Washer Door Sealing Structure for Uniform Aperture Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treatment apparatuses face difficulties in allowing a drawer to be discharged from a cabinet when the door is opened, interference between the door and introduction aperture, and inadequate sealing, particularly with adhesive-based sealing members that can compromise sealing effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a sealing unit with a C-shaped cross section and a fixing unit that allows the door to be easily opened and closed, featuring a sealing member with a hollow bar shape and no adhesive surfaces, ensuring even and firm attachment, and includes a position sensing unit to notify users of door openings, preventing water leakage and facilitating drawer discharge.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a sealing member with adhesive surfaces is used to seal the introduction aperture, then the sealing member can be attached to the door, but the sealing effectiveness is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive surfaces are completely removed from the sealing member. Instead of using adhesives for attachment, the sealing member utilizes its elastic properties and geometric configuration (C-shaped cross section with specific dimensions) to achieve both attachment to the door and effective sealing of the introduction aperture.
Solution Approach 2:
The sealing member's attachment mechanism transitions from chemical bonding (adhesive) to mechanical/elastic bonding. The sealing member is designed with specific elastic parameters and dimensional parameters (cross-sectional shape, size) that enable it to deform and conform to the door surface, creating both attachment and sealing functions without adhesives.
2Device complexity
If the sealing member has uniform diameter throughout, then the structure is simple, but the elastic force is not evenly distributed causing poor sealing at certain locations
Solution Approach 1:
The sealing member features a non-uniform cross-sectional structure where different portions have different diameters. Specifically, the first portion (at one end) has a larger diameter than the second portion (at the other end). This local variation in diameter creates differential elastic forces along the sealing member, ensuring even pressure distribution and effective sealing at all contact points with the introduction aperture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables seamless drawer discharge, effective sealing without adhesives, and user notification of door openings, enhancing operational convenience and reducing interference between the door and introduction aperture.
Implementation Method 1
a sealing unit that is provided to one of the door or the introduction aperture and that is configured to seal the introduction aperture
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treatment apparatus includes a tub body for receiving water, a tub cover that covers an upper surface of the tub body and that defines an introduction aperture, a drum located inside the tub body for receiving laundry, a door for opening and closing the introduction aperture, a hinge that rotatably couples the door to the tub cover, a fixing unit that releasably couples a portion of the door to the tub cover, and a sealing unit on the door or the introduction aperture that is configured to seal the introduction aperture based on the introduction aperture being closed by the door. A portion of the sealing unit located in a direction in which the fixing unit is provided has a different diameter from a diameter of a portion of the sealing unit that is located in a direction in which the hinge is provided.