A tub assembly for laundry treating apparatus and laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

The invention discloses a barrel assembly used for clothes processing equipment and the clothes processing equipment, the barrel assembly comprises a first end cover and a barrel body, at least two supporting arms extending in the axial direction are formed on the barrel body, the supporting arms are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction, a notch is formed between the circumferential edges of every two adjacent supporting arms, and the first end cover and the second end cover are arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction. And the end part of at least one support arm is connected to the first end cover and is integrally formed with the first end cover. According to the barrel assembly, the washing capacity is improved on the premise that the overall size of equipment is not increased, space utilization is optimized, and user experience is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of garment processing equipment, and more particularly to a drum assembly for garment processing equipment and garment processing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Clothing processing equipment generally adopts a sleeve structure of an outer tub and an inner tub. The outer tub and the inner tub are installed coaxially. The outer tub serves as a fixed support and also has the function of containing the medium, while the inner tub generates strong centrifugal force through high-speed rotation, thereby achieving the purpose of washing or spin-drying clothes.

[0003] In related technologies, the inner drum will undergo significant radial deformation during high-speed rotation. Therefore, a sufficient safety gap must be reserved between the inner drum and the outer drum, which restricts the further increase of the outer diameter of the inner drum, thereby limiting the effective increase of the overall volume of the garment processing equipment. Summary of the Invention

[0004] This invention aims to at least solve one of the technical problems existing in the prior art. Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide a drum assembly for a laundry processing device. According to the drum assembly of this invention, washing capacity is increased without increasing the overall size of the device, optimizing space utilization and improving the user experience.

[0005] The present invention also proposes a garment processing device having the above-described bucket assembly.

[0006] The bucket assembly according to the present invention is used in a garment handling device, the bucket assembly comprising: a first end cap; a bucket body having an axially extending support arm formed thereon, the support arm being configured as at least two and spaced apart in the circumferential direction, a cut being formed between the circumferential edges of two adjacent support arms, and at least one end of the support arm being connected to the first end cap and integrally formed therewith with the first end cap.

[0007] According to the tub assembly of the present invention, axially extending support arms are formed on the tub body. The support arms are configured as at least two and spaced apart circumferentially, such that a space for accommodating the inner tub is formed between the support arms. A slit is formed between the circumferential edges of adjacent support arms, which allows the inner tub to be accommodated, enabling the tub body to more flexibly adapt to radial deformation of the inner tub during rotation. By reducing the safety clearance that must be reserved due to inner tub deformation, the internal structure of the device is more compact, and a larger, more spacious inner tub can be installed and used without significantly increasing the overall size of the garment handling equipment, providing a greater capacity user experience.

[0008] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bucket assembly further includes: a second end cap disposed at the other end of the support arm, wherein one of the first end cap and the second end cap has a dispensing port communicating with the interior of the bucket body.

[0009] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bucket assembly further includes a side cover disposed on the bucket body and adapted to close the cut.

[0010] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the bucket assembly further includes a sealing assembly disposed between the bucket body and the side cover to seal the cut.

[0011] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sealing assembly includes a sealing ring disposed between the barrel body and the side cover and configured as an annular ring along the edge of the cut.

[0012] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the inner radial edge of the sealing ring is formed with a first groove that opens toward the inner radial side of the sealing ring, the barrel body is formed with a first protrusion surrounding the cut, the first protrusion being embedded in the first groove; and / or, the outer radial edge of the sealing ring is formed with a second groove that opens toward the outer radial side of the sealing ring, the edge of the side cover is formed with a second protrusion that surrounds the sealing ring, the second protrusion being embedded in the second groove.

[0013] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sealing assembly further includes a clamping member disposed along the radial inner edge and / or the radial outer edge of the sealing ring.

[0014] In summary, the tub assembly for a garment processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a first end cap and a tub body. The tub body can accommodate an inner drum, which is a component in the garment processing device used to load garments and actually perform the washing action. The tub body is located outside the inner drum, providing necessary support and protection for the rotation of the inner drum. The inner drum rotates within the tub body to perform washing, rinsing, and spin-drying processes on the garments. The first end cap is disposed at one end of the tub body to seal the space within the tub body axially, allowing the inner drum and the washing medium to interact in a closed and safe environment, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of the washing process. Support arms extending axially are formed on the tub body. At least two support arms are configured and spaced apart circumferentially, such that the multiple support arms enclose a space for accommodating the inner drum. A slit is formed between the circumferential edges of two adjacent support arms, which can avoid obstructing the inner drum, allowing the tub body to more flexibly adapt to the radial deformation generated by the inner drum during rotation. By reducing the safety clearance required due to inner drum deformation, the internal structure of the equipment is made more compact. Furthermore, without significantly increasing the overall size of the garment processing equipment, it is possible to install and use a larger, more spacious inner drum, providing a greater user experience. At least one support arm connects to the end of a first end cap to seal the space inside the drum in the axial direction. At least one support arm and the first end cap are integrally formed. During manufacturing, at least one support arm and the first end cap are manufactured as a single unit, rather than being manufactured separately and then connected together. By integrally forming at least one support arm and the first end cap, the number of parts is reduced, overall rigidity is increased, and the manufacturing process is simplified, while also facilitating the assembly of the drum assembly. Specifically, the inner drum is installed into the integrally formed support arm and first end cap component, and then the entire drum assembly is assembled, thus simplifying the installation of large-sized inner drums. The tub assembly also includes a second end cap, located at the other end of the support arm. The second end cap, together with the first end cap, axially seals the space inside the tub, ensuring that the washing medium and clothes interact within a closed environment and preventing leakage. One of the first or second end caps has a loading port that communicates with the interior of the tub. The loading port is used to load or unload clothes. The loading port can be located on either the first or second end cap. The tub assembly also includes a side cover, located on the tub and adapted to close any openings. The side cover is sized to cover the openings, effectively sealing them and preventing media leakage, thus ensuring the safe operation of the equipment.

[0015] The garment processing device according to the present invention is briefly described below.

[0016] The garment processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the tub assembly described in any of the above embodiments. Because the garment processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the tub assembly described in any of the above embodiments, it achieves increased washing capacity, optimized internal space utilization, and simplified installation without increasing overall size, thereby improving the user experience.

[0017] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the cut includes a first cut and a second cut, the first cut and the second cut being respectively disposed on both sides of the barrel body in the width direction of the garment processing equipment.

[0018] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the garment processing device further includes: an inner drum disposed within the drum body; and a housing disposed within the housing body; wherein the drum assembly includes: a side cover disposed within the drum body and adapted to close the cut, and the side cover being fixed to the housing body.

[0019] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the diameter of the inner cylinder is D, and the distance between the first cut and the second cut is L, satisfying that L < D.

[0020] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the distance between the inner cylinder and the side cover is G1, and the distance between the barrel body and the side cover is G2, satisfying that: G2 < G1.

[0021] Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Attached Figure Description

[0022] The above and / or additional aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent and readily understood from the description of the embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which:

[0023] Figure 1 This is an exploded view of a garment processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 This is a front view of a garment processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 Schematic diagram of section AA;

[0026] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 A magnified view of a section at point B in the middle;

[0027] Figure 5This is a schematic diagram of the inner cylinder of a barrel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0028] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the barrel body and the first cover plate of a barrel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0029] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a bucket assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0030] Figure label:

[0031] 1. Garment processing equipment;

[0032] 11. Inner cylinder;

[0033] 12. Barrel body; 121. Support arm; 122. Cut; 123. First protrusion;

[0034] 131. First end cap; 132. Second end cap;

[0035] 14. Side cover; 141. Second protrusion;

[0036] 15. Sealing assembly; 151. Sealing ring; 152. Clamping element;

[0037] 16. Box body. Detailed Implementation

[0038] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0039] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that the terms "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," and "circumferential," etc., indicating orientation or positional relationships, are based on the orientation or positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, features defined with "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of that feature. In the description of this invention, unless otherwise stated, "a plurality of" means two or more.

[0040] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0041] In related technologies, the inner drum will undergo significant radial deformation during high-speed rotation. Therefore, a sufficient safety gap must be reserved between the inner drum and the outer drum, which restricts the further increase of the outer diameter of the inner drum, thereby limiting the effective increase of the overall volume of the garment processing equipment.

[0042] The following is for reference. Figures 1-7 A garment processing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention is described.

[0043] like Figure 1 , Figures 5-7 As shown, the tub assembly according to the present invention is used in a garment processing device 1. The tub assembly includes a first end cap 131 and a tub body 12. The tub body 12 can accommodate an inner drum 11, which is the component in the garment processing device 1 used to load clothes and actually perform the washing action. The tub body 12 is located outside the inner drum 11, providing necessary support and protection for the rotation of the inner drum 11. The inner drum 11 rotates within the tub body 12 to realize the washing, rinsing, and spin-drying processes of the clothes. The first end cap 131 is disposed at one end of the tub body 12 and is used to seal the space inside the tub body 12 in the axial direction, so that the inner drum 11 and the washing medium can interact in a closed and safe environment, thereby ensuring the smooth progress of the washing process.

[0044] The tub body 12 has at least two axially extending support arms 121 spaced apart circumferentially, forming a space for accommodating the inner tub 11. A slit 122 is formed between the circumferential edges of adjacent support arms 121, allowing the inner tub 11 to be accommodated and thus enabling the tub body 12 to more flexibly adapt to radial deformation of the inner tub 11 during rotation. By reducing the safety clearance required due to deformation of the inner tub 11, the internal structure of the device is made more compact, and a larger, more spacious inner tub 11 can be installed and used without significantly increasing the overall size of the garment processing equipment 1, providing a greater capacity user experience.

[0045] At least one support arm 121 has its end connected to a first end cap 131 to enclose the space within the barrel 12 axially. The at least one support arm 121 and the first end cap 131 are integrally formed. During manufacturing, the at least one support arm 121 and the first end cap 131 are manufactured as a single unit, rather than being manufactured separately and then joined together in some way. By integrally forming the at least one support arm 121 and the first end cap 131, the number of parts can be reduced, overall rigidity increased, and the manufacturing process simplified, while also facilitating the assembly of the barrel assembly.

[0046] Specifically, the inner cylinder 11 is first installed into the component that is integrally formed with the support arm 121 and the first end cap 131, and then the barrel assembly is assembled as a whole, thereby completing the installation process of the inner cylinder 11 in the barrel assembly, which simplifies the installation difficulty of the large-size inner cylinder 11.

[0047] Therefore, the tub assembly according to the present invention achieves increased washing capacity without increasing the overall size of the device, optimizes space utilization, and enhances the user experience.

[0048] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the tub assembly further includes a second end cap 132, which is disposed at the other end of the support arm 121. The second end cap 132 and the first end cap 131 together axially seal the space inside the tub body 12, ensuring that the washing medium and clothes interact in a closed environment and preventing leakage. One of the first end cap 131 and the second end cap 132 has a loading port communicating with the interior of the tub body 12. The loading port is used for loading or unloading clothes. The loading port can be located on either the first end cap 131 or the second end cap 132.

[0049] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 , Figures 5-7 As shown, the tank assembly also includes a side cover 14, which is disposed on the tank body 12 and adapted to close the cut 122. The side cover 14 is sized to cover the cut 122, thereby closing the cut 122 and effectively preventing the medium from leaking from the cut 122, ensuring the safe operation of the equipment.

[0050] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 1-4 As shown, the tank assembly also includes a sealing component 15, which is disposed between the tank body 12 and the side cover 14 to seal the cut 122. By providing the sealing component 15, the sealing component 15 can fit tightly against the tank body 12 and the side cover 14 respectively, effectively preventing the medium from leaking through the cut 122 from the gap between the side cover 14 and the tank body 12, thus ensuring the safe operation of the equipment.

[0051] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figures 1-4As shown, the sealing assembly 15 includes a sealing ring 151, which is disposed between the barrel body 12 and the side cover 14 and is configured as an annular ring along the edge of the cutout 122. The sealing ring 151 provides a tight seal, preventing media from leaking from the cutout 122 to the outside of the equipment. Because the sealing ring 151 is annular, it completely surrounds the edge of the cutout 122, ensuring an effective seal.

[0052] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the radial inner edge of the sealing ring 151 is formed with a first groove opening towards the radial inner side of the sealing ring 151, and the barrel body 12 is formed with a first protrusion 123 surrounding the cutout 122. The first protrusion 123 on the barrel body 12 corresponds to the first groove on the sealing ring 151. By embedding the first protrusion 123 into the first groove, a secure connection is formed between the sealing ring 151 and the barrel body 12, which helps to form a sealing effect between the sealing ring 151 and the barrel body 12, preventing the medium from leaking from the gap between the sealing ring 151 and the barrel body 12.

[0053] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 4 As shown, the outer radial edge of the sealing ring 151 has a second groove that opens radially outward toward the sealing ring 151, and the edge of the side cover 14 has a second protrusion 141 that surrounds it. The first protrusion 123 on the side cover 14 corresponds to the second groove on the sealing ring 151. The second protrusion 141 is embedded in the second groove, which makes the sealing ring 151 and the side cover 14 firmly connected, which helps to form a sealing effect between the sealing ring 151 and the side cover 14, preventing the medium from leaking from the gap between the sealing ring 151 and the barrel body 12.

[0054] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the sealing assembly 15 also includes a clamping member 152 disposed along the radial inner edge of the sealing ring 151. The clamping member 152 provides additional tightening force to ensure that the sealing ring 151 fits more firmly against the cutout 122 of the barrel body 12. When the clamping member 152 is installed, it applies a tightening force along the radial inner edge of the sealing ring 151, making the connection between the first groove of the sealing ring 151 and the first protrusion 123 of the barrel body 12 tighter, thereby effectively preventing the medium from leaking from the tiny gap between the sealing ring 151 and the barrel body 12.

[0055] According to some embodiments of the present invention, the sealing assembly 15 further includes a clamping member 152 disposed along the radial outer edge of the sealing ring 151. The clamping member 152 acts at the connection between the sealing ring 151 and the side cover 14 to provide additional tightening force to ensure that the sealing ring 151 can fit more firmly against the edge of the side cover 14. When the clamping member 152 is installed, it applies a tightening force along the radial outer edge of the sealing ring 151, making the connection between the second groove of the sealing ring 151 and the second protrusion 141 of the side cover 14 tighter, thereby effectively preventing the medium from leaking from the small gap between the sealing ring 151 and the side cover 14.

[0056] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1 and Figure 4 As shown, the sealing assembly 15 also includes multiple locking members 152, which are respectively arranged along the radial inner edge and radial outer edge of the sealing ring 151. The locking members 152, arranged along the radial inner edge of the sealing ring 151, ensure a tighter fit between the first groove of the sealing ring 151 and the first protrusion 123 of the barrel body 12. Simultaneously, the locking members 152, arranged along the radial outer edge of the sealing ring 151, strengthen the contact between the sealing ring 151 and the edge of the side cover 14, further ensuring the integrity of the seal and effectively preventing the medium from seeping through the tiny gap between the sealing ring 151 and the side cover 14.

[0057] The following is a brief description of the garment processing device 1 according to the present invention.

[0058] The garment processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the tub assembly of any of the above embodiments. Since the garment processing apparatus according to the present invention includes the tub assembly of any of the above embodiments, the garment processing apparatus 1 according to the present invention achieves increased washing capacity, optimized internal space utilization, and simplified installation process without increasing overall size, thereby improving user experience.

[0059] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 3 As shown, the cut 122 includes a first cut and a second cut, which are respectively located on both sides of the tub body 12 in the width direction of the garment processing device 1. The first and second cuts together provide space for the radial deformation that may occur in the inner tub 11 during rotation, ensuring that the inner tub 11 expands accordingly on both sides in the width direction of the garment processing device 1 when deformation occurs. By setting the first and second cuts, the adaptability of the tub body 12 to the radial deformation of the inner tub 11 during rotation is further improved.

[0060] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 1As shown, the garment processing equipment 1 also includes an inner drum 11 and a housing 16. The housing 16 is used to house and protect the internal components of the garment processing equipment 1 and the structures required for processing garments. The inner drum 11 and the drum body 12 are disposed within the housing 16 to perform washing or drying programs within the housing 16.

[0061] The barrel assembly includes a side cover 14, which is disposed on the barrel body 12 and adapted to close the cut 122. By fixing the side cover 14 to the housing 16, the position of the side cover 14 can be fixed, so that the side cover 14 can more reliably close the cut 122, thereby improving the sealing performance of the equipment.

[0062] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 3 As shown, the diameter of the inner cylinder 11 is D, and the distance between the first cut and the second cut is L, satisfying L < D. By limiting the distance L between the first cut and the second cut to be less than the diameter D of the inner cylinder 11, the size of the barrel 12 can be minimized and the capacity of the inner cylinder 11 can be increased while ensuring that the first cut and the second cut can effectively expand the radial deformation that the inner cylinder 11 may generate during high-speed rotation, thus improving the overall space utilization rate.

[0063] According to some embodiments of the present invention, such as Figure 3 As shown, the distance between the inner cylinder 11 and the side cover 14 is G1, and the distance between the barrel body 12 and the side cover 14 is G2, satisfying G2 < G1. G1 reflects the position of the side cover 14 relative to the inner cylinder 11, while G2 reflects the position of the side cover 14 relative to the barrel body 12. The smaller distance G2 between the barrel body 12 and the side cover 14 provides more solid support for the barrel body 12, reducing vibration caused by the high-speed rotation of the inner cylinder 11, and further improving the operational stability and safety of the equipment. The larger distance G1 between the inner cylinder 11 and the side cover 14 reserves space for radial deformation of the inner cylinder 11 during operation, ensuring that the inner cylinder 11 always maintains a safe distance from the side cover 14.

[0064] In the description of this specification, the references to terms such as "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "illustrative embodiment," "example," "specific example," or "some examples," etc., indicate that a specific feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the illustrative expressions of the above terms do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments or examples.

[0065] Although embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, those skilled in the art will understand that various changes, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A tub assembly for a laundry treating apparatus, characterized by, The first end cover (131) is connected to the end of at least one of the arms (121) and is integrally formed with the first end cover (131). Further comprising: The second end cover (132) is arranged at the other end of the arm (121), and one of the first end cover (131) and the second end cover (132) is formed with a drop opening communicating with the inside of the tub body (12).

2. The tub assembly of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: The side cover (14) is arranged on the tub body (12) and is adapted to close the cutout (122).

3. The keg assembly of claim 1, wherein, Further comprising: The sealing assembly (15) is arranged between the tub body (12) and the side cover (14) to seal the cutout (122).

4. The keg assembly of claim 3, wherein, The sealing assembly (15) comprises: The sealing ring (151) is arranged between the tub body (12) and the side cover (14) and is configured as an annular ring arranged along the edge of the cutout (122).

5. The keg assembly of claim 4, wherein, The radially inner edge of the sealing ring (151) is formed with a first clamping groove open toward the radially inner side of the sealing ring (151), the tub body (12) is formed with a first protrusion (123) surrounding the cutout (122), and the first protrusion (123) is embedded in the first clamping groove. And / or, the radially outer edge of the sealing ring (151) is formed with a second clamping groove open toward the radially outer side of the sealing ring (151), the edge of the side cover (14) is formed with a second protrusion (141) arranged around, and the second protrusion (141) is embedded in the second clamping groove.

6. The keg assembly of claim 5, wherein, The sealing assembly (15) further comprises a clamping member (152) arranged along the radially inner edge of the sealing ring (151) and / or the radially outer edge of the sealing ring (151). The tub assembly comprises the tub assembly according to any one of claims 1-7.

7. The keg assembly of claim 6, wherein, The cutout (122) comprises a first cutout and a second cutout arranged on both sides of the tub body (12) in the width direction of the laundry treating apparatus. 8.A laundry treating apparatus, characterized by, Further comprising: 9.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 8, wherein, The inner cylinder (11) is arranged in the tub body (12); 10.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 9, wherein, The box body (16) is arranged in the tub body (12); The tub assembly comprises a side cover (14) arranged on the tub body (12) and adapted to close the cutout (122), and the side cover (14) is fixed to the box body (16). The diameter of the inner cylinder (11) is D, the distance between the first cutout and the second cutout is L, and L < D. ​ 11.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, ​ 12.The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein, The interval distance between the inner cylinder (11) and the side cover (14) is G1, and the interval distance between the barrel body (12) and the side cover (14) is G2, and G2 < G1 is satisfied.

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