Washer Door Hinge Structure for Vertical and Horizontal Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses face issues with laundry falling during loading/unloading due to doors rotating only horizontally, leading to dust contamination and spatial limitations in installation.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a door that can rotate along both vertical and horizontal directions, utilizing a hinge unit with multiple pivots and securing members to ensure stable opening and closing, and a damper system to absorb shocks during rotation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the door rotates only along a horizontal direction, then the door structure is simple, but laundry falls on the floor causing dust contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by introducing vertical rotation capability to the door mechanism. The door can now rotate not only horizontally (first rotational direction) but also vertically (second rotational direction), creating a multi-dimensional opening/closing action. This prevents laundry from falling horizontally onto the floor while still maintaining a relatively simple hinge structure that accommodates both rotation axes.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the door rotates only along a horizontal direction, then the hinge structure is simple, but spatial limitation occurs during installation
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the vertical rotation dimension to the door's movement capability, the system gains greater installation flexibility. The door can now open in multiple directions (horizontally and vertically), allowing the appliance to be installed in various spatial configurations without requiring excessive clearance in any single direction, thus improving adaptability to different installation environments.
3Ease of operation
If the door rotates along multiple directions, then laundry loading convenience is improved, but the securing mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamics by implementing a movable securing member that can dynamically adjust its position to secure the door in different rotational states. The securing member translates along the second shaft to engage or disengage from the second pivot, allowing the door to be securely held in either horizontal or vertical rotation positions while maintaining ease of operation through a single pressing piece actuation mechanism.
4Area of stationary object
If the door rotates along multiple directions, then spatial requirements are reduced, but the hinge unit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The multi-directional rotation capability allows the door to access different spatial positions by utilizing both horizontal and vertical rotation axes. This reduces the required clearance in any single direction while maintaining overall accessibility, effectively reducing the footprint area needed for door operation without requiring an excessively complex hinge mechanism.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus is provided that includes a cabinet configured that defines a profile of the laundry treating apparatus, the cabinet including a laundry introduction opening formed therein, a door configured to open and close the laundry introduction opening, a hinge unit including a first pivot to rotate the door along a first rotational direction and a second pivot to rotate along a second rotational direction, which is different from the first rotational direction, and a securing member configured to secure the door to the first pivot or the second pivot, when the door is rotated.