Laundry Dryer Locking Holder Design to Reduce Flap Alignment Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tumble dryers often exhibit visual defects due to dimensional inaccuracies in the arrangement of the heat exchanger flap and fan cover, leading to uneven gaps and non-parallel edges, which can be perceived as quality issues by users.
Innovation Solution
A locking holder is introduced, positioned behind the enamelled front wall web, to securely hold the heat exchanger flap and fan cover in a defined position, bypassing the dimensional fluctuations of the front wall web, ensuring a parallel and narrow gap between the flaps, and maintaining a flush appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the heat exchanger flap and fan cover are fastened to the front wall web, then the flaps can be easily installed and maintained, but dimensional inaccuracies in the enamelled front wall web cause uneven gaps and non-parallel edges between the flaps
Solution Approach 1:
A locking holder is introduced as an intermediary component between the front wall web and the flaps (heat exchanger flap and fan cover). The locking holder is positioned behind the front wall web and provides precise positioning references that bypass the dimensional inaccuracies of the enamelled front wall web, thereby ensuring parallel and evenly spaced flaps while maintaining easy installation through a modular assembly approach
2Manufacturing precision
If additional positioning aids are arranged on the front wall web to improve flap alignment, then manufacturing precision improves, but the enamelled front wall web cannot accommodate additional positioning elements
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding positioning elements in the same plane on the front wall web (which would increase complexity and conflict with the enameled surface), the locking holder is positioned in a different dimension - behind the front wall web. This spatial relocation allows the locking holder to provide precise positioning references without interfering with the front wall web's enameled surface or requiring additional elements on it
3Manufacturing precision
If one flap covers the other flap when closed, then gaps between flaps are concealed, but major design changes are required and the flaps cannot terminate flush with the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The locking holder acts as a mediator that enables both flaps to terminate flush with the housing front while maintaining parallel alignment and uniform spacing. This eliminates the need for one flap to cover the other, preserving the simple lateral hinge opening mechanism and flush design while achieving visual uniformity through precise positioning
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry treatment device (1), preferably a clothes dryer (1), with a housing front (10) having a process air opening (14) and a blower opening (16), wherein the process air opening (14) and the blower opening (16) are separated from each other in width (Y) by a substantially vertical front wall web (18) of the housing front (10), wherein the process air opening (14) has a heat exchanger flap (13) which is configured to close the process air opening (14) in the closed state, wherein the blower opening (16) has a blower cover (15) which is configured to close the blower opening (16) in the closed state, and wherein the heat exchanger flap (13) and the blower cover (15) are configured to form a vertical gap (17) between them in width (Y) in the closed state, which, viewed from the front, has a depth (X) is arranged on the front wall web (18).The laundry treatment device (1) is characterized by a locking holder (2) which is arranged in the depth (X) behind the front wall web (18) and is designed to hold the heat exchanger flap (13) and/or the blower cover (15) in the closed state, bypassing the front wall web (18).