Clothes dryer using LED light source
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes dryers using heaters and air blowing fans are inefficient, require separate water discharge processes, and often cause wrinkles and inconvenience in controlling drying times based on fabric type, while UV LED systems are limited to disinfection and not effective for drying.
Innovation Solution
A clothes dryer utilizing LED light sources with internal air circulation and humidity control, incorporating LED modules, air sterilization, ceramic filters, and air discharge structures to dry clothes efficiently without water discharge, using air circulation and warm air recirculation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a heater and air blowing fan are used for drying clothes, then drying speed is improved, but energy consumption increases and clothes may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional heater-based thermal drying system with an LED light source-based drying system. The LED modules emit light that is absorbed by the clothes, converting optical energy to thermal energy directly in the clothes material, thereby eliminating the need for high-energy heaters while achieving effective drying.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the drying mechanism from thermal convection (heater heating air) to direct optical absorption (LED light absorbed by clothes). This parameter change in the energy transfer mechanism significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining drying effectiveness.
2Productivity
If a heater and heat exchanger are used for drying clothes, then drying function is improved, but water discharge complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the heat exchanger and water discharge system from the drying apparatus. By using LED light sources that dry clothes through direct light absorption, the system removes the need for condensing moisture and discharging water, thereby simplifying the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED light source system performs drying through direct optical-to-thermal conversion in the clothes, making the drying process self-contained without requiring external water collection and discharge systems. The clothes themselves absorb the energy and release moisture naturally.
3Volume of moving object
If clothes are dried in a drum with mixed laundry, then space utilization is improved, but drying time increases and wrinkles are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the drying space into multiple sections with LED light source modules arranged at different positions (front, rear, left, right). This segmentation allows light to reach clothes from multiple directions simultaneously, improving drying efficiency while maintaining space utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point or single-direction heating approach to multi-directional light irradiation by placing LED modules on multiple walls of the drying chamber. This dimensional expansion of the drying source reduces drying time and minimizes wrinkle formation through uniform drying.
4Reliability
If UV LED is used for disinfection, then sterilization function is improved, but drying capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs LED light sources that serve dual functions: UV LEDs provide sterilization while visible light LEDs provide drying capability. By combining different LED types in the same system, the apparatus achieves both disinfection and drying functions simultaneously, eliminating the need for separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the sterilization function (UV LED) and drying function (visible light LED) into a single integrated system. The LED modules contain both UV and visible light emitting diodes that work together to provide comprehensive clothes treatment.
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
The dryer effectively dries clothes without damage, eliminates the need for separate water discharge, reduces drying time, and enhances fabric care by preventing wrinkles and dust removal, while maintaining energy efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of LED light source modules installed under the drying compartment and radiating light upwards so as to dry laundry using the radiated light
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of air blowing fans and a plurality of blow holes arranged inside the passages so as to perform air circulation and guide air to an inside of the drying compartment
Implementation Method 3
UV LEDs configured to radiate light to the drying compartment and air introduced thereinto so as to sterilize the air
Implementation Method 4
a plurality of ceramic filters configured to absorb moisture from the introduced air
Implementation Method 5
an exhaust fan provided on the third through holes so as to discharge air to an outside of the main body
Data Source
AI summary
A clothes dryer using an LED light source is proposed. Instead of using a heater, a blowing fan, and a heat exchanger, the clothes dryer employs a plurality of LED light source modules provided in a body and efficiently arranged therein and an air circulation structure of an air circulation part having a blowing fan arranged in the inner rear side thereof, and is configured to sterilize air through an air sterilization part, absorb and dry moisture by a ceramic filter, and then finally discharge the air to the outside through an exhaust fan. Therefore, without requiring a separate water discharge treatment process in an existing method, the clothes dryer can achieve efficient drying of clothes and drying of clothes without damage.