Pull-Out Detergent Drawer With Pivoting Suction Arm for Easy Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines have inconvenient and cumbersome refilling mechanisms for laundry treatment agents, requiring users to bend down and complicating the cleaning process due to spills.
Innovation Solution
A water-bearing household appliance with a treatment agent bowl that can be easily pulled out and pushed back into a housing, featuring a pivoting suction arm with a suction opening that swivels down into the bowl, allowing for efficient refilling and cleaning, and a design that prevents spills and facilitates complete agent removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the treatment agent container is arranged in a low position on a moveable support, then the appliance can store sufficient treatment agent for multiple wash cycles, but the user must bend down to refill making the operation inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment agent container is designed to be movable between a retracted position (for storage) and an extended position (for refilling and cleaning). This dynamic positioning allows the container to be pulled out to a convenient height for user operation, eliminating the need to bend down, while still providing sufficient storage capacity when retracted.
2Ease of operation
If the treatment agent container has an opening for refilling, then the user can add treatment agent, but spills can occur complicating the cleaning process
Solution Approach 1:
The container opening is extracted and positioned on the outer surface of the container when pulled out, allowing refilling from above without creating spill risks inside the appliance. The suction arm is also extracted to a position where it can be easily accessed and cleaned separately from the main container structure.
Solution Approach 2:
A suction arm with a suction opening is introduced as an intermediary mechanism to transfer treatment agent from the container to the dosing unit. The suction arm can be positioned to avoid spills and is designed to be easily removable and cleanable, simplifying the cleaning process compared to integrated refilling mechanisms.
3Productivity
If a suction arm is provided to transport treatment agent, then the agent can be conveyed from the container to the dosing unit, but the mechanism adds structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The suction arm is designed to be actuated automatically by the movement of the treatment agent container itself. When the container is pulled out or pushed in, its movement directly actuates the suction arm through a lever mechanism, eliminating the need for separate motors or complex control systems. The suction arm returns to its initial position automatically when the container reaches its retracted position.
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
Improves operability by allowing easy and convenient refilling of treatment agents, simplifies cleaning, and ensures complete agent usage without spills, enhancing user experience and appliance functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The suction arm can be actuated in accordance with a lever. As a result, for example, over a short insertion distance, the end piece with the suction opening can be pivoted down far into the treatment agent bowl.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A water-bearing household appliance (1), which is used in particular as a laundry treatment appliance for washing laundry, comprises a treatment agent bowl (2), which is used to hold a free-flowing treatment agent, and a bowl housing (3). The treatment agent shell (2) can be pushed into a receptacle (7) of the shell housing (3) and pulled out of it. A swiveling suction arm (9) is also provided, with an end piece (11) of the suction arm (9), on which a suction opening (26) is provided, being arranged in an upper area of the receptacle (7) when the treatment agent tray (2) is pulled out. Furthermore, the treatment agent bowl (2) actuates the suction arm (9) when it is pushed in, so that the end piece (11) of the suction arm (9) pivots down into the treatment agent bowl (2). This makes it easy to use. In particular, the user can easily fill up the treatment agent tray with treatment agent. Cleaning the treatment agent tray (2) is also simplified.