Reciprocating Hanger Bar Layout for Larger Laundry Treating Chambers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry treating apparatuses have limitations in deodorizing and wrinkle-removing due to the crumpled state of laundry during drum rotation, leading to insufficient effectiveness in these processes.

Innovation Solution

A laundry treating apparatus with a driving part located outside the treating chamber, utilizing a hanger bar and power converting mechanism to reciprocate the hanger bar, allowing for improved space utilization and increased capacity within the chamber, enabling efficient drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the driving part is placed inside the treating chamber, then the structure is simpler, but the treating chamber capacity is reduced and the apparatus width increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreating chamber capacityVSAvoiddriving part arrangement complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The driving part is relocated from the horizontal plane inside the treating chamber to the vertical direction outside the chamber. The motor is positioned above the treating chamber, and power is transmitted vertically downward through a shaft and belt mechanism to the hanger bar, changing the spatial arrangement from horizontal to vertical dimension.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

A belt is introduced as an intermediary power transmission element between the motor and the hanger bar. The belt connects the motor shaft to the hanger bar, enabling flexible power transmission while allowing the motor to be positioned outside the treating chamber, thus resolving the conflict between chamber capacity and driving part placement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If the driving part is placed inside the treating chamber, then the power transmission distance is shorter, but the apparatus width increases and space efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapparatus widthVSAvoidpower transmission distance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The power transmission path is reconfigured from horizontal to vertical dimension. The motor is positioned above the treating chamber, and power is transmitted downward through a vertical shaft and belt mechanism, utilizing the vertical space outside the chamber rather than consuming horizontal space within the chamber.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Volume of moving object

If the hanger bar is used instead of drum rotation, then the treating chamber capacity is maximized, but the mechanism for generating shaking force becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetreating chamber capacityVSAvoidhanger bar reciprocation mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hanger bar is designed to reciprocate dynamically between upward and downward movements rather than rotating statically. The belt mechanism converts the motor's rotational motion into reciprocating linear motion of the hanger bar, creating dynamic shaking forces that improve wrinkle removal and deodorizing effectiveness while maximizing chamber capacity.

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

The solution enhances space efficiency, reduces the apparatus's width, and increases the treatable laundry capacity, improving the effectiveness of drying, deodorizing, and wrinkle removal processes by allowing for a larger treating chamber and efficient use of space.

Implementation Method 1

a heating part to supply at least one of hot air and steam to the treating chamber

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

a power converting part converting the rotational force transmitted by the power transmitting part to reciprocate the hanger bar

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical energy conversion:

Data Source

PatentEP2385168B1Laundry treating apparatus
Publication Date: 2014.02.12 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP2385168B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2385168B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2385168B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A laundry treating apparatus is disclosed. The laundry treating apparatus includes a treating chamber to accommodate laundry, a heating part to supply at least one of hot air and steam to the treating chamber, a hanger bar arranged in the treating chamber, a driving part provided on an outside of the treating chamber to generate a rotational force, a power transmitting part transmitting the rotational force of the driving part, and a power converting part converting the rotational force transmitted by the power transmitting part to reciprocate the hanger bar.