Bellows Pod Dispenser for Complete Laundry Chemistry Dissolution
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating appliances face issues with treating chemistry pods becoming lodged in undesirable locations, preventing complete dissolution and affecting the treatment process.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating appliance with a dispenser system on the bellows, featuring a receptacle with a lid and dedicated liquid supply, ensures that treating chemistry pods are properly dissolved and dispensed into the treating chamber, preventing lodging and ensuring consistent treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If pods are placed directly into the treating chamber, then the user enjoys convenience of predetermined consistent amounts, but the pod can become lodged in an undesirable location that prevents complete dissolution
Solution Approach 1:
The treating chemistry is segmented into individual pods with dissolvable packaging, each containing a predetermined amount of treating chemistry. This segmentation allows the pod to be placed in a dispenser receptacle where it will be reliably exposed to liquid flow, ensuring complete dissolution while maintaining the convenience of pre-measured doses.
Solution Approach 2:
A dispenser receptacle acts as an intermediary between the user and the treating chamber. The receptacle receives the pod from the user and then reliably delivers the treating chemistry to the treating chamber, ensuring complete dissolution occurs within the receptacle before discharge, thus preventing lodging issues in the treating chamber.
2Reliability
If a dispenser receptacle is introduced to hold the pod, then complete dissolution is ensured, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser receptacle is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as a storage container for the pod, a dissolution chamber where liquid is supplied to dissolve the packaging, and a discharge mechanism that delivers the treating chemistry to the treating chamber. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser receptacle is designed to automatically receive liquid from the liquid supply system and use it to dissolve the pod packaging without requiring additional user intervention. The receptacle self-regulates the dissolution process by controlling liquid flow to the pod, reducing the need for complex user interfaces or manual 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
The system ensures complete dissolution of treating chemistry pods, preventing lodging and ensuring consistent treatment, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of the laundry treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
supplying liquid to a reclosable receptacle of a treating chemistry dispenser located on the bellows to provide a mixture of liquid and treating chemistry to the treating chamber
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry treating appliance may comprise a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber and having an opening at least partially aligned with an opening in the appliance front panel, thus providing access to the treating chamber through the front panel opening and the tub opening. A bellows may connect the front panel and the tub at their respective openings, and a treating chemistry dispenser may be provided on the bellows.