Washer Door Touchscreen Sealing for Alignment and Moisture Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in integrating a touch screen on the door, including difficulties in aligning a circular door cover with the door frame, adhesive leakage, and moisture infiltration into electronic components, which affect the aesthetic appeal and reliability of the touch screen.

Innovation Solution

A design featuring a door cover with a non-light-transmitting region and light-transmitting regions, where the touch sensor is adhered to the rear surface of the door cover, and a sealant filling groove system to prevent adhesive leakage and enhance joint strength, while a display module is mounted within the door frame to maintain an integrated aesthetic and functional touch screen interface.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a mechanical fastening structure (bracket, hook) is used to couple the door cover to the door frame, then the joint strength is improved, but it becomes difficult to use when the door cover is made of glass material

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvejoint strengthVSAvoidease of coupling

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical fastening system (brackets, hooks) with a chemical bonding system (adhesive). This allows glass door covers to be coupled to the door frame without requiring mechanical structures that would be difficult to implement with glass materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the bonding method from mechanical to chemical, and optimizes adhesive application parameters (coating position, amount, distribution) to achieve both strong joints and clean appearance without mechanical fasteners.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Shape

If the adhesive is coated at an inner side of the door frame far away from the edge portion to prevent adhesive leakage, then the appearance quality is improved, but the joint strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance qualityVSAvoidjoint strength

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the adhesive application into two distinct zones: a first adhesive coating applied at inner positions away from edges for primary bonding without leakage, and a second adhesive coating (sealant) applied at edge portions for sealing and reinforcement. This segmentation allows each zone to serve its specific function optimally.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different adhesive properties and application methods are used at different locations: the first adhesive is applied in controlled amounts at inner positions for clean bonding, while the second sealant is applied at edges specifically for sealing gaps and preventing foreign substance infiltration, with each location optimized for its specific requirement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Shape

If the adhesive is coated at an inner side of the door frame far away from the edge portion, then adhesive leakage is prevented, but foreign substances can easily infiltrate through the gap between the door cover and door frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance qualityVSAvoidforeign substance infiltration

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Shape

If a circular-shaped door cover is used to provide aesthetic appeal, then the appearance quality is improved, but it becomes difficult to align the correct installation position for the door frame

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveappearance qualityVSAvoidalignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ShapeVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a mounting guide structure on the door frame before the door cover is installed. This guide structure pre-establishes the correct alignment position, allowing the circular door cover to be accurately positioned during assembly without requiring complex alignment procedures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mounting guide acts as an intermediary element between the door frame and the circular door cover, facilitating proper alignment. The guide structure provides physical references (such as protrusions fitting into grooves or visual markers) that enable accurate positioning of the rotationally symmetric door cover.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10047473B2Laundry treating apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.08.14 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

A laundry treating apparatus includes a body provided with a laundry inlet; and a door configured to open and close the laundry inlet, wherein the door includes a door frame; a door cover mounted at one side of the door frame, and provided with a light transmitting region; a mounting frame mounted at the other side of the door frame; a display mounted on the mounting frame to display visual information through the light transmitting region of the door cover; and a display gasket disposed between the door frame and the mounting frame, and formed to surround the display.