EP2145993A1 - Gasket for a laundry treating machine and laundry treating machine comprising such a gasket - Google Patents

Abstract

The sleeve (10) has a flange, which is attached at housing, and another flange (16) with multiple recesses (32), where the recesses are formed at a distance in a circumferential direction. The recesses are attached at a bucking container. The sleeve is attached between the housing and a bucking container (36) of a laundry handling machine (12). An independent claim is included for a laundry handling machine with housing.

Description

The invention relates to a cuff for a laundry treatment machine and a laundry treatment machine with such a cuff.

In the present case, a laundry treatment machine is understood to mean a machine which is intended for the treatment, in particular care, of laundry. It may thus be a washing machine or a laundry drying machine, or a machine intended both for washing and for drying laundry, also referred to as a "washer-dryer".

Conventionally, a laundry treating machine in the form of a washing machine or a washer-dryer has a housing which forms an exterior or enclosure (and as such, and in a corresponding sense, a "frame") of the laundry treating machine. The housing has a front or upper opening for loading and unloading laundry. The opening can be closed by a door. Inside the housing, a tub is arranged, which contains water and detergent for washing the laundry during washing. Inside the tub, a drum is installed. The drum is loaded with the laundry to wash the laundry. For washing, the drum is filled with water and the cleaning agent and rotated about a rotation axis. The drum is driven to rotate by a motor or the like. In order to prevent water and laundry from entering a space between the tub and the housing, a sleeve (also referred to as a "seal ring") can be labeled between the tub and the housing, even in the light of the shape of the sleeve Torus or circular ring can vary greatly) arranged. This sleeve is made of an elastomer and also serves to damp vibrations generated by the rotation of the drum, especially at high speed.

The WO 2007/063072 A1 discloses a cuff for a washing machine. The cuff has a front flange and a rear flange. Between the the front and the rear flange are two substantially U-shaped areas which connect the two flanges together. The front flange is provided for mounting on the housing of the washing machine. The rear flange is intended for mounting on the tub of the washing machine. The front and the rear flange are formed continuously in the circumferential direction. The collar has on the rear flange an area which extends in the radial direction inwards. During operation of the washing machine, the drum rotates in loose sliding contact in this area.

To ensure that the cuff can not move or rotate during operation of a laundry treating machine, it must be firmly attached to the tub. In order to securely hold the sleeve to the tub, the tub may have in its front region a circumferential and substantially J-shaped rib. To install the cuff, it must be pulled over the rib of the tub.

In other known solutions, the sleeve, which is usually made of rubber or other suitable rubber-elastic material, a rib, which serves for attachment to the tub. This type of cuff is easier to mount, but does not have the resistance to rotation such as the previously described cuff.

Consequently, there is currently the problem that as the resistance force which the sleeve provides against rotation increases, the mounting of the sleeve becomes heavier. This concerns especially a cuff, which are formed at least relatively stiff in the area which is pulled over the rib of the tub.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cuff for a laundry treating machine which is easy to assemble, has sufficient resistance to rotation during operation of the laundry treating machine, and has excellent sealing properties. Also, a laundry treatment machine to be created with such a cuff.

This object is achieved by a cuff and a laundry treatment machine according to the respective independent claim. Preferred developments of the sleeve and the laundry treatment machine are listed in corresponding dependent claims, wherein preferred developments of the sleeve correspond to preferred developments of the laundry treatment machine and vice versa, and this even if it is not explicitly stated herein. All claims find their support in the following description and in the accompanying drawings.

According to the invention, the cuff, which can be arranged between a housing and a tub of a laundry treating machine, has a first flange which can be mounted on the housing, and a second flange with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses which on the Lye container can be arranged or attached, on.

The sleeve is attached to the tub by the cuff is guided with their recesses over appropriately trained areas of the tub so that these areas engage in the recesses. By a subsequent rotational movement of the cuff this is releasably attached to the tub. The invention is based on the idea to attach the cuff similar to a bayonet lock on the tub. The sleeve can, at least in the region of the second flange, be made relatively rigid and, in particular, torsionally rigid and optionally have corresponding stiffening elements, since they do not have to be pulled with considerable elastic deformation over a rib or the like of the tub. Thus, the cuff is not only very easy and reliable to assemble, but it can also better resist the forces and stresses occurring during operation of the laundry treatment machine. In the assembled state, the sleeve between the tub and the housing of the laundry treatment machine is firmly clamped. Additional securing measures may be provided, for example a securing element or pressing element (eg a flexible wire) which presses cuff and tub together along the circumference of the cuff to fix the cuff to the tub.

Preferably, the recesses are arranged evenly spaced in the circumferential direction, thus facilitating both the manufacture of the cuff and its assembly. There is no special alignment between cuff and tub required.

Preferably, the flange has an annular region in which the recesses are arranged.

Preferably, the annular region has a groove which extends in the circumferential direction, so that areas of the tub or of any connecting element arranged therebetween can engage in the groove and the collar is fixed and held particularly well by positive locking on the tub.

Preferably, the groove is closed by lugs, a stop or a closure element at areas which are located in each case on one side of the recesses, so that during assembly there is no risk that the sleeve rotates out of engagement with the tub again.

Preferably, the flange has a curved edge extending radially outwardly so that the collar on the tub can be replaced by an additional securing element (such as a flexible wire), e.g. is inserted into the curved edge, can be held. It is understood that any securing means can be used which is suitable for holding the sleeve to the tub and a shape of the flange corresponding to the securing means can be provided.

Preferably, the curved edge has at least one kind of lever or tab which extends substantially radially outwards, so that a rotational movement for mounting the collar is facilitated.

Preferably, at least two positioning projections are provided on the flange, which in the mounted state of the sleeve on the tub in corresponding Positioning grooves of the tub grip, so that the cuff is fixed in its final position.

Preferably, the flange has at least one drain or drain hole (e.g., in the annulus area) so that water can be returned to the tub.

The laundry treating machine according to the invention comprises a housing or other suitable stationary component and a tub, and the sleeve is arranged between the housing and the tub.

Preferably, to attach the cuff to the tub, the recesses of the cuff are adapted to be engaged by corresponding portions (i.e., shaped portions) of a rib, collar, or protrusion of the tub; and the collar is rotatable in the circumferential direction of the same on the tub bayonet-like manner in engagement with this rib, so that therefore a simple mounting similar to a bayonet lock is made possible.

Preferably, the tub on a rib which is formed as circumferentially spaced apart teeth, wherein in the mounted state of the cuff, the teeth are in a groove of a ring portion of the sleeve.

Preferably, the rib is formed substantially T-shaped or has a T-shaped cross-section, and a flange of the sleeve surrounds a portion of the rib, which extends radially outwardly therefrom, so that the sleeve is securely held on the tub.

Preferably, the collar has a curved edge on the flange, and the rib has a curved portion, wherein the edge and the curved portion extend substantially radially outward and the edge is in the radial direction on the outside of the curved portion; and a securing means or a pressing element, in particular a circumferentially extending wire, is arranged so that it presses the edge on this area, whereby the sleeve is held particularly well on the tub.

Preferably, at least one drain hole is provided in a region of the rib, so that water or washing liquid can be returned to the tub again.

Preferably, the rib has positioning grooves into which positioning projections formed on the flange grip, so that the collar is securely held in its end position.

Preferably, a laundry drum is disposed in the tub so as to be slidably rotatable on a ring portion of the sleeve. However, it will be understood that the drum may be arranged so that it is not in sliding contact with the annular portion of the sleeve, but that there is a gap therebetween which is sized so that items of laundry do not normally fit or pinch there. This latter arrangement can be chosen to avoid permanent friction between the ring area and the drum.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described below. The invention also comprises a tub as such, with a mounting portion adapted to the collar of the invention, as previously described in the above example and encompassed by the claims. Furthermore, the invention comprises a set of such a tub according to the invention and a sleeve according to the invention.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Teilbereichs einer Manschette,

Fig.2

eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Teiles eines Randes eines Laugenbehälters,

Fig. 3

eine Fig. 1 und 2 entsprechende Teilansicht einer Manschette und eines Laugenbehälters, die einen Zwischenschritt bei der Montage der Manschette an dem Laugenbehälter zeigt, und

Fig. 4

eine Teilschnittansicht einer Wäschebehandlungsmaschine.

The invention is explained below with reference to the description of particularly preferred embodiments, which embodiments in the FIGS. 1 to 4 The accompanying drawings are shown, in detail:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a portion of a cuff,

Fig.2

a perspective view of a part of an edge of a tub,

Fig. 3

a Fig. 1 and 2 corresponding partial view of a cuff and a tub, showing an intermediate step in the assembly of the cuff to the tub, and

Fig. 4

a partial sectional view of a laundry treatment machine.

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a section of a sleeve 10 of a laundry treatment machine 12. The sleeve 10 is formed substantially circular. The sleeve 10 has along its entire circumference a front or first flange 14 (see. Fig. 4 ) and a rear or second flange 16. The front flange 16 is adapted to be mounted on a housing 18 of the laundry treating machine 12 ( Fig. 4 ). The front flange 14 has a first curved edge 20 which extends radially outward in the radial direction of the sleeve (see. Fig. 4 ). The rear flange 16 has a second curved edge 22 extending radially outwardly in the radial direction of the sleeve 10 and a radially inwardly projecting annular portion 24. Between the front flange 14 and the rear flange 16 extend a first U-shaped portion 26 and a second U-shaped portion 28. The first U-shaped portion 26 is connected to the front flange 14. The second U-shaped area is connected to the first U-shaped area 26 and the rear flange 16.

The projecting annular portion 24 has a groove 30 extending in the circumferential direction. The groove 30 is formed on the side of the annular portion 24 facing the second curved edge 22 of the rear flange 16. Furthermore, the annular region 24 is provided with recesses 32, which are arranged uniformly spaced in the circumferential direction ( Fig. 3 ). The recesses 32 are formed on the side of the annular portion 24 which faces away from the front flange 14. The recesses 32 are formed in the ring portion 24 so as to extend inward in the radial direction. The groove 30 is not formed continuously in the annular region 24, but is closed at one end of the recess 32 by a projection 34 extending in the radial direction.

Fig. 2 shows a section of a tub 36 of the washing and drying machine 12 in a perspective view. The tub 36 has a substantially T-shaped rib 38. The rib 38 is formed in a front portion of the tub 36, that is, a portion facing a loading and unloading port of the laundry treating machine 12, not shown. The rib 38 has a curved portion 40 which is formed so that the second curved edge 22 of the rear flange 16 of the sleeve 10 is mounted therein can be. The rib 38 is not continuous in the circumferential direction, but has a plurality of teeth 42 which extend inward in the radial direction. The teeth 42 have a shape or size which corresponds substantially to that of the recesses 32 of the sleeve 10. The teeth 42 are also positioned on the tub 36 such that they can overlap the recesses 32 of the sleeve 10. Preferably, both teeth 42 and recesses 32 are each uniformly spaced in the circumferential direction, so that the teeth 42 and the recesses 32 in different relative rotational positions of the sleeve 10 and tub 36 can be brought into overlap each other.

Fig. 3 shows a section of the cuff 10 and the tub 36 in a perspective view and represents an intermediate step in the assembly of the sleeve 10 to the tub 36.

The sleeve 10 is first guided for mounting on the tub 36 with the rear in the axial direction of the tub 36 flange 16 on the front portion of the tub 36, so that the teeth 42 of the tub 36 protrude or engage in the recess 32 of the sleeve 10. By a rotation of the sleeve 10 in the circumferential direction (which in the illustration of the Fig. 3 a rotation to the left corresponds) the cuff 10 is attached or attached to the tub 36. The teeth 42 engage in the groove 30 of the annular portion 24 of the sleeve 10. The rotation takes place until the teeth 42 abut on the lugs 34, which are arranged in the groove 30 and interrupt the groove 30, respectively. In other words, the cuff 10 is attached to the tub 36 with a closure similar to a bayonet catch.

Fig. 4 FIG. 12 is a partial sectional view of a laundry treating machine 12 taken along an axial direction of the cuff 10. Specifically, the assembled state of the cuff 10 between the housing 18 and the tub 36 is shown. In the in Fig. 4 illustrated embodiment, the housing 18 has a radially outwardly curved edge 44. The edge 44 engages in the space formed between the first edge 20 and the front flange 14.

The cuff 10 is mounted on the tub 36 so that the second curved edge 22 is radially attached to the curved portion 40 from the outside. Both the tub 36 and the sleeve 10 have in their lower region drain holes 46 and 48, of which only one is shown. The drain holes 46 are located in the annular region 24 and penetrate it. The drain holes 48 are located in one of the teeth 42 and penetrate it. In the assembled state of the sleeve 10 to the tub 36, the drain holes 46 of the sleeve 10 are aligned with the drain holes 48 of the tub 36. The drain holes 46 and 48 serve washing liquid or water, located in the second U-shaped portion 28 of the sleeve 10th is returned to the tub 36 again.

In the assembled state, the sleeve 10 is held solely by the press-fit between the housing 18 and the tub 36. As an additional backup, as in Fig. 4 shown, a flexible wire 50 are mounted under bias, which acts radially from the outside on the second curved edge 22 and the cuff 10 presses on the curved portion 40 of the rib 38 of the tub 36.

A laundry drum 52 is disposed so as to be slidably rotatable about an axis of rotation 54 indicated by a dashed line on the annular portion 24 of the sleeve 10. By the described type of assembly of the sleeve 10 is releasably but securely attached to the tub 36. To facilitate rotation of the collar 10, a tab 56 may be provided which is disposed on the second curved edge 22 of the collar 10 facing radially outward.

The laundry drum can be placed under a gap to the annular area which is sized or small so that laundry items usually do not fit through and thus can not get into the space between the drum and the tub. This prevents permanent friction between the ring area and the laundry drum and pinching laundry in this area.

The T-shaped rib 38 of the tub 36 may have positioning grooves in its radially outwardly facing region. In these positioning grooves can engage correspondingly formed positioning projections of the sleeve 10, so as to fix the end position of the sleeve 10. The tub 36 may have corresponding markings indicative of the positions of the cuff 10 before and after rotation. Preferably, the tab or lip is disposed on the collar 10 so as to oppose the mark indicating the position prior to rotation when the collar 10 is mounted on the tub 36. After a rotation of the sleeve 10, the tab or lip is then opposite the marking that indicates the end position. As a result, in the case of manual assembly, the installer can easily check whether the collar 10 is correctly or completely mounted on the tub 36. The cuff 10 may be stiffened in areas where this is required due to the stresses encountered during operation of the laundry treating machine 12, yet still be easily assembled. Alternatively, the sleeve 10 may be formed stiff or torsionally stiff due to the described design and assembly.

Instead of the wire and clips or hooks may be provided on the tub 36, which press the cuff 10 and additionally secure. It will be understood that instead of the wire shown or in addition to the wire, any other securing means or pressure element suitable for holding the collar 10 to the tub 36 may be used.

The previously described shaping of the sleeve 10 and of the tub 36 in the connection region of these two components can also be carried out inverted in an alternative embodiment.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

cuff

12

Laundry appliance

14

First flange

16

Second flange

18

casing

20

First curved edge

22

Second curved edge

24

ring area

26

First U-shaped area

28

Second U-shaped area

30

groove

32

recess

34

approach

36

tub

38

rib

40

Crooked area

42

teeth

44

Crooked edge

46

drain hole

48

drain hole

50

wire

52

washing drum

54

axis of rotation

56

flap

Claims (18)

A cuff (10) for a laundry treating machine (12) attachable between a housing (18) and a tub (36) of the laundry treating machine (12), said cuff (10) having a first flange (14) attached to said housing (18 ), and a second flange (16) having a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses (32) attachable to the tub (16). Cuff (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the recesses (32) are arranged uniformly spaced from each other in the circumferential direction. Cuff (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second flange (16) has an annular region (24) in which the recesses (32) are arranged. Collar (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that the annular region (24) has a groove (30) which extends in the circumferential direction. A grommet (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the groove (30) by lugs (34) is closed at areas which are located on either side of the recesses (32). A cuff (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second flange (16) has a curved edge (22) extending radially outwardly. A cuff (10) according to claim 6, characterized in that the curved edge (22) has at least one tab (56) which extends substantially radially outwards. Collar (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two positioning projections are provided on the second flange (16), which in the mounted state of the sleeve (10) on the tub (36) in corresponding positioning grooves of the tub (36). to grab. A grommet (10) according to one of claims 3 to 8, characterized in that the second flange (16) has at least one drain hole (46) in the ring portion (24) and penetrates this. Laundry treatment machine (12) with a housing (18) and a tub (36), wherein between the housing (18) and the tub (36) a sleeve (10) is arranged, which cuff (10) has a first flange (14) attached to the housing (18) and having a second flange (16) with a plurality of circumferentially spaced recesses (32) attached to the tub (16). A laundry treating machine (12) according to claim 10, characterized in that for attaching the collar (10) to the tub (36), the recesses (32) of the collar (10) are formed to be separated from corresponding portions of a rib (38) of the collar Laugenbehälters (36) are engaged behind, and the collar (10) in the circumferential direction thereof on the tub (36) is a bayonet-like manner in engagement with the rib (38) rotatable. Laundry treating machine (12) according to any one of claims 10 and 11, characterized in that the tub (36) has a rib (38) formed as circumferentially spaced teeth (42), characterized in that the teeth (42 ) are located in a groove (30) of a ring portion (24) of the sleeve (10). Laundry treating machine (12) according to claim 12, characterized in that the rib (38) is substantially T-shaped and a second flange (16) of the sleeve (10) engages around a portion of the rib (38) extending radially outwards extends from the same. Laundry treating machine (12) according to claim 13, characterized in that the sleeve (10) has a curved edge (22) on the second flange (16) and the rib (38) has a curved portion (40), wherein the edge ( 22) and the curved portion (40) extending substantially radially outward and the edge (22) in the radial direction of the sleeve (10) seen outside the curved portion (40), wherein a pressing member, in particular a in the circumferential direction extending wire (50) is arranged so that it presses the edge (22) on the area (40). Laundry treatment machine (12) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that at least one drain hole (48) in a region of the rib (38) is provided. A laundry treating machine (12) according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the rib (38) has positioning grooves into which positioning projections formed on the second flange (16) engage. A laundry treating machine (12) according to any one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that a laundry drum (52) is disposed in the tub (36) so as to be slidably rotatable on a ring portion (24) of the sleeve (10). Laundry treating machine (12) according to any one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that a washing drum (52) in the tub (36) is rotatably arranged so that a gap between the laundry drum (52) and a ring portion (24) of the sleeve ( 10) is formed.

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