LAUNDRY TREATMENT APPARATUS

A laundry treatment apparatus includes a drying chamber configured to receive laundry therein, a hanger support that includes a support body disposed in the drying chamber and configured to hang a hanger thereon, a rotating shaft that extends through the upper surface of the drying chamber toward the support body, a rotating arm coupled to an inner end of the rotating shaft and configured to rotate within the drying chamber, a converter disposed at the support body and configured to convert a rotational movement of the rotating arm into a reciprocating movement of the support body, a disc coupled to an outer end of the rotating shaft, a driver configured to rotate the disc, and a counterweight coupled to the disc and disposed at a position opposite to the rotating arm with respect to the rotating shaft.

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Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2021-0043232, filed on Apr. 2, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment apparatus.

BACKGROUND

A laundry treatment apparatus may perform various operations associated with clothing. For example, the laundry treatment apparatus may include washing machines for washing clothes, dryers for drying wet clothes, and refreshers for removal of odor and wrinkles from the clothes.

In some cases, a laundry treatment apparatus may include a drum defining a space for receiving laundry therein, a driver configured to rotate the drum, and a supply unit configured to supply steam or hot air to the drum. In some cases, because the laundry treatment apparatus may supply steam or hot air to laundry during rotation of the drum (because the laundry in the drum may not be smooth or flat), wrinkles may remain in the laundry.

In some cases, a laundry treatment apparatus may include a cabinet, a first chamber provided in the cabinet for receiving laundry therein, a second chamber provided in the cabinet so and isolated from the first chamber, a supply unit provided in the second chamber and configured to supply steam or hot air to the first chamber, a support body provided in the first chamber and configured to suspend the laundry in the first chamber, and a driver configured to move the support body in the first chamber.

The laundry treatment apparatus may reduce wrinkles in laundry by agitating laundry that is in the state of being spread in the first chamber. In some cases, there is the possibility of generation of vibration and noise due to the movement of the support body.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes a laundry treatment apparatus that can reduce or remove wrinkles from objects to be dried, such as laundry.

The present disclosure further describes a laundry treatment apparatus that can reduce vibration and noise.

According to one aspect of the subject matter described in this application, a laundry treatment apparatus includes a drying chamber configured to receive laundry therein, a supply unit configured to supply at least one of air or moisture to the drying chamber, and a hanger support that includes a support body disposed in the drying chamber and configured to hang a hanger thereon, a first connecting body that connects a first side of the support body to an upper surface of the drying chamber, and a second connecting body that connects a second side of the support body to the upper surface of the drying chamber. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a rotating shaft that extends through the upper surface of the drying chamber toward the support body, where the rotating shaft has an inner end disposed inside the drying chamber and an outer end disposed outside the drying chamber. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a rotating arm coupled to the inner end of the rotating shaft and configured to rotate within the drying chamber based on rotation of the rotating shaft, a converter disposed at the support body and configured to convert a rotational movement of the rotating arm into a reciprocating movement of the support body, a disc coupled to the outer end of the rotating shaft, a driver configured to rotate the disc, and a counterweight coupled to the disc and disposed at a position opposite to the rotating arm with respect to the rotating shaft.

Implementations according to this aspect can include one or more of the following features. For example, the counterweight can be fixed to an area of the disc such that the counterweight remains at the position opposite to the rotating arm with respect to the rotating shaft while the rotating arm and the disc rotate about the rotating shaft. In some implementations, the counterweight includes a mass body disposed at a first region of the disc opposite to the rotating arm with respect to the rotating shaft such that the first region of the disc is heavier than a second region of the disc corresponding to a position of the rotating arm.

In some examples, the mass body can have a shape corresponding to a sector of a circular shape and be coupled to one of an upper surface of the disc or a lower surface of the disc. For instance, the mass body can have a semicircular shape. In some examples, the mass body can be coupled to a circumferential surface of the disc.

In some implementations, the converter can include a slot member coupled to the support body and located below the rotating arm, where the slot member defines a slot that extends in a direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the support body, and an engaging member having a first end coupled to the rotating arm and a second end inserted into the slot. In some examples, the slot member can include a circular plate that is coupled to the support body and defines the slot. In some examples, the engaging member can include a rod that protrudes from the rotating arm and is inserted into the slot.

In some examples, a length of the slot can be greater than or equal to a diameter of a rotational trajectory of the second end of the engaging member. In some examples, the second end of the engaging member can be configured to move along the slot and push the slot member based on rotation of the rotating arm.

In some implementations, the driver can include a motor and a drive gear configured to be rotated by the motor, and the disc can include a driven gear configured to be rotated by the drive gear. In some examples, the counterweight is located at an upper surface of the driven gear, where the upper surface of the driven gear has a first gear region and a second gear region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven gear. The rotating arm can be located at a position corresponding to the first gear region, and the counterweight can be located in the second gear region.

In some implementations, the counterweight can be located at a circumferential surface of the driven gear, where the circumferential surface of the driven gear has a first gear circumferential surface region and a second gear circumferential surface region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven gear. The rotating arm can be located at a position corresponding to the first gear circumferential surface region, and the counterweight can be located in the second gear circumferential surface region.

In some implementations, the driver can include a motor and a drive pulley configured to be rotated by the motor, and the disc can include a driven pulley connected to the drive pulley via a belt. In some examples, the counterweight can be located at an upper surface of the driven pulley, where the upper surface of the driven pulley has a first pulley region and a second pulley region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven pulley. The rotating arm can be located at a position corresponding to the first pulley region, and the counterweight can be located in the second pulley region.

In some implementations, the counterweight can be located at a circumferential surface of the driven pulley, where the circumferential surface of the driven pulley has a first pulley circumferential surface region and a second pulley circumferential surface region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven pulley. The rotating arm can be located at a position corresponding to the first pulley circumferential surface region, and the counterweight can be located in the second pulley circumferential surface region.

In some implementations, the converter can be coupled to the support body and configured to move the support body along a horizontal plane based on rotation of the rotating arm. In some implementations, the driver can include a motor disposed at the upper surface of the drying chamber.

In some implementations, the laundry treatment apparatus can include a cabinet that defines the drying chamber, a first chamber that is located below the drying chamber and accommodates the supply unit, and a second chamber that is located above the drying chamber and receives the driver, the disc, and the counterweight, the rotating shaft extending from the second chamber to the drying chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate an example of a laundry treatment apparatus.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a hanger support of the laundry treatment apparatus.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a converter of the laundry treatment apparatus.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a vibration controller.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the one or more implementations of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Elements or control method of apparatuses which will be described below are only intended to describe the implementations of the present disclosure and are not intended to restrict the scope of the present disclosure. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 according to the present disclosure can include a cabinet 1, a drying chamber 2 defined in the cabinet 1 so as to provide a space for accommodating objects to be dried, such as laundry, therein, and a hanger support 5 provided in the drying chamber 2 so as to maintain the laundry in the spread-out state in the drying chamber 2.

In some implementations, the term “laundry” can include clothing and textiles, which are not necessarily intended to be wet or washed in the laundry treatment apparatus 100. In some examples, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 can be referred to as a styler or a refresher. For instance, the drying chamber 2 can receive clothing such as coats, shirts, pants, shoes, or the like, treat the clothing (e.g., provide air or moisture), and store the treated clothing, without soaking/washing the clothing in water. In some cases, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 can also perform washing and/or drying of the laundry in the drying chamber 2 or in another chamber.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 can include a first chamber 3 (a machine compartment) positioned below the drying chamber 2 and a second chamber 4 positioned above the drying chamber 2.

The first chamber 3 and the second chamber 4 can be provided inside the cabinet 1, or can alternatively be provided outside the cabinet 1. FIG. 2 illustrates an implementation in which the first chamber 3 is provided below the drying chamber 2 inside the cabinet 1 and the second chamber 4 is provided above the drying chamber 2 inside the cabinet 1. Each of the first chamber 3 and the second chamber 4 can be configured to define a closed space or a space having at least one surface thereof exposed to the outside.

One surface (the front surface) 11 of the cabinet 1 can be provided with a first communication opening 111 communicating with the drying chamber 2 and a second communication opening 112 (see FIG. 1) communicating with the first chamber 3. The front surface can be provided with a door 13, and the door 13 can be configured to open and close both the first communication opening 111 and the second communication opening 112.

The door 13 can be provided with a control panel 14. The control panel 14 can include an input unit, to which control commands for operation of the laundry treatment apparatus 100 are input, and a display unit configured to display the state of execution of control commands capable of being selected by a user and control commands actually selected by a user.

The first chamber 3 can be provided with supply units 31, 32, 34 and 35, which are configured to supply at least one of air or moisture (steam, mist or the like) to the drying chamber 2. The second communication opening 112 can be provided with a cover 113 (e.g., a door of the machine compartment) so as to block the supply units from being exposed to the outside (that is, to prevent accidents) when the door 13 is rotated so as to open the first communication opening 111. The cover 113 can be removably coupled to the cabinet 1, and can be configured to have any shape or structure capable of opening and closing the second communication opening 112.

The drying chamber 2 can include a chamber front surface 21 having an introduction opening 211, a chamber upper surface 24 fixed to the upper end of the chamber front surface and defining the upper surface of the drying chamber 2, a chamber bottom surface 23 fixed to the lower end of the chamber front surface and defining the bottom surface of the drying chamber 2, and a chamber rear surface 22 connecting the chamber upper surface to the chamber bottom surface and defining the rear surface of the drying chamber 2.

The introduction opening 211 can be configured to communicate with the first communication opening 111. Because the introduction opening 211 is exposed to the outside of the cabinet 1 when the door 13 is rotated so as to open the first communication opening 111, it is possible for a user to put laundry into the drying chamber 2 through the introduction opening 211 or to take laundry out of the drying chamber 2.

The chamber bottom surface 23 can serve as a wall (a partition wall) for isolating the drying chamber 2 from the first chamber 3. The chamber bottom surface 23 can be provided with a discharge hole 231, which allows the drying chamber 2 to communicate with the first chamber 3, an air supply hole 232, and a moisture supply hole 233.

The discharge hole 231 can be a through-hole, through which the air inside the drying chamber 2 is guided to the first chamber 3, and the air supply hole 232 and the moisture supply hole 233 can be through-holes, through which the air and moisture supplied from the supply units 31, 32, 34 and 35 is guided to the drying chamber 2.

The supply units 31, 32, 34 and 35 can include at least one of the air supply unit 31 or the moisture supply unit 34. FIG. 2 illustrates an implementation in which the supply units include both the air supply unit 31 and the moisture supply unit 34.

The air supply unit 31, which is intended to supply air to the drying chamber 2, can include a duct 311 connecting the discharge hole 231 with the air supply hole 232 and a fan 312 provided in the duct 311.

When the air supply unit 31 is configured to supply heated air to the drying chamber 2, the duct 311 can further be provided therein with a heat exchange unit 32.

The heat exchange unit 32 can include a first heat exchanger (an evaporator) 321 configured to absorb heat from the air introduced into the duct 311 and to condense the air and a second heat exchanger (a condenser) 322 configured to supply heat to the air that has passed through the first heat exchanger 321 to thus heat the air. The first heat exchanger 321 and the second heat exchanger 322 can be connected to each other via a refrigerant pipe 327 constituting a circulation path for refrigerant. The refrigerant pipe 327 can be provided with a compressor 325 configured to compress the refrigerant and a pressure regulator 326 configured to regulate the refrigerant circulating through the refrigerant pipe 327.

The moisture supply unit 34 can include a storage 341 configured to store water therein, a heater 343 provided in the storage 341 so as to heat the water, and a supply pipe 345 configured to guide the steam in the storage 341 to the moisture supply hole 233. The heater 343 can be constituted by an electric resistor, which generates heat upon supply of power thereto.

The storage 341 can receive water from a water supply unit 35 provided at the cover 113. The water supply unit 35 can include a tank 351, which is removably coupled to the cover 113 and stores water therein, a connecting pipe 353 connecting the tank 351 to the storage 341, and a valve 355 configured to control opening and closing of the connecting pipe 353.

The hanger support 5 maintains laundry in the spread-out state in the drying chamber 2. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the hanger support 5 can include a support body 51, which is positioned in the drying chamber 2 and on which a hanger H1 is hung, and a driver D, configured to supply power to move the support body 51 in the drying chamber 2.

The support body 51 can be constituted by a bar parallel to the width direction (the Y-axis direction) of the drying chamber 2. The upper surface of the support body 51 (which is the surface of the support body 51 that faces the chamber upper surface) can be provided with a plurality of reception grooves 513, in which hooks H2 of hangers are received.

The support body 51 can be connected at one end thereof to the chamber upper surface 24 via a first connecting body 511 and at the other end thereof to the chamber upper surface 24 via a second connecting body 512. In order to minimize a limitation on movement of the support body 51 due to the first and second connecting bodies 511 and 512 (in order to minimize the amount of power consumed by the driver), each of the first connecting body 511 and the second connecting body 512 can made of an elastic material such as rubber.

The first connecting body 511 and the second connecting body 512 can be directly fixed to the chamber upper surface 24, or can be fixed to a fixing member 52 provided in the second chamber 4. When the first and second connecting bodies 511 and 512 are fixed to the fixing member 52 rather than being directly fixed to the chamber upper surface 24, it is possible to reduce transmission of vibration to the drying chamber 2 during movement of the support body 51 (reciprocating movement of the support body 51 in a direction parallel to the Y-axis direction).

When the first and second connecting bodies 511 and 512 are fixed to the fixing member 52, the chamber upper surface 24 can be provided with a first through-hole 241, through which the first connecting body 511 extends, and a second through-hole 242, through which the second connecting body 512 extends. In order to prevent the air or moisture, supplied to the drying chamber 2, from being discharged to the second chamber 4, each of the through-holes 241 and 242 can include a gasket. The gasket can have any of various shapes and structures, as long as the gasket is capable of closing the through-hole.

The support body 51 can be moved in a reciprocating manner in the drying chamber 2 by the driver D. The term “reciprocating movement” used herein conceptually includes not only linear movement in which the support body 51 reciprocates in the X-axis direction or the Y-axis direction but also circular movement of the support body 51 in the X-Y plane.

The driver D can include a main driver 54 including a motor 541, a driven unit 55 including a rotating shaft 552, which is rotated by the power supplied from the main driver 54, and a converter 57 configured to convert the rotational movement of the rotating shaft 552 into the reciprocating movement of the support body 51.

The motor 541 of the main driver 54 can be fixed to the fixing member 52 so as to be positioned in the second chamber 4. A drive pulley 543 can be fixed to a rotating shaft (motor shaft) 542 of the motor 541.

The rotating shaft 552 of the driven unit 55 can extend through the fixing member 52 and the chamber upper surface 24. Specifically, the fixing member 52 can have formed therein a first fixing member through-hole 521 through which the rotating shaft 552 extends, and the chamber upper surface 24 can have formed therein an upper surface through-hole. The rotating shaft 552 can be inserted into the first fixing member through-hole 521 and the upper surface through-hole such that one end of the rotating shaft 552 is positioned in the drying chamber 2 and the other end of the rotating shaft 552 is positioned in the second chamber 4.

In some implementations, the driven unit 55 can include a driven pulley 551 and a rotating arm 553, which are fixed to the two ends of the rotating shaft 552. The driven pulley 551 can be fixed to the end of the rotating shaft 552 that is positioned in the second chamber 4, and the rotating arm 553 can be fixed to the other end of the rotating shaft 552, which is positioned in the drying chamber 2. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the rotating arm 553 can be constituted by a bar which is fixed at one end (a fixed end) thereof to the rotating shaft 552.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the drive pulley 543 and the driven pulley 551 can be connected to each other via a belt 56. Consequently, as illustrated in FIG. 4, the free end of the rotating arm 553, which is fixed to the other end of the rotating shaft 552, can be rotated in the drying chamber 2 during rotation of the rotating shaft 542.

In some implementations, the drive pulley 543 can be replaced with a drive gear, and the driven pulley 551 can be replaced with a driven gear. In this case, the drive gear and the driven gear can be engaged with each other, where the gear coupling structure can eliminate the need for a belt. For example, the drive gear 543 can directly engage with the driven gear 551. In some cases, additional gears can be provided between the drive gear 543 and the driven gear 551, in which the reference number 56 can represent the additional gears.

The converter 57 can include a slot member that defines a slot 573, where the slot member is fixed to the support body 51 and positioned below the rotating arm 553, and an engaging member 571 that has a first end fixed to the rotating arm 553 and a second end (a free end) that is inserted into the slot 573. For example, the slot member can include a circular plate that is fixed to the support body 51 and defines the slot 573. The engaging member 571 can include a rod or a protrusion that protrudes from a bottom surface of the rotating arm 553 and inserted into the slot 573.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the slot 573 can extend in a direction (the X-axis direction) perpendicular to the support body 51. In some examples, the movement of the support body 51 can be determined by the length L of the slot 573 and the diameter of the rotational orbit T, which is defined by rotation of the engaging member 571.

In other words, when the length L of the slot 573 is set to be equal to or greater than the rotational orbit T of the engaging member 571, the support body 51 can be linearly reciprocated in the width direction (the Y-axis direction) of the drying chamber 2. When the engaging member 571 is moved along the rotational orbit T, the slot 573 can be subjected to the force F resulting from the force component A perpendicular to the slot 573 and the force component B parallel to the slot 573. In some examples, where the length L of the slot 573 is set to be equal to or greater than the diameter of the rotational orbit T, the support body 51 can be moved using only the force component A perpendicular to the slot 573, and can thus be linearly reciprocated in the Y-axis direction, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

In some examples, where the length L of the slot 573 is set to be less than the diameter of the rotational orbit T of the engaging member 571, the support body 51 can reciprocate along an elliptical orbit in the X-Y plane during rotation of the rotating arm 553.

In some implementations, the slot 573 can be formed in a direction (the Y-axis direction) parallel to the support body 51. In this case, when the length L of the slot 573 is set to be equal to or greater than the diameter of the rotational orbit T of the engaging member 571, the support body 51 can be linearly reciprocated in the depth direction (the X-axis direction) of the drying chamber 2 during rotation of the rotating arm 553. In some examples, the positions of the connecting bodies and the through-holes can be changed. In some examples, where the length L of the slot 573 is set to be less than the diameter of the rotational orbit T of the engaging member 571, the support body 51 can be reciprocated along an elliptical orbit in the X-Y plane during rotation of the rotating arm 553.

Because the laundry treatment apparatus 100, which is constructed as described above, shakes the support body 51 during rotation of the rotating shaft 552, it is possible to remove odorous particles and dust from the laundry received in the drying chamber 2. Furthermore, when the support body 51 is shaken while air or moisture is supplied from the supply units 31, 32, 34 and 35, it can be possible to convey an effect of removing wrinkles from the laundry.

However, a laundry treatment apparatus 100 having only the above-described structure can cause a problem in which vibration of the drying chamber 2 increases when the period of reciprocation of the support body 51 is shortened. Accordingly, in order to minimize vibration of the drying chamber 2 due to the movement of the support body 51, the support body can further be provided with a vibration controller 6, configured to suppress vibration caused by the support body 51.

Referring to FIG. 5, the vibration controller 6 can be implemented as a weight fixed to the driven unit 55 so as to be positioned in the direction (the +Y-axis direction) opposite the direction (the −Y-axis direction) in which the rotating arm 553 extends from the rotating shaft 552.

The counterweight can be implemented as a mass body, which causes a region R2 of the driven pulley 551, positioned in the direction (the +Y-axis direction) opposite the direction (the −Y-axis direction) in which the rotating arm 553 extends, to be heavier than the opposite region R1 of the driven pulley 551, positioned in the direction (the −Y-axis direction) in which the rotating arm 553 extends.

Specifically, when the upper surface of the driven pulley 551 is divided into the first pulley region R1, positioned in the direction in which the rotating arm 553 extends, and the second pulley region R2, positioned in the direction opposite the direction in which the rotating arm 553 extends, based on a linear line that extends through the rotational axis of the rotational shaft 552 of the driven pulley 551, the counterweight can be provided in the second pulley region R2.

When the vibration controller 6 is provided at the driven pulley 551, vibration generated during reciprocating movement of the support body 51 counteracts vibration generated during rotation of the counterweight (counteraction that cancels some of the vibration caused by the support body occurs). Because the maximum amplitude of vibration of the support body 51 decreases when vibration of the support body 51 counteracts vibration due to the counterweight, the laundry treatment apparatus 100 equipped with the vibration controller 6 is capable of minimizing vibration of the drying chamber 2 and the cabinet 1.

The counterweight can be implemented as a semicircular or sectorial mass body fixed to one of the upper and lower surfaces of the driven pulley 551. FIG. 5 illustrates an implementation in which the counterweight is implemented as a semicircular mass body fixed to the upper surface of the driven pulley 551.

In some implementations, the counterweight can be implemented as a mass body fixed to the circumferential surface of the driven pulley 551. In this case, among the circumferential surfaces of the driven pulley 551 (a first pulley circumferential region and a second pulley circumferential region), the counterweight can be implemented as a mass body fixed to a region defined by the periphery of the second pulley region R2 (the second pulley circumferential region).

In some examples, where the main driver 54 includes a drive gear and the driven unit 55 includes a driven gear, the counterweight can be fixed in the second region. In other words, when the upper surface of the driven gear is divided into a first gear region, positioned in the direction in which the arm extends, and a second gear region, positioned in the direction opposite the direction in which the arm extends, based on a linear line that extends through the rotational axis of the driven gear, the counterweight can be fixed in the second gear region.

Furthermore, when the circumferential surface of the driven gear is divided into a first gear circumferential region, positioned in the direction in which the arm extends, and a second gear circumferential region, positioned in the direction opposite the direction in which the arm extends, based on a linear line that extends through the rotational axis of the driven gear, the counterweight can be provided in the second gear circumferential region.

As is apparent from the foregoing description, the present disclosure provides a laundry treatment apparatus capable of removing wrinkles from objects to be dried, such as laundry.

Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a laundry treatment apparatus capable of minimizing vibration and noise.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:

a drying chamber configured to receive laundry therein;
a supply unit configured to supply at least one of air or moisture to the drying chamber;
a hanger support comprising: a support body disposed in the drying chamber and configured to hang a hanger thereon, a first connecting body that connects a first side of the support body to an upper surface of the drying chamber, and a second connecting body that connects a second side of the support body to the upper surface of the drying chamber;
a rotating shaft that extends through the upper surface of the drying chamber toward the support body, the rotating shaft having an inner end disposed inside the drying chamber and an outer end disposed outside the drying chamber;
a rotating arm coupled to the inner end of the rotating shaft and configured to rotate within the drying chamber based on rotation of the rotating shaft;
a converter disposed at the support body and configured to convert a rotational movement of the rotating arm into a reciprocating movement of the support body;
a disc coupled to the outer end of the rotating shaft;
a driver configured to rotate the disc; and
a counterweight coupled to the disc and disposed at a position opposite to the rotating arm with respect to the rotating shaft.

2. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight is fixed to an area of the disc such that the counterweight remains at the position opposite to the rotating arm with respect to the rotating shaft while the rotating arm and the disc rotate about the rotating shaft.

3. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the counterweight includes a mass body disposed at a first region of the disc opposite to the rotating arm with respect to the rotating shaft such that the first region of the disc is heavier than a second region of the disc corresponding to a position of the rotating arm.

4. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mass body has a shape corresponding to a sector of a circular shape, the mass body being coupled to one of an upper surface of the disc or a lower surface of the disc.

5. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mass body has a semicircular shape.

6. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the mass body is coupled to a circumferential surface of the disc.

7. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the converter comprises:

a slot member coupled to the support body and located below the rotating arm, the slot member defining a slot that extends in a direction orthogonal to an extension direction of the support body; and
an engaging member having a first end coupled to the rotating arm and a second end inserted into the slot.

8. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the slot member includes a circular plate that is coupled to the support body and defines the slot.

9. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the engaging member includes a rod that protrudes from the rotating arm and is inserted into the slot.

10. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein a length of the slot is greater than or equal to a diameter of a rotational trajectory of the second end of the engaging member.

11. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the second end of the engaging member is configured to move along the slot and push the slot member based on rotation of the rotating arm.

12. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a motor and a drive gear configured to be rotated by the motor, and

wherein the disc comprises a driven gear configured to be rotated by the drive gear.

13. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the counterweight is located at an upper surface of the driven gear,

wherein the upper surface of the driven gear has a first gear region and a second gear region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven gear, and
wherein the rotating arm is located at a position corresponding to the first gear region, and the counterweight is located in the second gear region.

14. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the counterweight is located at a circumferential surface of the driven gear,

wherein the circumferential surface of the driven gear has a first gear circumferential surface region and a second gear circumferential surface region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven gear, and
wherein the rotating arm is located at a position corresponding to the first gear circumferential surface region, and the counterweight is located in the second gear circumferential surface region.

15. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a motor and a drive pulley configured to be rotated by the motor, and

wherein the disc comprises a driven pulley connected to the drive pulley via a belt.

16. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the counterweight is located at an upper surface of the driven pulley,

wherein the upper surface of the driven pulley has a first pulley region and a second pulley region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven pulley, and
wherein the rotating arm is located at a position corresponding to the first pulley region, and the counterweight is located in the second pulley region.

17. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the counterweight is located at a circumferential surface of the driven pulley,

wherein the circumferential surface of the driven pulley has a first pulley circumferential surface region and a second pulley circumferential surface region with respect to a linear line that extends through a rotational axis of the driven pulley, and
wherein the rotating arm is located at a position corresponding to the first pulley circumferential surface region, and the counterweight is located in the second pulley circumferential surface region.

18. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the converter is coupled to the support body and configured to move the support body along a horizontal plane based on rotation of the rotating arm.

19. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the driver comprises a motor disposed at the upper surface of the drying chamber.

20. The laundry treatment apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a cabinet that defines:

the drying chamber;
a first chamber that is located below the drying chamber and accommodates the supply unit; and
a second chamber that is located above the drying chamber and receives the driver, the disc, and the counterweight, the rotating shaft extending from the second chamber to the drying chamber.
Patent History
Publication number: 20220316128
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 31, 2022
Publication Date: Oct 6, 2022
Inventors: Wansik NAM (Seoul), Hyunggyu LIM (Seoul), Taejun YOON (Seoul), Cheolmin JANG (Seoul)
Application Number: 17/710,169
Classifications
International Classification: D06F 58/12 (20060101);