CN111519382A - Clothes treating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus. The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum. The lifter includes: a lifter frame coupled to the drum; and a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame. The lifter frame includes: a frame base fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum; a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward an inside of the drum; a frame sidewall configured to connect the frame upper plate and the frame base; and a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate toward an inner surface of the frame cover to space the inner surface of the frame cover from the frame upper plate.

Description

Clothes treating apparatus

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating apparatus having a rotating drum provided with a lifter, and more particularly, to a laundry treating apparatus having a lifter including a lifter frame coupled to a drum and a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame.

Background

Korean patent application publication No.10-2017-0082055 (hereinafter referred to as "related art") discloses a washing machine having a plurality of lifters on an inner circumferential surface of a drum rotating about a substantially horizontal rotation axis.

The lifter includes: a first member coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the drum; and a second member installed on the first member and protruding to the inside of the drum so as to lift the laundry when the drum rotates.

The second member is formed in a substantially dome shape to define a space for accommodating the laundry. The first member includes: a first portion installed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum; and a middle second portion protrudingly protruding from the mounting portion and inserted into the space.

The dome-shaped base of the second member is in contact with the second portion, but an apex of the dome-shape, which is radially spaced from the base, is spaced from the second portion.

Since the apex of the dome shape cannot be supported by the first member, there are disadvantages as follows: when the second member is pressed by an external force, the inner space of the second member (particularly, the apex of the dome shape) is depressed.

In particular, in the case where the second member is made of metal (e.g., stainless steel), there is a disadvantage in that the second member cannot be restored to its original shape due to plastic deformation of the material.

Further, if the second member cannot be restored to its original shape due to plastic deformation, the balance between the lifters is broken. Therefore, eccentricity occurs during rotation of the drum, and unbalance is generated even by the load applied to the drum by the lifter, and in a severe case, the drum may be deformed or damaged thereby.

Further, when a gap between the outer surface of the first member and the inner surface of the second member becomes small due to the deformation of the second member, foreign substances may be caught in the gap, which causes a sanitary problem.

Disclosure of Invention

An aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus, in which a lifter installed in a drum includes a lifter frame and a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame, and the frame cover is prevented from being deformed even if an external force is applied to the frame cover.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which structural stability of a frame cover is improved by means of a lifter frame.

It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a support structure for a frame cover is improved such that the frame cover is prevented from being plastically deformed even when the frame cover is made of metal.

It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which water flows between a lifter frame and a frame cover, so that a clean state of the inside of the frame cover can be maintained.

It is still another aspect of the present disclosure to provide a laundry treating apparatus in which a flow path is maintained not to be blocked even when an external force is applied to a frame cover.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating apparatus, in which an exterior of a lifter is defined by a frame cover made of metal, and the frame cover can be easily mounted on a drum.

Aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to those described above, and other aspects not mentioned above may be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description.

The laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes: a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum.

The lifter includes: a lifter frame coupled to the drum; and a frame cover fixed by the lifter frame. The frame cover is configured to contact laundry in the drum. The frame cover is used to lift the laundry when the drum rotates. The frame cover is coupled to the lifter frame without being directly coupled to the drum.

The lifter frame includes: a frame base fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum; a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward an inside of the drum (or in a direction away from the frame base in a radial direction of the drum); and a frame sidewall configured to connect the frame upper plate and the frame base.

The inner surface of the frame cover is spaced apart from the frame upper plate by a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate toward the inner surface of the frame cover.

The spacer may be in contact with the inner surface of the frame cover, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and a non-contact spacer may be provided (i.e., the spacer may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the frame cover). In any case, the inner surface of the frame cover is spaced apart from the frame upper plate by at least the height (or length) of the spacer protruding from the frame upper plate.

That is, in the case where the spacer is in contact with the inner surface of the frame cover, the portion of the inner surface of the frame cover in contact with the spacer is spaced apart from the upper frame plate by the length of the protruding spacer.

In contrast, in the case where the spacer is not in contact with the inner surface of the frame cover, that is, in the case where there is a gap between the inner surface of the frame cover and the spacer, the inner surface of the frame cover is spaced apart from the upper plate of the frame by a distance obtained by adding the length of the gap to the length of the protruding spacer. In particular, in this case, when an external force is applied to the frame cover, the gap is overcome and the frame cover is allowed to deform until the inner surface of the frame cover comes into contact with the spacer.

Meanwhile, the drum may have at least one water flow inlet hole formed in an area covered by the frame cover. The frame cover may have at least one water discharge hole formed in a cover upper plate facing the frame upper plate. The washing water introduced through the water flow inlet hole is discharged into the drum through the at least one water flow discharge hole.

A spacer may space the cover upper plate from the frame upper plate.

The at least one water flow inlet hole may be located inside the riser frame, and the riser frame has at least one water flow passing hole configured such that the inside and the outside of the riser frame communicate with each other.

The at least one water discharge hole may be respectively formed in a plurality of regions spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the cover upper plate. The spacers may be positioned between the plurality of regions, respectively.

The frame cover may include a cover upper plate, an inner surface of the cover upper plate faces the frame upper plate, and the spacer may be in contact with the inner surface of the cover upper plate.

The frame cover may have a dome formed at a position corresponding to the spacer. An inner surface of the dome facing the spacer is concavely formed and may be in contact with the spacer. The outer surface of the dome may be convex.

A plurality of domes may be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the lifter, and the spacer may be formed at a position corresponding to the plurality of domes. The plurality of domes may include: a macro-dome having a concave portion of an inner surface with a first depth; and a small dome having a concave portion of an inner surface with a second depth smaller than the first depth. The height of the spacer corresponding to the large dome may be greater than the height of the spacer corresponding to the small dome. A pair of large domes may be arranged in a longitudinal direction of the lifter, and the small dome may be arranged between the pair of large domes.

The concave portion of the inner surface of the large dome may be larger than the concave portion of the inner surface of the small dome, and the spacer corresponding to the large dome may be larger than the spacer corresponding to the small dome.

The frame cover may have a water discharge hole formed between the domes.

The spacer may include: a vertical rib extending in a longitudinal direction of the lifter frame; and a horizontal rib extending crosswise to the vertical rib. The spacer may be spaced farthest from the frame upper plate at an intersection where the vertical rib and the horizontal rib intersect each other, and the intersection may be spaced apart from an inner surface of the frame cover. The frame cover may be made of metal. The lifter frame may be made of synthetic resin.

The frame base may have a seating groove into which a lower end of the frame cover is inserted. A coupling tab may be formed at a lower end of the frame cover, and a tab coupling port into which the coupling tab is inserted may be formed in the seating groove.

A plurality of lifters may be provided, and the plurality of lifters may include a plurality of front lifters arranged in a circumferential direction of the drum and a plurality of rear lifters arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum, the plurality of rear lifters being at rear sides of the plurality of front lifters.

A laundry treating apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum. The lifter includes: a lifter frame fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum; and a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame, and the lifter frame includes: a frame base fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the drum; a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward an interior of the drum; a frame sidewall configured to connect the frame upper plate and the frame base; and a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate so that an inner surface of the frame cover is spaced apart from the frame upper plate.

A laundry treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present disclosure includes: a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum. The lifter includes: a lifter frame made of synthetic resin and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum; and a frame cover made of metal and configured to cover the lifter frame. The lifter frame includes: a frame base having: a bottom surface abutting an inner surface of the drum; and an upper surface having a seating groove in which a lower end of the frame cover is seated; a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward an interior of the drum; and a frame sidewall configured to connect the frame upper plate and the frame base. The frame cover includes a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate such that the inner surface of the frame cover is spaced apart from the frame upper plate.

A laundry treating apparatus according to still another embodiment of the present invention includes: a tub configured to receive wash water; a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate in the tub about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum. The lifter includes: a lifter frame fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum; and a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame and having a cover upper plate having a water flow discharge hole. The drum has a water flow inlet hole configured to communicate an inside of the lifter frame with the tub, the lifter frame has a water flow passing hole configured to communicate an inside and an outside of the lifter frame with each other, the frame cover includes the cover upper plate having a water flow discharge hole through which the washing water passed through the water flow passing hole is discharged into the drum, and the lifter frame includes a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate corresponding to the cover upper plate and configured to contact the cover upper plate so that the cover upper plate is spaced apart from the frame upper plate.

According to the laundry treating apparatus of the present disclosure, the spacer is formed on the outer surface of the lifter frame coupled to the drum such that the spacer is in contact with the inner surface of the frame cover even when an external force is applied to the frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame, thereby preventing the frame cover from being deformed.

Further, since the spacer prevents the inner surface of the frame cover from being closely attached to the outer surface of the lifter frame, a gap between the outer surface of the lifter frame and the inner surface of the frame cover is always maintained so that water can flow along the gap.

Since the gap is maintained to be equal to or greater than the height of the spacer, foreign substances smaller than the spacer are not easily caught in the gap, and the inside of the gap is cleaned by the flowing water. Therefore, the clean state can be maintained.

Further, since the deformation of the frame cover is prevented, a balanced or positively balanced state between the lifters can be maintained, so that the eccentric occurrence when the drum rotates can be prevented. Since the load applied to the drum via the lifter is uniform, the drum can be prevented from being twisted or torn.

Further, since the deformation of the frame cover is restricted by the spacer, the frame cover can be restored to an original shape when the external force is removed.

Drawings

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the following detailed description of the aspects in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

fig. 1 is a sectional view of a laundry treating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the riser shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the riser shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the riser shown in FIG. 2;

fig. 5 is a view showing a raw material (a) cut to manufacture a large-capacity drum and a raw material (b) cut to manufacture a small-capacity drum.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view (a) of a portion of the drum corresponding to the portion a shown in fig. 5 and an enlarged view (B) of a portion of the drum corresponding to the portion B shown in fig. 5;

fig. 7 is an enlarged view (a) of a portion B shown in (a) of fig. 5 and an enlarged view (B) of a portion C shown in (B) of fig. 5;

fig. 8 is a top view of the lifter frame, and fig. 9 is a bottom view of the lifter frame;

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 11 is a front view of the riser frame, and FIG. 12 is a side view of the riser frame;

fig. 13 is a top view of the frame cover, fig. 14 is a front view of the frame cover, and fig. 15 is a side view of the frame cover;

fig. 16 is a view showing a pair of front and rear lifters shown in fig. 1;

fig. 17 is a view showing the lifter shown in fig. 16 when viewed from the front side;

fig. 18 is a view (a) showing a state in which the drum shown in fig. 1 is unwound and an unwound view (b) of the drum having a lifter arranged according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure;

fig. 19 is a view (a) showing a change in height of the first fabric caused by the rear lifter according to the rotation angle of the drum and a view (b) showing a change in height of the second fabric caused by the front lifter, the front lifter and the rear lifter together constituting a set of lifters;

fig. 20 is a view showing a modified example of arranging lifters, in which (a) shows a small-capacity roller and (b) shows a large-capacity roller; and

fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a lifter.

Detailed Description

Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods for achieving them will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein, but may be embodied in various different forms. These exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. It is noted that the scope of the present disclosure is limited only by the claims.

The shapes, sizes, ratios, angles, numbers of elements given in the drawings are merely exemplary, and thus, the disclosure is not limited to the details shown. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the specification.

With respect to describing the present disclosure, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known art unnecessarily obscures the gist of the present disclosure, the detailed description may be omitted.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" may be intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. The terms "comprises," "comprising," "including," and "having," are inclusive and therefore specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. The method steps, processes, and operations described herein are not to be construed as necessarily requiring their performance in the particular order discussed or illustrated, unless specifically identified as an order of performance. It should also be understood that additional or alternative steps may be employed.

When an element or layer is referred to as being "on" or "engaged," "connected," or "coupled" to another element or layer, it may be directly on or engaged, connected, or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on" or "directly engaged with," "directly connected to" or "directly coupled to" another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements (e.g., "between … …" and "directly between … …", "adjacent" and "directly adjacent", etc.) should be interpreted in a similar manner. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

The terms "connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, and may include direct or indirect electrical connections or couplings. "connected" may cause the objects to be permanently connected or releasably connected. The term "communicatively coupled" is defined as connected, directly or indirectly, via intermediate components, and the connections are not necessarily limited to physical connections, but are connections adapted for the transfer of data, fluids, or other substances between the components being described.

Although the terms "first," "second," "third," etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as "first," "second," and other numerical terms used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer and/or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer and/or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments.

Spatially relative terms (e.g., "inner," "outer," "below," "lower," "above," "upper," etc.) may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element or feature as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as "below" or "beneath" other elements or features would then be oriented "above" the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term "below … …" can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

As used herein, the term "or" is to be interpreted as being inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Thus, "A, B or C" refers to any of the following: "A; b; c; a and B; a and C; b and C; A. b and C ". An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.

Hereinafter, a washing machine is described as an embodiment of the laundry treating apparatus, but the laundry treating apparatus is not limited to the washing machine. The laundry treating apparatus is an apparatus for treating laundry (or articles to be dried), such as clothes input into the drum 51, and may be a dryer or a washer-dryer.

Referring to fig. 1, a laundry treating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may include: a housing 13 configured to define an exterior; a water storage tub 31 disposed in the case 13 and configured to store washing water; and a washing tub 50 rotatably installed in the water storage tub 31 and configured to receive laundry put therein; and a motor 25 configured to rotate the washing tub 50. A damper 16 may be provided in the housing 13, and the damper 16 is configured to absorb vibration of the water storage tub 31.

The drum 51 may rotate about a rotation axis O extending in the front-rear direction, and the drum 51 may constitute the washing tub 50. The axis of rotation is substantially horizontal. However, the term "horizontal" does not mean "geometric horizontal" in a strict sense. In the case where the inclination is closer to the horizontal axis than to the vertical axis (even if the inclination is formed at an angle with respect to the horizontal axis as shown in fig. 1), it can be said that the drum 51 or the washing tub 50 rotates about the horizontal axis.

A laundry introduction opening is formed in a front surface of the case 13, and a door 21 is rotatably provided on the case 13, the door 21 being configured to open or close the laundry introduction opening. The tubular gasket 22 is provided such that the laundry introduction opening and the inlet of the water storage tub 31 communicate with each other. The gasket 22 is made of a soft material (e.g., rubber). A front end of the gasket 22 may be connected to a circumference of the laundry insertion inlet of the case 13, and a rear end of the gasket 22 may be connected to a circumference of the inlet of the water storage tub 31.

The housing 13 may be provided therein with a water supply valve 33, a water supply pipe 34, and a water supply hose 37. When the water supply valve 33 is opened and washing water is supplied, the washing water passing through the water supply pipe 34 may be mixed with detergent in the dispenser 35 storing the detergent, and then the washing water may be supplied to the water storage tub 31 through the water supply hose 37.

An input port of the pump 24 is connected to the water storage tub 31 via the drain hose 17, and an output port of the pump 24 is connected to the drain pipe 19. The water discharged from the water storage tub 31 through the drain hose 17 is pumped by the pump 24, flows through the drain pipe 19, and is then discharged to the outside of the laundry treating apparatus.

The washing tub 50 may include a drum 51, a front cover 52 coupled to a front end of the drum 51, and a rear cover 53 coupled to a rear end of the drum 51. The drum 51 may be formed in the form of a tubular (or cylindrical) body made by rolling up a metal plate (e.g., made of stainless steel) having a plurality of through-holes 51h (see fig. 5) and then joining both ends of the metal plate. The water stored in the water storage tub 31 may be introduced into the washing tub 50 through the through hole 51 h. A plurality of embossed portions 51a (see fig. 5) may be formed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51, and through holes 51h may be formed between the embossed portions 51a, the embossed portions 51a being formed protrusively by plastic working.

An opening portion may be formed in the front cover 52 so that laundry may be put into the drum 51. The inlet of the water storage barrel 31 is communicated with the opening part. The front cover 52 may be made of the same type of material as the drum 51.

A rear cover 53 closes the opened rear side of the drum 51, and a spider (spider)26 connected to a driving shaft 25a of the motor 25 may be coupled to a rear surface of the rear cover 53. The star wheel 26 is configured to transmit the rotational force of the driving shaft 25a to the washing tub 50, and the driving shaft 25a of the motor 25 may be coupled to the center of the star wheel 26.

A plurality of lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b are provided in the drum 51. When the drum 51 rotates, the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b lift the laundry.

Referring to fig. 1 and 18, the plurality of lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b includes a plurality of front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and a plurality of rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b, and the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b define a group (or pair) together with the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a, respectively. The three sets of lifters 61(61a and 61b), 62(62a and 62b), and 63(63a and 63b) may be arranged at equal angles about the rotation axis O, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. For example, four sets of lifters may be arranged at intervals of 90 degrees, or five sets of lifters may be arranged at intervals of 72 degrees around the rotation axis O.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b have the same structure will be described, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto.

Referring to fig. 2 to 4, each of the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b includes: a lifter frame 620 fixed to the drum 51; and a frame cover 640 configured to cover the lifter frame 620. The frame cover 640 radially protrudes inward (toward the inside of the drum 51) from the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51, and is in contact with laundry. The frame cover 640 is fixed to the drum 51 by the lifter frame 620, not directly to the drum 51.

The lifter frame 620 may be made of synthetic resin. The lifter frame 620 is preferably formed by injection molding, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto.

The metal lifter is not only excellent in strength but also luxurious and sanitary. In order to couple the lifter directly to the metal-made drum, it is necessary to weld the lifter to the raw material cut out in the shape of the unrolled drum, roll the raw material into a cylindrical shape, and then weld the ends of the raw material that meet each other together. However, the flat raw material may be bent during the process of rolling up the raw material, and as a result, stress may be applied to the welded portion between the lifter and the drum and the welded portion may be separated.

To solve this problem, the present disclosure proposes a configuration in which a frame cover 640 made of metal is fixed to the drum 51 by means of a lifter frame 620 made of synthetic resin.

Meanwhile, referring to fig. 3 and 8 to 12, the entire outer surface 620a (see fig. 8) of the lifter frame 620 has a convex shape, and the inner surface 620b (see fig. 9) of the lifter frame 620 has a concave shape. Specifically, the lifter frame 620 may include a frame base 621, a frame upper plate 623, and a frame side wall 622.

The frame base 621 is fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51. The frame base 621 may have a ring shape (or a closed shape formed of a single line) whose central portion is open.

The frame upper plate 623 is spaced apart from the frame base 621 in a direction toward the inside of the drum 51 and is connected to the frame base 621 by means of the frame side wall 622. The frame sidewall 622 may be formed in a tubular (or cylindrical) shape such that the lower end of the frame sidewall 622 is connected to the frame base 621 and the upper end of the frame sidewall 622 is connected to the frame upper plate 623.

The frame side wall 622 is shaped such that the profile of its cross section, which is smallest at the portion meeting the frame upper plate 623, gradually decreases upward (or in a direction away from the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51) from the lower end connected to the frame base 621 (or in a radial direction of the drum 51).

One or more water flow inlet holes may be formed in the drum 51 to allow wash water stored in the water storage tub 31 to be introduced into the inside of the frame cover 640. Any opening portion formed in the area covered by the frame cover 640 may be a water flow inlet hole. For example, some of the through holes 51h located inside the frame cover 640 may be water inlet holes. Further, the mounting slots 511a and 511b, the fastening holes 513a and 513b, and the opening portions 512a and 512b, which will be described below, may be water flow inlet holes.

The lifter frame 620 may have one or more water flow holes 624 and 624a formed therein. Any opening may be the water flow passing hole 624 as long as the opening is formed in the lifter frame 620 and allows the inside and the outside of the lifter frame 620 to communicate with each other.

Water flow through holes 624 may be formed in the frame side walls 622 and/or the frame upper plate 623. The washing water stored in the concave space of the lifter frame 620 may be discharged through the water flow holes 624.

One or more water discharge holes 646h may be formed in the frame cover 640 to discharge the washing water in the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a and 63b into the drum 51. The washing water in the concave space inside the lifter frame 620 may pass through the water flow passing hole 624 and then may be discharged into the drum 51 through the water flow discharge hole 646 h.

An outer surface 640a of the frame cover 640, which is exposed to the inside of the drum 51 and contacts the laundry, has a convex shape, and an inner surface of the frame cover 640 has a concave shape corresponding to the convex outer surface 620a of the lifter frame 620. The frame cover 640 may be made of metal, preferably stainless steel, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The frame cover 640 may be formed by plastic working (e.g., pressing) a metal plate having a predetermined thickness.

The frame cover 640 may include: a cover sidewall 645 extending upward from a lower end adjacent to the frame base 621; and a cover upper plate 646 configured to cover an upper side of the cover side wall 645. The cover upper plate 646 is approximately parallel to the frame upper plate 623. A plurality of water discharge holes 646h may be formed in the cover upper plate 646.

The cover side wall 645 is shaped such that the profile of the cross section thereof is gradually reduced from the lower end upward (or in the radial direction of the drum 51) (or in the direction away from the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51), and the profile of the cross section is minimized at the portion that meets the cover upper plate 646.

The lifter frame 620 includes spacers 625 protruding from the frame upper plate 623 such that the frame cover 640 is spaced apart from the lifter frame 620. The spacer 625 protrudes from the frame upper plate 623 toward the inner surface of the frame cover 640.

The inner surface of the frame cover 640 may be spaced apart from the frame upper plate 623 to an extent equal to or greater than the length (or height) of the spacer 625 protruding from the frame upper plate 623. The spacer 625 may be spaced apart from the inner surface of the frame cover 640 by a predetermined distance. In this case, the inner surface of the frame cover 640 is spaced apart from the frame upper plate 623 by a distance equal to the sum of the height of the spacer 625 and the spacing between the spacer 625 and the inner surface of the frame cover 640. When the frame cover 640 is pressed by an external force, the frame cover 640 contacts the frame upper plate 623, thereby preventing the frame cover 640 from being further deformed.

Alternatively, depending on the embodiment, the spacer 625 may be configured to contact the frame cover 640. In this case, the spacer 625 protrudes from the outer surface 620a of the lifter frame 620 and abuts the inner surface of the frame cover 640. Since the spacer 625 supports the inner surface of the frame cover 640 in a state where the frame plate 623 is spaced apart from the frame cover 640, the state where the frame cover 640 is spaced apart from the frame upper plate 623 can be maintained even if the frame cover 640 is pressed toward the lifter frame 620 by an external force.

The spacer 625 may have a cross-shaped rib structure. Specifically, the spacer 625 may include: a vertical rib 625a extending on the frame upper plate 623 in the longitudinal direction (or the front-rear direction) of the lifter frame 620; and a horizontal rib 625b extending to intersect (cross) the vertical rib 625 a. The vertical rib 625a and the horizontal rib 625b may be orthogonal to each other.

The spacer 625 may be spaced farthest from the frame upper plate 623 at an intersection where the vertical rib 625a and the horizontal rib 625b intersect each other. Depending on the embodiment, in the case of the non-contact spacer 625, the intersection is spaced from the inner surface of the frame cover 640; in the case of the contact type spacer 625, the intersection portion is in contact with the inner surface of the frame cover 64.

Referring to fig. 10, the inner surface of the cover upper plate 646 may be spaced apart from the outer surface of the frame upper plate 623. That is, a predetermined separation space (or gap g1) may be formed between the inner surface of the cover upper plate 646 and the outer surface of the frame upper plate 623, and the separation space g1 may serve as a flow path for guiding the washing water to the water discharge hole 646 h.

A separation space g2 may also be formed between the frame side wall 622 and the cover side wall 645. A seating groove 621r (see fig. 8 and 9) to be described later is formed in the frame base 621, and the seating groove 621r is disposed at a position spaced apart from the frame sidewall 622 by a predetermined distance toward the outside of the frame base 621. Therefore, the lower end of the cover side wall 645 located in the seating groove 621r is spaced apart from the frame side wall 622. Since the lower end of the frame cover 640 is spaced apart from the frame side wall 622 by the seating groove 621r and the cover upper plate 646 is spaced apart from the frame upper plate 623 by the spacer 625, two points of the frame cover 640 (the lower end of the frame cover 640 and the portion of the frame cover 640 supported by the spacer 625) are forcibly spaced apart from the lifter frame 620, and as a result, the state in which the cover side wall 645 located between the two points is spaced apart from the lifter frame 620 is maintained.

The washing water introduced into each of the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a and 63b is introduced into the separation spaces g1 and g2, and the water flow formed in the separation spaces g1 and g2 during the rotation of the washing tub 50 cleans the outer surface of the lifter frame 620 and the inner surface of the frame cover 640. Foreign materials generated during the cleaning process may be discharged through the water discharge hole 646h formed in the frame cover 640 or through the water inlet hole formed in the drum 51. A flow path is formed between the lifter frame 620 and the frame cover 640 by the separation spaces g1 and g2, and as a result, this configuration is advantageous in maintaining the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b in a clean state.

The frame cover 640 may have domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 formed at positions corresponding to the spacers 625. That is, spacers 625 may be disposed below domes 641, 642, 643. In the case where a plurality of spacers 625 are formed in the exemplary embodiment, a plurality of domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may be formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of spacers 625, respectively.

Domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may be formed on the cover upper plate 646. An inner surface of each of the domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 facing the spacer 625 may be concavely formed, and an outer surface of each of the domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may be convexly formed. The concave inner surface of each of domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may be spaced apart from spacer 625. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the spacer 625 may be in contact with the concave inner surface.

The domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 are convexly formed by punching a cover upper plate 646 made of metal. The plurality of domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may be arranged in the longitudinal direction of the cover upper plate 646 (or the longitudinal direction of the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63 b). One or more water discharge holes 646h may be formed between adjacent domes 641, 642, 643, and 644.

Assuming that the cover upper plate 646 has a plurality of regions spaced apart from each other in the longitudinal direction, the water discharge holes 646h may be formed in the respective regions. In this exemplary embodiment, the water discharge holes 646h are formed in three regions, and three (i.e., a plurality of) water discharge holes 646h are arranged in each region in the width direction of the cover upper plate 646.

Spacers 625 may be located between the multiple regions. That is, when the cover upper plate 646 is viewed from above, the spacer 625 may be located between adjacent two of the plurality of regions.

Domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may include two or more domes whose depths of concave portions of inner surfaces of the domes are different from each other. In more detail, the domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may include: macro domes 641 and 642, each having a depression of a first depth; and small domes 643 and 644, each having a recess of a second depth, the second depth being smaller than the first depth. The height of spacers 625a and 625d corresponding to large domes 641 and 642 may be greater than the height of spacers 625b and 625c corresponding to small domes 643 and 644.

Domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may include two or more domes having different sizes. Each of the domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 may have a circular shape, although the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. Here, the "size" may be determined based on a shape when the concave portion of the inner surface of each of the domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 is viewed from above, and may be defined as a diameter of the concave portion, for example. However, because the difference between the inner and outer diameters of each of domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 is due solely to the thickness of the material, the dimensions may be defined based on the outer diameter of each of domes 641, 642, 643, and 644.

The size of spacer 625 may also vary depending on the size of each of domes 641, 642, 643, and 644. That is, in the presence of large domes 641 and 642 and small domes 643 and 644 (as shown in fig. 13), spacers 625 corresponding to large domes 641 and 642 may be larger than spacers 625 corresponding to small domes 643 and 644.

Two small domes 643 and 644 may be located between a pair of large domes 641 and 642, and a water discharge hole 646h may be formed between domes 641, 642, 643, and 644. The plurality of water flow discharge holes 646h may be arranged in a direction crossing the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a and 63b (or a direction orthogonal to the length of each of the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a and 63 b).

Since the domes 641, 642, 643, and 644 protrude from the cover upper plate 646, a gap between the laundry and the surface at the periphery of the outlet hole 646h can be maintained even when the laundry is placed on the domes 641, 642, 643, and 644. Accordingly, the drain hole 646h may be prevented from being clogged with laundry, and water drained from the drain hole 646h into the gap may be applied to the laundry.

The water stored in the water storage tub 31 is introduced into the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a and 63b through the opening portions. The lifter frame 620 is a structure having one or more water flow passing holes 624, and water introduced into the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a and 63b can reach the water flow discharge hole 646h through the water flow passing holes 624.

In a state that the washing water is in the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b, the rotation of the washing tub 50 lifts the washing water introduced into the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b, and the washing water is discharged (or sprayed) through the water discharge hole 646h in the process.

Referring to fig. 2, 3, 10, and 13-15, the frame cover 640 may include one or more annular washing protrusions 603 and 604 or one or more washing rings protruding from an outer surface of the cover sidewall 645. The plurality of washing protrusions 603 and 604 may be arranged in parallel with each other. In the exemplary embodiment, two washing protrusions 603 and 604 are provided, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. In the case where the frame cover 640 is made of metal, the washing protrusions 603 and 604 may be formed by punching.

Each of the washing protrusions 603 and 604 has a shape corresponding to (or similar to) the contour of the cover sidewall 645, and preferably, the washing protrusion may protrude from the cover sidewall 645 to a predetermined height. Since the profile of the cover sidewall 645 is reduced upward, the washing protrusion positioned at the upper side among the washing protrusions 603 and 604 is smaller than the other washing protrusion.

The frictional force applied between the laundry and the washing protrusions 603 and 604 produces an effect of rubbing the laundry, thereby improving washing power. In addition, since the washing protrusions 603 and 604 contribute to the operation of lifting up the laundry, even when the height of each of the lifters 61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a and 63b is reduced to be less than that of the related art, the same physical force (e.g., force for lifting up or striking the laundry) as that of the related art may be applied to the laundry.

The frame cover 640 may be coupled to the lifter frame 620. Referring to fig. 2 and 3, the lower end of the frame cover 640 may be formed with one or more coupling tabs 648. As shown in fig. 14, the coupling tab 648 may be formed at a left side 645L or a right side 645R of the lower end when the frame cover 640 is viewed from the front side. The left side 645L and the right side 645R may be straight portions extending in the front-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 8 and 9, a tab coupling hole 621h through which the coupling tab 648 passes from above may be formed in the lifter frame 620. The tab coupling holes 621h may be formed at positions corresponding to the coupling tabs 648, respectively. The coupling tab 648 penetrates the tab coupling hole 621h, and a penetrating portion of the coupling tab 648 is bent and caught by an edge of the tab coupling hole 621h (or a bottom surface of the frame base 621), so that the lifter frame 620 and the frame cover 640 can be coupled to each other.

Meanwhile, a seating groove 621r corresponding to a lower end of the frame cover 640 may be formed in the frame base 621 of the lifter frame 620. The lower end of the frame cover 640 may be inserted and seated in the seating groove 621 r. In this case, a tab coupling hole 621h may be formed in the seating groove 621 r.

Hereinafter, a structure in which the lifter frame 620 and the drum 51 are coupled to each other will be described.

Referring to fig. 8, 9, 11 and 12, each of the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a and/or the rear lifters 61b, 62b and 63b may be formed with one or more insertion protrusions 627 thereon. Further, referring to fig. 5 to 7, the drum 51 may have mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 and mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2. Each of groups G1 and G2 may include one or more mounting slots 511a1(1) through 511a1 (4). Here, a "set" is a set of mounting slots, and may include one or more mounting slots.

The mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 and the mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 may include a plurality of mounting slots 511a1(1) to 511a1(4) and 511a2(1) to 511a2(4), the number of which corresponds to the number of the one or more insertion projections 627. That is, in the case where the mounting slots in the first and second groups G1 and G2 are used to mount the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a, the number of the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 and the number of the mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 may correspond to the number of the insertion protrusions 627 provided on each of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63 a.

Also, depending on the embodiment, in the case where the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b are provided using the mounting slots in the first and second groups G1 and G2, the number of the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 and the number of the mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 may correspond to the number of the insertion protrusions 627 provided on each of the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63 b.

One or more insertion protrusions 627 formed on each of the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a or the rear lifters 61b, 62b and 63b may be selectively fastened to the mounting slots 511a2 in the first group G1 or the second group G2. The position where the lifters are installed may be determined according to whether one or more insertion protrusions 627 formed at each of the lifters 61a, 62a, 63a, 61b, 62b, and 63b are inserted into the mounting slots constituting any one of the first group G1 or the second group G2.

Hereinafter, an embodiment in which the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a are installed using the installation slots 511a constituting the first group G1 and the second group G2 will be described, but the installation slots for installing the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b may be formed in the same manner.

The mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 are formed in a region offset rearward in a range where the mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 overlap the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1. For reference, in fig. 6, the first region M1 represents a region where the first group G1 of mounting slots 511a1 is formed, and the second region M2 represents a region where the second group G2 of mounting slots 511a2 is formed. Hereinafter, as shown in fig. 6, the mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 are arranged rearward from the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1.

Referring to fig. 5 to 7, the mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 are spaced apart from the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 in the rearward direction by a predetermined distance D. Therefore, when the insertion protrusion 627 is set in the mounting slot 511a1 in the first group G1, each of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a is positioned further forward by the distance D than the case where the insertion protrusion 627 is set in the mounting slot 511a2 in the second group G2. As shown in fig. 5, the metal plate of the large-capacity drum 51 extends further forward by a distance E than in the case where the drum is the small-capacity drum 51. In the case of the large capacity drum (a), the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a are mounted by using the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1, so that the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a can be mounted relatively further forward than in the case where the drum is the small capacity drum (b). Accordingly, while the drum 51 is rotated, the laundry located in the region corresponding to the distance E may be easily brought into contact with the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63 a.

The mounting slots 511a in the respective groups G1 and G2 may be arranged in a row in the front-rear direction. In particular, the mounting slots 511a in each of groups G1 and G2 are arranged in two rows. Further, when the entire configuration is viewed without distinguishing the groups, the mounting slots 511a may be arranged along a common reference line extending in the front-rear direction. Preferably, in this embodiment, the mounting slots are arranged on two lines parallel to each other.

In more detail, the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 may include two or more first mounting slots 511a1(3) and 511a1(4) arranged at the first interval T in a first row P1 extending in the front-to-rear direction. In addition, the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 may also include two or more first mounting slots 511a1(3) and 511a1(4) arranged at the first spacing T in a second row P2, the second row P2 being parallel to the first row P1.

The mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 may include two or more second mounting slots 511a2(1) and 511a2(2), the second mounting slots 511a2(1) and 511a2(2) being arranged in the first row P1 at a position offset rearwardly from the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 by a second spacing D, the second spacing D being less than the first spacing T.

In addition, the mounting slots 511a2 in the second group G2 may also include two or more second mounting slots 511a2(3) and 511a2(4), the second mounting slots 511a2(3) and 511a2(4) being arranged in the second row P2 at a position offset rearwardly from the mounting slots 511a1 in the first group G1 by the second spacing D.

Hereinafter, the mounting slots 511a1 and 511a2 that can be used to mount the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a are defined as being located in the front lifter mounting group, and the mounting slots 511b (see fig. 6 (a)) that can be used to mount the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b are defined as being located in the rear lifter mounting group.

The plurality of front lifters 61a, 62a, 63a or the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b may be arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum 51, so that the plurality of front lifter installation groups may be arranged in the circumferential direction, and likewise, the plurality of rear lifter installation groups may be arranged in the circumferential direction.

Hereinafter, the mounting slot belonging to the front lifter mount group is referred to as a front mounting slot 511a, and the mounting slot belonging to the rear lifter mount group is referred to as a rear mounting slot 511 b.

Referring to fig. 8 to 12, the insertion protrusion 627 may protrude from the frame base 621. The insertion protrusion 627 may include: an upright portion 627a (see fig. 11) protruding downward from a bottom surface of the frame base 621; and a catching portion 627b bent from the vertical portion 627a in a horizontal direction. The catch 627b may protrude toward the inside of the ring frame base 621 when viewed from above.

As shown in fig. 11, insertion protrusions 627 may be formed at left and right sides of the frame base 621, respectively, when the lifter frame 620 is viewed from the front side. Two or more insertion protrusions 627 may be formed along one side (or in the front-rear direction) of the frame base 621.

Specifically, the insertion protrusion 627(L) formed at the left side of the frame base 621 may include a catch portion 627b bent rightward. In contrast, the insertion protrusion 627(R) formed at the right side of the frame base 621 may include a catch 627b bent leftward.

Referring to fig. 6, each of the mounting slots 511a and 511b may be shaped to have a length L1 approximately in the front-rear direction of the drum 51. Each of the mounting slots 511a and 511b may include: an insertion portion S1 having a predetermined width W1; a junction S2 extending rearward or forward from the insert S1 and having a width less than the insert S1 (W2 < W1). In the exemplary embodiment, the joining portion S2 extends rearward from the rear end of the insertion portion S1, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. In contrast, the joining portion S2 may extend forward from the front end of the insertion portion S1.

Further, as shown in fig. 20 to be described below, in an exemplary embodiment, the coupling portion S2 of the front mounting slot 511a may extend forward from the front end of the insertion portion S1, and the coupling portion S2 of the rear mounting slot 511b may extend rearward from the rear end of the insertion portion S1.

Meanwhile, referring to fig. 5 to 7, when the lifter frame 620 is mounted in the drum 51, the insertion protrusion 627 of the lifter frame 620 passes through the insertion portion S1 and the lifter frame 620 is pushed backward, so that the vertical portion 627a moves forward along the combining portion S2 and thus the catch 627b is located below the combining portion S2. In this case, since the bottom surface of the frame base 621 is in close contact with the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51 and the width W3 (see fig. 11) of the catch 627b is greater than the width W2 of the joint S2, the catch 627b cannot pass through the joint S2 from the lower side to the upper side.

Referring to fig. 9 and 10, a catching protrusion 626 may be formed on at least one of the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a or the rear lifters 61b, 62b and 63 b. The catching protrusion 626 may protrude downward from the concave inner surface 620b of the lifter frame 620.

Referring to fig. 6, the drum 51 may have opening portions 512a and 512b formed therein into which the catching protrusions 626 are inserted. A pair of opening portions 512a1 and 512a2 for installing the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a may be spaced apart from each other by a space D in the front-rear direction.

The catching protrusion 626 is selectively inserted into any one of the pair of opening portions 512a1 and 512a2 depending on whether the insertion protrusion 627 is inserted into the mounting slot 511a1 in the first group G1 or the mounting slot 511a2 in the second group G2.

Catching tabs 514a and 514b, each of which is in contact with (or caught by) the lower end of the catching protrusion 626, may be formed on the edges of the opening portions 512a and 512 b. The capture tabs 514a and 514b may contact side surfaces of the capture protrusion 626, thereby limiting lateral movement of the capture protrusion 626.

Meanwhile, the positions of the capture tabs 514a and 514b may be determined based on the relative positions of the mounting slots 511a and 511b with respect to the insertion portion S1 of the junction S2. That is, as shown in fig. 6, when the combining portion S2 is positioned rearward from the insertion portion S1, the catching tabs 514a and 514b are positioned in the first recess 626a at the front side of the catching protrusion 626. The catching tabs 514a and 514b may extend rearward from the front end of the opening portion 512 to limit movement of the catching protrusion 626 when the catching protrusion 626 is about to move forward (i.e., the insertion protrusion 627 is about to move from the junction S2 to the insertion portion S1).

In contrast, similar to the mounting slot 511a shown in fig. 20, when the junction S2 is positioned forward from the insertion portion S1, the capturing tabs 514a and 514b are positioned in the second recess 626b at the rear side of the capturing protrusion 626. The catching tabs 514a and 514b may extend forward from the rear end of the opening portion 512 to restrict the movement of the catching protrusion 626 when the catching protrusion 626 is about to move rearward (i.e., when the insertion protrusion 627 is about to move from the combining portion S2 to the insertion portion S1).

The catching tabs 514a and 514b may be bent toward the outside of the phase roller 51 at a predetermined angle based on the portion connected to the edge of the opening portions 512a and 512 b. Even in a state where the catching projections 626 are not inserted into the opening portions 521a and 512b, the side surfaces of the catching projections 626 may be in contact with the catching tabs 514a and 514 b.

When the lifter frame 620 is to be moved (i.e., is to be moved in a direction opposite to the direction in which the lifter frame 620 is mounted) such that the vertical portion 627a is moved from the combining portion S2 into the insertion portion S1, the movement is restricted due to the interference of the catching tabs 514a and 514b with the lower end of the catching protrusion 626.

Referring to fig. 9, at a lower end of the catching protrusion 626, a first recess 626a may be formed at a side facing the catching tabs 514a and 514 b. In a state where the lifter frame 620 has been fully seated, the catching tabs 514a and 514b may be located in the first recess 626 a.

At the lower end of the catching protrusion 626, a second recess portion 626b may be further formed at the opposite side of the first recess portion 626 a. When the lifter frame 620 is installed in a state where the front and rear sides of the lifter frame 620 are changed, the catching tabs 514a and 514b may be located in the second recess 626 b.

Referring to fig. 9, at least one of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b may be formed with a fastening boss 628 thereon. The fastening boss 628 may protrude downward from the inner surface 620b of the lifter frame 620. The fastening boss 628 may extend from the frame upper plate 623. Two or more fastening bosses 628 spaced apart from each other may be provided in the front-to-rear direction.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, fastening holes 513a and 513b may be formed in the drum 51. The fastening holes 513a and 513b may include: first fastening holes 513a1, the first fastening holes 513a1 being formed at positions corresponding to the fastening bosses 528 when the insertion protrusions 627 of the lifter frame 620 are installed in the installation slots 511a1 in the first group G1; and first fastening holes 513a2, the first fastening holes 513a2 being formed at positions corresponding to the fastening bosses 528 when the insertion protrusions 627 of the lifter frame 620 are installed in the installation slots 511a2 in the second group G2. A pair of first fastening holes 513a1(1) and 513a1(2) are provided to correspond to the pair of fastening bosses 528, and a second fastening hole 513a2 including a pair of second fastening holes 513a2(1) and 513a2(2) may be provided.

Referring to fig. 7, the fastening boss 628 may be selectively fastened to the first fastening hole 513a1 or the second fastening hole 513a2 by means of a predetermined fastening member (hereinafter, for example, a screw 98) based on whether the insertion protrusion 627 is inserted into the mounting slot 511a1 in the first group G1 or the mounting slot 511a2 in the second group G2.

In a state where the insertion protrusion 627 is inserted into the mounting slot 511a and the lifter frame 620 is temporarily assembled, the screw 98 passes through the fastening hole 513a from the outside of the drum 51 and is then fastened to the fastening boss 628, so that the lifter frame 620 can be completely mounted.

Meanwhile, as described above, as shown in fig. 7 (a) or fig. 7 (b), the installation position of the lifter frame 620 may be changed according to whether the insertion protrusion 627 is inserted into the installation slot 511a1 or the installation slot 511a 2. In any case, in a state where the lifter is completely installed, the mounting slots 511a1 and 511a2, the opening portions 512a1 and 512a2, and the fastening holes 513a1 and 513a2 are hidden by the frame cover 640. That is, the mounting slots 511a1 and 511a2, the opening portions 512a1 and 512a2, and the fastening holes 513a1 and 513a2 are located inside the frame cover 640, and thus are not exposed to the inside of the drum 51.

In other words, in a state in which the at least one insertion protrusion 627 provided on each of the lifters 61a, 62a, 63a, 61b, 62b and 63b is fastened to the mounting slot (e.g., 511a1) in any one of the mounting slots 511a (e.g., G1) in the first group G1 and the second group G2, the mounting slot (e.g., 511a2) in the other group (e.g., G2) may be hidden inside the drum 51 by the lifters.

In more detail, in a state where at least one insertion protrusion 627 provided on each of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a is inserted into a mounting slot in any one of the first group G1 and the second group G2 (e.g., G1), the front end of each of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a may be positioned forward from the mounting slots 511a1(1) to 511a1(4) and 511a2(1) to 511a2(4) belonging to the first group G1 and the second group G2.

Further, the rear end of each of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a may be positioned rearward from any one of the mounting slots 511a1(1) to 511a1(4) and 511a2(1) to 511a2(4) belonging to the first group G1 and the second group G2.

Since all the installation slots 511a1(1) to 511a1(4) and 511a2(1) to 511a2(4) for installing the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a are positioned between the front and rear ends of the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a, the installation slots can be hidden by being covered by the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63 a.

Manufacturers of laundry treating apparatuses sometimes produce various types of products having drums of different capacities. In this case, according to a predetermined standard, a metal plate having the mounting slits 511a and 511b, the opening portions 512a and 512b, the fastening holes 513a and 513b, and the like is cut out, the raw material 51' or 51 ″ (see fig. 5) cut out in this way is wound up, and the ends of the raw material are joined together to manufacture the drum 51. In this case, the metal plate is cut to a predetermined length according to the standard of the drum. In order to manufacture two drums having different lengths, it is necessary to adjust the intervals between the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a and the rear lifters 61b, 62b and 63b differently according to the lengths of the drums.

For example, as shown in fig. 5, when the length of the drum 51' is long (see (a) of fig. 5), the intervals between the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b need to be greater than the intervals between the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b when the length of the drum 51 "is short (see (b) of fig. 5), so that the laundry can be uniformly lifted by the front and rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b even in the case of the large-capacity drum 51.

Accordingly, an additional mounting slot 511a is further formed in the drum 51 to adjust the installation position of at least one of the front lifters 61a, 62a and 63a or the rear lifters 61b, 62b and 63b in the front and rear directions when the drum length is changed.

In the present exemplary embodiment, an additional mounting slot 511a is provided to adjust the installation position of the front lifters 51a, 52a, and 53a, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. According to an exemplary embodiment, an additional mounting slot 511b may be provided to adjust the installation position of the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63 b.

The additional mounting slots 511a may be formed in the lifter frame 620 such that the additional mounting slots 511a correspond in number to the mounting slots 511a into which the insertion protrusions 627 are inserted (hereinafter, referred to as "mounting slots"), and the additional mounting slots 511a may be formed at points spaced apart from the respective mounting slots by a predetermined distance D in the front-rear direction. The installation position of the lifter frame 620 may be changed by a distance D by separating the insertion protrusion 627 from the mounting slot (e.g., 511a1) and then inserting the insertion protrusion 627 into an additional mounting slot (e.g., 511a 2).

Meanwhile, in the exemplary embodiment, an additional opening portion 512a is provided to adjust the installation position of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a, but the present disclosure is not necessarily limited thereto. According to an embodiment, an additional opening portion 512b may be further provided to adjust the installation position of the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63 b.

Meanwhile, in the exemplary embodiment, an additional fastening hole 513a is provided to adjust the installation position of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. According to an embodiment, an additional fastening hole 513b may be further provided to adjust the installation position of the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63 b.

Fig. 20 illustrates another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. In order to mount the lifter frame 620 by means of the front mounting slot 511a, the lifter frame 620 needs to be pushed forward after the insertion protrusion 627 is inserted into the insertion portion S1. In order to mount the lifter frame 620 by means of the rear mounting slot 511b, it is necessary to push the lifter frame 620 backward after the insertion projection 627 is inserted into the insertion portion S1.

In contrast, to separate the lifter frame 620 from the drum 51, the lifter frame 620 is pushed forward or backward to move the catch 627b of the insertion protrusion 627 from the combining portion S2 and align the catch 627b with the insertion portion S1, and the lifter frame 620 is lifted such that the catch 627b passes through the insertion portion S1 and the lifter frame 620 can be separated from the drum 51.

Fig. 16 is a view showing a pair of front and rear lifters shown in fig. 1. Fig. 17 is a view showing the lifter shown in fig. 16 when viewed from the front side. Fig. 18 is a view (a) illustrating a state in which the drum shown in fig. 1 is unwound and an unwound view (b) of the drum having a lifter arranged according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 19 is a view (a) showing a change in height of the first fabric caused by the rear lifter according to the rotation angle of the drum and a view (b) showing a change in height of the second fabric caused by the front lifter, which constitutes one set of lifters together with the rear lifter. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to fig. 16 to 19.

Each of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51 and extends in the front-rear direction. The plurality of front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a are arranged at equal angles based on the rotation axis O.

The rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b are disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51, and are positioned rearward from the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63 a. Like the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a, the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b are arranged at equal angles based on the rotation axis O.

The rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b are arranged to form a predetermined phase angle with the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a with respect to the rotation axis O. Here, a "phase angle" which is a rotation angle of the drum 51 is formed by defining a point of time when the lifters 61a, 62a, 63a, 61b, 62b, and 63b reach a point on the circumference. Assuming that the drum 51 rotates in the clockwise direction CW in the exemplary embodiment, the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b reach the same height to the extent corresponding to the phase angle Δ θ before the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63 a.

As shown in fig. 16 and 17, assuming that each of the lifters 61a, 62a, 63a, 61b, 62b, and 63b has a length C1 extending in the front-rear direction and a width C2 defined in the left-right direction (or a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction), a circumferential distance (C3 ═ Δ θ r, see fig. 19) corresponding to the phase angle is greater than 0 and less than or equal to twice the width C2 in the circumferential direction of each of the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63 a.

Referring to fig. 18, a lifter-free region SE in which no front lifter or no rear lifter exists is formed between any one pair of front/rear lifters (e.g., 61a and 61b) and another pair of front/rear lifters (e.g., 62a and 62b) on the inner circumferential surface of the drum 51. The lifter-free region SE may extend from the front end to the rear end of the drum 51.

Specifically, the lifter-less region SE passes between two adjacent sets of lifters from the front end of the drum 51, and extends to the rear end of the drum 51. Specifically, the lifter-less region SE extends straight from the front end of the drum 51 to the rear end of the drum 51 while passing between two adjacent front lifters (e.g., 61a and 62a) of the plurality of front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and between two rear lifters 61b and 62b, the two rear lifters 61b and 62b forming a phase angle Δ θ with each of the two adjacent front lifters 61a and 62a, respectively.

Since the no-lifter region SE extends straight from the front end to the rear end of the drum 51, the laundry may be uniformly distributed to the front and rear regions of the drum 51 in the no-lifter region SE.

Generally, the washing machine detects eccentricity of the drum 51 before performing a spin-drying process, and when the detected eccentricity is within a reference value, the drum is accelerated such that the rotation speed of the drum 51 reaches a predetermined spin-drying speed (or spin-drying RPM). Otherwise, fabric distribution is performed to change the position of the fabric in the drum 51. If the detected eccentricity does not reach the reference value, the fabric distribution is repeated. When the number of times of repeating the cloth distribution reaches a predetermined number, it is determined that the cloth distribution fails, and the spin-drying is stopped.

In the washing machine according to the present exemplary embodiment, the first cloth (i.e., the cloth to be lifted by the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b) located at the rear side of the drum 51 and the second cloth (i.e., the cloth to be lifted by the front lifters) located at the front side of the drum 51 flow with a time difference (or phase difference) generated by the phase angle Δ θ formed by the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b, and thus, the cloth distribution may be more smoothly performed.

More specifically, referring to fig. 19, when the drum 51 is rotated clockwise CW in a state in which the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b are located at the lowest point (θ ═ 0) of the drum 51, the first fabric first starts to be lifted by the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b, and then after a time corresponding to the phase angle Δ θ elapses, the second fabric starts to be lifted by the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63 a.

Assuming that the fabrics roll (θ < pi/2) and the position P to which the fabrics lifted by the lifters 61a, 62a, 63a, 61b, 62b, and 63b fall is the position Pd, the first fabric lifted by the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b first reaches the position (or height) Pd and falls, and then the second fabric lifted by the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a reaches the position Pd and falls.

The first fabric and the second fabric move with a time difference without forming a lump and thus can be uniformly distributed. As a result, it is possible to reduce the number of times the fabrics are repeatedly distributed, reduce the case where the spin-drying stage cannot be entered, and reduce the total washing time including the spin-drying time.

In addition, since the fabrics flow with a phase difference when the fabrics roll or tumble, friction or collision between the fabrics caused by relative movement between the fabrics occurs more frequently, so that contaminants can be more effectively removed through a washing operation (i.e., washing ability is improved).

Meanwhile, fig. 20 is a diagram showing a modified example in which a lifter is arranged, in which (a) shows a small-capacity roller and (b) shows a large-capacity roller. Referring to fig. 20, a set of front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b may be arranged in a row in the front-rear direction. That is, the front lifters 61a, 62a, and 63a and the rear lifters 61b, 62b, and 63b constituting one set may be arranged on the same line without being spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction.

Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary embodiment of a lifter. The exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 21 provides a lifter 64 including a lifter frame 620 'and a frame cover 640', the shape of the lifter frame 620 'and the frame cover 640' being slightly different from those of the above exemplary embodiment, but similar to those of the above exemplary embodiment in terms of detailed configuration. Therefore, the same constituent elements as those according to the above-described exemplary embodiments will be given the same reference numerals, and detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

While the invention has been described with respect to embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the specification. It is, therefore, to be understood that the invention disclosed herein is intended to cover such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Cross Reference to Related Applications

This application claims priority to korean patent application No. 10-2019-.

Claims (26)

1. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and

a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum,

wherein the lifter includes:

a lifter frame coupled to the drum; and

a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame,

wherein the lifter frame includes:

a frame base fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum;

a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward an interior of the drum;

a frame sidewall configured to connect the frame upper plate and the frame base; and

a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate toward an inner surface of the frame cover to space the inner surface of the frame cover from the frame upper plate.

2. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame cover includes a cover upper plate, an inner surface of the cover upper plate faces the frame upper plate, and the spacer is spaced apart from the inner surface of the cover upper plate.

3. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame cover includes a cover upper plate, an inner surface of the cover upper plate faces the frame upper plate, and the spacer is in contact with the inner surface of the cover upper plate.

4. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the drum has at least one water flow inlet hole formed in a region covered by the frame cover.

5. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 4, wherein:

the frame cover has at least one water flow discharge hole formed in a cover upper plate facing the frame upper plate, through which wash water introduced through the water flow inlet hole is discharged into the drum; and is

The spacer spaces the cover upper plate from the frame upper plate.

6. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one water flow inlet hole is located inside the lifter frame, and the lifter frame has at least one water flow passing hole configured such that the inside and the outside of the lifter frame communicate with each other.

7. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the at least one water flow discharge hole is respectively formed in a plurality of regions spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the cover upper plate, and the spacers are respectively positioned between the plurality of regions.

8. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame cover has a dome formed at a position corresponding to the spacer, an inner surface of the dome facing the spacer is concavely formed as a concave portion, and at least a portion of the spacer is located in the concave portion of the inner surface of the dome.

9. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spacer is spaced apart from the recess of the dome.

10. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the spacer is in contact with the concave portion of the dome.

11. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein an outer surface of the dome is convex.

12. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of domes are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the lifter, and the spacers are respectively formed at positions corresponding to the plurality of domes.

13. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of domes includes:

a macro-dome, the recess of its inner surface having a first depth; and

a small dome having the concave portion of the inner surface thereof with a second depth smaller than the first depth, and

wherein a height of the spacers corresponding to the large domes is greater than a height of the spacers corresponding to the small domes.

14. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein a pair of large domes are arranged in a longitudinal direction of the lifter, and the small dome is arranged between the pair of large domes.

15. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the frame cover has a water flow discharge hole formed between the plurality of domes.

16. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the spacer includes:

a vertical rib extending in a longitudinal direction of the lifter frame; and

horizontal ribs extending crosswise to the vertical ribs.

17. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

the spacer is spaced farthest from the frame upper plate at an intersection where the vertical rib and the horizontal rib intersect each other; and is

The intersection is spaced from an inner surface of the frame cover.

18. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 16, wherein:

the spacer is spaced farthest from the frame upper plate at an intersection where the vertical rib and the horizontal rib intersect each other; and is

The intersection is in contact with an inner surface of the frame cover.

19. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame cover is made of metal.

20. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the lifter frame is made of synthetic resin.

21. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the frame base has a seating groove into which a lower end of the frame cover is inserted.

22. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 21, wherein a coupling tab is formed at a lower end of the frame cover, and a tab coupling port into which the coupling tab is inserted is formed in the seating groove.

23. The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of lifters are provided, and the plurality of lifters include a plurality of front lifters arranged in a circumferential direction of the drum and a plurality of rear lifters arranged in the circumferential direction of the drum, the plurality of rear lifters being at rear sides of the plurality of front lifters.

24. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a tub configured to receive wash water;

a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate in the tub about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and

a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum,

wherein the lifter includes:

a lifter frame made of synthetic resin and fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum; and

a frame cover made of metal and configured to cover the lifter frame,

wherein the lifter frame includes:

a frame base having: a bottom surface abutting an inner surface of the drum; and an upper surface having a seating groove in which a lower end of the frame cover is seated;

a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward an interior of the drum; and

a frame sidewall configured to connect the frame upper plate and the frame base, and

wherein the frame cover includes a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate toward an inner surface of the frame cover such that the inner surface of the frame cover is spaced apart from the frame upper plate.

25. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and

a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum,

wherein the lifter includes:

a lifter frame fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum; and

a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame and having a cover upper plate having a water flow discharge hole,

wherein the drum has a water flow inlet hole configured to communicate an inside of the lifter frame with the drum, the lifter frame has a water flow passing hole configured to communicate an inside and an outside of the lifter frame with each other, and the frame cover includes the cover upper plate having a water flow discharge hole through which the washing water passed through the water flow passing hole is discharged into the drum, and

wherein the lifter frame includes a spacer protruding from a frame upper plate corresponding to the cover upper plate toward the cover upper plate so that the cover upper plate is spaced apart from the frame upper plate.

26. A laundry treating apparatus, comprising:

a drum configured to receive laundry and to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction; and

a lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum,

wherein the lifter includes:

a lifter frame coupled to the drum; and

a frame cover configured to cover the lifter frame,

wherein the lifter frame includes:

a frame base fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the drum;

a frame upper plate spaced apart from the frame base in a direction toward an interior of the drum;

a frame sidewall configured to connect the frame upper plate and the frame base; and

a spacer protruding from the frame upper plate toward an inner surface of the frame cover, wherein the spacer is configured to be spaced apart from the inner surface of the frame cover when the frame cover is not deformed, and to be in contact with the inner surface of the frame cover when the frame cover is deformed by an external force.

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