Laundry handling apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry treatment apparatuses do not effectively perform automatic pre-washing with a water stream, leading to manual hand-washing and potential water splashing, and lack automatic drainage, which can cause damage to laundry.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus featuring a cabinet with a sink bowl, a water stream generator, and a drawer type washer, where the water stream generator creates a washing stream for pre-washing and soaking, and the apparatus includes a drain system for automatic water drainage after a predetermined period, preventing splash and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If manual hand-washing is performed in a portable washstand, then pre-washing can be done, but water may splash around and the process requires manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The water stream generator automatically generates water streams to wash laundry in the sink bowl without requiring manual hand-washing operations. The system serves itself by automatically controlling the water stream generation, drainage timing, and coordination with the drawer type washer, eliminating the need for users to manually wash clothes while preventing water splashing through controlled stream generation.
2Reliability
If laundry is soaked in wash water for extended pre-washing, then stain removal improves, but laundry damage increases due to excessive soaking time
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs periodic action by automatically draining wash water after a predetermined period of time using the drain valve. This periodic drainage prevents excessive soaking that would damage laundry while still providing sufficient soaking time for effective stain removal. The controller manages the timing to balance stain removal effectiveness with laundry protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller monitors the pre-washing process and automatically controls the drain valve based on predetermined time parameters. This feedback mechanism ensures that wash water is drained at the optimal time to prevent laundry damage while maintaining effective stain removal, adjusting the soaking duration to prevent harmful effects.
3Reliability
If a separate pre-washing space is provided before main washing, then stain treatment improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the pre-washing function (sink bowl with water stream generator) and main washing function (drawer type washer) into a single integrated laundry treatment apparatus. This combination provides separate pre-washing and main washing spaces while maintaining a unified device structure, improving pre-washing effectiveness without excessively increasing overall device complexity through shared control and coordinated operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated apparatus provides multiple functions within a single device: the sink bowl serves as a pre-washing station with automatic water stream generation, while the drawer type washer performs main washing operations. This multi-functionality allows the device to handle both pre-washing for stain treatment and main washing, reducing the need for separate devices while maintaining effectiveness.
4Reliability
If wash water is not drained after pre-washing, then soaking continues to remove stains, but laundry damage occurs due to prolonged water exposure
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic action by automatically controlling the drain valve to drain wash water after a predetermined period of time. This periodic drainage interrupts continuous soaking to prevent laundry damage while still allowing sufficient time for stain removal during the soaking period. The controller manages the timing to optimize both stain removal and laundry protection.
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
Enables automatic pre-washing and soaking with a water stream, prevents water splashing, and minimizes laundry damage by draining water after a set time, allowing for seamless transition to main washing.
Implementation Method 1
a water stream generator which is disposed on at least one side of the accommodation space in the sink bowl and generates water stream to the wash water accommodated in the accommodation space
Implementation Method 2
a drain passage connected to the sink bowl to drain the wash water accommodated in the accommodation space
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a laundry treatment apparatus which may generate water stream during pre-washing so that pre-washing and soaking of laundry may be perform automatically by the water stream; and upon completing of pre-washing, main washing may be performed by using a drawer type washer. To this end, the laundry treatment apparatus of the present disclosure includes: a cabinet; a sink bowl disposed at a top portion of the cabinet, and having an accommodation space which accommodates laundry and wash water and has an open top portion; a faucet which is disposed at the sink bowl and supplies the wash water to the accommodation space; a water stream generator which is disposed on at least one side of the accommodation space in the sink bowl and generates water stream to the wash water accommodated in the accommodation space; and a drawer type washer which is disposed below the sink bowl to move forward and rearward in the cabinet, and performs washing, rinsing, and spin-drying of the laundry.