Clothes processing apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional clothes treatment apparatuses face issues with fixed amplitude during frequency changes, leading to excessive stress on items, energy inefficiency, and unnecessary vibrations in unintended directions.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus allows for adjustable vibration frequencies and amplitudes by varying the angular speed of eccentric portions, enabling modes with low frequency and large amplitude or high frequency and small amplitude, and minimizes unnecessary vibrations through off-centered rotational axes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If vibration frequency is increased while maintaining amplitude, then vibration efficiency is improved, but stress on items increases and clothes may fall off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting both vibration frequency and amplitude based on operational conditions. The control unit modifies these parameters to optimize wrinkle removal effectiveness while preventing excessive stress on clothes, thereby resolving the contradiction between improving vibration efficiency and reducing harmful stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where the control unit continuously monitors vibration conditions and adjusts frequency and amplitude accordingly. This feedback mechanism ensures that high vibration frequency is applied only when necessary for wrinkle removal, while automatically reducing amplitude to prevent clothes from falling off or being damaged.
2Productivity
If amplitude is maintained at high level during frequency changes, then vibration effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically changes vibration parameters including amplitude and frequency based on operational needs. By reducing amplitude when high frequency is sufficient for the task, the system maintains vibration effectiveness while significantly reducing energy consumption, resolving the contradiction between productivity and energy use.
3Device complexity
If single eccentric drive weight is used, then device complexity is reduced, but vibration direction cannot be controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the vibration generation system into multiple independent eccentric drive weights that can be individually controlled. This segmentation allows each weight to contribute to specific vibration directions, enabling precise control over the overall vibration pattern while maintaining relatively simple individual components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of multiple eccentric weights where the rotation speeds and phases of individual weights can be independently adjusted. This dynamic capability enables the system to generate vibrations in various directions and patterns, providing adaptability without requiring a complex fixed mechanical structure.
4Productivity
If vibration frequency is increased, then wrinkle removal efficiency is improved, but maximum frequency is limited by physical constraints
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical vibration transmission systems with a more advanced drive mechanism that uses multiple independently controlled eccentric weights. This substitution allows the system to overcome physical limitations of single-mechanism designs and achieve higher vibration frequencies while maintaining control, thereby improving wrinkle removal efficiency without being constrained by earlier mechanical limits.
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 reduces stress on items, prevents clothes from falling off, and minimizes energy consumption while enhancing vibration efficiency and user customization.
Implementation Method 1
a motor, a single eccentric drive weight and a hanger bar. The single eccentric drive weight coupled to a motor is connected to the hanger bar
Implementation Method 2
The single eccentric drive weight coupled to a motor is connected to the hanger bar and causes the hanger bar to be vibrated
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A clothes treatment apparatus comprises: a frame; a hanger body configured to move with respect to the frame and provided to hang clothes or clothes hangers; a vibration module that generates vibrations by comprising at least one eccentric portion that rotates around at least one predetermined rotational axis in such a way that the weight is off-center, and that is connected to the hanger body to transmit the vibrations; and at least one elastic member that exerts an elastic force on the vibration module when the vibration module vibrates, wherein the angular speed of the eccentric portion is changeable.