Laundry treating apparatus with drawer unlocking unit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses face issues with vibration-induced noise and the risk of the drawer being ejected during drum rotation, which disrupts the washing or drying process.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates detachable fastening units and a feeding unit that reciprocate along the drawer's width and height directions, coupled with a driving unit and an unlocking mechanism to securely attach and detach the drawer from the cabinet, minimizing vibration and preventing ejection during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the drawer is made detachable for ease of removal, then ease of operation is improved, but the drawer may be accidentally ejected during drum rotation causing reliability to deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening units are designed to dynamically change state between locked and unlocked positions. During drum rotation, the feeding unit activates to move the fastening units from the unlocked state (allowing drawer removal) to the locked state (preventing ejection), thus adapting the connection strength based on operational conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The feeding unit acts as an intermediary mechanism between the user and the fastening units. It mediates the transition between detachable and secured states by controlling the movement of fastening units along the guiding unit, ensuring the drawer is properly secured before drum rotation begins
2Reliability
If fastening units are added to secure the drawer, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feeding unit serves multiple functions: it guides the fastening units along the guiding unit, activates the locking mechanism, and ensures proper engagement of the drawer with the cabinet. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each function, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism is segmented into distinct components: fastening units with keeping units, a feeding unit for actuation, and a guiding unit for movement control. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently and simplifies the overall design by distributing functions across multiple specialized parts
3Adaptability or versatility
If the feeding unit reciprocates along both horizontal and vertical directions, then adaptability is improved, but the unlocking mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The unlocking unit applies preliminary anti-action by restricting the feeding unit's motion to one direction only during the unlocking phase. This prevents the feeding unit from moving in directions that would interfere with the unlocking process, simplifying the control logic and reducing the complexity of the unlocking mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes a drawer. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a cabinet that is configured to receive the drawer. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a drum that is configured to rotate and that is located inside the drawer. The laundry treating apparatus further includes fastening units that are configured to dampen one of vertical motion or horizontal motion of the drawer and that are configured to connect the drawer to the cabinet. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a feeding unit that is configured to operate the fastening units. The laundry treating apparatus further includes a driving unit that is configured to reciprocate the feeding unit along another one of the horizontal direction or the vertical direction. The laundry treating apparatus further includes an unlocking unit that is configured to restrict movement of the feeding unit to one direction.