Additive dispenser for varying the types of additives within a washing machine appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine additive dispensers face challenges in ensuring complete dissolution of additive pods, especially during cold-water cycles, leading to potential damage or staining of articles and wastage of wash additives, particularly when using multiple or different types of pods.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine appliance with a fluid additive dispenser featuring a housing, dispenser drawer, and pod cup, where the dispenser drawer defines primary and pod compartments, and a pod outlet to direct wash fluid through the pod compartment, ensuring effective dissolution of additive pods by controlling water flow and using an optical sensor to manage pod usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additive pods are placed directly into the wash basket, then ease of operation is improved, but complete dissolution of the additive pod deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The additive dispensing system is segmented into distinct components: a dedicated pod compartment within the dispenser drawer, a pod cup that holds the pod, and a wash basket. This segmentation allows the pod to be placed in a controlled environment (pod compartment) rather than directly in the wash basket, ensuring proper dissolution while maintaining ease of operation through clear compartmentalization.
Solution Approach 2:
The pod cup acts as an intermediary device between the additive pod and the wash basket. It provides a controlled dissolution environment by allowing water to flow through the pod from above, ensuring complete dissolution before the additive enters the wash basket, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of placement and reliable dissolution.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of additive pods are used, then adaptability is improved, but difficulty in ensuring complete dissolution of each type deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pod compartment and pod cup are designed with universal functionality to accommodate multiple types of additive pods (detergent pods, fabric softener pods, rinse aid pods). The standardized cup design with appropriate opening configurations works with different pod types, ensuring complete dissolution for each while maintaining adaptability to various additive requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs local quality by providing different opening configurations in the pod cup depending on the pod type being used. The controller selectively activates appropriate cup openings to match the specific additive pod inserted, optimizing dissolution conditions for each pod type while maintaining a single universal pod compartment structure.
3Loss of substance
If additive pods are not completely dissolved, then loss of substance increases due to wastage, but device complexity remains simple
Solution Approach 1:
The pod cup is designed to enable self-service dissolution of the additive pod. Water automatically flows through the pod from above, and the pod dissolves completely without requiring additional mechanical agitation or complex dissolution mechanisms. This simple self-service approach ensures complete dissolution and eliminates wastage without increasing device complexity.
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 ensures complete dissolution of additive pods, preventing residue accumulation and wastage, while allowing for the use of multiple types of pods, enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the washing process.
Implementation Method 1
using an optical sensor to manage pod usage
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a cabinet, a tub disposed within the cabinet, a basket, and a fluid additive dispenser. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, and a pod cup. The housing may extend between an open front end and a closed rear end. The housing may be disposed within the cabinet. The dispenser drawer may be slidably received in the housing above the basket. The dispenser drawer may extend from a forward end to a rearward end. The dispenser drawer may define a primary compartment and a pod compartment adjacent to the primary compartment between the forward end and the rearward end. The pod cup may be selectively received on the dispenser drawer within the pod compartment to hold an additive pod. The pod cup may define an opening therein to permit a wash fluid therethrough.