Opening unit and laundry treatment apparatus provided

Abstract

The present application relates to a clothes treating apparatus, comprising: a cabinet provided with an input port; the processing part is arranged in the box body and provides a space for accommodating clothes; a door which is provided in the housing and which can open and close the insertion opening; and a door opening part which is provided so as to be capable of being drawn out from the cabinet, and which changes the input port from a closed state to an open state by pushing the door in a direction away from the input port. When the door moves in the direction in which the input port is closed and an external force is applied to the door opening part, the door opening part moves to the inside of the box body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to an opening unit and a laundry treatment apparatus provided with the opening unit. Background Art

[0002] A laundry treatment apparatus is a general term for an apparatus that washes, dries, or removes odors or wrinkles from an object.

[0003] Conventionally, a laundry treatment apparatus has been configured to include: a treatment unit that provides a space for accommodating an object (such as laundry); an inlet provided in a cabinet so that the object can be inserted into or taken out of the treatment unit; and a door provided in the cabinet so that the inlet can be opened and closed.

[0004] Conventionally, when the laundry treatment apparatus operates for laundry treatment (washing, drying, removing wrinkles, or removing odors), a door lock is provided in the laundry treatment apparatus to prevent the inlet from being opened. When the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus ends, since the door lock is controlled to release the coupling between the door and the cabinet, the user can open the inlet when the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus ends.

[0005] That is, conventionally, even after the laundry treatment process ends in the laundry treatment apparatus, the door remains in a state of closing the inlet, but such a state may cause problems from a hygienic point of view because it increases the humidity inside the treatment unit that accommodates the object.

[0006] Conventionally, in a laundry treatment apparatus provided with an opening unit, when the operation of the laundry treatment apparatus ends, the opening unit pushes the door to open the inlet (Publication No.: Korean Patent No. 10-2020-0059015).

[0007] Conventionally, in terms of controlling the door by the opening unit to open the inlet, although the problem of a laundry treatment apparatus not provided with the opening unit can be solved, there is a disadvantage of low durability because there is a high possibility of breakage when an external force is applied to the opening unit.

[0008] That is, in a state where the opening unit opens the inlet (a state where a pin of the opening unit supports the door to form a gap between the door and the inlet), if the user pushes the door in the direction of the inlet, the opening unit (a pin and a gear that controls the position of the pin, etc.) that protrudes from the cabinet has a possibility of breakage.

[0009] In addition, when the laundry treatment apparatus is not disposed on a horizontal bottom surface, when the opening unit operates, the gap between the door and the inlet may become too large (the door may be in a state where it fully opens the inlet). If the gap between the door and the inlet is too large, although it is beneficial for drying inside the treatment unit, it can also cause the problem that foreign matter from the outside flows into the treatment unit. Summary of the Invention

[0010] Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0011] The problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an opening unit that pushes the door to open the inlet when a set time point is reached, and a laundry treatment apparatus provided with the opening unit.

[0012] In addition, the problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an opening unit that can minimize the reduction in durability caused by accidental external force, and a laundry treatment apparatus provided with the opening unit.

[0013] In addition, the problem to be solved by the present application is to provide an opening unit that can minimize the amount of foreign matter flowing into the treatment unit by maintaining the gap between the door and the inlet, and a laundry treatment apparatus provided with the opening unit.

[0014] Means for Solving the Problems

[0015] The present application provides a laundry treatment apparatus, which includes: a cabinet provided with an inlet; a treatment unit disposed inside the cabinet, providing a space for accommodating laundry; a door disposed on the cabinet, capable of opening and closing the inlet; and a door opening unit disposed to be able to be drawn out from the cabinet, pushing the door in a direction away from the inlet, thereby changing the inlet from a closed state to an open state.

[0016] When the inlet is in an open state, the door opening unit may maintain a state of being drawn out from the cabinet.

[0017] If an external force is applied to the door opening unit when the door moves in a direction to close the inlet, the door opening unit may move into the cabinet.

[0018] The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a connecting portion that connects the door and the cabinet with a preset fastening force, and allows the opening of the inlet if an external force greater than the fastening force is applied to the door; the door opening unit provides an opening force set to be greater than the fastening force to the door.

[0019] If the magnitude of the external force transmitted to the door opening unit through the door is greater than the opening force, the door opening unit may move into the cabinet.

[0020] The clothing treatment device may further include a door mounting groove provided in the cabinet to form a space for accommodating one side of the door, the input port being located in the door mounting groove; the door opening part being located in the door mounting groove.

[0021] The clothing treatment device may further include: a connection part through-hole penetrating the cabinet and located in the door mounting groove; and a detachable part provided inside the cabinet and detachably coupled to the connection part inserted into the connection part through-hole.

[0022] The door opening part may further include: a gear main body rotatably fixed inside the cabinet; a protruding part located on the rotation shaft of the gear main body and protruding from the gear main body toward the cabinet by rotating with the gear main body; an operating part penetrating the cabinet and coupled to the protruding part, and reciprocating between a first position and a second position according to the rotation direction of the protruding part, the first position being the position where the door opens the input port, and the second position being the position where the door keeps the input port closed; and a fastening part coupling the protruding part to the gear main body and allowing the protruding part to idle if an external force greater than a preset magnitude is applied to the protruding part.

[0023] The clothing treatment device may further include a connection part that connects the door and the cabinet with a preset fastening force, and allows the input port to open if an external force greater than the fastening force is applied to the door; the fastening part can provide an opening force (pushing force) set to be greater than the fastening force to the door.

[0024] If a force less than the opening force is applied to the operating part, the fastening part can prevent the protruding part from idling; if a force greater than the opening force is applied to the operating part, the fastening part can allow the protruding part to idle.

[0025] The fastening part may include: a mounting groove provided on one side of the gear main body; a fastening main body on which the protruding main body is fixed, and the fastening main body can rotate inside the mounting groove; fastening protrusions formed by a plurality of protrusions arranged along the edge of the fastening main body; and fastening grooves arranged along the edge of the mounting groove to provide a space for accommodating the fastening protrusions and formed by a larger number of grooves than the number of the fastening protrusions.

[0026] The fastening protrusions may be formed by six protrusions spaced at the same interval along the edge of the fastening main body; the fastening grooves may be formed by eighteen grooves spaced at the same interval along the edge of the mounting groove.

[0027] The clothing treatment device may further include a slit that penetrates the fastening main body and is located between the protruding main body and the fastening protrusion.

[0028] The clothing treatment device may further include: a door mounting groove provided in the cabinet, forming a space for accommodating one side of the door, and the input port is located in the door mounting groove; and a plate through hole that penetrates the cabinet and is located in the door mounting groove, capable of leading out one end of the operating portion.

[0029] The clothing treatment device may further include a spacing maintaining portion provided on at least one of the door and the cabinet to maintain the spacing between the input port and the door.

[0030] The spacing maintaining portion may include: a spring fixed to the door; a mounting main body fixed to the free end of the spring and capable of reciprocating between the door and the cabinet; and a permanent magnet fixed to a surface of the mounting main body facing the cabinet; the distance by which the door opening portion pushes the door is set to a length at which the permanent magnet does not separate from the cabinet.

[0031] Advantages of the Invention

[0032] The present application provides an opening unit that pushes open the door to open the input port when a set time point is reached, and a clothing treatment device provided with the opening unit.

[0033] In addition, the present application provides an opening unit that can minimize the reduction in durability caused by accidental external forces, and a clothing treatment device provided with the opening unit.

[0034] In addition, the present application provides an opening unit that can minimize the amount of foreign matter flowing into the treatment unit by maintaining the spacing between the door and the input port, and a clothing treatment device provided with the opening unit. Description of the Drawings

[0035] Figure 1 and Figure 2 are diagrams showing an example of a clothing treatment device provided with an opening unit.

[0036] Figure 3 and Figure 4 are diagrams showing an example of a door and a door lock.

[0037] Figure 5 , Figure 6 and Figure 7 are diagrams showing an example of the opening unit.

[0038] Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of an actuator provided in the opening unit.

[0039] Figure 9 and Figure 10 is a diagram showing an example of the operation process of the opening unit.

[0040] Figure 11 is a diagram showing an example of the spacing holding part.

[0041] Figure 12 is a diagram showing the states of the opening unit and the spacing holding part when the door closes the insertion opening.

[0042] Figure 13 is a diagram showing the states of the opening unit and the spacing holding part when the door opens the insertion opening. Detailed implementation mode

[0043] Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of the laundry treating apparatus and its control method will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0044] As Figure 1 shown, the laundry treating apparatus 100 includes: a cabinet 1; and a treatment unit T disposed inside the cabinet for washing or drying an object (such as clothes), removing odors or wrinkles.

[0045] The cabinet 1 includes a front panel 11 which forms the front side of the laundry treating apparatus and is made of metal, and an insertion opening 111 communicating with the treatment unit T is provided in the front panel 11.

[0046] The insertion opening 111 is configured to be opened and closed by a door 4, Figure 1 is a diagram showing an example of rotatably coupling the door 4 to the cabinet 1. In this case, the door 4 can be coupled to the cabinet 1 by a hinge 14 fixed to the front panel 11.

[0047] The front panel 11 may be provided with a door mounting groove 112 which forms a space for accommodating one side of the door 4 (the side of the door facing the front panel). In this case, the insertion opening 111 is preferably located in the door mounting groove 112.

[0048] The front panel 11 may be provided with a control panel 12 which may be configured to include: an input unit for receiving an input of a control instruction from a user; and a display unit for displaying information related to the operation or control of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0049] If the laundry treating apparatus 100 is configured as a device for drying clothes, the treatment unit T may include: a drum rotatably provided inside the cabinet 1; and a heat exchange unit for supplying air to the drum to remove moisture from the clothes.

[0050] On the other hand, if the laundry treatment apparatus 100 is configured as a device for removing odors or wrinkles from laundry, the treatment unit T may include: a treatment chamber disposed inside the cabinet to accommodate laundry; a steam generation unit that supplies steam to the chamber; and a heat exchange unit that supplies air to the chamber to effect heat exchange with the laundry.

[0051] Figure 2 FIG. shows an example in which the laundry treatment apparatus 100 is configured as a device for washing laundry.

[0052] As Figure 2 shown, the treatment unit T may be configured to include: an outer tub 2 disposed inside the cabinet 1 to store water; and a drum 3 rotatably disposed inside the outer tub 2 to store laundry.

[0053] The outer tub 2 includes an outer tub main body 21 that is fixed inside the cabinet 1. The outer tub main body 21 may be configured in a cylindrical shape with an empty interior, and an outer tub inlet 22 may be provided on the front side of the outer tub main body 21. The outer tub inlet 22 may be connected to the inlet 111 through a gasket 24.

[0054] The outer tub main body 21 may be fixed inside the cabinet 1 through an outer tub support portion 23, and the outer tub support portion 23 may include: a spring that connects the upper circumferential space of the outer tub main body 21 to the cabinet 1; and a shock absorber that connects the lower circumferential space of the outer tub main body 21 to the cabinet 1.

[0055] The drum 3 may include a drum main body 31 rotatably fixed inside the outer tub main body 21. The drum main body 31 may be configured in a cylindrical shape with an empty interior, and a drum inlet 32 may be provided on the front side of the drum main body 31.

[0056] The drum inlet 32 is connected to the inlet 111 through the outer tub inlet 22 and the gasket 24 having a substantially cylindrical shape. Accordingly, a user can load laundry into the drum main body 31 when the inlet 111 is open.

[0057] A plurality of communication holes 33 are provided on the circumferential surface of the drum main body 31 or the like. The communication holes 33 are configured to discharge the liquid inside the drum main body 31 to the outer tub main body 21 or allow the liquid inside the outer tub main body 21 to flow into the inside of the drum main body 31.

[0058] The drum main body 31 can be rotatably fixed inside the outer tub main body 21 through a drive unit 34.

[0059] The driving unit 34 may be configured to include: a stator 341 fixed to the back surface of the outer tub body 21 to generate a rotating magnetic field; a rotor 342 located outside the outer tub body 21 and rotated by the rotating magnetic field; and a rotating shaft 343 passing through the outer tub body 21 to connect the rotor and the drum body.

[0060] The outer tub body 21 may receive water through the water supply unit 25, and the water inside the outer tub body 21 may be discharged to the outside of the cabinet 1 through the drainage unit 26.

[0061] The water supply unit 25 may be configured to include: a water supply pipe 251 connecting a water supply source and the outer tub body 21; and a water supply valve 252 controlling the opening and closing of the water supply pipe 251 according to a control signal of a control unit (not shown).

[0062] Figure 2 FIG. is a diagram showing an example in which the water supply unit 25 and the detergent supply unit 27 are combined. The detergent supply unit 27, as a structure for supplying detergent to the outer tub body 21, may be configured to include: a drawer 271 configured to be able to be pulled out from the cabinet 1 to provide a space for storing detergent; a water supply nozzle 272 supplying the water supplied by the water supply pipe 251 to the drawer 271; and a detergent supply pipe 273 guiding the water and detergent discharged from the drawer to the gasket 24.

[0063] The drainage unit 26 may be configured to include: a pump 263 fixed inside the cabinet 1; a first drainage pipe 261 guiding the water inside the outer tub body 21 to the pump 263; and a second drainage pipe 262 guiding the water discharged from the pump 263 to the outside of the cabinet 1.

[0064] As Figure 3 shown, the door 4 may be fixed to the front panel 11 by a door lock 5. The door lock 5 is a structure that restricts the door 4 to the cabinet 1 or releases the restriction of the door 5 according to a control signal of the control unit (not shown).

[0065] The door lock 5 may be configured to include: a connecting portion 51 protruding from the door 4; and a detachable portion 52 provided inside the cabinet 1 and detachably coupled to the connecting portion 51.

[0066] The connecting portion 51 may be configured to include: a bar protruding from the door 4 toward the front panel 11; and a fixing hole provided at the free end of the bar.

[0067] The door mounting groove 112 may be provided with a connection part through hole 113 for inserting the connection part 51, and the mounting / demounting part 52 may be engaged with the fixing hole inserted into the inside of the cabinet 1 through the connection part through hole 113.

[0068] If the door lock 5 is in a state of restricting the door 4, due to the restricting force of the door lock 5, the user cannot open the input port 111. However, if the door lock 5 releases the restriction on the door 4, the user can open the input port 111 by pulling the door 4.

[0069] Even if the door lock 5 releases the restriction on the door 4, the connection part 51 will remain inserted into the connection part through hole 113. That is, even if the engagement between the mounting / demounting part 52 and the connection part 51 is released, the door 4 will remain fixed to the cabinet 1 by a preset fastening force (such as the frictional force between the connection part, the connection part through hole, and the mounting / demounting part). Therefore, if the input port 111 is to be opened, the user needs to pull the door 4 with a force greater than the fastening force.

[0070] As Figure 4 shown, the door 4 may be configured to include: a frame 41 rotatably fixed to the cabinet 1 through the hinge 14; and a window 42 provided in the frame 41 so as to be able to confirm the inside of the drum body 31.

[0071] The frame 41 may include: a first frame 411 that together with the front panel 11 forms the front side of the laundry treatment apparatus 100; and a second frame 412 that is coupled to the first frame 411 and faces the direction in which the input port 111 is disposed.

[0072] The connection part 51 of the door lock 5 may be provided in a bar or board shape protruding from the second frame 412, and the fixing hole may be provided as a hole penetrating the bar or board.

[0073] The window 42 may be configured to include: a cover plate 421 made of a transparent material and fixed to the first frame 411; and an input port plate 422 made of a transparent material and fixed to the second frame 412.

[0074] The first frame 411 may be provided with a first mounting hole 413 closed by the cover plate 421, and the second frame 412 may be provided with a second mounting hole 414 closed by the input port plate 422. The input port plate 422 may be provided in a shape protruding from the second frame 412 so that at least a part of the area is inserted into the input port 111.

[0075] As Figure 3As shown, the clothing treatment device 100 may further be provided with an opening unit 6 (door opening part). If a preset time point is reached, the opening unit 6 (door opening part) pushes the door 4 to open the inlet 111.

[0076] The preset time point may be set to a time point when the clothing treatment process is completed and the clothing can be taken out from the drum body 31, or a time point when the clothing treatment process is temporarily interrupted and the clothing can be taken out or put in.

[0077] The door opening part 6, as a structure that pushes the door 4 in a direction away from the inlet 111 to change the inlet 111 from a closed state to an open state, may be configured to include: a cover body 61 fixed inside the cabinet 1; and an actuator 65 arranged to be able to extend from the cover body 61 and push the door 4 in a direction to open the inlet 111. The door mounting groove 112 may be provided with a plate through hole 114, and the plate through hole 114 provides a passage for the actuator 65 to extend to the outside of the cabinet 1.

[0078] As Figure 5 shown, the cover body 61 provides a space for accommodating the actuator 65 and structures 62, 63, and 64 for generating and transmitting the power required for the operation of the actuator. The cover body 61 may be configured to include a first main body 611 and a second main body 612.

[0079] Figure 5 It is a diagram showing an example in which the structure for generating and transmitting the power is composed of a driving part 62, a driven part 64, and a power transmission part 63 connecting the driving part and the driven part.

[0080] As Figure 6 shown, the driving part 62 may be configured to include: a motor 621 fixed inside the cover body 61; and a driving gear 623 fixed to the rotating shaft 622 of the motor. The driven part 64 may be configured to include: a gear main body 641 rotatably fixed inside the cover body 61; and a plurality of gear teeth 642 arranged along the circumferential surface of the gear main body.

[0081] The power transmission part 63 is a connecting gear that transmits the rotational movement of the driving gear 623 to the rotational movement of the gear main body 641, and the connecting gear may be configured to include one gear or a plurality of gears.

[0082] Figure 6FIG. 0 is a diagram showing an example in which the power transmission unit 63 is provided with a first connecting gear 631 rotated by the driving gear 623, a second connecting gear 632 rotated by the first connecting gear 631, and a third connecting gear 633 rotated by the second connecting gear 632. Since the third connecting gear 633 is provided to connect the second connecting gear 632 and the gear teeth 642 of the driven part, when the motor 621 operates, the gear body 641 of the driven part can rotate inside the housing 61.

[0083] The connecting gears 631, 632, and 633 may be provided to include gears having different diameters from each other. In order to set the rotational speed of the gear body 641, the number of the connecting gears and the diameters of the respective connecting gears may be set differently.

[0084] Figure 6 The first connecting gear 631 of FIG. 7 may be provided to include: a first gear engaged with the driving gear 623; and a second gear having the same center as the first gear and having a diameter smaller than that of the first gear.

[0085] In this case, the second connecting gear 632 may be provided to include: a third gear engaged with the second gear; and a fourth gear having the same center as the third gear and having a diameter smaller than that of the third gear. The third connecting gear 633 may be provided to include: a fifth gear connected to the fourth gear; and a sixth gear having the same rotation center as the fifth gear, having a diameter smaller than that of the fifth gear, and engaged with the gear teeth 642 of the gear body.

[0086] As Figure 7 shown, the actuator 65 may be provided to include: a protruding portion 65b forming a rotation shaft of the gear body 641 and protruding from the gear body 641 toward the box body (in the +X axis direction); a fastening portion 65a coupling the protruding portion 65b and the gear body 641; and an operating portion 65c provided at a free end of the protruding portion 65b and reciprocating between two different positions (a first position and a second position) according to the rotation direction of the protruding portion 65b.

[0087] As Figure 6 shown, the housing 61 is provided with a housing through hole 613 that penetrates the first main body 611 and into which the operating portion 65c is inserted. The housing through hole 613 is connected to the plate through hole 114 provided in the door mounting groove 112. Therefore, the free end of the operating portion 65c can reciprocate between a preset first position and a second position according to the rotation direction of the protruding portion 65b.

[0088] The first position can be set as the position of the operation part 65c where the door 4 opens the input port 111, and the second position can be set as the position where the operation part 65c does not contact the door 4 in the state of closing the input port 111. For example, the first position can be set as a position outside the box body 1, and the second position can be set as a position inside the box body 1.

[0089] As Figure 8 shown, a gear through-hole 643 through which the protruding part 65b passes can be provided at the center of the gear main body 641.

[0090] In this case, the fastening part 65a can be configured to include: a fastening main body 651, which is combined with the gear main body 641; and a main body through-hole 6511, which penetrates the fastening main body 651 and is connected to the gear through-hole 643.

[0091] The protruding part 65b can be configured to include a protruding main body 654, and the protruding main body 654 is inserted into the main body through-hole 6511 and the gear through-hole 643, and thus is arranged on the rotation axis R of the gear main body 641.

[0092] One end of the protruding main body 654 can be provided with a plurality of fixing protrusions 655 arranged along the circumferential surface, and the fastening main body 651 can be provided with a plurality of fixing grooves 6513 arranged along the circumferential surface of the main body through-hole 6511 for the fixing protrusions 655 to be inserted into. Therefore, if the fixing protrusions 655 are inserted into the fixing grooves 6513, the protruding main body 654 will be fixed to the fastening main body 651.

[0093] The operation part 65c is configured to include an operation main body 657, and the operation main body 657 is detachably combined with the free end of the protruding main body 654. An accommodation groove with one open side is provided inside the operation main body 657, and the free end of the protruding main body 654 is inserted into the accommodation groove and combined with the operation main body 657.

[0094] An external-threaded protruding part gear 656 is provided on the circumferential surface of the protruding main body 654, and an internal-threaded operation part gear 658 capable of fastening the protruding part gear 656 is provided inside the accommodation groove of the operation main body 657.

[0095] If the protruding main body 654 rotates in either the clockwise direction or the counterclockwise direction, the operation main body 657 will move in a direction away from the gear main body 641 (a direction away from the fastening main body). Therefore, the free end of the operation main body 657 can move to the first position.

[0096] However, if the protruding main body 654 rotates in the other direction, i.e., clockwise or counterclockwise, since the actuating main body 657 will move in the direction where the gear main body 641 is disposed, the free end of the actuating main body 657 can move to the second position.

[0097] In order to prevent the actuating main body 657 from being drawn out of the cover body 61, at least one stopper 659 protruding from the circumferential surface of the actuating main body 657 may be provided at one end of the actuating main body 657.

[0098] The laundry treating apparatus having the above structure can control the door opening part 6 to open the inlet 111 at a preset time point by the control unit (not shown), thereby having the effect of being able to perform sanitary management of the outer tub 2 and the drum 3.

[0099] However, when an external force is applied to the actuating main body 657, the door opening part 6 having only the above structure has a possibility of being damaged. That is, when the actuating main body 657 supports the door 4 to keep the inlet 111 open, if an external force is applied to the door 4, the actuating main body 657 will move into the interior of the cabinet 1.

[0100] If a force is applied to push the actuating main body 657 toward the cabinet 1, the protruding main body 654 can be forcibly rotated by the actuating part gear 658 and the protruding part gear 656. Since the forced rotation of the protruding main body 654 is transmitted to the gear main body 641, the connecting gears 631, 632, 633, and the driving gear 623, there is a possibility that the durability of the door opening part 6 is reduced (such as breakage of gear teeth).

[0101] To solve the above problems, the door opening part 6 can be configured to adjust the position of the actuating main body 657 according to the magnitude of the external force applied to the actuating main body 657. For example, it can be configured such that if the door 4 moves in the direction of closing the inlet 111 and the external force is transmitted to the actuating main body 657, the door opening part 6 moves the free end position of the actuating main body 657 to the second position.

[0102] Figure 9 FIG. shows an example of the actuator 65, which is configured such that if an external force of a preset magnitude is applied to the actuating main body 657, the fastening main body 651 idles (the protruding main body idles) about the gear through hole 643, thereby moving the actuating main body 657 to the second position.

[0103] As shown in the figure, the fastening body 651 is rotatably disposed inside the mounting groove 653 on the back surface of the gear body 641. In this case, the fastening portion 65a may be configured to include: a fastening projection 652, which is configured to include a plurality of projections arranged along the edge of the fastening body 651; and a fastening groove 6531, which is configured to include a plurality of grooves arranged along the edge of the mounting groove 653 and capable of accommodating the fastening projection 652.

[0104] Preferably, the number of grooves forming the fastening groove 6531 is more than the number of projections forming the fastening projection 652. Figure 9 FIG. shows an example in which the fastening projection 652 includes six projections spaced at the same interval along the edge of the fastening body 651, and the fastening groove 6531 includes eighteen grooves spaced at the same interval along the edge of the mounting groove 653.

[0105] Figure 9 FIG. shows an example in which the fastening body 651 is set to be hexagonal and the mounting groove 653 is set to be an octadecagon having the same diameter as the fastening body 651. The side connecting two adjacent vertices of the mounting groove 653 may be set to a curve protruding toward the center of the gear body 641. According to the curvature of the curve connecting two adjacent vertices of the mounting groove 653, the magnitude of the external force for rotating the fastening body 651 inside the mounting groove 653 can be adjusted.

[0106] The force (opening force, pushing force) applied by the actuating body 657 to the door 4 is determined by the engaging force (friction force between the fastening projection and the fastening groove) between the fastening projection 652 and the fastening groove 6531. Only when the opening force is set to be greater than the fastening force set for the connecting portion 51 of the door lock can the insertion port 111 be opened.

[0107] If the actuating body 657 is to transmit a force greater than the fastening force to the door 4, it is necessary to be configured such that when a force greater than the fastening force and less than the opening force is applied to the actuating body 657, the fastening body 651 does not idle, and when a force greater than the opening force is applied to the actuating body 657, the fastening body 651 idles. That is, it is necessary to be configured such that when a force greater than the opening force is applied to the actuating body 657, the fastening projection 652 moves from one fastening groove 6531 to an adjacent other fastening groove 6531.

[0108] The fastening body 651 may further be provided with a slit 6512 to facilitate idling of the fastening body 651 when a force greater than the opening force is applied to the actuating body 657.

[0109] The slit 6512 may be configured as a plurality of holes that penetrate the fastening main body 651 and are located between the protruding main body 654 and the fastening protrusion 652. Figure 9 FIG. shows an example in which the slit 6512 is provided in the same number as the fastening protrusion 652.

[0110] The slit 6512 facilitates the movement of the fastening protrusion 652 in the direction toward the center of the fastening main body 651 (the direction in which the protruding main body is disposed). That is, since the magnitude of the opening force can be adjusted by adjusting the length or width of the slit 6512, the slit 6512 is a structure for setting the opening force.

[0111] Figure 10 FIG. shows the process of rotation of the fastening main body 651 inside the mounting groove 653. Figure 10 (a) of FIG. shows the state in which the fastening main body 651 is coupled to the mounting groove 653. Figure 10 In the state of (a) of FIG., if a large external force is applied to the actuating body 657, the fastening protrusion 652 will move from one fastening groove 6531 to an adjacent fastening groove 6531 as shown in Figure 10 (b) and (c) of FIG.

[0112] The laundry treatment apparatus 100 provided with the above-described door opening unit 6 can prevent the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 from being placed in a wet state by opening the inlet 111 at a set time point.

[0113] In addition, when the inlet 111 is opened, the above-described door opening unit 6 maintains a state in which the free end of the actuating body 657 is exposed outside the cabinet (maintains a state in which one end of the actuating body is drawn out from the cabinet, maintains a state in which one end of the actuating body is located at the first position). Therefore, the inlet 111 can be kept open.

[0114] In addition, even if an accidental external force is applied to the actuating unit 65c through the door 4, the above-described door opening unit 6 can minimize the possibility of damage to the driving unit 62, the power transmission unit 63, the driven unit 64, and the actuator 65.

[0115] If the gap between the door 4 and the inlet 111 is too large, there may be a problem that foreign matter flows into the outer tub 2 and the drum 3 in the above-described laundry treatment apparatus 100.

[0116] In order to solve the above problems, the clothing treatment device 100 may further be provided with a spacing maintaining part 7, which is provided on at least one of the door 4 and the cabinet 1 to maintain the spacing between the input port 111 and the door 4 (keeping the opening degree of the input port below a set reference opening degree). The reference opening degree may be set to be less than 10% of the area of the input port 111.

[0117] Figure 11 FIG. shows a case where the spacing maintaining part 7 is provided on the door 4 as one column. As Figure 12 shown in (b) of FIG., the spacing maintaining part 7 may be provided to include: a spring 72 fixed to the first frame 411 of the door; a mounting body 71 fixed to the free end of the spring 72 and disposed in a frame through-hole 416 (provided to penetrate through the second frame); and a permanent magnet 73 fixed to a surface of the mounting body 71 facing the front panel 11. The mounting body 71 can reciprocate between the door 4 and the front panel 11 by the elastic force provided by the spring 72.

[0118] As Figure 12 shown in (b) of FIG., if the door 4 closes the input port 111, the mounting body 71 moves inside the door 4, so the spring 72 is compressed and the permanent magnet 73 is fixed to the front panel 11 made of a metal material. In this case, as Figure 12 shown in (a) of FIG., the free end of the operating body 657 is located at the second position P2.

[0119] On the other hand, as Figure 13 shown in (a) of FIG., if the door opening part 6 operates to move the free end of the operating body 657 to the first position P1, then as Figure 13 shown in (b) of FIG., the mounting body 71 is kept fixed to the front panel 11 by the spring 72 and the permanent magnet 73. Therefore, the clothing treatment device 100 can keep the opening degree of the input port 111 as the reference opening degree.

[0120] The distance that the door opening part 6 pushes the door 4 needs to be set to a length such that the permanent magnet 73 does not separate from the front panel 11, so that the function of the spacing maintaining part 7 can be realized.

[0121] The door 4 may further be provided with a protrusion 415 that contacts the operating body 657. The protrusion 415 may be provided to protrude from the second frame 412 of the door toward the plate through-hole 114.

[0122] The diameter of the protrusion 415 may be set to be longer than the diameter of the plate through-hole 114, or may be set to be smaller than the diameter of the plate through-hole 114. In the former case, the first position P1 will be a position located outside the cabinet 1, and the second position P2 will be a position located inside the cabinet 1. If it is the latter case, both the first position and the second position may be positions located inside the cabinet.

[0123] As described above, the door opening part 6 may be configured to operate the motor 621 according to a control signal from the control part (not shown). In this case, the control part (not shown) can control the position of the operating body 657 by controlling the rotation and rotation direction of the motor rotating shaft 622 at a preset time point.

[0124] Differently from the above, the door opening unit 6 may also be configured to operate at a time point required by the user. To this end, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 may further include an operation request part 13 that receives an input of a control signal required for the operation of the door opening unit 6 from the user. Figure 11 FIG. shows an example in which the operation request part 13 is provided on the front panel 11.

[0125] Since the above-described structure and control method of the laundry treatment apparatus are for illustrating an example of the laundry treatment apparatus of the present application, the scope of the claims of the present application should not be limited to the above-described structure and control method.

Claims

1. A clothing treatment device, characterized in that, Comprising: A box body provided with an input opening; A processing unit disposed inside the box body, providing a space for accommodating clothes; A door disposed on the box body, capable of opening and closing the input opening; And A door opening part arranged to be able to be drawn out from the box body, pushing the door in a direction away from the input opening, thereby changing the input opening from a closed state to an open state; When the input opening is in an open state, the door opening part maintains a state of being drawn out from the box body.

2. The clothing treatment device according to claim 1, characterized in that, If an external force is applied to the door opening part when the door moves in a direction to close the input opening, the door opening part moves towards the inside of the box body.

3. The clothing treatment device according to claim 2, characterized in that, It further includes a connecting part that connects the door and the box body with a preset fastening force, and if an external force greater than the fastening force is applied to the door, it allows the opening of the input opening; The door opening part provides an opening force set to be greater than the fastening force to the door.

4. The clothing treatment device according to claim 3, characterized in that, If the magnitude of the external force transmitted to the door opening part through the door is greater than the opening force, the door opening part moves towards the inside of the box body.

5. The clothing treatment device according to claim 3, characterized in that, It further includes a door mounting groove disposed on the box body, forming a space for accommodating one side of the door, and the input opening is located in the door mounting groove; The door opening part is located in the door mounting groove.

6. The clothing treatment device according to claim 5, characterized in that, It further includes: A connecting part through hole penetrating the box body and located in the door mounting groove; and A mounting and dismounting part disposed inside the box body, detachably coupled to the connecting part inserted into the connecting part through hole.

7. The clothing treatment device according to claim 2, characterized in that, The door opening part further includes: A gear main body rotatably fixed inside the box body; A protruding part located on the rotation axis of the gear main body, protruding from the gear main body towards the box body by the rotation of the gear main body; An operating part penetrating the box body and coupled to the protruding part, reciprocating between a first position and a second position according to the rotation direction of the protruding part, the first position being the position where the door opens the input opening, and the second position being the position where the door keeps the input opening in a closed state; and A fastening part that couples the protruding part to the gear main body, and if an external force greater than a preset magnitude is applied to the protruding part, it allows the idle rotation of the protruding part.

8. The clothing treatment device according to claim 7, characterized in that, It further includes a connecting part that connects the door and the box body with a preset fastening force, and if an external force greater than the fastening force is applied to the door, it allows the opening of the input opening; The fastening part can provide an opening force set to be greater than the fastening force to the door.

9. The clothing treatment device according to claim 8, characterized in that, If a force below the opening force is applied to the operating part, the fastening part prevents the idle rotation of the protruding part; If a force greater than the opening force is applied to the operating part, the fastening part allows the idle rotation of the protruding part.

10. The clothing treatment device according to claim 9, characterized in that, The fastening part includes: A mounting groove provided on one side of the gear main body; A fastening main body, with a protruding main body fixed thereon, and the fastening main body can rotate inside the mounting groove; Fastening protrusions composed of a plurality of protrusions arranged along the edge of the fastening main body; and The fastening groove is arranged along the edge of the installation groove, provides a space for accommodating the fastening protrusion, and is composed of a number of grooves more than the number of the fastening protrusions.

11. The clothing treatment device according to claim 10, wherein, The fastening protrusion is composed of six protrusions spaced at the same interval along the edge of the fastening body; The fastening groove is composed of eighteen grooves spaced at the same interval along the edge of the installation groove.

12. The clothing treatment device according to claim 10, wherein, It further includes a slit, which penetrates the fastening body and is located between the protruding body and the fastening protrusion.

13. The clothing treatment device according to claim 7, wherein, It further includes: A door installation groove is arranged on the box body, forms a space for accommodating one side of the door, and the input port is located in the door installation groove; And A plate through hole penetrates the box body, is located in the door installation groove, and can lead out one end of the actuating part.

14. The clothing treatment device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein, It further includes a spacing maintaining part, which is arranged on at least one of the door and the box body to maintain the spacing between the input port and the door.

15. The clothing treatment device according to claim 14, wherein, The spacing maintaining part includes: A spring is fixed to the door; A mounting body is fixed to the free end of the spring and can reciprocate between the door and the box body; and A permanent magnet is fixed to the side of the mounting body facing the box body; The distance that the door opening part pushes the door is set to a length at which the permanent magnet does not separate from the box body.

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