Washer Door Hinge Structure for Multi-Axis Stable Rotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses face issues with the rotating shaft shifting unit becoming bent or damaged due to the weight of the door, and hinge shafts detaching from their detachable parts during door rotation, leading to unstable door rotation.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a rotating shaft shifting unit supported by a protruded part and a hinge unit featuring first and second rotating axes, where the shifting unit is extended along the door's width and height, respectively, with a guidance groove and protrusions to prevent bending and detachment, and a lock to secure the shifting unit's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the rotating shaft shifting unit is provided on the door to rotatably fasten the horizontal or vertical rotating shaft, then the door can be rotated in diverse directions according to user selection, but the rotating shaft shifting unit becomes bent or damaged due to the weight of the door
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support protrusion that extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the rotating shaft shifting unit, providing structural reinforcement from a third dimension. This protrusion connects to the cabinet body, creating a triangular support structure that distributes the door weight across multiple points rather than relying solely on the rotating shaft shifting unit's inherent strength.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple hinge shafts are provided on the door to allow rotation in multiple directions, then the door can be configured to rotate horizontally or vertically, but the hinge shaft may be detached from the hinge shaft detachable part during door rotation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a support protrusion as an intermediary structural element between the rotating shaft shifting unit and the cabinet body. This protrusion acts as a mediator that transfers and stabilizes the connection forces, preventing direct detachment between the hinge shaft and its detachable part while still allowing controlled rotation when needed.
3Reliability
If the rotating shaft shifting unit is extended along the door width and height with guidance groove and protrusions, then the unit is prevented from bending and detachment, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support function into distinct structural elements: the support protrusion extending from the rotating shaft shifting unit, the guidance groove formed in the cabinet body, and the support surface created by their interaction. This segmentation allows each element to perform its specific function independently while working together to provide overall stability, making the complex structure more manageable and maintainable.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus comprising a cabinet including a laundry introduction port, a door to open and close the introduction port, a hinge unit configuring a first rotating axis and a second rotating axis, the hinge unit including a first shaft and a second shaft configuring the first rotating axis and a third shaft and a fourth shaft configuring the second rotating axis, and a rotating shaft shifting unit that rotatably fastens the door to any one of the first rotating axis and the second rotating axis, the rotating shaft shifting unit including a first shifting unit and a second shifting unit selectively and rotatably fastening the fourth shaft to the cabinet. The fourth shaft includes a protrusion protruding toward the second shifting unit, and a fourth side flat surface is formed on the protrusion and supports the second shifting unit by establishing surface contact with the second shifting unit.