Detergent Inlet Drawer Layout for Stable Short-Pull Refilling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines require the detergent drawer to be pulled out too far for refilling, leading to instability and a high risk of spills, as the storage containers are not optimally arranged to minimize the distance needed for refilling and maintain balance.
Innovation Solution
The storage containers are arranged to extend into the front area of the drawer, allowing for partial extension and reducing the need for the drawer to be pulled out far, with the mass of the containers positioned in the rear for stability, and the refill opening is closable to prevent spills.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of stationary object
If storage containers are arranged in the rear area of the drawer to maximize storage capacity, then the drawer must be pulled out further for refilling, but this increases the risk of spills and reduces stability
Solution Approach 1:
The storage container is designed to extend in the depth direction (front-to-rear dimension) of the drawer, allowing the refill opening to be positioned on the front surface. This dimensional arrangement enables refilling to occur at the front of the drawer while the main storage volume occupies the rear area, resolving the contradiction between storage capacity and refilling accessibility.
2Ease of operation
If the drawer is pulled out further to access the refill opening, then refilling can be performed, but the drawer becomes less stable and more prone to tipping
Solution Approach 1:
The refill opening is pre-positioned on the front surface of the drawer at a location that is accessible before the drawer is fully pulled out. This preliminary positioning of the refill function allows refilling to be performed early in the drawer extraction process, preventing the drawer from being pulled out too far and thereby maintaining stability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple chambers are provided for hand-dosed portions, then more detergent types can be stored, but the drawer requires more space and becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The front surface of the drawer is designed with a universal refill station that can accommodate different types of detergent containers. Instead of providing separate chambers for each detergent type, the system uses a single multi-functional refill area where various detergent containers can be refilled, reducing structural complexity while maintaining versatility.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an automatically controlled washing machine, wherein a detergent inlet device 8 is disposed in the housing 1, having a drawer 9 accessible from the front having at least one chamber 11, 12 disposed in the front region of the drawer 9 for manually measured addition of a washing powder or washing liquid. At least one reservoir tank 17 for liquid laundry treatment agent is also mounted within the drawer 9, from which portions of laundry treatment agent can be metered automatically and added to the washing process. In order to arrange the reservoir tank or tanks 17 so that for every case of filling the reservoir tank 17, the drawer 9 does not need to be pulled out of the housing 1 as far as was previously the case, despite having at least one chamber 11, 12 for the manually measured addition of individual portions of liquid or powder laundry treatment agent, for which the same premise applies, chamber parts 20 of the reservoir tank or tanks 17 extend into the front region of the drawer 9 so that the chamber part or parts 20 are located adjacent to the chamber or chambers 11.