Dishwasher Dispenser Sliding Guides That Prevent Lid Jamming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dispensers for washing agents in dishwashers are prone to jamming or excessive friction due to dimensional tolerances and shrinkage issues during the molding process of thermoplastic materials, leading to poor product quality and increased rework.
Innovation Solution
The dispenser design includes sliding guides with additional constraint elements that guide the lid and limit displacements in a direction transverse to the sliding direction, allowing for greater tolerances in molding and assembly, reducing the risk of jamming and excessive friction by predefining the mold dimensions to accommodate variations in shrinkage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If sliding guides are provided with projecting elements engaged in guiding grooves for constraining the lid, then the lid can slide between closed and open positions, but dimensional tolerances and shrinkage during molding cause jamming or excessive friction
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding guide system is divided into multiple independent guiding elements (projecting elements on lid and corresponding grooves on dispenser body) that work together to provide constrained movement. This segmentation allows each element to be molded independently with relaxed tolerances while still achieving proper alignment and movement through the interaction of multiple components.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the dimensional parameters of the molding process by intentionally designing the projecting elements and guiding grooves with specific tolerance ranges that accommodate shrinkage variations. The geometry of these elements is optimized to maintain functional clearance despite material shrinkage, transforming the problem from tight tolerances to controlled parameter variations.
2Manufacturing precision
If tight dimensional tolerances are maintained during molding to prevent jamming, then assembly quality improves, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the guiding system into separate projecting elements and grooves that can be molded independently, the invention allows each component to be manufactured with relaxed tolerances. The segmentation enables modular production where slight dimensional variations in individual parts do not compromise the overall assembly quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The design incorporates built-in dimensional compensation that cushions against shrinkage variations before assembly. The geometry of the projecting elements and grooves is predetermined to accommodate expected shrinkage ranges, providing a buffer that prevents jamming without requiring ultra-precise molding control.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the lid is constrained to slide precisely in a guided path, then movement control is achieved, but friction and risk of jamming increase due to tight tolerances
Solution Approach 1:
The guiding path is created through the interaction of multiple segmented elements (projecting elements and corresponding grooves) rather than a single tight-fit constraint. This segmented approach maintains the guided path stability while allowing sufficient clearance between individual elements to prevent friction-induced jamming.
Data Source
AI summary
A washing agent dispenser for machines for washing includes a dispenser body with a receptacle for containing a washing agent, a lid having a lid body mounted in a guided way with respect to the dispenser body for being movable between a position of closing and a position of opening of the receptacle, and sliding guides between the dispenser body and the lid body. The sliding guides include: a first guiding element and a first guided element; and a second guiding element and a second guided element. At least one of the dispenser body and the lid body includes at least one constraint element, which is additional to the first walls and second walls and is pre-arranged for limiting displacements of the guided elements with respect to the guiding elements in a direction generally transverse to a direction of sliding of the lid determined by the sliding guides.