Patent Grant
9850611
This application claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0091535, filed on Aug. 1, 2013 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
1. Field
Embodiments relate to a washing machine having a drying apparatus which can perform a heated air drying operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, laundry can be dried using a washing line or a drying rack indoors or outdoors.
When drying the laundry outdoors, it can be influenced by weather. For example, when it rains, the outdoor laundry has to be collected one by one, and when the outdoor laundry is not collected in time such as when one is not at home, etc., the laundry gets soaked by the rain and has to be washed again.
When drying the laundry indoors, an additional drying space has to be secured utilizing a narrow interior space, and the washing line or the drying rack has to be installed indoors. Accordingly, this causes problems in aesthetic appearances.
Also, since the laundry is not dried well indoor due to humidity, there is a problem in that a drying time of the laundry becomes longer.
In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine having a drying apparatus which can decrease a drying time of laundry by performing a heated air drying operation.
In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine having a drying apparatus which can improve drying efficiency since heated air is supplied in various directions.
In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine having a drying apparatus which can utilize a space by the drying apparatus with an extractable structure in an upward direction from the washing machine.
In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine having a drying apparatus which includes a top cover which is provided in an upper part of a body and has at least one air hole formed in a top surface thereof, a drying duct which is provided in the top cover to supply air heated by a heater provided thereinside to the air hole, and a rack member which is provided to be extractable from the body to hang laundry above the body.
The washing machine may further include a guide member provided in a bottom part of the air hole for guiding air flow upward.
The guide member may have curvature.
The drying duct may include a heater thereinside.
The drying duct may include air blast fans provided in both side end parts thereof.
The rack member may include a first rack member provided to be installed in the body and to be vertically movable, and a second rack member provided to be coupled to an upper end of the first rack member and hang the laundry.
The first rack member may include a fixing rack fixed to the body, a moving rack provided to be movable in and out of the fixing rack, and a locking apparatus for locking or unlocking movement of the moving rack between the fixing rack and the moving rack.
The locking apparatus may include a handle, a first moving member provided inside the moving rack and coupled to the handle, a wire coupled to the first moving rack, a second moving member coupled to the wire and provided to be vertically movable, an elastic member for elastically supporting the second moving member, a locking ball provided to lock or unlock the movement of the moving rack by interlocking with movement of the second moving member, and a supporting bracket provided such that the locking ball supports between the moving rack and the fixing rack.
One or more of the air holes may be formed in the first rack member.
The washing machine may further include a guide member for guiding air flow to the air hole inside the first rack member.
One or more of the air holes may be formed in a bottom surface of the second rack member.
In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine which includes a body, a top cover installed in a top surface of the body and including at least one air hole provided in the top surface thereof, and a drying apparatus provided in the top cover and to discharge heated air to the air hole, wherein the drying apparatus includes a drying duct provided in the top cover and including a heater thereinside, air blast fans installed in both side end parts of the drying duct, and provided to discharge the heated air to the air hole, and a rack member provided to be movable upward from the body and on which to hang laundry.
The rack member may include a first rack member installed in the body and provided to be vertically movable, and a second rack member coupled to an upper end of the first rack member and provided to hang the laundry.
The first rack member may include a fixing rack fixed to the body, a moving rack provided to be movable from an inner side to an outer side of the fixing rack, and a locking apparatus for locking or unlocking movement of the moving rack between the fixing rack and the moving rack.
The locking apparatus may include a handle, a first moving member provided inside the moving rack and coupled to the handle, a wire coupled to the first moving rack, a second moving member coupled to the wire and provided to be vertically movable, an elastic member for elastically supporting the second moving member, a locking ball provided to lock or unlock the movement of the moving rack by interlocking with movement of the second moving member, and a supporting bracket provided such that the locking ball supports between the moving rack and the fixing rack.
The washing machine may further include a guide member for guiding air flow upward in a bottom part of the air hole.
One or more of the air holes may be formed in the first rack member.
One or more of the air holes may be formed in a bottom surface of the second rack member.
In an aspect of one or more embodiments, there is provided a washing machine having a drying apparatus including a top cover which is provided in an upper part of a body and has a plurality of air holes formed in a top surface thereof; a drying duct which is provided in the top cover to supply heated air to the air holes; and a rack member configured to be extractable from the body to hang laundry above the body, wherein the rack member comprises a first rack member configured to be installed in the body and to be vertically movable in the body, and a second rack member configured to be coupled to an upper end of the first rack member and configured to hang the laundry, and wherein air holes are formed in the first rack member and a bottom surface of the second rack member.
These and/or other aspects of embodiments will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
As shown in
The body 2 is formed by a bottom panel 2a, both side panels 2c, a rear side panel 2d, and a front panel 2b, and a top cover 3 is provided at an upper part of the body 2.
The top surface of the body 2 is opened so as to allow the laundry to be put in the cylindrical drum, and the top cover 3 of the body 2 is coupled to the opened top surface of the body 2.
A door 4 is vertically rotatably installed at the rear of the top surface of the top cover 3, and opens and closes the top surface of the top cover 3.
Although not shown, a driving apparatus (not shown) which rotates the cylindrical drum and the pulsator, and a drainage apparatus (not shown) which drains the water stored in the tub to the outside after the washing operation is completed are installed at a lower part inside the body 2, and a water supply apparatus (8,
A control panel 5 may be installed at the front of the top surface of the top cover 3 so as to control a washing method and a washing process of the laundry according to types and quantities of the laundry.
As shown in
It is desirable that a plurality of the air holes 11 be formed in the edge of a top surface 3a of the top cover 3. It is desirable that the air holes 11 be spaced apart from one another so as to allow heated air supplied from the drying duct 40 to transfer uniformly to laundry disposed above the body 2. In an embodiment, the air holes 11 are arranged in a line at the upper edge part of the top cover 3. However, an embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the air holes 11 may be formed in two lines.
The rack member 20 includes a first rack member 21 which is fixed to the body 2 and is provided to be vertically movable, and a second rack member 22 which is coupled to an upper end of the first rack member 21.
The first rack member 21 is coupled to the rear side panel 2d of the body 2, and an assembly groove 2f is formed at the rear side panel 2d so as to be assembled with the first rack member 21.
Accordingly, the first rack member 21 is inserted in the assembly groove 2f of the rear side panel 2d, and may be assembled by a fixing element 2g. In an embodiment, the first rack member 21 is fixed to the assembly groove 2f by the fixing element 2g. However, an embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, the first rack member 21 may be formed inside the rear side panel 2d.
The first rack member 21 may be formed in each of left and right sides of the rear side panel 2d, and the second rack member 22 coupled to the upper end of the first rack member 21 may be formed in a square shape.
In this case, it is desirable that a size of the second rack member 22 correspond to that of the top cover 3.
Accordingly, when using a washing machine without drying, the second rack member 22 is coupled to an upper part of the top cover 3, and when drying, the first rack member 21 is moved upward, and the second rack member 22 is positioned so as to allow the laundry to hang thereon.
The first rack member 21 includes a fixing rack 21b which is provided to be fixed to the rear side panel 2d of the body 2, a moving rack 21a which is provided to be movable from in and out of the fixing rack 21b, and a locking apparatus 30 which locks or unlock the movement of the moving rack 21a between the fixing rack 21b and the moving rack 21a.
The locking apparatus 30 includes a handle 31 which is disposed between a bottom surface of the second rack member 22 and the moving rack 21a of the first rack member 21, a first moving member 33 which is coupled to the handle 31 and vertically moves the moving rack 21a, a wire 34 which is coupled to the first moving member 33, a second moving member 35 which is coupled to the wire 34, an elastic member 36 which elastically supports the second moving member 35, a locking ball 37 which interlocks with the movement of the second moving member 35, and a supporting bracket 38 which supports the locking ball 37.
The handle 31 includes a bar 32 which penetrates thereinside, and the bar 32 penetrates the moving rack 21a and is coupled to the first moving member 33 provided therein. The first moving member 33 includes a wire connection hole 33a which is provided at a lower part thereof so as to be coupled to the wire 34.
The second moving member 35 includes a wire connection hole 35c which is provided at an upper part thereof so as to be coupled to the wire 34.
Accordingly, the wire 34 couples the first moving member 33 and the second moving member 35 by the wire connection hole 33a of the first moving member 33 and the wire connection hole 35c of the second moving member 35, and when the handle 31 is moved upward, the first moving member 33 coupled to the handle 31 and the second moving member 35 coupled to the wire 34 are moved upward.
The second moving member 35 includes a front part 35a and a rear part 35b, the front part 35a and the rear part 35b are connected by a sliding part 35d, and a width d1 of the front part 35a is formed to be smaller than a width d2 of the rear part 35b (d1<d2).
The supporting bracket 38 which supports the elastic member 36 and supports the locking ball 37 between the moving rack 21a and the fixing rack 21b provided at the outside of the second moving member 35.
The guide hole 38a for guiding the locking ball 37 is formed in the supporting bracket 38.
The locking ball 37 is movably supported between the guide hole 38a of the supporting bracket 38 and the second moving member 35. In this case, the locking ball 37 may be supported by being moved to the front part 35a and the rear part 35b through the sliding part 35d of the second moving member 35.
Locking holes 21c are formed in the fixing rack 21b such that the locking ball 37 is coupled and supported. The locking holes 21c of the fixing rack 21b may be formed at an initial position P1 in a state in which the second rack member 22 is coupled to the body 2 and is not moved, and a hanging position P2 for hanging the laundry by moving upward from the body 2. In an embodiment, the locking holes 21c are positioned at the initial position P1 and the hanging position P2. However, an embodiment is not limited thereto. For example, at least one of the locking holes 21c may be formed between the initial position P1 and the hanging position P2 in order to variably set the hanging position.
In a state in which the locking ball 37 is fixed to the locking holes 21c of the fixing rack 21b, the moving rack 21a is locked and is not moved (see
In this case, the locking ball 37 is supported by the rear part 35b of the second moving member 35.
When the second moving member 35 is moved upward by the wire 34 due to the movement of the handle 31, the locking ball 37 is deviated from the locking holes 21c of the fixing rack 21b, and is moved upward according to the supporting bracket 38.
In this case, the locking ball 37 is supported by the front part 35a through the sliding part 35d of the second moving member 35 (see
The moving rack 21a may be separated from the fixing rack 21b and may be movable upward.
Accordingly, the moving rack 21a fixed to the fixing rack 21b by the locking apparatus 30 can stably support the second rack member 22, and support the laundry hung on the second rack member 22.
As shown in
The drying duct 40 includes a drying panel 40a provided to be spaced apart from an inner surface of the top cover 3 by a predetermined distance so as to heat air and supply the heated air to the air hole 11 of the top cover 3.
The drying panel 40a is provided to be spaced apart from the inner surfaces of the top surface 3a, the front surface 3b, and the both side surfaces 3c of the top cover 3 by the predetermined distance, and forms a flow path that allows the heated air to flow through an inner space formed by the drying panel 40a, the top surface 3a, the front surface 3b, and both side surfaces 3c of the top cover 3.
Air blast fans 41 are installed in both of the side end parts so as to allow the heated air to flow well inside the drying duct 40.
Further, heaters 42 are installed in front of the air blast fans 41 so as to heat the air transferred from the air blast fans 41.
Accordingly, the air transferred from the air blast fans 41 is supplied in a front side direction A of the body 2, and is heated by the heaters 42. The heated air moves upward from the body 2 through the air hole 11 formed in the drying duct 40.
The heated air that has moved upward from the body 2 is directly transferred to the laundry hung on the rack member 20 of the drying apparatus 10 positioned above the body 2 and dries the laundry (see
In this case, the amount of air discharged through the air hole 11 may be increased by a guide member 45 provided in a bottom part of the air hole 11.
The guide member 45 is formed to have curvature so as to change an air flow direction in the bottom part of the air hole 11, prevents swirling around the air hole 11, increases the amount of air discharged through the air hole 1, and shortens a drying time.
As shown in
In order to efficiently and quickly dry the laundry above the body 2, the air hole 11 provided for discharging the heated air is provided in the first rack member 21 of the rack member 20 of the drying apparatus 10.
Particularly, it is desirable that the air hole 11 formed in the first rack member 21 be formed to spray the air formed in and discharged from a front side of the moving rack 21a in the forward direction of the body 2.
In this case, the drying duct 40 is provided inside the moving rack 21a, and the air blast fans 41 may be disposed so as to supply the air upward from the body 2.
Further, a guide member 45 is formed inside the drying duct 40 and in the air hole 11 so as to change an air flow direction to a forward direction.
Moreover, the air hole 11 may be formed in the second rack member 22 of the rack member 20.
In this case, it is desirable that the air hole 11 be formed in a bottom side of the second rack member 22 so as to spray the discharged air downward from the body 2.
The air hole 11 can shorten a drying time of laundry, increase use of space, and improve drying efficiency by directing supplying heated air to the laundry hung above the body 2 of the washing machine in various directions.
In an embodiment, the rack member 20 in which the fixing rack 21b of the first rack member 21 is coupled to the assembly groove 2f of the rear side panel 2d of the body 2 is illustrated. However, embodiments not limited thereto. For example, the rack member 20 may be installed in the side panel 2c of the body 2.
As shown in
The first rack member 21 for being fixed on the body 2 includes the fixing rack 21b fixed on the body 2, and the moving rack 21a provided to be movable in and out of the fixing rack 21b. Since the moving structure and operation of the first rack member 21 are the same as described above, description thereof will not be repeated.
The fixing rack 21b is installed in a rack installing part 2h provided on the side panel 2c of the body 2, and the moving rack 21a coupled to the fixing rack 21b and the second rack member 22 coupled to an end part of the moving rack 21a are coupled to the top cover 3 of the body 2 due to the movement of the moving rack 21a.
Accordingly, the second rack member 22 is moved only when the laundry is dried, and when the washing machine 1 is not used or only the washing machine 1 is used, the second rack member 22 is not separated from the top surface 3a of the top cover 3. Therefore, the washing machine can increase use of space, and can preserve aesthetic appearances.
According to an embodiment, a drying operation by heated air can be performed, a drying time can be shortened by supplying the heated air in various directions, and drying efficiency can be increased.
Further, embodiments can maximize use of space by the drying apparatus which has an extractable structure in an upward direction from the washing machine.
Although a few embodiments have been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the disclosure, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10-2013-0091535 | Aug 2013 | KR | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1767157 | Steele | Jun 1930 | A |
| 2658777 | Rauglas | Nov 1953 | A |
| 3626602 | Glowacki | Dec 1971 | A |
| 4094414 | Thiot | Jun 1978 | A |
| 20090172965 | Campagnolo | Jul 2009 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 7-303795 | Nov 1995 | JP |
| 20-1995-009061 | Apr 1995 | KR |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20150033574 A1 | Feb 2015 | US |
