Detergent Dispenser Flow Path Design to Reduce Adhesion and Residue
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing laundry treating apparatuses face issues with detergent adhesion in the detergent dispenser, leading to flow interference and user dissatisfaction due to remaining detergent residues and foreign substances.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features an improved flow path structure within the detergent dispenser, including vertical and inclined flow paths, guide ribs, and dispersion ribs to ensure smooth detergent and water flow, preventing adhesion and residue accumulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If detergent is stored in the dispenser tray for long-term use, then the detergent supply function is maintained, but detergent adheres to the flow path and dispenser interior surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The flow path is designed with a curved bottom surface that slopes downward toward the discharge hole. This curvature prevents detergent from adhering to horizontal surfaces by ensuring all surfaces are inclined, allowing detergent and wash water to flow smoothly toward the discharge hole without accumulating on the dispenser interior surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a vertical dimension to the flow path design by creating a curved bottom surface that transitions from the rear wall toward the front discharge hole. This three-dimensional curved surface replaces traditional flat or linear flow paths, enabling detergent to flow along the curved trajectory directly to the discharge hole without adhering to intermediate surfaces.
2Productivity
If detergent and wash water flow through the dispenser, then the detergent supply function is achieved, but foreign substances such as lint and dust adhere to the flow path
Solution Approach 1:
The curved bottom surface of the flow path eliminates flat surfaces where foreign substances like lint and dust could accumulate. The continuous curvature ensures that all surfaces are inclined, causing wash water and detergent to flow smoothly along the curve to the discharge hole, preventing foreign substances from adhering to the flow path surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path structure is designed in advance to prevent adhesion before it occurs. By creating a curved surface that slopes toward the discharge hole, the design proactively ensures that detergent and wash water flow continuously without stagnating, thereby preventing foreign substances from adhering during the detergent supply process.
3Ease of operation
If the dispenser tray is retracted and extended by the user, then the dispenser is easy to operate, but detergent residues remain in the dispenser housing
Solution Approach 1:
The curved bottom surface of the flow path ensures that detergent and wash water flow smoothly toward the discharge hole located at the front of the dispenser housing. This curvature prevents detergent residues from accumulating in the dispenser housing by maintaining continuous flow along the inclined surface, even when the dispenser tray is retracted and extended by the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The discharge hole is positioned at the front of the dispenser housing to extract detergent and wash water from the housing before the user removes the dispenser tray. This design ensures that detergent residues are discharged from the housing separately, preventing accumulation in the dispenser housing while maintaining user accessibility to the dispenser tray.
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
This design enhances the flow of wash water and detergent, preventing adhesion and residue issues, thus maintaining the apparatus's efficiency and user satisfaction by ensuring smooth operation and cleanliness.
Implementation Method 1
an inclined flow path connected to the vertical flow path, protruding inwardly of the side wall, and inclined downward forwardly of the bottom surface along the side wall
Data Source
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AI summary
Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus including a cabinet having an entrance defined in a front surface thereof, a tub installed inside the cabinet, a drum rotatably installed inside the tub, wherein a front surface of the drum is open to put laundry into the drum, and a rotation shaft extending in a front and rear direction is coupled to a rear surface of the drum, and a detergent dispenser retracted into and extended from the cabinet through the entrance, wherein detergent is stored in and supplied into the detergent dispenser, wherein the detergent dispenser includes a dispenser tray constructed to be retracted into and extended from the cabinet through the entrance, wherein an auxiliary agent such as detergent is temporarily stored inside the dispenser tray, and is discharged together with wash water, a dispenser housing disposed inside the cabinet, and having a bottom surface and side walls for defining a space for accommodating the dispenser tray therein, wherein a discharge hole in communication with the tub is defined in the bottom surface, and a dispenser cover seated on the dispenser housing, wherein the dispenser cover supplies wash water to the dispenser tray or the dispenser housing, wherein the dispenser cover has a front supply flow path defined therein for supplying wash water to a front portion of the dispenser housing, and wherein a front flow path for diffusing wash water supplied from the front supply flow path of the dispenser housing on a front portion of the bottom surface of the dispenser housing to be guided to the discharge hole.