WO2019129407A1

WO2019129407A1 - A washer/dryer comprising a baffle

Info

Publication number: WO2019129407A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/078593
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cagdas YALCIN; Ergin METIN; Salih YILDIRIM; Selahattin CORAK; Ercan ILMAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-12-26
Filing date: 2018-10-18
Publication date: 2019-07-04
Also published as: EP3732319A1; TR201721852A2; EP3732319B1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) comprising a drum (2) into which the laundry is placed; at least one baffle (3) that extends towards the center of the drum (2) so as to enable the laundry in the drum (2) to be moved; at least one protrusion (5) that is provided on the baffle (3), and at least one hole (4) that is provided on the drum (2) and wherein the protrusion (5) is inserted so as to mount the baffle (3) to the drum (2).

Description

A WASHER/DRYER COMPRISING A BAFFLE

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer comprising one or more than one baffle that is fixed to the drum without using fixing elements such as screws.

The washer/dryers comprise various numbers of baffles in various sizes for increasing the washing performance by enabling the laundry placed in the drum to be moved. The laundry is washed by means of the rotation of the drum from right to left and from left to right. By means of the baffles provided in the drum, during the washing process, the laundry is enabled to be carried to a certain height and released to free fall.

In the state of the art, the drum provided in a washer/dryer is formed by joining together the two opposite edges of a rectangular sheet which in turn is connected to the front and rear covers. The baffles are obtained by shaping the sheet that forms the drum by means of methods such as cutting, punching and bending. The baffle that is formed by means of said methods is realized by using the entire width of the sheet, which results in the weakening of the drum and of the baffle against various forces acting thereon.

Furthermore, in the state of the art, there are embodiments wherein the baffle is attached to the drum separately. In said embodiments, perforations are formed on the drum or the sheet that forms the drum, and one or more than one locking means provided on the baffle are inserted into said perforations from the inner surface of the drum towards the outer surface thereof and thus, the baffle is enabled to be attached into the drum and fixed.

In the Great Britain Patent Application No. GB1161219, the baffle is attached to the drum by means of interlocking claws. In this document, although the interlocking claws that extend in the vertical and horizontal directions are provided, a fixing element is required for fixing to the drum.

In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2016107641, a slot is disclosed, that enables the connection tabs provided on the baffle and the protruding ends of the connection tabs to be kept in a closed region on the drum.

Another document in the state of the art is the International Patent Application No. WO2012143276. In this document, slots wherein the baffles are attached are provided on the wall of the drum. Edges that are bent into the drum during the formation of said slots enable the baffle to be fixed to the drum.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washer/dryer comprising one or more than one baffle the assembly to the drum of which is facilitated.

The washer/dryer that is realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof comprises at least one rectangular receptacle formed on the base of the baffle, and a cut-out that is bored on the lateral wall of the drum and that has lugs that are bent into the receptacle during the assembly.

By means of the receptacle and the cut-out having lugs that are bent into the receptacle, the baffle is enabled to be fixed to the drum in all three perpendicular directions without the need for using other fixing elements.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cut-out is H-shaped. Accordingly, the washer/dryer comprises two first slits that are bored parallel to each other and a second slit that is perpendicular to the first slits so as to connect the first slits. The two opposite lugs that form the second slit are bent inwards when the baffle is mounted onto the drum. When the lugs are bent into the receptacle, the cut-out becomes rectangular. Thus, the baffle is prevented from moving in the radial direction and in the two directions that are parallel to the axis of the drum.

While the baffle is prevented from moving in the directions that are parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the drum by means of the protrusion and the hole that receives the protrusion, the baffle is prevented from moving in the direction parallel to the drum and in the radial direction by means of the receptacle and the lug that is inserted into the receptacle.

By means of this locking method, the baffle is enabled to be fixed to the drum on the axis that is perpendicular to the assembly axis. While in the state of the art, the locking is obtained only when the protrusion is inserted into the second opening and the fixing is realized with screws, by means of the present invention, the protrusion is similarly inserted into the second opening but by bending the lugs provided on the cut-out into the receptacle, the fixing is provided without the need for the screws used in the previous art. Thus, the detachment that occurs due to the backwards and forwards sliding motion in the same axis is prevented and the loss of time, labor and resources that occurs due to the use of additional fixing elements is eliminated.

By means of the receptacle and the lug that is bent into the receptacle, the baffle is enabled to be mounted to the drum easily and quickly. The need for using an additional fixing element for fixing the baffle that is locked to the drum in both directions that are parallel to the axis of the drum during the mounting of the baffle to the drum is eliminated.

A washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the front view of a drum.

Figure 2 - is the top view of the drum wherein the baffle is mounted.

Figure 3 - is the view of the cross section A-A in Figure 2.

Figure 4 - is the detailed view of the H-shaped cut-out before the lugs are bent.

Figure 5 - is the view of the drum after the lugs are bent.

Figure 6 - is the perspective view of the baffle.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Washer/dryer
Drum
Baffle
Hole
Protrusion
Receptacle
Cut-out
Lug
Edge
First opening
Second opening
First slit
Second slit
Depression

The washer/dryer (1) comprises a drum (2) into which the laundry is placed; at least one baffle (3) that extends towards the center of the drum (2) so as to enable the laundry in the drum (2) to be moved; at least one protrusion (5) that is provided on the baffle (3), and at least one hole (4) that is provided on the drum (2) and wherein the protrusion (5) is inserted so as to mount the baffle (3) to the drum (2). At least one protrusion (5) extending outwards so as to be positioned between the drum (2) and the tub when the baffle (3) is mounted to the drum (2) is provided on the base of the baffle (3), and at least one hole (4) wherein the protrusion (5) is inserted and fitted is provided on the drum (2). The washer/dryer (1) further comprises a receptacle (6) that is provided in the baffle (3), and at least one cut-out (7) that is provided on the drum (2) and that has at least two opposite lugs (8) bent into the receptacle (6) so as to bear against the walls of the receptacle (6) when the baffle (3) is mounted to the drum (2) (Figure 1, Figure 2 and Figure 6).

The cut-out (7) is formed as an "H" on the sheet that forms the drum (2) (Figure 4). Accordingly, the washer/dryer (1) comprises two first slits (12) on the cut-out (7), that are bored parallel to each other and a second slit (13) that is perpendicular to the first slits (12) so as to connect the first slits (12). The two opposite lugs (8) that form the second slit (13) are bent inwards when the baffle (3) is mounted to the drum (2). In this case, the lugs (8) that are bent inwards enter the receptacle (6) and bear against the two opposite walls of the receptacle (6). When the lugs (8) are bent into the receptacle (6), the cut-out (7) becomes rectangular (Figure 3 and Figure 5). The lug (8) has three edges (9). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, two receptacles (6) are provided at the base of the baffle (3), and two cut-outs (7) are provided on the surface of the drum (2). Two opposite edges (9) of the lug (8) that is bent into the receptacle (6) bear against the two edges of the receptacle (6), and the edge (9) between said two edges (9) bears against the wall between the two opposite edges of the receptacle (6). Thus, the baffle (3) is prevented from moving in the radial direction and in the two directions that are parallel to the axis of the drum (2). Furthermore, the need for using an additional fixing element for fixing the baffle (3) to the drum (2) is eliminated.

The baffle (3) is mounted onto the inner surface of the drum (2) by means of one or more than one protrusion (5) so as to have a snap-fit connection with the drum (2). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are four protrusions (5) and four holes (4) into which said protrusions (5) are inserted. The protrusions (5) that pass through the holes (4) provided on the lateral surface of the drum (2) so as to extend towards the outer surface of the drum (2) enable the baffle (3) to be firmly mounted to the drum (2). In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the protrusion (5) is L-shaped. In this embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises a first opening (10) on the hole (4), with a width that allows the protrusion (5) to be inserted, and a second opening (11) narrower than the first opening (10), into which the protrusion (5) is firmly seated when the baffle (3) is slid parallel to the axis of the drum (2).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the washer/dryer (1) comprises at least one depression (14) in the form of a cavity provided on the outer surface of the drum (2), whereon the hole (4) is formed. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, four depressions (14) are used. Formation of a protrusion (5) on the outer surface of the drum (2) is prevented when the protrusion (5) is inserted into the hole (4) and completely seated into the second opening (11). The protrusion (5) that is seated into the hole (4) remains in the depression (14) and does not form any protrusion (5) on the outer surface of the drum (2).

While the baffle (3) is prevented from moving in the directions that are parallel and perpendicular to the axis of the drum (2) by means of the protrusion (5) and the hole (4) that receives the protrusion (5), the baffle (3) is prevented from moving in the direction parallel to the drum (2) and in the radial direction by means of the receptacle (6) and the lug (8) that is inserted into the receptacle (6).

In the embodiment of the present invention, the baffle (3) bears against the inner surface of the drum (2) so that the protrusion (5) passes through the first opening (10) on the hole (4). Meanwhile, the baffle (3) is slid parallel to the axis of the drum (2). As a result of this process, the protrusion (5) bears against the second opening (11). In this case, the receptacle (6) at the base of the baffle (3) is aligned with the cut-out (7). The lugs (8) are bent into the receptacle (6) and the mounting of the baffle (3) onto the inner surface of the drum (2) is completed. Thus, without the need for additional fixing elements, the baffle (3) is mounted to the drum (2) and the movement of the baffle (3) in any direction relative to the drum (2) is prevented.

By means of the receptacle (6) and the lug (8) that is bent into the receptacle (6), the baffle (3) is enabled to be mounted to the drum (2) easily and quickly. The need for using an additional fixing element for fixing the baffle (3) that is locked to the drum (2) in both directions that are parallel to the axis of the drum (2) during the mounting of the baffle (3) to the drum (2) is eliminated.

Claims

A washer/dryer (1) comprising a drum (2) into which the laundry is placed; at least one baffle (3) that extends towards the center of the drum (2) so as to enable the laundry in the drum (2) to be moved; at least one protrusion (5) that is provided on the baffle (3), and at least one hole (4) that is provided on the drum (2) and wherein the protrusion (5) is inserted so as to mount the baffle (3) to the drum (2), characterized by

- a receptacle (6) that is provided in the baffle (3), and

- at least one cut-out (7) that is provided on the drum (2) and

- that has at least two opposite lugs (8) bent into the receptacle (6) so as to bear against the walls of the receptacle (6) when the baffle (3) is mounted to the drum (2).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the cut-out (7) that is formed as an "H" on the sheet that forms the drum (2).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by two first slits (12) on the cut-out (7), that are bored parallel to each other and a second slit (13) that is perpendicular to the first slits (12) so as to connect the first slits (12).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the cut-out (7) that becomes rectangular when the lugs (8) are bent into the receptacle (6).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claims 1 to 4, characterized by the lugs (8) having three edges.
A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the L-shaped protrusion (5).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a first opening (10) on the hole (4), with a width that allows the protrusion (5) to be inserted, and a second opening (11) narrower than the first opening (10), into which the protrusion (5) is firmly seated when the baffle (3) is slid parallel to the axis of the drum (2).
A washer/dryer (1) as in Claims 1, 7, characterized by at least one depression (14) in the form of a cavity provided on the outer surface of the drum (2), whereon the hole (4) is formed.