Washing or Drying Machine Having Position Changeable Controller

Abstract

A washing or drying machine includes a main body ( 100 ); and a controller comprising an input unit ( 110 ), a main control unit ( 130 ) for performing determining and controlling operations according to signals transmitted from the input unit ( 110 ), and a display unit ( 112 ) for displaying a controlled state of the machine according to signals transmitted from the main control unit ( 130 ), wherein an upper input unit mounting structure ( 113 ) is formed on the upper portion of the main body ( 100 ) and a lower input unit mounting structure ( 120 ) is formed on the lower portion of the main body ( 100 ), so that the input unit ( 113 ) is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body ( 100 ).

1 . A washing or drying machine comprising: a main body; and a controller comprising an input unit, a main control unit for performing determining and controlling operations according to signals transmitted from the input unit, and a display unit for displaying a controlled state of the machine according to signals transmitted from the main control unit, wherein an upper input unit mounting structure is formed on the upper portion of the main body and a lower input unit mounting structure is formed on the lower portion of the main body, so that the input unit is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body. 
   
   
       2 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an upper display unit mounting structure is formed on the upper portion of the main body and a lower display unit mounting structure is formed on the lower portion of the main body, so that the display unit is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body. 
   
   
       3 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the input unit and the display unit are integrated into an operating unit, the upper input unit mounting structure and the upper display unit mounting structure are integrated into an upper operating unit mounting structure, and the lower input unit mounting structure and the lower display unit mounting structure are integrated into a lower operating unit mounting structure. 
   
   
       4 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein an upper main control unit mounting structure is formed on the upper portion of the main body and a lower main control unit mounting structure is formed on the lower portion of the main body, so that the main control unit is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body. 
   
   
       5 . A washing or drying machine comprising: a main body; and a controller comprising an input unit, a main control unit for performing determining and controlling operations according to signals transmitted from the input unit, and a display unit for displaying a controlled state of the machine according to signals transmitted from the main control unit, wherein an upper display unit mounting structure is formed on the upper portion of the main body and a lower display unit mounting structure is formed on the lower portion of the main body, so that the display unit is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body. 
   
   
       6 . A washing or drying machine comprising: a main body; and a controller comprising an input unit, a main control unit for performing determining and controlling operations according to signals transmitted from the input unit, and a display unit for displaying a controlled state of the machine according to signals transmitted from the main control unit, wherein an upper main control unit mounting structure is formed on the upper portion of the main body and a lower main control unit mounting structure is formed on the lower portion of the main body, so that the main control unit is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body. 
   
   
       7 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising a cover panel, which, when the operating unit installed on one of the upper and lower portions of the main body, is installed on the other one of the upper and lower portions of the main body. 
   
   
       8 . A washing or drying machine comprising: a main body; and a controller comprising an input unit, a main control unit for performing determining and controlling operations according to signals transmitted from the input unit, and a display unit for displaying a controlled state of the machine according to signals transmitted from the main control unit, wherein mounting structures are installed on the main body or the input unit, so that the input unit is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body. 
   
   
       9 . A combined washing apparatus having a washing machine, which is provided with an opening formed through the front surface thereof for putting and taking objects, to be washed, into and out of the washing machine, and a drying machine, which is installed on or beside the washing machine, said drying machine comprising: a main body; and a controller comprising an input unit, a main control unit for performing determining and controlling operations according to signals transmitted from the input unit, and a display unit for displaying a controlled state of the machine according to signals transmitted from the main control unit, wherein an upper input unit mounting structure is formed on the upper portion of the main body and a lower input unit mounting structure is formed on the lower portion of the main body, so that the input unit is detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the main body. 
   
   
       10 . A washing or drying machine comprising:
 a cabinet for forming the external appearance of the machine; a control panel detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the cabinet; and a cover panel detachably installed selectively on the upper or lower portion of the cabinet, in opposition to the control panel.   
   
   
       11 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the control panel is connected to the cabinet by screws. 
   
   
       12 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein hooks are formed on the control panel and hook connection holes, into which the hooks are inserted, are formed through the upper and lower portions of the front surface of the cabinet, so that the control panel is connected to the upper or lower portion of the cabinet by inserting the hooks into the hook connection holes. 
   
   
       13 . A washing or drying machine comprising: a cabinet for forming the external appearance of the machine; an upper frame fixed to the upper end portion of the front surface of the cabinet; a lower frame fixed to the lower end portion of the front surface of the cabinet; a decorative plate horizontally fixed to the upper end portion of the upper frame; a control panel detachably connected selectively to a decorative plate of the upper end portion of the front surface of the cabinet or the lower frame of the lower end portion of the front surface of the cabinet; and a cover panel detachably connected selectively to the decorative plate of the upper end portion of the front surface of the cabinet or the lower frame of the lower end portion of the front surface of the cabinet, in opposition to the control panel. 
   
   
       14 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein the upper end of the upper frame is horizontally bent, and the decorative plate is stacked on the upper surface of a horizontally bent portion of the upper end of the upper frame. 
   
   
       15 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 14 , wherein: a plurality of fixing holes are formed through the horizontally bent portion of the upper end of the upper frame, and a plurality of screw connection holes are formed through a vertical portion of the upper end of the upper frame; and guide ribs, which are inserted into the fixing holes, are formed on the lower surface of the decorative plate, and a connection portion having a plurality of screw connection holes, which correspond to the plurality of the screw connection holes of the upper frame, is extended perpendicularly from the rear end of the decorative plate. 
   
   
       16 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein first and second L-shaped front guide ribs are respectively formed through the front end of the decorative plate and the front end of the upper portion of the lower frame, and fixing holes, into which the first and second front guide ribs are inserted, are formed through the rear ends of the upper surfaces of the control panel and the cover panel. 
   
   
       17 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein insertion holes are formed through the upper end of the front surface of the cabinet, and lower guide ribs, which are inserted into the insertion holes, are formed on the lower surfaces of the control panel and the cover panel. 
   
   
       18 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein hook connection holes are formed through the lower end portion of the lower frame, and hooks, which are inserted into the hook connection holes, are formed on the rear ends of the lower surfaces of the control panel and the cover panel. 
   
   
       19 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of connection holes are formed through both side surfaces of the control panel and both side surfaces of the cover panel and a plurality of connection holes are formed through both sides surfaces of the lower frame at positions corresponding to the connection holes of the control panel and the cover panel, so that both side surfaces of the control panel or the cover panel are fixed to both side surfaces of the lower frame by inserting screws into the connection holes of the control panel or the cover panel and the connection holes of the lower frame. 
   
   
       20 . The washing or drying machine as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of connection holes are formed through both side surfaces of the control panel and both side surfaces of the cover panel and a plurality of connection holes are formed through both sides surfaces of the decorative plate at positions corresponding to the connection holes of the control panel and the cover panel, so that both side surfaces of the control panel or the cover panel are fixed to both side surfaces of the decorative plate by inserting screws into the connection holes of the control panel or the cover panel and the connection holes of the decorative plate.