A laundry dryer with improved wrinkle removal performance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry dryers do not effectively remove wrinkles across various textile types due to differences in physical and chemical properties of fibers, as current methods rely on fixed humidity and temperature conditions that do not account for individual fiber types and weights.
Innovation Solution
A laundry dryer equipped with a temperature sensor, humidity sensor, and control unit that adjusts water delivery and air flow rates based on the type and weight of laundry, ensuring the fibers are treated above their glass transition temperature for optimal wrinkle removal, with specific water delivery and air flow strategies for cotton, viscose, and polyester fabrics.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If fixed humidity and temperature conditions are used for drying, then the drying process is simple to operate, but wrinkle removal performance is poor across various textile types
Solution Approach 1:
The drying process dynamically adjusts water delivery amount and air flow rate based on real-time humidity sensor feedback and fabric type detection. The control unit modifies operating parameters during the drying cycle to match the specific glass transition temperature requirements of different fabric types, transforming a static process into an adaptive one that optimizes wrinkle removal for each load.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes physical parameters (water delivery amount, air flow rate, temperature) based on detected fabric type and real-time humidity levels. By adjusting these parameters to maintain drying conditions above the glass transition temperature specific to each fabric type, the system achieves effective wrinkle removal across cotton, viscose, polyester, and other textiles.
2Reliability
If water is sprayed into the drum at fixed intervals, then the wrinkle removal process is simple, but the method cannot provide efficient wrinkle removal for every laundry type
Solution Approach 1:
The humidity sensor continuously monitors the moisture content of the laundry and provides feedback to the control unit. Based on this feedback and the detected fabric type, the control unit adjusts the water delivery amount and timing, spraying more water for fabrics requiring higher humidity (like cotton) and less water for fabrics that dry quickly (like polyester), optimizing wrinkle removal for each load.
Solution Approach 2:
The system modifies water delivery parameters (amount, timing, frequency) based on fabric type characteristics. The control unit delivers varying amounts of water to match the specific humidity requirements of different textile fibers, ensuring effective wrinkle removal while adapting to the particular load being dried.
3Productivity
If high air flow rate is used for quick drying, then drying speed is improved, but fabric surface is not smoothly flattened and wrinkles remain
Solution Approach 1:
The air distribution system operates in periodic cycles, alternating between high air flow rate for rapid drying and low air flow rate for fabric smoothing. After the initial quick drying phase, the system switches to a gentler air flow that gently flattens the fabric surface without causing wrinkles, achieving both speed and quality in the drying process.
Solution Approach 2:
The air flow rate dynamically transitions from high to low based on the drying progress and fabric type. The control unit adjusts the air flow characteristics during the cycle to match the needs of different fabric types, using higher flow rates for initial moisture removal and lower flow rates for final surface smoothing, thereby achieving both productivity and wrinkle removal.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances wrinkle removal performance by tailoring the drying process to each fabric type, effectively reducing wrinkles without damaging the fabric, as the control unit determines the optimal water and air flow based on real-time humidity and temperature data.
Implementation Method 1
the control unit delivers an amount of water determined depending on the weight of the laundry when the humidity ratio on the laundry falls into the range predetermined for the determined fabric type so that the laundry is treated at a temperature above the glass transition temperature
Implementation Method 2
the laundry is dried by being exposed to the air at the first air flow rate until the humidity rates predetermined for the types of fabric
Implementation Method 3
an air distribution system which sends air into the drum at a first air flow rate or at a second air flow rate lower than the first air flow rate
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry dryer (1) comprising a body (2); a drum (3) which is disposed in the body (2) and wherein the laundry is loaded; a temperature sensor (4) which is provided in the body (2) and which measures the temperature of the drying air in the drum (3); a humidity sensor (5) which is provided in the body (2) and which measures the humidity of the laundry; a water delivery system which sprays water into the drum (3); and a control unit (6) which controls the water delivery system, which determines the weight and textile type of the laundry in the drum (3), and which determines the amount of water to be delivered into the drum (3) depending on the weight of the laundry in the drum (3).