WO2009027306A1

WO2009027306A1 - A washer/dryer

Info

Publication number: WO2009027306A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/060929
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sinan Sekban; Can Sar; Resul Kanlikuyu
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2007-08-24
Filing date: 2008-08-21
Publication date: 2009-03-05
Anticipated expiration: 2010-02-24

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washer/dryer (1) comprising a drum (2), wherein the laundry is emplaced and one or more baffles (3) disposed inside the drum (2) for turning over and tumbling the laundry. The interior region of the washer/dryer (1) drum (2) is separated into more than one partition by extending the separators (4) from the baffles (3) towards inside the drum (2), enabling washing and drying laundry of different qualifications in the different partitions.

Description

A WASHER/DRYER

[0001] The present invention relates to a washer/dryer wherein the interior of the drum containing the laundry is divided into partitions.

[0002] In washer/dryers, problems arise during the washing and drying process as a result of washing together the laundry of different sizes, different fabric types and different colors, such as the laundry entangling to each other, the big sized laundry taking inside the small sized ones forming lumps and knots. Entangling of the laundry and forming knots causes unbalancing in the drum and causes inefficiency by the faulty detection of the humidity sensor particularly in the drying process and the drying process is ended while the laundry is still wet. In order to solve these problems, the interior of the drum is divided into partitions and the laundry of different qualifications are placed in different partitions and detachable laundry baskets or separators are used in the drum, however the laundry baskets or separators, when not in use, occupy space in the drum or outside the drum.

[0003] In the Patent Document No CH374049, in a washing machine having a horizontal axis drum, a drum employment is explained that separates the interior of the drum into partitions. The drum employment is composed of plates with rinsing holes thereon and fastened to the drum by the provided resilient connectors. These plates that separate the inside of the drum into partitions are disposed in the drum around an axis in the form of booklets, arcuated or prismatic shapes.

[0004] In the Patent Application No EP 1233099 in a washing machine, a plurality of arcuate flat laundry baskets are integrally provided at a regular interval on an inner periphery of the laundry drum.

[0005] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a washer/dryer comprising a drum wherein laundry is emplaced that can be easily separated into partitions by the user.

[0006] The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0007] In the washer/dryer of the present invention, separators are disposed inside the baffles that can be extended and shortened for dividing the drum interior into partitions. The separators are concealed in the baffle when not in use and do not protrude out from the baffle by the motion of the drum but when the user wants to separate the drum into partitions, the separators are drawn out from the baffles to extend towards the inside of the drum. The separator extended towards the inside of the drum is joined with another separator extended towards the inside of the drum from another baffle in the drum or with the inner wall of the drum opposite thereof, thereby dividing the drum interior into partitions.

[0008] In an embodiment of the present invention, the separator is made of telescopically configured rods inside the baffle that are arranged parallel to each other.

[0009] In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator extended towards inside of the drum is joined with another separator extended from another baffle in the drum at around the central axis of the drum.

[0010] In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator is configured as a flexible plate, staying inside the baffle coiled up into a roll and the roll is opened to be extended towards inside of the drum when needed to be used.

[0011] In another embodiment of the present invention, an opening is provided at the joint tip of the side walls of the baffle that allows the separator to be taken out from the baffle and to be inserted into the baffle.

[0012] In another embodiment of the present invention, the opening on the baffle is closed by a cap connected to the separator, and the user holds the cap pulling to extend the separator inwards to the drum or push to close towards the baffle.

[0013] In another embodiment of the present invention, the cap is closed over the opening by locking with telescopic, snap fit means or a locking mechanism and the separator is prevented from extending out of the baffle when not in use.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the separators that are arranged in the drum inside two opposite baffles are extended towards each other by means of the caps and joined around the central axis of the drum thus forming a partition wall that divides the interior volume of the drum into two partitions. [0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, the caps that are pulled towards each other from the opposite baffles are joined together by telescopic, snap fit means or a locking mechanism. [0016] In another embodiment of the present invention, the caps pulled towards each other from the opposite baffles are joined together by using magnetic material. [0017] In another embodiment of the present invention, all the baffles in the drum are provided with separators and the number of partitions formed in the drum is equal to the number of baffles. [0018] The washer/dryer realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where: [0019] Figure 1 - is the sideways schematic view of a washer/dryer. [0020] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a washer/dryer tub. [0021] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a washer/dryer tub and the separators extended from two opposite baffles towards inside the drum. [0022] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of a washer/dryer tub in another embodiment of the present invention. [0023] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Washer/dryer

2. Drum

3. Baffle

4. Separator

5. Opening

6. Cap

[0024] The washer/dryer (1) comprises a drum (2), wherein the laundry is emplaced and one or more baffles (3) disposed inside the drum (2) for turning over and tumbling the laundry.

[0025] The washer/dryer (1) of the present invention comprises one or more separators (4) disposed inside the baffle (3) extended from the baffle (3) towards inside the drum (2) by pulling, joined to another one extended from another baffle (3) towards inside the drum (2) or to the drum (2) inner wall just opposite thereto for dividing the interior of the drum (2) into partitions (B).

[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, the separator (4) inside the baffle (3) is formed of telescopically configured rods arranged parallel to each other along the baffle (3).

[0027] In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator (4) extended from inside the baffle (3) towards the central axis (C) of the drum (2) is joined with another separator (4) extended from another baffle (3) in the drum (2) towards the central axis (C) of the drum (2).

[0028] In another embodiment of the present invention, the separator (4) is configured as a flexible plate, staying inside the baffle (3) coiled up into a roll and when the interior of the drum (2) is needed to be separated into partitions, the roll from the baffle (3) is opened and pulled to be extended towards inside the drum (2).

[0029] The washer/dryer (1) furthermore comprises an opening (5), provided at the tip of the baffle (3) that allows the separator (4) to be taken out from the baffle (3) and to be inserted into the baffle (3) and one or more caps (6) connected to the separator (4), that closes the opening (5) serving as a handgrip so that the user can pull the separator (4) to extend towards inside the drum (2) and to shorten by pushing towards the baffle (3).

[0030] The separator (4) when not used stays inside the baffle (3) and the cap

(6), when the separator (4) is inside the baffle (3), is closed by locking over the opening (5) by telescopic, snap fit means or by a locking mechanism. Thus the separator (4) is prevented from projecting out of the baffle (3) for example during the rotational movement of the drum (2) apart from the user's intention. When the user wants to divide the interior of the drum (2) into partitions (B), the locking mechanism or the telescopic -snap fit connector is opened, removing the cap (6) from the opening (5) and pulls out the separator (4) from inside the baffle (3).

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the separators (4) inside two opposite baffles (3) in the drum (2) are extended towards each other by means of the caps (6) and joined around the central axis (C) of the drum (2). Thus, a partition wall (B) is formed that divides the drum (2) interior volume into two partitions (B). The laundry is sorted out according to qualifications and placed in the partitions (B) separated by the partition (B) wall (Figure 3).

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the caps (6) pulled towards each other from the opposite baffles (3) in the drum (2) are joined together telescopically or snap-fit means or by a locking mechanism. The user, by pulling the caps (6) on two opposite baffles (3) towards each other, joins around the central axis (C) of the drum (2) and connects the caps (6) by pressing towards each other. When the separator (4) will not be used, force is applied in the direction of separating the caps (6) from each other disengaging the mechanical connection there between, and the caps (6) are pushed towards the openings (5) on the baffles (3) where they belong, concealing the separator (4) inside the baffles (3) and the openings (5) on the baffles (3) are closed by the caps (6).

[0033] In another embodiment of the present invention, magnets with opposite poles facing each other are placed on the caps (6) that are pulled towards each other from opposite directions. Thus the caps (6), getting closer to each other when pulled towards the inside of the drum (2), attract each other by means of the magnets and join around the central axis (C) of the drum (2). The attraction force of the magnets disposed on the caps (6) is selected at such a value that the user can easily separate the caps (6) from each other. In this embodiment, moreover the caps (6) can also be produced directly of magnetic material.

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, separators (4) and caps (6) are provided in all the baffles (3) in the drum (2) and the separators (4) are pulled from the baffles (3) towards the central axis (C) of the drum (2) by means of the caps (6) and partitions (B) are formed inside the drum (2) with the same number of the baffles (3) (Figure 4).

[0035] In the washer/dryer (1) of the present invention, the drum (2) is divided into partitions (B) for washing and drying laundry of different qualifications in different partitions (B), laundry baskets etc. that occupy space both inside the drum (2) or outside the drum (2) are not used for separating the drum (2) into partitions (B), the dead space inside the baffles (3) is utilized by placing separators (4) in the cavity inside the baffles (3) and the user can easily separate the drum (2) interior into partitions (B) or conceal the separator (4) inside the baffles (3).

Claims

1. A washer/dryer (1) that comprises a drum (2) wherein the laundry is emplaced and one or more baffles (3) disposed inside the drum (2) and characterized by one or more separators (4) disposed inside the baffle (3), extended from the baffle (3) towards inside the drum (2) by pulling, joined to another one extended from another baffle (3) in the drum (2) towards inside the drum (2) or to the drum (2) inner wall just opposite thereto for dividing the interior of the drum (2) into partitions (B).

2. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the separator (4) inside the baffle (3) that is formed of telescopically configured rods arranged parallel to each other along the baffle (3).

3. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 1 , characterized by the separator (4) configured as a flexible plate, staying inside the baffle (3) coiled up into a roll and when the interior of the drum (2) is needed to be separated into partitions (B), the roll is opened and pulled to be extended towards inside the drum (2).

4. A washer/dryer (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by one or more openings (5) provided at the tip of the baffle (3) that allow the separator (4) to be taken out from the baffle (3) and to be inserted into the baffle (3).

5. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by one or more caps (6) connected to the separator (4), that closes the opening (5) and serves as a handgrip so that the user can pull the separator (4) to elongate towards inside the drum (2) and to shorten by pushing towards the baffle (3).

6. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the cap (6) that is closed by locking over the opening (5) with telescopic or snap fit means or by a locking mechanism.

7. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 5 or 6, characterized by the separators (4) disposed inside two opposite baffles (3) in the drum (2) that are extended towards each other by means of the caps (6) and joined around the central axis (C) of the drum (2) thus forming a partition (B) wall that divides the drum (2) interior volume into two partitions (B).

8. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized by the caps (6) that are pulled towards each other from the opposite baffles (3) and joined together by telescopic or snap-fit means or by a locking mechanism. A washer/dryer (1) as in Claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized by the caps (6) pulled towards each other from opposite baffles (3) and having magnets disposed thereon with opposite poles facing each other or produced of magnetic material.