WO2018141774A1

WO2018141774A1 - A washer having a drum with improved mobility

Info

Publication number: WO2018141774A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/052361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Varol KAYISDAG; Ersin Donmez; Mehmet Taylan CELIK; Taha CALISKAN; Fatih KASAP
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-02-02
Filing date: 2018-01-31
Publication date: 2018-08-09
Also published as: TR201701568A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washer (1 ) comprising a body (2), a tub (3) provided in the body (2), a drum (4) provided in the tub (3), in which the items to be washed are placed, a control unit (6) enabling execution of pre-washing, main washing, rinsing and spinning steps, and a motion mechanism (5) provided in the body (2), enabling the drum (4) to be moved in at least one more direction besides its rotation about itself in connection with the tub (3).

Description

A WASHER HAVING A DRUM WITH IMPROVED MOBILITY

The present invention relates to a washer having a drum with improved mobility.

In washers such as a washing machine, washing is performed by the chemical washing effect provided by a detergent, and physical or in other terms, the mechanical washing effect generated by the items to be washed rubbing against each other. The washer producers conduct research for enhancing the mechanical washing effect. For this purpose, in front-loading washing machines, washers are known in the art in which a drum in which washing is performed, is moved preferably in vertical and horizontal directions as well as being rotated it about itself. Items to washed are enabled to be added into the drum after washing starts, thanks to moving water in the drum away from the loading opening by moving the drum so as to be inclined from the loading opening to the rear wall of the drum. However, the motion mechanisms operable to perform said function have a complicated structure and thus a high production cost.

State of the are European patent application no. EP3034668 discloses a washer having a drum vertically movable in up-down direction when not rotating.

State of the art Chinese patent application no. CN103015119 discloses a washer whose drum's vertical inclination can be changed in steps.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a washer wherein the mobility of the drum is improved in a low cost manner.

The washer realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the claims, comprises a motion mechanism enabling the drum provided in the tub to oscillate in a pushing and/or pulling direction by the tub being pushed or pulled by dint of a transmission member coupled to a stationary point in the body, coupling to the tub from the front or the back of the tub,.

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism comprises a reel positioned in the body so as to be rotatable about itself, and a transmission member wound around the reel, coupled to the tub with its open end. The transmission member wounds around the reel as the reel rotates, and the tub thus moves leaving its initial position. The transmission member loosens upon the reel rotating in the opposite direction, and the tub resumes its initial position.

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism comprises a transmission member coupling to the lateral surface of the reel. The rotational motion of the reel is transmitted to the tub as an unique dimensional linear motion by means of the transmission member coupled to the lateral surface of the reel. The tub and the drum are enabled to oscillate upon returning of the transmission member to the same point after the reel rotating a full spin. By this, it is sufficient to rotate the reel in a single direction and it can be rotated using only a simple electric engine.

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism comprises a wheel provided on the side where the transmission member is coupled to the tub, and a transmission member coupling to the reel provided on the other side, and changing direction by winding around the wheel. By means of using the wheel, the value of the moment applied to the tub is increased by extending the force distance, and the value of the force required to rotate the reel for oscillating the drum, is decreased.

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism is provided on the base of the body. The position of the center of gravity is thus lowered, and the washer is enabled to generate less noise by reducing the vibration of the washer.

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism is not operated by the washer, in cases when the drum rotates at higher spins such as the spinning step, and in washing steps when the mechanical washing effect is not required such as the spinning step.

In another embodiment of the invention, when items to be washed are to be added into the drum during washing, the control unit enabling controlling of the motion mechanism, enables the user to add the items without having difficulty by enabling the front portion of the drum to be lifted upwards by dint of the motion mechanism. In addition, by means of the front portion of the drum being lifted up, water in the tub is collected at the rear region of the tub, and is prevented from overflowing/spilling out.

In the washer of the invention, the drum is given mobility in a further dimension besides rotating about itself thanks to the low cost solutions.

The washer realized to achieve the aims of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a washer in an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a view of the motion mechanism and the tub in an embodiment of the invention, with the tub in its free state.

Figure 3 is a view of the motion mechanism and the tub in an embodiment of the invention, with the motion mechanism pulling the tub.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the motion mechanism and the tub in an embodiment of the invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Washer
Body
Tub
Drum
Motion mechanism
Control unit
Driver
Reel
Transmission member
Wheel

The washer (1) comprises a body (2), a tub (3) provided in the body (2), a drum (4) provided in the tub (3), in which the items to be washed are placed, a control unit (6) enabling execution of pre-washing, main washing, rinsing and spinning steps, and a motion mechanism (5) provided in the body (2), enabling the drum (4) to be moved in at least one more direction besides its rotation about itself in connection with the tub (3).

The washer (1) of the invention comprises a motion mechanism (5) enabling the tub (3) to oscillate in vertical an/or horizontal direction by a transmission member (9) with one end coupled to the tub (3), being pushed an/or pulled from its other end. The motion mechanism (5) is coupled to the tub (3) from the front or the rear side of the tub (3). For being able to move the tub (3), the other end of the motion mechanism (5) is coupled in the body (2) at a point stationary with respect to the ground. The motion mechanism (5) supported by the stationary point, enables the tub (3) to be pulled and released or to be pushed in horizontal and/or vertical direction. The drum (4) located in the tub (3) also oscillates in the respective direction by means of the motion of the tub (3). In the washer (1) of the invention, the mechanism enabling the drum (4) to be rotated about itself, is integrated to the tub (3). By this, the drum (4) is enabled to simultaneously oscillate in a different direction while rotating about itself.

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism (5) comprises a reel (8) rotatable about itself by means of a driver (7), and enables the drum (4) to oscillate by the reel (8) rotating/being rotated in both directions about itself by dint of the transmission member (9) having one end coupled to the tub (3) and the other end wound around the reel (8). The transmission member (9) coupled to the tub (3), is wound around the reel (8). The transmission member (9) may be a cable coupled to the reel (8) and the tub (3). The tub (3) is pulled when the reel (8) rotates by means of the driver (7) such that the transmission member (9) wounds on it, and the tub (3) is released when the reel (8) rotates such that the transmission member (9) is loosened. The drum (4) is thus enabled to oscillate in the respective direction. The tub (3) is not pushed to the other direction when the transmission member (9) is loosened, the motion provided by the motion mechanism (5) is an oscillation with a further position as its initial position rather than an oscillation about the initial position. Therefore, when the transmission member (9) loosens, the tub (3) returns to its initial position. If it is desired for the tub (3) to oscillate about its initial position, a spring (not shown in the figures) may be used, provided directly across the reel (8) and coupled to the tub (3) and the body (2).

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism (5) enables the drum (4) to be moved by means of the transmission member (9) with one end coupled to the tub (3) and the other end coupled to a point other than the center, on the lateral surface of the reel (8), and by rotating of the reel (8) about itself. Unlike the above-described embodiment, the transmission member (9) is coupled to a point on the circumference of the reel (8), and therefore the rotational motion of the reel (8) about itself is transmitted as an unique dimensional motion to the tub (3) via the transmission member (9). Another advantage of this embodiment is that, a simple engine may be used as the driver (7) to rotate the reel (8) since rotating the reel (8) in a single direction would be sufficient.

In another embodiment of the invention, the motion mechanism (5) comprises a fixed wheel (10) provided between the tub (3) and the reel (8), and rotatable about itself, via which the transmission member (9) changes direction by winding around. In this embodiment, the reel (8) is placed/positioned to the opposite of the side where the transmission member (9) is coupled to the tub (3), and balancing of the weight in pulling and releasing of the tub (3) is managed by interposing the wheel (10). The tub (3) is enabled to oscillate even by an engine that is not powerful by managing the weight balance and using the wheel (10).

In another embodiment of the invention, the components of the motion mechanism (5) such as the wheel (10) and the reel (8) are provided on the base of the body (2). By this, the level of the overall center of gravity of the washer (1) is lowered and the amplitude of the vibrations generated during the operation of the motion mechanism (5), is reduced.

In another embodiment of the invention, the washer (1) comprises a control unit (6) enabling operating the motion mechanism (5) in the pre-washing, main washing and the rinsing steps. The mechanical washing effect generated in the drum (4) is enhanced by means of the motion mechanism (5) being operated in steps in which cleaning is performed.

In another embodiment of the invention, the washer (1) comprises a control unit (6) disabling operating the motion mechanism (5) in the spinning step. The inertia of the drum (4) is high in the spinning step as it rotates with very high spin rates. Very high forces are required to move the drum (4) and therefore the tub (3) is different directions in the meanwhile. Therefore, the control unit (6) does not operate the motion mechanism (5) in the spinning step. The motion mechanism (5) is also not operated as the mechanical washing effect is not required in the spinning step.

In another embodiment of the invention, the washer (1) comprises a control unit (6) enabling the front portion of the drum (4) to be lifted up when items to be washed are to be added into the drum (4) during washing. When the user wishes to add items to be washed into the drum (4) after starting the washing steps, the control unit (6) enables the front of the drum (4) to be lifted by means of the motion mechanism (5), thereby preventing water in the tub (3) from spilling out. Also, adding items to be washed into the drum (4) by the user is facilitated by lifting the front of the drum (4).

With the washer (1) of the invention, the drum (4) is enabled to oscillate in a different dimension during its rotation about itself. The oscillation motion is preformed by means of a low cost motion mechanism (5). The mechanical washing effect in the drum (4) is thus enhanced. In addition, when items to be washed are to be added into the drum (4) after washing started, water in the tub (3) is prevented from overflowing/spilling out by lifting the front portion of the drum (4) up.

Claims

A washer (1) comprising a body (2), a tub (3) provided in the body (2), a drum (4) provided in the tub (3), in which the items to be washed are placed, a control unit (6) enabling execution of pre-washing, main washing, rinsing and spinning steps, and a motion mechanism (5) provided in the body (2), enabling the drum (4) to be moved in at least one more direction besides its rotation about itself in connection with the tub (3), characterized by the motion mechanism (5) enabling the tub (3) to oscillate in vertical and/or horizontal direction by a transmission member (9) with one end coupled to the tub (3), being pushed and/or pulled from its other end.
A washer (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the motion mechanism (5) comprising a reel (8) rotatable about itself by means of a driver (7), enabling the drum (4) to oscillate by the reel (8) rotating in both directions about itself by dint of the transmission member (9) having one end coupled to the tub (3) and the other end wound around the reel (8).
A washer (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the motion mechanism (5) enabling the drum (4) to be moved by means of the transmission member (9) having one end coupled to the tub (3) and the other end coupled to a point other than the center, on the lateral surface of the reel (8), and by the reel (8) rotating about itself.
A washer (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the motion mechanism (5) comprising a fixed wheel (10) provided between the tub (3) and the reel (8), and rotatable about itself, via which the transmission member (9) changes direction by winding around.
A washer (1) according to claim 4, characterized by the wheel (10) and by the reel (8) provided on the base of the body (2).
A washer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control unit (6) disabling the operation of the motion mechanism (5) during the spinning step.
A washer (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by a control unit (6) enabling the front portion of the drum (4) to be lifted upwards when items to be washed are to be added into the drum (4).