Automatic Solid Detergent Dispenser with Holder for Stacking Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwashers face challenges in efficiently loading and maintaining the quality of solid detergents, as existing systems often lead to detergent damage and inefficient stacking, which affects washing performance.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher with an automatic detergent dispenser that allows for the stacking and loading of multiple solid detergents vertically, featuring an ejector mechanism to discharge one detergent at a time and a holder to maintain the stacked state, ensuring proper alignment and preventing damage during the washing process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple solid detergents are stacked vertically in the storage compartment, then the quantity of detergent storage is improved, but the stability of stacking is worsened due to door opening causing direction changes
Solution Approach 1:
The holder is designed to be movable along the extension direction of the long side of the storage compartment. When the door opens and changes the stacking direction, the holder automatically moves to support the detergent blocks in the new direction, maintaining stacking stability while allowing multiple detergents to be stored vertically
Solution Approach 2:
The holder acts as an intermediary element between the detergent blocks and the storage compartment walls. It provides adaptive support that adjusts to direction changes caused by door opening, enabling stable stacking of multiple detergents without direct contact between detergent blocks and the compartment structure
2Ease of operation
If the door is opened to access the storage compartment, then the ease of operation is improved, but the stacking direction of detergents changes from vertical, causing misalignment
Solution Approach 1:
The holder moves dynamically along the long side extension direction in response to door opening. This movement compensates for the direction change, ensuring detergent blocks remain properly aligned and stacked even when the door is opened for loading or unloading operations
3Productivity
If solid detergents are stacked in the storage compartment, then the productivity is improved by automatic dispensing, but the reliability is worsened due to potential damage and quality deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
The ejector mechanism extracts individual detergent blocks from the stacked arrangement in the storage compartment and delivers them to the seating member. This extraction process allows controlled dispensing of one detergent at a time, maintaining the quality of remaining stacked detergents while enabling automatic operation
Solution Approach 2:
The holder serves as a protective intermediary that maintains proper spacing and support for stacked detergents. This prevents direct contact and potential damage between detergent blocks, preserving their quality while allowing efficient storage and automatic dispensing operations
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 solution enables efficient stacking and loading of solid detergents, preventing damage and ensuring effective detergent use during washing, enhancing the dishwasher's performance and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
an ejector configured to move one solid detergent among the plurality of solid detergents to an outside of the storage compartment
Implementation Method 2
a holder configured to be movable toward the plurality of solid detergents in a stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents inside the storage compartment to allow the plurality of solid detergents to be maintained in the stacked state
Data Source
AI summary
A dishwasher includes: a tub; a door configured to open or close the tub; and an automatic detergent dispenser disposed on the door and configured to discharge a solid detergent toward an inside of the tub. The automatic detergent dispenser includes a storage compartment to allow a plurality of solid detergents to be stacked and loaded therein in a stacking direction, an ejector configured to move one solid detergent among the plurality of solid detergents to an outside of the storage compartment thereby discharging the one solid detergent from the storage compartment, and a holder configured to be movable toward the plurality of solid detergents in a stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents inside the storage compartment, to support the plurality of solid detergents to be maintained in the stacked state inside the storage compartment.