Front-loading washing machine

Abstract

The present disclosure discloses a front-loading washing machine including 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 clothes, 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 configured to drive the tub to rotate, in which the driving mechanism is provided in the cabinet and coupled with the tub. Compared with a front-loading washing machine having an access port disposed in a front surface in the related art, the front-loading washing machine according to embodiments of the present disclosure can make the access port move to a suitable position for a user to load clothes or unload them, and make the access port move to a suitable position for washing the clothes, such that the clothes can be loaded or unloaded, and washed conveniently.

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 clothes, 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 configured to drive the tub to rotate, wherein the driving mechanism is provided in the cabinet and coupled with the tub, and the driving mechanism comprises:   a longitudinal pushrod disposed at a front side of the tub,   a transverse shaft disposed at a rear side of the tub 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.   
     
     
         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 to 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 a motion range of the access port in the opening is configured in such a manner that an included angle between a central axis of the access port and a horizontal plane ranges from 0° to 90°. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a drain pump, mounted to the tub;   a drain internal tube, mounted to the tub and connected with an inlet of the drain pump; and   a drain external tube, configured to be a flexible elastic tube, connected with an outlet of the drain pump and extending out of the cabinet.   
     
     
         8 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the drain internal tube and the drain pump are mounted to a bottom of the tub. 
     
     
         9 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the drain internal tube is connected with the inlet of the drain pump through an internal tube clamp hoop, and the drain external tube is connected with the outlet of the drain pump through an external tube clamp hoop. 
     
     
         10 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the drain pump is mounted to the tub through a threaded fastener. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a drain pump, mounted to the tub;   a drain internal tube, mounted to the tub and connected with an inlet of the drain pump; and   a drain external tube, configured to be a flexible elastic tube, connected with an outlet of the drain pump and extending out of the cabinet.   
     
     
         13 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the drain internal tube and the drain pump are mounted to a bottom of the tub. 
     
     
         14 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the drain internal tube is connected with the inlet of the drain pump through an internal tube clamp hoop, and the drain external tube is connected with the outlet of the drain pump through an external tube clamp hoop. 
     
     
         15 . The front-loading washing machine according to  claim 12 , wherein the drain pump is mounted to the tub through a threaded fastener.