Laundry Door Observation Window Rotation for Reversible Opening

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drum washing machines face cumbersome and time-consuming assembly steps when switching the door opening direction due to asymmetrically designed observation windows, which affects the spraying effect and requires detaching and reassembling the observation window.

Innovation Solution

A door assembly with a fixing member and guide assembly, including rolling members and limiting grooves, allows the observation window to rotate within the installation groove without deviating from its space between the outer and inner frames, enabling adjustment of the raised structure's position without detaching it, thus simplifying the door opening direction switch.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Shape

If the observation window is asymmetrically designed to improve aesthetic appearance, then the visual appeal is enhanced, but the door opening direction cannot be switched without detaching and reassembling the observation window

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaesthetic appearance of observation windowVSAvoidease of switching door opening direction
Core Design Contradiction:
ShapeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The door assembly is divided into separable components: the door body and the observation window. The observation window can be detached from the door body through the fixing member, allowing independent rotation of the door body without moving the observation window, thus maintaining aesthetic appearance while enabling direction switching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The observation window is extracted as a separate component that can be removed from the door body. The fixing member allows the observation window to be detached and reattached, enabling the door body to be rotated 180° without the observation window, solving the contradiction between aesthetic design and operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the machine door is rotated by 180° to switch opening direction, then the door can open away from obstacles, but the observation window becomes inverted affecting the spraying effect

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to different placement environmentsVSAvoidspraying effect of the washing machine
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The door assembly is segmented into the door body and observation window. When switching door opening direction, only the door body needs to be rotated 180° while the observation window remains fixed on the machine body, ensuring the observation window's raised structure always faces away from the spraying device and maintaining reliable spraying effect.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The observation window is extracted as a separate component that stays fixed on the machine body while the door body rotates. This extraction allows the door to adapt to different placement environments by changing opening direction without affecting the observation window's position and thus maintaining spraying reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Reliability

If the observation window is detached and reassembled to maintain its position, then the spraying effect is preserved, but the assembly time and complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespraying effectVSAvoidassembly time for switching door direction
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The door assembly is segmented into door body and observation window components. The fixing member enables simple attachment and detachment of the observation window. When switching door direction, the observation window remains fixed on the machine body while only the door body is rotated, eliminating the need for time-consuming disassembly and reassembly of the observation window.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The observation window is pre-fixed to the machine body through the fixing member before the door body is rotated. This preliminary action ensures that when the door direction is switched, the observation window is already in the correct position, eliminating the need for post-rotation adjustment and reducing assembly time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 solution reduces the time and complexity of switching the door opening direction by allowing the observation window to be rotated independently, maintaining its optimal position relative to the spraying device without the need for additional disassembly and assembly steps.

Implementation Method 1

rolling members being rotatably accommodated in the limiting grooves; and annular guide grooves disposed on the edge of the observation window, the rolling members also being capable of rolling in the annular guide grooves

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRolling friction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3741905B1Door assembly of laundry treatment device and laundry treatment device
Publication Date: 2022.09.07 QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO LTD
  • EP3741905B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3741905B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3741905B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A door assembly of a laundry treatment device and a laundry treatment device. The door assembly of the laundry treatment device comprises an outer frame (21), an inner frame (22) and an observation window (23) provided between the outer frame (21) and the inner frame (22), a mounting assembly (25) being provided between the outer frame (21) and the inner frame (22), the observation window (23) being rotatably sandwiched between the outer frame (21) and the inner frame (22) by means of the mounting assembly (25). With this arrangement, the observation window (23) can be rotated relative to the inner frame (22) and the outer frame (21) without deviating from the space between the inner frame (22) and the outer frame (21), such that in the process of rotating the entire door assembly 180° to switch the door opening direction, the mounting requirement of the observation window (23) can be satisfied only by separately rotating the observation window (23) 180°, omitting the step of removing the observation window (23), rotating same and then mounting same back to the door assembly, thereby shortening the overall operation time for a user switching the door opening direction of the machine door.