Tub for washing machine, apparatus and method of manufacturing

Abstract

According to a tub for a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a bottom portion, an outer side wall portion, an inner side wall portion, a water flow passage side wall are integrally formed by injection molding so as to form a water flow passage. An apparatus and a method of manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure allow the bottom portion, the outer side wall portion, the inner side wall portion, and the water flow passage side wall to be integrally formed by injection molding.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a tub for a washing machine, comprising: a lower mold, an upper mold, and a sliding mold waiting at initial positions; moving upward and downward, respectively, the lower mold and the upper mold to a position where the tub is formed by injection molding; moving the sliding mold to a position where a ceiling portion of a water flow passage forms a space in the tub; injecting a liquid material into the lower mold, the upper mold, and the sliding mold during the injection molding; returning back the sliding mold to the initial position; and returning back the lower mold and the upper mold to the initial positions.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a plurality of sliding molds.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a view for explaining as tub for a washing machine in the related art.

(2) FIG. 2 is a view for explaining a configuration of a water flow passage in the tub for a washing machine in the related art.

(3) FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a tub for a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

(4) FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an operation of the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

(5) FIGS. 5 to 9 are views for explaining an apparatus and a method of manufacturing the tub fin a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, which form a part hereof. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawing, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented here.

(7) Advantages and features of the present disclosure and methods of achieving the advantages and features will be clear with reference to an exemplary embodiment described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings.

(8) Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment, which will be described below, is illustratively described for helping the understanding of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure may be modified to be variously carried out differently from the exemplary embodiment described herein. However, in the description of the present disclosure, detailed descriptions and specific drawings for publicly known related functions and constituent elements may be omitted when it is determined that the detailed descriptions and the specific drawings may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present disclosure. For helping the understanding of the present disclosure, the accompanying drawings are not illustrated based on actual scales, but parts of the constituent elements may be exaggerated in terms of sizes.

(9) Meanwhile, the terms used in the description are defined considering the functions of the present disclosure and may vary depending on the intention or usual practice of a manufacturer. Therefore, the definitions should be made based on the entire contents of the present specification.

(10) Like reference numerals indicate like elements throughout the specification.

(11) Hereinafter, a tub for a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The attached FIG. 3 is a view for explaining a tub for a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a view for explaining an operation of the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

(12) A tub 100 for a washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a bottom portion 110, and an outer side wall portion 120 which is formed to be extended along an other circumference of the bottom portion 110.

(13) The tub 100 includes a water flow passage ceiling portion 130 which is formed to be spaced apart from the bottom portion 110, an inner side wall portion 140 which is formed to be spaced apart from the outer side wall portion 120 and extended from the water flow passage ceiling portion 130, and a water flow passage side wall 150 which is formed to be extended from the bottom portion 110, the outer side wall portion 120, the water flow passage ceiling portion 130, and the inner side wall portion 140.

(14) Accordingly, a water flow passage 160 is formed by the bottom portion 110, the outer side wall portion 120, the water flow passage ceiling portion 130, the inner side wall portion 140, and the water flow passage side wall 150.

(15) A water flow passage cover 50 is required in the related art, but in the case of the tub 100 for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the water flow passage ceiling portion 130 and the inner side wall portion 140 are formed instead of the water flow passage cover 50, and as a result, it is possible to omit the water flow passage cover 50 in the related art.

(16) In particular, the tub 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may solve the problem in the related art in that foreign substances are trapped at the periphery of the water flow passage cover 50.

(17) In the case of the tub 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the bottom portion 110, the outer side wall portion 120, the water flow passage ceiling portion 130, the inner side wall portion 140, and the water flow passage side wall 150 are integrally thrilled, such that a process of assembling the water flow passage cover 50 in the related art may be omitted when the tub 100 is manufactured, thereby reducing the number of manufacturing processes.

(18) The tub 100 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may have a plurality of water flow passages 160. Accordingly, a water current may flow along the plurality of water flow passages 160. The water current, which flows along the water flow passage 160, flows from an upper side of a water tub of the washing machine like a waterfall, thereby improving efficiency in washing laundry.

(19) Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 4, in a case in which the tub 100 for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is assembled to the washing machine, a pulsator 200 is disposed inside the tub 100. When the pulsator 200 rotates, the water current flows toward the upper side of the washing tub of the washing machine along the water flow passage 160. Therefore, the flowing water current flows into the washing tub like a waterfall, thereby improving efficiency in washing laundry.

(20) Hereinafter, an apparatus and a method of manufacturing the tub for washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9. The attached FIGS. 5 to 9 are views for explaining an apparatus and a method of manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.

(21) An apparatus for manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a lower mold 510, an upper mold 520, and a sliding mold 530.

(22) The lower mold 510 is formed in a shape that corresponds to a shape of a lower portion of the tub 100 for a washing machine.

(23) The upper mold 520 is disposed above the lower mold 510 and moved upward and downward. The upper mold 520 is formed in a shape that corresponds to a shape of an upper portion of the tub 100.

(24) The sliding mold 530 may be disposed between the lower mold 510 and the upper mold 520, and slide in a horizontal direction. Because the configuration in which the sliding mold 530 slides in a horizontal direction is made by using a technology known to those skilled in the art regarding the mold, a more detailed description will be omitted.

(25) In the apparatus for manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the water flow passage ceiling portion 130 of the water flow passage 160 is formed by the sliding mold 530.

(26) That is, the water flow passage ceiling portion 130 is formed by injecting a liquid material into a space formed by the upper mold 520 and the sliding mold 530.

(27) In the apparatus for manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a plurality of sliding molds 530 may be provided. Accordingly, the plurality of water flow passages 160 may be manufactured.

(28) Hereinafter, a method of manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in a stepwise manner.

(29) First step: a step in which the lower mold 510, the upper mold 520, and the sliding mold 530 wait at initial positions. Accordingly, when an injection molding process has been performed prior to the first step, an injection-molded product may be taken out, and the mold may be cleaned when foreign substances are present in the mold.

(30) Second step: a step in which the lower mold 10 and the upper mold 520 are moved upward and downward to a position where the tub 100 is formed by injection molding. Accordingly, the lower mold 510 and the upper mold 520 become close to each other, and thus form a space therebetween.

(31) Third step: a step in which the sliding mold 530 is moved to a position where the water flow passage ceiling portion 130 is formed by injection molding. Accordingly, a space is formed between the sliding mold 530 and the upper mold 520, and the space serves to form the water flow passage ceiling portion 130.

(32) Fourth step: a step in which a liquid material is injected into the lower mold 510, the upper mold 520, and the sliding mold 530. Accordingly, the shape of the tub 100 is formed by injecting the liquid material into the spaces in the molds.

(33) Fifth step: a step in which the sliding mold 530 returns back to the initial position. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent interference between the sliding mold 530 and an injection-molded product when the lower mold 510 and the upper mold 520 return back to the initial positions.

(34) Sixth step: a step in which the lower mold 510 and the upper mold 520 return back to the initial positions. Accordingly, the liquid material is hardened in a solid state, and as a result, the tub 100 is completely manufactured. The completely manufactured tub 100 is taken out of the molds, and then moved to the next process.

(35) Therefore, the method of manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure may prevent interference with the mold devices when the water flow passage ceiling portion 130 of the water flow passage 160 is formed, and as a result, it is possible to form the water flow passage 160 well.

(36) In the method of manufacturing the tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the plurality of sliding molds 530 may be provided. Accordingly, the plurality of water flow passages 160 may be manufactured.

(37) The tub for a washing machine according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the apparatus for manufacturing the tub, and the method of manufacturing, the tub may be used to manufacture the tub for a washing machine.

(38) From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described herein for purposes of illustration, and that various modifications may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the various embodiments disclosed herein are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.