Vertical Drying Rack for Delicate Laundry Item Protection in Dryers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Delicate laundry items often suffer damage or wear due to forces within the treating chamber of laundry dryers, as they cannot withstand the cycles of operation or become tangled with other items.
Innovation Solution
A removable, vertical drying rack is integrated into the laundry treating appliance, allowing for the separate drying of delicate items while maintaining ergonomic loading and unloading, and ensuring even exposure to heated air for efficient drying.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If delicate laundry items are dried inside the treating chamber with other items, then drying efficiency is improved, but the delicate items suffer damage or wear due to forces and tangling
Solution Approach 1:
The drying system is segmented into two separate spaces: the treating chamber for standard items and the drying rack for delicate items. This segmentation allows each space to be optimized for its specific function, preventing damage to delicate items while maintaining overall drying efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The drying rack is extracted from the treating chamber and positioned on the door, creating a separate drying zone. This extraction removes delicate items from the harmful environment of the treating chamber while still utilizing the dryer's heating system
2Adaptability or versatility
If a drying rack is added to the laundry treating appliance, then delicate items can be dried separately, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The door serves multiple functions: it acts as the closure for the treating chamber and simultaneously supports the drying rack for delicate items. This multi-functionality adds versatility without requiring a completely separate structure
Solution Approach 2:
The drying rack is nested on the door, utilizing the door's structure as a support framework. This nesting approach minimizes additional structural requirements while providing a functional drying space
3Volume of moving object
If the drying rack extends toward the treating chamber, then space utilization is improved, but it may interfere with the drum rotation or laundry items
Solution Approach 1:
The drying rack is designed to be movable between open and closed positions, allowing it to adapt to different operational states. When the door is closed, the rack can extend toward the treating chamber to maximize space, but can be repositioned if interference becomes an issue
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 vertical drying rack enables the simultaneous drying of unique or delicate items with standard loads, minimizing interference and damage, and ensures consistent and efficient drying by exposing items to heated air.
Implementation Method 1
ensures consistent and efficient drying by exposing items to heated air
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus, such as a clothes dryer, includes an auxiliary drying rack configured to retain laundry items in a space between the drying rack and a door. The drying rack can have horizontal rods that are spaced such that laundry items are retained within the space and are not pulled into a treating chamber. The drying rack is designed to be easily opened and closed.