Top-Loading Washer Chamber Design for Unit Dose Package Dissolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Top-loading washing machines have difficulty quickly dissolving and dispersing the contents of unit dose packages (UDPs) due to slow dissolution and high local concentrations, which can lead to staining or damage to laundry.
Innovation Solution
A laundry washing machine design featuring a rotating basket and post with a chamber system that alternates water levels to mechanically and hydraulically assist in breaking open and dissolving UDPs, using a controller to manage water flow and rotation speed to ensure effective dissolution and distribution of UDP contents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a UDP is dropped into the drum with the laundry in a top-loading washing machine, then the UDP is positioned in the drum, but the dissolution is slow and causes high local concentration that can stain or damage laundry
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the drum into two functional zones: an upper agitation zone for mechanical breakdown of the UDP and a lower dissolution zone for complete dissolving. This segmentation allows different stages of the dissolution process to occur in separate locations, improving overall dissolution speed while preventing harmful concentration buildup through continuous water circulation between zones.
Solution Approach 2:
The washing machine employs periodic agitation cycles that alternately submerge and expose the UDP in the upper zone, creating repeated mechanical stress that accelerates package breakdown. This periodic action prevents stagnant high-concentration areas by continuously redistributing detergent solution throughout the drum, thereby preventing staining and damage.
2Ease of operation
If the UDP becomes tightly trapped in the laundry, then the UDP remains contained, but dissolution becomes even slower and local concentration increases
Solution Approach 1:
The agitation mechanism automatically performs the function of breaking free trapped UDP packages through mechanical action in the upper zone. The periodic tumbling and agitation forces naturally work loose any UDP that becomes embedded in laundry, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining simple user operation of dropping the UDP into the drum.
3Device complexity
If water level is kept constant, then the washing process is simple, but the UDP dissolves slowly and may not disperse uniformly
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs periodic water level variations that alternate between submerging the UDP in water and exposing it to air during agitation. This periodic flooding and exposure cycle accelerates dissolution by combining mechanical breakdown with repeated wetting, while the temporary exposure phases allow oxygen contact that can enhance certain detergent reactions and prevent stagnant concentration zones.
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
Enhances the ability of top-loading washing machines to break open and dissolve UDPs, preventing staining and damage by ensuring uniform distribution of detergent throughout the wash cycle.
Implementation Method 1
operate the motor system to rotate one or both of the basket and the post about the rotation axis to cause the water in the basket to rise to a second basket water level, whereupon at least a portion of the water in the chamber passes through the one or more chamber passages to the internal volume of the basket to cause the water in the chamber to lower to a second chamber water level, and to cause a unit dose package within the chamber to move downwards
Implementation Method 2
operate the valve system to supply water to fill the basket to a first basket water level, whereupon a portion of the water passes through the one or more chamber passages from the internal volume of the basket to fill the chamber to a first chamber water level
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for breaking a unit dose package in a chamber within a post located in a basket of a laundry washing machine. The method includes filling the basket and the chamber, increasing a rotation speed of the basket and/or the post to raise the water level in the basket and lower the water level in the chamber to cause a unit dose package within the chamber to move downwards; reducing the rotation speed to lower the water level in the basket and raise the water level in chamber to cause the unit dose package within the chamber to move upwards; and repeating the steps of increasing and reducing the rotational speed to cause the unit dose package to break open and at least partially dissolve. A laundry washing machine configured to perform this process is also provided.