Auxiliary Washer Door Locking for Safe Mid-Cycle Laundry Addition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Washing machines do not allow for convenient and safe addition of laundry during operation, as the main door must be opened, which requires waiting for the cycle to finish or draining water, limiting flexibility and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A washing machine with an auxiliary door that can be unlocked by default and locked only under specific conditions, such as weight or temperature, allowing for safe and convenient addition of laundry during operation, and automatically adjusting washing parameters like water supply and time when the door is opened.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the main door is locked during washing operation to ensure safety, then safety is improved, but the ability to add laundry is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidability to add laundry

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door system is divided into two independent parts: a main door for initial loading and an auxiliary door for adding laundry during operation. The auxiliary door has its own independent locking mechanism that operates separately from the main door lock, allowing users to add laundry without opening the main door during washing cycles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The auxiliary door acts as an intermediary element between the user and the washing drum. It provides a safe interface for adding laundry during operation by allowing the main door to remain locked while still enabling access through the smaller auxiliary door.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the auxiliary door is unlocked by default to enhance convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but safety risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconvenience of adding laundryVSAvoidsafety

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The locking state of the auxiliary door is dynamic rather than static. The door can be unlocked during operation for adding laundry, but the system automatically locks it under specific conditions (high temperature, high speed rotation, or when the main door is opened) to maintain safety when needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The locking behavior of the auxiliary door changes based on operating parameters such as water temperature, drum rotation speed, and main door state. The controller adjusts the locking state according to these parameters to balance convenience and safety.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If the auxiliary door is locked during high temperature operation to prevent accidents, then safety is improved, but user flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety during high temperature operationVSAvoiduser flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors operating parameters (temperature, speed, door state) and provides feedback control for the auxiliary door locking mechanism. When safe conditions are detected, the door can be unlocked; when dangerous conditions arise, the door is automatically locked.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If the main door must be opened to add laundry, then complete access is achieved, but water loss and time loss occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccess to drumVSAvoidwater loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10745851B2Washing machine and method for controlling same

Publication Date: 2020.08.18 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

AI summary

Provided are a washing machine in which an auxiliary door can be safely and conveniently used, and a method of controlling the same. The auxiliary door through which laundry can be additionally put into the washing machine, is provided, and the auxiliary door can be safely locked/unlocked. Because an open/closed state of the auxiliary door can be indirectly determined through a locking/unlocking operation of the auxiliary door, even when a door opening/closing detecting device has broken down, the auxiliary door can be safely used. In addition, the auxiliary door is unlocked by default and conditions on which the auxiliary door is locked for safety if necessary, are minimized during an operation of the washing machine so that use convenience of the auxiliary door can be enhanced, and a locked state of the auxiliary door is maintained according to the amount of laundry so that the laundry can be safely put into the washing machine. Furthermore, when the auxiliary door is opened during an operation of the washing machine, the weight of the laundry can be detected again and a washing performance of the added laundry can be guaranteed through additional supply of water and time increase so that a user's reliance on a product can be enhanced.