Composition dispensing device for an automatic dishwasher
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic dishwashers often require pre-rinsing and towel drying due to incompatible cleaning compositions released simultaneously, which limits their cleaning performance, and existing sensing technologies struggle to accurately distinguish between wash cycles to optimize chemistry release.
Innovation Solution
A personalized cleaning composition dispensing device with a wash cycle sensing system using temperature and water flow sensors, combined with a microprocessor and data storage unit, learns the wash cycles to determine optimal release points for cleaning compositions, adapting to different wash programs and consumer behavior.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If all cleaning compositions are released simultaneously in the tablet, then the tablet structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cleaning compositions counteract each other and cleaning performance is not fully achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning composition is divided into multiple separate compartments within the tablet structure, each containing different cleaning agents. This segmentation prevents the cleaning compositions from counteracting each other while maintaining the tablet form factor, thereby improving cleaning performance without significantly complicating manufacturing
Solution Approach 2:
Specific cleaning compositions are extracted from the simultaneous release mechanism and placed in separate compartments that release at different times during the wash cycle. This extraction allows incompatible cleaning agents to be separated in time and space, resolving the counteraction problem while preserving the overall tablet-based approach
2Reliability
If sequential release of cleaning compositions is implemented, then cleaning performance is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing device utilizes the dishwasher's existing wash cycle parameters (temperature, water flow) to automatically trigger the release of cleaning compositions at the appropriate times. This self-service approach leverages the environment already present in the dishwasher, avoiding the need for additional complex control mechanisms while achieving sequential release
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect wash cycle conditions and provide feedback to the dispensing mechanism. This feedback loop allows the device to automatically adjust the release timing of cleaning compositions based on actual wash cycle progression, achieving intelligent sequential release without requiring complex pre-programming
3Manufacturing precision
If wash cycle sensing is implemented to optimize chemistry release, then the cleaning composition release timing is optimized, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing system is designed to detect multiple wash cycle parameters (temperature, water flow, cycle stage) using a single integrated sensor module. This multi-functional approach allows the system to optimize chemistry release timing across different wash cycles without requiring separate sensing mechanisms for each parameter, thereby reducing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical sensing mechanisms with electronic sensors that can detect wash cycle conditions through non-contact or minimal-contact methods. This substitution reduces mechanical complexity while improving the precision of wash cycle detection and chemistry release timing control
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
The device ensures the right cleaning composition is released at the right time, enhancing cleaning performance by eliminating the need for pre-rinsing and towel drying, and adapting to various wash programs across different dishwasher brands and models.
Implementation Method 1
wash cycle sensing system with temperature and water flow sensors
Implementation Method 2
wash cycle sensing system with temperature and water flow sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A cleaning composition dispensing device for use in an automatic dishwasher is provided for dispensing the right cleaning composition at the right time during a wash cycle. The device includes wash cycle sensing system that controls the release of cleaning composition via temperature and water flow data measured with respect to time. The device includes a refill compartment receiving a multi-section refill including at least two cleaning composition sections divided by separable seams. The multi-section refill separates into individual cleaning composition sections during placement in the refill compartment that fall into the slots forming the refill compartment.