External Detergent Dosing for Stable Low-Temperature Washing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dosing systems for household appliances lack precision and stability in delivering detergents and cleaning agents, especially for preparations that are not stable in storage, and do not efficiently utilize resources in low-temperature washing cycles with reduced water consumption.
Innovation Solution
A dosing system with a storage container, dosing device, sensor, pump, and control unit that allows for precise and needs-based dosing of flowable preparations, including enzymes and bleaches, by detecting water presence and temperature in the appliance, and conveying the preparations through a fluid line connected to the appliance's treatment space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dosing system is integrated into the water-carrying household appliance, then the dosage precision and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing system is divided into separate functional modules: storage container for preparations, pump unit for dosing, fluid line for transport, and control unit for coordination. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system reliability, and enables flexible installation configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid line acts as an intermediary component connecting the storage container to the treatment space, enabling preparation transport without direct integration into the appliance's water-carrying lines. This intermediary approach simplifies installation while maintaining dosing precision.
2Loss of time
If the storage container is positioned inside the treatment room, then the dosing response time is improved, but the preparations are exposed to mechanical, hydraulic, or thermal influences that degrade their stability
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from spatial proximity (positioning storage inside treatment room) to temporal precision (controlled dosing timing via sensor and control unit). The preparation stability is maintained by keeping the storage container outside the treatment room, while dosing response time is optimized through automated detection and conveyance systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical approach of physically positioning the storage container inside the treatment room is replaced with an automated control system using sensors to detect water presence and a pump to convey preparations only when needed, eliminating the need for premature preparation exposure to harsh environments.
3Device complexity
If manual dosing is performed during each washing cycle, then the device complexity is reduced, but the productivity and convenience are decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The dosing system operates autonomously by detecting water presence in the treatment room and automatically conveying the required amount of preparation from the storage container. This self-service mechanism eliminates manual dosing operations while maintaining simple device architecture, thereby improving washing cycle efficiency without significantly increasing complexity.
4Reliability
If the amount of ingredients per washing cycle is increased to improve washing performance, then the washing performance is improved, but the ecological and economic sustainability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives feedback from sensors detecting water presence and washing cycle parameters, then precisely controls the pump to deliver only the required amount of preparation. This feedback mechanism ensures optimal washing performance while minimizing ingredient consumption, preventing both under-dosing and excessive use.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables precise control of preparation dosage parameters (volume, concentration, timing) based on detected washing conditions. By dynamically adjusting these parameters rather than using fixed amounts, the system achieves high washing performance while reducing overall ingredient consumption across multiple washing cycles.
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
Enables excellent washing performance with minimal raw material use, particularly in enzymatically degradable and bleachable soiling, while maintaining perfume quality and avoiding mechanical, hydraulic, or thermal exposure to the dosing system components.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pump, which causes the preparation to be conveyed from the storage container or dosing device
Implementation Method 2
At least one sensor, which detects at least the presence of water in the water-carrying household appliance
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a metering system (1) for use in conjunction with a water-conducting household appliance (2) such as a washing machine, dishwasher, clothes dryer or the like, comprising at least one storage reservoir (3a, 3b, 3c) for storing a plurality of metering portions of at least one flowable preparation (4a, 4b, 4c), at least one metering device (5a, 5b, 5c) that can be coupled to a storage reservoir (3a, 3b, 3c) and is provided to be positioned outside of the treatment chamber (6) of the water-conducting household appliance (2) and that does not have any connection to a water-conducting line of the water-conducting household appliance (2), at least one sensor that detects at least the presence of water in the water-conducting household appliance, at least one pump or vibratory atomizer for conveying or releasing the preparation from the storage reservoir or metering device, at least one control unit that cooperates with the sensor and the pump or vibratory atomizer such that, when a defined sensor signal is present which represents the presence of water and/or the operation of the water-conducting household appliance, at least one preparation is delivered from the storage reservoir or metering device by means of the pump or vibratory atomizer. The metering system according to the invention further comprises at least one fluid line (7, 7a, 7b, 7c) that connects the storage reservoir (3a, 3b, 3c) or metering device (5a, 5b, 5c) to the treatment chamber (6) of the water-conducting household appliance (2), so that a preparation (4a, 4b, 4c) can be fed from the metering device (5a, 5b, 5c) positioned outside of the treatment chamber (6) of the water-conducting household appliance (2) into the treatment chamber (6) of the water-conducting household appliance (2) via an opening (8, 8a, 8b, 8c, 9, 10, 10a, 10b, 10c) of the water-conducting household appliance (2), said opening being connected to the treatment chamber (6).