Auxiliary Door Washing Machine for Mid-Cycle Laundry Loading
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines have a main door located at the front, making it difficult to add laundry during a washing cycle without opening the door, which is inconvenient and can lead to damage from rotating drum vibrations.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design featuring a main door with a glass member and an auxiliary entrance formed within the main door, allowing for additional laundry input while the main door remains closed, utilizing an auxiliary door that opens and closes the auxiliary entrance, supported by a frame unit with a hinge portion and catch mechanism for secure operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the main door is closed during washing cycle, then the washing machine can operate safely and prevent water leakage, but laundry cannot be added during the washing cycle
Solution Approach 1:
The door assembly is segmented into a main door for primary access and a separate auxiliary door for adding laundry during operation. The auxiliary door is integrated into the glass member of the main door, allowing independent operation. This segmentation enables the main door to remain closed for safety while the auxiliary door provides selective access for adding laundry.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the main door is opened during washing cycle to add laundry, then laundry can be added, but the washing machine is exposed to damage from rotating drum vibrations and water leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The door system is divided into a main door that remains closed during washing to maintain protection, and a smaller auxiliary door that can be opened only when needed to add laundry. The auxiliary door is equipped with its own sealing and locking mechanisms, allowing it to open independently without compromising the overall sealing of the washing chamber.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary door acts as an intermediary access point between the user and the washing chamber. It provides a controlled interface that allows laundry to be added without requiring the main door to open, thus maintaining the protective barrier against vibrations and water leakage while enabling necessary user interaction.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an auxiliary entrance is formed in the glass member, then laundry can be added during washing cycle, but the glass member structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary door is merged with the glass member structure of the main door. The frame unit is coupled to the glass member, and the auxiliary door is rotatably coupled to this frame unit, which is integrated into the glass member. This merging approach allows the auxiliary entrance to be formed without requiring a separate structural component, thus minimizing additional complexity while enabling the desired functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a washing machine, which includes a main body in which a main entrance is formed at a front thereof, a tub that is provided inside the main body, and a main door that is coupled to the main body to open and close the main entrance and includes a glass member and a holder member. The glass member includes a flange portion that is coupled to the holder member, and a body portion that protrudes toward an inside of the tub and has an auxiliary entrance formed therein for inputting laundry to the inside of the tub while the main door is closed. With this configuration, opening the auxiliary door and additionally inputting laundry is possible during a washing cycle.