 600 can be closer to the installation surface 2233 by the fixed length C2.

[0513] Also, by moving the free end of the rotation shaft 740 toward the drum 200 by the bushing length C3, the reducer 700 and the motor 600 can approach the rear surface of the drum 220.

[0514] Accordingly, the actual length T3 of the driver M, which is the length of the region in the cabinet occupied by the driver M independently at the rear of the rear surface of the drum 220, can be reduced to the length of the actual exposed region T3R. The actual exposed region T3R can correspond to the region in which the driver M protrudes more rearward than the rear plate 421 and is exposed.

[0515] The thickness of the actual exposure area T3R can be less than 1 / 2 or 1 / 3 of the total thickness T3 of the driver M, so that the driver length T3 occupied by the allowable length T1 can be shortened by that amount, and the cylinder length T2 can be further increased.

[0516] The present disclosure can be implemented in various forms, and thus the scope thereof is not limited to the embodiments described above. Accordingly, when a modified embodiment includes a component in the claims of the present disclosure, the modified embodiment should be considered to belong to the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A garment processing device, comprising: A roller, which is configured to hold clothing therein; and A driver, comprising a rotating shaft configured to rotate the roller, The rollers mentioned above include: A roller body having a garment inlet and defining a space, the space being configured to receive the garment through the garment inlet. The rear surface of the roller, which is connected to the roller body, and A bushing portion, which is connected to the rear surface of the roller, wherein the free end of the rotating shaft is connected to the bushing portion. The bushing portion includes: A connecting surface, which is connected to the outer surface of the rear surface of the roller; and A shaft connection portion extending from the connection surface, wherein the free end of the rotating shaft of the drive is connected to the shaft connection portion; At least a portion of the shaft connection portion is inserted into the rear surface of the roller and positioned in front of the rear surface of the roller. The free end of the rotating shaft is connected to the shaft connection portion located in front of the rear surface of the roller. 2.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The rear surface of the roller includes: The circumferential portion, which is connected to the roller body; and The mounting portion extends from the circumferential portion and connects to the bushing portion. 3.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The placement portion is recessed from the inner circumferential surface of the circumferential portion toward the clothing entrance. 4.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein, The diameter of the mounting portion is larger than the diameter of the driver. 5.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein, At least a portion of the driver is received in the placement portion. 6.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein, The mounting portion on the rear surface of the roller includes: A receiving surface that extends obliquely from the circumferential portion of the rear surface of the roller; A supporting surface that extends from the inner peripheral surface of the receiving surface and faces the driver; and A mounting surface is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the supporting surface. The bushing portion is disposed on the mounting surface. 7.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein, The mounting surface also includes a coupling groove, wherein a fastening member is coupled to the coupling groove and supports the bushing portion or passes through the bushing portion. 8.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The shaft connection portion receives the free end of the rotating shaft. 9.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The bushing portion also includes a recessed surface extending from the connecting surface toward the garment inlet. The axial connection portion of the bushing portion extends from the inner circumferential surface of the recessed surface of the bushing portion. 10.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The first gear is located at the free end of the rotating shaft of the driver, and The second gear is located at the shaft connection portion of the bushing portion and meshes with the first gear located at the free end of the rotating shaft of the driver.

11. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The bushing portion includes the shaft connection portion: A connecting plate, which faces the free end of the rotating shaft of the driver; and A connecting member that passes through the connecting plate and is connected to the free end of the rotating shaft of the drive.

12. The garment processing equipment according to claim 1, wherein, The connecting surface of the bushing portion is connected to the outer surface of the mounting portion of the rear surface of the roller.

13. The garment processing apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a plurality of fastening members configured to connect the connecting surface of the bushing portion to the mounting portion of the rear surface of the roller.

14. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein, The bushing portion further includes a plurality of bushing connection portions, which extend radially from the connection surface of the bushing portion, wherein the plurality of fastening members are respectively connected to and supported by the plurality of bushing connection portions.

15. The garment processing equipment according to claim 2, wherein, The bushing portion is made of a different material than the material of the mounting portion on the rear surface of the roller.

16. The garment processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein, The driver includes: The stator is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field; A rotor, which is configured to rotate by the rotating magnetic field; A drive shaft, configured to rotate via the rotor; and A speed reducer is coupled to the drive shaft and configured to change the speed and torque of the drive shaft, and to allow the rotating shaft of the drive to rotate based on the changed speed and torque of the drive shaft.

17. The garment processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hot air supply unit disposed outside the drum and configured to supply hot air into the drum.

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