EP2327824A1 - Drum washing machine with hinge units - Google Patents
Drum washing machine with hinge units Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2327824A1 EP2327824A1 EP10189604A EP10189604A EP2327824A1 EP 2327824 A1 EP2327824 A1 EP 2327824A1 EP 10189604 A EP10189604 A EP 10189604A EP 10189604 A EP10189604 A EP 10189604A EP 2327824 A1 EP2327824 A1 EP 2327824A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- door
- hinge
- washing machine
- unit
- drum washing
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
- D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
- D06F37/10—Doors; Securing means therefor
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/20—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations
- D06F37/22—Mountings, e.g. resilient mountings, for the rotary receptacle, motor, tub or casing; Preventing or damping vibrations in machines with a receptacle rotating or oscillating about a horizontal axis
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- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
- D06F37/26—Casings; Tubs
- D06F37/28—Doors; Security means therefor
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00
- D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
- D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
- E05B65/00—Locks or fastenings for special use
- E05B65/006—Locks or fastenings for special use for covers or panels
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05C—BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS OR WINDOWS
- E05C19/00—Other devices specially designed for securing wings, e.g. with suction cups
- E05C19/10—Hook fastenings; Fastenings in which a link engages a fixed hook-like member
-
- D—TEXTILES; PAPER
- D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
- D06F2105/00—Systems or parameters controlled or affected by the control systems of washing machines, washer-dryers or laundry dryers
- D06F2105/44—Opening, closing or locking of doors
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- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THE WING
- E05Y2900/00—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof
- E05Y2900/30—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances
- E05Y2900/312—Application of doors, windows, wings or fittings thereof for domestic appliances for washing machines
Definitions
- Embodiments relate to a drum washing machine using two doors to reduce vibration.
- a drum washing machine washes laundry through tumbling of the laundry in a rotary tub during rotation of the rotary tub.
- the drum washing machine includes a water tub elastically supported in a machine body, a rotary tub rotatably mounted in the tub, a motor mounted at the rear of the water tub to drive the rotary tub, a water supply device to supply water, and a drainage device to drain water.
- a laundry introduction port through which laundry is introduced into the rotary tub.
- openings corresponding to the laundry introduction port are provided at the fronts of the water tub and the rotary tub.
- the laundry introduction port of the machine body is connected to the opening of the water tub via a diaphragm, and a door is mounted at the laundry introduction port, to prevent leakage of wash water during washing and spin-drying cycles.
- the diaphragm exhibits nonlinearity and large deformation properties.
- vibration generated from the water tub is transmitted to the machine body via the diaphragm, with the result that the machine body is vibrated.
- a drum washing machine including a machine body having a first opening, a water tub disposed in the machine body, the tub having a second opening facing the first opening, a rotary drum rotatably provided in the tub to contain laundry, a first door to open and close the first opening, a second door to open and close the second opening, a first hinge unit mounted at the machine body to rotatably support the first door, and a second hinge unit mounted to the tub to rotatably support the second door such that a rotational center of a rotation track of the second door coincides with a rotational center of a rotation track of the first door during opening of the second door.
- the drum washing machine may further include a coupling unit to couple the first door and the second door such that the second door is simultaneously opened when the first door is opened.
- the coupling unit may be provided at the first door, and the coupling unit may include a hook unit configured to be hooked by and released from a hook coupling part provided at the second door.
- the coupling unit may further include an actuator to release the hook unit.
- the actuator may include a drive motor, a wire coupled to the drive motor, and an idle gear configured to be rotated by movement of the wire, and the hook unit may be rotated about a hook rotation shaft. Also, hook unit may be provided at one end thereof with a gear engaged with the idle gear and at the other end thereof with a hook coupled to the second door.
- the actuator may release the hook unit during an operation of the drum washing machine in a state in which the first opening and the second opening are closed.
- the coupling unit may further include a hook holding lever to hold the hook unit released by the actuator to maintain a released state of the hook unit.
- the second hinge unit may have a rotation center located on the same axis as the rotation center of the first door.
- the first hinge unit may include first hinge arms provided at the machine body such that the first hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, each of the first hinge arms having a first rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof, and second hinge arms provided at the first door such that the second hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, each of the second hinge arms having a second rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof such that the second rotation shaft hole is aligned with the corresponding first rotation shaft hole.
- the first hinge unit may further include a first hinge shaft coupling the first hinge arms and the second hinge arms at the first and second rotation shaft holes
- the second hinge unit may include third hinge arms provided at the tub such that the third hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, the third hinge arms extending from the tub toward a front of the machine body such that the third hinge arms reach positions corresponding to the first rotation shaft holes, each of the third hinge arms having a third rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof, and fourth hinge arms provided at the second door such that the fourth hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, the fourth hinge arms being bent from the second door and extending toward the front of the machine body, each of the fourth hinge arms having a fourth rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof such that the fourth rotation shaft hole is aligned with the corresponding third rotation shaft hole.
- the second hinge unit may further include a second hinge shaft coupling the third hinge arms and the fourth hinge arms at the third and fourth rotation shaft holes
- the first door may be rotated about a first rotation shaft of the first hinge unit
- the second door may be rotated about a second rotation shaft of the second hinge unit
- the second hinge unit may include a second hinge arm curvedly protruding from one side of the second door in a lateral direction thereof, the second hinge arm having a curved guide groove in which the second rotation shaft is disposed such that the second rotation shaft is guided along the guide groove.
- the guide groove may have a regular radius of rotation about the first rotation shaft.
- the second hinge unit may include a hinge bracket fixed to the tub, the hinge bracket having a first link shaft, a first link plate having one end rotatably coupled to the first link shaft and the other end coupled to a second link shaft, a second link plate rotatably coupled to the second link shaft, the second link plate being curved toward the first link shaft, the second link plate having a second hinge shaft provided at the end thereof, and a second hinge arm curvedly protruding from one side of the second door in a lateral direction thereof such that the second hinge arm is guided along support planes provided at a top and bottom of the second link plate, the second hinge arm having a curved guide groove in which the second hinge shaft is disposed.
- the first link shaft may be provided with a first torsion spring to elastically push the first link plate in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first link plate is rotated
- the second link shaft may be provided with a first torsion spring to elastically push the second link plate in a direction identical to a direction in which the second link plate is rotated.
- a drum washing machine including a machine body having a first opening, a tub disposed in the machine body, the tub having a second opening facing the first opening, a drum rotatably provided in the tub to contain laundry, a first door rotatably provided at the machine body to open and close the first opening, and a second door rotatably provided at the tub to open and close the second opening, wherein a distance between a first rotational track formed by an end of the first door and a second rotational track formed by an end of the second door is uniformly maintained upon opening and closing of the first door and the second door.
- the first door may be provided with a coupling unit to couple the first door and the second door such that the second door is simultaneously opened when the first door is opened.
- the coupling unit may include a hook unit configured to be hooked by and released from a hook coupling part provided at the second door.
- the coupling unit may further include an actuator to actuate the hook unit to be released from the hook coupling part and a hook holding lever to hold the hook unit released by the actuator.
- the actuator may release the hook unit during an operation of the drum washing machine.
- a drum washing machine includes a machine body 10 forming the external appearance thereof, a water tub 20 mounted in the machine body 10 to contain wash water, and a rotary tub (drum) 14 rotatably mounted in the water tub 20, the rotary tub 14 having a plurality of spin-drying holes formed therethrough.
- a control panel 15 to control the drum washing machine may be provided at the upper front of the machine body 10, although is not limited to such placement.
- a detergent box 16 may be mounted at one side of the control panel 15, although is not limited to such placement.
- a water supply device 17 to supply wash water to the detergent box 16 and the water tub 20.
- a drainage device 18 to drain wash water from the water tub 20 to the outside of the machine body 10.
- a drive unit 19 to rotate the rotary tub 14 such that washing, rinsing, and spin-drying cycles are performed in the rotary tub 14.
- a front 13 of the machine body 10 may be provided a first opening 11 through which laundry is introduced and removed.
- the water tub 20 may be disposed horizontally to the machine body 10.
- a second opening 21 facing the first opening 11 of the machine body 10.
- a first door 30 to open and close the first opening 11.
- a first hinge unit 40 mounted at the machine body 10.
- the first hinge unit 40 may rotatably support the first door 30 such that the first door 30 rotates about a rotational center 35 of the first hinge unit 40 in the frontward and rearward directions of the front 13 of the machine body 10 to open and close the first opening 11 of the machine body 10.
- the outer circumference of the first door 30 tightly contacts the edge of the first opening 11 to maintain a hermetically-sealed state when the first opening 11 is closed by the first door 30.
- a first window 31 At the center of the first door 30 may be provided a first window 31 through which a user may look into the rotary tub 14.
- a second door 50 to open and close the second opening 21.
- a second hinge unit 60 mounted at the water tub 20.
- a gasket At the outer circumference of the second door 50 may be provided a gasket to maintain a hermetically-sealed state when the second opening 21 is closed by the second door 50.
- a second window 51 At the center of the second door 50 may be provided a second window 51 through which a user may look into the rotary tub 14.
- the second hinge unit 60 may rotatably support the second door 50 such that a second rotational track 53 of the second door 50 upon opening of the second door 50 is concentric to a first rotational track 33 of the first door 30 upon rotation of the first door 30 about the rotational center 35 of the first hinge unit 40.
- a distance D between the first rotational track 33 formed by the end of the first door 30 and the second rotational track 53 formed by the end of the second door 50 may be uniform.
- a center C1 of the first door 30 may coincide with a center C2 of the second door 50 when the first door 30 and the second door 50 are simultaneously opened.
- the second hinge unit 60 may be formed in various shapes as long as the second hinge unit 60 rotatably supports the second door 50 such that the rotational center 35 of the second rotational track 53 of the second door 50 coincides with the rotational center 35 of the first rotational track 33 of the first door 30.
- the first hinge unit 40 to rotatably support the first door 30 may include a first hinge arm 41 fixed to the machine body 10, the first hinge arm 41 having a first rotation shaft hole 43, and a second hinge arm 44 fixed to the first door 30, the second hinge arm 44 having a second rotation shaft hole 45 corresponding to the first rotation shaft hole 43.
- the first hinge arm 41 curvedly protrudes from the machine body 10 toward the water tub 20.
- the first rotation shaft hole 43 may be formed at the end of the first hinge arm 41.
- the second hinge arm 44 may include a first arm portion 46 protruding rearward from the first door 30, a second arm portion 47 bent from the end of the first arm portion 46 and extending in the horizontal direction, and a third arm portion 48 bent from the end of the second arm portion 47 and extending toward the first door 30.
- the second rotation shaft hole 45 is formed at the end of the third arm portion 48. Consequently, the second hinge arm 44 may be formed approximately in the shape of "[".
- Two first hinge arms 41 may be disposed at the upper and lower sides of a first hinge bracket 49 mounted at the machine body 10 such that the first hinge arms 41 are vertically spaced apart from each other.
- Two second hinge arms 44 may be disposed at the upper and lower sides of the first door 30 such that the second hinge arms 44 are vertically spaced apart from each other.
- the first rotation shaft hole 43 of the first hinge arm 41 and the second rotation shaft hole 45 of the second hinge arm 44 are arranged adjacent to each other, and a first hinge shaft 42 is inserted through the first rotation shaft hole 43 and the second rotation shaft hole 45.
- the second hinge unit 60 to rotatably support the second door 50 may include a third hinge arm 61 fixed to the water tub 20, the third hinge arm 61 having a third rotation shaft hole 62, and a fourth hinge arm 64 fixed to the second door 50, the fourth hinge arm 64 having a fourth rotation shaft hole 65.
- the third hinge arm 61 protrudes from the water tub 20 toward the front of the machine body 10.
- the third rotation shaft hole 62 may be formed at the end of the third hinge arm 61.
- the third hinge arm 61 may extend to a position corresponding to the first rotation shaft hole 43 of the first hinge arm 41 fixed to the machine body 10 such that the first rotation shaft hole 43 and the third rotation shaft hole 62 have the same rotational axis 68. Consequently, the rotational center of the first door 30 and the rotational center of the second door 50 are located on the same axis.
- the fourth hinge arm 64 may include a first arm portion 66 extending laterally from one side of the second door 50 and a second arm portion 67 bent from the end of the first arm portion 66 and extending toward the front of the machine body 10.
- the fourth rotation shaft hole 65 may be formed at the end of the second arm portion 67.
- the third hinge arm 61 and the fourth hinge arm 64 may be coupled to each other by a second hinge shaft 63 inserted through the third rotation shaft hole 62 and the fourth rotation shaft hole 65 to rotatably support the second door 50 at one side of the water tub 20.
- the rotational center of the first hinge unit 40 and the rotational center of the second hinge unit 60 coincide with each other. Therefore, when the first door 30 and the second door 50 are opened, as shown in FIG. 3 , the rotational tracks formed by the ends of the first door 30 and the second door 50 are concentric, with the result that relative movement between the first door 30 and the second door 50 does not occur during rotation of the first door 30 and the second door 50.
- a coupling unit 70 to couple the first door 30 and the second door 50 such that the second door 50 is simultaneously opened upon opening of the first door 30 may be provided at the first door 30.
- the coupling unit 70 may include a first hook unit 71 configured to be coupled to and released from the second door 50.
- the first hook unit 71 may be coupled to a first hook coupling part 76 provided at the second door 50.
- the first door 30 and the second door 50 When the first door 30 and the second door 50 are coupled to each other by the coupling unit 70, the first door 30 and the second door 50 may be simultaneously rotated. Consequently, a user may move only one of the doors, thereby improving user convenience.
- the coupling unit 70 may include an actuator 80 to release the first hook unit 71 and a hook holding lever 90 to hold the first hook unit 71 released by the actuator 80.
- the first hook unit 71 may be rotated about a hook rotation shaft 72.
- the first hook unit 71 may be provided at one end thereof with a gear 73.
- the first hook unit 71 may be provided at the other end thereof with a hook 74 hooked by the first hook coupling part 76 provided at the second door 50.
- the actuator 80 rotates the hook 74 about the hook rotation shaft 72 such that the hook 74 is released from the first hook coupling part 76 provided at the second door 50.
- the actuator 80 may include a drive motor 81, a wire 83, for example, coupled to the drive motor 81 such that the wire 83 is pulled by the rotation of the drive motor 81, and an idle gear 85 coupled to the wire 83 such that the idle gear 85 is engaged with the gear 73 of the first hook unit 71. Also, a restoring spring 75 to restore the first hook unit 71 rotated by the actuator 80 to the original position thereof may be provided on the hook rotation shaft 72.
- the hook holding lever 90 may hold the first hook unit 71 released from the first hook coupling part 76 to maintain a released state of the first hook unit 71.
- the hook holding lever 90 may be rotated about a lever rotation shaft 91. At one end of the hook holding lever 90 may be provided a lever part 93 protruding to the side of the first door 30. At the other end of the hook holding lever 90 may be provided a catching part 95 to support the first hook unit 71. Also, a lever spring 97 to elastically push the hook holding lever 90 toward the first hook unit 71 may be provided on the lever rotation shaft 91.
- the first hook unit 71 released from the first hook coupling part 76 by the actuator 80 is supported by the hook holding lever 90, thereby preventing consumption of power used for the actuator 80 to maintain the released state of the first hook unit 71.
- a controller controls the first hook unit 71 of the coupling unit 70 to be rotated such that the coupling between the first door 30 and the second door 50 is released.
- vibration from the water tub 20 is not transmitted to the machine body 10 via the first door 30.
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a door hinge structure according to at least one embodiment. Components of this embodiment identical to those of the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.
- a first door 30 may be rotated about a first rotation shaft 111 of a first hinge unit 110 mounted at a machine body 10, and a second door 50 may be rotated about a second rotation shaft 114 of a second hinge unit 113 mounted at a water tub 20.
- the second hinge unit 113 may include a second hinge arm 116 curvedly protruding from one side of the second door 50 in the lateral direction thereof such that a second rotational track 115 of the second door 50 is concentric with a first rotational track 112 of the first door 30.
- At the second hinge arm 116 may be provided a curved guide groove 117 in which the second rotation shaft 114 is disposed such that the second rotation shaft 114 is guided along the guide groove 117.
- the guide groove 117 may have a regular radius of rotation R about the first rotation shaft 111 when the second door 50 is rotated.
- FIGS. 7 to 10 are views illustrating a door hinge structure according to at least one embodiment. Components of this embodiment identical to those of the previous embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted.
- a second hinge unit 130 may further include a link structure to enable a second door 50 having a curved second hinge arm 131 to be easily opened and closed.
- a first door 30 may be rotated about a first rotation shaft 121 of a first hinge unit 120 mounted at a machine body 10 to open and close a first opening 11, and the second door 50 may be rotated by a second hinge unit 130 mounted at a water tub 20 to open and close a second opening 21.
- the second hinge unit 130 may include a hinge bracket 133 fixed to the water tub 20, the hinge bracket 133 having a first link shaft 135, a first L-shaped link plate 140 having one end coupled to the first link shaft 135 and the other end coupled to a second link shaft 141, and a second link plate 150 rotatably coupled to the portions of the second link shaft 141 protruding upward and downward from the first link plate 140, the second link plate 150 being curved toward the first link shaft 135 at a predetermined curvature, the second link plate 150 having a second hinge shaft 151 provided at the end thereof.
- the first link plate 140 may be rotated counterclockwise about the first link shaft 135.
- On the first link shaft 135 may be provided a first torsion spring 136 to elastically push the first link plate 140 in the clockwise direction, for example.
- the second link plate 150 may be rotated clockwise about the second link shaft 141.
- On the second link shaft 141 may be provided a second torsion spring 143 to elastically push the second link plate 150 in the clockwise direction, for example.
- the embodiment is not limited to the torsion springs 136, 143 and may include any type of devices that pushes the first and second link plates 140, 150 in one direction.
- the second link plate 150 may be provided at the top and bottom thereof with support planes 153 to support second hinge arms 131 curvedly protruding from one side of the second door 50 in the lateral direction thereof. At opposite sides of the support planes 153 may be provided ribs 155 to prevent the second hinge arms 131 located on the support planes 153 from being separated from the support planes 153.
- the first link plate 140 is rotated counterclockwise about the first link shaft 135, and the second link plate 150 is rotated clockwise about the second link shaft 141.
- the second hinge arms 131 are moved while guide grooves 132 of the second hinge arms 131 are guided by the second hinge shaft 151 in the rotation direction.
- the second hinge unit 130 may rotate the second door 50 at a regular radius of rotation.
- the second torsion spring 143 elastically pushes the second link plate 150 in the opening direction of the second door 50, and therefore, the second door 50 is easily opened.
- the first door 30 and the second door 50 are simultaneously rotated without sliding between the first door 30 and the second door 50 upon opening of the first door 30 and the second door 50 through the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 4 in which the rotational center of the second door and the rotational center of the first door are located on the same axis, through the structure of the embodiment of FIG. 6 in which the second hinge unit has the curved hinge arm, or through the structure of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 to 10 in which the second hinge unit has the link structure.
- the second hinge unit is not limited thereto and may be formed in any shape as long as the second hinge unit prevents relative movement between the first door 30 and the second door 50 upon simultaneous opening of the first door 30 and the second door 50.
- vibration generated from the water tub of the drum washing machine is prevented from being transmitted to the machine body.
- the size of the door to open and close the opening of the water tub of the drum washing machine may be increased, thereby improving user convenience.
- the two doors of the drum washing machine are simultaneously rotated, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
Abstract
Description
- Embodiments relate to a drum washing machine using two doors to reduce vibration.
- Generally, a drum washing machine washes laundry through tumbling of the laundry in a rotary tub during rotation of the rotary tub. The drum washing machine includes a water tub elastically supported in a machine body, a rotary tub rotatably mounted in the tub, a motor mounted at the rear of the water tub to drive the rotary tub, a water supply device to supply water, and a drainage device to drain water.
- At the front of the machine body is provided a laundry introduction port through which laundry is introduced into the rotary tub. At the fronts of the water tub and the rotary tub are provided openings corresponding to the laundry introduction port.
- Also, the laundry introduction port of the machine body is connected to the opening of the water tub via a diaphragm, and a door is mounted at the laundry introduction port, to prevent leakage of wash water during washing and spin-drying cycles.
- The diaphragm exhibits nonlinearity and large deformation properties. When the displacement of the water tub is great in transition duration, vibration generated from the water tub is transmitted to the machine body via the diaphragm, with the result that the machine body is vibrated.
- In recent years, a washing machine has been developed in which the laundry introduction port of the machine body is not connected to the opening of the water tub via the diaphragm, but, instead, an additional door is mounted at the opening of the water tub, to prevent transmission of vibration to the machine body via the diaphragm.
- It is an aspect of the at least one embodiment to provide a drum washing machine in which the transmission of vibration from a water tub to a machine body is reduced.
- It is another aspect of the at least one embodiment to provide a drum washing machine in which the size of an inside door is increased to improve user convenience.
- Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a drum washing machine including a machine body having a first opening, a water tub disposed in the machine body, the tub having a second opening facing the first opening, a rotary drum rotatably provided in the tub to contain laundry, a first door to open and close the first opening, a second door to open and close the second opening, a first hinge unit mounted at the machine body to rotatably support the first door, and a second hinge unit mounted to the tub to rotatably support the second door such that a rotational center of a rotation track of the second door coincides with a rotational center of a rotation track of the first door during opening of the second door.
- The drum washing machine may further include a coupling unit to couple the first door and the second door such that the second door is simultaneously opened when the first door is opened.
- The coupling unit may be provided at the first door, and the coupling unit may include a hook unit configured to be hooked by and released from a hook coupling part provided at the second door.
- The coupling unit may further include an actuator to release the hook unit.
- The actuator may include a drive motor, a wire coupled to the drive motor, and an idle gear configured to be rotated by movement of the wire, and the hook unit may be rotated about a hook rotation shaft. Also, hook unit may be provided at one end thereof with a gear engaged with the idle gear and at the other end thereof with a hook coupled to the second door.
- The actuator may release the hook unit during an operation of the drum washing machine in a state in which the first opening and the second opening are closed.
- The coupling unit may further include a hook holding lever to hold the hook unit released by the actuator to maintain a released state of the hook unit.
- The second hinge unit may have a rotation center located on the same axis as the rotation center of the first door.
- The first hinge unit may include first hinge arms provided at the machine body such that the first hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, each of the first hinge arms having a first rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof, and second hinge arms provided at the first door such that the second hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, each of the second hinge arms having a second rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof such that the second rotation shaft hole is aligned with the corresponding first rotation shaft hole. The first hinge unit may further include a first hinge shaft coupling the first hinge arms and the second hinge arms at the first and second rotation shaft holes, Also, the second hinge unit may include third hinge arms provided at the tub such that the third hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, the third hinge arms extending from the tub toward a front of the machine body such that the third hinge arms reach positions corresponding to the first rotation shaft holes, each of the third hinge arms having a third rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof, and fourth hinge arms provided at the second door such that the fourth hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, the fourth hinge arms being bent from the second door and extending toward the front of the machine body, each of the fourth hinge arms having a fourth rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof such that the fourth rotation shaft hole is aligned with the corresponding third rotation shaft hole. The second hinge unit may further include a second hinge shaft coupling the third hinge arms and the fourth hinge arms at the third and fourth rotation shaft holes
- The first door may be rotated about a first rotation shaft of the first hinge unit, the second door may be rotated about a second rotation shaft of the second hinge unit, and the second hinge unit may include a second hinge arm curvedly protruding from one side of the second door in a lateral direction thereof, the second hinge arm having a curved guide groove in which the second rotation shaft is disposed such that the second rotation shaft is guided along the guide groove.
- The guide groove may have a regular radius of rotation about the first rotation shaft.
- The second hinge unit may include a hinge bracket fixed to the tub, the hinge bracket having a first link shaft, a first link plate having one end rotatably coupled to the first link shaft and the other end coupled to a second link shaft, a second link plate rotatably coupled to the second link shaft, the second link plate being curved toward the first link shaft, the second link plate having a second hinge shaft provided at the end thereof, and a second hinge arm curvedly protruding from one side of the second door in a lateral direction thereof such that the second hinge arm is guided along support planes provided at a top and bottom of the second link plate, the second hinge arm having a curved guide groove in which the second hinge shaft is disposed.
- The first link shaft may be provided with a first torsion spring to elastically push the first link plate in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first link plate is rotated, and the second link shaft may be provided with a first torsion spring to elastically push the second link plate in a direction identical to a direction in which the second link plate is rotated.
- The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a drum washing machine including a machine body having a first opening, a tub disposed in the machine body, the tub having a second opening facing the first opening, a drum rotatably provided in the tub to contain laundry, a first door rotatably provided at the machine body to open and close the first opening, and a second door rotatably provided at the tub to open and close the second opening, wherein a distance between a first rotational track formed by an end of the first door and a second rotational track formed by an end of the second door is uniformly maintained upon opening and closing of the first door and the second door.
- The first door may be provided with a coupling unit to couple the first door and the second door such that the second door is simultaneously opened when the first door is opened.
- The coupling unit may include a hook unit configured to be hooked by and released from a hook coupling part provided at the second door.
- The coupling unit may further include an actuator to actuate the hook unit to be released from the hook coupling part and a hook holding lever to hold the hook unit released by the actuator.
- The actuator may release the hook unit during an operation of the drum washing machine.
- These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a drum washing machine according to at least one embodiment with doors separated from the drum washing machine; -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the drum washing machine ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a view illustrating operations of the doors of the drum washing machine ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a door hinge structure according to at least one embodiment; -
FIG. 5 is a view illustrating the internal structure of a coupling unit according to at least one embodiment; -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a door hinge structure according to at least one embodiment; and -
FIGS. 7 to 10 are views illustrating a door hinge structure according to at least one embodiment. - Reference will now be made in detail to the at least one embodiment, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
- Referring to
FIGS. 1 and2 , a drum washing machine according to at least one embodiment includes amachine body 10 forming the external appearance thereof, awater tub 20 mounted in themachine body 10 to contain wash water, and a rotary tub (drum) 14 rotatably mounted in thewater tub 20, therotary tub 14 having a plurality of spin-drying holes formed therethrough. - A
control panel 15 to control the drum washing machine may be provided at the upper front of themachine body 10, although is not limited to such placement. Adetergent box 16 may be mounted at one side of thecontrol panel 15, although is not limited to such placement. - In the upper part of the machine body may be provided a
water supply device 17 to supply wash water to thedetergent box 16 and thewater tub 20. In the lower part of themachine body 10 may be provided adrainage device 18 to drain wash water from thewater tub 20 to the outside of themachine body 10. - At the rear of the
water tub 20 may be provided adrive unit 19 to rotate therotary tub 14 such that washing, rinsing, and spin-drying cycles are performed in therotary tub 14. - At a
front 13 of themachine body 10 may be provided afirst opening 11 through which laundry is introduced and removed. Thewater tub 20 may be disposed horizontally to themachine body 10. At the front of thewater tub 20 may be provided a second opening 21 facing thefirst opening 11 of themachine body 10. - At one side of the
machine body 10 is provided afirst door 30 to open and close thefirst opening 11. To one side of thefirst door 30 may be coupled afirst hinge unit 40 mounted at themachine body 10. - The first hinge unit 40 (see
FIG. 3 ) may rotatably support thefirst door 30 such that thefirst door 30 rotates about arotational center 35 of thefirst hinge unit 40 in the frontward and rearward directions of thefront 13 of themachine body 10 to open and close thefirst opening 11 of themachine body 10. - The outer circumference of the
first door 30 tightly contacts the edge of thefirst opening 11 to maintain a hermetically-sealed state when thefirst opening 11 is closed by thefirst door 30. At the center of thefirst door 30 may be provided afirst window 31 through which a user may look into therotary tub 14. - At one side of the
water tub 20 may be provided asecond door 50 to open and close thesecond opening 21. To one side of thesecond door 50 may be coupled asecond hinge unit 60 mounted at thewater tub 20. - At the outer circumference of the
second door 50 may be provided a gasket to maintain a hermetically-sealed state when thesecond opening 21 is closed by thesecond door 50. At the center of thesecond door 50 may be provided asecond window 51 through which a user may look into therotary tub 14. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thesecond hinge unit 60 may rotatably support thesecond door 50 such that a secondrotational track 53 of thesecond door 50 upon opening of thesecond door 50 is concentric to a firstrotational track 33 of thefirst door 30 upon rotation of thefirst door 30 about therotational center 35 of thefirst hinge unit 40. - That is, when the
first door 30 and thesecond door 50 are opened, a distance D between the firstrotational track 33 formed by the end of thefirst door 30 and the secondrotational track 53 formed by the end of thesecond door 50 may be uniform. - In this structure, a center C1 of the
first door 30 may coincide with a center C2 of thesecond door 50 when thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 are simultaneously opened. - As a result, interference between the
second door 50 and thefirst opening 11 when thesecond door 50 is opened may be reduced. Consequently, the size of thesecond door 50 may be increased, and therefore, the introduction of laundry through thesecond opening 21 may be easily achieved. - The
second hinge unit 60 may be formed in various shapes as long as thesecond hinge unit 60 rotatably supports thesecond door 50 such that therotational center 35 of the secondrotational track 53 of thesecond door 50 coincides with therotational center 35 of the firstrotational track 33 of thefirst door 30. - An embodiment of the
second hinge unit 60 will be described with reference toFIG. 4 . - Referring to
FIG. 4 , thefirst hinge unit 40 to rotatably support thefirst door 30 may include afirst hinge arm 41 fixed to themachine body 10, thefirst hinge arm 41 having a firstrotation shaft hole 43, and asecond hinge arm 44 fixed to thefirst door 30, thesecond hinge arm 44 having a secondrotation shaft hole 45 corresponding to the firstrotation shaft hole 43. - The
first hinge arm 41 curvedly protrudes from themachine body 10 toward thewater tub 20. The firstrotation shaft hole 43 may be formed at the end of thefirst hinge arm 41. Thesecond hinge arm 44 may include afirst arm portion 46 protruding rearward from thefirst door 30, asecond arm portion 47 bent from the end of thefirst arm portion 46 and extending in the horizontal direction, and athird arm portion 48 bent from the end of thesecond arm portion 47 and extending toward thefirst door 30. The secondrotation shaft hole 45 is formed at the end of thethird arm portion 48. Consequently, thesecond hinge arm 44 may be formed approximately in the shape of "[". - Two
first hinge arms 41 may be disposed at the upper and lower sides of afirst hinge bracket 49 mounted at themachine body 10 such that thefirst hinge arms 41 are vertically spaced apart from each other. Twosecond hinge arms 44 may be disposed at the upper and lower sides of thefirst door 30 such that thesecond hinge arms 44 are vertically spaced apart from each other. - Also, when the
first door 30 is mounted at themachine body 10, the firstrotation shaft hole 43 of thefirst hinge arm 41 and the secondrotation shaft hole 45 of thesecond hinge arm 44 are arranged adjacent to each other, and afirst hinge shaft 42 is inserted through the firstrotation shaft hole 43 and the secondrotation shaft hole 45. - The
second hinge unit 60 to rotatably support thesecond door 50 may include athird hinge arm 61 fixed to thewater tub 20, thethird hinge arm 61 having a third rotation shaft hole 62, and afourth hinge arm 64 fixed to thesecond door 50, thefourth hinge arm 64 having a fourthrotation shaft hole 65. - The
third hinge arm 61 protrudes from thewater tub 20 toward the front of themachine body 10. The third rotation shaft hole 62 may be formed at the end of thethird hinge arm 61. Thethird hinge arm 61 may extend to a position corresponding to the firstrotation shaft hole 43 of thefirst hinge arm 41 fixed to themachine body 10 such that the firstrotation shaft hole 43 and the third rotation shaft hole 62 have the samerotational axis 68. Consequently, the rotational center of thefirst door 30 and the rotational center of thesecond door 50 are located on the same axis. - The
fourth hinge arm 64 may include afirst arm portion 66 extending laterally from one side of thesecond door 50 and a second arm portion 67 bent from the end of thefirst arm portion 66 and extending toward the front of themachine body 10. The fourthrotation shaft hole 65 may be formed at the end of the second arm portion 67. - The
third hinge arm 61 and thefourth hinge arm 64 may be coupled to each other by asecond hinge shaft 63 inserted through the third rotation shaft hole 62 and the fourthrotation shaft hole 65 to rotatably support thesecond door 50 at one side of thewater tub 20. - In this structure, the rotational center of the
first hinge unit 40 and the rotational center of thesecond hinge unit 60 coincide with each other. Therefore, when thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 are opened, as shown inFIG. 3 , the rotational tracks formed by the ends of thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 are concentric, with the result that relative movement between thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 does not occur during rotation of thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50. - Consequently, relative sliding movement between the
first door 30 and thesecond door 50 does not occur during rotation of thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50, and therefore, the size of thesecond door 50 may be increased such that laundry is easily introduced and removed. Referring toFIGS. 1 and3 , acoupling unit 70 to couple thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 such that thesecond door 50 is simultaneously opened upon opening of thefirst door 30 may be provided at thefirst door 30. - The
coupling unit 70 may include afirst hook unit 71 configured to be coupled to and released from thesecond door 50. Thefirst hook unit 71 may be coupled to a firsthook coupling part 76 provided at thesecond door 50. - When the
first door 30 and thesecond door 50 are coupled to each other by thecoupling unit 70, thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 may be simultaneously rotated. Consequently, a user may move only one of the doors, thereby improving user convenience. - Referring to
FIG. 5 , thecoupling unit 70 may include anactuator 80 to release thefirst hook unit 71 and ahook holding lever 90 to hold thefirst hook unit 71 released by theactuator 80. - The
first hook unit 71 may be rotated about ahook rotation shaft 72. Thefirst hook unit 71 may be provided at one end thereof with agear 73. Thefirst hook unit 71 may be provided at the other end thereof with ahook 74 hooked by the firsthook coupling part 76 provided at thesecond door 50. - The
actuator 80 rotates thehook 74 about thehook rotation shaft 72 such that thehook 74 is released from the firsthook coupling part 76 provided at thesecond door 50. - The
actuator 80 may include adrive motor 81, awire 83, for example, coupled to thedrive motor 81 such that thewire 83 is pulled by the rotation of thedrive motor 81, and anidle gear 85 coupled to thewire 83 such that theidle gear 85 is engaged with thegear 73 of thefirst hook unit 71. Also, a restoringspring 75 to restore thefirst hook unit 71 rotated by theactuator 80 to the original position thereof may be provided on thehook rotation shaft 72. - Consequently, when the
drive motor 81 is rotated to pull thewire 83, thewire 83 rotates theidle gear 85. As a result, thegear 73 of thefirst hook unit 71 engaged with theidle gear 85 is rotated, and therefore, thehook 74 of thefirst hook unit 71 is released from the firsthook coupling part 76 provided at thesecond door 50. - The
hook holding lever 90 may hold thefirst hook unit 71 released from the firsthook coupling part 76 to maintain a released state of thefirst hook unit 71. - The
hook holding lever 90 may be rotated about alever rotation shaft 91. At one end of thehook holding lever 90 may be provided alever part 93 protruding to the side of thefirst door 30. At the other end of thehook holding lever 90 may be provided a catchingpart 95 to support thefirst hook unit 71. Also, alever spring 97 to elastically push thehook holding lever 90 toward thefirst hook unit 71 may be provided on thelever rotation shaft 91. - Consequently, the
first hook unit 71 released from the firsthook coupling part 76 by theactuator 80 is supported by thehook holding lever 90, thereby preventing consumption of power used for theactuator 80 to maintain the released state of thefirst hook unit 71. - During the operation of the drum washing machine in a state in which the
first door 30 and thesecond door 50 are closed, a controller (not shown) controls thefirst hook unit 71 of thecoupling unit 70 to be rotated such that the coupling between thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 is released. - During the operation of the drum washing machine, therefore, vibration from the
water tub 20 is not transmitted to themachine body 10 via thefirst door 30. - When the
first door 30 is opened, on the other hand, a user may rotate thelever part 93 of thehook holding lever 90 protruding to the side of thefirst door 30, with the result that thefirst hook unit 71 is released from the catchingpart 95 and hooked by the firsthook coupling part 76 of thesecond door 50. - Subsequently, when the user pulls the
first door 30, the pulling force is transmitted to thesecond door 50 by thefirst hook unit 71, and therefore, thesecond door 50 is pulled, with the result that thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 are simultaneously opened. -
FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating a door hinge structure according to at least one embodiment. Components of this embodiment identical to those of the previous embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , afirst door 30 may be rotated about afirst rotation shaft 111 of afirst hinge unit 110 mounted at amachine body 10, and asecond door 50 may be rotated about asecond rotation shaft 114 of asecond hinge unit 113 mounted at awater tub 20. - In this case, the
second hinge unit 113 may include a second hinge arm 116 curvedly protruding from one side of thesecond door 50 in the lateral direction thereof such that a secondrotational track 115 of thesecond door 50 is concentric with a firstrotational track 112 of thefirst door 30. - At the second hinge arm 116 may be provided a
curved guide groove 117 in which thesecond rotation shaft 114 is disposed such that thesecond rotation shaft 114 is guided along theguide groove 117. Theguide groove 117 may have a regular radius of rotation R about thefirst rotation shaft 111 when thesecond door 50 is rotated. - Consequently, when the
second door 50 is rotated open along with thefirst door 30, a uniform distance D is maintained between the secondrotational track 115 of thesecond door 50 and the firstrotational track 115 of thefirst door 30 by thesecond hinge unit 113, and therefore, thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 are simultaneously rotated without relative sliding movement between thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50. -
FIGS. 7 to 10 are views illustrating a door hinge structure according to at least one embodiment. Components of this embodiment identical to those of the previous embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals, and a detailed description thereof is omitted. - In this embodiment, a
second hinge unit 130 may further include a link structure to enable asecond door 50 having a curvedsecond hinge arm 131 to be easily opened and closed. - Referring to
FIG. 7 , afirst door 30 may be rotated about afirst rotation shaft 121 of afirst hinge unit 120 mounted at amachine body 10 to open and close afirst opening 11, and thesecond door 50 may be rotated by asecond hinge unit 130 mounted at awater tub 20 to open and close asecond opening 21. - Referring to
FIGS. 8 and9 , thesecond hinge unit 130 may include ahinge bracket 133 fixed to thewater tub 20, thehinge bracket 133 having afirst link shaft 135, a first L-shapedlink plate 140 having one end coupled to thefirst link shaft 135 and the other end coupled to asecond link shaft 141, and asecond link plate 150 rotatably coupled to the portions of thesecond link shaft 141 protruding upward and downward from thefirst link plate 140, thesecond link plate 150 being curved toward thefirst link shaft 135 at a predetermined curvature, thesecond link plate 150 having asecond hinge shaft 151 provided at the end thereof. - The
first link plate 140 may be rotated counterclockwise about thefirst link shaft 135. On thefirst link shaft 135 may be provided afirst torsion spring 136 to elastically push thefirst link plate 140 in the clockwise direction, for example. - The
second link plate 150 may be rotated clockwise about thesecond link shaft 141. On thesecond link shaft 141 may be provided asecond torsion spring 143 to elastically push thesecond link plate 150 in the clockwise direction, for example. However, the embodiment is not limited to the torsion springs 136, 143 and may include any type of devices that pushes the first andsecond link plates - The
second link plate 150 may be provided at the top and bottom thereof withsupport planes 153 to support second hingearms 131 curvedly protruding from one side of thesecond door 50 in the lateral direction thereof. At opposite sides of the support planes 153 may be providedribs 155 to prevent thesecond hinge arms 131 located on the support planes 153 from being separated from the support planes 153. - Consequently, when the
first door 30 and thesecond door 50 are simultaneously opened, as shown inFIG. 10 , thefirst link plate 140 is rotated counterclockwise about thefirst link shaft 135, and thesecond link plate 150 is rotated clockwise about thesecond link shaft 141. Also, thesecond hinge arms 131 are moved whileguide grooves 132 of thesecond hinge arms 131 are guided by thesecond hinge shaft 151 in the rotation direction. As a result, thesecond hinge unit 130 may rotate thesecond door 50 at a regular radius of rotation. - When the
second door 50 is opened, thesecond torsion spring 143 elastically pushes thesecond link plate 150 in the opening direction of thesecond door 50, and therefore, thesecond door 50 is easily opened. - Meanwhile, the
first door 30 and thesecond door 50 are simultaneously rotated without sliding between thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 upon opening of thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 through the structure of the embodiment ofFIG. 4 in which the rotational center of the second door and the rotational center of the first door are located on the same axis, through the structure of the embodiment ofFIG. 6 in which the second hinge unit has the curved hinge arm, or through the structure of the embodiment ofFIGS. 7 to 10 in which the second hinge unit has the link structure. However, the second hinge unit is not limited thereto and may be formed in any shape as long as the second hinge unit prevents relative movement between thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50 upon simultaneous opening of thefirst door 30 and thesecond door 50. - As is apparent from the above description, vibration generated from the water tub of the drum washing machine is prevented from being transmitted to the machine body.
- Also, the size of the door to open and close the opening of the water tub of the drum washing machine may be increased, thereby improving user convenience.
- Also, the two doors of the drum washing machine are simultaneously rotated, thereby providing an aesthetically pleasing appearance.
- Although at least one embodiment has been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in the at least one embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
Claims (14)
- A drum washing machine comprising: a machine body having a first opening; a water tub disposed in the machine body, the water tub having a second opening facing the first opening; a drum rotatably provided in the water tub to contain laundry; a first door to open and close the first opening; and a second door to open and close the second opening, wherein the drum washing machine further comprises:a first hinge unit mounted at the machine body to rotatably support the first door; anda second hinge unit mounted to the water tub to rotatably support the second door such that a rotational center of a rotation track of the second door coincides with a rotational center of a rotation track of the first door during opening of the second door.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 1, further comprising a coupling unit to couple the first door and the second door such that the second door is simultaneously opened when the first door is opened.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the coupling unit is provided at the first door, and the coupling unit comprises a hook unit configured to be hooked by and released from a hook coupling part provided at the second door.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the coupling unit further comprises an actuator to release the hook unit.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 4, wherein
the actuator comprises a drive motor, a wire coupled to the drive motor, and an idle gear configured to be rotated by movement of the wire, and
the hook unit is rotated about a hook rotation shaft, and the hook unit is provided at one end thereof with a gear engaged with the idle gear and at the other end thereof with a hook coupled to the second door. - The drum washing machine according to claim 4, wherein the actuator releases the hook unit during an operation of the drum washing machine in a state in which the first opening and the second opening are closed.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 6, wherein the coupling unit further comprises a hook holding lever to hold the hook unit released by the actuator to maintain a released state of the hook unit.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second hinge unit has a rotational center located on the same axis as the rotational center of the first door.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 8, wherein
the first hinge unit comprises first hinge arms provided at the machine body such that the first hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, each of the first hinge arms having a first rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof, and second hinge arms provided at the first door such that the second hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, each of the second hinge arms having a second rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof such that the second rotation shaft hole is aligned with the corresponding first rotation shaft hole, and
the second hinge unit comprises third hinge arms provided at the water tub such that the third hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, the third hinge arms extending from the water tub toward a front of the machine body such that the third hinge arms reach positions corresponding to the first rotation shaft holes, each of the third hinge arms having a third rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof, and fourth hinge arms provided at the second door such that the fourth hinge arms are vertically spaced apart from each other, the fourth hinge arms being bent from the second door and extending toward the front of the machine body, each of the fourth hinge arms having a fourth rotation shaft hole formed at an end thereof such that the fourth rotation shaft hole is aligned with the corresponding third rotation shaft hole. - The drum washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the first door is rotated about a first rotation shaft of the first hinge unit, the second door is rotated about a second rotation shaft of the second hinge unit, and the second hinge unit comprises a second hinge arm curvedly protruding from one side of the second door in a lateral direction thereof, the second hinge arm having a curved guide groove in which the second rotation shaft is disposed such that the second rotation shaft is guided along the guide groove.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 10, wherein the guide groove has a regular radius of rotation about the first rotation shaft.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the second hinge unit comprises:a hinge bracket fixed to the water tub, the hinge bracket having a first link shaft;a first link plate having one end rotatably coupled to the first link shaft and the other end coupled to a second link shaft;a second link plate rotatably coupled to the second link shaft, the second link plate being curved toward the first link shaft, the second link plate having a second hinge shaft provided at the end thereof; anda second hinge arm curvedly protruding from one side of the second door in a lateral direction thereof such that the second hinge arm is guided along support planes provided at a top and bottom of the second link plate, the second hinge arm having a curved guide groove in which the second hinge shaft is disposed.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 12, wherein the first link shaft is provided with a first torsion spring to elastically push the first link plate in a direction opposite to a direction in which the first link plate is rotated, and the second link shaft is provided with a first torsion spring to elastically push the second link plate in a direction identical to a direction in which the second link plate is rotated.
- The drum washing machine according to claim 1, wherein a distance between a first rotation track formed by an end of the first door and a second rotation track formed by an end of the second door is uniformly maintained upon opening and closing of the first door and the second door.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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PL10189604T PL2327824T3 (en) | 2009-11-25 | 2010-11-02 | Drum washing machine with hinge units |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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KR1020090114545A KR20110057920A (en) | 2009-11-25 | 2009-11-25 | Drum washing machine |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2327824A1 true EP2327824A1 (en) | 2011-06-01 |
EP2327824B1 EP2327824B1 (en) | 2013-05-29 |
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ID=43768855
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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EP10189604.1A Not-in-force EP2327824B1 (en) | 2009-11-25 | 2010-11-02 | Drum washing machine with hinge units |
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US (1) | US20110120195A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2327824B1 (en) |
KR (1) | KR20110057920A (en) |
CN (1) | CN102071556A (en) |
PL (1) | PL2327824T3 (en) |
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GB2360297A (en) * | 2000-03-18 | 2001-09-19 | Notetry Ltd | Laundry appliance with snap-fit hinge |
WO2006072904A1 (en) * | 2005-01-03 | 2006-07-13 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A washer/dryer |
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FR1448969A (en) * | 1965-06-29 | 1966-03-18 | Cie Esswein | Improvements made to suspended tub washing machines |
IT1265573B1 (en) * | 1993-09-17 | 1996-11-22 | Zanussi Grandi Impianti Spa | FOOD COOKING OVEN WITH PERFECT DOOR |
US6382476B1 (en) * | 2001-05-30 | 2002-05-07 | Seaquist Closures Foreign, Inc. | Single axis dual dispensing closure |
JP3605061B2 (en) * | 2001-09-28 | 2004-12-22 | 三洋電機株式会社 | Drum type washing machine |
KR100452353B1 (en) * | 2002-01-09 | 2004-10-12 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | The apparatus of opening and shutting for Drum-washer |
JP2004329537A (en) * | 2003-05-07 | 2004-11-25 | Toshiba Corp | Drum type washing machine |
JP2006280401A (en) * | 2005-03-31 | 2006-10-19 | Sharp Corp | Drum-type washing machine |
CN2821079Y (en) * | 2005-09-21 | 2006-09-27 | 林明正 | Door type hinge |
-
2009
- 2009-11-25 KR KR1020090114545A patent/KR20110057920A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
2010
- 2010-11-02 PL PL10189604T patent/PL2327824T3/en unknown
- 2010-11-02 EP EP10189604.1A patent/EP2327824B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2010-11-04 US US12/926,259 patent/US20110120195A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2010-11-19 CN CN201010557061XA patent/CN102071556A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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GB2360297A (en) * | 2000-03-18 | 2001-09-19 | Notetry Ltd | Laundry appliance with snap-fit hinge |
WO2006072904A1 (en) * | 2005-01-03 | 2006-07-13 | Arcelik Anonim Sirketi | A washer/dryer |
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
EP3272925A4 (en) * | 2015-03-20 | 2018-08-15 | LG Electronics Inc. | Washing machine |
EP3272926A4 (en) * | 2015-03-20 | 2018-10-31 | LG Electronics Inc. | Washing machine |
EP3296443A4 (en) * | 2015-05-08 | 2019-04-10 | LG Electronics Inc. | Washing apparatus |
EP3199696A1 (en) * | 2016-01-28 | 2017-08-02 | Wuxi Little Swan Co., Ltd. | Front-loading washing machine |
WO2020151555A1 (en) * | 2019-01-25 | 2020-07-30 | 青岛海尔洗衣机有限公司 | Drum washing machine |
EP3779020A1 (en) * | 2019-08-13 | 2021-02-17 | Whirlpool Corporation | Door-in-door design |
RU2796284C1 (en) * | 2019-12-16 | 2023-05-22 | ЭлДжи ЭЛЕКТРОНИКС ИНК. | Laundry washing device |
US11885060B2 (en) | 2019-12-16 | 2024-01-30 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Laundry device |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN102071556A (en) | 2011-05-25 |
US20110120195A1 (en) | 2011-05-26 |
PL2327824T3 (en) | 2013-10-31 |
KR20110057920A (en) | 2011-06-01 |
EP2327824B1 (en) | 2013-05-29 |
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