Front-loading washing machine

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a front-loading washing machine. The front-loading washing machine includes: a cabinet having a front panel, in which the front panel is provided with an opening; a tub having an access port for loading and unloading laundry, in which the tub is disposed in the cabinet and configured in such a manner that the access port is capable of being moved up and down in the opening; a rotatable drum disposed in the tub; a door unit mounted to the tub and configured to cover the access port; and a driving mechanism provided in the cabinet, coupled to the tub, and configured to drive the tub to rotate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A front-loading washing machine, comprising:
 a cabinet having a front panel, wherein the front panel is provided with an opening;   a tub having an access port for loading and unloading laundry, wherein the tub is disposed in the cabinet and configured in such a manner that the access port is capable of being moved up and down in the opening;   a rotatable drum disposed in the tub;   a door unit mounted to the tub and configured to cover the access port; and   a driving mechanism provided in the cabinet, coupled to the tub and configured to drive the tub to rotate.   
     
     
         2 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism is configured to drive the access port to move up and down between a washing position and a non-washing position in the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein when the access port is located at the non-washing position, the access port is driven to move close to an upper edge of the front panel, and when the access port is located at the washing position, the access port is driven move close to a lower edge of the front panel. 
     
     
         4 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism is configured to drive the access port to move upwards to close to an upper edge of the front panel and move downwards to close to a lower edge of the front panel. 
     
     
         5 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the driving mechanism comprises:
 a longitudinal pushrod disposed at a front side of the tub;   a transverse shaft disposed at a rear side of and coupled to the tub; and   a support frame disposed in the cabinet and having a hole, wherein the transverse shaft is configured to rotate in the hole of the support frame.   
     
     
         6 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the driving mechanism comprises:
 a longitudinal pushrod disposed at a front side of the tub;   a transverse shaft disposed at a rear side of and coupled to the tub; and   a support frame disposed in the cabinet and having a hole, wherein the transverse shaft is configured to rotate in the hole of the support frame.   
     
     
         7 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 5 , further comprising a damping shock absorber supported between the cabinet and the support frame. 
     
     
         8 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the damping shock absorber comprises at least one group of:
 a damper supported between the cabinet and the support frame; and   an elastic shock-absorbing member connected to the damper and one of the cabinet and the support frame, respectively.   
     
     
         9 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein the damper is configured as a friction damper. 
     
     
         10 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the friction damper comprises:
 an inner damping rod connected to the one of the support frame and the cabinet; and   an outer damping cylinder movably fitted over the inner damping rod along an axial direction of the inner damping rod, and connected to the other one of the support frame and the cabinet,   wherein the elastic shock-absorbing member is connected to the outer damping cylinder and the one of the support frame and the cabinet respectively.   
     
     
         11 . The front-loading washing machine to  claim 10 , wherein the elastic shock-absorbing member is configured as a spring and fitted over the inner damping rod. 
     
     
         12 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 10 , wherein the inner damping rod is mounted to the cabinet, the outer damping cylinder is mounted to the support frame, and the elastic shock-absorbing member is connected with the outer damping cylinder and the cabinet respectively. 
     
     
         13 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the cabinet is provided with a support foot, an inserting hole is formed in the support foot, and the inner damping rod is inserted in the inserting hole. 
     
     
         14 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 8 , wherein four groups of the damper and the elastic shock-absorbing member are provided and distributed at four corners of a same rectangle. 
     
     
         15 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the cabinet comprises a base plate located at a bottom thereof, and the damping shock absorber is mounted on the base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 15 , wherein the base plate is configured as a plastic member. 
     
     
         17 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 15 , further comprising an adjustable foot configured to support the cabinet and adjust a height of the cabinet, wherein the adjustable foot is threadedly fitted to the base plate and is provided with a shock absorbing cushion.