Washing Machine Door Remote Opening to Reduce Odor Formation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical household appliances for washing and drying often leave items inside the compartment after a cycle, leading to unpleasant odors and requiring manual door opening, which can be inconvenient and prone to contamination.
Innovation Solution
An electrical household appliance with a door movement mechanism, including electromagnetic or elastic means, that can be remotely controlled via communication means to automatically open the door after a cycle, reducing odor formation and user inconvenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the door is left closed after the washing/drying cycle, then the appliance remains sealed and protected, but unpleasant odors form in the items of washing
Solution Approach 1:
The door opening mechanism operates automatically using elastic means (spring) that are pre-loaded to open the door without requiring user intervention. The system serves itself by detecting the end of the cycle and autonomously opening the door to prevent odor formation, eliminating the need for manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic means are pre-loaded during the washing/drying cycle to accumulate energy, and the door is opened automatically immediately when the cycle ends. This preliminary preparation of the opening mechanism ensures the door opens promptly without waiting for user action, preventing odor formation while maintaining ease of operation.
2Ease of operation
If the door is opened manually to remove items, then access to the compartment is achieved, but there is risk of contamination from outside
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic door opening mechanism eliminates the need for manual door opening by the user. The system independently opens the door using pre-loaded elastic means, thereby removing the user from the contamination risk scenario while still providing easy access to the compartment contents.
3Reliability
If electromagnetic means are used to keep the door closed, then the door remains securely sealed during operation, but the door cannot be opened without deactivating the electromagnetic means
Solution Approach 1:
Elastic means (spring) act as an intermediary mechanism between the electromagnetic holder and the door. The spring is pre-loaded during the cycle to provide opening force, and when the electromagnetic means are deactivated at the end of the cycle, the spring automatically propels the door open. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the overall system by using passive elastic energy storage rather than requiring an active opening motor or complex actuation system.
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
Enables users to remotely open the door after a cycle, minimizing odor formation and providing flexibility in operation, while maintaining control over potential contamination risks.
Implementation Method 1
When the door 20 is closed, the electromagnetic means generate a force that keeps the door 20 against a frame 23 that encircles the access passage 22
Implementation Method 2
suitable elastic means (for example, a spring) are provided to apply a force which pushes the door 20 from the first configuration to the second
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
An electrical household appliance for washing and/or drying, comprising: - a washing and/or drying compartment (2) designed to accommodate the articles to be treated; - a door (20) giving access to the compartment (2); -door movement means (21) for moving the access door (20) and which move the access door (20) from a first configuration in which it occludes a passage (22) giving access to the compartment (2) to a second configuration in which it permits fluid communication between the compartment (2) and the outside of the electrical household appliance (1) through the access passage (22); - communication means (3) adapted to interact with a remote electronic device (30); - means (4) for actuating the movement means (21) activated by reception of a signal that coming from the communication means (3) and matching with a prememorized activation signal.