Method and apparatus for cleaning laundry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Unit dose packages (UDPs) in laundry washing machines often suffer from incomplete dissolution, leading to inefficient cleaning, spot formation, and unpredictable detergent release, which complicates the wash cycle optimization.
Innovation Solution
A laundry washing machine with a mechanical UDP breaking mechanism, featuring blades, pins, or protrusions to actively break open the UDP, ensuring predictable and complete detergent release, including configurations in the receptacle, tub supply pipe, or sump for efficient mixing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If UDP is inserted directly into the drum with laundry load, then ease of operation is improved, but dissolution completeness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by breaking the UDP pouch before the wash cycle begins. The breaking mechanism is activated during the fill phase to rupture the pouch and release detergent contents into the water, ensuring complete dissolution before the drum rotates and laundry is processed. This prevents the UDP from becoming trapped undissolved in the laundry or bellows seal.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary breaking mechanism between the UDP insertion and the wash cycle. This mechanism includes breaking elements (blades, pins, or protrusions) that act as intermediaries to rupture the pouch. The mechanism is positioned in the drum or on the drum periphery and activates during the fill phase to ensure complete detergent release before washing begins.
2Ease of operation
If UDP dissolves before washing cycle begins, then ease of operation is improved, but loss of substance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses feedback control through the machine's control unit, which receives signals from sensors detecting the fill phase completion. The breaking mechanism is activated only after the fill phase is confirmed complete, ensuring detergent is released at the optimal moment. This feedback loop prevents premature dissolution and subsequent detergent loss during the draining phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The breaking mechanism performs preliminary action by rupturing the UDP pouch during the fill phase, just before the wash cycle begins. This timing ensures detergent is released into the water and begins dissolving before the drum rotates and laundry is processed, preventing detergent loss during any initial draining phase.
3Ease of operation
If UDP breaks down before washing cycle, then ease of operation is improved, but object-generated harmful factors deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit uses feedback from fill phase sensors to determine the precise moment to activate the breaking mechanism. This ensures the UDP breaks down only after the fill phase is complete and the wash cycle is about to begin, preventing concentrated detergent from contacting laundry and causing spots or stains.
Solution Approach 2:
The breaking mechanism performs preliminary action by rupturing the pouch during the fill phase, allowing detergent to dissolve in the water before contact with laundry. This preliminary dissolution prevents concentrated detergent from causing spots or stains on the laundry.
4Reliability
If mechanical breaking mechanism is added, then dissolution completeness is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The breaking mechanism is designed to be self-activating during the fill phase, using the machine's existing rotational motion or water flow to trigger the breaking elements. The mechanism breaks the UDP pouch automatically without requiring separate motors or complex control systems, minimizing added complexity while ensuring reliable dissolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The breaking mechanism is integrated into the existing drum structure or fill system, serving multiple functions: it breaks the UDP pouch, mixes detergent with water, and utilizes the existing fill phase timing. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity.
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 mechanical breaking mechanism ensures consistent and complete detergent dissolution, improving cleaning efficiency and preventing spots, while allowing for optimized wash cycle timing and detergent contact duration.
Implementation Method 1
a water soluble pouch containing a dose of cleaning product
Data Source
AI summary
A laundry washing machine having a casing, a washing tub located within the casing, a drum mounted within the washing tub and configured to rotate relative to the casing, a door attached to the casing and being openable to provide access to the drum, a receptacle configured to receive a unit dose package comprising a water soluble pouch containing a dose of cleaning product, a tub supply pipe fluidly connecting the receptacle to washing tub, and means for mechanically breaking the unit dose package.