Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses have limitations in door rotation axes, leading to incomplete closure of the introduction port, potential damage to supporting components, and inconvenience in switching between rotational axes during door operation.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a door that can rotate about multiple axes, with an elastic support unit and a locking mechanism allowing users to switch between these axes, ensuring complete closure of the introduction port and preventing damage by controlling the rotational speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a door rotates about a single vertical axis, then the structure is simple, but the introduction port cannot be completely closed and user convenience is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door rotation mechanism is made dynamic by allowing switching between a first rotational axis (vertical axis) and a second rotational axis (horizontal axis). The switching unit enables the door to adapt its rotation axis based on operational needs, transforming a static single-axis system into a dynamic multi-axis system that can optimize closure effectiveness while maintaining structural simplicity when not in use.
Solution Approach 2:
The door is designed with multi-functionality by enabling rotation about multiple axes. The first rotational axis allows conventional vertical opening/closing operations, while the second rotational axis enables alternative closing patterns that can achieve complete port closure in scenarios where single-axis rotation is insufficient. This multi-functional capability ensures the door can handle diverse operational requirements.
2Reliability
If the door can switch between multiple rotational axes, then closure effectiveness is improved, but the risk of component damage increases due to uncontrolled rotational speed
Solution Approach 1:
The damping unit provides feedback control for the door's rotational motion. When the door rotates about the second rotational axis, the damping unit detects excessive rotational speed and applies counteracting damping force to reduce the speed. This feedback mechanism ensures the door rotates at controlled speeds during axis switching and closure operations, preventing damage to the switching unit and other components while maintaining reliable port closure.
Solution Approach 2:
The damping unit acts as a cushioning element that is预先 installed in the door assembly to prevent future damage. By providing inherent damping characteristics to the door rotation, the system is prepared in advance to absorb excessive rotational energy before it can cause damage to the switching unit or supporting components, rather than relying on reactive damage control measures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a lock mechanism is added to prevent axis switching during rotation, then component safety is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the existing switching unit structure rather than being implemented as a separate, independent locking mechanism. The switching unit itself incorporates the capability to prevent axis switching during door rotation by maintaining engagement with the rotational axis, thereby combining the axis-switching control and protection functions into a single integrated component, reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The switching unit performs self-protection by automatically preventing damage-causing operations. When the door rotates about the second rotational axis, the switching unit's design inherently prevents further axis switching attempts during rotation, as the mechanical configuration during rotation makes axis switching impossible without first returning to the neutral position. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for additional active locking components.
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 design enhances user convenience by allowing axis switching, ensures complete port closure, and prevents damage to components by regulating the door's rotational speed, thereby improving the operational efficiency and safety of the laundry treating apparatus.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic support unit and a locking mechanism allowing users to switch between these axes
Implementation Method 2
a damping unit provided in the door to adjust a rotational speed of the door
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2(a)~2(b)
Figure 3
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus (100) is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus (100) includes a cabinet (1) comprising a front panel (11) having an introduction port (111), a laundry receiving unit (2) provided in the cabinet to receive laundry introduced through the introduction port, a door (3) to open and close the introduction port, a first rotational axis (X) to define a rotational center of the door (3), a second rotational axis (Y), about which the door (3) rotates in a direction different from a direction in which the door (3) rotates about the first rotational axis (X), the second rotational axis (Y) also defining the rotational center of the door (3), a first switching unit (61) provided in the door (3) to connect the door (3) to the first rotational axis (X), a second switching unit (63) provided in the door to connect the door to the second rotational axis (Y) when the first switching unit (61) moves in a direction in which the door (3) is separated from the first rotational axis (X) and a lock (7) to fix a position of at least one of the first and second switching units (61, 63) when the door (3) opens the introduction port (111).