Induction-Heated Laundry Drum Control for Uniform Large-Load Drying
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses with hot-air drying functions face inefficiencies in drying large loads, leading to drying imbalances, mechanical stress causing shrinkage or deformation, and inadequate center drying of bulky items like blankets.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus using an induction heater with a processor-controlled drum motion cycle that includes space securing, rearrangement, and conductive accelerating motions, allowing for different RPMs and drum stop times to ensure uniform drying and minimize mechanical stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hot-air drying method is used with tumbling operation, then drying function is added to washing apparatus, but heat transfer efficiency is low and drying efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional hot-air drying system (requiring ducts, fans, and sheath heaters) with an induction heating system that directly heats the drum. This substitution eliminates the need for complex air circulation mechanisms and achieves more efficient heat transfer directly to the laundry through the drum surface, thereby improving both drying efficiency and energy utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts and removes the unnecessary hot-air drying components (ducts, fans, sheath heaters) from the system, keeping only the essential induction heater and drum rotation mechanism. This simplification eliminates energy losses associated with air circulation while maintaining effective drying functionality.
2Stability of the object's composition
If drum rotates at tumbling speed for spreading laundry, then laundry mixing improves, but drying time increases and mechanical stress causes shrinkage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic rotation speed control of the drum, alternating between high-speed rotation (for rapid drying and minimizing mechanical stress) and low-speed tumbling (for laundry redistribution and uniform drying). This dynamic adjustment optimizes both drying time and laundry uniformity without causing shrinkage from excessive mechanical stress.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic alternation between different drum rotation speeds and modes. The drum rotates at high speed for a period to accelerate drying, then switches to low-speed tumbling to redistribute laundry, creating a periodic cycle that ensures uniform drying while minimizing total drying time and mechanical stress damage.
3Productivity
If drum rotates continuously at high speed, then drying speed increases, but laundry mixing is insufficient causing drying imbalance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic rotation speed modulation, switching between high-speed rotation (for rapid moisture evaporation) and low-speed tumbling (for laundry redistribution). This dynamic control ensures that laundry continuously contacts different portions of the heated drum surface, achieving both high drying speed and uniform drying across all garments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic alternation between high-speed drying phases and low-speed mixing phases. During high-speed phases, drying efficiency is maximized; during low-speed phases, laundry is redistributed to ensure all items receive equal exposure to heat. This periodic cycling resolves the contradiction between drying speed and uniformity.
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 achieves uniform drying of large loads, reduces shrinkage and deformation, and ensures optimal drying performance by adjusting drum motion cycles based on load conditions, effectively addressing the inefficiencies of conventional hot-air drying methods.
Implementation Method 1
an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are an object treating apparatus, and more particularly, an object treating apparatus for heating a drum using an induction heater and a control method thereof. The object treating apparatus includes a tub; a drum rotatably disposed within the tub and accommodating an object therein; an induction heater disposed on the tub and configured to heat an outer circumferential face of the drum contacting the heater; a motor to rotate the drum; and a processor configured to control an operation of the induction heater to dry the object, wherein the processor is configured to: control revolution per minute (RPM) of the drum to perform at least two drum motions having at least two different target RPMs respectively when drying the object.