Dual-Axis Door Mechanism with Lock and Damper for Laundry Apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in ensuring the door can easily switch between rotational axes without user inconvenience and preventing accidental separation of hinges, leading to incomplete closure of the introduction port and potential damage from excessive rotational speed.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a dual-axis door mechanism with a lock system and a damper to stabilize the door's rotation, allowing seamless switching between rotational axes and preventing hinge separation, ensuring complete port closure and controlled rotational speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single-axis rotation mechanism is used, then the door structure is simple, but the door cannot switch between different rotational axes causing incomplete port closure
Solution Approach 1:
The door mechanism transitions from a static single-axis configuration to a dynamic dual-axis system. The first hinge allows rotation about a first rotational axis, while the second hinge enables rotation about a second rotational axis that is perpendicular to the first. This dynamic capability allows the door to adapt its rotation path based on operational requirements, ensuring complete closure of the introduction port while maintaining structural manageability through defined rotational constraints.
2Ease of operation
If the door can freely switch between rotational axes, then port closure is improved, but accidental hinge separation may occur causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is engaged in advance to prevent accidental hinge separation. The lock includes a lock body that can be moved between a locked position, where it prevents separation of the hinges, and an unlocked position, where it allows intentional axis switching. This preliminary protective action ensures that the hinges remain securely connected during normal operation while still permitting controlled transitions between rotational axes when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The lock body acts as an intermediary between the hinges and the external environment. It mediates the interaction by providing a controlled interface for axis switching while maintaining hinge connection stability. The lock body receives user input through the operation port and translates it into controlled mechanical actions that enable axis switching without compromising hinge security.
3Speed
If the door rotates without speed control, then axis switching is fast, but excessive rotational speed causes damage to door and components
Solution Approach 1:
The damper is installed beforehand to cushion the door's rotational motion. It provides damping force that opposes excessive rotational speed, thereby preventing damage to the door and supporting components. The damper allows controlled rotation between axes while limiting the maximum rotational velocity to safe levels, ensuring that the door can switch axes efficiently without creating harmful kinetic energy.
4Reliability
If a lock mechanism is added to prevent hinge separation, then connection stability is improved, but operation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lock mechanism is integrated with the existing hinge structure and operation port, allowing it to perform multiple functions: preventing hinge separation, enabling controlled axis switching, and maintaining door closure security. The lock body can be moved between locked and unlocked positions using the same operation interface, reducing the need for separate control mechanisms and minimizing overall system complexity.
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
This design enhances user convenience by facilitating easy axis switching, ensures complete port closure, and prevents damage to the door and apparatus components by stabilizing the door's rotational speed.
Implementation Method 1
a damper provided at the cabinet to support the door
Data Source
AI summary
The laundry treating apparatus includes a door to open and close the introduction port about a first rotational or a second rotational axis which is different from first rotational axis. A first switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of door about the first rotational axis, and a second switching unit is provided in the door to allow rotation of the door about the second rotational axis. A lock fixes a position of at least one of the first switching unit or second switching unit when the door opens the introduction port. As can be appreciated, the mechanism used for the laundry apparatus may be applicable to other home appliances or non-home appliances where two different rotational axes may be needed to open and close a door.