Single Water Path Detergent Dispensing for Bulk and Single Doses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contemporary household cleaning appliances often require users to manually fill and manage separate single-use and bulk dispensing systems for treating chemistry, leading to inconvenience, potential errors, and increased cost due to duplicate water supply systems.
Innovation Solution
A household cleaning appliance with a single water flow path that seamlessly integrates both single-use and bulk dispensing systems, allowing for efficient dispensing of treating chemistry through a unified water supply system, eliminating the need for separate water paths and reducing redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate water supply systems are used for single-use and bulk dispensing systems, then each system can be optimized for its specific dispensing operation, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase due to duplicate components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single water supply system that serves both single-use and bulk dispensing operations through a unified architecture. The water supply line includes a diverter mechanism that can direct water flow to either the single-use dispensing cup or the bulk dispensing cartridge based on operational requirements. This multi-functional design eliminates duplicate water supply components while maintaining optimized dispensing capabilities for both system types.
2Device complexity
If a single water flow path is used for both dispensing systems, then device complexity and cost are reduced, but the systems must share common components that may not be optimized for each specific dispensing operation
Solution Approach 1:
The unified water supply system is segmented into distinct flow paths using a diverter mechanism. The single water supply line branches into separate pathways that can independently serve the single-use dispensing cup or the bulk dispensing cartridge. This segmentation allows each dispensing system to receive optimized water flow control while sharing the common water supply infrastructure, resolving the conflict between simplicity and operational optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The water supply system incorporates a dynamic diverter mechanism that can redirect water flow between different dispensing systems based on operational requirements. This dynamic capability allows the single water supply system to adapt and optimize performance for either single-use or bulk dispensing operations as needed, maintaining versatility while preserving system simplicity.
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 solution simplifies the dispensing process, reduces user error, and minimizes costs by using a single water flow path for both dispensing systems, enhancing convenience and reducing the complexity of the water supply system.
Implementation Method 1
a single water flow path that supplies water to both the single-use dispensing system and the bulk dispensing system
Data Source
AI summary
A household cleaning appliance configured to execute a cleaning cycle on an article, the appliance including a cabinet defining an interior, a treating chamber located within the interior for receiving the article for cleaning, a dispensing system having a dispensing cup fluidly coupled to the treating chamber, and a bulk dispensing cartridge configured to hold multiple treating chemistry doses for respective ones of multiple cleaning cycles, wherein the dispensing cup is configured to selectively hold the bulk dispensing cartridge, or a single treating chemistry dose for a single cleaning cycle when the bulk dispensing cartridge is not present.