Dishwasher Door Venting Control for Drying and Odor Containment

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashers face challenges in effectively drying dishes due to inadequate ventilation, and users are disturbed by odors escaping during loading and drying phases, with the risk of accidental door contact.

Innovation Solution

A water-bearing household appliance with a pivotable door and a control device that automatically opens and closes the door based on user presence detection, allowing for controlled ventilation and odor containment during specific phases.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If the door is opened for ventilation during drying phase, then drying effectiveness is improved, but odors escape and users are disturbed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying effectivenessVSAvoidodors
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The door module dynamically adjusts the door position based on operational phase and user presence. During drying phase, it automatically opens the door to a predetermined gap for ventilation, then closes it when user presence is detected, creating a dynamic balance between drying effectiveness and odor containment

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The door module acts as an intermediary mechanism between the wash chamber and the external environment. It controls the degree of opening (fully closed or predetermined gap) to mediate between the need for ventilation and the need to contain odors, preventing direct full opening that would release strong odors

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If the door is opened during loading or drying phases, then ventilation is improved, but users may bump into the door

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveventilation effectivenessVSAvoidaccidental contact
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The control device receives feedback from the detector about user presence in the predefined area. Based on this feedback, it automatically activates the door module to close the door when a user is detected, preventing accidental contact while maintaining ventilation when the area is clear

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Object-generated harmful factors

If the door is kept closed to prevent odor escape, then user comfort is improved, but drying effectiveness deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveodor containmentVSAvoiddrying effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The door module implements periodic action by automatically opening the door at specific times (during loading and drying phases when no user is present) and closing it at other times (when users are present or during washing phases), optimizing both odor containment and drying effectiveness through timed operations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically transitions between closed and partially open states based on operational phase and user presence detection, achieving optimal balance between odor containment and ventilation for drying effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3228234B1Water-conducting domestic appliance and method for operating a water-conducting domestic appliance
Publication Date: 2019.04.17 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH
  • EP3228234B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3228234B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3228234B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The invention relates to a water-bearing household appliance (1), in particular a dishwasher, with a washing chamber (4) formed by a washing container (2) and a pivoting door (3) for washing items to be washed, a door module (13) for automatic opening and Closing the door (3), and a control device (12) which is set up to control the door module (13) to close the door (3) when a user is detected in a specific area in front of the household appliance (1). and to control the door module (13) to open the door (3) when the users absence in the specific area is detected.