EP2620538A2 - Laundry treating apparatus - Google Patents
Laundry treating apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP2620538A2 EP2620538A2 EP20130152292 EP13152292A EP2620538A2 EP 2620538 A2 EP2620538 A2 EP 2620538A2 EP 20130152292 EP20130152292 EP 20130152292 EP 13152292 A EP13152292 A EP 13152292A EP 2620538 A2 EP2620538 A2 EP 2620538A2
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- door
- shaft
- cabinet
- laundry
- hinge
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
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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
- 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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- 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
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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
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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
-
- E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
- E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
- E05D—HINGES OR SUSPENSION DEVICES FOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS
- E05D3/00—Hinges with pins
- E05D3/06—Hinges with pins with two or more pins
Definitions
- the laundry treating apparatus that is the drying-only apparatus may be arranged next to a lateral side of the washing-only apparatus in a line.
- a user may typically unload the washed laundry out of the washing-only apparatus and he or she may load it into the drying-only apparatus via the laundry introduction opening.
- the door is able to be fixed in a state of closing the opening through which the laundry is introduced, not enough to be secured to maintain a state of partially opening the opening, which may be a disadvantage.
- the laundry treating apparatus may further include a pivot provided in a lower portion of the laundry introduction opening along a traverse direction of the cabinet, to form a center of rotation of the door.
- the fixing member may further include a torsion spring provided in an outer circumferential surface of the pivot, the torsion spring having an end fixed to the door and the other end fixed to the pivot.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to another embodiment.
- FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a converted example of the embodiment
- FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating key parts of a laundry treating apparatus according to a further embodiment
- FIG. 40 is a perspective view illustrating a hingedly connecting relation between the rotation member shown in FIG. 37 and a rotation member of the door;
- FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating the motion of a first hinge according to the embodiment.
- FIGS. 44 to 46 are diagrams illustrating movement of second and third hinges consisting of the hinge unit
- FIG. 49 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a door securing part provided in the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment of FIG. 41 to prevent downward movement of the door;
- embodiments may provide a laundry treating apparatus including a door which is able to be secured in a state of partially opening a laundry introduction opening.
- the cabinet 3 may define a profile of the laundry treating apparatus and the laundry introduction opening 37 may be provided through an outer panel 33 provided in a side of the cabinet to communicate with the laundry accommodating room (R).
- the first pivot may be formed by a first hinge 5 and a second hinge 6.
- the second pivot may be formed by the second hinge 6 and a third hinge 7.
- the third hinge 7 may include the fourth shaft 713 to form the second pivot (B) and a fourth shaft detaching part 73 having a second receiving groove formed therein to receive the fourth shaft 713.
- the fourth shaft 713 may be installed in the door 4 and the fourth shaft detaching part 73 may be provided in the cabinet 3. Alternatively, the fourth shaft 713 may be installed in the cabinet 3 and the fourth shaft detaching part 73 may be installed in the door 4.
- the door may further include a transparent part 45 insertedly provided in the opening 37.
- the transparent part 45 may prevent the laundry located in the laundry accommodating room (R) from coming out through the laundry introduction opening and it may also allow the user to see the laundry accommodating room (R) during the operation of the laundry treating apparatus.
- a recessed part 992 recessed a preset distance along a longitudinal direction may be provided at an upper end of the door 4.
- the recessed part 992 may be longitudinally extended along a width direction of the door 4 and it may be extended as long as the horizontal length of the door 4.
- the second hinge 6 may include a cabinet securing part 61 secured to the cabinet 3 and a door securing part 65 secured to the door 4.
- the lower end of the door 4 When the door 4 is rotated along the second rotational direction, the lower end of the door 4 may be moved toward the cabinet 3. As a result, a predetermined space has to be provided between the door 4 and the cabinet 3 to rotate the door 4 along the second rotational direction.
- the recess 42 may be formed at the lower end of the door 4 and the door 4 may be rotated as far as the space provided by the recess 42 accordingly.
- FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an open state of the door. As follows, the embodiment will be described in reference to FIG. 5 .
- the door 4 may open the laundry introduction 37 at two angles with respect to the cabinet 3.
- the door 4 may be coupled at a position of opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively less and a position of opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively more, in a state of having opened the laundry introduction opening 37.
- an angle at which the door 4 is opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively less may be referenced to as 'a first angle ( ⁇ 1)' and an angle at which the door 4 is opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively more may be referenced to as 'a second angle ( ⁇ 2)'.
- the first guide groove 1302 may guide the guide projection 1322 to stop the door 4 at the first angle and a first seating protrusion 1304 may be formed at an end of the first guide groove 1302 to seat the guide projection 1322 at the first angle.
- the first guide groove 1302 located beyond the guide piece 1312 may be inclined a predetermined angle to move downwardly along the direction of the moving guide projection 1322. This is to move the guide projection 1322 in the first guide groove 1302 even without a large force applied by the user, because the door 4 has a self weight.
- the first seating protrusion 1304 is projected from the first guide groove 1302 so as to stop the movement of the guide projection 1322.
- the user may apply an additional force to the door 4.
- the guide projection 1322 may be getting out of the first seating protrusion 1304 and it may move along the second guide groove 1306 after that.
- the guide projection 1322 may move along the second guide groove 1306 after getting out of the first guide groove 1306, because an end of the first guide groove 1302 is connected with the second guide groove 1306.
- the second guide groove 1306 may be formed along a longitudinal direction of the door. Accordingly, the guide projection 1322 may move downward along the formation direction of the second guide groove 1306.
- the guide groove 1301 may be recessed along a longitudinal direction of the second pivot (B). Assuming that the second pivot (B) of the door 4 is located at a lower end of the door 4, the guide groove 1301 may be formed in a wall installed along a longitudinal direction (namely, a direction of the door height) of the door.
- FIG. 9 shows some elements of the door, not the entire elements thereof.
- connection part 1320 may be coupled to the second shaft 651 via a connection joint 1326 and it may be hingedly connected to the second shaft 651 via the connection joint 1326.
- the third guide groove 1310 may guide the guide projection 1322 to stop the door 4 at the third angle.
- the third angle may be an angle at which the door is arranged perpendicularly to close the laundry introduction opening 37 airtight, different from the first and second angles.
- the guide piece 1312 can make the width of the first guide groove 1302 entirely uniform such that the guide projection 1322 guiding the first guide groove 1302 can be guided toward the first seating protrusion 1304 by the guide piece.
- the interference piece 1330 may temporarily restrict the rotation of the connection part 1320 such that the guide projection 1322 may move upward along the first guide groove 1302 positioned beyond the guide piece 1312. In other words, the guide projection 1322 positioned at S3 is prevented from moving to the second guide groove 1306 by the interference piece 1330 and the guide piece 1312.
- the interference piece 1330 may not have a large resistance such that the contact between the interference piece 1330 and the second shaft 651 may be relieved when the door 4 is rotated additionally.
- the guide projection 1322 may be stopped by the first seating protrusion 1304.
- the door 4 may be stopped at the position (S1) where the guide projection 1322 is stopped by the first seating protrusion 1304. Because of that, the rotation of the door 4 may be stopped at the first angle.
- the second guide groove 1306 may be gently curved for the end of the second guide groove 1306 to be extended toward the door 4 to rotate the door 4 smoothly, not perpendicularly straight.
- the connection joint 1326 may be moved along an approximately circular locus with respect to the guide projection 1322.
- the door 4 may further include a through hole 4330 provided in a position thereof, corresponding to the laundry introduction opening 37 of the cabinet 3, and a transparent plate 4330 located in the through hole to enable the user to see the inside of the accommodating room (R).
- the second hinge 6 and the fourth hinge 7000 may define a pivot (H) that makes the door open with forming a predetermined angle with respect to a front surface of the cabinet 3 (an opening type shown in FIG. 17 (c) ).
- the second hinge 6 and the first hinge 5 may form a pivot (V) that makes the door 4 open toward a lateral surface of the cabinet 3 (an opening state shown in FIG. 17 (b) ).
- At least one inclined surface may be provided in the first shaft receiving groove 531 to guide the first shaft 51 to the cut-surface receiving groove 5311, when the first shaft detaching part 53 is coupled to the first shaft 51.
- FIG. 20 illustrates a first inclined surface 5381 and a second inclined surface 5383.
- FIG. 21 illustrates another example of the first hinge 5 described above this example of the first hinge 5 may include a first shaft 51 fixed to the cabinet 3 and a first shaft detaching part 53 provided in the door 4, being detachable from the first shaft 4.
- the inner frame 41 provided in the door 4 may include two first securing parts 4321 provided at symmetrical positions with respect to a straight line (D) passing the center (G) of the door 4, respectively, to secure the first shaft detaching part 53 thereto, and two second securing parts 4323 provided at other symmetrical positions with respect to the straight line (d) passing the center (G) of the door, respectively, to secure the door securing part 65 of the second hinge 6 thereto.
- the cabinet 3 may include two first shaft securing parts (317, see FIG.
- the second hinge 6 and the first hinge 5 may be located on the right side of the cabinet (as shown in FIG. 18 ).
- the second hinge 6 and the first hinge 5 may be located on the left side of the cabinet 3.
- the end of the torsion spring 7200 may be fixed to the spring holder 4313 and the other end thereof may be insertedly fixed to the spring fixing hole 7513 provided in the first adjusting plate 7510.
- the second angle adjusting part 7600 may be further provided in the fourth hinge 7000 and it may be means for fixing the position of the door 4 rotated a predetermined angle on the fifth shaft 7100.
- the pressing part 4351 may be located in the first handle (4311, see FIG. 17(c) ) provided in the door 4.
- the cabinet detaching part provided in the fourth hinge 7000 may have a structure shown in FIGS. 27 and 28 .
- the cabinet detaching part shown in FIG. 27(a) has a characteristic of a gap (g) formed between the receiving groove 7430 provided in the shaft receiving part 7400 and the connecting shaft 7300.
- the thickness (t) of the connecting shaft 7300 may be smaller than the height (h) of the receiving groove 7430.
- the thickness (t) of the connecting shaft 7300 and the height (h) of the receiving groove may be set to enable the connecting shaft 7300 to contact with the receiving groove 7430 when the door rotated 30 to 40 degrees on the fifth shaft 7100.
- the door 4 may be rotated on the fifth shaft 7100 in the angle range of 30 to 40 degrees, with no interference of the torsion spring 7200, and it may be slowly getting open in an angle range of more than 40 degrees, with the interference of the torsion spring 7200.
- FIG. 28 illustrates an embodiment that realizes the effects mentioned above with the fixing structure of the torsion spring 7200.
- the other end of the torsion spring 7200 inserted in the spring fixing hole 7513 may be rotated along the inner circumferential surface of the spring fixing hole 7513 until it contacts with the hole projection 7515.
- the fifth shaft detaching part 315 may include a case 3151 fixed to the cabinet 3 and a fifth shaft receiving body 3153 rotatably provided in the case 3151 to detach the fifth shaft 7100 there from.
- a receiving body through hole 327 may be further provided in the inner frame 41 of the door 4, to enable the fifth shaft receiving body 3153 to be inserted in the door.
- the laundry treating apparatus 100 including the fifth shaft detaching part 315 may realize an effect of coupling the fifth shaft 7100 to the cabinet 3 more stably by the cabinet detaching part of the second hinge.
- a dryer 2 may include a dryer cabinet 21 having a drying room (20a) formed therein to dry drying objects (not shown) therein.
- the drying room 20a may be a predetermined space where a drum rotated at a rotation speed set in a preset drying condition is arranged and an opening of the drying room may be exposed to outside by a drying object introduction opening 20 formed in a lateral surface of the cabinet 21.
- a single hooking projection or a plurality of hooking projections 250 may be formed in the door 200.
- a single hooking groove or a plurality of hooking grooves 23 may be formed in the guide plate 22 consisting of the cabinet 21 near the drying object introduction opening 20 to insertedly hook the single one or the plurality of the hooking projections 250 thereto.
- a horizontal opening/closing angle of the door 200 may be a preset single value or a plurality of values selectively.
- the door 200 When the door 200 which can be vertically opened and closed closes the drying object introduction opening 20 airtight, the door 200 may maintain the airtight state (the closed state).
- the door 200 may maintain the airtight state (the closed state).
- a conventional washer 1 may include a washer cabinet 10 having a washing room formed therein.
- a washing object introduction opening 12 may be formed in an upper portion of the cabinet 10, to expose the washing room outside upwardly and a cover 11 may be coupled to the washing object introduction opening 12 to open and close the opening 12.
- the washing objects may be unloaded via the washing object introduction opening 12 along the vertical path, after a washing process including a washing cycle and a spinning cycle.
- the drying objects may be loaded into the drying room via the drying object introduction opening 20 exposed outside by the opening of the door 200 coupled to the lateral surface of the dryer cabinet 21 according to the embodiment.
- the inner surface of the door 200 may form a tilted slope.
- the drying objected washed in the washer 1 may fall from the upper portion of the tiltedly open door 200 and the falling drying objects may be introduced into the drying room 20a via the drying object introduction opening 20 along the inner surface of the door 200 tilted toward the drying object introduction opening 20 smoothly.
- a guide partition wall may be further formed in each side portion of the inner surface of the door 200 to guide the drying objects sliding toward the drying object introduction opening 20, without falling outside.
- an inserting hole may be formed in the guide plate 22 to insert therein the guide partition wall projected from each side portion of the inner surface of the door 200.
- the dryer 2 may perform drying for the drying objects loaded in the drying room 20a according to set drying conditions.
- FIG. 41 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to a still further embodiment.
- the laundry treating apparatus 100 may include a cabinet 3 having a laundry accommodating room (R) and a laundry introduction opening 37 configured to introduce the laundry into the laundry accommodating room, a door 4 configured to open and close the opening 37, and a hinge unit 5, 6 and 7 configured to enable the door to rotate the opening along different directions.
- R laundry accommodating room
- a door 4 configured to open and close the opening 37
- a hinge unit 5, 6 and 7 configured to enable the door to rotate the opening along different directions.
- the first shaft detaching part 53 may include a shaft receiving groove 531 to receive the first shaft 51 therein, a groove opening/closing part 533 to open and close the shaft receiving groove, an opening/closing part elastically supporting part 535 to elastically support the groove opening/closing part.
- the opening/closing part elastically supporting part 535 may be received in the groove opening/closing part 533 in FIG. 43 .
- the first shaft 51 and the first shaft detaching part 53 will be described later in reference to FIG. 43 .
- the second hinge 6 may include a second shaft 651 provided corresponding to the first shaft of the first hinge 5 to form the first pivot (A) and a third shaft 63 forming the second pivot (B).
- the second shaft 651 may be provided in the door securing part 65 and the door 4 may be rotatably secured the second shaft 651.
- the hinge supporter 653 may be configured to adjust an opening angle of the door when the door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B) to open the opening 37 and it may be coupled to a door tilting adjusting part (8, see FIG. 44 ) which will be described later.
- the hinge supporter 653 may include a hinge supporter flange 657 to prevent the hinge supporter 653 from separated from the cabinet (the outer panel), when the door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B).
- the third hinge 7 may include a shaft forming part 71 fixed to either of the outer panel 33 and the door and a shaft detaching part 73 provided in other one of them, with the shaft forming part being detachable there from.
- the shaft detaching part 73 may further include a supporting projection elastically supporting part (739, see FIG. 44 ) to elastically support the fourth shaft supporting projection 733 and the detaching shaft supporting projection 737.
- the door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B). Because of that, the first shaft 51 may not be received in the shaft receiving groove 531 and it may be located outside the shaft receiving groove 531, not in the shaft receiving groove 531.
- FIG. 43(c) illustrates the door 4 rotated on the first pivot (A).
- the first shaft 51 installed in the door 4 may not be rotated but maintain the state.
- the first shaft detaching part 53 may be rotated along the door 4 and the first shaft 51 may be rotated a predetermined angle within the shaft receiving groove 531 accordingly.
- the opening/closing part elastically supporting part 535 may elastically support the groove opening/closing part 533. Because of that, the first shaft 51 may be rotated within the shaft receiving groove 531, without being separated from the shaft receiving groove 531.
- the first hinge 5 when the door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B), the first hinge 5 may be in the state shown in FIG. 43(a) .
- the door 4 closes the opening 37, it may be changed into the state shown in FIG. 43(b) .
- the door 4 When the door 4 is rotated on the first pivot (A), it may be changed into the state shown in FIG. 43(c) .
- a plurality of projection receiving grooves 85a and 85b may be provided in the detaching body 83, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other.
- the detaching body 83 may be supported by the elastically supporting part 87 with respect to the fixing body 81. This is for the hinge supporter projection 655 to be detachable from the detaching body 83 smoothly.
- the door 4 may be perpendicularly secured in the state of closing the opening 37.
- the door 4 may be rotated approximately 30 degrees on the second pivot (B).
- the door 4 is rotated approximately 85 degrees on the second pivot (B).
- the fourth shaft 713 of the third hinge and the detaching shaft 751 of the door supporter may be received in the fourth shaft receiving groove 731 and the detaching shaft receiving groove 735, respectively.
- the elastic force may be provided to the fourth shaft supporting projection 733 and the detaching shaft supporting projection 737 by the supporting projection elastically supporting part 739 and the fourth shaft supporting projection 733 and the detaching shaft supporting projection may support the fourth shaft and the detaching shaft, respectively.
- the supporter projection 753 of the door supporter 75 may be received in the projection receiving groove 85a of the door tilting adjusting part 8.
- the supporter projection 753 When the end of the door supporter 75 is rotated approximately 30 degrees, the supporter projection 753 may be seated in the projection receiving groove 85b provided in the detaching body, as moving along the detaching body of the door tilting adjusting part 8 (the state shown in FIG. 45a ). In other words, the supporter projection 753 may be fixed to the projection receiving groove 85b and the rotation of the door 4 may be then stopped.
- the supporter projection 753 may be detached from the projection receiving groove 85b and the door 4 may be rotated.
- the flange 754 provided in the door supporter may contact with the rear surface of the outer panel 33, to support the door 4 (the state shown in FIG. 46(a) ).
- the door 4 may be perpendicularly secured in the state of closing the opening 37.
- the door 4 may be rotated approximately 30 degrees on the second pivot (B).
- the door 4 may be rotated approximately 85 degrees on the second pivot (B).
- the hinge supporter projection 655 may maintain the state of being received in the projection receiving groove 85a of the door tilting adjusting part 8 (the state shown in FIG. 44(b) ).
- the hinge supporter projection 655 When the user rotates the door 4 a larger angle, that is, when the user applies a predetermined force enough to detach the hinge supporter projection 655 from the projection receiving groove 85b, the hinge supporter projection 655 may be detached from the projection receiving groove 85b and the door 4 may be rotated.
- the supporter flange 657 provided in the door supporter may contact with the rear surface of the outer panel 33, to support the door 4 (the state shown in FIG. 46(b) ).
- the hinge supporter projection 655 may be received in or detached from the projection receiving grooves 85a and 85b sequentially and the rotation angle of the door 4 may be fixed.
- the laundry treating apparatus may further include a supporter elastically supporting part to supplement the door supporting force of the flanges 657 and 754 provided in the supporters 653 and 75, respectively, when the door 4 is open completely.
- the supporter elastically supporting part may include an elastic part 773 to provide a restitution force to the door supporter 75 toward the inside of the cabinet when the door supporter 75 is detached out of the outer panel 33.
- a rib 771 may be further provided at an end of the door supporter 75 to couple the elastic part 773 thereto. This is to prevent the elastic part 773 from interfering with other devices provided in the door, which might be generated when the elastic part 773 is directly coupled to the door supporter 75.
- FIG. 48 illustrates another embodiment of the door tilting adjusting part.
- the fixing part 82 may include a first fixing projection 821 having a predetermined diameter and a second fixing projection 823 projected from the first fixing projection, having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the first fixing projection.
- the first fixing projection 821 may be supported by the elastically supporting part 825 provided in a space formed between the outer panel 13 and the inner panel 15 of the cabinet 1.
- the fixing part receiving groove 84 may include a first projection receiving groove 84 to receive the first fixing projection 821 and a second projection receiving groove 843 to receive the second fixing projection 821.
- the second projection receiving groove 843 may be configured to receive only the second fixing projection 823 and the first projection receiving groove 841 may be configured to receive only an outer circumferential surface of the first fixing projection 821.
- At least 42 first projection receiving grooves 841 may be provided and one of them may be spaced apart a predetermined distance from another one.
- the door fixing part 9 When the door fixing part 9 includes the configuration mentioned above, the door 4 may be rotated on the second pivot (B) and the supporter coupling projection 93 may be moved along an outer circumferential surface of the cam 91 within the door 4 almost horizontally as shown in FIG. 49(b) . As a result, as the elastically supporting part 95 is pressed, the supporter coupling projection 93 may be moved toward the door supporter 75.
- a tilted piece 431 is formed in a lower end of the door 4. Especially, it is preferred that the tilted piece 431 is formed in a lower end of the inner frame 43 of the door 4.
- the recess 42 mentioned above is formed in the portion where the second hinge 6 is formed.
- the tilted piece 431 may be formed broadly in a lower end portion of the door 4.
- the tilted piece 431 is provided in the lower end of the door 4 and the lower end of the door may not have rectangular corners such that the door 4 may rotate a predetermined angle along a second rotational direction.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)
- Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- Embodiments may relate to a laundry treating apparatus, more particularly, to a laundry treating apparatus which can secure an open door at various angles.
Generally, a laundry treating apparatus may be categorized into a washing-only apparatus only having a washing function, a drying-only apparatus only having a drying function and a laundry washing/drying apparatus having both of the washing and drying functions. Also, based on a structure and a type, the laundry treating apparatuses may be categorized into a drum type laundry treating apparatus which dries laundry while tumbling the laundry by using a rotatable drum and a cabinet type laundry treating apparatus which dries laundry while hanging the laundry therein. - In a conventional washing/drying apparatus, a laundry introduction opening is formed in a front of a cabinet to introduce laundry there through. Also, a door may be installed to the front of the cabinet to open and close the laundry introduction opening. Here, the door includes a single shaft capable of rotating along a right and left direction to open and close the opening.
- In the meanwhile, the laundry treating apparatus that is the drying-only apparatus may be arranged next to a lateral side of the washing-only apparatus in a line. To dry the laundry washed in the washing-only apparatus, a user may typically unload the washed laundry out of the washing-only apparatus and he or she may load it into the drying-only apparatus via the laundry introduction opening.
- In the conventional laundry treating apparatus including the washing/drying apparatus or the drying-only apparatus, the door is able to be fixed in a state of closing the opening through which the laundry is introduced, not enough to be secured to maintain a state of partially opening the opening, which may be a disadvantage.
- Accordingly, the embodiments may be directed to a laundry treating apparatus. To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the embodiments, as embodied and broadly described herein, a laundry treating apparatus includes a laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet configured to define a profile thereof, the cabinet comprising a laundry introduction opening formed therein; a door configured to open and close the laundry introduction opening; a fixing member configured to support the door for the door to maintain a state of being rotate a predetermined angle with respect to the laundry introduction opening, wherein the angle of the door maintained by the fixing member is an angle at which laundry moves to the laundry introduction opening along a guide of the door.
- The laundry treating apparatus may further include a pivot provided in a lower portion of the laundry introduction opening along a traverse direction of the cabinet, to form a center of rotation of the door.
- The fixing member may enable the door fixed at least two angles.
- The at least two angles may be approximately 35 degrees and 85 degrees.
- The fixing member may include a recessed piece provided in a lower portion of the door, with being recessed a predetermined depth; and a projected piece inserted in the recessed piece, once the door closes the laundry introduction opening, and supporting the door, once the door opens the laundry introduction opening, the projected piece projected from the cabinet.
- The projected piece may contact with a lower end of the door, only to stop the rotation of the door, once the door opens the laundry introduction opening.
- A plurality of projected pieces and a plurality of recessed pieces may be arranged in symmetry with respect to a center of the door.
- The fixing member may include a tilted piece provided in a lower end of the door, with a predetermined tilted angle, and when the door rotates, the tilted piece surface-contacts with the cabinet to stop the rotation of the door.
- The fixing member may further include a damper provided in the tilted piece to absorb a shock generated by the contact between the tilted piece and the cabinet.
- The fixing member may include a guide part provided in the cabinet, the guide part comprising a guide groove divided into a plurality of portions, in communication with each other; a connection part arranged in the door, the connection part comprising a guide projection accommodated by the guide groove to allow a moving passage thereof guided, and an angle at which the door opens the laundry introduction opening is changed according to which portion of the divided portions provided in the guide groove accommodates the guide projection.
- The guide groove may be divided into at least three portions.
- The fixing member may include a first adjusting plate provided in the pivot, first and second grooves provided along an outer circumferential surface of the first adjusting plate, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other; and a first detaching part comprising a first body provided in the door to move along the outer circumferential surface of the first adjusting plate, when the door rotates, and a first body elastic supporting part having an end coupled to the first body and the other end coupled to the door to elastically support the first body.
- The fixing member may further include a second adjusting plate provided in the pivot, spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first adjusting plate; a stopper projected from an outer circumferential surface of the second adjusting plate; and a second detaching part provided in the door to move along the outer circumferential surface of the second adjusting plate, when the door rotates, the second detaching part comprising a second body contacting with the stopper, when the first body is inserted in the second groove, and a second elastic body supporting part having an end coupled to the second body and the other end coupled to the door to elastically support the second body.
- The fixing member may further include a torsion spring provided in an outer circumferential surface of the pivot, the torsion spring having an end fixed to the door and the other end fixed to the pivot.
- The first groove and the second groove may be spaced apart 30 degrees from each other.
- The fixing member may include a supporting body fixed to the cabinet; a rotating body having the door fixed thereto; an inserting body having the pivot inserted thereto to rotatably couple the supporting body to the rotating body; a plurality of fixing holes spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other along a circumferential direction of the pivot; and a fixing projection member provided in the inserting body to be detachably inserted in the fixing hole.
- The fixing member may include a cabinet fixing part fixed to an outer surface of the cabinet; a door fixing part fixed to the door and rotatably coupled to the cabinet fixing part via the pivot; a door tilting adjustment part provided in the cabinet, the door tilting adjustment part comprising a plurality of projection receiving grooves spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other; and a hinge supporter extended from the door fixing part to pass through the cabinet, the hinge supporter comprising a projection detachably inserted in the projection receiving groove when the door rotates.
- It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the embodiments or arrangements are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the embodiments as claimed.
- Arrangements and embodiments may be described in detail with reference to the following drawings in which like reference numerals refer to like elements and wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment; -
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a door shown inFIG. 1 which is rotated along a first rotational direction; -
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the door shown inFIG. 1 which is rotated along a second rotational direction; -
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a second hinge which is rotated along a first rotational direction; -
FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the second hinge which is rotated along a second rotational direction; -
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an open stat of the door; -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating key parts of the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment; -
FIG. 8 is a diagram specifically illustrating a guide part shown inFIG. 7 ; -
FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to another embodiment; -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view partially illustrating a guide part shown inFIG. 9 ; -
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view partially illustrating a connection part; -
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a converted example of the connection part; -
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a converted example of the embodiment; -
FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an inner surface ofFIG. 13 ; -
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating key parts of a laundry treating apparatus according to a further embodiment; -
FIG. 16 is a sectional view illustrating a center region ofFIG. 15 ; -
FIG. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the laundry treating apparatus according to the further embodiment; -
FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating an inner structure of a door provided in the laundry treating apparatus; -
FIG. 19 is a perspective view illustrating a second hinge provided in the laundry treating apparatus; -
FIGS. 20 and21 are diagrams illustrating a first hinge provided in the laundry treating apparatus; -
FIGS. 22 to 26 are diagrams illustrating a fourth hinge provided in the laundry treating apparatus; -
FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating a structure of a cabinet detaching part provided in the fourth hinge; -
FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating a fixing structure of a twisted spring provided in a door; -
FIGS. 29 and30 are diagrams illustrating a fifth shaft detecting part having a fifth shaft of the fourth hinge detachable there from; -
FIG. 31 is a perspective view illustrating a dryer according to a still further embodiment and a washing machine having the dryer; -
FIG. 32 is a perspective view partially illustrating a door provided in the dryer shown inFIG. 31 , which is open and closed along a vertical direction; -
FIG. 33a is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation between a second hooking member and a second shaft of a second hinge located in the door andFIG. 33b is a perspective view illustrating a vertical rotation state of the second hooking member shown inFIG. 32 andFIG. 33c is a sectional view illustrating a fixing projection member elastically inserted in and separated from a fixing hole; -
FIG. 34a is a perspective view illustrating a hingedly connecting relation between a rotation member shown inFIG. 32 and a rotation member in the door andFIG. 34b is a perspective view illustrating a vertical rotation state of the rotation member shown inFIG. 34a ; -
FIG. 35 is a perspective view illustrating a coupling relation between a first hooking member located in a dryer cabinet shown inFIG. 32 and a first hinge member located in a door; -
FIG. 36 is a perspective view illustrating a dryer having a door which is open along a horizontal direction as shown inFIG. 32 and a washing machine having the door; -
FIG. 37 is a perspective view illustrating the door of the dryer shown inFIG. 36 , which is open and closed along the horizontal direction; -
FIG. 38 is a perspective view illustrating a rotation state of a second hooking member and a second hinge member, when the door shown inFIG. 37 is open along the horizontal direction; -
FIG. 39 is a perspective view illustrating a rotation state of a first hooking member and a first hinge member, when the door shown inFIG. 37 is open along the horizontal direction; -
FIG. 40 is a perspective view illustrating a hingedly connecting relation between the rotation member shown inFIG. 37 and a rotation member of the door; -
FIG. 41 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to a still further embodiment; -
FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating a door and a hinge unit provided in the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 41 ; -
FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating the motion of a first hinge according to the embodiment; -
FIGS. 44 to 46 are diagrams illustrating movement of second and third hinges consisting of the hinge unit; -
FIG. 47 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the second and third hinges; -
FIG. 48 is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of a door slope adjusting part provided in the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment; -
FIG. 49 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a door securing part provided in the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment ofFIG. 41 to prevent downward movement of the door; -
FIG. 50 is a sectional diagram illustrating the door according to the embodiment ofFIG. 41 that is rotated in a second direction; -
FIG. 51 is a diagram specifically illustrating a damper unit ofFIG. 50 ; -
FIG. 52 is a conceptual diagram illustrating another embodiment of the damper unit; -
FIG. 53 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a further embodiment of the damper unit; -
FIG. 54 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a still further embodiment of the damper unit; and -
FIG. 55 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a still further embodiment of the damper unit. - To solve the disadvantages mentioned above, embodiments may provide a laundry treating apparatus including a door which is able to be secured in a state of partially opening a laundry introduction opening.
- Furthermore, the embodiments may provide a laundry treating apparatus which is able to adjust an opening degree of the door with respect to the laundry introduction opening variously and to fix the rotated degree that is changed variously.
- As follows, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail in reference to the accompanying drawings. Reference may now be made in detail to specific embodiments, examples of which may be illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, same reference numbers may be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a door shown inFIG. 1 which is rotated along a first rotational direction.FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the door shown inFIG. 1 which is rotated along a second rotational direction. As follows, the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment will be described in reference toFIGS. 1 to 3 . - The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment may include a
cabinet 3 having a laundry accommodating room (R) and a laundry introduction opening 37 enabling laundry loaded into the laundry accommodating room, adoor 4 provided to open and close theopening 37, and ahinge unit door 4 to open and close the opening, along different directions. - The
cabinet 3 may define a profile of the laundry treating apparatus and the laundry introduction opening 37 may be provided through anouter panel 33 provided in a side of the cabinet to communicate with the laundry accommodating room (R). - A locking
projection receiving part 39 may be provided in theouter panel 33 to receive a lockingprojection 47 provided in thedoor 4. The lockingprojection 47 of thedoor 4 may be received in the lockingprojection receiving part 39 provided in the cabinet, such that thedoor 4 may open and close the laundry introduction opening. - In the meanwhile, a
control panel 31 may be provided on thecabinet 3 to enable a user to input a control command to the laundry treating apparatus. - The
hinge unit opening 37 and a second pivot (B) to rotate thedoor 4 to open and close theopening 37 along a different direction from a direction of the first pivot (A). The first pivot (A) may be vertical to thecabinet 3 and the second pivot (B) may be horizontal to thecabinet 3. - The first pivot may be formed by a
first hinge 5 and asecond hinge 6. The second pivot may be formed by thesecond hinge 6 and athird hinge 7. - In
FIGS. 2 and3 , the first pivot (A) may be formed along a longitudinal direction of the cabinet 3 (A vertical pivot) and the second pivot (B) may be formed along a width direction of the cabinet (A horizontal pivot). However, the location of the first pivot and the location of the second pivot may not be limited to what shown inFIG. 2 necessarily. - In other words, the first pivot and the second pivot may be located at various positions of the cabinet only if they enable the door to be rotated along various directions to open the opening (only if the first pivot and the second pivot form a preset angle). Here, the direction of the first pivot (the first direction) may be different from the direction of the second pivot (the second direction).
- Here, as shown in
FIG. 3 , the second pivot may be provided along the width direction of the cabinet to enable the door to be tilted with respect to a lower end of theopening 37. In this case, there may be an effect of efficient laundry loading caused by adjusting a tilting angle of the door, which will be described later. - The hinge unit may include the
first hinge 5 having a first shaft consisting of the first pivot (A) to couple and detach the door to and from thecabinet 3, thesecond hinge 6 having a second shaft consisting of the first pivot (A) together with the first shaft and a third shaft consisting of the second pivot (B), and thethird hinge 7 having a fourth shaft consisting of the second pivot (B) together with the third shaft to couple and detach thedoor 4 to and from thecabinet 3. - The
first hinge 5 may include thefirst shaft 51 forming the first pivot and a firstshaft detaching part 53 having a first receiving groove formed therein to receive thefirst shaft 51. Thefirst shaft 51 may be installed in thecabinet 3 and the firstshaft detaching part 53 may be provided in thedoor 4. Alternatively, thefirst shaft 51 may be installed in thedoor 4 and the firsshaft detaching part 53 may be installed in thecabinet 3. - The
third hinge 7 may include thefourth shaft 713 to form the second pivot (B) and a fourthshaft detaching part 73 having a second receiving groove formed therein to receive thefourth shaft 713. Thefourth shaft 713 may be installed in thedoor 4 and the fourthshaft detaching part 73 may be provided in thecabinet 3. Alternatively, thefourth shaft 713 may be installed in thecabinet 3 and the fourthshaft detaching part 73 may be installed in thedoor 4. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , when the door is rotated along a first direction, thefirst hinge 5 and thesecond hinge 6 may rotatably couple thedoor 4 to thecabinet 3. At this time, thefourth shaft 713 of thethird hinge 7 is detached from the fourthshaft detaching part 73, such that thedoor 4 may be detached from thecabinet 3. - In contrast, as shown in
FIG. 3 , when the door is rotated along a second direction, thesecond hinge 6 and thethird hinge 7 may be connected so as to rotate thedoor 4. At this time, the firstshaft detaching part 3 may be detached from thefirst shaft 51, such that thedoor 4 may be separated from thecabinet 3. - In other words, when the
door 4 is rotated along one of the first and second directions, thesecond hinge 6 may always couple the cabinet to the door but thefirst hinge 5 and thethird hinge 7 may couple or detach the door to or from the cabinet. - The
door 4 may include aninner frame 43 provided toward theouter panel 33 and anouter frame 41 coupled to the inner frame to from a profile of thedoor 4. - The door may further include a
transparent part 45 insertedly provided in theopening 37. Thetransparent part 45 may prevent the laundry located in the laundry accommodating room (R) from coming out through the laundry introduction opening and it may also allow the user to see the laundry accommodating room (R) during the operation of the laundry treating apparatus. - As shown in
FIG. 3 , a recessedpart 992 recessed a preset distance along a longitudinal direction may be provided at an upper end of thedoor 4. The recessedpart 992 may be longitudinally extended along a width direction of thedoor 4 and it may be extended as long as the horizontal length of thedoor 4. - A
pressing piece 990 that is able to be grasped by the user may be provided at a center of the recessedpart 992. Thepressing piece 990 may be installed at the center of thedoor 4 to allow the user to press thedoor 4 when rotating it along the second rotational direction. When the user is pressing thepressing piece 990, thedoor 4 may be stably rotated along the rotational direction the user selects by a variety of elements installed in thedoor 4 which will be described later. - In the meanwhile, the user may grasp the recessed
part 992 to rotate thedoor 4, without grasping thepressing piece 990 located at the center of the recessedpart 992. When trying to rotate thedoor 4 along the first rotational direction, not the second rotational direction, the user may grasp not thepressing piece 990 but other portions of the recessedpart 992 where thepressing piece 990 is not located, to rotate thedoor 4. For example, when the trying to rotate the door along the first rotational direction, the user may grasp a portion located in opposite to the first pivot (A) of the first rotational direction and he or she may open thedoor 4 after that. -
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating the second hinge which is rotated along a second rotational direction.FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an open stat of the door. As follows, the embodiment will be described in reference toFIGS. 4 and5 . - The
second hinge 6 may couple thecabinet 3 to thedoor 4, to secure thedoor 4 in a state of being selectively rotatable along the first and second rotational directions. Thesecond hinge 6 may allow thedoor 4 to be rotatably coupled to thecabinet 3 when thedoor 4 is rotated on both of the first and second pivots. - The
second hinge 6 may include acabinet securing part 61 secured to thecabinet 3 and adoor securing part 65 secured to thedoor 4. - A
second shaft 651 composing the first pivot may be provided in thedoor securing part 65. Thedoor 4 may be rotated on thesecond shaft 651 along the first rotational direction - The
door securing part 65 and thecabinet securing part 61 may be rotatable on athird shaft 63. Thethird shaft 63 may compose the second pivot. Accordingly, thedoor 4 may be rotated on thethird shaft 63 along the second rotational direction. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , thedoor securing part 65 and thecabinet securing part 61 may not be bent at thethird shaft 63 when thedoor 4 is rotated along the first rotational direction. When thedoor 4 is rotated along the first rotational direction, no relative motion is generated between thedoor securing part 65 and thecabinet securing part 61. Because of that, the coupling between thedoor securing part 65 and thecabinet securing part 61 may be maintained without change. - A
recess 42 recessed to a preset depth may be formed at a lower end of thedoor 4 and therecess 42 may provide a predetermined space where thecabinet securing part 61 is received. As shown inFIG. 5 , therecess 42 may form a sufficient space not to generate interference between thecabinet securing part 61 and the lower end of thedoor 4 and thedoor 4 is rotated along the second rotational direction. - When the
door 4 is rotated along the second rotational direction, the lower end of thedoor 4 may be moved toward thecabinet 3. As a result, a predetermined space has to be provided between thedoor 4 and thecabinet 3 to rotate thedoor 4 along the second rotational direction. For that, therecess 42 may be formed at the lower end of thedoor 4 and thedoor 4 may be rotated as far as the space provided by therecess 42 accordingly. - As shown in
FIG. 5 , when thedoor 4 is rotated along the second rotational direction, thedoor securing part 65 is rotated on thethird shaft 63. in other words, - In other words, when the
door 4 is rotated along the second rotational direction, thedoor 4 may not be rotated along the first rotational direction and thedoor 4 may not be rotated on thesecond shaft 651 accordingly. -
FIG. 6 is a conceptual diagram illustrating an open state of the door. As follows, the embodiment will be described in reference toFIG. 5 . - The
door 4 may open thelaundry introduction 37 at two angles with respect to thecabinet 3. In other words, as shown inFIG. 6 , thedoor 4 may be coupled at a position of opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively less and a position of opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively more, in a state of having opened thelaundry introduction opening 37. At this time, an angle at which thedoor 4 is opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively less may be referenced to as 'a first angle (θ 1)' and an angle at which thedoor 4 is opening the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively more may be referenced to as 'a second angle (θ 2)'. - The first angle may be approximately 30 degrees and the second angle may be approximately 85 ∼ 90 degrees. Here, the first angle and the second angle may be changed into other values from the values mentioned above.
- Based on the embodiment, it may be possible to stop the
door 4 at other angles rather than the first and second angles. For explanation convenience, an angle at which thedoor 4 closes theopening 37, that is, an angle of thedoor 4 standing vertically may be referenced to as 'a third angle'. - According to the embodiment, the
door 4 may be open the laundry introduction opening 37 at two positions to introduce the laundry via theopening 37. - For example, the angle of the
door 4 may be relatively close to being perpendicular at a position at which thedoor 4 opens theopening 37 less. As a result, when the user tries to load the laundry into theopening 37, the laundry may be introduced into the laundry accommodating room smoothly via the laundry introduction opening 37 because of a tilted angle of thedoor 4, even if the laundry collides against thedoor 4. - In contrast, when the
door 4 opens theopening 37 less in case the user tries to unload the laundry accommodated in the laundry accommodating room (R) via the laundry introduction opening 37, inconvenience might be given to the user. For the user to unload the laundry smoothly after putting his or her arm into the laundry accommodating room (R), it is necessary for thedoor 4 to open the laundry introduction opening 37 sufficiently. As a result, thedoor 4 has to be coupled in a state of having opened the laundry introduction opening 37 relatively more. -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view illustrating key parts of the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment. - The laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment may include a
guide part 1300 installed in thecabinet 3 and aconnection part 1320 installed in thedoor 4. - A
guide groove 1301 recessed a predetermined depth may be formed in theguide part 1300. Aguide projection 1322 may be provided in theconnection part 1320 to be received in theguide groove 1301 to have a moving path thereof guided. Theguide projection 1322 may be guided according to the shape of theguide groove 1301. - In the meanwhile, the
guide projection 1322 may be stopped at various positions of theguide groove 1301 while being moved along the shape of theguide groove 1301 in theguide groove 1301. At this time, an opening degree of the laundry introduction opening 37 may be differentiated based on the positions of theguide projection 1322. - Especially, the
guide groove 1301 may be recessed toward the pivot of thedoor 4. In other words, theguide groove 1301 may be recessed toward the center of the pivot, that is, along an opposite direction to a radial direction of the pivot. The pivot of thedoor 4 may be arranged underneath thedoor 4 and it may be the center of the rotation of thedoor 4 along a clockwise direction or a counter-clockwise direction with respect toFIG. 6 . When thedoor 4 is rotated along the clockwise direction, an opening degree of the laundry introduction opening 37 may be increased. When thedoor 4 is rotated along the counter-clockwise direction, the opening degree may be decreased. - The
guide projection 1322 may be projected correspondingly toward the recessed direction of theguide groove 1301 to be moved in a state of received in theguide groove 1301. - The
connection part 1320 may be rotatably shaft-coupled to thedoor 4. As shown in an arrow line ofFIG. 6 , theconnection part 1320 may be moved with being freely rotatable with respect to thedoor 4 and it may be moved along the shape of theguide groove 1301. -
FIG. 8 is a diagram specifically illustrating the guide part shown inFIG. 7 and the guide part will be described in reference toFIG. 8 as follows. - The
guide groove 1301 may include three guide grooves of afirst guide groove 1302, asecond guide groove 1306 and athird guide groove 1310. Thefirst guide groove 1302, thesecond guide groove 1306 and thethird guide groove 1310 may be connected with each other, such that theguide projection 1322 may be movable from each of the guide grooves to another. - The
first guide groove 1302 may guide theguide projection 1322 to stop thedoor 4 at the first angle and afirst seating protrusion 1304 may be formed at an end of thefirst guide groove 1302 to seat theguide projection 1322 at the first angle. - The
first seating protrusion 1304 may reduce the width of thefirst guide groove 1302 by a predetermined value. Here, thefirst seating protrusion 1304 may be upwardly projected a predetermined distance from a lower end of thefirst guide groove 1302. That is, theguide projection 1322 may be stopped at the moment when meeting thefirst seating protrusion 1304 in the middle of passing thefirst guide groove 1302, such that thedoor 4 may be stopped at the first angle. - The
second guide groove 1306 may guide theguide projection 1322 to stop the door at the second angle and asecond seating protrusion 1308 may be formed at an end of thesecond guide groove 1306 to seat theguide projection 1322 at the second angle. - The
second seating protrusion 1308 may finish the end of thesecond guide groove 1306 and theguide projection 1322 may not move downwardly after stopped by thesecond seating protrusion 1308. - The
third guide groove 1310 may guide theguide projection 1322 to stop thedoor 4 at the third angle at this time, the third angle may be the angle at which thedoor 4 is arranged perpendicularly to close theopening 37 airtight, different from the first and second angles. - In the meanwhile, a
guide piece 1312 projected from theguide groove 1301 may be provided at a center of theguide groove 1301 to limit the motion of theguide protrusion 1322. Theguide piece 1312 may be projected toward an opposite direction to the recessed direction of theguide groove 1301. Theguide piece 1312 may be moved along a path formed in theguide groove 1301 receiving theguide projection 1322. - The
first guide groove 1302 may be divided into a portion located beyond theguide piece 1312 and a portion located below theguide piece 1312. - At this time, the
first guide groove 1302 located beyond theguide piece 1312 may be inclined a predetermined angle to move downwardly along the direction of the movingguide projection 1322. This is to move theguide projection 1322 in thefirst guide groove 1302 even without a large force applied by the user, because thedoor 4 has a self weight. - An operation method of the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment will be described, referring to
FIGS. 1 to 8 . - First of all, the
door 4 may be stopped at the end (S3) of thefirst guide groove 1302 shown inFIG. 8 , in a state of being arranged at the third angle, that is, a state of having closed theopening 37. - When the user rotate the
door 4 in a direction of getting far from thecabinet 3 to rotate thedoor 4, in the state where thedoor 4 is stopped at the end (S3) of thefirst guide groove 1302, theguide projection 1322 may move along thefirst guide groove 1302 and thedoor 4 may gradually increase an opening angle with respect to theopening 37. - The
guide projection 1322 may be moved along thefirst guide groove 1302 arranged beyond theguide piece 1312. At this time, theguide piece 1312 may be tilted downwardly with respect to the moving direction of theguide projection 1322 such that theguide projection 1322 may be smoothly moved along thefirst guide groove 1302 by the weight of thedoor 4. - When the
guide projection 1332 is moving along thefirst guide groove 1302 arranged below theguide piece 1312, the opening angle of the laundry introduction opening 37 opened by the door may is increasing theguide projection 1322 may stop at a position (S1) where thefirst seating protrusion 1304 is provided. - The
first seating protrusion 1304 is projected from thefirst guide groove 1302 so as to stop the movement of theguide projection 1322. - When the user desires for the
door 4 to open theopening 37 at the second angle that is larger than the first angle, the user may apply an additional force to thedoor 4. - Because of the force applied by the user, the
guide projection 1322 may be getting out of thefirst seating protrusion 1304 and it may move along thesecond guide groove 1306 after that. Theguide projection 1322 may move along thesecond guide groove 1306 after getting out of thefirst guide groove 1306, because an end of thefirst guide groove 1302 is connected with thesecond guide groove 1306. - The
second guide groove 1306 may be formed along a longitudinal direction of the door. Accordingly, theguide projection 1322 may move downward along the formation direction of thesecond guide groove 1306. - When the
guide projection 1322 moves to a position (S2) where it can contact with thesecond seating protrusion 1308 within thesecond guide groove 1306, the rotation of the door stops and thedoor 4 opens the laundry introduction opening 37 in a state of being tilted at the second angle. - Meanwhile, when desiring for the
door 4 to close the laundry introduction opening 37, the user may apply a force to thedoor 4 to rotate thedoor 4 along the counter-clockwise direction. In this case, theguide projection 1322 may be moved to thethird guide groove 1310, with being moved upwardly in thesecond guide groove 1306. An end of thesecond guide groove 1306 may be connected with thethird guide groove 1310. Because of that, theguide projection 1322 may be moved to thethird guide groove 1310 out of thesecond guide groove 1306. - While the
guide projection 1322 is moving upwardly in thethird guide groove 1310, thedoor 4 may decrease the opening angle of theopening 37. When theguide projection 1322 reaches a position (S3) where thethird guide groove 1310 is connected with thefirst guide groove 1302, the motion of theguide projection 1322 may be stopped and thedoor 4 may be stopped at the third angle. As a result, thedoor 4 may close the laundry introduction opening 37 airtight. - Entirely, the position of the
guide projection 1322 may be changed from S1 -> S2 -> S3 -> within theguide groove 1301 and it may be fixed at each of the positions. - At this time, an auxiliary securing member may be used in securing the
door 4 in a state where the door closes the laundry introduction opening 37 airtight (at s third angle). In other words, a lockingprojection 47 may be provided in thedoor 4 and a lockingprojection accommodating part 39 may be provided in thecabinet 3. - Meanwhile, when the user desires to move the door from the first angle to the third angle, not passing the second angle (in other words, rotate the door at the angle at which the door closes the laundry introduction opening 37), the user may rotate the
door 4 toward the cabinet to move theguide projection 1322 toward thethird guide groove 1310 from thefirst guide groove 1302. - At this time, the
guide projection 1322 may move along thethird guide groove 1310 from the first guide groove 1302 (S1 -> S3). -
FIG. 9 is a diagram schematically illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to another embodiment. As follows, the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment will be described, referring toFIG. 9 . - According to this embodiment, the
guide groove 1301 may be recessed along a longitudinal direction of the second pivot (B). Assuming that the second pivot (B) of thedoor 4 is located at a lower end of thedoor 4, theguide groove 1301 may be formed in a wall installed along a longitudinal direction (namely, a direction of the door height) of the door. - The
guide groove 1301 may be installed in an auxiliary perpendicular wall provided in the cabinet along the longitudinal direction of the door (namely, the door height direction), or it may be installed in a side wall composing thecabinet 3. - The
connection part 1320 may be rotatably coupled to thedoor 4 and thedoor 4 is rotatably coupled to thesecond shaft 651. - To make the drawing look simple,
FIG. 9 shows some elements of the door, not the entire elements thereof. - The
connection part 1320 may be coupled to thesecond shaft 651 via a connection joint 1326 and it may be hingedly connected to thesecond shaft 651 via the connection joint 1326. - The
guide groove 1301 may include the three guide grooves of thefirst guide groove 1302, thesecond guide groove 1306 and thethird guide groove 1310. Thefirst guide groove 1302, thesecond guide groove 1306 and thethird guide groove 1310 may be connected with each other. - The
first guide groove 1302 may guide theguide projection 1322 to stop thedoor 4 at the first angle and thefirst seating protrusion 1304 may be formed at an end of thefirst guide groove 1302 to seat theguide projection 1322 at the first angle. - The
first seating protrusion 1304 may reduce the width of thefirst guide groove 1302 by a predetermined value. Here, thefirst seating protrusion 1304 may be upwardly projected a predetermined height from a lower end of thefirst guide groove 1302. In other words, theguide projection 1322 may be stopped at the moment of meeting thefirst seating protrusion 1304, while passing through thefirst guide groove 1302. Because of that, thedoor 4 may be stopped at the first angle. - The
second guide groove 1306 may guide theguide projection 1322 to stop thedoor 4 at the second angle and asecond seating protrusion 1308 may be formed at an end of thesecond guide groove 1306 to seat the guide projection therein at the second angle. - The
guide projection 1322 is configured not to move downward after stopping at thesecond seating protrusion 1308. - The
third guide groove 1310 may guide theguide projection 1322 to stop thedoor 4 at the third angle. At this time, the third angle may be an angle at which the door is arranged perpendicularly to close the laundry introduction opening 37 airtight, different from the first and second angles. - Meanwhile, a
guide piece 1312 may be provided at a center of theguide groove 1301 to limit the motion of theguide projection 1322. Theguide piece 1312 may be projected from theguide groove 1301. -
FIG. 10 is an enlarged view partially illustrating a guide part. - The
guide piece 1312 may have a predetermined thickness to prevent theguide projection 1322 from directly moving to thesecond guide groove 1306, without stopping at thefirst seating protrusion 1304. - The
guide piece 1312 can make the width of thefirst guide groove 1302 entirely uniform such that theguide projection 1322 guiding thefirst guide groove 1302 can be guided toward thefirst seating protrusion 1304 by the guide piece. -
FIG. 11 is an enlarged view partially illustrating the connection part. - The connection joint 1326 that is the end of the
connection part 1320 may be formed in a semicircular shape. Especially, aninterference piece 1330 may be provided in a predetermined portion (α) of the connection joint 1326 and theinference piece 1330 may be projected from a surface of the connection joint 1326. Theinterference piece 1330 may have a radius that is larger than a radius of the connection joint 1326. - The
door 4 is rotatably coupled to thesecond shaft 651 and thesecond shaft 651 is rotatably coupled to the cabinet via thethird shaft 653. In addition, the connection joint 1326 is coupled to thesecond shaft 651. Accordingly, once theinterference piece 1330 contacts with thesecond shaft 651, the rotation of thesecond shaft 651 with respect to thethird shaft 653 is temporarily restricted and the opening angle of thedoor 4 can be temporarily maintained. - Referring to
FIG. 4 and9 , the operation of the laundry treating apparatus according to another embodiment will be described as follows. - The
guide projection 1322 may stop at the position of S3, in the state where thedoor 4 has closed thelaundry introduction opening 37. To fix the guide projection at the position (S3), auxiliary securing members may be provided in thedoor 4 and thecabinet 3, respectively. Such auxiliary securing members may include a locking projection and a locking projection accommodating part. - It is necessary that the user should rotate the door to unload or load the laundry from or into the
laundry introduction opening 37. - In case of rotating the
door 4 to open the laundry introduction opening 37, theguide projection 1322 may move from the position of S3 along thefirst guide groove 1302. - The
first guide groove 1302 may be divided into a portion located beyond theguide piece 1312 and a portion located below theguide piece 1312. As shown inFIG 11 , when theguide projection 1322 moves along thefirst guide groove 1302 positioned beyond theguide piece 1312, theinterference piece 1330 may contact with thesecond shaft 651. - The
interference piece 1330 may temporarily restrict the rotation of theconnection part 1320 such that theguide projection 1322 may move upward along thefirst guide groove 1302 positioned beyond theguide piece 1312. In other words, theguide projection 1322 positioned at S3 is prevented from moving to thesecond guide groove 1306 by theinterference piece 1330 and theguide piece 1312. - The
interference piece 1330 may not have a large resistance such that the contact between theinterference piece 1330 and thesecond shaft 651 may be relieved when thedoor 4 is rotated additionally. - In the meanwhile, as passing along the portion of the
first guide groove 1302 located below theguide piece 1312, theguide projection 1322 may be stopped by thefirst seating protrusion 1304. Thedoor 4 may be stopped at the position (S1) where theguide projection 1322 is stopped by thefirst seating protrusion 1304. Because of that, the rotation of thedoor 4 may be stopped at the first angle. - After that, when the user rotates the
door 4 additionally, theguide projection 1322 moves to thesecond guide groove 1306 from thefirst guide groove 1302. Once theguide projection 1322 is seated in thesecond seating protrusion 1308 formed in the end of thesecond guide groove 1306, the movement of theguide projection 1322 stops and the rotation of thedoor 4 also stops. Accordingly, thedoor 4 may stop the rotation at the second angle, with maintaining the fixed state. - Meanwhile, the
second guide groove 1306 may be gently curved for the end of thesecond guide groove 1306 to be extended toward thedoor 4 to rotate thedoor 4 smoothly, not perpendicularly straight. As thedoor 4 is rotated, the connection joint 1326 may be moved along an approximately circular locus with respect to theguide projection 1322. - In case the connection joint 1326 is secured to the
second shaft 651, the connection joint 1326 may move in a direction getting far from the cabinet with the rotation of the door. - When desiring to move the
door 4 from the second angle to the third angle, the only have to do is that the user move theguide projection 1322 from thesecond seating protrusion 1308 to thethird guide groove 1310 after rotating thedoor 4 toward the cabinet. - Once the door is rotated in the direction toward the cabinet, the
guide projection 1322 may move upward along thesecond guide groove 1306 toward thethird guide groove 1310 such that the door may close the laundry introduction opening. -
FIG. 12 is a diagram illustrating a converted example of the connection part. - As the door is rotated multiple times, the
interference piece 1330 of the connection joint 1326 might be worn out. If the projected length of theinterference piece 1330 is reduced because of the wear, theinterference piece 1330 cannot sufficiently limit the rotation of theconnection part 1320 during the motion of thefirst projection 1322 within thefirst guide groove 1302. In this case, theguide projection 1322 cannot be moved upwardly along the upper portion of thefirst guide groove 1302 located beyond theguide piece 1312 and it might be moved from thefirst guide groove 1302 to thethird guide groove 1310. - In other words, the user tries to rotate the
door 4 to the first angle to stop thedoor 4 but theinterference piece 1330 may fail to perform the proper function. Because of that, thedoor 4 happens to be rotated to the second angle over the first angle and theopening 37 might be opened much unnecessarily and disadvantageously. - To prevent that, an
elastic support piece 1332 capable of providing an elastic supporting force may be provided at a portion where the interference is generated to theinterference piece 1330 and thedoor 4. Theelastic support piece 1332 may be a plate spring and it may prevent the abrasion of theinterference piece 1330. As a result, theinterference piece 1330 may perform the function within thefirst guide groove 1302 consistently. -
FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a converted example of the embodiment.FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating an inner surface ofFIG. 13 . - Two
guide projections 1322 may be symmetrically arranged in opposite sides with respect to theconnection part 1320. Twoguide parts 1300 may be symmetrically arranged in opposite sides with respect to theconnection part 1320. - In other words, according to the example of
FIG. 13 , one of the twoguide projections 1322 arranged with respect to theconnection part 1320 may be guided along the guide groove as shown inFIG. 9 and the other one of the twoguide projections 1322 with respect to theconnection part 1320 may be guided along the guide groove shown inFIG. 14 . In other words, an inner structure of the portion shown inFIG. 13 is shown inFIG. 9 and an inner structure of the other portion shown inFIG. 13 is shown inFIG. 14 . - The operation of the embodiment shown in
FIG. 9 ,13 and14 may be identical to the operation of other embodiments described above and detailed description of the operation will be omitted accordingly. According to the embodiment in reference toFIG. 9 ,13 and14 , the moving passage of thedoor 4 may be limited by the two guide projections and the securing forces may be provided at positions where thedoor 4 is stopped. As a result, thedoor 4 may be moved stably and fixed by a strong securing force. -
FIG. 15 is a diagram illustrating key parts of a laundry treating apparatus according to a further embodiment.FIG. 16 is a sectional view illustrating a center region ofFIG. 15 . As follows, the key parts will be described in reference toFIGS. 15 and16 . InFIG. 15 , hinges provided in both sides of thedoor 4 are omitted and only a center portion of thedoor 4 is illustrated. - This embodiment shows a structure supporting the
door 4 in a state where the door is rotated at the second angle. As mentioned above, when theguide projection 1322 is seated in thesecond seating protrusion 1308, thedoor 4 may not be rotated any further. However, if an unexpected force such as laundry falling to thedoor 4 is applied to thedoor 4, it may be necessary to secure thedoor 4 more stably. - A recessed
piece 44 recessed a predetermined depth may be formed at a lower portion of thedoor 4 and a projectedpiece 32 projected to be inserted in the recessed piece may be formed in a lower portion of thecabinet 3. - Accordingly, the projected piece is accommodated by the recessed
piece 44 in a state where thedoor 4 has closed the laundry introduction opening 37 (in other words, a state where thedoor 4 is positioned at the third angle). - In contrast, when the
door 4 is rotated at the second angle, the door is supported by the projectedpiece 32. - A single projected
piece 32 may be formed at a center of thecabinet 3. Alternatively, a plurality of projectedpieces 32 may be symmetrically arranged with respect to the center of thecabinet 3, to reinforce the strength for supporting thedoor 4. In the latter case, the number of the recessedpieces 4 has to be identical to the number of the projected pieces such that the recessed pieces can accommodate the projected pieces, respectively. - A
laundry treating apparatus 100 according to a further embodiment may include acabinet 3 configured to define a profile thereof, having a laundry introduction opening 37, an accommodating room (R) arranged in the cabinet to treat (wash and dry) laundry (washing objects or drying objects) and adoor 4 configured to open and close thelaundry introduction opening 37. - In case the
laundry treating apparatus 100 is structured only to dry, only a drum (not shown) rotatably provided in thecabinet 3 may be provided as the accommodating room (R). - However, in case the
laundry treating apparatus 100 is structured to perform a washing function as well as the drying function, a tub (not shown) provided in the cabinet to hold wash water therein and a drum (not shown) rotatably provided in the tub may be provided as the accommodating room (R). - The
door 4 may be rotated by ahinge unit cabinet 3 or ahinge unit cabinet 3. Thedoor 4 may include anouter frame 43 having the hinges fixed thereto and aninner frame 41 coupled to theouter frame 43. - The
outer frame 43 may include afirst handle 4311 and asecond handle 4315. Thefirst handle 4311 may be provided on an upper surface of theouter frame 43, with being bent, and thesecond handle 4315 may be provided each of both opposite lateral surfaces of the door. - The
first handle 4311 may be used as means for rotating the door with respect to asecond hinge 6 and afourth hinge 7000, which will be described later. Thesecond handle 4315 may be used as means for rotating thedoor 4 with respect to thesecond hinge 6 and afirst hinge 5, which will be described later. - In the meanwhile, the
door 4 may further include a throughhole 4330 provided in a position thereof, corresponding to the laundry introduction opening 37 of thecabinet 3, and atransparent plate 4330 located in the through hole to enable the user to see the inside of the accommodating room (R). - In this case, the through
hole 4330 may be include a frame through hole provided in theouter frame 43 and a cover through hole provided in theinner frame 41. Thetransparent plate 4340 may include a cover transparent plate provided in the cover through hole and a frame transparent plate provided in the frame through hole. - A locking unit may be further provided in the
door 4 to couple the door to thecabinet 3. The locking unit may include ahook 41 provided in either of theouter frame 43 and thecabinet 3 and ahook receiving groove 43 provided in the other one of theinner frame 41 and thecabinet 3 to receive the hook. - Moreover, as shown in
FIG. 18 , thelaundry treating apparatus 100 may include afirst hinge 5 having a first shaft (51, seeFIGS. 20 and21 ) provided perpendicular to the bottom surface of thecabinet 3, afourth hinge 7000 having a fifth shaft (7100, seeFIG. 22 ) provided in parallel to the bottom surface of thecabinet 3 and asecond hinge 6 having a third shaft (63, seeFIG. 19 ) provided in parallel to thefifth shaft 7100 and a second shaft (631, seeFIG. 19 ) provided in parallel to thefirst shaft 51. - The
second hinge 6 and thefourth hinge 7000 may define a pivot (H) that makes the door open with forming a predetermined angle with respect to a front surface of the cabinet 3 (an opening type shown inFIG. 17 (c) ). Thesecond hinge 6 and thefirst hinge 5 may form a pivot (V) that makes thedoor 4 open toward a lateral surface of the cabinet 3 (an opening state shown inFIG. 17 (b) ). - Accordingly, the
third shaft 63 of thesecond hinge 6 and thefifth shaft 7100 of thefourth hinge 7000 may be located at the same pivot (H). Thesecond shaft 651 of thesecond hinge 6 and thefirst shaft 51 of thefirst hinge 5 may be located at the same pivot (V). - In addition, the
fourth hinge 7000 and thefirst hinge 5 may be detachably provided in thedoor 4 and the detailed structure thereof will be described as follows. - First of all, the
second hinge 6 will be described in reference toFIG. 19 . - The
second hinge 6 may include acabinet securing part 61 secured to thecabinet 3 and adoor securing part 65 secured to thedoor 4. - In this case, the
door securing part 65 may be rotatably provided in thecabinet securing part 61 via thethird shaft 63 provided in parallel to the bottom surface of the cabinet. - In other words, the
cabinet securing part 61 may include acabinet securing plate 611 secured to thecabinet 3 and arotating plate 613 rotatably coupled to thecabinet securing plate 611 via thethird shaft 63, with thedoor securing part 65 coupled thereto. - The
door securing part 65 may include a securingpart connection plate 631 secured to therotating plate 613, thesecond shaft 651 fixed to the securingpart connection plate 631, in parallel to the bottom surface of thecabinet 3, and adoor securing plate 633 rotatably provided in the securingpart connection plate 631 by thesecond shaft 651, with being secured to thedoor 4. - In this case, the
second shaft 651 may be fixed to the securingpart connection plate 631 by ashaft fixing rib 637 and theshaft fixing rib 637 may not be bent, different fromFIG. 19 . - The
first hinge 5 may include the first shaft (51, which is fixed to thecabinet 3 to have the same pivot as that of the fourth shaft) provided in perpendicular to the bottom surface of thecabinet 3, with passing a center of thesecond shaft 651, and a firstshaft detaching part 53 provided in thedoor 4, with being detachable from thefirst shaft 51. - As shown in
FIG. 20 , the firstshaft detaching part 53 may include ahousing 532 provided in thedoor 4, a firstshaft receiving groove 531 provided in thehousing 532 to receive thefirst shaft 51 therein, a fixingbody 5330 having an end located in thehousing 532 and the other end located in the firstshaft receiving groove 531, and a fixing body elastically supportingpart 5340 located in thehousing 532 to elastically support the fixingbody 5330. - The
first shaft 51 may include cut-surfaces 511 provided in opposite (facing each other symmetrically) along a longitudinal direction. - In this case, the first
shaft receiving groove 531 may include a cut-surface receiving groove 5311 having a corresponding width to a distance between the cut-surfaces 511 of thefirst shaft 51 and acircular groove 5313 having a radius that is identical to a curvature (r) of a connectingsurface 513 connecting the cut-surfaces with each other. - The
circular groove 5313 may be connected to the cut-surface receiving groove 5311 and a diameter of thecircular groove 5313 may be longer than the distance between the cut-surfaces 511. - Thus, there may be an effect that the
first shaft 51 can be connected to or detached from the firstshaft detaching part 53 smoothly, when thedoor 4 is rotated on thethird shaft 63 and thefifth shaft 7100, and that the firstshaft detaching part 63 can be prevented from being separated from thefirst shaft 51, when thedoor 4 is rotated on thefirst shaft 51 and thesecond shaft 651. - In other words, when the
door 4 is rotated on thethird shaft 63 of the second hinge and thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge, a cut-away surface 511 of the third shaft maintains parallel to a cut-awaysurface receiving groove 5311. Accordingly, the firstshaft detaching part 53 may be detachable from thefirst shaft 51. - However, once the
door 4 starts to be rotated on thefirst shaft 51 and thesecond shaft 651 of the second hinge, the connectingsurface 513 of the first shaft may contact with thecircular groove 5313. Thefirst shaft 51 may be prevented from separated from the firstshaft receiving groove 531, because the diameter (2r) of thecircular groove 5313 is larger than the width (w) of the cut-surface receiving groove 5311. - In the meanwhile, at least one inclined surface may be provided in the first
shaft receiving groove 531 to guide thefirst shaft 51 to the cut-surface receiving groove 5311, when the firstshaft detaching part 53 is coupled to thefirst shaft 51.FIG. 20 illustrates a firstinclined surface 5381 and a secondinclined surface 5383. - The fixing
body 5330 may be means for supporting theshaft 51 received in thecircular groove 5313 may be supported by the fixing body elastically supportingpart 5340. - As a result, the fixing
body 5330 may be moved to thehousing 532, when thefirst shaft 51 is inserted in the cut-surface receiving groove 5311, and it may be exposed to the cut-surface receiving groove 5311, when thefirst shaft 51 is inserted in thecircular groove 5313, such that the fixingbody 5330 may be support thefirst shaft 51 to prevent thefirst shaft 51 from being separated from thecircular groove 5313. -
FIG. 21 illustrates another example of thefirst hinge 5 described above this example of thefirst hinge 5 may include afirst shaft 51 fixed to thecabinet 3 and a firstshaft detaching part 53 provided in thedoor 4, being detachable from thefirst shaft 4. - The first
shaft detaching part 53 may include ahousing 532 fixed to thedoor 4, a firstshaft receiving body 535 rotatably coupled to the housing and a receiving body elastically supportingpart 537 configured to elastically support the first shaft receiving body. - The first
shaft receiving body 535 may include a first shaft receiving groove (R1) to receive thefirst shaft 51 therein and afirst shaft guider 5353 to guide the first shaft toward the first shaft receiving groove (R1), when the first shaft is coupled to the first shaft detaching part. - In the meanwhile, the first shaft receiving groove (R1) may be formed by a
projection 5351 and thefirst shaft guider 5353, as shown inFIG. 21 . In this case, the length of thefirst shaft guider 5353 may be larger than the length of theprojection 5351. - The receiving body elastically supporting
part 537 may include apiston 5371 provided in thehousing 532, in contact with the firstshaft receiving body 535, and aspring 5373 configured to elastically support thepiston 5371. - In this case, at least one body inclined
surface 5355 may be provided in the firstshaft receiving body 535 to contact thepiston 5371 and thehousing 532, in case of rotating. Because of the body inclined surface, there may be an effect of controlling a rotational angle of the firstshaft receiving body 535 when thefirst shaft 51 is coupled to or separated from the firstshaft detaching part 53. - Also, the body inclined
surface 5355 may generate a sound when contacting with thepiston 5371 or thepiston 5371 in the rotation of the firstshaft receiving body 535, such that the user may be effectively informed of the completion of coupling or detaching between thefirst shaft 51 and the firstshaft detaching part 53. - In the meanwhile, the
laundry treating apparatus 100 may have a structure in that thesecond hinge 6 and thefirst hinge 5 may be selectively coupled to a right or left side of the door, to enable the user to change a rotational direction of thedoor 4 conveniently. - As shown in
FIG. 18 , theinner frame 41 provided in thedoor 4 may include twofirst securing parts 4321 provided at symmetrical positions with respect to a straight line (D) passing the center (G) of thedoor 4, respectively, to secure the firstshaft detaching part 53 thereto, and twosecond securing parts 4323 provided at other symmetrical positions with respect to the straight line (d) passing the center (G) of the door, respectively, to secure thedoor securing part 65 of thesecond hinge 6 thereto. Thecabinet 3 may include two first shaft securing parts (317, seeFIG. 17 (b) ) provided at corresponding positions to thefirst securing parts 4321, respectively, to secure thefirst shaft 51 of thefirst hinge 5 secured thereto, and two securing plate fastening parts (319, seeFIG. 17 (b) ) provided at corresponding positions to the second securing parts (4323, seeFIG. 18 ) to fasten thecabinet securing plate 611 of thesecond hinge 6 thereto. - In this case, the first detaching
part 53 of thefirst shaft 51 may be in parallel to thefirst shaft 61 of the first hinge, in symmetry with respect to a straight line (K1) passing a center of thefirst shaft 51. Also, the securingpart connection plate 631, thesecond shaft 651 and thedoor securing plate 633 may be in parallel to thethird shaft 63, in symmetry with respect to a straight line (k2) passing through a center of thesecond shaft 651. - As a result, in case the user is right-handed, the
second hinge 6 and thefirst hinge 5 may be located on the right side of the cabinet (as shown inFIG. 18 ). In case the user is left-handed, thesecond hinge 6 and thefirst hinge 5 may be located on the left side of thecabinet 3. - When the
second hinge 6 and thefirst hinge 5 are located on the left side of thecabinet 3 as shown inFIG. 18 , thesecond hinge 6 is rotated to change the upper and lower portions of the securingpart connection plate 631 shown inFIG. 19 to secure the securingpart connection plate 631 to therotation plate 613. After that, thesecond hinge 6 may secure the securingpart connection plate 631 to the securing part fastening portion (319, seeFIG. 17(b) ). - When the
second hinge 6 and thefirst hinge 5 are located on the left side of thecabinet 3 as shown inFIG. 18 , thefirst hinge 5 may be rotated to change thefirst shaft 51 ofFig. 20 up and down and it may be secured to the first shaft securing part (317, seeFIG. 17(b) ) located on the left side of thecabinet 3. Here, the firstshaft detaching part 53 ofFIG. 20 may be rotated to changed up and down and it may be secured to thefirst securing part 4321 located on the left side of theinner frame 41. - Meanwhile, a securing cover (4211, see
FIG. 18 ) may be further provided in theinner frame 41 to prevent exposure of the other one of thefirst securing parts 4321 without thefirst hinge 5 secured thereto. - As follows, the
fourth hinge 7000 provided in thelaundry treating apparatus 100 will be described in reference toFIG. 22 . - The
fourth hinge 7000 may be used as means for rotating thedoor 4 on the pivot (H) located in parallel to the bottom surface of thecabinet 3, together with thesecond hinge 6. - For that, the
fourth hinge 7000 may be provided in theouter frame 43 of the door. Thefourth hinge 7000 may include thefifth shaft 7100 having the same pivot as the pivot of thethird shaft 63 provided in thesecond hinge 6 and the cabinet detaching part configured to detachably couple thefifth shaft 7100 to thecabinet 3. - At least one
fourth hinge 7000 may be provided in thedoor 4 andFIG. 22 illustrates twofourth hinges 7000 are provided. - In the meanwhile, the cabinet detaching part may include a connecting
shaft 7300 provided in thefifth shaft 7100 and ashaft receiving part 7400 provided in thecabinet 3 to receive the connectingshaft 7300. - The connecting
shaft 7300 may be projected from an outer circumferential surface of thefifth shaft 7100 toward thecabinet 3, to be exposed outside the cover via theinner frame 41 of thedoor 4. - The
shaft receiving part 7400 may include a receivingbody 7410 fixed to thecabinet 3 and a receivinggroove 7430 provided in the receivingbody 7410 to receive the connectingshaft 7300 therein. - As a result, when the
door 4 opens theopening 37 after rotated on the pivot (V) passing the center of thesecond shaft 651 and thefirst shaft 51, thefifth shaft 7100 may be detached from thecabinet 3. However, when thedoor 4 closes theopening 37 after rotating on the pivot (H), the connectingshaft 7300 may be inserted in the receivinggroove 7430 to be secured to thecabinet 3. - Once the
fifth shaft 7100 is secured by the connectingshaft 7300 and theshaft receiving part 7400, thedoor 4 may rotate on the pivot (H, seeFIG. 18 ) passing the center of thethird shaft 63 of the first hinge and the center of thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge, to open thelaundry introduction opening 37. This is because thefirst shaft 51 of the third hinge can be detached from the firstshaft detaching part 53. - Meanwhile, the
fourth hinge 7000 may further include a door elastically supporting part configured to control the rotational speed of thedoor 4 when thedoor 4 is rotated to open theopening 37 and to reduce the force for rotating thedoor 4 when the door closes theopening 37. - The door elastically supporting part may be varied only if it can realize the function mentioned above and
FIG. 22 illustrates atorsion spring 7200 as the door elastically supporting part. - When the
torsion spring 7200 is provided as the door elastically supporting part, thetorsion spring 7200 may be provided in thedoor 4 and an end of thetorsion spring 7200 may be fixed to thefifth shaft 7100 and the other end thereof may be fixed to thedoor 4. - For that, a
spring holder 4313 fixed to theouter frame 43 may be further provided in thedoor 4. - Moreover, the
fourth hinge 7000 may further include an angle adjusting part configured to adjust the rotational angle of thedoor 4 when thedoor 4 rotates on thethird shaft 63 of the second hinge and thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge (when the door rotates on the pivot (H)). - The angle adjusting part may include at least one of first and second
angle adjusting parts angle adjusting parts - As shown in
FIG. 23 , the firstangle adjusting part 7500 may include afirst adjusting plate 7510 fixed to thefifth shaft 7100 and afirst detaching part 7530 provided in the door to be coupled to thefirst adjusting plate 7510 to secure the position of thedoor 4. - The
first adjusting plate 7510 may have a fastening part fastened to thefirst detaching part 7530 and the fastening part may be configured of a plurality of recesses concavely recessed from an outer circumferential surface of thefirst adjusting plate 7510 or a plurality of projections projected from the outer circumferential surface of thefirst adjusting plate 7510. - If the fastening part is the plurality of the recesses, the
first detaching part 7530 may be formed to be inserted in one of the recesses. If the fastening part is the plurality of the projections, thefirst detaching part 7530 may be formed to receive one of the projections. - If the case of providing the plurality of the recesses as the fastening part is adapted, the fastening part may include a
first groove 7511 and asecond recess 7512 curvedly recessed from the outer circumferential surface of thefirst adjusting plate 7510. - In this case, the
second recess 7512 may be spaced apart a predetermined angle from thefirst recess 7511.FIG. 23 illustrates the angle between thefirst recess 7511 and thesecond recess 7512 is 30 degrees. - In the meanwhile, the
first detaching part 7530 may include afirst body 7531 in contact with the outer circumferential surface of thefirst adjusting plate 7510 and a first body elastically supportingpart 7533 having an end fixed to thedoor 4 and the other end fixed to thefirst body 7531 to elastically support the first body. - The first body elastically supporting
part 7533 may enable thefirst body 7531 to maintain contact with the surface of thefirst adjusting plate 7510, even when thefirst body 7531 is moved together with the door during the rotation of thedoor 4. - In case of the
door 4 closing the opening 37 (seeFIG. 17(a) ), thefirst body 7531 may be received in thefirst recess 7511. Unless an external force is applied to thedoor 4 via the first handle (311, seeFIG. 17 ), thefirst body 7531 may prevent thedoor 4 from being rotated on thethird shaft 63 of the second hinge and thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge (SeeFIG. 24(a) ). - Also, even when the
door 4 opens theopening 37 by the external force applied thereto via thefirst handle 4311, thefirst body 7531 may be inserted in thesecond recess 7512 and thedoor 4 may then maintain the rotated state on thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge at 30 degrees (seeFIG. 24(b) ). - As a result, the opening angle of the
door 4 may adjusted by the firstangle adjusting part 7500. - Moreover, the
torsion spring 7200 provided in thefourth hinge 7000 may provide an elastic force capable of locating thefirst body 7531 within an angle range of more than 30 degrees to 90 degrees or less from thefirst recess 7511, when thedoor 4 is rotated on thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge. - This is to realize the effect of securing the
door 4 being rotated 30 to 90 degrees with respect to the fifth shaft of the fourth hinge (SeeFIG. 24(c) ). - In the meanwhile, the end of the
torsion spring 7200 may be fixed to thespring holder 4313 and the other end thereof may be insertedly fixed to thespring fixing hole 7513 provided in thefirst adjusting plate 7510. - As a result, the
door 4 provided in thelaundry treating apparatus 100 may be open to 30 degrees with respect to the fifth shaft 7100 (this is enabled by the first angle adjusting part), to more than 30 degrees to less than 90 degrees (for example, 60 degrees and this is enabled by the torsion spring) or to 90 degrees. - When the laundry placed on the
door 4 opened 30 degrees or 60 degrees with respect to thefifth shaft 7100, the laundry can be loaded into the accommodating room (R) naturally and the user may not bend his or her waist to load the laundry. - Also, when the
door 4 is open at 90 degrees with respect to thefifth shaft 7100, thedoor 4 may be used as a shelf and the user may place the laundry unloaded from the accommodating room (R) temporarily (seeFIG. 24(d) ). - In the meanwhile, when the
door 4 is utilized as a shelf (when thedoor 4 is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the fifth shaft 7100), an external force generated by the weight of the laundry will be concentrated on thefourth hinge 7000 and thesecond hinge 6. - As a result, to prevent breakage of the
second hinge 6 and thefourth hinge 7000, a door supporting part 313 projected toward thedoor 4 may be further provided in thecabinet 3. A supporting part receiving recess 4325 may be further provided in thedoor 4 to receive the door supporting part 313 (seeFIG. 18 ). - In this case, the door supporting part 313 may be provided at a predetermined position to support the
inner frame 41 of thedoor 4, when thedoor 4 is rotated 90 degrees on the fifth shaft 7100 (seeFIG. 18(b) ). - The second
angle adjusting part 7600 may be further provided in thefourth hinge 7000 and it may be means for fixing the position of thedoor 4 rotated a predetermined angle on thefifth shaft 7100. - In other words, the
laundry treating apparatus 100 mentioned above may secure the position of thedoor 4 by using thefirst adjusting plate 7510 and thefirst detaching part 7530 provided in the firstangle adjusting part 7500 of thefourth hinge 7000. However, when an external force (for example, the weight of the laundry and the like) is applied to thedoor 4, there might be danger of failing to maintain the position of thedoor 4. - The second
angle adjusting part 7600 may be means for prevent the danger mentioned above. As shown inFIG. 25 , the secondangle adjusting part 7600 may include asecond adjusting plate 7610 provided in thefifth shaft 7100 and asecond detaching part 7630 provided in thedoor 4, in contact with thesecond adjusting plate 7610. - The
second detaching part 7630 may include asecond body 7631 provided in the door, in contact with an outer circumferential surface of thesecond adjusting plate 7610, a second body elastic supportingpart 7633 having an end fixed to thedoor 4 and the other end thereof fixed to thesecond body 7631. - In this case, a
stopper 7611 may be provided in the outer circumferential surface of thesecond adjusting plate 7610 to be coupled to thesecond body 7631, when thefirst body 7531 of thefirst detaching part 7531 is coupled to thesecond recess 7512 of the firstangle adjusting part 7500. - As a result, when the
door 4 is rotated 30 degrees on thefifth shaft 7100, thefirst body 7531 may be inserted in thesecond recess 7511 as shown inFIG. 26(b) and thesecond body 7631 may contact with thestopper 7611, such that the open angle of approximately 90 degrees may be maintained even if the external force is applied to thedoor 4. - Also, the
door 4 may maintain a state of being open 60 degrees on thefifth shaft 7100 by the elastic force of thetorsion spring 7200. When the weight of thedoor 4 is larger than the elastic force of the torsion spring 7200 (when the door is rotated 60 degrees or more on the second shaft), the door may maintain a state of being open 90 degrees or more on thefifth shaft 7100. - Here, a
lifter 4350 may be further provided in thedoor 4 to release the coupling between thesecond body 7631 and thestopper 7611 to open the door 60 degrees (a representative value of the door rotation angles in the range of more than 30 degrees to less than 90 degrees) or 90 degrees. - The
lifter 4350 may have a structure shown inFIG. 25 . - In other words, the
lifter 4350 may include apressing part 4351 provided in thedoor 4, alever 4353 rotatably provided in theinner frame 41 of thedoor 4 via alever rotation shaft 4351, with an end in contact with thepressing part 4351, and awire 4355 having an end fixed to thelever 4353 and the other end fixed to thesecond body 7631 of thesecond detaching part 7630. - In this case, the
pressing part 4351 may be located in the first handle (4311, seeFIG. 17(c) ) provided in thedoor 4. - As a result, when trying to rotate the
door 4, that is open 3 degrees on thefifth shaft 7100, 60 degrees or 90 degrees, the user may release the coupling between thesecond body 7631 and thestopper 7611 by using thepressing part 4351 and thewire 4355 located in thefirst handle 4311. - In other words, when the
pressing part 4351 is pressed by the user, the lever may be rotated on thelever rotation shaft 4531 and the wire fixed to the end of thelever 4353 may detach thesecond body 7631 of thesecond detaching part 7630 from thestopper 7611. - In the meanwhile, the cabinet detaching part provided in the
fourth hinge 7000 may have a structure shown inFIGS. 27 and28 . - The cabinet detaching part shown in
FIGS. 27 and 27 may have a characteristic of having no resistance transmitted from thetorsion spring 7200 while thedoor 4 is rotated a predetermined angle on thethird shaft 63 of the second hinge and thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge. - This characteristic is configured to improve user convenience and it may enable the
door 4 to be rotated 30 degrees on thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge, which is very efficient in loading the laundry into the accommodating room (R). - The cabinet detaching part shown in
FIG. 27(a) has a characteristic of a gap (g) formed between the receivinggroove 7430 provided in theshaft receiving part 7400 and the connectingshaft 7300. - In other words, the thickness (t) of the connecting
shaft 7300 may be smaller than the height (h) of the receivinggroove 7430. In this case, the thickness (t) of the connectingshaft 7300 and the height (h) of the receiving groove may be set to enable the connectingshaft 7300 to contact with the receivinggroove 7430 when the door rotated 30 to 40 degrees on thefifth shaft 7100. - Moreover, a receiving
groove projection 7431 may be provided in the receivinggroove 7430 to secure the coupling between the connectingshaft 7300 and the receivinggroove 7430. A connectingshaft projection 7310 may be provided in the connectingshaft 7300 to be coupled to the receivinggroove projection 7431. - As a result, the
door 4 may be rotated on thefifth shaft 7100 in the angle range of 30 to 40 degrees, with no interference of thetorsion spring 7200, and it may be slowly getting open in an angle range of more than 40 degrees, with the interference of thetorsion spring 7200. - The reason why the
door 4 is getting open with the interference of thetorsion spring 7200 in the angle range of more than 40 degrees is that breakage of thesecond hinge 6 and thefourth hinge 7000 generated by the weight of the door has to be prevented when thedoor 4 is rotated rapidly. -
FIG. 28 illustrates an embodiment that realizes the effects mentioned above with the fixing structure of thetorsion spring 7200. - In other words, the torsion
spring fixing hole 7513 may be provided in thefifth shaft 7100 of thefourth hinge 7000 and an end of a torsion spring is fixed to the torsion spring fixing hole 1513. Ahole projection 7515 may be provided in an inner circumferential surface of the torsionspring fixing hole 7513 to secure the position of thetorsion spring 7200. - Accordingly, when the
door 4 rotates on thefifth shaft 7100, the torsion spring is connected to aspring holder 4313 of which an end is fixed to the door, only to rotate together with thedoor 4. - Meanwhile, the other end of the
torsion spring 7200 inserted in thespring fixing hole 7513 may be rotated along the inner circumferential surface of thespring fixing hole 7513 until it contacts with thehole projection 7515. - As a result, if the position of the
hole projection 7515 is provided to support thetorsion spring 7200 when thedoor 4 is rotated 30 to 40 degrees on thefifth shaft 7100, the same effect may be expected as the effect of the embodiment shown inFIG. 27 . -
FIG. 28 illustrates a case in that an auxiliaryspring fixing hole 7513 is provided in the second shaft 72. If thespring fixing hole 7513 ofFIG. 28 is applied to the embodiment shown inFIG. 23 orFIG. 25 , thespring fixing hole 7513 ofFIG. 28 may be provided in each of the first andsecond adjusting plates - In the above structure of providing the restitution force to the
door 4 by using thetorsion spring 7200, there might be danger of thefifth shaft 7100 getting out of its original position when thedoor 4 is rotated. - In other words, the end of the
torsion spring 7200 may be fixed to the door by thespring holder 4313 and the other end of the torsion spring may be fixed to thefifth shaft 7100. Because of that, when thedoor 4 is rotated on thefifth shaft 7100, an external force generated by thetorsion spring 7200 might be applied to thefifth shaft 7100 and thefifth shaft 7100 might fail to maintain an original position. - To prevent the danger mentioned above, the
door 4 may further include a fifthshaft supporting rib 436 provided therein to support thefifth shaft 7100 and a rib elastically supportingpart 437 having an end fixed to thedoor 4 and the other end fixed to the fifthshaft supporting rib 436. -
FIGS. 29 and30 illustrate that the fifthshaft detaching part 315 detachably secures thefifth shaft 7100 of the fourth hinge to thecabinet 3, when thedoor 4 is rotated on thefirst shaft 51 and thesecond shaft 651. - The fifth
shaft detaching part 315 may include acase 3151 fixed to thecabinet 3 and a fifthshaft receiving body 3153 rotatably provided in thecase 3151 to detach thefifth shaft 7100 there from. - In this case, a receiving body through
hole 327 may be further provided in theinner frame 41 of thedoor 4, to enable the fifthshaft receiving body 3153 to be inserted in the door. - In the meanwhile, the fifth
shaft receiving body 3153 may include a fifth shaft receiving groove (R2) configured to receive thefifth shaft 7100 and afifth shaft guider 31533 configured to guide thefifth shaft 7100 toward the second shaft receiving groove (R2). - In other words, the fifth shaft receiving groove (R2) may be formed by
projections 31531 provided in both opposite ends of the fifthshaft receiving body 3153 and thefifth shaft guider 31533. Here, the length of thefifth shaft guider 31533 may be larger than the length of theprojection 31531. - As a result, the
laundry treating apparatus 100 including the fifthshaft detaching part 315 may realize an effect of coupling thefifth shaft 7100 to thecabinet 3 more stably by the cabinet detaching part of the second hinge. - As follows, a structure of a dryer according to a further embodiment will be described.
- In reference to
FIGS. 31 and32 , adryer 2 according to this embodiment may include adryer cabinet 21 having a drying room (20a) formed therein to dry drying objects (not shown) therein. Here, thedrying room 20a may be a predetermined space where a drum rotated at a rotation speed set in a preset drying condition is arranged and an opening of the drying room may be exposed to outside by a drying object introduction opening 20 formed in a lateral surface of thecabinet 21. - The drying object introduction opening 20 may be opened and closed by a
door 200 formed in a rectangular plate shape. A window may be installed in a center portion of thedoor 200 to enable thedrying room 20a to be visible outside. - The
door 200 may be multi-hingedly coupled to thecabinet 210 by a hinge unit and it may be selectively rotated to be open and closed along different directions. - As shown in
FIGS. 31 and36 , thedoor 200 may be selectively open and closed along a vertical (an up and down direction) or horizontal direction (a right and left direction). - Here, the hinge unit configured to rotatably open and close the
door 200 along the vertical or horizontal direction will be described. - The hinge unit may include a horizontal hinge part configured to open and close the door horizontally and a vertical hinge part configured to vertically open and close the
door 200. In the meanwhile, an area adjacent to the drying object introduction opening 20 formed in thecabinet 21 may be stepped from an outer circumferential surface of thecabinet 210 and aguide plate 22 may be formed in the stepped portion to be in close contact with an inner surface of an outside of thedoor 200. - In reference to
FIGS. 32 to 35 , the vertical hinge part may include a second hookingmember 120 installed in a predetermined portion of a lower end adjacent to the drying object introduction opening 20, with being vertically rotatable and hinge-connected and with asecond hook 122 formed therein to insert and detach asecond shaft 221 of thesecond hinge 220 installed in a lower end of the door, which will be described later, therein and there from, arotation hole member 130 installed in the other lower end adjacent to the drying object introduction opening 20, with a rotationhole member body 131 to form arotation hole 132 therein, androtation member 230 installed in the other lower end of thedoor 200, with a spherical-shapedrotation ball 230 formed therein to be inserted in therotation hole 132 to freely rotate and with arotation member body 231 fixed to a lower end of the door. - As shown in
FIGS. 32 and36 , a single hooking projection or a plurality of hookingprojections 250 may be formed in thedoor 200. A single hooking groove or a plurality of hooking grooves 23 may be formed in theguide plate 22 consisting of thecabinet 21 near the drying object introduction opening 20 to insertedly hook the single one or the plurality of the hookingprojections 250 thereto. - In the meanwhile, a vertical opening/closing angle of the
door 200 may form a perpendicular angle or less. - A horizontal opening/closing angle of the
door 200 may be a preset single value or a plurality of values selectively. - In this case, in reference to
FIGS. 33a to 33c , the second hookingmember 120 may include arotation shaft 120a having fixingholes 120b formed in an outer circumferential surface thereof, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, a supportingbody 121 hingedly connected to therotation shaft 120a, with a surface fixed to theguide plate 22, and arotation body 120 hingedly connected to therotation shaft 120a, with a fixingprojection member 124 formed an end thereof to elastically inserted and detached in and from the fixinghole 120b and with thesecond hook 123 projected outwardly there from. - Here, in reference to
FIGS. 33b and 33c , the fixingprojection member 124 may include a fixing holes 120b spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other along a circumferential direction of therotation shaft 120a, ahole 124c formed in an inner circumferential surface of an insertingbody 122a formed in therotation body 120 to insert therotation shaft 120a therein, aspring 124b installed in thehole 124c, and a fixingball 124a connected to thespring 124b to be inserted in one of the fixingholes 120b. - As a result, when the
rotation body 122 is rotated, the fixingball 124a may be inserted in one of the fixing holes 2120b and an opening/closing angle of the door with respect to theguide plate 22 may be maintained. - In reference to
FIGS. 37 to 39 , the horizontal hinge part may include afirst hook body 111 installed in an upper end portion of theguide plate 22 adjacent to the drying object introduction opening 20, with afirst hook body 111 having afirst hook 112 formed therein, afirst hinge member 210 installed in an upper end portion of thedoor 200, with afirst rotation shaft 211 inserted in and detached from thefirst hook 112, and asecond hinge member 220 installed in a lower end portion of thedoor 200, with asecond rotation shaft 221. Here, thesecond rotation shaft 221 may be rotated, with being hooked to thesecond hook 123 of the second hookingmember 120 mentioned above. - Next, the rotational opening/closing operation of the door along a vertical or horizontal direction will be described in reference to the configuration described above.
- [Vertical Opening/closing of Door]
- In reference to
FIGS. 31 to 35 , when the door is vertically opened and closed, thedoor 200 may be rotated to be open and closed on a lower end thereof as a pivot. In other words, both lower ends of the door may be rotated. - In detail, in reference to
FIGS. 32 ,34a and 34b , therotation ball 232 of therotation member 230 provided in the other end of thedoor 200 inserted in therotation hole 132 provided in the other end of theguide plate 22 may perform free rotation. In reference toFIGS. 33a and 33b , thesecond rotation shaft 221 of thesecond hinge member 220 provided in the end of thedoor 200 may be insertedly hooked to thesecond hook 123 of the second hookingmember 120 hingedly provided in the end of theguide plate 22 and it may perform vertical rotation. - The
door 200 may be rotated on the pivot passing the lower end of the door to be opened and closed vertically. - When the
door 200 which can be vertically opened and closed closes the drying object introduction opening 20 airtight, thedoor 200 may maintain the airtight state (the closed state). - In other words, as shown in
FIG. 35 , thefirst rotation shaft 211 of thefirst hinge member 210 provided in the upper end of thedoor 200 may be insertedly hooked to thefirst hook 112 of the first hookingmember 110 formed in the end of theguide plate 22. In reference toFIG. 36 , the plurality of the hookingprojections 250 provided inner surface of thedoor 200 may be hooked to the plurality of the hooking grooves 23 formed in theguide plate 22 and thedoor 200 may maintain the closed state. - [Horizontal Opening/closing Operation of Door]
- In reference to
FIGS. 36 to 40 , when thedoor 200 is horizontally opened and closed, a lateral side of the door may be a pivot of the door rotation to open and close the door horizontally. - more specifically, the
first rotation shaft 211 of thefirst hinge member 210 provided in the upper end of thedoor 200 may be rotated in a state of being insertedly hooked to thefirst hook 112 of the first hookingmember 110 provided in the upper end of theguide plate 22. Also, as shown inFIGS. 33a and38 , thesecond rotation shaft 221 of thesecond hinge member 220 provided in the lower end of thedoor 200 may be rotated in a state of being insertedly hooked to thesecond hook 123 of the second hookingmember 120 provided in the lower end of the guide plate. As a result, the first andsecond rotation shafts - As a result, the
door 200 may be rotated on the pivot passing the lateral side of thedoor 200 to be horizontally opened and closed. - When the horizontally openable and
closable door 200 closes the drying object introduction opening 20 airtight, thedoor 200 may maintain the airtight state (the closed state). - In other words, as mentioned above, the
first rotation shaft 211 of thefirst hinge member 210 provided in the upper end of thedoor 200 may be insertedly hooked to thefirst hook 112 of the first hookingmember 110 formed in the upper end of theguide plate 22. Also, as shown inFIG. 36 , the plurality of the hookingprojections 250 provided in the inner lateral surface of thedoor 200 may be hooked to the plurality of the hooking grooves 23 formed in theguide plate 22, such that thedoor 200 may maintain the closed state. - As follows, a laundry treating apparatus configured of the
dryer 2 having the configuration mentioned above and thewasher 1 connected with each other will be described. - In reference to
FIG. 31 , aconventional washer 1 may include awasher cabinet 10 having a washing room formed therein. A washing object introduction opening 12 may be formed in an upper portion of thecabinet 10, to expose the washing room outside upwardly and acover 11 may be coupled to the washing object introduction opening 12 to open and close theopening 12. - The
dryer 2 according to the embodiment mentioned above may be installed next to thewasher cabinet 10. Here, thewasher cabinet 10 and thedryer cabinet 21 may be integrally formed with each other or they may be connected with each other by auxiliary connection means (not shown). - In reference to the configuration described above, washing objects may be loaded into the washing room via the washing
object introduction opening 12. In other words, the washing objects may be loaded along a vertical (up and down) path. - The washing objects may be unloaded via the washing object introduction opening 12 along the vertical path, after a washing process including a washing cycle and a spinning cycle.
- Hence, the washed washing objects may be loaded into the
dryer 2 as the drying objects to have the drying process. - At this time, the drying objects may be loaded into the drying room via the drying object introduction opening 20 exposed outside by the opening of the
door 200 coupled to the lateral surface of thedryer cabinet 21 according to the embodiment. - At this time, the
door 200 may be rotated to be open and closed on the lower end thereof as the pivot. When the drying objects are loaded into thedrying room 20a, the door may be opened in state of being tilted downwardly. Here, the vertical opening/closing structure and method of thedoor 200 is described above and the description thereof will be omitted accordingly. - When the
door 200 is rotated in a state of forming a preset opening/closing angle downwardly, the inner surface of thedoor 200 may form a tilted slope. - As a result, the drying objected washed in the
washer 1 may fall from the upper portion of the tiltedlyopen door 200 and the falling drying objects may be introduced into thedrying room 20a via the drying object introduction opening 20 along the inner surface of thedoor 200 tilted toward the drying object introduction opening 20 smoothly. - In other words, the reason why the
door 200 opened and closed vertically is rotated downwardly to form the tilted angle is to guide the drying objects toward the drying object introduction opening 20 along the inner surface of the tilteddoor 200 smoothly. - Although not shown in the drawings, a guide partition wall may be further formed in each side portion of the inner surface of the
door 200 to guide the drying objects sliding toward the drying object introduction opening 20, without falling outside. When thedoor 200 is closed, an inserting hole may be formed in theguide plate 22 to insert therein the guide partition wall projected from each side portion of the inner surface of thedoor 200. - After the drying objects are loaded into the
drying room 20a according to the sliding method along the downward direction, thedoor 200 may be closed to close the drying object introduction opening 20 airtight. - The
dryer 2 may perform drying for the drying objects loaded in thedrying room 20a according to set drying conditions. - After the drying, the drying objects may be unloaded outside via the drying
object introduction opening 20. - At this time, referring to
FIG. 36 , thedoor 200 according to the embodiment may be rotated to be open and closed along the horizontal direction. Because of that, the door may be opened along the horizontal direction in case of unloading the drying objects. - As a result, in case of unloading the dried objects, the user may unload the dried objects located in the
drying room 20a via the drying object introduction opening 20 smoothly. -
FIG. 41 is a perspective view illustrating a laundry treating apparatus according to a still further embodiment. Thelaundry treating apparatus 100 according to the embodiment may include acabinet 3 having a laundry accommodating room (R) and a laundry introduction opening 37 configured to introduce the laundry into the laundry accommodating room, adoor 4 configured to open and close theopening 37, and ahinge unit - The
cabinet 3 may define a profile of the laundry treating apparatus and the laundry introduction opening 37 may be provided through anouter panel 33 provided in a side of the cabinet to communicate with the laundry accommodating room (R). - A locking
projection receiving part 39 may be provided in theouter panel 33 to receive a lockingprojection 47 provided in thedoor 4. The lockingprojection 47 of thedoor 4 may be received in the lockingprojection receiving part 39 provided in the cabinet, such that thedoor 4 may open and close the laundry introduction opening. - In the meanwhile, a
control panel 31 may be provided on thecabinet 3 to enable a user to input a control command to the laundry treating apparatus. - The
hinge unit opening 37 and a second pivot (B) to rotate thedoor 4 to open and close theopening 37 along a different direction from a direction of the first pivot (A). - The first pivot may be formed by a
first hinge 5 and asecond hinge 6. The second pivot may be formed by thesecond hinge 6 and athird hinge 7. - In
FIG. 41 , the first pivot (A) may be formed along a longitudinal direction of the cabinet 3 (A vertical pivot) and the second pivot (B) may be formed along a width direction of the cabinet (A horizontal pivot). However, the location of the first pivot and the location of the second pivot may not be limited to what shown inFIG. 2 necessarily. - In other words, the first pivot and the second pivot may be located at various positions of the cabinet only if they enable the door to be rotated in various directions to open the opening (only if the first pivot and the second pivot form a preset angle).
- Here, as shown in
FIG. 31 (b) , the second pivot may be provided along the width direction of the cabinet to enable the door to be tilted with respect to a lower end of theopening 37. In this case, there may be an effect of efficient laundry loading caused by adjusting a tilting angle of the door, which will be described later. - The
door 4 may include aninner frame 43 provided toward theouter panel 33 and anouter frame 41 coupled to the inner frame to from a profile of thedoor 4. - The door may further include a
transparent part 45 insertedly provided in theopening 37. Thetransparent part 45 may prevent the laundry located in the laundry accommodating room (R) from coming out through the laundry introduction opening and it may also allow the user to see the laundry accommodating room (R) during the operation of the laundry treating apparatus. - As follows, the coupling structure between the hinge unit and the door according to this embodiment will be described in detail in reference to
FIG. 42 . - The
inner frame 43 and thetransparent part 45 are omitted from the door shown inFIG. 42 for the description of the coupling structure between the hinge unit and the door. - The hinge unit may include a
first hinge 5 having a first shaft consisting of a first pivot (A) to couple and detach the door to and from thecabinet 3, asecond hinge 6 having a second shaft consisting of the first pivot (A) together with the first shaft and a third shaft consisting of a second pivot (B), and athird hinge 7 having a fourth shaft consisting of the second pivot (B) together with the third shaft to couple and detach thedoor 4 to and from thecabinet 3. - In other words, the
second hinge 6 may be secured to the cabinet and the door. Thefirst hinge 5 and thethird hinge 7 may selectively couple thedoor 4 to the cabinet. - As a result, the
door 4 may be rotated on the first pivot (A) based on the user's selecting, to open and close the opening 37 (seeFIG. 41 (a) ) or it may be rotated on the second pivot (B) to open and close the opening (seeFIG. 41 (b) ). - The
first hinge 5 may include the first shaft provided in either of thecabinet 3 and thedoor 4 and a firstshaft detaching part 53 provided in the other one of the cabinet and the door, to detach the first shaft there from. -
FIG. 42 illustrates thefirst shaft 51 provided in theouter panel 33 of the cabinet and the firstshaft detaching part 53 provided in the door. - The
first shaft 51 may be located in a right upper end of theouter panel 33, to form the first pivot (A). - The first
shaft detaching part 53 may include ashaft receiving groove 531 to receive thefirst shaft 51 therein, a groove opening/closing part 533 to open and close the shaft receiving groove, an opening/closing part elastically supportingpart 535 to elastically support the groove opening/closing part. The opening/closing part elastically supportingpart 535 may be received in the groove opening/closing part 533 inFIG. 43 . Thefirst shaft 51 and the firstshaft detaching part 53 will be described later in reference toFIG. 43 . - The
second hinge 6 may include asecond shaft 651 provided corresponding to the first shaft of thefirst hinge 5 to form the first pivot (A) and athird shaft 63 forming the second pivot (B). - In detail, the
second hinge 6 may be provided an intersection between the first pivot (A) and the second pivot (B). Thesecond hinge 6 may include acabinet securing part 61 secured to theouter panel 33 and adoor securing part 65 secured to thedoor 4, with being rotatably connected to thecabinet securing part 61 via thethird shaft 63. - The
second shaft 651 may be provided in thedoor securing part 65 and thedoor 4 may be rotatably secured thesecond shaft 651. - As a result, the
door 4 may be rotatable on the first pivot (A) formed by thefirst shaft 51 and thesecond shaft 651. - In the meanwhile, the
door securing part 65 may be connected to thecabinet securing part 61 by thethird shaft 63 forming the second pivot (B). - The
second hinge 6 may further include ahinge supporter 653 having an end located in the cabinet and the other end connected with thedoor securing part 65 to be movable forwardly from the cabinet. Thehinge supporter 653 may be extended from thedoor securing part 65 backwardly and downwardly, with forming a gentle curvature. - The
hinge supporter 653 may be configured to adjust an opening angle of the door when thedoor 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B) to open theopening 37 and it may be coupled to a door tilting adjusting part (8, seeFIG. 44 ) which will be described later. - In the meanwhile, the
hinge supporter 653 may include ahinge supporter flange 657 to prevent thehinge supporter 653 from separated from the cabinet (the outer panel), when thedoor 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B). - The
third hinge 7 may include ashaft forming part 71 fixed to either of theouter panel 33 and the door and ashaft detaching part 73 provided in other one of them, with the shaft forming part being detachable there from. -
FIG. 42 illustrates the shaft forming part provided in theouter panel 33 and theshaft detaching part 73 provided in thedoor 4. As follows, the structure of the third hinge according to the embodiment will be described. - The
shaft forming part 71 may include abody 711 fixed to theouter panel 33 and afourth shaft 713 projected from thebody 711 to form the second pivot (B) together with thethird shaft 63. - The
shaft detaching part 73 may include a fourthshaft receiving groove 731 located between theouter frame 41 and theinner frame 33 to receive the fourth shaft therein and a fourthshaft supporting projection 733 configured to support thefourth shaft 713 received in the fourthshaft receiving groove 731. - As a result, when the
door 4 is rotated on the first pivot (A) toward theouter panel 33, thefourth shaft 713 may be received in the fourthshaft receiving groove 731 and supported by the fourthshaft supporting projection 733 after that. - The laundry treating apparatus having the configuration mentioned above may enable the user to rotate the
door 4 on the first pivot (A) or the second pivot (B). - In other words, in the state of the door closing the
opening 37, thefirst shaft 51 of the first hinge may be inserted in theshaft receiving groove 731 provided in the first shaft detaching part and thefourth shaft 713 of the third hinge may be inserted in the fourthshaft receiving groove 731 of the shaft detaching part. - As a result, when the user pulls the lateral surface (S) of the
door 4, thefourth shaft 713 may be detached from theshaft detaching part 73 and it may be rotated on the first pivot (A). When the user pulls the top surface (T) of thedoor 4, thefirst shaft 51 may be detached from the firstshaft detaching part 53 and it may be rotated on the second pivot (B). - In the meanwhile, when the door is rotated on the second pivot (B), the
third hinge 7 may further include adoor supporter 75 to adjust an opening angle of thedoor 4. - An end of the
door supporter 75 may be located in the cabinet and the other end thereof may be detachably provided in theshaft detaching part 73. - A
flange 754 may be provided at the end of the door supporter located in the cabinet, to prevent thedoor supporter 75 from separated from the cabinet (the outer panel) when the door is rotated on the second pivot (B). A detachingshaft 751 may be provided in the door supporter to be detachable from theshaft detaching part 73. - In this case, the
shaft detaching part 73 may further include a detachingshaft receiving groove 735 to receive the detachingshaft 751 and a detachingshaft supporting projection 737 to support the detachingshaft 751 received in the detaching shaft receiving groove. - Moreover, the
shaft detaching part 73 may further include a supporting projection elastically supporting part (739, seeFIG. 44 ) to elastically support the fourthshaft supporting projection 733 and the detachingshaft supporting projection 737. - The
door supporter 75 and thehinge supporter 653 may enable the doortilting adjusting part 8 provided in thecabinet 3 to control the opening angle of thedoor 4, when thedoor 4 is rotated on the second pivot. - Adjusting the opening angle of the door when the
door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B) may realize an effect of smoothly loading the laundry into thelaundry treating apparatus 100 which is configured to dry laundry. - The
laundry treating apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is installed adjacent to the laundry treating apparatus only for washing will be described. - It will be very efficient to load the laundry into the laundry accommodating room (R), if the door is opened 30 to 60 degrees on the second pivot (B) when the user is moving the washed laundry to dry to the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment.
- Especially, if the laundry treating apparatus only for washing is a top loading type capable of loading or unloading laundry via a top thereof, the effect mentioned above may be maximized.
- A
supporter projection 753 and ahinge supporter projection 655 detachable from the doortilting adjusting part 8 may be provided in thedoor supporter 75 and thehinge supporter 653, respectively, to be coupled to the doortilting adjusting part 8 to enable the doortilting adjusting part 8 to adjust the opening angle of the door. -
FIG. 43 illustrates the motion of the first hinge applied to the embodiment. As follows, the motion of the first hinge will be described in reference toFIG. 43 . - In
FIG. 43(a) , thedoor 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B). Because of that, thefirst shaft 51 may not be received in theshaft receiving groove 531 and it may be located outside theshaft receiving groove 531, not in theshaft receiving groove 531. - The
first shaft 51 may be a D-cut circular-section pole. Here, the D-cut circular section pole means that a cut-surface is provided in each of opposite ends of an outer circumferential surface of the first shaft or an end of the outer circumferential surface. -
FIG. 43(b) illustrates that thedoor 4 closes theopening 37 airtight and thefirst shaft 51 may be received in theshaft receiving groove 531. - When the
first shaft 51 is received in theshaft receiving groove 531 in the state shown inFIG. 43(a) , the cut-surface of thefirst shaft 51 may press the opening/closing part elastically supportingpart 535 of the groove opening/closing part 533. In other words, while the first shaft is getting inserted in theshaft receiving groove 531, the opening/closing part elastically supportingpart 535 may be compressed. Once thefirst shaft 51 is completely inserted in theshaft receiving groove 531, the opening/closing part elastically supportingpart 535 may be restituted and thefirst shaft 51 may be stopped from being separated from theshaft receiving groove 531 by a predetermined force as shown inFIG. 43(b) . - In other words, when the door is rotated to close the
opening 37 in the state of opening theopening 37 after rotated on the second pivot (B) (seeFIG. 41 (b) andFIG. 43(a) ), the firstshaft detaching part 53 provided in the door may be moved toward thefirst shaft 51 and the first shaft may be inserted in theshaft receiving groove 531 of the first shaft detaching part, to change the state into the state shown inFIG. 43(b) . - In this case, an entrance of the
shaft receiving groove 531 where the first shaft is inserted may have a corresponding shape to the shape of thefirst shaft 51. When thedoor 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B) to close theopening 37, thefirst shaft 51 may be inserted in theshaft receiving groove 531. However, when the door is rotated on the first pivot (A) after the first shaft is inserted in the shaft receiving groove, thefirst shaft 51 may be prevented from separated from theshaft receiving groove 531. -
FIG. 43(c) illustrates thedoor 4 rotated on the first pivot (A). - When the
door 4 is rotated on the first pivot (A) in the state ofFIG. 43(b) , thefirst shaft 51 installed in thedoor 4 may not be rotated but maintain the state. However, the firstshaft detaching part 53 may be rotated along thedoor 4 and thefirst shaft 51 may be rotated a predetermined angle within theshaft receiving groove 531 accordingly. At this time, the opening/closing part elastically supportingpart 535 may elastically support the groove opening/closing part 533. Because of that, thefirst shaft 51 may be rotated within theshaft receiving groove 531, without being separated from theshaft receiving groove 531. - In other words, when the
door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B), thefirst hinge 5 may be in the state shown inFIG. 43(a) . When thedoor 4 closes theopening 37, it may be changed into the state shown inFIG. 43(b) . When thedoor 4 is rotated on the first pivot (A), it may be changed into the state shown inFIG. 43(c) . - As follows, the specific structure of the door
tilting adjusting part 8 will be described in reference toFIG. 44 . -
FIG. 44 illustrates that thedoor supporter 75 includes a door tilting adjusting part having thedoor supporter 75 detachable there from and a door tilting adjusting part having thehinge supporter 653 detachable there from (two door tilting adjusting parts). Alternatively, one of the doortilting adjusting parts 8 may be provided to be detachable from thedoor supporter 75 or thehinge supporter 653. - For explanation convenience, when describing the structures of the door tilting adjusting part having the door supporter detachable there from and the door tilting adjusting part having the
hinge supporter 653 detachable there from, the structure of the door tilting adjusting part having thehinge supporter 653 detachable there from as shown inFIG. 44(b) will be described. In other words, the doortilting adjusting part 8 applied to thehinge supporter 653 may be identically applied to the doortilting adjusting part 8 applied to thedoor supporter 75. - The door
tilting adjusting part 8 may be located in thecabinet 3, with being fixed to theinner panel 35 provided behind theouter panel 33. - In this case, the door
tilting adjusting part 8 may include a fixingbody 81 fixed to theinner panel 35, a detachingbody 83 movably provided in the fixingbody 81 and aprojection receiving groove hinge supporter projection 655. - A plurality of
projection receiving grooves body 83, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other. - One of the projection receiving grooves and another one of them may be spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other, to realize a preset opening angle when the
hinge supporter projection 655 is received in the projection receiving grooves. -
FIG. 44(b) illustrates that aprojection receiving groove 85a receiving thehinge supporter projection 655 when the door is closed and anotherprojection receiving groove 85b receiving thehinge supporter projection 655 when an opening angle of the door is approximately 30 or 60 degrees. - In the meanwhile, the detaching
body 83 may be supported by the elastically supportingpart 87 with respect to the fixingbody 81. This is for thehinge supporter projection 655 to be detachable from the detachingbody 83 smoothly. - As follows, the motion of the
door supporter 75, thehinge supporter 653 and the doortilting adjusting part 8 will be described, when thedoor 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B) in the laundry treating apparatus having the doortilting adjusting part 8. - First of all, in reference to
FIGS. 44(a) ,45(a) and46(a) , the motion of thethird hinge 7 and the doortilting adjusting part 8 will be described. InFIG. 44(a) , thedoor 4 may be perpendicularly secured in the state of closing theopening 37. InFIG. 45(a) , thedoor 4 may be rotated approximately 30 degrees on the second pivot (B). InFIG. 46(a) , thedoor 4 is rotated approximately 85 degrees on the second pivot (B). - As mentioned above, the door
tilting adjusting part 8 may be applied only to thehinge supporter 653, not to thedoor supporter 75. However, the structure applying the doortilting adjusting part 8 even to thedoor supporter 75 will be described inFIGS. 44(a) ,45(a) and46(a) . - When the
door 4 closes theopening 37 as shown inFIG. 44(a) , thefourth shaft 713 of the third hinge and the detachingshaft 751 of the door supporter may be received in the fourthshaft receiving groove 731 and the detachingshaft receiving groove 735, respectively. The elastic force may be provided to the fourthshaft supporting projection 733 and the detachingshaft supporting projection 737 by the supporting projection elastically supportingpart 739 and the fourthshaft supporting projection 733 and the detaching shaft supporting projection may support the fourth shaft and the detaching shaft, respectively. - Also, the
supporter projection 753 of thedoor supporter 75 may be received in theprojection receiving groove 85a of the doortilting adjusting part 8. - At this time, when the user pulls the top surface (T, see
FIG. 42 ) of the door, thedoor 4 may be rotated on thefourth shaft 713 forming the second pivot and the end of thedoor supporter 75 fixed to theshaft detaching part 73 may be rotated. - When the end of the
door supporter 75 is rotated approximately 30 degrees, thesupporter projection 753 may be seated in theprojection receiving groove 85b provided in the detaching body, as moving along the detaching body of the door tilting adjusting part 8 (the state shown inFIG. 45a ). In other words, thesupporter projection 753 may be fixed to theprojection receiving groove 85b and the rotation of thedoor 4 may be then stopped. - Hence, when the user rotates the door 4 a larger angle, in other words, when he or she applies a predetermined force enough to detach the
supporter projection 753 from theprojection receiving groove 85b, thesupporter projection 753 may be detached from theprojection receiving groove 85b and thedoor 4 may be rotated. Once thedoor supporter 75 is detached from the doortilting adjusting part 8 to open the door completely, theflange 754 provided in the door supporter may contact with the rear surface of theouter panel 33, to support the door 4 (the state shown inFIG. 46(a) ). - In other words, when the user rotates the door on the second pivot (B), the
supporter projection 753 may be received in or detached from theprojection receiving grooves door 4. - In reference to
FIGS. 44(b) ,45(b) and46(b) , the motion of thesecond hinge 6 and the doortilting adjusting part 8 will be described. InFIG. 44(b) , thedoor 4 may be perpendicularly secured in the state of closing theopening 37. InFIG. 44(b) , thedoor 4 may be rotated approximately 30 degrees on the second pivot (B). InFIG. 46(b) , thedoor 4 may be rotated approximately 85 degrees on the second pivot (B). - When the
door 4 closes theopening 37, thehinge supporter projection 655 may maintain the state of being received in theprojection receiving groove 85a of the door tilting adjusting part 8 (the state shown inFIG. 44(b) ). - When the user pulls the top (T) of the door, the
door 4 may be rotated on thethird shaft 63 forming the second pivot (B). When thedoor 4 is rotated, thehinge supporter projection 655 of thehinge supporter 653 may be detached from theprojection receiving groove 85a and it may be moved toward theouter panel 33 accordingly. After that, thehinge supporter projection 655 may be seated in theprojection receiving groove 85b (the state shown inFIG. 45(b) ). At this time, if other ones are formed rather than theprojection receiving groove 85b, the rotated angle of thedoor 4 may be fixed at various angles, rather than approximately 30 degrees. - When the user rotates the door 4 a larger angle, that is, when the user applies a predetermined force enough to detach the
hinge supporter projection 655 from theprojection receiving groove 85b, thehinge supporter projection 655 may be detached from theprojection receiving groove 85b and thedoor 4 may be rotated. Once thehinge supporter 653 is detached from the doortilting adjusting part 8 to open the door completely, thesupporter flange 657 provided in the door supporter may contact with the rear surface of theouter panel 33, to support the door 4 (the state shown inFIG. 46(b) ). - In other words, when the user rotates the
door 4 on the second pivot (B), thehinge supporter projection 655 may be received in or detached from theprojection receiving grooves door 4 may be fixed. - Moreover, the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment may further include a supporter elastically supporting part to supplement the door supporting force of the
flanges supporters door 4 is open completely. -
FIG. 47 illustrates only the supporter elastically supporting part provided in thedoor supporter 75 and the supporter elastically supporting part may be provided in each of the door supporter and the hinge supporter. As follows, the supporter elastically supportingpart - The supporter elastically supporting part may include an
elastic part 773 to provide a restitution force to thedoor supporter 75 toward the inside of the cabinet when thedoor supporter 75 is detached out of theouter panel 33. - In this case, a
rib 771 may be further provided at an end of thedoor supporter 75 to couple theelastic part 773 thereto. This is to prevent theelastic part 773 from interfering with other devices provided in the door, which might be generated when theelastic part 773 is directly coupled to thedoor supporter 75. - In the meanwhile, the door tilting adjusting part may be variable in variable ways and
FIG. 48 illustrates another embodiment of the door tilting adjusting part. - The door tilting adjusting part according to this embodiment may include a fixing
part 82 located in the cabinet and a fixingpart receiving groove 84 provided in thedoor supporter 75 to receive the fixingpart 82. - The fixing
part 82 may include afirst fixing projection 821 having a predetermined diameter and asecond fixing projection 823 projected from the first fixing projection, having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the first fixing projection. - Also, the
first fixing projection 821 may be supported by the elastically supportingpart 825 provided in a space formed between the outer panel 13 and the inner panel 15 of thecabinet 1. - The fixing
part receiving groove 84 may include a firstprojection receiving groove 84 to receive thefirst fixing projection 821 and a secondprojection receiving groove 843 to receive thesecond fixing projection 821. - The second
projection receiving groove 843 may be configured to receive only thesecond fixing projection 823 and the firstprojection receiving groove 841 may be configured to receive only an outer circumferential surface of thefirst fixing projection 821. - Also, at least 42 first
projection receiving grooves 841 may be provided and one of them may be spaced apart a predetermined distance from another one. - The fixing
part receiving groove 84 shown inFIG. 48 may include a secondprojection receiving groove 843 to support the door supporter when the opening is closed by the door, a first projection receiving groove 841a to support the door supporter when the door is opened 30 degrees on the second pivot, and a first projection receiving groove 841b to support the door supporter when thedoor 4 is opened 90 degrees on the second pivot (B). - The reason why the diameter of the
second projection 823 is smaller than that of thefirst projection 821 is that it is difficult to form a groove capable of supporting the weight of the door in a gap between the secondprojection receiving groove 843 and the first projection receiving groove 841a, when the opening angle of the door is controlled only by thefirst projection 821. -
FIG. 48 illustrates that the fixingpart receiving groove 84 is provided only in thedoor supporter 75. However, in the door tilting adjusting part mentioned above, the fixingpart receiving groove 84 may be provided in thehinge supporter 653 and the fixingpart 82 may be detachable from the fixing part receiving groove provided in the hinge supporter. - In the laundry treating apparatus having the configuration mentioned above, the
door 4 rotated on the second pivot may be supported by theflanges shaft 751 of the door supporter being separated from theshaft detaching part 73 because of the weight of the door. - As a result, the laundry treating apparatus according to the embodiment may further include a door fixing part to prevent the separation of the
shaft detaching part 73 and the detachingshaft 751 of the door supporter. As follows, thedoor fixing part 9 will be described in reference toFIG. 9 . - The
door fixing part 9 may include asupporter coupling projection 93 located in thedoor 4, being movable to be fixed to the door supporter when the door is rotated on the second pivot. - At this time, a coupling
projection seating part 755 may be provided in thedoor supporter 75 to seat thesupporter coupling projection 93 thereon. The couplingprojection seating part 755 may be projected from thedoor supporter 75, to be seated on the couplingprojection seating part 755 in contact when the door is rotated. - In the meanwhile, the motion of the
supporter coupling projection 93 may be enabled by acam 91 provided in theshaft forming part 71 of the third hinge and the coupling projection elastically supportingpart 95 provided in thedoor 4 to elastically support thesupporter coupling projection 93. - In other words, the
supporter coupling projection 93 may be provided adjacent to theshaft detaching part 73 and it may be supported by the elastically supporting part 95 (seeFIG. 42 ). Thecam 91 may be located outer to the fourthshaft receiving groove 731 provided in theshaft detaching part 73 and it may be located lower than thesupporter coupling projection 93, when thedoor 4 is closed. - Also, the
cam 91 may be formed in a shape enabling thesupporter coupling projection 93 to move toward thedoor supporter 75, when thedoor 4 is rotated on the second pivot. At this time, thecam 91 may not be rotated but fixedly extended along a horizontal direction. - When the
door fixing part 9 includes the configuration mentioned above, thedoor 4 may be rotated on the second pivot (B) and thesupporter coupling projection 93 may be moved along an outer circumferential surface of thecam 91 within thedoor 4 almost horizontally as shown inFIG. 49(b) . As a result, as the elastically supportingpart 95 is pressed, thesupporter coupling projection 93 may be moved toward thedoor supporter 75. - When the door is opened completely, the
supporter coupling projection 93 may contact with the couplingprojection seating part 755 provided in the door supporter and it may be stopped. As a result, thesupporter coupling projection 93 may prevent thedoor 4 from being rotated a larger angle. - Also, even when the
door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B) only to open theopening 37 completely, the laundry treating apparatus may prevent the separation of theshaft detaching part 73 provided in the door and the detachingshaft 751 provided in the door supporter. This is because thedoor 4 might be separated from the laundry treating apparatus, when thedoor 4 is rotated a larger angle. - In the meanwhile, when the
door 4 is rotated on the second pivot (B) to close theopening 37, thesupporter coupling projection 93 may be moved within the door by the elastically supportingpart 95, with maintaining the contact with the outer circumferential surface of the cam. At this time, the external force applied by the outer circumferential surface of thecam 91 may be eliminated from the elastically supportingpart 95. Because of that, the elastically supportingpart 95 may be restituted by the restitution force, without compressed. As a result, thesupporter coupling projection 93 may be detached from the couplingprojection seating part 755 and it may be changed as shown inFIG. 49(a) . -
FIG. 50 is a still further embodiment of the present invention. - According to this embodiment, a tilted
piece 431 is formed in a lower end of thedoor 4. Especially, it is preferred that the tiltedpiece 431 is formed in a lower end of theinner frame 43 of thedoor 4. Therecess 42 mentioned above is formed in the portion where thesecond hinge 6 is formed. In contrast, the tiltedpiece 431 may be formed broadly in a lower end portion of thedoor 4. - As shown in
FIG. 50 , when thedoor 4 rotates a predetermined angle on a shaft formed along a traverse direction of the cabinet, the tiltedpiece 431 contacts with thecabinet 3. In other words, the tiltedpiece 431 contacts with theouter panel 33 of thecabinet 3 and the rotation of thedoor 4 stops. In other words, the door may rotate on the shaft formed in the traverse direction of the cabinet until the tiltedpiece 431 and theouter panel 33 contact with each other. Especially, the tiltedpiece 431 may be a surface having a predetermined area to surface-contact with thecabinet 3. - The tilted
piece 431 is provided in the lower end of thedoor 4 and the lower end of the door may not have rectangular corners such that thedoor 4 may rotate a predetermined angle along a second rotational direction. - Meanwhile, a
damper 1240 is provided in the tiltedpiece 431 to absorb a shock generated by thedoor 4 and thecabinet 3. Thedamper 1240 may be formed of a rubber material. Thedamper 1240 can have a flat surface similar to a flat surface of the tiltedpiece 431 and it may have various shapes only unless interfering with the rotation of thedoor 4. -
FIG. 51 is a diagram illustrating the damper ofFIG. 50 and the damper will be described in detail as follows, referring toFIG. 51 . - A plurality of
dampers 1240 may be longitudinally arranged along a longitudinal direction of the tiltedpiece 431. Different from what is shown inFIG. 51 , thedamper 1240 may be provided in thecabinet 3, not in the tiltedpiece 431. Thedamper 1240 can absorb the shock when it is provided in a position where the tiltedpiece 431 can collide with thecabinet 3 and the damper can be provided in various positions. -
FIGS. 52 to 55 are conceptual diagrams illustrating various embodiments of the damper. Referring toFIGS. 52 to 55 , the various embodiments will be described. - The
damper 1240 shown inFIG. 52 includes a damping bar that contacts with theouter panel 33 of thecabinet 3, when the door rotates on a shaft formed along a traverse direction of the cabinet. One surface of the dampingbar 433 may be a flat surface. Thedamper 1240 may further include atorsion spring 435 to elastically support a gap between the tiltedpiece 431 and the dampingbar 433. When a rotational force is applied to thetorsion spring 435, thetorsion spring 435 provides a pressure force generated as a repulsive force of the rotational force such that it can lower the rotation number of thedoor 4, while thedoor 4 is rotating. - As shown in
FIG. 52 , while the door is rotating on the shaft formed along the traverse direction of the cabinet, the dampingbar 433 is in contact with theouter panel 33 and thetorsion spring 435 is pressed such that the shock generated by the collision between thedoor 4 and thecabinet 3 can be reduced. - An embodiment of the
damper 1240 shown inFIG. 53 is a gas or fluid spring. In other words, a compressible or expandable gas or fluid is provided in a casing. When the tiltedpiece 431 of thedamper 1240 collides with thedamper 1240, the gas or fluid provided in the casing is compressed and the rotation of thedoor 5 on the shaft formed along the traverse direction of the cabinet may be reduced. Accordingly, the shock generated between thedoor 4 and thecabinet 3 can be reduced. - An embodiment of the
damper 1240 shown inFIG. 54 is a compression spring. Silicon to thedamper 1240 according to the embodiment ofFIG. 53 , when the door rotates on the shaft formed along the traverse direction of the cabinet, the tiltedpiece 431 may contact with thedamper 1240 and the tiltedpiece 431 presses the compression spring. After that, the shock generated between thedoor 4 and thecabinet 3 can be reduced while the compression spring is compressed. - An embodiment of the
damper 1240 shown inFIG. 55 is installed in thesecond hinge 6, not in the tiltedpiece 431. - The
second hinge 6 includes thedoor securing part 65 secured to thedoor 4 and thecabinet securing part 61 secured to thecabinet 3. At this time, aplain washer 1244 and aspring washer 1242 may be provided in an end of thecabinet securing part 61. - In the embodiment of
FIG. 55 , when the door rotates in the second rotational direction, a frictional force is generated in thespring washer 1242. That is, the shape of thespring washer 1242 may generate the frictional force in thesecond hinge 6, when the door is rotating, and the generated frictional force can reduce the rotation number of thedoor 4. Accordingly, the shock generated by the collision between the tiltedpiece 431 and thecabinet 3, when thedoor 4 is rotating in the second rotational direction at a high rotation number, can be prevented. - Any reference in this specification to "none embodiment," "an embodiment," "example embodiment," etc., means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
Claims (17)
- A laundry treating apparatus comprising:a cabinet configured to define a profile thereof, the cabinet comprising a laundry introduction opening formed therein;a door configured to open and close the laundry introduction opening;a fixing member configured to support the door for the door to maintain a state of being rotate a predetermined angle with respect to the laundry introduction opening,wherein the angle of the door maintained by the fixing member is an angle at which laundry moves to the laundry introduction opening along a guide of the door.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:a pivot provided in a lower portion of the laundry introduction opening along a traverse direction of the cabinet, to form a center of rotation of the door.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member enables the door fixed at least two angles.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least two angles are approximately 35 degrees and 85 degrees.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fixing member comprises,
a recessed piece provided in a lower portion of the door, with being recessed a predetermined depth; and
a projected piece inserted in the recessed piece, once the door closes the laundry introduction opening, and supporting the door, once the door opens the laundry introduction opening, the projected piece projected from the cabinet. - The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the projected piece contacts with a lower end of the door, only to stop the rotation of the door, once the door opens the laundry introduction opening.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 5, wherein a plurality of projected pieces and a plurality of recessed pieces are arranged in symmetry with respect to a center of the door.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the fixing member comprises a tilted piece provided in a lower end of the door, with a predetermined tilted angle, and
when the door rotates, the tilted piece surface-contacts with the cabinet to stop the rotation of the door. - The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the fixing member further comprises,
a damper provided in the tilted piece to absorb a shock generated by the contact between the tilted piece and the cabinet. - The laundry treating apparatus according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the fixing member comprises,
a guide part provided in the cabinet, the guide part comprising a guide groove divided into a plurality of portions, in communication with each other;
a connection part arranged in the door, the connection part comprising a guide projection accommodated by the guide groove to allow a moving passage thereof guided, and
an angle at which the door opens the laundry introduction opening is changed according to which portion of the divided portions provided in the guide groove accommodates the guide projection. - The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the guide groove is divided into at least three portions.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member comprises,
a first adjusting plate provided in the pivot,
first and second grooves provided along an outer circumferential surface of the first adjusting plate, spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other; and
a first detaching part comprising a first body provided in the door to move along the outer circumferential surface of the first adjusting plate, when the door rotates, and a first body elastic supporting part having an end coupled to the first body and the other end coupled to the door to elastically support the first body. - The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fixing member further comprises,
a second adjusting plate provided in the pivot, spaced apart a predetermined distance from the first adjusting plate;
a stopper projected from an outer circumferential surface of the second adjusting plate; and
a second detaching part provided in the door to move along the outer circumferential surface of the second adjusting plate, when the door rotates, the second detaching part comprising a second body contacting with the stopper, when the first body is inserted in the second groove, and a second elastic body supporting part having an end coupled to the second body and the other end coupled to the door to elastically support the second body. - The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the fixing member further comprises,
a torsion spring provided in an outer circumferential surface of the pivot, the torsion spring having an end fixed to the door and the other end fixed to the pivot. - The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the first groove and the second groove are spaced apart 30 degrees from each other.
- The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member comprises,
a supporting body fixed to the cabinet;
a rotating body having the door fixed thereto;
an inserting body having the pivot inserted thereto to rotatably couple the supporting body to the rotating body;
a plurality of fixing holes spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other along a circumferential direction of the pivot; and
a fixing projection member provided in the inserting body to be detachably inserted in the fixing hole. - The laundry treating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the fixing member comprises,
a cabinet fixing part fixed to an outer surface of the cabinet;
a door fixing part fixed to the door and rotatably coupled to the cabinet fixing part via the pivot;
a door tilting adjustment part provided in the cabinet, the door tilting adjustment part comprising a plurality of projection receiving grooves spaced apart a predetermined distance from each other; and
a hinge supporter extended from the door fixing part to pass through the cabinet, the hinge supporter comprising a projection detachably inserted in the projection receiving groove when the door rotates.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
KR1020120007980A KR101861676B1 (en) | 2012-01-26 | 2012-01-26 | Laundry Treating Apparatus |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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EP2620538A2 true EP2620538A2 (en) | 2013-07-31 |
EP2620538A3 EP2620538A3 (en) | 2015-06-17 |
Family
ID=47713849
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP13152292.2A Withdrawn EP2620538A3 (en) | 2012-01-26 | 2013-01-23 | Laundry treating apparatus |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20130193823A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP2620538A3 (en) |
KR (1) | KR101861676B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103225194A (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CN103225194A (en) | 2013-07-31 |
KR101861676B1 (en) | 2018-05-28 |
US20130193823A1 (en) | 2013-08-01 |
EP2620538A3 (en) | 2015-06-17 |
KR20130086886A (en) | 2013-08-05 |
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