Laundry treatment apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treatment apparatuses face challenges in uniformly removing wrinkles from laundry without deforming the fabric, inefficient use of steam and heat, and excessive energy consumption, particularly when dealing with pants that require targeted crease formation and uniform pressure application.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treatment apparatus with a roller that moves vertically and rotates to uniformly press laundry, controlled by an elastic member to maintain constant pressure, and a guide system to adjust pressure distribution, allowing steam application only to targeted areas.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a presser presses pants by rotation on one side surface, then pants can be pressed to remove wrinkles, but higher pressure is applied to portions close to the presser while lower pressure is applied to portions far away, causing non-uniform pressing and potential deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional pressing approach by having the presser rotate on its own axis while moving upward, rather than rotating around one end. This inversion allows the presser to apply pressure more uniformly across the pants surface while maintaining rotational motion for effective wrinkle removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The presser is designed with dynamic motion characteristics, rotating on its own axis during upward movement. This dynamic rotation combined with vertical translation enables the presser to maintain contact with the pants surface while distributing pressure more evenly compared to static or single-point rotation mechanisms.
2Manufacturing precision
If steam and hot air are supplied throughout the entire treatment chamber to remove wrinkles from pants, then wrinkles can be removed, but excessive energy is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies steam and hot air locally to the pants area rather than throughout the entire treatment chamber. The steam supply unit is positioned to target specifically the region where pants are placed, and the presser operates in a localized zone, enabling effective wrinkle removal with reduced energy consumption by avoiding heating of unnecessary spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment chamber is functionally segmented into an active treatment zone where pants are pressed and steamed, and inactive regions that do not require heating. This segmentation allows the system to concentrate energy resources on the necessary treatment area, reducing overall energy consumption while maintaining effective wrinkle removal.
3Manufacturing precision
If a roller presses laundry while moving vertically and rotating, then uniform pressure can be applied to remove wrinkles, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into the roller component: it serves as both the pressing element and the rotating element for uniform pressure distribution. The roller integrates vertical movement capability with rotational motion, merging what could be separate mechanisms into a single multifunctional component, thereby reducing overall device complexity while achieving uniform wrinkle removal.
Solution Approach 2:
The roller is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: pressing laundry, rotating to distribute pressure uniformly, and moving vertically to access different areas. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate pressing mechanisms, rotation devices, and positioning systems, simplifying the overall apparatus while maintaining high manufacturing precision.
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
Efficiently removes wrinkles uniformly, minimizes crease formation, reduces energy consumption, and allows targeted steam use, ensuring consistent pressure application regardless of fabric thickness.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic member positioned at the moving unit and connected to the rotating shaft so as to apply elastic force to the roller such that the roller presses the pants toward the base plate
Implementation Method 2
a steamer configured to supply steam to laundry in order to remove wrinkles from the laundry
Implementation Method 3
a steamer is an apparatus configured to remove wrinkles from laundry by applying heat to the laundry via convection without directly applying heat to the laundry
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4(a)~4(c)
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.