Foreign substrate collector for a laundry appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry appliances struggle to effectively remove foreign substrates such as pet hair and lint during the washing and drying cycles, leading to inefficiencies and potential cross-contamination between different types of laundry loads.
Innovation Solution
A laundry appliance equipped with a drum, lifters, a motor, a controller, and a negatively-charged member that attracts oppositely-charged foreign substrates, along with a canister to trap these substrates, and a blower system to facilitate their removal, all controlled by an algorithm that alters the laundry cycle to dislodge and collect foreign materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional laundry appliances are used without a foreign substrate collection system, then the device complexity is low, but the cleaning effectiveness deteriorates due to incomplete removal of foreign substrates like pet hair and lint
Solution Approach 1:
The foreign substrate collection system is nested within the existing drum structure. The drum surface itself is modified with a negatively-charged coating, and lifters are integrated into the drum wall. This nesting approach allows the collection function to be added without requiring a completely separate external system, thereby improving cleaning effectiveness while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical collection methods with an electrostatic field-based system. The negatively-charged coating on the drum and lifters creates an electrostatic field that actively attracts and collects foreign substrates like pet hair and lint. This substitution enhances cleaning effectiveness by using electrical forces rather than relying solely on mechanical agitation and gravity.
2Reliability
If a negatively-charged member is added to attract foreign substrates, then the collection effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The negatively-charged member is merged with existing drum components. The drum surface itself is coated with the negatively-charged material, and the lifters are also coated or integrated with the charging system. This merging reduces the need for separate independent components, thereby improving collection effectiveness while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum serves multiple functions: it still performs its primary rotating function for laundry processing, while simultaneously serving as the negatively-charged collection surface for foreign substrates. The lifters also serve dual purposes of mechanical agitation and electrostatic collection. This multi-functionality improves collection effectiveness without requiring entirely separate dedicated components.
3Reliability
If the drum rotation is altered mid-cycle to dislodge foreign substrates, then the foreign substrate removal is improved, but the loss of time occurs due to additional cycle interruptions
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic alterations in drum rotation speed or direction during the laundry cycle to dislodge foreign substrates from the laundry load. These periodic changes occur at strategically timed intervals, allowing the electrostatic field to accumulate substrates on the drum surface, then mechanically dislodge them into the collection area. This periodic action improves foreign substrate removal while minimizing total cycle time interruption compared to complete stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The negatively-charged coating on the drum and lifters continuously attracts and accumulates foreign substrates during the entire laundry cycle. This preliminary accumulation means that when the drum rotation is altered to dislodge substrates, they are already concentrated and ready for efficient collection, rather than requiring extended collection periods. This improves removal effectiveness while reducing the time needed for the actual dislodging and collection phase.
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
Enhances the removal of foreign substrates like pet hair and lint by integrating a system that dislodges and collects them efficiently, minimizing residue and reducing cross-contamination between different laundry loads.
Implementation Method 1
A negative charge is configured to attract oppositely-charged foreign substrates to the negatively-charged member
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry appliance includes a cabinet. A drum disposed within the cabinet and has an inner circumferential wall. At least one lifter is operably coupled to the inner circumferential wall of the drum. A motor is operably coupled to the drum and is disposed within the cabinet. A controller is disposed within the cabinet and is communicatively coupled to the motor. A negatively-charged member selectively disposed within the drum. A negative charge is configured to attract oppositely-charged foreign substrates to the negatively-charged member. The negatively-charged member is selectively coupled to the at least one lifter.