Laundry treating apparatus comprising a detergent dissolution device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry treating apparatuses face challenges in efficiently dissolving powdered detergent in wash water, leading to incomplete dissolution and potential residue on laundry, which increases washing time and degrades performance, especially as the size of the apparatus increases.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus incorporates a detergent dissolution device with a circulation system that uses a pump and dissolution flow path to circulate wash water and detergent, ensuring complete dissolution before supply to the tub, and includes a flow path switching valve to selectively open the detergent dissolution and supply paths, preventing backflow and ensuring effective detergent distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a detergent dissolution device is added to ensure complete dissolution, then washing performance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detergent dissolution device is nested within the existing water supply system. The dissolution box is positioned to receive water from the water supply device, and the circulation pump integrates with the flow path to circulate water through the dissolution box. This nested arrangement allows the dissolution function to be added without requiring a completely separate system, thereby improving washing performance while minimizing the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dissolution box is designed to dissolve detergent in advance before the water is supplied to the tub. Water is circulated through the dissolution box multiple times using the circulation pump to ensure complete detergent dissolution before the washing cycle begins. This preliminary action ensures that detergent is fully dissolved before contact with laundry, improving washing performance without requiring complex real-time dissolution mechanisms.
2Productivity
If a circulation pump is used to dissolve detergent completely, then dissolution efficiency is improved, but risk of pump malfunction increases
Solution Approach 1:
A flow path switching valve is introduced as an intermediary component between the circulation pump and the dissolution box. This valve controls the flow direction and can isolate the pump from the dissolution box when not in use. By acting as a mediator, the valve protects the pump from potential clogging by detergent residues while still enabling efficient detergent dissolution when the valve is in the appropriate position. This reduces pump malfunction risk while maintaining dissolution efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow path is segmented into distinct sections: the water supply path, the dissolution circulation path, and the tub supply path. The flow path switching valve creates separate controllable segments that can be activated independently. This segmentation allows the circulation pump to operate in a controlled manner, reducing the risk of malfunction by preventing unauthorized flow paths and enabling maintenance without affecting the entire system.
3Reliability
If dissolution flow path is created to circulate water, then detergent dissolution is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dissolution flow path is designed to serve multiple functions: it supplies water to the dissolution box, circulates water for detergent dissolution, and can redirect flow to the tub. The flow path switching valve enables a single flow path structure to perform multiple roles depending on the valve position. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated paths for each function, thereby improving detergent dissolution while minimizing the increase in overall flow path complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The dissolution flow path is merged with the existing water supply and drainage systems. Water from the water supply device is directed to the dissolution box, and after circulation, the same water path can supply water to the tub. By merging these functions into a unified flow path structure controlled by the switching valve, the system achieves complete detergent dissolution without requiring entirely separate and complex independent paths for water supply, dissolution, and tub filling.
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 solution ensures complete detergent dissolution before washing, preventing residue and enhancing washing performance while preventing pump malfunctions and clogging, thus improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the laundry treatment process.
Implementation Method 1
a pump configured to discharge the detergent and water from dissolution box and to then resupply the discharged detergent and water back to the dissolution box so as to circulate the detergent and water
Implementation Method 2
the dissolution flow path comprises a first dissolution flow path to guide the detergent and water received in the dissolution box from the dissolution box to the pump and a second dissolution flow path to guide the detergent and water discharged from the pump to the dissolution box
Implementation Method 3
valves to connect the second dissolution flow path and the tub supply flow path to the pump to selectively open the second dissolution flow path and the tub supply flow path
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3(a)~3(b)
AI summary
A laundry treating apparatus is provided. The laundry treating apparatus may include a detergent storage device (4) positioned below an introduction port (13) for introducing laundry into and removing laundry from a washing tub (15) of the apparatus, a detergent dissolution device (5) to dissolve detergent in water, and a flow path switching valve (55) to selectively open a flow path (57) for dissolution of the detergent and a flow path (59) for supply of the dissolved detergent and washing water solution to the washing tub (15).