Washing machine and control method thereof
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Solution Overview
Problem
Washing machines lack an effective method for measuring residual detergent amounts and easy cleaning of detergent supply units, leading to inefficiencies and maintenance challenges.
Innovation Solution
A detergent supply unit with a detachable container, a pump system driven by a motor, and a detergent mixing tub, which allows for automatic detergent dispensing and intuitive detection of residual detergent levels, enabling easy cleaning and efficient detergent use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a detergent supply unit uses a fixed detergent container, then the structure is simple, but it is difficult to clean and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent supply unit is divided into separable components: a detachable detergent container and a pump housing. This segmentation allows the container to be easily removed for cleaning or replacement, resolving the contradiction between structural simplicity and ease of maintenance.
2Ease of repair
If the detergent container is detachable, then it is easy to clean, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent container is designed as a detachable component that can be easily separated from the pump housing through a simple releasing mechanism, minimizing the increase in device complexity while maximizing cleaning convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of making the entire detergent supply unit detachable, only the container portion is made detachable, inverting the design approach to achieve ease of cleaning without excessive complexity.
3Device complexity
If manual detergent measurement is used, then the device is simple, but detergent efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system automatically draws detergent from the container and delivers it to the washing tub without manual intervention. The pump handle's reciprocating motion creates automatic detergent measurement and dispensing, improving efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device structure.
4Productivity
If automatic detergent dispensing is implemented, then detergent efficiency improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pump system is designed to automatically draw detergent from the container using the reciprocating motion of the pump handle, eliminating the need for complex electronic controls or additional actuators, thus improving dispensing efficiency while keeping device complexity manageable.
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 provides a washing machine with a detachable detergent supply container that can be easily cleaned and allows for automatic detergent dispensing, improving maintenance and detergent efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
the pump comprises a pump handle performing a reciprocating motion by the driving force
Implementation Method 2
a detergent suction tube configured to suck a part of the detergent from the detergent supply container
Implementation Method 3
a part of the driven shaft comprises a connector guide connected to the pump driving shaft
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine and a control method thereof are provided. More particularly, a washing machine of supplying a detergent automatically to a detergent mixing tub using a detachable detergent supply container, or of supplying a softening agent automatically to a softening agent mixing tub using a detachable softening agent supply container, and a method of controlling the washing machine are disclosed. Some of the disclosed embodiments provide a washing machine of supplying a detergent automatically to a washing tub using a detergent supply unit with a detergent supply container, and of supplying a softening agent automatically to the washing tub using a softening agent supply unit with a softening agent supply container, and a method of controlling the washing machine.