Laundry treatment apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses experience reduced drum stability and belt durability when used upside down, as the rollers fail to support the drum effectively, leading to concentrated weight on the belt and potential degradation.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a drum support unit that can be interchangeably coupled to either a first or second mounting portion, allowing the rollers to be positioned below or above the drum's rotation center, ensuring stable support even when the apparatus is used upside down.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the laundry treatment apparatus is used upside down to improve ease of operation for stacked placement, then the control panel accessibility is improved, but the drum stability deteriorates because rollers cannot support the drum
Solution Approach 1:
The drum support unit is designed to be repositionable between a first position (for normal operation) and a second position (for upside-down operation). This dynamic adjustment capability allows the system to adapt its support configuration based on the operational orientation, maintaining drum stability in both upright and inverted states.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the positional parameter of the drum support unit relative to the drum. By moving the support unit from supporting the front surface to supporting the rear surface (or vice versa), the system adapts to different gravitational orientations, ensuring the drum remains properly supported whether the apparatus is upright or inverted.
2Ease of operation
If the laundry treatment apparatus is used upside down, then control panel accessibility is improved, but belt durability deteriorates due to concentrated weight on the belt
Solution Approach 1:
The repositionable drum support unit dynamically adjusts its location to maintain proper weight distribution on the belt regardless of apparatus orientation. When inverted, the support unit repositions to ensure the drum weight is borne by the support structure rather than concentrated on the belt, preserving belt durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The drum support unit acts as a counterbalancing mechanism that offsets the gravitational effect on the drum and belt system. By repositioning the support, it creates a counterbalancing force distribution that prevents excessive weight concentration on the belt during inverted operation.
3Ease of manufacture
If fixed roller positions are used to simplify device complexity, then manufacturing is easier, but adaptability to different usage orientations deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The drum support unit is designed with multi-functionality, serving both normal and upside-down operational modes. By incorporating repositionability, a single component fulfills multiple functions: supporting the drum in upright position and supporting it in inverted position, eliminating the need for separate fixed support structures for each orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces dynamic repositioning capability to the drum support unit, allowing it to adapt between different operational configurations. This dynamic feature enables the apparatus to handle both standard and inverted usage scenarios with a single, versatile support mechanism rather than requiring multiple fixed configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treatment apparatus includes a cabinet, a drum having a cylindrical shape, a first support member to rotatably support an open front drum surface, an opening formed through the first support member to allow the drum to communicate with a cabinet opening, a second support member to rotatably support an open rear drum surface, a driving unit to rotate the drum, a first mounting portion provided at a selected one of the support members and disposed below a horizontal line passing through a rotation center of the drum, a second mounting portion provided at the selected support member and disposed above the horizontal line, and a drum support unit configured to rotatably support a circumferential surface of the drum and to be separably coupled to either the first mounting portion or the second mounting portion in an interchangeable manner.