Washing Machine Door Bubble Removal During Spin-Drying

Solution Overview

Problem

Washing machines often leave residual bubbles on the door glass after rinsing, leading to user dissatisfaction and inconvenience due to staining, which existing solutions attempt to address through structural changes or additional devices.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a water supply valve or steam valve to supply water to the door glass during the spin-drying operation, using a circulation pump before drainage to remove residual bubbles without altering the washing machine's structure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a door cleaning hose or structural modification is added to remove bubbles from the door, then the bubble removal effectiveness is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidual bubbles on door glassVSAvoidstructural changes to washing machine

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation pump, which is already present in the washing machine for circulating water during washing operations, is made to serve an additional function of removing bubbles from the door glass. The pump circulates water through the door glass during the spin-drying operation, utilizing existing hardware to achieve bubble removal without adding new components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The washing machine uses its own circulating water system to remove bubbles from the door, rather than requiring an external cleaning mechanism. The water already in the system is redirected to flow through the door glass, allowing the machine to clean itself without additional devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a door cleaning hose is added to supply water to the door, then the bubble removal effectiveness is improved, but the ease of manufacture deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidual bubbles on door glassVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity of washing machine

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The circulation pump, which is already present in the washing machine for circulating water during washing operations, is made to serve an additional function of removing bubbles from the door glass. The pump circulates water through the door glass during the spin-drying operation, utilizing existing hardware to achieve bubble removal without adding new components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The washing machine uses its own circulating water system to remove bubbles from the door, rather than requiring an external cleaning mechanism. The water already in the system is redirected to flow through the door glass, allowing the machine to clean itself without additional devices.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the circulation pump is driven for a predetermined time before drainage, then the bubble removal effectiveness is improved, but the loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresidual bubbles on door glassVSAvoidadditional time during spin-drying operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The bubble removal operation is merged with the existing spin-drying operation. The circulation pump is activated during the spin-drying phase to remove bubbles, combining two functions (bubble removal and spin-drying) into a single time period rather than adding a separate bubble removal step.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The circulation pump operates continuously during the spin-drying operation to maintain water flow through the door glass, ensuring bubbles are removed throughout the entire spin-drying period rather than using intermittent or separate cleaning actions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

Effectively removes residual bubbles from the door glass during the spin-drying process without requiring structural changes, enhancing user satisfaction by preventing staining and simplifying maintenance.

Implementation Method 1

a circulation pump before drainage after washing or rinsing, thereby removing residual bubbles from the door

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCirculation: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP2112262B1Washing machine and method of controlling the same

Publication Date: 2012.11.28 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD

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AI summary

Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a method of controlling the same that are capable of removing bubbles from a door (70) after washing. The washing machine includes a drum (20) and a door (70) to open and close the drum (20). The method of controlling the washing machine includes determining whether the present operation is a spin-drying operation, and, when the present operation is the spin-drying operation, supplying water to the door (70) to remove residual bubbles from the door (70).