Removable Detergent Drawer Structure for Flexible Washing Machine Dosing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines are too rigidly adapted to specific types of laundry treatment agents, making it difficult for users to switch between them, and the cleaning of detergent dispensing devices is often neglected, leading to contamination and residue issues.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design featuring a drawer with a guide frame and window-like recesses that allow for easy insertion and removal of containers for various types of laundry treatment agents, including single or multi-dose powdered, liquid, or gel formats, enabling flexible user choice and easy cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If permanently installed reservoirs for liquid laundry treatment agents are used, then the device can continuously supply treatment agent, but the user cannot flexibly switch between different types of laundry treatment agents
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing device is segmented into a removable drawer component that can be easily taken out and replaced. This segmentation allows users to switch between different types of laundry treatment agents by simply removing one drawer and inserting another, without dealing with complex permanent installations or multiple integrated reservoirs.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer design serves multiple functions: it acts as both a storage container and a dispensing mechanism. The universal drawer structure can accommodate different types of laundry treatment agents (liquid, gel, powder) while maintaining the same basic interface and operation method, providing flexibility without requiring separate specialized devices for each agent type.
2Ease of operation
If complex permanent dispensing structures are used, then the device can provide continuous supply, but cleaning becomes difficult and is neglected
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer is designed as a separate, extractable component that can be completely removed from the washing machine. This extraction principle allows users to easily take the drawer out for cleaning purposes, and even replace it entirely if needed. The removable nature eliminates the difficulty of cleaning fixed, integrated dispensing structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer is designed as an inexpensive, replaceable component rather than a permanent, high-maintenance fixture. Users can easily clean or replace the drawer without concern for costly repairs or complex disassembly, encouraging regular maintenance and replacement to prevent contamination and ensure hygiene.
3Ease of operation
If the drawer is designed as a fixed structure, then the device is stable, but the user cannot easily remove and clean containers
Solution Approach 1:
The drawer is segmented into separable parts (container and drawer body) that can be easily detached from each other. This segmentation allows users to remove the container for cleaning or replacement while the drawer body remains stable and fixed in the machine. The same segmentation principle allows the entire drawer assembly to be removed as a unit when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The drawer design incorporates dynamic characteristics - it can be easily moved and removed by the user when needed, yet remains stable and secure during normal operation. The drawer transitions between a fixed, stable state during washing cycles and a movable, removable state during maintenance, providing both stability and ease of operation at different times.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~8
AI summary
Automatically controlled washing machines usually have, arranged at the front within the body of the machine, a flush arrangement (8) for laundry treatment media. Flush arrangements of this type contain a drawer (9) which is accessible from the front with at least one container (11, 12, 16 to 18) for powdered, liquid or gel-form laundry treatment media and a device (15, 16) for automatically feeding each stored laundry treatment medium into the treatment process. In order that the user can firstly decide flexibly on one or other type of laundry treatment medium and, moreover, can clean a detergent flush arrangement of this type more easily, in order that no residues of laundry treatment media remain which could be contaminated after some time bactericidally and fungicidally, the drawer (9) consists substantially of a guide frame (19) which has a handle (10) at the front and at least one window-like recess (23 to 27) for holding an insertable container (11, 12, 16 to 18) for laundry treatment media.