BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Field of the Disclosure

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a twin laundry machine, more particularly, to a twin laundry machine configured to control mutual motor operations of one or more laundry machines provided therein not to be overlapped with each other, in case the one or more laundry machines are put into operation to perform washing.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a twin laundry machine of which a motor for driving a drum has an improved heat radiation function, more particularly, to a twin laundry machine which includes a sub-washing machine with a smaller size than a normal washing machine and frequent exposure to high temperature usage environments.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also relate to a drive unit of a laundry machine which is capable of improving the function of heat-radiation performed by a drive for driving a drum, and a laundry machine having the same.

Discussion of the Related Art

A conventional laundry machine is used in treating laundry or washing objects through diverse operations combined with washing, spinning and/or drying cycles.

Such a conventional laundry machine includes a washing machine configured to wash laundry such as clothes and beddings by using the emulsification activity of detergent, the water current activity generated by the rotation of a tub or pulsator and the mechanical power applied by the pulsator; a dryer configured to dry laundry by applying hot air or cold air to the laundry; and a refresher configured to remove wrinkles from clothes by applying steam. Also, there are diverse types of laundry machines configured to provide diverse functions such as a washing machine having a washing function and a drying function.

The conventional laundry machine has to be provided with the minimum amount of wash water needed to perform washing. If a large volume of a tub is provided, unnecessarily much wash water has to be provided even in washing a small amount of laundry.

To solve such a disadvantage of water waste, a mini-washing machine or a washing machine for infants has been provided.

However, it causes a spatial disadvantage to install both one conventional laundry machine and one mini-washing machine together so as to use both of them. It also causes a design disadvantage to use the conventional laundry machine and the mini-washing machine which have different designs and versions.

Recently, a twin laundry machine including two washing machines is provided to address the problem. The twin laundry machine is provided as one body with two units (or two washing machines). Specifically, a first washing unit and a second washing unit are installed as if having one body so as to make better use of a space and improve use convenience and provide an effectively beautiful design.

The first washing unit provided in the twin laundry machine may be a main-washing machine with a relatively large size and the second washing unit may be a sub-washing machine or a mini-washing machine with a relatively small size. The volume of the first washing machine for washing or drying is larger than that of the second washing unit. Accordingly, a user seems to be able to use one of the two washing machines selectively according to needs and give specific functions to each of the washing machines. The user can be provided with the specialized functions that cannot be provided when having one laundry machine.

Vibration might be caused when the two washing units perform washing at the same time or two twin laundry machines are put into operation. In this instance, the vibration results in errors of the twin laundry machine and power consumption might drastically rise. The washing units are not completely and physically separated from each other and the vibration generated in one of the washing units could directly affect the other washing unit.

As one usage example of the twin laundry machine, the second washing unit is provided in main consideration of sanitation and it is used in treating infant clothes or underwear. Accordingly, the second washing unit is used a lot in sterilizing laundry in boiling water which is heated to a preset high temperature. A sterilize-washing course takes a relatively long time to simply heat wash water to a preset high temperature and keep the high temperature after that. In other words, the sterilize-washing course is implemented to perform washing in a state where wash water is kept at a high temperature for a relatively long time.

To perform the sterilize-washing course, a heater is driven to heat wash water to a preset high temperature. Different from the first washing unit with the normal size, the second washing unit has a relatively small size and volume with a tiny internal space. Accordingly, the heat generated while the wash water is heated to the preset high temperature seems to be transferred to the other components which are provided nearby.

Especially, the high-temperature heat happens to affect the drive unit configured to drive the second washing unit. For example, the high-temperature heat might be transferred to a motor for driving a drum provided in the second washing unit.

The motor generates heat by its own driving. If exposed to a preset high temperature or more, the motor fails to drive normally and happens to damage or stop its drive unexpectedly. Especially, it is quite important to keep a stator which generates much heat out of overheat.

FIG. 1illustrates a schematic diagram of a rotor provided in a motor of the conventional laundry andFIG. 2is a sectional diagram illustrating an air inlet part shown inFIG. 1along a circumferential direction.

A stator of the motor may be coupled to an outer rear wall of a tub, and a drum may be rotatably mounted in a tub.

As shown inFIG. 1, the rotor10includes a rotor frame20and a plurality of magnets60. The rotor frame20includes a side wall30to which the plurality of the magnets60are mounted; and a bottom wall40.

A central portion of the bottom wall40is connected to a shaft of the drum. When the rotor is rotated by the electromagnetic force generated between the stator and the rotor, the rotational force of the rotor is transferred to the drum shaft and the drum.

On aFIG. 1basis, the side wall30is vertically extended upward from the bottom wall40. In other words, the side wall30is extended from a radial-direction end of the circular bottom wall.

The shape of the side wall30and the bottom wall40allows the rotor frame20to have a container-shaped appearance so as to define an internal space. The stator is disposed in the internal space of the rotor frame20.

It is well known that the stator is coupled to the tub through the central portion of the tub and a coil is provided distant from a center of the stator in a radial direction. Corresponding to the stator, an air inlet part41is provided. In other words, the air inlet part41is provided in the bottom wall40and a plurality of air inlet parts41may be provided along a circumferential direction. A plurality of openings43may be defined.

A hub50is formed in the central portion of the bottom wall40and a connector may be coupled to the hub50. The connector may be connected to the drum shaft.

An embossing portion44may be formed in the bottom wall40. In this instance, a plurality of embossing portions44may be provided along a circumferential direction. The embossing portions44and the air inlet parts41may be arranged alternatively.

The embossing portions44may be provided to reinforce the stiffness of the rotor frame20, especially, the bottom wall40. The bottom wall40is formed as a thin plate so that distortion or floppiness might be generated in the bottom wall40during the rotation of the rotor10. To minimize such distortion or floppiness, the embossing portions44may be provided.

The air inlet parts41may be provided to suck external air, in other words, cold air into the rotor. On aFIG. 2basis, the air inlet parts41may be provided to suck air upward from a lower portion of the rotor.

When the rotor10is rotated, air flux may be generated in the internal space of the rotor (in other words, the space where the stator is provided) by a blade42and the pressure inside the rotor is relatively lower than the pressure outside the rotor. In addition, the air heated by the stator tends to go up.

Accordingly, when the rotor10is rotated, external cold air is sucked into the stator via the air inlet parts41and hot air inside the stator goes up and outside via a gap between the stator and the rotor or the space between the stator and the tub.

The rotor having the structure of the air inlet parts41has no big problem chilling the stator.

Different from the conventional motor, the motor for driving the second washing unit could be exposed not only to the heat generated therein, especially, the stator but also the heat transferred from the hot tub arranged nearby. Accordingly, such the heat has to be radiated effectively enough to keep the driving of the drum.

However, the rotor having the structure of the conventional air inlet parts41only chills the heat generated in the stator but fails to provide a satisfactory cooling function if the heat transferred from the hot tub is added.

That is because the holes for sucking external air into the rotor are aligned or parallel with the rotational direction of the rotor. In other words, external air cannot be sucked into the rotor smoothly.

Moreover, the blade is extended near the holes toward the stator and disposed in the rotor so that it directly blows internal air of the rotor, not external air. As the blade blows relatively-high-temperature air toward the stator, not external air, the cooling efficiency may become lower.

It may be considered to enhance the cooling efficiency that the blade42is formed higher. However, such the blade stands high toward the stator and it is limited to increase the height of the blade. If the blade becomes higher, the rotor also has to become higher. Accordingly, it is also limited because of the small installation space and the relatively small size.

It is necessary to invent and provide a motor which is capable of effectively and efficiently radiating not only the heat generated in the stator but also the heat transferred from a surrounding high-temperature environment and a drive unit including such a motor which is provided in a laundry machine.

It is also necessary to invent and provide a second washing unit which has an improved reliability by effective radiating of the heat generated in a drive unit of the second washing unit and a twin laundry machine having such a second washing unit.

Moreover, it is necessary to invent and provide a twin laundry machine which has the improved reliability and durability of first and second washing units by minimizing of the influence of the heat generated in a drive unit of the second washing unit on the first washing unit.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An object of the present disclosure is to overcome the disadvantages of the conventional laundry machine and the conventional twin laundry machine noted above.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a twin laundry machine including a plurality of washing units configured to perform washing independently, the twin laundry machine configured to set operations of motors provided in the washing units, respectively, not to be overlapped with each other, when the washing units perform washing at the same time, and a control method of the same.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a laundry machine and a twin laundry machine which are capable of chilling a drive unit provided in each of the machines for driving a drum effectively and more efficiently.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a twin laundry machine which is capable of chilling a drive unit provided in a small-sized second washing unit thereof more effectively and efficiently.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a laundry machine and a twin laundry machine which are capable of chilling a drive unit provided in each of the machines, especially, a stator of a motor effectively.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a laundry machine and a twin laundry machine which can be realized by changing a conventional structure of a rotor, even without installing or mounting an auxiliary component for chilling.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a rotor having a structural stiffness and capable of enhancing chilling efficiency by integral forming of an air inlet structure and an embossing structure as one structure, and a laundry machine or twin laundry machine including the same.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a drive unit having a noticeably improved heat-radiation function and a laundry machine including the same.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a control method of a twin laundry machine comprising a first washing unit comprising a first tub and a first motor for driving the first tub; a second washing unit comprising a second tub and a second motor for driving the second tub, the second washing unit separately operable from the first washing unit; a first controller for controlling the first washing unit; and a second controller for controlling the second washing unit, wherein the first controller categorizes operations of the first motor for performing washing, rinsing and spinning cycles according to operation settings by motion unit, and sets the time period in which the first motor performs one motion one time as one operation-on period and controls an operation-on period of the first motor and an operation-on period of the second motor not to be overlapped with each other.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a control method of a twin laundry machine comprising a first washing unit comprising a first tub and a first motor for driving the first tub; a second washing unit comprising a second tub and a second motor for driving the second tub, the control method comprising: a step for controlling the first motor to perform a first motion of the motions implemented to give the laundry loaded in the first tub certain washing effects for a first operation-on period; a step for controlling the second motor to standby for a first operation-off, corresponding to the first operation-on period; a step for controlling the second motor to perform a second motion of the motions for a second operation-on period, when the first operation-on period ends; a step for controlling the first motor to standby for a second operation-off period, corresponding to the second operation-on period; and a step for controlling the first motor and the second motor to perform the motions combined with the plurality of the operations for operation-on periods which are set not to be overlapped with each other, respectively.

In the twin laundry machine according to the embodiments, the motor for driving the drum, specifically, the stator according to embodiments which will be described later may be applied. Especially, the stator for driving the drum provided in the second washing unit which has a high frequency of high-temperature usage environments and a relatively small size may be a stator according to embodiments.

To settle the objects of the present disclosure, the drive unit of the washing unit may include a stator and a rotor. When the rotor is rotated, a new structure of the rotor for sucking a much amount of relatively-low-temperature external air may be provided.

To increase the inlet amount of external air, the drive unit of the second washing unit includes a stator and a rotor. An external air supply channel configured to collect external air flow may be formed in an outer bottom surface of the rotor, when the rotor formed in an arc direction is rotated.

An opening may be formed near the external air supply channel and vertically formed in the bottom surface of the rotor, to communicate with an internal space of the rotor.

The drive unit of the second washing unit may include a stator and a rotor in accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure. An opening may be vertically formed.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a twin laundry machine comprising: a first washing unit comprising a first tub, a first drum and a first drive unit for driving the first drum; a second washing unit comprising a second tub, a second drum and a second drive unit for driving the second drum, wherein the second drum has a diameter which is larger than the height and a rotation axis which intersects a rotation axis of the first drum, the second drive unit comprises a stator fixed to an outer surface of a bottom wall of the second tub; a drum shaft connected to the second drum, penetrating the second tub; and a rotor coupled to the drum shaft and rotatably surrounding the stator, and the rotor comprises a rotor frame; a magnet; and a connector for connecting the rotor frame and the drum shaft with each other, and the rotor frame comprises a side wall in which the magnet is mounted; a bottom wall horizontally extended from a lower end of the side wall; and an air inlet part formed in the bottom wall, and the air inlet part comprises a first wall projected toward the stator and formed in a circumferential direction to face a side wall of the rotor; a second wall projected toward the stator from an inner portion of the rotor side wall in a radial direction with respect to the first wall side wall of the rotor and alternate with the first wall in a circumferential direction; a third wall projected in a circumferential direction from an inner portion of the rotor side wall in a radial direction with respect to the second wall to face the third wall and the second wall; and a plurality of side walls for connecting the first wall and the second wall with each other, and the side wall comprises a first side wall for connecting one end of the first wall and one end of the neighboring second wall with each other; and a second side wall for connecting the other end of the first wall and one end of the neighboring second wall, and an opening in which air is sucked into the rotor frame is formed in the first side wall.

The second washing unit may be separable from the first washing unit.

The second tub and the second drum may be vertically arranged in the second washing unit.

The second washing unit may be arranged on a top of the first washing machine.

The rotor may comprise a hub projected from a center of the bottom wall toward the drum shaft and comprising a horizontal surface opposite to the stator and a vertical surface opposite to the drum shaft.

The connector may be made of a plastic material and coupled to the drum shaft to be coupled to the rotor frame, in close contact with the horizontal surface and the vertical surface of the hub.

The hub may comprise another vertical surface opposite to the second wall of the air inlet part and projected toward the stator.

The horizontal surface of the hub may be a bottom wall of the rotor near the third wall of the air inlet part.

The second side wall of the air inlet part may form a front side with respect to a rotational direction of the rotor, and the first side wall in which the opening is formed to suck air may form a rear side with respect to the rotational direction of the rotor.

An opening formed in a first side wall of the air inlet part may be vertically formed with respect to a bottom surface of the rotor.

A second side wall of the air inlet part may be longer than a first side wall in which the opening is formed.

One side of the second wall of the air inlet part may be closer to the side wall of the rotor than the other side in a radial direction.

A first side wall of the air inlet part may be connected with one side of the second wall formed close to the side wall of the rotor in the radial direction.

A predetermined front portion of the second wall of the air inlet part with respect to the rotation direction of the rotor may be closer to the side wall of the rotor in the radial direction than the other rear portion.

The second wall of the air inlet part may further comprise an opening in which air is able to be sucked.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a twin laundry machine comprising: a first washing unit comprising a first tub, a first drum and a first drive unit for driving the first drum; a second washing unit comprising a second tub, a second drum and a second drive unit for driving the second drum, wherein the second drum has a diameter which is larger than the height and a rotation axis which intersects a rotation axis of the first drum, the second drive unit comprises a stator fixed to an outer surface of a bottom wall of the second tub; a drum shaft connected to the second drum, penetrating the second tub; and a rotor coupled to the drum shaft and rotatably surrounding the stator, and the rotor comprises a rotor frame; a magnet; and a connector for connecting the rotor frame and the drum shaft with each other, and the rotor frame comprises a side wall in which the magnet is mounted; a bottom wall horizontally extended from a lower end of the side wall; and an air inlet part formed in the bottom wall, and the air inlet part comprises an external air inlet channel projected from the bottom wall toward the stator and comprising a radial-direction inner wall, a radial-direction outer wall, an upper wall connecting the inner wall and a top of the outer wall with each other, and a front wall connecting the inner wall and a front end of the outer wall with each other; and an opening formed by the inner wall, a rear end of the outer wall and the upper wall and through which external air is sucked into the rotor frame.

The opening may be vertically formed with respect to a bottom wall of the rotor.

The plurality of the air inlet parts may be spaced a preset distance apart from each other along a circumferential direction.

The circumferential-direction length of the inner wall may be larger than the circumferential-direction length of the outer wall.

The plurality of the air inlet parts may be consecutively formed along a circumferential direction.

A circumferential-direction gap between the air inlet parts may be equal to or smaller than the circumferential-direction length of the air inlet part.

A circumferential-direction gap between the air inlet parts may be larger than the circumferential-direction length of the air inlet part.

The front wall and the upper wall may form an acute angle.

The front wall and the upper wall may form one inclined wall.

The front wall and the upper wall may be connected with each other by a curved wall.

The opening may be formed by the inner wall, a rear end of the outer wall and a rear end of the upper wall of the neighboring air inlet part.

The air inlet part may further comprise an external air supply channel formed in an inner portion of the external air inlet channel with respect to a radial direction and projected toward the stator from the bottom wall and formed along the circumferential direction.

The external air supply channel and the external air inlet channel may be in communication with each other.

The external air supply channel may be consecutively formed along a circumferential direction.

The external air supply channel may comprise an upper wall; an inner wall consecutively formed in an inner radial-direction portion in a circumferential direction; and an outer wall intermittently formed in an outer radial-direction portion in the circumferential direction.

The outer wall of the external air supply channel and the outer wall of the external air inlet channel may be alternate with each other along a circumferential direction.

An inner wall of the external air supply channel may be in communication with a space between an outer wall of the external air supply channel in a radial direction.

The upper wall of the external air supply channel and an upper wall of the external air inlet channel may be connected with each other.

The height of an upper wall of the external air supply channel may be equal to that of the upper wall of the external air inlet channel.

In the embodiments, the first washing unit and the second washing unit provided in the twin laundry machine are integrally formed with each other by one body or cabinet.

In the embodiments, the first washing unit and the second washing unit of the twin laundry machine have its independent cabinets, respectively, and the cabinets may be disposed or coupled to each other. Accordingly, the first washing unit and the second washing unit may be provided as independent washing machines so that it can be said that each of them is a separate independent washing machine.

Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide a drive unit of a laundry machine comprising a tub; a drum mounted in the tub and configured to wash laundry; the drive unit connected to a drum shaft penetrating the tub and configured to drive the drum, the drive unit comprising a stator fixed to an outer surface of a bottom wall provided in the tub; and a rotor coupled to the drum shaft and supported to rotate, with surrounding the stator, wherein the rotor comprises a rotor frame; a magnet; and a connector for connecting the rotor frame and the drum shaft with each other, and the rotor frame comprises a side wall for seating the magnet therein; and a bottom wall horizontally extended from a lower end of the side wall, and an external air supply channel is projected from the stator toward the stator in a circumferential direction to be recessed from an outer surface of the bottom wall continuously, and the external air supply channel comprises an internal wall formed in a radial direction and an external wall formed in the radial direction; an external wall formed outer to the internal wall in a radial direction; a narrow region having a relatively narrow width between the internal wall and the external wall; and a wide region having a relatively wide width between the internal wall and the external wall, and an external air inlet hole is formed an internal or external wall portion of the wide region which faces one end of the narrow region.

The external air supply channel is projected toward the stator and continuously extended along a circumferential direction.

The internal wall of the external air supply channel may be continuously formed in a circumferential direction and the external wall is bending in the circumferential direction.

Accordingly, the external wall may be formed in a saw-tooth shape or pin-wheel shape.

In contrast, the external wall of the external air supply channel may be continuously formed in a circumferential direction and the internal wall may be bent with respect to the circumferential direction. In this instance, the internal wall may be formed in a saw-tooth shape or pin-wheel shape.

The external wall comprises a circumferential-direction wall facing the internal wall in the narrow region and bending in a radial direction to intersect the internal wall in the wide region; and a radial-direction wall bending in a radial direction in the wide region to intersect the internal wall. The radial-direction wall may be also formed even in the wide region. In this instance, the radius of the radial-direction wall in the narrow is larger than the radius of the radial-direction wall in the wide region. Because of that, the narrow region is distinguished from the wide region.

The external air inlet hole may be formed in one of the radial-direction walls provided in the external wall.

The external air inlet hole may be located in a rear one of the radial-direction walls of the external wall with respect to the rotational direction of the rotor.

The circumferential-direction wall may be inclined along the circumferential direction in the narrow region or the wide region. Such inclination may be linear or curved. The circumferential-direction wall is formed in a linear or curved shape.

A front portion of the radial-direction wall may be outer to a rear portion in the narrow region in a radial direction with respect to the rotational direction of the rotor.

The external air inlet hole may be additionally formed in the circumferential-direction wall in the narrow region. In other words, the external air inlet hole may be formed in at least predetermined area of the circumferential-direction wall.

The radial-direction wall may be bent perpendicular to the internal wall in the wide region.

The external wall of the external air supply channel may be continuously formed in a circumferential direction and the internal wall is bent in the circumferential direction.

The internal wall may comprise a radial-direction wall facing the external wall in the narrow region; a radial-direction wall bent inward in a radial direction to intersect the external wall in the wide region.

The external air inlet hole may be formed in one of the radial-direction walls provided in the internal wall.

The external air inlet hole may be located in a rear one of the radial-direction walls of the internal wall with respect to the rotational direction of the rotor.

The circumferential-direction wall may be inclined along the circumferential direction in the narrow region or the wide region.

A front portion of the radial-direction wall may be outer to a rear portion in the narrow region in a radial direction with respect to the rotational direction of the rotor. Such inclination may be formed linear or curved.

The external air inlet hole may be additionally formed in the circumferential-direction wall in the narrow region.

The radial-direction wall may be bent perpendicular to the external wall in the wide region.

The internal wall and the external wall may be bent in the circumferential direction.

The internal and external walls may comprise circumferential-direction walls facing each other in the narrow region; and Radial-direction walls bent in an opposite direction in the wide region.

The external air inlet hole may be formed in one of the radial-direction walls in the wide region.

Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

According to the embodiments of the present disclosure, the twin laundry machine including a plurality of washing units configured to perform washing independently may be configured to set operations of motors provided in the washing units, respectively, not to be overlapped with each other, when the washing units perform washing at the same time, and a control method of the same.

Furthermore, the laundry machine and the twin laundry machine are capable of chilling a drive unit for driving a drum effectively and more efficiently.

Still further, the laundry machine and the twin laundry machine is capable of chilling a drive unit provided in a small-sized second washing unit thereof more effectively and efficiently.

Still further, the laundry machine and the twin laundry machine are capable of chilling a drive-unit, especially, a stator of a motor effectively.

Still further, the laundry machine and the twin laundry machine can be realized by changing a conventional structure of a rotor, even without installing or mounting an auxiliary component for chilling.

Still further, the drive unit has a structural stiffness and is capable of enhancing chilling efficiency by integral forming of an air inlet structure and an embossing structure as one structure, and each of the laundry machine and the twin laundry machine including the drive unit.

