EP3283681B1 - Assembly comprising a washing drum and an imbalance compensation device, household appliance for handling items to be washed, and method for securing an imbalance compensation device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement for a household appliance for the care of laundry items, comprising a laundry drum and an imbalance compensation device. The invention further relates to a household appliance for the care of laundry, which comprises such an arrangement. The invention further relates to a method for fixing an annular unbalance compensation device on a laundry drum of a household appliance, wherein the unbalance compensation device is inserted into a circumferential axial receptacle of the laundry drum.

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 during operation of the washing machine tends to shift to one of the imbalance masses - with respect to a diameter of the laundry drum - opposite side, thus producing a counterweight for the imbalance mass and consequently an 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.

Furthermore, the describes KR 10 2008 037 420 A an arrangement in which an imbalance compensation device is fixed via a latching connection to a laundry drum. In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 Of 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. In the operation of the washing machine namely radial deformations of the laundry drum - in particular an ovalization - occur, resulting in a radial displacement between the jacket of the laundry drum on the one hand and the housing of the balancing device on the other hand can lead. 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 comparison with the prior art improved attachment of an annular unbalance compensation device to a laundry drum.

This object is achieved by an arrangement, a household appliance for the care of laundry and a method according to the respective independent claims.

An inventive arrangement for a household appliance for the care of laundry comprises a laundry drum for receiving laundry items. The arrangement further comprises an annular unbalance compensation device, which is inserted in a circumferential axial receptacle in the laundry drum. An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in that the laundry drum has a coupling region for coupling to the unbalance compensation device, wherein the coupling region comprises two abutment walls standing at an angle to one another. The unbalance compensation device comprises a housing having a first housing wall, on which a coupling element protruding in the radial direction above the first housing wall is formed. The coupling element has two mutually oriented at an angle coupling webs, wherein in each case a coupling web rests against a respective abutment wall. By means of this specific coupling between the laundry drum and the imbalance compensation device, an anti-rotation lock is achieved in two directions relative to one another. This is given in the direction of rotation about the longitudinal axis of the laundry drum on the one hand and on the other hand in the axial direction and thus in the direction of this longitudinal axis. In addition, a mechanically highly stable coupling is achieved by this specific embodiment with the individually arranged investment walls and the thus directly connected specifically oriented coupling webs. It may also be in the context of a certain tension of the unbalance compensation device of the laundry drum and thus in particular the Mantle wall and / or to a front floor or to a bottom plate can be achieved.

The plant walls are in particular adjacent or adjacent to each other.

This specific coupling between the imbalance compensation device and the laundry drum and additional fasteners can be saved or are no longer needed. Screw connections or the like are therefore not provided. In addition, by the individual orientation of the raised protruding coupling elements with the overlapping in the radial direction of this investment walls also no intervention in the laundry treatment room required so that it is not affected or protruding elements would protrude. By this radial overlap of the abutment walls and the coupling webs and the already angled to each other arranged configuration of said components a certain toothing is created, which offers the advantages already mentioned above.

The plant walls are oriented radially standing and arranged at an angle to the axis of the laundry drum at an angle thereto or obliquely to a line extending on the same axial length.

It is preferably provided that the abutment walls are arranged relative to one another in such a way that they form a point when viewed in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the laundry drum. The above-mentioned anti-rotation in two directions is thereby improved.

In particular, it is provided that the abutment walls are arranged at an angle between 20 ° and 160 °, in particular between 60 ° and 120 ° to each other. The toothing to each other according to this specification improves on the one hand the security against rotation and on the other hand, the tension of the balancing device on the laundry drum.

It is preferably provided that the abutment walls are oriented in the radial direction to a longitudinal axis of the laundry drum. They are therefore almost inward in the direction of the longitudinal axis. This can be a particularly large-scale contact with the coupling webs can be achieved. Also, this assembly is simplified. Such plant walls can be very targeted and thus accurately generated by bending processes.

In particular, it is provided that the abutment walls are formed as bends of a free cut in the laundry drum. It is preferably provided in the context that the laundry drum has such a cutout on a casing wall or on a front floor. At this free cut as bending bars or bending tabs contain these investment walls and are then bent by a simple Umbiegeprozess in their corresponding position for engagement with the coupling webs. The production is simplified and favors the positional transfer of the plant walls in their final position.

It is preferably provided that the coupling webs are formed contiguous. This means that they are quasi one-piece and therefore designed to be interruption-free. By orientation at an angle to each other thereby a particularly stable configuration is achieved.

It is preferably provided that the coupling webs are each formed in a straight line and open at their free ends in each case in a stabilizing web of the coupling element. As a result, the coupling webs are supported by their direct abutment, in particular by the one-piece design, in itself and relative to each other and further improves the mechanical robustness by the additional stabilizing webs. The stabilizing webs are thus formed as raised structures that extend from the housing wall projecting.

In an advantageous embodiment, the stabilizing webs are oriented at an angle of less than 90 °, in particular less than 60 °, to the respectively adjacent coupling web. The mechanical robustness of the entire structure of the coupling element is thereby improved.

It is preferably provided that the coupling webs and the stabilizing webs are integrally formed. This also increases the mechanical robustness. It is preferably provided that the housing has a second housing wall which opens at an angle to the first housing wall and the stabilizing webs extend beyond a transition between the housing walls and extend to a second housing wall. The dimensional stability and mechanical strength of a coupling element is further improved.

The angle between the housing walls is preferably between 60 ° and 120 °, in particular between 80 ° and 100 °.

Advantageously, the coupling element is formed with its coupling webs and stabilizing webs as M. As a result, a particularly robust structure is created, which moreover makes it possible to form as large-scale systems as possible with the abutment walls, so that the security against rotation of the mechanical coupling between the unbalance compensating device and the laundry drum is particularly high.

Advantageously, the coupling element is designed as a deep-drawing element in the laundry drum. Such a configuration of the coupling element no additional materials must be attached to the housing wall to produce the coupling element. In addition, the coupling element is produced by this design quasi from the material of the housing wall itself, so that it is in turn mechanically very stable and positionally accurate permanently formed.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a household appliance for the care of laundry items, which has an arrangement according to the invention and an advantageous embodiment thereof. The household appliance is a washing machine or a washer-dryer.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for fastening an annular unbalance compensation device on a laundry drum of a household appliance for the care of laundry, wherein the unbalance compensation device is inserted into a circumferential axial receptacle of the laundry drum. An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in the fact that the laundry drum is formed with a coupling region with two mutually at an angle plant walls for coupling with the imbalance compensation device. The unbalance compensation device is formed with a housing having a first housing wall, wherein on the first housing wall a raised in the radial direction above the first housing wall projecting and formed with two mutually oriented at an angle coupling webs coupling element is formed. The attachment of the imbalance compensation device to the laundry drum takes place in that a coupling web rests against a respective investment wall. Due to the angled arrangement of the components to each other here a kind of teeth with maximum security against rotation in two directions is achieved.

Preferably, the imbalance compensating device is brought with its, in particular by deep drawing, coupling element in an end position to the laundry drum and then bent for fixing the formed on a free cut in the laundry drum abutment walls, so that they rest, in particular form-fitting, on the coupling webs.

In particular, a punched-out portion is made, in particular on the housing wall, which is plastically deformed in a later process, this taking place in particular by deep-drawing, and thereby the coupling element is produced.

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 terms "top", "bottom", "front", "rear", "horizontal", "vertical", "depth direction", "width direction", "height direction", etc. are the intended use and intended arrangement of the device and indicated in a given then in front of the device and looking in the direction of the device given positions and orientations.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features mentioned above in the description and Combinations of features, 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 specified combination but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, however, emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Frontansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltsgeräts zur Pflege von Wäschestücken;

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung eine Schnittansicht durch einen Bereich einer Anordnung mit einer Wäschetrommel und Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtungen gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung;

Fig. 3

eine vergrößerte Darstellung eines Teilbereichs einer Wäschetrommel des Haushaltsgeräts in einem unfertigen Zustand von Anlagewänden;

Fig. 4

die Darstellung gemäß Fig. 3 im fertigen Zustand der Anlagewände;

Fig. 5

eine Schnittdarstellung des Haushaltsgeräts im Bereich der Kopplung zwischen der Wäschetrommel und einer Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtung; und

Fig.6

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Teilbereichs einer Unwuchtausgleichsvorrichtung mit einem Koppelelement.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic front view of an embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention for the care of laundry items;

Fig. 2

a schematic sectional view through a portion of an arrangement with a laundry drum and imbalance compensation devices according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3

an enlarged view of a portion of a laundry drum of the household appliance in an unfinished state of investment walls;

Fig. 4

the representation according to Fig. 3 in the finished state of the plant walls;

Fig. 5

a sectional view of the household appliance in the region of the coupling between the laundry drum and an imbalance compensation device; and

Figure 6

a perspective view of a portion of an imbalance compensation device with a coupling element.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 is a simplified front view of a household appliance 1 for the care of laundry, which may be, for example, a washing machine or a washer-dryer, shown. The household appliance 1 comprises a housing 2, in which a laundry drum 3 is rotatably mounted. A longitudinal axis or axis of rotation A ( Fig. 2 ) of the laundry drum 3 is in this embodiment in the illustration in Fig. 1 oriented perpendicular to the plane of the figure. The household appliance 1 further comprises a tub 4, which is also arranged in the housing 2 and surrounds the laundry drum 3. The laundry drum 3 comprises a hollow cylindrical shell and a rear end wall and is also designed to be open at the front, so that here a feed opening is provided, via which laundry items can be introduced into an interior 5 of the laundry drum 3. The loading opening can be closed by a door 6, which is arranged movably on the housing 2.

In Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view and thus a representation in the sectional plane relating to the yz plane shown. It is the laundry drum 3 shown with the hollow cylindrical shell 7. The charging port 8 is also shown. The laundry drum 3 has, adjacent to a rear wall or rear end wall 9, a carrier star 10 which is fixedly connected to the laundry drum 3. The support star 10 is rotatably connected to a shaft 11, wherein the shaft 11 is driven by a drive motor, not shown, so that the rotation of the laundry drum 3 is effected about the axis of rotation A.

During operation of the household appliance 1 and thus when the laundry drum 3 is rotating, introduced items of laundry can be distributed asymmetrically about the axis A on an inner side 12 of the jacket 7, so that an imbalance can occur when the laundry drum 3 rotates. In order to counteract this or to compensate for this, the household appliance 1 in the embodiment shown comprises two unbalance compensation devices 13 and 14. As can also be seen, a plurality of carriers is arranged on the inner side 12, wherein Fig. 2 only one driver 15 can be seen.

The front unbalance compensating device 13 is viewed in the direction of the axis A in a front region 16 of the laundry drum 3 and in particular of the jacket 7 whereas the second unbalance compensation device 14 is arranged in a rear area 17.

The first unbalance compensation device 13 is formed as a circumferential closed ring, which is rotationally symmetrical about the axis A oriented. The first unbalance compensation device 13 comprises a respective annular housing 18, which in the sectional view in Fig. 2 recognizable example, a quadrangular cross-section, but may also be otherwise, for example, D-shaped. This housing 18 has a cavity 19 in which one or more compensation elements 20 are arranged to be movable relative to the housing 18. In the exemplary embodiment, a compensation element 20 may be a ball. It may also be arranged in addition to or instead of a liquid medium in the cavity 19.

Accordingly, the second unbalance compensation device 14 is also formed, which also has a correspondingly formed housing 21, a cavity 22 inwardly therefrom and, in particular, preferably a plurality of compensating elements 23 movable in the cavity 22 relative to the housing 21.

The imbalance compensation devices 13 and 14 are each inserted in circumferential receptacles 39.

In Fig. 3 is shown in a perspective partial view of the laundry drum 3. In a jacket wall or in an arranged at an angle forehead bottom of the laundry drum 3, a coupling region 24 is formed. In Fig. 3 In this case, a state is shown in which this coupling region 24 is not yet shown in the finished final state. In the coupling region 24, a franking or a free cut 25 is formed. The cutout 25 is partially bounded by bending webs 26 and 27, which still extend here in the plane of the wall of the laundry drum 3. For the further production of the attachment of the imbalance compensation device 13 to the laundry drum 3 are shown in FIG Fig. 4 then two plant walls 28 and 29 produced by bending the bending webs 26 and 27. As shown in Fig. 4 , in which the abutment walls 28 and 29 are shown in their bent end position, can be seen, the abutment walls 28 and 29 form an angle α to each other, which is between 70 ° and 110 °. The two Abutment walls 28 and 29 are also radially oriented and thus are preferably perpendicular to the axis A. They are inclined to a line at the same level around the axis of rotation A line.

In the illustration according to Fig. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to the view in FIG Fig. 2 shown, wherein a portion of the section I in Fig. 2 is shown enlarged. As can be seen in the sectional view, a coupling element 30, which is integrally formed on an upper housing wall 18a of the housing 18 and extends in a raised radial direction outwards, emerges in an engagement region 31 of the laundry drum 3. This engagement region 31 is limited in particular at the front by the abutment walls 28 and 29. As can be seen, the coupling element 30, which is designed as a deep-drawing element in the housing wall 18a, which is a first housing wall 18a, comprises a first coupling web 32, which rests directly and over a large area and in particular also positively against the abutment wall 29. An in Fig. 2 not shown, but in the perspective view according to Fig. 6 represented further coupling web 33 is then correspondingly on the contact surface 28 over a large area and positively.

As in Fig. 6 can be seen, the two coupling webs 32 and 33 are integrally formed and enclose an angle β, which is corresponding to the angle between the abutment walls 28 and 29. The coupling webs 32 and 33 form a viewed in the direction of the axis of rotation A triangle tip, which is oriented to a second housing wall 18 b of the housing 18.

As in the illustration according to Fig. 6 can also be seen, open respectively free ends 34 and 35 of the coupling webs 32 and 33 in each case in a stabilizing web 36 and 37 of the coupling element 30, wherein here again a one-piece design is provided. Between the coupling web 32 and the stabilizing web 36 and between the coupling web 33 and the stabilizing web 37 is in each case an angle γ is formed, which is smaller than 90 °, preferably between 35 ° and 50 °. As in the illustration according to Fig. 6 can also be seen, the coupling element 30 is formed as M.

In addition, it can be seen that the stabilizing webs 36 and 37 pass over a transition 38 between the first housing wall 18a and at an angle thereto arranged second housing wall 18b, which is preferably oriented between 80 ° and 100 ° to the first housing wall 18a, sublime. It is thus achieved a backup of the deep drawing element against bending back by a deformation on the transition 38 away on the second housing wall 18b. Here, a one-piece and thus complete and uninterrupted configuration of the stabilizing webs 36 and 37 is formed.

The unbalance compensation device 13 is first with the at least one coupling element 30 by appropriate production, as already explained and stamping and deep drawing of the coupling element 30 from the housing wall 18b, preferably also by a corresponding processing in the second housing wall 18b generated. The unbalance compensation device 13 thus provided is then brought to its end position to the laundry drum 3, as in accordance with Fig. 3 provided. If this desired relative position is then reached between the unbalance compensation device 13 and the laundry drum 3, bending of the bending webs 26 and 27 is then performed in a subsequent step to produce the orientation and configuration of the abutment walls 28 and 29, which then form-fitting on vertical sides of the coupling webs Abut 32 and 33, wherein preferably also upper sides of the coupling webs 32 and 33, which are thus facing away from the housing wall 18 a, abut against the abutment walls 28 and 29 subsequent roof areas of the coupling region 24, as in Fig. 5 is shown.

Preferably, a plurality of such coupling elements 30 are formed, which are in communication with abutment walls on coupling regions of the laundry drum 3.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

household appliance

2

casing

3

washing drum

4

tub

5

Interior

6

door

7

hollow cylindrical shell

8th

loading port

9

rear wall

10

support star

11

wave

12

inside

13, 14

Balancing devices

15

takeaway

16

front area

17

the backstage area

18

casing

18a, b

housing wall

19

cavity

20

compensation element

21

casing

22

cavity

23

compensating elements

24

coupling region

25

Clear cut

26, 27

bending webs

28, 29

plant walls

30

coupling element

31

engagement area

32, 33

coupling webs

34, 35

free ends

36, 37

stabilizing webs

38

crossing

39

admission

Claims (15)

1. Assembly for a household appliance (1) for handling items to be washed, with at least one washing drum (3) for receiving items to be washed, and with at least one annular imbalance compensation device (13, 14), which is inserted into a surrounding receptacle (39) of the washing drum (3), characterised in that the washing drum (3) has a coupling area (24) for coupling with the imbalance compensation device (13, 14), which coupling area (24) has two abutting walls (28, 29) arranged at an angle to one another, and the imbalance compensation device (13, 14) has a housing (18) with a first housing wall (18a) on which at least one coupling element (30) projecting in a radial direction in a raised manner over the first housing wall (18a) is embodied, which coupling element (30) has two coupling webs (32, 33) oriented at an angle (β) to one another, wherein one coupling web (32, 33) in each case abuts one abutting wall (28, 29).
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the abutting walls (28, 29) are arranged in relation to one another such that they form the apex of a triangle.
3. Arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the abutting walls (28, 29) are arranged at an angle of between 20° and 160°, in particular between 60° and 120°, to one another.
4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the abutting walls (28, 29) are oriented in a radial direction to a longitudinal axis (A) of the washing drum (3).
5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the abutting walls (28, 29) are embodied as bends of a cutout (25) in the washing drum (3).
6. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling webs (32, 33) are embodied in a continuous manner.
7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling webs (32, 33) are embodied in a straight line and at their free ends (34, 35) each lead into one stabilisation web (36, 37) of the coupling element (30).
8. Arrangement according to claim 7, characterised in that the stabilisation webs (36, 37) are oriented at an angle of less than 90°, in particular less than 60°, to the adjoining coupling web (32, 33) in each case.
9. Arrangement according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the coupling webs (32, 33) and the stabilisation webs (36, 37) are embodied in one piece.
10. Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that the housing (18) has a second housing wall (18b) adjoining the first housing wall (18a) at an angle and the stabilisation webs (36, 37) extend across a transition (38) between the housing walls (18a, 18b) and are also embodied on the second housing wall (18b).
11. Arrangement according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that the coupling element (30) with the coupling webs (32, 33) and stabilisation webs (36, 37) is embodied as an M.
12. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling element (30) is embodied as a deep-drawn element in the washing drum (3).
13. Household appliance (1) for handling items to be washed, with an arrangement according to the preceding claims.
14. Method for securing an annular imbalance compensation device (13, 14) to a washing drum (3) of a household appliance (1) for handling items to be washed, wherein the imbalance compensation device (13, 14) is inserted into a surrounding axial receptacle (39) of the washing drum (3), characterised in that the washing drum (3) is embodied with a coupling area (24) with two abutting walls (28, 29) arranged at an angle to one another for coupling with the imbalance compensation device (13, 14), and the imbalance compensation device (13, 14) has a housing (18) with a first housing wall (18a) on which a coupling element (30) projecting in a radial direction in a raised manner over the first housing wall (18a) and with two coupling webs (32, 33) oriented at an angle to one another is embodied, wherein one coupling web (32, 33) in each case abuts one abutting wall (28, 29) for the purpose of securing the imbalance compensation device (13, 14).
15. Method according to claim 14, characterised in that the imbalance compensation device (13, 14) with its coupling element (30) embodied in particular by means of deep drawing is brought into an end position in relation to the washing drum (3) and then the abutting walls (28, 29) embodied on a cutout in the washing drum (3) are bent for the purpose of securing such that they abut the coupling webs (32, 33), in particular in a form-fit manner.

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