Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
In washing machines, the fixed interval between lifters in drums of varying lengths can result in laundry at the ends not coming into contact with the lifters, leading to reduced washing efficiency due to inconsistent drum lengths.
Innovation Solution
The laundry treating apparatus features adjustable lifter positions through the use of insertion protrusions and mounting slots, allowing the interval between lifters to be adjusted based on drum length, ensuring consistent contact with laundry regardless of drum capacity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the interval between lifters is kept constant in drums of varying lengths, then the manufacturing and installation process is simplified, but laundry at the front or rear end of the drum does not come into contact with the lifters, reducing washing efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter interval is made adjustable rather than fixed. The patent provides multiple mounting hole positions along the drum circumference, allowing the distance between front and rear lifters to be dynamically changed according to drum length. This resolves the contradiction by enabling both simplified installation (using predetermined mounting holes) and improved washing efficiency (by adjusting interval to ensure laundry contact).
Solution Approach 2:
The key parameter being changed is the lifter interval distance. The patent specifies different interval ranges for different drum capacities: 1/6 to 1/4 of drum length for small drums, and 1/8 to 1/6 for large drums. This parameter adjustment ensures optimal laundry contact while maintaining ease of installation through standardized mounting positions.
2Quantity of substance
If the drum length is increased to provide larger capacity, then the washing capacity is improved, but the distance between lifters must be increased, causing laundry at the ends to not contact the lifters
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of lifter positioning based on drum size. Multiple mounting holes are provided at different circumferential positions, enabling the lifter interval to be scaled appropriately with drum length while maintaining effective laundry contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes specific parameter relationships: for small capacity drums (up to 3kg), the lifter interval is set at 1/6 to 1/4 of drum length, while for large capacity drums (over 3kg), it is reduced to 1/8 to 1/6 of drum length. This proportional scaling maintains washing efficiency across different capacities.
3Productivity
If the lifters are positioned to ensure contact with laundry in short drums, then washing efficiency is improved for small drums, but the interval becomes too large for long drums, causing end laundry to miss the lifters
Solution Approach 1:
The drum structure is designed with universal mounting hole patterns that can accommodate different drum lengths. The same drum body can be configured for different capacities by selecting appropriate mounting hole combinations, allowing a single design to serve multiple drum size requirements while maintaining optimal lifter spacing.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifter mounting system is made flexible through multiple predetermined hole positions. This allows the configuration to be dynamically adapted to match the specific drum length being used, ensuring compatibility across different drum sizes while maintaining washing efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes: a drum, a first lifter disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum, and a second lifter that is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the drum at a position rearward of the first lifter. Each of the first lifter and the second lifter includes at least one insertion protrusion. The drum defines: a first group of one or more mounting slots in a first area of the drum; and a second group of one or more mounting slots in a second area of the drum. The second area is disposed rearward relative to the first area and overlaps with at least a portion of the first area of the drum, and the at least one insertion protrusion is configured to selectively insert into the one or more mounting slots in the first group or the second group.