dishwasher

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dishwasher trays with elevating structures face challenges in ease of use, assembly, and disassembly, and are prone to malfunction due to bending under load, necessitating a design that enhances user convenience and stability.

Innovation Solution

The dishwasher incorporates a storage part with a guide, frame, and tray system, featuring a locking mechanism with a hook and rail configuration that allows for easy elevation and lowering of the tray, along with a link system for supporting horizontal and vertical movement, and a button mechanism for user-controlled horizontal movement, ensuring secure coupling and decoupling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a tray with elevating structure is provided for user convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but the tray is prone to malfunction due to bending under repeated load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of useVSAvoidmalfunction resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The tray structure is divided into multiple segments including a tray body, elevating links, and coupling mechanisms. This segmentation allows each component to bear specific loads and reduces stress concentration, preventing bending and malfunction while maintaining ease of operation through modular elevation capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tray employs a dynamic elevating mechanism with links that can rotate and adjust positions based on load conditions. The links connect the tray body to the storage part frame, enabling controlled vertical movement that reduces impact forces and prevents structural bending during repeated elevation cycles

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the tray structure is made complex to suppress bending under load, then reliability is improved, but assembly and disassembly become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalfunction resistanceVSAvoidassembly ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The reliable tray structure is achieved through segmented modular components that can be easily assembled. The tray body, links, and coupling mechanisms are separate parts that connect through simple interfaces, maintaining reliability through proper load distribution while enabling easy assembly and disassembly

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The tray components are designed with nested coupling mechanisms where links attach to the tray body and frame through interlocking structures. This nesting approach creates a stable, reliable assembly that resists bending while allowing straightforward assembly by simply engaging the nested components in sequence

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of manufacture

If the tray is designed for easy assembly and disassembly, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the tray may separate under load

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly easeVSAvoidcoupling strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The coupling mechanism uses dynamic linkages that automatically engage and lock under load conditions. The links connect the tray body to the frame through rotating joints that maintain strong coupling during elevation while allowing easy assembly through simple engagement motions, preventing separation without requiring complex fastening

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4176793A1dishwasher
Publication Date: 2023.05.10 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP4176793A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4176793A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4176793A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dishwasher according to the present disclosure comprises a storage part in which a washing target is stored. The storage part (200) comprises a guide (210) disposed in an edge area, a frame (220) coupled to the guide (210), and a tray (230) coupled to the frame (220). The tray (230) comprises a locking portion (231) protruding from an edge area thereof and coupled to the frame (220), and configured to elevate the tray (230) with respect to the frame (220). The frame (220) comprises a slot (221) in which the locking portion (231) is inserted, and a rail (222) protruding toward the slot (221) and forming an area of an outer shape of the slot (221), and configured to guide the movement of the locking portion (231) and to suppress the locking portion (231) from being separated from the slot (221).