Mobile Dryness-Sensing Bearer for Washer-Dryer Drums
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current washer-dryer systems face challenges in accurately determining dryness levels, especially when there are small amounts of laundry items not distributed homogeneously, leading to incomplete drying or thermal damage due to reliance on conductivity measurements and timer-based termination.
Innovation Solution
A bearer is designed to move freely within the drum, equipped with electrodes and a light source, and a light-transmitting connecting piece made of translucent material, allowing for precise measurement of dryness, humidity, and temperature by contacting all laundry items and dispersing light for operational visibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two electrodes are placed at the front portion of the drum to measure conductivity, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision deteriorates when there is a small amount of laundry items not distributed homogeneously
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing function is segmented from the fixed drum structure and assigned to a mobile bearer that moves independently with the laundry items. This allows multiple measurement points to be collected as the bearer travels through the drum, improving measurement precision without significantly increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The bearer is designed to move freely and randomly within the drum during the drying process, dynamically contacting different laundry items. This dynamic movement enables comprehensive sampling of the laundry load, ensuring accurate dryness detection even when items are not uniformly distributed.
2Device complexity
If a timer is used to terminate the drying process, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates leading to incomplete drying or thermal damage
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback control by continuously measuring the conductivity of laundry items through the mobile bearer and using this real-time data to determine when the drying process should be terminated. This replaces simple timer-based control with intelligent feedback-based control, improving reliability while maintaining reasonable device complexity.
3Measurement precision
If the bearer moves freely in the drum with laundry items, then the measurement precision is improved by contacting all laundry items, but the device complexity increases due to the mobile sensing structure
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile bearer serves multiple functions: it acts as a mechanical support structure, a conductor for electrical measurements, and a mobile platform that enables comprehensive sampling of the laundry load. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving improved measurement precision.
4Illumination intensity
If the connecting piece is made of translucent material to allow light transmission, then the illumination intensity is improved for operational visibility, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting piece is made from translucent material that combines optical transparency with sealing properties. This composite material approach allows the single component to fulfill multiple requirements: transmitting light for visibility while maintaining the sealing integrity of the bearer, thereby managing the trade-off between illumination intensity and 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
Enables accurate and precise detection of dryness parameters, ensuring complete drying without thermal damage by contacting all laundry items and providing real-time data, regardless of item distribution, and preventing moisture penetration with a sealing design.
Implementation Method 1
a light transmitting connecting piece (9) provided on the bearer (3), enabling the light emitted by the light source (4) to be dispersed in the environment of the bearer (3)
Implementation Method 2
at least two electrodes (8) used for detecting dryness of the laundry items by contacting the laundry items inside the drum (2)
Implementation Method 3
The first and the second shells are firmly and sealingly coupled to each other by means of the connecting piece capable of transmitting light. By this, humidity, vapor or water is prevented from penetrating the bearer in the drum which has a humid environment.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The bearer (3) of the invention is suitable for being used with a washer-dryer (1 ) having a drum (2) in which the laundry items are placed, and comprises at least two electrodes (8) used for detecting dryness of the laundry items by contacting the laundry items inside the drum (2), a control unit in which the dryness information detected by the electrodes (8) is evaluated, and at least one light source (4) placed therein, and a light transmitting connecting piece (9) provided on the bearer (3), enabling the light emitted by the light source (4) to be dispersed in the environment of the bearer (3).