Dosing device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dosing devices for dishwashers require constant pressurized air, leading to noise and increased susceptibility to failure, and suffer from moisture ingress causing cleaning agent clumping and incorrect user operation due to condensation.
Innovation Solution
A dosing device with a housing that uses a drying fan to introduce and circulate drying air, removing moisture and preventing its entry, featuring a closure device that ensures fluid-tight operation and a one-piece discharge channel for simplified construction and reduced risk of leaks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If constant pressurized air is used for dispensing cleaning agent, then dispensing function is achieved, but noise increases and susceptibility to failure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the pressurized air system from the dosing device, replacing it with a gravity-based dispensing mechanism. The cleaning agent container is designed to dispense product through gravity flow and mechanical agitation during the wash cycle, removing the need for compressed air generators and associated pressure control systems, thereby reducing noise and failure points.
Solution Approach 2:
The dosing device utilizes the natural gravity flow of the cleaning agent and the mechanical motion of the wash cycle to achieve dispensing without external pressurization. The system serves itself by using the wash chamber's operational movements to agitate and discharge the cleaning agent, eliminating dependency on separate pressurized air systems.
2Productivity
If pressurized air system is used, then dispensing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the entire pressurized air system including generators, hoses, and control mechanisms, replacing it with a simple gravity-fed container design. The cleaning agent container directly interfaces with the wash chamber, using minimal mechanical components for dispensing.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using pressure to force the cleaning agent out, the system inverts the approach by allowing gravity to pull the agent down and using mechanical agitation during the wash cycle to discharge it. This reverses the traditional pressurized dispensing paradigm.
3Ease of operation
If moisture ingress is not prevented, then device operation is simplified, but cleaning agent clumping occurs and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs sealing membranes and flexible sealing elements at the interface between the cleaning agent container and the wash chamber. These thin film barriers prevent moisture ingress while maintaining the simplicity of the overall device structure, allowing reliable operation without complex sealing mechanisms.
4Productivity
If multiple components are used in discharge channel, then functionality is improved, but risk of leaks increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the discharge channel into a single integrated component that combines multiple functions. The channel serves as both the dispensing pathway and the sealing interface, eliminating the need for separate sealing elements and reducing the number of potential leak points while maintaining effective discharge functionality.
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 effectively prevents moisture ingress, reduces the risk of cleaning agent clumping, and simplifies user handling by ensuring the dosing device remains dry and functional, thus enhancing operational reliability and user safety.
Implementation Method 1
A dosing device with a housing that uses a drying fan to introduce and circulate drying air, removing moisture and preventing its entry
Data Source
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AI summary
Dosing device for the metered introduction of a pourable cleaning agent into a treatment chamber (4) of a program-controlled cleaning device, in particular a dishwasher (1), comprising a housing (44), a storage container (8) serving to hold the cleaning agent, and a support unit (9) arranged within the housing (44) that is movably arranged, in particular rotatable about a pivot axis (11), which interchangeably receives the storage container (8) and by means of which the storage container (8) can be moved from a home position to a dosing position and vice versa, wherein the storage container (8) has a storage chamber (12) and a dosing channel (14) opening into a dosing opening (15), and with a discharge channel (19) opening into the treatment chamber (4) via a discharge opening (21), which, when the storage container (8) is in the dosing position, is in fluid-technical contact with the Dosing channel (14) is in place,wherein the discharge channel (19) has an inlet opening (20) on the metering channel side, characterized by a drying blower (39) arranged on the outside of the housing (44), wherein the housing (44) has an inlet opening (43) cooperating with the drying blower (39) and an outlet opening (46) for drying air conveyed by the drying blower (39).