Washing Machine with Removable Wash Basin for Integrated Pre-Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional washing machines lack a convenient and accessible space for pre-treatment of laundry items, requiring users to perform pretreatment activities in separate sinks, which is inconvenient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A washing machine design that includes a removable wash basin with a convex shape, allowing it to be inserted into the machine for soaking and pretreatment, and easily removable for cleaning, along with an additive dispenser for controlled water and detergent distribution, facilitating on-demand water use independent of wash cycles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wash basin is integrated into the washing machine for pre-treatment, then pre-treatment convenience is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine is divided into functionally independent modules: a removable wash basin for pre-treatment and a separate wash basket for main washing. This segmentation allows the pre-treatment function to be added without complicating the core washing mechanism, as each module operates independently with its own water and detergent dispensing capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The wash basin is designed to be removable and repositionable within the washing machine. This dynamic configuration allows the basin to be easily taken out for cleaning or maintenance without disassembling the entire machine, thereby improving ease of operation while managing device complexity through flexible, non-permanent integration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a removable wash basin is added for pre-treatment, then pre-treatment functionality is improved, but the cleaning difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wash basin is designed as a separate, removable module that can be easily detached from the washing machine. This segmentation allows the basin to be independently cleaned or maintained without affecting the rest of the machine, thereby adding pre-treatment functionality while maintaining ease of cleaning through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The wash basin is extracted as a removable component from the integrated washing machine structure. This extraction enables the basin to be easily removed for cleaning or maintenance purposes, resolving the cleaning difficulty issue while preserving the enhanced pre-treatment functionality that the basin provides.
3Adaptability or versatility
If integrated pre-treatment components are added, then pre-treatment capability is improved, but maintenance difficulty increases
Solution Approach 1:
The pre-treatment system is segmented into independent components including the wash basin, additive dispenser, and water supply system. This segmentation allows each component to be independently accessed, inspected, and maintained, thereby providing pre-treatment capability while reducing maintenance difficulty through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The wash basin and its associated components are extracted as removable units from the washing machine. This extraction enables easy removal and maintenance of pre-treatment components without requiring disassembly of the entire machine, thus improving pre-treatment capability while simplifying maintenance procedures.
4Area of stationary object
If a removable wash basin is integrated, then space utilization is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The washing machine is manufactured as modular units including the wash basin and wash basket as separate components. This segmentation allows each module to be manufactured independently using standardized processes, thereby improving space utilization through integrated design while managing manufacturing complexity through modular production approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A washing machine appliance includes a cabinet, the cabinet including a top panel which defines an opening. The washing machine appliance further includes a tub positioned within the cabinet, and a wash basket rotatably mounted within the tub, the wash basket defining a wash chamber for receiving articles for washing. The washing machine appliance further includes a wash basin removably positionable within the opening, the wash basin including a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall.