Decorative Dishwasher Door Panel Pivot-Sliding Mount for Full Opening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for decorative panels on domestic appliances, such as dishwashers, with heights greater than standard pose interference issues during door opening, leading to incomplete opening, complex and expensive structures, or noisy and unreliable operation due to friction and jamming when trying to accommodate higher panels.
Innovation Solution
A panel mounting system with a sliding coupling between the panel and door orthogonal to the rotation axis, where the panel is directly pivoted on the machine frame around a fixed fulcrum positioned forward and below the door's fulcrum, allowing automatic upward and downward sliding for smooth operation without modifying the appliance base.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the decorative panel height is increased above standard 720 mm, then the panel can provide better aesthetic integration with kitchen furniture, but the panel interferes with the dishwasher base during door opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the panel's position relative to the door variable rather than fixed. The panel is mounted on a sliding mechanism that allows it to move vertically along the door, changing its position dynamically during door opening and closing operations. This dynamic adjustment enables the panel to clear the dishwasher base during opening while maintaining its aesthetic function when closed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the panel mounting system into multiple independent components: the panel itself, the sliding mechanism, the guide rails, and the mounting brackets. This segmentation allows the panel to be decoupled from the door structure, enabling independent movement of the panel relative to the door to avoid interference with the dishwasher base.
2Ease of operation
If complex mounting systems are used to enable panel sliding during door opening, then complete door opening is achieved, but the structure becomes complicated and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the self-service principle by designing a mounting system that automatically adjusts the panel position during door opening and closing without requiring external control mechanisms. The sliding mechanism is passively actuated by the door's own movement, using the door's motion to drive the panel's vertical adjustment, thereby eliminating the need for motors, sensors, or control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a dynamic mounting system where the panel's vertical position is automatically adjusted during door operation. The sliding mechanism allows the panel to move freely along the door in response to changing geometric relationships during opening, providing adaptive interference avoidance without complex control.
3Ease of operation
If the panel is made to slide upward during door opening to avoid interference, then complete opening is possible, but the operation becomes noisy and unreliable due to friction and jamming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guide rails and sliding blocks as intermediary elements between the panel and the door. These intermediaries provide smooth, constrained motion paths for the panel, reducing friction and preventing jamming. The guide rails ensure the panel slides along a precise trajectory while the sliding blocks distribute contact forces, minimizing noise and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces direct friction-based sliding contacts with a guided rolling or low-friction sliding mechanism. The guide rails and sliding blocks substitute for simple surface-to-surface contact, significantly reducing friction coefficients and preventing the jamming that occurs with direct panel-to-door sliding.
Data Source
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AI summary
In a built-in domestic appliance with a door (12) hinged along its bottom side and provided with a front decorative panel (11) applied to the domestic appliance through a mounting system including a sliding coupling between the panel (11) and the door (12) with sliding direction orthogonal to the rotation axis of the door (12), the panel (11) is directly pivoted on the domestic appliance frame or on an element integral therewith so as to rotate around a fixed fulcrum (4) located at a position forward of and below a fixed fulcrum (5) of the door (12) so as to achieve an automatic upward and downward sliding of the panel (11) during the opening and closing of the door (12) respectively.