Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing manufacturing process of lifters for laundry treating apparatuses faces challenges with injection molding, particularly due to undercutting issues when forming the head of the lifter, which can lead to structural weaknesses and difficulties in coupling the lifter directly to a metal drum.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a lifter frame made of synthetic resin with a frame cover made of metal, featuring a frame base, frame upper plate, and frame sidewall, along with a projection plane and catching portion that allows for easy assembly and prevents undercutting, ensuring secure coupling to the drum without compromising structural rigidity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the lifter head is formed by injection molding with vertical overlap, then the lifter can be manufactured as a single piece, but undercutting occurs causing structural weaknesses
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter is divided into two separate components: a lifter frame and a lifter cover. The lifter frame is manufactured by injection molding without undercutting issues, while the lifter cover is separately formed and then coupled to the frame. This segmentation eliminates the undercutting problem that would compromise structural strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The lifter combines different materials optimally: the lifter frame is made of synthetic resin formed by injection molding, while the lifter cover is made of metal (such as stainless steel) for enhanced structural strength and durability. This composite structure resolves the contradiction between ease of manufacture and structural strength.
2Ease of operation
If the lifter is made as a single integrated piece, then assembly is simplified, but coupling to the drum becomes difficult without undercutting
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the lifter into a frame and cover, each component can be optimized for its specific function. The frame is designed with proper coupling features for the drum mounting slot, eliminating the need for problematic undercutting while maintaining ease of assembly through standardized coupling mechanisms.
3Productivity
If the mold includes vertically overlapping head formation, then the lifter can be formed in one molding operation, but the mold operation becomes difficult due to undercutting
Solution Approach 1:
The lifter design separates the components that can be molded simultaneously (frame and cover formed in one operation) from those requiring separate processing (cover attachment to frame). This segmentation allows the mold operation to proceed efficiently without undercutting issues, while maintaining high productivity through integrated molding of the main components.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes: a drum defining a mounting slot and a lifter coupled to the mounting slot and disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the drum. A lifter frame includes: a frame base coupled to the inner circumferential surface; a frame upper plate; a frame sidewall that connects the frame upper plate to the frame base and that defines a lateral through-hole; and an insertion protrusion configured to be inserted into the mounting slot. The insertion protrusion includes a vertical portion that extends downward from a bottom surface of the frame base to the frame base and a catching portion that is curved from a lower end of the vertical portion toward an inside of the periphery of the frame base. A projection plane of the catching portion onto the frame base is positioned within a projection plane of the lateral through-hole onto the frame base.