# US 10,246,811 B2 · Washing machine

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- Number: US 10,246,811 B2
- Document ID: US10246811B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/986,936
- Filed: 2018-05-23
- Published: 2018-09-20
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2014-01-29
- Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Young-Hyun Kim; Geun Kang; Jong Woon Park
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246811B2

## CPC

- D06F 29/00: Combinations of a washing machine with other separate apparatus in a common frame or the like, e.g. with rinsing apparatus
- D06F 34/10: Power supply arrangements, e.g. stand-by circuits
- D06F 37/40: for driving the receptacle and an agitator or impeller, e.g. alternatively {(D06F37/304, D06F37/308 take precedence)}
- D06F 17/08: Driving arrangements for the impeller
- D06F 34/28: Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels therefor; Arrangements for indicating programme parameters, e.g. the selected programme or its progress
- D06F 39/125: {Supporting arrangements for the casing, e.g. rollers or legs}
- D06F 39/14: Doors or covers; Securing means therefor
- D06F: LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES

## Abstract

Disclosed herein is a washing machine, which includes a clutch unit provided to be able to selectively transmit power generated from a drive unit to a drum and a pulsator. The clutch unit includes an outer shaft that is connected to the drum at an upper side thereof and rotates the drum, an inner shaft that is located in the outer shaft, is connected to the pulsator at an upper side thereof, and rotates the pulsator, and a one-way bearing that is installed between the inner shaft and the outer shaft. The one-way bearing selectively transmits a rotating force from the outer shaft to the inner shaft according to a rotating direction of the outer shaft. With this configuration, it is possible to simplify a structure of the clutch unit and to use space efficiently.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A washing machine comprising:
a first cabinet having a first opening at an upper side of the first cabinet to receive laundry in a top-loading manner;
an outer door configured to open and close the first opening;
a first tub configured to contain water and having an opening corresponding to the first opening;
an inner door configured to open and close the opening of the first tub;
a first drum disposed in the first tub and configured to be rotatable on a first axis substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the first cabinet;
a reflector disposed on an inner circumference of the first opening such that an interior of the first drum is visible from an outside of the washing machine through the reflector;
a drive unit configured to supply driving power to the first drum to rotate the first drum;
a second cabinet disposed below the first cabinet and having a second opening at a front side of the second cabinet to receive laundry in a front-loading manner;
a second tub configured to contain water and having an opening corresponding to the second opening; and
a second drum disposed in the second tub and configured to be rotatable on a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The washing machine of claim 1, wherein the reflector is disposed to be substantially perpendicular to the upper side of the first cabinet.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a laundry tray disposed at a lateral side of the first cabinet and configured to be withdrawable from the first cabinet.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The washing machine of claim 1, further comprising a control panel configured to enable a user to control an operation of the first drum and an operation of the second drum.