EP1859094B1

EP1859094B1 - Drum type washing machine

Info

Publication number: EP1859094B1
Application number: EP06716391.5A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hye Yong Park; Bo Yeon E-423 Saenghwal-kwan of LG Electronic KIM
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2005-03-17
Filing date: 2006-03-15
Publication date: 2013-08-14
Anticipated expiration: 2026-03-15
Also published as: US20090096331A1; EP1859094A4; EP1859094A1; WO2006098589A1

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a drum type washing machine, and more par-ticularly, to a drum type washing machine in which a low cover is easily attached and detached and at the same time, a filter covered with the low cover is easily cleaned.

Background Art

FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional drum type washing machine.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional drum type washing machine includes a cabinet 1 forming both side surfaces and a rear surface thereof; a cabinet cover 2 mounted in front of the cabinet 1; a top cover 3 mounted on a top of the cabinet 1; and a base (not shown) mounted on a bottom of the cabinet 1.
A detergent box 4 for housing detergent, and a control panel assembly 5 controlling the drum type washing machine are installed at an upper side of the cabinet cover 2. A low cover 6 is installed at a lower side of the cabinet cover 2.
A lower bracket 7 for assembling the low cover 6 is installed in front of the cabinet 1, and a filter 8 connecting to a drainage unit of the drum type washing machine is installed at the lower bracket 7.
The lower bracket 7 is fixed to the cabinet 7 by a connection means (not shown) and also, the low cover 6 is connected and fixed to the low bracket by a connection means. If the low cover 6 is assembled, the filter 8 installed at the low bracket 7 is covered with the low cover 6 without exposure to the exterior.
However, in case where a laundry is wahsed in the washing machine several times, a large amount of foreign materials is stored in the filter 8, and thus a worker has to eliminate the foreign materials trapped by the filter 8. However, in case where the low cover 6 and the lower bracket 7 are connected, there is a drawback in that the low cover 6 is complicated in its separation.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve at least the problems and disadvantages of the background art.
An object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine in which a low cover is easily assembled and disassembled. KR20020056327 relates to a drum washing machine, where a lower cover mounting structure of the machine includes a spring hook (44) formed of elastic hook plates (46,46') and a latch (32) having a small diameter part (33) in the center and an insertion head (34) connected to the small diameter. The spring hook and the latch are respectively mounted at corresponding positions of a lower frame (30) forming a lower part of the washing machine body and a lower cover (40) mounted to the lower frame forms the outside of the lower frame.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a drum type washing machine in which, when a low cover is assembled, its left/right position and up/down position are aligned in an automatic manner.

Technical Solution

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, there is provided a drum type washing machine including a cabinet; a lower bracket installed at the cabinet; a low cover assembled to the low bracket; a fitting projection installed at any one of the lower bracket and the low cover; and a fitting plate installed at ther other one of the lower bracket and the low cover, and interlocking with the fitting projection.
The fitting plate interlocks with the fitting projection in any one of up/down direction and left/right direction.
Specifically, the fitting plate includes an up/down fitting plate installed in the up/ down direction and supported by the fitting projection in the up/down direction; and a left/right fitting plate installed in the left/right direction and supported by the fitting projection in the left/right direction. The up/down fitting plate or the left/right fitting plate is installed in plural at any one side edge of the low cover, or is installed at a diagonal corner of the low cover, respectively.
The up/down fitting plate is installed at a diagonal corner of the low cover, respectively, or is installed at a diagonal corner of the low cover, respectively.
The low cover has an assembly through-hole to insert the fitting plate, and the assembly through-hole has a square shape.
The fitting plate includes a body having an insertion part inserted into the assembly through-hole, and a fixation part fixed to the low cover; and a fitting through-hole provided at the insertion part, and inserting the fitting projection and interlocking with the fitting projection. The assembly through-hole and the insertion part inserted into the assembly through-hole have square shapes.
Specifically, the body further comprises a support part projected toward the fitting through-hole, and the support part supports the fitting projection.
The washing machine further includes a fixing member riveted and fixed to the lower bracket, and the fixing member and the fitting projection are connected and fixed. The fitting projection includes a body having a cydindrical shape; a neck part concaved with respect to a central axis of the body; a male screw part connected and fixed to the fixing member; a lock part positioned at the fitting plate of the body, and interlocking with the fitting plate; and a nut part around the body.

Advantageous Effects

A drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an effect in that a low cover and a lower bracket are assembled by a lock fixation of a fitting plate and a fitting projection, thereby facilitating the disassembly and reassembly of a low cover.
The drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an effect in that the fitting plates are installed in the up/down direction or the left/right direction, thereby performing a left/right alignment and a up/down alignment of the low cover in an automatic manner when the low cover is assembled.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like numerals refer to like elements.
FIG. 1 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a conventional drum type washing machine;
FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a low cover of a drum type washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective view illustrating a filter of a drum type washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a low cover and a fitting plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating a fitting plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fitting plate cut along a line VI-VI of FIG. 5;
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a fitting projection and a fixing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 8 is an example of a process of connecting a fitting projection with a fixing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway cross-sectional view illustrating a connection state of a fitting projection and a fixing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an assembly process of a low cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fitting plate and a fixing projection according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fitting plate according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in a more detailed manner with reference to the drawings.
A plurality of exemplary embodiments of a drum type washing machine can be provided, but the most preferable embodiment will be described below.
FIG. 2 is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating a low cover of the drum type washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway perspective view illustrating a filter of the drum type washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2 or 3, a cabinet assembly of the inventive drum type washing machine is a structure of forming an external shape of the drum type washing machine. The cabinet assembly includes a cabinet 10 forming both side surfaces and a rear surface thereof; a cabinet cover 20 mounted in front of the cabinet 10; a top cover 12 mounted on a top of the cabinet 10; and a base (not shown) mounted on a bottom of the cabinet 10.
Within the cabinet 10 are provided a water supplying unit (not shown) for supplying washing water; a tub 11 for storing washing water supplied from the water supplying unit; a drum 15 installed inside the tub 11 and driven by a motor (not shown); a drainage unit 16 for draining the washing water stored in the tub 11, outside the cabinet 10; and a control panel assembly 30 for receiving an operation signal of the drum type washing machine from a worker, and controlling the water supplying unit, the drum, and the drainage unit and at the same time, displaying an operation state of the drum type washing machine.
A detergent box 40 for storing detergent or fiber softening agent, and the control panel assembly 30 are installed at an upper side of the cabinet cover 20. The low cover 50 is installed at a lower side of the cabinet cover 20.
Specifically, the low cover 50 is installed to have the same surface as the cabinet c over 20, and forms a front of the drum type washing machine.
The detergent box 40 is installed over a movement path of the washing water moving from the water supplying unit to the tub 11. The detergent box 40 allows the detergent or the fiber softening agent to be introduced together with the washing water into the tub 11.
The filter 14 is installed at a flow path of the washing water flowing from the tub 11 to the drainage unit 16, and filters foreign materials from the washing water.
An upper bracket (not shown) is installed at an upper side of the front of the cabinet 10, at which the cabinet cover 20 is installed. The upper bracket is assembled with the control panel assembly 30 and the detergent box 40.
A lower bracket 60 is installed at a lower side of the front of the cabinet 10, at which the cabinet cover is installed. The filter 14 is installed at the lower bracket 60.
A stopper 15 is installed in front of the filter 14 installed at the lower bracket 60, and prevents a leakage of the washing water. The filter 14 passes through the lower bracket 60, and is positioned within the cabinet 10.
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the low cover and a fitting plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a front view illustrating the fitting plate according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the fitting plate cut along a line VI-VI of FIG. 5, FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating a fitting projection and a fixing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 8 is an example of a process of connecting the fitting projection with the fixing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 9 is a partial cutaway cross-sectional view illustrating a connection state of the fitting projection and the fixing member according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating an assembly process of the low cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 2 or 4, the inventive drum type washing machine includes a fixing unit for fixing the low cover 50 and the lower bracket 60. The fixing unit includes the fitting plate 80 and the fitting projection 70.
The fitting projection 70 projected toward the low cover 50 is installed in plural at the lower bracket 60. The fitting plate 80 inserting the fitting projection 70 is installed at the low cover 50.
As shown in FIG. 2, 7, or 8, the fitting projection 70 is screwed and assembled to the lower bracket 60. The fitting projection 70 has a male screw part 71 at its one end, and its end is projected in front toward the low cover 50.
The fitting projection 70 is a partial constituent part of a fitting projection assembly assembled to the lower bracket 60. The fixing member 90 interconnecting with the fitting projection 70 is installed at the lower bracket 60.
The fixing member 90 is inserted into a through-hole 62 provided at the lower bracket 60 and then, is bent by riveting and fixed to the lower bracket 60. A female screw part 92 is provided inside the nut 90.
The fitting protrusion 70 includes a body 75 having a cylindrical shape; a neck part 74 concaved with respect to a central axis of the body 75; the male screw part 71 provided on a circumference surface of a rear of the body 75, and connecting with the fixing member 90; a lock part 72 positioned in front of the body 75, and interlocking with the fitting plate 80 in connection with the fitting plate 80; and a nut part 76 provided on a circumference surface of the body 75 and rotating the body 75 using a tool such as a wrench.
The fitting projection 70 is installed at four corners of the lower bracket 60, respectively, and interlocks with the fitting plate 80.
In this exemplary embodiment, the fixing member 90 and the lower bracket 60 are provided as separate parts but, unlike this, the female screw part may be formed at the lower bracket 60, and the fixing member 90 and the lower bracket 60 may be integrated with each other.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the fitting plate 80 according to the present invention is provided on a rear surface of the low cover 50, and interlocks with the fitting projection 70 of the lower bracket 60.
An assembly through-hole 51 for assembling the fitting plate 80 is provided on the rear surface 53 of the low cover 50, and a connection through-hole 52 for fixing the fitting plate 80 is provided around the assembly through-hole 51.
It is desirable that the assembly through-hole 51 has a square shape so that the fitting plate 80 can be assembled in any vertical direction or horizontal direction.
The fitting plate 80 includes a body 81 having an insertion part 80a inserted into the assembly through-hole 51 and a fixation part 80b fixed to the rear surface 53 of the low cover 50; and a fitting through-hole 82 provided at the insertion part 80a and interlocking with the lock part 72 of the fitting projection 70.
The body 81 further includes a support part 86 provided at an edge of the fitting groove 82, and interlocking with the fitting projection 70 inserted into the fitting through-hole 82.
The fixation part 80b has a through-hole 83 through which the connection member 89 passes. The through-hole 83 is consistent with the through-hole 52 provided at the low cover 50.
Specifically, the insertion part 80a is formed by bending a plate shaped body 81 such that its area is consistent with an area of the assembly through-hole 51.
Thus, if the insertion part 80a is inserted into the square shaped assembly through-hole 51, the insertion part 80a is consistent with an edge of the assembly through-hole 51, thereby minimizing vibration. Even when the fitting plate 80 changes its horizontal and vertical directions, the insertion part 80a is exactly adhered to the edge of the insertion hole 51.
The fitting plate 80 is formed in such a manner that a center part of the body 81 is blanked in a "H" shape to provide the fitting through-hole 82 and then, the insertion part 80a having the fitting through-hole 82 is bent and projected. The support part 86 is projected at the same time when the insertion part 80a is formed.
The fitting plate 80 is installed with up/down fitting plates 801 and left/right fitting plates 802 that are distinguished depending on the direction of being assembled to the assembly through-hole 51. In this exemplary embodiment, two fitting plates assembled to an upper side of an inner surface 53 serve as the up/down fitting plates, and two fitting plates assembled to a lower side of the inner surface 53 serve as the left/right fitting plates.
In other words, if the fixation part 80b of the fitting plate 80 is assembled and disposed in the up/down direction, the fitting plates serve as the up/down fitting plates, and if the fixation part 80b is assmebled and disposed in the left/right direction, the fitting plates serve as the left/right fitting plates.
The support part 86 is bent at the fixation part 80b of the body 81. The support part 86 includes a first bending part 85 bent from the fixation part to a center side of the fitting through-hole 82; and a second bending part 87 again bent outside the first bending part 85.
Specifically, when the fitting projection 70 is inserted, a lock end 88 formed by the bending of the first and second bending parts 85 and 87 is adhered to the lock part 72 of the fitting projection 70 and supports the lock part 72.
In this exemplary embodiment, the fitting plate 80 is installed at the low cover 50 and the fitting projection 70 at the lower bracket 60 but, unlike this, the fitting plate 80 and the fitting projection 70 may be changed with each other in installation position and installed.
A process of installing the low cover according to the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7 below.
First, in FIG. 7 or 8, the nut 90 is inserted into the through-hole 62 provided at the lower bracket 60 and then, is bent at its one front end 91 by rivet processing and fixed to the lower bracket 60.
After the male screw part 71 of the fitting projection 70 is inserted into and connected to the female screw part 92 of the fixed fixing member 90, the fitting projection 70 is fixed to the lower bracket 60.
Worker rotates the fitting projection 70 by hands, and interconnects and fixes the fitting projection 70 with the fixing member 90.
As shown in FIG. 4 or 10, the fitting plate 80 is assembled to the rear surface 53 of the low cover 50 by a connection member 89.
The fitting plate 80 assembled to the low cover 50 is interlocked with the fitting projection 70 assembled to the lower bracket 60 and is fixed in position. The fitting projection 70 is interlocked with the fitting plate 80 installed in the up/down or left/ right direction.
Specifically, the fixation of the fitting projection 70 is performed by the support part 86 provided at the fitting plate 80. The fitting projection 70 is adjusted in position in the up/down or left/right direction by the fitting plate 80 installed in the up/down or left/right direction.
In other words, the support part 86 of the fitting plate 80 installed in the up/down direction supports the fitting projection 70 interfering with each other, and is adjusted in position in the up/down direction. The support part 86 of the fitting plate 80 installed in the left/right direction supports the fitting projection 70, and is adjusted in position in the left/right direction.
Thus, the fitting plate 80 and the fitting projection 70 installed in plural to the low cover 50 and the lower bracket 60, respectively, align the low cover 50 mounted on the lower bracket 60 in up/down and left/right positions thereof. The low cover 50 is i nstalled in exact position by the up/down or left/right alignment.
As shown in FIG. 9, when the fitting projection 70 is inserted into the fitting through-hole 82 of the fitting plate 80, the support part 86 bent at the fitting plate 80 locks and fixes the end of the fitting projection 70.
Specifically, the lock end 88 of the support part 86 is adhered to the lock part 72 of the fitting projection 70, thereby preventing a motion of the fitting projection 70. Also, the lock end 88 is adhered to the fitting projection 70 by an elastic force of the support part 86 itself and at the same time, supports the fitting projection 70.
Together, when the low cover 50 is separated, the lock end 88 of the support part 86 is elastically deformed while releasing its interlock with the fitting projection 70.
Next, a process of cleaning the filter in use of the drum type washing machine will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 2 or 3 below.
First, the worker takes and pulls the low cover 50 in front. By manipulation force applied to the low cover 50, the interlocking of the fitting plate 80 with the fitting projection 70 are released.
The worker separates the low cover 50, opens the stopper 15 exposed in front of the lower bracket 60, and separates the filter 14 installed inside, thereby facilitating the separation of the filter 14.
Upon completion of the cleaning of the filter 14, the filter 14 and the stopper 15 are mounted, and the separated low cover 50 is again interconnected with the fitting projection 70, thereby completing the assembly of the low cover 50.
Thus, the low cover 50 separated/mounted in the above processes cannot only be separated and mounted by one touch but also, even when again mounted, the low cover 50 mounted is exactly aligned in position.
FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fitting plate and a fixing projection according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
The second exemplary embodiment is the same as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention besides the fact that the fitting projection and a rivet are integrated.
Thus, the fitting projection 170 is riveted and fixed at its rear side end 171 to a lower bracket 60, and is projected in front at its front side end and interlocked with the fitting plate 80 in the same manner as the first embodiment of the present invention.
The fitting projection 170 does not need separate connection and fixation. And thus, female/male screw part and nut part are omitted in the fitting projection 170 and a manufacturing process and a work time are greatly reduced.
Other constructions according to the second exemplary embodiment of the present inventnion are the same as those of the fist exemplalry embodiment of the present invention and therefore, their detailed description will be omitted.
FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a fitting plate according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
The third exemplary embodiment is the same as the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention besides the fact that the fitting plate 80 is differently disposed.
Unlike the first exemplary embodiment, in the fitting plate 80 according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, fitting plates 180 disposed in up/down direction and fitting plates 280 disposed in left/right direction are positioned at diagonal corners of a low cover 50.
Thus, the up/down fitting plates 180 are disposed at a right and upper corner and a left and lower corner, and the left/right fitting plates 280 are disposed at a right and lower corner and a left and upper corner such that the low cover is more exactly positioned in its intallation when the low cover 50 is assembled.
In other words, the up/down fitting plates 180 and the left/right fitting plates 280 are installed at the corners opposite to each other, thereby minimizing an error of the up/ down installation position or the left/right installation position of the low cover caused by disposing the fitting plates at any one side.
Other constructions according to the third exemplary embodiment of the present invention are the same as those of the first exemplary embodiment and therefore, their detailed description will be omitted below.

Industrial Applicability

A drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an advantage in that a low cover and a lower bracket are assembled by a lock fixation of a fitting plate and a fitting projection, thereby facilitating the disassembly and reassembly of a low cover.
The drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an effect in that the disassembly and the assembly of the low cover is performed by one touch, thereby facilitating worker's disassembly and assembly of the low cover.
The drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an effect in that the fitting plates are installed in the up/down direction or the left/right direction, thereby performing a left/right alignment and a up/down alignment of the low cover in an automatic manner when the low cover is assembled.
The drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an advantage in that there is provided a structure of being installed at any one of the low cover or a lower bracket and therefore, a degree of freedom is improved when product is designed.
The drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an advantage in that a support part provided at the fitting plate elastically supports the fitting projection and therefore, the low cover is automatically aligned in position by an elastic force of the support part when the low cover is aligned in position.
The drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an effect in that a rivet is integrated with the lower bracket, and a female screw part is provided inside the rivet and therefore, the fitting projection is easily connected and fixed.
Thus, the drum type washing machine according to the present invention has an effect in that it suffers from a process of connecting only the fitting projection and a line work can be performed not a manual work in a production process of a product, thereby improving productivity.

Claims

A drum type washing machine comprising:
a cabinet (10):

a bracket (60) installed at a lower side of the front of the cabinet (10);

a cover (50) assembled to the bracket (60);

fitting projections (70) installed at the bracket (60); and

fitting plates (80) installed at the cover (50), and interlocking with the fitting projections (70),

characterized in that one fitting plate (80) is

an up/down fitting plate (801) installed in the up/down direction and supported by a fitting projection (70) in the up/down direction; and one fitting plate (80) is

a left/right fitting plate (802) installed in the left/right direction and supported by a fitting projection (70) in the left/right direction.
The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the up/down fitting plate (801) or the left/right fitting plate (802) is installed in plural at any one side edge of the cover (50).
The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the up/down fitting plate (801) or the left/right fitting plate (802) is installed at a diagonal corner of the cover (50), respectively.
The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the up/down fitting plate (801) is installed at a diagonal corner of the cover (50), respectively.
The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the left/right fitting plate (802) is installed at a diagonal corner of the cover (50), respectively.
The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the cover (50) has an assembly through-hole (51) to insert the fitting plate.
The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the assembly through-hole (51) has a square shape.
The washing machine of claim 6, wherein the fitting plate (80) comprises:
a body (81) having an insertion part (80a) inserted into said assembly through-hole (51), and a fixation part (80b) fixed to the cover (50); and

a fitting through-hole (82) provided at the insertion part (80a), and inserting the fitting projection (70) and interlocking with the fitting projection (70).
The washing machine of claim 8, wherein said assembly through-hole (51) and the insertion part (80a) inserted into the assembly through-hole (51) have square shapes.
The washing machine of claim 8, wherein said body (81) further comprises a support part (86) projected toward the fitting through-hole (82), and the support part (86) supports the fitting projection (70).
The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a fixing member (90) riveted and fixed to the bracket (60), and wherein the fixing member (90) and the fitting projection (70) are connected and fixed.
The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the fitting projection (70) comprises:
a body (75) having a cydindrical shape;

a neck part (74) concaved with respect to a central axis of the body (75);

a male screw part (71) connected and fixed to the fixing member (90); and

a lock part (72) positioned in front of the body (75), and interlocking with the fitting plate (80).
The washing machine of claim 12, wherein said body (75) further comprises a nut part (76) therearound.