Load-Adaptive Steam Timing in Dryers for Wrinkle and Odor Removal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dryers lack additional functions beyond drying, requiring users to perform separate steps for wrinkle removal, odor elimination, and energy efficiency, leading to increased operation time and energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus that integrates a steam process with a control panel allowing users to select courses with steam options, varying steam operation based on article amount and dryness, to perform crease removal, static electricity removal, and easy ironing functions while minimizing overall operation time and energy use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dryer includes additional functions (steam process, crease removal, static electricity removal), then user convenience and functionality are improved, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the steam generation function with the existing drying heater by controlling the heater to operate at different time points based on laundry amount. The heater serves dual purposes: drying clothes and generating steam for crease removal and static electricity elimination, thereby integrating multiple functions into a single system without adding separate steam generation equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically adjusts the heater operation strategy based on the amount of laundry. For small laundry amounts, the heater operates later during the cooling process to generate steam. For large laundry amounts, the heater operates earlier during the drying process. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to adapt its operation to minimize total time while providing additional functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a dryer includes additional functions (steam process, crease removal, static electricity removal), then user convenience is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the steam generation function with the existing drying heater, allowing the heater to serve dual purposes. By controlling the heater operation timing based on laundry amount, the system generates steam using the same heating element already required for drying, thereby avoiding the need for separate steam generation energy and reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own heating capacity during the drying process to also generate steam for additional functions. The heater serves itself by performing both drying and steam generation tasks, eliminating the need for additional dedicated steam generation energy input.
3Ease of operation
If the heater operation time point is fixed, then control simplicity is maintained, but adaptability to different laundry amounts is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system incorporates feedback regarding the laundry amount and automatically adjusts the heater operation timing accordingly. The controller detects whether the laundry amount is small or large and dynamically selects the appropriate heater operation strategy, providing adaptability while maintaining automatic control simplicity for the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The heater operation timing is made dynamic rather than fixed. The system automatically adjusts when the heater operates based on the detected laundry amount, transitioning between different operation modes (early operation for large loads, late operation for small loads) to optimize both adaptability and control simplicity.
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 enhances user convenience by enabling efficient wrinkle removal, odor elimination, and energy savings through optimized steam use, allowing users to easily select drying and additional functions without extending operation time.
Implementation Method 1
a steam process in which steam is supplied into the drum, and an operation time point of a heater adapted to generate the steam varies according to an amount of the articles
Implementation Method 2
a laundry treating apparatus having a crease removal function, a static electricity removal function, or an easy ironing function
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus, particularly, a laundry treating apparatus using steam is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus such as a washing machine, a dryer, a drying and washing machine is an apparatus which washes or dries articles such as clothes. The laundry treating apparatus includes an operation course including a drying process in which hot air is supplied into a drum adapted to accommodate articles to dry the articles and a cooling process in which cool air is supplied into the drum to cool the articles, wherein the operation course further includes a steam process in which steam is supplied into the drum, and the laundry treating apparatus includes a controller which controls a heater adapted to generate the steam such that an operation time point of the heater varies according to an amount of the articles. The laundry treating apparatus includes a drum adapted to accommodate articles, a control panel adapted to provide an interface with a user, and a controller to perform a steam process for supplying steam into the drum, wherein the controller controls a heater adapted to generate the steam to perform the steam process such that an operation time point of the heater varies according to an amount of the articles.