Laundry treating apparatus
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in maintaining cleanliness and hygiene within the detergent supply system, particularly due to detergent residue and foreign substances accumulating inside the housing, which complicates cleaning and affects user experience.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a front shower portion in the dispenser to automatically supply water to the detergent storage, ensuring that the detergent supply casing is cleaned regularly, improving cleanliness and hygiene, and enhancing user convenience by integrating a water supply system that includes shower channels and ribs to guide water flow effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If detergent storage is retracted or extended in the housing, then detergent supply function is improved, but detergent residue and foreign substances accumulate in the space causing hygiene degradation
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent storage is extracted from the housing and designed to be movable, allowing it to be retracted or extended. This extraction creates a dedicated space within the housing that can be easily accessed and cleaned, preventing detergent residue accumulation while maintaining the detergent supply function.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing space is pre-configured with drainage channels and structures that facilitate easy cleaning before detergent residue can cause hygiene problems. The design anticipates potential residue accumulation by providing built-in cleaning pathways.
2Ease of operation
If detergent storage is retracted or extended in the housing, then detergent supply function is improved, but cleaning the space becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The housing space is segmented into functional zones with drainage channels and accessible areas. The detergent storage movement path is divided into discrete positions, allowing the space to be accessed and cleaned in sections rather than as a single difficult-to-reach area.
Solution Approach 2:
Drainage channels and water flow paths act as intermediaries that carry cleaning water through the housing space, making it easier to clean areas that would otherwise be difficult to access. The water flow mediates the cleaning process by reaching into crevices and channels.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If water supply is added to clean detergent storage, then hygiene is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The water supply system is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides water for detergent supply operations and simultaneously serves as a cleaning mechanism for the housing space. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate cleaning systems, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses its own water supply to clean itself. The same water delivery mechanism that supplies detergent also flushes out detergent residue and foreign substances from the housing space, allowing the system to maintain hygiene through self-service rather than requiring additional dedicated cleaning components.
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 effectively maintains cleanliness and hygiene within the detergent supply system by ensuring continuous cleaning during use, improving user experience and efficiency in washing the interior of the detergent supply, while also optimizing space utilization and structural arrangement.
Implementation Method 1
The water supply portion of the dispenser may include a shower portion configured to supply water to a bottom of the supply case
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a laundry treating apparatus including a detergent storage unit retractable into a cabinet through an opening, wherein detergent is stored in the detergent storage unit; a supply case disposed in the cabinet and receiving the detergent storage unit retracted through the opening; and a dispenser disposed inside the cabinet, and located above the detergent storage unit, wherein the dispenser includes a water supply portion from which water is discharged and drops downwards, wherein the water supply portion includes shower portion for supplying water to a bottom of the supply case.