Unit Dose Dispenser Integrity Sensing in Household Appliances
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Solution Overview
Problem
Household appliances face reduced cleaning effectiveness and potential damage when using partially used or refilled unit dose containers, as they may not ensure the use of new, full chemistry doses, leading to inconsistent treatment results.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a treating chemistry dispenser with a physical alteration element and an electrical sensor to verify the integrity of unit dose containers by physically altering them during the first cycle of operation, ensuring only new containers are used for subsequent cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If unit dose containers are allowed to be reused or refilled, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but cleaning effectiveness deteriorates and damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The physical alteration element modifies the unit dose container during the first cycle operation before subsequent reuse is attempted. This preliminary alteration (such as piercing, cutting, or deforming the container) prevents future reuse by blocking the dispensing mechanism, ensuring that only new containers are used while maintaining simple operation for legitimate single-use cases.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor acts as an intermediary between the unit dose container and the control system. It detects whether the container has been physically altered and provides this information to the controller, which then determines whether to allow operation. This intermediary detection mechanism enables the system to distinguish between new and used containers without complicating the user interface.
2Reliability
If physical alteration elements and sensors are added to verify container integrity, then cleaning effectiveness and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical verification methods (such as mechanical seals, latches, or multi-component locking mechanisms) with a simple physical alteration element combined with an electrical sensor. The sensor detects electrical properties (conductivity, capacitance, or resistance) that change when the container is physically altered, providing a reliable verification method with minimal mechanical complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical alteration element changes a physical parameter of the unit dose container (such as electrical conductivity, capacitance, or physical geometry) that can be detected by the sensor. For example, piercing the container may create an electrical pathway or change its capacitance, providing a detectable signal that the container has been used, thereby ensuring reliability through parameter detection rather than complex mechanical verification.
3Reliability
If the appliance prevents reuse of unit dose containers, then cleaning effectiveness is maintained, but loss of time occurs due to required container replacement
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides automatic verification of container integrity through the sensor and control system, eliminating the need for manual inspection by the user. The appliance self-determines whether a container is new or used based on the sensor output, and automatically prevents operation with used containers. This self-service verification reduces the time users would otherwise spend checking container status while maintaining cleaning effectiveness.
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 ensures that only new, full unit doses are used, maintaining cleaning effectiveness and preventing damage to appliances or treated items by preventing the reuse of partially used containers, thus enhancing the reliability and performance of household appliance cycles.
Implementation Method 1
an electrical sensor located proximate the unit dose container to electrically sense a characteristic of electricity flowing through the electrically conductive element
Data Source
AI summary
A household appliance for treating at least one item according to at least one cycle of operation includes a treating chamber for receiving the at least one item for treatment according to the at least one cycle of operation, a treating chemistry dispenser receiving a unit dose container having an electrically conductive element, a physical alteration element located proximate to the treating chemistry dispenser and operable to physically alter at least a portion of the electrically conductive element and a sensor for sensing the physical alteration.