Dishwasher Front Door Variable-Axis Design to Minimize Gaps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwashers with displaceable front doors have limited displacement distance and lack precise control over this distance based on the opening angle of the washing compartment door, leading to unsightly gaps and potential contamination, especially in fully integrated designs.
Innovation Solution
A dishwasher design where the front door's axis of rotation is variable and can change location relative to the washing compartment door's axis, using a drive lever and guide element to control the front door's displacement, allowing for larger displacement distances and precise control based on the opening angle, eliminating the need for gaps between the front door and adjacent kitchen fittings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the front door is designed to be displaceable relative to the washing compartment door, then the turning space required for the front door is minimized, but the displacement distance is limited by the fixed distance between the axes of rotation, resulting in gaps of more than 2 mm that impair aesthetic effect and allow contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the front door axis of rotation variable instead of fixed. The axis position changes dynamically during the opening/closing process, allowing the front door to achieve both large displacement distance and minimal turning space. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the axis to adapt its position throughout the motion range.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the parameter of the axis of rotation position from fixed to variable. By allowing the axis position to change during operation, the system achieves both large displacement distance (when axis is far from hinge) and minimal turning space (when axis is optimally positioned), resolving the contradiction between these two requirements.
2Length of moving object
If the axes of rotation of the washing compartment door and front door are offset by a large distance, then the maximum displacement of the front door is increased, but the physical conditions of the dishwasher limit the maximum offset distance, restricting displacement to more than 2 mm gaps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention makes the axis position dynamic rather than statically offset. The axis moves to different positions during operation, effectively achieving large displacement distance without requiring a permanently large offset that would complicate the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds the dimension of time to the axis position, transforming it from a fixed spatial parameter to a dynamic one. This allows the system to achieve large displacement effects without requiring large static offsets, thereby avoiding structural complexity.
3Shape
If the front door protrudes beyond the lower edge of the washing compartment door to cover it completely, then the uniform appearance of the fitted kitchen is maintained, but more space is required for the front door turning movement, increasing gap dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The variable axis position allows the front door to dynamically adjust its movement path. This enables the door to maintain complete coverage of the washing compartment door for aesthetic purposes while simultaneously minimizing the turning space required, thus reducing gap dimensions.
4Device complexity
If a fixed axis of rotation is used for the front door, then the mechanism is simple, but the displacement distance cannot be precisely controlled based on the opening angle of the washing compartment door, leading to unsightly gaps and potential contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The variable axis position provides inherent precision control without requiring complex additional mechanisms. The dynamic axis movement naturally adjusts the displacement distance according to the opening angle, achieving precise control while maintaining relative mechanism simplicity.
Data Source
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AI summary
Dishwasher, in particular a fully integrated built-in dishwasher, with a washing compartment that provides a washing compartment for receiving items to be cleaned and has a loading opening that can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a washing compartment door (3), the washing compartment door (3) being mounted such that it can rotate about a horizontally running washing compartment door axis (5). and carries a front door (4) that can be rotated with the washing compartment door (3), the front door (4) being designed to be translationally displaceable relative to the washing compartment door (3), the front door (4) being mounted such that it can rotate about a horizontal front door axis (6). is characterized in that the front door axis (6) is designed to be variable in terms of location in relation to the washing chamber door axis (5).