EP1654411B1

EP1654411B1 - A washer/dryer

Info

Publication number: EP1654411B1
Application number: EP04744775A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Korkut Avci; Orhan Daioglu; Oguz Kaan Senol; Umud Esat Ozturk; Yasemin Ozdemir; Berrin Aytun
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2003-08-11
Filing date: 2004-08-10
Publication date: 2010-04-07
Anticipated expiration: 2024-08-10
Also published as: WO2005014913A1; TR200600595T1; ATE463605T1; RU2006106917A; EP1654411A1; RU2329341C2; DE602004026450D1

Abstract

This invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) comprising a group of doors (2) which can be mounted to be opened and closed in the required direction and provides the placement and the use of the cables connecting the knobs and indicators with the network voltage supply and itself without any damage for the users while using and placing.

Description

This invention relates to a washer/dryer comprising a group of door which can be mounted to be opened and closed preferably towards the right and left of the front panel.
In state of art, doors used in the washer/dryers especially in the washing machines are opened in one direction preferably in right or left direction of the washer/dryer. When it is requested to be opened in both directions, modifications are made either on the door or the hinge of the door. However problems may arise for the user when they are made on the doors having on knobs or indicators operating with electricity and hinges having cables on conveying the voltage to these parts.
In prior art, International Patent Application No. WO02/14593 defines the operation of the indicator and the control panel by means of the cables near the hinge.
US3883201 discloses a washing machine in which the cable connection is provided over the hinge.
US3042471 defines a cable connection over a movable hinge for household appliances.
The object of this invention is to realize a washer/dryer comprising a group of doors which can be mounted to be opened and closed preferably in right or left direction of the front panel and to provide connection of the cables for the parts on such as knobs and indicators with the network voltage supply and the machine itself without any damage for the users while using and placing.
The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the above mentioned objective of the present invention has been illustrated in the attached drawings, wherein;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a washer/dryer having its door closed.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a washer dryer having its door opened.
Figure 3 is an exploded front view of a group of doors together with a front panel.
Figure 4 is an exploded back view of a group of doors together with a front panel.
Figure 5 is a top view of a group of doors.
Figure 6 is a bottom view of a group of doors.
Figure 7 is a bottom view of an inner door.
Figure 8 is a top detailed view of a hinge housing, cable housing and control card housing of an inner door.
Figure 9 is a top view of an inner door.
Figure 10 is a top view of an outer door.
Figure 11 is a bottom view of an outer door.
Figure 12 is a top view of an inner door having a hinge.
Figure 13 is a top view of an inner door having a hinge and a control card.
Figure 14 is a top view of an inner door having a hinge, a control card and a control panel.
Figure 15 is a perspective view of a hinge, which is open at one level.
Figure 16 is a perspective view of a hinge, which is opened completely.
Figure 17 is a bottom view of a hinge holder.
Figure 18 is a top view of a hinge holder.
The components shown in the figures have individually been enumerated as shown below:

1. Washer/dryer
2. Group of doors
3. Outer door
4. Inner door
5. Hinge
6. Hinge holder
7. Transparent door
8. Motion gap
9. Control card housing
10. Transparent door fixation extension
11. Transparent door guidance projection
12. Hinge housing
13. Socket housing
14. Cable housing
15. Control panel housing
16. Control panel
17. Control card

24. Cable pusher
30. Front panel
31. Panel door replacement housing
32. Housing camouflage plate
33. Housing covering plate
34. Bolt
35. Locking mechanism
36. Clip holes
39. Stopper
40. Cable protection extension
41. Male socket
42. Female socket
Washer/dryers (1) preferably front loaded washing machines comprise a group of doors (2) preferably in the circular form which can be opened and closed for the placement and removal of the laundry to be washed and/or dried, a front panel (30) on which the group of doors is attached, more than one panel door replacement housing (31) which provide the use of the group of doors in the requested direction, a locking mechanism (35) which locks the group of doors (2), a bolt (34) which provides the operation of the locking mechanism (35), a hinge (5) which is attached to the group of doors (2) and provides the opening and closing of the group of doors (2), a housing camouflage plate (32) near the hinge (5) which covers the openings on the panel door replacement housing (31) without preventing the operation of the hinge (5) and a housing covering plate (33) far from the hinge which covers the openings on the panel door replacement housing (31) without preventing the operation of the bolt (34).
Hinge (5) comprises a hinge holder (6) which fixes it, preferably as a single part, one or more stoppers (39) which prevent its motion more than the required amount, one or more cable protection extension (40) which provides the attachment of the cables and protection from any damage during its motion and one or more clip holes (36) by which preferably the string clips and cables are attached which provide the proper placement of the cables into the cable protection extension (40) in required order and prevention from leaving from its place or any possible damage which may arise from their compression or extension during its movement.
Group of doors (2) comprises an outer door (3) providing an aesthetical appearance, a control card (17) enabling the user to control monitor and/or control the washer/dryer (1), a control panel (16) connected to the control card (17), an inner door (4) onto which the outer door (3) is attached, a transparent door (7) preferably made of glass material placed between the inner door (4) and the outer door (3), and one or more male and female sockets (41, 42) on the edge of the cable conveying the voltage from the network voltage supply or on the edge of the cables into which it is placed which convey the voltage by being connected to each other.
Outer door (3) comprises a motion gap (8) which is placed on both sides of the hinge (5) symmetrically and provides the easy motion of the hinge (5) and cables without any tight, and one or more control panel housing (15) which is placed into the control panel (16) and provides its vision and use from outside.
Inner door (4) comprises one or more transparent door fixation extension (10) one or more transparent door guidance projection (11) used to stop the transparent door (7) in the right position when it is required to be rotated in an unsymmetrical form, a hinge housing (12) in which the hinge (5) is placed, at least two control card housings (9) having the same form placed symmetrically onto both sides of the hinge housing (12) onto which the control card (17) and/or the control panel (16) are placed, one or more socket housings (13) providing the connection of the cable on the hinge (5) near the hinge housing (12) facing the control card housings (9) with the group of doors (2) and one or more cable housing (14) providing the attachment of the cables extending along the socket housing (13) to the control card (17) between the hinge housing (12) and the control card housings (9).
Hinge holder (6) comprises one or more cable pusher (24), which prevents the damage to the cables extending from the hinge (5) due to the motion of the hinge (5).
When the group of doors (2) is mounted, the hinge (5) is placed into the hinge housing (12) and the fixed by the hinge holder (6). After the hinge (5) is fixed, the control panel (16) is placed to the control panel housing (15), the control card (17) is placed to the control card housing (9) and cable housings (14) attached to the control card (17) and the socket at the edge of the cables is placed to the socket housing (13) according to the opening direction of the group of doors (2). Socket cable on the hinge (5) is plugged into the socket placed into the socket housing (13). Following the assembly of the inner door (4), outer door (3) is attached onto the inner door (4).
When the direction of the group of doors (2) is required to be changed, the inner door (4) is separated from the outer door (3) and the hinge holder (6), the hinge (5), the control panel (16), the control card (17) and the connection cables are disassembled. The outer door (3) remains fixed due to the position of the control panel (16) and the inner door (4) is rotated by 180 degrees such that the control panel (16) is faced against to the control card housing (9). In this position, the control card (17) is attached to the other control card housing (9) and the control panel (16) is mounted on it, and then the hinge (5) is fixed by the hinge holder (6), the cables on the hinge (5) are connected to the control card (17) by means of the male and female sockets (41, 42). After the inner door is mounted, the outer door (3) is attached onto the inner door (4). Therefore, the opening direction of the group of doors (2) is changed easily without changing the place of the control panel housing (15).
The washer/dryer (1), which is the subject of the invention, can be easily mounted together with the group of doors (2) in accordance with the required opening and closing direction or the mounted group of doors (2) can be easily dismounted for opening and closing in the required direction.

Claims

A washer/dryer (1) comprising a group of doors (2) preferably in the circular form which can be opened and closed for the loading and removal of the laundry having a control card (17) enabling the user to control monitor and/or control the washer/dryer (1), one or more control panel (16) connected to the control card (17) which can be monitored through the audio and images and/or used through the knobs and indicators by the user, wherein the control card (17) and the control panel (16) are fixed to the group of doors (2), an outer door (3), an inner door (4) onto which the outer door (3) is attached and a transparent door (7) preferably made of glass material placed between the inner door (4) and the outer door (3) and a hinge (5) which is attached to the group of doors (2) and provides its opening and closing and having a cable from the supply conveying the voltage connected to the control card (17) and/or the control panel characterized by the inner door (4) comprising a hinge housing (12) into which the hinge (5) is placed, and at least two control card housings (9) having the same form placed symmetrically onto both sides of the hinge housing (12) onto which the control card (17) is placed.
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in Claim 1 characterized by the inner door (4) comprising one or more socket housings (13) providing the connection of the cable on the hinge (5) near the hinge housing (12) facing the control card housings (9) with the group of doors (2) and one or more cable housing (14) providing the attachment of the cables extending along the socket housing (13) to the control card (17) between the hinge housing (12) and the control card housings (9).
A washer/dryer as defined in Claim 1 and 2 characterized by the group of doors (2) comprising one or more male and female sockets (41, 42) on the edge of the cable conveying the voltage from the network voltage supply or on the edge of the cables into which it is placed, which convey the voltage by being connected to each other.
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in any of the Claims above characterized by a locking mechanism (35) which provides the opening and closing of the group of doors (2), a bolt (34) for the operation of the locking mechanism (35), a front panel (30) onto which the group of doors (2) is attached and more than one panel door replacement housing (31) which provide the use of the group of doors in the requested direction while closing the undesired parts.
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in any of the Claims above characterized by the hinge (5) comprising a hinge holder (6) which fixes it as a single part , one or more stoppers (39) which prevent its motion more than the required amount, one or more cable protection extension (40) which provides the attachment of the cables and protection from any damage during its motion and one or more clip holes (36) by which preferably the string clips and cables are attached which provide the proper placement of the cables into the cable protection extension (40) and prevention from leaving from its place or any possible damage which may arise from their compression or extension during its movement.
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in Claim 4 characterized by a housing camouflage plate (32) near the hinge (5) which covers the openings on the panel door replacement housing (31) without preventing the operation of the hinge (5) and a housing covering plate (33) far from the hinge (5) which covers the openings on the panel door replacement housing (31) without preventing the operation of the bolt (34).
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in any of the Claims above characterized by the outer door (3) comprising one or more control panel housing (15) which is placed into the control panel (16) and provides its vision and use from outside and a motion gap (8) which is placed on both sides receiving the hinge (5) symmetrically and provides the easy motion of the hinge (5) and cables without any tight.
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in any of the Claims above characterized by the inner door (4) comprising one or more transparent door fixation extension (10) and one or more transparent door guidance projection (11) used to stop the transparent door (7) in the right position when it is required to be rotated.
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in Claim 5 characterized by the hinge holder (6) comprising one or more cable pusher (24), which prevents the damage to the cables extending from the hinge (5) due to the motion of the hinge (5).
A washer/dryer (1) as defined in Claim 1 characterized by the control card housings (9) having the forms to fit the shape of the control card (17).