Washing machine with drawer-type charging device
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing connection structures between the drawer-type charging device and the panel of washing machines often result in uncontrollable gaps due to unreasonable positioning systems, leading to poor product quality and user satisfaction, as they are prone to deformation and wear, causing the gap to increase over time.
Innovation Solution
A redesigned connection structure featuring a window portion with supporting surfaces and bulges that provide vertical support to the cover portion, along with positioning pins and grooves that constrain movement in multiple directions, ensuring stable and controlled gaps between the cover and panel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If no constraint relationship exists between the cover portion and the panel, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the gap becomes uncontrollable and product quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system is segmented into multiple independent components: positioning pins inserted into positioning grooves, first and second supporting surfaces providing vertical support, and constraint relationships in different directions. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function while maintaining overall positioning accuracy and gap control.
2Manufacturing precision
If a constraint force in depth direction is introduced between the cover portion and the panel, then gap control in depth direction is improved, but unconstrained degrees of freedom remain causing rotation and gap instability
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning system extends into multiple spatial dimensions: positioning pins and grooves constrain movement in the depth direction, while first and second supporting surfaces provide vertical support in the height direction. This multi-dimensional constraint approach eliminates unconstrained degrees of freedom and prevents rotation, ensuring stable gap control.
3Manufacturing precision
If a constraint mechanism is designed at a visible position, then positioning function is achieved, but friction and wear cause paint loss and appearance deterioration over time
Solution Approach 1:
The constraint mechanism (positioning pins and grooves) is extracted from visible areas and relocated to non-visible positions where the charging device penetrates through the window portion. This extraction maintains the positioning function while eliminating the harmful visual effect of paint loss and material wear at visible locations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the cover portion material has large shrinkage rate and deformation, then material selection flexibility is high, but dimension fluctuation increases and gap control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The positioning pins and grooves are designed with predetermined dimensions and tolerances to compensate for material shrinkage and deformation. The constraint mechanism is pre-configured to maintain accurate positioning despite dimensional fluctuations in the cover portion material, allowing flexible material selection while ensuring consistent gap control.
Data Source
Figure 1a~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A washing machine with a drawer-type charging device including a panel (4) that forms a part of a box body (2), where the panel (4) is provided with a window portion (41), the charging device penetrates through the window portion (41) and is provided with a cover portion (11), and when the charging device completely stretches into the box body (2), the cover portion (11) of the charging device is matched with the window portion (41) of the panel (4). The window portion (41) is provided with a first supporting surface (44A) and a second supporting surface (44B) that extend and are spaced relative to a width direction of the washing machine, and the cover portion (11) is provided with a first bulge (15A) and a second bulge (15B) that are respectively supported on the first supporting surface (44A) and the second supporting surface (44B) from above.