Laundry Press Roller Design for Uniform Pressure and Reduced Steam Use
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treatment apparatuses face challenges in uniformly pressing laundry to remove wrinkles efficiently, forming double creases, and wasting energy by heating or steaming the entire chamber, while failing to apply consistent pressure and steam only to the necessary areas.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a rotating roller that moves vertically and rotates to uniformly press laundry, controlled by an elastic member to maintain consistent pressure, and independently operates the press unit by spraying steam only to the targeted areas, minimizing energy consumption and steam usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a presser is operated to press pants beginning from one side surface, then the pants can be pressed, but higher pressure is applied to the portion close to the presser and lower pressure to the portion far away, resulting in non-uniform pressing and pants deformation
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of pressing from one side surface sequentially, the invention presses both side surfaces of the pants simultaneously by rotating the presser 180 degrees to press the other side, then rotating back. This inversion approach ensures both sides receive equal pressing force and prevents deformation.
Solution Approach 2:
The presser performs periodic pressing cycles: press one side surface, rotate 180 degrees, press the other side surface, rotate back. This periodic action distributes pressing force uniformly across both surfaces over time, preventing localized deformation while maintaining effective wrinkle removal.
2Reliability
If steam and hot air are supplied throughout the entire treatment chamber to remove wrinkles from one pair of pants, then wrinkle removal is achieved, but excessive steam and energy are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The invention supplies steam and hot air locally to the pants area rather than throughout the entire treatment chamber. The steam supply unit and hot air supply unit are positioned to target only the pants being pressed, reducing unnecessary steam and energy consumption while maintaining effective wrinkle removal.
3Ease of operation
If a roller is used to press laundry in a limited space, then pressing is achieved, but it is difficult to maintain constant pressure across varying fabric thicknesses and avoid stitch lines
Solution Approach 1:
The roller is designed to rotate during the pressing operation rather than remaining stationary. This rotation allows the roller to dynamically adapt to varying fabric thicknesses and stitch line positions, maintaining constant pressing force distribution across different areas of the pants while avoiding concentrated pressure points.
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 apparatus efficiently removes wrinkles by uniformly pressing laundry with consistent pressure, minimizes energy consumption, and reduces steam usage, preventing double creases and unnecessary pressing, while allowing independent operation of the press unit.
Implementation Method 1
a steam supply unit configured to supply steam to the pants
Implementation Method 2
a hot air supply unit configured to supply hot air to the pants
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a laundry treatment apparatus including a cabinet including an inlet defined in one side thereof, a door rotatably coupled to the cabinet so as to open and close the inlet, a laundry hanger support, which is provided on an inner surface of the door and supports pants, a base plate, which is coupled to the inner surface of the door and supports the pants hung on the laundry hanger support, a rotating shaft provided in a width direction of the door, a roller rotating about the rotating shaft and pressing the pants, and an elastic member configured to apply elastic force to the roller such that the roller presses the pants toward the base plate and to support the rotating shaft.