Induction-Heated Drum Motion Cycles for Balanced Laundry Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses with hot-air drying functions face inefficiencies in heat transfer, leading to drying imbalances and mechanical stress on laundry, particularly with large or bulky loads, resulting in uneven drying and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus utilizing an induction heater with controlled drum motion cycles, including space securing, rearrangement, and conductive accelerating motions, to enhance heat transfer and minimize mechanical stress by varying RPMs and motion patterns based on load conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hot air drying is used with tumbling operation, then drying function is added to washing apparatus, but heat transfer efficiency is low and drying imbalance occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hot air heating system with an induction heating system that uses electromagnetic fields to directly heat the drum. This substitution eliminates the need for complex ducts, fans, and sheath heaters, while significantly improving heat transfer efficiency through direct electromagnetic coupling between the induction heater and drum metal surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic tumbling operations with alternating rotation directions to ensure uniform heat distribution throughout the laundry load. The drum rotates forward for a predetermined time, then reverses direction, creating periodic motion that continuously redistributes laundry items across different heating zones, preventing localized overheating and ensuring balanced drying.
2Manufacturing precision
If tumbling operation is performed with frequent direction changes, then laundry is spread and mixed, but mechanical stress and deformation increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts drum rotation speed as a controlled parameter during the drying cycle. By varying the rotation speed within optimal ranges and maintaining smooth acceleration and deceleration profiles, the system achieves effective laundry redistribution while minimizing mechanical stress. The controlled parameter adjustments ensure uniform drying without excessive tumbling forces that cause deformation.
3Productivity
If drum rotation speed is increased for better heat transfer, then drying efficiency improves, but mechanical stress on laundry increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical heat transfer through high-speed tumbling with electromagnetic induction heating. The induction heater generates electromagnetic fields that directly induce eddy currents in the drum, converting electrical energy to thermal energy efficiently. This allows effective drying at lower rotation speeds, reducing mechanical stress on laundry while maintaining high drying efficiency through direct electromagnetic heating.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses periodic tumbling with controlled rotation speed variations to optimize the balance between heat transfer and mechanical stress. By implementing alternating forward and reverse rotations at controlled speeds, the system ensures all laundry items receive adequate heat exposure over time without subjecting them to excessive mechanical forces during any single rotation cycle.
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 ensures uniform and efficient drying of laundry, reducing shrinkage and deformation, and effectively handling large or bulky loads by optimizing drum motion cycles and heat distribution.
Implementation Method 1
an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an object treating apparatus, and more particularly, an object treating apparatus for heating a drum using an induction heater and a control method thereof. The object treating apparatus includes a tub; a drum rotatably disposed within the tub and accommodating an object therein; an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater; a motor to rotate the drum; and a processor configured to control an operation of the induction heater to dry the object, wherein the processor is configured to control revolution per minute (RPM) of the drum to perform at least three drum motions having at least three different target RPMs respectively when drying the object.