Clothes treatment device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing laundry treating apparatuses face inefficiencies in refreshing laundry due to contaminants being circulated and re-adsorbed, leading to contamination within the machine and reduced effectiveness in deodorizing and smoothing wrinkles.

Innovation Solution

A laundry treating apparatus with a movable laundry care device featuring a jetting unit and a suction unit, where air is jetted and then suctioned in a controlled manner to prevent re-contamination, utilizing filters like pre-filters, HEPA, activated carbon, or photo-catalyst filters, and an air circulation device to ensure effective air flow and filtration.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If air is jetted toward laundry to smooth wrinkles and deodorize, then laundry refreshing effect is improved, but contaminants are circulated and re-adsorbed to laundry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelaundry refreshing efficiencyVSAvoidcontaminant re-adsorption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The air treatment function is divided into separate components: a jetting unit for emitting air, a suction unit for collecting contaminated air, and a filter for removing contaminants. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function effectively, preventing contaminant recirculation while maintaining laundry refreshing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The suction unit extracts contaminated air away from the laundry after jetting, and the filter removes contaminants from the air flow. This extraction process separates the harmful contaminants from the beneficial air treatment function, preventing re-adsorption while maintaining refreshing effects

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If a stationary air jetting structure is used, then device structure is simple, but the entire range of laundry cannot be treated effectively

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoverage of laundry treatmentVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The laundry care device is made movable rather than stationary, allowing it to move along the laundry to treat the entire range. The jetting unit and suction unit work together in a coordinated moving system that maintains their relative positions while covering the full laundry area, achieving comprehensive treatment without excessive structural complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Duration of action of stationary object

If air circulation is used to maintain continuous treatment, then treatment effectiveness is improved, but contaminants are circulated back to laundry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontinuous treatment durationVSAvoidcontaminant circulation
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The filter acts as an intermediary between the jetting unit and the environment, capturing contaminants from the air flow before they can be recirculated. This intermediary component allows continuous air circulation for sustained treatment while blocking the return path of harmful contaminants to the laundry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enhances the efficiency of refreshing laundry by ensuring the entire range is treated effectively, maintaining a clean and pleasant environment within the apparatus by preventing re-contamination and improving the overall laundry care process.

Implementation Method 1

a jetting unit configured to jet air to the laundry

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir jetting: Jet

Implementation Method 2

a suction unit into which air jetted by the jetting unit, after passing through the laundry, is suctioned

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir suction: Suction

Implementation Method 3

The filter part may include at least one of a pre filter, a hepa filter, an activated carbon filter, and a photo-catalyst filter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 4

an air circulation device connected to the jetting unit and the suction unit and configured to generate a suction force for the suction unit to suction air and generate a jetting force for the jetting unit to jet air

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir circulation: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3473762B1Clothes treatment device
Publication Date: 2020.08.26 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3473762B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3473762B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3473762B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Provided is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet, a laundry care device movably provided inside the cabinet, wherein the laundry care device includes a jetting unit configured to jet air to the laundry, and a suction unit into which air jetted by the jetting unit, after passing through the laundry, is suctioned. Inside of the laundry treating apparatus is kept pleasant and laundry care efficiency is enhanced.