Magnetic Ejection Net for Washer and Dryer Clothing Retrieval
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Solution Overview
Problem
Accessing and retrieving clothing from deep metal drums in washers and dryers is difficult, especially for the elderly or those with back problems, due to the need to bend and the clothing sticking to the drum due to wetness or static electricity.
Innovation Solution
A clothing ejection net with a mesh net sidewall that magnetically attaches to the drum and reconfigures from a retracted to an extended position using a pull cord, allowing easy ejection of clothing without requiring users to reach into the drum.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the drum is made deep to increase capacity, then the washing or drying capacity is improved, but the ease of accessing and retrieving clothing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A net body is introduced as an intermediary device between the user and the deep drum. The net body can be pulled out from the drum using a pull cord, bringing the clothing contained within to the user's reach without requiring the user to reach into the deep drum themselves. This mediator resolves the contradiction by maintaining deep drum capacity while eliminating the need for users to access the deep interior.
2Productivity
If the drum rotates at high speed to improve drying efficiency, then the drying speed is improved, but the clothing sticks to the drum wall due to static electricity and centrifugal force, making retrieval difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The net body acts as an intermediary that collects clothing during high-speed rotation and provides a separate retrieval mechanism. The pull cord system allows users to extract the net body with clothing from the drum without needing to reach in and manually retrieve items stuck to the drum wall, thus resolving the retrieval difficulty caused by high-speed rotation effects.
3Reliability
If magnets are used to attach the net body to the drum, then the net body remains securely attached during washing and drying, but the magnets may interfere with the drum's magnetic field or cause noise
Solution Approach 1:
Magnets are placed only at specific locations on the net body (such as the rim or edges) rather than uniformly across the entire net body. This localized placement provides sufficient attachment force to keep the net body secured during washing and drying operations, while minimizing the total magnetic field strength and reducing potential interference or noise issues.
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
Facilitates easy and user-friendly removal of clothing from washer or dryer drums by utilizing magnetic attachment and reconfiguration, reducing strain and effort for users, particularly those with mobility issues.
Implementation Method 1
A plurality of magnets on the sidewall of the net body magnetically attach the net body to the interior surface of the metal drum during washing and drying operations
Implementation Method 2
When pulled in such a manner, magnets on the inner surface of the net body sidewalls separate from magnets on the outside surface of the net body, creating a discrete snap separation to the extended net configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A clothing ejection net for a washer or dryer and method of ejecting clothing from a washer or dryer. The clothing ejection net comprises a net body that reconfigures between a retracted net configuration and an extended net configuration in relation to the interior of a metal drum of a washer or dryer. Magnets on the sidewalls of the net body magnetically attach the net body to the interior surface of the metal drum during washing and drying operations. A pull cord at the front face of the net body pulls the net body out of metal drum, to an extended net configuration. Magnets on the inner surface of the net sidewalls separate from magnets on the outside surface of the net body, creating a discrete snap separation to the extended net configuration. The extension of the net body ejects the clothing from the clothing retention cavity of net body.