Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry treating apparatus, including: a cabinet (1), a first drum (2), and a second drum (3). The first drum (2) and the second drum are located in the cabinet (1) and arranged at distances from each other. A diameter of the first drum (2) is larger than a diameter of the second drum. A first rotation center line of the first drum (2) is parallel to a front-rear direction. In the front-rear direction, a second rotation center line (N) of the second drum is inclined upward from a rear portion of the laundry treating apparatus toward a front portion of the laundry treating apparatus.

Description

FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of laundry treating apparatuses, and more particularly to a laundry treating apparatus.BACKGROUND

[0002] In related arts, in a dual-drum laundry treating apparatus, a rotation axis of a larger drum and a rotation axis of a smaller drum are both arranged along a horizontal direction.SUMMARY

[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treating apparatus. A second drum in the laundry treating apparatus is inclined upward, which facilitates loading and unloading of laundry, thereby at least partially solving the problems in the related arts.

[0004] To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a first drum, and a second drum. Both the first drum and the second drum are located within the cabinet and arranged at distances from each other. A diameter of the first drum is larger than a diameter of the second drum. A first rotation center line of the first drum is parallel to a front-rear direction. In the front-rear direction, a second rotation center line of the second drum is inclined upward from a rear of the laundry treating apparatus toward a front of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0005] Optionally, the second drum is located obliquely below the first drum.

[0006] Optionally, a first plane is a plane passing through the first rotation center line and parallel to an up-down direction.

[0007] Optionally, an included angle between the second rotation center line and the first rotation center line in the first plane ranges from 0° to 15°.

[0008] Optionally, a distance between an upper edge of an opening of the second drum and a bottom panel of the cabinet ranges from 200 mm to 300 mm.

[0009] Optionally, the second drum is located obliquely above the first drum.

[0010] Optionally, a distance or height between a lower edge of an opening of the second drum and a bottom panel of the cabinet ranges from 200 mm to 300 mm.

[0011] Optionally, a projection of the first drum in the first plane and a projection of the second drum in the first plane at least partially overlap.

[0012] Optionally, a front panel of cabinet includes an inclined portion, and the inclined portion has an opening fitted with the second drum, and a projection of the inclined portion in the first plane is gradually inclined forward from top to bottom.

[0013] Optionally, the second rotation center line is perpendicular to an inclined plane where the inclined portion is located.

[0014] Optionally, the inclined portion is arranged at a portion of the front panel of the cabinet in a left-right direction; or the inclined portion is arranged at the front panel of the cabinet and extends from a left edge of the front panel to a right edge of the front panel.

[0015] Optionally, the laundry treating apparatus further includes a door seal, the door seal is arranged at a front panel of the cabinet and is configured to be fitted with an opening of the second drum.

[0016] Optionally, a width of a projection of an upper portion of the door seal in the first plane is greater than a width of a projection of a lower portion of the door seal in the first plane.

[0017] Optionally, the laundry treating apparatus further includes a damper located between the second drum and a bottom panel of the cabinet.

[0018] Optionally, the laundry treating apparatus further includes a supporting plate, the supporting plate is located between the damper and the bottom panel of the cabinet and is configured to support the damper.

[0019] Optionally, a plurality of dampers are arranged at two sides of the second drum in a left-right direction respectively, and the dampers of the plurality of dampers at the same side of the second drum are arranged at distances from each other along the front-rear direction.

[0020] Optionally, the plurality of dampers include two first dampers and two second dampers located in front of the two first dampers, the two first dampers are located at the two sides of the second drum in the left-right direction respectively, the two second dampers are located at the two sides of the second drum in the left-right direction respectively, and a height of each of the two second dampers is greater than a height of each of the two first dampers.

[0021] With the above technical solution, the first drum and the second drum are arranged at distances from each other in the cabinet, and the diameter of the first drum is larger than the diameter of the second drum, so that laundry may be washed in separate drums according to different types and weights of laundry. The first rotation center line M of the first drum is parallel to the front-rear direction, and in the front-rear direction, the second rotation center line N of the second drum is inclined upward from the rear of the laundry treating apparatus toward the front of the laundry treating apparatus. Compared to a horizontally arranged second drum in the related art, the upwardly inclined arrangement of the second drum makes it easier to load and unload laundry from the second drum when the second drum is used.

[0022] The other features and advantages of the present invention will be explained in detail in the following specific embodiments section.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings are intended to provide a further understanding of the present invention, form a part of the specification, and are used to explain the present invention together with the specific embodiments below, but do not constitute a limitation of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a front view of a first embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a front view of a second embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a side view of a second embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a front view of a third embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a side view of a third embodiment of a laundry treating apparatus provided in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are intended to illustrate and explain the present invention, but not to limit the present invention.

[0025] In the present invention, unless otherwise stated, directional terms such as "up", "down", "front", "rear", "left", and "right" may refer to directions shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. A first rotation center line may refer to a line denoted as M in FIG. 2, a second rotation center line may refer to a line denoted as N in FIG. 2, a first plane may refer to a plane denoted as P in FIG. 1, and a second plane may refer to a plane denoted as S in FIG. 1. "Inner" and "outer" refers to the "inner" and "outer" sides relative to a contour of the corresponding component itself. Additionally, terms such as "first" and "second" used in the present invention are intended to distinguish one element from another and do not imply sequence or importance. Furthermore, in the following description, when referring to the accompanying drawings, unless otherwise explained, the same references sign in different accompanying drawings indicates the same or similar elements. The above definitions are only for explaining and illustrating the present invention and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0026] A laundry treating apparatus in exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0027] In related arts, in a dual-drum laundry treating apparatus, a rotation axis of a larger drum and a rotation axis of a smaller drum are both arranged along a horizontal direction. The horizontal arrangement of the smaller drum makes it inconvenient to remove laundry.

[0028] To address the above technical problem, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the present invention provides a laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet 1, a first drum 2, and a second drum 3. Both the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 are located within the cabinet 1 and arranged at distances from each other (i.e., spaced apart from each other). A diameter of the first drum 2 is larger than a diameter of the second drum 3. A first rotation center line M of the first drum 2 is parallel to a front-rear direction. In the front-rear direction, from a rear portion of the laundry treating apparatus toward a front portion of the laundry treating apparatus, a second rotation center line N of the second drum 3 is inclined upward.

[0029] With the above technical solution, the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 are arranged at distances from each other in the cabinet 1, and the diameter of the first drum 2 is larger than the diameter of the second drum 3, so that laundry may be washed in the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 respectively according to different types and weights of laundry. The first rotation center line M of the first drum 2 is parallel to the front-rear direction, and in the front-rear direction, from the rear of the laundry treating apparatus toward the front of the laundry treating apparatus, the second rotation center line N of the second drum 3 is inclined upward. Compared to a horizontal arrangement of the second drum 3 in the related arts, the upwardly inclined arrangement of the second drum 3 makes it easier to load and unload laundry from the second drum 3 when the second drum 3 is used.

[0030] It should be noted that the laundry treating apparatus mentioned in the present invention may be a dual-drum washing machine, a dual-drum dryer, a dual-drum washer-dryer, etc., which include the first drum 2 and the second drum 3. In embodiments of the present invention, a dual-drum washer-dryer is taken as an example. The dual-drum washer-dryer includes the cabinet 1, and a dimension of the cabinet 1 is same as a dimension of a conventional single-drum laundry apparatus. For example, a width of the cabinet 1 may range from 550mm to 650mm, a height of the cabinet 1 may range from 800mm to 900mm, and a depth of the cabinet 1 may range from 500mm to 700mm. A dimension of the first drum 2 may be different from a dimension of the second drum 3. For example, an outer diameter of the first drum 2 may be larger than an outer diameter of the second drum 3, and a ratio of the outer diameter of the first drum 2 to the outer diameter of the second drum 3 may range from 2.8 to 3.1. For instance, the outer diameter of the first drum 2 may range from 530mm to 543mm, and the outer diameter of the second drum 3 may range from 175mm to 185mm, which allows laundry to be separated by two drums with different sizes. The outer diameter of the first drum 2 may refer to an outer diameter of a first outer tub of the first drum 2, and the outer diameter of the second drum 3 may refer to an outer diameter of a second outer tub of the second drum 3. Additionally, the first drum 2 further includes a first inner drum for washing or drying laundry, etc., and the second drum 3 further includes a second inner drum for washing or drying laundry, etc. In embodiments of the present invention, the mentioned front-rear direction, a left-right direction, and an up-down direction are defined in a usage state of the laundry treating apparatus.

[0031] The dual-drum washer-dryer provided in this embodiment, in addition to the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 mentioned above, further includes components such as a drying device, a power motor, a drainage and exhaust pipe, a control box, etc. The drying device, the power motor, the drainage and exhaust pipe, and the control box mentioned above may all use conventional devices, the specific structures of which are not elaborated in the present invention.

[0032] To reasonably utilize a space in the cabinet 1, the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 are arranged within the cabinet 1. In some embodiments, the second drum 3 is located obliquely below the first drum 2. As shown in FIG. 1, the first drum 2 is located in the middle of the cabinet 1. A lower portion of the first drum 2 refers to a portion of the first drum 2 below a second plane S passing through the first rotation center line M and parallel to the left-right direction. The second drum 3 may be located at a lower left of the first drum 2. The first drum 2 and the second drum 3 are arranged in a staggered manner in a first plane P, and the first plane P is a plane passing through the first rotation center line M and parallel to the up-down direction, which allows the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 to reasonably utilize the space in the cabinet 1, and enables the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 to be arranged with the largest possible diameters in the cabinet 1, so that the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 may accommodate and carry more laundry, thus improving an efficiency of laundry treatment. At the same time, the second drum 3 is located at the lower left of the first drum 2, which also facilitates loading and unloading of laundry from the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 simultaneously. When laundry needs to be loaded into the first drum 2 and the second drum 3, a user places the sorted laundry into the corresponding first drum 2 and second drum 3 in sequence. Due to the size limitation of the laundry treating apparatus, it is usually necessary to bend down to place laundry into the first drum 2 and the second drum 3. The upwardly inclined second drum 3 is more adaptable to a naturally drooping arm, and laundry may be placed into the second drum 3 without excessive bending of the arm. Similarly, when laundry needs to be unloaded from the first drum 2 and the second drum 3, a user bends down to open a first front door corresponding to the first drum 2 and remove the laundry from the first drum 2. At this time, a second front door corresponding to the second drum 3 may also be opened, and the user's arm may reach into the second drum 3 along an inclined direction with a small bending angle to remove the laundry.

[0033] To facilitate the arrangement of the second drum 3 within the cabinet 1, in some embodiments, an included angle A 1 between the second rotation center line N and the first rotation center line M in the first plane P ranges from 0° to 15°, and the first plane P is a plane passing through the first rotation center line M and parallel to the up-down direction. Thus, by setting the above-mentioned included angle A 1 between the second rotation center line N of the second drum 3 and the first rotation center line M in the first plane P, an upward inclination angle of the second drum 3 may be limited. Additionally, to further define a specific position of the second drum 3 in the cabinet 1, in some embodiments, a distance H 1 between an upper edge of an opening of the second drum 3 and a bottom panel of the cabinet 1 ranges from 200 mm to 300 mm.

[0034] It may be understood that the above-mentioned arrangement of the second drum 3 at the lower left of the first drum 2 is illustrative. In other embodiments, the second drum 3 may also be arranged at a lower right of or directly below the first drum 2. Furthermore, the second drum 3 may also be arranged above the first drum 2, and the term "above" may include upper-left above, upper-right above, or directly above. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the second drum 3 may also be arranged at the upper left of the first drum 2. An included angle A 2 between the second rotation center line N of the second drum 3 and the first rotation center line M in a first plane P ranges from 0° to 15°, and the first plane P is a plane passing through the first rotation center line M and parallel to the up-down direction, and / or a height H 2 between a lower edge of the opening of the second drum 3 and a top panel of the cabinet 1 ranges from 200 mm to 300 mm. The lower edge of the opening of the second drum 3 may be specifically referred to FIG. 5. Thus, by limiting the included angle A 2 between the second rotation center line N of the second drum 3 and the first rotation center line M in the first plane P and the height H 2 between the lower edge of the opening of the second drum 3 and the top panel of the cabinet 1, a specific position of the second drum 3 in the cabinet 1 may be further defined.

[0035] To further utilize the space in the cabinet 1 and enable the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 to be arranged within the cabinet 1 with relatively large dimensions, in some embodiments, a projection of the first drum 2 in the first plane P and a projection of the second drum 3 in the first plane P at least partially overlap. In this way, the projection of the first drum 2 in the first plane P and the projection of the second drum 3 in the first plane P are partially overlapped, so that a gap between the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 is smaller. This allows the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 to be arranged in the cabinet 1 with larger dimensions, so that the first drum 2 and the second drum 3 may accommodate and carry more laundry, thus improving the efficiency of laundry treatment.

[0036] In some embodiments, the laundry treating apparatus further includes a door seal 6. The door seal 6 is arranged at a front panel of the cabinet 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the door seal 6 is configured to be fitted with the opening of the second drum 3. The door seal 6 is located at the lower left of the front panel of the cabinet 1. The door seal 6 may seal a gap between the second outer tub of the second drum 3 and the second front door, thus preventing water from leaking through the gap.

[0037] To further improve the sealing between the second drum 3 and the second front door, in some embodiments, in the first plane P, a width of a projection of an upper portion of the door seal 6 is greater than a width of a projection of a lower portion of the door seal 6, so that the door seal 6 may adapt to the second outer tub of the upwardly inclined second drum 3, and the gap between the second tub of the second drum 3 and the second front door may be sealed, thus preventing water from leaking through the gap.

[0038] In some embodiments, to facilitate the installation of the second drum 3 in the cabinet 1 and the arrangement of the door seal 6 at the front panel, the front panel of the cabinet 1 includes an inclined portion 11. The inclined portion 11 has an opening fitted with the second drum 3. A projection of the inclined portion 11 in the first plane P is inclined forward from top to bottom, i.e., in the up-to-down direction. Thereby, the arrangement of the inclined portion 11 may adapt to the installation of the upwardly inclined second drum 3 and the door seal 6 fitted with the opening of the second drum 3, thus achieving a sealed fit between the upwardly inclined second drum 3 and the second front door via the door seal 6. Furthermore, to facilitate the formation of the inclined portion 11 at the cabinet 1 and the installation of the door seal 6, the second rotation center line N is perpendicular to an inclined plane where the inclined portion 11 is located.

[0039] In some embodiments, the inclined portion 11 may be arranged at a portion of the front panel of the cabinet 1 in the left-right direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the inclined portion 11 may be a portion of the front panel located at a lower left of the cabinet 1 and covering the opening of the second drum 3. Thereby, by providing the inclined portion 11 at the front panel and covering a partial area of the opening of the second drum 3 through the inclined portion 11, it is convenient for the second drum 3 to be arranged at the inclined portion 11 and the door seal 6 to be installed at the inclined portion 11, so that the opening of the second drum 3 may achieve a sealed fit with the second front door via the door seal 6. In other embodiments, to facilitate the manufacturing and formation of the inclined portion 11 at the cabinet 1, the inclined portion 11 may also be arranged at the front panel of the cabinet 1 and extend from a left edge of the front panel to a right edge of the front panel. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the inclined portion 11 is located at a lower portion of the cabinet 1 and extends from the left edge of the front panel to the right edge of the front panel, and covers the entire lower portion of the cabinet 1. Thereby, during a stamping process of the front panel, a lower portion of the front panel of the cabinet 1 is entirely formed from left to right to form the inclined portion 11.

[0040] In some embodiments, to maintain stable operation of the second drum 3 of the laundry treating apparatus during operation, the laundry treating apparatus further includes a damper 4. The damper 4 is located between the second drum 3 and the bottom panel of the cabinet 1. A top end of the damper 4 is connected to the second drum 3, and a bottom end of the damper 4 is connected to the bottom panel of the cabinet 1. Thereby, when the second drum 3 is working, the arrangement of the damper 4 may better absorb vibration energy, thus providing buffering and noise reduction for the second drum 3 and maintaining stable operation of the second drum 3.

[0041] To facilitate the installation of the damper 4, in some embodiments, the laundry treating apparatus further includes a supporting plate 5. The supporting plate 5 is located between the damper 4 and the bottom panel of the cabinet 1. The supporting plate 5 is fixedly connected to the cabinet 1. For example, a plurality of installation points may be provided at an outer edge of the supporting plate 5, and a plurality of fitting points corresponding to the plurality of installation points are provided at an inner side wall of the cabinet 1. Fasteners pass through the corresponding installation points and the fitting points to fixedly connect the supporting plate 5 to the inner side wall of the cabinet 1. The damper 4 is arranged on the supporting plate 5. It may be understood that the structure for fixedly connecting the supporting plate 5 and the inner side wall of the cabinet 1 is illustrative. In other embodiments, other structures may also be possible. For example, the supporting plate 5 may also be fixedly connected to the inner side wall of the cabinet 1 by welding.

[0042] To enhance the buffering and noise reduction effect on the second drum 3, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, a plurality of dampers 4 are provided. The plurality of dampers 4 are located at two sides of the second drum 3 in the left-right direction respectively, and the dampers 4 of the plurality of dampers 4 located at the same side of the second drum 3 are arranged at distances from each other along the front-rear direction. Thereby, the arrangement of the plurality of the dampers 4 may provide buffering and noise reduction for the second drum 3 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, so that the second drum 3 runs more stable during operation. In some embodiments, the plurality of the dampers 4 include two first dampers 41 and two second dampers 42 located in front of the two first dampers 41. The two first dampers 41 are located at the two sides of the second drum 3 in the left-right direction respectively. The two second dampers 42 are located at the two sides of the second drum 3 in the left-right direction respectively. A height of each of the two second dampers 42 is greater than a height of each of the two first dampers 41, so that the first dampers 41 and the second dampers 42 may adapt to the upwardly inclined arrangement of the second drum 3. Thereby, buffering and noise reduction are provided for the second drum 3 in the left-right direction and the front-rear direction, so that the second drum 3 runs more stable during operation.

[0043] Example embodiments of the present invention are described in detail above with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific details in the above embodiments, a variety of simple variants of the technical solution of the present invention may be made within the scope of the technical conception of the present invention, and these simple variants all fall within the protection scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0044] In addition, it should be noted that the specific technical features described in the specific embodiments, without contradiction, may be combined in any appropriate way, and in order to avoid unnecessary repetition, the various possible combinations are not separately stated in the present invention.

[0045] In addition, various embodiments of the present invention may be arbitrarily combined, and as long as they do not contradict the idea of the present invention, they shall also be regarded as the content disclosed in the present invention.

Claims

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising: a cabinet (1), a first drum (2) and a second drum (3), wherein the first drum (2) and the second drum (3) are located within the cabinet (1) and arranged at distances from each other, a diameter of the first drum (2) is greater than a diameter of the second drum (3), a first rotation center line (M) of the first drum (2) is parallel to a front-rear direction, and in the front-rear direction, a second rotation center line (N) of the second drum (3) is inclined upward from a rear portion of the laundry treating apparatus toward a front portion of the laundry treating apparatus.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second drum (3) is located obliquely below the first drum (2).

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a distance (H1) between an upper edge of an opening of the second drum (3) and a bottom panel of the cabinet (1) ranges from 200 mm to 300 mm.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second drum (3) is located obliquely above the first drum (2).

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a distance (H2) between a lower edge of an opening of the second drum (3) and a top panel of the cabinet (1) ranges from 200 mm to 300 mm.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an included angle (A1, A2) between the second rotation center line (N) and the first rotation center line (M) in a first plane (P) ranges from 0° to 15°, wherein the first plane (P) is a plane passing through the first rotation center line (M) and parallel to an up-down direction.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a projection of the first drum (2) in the first plane (P) and a projection of the second drum (3) in the first plane (P) at least partially overlap.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein a front panel of the cabinet (1) comprises an inclined portion (11), and the inclined portion (11) has an opening fitted with the second drum (3), wherein a projection of the inclined portion (11) in the first plane (P) is gradually inclined forward from top to bottom.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the second rotation center line (N) is perpendicular to an inclined plane where the inclined portion (11) is located.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the inclined portion (11) is arranged at a portion of the front panel of the cabinet (1) in a left-right direction; or wherein the inclined portion (11) is arranged at the front panel of the cabinet (1) and extends from a left edge of the front panel to a right edge of the front panel.

11. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a door seal (6), wherein the door seal (6) is arranged at a front panel of the cabinet (1) and is configured to be fitted with an opening of the second drum (3).

12. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 11 when depending on claim 6, wherein a width of a projection of an upper portion of the door seal (6) in the first plane (P) is greater than a width of a projection of a lower portion of the door seal (6) in the first plane (P).

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a damper (4) located between the second drum (3) and a bottom panel of the cabinet (1).

14. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13, further comprising a supporting plate (5), wherein the supporting plate (5) is located between the damper (4) and the bottom panel of the cabinet (1) and is configured to support the damper (4).

15. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13 or 14, wherein a plurality of dampers (4) are arranged at two sides of the second drum (3) in a left-right direction respectively, and the dampers (4) of the plurality of dampers (4) at the same side of the second drum (3) are arranged at distances from each other along the front-rear direction.

16. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the plurality of dampers (4) comprise two first dampers (41) and two second dampers (42) located in front of the two first dampers (41), the two first dampers (41) are located at the two sides of the second drum (3) in the left-right direction respectively, the two second dampers (42) are located at the two sides of the second drum (3) in the left-right direction respectively, and a height of each of the two second dampers is greater than a height of each of the two first dampers (41).

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