Personalized cleaning composition dispensing device

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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 cleaning agent 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 agents, adapting to different wash programs and consumer behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If all cleaning compositions are released at the same time in a tablet, then the device structure is simple, but the cleaning performance is reduced due to incompatible compositions counteracting each other

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedispensing device structureVSAvoidcleaning performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the cleaning composition tablet into multiple separate compartments, each containing a different cleaning agent (e.g., detergent, rinse aid, salt). This allows each composition to be released independently at the appropriate time during the wash cycle, preventing incompatible compositions from counteracting each other while maintaining a relatively simple overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-positioning different cleaning compositions in separate compartments before the wash cycle begins. The system is prepared to release each composition at the optimal time based on the detected wash cycle phase, ensuring that cleaning agents are introduced at the right moment for maximum effectiveness rather than all at once.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If temperature and water flow sensors are used to sense wash cycles, then the ability to distinguish between cycles is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewash cycle detection accuracyVSAvoidsensing system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses temperature and water flow sensors as intermediary elements that indirectly detect the wash cycle phase. Rather than directly monitoring complex cycle parameters, the sensors measure physical properties (temperature changes, water flow patterns) that correlate with different wash cycle stages, providing sufficient detection accuracy without requiring a complex sensing system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex mechanical or electronic cycle detection systems with simpler sensor-based detection. Instead of using multiple sensors or complex algorithms to distinguish wash cycles, the system uses basic temperature and water flow sensors that leverage the natural physical changes occurring during different wash phases to achieve accurate cycle detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If cleaning compositions are released sequentially at defined times, then the cleaning performance is enhanced, but the timing precision requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecleaning performanceVSAvoidrelease timing precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature and water flow parameters during the wash cycle. The system uses this real-time feedback to dynamically determine when to release each cleaning composition, adjusting the timing based on actual cycle conditions rather than relying solely on pre-programmed fixed timings. This ensures precise release timing that adapts to variations in wash program duration and intensity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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 chemistry is released at the right time, enhancing cleaning performance by eliminating the need for pre-rinsing and towel drying, and consistently optimizing cleaning across various dishwasher brands and wash programs.

Implementation Method 1

The device includes a wash cycle sensing system with temperature and water flow sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTemperature sensing:

Implementation Method 2

The device includes a wash cycle sensing system with temperature and water flow sensors

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWater flow sensing:

Data Source

PatentUS9706897B2Personalized cleaning composition dispensing device

Publication Date: 2017.07.18 PROCTER & GAMBLE CO

AI summary

A personalized cleaning composition dispensing device for use in an automatic dishwasher dispensing the right chemistry at the right time during a wash cycle to provide an improved cleaning performance compared to standard automatic dishwasher dispensers. The device includes wash cycle sensing system that controls the release of chemistry via temperature and water flow data measured during the current wash cycle and uses either a preprogrammed product release algorithm for new wash cycles or a modified product release algorithm based on wash cycle data previously stored in the data storage unit for repeated wash cycles.