EP0489618B1 - Laundry washing machine and/or drier with a preferential direction for the manual rotation of the drum - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a washing machine and / or dryer laundry drum with preferential direction of manual rotation.

A washing machine, a drying machine or a washing and drying machine often includes a door or access opening and a washing drum closed by a door.

Loading or unloading of the machine is possible or easy if the drum door is in good alignment with the door or access opening of the machine. Often, at the end of a spin or drying, the laundry drum when stopping does not present its door in alignment with the door or access opening of the machine. Since in the stopped drum an exact position of its door is not known, this drum must be manually rotated in a direction chosen at random, until this door is in alignment with this door or opening machine access. A French patent application FR 2.255.411 shows a drum having recesses and ribs constituting manual sockets for turning this drum. If this direction of rotation of the drum is badly chosen, it is necessary to manually push this drum and force it to make almost a whole turn to obtain such an alignment. This operation is long and particularly painful when the drum is heavily loaded with laundry and does not have suitable sockets for this maneuver. The solutions proposed previously have the drawback either of causing confusion with regard to the preferential direction of rotation of the drum, or of having no facility for manual manipulation of the drum.

According to the invention, a washing and / or drying machine is defined by claim 1.

Thus the invention benefits from a grip allowing it to turn the drum without it having to reflect on the direction of rotation that it must impart to the drum.

The present invention aimed at avoiding these drawbacks makes it possible to produce an economical washing and / or drying machine in which the door of the washing drum can easily and quickly be put manually in alignment with the machine access door unambiguously on the preferred direction.

• la figure 1 représente une vue schématique, partielle en coupe verticale d'une machine à laver le linge, selon un premier exemple de réalisation de l'invention, montrant un tambour à linge à direction préférentielle de rotation manuelle ;
• la figure 2 représente à une autre échelle une vue schématique partielle en coupe verticale d'une machine à laver le linge, selon une deuxième exemple de réalisation montrant un tambour à linge à direction préférentielle de rotation manuelle ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue schématique partielle en coupe horizontale d'une machine à laver le linge selon un troisième exemple de réalisation, montrant un tambour à linge à direction préférentielle de rotation manuelle, et
• la figure 4 représente une vue schématique partielle en coupe horizontale d'une machine à laver le linge selon un quatrième exemple de réalisation, montrant un tambour à linge à direction préférentielle de rotation manuelle.

To better understand the invention, a number of embodiments are illustrated below, illustrated by the appended drawings:

• FIG. 1 represents a schematic view, partial in vertical section of a washing machine, according to a first embodiment of the invention, showing a washing drum with preferential direction of manual rotation;
• 2 shows on another scale a partial schematic view in vertical section of a washing machine, according to a second embodiment showing a laundry drum with preferential direction of manual rotation;
• FIG. 3 represents a partial schematic view in horizontal section of a washing machine for laundry according to a third embodiment, showing a washing drum with preferential direction of manual rotation, and
• FIG. 4 represents a partial schematic view in horizontal section of a washing machine for laundry according to a fourth embodiment, showing a washing drum with preferential direction of manual rotation.

The invention is applicable to washing machines, laundry drying machines and washing and drying machines. To simplify the presentation of the invention, only the applications to washing machines are described below.

A washing machine 1 according to a first exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises a body 2, a tank 3 and a washing drum 4 rotating around a horizontal axis 6. The washing machine 1 is provided with 'an access door 7. The tank 3 is connected to the door 7 by a flexible sleeve 9. The laundry drum 4 comprises walls provided with perforations not shown, a gate 10, and a longitudinal stirring rib 11 intended for lift and drop laundry during rotation of this drum.

After washing, for example in the machine 1, the drum 4 stops and its door 10 can be in any position with respect to the access door 7 of the machine. To unload the machine 1, the linen drum 4 must first be brought back manually to a position where the gate 10 is in alignment with the access door 7.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, to obtain an alignment of the door 10 of the laundry drum 4 with the access door 7 of the machine, it is necessary to turn the drum 4, that is approximately 90 ° in the direction of the arrow F or 270 ° approx. in a direction opposite to the arrow F.

In a washing machine known to be stopped, if an exact position of the door of the drum with respect to the access door of the machine is not known, the drum is often manually rotated in a direction chosen at hazard. If this direction of rotation of the drum is poorly chosen, for example that opposite to the arrow F in the case of the machine 1 in FIG. 1, it is then necessary to turn this drum approximately 270 ° to achieve alignment between the gate and this door d 'access. This operation is long and painful.

According to the invention, a washing machine and / or dryer 1 includes a laundry drum 4 provided with means allowing, in a rapid alignment of a door 10 of this drum 4 with an access door 7 of this machine 1, an implementation of a manual rotation of this drum according to a preferential direction defined without ambiguity. These means are constituted either by oriented manual or neutral sockets facilitating a rotational thrust of the drum in two opposite directions and by associated preferential direction indicators, or by oriented manual sockets facilitating manual rotation of the drum 4 in one direction and the discouraging in an opposite direction and possibly with associated preferred direction indicators. The preferred direction indicators associated with neutral or oriented manual sockets consist of arrows, arrowheads, rafters or the like. These preferential direction indicators are formed in situ attached or marked on this drum 4.

In a laundry drum, the neutral or oriented manual sockets are formed by recesses or ribs added or formed in situ.

The neutral manual sockets are sockets that can be gripped in two opposite directions of rotation of the drum. The oriented manual sockets are sockets capable of being gripped in a predetermined direction of rotation of the drum.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, in the washing machine 1, the washing drum 4 comprises in the outer surface of its ferrule, as means allowing rapid alignment of its door 10 with the access door 7 of the machine 1, an implementation of a manual rotation of this drum in a preferred direction, one or more oriented recesses formed by longitudinal recesses 14, 15, with asymmetrical V-shaped cross sections with respect to respectively radial planes of symmetry 16, 17 passing through the axis of rotation 6 of this drum 4 and the tops of these hollows.

The asymmetrical longitudinal V-shaped hollow 14 created in the drum 4 to the right of the radial plane of symmetry 16 for an observer positioned in the axis of rotation 6 of this drum, a bearing surface or manual grip 18 facilitating manual rotation of this drum 4 in the direction of arrow F, and to the left of this radial plane of symmetry 16 a surface 20 which allows the fingers and consequently discourages manual rotation of this drum in a direction opposite to that of arrow F. On the other hand, the longitudinal hollow oriented in an asymmetrical V cross section 15 creates in the drum 4 to the left of the radial plane of symmetry 17 for an observer placing himself in the axis of rotation 6 of this drum, a bearing surface or oriented manual grip 21 facilitating manual rotation of this drum 4 in a direction opposite to that of arrow F, and to the right of this plane radial of symmetry 17, a surface 23 which allows fingers to slide easily and discourages manual rotation of this drum in the direction of arrow F.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, direction indicators are reported formed or marked on the drum 4 near the hollows with asymmetrical V-section 14, 15 to make the preferential direction represented by the oriented manual sockets created in these hollows clearer. in a manual rotation of this drum during rapid alignment of the door 10 with the door 7.

In the example shown in Figure 1, when the access door 7 of the machine 1 is open, the laundry drum 4 and its hollow oriented asymmetric V-shaped section 14 are visible and accessible from the outside.

This asymmetrical V-shaped recess 14 facilitates by its manual orientation 18, a manual rotation of the drum 4 in a preferred direction, that of arrow F and a rapid alignment of the gate 10 with the access door 7 after a short angular path of the drum 4 of the order of 90 ° and discourages by its sliding surface for the fingers 20 a manual rotation of this drum 4 in a non-preferential direction, that opposite to the arrow F where an alignment of the gate 10 with the door access 7 is obtained only after a long angular path of the drum 4 of the order of 270 °.

According to a second example partially illustrated in FIG. 2, a washing machine 25 comprises an access door 26, a tank 27 and a washing drum 28 provided in the exterior surface of its shell with one part gate 30 and a longitudinal rib of the stirring 31, and on the other hand as means allowing, in a rapid alignment of its gate 30 with the access door 26 of the machine, a manual rotation of this drum in a preferred direction, of one or more oriented ribs formed by longitudinal ribs 33, 34 with asymmetrical inverted V cross sections with respect respectively to the radial planes of symmetry 35, 36 passing through the axis of rotation 37 of this drum and the tops of these ribs.

The longitudinal rib oriented with an asymmetrical inverted V cross section 33 created in the drum 28 to the left of the radial plane of symmetry 35 for an observer placing in the axis of rotation 37 of this drum 28, a bearing surface or manual grip oriented 39 facilitating manual rotation of this drum 28 in the direction of arrow G and to the right of this radial plane of symmetry 35, a surface 40 which easily allows fingers to slide and discourages manual rotation of this drum in a direction opposite to that of arrow G.

The longitudinal rib oriented with an asymmetrical inverted V cross section 34 creates in the drum 28 to the right of the radial plane of symmetry 36 for an observer placing in the axis of rotation 37 of this drum, a bearing surface or manual grip oriented 42 facilitating manual rotation of this drum 28 in a direction opposite to that of arrow G, and to the left of this radial plane of symmetry 36 a surface 44 which allows fingers to slide easily and discourages manual rotation of this drum in the direction of the arrow G.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, direction indicators in the form of an arrow, an arrowhead or a chevron, etc., are attached, formed or marked on the drum 28 near the ribs oriented at asymmetrical inverted V cross sections 33, 34 to make clear the preferred direction of the oriented manual sockets 39, 42 created in these ribs in a manual rotation of this drum, during rapid alignment of the gate 30 with the access door 26.

In the example of FIG. 2, the oriented rib with an asymmetrical inverted V cross section 33 is visible and accessible when the access door 26 of the washing machine is opened 25. This oriented rib 33 facilitates by its manual grip oriented 39 manual rotation of the drum 28 in a preferential direction that of arrow G and rapid alignment of the gate 30 with the access door 26 after a short angular path of the drum 28 of the order of 90 ° and discourages by its sliding surface for the fingers 40, a manual rotation of this drum in a non-preferential direction that opposite to the arrow G where an alignment of the gate 30 with the access door 26 is obtained only after a long angular path of the drum 28 on the order of 270 °.

According to a third example partially illustrated in FIG. 3, a washing machine 45 comprises a tank 46 and a washing drum 47 rotating around an axis of rotation 49.

The laundry drum 47 is provided in the outer surface of its shell, on the one hand with a gate 50 and on the other hand as means allowing, in a rapid alignment of its gate 50 with an access door not shown of the machine 45, an implementation of a manual rotation of this drum in a preferred direction, of at least one longitudinal hollow with a U-shaped or V symmetrical cross section 52 or a longitudinal rib with a U-shaped cross section or Inverted V symmetrical with respect to the radial planes passing through the axis of rotation 49 of this drum and the tops of this hollow or rib and a direction indicator such as an arrowhead 53, associated with this hollow 52 or this rib.

Each of the longitudinal recesses 52 creates a non-oriented or neutral manual grip for manual rotation of the drum 47 and the associated direction indicator 53 signals the preferential direction of this rotation of this drum to obtain after a short angular path of this drum, a quick alignment of the gate 50 with the machine access door 45.

According to a fourth example partially illustrated in FIG. 4, a washing machine 55 comprises a tub 56 and a laundry drum 57 rotating around an axis of rotation 58.

The laundry drum 57 is provided in the outer surface of the ferrule, on the one hand with a door 60 and on the other hand as means allowing, in a rapid alignment of its door 60 with an access door not shown of the machine 55, an implementation of a manual rotation of this drum in a preferred direction, of at least two longitudinal recesses with a U or V symmetrical cross section 63, 64 or two longitudinal ribs with a U or V cross section inverted symmetrical with respect to the radial planes passing through the axis of rotation 58 of this drum and the tops of these hollows or ribs, each located in one of the cylindrical halves of this drum and angularly offset one or the other by relative to each other on the cylindrical surface of the shell of this drum, and two preferred direction indicators such as chevrons 65, 66, associated respectively with these two recesses 63, 64 or ribs.

These two longitudinal recesses 63, 64 create non-oriented or neutral manual grips for both hands in a manual rotation of the drum 57 and the two associated direction indicators 65, 66 indicate the preferential directions of this manual rotation of the drum 57 to obtain after a short angular path of this drum a rapid alignment of the door 60 with the machine access door 55.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the manual sockets 63 and 64 are oriented and such that they facilitate rotation of the drum 4 in one direction and discourage it in an opposite direction. Preferential direction indicators may possibly be associated with these sockets.

The recesses in U or V symmetrical cross sections 52, 63, 64 of the third and fourth examples of Figures 3 and 4, and the oriented recesses in asymmetrical V cross sections 14, 15 formed respectively on the outer surface of the ferrules of the drums linen 47, 57 and 4 also constitute on the inner surface of the ferrules of these drums 47, 57, 4 the brewing ribs of the linen similar to the ribs 11 and 31 of these drums.

According to the invention, a washing machine such as the machine 1 and 25 comprises a washing drum provided in the inner surface of its shell with at least one longitudinal stirring rib, such as the stirring rib 11 and 31 of the drum 4 or 28 of the machine 1 or 25 intended for lifting laundry and dropping it during the rotation of this drum, and in the outer surface of its shell, of a door and of means allowing, in rapid alignment of this door with the access door of the machine, an implementation of a manual rotation of this drum in a preferred direction and comprising on the one hand at least one manually neutral grip facilitating a manual rotation of this drum constituted by an outer hollow surface of this stirring rib, and on the other hand a direction indicator constituted by an arrow, an arrowhead or a chevron associated with this neutral manual grip.

The hollows and ribs formed in a washing machine washing drum and serving as manual sockets facilitating manual rotation of this drum in a preferred direction, and the direction indicators signaling this preferred direction which constitute means for implementing a rapid alignment of a door of this drum with an access door of this machine, described in the above paragraphs are easy to carry out, simple, solid and reliable in their operation, and therefore make this washing machine efficient in its use and economical in its manufacture.

In an alternative embodiment, the stirring rib of a drum (for example rib 11 of the drum 4) also constitutes a socket oriented asymmetrical in hollow.

Claims (5)

1. Laundry washing machine and/or dryer comprising a laundry drum (4, 28, 47, 57), with at least one manual grip (14, 15, 33, 34) for allowing a lid (10, 30, 50, 60) of this drum to become aligned with a door or access opening (7, 26) of said machine, characterized in that the manual grip is constituted by at least one formed hollow part and/or rib presenting an asymmetric cross-section with respect to the radial plane (16, 17, 35, 36) passing through the rotation axis (6, 37) of the drum (4, 28) and the basis of the hollow portion (14, 15) or the summit of the rib (33, 34).
2. A machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the rib has a V- or U-shaped cross-section.
3. A machine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the laundry drum (4, 28) comprises at least one manual grip constituted by an outer hollowshaped surface of a longitudinal rib which serves to mix the laundry (11, 31).
4. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an indicator for the preferred direction is associated to the grip.
5. A machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the asymmetric manual grip of the drum is constituted by at least one hollow portion or rib which is added or formed in situ.

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