Drum type washing machine with rotatable baffle

Drum type washing machine with a rotatable baffle including a tub fitted in a cabinet, a drum in a tub to be rotatable as rotation force is received from a motor part, and the baffle fitted in the drum to be rotatable in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the drum, thereby enhancing a washing efficiency because the baffle increases a friction to the laundry as the baffle and the drum rotate in opposite directions, and improving a laundry drying performance because spun laundry is taken off from an inside surface of the drum before drying the laundry, and preventing formation of wrinkles on dried laundry.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, and more particularly, to a drum type washing machine with a baffle inside of a drum which is rotatable in a direction opposite to a rotational direction of the drum.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, the drum type washing machine, carrying out washing by using a friction force between a drum rotated as a driving power of a motor part is received, and laundry in a state detergent, washing water, and the laundry are introduced into the drum, gives little damage to the laundry, has little entangling of the laundry, and can provide a washing effect of pounding and rubbing the laundry.

FIG. 1illustrates a side section of a related art drum type washing machine, andFIG. 2illustrates a front section ofFIG. 1.

Referring toFIG. 1, the related art drum type washing machine is provided with a cylindrical tub2in a cabinet1, and a cylindrical drum3rotatably fitted in the tub2. There is a driving shaft (not shown) having a fore end fixed to a spider (not shown) fixed to rear part of the drum3, and a rear end passed through a central part of the tub2, extended to an outside of the rear wall2aof the tub2, and coupled with a rotor (not shown) of a motor part10. According to this, when a voltage is applied to a stator (not shown) in the motor part10, the rotor in the motor part10rotates, and the driving shaft is rotated according to rotation of the rotor.

In the meantime, there are hanging springs9between an inside circumference of an upper part of the cabinet1, and an outside circumference of an upper part of the tub2for supporting the tub2, and there is a damper8between an inside circumference of a lower part of the cabinet1and an outside circumference of a lower part of the tub2, for attenuating vibration of the tub2occurred in spinning.

In a case of a drum type washing machine having a drying function, the drum type washing machine is provided with a drying means additionally which has, as shown inFIG. 2, a duct with an end connected to one side of a lower part of the tub2, and the other end extended upward and connected to the upper part of the tub2. There is a drying heater21on the duct25extended to the upper side of the tub2for generating a drying heat, and there is a fan22for supplying the heat from the drying heater21into the drum3.

The operation of the related art drum type washing machine will be explained.

Upon application of power to the motor part10after laundry, detergent, and washing water are introduced into the drum3, the rotor rotates. According to the rotation of the rotor, the driving shaft rotates, and according to the rotation of the driving shaft, the drum3rotates. According to this, the laundry repeats cycling of rolling, and being lifted up to a certain height along an inside surface of the drum3by lifters3aon the inside surface of the drum3, and falling down, to make the washing done by a friction force between the laundry, the drum3, and the lifters3a. When the washing is finished, the drum3spins for extracting water in the laundry by using a centrifugal force from the spin. In the case of the drum type washing machine with a drying function, the drying heater21comes into operation after the spinning is finished, to generate heat, and the fan22is rotated, to supply heated air into the drum3, for drying the laundry in the drum3.

However, the related art washing machine has the following problems.

First, the related art drum type washing machine has an inadequate friction force applicable to the laundry, with a poor washing efficiency, and a long washing time period, because the related art drum type washing machine washes the laundry by applying friction to the laundry inside of the drum3by means of lifters3aon an inside surface of the drum to move together with the drum3.

Second, even if parts of the laundry are inserted in drain holes in the drum3by the centrifugal force when the spinning is finished, the related art drum tripe washing machine dries the laundry without taking out the laundry from the drain holes, but as the laundry is stuck to the wall surface of the drum3. Consequently, since the heated air can not be blown to the laundry uniformly because the drying is conducted in a state the laundry is stuck to the wall surface of the drum3, with wrinkles, or overlapped states, the drying performance is poor.

Third, the drying with wrinkles, or overlapped states of the laundry, there are the wrinkles after the drying is completed.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a drum type washing machine with a rotatable baffle that substantially obviates one or more of the problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine with a rotatable baffle, in which a friction applied to laundry is increased for enhancing a washing efficiency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine with a rotatable baffle, in which drying is conducted after spun laundry is taken off from an inside surface of the drum, for prevention of formation of wrinkles on the laundry, and deterioration of drying performance.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the drum type washing machine with a rotatable baffle includes a tub fitted in a cabinet, a drum in a tub to be rotatable as rotation force is received from a motor part, and the baffle fitted in the drum to be rotatable in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the drum.

The baffle in the drum fitted to be rotatable in a direction opposite to a direction of rotation of the drum for taking the laundry off an inside surface of the drum when a drying function is carried out in which spun laundry is dried by drying means at one side of inside of the cabinet.

Preferably, the drum type washing machine further includes a rotation force transmission device for rotating the baffle upon receiving the rotation force from the motor part including a gear box fixed inside of the gear box housing having opened fore end and rear end for allowing the inner, and outer drum shafts to pass therethrough, or be inserted therein, a sun gear fitted coaxially with a driving shaft for interlocked rotation with the driving shaft, a plurality of planetary gears for being rotated upon receiving rotation force from the sun gear, a shaft extension extended from the rear end of the drum shaft having an inner circumference with a gear part for engagement with the planetary gears, a carrier having a rotation shaft in front of a base, which is a rotation center of the planetary gears, and an extension in rear of the base positioned between the inner drum shaft and a rear opening in the gear box, first one way rotation means between an outside circumference of the driving shaft and an inside circumference of the drum shaft for permitting one way interlocked rotation of the inner, and outer drum shafts, and second one way rotation means between an inside circumference of the rear end opening in the gear box and an outside circumference of the extension of the carrier for permitting one way rotation of the carrier.

The baffle includes a circular rear face having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the rear wall of the drum, a plurality of lifters each elongated in a front direction parallel to an inside surface of the drum from the rear face, and a reinforcing rib part formed along a circumferential direction of the inside surface of the drum to connect the lifters.

Preferably, the reinforcing rib part includes at least one rib along a length of the lifter, and the reinforcing rib includes a surface aligned with a bottom surface of the lifter.

Preferably, the baffle is formed of plastic, by injection molding as one unit.

Preferably, the baffle is designed to rotate in a direction opposite to the drum in washing, and in the same direction with the drum in spinning, and the baffle is designed to rotate in the same direction with the drum in spinning, and in a direction opposite to the drum in washing, or drying.

The reinforcing rib preferably includes a plurality of projections in a radial direction.

As has been explained, the drum type washing machine of the present invention can enhance a washing efficiency because the baffle increases a friction to the laundry as the baffle and the drum rotate in opposite directions, improves a laundry drying performance because spun laundry is taken off from an inside surface of the drum before drying the laundry, and prevents formation of wrinkles on dried laundry.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. For convenience of description, a left part on the drawing is taken as a front part of the drum type washing machine, and a right part on the drawing is taken as a rear part of the drum type washing machine.FIG. 3illustrates a side section of a drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 4illustrates a perspective view of a baffle in a drum type washing machine of the present invention, andFIG. 5illustrates an enlarged view of “A” part inFIG. 3.

Referring toFIG. 3, the drum type washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a tub100in a cabinet, and a cylindrical drum200movably fitted in the tub100having an opening in a front part. There is a baffle300rotatably fitted inside of the drum200, coaxial with the drum200. The baffle300with a diameter smaller than the drum200has a rear face part340with a thickness, and a plurality of lifters320in front of the rear face part340extended parallel to an inside surface of the drum200. The lifter320has a length shorter than an axial length of the drum200.

Referring toFIG. 4, the lifter320has a triangular section, however, the section is not limited to triangle, but may be polygonal, or circular. The lifter320has a bottom320ahaving a width greater than an upper part320bprojected in an inward radial direction. There are reinforcing ribs330between the lifters320along a circumferential direction of an inside surface of the drum200connecting the bottom320aof the lifters320for enhancing a supporting force between the lifters320. It is preferable that there are a plurality of inward projections (not shown) from the reinforcing ribs330for enhancing friction with the laundry. There are at least one reinforcing ribs330along a length direction of the lifter320, with a bottom of the reinforcing rib330aligned with the bottom320of the lifter320. The baffle300may be formed of a metal, or a plastic. When the baffle300is formed of plastic, the reinforcing rib330, the rear face part340, and the lifters320may be injection molded as one unit. It is preferable that the baffle300is formed of a material having a strong heat resistance, and a strong wear resistance.

Referring toFIG. 5, there is a driving shaft310having a fore end fixed to a rear end of the baffle300, and a rear end, passed through a central part of the rear wall120of the tub100, and coupled to a rotor50aof the motor part50in rear of the rear wall120. There is a spider220fixed at a rear end of the drum200, and a drum shaft210fixed at a central part of the spider220. There is a gear box housing130extended from rear of a rear wall120of the tub100formed as a unit with the tub100having a cavity in which the drum shaft210, and the driving shaft310are rotatably inserted. There is a cylindrical gear box90inside of the gear box housing130, having openings in front, and rear part.

The gear box housing130has a front through hole121in a central part of a front part of the gear box housing130(i.e., the rear wall120of the tub100), and a rear through hole122in a central part of rear of the gear box housing130with a diameter enough to pass the driving shaft310. There is a front bearing61in a front part of the front through hole121, and a rear bearing62in a rear part of the rear through hole122. In this instance, an inner lace of the front bearing61rotatably supports an outer circumference of the drum shaft210, and an inner lace of the rear bearing62rotatably supports an outer circumference of the driving shaft310.

As explained, the driving shaft310passes through the rear wall120of the tub100, and is rotatably supported and takes rotation force of the motor part50in rear of the rear wall120, which will be explained, in detail.

The driving shaft310passes through the rear through hole122of the gear box housing130, and coupled with a rotor50ain the motor part50by known fastening means, such as bolt, and the like, at a rear end thereof There is a stator50bfitted to a rear end of the gear box housing130, with magnets51of the rotor50adesigned to come opposite to the stator50bin an outer side of the stator50bin a radial direction, to form a motor part50for generating the rotating force by means of the rotor50aand the stator50b. Accordingly, upon application of power to the motor50, the rotor50arotates in regular/reverse direction, to rotate the baffle300in regular/reverse direction too as the driving shaft310coupled to the rotor50arotates.

According to the drum type washing machine of the present invention, the baffle300and the drum200are designed to rotate in opposite directions (for an example, the baffle rotates in a clockwise direction, while the drum rotates in a counter clockwise direction) in washing, or drying, and to rotate in the same direction (for an example, both the baffle, and the drum rotate in the counter clockwise direction) in spinning. The opposite direction rotation of the baffle300, and the drum200is implemented by the rotation force transmission device of the present invention, and the same direction rotation of the baffle300, and the drum200is implemented by the first, and second one way rotation means401, and402, permitting a reverse direction rotation of the drum200with respect to a rotation direction of the baffle300in washing, or drying, and the same direction rotation of the baffle300and the drum200in spinning.

The rotation force transmission device in the drum type washing machine of the present invention will be explained.

The drum shaft210has a cylindrical shaft extension215extended from a rear end to inside of the gear box90in which there is a gear part215a. The shaft extension215has a diameter greater than a diameter of the drum shaft210, and smaller than a diameter of the gear box90. There is a sun gear315coaxial to the driving shaft310for rotation together with the driving shaft310. There are a plurality of planetary gears71, and72for taking, and being rotated by a rotation force of the sun gear315, each of which planetary gears71, and72has two gears fitted coaxially as one unit, with different radiuses, and number of teeth. The planetary gears71, and72are supported on respective rotation shafts81on a base82of a carrier80, and engaged with the gear part215aon the shaft extension215, for transmission of a rotation force of the sun gear315to the drum shaft210. There is an extension83from rear of the base82extended to a rear direction between the driving shaft310and the rear end opening of the gear box90, with a gap between the extension83and the outer circumference of the driving shaft310. There is an oiless bearing89and sealing means88between an inner circumference of the extension83and the outer circumference of the driving shaft310in succession for making a space between the extension83and the driving shaft310air tight. On the other hand, there is sealing means41between the inner circumference of the drum shaft210, and the outer circumference of the driving shaft310for preventing leakage of water to the gear box90. Also, There is sealing means42between the outer circumference of the drum shaft210and the spider220in rear of the drum200for preventing leakage of water to the front bearing61.

There are two planetary gears71, and72on the shaft81of the carrier80having different radiuses and numbers of teeth, for an appropriate adjustment of a rotation speed of the baffle300and the drum200by an appropriate change of the radiuses and the numbers of gear teeth. That is, an appropriate adjustment of a rotation ratio of the baffle300and the drum200facilitates an enhancement of the washing efficiency.

It can be known that, as has been explained, because the rotation force is transmitted to the drum shaft210by the rotation force transmission device in a case the driving shaft310rotates, the driving shaft310and the drum shaft210rotate in opposite directions, that implements the opposite direction rotation of the baffle300and the drum200.

First, and second one way rotation means will be explained.

There is the first one way rotation means401between the outer circumference of the driving shaft310and the inner circumference of the drum shaft210for one way interlocked rotation of the inner, and drum shafts310, and210. There is the second one way rotation means402between the inner circumference of the rear end opening of the gear box90, and the outer circumference of the extension83of the carrier80for one way rotation of the carrier80. That is, the first, and second one way rotation means401, and402may be, for an example, one way bearings, for, as an example, rotating the drum200in the clockwise direction by rotating the driving shaft310in the counter clockwise direction, that rotates the baffle300in the counter clockwise direction, which will be explained, in detail.

The inner lace of the first one way rotation means401held on an outer circumference of the driving shaft310is fitted such that clockwise rotation of the driving shaft310is permitted, while counter clockwise rotation of the driving shaft310is not permitted, to make interlocked rotation of the drum shaft210and the driving shaft310by restriction of the first one way rotating means401when the rotor50ais rotated in the counter clockwise direction. As has been explained, when both the driving shaft210, and the drum shaft310are rotated in the counter clockwise direction, both the sun gear315on the driving shaft310and the planetary gears71, and72engaged with the gear part215aof the shaft extension215are remained stationary. Accordingly, the carrier80is also rotated in the counter clockwise direction interlocked with the inner, and drum shafts310, and210.

In the meantime, the second one way rotation means402permits an interlocked rotation of the carrier80in a direction opposite to the interlocked rotation direction of the driving shaft310and the drum shaft210that the first one way rotation means401permits. That is, under a state all the driving shaft310, the drum shaft210, and the carrier80make interlocked counter clockwise direction rotation, the second one way rotation means402is fitted not to restrict the rotation in the rotation direction (counter clockwise direction) of the carrier80. The second one way rotation means402is fitted to restrict clockwise rotation of the carrier80under the following reason. When the rotor50arotates in the clockwise direction, the driving shaft310and the drum shaft210rotate in opposite directions, to rotate the carrier80in a direction the same with the driving shaft310. In this instance, if the rotation of the carrier80is restricted, the rotation force of the drum shaft210can be maintained, more positively. From the foregoing description, it can be known that, when the rotor50arotates in the counter clockwise direction, both the driving shaft310and the drum shaft210rotate in the same direction, to make the baffle300and the drum200to rotate in the same direction.

The drum type washing machine of the present invention may be employed in a washing machine with, or without a drying function, which will be explained in more detail. That is, setting of rotation direction of the rotor50amay be made differ by a control part in washing, spinning, and drying, depending on employment of the drying function.

When the drum type washing machine of the present invention is employed in a washing machine without the drying function, the rotation direction of the rotor50ais set to be the clockwise direction by the control part in washing. In this instance, the baffle300and the drum200rotate in opposite directions in washing (for an example, the baffle rotates in a clockwise direction, while the drum rotates in a counter clockwise direction). In spinning, the rotation direction of the rotor50ais set to be the counter clockwise direction, and to rotate at a regular rotation speed for spinning. In spinning, the baffle300and the drum200rotate in the same direction (for an example, both the baffle and the drum rotate in the counter clockwise direction). By setting the rotation direction of the rotor50athus, washing is made while the drum200and the baffle300rotate in opposite directions, and spinning is made while the drum200and the baffle300rotate in the same direction.

On the other hand, when the drum type washing machine of the present invention is employed in a washing machine with the drying function, the rotation direction of the rotor50ais set to be the counter clockwise direction by the control part in spinning so that the spinning is made as the drum200and the baffle300rotate in the same direction. In this instance, the rotation speed of the rotor50ain the spinning is set to be a regular spinning speed. In washing, or drying, the rotation direction is set to be the clockwise direction by the control part, to rotate the baffle300and the drum200in opposite directions. Eventually, in spinning, the rotation directions of the baffle300and the drum200are the same while the rotation directions of the drum200and the baffle300are opposite in washing, or drying.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the drum type washing machine with a rotatable baffle of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As has been explained, the drum type washing machine, provided with a baffle inside of a drum rotatable opposite to the drum, can enhance a washing efficiency because the baffle increases a friction to the laundry as the baffle and the drum rotate in opposite directions in a case of drum type washing machine without a drying function. In a case of drum type washing machine with a drying function, a laundry drying performance is improved because spun laundry is taken off from an inside surface of the drum before drying the laundry. Moreover, formation of wrinkles on dried laundry is prevented.