Laundry Support Hanger for Wrinkle-Free Drying Access
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses are inadequate in preventing or removing wrinkles from laundry during drying, as they generate friction between laundry and the drum, which is advantageous for drying but not effective for wrinkle removal.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a laundry support unit that fixes laundry in a spread state, allowing for drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal, featuring a movable hanger system, air and vapor supply, and a control unit that facilitates user interaction and process monitoring through a knock-sensing lamp system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If friction between laundry and drum is generated for drying, then drying efficiency is improved, but wrinkle removal capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful frictional action from the drying process by removing laundry from the rotating drum and placing it on a stationary support unit. This allows drying to continue through air circulation while eliminating the wrinkle-causing friction between laundry and drum surface.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of tumbling laundry in a rotating drum as in conventional machines, this patent inverts the approach by using a stationary support unit with air blowing. The laundry remains fixed on the support unit while air flows over it, reversing the traditional motion-based drying method.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If laundry is fixed on a support unit for wrinkle removal, then wrinkle removal capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support unit is designed to be movable along the drum's rotation direction, transitioning from a static to a dynamic component. This allows the support unit to adapt its position during the drying cycle, maintaining optimal laundry placement without requiring complex mechanical structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The support unit serves multiple functions: it holds laundry during drying, prevents wrinkle formation through its flat surface, and can be positioned dynamically. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby managing device complexity while achieving wrinkle removal.
3Ease of operation
If a movable hanger system is added for user convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hanger is designed to move automatically along with the support unit's motion, providing dynamic adaptability. When the support unit moves toward the opening, the hanger随之 moves, allowing easy laundry access without requiring separate actuation mechanisms for the hanger itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The hanger movement is combined with the support unit's movement mechanism. Instead of having an independent hanger actuation system, the hanger is integrated with the support unit, so that a single mechanism achieves both support unit positioning and hanger movement, reducing overall device complexity.
4Ease of operation
If a knock sensing unit and lamp are added for process monitoring, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The knock sensing unit allows users to self-monitor the drying process by simply knocking on the window. The system automatically detects the knock and activates the lamp to illuminate the interior, enabling users to check laundry status without opening the door or requiring complex control interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical knock detection is replaced with a sensing unit that detects vibrations or acoustic signals from knocking. This substitutes a simple mechanical sensing approach with electronic detection, which can be implemented with minimal additional complexity while providing effective process monitoring.
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 effectively facilitates drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal by maintaining laundry in a spread state, enhances user convenience by moving the hanger towards the opening, and allows users to monitor the treatment process from outside.
Implementation Method 1
a knock sensing unit configured to sense at least one of a sound or vibration that is generated when a user is knocks or taps
Implementation Method 2
a lamp configured to emit light to the inside of the laundry receiving space when the knock sensing unit senses the sound or vibration
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus has a cabinet, a laundry receiving space in the cabinet, and a predetermined space for accommodating laundry. A laundry introduction opening in communication with the laundry receiving space is provided in a front surface of the cabinet. A supply unit supplies air or vapor to the laundry receiving space. A laundry support unit is movably coupled to the cabinet. A door is rotatably coupled to the cabinet and opens and closes the laundry introduction opening. A window is provided in the door and is made of a transparent material. The laundry treatment apparatus also has a knock sensing unit that senses a sound or vibration generated when a user knocks on the window. Additionally, the laundry treatment apparatus has a lamp that emits light in the laundry receiving space when the knock sensing unit senses the sound or vibration generated when the window is knocked.