Laundry Filter Membrane with Squeegee Cleaning to Prevent Clogging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry care devices face frequent clogging of filter units due to continuous release of fibers and lint during cleaning and drying processes, leading to reduced efficiency and service life.
Innovation Solution
A laundry care device with a filter unit featuring a filter membrane divided into permeable and impermeable regions, where the impermeable regions are designed to prevent particle accumulation, and a squeegee unit that cleans the filter membrane by moving from impermeable to permeable regions to remove accumulated fibers and lint.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a filter unit is used to remove fibers and lint from the fluid, then cleaning and drying effectiveness is improved, but the filter unit becomes clogged quickly, reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The filter membrane is divided into multiple filtering zones with different mesh sizes (first filtering zone with coarse mesh, second filtering zone with fine mesh). This segmentation allows the filter to handle different particle sizes separately, preventing rapid clogging while maintaining effective fiber and lint removal from the fluid
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system incorporates a rotating filter drum that continuously moves the filtering surface. This dynamic operation prevents particles from accumulating in one location, allowing the filter to maintain productivity by constantly presenting fresh filtering surface area while effectively removing fibers and lint
2Ease of manufacture
If the filter membrane uses uniform mesh size for filtering, then manufacturing is simplified, but particle accumulation occurs in certain areas, worsening filter clogging
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the filter membrane are assigned different mesh sizes tailored to local filtering needs. The first filtering zone uses coarser mesh for larger particles, while the second filtering zone uses finer mesh for smaller fibers and lint. This local differentiation prevents particle accumulation in specific areas and maintains reliable anti-clogging performance
Solution Approach 2:
The filter membrane employs asymmetric mesh sizing across its surface rather than uniform mesh. This asymmetry creates varying flow patterns and particle distribution across the filtering surface, preventing localized accumulation and improving overall filter reliability
3Productivity
If the receiving container is moved continuously during cleaning/drying, then processing efficiency is improved, but fibers are released almost continuously, worsening filter clogging
Solution Approach 1:
The filtering operation continues uninterrupted throughout the cleaning and drying process. The rotating filter drum and continuous fluid circulation ensure that fiber removal is an ongoing process rather than a periodic one, maintaining productivity while continuously managing harmful fiber release
Solution Approach 2:
The filter system is positioned and configured to intercept fibers and lint before they can accumulate in problematic quantities. The continuous circulation and filtering action removes particles as they are released, preventing the buildup that would otherwise occur during continuous container movement
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 effectively prevents clogging, ensures continuous fluid flow, and extends the service life of the filter unit by regularly removing particles, maintaining cleaning and drying efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
filtering of the fluid typically takes place before the recirculation process... filter units that remove dirt particles, lint, and fibers from the flowing fluid
Implementation Method 2
a squeegee unit which comprises a squeegee element that is moved along a squeegee movement direction over the filter membrane element. By moving the squeegee element, the filter membrane element is cleaned of fibers and other particles
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
The invention relates to a laundry care appliance (1) for the care of objects, comprising at least one filter unit (27) for filtering fluid (15) flowing in the laundry care appliance (1), wherein the at least one filter unit (27) comprises a filter housing (29). At least one filter membrane unit (39) and at least one squeegee unit (61) are arranged in the filter housing (29) of the at least one filter unit (27), wherein the at least one filter membrane unit (39) comprises a filter frame (41) and a filter membrane (43), wherein the filter membrane (43) is substantially arranged on the filter frame (41), and wherein fluid (15) flows through the filter membrane (43), and wherein the filter membrane (43) comprises at least a first region (51) and at least a second region (53).wherein the at least one first region (51) of the filter membrane (43) of the at least one filter membrane unit (39) is configured differently from the at least one second region (53) of the filter membrane (43) of the at least one filter membrane unit (39), wherein the at least one first region (53) of the filter membrane (43) is configured to be permeable to fluid (15) and the at least one second region (53) of the filter membrane (43) is configured to be impermeable to fluid (15).