Top-Load Washer Door Sealing and Drawer-Clearance Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional top-loading laundry treatment apparatuses face issues such as the drawer being unable to be discharged when the door is opened, leakage of wash water, door opening due to vibrations, lack of notification for an open door, and adhesive-related sealing member inefficiencies due to different elasticities and shape mismatches.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus includes a hinge for coupling the door to the tub, a fixing unit for separating the door, a sealing body with a C-shaped cross-section for even attachment, a position sensing unit to detect door and drawer positions, and a guide to prevent door interference during drawer discharge, along with a display unit to notify users of door openings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sealing member with a hollow bar shape is used to seal the introduction aperture, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but the sealing member must be cut and attached with adhesive which creates different elasticities causing deterioration in sealing effect
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is divided into multiple modular sections that can be independently manufactured and then connected through engagement structures without requiring adhesive bonding. This segmentation allows each section to maintain uniform elasticity while still achieving effective sealing of the introduction aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary engagement structure is introduced between the sealing member sections to replace adhesive bonding. This intermediary mechanism allows the sections to connect while maintaining consistent elastic properties throughout the sealing member, eliminating the elasticity differential caused by adhesive attachment.
2Ease of manufacture
If the sealing member has the same thickness in both the rear portion and front portion of the door, then manufacturing is simplified, but the door cannot be smoothly separated from the introduction aperture
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member is designed with different thicknesses at different locations: the rear portion (near the hinge) has greater thickness while the front portion (near the opening edge) has lesser thickness. This local quality variation allows the door to be smoothly separated from the introduction aperture while maintaining effective sealing when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member employs an asymmetric thickness distribution along its length, with the rear portion being thicker than the front portion. This asymmetric design creates a gradual separation profile that enables smooth door opening while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standardized section modules.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a drawer is provided inside the cabinet for top loading type laundry treatment apparatus, then laundry treatment functionality is improved, but the drawer cannot be discharged when the door is opened inside the cabinet
Solution Approach 1:
A guide structure is provided that prevents the door from interfering with drawer discharge in advance. The guide includes a guide groove and guide wheel arrangement that ensures the door remains positioned away from the discharge path, allowing smooth drawer extraction even when the door is in the open position.
Solution Approach 2:
A guide mechanism acts as an intermediary between the door and drawer discharge path. The guide groove and wheel system mediates the spatial relationship, ensuring the door does not obstruct drawer removal while maintaining both functionalities independently.
4Device complexity
If the door is provided without a fixing unit, then device complexity is reduced, but the door may be opened by small shocks and vibration during washing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The fixing unit is designed to automatically engage and lock the door in the closed position without requiring additional actuation or complex mechanisms. The self-locking feature utilizes the door's own weight and closure force to activate the fixing mechanism, providing stable door closure during washing operations while maintaining simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixing unit replaces complex mechanical locking systems with a simpler engagement mechanism that uses elastic deformation and geometric interlocking to secure the door. This substitution reduces overall device complexity while maintaining reliable door closure stability during vibration and shock conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a laundry treatment apparatus including a tub body (41) for providing a space for storage of water, a tub cover (43) for forming an upper surface of the tub body (41), an introduction aperture (431) formed in the tub cover (43), a drum (5) rotatably provided inside the tub body (41) for providing a space for storage of laundry supplied through the introduction aperture (431), a door (45) for opening and closing the introduction aperture (431), and a sealing unit (49) provided on any one of the door (45) and the introduction aperture (431) for hermetically sealing the introduction aperture (431) when the introduction aperture (431) is closed by the door (45), the sealing unit (49) having a "C"-shaped cross section.