Laundry treatment apparatus

Abstract

A laundry treatment apparatus includes: a tub, a drum provided in the tub, an agitator provided in the drum, a driver coupled to the tub and providing power for rotating at least one of the drum or the agitator, and a clutch unit provided between the driver and the agitator and transmitting the power to at least one of the drum or the agitator. The clutch unit includes: a gear unit rotating based on being engaged with the driver, a rotary shaft coupled to the gear unit and rotating the agitator, a housing coupled to the drum and accommodating the gear unit and the rotary shaft, a coupler reciprocating between the housing and the driver and rotating the housing, a moving unit including the coupler therein to reciprocate the coupler, and an actuator reciprocating the moving unit, where at least a portion of the actuator is disposed in the driver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laundry treatment apparatus comprising: 
 a tub configured to receive water;   a drum that is rotatably provided in the tub and that is configured to receive laundry;    an agitator that is rotatably provided in the drum and that is configured to move the laundry;   a driver that is coupled to the tub and that is configured to provide power for rotating at least one of the drum or the agitator; and   a clutch unit that is provided between the driver and the agitator and that is configured to transmit the power from the driver to at least one of the drum or the agitator,    wherein the clutch unit includes: 
 a gear unit configured to rotate based on being engaged with the driver,  
 a rotary shaft that is coupled to the gear unit and that is configured to rotate the agitator, 
 a housing that is coupled to the drum and that accommodates the gear unit and the rotary shaft,  
 a coupler that is configured to reciprocate between the housing and the driver and that is configured to rotate the housing, 
 a moving unit that includes the coupler therein to reciprocate the coupler, and 
 a sensor unit configured to determine whether the coupler or the moving unit is elevated, 
 wherein the sensor unit is disposed in the driver. 
   
     
     
         2 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the driver includes: 
 a stator that is coupled to the tub and that is configured to generate a rotating magnetic field,   a rotor configured to be rotated by the stator, and   a drive shaft configured to rotate with the rotor so as to rotate the gear unit,   wherein at least of the sensor unit is disposed in the stator.   
     
     
         3 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the stator includes: 
  a core coupled to the tub and through which the drive shaft passes, and    a fixing rib that radially extends from an outer circumferential surface of the core and that has a coil wound thereon,    wherein the sensor unit is disposed in the core.   
     
     
         4 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is disposed to contact with the moving unit or the coupler.  
     
     
         5 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the sensor unit is disposed to overlap with at least of the moving unit or the coupler in the height direction of the drive shaft. 
     
     
         6 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the sensor unit is disposed to be selectively contact with the moving unit or the coupler able when the moving unit and the coupler reaches at a high point or at a lower point. 
     
     
         7 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the sensor unit is provided to contact with at least one of the moving unit and the coupler when the moving unit and the coupler reaches a high point, 
       wherein the sensor unit is provided to be separated with at least one of the moving unit and the coupler when the moving unit and the coupler reaches a low point. 
     
     
         8 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the sensor unit is provided to contact a side surface of the moving unit. 
     
     
         9 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 8 , wherein the moving unit comprises a movable body provided to support and to elevate the coupler, 
       wherein the sensor unit is disposed outside the movable body. 
     
     
         10 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the moving unit further comprises a contact unit protruding outward from the surface of the movable body,  
       wherein the contact unit is configured to contacted with the sensor unit. 
     
     
         11 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprises a case disposed in the driver and provided to accommodate the moving unit to be reciprocated, 
       Wherein the sensor unit is seated on the case. 
     
     
         12 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 11 , further comprises an actuator seated in the case and provided to elevate the moving unit, 
       wherein the sensor unit is disposed to be spaced apart from the actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is disposed to contact at least one of an upper end and lower end of at least one of the moving unit and the coupler. 
     
     
         14 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a first sensor coupled to the housing,  
       wherein the first sensor is disposed to contact with at least one of the moving unit and the coupler when the moving unit and the coupler are located at a high point. 
     
     
         15 . The laundry treatment apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the sensor unit comprises a second sensor coupled to the driver,  
       wherein the second sensor is disposed to contact with at least one of the moving unit and the coupler when the moving unit and the coupler are located at a low point.