Laundry treating appliance lint filter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances face challenges in effectively removing lint from drying air, as existing methods require manual cleaning of lint filters between cycles, which is inefficient and inconvenient.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a treating chemistry dispenser to form a bath of treating chemistry within a lint filter, where air exhausted from the treating chamber flows over the bath to capture lint, allowing for self-cleaning of the lint filter during the laundry drying phase, eliminating the need for manual lint removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a lint filter is used to capture lint from drying air, then lint removal effectiveness is improved, but manual cleaning requirement increases device operation complexity and reduces ease of operation
Solution Approach 1:
The lint filter system performs self-cleaning by utilizing the treating chemistry dispenser to flush lint from the filter screen into the treating chemistry bath, eliminating the need for manual cleaning intervention while maintaining effective lint capture throughout operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically discards accumulated lint by flushing it into the treating chemistry bath where it is contained and managed, transforming a manual disposal task into an automated process that occurs during normal appliance operation
2Reliability
If a lint filter is used to capture lint from drying air, then lint removal effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The lint filter system is merged with the treating chemistry dispenser, combining two separate functions (lint filtration and chemistry dispensing) into an integrated system where the dispenser mechanism serves dual purposes: delivering treating chemistry and cleaning the lint filter
Solution Approach 2:
The treating chemistry dispenser is given multiple functions: it dispenses treating chemistry into the treating chamber and simultaneously cleans the lint filter by flushing accumulated lint into the treating chemistry bath, reducing the need for separate cleaning mechanisms
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 enables a perpetually self-cleaning lint filter, ensuring efficient lint removal from drying air without manual intervention, enhancing the operational efficiency and user experience of laundry treating appliances.
Implementation Method 1
directing the exhausted air to the dispenser to flow over the bath of treating chemistry to remove lint contained within the exhausted air
Data Source
AI summary
A method of removing lint from drying air in a laundry treating appliance having a treating chamber for holding clothes for treatment according to a cycle of operation, a treating chemistry dispenser fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, and an air supply having an inlet and outlet fluidly coupled to the treating chamber is disclosed. The method includes a laundry treating phase including supplying treating chemistry from the treating chemistry dispenser to the treating chamber and leaving a portion of the treating chemistry within the treating chamber to form a bath of treating chemistry, a laundry drying phase including supplying air to the treating chamber through the inlet and exhausting the supplied air from the treating chamber.