Detergent Drawer Rinsing Structure for Cleaner Laundry Supply

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Solution Overview

Problem

Laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene within the detergent supply system, particularly due to residue and foreign substances that accumulate, making it difficult to clean and use efficiently.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a detergent supply system with a detergent storage unit that can be easily extended and retracted, featuring a detergent reservoir, container, and cup, optimized for space utilization, with features like a water-repellent pattern and separate compartments to prevent leakage and improve usability, along with a mechanism to prevent sagging and ensure proper extension and retraction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the detergent storage unit is retracted or extended in the detergent supply, then the detergent supply is accessible and usable, but residue and foreign substances accumulate in the space, degrading hygiene and making cleaning difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveusability of detergent supplyVSAvoidhygiene and cleanliness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The detergent storage unit is designed to clean itself through water supply during washing operations. Water flows through the storage unit to rinse and flush away accumulated residue and foreign substances, eliminating the need for manual cleaning while maintaining hygiene during use.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The detergent storage unit can be completely removed from the detergent supply assembly. This extraction capability allows users to take out the storage unit for easy cleaning or replacement, separating the storage function from the fixed housing to improve accessibility and maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the detergent storage unit is made detachable for easy cleaning, then hygiene is improved, but the structural complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehygiene and cleanlinessVSAvoidstructural complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The detergent supply system is divided into separate modules: the housing, the detergent storage unit, and the water supply system. This segmentation allows the storage unit to be independently removed for cleaning while keeping the overall structure relatively simple through standardized connection interfaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Object-affected harmful factors

If water is supplied to the detergent storage unit during washing, then cleaning performance is improved, but water consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidwater consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The water supply system serves multiple functions: it provides wash water to the drum, supplies rinsing water to the detergent storage unit for cleaning, and can flush the space around the storage unit. This multi-functionality allows effective cleaning of the storage unit using water that would otherwise be dedicated solely to the washing process, optimizing water utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3851568B1Laundry treating apparatus
Publication Date: 2024.09.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3851568B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3851568B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3851568B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Laundry treating apparatus including a detergent storage unit (300) retractable into a cabinet (10) through a opening (15), wherein detergent is stored in the detergent storage unit (300); a supply case disposed in the cabinet (10) and receiving the detergent storage unit (300) retracted through the opening (15); and a dispenser (200) disposed inside the cabinet (10), and located above the detergent storage unit (300), wherein the dispenser (200) includes a water supply portion (260) from which water is discharged and drops downwards, wherein the water supply portion (260) includes shower portion for supplying water to a bottom (401) of the supply case.