WO2017211384A1

WO2017211384A1 - Laundry dryer with improved ventilation performance

Info

Publication number: WO2017211384A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/062799
Authority: WO
Inventors: Volkan CERKEZ; Merve DOGAN; Adem KAYTAZ; Selcuk TABAK
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-06-06
Filing date: 2016-06-06
Publication date: 2017-12-14

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising: a kick panel assembly (3) which has: a first kick panel (4) that is openably/closably disposed onto the main body (2); and a second kick panel (5) that is fixed to the main body (2) and next to the first kick panel (4), wherein the second kick panel (5) has a perforated area (6); a fan (7) which is disposed behind the second kick panel (5); a locking means (8) for locking/unlocking the first kick panel (4) in the closed state; and a button (9) for actuating the locking means (8), wherein the button (9) is disposed onto the second kick panel (5).

Description

LAUNDRY DRYER WITH IMPROVED VENTILATION PERFORMANCE

The present invention relates to a laundry treatment appliance, in particular to a laundry dryer or a laundry washer-and-dryer.

Laundry treatment appliances such as laundry dryers and laundry washer-and-dryers are commonly known in the art. Several techniques have been devised for drying the wet laundry. The heat-pump type laundry dryers as well as the condenser type laundry dryers are commonly known in the art.

Fig. 1 shows a laundry dryer (1’) which is known from the prior art. The laundry dryer (1’) comprises: a main body (2’) which includes: a drum (not shown) for receiving the laundry to be dried, and a drying unit (not shown) for drying the laundry by means of heated process air; and a kick panel assembly (3’) which has: a first kick panel (4’) for at least partly accessing the drying unit, in particular the lint filter or the condenser, wherein the first kick panel (4’) is openably/closably disposed onto the main body (2’); and a second kick panel (5’) which is fixed to the main body (2’) and next to the first kick panel (4’), wherein the second kick panel (5’) has a perforated area (6’); a fan (not shown) for cooling at least part of the drying unit, in particular the condenser or the compressor, wherein the fan is disposed behind the second kick panel (5’); a locking means (not shown) for locking/unlocking the first kick panel (4’) in the closed state; and a button (9’) for actuating the locking means, wherein the button (9’) is disposed onto the second kick panel (5’).

US2016/0053426 A1 discloses a laundry dryer.

A problem with the prior art laundry dryer (1’) is that the locking means and the button (9’) together restrict the perforated area (6’) of the second kick panel (5’), and thus the flow is adversely affected. Consequently, the compressor or the condenser cannot be effectively cooled, and thus the laundry drying performance is reduced.

An objective of the present invention is to provide a laundry dryer which overcomes the aforementioned problem of the prior art in a cost-effective way and which enables an improved ventilation performance and an improved laundry drying performance.

This objective has been achieved by the laundry dryer as defined in claim 1. Further achievements have been attained by the subject-matters respectively defined in the dependent claims.

In the laundry dryer of the present invention, the button is centered with reference to the hub of the fan and surrounded by the perforated area.

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that any adverse effect on the flow induced by the fan can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible as the button is located within the perforated area at the position which is centered with reference to the hub of the fan, and thus the cooling performance can be comparatively improved. Thereby, the laundry drying performance can also be improved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned restriction on the perforated area has been removed, and thus the perforated area can be further uniformly widened around the button towards the periphery of the second kick panel. Thereby, a fan with a higher flow rate can be effectively deployed behind the perforated area of the second kick panel. With the present invention, the user satisfaction can be further increased.

In an embodiment, the button is also centered with reference to the size and shape of the perforated area. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the button is less noticeable to the user at the center of the perforated area. Thereby, the appearance of the laundry dryer can be rendered simple and smooth.

In another embodiment, the locking means is disposed behind a non-perforated area of the second kick panel. In this embodiment, the non-perforated area also supports the button. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the locking means can be concealed through the non-perforated area.

In another embodiment, the first kick panel has a lock hole. And the second kick panel has a spring-loaded locking arm which can be slidingly engaged with or disengaged from the lock hole by means of the button when the first kick panel is in the closed state. The button is linked to the spring-loaded locking arm. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the spring-loaded locking arm can be easily extended behind the non-perforated area from the button on the second kick panel to the periphery of the first kick panel.

In another embodiment, the button is linked to the spring-loaded locking arm through a first beveled part and a second beveled part which are obliquely abutted against each other. Thereby, the spring-loaded locking arm can be easily disengaged from the lock hole when the button is pressed. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the locking means is reliable and cost effective. Alternatively, the button and the spring-loaded locking arm may be linked through a gear mechanism.

In another embodiment, the fan is an axial fan. This embodiment is particularly advantageous as the axial fan occupies comparatively less space. Alternatively, a radial fan may be used.

Additional features and additional advantageous effects of the laundry dryer of the present invention will become more apparent with the detailed description of the embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 – is a schematic perspective view of a laundry dryer according to the prior art;

Figure 2 – is a schematic perspective view of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 3 – is a schematic exploded partial perspective view of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the button coincides with the axis (Z) of the fan;

Figure 4 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line A-A in Fig. 5;

Figure 5 – is a schematic front view of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first kick panel is locked in the closed state;

Figure 6 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail B of Fig. 4;

Figure 7 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail C of Fig. 4;

Figure 8 – is a schematic partial sectional view of the laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, taken along the line D-D in Fig. 9;

Figure 9 – is a schematic front view of a laundry dryer according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein the first kick panel is unlocked and slightly moved towards the opened state;

Figure 10 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail E of Fig. 8;

Figure 11 – is a schematic enlarged view of the detail F of Fig. 8.

The reference signs appearing on the drawings relate to the following technical features.

Laundry dryer
Main body
Kick panel assembly
First kick panel
Second kick panel
Perforated area
Fan
Locking means
Button
Hub
Lock hole
Spring-loaded locking arm
Spring
Non-perforated area
First beveled part
Second beveled part

Z: Axis of the fan

The laundry dryer (1) comprises: a main body (2) which includes: a drum (not shown) for receiving the laundry to be dried, and a drying unit (not shown) for drying the laundry by means of heated process air; and a kick panel assembly (3) which has: a first kick panel (4) for at least partly accessing the drying unit, wherein the first kick panel (4) is openably/closably disposed onto the main body (2); and a second kick panel (5) which is fixed to the main body (2) and next to the first kick panel (4), wherein the second kick panel (5) has a perforated area (6); a fan (7) for cooling at least part of the drying unit, wherein the fan (7) is disposed behind the second kick panel (5); a locking means (8) for locking/unlocking the first kick panel (4) in the closed state; and a button (9) for actuating the locking means (8), wherein the button (9) is disposed onto the second kick panel (5) (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3).

In the laundry dryer (1) of the present invention, the button (9) is centered with reference to the hub (10) of the fan (7) and surrounded by the perforated area (6) (Fig. 3).

In an embodiment, the locking means (8) comprises: a lock hole (11) which is formed into the first kick panel (4); and a spring-loaded locking arm (12) which is slidingly disposed onto the second kick panel (5), and adapted to move out of the lock hole (11) when the button (9) is actuated, and to be pushed into the lock hole (11) through the spring (13) when the button (9) is not actuated or released. The button (9) is linked to the spring-loaded locking arm (12) (Fig. 4 to 7; Fig. 8 to 11).

In the embodiment illustrated in the attached figures, in particular, the spring-loaded locking arm (12) is horizontally disposed onto the second kick panel (5), so as to minimize the area of the second kick panel (5) obstructed by the spring-loaded locking arm (12).

According to a further embodiment, the spring-loaded locking arm (12) is concealed through a non-perforated area (14) of the second kick panel (5) (Fig. 4 to 8; Fig 8 to 10).

In another embodiment, the spring-loaded locking arm (12) has a first beveled part (15); and the button (9) has a second beveled part (16) which is adapted to obliquely abut against the first beveled part (15), and to slidingly move the spring-loaded locking arm (12) out of the lock hole (11) when the button (9) is pressed inwardly (Fig. 7 and Fig. 11).

This embodiment is constructionally simple and at the same time functionally reliable.

Although the above described mechanical connection between the spring-loaded locking arm (12) and the button is preferred, different connections could be provided without departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. For instance, in a different embodiment (not illustrated), the spring-loaded locking arm (12) and the button (9) are connected through a gear mechanism or a gear and rack mechanism designed to transmit the motion of the button (9) to the spring-loaded locking arm (12).

A major advantageous effect of the present invention is that any adverse effect on the flow induced by the fan (7) can be eliminated or reduced as much as possible as the button (9) is located within the perforated area (6) at the position which is centered with reference to the hub (10) of the fan (7), and thus the cooling performance can be comparatively improved. Thereby, the laundry drying performance can also be improved. Another major advantageous effect of the present invention is that the aforementioned restriction on the perforated area (6) has been removed, and thus the perforated area (6) can be further uniformly widened around the button (9) towards the periphery of the second kick panel (5). Thereby, a fan (7) with a higher flow rate can be effectively deployed behind the perforated area (6) of the second kick panel (5). With the present invention, the user satisfaction can be further increased. Other advantageous effects of the present invention can be taken from the above-described embodiments.

Claims

A laundry dryer (1) comprising: a main body (2) which includes: a drum for receiving the laundry to be dried, and a drying unit for drying the laundry by means of heated process air; and a kick panel assembly (3) which has: a first kick panel (4) for at least partly accessing the drying unit, wherein the first kick panel (4) is openably/closably disposed onto the main body (2); and a second kick panel (5) which is fixed to the main body (2) and next to the first kick panel (4), wherein the second kick panel (5) has a perforated area (6); a fan (7) for cooling at least part of the drying unit, wherein the fan (7) is disposed behind the second kick panel (5); a locking means (8) for locking/unlocking the first kick panel (4) in the closed state; and a button (9) for actuating the locking means (8), wherein the button (9) is disposed onto the second kick panel (5), characterized in that the button (9) is centered with respect to the hub (10) of the fan (7) and surrounded by the perforated area (6).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the locking means (8) comprises: a lock hole (11) which is formed into the first kick panel (4); and a spring-loaded locking arm (12) which is slidingly disposed onto the second kick panel (5), and adapted to move out of the lock hole (11) when the button (9) is actuated, and to be pushed into the lock hole (11) through a spring (13) when the button (9) is not actuated, wherein the button (9) is linked to the spring-loaded locking arm (12).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring-loaded locking arm (12) is concealed through a non-perforated area (14) of the second kick panel (5).
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the spring-loaded locking arm (12) has a first beveled part (15); and the button (9) has a second beveled part (16) which is adapted to obliquely abut against the first beveled part (15), and to slidingly move the spring-loaded locking arm (12) out of the lock hole (11) when the button (9) is pressed inwardly.
The laundry dryer (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the spring-loaded locking arm (12) and the button (9) are connected through a gear mechanism.