Repositionable Drum Support for Inverted Laundry Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses experience durability issues and instability when used upside down, as the rollers fail to support the drum properly, leading to degradation of the belt due to concentrated weight.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a drum support unit that can be interchangeably coupled to either a first or second mounting portion, allowing the rollers to be positioned below or above the drum's rotation center, ensuring stable support even when the apparatus is used upside down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the laundry treatment apparatus is used upside down to improve ease of operation (control panel accessibility), then the control panel is more accessible, but the rollers cannot support the drum causing degraded reliability and durability
Solution Approach 1:
The drum support unit is designed to be movable between different mounting portions (first mounting portion for normal orientation, second mounting portion for upside-down orientation). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the system to adapt its support structure based on the operational orientation, ensuring reliable drum support whether the apparatus is used upright or inverted.
Solution Approach 2:
The position of the drum support unit is changed by moving it between different mounting portions located at different heights relative to the drum's rotation center. This parameter change (position of support unit) allows the system to maintain proper support geometry regardless of the apparatus orientation, preventing belt degradation and ensuring stable drum rotation.
2Device complexity
If the drum support unit is fixed at the first mounting portion for normal operation, then the structure is simple, but the apparatus cannot be used upside down without causing belt degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The drum support unit is designed with universal functionality to operate in both normal and upside-down orientations. By providing multiple mounting portions (first and second mounting portions) and enabling the support unit to move between them, the system gains multi-functionality, allowing it to be used in either orientation without causing belt degradation or poor drum support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the drum weight is concentrated on the belt when used upside down, then the apparatus can be operated in inverted state, but the belt durability is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
When the apparatus is used upside down, the drum support unit is moved to the second mounting portion, which is positioned above the horizontal line passing through the drum's rotation center. This dynamic repositioning changes the support geometry so that the drum weight is properly distributed to the rollers rather than being concentrated on the belt, preventing belt degradation even during inverted operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet (1), a drum (3) having a cylindrical shape, a first support member (15) to rotatably support an open front drum surface, an opening (151) formed through the first support member (15) to allow the drum (3) to communicate with a cabinet opening (141), a second support member (17) to rotatably support an open rear drum surface, a driving unit (5) to rotate the drum (3), a first mounting portion (152) provided at a selected one of the support members (15, 17) and disposed below a horizontal line (H) passing through a rotation center of the drum, a second mounting portion (156) provided at the selected support member (15, 17) and disposed above the horizontal line (H), and a drum support unit (9) configured to rotatably support a circumferential surface of the drum and to be separably coupled to either the first mounting portion (152) or the second mounting portion (156) in an interchangeable manner.