Detergent Capsule Flushing in Washing Machine Dispensers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines with flushing devices for detergents often result in skin contact and contamination, as well as uneven mixing of detergents with washing liquid, due to the high local concentration of detergents in the drum, which is not effectively addressed by prior art.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design featuring a disposable capsule cup with a pivoting cover flap and hollow piercing spikes for the liquid treatment agent, allowing for selective flushing and efficient mixing with the washing liquid, while preventing skin contact and maintaining chamber cleanliness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If detergent is placed directly in the drum or in open containers, then the detergent is easily accessible, but skin contact and contamination occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs disposable sealed containers (capsules, sachets, or pre-filled bottles) that are discarded after single use. These containers maintain detergent isolation until needed, eliminating skin contact risks during storage and handling. The container is inserted into the drum or dispensing chamber, activated, and then discarded, providing both accessibility and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes flexible sealed membranes (foil lids, plastic seals) that enclose the detergent completely. These thin film barriers prevent any contact between the detergent and the user during storage, transport, and loading. The seal is broken only at the moment of use through piercing or opening mechanisms.
2Quantity of substance
If detergent is placed directly in the drum, then high local concentration is achieved, but effective mixing with washing liquid is not given
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the detergent into smaller, controlled portions using multiple small capsules or compartments within a single container. This segmentation allows the detergent to be released gradually or simultaneously in a dispersed manner, improving mixing uniformity while maintaining adequate concentration through the cumulative effect of multiple segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent positions the detergent container or capsules at different spatial locations within the drum or dispensing chamber, rather than concentrating all detergent in one spot. This spatial distribution across multiple dimensions facilitates better contact with washing liquid from various directions, enhancing mixing effectiveness while preserving total detergent quantity.
3Productivity
If water is supplied to flush detergent from chambers, then detergent is delivered to the drum, but the chamber walls come into contact with treatment agent and water
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the detergent from the storage chamber into a separate disposable container before water flushing occurs. The container is inserted into the chamber, the detergent is flushed out through the container rather than directly from chamber walls, and the container is then removed and discarded. This extraction process delivers detergent to the drum while preventing chamber wall contact with both detergent and flushing water.
Solution Approach 2:
The disposable container serves as an intermediary between the storage chamber and the drum. Water flushes the detergent through this intermediate container, which protects the chamber walls from direct contact with detergent and flushing water. The container absorbs the contaminating substances and is discarded, while the chamber remains clean for subsequent uses.
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 effective mixing of detergents with the wash cycle, avoids high detergent concentrations, prevents user skin contact, and keeps the chamber clean by directing water only into the capsule cup for rinsing, ensuring complete emptying and easy disposal of the capsule cup.
Implementation Method 1
hollow piercing spikes being arranged on the underside of the cover flap for penetration of the film-like cover of the capsule cup
Implementation Method 2
The siphon tube (12) (12') penetrates from below into the siphon tube (13) of the capsule cup (7)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a washing machine (1) with a suds container (3) arranged in a housing (2), in which a drum (3a) is rotatably mounted, and a flushing device (4b) with a flushing-in dispenser (4) with chambers (5). for storing a powdery and at least one chamber (6) for storing a liquid treatment agent, and with nozzles (14) arranged above the chambers (5, 6) through which water is directed onto the treatment agent for selective flushing of the treatment agent from the respective chambers (5, 6) into the tub (3). According to the invention, the chamber (6) for the liquid treatment agent is designed to accommodate a disposable container () with a portion of detergent therein, which is designed as a closed capsule cup (7) with a removal device (9) arranged on the base (8) and with a film-like cover (18) which can be activated by means of a cover flap (10) that can be pivoted onto the capsule cup (7), hollow piercing spikes (19) being arranged on the underside of the cover flap (10) for penetrating the film-like cover (18) of the capsule cup ( 7), wherein the nozzles (14) are divided into at least a first (14a) and a second subset (14b) and can each be activated selectively, the first subset of nozzles (14a) in a section above the cover flap (10) for feeding of the water into the chamber (6) and the second subset of the nozzles (14b) in a section above the cover flap (10) for direct supply of the water into the hollow A nstechdorne (19) for flushing the water into the capsule cup (7) is directed.