Detergent Container Connector for Stable Washer Pump Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing detergent supply apparatuses in washing machines are prone to electrical contact failures and incorrect insertion issues due to shaking of the detergent container, leading to potential short circuits and failure in detecting proper accommodation, which can result in incorrect operation of the liquid sensing apparatus.
Innovation Solution
A detergent supply apparatus with a connector unit that securely couples the detergent container to the housing, using a first and second body with electrical connection terminals and an electrode sensor to ensure proper accommodation and prevent water ingress, thereby preventing electrical failures and ensuring correct operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the detergent container is made removable and shakeable for user access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to electrical contact failures and short circuits
Solution Approach 1:
The connector unit is designed with a movable connector body that can be inserted into and removed from the housing, allowing the system to dynamically transition between connected and disconnected states. This enables easy access for users while maintaining stable electrical contact when properly connected, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and reliability.
2Ease of operation
If the detergent container is shaken for access, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability worsens due to short circuits and sensing failures
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical connection system is segmented into separate connector and housing components, with the connector body designed to be removable. This segmentation allows the container to be accessed and shaken for user convenience while the separated connector prevents short circuits and sensing failures that would occur with rigid integrated connections during shaking operations.
3Reliability
If a connector unit is added to supply power and detect accommodation, then reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The connector unit is designed as a multi-functional component that simultaneously supplies power to the pump unit, detects the accommodation state of the detergent container, and provides structural support. This universal design improves reliability through stable electrical connection while minimizing device complexity by consolidating multiple functions into a single integrated connector rather than adding separate components.
Data Source
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AI summary
A detergent supply apparatus (20) and a washing machine (1) including the same. The washing machine includes the detergent supply apparatus which includes a detergent container accommodating housing (200) installed in the cabinet (2) and having an opening in the front portion of the cabinet, a detergent container (210) configured to store the detergent and to be removably inserted into the detergent container accommodating housing through the opening of the detergent container accommodating housing, a detergent container cover (211) disposed on top of the detergent container and having a detergent inlet (212) through which the detergent is loaded into the detergent container, a pump unit (220, 320, 420, 520) configured to pump the detergent from the detergent container to the detergent container accommodating housing, a connector unit (250, 350, 450) configured to supply power to the pump unit, and including a first body (230, 330, 430, 530) disposed at the detergent container and a second body (240, 340, 440, 540) disposed at the detergent container accommodating housing, wherein the first body is electrically connected to the second body when the detergent container is accommodated in the detergent container accommodating housing; and a controller (270) configured to determine that the detergent container is properly accommodated in the detergent container accommodating housing when the first body is electrically connected to the second body.