Laundry machine front door opening mechanism involving rigid installation of a handle
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry machine handles often exhibit non-uniform and asymmetrical positioning as the machine ages, leading to a low-quality impression due to non-flush surface relations with neighboring lid portions.
Innovation Solution
The handle's external portion is mounted to the outer lid using sliding fastener tabs that engage with enclosures on the lid, ensuring a single-axis connection and featuring intermediate walls that prevent lateral displacement, along with side tabs that interlock with lid slots to maintain alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the handle is mounted using conventional connection structures, then the handle can be installed on the front door, but the handle exhibits non-uniform and asymmetrical positioning as the machine ages, creating a low quality impression
Solution Approach 1:
The connection structure transitions from a static rigid mounting to a dynamic adjustable system where the handle can be positioned along the adjustment axis. The resilient element allows the handle to accommodate thermal expansion and mechanical settling while maintaining flush contact with the front door surface, preventing the non-uniform positioning that occurs with conventional rigid mounting.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces an adjustable parameter (position along the adjustment axis) that allows the handle mounting location to be modified. By incorporating a resilient element and adjustment mechanism, the system can compensate for dimensional changes and settling over time, maintaining uniform positioning whereas conventional fixed mounting cannot adapt to parameter changes.
2Ease of manufacture
If the handle is rigidly fixed to the front door, then the installation is simple, but the handle develops non-flush surface relations with neighboring lid portions as the machine ages
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of a completely rigid fixed connection, the invention uses a semi-dynamic connection with a resilient element that allows controlled movement along the adjustment axis. This enables the handle to maintain flush surface relations despite aging effects, while still providing a relatively simple installation process compared to complex adjustable mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient element acts as an intermediary between the handle and the front door, absorbing dimensional changes and settling effects. This mediator component protects the flush surface relation from degradation over time while maintaining the overall simplicity of the mounting structure.
3Device complexity
If conventional handle mounting is used, then the structure is simple, but lateral displacement of the handle occurs over time, causing positional uniformity problems
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs an asymmetric adjustment mechanism with a specific orientation (adjustment axis) that provides lateral constraint in one primary direction. The resilient element andę§½ structure create asymmetric engagement that effectively prevents lateral displacement while maintaining relatively simple overall structure, rather than requiring symmetric constraints in all directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient element serves as an intermediary that prevents lateral displacement by providing elastic constraint, while the adjustment mechanism allows for positional correction. This intermediary approach maintains position accuracy without requiring a completely complex multi-constraint mounting structure.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a laundry washing and/or drying machine comprising a front door (1) having a handle (6). The present invention more particularly relates to a laundry machine comprising a water tub, a rotary drum, in which the laundry is to be placed, an electric motor rotating the drum and a front door (1) allowing access into the rotary drum for loading or unloading laundry and having an inner lid (2) and an outer lid (3), the laundry machine further comprising a handle (6) to effect locking and unlocking of the front door (1). The handle (6) installed by way of slidingly fitting fastener tabs (8) into connection slots (11) in an inter-engaged manner.