Multi-Chamber Detergent Container With Penetrable Partition Mixing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing dosing containers for household appliances are limited in their ability to store and mix multiple detergent components separately, leading to incompatibility issues, incomplete mixing before use, and requiring laborious cleaning and non-hygienic reuse.

Innovation Solution

A dosing container with multiple chambers and a penetrable partition that remains impenetrable during storage but becomes penetrable during use, allowing for separate storage and timely mixing of detergent components, and is designed for disposable use with a mechanism such as water-soluble materials or mechanical activation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple detergent components are stored separately in different chambers, then compatibility and storage stability are improved, but the complexity of the dosing device increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoiddosing device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing container is divided into multiple chambers separated by partitions, allowing different detergent components to be stored separately to maintain compatibility and storage stability while keeping the overall device relatively simple

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The dosing container is designed as a disposable single-use component that is discarded after one use, eliminating the need for complex cleaning mechanisms and reducing device complexity while maintaining storage stability during the storage phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Productivity

If detergent components are dosed directly into the washing process, then productivity is improved, but high local concentrations damage the laundry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedosing efficiencyVSAvoidlaundry damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detergent components are pre-mixed in the dosing container before use, ensuring complete mixing and combination in advance. This preliminary mixing action prevents high local concentrations from forming on the laundry during the washing process, thereby protecting the laundry while maintaining dosing efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls are designed to be penetrable by the detergent components, allowing them to mix completely within the dosing container before dosing. This merging of components in advance ensures uniform distribution and prevents localized high concentrations that could damage the laundry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of substance

If the dosing device is permanently installed and reused, then loss of substance is reduced, but laborious cleaning is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetergent wasteVSAvoidcleaning effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing container is designed as a disposable single-use component that is discarded after one use. This eliminates the need for laborious cleaning and maintenance while minimizing detergent waste through precise dosing, as the container is optimized for a single complete dosing cycle

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

4Adaptability or versatility

If chamber walls are made water-soluble for penetration, then mixing capability is improved, but reliability of storage separation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemixing capabilityVSAvoidstorage separation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The partition walls are designed with dynamic penetrability - they remain intact during storage to maintain separation reliability, then become penetrable when activated by water or mechanical forces during use. This dynamic property allows the same structure to provide both reliable storage separation and effective mixing capability at different stages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

5Reliability

If individual preparations are stored separately, then compatibility is improved, but mixing time before use is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecompatibilityVSAvoidmixing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The dosing container is pre-filled with multiple detergent components in separate chambers during manufacturing, maintaining compatibility during storage. Upon activation, the components mix quickly within the container before dosing, minimizing the mixing time required while preserving compatibility benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The partition walls are designed to be quickly penetrable upon activation, allowing the separately stored components to merge and mix rapidly within the dosing container just before use. This minimizes the time required for mixing while maintaining the compatibility advantages of separate storage during the storage phase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Enables safe storage and timely mixing of detergent components, preventing high local concentrations on laundry and eliminating the need for frequent cleaning, while allowing for efficient use and disposal.

Implementation Method 1

the separation between two chambers (3, 4) is formed at least in sections by a water-soluble material (7)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWater solubility: Solvation

Data Source

PatentEP2703544B1Metering container for cleaning agent and method for metering cleaning agent
Publication Date: 2016.06.08 MIELE & CO KG
  • EP2703544B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2703544B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a dosing container (1) for cleaning agents, the dosing container (1) being insertable into a household appliance and having a plurality of chambers (3, 4, 5) in which individual preparations can be stored separately, and wherein between the chambers (3, 4, 5) a penetrable partition (6, 7) is arranged, which is impenetrable for the preparations when the dosing container (1) is stored and can be penetrated for the preparations when the dosing container (1) is in use. The invention also relates to a method for dosing cleaning agent in a household appliance with this dosing container (1), with a partition (6, 7) being opened first in a first step so that the preparations can mix with one another, and then in a second step the mixed preparations are fed together to the washing process.