Washer Door Switch Assembly With Mechanical Latch Release
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry machines have door switches that are prone to frequent faults and malfunctions due to frequent opening and closing, exposing electrical components to the environment, leading to a short lifespan and safety concerns, especially for children who cannot easily open the door from inside the drum.
Innovation Solution
A laundry machine with a mechanical door switch assembly that includes a switch unit, an opening operation unit, and a cable to transmit kinematic position changes, allowing easy door opening and closing without the need for electrical power, and featuring a locking unit for safety during washing operations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an electric door switch is used to maintain locking state during washing operation, then the door can be securely locked, but the door switch is exposed to frequent faults and malfunctions due to frequent opening/closing and impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the electric door switch with a mechanical door switch that uses a latch mechanism and spring-loaded actuator. The mechanical switch is actuated by the door handle movement itself, eliminating the need for separate electrical components exposed to frequent door operations. This mechanical system is more resistant to impacts and frequent use, directly resolving the reliability issue while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanical latch and spring-loaded actuator as intermediary components between the door handle and the switching mechanism. These intermediaries protect the actual switching element from direct exposure to frequent door opening/closing actions and impacts, thereby improving reliability while preserving operational ease.
2Ease of operation
If the door switch is provided to a door handle for easy opening, then the user can open the door by pressing the switch while holding the handle, but the user must apply power to the door in a sit down or crouching position
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the door opening operation and door switch actuation into a single integrated mechanical action. The door handle's natural movement during opening automatically actuates the mechanical latch and triggers the switch, eliminating the need for separate pressing actions. This reduces device complexity while maintaining ease of operation, allowing users to open the door from a standing position.
3Reliability
If the door is locked during washing operation to ensure safety, then the drum is enclosed, but power is required for opening the door by overcoming the locking mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a periodic locking mechanism where the door is automatically locked at the start of washing operation and automatically unlocked at the end. The mechanical latch engages when the door closes and disengages when the door opens, creating a periodic lock-unlock cycle that ensures safety during operation while requiring minimal force to open when the cycle completes.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical spring-loaded latch system is self-actuating based on door position. When the door closes, the latch automatically engages; when the door opens, the latch automatically disengages. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for external power to maintain locking or to overcome the locking mechanism, reducing the force required to open the door while maintaining safety.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to laundry machines, and, more particularly, to a safe laundry machine which enables a user to open/close a door easily, and can prevent an accident caused by opening/closing of the door from taking place.The laundry machine includes a cabinet, a drum rotatably mounted in the cabinet, a door having a latch for being opened/closed selectively to expose an inside of the drum to an outside of the laundry machine, and a door switch assembly provided for enabling opening/closing of the door, wherein the door switch assembly includes a switch unit for making selective connection to the latch, and an opening operation unit spaced from the switch unit for the user to enable to disconnect the connection between the latch and the switch unit.