Dishwasher
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing household appliances, such as dishwashers, lack an efficient and user-friendly mechanism for dispensing treating chemistry during automatic cycles, often requiring manual handling and limited flexibility in treating chemistry usage.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser assembly with a cartridge receptacle, cover, and linkage mechanism that allows for movable relative positioning of the cartridge receptacle and cover, enabling easy insertion and removal of treating chemistry cartridges, and facilitating controlled dispensing of treating agents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flip-top or rotatable lid is used in the dispenser system, then the dispenser can be sealed during operation, but the manual closure process becomes inconvenient and may lead to improper sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser assembly automatically closes the cover after the cartridge is inserted, eliminating the need for manual closure by the user. The system uses the insertion motion itself to trigger the closure mechanism, ensuring reliable sealing without requiring user intervention or knowledge of proper sealing procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure mechanism is pre-configured to automatically engage and seal the cover immediately after cartridge insertion. The linkage system is designed so that the natural motion of inserting the cartridge automatically completes the closure action, ensuring proper sealing is achieved as part of the insertion process itself.
2Ease of operation
If the cartridge receptacle is fixed relative to the cover, then the structure is simpler, but the insertion and removal of cartridges becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism transforms the static, fixed relationship between the cartridge receptacle and cover into a dynamic, movable relationship. During cartridge insertion, the receptacle moves independently relative to the cover to accommodate the cartridge, then automatically returns to its sealed position. This dynamic behavior enables easy cartridge access while maintaining structural integration.
3Ease of operation
If the cover and cartridge receptacle move independently, then access to the cartridge is improved, but the sealing mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The linkage mechanism merges the sealing function with the movement coordination of the cover and receptacle. A single linkage system simultaneously controls both components to move independently during access while ensuring they return to the proper sealed position together, eliminating the need for separate sealing mechanisms and reducing overall complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance for treating articles according to an automatic cycle of operation, the household appliance comprising: a chassis having an interior surface at least partially defining a treating chamber for receiving the articles for treatment according to the automatic cycle of operation, the chassis including a door assembly having an inner door surface forming part of the interior surface of the chassis; and a dispenser assembly operably coupled to the interior surface. The dispenser assembly can include a cartridge receptacle, a cover, and a linkage.