Clothes Processing Equipment

Abstract

The clothing treatment device includes a drum body, a front cover and a rear cover which form front and rear surfaces of the drum body, a drum input port which penetrates the front cover and the rear cover, a drum which has a rear cover through-hole, a motor which has a stator and a rotor, a fixing panel between the rear cover and the motor, a fixing panel through-hole which penetrates the fixing panel, a housing which is fixed to the fixing panel and to which the stator is fixed, an input shaft which has one end fixed to the rotor and the other end inside the housing, an output shaft which has one end inserted into the fixing panel through-hole and the other end inside the housing, a power transmission part which has a gear part which transmits the rotational motion of the input shaft to the output shaft inside the housing, a shaft fastening part which is fixed to the rear cover and closes the rear cover through-hole, a fastening part through-hole which penetrates the shaft fastening part and into which one end of the output shaft is inserted, and a nut which is connected to one end of the output shaft and which fixes the output shaft to the shaft fastening part.

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] A clothing processing device is a general term for a washing machine that washes clothing (items to be washed or dried), a dryer that dries clothing, and an apparatus that can both wash and dry clothing.

[0003] A washing machine is generally equipped with a tub in which water is stored, a washing drum inside the tub in which clothes are received, and a drive unit (washing drive unit) that rotates the washing drum, while a dryer is generally equipped with a drying drum in which clothes are received, 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] The washing drive unit is generally configured to include 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 is generally configured to include 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 is provided such that the rotating shaft of the motor connects the washing drum and the rotor. In order to wash and spin-dry the clothes, the washing drive unit needs to control the rotation speed of the washing drum to a high speed or change the rotation direction of the washing drum. If the rotating shaft of the motor is provided such that the rotating shaft directly connects the washing drum and the rotor, the rotation speed and rotation direction of the washing drum 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 a dryer does not have much need to maintain a high rotation speed of the dryer drum or change the rotation direction of the dryer drum, and the dryer drum may 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 the clothes inside the dryer drum can be controlled, and therefore, a shorter drying time and improved drying performance can be expected in the dryer.

[0007] Among conventional dryers, there is one equipped with a dryer drive unit that connects the rotor and drying drum to a reducer (power transmission unit) (Korean Patent Publication No. 10-2020-0065931). This dryer drive unit is equipped with an input shaft connected to the rotor and an output shaft connected to the drying drum that are coaxial, which is expected to shorten the drying time and improve drying performance, but it has disadvantages in that it is difficult to assemble the drying drum and the output shaft of the reducer, and when assembling the drying drum and the output shaft, the durability of the reducer and drying drum decreases (damage to the bolts attached to the reducer, damage to the output shaft, damage to the drying drum, etc.).

[0008] In addition, in conventional dryers, while it is relatively easy to control the vibration of the rear surface of the drying drum fixed to the output shaft of the reducer, a separate means is required to control the vibration of the front surface of the drying drum where the drum inlet is formed. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] An object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment device which is easy to assemble the output shaft of the power transmission unit and the drum.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes processing device capable of preventing a decrease in the durability of the power transmission unit and the drum when the power transmission unit and the drum are connected to each other.

[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a clothes treatment device capable of minimizing the displacement of the drum in the circumferential direction of the output shaft. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention relates to a drum body providing a space for receiving clothes, a front cover forming a front surface of the drum body, a rear cover forming a rear surface of the drum body, a drum having a drum input port provided to pass through the front cover and a rear cover through-hole provided to pass through the rear cover, a motor having a stator forming a rotating magnetic field and a rotor that rotates by the rotating magnetic field, a fixed panel located between the rear cover and the motor, a fixed panel through-hole provided to pass through the fixed panel, a housing fixed to the fixed panel and to which the stator is fixed, an input shaft having one end fixed to the rotor and the other end located inside the housing, an output shaft having one end inserted into the fixed panel through-hole and the other end located inside the housing, a power transmission unit located inside the housing and having a gear unit for transmitting the rotational motion of the input shaft to the output shaft,

[0013] The present invention relates to a clothing processing device that includes a shaft fastening portion that is fixed to a rear cover and closes the rear cover through hole, a fastening portion through hole that is configured to pass through the shaft fastening portion and into which one end of an output shaft is inserted, and a nut that is connected to one end of the output shaft that passes through the fastening portion through hole and fixes the output shaft to the shaft fastening portion.

[0014] The shaft fastener includes a first fastener fixed to the rear cover, a second fastener located inside the drum and having a fastener through-hole, and a connector connecting the first and second fasteners and inserted into the rear cover through-hole.

[0015] The diameter of the connector is set to decrease from the first connector to the second connector.

[0016] The output shaft is located inside the housing and includes a fastening shaft connected to the gear portion, a fixed shaft extending from the fastening shaft and inserted into the fastening portion through hole, and a screw thread provided on the circumferential surface of the fixed shaft to which a nut is engaged.

[0017] The clothing treatment device further includes a fastener serration protruding from an edge of the fastener through-hole toward the center of the fastener through-hole, and an output shaft serration provided on the circumferential surface of the fastener shaft and coupled to the fastener serration.

[0018] The diameter of the fastening shaft is set equal to the diameter of the fastening portion through hole, and the diameter of the fixing shaft is set shorter than the diameter of the fastening shaft.

[0019] The clothing treatment device further includes an inclined surface connecting the circumferential surface of the fixed shaft and the circumferential surface of the fastening shaft.

[0020] The garment treatment device further includes a fastener cover located inside the drum for closing the rear cover through-hole and preventing the shaft fastener from being exposed inside the drum.

[0021] The clothing processing device includes a cover through-hole provided to pass through the fastening portion cover, a fastening groove provided in the output shaft, and a bolt inserted into the cover through-hole and fixed to the fastening groove to fix the fastening portion cover to the output shaft.

[0022] The gear section includes a ring-shaped ring gear fixed to the housing, a main gear fixed to the input shaft and located inside the housing, a cage fixed to the output shaft and rotatable inside the housing, and a driven gear rotatably fixed to the cage and connecting the main gear and the ring gear.

[0023] The clothing processing device further includes an output shaft first bearing that rotatably fixes the output shaft to the housing, and an output shaft second bearing that rotatably fixes the output shaft to the housing and is fixed at a position spaced apart from the output shaft first bearing. Effect of the Invention

[0024] The present invention provides a clothes treatment device in which the output shaft of the power transmission unit and the drum can be easily assembled.

[0025] The present invention also provides a clothes processing device capable of preventing a decrease in the durability of the power transmission unit and the drum when the power transmission unit and the drum are coupled together.

[0026] The present invention also provides a clothes treatment device that can minimize the displacement of the drum in the circumferential direction of the output shaft. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0027] [Figure 1] 1 shows an example of a clothing treatment device. [Diagram 2] 1 shows an example of a cabinet structure and support panels. [Diagram 3] 1 shows an example of a drum. [Figure 4] 2 shows an example of a drying section. [Diagram 5] 1 shows an example of a fixed panel. [Figure 6] 2 shows an example of a power transmission unit. [Figure 7] 2 shows an example of a power transmission unit. [Figure 8] 1 shows an example of a coupling structure of a drum, a fixed panel, and a power transmission unit. [Figure 9] 4 shows another embodiment of the coupling structure between the drum and the output shaft. [Figure 10] 4 shows another embodiment of the coupling structure between the drum and the output shaft. [Figure 11] 4 shows another embodiment of the coupling structure between the drum and the output shaft. [Figure 12] 1 shows an example of a sealing portion. [Figure 13] 13 shows an embodiment of a displacement limiting portion for limiting the displacement of the drum inlet. [Figure 14] 13 shows an embodiment of a displacement limiting portion for limiting the displacement of the drum inlet. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0028] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a clothes processing device will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] Fig. 1 shows an example of a clothing processing device 100, which includes a cabinet 1 and a drum 2 that is rotatably provided inside the cabinet and provides a space for receiving clothing (items to be washed or dried). As shown in Fig. 2, the cabinet 1 includes a drying section 3 that supplies high-temperature dry air (air at a temperature higher than room temperature, air with a higher dryness than the dryness of indoor air) to the drum 2 to remove moisture from the clothing.

[0030] 2, the cabinet 1 includes a front panel 11 that forms the front surface of the garment treatment device, and a base panel 17 that forms the bottom surface of the garment treatment device. The front panel 11 is provided with an input port 111 that communicates with the drum 2, and the input port 111 is provided so as to be closed by a door 113.

[0031] The front panel 11 is provided with a control panel 115, which includes an input unit for inputting control commands from a user and a display unit for outputting information such as user-selectable control commands. The input unit 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 plurality of courses, and an execution request unit for requesting the start of the course selected by the user.

[0032] The inside of the drum 2 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape. As shown in Fig. 3, the drum 2 is provided to include a cylindrical drum body 21 whose front and rear faces are open, 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.

[0033] The front cover 22 is provided with a drum input port 221 that connects the inside of the drum body 21 with the outside, and the rear cover 23 is provided with an air inlet 233 that allows outside air to flow into the drum body 21.

[0034] The drum body 21 is further provided with a lifter 24. The lifter 24 is a means for allowing the clothes to repeatedly rise and fall inside the drum. The lifter 24 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 center of rotation of the drum 2 (protruding from the circumferential surface of the drum toward the center of rotation of the drum).

[0035] When the clothing treatment device 100 is used only as a device for drying clothing, the drum 2 does not need to be provided with a drum through-hole that passes through the drum body 21 to connect the inside of the drum with the outside of the drum.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 4, the drum 2 described above is rotatably fixed to at least one of the main body first support part 12 and the main body second support part 15. Fig. 4 shows an example in which the rear cover 23 is rotatably fixed to the main body second support part 15 via the power transmission part 6 described later, and the front cover 22 is rotatably connected to the main body first support part 12.

[0037] The first main body support part 12 is provided as a support panel 121 fixed to the cabinet 1 and located between the front panel 11 and the front cover 22. The support panel 121 is provided so as to be located between the front panel 11 and the front cover 22 by being fixed to the base panel 17. 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.

[0038] The support panel 121 is provided to include a support panel through hole 122, a drum connector 123 that connects the support panel through hole 122 and the drum input port 221, and a panel connector 125 that connects the support panel through hole 122 and the input port 111. The support panel through hole 122 is provided to penetrate the support panel 121, and is a means for communicating the input port 111 and the drum input port 221.

[0039] The drum connector 123 is provided as a pipe fixed to the rear surface of the support panel 121 (the surface facing the drum inlet in the space provided by the support panel). One end of the drum connector 123 is provided to surround the support panel through hole 122, and the free end of the drum connector 123 is provided to support the front cover 22. That is, the free end of the drum connector 123 may be inserted into the drum inlet 221, or may be provided to contact the free end of the front cover 22 that forms the drum inlet 221 (the edge of the drum inlet). FIG. 4 shows an example in which the free end of the drum connector 123 contacts the free end of the front cover 22.

[0040] The panel connector 125 is provided as 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 connector 125 is provided to surround the support panel through hole 122, and the other end of the panel connector 125 is provided to be connected to the input port 111. Therefore, the clothes supplied to the input port 111 move to the drum body 21 via the panel connector 125, the support panel through hole 122, the drum connector 123, and the drum input port 221.

[0041] The support panel 121 is provided with an exhaust port 126 that exhausts the air inside the drum 2 to the outside of the drum, and a filter 127 is detachably fixed to the exhaust port 126. The filter 127 may have any structure as long as it can filter out foreign matter from the air moving from the drum 2 to the exhaust port 126.

[0042] The support panel 121 may further include a drum support portion 128 for preventing sagging of the drum 2. The drum support portion is fixed to the support panel 121 and is provided as a roller for rotatably supporting the drum 2. Although Fig. 4 shows that the drum support portion 128 is provided to support the front cover 22, the drum support portion 128 may be provided to support the circumferential surface of the drum body 21.

[0043] The second main body support part 15 is provided as a fixed panel 151 fixed to the cabinet 1 so as to be located at a point separated from the rear cover 23. Fig. 5 shows an example in which the fixed panel 151 is fixed to the base panel 17 and forms the rear surface of the garment processing device 100 (the rear surface of the cabinet).

[0044] The fixed panel 151 is provided with a drive unit mounting groove 152 that provides a space for mounting the motor 5. The drive unit mounting groove 152 is provided as a groove formed by bending the fixed panel 151 toward the rear cover 23 of the drum. The fixed panel 151 is provided with a fixed panel through hole 153 through which a shaft (output shaft) that rotates the drum 2 passes, and the fixed panel through hole 153 is located inside the drive unit mounting groove 152.

[0045] 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 rigidity 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 rigidity, deformation of the drum body 21 during drum rotation can be minimized, which can minimize 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 during deformation of the drum body 21 (the load on the motor can be minimized).

[0046] As shown in FIG. 4, the drying unit 3 includes an exhaust passage 31 connected to the exhaust port 126, a supply passage 32 that guides the air supplied from the exhaust passage 31 to the drum body 21, and a heat exchanger 34 that is provided inside the exhaust passage 31 and sequentially dehumidifies and heats the air.

[0047] The exhaust passage 31 includes a first duct 311 connected to the exhaust port 126, a second duct 312 connected to the supply passage 32, 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.

[0048] 4 shows an example in which the heat exchanger 34 is a heat pump. That is, the heat exchanger 34 includes a first heat exchanger (heat absorption part) 341 that removes moisture from the air that is introduced into the exhaust passage 31, a second heat exchanger (heat generation part) 343 that is provided inside the exhaust passage 31 and heats the air that has passed through the heat absorption part 341, and a fan 349 that moves the air discharged from the drum 2 to the supply duct 32 after the air has passed through the heat absorption part and the heat generation part in sequence.

[0049] The heat absorbing part 341 and the heat generating part 343 are sequentially arranged along the direction of air movement and are connected to each other through a refrigerant pipe 348 that forms a circulation path of the refrigerant. The refrigerant moves along the refrigerant pipe 348 by a compressor 345 located outside the exhaust path 31, and the refrigerant pipe 348 is provided with a pressure regulator 347 that adjusts the pressure of the refrigerant.

[0050] 5, the air inlet 233 provided in the rear cover 23 of the drum is provided by arranging a plurality of holes so as to surround the center of the rear cover 23 (the rotation center of the drum). In this case, the supply flow path 32 is provided in the fixed panel 151 and includes a supply duct 321 forming a movement path of the air discharged from the second duct 312, a first flow path forming part 323 and a second flow path forming part 324 which guide the air inside the supply duct 321 to the air inlet 233.

[0051] The supply duct 321 is provided to form a flow path (air movement path) by bending the fixed panel 151 in a direction away from the rear cover 23. In addition, the supply duct 321 is provided in a ring shape surrounding the drive unit mounting groove 152, and the outlet of the second duct 312 is provided to be connected to the circumferential surface of the supply duct 321.

[0052] The first flow path forming portion 323 is arranged to surround an outer circumferential surface of the ring formed by the air inlet 233 (the circumferential surface having the longer diameter of the two circumferential surfaces of the ring), and the second flow path forming portion 324 is arranged to surround an inner circumferential surface of the ring formed by the air inlet 233 (the circumferential surface having the shorter diameter of the two circumferential surfaces of the ring).

[0053] The first flow path forming portion 323 and the second flow path forming portion 324 may be fixed to the rear cover 23 or may be fixed to the supply duct 321, but FIG. 5 shows an example in which the flow path forming portions 323, 324 are fixed to the rear cover 23.

[0054] 5, the free end of the first flow path forming part 323 surrounds the outer circumferential surface of the flow path (ring-shaped flow path) formed by the supply duct 321, and the free end of the second flow path forming part 324 surrounds the inner circumferential surface of the flow path formed by the supply duct 321. The first flow path forming part 323 and the second flow path forming part 324 are made of rubber, felt, or the like.

[0055] The motor 5 that generates the power required to rotate the drum 2 includes a stator 51 that is positioned in a drive unit mounting groove 152 to form a rotating field, and a rotor 52 that rotates due to the rotating field. The rotational motion of the rotor 52 is transmitted to the drum 2 via a power transmission unit 6 that is fixed to the fixed panel 151, and the stator 51 is fixed to at least one of the fixed panel 151 or the power transmission unit 6.

[0056] When the stator 51 is fixed to the power transmission unit 6, it has an advantageous effect in maintaining the coaxiality of the input shaft 64 and the output shaft 65 provided in the power transmission unit 6 (which can minimize vibration of the clothing treatment device when the drum rotates and minimize deterioration in durability of the power transmission unit).

[0057] In order to prevent the motor 5 positioned in the drive unit mounting groove 512 from being exposed to the outside (to improve the durability of the motor and prevent safety accidents by preventing the motor from being exposed to the external environment), the fixing panel 151 is further provided with a cover panel 19 that prevents the motor 5 from being exposed to the outside. In addition, the cover panel 19 is provided in a shape that can also prevent the supply duct 321 from being exposed to the outside (a shape that surrounds the supply duct). This is to not only minimize the loss of heat to the outside of the supply duct 321 but also to prevent safety accidents that may occur when the body comes into contact with the supply duct 321.

[0058] The stator 51 includes a ring-shaped core 511 having a through hole (core through hole) at the center, a plurality of support rods 513 protruding radially from the outer circumferential surface of the core 511, insulators 512 for insulating the core and the support rods, and coils 514 arranged to surround the support rods 513.

[0059] The rotor 52 includes a disk-shaped rotor body 521, a rotor circumferential surface 522 extending from the edge of the rotor body 521 toward the fixed panel 515 and forming a space in which the stator 51 is received, and a plurality of permanent magnets 523 fixed to the rotor circumferential surface 522 so that the north and south poles are exposed alternately.

[0060] FIG. 6 shows an example of a power transmission unit 6 connecting the rotor 52 and the rear cover 23 of the drum.

[0061] *The power transmission unit 6 includes a housing H fixed to the fixed panel 151, an input shaft 64 rotatably fixed to the bottom surface of the housing H (the surface facing the direction in which the rotor is located), an output shaft 65 rotatably fixed to the top surface of the housing H (the surface facing the direction in which the fixed panel is located), and a gear unit G provided inside the housing and transmitting the rotational motion of the input shaft 64 to the output shaft 65.

[0062] The input shaft 64 is provided as a shaft having one end fixed to the rotor 52 and the other end located inside the housing H, and the output shaft 65 is provided as a shaft having one end fixed to the rear cover 23 and the other end located inside the housing H. The gear unit G is provided to connect one end of the input shaft 64 located inside the housing H and one end of the output shaft 65 located inside the housing.

[0063] The housing H is preferably fixed to the fixed panel 151 and located in a space (external space of the cabinet) separated from the space in which the drum 2 is located (internal space of the cabinet). This is to improve the durability of the power transmission unit 6 by minimizing the transfer of heat inside the cabinet (heat emitted from the drum or drying unit) to the inside of the housing H.

[0064] The input shaft 64 is coupled to the rotor body 521 via the shaft fixing portion 54. The shaft fixing portion 54 is provided to include a shaft fixing hole 543 to which one end of the input shaft 64 is fixed.

[0065] The output shaft 65 is inserted into the fixing panel through hole 153 and connected to the rear cover 23, and the rear cover 23 is provided with a shaft fastening portion 25 to which the output shaft 65 is fixed. This is to disperse stress acting on the center of the rear cover 23 when the output shaft 65 rotates. The specific structure of the shaft fastening portion 25 will be described later.

[0066] In order to minimize deformation of the fixed panel 151 , the housing H is fixed to the fixed panel 151 via the transmission bracket 61 and the housing fastening portion 612 .

[0067] 5, the transmission bracket 61 is provided with a bracket through-hole 611 through which the output shaft 65 passes, and the housing fastening portion 612 is provided as a bolt that connects the housing H and the transmission bracket 61. The transmission bracket 61 may be made of the same material as the fixing panel 151, or may be made of a material having a strength higher than that of the fixing panel 151.

[0068] As shown in FIG. 6, the housing H is formed to have a hollow cylindrical shape, and includes a housing body 62 having an open hole on the surface facing the fixed body 151, and a housing cover 63 fixed to the housing body 62 and closing the open hole.

[0069] The housing body 62 is provided to form a receiving space 621 in which the gear portion G is attached. The receiving space 621 is provided to be formed via a housing base 62a to which the input shaft 64 is fixed and a housing circumferential surface 62b extending from an edge of the housing base 62a toward the housing cover 63.

[0070] As shown in FIG. 7, the housing body 62 has an input shaft support portion 625 extending from the housing base portion 62a toward the rotor 52, and the input shaft support portion 625 is provided as a pipe surrounding an input shaft through hole 626 that penetrates the housing body 62.

[0071] The input shaft 64 inserted into the input shaft through hole 626 is rotatably fixed to the input shaft support portion 625 via input shaft bearings 628, 629. The input shaft bearings are provided to include an input shaft first bearing 628 fixed to the input shaft support portion 625, and an input shaft second bearing 629 fixed inside the input shaft through hole 626 and positioned between the input shaft first bearing 628 and the rotor 52.

[0072] The housing cover 63 may have any shape as long as it can open and close the opening provided in the housing body 62, but Fig. 7 shows an example in which the housing cover 63 is provided as a disk-shaped cover body 631. The housing cover 63 is provided so as to be fixed to the housing body 62 via a cover fixing plate 623 provided on the housing circumferential surface 62b.

[0073] The housing cover 63 includes an output shaft through hole 632 formed to penetrate the cover body 631, and a pipe-shaped output shaft support portion 635 extending from the cover body 631 toward the fixed panel 151 and surrounding the output shaft through hole 632.

[0074] The output shaft support portion 635 is provided with output shaft bearings 638 and 639 that rotatably fix the output shaft 65 in the output shaft through hole 632 .

[0075] The output shaft bearing is fixed to the output shaft support portion 635 and is provided to include an output shaft first bearing 638 and an output shaft second bearing 639 located inside the output shaft through hole 631 .

[0076] The housing cover 63 is provided with mounting portions 637 to which the stator 51 is fixed. A plurality of mounting portions 637 are provided along the circumferential surface of the cover body 631, and the stator 51 is fixed to the housing H via bolts that connect the insulator 512 and the mounting portions 637.

[0077] As described above, the housing H is fixed to the fixed panel 151 via the housing fastening portion 612, the stator 51 is fixed to the housing H via the mounting portion 637, and the rotor 52 is fixed to the housing H via the input shaft 64. Since the stator 51 and the rotor 52 are fixed to the housing H (because the stator and the rotor vibrate together with the housing), it is possible to minimize a decrease in coaxiality between the input shaft 64 and the output shaft 65.

[0078] The gear section G is configured to include a ring gear 66 fixed to the housing circumferential surface 62b and positioned in the receiving space 621, a main gear 69 fixed to the input shaft 64 and positioned inside the receiving space 621, a cage 67 positioned inside the receiving space 622 and to which the other end of the output shaft 65 is fixed, and a driven gear 68 fixed rotatably to the cage 67 and connecting the main gear 69 and the ring gear 66.

[0079] The ring gear 66 includes a gear body 661 fixed to the housing circumferential surface 62b, a gear body through hole 663 extending through the gear body, and gear teeth 665 provided along the inner circumferential surface of the gear body.

[0080] The cage 67 is provided to include a first base 671 located inside the gear body through hole 663 and to which one end of the output shaft 65 is fixed, a second base 672 located inside the gear body through hole 663 and provided with a base through hole 673 in the center, and a connecting shaft 675 connecting the first base and the second base and forming the rotation shaft of the driven gear 68. Since the output shaft 65 is fixed to the first base 671, whether the output shaft 65 rotates or not is determined depending on whether the cage 67 rotates or not.

[0081] The driven gear 68 is provided as a plurality of gears rotatably fixed to the connecting shaft 675, and the drawing shows an example in which the driven gears are provided as a first driven gear 681, a second driven gear 682, and a third driven gear 683.

[0082] The input shaft 64 is inserted into the base through hole 673 and is coaxial with the output shaft 65 , and the gear teeth of the driving gear 69 are positioned in the space formed between the driven gears and mesh with the teeth of the driven gears 682 , 682 , 683 .

[0083] The operation process of the power transmission unit 6 described above is as follows. When the rotor 52 rotates, the input shaft 64 rotates. When the main gear 69 rotates by the input shaft 64, the driven gears 681, 682, 683 meshed with the main gear 69 also rotate. Since the driven gears 681, 682, 683 are in mesh with the ring gear 66 fixed to the housing body 62, when the driven gear 68 rotates, the cage 67 and the output shaft 65 rotate, and the drum 2 fixed to the output shaft 65 also rotates.

[0084] As described above, in order to distribute the stress acting on the center of the rear cover 23 when the output shaft 65 rotates (to minimize the deterioration of the durability of the rear cover), the output shaft 65 is connected to the rear cover 23 of the drum via the shaft fastening portion 25.

[0085] That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the rear cover 23 is provided with a rear cover through hole 231 , and the shaft fastening portion 25 is fixed to the rear cover 23 so as to close the rear cover through hole 231 .

[0086] The shaft fastening portion 25 includes a fastening body 251 (first fastening body) fixed to the rear cover 23, a connecting body 253 extending from the fastening body 251 and inserted into the rear cover through-hole 231, and a fastening tube 257 fixed to the connecting body 253 and positioned inside the drum 2.

[0087] The fastening pipe 257 is provided as a pipe into which one end of the output shaft 65 is inserted. A fixing plate 258 that contacts one end of the output shaft 65 is provided inside the fastening pipe 257, and a fixing plate through hole 259 is provided in the fixing plate 258. The fixing plate through hole 259 is provided to be connected to a fastening groove 654 provided in the output shaft 65.

[0088] Meanwhile, in order to prevent the fastening pipe 257 from being exposed inside the drum (to prevent the durability of the output shaft from decreasing), a fastening part cover 27 is fixed to the rear cover 23.

[0089] The fastening portion cover 27 may have any shape as long as it not only closes the rear cover through hole 231 but also prevents the shaft fastening portion 25 from being exposed to the inside of the drum. Figure 8 shows an example in which the fastening portion cover 27 is provided in a cone shape.

[0090] The fastening portion cover 27 is provided with a cover through-hole 271 that communicates with the fixing plate through-hole 259 and the fastening groove 654. Therefore, when the drum fastening portion 275 is inserted into the cover through-hole 271 and the fixing plate through-hole 259 and fixed to the fastening groove 654, both the fastening portion cover 27 and the output shaft 65 can be fixed to the shaft fastening portion 25.

[0091] In order to connect the output shaft 65 and the shaft fastening portion 25 of the above-mentioned structure, an operator needs to adjust the position of the drum 2 so that the output shaft 65 is inserted into the fastening tube 257. However, this has the disadvantage that it takes a long time to insert the output shaft 65 into the fastening tube 257 because the diameter of the fastening tube 257 is small.

[0092] When the output shaft 65 is inserted into the fastening pipe 257, the worker inserts the drum fastening part 275 into the cover through-hole 271 and the fixing plate through-hole 259, and then fastens it to the fastening groove 654. That is, in order to couple the drum fastening part 275 to the fastening groove 654, it is necessary to maintain the state in which the drum 2 is hung on the output shaft 65. However, if the fixing plate through-hole 259 and the fastening groove 654 are not aligned, the assembly time required to fasten the drum fastening part 275 increases.

[0093] Furthermore, if the drum 2 continues to be applied to the output shaft 65, the durability of the power transmission unit 6 may decrease. When the drum 2 is applied to the output shaft 65, an external force due to the load of the drum 2 is transmitted to the output shaft 65 via the fastening pipe 257, and the external force transmitted to the output shaft 65 is transmitted to the gear unit G including the output shaft bearings 638 and 639.

[0094] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems that may occur during the assembly process of the drum and the output shaft, the shaft fastener 25 and the output shaft 65 are provided as shown in Figs.

[0095] The shaft fastening portion 25 in FIG. 9 is characterized in that it prevents a decrease in the durability of the power transmission portion 6 by minimizing the size of the external force input to the output shaft 65, and that by connecting the output shaft 65 and the shaft fastening portion 25 with a nut 256, the assembly time can be shortened.

[0096] The shaft fastening part 25 according to this embodiment includes a first fastening body 251 fixed to the rear cover 23, a connector 255 extending from the first fastening body 251 and inserted into the rear cover through hole 231, and a second fastening body 252 fixed to the connector 255 and positioned inside the drum 2. The second fastening body 252 has a fastening part through hole 253 into which the output shaft 65 is inserted.

[0097] As shown in FIG. 10 , the output shaft 65 is located inside the housing H and includes a fastening shaft 651 fixed to the cage 67, and a fixed shaft 652 extending from the fastening shaft 651 and inserted into the fastening portion through-hole 253.

[0098] The fixed shaft 652 has a circumferential surface provided with a screw thread 653. Thus, the nut 256 is coupled to one end 652 of the output shaft passing through the fastening portion through hole 253, and fixes the output shaft 65 and the shaft fastening portion 25 together.

[0099] The assembly of the drum 2 and the output shaft 65 is carried out through the steps of fixing the fixing panel 151, to which the power transmission unit 6 is attached, to the base panel 17, inserting the output shaft 65 into the fastening part through hole 253, fixing the support panel 121 to the base panel 17 and fixing the position of the front cover 22, and connecting the output shaft 65 to the shaft fastening part 25 via the nut 256.

[0100] Before the support panel 121 is fixed to the base panel 17, the output shaft 65 maintains a state of being inserted into the fastening part through hole 253. However, in this embodiment, the drum can maintain a larger inclination angle than the embodiment having the fastening pipe 257. That is, in the embodiment of FIG. 8, the front cover 22 of the drum cannot be seated on the upper surface of the exhaust passage 31 or the base 17 due to the fastening pipe 257, but in this embodiment, the front cover 22 can be maintained seated on the upper surface of the exhaust passage 31 or the base panel 17. Therefore, the clothing treatment device having the shaft fastening part 25 shown in FIG. 10 can minimize the deterioration of the durability of the power transmission part 6.

[0101] Meanwhile, the diameter of the connector 255 in this embodiment is configured to decrease from the first fastener 251 to the second fastener 252. When the connector 255 has the above-described shape, the fixed shaft 652 is guided into the fastening portion through-hole 253 along the surface of the connector 255. Therefore, this embodiment can reduce the time required to insert the fixed shaft 652 into the fastening portion through-hole 253.

[0102] In order to firmly couple the shaft fastening portion 25 and the output shaft 65, the shaft fastening portion 25 is provided with fastening portion serrations, and the output shaft 65 is further provided with output shaft serrations.

[0103] As shown in FIG. 11 , the fastening portion serration 254 is provided as a protrusion protruding from the edge of the fastening portion through hole 253 toward the center of the fastening portion through hole 253, and the output shaft serration 657 is provided on the circumferential surface of the fastening shaft 651 and is provided as a groove that connects to the fastening portion serration 254.

[0104] In order to facilitate the coupling of the fastening portion serrations 254 and the output shaft serrations 657 , the output shaft 65 is further provided with an inclined surface 655 that connects the fastening shaft 651 and the fixed shaft 652 and guides the fastening portion serrations 254 to the output shaft serrations 657 .

[0105] That is, the diameter of the fastening shaft 651 is set equal to the diameter of the fastening portion through hole 253, the diameter of the fixed shaft 652 is set shorter than the diameter of the fastening shaft 651, and the inclined surface 655 is provided to connect the circumferential surface of the fixed shaft 652 and the circumferential surface of the fastening shaft 651.

[0106] In order to prevent the above-mentioned shaft fastening portion 25 from being exposed to the inside of the drum 2, a fastening portion cover 27 is further provided in this embodiment as well. The fastening portion cover 27 may have any shape as long as it can close the rear cover through hole 231 and prevent the shaft fastening portion 25 from being exposed.

[0107] As shown in FIG. 10 , the fastening portion cover 27 is provided to be fixed to the output shaft 65 by a bolt 273 which is inserted into a cover through hole 271 and fixed to a fastening groove 654 of a fixed shaft 652 .

[0108] In the clothing treatment device 100 having the above-described structure, air supplied to the drum 3 through the drying unit 3 may be discharged to the outside of the drum through the drum input opening 221. To minimize this drawback, the clothing treatment device 100 further includes a sealing unit 7 that minimizes exposure of air through the drum input opening 221.

[0109] As shown in FIG. 12, the sealing portion 7 is provided on a support panel 121 .

[0110] The support panel 121 is provided with a ring-shaped mounting groove 129 surrounding the drum connecting body 123, and the sealing portion 7 is provided in the mounting groove 129. That is, the sealing portion 7 is fixed to the mounting groove 129 and provided as a ring-shaped sealing body 71 that contacts the edge of the drum input port 221.

[0111] The seal 71 is made of felt (compressed fiber, etc.) in order to seal the drum inlet 221 and minimize friction between the drum and the seal 71.

[0112] Meanwhile, when the drum 2 vibrates along the length direction of the cabinet (Z-axis direction), a damper 73 is further provided in the mounting groove 129 to attenuate the vibration of the drum. The damper 73 is made of a material with high elasticity such as rubber and is provided in a ring shape. In this case, the sealing body 71 needs to be fixed to the damper 73.

[0113] In the clothing treatment device 100 having the above-described structure, when the drum 2 rotates, the drum inlet 221 vibrates along the diameter direction of the inlet 122. In order to limit the vibration range of the drum inlet 221 in the diameter direction of the inlet, the clothing treatment device 100 is further provided with a displacement limiting unit.

[0114] 13 , the displacement limiting portion 13 is provided as a protrusion 131 protruding from the drum connector 123 toward the drum inlet 221. Although not shown, the displacement limiting portion 13 may be provided on the front cover 22. That is, the displacement limiting portion may be provided as a protrusion protruding from the drum inlet 221 toward the drum connector 123.

[0115] A plurality of displacement limiting units 13 may be provided. That is, the displacement limiting unit 13 is provided as a plurality of limiting units 13a, 13b, and 13c spaced apart at the same angle from each other with the input port 122 as the center.

[0116] Although not shown, the displacement limiting portion may be provided as a first limiting portion and a second limiting portion spaced 180 degrees apart from each other centered on the input port 122, or may be provided as a first limiting portion, a second limiting portion, and a third limiting portion spaced 120 degrees apart from each other centered on the input port 122.

[0117] In any case, it is preferable that any one of the plurality of limiting portions 13a, 13b, 13c is provided at a position contacting the uppermost end of the drum input port 221. When the output shaft 65 is provided parallel to the base 17, the front cover sags toward the base 17 due to its own weight, so when any one of the plurality of limiting portions is provided as described above, it is possible to minimize the displacement of the drum input port due to the sagging of the drum.

[0118] When the displacement limiting portion 13 is provided as a protrusion 131 provided on the support panel 121, it is preferable that the material of the protrusion 131 is set to be the same as that of the support panel 121. This is to ensure ease of production.

[0119] In addition, in order to minimize the frictional force caused by the displacement limiting part 13, it is preferable that the front cover 22 is made of metal and the displacement limiting part 13 is made of a material (such as plastic) having a lower hardness than the hardness (harness) of the front cover 22.

[0120] 14 shows that the displacement limiting unit 14 is provided as a ring-shaped felt fixed to the drum connecting body 123. That is, the displacement limiting unit 14 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the felt is fixed to the drum connecting body 123 and is located between the circumferential surface of the drum connecting body 123 and the drum input port 221.

[0121] The displacement limiting portion 14 may be provided by bending the lower end of the sealing body 71, or by positioning a separate felt piece separate from the sealing body 71 at the lower end of the sealing body 71.

[0122] The above-described clothing treatment device can be modified and embodied in various forms, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments.

Claims

1. a drum including a drum body providing a space for receiving clothes, a front cover forming a front surface of the drum body, a rear cover forming a rear surface of the drum body, a drum insertion port provided to pass through the front cover, and a rear cover through hole provided to pass through the rear cover; A motor including a stator that generates a rotating magnetic field and a rotor that rotates due to the rotating magnetic field; a fixed panel located between the rear cover and the motor; A fixing panel through hole provided to penetrate the fixing panel; a housing fixed to the fixing panel and to which the stator is fixed, an input shaft having one end fixed to the rotor and the other end located inside the housing, an output shaft having one end inserted into the fixing panel through hole and the other end located inside the housing, and a power transmission unit including a gear unit located inside the housing and transmitting a rotational motion of the input shaft to the output shaft; a shaft fastening portion fixed to the rear cover and closing the rear cover through hole; a fastening portion through hole provided to pass through the shaft fastening portion and into which one end of the output shaft is inserted; a nut that is connected to one end of the output shaft that passes through the fastening portion through hole and secures the output shaft to the shaft fastening portion.

2. The shaft fastening portion is a first fastener fixed to the rear cover; a second fastener located inside the drum and having the fastening portion through-hole; The clothing processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a connector that connects the first fastening body and the second fastening body and is inserted into the rear cover through-hole.

3. The clothing processing device according to claim 2 , wherein the diameter of the connecting body is set to decrease from the first fastening body toward the second fastening body.

4. The output shaft is a fastening shaft located inside the housing and connected to the gear portion; A fixed shaft extending from the fastening shaft and inserted into the fastening portion through hole; The clothing processing device of claim 3, further comprising a screw thread provided on a circumferential surface of the fixed shaft, the screw thread engaging with the nut.

5. a fastener serration protruding from an edge of the fastener through hole toward a center of the fastener through hole; The clothing treatment device of claim 4, further comprising an output shaft serration provided on a circumferential surface of the fastening shaft and coupled to the fastening portion serration.

6. The diameter of the fastening shaft is set equal to the diameter of the fastening portion through hole, The clothing processing device according to claim 5 , wherein the diameter of the fixed shaft is set to be shorter than the diameter of the fastening shaft.

7. The clothing processing device according to claim 6 , further comprising an inclined surface connecting the circumferential surface of the fixed shaft and the circumferential surface of the fastening shaft.

8. The clothing processing device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a fastening portion cover located inside the drum, closing the rear cover through-hole and preventing the shaft fastening portion from being exposed inside the drum.

9. a cover through hole provided to pass through the fastening portion cover; A fastening groove is provided in the output shaft; The clothing processing device of claim 8 , further comprising: a bolt that is inserted into the cover through-hole and fixed to the fastening groove to secure the fastening portion cover to the output shaft.

10. The gear portion is a ring-shaped ring gear fixed to the housing; a main driving gear fixed to the input shaft and located inside the housing; a cage fixed to the output shaft and rotatable within the housing; The clothing processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a driven gear rotatably fixed to the cage and connecting the driving gear and the ring gear.

11. an output shaft first bearing that rotatably fixes the output shaft to the housing; The clothing processing device according to claim 10, further comprising: an output shaft second bearing fixed to the housing so as to be rotatable therewith and fixed at a position spaced apart from the output shaft first bearing.

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