Detergent box assembly and washing device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing detergent box assemblies face challenges in designing a simple and efficient mechanism for easy user operation, particularly in limited mounting space, with complex mechanisms and limited flexibility in adjustment for opening and locking.

Innovation Solution

A detergent box assembly featuring a housing mechanism, a material box mechanism, an ejection mechanism, and a locking mechanism with a track, track switch, and actuating assembly, allowing for a 'push-to-eject' operation, adjustable displacement, and stable locking, utilizing a sliding member and block portion for smooth movement and adjustable locking surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a complex mechanism is used to enable automatic ejection of the detergent box, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases and the mounting space requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The locking mechanism and ejection mechanism are merged into a single integrated system. The locking mechanism includes a locking component and an ejection component that work together through a shared driving mechanism, reducing the number of separate components while achieving both locking and automatic ejection functions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The driving mechanism serves multiple functions: it provides the locking action through the locking component and simultaneously provides the ejection action through the ejection component. This multi-functionality reduces overall device complexity while maintaining ease of operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a complex mechanism is used to enable automatic ejection of the detergent box, then the ease of operation is improved, but the mounting space increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidmounting space
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The ejection component is nested within the locking mechanism structure. The ejection driving component is positioned inside the locking component's spatial envelope, allowing both mechanisms to share the same mounting space without significantly increasing the overall volume

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

By merging the locking and ejection mechanisms into a single integrated system with shared components and mounting structures, the total mounting space is optimized while still providing automatic ejection functionality

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the detergent box is designed for easy manual operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability of locking may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidreliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides self-service through automatic ejection: once the user performs the simple action of pushing the detergent box forward, the mechanism automatically completes the ejection and resetting process without requiring additional user actions. This maintains ease of operation while ensuring reliable locking through the automated mechanism

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The mechanism includes feedback through the interaction between the locking component and ejection component, where the position of the detergent box automatically triggers the appropriate locking or ejection action, ensuring reliable operation based on user input

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3933093B1Detergent box assembly and washing device
Publication Date: 2023.08.09 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3933093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3933093B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3933093B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A detergent box assembly (1) and a washing device are provided. The detergent box assembly includes a housing mechanism (10), a material box mechanism (20), an ejection mechanism (30), and a locking mechanism (41-43). The ejection mechanism (30) is separately coupled to the material box mechanism(20) and the locking mechanism (41-43). The locking mechanism is separately coupled to the housing mechanism and the material box mechanism, and includes a track (41), a track switch (42), and an actuating assembly. The track includes a locking end (411), a releasing end (412), a first part (413), and a second part (414), and the releasing end is configured to limit a maximum ejection displacement of the material box mechanism relative to the housing mechanism. The track switch includes a direction changing portion (421) and a guide portion (422), the guide portion (422) slides along the track, the direction changing portion (421) is configured to adjust a sliding position of the guide portion on the track, and the material box mechanism is in a locked state when the guide portion is located at the locking end. The actuating assembly is coupled to the ejection mechanism, the track switch, and the material box mechanism separately, and is configured to be driven by the ejection mechanism to drive the material box mechanism to move relative to the housing mechanism. The foregoing solution can provide a novel detergent box assembly.