Laundry treatment appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treatment appliances, such as washing machines and dryers, often experience misalignment and blockage issues with rotary user interface elements, leading to inaccurate operation and potential damage, which affects user experience and appliance quality.
Innovation Solution
A rotary user interface assembly is designed with axially constrained rotary elements by fixed elements, utilizing a step-like rotary encoder and optical transducers for precise positioning, and a compact design that prevents jamming without additional components, ensuring reliable and robust operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rotary user interface elements are used in laundry treatment appliances, then the appliance can provide program selection functionality, but misalignment and blockage issues occur leading to inaccurate operation and potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The rotary user interface element is divided into multiple segments: a rotary outer element for user interaction, an inner rotary element for program selection, and a stationary display element. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently, preventing misalignment and blockage while maintaining accurate operation.
Solution Approach 2:
A display element is introduced as an intermediary component between the rotary element and the program selection mechanism. The display remains stationary while the rotary element rotates around it, eliminating direct contact and potential misalignment between moving parts, thus improving both reliability and rotation accuracy.
2Reliability
If additional components are added to prevent blockage, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The display element is integrated directly into the rotary user interface assembly, combining the display function with the rotation mechanism. This merging eliminates the need for separate alignment components and reduces assembly complexity while maintaining reliability through the inherent design that prevents blockage.
Solution Approach 2:
The stationary display element serves multiple functions: it provides visual feedback to the user, acts as a structural support for the rotary element, and defines the rotation axis. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional components, simplifying the overall assembly while ensuring reliable operation.
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 provides a reliable, accurate, and long-lasting user interface with consistent force feedback, enhancing user experience and preventing blockages, thus maintaining appliance quality and preventing incorrect program selections.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a step-like rotary encoder and optical transducers for precise positioning
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment appliance (2) has a user interface (62). The user interface (62) has an assembly (66) having at least one fixed element (68, 72, 80), at least one rotary element (76, 88), and a display (68). The at least one the rotary element (76, 88) is a built as user interface element (44), the display (68) is arranged inside the user interface element (44), and at least one rotary element (76, 88) is axially constrained by at least one fixed element (68, 72, 80).