Laundry Treating Appliance with Dockable Tool for Stain Pre-Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laundry treating appliances often fail to completely remove stubborn stains during standard wash cycles, necessitating manual pre-treatment by users.
Innovation Solution
A laundry treating appliance with a removable treating tool and internal chemistry reservoir that can be docked within the appliance, allowing for the use of specialized pre-treatment chemicals and direct fluid coupling with the wash chamber, enabling enhanced stain removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If standard wash cycles are used, then the washing machine operates with pre-programmed cycles, but stubborn stains cannot be completely removed
Solution Approach 1:
The washing system is divided into separate functional modules: a removable treating tool with its own chemistry reservoir, a docking station with fluid coupling, and the main wash chamber. This segmentation allows the treating tool to be independently configured for specific stain types while the main system provides overall washing functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The treating tool is designed to be dynamically configurable - users can attach different treating tools with different chemistries for different stain types, and the fluid coupling enables dynamic delivery of treating chemistry during the wash cycle. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between standardized operation and customization needs.
2Reliability
If manual pre-treatment is performed, then users can address stubborn stains, but the process requires additional user intervention and time
Solution Approach 1:
The treating tool is designed to autonomously deliver treating chemistry to the wash chamber through fluid coupling during the wash cycle. The system automatically manages the pre-treatment function without requiring users to manually apply chemicals, thereby maintaining high stain removal effectiveness while eliminating the need for manual pre-treatment intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The treating tool contains pre-loaded chemistry reservoirs with appropriate treating chemicals for specific stain types. Users can select and attach the appropriate treating tool before the wash cycle begins, and the system automatically delivers the pre-configured chemistry during operation, combining preliminary preparation with automated execution.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a removable treating tool with internal reservoir is added, then targeted pre-treatment is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The treating tool with its internal chemistry reservoir is designed to nest within the docking station, which itself is integrated into the washing machine. The fluid coupling mechanism nests within the docking station structure. This nested arrangement allows the adding of pre-treatment capability while utilizing existing spaces and structures, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The docking station serves multiple functions: it stores the treating tool, provides fluid coupling for chemistry delivery, and integrates with the main wash chamber. The treating tool itself functions as both a storage container for chemistry and a delivery mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting complexity increase while achieving versatile pre-treatment capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the disclosure relate to a laundry treating appliance including a chassis defining an interior and a treating chamber located within the interior. A dispenser of the laundry treating appliance can include at least one treating chemistry reservoir fluidly coupled to the treating chamber. The laundry treating appliance can further include a treating tool.