Clothing treatment device

Abstract

To provide a clothing treatment device including a drive part which decelerates the rotational speed of a rotor and transmits it to a drum, and in which the rotation center of the rotor and the rotation center of the drum form a concentric axis.SOLUTION: A clothing treatment device includes: a cabinet including a base panel, a supporting panel and a fixing panel; a drum including a drum body, a front cover, a rear cover and a drum input port penetrating the front cover, and positioned inside the cabinet; a supporting panel penetration hole for penetrating the supporting panel and communicating with the drum input port; a drum connection body provided at the supporting panel, and for connecting the supporting panel penetration hole to the drum input port; a drive part including a stator, a rotor and a power transmission part for transmitting the rotational motion of the rotor to the drum; a front first supporting part for setting a range in which the drum input port can move along the width direction of a supporting body and a range in which the drum input port can move toward the base panel; and a front second supporting part for setting a range in which the drum input port can move in the direction of being separated from the base panel.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a laundry treatment device. [Background technology]

[0002] A clothes processing device is a general term for washing machines that wash clothes (items to be washed or dried), dryers that dry clothes, and devices that both wash and dry clothes.

[0003] Generally, a washing machine includes a tub in which water is stored, a washing drum that is installed inside the tub and in which clothes are stored, and a drive unit (washing drive unit) that rotates the washing drum, while a dryer includes a drying drum in which clothes are stored, a drive unit (drying drive unit) that rotates the drying drum, and a heat exchange unit that supplies air to the drying drum to remove moisture from the clothes.

[0004] Generally, the washing drive unit includes a stator that is fixed to the tub and forms a rotating magnetic field, a rotor that rotates due to the rotating magnetic field, and a rotating shaft that passes through the tub and connects the washing drum and the rotor, while the drying drive unit includes a motor, a pulley that is fixed to the rotating shaft of the motor, and a belt (power transmission unit) that connects the rotational motion of the pulley to the drying drum.

[0005] The washing drive unit connects the washing drum and the rotor with the rotating shaft of the motor. In order to wash and spin the clothes, the washing drive unit needs to control the washing drum's rotation speed or change the direction of rotation of the washing drum. If the motor's rotating shaft directly connects the washing drum and the rotor, the washing drum's rotation speed and direction can be easily controlled.

[0006] Meanwhile, conventional dryer drive units generally have a structure in which a power transmission unit such as a belt connects the dryer drum to the rotating shaft of a motor. This is because there is little need to maintain a high rotation speed of the dryer drum or to change the rotation direction of the dryer drum in a dryer, so the dryer drum can be rotated by a power transmission unit such as a belt. However, if the rotation speed and rotation direction of the dryer drum can be changed, the movement of clothes inside the dryer drum can be controlled, and this is expected to shorten the drying time and improve the drying performance of the dryer.

[0007] Conventionally, there has been a washing machine equipped with a drive unit (reduction gear and motor) that reduces the rotation speed of the rotor and transmits it to the drum (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2004-0071426). In conventional washing machines equipped with a reduction gear and motor, the stator of the motor and the reduction gear are fixed to the tub, respectively. That is, the stator in the conventional washing machine is not directly fixed to the reduction gear, but is fixed to the tub (a structure in which the vibration amplitude of the stator and the vibration amplitude of the reduction gear may differ). With a drive unit of the above structure, it is not easy to maintain the concentricity of the input shaft connected to the rotor and the output shaft connected to the drum, and to maintain the distance between the stator and the rotor, when the tub and drum vibrate.

[0008] In addition, some conventional clothing processing devices capable of drying clothes are equipped with a supply flow path that supplies air to the drum, but the conventional supply flow path cannot supply air evenly inside the drum, and is designed to concentrate and discharge air into a certain area of ​​the drum.

[0009] A conventional dryer (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2018-0106034), in which a power transmission part such as a belt connects the cylindrical surface of the drying drum to the rotating shaft of the motor, includes a cylindrical drum body with open front and rear sides, a first support part that rotatably supports the front surface of the drum body, a second support part that rotatably supports the rear surface of the drum body, and a belt that connects the cylindrical surface of the drum body to the rotating shaft of the motor.

[0010] In this type of dryer, the belt rotates the drum body by the motor, but in order for the belt to rotate the drum body without slipping, a large tension is required for the belt. A belt with a large tension can minimize slippage when the motor rotates, but has the disadvantage that the drum body is deformed by the tension of the belt during rotation. If the drum body is deformed by the belt, clothes inside the drum body may become caught in the space formed between the first support part and the front surface of the drum body, or the space formed between the second support part and the rear surface of the drum body.

[0011] As a result, the motor must output high torque to rotate the drum body without the belt slipping and to keep the drum body rotating when clothes are trapped in the space between the support and the drum body.

[0012] Meanwhile, there is a conventional dryer that includes a hollow cylindrical drum body, a front cover that forms the front surface of the drum body, a rear cover that forms the rear surface of the drum body, a rotating shaft that rotatably fixes the rear cover to the rear surface of the cabinet, and a belt that connects the cylindrical surface of the drum body to the rotating shaft of the motor. In a dryer with this structure, the drum body does not deform when the drum rotates, so there is no problem of clothes interfering with the rotation of the drum, but there is a disadvantage that a motor that outputs high torque is still required to control the drum rotation speed at a high speed or to quickly change the rotation direction of the drum. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0013] The problem to be solved by this application is to provide a clothing treatment device having a drive unit that reduces the rotational speed of the rotor and transmits it to the drum, and in which the rotation center of the rotor and the rotation center of the drum form a concentric axis.

[0014] Another object of the present application is to provide a clothes treating device that minimizes the volume of the drive unit.

[0015] Another object of the present application is to provide a clothes treating device that minimizes the concentration of air flow supplied to the drum in a certain area of ​​the drum (reducing drying time).

[0016] Another object of the present application is to provide a clothing treatment device having a cooling passage for cooling the stator.

[0017] Another problem to be solved by this application is to provide a clothing treatment device that not only minimizes deformation of the drum during rotation, but also allows easy change of the drum rotation speed and rotation direction even with a low-torque drive unit.

[0018] Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treating device that minimizes vibrations of the drum in the front and rear directions.

[0019] Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment device that minimizes vertical vibration of the drum.

[0020] The technical problems obtained by the present invention are not limited to the above-mentioned technical problems. In addition, other technical problems not mentioned can be clearly understood by a person skilled in the art to which the present invention belongs from the following description. [Means for solving the problem]

[0021] Further advantages, objects, and features of various embodiments of the present invention are set forth in the disclosure and accompanying drawings herein, and such aspects can be understood by those skilled in the art based on the disclosure of this specification.

[0022] In order to provide a clothing treatment device which not only minimizes deformation of the drum during rotation, but also allows easy change of the drum rotation speed and direction even with a low-torque drive unit, this application provides a cabinet having a base panel, and a support panel and a fixed panel which are fixed to the base panel and positioned opposite each other, a cylindrical drum body having an open front and rear sides, a front cover which is fixed to the front side of the drum body, a rear cover which is fixed to the rear side of the drum body, and a drum which is positioned within the cabinet and has a drum input port which penetrates the front cover, a support panel through hole which penetrates the support panel and communicates with the drum input port, The present invention provides a clothing processing device that includes a drum connecting body provided on a support panel and connecting the support panel through hole to a drum input port, a stator that forms a rotating magnetic field, a rotor that rotates due to the rotating magnetic field, and a drive unit that is fixed to a fixed panel and transmits the rotational motion of the rotor to the drum, a front first support portion provided on either the base panel or the support panel and that sets the range in which the drum input port can move along the width direction of the support body and the range in which the drum input port can move toward the base panel, and a front second support portion provided on the support panel and that sets the range in which the drum input port can move away from the base panel.

[0023] The front first support part supports an area on the circumferential surface of the front cover that is below a horizontal line passing through the center of rotation of the drum or an area on the circumferential surface of the drum body that is below the horizontal line, and the front second support part supports an area on the circumferential surface of the front cover that is above the horizontal line or an area on the circumferential surface of the drum body that is above the horizontal line.

[0024] The front second support portion includes a front support frame fixed to the support panel, and a support damper fixed to the front support frame and in contact with the circumferential surface of the front cover.

[0025] The front second support portion includes a front support frame fixed to the support panel, and a support damper fixed to the front support frame and spaced apart from the circumferential surface of the front cover.

[0026] The support damper includes a first damper fixed to the front support frame, and a second damper fixed to the first damper and made of a material having an elastic modulus different from that of the first damper.

[0027] The second damper is made of felt and the first damper is made of rubber.

[0028] The garment treatment device further includes a connecting damper formed in a ring shape, fixed to the free end of the drum connecting body, and connecting the free end of the drum connecting body and the edge of the drum inlet.

[0029] The connecting damper is made of felt.

[0030] The front second support portion includes a front support frame fixed to the support panel, and a front roller rotatably fixed to the front support frame and having a circumferential surface in contact with the circumferential surface of the front cover.

[0031] The front second support portion includes a front support frame fixed to the support panel, and a front roller rotatably fixed to the front support frame and having a circumferential surface spaced apart from the circumferential surface of the front cover.

[0032] The front first support portion includes a first roller and a second roller rotatably fixed to the support panel, the first roller and the second roller being disposed symmetrically with respect to a vertical line passing through the center of rotation of the drum.

[0033] The angle between a line connecting the center of rotation of the first roller and the center of the front second support part and a line connecting the center of rotation of the second roller and the center of the front second support part is set to 30° to 50°.

[0034] This application provides a clothing treatment device including a cabinet having a base panel, and a support panel and a fixed panel fixed to the base panel and positioned opposite each other; a cylindrical drum body with open front and rear faces; a front cover fixed to the front face of the drum body, a rear cover fixed to the rear face of the drum body, and a drum having a drum input port penetrating the front cover; a support panel through hole penetrating the support panel and communicating with the drum input port; a drum connecting body provided in the support panel and connecting the support panel through hole to the drum input port; a drive unit including a stator that forms a rotating magnetic field, a rotor that rotates due to the rotating magnetic field, and a power transmission unit fixed to the fixed panel and transmitting the rotational motion of the rotor to the drum; and a rear support unit provided on either the base panel or the fixed panel and setting either a range within which the rear cover can move toward the fixed panel or a range within which the rear cover can move toward the base panel.

[0035] This application provides a clothing treatment device including a cabinet having a base panel, and a support panel and a fixed panel fixed to the base panel and positioned opposite each other; a cylindrical drum body with open front and rear faces; a front cover fixed to the front face of the drum body, a rear cover fixed to the rear face of the drum body, and a drum having a drum input port penetrating the front cover; a support panel through hole penetrating the support panel and communicating with the drum input port; a drum connecting body provided in the support panel and connecting the support panel through hole to the drum input port; a drive unit including a stator that forms a rotating magnetic field, a rotor that rotates due to the rotating magnetic field, and a power transmission unit fixed to the fixed panel and transmitting the rotational motion of the rotor to the drum; a front support part provided on either the base panel or the support panel and supporting the drum for free rotation; and a rear support part provided on either the base panel or the fixed panel and setting either a range within which the rear cover can move toward the fixed panel or a range within which the rear cover can move toward the base panel.

[0036] The rear support portion includes a rear support frame fixed to the base panel or the fixed panel, a first sheet surface fixed to the rear support frame and positioned in the space between the rear cover and the fixed panel to set a range within which the rear cover can move toward the fixed panel, and a second sheet surface fixed to the rear support frame and positioned in the space between the rear cover and the base panel to set a range within which the rear cover can move toward the base panel.

[0037] The first sheet surface and the second sheet surface are located in contact with the rear cover or spaced apart from the rear cover.

[0038] The rear support includes a rear support frame secured to the base panel or stationary panel, and a rear roller rotatably secured to the rear support frame.

[0039] The garment processing device further includes a roller receiving groove in which the rear cover is formed with a ring-shaped groove curved toward the front cover and which provides a space for receiving the circumferential surface of the rear roller.

[0040] Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, as preferred embodiments of the present invention, are merely illustrative, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Effect of the Invention

[0041] Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention provide various advantages and / or features, such as:

[0042] According to this application, a clothing processing device can be provided that has a drive unit that reduces the rotational speed of the rotor and transmits it to the drum, and in which the rotation center of the rotor and the rotation center of the drum form a concentric axis.

[0043] Furthermore, according to this application, it is possible to provide a clothes treating device that minimizes the volume of the drive unit.

[0044] In addition, according to this application, it is possible to provide a clothes treating device that minimizes the concentration of the air flow supplied to the drum in a certain area of ​​the drum (reducing drying time).

[0045] Furthermore, according to this application, a clothing processing device can be provided that is provided with a cooling passage for cooling the stator.

[0046] In addition, this application makes it possible to provide a clothing treatment device that not only minimizes deformation of the drum during rotation, but also makes it easy to change the drum rotation speed and rotation direction even with a low-torque drive unit.

[0047] Furthermore, according to this application, it is possible to provide a clothes treating device that minimizes vibration of the drum in the front-to-back direction.

[0048] Furthermore, according to this application, it is possible to provide a clothes treating device that minimizes vertical vibration of the drum.

[0049] It should be noted that the effects obtained by the present disclosure are not limited to the above effects. In addition, other effects not mentioned will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which the present disclosure pertains from the following description. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0050] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a clothing processing device. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a clothing processing device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a drive unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a power transmission section. [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a power transmission section. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a power transmission section. [Figure 7] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a supply unit. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a cooling channel. [Figure 9]FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an embodiment of a power transmission section. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a support panel. [Figure 11] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a front support part. [Figure 12] 13A and 13B are diagrams illustrating an example of a front support part. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of a rear support portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0051] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The control methods of the elements or devices described below are only for illustrating the embodiments of the present disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Whenever possible, the same reference numbers are used in all drawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

[0052] FIG. 1 shows an example of a clothing processing device 100, which includes a cabinet 1, a drum 2 that is rotatably mounted within the cabinet to provide a space for storing clothing (items to be washed or dried), a supply unit 3 that supplies high-temperature dry air (air that is at a temperature higher than room temperature and has a higher dryness than the dryness of indoor air) to the drum 2 to remove moisture from the clothing, and a drive unit (D) that rotates the drum.

[0053] The cabinet 1 includes a front panel 11 forming the front surface of the laundry treatment device, and a base panel 17 forming the bottom surface of the laundry treatment device. The front panel 11 is provided with an input port 111 communicating with the drum 2, and the input port 111 is closed by a door 113.

[0054] The front panel 11 is provided with a control panel 115, which includes an input unit 116 for inputting a user's control command and a display unit 117 for outputting information such as a user-selectable control command. The input unit 116 includes a power supply request unit for requesting power supply to the clothing processing device, a course input unit for allowing the user to select a desired course from a number of courses, and an execution request unit for requesting the start of the course selected by the user.

[0055] The drum 2 is a hollow cylinder. Figure 1 shows, as an example, a case in which the drum 2 is made up of a cylindrical drum body 21 with an open front and rear faces, a front cover 22 that forms the front face of the drum body 21, and a rear cover 23 that forms the rear face of the drum body 21. The front cover 22 is provided with a drum insertion port 221 that connects the inside and outside of the drum body 21.

[0056] The drum body 21 further includes a lifter 26. The lifter 26 is provided by a board extending from the front cover 22 toward the rear cover 23 and protruding from the drum body 21 toward the rotation center of the drum 2 (from the cylindrical surface of the drum toward the rotation center of the drum).

[0057] When the laundry treatment device 100 is a device for drying laundry only, the drum 2 does not need to have a drum through-hole that passes through the drum body 21 to communicate between the inside and the outside of the drum.

[0058] The drum 2 is rotatably fixed to either the first body support part 12 or the second body support part 15. FIG. 1 shows, as an example, a case in which the rear cover 23 is rotatably fixed to the second body support part 15 via a drive part (D) and the front cover 22 is rotatably connected to the first body support part 12.

[0059] The body first support part 12 is fixed to the cabinet 1 and is composed of a support panel 121 located between the front panel 11 and the front cover 22. Fig. 1 shows, as an example, a case in which the support panel 121 is fixed to the base panel 17 and located between the front panel 11 and the front cover 22. In this case, the rear surface of the front panel 11 (the surface facing the support panel) is fixed to the support panel 121, and the lower end is fixed to the base panel 17.

[0060] The support panel 121 includes a support panel through hole 122, a drum connecting body 123 that connects the support panel through hole 122 and the drum input port 221, and a panel connecting body 126 that connects the support panel through hole 122 and the input port 111. The support panel through hole 122 is a means that penetrates the support panel 121 and connects the input port 111 and the drum input port 221.

[0061] The drum connecting body 123 is a pipe fixed to the rear surface of the support panel 121 (the surface facing the drum input port in the space provided by the support panel). One end of the drum connecting body 123 surrounds the support panel through hole 122, and the free end of the drum connecting body 123 supports the front cover 22. That is, the free end of the drum connecting body 123 is inserted into the drum input port 221 or is provided to contact the free end of the front cover 22 that forms the drum input port 221.

[0062] 1 shows an example in which the free end of the drum connecting body 123 contacts the free end of the front cover 22. In this case, a link-shaped damper 124 (connecting damper) is provided on the drum connecting body 123. The connecting damper 124 is a means for minimizing the risk of the drum inlet 221 being separated from the drum connecting body 123 (risk of air inside the drum leaking into the cabinet) when the drum 2 rotates or vibrates.

[0063] The connection damper 124 is made of a compressible material (a material whose volume can be increased or decreased by an external force). In this case, the connection damper 124 maintains a compressed state between the free end of the drum connection body 123 and the edge of the drum inlet 221 (the free end of the front cover) (the compressed state is maintained by a rear support part described later). When the drum 2 vibrates between the support panel 121 and the fixed panel 151, this is intended to minimize the separation of the drum inlet 221 from the drum connection body 123. One example of the connection damper 124 is felt made by compressing fibers.

[0064] The panel connecting body 126 is composed of a pipe fixed to the front surface of the support panel 121 (the surface facing the front panel in the space provided by the support panel). One end of the panel connecting body 126 surrounds the support panel through hole 122, and the other end of the panel connecting body 126 is connected to the input port 111. Therefore, clothes supplied to the input port 111 move to the drum body 21 via the panel connecting body 126, the support panel through hole 122, the drum connecting body 123, and the drum input port 221.

[0065] The second body support part 15 is composed of a fixed panel 151 fixed to the cabinet 1 so as to be located at a distance from the rear cover 23. In FIG. 1, as an example, the fixed panel 151 is fixed to the base panel 17 to form the rear surface of the clothing processing device 100 (the rear surface of the cabinet).

[0066] 2, the fixed panel 151 is provided with a drive unit mounting groove 153 that provides a space for mounting the drive unit (D). The drive unit mounting groove 153 is a groove formed by the fixed panel 151 curving concavely toward the rear cover 23 of the drum. The fixed panel 151 is provided with a fixed panel through hole 155 through which the rotation shaft of the drum 2 passes, and the fixed panel through hole 155 is located within the drive unit mounting groove 153.

[0067] As described above, when the drum 2 is composed of the drum body 21, the front cover 22 fixed to the drum body, and the rear cover 23 fixed to the drum body, the drum has higher strength than a structure in which the open front and rear faces of the drum body 21 are rotatably connected to the support panel 121 and the fixed panel 151, respectively. When the drum has higher strength, deformation of the drum body 21 during rotation of the drum can be minimized, and thus the problem of clothes being caught in the space between the drum body and the support panel and the space between the drum body and the fixed panel when the drum body 21 deforms can be minimized (the load on the drive unit can be minimized).

[0068] A drum exhaust port (first exhaust port) 128 is provided in the support panel 121, and a panel exhaust port (second exhaust port) 157 and a supply port 158 ​​are provided in the fixed panel 151. The first exhaust port 128 is a hole penetrating the panel connecting body 126.

[0069] The supply port 158 ​​is arranged such that a number of through holes penetrating the fixed panel 151 surround the drive unit mounting groove 153 (the multiple through holes form a link surrounding the drive unit mounting groove).

[0070] 1, the supply unit 3 includes an exhaust duct 31 connecting the first exhaust port 128 and the second exhaust port 157, a supply duct 32 directing air discharged to the second exhaust port 157 to the supply port 158, and a heat exchanger 34 provided in the exhaust duct to sequentially dehumidify and heat the air. The first exhaust port 128 is provided with a filter 129 for filtering air moving from the drum 2 to the exhaust duct 31.

[0071] The exhaust duct 31 includes a first duct 311 connected to the first exhaust port 128, a second duct 312 connected to the second exhaust port 157, and a third duct 313 connecting the first duct 311 and the second duct 312. The third duct 313 is fixed to the base panel 17.

[0072] The heat exchanger 34 is made up of various devices that sequentially dehumidify and heat the air that flows into the exhaust duct 31. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the heat exchanger 34 is made up of a heat pump and a fan 349.

[0073] 1 includes a first heat exchanger (heat absorption part) 341 that removes moisture from the air that has flowed into the exhaust duct 31, a second heat exchanger (heat generation part) 343 that is provided in the exhaust duct 31 and heats the air that has passed through the heat absorption part 341, and a fan 359 through which the air discharged from the drum 2 passes through the heat absorption part and the heat generation part in this order and then moves to the supply duct 32. In FIG. 1, as an example, the case where the fan 349 is located between the heat generation part 343 and the second duct 312 is shown.

[0074] The heat absorbing part 341 and the heat generating part 343 are arranged in order along the direction of air movement, and are connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe 348 that forms a circulation path for the refrigerant. The refrigerant moves along the refrigerant pipe 348 by a compressor 345 located outside the exhaust duct 31, and the refrigerant pipe 348 is provided with a pressure regulator 347 that regulates the pressure of the refrigerant moving from the heat generating part 343 to the heat absorbing part 341.

[0075] The heat absorption section 341 is a means for cooling the air (evaporating the refrigerant) by transferring the heat of the air that has flowed into the exhaust duct 31 to the refrigerant, and the heat generation section 343 is a means for heating the air (condensing the refrigerant) by transferring the heat possessed by the refrigerant that has passed through the compressor 345 to the air.

[0076] As shown in FIG. 2, the supply duct 32 is fixed to the fixed panel 151 and serves to guide the air discharged to the second exhaust port 157 to the supply port 158 ​​.

[0077] When the supply port 158 ​​is composed of a number of through holes arranged in a link shape, the supply duct 32 includes a duct body 321 fixed to the fixed panel 151 to form a flow passage connecting the second exhaust port 157 and the supply port 158, and a rotor accommodating portion 322 penetrating the duct body 321. The supply duct 32 including the duct body 321 and the rotor accommodating portion 322 forms a substantially link-shaped flow passage, and the driving part (D) fixed to the driving part mounting groove 153 is exposed to the outside of the supply duct 32 through the rotor accommodating portion 322.

[0078] An air inlet 233 penetrating the rear cover 23 is provided in the drum 2 so that air supplied into the cabinet 1 via the supply port 158 ​​can be supplied to the drum 2, and a flow path forming portion 159 is provided in the fixed panel 151 to guide the air discharged from the supply port 158 ​​to the air inlet 233.

[0079] The air inlet 233 is arranged such that a number of holes penetrating the rear cover 23 form a link surrounding the center of rotation of the drum 2. The flow path forming part 159 is made of a pipe having one end (the end fixed to the fixed panel) surrounding the supply port 158 ​​and the other end (the end in contact with the drum) surrounding the air inlet 233. In order to minimize the transmission of vibrations generated during rotation of the drum 2 to the fixed panel 151, the flow path forming part 159 is made of a material having high elasticity (such as rubber).

[0080] The radius of the link formed by the air inlet 233 (the inner diameter or outer diameter of the link) is set to be equal to or greater than half the radius of the rear cover 23. This allows the air moving into the drum through the air inlet 233 to move along the cylindrical surface of the drum.

[0081] As described above, when the air inlet 233 is provided and the supply section 3 is controlled to supply air when the drum rotates at a rotation speed that induces a centrifugal force of 1 G or more (when the clothes rotate in close contact with the cylindrical surface of the drum), the clothes processing device can shorten the drying time.

[0082] Unlike the illustration, the supply section 3 includes an exhaust duct connecting the first exhaust port 128 and the second exhaust port 157, a supply duct that supplies outside air (air inside the cabinet or air outside the cabinet) to the drum 2, and a heat exchange section that heats the air that flows into the supply duct.

[0083] In order to sense the dryness of the clothes placed in the drum 2, the clothes treatment device 100 is further provided with a sensor unit 13. The sensor unit 13 can measure the dryness by measuring the electrical resistance measured when the clothes come into contact with the clothes, by measuring the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 2, or by measuring the temperature of the refrigerant circulating along the refrigerant pipe 348.

[0084] 2 shows an example in which the sensing unit 13 is configured to measure the electrical resistance of the clothes. The sensing unit 13 shown in FIG. 2 comprises a first electrode 131 and a second electrode 133 fixed to the support panel 121. The first electrode 131 and the second electrode 133 are fixed to the support panel 121 and maintained spaced apart from each other. The first electrode 131 and the second electrode 133 are fixed in the space provided by the support panel 121 below a horizontal line passing through the center of the input port 111. In this case, the two electrodes 131 and 133 can easily come into contact with the clothes when the clothes are located below a horizontal line passing through the center of rotation of the drum 2 (when the clothes are located at the lowest point of the drum).

[0085] As the dryness of the clothes increases, the amount of moisture remaining in the clothes decreases, and therefore the higher the dryness, the smaller the current size detected by the sensor 13. Therefore, a control unit (not shown) can estimate the dryness of the clothes by monitoring the current size flowing through the sensor.

[0086] When the dryness of the clothes is low, the temperature of the air discharged from the drum 2 is low, and when the dryness is high, the temperature of the air discharged from the drum is high. Therefore, the sensor 13 is provided to sense the temperature of the air discharged from the drum. As shown in FIG. 1, the sensor 13 is composed of a temperature sensor 135 (air temperature sensor) provided in the exhaust duct 31.

[0087] Since the temperature of the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant pipe changes depending on the dryness of the clothes, the sensing unit 13 is made up of a temperature sensor that measures the temperature of the refrigerant moving along the refrigerant pipe (the temperature of the refrigerant moving from the heat absorbing unit to the compressor, or the temperature of the refrigerant moving from the compressor to the heat generating unit, etc.). In Fig. 1, as an example, the sensing unit 13 is shown to be made up of a temperature sensor 137 (refrigerant temperature sensor) that senses the temperature of the refrigerant moving from the compressor 345 to the heat generating unit 343.

[0088] The sensing unit 13 includes at least two of two electrodes 131 and 133 for measuring the electrical resistance of the clothes, a temperature sensor 135 for measuring the temperature of the air discharged from the drum, and a temperature sensor 137 for measuring the temperature of the refrigerant.

[0089] The driving unit (D) includes a motor 5 positioned in the driving unit mounting groove 153 and a power transmission unit 6 fixed to the fixed panel 151 for transmitting the power generated by the motor to the drum 2 .

[0090] In order to minimize deformation of the fixing panel 151 due to the weight of the driving unit (D) and external forces generated during operation of the driving unit (D), the driving unit mounting groove 153 is provided with a driving unit bracket 4 that provides a space to fix either the motor 5 or the power transmission unit 6. That is, the power transmission unit 6 is fixed to the driving unit bracket 4, and the motor 5 is fixed to either the power transmission unit 6 or the driving unit bracket 4. The driving unit bracket 4 is made of a link-shaped metal (metal having greater strength than the fixing panel) fixed to the driving unit mounting groove 153.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 5 includes a stator 51 that generates a rotating field, and a rotor 52 that rotates due to the rotating field.

[0092] The stator 51 includes a core 511 fixed to the drive unit bracket 4 or the power transmission unit 6, a core through hole 512 penetrating the core, and electromagnets 513 and coils arranged at equal intervals on the cylindrical surface of the core 511.

[0093] The rotor 52 includes a disk-shaped rotor body 52a, a pipe-shaped rotor cylindrical surface 52b fixed to the rotor body, and a number of permanent magnets 525 fixed to the rotor cylindrical surface 52b. The permanent magnets 525 are fixed to the rotor cylindrical surface 52b so that the north and south poles are alternately exposed.

[0094] The power transmission unit 6 is hollow cylindrical and includes a housing 61 fixed to the fixed panel 151, a link gear 62 fixed within the housing, a first shaft 63 (input shaft) having one end fixed to the rotor body 52a and the other end located within the housing 61, a main gear 631 fixed to the first shaft 63 and located within the housing 61, a driven gear 677 connecting the main gear 631 and the link gear 62, a cage 67 that rotates within the housing 61 by the driven gear, and a second shaft 65 (output shaft) having one end fixed to the rear cover 23 and the other end fixed to the cage 67.

[0095] In order to minimize the risk of deformation of the rotor body 52 a due to the first shaft 63 , the first shaft 63 is fixed to the rotor body 52 a via a fixing plate 524 .

[0096] It is preferable that the second shaft 65 is concentric with the first shaft 63. When the second shaft 65 and the first shaft 63 are concentric, vibrations generated in the power transmission unit 6 when the drum 2 rotates can be minimized.

[0097] It is preferable that the housing 61 is fixed to the fixed panel 151 via the drive unit bracket 4 and positioned in the core through hole 512. By positioning the housing 61 in the core through hole 512, the volume of the drive unit (D) can be minimized.

[0098] The housing 61 includes a cylindrical first housing 61a with an open surface facing the fixed panel 151, and a cylindrical second housing 61b with an open surface facing the first housing and connected to the first housing 61a to close the open surface of the first housing.

[0099] The first housing 61a is provided with a first shaft support portion 611 and a first shaft through hole 612 that penetrates the first shaft support portion 611. The first shaft 63 penetrates the first housing 61a by being inserted into the first shaft through hole 612, and the first shaft support portion 611 is provided with a first shaft bearing 613 that rotatably fixes the first shaft 63 to the first housing 61a.

[0100] As shown in FIG. 4, the first shaft support portion 611 is made of a pipe that protrudes from the first housing 61a toward the rotor body 52a, or made of a pipe that protrudes from the first housing 61a toward the second housing 61b.

[0101] When the first shaft support portion 611 consists of a pipe protruding from the first housing 61a toward the second housing 61b (a pipe protruding from the first housing toward the center of the housing), it has the effect of minimizing the volume of the housing 61 (the effect of minimizing the volume of the drive unit and the volume of the clothing processing device).

[0102] The second housing 61b is provided with a second shaft support portion 616 and a second shaft through hole 617 that penetrates the second shaft support portion 616. The second shaft 65 penetrates the second housing 61b through the second shaft through hole 617, and the second shaft support portion 616 is provided with a second shaft bearing 618 that rotatably fixes the second shaft 65 to the second housing 61b.

[0103] The second shaft support portion 616 is formed of a pipe that protrudes from the second housing 61b toward the fixed panel through-hole 155 (a pipe that protrudes toward the rear cover of the drum).

[0104] The first shaft bearing 613 includes a first shaft first bearing 613a and a first shaft second bearing 613b arranged along the longitudinal direction of the first shaft 63, and the second shaft bearing 618 includes a second shaft first bearing 618a and a second shaft second bearing 618b arranged along the longitudinal direction of the second shaft 65.

[0105] If the first shaft bearing and the second shaft bearing each consist of two or more bearings 613a, 613b, 618a, 618b, it is possible to minimize the misalignment of the first shaft 63 and the second shaft 65 when the rotor 52 rotates (it is possible to minimize the vibration generated in the driving part).

[0106] Since multiple bearings are arranged along the rotation shaft, the volume of the drive unit (D) equipped with multiple bearings is inevitably increased. Therefore, it is not easy to design multiple bearings to support the rotation shaft in a clothing processing device 100 having a cabinet 1 with a limited volume. However, the above-mentioned clothing processing device 100 minimizes the volume of the drive unit by using a structure in which the housing 61 is located in the core through-hole of the stator and a pipe structure in which the first shaft support part 611 protrudes toward the center of the housing, thereby making it possible to increase the number of bearings 613, 618.

[0107] In order to minimize the volume of the housing 61, the diameters of the first housing 61a and the second housing 61b are set to be different from each other. That is, the diameter of the first housing 61a is set to be smaller than the diameter of the second housing 61b or larger than the diameter of the second housing 61b.

[0108] The link gear 62 includes a link gear body, a link gear body through hole extending through the link gear body, and gear teeth provided along an inner cylindrical surface of the link gear body (the cylindrical surface defining the link gear body through hole).

[0109] The link gear 62 is fixed to the housing having a smaller diameter out of the first housing 61a and the second housing 61b. As shown in the figure, when the diameter of the first housing 61a is set to be smaller than the diameter of the second housing 61b, the link gear 62 is fixed to the cylindrical surface of the first housing 61a.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 3, the cage 67 includes a base 671 located within the housing 61 , a connecting shaft 675 that rotatably fixes a driven gear 677 to the base 671 , and a link-shaped base cover 673 fixed to one end of the connecting shaft 675 .

[0111] The second shaft 65 is inserted into the fixed panel through hole 155 to connect the base 671 and the rear cover 23 of the drum. In order to prevent the rear cover 23 from being damaged due to the rotation of the second shaft 65, the rear cover 23 is provided with a shaft bracket 651 to which one end of the second shaft 65 is fixed.

[0112] 2, in order to minimize an increase in the drum volume due to the axle bracket 651, the rear cover 23 is provided with an axle bracket mounting groove 231 to which the axle bracket 651 is fixed. The axle bracket mounting groove 231 is a groove that curves in the direction in which the rear cover 23 moves away from the fixed panel 151. The axle bracket mounting groove 231 is provided at the same position as the drive unit mounting groove 153, and it is preferable that the diameter of the axle bracket mounting groove 231 is larger than the diameter of the drive unit mounting groove 153. This is to minimize the risk of the rear cover 23 colliding with the drive unit mounting groove 153 when the drum 2 rotates.

[0113] The driven gear 677 is made up of multiple gears spaced apart at the same angle, but FIG. 3 shows, as an example, a case in which the driven gear 677 and the connecting shaft 675 are made up of three gears and shafts spaced apart by 120°.

[0114] Each driven gear 677 includes a first body 677a rotatably fixed to the base 671 via a connecting shaft 675, a first gear 677b provided on the cylindrical surface of the first body 677a and coupled to the driving gear 631, a second body 677c fixed to the first body 677a and having a diameter smaller than that of the first body, and a second gear 677d provided on the cylindrical surface of the second body 677c and coupled to the link gear 62.

[0115] 4, the driving gear 631 fixed to the free end of the first shaft 63 is located in the space formed between the driven gears so as to be connected to each of the first gears 677b. Also, the free end of the first shaft support part 611 is inserted into a base cover through hole 674 formed in the center of the base cover 673 and penetrates the base cover 673. This structure (the structure of the first shaft support part and the base cover) has the characteristic of minimizing the volume of the housing (minimizing the volume of the driving part).

[0116] In order to seal the fixed panel through-hole 155 (to prevent air supplied to the drum from leaking outside the cabinet), the driver bracket 4 or the fixed panel 151 is further provided with a sealing part 41. When the driver bracket 4 is in the form of a link surrounding the fixed panel through-hole 155 and the housing 61 is fixed to the driver bracket 4 so as to be positioned in the core through-hole 512, the sealing part 41 seals the space formed between the driver bracket 4 and the second housing 61b.

[0117] The driving unit (D) shown in Fig. 5 has the same structure as the driving unit (D) shown in Fig. 4, except that the stator 51 is fixed to the housing 61. That is, in the driving unit (D) of Fig. 4, the stator 51 is fixed to the fixed panel 151 via the driving unit bracket 4, whereas in the driving unit (D) of Fig. 5, the stator 51 is fixed to the fixed panel 151 via the housing 61 of the power transmission unit.

[0118] 3, when the stator 51 is fixed to the housing 61, the core 511 is provided with a core bracket 515, and the housing 61 is provided with a core mounting portion 619. The core 511 is fixed to the housing 61 via a core fastening portion 517 that fixes the core bracket 515 to the core mounting portion 619. The core mounting portion 619 is composed of a protrusion that protrudes in a direction away from the cylindrical surface of the second housing 61b along the diameter direction of the second housing 61b.

[0119] The operation of the driving part (D) having the above-mentioned structure will be described below. As shown in Fig. 6, when the rotor 52 rotates clockwise, the first shaft 63 and the main driving gear 631 also rotate clockwise.

[0120] When the driving gear 631 rotates clockwise, the driven gear 677 rotates counterclockwise by the first gear 677b. When the first gear 677b rotates counterclockwise, the second gear 677d also rotates counterclockwise. Since the link gear 62 is fixed to the fixed panel 15, when the second gear 677d rotates counterclockwise, the base 671 and the second shaft 65 rotate clockwise. Since the drum 2 and the base 671 are connected by the second shaft 65, the drum 2 rotates in the same direction as the rotor 52.

[0121] When the stator 51 is fixed to the housing 1, it is advantageous to maintain the concentricity of the first shaft 63 and the second shaft 65 and the distance between the stator and the rotor. Assume that the stator 51 is fixed to the fixed panel 151 instead of the housing 61. In this case, the vibration of the drum and the vibration of the fixed panel 151 are transmitted to the second shaft 65, and the vibration of the fixed panel 151 is transmitted to the first shaft 63. If the vibration amplitude of the drum 2 is different from that of the fixed panel 151, it becomes difficult to maintain the distance and concentricity between the first shaft and the second shaft, and the distance between the coil 513 of the stator and the permanent magnet 525 of the rotor at a desired level. However, when the stator 51 is fixed to the housing 61, the vibration transmitted from the outside to the first shaft and the second shaft is the same, so that the above-mentioned problem can be solved.

[0122] As shown, the diameter of the first gear 677b is set to be longer than the diameter of the main driving gear 631, and the diameter of the second gear 677d is set to be longer than the diameter of the main driving gear 631 but shorter than the diameter of the first gear 677b. Although not shown, the diameter of the second gear 677d may be set to be the same as the diameter of the main driving gear 631.

[0123] As described above, when the first gear, the second gear and the main driving gear are provided, the driving part (D) rotates the drum 2 at a rotation speed lower than the rotation speed of the rotor 52. That is, the driving part (D) also functions as a reducer.

[0124] As described above, a number of through holes 158a, 158b arranged in a linked manner are formed in the rear cover 23 of the drum. As shown in Fig. 7, the clothing processing device 100 is further provided with a flow path guide 324 for uniformly supplying the air discharged from the second exhaust port 157 to the through holes.

[0125] Since air moves in the direction of lower flow resistance, in the case of a clothing treatment device 100 not equipped with a flow guide 324, the amount of air flowing into the duct body 321 through the second exhaust port 157 tends to differ between the amount moving in the duct body 321 in the clockwise direction and the amount moving in the duct body 321 in the counterclockwise direction. For example, if the amount of air moving in the duct body 321 in the clockwise direction is greater than the amount of air moving in the duct body 321 in the counterclockwise direction, a large amount of air is supplied to the through hole 158a located to the left of the reference line (L), but a small amount of air is supplied to the through hole 158b located to the right of the reference line (L).

[0126] The above-mentioned imbalance in the amount of air supplied causes an imbalance in the amount of air supplied to the clothes in the drum 2. In other words, the amount of air supplied varies depending on the position of the clothes, which may cause problems such as an increase in drying time, some clothes being over-dried and some clothes not being dried at all, etc.

[0127] By keeping the amount of air moving through the duct body 321 in the clockwise direction similar or equal to the amount of air moving through the duct body in the counterclockwise direction, the above problem can be solved.

[0128] The flow path guide 324 includes a first inclined surface that guides a portion of the air discharged from the second exhaust port 157 to the left of the reference line (L), and a second inclined surface that guides the remainder of the air discharged from the second exhaust port 157 to the right of the reference line (L). Therefore, a portion of the air that has flowed into the duct body 321 by the flow path guide 324 moves to the through hole 158a located on the left side of the reference line (L), and the remainder moves to the through hole 158b located on the right side of the reference line (L).

[0129] The reference line (L) is set as a straight line passing through the center of the rotor accommodating portion 322 and the center of the second exhaust port 157. Unlike the illustration, the reference line (L) may be set as a straight line passing through a point in the rotor accommodating portion 322 and a point in the second exhaust port 157.

[0130] Furthermore, the supply duct 32 is provided with a protruding wall 323 that divides the inside of the duct body 321 into two spaces. The protruding wall 323 is a protrusion that protrudes from the duct body 321 toward the fixed panel 151, or protrudes from the fixed panel 151 toward the duct body 321. Figure 7 shows the case where the protruding wall 323 protrudes from the duct body 321 toward the fixed panel 151.

[0131] The free end of the protruding wall 323 is formed so as to be in contact with the fixed panel 151 or not in contact with the fixed panel 151. Fig. 7 shows a case where the free end of the protruding wall 323 and the fixed panel 151 are not in contact with each other.

[0132] It is preferable that the protruding wall 323 is provided at a position where the number of through holes 158a located to the left of the reference line (L) is equal to the number of through holes 158b located to the right of the reference line. When the reference line (L) is provided so as to divide the number of through holes into two, the protruding wall 323 is configured to be located on the reference line (L).

[0133] Since the clothing treatment device 100 having the above-mentioned structure has a structure in which the duct body 321 surrounds the motor 5 (the motor is located inside the rotor housing), there is a possibility that the motor 5 may overheat.

[0134] For effective cooling of the motor 5 (for cooling the stator), the clothing processing device 100 is further provided with a cooling passage 35. As shown in Fig. 8, the cooling passage 35 includes a duct cover 355 fixed to the duct body 321 to close the rotor accommodating part 322, a supply passage 351 provided in the duct body 321 to supply outside air to the rotor accommodating part 322, and an exhaust passage 353 provided in the duct body 321 to guide the air in the rotor accommodating part 322 to the outside of the rotor accommodating part 322.

[0135] The supply flow passage 351 and the exhaust flow passage 353 are formed as grooves curved in a concave shape on the upper surface of the duct body 321. When the exhaust flow passage 353 is formed as a groove curved in the upper surface of the duct body 321 toward the fixed panel 151, the protruding wall 323 is formed by a part of the duct body 321 protruding to the fixed panel 151 to form the exhaust flow passage 353.

[0136] When rotor 52 rotates, outside air flows into rotor accommodating portion 322 via supply flow path 351 , and the air within rotor accommodating portion 322 is exhausted to the outside of rotor accommodating portion 322 via exhaust flow path 353 .

[0137] In order to make it easier for the air that has flowed into the supply passage 351 to be discharged through the exhaust passage 353 (for effective cooling of the motor), the rotor 52 is further provided with vanes 523. The vanes 523 are boards that protrude from the rotor body 52a toward the duct cover 355.

[0138] The vane 523 may be made of one plate or multiple plates. In either case, the vane 523 is preferably provided parallel to the diameter of the rotor body 52a. When the vane 523 is made of plates parallel to the diameter of the rotor body, it can function as an impeller to forcibly move air.

[0139] The rotor 52 further includes rotor through-holes 521 penetrating the rotor body 52a so that heat generated in the stator 51 can be more effectively discharged to the rotor accommodating portion 322. The rotor through-holes 521 are arranged such that a number of holes form a link surrounding the first shaft 63.

[0140] The rotor through-hole 521 is formed of a slit whose length in the diameter direction of the rotor body 52a is set longer than its length in the circumferential direction of the rotor body 52a. In this case, the vanes 523 are fixed to the edge of the rotor through-hole 521 parallel to the diameter direction of the rotor body 52a.

[0141] In order to easily dissipate heat generated in the stator 51 to the rotor accommodating portion 322, the drive unit mounting groove 153 is further provided with a guide passage 357. The guide passage 357 is a means for guiding the air in the drive unit mounting groove 153 to the exhaust passage 353.

[0142] In order to more effectively cool the motor 5, the supply passage 351, the center of rotation of the rotor 52, and the exhaust passage 353 are arranged on a straight line. Fig. 7 shows, as an example, a case in which the supply passage 351, the center of rotation of the rotor 52, the guide passage 357, and the exhaust passage 353 are arranged on a reference line (L).

[0143] The power transmission unit 6 shown in Figures 4 and 5 has a structure in which the kinetic energy of the rotor 52 moves sequentially from the direction in which the rotor 52 is located to the direction in which the drum 2 is located (a structure in which kinetic energy is transmitted in a forward direction), or a structure in which the kinetic energy of the rotor 52 moves forward, backward, and forward again from the direction in which the rotor 52 is located to the direction in which the drum 2 is located (a structure including a process in which kinetic energy is transmitted in the reverse direction).

[0144] FIG. 9(a) shows an example of a power transmission unit having a structure in which the kinetic energy of the rotor is transmitted in a forward direction, and FIG. 9(b) shows an example of a power transmission unit in which the kinetic energy of the rotor is transmitted along the forward direction, reverse direction, and forward direction.

[0145] 9(a) includes a first body 677a rotatably fixed to a base 671, a first gear 677b provided on a cylindrical surface of the first body 677a and coupled to the driving gear 631, a second body 677c protruding from the first body 677a toward the position of the drum 2, and a second gear 677d provided on a cylindrical surface of the second body and coupled to the link gear 62. In this case, the first gear 677b is located between the first housing 61a and the link gear 62, and the second gear 677d is located between the first gear 677b and one surface of the second housing 61b. In the drawings, as an example, the first gear 677b is located in a space provided by the first housing 61a, and the second gear 677d is located in a space provided by the second housing 61b.

[0146] In the power transmission section of Fig. 9(a), the kinetic energy of the rotor 52 is transmitted by the first shaft 63 as the kinetic energy of the driving gear 631, the kinetic energy of the driving gear 631 is transmitted to the first gear 677b and the second gear 677d, and the kinetic energy of the second gear 677d is transmitted to the base 671 and the second shaft 65. Since such a transfer of kinetic energy is sequential from the rotor 52 to the drum 2, Fig. 9(a) is defined as a forward power transmission structure.

[0147] Meanwhile, the driven gear 677 in Fig. 9(b) includes a first body 677a rotatably fixed to the base 671, a first gear 677b provided on the cylindrical surface of the first body 677a and coupled to the driving gear 631, a second body 677c protruding from the first body 677a toward the rotor 52, and a second gear 677d provided on the cylindrical surface of the second body and coupled to the link gear 62. In this case, the first gear 677b is located between the base 671 and the link gear 62, and the second gear 677d is located between the first gear 677b and one surface of the first housing 61a. In the drawings, as an example, the first gear 677b is located in a space provided by the second housing 61b, and the second gear 677d is located in a space provided by the first housing 61a.

[0148] In the power transmission section of FIG. 9(b), the kinetic energy of the rotor 52 is transmitted by the first shaft 63 as the kinetic energy of the driving gear 631, and the kinetic energy of the driving gear 631 is transmitted to the first gear 677b (forward transmission of kinetic energy). The kinetic energy of the first gear 677b is transmitted to the second gear 677d, but the second gear 677d is provided in the direction where the rotor is located, not in the direction where the drum is located. Therefore, the kinetic energy of the first gear 677b is transmitted in the reverse direction. After that, the kinetic energy of the second gear 677d is transmitted to the second shaft 65 via the base 671, but since the base 671 is located between the first gear 677b and the second housing 61b, the kinetic energy of the second gear 677d is transmitted to the second shaft 65 along the forward direction.

[0149] 9(a), the second body 677c is formed as a cylinder protruding from the first body 677a toward the second housing 61b, whereas the power transmission unit in Fig. 9(b) has the second body 677c formed as a cylinder protruding from the first body toward the first housing 61a. Therefore, the driven gear 677 in Fig. 9(b) can form a space between the second gear 677d into which the free end of the first shaft support portion 611 is inserted, so that the volume of the power transmission unit 6 in Fig. 9(b) is smaller than that of the power transmission unit in Fig. 9(a).

[0150] Furthermore, in the case of Figure 9 (b), if any of the multiple bearings 613a, 613b that constitute the first shaft bearing 613 is provided in the first shaft through hole 612 so as to be positioned in the space formed by the second gear 677d, the volume of the power transmission unit 6 can be further reduced.

[0151] Meanwhile, in order to minimize the volume of the driving part (D), the power transmission part 6 provided in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b) has at least a partial area of ​​the first housing 61a inserted into the core through hole 512.

[0152] As shown in Fig. 1, in the clothing processing device 100 having the above-mentioned structure, the rear cover 23 of the drum remains connected to the fixed panel 15 via the drive unit (D), while the front cover 22 of the drum remains in contact with the drum connecting body 123 of the support panel via the connecting damper 124. Therefore, when the drum 2 moves to the rear of the clothing processing device (X-axis direction) due to vibration, the front cover 22 may be separated from the drum connecting body 123.

[0153] When the front cover 22 is separated from the drum connecting body 123, the drum inlet 221 is separated from the support panel through hole 122 (air supplied to the drum leaks out of the drum), which causes problems such as energy waste, increased drying time and reduced drying efficiency.

[0154] Also, when the front cover 22 is separated from the drum connecting body 123, clothes may be trapped in the space between the front cover and the drum connecting body, which may cause a large load on the motor.

[0155] To solve this problem, the clothing treatment device 100 further includes either the front support parts 7, 8 for supporting the front cover 22 or the rear support part 9 for supporting the rear cover 23. FIG. 1 shows the clothing treatment device 100 including both the front support parts 7, 8 and the rear support part 9 as an example.

[0156] The front support parts 7 and 8 are arranged to minimize movement of the front cover 22 along the height direction (Z-axis direction) of the support panel 121 and the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the support panel, and the rear support part 9 is arranged to minimize movement of the front cover 22 along the direction away from the support panel 121 (X-axis direction and -Z-axis direction).

[0157] As shown in FIG. 10, the front support part includes a first front support part 7 that supports an area of ​​the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22 that is located below a horizontal line (H) that passes through the center of rotation of the drum, and a second front support part 8 that supports an area of ​​the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22 that is located above the horizontal line (H).

[0158] The front first support part 7 is provided on either the base panel 17 or the support panel 121 and is a means for setting the range in which the drum loading opening 221 can move along the width direction (+Y, -Y axis direction) of the support body 121 and the range in which the drum loading opening 221 can move toward the direction in which the base panel 17 is located (-Z axis direction).

[0159] The front first support portion 7 includes a first roller 71 rotatably fixed to the support panel 121 via a first roller shaft 711 , and a second roller 73 rotatably fixed to the support panel 121 via a second roller shaft 731 .

[0160] In order to minimize the load input to the shafts 711 and 731 of the respective rollers, it is preferable that the first roller 71 and the second roller 73 are disposed symmetrically with respect to a vertical line (V) passing through the center of rotation of the drum.

[0161] In addition, in order to minimize the transmission of drum vibration to the cabinet via rollers 71 and 73, each roller 71 and 73 is arranged to come into contact with the cylindrical surface of the front cover when vibration exceeding a predetermined reference displacement occurs in the drum (each roller remains spaced apart from the front cover).

[0162] The front second support part 8 is provided on the support panel 121 and is a means for setting a range within which the drum insertion opening 221 can move in a direction (+Z) away from the base panel 17. As shown in Fig. 11, the front second support part 8 includes a front support frame 81 fixed to the support panel 121 and positioned higher than the front cover 22, and support dampers 83 and 85 fixed to the front support frame 81 and restricting movement of the front cover 22 along the height direction of the support body 121.

[0163] In order to fix the front support frame 81, the support panel 121 is provided with a support portion mounting groove 125 that is concavely curved in the direction in which the support panel 121 moves away from the front cover 22, and the mounting groove 125 is provided with a slot 125a, and the front support frame 81 is provided with a fastening portion 811 that is inserted into the slot 125a.

[0164] As shown in FIG. 12( a ), the support damper includes a first damper 83 fixed to a front support frame 81 and a second damper 85 fixed to the first damper 83 and capable of supporting the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22 .

[0165] In order for the support dampers 83, 85 to effectively reduce vibration of the drum 2, the first damper 83 is made of a material having a larger elastic coefficient than the second damper 85. That is, the second damper 85 is made of the same felt as the connecting damper 124, and the first damper 83 is made of rubber or the like.

[0166] As described above, the connecting damper 124 is fixed to the damper mounting groove 123a formed in a link shape at the free end of the drum connecting body 123, and is maintained in a state of being pressed toward the support panel 121 by the front cover 22. This can minimize separation between the drum connecting body 123 and the edge of the drum input port 221.

[0167] 12(b) shows another embodiment of the front second support part 8. The front second support part 8 according to this embodiment is composed of a front roller 87 that is rotatably fixed to the front support frame 81 via a roller shaft 871 and can support the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22.

[0168] Unlike the illustration, the first front support part 7 supports the cylindrical surface of the drum body 21, not the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22. In this case, each roller 71, 73 supports an area of ​​the cylindrical surface of the drum body 21 that is located below the horizontal line (H). When the rollers 71, 73 support the cylindrical surface of the drum body (or the cylindrical surface of the front cover), this means that it includes both cases where the rollers 71, 73 contact the cylindrical surface of the drum body, and cases where the rollers are separated so as to contact the drum body when vibrations of a reference displacement or more occur in the drum.

[0169] Similarly, the front second support part 8 also supports an area located above the horizontal line (H) of the cylindrical surface of the drum body 21. That is, the second damper 85 supports an area located above the horizontal line (H) of the cylindrical surface of the drum body 21, and the front roller 87 is provided to support an area located above the horizontal line (H) of the cylindrical surface of the drum body 21.

[0170] The second damper 85 and the front roller 87 support the cylindrical surface of the drum body (or the cylindrical surface of the front cover), meaning that it includes both cases where the second damper 85 and the front roller 87 contact the cylindrical surface of the drum body, and cases where they are separated so as to contact the drum body when vibrations greater than the reference displacement occur in the drum.

[0171] As shown in FIG. 10, the narrower the distance between the first roller 71 and the second roller 73 (the closer the first roller and the second roller are positioned to the lowest point of the front cover), the greater the possibility that the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22 will come out of the space formed by the first roller 71, the second roller 73, and the front second support part 8.

[0172] In order to prevent a sudden increase in the load acting on the shafts 711, 731 of the rollers while stably supporting the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22 (to improve the durability of the roller shafts), it is desirable to set the angle (A3) between the vertical line (V) and the straight line connecting the rotation centers 711, 731 of the rollers and the rotation center (C) of the drum to be less than 60°. This is because if the angle (A3) of the straight line connecting the rotation centers 711, 731 of the rollers and the rotation center (C) of the drum with respect to the vertical line (V) exceeds 60°, the external force input to the shafts 711, 731 of the rollers will suddenly increase.

[0173] For example, the angle (A3) of the roller axis relative to the vertical line is set to 50° to 52°, and the angle (A4) that the straight line connecting each roller axis 711, 731 to the drum rotation center (C) forms with the horizontal line connecting the two roller axes is set to 40° to 38°.

[0174] Furthermore, the angle (A1) between the line (L1) connecting the rotation center 711 of the first roller to the center of the front second support part 8 and the line (L2) connecting the rotation center 731 of the second roller to the center of the front second support part 8 is set to 30° to 50°. In this case, the angle (A2) formed by the horizontal line (L3) connecting the rotation centers 711, 731 of the two rollers and the lines (L1, L2) connecting the rotation centers 711, 731 of each roller to the center of the front second support part 8 forms 65° to 75°.

[0175] Meanwhile, it is preferable that the distance (G1) between the top ends of the first and second rollers 71, 73 and the bottom end of the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22 is longer than the distance (G2) between the second front support part 8 and the top end of the cylindrical surface of the front cover 22. In other words, it is preferable that the distance (G3) between the cylindrical surface of the rollers and the cylindrical surface of the front cover is set shorter than the distance (G2) between the second front support part 8 and the top end of the cylindrical surface of the front cover.

[0176] When the drum vibrates, the two rollers 71, 73 limit the vibration of the drum beyond the front second support part 8, thereby minimizing the vibration of the center of rotation of the drum along the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the support body 121. When the drum rotates with clothes loaded, the vibrations generated in the drum toward the direction where the bottom end of the support body is located (-Z-axis direction) and the width direction (Y-axis direction) of the support body are often larger than the vibrations toward the direction where the top end of the support body is located (+Z-axis direction). Therefore, when the front first support part 7 and the front second support part 8 are provided as described above, the vibrations generated at the beginning of the rotation of the drum can be effectively reduced.

[0177] 13 is a diagram showing an example of the rear support part 9. As described above, the rear support part 9 is a means for setting either the range in which the rear cover 23 can move toward the fixed panel 151 or the range in which the rear cover 23 can move toward the base panel 17.

[0178] 13(a) and 13(b), the rear support part 9 is fixed to the exhaust duct 31, but the rear support part 9 may be fixed to the base panel 17, the fixed panel 12, or the base panel and the fixed panel. For convenience, the following description will be given based on the case where the rear support part 9 is fixed to the exhaust duct 31.

[0179] The rear support part 9 in Figure 13 (a) includes a rear support frame 91 fixed to the exhaust duct 31, and a seat part 93 provided on the rear support frame 91 to limit either the rearward displacement in which the rear cover 23 moves toward the fixed panel 151 or the downward displacement in which the rear cover 23 moves toward the base panel 17.

[0180] The seat portion 93 supports a joining surface between the drum body 21 and the rear cover 23. In this case, it is preferable that the seat portion 93 is provided in accordance with the shape of a joining portion 97 between the drum body 21 and the rear cover 23.

[0181] That is, when the joint 97 between the drum body 21 and the rear cover 23 is formed by seaming (an assembly method in which one end of the drum body and an edge of the rear cover are folded together to join the drum body and the rear cover), an L-shaped corner is formed at the joint 97. The seat part 93 includes a first seat surface 931 fixed to the rear support frame 91 and extending along the height direction of the drum (+Z-axis direction), and a second seat surface 933 extending from the rear support frame 91 toward the direction in which the support panel is located (-X-axis direction). The first seat surface 931 is located in the space between the rear surface of the joint 97 (the surface facing the fixed panel) and the fixed panel 151 to limit rearward displacement, and the second seat surface 933 is located in the space between the lower end of the joint 97 and the base panel 17 to limit downward displacement.

[0182] The first seat surface 931 may be maintained in contact with the connecting portion 97, or may be brought into contact with the connecting portion 97 only when the drum is displaced backward by a predetermined reference displacement or more.

[0183] Similarly, the second seat surface 933 may be maintained in contact with the connecting portion 97, or may be brought into contact with the connecting portion 97 only when the drum experiences a downward displacement equal to or greater than a predetermined reference displacement.

[0184] When the rear cover 23 and the sheet portion 93 are provided so as to be in contact with each other, the sheet portion 93 is made of felt in order to reduce the frictional force acting on the drum (to reduce the load on the motor).

[0185] 13(b) includes a rear support frame 91 fixed to the exhaust duct 31 and a rear roller 95 rotatably fixed to the rear support frame 91 and in contact with the rear cover 23. The rear roller 95 is rotatably fixed to the free end of the rear support frame 91 via a roller shaft 951.

[0186] The rear cover 23 is further provided with a roller receiving groove 235 that provides a space into which a part of the rear roller 95 is inserted. The roller receiving groove 235 is a groove in which the surface of the rear cover 23 curves toward the front cover 22. The roller receiving groove 235 forms a circle surrounding the center of the rear cover 23 (the rotation center of the drum).

[0187] The rear roller 95 may be maintained in contact with the rear cover 23, or may be brought into contact with the rear cover 23 only when the drum is displaced rearward by a predetermined reference displacement or more.

[0188] The above-mentioned front support parts 7, 8 and rear support part 9 can minimize the movement of the drum inlet 221 in the direction (-X axis direction, +Z axis direction, -Z axis direction) in which the drum inlet 221 is separated from the drum connecting body 123. Therefore, the clothing treatment device 100 can minimize the leakage of air supplied to the drum and minimize the problem of clothing being caught between the drum and the support panel 121.

[0189] Minimizing the problem of clothes getting caught between the drum and the support panel means minimizing the load on the drive, which means that the speed and direction of rotation of the drum can be controlled by a motor producing a small torque.

[0190] The above-mentioned clothing processing device 100 has been described based on the case where it is equipped with a circulating drying system, but the clothing processing device 100 can also be applied to an exhaust drying system. A circulating drying system is a drying method that sequentially dehumidifies and heats the air discharged from the drum 2, and then resupplies the high-temperature dry air to the drum. An exhaust drying system is a drying method that heats outside air and supplies it to the drum 2, and exhausts the air discharged from the drum 2 to the outside of the cabinet 1 after the heat exchange is completed.

[0191] When the clothing processing device 100 is an exhaust-type drying system, the supply section 3 includes an exhaust duct connecting the first exhaust outlet 128 and the second exhaust outlet 157, a supply duct that supplies outside air (air inside the cabinet or air outside the cabinet) to the drum 2, and a heat exchange section that heats the air flowing into the supply duct.

[0192] The above-mentioned clothing processing device 100 has been described based on the case where it is equipped with a circulating drying system, but the clothing processing device 100 can also be applied to an exhaust drying system. A circulating drying system is a drying method that sequentially dehumidifies and heats the air discharged from the drum 2, and then resupplies the high-temperature dry air to the drum. An exhaust drying system is a drying method that heats outside air and supplies it to the drum 2, and exhausts the air discharged from the drum 2 to the outside of the cabinet 1 after the heat exchange is completed.

[0193] When the clothing processing device 100 is an exhaust-type drying system, the supply section 3 includes an exhaust duct connecting the first exhaust outlet 128 and the second exhaust outlet 157, a supply duct that supplies outside air (air inside the cabinet or air outside the cabinet) to the drum 2, and a heat exchange section that heats the air flowing into the supply duct.

[0194] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present disclosure can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the present disclosure. Therefore, the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all respects and are not limiting. The scope of the present disclosure should be determined by a reasonable interpretation of the appended claims, and all modifications within the scope of the equivalents of the present disclosure are included in the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. a cabinet including a base panel, and a support panel and a fixed panel fixed to the base panel and positioned opposite each other; a drum located in the cabinet, the drum including a cylindrical drum body having an open front and rear surfaces, a front cover fixed to the front surface of the drum body, a rear cover fixed to the rear surface of the drum body, and a drum insertion port penetrating the front cover; a support panel through hole penetrating the support panel and communicating with the drum insertion port; a drum connecting body provided on the support panel and connecting the support panel through hole to the drum input port; a driving unit including a stator that forms a rotating magnetic field, a rotor that rotates due to the rotating magnetic field, and a power transmission unit that is fixed to the fixed panel and transmits the rotational motion of the rotor to the drum; a first front support portion provided on at least one of the base panel and the support panel, the first front support portion supporting a lower surface of the cylindrical drum body or a lower surface of the front cover; a front second support portion provided on the support panel and disposed on an upper portion of the cylindrical drum body or the front cover; A clothing processing device, characterized in that the front second support part is arranged so as to be able to come into contact with the upper surface of the cylindrical drum body or the upper surface of the front cover.

2. the front first support portion supports a region of the circumferential surface of the front cover that is below a horizontal line passing through the center of rotation of the drum or a region of the circumferential surface of the drum body that is below the horizontal line, The clothing processing device according to claim 1 , characterized in that the front second support portion supports an area located above the horizontal line on the circumferential surface of the front cover or an area located above the horizontal line on the circumferential surface of the drum body.

3. The front second support portion is a forward support frame secured to the support panel; The clothing processing device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a support damper fixed to the front support frame and in contact with the circumferential surface of the front cover.

4. The front second support portion is a forward support frame secured to the support panel; The clothing treatment device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a support damper fixed to the front support frame and spaced apart from a circumferential surface of the front cover.

5. The clothing processing device according to claim 3 or claim 4, characterized in that the support damper includes a first damper fixed to the front support frame, and a second damper fixed to the first damper and made of a material having an elastic coefficient different from that of the first damper.

6. The clothing treatment device according to claim 5, wherein the second damper is made of felt and the first damper is made of rubber.

7. The clothing treatment device according to claim 5, further comprising a connecting damper formed in a ring shape, fixed to a free end of the drum connecting body, and connecting the free end of the drum connecting body and an edge of the drum inlet.

8. The clothing treatment device according to claim 7, wherein the connecting damper is made of felt.

9. The front second support portion is a forward support frame secured to the support panel; The clothing processing device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a front roller rotatably fixed to the front support frame, the circumferential surface of the front roller being in contact with the circumferential surface of the front cover.

10. The front second support portion is a forward support frame secured to the support panel; The clothing treatment device according to claim 2 , further comprising: a front roller rotatably fixed to the front support frame, the circumferential surface of the front roller being spaced apart from the circumferential surface of the front cover.

11. the front first support portion includes a first roller and a second roller rotatably fixed to the support panel, The laundry treatment device according to claim 2, wherein the first roller and the second roller are disposed symmetrically with respect to a vertical line passing through a rotation center of the drum.

12. a cabinet including a base panel and opposing support and fixed panels secured to the base panel; a drum including a cylindrical drum body having an open front surface and a open rear surface, a front cover fixed to the front surface of the drum body, a rear cover fixed to the rear surface of the drum body, and a drum insertion port penetrating the front cover; a support panel through hole penetrating the support panel and communicating with the drum insertion port; a drum connecting body provided on the support panel and connecting the support panel through hole to the drum input port; a driving unit including a stator that forms a rotating magnetic field, a rotor that rotates due to the rotating magnetic field, and a power transmission unit that is fixed to the fixed panel and transmits the rotational motion of the rotor to the drum; a front support portion provided on at least one of the base panel and the support panel, the front support portion supporting the drum so as to be capable of rotating; a rear support portion provided on at least one of the base panel and the fixed panel; At least a portion of the rear support portion is disposed so as to face a rear surface of the rear cover, The garment processing device is characterized in that the rear support portion is arranged to be in contact with the rear surface of the rear cover and supports the rear cover or the cylindrical drum body.

13. The rear support portion is a rear support frame fixed to the base panel or the fixed panel; a first seat surface fixed to the rear support frame and positioned in a space between the rear cover and the fixed panel to define a range within which the rear cover can move toward the fixed panel; The clothing treatment device of claim 12, further comprising: a second sheet surface fixed to the rear support frame and positioned in the space between the rear cover and the base panel to define a range within which the rear cover can move toward the base panel.

14. The clothing treatment device according to claim 13, wherein the first sheet surface and the second sheet surface are in contact with the rear cover or spaced apart from the rear cover.

15. The rear support portion is a rear support frame fixed to the base panel or the fixed panel; The clothing treatment device of claim 12, further comprising: a rear roller rotatably fixed to the rear support frame.

16. The clothing treatment device according to claim 15, wherein the rear cover further includes a roller receiving groove, the groove being curved toward the front cover and formed in a ring shape, and providing a space for receiving the circumferential surface of the rear roller.

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