Washing Machine - Universal Design Project

Universal Design: Washing Machine Project Guide: Prof. S Balaram Hanit Khanchandani

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Index

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1. History and Evolution

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2. Market Study

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3. Parts of a Washing Machine

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4. User and Enviornment

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5. Research

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6. Audit Chart

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7. Ideation

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8. Concept Development

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9. Final Design

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10. Prototype

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11. References

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Project Brief To universally redesign a washing machine

Washing Machine

A washing machine (laundry machine, clothes washer, or washer) is a device used to wash laundry.

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History and Evolution

1800

1850

1900

Updated in 1851 to include a drum and manually operated turner. James King made the first hand powered washing machine with a drum.

In 1858, Hamilton Smith patented the first rotary washing machine.

In 1797 the wash board wash invented.

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This washing machine from 1851 was powered by a hand crank. It used a simple system of rotating clothes around through water to wash them. The first ever device used for washing was a washing board and this was far more advanced.

In 1874, William Blackstone built a birthday present for his wife. It was a machine which removed and washed away dirt from clothes. This was the first washing machine designed for convenient use in the home.

First electric powered washing machine invented in 1908 by Alva J. Fisher.

1950

2000

Present

In 2008, the University of Leeds invented a washing machine that uses only one cup of water.

Bendix Corporation introduced the first domestic automatic washing machine in 1937, having applied for a patent in the same year

In 1978, the first microchip-controlled automatic washing machines were produced.

A see-through Bosch machine at the IFA 2010 in Berlin shows off its internal components

Today, you can start your laundry with the touch of a button and from anywhere in your home with Bluetooth technology.

The process has been made easier with the internet and WiFi.

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Market Categories of washing machines available in India: Semi - automatic These are the most common type of washer available in India, and it is the cheapest washing machine category. As the name says, it is only partially automatic – it does require some manual effort! You have to add the water to the tub before washing your clothes, and then will have to drain it when the cycle is finished. A semi-automatic washing machine can help you save water since it does not require continuous water supply in order to operate. Semi-automatic washing machines are always top loading. This type of washing machine often has two separate tubs – one for washing and one for drying.

Semi automatic washing machine

Fully Automatic Fully automatic machines change from one cycle to another, taking the clothes right through from start to finish without any additional input from you. The working of the washing machine includes a set sequence of washing, rinsing, and spinning (plus a pre-wash if desired).

During the wash cycle, the machine releases the detergent and fills the drum with water while moving the clothes around to make sure each item is thoroughly cleaned. This soapy water is then drained, and clean water is added for the rinse cycle, which removes the remaining soap.

The water is drained once more and the machine spins quickly which removes around 80 percent of the excess water in the clothing. Each cycle clicks over to the next automatically, making the fully automatic washing machine one of the most advanced washing machines on the market.

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Fully automatic - Front Load

Fully automatic - Top Load

Parts of a Washing Machine

Top Load

Top Load 7

Rear view of a front load washing machine showing the belt driving the drum

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Users

Environments

Primary Users

Adults Housewives Elderly Wheel-chaired

Users with Crutches Vision Impaired Pregnant Women

Secondary Users

Servants/ Maids Maintenance/ Repair

Interior

Home Hostel Apartments Laundry rooms Exterior

Balcony Backyard

Tertiary Users

Rats Insects Mosquitoes

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Research

House 1 Washing Machine Location: Exterior

Machine kept on a frame which has rubber bushes.

Cons: Space to narrow to clean

Cover which protects the machine from weather, dust, etc.

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Outlet Pipe tucked behind to avoid it getting in the way of the door

Washing machine cover covers the buttons.

Lid hinge area easily attracts dust

Neat opening in the cover for lid

Transparent glass on lid dirty over time

On/Off button Seperate from other control buttons

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House 2 Washing Machine Location: Exterior - Balcony

The machine blocks some part of the door. The clothes are hung even above the washing machine.

The Machine is placed on a narrow balcony

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Back of the machine, kept at a distance from the wall to allow pipes and wires to easily connect.

Water inlet pipe from the outside

The washing machine has not been unwrapped from its original plastic packaging yet. People usually keep it on for a long period.

Detergent, soap kept at the balcony grill.

Dusted detergent compartment rusty to open.

Hinge ribs easily attract dust.

Laundry pilled up near the washing machine.

Dust collected under the machine

Dust under the lid

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House 3 Washing Machine Location: Interior - Small Room

Wheeled stand to move the machine around.

The machine is placed in a small room inside the house. They use a floor mat to keep the room dry.

The keep the detergent, softener, etc in the table next to the washing machine.

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Wire management: the inlet and outlet pipe can easily get in the way of someone entering the toilet.

Bucket used for bringing/collecting clothes.

Detergent drawer missing

Separate on/off button

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House 4 Washing Machine Location: Interior - Small Room

The entry of the house has clothesline (due to rains they prefer drying the clothes under the shade)

The washing machine has been placed in a small room.

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A bucket has been kept on a height (while she puts the clothes on the rope) for convenience.

Again the laundry has been kept in the bucket, for easy transfer.

The wires come on the way of entering the washroom

The stand that came along with their old washing machine is being used for the new one too.

Interesting 123 wash concept. (the buttons have been numbered to make the mode selection easy)

The inlet pipe

The washing detergent is a 1.5kg packet which is cut fully, and is kept open even in the shelf.

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House 5 Washing Machine Location: Interior - Bedroom

The location of this washing machine is in the corner of the room next to the cot. The room is crowded with a lot of things.

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There is no special plug point near the washing machine, so they use an extension box which rests on the clothes on the cot. wires are all over.

Wires, pipe don’t allow the door to shut while the machine is in use. The outlet pipe releases water directly in the bathroom

Conclusion/ Summary

User initiated modifications on/ around the product:

Washing machine condition

Products directly related

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Raised bucket height for easy loading & unloading of clothes

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Dust drawer goes missing

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Washing Machine cover for protection for rain, dust, etc.

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Plastic see through glass in the lid becomes dusty and easily attracts scratches.

Detergent box, packet or liquid kept on the table/ shelves close by.

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Bucket/ tub essential to be used along

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Foot mat kept close to the machine to maintain cleanliness.

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Wheeled washing machine stand bought by the user to move the machine around.

Top load as well as Front Load machines are designed such that one side always faces the wall.

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User: Leg Impaired (Wheelchair User) Washing Machine Type: Top Load (Automatic) 1

2

3

4

Carrying the Bucket/ Laundry Bag in Hand/Lap

Rolling the Wheelchair wheel with other hand

Wheel chair cannot go any further...

as a result, user’s distance from the machine is a lot

5

6

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Opening the lid completly is hard, user needs to lean forward.

POV: Drum not visible at all. Height of the machine is too high to check for any clothes inside.

Hard to locate, pull out the detergent drawer

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User: Leg Impaired (Wheelchair User) Washing Machine Type: Front Load (Automatic)

1

2

Carrying/dragging the Bucket/ Moving back to allow door to Laundry Bag in Hand/Lap open completly

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4

5

Door open now

Getting the bucket nearer Checking pockets for any objects left by-mistake 10

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7

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9

Putting the jeans inside (little leaning required)

Moving back for the door

Moving front with the door to close.

Reaching to the switch behind the Concluding the job by setting machine the mode and starting the job 21

User: Leg Impaired (Crutch User) Washing Machine Type: Top Load (Automatic)

1

2

Carrying the bucket in Taking the help of the machine to stand one hand

3

4

5

Opening the Lid

Tricky to reach for any fallen objects

Unscrewing the lid of the detergent box

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7

8

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Lifing clothes from the bucket on the floor

Moving forward toward the WM.

Pouring the detergent in the drawer

Putting the clothes in. Accessing buttons to start the machine is not a problem

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User: Leg Impaired (Crutch User) Washing Machine Type: Front Load (Automatic)

1

2

3

Entering with bucket in one hand

Reaching to the machine for support

Using machine top as support to walk

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5

Moving the bucket away to allow door to open

Door blocks the Laundry bucket

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6

7

8

9

Bringing the Bucket Closer

Lifting it up for examination

Checking the pockets

Hard to reach corners Detergent, Buttons, Dial of drum when standing usable.

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User: Vision Impaired (Crutch User) Washing Machine Type: Front Load (Automatic)

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2

3

4

Entering the laundry room

Assuring its a washing machine

Searching for the door

Searching & Using both Opening the door fully & hands to open door Locating the opening

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8

Checking if the clothes are The touch panel is not at properly inside the drum all usable 24

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Locating the detergent drawer

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10

Cannot distinguish which compartment for detergent

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Putting the clothes inside

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Not being able to turn the machine on because of the touch panel.

User: Leg Impaired (Crutch User) Washing Machine Type: Front Load (Automatic)

1

2

3

4

Entering the laundry room

Identifying the machine

Making sure its not in use.

Trying to access the controls and Opening the door and are not at all usable

6

7

Searching for detergent drawer

The drawer comes out completely which is hard to put back in

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5

9

Wrong handle accessed

Trying to close the lid

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Hand getting stuck in the lid when it closes.

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User: Vision Impaired (Crutch User) Washing Machine Type: Front Load (Automatic)

1

2

3

4

5

Sliding bucket inside the laundry room

Not possible to open the door using the leg.

Sliding the bucket closer

Using feet to load clothes

Sliding the bucket Closing the door away

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8

Reaching the control panel

Hard to use rotating Not possible to pull out dial drawer using leg/ mouth

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9

10

Bending down to access the detergent bottle

6

11

Almost not possible to use the controls, leg slips easily

User: Leg Impaired (Crutch User) Washing Machine Type: Front Load (Automatic)

1

2

3

4

5

Sliding bucket towards the machine

Using chin to keep detergent bottle away

Using mouth to pick up jeans

Resting the jeans on the door frame

Using feet to put the jeans completely inside

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7

8

9

Buttons not accessible by chin

Cannot slide out detergent drawer

Using head to close lid

Chin to hold it from banging down 27

Audit Chart

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Summary

Must changes

Additional opportunities

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Redesign the bucket such that moving the clothes around is easier

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Detergent Storage Box

Door: Locating the handle.

Opening the door.

Unloading & Loading is a problem for some users.

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Detergent Compartment: Identifying the right compartment Pulling the drawer using the handle

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Control Panel: Requires complete redesign

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Ideation

31

i. Attempts on changing drum shape

Symmetrical shapes for drum Importance of clean comfortable handles. Most of the washing machine in the market have handles which blend with the form improving aesthetics, but causing users trouble.

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ii. Removable drum

The drum of the washing machine completely comes out like a trolley allowing you to take the drum directly to the clothesline

iii. Drum height raised + tapered

(Side view of a front load washing machine) A tapering cylindrical drum. Clothes simply slide out as you open the front door.

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iv. more ways for easier unloading

Threading inside the drum to get the clothes to the front by manually rotating it

Raising the drum according to the height of a standard bucket for easy unloading

Washing machine tilting completely to face the user

Front load door opening downwards.

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Improvised drum shape to allow clothes to slide out when tilting the entire washing machine.

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v. Inspired from a medical stent

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Detergent drawer: Railings for separate compartments

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Selected Concept

Concept features: - Wall mounted front load washing machine configuration.

- Region underneath the drum sloping to allow wheelchair to go more closer to the machine allowing the user to reach the corners of the drum - The wall mounted washing machine doubles as a shelf for storage - The door is made square shaped to avoid any issues caused by circular door

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Concept development

Detergent drawer shifted up alongside the drum to allow water to enter with the detergent

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Optional feature 1: creating a slidable tray to raise the height of the bucket helping load/unload laundry

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Optional feature 2: bucket with wheels that fits under the wall mounted washing machine.

Form development

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Changing the shape of the door helped make the form of the machine look less industrial and more for home usage

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The volume of the entire machine was reduced by making the control panel a separate box

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Final Design

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Sliding temperature, spin speed.

The shape of the door handle tells the user that it is meant to be pulled. Both handles in the machine are kept simple and easily accessible 52

The Mode Dial surrounding surface is sloped inwards.

The top of the machine is works as shelf.

Control box top specially for keeping detergent containers.

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Details: Control Panel Speaker (audio feedback as the user selects the wash cycle details) Main mode dial Step 1: Mode Selection Temperature & Spin Speed

Since the Detergent compartment is between the controls, user will not forget to add detergent.

Step 2: Add Detergent

Digital Display Step 3: Confirm & Begin Audio Confirmation & Start The user may choose to listen to the final setting before pressing the start button

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Details: Door

Door opens completely for easy access

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Details: Detergent Drawer

- The rails help in easy identification of compartments - The rails also work as support for the spoon while transferring detergent powder

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Details: Wall mounting

Inlet, outlet water pipes connect behind the control box.

Washing Machine mounted on a wall

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2 - 2.5 foot high

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Prototype for scale

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References

Images

Web

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http://www.geocities.jp/hiroyuki0620785/ ouyou/kadenn/washing/washing.htm

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor_washing_machine

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washing_machine

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https://www.topsimages.com/images/1960s-laundry-machine-3d.htmlhttps:// circuitmaker.com/blog/about-open-sourcewashing-machines

https://www.newlifeappliances.co.uk/blog/ are-you-putting-too-much-or-too-little-intoyour-washing-machine/

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http://www.ideafinder.com/history/inventions/washmachine.htm

https://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/ items/415562

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http://www.edisontechcenter.org/WashingMachines.html

Books

https://www.samsung.com/hk_en/washing-machines/top-loader-wa70h4200sg/ https://www.explainthatstuff.com/washingmachine.html

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http://theinventors.org/library/inventors/ blwashingmachines.htm

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https://www.surfexcel.in/laundry/laundry-tips/washing-machine-guide/washing-machine-work.html

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https://www.ariel.in/en-in/washing-machine-101/your-guide-to-washing-machines/ anatomy-and-parts-explained

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http://waphell.info/20-front-load-washer-parts-phenomenal/front-load-washer-parts-scematic-portrait-disassemble-your-washing-machine/

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TechStuff Podcast - How Washing Machines Work

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https://humancentereddesign.org/sites/default/files/UniversalDesignIndiaPrinciples.pdf

Universal Design Handbook - by Wolfgang F. E. Preiser

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