Laundry treating apparatus

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses are inadequate in facilitating drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal, and lack user convenience in monitoring the treatment process.

Innovation Solution

A laundry treatment apparatus with a movable laundry support unit, a transparent door window, and a knock-sensing system that allows users to check the treatment process externally, featuring a conveying mechanism to move the support unit towards the opening door and emit light based on sensed vibrations, along with air and vapor supply units for efficient drying and wrinkle removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a conventional drum-based laundry treatment apparatus is used, then drying capability is improved through frictional power generation, but wrinkle removal capability deteriorates due to lack of spreading support

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying capabilityVSAvoidwrinkle removal capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The laundry support unit is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to dynamically adjust its position. It can move toward the front when the door opens to facilitate laundry loading/unloading, and move to the rear during the treatment process to provide optimal spreading support for wrinkle removal while maintaining good drying capability through frictional power generation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the door is made opaque for privacy, then user privacy is improved, but process monitoring capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser privacyVSAvoidprocess monitoring capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A transparent window is introduced as an intermediary element in the door structure. This window allows users to visually monitor the laundry treatment process from outside the cabinet while maintaining the door's primary function of enclosing the treatment space, thus resolving the contradiction between privacy and process monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Device complexity

If the laundry support unit remains stationary, then device complexity is reduced, but user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanism simplicityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The laundry support unit is equipped with a conveying mechanism that enables it to move automatically between front and rear positions. This dynamic capability significantly improves user convenience by facilitating easy laundry access and optimal treatment positioning, while the automated movement minimizes the increase in device complexity through straightforward mechanical design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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

Enhances drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal capabilities while improving user convenience by allowing external monitoring of the treatment process and optimizing the movement of laundry support units for easy access.

Implementation Method 1

a knock sensing unit configured to sense at least one of a sound or vibration that is generated when a user knocks or taps

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration: Vibration

Implementation Method 2

a supply unit configured to supply at least one of air and vapors to the laundry receiving space

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 3

a conveying part configured to move the laundry support unit towards the laundry introduction opening when the door body opens the laundry introduction opening

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP3620569B1Laundry treating apparatus
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3620569B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3620569B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3620569B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A laundry treatment apparatus (100) comprising a cabinet (1); a laundry receiving space (11); a laundry introduction opening (11, 161, 16); a supply unit (3, 4) configured to supply at least one of air and vapors to the laundry receiving space (11); a laundry support unit (6) movably coupled to the cabinet (1) and having a hanger (1, H2) hung thereon; a door body (21); a window (11, 23) provided in a body through hole (22) penetrating the door body (21) and made of a transparent material; a knock sensing unit (25, 26); and a lamp (641, 651) configured to emit light to the inside of the laundry receiving space (11) when the knock sensing unit (25, 26) senses the sound or vibration generated when the window (11, 23) is knocked.