Dishwasher coverage alert system and method
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwashers often fail to completely wash articles that are improperly placed, such as those touching or overlapping, due to spray assemblies' fixed patterns, leading to partial washing and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
An article-distribution system with a camera assembly and controller that identifies uncleanable articles by analyzing images of the rack assembly and overlays identifiers on a display screen to guide users in proper placement, ensuring articles are within reach of the spray assemblies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If articles are placed in a dishwasher rack assembly, then the dishwasher can wash articles, but articles may be placed in a way that results in partial or incomplete washing
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a camera assembly to capture images of articles in the rack assembly, processes these images to identify uncleanable articles, and provides visual feedback by overlaying identifiers on a display screen to guide users in proper article placement, ensuring complete washing coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of article placement before the washing cycle begins by capturing images with the camera assembly and identifying uncleanable articles, allowing users to adjust article positions in advance to ensure complete washing coverage
2Reliability
If spray assemblies use fixed spray patterns, then the spray assembly configuration is simple, but articles outside the spray pattern cannot be washed completely
Solution Approach 1:
The camera assembly and image processing system provide feedback about which articles are positioned outside the spray pattern, allowing the system to identify and flag uncleanable articles without requiring complex adjustable spray mechanisms
3Quantity of substance
If articles touch and overlap each other, then the rack assembly can hold more articles, but the articles cannot be completely washed
Solution Approach 1:
The image processing system detects when articles are touching or overlapping by analyzing the captured images, and provides visual feedback through overlay identifiers to guide users in redistributing articles to ensure complete washing coverage while maintaining high rack capacity
Data Source
AI summary
An article-distribution system for a dishwasher is provided having a camera assembly directed at a rack assembly of the dishwasher, a display screen spaced apart from the rack assembly, and a controller in operative communication with the camera assembly and the display screen. The controller may be configured to direct a dishwasher coverage operation. The dishwasher coverage operation may include receiving an image of the rack assembly from the camera assembly, identifying an uncleanable article, presenting the image at the display screen, and overlaying an identifier onto the presentation of the image based on the identified uncleanable article. The step of identifying the uncleanable article may be based on the received image. The uncleanable article may be in in an uncleanable position within the rack assembly.