Dishwasher and manufacturing method thereof

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dishwashers with polymeric members face challenges in drying performance due to low heat capacity, difficulty in applying fluorine-containing coatings, high manufacturing costs, and issues with reactivity and durability, leading to increased residual water and friction, which impairs drying efficiency and productivity.

Innovation Solution

A dishwasher with polymeric members featuring a fluorine-containing layer formed by molecular binding of fluorine onto their surfaces, enhancing wetting properties, reactivity, and reducing friction, achieved through a manufacturing method that includes injecting fluorine into a chamber and varying internal pressure to create a fluorine-containing layer on rack bodies, handles, and rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a fluorine-containing coating is applied on the surface of polymeric members to enhance drying performance, then the wetting properties are improved, but the coating application becomes difficult due to high melting temperature of fluorine-containing polymer

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying performanceVSAvoidcoating application difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the polymeric member by incorporating fluorine-containing monomers (such as vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene) into the polymer chain. This compositional modification lowers the melting temperature compared to conventional fluorine-containing polymers, enabling easier coating application while maintaining the high wetting properties and drying performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Temperature

If conventional fluorine-containing polymer is used for surface coating, then the melting temperature is high, but this results in difficulty in application and increased manufacturing costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemelting temperatureVSAvoidapplication difficulty and manufacturing cost
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the molecular structure parameters by selecting specific fluorine-containing monomers with lower molecular weights and adjusted fluorine content. This results in a polymeric member with optimized melting temperature that is lower than conventional fluorine-containing polymers, facilitating easier processing and coating application while reducing manufacturing costs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If fluorine-containing polymer is coated on polymeric member surface, then the coating properties are poor, but this makes mass production difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoating propertiesVSAvoidmass production capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the chemical parameters of the polymeric member by incorporating specific ratios of fluorine-containing monomers that enhance coating adhesion and uniformity. The modified polymer structure provides better wetting and coating properties, enabling consistent quality across mass production while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Quantity of substance

If polymeric members are used in dishwasher, then the heat capacity is low causing rapid surface cooling, but this results in lack of heat for water evaporation and reduced drying performance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat capacityVSAvoiddrying performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the thermal parameters of the polymeric member by incorporating fluorine-containing monomers that modify the heat capacity and thermal retention properties. The optimized polymer composition maintains higher surface temperature during the drying cycle, providing sufficient heat for water evaporation and improving drying performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 significantly improves drying performance by reducing residual water, enhancing surface energy, and lowering manufacturing costs, enabling smoother operation and increased productivity by improving the durability and reactivity of the fluorine-containing layer.

Implementation Method 1

a fluorine-containing layer formed by molecular binding of fluorine onto a surface of parts formed of polymeric members

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMolecular binding: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

the surface of operation parts of a polymeric member is limited to reducing the surface roughness, and the relative friction may cause the movement not to become smooth and quiet operation to be insufficient

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP3616591A1Dishwasher and manufacturing method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.03.04 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3616591A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3616591A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3616591A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Disclosed are a dishwasher, and a manufacturing method thereof. The dishwasher includes a dishwasher body that forms a washing space inside, a door that opens and closes the washing space, and a rack that accommodates therein a washing object to be washed and is disposed within the washing space. The rack includes a fluorine-containing layer formed by molecular binding of fluorine onto a surface of parts formed of a polymeric member. Accordingly, the wetting property on the surface of polymeric member can be increased to enhance the wetting performance, and friction on the motion parts can be reduced.