KR102454767B1 - Laundry treating apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention includes a water storage tank containing water and having an open upper surface, rotatably provided in the water storage tank to accommodate the first laundry, and an opening into which the first laundry is put is located at the upper side, and a vertical axis is provided. A drum rotated around the center, a driving unit for rotating the drum, a ring-shaped balancer coupled to the upper side of the drum to compensate for eccentricity induced when the drum rotates, and a second laundry accommodating and separated from the balancer A second washing tub that is operably coupled and rotates integrally with the drum; It includes a sensor acting part.

Description

Laundry processing equipment {LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS}

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment apparatus, and more particularly, to a laundry treatment apparatus having a second laundry tub detachably installed in a first laundry tub.

A laundry treatment device is a device for processing laundry through various actions such as washing, dehydration and/or drying. Laundry processing equipment uses water and detergent to remove contamination from laundry (hereinafter, also referred to as “cloth”) and rotates a drum in which wet laundry is placed at high speed. There are a dryer for drying the laundry by supplying dry air into the inserted drum, and a washing machine for drying with both a drying function and a washing function.

Recently, a washing machine equipped with two washing tubs has been provided. Such a washing machine has a large capacity washing tub and a small capacity washing tub, and each washing tub is separated from each other. Such a washing machine is convenient because each washing tub can be used at the same time or at the same time according to the user's needs, and furthermore, when a small amount of washing is required, only a washing tub of a small capacity can be used, so it is very economical. However, in this conventional washing machine, since the two washing tubs are separated, the overall size of the product is inevitably increased due to the spaces accommodating the washing tubs, respectively, driving units for driving the washing tubs, and water supply for water supply Since two devices and two drainage devices for drainage are required, there is a problem that the price of the product also increases.

An object of the present invention is to provide a laundry treatment apparatus including a first washing tub and a second washing tub detachably coupled to the first washing tub and rotating integrally with the first washing tub, in particular, A sensor is disposed on a fixed structure (preferably, a water storage tub cover) outside the second washing tub to estimate the rotational position of the second washing tub based on the rotational position of the first washing tub, and (Preferably, it is to provide a laundry treatment device in which a sensor acting part is disposed on a balancer).

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention includes a water storage tank containing water and having an open upper surface, rotatably provided in the water storage tank to accommodate the first laundry, and an opening into which the first laundry is put is located at the upper side, and a vertical axis is provided. A drum rotated around the center, a driving unit for rotating the drum, a ring-shaped balancer coupled to the upper side of the drum to compensate for eccentricity induced when the drum rotates, and a second laundry accommodating and separated from the balancer A second washing tub that is operably coupled and rotates integrally with the drum; It includes a sensor acting part.

Alternatively, in the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, a water storage tank containing water and having an open upper surface, is rotatably provided in the water storage tank to receive the first laundry, and an opening into which the first laundry is put is located at the upper side, A first washing tub rotated about a vertical axis, a water supply unit for supplying water, a driving unit rotating the first washing tub, accommodating the second laundry, and detachably coupled to the first washing tub, a second washing tub that is rotated integrally with the first washing tub, and when the second washing tub is in the first rotational position, water supplied through the water supply unit is supplied to the first washing tub and is in the second rotational position , water supplied through the water supply unit is supplied to the second washing tub, a sensor disposed on a fixed structure outside the second washing tub, and a sensor disposed in the first washing tub, depending on the rotational position of the first washing tub It further includes a sensor action unit for operating the sensor.

The laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention includes a first washing tub and a second washing tub detachably coupled to the first washing tub and rotating integrally with the first washing tub. A sensor is disposed on a fixed structure (preferably, a water storage tub cover) outside the second washing tub, and a sensor acting part is disposed on the first washing tub (preferably, a balancer). The rotational position of the first washing tub may be grasped by the interaction of the sensor and the sensor-acting unit, and, in addition, the rotational position of the second washing tub may also be grasped. Accordingly, in a state in which the second washing tub is not installed, the detection result of the sensor may be used to control the rotational position of the first washing tub. 2 The rotation position of the washing tub can be grasped. This is a very economical bar because it is possible to grasp the rotational position of the second washing tub as well as the first washing tub by using one set of sensors and the sensor acting part.

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a perspective view of a second washing tub;
3 illustrates a state in which the second washing tub is disassembled.
4 is a view from above of a state in which the second washing tub is installed on the balancer.
5 is a cross-sectional view taken along IV-IV of FIG. 4 .

1 is a side cross-sectional view of a laundry treatment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view of a second washing tub; 3 illustrates a state in which the second washing tub is disassembled. 4 is a view from above of a state in which the second washing tub is installed on the balancer. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along IV-IV of FIG. 4 .

1 to 5 , the cabinet 2 forms the exterior of the laundry treatment device, and forms a space in which the water storage tank 4 is accommodated. The cabinet 2 is supported by a flat cabinet base 5 , the upper surface of which is open, and may include a front side, a left side, a right side, and a rear side.

A top cover 3 may be coupled to the open upper end of the cabinet 2 . The top cover 3 may have an inlet for putting in and taking out laundry (or "cloth"). A door (not shown) for opening and closing the inlet may be rotatably coupled to the top cover 3 .

The water storage tank 4 is to contain wash water, and may be suspended in the cabinet 2 by the support rod 15 . The support rod 15 may be provided at each of four corners of the cabinet 2 , and one end of each support rod 15 is pivotably connected to the top cover 3 , and the other end is a suspension for damping vibrations. (27) is connected to the water storage tank (4).

The water storage tank 4 has an opened upper surface, and a water storage tank cover 14 may be provided on the opened upper surface. The water storage tub cover 14 is formed in a ring shape with a substantially circular opening in the center, and laundry is put in through the opening.

A first washing tub 6 that accommodates laundry and rotates about a vertical axis O may be disposed in the water storage tub 4 . The vertical axis is substantially perpendicular to the ground, and may be precisely aligned on a vertical line with the ground, but is not limited thereto, and may be inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to the vertical line. A plurality of through holes through which water passes may be formed in the first washing tub 6 , and water may be exchanged between the first washing tub 6 and the water storage tub 4 through the through holes.

The first washing tub 6 may include a drum 61 having an open upper side, and a ring-shaped balancer 62 coupled to the upper portion of the drum 61 . The lower side of the drum 61 may be connected to the rotation shaft of the driving unit 8 by a hub 29 . The through hole may be formed in the drum 61 .

The balancer 62 compensates for the eccentricity induced when the drum 61 rotates. Annular cavities 62a and 62b may be formed inside the balancer 62 . A fluid (eg, brine) or a plurality of weights (eg, metal spheres) may be inserted into the cavities 62a and 62b. The annular cavities 62a and 62b have different diameters, but a plurality may be formed to have concentricity.

If the drum 61 is tilted to one side while being rotated, the eccentricity is corrected by moving the fluid or weight in the opposite direction to the direction in which the drum 61 is tilted. The ring-type balancer 62 applied to the laundry treatment device has already been known in various forms, and further description will be omitted.

A second washing tub 100 detachable from the first washing tub 6 is provided. The second washing tub 100 accommodates laundry and is detachably coupled to the first washing tub 6 . When the first washing tub 6 is rotated while the second washing tub 100 is installed, the second washing tub 100 is also rotated integrally with the first washing tub 6 .

If necessary, the user puts the first laundry into only the first washing tub 6 in the state where the second washing tub 100 is not installed, or installs the second washing tub 100 and puts the first laundry into the second washing tub 100 . 2 Laundry can be put in.

A pulsator 9 may be rotatably provided at an inner lower portion of the first washing tub 6 . The pulsator 9 may include a plurality of radial ribs protruding upward. When the pulsator 9 is rotated, a water flow may be formed by the ribs.

A driving unit 8 providing power for rotating the first washing tub 6 and the pulsator 9 may be disposed in the cabinet 2 . The driving unit 8 may be disposed below the water storage tank 4 , and may be provided in the form of being suspended in the cabinet 2 together with the water storage tank 4 . The rotating shaft of the driving unit 8 is always coupled to the pulsator 9 , and may be coupled or disconnected from the first washing tub 6 according to a switching operation of a clutch (not shown). Accordingly, when the driving unit 8 is operated with the rotating shaft of the driving unit 8 coupled to the first washing tub 6, the pulsator 9 and the first washing tub 6 rotate integrally, and the When the rotating shaft operates in a state separated from the first washing tub 6 , only the pulsator 9 rotates while the first washing tub 6 is stopped.

The driving unit 8 may include a washing motor capable of speed control. The washing motor may be a direct drive type inverter motor (Inverter Direct Drive Motor). The controller (not shown) may include a proportional-integral controller (PI controller), a proportional-integral-derivative controller (PID controller), and the like. The controller receives an output value (eg, output current) of the washing motor as an input, and based on this, the number of rotations (or rotation speed) of the washing motor follows a preset target rotation speed (or target rotation speed). can be controlled

It will be understood that the control unit may control not only the washing motor but also the overall operation of the laundry treatment device, and control of each configuration mentioned below is performed by the control of the control unit.

Meanwhile, the laundry treatment device may include at least one water supply pipe 11 for guiding water supplied from an external water source such as a faucet. The at least one water supply pipe 11 may include a cold water pipe (not shown) receiving cold water from an external water source and a hot water pipe (not shown) receiving hot water.

A water supply unit 13 for supplying water supplied from an external water source to the first washing tub 6 and/or the second washing tub 100 may be provided. The water supply unit 13 may selectively control the at least one water supply pipe 11 . To this end, the water supply unit 13 may include at least one water supply valve. When the at least one water supply valve is opened under the control of the controller, water is supplied to the dispenser 16 through a water supply pipe corresponding to the opened water supply valve.

The dispenser 16 supplies the additive acting on the laundry together with the water supplied through the water supply pipe 11 . Additives supplied by the dispenser 16 include laundry detergent and fabric softener for rinsing.

The second washing tub 100 may be inserted into a space (or a substantially circular opening) defined by the ring-shaped balancer 62 , and may be supported by the balancer 62 in the inserted state. Concave-convex 114 extending obliquely in the vertical direction may be formed on the outer peripheral surface of the second washing tub 100 .

The balancer 62 may be provided with a fixing groove 62d corresponding to the unevenness 114 on the inner circumferential surface defining the central opening. The unevenness 114 is inserted along the fixing groove 62d, so that when the first washing tub 6 is rotated, the second washing tub 100 does not rotate in vain and rotates integrally with the first washing tub 6 can

Referring to FIG. 4 , when viewed from above, the outer appearance of the second washing tub 100 is a first section S1 in contact with the inner circumferential surface of the balancer 62 (or the face defining the central opening), and the balancer It may include a second section (S2) spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of (62).

The first section S1 is located on the first axis IV-IV passing through the vertical axis O, and the second section S2 is the second section S2 passing through the vertical axis O and perpendicular to the first axis IV-IV. It may be located on the 2 axis (Y). The first section S1 may be formed on both sides symmetrically with respect to the second axis Y, and the second section S2 may be formed on both sides symmetrically with respect to the first axis IV-IV, respectively. have.

When the first washing tub 6 (or the second washing tub 100) is in the first rotational position, the water discharged from the water supply 13 is controlled by the driving unit 8 in the second section It may be supplied to the first washing tub 6 through a gap formed between ( S2 ) and the inner circumferential surface of the balancer 62 .

When the first washing tub 6 is in the second rotating position rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotating position under the control of the driving unit 8 by the controller, the water discharged from the water supply unit 13 is transferred to the second washing tub. It is watered with (100). The second washing tub 100 may have an inlet 137 through which water discharged from the water supply unit 13 is introduced, and in the second rotational position, the inlet 137 is aligned with the water supply unit 13 . . The inlet 137 may be disposed on both sides of the second washing tub 100 (137(1) and 137(2) indicate both inlets), preferably, with respect to the second axis Y. To be symmetrical, it may be arranged along the first axis IV-IV.

The second rotational position may be a position in which the first washing tub 6 is rotated 90 degrees from the first rotational position. As described above, since the washing motor is capable of speed control, the controller controls the rotation angle of the first washing tub 6 or the rotational position of the first washing tub 6 based on the speed of the washing motor. it is possible

The laundry treatment device of the present invention is a fixed structure outside the second washing tub 100 (in the embodiment to be described later, the water storage tub cover 14, but is not necessarily limited thereto, and the water storage tub 4 and the top cover 3) Other structures such as other structures are possible.) and the sensor 171 disposed in the first washing tub 6 and the sensor acting part 163 operating the sensor 171 according to the rotational position of the first washing tub 6 . ) is included.

Since the second washing tub 100 is frequently attached and detached by the user, if the sensor acting part 163 is provided in the second washing tub 100, there is a risk that the sensor acting part 173 may be damaged in the detachment process. . On the other hand, in the laundry treatment apparatus of the present invention, since the sensor acting part 173 is disposed in the first washing tub 6, the above-described problem does not occur fundamentally. The sensor 171 may be provided on the water storage tank cover 14 , and the sensor 171 may be provided on the balancer 62 .

The sensor 171 may be configured to be sensitive when the sensor acting part 163 is located within a predetermined distance from the sensor 171 . The controller may control the rotational position of the second washing tub 100 based on the detection result by the sensor 171 .

The sensor acting part 163 may include a first magnet 163 , and the sensor 171 may include a first Hall sensor 171 that is sensitive to the magnetic field of the first magnet 163 . When the first magnet 163 is located within a preset distance from the first Hall sensor 171 , the first Hall sensor 171 generates a signal in response to the magnetic field formed by the first magnet 163 , and thus generated signal is transmitted to the control unit. That is, the controller may sense the position of the first magnet 163 based on the signal output from the Hall sensor 171 .

However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various implementations of the sensor 171 and the sensor acting unit 163 are possible. For example, the sensor 171 may include a light emitting unit for irradiating light and a light receiving unit for receiving light reflected from the light emitting unit and reflected on an object, and the sensor acting unit 163 emits light. It may be configured to include a high-brightness reflector that reflects.

The rotational position of the second washing tub 100 with respect to the balancer 62 (that is, the preset first point on the second washing tub 100 is the second preset point on the balancer 62 with respect to the vertical axis O) angle) is fixed.

A positioning protrusion (not shown) may be formed in any one of the balancer 62 and the second washing tub 100, and a positioning groove (not shown) into which the positioning protrusion is inserted may be formed in the other. . In the process of installing the second washing tub 100 , the positioning protrusion is inserted into the positioning groove, whereby the second washing tub 100 is moved to a preset rotational position (hereinafter referred to as a “set position”). are sorted on The means for aligning the rotational position of the second washing tub 100 is sufficient to prevent the second washing tub 100 from rotating with respect to the balancer 62 while the second washing tub 100 is aligned at the set position. It is not limited to the coupling structure of the setting groove, and various known types of implementation are possible.

The setting position is preferably determined such that, when the second washing tub 100 is aligned to the setting position, the sensor acting part 163 is located closest to the sensor 171 . That is, when the second washing tub 100 is aligned to the set position during one rotation of the second washing tub 100 , the sensor acting part 163 may be positioned closest to the sensor 171 . In this aspect, in the embodiment, the sensor acting part 163 is disposed at a position corresponding to the first section S1 .

As described above, since the rotational position (or set position) of the second washing tub 100 with respect to the balancer 62 is determined, the rotational position of the first washing tub 6 based on the signal output from the sensor 171 ( Alternatively, by controlling the rotation angle), the rotation position of the second washing tub 100 may also be controlled.

For example, the control unit may control the rotation speed of the first washing tub 6 (which is the second It is also the rotation speed of the washing tub 100.), the rotational position from the setting position (or the rotational position of the first magnet 163), the rotation angle from the setting position (or the rotation angle of the first magnet 163) ) and the like, and based on this, the washing motor may be controlled to align the first washing tub 6 to the first or second rotational position.

On the other hand, a second magnet may be further provided in the rotor of the washing motor, and a second Hall sensor for sensing a magnetic field generated by the second magnet may be disposed in a fixed structure near the second magnet (eg, For example, the bottom of the water tank (4)). A plurality of the second magnets may be disposed along the circumference of the rotor. The control unit may control the washing motor based on the signal output from the second Hall sensor, and at this time, by considering the signal output from the above-described first Hall sensor together, the second washing tub 100 is It can be controlled to be aligned to the first rotational position or the second rotational position.

According to an embodiment, the rotation angle of the rotor may be detected without a separate sensor. That is, the rotation angle of the rotor may be detected in a sensorless manner without a sensor. In this sensorless method, after a phase current of a constant frequency flows through the washing motor, the position of the rotor of the washing motor may be estimated based on an output current detected while the current of a constant frequency flows through the washing motor. Since such a sensorless method corresponds to a known technology, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

When the operation of the laundry treatment machine is terminated, the controller may control the driving unit 8 to align the first washing tub 6 to a set position. That is, the first washing tub 6 may be controlled to stop in a state where the sensor 171 responds to the sensor acting part 163 . In this case, when the laundry treatment device is operated next time, the alignment process from the set position to the first rotation position or the second rotation position may be performed without aligning the rotation position of the first washing tub 6 .

When the operation of the laundry treatment device is finished, if the rotational position alignment of the first washing tub 6 as described above is not achieved, the controller controls the first washing tub 6 to rotate one or more times during the next operation of the laundry treatment device And, in this process, based on the signal output from the sensor 171, it is possible to control the first washing tub 6 to be aligned at the set position.

The second washing tub 100 may include a container 110 , a first cover 120 , and a second cover 130 . The container 110 contains laundry and water, and has an open upper side, and the first cover 120 is coupled to the opened upper side. The first cover 120 may be coupled to an upper end of the container 110 . The first cover 120 and the container 110 are each made of a synthetic resin material, and are preferably bonded to each other by welding, more preferably by thermal welding, but is not necessarily limited thereto.

A guide rib 126 protruding from the inner surface of the container 110 and extending in the vertical direction may be provided. After the water flow generated by the rotation of the second washing tub 100 rises by collision with the guide rib 126 , it may fall to the center of the container 110 . Concave-convex 114 may be formed on the outer surface of the container 110 . The container 110 may be made of a transparent material so that the laundry accommodated therein is visible from the outside.

The first cover 120 has an opening 121 formed at approximately the center so that laundry can be put into the container 110, and provides a space in which the detergent box 140 (refer to FIG. 5) is accommodated. The detergent box 140 may be detachably attached to the first cover 120 . The detergent box 140 may be provided on both sides of the first cover 120 , respectively.

When the second washing tub 100 is rotated, the water flow developed outward in the radial direction by centrifugal force in the container 110 rises along the inner surface of the container 110 . The first cover 120 may have an outlet 124 and a flow path for guiding the elevated water flow to the outlet 124 . The controller may control the speed of the second washing tub 100 (or the speed of the driving unit 8 ) so that the water in the container 110 is discharged through the outlet 124 , and in this case, it is discharged through the outlet 124 . The collected water is collected in the water storage tank (4). This process may be performed when the water used for washing is drained after washing the laundry in the second washing tub 100 .

Meanwhile, although not shown, a check valve for controlling the flow path may be further provided, and the check valve may be opened and closed by centrifugal force caused by the rotation of the second washing tub 100 or configured to be opened and closed by water pressure. can

The second cover 130 is detachably coupled to the first cover 120 , and an opening 131 is formed at approximately the center thereof. The second cover 130 includes a water supply guide 133 for guiding the water discharged from the water supply unit 13 to the detergent box 140 . The water supply guide 133 forms an inclined surface so that the water discharged from the water supply unit 13 is guided downward, and the water guided along the inclined surface is supplied to the detergent box 140 through the water supply port 141 . The water supply guide 133 may be provided on both sides of the first cover 120 , respectively. Both water supply guides 133(1), 133(2) may be arranged along the first axis IV-IV, preferably to be symmetrical with respect to the second axis Y.

The detergent box 140 is for containing detergent, bleach or fabric softener, and water discharged from the water supply unit 13 passes through the detergent box 140 , and is supplied into the second washing tub 100 together with the detergent.

A housing 128 in which the detergent box 140 is accommodated may be formed in the first cover 120 , and the detergent box 140 may be removably coupled to the housing 128 . For smooth supply of liquid detergent, the siphon tube 143 may extend upward from the bottom 142 of the detergent box 140, and a siphon cover 145 covering the siphon tube 143 is further provided. can be

The siphon tube 143, the lower end communicates with the floor 142, the upper end is an open tube, the siphon cover 145 is a flow path between the outer peripheral surface of the siphon tube 143 is annular in cross section. configured to form. When water is supplied and the water level in the detergent box 140 gradually rises along the flow path, the water flows into the siphon tube 143 through the opened upper end of the siphon tube 143, and then the siphon tube ( It is discharged into the second washing tub 100 through the opened lower end of the 143).

The detergent box 140 may be provided on both sides of the second cover 130 , respectively. The detergent box 140 may be disposed at positions corresponding to the pair of inlets 137(1) and 137(2), respectively. Among the two detergent boxes 140 provided on both sides of the second cover 130, detergent or bleach may be put into the first detergent box 140(1), and the second detergent box 140(2)) A fabric softener may be added. Depending on the rotational position of the second washing tub 100, water discharged from the water supply unit 13 may be selectively supplied to the first detergent box 140(1) or the second detergent box 140(2). . For example, the control unit controls the second washing tub so that water is supplied to the first detergent box 140(1) during the washing cycle and water is supplied to the second detergent box 140(2) during the rinsing cycle. The rotational position of (100) can be controlled.

The laundry treatment apparatus may further include a drain bellows 21 for discharging water from the water storage tank 4 , and a drain valve 22 for controlling the drain bellows 21 . The drain bellows 21 may be connected to the pump 24 . When the drain valve 22 is opened, water may be supplied to the pump 24 through the drain bellows 21 . The water introduced into the pump 24 is discharged to the outside of the laundry treatment machine through the drain pipe 25 when the pump 24 is operated.

Claims (6)

a water tank with an open top;
a first washing tub including a drum rotatably disposed in the water storage tub and a ring-shaped balancer coupled to an upper end of the drum;
a second washing tub detachably coupled to the balancer and rotated integrally with the drum;
a driving unit for rotating the drum; and
a water supply unit for supplying water to at least one of the first washing tub and the second washing tub;
The second washing tub includes a side extending in the vertical direction,
a first section in which the side surface of the second washing tub is in contact with an inner circumferential surface of the balancer and an inlet through which water is introduced; and
Including a second section spaced apart from the inner peripheral surface of the balancer,
When the second washing tub is positioned in the first rotational position, the first section is aligned with the water supply unit,
When the second washing tub is positioned in a second rotational position rotated by a predetermined angle from the first rotational position, the second section is aligned with the water supply unit. According to claim 1,
a water tank cover coupled to the upper end of the water tank and having a ring shape;
a sensor disposed on the water tank cover; and
Laundry treatment device disposed on the balancer, including a sensor acting portion facing the sensor in the vertical direction. 3. The method of claim 2,
and a control unit controlling the driving unit, but controlling a rotational position of the second washing tub based on a detection result by the sensor. 3. The method of claim 2,
The sensor action unit,
Laundry processing equipment disposed in a position corresponding to the first section. 3. The method of claim 2,
The sensor acting portion includes a magnet,
The sensor is a laundry treatment machine including a Hall sensor that is sensitive by the magnetic field of the magnet. A water tank filled with water and an open top;
a first washing tub rotatably provided in the water storage tub to accommodate the first laundry, an opening into which the first laundry is put in is located at an upper side, and rotates about a vertical axis;
a water supply unit for supplying water;
a driving unit for rotating the first washing tub; and
and a second washing tub accommodating a second laundry, detachably coupled to the first washing tub, and rotating integrally with the first washing tub;
When the second washing tub is in the first rotational position, water supplied through the water supply unit is supplied to the first washing tub, and when the second washing tub is in the first rotational position, water supplied through the water supply unit is supplied to the second washing tub in the second rotation position. being watered,
a sensor disposed on a fixed structure outside the second washing tub; and
The laundry treatment machine is disposed in the first washing tub, and further comprising a sensor operating unit for operating the sensor according to a rotational position of the first washing tub.

Images