U.S. patent application number 10/866751 was filed with the patent office on 2005-05-12 for drum type washing machine.
This patent application is currently assigned to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Kim, Hyun Sook, Namkung, Koan Seong, Roh, Hyoung Hoon.
Application Number | 20050097926 10/866751 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34431747 |
Filed Date | 2005-05-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050097926 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Hyun Sook ; et
al. |
May 12, 2005 |
Drum type washing machine
Abstract
A drum type washing machine including axially-extending lifters
arranged around an inner peripheral surface of a rotating tub which
is upwardly inclined to allow easy laundry loading and unloading
operations. The lifters each have a width gradually reducing as it
extends from its rear end to its front end. Each lifter includes
water spray holes at a top portion thereof. The water spray holes
are longitudinally arranged in rows at the top portion of the
lifter, and corresponding water spray holes in respective rows are
laterally aligned. A width-enlarged portion is provided at a front
end of each lifter so that wash water is effectively sprayed
through the water spray holes at the front end portion of the
lifter arranged at a relatively high level. Opposite side surfaces
of each lifter have a planar or curved surface structure.
Inventors: |
Kim, Hyun Sook; (Suwon-Si,
KR) ; Namkung, Koan Seong; (Hwasung-Si, KR) ;
Roh, Hyoung Hoon; (Suwon-Si, KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
STAAS & HALSEY LLP
SUITE 700
1201 NEW YORK AVENUE, N.W.
WASHINGTON
DC
20005
US
|
Assignee: |
Samsung Electronics Co.,
Ltd.
Suwon-Si
KR
|
Family ID: |
34431747 |
Appl. No.: |
10/866751 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
68/24 ; 68/139;
68/142 |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 37/065 20130101;
D06F 37/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
068/024 ;
068/139; 068/142 |
International
Class: |
D06F 021/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 10, 2003 |
KR |
2003-79249 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A drum type washing machine comprising: a housing; a rotating
tub rotatably positioned in the housing; and at least one lifter on
an inner peripheral surface of the rotating tub extending axially
along the rotating tub, the lifter having, at a rear end portion
thereof, a width larger than another width at a front end portion
thereof.
2. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
rotating tub is upwardly inclined toward a front wall of the
housing at an inclination angle, and the lifter has a width
gradually decreasing as the lifter extends from the rear end
thereof to the front end thereof.
3. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
lifter includes, at a top portion thereof, a plurality of water
spray holes which downwardly spray wash water raised by the
lifter.
4. The drum type washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the
water spray holes are longitudinally arranged in a plurality of
rows at the top portion of the lifter, and corresponding water
spray holes in respective rows are laterally aligned.
5. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
lifter includes, at a front end thereof, a width-enlarged
portion.
6. The drum type washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the
width-enlarged portion has a plurality of water spray holes which
spray a relatively large amount of wash water at the front end of
the lifter which is higher than a rear portion of the lifter.
7. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
lifter has opposing planar side surfaces.
8. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
lifter has opposing curved side surfaces.
9. A drum type washing machine comprising: a housing; a rotating
tub rotatably positioned in the housing and upwardly inclined
toward a front wall of the housing at an inclination angle; a drive
motor arranged in a rear of the rotating tub, adapted to rotate
the, rotating tub; and at least one lifter on an inner peripheral
surface of the rotating tub extending axially along the rotating
tub, wherein the rotating tub has, at the rear thereof, an inner
peripheral surface area, on which laundry is positioned, smaller
than that at a front thereof.
10. The drum type washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the
lifter has, at a rear thereof, a width larger than that at a front
thereof, and wherein the inner peripheral surface area of the
rotating tub at the rear thereof is smaller than that at the front
thereof.
11. The drum type washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the
lifter includes a plurality of water spray holes which downwardly
spray wash water raised by the lifter, wherein the water spray
holes are positioned at a top of the lifter.
12. The drum type washing machine according to claim 11, wherein
the lifter includes, at the front thereof, a width-enlarged portion
having more water spray holes than the rear of the lifter.
13. The drum type washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the
inclination angle is between about 5 degrees and about 15
degrees.
14. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, further
comprising: another lifter, wherein the lifters are positioned
around the rotating tub such that the lifters are circumferentially
spaced uniformly apart from one another.
15. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
lifter has a constant height extending from a first end to a second
end of the rotating tub.
16. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein an
area between adjacent lifters is greater at a first end of the
rotating tub than at a second end of the rotating tub.
17. The drum type washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the
width of the lifter at the rear portion imparts a force moving
laundry toward the front portion of the lifter as the rotating tub
rotates.
18. The drum type washing machine according to claim 11, wherein
the lifter includes a hollow structure open at an end facing an
outer peripheral surface of the rotating tub and which receives
wash water.
19. The drum type washing machine according to claim 18, wherein
the lifter is open at the end facing the outer peripheral surface
of the rotating tub and in communication with openings formed on
the outer peripheral surface of the rotating tub.
20. The drum type washing machine according to claim 18, wherein
wash water introduced into the lifter is sprayed through the water
spray holes.
21. The drum type washing machine according to claim 12, wherein a
density of the water spray holes is greater in the width-enlarged
portion than a remainder of the lifter.
22. The drum type washing machine according to claim 3, wherein the
rear portion having a larger width than the front portion includes
a greater number of water spray holes.
23. The drum type washing machine according to claim 22, wherein
wash water is sprayed evenly throughout a length of the lifter.
24. The drum type washing machine according to claim 9, wherein the
lifter includes at least two opposing side surfaces along a length
of the lifter, the side surfaces having a smooth, curved shape.
25. The drum type washing machine according to claim 5, wherein the
width of the width-enlarged portion is approximately equal to a
width of the rear end portion of the lifter.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 2003-79249, filed Nov. 10, 2003 in the Korean
Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is
incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a drum type washing
machine, and more particularly, to a drum type washing machine in
which axially-extending lifters arranged around an inner peripheral
surface of a rotating tub upwardly inclinedly installed to allow
easy laundry loading and unloading operations have an improved
structure, thereby being capable of achieving an improvement in
wash performance.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] A conventional washing machine generally includes a housing
forming an outer appearance of the washing machine, a cylindrical
water tub installed in the housing and adapted to contain wash
water, a cylindrical rotating tub rotatably installed in the water
tub and adapted to wash laundry contained therein, a drive motor
arranged in the rear of the water tub and adapted to rotate the
rotating tub, and a door hingably mounted to a front wall of the
housing.
[0006] Various lifters are protruded from an inner peripheral
surface of the rotating tub to a desired height while being
arranged to be circumferentially spaced apart from one another
around the rotating tub and to extend axially along the inner
peripheral surface of the rotating tub. When the rotating tub
rotates, the laundry and wash water in the rotating tub are raised
by the lifters in a sequential fashion, and then dropped, so that
the laundry is washed.
[0007] Openings are provided at respective front ends of the water
tub and rotating tub such that they are opened and closed by the
door. When the door is open, it is possible to put laundry into the
rotating tub through the openings or to take the laundry out of the
rotating tub through the openings. When the door is closed, the
water tub and rotating tub are sealed against the outside of the
door. In this state, a wash cycle can be carried out.
[0008] In the drum type washing machine having the above mentioned
configuration, loading or unloading of laundry is carried out
through the door mounted to the front wall of the housing. In order
to carry out the loading or unloading of laundry through the
opening of the rotating tub after opening the door, however, the
user must bend his body to lower his posture because the housing of
the above-mentioned drum type washing machine typically has a
height much lower than peoples' average height, and the opening of
the rotating tub is forwardly directed. For this reason, there is
inconvenience.
[0009] In order to eliminate such inconvenience, improved drum type
washing machines have recently been developed. In such a drum type
washing machine, the rotating tub is upwardly inclined such that
the opening thereof is upwardly directed, so that the user can
perform loading and unloading of laundry without bending his body
too much.
[0010] In such a structure in which the rotating tub is inclined, a
relatively large amount of laundry is positioned at the rear end
portion of the rotating tub, whereas a relatively small amount of
laundry is positioned at the front end portion of the rotating tub.
In particular, since the lifters on the inner peripheral surface of
the rotating tub have a constant height throughout the length of
the rotating tub, the laundry positioned at the rear end portion of
the rotating tub is stacked up to a level considerably higher than
the height of the lifters, whereas the laundry positioned at the
front end portion of the rotating tub is stacked to a level lower
than the height of the lifters.
[0011] When the rotating tub rotates in such a state, the laundry
positioned at a level higher than the height of the lifters at the
rear end portion of the rotating tub may not be lifted by the
lifters, so that it is ineffectively washed. On the other hand, the
amount of laundry lifted by the lifters at the front end portion of
the rotating tub is relatively small. As a result, the lifters
operate inefficiently.
[0012] Furthermore, the laundry not lifted by the lifters at the
rear end portion of the rotating tub may be entangled as the
lifters are rotated along with the rotating tub. As a result, the
laundry may be damaged. There is also inconvenience in that the
user must disentangle the entangled laundry after completion of the
washing process.
[0013] Meanwhile, the laundry distributed in a relatively small
amount at the front end portion of the rotating tub is easily
lifted by the lifters, and then moved toward the rear end portion
of the rotating tub. As a result, the laundry tends to bunch up at
the rear end portion of the rotating tub even more.
[0014] When the laundry is mainly positioned at the rear end
portion of the rotating tub, dynamic unbalance also occurs because
a relatively large load is applied to the rear end portion of the
rotating tub, whereas a relatively small load is applied to the
front end portion of the rotating tub. As a result, the rotating
operation of the rotating tub is inefficiently carried out.
[0015] Since the front end portion of each lifter is rotated at a
level higher than that of the rear end portion of the lifter,
because the rotating tub upwardly is inclined toward the front wall
of the housing, wash water raised by the lifter flows toward the
rear end portion of the lifter. For this reason, the wash water is
mainly sprayed by the rear end portions of the lifters, while
little wash water is sprayed by the front end portions of the
lifters. As a result, the laundry positioned at the front end
portion of the rotating tub is insufficiently doused with the wash
water.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] The present invention has been made in view of the problems
involved with the above mentioned conventional drum type washing
machines, and an aspect of the invention is to provide a drum type
washing machine in which axially-extending lifters arranged around
an inner peripheral surface of a rotating tub which is upwardly
inclined have an improved structure, thereby achieving an
improvement in wash performance.
[0017] In accordance with this aspect, this is accomplished by
providing a drum type washing machine including: a housing; a
rotating tub rotatably positioned in the housing; and at least one
lifter positioned on an inner peripheral surface of the rotating
tub and extending axially along the rotating tub, the lifter
having, at a rear end portion thereof, a width larger than that at
a front end portion of the lifter.
[0018] The rotating tub may be upwardly inclined toward a front
wall of the housing. The lifter may have a width gradually reducing
as it extends from the rear end thereof to the front end of the
lifter.
[0019] The lifter may include, at a top portion thereof, water
spray holes for downwardly spraying wash water raised by the
lifter.
[0020] The water spray holes may be longitudinally arranged in rows
at the top portion of the lifter. Corresponding water spray holes
in respective rows may be laterally aligned.
[0021] The lifter may include, at a front end thereof, with a
width-enlarged portion. The width-enlarged portion may have water
spray holes so that a relatively large amount of wash water may be
sprayed at the front end of the lifter, which is arranged at a
relatively high level.
[0022] Additional aspects and/or advantages of the invention will
be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part,
will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice
of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention
will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the
following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings of which:
[0024] FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically illustrating a drum
type washing machine according to the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a rotating tub from FIG. 1,
in which lifters having opposite planar side surfaces and a width
gradually reducing in a forward direction in accordance with a
first embodiment of the present invention are arranged on the inner
peripheral surface of the rotating tub; and
[0026] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another rotating tub, in
which lifters having opposite curved side surfaces and a width
gradually reducing in a forward direction in accordance with a
second embodiment of the present invention are arranged on the
inner peripheral surface of the rotating tub.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0027] Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of
the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the
like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below to
explain the present invention by referring to the figures.
[0028] FIG. 1 is a sectional view schematically illustrating the
configuration of a drum type washing machine according to the
present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the drum type washing
machine according to the present invention includes a housing 1
having an approximately box shape to define an outer appearance of
the washing machine, a drum-shaped water tub 2 installed in the
housing 1 and adapted to contain wash water, a drum-shaped rotating
tub 3 rotatably positioned in the water tub 2 and including
spin-dry holes 4 at a peripheral wall of the rotating tub, and a
drive motor 5 adapted to rotate the rotating tub 3, in order to
wash and spin-dry laundry contained in the rotating tub 3.
[0029] Openings 2a and 3a are provided at respective front ends of
the water tub 2 and rotating tub 3, in order to allow laundry to be
put into the rotating tub 3 and to be taken out of the rotating tub
3. A door 6 is hingably mounted to a front wall of the housing 1,
so as to open and close the openings 2a and 3a of the water tub 2
and rotating tub 3.
[0030] Installed at the top of the housing 1 are a water supply
pipe 7 for receiving wash water from an external water supply
source, and a detergent container 8 for containing detergent, and
mixing the detergent with the wash water supplied via the water
supply pipe 7. A drain pump 9 and a drain hose 10 are installed at
the bottom of the housing 1, in order to externally drain wash
water after completion of a wash cycle.
[0031] The drive motor 5 is fixedly mounted to a rear end of the
water tub 2 outside the water tub 2. A rotating shaft 5a, which is
connected to the drive motor 5 at one end thereof, is fixedly
coupled to a rear end of the rotating tub 3 at the other end of the
rotating shaft, so that it transmits a rotating force from the
drive motor 5 to the rotating tub 3, thereby causing the rotating
tub 3 to rotate.
[0032] The rotating tub 3 is upwardly inclined at a certain angle
toward the front wall of the housing 1, in order to allow the user
to perform loading and unloading of laundry without bending his
body. Similarly to the rotating tub 3, the water tub 2 is upwardly
inclined at a certain angle toward the front wall of the housing 1,
while being suspended in the housing 1.
[0033] It is advantageous that the inclination angle a of the
rotating tub 3 be as large as possible, in order to conveniently
perform loading and unloading of laundry in front of the housing 1.
However, where the inclination angle a is excessively large, the
amount of laundry positioned at a rear end portion of the rotating
tub 3 increases excessively, so that a degradation in wash
performance occurs. Accordingly, it is desirable to determine the
inclination angle a of the rotating tub 3 within a range from about
5.degree. to 15.degree., taking into consideration the convenience
in laundry loading and unloading operations, and the wash
performance.
[0034] Lifters 20 are arranged on an inner peripheral surface of
the rotating tub 3 such that they are circumferentially uniformly
spaced apart from one another around the rotating tub 3 while
extending axially along the rotating tub 3. As the rotating tub 3
rotates, the lifters 20 raise laundry contained in the rotating tub
3, along with wash water, and then release the raised laundry and
wash water at a certain level, thereby causing the laundry and wash
water to be dropped. Thus, the laundry is washed.
[0035] In order to prevent the laundry contained in the rotating
tub 3 from bunching up at the rear end portion of the rotating tub
3, as compared to the front end portion of the rotating tub 3, due
to the upward inclination of the rotating tub 3 toward the front
wall of the housing 1, the lifters 20 have a width gradually
reducing as they extend from the rear end of the rotating tub 3 to
the front end thereof. Such a structure of the lifters 20 will be
described hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0036] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rotating tub, in which
lifters having opposite planar side surfaces and a width gradually
reducing in a forward direction in accordance with a first
embodiment of the present invention are arranged on the inner
peripheral surface of the rotating tub. In FIG. 2, the lifters are
designated by the reference numeral 20.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 2, the lifters 20 are arranged on the inner
peripheral surface of the rotating tub 3 such that they are
circumferentially uniformly spaced apart from one another around
the rotating tub 3 while extending axially from the rear end of the
rotating tub 3 to the front end thereof, that is, throughout the
length of the rotating tub 3, in order to upwardly lift laundry
contained in the rotating tub 3.
[0038] Each lifter 20 has a constant height throughout the length
of the rotating tub 3 while having, at a rear end thereof, a larger
width than that at a front end of the rotating tub. Each lifter 20
has a width gradually reducing as it extends from the rear end of
the tub to the front end thereof. Each lifter 20 also has opposite
planar side surfaces.
[0039] Here, the rear end of each lifter 20 corresponds to the rear
end of the rotating tub 3 adjacent to the rear wall of the housing
1, whereas the front end of each lifter 20 corresponds to the front
end of the rotating tub 3 adjacent to the door 6.
[0040] Since the lifters 20 each have, at the rear end thereof, a
relatively larger width than at the front end thereof, the amount
of laundry positioned at the rear end portion of the rotating tub 3
is correspondingly reduced, so that the laundry not positioned at
the rear end portion of the rotating tub 3 is positioned at the
front end portion of the rotating tub 3 where the lifters 20 have a
smaller width. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent laundry from
bunching up only at the rear end portion of the rotating tub 3.
Thus, laundry can be uniformly distributed in the rotating tub 3.
That is, although the rotating tub 3 has an upwardly inclined
structure, the laundry contained in the rotating tub 3 is uniformly
distributed throughout the length of the rotating tub 3.
[0041] In accordance with the above described structure of the
lifters 20, the area where the laundry is positioned between
adjacent lifters 20 has a height at the rear end portion of the
rotating tub 3 larger than that at the front end portion of the
rotating tub 3 so that the laundry is uniformly distributed
throughout the length of the rotating tub 3. Accordingly, it is
possible to rapidly and effectively wash the laundry. Also, the
rotating tub 3 can rotate in a dynamically stable state.
[0042] Since the lifters 20 each have a width gradually reducing as
it extends from the rear end thereof to the front end thereof, they
push the laundry from the rear end of the rotating tub 3 to the
front end thereof, as the tub rotates. Accordingly, the laundry
positioned at the front end is prevented from shifting toward the
rear end portion of the rotating tub 3 at a level lower than the
front end portion of the rotating tub 3.
[0043] Each lifter 20 also has a structure to spray wash water.
That is, each lifter 20 has a downwardly-opened hollow structure
for receiving wash water in its interior. Further, water spray
holes 23 are provided at a top portion 21 of each lifter 20. Each
lifter 20 is also opened at a bottom portion 22 to communicate with
openings (not shown) formed at a portion of the rotating tub 3
where the lifter 20 is arranged. Accordingly, wash water is
introduced into each lifter 20 via the opened bottom portion 22 at
the bottom side of the rotating tub 3, and then downwardly sprayed
through the water spray holes 23 at the top side of the rotating
tub 3. Thus, the wash water, which is mixed with detergent, can
effectively permeate into the laundry, so that the laundry can be
more rapidly washed. Although not shown in the drawings, spray
holes may also be provided at the opposite side portions of each
lifter 20, so as to laterally spray wash water.
[0044] Here, the bottom portion 22 of each lifter 20 contacts the
inner peripheral surface of the rotating tub 3, whereas the top
portion 21 of each lifter 20 is spaced apart from the inner
peripheral surface of the rotating tub 3 by a maximum distance.
[0045] The water spray holes 23 of each lifter 20 are
longitudinally arranged in rows. Corresponding water spray holes 23
in respective rows are laterally aligned.
[0046] Each lifter 20 has a width-enlarged portion 24 at the front
end of the lifter, in order to spray a sufficient amount of wash
water at the front end portion of the rotating tub 3 at a
relatively high level. The width-enlarged portion 24 has a length
much smaller than the overall length of the lifter 20, in order to
prevent a reduction in the effect obtained by the structure of the
lifter 20 having a width gradually reducing as it extends from the
rear end of the rotating tub 3 to the front end thereof.
[0047] The width-enlarged portion 24 has, at a front end thereof
corresponding to the front end of the lifter 20, a width
approximately equal to the width of the rear end of the lifter 20,
that is, the largest width of the lifter 20. By virtue of the
width-enlarged portion 24, it is possible to provide an increased
number of water spray holes 23, and thus, to spray a sufficient
amount of wash water onto the laundry positioned at the front end
portion of the rotating tub 3.
[0048] In accordance with the above described arrangement of the
water spray holes 23, the wash water introduced into each lifter 20
through its bottom portion 22 at the bottom side of the rotating
tub 3 can be uniformly sprayed through the water spray holes 23
throughout the length of the lifter 20. Thus, the laundry uniformly
distributed between the rear and front ends of the rotating tub 3
can be effectively doused by the wash water, which is mixed with
detergent.
[0049] Now, a process for washing laundry by the drum type washing
machine having the above configuration according to the present
invention will be described.
[0050] First, the user opens the door 6, and puts laundry into the
rotating tub 3 which is upwardly inclined. At this time, the user
can conveniently perform these operations without lowering his
posture. Since the area between adjacent lifters 20 at the rear end
portion of the rotating tub 3 is smaller than that at the front end
portion of the rotating tub 3, the laundry contained in the
rotating tub 3 is uniformly distributed throughout the length of
the rotating tub 3.
[0051] Thereafter, the user closes the door 6, and operates a
control panel (not shown) to operate the washing machine. As the
washing machine operates, a water supply cycle is begun. That is,
wash water mixed with detergent is introduced into the water tub 2
via the water supply pipe 7 and detergent container 8, so that it
fills a lower portion of the water tub 2. When a desired amount of
wash water corresponding to the amount of laundry to be washed is
supplied, the water supply cycle is completed. After completion of
the water supply cycle, the drive motor 5 alternatingly rotates the
rotating tub 3 in clockwise and counterclockwise directions, along
with the rotating shaft 5a. Thus, the laundry contained in the
rotating tub 3 is washed.
[0052] As the rotating tub 3 rotates in such a wash cycle, the
laundry is uniformly distributed throughout the length of each
lifter 20, so that the load applied to the lifter 20 is uniform
throughout the length of the lifter 20. Accordingly, the laundry
can be effectively washed. Also, the rotating tub 3 is maintained
in a dynamically balanced state, so that it can be stably
rotated.
[0053] When the lifters 20 are sequentially moved to a level
adjacent to the top of the rotating tub 3 while lifting the laundry
during rotation of the rotating tub 3, the laundry is released from
the lifters 20, and then dropped, so that it is washed.
Simultaneously, the wash water mixed with detergent is introduced
into each lifter 20 through its bottom portion 22 at the bottom
side of the rotating tub 3, and then downwardly sprayed through the
water spray holes 23 provided at the top portion of the lifter 20,
so that the wash water permeates into the laundry.
[0054] Since the width-enlarged portion 24 having a relatively
large number of water spray holes 23 is provided at the front end
of each lifter 20, it is possible to spray a sufficient amount of
wash water even at the front end portion of the lifter 20 arranged
at a relatively high level.
[0055] After completion of the wash cycle, the laundry is rinsed
and spin-dried through rinse and spin-dry cycles. Thus, washing of
the laundry is completed.
[0056] After completion of the washing of the laundry, the user
again opens the door 6, and takes the laundry out of the rotating
tub 3. At this time, the user can conveniently perform these
operations without lowering his posture too much because the
rotating tub 3 is upwardly inclined.
[0057] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the rotating tub, in which
lifters having opposite curved side surfaces and a width gradually
reducing in a forward direction in accordance with a second
embodiment of the present invention are arranged on the inner
peripheral surface of the rotating tub. In FIG. 3, the lifters are
designated by reference numeral 20a.
[0058] The lifters 20a according to the second embodiment have the
same structure as those of the first embodiment, except that their
opposite side surfaces are curved, so that they have a similar
function and effect as that of the lifters 20 according to the
first embodiment. The lifters 20a provide an improvement because
their curved surfaces feel soft and smooth.
[0059] As is apparent from the above description, in the drum type
washing machine according to the present invention, a rotating tub
is upwardly inclined toward the front wall of the housing. Also,
each lifter has a width gradually reducing as it extends from its
rear end to its front end. Accordingly, laundry contained in the
rotating tub can be uniformly distributed throughout the length of
the lifter. Thus, it is possible to rapidly and effectively carry
out a wash process.
[0060] By virtue of such structures in the drum type washing
machine according to the present invention, the laundry can be
stably lifted by the lifters. Accordingly, the rotating tub can be
rotated in a dynamically stable state.
[0061] In addition, the laundry is not entangled or lumped.
Accordingly, the rotating tub is rotated in a balanced state during
a spin-dry process. It is also unnecessary to disentangle the
washed laundry.
[0062] In the drum type washing machine according to the present
invention, each lifter includes, at its front end, a width-enlarged
portion, in order to provide a sufficient number of water spray
holes at the front end of the lifter. Accordingly, wash water mixed
with detergent can be sufficiently sprayed even at the front end
portion of each lifter, so that even the laundry positioned at the
front end portion of the rotating tub arranged at a relatively high
level can be rapidly and effectively washed.
[0063] Although a few embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled
in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without
departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the
scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *