Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a clothes treating device. The clothes treating device comprises an outer barrel for storing a water drum, the drum arranged in the outer barrel and used for storing clothes, an impeller rotatably arranged in the drum, and a stirrer capable of being fastened to the impeller. Wherein the clothes treating apparatus includes a fastening portion that, if the agitator is pressed in a direction in which the impeller is located, fixes the agitator to the impeller.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

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

[0002] A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that puts clothes, bedding, etc. (hereinafter, referred to as laundry) into an inside of a drum to remove contaminants on the laundry. The laundry treating apparatus can perform a washing, rinsing, dehydration, drying, etc. process, and can be classified into a top loading type and a front loading type based on a manner in which laundry is put into the drum.

[0003] The laundry treating apparatus can include a cabinet forming an appearance, an outer tub accommodated in the inside of the cabinet, a drum rotatably installed in the inside of the outer tub and into which laundry is put, etc.

[0004] If the drum is rotated by a motor, etc. in a state in which water is supplied to laundry accommodated in the drum, the laundry can remove contaminants on the laundry by friction with the drum and the water.

[0005] On the other hand, in order to improve a washing effect of the laundry, a pulsator capable of forming a water flow can be provided in the inside of the drum. The pulsator can be rotated together with the drum or independently, thereby forming a water flow in the water in the inside of the drum.

[0006] A stirrer can be combined with the pulsator. The drum can include a drum inlet through which laundry is put, and an inner side bottom surface of the drum, which faces a side on which the drum inlet is disposed, can be provided with the pulsator.

[0007] The pulsator can be provided in a form of covering at least a portion of the inner side bottom surface of the drum, and can be rotated on the inner side bottom surface. The stirrer can be provided in a columnar shape that extends from the pulsator toward the drum inlet.

[0008] A stirrer formed with a blade is disclosed in related document US941,741. The stirrer is integrally provided with a pulsator, and can be rotated together with the pulsator.

[0009] A blade for forming a water flow can be provided on a circumferential surface of the stirrer, and a water flow forming effect can be improved by the blade.

[0010] However, since the stirrer of the related document is integrally provided with the pulsator, it cannot be separated from the pulsator. The stirrer can improve washing performance by enhancing a water flow forming effect, but is easily damaged, etc. due to resistance of water, etc.

[0011] On the other hand, in the related art US 7,506,525 B2, a laundry treating apparatus in which a pulsator is detachable with respect to a drum is disclosed. In order to perform a replacement or management work of the pulsator, a user can separate the pulsator from the drum.

[0012] For example, if the pulsator is installed, although the washing capacity can be improved by the pulsator, the amount or kind of washable laundry can be limited due to a reduced limit load.

[0013] Differently from this, if the pulsator is separated from the drum, although the amount of washable laundry or the rotational speed or the like can be improved, there is a disadvantage in that a three-dimensional water flow cannot be formed by the pulsator.

[0014] Accordingly, a user can selectively combine or separate the pulsator with the drum in consideration of the amount of laundry, the kind of laundry, the washing time, the washing efficiency, or the like.

[0015] However, the combination method of the pulsator and the drum disclosed in the related art is a rotational combination method using a locking protrusion and a locking portion. Accordingly, the pulsator needs to be pressed in the direction of the drum and then rotated to be combined, and thus there is a problem in that the combination is complicated.

[0016] In addition, in order to separate the pulsator from the drum, the handle provided at the upper end of the pulsator needs to be gripped and then rotated to pull out the pulsator, and thus there is a problem in that the separation of the drum from the pulsator is complicated.

[0017] Accordingly, an important issue in the technical field is to simplify the attachment and detachment mechanism by enabling a user to perform the process of attaching and detaching the pulsator to and from the drum with one action. SUMMARY

[0018] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0019] The present application aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus having a pulsator detachable from a drum.

[0020] In addition, the present application aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus capable of separating a pulsator from a drum with one action.

[0021] In addition, the present application aims to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a user can easily grip a pulsator when the pulsator is combined with or separated from a drum.

[0022] TECHNICAL SOLUTION

[0023] A laundry treating apparatus of the present application can include an outer tub storing water, a drum disposed inside the outer tub to store laundry, a pulsator rotatably disposed inside the drum, an agitator capable of being fastened to the pulsator, and a fastening portion to fix the agitator to the pulsator if the agitator is pressed in a direction in which the pulsator is located.

[0024] In addition, the pulsator can include a pulsator body rotatably disposed at an inner bottom surface of the drum, a coupling groove disposed at a center of the pulsator body to couple the agitator, and the fastening portion can include a base disposed at a lower end of the agitator to be inserted into the coupling groove, a fastening groove disposed at a wall surface of the coupling groove to restrict movement of the agitator, and a fastening block rotatably disposed at the base to be inserted into the fastening groove if the base is inserted into the coupling groove.

[0025] On the other hand, the laundry treating apparatus can further include a release portion disposed at the agitator to release coupling of the pulsator and the agitator, and the release portion can include a button disposed at an upper end of the agitator to release coupling of the pulsator and the agitator by being pressed.

[0026] In addition, the base can further include a block fixing member disposed at an inner bottom surface of the base to fix a position of the fastening block, a block fixing pin to rotatably couple the fastening block to the block fixing member, and a block elastic member disposed at the block fixing pin to provide a restoring force to the fastening block rotated by an external force.

[0027] On the other hand, the pulsator can further include a coupling groove cover to cover a top surface of the coupling groove in a case where the agitator is separated to prevent water from being contained in the coupling groove.

[0028] In addition, the pulsator can further include a cover elastic member to connect the coupling groove cover to be movable toward an inner bottom surface of the coupling groove and to provide a restoring force to the coupling groove cover moved toward the inner bottom surface of the coupling groove.

[0029] On the other hand, a cross section of the base can be polygonal, and a cross section of the coupling groove into which the base is inserted can be polygonal corresponding to the cross section of the base.

[0030] In addition, the release portion can further include an external force transmission bar coupled to a back surface of the button to be moved by an amount corresponding to a displacement of the button moved by an external force if the external force is input to the button, and an external force transmission link disposed at a lower end of the external force transmission bar to protrude in a direction in which the fastening block is located to transmit the external force to the fastening block.

[0031] In another aspect, the button can further include a button fixing groove provided on an outer circumferential surface of the button and formed in a stepped shape from a lower end to an upper end of the button, and the agitator can further include a button cover rotatably provided between the upper end of the agitator and the button, forming a top surface of the agitator, and provided with a button fixing protrusion protruding toward the button, and if the button cover is rotated such that the button fixing groove and the button fixing protrusion are located at the same position, the button can be operated, and if the button cover is rotated such that the button fixing groove and the button fixing protrusion are located at different positions, the button can be fixed.

[0032] In another aspect, a groove can be provided at a middle portion of an outer circumferential surface of the button cover to facilitate user gripping.

[0033] In addition, the button cover can be formed to protrude more than an outer circumferential surface of the agitator to facilitate user gripping.

[0034] Effects of Invention

[0035] The present application can provide a laundry treating apparatus having an agitator detachable from a pulsator.

[0036] In addition, the present application can provide a laundry treating apparatus in which the agitator can be separated from the pulsator by one action.

[0037] In addition, the present application can provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a user can easily grip the agitator when the agitator is combined with or separated from the pulsator. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a view showing an example of a laundry treating apparatus.

[0039] Figure 2 FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0040] Figure 3 FIG. 3 is a view showing an example of a water supply portion.

[0041] Figure 4 FIG. 4 is a view showing an example of a pulsator and an agitator provided in the laundry treating apparatus.

[0042] Figure 5 FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the pulsator and the agitator provided in the laundry treating apparatus.

[0043] Figure 6 FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the agitator.

[0044] Figure 7and Figure 8 is a view showing a coupling portion of the pulsator and the agitator.

[0045] Figure 9 is a view showing a button and a button cover provided in the agitator.

[0046] Figure 10 is a view showing a state in which the button is operable.

[0047] Figure 11 is a view showing a state in which the button is fixed.

[0048] Figure 12 and Figure 13 is a view showing an example of the button cover.

[0049] Figures 14 to 17 is a view showing a gear portion of the driving portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present application will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that those skilled in the art to which the present application pertains can easily practice the present application.

[0051] However, the scope of the claims of the present application can be implemented in various forms, and is not limited to the embodiments described herein. Also, in order to clearly describe the present application, parts irrelevant to the description are omitted in the accompanying drawings, and the same reference numerals are assigned to similar parts throughout the specification.

[0052] In the present specification, repeated description of the same constituent elements is omitted.

[0053] In addition, in the present specification, when it is referred to that one constituent element is "connected" or "coupled" to another constituent element, it should be understood that it can be directly connected or coupled to the other constituent element, or there can be another constituent element therebetween. In contrast, in the present specification, when it is referred to that one constituent element is "directly connected" or "directly coupled" to another constituent element, it should be understood that there is no other constituent element therebetween.

[0054] In addition, the terms used in the present specification are used only to describe particular embodiments, and are not intended to limit the present application.

[0055] In addition, in the present specification, unless explicitly stated otherwise in the context, a singular expression can include a plural expression.

[0056] In addition, in the present specification, the term "and / or" includes a combination of the described plural contents or one of the described plural contents. In the present specification, "A or B" can include "A", "B", or "A and B".

[0057] Figure 1 An appearance of a laundry treating apparatus of an embodiment of the present application is shown. Referring to Figure 1 , a laundry treating apparatus of an embodiment of the present application includes a cabinet 1.

[0058] A space in which an outer tub 2 and a drum 3 are disposed can be formed inside the cabinet 1. The cabinet 1 can have a substantially polyhedral shape, Figure 1 The cabinet of an embodiment of the present application is shown in a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0059] The cabinet 1 can be formed by combining a plurality of panels. For example, the cabinet 1 can include a front panel, a rear panel, a side panel, a top panel 13, and a bottom panel.

[0060] The top panel 13 can be a cover formed in a specific shape by injection molding or the like, and the bottom panel can be a base on which a drain valve 72, a drain pump, or the like is mounted. The top panel 13 can be provided to provide a mounting space for a control panel or a valve.

[0061] The cabinet 1 can include a loading port 131 passing through the top panel 13. The loading port 131 can correspond to a hole that communicates the outside and the inside of the cabinet 1, and a user can load laundry from the outside of the cabinet 1 to the inside of the cabinet 1 through the loading port 131.

[0062] The loading port 131 can be formed in the top panel 13. That is, the laundry treating apparatus of an embodiment of the present application can be a top-loading type in which a rotational axis of the drum 3 faces upward from the ground.

[0063] The present application can be applied to laundry treating apparatuses of a top-loading type and a front-loading type. It is noted that, hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, a laundry treating apparatus of a top-loading type will be described as a reference. Figure 1

[0064] A door 132 can be provided in the cabinet 1. The door can be a member that opens and closes the loading port 131, and can be rotatably coupled to the cabinet. For example, the door can be rotatably coupled to the top panel 13 of the cabinet, and can open or close the loading port according to a rotational state.

[0065] On the other hand, a control panel can be provided in the cabinet 1, at least a portion of which is exposed to the outside. The control panel can provide various information to a user or input an instruction signal from the user.

[0066] For example, the control panel can include a screen display portion that provides visual information to a user, a speaker portion that provides auditory information, and the like, and can include various buttons that are operated by a user to generate an instruction signal.​

[0067] One embodiment of the present application can include a supply part 5 that supplies detergent. The supply part can be manual or automatic, the manual being a method in which a user stores detergent for each washing, and the automatic being a method in which detergent is automatically supplied to the outer tub 2 for a plurality of times by storing detergent once.

[0068] Figure 2 An inside of a laundry treating apparatus of one embodiment of the present application is shown.

[0069] Referring to Figure 2 One embodiment of the present application can include the outer tub 2 and the drum 3. The outer tub can be provided inside the cabinet 1, and can accommodate water inside. The water accommodated inside the outer tub can be defined as washing water.

[0070] The outer tub 2 can include an outer tub inlet 22 that is open toward the inlet port 131. In one embodiment of the present application, the outer tub can be formed in a cylindrical shape, and the outer tub inlet 22 can be disposed at a side of the outer tub that faces the inlet port 131, which can be a top surface that faces the top panel 13 of the cabinet.

[0071] The drum 3 can be provided inside the outer tub 2, and can be provided to be rotatable. A space to accommodate laundry can be formed inside the drum. The drum can include a drum inlet 32 that is open toward the inlet port 131 and the outer tub inlet 22.

[0072] The drum inlet 32 can be provided at one side of the drum 3, and an opposite side of the one side can be connected to the driving part 9. For example, the drum inlet 32 can be provided at a top surface of the drum 3, and a bottom surface can be connected to the driving part and receive a rotational force. Since the drum inlet 32 faces the inlet port 131 and the outer tub inlet 22, laundry that is put from the outside of the cabinet can be accommodated inside the drum 3 via the inlet port 131, the outer tub inlet 22, and the drum inlet 32.

[0073] A plurality of body through holes 311 can be formed at a circumferential surface of the drum 3. Thus, water accommodated inside the outer tub 2 can flow into the inside of the drum through the body through holes formed at the circumferential surface of the drum, and laundry can be soaked in water inside the drum. In the present application, it can be understood that washing water inside the outer tub is the same as washing water inside the drum.

[0074] An embodiment of the present application can include a water supply part 4 and a drain part 7. The water supply part can be connected to a water supply source located outside the cabinet 1 and receive water, and can deliver water supplied from the water supply source to the inside of the tub 2.

[0075] The water supply part 4 can include water supply pipes 41, 42 through which water supplied from the water supply source flows. As shown, Figure 3 the water supply pipes 41, 42 can include a first water supply pipe 41 that supplies water supplied from the water supply source to a detergent storage part 511 of the supply part 5, and a second water supply pipe 42 that guides water supplied from the water supply source to the inside of the drum 3.

[0076] As shown, Figure 2 water moved through the first water supply pipe 41 to the detergent storage part 511 is supplied to the inside of the tub together with detergent stored in the detergent storage part via a discharge port 512. In addition, as shown, Figure 3 the water supply part 4 can include a first water supply valve 411 that controls opening and closing of the first water supply pipe 41 according to a control signal of a control part (not shown), and a second water supply valve 421 that controls opening and closing of the second water supply pipe 42 according to a control signal of the control part.

[0077] A spray part 6 can be provided at one end of the second water supply pipe 42. The spray part 6 can be fixed to the top panel 13, and the water supply pipe 42 can be composed of a hose that connects the water supply source and the spray part 6. The spray part 6 has a nozzle form and can spray water at a high pressure to the inside of the drum.

[0078] As shown, Figure 2 the drain part 7 can be connected to the tub 2 and drain water inside the tub to the outside of the cabinet 1. The drain part can include a drain pipe 71 through which water drained from the tub flows, and a drain pump or a drain valve 72 that makes water drained from the tub flow, and can drain water inside the tub to the outside of the cabinet as a washing process ends.

[0079] The laundry treatment apparatus can include a driving part 9. The driving part 9 can be provided inside the cabinet 1 and connected to the drum 3. The driving part can be located outside the tub, for example, can be located at a lower side of the tub, and the driving shaft can penetrate the tub and be connected to a bottom surface of the drum.

[0080] As shown, Figure 4As shown, the laundry treating apparatus 100 can include a water flow forming portion 8 rotatably provided inside the drum 3 to form a water flow inside the drum. The water flow forming portion 8 can include a pulsator 81 rotated by the driving portion 9 and an agitator 82 detachably fixed to the pulsator.

[0081] The pulsator 81 can include a disc-shaped pulsator body located at an inner side bottom surface of the drum and covering at least a portion of the inner side bottom surface of the drum.

[0082] The pulsator can include a coupling groove 812 provided at a center of the pulsator body, protruding upward, and formed with a space for coupling the agitator.

[0083] An upper surface (a surface facing the drum inlet) of the pulsator body can be provided with a water flow forming member 811 forming a water flow so that laundry moves inside the drum. The water flow forming member 811 can extend in a substantially radial pattern with reference to a rotation center of the pulsator. That is, the water flow forming member 811 can extend from an outer peripheral surface of the coupling groove 812 of the pulsator 81 toward an edge of the pulsator.

[0084] The water flow forming member 811 can be formed in an arc-shaped plate shape protruding upward toward the drum inlet 32 or the inlet 131 and can extend in a radial direction of the pulsator body, and a plurality of the water flow forming members 811 can be disposed apart from each other, but are not limited thereto, and can be provided as a single member or have other shapes as long as they are structures capable of flowing water to form a water flow. It is noted that the formation in the arc-shaped plate shape maximizes reduction of water resistance, and the plurality of separate configurations increase the amount of water flow.

[0085] On the other hand, one end portion of the agitator 82 can be provided with a base 831 inserted into the coupling groove 812, and the other end portion can be formed in a bar shape facing the drum inlet 32. A plurality of vanes 821 can be provided at a circumferential surface of the agitator 82. The vanes 821 can be integrally formed at the circumferential surface of the agitator 82, or can be separately manufactured and assembled to the circumferential surface of the agitator.

[0086] In addition, the vanes 821 can be provided as boards or plates disposed in a spiral shape substantially in a length direction (a height direction of the laundry treating apparatus) of the agitator 82. When the agitator 82 is rotated, an ascending water flow or a descending water flow can be formed inside the drum by the vanes 821.

[0087] The outer circumferential surface of the coupling groove 812 and the outer circumferential surface of the base 831 can be formed in corresponding shapes, and can be formed in polygonal shapes to limit rotation, but are not limited thereto.

[0088] Figure 5 FIG. 8 is a view showing a cross section of the pulsator 81 and the agitator 82.

[0089] The pulsator 81 can include a coupling groove cover 813 covering the coupling groove 812. The coupling groove cover can be coupled to the inner bottom surface of the pulsator with a cover elastic member 814.

[0090] The cover elastic member 814 applies an external force to the coupling groove cover 813 when the base 831 is inserted into the coupling groove 812, and thus the coupling groove cover moves toward the inner bottom surface of the pulsator.

[0091] If the base 831 is separated from the coupling groove 812, the external force applied to the coupling groove cover 813 is released, and if the external force is released, the cover elastic member 814 can provide a restoring force that moves the coupling groove cover toward the upper end of the coupling groove to close the coupling groove.

[0092] That is, the coupling groove cover 813 closes the coupling groove 812 in the absence of an external force, and if an external force is applied in the direction of the inner bottom surface of the pulsator 81, the coupling groove cover moves toward the inner bottom surface of the pulsator, so that the agitator can be coupled to the pulsator.

[0093] The coupling groove cover 813 can close the coupling groove to prevent washing water from penetrating into the inside in the case where the agitator 82 is separated.

[0094] In addition, a release portion 84 that releases the coupling of the pulsator 81 and the agitator 82 can include a button 841 provided at the upper end of the agitator 82, which a user can operate to release the coupling, and an external force transmission portion 842 that transmits an external force to the base 831 when the button is pressed.

[0095] The external force transmission portion 842 can include an external force transmission rod 842a formed in a rod shape that penetrates the agitator and extends from the bottom surface of the button in the direction of the base 831, and transmits an external force applied to the button in the direction of the base 831, and an external force transmission link 842b provided at the lower end of the external force transmission rod, formed in a link shape that extends toward the outside of the outer circumferential surface, and transmits the external force transmitted by the external force transmission rod to the base. Figure 6 Referring to FIG. 8, the external force transmission rod 842a is formed in a rod shape that penetrates the agitator and extends from the bottom surface of the button in the direction of the base 831, and transmits an external force applied to the button in the direction of the base 831, and the external force transmission link 842b is provided at the lower end of the external force transmission rod, formed in a link shape that extends toward the outside of the outer circumferential surface, and transmits the external force transmitted by the external force transmission rod to the base.

[0096] The mechanism in which the disengagement unit 84 disengages the agitator 82 and the pulsator 81 will be described later.

[0097] Figure 6 is a view showing the base 831 inserted into the engagement groove 812, Figure 7 and Figure 8 is a view showing the process in which the base is inserted into the engagement groove.

[0098] The fastening unit 83 that fastens the agitator 82 and the pulsator 81 can include a fastening block 831a provided to the base 831 of the agitator and a fastening groove 832 provided to the engagement groove 812.

[0099] Referring to Figure 6 , the base 831 can be provided to the lower end of the agitator and can be inserted into the engagement groove 812 to engage the pulsator and the agitator. The shape of the bottom surface of the base can correspond to the shape of the engagement groove.

[0100] The base 831 can include the fastening block 831a that is inserted into the fastening groove 832 to restrict the movement of the agitator if the base is inserted into the engagement groove 812, the block fixing member 831b formed in a cylindrical shape, fixed to the inner bottom surface of the base and supporting the fastening block, the block fixing pin 831c connected to the block fixing member so as to allow the fastening block to rotate, and the block elastic member 831d that provides a restoring force to restore the fastening block to the state before rotation if the external force is removed after the fastening block 831a is rotated by a predetermined angle by the external force.

[0101] The fastening block 831a protrudes outward if no external force is applied, and is rotated toward the inner side of the base 831 if the external force is applied, and can be perpendicular to the inner bottom surface of the base. In addition, since the portion of the fastening block that protrudes is inserted into the fastening groove 832, the shape of the portion of the fastening block that protrudes can be a shape corresponding to the fastening groove.

[0102] In addition, the inner surface of the fastening block 831a can be in contact with one end of the external force transmission link 842b. Accordingly, the external force applied to the button 841 can be transmitted to the external force transmission link via the external force transmission rod 842a, and the external force transmitted to the external force transmission link can be transmitted to the fastening block.

[0103] If the external force is transmitted to the fastening block 831a, the fastening block can be rotated toward the inner side of the base 831 and be perpendicular to the inner bottom surface of the base (seeFigure 7 ).

[0104] On the other hand, the fastening blocks 831a, the fastening grooves 832, and the external force transmission link 842b can be provided in the same number, one, but in order to make the coupling more firm, it is preferable to be provided separately in plural. However, if the external force transmission link is provided in plural, the external force transmitted by the external force transmission rod 842a can be transmitted to the fastening blocks 831a in a dispersed manner.

[0105] In addition, the block elastic member 831d can be composed of a torsion spring, but is not limited thereto, and any member capable of providing a restoring force to restore the fastening block 831a can be used.

[0106] Referring to Figure 7 In order to couple the agitator 82 to the pulsator 81, the user can insert the base 831 provided at the lower end of the agitator into the coupling groove 812 provided at the pulsator.

[0107] In the process of inserting the base 831 into the coupling groove 812, the coupling groove cover 813 is pushed by the base to move toward the inner side bottom surface of the coupling groove, and the upper end corner of the coupling groove applies an external force to the fastening block 831a so that the fastening block rotates toward the inner side of the base, so that the fastening block can be upright with the inner side bottom surface of the base.

[0108] Referring to Figure 8 If the base 831 is inserted into the coupling groove 812 by a prescribed depth or more in the state that the fastening block 831a is upright, the external force applied to the fastening block 831a by the upper end corner of the coupling groove is released. If the external force is released, the fastening block protrudes outward by the action of the restoring force provided by the block elastic member 831d, and the protruding portion of the fastening block is inserted into the fastening groove 832 provided at the inner side wall surface of the coupling groove 812 and recessed in a shape corresponding to the protruding portion of the fastening block 831a, so that the movement of the agitator 82 can be restricted.

[0109] Unlike the drawing, the fastening groove 832 can be provided at the base, and the fastening block 831a can be provided at the pulsator 81.

[0110] The structure of the fastening portion 83 is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be any structure capable of selectively coupling the agitator 82 and the pulsator 81.

[0111] In order to separate the agitator 82 from the pulsator 81, the button 841 (refer to Figure 5) An external force is applied in the direction of the base. If the external force is applied to the button, the external force is transmitted to the external force transmission link 842b through the external force transmission rod 842a, and the external force transmitted to the external force transmission link can be transmitted to the fastening block 831a to rotate the fastening block, so that the fastening block 831a can be erected with the inner bottom surface of the base 831 (refer to Figure 7 ). That is, the fastening block can be separated from the fastening groove 832.

[0112] Therefore, if the button 841 is pressed, the combination of the fastening block and the fastening groove is released, and in the released state, if the agitator 82 is held and pulled upward, the pulsator 81 and the agitator 82 can be separated.

[0113] That is, the direction of the external force applied to combine the pulsator 81 and the agitator 82 can be on the same line as the direction of the external force applied to separate the pulsator 81 and the agitator 82. In addition, the direction of the external force applied to the button 841 to separate the fastening groove 832 and the fastening block 831a can be on the same line as the direction of the external force for separating the agitator from the pulsator.

[0114] Therefore, it is possible to simplify the operation for separating the pulsator and the agitator.

[0115] During separation, the combination groove cover 813 can be moved by the cover elastic member 814 to close the combination groove 812.

[0116] Figures 9 to 13 FIG. 8 is a view showing an embodiment of a button cover 822 forming at least a portion of the top surface of the agitator 82.

[0117] Referring to Figure 9 , the button cover 822 can be rotatably combined with the upper end of the agitator. Figure 9 The combination of the button cover and the agitator is shown in a threaded form, but is not limited thereto, and any structure that can achieve rotational combination can be used.

[0118] Figure 10 FIG. 9 is a view showing a state in which an external force applied to the button can be transmitted.

[0119] The button cover 822 and the button 841 can be provided to form the top surface of the agitator 82.

[0120] In addition, the button 841 can be provided with a button fixing groove 841a formed by recessing a portion of the lower end of the button 841, and the button cover 822 can be provided with a button fixing protrusion 822a protruding toward the button direction, having a shape corresponding to the button fixing groove, and being capable of being inserted into the button fixing groove.

[0121] As shown in Figure 10 , if the button cover 822 is rotated so that the button fixing protrusion 822a is positioned below the button fixing groove 841a, the button fixing protrusion can be inserted into the button fixing groove, so that the button 841 can be moved downward to transmit an external force applied to the button to the fastening block 831a.

[0122] Figure 11 is a view showing a state in which an external force applied to the button cannot be transmitted.

[0123] If the button cover 822 is rotated so that the button fixing protrusion 822a is positioned at a portion where the button fixing groove 841a is not provided, the button fixing protrusion cannot be inserted into the button fixing groove, so that the button 841 cannot be moved downward to transmit an external force applied to the button to the fastening block 831a.

[0124] Therefore, in order to separate the agitator 82, it is necessary to adjust the position of the button cover 822 as shown in Figure 10 , and in order to operate the laundry treating apparatus in a state in which the agitator is coupled, it is necessary to adjust the position of the button cover 822 as shown in Figure 11 to prevent the agitator from being separated due to an external force applied to the button 841 during operation.

[0125] Figure 12 and Figure 13 is a view showing a portion of the agitator 82 held by a user.

[0126] Referring to Figure 12 , a holding groove 822b recessed inward along an outer circumferential surface can be provided at a middle section of the button cover 822.

[0127] The holding groove 822b can facilitate a user to hold the upper end of the button cover 822 with a finger while pressing the button 841 with a palm when separating the agitator 82 from the pulsator 81. Therefore, the agitator 82 can be separated from the pulsator 81 by one action of holding and pulling the holding groove 822b with a finger while pressing the button 841 with a palm.

[0128] In addition, referring toFigure 13 A holding hook 822c can be formed on the top surface of the button cover 822.

[0129] The holding hook 822c can be configured to be easily hooked and pulled by a finger while the button 841 is pressed by a palm. Thus, the agitator 82 can be separated from the pulsator 81 by an operation of hooking and pulling the holding hook by a finger while the button is pressed by a palm.

[0130] Figures 14 to 16 FIG. 3 is a view illustrating an example of the driving part 9 that rotates the drum 3 and the pulsator 81.

[0131] The driving part 9 can include a motor 91 that provides power, a drum shaft 92 that rotates the drum, a pulsator shaft 93 that rotates the pulsator 81, a gear part 94 that transmits rotation of the pulsator shaft 93 to the drum shaft 92, a clutch 95 that selectively couples the drum shaft 92 to the motor 91, and a brake 96 that limits rotation of the drum shaft 92.

[0132] The motor 91 that provides power can include a stator 911 fixed to the outer tub 2 and forming a rotating field, and a rotor 912 that rotates by the rotating field. The drum shaft 92 and the pulsator shaft 93 can be selectively rotated by receiving power. Here, the selective rotation means that only the pulsator shaft is rotated, or the pulsator shaft and the drum shaft are simultaneously rotated. In addition, the motor can be provided with a sensor for detecting an amount of current supplied to the motor.

[0133] The drum shaft 92 can be rotatably fixed to an inner bottom surface of the outer tub 2, and one end of the drum shaft 92 is fixed to a bottom of the drum 3, and the other end is located outside the outer tub 2 (the other end is located between the inner bottom surface of the outer tub and the rotor).

[0134] The drum shaft 92 is provided with a shaft through-hole 921 through which the pulsator shaft 93 penetrates, and the shaft through-hole 921 provides a space in which the gear part 94 is installed. The gear part 94 can be provided in the shaft through-hole 921, and thus a central portion of the drum shaft can be formed in a shape protruding outward.

[0135] The clutch 95 is provided at the other end of the drum shaft 92. If the clutch 95 is moved in the direction of the rotor 912, the drum shaft 92 is connected to the rotor, and if the clutch 95 is moved in the direction of the outer tub 2, the drum shaft 92 is separated from the rotor. If the drum shaft 92 is connected to the rotor, the drum shaft 92 can rotate in the same direction as the rotor, and if the drum shaft 92 rotates, the drum rotates.

[0136] The clutch 95 can be configured to be fixed at the outside, provided with a bearing at the central portion, and rotatable at the inside.

[0137] The pulsator 81 can be rotated by the rotation of the stirring shaft 93 provided through the inside bottom surface of the drum 3.

[0138] The stirring shaft 93 can include a first shaft 931 fixed to the rotor 912 and a second shaft 932 fixed to the pulsator 91. The first shaft 931 and the second shaft 932 are connected through the gear portion 94.

[0139] As shown in FIG. 1, the gear portion 94 can include a sun gear 941 fixed to the first shaft 931 inside the drum shaft 92, a ring gear 944 having a ring shape and fixed to the inside of the drum shaft 92, and a planetary gear 942 configured to connect the sun gear and the ring gear. Figure 17

[0140] The gear portion 94 can further include a planetary carrier 943. The planetary carrier 943 is rotatably provided inside the shaft through-hole 921, one end of the second shaft 932 is fixed to the rotation center of the planetary carrier 943, and the planetary gears 942 can be arranged along the circumferential surface of the planetary carrier 943 to surround the second shaft 932.

[0141] If the rotor 912 rotates in the clockwise direction, the sun gear 941 connected through the first shaft 931 rotates in the clockwise direction, and the planetary gears 942 rotate in the counterclockwise direction. If the planetary gears 942 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, the planetary carrier 943 rotates in the clockwise direction, and thus the water flow forming portion 8 rotates in the clockwise direction. On the other hand, the planetary gears 942 rotate in the counterclockwise direction, and thus the ring gear 944 also rotates in the counterclockwise direction under the action of repulsive force.

[0142] ​The brake 96 is a member that determines whether the drum shaft 92 rotates according to a control signal of the control section (not shown). One end of the brake 96 is movable toward the circumferential surface of the drum shaft 92, and if the one end of the brake 96 is in contact with the drum shaft 92, the rotation of the drum shaft 92 is restricted.

[0143] Figure 14 is a view showing a case where the drum 3 and the water flow forming section 8 rotate in the same direction, in which case the lower end of the drum shaft 92 is connected to the rotor 912 through the clutch 95, and the brake 96 does not come into contact with the drum shaft 92.

[0144] In the state of Figure 14 , if the rotor 912 rotates, the water flow forming section 8 rotates in the same direction as the rotor through the stirring shaft 93, and the drum 3 rotates in the same direction as the rotor through the drum shaft 92.

[0145] On the other hand, Figure 15 is a view showing a case where only the pulsator 81 rotates. In this case, the connection of the drum shaft 92 to the rotor 912 is released, and the brake 96 comes into contact with the drum shaft 92.

[0146] On the other hand, Figure 16 is a view showing a case where the drum 3 and the pulsator 81 rotate in opposite directions. In this case, the connection of the drum shaft 92 to the rotor 912 is released, and the brake 96 does not come into contact with the drum shaft 92.

[0147] While the present application has been illustrated and described with respect to specific embodiments, it is not intended that the application be limited thereto, but rather that the application be given its broadest interpretation in accordance with the appended claims.

Claims

1.A laundry treating apparatus, characterized by, The laundry treating apparatus includes: an outer tub storing water; a drum disposed inside the outer tub to store laundry; a pulsator rotatably disposed inside the drum; a stirrer capable of being fastened to the pulsator; and a fastening portion that fixes the stirrer to the pulsator if the stirrer is pressed in a direction in which the pulsator is located. 2.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pulsator includes: a pulsator body rotatably disposed on an inner bottom surface of the drum; and a coupling groove disposed at a center of the pulsator body to couple the stirrer, the fastening portion includes: a base disposed at a lower end of the stirrer to be inserted into the coupling groove; a fastening groove disposed on a wall surface of the coupling groove to restrict movement of the stirrer; and a fastening block rotatably disposed at the base to be inserted into the fastening groove if the base is inserted into the coupling groove. 3.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a release portion disposed at the stirrer to release coupling of the pulsator and the stirrer, the release portion includes a button disposed at an upper end of the stirrer to release coupling of the pulsator and the stirrer by being pressed. 4.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the base further includes: a block fixing member disposed on an inner bottom surface of the base to fix a position of the fastening block; a block fixing pin rotatably coupling the fastening block to the block fixing member; and a block elastic member disposed at the block fixing pin to provide a restoring force to the fastening block that is rotated by an external force. 5.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the pulsator further includes a coupling groove cover covering a top surface of the coupling groove in a case where the stirrer is separated to prevent water from being contained in the coupling groove. 6.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the pulsator further includes a cover elastic member connecting the coupling groove cover to be movable toward an inner bottom surface of the coupling groove and providing a restoring force to the coupling groove cover that is moved toward the inner bottom surface of the coupling groove. 7.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein a cross section of the base is polygonal, and a cross section of the coupling groove into which the base is inserted is polygonal corresponding to the cross section of the base. 8.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the release portion further includes: an external force transmission bar coupled to a back surface of the button to be moved by an amount corresponding to a displacement of the button that is moved by an external force if the external force is input to the button; and an external force transmission link disposed at a lower end of the external force transmission bar to protrude in a direction in which the fastening block is located to transmit the external force to the fastening block. 9.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 3, wherein the button further includes a button fixing groove disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the button and formed in a stepped shape from a lower end of the button toward an upper end. ​ The agitator further includes a button cover rotatably disposed between the upper end of the agitator and the button to form a top surface of the agitator and provided with a button fixing protrusion protruding toward a direction in which the button is located; If the button cover is rotated so that the button fixing groove and the button fixing protrusion are located at the same position, the button can be operated; If the button cover is rotated so that the button fixing groove and the button fixing protrusion are located at different positions, the button is fixed. 10.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein A groove is provided at a middle section of an outer circumferential surface of the button cover to facilitate user gripping. 11.The laundry treating apparatus of claim 10, wherein The button cover is protrusively formed than an outer circumferential surface of the agitator to facilitate user gripping.

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