Dispenser for washing machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dispensers for washing machines can damage clothing due to their rigidity, which is necessary to protect the active substance but causes friction and abrasion during the washing process.
Innovation Solution
A dispenser with a soft casing made of elastomer or similar material, coupled in an articulated manner, houses a hard reinforcement structure of plastic rods to protect the active substance while preventing damage to clothing, and is magnetically attached to the drum for secure placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the dispenser is made rigid to protect the active substance, then the active substance is protected, but the clothing is damaged due to friction and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser is divided into two distinct parts: a soft outer casing that contacts the clothing and a hard inner structure that protects the active substance. This segmentation allows each part to have optimized properties for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the dispenser have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The outer casing is made soft to be gentle on clothing, while the inner structure is made hard to protect the active substance. This local differentiation of material quality resolves the contradiction between protecting the substance and avoiding damage to clothing.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the dispenser is made soft to avoid damaging clothing, then the clothing is protected, but the active substance is damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The dispenser structure is segmented into an outer soft casing and an inner hard support structure. This allows the outer surface to be soft for clothing safety while the internal structure provides the necessary hardness to protect the active substance during the washing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The dispenser utilizes a composite construction combining soft elastomeric material for the outer casing and hard plastic material for the internal structure. This composite approach allows the device to simultaneously exhibit both softness (for clothing protection) and hardness (for substance protection) in different regions.
3Strength
If the dispenser is rigid to protect the active substance, then the active substance integrity is maintained, but water circulation is restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The outer casing is made from flexible elastomeric material that can deform and allow water to circulate freely around the dispenser and through the active substance container. This flexibility compensates for the rigidity of the internal structure, ensuring that water circulation is not restricted while maintaining substance protection.
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
The dispenser effectively delivers the active substance without damaging clothing, maintaining the integrity of the active substance and ensuring optimal washing quality by minimizing mechanical stress and allowing free water circulation.
Implementation Method 1
Said casing comprises magnets for fixing it to the washing machine drum
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a dispenser for washing machines, comprising a casing (1) provided with openings (2) that can house a container (3) for an active substance, and is characterized in that it also comprises a structure (4) placed inside said casing (1), said structure (4) being of a harder material than the material of said casing (1). It allows the casing to be of a material which is soft enough to not damage the clothing during the washing process, and the structure to be of a material which is hard enough to protect the active substance inside the casing.