U.S. patent application number 17/466978 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-10 for laundry treating apparatus.
The applicant listed for this patent is LG Electronics Inc.. Invention is credited to Hongjun CHO, Hyojun KIM, Taewoong KIM, Jongmin LEE, Yeonju LEE.
Application Number | 20220074111 17/466978 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-03-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220074111 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CHO; Hongjun ; et
al. |
March 10, 2022 |
LAUNDRY TREATING APPARATUS
Abstract
A laundry treating apparatus includes a decelerator that is
disposed between a motor and a drum, and converts power provided by
the motor to rotate the drum. The motor is coupled to and fixed to
the decelerator.
Inventors: |
CHO; Hongjun; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Hyojun; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE;
Jongmin; (Seoul, KR) ; LEE; Yeonju; (Seoul,
KR) ; KIM; Taewoong; (Seoul, KR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LG Electronics Inc. |
Seoul |
|
KR |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/466978 |
Filed: |
September 3, 2021 |
International
Class: |
D06F 58/08 20060101
D06F058/08; D06F 58/20 20060101 D06F058/20; H02K 7/00 20060101
H02K007/00; H02K 7/14 20060101 H02K007/14; H02K 7/116 20060101
H02K007/116 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 4, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0113177 |
Sep 4, 2020 |
KR |
10-2020-0113178 |
Claims
1. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a drum having a laundry
inlet and configured to accommodate laundry through the laundry
inlet; a motor configured to rotate the drum; and a decelerator
disposed between the motor and the drum and configured to change a
rotational speed and torque of the motor, wherein the motor is
coupled to the decelerator and fixed to the decelerator.
2. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor
includes: a stator configured to generate a rotating magnetic
field; a rotor configured to be rotated by the rotating magnetic
field; and a driving shaft coupled to the rotor and inserted into
the decelerator, wherein the stator is coupled to the decelerator
to thereby fix a position of the driving shaft disposed in the
decelerator.
3. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the stator is
coupled and fixed to the decelerator to fix the position of the
driving shaft disposed in the decelerator and maintain a distance
between the stator and the rotor.
4. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 2, wherein the
decelerator includes: a decelerator housing that accommodates the
driving shaft therein and rotatably supports the driving shaft; a
gearbox disposed inside the decelerator housing and engaged with
the driving shaft, the gearbox configured to change a rotational
speed of the driving shaft; and a rotation shaft extending from the
gearbox and being coupled to the drum, wherein the stator is
coupled to and fixed to the decelerator housing.
5. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 4, wherein the
decelerator housing supports the rotation shaft and maintains
alignment between the rotation shaft and the driving shaft.
6. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 5, wherein the
decelerator housing includes a shaft support extending in a
longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft and rotatably
supporting the rotation shaft to thereby restrict distortion of the
rotation shaft.
7. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor
includes: a stator coupled to the decelerator and configured to
generate a rotating magnetic field; a rotor configured to be
rotated by the rotating magnetic field; and a driving shaft coupled
to the rotor and inserted into the decelerator, wherein the stator
and the driving shaft are configured to tilt together with the
decelerator or vibrate together with the decelerator.
8. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 7, wherein the
decelerator includes: a decelerator housing that accommodates the
driving shaft therein and rotatably supports the driving shaft; a
gearbox disposed inside the decelerator housing and engaged with
the driving shaft, the gearbox configured to change a rotational
speed of the driving shaft; and a rotation shaft extending from the
gearbox and being coupled to the drum, wherein the rotation shaft
and the driving shaft are configured to tilt together with the
decelerator housing or vibrate together with the decelerator
housing.
9. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor
includes: a stator coupled to the decelerator and configured to
generate a rotating magnetic field; a rotor configured to be
rotated by the rotating magnetic field; and a driving shaft coupled
to the rotor and inserted into the decelerator, wherein the stator
accommodates at least a portion of the decelerator therein and is
coupled to the decelerator.
10. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least a
portion of the driving shaft is disposed inside the stator.
11. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein a portion of
the decelerator is disposed inside the rotor.
12. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 9, wherein the
decelerator includes at least one fastening protrusion coupled to
an inner circumferential surface of the stator.
13. A laundry treating apparatus comprising: a drum having a
laundry inlet and configured to accommodate laundry through the
laundry inlet; a motor configured to rotate the drum; and a
decelerator connecting the motor to the drum and configured to
change a rotational speed and torque of the motor, wherein the
motor and the drum are coupled to the decelerator to thereby allow
at least two of the motor, the drum, or the decelerator to tilt in
parallel with each other or vibrate together.
14. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, further comprising
a rear case disposed between the drum and the motor and supporting
the decelerator, wherein the drum and the motor are configured to
transmit at least a portion of a load to the rear case via the
decelerator.
15. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the motor,
the decelerator, and the drum are configured to simultaneously tilt
or vibrate with respect to the rear case.
16. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 14, wherein the drum
and the motor are spaced apart from the rear case.
17. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, wherein the
decelerator further includes a rotation shaft coupled to the drum,
wherein the drum is configured to vibrate or tilt independently
with respect to the rotation shaft.
18. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 17, wherein the drum is
made of a material having elasticity.
19. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:
a hot air supplier disposed outside the drum and configured to
supply hot air into the drum.
20. The laundry treating apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:
a hot air supplier disposed outside the drum and configured to
supply hot air into the drum.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application Nos. 10-2020-0113177, and 10-2020-0113178, filed on
Sep. 4, 2020, respectively, the disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a laundry treating
apparatus. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a
laundry treating apparatus having a driver that may be directly
connected to a drum for accommodating laundry therein to rotate the
drum.
BACKGROUND
[0003] A laundry treating apparatus, which is an apparatus capable
of removing dust or foreign matters attached to laundry by applying
a physical force to the laundry, includes a washing machine, a
dryer, a refresher (styler), and the like.
[0004] The washing machine is provided to perform a washing process
capable of separating and removing the foreign matters of the
laundry by supplying water and detergent to the laundry.
[0005] Dryers are divided into exhaust-type dryers and
circulation-type dryers. The exhaust-type dryers and the
circulation-type dryers are commonly provided to perform a drying
process to remove moisture contained in the laundry by producing
high-temperature hot air through a heater and exposing the hot air
to the laundry.
[0006] Recently, the dryer is provided to intensively perform a
drying process by omitting a component for supplying or draining
water into or from the laundry and also omitting a tub for
accommodating the water inside a cabinet. Therefore, there was an
advantage of improving drying efficiency by directly supplying the
hot air to a drum accommodating the laundry therein while
simplifying an internal structure of the dryer.
[0007] Such dryer may include the drum that accommodates the
laundry therein, a hot air supplier that supplies the hot air into
the drum, and a driver that rotates the drum. Thus, the dryer was
able to dry the laundry accommodated in the drum by supplying the
hot air into the drum, and evenly expose a surface of the laundry
to the hot air by rotating the drum. As a result, the drying was
able to be completed as an entirety of the surface of the laundry
is evenly in contact with the hot air.
[0008] In one example, the driver needs to be fixed inside the
cabinet in order to rotate the drum. In addition, when the driver
is provided to rotate a rotation shaft coupled to the drum, the
driver was necessary to be coupled in parallel with the rotation
shaft. However, as the dryer does not have the tub fixed inside the
cabinet, there is a limitation that the driver is not able to be
fixed to the tub like the washing machine.
[0009] To solve such problem, a dryer that fixes the driver to a
rear surface of the cabinet has emerged.
[0010] FIG. 1 shows a structure of the related art dryer in which
the driver is coupled to the rear surface of the cabinet.
[0011] Such dryer may include a cabinet 1 forming an appearance of
the dryer, a drum 2 rotatably disposed inside the cabinet 1 for
accommodating laundry therein, and a driver 3 provided to rotate
the drum 2.
[0012] The driver 3 may be disposed on a rear surface of the drum 2
and may be provided to rotate the drum 2, and may be coupled to and
fixed to a rear panel 11 forming a rear surface of the cabinet 1.
Thus, the driver 3 was able to be fixed to the cabinet 1 and rotate
the drum 2.
[0013] In the related art dryers described above, the driver 3 was
able to commonly include a stator 31 fixed to the rear panel 11, a
rotor 32 rotated by the stator 31, and a rotation shaft 33 coupled
with the rotor 32 to rotate the drum 2, and include a decelerator
30 provided to rotate the drum 2 by increasing torque while
decreasing rpm of the rotation shaft 33.
[0014] In addition, the related art dryer commonly further includes
a fixing portion 4 for fixing the driver 3 to the rear panel 11.
The fixing portion 4 may include at least one of a first fixing
portion 41 for fixing the stator 31 to the rear panel 11, and a
second fixing portion 42 for fixing the rotation shaft 33 to the
rear panel 11. Accordingly, the related art dryers were able to
stably rotate the drum 2 by disposing the rotation shaft 33 coupled
to the drum 2 and the driver 3 in parallel with each other.
[0015] However, because the rear panel 11 of the cabinet is made of
a thin steel plate, the rear panel 11 is easily deformed or
vibrated even with a fairly small external force. Moreover, because
the rear panel 11 receives not only a load of the driver 3, but
also a load of the drum 2 through the rotation shaft 33, the rear
panel 11 may be difficult to maintain a shape thereof.
[0016] In addition, when the laundry inside the drum 2 is eccentric
or repeatedly falls inside the drum 2 when the drum 2 rotates,
repeated external force may be transmitted to the rear panel 11, so
that the rear panel 11 may vibrate.
[0017] When the vibration or the external force is transmitted to
the rear panel 11 and the rear panel 11 is bent or deformed even
temporarily, the rotation shaft 33 connecting the driver 3 to the
drum 2 may be distorted. Accordingly, unnecessary vibration or
noise may occur in the driver 3, and in severe cases, the rotation
shaft 33 may be damaged. In addition, there is a problem in that
unnecessary noise is generated while the rear panel 11 is bent or
deformed.
[0018] In addition, a distance between the rotor 32 and the stator
31 is temporarily changed while the rear panel 11 vibrates, so that
the rotor 32 may collide with the stator 31 or the unnecessary
vibration and noise are generated.
[0019] Moreover, when the driver 3 further includes the decelerator
30, the rotation shaft 33 coupled to the decelerator 30 and a
decelerating shaft 33a connected from the decelerator 30 to the
drum 2 are separated from each other. In this connection, because
the decelerator 30 is supported on the rear panel 11 through the
stator 31 or the rotation shaft 33, when the rear panel 11 is
deformed even a little, the decelerating shaft 33a and the rotation
shaft 33 may be misaligned or displaced with each other.
[0020] In other words, an amount of change in position of the
decelerating shaft 33a connected to the drum 2 may be smaller than
that of the rotation shaft 33 coupled to the driver 3 because of
the load of the drum 2. Therefore, when the rear panel 11 is
temporarily bent or deformed, degrees of tilting of the rotation
shaft 33 and the decelerating shaft 33a become different from each
other, so that the rotation shaft 33 and the decelerating shaft 33a
are misaligned with each other.
[0021] Therefore, every time the driver 3 operates, because the
rotation shaft 33 and the decelerating shaft 33a are misaligned
with each other, the related art laundry treating apparatus was not
able to guarantee reliability of the decelerator 30, and had a
problem that the decelerator 30 may be damaged.
[0022] In one example, in order to directly connect the driver 3 to
the drum 200 in the dryer, it is necessary to couple a rotation
shaft that transmits the power of the driver 3 to the drum 200.
However, as described above, in the related art dryer, a specific
structure for coupling the driver 3 to the drum 200 is not
specified, so that it may be considered to apply a structure that
couples the drum 200 and driver 3 of the washing machine to each
other.
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a dryer that fixes the driver 3 to a bottom
surface or a base of the cabinet 1.
[0024] The dryer may include a cabinet 1 and a drum 2, and may
include a circulating flow channel 5 for circulating air in the
drum 2 to the outside, and a heat pump 6 that is accommodated in
the circulating flow channel 5 to condense the air and heat the air
again. Water condensed in the heat pump 6 may be collected in a
water storage tank 9 using a pump 8.
[0025] In one example, even when the driver 3 vibrates or a
temporary external force is transmitted through the driver 3, a
bottom surface 12 of the cabinet 1 may be prevented from being
deformed or tilted.
[0026] Accordingly, the related art dryer is provided to fix the
driver 3 to the bottom surface 12 of the cabinet 1 or to the base
disposed below the drum 2 and fixed to the bottom surface of the
cabinet 1. In such dryer, because the driver 3 is not disposed
parallel to a rotation shaft of the drum 2, a separate component is
additionally used to rotate the drum 2.
[0027] Specifically, the driver 3 may include a motor 34 fixed to
the bottom surface of the cabinet 1, a rotation shaft 37 rotating
on the motor 34, a pulley 35 rotated by the rotation shaft 37, and
a belt 36 provided to connect an outer circumferential surface of
the drum 2 and an outer circumferential surface of the pulley 35 to
each other.
[0028] Accordingly, when the motor 34 rotates the rotation shaft
37, the pulley 35 may rotate the belt 36, and the belt 36 may
rotate the drum 2. In this connection, because a diameter of the
pulley 35 is much smaller than a diameter of the drum 2, the dryer
may omit a decelerator.
[0029] However, in such dryer, because the diameter of the pulley
35 is much smaller than the diameter of the drum 2, when the motor
34 rotates rapidly, a slip phenomenon in which the belt 36 slides
on the drum 2 or the pulley 35 occurs. Therefore, such dryer has a
problem in that a rotational acceleration of the motor 34 is
limited to a level equal to or lower than a certain level, and has
a fundamental limitation in that the motor 34 must be slowly
accelerated or decelerated such that the belt 36 does not slip when
the drum 2 is rotated.
[0030] Therefore, the related art dryer may not be able to control
the rotation of the drum 2 because of not being able to rapidly
change a rotation direction of the drum 2, or may not be able to
change the rotation direction of the drum 2.
[0031] Accordingly, there was a limitation in that a drying
efficiency is not able to be increased to the maximum because the
dryer is not able to control the rotation direction and a rotation
speed of the drum 2 as intended during a drying process.
SUMMARY
[0032] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus that may maintain a motor that provides rotational power
to rotate a drum, and a rotation shaft of a decelerator that
converts rpm and torque of the rotational power.
[0033] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus in which a decelerator and a motor may be tilted or
vibrated at the same time.
[0034] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus in which a decelerator and a motor may be fixed at
locations spaced apart from a rear surface of a cabinet.
[0035] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus in which a rotation shaft of a drum and a driving shaft
of a driver are disposed or fixed based on a decelerator.
[0036] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus in which a decelerator may be fixed inside the cabinet
and the driver may be fixed to and supported by the
decelerator.
[0037] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus in which a driving shaft extending from a motor and
rotating, and a rotation shaft of a decelerator rotating with
converted rpm and torque may remain coaxial with each other.
[0038] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus that may control a rotation speed and a rotation
direction of a drum even when a tub is omitted.
[0039] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus that may firmly fix a decelerator.
[0040] The present disclosure is to provide a laundry treating
apparatus in which a distance between a rotor and a stator in a
motor may be maintained.
[0041] Particular implementations of the present disclosure provide
a laundry treating apparatus that includes a drum having a laundry
inlet and configured to accommodate laundry through the laundry
inlet, a motor configured to rotate the drum, and a decelerator
disposed between the motor and the drum and configured to change a
rotational speed and torque of the motor. The motor is coupled to
the decelerator and fixed to the decelerator.
[0042] In some implementations, the laundry treating apparatus may
optionally include one or more of the following features. The motor
may include a stator configured to generate a rotating magnetic
field, a rotor configured to be rotated by the rotating magnetic
field, and a driving shaft coupled to the rotor and inserted into
the decelerator. The stator may be coupled to the decelerator to
thereby fix a position of the driving shaft disposed in the
decelerator. The stator may be coupled and fixed to the decelerator
to fix the position of the driving shaft disposed in the
decelerator and maintain a distance between the stator and the
rotor. The decelerator may include a decelerator housing that
accommodates the driving shaft therein and rotatably supports the
driving shaft. The decelerator may include a gearbox disposed
inside the decelerator housing and engaged with the driving shaft.
The gearbox may be configured to change a rotational speed of the
driving shaft. The decelerator may include a rotation shaft
extending from the gearbox and being coupled to the drum. The
stator may be coupled to and fixed to the decelerator housing. The
decelerator housing may support the rotation shaft and maintain
alignment between the rotation shaft and the driving shaft. The
decelerator housing may include a shaft support extending in a
longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft and rotatably
supporting the rotation shaft to thereby restrict distortion of the
rotation shaft. The motor may include a stator coupled to the
decelerator and configured to generate a rotating magnetic field, a
rotor configured to be rotated by the rotating magnetic field, and
a driving shaft coupled to the rotor and inserted into the
decelerator. The stator and the driving shaft may be configured to
tilt together with the decelerator or vibrate together with the
decelerator. The decelerator may include a decelerator housing that
accommodates the driving shaft therein and rotatably supports the
driving shaft. The decelerator may include a gearbox disposed
inside the decelerator housing and engaged with the driving shaft.
The gearbox may be configured to change a rotational speed of the
driving shaft. The decelerator may include a rotation shaft
extending from the gearbox and being coupled to the drum. The
rotation shaft and the driving shaft may be configured to tilt
together with the decelerator housing or vibrate together with the
decelerator housing. The motor may include a stator coupled to the
decelerator and configured to generate a rotating magnetic field, a
rotor configured to be rotated by the rotating magnetic field, and
a driving shaft coupled to the rotor and inserted into the
decelerator. The stator may accommodate at least a portion of the
decelerator therein and is coupled to the decelerator. At least a
portion of the driving shaft may be disposed inside the stator. A
portion of the decelerator may be disposed inside the rotor. The
decelerator may include at least one fastening protrusion coupled
to an inner circumferential surface of the stator.
[0043] Particular implementations of the present disclosure provide
a laundry treating apparatus that includes a drum having a laundry
inlet and configured to accommodate laundry through the laundry
inlet, a motor configured to rotate the drum, and a decelerator
connecting the motor to the drum and configured to change a
rotational speed and torque of the motor. The motor and the drum
may be coupled to the decelerator to thereby allow at least two of
the motor, the drum, or the decelerator to tilt in parallel with
each other or vibrate together.
[0044] In some implementations, the laundry treating apparatus may
optionally include one or more of the following features. The
laundry treating apparatus may include a rear case disposed between
the drum and the motor and supporting the decelerator. The drum and
the motor may be configured to transmit at least a portion of a
load to the rear case via the decelerator. The motor, the
decelerator, and the drum may be configured to simultaneously tilt
or vibrate with respect to the rear case. The drum and the motor
may be spaced apart from the rear case. The decelerator may include
a rotation shaft coupled to the drum. The drum may be configured to
vibrate or tilt independently with respect to the rotation shaft.
The drum may be made of a material having elasticity. The laundry
treating apparatus may include a hot air supplier disposed outside
the drum and configured to supply hot air into the drum. The
laundry treating apparatus may include a hot air supplier disposed
outside the drum and configured to supply hot air into the
drum.
[0045] The present disclosure provides a laundry treating apparatus
in which a motor for providing power to rotate a drum and a
decelerator for converting the power of the motor are coupled to
each other.
[0046] The motor may be supported by being directly coupled to the
decelerator, and may be coupled only to and supported by the
decelerator. Accordingly, the decelerator itself may be a vibration
reference of the motor.
[0047] A stator for generating a rotating magnetic field in the
motor may be coupled to and fixed to a housing forming an exterior
of the decelerator.
[0048] The decelerator housing may be supported by being coupled to
a rear cabinet coupled to a rear face of the drum. However, the
stator may be separated from the rear cabinet, and may be disposed
to be spaced apart from the rear cabinet.
[0049] The decelerator housing may be at least partially inserted
into an interior space of the stator, and may be disposed to be
accommodated in the stator. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a
space independently occupied by the decelerator by utilizing the
internal space of the stator.
[0050] In addition, as the stator is directly coupled to the
decelerator housing, and the decelerator housing is located inside
the stator, a center of the rotating rotor and a center of the
decelerator may become easily coincide with each other by the
stator.
[0051] As a result, in the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure, the drum, the decelerator, the stator, and
the rotor may form one vibration system. The decelerator may be
coupled to the stator, and the decelerator may be coupled to the
drum. Accordingly, the decelerator, the stator, and the drum may
form an integral vibration system.
[0052] The drum, the stator, and the rotor may be separated from
and spaced apart from the rear cabinet.
[0053] That is, the drum, the stator, and the rotor may tilt in
parallel with each other and may vibrate together with respect to
the decelerator.
[0054] The decelerator may serve as an action point of a lever or a
seesaw in the vibration system, and the decelerator may be
supported on the rear cabinet, so that the rear cabinet may serve
as the action point.
[0055] In one example, the drum may be made of a flexible material
such that a shape thereof is somewhat variable, and may be made of
a material having elasticity such that the shape thereof is
restored. In addition, even a connecting shaft that connects the
drum and the decelerator to each other may be partially made of the
flexible material.
[0056] In this case, the drum is able to move independently by
forming a vibration system independently of the decelerator and the
stator/rotor. Accordingly, when severe unbalance occurs inside the
drum, or excessive vibration occurs inside the drum, transmission
of an external force to the stator and the motor may be
prevented.
[0057] In one example, the decelerator and the motor may be
separated from an external cover (a rear panel) in terms of
vibration.
[0058] That is, the decelerator and the motor may be disposed to be
spaced apart from the rear panel of the cabinet.
[0059] In other words, the decelerator and the motor are fixed and
coupled to each other, but are able to be completely separated from
the rear panel.
[0060] In one example, the decelerator and the motor may be at
least in contact with and supported by the rear panel in the state
of being coupled to each other, but may not be coupled to the rear
panel using a fixing member or the like.
[0061] Therefore, the decelerator and the motor may remain coaxial
with each other only with respect to the decelerator without being
affected by a shape change or vibration of the rear panel.
[0062] That is, the components constituting the entire driving
system may remain coaxial with each other, and may tilt or vibrate
together.
[0063] Specifically, the decelerator and the motor may be fixed to
each other in order to maximize concentricity of a rotor shaft and
a drum shaft of the decelerator composed of two shafts.
[0064] When the rotor shaft and the drum shaft are not concentric,
not only reliability of the decelerator itself may be greatly
reduced, but also a distance between the stator and the rotor is
not maintained, so that unnecessary noise and vibration may
occur.
[0065] Therefore, the decelerator may become a reference for the
coupling by coupling the stator to the decelerator housing, and a
center of the decelerator and a center of the stator may coincide
with each other. As a result, the reliability of the decelerator
may be guaranteed. In addition, the concentricity of the drum shaft
and the rotor shaft may be maintained, so that the gap between the
rotor and stator may always be maintained.
[0066] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present
disclosure may include the drum, the motor disposed at the rear of
the drum, the rear cabinet disposed between the drum and the motor,
and the decelerator coupled to the rear cabinet to transmit the
power of the motor to the drum.
[0067] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present
disclosure may include a front stopper for rotatably supporting a
front portion of the drum, and may also include a rear stopper
disposed at the rear of the drum.
[0068] The rear stopper may be in contact with the rear surface of
the drum, and may support a rear portion of the drum.
[0069] The rear stopper may be disposed to be spaced apart from the
rear surface of the drum by a reference distance (e.g., 2 mm). This
is to prevent abrasion of the rear stopper and to support the drum
only when a weight of the drum is great.
[0070] The rear cabinet and the drum rear surface may be spaced
apart from each other by a by a distance equal to or greater than
the reference distance.
[0071] The rear stopper may be disposed between the rear cabinet
and the drum, and the rear stopper may support a lower end of the
drum. The rear stopper may be in a roller structure/felt
structure.
[0072] The rear cabinet may be placed between the decelerator or
the motor and the drum. The rear cabinet may be placed between the
rear stopper and the decelerator or the motor.
[0073] The rear cabinet may have a greater thickness or rigidity
than the front cabinet or the rear cover.
[0074] In the present disclosure, a belt for rotating the drum is
omitted, and the driver is directly connected to the rear portion
of the drum to rotate the drum. Therefore, a separate structure for
installing and supporting the drum and the driver is required.
[0075] In this connection, the rotation shaft connecting the drum
in the drum and the driver may ascend or descend during
rotation.
[0076] The driver including the decelerator may be coupled to and
fixed to a rear portion of the rear plate. Accordingly, the drum is
disposed in front of the rear plate, and a driver is disposed at
the rear of the rear plate, so that a self load may be
distributed.
[0077] Because the rear plate itself supports a load of the drum or
the driver, not only the load may be distributed forwardly and
rearwardly of the rear plate, but also the rear plate may serve as
the action point of the seesaw.
[0078] As a result, the drum and the driver may tilt or vibrate
while remaining coaxial with each other.
[0079] In one example, because the rear plate is formed as a steel
plate, a bracket that is coupled to the rear plate to reinforce the
rigidity of the rear plate may be disposed.
[0080] The bracket may include at least one bracket, and may be
formed in a ring shape to connect the decelerator and the rear
plate to each other.
[0081] The bracket may also be disposed in front of and at the rear
of the rear plate, so that the decelerator may be stably coupled to
the rear plate, and the rigidity of the rear plate may be
strengthened.
[0082] When the bracket is composed of a plurality of brackets, one
bracket may be utilized to connect the decelerator and the rear
plate to each other, to reinforce the rigidity of the rear plate,
and to strengthen a coupling force between another bracket and the
decelerator.
[0083] The present disclosure has the effect of maintaining the
motor that provides the rotational power to rotate the drum, and
the rotation shaft of the decelerator that converts the rpm and the
torque of the rotational power.
[0084] The present disclosure has the effect that the decelerator
and the motor may be tilted or vibrated at the same time.
[0085] The present disclosure has the effect that the decelerator
and the motor may be fixed at the locations spaced apart from the
rear surface of the cabinet.
[0086] The present disclosure has the effect that the rotation
shaft of the drum and the driving shaft of the driver are disposed
or fixed based on the decelerator.
[0087] The present disclosure has the effect that the decelerator
may be fixed inside the cabinet and the driver may be fixed to and
supported by the decelerator.
[0088] The present disclosure has the effect that the driving shaft
extending from the motor and rotating, and the rotation shaft of
the decelerator rotating with the converted rpm and torque may
remain coaxial with each other.
[0089] The present disclosure has the effect of controlling the
rotation speed and the rotation direction of the drum in the
laundry treating apparatus from which the tub is omitted.
[0090] The present disclosure has the effect of firmly fixing the
decelerator.
[0091] The present disclosure has the effect that the distance
between the rotor and the stator in the motor may be
maintained.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0092] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a related art laundry treating
apparatus.
[0093] FIG. 2 shows another embodiment of a related art laundry
treating apparatus.
[0094] FIG. 3 shows an appearance of a laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure.
[0095] FIG. 4 shows an interior of a laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure.
[0096] FIG. 5 shows a configuration of a drum of a laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0097] FIG. 6 shows an internal configuration of a laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0098] FIG. 7 shows an embodiment for supporting a drum of a
laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0099] FIG. 8 shows a structure of a rear case of a laundry
treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0100] FIG. 9 shows a coupling structure of a decelerator and a
motor in a laundry treating apparatus according to the present
disclosure.
[0101] FIGS. 10A and 10B show a decelerator of a laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0102] FIG. 11 shows a process in which a motor is coupled to a
decelerator in a laundry treating apparatus according to the
present disclosure.
[0103] FIG. 12 shows a state in which coupling of a decelerator and
a motor is completed in a laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure.
[0104] FIG. 13 shows a structure in which a decelerator is coupled
to a rear case in a laundry treating apparatus according to the
present disclosure.
[0105] FIGS. 14A to 14C show a structure of a bracket of a laundry
treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0106] FIGS. 15A and 15B show a structure in which a bracket is
coupled to a decelerator.
[0107] FIGS. 16A and 16B show a structure in which a bracket is
coupled to a rear case.
[0108] FIG. 17 shows a structure in which a bracket fixes a
decelerator to a rear case.
[0109] FIG. 18 shows an internal configuration of a driver of a
laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0110] Hereinafter, embodiments disclosed herein will be described
in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this
specification, even in different embodiments, the same and similar
reference numerals are assigned to the same and similar components,
and the description thereof is replaced with the first description.
As used herein, the singular expression includes the plural
expression unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In
addition, in describing the embodiments disclosed herein, when it
is determined that detailed descriptions of related known
technologies may obscure the gist of the embodiments disclosed
herein, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. In
addition, the accompanying drawings are only for easy understanding
of the embodiments disclosed herein, and it should be noted that
the technical idea disclosed herein should not be construed as
being limited by the accompanying drawings.
[0111] FIG. 3 shows an appearance of a laundry treating apparatus
10 according to the present disclosure.
[0112] The laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of
the present disclosure may include a cabinet 100 that forms the
appearance thereof.
[0113] The cabinet 100 may include a front surface 110 defining a
front surface of the laundry treating apparatus. The front surface
110 may have a laundry inlet 111 defined therein to communicate
with a drum 200 to be described later, and a door 130 pivotally
coupled to the cabinet to open and close the laundry inlet 111.
[0114] A control panel 117 may be installed on the front surface
110. The control pane 117 may include an input unit 118 for
receiving a control command from a user, and a display 119 for
outputting information such as a control command selectable by the
user. The control command may include a drying course or a drying
option capable of performing a series of drying processes. A main
controller that controls a command for executing the drying course
or the drying option may be installed in the control panel 177.
[0115] The input unit 118 may be configured to include a power
supply request unit for requesting power supply to the laundry
treating apparatus, a course input unit for allowing the user to
select a desired course among a plurality of courses, and an
execution request unit for requesting start of a course selected by
the user.
[0116] The display 119 may be configured to include at least one of
a display panel capable of outputting a text and a figure, and a
speaker capable of outputting an audio signal and a sound.
[0117] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure may include a water storage 7 provided to
separately store therein moisture generated in the process of
drying the laundry. The water storage 7 may include a water storage
tank provided to be withdrawn from one side of the front surface
110 to the outside. The water storage tank may be provided to
collect condensate delivered from a cleaning pump to be described
later. Thus, the user may withdraw the water storage tank from the
cabinet 1 to remove the condensate therefrom, and then, mount the
water storage tank in the cabinet 1 again. Therefore, the laundry
treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be
placed in any places where a sewer or the like is not
installed.
[0118] In one example, the water storage 7 may be disposed above
the door 130. Accordingly, when withdrawing the water storage tank
from the front surface 110, the user is able to bend a waist
relatively less.
[0119] In one example, the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure may further include a steam supplier 195
capable of supplying steam to the laundry or into the cabinet. The
steam supplier 195 may be provided to generate the steam with the
condensate discharged from the laundry, or may be provided to
generate the steam by receiving fresh water rather than the
condensate. The steam supplier 195 may be provided to generate the
steam by heating the water, using ultrasonic waves, or vaporizing
the water.
[0120] Because the steam supplier 195 is provided to generate the
steam by receiving a certain amount of water, the steam supplier
195 may occupy a certain volume. In this connection, the door and
the control panel 117 are installed on the front surface 110 of the
cabinet, and a duct that supplies or discharges air to/from the
drum, a water supply, and the like may be installed on a rear panel
120 of the cabinet, so that the steam supplier 195 may be
advantageously installed on an inner surface of a side panel 140 of
the cabinet.
[0121] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to the
present disclosure may include a steam controller 80 provided to
separately control the steam supplier 195. The steam controller 80
may be installed on the control panel 117, but may be provided as a
separate control panel to prevent overloading of the control panel
117 and to prevent increase a production cost.
[0122] The steam controller 80 may be disposed adjacent to the
steam supplier 195. The steam controller 80 may be disposed on the
side panel 140 on which the steam supplier 195 is installed to
reduce a length of a control line or the like connected to the
steam supplier 195.
[0123] Because the steam supplier 195 supplies the steam that may
contact the laundry, it is preferable to generate the steam with
the fresh water. Because the water collected in the water storage 7
is generated from the laundry, there is a high possibility that
lint or foreign matters are contained in the water collected in the
water storage 7. Thus, the water collected in the water storage 7
may not be suitable for generating the steam.
[0124] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the
present disclosure may supply the water to the steam supplier 195,
but may include a water supplier 160 provided separately from the
water storage 7. The water supplier 160 may be provided to store
the fresh water therein, or receive the fresh water from the
outside and supply the fresh water to the steam supplier 195.
[0125] For example, the water supplier 160 may include an external
water supplier 180 that may receive water from an external water
supply source and deliver the water to the steam supplier 195, and
an internal water supplier 170 that may separately store the fresh
water therein and supply the fresh water to the steam supplier
195.
[0126] The internal water supplier 170 may further include a water
tank 171 that is provided separately from the water storage 7 to
store the fresh water therein. The laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure may also be provided such that
the water tank 171 and the steam supplier 195 are installed at
different vertical levels, so that the water in the water tank 171
is supplied to the steam supplier 195 by a self load.
[0127] When the difference in the installation vertical level
between the water tank 171 and the steam supplier 195 is not
secured, it may be desirable to additionally install the water pump
172. In addition, when the water pump 172 is additionally disposed,
there is an advantage in that a space inside the cabinet 1 may be
more densely utilized.
[0128] Thus, the water supplier 160 may further include a water
pump 172 provided to supply the water in the water tank 171 to the
steam supplier 195, and a tank housing 173 that seats the water
tank 171 and the water pump 172 inside the cabinet.
[0129] The external water supplier 180 may include a direct water
valve connected to the external water supply source to receive the
water.
[0130] In addition, the laundry treating apparatus according to the
present disclosure may further include a determination unit 196
that determines whether to supply the water to the steam supplier
195 by preferentially using which of the external water supplier
180 and the internal water supplier 170.
[0131] The determination unit 196 may be structurally provided to
determine which of the external water supplier 180 and the internal
water supplier 170 is preferentially used.
[0132] In one example, the water tank 171 may be provided to store
the fresh water therein. It is preferable that the water tank 171
is provided to be exposed to the outside of the cabinet 100 to be
frequently filled with the fresh water.
[0133] In one example, the water tank 171 may be provided to be
withdrawn from the cabinet 100. Accordingly, the user may easily
fill water by withdrawing the water tank 171 from the cabinet
100.
[0134] The water tank 171 may be provided to be withdrawn through
the front surface 110. However, when the water storage tank is also
provided to be withdrawn through the front surface 110, because of
an area occupied by the control panel 117 on the front surface 110,
it may be difficult to secure an area for withdrawing the water
tank 171.
[0135] Accordingly, the water tank 171 may be provided to be
withdrawn through the top panel, so that interference with the
control panel 117 may be prevented.
[0136] From another point of view, because both the water tank 171
and the water storage 7 are provided to store the water therein,
the user may be confused. To this end, the laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure may be provided such
that the water tank 171 and the water storage 7 are exposed from
the cabinet in different directions and at different locations.
[0137] Thus, the water tank 171 may be provided to be exposed
through the top panel, and the water storage 7 may be provided to
be exposed through the front surface 110. Therefore, even when both
the water tank 171 and the water storage 7 are arranged, the
confusion of the user may be prevented. In addition, the water tank
171 may have a relatively smaller volume than the water storage 7
because the water tank 171 must store the fresh water therein and a
freshness of the stored water must be maintained. Accordingly, the
user may distinguish the water tank 171 and the water storage 7
from each other by the volume difference.
[0138] Because the water tank 171 has the smaller volume than the
water storage 7, the water tank 171 may be easily withdrawn upward.
Accordingly, the water tank 171 may be provided to be withdrawn
upward from the top panel. As a result, because the withdrawal
directions of the water tank 171 and the water storage 7 are
different from each other, the possibility of user confusion may be
further reduced.
[0139] The top panel of the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure may include a tank withdrawal hole or
withdrawal hole 131 defined therein provided such that the water
tank 171 may be exposed to the outside or the water tank 171 may be
withdrawn to the outside of the cabinet. The tank withdrawal hole
131 may have a cross-sectional area corresponding to or slightly
larger than a cross-sectional area of the water tank 171.
[0140] The top panel may further include a withdrawal cover 132
provided to shield the tank withdrawal hole 131 to prevent the
water tank 171 from being arbitrarily withdrawn.
[0141] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present
disclosure may further include a filter capable of removing foreign
matters from a circulating flow channel. The front surface 110 may
have a filter mounting hole 113 defined therein through which the
filter is withdrawn or inserted.
[0142] FIG. 4 shows an interior of a laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure.
[0143] The laundry treating apparatus according to the present
disclosure may include the drum 200 accommodated in the cabinet 100
for accommodating the laundry therein, a driver M that rotates the
drum 200, and a hot air supplier 900 provided to supply hot air to
the drum 200.
[0144] The drum 200 may be formed in a cylindrical shape to
accommodate the laundry therein. In addition, because there is no
need to put water into the drum 200, and the water condensed inside
the drum 200 does not need to be discharged to the outside, a
through-hole defined along a circumference of the drum 200 may be
omitted.
[0145] The driver M may be disposed in direct connection with the
drum 200 to rotate the drum 200. For example, the driver M may be
of a direct drive unit (DD)-type. Accordingly, the driver M may
control a rotation direction of the drum 200 or a rotation speed of
the drum 200 by directly rotating the drum 200 by omitting a
component such as a belt, a pulley, and the like.
[0146] In general, in a case of a DD-type washing machine, the
driver M may be coupled to and fixed to a tub accommodating the
drum 200 therein, and the drum 200 may be coupled to the driver M
and supported by the tub. However, because the laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure is provided to
intensively perform the drying process, the tub fixed to the
cabinet 100 to accommodate the drum 200 therein is omitted.
[0147] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the
present disclosure may further include a support 400 provided to
fix or support the drum 200 or the driver M inside the cabinet
100.
[0148] The support 400 may include a front case 410 disposed in
front of the drum 200 and a rear case 420 disposed at the rear of
the drum 200. The front case 410 and the rear case 420 may be
formed in a plate shape and respectively disposed to face front and
rear surfaces of the drum 200. A distance between the front case
410 and the rear case 420 may be the same as a length of the drum
200 or may be set to be larger than the length of the drum 200. The
front case 410 and the rear case 420 may be fixed to and supported
by a bottom surface of the cabinet 100 or the hot air supplier 900
to be described later.
[0149] Because the laundry inlet of the drum 200 is defined in a
front surface of the drum 200, the driver M is preferably installed
in the rear case 420 rather than in the front case. The rear case
420 may be provided such that the driver M is mounted and supported
in a region thereof facing the rear surface of the drum 200.
Accordingly, the driver M may be provided to rotate the drum 200 in
a state in which a position thereof is stably fixed through the
rear case 420.
[0150] At least one of the front case 410 and the rear case 420 may
rotatably support the drum 200. At least one of the front case 410
and the rear case 420 may rotatably accommodate a front end or a
rear end of the drum 200 therein.
[0151] For example, a front portion of the drum 200 may be
accommodated and rotatably supported in the front case 410, and a
rear portion of the drum 200 may be spaced apart from the rear case
420 and may be indirectly supported by the rear case 420 by being
connected to the driver M. Accordingly, a region in which the drum
200 is in contact with or rubbed against the support 400 may be
minimized, and unnecessary noise or vibration may be prevented from
occurring.
[0152] In one example, the drum 200 may be provided to be rotatably
supported by both the front case 410 and the rear case 420.
[0153] The hot air supplier 900 may define the circulating flow
channel for discharging air in the drum 200 to the outside and
introducing air into the drum 200, and may dry the laundry
accommodated in the drum 200 by heating the circulating air or
condensing moisture of the circulating air.
[0154] It is preferable that the hot air supplier 900 is disposed
below the drum 200 such that the laundry inlet of the drum 200 is
disposed at a relatively high position, and the user is able to
easily withdraw the laundry located inside the drum 200.
[0155] The hot air supplier 900 may have a plurality of heat
exchangers installed therein that cool or heat the air flowing
therein, and may have a washer 940 installed therein that removes
foreign matters attached to the heat exchangers using condensate
condensed in the air.
[0156] The hot air supplier 900 may be provided to receive the air
inside the drum 200 through the front case 410 and discharge the
air toward the rear case 420.
[0157] A duct cover 430 that guides the hot air supplied from the
hot air supplier 900 to the rear surface of the drum 200 may be
coupled to the rear case 420. The duct cover 430 may be provided to
expose the driver M to the outside to cool the driver M. The
cabinet 100 may further include a blocking plate 120 that prevents
a safety accident by preventing the duct cover 430 and the driver M
from being exposed to the outside.
[0158] A length T1 in a front and rear direction of the cabinet may
be defined as a length from the front case 410 to the rear panel
120. Strictly speaking, a length from the front surface 110 to the
rear panel 120 is the length of the cabinet. However, because the
length from the front case 410 to the rear panel 120 corresponds to
an allowable space in which internal components of the laundry
treating apparatus according to the present disclosure may be
installed, a length of the allowable space (T1=allowable length)
may be briefly referred to as the length of the cabinet.
[0159] When the allowable length T1 is determined, a length T2 of
the drum 200 and a length T3 of the driver may be determined. In
addition, the allowable length T1 may include the drum length T2
and the driver length T3, and may be equal to or smaller than a sum
of the drum length T2 and the driver length T3.
[0160] In one example, when the rear panel 120 is omitted, the rear
case 420 may form a rear surface of the cabinet.
[0161] FIG. 5 shows a drum of a laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure.
[0162] The drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure is rotated by being directly coupled to the
driver M rather than being indirectly rotated by being coupled to
the belt or the like. Therefore, unlike a drum of a related art
dryer formed in a cylindrical shape with open front and rear
surfaces, the drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according
to the present disclosure is provided to be directly coupled to the
driver M as the rear portion of the drum 200 is shielded.
[0163] Specifically, the drum 200 may include a drum body 210
formed in a cylindrical shape for accommodating the laundry
therein, and a drum rear surface 220 coupled to a rear end of the
drum body 210 to form the rear surface of the drum.
[0164] The drum rear surface 220 may be provided to shield a rear
portion of the drum body 210 to provide a space directly coupled to
the driver M. That is, the drum rear surface 220 may be provided to
rotate the drum body 210 by being connected to the driver M and
directly receiving power from the driver M. As a result, a laundry
inlet 211 into which the laundry is put may be defined in a front
surface of the drum body 210, and the rear portion of the drum body
210 may be shielded by the drum rear surface 220.
[0165] The drum rear surface 220 may have a bushing portion 300
that may be coupled to the driver M. The bushing portion 300 may be
disposed in the drum rear surface 220 to form a rotation center of
the drum 200. The bushing portion 300 may be formed integrally with
the drum rear surface 220, but may be made of a material more rigid
or durable than a material of the drum rear surface 220 in order to
be firmly coupled to a rotation shaft extending from the driver M.
The bushing portion 300 may be seated and coupled to a center of
the drum rear surface 220.
[0166] The drum rear surface 220 may include a circumferential
portion 221 coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the drum
body 210 and a seating portion 223 disposed inwardly of the
circumferential portion 221 and able to be coupled to the driver M.
The bushing portion 300 may be accommodated in and coupled to the
seating portion 223, and the seating portion 223 may include a
through-hole defined therein through which the bushing portion 300
may pass and be accommodated.
[0167] A suction hole 224 that guides the hot air supplied from the
hot air supplier 900 to be introduced into the drum body 210 may be
defined between the circumferential portion 221 and the seating
portion 223. The suction hole 224 may be composed of a plurality of
holes defined to pass through the drum rear surface 220 or may be
formed as a mesh-type net.
[0168] In order to prevent rigidity of the drum rear surface 220
from being reduced because of the suction hole 224, reinforcing
ribs 225 that reinforce the rigidity of the drum rear surface 220
may be further disposed. The reinforcing ribs 225 may extend
radially from an outer circumferential surface of the seating
portion 223 toward an inner circumferential surface of the
circumferential portion 221. In addition, a circumferential rib 226
extending in a circumferential direction of the drum rear surface
220 may be further disposed to connect the reinforcing ribs 225 to
each other. The suction holes 224 may be defined between the
reinforcing ribs 225, the circumferential rib 226, the seating
portion 223, and the circumferential portion 221, and may maintain
a shape thereof through the reinforcing ribs 225 and the
circumferential ribs 226 even when the drum rear surface 220
receives a rotational force transmitted from the driver M.
[0169] In one example, one or more reinforcing beads 212 may be
disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the drum body 210
to reinforce rigidity of the drum body 210. The reinforcing beads
212 may be recessed inwardly or protrude outwardly along a
circumference of the drum body 210. The plurality of reinforcing
beads 212 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other in a
longitudinal direction of the drum body 210.
[0170] Accordingly, even when a large amount of laundry is
accommodated in the drum body 210 or the sudden rotational force is
transmitted through the driver M, the drum body 210 may be
prevented from being twisted.
[0171] As a result, the drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure may not be rotated by the belt
or the like, but may be rotated as the drum rear surface 220 is
directly coupled to the driver M.
[0172] Therefore, even when the driver M changes a rotation
direction or has a great rotational acceleration, the drum 200 of
the laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure
may be rotated by immediately reflecting this.
[0173] FIG. 6 shows an internal configuration of a laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0174] As described above, the drum 200 may include the drum body
210 that is formed in the cylindrical shape with the open front and
rear surfaces, and the drum rear surface 220 coupled to the rear
end of the drum body 210 to shield the rear portion of the drum
body 210.
[0175] The rotation shaft extending from the driver M may be
directly coupled to the bushing portion 300.
[0176] The front case 410 may include a front plate 411 that forms
a main body, and an inlet communication hole 412 that penetrates
the front plate 411 to accommodate the front portion of the drum
body 210 or the laundry inlet 211. A gasket 413 that accommodates
the drum body 210 therein may be disposed on an outer
circumferential surface of the inlet communication hole 412.
[0177] The gasket 413 may rotatably support the laundry inlet 211
of the drum body 210, and may be disposed to be in contact with the
outer circumferential surface of the laundry inlet 211. The gasket
413 may prevent the hot air inside the drum 200 from leaking
between the drum body 210 and the front plate 411. The gasket 413
may be made of a plastic resin-based material or may be formed as
an elastic body. A separate sealing member may be additionally
coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the gasket 413 to
prevent the laundry or the hot air from deviating from the laundry
inlet 211 of the drum body 210 to the front plate 411.
[0178] In one example, a duct communication hole 419 in
communication with the drum body 210 and through which the air put
into the drum body 210 may be discharged may be defined in an inner
circumferential surface of the gasket 413 or the inlet
communication hole 412. A flow channel that connects the duct
communication hole 419 to the hot air supplier 900 may be defined
in the front plate 411. Accordingly, the duct communication hole
419 may guide the air discharged from the drum body 210 to be
supplied to the hot air supplier 900.
[0179] A filter member that blocks the foreign matters, lint, or
the like discharged from the drum 200 from being put into the hot
air supplier 900 may be installed in the duct communication hole
419.
[0180] A front wheel 415 which is disposed to be in contact with
the outer circumferential surface of the drum body 210 to rotatably
support the drum 200 may be installed on the front case 410. The
front wheel 415 may be provided to support the outer
circumferential surface of the laundry inlet of the drum body 210,
and may include a plurality of front wheels disposed to be spaced
apart from each other along an outer circumferential surface of the
inlet communication hole 412. The front wheel 415 may be provided
to rotate together when the drum 200 rotates while supporting a
lower portion of the drum body 210.
[0181] In addition, a stopper 500 that prevents the drum body 210
from deviating may be coupled to the front case 410. The stopper
500 may be disposed on a stopper installation portion 416 disposed
on the front case 410 and above the inlet communication hole
412.
[0182] The front case 410 may have a tank support hole 414 defined
therein through which the water storage tank of the water storage 7
may be withdrawn or supported. The tank support hole 414 may be
installed in a region corresponding to a portion where the water
storage 7 is disposed in the front surface 110, and may be defined
through the front case 410.
[0183] A cutout 417 capable of being supported by the hot air
supplier 900 may be defined at a bottom of the front case 410.
Because of the cutout 417, the front case 410 may be prevented from
interfering with the hot air supplier 900. The cutout 417 may be
provided to be in communication with a supply duct of the hot air
supplier 900 to transfer the air inside the drum supplied to the
duct communication hole 419 to the hot air supplier 900.
[0184] The hot air supplier 900 may include a circulating flow
channel 920 through which the air discharged from the drum 200 may
circulate. The circulating flow channel 920 may be formed in a
shape of a duct disposed outside the drum 200. The circulating flow
channel 920 may include a supply duct 921 in communication with the
duct communication hole 419 and through which the air of the drum
200 is supplied, a flow duct 922 through which the air supplied
from the supply duct 921 flows, and a discharge duct 923 through
which the air that has passed through the flow duct 922 is
discharged.
[0185] The supply duct 921 may be disposed to be in communication
with the cutout 417 of the front case 410 to be in communication
with the flow channel installed inside the front case 410. The flow
duct 922 may be provided to extend from a distal end of the supply
duct 921 toward the rear portion of the drum 200, and the discharge
duct 923 may be disposed at a distal end of the flow duct 922 to
guide the air to the drum 200.
[0186] In one example, the hot air supplier 900 may have a heat
pump 950 installed therein capable of cooling and heating air
therein. The heat pump 950 may include an evaporator 951 installed
inside the flow duct 922 to cool the air to condense the moisture
contained in the air, and a condenser 952 disposed to be spaced
apart from the evaporator 951 downstream or toward the discharge
duct 923 to heat the air again. The heat pump 950 may further
include an expansion valve that cools a refrigerant that has passed
through the condenser 952 and guides the refrigerant back to the
evaporator 951, and a compressor 953 that pressurizes and heats the
refrigerant that has passed through the evaporator 951 and supplies
the pressurized and heated refrigerant to the condenser 952. The
compressor 953 may be disposed outside the flow duct 922.
[0187] The evaporator 951 and the condenser 952 may be provided as
a heat exchanger through which the refrigerant flows.
[0188] The hot air supplier 900 may further include a connector 930
that is in communication with the discharge duct 923 to guide the
hot air to the rear portion of the drum 200 or to the duct cover
430. The connector 930 may be disposed above the discharge duct 923
to guide the hot air heated through the condenser 952 to a portion
at the rear of the discharge duct 923.
[0189] In one example, the hot air supplier 900 may further include
a blower fan 9531 that may flow the air inside the drum 200 to the
supply duct 921 or put the air that has passed through the
discharge duct 923 into the drum 200. The blower fan 9531 may be
installed inside the discharge duct 923 and may be controlled
together with the driver M by the main controller.
[0190] The rear case 420 may include a rear plate 421 disposed to
face the front plate 411. The rear case 420 may include a mounting
portion 429 to which the driver M is coupled and seated. The
mounting portion 429 may be provided to pass through the rear case
420, and the driver M may be mounted on the mounting portion 429
and fixed inside the cabinet 100. The mounting portion 429 may
support a load of the driver M, and may install the driver M at a
position corresponding to a position of the drum rear surface
220.
[0191] In one example, the rear plate 421 may further include an
air flow hole 423 in communication with the connector 930 and
through which the air is introduced, and a communication hole 424
that discharges the air that has passed through the air flow hole
423 to the drum rear surface 220.
[0192] The duct cover 430 that defines a flow channel for flowing
the air introduced through the connector 930 to the suction hole
224 defined in the drum rear surface 220 may be coupled to a rear
surface of the rear plate 421.
[0193] The duct cover 430 may be coupled to the rear plate 421 and
may be spaced apart from the suction hole 224 to define a space in
which the air flows between the rear plate 421 and the duct cover
430.
[0194] The duct cover 430 may be disposed to shield the
communication holes 424 such that all the communication holes 424
are not exposed to the outside. Accordingly, an entirety of the air
introduced into the duct cover 430 may be discharged to the
communication holes 424 and may be prevented from leaking to the
outside. The duct cover 430 may accommodate the driver M by being
spaced apart from an outer circumferential surface of the driver M
to prevent interference with the driver M, but may expose the
driver M to the outside to induce cooling of the driver M.
[0195] In one example, the duct cover 430 may be heated by the hot
air, and the driver M also has a rotating rotor, so that the rear
panel 120 may be disposed at the rear of the duct cover 430 to
shield the driver M. The rear panel 120 may be coupled to the rear
case 420 to block the duct cover 430 and the driver M from being
exposed to the outside. The rear panel 120 may be disposed to be
spaced apart from the duct cover 430 and the driver M.
[0196] The driver M may include a motor 600 that provides power to
rotate the drum 200. The motor 600 may include a stator 610 that
generates a rotating magnetic field, and a rotor 620 that is
rotated by the stator 610.
[0197] The rotor 620 may be of an outer rotor type for
accommodating the stator 610 therein and rotating along a
circumference of the stator 610. In this connection, the rotation
shaft may be coupled to the rotor 620 and may be directly connected
to the drum 200 through the stator 610 and the mounting portion
429. In this case, the rotor 620 may directly transmit the power to
rotate the drum 200.
[0198] In one example, the rotor 620 may rotate at high RPM by the
stator 610. For example, the rotor 620 may rotate at RPM much
greater than RPM at which the laundry inside the drum 200 is able
to rotate while being attached to an inner wall of the drum
200.
[0199] However, when the laundry inside the drum 200 is rotated
while being continuously attached to the inner wall of the drum
200, there is a problem in that drying efficiency decreases because
a portion of the laundry attached to the inner wall of the drum is
not exposed to the hot air.
[0200] When the rotor 620 is rotated at low RPM to roll or agitate
the laundry inside the drum 200 without attaching the laundry
inside the drum to the inner wall of the drum 200, there may be a
problem in that an output or a torque that may be generated by the
driver M is not able to be properly utilized.
[0201] Accordingly, the driver M of the laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure may further include a
decelerator 700 capable of increasing the torque while utilizing a
maximum output of the motor 600 by reducing the RPM.
[0202] The decelerator 700 may be provided to connect the motor 600
to the drum 200. The decelerator 700 may convert the power of the
motor 600 to rotate the drum 200. The decelerator 700 may be
disposed between the motor 600 and the drum 200 to receive power
from the motor 600, convert the power, and transmit the converted
power to the drum 200. The decelerator 700 is provided to convert
the RPM of the rotor into small RPM, but increase the torque value
and transmit power corresponding to the decreased RPM and the
increased torque value to the drum 200.
[0203] Specifically, the decelerator 700 may be coupled to a
driving shaft 630 that extends from the rotor 620 and rotates
together with the rotor 620. The decelerator 700 includes a gearbox
that rotates in engagement with the driving shaft 630 to change rpm
of the driving shaft 630 but increase the torque, and the gearbox
is coupled to a rotation shaft 740 that is coupled to the drum 200
to rotate the drum. Accordingly, when the driving shaft 630
rotates, the rotation shaft 740 rotates at RPM smaller than that of
the driving shaft 630 but may rotate with a greater torque.
[0204] A performance of such decelerator 700 depends on whether the
driving shaft 630 and the rotation shaft 740 may be remained
coaxial with each other. That is, when the driving shaft 630 and
the rotation shaft 740 are misaligned with each other, there is a
risk that coupling of components constituting the gearbox inside
the decelerator 700 to at least one of the driving shaft 630 and
the rotation shaft 740 may loosen or may be released. Accordingly,
the power of the driving shaft 630 may not be properly transmitted
to the rotation shaft 740 or the driving shaft 630 may be in
vain.
[0205] In addition, even when the driving shaft 630 and the
rotation shaft 740 are temporarily misaligned, the gearboxes inside
the decelerator 700 may be misaligned with each other and collide
with each other, thereby generating unnecessary vibration or
noise.
[0206] In addition, even when an angle at which the driving shaft
630 and the rotation shaft 740 are misaligned with each other
becomes temporarily greater, there is a risk that the gearbox
inside the decelerator 700 may completely deviate from a regular
position thereof or be damaged.
[0207] As a result, even when the driving shaft 630 and the
rotation shaft 740 are not remained coaxial with each other or not
arranged side by side to each other temporarily, there may be a
problem that the performance of the decelerator 700 is not able to
be guaranteed and the drum 200 is not able to be rotated as
intended.
[0208] To this end, laundry treating apparatuses having the
decelerator generally fix the decelerator and the motor to a
support body that maintains an original state thereof without
deformation even when an external force is generated.
[0209] For example, the washing machine may apply a scheme of
primarily fixing the tub accommodating the drum therein to the
cabinet, and then secondarily fixing the motor and the decelerator
to a bearing housing made of a rigid body embedded in the tub in an
injection molding scheme. In addition, a scheme of placing a fixed
steel plate coupled to the tub outside the tub, and fixing the
motor and the decelerator to the fixed steel plate may be
applied.
[0210] Accordingly, even when significant vibration occurs in the
tub, the decelerator and the driver may tilt or vibrate together
with the bearing housing or the fixed steel plate. As a result, the
decelerator and the driver themselves may be always coupled to each
other, and the driving shaft and the rotation shaft may be remained
coaxial with each other.
[0211] However, because the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure is formed as the dryer, the tub fixed inside
the cabinet is omitted. In addition, even when the rear panel 120
of the cabinet is formed as a relatively thin plate, and the stator
610 is fixed thereto, the rear panel 120 may easily vibrate or bend
because of a repulsive force when the rotor 620 rotates or the
driving shaft 630 rotates. When the rear panel 120 vibrates or
bends even temporarily, the rotation shaft 740 and the driving
shaft 630 that are disposed to be coupled to the drum 200 are bent,
so that the rotation shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 may be
misaligned with each other.
[0212] In addition, because the rear panel 120 is formed as the
thin steel plate, the rear panel 120 may be impossible to support
both the decelerator 700 and the motor 600. For example, when the
decelerator 700 and the motor 600 are coupled to the rear panel 120
in parallel, a rotational moment is generated because of a total
length and self loads of the decelerator 700 and the motor 600, so
that the decelerator 700 may sag downward. As a result, the
rotation shaft 740 itself coupled to the drum may be misaligned
with the decelerator 700, so that the rotation shaft 740 may not be
remained coaxial with the driving shaft 630.
[0213] Even the rear panel 120 may not be able to support the motor
600 itself. One surface on which the motor 600 is installed of the
rear panel 120 may bend downward by the self load of the motor 600.
From the beginning, the rear panel 120 may not be a component
suitable for coupling with the motor 600 itself.
[0214] In one example, it may be considered that the motor 600 is
supported as the stator 610 is coupled to the rear case 420. When
the large amount of laundry is accommodated inside the drum 200 or
eccentricity occurs, the rotation shaft 740 may be misaligned along
disposition of the laundry whenever the drum 200 rotates. In this
connection, because the stator 610 is separated from the drum 200
and fixed to the rear case 420, the rotation shaft 740 may vibrate
with an amplitude different from that of the stator 610 or may tilt
at an angle different from that of the stator 610. Accordingly, the
rotation shaft 740 may not be remained coaxial with the driving
shaft 630.
[0215] From another point of view, the drum 200 may be supported by
the front case 410 and the rear case 420, or a position at which
the drum 200 is installed may be fixed at a certain level by a
stopper 500 to be described later. Accordingly, a position of the
rotation shaft 740 coupled to the drum 200 may also be fixed at a
certain level. Accordingly, even when the vibration occurs in the
drum 200, the vibration may be buffered by at least one of the
front case 410 and the rear case 420, or by the stopper 500.
[0216] However, when the vibration generated in the drum 200 is
transmitted to the motor 600, even when the decelerator 700 and the
motor 600 are fixed to the rear case 420, vibration amplitudes of
the motor 600 and the rear case 420 may be greater than a vibration
amplitude of the rotation shaft 740. Even at this time, there may
be a problem that the driving shaft 630 and the rotation shaft 740
are not able to be remained coaxial with each other.
[0217] In order to solve such problem, the laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure may fix the motor 600
by coupling the motor 600 to the decelerator 700. In other words,
the decelerator 700 itself may serve as a reference point for an
entirety of the driver M. That is, the decelerator 700 may serve as
a reference for the vibration of the entirety of the driver M and
the amount of tilting angle.
[0218] Because the motor 600 is fixed only to the decelerator 700
rather than to another component of the laundry treating apparatus,
when the vibration is transmitted to the driver M or the external
force is transmitted, the motor 600 may always tilt or vibrate
simultaneously with the decelerator 700 when the decelerator 700
tilts or vibrates.
[0219] As a result, the decelerator 700 and the driver 600 may form
one vibration system, and the decelerator 700 and the driver 600
may be maintained in a state of being fixed to each other without a
relative movement.
[0220] The stator 610 of the driver 600 may be directly coupled to
the decelerator 700 to be fixed. Accordingly, a position at which
the driving shaft 630 is installed with respect to the decelerator
700 may not be changed. A center of the driving shaft 630 and a
center of the decelerator 700 may be arranged to coincide with each
other, and the driving shaft 630 may rotate while being remained
coaxial with the center of the decelerator 700.
[0221] The above-mentioned terms "coaxial" and "coincide" do not
imply physically perfect coaxial and coincident states, but are a
concept accepting an error range that may be accepted in terms of
mechanical engineering or a range of a level that a person skilled
in the art may accept as coaxial or coincident. For example, a
range in which the driving shaft 630 and the rotation shaft 740 are
misaligned with each other by equal to or less than 5 degrees may
be defined as the coaxial or coincident state.
[0222] Because the driving shaft 630 rotates with respect to the
decelerator 700, but is fixed to prevent the tilting, and the
stator 610 is also fixed to the decelerator 700, a distance between
the stator 610 and the rotor 620 may be always maintained. As a
result, a collision of the stator 610 and the rotor 620 may be
prevented, and noise or vibration that may occur as the rotor 620
rotates with respect to the stator 610 and a rotation center
thereof changes may be fundamentally blocked.
[0223] The rotation shaft 740 may be provided to extend inside the
decelerator 700 toward the drum 200, may vibrate together with the
decelerator 700 and may tilt together with the decelerator 700.
That is, the rotation shaft 740 may only be provided to rotate in
the decelerator 700, and an installation position thereof may be
fixed. As a result, the rotation shaft 740 and the driving shaft
630 may always be arranged in parallel with each other and may be
coaxial with each other. In other words, the center of the rotation
shaft 740 and the center of the driving shaft 630 may be maintained
to coincide with each other.
[0224] The decelerator 700 and the motor 600 may be designed to be
disposed along a first axis S1 parallel to the ground when there is
no load on the drum 200 or the motor 600 does not operate. The
driving shaft 630 and the rotation shaft 740 may also be disposed
in parallel along the first axis S1.
[0225] However, when the vibration occurs in the drum 200 or the
vibration occurs in the motor 600, the vibration is transmitted to
the decelerator 700 and the decelerator 700 vibrates or tilts, so
that the decelerator 700 may be temporarily in a state tilted
toward a second axis S2
[0226] In this connection, because the motor 600 is in a state of
being coupled to the decelerator 700, the motor 600 may vibrate or
tilt together with the decelerator 700 to be disposed in parallel
with the second axis S2. Accordingly, the driving shaft 630 and the
rotation shaft 740 may also be disposed in parallel along the
second axis S2.
[0227] As a result, even when the decelerator 700 tilts, the motor
600 may move integrally with the decelerator 700, and the driving
shaft 630 and the rotation shaft 740 may be remained coaxial with
each other.
[0228] Accordingly, because the driving shaft 630 and the rotation
shaft 740 are always tilted with respect to the decelerator 700,
the decelerator 700 may serve as an action point P1 of a lever or a
seesaw. That is, the decelerator 700 may serve as the first action
point P1 of the vibration system including the motor 600. In one
example, the decelerator 700 is coupled to the drum 200 through the
rotation shaft 740, and the drum 200 is spaced apart from the rear
case 420, so that the load of the drum 200 may be transmitted to
the decelerator 700. A system including the drum 200 as well as the
motor 600 may form one vibration system, and the decelerator 700
may serve as a reference or the action point p1 of the vibration
system.
[0229] The decelerator 700 must be fixed or supported inside the
cabinet 100 even though the decelerator 700 itself serves as the
center or the action point P1 of the vibration system.
[0230] To this end, the decelerator 700 may be fixedly coupled to
the rear case 420. In this case, because the decelerator 700 will
tilt or vibrate in the state coupled to the rear case 420, it may
be seen that the rear case 420 serves as the center of the
vibration system including the decelerator 700, the motor 600, and
the drum 200. Even in this case, the motor 600 may be coupled to
and fixed only to the decelerator 700 without being directly
coupled to the rear case 420 even though the motor 600 is able to
be in contact with the rear case 420.
[0231] Specifically, the mounting portion 429 of the rear case 420
may serve as a second action point P2 of the lever or the seesaw
formed by the decelerator 700, the motor 600, and the drum 200.
[0232] The decelerator 700, the motor 600, and the drum 200 may
become in parallel with a third axis S3 after being disposed in
parallel along the first axis S1. The third axis S3 may pass
through the decelerator 700 coupled to the rear case 420. In this
connection, because the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 are
coupled to each other, the motor 600 may also be disposed in
parallel with the third axis S3.
[0233] As a result, the driver 600 and the drum 200 are coupled to
the decelerator 700, so that the driver 600 and the drum 200 may
tilt in parallel with each other or vibrate at the same time with
respect to the decelerator 700.
[0234] The drum 200 of the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure is supported by the decelerator 700 without
being coupled to the belt. Accordingly, when the drum 200 is
rotated by the decelerator 700, the drum 200 may be lifted upward
or tilted downward by centrifugal force or the like.
[0235] To prevent this, the laundry treating apparatus according to
the present disclosure may further include the stopper 500 for
fixing the position of the drum 200. The stopper 500 may include a
front stopper 510 disposed in front of the drum 200 and a rear
stopper 520 disposed at the rear of the drum.
[0236] In this connection, the drum 200 may be lifted upward with
respect to the rotation shaft 740. Accordingly, the front stopper
510 may be disposed so as to be in contact with an upper front
portion of the drum.
[0237] In addition, the drum 200 may sag downward by the weight of
the laundry. Accordingly, the rear stopper 520 may be disposed so
as to be in contact with a lower rear portion of the drum 200.
[0238] The front stopper 510 may be coupled to the installation
portion 416 of the front case 410, and the rear stopper 520 may be
supported on an upper portion of the heat exchanger 950.
[0239] FIG. 7 shows the stopper 500 supporting the drum 200 of the
laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0240] The drum 200 is coupled to a free end of the rotation shaft
740 and rotates. The rotation shaft 740 may be fixed to the
decelerator 700 so as to be prevented from being misaligned with
the decelerator 700.
[0241] However, the drum 200 may be misaligned upward or downward
because of the load of the laundry or fall of the laundry occurring
during the rotation. As a result, the drum 200 may be misaligned
upward or downward with respect to the free end of the rotation
shaft 740.
[0242] In particular, the drum 200 may vibrate or tilt
independently of the free end of the rotation shaft 740. That is,
the drum 200 may be made of a material having an elastic force, so
that a certain level of deformation thereof may be allowed. This is
to prevent excessive vibration or external force from being
transmitted to the rotation shaft 740 to prevent the rotation shaft
740 and the driving shaft 630 from being misaligned with each
other.
[0243] In addition, because the drum 200 is not fixed by the belt
or the like, excessive vibration energy may occur when the drum 200
rotates in a state of accommodating the laundry therein.
[0244] In one example, the front case 410 and the rear case 420 are
respectively disposed in front of and at the rear of the drum 200.
The front case 410 may avoid direct contact with the front surface
of the drum 200 through the inlet communication hole 412 and the
gasket 413. However, because the rear surface of the drum 200 is
directly coupled to the rotation shaft 740, the rear portion of the
drum body 210 is shielded by the drum rear surface 220, and the
mounting portion 429 that should fix the driver M must be installed
at a portion of the rear case 420 directly facing the drum rear
surface 220. In other words, the rear case 420 is not able to have
a surface facing the drum defined as a through-hole like the front
case 410.
[0245] Accordingly, when the rear case 420 rotatably supports the
rear portion or the rear surface of the drum 200 like the front
case 410, there is a risk of direct friction and collision of the
drum rear surface 220 and the rear case 420.
[0246] Specifically, the rear case 420 has a lot of parts that
interfere with the drum rear surface 220 because of a drum
accommodating groove 422 to be described later, an air flow hole
423, and the mounting portion 429. In such situation, when the rear
case 420 directly supports the drum 200, the drum rear surface 220
and the rear case 420 may be worn or damaged.
[0247] Therefore, the rear case 420 needs to be maintained spaced
apart from the drum 200 by a certain distance, and it may be
impossible for the rear case 420 itself to directly support the
drum 200.
[0248] In addition, when the drum 200 rotates while accommodating
the large amount of laundry therein, the drum 200 may rotate while
moving in a direction of the front case 410 or the rear case 420
because there is no belt or the like.
[0249] Considering this comprehensively, the laundry treating
apparatus of the present disclosure may further include the stopper
500 to limit the movement of the drum 200 within an allowed
range.
[0250] The stopper 500 may include the front stopper 510 coupled to
the front case 410 to support a front upper end of the drum, a
support wheel 533 that is rotatably disposed on the front case 410
to support a front lower end of the drum, and a rear stopper 520
coupled to the rear case 420 to support a rear lower end of the
drum.
[0251] The drum 200 may be rotated by being supported by the driver
M and the support wheel 533, and the front stopper 510 and the rear
stopper 520 may be provided to limit the drum 200 only when the
drum 200 moves excessively. Therefore, the front stopper 510 and
the rear stopper 520 may buffer the vibration or temporarily
occurred impact of the drum 200, and it may be possible to prevent
the front stopper 510 and the rear stopper 520 from rather damaging
the drum 200.
[0252] Referring to (a) in FIG. 7, the front stopper 510 may
include a fixed plate 5111 coupled to the stopper installation
portion 416 of the front case 410, a lever plate 5112 extending
rearward from the fixed plate 5111, an extension plate 5113
extending downward from the lever plate 5112, a support plate 512
extended from the extension plate 5113 and disposed at the front
upper end of the drum 200, and a felt 513 coupled to a lower
portion of the support plate 512 and in contact with the drum
200.
[0253] Accordingly, the front stopper 510 may absorb the impact of
the drum 200 while the lever plate 5112 and the extension plate
5113 are lifted upward at a certain level when the drum 200 is
lifted upward, and the felt 513 may rub against the front portion
of the drum 200 to limit the drum 200 from being excessively lifted
upward.
[0254] An outer circumferential surface of the laundry inlet 211 of
the drum 200 may include a contact portion 213 having a diameter
smaller than that of the drum body 210 to be in contact with the
support wheel 533 or the felt 513. Accordingly, the felt 513 and
the support wheel 533 are accurately seated on the contact portion
213 to limit the movement of the drum 200.
[0255] The front stopper 510 may be disposed to be spaced apart
from the front upper end of the drum by a specific distance. The
specific distance may correspond to a distance at which the drum
200 may deviate from the gasket 413 when rotating, or a range at
which the drum 200 may excessively distort the rotation shaft
740.
[0256] Referring to (b) in FIG. 7, in the front stopper 510, the
support plate 512 and the felt 513 may be formed as a contact wheel
532 rotatably contact the contact portion 213.
[0257] Accordingly, the support wheel 533 may support a lower
portion of the contact portion 213 and the contact wheel may
support an upper portion of the contact portion 213 to prevent the
drum 200 from deviating the inlet communication hole 412.
[0258] Referring to (c) in FIG. 7, thus, the rear case 420 and the
drum 200 may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other, the
rear stopper 520 and the driver M may support the rear portion of
the drum 200, and when the drum 200 approaches the rear case 420
excessively, the rear stopper 520 may block the excessive approach
of the drum 200. As a result, it is possible to prevent damage
resulted from friction or contact between the rear case 420 and the
drum 200.
[0259] The rear stopper 520 may be disposed in front of the rear
case 420 to prevent the drum rear surface 220 from coming into
contact with and colliding with the rear case 420. When the drum
200 rotates while accommodating the laundry therein, because the
drum 200 is not fixed with the belt, the drum 200 not only moves
upward or downward, but also generates an external force for moving
forward or rearward.
[0260] Because the rear case 420 supports the load of the driver M,
the rear case 420 must be made of a material having a thickness
greater than that of the front case 410 or having a rigidity
greater than that of the front case 410. Accordingly, because the
rear case 420 supports the drum 200 without buffering the movement
of the drum 200 when the drum 200 moves downward, the rear case 420
may generate a repulsive force of pushing the drum 200 upward.
[0261] In this process, the drum 200 may be strongly pressed toward
the front case 410, and in severe cases, the door 130 may be
forcibly opened.
[0262] Accordingly, the rear stopper 520 may be spaced apart from
the rear surface of the drum 200 by a reference distance to allow
the drum 200 to move rearward at a certain level. Accordingly, it
is possible to block the drum 200 from excessively pressing the
front case 410.
[0263] The reference distance may be defined as a distance at which
the rear surface of the drum 200 and the rear stopper 520 may come
into contact with and be supported by each other when the drum 200
is pushed rearward while rotating as the laundry of an amount equal
to or greater than a reference cloth amount is accommodated in the
drum 200.
[0264] Accordingly, the rear stopper 520 supports the drum 200 only
when the drum 200 moves rearward by the reference distance, thereby
preventing the rear stopper 520 from being worn. A felt that may be
in contact with the drum 200 may be attached to the rear stopper
520.
[0265] In addition, the drum 200 and the rear case 420 may be
disposed to be spaced apart from each other by a distance equal to
or greater than the reference distance.
[0266] The rear stopper 520 may include a support coupling portion
521 supported on the bottom surface of the cabinet 100 or the hot
air supplier 900, a support leg 522 extending from the support
coupling portion 521 toward the drum 200, an extension 524
obliquely extending frontward from the support leg 522, and a
limiting portion 525 extending from the extension portion 524 to
face the drum rear surface 220.
[0267] The support leg 522 may further have a cut-out groove 523
defined therein to enhance rigidity.
[0268] The extension 524 extends obliquely from the support leg 522
to strengthen rigidity of an entirety of the rear stopper 520 while
buffering the external force applied from the drum 200 at a certain
level.
[0269] The extension 524 may include an inclined extension 5241
extending frontward from the support leg 522, and a straight
extension 5242 extending upward from the inclined extension
5241.
[0270] The limiting portion 525 may include a spacer 5251 extending
rearward from the straight extension 5242 and spaced apart from the
drum rear surface 220, and a load support 5252 extended from the
spacer 5251 and disposed to face the lower portion of the drum rear
surface 220.
[0271] In order to reinforce rigidity of the load support 5252, a
curved portion 5253 provided by bending a free end of the load
support 5252 may be further installed.
[0272] The rear stopper 520 may be blocked from directly contacting
the rear surface of the drum 200 by the spacer 5251. Rather, it may
allow the drum 200 to move rearward at the certain level.
[0273] Consequently, the rear case 420 may be disposed between the
rear stopper 520 and the decelerator 700 or the driver 600.
[0274] In one example, the rear stopper 520 may be disposed to be
spaced apart from the lower portion of the drum by a certain
distance. The certain distance may correspond to a distance at
which the drum 200 deviates from a sealing portion 450 or a
distance at which the drum 200 excessively distorts the rotation
shaft 740.
[0275] That is, the straight extension 5242 may be disposed to be
spaced apart from the rear surface of the drum 200 by the certain
distance.
[0276] FIG. 8 shows a structure of the rear case 420 of the present
disclosure rear case.
[0277] The motor 600 is coupled to and fixed to the decelerator
700, so that, even when the decelerator 700 itself serves as a
reference for the position and the vibration of the driver M, the
decelerator 700 needs to be supported while being disposed on the
rear surface of the drum 200 in order to rotate the drum 200.
[0278] Accordingly, the decelerator 700 may be seated on the rear
case 420 and supported inside the cabinet 100. However, the motor
600 and the drum 200 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the
rear case 420. This is to prevent the motor 600 or the drum 200
from interfering with components other than the decelerator 700 and
moving independently of the decelerator 700.
[0279] As a result, the rear case 420 may serve as an action point
of a seesaw in a vibration system or a rotation system including
the decelerator 700, the motor 600, and the drum 200.
[0280] The rear case 420 may include the rear plate 421 disposed on
the rear surface of the drum 200 and disposed to face the front
plate 411, and the drum accommodating groove 422 protruding from
the rear plate 421 to have a shape corresponding to that of the
drum rear surface 220. The drum accommodating groove 422 may be
spaced apart from the drum rear surface 220, but may protrude from
the rear plate 421 to have a diameter and a depth for partially
accommodating the outer circumferential surface of the drum rear
surface 220. That is, the drum accommodating groove 422 may
protrude from the rear plate 421 by a first height L1 to induce the
drum rear surface 220 to be partially accommodated in a front
portion of the rear plate 421. A plurality of communication holes
424 that face the suction holes 224 of the drum rear surface 220
and allows air to pass therethrough may be defined in the drum
accommodating groove 422. Each reinforcing bent portion 426 capable
of reinforcing rigidity may be disposed between two adjacent
communication holes 424. Each reinforcing bent portion 426 is
provided to be recessed or protruded between the two adjacent
communication holes 424 to prevent rigidity of a portion of the
rear plate 421 between the two adjacent communication holes 424
from being weakened. The plurality of communication holes 424 are
components that allow the hot air supplied from the hot air
supplier 900 to be supplied to the drum 200. In this connection,
because the drum accommodating groove 422 accommodates the drum
rear surface 220 therein, the hot air discharged from the
communication holes 424 may be induced to be supplied to the
suction holes 224. In one example, the laundry treating apparatus
according to the present disclosure may further include a sealing
portion 450 disposed to seal a space between the drum accommodating
groove 422 and the drum rear surface 220, and the sealing portion
450 may be accommodated and mounted in the drum accommodating
groove 422.
[0281] As a result, the drum accommodating groove 422 may provide a
space in which the sealing portion 450 may be installed as well as
reinforce the rigidity of the rear plate 421.
[0282] The mounting portion 490 may be provided by being recessed
into the drum accommodating groove 422 in a direction opposite to a
direction in which the drum accommodating groove 422 protrudes. The
mounting portion 490 may be provided by being recessed by a depth
L2 from an inner circumferential surface of the drum accommodating
groove 422. The mounting portion 490 is provided by being recessed
into the drum accommodating groove 422, so that the rigidity of the
drum accommodating groove 422 may also be strengthened, and at the
same time, an overall rigidity of the rear plate 421 may be
strengthened.
[0283] In addition, the mounting portion 490 may be disposed closer
to the drum rear surface 220 by being recessed frontward by L2 into
the drum accommodating groove 422. Accordingly, a distance between
the decelerator 700 mounted and fixed to the mounting portion 490
and the drum rear surface 220 may be reduced, and a length of the
rotation shaft 740 connecting the decelerator 700 to the drum rear
surface 220 is further reduced by that much, thereby not only
guaranteeing durability of the rotation shaft 740, but also
reducing an angular range in which the rotation shaft 740 may be
distorted.
[0284] In addition, the mounting portion 490 may be recessed into
the drum accommodating groove 422, but may be have a diameter
larger than diameters of the decelerator 700 and the driver 600.
Accordingly, at least a portion of the decelerator 700 and the
motor 600 may be accommodated in the mounting portion 490 to reduce
an overall thickness of the cabinet 100.
[0285] The mounting portion 490 may include a shaft through-hole
4291 through which the rotation shaft 740 extending from the
decelerator 700 through the rear plate 421 passes, a mounting
surface 4292 disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the
shaft through-hole 4291 to support the decelerator 700, and a
mounting groove 4294 extending rearward from the mounting surface
4292 toward the drum accommodating groove. A fastening portion 4293
coupled to the decelerator 700 or a bracket 800 for coupling the
decelerator 700 to the mounting surface 4292 may be installed on
the mounting surface 4292.
[0286] In one example, at least a portion of the decelerator 700 or
the motor 600 may be accommodated in the mounting groove 4294.
Accordingly, an electric wire support groove 4295 in which an
electric wire supplying current to the stator 610 may be seated may
be defined by being recessed outwardly from the mounting groove
4294. The mounting groove 4294 may have a diameter larger than the
diameter of the driver M.
[0287] In one example, the rear case 420 may further include the
air flow hole 423 for transferring the hot air supplied from the
connector 930 to the duct cover 430. The air introduced into the
air flow hole 423 may be introduced into the communication hole 424
along the duct cover 430.
[0288] FIG. 9 shows that the motor 600 of the laundry treating
apparatus according to the present disclosure is coupled to the
decelerator 700.
[0289] The decelerator 700 may be mounted and supported on the
mounting portion 429 to rotate the drum 200. The stator 610 may be
directly coupled to and fixed to the decelerator 700, and may be
spaced apart from the mounting portion 429. The rotor 620 may be
supported by the decelerator 700 by the driving shaft 630 coupled
to the decelerator 700, and may be provided to rotate with respect
to the stator 610.
[0290] As the stator 610 is coupled to the decelerator 700, the
decelerator 700 and the motor 600 may be disposed in parallel with
each other to be disposed along the same axis S. The motor 600 may
have a rotation center disposed on the same axis S, and the
decelerator 700 may also have a rotation center disposed on the
same axis S.
[0291] As a result, the rotor 620 may also rotate with respect to
the same axis S, and the rotation shaft 740 extending from the
decelerator 700 may also rotate with respect to the same axis
S.
[0292] The decelerator 700 may be directly coupled to fix the
stator 610. The stator 610 may be disposed to be spaced apart from
the rear case 420, and may be disposed to be spaced apart from the
mounting portion 429.
[0293] In one example, the stator 610 may be supported by being in
contact with the rear case 420, and may be additionally coupled to
the rear case 420 when the stator 610 is directly fixed to the
decelerator 700.
[0294] Because the stator 610 is coupled to the decelerator 700,
and the decelerator 700 converts the rpm of the driving shaft 630
to rotate the rotation shaft 740, the drum 200 may also rotate with
respect to the same axis S.
[0295] Even when the decelerator 700 vibrates or rotates and the
same axis S is misaligned, the driving shaft 630 and the rotation
shaft 740 may be disposed in parallel with the same axis S.
[0296] As a result, the decelerator 700 may be coupled to and fixed
to the rear case 420.
[0297] Because the decelerator 700 is coupled to a rear portion of
the rear case 420 and the drum 200 is disposed in front of the rear
case 420, the rear case 420 may be disposed between the drum 200
and the decelerator 700.
[0298] The decelerator 700 may rotate the drum as the drum rotation
shaft 740 passes through the rear case 420, and may support the
load of the drum through the drum rotation shaft 740.
[0299] In addition, it may be seen that the rear case 420 is
disposed between the drum 200 and the motor 600. The decelerator
700 may be disposed between the drum 200 and the motor 600 to be
supported by the rear case 420.
[0300] In this connection, both the drum 200 and the motor 600 may
be completely spaced apart from the rear case 420. Accordingly, the
decelerator 700 may serve as a support center of the drum 200 and
the motor 600.
[0301] In addition, it may be seen that the drum 200 is disposed in
front of and spaced apart from the rear case 420, the motor is
disposed at the rear of and spaced apart from the rear case 420,
and the decelerator 700 is coupled to the rear case from the rear
by passing through the rear case to connect the motor 600 and the
drum 200 to each other.
[0302] Accordingly, the drum 200 and the motor 600 may be provided
to transmit at least a portion of the load to the rear case 420
through the decelerator 700.
[0303] As a result, the motor 600, the decelerator 700, and the
drum 200 may simultaneously tilt with respect to the rear case 420
or may simultaneously vibrate.
[0304] In addition, because the stator 610 is fixed to the
decelerator 700, the driving shaft 630 may be tilted together with
the decelerator 700 or vibrate simultaneously with the decelerator
700.
[0305] FIGS. 10A and 10B show an appearance of the decelerator
700.
[0306] The decelerator 700 may include a decelerator housing 710
and 720 that form the appearance of the decelerator 700 and
accommodates a gearbox therein. The decelerator housing may include
a first housing 710 facing the motor 600, and a second housing 720
facing the drum 200.
[0307] Referring to FIG. 10A, most of the gearbox inside the
decelerator 700 may be accommodated in the first housing 710, and
the second housing 720 may be provided to shield an interior of the
decelerator 700. Accordingly, the length of the drum 200 may be
further extended by reducing an overall thickness of the
decelerator 700.
[0308] The second housing 720 may include a blocking body 722
provided to shield the first housing 710, a coupling body 721
extending along a circumference of the blocking body 722 and
coupled to the first housing 710, and a shaft support 723 provided
to support the rotation shaft 740 in the blocking body 722.
[0309] The blocking body 722 may be formed in a disk shape, and the
coupling body 721 may extend toward a portion of the first housing
710 from the blocking body 722 while having a certain
thickness.
[0310] In one example, the coupling body 721 may be disposed in the
first housing 710 to couple the blocking body 722.
[0311] The shaft support 723 may prevent the rotation shaft 740
from being misaligned to maintain alignment between the rotation
shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630.
[0312] A fastening portion 780 having a certain thickness to fix
the decelerator 700 to the stator 610 or the mounting portion 429
may be installed on the coupling body 721.
[0313] The fastening portion 780 may protrude outward from the
coupling body 721, and may be integrally formed with the coupling
body 721. The fastening portion 780 may include at least one of a
fastening protrusion 781 that may be coupled to the stator 610 and
a coupling protrusion 782 that may be coupled to the mounting
portion 429. The coupling protrusion 781 may include a plurality of
coupling protrusions spaced apart from each other along an outer
circumferential surface of the coupling body 721, and the plurality
of coupling protrusions may be disposed to be spaced apart from
each other at the same angle with respect to a shaft accommodating
portion 713.
[0314] Referring to FIG. 10B, the first housing 710 is formed in a
multi-step shape to accommodate gears of various diameters. In
general, the gearbox coupled to the decelerator 700 may include a
sun gear, a planetary gear orbiting the sun gear, and a ring gear
accommodating the planetary gear therein to induce the planetary
gear to rotate. The first housing 710 may include a ring gear
housing 711 coupled to the second housing 720 and accommodating the
ring gear therein, and a planetary gear housing 712 extending from
the ring gear housing 711 to be away from the second housing 720 to
accommodate one end of the planetary gear therein.
[0315] The planetary gear housing 712 may have a smaller diameter
than the ring gear housing 711. However, a center of the planetary
gear housing 712 and a center of the ring gear housing 711 may be
designed to be disposed on the same axis S.
[0316] The driving shaft 630 rotatably coupled to the rotor 620 may
be coupled to the planetary gear housing 712. The driving shaft 630
may be inserted into the first housing 710 and rotatably supported
by the gearbox inside the first housing 710.
[0317] A washer 640 for rotatably supporting the rotor 620 may be
seated on one surface of the planetary gear housing 712, and a
washer protrusion 7121 to which the washer 640 is coupled and fixed
may be installed. In addition, the planetary gear housing 712 may
also include a washer coupling hole 7122 defined therein to which
the washer 640 may be rotatably coupled.
[0318] The washer protrusion 7121 and the washer coupling hole 7122
may include a plurality of the washer protrusions and a plurality
of washer coupling holes disposed to be spaced apart from each
other at a certain angle with respect to the driving shaft 630,
respectively.
[0319] The fastening protrusion 781 may have a larger
cross-sectional area and a greater thickness than the coupling
protrusion 782. Accordingly, a coupling force between the fastening
protrusion 781 and the stator 610 may be strengthened, and the
vibration transmitted from the stator 610 may be more easily
tolerated.
[0320] The stator 610 may be seated on the fastening protrusion 781
and coupled to the fastening protrusion 781 with a separate fixing
member. The fastening protrusion may have a fastening protrusion
hole 7811 defined therein to which a fixing member fastened through
the stator 610 may be fastened, and the fastening protrusion hole
7811 may have a thread formed therein that may be coupled to the
fixing member.
[0321] FIG. 11 shows a structure in which the stator 610 is coupled
to the decelerator 700.
[0322] The stator 610 may include a main body 611 fixed to the
decelerator 700 and formed in a ring shape, a fixing rib 612
extending from an inner circumferential surface of the main body
611 and coupled to the fastening protrusion 781, teeth 614
extending from an outer circumferential surface of the main body
611 along a circumference of the main body 611 and to which coils
are wound, a pole shoe 615 disposed at a free end of the tooth 614
to prevent the coil from deviating, and a terminal 616 that
controls supply of current to the coil.
[0323] The main body 611 may have an accommodating space 613
therein, the fixing rib 612 may include a plurality of fixing ribs
disposed inside the main body 611 and spaced apart from each other
at a certain angle with respect to the accommodating space 613, and
a fixing rib hole 6121 into which a fixing member coupled to the
fastening protrusion 781 is installed may be defined inwardly of
the fixing rib 612.
[0324] Because the stator 610 is directly coupled to the
decelerator 700, the decelerator 700 may be coupled to the stator
610 by being at least partially accommodated in the stator 610.
[0325] In particular, when the decelerator 700 is accommodated in
the stator 610, a thickness of an entirety of the driver M may be
reduced to further expand a volume of the drum 200. In addition,
when the decelerator 700 is accommodated in the stator 610, the
rotation shaft 740 of the decelerator 700 and the driving shaft 630
may be more precisely maintained coaxial with each other.
[0326] To this end, the decelerator 700 may have a diameter smaller
than a diameter of the main body 611. That is, the largest diameter
of the first housing 710 and the second housing 720 may be smaller
than the diameter of the main body 611. Accordingly, at least a
portion of the decelerator 700 may be accommodated and disposed in
the main body 611. However, the fastening protrusion 781 may be
extended to overlap the fixing rib 612 in the decelerator housing.
Accordingly, the fastening protrusion 781 may be coupled to the
fixing rib 612, and portions of the first housing 710 and the
second housing 720 may be located inside the main body 611.
[0327] The fixing rib 612 may include a first fixing rib 612a
directly coupled to the fastening protrusion 781, and a second
fixing rib 612b that is not directly coupled to the fastening
protrusion 781 but is able to support the fastening protrusion 781
or the first housing 710.
[0328] The coupling protrusion 782 may be disposed to be misaligned
with the fastening protrusion 781 to prevent interference with the
fastening protrusion 781.
[0329] FIG. 12 shows a structure in which the motor 600 is coupled
to the decelerator 700.
[0330] The stator 610 is coupled to the decelerator 700. The stator
610 may be coupled to one surface of the decelerator 700, but may
be coupled to the fastening protrusion 781 protruding outward from
the housing of the decelerator 700, so that at least a portion of
the decelerator housing may be accommodated inside the main body
611. Accordingly, a center of the main body 611, a center of the
decelerator 700, and the rotation shaft 630 may always be coaxial
with each other.
[0331] In one example, the rotor 620 may be disposed to accommodate
the stator 610 while being spaced apart from the pole shoe 615 by a
certain distance. Because the driving shaft 630 is fixed to the
decelerator 700 accommodated in the main body 611, a gap G1 between
the rotor 620 and the stator 610 may always be maintained.
[0332] Accordingly, the rotor 620 and the stator 610 may be
prevented from colliding with each other or from rotating while
being temporarily distorted in the stator 610, thereby preventing
noise or unnecessary vibration from occurring.
[0333] In one example, all of a virtual first diameter line D1
passing through the center of the decelerator 700 and the center of
the driving shaft 630, a virtual second diameter line D2 passing
through the center of the main body 611, and a virtual third
diameter line D3 passing through the center of the rotor 620 may be
disposed at a rotation center of the driving shaft 630.
[0334] Accordingly, because the decelerator 700 itself becomes the
rotation center of the driving shaft 630 and the stator 610 is
directly fixed to the decelerator 700, the driving shaft 630 may be
blocked from being misaligned with the decelerator 700. As a
result, reliability of the decelerator 700 may be guaranteed.
[0335] FIG. 13 shows a structure in which the decelerator 700 is
mounted on the rear case 420.
[0336] The motor 600 is coupled to and fixed to the decelerator
700, but the decelerator 700 is able to be fixed to a mounting
portion 429 of the rear case 420.
[0337] In one example, as long as the motor 600 is able to be
coupled to and fixed to the decelerator 700, in the laundry
treating apparatus according to the present disclosure, the
decelerator 700 may be supported by any component.
[0338] The decelerator 700 may be directly coupled to and fixed to
the mounting portion 429, but the mounting portion 429 may have a
small thickness because the mounting portion 429 is generally
machined by press-molding the rear case 420. Therefore, when the
decelerator 700 is directly coupled to the mounting portion 429, it
may be difficult for the mounting portion 429 to fix the
decelerator 700. In particular, when also the motor 600 is coupled
to the decelerator 700, a load of the motor 600 is also transferred
to the mounting portion 429. Therefore, the mounting portion 429
may be bent by the driver M, and durability of the mounting portion
429 may not be guaranteed.
[0339] Accordingly, the laundry treating apparatus according to the
present disclosure may further include a bracket 800 capable of
reinforcing rigidity of the mounting portion 429 and enhancing
durability of an entirety of the rear case 420. The bracket 800 may
have a thickness greater than that of the rear case 420, and may be
made of a material having a greater rigidity than that the rear
case 420.
[0340] The bracket 800 may be in surface contact with and coupled
to the mounting portion 429 to reinforce rigidity of the mounting
portion 429, and may be coupled to the decelerator 700 to fix the
decelerator 700 to the mounting portion 429.
[0341] The decelerator 700 may also be coupled to the bracket 800
while coupled to the mounting portion 429, and may be coupled only
to the bracket 800 to be fixed to the mounting portion 429.
[0342] The bracket 800 may include a main bracket 810 coupled to
the mounting portion 429 and also coupled to the decelerator
housing. The main bracket 810 may be provided to support the
decelerator 700 while being seated on and fixed to the mounting
surface 4292.
[0343] The main bracket 810 may include a plurality of installation
ribs 814 that may be directly coupled to the decelerator 700, and
the installation rib 814 may include an installation rib hole 8143
such that a fixing member fastened to the decelerator 700 may be
coupled thereto.
[0344] The main bracket 810 may include a fixing protrusion 8111
provided to be engaged with a fastening portion 4293 installed in
the mounting surface 4292. The fastening portion 4293 is recessed
in the mounting surface 4292, and the fixing protrusion 8111 is
inserted into the fastening portion 4293, so that the main bracket
810 may be prevented from rotating in the mounting portion 429 or
from changing in an installation position by the vibration or the
like.
[0345] The decelerator 700 may be coupled to the main bracket 810
and may be spaced apart from the mounting portion 429 to block
noise and vibration that may occur when the mounting portion 429
and the decelerator 700 collide.
[0346] However, because the gearbox inside the decelerator 700
rotates while the decelerator 700 receives power from the motor
600, significant vibration may occur. Moreover, the decelerator 700
may receive vibration from the drum 200 as well. Accordingly, it
may be necessary to improve a coupling force between the main
bracket 810 and the decelerator 700.
[0347] To this end, the bracket 800 may further include an
auxiliary bracket 820 coupled to both the main bracket 810 and the
decelerator 700 to fix the decelerator 700 to the main bracket
810.
[0348] The main bracket 810 and the auxiliary bracket 820 may be
coupled to each other to surround the decelerator 700. The main
bracket 810 may be coupled to one surface of the decelerator 700,
and the auxiliary bracket 820 may be coupled to the other surface
of the decelerator 700 to fix both surfaces of the decelerator
700.
[0349] For example, the main bracket 810 may be coupled to one side
of the coupling protrusion 782, and the auxiliary bracket 820 may
be coupled to the other side of the coupling protrusion 782 to fix
the decelerator 700.
[0350] The auxiliary bracket 820 may be coupled to the mounting
portion 429 or may be coupled to and fixed to the main bracket 810.
Because the main bracket 810 has greater rigidity than the mounting
portion 429, it may be stable for the auxiliary bracket 820 to be
coupled to the main bracket 810.
[0351] FIGS. 14A to 14C show an embodiment of a structure in which
the bracket 800 and the decelerator 700 are coupled to each
other.
[0352] Referring to FIG. 14A, at least one of an area, a size, and
a thickness of the coupling protrusion 782 may be smaller than that
of the fastening protrusion 781, but the number of coupling
protrusions 782 may be greater than the number of fastening
protrusions 781.
[0353] The coupling protrusion 782 may be staggered from the
fastening protrusion 781. In addition, the coupling protrusion 782
may be disposed in parallel with the fastening protrusion 781 or
may have a height different from that the fastening protrusion
781.
[0354] The coupling protrusion 782 may be formed in a plate shape
to be supported by the bracket 800 or to be in surface-contact with
the bracket 800, and may have a coupling protrusion hole 7821 to
which a fastening member that may be fastened to the bracket 800
may be coupled.
[0355] Referring to FIG. 14B, the main bracket 810 may include a
main body 811 that is formed in a ring shape and is able to be
mounted on the mounting surface 4292. The main body 811 may have a
diameter corresponding to that of the mounting surface 4292 so as
to be in surface-contact with the mounting surface 4292.
[0356] The fixing protrusion 8111 may include a plurality of fixing
protrusions disposed along a circumference of the main body 811,
and the fixing protrusions may be disposed to be spaced apart from
each other at the same angle with respect to a center of the main
body 811. The fixing protrusion 8111 may be supported by being
seated on a fastening portion 4293 defined in the mounting surface
4292.
[0357] In one example, the main body 811 may be fixed to the
mounting surface 4292 through the fastening member. In this
connection, a fastening hole to which the fastening member is
coupled may be defined through the main body 811.
[0358] However, because the fixing protrusion 8111 is bent or
depressed into the main body 811, the fixing protrusion 8111 may
have stronger an impact or vibration absorbing force than the main
body 811. Accordingly, the fastening hole may be defined in the
fixing protrusion 8111, and the fastening member may pass through
the fixing protrusion 8111 to be coupled to the mounting surface
4292.
[0359] A seating body 912 formed in a disk shape may be disposed on
an inner circumferential surface of the main body 811. The seating
body 912 may have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the
mounting surface 4242, and may be a region that does not contact
the mounting surface 4242.
[0360] When a purpose of the main body 811 is to be fixedly coupled
to the mounting portion 429, a purpose of the seating body 912 may
be to be extended from the inner circumferential surface of the
main body 811 to support a load of the decelerator 700.
[0361] The seating body 912 may be bent on and extended from the
inner circumferential surface of the main body 811 to strengthen
the rigidity of the main bracket 810, and effectively support the
load of the decelerator 700.
[0362] The decelerator 700 may be directly coupled to the seating
body 912. That is, the coupling protrusion 782 of the decelerator
may be seated on and coupled to the seating body 912.
[0363] However, when the seating body 912 has a relatively large
diameter, the installation rib 814 protruding inward may be
disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the seating body
912.
[0364] The installation rib 814 may have a larger area than the
coupling protrusion 782, and a width of the installation rib 814
corresponding to a circumferential direction may be larger than a
length of the installation rib 814 protruding from the seating body
912. Accordingly, the installation rib 814 may stably support the
load of the decelerator 700. The number of installation ribs 814
may correspond to the number of coupling protrusions 782, and the
installation rib 814 may have an installation rib hole 8143 defined
therein to face the coupling protrusion hole 7821.
[0365] The installation rib 814 may extend in parallel with the
seating body 912, but may protrude and extend axially from one
surface of the seating body 912. The installation rib 814 may
protrude from the seating body 912 in a direction toward the
decelerator 700.
[0366] Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the decelerator 700
from excessively protruding out of the bracket 800. In addition,
when the main bracket 810 is fastened with the auxiliary bracket
820, the coupling body 721 seated on the installation ribs 814 may
be induced to be in a more close contact with or accommodated in
the auxiliary bracket 820.
[0367] Referring to FIG. 14C, the auxiliary bracket 820 may include
an auxiliary body 821 that is formed in a ring shape and is able to
be seated on the seating body 812, and a shielding body 822
extending inward from the auxiliary body 821.
[0368] The auxiliary body 821 may be seated on the seating body 812
without contacting the main body 811. To this end, the auxiliary
body 821 may be manufactured to have a diameter corresponding to
that of the seating body 812. Accordingly, even when the main
bracket 810 and the auxiliary bracket 820 are coupled to each other
with the mounting portion 429 therebetween, the auxiliary bracket
820 may be prevented from interfering with the mounting portion
429.
[0369] The auxiliary body 821 may be supported in direct contact
with the seating body 812, and may be coupled to the seating body
812 by a separate fastening member. That is, the seating body 812
may have a seating body hole 8121 defined therein through which the
fastening member passes to be coupled to the seating body 812, and
the auxiliary body 821 may have an auxiliary body hole 8211 defined
therein at a position corresponding to a position of the seating
body hole 8121.
[0370] The shielding body 822 may be provided to shield the
installation ribs 814. That is, the shielding body 822 may extend
inwardly of the seating body 812 to have a thickness that may
shield all of the installation ribs 814. The shielding body 822 may
be provided to shield the coupling body 721 of the decelerator
seated on the installation rib 814 and to shield one surface of the
coupling body 721 at the same time.
[0371] The shielding body 822 may be provided to be in close
contact with the installation ribs 814 and the coupling bodies 721
when the auxiliary body 821 is coupled to the seating body 812.
That is, the coupling body 721 may be disposed between the
shielding body 822 and the installation rib 814, and the coupling
body 721 may be fixed to and supported by the shielding body 822
and the installation rib 814.
[0372] In one example, the shielding body 822 may include a rib
accommodating groove 8221 having an area corresponding to an area
of the installation rib 814 and recessed to accommodate the
installation rib 814 therein.
[0373] The number of rib accommodating grooves 8221 may correspond
to the number of installation ribs 814, and the rib accommodating
groove 8221 may be installed at a position corresponding to the
position of the installation rib 814. The rib accommodating groove
8221 may be provided to accommodate an entirety of the installation
rib 814, and may be provided to press one surface of the
installation rib 814.
[0374] When the auxiliary bracket 820 is coupled to the main
bracket 810, the installation rib 814 and the coupling protrusion
782 may be inserted into and fixed in the rib accommodating groove
8221.
[0375] The coupling protrusion 782 may be fixed by being in close
contact with or pressed against the installation rib 814 and the
rib accommodating groove 8221.
[0376] Therefore, the auxiliary bracket 820 may be prevented from
being distorted on the main bracket 810, and the decelerator 700
may be stably fixed as the coupling protrusion 782 is also fixed to
the rib accommodating groove 8221 and the installation rib 814.
[0377] The shielding body 822 may further include a deceleration
avoidance hole 8222 that is prevented from overlapping with the
fastening protrusion 781 and is able to expose the fastening
protrusion 781. The fastening protrusion 781 may be exposed through
the deceleration avoidance hole 8222, so that the stator 610 may be
stably coupled to the fastening protrusion 781.
[0378] In addition, the shielding body 822 may further include an
electric wire avoidance groove 8223 defined therein to allow the
electric wire connected to the terminal 816 to pass
therethrough.
[0379] In one example, the shielding body 822 may be provided to
shield a portion of a surface of a first housing 710 of the
decelerator 700. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the
decelerator 700 from deviating out of the bracket 800 even in case
of the vibration or the impact.
[0380] The auxiliary bracket 820 may further include a support hole
824 defined therein into which a washer protrusion 7121 protruding
from the first housing 710 of the decelerator 700 may be inserted,
and may include a protrusion fastening hole 825 defined therein
into which a penetrating protrusion 8144 that may protrude from the
installation rib 814 and may be inserted into the auxiliary bracket
820 may be inserted.
[0381] FIGS. 15A and 15B show an aspect in which the bracket 800 is
coupled to the decelerator 700.
[0382] Referring to FIG. 15A, the main bracket 810 may be first
coupled to the decelerator 700 to fix the decelerator 700. The
coupling protrusion 782 extending from the decelerator housing may
be seated on installation rib 814 of the main bracket 810. The
coupling protrusion 782 and the installation rib 814 may be coupled
to each other through the fastening member.
[0383] In this connection, the fastening protrusion 781 may be
disposed to avoid the installation rib 814, and may be exposed
inside the main bracket 810.
[0384] Referring to FIG. 15B, when the decelerator 700 is seated on
the main bracket 810, the auxiliary bracket 820 may be coupled to
the main bracket 810.
[0385] The auxiliary body 821 may be coupled to the seating body
812, and the shielding body 822 may shield the decelerator 700 and
an internal space of the seating body 812.
[0386] The rib accommodating groove 8221 in the shielding body 822
may accommodate therein the installation rib 814 on which the
coupling protrusion 782 is seated. The coupling protrusion 782 may
be disposed and supported between the rib accommodating groove 8221
and the installation ribs 814. As a result, the coupling protrusion
782 may be prevented from being arbitrarily removed from the
installation rib 814.
[0387] The shielding body 822 may be provided such that the
fastening protrusion 781 is exposed to the outside because of the
deceleration avoidance hole 8222. Accordingly, even when the
bracket 800 fixes the decelerator 700, the coupling between the
motor 600 and the decelerator 700 may not be prevented.
[0388] The decelerator 700 may be sufficiently fixed by being
coupled to the main bracket 810. The auxiliary bracket 820 may
strengthen the coupling force between the main bracket 810 and the
decelerator 700 and prevent the decelerator 700 from being
arbitrarily removed from the main bracket 810.
[0389] The decelerator 700 is fixed to the main bracket 810 and the
auxiliary bracket 820, so that the decelerator 700 may be stably
fixed to the mounting portion 429 without a separate component
fixed to the mounting portion 429.
[0390] In addition, the decelerator 700 may be fixed and supported
on the bracket 800 to be coupled to the mounting portion 429
without being directly coupled to the mounting portion 429.
Accordingly, even when the decelerator 700 is coupled to the motor
600, the decelerator 700 may be stably fixed to the mounting
portion 429.
[0391] FIGS. 16A and 16B show an aspect in which the bracket 800 is
coupled to the rear case 420.
[0392] Referring to FIG. 16A, the main bracket 810 may be coupled
to the mounting portion 429 from a region in front of the rear case
420.
[0393] When the drum 200 rotates while the laundry is accommodated
therein, the drum 200 may apply a pushing force toward the
decelerator 700. In particular, the drum 200 may be designed to be
prevented from being pressed or moved toward the front case 410
such that the door is not opened by the laundry.
[0394] In this connection, the main body 811 may be coupled to a
surface that does not face the motor 600 of the mounting surface
4292 such that the decelerator 700 does not escape rearwardly of
the rear case 420. Accordingly, the main bracket 810 may fix the
decelerator 700 to prevent the decelerator from being pushed toward
the motor 600.
[0395] The main bracket 810 may be disposed to face the drum rear
surface 220, and may be coupled to a front portion of the mounting
portion 429. The mounting portion 429 may protrude from the rear
case 420 toward the drum 200. Accordingly, in the main bracket 810,
the main body 811 may be coupled to and fixed to one surface of the
mounting surface 4292 protruding toward the drum 200 of the
mounting portion 429.
[0396] The fixing protrusion 8111 protruding from the main body 811
may be accommodated in the fastening portion 4293 defined in the
mounting surface 4292. In one example, the fastening portion 4293
may be provided to be accommodated on a side opposite to the fixing
protrusion 8111. Because the fixing protrusion 8111 is pressed from
the main body 811, the fastening portion 4293 on the opposite side
may be defined as an accommodating groove.
[0397] Accordingly, the fastening portion 4293 may protrude from
the mounting surface 4292 toward the drum 200, or may protrude away
from the drum 200. The fixing protrusion 8111 may protrude in the
same direction as the protruding direction of the fastening portion
4293 so as to be seated on the fastening portion 4293.
[0398] Because the main body 811 is in surface-contacted with and
coupled to the mounting surface 4292, an effect of increasing a
thickness of the mounting surface 4292 may be derived. In addition,
because the main body 811 prevents the mounting surface 4292 from
being bent, an effect of strengthening the rigidity of the mounting
surface 4292 may be derived.
[0399] When the auxiliary bracket 820 is mounted on the main
bracket 810, the shielding body 822 of the auxiliary bracket 820
may be exposed when the rear case 420 is viewed from the front.
[0400] Referring to FIG. 16B, the auxiliary bracket 820 may be
coupled to a region exposed to the mounting portion 429 of the main
bracket 810 from a region at the rear of the rear case 420 to fix
the decelerator 700. Because the main body 811 is coupled to the
mounting surface 4292 of the rear case 420, only the seating body
812 may be exposed to the mounting portion 429.
[0401] Accordingly, the auxiliary bracket 820 may be coupled to the
seating body 812 to fix the decelerator 700.
[0402] As a result, the main bracket 810 may be coupled to a front
portion of the rear case 420, and the auxiliary bracket 820 may be
coupled to the main bracket 810 from the region at the rear of the
rear case 420.
[0403] As a result, the auxiliary bracket 820 may have a smaller
diameter than the mounting surface 4292 to intensively support the
coupling of the decelerator 700 to the main bracket 810.
[0404] FIG. 17 shows a structure in which the decelerator 700 is
coupled to the rear case 420 and supported.
[0405] The main body 811 of the main bracket 810 may be coupled to
a front surface of the mounting surface 4292, and the seating body
812 may form a step to the main body 811, or may have a groove in
which a portion extending from the main body 811 is bent by a
certain amount to enhance the overall rigidity of the main bracket
810.
[0406] The installation rib 814 may include an extension surface
8141 obliquely extending rearward of the rear case 420 from the
seating body 812, and a support surface 8142 extending from the
extension surface 8141 in a direction parallel to the rear plate
421 to support the coupling protrusion 782.
[0407] The support surface 8142 may have a fixing hole 8413 defined
therein into which the fastening member may be coupled.
[0408] The installation rib 814 may further include a penetrating
protrusion 8144 that extends from the support surface 8142 toward
the auxiliary bracket 820.
[0409] In the decelerator 700, the coupling protrusion 782
extending from the decelerator housing 710 may be seated on and
coupled to the support surface 8142.
[0410] In the auxiliary bracket 800, the auxiliary body 821 may be
in contact with and coupled to the seating body 812. In addition,
the shielding body 822 may include an inclined surface 823 that is
recessed along an inclination of the extension surface 8141 in the
installation rib. The inclined surface 823 may extend obliquely to
the rib accommodating groove 8221 that accommodates the
installation rib 814 therein.
[0411] The shielding body 822 has the protrusion fastening hole 825
defined therein into which the penetrating protrusion 8144 is
inserted and fixed. The protrusion fastening hole 825 may be
supported as the penetrating protrusion 8144 passes therethrough.
Because of the penetrating protrusion 8144 and the protrusion
fastening hole 825, a position at which the auxiliary bracket 820
and the main bracket 810 are coupled to each other may be easily
determined. The penetrating protrusion 8144 may be provided to pass
through the coupling body 721.
[0412] In one example, the mounting portion 429 may include the
mounting groove 4294 that is recessed frontward from the drum
accommodating groove 422, and the mounting surface 4292 may extend
inwardly of the mounting groove 4294.
[0413] In this connection, because the main bracket 810 and the
auxiliary bracket 820 are fixed to the mounting surface 4292, at
least a portion of the first housing 710 of the decelerator may be
disposed to be accommodated in the mounting groove 4294.
[0414] For example, the gearbox 730 accommodated in the first
housing 710 and the second housing 720 may be disposed inwardly of
the mounting groove 4294.
[0415] As a result, a volume occupied by the rear case 420 and the
decelerator 700 may be minimized.
[0416] FIG. 18 shows an embodiment of a driver M of a laundry
treating apparatus according to the present disclosure.
[0417] The bracket 800 is coupled to the rear case 420, so that the
decelerator 700 is coupled to and supported by the bracket 800. The
motor 600 may be disposed at the rear of the rear case 420 together
with the decelerator 700, and the drum rear surface 220 may be
disposed in front of the rear case 420 and the decelerator 700.
[0418] The stator 610 of the motor 600 is disposed to be spaced
apart from the rear case 420, and the terminal 616 supplying the
current to the stator 610 is able to be disposed proximate to the
rear case 420 or is able to be in contact with the rear case 420,
but is not coupled to and fixed to the rear case 420.
[0419] The rotor 620 may include a permanent magnet 623 facing the
stator 610, an installation body 622 to which the permanent magnet
623 is coupled, wherein the installation body 622 is disposed to be
spaced apart from the outer circumferential surface of the stator
610, and a rotor body 621 extending from the installation body 622
and rotating while facing the stator 610. The rotor body 621 may be
formed in a disk shape having a diameter larger than a diameter of
the stator 610, and the installation body 622 may be provided such
that the outer circumferential surface of the stator 610 is
accommodated in the outer circumferential surface of the rotor body
621. The rotor body 621 may have the driving shaft 630 coupled to a
center thereof, and a plurality of inlet holes that pass through a
region between the driving shaft 630 and the installation body 622
to allow the air to be injected into the stator 610 may be
defined.
[0420] The driving shaft 630 may be coupled to a stud 631 coupled
to the center of the rotor body 621 and extend into the decelerator
700.
[0421] The washer 640 provided to rotatably support an inner
surface of the rotor body 621 may be coupled to the driving shaft
630. The washer 640 may include a coupling washer 642 coupled to
the driving shaft 630, and a support washer 641 for supporting the
rotor body 620 from the coupling washer 642.
[0422] Because of the washer 640, the rotor 620 and the driving
shaft 630 may be prevented from being distorted while rotating.
[0423] In one example, the washer 640 may not be coupled to the
rotor 620, but may be coupled to the decelerator 700 to rotatably
support the rotor 620.
[0424] The first housing 710 of the decelerator 700 may be disposed
to face the rotor body 620, and the second housing 720 may be
coupled to the first housing 710 to face the drum rear surface
220.
[0425] A gearbox 730 may be disposed inside the first housing 710
and the second housing 720. The gearbox 730 may include a sun gear
731 disposed at the free end of the driving shaft 630 or coupled to
the free end of the driving shaft 630, at least one planetary gear
732 provided to rotate in engagement with the sun gear 731, a ring
gear 733 coupled to an outer circumferential surface of the
planetary gear 732 to induce rotation of the planetary gear 732,
and a carrier 734 that rotatably supports the plurality of
planetary gears 732.
[0426] The planetary gear 732 may be disposed along a circumference
of the sun gear 731. Each planetary gear 732 may include a first
planetary body 7321 rotating in engagement with the sun gear 731
and the ring gear 733, a second planetary body 7322 that may have a
smaller diameter than the first planetary body 7321, and a gear
shaft 7323 that supports the first planetary body 7321 and the
second planetary body 7322 rotatable to the carrier 734.
[0427] When the sun gear 731 rotates, the planetary gear 732
rotates to rotate the gear shaft 7323, thereby rotating the carrier
734.
[0428] The carrier 734 may include a first carrier 7341 coupled to
one end of the gear shaft 7323 and a second carrier 7342 coupled to
the other end of the gear shaft 7323.
[0429] The first carrier 7341 and the second carrier 7342 may be
formed in a ring shape or a disk shape.
[0430] In one example, the rotation shaft 740 may extend from a
rotation center of the second carrier 7342. The rotation shaft 740
may be formed integrally with the second carrier 7342 or may be
coupled to the second carrier 7342 and extend.
[0431] The first housing 710 may include a ring gear housing 711
provided to fix an outer circumferential surface of the first
planetary body 7321 or an outer circumferential surface of the ring
gear 733, a planetary gear housing 712 extending from the ring gear
housing 711 to rotatably accommodate the second planetary body 7322
and the first carrier 7341, and a shaft accommodating portion 713
extending from the planetary gear housing 712 to rotatably support
the driving shaft 630.
[0432] The ring gear housing 711 may form a side surface of the
first housing 710, and the planetary gear housing 712 may form at
least a portion of the side surface and a surface facing the rotor
620 of the first housing 710. The shaft accommodating portion 713
may be formed in a shape of a pipe extending inwardly of the
planetary gear housing 712. The shaft accommodating portion 713 may
be disposed in a space defined as the second planetary body 7322
has a smaller diameter than that of the first planetary body 7321.
A driving bearing 770 for rotatably supporting the driving shaft
630 may be included on an inner circumferential surface of the
shaft accommodating portion 713. The driving bearing 770 may
include a plurality of the driving bearings disposed to be spaced
apart from each other along a longitudinal direction of the driving
shaft 630.
[0433] Accordingly, the driving bearing 770 and the shaft
accommodating portion 713 do not protrude outside the decelerator
700, but are disposed inside the decelerator 700 to reduce a length
of a space in which the driving shaft 630 is disposed. That is, a
volume of the decelerator 700 itself may be reduced, and a distance
between the decelerator 700 and the motor 600 may also be
reduced.
[0434] Accordingly, the overall thickness of the driver M may be
reduced, and the driving shaft 630 may be prevented from being
distorted by coupling the stator 610 closer to the decelerator
700.
[0435] In addition, as the driving bearing 770 and the shaft
accommodating portion 713 are disposed inside the decelerator 700,
the driving shaft 630 becomes closer to the decelerator 700, so
that the decelerator 700 may be accommodated and disposed inside
the stator 610. As a result, at least a portion of the decelerator
700 may be disposed by utilizing the space of the motor 600.
[0436] As a result, the length of the drum 200 disposed between the
rear case 420 and the front case 410 may be further extended, and
the volume of the drum 200 may be enlarged.
[0437] In one example, the second housing 720 may include the
coupling body 721 coupled to the ring gear housing 711, the
blocking body 722 provided to shield the gearbox 730 from the
coupling body 721, and the shaft support 723 extending from the
blocking body 722 to rotatably support the rotation shaft 740. The
shaft support 723 may be formed in a pipe shape extending from the
blocking body 722, and a shaft bearing 760 for rotatably supporting
the rotation shaft 740 may be installed inside the shaft support
723.
[0438] The shaft bearing 760 may include a plurality of shaft
bearings spaced apart from each other at a certain distance along a
longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft 740.
[0439] The free end of the rotation shaft 740 may be inserted into
and coupled to the drum rear surface 220. In this connection, the
rotation shaft 740 and the drum rear surface 220 may be disposed as
close to each other as possible. At least one of the shaft bearings
760 may be disposed frontward of the drum rear surface 220.
[0440] When the driving shaft 630 is rotated by the rotor 620, the
sun gear 731 rotates, and the planetary gear 732 rotates in
engagement with the sun gear 731. The first planetary body 7321
rotates in engagement with the ring gear 733, but, because the ring
gear 733 is fixed, the first planetary body 7321 rotates along a
circumference of the sun gear 731 by reaction.
[0441] The planetary gear 732 rotates the gear shaft 7323, and
consequently rotates the carrier 734. When the carrier 734 rotates,
a rotation shaft 740 extending from the second carrier 734
rotates.
[0442] In this connection, because the planetary gear 732 is
engaged with the sun gear 731, even when the planetary gear 732
rotates in an opposite direction in engagement with the sun gear
732, the carrier 734 rotates in the same direction as the sun gear
731 by a reaction as the planetary gear 732 rotates with respect to
the ring gear 733, and consequently, the rotation shaft 740 rotates
in the same direction as the sun gear 731.
[0443] In one example, because a diameter of the outer
circumferential surface of the planetary gear 732 and a diameter of
the carrier 734 are larger than a diameter of the sun gear 731, the
rotation shaft 740 rotates at a smaller rpm than the sun gear 731.
Accordingly, the rotation shaft 740 rotates at a smaller rpm than
the driving shaft 630. However, because energy is not wasted other
than friction loss, the power transmitted to the driving shaft 630
may be transmitted to the rotation shaft 740. Accordingly, as the
rpm of the rotation shaft 740 is reduced, the torque, which is the
rotational force, may be amplified.
[0444] Because the decelerator 700 converts power corresponding to
a low torque and a high rpm generated by the motor 600 into power
corresponding to a high torque and a low rpm, it may be defined
that the decelerator 700 converts the power of the motor 600 and
transmits the converted power to the drum 200.
[0445] In one example, a direction a, which is an axial direction
of the driving shaft 630, and a direction b, which is an axial
direction of the rotation shaft 740, may be coaxial with each
other. In this connection, because the driving shaft 630 is
supported inside the decelerator 700, and the stator 610 is also
fixedly coupled to the decelerator 700, the direction a formed by
the driving shaft 630 with the decelerator 700 may be almost always
maintained.
[0446] In this connection, because the gearbox 730 is fixed inside
the decelerator 700 in a gear coupling scheme, and the rotation
shaft 740 is also fixed by the decelerator housing 720 and the
bearing 770 in the gearbox 730, the direction b in which the
rotation shaft 740 extends from the decelerator 700 may almost
always be maintained.
[0447] Accordingly, because the direction a and the direction b are
coaxial with each other, the rotation shaft 740 and the driving
shaft 630 may almost always remain coaxial with each other.
[0448] The rotation shaft 740 and the driving shaft 630 may tilt
together with the decelerator housing or vibrate simultaneously
with the decelerator housing.
[0449] The present disclosure is able to be implemented in various
forms, so that a scope thereof is not limited to the
above-described embodiment. Therefore, when the modified embodiment
includes the components in claims of the present disclosure, the
modified embodiment should be viewed as belonging to the scope of
the present disclosure.
* * * * *