Reciprocating Hanger Bar Drive for Variable Garment Care Motion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothes treatment apparatuses face limitations in adjusting the amplitude and period of the hanger bar for optimal dust removal, wrinkle removal, and moisture content management, leading to inefficient operation and potential product damage due to unnecessary vibration and noise.

Innovation Solution

A clothes treatment apparatus with a driver system that allows the hanger bar to reciprocate with varying amplitudes and periods, controlled by a motor and motion converter, to optimize each clothes management function, minimizing unnecessary vibration and noise while enhancing the driving force and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If the rotation speed of the driver is increased to decrease the period of the hanger bar, then the frequency increases, but the amplitude cannot be maintained due to physical limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotation speed of driverVSAvoidamplitude of hanger bar
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dynamics by making the driver system adjustable and adaptable to different operating conditions. The driver's rotation speed and the hanger bar's movement parameters (amplitude and period) are made dynamically controllable rather than fixed, allowing the system to optimize performance across different clothes treatment functions by adjusting parameters in real-time based on operational requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements parameter changes by allowing independent adjustment of the driver's rotation speed and the resulting hanger bar movement characteristics. The system can modify rotational speed, amplitude, and period as separate controllable parameters, enabling optimization for different clothes management tasks such as dust removal, wrinkle removal, and drying by changing these physical parameters to match specific functional requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Device complexity

If the amplitude of the hanger bar is kept constant, then the structure is simple, but the period cannot be decreased or frequency increased beyond physical limitations

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure of driver systemVSAvoidfrequency of hanger bar
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system transitions from a static, fixed-amplitude design to a dynamic system where amplitude can be adjusted independently. This allows the hanger bar to operate at optimal amplitudes for different functions (e.g., larger amplitude for dust removal, smaller for wrinkle removal) while maintaining structural simplicity through controlled adjustability rather than complete redesign

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables independent parameter changes by allowing amplitude to be modified separately from the driver's rotation speed. This decoupling of parameters means that frequency can be increased by raising rotation speed without being constrained by fixed amplitude limitations, and amplitude can be adjusted to suit different clothes treatment requirements without changing the fundamental driver structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the hanger bar vibrates with fixed parameters, then the design is straightforward, but unnecessary vibration and noise occur reducing product durability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedesign of hanger bar systemVSAvoidproduct durability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system employs parameter changes by allowing amplitude and period to be adjusted according to specific clothes treatment functions. This prevents unnecessary vibration and noise by matching the hanger bar's movement parameters to the actual operational requirements - using minimal necessary amplitude for each task rather than operating with fixed, potentially excessive parameters that cause wear and noise

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the potential harm of vibration and noise into a benefit by controlling and optimizing these parameters. By adjusting amplitude and period to match specific functions (dust removal, wrinkle removal, drying), the system minimizes unnecessary vibration that would otherwise cause product damage, while still utilizing vibrational motion effectively for clothes treatment purposes

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

4Ease of operation

If the hanger bar uses fixed amplitude and period, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot optimize performance for different clothes management functions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation of clothes treatmentVSAvoidperformance for different functions
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements parameter changes by providing adjustable amplitude and period settings that can be optimized for different clothes management functions. Users can select appropriate parameters for specific tasks such as dust removal (requiring higher frequency), wrinkle removal (requiring specific amplitude), and drying (requiring different motion characteristics), thereby achieving both operational simplicity through predefined options and adaptability for diverse functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively improves the performance of clothes management functions by tailoring the amplitude and period of the hanger bar to specific tasks, reducing product damage and user inconvenience, and enhancing user satisfaction through improved durability and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

a motor configured to generate torque

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

a vibrating body configured to support the motor and vibrate alternately in a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction by rotation of the motor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEccentric rotation: Eccentric

Data Source

PatentEP3964642A1Clothes treatment apparatus
Publication Date: 2022.03.09 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3964642A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3964642A1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(b)
  • EP3964642A1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(b)

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a clothes treatment apparatus comprising a cabinet (10) including an inlet (11) on a front side thereof; a first chamber (100) positioned inside the cabinet (10) and defining a space for accommodating clothes through the inlet (11); a second chamber (200) positioned under the first chamber (100) and defining a space separated from the first chamber (100); a blowing fan (226) positioned inside the second chamber (200) and configured to suck air from the first chamber (100); a heat pump (230) including a compressor configured to compress a refrigerant for heat exchange with the air sucked by the blower fan and configured to discharge the heat-exchanged air to the first chamber (100); a steamer (250) positioned inside the second chamber (200) and configured to generate and supply steam; a water supply tank (310) positioned below the first chamber (100) and configured to supply water to the steamer (250); a hanger bar (693) positioned in the first chamber (100) and configured to hold the clothes accommodated in the first chamber (100); and a driver (610), the driver (610) comprising: a motor (620) configured to generate torque; a vibrating body (630) configured to support the motor (620) and vibrate alternately in a first rotation direction and a second rotation direction opposite to the first rotation direction by rotation of the motor (620); and a motion converter (680) configured to rotate together with the vibrating body (630) and convert the vibration of the vibrating body (630) to allow the hanger bar (693) to reciprocate along a predetermined movement direction in connection with the hanger bar (693), wherein the driver (610) is configured to reciprocate the hanger bar (693) with different amplitudes and periods depending on a number of times that the motor (620) rotates.