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(11) | EP 1 069 228 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Front load washing machine with tiltable washing tub |
| (57) Front load washing machine comprising a cabinet (54) and a washing tub (51) that
is suspended inside said cabinet by means of suspension means (52, 53; 40) and provided
with a front load opening (57). A drum (2) to contain the laundry to be washed that
is open frontally is contained in said washing tub (51). The suspension means (52,
53; 40) are slidingly paired to guides (10, 18; 31, 36) that are longitudinally fixed
to the bottom plane surface (11) and to the top plane surface (28) of said cabinet
(54) in order to allow an inclination of said washing tub (51) by a given angle as
regards a vertical plane parallel to said front wall (61) of the cabinet (54) which
is at least partially displaceable in a central part (60; 47) comprising a central
opening to introduce the laundry to be washed in the drum (2) in order to allow the
central part (60; 47) and the opening to follow the inclination of the washing tub
(51). |
[0002] It is generally known that in modern washing machines with front load a drum containing the laundry to be washed is situated in a central position of the washing machine and it has an opening toward the front of the machine. This drum is turningly mounted in a container, called washing tub, that is destined to contain the washing water and equipped with suspension elements for its anchorage that allow it to remain suspended inside the cabinet of the washing machine.
[0003] The loading of the drum obliges the operator to continuous and sudden bending over in order to take the laundry to be washed from the top plane surface of the washing machine and its positioning inside the drum that is located in a low position.
[0004] In order to facilitate the loading of laundry the washing tub of a washing machine has been provided with an upper opening instead of the frontal one thus building top load washing machines that imply complications in the building of the washing machine.
[0005] In view of the state of the art described, object of the present invention is to realise a front load washing machine that make the loading of the washing tub with the laundry to be washed easier.
[0006] According to the present invention, such object has been attained by means of a front load washing machine comprising a cabinet and a washing tub suspended inside said cabinet by means of suspension means, said washing tub being provided with a front load opening and turningly housing a drum to contain the laundry to be washed that is open frontally and said cabinet comprising a front wall with a central opening in order to introduce said laundry to be washed into said drum, characterized in that said suspension means are slidingly coupled to guides that are longitudinally fixed to the bottom plane surface and to the top plane surface of said cabinet in order to allow an inclination of said washing tub by a given angle as regards a vertical plane parallel to said front wall and said front wall of the cabinet is at least partially displaceable in a central part comprising said opening in order to allow said central part and said opening to follow the inclination of said washing tub.
[0007] Owing to the present invention it is possible realise a front load washing machine that by rotation of the washing tub allows an inclination of the washing tub such as to make the loading of the same with the laundry to be washed easier.
[0008] The characteristics and the advantages of the present invention will be made evident by the following detailed description of some possible embodiment thereof, that are illustrated as non limiting examples in the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows, in a side view, a washing machine with a washing tub in a rest condition according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows, in a side view, a washing machine as the one in Figure 1 with the washing tub in an inclined position;
Figure 3 shows, in a side view, a washing machine with a washing tub in a rest position according to a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 shows, in a side view, a washing machine as the one in Figure 3 with the washing tub in an inclined position;
Figure 5 shows, in a back view, a washing machine as the one in Figure 3 with the washing tub in rest condition;
Figure 6 shows a top plan of a washing machine as the one in Figure 3 with the washing tub in rest condition;
Figure 7 shows, in a side view, a system for the movement of the washing tub of the washing machine in Figure 3.
[0009] With reference to the attached figures, by 1 a washing machine is globally indicated comprising a cabinet 54 and a washing tub 51 that is centrally suspended inside the cabinet 54 by means of suspension means. The washing tub 51 contains a cylindrical drum 2, with axis perpendicular to the back wall 29 of the cabinet 54, destined to contain the laundry to be washed, which is turningly mounted in the same tub. The tub 51 has an opening 24 in its fore part 57 in correspondence of an analogous opening 56 of the cylindrical drum 2, that is connected with the front of the cabinet 54 by means of a round gasket 23. This opening 57 is closed by a round door 22 comprising a window 3.
[0010] A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 and 2 where the washing tub 51 is suspended inside the cabinet 54 by means of pairs of bottom and top suspension means 53 and 52. In particular the top suspension means 52 are made up, each one, of a hook 21 to which the tub 51 is anchored and that is connected at its upper end with a helicoidal spring 20 that is in turn connected with a first sliding shoe 19 that is frees to slide 18 on a longitudinal guide whose ends, perpendicular to the same guide, are connected with the top plane surface 28 of the cabinet 54. The bottom suspension means 53 are spring shock absorbers and comprise a U-shape spring 14 that at its lower end is connected with a second sliding shoe 13 that is capable to slide on a longitudinal guide 10 whose ends are connected, one that is perpendicular to the same guide, with the bottom plane 11 of the cabinet 54 and the other one with a part 9 of the front wall 61 of the cabinet 54. A rubber pad 12 is associated with the sliding shoe 13 between the lower end of the spring 14 and the guide 10. The upper end of the spring 14 has a central opening 58 to the edge of which two curved parts 15 are connected in such a way that a cylindrical body 16 passing through said opening 58 is free to rotate by a certain angle. Said cylindrical body 16 is fixed in 17 to the washing tub 51.
[0011] The front wall 61 of the cabinet 54 comprises a upper rigid flange 9 and a lower rigid flange 55, and an articulated panel 60 that is made up of parts 6, 25. In particular the first part 25 is connected through one articulation joint 26 with the flange 9 and it contains a round gasket 23. The second part 6 is connected with the part 25 by means of an articulation joint 7 and it has a lower portion 8 that is normally set next to the lower flange 55.
[0012] When opening the door 22 that is fixed in 50 to the articulated panel 60, by exerting a pulling force an operator allows the inclination of the washing tub 51 by a certain angle as regards a vertical plane parallel to the front wall 61, as shown in Figure 2. The first sliding shoe 19 slides toward the back end of the guide 18 while the second sliding shoe 13 slides toward the lower end of the guide 10 thus determining the counter-clockwise rotation of the cylindrical body 16 passing through the opening 58. In addition there is a counter-clockwise rotation of the first part 25 of the articulated panel 60 on its articulation joints 26 and clockwise for the second part 6 on the articulation joints 7 and a lifting of the same part 6 as regards the lower flange 55. This inclined position of the washing tub 51 and therefore of the drum 2 allows an easier loading of the same for the quantity of laundry to be washed. It is also possible to provide the washing tub 51 with a balance piston system with counteracting mechanical load and springs or other elastic means, in order to assist the inclination movement of the tub and therefore to reduce the effort on behalf of the operator.
[0013] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figures 3-6 where the washing tub 51 is suspended inside the cabinet 54 by means of two pairs of suspension means 40. Said suspension means 40 consist in telescopic shock absorbers made up of an internal cylindrical part 35 that is capable to slide in the part 33 and anchored to the tub 51 by means of a connection 34. The sliding shoe 32 of an upper pair of the shock absorbers 40 slides on curved longitudinal guides 31 having perpendicular ends connected with the top surface 28 of the cabinet 54 while the sliding shoe 32 of the other lower pair of shock absorbers slide on longitudinal curved guides 36 having perpendicular ends that are connected with the bottom plane 11 of the cabinet 54.
[0014] The front wall 61 of the cabinet 54 comprises an upper flange 48 that extends toward the interior of the washing machine with a curved portion 38, a lower flange 46 ending with a curved upper end, and a turnable panel 47. The latter is made up of a part 37 that contains the round gasket 23 and that has a lower curved portion 41 and a perpendicular upper portion 39. The curved portion 41 is hooked to the sliding shoes 32 by means of forks 90. The panel 47 is fixedly mounted with two side tabs 42 that are turningly hinged in 45 to the sides walls 49 and 59 of the cabinet 54 in such a way so as to make the panel 47 turnable as regards a cross axis passing through the pins 44, as it is better visible in Figure 6.
[0015] With the washing tub 51 in the rest position illustrated in Figure 3, when opening the door 22 that is connected with the turnable panel 47, by exerting a pulling force an operator allows the counter-clockwise rotation of the panel 47 and as a consequence the inclination of the washing tub 51 by a certain angle 61 with respect to a vertical plane parallel to the front wall, as shown in Figure 4. The part 37 of the panel 47 rotates in counter-clockwise direction and its lower and upper 39 portions 41 respectively slide on the upper end of the flange 46 and on the curved portion of the flange 48. The sliding shoe 32 of the upper pair of shock absorbers 40 slide up to the back end of the guides 31 while the sliding shoe 32 of the lower pair of shock absorbers 40 slide up to the fore end of the guides 36. The forks 90 allow a better stability of the turnable frame 47 during its rotation. The greater inclination of the washing tub 51 of this embodiment as compared with the one described above allows an easier loading of the drum 2 for the quantity of laundry to be washed.
[0016] In Figure 7 there is shown a movement device 100 for the turnable frame 47 as a possible variation to the manual rotation of the same. Said device 100 is made up of extensions 101 of the side tabs 42 of the turnable frame 47 that are connected with a pair of levers 102 that can be moved vertically by means of a motor 103 for example an electric type. Position and stop sensors are provided, not visible in figure, that are controlled externally or automatically and an external control for the starting of the motor 103.
1. Front load washing machine comprising a cabinet (54) and a washing tub (51) that is
suspended inside said cabinet suspended inside said cabinet by suspension means (52,
53; 40), said washing tub (51) being provided with a front load opening (57) and turningly
housing a drum (2) to contain the laundry to be washed that is open frontally and
said cabinet comprising a front wall (61) with a central opening in order to introduce
said laundry to be washed into said drum (2), characterized in that said suspension
means (52, 53; 40) are slidingly coupled to guides (10, 18; 31, 36) that are longitudinally
fixed to the bottom plane surface (11) and to the top plane surface (28) of said cabinet
(54) in order to allow an inclination of said washing tub (51) by a given angle as
regards a vertical plane parallel to said front wall (61) and said front wall (61)
of the cabinet (54) is at least partially displaceable in a central part (60; 47)
comprising said opening in order to allow said central part (60; 47) and said opening
to follow the inclination of said washing tub (51).
2. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said partially displaceable
central part (60) of said front wall (61) of said cabinet (54) is made up of parts
(6, 25) that are connected with each other and with the fixed part (9, 55) of the
front wall by means of articulation joints (7, 26) and capable to rotate on said articulation
joints (7, 26) when said washing tub (51) is inclined.
3. Washing machine according to claim 2, characterized in that said suspension means
(51, 52) comprise elastic means (14, 20) that are anchored to said washing tub by
means of hooking means (21, 15-16) and sliding means (13, 19) that are capable to
slide on said guides (10, 18).
4. Washing machine according to claim 3, characterized in that it comprises an upper
pair (52) of said suspension means (52, 53) whose elastic means (14, 20) are made
up of a helicoidal spring (20) and the hooking means (21, 15-16) are made up of a
hook (21).
5. Washing machine according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a lower pair
(53) of said suspension means (52, 53) whose elastic means (14, 20) are made up of
a U-shape spring (14) and whose hooking means (21, 15-16) are made up of a cylindrical
body (16) passing through an opening (58) of the upper end of said spring (14) with
whose edge two curved parts (15) are connected in such a way so as to allow said cylindrical
body (16) to rotate by a certain angle.
6. Washing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that said partially displaceable
central part (47) of said front wall (61) of said cabinet (54) is made up of a panel
that can be rotated (47) that is capable to slide near the top plane surface (28)
and the bottom surface (11) of said cabinet (54) and fixedly mounted to side tabs
(42) that are turningly hinged in pins (44) to the sides walls (49, 59) of said cabinet
(54) so that said panel (47) rotates as regards a cross axis passing through said
pins (44) of said sides walls (49, 59).
7. Washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that said suspension means
(40) comprise telescopic shock absorbers (40) that are connected at one end with said
guides (31, 36) in order to slide on them and at the other end with said washing tub
(51).
8. Washing machine according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises at least
a lower pair and a upper pair of said telescopic shock absorbers (40).
9. Washing machine according to claim 6, characterized in that means for the movement
(100) of said turnable frame (47) are provided.
10. Washing machine according to claim 9, characterized in that said movement means (100)
are made up of extensions (101) of said side tabs (42) that are connected with levers
(102) that can move vertically by means of motor means (103).