DK2868251T3

DK2868251T3 - Dishwasher with starter

Info

Publication number: DK2868251T3
Application number: DK15000051.1T
Authority: DK
Inventors: Ingo Gau
Original assignee: V-Zug Ag
Priority date: 2015-01-12
Filing date: 2015-01-12
Publication date: 2017-07-10
Also published as: EP2868251A2; EP2868251B1; SI2868251T1; EP2868251A3; PL2868251T3

Description

Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a dishwasher with start delay according to the preamble of claim 1.

Background

It is known how to equip a dishwasher with a start delay. When the user activates the start delay, the control unit of the device prepends a waiting phase to the cleaning program, in order to start the cleaning program only at a later point in time, e.g. during the night. DE 296 10 371 Ul describes a dishwasher with a time-delayed washing program start adjustment possibility. During the interval between switching on the dishwasher and the start of a washing program, a soaking program with little water and/or energy usage can be activated. The washing program after the soaking program can be performed in a less intense way, e.g. with a reduced temperature of the washing liquid, when the soaking program is carried out.

Description of the Invention

It is the object of the invention to improve the cleaning effect of a dishwasher of this type.

This object is achieved by the dishwasher according to claim 1. According to this, the control unit is adapted to wet the dishes inside the vat at least once during the waiting phase when the start delay is activated. In this way, the dishes are moistened such that dirt detaches better during the later actual cleaning program.

The cleaning program has a pre-washing phase (B) and a main washing phase (C), wherein the control unit is adapted to replace at least partially process water inside the vat (1) between the pre-washing phase (B) and the main washing phase (C).

The control unit is adapted to heat up the process water to a lower temperature during the prewashing phase and/or the main washing phase with start delay than during the pre-washing phase and/or the main washing phase without start delay. In this way, it is taken advantage of the fact that the dirt is soaked already due to the wetting during the waiting phase and therefore the intensity of cleaning during the prewashing phase or main washing phase, respectively, can be reduced.

The control unit is adapted to reduce the temperature of the process water during the pre-washing phase (B) and/or main washing phase (C) with start delay with respect to the corresponding temperature without start delay by a parameter depending on the length of the waiting phase (A).

Advantageously, the control unit is adapted to wet the dishes inside the vat in multiple wetting steps, such that it stays humid. Idle steps are provided between the wetting steps, during which the dishes are not wetted, such that the energy usage can be reduced.

The cleaning program may have, as known, a prewashing phase and a cleaning phase, wherein the control unit is adapted to replace the process water between the pre-washing phase and the cleaning phase at least partially, particularly at least 80% of it.

In this case, the control unit may advantageously be adapted not to replace the water between the waiting phase and the pre-washing phase, such that the same water is used for wetting in the waiting phase, like in the process phase, such that water consumption is not automatically higher.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the devices and the methods will be apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments based on the figures. It is shown in FIG. 1 a schematic illustration of some components of a dishwasher and FIG. 2 the phases of a cleaning program without start delay and, FIG. 3 the phases of a cleaning program with start delay.

Ways of implementing the invention

The dishwasher according to Fig. 1 has, as known, a vat 1 for receiving the dishes. Different spraying means, e.g. a lower spraying arm 2, an upper spraying arm 3 as well as a ceiling nozzle 4 are provided inside the vat 1 in order to impinge the dishes with process water. A circulation pump 5 serves to transport the process water from a sump 6 of the device below the vat 1 to the spraying means 2, 3 and 4. A switch valve 7 is provided between the circulation pump 5 and the spraying means 2, 3, 4, by means of which the process water can be guided optionally to individual or multiple spraying means.

Furthermore, the device has a drain pump 8, by means of which process water that is not required anymore can be pumped out of the sump 6, as well as a fresh water inlet comprising a valve 9 as well as a treatment installation 10 for supplying the device with fresh water.

The different actuators of the device, particularly the pumps 5, 8, the valves 7 and 9 and the treatment installation 10, are controlled by a control unit 11 of the device. An input and output unit 12 is connected to the controller 11, via which the user can send commands to the device and see its status.

Fig. 2 shows the phases of an exemplary, normal cleaning cycle of the device, according to which the control unit 11 controls the components of the device: - During a pre-washing phase B, process water is supplied into the device and thereafter the dishes are pre-washed, normally without adding detergents. During the pre-washing phase B, the process water may be used in a not heated state, it may however also be heated, e.g. to 50°C, e.g. when the user has requested an intense cleaning. The process water is in most cases partially discharged at the end of the pre-washing phase.

During a main washing phase C, new process water is supplied into the device and thereafter the dishes are cleaned by adding detergents. In the main washing phase C the process water is again heated, e.g. to a temperature TC = 50°C. At the end of the main washing phase C, the process water is at least partially discharged. - During the intermediary washing phase D, new process water is again supplied into the device and the dishes are washed without adding detergent, mostly without heating. Thereafter, at least a part of the process water is again discharged.

During the rinsing phase E, new process water is supplied into the device and the dishes are rinsed by adding rinsing agents. During the rinsing phase, the process water is heated up to a temperature TD = 60°C. At the end of the rinsing phase E the process water is discharged. - During the drying phase F, the still hot dishes are dried and additionally slowly cooled down.

The skilled person knows that these phases can be varied, e.g. by repeating single phases or omitting single phases, etc. Furthermore, the user is normally provided with a choice of multiple such cleaning programs with slightly different operation parameters, which he can choose via the input and output unit 12. The different cleaning programs may e.g. differ from one another in the durations of the individual phases, the process water temperatures and other parameters.

As mentioned, the user may furthermore activate a "start delay" via the input and output unit 12, in order to delay the start of the cleaning program. For this, he can e.g. specify that the cleaning program shall only be started after a certain time, wherein this time is normally at least 30 minutes. Additionally or alternatively to this, the user may also specify the instant when the cleaning program shall finish, in which case the control unit 11 calculates by itself the duration of the start delay on the basis of the current time as well as the expected program duration.

Fig. 3 shows the course of the process, in the way the control unit 11 sets it when the user chooses on the input and output unit 12 the option "start delay with wetting": first the process passes through a waiting phase A, which corresponds to the chosen start delay. It comprises multiple steps: (a) At the beginning of the waiting phase A, process water is supplied into the vat 1. Thereafter, during a first wetting step 20-1, the control unit 11 switches on the circulation pump 5 in order to bring process water on the dishes and in this way to wet it. The first wetting step takes e.g. 2 to 3 minutes. (b) A first idle step 21-1 follows the first wetting step 20-1, during which the circulation pump 5 is switched off. This first idle step takes preferably at least 10 minutes, e.g. 30 minutes. (c) A second wetting step 20-2 follows the first idle step 21-1. This second wetting step, as well as all following wetting steps, takes e.g. only one minute. Because the wetting of the dishes only has to be refreshed, the first of the wetting steps takes advantageously longer than the later wetting steps. (d) Thereafter, a second idle step 21-2 follows, of preferably again at least 10 minutes, e.g. 30 minutes.

The steps (c) and (d) are repeated without the necessity to change the process water. The sequence of the steps (c) and (d) is ended when time has come for starting the pre-washing phase B of the cleaning program. This pre-washing phase B is advantageously carried out with the same process water, which was also used during the waiting phase for wetting the dishes. As the case may be, additional water is added.

The spraying pressure for wetting and soaking the dishes during the waiting phase A may be lower than the one during the pre-washing phase and/or the main washing phase B or C, respectively. For example, a pressure of e.g. 40 mbar instead of 70 mbar may be used at the spraying means 3, i.e. at the middle spaying arm, during the wetting steps 20-1, 20-2, 20-3, and at the spraying arm 2, i.e. at the lower spraying arm, a pressure of e.g. 80 mbar instead of 160 mbar. For this, the rotation number at the circulation pump may be lower during the wetting steps 20-1, 20-2, 20-3 than a maximum rotation number during the pre-washing phase B and/or main washing phase C. In this way, energy consumption and noise emission are reduced.

In other words, the control unit 11 may also be adapted to use for the process water a lower spraying pressure during the waiting phase for wetting the dishes than during the pre-washing phase and/or main washing phase B, C, which follow the waiting phase A.

The cleaning program with prepended waiting phase A or with start delay, respectively, is basically carried out with approximately the same parameters like the cleaning program without start delay. The temperatures TB, TC of the pre-washing phase and/or the main washing may however be slightly smaller because the dirt is already partially solved or soaked when entering the prewashing phase.

For example, the temperatures TB and/or TC may e.g. each be reduced by an amount ΔΤ, as compared with the ones without start delay. The temperature reduction ΔΤ increases advantageously with increasing duration of the waiting phase A, e.g. in the following way:

- waiting phase up to 2 hours: ΔΤ = - 2K - waiting phase 2 to 4 hours: ΔΤ = -4K, - waiting phase 4 to 8 hours: ΔΤ = -6K, - waiting phase > 8 hours: ΔΤ = -8K, wherein however the temperature TB or TC, respectively, of the pre-washing phase and/or the main washing phase is limited downwards to 45°C.

In other words, the control unit 11 is consequently adapted to reduce the temperature of the process water during the pre-washing phase B and/or main washing phase C with start delay with respect to the corresponding temperature without start delay by a parameter depending on the length of the waiting phase A.

Further parameters of the pre-washing phase and/or main washing phase may also be varied depending on the presence and the duration of the waiting phase A.

Preferably, the control unit 11 is however adapted to use at least the same amount of water during the pre-washing phase with start delay like during the pre-washing phase without start delay.

Wetting of the dishes during the waiting phase A may be activated or deactivated by the user via the input and output unit 12. If it is deactivated, no wetting of the dishes takes place during the waiting phase A.

If wetting of the dishes is activated during the waiting phase A, this can be shown on the input and output unit 12, e.g. as a status notification "soaking...".

While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in this application, it is clearly noted that the invention is not limited thereto and may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the now following claims .

Claims

A dishwasher with a tub (1) for receiving service to be cleaned, a control unit (11) designed to clean the service in the tub (1) corresponding to at least one cleaning program, an input device (12), start delay can be activated where the control unit (11) is designed to activate a waiting phase (A) before activating the start delay, where the control unit (11) is designed to humidify the service in the tub (1) at least once during the waiting phase (A) wherein the cleaning program comprises a rinsing phase (B) and a main rinsing phase (C), wherein the control unit (11) is designed to at least partially replace the process water in the vessel (1) between the rinsing phase (B) and the main rinsing phase (C), 11) is designed to heat the process water to a lower temperature in the pre-rinse phase (B) and / or in the main rinse phase (C) with the initial exposure than in the pre-rinse phase (B) and / or the main rinse phase (C) without starting characterization, characterized in that the control unit (11) is designed to reduce the temperature of the process water in the pre-rinse phase (B) and / or the main rinse phase (C) with the initial exposure relative to the corresponding non-initial exposure temperature, depending on the waiting phase (A) length.

A dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to humidify the service in the tub (1) during the waiting phase (A) in several wetting stages (20-1, 20-2, ...), where between the wetting stages ( 20-1, 20-2, ...) are provided resting steps (21-1,21-2, ...) in which the service is not wetted.

A dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein a first of the wetting steps (20-1, 20-2, ...) lasts longer than later wetting steps (20-1,20-2, ...).

A dishwasher according to any one of claims 2 or 3, wherein the dishwasher comprises a circulation pump (5) for transporting water from a sump under the tub (1) to spraying means (2, 3, 4) in the vessel (1) of the device (1). 5) during the wetting steps (20-1, 20-2, ...) are switched on and during the resting stages are switched off.

Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 4, wherein at least part of the wetting steps (20-1, 20-2, ...) are shorter than at least part of the resting steps (21-1,21-2). ..).

A dishwasher according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein at least part of the wetting steps (20-1,20-2, ...) lasts less than 5 minutes and / or at least part of the resting steps (21-1, 21-2, ...) lasts at least 10 minutes.

Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (11) is designed not to replace the process water between the waiting phase (A) and the rinsing phase (B).

A dishwasher according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to use at least as much process water as in the rinsing phase (B) with the initial phase (B) without starting exposure.

Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control unit (11) is designed to apply, for wetting the service in the waiting phase (A), a lower spray pressure to the process water than in the rinsing and / or main rinsing phase (B, C).