Clothes treatment apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing clothes treatment apparatuses face limitations in effectively removing wrinkles from both top and bottom clothes within a limited space, often failing to apply sufficient physical force and frequently leaving wrinkles in bottom clothes untouched.
Innovation Solution
A clothes treatment apparatus featuring a panel assembly with rotatable panels that can be configured to apply tension or compression, allowing for the simultaneous treatment of top and bottom clothes using heated air or steam, thereby enhancing wrinkle removal efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a pressurizing panel and fixed panel structure is used to apply compression to clothes, then wrinkle removal effectiveness is improved, but the device occupies large volume and has complicated structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a movable panel assembly that can rotate between a storage position and a working position. The panel transitions from a static fixed state to a dynamic movable state, allowing the same structure to provide both compression force for wrinkle removal and space-saving storage. This dynamic transformation resolves the contradiction between needing large compression force and minimizing apparatus volume.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel assembly utilizes rotational movement to transition between positions, effectively using a different spatial dimension (rotation angle) to achieve both compact storage and effective working states. By changing the panel's angular position rather than its linear size, the system maintains wrinkle removal effectiveness while reducing the occupied volume when not in use.
2Quantity of substance
If a pressurizing structure with large size is used to treat more clothes, then the number of clothes treated at once is increased, but the pressurizing force is limited due to spatial restriction
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing system is divided into multiple independent panels (first panel, second panel, third panel) that can be selectively positioned. This segmentation allows different combinations of panels to be used based on the number and type of clothes, enabling the system to provide adequate pressurizing force for each item while treating multiple clothes simultaneously. Each panel segment contributes force independently, resolving the contradiction between force magnitude and quantity of clothes.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel assembly can dynamically adjust its configuration by rotating to different positions, allowing the system to optimize the number of active panels based on the loading condition. When more clothes are present, additional panels can be engaged to provide sufficient total force, while maintaining the ability to treat multiple items. This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the force limitation when treating larger quantities of clothes.
3Device complexity
If a fixed panel structure is used to support clothes, then the structure is simple, but wrinkles of bottom clothes such as second clothes cannot be removed
Solution Approach 1:
The panel assembly rotates between a storage position (where panels are aligned) and a working position (where panels are staggered at different heights). This dynamic repositioning creates varied pressing surfaces that can accommodate different clothing types, including bottom clothes that require upward pressing force. The simple rotational mechanism maintains low structural complexity while achieving complete wrinkle removal across all clothing layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The support and pressing functions are segmented across multiple panels at different heights and positions. The first panel, second panel, and third panel can be independently positioned to provide targeted support for different parts of the clothes, including bottom clothes. This segmentation allows comprehensive wrinkle removal while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure based on modular panels.
4Manufacturing precision
If steam and heated air are supplied to clothes, then wrinkle removal effectiveness is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system combines mechanical compression force from the panel assembly with thermal treatment from steam and heated air in a single integrated process. The mechanical pressure from multiple panels works synergistically with the thermal effects, allowing effective wrinkle removal with reduced steam and heated air requirements compared to thermal-only methods. This merging of mechanical and thermal actions reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The panel assembly applies mechanical compression to the clothes before or during the steam and heated air treatment. This preliminary mechanical action pre-relaxes the fabric structure, making the subsequent thermal treatment more efficient and requiring less energy to achieve the same wrinkle removal effect. The sequence of mechanical pre-treatment followed by thermal treatment optimizes energy utilization.
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 apparatus effectively removes wrinkles from both top and bottom clothes by increasing physical force within a limited space, improving consumer satisfaction by ensuring thorough wrinkle removal without the need for extensive spatial adjustments or complex structures.
Implementation Method 1
a steam unit (58) accommodated in the second chamber (14) for supplying steam to the first chamber (12)
Implementation Method 2
a heating unit (52, 60) located in the second chamber (14) for heating air to be circulated in the first chamber (12)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A clothes treatment apparatus is disclosed, which comprises a cabinet having an opened front surface; a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet, opening or closing the front surface; a first chamber arranged inside the cabinet, accommodating clothes; a door inside arranged toward the first chamber in one surface of the door; a second chamber arranged below the first chamber, forming a space separated from the first chamber; a blowing unit provided inside the second chamber, circulating the air of the first chamber; a heat pump unit provided inside the second chamber, dehumidifying and heating the circulating air; a steam unit provided inside the second chamber, supplying steam to the first chamber; a base panel coupled to the door inside; and a panel assembly including a first panel rotatably coupled to the door or the base panel and a second panel rotatably coupled to the first panel, capable of modifying a configuration of the first panel and the second panel through rotation of the first panel and the second panel.