Dish Rack Lighting Integration to Prevent Soil Buildup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dishwashers face issues with lighting systems that create leakage paths and collect food soil, as they are typically mounted on the tub rather than specifically illuminating dishes, and often require separate assemblies that occupy space.
Innovation Solution
Integrating light sources, such as LEDs, directly into dish holders or racks, which can be powered through various means including wired connections or inductive coupling, allowing for illumination of dishes regardless of the dish holder's position and eliminating the need for separate tub-mounted lighting assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light sources are mounted on the tub in conventional dishwashers, then the interior can be illuminated, but leakage paths are created and food soil accumulates on the lighting components
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is merged with the dish holder structure by integrating light sources directly into the dish holder. This combines the illumination function with the dish holding function, eliminating the need for separate tub-mounted lighting assemblies and preventing food soil accumulation on lighting components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system is extracted from the tub structure and relocated to the dish holder. This separation removes the lighting components from the harmful environment of food soil and leakage paths in the tub, while maintaining the illumination function.
2Illumination intensity
If separate tub-mounted lighting assemblies are used, then illumination is provided, but tub space is occupied and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting function is merged into the dish holder structure, eliminating separate tub-mounted lighting assemblies. This integration removes the additional volume required for separate lighting components and reduces overall device complexity by combining functions.
3Use of energy by moving object
If wired connections are used to power light sources on movable dish holders, then power can be supplied, but connection reliability decreases due to movement
Solution Approach 1:
A flexible printed circuit board is used to provide electrical connections between the stationary power source and the movable light sources on dish holders. The flexible nature of this circuit board allows it to accommodate the movement of dish holders while maintaining reliable electrical connections, eliminating the need for rigid wired connections.
4Ease of operation
If inductive coupling is used to power light sources, then wireless power transfer is achieved, but energy loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces inductive coupling with a mechanical flexible printed circuit board connection system. This substitution eliminates the energy losses associated with inductive coupling while maintaining ease of operation, as the flexible circuit board automatically connects and disconnects with dish holder movement.
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 solution ensures dishes are illuminated effectively, reduces the risk of food soil accumulation on lighting components, and optimizes tub space by integrating lighting within the dish holders, enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The light source may include a plurality of light sources including light emitting diodes (LEDs).
Implementation Method 2
The power source may be inductively coupled with the light source.
Data Source
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AI summary
A dishwasher (10) includes a tub (18) at least partially defining a treating chamber (20) for receiving dishes for treatment according to the cycle of operation and having an open face providing access to the treating chamber (20), a dish holder slidable relative to the tub (18) through the open face between a loading position and a treating position and a light source (56) provided on the dish holder for illuminating dishes contained in the dish holder.