Dishwasher Sequential Bleach-Enzyme Dosing to Reduce Cycle Time
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Automatic dishwashing machines face challenges in reducing costs while maintaining cleaning performance, particularly due to the interaction of bleaches and enzymes in detergents, which often require complex dosing strategies and harsher chemicals, and there is a need to shorten cycle times without increasing energy consumption.
Innovation Solution
Dosing oxygen bleach before enzymes in the same tank, without a bleach scavenger, within a specific wash cycle that optimizes temperature and water usage, allowing for separate dosing of bleaching and enzymatic steps to improve efficiency and reduce overall cycle time, water, and energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If bleach and enzymes are included together in the detergent for automatic dishwashing, then cleaning performance is improved, but the detergent composition becomes complex and requires sequential dosing strategies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the detergent composition into two separate compartments: an outer water-soluble layer containing bleach and a inner water-insoluble matrix containing enzymes. This segmentation allows both ingredients to coexist without adverse interactions while simplifying the dosing mechanism to a single simultaneous release, resolving the contradiction between maintaining cleaning performance and reducing composition complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a composite detergent structure combining water-soluble and water-insoluble materials. The outer water-soluble layer dissolves first to release bleach, while the inner water-insoluble matrix releases enzymes subsequently. This composite approach enables both bleach and enzymes to be delivered from a single detergent source without requiring complex sequential dosing systems
2Reliability
If bleach and enzymes are dosed separately in sequential steps, then their adverse interaction is avoided, but the wash cycle time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by designing the detergent to release bleach first through the outer water-soluble layer, creating favorable conditions before enzyme release. The bleach pre-treats the soiled items during the initial phase of the wash cycle, and then the inner matrix releases enzymes that continue the cleaning action. This sequential release from a single simultaneous dose reduces total cycle time compared to separate dosing while maintaining enzyme effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent ensures continuity of useful action by having the outer layer dissolve and release bleach, followed immediately by the inner matrix releasing enzymes without interruption. This continuous cleaning action from a single detergent source maintains effective cleaning throughout the wash cycle while minimizing idle time, thereby reducing overall cycle time compared to separate dosing operations
3Reliability
If conventional detergents with bleach and enzymes are used, then cleaning performance is maintained, but water and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the detergent delivery system by using a dual-layer structure with different water solubilities. This allows the detergent to function effectively at lower temperatures and with reduced water consumption, as the controlled release mechanism ensures optimal concentration of active ingredients is achieved without requiring excessive water or energy input, thereby reducing utility consumption while maintaining cleaning performance
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 approach enables a dramatic reduction in cycle time, lowers water and energy consumption, and simplifies detergent composition, while maintaining or improving cleaning performance, thus reducing overall costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
supplying a first composition, which comprises an oxygen bleach substantially free of enzyme, to wash water
Implementation Method 2
supplying a second composition, which comprises an enzyme substantially free of bleach, to the wash water
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method of automatic dishwashing of dishware using wash water, in which, in a first step, a first composition, which comprises an oxygen bleach but substantially no enzyme, is supplied to the wash water, and the dishware is washed in a washing zone with the oxygen bleach-containing wash water; and, in a second step which occurs after the first step, a second composition, which comprises an enzyme but substantially no bleach, is supplied to the wash water, and the dishware is washed in said washing zone with the enzyme-containing wash water. The invention also relates to an automatic dishwasher and a cartridge suitable for use in this method.