Laundry processing apparatus

Abstract

The present invention relates to a laundry processing apparatus comprising: a tub for storing water and provided with an opening for putting in and taking out laundry; a drum, provided in the interior of the tub, for storing the laundry supplied through the opening; an agitator rotatably provided inside the drum; a rotating shaft connected to the agitator by penetrating the tub and drum; a driving part for rotating the rotating shaft; a connecting part provided with a connecting body fixed to the drum, and a body-penetrating hole which is provided so as to penetrate the connecting body and through which the rotating shaft is inserted; and a power transmission part moving back and forth inside the body-penetrating hole when the rotation shaft is rotating, and when same has rotated by a previously set number of times, transferring the power supplied by the rotating shaft to the connecting body.

1 . A laundry treatment apparatus comprising:
 a tub configured to receive water, the tub defining an introduction port that allows introduction of laundry into the tub and withdrawal of laundry from the tub;   a drum located in the tub and configured to receive laundry through the introduction port;   an agitator located in the drum and configured to rotate relative to the drum;   a rotating shaft that penetrates the tub and the drum and that is configured to connect to the agitator through the tub and the drum;   a driving unit configured to rotate the rotating shaft;   a connecting unit comprising a connecting body coupled to the drum, the connecting body defining a body through-hole that extends through the connecting body and that is configured to receive the rotating shaft; and   a power transmission unit that is configured to, based on rotation of the rotating shaft, move relative to the connecting body within the body through-hole, and that is configured to, based on movement of the power transmission unit within the body through-hole, selectively transmit power from the rotating shaft to the connecting body in response to completion of rotation of the rotating shaft a predetermined number of times.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the power transmission unit comprises:
 a first stopper and a second stopper that are coupled to the connecting body, that are located in the body through-hole, that are spaced apart from each other;   an operating unit that is located in the body through-hole, that is configured to move between the first stopper and the second stopper, and that defines a shaft through-hole configured to receive the rotating shaft;   a first thread defined in the shaft through-hole; and   a second thread defined at the rotating shaft and configured to mesh with the first thread, the second thread configured to, based on rotation of the rotating shaft, cause the operating unit to move toward the first stopper or toward the second stopper.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the connecting body defines a receiving portion that defines a moving path of the operating unit, and   wherein a diameter of the receiving portion is greater than a diameter of the body through-hole.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 3 , further comprising
 a retention unit that is configured to restrict the operating unit from moving out of the receiving portion, that is rotatably supported by the connecting body, and that is configured to receive the rotating shaft.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the first stopper includes an oilless type bearing that is supported by the retention unit and that is configured to receive the rotating shaft,
 wherein the connecting body comprises a stepped portion located between the receiving portion and the body through-hole, and   wherein the second stopper includes an oilless type bearing that is supported by the stepped portion and that is configured to receive the rotating shaft.   
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the first stopper includes a spring that is located between the retention unit and the operating unit and that is configured to provide force to the operating unit to cause the operating unit to move away from the retention unit, and
 wherein the second stopper includes a spring that is located between the stepped portion and the operating unit and that is configured to provide force to the operating unit to cause the operating unit to move away from the stepped portion.   
     
     
         7 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the first stopper includes a retention unit that is configured to restrict the operating unit from moving out of the receiving portion, that is rotatably supported by the connecting body, and that is configured to receive the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the second stopper includes a stepped portion located between the receiving portion and the body through-hole. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a cabinet that defines an entrance; and   a drawer configured to receive the tub and configured to insert into and retract from the cabinet through the entrance.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the rotating shaft penetrates a lower surface of the tub and a lower surface of the drum to couple to the agitator. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the rotating shaft extends in a direction perpendicular to a bottom surface of the cabinet is seated. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the driving unit comprises:
 a stator located outside of the tub and coupled to the lower surface of the tub, the stator being configured to generate a rotating magnetic field; and   a rotor configured to rotate based on the rotating magnetic field generated by the stator, and   wherein the rotating shaft is coupled to the rotor.   
     
     
         13 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the agitator comprises:
 a body located in the drum and coupled to the rotating shaft, the body having a circular plate shape arranged parallel to the lower surface of the drum; and   an arm that protrudes from the body toward the introduction port.   
     
     
         14 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the lower surface of the drum defines a communication hole that enables communication between an inside of the drum and an inside of the tub, and   wherein the agitator defines an agitator through-hole that extends through the body.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first stopper and the second stopper are configured to limit movement of the operating unit within the body through-hole, and
 wherein the power transmission unit is configured to, based on the operating unit arriving at the first stopper or the second stopper, transmit power from the rotating shaft to the connecting body.   
     
     
         16 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the first stopper and the second stopper are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising a bearing that is located between the connecting body and the retention unit, that surrounds an outer surface of the retention unit, and that faces the first stopper in a longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft. 
     
     
         18 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein an outer diameter of the second thread defined at the rotating shaft is greater than an inner diameter of the first stopper. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the rotating shaft comprises:
 a first portion that defines the second thread and that is configured to insert into the receiving portion; and   a second portion that does not include a thread and that is configured to be positioned outside of the receiving portion.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the receiving portion and the body through-hole are concentric and each extend in a longitudinal direction of the rotating shaft.