Clothing treatment apparatus

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laundry treating apparatuses face difficulties in dissolving detergent in water, leading to poor washing performance and the need for excessive detergent usage.

Innovation Solution

The method involves controlling a laundry treating apparatus with a tub, drum, detergent storage, and specific water supply and drainage systems, including rotating the drum to create centrifugal force and strategically supplying detergent and water to ensure effective dissolution, with the detergent being introduced after water has reached a predetermined level and the drum is rotating to prevent discharge through the drain hole.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If water and detergent are supplied together to the tub via the water supply, then the detergent can be supplied conveniently, but the detergent may be discharged to the drain pipe and fail to dissolve properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetergent supply convenienceVSAvoiddetergent dissolution reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Water is supplied to the tub before detergent is supplied. The control unit controls the water supply valve to open before the detergent supply valve, ensuring water is already present in the tub to receive and dissolve the detergent, preventing detergent discharge to the drain pipe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The water supply process is divided into two separate stages: first supplying water to the tub, then supplying detergent. This segmentation ensures that detergent is always supplied to water already present in the tub, preventing direct discharge to the drain pipe while maintaining operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the drum rotates to form water flow inside the tub, then detergent dissolution is promoted, but detergent discharged to the drain pipe cannot flow back into the tub

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetergent dissolution efficiencyVSAvoiddetergent loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Water is supplied to the tub before detergent is supplied. The control unit controls the water supply valve to open before the detergent supply valve, ensuring water is already present in the tub to receive and dissolve the detergent, preventing detergent discharge to the drain pipe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The drum rotation that creates water flow is utilized beneficially to promote detergent dissolution. The water flow generated by drum rotation helps dissolve the detergent faster and more uniformly, converting what could be a harmful effect (detergent discharge) into a beneficial one (enhanced dissolution).

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Adaptability or versatility

If detergent is supplied to the tub, then washing function is provided, but detergent may be discharged to the drain pipe before dissolving

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewashing functionVSAvoiddetergent quantity required

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

Water is supplied to the tub before detergent is supplied. The control unit controls the water supply valve to open before the detergent supply valve, ensuring water is already present in the tub to receive and dissolve the detergent, preventing detergent discharge to the drain pipe.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit monitors the water supply status and uses this feedback to control the detergent supply valve. Only after confirming water has been supplied to the tub does the control unit allow detergent to be supplied, ensuring proper dissolution conditions are met before detergent is introduced.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

This approach enhances detergent dissolution and prevents deterioration in washing performance by ensuring the detergent remains within the washing system, improving washing efficiency without requiring excessive detergent.

Implementation Method 1

rotating the drum with the number of rotations for inducing a centrifugal force equal to or greater than 1 G

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS20240218578A1Clothing treatment apparatus

Publication Date: 2024.07.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC

AI summary

The present application relates to a method for controlling a clothing treatment apparatus, the clothing treatment apparatus having: a tub for storing water; a drum rotatably provided inside the tub to store an object to be washed, and having a drum input port; a detergent storage part for storing detergent; a storage part water supply pipe for supplying water to the detergent storage part; a tub connection pipe for guiding water discharged from the detergent storage part to the drum input port; a tub water supply pipe for supplying water to the tub; a drain provided so as to pass through the tub; and a drain pump connected to the drain.