Narrow Dishwasher Container for Secure Rack Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
The placement of containers with dispersible closures in automatic dishwashers is challenging due to the need for secure positioning that avoids premature dispersion and damage, especially with the increasing use of dishwashers lacking conventional cutlery baskets, which instead have horizontal cutlery trays that do not securely retain such containers.
Innovation Solution
A container with a maximum width of less than 40 mm, preferably shaped as a rectangular cuboid with curved edges, designed for placement within a crockery rack, providing stability and flexibility in placement, and featuring a neck with a screw thread for easy opening and closing, along with protrusions for additional support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the container is placed in a conventional cutlery basket, then the dispersible closure can be securely positioned, but the container cannot be placed in dishwashers with horizontal cutlery trays
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with a maximum width of less than 40mm to fit universal placement locations across different dishwasher types, including both conventional cutlery baskets and horizontal cutlery trays. This dimensional constraint enables the same container design to function reliably in multiple dishwasher configurations without requiring type-specific variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from relying on vertical orientation (conventional cutlery baskets) to accommodating horizontal orientation (cutlery trays) by controlling the container's width dimension. By making the width the critical dimension rather than height, the container can be securely placed in horizontal trays where it would otherwise be incompatible.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the container width is reduced to fit horizontal cutlery trays, then placement flexibility improves, but the container volume decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The container dimensions are optimized with a maximum width constraint of less than 40mm while adjusting length and height parameters to maintain adequate volume. This parameter optimization allows the container to fit horizontal cutlery trays while preserving sufficient capacity for detergent formulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The container employs a profiled design where the width varies locally along its length, with the maximum width of less than 40mm occurring at specific sections. This local width control enables fitting into horizontal trays while maintaining larger volume in other sections for adequate product capacity.
3Productivity
If the dispersible closure is placed at the lowest point for gravity-driven dispersion, then release efficiency improves, but the closure may be prematurely dispersed on hot surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The container is designed with the dispersible closure positioned at the lowest point before use, pre-configuring it for gravity-driven dispersion. However, the container's stable placement in horizontal cutlery trays prevents premature activation by ensuring the closure remains protected until the intended use moment, when water flow and heat activation occur simultaneously.
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 design allows for secure and flexible placement within crockery racks, preventing damage and premature dispersion, while ensuring stable operation and easy handling during loading and unloading.
Implementation Method 1
dispersion commonly triggered by heat causing melting of the closure material, typically a paraffin wax
Implementation Method 2
the dispersible plug has to be placed at the lowest point of the container so that dispersion can occur under gravity
Data Source
AI summary
The use of a container in an automatic dishwasher. The container is shaped such that it has a maximum width of less than 40 mm.