EP1362547B2 - Dishwasher and method of operating a dishwasher when a combined preparation of various active ingredients is used - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a dishwasher according to the subject matter of claim 1.

For a long time now, so-called "3in1" combination preparations have been available for use in dishwashing machines, which together contain a cleaning substance, a softening substance and a rinse aid substance and are fed to the washing machine at the same time at a certain point in time are available in compressed tablet form so-called "3in1" tabs as well as "3in1" powders The 3in1 combination preparations can be placed in designated dispensers of the dishwasher, in which case they will be at a certain point in time by the washing program of the dishwasher On the other hand, they can also be placed by the user of the dishwasher in the dishwasher, for example in the cutlery basket, before switching on the washing program The user of a dishwasher is now generally meh r as a selectable wash program for cleaning the soiled items set in the dishwasher. Programs which can be selected as wash programs are well-known under the name short program, normal program, intensive program, eco program, for which also very different synonymous conceptual formations exist. Since the use of "3in1" combination preparations by the user of the dishwasher, customer complaints have accumulated among manufacturers of dishwashers. For the cleaning and / or drying results of the items to be cleaned in the dishwasher worsened, in some cases dramatically, when using 3-in-1 preparations in comparison with conventional individual metered addition of the corresponding substances. It has proven to be particularly problematic that, on the one hand, the users do not pay attention to the prescribed localization of the 3-in-one combination preparation in the dishwasher, so that some place the 3-in-1 tabs in the dishwasher, whereas the manufacturer requires use exclusively by means of a dosing device. Furthermore, the information provided by the manufacturers of the "3in1" combination preparations with regard to the selection of a suitable washing program is inappropriate, since the user of the dishwasher generally knows which washing program he must select depending on the degree of dirtying and drying of the dirt particles, but no more intimate Knowledge about the course of the washing program has. This knowledge implies the manufacturer of the 3-in-1 combination preparation at the user and also completely disregards the fact that various "3in1" combination preparations are present on the market, which dissolve differently depending on various parameters and accordingly achieve their highest effectiveness at different times. Thus, some 3in1 combination preparations available on the market operate according to a so-called "dilution principle" (also known as the carry-over principle), ie at the beginning of the cleansing, the 3-in-one combination preparation is added and begins to dissolve. It is mainly the rinse aid first in a high concentration, that is added overdosed and it is assumed that due to carryover in Spülwasserresten and adhesions of the rinse aid washed dishes, Spülbehälterwänden and the ceiling of the rinse tank and in the supply lines, the concentration in the rinse cycle still sufficient to achieve a particularly good drying result. Another embodiment of the 3-in-1 combination preparation provides that initially only the detergent and the softener dissolve and the rinse aid, which is encapsulated in the 3-in-1 combination preparation, z. B. present in the form of a wax-coated bead, dissolves only temperature and / or pH-dependent during rinsing. When using a wash program, which already works in the program section cleaning at high temperatures and / or where the duration of the cleaning process is chosen very long, which is common in an intensive program, the rinse aid of the second type is already dissolved. The rinse aid of the former type has the particular disadvantage that in the execution of several rinse program sections before rinsing, such. As cleaning, intermediate rinsing, the latter is known to be switched between the program sections cleaning and rinsing, dissolves too quickly and is no longer present in sufficient concentration by multiple rinsing liquid change in the program section rinse. Another deficiency in the use of 3-in-1 combination preparations may occur when the user of the dishwasher is dispensing by inserting e.g. B. a 3in1 tabs, before the start of the wash program at any point of the dishwasher, but not in the Dosierkombination makes. This begins z. As in the program section pre-rinsing at least the cleaner and softener to solve, which was generally found in laboratory experiments that the dissolution behavior of the 3-in-1 combination preparations is also very good for water, which has substantially supply temperature. By pumping the following program sections cleaning, possibly provided program sections intermediate rinsing, rinsing, the substances of the 3in1 combination preparation in a lower concentration available, which has a direct effect on both the cleaning and the drying result of the items to be washed and this generally worsens.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for operating a dishwasher, which overcomes at least one of the aforementioned disadvantages and provides a washing program, which is adapted to the use of combination preparations with multiple active substances or adapted, the user the basic use of the previously known washing programs continue to be possible.

The above object is achieved by a method according to the features of claim 1.

According to the method of the proposed invention, at least one washing program, such as, for example, a dishwasher, is provided on a dishwasher. B. Intensive program, normal program, short program, eco program, selectable by the user of the dishwasher. The selection means are usually in a control panel of the dishwasher and are well known as such.

According to the invention a switchable additional function is provided by the use of combination preparations with multiple drugs such use of a program control is displayed. As a result, the user-selected washing program, such as intensive program, normal program, short program, eco program, is adapted to the use of a combination preparation, the cleaning substance, softening substance and final rinse substance. That is, when the additional function is activated, a corresponding signal is given to the control unit, which automatically carries out the adaptation of the respective user-selected washing program to the use of combination preparations. For this purpose, for example, various control routine routines are stored in the microcontroller of the control unit, which is used, and / or on various parameters of the wash programs, such as temperature, duration of a certain Spülprogrammabschnittes, Spülflüssigkeitsfüllvolumen, pH u. a. is added or intervened in a defined manner and thereby changed. An alternative solution is an additional function, in which switching off a switching means acts according to the invention. In a further embodiment of the invention, a specially designed washing program for special use with a combination preparation among other washing programs as such is self-selectable. In the invention, by switching on the additional function, a regeneration function of a softening device is either switched off or changed in comparison to a normal program designed for combination preparations.

Preferably, the additional function is designed for the use of a "3in1" combination preparation, this combination preparation containing as effective substances for cleaning the ware substantially only cleanser substance, softening substance and rinse aid substance. Regardless of these components, the "3in1" combination preparation may also have other substances whose direct or indirect influence on the cleaning and drying results of individual rinse program sections or the overall cleaning result of the rinse program are of minor importance. If further active substances of the combination preparation are not expressly mentioned, however, these are, if known and influenceable, included in the subject matter of the invention.

It is further comprises a switching means for switching on the additional function, which is preferably located in the screen carrier of the dishwasher next to other selection means and / or display means. Another possibility to arrange the switching means, the metering device of the combination preparation, in which the combination preparation is preferably filled. In the embodiment of the switching means diverse known designs, such as rotary selector switch, button or the like are conceivable. Furthermore, an actuation of a switching means by a user-dependent selection is possible, which can be switched by selecting in a menu-driven selection device, for example in a display display or networked home appliances via a graphical interface or possibly a voice recognition system.

The use of a combination preparation, in particular of a "3in1" combination preparation, can be detected in the dishwasher by at least one sensor provided, so that it is possible to distinguish between the sequence of the program and whether a combination preparation works according to the dilution principle or a combination preparation which first applies the rinse aid in the Rinsing phase pH-dependent and / or temperature-dependent dissolution is used. On the other hand, with repeated sensor measurement during the entire Spülprogrammablaufes z. B. concentration and / or pH change and / or changes in the degree of hardness of the rinsing liquid are determined, the conclusions on the concentration of the individual active substances of the "3in1" combination preparation allow, with the result that the program flow at any appropriate time be modified.

As sensors at least one of the sensors is designed as a chemical and / or acoustic and / or thermal and / or optical and / or pneumatic sensor type. These can be designed differently in number and their specific detection property. Furthermore, an evaluation of the sensor signals both with regard to the adaptation of the rinsing program sequence with respect to the use of the "3in1" combination preparation and for the design of the Other parameters of the entire rinse cycle can be used. Furthermore, alternatively, at least one provided chemical sensor with appropriately selected receptors, the detection of z. B. several simultaneously occurring agents, such as cleaners and softeners and / or rinse aid, recognize the use of a combination preparation and signal without the addition of the additional function to the program flow control, the use of a combination preparation. By repeated control measurements and / or in comparison with other sensor measurements during the program sequence, the use of a combination preparation is concluded and the program sequence is changed accordingly. At present, the use of a sensor which recognizes at least the pH value and / or the temperature and / or the degree of hardness of the rinsing liquid is particularly preferred.

The intended sensors determine continuously or discontinuously during the program sequence or individual wash program sections whose time courses or times can be predetermined by the program control, of individual program parameters, eg. B. based on an actual target value comparison and / or a difference value and / or the change history of a parameter such as pH, temperature, turbidity, foaming, concentration, water hardness, whether a particular active substance of the combination preparation z. B. exceeds a predetermined minimum or maximum value. Further z. B. as a function of a difference value, the z. B. depending on the manufacturer from the "3in1" combination preparation itself, as well as with regard to other typical parameters such as concentration jumps, dissolution temperatures or parameter combinations such as pH and concentration or concentration and temperature of the Spülprogrammablaufes result. For a determinable period of a wash program sequence or over the entire duration of the wash program, the change of at least one parameter of the wash program is also detected and evaluated. So z. B. with regard to the course of the pH of the rinsing liquid conclusions about the concentration of the individual active substances of the "3in1" combination preparation possible. Thus, the evaluation of the pH value is currently feasible in such a way that the program section cleaning represents a maximum basic ph value, either in the program section rinsing by a predetermined value must be fallen below, or its change history, eg. B. in a predetermined characteristic field, predefined within predeterminable tolerances or pH jumps (erratic change in pH) can be determined within predefined periods of time or on the other hand, time constants are determined for their occurrence, e.g. after reaching the dissolution temperature of an encapsulated rinse aid. According to the invention, such sensor measurement with activated additional function for adapting a Spülprogrammablaufes to the use of a combination preparation for the active intervention in the program flow itself used in selecting a special designed Spülprogrammablaufes these have a kind of control function to determine whether during the program actually a combination preparation Use finds or at least one effective substance is present in sufficient concentration at the given time, adjustments of the Spülprogrammablaufes can be optional.

A suitable method of evaluation of the sensor measurement signals is z. B. the value or the change of certain parameters of the wash program such as turbidity, pH, foaming, concentration, water hardness u. a. individually as well as in suitable combinations at characteristic times of Spülprogrammablaufes, to determine their qualitative and quantitative appearance as well as their delay times with each other. For this purpose, at least individual parameter values can be determined within determinable time intervals or time intervals and subjected to an actual nominal value comparison, a difference value formation or a threshold value query or the changes can be made compared to preset values or values determined in the program sequence, all comparison values being shown in tables or as default values in at least one memory unit of the program control are stored. In networked household appliances, this storage unit can also be located outside the dishwasher. Furthermore, certain program states can also be stored in the memory unit, whose combination pairings are e.g. not desired are deposited and these can prompt the user to certain actions. Such undesirable constellations arise e.g. in the program section prewash if increased foaming and / or significant pH fluctuations occur, or a predetermined rinse aid concentration is exceeded during all program sections or rinse aid concentration jumps occur regardless of a specific temperature or temperature profile. The user can, for example, according to the occurred error situation. B. the loading of a combination preparation in the Dosierkombination make or the program flow is aborted until user-dependent re-commissioning of the dishwasher takes place or the detected as erroneous measurement result is at least indicating.

In the program section prewash or cleaning can be provided that the time of actual addition of the "3in1" combination preparation is additionally monitored, z. B. is detected by an acoustic sensor, the case of a tablet from the metering chamber in the washing. Other Detection possibilities offer optical sensors, the z. B. register increased foaming or chemical sensors that evaluate the change in the pH of the rinsing fluid.

With further advantage is in an optionally modified combination preparation in which z. B. an enzymatic cleaner substance having an efficacy temperature limit of about 30 ° C and a rinse aid substance with a dissolution temperature at about 58 ° C is included, with shortened scheduled program sections, and thus shortened solution duration, by short-term, possibly repeated and / or or controlled or regulated power output of the heating means in the pre-washing and / or intermediate rinsing the rinse liquid preferably heated at the end of the respective process section, so that for the following process sections cleaning or rinsing, which are operated with hot rinse liquid, the respective chemical substance their full effectiveness can develop better and longer. By preheating or intensified heating of the rinsing liquid at the end of the preceding rinsing program section, the dissolution and thus the effectiveness of the cleaner or rinse aid for the duration of each program section is improved. The energy supplied is comparable to that of an activation energy. With an intended temperature control or temperature control, the dissolution time, concentration, exposure time, time of release of a chemical substance of the "3in1" combination preparation can be optimized.

It is particularly advantageous if, depending on the user, the actually used "3in1" combination preparation of the program control is specified as a parameter, eg. B. by input via an image capture, the z. B. recognizes the barcode of a "3in1" combination preparation or stored in the program store commercially available "3in1" combination preparations can be selected or the use of a specific combination preparation can be entered by the user in any other way, the user-dependent predetermined information on the use of a certain "3in1" combination preparations are either stored up to a changing input information or retrieved at the beginning of each or a defined predetermined time.

With further advantage, in the case of interrogation or evaluation of information about the type and dosage form of the supplied cleaning, rinsing and possibly softening substances, a product unequivocally not identified as a "3in1" combination preparation can deactivate a "3in1" function erroneously selected by the user or when selecting a "3in1" program, an error message is output.

It is also advantageous that when the "3in1" function is switched on or when a "3in1" rinsing program is selected, the display for states of the rinsing program which are switched on in conventional rinsing programs with single dosing of the substances are switched off or faded out, for example. As the shutdown of a display LED at the time of recovery or a display LED, which asks for replenishment of rinse aid.

If a washing program is selected by the user of the dishwasher after setting soiled items in the dishwasher, adding a combination preparation to the dishwasher and the use of a combination preparation indicated by an optionally switched selection means, the program sequence control, taking into account the additional function, provides that the program sequence of selected rinse program changes and is adapted in its entire design to the use of a combination preparation. Depending on the selected wash program, individual or several parameters of the various wash program sections pre-wash, clean, intermediate wash, rinse, are automatically adjusted in the manner described below, depending on the evaluation of predetermined sensor measurements, or changed in a predefined manner. The steps indicated in the method claims in this case do not necessarily represent a requirement for the washing program sequence with regard to their sequence, but can specifically be determined, e.g. be selected depending on the use of a particular combination preparation or type of combination preparation, repeated and / or sequentially switched or followed by other program steps known per se.

When using a dosing combination with usually separate storage chambers for the detergent and rinse aid substance, the function of the rinse aid and possibly the detergent dosing in the selected rinse program is hidden when using a "3in1" combination preparation. In an alternative embodiment, it is possible for the z. B. sensor-dependent determination of the concentration of the rinse aid to meter these in required amounts, this compensates if necessary, dilution losses of the previous rinse program sections. If, during the selected wash program, further opening times for the metering device are provided for releasing a wide variety of substances, these too are blocked or the time of metering in a particular substance is shifted and / or changed in the metering dosage.

If, in addition to the cleaning substance and the rinse aid substance, a softening substance is added to the combination preparation which is to make it unnecessary to soften in a known manner in the dishwasher by means of an intended softening device, then this is also known to be one Dishwasher to be performed regenerating the softener with saturated salt solutions (brine) is not necessary, therefore, in the program flow the Regenerierfunktion, ie the addition of a defined brine volume to the softening device, which is otherwise provided at a defined time of the program sequence hidden. According to the invention, the water hardness actually present in the dishwasher, if necessary, monitored due to softening with the softening substance of the combination preparation and possibly the Regenerierfunktion the softener switched so that a partial softening of the water through the softening device at a designated hardness sensor that can determine the water hardness of the rinse is made. Experience has shown that in hard water areas the softening capacity of the softening substances of a "3in1" combination preparation is insufficient. Therefore, it is particularly advantageous if the information about the degree of hardness of the actually used water of the supply line flows into the design of the program sequence. The degree of hardness of the water, for example, by the user via a specially provided input function, eg. B. in the control panel, entered and stored or be set to a blending, with appropriate means forward the value of the water hardness setting to the program flow control and switched on "3in1" function or selection of a "3in1" purging the connection of Regenerierfunktion and / or at least allow the blending of hard and soft water at least at a given time.

It is envisaged to continue the previous water supply through the softening device regardless of their softening capacity, which is depleted with increasing number of rinsing fluid change depending on the degree of hardness of the water supplied. All other alternatives of the water supply are theoretically possible, but only useful if, by default, only combination preparations with a softening agent are available. The water volume for the regeneration function, optionally defined in the storage container of the dishwasher, can be used, in particular in soft water areas, alternatively as a defined volume wholly or partly in the liquid-carrying program sections for dimensioning a predetermined liquid volume.

If the use of a combination preparation is detected by a sensor during an initial pre-rinsing or the use thereof is indicated by the auxiliary function switched on, the duration of the initially provided program section pre-rinsing can be shortened in order to prevent the encompassed rinse aid and rinse aid active substances from dissolving too early and in the cleaning or rinsing sections are in too low a concentration. If, on the other hand, a rinsing program is selected which provides for two or more pre-rinsing sections, each with complete water change, then by omitting at least one pre-rinsing or reducing to a pre-rinsing section of the program, this already prevents prophylaxis, even without the detection of a combination preparation, from being incorrectly introduced into the dishwasher instead of dissolved in the dosing combination combined preparations dissolves too early.

If, as described above, the pre-rinsing process section is shortened or completely omitted, this reduces the time of loading the ware with water, the process of dissolving heavy soiling, which may have long adhered to the ware, is thereby shortened or completely eliminated. This is not conducive to good cleaning results in some cases of contamination. Therefore, in such cases, the process section cleaning is preferably extended by the duration of the process section by which the pre-rinse process section has been shortened. Thus, the dissolution of the dirt particles is at least partially moved into the cleaning procedure.

Particularly preferably, the number of intermediate rinsing sections between the cleaning and rinsing program sections is reduced to an intermediate rinsing section, which essentially has the task of eliminating occasionally trapped dirt particles and chemical residues of the cleaning. With further advantage, the intermediate rinsing can be operated with a reduced maximum rinsing liquid volume compared to the maximum intended rinsing liquid volume of the program section cleaning, so that the concentration of the dissolved rinse aid is higher than with the same size rinsing liquid volume as in cleaning. If during the program section cleaning the rinsing liquid is diluted several times and / or a low degree of contamination of the rinsing liquid has been detected by a corresponding turbidity measurement, the intermediate rinsing section may possibly be completely dispensed with.

In the intermediate flushing process section, which is operated with lukewarm rinsing liquid and therefore does not provide active heating by switching on provided heating elements, the energy fed in during the process sections which are operated with hot rinsing liquid is removed. In order to make the procedure energetically favorable and as described above also water-saving and thus increasing the concentration of the rinse aid in the process section intermediate rinsing, can be provided by repeated switching on and off the circulation pump with different determinable and / or predefinable duration of the on and off state the circulation pump to bring the rinsing liquid in the manner of a pulse rinse on the dishes. At the Turning off the circulation pump, the circulation of the rinsing liquid and thus the application of the ware is interrupted with rinsing liquid. This type of pulse purging is briefly described with a sequence of spraying, pausing, splattering, pausing, splashing, pausing, etc.

At the end of at least one procedure section such. B. the intermediate rinse may be provided in dependence of the measurement of turbidity and / or the content of rinse aid in the rinsing liquid, a dilution step. The dilution step causes a partial volume of the rinsing liquid, which was used during the intermediate rinsing, to continue to be used in the subsequent rinsing process section and to be mixed with fresh rinsing liquid to be supplied. As a result of the dilution step, the loss in particular of rinse aid against a complete pumping and filling of rinsing liquid is reduced. Precisely for this reason, irrespective of the measurement of the turbidity of the rinsing liquid inevitably a dilution step instead of a complete pumping out of the rinsing liquid z. B. be provided at the end of a rinse program section.

As a further or alternative step, the temperature in the process sections preceding the program section rinsing, preferably in the process section cleaning, is preferably reduced to a temperature below the dissolution temperature of the rinse aid, preferably below 58 ° C. This is at z. B. a selected intensive program, which usually operates the cleaning section with temperatures between 58 and 70 ° C, prevents that when using a combination preparation with temperature-dependent release of the rinse aid substance this possibly already dissolves here and therefore present in the program section rinse in too low a concentration.

In the program section rinsing the items to be washed is heated to a temperature of at least 58 ° C for the subsequent program section drying, thereby also the temperature-dependent and possibly pH-dependent dissolution of the rinse aid is possible.

Advantageously, the temperature control of the rinsing liquid during a selected rinsing process, which has been adapted to the use of combination preparations automatically, as mentioned above, determined on the one hand by the dissolution temperatures of the individual chemical substances. On the other hand, from an energetic point of view, during the pre-rinsing, if it is carried out, the rinsing liquid is not heated by switching on intended heating means, so that the rinsing liquid essentially depends on the water inlet temperature. During rinsing and rinsing, the rinsing liquid is actively heated as a result of switching on the heating means provided and passive in the intermediate rinsing program section without connecting these heating means, ie. H. by removing energy from the heat capacity of the dishwasher, heated significantly to a temperature below the dissolution temperature of a temperature-dependent rinse aid.

Without restricting the invention, it is possible, parts of the wash program with selected "3in1" function run completely or partially according to a defined predetermined program or detection and evaluation of certain parameters, eg. B. by sensors, in a suitable manner to the actual situation with respect to a predetermined desired situation completely or partially adapt.

The connection of the "3in1" function or the selection of a "3in1" purging program can also be switched on, if necessary, in the case of networked household appliances which are operated independently of location by a central computer not located in the dishwasher.

In addition to the well-known selectable programs normal program, intensive program, eco program, short program, a special "3in1" flushing program can be provided, which is adapted from the outset to the use of combination preparations, especially those containing cleaners, softeners and rinse aid at the same time. This "3in1" purging program is selected directly by the user of the dishwasher and is characterized by the following essential process steps, the case mentioned but not necessarily sequence of process steps represents a possible Spülprogrammablauf without the final program section drying:

Changing or switching off the softening function of the regenerating device and / or changing or switching off the opening of special storage chambers of the metering device for in addition to the combined preparation still individually stored chemical substances (detergent, rinse aid) and / or changing the Zudosierungsmenge the stored chemical substances.

Turn off corresponding display elements to functions that are switched off during the program, at least by the program control from the outset, that is preset, preferably switching off the display regeneration with switched off regeneration by the regenerator and / or turning off the display refill rinse at least disabled automatic dosing of the rinse aid.

The pre-rinse is done with cold water, which is thus essentially dependent on the water supply temperature, for an extremely short period of 2 to 5 min., Preferably 2 to 3 min. During this time, mainly fresh soiling can be detached and softened dirt can be softened. Depending on an optional turbidity measurement the liquid can be provided with heavy contamination one or more dilution steps of the rinsing liquid, wherein a dilution step due to the brevity of the pre-rinsing, preferably at the end of the pre-rinsing is provided. If no dilution step takes place at the end of the pre-rinse, the rinse liquid is completely changed before the next program section.

The freshly supplied rinsing liquid, which may also be diluted and thus contaminated to a certain extent, is now heated in the cleaning process section to a temperature which is below the dissolution temperature of the rinse aid, preferably between 40 and 57 ° C.

The combination preparation is preferably supplied to the rinsing container by the dosing device within the first third of the program section cleaning, provided that the combination preparation is not by the user before starting the rinsing-rinsing program in the washing, z. B. in the cutlery basket was inserted.

In the o. G. Temperature, the rinsing liquid is circulated in the washing during cleaning about 10 to 30 minutes and completely pumped or diluted at the end of the cleaning process section. This decision can be made dependent on an optional turbidity measurement of the rinsing liquid.

If at least one turbidity measurement of the rinsing liquid is carried out, it is optionally possible to carry out a plurality of dilution steps as a function of the degree of soiling and / or the concentration of individual constituents of the combined preparation. The process section cleaning is followed by a process section intermediate rinsing in which the fresh or diluted rinsing liquid now present is passively, i. H. is heated exclusively by energy removal of the heat capacity of the dishwasher, so that it removes during their circulation still existing residual debris and chemical residues of the process section cleaning. The circulation of the rinsing liquid takes place in the intermediate rinsing section for a period of about 2 to 10 minutes. Alternatively, the intermediate rinsing can also be operated as pulse rinsing with a reduced maximum rinsing liquid volume with respect to the maximum rinsing liquid volume of the cleaning.

The intermediate flushing stage ends with a complete or partial drainage.

In the rinsing process section, a defined rinsing liquid volume is supplied to the rinsing container. This can be fixed from the outset and / or set variably in dependence of various parameters. A dependent variable is the concentration of the rinse aid actually present in the rinse liquid, since this has an immediate effect on the rinse aid result and thus on the subsequently achievable drying result of the ware. Thus, in the case of a low concentration of the rinse aid at the beginning of the program section rinsing the rinsing liquid as low as possible, but possibly depending on the degree of turbidity of the rinsing liquid, are supplied. If, otherwise, the concentration of the rinse aid at the beginning of the program section rinsing is above average or sufficiently high, the concentration of the rinse aid can be adjusted to a predetermined concentration by supplying a defined rinse liquid volume. The rinsing liquid with rinse aid already dissolved, as well as the rinse aid still to be dissolved, is now preferably heated to a dissolution temperature above the dissolution temperature of a rinse aid dissolving in pH and / or temperature. This dissolution temperature is currently above 58 ° C (for the "3in1" combination preparation Calgonit Powerballs®). For a period of 2 to 15 minutes, but also at least until reaching a predetermined temperature of currently preferably 65 to 70 ° C, the rinsing liquid is heated and circulated. At the end of the rinsing program section, the rinsing liquid is removed as far as possible by pumping out of the rinsing container.

On the items to be washed, the Spülbehälterdecke, the Spülbehälterwänden remaining residual liquid and water vapor is removed in, following the program section rinse, program section drying. The drying is preferably carried out as condensation drying. During the condensation drying, if present, preferably at least one circulating air blower is switched on in the first third of this program section.

The intermediate rinsing during the liquid-carrying process sections can preferably be designed as pulse rinses, ie, during the process section intermediate rinsing, the circulation pump is repeatedly switched on and off for a predefinable or determinable duration. The duration of switching on the circulation pump and the switching off of the circulation pump is dependent on a level of Spülflüssigkeitsniveau in the washing, which corresponds to a lower level, at which the circulating pump sucks no air. Due to the above-mentioned limited factor, there are further dependencies on the rotational speed of the circulation pump, which withdraws more rinsing liquid from the sump as the rotational speed increases. The design of the pulses of switching on and off of the circulation pump is adjustable depending on a turbidity measurement of the rinsing liquid, so the duration of switching on the circulation pump can be shortened compared to the duration of turning off the circulation pump at low degree of contamination and extended accordingly with increased degree of contamination. In dependence of one pH measurement and / or the temperature of the liquid and / or a determined rinse aid concentration, the maximum existing rinsing liquid volume during a liquid-carrying process section, preferably set in the process section intermediate rinsing defined. Thus, the dissolution behavior and / or the concentration of the rinse aid and / or one of the other substances of the combination preparation can be influenced. If a combination preparation is used which contains a rinse aid which has a temperature and / or pH-dependent dissolution behavior, a certain pH, preferably in the neutral pH range, is to be achieved during the intermediate rinsing. This presupposes, if necessary, both an increased volume of rinsing liquid during the intermediate rinsing, as well as that this pH value can be achieved by one or more intended dilution steps during the intermediate rinsing.

In one embodiment, the invention with reference to a method for operating a domestic dishwasher, which is suitable for the use of 3in1 combination preparations, ie of those with the active ingredients cleaner, rinse aid and softener, explained in more detail.

The single figure shows a schematic of the individual process sections of a washing program sequence. It is assumed that the water of the supply line is substantially soft and thus has a low degree of hardness.

On the ordinate of the curve A is not the scale to the time and on the abscissa is not to scale the Spülflüssigkeitsvolumen present in the washing container applied. Individual important parameters for the procedure, which are indispensable for a particularly good cleaning result of the items to be washed, are indicated by corresponding arrows. Preferably, at the beginning of the rinse program, automatic dosing functions that do not involve a "3in1" combination preparation addition are hidden, in each case involving the automatic dosing of the rinse aid, and the automatic regeneration function is also hidden. From the figure it can be seen that the wash program is performed with a pre-wash of very short duration of 2 to 5 minutes at supply temperature of the water.

In this section of the program, preferably no chemical substances are added to the dishwasher to improve the prewetting result. However, it can not be prevented that the user mistakenly supplied the 3-in-one combination preparation even before the start of the dishwasher. After complete pumping out of the rinsing liquid at the end of the program section pre-rinsing, characterized by arrow VV, fresh rinsing liquid is supplied to the rinsing container. This is limited to a maximum volume of rinsing liquid of about 4 liters, measured on a dishwashing machine intended to hold 12 standard dishes. At the beginning of the program section cleaning, the rinsing liquid is heated by connecting provided heating means. In this case, the rinsing liquid should reach a temperature of about 55 ° C, which at the time of the invention, a temperature below the dissolution temperature of the rinse aid of pHund temperature-dependent dissolvable 3inl combination preparation, such as Calgonit Powerballs® corresponds. In the first third of the program section cleaning, the "3in1" combination preparation is added, preferably during the supply of rinsing liquid (indicated by arrow 3 in1).

The rinsing liquid is circulated at the maximum predetermined temperature for about 10 to 30 minutes in the washing and thereby applied to the dishes to be cleaned. At the end of the program section cleaning, the rinsing liquid is almost completely removed from the rinsing container (indicated by arrow VR). The rinsing liquid volume is refilled for a subsequent program section intermediate rinsing and heated and circulated exclusively by removing energy stored in the heat capacity of the dishwasher. The maximum volume of rinsing liquid supplied can be varied as a function of a turbidity measurement and / or a concentration measurement of existing rinse aid which operates on the dilution principle. Thus, as shown in dotted lines, the rinsing liquid volume is preferably increased in the case of a high degree of contamination and / or a high degree of concentration of the rinse aid and / or strongly basic medium of the rinsing liquid. At a low degree of contamination, already quite low concentration of the rinse aid with respect to the concentration, which is necessary in the rinse, and / or already neutral rinsing liquid, the rinsing liquid volume, as shown in phantom, lowered.

The process section intermediate rinsing passes into the program section rinsing after a dilution step or after a complete pumping, not shown, for example depending on the degree of turbidity. For this purpose, the rinsing liquid volume is at least partially increased and preferably reaches the maximum rinsing liquid volume of the program section cleaning. On the other hand, alternatively, the rinsing liquid volume can also be adjusted precisely to a predeterminable concentration range of the rinse aid by appropriately evaluated measurement results of provided sensors. The value of the rinsing fluid volume to be supplied then has to be calculated by the arithmetic unit of the program sequence control. Thus, the duration of the intermediate rinsing varies between 2 to 10 minutes and the duration of rinsing approximately between 2 to 15 minutes. The rinsing liquid volume is now in the further program flow to a temperature above one The dissolution temperature of the rinse aid is currently approx. 58 ° C, so that it is heated to a minimum rinse temperature of 60 to 70 ° C. At the end of the rinse program section, the rinse liquid is almost completely removed from the rinse tank (indicated by arrow VK). The program section rinsing is followed by a program section drying, which, however, is not shown here.

Without limiting the invention, all figures that include numerical values are adapted to the 3inl combination preparations currently available on the market (Calgonit Powerball®, Somat 3in1®, Sun 3in1 Optimal®). If there are changes in the composition of these 3-in-1 combination preparations, the parameters mentioned must be adjusted accordingly with numerical values.

Without limiting the invention, a program sequence design or a method is conceivable in which the invention described above is reversed, d. H. all preset programs are designed for the use of ("3in1") combination preparations and an operable switching means allows adaptation to the use of individually stored or dispensable cleaning, rinsing and softening agents of the selected rinse program.

Claims (6)

1. Method of operating a dishwasher with a wash programme, in particular which can be selected,

   a) wherein this wash programme itself is specified for the use of a combination preparation comprising a cleaning substance, a softening substance, and a clear-rinse substance, in particular a "3in1" combination preparation, or at least one means is provided for switching on an additional function whereby, when this function is switched on, at least one parameter of the selected wash programme may be changed in terms of the use of a combination preparation comprising a cleaning substance, a softening substance and a clear-rinse substance, in particular a "3in1" combination preparation and

   b) wherein in this wash programme which is specified or is changed by switching on the additional function a regeneration function of a softening device of the dishwasher is switched off or is changed in comparison to a normal programme not intended for combination preparations,

   c) wherein the regeneration function is switched off unless a hardness sensor detects that a specific level of hardness of the washing liquid has been exceeded, and wherein if the specific level of hardness of the washing liquid is exceeded, the level of hardness of the washing liquid as a whole is reduced by regeneration function being switched on again.
2. Method according to Claim 1, wherein the adaptation of the wash programme to the use of a comination preparation is effected by optionally switching on or off of an additional function for the use of a combination preparation and/or is effected by automatical, substantially sensorical recognition of the use of a combination preparation.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the wash programme specified or changed by switching on the additional function has at least one of the following features:

   a) The metering out of specified substances stored in the metering device is postponed in time and/or is varied in the quantity metered out as compared to a normal programme not intended for combined preparations or is phased out completely.

   b) At the start of the wash programme, the metering out of the clear-rinse substance from the metering combination is blocked; to this end, a corresponding default value is set and stored in a memory unit of the programme control, wherein, if it is detected that the rinse aid concentration falls short of a specifiable concentration value, this default value can be reset and/or at a specifiable moment in the course of the programme the clear-rinse substance is added in a specifiable volume to the washing liquid and/or until a specifiable minimum concentration value is reached, wherein such addition does not take place until preferably the clear-rinsing cycle of the programme.

   c) During the course of the programme, according to the process of the programme cycle b) actually carried out in terms of the regeneration function, the addition of a specified volume of brine into a softening device is phased out or in.

   d) Information concerning the actual and/or setpoint state of at least one parameter of the washing programme or a hint and/or request derived therefrom are indicated to the user by corresponding display elements.

   e) The duration of at least one step of a programme, preferably of a pre-rinse, is shortened or reduced to zero compared to a normal programme not intended for combination preparations.

   f) The duration of two stages of the process, preferably the programme cycles pre-rinse and cleaning and/or cleaning and intermediate rinse, is lengthened and/or shortened compared to a normal programme not intended for combination preparations, wherein the time durations of the lengthening and shortening are within a specifiable ratio.

   g) One or more intermediate rinse steps provided in a normal programme not intended for combination preparations are reduced to one or no intermediate rinse steps.

   h) At least in one programme step, the washing liquid is applied in the manner of a pulsed rinse onto the product to be cleaned by a single or repeated switching on and off of the circulation pump, the duration of the on and off state of the circulation pump being differently specifiable or predeterminable, or by an automatically controlled or controlled change of the circulation speed of the circulation pump.

   i) During at least one programme step, preferably at the end of the programme steps pre-rinse, cleaning and/or intermediate rinse, at last one dilution step is carried out with reduction of the dirt concentration of the washing liquid depending on at least one measurement of the turbidity and/or the concentration of at least one active substance in the washing liquid, or independently thereof.

   j) The maximum temperature is reduced in the programme steps preceding the clear-rinse, in particular during the programme step cleaning, to a temperature below the solubility temperature of the clear-rinse substance.

   k) In the programme step clear-rinse, it is heated to a temperature above the temperature for dissolving the clear-rinse substance.
4. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein at least in the programme steps cleaning and clear-rinse the washing liquid is actively heated due to the switching on of heating means provided, and optionally in the programm step intermediate rinse the washing liquid is heated preferably passively without switching on of these heating means and/or the washing liquid is substantially not actively heated during the pre-rinse.
5. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein during the intermediate rinsing and/or pre-rinsing, the heating means provided are briefly switched on and off, this being carried out repeatedly at different or equal intervals below or close to the solubility temperature of the cleaning substance and/or of the softening substance, and/or of the clear-rinse substance.
6. Method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one of the following process steps is provided in the course of the washing programme specified or changed by switching on the additional function:

   a) Changing or switching off the softening function of the regeneration device by changing or switching off the aperture of special supply chambers of the metering device.

   b) Switching off of corresponding display elements for functions which are switched off in advance, i.e. in a pre-set manner, during the course of the programme at least by the programme control.

   c) Pre-rinsing with cold washing liquid which is temperature-dependent on the mains water supply with a pre-rinse duration of preferably 2 to 5 minutes; complete change of washing liquid at the end of the pre-rinse step, wherein one or more dilution steps can be carried out with a change of liquid during the pre-rinse.

   d) Heating the washing liquid in the programme step cleaning to a temperature which lies below the dissolving temperature of the clear-rinse substance, preferably between 45 and 57°C.

   e) Metering out of the combination preparation during the heating phase of the washing liquid in the programme step cleaning, preferably at the start or in the first third of the program step cleaning.

   f) Circulation of the washing liquid in the washing container in the program step cleaning at a cleaning temperature (40 to 57°C) for the duration of 10 to 30 minutes, wherein at the end of the programme step cleaning, the washing liquid is pumped out completely, optionally depending on the result of a turbidity measurement of the washing liquid, or the program step cleaning is concluded by a dilution step, wherein plural dilution steps can optionally be carried out during cleaning.

   g) Passive heating up of the washing liquid in a programme step intermediate rinse being freshly supplied or diluted with washing liquid from the programme step cleaning, and circulation of the washing liquid in the wash container for a duration of 2 to 10 minutes.

   h) Ending of the programme step intermediate rinse with complete or partial draining, wherein the latter introduces a dilution step to the next programme step.

   i) Filling the washing liquid to a fill level of the washing liquid which may be specified and/or set in a variable manner in the programme step clear-rinse, heating of the washing liquid by switching on heating means provided to above the solubility temperature of the clear-rinse substance of the combination preparation, preferably to 58 to 70°C, and circulation of the washing liquid with the clear-rinse substance dissolved therein or diluted and carried over therein.

   j) Complete draining of the washing liquid from the washing container at the end of the programme step clear rinse, but only when a set concentration of the clear-rinse substance has not fallen short for a set time span at least in the programme step clear-rinse.

   k) Switching on and off of the circulation pump preferably in the programme step intermediate rinse repeatedly for a specifiable duration, the duration of switching on of the circulation pump and of switching off of the circulation pump being dependent on a level of washing liquid in the washing container and/or on the rotation speed of the circulation pump and/or a turbidity measurement of the washing liquid, the maximum available washing liquid volume being set depending on the temperature of the washing liquid and/or on the clear-rinse substance concentration detected and/or on the pH-value and/or on the dirtiness of the filter.

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