Laundry treatment apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional drawer-type laundry treatment apparatuses require multiple sensors to detect whether the drawer is inserted into the cabinet and if an object is seated on the top surface, leading to complexity and potential instability due to shifted center of gravity when the drawer is withdrawn, necessitating additional sensors to prevent water leakage and ensure proper operation.
Innovation Solution
A single sensor system utilizing a contact portion and position sensor to determine if the drawer is inserted and if an object is seated on the cabinet, with a converter mechanism to move a free end between two points, allowing the position sensor to confirm the drawer's closed position and object presence, enabling controlled operation of the apparatus.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors are used to detect drawer insertion and object presence, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines two separate sensor functions (drawer insertion detection and object presence detection) into a single sensor system. The sensor unit includes a contact portion that detects both whether the drawer is inserted into the cabinet and whether an object is seated on the cabinet top surface, eliminating the need for multiple separate sensors and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining detection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The single sensor unit performs multiple functions: it detects drawer insertion status, detects object presence on the cabinet top surface, and provides positional information through the converter mechanism. This multi-functional sensor replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized sensors, simplifying the device while improving reliability through integrated detection
2Ease of operation
If the drawer is withdrawn from the cabinet, then accessibility is improved, but stability deteriorates due to center of gravity shift
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system detects the drawer's withdrawn position and the presence/absence of objects on the cabinet top surface before operation begins. This allows the control system to anticipate potential stability issues and prevent operation when the center of gravity shift would cause instability, thereby counteracting the harmful effect before it occurs
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor provides continuous feedback about drawer position and object presence to the control system. This feedback mechanism allows the system to monitor stability conditions in real-time and adjust or prevent operation based on the detected state, ensuring stability is maintained even when the drawer is partially withdrawn for accessibility
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed herein is a laundry treatment apparatus (100) including a cabinet (1) including an upper cover (15), a first side cover (16) and a second side cover (17), a cover through hole (153) formed through the upper cover (15), and an outlet (113) formed in a front surface of the cabinet, a drawer (2) including a drawer body (21), and a drawer panel (25) fixed to the drawer body (21), a tub (3a) arranged in the drawer body (21), a drum (3b) rotatably arranged inside the tub (3a), an operation part (96) having one end rotatably fixed to the first side cover (16) and a free end, a contact portion (92) exposed to an outside of the cabinet (1) and configured to move toward an inside of the cabinet (1) and toward the cover through hole (153), a converter (95) configured to move the free end, and a position sensor (98) configured to sense a position of the free end when the outlet (113) is closed to sense closure of the outlet (113).