Patent Grant
11365501
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-241196, filed on Dec. 13, 2016, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a washing machine.
In a washing machine of a so-called vertical axis type, it has been considered to provide a roller rotatably in a top face portion of a pulsator provided at the bottom of a washing tub (for example, see Patent Literature 1). In this case, two or three rollers are provided so as to radially extend on the pulsator. These rollers can improve movement of laundry (so-called swirling) on the pulsator.
Patent Literature 1: US Patent Application Publication No. 2012/0180532
When a roller is provided on a pulsator as described above, a user cannot easily detach the roller from the pulsator and clean the roller. Therefore, there is a problem that contamination is liable to adhere to a portion near an attachment section of the roller. When the roller is formed in a hollow shape, there is a problem that washing water is stored in the roller. Further, there is a problem that the roller draws a cloth of laundry therein and catches the cloth.
A washing machine in which cloth swirling can be improved by providing a roller in a washing tub, and cleanability can be improved is provided.
A washing machine according to the present embodiment includes: a washing tub in which laundry is housed and washed; and a roller rotatably provided in an inner wall portion of the washing tub, the roller being rotated to facilitate movement of laundry, wherein the roller is detachably attached to the washing tub.
Some embodiments applied to a washing machine (fully automatic washing machine) of a so-called vertical axis type will be described below with reference to the drawings. A substantially common portion among the plurality of embodiments is designated as a same reference numeral to eliminate an additional illustration and duplicated description.
A first embodiment will be described with reference to
In the water tank 4, a washing tub (rotating tub) 5 of a vertical axis type, also serving as a spin tub, is rotatably provided. As illustrated in
At the outer bottom of the water tank 4, a drive assembly 8 with a well-known structure is disposed. While detailed illustration and description are eliminated, the drive assembly 8 includes a washing machine motor 9 composed of a DC three-phase brushless motor of an outer rotor type, for example. The drive assembly 8 also includes a hollow tub shaft 10, an agitation shaft 11 passing through the tub shaft 10, a clutch assembly that selectively transmits rotational driving force of the washing machine motor to the shafts 10 and 11, for example. The washing tub 5 is coupled to the upper end of the tub shaft 10. The pulsator 7 is coupled to the upper end of the agitation shaft 11.
The clutch assembly has a solenoid as a driving source, for example, and is controlled by a control device that is mainly composed of a computer. This allows the clutch assembly to transmit driving force of the washing machine motor 9 to the pulsator 7 through the agitation shaft 11 while the washing tub 5 is fixed (stop) in steps of washing and water-saving rinsing, thereby directly and rotationally driving the pulsator 7 in forward and reverse directions. In a step of dewatering, the clutch assembly transmits driving force of the washing machine motor 9 to the washing tub 5 through the tub shaft 10 while the tub shaft 10 and the agitation shaft 11 are coupled to each other, to directly and rotationally drive the washing tub 5 (and the pulsator 7) in one direction at high speed.
The top cover 3 is formed in the shape of a thin hollow box whose lower face is open and top face inclines downward and forward. In a central portion of the top cover 3, a substantially circular entrance door for laundry is formed at a position above the washing tub 5. The top face of the top cover 3 is formed in the shape of a rectangular panel as a whole, and includes a lid 12 for opening and closing the entrance door. While there is no detailed illustration, an operation panel in a horizontally long shape is provided in a front edge portion of the top face of the top cover 3. There is provided a feedwater assembly for feeding water into the water tank 4 (washing tub 5) in a rear portion inside the top cover 3.
Then, the washing tub 5 will be described also with reference to
The tub bottom portion 16 is configured such that its inner bottom (top face) includes a circular area where a pump chamber 20 is formed between the circular area and the pulsator 7. The tub bottom portion 16 also has an outer peripheral portion in which an outflow port 21 is formed at each of three positions being 120 degrees apart from each other in a circumferential direction. The pulsator 7 is formed in the shape of a disk, and has projecting portions for creating a water flow on its face (top face). In a back face of the pulsator 7, a plurality of pump blades 22 extending radially in the shape of a thin plate is integrally provided to be positioned in the pump chamber 20. This constitutes a centrifugal pump, so that washing liquid (water or water in which detergent is dissolved) in the washing tub 5 is discharged toward an outer periphery (three outflow ports 21) of the pump chamber 20 by rotation of the pulsator 7.
In a side wall portion of the washing tub 5, there is provided a water passage (pumping water passage) 23 that is used to pump up washing liquid in the washing tub 5 through each of the outflow ports 21 of the pump chamber 20 and to discharge (sprinkle) the washing liquid from an upper portion of the washing tub 5. Here, a plurality of water passages 23, such as three water passages 23, extending vertically is provided at respective positions being 120 degrees apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the washing tub 5. In this case, each of the water passages 23 from the tub bottom portion 16 (outflow port 21 portion) to the body section 15 of washing tub 5 is formed when a cover member is attached.
At this time, in the present embodiment, when the three water passages 23 are formed, a first cover member 24 is provided at each of the two places in the washing tub 5. In the other one place, there is provided a second cover member 25 that is different from the first cover member 24 in structure. The first cover member 24 is configured so that a roller (roller unit) is attached thereto. Structure of the first cover 24 and the roller (roller unit) will be described below.
The second cover member 25 is formed of a plastic molding, and formed in a substantially plate shape long in a vertical direction as a whole, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the extension portion 25c of the second cover member 25, there is provided a detergent input port 29 that is positioned below the rotating balancer 6 and is open in an inner wall portion of the washing tub 5. While there is no detailed description, the second cover member 25 formed as described above is attached to the washing tub 5 by fitting a fitting claw and a fitting hole to each other, for example. At this time, while there is no illustration, there is provided a packing along right and left edge portions of
When starting washing operation, a user can previously input the amount of detergent required through the detergent input port 29. When the washing operation is started to rotate the pulsator 7, washing water in the washing tub 5 is circulated so as to rise from the outflow port 21 of the pump chamber 20 through the water passage 23 to be supplied into the washing tub 5 through the water passing holes of the filter member 26. At the time, the input detergent is fed into the washing tub 5 while being dissolved in water. Then, lint contained in the washing water is captured by a filter of the filter member 26. When the filter member 26 is detached from the second cover member 25, the filter can be easily cleaned.
The first cover member 24 will now be described also with reference to
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In this case, as also illustrated in
While there is no detailed description, the first cover member 24 is also attached to the washing tub 5 by fitting a fitting claw and a fitting hole to each other, for example. Then, as illustrated in
In the outer packing holding groove 24d, an outer packing 33 in the shape of an open-ended belt is held. This allows a space between the back face of the first cover member 24 and an internal wall surface of the body section 15 along an outer periphery of the water passage 23 to be sealed in a watertight manner. In the inner packing holding groove 24e, an inner packing 34 in the shape of a frame is held. This allows a space between the back face of the first cover member 24 and the internal wall surface of the body section 15 along an outer peripheral portion of the opening 31a to be sealed in a watertight manner.
As described above, the water passage 23 for raising washing water is formed between the first cover member 24 and an inner periphery wall of the washing tub 5 (body section 15). In this case, as illustrated in
Then, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
First, the roller 41 will be described. As illustrated in
Then, three openings 49 are formed in the bottom face of the roller main portion 44 as illustrated in
As compared with the roller main portion 44, the cap part 45 is also formed of a plastic molding, and is formed in the shape of a cylindrical cap. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Then, the cap part 45 is rotated right with respect to an upper end of the roller main portion 44 after the cam portion 50a of the cylindrical wall portion 50 is fitted to the fitting pin 44b so as to be brought into contact with it. This allows the fitting pin 44b to be fitted and fixed in the fitting recessed portion 50b and the hook 44c to be fitted into the fitting hole 50c, and then the cap part 45 is attached to the roller main portion 44.
As also illustrated in
The roller 41 is assembled by attaching the cap part 45 to the roller main portion 44 as described above and by inserting the shaft 46 into the cylindrical portion 48 and the cylindrical portion 51 so that the shaft 46 is fixed by the upper and lower bushes 47 and 47. As illustrated in
With respect to the roller 41 with the structure described above, the holding member 42 is formed as follows. That is, as illustrated in
Then, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Further, a structure for detachably attaching the roller unit 43 to the attachment section 31 of the first cover member 24 is provided in the holding member 42 as follows. That is, as illustrated in
Meanwhile, as illustrated in
In the roller unit 43 with the structure described above, the roller 41 is housed in the holding member 42 from a back face side of the holding member 42, and is held in the expanded portion 53, as illustrated in
This allows the roller 41 to be rotatably held in the holding member 42, as illustrated in
Then, the roller unit 43 is detachably attached to the attachment section 31 of the first cover member 24 in the inner wall portion of the washing tub 5. When the roller unit 43 is attached to the attachment section 31, first, the fitting piece 58 at a lower end of the holding member 42 is inserted into the fitted portion 35 in a lower end portion of the attachment section 31 from obliquely above to be fitted (refer to
As described above, the roller unit 43 is attached to the attachment section 31 so as to be fitted thereinto. Then, as illustrated in
In this attachment state of the roller unit 43, the roller 41 is rotatably disposed with its axis vertically oriented at a middle portion in the inner wall portion of the washing tub 5, as illustrated in
In the present embodiment, each of the side expanded portions 62 is formed by continuously joining the holding-member-side curved wall 61 provided in the holding member 42 and the cover-side-curved wall 39 of the first cover member 24 to each other. The holding-member-side curved wall 39 has a curvature as viewed from above that changes near the roller 41 so as to correspond to the outer peripheral surface of the roller 41, as illustrated in
In this attachment state of the roller unit 43, the openings 49 in the lower face of the roller 41 communicate with the inside of the washing tub 5 through gaps at a plurality of places in the holding member 42, as illustrated in
Contrary to the description above, when the roller unit 43 is detached from the attachment section 31, a user grips the knob portion 59 to elastically deform the upper piece portion 59a downward (in the direction of the arrow “b”). In this state, the fitting projecting portion 60 is pulled out downward from the fitting hole 36 to pull out an upper portion of the holding member 42 forward (refer to
Action and effect of the washing machine 1 with the structure described above will now be described. In the structure described above, the roller 41 is rotatably provided in the inner wall portion of the washing tub 5, so that movement of laundry in the washing tub 5 is facilitated to enable washing effect to be increased. In particular, when the amount of clothes of laundry in the washing tub 5 is large, the laundry is prevented from rotating, and thus stains of the laundry tend to be unevenly removed; however, the roller 41 can improve so-called laundry swirling, so that unevenness removal of stains as described above can be resolved.
The roller 41 is provided in a detachable manner from the washing tub 5, and therefore even under a condition where contamination is liable to adhere to a portion near an attachment section of the roller 41, a user can easily detach the roller 41 and clean. As a result, according to the present embodiment, the roller 41 is provided in the washing tub 5 to enable laundry swirling to be improved, and excellent effect of improving cleanability can be acquired.
In the present embodiment, the roller 41 is disposed with its axis vertically oriented in the inner wall portion of the washing tub 5. According to this, laundry swirling is improved in the inner wall portion of the washing tub 5, thereby being effective. For example, when the roller is provided on the pulsator, improvement of laundry swirling is limited to some sections such as the bottom in the washing tub. Compared to this, it is possible to widely obtain an effect of facilitating the laundry swirling.
Particularly, in the present embodiment, the roller 41 is held by the holding member 42 to be constituted as the roller unit 43, and this roller unit 43 is detachably attached to the washing tub 5. The roller 41 is constituted as the roller unit 43, so that handling such as attachment to the washing tub 5 and detachment from the washing tub 5 is also facilitated. The bearing portions 56 and 57 for rotatably holding the roller 41 are provided in the holding member 42. Thus, a portion with a complex shape, to which contamination is liable to adhere, in other words, from which contamination is hard to be removed, does not need to be provided on a washing tub 5 side, so that cleanability can be further improved.
At this time, the holding member 42 includes the knob portion 59 that is used to be gripped by fingers of hand when the roller unit 43 is attached or detached. Operation of attaching or detaching the roller unit 43 can be more easily performed by using the knob portion 59. Since the holding member 42 includes the bearing portions 56 and 57 that axially support the corresponding ends of the shaft 46 of the roller 41, this enables the roller 41 to be rotatably supported by the bearing portions 56 and 57, so that no bearing function needs to be provided in the washing tub 5.
In addition, on an end face of the roller 41, the rib 52 for preventing a cloth from being caught is provided on the outer periphery side of the shaft 46 so as to block a gap between the roller 41 and the rectangular opening 53a of the holding member 42. This enables the rib 52 to prevent clothes of laundry from being caught in a gap between the roller 41 and an upper edge portion of the rectangular opening 53a, thereby being further effective. In this case, a gap between the roller 41 and the holding member 42 is liable to increase on an upper end side of the roller 41 due to self-weight of the roller 41, as compared with that on a lower end side thereof. Thus, when the rib 52 is provided on the end face of the roller 41 on the upper side, the rib 52 is furthermore effective to prevent a cloth from being caught.
The rib 52 is also configured to serve as a wrong-assembly preventing member that allows the roller 41 to be held when it is placed in the correct direction with respect to the holding member 42, but that does not allow the roller 41 to be held when it is placed in an incorrect direction. This enables prevention of wrong assembly in which the roller 41 is assembled in an incorrect direction with respect to the holding member 42. The rib 52 also serves as the wrong-assembly preventing member, so that the rib 52 can be simply formed as compared with a case where the wrong-assembly preventing member is separately provided.
The roller 41 includes the roller main portion 44 and the cap part 45 provided in one end portion of the roller main portion 44, and is configured such that the cap part 45 is attached to the roller main portion 44 by being rotated after being fitted in the roller main portion 44. This enables the cap part 45 to be easily attached to the roller main portion 44, so that assembly work of the roller 41 can be easily performed. More specifically, the roller 41 is configured such that the fitting pin 44b is provided in the inner peripheral surface of the roller main portion 44, and the cap part 45 includes the fitting recessed portion 50b, and the cam portion 50a that relatively guides the fitting pin 44b toward the fitting recessed portion 50b. As a result, the roller 41 with a relatively simple structure, facilitating its assembly work, can be fabricated.
In the present embodiment, a first cover member 14 for water passage formation, made of plastic is attached to the internal wall surface of the washing tub 5, and the roller unit 43 is attached to the attachment section 31 of the first cover member 14. According to this, unlike a structure in which the roller unit 43 is attached to the washing tub 5 (body section 15) made of metal, it is easy to work the first cover member 14 made of plastic into a desired shape. Therefore, it is possible to employ a relatively complicated shape (attachment structure) with a low cost.
In this case, in the attachment section 31 of the first cover member 14, the upper holding section 37 and the lower holding section 38 are provided to maintain the shaft 46 of the roller 41 in a state where the shaft is prevented from coming off by working together with the holding member 42. Accordingly, unlike the case where the shaft 46 is held by the holding member 42 alone, structure of the bearing portions 56 and 57 of the holding member 42 can be simplified. When being detached, the roller 41 is easily detached from the roller unit 43.
In addition, in the present embodiment, the roller 41 is formed in a hollow shape, and is provided with the opening 49 in its lower end face. Accordingly, even if washing liquid enters the inside of the roller 41, the washing liquid can be easily discharged through the opening 49, thereby preventing the washing liquid from accumulating inside the roller 41. It is obvious that the roller 41 itself can be manufactured in lightweight and at low cost. Then, the opening 49 of the roller 41 is disposed at a position away from the cylindrical portion 48 holding the shaft 46 as viewed from the axial direction. Thus, when the roller 41 (roller main portion 44) is formed of a plastic molding, the opening 49 is easily formed.
In the present embodiment, the side expanded portions 62 and 62 are further provided at positions in the corresponding both side portions across the roller 41 of the washing tub 5, and extend so as to form a smooth curve along the exposed outer periphery wall surface of the roller 41. This allows laundry to be smoothly guided toward the exposed outer periphery wall surface by the roller 41. In this case, the laundry can be smoothly moved without being choked or caught at a place of the roller 41.
Then, the side expanded portions 62 are formed in the holding member 42 and the first cover member 24, made of plastic. This enables the side expanded portions 62 to be easily provided with even a relatively complex shape while being formed at low cost. Then, handling such as attaching the roller 41 (roller unit 43) to the washing tub 5 and detaching it therefrom is also facilitated. In the present embodiment, each of the side expanded portions 62 is formed by continuously joining the holding-member-side curved wall 61 of the holding member 42 and the cover-side-curved wall 39 of the first cover member 24 to each other. Thus, the side expanded portions 62 can be provided within a wide range so as to form a smoother curve.
Particularly in the present embodiment, the holding-member-side curved wall 61 is formed such that its curvature as viewed from above changes near the roller 41. Accordingly, the side expanded portions 62 including a smooth curve can smoothly guide laundry toward the roller 41, and a shape suitable for preventing a cloth from being choked or caught can be applied to a portion near the roller 41. The upper expanded portion 63 is provided at a position above the roller 41, so that a cloth can be prevented from being choked or caught also in a portion above the roller 41. In addition, the lower expanded portion 64 is provided at a position below the roller 41, so that a cloth can be prevented from being choked or caught also in a portion below the roller 41.
In addition to the above, in the present embodiment, the first cover member 24 further serves not only to attach the roller 41 but also to form the water passage 23. Accordingly, simplification of the structure as well as space-saving can be achieved. Then, the roller 41 is provided in a form where the water passage 23 is separated. Accordingly, a design of the water passage 23 enables adjustment (setting) and the like of a direction of a water flow, a discharge position of water, and a flow rate in the water passage 23 to be facilitated. Unlike the case where the roller 41 is positioned in the water passage 23, lint is less likely to be caught or choked in the roller 41, so that a favorable flow in the water passage can be secured. In the present embodiment, the opening 31a provided in the first cover member 24 enables a gap between the roller 41 and an inner peripheral surface of the washing tub 5 to be secured, so that a placement space of the roller 41 can be reduced in a radial direction of the washing tub 5.
Between the first cover member 24 and the washing tub 5, the inner packing 34 is provided at a position surrounding an outer periphery of the opening 31a. This allows the water passage 23 to be provided in the outside of the opening 31a, so that the opening 31a is sealed by the surrounding inner packing 34 to enable leakage of washing water in the opening 31a to be prevented. The water passage 23 in the first cover member 24 is provided in each of the side portions across the roller 41, so that a large cross-sectional area of the water passage 23 (a flow rate of water) can be secured while the water passage 23 and the roller 41 are disposed in a relatively compact manner.
On the other hand, in the holding member 72, an upper bearing ring 77 and a lower bearing ring 78 are provided as a bearing portion for rotatably supporting the roller 71. The upper bearing ring 77 is formed in a ring shape, and is fitted in an inner periphery of the upper cap part 75 from above to be slidable on an inner peripheral surface of the upper cap part 75. In addition, the upper bearing ring 77 regulates upward displacement of the upper cap part 75. The lower bearing ring 78 is also formed in a ring shape, and is fitted in an inner periphery of the lower cap part 76 from below to be slidable on an inner peripheral surface of the lower cap part 76. In addition, downward displacement of the lower cap part 76 is regulated.
In this way, the roller 71 is rotatably supported by the holding member 72, and the roller unit 73 is detachably attached to the first cover member 24 of the inner wall portion on the washing tub 5 in this state. Thus, the roller 71 including no shaft 46 may be employed. It is possible to reduce the number of components and assembly man-hours, simplify the configuration, and reduce the weight.
The upper cap part 85 among these integrally has a fitting part 85a fitted in an upper inner periphery of the roller main portion 84, on a lower surface side of a disc part disposed on an upper end face of the roller main portion 84. In addition, the upper cap part 85 integrally has a cylindrical part 85b that is positioned at a central portion of the disc part, and vertically passes through the disc part to project downward. Additionally, the lower cap part 86 integrally has a fitting part 86a fitted in a lower inner periphery of the roller main portion 84, on an upper surface side of the disc part disposed on a lower end face of the roller main portion 84. In addition, the lower cap part 86 integrally has a cylindrical part 86b that is positioned at a central portion of the disc part, and vertically passes through the disc part to project upward.
An upper support shaft 87 and a lower support shaft 88 are provided as bearing portions for rotatably supporting the roller 81 in the holding member 82. The upper support shaft 87 is inserted into the cylindrical part 85b of the upper cap part 85 from above to be slidable on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 85b of the upper cap part 85. In addition, upward displacement of the upper cap part 85 is regulated. Similarly, the lower support shaft 88 is inserted into the cylindrical part 86b of the lower cap part 86 from below to be slidable on an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 86b of the lower cap part 86. In addition, downward displacement of the lower cap part 85 is regulated.
In this way, the roller 81 is rotatably held by the holding member 82, and the roller unit 83 is detachably attached to the first cover member 24 of the inner wall portion on the washing tub 5 in this state. In this case, the roller 81 including no shaft 46 is employed, so that it is possible to reduce the number of components and assembly man-hours, simplify the configuration, and reduce the weight.
These side expanded portions 93 and 94 are each formed in the shape of a thin plate curved so as to smoothly expand to the inner periphery side, as viewed from above. The side expanded portion 93 on the left in the drawing among these is supported by a hinge in an edge portion on a base end side (left end side in the drawing), and is rotationally (rockingly) displaceable around a vertical shaft between a pushed-out position illustrated in
Similarly, the side expanded portion 94 on the right in the drawing is supported by a hinge in an edge portion on a base end side (right end side in the drawing), and is rotationally (rockingly) displaceable around a vertical shaft between a pushed-out position illustrated in
In the above configuration, as illustrated in
On the other hand, as illustrated in
According to such a fourth embodiment, the side expanded portions 93 and 94 on an upstream side in the direction of the rotating water flow is positioned at the pushed-out position, and therefore the laundry can be smoothly moved toward an outer periphery wall surface of the roller 92. Additionally, on a downstream side of the rotating water flow, the side expanded portions 93 and 94 come to the retracted position, and therefore a space (capacity) in the washing tub 5 can be prevented from being narrowed uselessly. The positions of the side expanded portions 93 and 94 can be displaced by water flow (water pressure), and a special mechanism such as a driving source for positional displacement of the side expanded portions 93 and 94 do not need to be provided.
These side expanded portions 98 and 99 are each formed in the shape of a thin plate curved so as to smoothly expand to the inner periphery side as viewed from above, and are fixedly provided in the washing tub 96. At this case, leading end portions of the side expanded portions 98 and 99 are provided in a form of having gaps with the roller 97. In a wall portion of the washing tub 96, water passing holes 96a, 96b for sucking washing water to the inside from a space between an outer peripheral surface of the washing tub 96 and a water tank (not illustrated) are formed so as to be positioned on a back face side near the base end sides of the side expanded portions 98 and 99.
In this configuration, as illustrated by an arrow “h” and an arrow “i” in the drawing, washing liquid between the washing tub 96 and the water tank is sucked from the water passing holes 96a and 96b to the back face sides of the side expanded portions 98 and 99 by rotation of the washing tub 96. Then, water flow that flows into the washing tub 96 through the gaps between the roller 97 and the side expanded portions 98 and 99 is generated. Accordingly, according to the present embodiment, laundry can be smoothly moved toward an outer periphery wall surface of the roller 97 by the side expanded portions 98 and 99. In addition, laundry can be effectively prevented from being caught in the gaps between the roller 97 and the side expanded portions 98 and 99.
Various modifications are considered for the configuration of the roller like the roller 71 and 81 of the above second and third embodiments. For example, a shaft portion may be integrally provided in an end face portion instead of proving a shaft, and an outer peripheral surface of a roller may be formed in a tapered surface shape such that an outer diameter of the roller decreases downward from an upper end. Various modifications are also available for the shape or the structure of the side expanded portion. For example, the side expanded portion may be provided only in a holding member, or may be provided only in a cover member. In addition, various modifications are also available for structure of a holding member that holds a roller. While a roller is rotatably held in a holding member constituting a roller unit in each of the embodiments described above, an axially supporting portion may be provided on a washing tub side to rotatably support a roller. Accordingly, the number of components also can be reduced as compared with a case of unitization, so that a simple and inexpensive structure can be formed.
Since the embodiments described above are presented as examples, there is no intention to limit the scope of the invention. The embodiments described above can be practiced in various other aspects, and thus various omissions, replacements, and modifications may be made within a range without departing from the essence of the invention. The present embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and essence of the invention as well as in a range equal to that of the invention described in claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2016-241194 | Dec 2016 | JP | national |
| JP2016-241196 | Dec 2016 | JP | national |
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20120180532 | Park et al. | Jul 2012 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 102587070 | Jul 2012 | CN |
| 24-1674 | May 1949 | JP |
| 4-215795 | Aug 1992 | JP |
| 10-57673 | Mar 1998 | JP |
| 10-118382 | May 1998 | JP |
| 10-2013-0037427 | Apr 2013 | KR |
| Entry |
|---|
| Kim, “KR20130037427A English machine translation.pdf”, Apr. 16, 2013—Machine translation from Espacenet.com. |
| Combined Chinese Office Action and Search Report dated Sep. 28, 2020 in Patent Application No. 201780076703.4, 7 pages. |
| Japanese Office Action dated Oct. 13, 2020 in Japanese Patent Application No. 2016-241194, 3 pages. |
| International Search Report dated Aug. 8, 2017 in PCT/JP2017/020653 filed Jun. 2, 2017 (with English Translation). |
| German Office Action dated Dec. 15, 2020 in German Patent Application No. 11 2017 006 241.1 (with English translation), 7 pages. |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20190292708 A1 | Sep 2019 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | PCT/JP2017/020653 | Jun 2017 | US |
| Child | 16439424 | US |
