Foam-Bonded Inner Case Structure for Rigid Clothing Care Cabinets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in deodorization and wrinkle removal due to the use of a drum and driver, requiring complex assembly processes, increased defect rates, and difficulty in maintaining durability and rigidity, especially when replacing frames with foaming agents.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a cabinet, inner case, and hot-air supply unit, where the inner case is made of styrene resin to maintain adhesion with a foaming agent, and the foaming agent is injected between the inner case and hot-air supply unit to maintain strength and shape, eliminating the need for complex assembly and enhancing durability and rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a frame with vertical frames and horizontal frames is used to fix inner case and hot-air supply unit, then durability and structural stability are improved, but assembly complexity and manufacturing time increase due to multiple coupling members required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the frame structure, inner case, and hot-air supply unit into a single integrated molded product. The foaming agent fills the internal cavity to bond these components together, eliminating the need for separate vertical frames, horizontal frames, and multiple coupling members, thus reducing assembly complexity while maintaining structural integrity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite structure consisting of a resin material for the frame body and a foaming agent for internal bonding. This composite approach allows the molded product to achieve both structural strength and component fixation without requiring additional fastening hardware
2Strength
If multiple coupling members such as bolts or nuts are used to assemble frame and inner case, then structural strength is improved, but manufacturing time increases and defect rate increases due to assembly errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical fastening system (bolts, nuts, coupling members) with a chemical bonding system using a foaming agent. The foaming agent expands and hardens to create strong adhesive bonds between components, eliminating the need for mechanical fasteners and complex assembly operations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the frame, inner case, and hot-air supply unit as distinct components that are molded separately and then bonded together using the foaming agent. This segmentation allows for simplified individual component manufacturing while achieving strong structural integration through the foaming process
3Ease of manufacture
If foaming agent is used to replace frame, then assembly process is simplified, but rigidity and shape maintenance may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the foaming agent specifically in the internal cavity of the molded product to bond critical components (inner case to hot-air supply unit, and assembly to frame). This localized application ensures rigidity and shape maintenance at key structural joints while maintaining overall assembly simplicity
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 simplifies the assembly process, reduces defect rates, ensures durability and chemical stability in high temperature and humidity environments, and maintains the shape of the cabinet even when the foaming agent hardens, preventing deformation and interference.
Implementation Method 1
a foaming agent injected into the cabinet to maintain strength and shape when the foaming agent is hardened
Implementation Method 2
the inner case is formed of a styrene resin that maintains adhesion to a foaming agent injected into the cabinet
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a clothing treatment device capable of omitting a frame for structurally connecting an inner case and a cabinet by filling a foaming agent between the inner case and the cabinet forming an appearance. The clothing treatment device comprises a cabinet having an opening at the front thereof: a door which is rotatably provided in front of the opening to open and close the opening; an inner case which is provided in the cabinet to form an accommodation space in which clothes are accommodated, and a hot air supply unit which is provided at the lower portion of the inner case to supply at least one of hot air and moisture to the accommodation space, wherein the inner case is formed of a styrene resin that maintains adhesion to the foaming agent injected into the inner portion of the cabinet.