Handle-Free Dishwasher Door Opening With Sensor-Actuated Panel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwashers with decorative panels face challenges in ensuring easy door opening without a handle element, as the seal between the door and body requires inward deformation, leading to potential leaks or difficulty in gripping the door.
Innovation Solution
A decorative panel is resiliently mounted on the door with a sensor that detects movement, triggering an opening drive via a controller, allowing the panel to be attached without a handle element and forming a uniform surface with adjacent cabinet doors, using a rotary joint and force sensor for easy actuation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a handle element is attached to the decorative panel for door opening, then the door can be opened by pulling on the handle element, but the decorative panel cannot form a uniform surface with adjacent cabinet doors and the visual appeal is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the handle element from the decorative panel entirely, removing the visual obstruction while maintaining door opening functionality through an alternative mechanism (sensor-actuated opening drive) that operates without visible hardware on the panel surface
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical handle-pulling system is replaced with an automated sensor-driven opening drive mechanism. A sensor detects when the door should open and triggers an opening drive that automatically separates the door from the body, eliminating the need for manual handle operation and visible handle elements
2Reliability
If the door is designed to be pushed in for sealing, then the seal between appliance door and body is maintained, but a heart curve device cannot be used and the door opening mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The door system performs self-service by automatically opening itself through the sensor-actuated opening drive when opening conditions are met, eliminating the need for complex manual operation mechanisms while maintaining reliable sealing when closed
3Extent of automation
If a sensor is arranged on the side of the device for automatic door opening, then automatic opening can be triggered, but the sensor location is not accessible since dishwashers are built into kitchen units
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor arrangement moves from the lateral dimension (side of device) to the front-facing dimension (decorative panel surface), allowing the sensor to detect gestures or touches from the user's hand while the dishwasher remains built into kitchen units with side walls not accessible
4Ease of operation
If the door opens a crack using restoring forces of the door seal, then the door can open automatically, but if the forces are too small the door is difficult to grip and if too great the door falls fully open
Solution Approach 1:
The passive mechanical system relying on door seal restoring forces is replaced with an active sensor-actuated opening drive that provides controlled, automated door opening. This eliminates the need to carefully balance mechanical spring forces and provides precise control over door opening behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor detects user intent or door opening conditions and provides feedback to the control system, which then activates the opening drive to open the door by a controlled amount, enabling precise force and position control that prevents both insufficient opening and excessive door fall
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
This solution provides a visually appealing, handle-free door opening mechanism that aligns with high-quality kitchen fronts, offering adjustable actuation force and compatibility, easy assembly, and a small gap dimension for aesthetic appeal, while implementing a child safety device through dual sensor activation.
Implementation Method 1
a decorative panel (4) which is resiliently mounted on the door (1)
Implementation Method 2
a sensor (9) for detecting a movement of the decorative panel (4) relative to the door (1)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3~5
AI summary
The invention relates to a dish washer (100) with a movable door (1), wherein an opening mechanism and an opening driving mechanism are provided, in order to move the door (1) from a closed position into an at least partially open position. A decorative panel, which can be mounted in a visually appealing manner without a handle, shall be locatable at a pivotable door of the household dishwasher. In addition, the process of opening the door shall be simple. For this purpose, a decorative panel (4) is located at the door (1) and a sensor (9) for determining a force acting on the decorative panel (4) or a proximity sensor is provided, by means of which the driving mechanism for opening the door can be triggered.