Detergent Drawer Control Panel Layout for Simpler Washer Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current laundry washing machines with automatic detergent dispensers have complex structures and hydraulic connections, which complicate the simplification of the detergent dispensing system and fresh-water supply circuit.
Innovation Solution
The design includes an autodosing detergent dispenser with detergent reservoirs and pumps integrated into a drawer-like structure, where the detergent collecting chamber is located outside the drawer housing, adjacent to the back wall, simplifying hydraulic connections and allowing for increased load capacity and reduced complexity in the water supply circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the detergent reservoirs are integrated into the drawer housing, then the structure is more compact, but the hydraulic connections become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent collecting chamber is extracted from the drawer housing and positioned externally adjacent to the back wall of the casing. This separation allows the hydraulic connections to be simplified and positioned optimally without being constrained by the drawer housing boundaries, thereby reducing connection complexity while maintaining compact overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The detergent collecting chamber is repositioned from a horizontal arrangement within the drawer to a vertical arrangement adjacent to the back wall. This dimensional change optimizes the hydraulic connection paths and allows for more efficient water supply circuit routing, reducing the number of bends and connections required.
2Ease of manufacture
If the detergent collecting chamber is located inside the drawer housing, then the structure is more integrated, but the water supply circuit becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent collecting chamber is extracted from the drawer housing assembly and positioned as a separate component adjacent to the back wall. This extraction simplifies the water supply circuit by allowing direct connections from the main water supply to the collecting chamber without requiring complex routing through the drawer housing structure.
3Shape
If the drawer-like structure is completely recessed, then the appearance is cleaner, but the detergent reservoir load capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent collecting chamber is repositioned to utilize the vertical space adjacent to the back wall, extending in the depth dimension rather than occupying horizontal drawer space. This allows the drawer to remain completely recessed for a clean appearance while the collecting chamber maintains adequate capacity by utilizing the three-dimensional space efficiently.
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 configuration simplifies the detergent dispensing system, reduces the length of hydraulic connections, and increases the load capacity of detergent reservoirs, making the system more efficient and user-friendly.
Implementation Method 1
a respective electrically-powered detergent feeding pump which is able to selectively suck, from the corresponding detergent reservoir, the specific amount of the detergent necessary and sufficient for performing the selected washing cycle, and to pump/channel said specific amount of detergent into a detergent collecting chamber
Data Source
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AI summary
Laundry washing machine (1) comprising a casing (2), a washing tub (3) with its opening facing a laundry loading/unloading opening on a the front wall (4) of the casing (2), an autodosing detergent dispenser (10) for automatically dosing, on the basis of the selected washing cycle, the suitable amount/dose of detergent, softener and/or other washing agent, and feeding said amount/dose into the washing tub (3), a fresh-water supply circuit (7) for selectively channelling a flow of fresh water from the water mains to the autodosing detergent dispenser (10) and/or to the washing tub (3), and an appliance control panel (8) allowing the user to manually select the desired washing-cycle; the appliance control panel (8) being located/arranged on a front side of the drawer-like supporting structure (16) which is fitted/inserted in extractable manner into a drawer housing (17) extending inside the casing (2) underneath the upper worktop or top wall (9) of the casing (2); the autodosing detergent dispenser (10) comprising: one or more detergent reservoirs (18) structured for receiving a quantity of detergent, softener or other washing agent sufficient for performing a great number of washing cycles, and being located/housed on the drawer-like supporting structure (16); a detergent collecting chamber (22) which communicates with the inside of the washing tub (3), and is located outside of the drawer housing (17); and, for each detergent reservoir (18), a respective detergent feeding pump (24) structured to selectively suck the specific amount of the detergent, softener or other washing agent necessary for performing the selected washing cycle, and to pump/channel said specific amount of detergent, softener or other washing agent into said detergent collecting chamber (22) when the drawer-like supporting structure (16) is arranged in the retracted position.