Laundry Drawer Locking Mechanism for Vibration-Resistant Operation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses, particularly front-loading drum washing machines, require users to bend when loading or unloading laundry, and they often experience vibrations during operation that can lead to unintentional drawer discharge and noise, with existing solutions failing to effectively minimize these issues.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus featuring a drawer with a fastening mechanism that reciprocates in multiple directions to securely couple the drawer to the cabinet, combined with a transfer member that operates the fastening mechanism, minimizing vibrations and preventing unintentional drawer discharge, while allowing for easy drawer discharge and insertion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a front loading type laundry treatment apparatus is used, then the laundry opening can be positioned at a lower height, but the user must bend their body when introducing or retrieving laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer is designed to be movable between an inserted state (within the cabinet) and a discharged state (fully pulled out), allowing the laundry opening to dynamically change its position relative to the user. This enables the opening to be at a convenient lower height when inserted, yet easily accessible when discharged.
Solution Approach 2:
The laundry treatment apparatus is segmented into a stationary cabinet and a movable drawer unit. This segmentation allows the drawer to be independently moved in and out, separating the function of having a low laundry opening from the requirement of user accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the drawer is made separable from the cabinet, then the drawer can be easily discharged and inserted, but vibrations during operation can cause unintentional drawer discharge
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism is automatically activated when the drawer is inserted into the cabinet, preliminarily securing the drawer before operation begins. This preliminary action ensures the drawer is locked in place before vibrations from drum rotation could cause unintentional discharge.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening mechanism is designed to automatically engage and disengage based on drawer position. When the drawer is inserted, the mechanism self-activates to lock the drawer; when the drawer is pulled out, it self-releases. This eliminates the need for manual locking while maintaining reliability.
3Reliability
If a fastening mechanism is added to prevent drawer discharge, then drawer stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening mechanism utilizes the drawer's own movement to trigger locking and unlocking actions. The mechanism self-activates when the drawer is inserted and self-releases when the drawer is pulled out, eliminating the need for separate control systems, motors, or complex actuation mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
A transfer member acts as an intermediary between the drawer movement and the fastening mechanism activation. This simple intermediary component converts the linear motion of the drawer into the appropriate motion for engaging or disengaging the fastening bars, maintaining simplicity while achieving reliable locking.
4Reliability
If the fastening mechanism uses multiple bars reciprocating in different directions, then vibration resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transfer member serves multiple functions: it reciprocates in a direction different from the fastening bars, transfers motion to activate both fastening bars, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of components needed while achieving vibration resistance through multi-directional bar reciprocation.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus includes a drawer. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a cabinet that has an entrance opening and that is configured to receive the drawer through the entrance opening. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a drum that is located inside the drawer and that is configured to receive laundry. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a drum drive unit that is located inside the drawer and that is configured to rotate the drum. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a fastening mechanism that is configured to reciprocate in a first direction that is either up and down or left and right with respect to a front of the drawer. The laundry treatment apparatus further includes a transfer member that is configured to reciprocate in a second direction that is either up and down or left and right with respect to the front of the drawer.