Dishwasher Door Push-Open Mechanism for Controlled Gap Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic dishwashers with locking devices positioned on the door face limitations, including restricted space for displays, increased manufacturing costs due to circuit board cutouts, and potential moisture ingress, which can lead to electronic damage. Additionally, sudden door opening can result in hazardous acceleration, posing risks to users, especially children.
Innovation Solution
The locking device is mounted on the washing compartment, and a motor-driven push-on unit with a magnetic coupling allows for slow and controlled automatic door opening, enabling varying opening speeds and reducing acceleration. This design allows for a separate assembly and testing of the locking device and pressing unit, providing space for deeper grip attachment and compatibility with both handleless and integrated variants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the locking device is arranged on the door, then the door can be locked securely, but the space for displays and controls is limited and manufacturing costs increase due to circuit board cutouts
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is inverted from its conventional position on the door to a position on the washing compartment. This reversal allows the door to remain intact without cutouts, eliminating moisture ingress risks and simplifying door manufacturing while maintaining secure locking functionality through the engagement between the locking block on the door and the locking device on the washing compartment
2Ease of operation
If the locking device is arranged on the door, then the locking mechanism can be directly actuated, but moisture ingress and damage to electronics occur
Solution Approach 1:
The locking device is extracted from the door structure and relocated to the washing compartment. This separation removes the electronic components from the moisture-prone door environment, eliminating the risk of moisture ingress and electronic damage while preserving the direct actuation capability through the motor-driven locking block engagement
3Speed
If the door is opened suddenly by releasing the locking device, then the door opens quickly, but hazardous acceleration occurs posing risks to users
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening process is made dynamic and controllable through a motor-driven pressing plunger that gradually pushes the locking block out of the locking device's engagement. This controlled movement allows the door to open at a regulated speed rather than suddenly releasing, eliminating hazardous acceleration while maintaining efficient door opening functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit provides feedback control for the motor-driven opening mechanism, monitoring the door opening process and adjusting the motor operation to maintain safe acceleration levels. This feedback system ensures the door opens quickly when needed while preventing hazardous acceleration that could injure users
4Extent of automation
If a spring mechanism is used for automatic door opening, then the door can open automatically, but the acceleration cannot be controlled and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The uncontrolled spring mechanism is replaced with a motor-driven pressing plunger system that can be precisely controlled by the control unit. This substitution maintains the automatic door opening functionality while enabling controlled acceleration through electronic motor control, eliminating the safety risks associated with uncontrolled spring release
Solution Approach 2:
The opening speed and acceleration parameters are changed from fixed (spring mechanism) to variable and controllable (motor-driven system). The control unit can adjust motor parameters to achieve the desired opening speed while maintaining safe acceleration levels, providing both automation and safety
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 solution ensures safe and easy operation with reduced door acceleration during opening, allowing for program-controlled and operator-initiated door opening, enhancing drying efficiency and reducing the risk of injury by providing a secure and adjustable opening mechanism.
Implementation Method 1
a magnetic coupling is present between the pressing plunger and the door, in that a magnet is arranged on the pressing plunger and a counteracting ferromagnetic metal insert is arranged on the door
Implementation Method 2
The pressing unit (5) has a pressing plunger (504), which is moved primarily by means of its motor (506)
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher (1), with a wash chamber (10) that can be closed by a pivotable door (2) and which may optionally be surrounded by a housing, wherein the door (2) is held in the closed position by a friction-fit locking device (3) and can be unlocked by a pulling force, and wherein the door (2) can be automatically opened by at least a gap width by an opening device in the form of a push-open unit (5). In order to create a simple opening device that is easy and safe to operate, the locking device (3) is held on the wash chamber or on the housing and the push-open unit (5) has a push-open plunger (504) driven by a motor (506).