Washer Door Hinge and Guide Groove for Stable Partial Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating apparatuses lack the ability to securely maintain a partially open door for laundry introduction, limiting efficient loading and unloading processes.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating apparatus with a door that utilizes a hinge unit with multiple pivots and a guide system, allowing the door to be rotated to various angles for secure partial opening, using guide grooves and projections to stabilize the door at different positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single shaft hinge is used to open and close the door, then the structure is simple, but the door cannot be securely maintained at partial opening angles
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge structure is segmented into multiple independent pivot elements (first pivot, second pivot, third pivot) that work together to provide multi-degree-of-freedom rotation. This segmentation allows the door to be positioned at various angles while maintaining stability at each position.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide groove acts as an intermediary element between the hinge pivots and the door. The guide groove receives and guides the pivot, enabling the door to rotate to specific angles while being securely maintained in position. The guide groove mediates the interaction between the hinge mechanism and the door to achieve stable partial opening positions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single shaft hinge is used, then the manufacturing is simple, but the door cannot be rotated to multiple directions
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge is divided into multiple pivot components (first pivot for horizontal rotation, second pivot for vertical rotation, third pivot for additional angular adjustment) that can be manufactured independently and then assembled. This segmentation enables complex multi-directional rotation functionality while keeping individual manufacturing steps relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge system transitions from single-axis rotation to multi-axis rotation by adding pivots in different dimensions. The first pivot provides rotation in one dimension, the second pivot adds rotation in a perpendicular dimension, and the third pivot provides additional angular adjustment, enabling the door to be positioned in multiple spatial orientations.
3Productivity
If the door is designed to open fully only, then the structure is simple, but the loading and unloading efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The door positioning system is designed to be dynamic, allowing the door to be easily adjusted to different opening angles as needed. The guide groove and pivot mechanism enable smooth rotation and secure positioning at various angles, making the system adaptable to different operational requirements for efficient laundry loading and unloading.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge system with guide groove and multiple pivots provides self-positioning capability. When the door is rotated to a desired angle, the guide groove automatically guides the pivot to the appropriate position, allowing the door to maintain its position without additional locking mechanisms or complex control systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus is provided that includes a cabinet configured to define a profile thereof, the cabinet including a laundry introduction opening formed therein, a door configured to open and close the laundry introduction opening, a hinge including a first pivot to rotate the door along a first rotational direction and a second pivot to rotate the door along a second rotational direction that is different from the first rotational direction, a guide part installed in the cabinet having a guide groove recessed a predetermined depth therein, and a connection part installed in the door, the connection part including a guide projection received in the guide groove of which a moving path is guided, and an opening angle of the opening being variable based on positions of the guide projection.