Laundry treating apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treating apparatus includes a decelerator that is disposed between a motor and a drum, and converts power provided by the motor to rotate the drum. The motor is coupled to and fixed to the decelerator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a drum having a laundry inlet and configured to accommodate laundry through the laundry inlet;   a motor configured to rotate the drum; and   a decelerator disposed between the motor and the drum and configured to change a rotational speed and torque of the motor,   wherein the motor is coupled to the decelerator and fixed to the decelerator.   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor includes:
 a stator configured to generate a rotating magnetic field;   a rotor configured to be rotated by the rotating magnetic field; and   a driving shaft coupled to the rotor and inserted into the decelerator,   wherein the stator is coupled to the decelerator to thereby fix a position of the driving shaft disposed in the decelerator.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the stator is coupled and fixed to the decelerator to fix the position of the driving shaft disposed in the decelerator and maintain a distance between the stator and the rotor. 
     
     
         4 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the decelerator includes:
 a decelerator housing that accommodates the driving shaft therein and rotatably supports the driving shaft;   a gearbox disposed inside the decelerator housing and engaged with the driving shaft, the gearbox configured to change a rotational speed of the driving shaft; and   a rotation shaft extending from the gearbox and being coupled to the drum,   wherein the stator is coupled to and fixed to the decelerator housing.   
     
     
         5 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the decelerator housing supports the rotation shaft and maintains alignment between the rotation shaft and the driving shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the decelerator housing includes a shaft support extending in a longitudinal direction of the rotation shaft and rotatably supporting the rotation shaft to thereby restrict distortion of the rotation shaft. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor includes:
 a stator coupled to the decelerator and configured to generate a rotating magnetic field;   a rotor configured to be rotated by the rotating magnetic field; and   a driving shaft coupled to the rotor and inserted into the decelerator,   wherein the stator and the driving shaft are configured to tilt together with the decelerator or vibrate together with the decelerator.   
     
     
         8 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the decelerator includes:
 a decelerator housing that accommodates the driving shaft therein and rotatably supports the driving shaft;   a gearbox disposed inside the decelerator housing and engaged with the driving shaft, the gearbox configured to change a rotational speed of the driving shaft; and   a rotation shaft extending from the gearbox and being coupled to the drum,   wherein the rotation shaft and the driving shaft are configured to tilt together with the decelerator housing or vibrate together with the decelerator housing.   
     
     
         9 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the motor includes:
 a stator coupled to the decelerator and configured to generate a rotating magnetic field;   a rotor configured to be rotated by the rotating magnetic field; and   a driving shaft coupled to the rotor and inserted into the decelerator,   wherein the stator accommodates at least a portion of the decelerator therein and is coupled to the decelerator.   
     
     
         10 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein at least a portion of the driving shaft is disposed inside the stator. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein a portion of the decelerator is disposed inside the rotor. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the decelerator includes at least one fastening protrusion coupled to an inner circumferential surface of the stator. 
     
     
         13 . A laundry treating apparatus comprising:
 a drum having a laundry inlet and configured to accommodate laundry through the laundry inlet;   a motor configured to rotate the drum; and   a decelerator connecting the motor to the drum and configured to change a rotational speed and torque of the motor,   wherein the motor and the drum are coupled to the decelerator to thereby allow at least two of the motor, the drum, or the decelerator to tilt in parallel with each other or vibrate together.   
     
     
         14 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising a rear case disposed between the drum and the motor and supporting the decelerator,
 wherein the drum and the motor are configured to transmit at least a portion of a load to the rear case via the decelerator.   
     
     
         15 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the motor, the decelerator, and the drum are configured to simultaneously tilt or vibrate with respect to the rear case. 
     
     
         16 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the drum and the motor are spaced apart from the rear case. 
     
     
         17 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the decelerator further includes a rotation shaft coupled to the drum,
 wherein the drum is configured to vibrate or tilt independently with respect to the rotation shaft.   
     
     
         18 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the drum is made of a material having elasticity. 
     
     
         19 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a hot air supplier disposed outside the drum and configured to supply hot air into the drum.   
     
     
         20 . The laundry treating apparatus of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a hot air supplier disposed outside the drum and configured to supply hot air into the drum.