Washing-agent dispenser for household machines for washing, in particular dishwashers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing agent dispensers in dishwashers have limited hatch opening travel, leading to incomplete exposure of the receptacle, hindering the delivery and removal of washing agents, especially tablets, and causing residue issues due to reduced exposure to washing jets.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser design with a slidable hatch and movable guide elements that allow for increased opening travel and stability, featuring a guide arrangement with elongated guide elements that project cantilever fashion to support the hatch, ensuring complete exposure of the receptacle and improved stability against user-induced stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the hatch opening travel is limited in conventional dispensers, then the device complexity is reduced, but the receptacle exposure is incomplete and washing agent delivery is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The guide arrangement is segmented into multiple guide elements distributed along the hatch perimeter, with some elements projecting in cantilever fashion. This segmentation allows the hatch to achieve greater opening travel while distributing mechanical stresses across multiple contact points, resolving the contradiction between increased travel and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide elements are positioned at different locations around the hatch perimeter rather than concentrated at a single hinge point. This spatial distribution in multiple dimensions enables the hatch to follow an optimized opening path that increases effective travel while maintaining structural simplicity through modular guide element placement.
2Length of moving object
If the hatch opening travel is increased to fully expose the receptacle, then the washing agent delivery improves, but the stability of the hatch against user-induced stresses decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic means (spring) acts as a counterbalancing force that compensates for the increased leverage and potential instability caused by greater hatch opening travel. The spring maintains constant pressure on the hatch throughout its movement range, providing stabilizing force that counteracts user-induced stresses while allowing full receptacle exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic means pre-compresses the hatch in the closed position and maintains continuous contact pressure throughout the opening travel. This beforehand cushioning effect absorbs shock and stabilizes the hatch against accidental forces during operation, enabling increased opening travel without compromising structural stability.
3Length of moving object
If the guide elements are positioned to maximize opening travel, then the receptacle exposure is complete, but the hatch becomes vulnerable to accidental forces during closure
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic means maintains constant contact pressure on the hatch throughout its entire travel range, including during the closure phase. This beforehand cushioning effect ensures that when the hatch returns to the closed position, it does so smoothly and reliably without vulnerability to accidental forces, while still allowing maximum opening travel for complete receptacle exposure.
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 design enables full exposure of the receptacle for effective delivery and removal of washing agents, enhances cleaning by washing jets, and provides stability against accidental forces during closure.
Implementation Method 1
Operative between the body of the dispenser and the body of the hatch are elastic means, which urge the hatch towards a respective opening position
Data Source
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AI summary
A washing-agent dispenser for machines for washing, in particular dishwashers, comprises: • - a dispenser body (11) with at least one receptacle (12, 12a) for containing a washing agent; • - at least one hatch (20) having a hatch body (21) mounted in a guided way relative to the dispenser body (11) for being slidable between a position of closing and a position of opening of the at least one receptacle (12, 12a), the hatch body (21) having two longitudinal sides (21b, 21c) generally parallel to one another and with respect to a direction of displacement of the hatch body (21) between the position of opening and the position of closing; and • -a guide arrangement (25-27, 30a-30b, 31a-31b) between the dispenser body (11) and the hatch body (21), for guiding displacement of the hatch body (21) between the position of opening and the position of closing. The guide arrangement (25-27, 30a-30b, 31a-31b) comprises at least one movable guide element (25), in a position corresponding to a respective longitudinal side (21b, 21c) of the hatch body (21), the movable guide element (25) being constrained to the dispenser body (11) for being slidable between an inoperative position and an operative position.