Unit Dose Container Physical Alteration for Cartridge Reuse Prevention
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances face reduced cleaning effectiveness and potential damage when using partially used or refilled single dose cartridges, as they may not provide the necessary treating chemistry, leading to inconsistent performance and potential harm to the appliance or treated items.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where a physical alteration element, such as a cutter or piercer, alters the unit dose container during the first cycle of operation, and a sensor detects this alteration to prevent subsequent cycles from executing if the container is not new, ensuring only fresh chemistry is used.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If a single dose cartridge is reused or refilled, then the appliance can operate for additional cycles, but the cleaning effectiveness is reduced and damage to the appliance or items may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs a preliminary action by physically altering the unit dose container (e.g., cutting, piercing, or deforming) during the first cycle of operation. This alteration is detected by a sensor before subsequent cycles begin, preventing reuse of partially used cartridges. The preliminary physical modification ensures that the container can be reliably identified as used, thereby maintaining cleaning effectiveness while controlling operational duration.
2Reliability
If a sensor is added to detect physically altered containers, then reuse of partially used cartridges is prevented, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic verification systems with a simpler mechanical or physical alteration approach. A physical element (such as a cutter or piercer) modifies the container in a detectable way during the first cycle, and a sensor detects this physical change. This mechanical substitution reduces the need for sophisticated electronic authentication systems while maintaining reliable verification of cartridge authenticity.
3Loss of information
If the unit dose container is physically altered during operation, then the container can be identified as used, but the container structure is modified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs physical alterations to the unit dose container (such as cutting, piercing, or deforming specific portions) that create detectable changes in the container's physical state. These alterations serve as indicators of usage status, allowing the sensor to distinguish between new and used containers. The modifications are designed to be detectable while maintaining sufficient structural integrity for the container's intended function during the first cycle.
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance having a treating chamber in which is received an article for treatment, a treating chemistry dispenser configured to receive a unit dose container for the treating chemistry, and a controller for executing at least one cycle of operation and a method of operating the household appliance to physically alter a unit dose container in conjunction with a cycle of operation and sensing same.