Laundry treating apparatus and sanitation managing method for laundry using the same
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses fail to accurately determine when washed laundry left in the washing tub after a cycle is completed will become contaminated, leading to potential mold growth and bad smells, as they do not provide a precise time for safe removal.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus equipped with internal and external sensors to measure temperature, humidity, and contamination levels, which calculates and displays a recommended take-out time to prevent contamination, and optionally performs additional rinse or wash cycles based on contamination risk.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If the door remains closed after a laundry cycle is completed, then the laundry can be left in the washing tub for a longer period, but the laundry becomes contaminated more easily due to moisture and closed environment
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by measuring temperature and humidity inside the tub before contamination occurs, calculating the contamination risk in advance, and determining a recommended take-out time before the laundry actually becomes contaminated. This allows users to know the safe time window for leaving laundry in the tub without waiting for contamination to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors temperature and humidity conditions inside the tub, provides feedback by calculating contamination risk levels, and updates the recommended take-out time dynamically. This feedback mechanism allows the system to adapt to changing environmental conditions and provide accurate contamination timing predictions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the door is opened immediately after a laundry cycle, then contamination is prevented, but the user loses convenience and cannot leave laundry in the tub
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring environmental conditions, calculating contamination risk, and providing the recommended take-out time without requiring user intervention. The system independently determines when laundry becomes contaminated and communicates this information to the user, eliminating the need for users to manually check or open the door.
Solution Approach 2:
The system acts as an intermediary between the closed tub environment and the user, providing information about contamination risk without requiring the user to physically interact with the tub. The controller and display serve as intermediaries that translate environmental measurements into actionable recommendations for the user.
3Measurement precision
If sensors and calculation systems are added to determine contamination time, then accurate take-out time recommendation is achieved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses multi-functionality by employing temperature and humidity sensors that serve dual purposes: monitoring environmental conditions for contamination calculation and providing data for potential other laundry optimization functions. This universal approach allows accurate contamination timing without adding dedicated specialized components.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical or manual contamination detection methods with electronic sensing and computational analysis. Instead of physical inspection or manual testing, the system uses temperature and humidity measurements processed by a controller to calculate contamination risk, substituting complex mechanical detection with simpler electronic measurement and calculation.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus may include a main body, a door, a driver, a water supplier, a drain, an internal sensor, a controller, and a display. The internal sensor may measure at least one factor from among a temperature, a humidity, and a contamination degree inside the washing tub. The controller controls operations of the driver, the water supplier, and the drain, and receives input of the at least one factor measured by the internal sensor to derive a recommended take-out time of washed laundry. The display displays the recommended take-out time derived by the controller.