dishwasher

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashers often experience issues with the accommodating unit being derailed or not smoothly unloaded when pulled obliquely, leading to difficulties in unloading the unit along a rail formed on the door.

Innovation Solution

A dishwasher design featuring a tub with protrusions on the inner sidewall to guide and support the accommodating unit, preventing it from being lifted upward and allowing smooth horizontal movement, even when pulled at an angle, through the use of first and second protrusions that extend along the inner sidewall and a system of moving rollers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a rail is formed on the upper surface of the door to guide the accommodating unit, then the accommodating unit can be guided during unloading, but when the user pulls the accommodating unit obliquely, the accommodating unit may be derailed and may not be smoothly unloaded

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesmooth unloading of accommodating unitVSAvoidderailing prevention
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extends the guidance function from a single horizontal rail to a three-dimensional guidance system using multiple protrusions (first and second protrusions) that provide both horizontal and vertical guidance constraints. This multi-dimensional approach prevents oblique pulling from causing derailment while maintaining smooth unloading operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces moving rollers as intermediary elements between the accommodating unit and the protrusions. These rollers facilitate smooth movement along the guidance path while the protrusions prevent oblique deviation, mediating between the user's pulling action and the rail guidance system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the accommodating unit is designed to be completely extractable from the tub, then ease of unloading is improved, but the risk of derailment or improper positioning increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomplete extractability of accommodating unitVSAvoidproper positioning during extraction
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-configures the protrusions and moving rollers before the unloading operation begins. The first protrusion is positioned to provide initial horizontal guidance, and the second protrusion is positioned to provide vertical guidance, ensuring the accommodating unit maintains proper positioning throughout the extraction process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The moving rollers act as intermediaries that maintain proper positioning and alignment between the accommodating unit and the tub during complete extraction. They roll along the protrusions, ensuring smooth movement while preventing derailment or improper positioning throughout the entire extraction range.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3254599B1dishwasher
Publication Date: 2020.01.15 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3254599B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3254599B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3254599B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a dishwasher including a tub (2) configured to define a washing space (20) in which a washing object is washed, the tub having an open side, a first accommodating unit (5) configured to accommodate the washing object inside the tub, the first accommodating unit being unloadable from the tub, and a door (3) configured to selectively open and close the open side of the tub, the door supporting the first accommodating unit when the first accommodating unit is unloaded. The tub includes a first protrusion (23) configured to protrude from an inner sidewall (21) of the tub toward the washing space so as to support the first accommodating unit and guide movement of the first accommodating unit, and a second protrusion (24) provided above the first protrusion and configured to protrude from the inner sidewall of the tub toward the washing space so as to prevent the first accommodating unit from being lifted upward when the first accommodating unit is unloaded.