Laundry washing appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laundry washing appliances lack an effective auto-dosing system for liquid laundry treatment products, which is essential for reducing user effort and environmental pollution, as current dispensing systems are not suitable for liquids and have not evolved with the shift from powder to liquid formulations.
Innovation Solution
A dispensing arrangement within the laundry washing appliance that includes a slidable drawer with containers for treatment products, a suction pump, and a valve system that automatically connects and disconnects to deliver precise amounts of treatment products to the washing tub, integrating a mixing chamber and water inlet for efficient dosing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a conventional dispensing system is used for laundry treatment products, then the system structure remains simple, but it cannot effectively dispense liquid treatment products and achieves automatic dosing
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a suction pump that automatically activates when the drawer is pushed in, drawing liquid treatment products through capillary action and pressure differential without requiring manual intervention. The valve automatically opens/closes based on drawer position, and the pump automatically doses and dispenses the liquid, making the entire dosing process self-service.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a suction pump that utilizes pressure differentials and fluid dynamics to draw liquid treatment products from the container and deliver them to the washing tub. The system uses hydraulic principles to control fluid flow through the valve mechanism and pump, enabling automatic liquid dispensing without mechanical complexity.
2Ease of operation
If liquid treatment products are used instead of powder, then user effort is reduced and environmental pollution is decreased, but existing dispensing systems cannot handle liquid products
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pump is specifically designed to handle liquid treatment products by utilizing pressure differentials and capillary action. The valve mechanism is adapted to control liquid flow, and the entire dispensing system is configured to work with liquid formulations, making the system versatile for liquid products while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the dispensing mechanism to accommodate liquid products. The suction pump uses controlled negative pressure, the valve regulates flow rate, and the dosing mechanism adjusts delivery quantities, transforming the system's parameters to be suitable for liquids rather than powders.
3Productivity
If manual dosing is performed, then device complexity is low, but user time and effort are increased and waste is generated
Solution Approach 1:
The suction pump automatically doses the liquid treatment products by activating when the drawer is pushed in, drawing the required amount through pressure differential and delivering it to the washing tub. The valve automatically controls the dispensing process, and the system self-regulates the dosing quantity, eliminating the need for manual intervention and increasing dosing efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback through the drawer position sensing mechanism that triggers the valve and pump operation. When the drawer is pushed in, the system detects this position change and automatically activates the dosing sequence, creating a feedback loop that ensures precise and efficient dosing without manual input.
4Extent of automation
If a suction pump with automatic valve is used, then automatic dosing is achieved, but the system requires precise connection and disconnection mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The valve mechanism is designed to dynamically respond to drawer position changes. When the drawer is pushed in, the valve automatically opens to allow liquid flow; when the drawer is pulled out, the valve automatically closes to prevent leakage. This dynamic operation ensures reliable connection and disconnection based on real-time system state.
Solution Approach 2:
The suction pump acts as an intermediary between the liquid treatment product container and the washing tub, controlling the transfer process. The valve serves as an intermediary mechanism that mediates the connection state, ensuring reliable fluid control during drawer movement while protecting against leakage.
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 enables automatic dosing of laundry treatment products, reducing waste and user effort, while ensuring precise delivery and mixing with water, thus enhancing the efficiency and environmental sustainability of laundry cycles.
Implementation Method 1
at least one suction pump associated with the at least one container and fluidly connected to the laundry washing tub for delivering thereto dosed amounts of the treatment products
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
A laundry washing appliance comprising a cabinet (105) accommodating a laundry washing tub and a dispensing arrangement for dispensing laundry washing treatment products to be used during laundry washing. The dispensing arrangement comprises: a drawer (125) slidable within a seat (227) provided in the cabinet (105), the drawer defining at least one container (201a,201b) for laundry washing treatment products; at least one suction pump (265a,265b) associated with the at least one container and fluidly connected to the laundry washing tub for delivering thereto dosed amounts of the treatment products; at least one valve (235a,235b;310,343a,343b;310a,310b,343a,343b) for fluidly connecting the at least one container to the at least one suction pump, the valve being realized so as to automatically close and cut off the fluid connection between the at least one container and the at least one suction pump when the drawer is even partially extracted from the seat, and to automatically open and establish the fluid connection between the at least one container and the at least one suction pump when the drawer is pushed into the seat.