EP3317451B1

EP3317451B1 - Laundry treatment apparatus

Info

Publication number: EP3317451B1
Application number: EP16818203.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heechul Choi; Dongwoo PARK; Juhan Yoon
Original assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Current assignee: LG Electronics Inc
Priority date: 2015-06-30
Filing date: 2016-06-29
Publication date: 2021-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2036-06-29
Also published as: EP3317451A1; US20180340285A1; WO2017003170A1; KR20170002888A; EP3317451A4

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus.

Background Art

Generally, a laundry treatment apparatus refers to an appliance including an apparatus adapted to perform washing of laundry (objects to be washed and objects to be dried), an apparatus adapted to perform drying of laundry and an apparatus adapted to perform both washing and drying of laundry.
DE 10 2008027977 (A1 ) relates to a multiple-washing machine for washing adult clothes and comprises two washing machines arranged in the housing to perform respective washing process, wherein the housing includes accommodating area vertically divided into accommodation portions.
US 2010/011609 (A1 ) relates to a multiple laundry treating machine configured by coupling an auxiliary laundry treating device such as an auxiliary drying device or an auxiliary washing device to a main laundry treating device.
DE 20 2004 010585 (U1 ) relates to a multiple chamber washing machine which comprises three wash drums in a vertical line in a single housing each operating independently to carry out different treatments simultaneously.
US 2006/156765 (A1 ) relates to a modular laundry system that comprises a first laundry appliance, a second laundry appliance horizontally or vertically arranged relative to the first laundry appliance, and a cabinet module horizontally arranged relative to the first and second laundry appliances.
KR 2012 0107227 (A ) relates to a washing machine that includes a door rotated at a predetermined angle in the front of a cabinet.
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses have been classified into a front-loading-type apparatus, in which laundry is introduced into the apparatus 1hrough an introduction port formed in the front surface of the apparatus, and a top-loading-type apparatus, in which laundry is introduced into the apparatus 1hrough an introduction port formed in the upper surface of the apparatus.
Since conventional laundry treatment apparatus has to be designed to perform treatment (washing, drying and the like) of a predetermined amount or more of laundry, there is a limitation on the reduction in the volume of the laundry treatment apparatus.
Due to the difficulty in reducing the volume of the laundry treatment apparatus, a user has to buy two laundry treatment apparatuses and has to dispose the two apparatuses on the ground side by side, thereby decreasing the efficiency of use of space in which the laundry treatment apparatuses are mounted.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a laundry treatment apparatus in which a plurality of treatment apparatuses, which are adapted to perform various laundry treatment functions (laundry washing, drying and the like), are stacked one on another or are disposed side by side.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus, which is constructed so as to make it easy to transfer laundry from one treatment apparatus to another treatment apparatus.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus, which is constructed such that garments having a risk of color migration are washed separately and the garments, having been completely washed, are dried together.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus, which is able to minimize vibrations generated when two stacked treatment apparatuses are operated at the same time.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus, which is able to prevent an upper treatment apparatus from falling down or falling over during the operation of any of the treatment apparatuses.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus, which can be constructed such that a lower treatment apparatus is operated only when an upper additional treatment apparatus is mounted thereon, thereby minimizing vibration generated in the lower treatment apparatus.

Solution to Problem

The objects of the present invention can be achieved with a laundry treatment apparatus comprising the features of independent claim 1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprises a washing apparatus for washing laundry and a drying apparatus for drying laundry, wherein the washing apparatus includes a first cabinet, a first drawer drawably disposed in the first cabinet, a first receiver disposed in the first drawer so as to contain laundry therein, a second cabinet disposed under the first cabinet so as to support the first cabinet, a second drawer drawably disposed in the second cabinet, and a second receiver disposed in the second drawer so as to contain laundry, and wherein the drying apparatus includes a cabinet disposed on a lateral side of the washing apparatus, the cabinet having an introduction port formed in a front wall thereof for introduction and discharge of laundry, a receiver disposed in the cabinet so as to define a space for receiving laundry introduced through the introduction port, and a drying unit for supplying air to the receiver to dry laundry.
The first receiver includes a first tub disposed in the first drawer so as to contain washing water, a first drum rotatably disposed in the first tub so as to contain laundry, a first introduction port provided in the first tub so as to be parallel to a bottom surface of the first cabinet, and a first drum-rotating shaft extending through the first tub, the first drum-rotating shaft being connected to the first drum so as to be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the first cabinet, and wherein the second receiver includes a second tub disposed in the second drawer so as to contain washing water, a second drum rotatably disposed in the second tub so as to contain laundry, a second introduction port provided in an upper wall of the second tub so as to be parallel to a bottom surface of the second cabinet, and a second drum-rotating shaft extending through the second tub, the second drum-rotating shaft being connected to the second drum so as to be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second cabinet.
The washing apparatus may be positioned at a level that is equal to or lower than a level of the drying apparatus.
The first drum-rotating shaft may be aligned with the second drum-rotating shaft.
The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a first drum driving unit for rotating the first drum-rotating shaft, a first controller for controlling the first drum driving unit, a second drum driving unit for rotating the second drum-rotating shaft, and a second controller for controlling the second drum driving unit, wherein, when the first drum-rotating shaft and the second drum-rotating shaft are rotated concurrently, at least one of the first and second controllers controls the first drum driving unit and the second drum driving unit so as to prevent the first drum-rotating shaft and the second drum-rotating shaft from rotating in the same direction.
The washing apparatus may further include a coupling unit for permitting the second controller to control operation of the second drum driving unit only when the first cabinet is mounted on an upper surface of the second cabinet.
The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a cabinet supporting unit for connecting the first cabinet to the second cabinet to prevent the first cabinet from falling down from the second cabinet.
The cabinet supporting unit may include a first connector provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet, and a second connector provided on the upper surface of the second cabinet so as to be detachable therefrom, and wherein the coupling unit may include a presser extending through the upper surface of the second cabinet so as to be pressed by the first connector, and a circuit connector for opening or closing a circuit adapted to supply power to the second drum driving unit depending on a position of the presser.
The cabinet supporting unit may include a first connector provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet, and a second connector provided on the upper surface of the second cabinet so as to be detachable therefrom, and wherein the coupling unit may include a presser, extending through the upper surface of the second cabinet so as to be pressed by the first connector, and a circuit connector for opening or closing a circuit adapted to connect the second controller to the second drum driving unit.
The cabinet supporting unit may include a first connector provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet, a second connector provided on the upper surface of the second cabinet so as to be detachable therefrom, and a cabinet connector for connecting at least one of the first and second cabinets to the cabinet of the drying apparatus.
The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a door for opening and closing the introduction port, a first rotating shaft for coupling the door to the cabinet and for allowing the door to be rotated in a first direction, and a second rotating shaft for coupling the door to the cabinet and for allowing the door to be rotated in a second direction, which is different from the first direction.
The first rotating shaft may be oriented so as to be perpendicular to a bottom surface of the cabinet, and the second rotating shaft may be disposed at a lower portion of the introduction port so as to be parallel to the bottom surface of the cabinet.
The laundry treatment apparatus may further include an angle controller for controlling an angle of the door when the door is rotated about the second rotating shaft.
The angle controller may maintain the door in a state in which the door is rotated to a predetermined reference angle with respect to the introduction port.
The reference angle may be set such that laundry placed on the door is moved to the introduction port due to gravity.
The washing apparatus may further comprise a third cabinet disposed under the second cabinet so as to support the second cabinet; a third drawer drawably disposed in the third cabinet; and a third receiver disposed in the third drawer so as to contain laundry, and, wherein the third receiver may include a third tub disposed in the third drawer so as to contain washing water, and a third drum rotatably disposed in the third tub so as to contain laundry, and a third introduction port provided in an upper wall of the third tub so as to be parallel to a bottom surface of the third cabinet.
The introduction port of the drying apparatus may be positioned at a level, which is lower than the first introduction port but higher than the third introduction port.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

The present invention offers an effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus in which a plurality of treatment apparatuses, which are adapted to perform various laundry treatment functions (washing, drying and the like of laundry), are stacked one on another or are disposed side by side.
Furthermore, the present invention offers an effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus, which is constructed so as to make it easy to transfer laundry from one treatment apparatus to another treatment apparatus.
In addition, the present invention offers an effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus, which is constructed such that garments having a risk of color migration are separately washed and the garments, having been completely washed, are dried together.
Furthermore, the present invention offers an effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus, which is able to minimize vibrations generated when two stacked treatment apparatuses are operated at the same time.
In addition, the present invention offers an effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus, which is able to prevent an upper treatment apparatus from falling down or falling over during the operation of any of the treatment apparatuses.
Furthermore, the present invention offers an effect of providing a laundry treatment apparatus, which can be constructed such that a lower treatment apparatus is operated only when an upper additional treatment apparatus is mounted thereon, thereby minimizing vibration generated in the lower treatment apparatus.

Brief Description of Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.
In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an example of a laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;
FIGs. 2 to 4 are views illustrating an example of a coupling structure between first and second treatment apparatuses included in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating an example of a coupling unit included in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;
FIGs. 6 and 7 are views illustrating an example of a drying apparatus included in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 8 is a view illustrating examples of a door and hinges included in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention;
FIGs. 9 and 10 are views illustrating an example of a rotating shaft converter included in the door; and
FIGs. 11 and 12 are views illustrating another embodiment of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

Best Mode for Carrying out the Invention

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be noted herein that the construction of an apparatus, which will hereinafter be described, and a method of controlling the apparatus are given only for illustrative purposes and the protection scope of the invention is not limited thereto. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present invention includes washing apparatuses 1 and 3 for washing laundry and a drying apparatus 7.
The washing apparatuses included in the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention may include at least two treatment apparatuses 1 and 3. FIG. 1 illustrates an example in which the washing apparatuses are composed of a second treatment apparatus 3 mounted on the ground and a first treatment apparatus 1 disposed on the second treatment apparatus 3.
As illustrate in FIG. 2, the first treatment apparatus 1 includes a first cabinet 11, defining the appearance of the laundry treatment apparatus 1, a first drawer 13, drawably provided in the first cabinet 11, and a first receiver 15-17, which is disposed in the first drawer 13 so as to define a space required to treat laundry.
The first cabinet 11 is provided with a first open surface 111, through which the first drawer 13 may be put into the first cabinet 11 and may be drawn out of the first cabinet 11. The first cabinet 11 is preferably configured such that the length in the width direction (in the X-axis direction) is greater than the length in the height direction (in the Y-axis direction).
The first drawer 13 includes a first drawer body 131 having the open surface formed in the upper wall, and a first drawer cover 135 provided at the open surface of the first drawer 13.
The first drawer body 131 may be configured to have a hollow hexahedral form, and the first drawer cover 135 may be secured to the first drawer body 131 so as to define the upper surface of the first drawer body 131.
The first drawer body 131 is provided on the front surface thereof with a first drawer panel 133, which serves as means for opening and closing the open surface 111 of the first cabinet 11 and as means for drawing the first drawer body 131 out of the first cabinet 11 and putting the first drawer body 131 into the first cabinet 11.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the first drawer panel 133 may be provided with a first control panel 133a for controlling the operation of the first treatment apparatus 1. The first control panel 133a is provided with a unit (a first controller) for controlling units for supplying washing water to the first receiver 15-17 and discharging washing water from the first receiver 15-17 (a first water supply unit and a first water discharge unit), a unit for rotating laundry and the like.
The first control panel 133a may be provided with a first input unit 133b, for enabling a user to input control commands into the first treatment apparatus 1, and a first display unit (a unit for displaying operational information of the first treatment apparatus 1) 133c, for enabling a user to check control commands input through the first input unit 133b or notifying a user of an execution procedure of the control commands input by the user.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the first drawer cover 135 may be provided with a first cover-first through hole (first through hole) 137, which is formed through the first drawer cover 135 so that the inside of the first drawer body 131 communicates with the outside, and a first cover-second through hole (a second through hole) 139.
The first receiver 15-17, which is provided in the first drawer 13, may include a first tub 15, which is provided in the first drawer body 131 so as to define a space for containing washing water, and a first drum 17, which is rotatably provided in the first tub 15 so as to contain laundry. The first tub 15 is held in the first drawer 13 by means of a first tub support 151.
The first tub 15 is provided in the upper surface thereof with a first introduction port 153 so that the inside of the first tub 15 communicates with the outside of the first tub 15. The first introduction port 153 is opened and closed by means of the first door 155.
The first door 155 is hingedly provided on the upper wall of the first tub 15 (so as to open and close a portion of the upper surface of the first tub 15). The first door 155 may be rotated toward the outside of the first drawer 13 through the first through hole 137 formed in the first drawer cover 135. Accordingly, a user may put laundry into the first tub 15 by opening the first door 155 after taking the first drawer 13 out of the first cabinet 11.
The first tub 15 is provided in the upper wall thereof with a first inflow hole 157, through which washing water is introduced into the first tub 15. The first inflow hole 157 is connected to the first water supply pipe S11, which will be described later.
The first drum 17 may be configured to have a cylindrical form having an open upper surface. The first drum 17 is rotatable in the first tub 15 by means of a first drum driving unit (a first driving unit) 173, which is disposed outside the first tub 15.
The diameter of the first drum 17 is preferably greater than the height (the length in the Y-axis direction) of the first drum 17.
The present invention is characterized in that at least two washing 1 and 3 are stacked one on another. The introduction ports 153 and 353, which are respectively provided in the washing treatment apparatuses 1 and 3, are disposed parallel to the ground surface G. Accordingly, there is a problem whereby the user's access to the first introduction port 153 becomes difficult as the height of each of the washing apparatuses is increased. Accordingly, the reason why the diameter of the first drum 17 is greater than the height of the first drum 17 is to minimize the height of the laundry treatment apparatus 100 so as to facilitate the user's access to the introduction port 153, which is positioned at the highest level of the laundry treatment apparatus.
For this reason, the height of the washing apparatuses 1 and 3 is preferably lower than the height of the drying apparatus 7, which will be described later. Specifically, the height of the first introduction port 153 above the ground G, on which the second treatment apparatus 3 is mounted, may be equal to or lower than that of a control panel 713 provided at the drying apparatus 7.
The first driving unit 173 may include a stator 1731, which is secured to the first tub 15 so as to create a rotating magnetic field, a rotor 1733, which is rotated by the rotating magnetic field, and a first drum-rotating shaft 1735, which extends through the first tub 15 to connect the bottom wall of the first drum 17 to the rotor 1733. As illustrated in the drawings, the second drum-rotating shaft 1735 may be oriented so as to be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the first drawer 13.
The first drawer 13 is preferably constructed such that the first driving unit 173 is not exposed to the outside when the first drawer 13 is taken out of the first cabinet 11. In other words, it is preferable for the bottom wall of a first drawer body 131 not to have a hole through which the first driving unit 173 is exposed to the outside.
The first drum 17 is provided in the circumferential wall thereof with first drum through holes 171 through which the inside of the first drum 17 communicates with the inside of the first tub 15.
The first tub 15 receives washing water from a first water supply unit S1, and the washing water contained in the first tub 15 is discharged through a first water discharge unit D1.
The first water supply unit S1 may include the first water supply pipe S11, connecting the first inflow hole 157 with a water supply source, and a valve S13 for opening and closing the first water supply pipe S11 via a first controller C1.
The first water supply pipe S11 extends into the first drawer 135 through the second through hole 139. The first water supply pipe S11 is preferably constructed to have an extendable structure, or is made of a flexible material, in consideration of the moving range of the first drawer 135.
The first water discharge unit D1 may include a first water discharge pipe D11 for guiding the washing water in the first tub 15 to the outside of the first cabinet 11, and a pump D13 (which is controlled by the first controller), which is disposed in the first water discharge pipe D11 so as to discharge the washing water in the first tub 15. The first water discharge pipe is also constructed to have an extendable structure, or is made of a flexible material.
The first treatment apparatus 1 may be provided on the bottom surface thereof with a first adjusting unit 19 for adjusting the height or horizontal position of the first treatment apparatus. The adjusting unit 19 may include a first stationary body 191 secured to the bottom surface of the first cabinet 11, a first adjusting body 193 rotatably provided in the first stationary body 191, and a first contact body 195, which is provided at the first adjusting body 193 so as to contact the second treatment apparatus 3.
The first adjusting body 193 may be embodied as an external thread, and the first stationary body 191 may be embodied as an internal thread with which the external thread is engaged. Here, the first adjusting unit 19 is able to adjust the distance between the first contact body 195 and the first stationary body 191 in accordance with the rotational angle of the first adjusting body 193.
The first adjusting unit 19 preferably includes three or more first adjusting units, which are provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet 11. The first adjusting units 5 enable a worker to adjust the horizontal position of the first cabinet 11 or the height of the first cabinet 11.
The second treatment apparatus 3 may include a second cabinet 31, a second drawer 33 drawably provided in the second cabinet 31, and a second receiver 35-37, which is disposed in the second drawer 33 so as to provide a space for accommodating laundry.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the second cabinet 31, which is intended to support the first treatment apparatus 1, is provided on the front surface thereof with a second open surface 311, through which the second drawer 33 is inserted.
The second drawer 33 may include a second drawer body 331, a second drawer cover 335 defining the upper surface of the second drawer body 331, and a second drawer panel 333 secured to the second drawer body 331.
The second drawer panel 333 may be provided with a second control panel 333a. The second control panel 333a may be provided with a second input unit 333b and a second display unit 333c, which are controlled by a second controller C2. Since the functions of the second control panel 333a, the second input unit 333b and the second display unit 333c, which are included in the second treatment apparatus 3, are the same as those of the first control panel, the first input unit and the first display unit, which are included in the first treatment apparatus 1, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
The second drawer cover 335 may be provided with a second cover-first through hole (a third through hole) 337 through which the inside of the second drawer 33 communicates with the outside of the second drawer 33, and a second cover-second through hole (a fourth through hole) 339.
The second receiver 35-37 may include a second tub 35 for containing washing water, and a second drum 37, which is provided in the second tub 35 so as to contain laundry therein.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the second tub 35 is held in the second drawer body 331 by means of a second tub support 351. The second tub 35 is provided in the upper wall thereof with a second introduction port 353 and a second inflow hole 357.
The second introduction port 353 is disposed below the third through hole 337, and is opened and closed by means of a second door 355, which is hingedly coupled to the second tub 35.
The second inflow hole 357, which is intended to allow washing water to be introduced into the second tub 35 therethrough, is connected to a second water supply pipe S21, which will be described later.
The second drum 37 is rotatable in the second tub 35 by means of a second drum driving unit (a second driving unit) 371. The structures of the second drum 37 and the second driving unit 371 may be identical to those of the first drum 17 and the first driving unit 173 of the first treatment apparatus 1.
Specifically, the second driving unit 371 may also include a stator, a rotor and a second drum-rotating shaft 373. The second drum-rotating shaft 373 extends through the second tub 35 to connect the bottom surface of the first drum 17 to the rotor. The second drum-rotating shaft 373 is oriented perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second drawer 33.
The second tub 35 receives washing water through a second water supply unit S2, and the washing water contained in the second tub 35 is discharged outside the second cabinet 31 through a second water discharge unit D2.
The structures of the second water supply unit S2 and the second water discharge unit D2 may be the same as those of the first water supply unit S1 and the first water discharge unit D1. In other words, the second water supply unit S2 may include a second water supply pipe S21, connecting the second inflow hole 357 to a water supply source, and a second valve S23 for opening and closing the second water supply pipe S21.
Here, the second water supply pipe S21 extends into the second drawer cover 335 through the fourth through hole 339, and is preferably constructed to have an extendable structure or is made of a flexible material in consideration of the moving range of the second drawer 33.
The second water discharge unit D2 may include a second water discharge pipe for guiding the washing water in the second tub 35 outside the second cabinet 31, and a pump provided in the second water discharge pipe. The second water discharge pipe is also preferably constructed to have an extendable structure or is made of a flexible material.
The second cabinet 31 may be provided on the bottom surface thereof with a second adjusting unit 39 for adjusting the horizontal position or the height of the second treatment apparatus 3. The second adjusting unit 39 may include a second stationary body 391, secured to the bottom surface of the second cabinet 31, a second adjusting body 393 rotatably coupled to the second stationary body 391, and a second contact body 395, which is provided at the second adjusting body 393 so as to contact a mounting surface (the ground or the like) on which the second treatment apparatus 3 is mounted.
The structures of the second stationary body 391, the second adjusting body 393 and the second contact body 395 may be the same as those of the first stationary body 191, the first adjusting body 193 and the first contact body 195, which are included in the first adjusting unit 19.
Since the first treatment apparatus 1 includes the first drawer 13, which is drawable out of the first cabinet 11, there is the possibility of the first treatment apparatus 1 falling down from the second treatment apparatus 3 when a user puts laundry into the first receiver 15-17 or takes the laundry out of the first receiver 15-17.
In order to take laundry, the washing of which is completed, out of the second treatment apparatus 3, a user has to take the second drawer 33 out of the second cabinet 31. Since the center of gravity of the second treatment apparatus 3 moves forward as the second drawer 33 is taken out of the second cabinet 31, there may be a problem whereby the rear portion of the second treatment apparatus 3 is separated from the ground G (the front portion of the second treatment apparatus 3 collides with the ground).
The problem, which may occur in the second treatment apparatus 3, may be solved by positioning the first treatment apparatus 1 on the upper surface 315 of the second treatment apparatus 3. However, the above problem cannot be completely solved only by mounting the first treatment apparatus 1 on the second treatment apparatus 3 because the first treatment apparatus 1 may be removed from the upper surface 315 of the second treatment apparatus 3 by a user.
Furthermore, when the sum of the length of the first treatment apparatus 1 and the length of the second treatment apparatus 3 is greater than the length in the width direction of the second treatment apparatus 1, there is the possibility of the washing apparatuses 1 and 3 falling over when the first drawer 13 is taken out of the first cabinet 11 even though the first treatment apparatus 1 is positioned on the second treatment apparatus 3.
Accordingly, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present invention may further include at least one of cabinet supporting units for preventing the first treatment apparatus 1 from falling down from the top of the second treatment apparatus 3, and a coupling unit 9 for permitting the second treatment apparatus 3 to be operated only when the first treatment apparatus 1 is mounted on the second treatment apparatus 3.
FIGs. 3 and 4 illustrate various examples of the cabinet supporting unit 8. The cabinet supporting unit 8 may be embodied as at least one of a support (a first support 81) for coupling the first cabinet 11 to the second cabinet 31, a support (a second support) 83, which is disposed in front of the second treatment apparatus 3 so as to support both washing apparatuses 1 and 3, a support (a third support) 85, which is disposed behind the second treatment apparatus 3 so as to support both the washing apparatuses, a support (a fourth support) 87 for connecting the rear surface of the first treatment apparatus 1 to the ground or a wall, and a connector (a cabinet connector) 89 for connecting the washing apparatuses 1 and 3 to the drying apparatus 7.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the first support (a first treatment apparatus support) 81 may include a first connector 817, provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet 11, and a second connector 819, which is provided on the upper surface 315 of the second cabinet 31 and is coupled to the first connector 817.
The first support 81 may serve not only to couple the first and second cabinets 11 and 31 to each other but also to hold the position of the first adjusting unit 19. Here, the first support 81 may further include a body 811, which is secured to the upper surface 315 of the second cabinet 31 and on which the second connector 819 is disposed, and an adjusting unit receiver 813, which receives the first contact body 195 of the first adjusting unit 19.
In order to facilitate coupling between the first connector 817 and the second connector 819, the body 811 may further be provided with a receiver 815 in which the free end of the first connector 817 is received. The receiver 815 may be embodied as a hole formed through the body 811, or may be embodied as a recess formed in the surface of the body 811 so as to be concave.
When the first treatment apparatus 1 is secured to the second treatment apparatus 3 by means of the first support 81, the possibility of the first treatment apparatus 1 falling down from the top of the second treatment apparatus 3 is greatly reduced by virtue of the weight of the second treatment apparatus 3 even when the first drawer 13 is taken out of the first cabinet 11.
However, when the weight of the first treatment apparatus 1 is equal to or greater than the weight of the second treatment apparatus 3 (when laundry is introduced only into the first treatment apparatus 1), the first support 81 can prevent the first treatment apparatus 1 from falling down from the top of the second treatment apparatus 3 but cannot prevent the washing apparatuses 1 and 3 from falling over.
The second support 83, the third support 85, the fourth support 87 and the cabinet connector 89 are intended to solve this problem.
The second support unit 83 may be constituted by a plate or bar, which extends from the second adjusting unit 39, provided at the front end of the second cabinet 31, in the direction in which the first drawer 13 is taken out.
The second support 83 may extend from the second cabinet 31 in the direction in which the first drawer 13 is taken out, and may contact a mounting surface on which the second cabinet 31 is mounted (a surface on which the laundry treatment apparatus is mounted, such as the ground).
Although the second support 83 may be detachably coupled to the second adjusting unit 39 provided at the front end of the second cabinet 31, the second support 83 may also be constructed by extending the second contact body of the second adjusting unit 39 in the direction in which the first drawer 13 is taken out.
Here, it is preferable that the distance Z1 (see FIG. 2) between the front surface of the second cabinet 31 and the free end of the second support 83 be longer than the distance Z2 between the front surface of the second cabinet 31 and the first drum-rotating shaft 1735. This is because there is a high possibility of the center of gravity of the first drawer 13 being positioned near the first drum-rotating shaft 1735.
The third support 85 may include a support body 851, which extends from the rear end of the second cabinet 31 in the direction opposite the direction in which the first drawer 13 is taken out, a slit 853 formed in the support body 851 so as to receive the second adjusting body 393, and a fastening member 857 for securing the support body 851 to the surface on which the second treatment apparatus 3 is mounted.
The support body 851 is coupled to the second adjusting unit 39 through the slit 853, and the fastening member 857 is secured to the mounting surface through a through hole 855 formed in the support body 851 so as to secure the support body 851 to the mounting surface.
When the second adjusting unit 39 includes the second contact body 395, the third support 85 may further include flanges 859, which are provided on both lateral sides of the support body 851 and extend in the longitudinal direction (z) of the support body 851.
The flanges 859 are intended to provide a space for receiving the second contact body 395. It is preferable that the distance between the two flanges 859 be greater than the length in the width direction of the second contact body 395 (the length in the X-axis direction) and that the height of each of the flanges 859 be greater than the length in the height direction of the second contact body 395 (the length in the Y-axis direction).
Alternatively, the third support 85 may be constituted only by the support body 851, which is secured to the second contact body 395 of the second adjusting unit and extends in the direction opposite the direction (in the -Z-axis direction) in which the first drawer 13 is taken out, and the fastening member 857 for securing the support body to the surface on which the second cabinet 31 is mounted.
As illustrated in FIG. 4, the fourth support 87 serves to secure the rear surface of the first treatment apparatus 1 to a surface defining a space (a wall or the ground) in which the laundry treatment apparatus 100 is installed. The fourth support 87 may include a wire 871 fixed to the rear surface of the first cabinet 11, and a fastening member 873 for securing the wire 871 to the mounting surface or a wall defining a space in which the laundry treatment apparatus 100 is installed.
The cabinet connector 89, which is intended to connect the washing apparatuses 1 and 3 to the drying apparatus 7, may include one of a first cabinet connector 891 for connecting the rear surface of the first cabinet 11 to the rear surface of the drying apparatus 7, and a second cabinet connector 893 for connecting the rear surface of the second cabinet 31 to the rear surface of the drying apparatus 7.
By virtue of the cabinet supporting unit, the present invention is able not only to prevent the first treatment apparatus 1 from falling down from the top of the second treatment apparatus 3 but also to prevent the entire washing apparatuses 1 and 3 from falling over when the first drawer 13 is taken out of the first cabinet 11.
Although the above description has been made based on the case in which the cabinet supporting unit 8 includes all of the first support 81, the second support 83, the third support 85, the fourth support 87 and the cabinet connector 89, the cabinet supporting unit 8 may include only one of the first support 81, the second support 83, the third support 85, the fourth support 87 and the cabinet connector 89.
Furthermore, the cabinet supporting unit 8 may include the first support 81 and one of the second support 83, the third support 85, the fourth support 87 and the cabinet connector 89.
Hereinafter, the coupling unit 9 (the second treatment apparatus coupling unit), which serves to allow the second treatment apparatus 3 to be operated only when the first treatment apparatus 1 is mounted on the second treatment apparatus 3, will be described.
As illustrated in FIG. 5, the coupling unit 9 may be constructed so as to open and close a first circuit L1, which serve to supply power to the components included in the second treatment apparatus (the components to which power is required to be supplied) C2, 333C, 371, S2, D2, 333B and the like.
The first circuit L1 may be embodied as a circuit for supplying power to the components of the second treatment apparatus 3, excluding the second controller C2 and the second display 333c. In other words, the second controller C2 may always receive power through a second circuit L2, and the second display unit 333c may always receive power through a third circuit L3.
FIG. 5 illustrates an example of the coupling unit 9, which closes the first circuit L1 when the first treatment apparatus 1 is mounted on the upper surface 315 of the second treatment apparatus 3 and which opens the first circuit L1 when the first treatment apparatus 1 is separated from the upper surface 315 of the second treatment apparatus 3.
The coupling unit 9 may include a presser 91, which extends through the upper surface 315 of the second cabinet 31 so as to be pressed by the first connector 817, a circuit connector 93, which is provided at the presser 91 so as to open and close the first circuit L1, and an elastic support 95 for biasing the circuit connector 93 away from the first circuit L1.
The presser 91 extends into the upper surface 315 of the second cabinet 31 through a presser through hole PI, and the presser 91, which is inserted into the presser through hole PI, may be positioned in the receiver 815 provided at the first support 81. Accordingly, when the first connector 817 is inserted into the receiver 815 in order to couple the first treatment apparatus 1 to the second treatment apparatus 3, the circuit connector 93 will close the first circuit L1.
The coupling unit 9 may include two or more coupling units provided in the second treatment apparatus 3, or may include only one coupling unit provided in the second treatment apparatus 3, as illustrated in FIG. 3.
Unlike the construction illustrated in FIG. 5, the coupling unit 9 may be configured to open and close a main circuit L5, which is adapted to supply power to all of the components to which power is required to be supplied. In this case, the main circuit L5 may be embodied as a circuit for connecting power P to the first circuit L1, the second circuit L2 and the third circuit L3.
Furthermore, the coupling unit 9 may be configured to open and close a control circuit L4, which is adapted to connect the second controller C22 to the components.
Although FIG. 5 illustrates only the coupling unit 9 included in the second treatment apparatus, the first treatment apparatus 1 may also be provided with a coupling unit (a first treatment apparatus coupling unit), which performs the same function as the second treatment apparatus coupling unit 9, because the first treatment apparatus 1 may be constructed so as to have the same structure as the second treatment apparatus 3.
When the first treatment apparatus 1 is constructed so as to have the same structure as the second treatment apparatus 3, since the first treatment apparatus 1 is not provided thereon with any washing apparatus, there is the need to provide an additional component for pressing the first treatment apparatus coupling unit (not shown).
To this end, the present invention may further include a position holder P2, which is detachably provided on the upper surface of the first treatment apparatus 1 so as to press the presser of the first treatment apparatus coupling unit.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, the cabinet of each treatment apparatus has a presser through hole P1 through which the presser 91 extends, and the position holder P2 is fitted into the presser through hole P1 so as to hold the position of the presser 91 to cause the circuit connector 93 to close the first circuit L1.
Mounting the first treatment apparatus 1 on the upper surface of the second treatment apparatus 3 may incur the following adverse effects. Specifically, since the first treatment apparatus 1 is provided therein with the first drum 17, which is rotated by the first drum-rotating shaft 1735, and the second treatment apparatus 3 is provided therein with the second drum 37, which is rotated by the second drum-rotating shaft 373, there is the concern of the first treatment apparatus 1 and the second treatment apparatus 3, which are coupled to each other, falling over together when the first drum 17 and the second drum 37 rotate in the same direction.
When the rotational center of the first drum 17 is different from the rotational center of the second drum 37, there is the possibility of the vibrations generated in the first and second treatment apparatuses 1 and 3 becoming intensified during rotation of the drums even though the rotational direction of the first drum 17 is different from the rotational direction of the second drum 37.
In order to solve the above problems, it is preferable that the rotational center of the first drum 17 be aligned with the rotational center of the second drum 37 and at least one of the first controller C21 and the second controller C22 control the rotational directions of the drum-rotating shafts 1735 and 373 so as to prevent the first and second drums 17 and 37 from rotating in the same direction.
In order to align the rotational centers of the two drums 17 and 37 with each other, the first drum-rotating shaft 1735 and the second drum-rotating shaft 373 are positioned on a single line (on a vertical line), which is perpendicular to the ground.
In order to prevent the first and second drums 17 and 37 from rotating in the same direction, the first controller C21 should be able to communicate with the second controller C22. FIG. 5 illustrates an example in which the respective controllers C1 and C2 communicate with a first communication unit C11 included in the first treatment apparatus 1 and a second communication unit C21 included in the second treatment apparatus 3.
In this case, since one of the first controller C21 and the second controller C22 is able to verify information regarding the rotational direction of the drum, which is sent from the other of the first controller C21 and the second controller C22, it will be possible to prevent the two drums 17 and 37 from rotating in the same direction when the two drums 17 and 37 rotate concurrently.
The drying apparatus 7, which is disposed on the lateral side of the first and second treatment apparatuses 1 and 3, is an apparatus for drying laundry that has been completely washed. Specifically, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present invention is characterized in that garments having a possibility of color migration are separately received in the first treatment apparatus 1 and the second treatment apparatus 3 and that the garments, which have been completly washed in the two washing apparatuses 1 and 3, are dried in the single drying apparatus 7.
Color migration is a phenomenon whereby dye contained in a garment migrates to another garment during the washing of the garments. Since almost no color migration phenomenon occurs during a drying procedure, unlike a washing procedure, color migration will not occur when garments that have been washed separately are dried together in the single drying apparatus 7.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the drying apparatus 7 includes a cabinet (a drying apparatus cabinet) 71 disposed on the lateral side of the first and second cabinets 11 and 31, a drum (a drying apparatus drum) 72, which is disposed in the cabinet so as to contain laundry, and a drying unit 74 for supplying air to the drum.
The cabinet 71 may include a front panel 717 defining the front surface of the drying apparatus, an introduction port 715, which is provided in the front panel so as to serve as a passageway through which laundry is introduced into the drum 72, and a control panel (a drying apparatus control panel, see FIG. 1) 713 for controlling the operation of the drying apparatus 7.
In order to make it easy to transfer laundry, which is taken out of the first and second introduction ports 153 and 353, to the drying apparatus introduction port 715, the drying apparatus introduction port 715 is preferably positioned between the first introduction port 153 and the second introduction port 353. In other words, the drying apparatus introduction port 715 may be disposed lower than the first introduction port 153 but higher than the second introduction port 353, as illustrated in FIG. 1.
When the sum of the height of the first treatment apparatus 1 and the height of the second treatment apparatus 3 is higher than the height of the drying apparatus 7, there may be a problem whereby it is difficult for a user to put laundry into the first drum 17 through the first introduction port 153 or to take the laundry out of the first drum 17.
Accordingly, the sum of the height of the first treatment apparatus 1 and the height of the second treatment apparatus 3 may be equal to or less than the height of the drying apparatus 7 (i.e. the combined height of the washing apparatuses may be equal to or less than the height of the drying apparatus 7).
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the drying apparatus drum 72 may include a drum body 721 defining a space for receiving laundry. When the drum body 721 is configured to have a cylindrical form having open opposite ends, the front end of the drum body 721 may be supported by a front support 727, and the rear end of the drum body 721 may be supported by a rear support 729.
The front support 727 may include a first support body secured in the cabinet, a body through hole 727b formed through the first support body 727a so as to allow the introduction port 715 to communicate with the drum 72, and a front flange 727d, which is provided at the circumference of the body through hole 727b so as to rotatably support the front open end of the drum 72.
The rear support 729 may include a second support body 729a secured in the cabinet 71 and a rear flange 729c, which is provided at the second support body 729a so as to rotatably support the rear open end of the drum 72.
The drying unit 74 may include an air discharge unit 742-744, for discharging the air in the drum 72 to the outside through the front support 727, and an air supply unit 741-743, for supplying air to the drum 72 through the rear support 729.
Here, the front support 727 may have a discharge hole 727c through which the air in the drum 72 is discharged to the air discharge unit, and the rear support 729 may have an inflow hole 729b through which the air discharged from the air supply unit is introduced into the drum 72.
The air supply unit may include a supply duct 741, communicating with the inflow hole 729b, and a heat exchanger 743 for heating the air introduced through the supply duct 741.
The air discharge unit may include a discharge duct 742 for guiding the air introduced through the discharge hole 727c outside the cabinet 71, and a fan 744, which is provided in the discharge duct 742 so as to transfer the air in the drum 72 to the discharge duct 742.
Unlike the above-described construction, the drying unit 74 may be constructed in such a manner as to sequentially perform dehumidification and heating of the air discharged from inside of the drum 72 and to supply the air to the drum 72 again. Here, the discharge duct 742 has to be connected to the supply duct 741 (the free end of the supply duct has to be connected to the discharge duct 742), and the heat exchanger 743 may include a dehumidifying unit for removing moisture contained in the air in the discharge duct 742 by cooling the air, and a heating unit for heating the air that has passed through the dehumidifying unit.
The drum 72 and the fan 744 may be rotated by a driving unit (a drying unit driving unit) 731-733-735. Specifically, the driving unit may include a motor 731, a pulley 733 fixed to the first free end of a motor shaft, which is rotated by the motor 731, and a belt 735 for connecting the circumferential surface of the pulley 733 to the circumferential surface of the drum 72.
The introduction port 715, which is formed in the front wall of the cabinet 71, is opened and closed by a door (a drying unit door) 75. The door 75 is hingedly coupled to the cabinet 71 via hinges 76, 77 and 78 so as to be rotated about two rotating axes A1 and A2, which are defined by the hinges 76, 77 and 78 (see FIGs. 7 and 8).
As illustrated in FIG. 7, the door 75 may include a door body 751 for opening and closing the introduction port 715, and a handle 753, which is provided at the door body 751 so as to control a rotating shaft converter 79, which will be described later. The handle 753 may be provided in a reception groove 755 formed in the upper surface of the door body 751.
The handle 753 may include a handle body 753a provided in the reception groove 755, a body rotating shaft 753b for coupling the handle body 753a to the door body 751 in a rotatable manner, and a converter presser 757 for actuating a rotating axis converter 791-792 (see FIG. 9), which will be described later, by rotation of the handle body 753a. The rotating axis converter 791-792 is provided in the door body 751 so as to enable a user to implement conversion between the rotating axes A1 and A2, and detailed description thereof will be made later.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, the hinges 76, 77 and 78, which serve to couple the door body 751 to the cabinet 71, may include a first hinge 76 including a first shaft 765, a third hinge 78 including a fourth shaft 783, and a second hinge 77 including both a second shaft 777, which defines the first rotating axis A1 in conjunction with the first shaft 765, and a third shaft 778, which defines the second rotating axis A2 in conjunction with the fourth shaft 783.
The first hinge 76 may include a first hinge body 761, which is provided at one of the front panel 717 and the door body 751 and to which the first shaft 765 is fixed, and a first shaft holder 762, which is provided at the other of the front panel 717 and the door body 751 and to which the first shaft 765 is detachably coupled.
The first hinge body 761 includes a first shaft support 763 for supporting the first shaft 765.
The first shaft holder 762 includes a housing 764 provided at the door body 751, and a first shaft receptor 766 defining a space for receiving the first shaft 765 therein. The housing 764 has a housing through hole 768 (see FIG. 10), which is formed in the housing 764 in the width direction (in the Y-axis direction) of the door body 751, and the function of the housing through hole 768 will be described later.
The second hinge 77 may include a door support 771 including the second shaft 777, and a cabinet coupler 772 for rotatably holding the door support 771 to the front panel 717 via the third shaft 778.
The cabinet coupler 772 may include a coupler body 774 secured to the front panel 717, and a rotating plate 776 rotatably coupled to the coupler body 774 via the third shaft 778.
Here, the door support 771 may include a support body 773 secured to the rotating plate 776, and a second shaft support 775 projecting from the support body 773 and supporting the second shaft 777.
Since the door body 751 is rotatably coupled to the second shaft 777 and the second shaft 777 is aligned with the first shaft 765 of the first hinge 76, the first rotating axis A1 is defined by the first shaft 765 and the second shaft 777.
The third hinge 78 may include the fourth shaft 783, provided at one of the door body 751 and the front panel 717, and a fourth shaft holder 782, which is provided at the other of the door body 751 and the front panel 717 and to which the fourth shaft 783 is detachably coupled.
FIG. 8 illustrates an example in which the fourth shaft 783 is provided at the door body 751 and the fourth shaft holder 782 is provided at the front panel 717. The fourth shaft 783 is supported by a third hinge body 781 secured to the door body 751.
The fourth shaft holder 782 may include a fourth shaft receptor 784, defining a space for receiving the fourth shaft 783, and a converter receptor 786-788 projecting from the fourth holder 782.
Since the fourth shaft receptor 784 is aligned with the third shaft 778, the fourth shaft 783, received in the fourth shaft receptor 784, defines the second rotating axis A2 in conjunction with the third shaft 778.
The converter receptor may include a projection 786 projecting from the fourth holder 782, and a projection through hole 788 formed through the projection 786. The converter receptor 786-788 defines a space for accommodating a second converter 792 of the rotating axis converter 79, and a detailed description thereof will be described later.
As illustrated in FIG. 9, the door body 751 is provided therein with the rotating axis converter 791-792, which enables a user to select a desired one of the rotating axes A1 and A2 of the door 75.
The rotating axis converter may include a first converter 791, which is reciprocated in the width direction (in the Y-axis direction) of the door body 751 by the handle 753, and the second converter 792, which is reciprocated in the height direction (in the Z-axis direction) of the door body 751 by the first converter 791.
The first converter 791 may be embodied as a bar extending in the width direction (in the Y-axis direction) of the door body 751. The first free end 791e of the first converter 791 extends through the housing 764 so as to open and close the first shaft receptor 766, and the second free end 791f of the first converter 791 is in contact with the second converter 766.
The first converter 791 is provided with a contactor 797, which is in contact with the converter presser 757 of the handle 753. The contactor 797 may include a contactor body 7971 projecting from the first converter 791, and an inclined surface 7973 provided on the contactor body 7971.
Consequently, when the handle body 753a is pressed by a user, the inclined surface 7973 is moved toward the second free end 792f of the second converter 792 by the converter presser 757. Hence, the first free end 791e of the first converter 791 opens the first shaft receptor 766 so as to allow the first shaft 765 to be taken out of the first shaft receptor 766 (see FIG. 10).
As illustrated in FIG. 10, the second converter 792 may be embodied as a bar, which extends in the height direction (in the Z-axis direction) of the door body 751. The second converter 792 includes a first free end (a third free end) 792e, which is inserted into the projection through hole 788 formed in the converter receptor, and a second free end (a fourth free end) 792f, which is in contact with the second free end 791f of the first converter 791.
In order to make it easy to transmit external force, which is input to the first converter 791 via the handle 753, to the second converter 792, at least one of the second free end 791f of the first converter 791 and the second free end 792f of the second converter 792 may further be provided with an inclined converter surface 798.
In order to maintain the door 75 in the state of being coupled to the first rotating axis when the introduction port 715 is closed by the door 75, the rotating axis converter 79 may further be provided with an elastic support unit for biasing the first converter 791 in the direction of the first shaft holder 762.
The elastic support may include at least one of a first converter support 7991, for biasing the first free end 791e of the first converter 791 in the direction of the first shaft holder 762, and a second converter support 7993, for biasing the first free end 792e of the second converter 792 away from the converter receptor 786-788.
In the state illustrated in FIG. 9, the door 75 of the drying apparatus 7 is rotatable about the first rotating axis A1, which is perpendicular to the ground (as illustrated in FIG. 8). In the state illustrated in FIG. 10, the door 75 is rotatable about the second rotating axis A2, which is parallel to the ground (as illustrated in FIG. 7).
The drying apparatus 7 may further include an angle controller for controlling the rotational angle of the door 75 when the door 75 is rotated about the second rotating axis A2. The angle controller serves to maintain the door 75 in the state in which the door 75 is rotated to a predetermined reference angle with respect to the introduction port 715. The predetermined reference angle may be set to be 0 to 90 degrees.
When the reference angle is set to be 90 degrees, the door 75 may serve as a shelf for supporting laundry taken out of the first treatment apparatus or the second treatment apparatus.
Meanwhile, when the reference angle is set to be an angle that is larger than 0 degrees but smaller than 90 degrees, as illustrated in FIG. 7 (for example, 30 to 60 degrees), the door 75 of the drying apparatus 7 may serve as a guide for guiding laundry to the introduction port 715 (laundry placed on the door 75 of the drying apparatus 75 will be moved to the introduction port 715 by the gravity).
Here, the angle controller may be embodied as an inclined surface 759 (see FIG. 10(b)), which is positioned at the lower portion of the door body 751 and which comes into contact with the front panel 717 to restrict the rotational angle of the door 75 when the door 75 is rotated about the second axis A2.
The door 75 may be rotated to one of two different angles to open the introduction port 715. In this case, the first angle may be set to be 30 to 60 degrees, and the second angle may be set to be 90 degrees.
FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment of the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention. The laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is characterized in that the washing apparatuses include the first treatment apparatus 1, the second treatment apparatus 3 and a third treatment apparatus 5.
The third treatment apparatus 5 may be constructed to have the same structure as the second treatment apparatus 3. In other words, the third treatment apparatus 5 may also include a third cabinet 51 for supporting the second treatment apparatus 3, a third drawer 53, drawable from the third cabinet 51, and a third receiver 55-57, which is disposed in the third drawer so as to contain laundry.
As illustrated in FIG. 12, the third cabinet 51 may include a third open surface 511 formed in the front wall thereof, and the third drawer 53 may include a third drawer body 531, which is inserted through the third open surface, a third drawer panel 533 for opening and closing the third open surface 511, and a third drawer cover 535 defining the upper surface of the third drawer body 531.
As in the first treatment apparatus 1 or the second treatment apparatus 3, the third drawer panel 533 is provided with a third control panel 533a. The third control panel 533a is provided with a third input unit 533b and a third display unit 533c. The third drawer cover 535 is provided with a third cover-first through hole (a fifth through hole) 537 and a third cover-second through hole (a sixth through hole) 539.
The third receptor may include a third tub 55, which is disposed in the third drawer 53 so as to contain washing water, and a third drum 57, which is rotatably disposed in the third tub 55 so as to contain laundry.
The third tub 55 may be configured to have the same structure as the tub 15 or 35 of the first or second treatment apparatus 1 or 3, and the third drum 57 may also be configured to have the same structure as the drum 17 or 37 of the first or second treatment apparatus 1 or 3.
The third tub 55 is held in the third drawer 53 by means of a third tub support 551, and the tub 55 is provided in the upper wall thereof with a third introduction port 553 for allowing the inside of the third tub 55 to communicate with the outside of the third tub 55, and a third door 555 for opening and closing the third introduction port 553.
Since the third introduction port 553 is positioned under the fifth through hole 537, which is formed in the third drawer cover 535, the third door 555 may be rotated to the outside of the third drawer 53 through the fifth through hole 537.
The third tub 55 receives washing water through a third water supply unit S3. The third water supply unit S3 may include a third water supply pipe S31, connecting a water supply source to an inflow hole 557 formed in the upper wall of the third tub 55, and a second valve S33 for opening and closing the third water supply pipe S31.
The third water supply pipe S31 extends into the third drawer cover 535 through the sixth through hole 539, and is preferably constructed to have an extendable structure or is made of a flexible material in consideration of the moving range of the third drawer 53.
The washing water contained in the third tub 55 is discharged outside the third cabinet 51 through a third water discharge unit D3. The third water discharge unit D3 may include a third water discharge pipe D31 and a third pump S33 provided in the third water discharge pipe D31. The third introduction port 553 is formed parallel to the bottom surface of the third cabinet 51.
The third drum 57 is rotated by a third drum driving unit (a third driving unit) 571. The third drum driving unit 571 may also include a stator, a rotor and a third drum-rotating shaft 573, like the first driving unit 173 or the second driving unit 371. The third drum-rotating shaft 573 may be oriented perpendicular to the bottom surface of the third cabinet 51.
The second treatment apparatus 3 is coupled to the third treatment apparatus 5 via a second treatment apparatus support 82 provided on the upper surface 513 of the third cabinet 51. Since the structure of the second treatment apparatus support 82 is the same as the structure of the first treatment apparatus support 81, a detailed description thereof is omitted.
In this case, the second support 83 and the third support 85, which are illustrated in FIG. 3, should be provided at a third adjusting unit 59 provided in the third treatment apparatus 5, and the fourth support 87 should be provided on the rear surface of the third cabinet 51. The third adjusting unit 59 may be configured to have the same structure as the second adjusting unit 39.
In addition, the cabinet connector 89, which is illustrated in FIG. 4, may further include a third cabinet connector for connecting the rear surface of the third cabinet 51 to the rear surface of the drying apparatus 7.
The third treatment apparatus 5 may be provided with a third treatment apparatus coupling unit (not shown), which permits the third controller to control the components provided in the third treatment apparatus 5 only when the second treatment apparatus 3 is mounted on the upper surface of the third treatment apparatus 5. Since the functions and structure of the third treatment apparatus coupling unit are the same as those of the second treatment apparatus coupling unit 9, a detailed description thereof is omitted.
When the laundry treatment apparatus according to the present invention includes three washing apparatuses 1, 3 and 5, it is preferable that the introduction port 715 of the drying apparatus 7 be positioned at a level that is lower than the first introduction port 153 of the first treatment apparatus 1 but higher than the third introduction port 553 of the third treatment apparatus 5. The reason for this is to make it easy to transfer laundry, taken out of each of the washing apparatus, to the drying apparatus 7.

Mode for the Invention

Various embodiments have been described in the best mode for carrying out the invention.

Industrial Applicability

The present invention provides a laundry treatment apparatus in which a plurality of treatment apparatuses, which are adapted to perform various laundry treatment functions (laundry washing, drying and the like), are stacked one on another or are disposed side by side.

Claims

A laundry treatment apparatus comprising a washing apparatus (1, 3) for washing laundry and a drying apparatus (7) for drying laundry,
wherein the washing apparatus (1, 3) comprises:
a first cabinet (11);

a first drawer (13) drawably disposed in the first cabinet;

a first receiver (15-17) disposed in the first drawer so as to contain laundry therein, wherein the first receiver (15-17) includes a first tub (15) disposed in the first drawer so as to contain washing water, a first drum (17) rotatably disposed in the first tub so as to contain laundry, and a first introduction port (153) provided in the first tub so as to be parallel to a bottom surface of the first cabinet;

a first drum-rotating shaft (1735) extending through the first tub, the first drum-rotating shaft being connected to the first drum (17) so as to be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the first cabinet;

a first drum driving unit (173) for rotating the first drum-rotating shaft (1735);

a first controller (C1) for controlling the first drum driving unit (173);

a second cabinet (31) disposed under the first cabinet so as to support the first cabinet;

a second drawer (33) drawably disposed in the second cabinet;

a second receiver (35-37) disposed in the second drawer so as to contain laundry, wherein the second receiver (35-37) includes a second tub (35) disposed in the second drawer so as to contain washing water, a second drum (37) rotatably disposed in the second tub so as to contain laundry, and a second introduction port (353) provided in an upper wall of the second tub so as to be parallel to a bottom surface of the second cabinet;

a second drum-rotating shaft (373) extending through the second tub, the second drum-rotating shaft being connected to the second drum (37) so as to be perpendicular to the bottom surface of the second cabinet;

a second drum driving unit (371) for rotating the second drum-rotating shaft (373);

a second controller (C2) for controlling the second drum driving unit (371), and wherein the drying apparatus (7) comprises:
a cabinet (71) disposed on a lateral side of the washing apparatus (1, 3), the cabinet (71) having an introduction port (715) formed in a front wall thereof for introduction and discharge of laundry;

a receiver disposed in the cabinet so as to define a space for receiving laundry introduced through the introduction port; and

a drying unit (74) for supplying air to the receiver to dry laundry,

wherein, when the first drum-rotating shaft (1735) and the second drum-rotating shaft (373) are rotated concurrently, at least one of the first and second controllers (C1, C2) controls the first drum driving unit (173) and the second drum driving unit (371) so as to prevent the first drum-rotating shaft (1735) and the second drum-rotating shaft (373) from rotating in the same direction.
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the washing apparatus (1, 3) is positioned at a level that is equal to or lower than a level of the drying apparatus (7).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first drum-rotating shaft (1735) is aligned with the second drum-rotating shaft (373).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
wherein the washing machine apparatus (1, 3) further comprises a coupling unit (9) for permitting the second controller (C2) to control operation of the second drum driving unit (371) only when the first cabinet (11) is mounted to an upper surface of the second cabinet (31).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a cabinet supporting unit (8) for connecting the first cabinet (11) to the second cabinet (31) to prevent the first cabinet from falling down from the second cabinet.
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cabinet supporting unit (8) includes a first connector (817) provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet (11), and a second connector (819) provided on the upper surface of the second cabinet (31) so as to be detachable therefrom, and
wherein the coupling unit (9) includes a presser (91) extending through the upper surface of the second cabinet (31) so as to be pressed by the first connector (817), and a circuit connector (93) for opening or closing a circuit (L1) adapted to supply power to the second drum driving unit (371) depending on a position of the presser (91).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cabinet supporting unit (8) includes a first connector (817) provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet (11), and a second connector (819) provided on the upper surface of the second cabinet (31) so as to be detachable therefrom, and
wherein the coupling unit (9) includes a presser (91), extending through the upper surface of the second cabinet (31) so as to be pressed by the first connector (817), and a circuit connector (93) for opening or closing a circuit (L4) adapted to connect the second controller (C2) to the second drum driving unit (371).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cabinet supporting unit (8) comprises:
a first connector (817) provided on the bottom surface of the first cabinet (11);

a second connector (819) provided on the upper surface of the second cabinet (31) so as to be detachable therefrom; and

a cabinet connector (89) for connecting at least one of the first and second cabinets (11, 31) to the cabinet (71) of the drying apparatus (7).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising:
a door (75) for opening and closing the introduction port (715);

a first rotating shaft (1735) for coupling the door (75) to the cabinet (71) and for allowing the door to be rotated in a first direction; and

a second rotating shaft (373) for coupling the door (75) to the cabinet (71) and for allowing the door to be rotated in a second direction, which is different from the first direction.
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first rotating shaft (1735) is oriented so as to be perpendicular to a bottom surface of the cabinet, and the second rotating shaft (373) is disposed at a lower portion of the introduction port (715) so as to be parallel to the bottom surface of the cabinet.
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising an angle controller for controlling an angle of the door (75) when the door is rotated about the second rotating shaft (373).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the angle controller is configured to maintain the door (75) in a state in which the door is rotated to a predetermined reference angle with respect to the introduction port (715).
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the reference angle is set such that laundry placed on the door (75) is moved to the introduction port (715) due to gravity.
The laundry treatment apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the washing apparatus (1, 3) further comprises a third cabinet (51) disposed under the second cabinet (31) so as to support the second cabinet; a third drawer (53) drawably disposed in the third cabinet; and a third receiver (55-57) disposed in the third drawer so as to contain laundry, and
wherein the third receiver (55-57) includes a third tub (55) disposed in the third drawer (53) so as to contain washing water, and a third drum (57) rotatably disposed in the third tub so as to contain laundry, and a third introduction port (553) provided in an upper wall of the third tub so as to be parallel to a bottom surface of the third cabinet.
The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the introduction port (715) of the drying apparatus (7) is positioned at a level, which is lower than the first introduction port (153) but higher than the third introduction port (553).