Laundry Drying Apparatus Annular Filter Lint Collection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing clothing drying apparatuses face issues with ineffective lint filtration and collection, leading to frequent cleaning needs and reduced user experience due to limited filtering areas and cumbersome designs.

Innovation Solution

A clothing drying apparatus with a filter device featuring an annular filter member, lint cleaning member, and lint collecting member, where the annular filter member rotates with the drying drum, allowing for efficient lint filtration and collection, and the lint cleaning and collecting members are strategically placed on the front support mechanism to improve usability and reduce maintenance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a lint filter screen is provided in the air duct, then lint can be filtered out and collected, but the filtering area is limited and the filter screen becomes full quickly requiring frequent cleaning

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering effectVSAvoidcleaning frequency
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from a flat, two-dimensional filter screen to a three-dimensional annular filter structure with hollow interior space. This dimensional change dramatically increases the filtering surface area while providing internal cavities for lint collection, allowing the filter to handle more lint before requiring cleaning and improving overall filtering effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The annular filter structure incorporates a hollow interior space that contains lint collecting cavities within the filter body itself. This nesting approach allows lint to be collected inside the filter structure during rotation, eliminating the need for separate external collection mechanisms and reducing cleaning frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Reliability

If a lint collecting cavity is formed on the door glass, then lint can be collected, but the door glass weight increases making it difficult to open and close

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelint collectionVSAvoiddoor glass weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the lint collection function from the door glass structure and relocates it to the annular filter assembly mounted on the front support mechanism. This separation removes the weight burden from the door glass while maintaining effective lint collection capabilities through the annular filter's internal cavities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The lint collection functionality is copied from the door glass concept to the annular filter structure, which provides the same lint collection purpose without adding weight to the door assembly. The annular filter's hollow interior serves as the lint collecting cavity, achieving the same function in a different location.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If a lint collecting cavity is formed on the door glass, then lint can be collected, but the user cannot observe the drying situation through the door glass

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelint collectionVSAvoiddrying situation observation
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The lint collection function is extracted from the door glass and relocated to the annular filter assembly on the front support mechanism. This extraction preserves the door glass's transparency and observational function while maintaining effective lint collection through the annular filter's internal cavities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If the annular filter member rotates with the drying drum, then lint filtration is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelint filtration efficiencyVSAvoidfilter mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the rotation drive of the annular filter with the existing drying drum rotation system. The annular filter is driven to rotate together with the drying drum through their mechanical connection, eliminating the need for a separate drive mechanism and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining improved filtration efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

The solution enhances lint filtration efficiency, reduces the frequency of cleaning, and simplifies maintenance, improving user experience by allowing for easy replacement of filter screens and collection of lint without obstructing the clothing throw-in space.

Implementation Method 1

a filter device is arranged on a front-open clothing drying apparatus, and the filter device includes an annular filter member, a lint cleaning member and a lint collecting member; the annular filter member is arranged between the front support mechanism and the drying drum

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFiltration: Filter (physical)

Implementation Method 2

the lint cleaning member can clean up the lint on the annular filter member

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical cleaning: Brush

Implementation Method 3

the lint collecting member can collect the cleaned up lint

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity collection: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4067555B1Laundry drying apparatus and filtering device
Publication Date: 2024.07.17 QINGDAO HAIER DRUM WASHING MACHINE CO LTD
  • EP4067555B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4067555B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4067555B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The present invention belongs to the technical field of laundry drying, and aims to solve the problem that the existing laundry drying apparatus works in a poor lint filtering and collecting manner, which affects the use experience of a user. The present invention provides a laundry drying apparatus, comprising a box body assembly, a laundry drying drum and a filtering device; the box body assembly comprises a front panel and a front supporting mechanism, the front panel is provided with a laundry loading port in communication with the interior of the laundry drying drum, the filtering device includes an annular filter member, a lint cleaning member, and a lint collecting member, the annular filter member is provided between the front supporting mechanism and the drying drum, the lint cleaning member and the lint collection member are both provided on the front supporting mechanism, the annular filter member is configured to rotate together with the drying drum, and during rotation of the annular filter member, the lint cleaning member can clean lint from the annular filter member and the lint collecting member can collect the cleaned lint. The present invention can improve the lint filtering effect of the laundry drying apparatus, and allow users to use the apparatus conveniently.