Apparatus for treating laundry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-load type laundry treatment devices face issues such as collision with main laundry device doors, incorrect door opening, need for additional fixing members, and space constraints for water discharge and drying, which lead to inefficiencies and safety hazards.
Innovation Solution
A sliding door mechanism with a door opening detection sensor that allows the door to slide along the tub's top side, detecting opening and closing states without colliding with main device doors and eliminating the need for additional fixing members, enabling efficient water discharge and drying without requiring drawer withdrawal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hinge-type door is used in the auxiliary laundry treatment device, then the tub entrance can be opened and closed, but the door may collide with the front door of the main laundry treatment device
Solution Approach 1:
The door is changed from a hinge-type rotational movement to a sliding movement along the top side of the tub. This dimensional change in motion trajectory allows the door to open without colliding with the front door of the main laundry treatment device, as the sliding path is positioned above the potential collision zone.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of opening the door by rotating it outward from the front (conventional hinge mechanism), the door is inverted to slide horizontally along the top edge of the tub. This reverses the conventional door opening direction and eliminates the collision issue with the main device's front door.
2Ease of operation
If a hinge-type door is used, then the tub entrance can be closed, but additional fixing members are required to maintain the open state
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding door mechanism is designed to maintain its open state through its own structural configuration without requiring external fixing members. The door's sliding design with appropriate positioning features allows it to stay open by itself, eliminating the need for additional fixing components.
3Ease of operation
If the drawer is fully withdrawn for door operation and water discharge, then correct door opening and water discharge are achieved, but additional space is required and user safety is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The door operation is changed from a frontward motion requiring drawer withdrawal to a horizontal sliding motion along the top of the tub. This allows the drawer to remain inserted in the cabinet while the door still opens correctly, eliminating the trip hazard for users.
4Productivity
If the drawer is withdrawn for drying, then water discharge is achieved, but space requirements increase and user convenience decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The water discharge function is achieved through the sliding door mechanism that operates independently of drawer withdrawal. The door slides along the top of the tub to allow water discharge while the drawer remains in place, eliminating the need for users to withdraw the drawer and improving convenience.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus includes a cabinet, a drawer body, a tub including a tub body disposed within the drawer body to configured to receive water and a tub cover coupled to a top side of the tub body and having a tub entrance configured to receive laundry, a drum disposed within the tub body and configured to accommodate the laundry and having a drum entrance for putting the laundry by communicating with the tub entrance, a driver disposed under a bottom side of the tub body and configured to provide power for rotating the drum, a door configured to slide on a top side of the tub cover to open/close the tub entrance, and a door opening detection sensor disposed at the tub cover to detect an opening/closing of the door by contacting with the door that slides on the tub cover.