Clutch actuator unit and washing machine

Abstract

An actuator to drive a clutch member provided in a washing machine is coupled to a sensor unit to constitute a clutch actuator unit. A first case of the actuator in which the drive mechanism is housed and a second case of the sensor unit in which a sensor is housed are coupled by a coupling unit provided outside the first case and outside the second case. The coupling unit is provided in an overlapping portion of a first protruding unit protruding from a first side surface of the first case, and a second protruding unit protruding from a second side surface of the second case.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A clutch actuator unit, comprising:
 an actuator comprising a drive mechanism to drive a clutch member arranged in a driving force transmission path from a washing machine motor to a washing tub, and a first case in which the drive mechanism is housed; and   a sensor unit comprising a sensor to detect rotation of the washing tub, and a second case in which the sensor is housed, wherein   a coupling unit to couple the first case and the second case is provided outside the first case and outside the second case.   
     
     
         2 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the coupling unit is provided in an overlapping portion of a first protruding unit protruding from a first side surface being a side surface of the first case, and a second protruding unit protruding toward the first case from a second side surface being a side surface of the second case.   
     
     
         3 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 2 , wherein
 in the first case, the first side surface is formed by a plurality of first members stacked in an up-down direction, and   in the second case, the second side surface is formed by a plurality of second members stacked in the up-down direction,   the first protruding unit is provided in any one of the plurality of first members, and   the second protruding unit is provided in any one of the plurality of second members.   
     
     
         4 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 among the plurality of first members, the first protruding unit is provided in a first member arranged on one of an uppermost side and a lowermost side, and   among the plurality of second members, the second protruding unit is provided in a second member arranged on the other of the uppermost side and the lowermost side so as to overlap the first protruding unit from the other side.   
     
     
         5 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 4 , wherein
 in each of the first protruding unit and the second protruding unit, a hole is provided through which a fastening member to fix the first case and the second case to a washing machine passes.   
     
     
         6 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 4 , wherein
 in the first member provided with the first protruding unit and the second member provided with the second protruding unit, a hole is provided through which a fastening member to fix the first case and the second case to a washing machine passes,   in an inner peripheral surface of the hole provided in the first member, or an inner peripheral surface of the hole provided in the second member, a fastening member holding unit protruding radially inward is provided, and   the fastening member is held in the fastening member holding unit.   
     
     
         7 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 6 , wherein
 an inner peripheral surface of the fastening member holding unit is a positioning unit to come into contact with a positioning pin provided on a jig.   
     
     
         8 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 6 , wherein
 the fastening member holding unit is formed on the entire circumference.   
     
     
         9 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 6 , wherein
 as compared to an end unit of the hole on a first side, the fastening member holding unit is located on a second side opposite to the first side, and as compared to an end unit of the hole on the second side, the fastening member holding unit is located on the first side.   
     
     
         10 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the fastening member holding unit comprises a contact surface facing the first side or the second side.   
     
     
         11 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 3 , wherein
 among the plurality of first members, the two first members stacked in the up-down direction have a fitting structure in which side plates of the two first members overlap in both the up-down direction and the inner-outer direction, and   among the plurality of second members, the two second members stacked in the up-down direction have a fitting structure in which side plates of the two second members overlap in both the up-down direction and the inner-outer direction.   
     
     
         12 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 11 , wherein
 among the two first members, the side plate of the first member located on the upper side overlaps the side plate of the first member located on the lower side from the outside, and   among the two second members, the side plate of the second member located on the upper side overlaps the side plate of the second member located on the lower side from the outside.   
     
     
         13 . The clutch actuator unit according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the coupling unit comprises an engagement protruding unit formed on one of the first case and the second case, and an engagement hole that is provided on the other of the first case and the second case and in which the engagement protruding unit is fitted.   
     
     
         14 . A washing machine comprising the clutch actuator unit according to  claim 1 , the washing machine comprising:
 the washing machine motor;   the washing tub;   a pulsator arranged in the washing tub; and   a driving force transmission mechanism to transmit a rotational driving force of the washing machine motor to the washing machine tub and the pulsator, wherein   the clutch actuator unit drives the clutch member to realize a disconnection state in which the rotational driving force is transmitted to the pulsator and is not transmitted to the washing tub, and a connection state in which the rotational driving force is transmitted to the washing tub and the pulsator.