EP1723889A1 - Méthode et dispositif pour indiquer le besoin de remplissage de substance de régénération pour l'adoucisseur dans une machine à laver des ustensiles tel que lave-vaisselle - Google Patents

Méthode et dispositif pour indiquer le besoin de remplissage de substance de régénération pour l'adoucisseur dans une machine à laver des ustensiles tel que lave-vaisselle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1723889A1
EP1723889A1 EP06113798A EP06113798A EP1723889A1 EP 1723889 A1 EP1723889 A1 EP 1723889A1 EP 06113798 A EP06113798 A EP 06113798A EP 06113798 A EP06113798 A EP 06113798A EP 1723889 A1 EP1723889 A1 EP 1723889A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
reintegration
tank
regenerating substance
pan
regenerating
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP06113798A
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German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1723889B1 (fr
Inventor
Carlo Carli
Stefano Foladore
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Invensys Controls Italy SRL
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Invensys Controls Italy SRL
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1723889A1 publication Critical patent/EP1723889A1/fr
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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/42—Details
    • A47L15/4229—Water softening arrangements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
    • A47L2401/02—Consumable products information, e.g. information on detergent, rinsing aid or salt; Dispensing device information, e.g. information on the type, e.g. detachable, or status of the device
    • A47L2401/023—Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
    • A47L2401/22—Number of operational cycles
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
    • A47L2501/26—Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a method and the relative device to indicate the need for reintegration, or topping up, of a regenerating substance of the anti-calcium function, such as for example sodium chloride, or more simply salt, in a washer machine such as a dishwasher, glass-washer or suchlike.
  • a regenerating substance of the anti-calcium function such as for example sodium chloride, or more simply salt
  • the invention allows to obtain this function in a simple, reliable, economical and efficient manner.
  • an anti-calcium unit is provided, the function of which is to decalcify the running water, fed from the mains water supply and used in the washing cycles, reducing the deposit of calcium on the various components of the dishwashers, improving the washing functionality, limiting malfunctions and increasing duration thereof.
  • Such anti-calcium units normally comprise a tank filled with water, into which a determinate quantity of salt is poured in order to create a saline solution with a desired level of saturation.
  • a tank In a position adjacent to the salt tank, a tank is provided containing ion exchange resins which, as the washing water to be decalcified passes, exchange ions, typically sodium, with the ions of calcium and magnesium present in the water, substantially eliminating the calcium therefrom.
  • exchange ions typically sodium
  • One of the most widespread solutions provides to use a float, associated with a magnet, disposed inside the salt tank, which, according to the progressively decreasing level of saturation of the saline solution, is gradually displaced downwards, until it reaches a position wherein it indicates a lack of salt.
  • sensors for example, reed switches
  • reed switches associated with the float, in order to detect that the position corresponding to a lack of salt has been reached, and to send a signal to the command unit of the machine in order to signal to the user that reintegration is necessary.
  • This known solution has very high cost, which can reach up to 20-25% of the total cost of the anti-calcium unit, and is easily subject to malfunctions due to the possible defectiveness both of the float system and also of the sensor.
  • the float for example, can be subject to blockages inside the tank, either in a position where it erroneously signals the absence of salt, or in a position where it erroneously signals the presence of salt, in both case creating anomalies and malfunctions.
  • the sensor too can be subject to defects which, in not detected in time, can entail a prolonged use of the dishwasher under incorrect conditions.
  • One purpose of the present invention is therefore to perfect a method, and achieve the relative device, to quickly indicate the need for reintegration of the regenerating substance of the anti-calcium function in a washer machine , which is efficient, reliable and that does not entail high costs of production and functioning due to the fact that it does not require either floats or sensors or systems of any other type, associated with the tank that contains the regenerating substance.
  • the Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
  • the invention is applied in a washer machine comprising, in conventional manner, a tank containing the regenerating substance, hereafter called simply salt, associated with a tank for the ion exchange resins, a tank for the regeneration water and a command unit suitable to activate, after a defined number of washing cycles, a cycle to regenerate the resins.
  • the regeneration cycle provides to make clean water flow through the salt tank and the resin tank, and to discharge the water loaded with the calcium and magnesium salts.
  • the method according to the invention is based on the premise that the quantity of salt removed from the tank (that is, the dilution of the saline solution) in every regeneration cycle is substantially constant.
  • the method provides a first step in which, at the moment of a reintegration operation, the quantity of salt poured by the user into the appropriate tank is measured, as will be explained hereafter.
  • the method then provides a second step in which, for every regeneration cycle, from the quantity of salt measured at the beginning, a quantity is deducted corresponding to the quantity presumed to have been removed with the regeneration.
  • the command unit is able to establish after how many regeneration cycles the quantity of salt initially introduced has been reduced to a pre-established residual value in which the need for reintegration is indicated.
  • the method according to the invention provides to use a pressure sensor associated with the discharge pan.
  • the pressure sensor effects the measurement by detecting the quantity of water that flows into the discharge pan following the unloading of salt into the appropriate tank.
  • the pressure sensor is a normal pressure switch.
  • the pressure sensor is of the linear type.
  • linear pressure sensor allows to discriminate when the flow of water into the discharge pan is caused by the pouring of a corresponding quantity of salt into the relative tank, and not by other causes, for example the emptying of a saucepan or a glass.
  • the pressure sensor which can already be advantageously present in the discharge pan in order to carry out other functions connected to the functioning of the washer machine, is in fact able to discriminate the discharge dynamics of the water, thus detecting the moment when the salt is reintegrated.
  • This detection is interpreted by the command unit as a so-called zero time, from which the counting is started of the regeneration cycles, which determine, according to the initial quantity measured by the same pressure sensor, and according to the presumed quantity removed with every regeneration cycle, the progressive reduction in the quantity of salt until the pre-established condition is reached, wherein the need for reintegration is indicated.
  • the reference number 10 denotes in its entirety a device to indicate the need for reintegration of an anti-calcium substance, in this case salt, in a washer machine, in this case a domestic dishwasher 16.
  • the device 10 comprises a tank for the salt 17, a tank 19 containing ion exchange resins, disposed downstream of the salt tank 17, a discharge pan 20 for the water and a tank for the regeneration water 21, disposed upstream of the salt tank 17.
  • a linear pressure detection device is associated with the pan 20, and comprises in this case an air trap 28 with which a pressure sensor 25 is connected, advantageously but not only of the linear type.
  • the pressure detection device can normally be present in cooperation with the discharge pan 20 so as to perform other functions connected with the functioning of the washer machine 16.
  • the device 10 also comprises a command unit 26, of the programmable type, which activates the regeneration cycles, counts the number and determines the need for reintegration.
  • the command unit 26 is connected at least to the linear pressure sensor 25, in order to receive therefrom the information relating to the discharge of water into the pan 20, and to a luminous indicator 27 to warn the user of the need for reintegration.
  • the salt tank 17 is normally filled with water and can be selectively opened from the outside by means of a stopper 22, so as to allow the user to introduce inside it a desired quantity of salt so as to form a saline solution with a determinate level of saturation.
  • the ion exchange resin tank 19 determines the decalcification of the running water used for washing, while the saline solution allows the regeneration thereof during said programmed cycles.
  • the tank for the regeneration water 21 allows to create cyclically a flow of clean water used to regenerate the resins, that is, to remove from them, after passing through the saline solution, the calcium and magnesium ions with which they became enriched due to the passage of the running water.
  • the resins re-acquire their functionality, giving up the calcium to the quantity of saline solution used, which is then discharged through the pan 20, while the saline solution is progressively diluted.
  • the pan 20 is connected to the discharge network and said linear pressure sensor 25 cooperates with it.
  • the linear sensor 25 is able to measure the quantity of salt reintegrated into the tank 17, measuring the quantity of water that pours into the pan 20, overflowing from the tank 17 following the unloading of the salt. Moreover, the linear sensor 25 performs the dynamic measurement of the increase in the level of water inside the pan 20, and thus also detects the speed of unloading.
  • the linear sensor 25 is therefore able to discriminate whether the flow of water into the pan 20 derives from the unloading of salt into the tank 17, rather than a flow caused for example by the emptying of a saucepan or a glass.
  • the method according to the invention takes into account the number of regeneration cycles counted after each reintegration has occurred.
  • the regeneration cycle can occur in two different ways, according to the structural configuration of the components. Two different configurations are shown in figs. 2 and 3.
  • the device 10 comprises a valve 23 disposed between the regeneration water tank 21 and the salt tank 17 which, when closed, prevents the passage of the regeneration water.
  • a non-return valve 29 is also present between the salt tank 17 and the resin tank 19.
  • the valve 23 is opened by the command unit 26 in order to allow the clean water present in the regeneration tank 21 to enter the salt tank 17 and partly replace the saline solution which goes to regenerate the resin tank 19.
  • This configuration allows to open the salt tank 17 by removing the stopper 22 without the saline solution leaking from the tank 17.
  • the closing valve 123 is positioned between the salt tank 17 and the resin tank 19.
  • valve 123 is opened so as to determine the flow of a determinate quantity of saline solution into the resin tank 19, while a corresponding quantity of clean water from the regeneration tank 21 takes its place.
  • the invention provides the following steps.
  • a determinate quantity of salt is added, so as to create the saline solution inside the tank 17.
  • the addition of salt to the tank 17 determines the overflow from the tank 17 of a quantity of water corresponding to the quantity of salt introduced, and this water pours into the discharge pan 20.
  • the linear pressure sensor 25 detects the dynamic increase in the level and measures the quantity of water overflowing, so that the command unit 26 is able to deduce the measurement of the quantity of salt introduced.
  • the command unit 26 fixes a zero time to start the backward count-down of the quantity of salt, starting from the value measured by means of the linear sensor 25.
  • the command unit 26 is able to count how many regeneration cycles are necessary to reduce the quantity of salt in the tank 17 to a pre-established minimum value in order to indicate the need for reintegration.
  • This count is effected by subtracting on each occasion, from the quantity of salt introduced initially into the tank 17, the quantity of salt removed with every regeneration cycle.
  • the calculation of the number of regeneration cycles also takes into account the progressive reduction in the level of saturation of the saline solution.
  • the command unit 26 warns the user, for example by means of the visual indicator 27 and/or by means of an acoustic indicator, that he must reintegrate the salt in the tank 17.
  • the linear pressure sensor 25 dynamically detects that a certain quantity of water, corresponding to the salt introduced, has flowed into the pan 20, and again zeroes the counting of the command unit 26.

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  • Treatment Of Water By Ion Exchange (AREA)
EP20060113798 2005-05-13 2006-05-11 Méthode et dispositif pour indiquer le besoin de remplissage de substance de régénération pour l'adoucisseur dans une machine à laver des ustensiles tel que lave-vaisselle Ceased EP1723889B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITUD20050076 ITUD20050076A1 (it) 2005-05-13 2005-05-13 Metodo e dispositivo per segnalare la necessita' di reintegro di una sostanza rigenerante della funzione anticalcare in una macchina di lavaggio

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1723889A1 true EP1723889A1 (fr) 2006-11-22
EP1723889B1 EP1723889B1 (fr) 2008-07-23

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EP20060113798 Ceased EP1723889B1 (fr) 2005-05-13 2006-05-11 Méthode et dispositif pour indiquer le besoin de remplissage de substance de régénération pour l'adoucisseur dans une machine à laver des ustensiles tel que lave-vaisselle

Country Status (3)

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EP (1) EP1723889B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE602006001893D1 (fr)
IT (1) ITUD20050076A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2044876A3 (fr) * 2007-10-02 2011-03-23 BITRON S.p.A. Lave-vaisselle doté d'un système intégré pour contrôler des quantités d'eau

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3527047A1 (de) * 1985-07-27 1987-02-05 Licentia Gmbh Programmgesteuerte wasch- oder geschirrspuelmaschine
DE4423866A1 (de) * 1994-07-07 1996-01-18 Licentia Gmbh Geschirrspülmaschine mit einem Salzbehälter
EP0741990A2 (fr) * 1995-05-09 1996-11-13 Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A. Dispositif pour signaler la concentration en sel utilisé pour la régénération des résines dans une machine à laver
EP1228735A2 (fr) * 2001-02-05 2002-08-07 T & P S.p.A. Procédé et dispositif pour détecter le manque d'agent régénérateur dans une machine à laver, en particulier dans une machine à laver la vaisselle

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE3527047A1 (de) * 1985-07-27 1987-02-05 Licentia Gmbh Programmgesteuerte wasch- oder geschirrspuelmaschine
DE4423866A1 (de) * 1994-07-07 1996-01-18 Licentia Gmbh Geschirrspülmaschine mit einem Salzbehälter
EP0741990A2 (fr) * 1995-05-09 1996-11-13 Merloni Elettrodomestici S.p.A. Dispositif pour signaler la concentration en sel utilisé pour la régénération des résines dans une machine à laver
EP1228735A2 (fr) * 2001-02-05 2002-08-07 T & P S.p.A. Procédé et dispositif pour détecter le manque d'agent régénérateur dans une machine à laver, en particulier dans une machine à laver la vaisselle

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2044876A3 (fr) * 2007-10-02 2011-03-23 BITRON S.p.A. Lave-vaisselle doté d'un système intégré pour contrôler des quantités d'eau
CN101401717B (zh) * 2007-10-02 2012-06-20 比特龙有限公司 具有控制水量的整合系统的洗碗碟机

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Publication number Publication date
ITUD20050076A1 (it) 2006-11-14
EP1723889B1 (fr) 2008-07-23
DE602006001893D1 (de) 2008-09-04

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