Washing machine

Abstract

A washing machine includes a tub to contain water and a drum rotatably installed within the tub. The drum includes a cylindrical body and a front member made of resin, provided with a disc-shaped race formed therein and covering the front surface of the body. The race of the front member and a mass body in the race function as a balancer.

1 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub to contain water; and   a drum rotatably installed within the tub,   wherein the drum includes a cylindrical body, a front member covering the front surface of the body, and a rear member covering the rear surface of the body;   the front member includes
 a first front member panel made of resin, the first front member panel including a first through hole through which laundry is put into the body and a first extension part extending from the first through hole in the radial direction, 
 a second front member panel made of resin, the second front member panel including a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole and a second extension part extending from the second through hole and corresponding to the first extension part, and 
 at least one disc-shaped space formed by the first extension part and the second extension part, and 
   at least one of the at least one disc-shaped space defines a race in which a mass body to reduce unbalance generated during rotation of the drum is accommodated so as to be movable in the circumferential direction, the race and the mass body forming a balancer.   
     
     
         2 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the front member further includes a support part protruding in the radial direction and supported by the front end of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the front member further includes a plurality of fastening parts protruding from the rear surface of the front member and separated from each other in the circumferential direction, is the front member being fixed to the body through fastening members penetrating the body and fastened to the fastening parts. 
     
     
         4 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of disc-shaped ribs protruding from one of the first front member panel and the second front member panel toward the other of the first front member panel and the second front member panel; and   a plurality of disc-shaped grooves depressed in the other of the first front member panel and the second front member panel to accommodate the front ends of the plurality of disc-shaped ribs,   wherein the at least one disc-shaped space is formed by the plurality of disc-shaped ribs.   
     
     
         5 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the front ends of the plurality of disc-shaped ribs are fused to the plurality of disc-shaped grooves due to frictional heat according to relative rotation of the first front member panel and the second front member panel. 
     
     
         6 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the first front member panel and the second front member panel are fused to each other without any additional member. 
     
     
         7 . The washing machine according to  claim 4 , wherein the first front member panel and the second front member panel are fused to each other without an intervening sealing member. 
     
     
         8 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass body includes a plurality of balls. 
     
     
         9 . The washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the mass body includes a fluid. 
     
     
         10 . A washing machine comprising:
 a tub to contain water; and   a drum rotatably installed within the tub, wherein:   the drum includes a cylindrical body provided with an opened front surface and a front member made of resin, provided with a disc-shaped race formed therein and covering the front surface of the body; and   the front member includes through holes through which laundry is put into the body.   
     
     
         11 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the front member further includes:
 a first front member panel made of resin, the first front member panel including a first through hole through which the laundry is put into the body and a first extension part extending from the first through hole in the radial direction;   a second front member panel made of resin, the second front member panel including a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole and a second extension part extending from the second through hole and corresponding to the first extension part; and   at least one disc-shaped space formed by the first extension part and the second extension part,   wherein at least one of the at least one disc-shaped space defines the race.   
     
     
         12 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein a plurality of balls is accommodated within the race so as to be movable in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         13 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , further comprising a fluid accommodated in the race. 
     
     
         14 . The washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the front member further includes a plurality of fastening parts protruding from the rear surface of the front member and separated from each other in the circumferential direction, the front member being fixed to the body through fastening members penetrating the body and fastened to the fastening parts. 
     
     
         15 . The washing machine according to  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a plurality of disc-shaped ribs protruding from one of the first front member panel and the second front member panel toward the other of the first front member panel and the second front member panel; and   a plurality of disc-shaped grooves depressed in the other of the first front member panel and the second front member panel to accommodate the front ends of the plurality of disc-shaped ribs,   wherein the at least one disc-shaped space is formed by the plurality of disc-shaped ribs.   
     
     
         16 . The washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the front ends of the plurality of disc-shaped ribs are fused to the plurality of disc-shaped grooves due to frictional heat according to relative rotation of the first front member panel and the second front member panel. 
     
     
         17 . A drum of a washing machine comprising:
 a cylindrical body; and   a front member covering the front surface of the body,   wherein the front member is made of resin and is provided with a disc-shaped race formed therein.   
     
     
         18 . The drum according to  claim 17 , wherein the front member includes:
 a first front member panel made of resin, the first front member panel including a first through hole through which laundry is put into the body and a first extension part extending from the first through hole in the radial direction;   a second front member panel made of resin, the second front member panel including a second through hole corresponding to the first through hole and a second extension part extending from the second through hole and corresponding to the first extension part; and   at least one disc-shaped space formed by the first extension part and the second extension part,   wherein at least one of the at least one disc-shaped space defines the race.   
     
     
         19 . The drum according to  claim 17 , further comprising a plurality of balls accommodated within the race so as to be movable in the circumferential direction. 
     
     
         20 . The drum according to  claim 17 , wherein the front member further includes a plurality of fastening parts protruding from the rear surface of the front member and separated from each other in the circumferential direction, is the front member being fixed to the body through fastening members penetrating the body and fastened to the fastening parts.