Laundry treating appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-loading horizontal axis laundry treating appliances face increased stresses and complexity in door mechanisms due to larger drum capacities and higher spin speeds, leading to higher costs and manufacturing challenges in creating user-friendly and durable door structures.
Innovation Solution
A method involving wrapping a flexible fabric around the drum opening, providing at least two layers of fabric to cover the opening, which serves as a cost-effective, durable, and user-friendly alternative to traditional hinged or sliding door systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hinged or sliding door systems are used to cover the drum opening, then user-friendly access is provided, but the door mechanisms experience increased stresses and complexity due to larger drum capacities and higher spin speeds
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex hinged or sliding door mechanism entirely and replaces it with a simple flexible fabric wrap that covers the drum opening. This extraction of the door mechanism eliminates the complexity and stress issues while maintaining the basic function of covering the opening during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a flexible fabric wrap instead of a rigid door structure. This thin film approach allows the covering to adapt to the drum's rotation and stress conditions without requiring complex mechanical support structures, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If hinged or sliding door systems are used to cover the drum opening, then user-friendly access is provided, but manufacturing costs and structure creation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the entire door mechanism assembly (hinges, sliders, frames, seals), the patent dramatically simplifies manufacturing. The flexible fabric wrap can be produced through simple cutting and sewing processes, eliminating the need for precision manufacturing of mechanical components and reducing overall production costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible fabric wrap represents a simpler, more economical component compared to metal or rigid plastic door mechanisms. While it may have a shorter service life, its manufacturing cost is significantly lower, and it can be easily replaced if needed, making it an economically viable solution.
3Productivity
If larger drums with greater spin speeds are implemented to increase laundry capacity and energy efficiency, then performance and capacity improve, but stresses on door mechanisms increase and tolerance requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
By eliminating the door mechanism entirely, the patent removes the component that would be subjected to increased stresses from larger drums and higher spin speeds. The flexible fabric wrap experiences minimal stress and requires no tolerance management, allowing the drum to be optimized for capacity and speed without compromising door durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible fabric wrap naturally accommodates the dynamic conditions of larger drums operating at higher speeds. Its flexibility allows it to move with the drum's rotation and vibration without generating the stress concentrations and tolerance issues that would occur with rigid door structures.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of operating a laundry treating appliance, such as a washing machine, having a cabinet defining an interior and defining an access opening. A lid can be movably mounted relative to the cabinet to selectively open or close the access opening. A tub can be located within the interior and the tub can contain a rotatably mounted drum, such as a horizontally rotatable drum, including a flexible fabric material.