Additive dispenser for varying the types of additives within a washing machine appliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machine additive dispensers face challenges in ensuring complete dissolution of additive pods, especially during cold-water cycles, leading to potential damage or staining of articles and wastage of wash additives, particularly when using multiple pods or types simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
The proposed solution involves a washing machine appliance with a dispenser system that includes a housing, a dispenser drawer with separate compartments for different types of additives, a shower plate, and a controller to manage water flow. The method involves initiating a wetting water flow, followed by a break water flow, and then a fill water flow to facilitate the dissolution of additive pods, ensuring they are fully utilized during the wash cycle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If additive pods are used in cold-water wash cycles, then ease of operation is improved, but complete dissolution of the pods deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by directing water flow to wet and pre-dissolve the additive pod before the main wash cycle begins. The controller initiates a water flow through the pod compartment to ensure the pod is fully dissolved and ready for dispensing, preventing undissolved remnants from damaging articles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic principles by controlling water flow through valves and conduits to direct water onto the additive pod. The water flow is managed through a shower plate and water supply conduit to ensure complete dissolution of the pod in the pod compartment before dispensing into the wash chamber.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of additive pods are used simultaneously, then adaptability is improved, but complete dissolution and proper dispensing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser drawer is segmented into multiple separate compartments, each capable of holding different types of additive pods. This segmentation allows the system to accommodate multiple pod types simultaneously while maintaining proper dissolution and dispensing for each compartment independently through controlled water flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The pod compartment and water flow system are designed with multi-functionality to handle various types of additive pods. The controller and valve system can selectively direct water to different compartments, making the system universal in its ability to process multiple pod types while ensuring complete dissolution of each.
3Reliability
If water flow is increased to ensure complete dissolution, then complete dissolution is improved, but loss of substance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The controller manages water flow with feedback control to ensure complete dissolution of the additive pod while minimizing wastage. The system monitors the dissolution process and adjusts water flow accordingly, directing water through the pod compartment only when needed and controlling the amount to prevent excessive runoff and loss of wash additives.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial action by directing water flow specifically to the pod compartment only when dissolution is needed, rather than continuously. The controller initiates water flow through the shower plate and water supply conduit at appropriate times to ensure complete dissolution without excessive water usage that would lead to wastage of wash additives.
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 complete dissolution of additive pods, preventing residue accumulation and ensuring the correct amount of wash additives are used, thereby preventing damage and wastage, and allowing for the use of multiple pod types without issues.
Implementation Method 1
initiating a wetting water flow to a pod compartment through a shower plate... initiating a break water flow to the pod compartment through a water supply conduit... ensuring complete dissolution of additive pods
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine appliance, as provided herein, may include a fluid additive dispenser and a controller. The fluid additive dispenser may include a housing, a dispenser drawer, a water supply conduit, a first water valve, a shower plate, and a second water valve. The water supply conduit may be directed to the pod compartment defined by the dispenser drawer and define a water inlet. The shower plate may be disposed upstream from a primary compartment and the pod compartment. The controller may be configured to initiate a washing operation that includes initiating a wetting water flow at the second water valve to the pod compartment through the shower plate, initiating a break water flow to the pod compartment through the water supply conduit following the wetting water flow, and initiating a fill water flow through the shower plate following the break water flow.