Patent Publication Number: US-8984915-B2

Title: Laundry washing apparatus

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to laundry machines, and more particularly, to a laundry machine in which locking of a cabinet which forms an exterior of the laundry machine is improved. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     In general, the laundry machine washes laundry through steps of washing, rinsing, spinning to remove contaminants from the laundry held in a washing tub by using action of washing water supplied to a tub and detergent. 
     In the steps of washing of the laundry machine, an amount of the laundry introduced to the washing tub is measured, amounts of the washing water and the detergent and a total washing time period are set according to the amount of laundry measured thus, the washing tub is rotated according to the total washing time period for performing a washing course for removing dirt from the laundry by friction of the washing water and the laundry caused by rotation of the washing tub. 
     Once the washing course is finished, a rinsing course is preformed, in which contaminated washing water is drained form the tub, new washing water is supplied to the tub, the laundry is rinsed for a preset number of time. And, once the rinsing course is finished, a spinning course is performed, in which the washing water is drained from the tub, and the washing tub is rotated at a high speed, to remove water from the laundry by centrifugal force. 
     In a case of a commercial laundry machine, the laundry machine has a payment unit mounted to a top or a side thereof. In general, the payment unit is mounted to a cabinet which forms an exterior of the laundry machine. The user can use the laundry machine after the user pays a certain amount of money by means of the payment unit. 
     In the meantime, the payment unit in the commercial laundry machine is provided to use paper money or coins for user&#39;s convenience. The paper money and coins introduced to the payment unit is held in a storage box in the payment unit (or the laundry machine. 
     However, in a case of the commercial laundry machine, the storage box that holds the paper money or the coins can be stolen. That is, the payment unit can be removed from the cabinet of the laundry machine forcibly, and taken away from the laundry machine. 
     Consequently, a method for solving this problem has been suggested, in which securing of the payment unit to the cabinet is made firmly for preventing the payment unit from being stolen. However, even if the securing of the payment unit to the cabinet is made firmly, if securing of the cabinet itself is poor, a part of the cabinet is removed together with the payment unit for taking away the payment unit. 
     DISCLOSURE 
     Technical Problem 
     To solve the problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a laundry machine in which a securing structure of a cabinet which forms an exterior of the laundry machine is improved for preventing a payment unit secured to the cabinet from being stolen. 
     Technical Solution 
     To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry machine includes a base which forms a bottom of the laundry machine, front/rear plates which form a front and a rear of the laundry machine  100  respectively, side plates which form opposite sides of the laundry machine, and a top plate which forms a top of the laundry machine, wherein the top plate includes a locking device for controlling a locking state of the top plate by an external key placing-in action. 
     Preferably, the locking device is mounted to the front plate, the rear plate, or the side plate for controlling the locking state of the front plate. 
     Preferably, the locking device is mounted to one side direction of the top plate, and a hinge is mounted to the other side direction of the top plate. 
     Preferably, the top plate has an edge bent downward in a ‘⊂’ shape in section, to form a first coupling surface and one of the front plate, the rear plate or the side plates has a second coupling surface formed on a top side, which is a bent extension therefrom to have a ‘┌’ shape to be in contact with the first coupling surface. 
     Preferably, the first coupling surface and the second coupling surface respectively have a first locking slot and a second locking slot aligned to each other so that the locking device is placed in the first locking slot and the second locking slot at a time for maintaining a locked state of the top plate. 
     Preferably, the locking device includes a key box mounted to one of the front plate, the rear plate or the side plates, and a locking portion for placing both in the first locking slot and the second locking slot. 
     Preferably, the locking portion includes a latching piece of a hook shape to be projected toward a locking rotation direction at the time of locking rotation at the key box. 
     Preferably, the first coupling surface has a plurality of the fixing holes and the second coupling surface has a plurality of fixing pieces for placing in the fixing holes, respectively. 
     The laundry machine further includes a payment unit mounted to the top plate for settling an amount of money for using the laundry machine. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a laundry machine includes a cabinet having an exterior with one opened side, a top plate secured to the cabinet at the opened side so as to be opened/closed, a payment unit secured to one side of the top plate for a user to pay an amount of money for using the laundry machine, a locking device mounted adjacent to coupling surfaces of the top plate and the cabinet for enabling locking of the cabinet and the top plate at a time. 
     Preferably, the top plate has one side having a ‘c’ section to form a first coupling surface having a first locking slot formed therein for placing the locking device therein when the top plate is coupled to the cabinet, bringing the top plate into contact with the cabinet. 
     Preferably, the opened side of the cabinet has a ‘r’ shaped section to form a second coupling surface having a second locking slot formed therein for placing the locking device therein when the top plate is coupled to the cabinet, bringing the top plate into contact with the cabinet. 
     Preferably, the locking device includes a key box mounted to an inside of a front of the cabinet, a rotation shaft extended and rotatably projected from the key box, and a locking portion placed on the rotation shaft for locking the top plate to the cabinet. 
     Preferably wherein the locking portion includes a locking portion body, a slot formed in one end of the locking portion body for coupling to the rotation shaft for rotating the locking portion body together with the rotation shaft, and a latching piece formed at the other end of the locking portion body for placing in the first locking slot and the second locking slot to lock an upper side of the first locking slot like a hook. 
     Preferably, the locking device is arranged to a front of the cabinet adjacent to the payment unit. 
     Advantageous Effects 
     The present invention has following advantageous effects. 
     The laundry machine of the present invention can prevent the payment unit from being stolen by modifying a coupling structure of the cabinet to which the payment unit is mounted of a commercially used laundry machine. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide further understanding of the disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the disclosure. 
       In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a longitudinal section of a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a secured state of a payment unit in a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a payment unit in a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a payment unit in a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE 
     Reference will now be made in detail to the specific embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. 
     In describing the present invention, names of elements are defined taking functions thereof into account. Therefore, it is required to understand that the names do not limit the elements technically. Moreover, the names of the elements may be called differently in this field of art. 
     The present invention will be described, taking a front loading type laundry machine as an example. However, the present invention is applicable to other types of the laundry machine (for an example, a top loading type laundry machine). 
     The present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.  FIG. 1  illustrates a longitudinal section of a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, schematically. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the laundry machine  100  includes a cabinet  110  which forms an exterior of the laundry machine  100 , a tub  120  in the cabinet  110  for holding washing water, a drum  130  rotatably mounted in the tub  120 , and a motor  160  for driving the drum  130 . 
     The cabinet  110  includes a base  111  which forms a bottom of the laundry machine  100 , side plates (not shown) which form opposite sides of the laundry machine, a front plate  112  which forms a front of the laundry machine  100 , a rear plate (not shown) which forms a rear side of the laundry machine  100 , and a top plate  113  which forms a top of the laundry machine  100 . 
     The front plate  112  has a laundry opening  112   a  for introducing the laundry therethrough. The cabinet  110  has a door  115  rotatably mounted to one side of the laundry opening  112   a . The laundry opening  112   a  is opened/closed by the door  115 . 
     The tub  120  has a top side secured to hanging springs  121  which are secured to a top side of the cabinet  110  and a bottom side supported on dampers  122  for attenuating vibration from the laundry machine  100  when the drum  130  rotates at a high speed. 
     Along with this, the drum  130  has lifts  131  on an inside circumference for lifting the laundry introduced to the drum  130  to a predetermined height when the drum  130  rotates. The drum  130  has a plurality of pass through holes  132  in a circumferential surface for escape of washing water from the drum  130  in washing steps, such as spinning. 
     In the meantime, on an upper side of the tub  120 , there are a water supply hose  140  for supplying water to the tub  120  from an external water source, a water supply valve  141  on the water supply hose  140  for controlling in/out of the water, and a detergent supply unit  142  for holding detergent to supply the detergent together with the water being supplied to the tub  120  through the water supply hose  140 . 
     On a lower side of the tub  120 , there are a drain hose  150  and a drain pump  151  for draining the washing water used in washing and rinsing to an outside of the laundry machine  100 . There is a motor  160  mounted in rear of the tub  120  coupled to the drum  130  with the rotation shaft  165  for rotating the drum  130 . 
     In the meantime, the laundry machine  100  may have a circulating duct  170  for circulating air for a drying course. That is, the circulating duct  170  configured such that the circulating duct  170  draws air from the tub  120 , heats the air, and introduces the air to the tub  120 , again. 
     The circulating duct  170  has a drying duct  172  and a condensing duct  174 . Mounted in the drying duct  172 , there are a heater  173  and a fan  173   a  for blowing hot air to the tub  120 . 
     The drying duct  172  and the condensing duct  174  are in communication with each other as well as with the drum  130 , and the tub  120  has an air inlet  120   a  for introduction of the hot air thereto through the drying duct  172  and an air outlet  120   b  for discharging the air therefrom to the condensing duct  174 . 
     In the meantime, the cabinet  110  of the laundry machine  100  of the present invention has a locking device  290  for locking respective plates  112  and  113  of the cabinet  110 . For convenience&#39;s sake, the laundry machine  100  of the present invention will be described, taking the locking device  290  formed between the front plate  112  and the top plate  113  of the cabinet  110 , as an example. However, this example does not limit a mounting position of the locking device  290 , but the locking device  290  can be mounted wherever one pair of plates are adjacent to each other. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an exploded perspective view of a secured state of a payment unit in a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 3  illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a payment unit in a laundry machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , on an inside of the cabinet  110  of the laundry machine  100 , there is the locking device  290  for securing the top plate  113  of the cabinet  110 , additionally. The locking device  290  can be mounted to the front plate  112  which forms the front of the cabinet  110 . However, the locking device  290  may be mounted to the side plate (not shown) for locking the top plate  113 . 
     It is preferable that the locking device  290  is arranged to the top plate  113  or adjacent to a payment unit  116  mounted to the cabinet  110 . An object of the present invention is for preventing the payment unit  116  from being stolen. Therefore, for security of the top plate  113  or an inside of the cabinet  110  to which the payment unit  116  is secured, the locking device  290  is mounted adjacent to the payment unit  116 . 
     A structure of the top plate  113  will be described. The top plate  113  is a rectangular plate which forms a top surface of the laundry machine  100 . The top plate  113  has an edge bent downward in a ‘c’ shape in section, substantially. The downward bent edge of the top plate  113  forms a first coupling surface  300  which is in surface to surface contact with top surfaces of the front plate  112  and the side plates. Therefore, the first coupling surface  300  is form along an underside circumference of the top plate  113 . 
     The first coupling surface  300  has a first locking slot  310  for placing the locking device  290  therein. The first locking slot  310  can be formed in the front plate  112  to which the locking device  290  is mounted. 
     The front plate  112  has a second coupling surface  400  formed on a top side in conformity with the first coupling surface  300  of the top plate  113 . The second coupling surface  400  is a bent extension from the front plate to have a ‘r’ shape. The second coupling surface  400  has a second locking slot  410  formed at a position matched to the first locking slot  310 . That is, if first coupling surface  300  is seated on the second coupling surface  400 , the first locking slot  310  is in communication with the second locking slot  410 . The locking device  290  is fastened to the first and second locking slots  310  and  410  formed to be in communication with each other thus. 
     The locking device  290  is rotatably mounted to an inside of the front plate  112 . As being rotated, the locking device  290  is placed in the first and second locking slots  310  and  410  to turn the top plate  113  into a locked state. 
     The locking device  290  includes a key box  250  for being locked/unlocked as a key  255  is placed therein, and a locking portion  210  coupled to the key box  250  for being rotated as the key  255  is placed in the key box  250  so as to be placed in the first and second locking slots  310  and  410 . 
     The key box  250  has a rotation shaft  251  formed at one side for being rotated as the key  255  placed in the key box  250  is rotated. 
     The locking portion  210  has one end with a hole  215  for coupling to the rotation shaft  251 , and the other end with a latching piece  213  for placing in the first locking slot  310  and the second locking slot  410 . The locking portion  210  can be bent taking a space where the key box  250  is arranged into account. The latching piece  213  is projected like a hook for being placed in the first locking slot  310  and the second locking slot  410  when the latching piece  213  is rotated to apply a pressure to an upper side of the first locking slot to prevent the top plate from moving away. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a perspective view of a payment unit in a laundry machine in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the another preferred embodiment, a securing state of the front plate  112  (or the side plate) to the top plate  113  is modified additionally. Therefore, detailed description of parts identical to the foregoing embodiment will be omitted. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , on both sides of the first locking slot  310  formed in the first coupling surface  300 , there are fixing holes  320  are formed. And, on both sides of the second locking slot  410  formed in the second coupling surface  400 , there are fixing pieces  420  are projected from the second coupling surface  400 . 
     If the top plate  113  is placed on the front plate  112  (or the side plate), the first locking slot  310  and the second locking slot  410  are aligned so as to be in communication with each other and the fixing pieces  420  on the second coupling surface  400  are placed in the fixing holes  320  in the first coupling surface  300  and coupled thereto, respectively. 
     The coupling of the fixing pieces  420  to the fixing holes  320  respectively supplements locking of the locking device  290  which is rotated and latches the first locking slot  310  and the second locking slot  410 . That is, the respective coupling of the fixing pieces  420  to the fixing holes  320  prevents the locking device  290  which is rotated and latches the first locking slot  310  and the second locking slot  410  from being unlocked by external force applied to the top plate  113  in a lateral direction. 
     It is preferable that the fixing pieces  420  and the fixing holes  320  are formed on opposite sides of the first and second locking slots  310  and  410 , for preventing the latching piece  213  of the locking portion  210  from moving away from the first and second locking slots  310  and  410  when external force is applied in a direction the same with the locking direction of the locking portion  210 , thereby causing the top plate  113  from separating from the front plate  112 . According to this, the respective coupling of the fixing pieces  420  to the fixing holes  320  enables to sustain a latching state of the locking portion  210  of the locking device  290  at the first and second locking slots  310  and  410  by withstanding the external force applied to a side and a front of the top plate  113 . 
     It is apparent that a plurality of the fixing holes  320  and the fixing pieces  420  can be provided to the first and second coupling surfaces  300  and  400  respectively, and a plurality of the locking devices  290  can also be provided according to directions of opening of the top plate  113  and mounting positions of the laundry machine. 
     In the meantime, the top plate  113  may be fastened with hinges (not shown) mounted to one side thereof. That is, if one side that is opened/closed by the locking device  290  is opened, the other side is rotated round the hinge to open/close the top plate  113 . 
     The operation of the locking device of the present invention will be described, taking a commercial laundry machine as an example. 
     The laundry machine  100  starts and ends a washing process as the user places an amount of coins (or paper money) in the payment unit  116  to finish required payment according to a purpose of use. Accordingly, the coins placed in the payment unit  116  are held in the payment unit  116  or the laundry machine  100 . 
     Therefore, if a certain time period is passed, in order to collect the coins or paper money, a manager may open the locking device  290  and collect the coins and the paper money held therein. 
     To do this, if the manager places a key in the key box  250  from an outside of the front plate  112  and turns the key, the rotation shaft  251  of the key box  250  is rotated to turn the locking portion  210 , thereby releasing a locking state of the top plate  113 . 
     In the meantime, if the manager collects the coins from the payment unit  116  and closes the top plate  113 , the first coupling surface  300  of the top plate  113  is placed on the second coupling surface  400  of the front plate  112 , aligning the first locking slot  310  with the second locking slot  410 . At the same time with this, the fixing pieces  420  on the second coupling surface  400  are placed in the fixing holes  320  in the first coupling surface  300  respectively, thereby coupling the top plate  113  to the front plate  112 . 
     Then, if the manager places the key in the key box  250  from an outside of the front plate  112  and turns the key, the rotation shaft  251  projected from the key box  250  rotates. According to this, the locking portion  210  coupled to the rotation shaft  251  rotates until the locking portion  210  is placed in the first locking slot  310  and the second locking slot  410  and locks the top plate  113 . That is, the locking portion  210  passes through the first locking slot  310  and the second locking slot  410  and presses down the first coupling surface to the second coupling surface, thereby locking the top plate  113 . 
     Eventually, owing to the top plate locking device, separation of the top plate from the front plate is limited at first, and owing to the fixing pieces and the fixing holes, the separation is limited, additionally. 
     It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in 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.