Drum Lifter Assembly With Drain Groove to Prevent Residue Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines with lifters in the drum face issues such as foreign substance accumulation leading to hygiene problems, deformation due to external forces, and complex manufacturing processes that increase costs and time.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a lifter design featuring a seating groove with drain holes to prevent foreign substance accumulation, a supporting rib for structural stability, and a coupling mechanism that allows smooth assembly and deformation support, using a combination of synthetic resin and metallic materials for the lifter frame and cover.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lifter is installed in the drum to improve washing effect, then washing performance is improved, but foreign substances may accumulate in gaps between components causing hygiene issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful element (foreign substance accumulation) by designing a gap-free coupling structure between the first and second members. The coupling groove and coupling protrusion create a tight fit that eliminates spaces where foreign substances could accumulate, thereby maintaining washing performance while preventing hygiene issues.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the first member and second member into a more integrated structure through the coupling groove and protrusion design. This merging eliminates the gap between components, preventing foreign substance accumulation while maintaining the functional benefits of the lifter structure for improved washing performance.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between first member and second member is reduced to prevent foreign substance accumulation, then hygiene is improved, but deformation may occur due to external forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lifter structure into distinct first and second members that are coupled through a groove and protrusion interface. This segmentation allows each member to be optimized for its specific function while the coupling mechanism maintains tight fit without requiring excessive gap reduction, thereby preventing foreign substance accumulation while maintaining structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling mechanism combines geometric interlocking (groove and protrusion shapes) with material properties to create a joint that is both tight-fitting to prevent foreign substance accumulation and strong enough to resist deformation from external forces during washing operations.
3Reliability
If the first member and second member are designed separately to improve functionality, then washing effect is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling groove is formed in advance during the manufacturing process of the first member, and the coupling protrusion is pre-formed on the second member. This preliminary action allows the components to be manufactured separately with optimized functionalities while ensuring easy and accurate assembly, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling groove and protrusion are designed to self-align and self-secure during assembly. The geometric shapes guide the components into proper alignment and automatically lock together, eliminating the need for complex fastening mechanisms or additional assembly steps, thereby simplifying manufacturing while maintaining functional performance.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple mounting holes are formed in the drum to install lifters, then lifter installation is achieved, but the drum becomes vulnerable to buckling and deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of distributing multiple mounting holes throughout the drum, the patent concentrates the mounting function at specific locations using the coupling groove and protrusion mechanism. This local quality approach maintains drum structural integrity by minimizing holes while providing adequate lifter installation capability at critical positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The coupling groove and protrusion design provides inherent structural reinforcement at the mounting locations before the drum is subjected to washing loads. This beforehand cushioning prevents buckling and deformation by strengthening the drum at critical mounting points without requiring multiple holes that would compromise overall structural integrity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The laundry treating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a drum (50) and a lifter (61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, 63b), wherein the lifter (61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, 63b) includes a lifter frame (620) and a frame cover (640), wherein the lifter frame (620) includes a frame base (621) including a seating groove (621r) formed along a circumference of the lifter frame (620), a frame upper plate (623), and a frame sidewall (622), wherein the frame cover (640) includes a cover upper plate (646) having an inner surface which faces the frame upper plate (623) and a cover sidewall (645) including a lower end and an upper end, wherein the lower end is coupled to the frame base (621) by being mounted to the seating groove (621r), and the upper end is connected to the cover upper plate (646) , wherein a drain hole (740) configured to communicate an upper surface and a lower surface of the frame base (621) with each other is formed in the seating groove (621r).