EP3060713B1 - Arrangement for a household appliance, and method for fixing an imbalance compensation device to a laundry drum - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for a household appliance, with a laundry drum for receiving laundry items, and with an annular balancing device which is rotatably mounted on the laundry drum, wherein at least one locking element is formed on a radial circumference, in particular an outer periphery, a housing of the balancing device , which is engaged in a formed in a wall of the laundry drum latching opening. The invention also relates to a household appliance with such an arrangement, an imbalance compensation device for a laundry drum of a household appliance and a method for attaching an imbalance compensation device to a laundry drum of a household appliance.

During a washing process of a washing machine, it is known that a random and irregular distribution of the laundry items in the laundry drum. This results in imbalances that cause relatively large mechanical vibrations of the laundry drum and thus large mechanical loads on the entire household appliance. On the one hand, unpleasant noises are generated by the resulting vibrations for the user; On the other hand, this can also lead to a mechanical stress on the flooring on which the household appliance is placed.

In order to prevent or at least greatly reduce the vibrations of the laundry drum during operation of a washing machine, it has already been proposed in the prior art to fasten an annular balancing device - also known as "ball balancer" - to the laundry drum. Such an imbalance compensation device has an annular, hollow housing, in which there is a balancing mass, which is provided for example in the form of a plurality of spherical compensating elements. This balancing mass is movably mounted in the interior of the housing and tends in the operation of the washing machine to one of the imbalance mass - with respect to a diameter of the Wash basket - to move opposite side, thus creating a counterweight for the imbalance mass and consequently overall balance.

In the present case, the interest is directed to the attachment of such an imbalance compensation device to a laundry drum. Such methods are already known from the prior art in various embodiments. For example, the document describes US 2011/0203325 A1 a solution in which the housing of the imbalance compensation device is molded onto an axial end wall of the laundry drum.

It is also already prior art to attach the unbalance compensation device by means of screws to the laundry drum. In this connection, it is known, for example, to provide extensions with radial bores or so-called screw domes on one axial side of the unbalance compensation device, which are each designed to receive a screw. By such screw domes, however, a relatively large amount of space in the axial direction is required, which disadvantageously the useful volume of the wash chamber of the drum must be significantly reduced overall. Furthermore, the circumstance that additional fastening elements in the form of screws must be provided and also complicated screwing operations are required, which lead to a delay of the assembly process, is disadvantageous in this state of the art.

A screw connection between an imbalance compensation device and a laundry drum is, for example, in the EP 2 154 285 A1 proposed.

The invention is based on an arrangement as shown in the KR 10 2008 037 420 A is described and in which an imbalance compensation device is fixed via a latching connection to a laundry drum. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 from this document locking elements are formed on a radial outer circumference of a housing of the unbalance compensation device, which are engaged in corresponding latching openings of the laundry drum. The latching elements lie axially against an edge delimiting the respective latch opening, so that a positive connection is formed in the axial direction. Such a latching connection has in particular the disadvantage that it may come to a release of the latching connection.

Other unbalance compensation devices, which are connected via a latching connection with a laundry drum are in DE 10 2009 021 327 A1 and in US Pat. No. 5,765,404 disclosed.

In the operation of the washing machine namely radial deformations of the laundry drum - in particular an ovalization - occur, which can lead to a radial displacement between the jacket of the laundry drum on the one hand and the housing of the balancing device on the other. If there is such a shift, the latching elements of the imbalance compensation device can be released from the respective latching openings, and it can come to a total fall out of the imbalance compensation device from the axial recess of the laundry drum.

It is an object of the invention to provide a solution as in an arrangement of the type mentioned a particularly reliable attachment of the unbalance compensation device to the laundry drum can be made possible, which can withstand especially radial deformations of the laundry drum during operation of the household appliance.

This object is achieved by an arrangement by a household appliance, as well as by a method with the features according to the respective independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, the description and the figures.

An inventive arrangement for a household appliance comprises a laundry drum, which is designed to receive laundry items, as well as an annular unbalance compensation device, which is arranged rotatably on the laundry drum. On a radial circumference, in particular an outer circumference, of a housing of the imbalance compensation device, at least one detent element is formed, which is latched in a detent opening which is formed in a wall of the laundry drum. According to the invention, it is provided that the latching element has a hook-shaped nose, which engages behind an edge region of the wall adjoining the latching opening on a side of the wall facing away from the unbalance compensation device.

Unlike the prior art according to Fig. 1 from KR 10 2008 037 420 A - There, the latching element lies only axially on an axial edge of the latching opening - has the at least one latching element of the inventive arrangement quasi an undercut on, by which a hook or a hook-like nose is formed, which bears radially on the opposite side of the wall of the laundry drum. The detent opening limiting edge region of the wall is thus embraced by the locking element sandwich-like. Such a configuration of the at least one latching element ensures a particularly non-slip and stable arrangement of the imbalance compensation device on the laundry drum, in particular even at higher loads and / or at higher speeds of the laundry drum and a resulting radial deformation - such as ovalization - the laundry drum. A radial deformation of the laundry drum thus does not lead to the formation of an air gap between the laundry drum and the imbalance compensation device or to a release of the compound.

Under an imbalance compensation device is understood in the present case a device which is designed to compensate and thus to prevent imbalances of the laundry drum. The unbalance compensation device can have a compensating mass arranged movably in the housing, for example in the form of a plurality of spherical elements. Such an imbalance compensation device can also be referred to as a "ball balancer".

The housing of the imbalance compensation device is preferably formed in one piece and may have a base body from which protrudes the locking element. While in the body then the balancing mass of the balancing device is movably arranged, the locking element is used to attach the housing to the laundry drum. The housing may be provided in total as an injection molded part.

Preferably, the laundry drum has a formed on its axial end face axial recess which is radially bounded by said wall and in which the imbalance compensation device is axially received. The at least one latching element is thus preferably located both on an axial edge of the wall bounding the latching opening and on the edge region of the wall adjoining the latching opening, so that a supporting action of the unbalance compensation device is provided on the laundry drum both in the radial and in the axial direction.

Preferably, the latching opening is formed in a cylindrical shell of the laundry drum, so that the nose of the at least one latching element rests against an outer circumference of the shell or the laundry drum. Thus, a particularly firm support in the radial direction is guaranteed.

It proves to be advantageous if at one axial end of the shell, a radial fold, in particular a curl of the shell is formed with an axial end wall of the laundry drum, and this radial fold in the radial direction extends further than the nose of the locking element. This means that the radial fold projects beyond the at least one latching element in the radial direction. The at least one latching element is thus designed so that it does not engage in a radial air gap between the laundry drum on the one hand and the Laugebehälter other hand. Because at the axial end of a laundry drum usually called flanging is provided, which is taken into account in the design of the radial air gap, the already existing or existing laundry drums can be used in the inventive arrangement. Only the at least one latching element is preferably designed here in such a way that it does not protrude radially beyond the flange.

The wall is preferably formed by a wall structure which is formed by a region of a cylindrical jacket of the laundry drum and a region of an axial end wall of the laundry drum connected to the shell, so that the latching opening is formed in this double-walled wall structure. The cylindrical shell and the axial end wall of the laundry drum are preferably connected to one another via the above-mentioned curl, so that in some areas a sandwich structure or a double-walled structure is formed, in which the detent opening is provided. This double-walled structure represents a particularly bending-resistant support surface or contact surface for the at least one latching element.

It can also be provided that the housing of the imbalance compensation device - in particular on its radial outer circumference - has a contact surface, which faces on a housing and thus in front of the nose of the latching element facing away from the wall. Thus, an additional stability in the radial direction is ensured.

An inventive household appliance for the care of items of laundry, in particular a washing machine, comprises an arrangement according to the invention.

An inventive method is used to attach an annular unbalance compensation device to a laundry drum of a household appliance, wherein at least one latching element formed on a housing of the imbalance compensation device is engaged in a detent opening formed in a wall of the laundry drum, wherein at the latching an adjacent to the detent opening edge region of the wall one of the unbalance compensation device side facing away from the wall is engaged behind by a hook-shaped nose of the locking element.

In the method can also be provided that the imbalance compensation device is received in an axial recess of the laundry drum. In this case, first of all, a positioning dome formed on an outer circumference of the housing and of which at least one detent element is different in shape and pointing radially outwards can be received in a corresponding recess in the wall of the laundry drum radially delimiting the recess, and then the unbalance compensating device can be tilted taken to the positioning dome in the recess and the at least one locking element are engaged in the locking opening.

Such an approach on the one hand facilitates the positioning of the imbalance compensation device in the axial recess and the alignment of the at least one latching element with the latching opening. On the other hand, such a positioning dome makes it possible to insert the unbalance compensating device into the axial recess at all, without the housing of the unbalance compensating device having to be excessively deformed or bent during assembly and therefore mechanically stressed. Namely, the positioning mandrel ensures the axial retention force required for tipping the unbalance compensation device.

The preferred embodiments presented with reference to the arrangement according to the invention and their advantages apply correspondingly to the household appliance according to the invention, to the imbalance compensation device according to the invention and to the method according to the invention and vice versa.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. All the features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures can be used not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combinations or alone.

The invention will now be described with reference to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung eine Draufsicht auf eine axiale Stirnseite einer Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung eine Schnittansicht durch die Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtung gemäß Fig. 1 entlang einer in Fig. 1 angedeuteten Schnittlinie II-II;

Fig.3

in schematischer und vergrößerter Darstellung einen in Fig. 2 mit III bezeichneten Bereich der Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

in schematischer und vergrößerter Darstellung einen in Fig. 2 mit IV bezeichneten Bereich der Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtung;

Fig. 5

in schematischer Darstellung eine Draufsicht auf eine axiale Stirnseite einer Anordnung mit einer Wäschetrommel und der Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtung gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 6

in schematischer Darstellung eine Schnittansicht durch die Anordnung gemäß Fig. 5 entlang einer in Fig. 5 angedeuteten Schnittlinie VI-VI;

Fig. 7

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen in Fig. 6 mit VII bezeichneten Bereich; und

Fig. 8

in vergrößerter Darstellung einen in Fig. 6 mit VIII bezeichneten Bereich.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a plan view of an axial end face of an imbalance compensation device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2

in a schematic representation of a sectional view through the balancing device according to Fig. 1 along an in Fig. 1 indicated section line II-II;

Figure 3

in a schematic and enlarged view a in Fig. 2 designated III region of the imbalance compensation device;

Fig. 4

in a schematic and enlarged view a in Fig. 2 designated IV region of the imbalance compensation device;

Fig. 5

a schematic plan view of an axial end side of an arrangement with a laundry drum and the imbalance compensation device according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6

in a schematic representation of a sectional view through the arrangement according to Fig. 5 along an in Fig. 5 indicated section line VI-VI;

Fig. 7

in an enlarged view a in Fig. 6 area designated VII; and

Fig. 8

in an enlarged view a in Fig. 6 designated VIII area.

In Fig. 1 is shown in a schematic representation of a plan view and an axial end face of an imbalance compensation device 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The unbalance compensation device 1 is used to compensate for imbalances of a laundry drum. The unbalance compensation device 1 comprises an annular housing 2, for example made of plastic, in which a compensation mass is movably arranged, such as a plurality of in Fig. 1 indicated spherical elements. 3

On a radial outer circumference 4 of the housing 2, at least two locking elements 5 are formed in the embodiment, which are arranged at an angular distance of 120 ° from each other. Optionally, a third locking element 5 may be provided, which is then also arranged spaced apart by 120 ° to the two locking elements 5. In the exemplary embodiment, instead of a third latching element 5, a positioning mandrel 6 is provided, which is likewise formed on the outer circumference 4 of the housing 2 and points radially outward. The positioning dome 6 Thus, in each case at an angular distance of 120 ° with respect to the locking elements 5 is arranged.

In Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the imbalance compensation device 1 along a in Fig. 1 shown section line II-II shown. How out Fig. 2 shows, the housing 2 is formed in cross-section D-shaped and has a flat portion 7 and a immediately adjacent thereto, belly-shaped and curved portion 8.

Referring now to Fig. 3 , which is an area III Fig. 2 shows, the locking element 5 has a radially rising from the outer periphery 4 of the housing 2 main body 9, of which in the axial direction and thus parallel to a in Fig. 1 denoted by 10 axis of rotation of the balancing device 1 a hook-shaped nose 11 protrudes. The lug 11 thus points in the axial direction and thus along the axis of rotation 10. The locking element 5 or its base body 9 also has an insertion bevel 12, which for example at an angle from a range of 10 ° to 20 °, in particular at an angle of 15 °, with respect to the remaining surface of the outer periphery 4, is arranged.

The nose 11 is formed in that the main body 9 of the locking element 5 is quasi provided with an undercut 13 which constitutes a receptacle or an axial recess and thus forms a radial gap between the nose 11 and the outer circumference 4.

In contrast, the Positionierdom 6 has a different from the shape of the locking element 5 or different geometric shape. Referring to Fig. 4 who have an in Fig. 2 indicated area IV in an enlarged scale, the projecting radially outwardly from the outer circumference 4 to the positioning 6 is formed rectangular in cross section. In a three-dimensional view of the positioning dome 6 may have the shape of a cuboid or cylinder. The radial height of the positioning mandrel 6 and thus the distance to the outer circumference 4 can in particular be in a value range of 1 mm to 3 mm and for example 1.5 mm. The width dimensioned in the axial direction of the positioning mandrel 6 can be, for example, in a value range from 2 mm to 3 mm and in particular 2.5 mm. An in Fig. 4 14 denotes the distance of the positioning dome 6 to an axial edge 15 of the plane Region 7 may be in a range of values of 5 mm to 7 mm, in particular 6 mm.

In Fig. 5 is an axial end face of an assembly 16 according to an embodiment of the invention shown in more detail. The arrangement 16 includes a laundry drum 17 to which the unbalance compensation device 1 is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner. The axis of rotation 10 of the imbalance compensation device 1 coincides with an axis of rotation of the laundry drum 17. The laundry drum 17 has an end-side axial opening 18 through which items of laundry can be introduced into a laundry space 19.

Fig. 6 now shows a sectional view of the assembly 16 along a in Fig. 5 indicated section line VI-VI. How out Fig. 6 shows, the laundry drum 17 has a cylindrical, circumferential jacket 20, which limits the wash chamber 19 radially outer circumference. The jacket 20 is connected to a front axial end wall 21 and on the other hand to a rear axial end wall 22, which limit the wash chamber 19 axially. The laundry drum 17 is also connected to a shaft 23, via which the arrangement 16 can be mounted in a storage container of a washing machine and can be driven rotatably about the axis of rotation 10 by means of a drive motor.

At the front axial end face of the laundry drum 17, an axial and circumferential recess 24 is formed, in which the unbalance compensation device 1 is axially received. The belly-like region 8 of the housing 2 is facing the laundry room 19.

Referring now to Fig. 7 , which is an area VII Fig. 6 shows in an enlarged view, the positioning dome 6 extends through a formed in a wall 25 of the laundry drum 17 through recess 26 and projects slightly out of the recess 26 radially out. The recess 26 is formed in the axial direction a little wider than the positioning dome 6. The wall 25 is formed by a double-walled wall structure 27, which comprises a portion of the cylindrical shell 20 and a portion of the front axial end wall 21, which are connected to each other at the axial end by means of a flange 28. The curl 28 represents a radial and circumferential fold.

How to continue Fig. 7 shows, the curl 28 extends in the radial direction a little further than the positioning dome 6, so that this does not project beyond the curl 28 in the radial direction.

Fig. 8 shows now in an enlarged view a in Fig. 6 indicated area VIII. Here, the locking element 5 is particularly well recognizable, which is now engaged in a detent opening 29 which is formed in the double wall 25. The latching opening 29 is a passage opening which is formed in the wall structure 27. The hook-shaped nose 11 of the locking element 5 engages behind a directly adjacent to the locking opening 29 and axially between the flange 28 and the locking opening 29 edge region 30 of the wall 25, and that on a radial outer circumference 31 and a radial outer side of the shell 20. Mit In other words, an axial and the detent opening 29 directly limiting edge 32 of the wall 25 is received in the axial undercut 13 of the locking element 5, so that the nose 11 rests directly on the edge region 30 on the outer circumference 31. The nose 11 points towards the flange 28th

The housing 2 of the imbalance compensation device 1 also has an abutment surface 33 arranged between the detent element 5 and the axial edge 15 of the flat region 7, said abutment surface 33 being defined by a surface region of the outer circumference 4 of the housing 2 (cf. Fig. 4 ) is formed. This contact surface 33 is in the assembled state on a side facing away from the nose 11 side 34 of the wall 25 in a form-fitting manner. In this case, the contact surface 33 is directly radially opposite the flange 28th

During assembly of the imbalance compensation device 1, first the positioning dome 6 is received in the recess 26 and inserted therethrough. Only then is the necessary axial restraining force ensured, and the unbalance compensating device 1 can then be tipped around the positioning dome 6 into the recess 24. By this tilting movement about the positioning dome 6, the two identically formed locking elements 5 are aligned with the respective locking openings 29 and engage in this. It may be necessary to a slight temporary deformation of the housing 2. As in particular from Fig. 6 is apparent in the tipping of the imbalance compensation device 1 in the axial recess 24 to the positioning of the 6 belly-like, rounded portion 8 of the housing 2 is brought into axial contact with the likewise rounded and adapted to the shape of the housing 2 bottom of the recess 24, so that the positioning dome 6 - Fig. 7 shown - axially against the edge of the wall 25 and the flange 28 is supported. Jumping out of the imbalance compensation device 1 from the recess 24 is thus prevented by the Positionierdom 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Balancing device

2

casing

3

spherical elements

4

outer periphery

5

locking element

6

Positionierdom

7

Area

8th

Area

9

body

10

axis of rotation

11

nose

12

chamfer

13

undercut

14

distance

15

edge

16

arrangement

17

washing drum

18

opening

19

laundry

20

coat

21

end wall

22

end wall

23

wave

24

deepening

25

wall

26

recess

27

wall structure

28

flanging

29

latching opening

30

border area

31

outer periphery

32

edge

33

contact surface

34

page

II-II

intersection

III

Area

IV

Area

VI-VI

Area

VIII

Area

Claims (8)

1. Arrangement (16) for a household appliance, having a laundry drum (17) for receiving items of laundry and having an annular imbalance compensation device (1), which is rotatably fixed on the laundry drum (17) and is received in a circumferential axial recess (24) of the laundry drum (17), wherein at least one latching element (5) is embodied on a radial circumference, in particular an outer circumference (4), of a housing (2) of the imbalance compensation device (1), which latching element engages in a latch opening (29), which is embodied in a wall (25) of the laundry drum (17) radially delimiting the axial recess (24), characterised in that the latching element (5) has a hook-shaped lug (11), which engages behind an edge region (30) of the wall (25) adjacent to the latch opening (29) on a side (31) of the wall (25) facing away from the imbalance compensation device (1).
2. Arrangement (16) according to claim 1, characterised in that the latch opening (29) is embodied in a cylinder-shaped casing (20) of the laundry drum (17) and the lug (11) rests on a radial outer circumference (31) of the casing (20).
3. Arrangement (16) according to claim 2, characterised in that a radial seam, in particular a flanging (28), is embodied on an axial end of the casing (20), which reaches radially further than the lug (11) of the latching element (5).
4. Arrangement (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the wall (25) is formed by a double-walled wall structure (27), arranged in particular axially, which is formed by a region of a cylinder-shaped casing (20) of the laundry drum (17) and a region of an axial end wall (21) of the laundry drum (17) connected to the casing (20), wherein the latch opening (29) is embodied in the double-walled wall structure (27).
5. Arrangement (16) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the housing (2) of the imbalance compensation device (1) has a contact surface (33), which rests on a side (34) of the wall (25) facing away from the lug (11).
6. Household appliance for the care of laundry items, having an arrangement (16) according to one of the preceding claims.
7. Method for fixing an annular imbalance compensation device (1) to a laundry drum (17) of a household appliance, wherein the imbalance compensation device (1) is received in a circumferential axial recess (24) of the laundry drum (17) and at least one latching element (5) embodied on a radial circumference, in particular an outer circumference (4), of a housing (2) of the imbalance compensation device (1) is latched into a latch opening (29), which is embodied in a wall (25) of the laundry drum (17) radially delimiting the axial recess (24), characterised in that during the latching an edge region (30) of the wall (25) adjacent to the latch opening (29) on a radial side (31) of the wall (25) facing away from the imbalance compensation device (1) is engaged by means of a hook-shaped lug (11) of the latching element (5).
8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that when the imbalance compensation device (1) is received in the recess (24), a positioning pin (6) embodied on the outer circumference (4) of the housing (2) and differing from the at least one latching element (5) and pointing radially outwards is first received in a corresponding cutout (26) of the wall (25) and the imbalance compensation device (1) is then received in the recess (24) by a tilting movement around the positioning pin (6) and the at least one latching element (5) is latched into the latch opening (29).

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