Dishwasher Hood Force-Sensing Control to Reduce Wiring Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dishwashers face challenges in opening and closing their hoods in a simple, cost-effective, and user-friendly manner, often requiring complex wiring and placement of operating elements, which can lead to operational disruptions and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A cleaning device with a hood-type design that uses an electromechanical drive and a sensor to detect manual force application, allowing the hood to be opened or closed via a user-induced movement, which is then supported or continued by the electromechanical drive, eliminating the need for additional switches or sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If conventional control elements (buttons, switches, control panel) are used to trigger hood movement, then the hood can be opened or closed automatically, but the wiring becomes complex and costly, and the operating elements may not be easily accessible to the operator
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex wiring and separate control elements from the system by using the hood itself as the triggering mechanism. The sensor detects forces applied directly to the hood, eliminating the need for separate buttons, switches, or control panel wiring while maintaining automatic hood movement functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood serves dual purposes: it is both the object to be moved and the control input mechanism. When the operator applies force to the hood to open or close it, the sensor detects this force and triggers the electromechanical drive, allowing the hood to control its own movement without external control elements.
2Extent of automation
If the hood movement is triggered solely via the dishwasher's control panel, then the control elements can be positioned as desired, but the operator must leave their working position to initiate the hood movement
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor acts as an intermediary between the operator's manual force application on the hood and the electromechanical drive system. It detects the force applied to the hood and converts it into a signal that triggers the automated movement, bridging the gap between manual input and automated response.
Solution Approach 2:
The hood itself becomes the control interface, allowing the operator to initiate movement by simply applying force to the hood at their working position without needing to reach for or interact with separate control panel elements.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate control elements are provided for hood movement, then the control functions can be distributed, but each element requires separate wiring which increases cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The hood serves multiple functions: it is the enclosure for the cleaning chamber, the object to be moved, and the control input mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate control elements and their associated wiring, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining control versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the control function with the hood structure itself. Instead of having separate control elements distributed around the device, the hood integrates the control input capability, and the single sensor wiring replaces multiple separate control element wirings.
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 simplifies the operation of dishwashers by allowing intuitive user interaction, reducing equipment costs, and minimizing disruptions during the cleaning process, while ensuring safe and efficient hood movement.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor (202) which is configured to detect manual force applied to the cover device (134) in the opening or closing direction
Implementation Method 2
an electromechanical drive (186) which is configured to move the cover device (134), via the gearbox (184), in the opening direction (139) or in the closing direction (141)
Implementation Method 3
The cover device is connected to at least one spring element (176) via at least one force transmission path (182). At least one spring force of the spring element (176) can be transmitted to the cover device (134) via the force transmission path (182)
Data Source
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AI summary
A cleaning device (110) for cleaning items (124) is proposed. The cleaning device (110) comprises at least one cleaning chamber (128) and at least one cover device (134) that at least partially encloses the cleaning chamber (128). The cover device (134) is movable via at least one gear (184) by means of at least one electromechanical drive (186) in an opening direction (139) from a closed position (135) to an open position (137) or in a closing direction (141) from an open position (137) to a closed position (135). The cleaning device (110) further comprises a sensor (202) which is configured to detect a manual force being applied to the cover device (134) in the opening direction (139) or in the closing direction (141).The cleaning device (110) is further configured to control the electromechanical drive (186) according to the detection of the manual force application.