Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in designing a seamless exterior structure due to the presence of a parting line between the cabinet cover and the control panel, and the complex structure of the control panel hinders easy and stable coupling to the cabinet cover.
Innovation Solution
The laundry treating apparatus is designed with the control panel installed inside the cabinet cover, eliminating the parting line and allowing only essential components to be exposed externally. The control panel is coupled to the cabinet cover through a structured arrangement involving an outer window, coating guide, and sealing members, ensuring a stable and seamless installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the control panel is installed separately on the cabinet cover, then the control panel can be easily accessed and operated by the user, but a parting line is formed between the cabinet cover and control panel, compromising the seamless exterior design
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is merged with the cabinet cover by installing it within the cabinet cover body rather than separately mounting it on the front surface. This integration eliminates the parting line between the control panel and cabinet cover, achieving a seamless exterior design while maintaining user accessibility through properly positioned input units and display units on the control panel
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rotary knob is used for user operation, then various wash courses and options can be selected, but the control panel structure becomes complex, making coupling to the cabinet cover difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary knob is designed to perform multiple functions: selecting wash courses, selecting options, and confirming selections. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate buttons and switches, simplifying the overall control panel structure while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities for various wash courses and options
3Adaptability or versatility
If the control panel structure is made complex with multiple input and display units, then comprehensive control functions are achieved, but the coupling structure between control panel and cabinet cover becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The control panel is segmented into functional modules including input units, display units, and a rotary knob, which are integrated into the cabinet cover. This modular segmentation allows each component to be independently designed and manufactured, then assembled together, simplifying the overall coupling structure while maintaining comprehensive control functions
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus for performing a processing operation for laundry, the apparatus including a control panel to input a control signal for the processing operation. The apparatus includes a body to accommodate laundry and a cover to define an exterior of the body. The cover includes a through hole in a front upper end portion. The control panel is installed inside the cover and partially exposed to an exterior of the cover through the through hole. The control panel includes an outer window inserted into the through hole and supported on an inner surface of the cover, an inner window disposed in contact with a rear surface of the outer window, a touch screen coupled to a rear surface of the inner window; and a coating guide to support the inner window and the touch screen on a rear surface of the touch screen and fastened to the inner surface of the cover.