Laundry Softener Dispensing with Adaptive Rinsing Phase Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Standard laundry machines fail to effectively apply laundry softeners due to residual detergent hindering uniform adhesion on textile fibers, resulting in incomplete beneficial properties from the softeners.
Innovation Solution
A laundry machine with a control system that adjusts the number of rinsing phases based on the presence and type of softener, ensuring sufficient rinsing to remove detergent residuals and facilitate better softener adhesion, featuring a water supply apparatus and a dispensing device for detergent and softener delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the number of rinsing phases is increased to remove detergent residuals, then softener adhesion to textiles is improved, but treatment cycle duration is extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of softener presence in the drawer reservoir before the treatment cycle begins. Based on this detection, the control unit pre-determines the optimal number of rinsing phases required, allowing the system to execute the precise number of rinsing cycles needed for effective softener adhesion without unnecessary extensions to the treatment cycle.
2Measurement precision
If the control system detects softener presence and adjusts rinsing phases accordingly, then treatment precision is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit automatically detects the presence of softener in the drawer reservoir and autonomously determines the appropriate number of rinsing phases without requiring manual user input or complex external control systems. The system serves itself by making intelligent decisions based on detected conditions, thereby improving treatment precision while avoiding excessive system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple doses of softener are stored in the drawer reservoir, then device versatility is improved, but risk of contamination with detergent increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system acts as an intermediary that detects the presence or absence of softener in the drawer reservoir and uses this information to control the dispensing sequence. By mediating between the multi-dose reservoir and the treatment process, the system ensures that softener is only dispensed after appropriate rinsing phases have removed detergent residuals, thereby preventing chemical contamination while maintaining the versatility of storing multiple doses.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for treating laundry in a laundry machine which comprises: - a rotatable drum adapted to receive laundry to be treated; - a washing tub enclosing said drum; - a water supply apparatus configured to supply water into said washing tub; - a control unit programmed to carry out a laundry treatment cycle; - a laundry treatment agent dispensing device adapted to deliver into the washing tub at least one laundry treatment agent between a laundry detergent and a laundry softener, said laundry treatment agent dispensing device comprising a first reservoir adapted to be at least partially filled with said laundry detergent and a second reservoir adapted to be at least partially filled with said laundry softener, and - a control system, in signal communication with the control unit, providing a softener signal adapted to take a first value indicating that no laundry softener quantity will be delivered into the washing tub during said laundry treatment cycle, and a second value indicating that a laundry softener quantity will be delivered into the washing tub during said laundry treatment cycle; the method comprising: - performing a washing phase in which the laundry treatment agent dispensing device delivers said detergent into the washing tub; - performing a number of rinsing phases wherein detergent used in the washing phase is removed from laundry by using water provided by said water supply apparatus, wherein: - the control unit sets the number of rinsing phases to be performed according to whether the value taken by the softener signal is the first value or the second value.