Dual-Axis Garment Door Mechanism With Damped Pivot Switching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry-treating apparatuses lack the ability to switch the pivoting direction of their doors and allow users to select the pivoting axis, leading to potential changes in the pivoting axis during operation, which can result in noise and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a door that can pivot around two different axes, with a mechanism involving a first and second switch, a damper, and locking systems to manage the pivoting axis selection and prevent axis changes during operation, minimizing noise through elastic dampening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the door is made pivotable about a single vertical axis, then the structure is simple and reliable, but the user cannot select different pivoting directions and the door may collide with surrounding structures
Solution Approach 1:
The door mechanism transitions from a fixed single-axis pivot to a dynamic multi-axis pivot system. The door can switch between pivoting about a first vertical axis (when closed) and a second vertical axis (when open), allowing adaptability to different spatial constraints while maintaining structural simplicity through controlled dynamic behavior.
Solution Approach 2:
The door assembly incorporates multiple pivoting capabilities within a single mechanism. It can pivot about a first vertical axis when closed and switch to pivoting about a second vertical axis when open, enabling the same door structure to serve multiple opening directions and accommodate various installation environments.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the pivoting axis can be switched during operation, then the door can adapt to different opening directions, but the pivoting axis may change unintentionally during use
Solution Approach 1:
The door mechanism is designed to switch pivoting axes in advance before the door is fully opened. The switching action occurs when the door is in a transitional state, ensuring that the door is already positioned about the correct pivoting axis before complete opening, thereby preventing unintended axis changes during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanism incorporates positional feedback through the interaction between the door, pivot axes, and switching structure. As the door moves toward the open position, the geometry of the pivot mechanism automatically detects the appropriate switching moment and executes the axis change, ensuring reliable and intentional pivoting axis selection.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the door switches between two pivoting axes, then the door can avoid collisions and improve versatility, but noise is generated during the axis switching process
Solution Approach 1:
The door mechanism incorporates damping elements or cushioning features in advance of the axis switching event. These elements are positioned to absorb shocks and reduce impacts that occur during the transition between pivoting axes, thereby minimizing noise generation while maintaining the multi-axis pivoting 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
Enables the user to select the pivoting axis of the door, prevents axis changes during operation, and reduces noise levels by using a damper to control the movement speed and prevent collisions, enhancing the operational efficiency and user experience.
Implementation Method 1
a damper configured to reduce a movement speed of the second body toward the partitioning wall or to prevent the second body from colliding against the partitioning wall
Implementation Method 2
the damper includes an elastic body fixed to either the partitioning wall or the second body to prevent the second body from colliding with the partitioning wall, wherein the elastic body includes an elastic member
Data Source
AI summary
A garment processing device door comprises an exposed first compartment, and a second compartment separated by a barrier; a first switch reciprocating inside the second compartment and connecting the door to a first rotation axis; a second switch reciprocating inside the second compartment and connecting the door to a second rotation axis when the door from the first rotation axis; a first body having one end rotatably fixed to the first compartment and another end penetrating the barrier and in the second compartment; a second body fixed to the first body and inside the second compartment, the second body moving the first switch to separate the door from the first rotation axis based on a force to the first body, and the second body moving toward the barrier when the first switch connects the door to the first rotation axis; and a damper between the second body and the barrier.