A washing machine
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing washing machines face assembly-related issues due to tolerance changes, resulting in misalignment of the dispenser panel, detergent dispenser, and control panel, leading to a non-flush interface and quality perception problems.
Innovation Solution
The control panel, dispenser panel, and detergent dispenser are coaxially centered using a system of protrusions forming 'C' shaped structures on the side walls, with specific gaps and centering members to ensure all components are aligned from a single point, eliminating individual centering and minimizing assembly problems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If each component (control panel, dispenser panel, detergent dispenser) is centered individually on separate parts, then the centering of each component can be performed independently, but assembly problems arise due to tolerance changes resulting in misalignment and non-flush interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the centering operations of multiple components into a single unified centering process. The control panel, dispenser panel, and detergent dispenser are all centered relative to a common reference point on the housing, ensuring that their interfaces align flush with each other. This eliminates the accumulation of tolerances that occurs when each component is centered independently.
2Manufacturing precision
If the dispenser panel is centered on the detergent dispenser, then the dispenser panel can be aligned with the detergent dispenser, but the dispenser panel does not remain flush with the control panel due to tolerance variations
Solution Approach 1:
The housing serves as an intermediary structure that provides a common reference frame for centering all components. By defining centering features on the housing rather than on the components themselves, the patent ensures that all components (control panel, dispenser panel, detergent dispenser) are centered relative to the same reference, maintaining stable flush interfaces despite tolerance variations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If separate centering regions are used for each component, then each component can be centered independently, but the centering members cannot fulfill their duties when tolerance changes occur
Solution Approach 1:
The housing's centering features serve multiple functions simultaneously: they center the control panel, center the detergent dispenser, and provide the reference frame for centering the dispenser panel. This universal centering system ensures that all components are aligned relative to the same reference, making the centering members reliable even when tolerance changes occur.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The present invention relates to a washing machine comprising a control panel (1); a dispenser panel (2); a detergent dispenser (3) which is coaxially centered to the dispenser panel (2), which is centered to the control panel (1); and a housing (4) which is arranged on the control panel (1) and which receives the detergent dispenser (3) together with the dispenser panel (2). By means of the present invention, instead of centering the control panel (1), the dispenser panel (2) and the detergent dispenser (3) individually, all the components, that is the control panel (1), the detergent dispenser (3) and the dispenser panel (2) are coaxially centered at the same region.