Patent Publication Number: US-11639574-B2

Title: Laundry treating apparatus

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2020-0113174, filed on Sep. 4, 2020, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus having a rotator disposed in a drum. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus that puts clothes, bedding, and the like (hereinafter, referred to as laundry) into a drum to remove contamination from the laundry. The laundry treating apparatus may perform processes such as washing, rinsing, dehydration, drying, and the like. The laundry treating apparatuses may be classified into a top loading type laundry treating apparatus and a front loading type laundry treating apparatus based on a scheme of putting the laundry into the drum. 
     The laundry treating apparatus may include a housing forming an appearance of the laundry treating apparatus, a tub accommodated in the housing, a drum that is rotatably mounted inside the tub and into which the laundry is put, and a detergent feeder that feeds detergent into the drum. 
     When the drum is rotated by a motor while wash water is supplied to the laundry accommodated in the drum, dirt on the laundry may be removed by friction with the drum and the wash water. 
     In one example, a rotator may be disposed inside the drum to improve a laundry washing effect. The rotator may be rotated inside the drum to form a water flow, and the laundry washing effect may be improved by the rotator. 
     In general, the rotator includes a pulsator rotatably disposed on a bottom surface of the drum, and an agitator rotatably disposed at a center of the pulsator. 
     A conventional laundry treating apparatus had a limitation in that a three-dimensional water flow is not able to be formed because the pulsator and the agitator included in the rotator are configured to rotate in the same direction. 
     In one example, to overcome such limitation, U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,029 (hereinafter, referred to as Prior Art literature) discloses a laundry treating apparatus that independently rotates the pulsator and the agitator using two motors. However, in the case of the laundry treating apparatus disclosed in the prior document, there are disadvantages in that a structure is complicated and price competitiveness is lowered compared to a case of using one motor. 
     SUMMARY 
     One of various tasks of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus including a pulsator and an agitator rotatable in opposite directions. 
     A laundry treating apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may include a pulsator and an agitator configured to rotate in opposite directions, and the pulsator and the agitator may be driven by a driver including one driving motor and two gear assemblies, each of which is of a planetary gear-type. 
     According to an aspect of the present disclosure, provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a tub for providing therein a space for water to be stored, a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub and providing therein a space for clothes to be stored, wherein the drum includes an open surface for inserting and withdrawing the clothes therethrough and a bottom surface located on an opposite side of the open surface, a pulsator rotatably disposed on the bottom surface and inside the drum, an agitator protruding from the pulsator inside the drum and extending toward the open surface, wherein the agitator is rotatably disposed at a center of the pulsator, and a driver configured to drive at least one of the drum, the pulsator, and the agitator, wherein the pulsator and the agitator are configured to rotate in opposite directions. 
     In one implementation, the driver may include a driving motor disposed outside the tub, wherein the driving motor generates rotational force, a drum rotation shaft disposed to pass through the tub, wherein the drum rotation shaft has one end fixed to the drum and the other end located outside the tub, wherein the drum rotation shaft is configured as a hollow shaft, a driving shaft having one end located inside the drum rotation shaft and the other end fixed to the driving motor, a first pulsator rotation shaft having one end protruding through the bottom surface of the drum toward the open surface of the drum, and the other end located inside the drum rotation shaft, a second pulsator rotation shaft constituting a central shaft of rotation of the pulsator, wherein the second pulsator is configured as a hollow shaft to provide therein a space for storing said one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft, an agitator rotation shaft disposed to pass through a top surface of the second pulsator rotation shaft, wherein the agitator rotation shaft has one end fixed to the agitator and the other end located inside the second pulsator rotation shaft, and a clutch for transmitting rotational force provided from the driving motor to the drum rotation shaft when the driving motor and the drum rotation shaft are connected to each other, and blocking rotational force provided from the driving motor when the driving motor and the drum rotation shaft are separated from each other. 
     In one implementation, the agitator may be configured to rotate in the same direction as a rotation direction of rotational force provided by the driving motor, and the pulsator may be configured to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of rotational force provided by the driving motor. 
     In one implementation, the driver may further include a first gear assembly disposed inside the drum rotation shaft, and between said one end of the driving shaft and the other end of the first pulsator rotation shaft, wherein the first gear assembly transmits rotational force transmitted by the driving shaft to each of the drum rotation shaft and the first pulsator rotation shaft, and a second gear assembly disposed inside the second pulsator rotation shaft, and between said one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft and the other end of the agitator rotation shaft, wherein the second gear assembly transmits rotational force transmitted by the first pulsator rotation shaft to each of the second pulsator rotation shaft and the agitator rotation shaft. The pulsator may be configured to rotate by rotational force sequentially transmitted through the driving shaft, the first gear assembly, the first pulsator rotation shaft, the second gear assembly, and the second pulsator rotation shaft, and the agitator may be configured to rotate by rotational force sequentially transmitted through the driving shaft, the first gear assembly, the first pulsator rotation shaft, the second gear assembly, and the agitator rotation shaft. 
     In one implementation, each of the first gear assembly and the second gear assembly may include a driving gear and a plurality of driven gears transmitting power while rotating around the driving gear, the first gear assembly may transmit rotational force in the same direction as a rotation direction of rotational force transmitted by the driving shaft to the first pulsator rotation shaft, and transmit rotational force in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of rotational force transmitted by the driving shaft to the drum rotation shaft, and the second gear assembly may transmit rotational force in the same direction as a rotation direction of rotational force transmitted by the first pulsator rotation shaft to the agitator rotation shaft, and transmit rotational force in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of rotational force transmitted by the first pulsator rotation shaft to the second pulsator rotation shaft. 
     According to another aspect of the present disclosure, provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a tub for providing therein a space for water to be stored, a drum rotatably disposed inside the tub and providing therein a space for clothes to be stored, wherein the drum includes an open surface for inserting and withdrawing the clothes therethrough and a bottom surface located on an opposite side of the open surface, a pulsator rotatably disposed on the bottom surface and inside the drum, an agitator protruding from the pulsator inside the drum and extending toward the open surface, wherein the agitator is rotatably disposed at a center of the pulsator, and a driver configured to drive at least one of the drum, the pulsator, and the agitator. The driver includes a driving motor disposed outside the tub, wherein the driving motor generates rotational force, a drum rotation shaft disposed to pass through the tub, wherein the drum rotation shaft has one end fixed to the drum and the other end located outside the tub, a driving shaft having one end located inside the drum rotation shaft and the other end fixed to the driving motor, a first pulsator rotation shaft having one end protruding through the bottom surface of the drum toward the open surface of the drum, and the other end located inside the drum rotation shaft, a first gear assembly disposed inside the drum rotation shaft, and between said one end of the driving shaft and the other end of the first pulsator rotation shaft, wherein the first gear assembly transmits rotational force transmitted by the driving shaft to each of the drum rotation shaft and the first pulsator rotation shaft, a second pulsator rotation shaft constituting a central shaft of rotation of the pulsator, wherein the second pulsator provides therein a space for storing said one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft, an agitator rotation shaft disposed to pass through a top surface of the second pulsator rotation shaft, wherein the agitator rotation shaft has one end fixed to the agitator and the other end located inside the second pulsator rotation shaft, a second gear assembly disposed inside the second pulsator rotation shaft, and between said one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft and the other end of the agitator rotation shaft, wherein the second gear assembly transmits rotational force transmitted by the first pulsator rotation shaft to each of the second pulsator rotation shaft and the agitator rotation shaft, and a clutch for transmitting rotational force provided from the driving motor to the drum rotation shaft when the driving motor and the drum rotation shaft are connected to each other, and blocking rotational force provided from the driving motor when the driving motor and the drum rotation shaft are separated from each other. 
     In one implementation, the pulsator may be configured to rotate by rotational force sequentially transmitted through the driving shaft, the first gear assembly, the first pulsator rotation shaft, the second gear assembly, and the second pulsator rotation shaft. 
     In one implementation, the agitator may be configured to rotate by rotational force sequentially transmitted through the driving shaft, the first gear assembly, the first pulsator rotation shaft, the second gear assembly, and the agitator rotation shaft. 
     In one implementation, the first gear assembly may include a first driving gear rotatably disposed inside the drum rotation shaft and fixed to said one end of the driving shaft, a first connecting gear disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the drum rotation shaft, a plurality of first driven gears disposed along a circumferential surface of the first driving gear to connect the first driving gear with the first connecting gear, and a first cage rotatably disposed inside the drum rotation shaft, wherein the first cage rotatably fixes the plurality of first driven gears, and the first pulsator rotation shaft may be configured to connect a top surface of the first cage with the second gear assembly. 
     In one implementation, the second gear assembly may include a second driving gear rotatably disposed inside the second pulsator rotation shaft and fixed to said one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft, a second connecting gear disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the second pulsator rotation shaft, a plurality of second driven gears disposed along a circumferential surface of the second driving gear to connect the second driving gear with the second connecting gear, and a second cage rotatably disposed inside the second pulsator rotation shaft, wherein the second cage rotatably fixes the plurality of second driven gears, and the agitator rotation shaft may be configured to connect the second cage with the agitator. 
     In one implementation, the first driving gear may be configured to spin in the same direction (a first direction) as a rotation direction of the driving shaft, and each of the plurality of first driven gears may be configured to spin in a direction (a second direction) opposite to the rotation direction of the driving shaft. 
     In one implementation, the plurality of first driven gears may be configured to orbit in the first direction around the first driving gear, and the first cage, the first pulsator rotation shaft, and the second driving gear may be configured to spin together in the first direction. 
     In one implementation, each of the plurality of second driven gears may be configured to spin in the second direction, and the second pulsator rotation shaft and the pulsator may be configured to rotate together in the second direction. 
     In one implementation, the plurality of second driven gears may be configured to orbit in the first direction around the second driving gear, and the second cage, the agitator rotation shaft, and the agitator may be configured to spin together in the first direction. 
     In one implementation, each of the drum rotation shaft and the second pulsator rotation shaft may be configured as a hollow shaft, and each of the first pulsator rotation shaft and the agitator rotation shaft may be configured as a solid shaft. 
     The laundry treating apparatus according to exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may include the drum rotatably disposed inside the tub and providing therein the space for the clothes to be stored, the pulsator rotatably disposed on the bottom surface and inside the drum, the agitator protruding from the pulsator inside the drum and extending toward the open surface, wherein the agitator is rotatably disposed at the center of the pulsator, and the driver configured to drive at least one of the drum, the pulsator, and the agitator. 
     In this connection, the pulsator and the agitator may be configured to rotate in the opposite directions. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus may form a three-dimensional water flow. 
     In one example, the driver may be composed of the single driving motor and the two gear assemblies, each of which is of the planetary gear-type. Accordingly, compared to a laundry treating apparatus using a plurality of driving motors, the structure may be simplified and the price competitiveness may also be improved. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a view showing an interior of a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  2    is a view showing a rotation shaft coupled to a drum and a rotator in a laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  3    is a view showing a second gear assembly for driving a rotator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG.  4    is an enlarged cross-sectional view for illustrating a second gear assembly in  FIG.  3   . 
         FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram for illustrating a method for driving a rotator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Hereinafter, a specific embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. A following detailed description is provided to provide a comprehensive understanding of a method, an apparatus, and/or a system described herein. However, this is merely an example and the present disclosure is not limited thereto. 
     In describing embodiments of the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of the prior art related to the present disclosure may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present disclosure, which may vary based on intentions of users and operators, customs, or the like. Therefore, a definition thereof should be made based on a content throughout this specification. The terminology used in the detailed description is for the purpose of describing embodiments of the present disclosure only, and should not be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms ‘a’ and ‘an’ are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It should be understood that the terms ‘comprises’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’, and ‘including’ when used herein, specify the presence of the features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described herein, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, or combinations thereof. 
     In addition, in describing the components of the embodiment of the present disclosure, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) may be used. Such terms are only for distinguishing the component from other components, and the essence, order, or order of the component is not limited by the term. 
       FIG.  1    shows an interior of a laundry treating apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The laundry treating apparatus  1  may include a cabinet  10 , a tub  20 , and a drum  30 . 
     The cabinet  10  may be in any shape as long as being able to accommodate the tub  20 , and  FIG.  1    shows a case in which the cabinet  10  forms an appearance of the laundry treating apparatus  1  as an example. 
     The cabinet  10  may have a laundry inlet  12  defined therein for putting laundry into the drum  30  or withdrawing the laundry stored in the drum  30  to the outside, and may have a laundry door  13  for opening and closing the laundry inlet  12 . 
       FIG.  1    shows that a laundry inlet  12  is defined in a top surface  11  of a cabinet  10  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and a laundry door  13  for opening and closing the laundry inlet  12  is disposed on the top surface  11 . However, the laundry inlet  12  and the laundry door  13  are not necessarily limited to being defined in and disposed on the top surface  11  of the cabinet  10 . 
     A tub  20  is means for storing water necessary for washing laundry. The tub  20  may have a tub opening  22  defined therein in communication with the laundry inlet  12 . For example, one surface of the tub  20  may be opened to define the tub opening  22 . At least a portion of the tub opening  22  may be positioned to face the laundry inlet  12 , so that the tub opening  22  may be in communication with the laundry inlet  12 . 
       FIG.  1    shows a top loading type laundry treating apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Therefore,  FIG.  1    shows that a top surface of the tub  20  is opened to define the tub opening  22 , and the tub opening  22  is positioned below the laundry inlet  12  and in communication with the laundry inlet  12 . 
     The tub  20  is fixed at a location inside the cabinet  10  through a tub support (not shown). The tub support may be in a structure capable of damping vibrations generated in the tub  20 . 
     The tub  20  is supplied with water through a water supply  60 . The water supply  60  may be composed of a water supply pipe that connects a water supply source with the tub  20 , and a water supply valve that opens and closes the water supply pipe. 
     The laundry treating apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a detergent feeder that stores detergent therein and is able to supply the detergent into the tub  20 . As the water supply  60  supplies water to the detergent feeder, the water that has passed through the detergent feeder may be supplied to the tub  20  together with the detergent. 
     In addition, the laundry treating apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a water sprayer that sprays water into the tub  20  through the tub opening  22 . The water supply  60  may be connected to the water sprayer to supply water directly into the tub  20  through the water sprayer. 
     The water stored in the tub  20  is discharged to the outside of the cabinet  10  through a drain  65 . The drain  65  may be composed of a drain pipe that guides the water inside the tub  20  to the outside of the cabinet  10 , a drain pump disposed on the drain pipe, and a drain valve for controlling opening and closing of the drain pipe. 
     The drum  30  may be rotatably disposed inside the tub  20 . The drum  30  may be configured to have a circular cross-section in order to be rotatable inside the tub  20 . For example, the drum  30  may be in a cylindrical shape as shown in  FIG.  1   . 
     The drum  30  may have a drum opening defined therein positioned below the tub opening  22  to communicate with the inlet. One surface of the drum  30  may be opened to define an open surface  31  as will be described later, and the open surface  31  may correspond to the drum opening. 
     A plurality of drum through-holes that communicate an interior and an exterior of the drum  30  with each other, that is, the interior of the drum  30  and an interior of the tub  20  divided by the drum  30  with each other may be defined in an outer circumferential surface of the drum  30 . Accordingly, the water supplied into the tub  20  may be supplied to the interior of the drum  30  in which the laundry is stored through the drum through-holes. 
     The drum  30  may be rotated by a driver  50 . The driver  50  may be composed of a stator fixed at a location outside the tub  20  and forming a rotating magnetic field when a current is supplied, a rotor rotated by the rotating magnetic field, and a rotation shaft  40  disposed to penetrate the tub  20  to connect the drum  30  and the like to the rotor. 
     As shown in  FIG.  1   , the rotation shaft  40  may be disposed to form a right angle with respect to a bottom surface of the tub  20 . In this case, the laundry inlet  12  may be defined in the top surface  11  of the cabinet  10 , the tub opening  22  may be defined in the top surface of the tub  20 , and the drum opening may be defined in the top surface of the drum  30 . 
     In one example, when the drum  30  rotates in a state in which the laundry is concentrated in a certain region inside the drum  30 , a dynamic unbalance state (an unbalanced state) occurs in the drum  30 . When the drum  30  in the unbalanced state rotates, the drum  30  rotates while vibrating by a centrifugal force acting on the laundry. The vibration of the drum  30  may be transmitted to the tub  20  or the cabinet  10  to cause a noise. 
     To avoid problems like this, the present disclosure may further include a balancer  39  that controls the unbalance of the drum  30  by generating a force to offset or damp the centrifugal force acting on the laundry. 
     In one example, referring to  FIG.  1   , the tub  20  may have a space defined therein in which the water may be stored, and the drum  30  may be rotatably disposed inside the tub  20 . The drum  30  may include the open surface  31  through which the laundry enters and exits, and a bottom surface  33  positioned on an opposite side of the open surface  31 . 
       FIG.  1    shows that the top surface of the drum  30  corresponds to the open surface  31 , and the bottom surface thereof corresponds to the bottom surface  33  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As described above, the open surface  31  may correspond to a surface through which the laundry input through the laundry inlet  12  of the cabinet  10  and the tub opening  22  of the tub  20  passes. 
     In one example, the water supply  60  may be configured to be connected to the means such as the detergent feeder, the water sprayer, or the like to supply the water into the tub  20  as described above. In one example, an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a controller  70  that controls the water supply  60  to adjust a water supply amount in a washing process and the like. 
     The controller  70  is configured to adjust the amount of water supplied to the tub  20  in the washing process, a rinsing process, or the like. The amount of water supplied may be adjusted through a manipulation unit disposed on the cabinet  10  and manipulated by a user, or may be determined through an amount of laundry, a load of the driver  50 , or the like. 
     A plurality of water supply amounts are preset in the controller  70 , and the controller  70  may be configured to control the water supply  60  based on one of the preset water supply amounts in response to a command selected by a user or the like in the washing process or the like. 
     In one example, as shown in  FIG.  1   , an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include a rotator  100 . The rotator  100  may be rotatably installed on the bottom surface  33  and inside the drum  30 . 
     The rotator  100  may include a pulsator  103  rotatably disposed on the bottom surface  33  and inside the drum  30 , and an agitator  105  that protrudes from the pulsator  103  inside the drum  30  and extends toward the open surface  31 , and is rotatably disposed at a center of the pulsator  103 . 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drum  30  and the rotator  100  may be configured to be rotatable, independently. A water flow may be formed by the rotation of the drum  30  and the rotator  100 , and friction or collision with the laundry may occur, so that washing or rinsing of the laundry may be made. 
     In one example,  FIG.  2    shows the rotation shaft  40  coupled with the drum  30  and the rotator  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Each of the drum  30  and the rotator  100  may be connected to the driver  50  through the rotation shaft  40  to receive a rotational force. In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the drum  30  may be rotated as a drum rotation shaft  41  is coupled to the bottom surface  33  thereof, and the rotator  100  may be rotated by being coupled to a first pulsator shaft  42  that passes through the bottom surface  33  and separately rotated with respect to the drum rotation shaft  41 . 
     The first pulsator shaft  42  may rotate in a direction the same as or opposite to a rotation direction of the drum rotation shaft  41 . The drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator shaft  42  may receive power through one driver  50 , and the driver  50  may be connected to a first gear assembly  45  that distributes the power to the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator shaft  42  and adjusts the rotation direction. 
     That is, a driving shaft  55  of the driver  50  may be connected to the first gear assembly  45  to transmit the power to the first gear assembly  45 , and each of the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator shaft  42  may be connected to the first gear assembly  45  to receive the power. 
     The drum rotation shaft  41  may be configured as a hollow shaft, and the first pulsator shaft  42  may be configured as a solid shaft disposed inside the drum rotation shaft  41 . Accordingly, one embodiment of the present disclosure may effectively provide the power to the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator shaft  42  parallel to each other through the single driver  50 . 
       FIG.  2    shows a planetary gear-type first gear assembly  45 , and shows a state in which each of the driving shaft  55 , the drum rotation shaft  41 , and the first pulsator shaft  42  is coupled to the first gear assembly  45 . As the driving shaft  55  is able to transmit a rotational force through the planetary gear-type first gear assembly  45 , the driving shaft  55  may be referred to as a driving shaft  55 . Hereinafter, the driving shaft  55  will be referred to as the driving shaft  55  for convenience of description. 
     Referring to  FIG.  2   , a rotational relationship of the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator shaft  42  in one embodiment of the present disclosure will be described as follows. 
     The driving shaft  55  of the driver  50  may be connected to a first driving gear  451  at a center of the planetary gear-type first gear assembly  45 . When the driving shaft  55  is rotated, in the first gear assembly  45 , a first driven gear  453  and a first connecting gear  455  may be rotated together by rotation of the first driving gear  451 . 
     More specifically, the first gear assembly  45  may include the first driving gear  451  rotatably disposed inside the drum rotation shaft  41  and fixed to one end of the driving shaft  55 , a first connecting gear  455  disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the drum rotation shaft  41 , a plurality of first driven gears  453  disposed along a circumferential surface of the first driving gear  451  to connect the first driving gear  451  with the first connecting gear  455 , and a first cage  457  rotatably disposed inside the drum rotation shaft  41  and rotatably fixing the plurality of first driven gears  453 . The first pulsator rotation shaft  42  may be disposed to connect a top surface of the first cage  457  with a second gear assembly  49  to be described later. 
     In this connection, the drum rotation shaft  41  coupled to the bottom surface  33  of the drum  30  may be connected to the first connecting gear  455 , and the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  may be connected to the first driven gear  453  via the first cage  457 . 
     The first gear assembly  45  may transmit a rotational force in the same direction as a rotation direction of a rotational force transmitted by the driving shaft  55  to the first pulsator rotation shaft  42 , and transmit a rotational force in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotational force transmitted by the driving shaft  55  to the drum rotation shaft  41 . 
     The first gear assembly  45  may include a clutch  47  and a brake  46  that may independently restrict the rotation of the rotation shaft  40  as needed. The first gear assembly  45  may further include a gear housing  48  fixed to the tub  20 , and the clutch  47  may be disposed in the gear housing  48  to selectively restrict the rotation of the drum rotation shaft  41  connected to the first connecting gear  455 . 
     In exemplary embodiments, the clutch  47  may transmit a rotational force provided from the driving motor  53  to the drum rotation shaft  41  when the driving motor  53  is connected to the drum rotation shaft  41 , and block the rotational force provided from the driving motor  53  when the driving motor  53  and the drum rotation shaft  41  are separated from each other. 
     The brake  46  may be configured to mutually restrict or release the rotations of the driving shaft  55  and the first connecting gear  455 . That is, the rotation of the first connecting gear  455  or the rotation of the drum rotation shaft  41  may be synchronized with or desynchronized with the driving shaft  55  by the brake  46 . 
     In summary, the driver  50  may include a driving motor  53  disposed outside the tub  20  to generate the rotational force, the drum rotation shaft  41  disposed to pass through the tub  20 , the driving shaft  55  for transmitting the rotational force provided from the driving motor  53 , the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  for transmitting the rotational force transmitted from the driving shaft  55  into the drum  30 , and the first gear assembly  45  disposed inside the drum rotation shaft  41 . 
     One end of the drum rotation shaft  41  may be fixed to the drum  30 , and the other end of the drum rotation shaft  41  may be located outside the tub  20 . 
     One end of the driving shaft  55  may be located inside the drum rotation shaft  41 , and the other end of the driving shaft  55  may be fixed to the driving motor  53 . 
     One end of the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  may pass through the bottom surface of the drum  30  and may protrude toward the open surface of the drum  30 , and the other end of the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  may be located inside the drum rotation shaft  30 . 
     The first gear assembly  45  may be disposed between said one end of the driving shaft  55  and the other end of the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  to transmit the rotational force transmitted by the driving shaft  55  to each of the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator rotation shaft  42 . 
     Hereinafter, a method for driving each of the pulsator  103  and the agitator  105  included in the rotator  100  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS.  3  and  4   . 
       FIG.  3    is a view showing a second gear assembly for driving a rotator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG.  4    is an enlarged cross-sectional view for illustrating a second gear assembly in  FIG.  3   . 
     Referring to  FIG.  3   , the laundry treating apparatus  1  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may further include the second gear assembly  49  that may distribute the rotational force transmitted from the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  to the pulsator  103  and the agitator  105 , and adjust the rotation direction. 
     More specifically, the laundry treating apparatus  1  of the present disclosure may further include a second pulsator rotation shaft  44  that constitutes a central shaft of rotation of the pulsator  103  and provides a space in which one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  is accommodated, an agitator rotation shaft  499  that is disposed to pass through a top surface of the second pulsator rotation shaft  44 , and has one end fixed to the agitator  105  and the other end positioned inside the second pulsator rotation shaft  44 , and a second gear assembly  49  that is disposed inside the second pulsator rotation shaft  44  and between one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  and the other end of the agitator rotation shaft  499 , and transmits the rotational force transmitted by the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  to each of the second pulsator rotation shaft  44  and the agitator rotation shaft  499 . 
     In this connection, the pulsator  103  may be configured to rotate by the rotational force sequentially transmitted through the driving shaft  55 , the first gear assembly  45 , the first pulsator rotation shaft  42 , the second gear assembly  49 , and the second pulsator rotation shaft  44 . 
     In one example, the agitator  105  may be configured to rotate by the rotational force sequentially transmitted through the driving shaft  55 , the first gear assembly  45 , the first pulsator rotation shaft  42 , the second gear assembly  49 , and the agitator rotation shaft  499 . 
     The agitator  105  may be configured to rotate in the same direction as the rotation direction of the rotational force provided by the driving motor  53 , and the pulsator  103  may be configured to rotate in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotational force provided by the driving motor  53 . That is, in other words, the pulsator  103  and the agitator  105  may be configured to rotate in the opposite directions. 
     Referring to  FIG.  4   , the second gear assembly  49  may include a second driving gear  491  rotatably disposed inside the second pulsator rotation shaft  44  and fixed to one end of the first pulsator rotation shaft  42 , a second connecting gear  495  disposed along an inner circumferential surface of the second pulsator rotation shaft  44 , a plurality of second driven gears  493  disposed along a circumferential surface of the second driving gear  491  to connect the second driving gear  491  with the second connecting gear  495 , and a second cage  497  rotatably disposed inside the second pulsator rotation shaft  44  and rotatably fixing the plurality of second driven gears  493 . The agitator rotation shaft  499  may be disposed to connect the second cage  497  with the agitator  105 . 
     The second gear assembly  49  may transmit a rotational force in the same direction as a rotation direction of a rotational force transmitted by the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  to the agitator rotation shaft  499 , and transmit a rotational force in a direction opposite to the rotation direction of the rotational force transmitted by the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  to the second pulsator rotation shaft  44 . 
       FIG.  5    is a schematic diagram for illustrating a method for driving a rotator according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG.  5   , the rotational force provided by the driving motor  53  may be transmitted to the first gear assembly  45  through the driving shaft  55 . Thereafter, the rotational force may be transmitted to each of the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  through the first gear assembly  45 . 
     In this connection, the rotational force transmitted to the drum rotation shaft  41  may be used for the rotation of the drum  30 , but the rotation of the drum  30  may be forced or restricted by the operation of the clutch  47  and/or the brake  46 . 
     In one example, the rotational force transmitted to the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  may be transmitted to the second gear assembly  49 . Thereafter, the rotational force may be transmitted to each of the second pulsator rotation shaft  44  and the agitator rotation shaft  499  through the second gear assembly  49 . 
     A scheme in which the rotational force is transmitted through the first gear assembly  45  is as follows. 
     First, the first driving gear  451  fixed to the driving shaft  55  may be configured to spin in the same direction (hereinafter, referred to as a first direction) as the rotational direction of the driving shaft  55 . Each of the plurality of first driven gears  453  may be configured to spin in a direction (hereinafter, referred to as a second direction) opposite to the rotation direction of the driving shaft  55 . 
     In this connection, the plurality of first driven gears  453  may be configured to spin in the second direction, and at the same time, to orbit in the first direction around the first driving gear  451 . Accordingly, the first cage  457 , the first pulsator rotation shaft  42 , and the second driving gear  491  may spin together in the first direction. 
     Thereafter, the second driving gear  491  fixed to the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  may be configured to spin in the first direction. Each of the plurality of second driven gears  493  may be configured to spin in the second direction. Accordingly, the second pulsator rotation shaft  44  and the pulsator  103  may rotate together in the second direction. 
     In one example, the plurality of second driven gears  493  may be configured to spin in the second direction, and at the same time, to orbit in the first direction about the second driving gear  491 . Accordingly, the second cage  497 , the agitator rotation shaft  499 , and the agitator  105  may spin together in the first direction. 
     As a result, the pulsator  103  is configured to rotate in the second direction, which is the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the driving shaft  55 . One the other hand, the agitator  105  may be configured to rotate in the first direction, which is the same direction as the rotation direction of the driving shaft  55 . 
     Hereinafter, a rotational relationship between the drum  30 , the pulsator  103 , and the agitator  105  based on the operation of each of the clutch  47  and brake  46  will be described. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, when the clutch  47  and the brake  46  are in a released state, based on a rotation relationship between the gears  451 ,  453 , and  455  included in the first gear assembly  45 , the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  rotate in the opposite directions. Therefore, the drum  30  and the pulsator  103  may be configured to rotate in the same direction, or the drum  30  and the agitator  105  may be configured to rotate in the opposite directions. 
     In one example, when the brake  46  is in a restricted state, the rotation of the first connecting gear  455  and the drum rotation shaft  41  is restricted, and only the rotation of the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  is made. In this case, the drum  30  is in a stationary state and only the pulsator  103  and the agitator  105  rotate. In this connection, the pulsator  103  and the agitator  105  may be configured to rotate in the opposite directions. 
     In one example, when the clutch  47  is in the restricted state, the rotations of the driving shaft  55  and the drum rotation shaft  41  are mutually constrained, and the rotations of the driving shaft  55 , the drum rotation shaft  41 , and the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  may be mutually constrained depending on the gears  451 ,  453 , and  455  included in the first gear assembly  45 . That is, the drum rotation shaft  41  and the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  rotate in the same direction. Accordingly, the drum  30  and the pulsator  103  may be configured to rotate in the opposite directions, and the drum  30  and the agitator  105  may be configured to rotate in the same direction. 
     In one example, when the clutch  47  and the brake  46  are in the restricted state at the same time, the driving shaft  55 , the drum rotation shaft  41 , and the first pulsator rotation shaft  42  are all in the stationary state. The controller  70  may implement a required operation state by appropriately controlling the driver  50 , the clutch  47 , and the brake  46  in the washing process, the rinsing process, the dehydration process, and the like. 
     As described above, the pulsator  103  and the agitator  105  may be configured to rotate in the opposite directions. Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus  1  may form a three-dimensional water flow. 
     In addition, the driver  50  may include the single driving motor  53  and the two gear assemblies  45  and  49 , each of which is of the planetary gear-type. Accordingly, compared to a laundry treating apparatus using a plurality of driving motors, the structure may be simplified and the price competitiveness may also be improved. 
     Although various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail above, those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure belongs will understand that various modifications are possible with respect to the above-described embodiment without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of rights of the present disclosure should not be limited to the described embodiment and should be defined by the claims described later as well as the claims and equivalents.