Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in maintaining effective friction between lifters and laundry, leading to inefficient rubbing and lifting, and are prone to deformation and imbalance due to the design of lifters, which affects the cleaning efficiency and durability of the apparatus.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a lifter frame made of synthetic resin and a frame cover made of metal, with water flow throughholes and discharge holes strategically positioned for improved friction and cleaning, and a design that ensures rigidity and resistance to deformation, allowing for efficient laundry lifting and cleaning even when the lifter height is reduced.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If the height of the lifter is increased to improve laundry lifting, then the laundry can be lifted more easily, but the laundry falls directly onto the bottom instead of rolling
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter is divided into a frame cover and a frame, with the frame cover being a separate component that can be optimally shaped for lifting while the frame provides structural support, allowing independent optimization of lifting performance and structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The frame cover is designed with a curved outer surface that contacts the laundry, creating a dome-like structure that facilitates rolling motion while maintaining effective lifting height, resolving the contradiction between lifting force and rolling motion
2Strength
If the lifter is made of metal to ensure strength, then the structural strength is improved, but plastic deformation occurs causing imbalance and drum damage
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter combines a metal frame cover for strength and durability with a synthetic resin frame for flexibility and resistance to plastic deformation, creating a composite structure that maintains balance stability while providing structural strength
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties are changed from pure metal to a composite of metal and synthetic resin, altering the mechanical properties to resist plastic deformation while maintaining sufficient strength, thereby preventing imbalance and drum damage
3Productivity
If the gap between the outer surface of the first member and inner surface of the second member is reduced to improve cleaning, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but foreign substances are trapped causing hygienic problems
Solution Approach 1:
The frame cover is designed with throughholes that create a controlled porous structure, allowing water flow to effectively clean the interior while preventing foreign substances from being trapped, resolving the contradiction between cleaning effectiveness and hygienic concerns
4Power
If the lifter height is reduced to improve rubbing action, then friction between laundry and drum is improved, but the lifting capability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the lifter into frame cover and frame components, the design allows the frame cover to be optimized for rubbing action with appropriate height while the frame provides the necessary structural support for lifting capability
Solution Approach 2:
The curved outer surface of the frame cover enhances rubbing action through friction during rotation, while the overall lifter structure maintains sufficient height for effective lifting, achieving both rubbing power and lifting capability
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 solution enhances the rubbing action between the laundry and the washing protrusions, improves fabric distribution, and ensures effective cleaning by maintaining friction and rigidity, reducing deformation and improving the overall washing performance.
Implementation Method 1
The water flow through the water flow throughholes and discharge holes creates friction between the washing water and the laundry, enhancing the rubbing action and cleaning effectiveness
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus according to the present disclosure includes a drum (51) configured to rotate about a rotation axis extending in a front-rear direction, and a lifter disposed in the drum. The lifter (61a, 61b, 62a, 62b, 63a, and 63b) includes a lifter frame (620) installed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum, and a frame cover (640) coupled to the lifter frame and protruding radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the drum. The lifter frame has water flow throughholes (624) formed in an upper surface (623) and a lateral surface (622) of the lifter frame so as to allow the inside and the outside of the lifter frame to communicate with each other, and the frame cover has a water flow discharge hole (646h) formed by penetrating a part of an upper surface of the frame cover and through which washing water that has passed through the water flow throughhole is discharged into the drum.