Heated Washing Drum Smoothing Cycle for Laundry Crease Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drum washing machines struggle to effectively remove creases from laundry due to limited steam absorption by damp laundry, which results in inadequate wrinkle removal and increased technical complexity and cost with additional steam generation systems.
Innovation Solution
A method where the drum is rotated at a low speed to allow laundry to slide along a heated drum shell with minimal water, utilizing the evaporation of moisture to reduce creases and generate steam for improved smoothing, without the need for additional steam generation systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If steam is injected into the drum to remove creases, then the wrinkle-removing effect is improved, but the technical complexity and costs increase due to additional steam generation equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the steam generation function from a separate dedicated system and integrates it into the existing heating element that heats the washing liquid. The heating element serves dual purposes: heating water for washing and generating steam for crease removal, thereby eliminating the need for additional steam generation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element is designed to perform multiple functions: it heats the washing liquid during washing cycles and generates steam during the smoothing cycle. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve crease removal without requiring separate steam generation equipment, reducing technical complexity and costs.
2Reliability
If steam is injected into the drum to remove creases, then the wrinkle-removing effect is improved, but the costs increase due to additional equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for separate steam generation equipment by extracting the steam generation capability from a dedicated system and utilizing the existing heating element, thereby reducing manufacturing costs.
Solution Approach 2:
By making the heating element multi-functional (heating water and generating steam), the system avoids the need for additional equipment, reducing both technical complexity and manufacturing costs while maintaining effective crease removal.
3Shape
If the drum is rotated at high speed during smoothing, then the laundry is lifted higher, but the creases are reinforced by contact with the drum shell
Solution Approach 1:
The patent dynamically adjusts the drum rotation speed based on the operational phase. During the smoothing phase, the drum rotates at low speed (10-30 rpm) to allow laundry to slide along the heated drum shell for crease removal. During the shifting phase, the drum speed increases (40-60 rpm) to lift and redistribute the laundry, preventing it from adhering to the drum shell and reinforcing creases.
Solution Approach 2:
The smoothing cycle alternates between sliding phases (low speed for crease removal) and shifting phases (higher speed for laundry redistribution). This periodic variation in rotation speed ensures that laundry items are repeatedly exposed to the heated drum shell surface while preventing adhesion and crease reinforcement.
4Reliability
If the drum rotates at low speed for smoothing, then the laundry slides along the drum shell for crease removal, but the laundry is not sufficiently rearranged
Solution Approach 1:
The drum rotation speed is dynamically adjusted between two distinct phases: low speed (10-30 rpm) during sliding phases to enable crease removal through contact with the heated drum shell, and higher speed (40-60 rpm) during shifting phases to lift and redistribute laundry items, ensuring comprehensive rearrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The smoothing cycle implements periodic alternation between sliding phases (low speed for smoothing) and shifting phases (higher speed for rearrangement). This periodic action ensures that all laundry items are repeatedly exposed to the heated drum shell surface while being sufficiently redistributed, achieving both smoothing and productivity goals.
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 method effectively smooths laundry by mimicking an ironing effect, reducing creases and drying the fabric, while maintaining simplicity and reducing costs by eliminating the need for extra steam generation equipment.
Implementation Method 1
The moisture present in the laundry evaporates at least partially on the hot drum shell, which additionally dries the laundry. The resulting steam in turn improves the loosening of the laundry so that existing creases are reduced.
Implementation Method 2
the laundry is smoothed out in a manner similar to ironing with an iron. The moisture present in the laundry evaporates at least partially on the hot drum shell
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The method involves heating a drum wall of a drum (3) of a drum washing machine (1) i.e. front loading washing machine, to a temperature of approximately 50 to 80 degrees centigrade in a cycle of ironing of laundry (8). The drum is rotated at a speed for advancing the laundry so that the laundry is slide at the drum wall. The drum is rotated with less speed for 2 to 6 parts of revolution in an ironing phase of the cycle, where the cycle has total time in range of 6 to 12 minutes. A cooling phase is taken place after a shifting phase of the cycle.