EP1935317A2 - Water-bearing household device with a device for introducing cleaning agent - Google Patents

Abstract

The water conducting household appliance has a washing space (12) that is limited by wall. A washing system (16) is provided in the washing space for cleaning of washing goods. A valve (26) is formed for optional activation of the rinsing element (30) and the washing system. The valve is formed to activate an additional cleaning element (38) that is provided for the cleaning of washing goods.

Description

The present invention relates to a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, with a device for adding detergent in a walled by a washing compartment of a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, which has at least one spray system for cleaning items to be washed in the washing compartment. The device for adding cleaning agent has a container arranged on or in a substantially vertical wall of the washing compartment for receiving cleaning agent, a flushing element arranged on or in the container, which is supplied with a washing liquor via a supply line, and a first valve for blocking the supply line. The wall should also include the door of the machine, which can be designed to be pivotable or in the form of a drawer. As flushing element is usually a nozzle at the free end of a supply line. The rinsing liquor is the water used for cleaning the items to be washed, which after being fed into the dishwasher is pumped by a circulating pump through the spraying system.

From the DE 203 11 432 U1 is a dishwasher with such a device in the form of an addition unit for adding detergent in a rinsing liquor known in which a liquid feed is provided in the addition unit for rinsing the cleaner from the addition unit. For rinsing out the cleaner from the addition unit, a partial flow of the circulated rinsing liquor is conveyed via a valve and an additional line into the addition unit. Once the cleaner has been added, the line and the valve are without function until the program is restarted.

Object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher with a device for detergent addition, in which all possible acted upon with rinsing water lines during a washing program can always remain in use to ensure the Ausspülsicherheit.

This object is achieved in that in the dishwasher according to the invention the first valve is designed to selectively activate the rinsing element and / or the spray system. The spray element may be, for example, a nozzle or a system of several nozzles. Both can be arranged fixed or movable in the washing compartment. The rinsing liquor emerging from the spray element and from the spray system thus serves to clean the items to be washed, while the rinsing liquor leaving the rinsing element serves to rinse out the cleaning agent from the detergent adding device.

In contrast to the prior art, the dishwasher according to the invention pursues the concept that the elements provided for rinsing out the cleaning agent from the container can be used during an entire washing program. This avoids that the rinsing liquor stops in the lines over a longer period of time and can form deposits. After the start of a wash program, the rinse liquor supplied to the detergent addition can therefore first be conducted via the first valve into the adding device. There she meets the detergent, dissolves it and transports it to the dishwasher. After complete rinsing, the rinse liquor may then be passed to the additional spray element by switching the first valve to a bypass line on the feeder. The additional spray element can then, for example, concentrate areas of the washing compartment which are not or only insufficiently reached by the remainder of the spray system. In addition to a high Ausspülsicherheit of the container, the device according to the invention also has the advantage that the detergent addition can be done independently of the spray system through the Ausspülelement. Thus, items to be washed, which is arranged in front of the adding device, do not hinder the rinsing process. In addition, it is possible by the device according to the invention to admit partial amounts of the rinsing agent at different program times by corresponding activation of the valve. The valve also allows a control in which the rinsing solution can be passed simultaneously both in the detergent addition device and in the bypass line. Depending on requirements, the amount of rinsing fluid flowing into the detergent adding device or into the bypass line can be controlled.

The spray element may be part of the spray system. This is usually arranged in three levels in the washing compartment, for example in the form of rotatable spray arms or fixed Nozzle systems. The bypass line then ends, for example, at an additional nozzle of the spray system.

The additional spray element may also assist in flushing the detergent out of the container. For this purpose, a further opening in the direction of the washing compartment can be provided in the container, which can be closed in particular before the addition of the detergent in the washing compartment. During the addition process, rinsing liquor of the additional spray element can then also pass through the opening into the container. The first valve is then switched so that the rinsing liquor during the rinsing process is passed to both the rinsing and the spray element. Thus, the detergent can be completely rinsed out of the container in a shorter time.

The rinsing of the detergent from the container can therefore be supported by the additional spray element from the dishwasher. For this purpose, it is advantageous if an opening of the container has, at least temporarily, in the direction of the washing compartment. Thus, more rinse liquor per unit time can reach the detergent for rinsing, whereby the rinsing process is accelerated and intensified. In an advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention at least a part of the container, for example a wall or the bottom is movably mounted. For rinsing out the cleaning agent, the movable part can be moved from a basic position to an additional position. In the basic position, the container is closed relative to the washing compartment so that the cleaning agent is protected from contact with the washing liquor. In the supply position, the container is then open in the direction of the washing compartment, so that the washing solution can rinse the detergent into the washing compartment. The movable part can initiate the flushing process when opening the container similar to a switch and terminate this when closing the container. This means that it is always possible to add just as much rinsing liquor to the cleaning agent as is necessary for its dissolution and rinsing.

In a further embodiment, the container as a whole can be arranged to be movable, for example, in a housing open towards the washing compartment. In the basic position, a side wall closes the cup-shaped or trough-shaped container in the direction of the washing compartment flush with the wall of the washing compartment or the housing. The container is already filled in the basic position with detergent. In this position prevents the to Flushing facing side wall of the container, the penetration of wash liquor into the housing. An additional cover for the protection of the cleaning agent can thus be dispensed with. Clogging, for example, of a powdered cleaning agent associated with a hindrance of the rinsing process or premature unfolding of the cleaning agent effect can thus be prevented.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the container or the part of the container from the basic position in the addition position are pivotable. The container or the movable part of the container can be arranged to be displaceable along a curved path or rotatably supported. This form of storage is easy and inexpensive to produce.

The rotatable connection of the container with the housing may be carried out, for example in the form of two pivot bearing points left and right of the container bottom near the Spülraumwand, engage in the two pins arranged on the container in corresponding recesses of the housing. This form of storage allows the pivoting of the container out of the housing in the direction of Spülraum to a filling position. In the filling position, the interior of the container is accessible from the side of the washing compartment. In this position, the container can then be filled manually, for example by a user with detergent. The limitation of the pivoting movement of the container in the direction of the washing compartment can be effected by stops which are arranged on the container and / or on the housing.

After the filling process is completed, the container must be swung back to the basic position and fixed in this. For this purpose, latching means can be arranged on the container, which interact with counter-latching means on the housing for latching the container with the housing in the basic position. The movement of the container from the filling position to the basic position and the local fixation can - as well as the filling - automatically or programmatically controlled or done manually by a user.

In principle, all movements of the container or of a number of parts of the container can also be effected by an actuator, for example in the form of a motor, a coil or a bimetal, are effected. The bimetal can for example cause or effect the movement of the container depending on the temperature. This is a purely mechanical control. When using a motor, this can be controlled by a control device, for example, program sequence-dependent, to then cause the movement of the container.

In principle, the supply of the rinsing liquor can also take place as a function of the movement of the container or of the container part between the basic position and the delivery position. The position of the container in the supply position corresponds to that of the filling position. According to a further advantageous embodiment of the device according to the invention, a second valve for controlling the volume flow of the rinsing liquor can be arranged in the supply line, which is in operative connection with the container or the container part. For this purpose, the movement of the valve actuator can generally be effected in response to the movement or position of the container or of the container part. Thus, it can be ensured that only as much rinse liquor gets into the container, as is required for rinsing the detergent.

In a simple embodiment of the invention, the second valve may for example be closed in the basic position of the container and be open in the supply position of the container. This ensures that only rinse liquor enters the container when it is open towards the dishwasher. This can be realized, for example, with an actuator disposed on the container, which is in the addition position with the second valve in contact and then completely opens. During the movement of the container from the addition position to the basic position of the contact between the actuator and the valve is interrupted again and the valve is closed. Instead of a mechanical adjusting element, a sensor may also be used which detects the respective position of the container without contact and accordingly causes the opening and closing of the second valve by means of the control device. The opening and closing of the valve can be caused for example by electric actuators.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the second valve corresponding to the pivotal movement of the container between the basic position and the Rinse open. This means that a corresponding position of the valve actuator is adjustable for each pivot position between the basic position and the addition order. Thus, not only two discrete but a number of settings exist between the open position and the closed position for the second valve. This makes it possible to even better dose the amount of rinsing liquor required for dissolving or rinsing out a certain amount of rinsing agent.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if there is a coupling between the valve position of the second valve and the pivot position of the container. The coupling can be mechanical, electrical or sensory. A mechanical coupling can be designed, for example, in the form of a linkage or a gearbox. For an electrical coupling, for example, a potentiometer arranged at the pivot point of the container or container part can be connected to an electric actuator. In a sensory coupling, the movement or the pivoting position of the container or of the container part is detected by means of one or more sensors. These are connected for example via a control unit with the actuator of the valve. The coupling makes it possible to adapt the amount of rinsing liquor required for rinsing the cleaning agent to the respective position of the container. In this way, the detergent can be evenly rinsed or dissolved. An abrupt flushing of the entire cleaning agent, which then dissolves completely in the washroom, can thus be avoided.

Instead of a first and second valve, only one valve can be provided that combines the functions of the two valves.

Figur 1

eine Darstellung einer ersten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Zugabevorrichtung;

Figur 2

eine Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Zugabevorrichtung;

Figur 3

eine Darstellung einer dritten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Zugabevorrichtung in einer Grundstellung;

Figur 4

die in Figur 3 dargestellte Vorrichtung in einer Zugabe- oder Befüllstellung.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to schematic figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

a representation of a first embodiment of the inventive adding device;

FIG. 2

a representation of a second embodiment of the adding device according to the invention;

FIG. 3

a representation of a third embodiment of the adding device according to the invention in a basic position;

FIG. 4

in the FIG. 3 shown device in an addition or filling position.

FIG. 1 shows roughly schematically the parts of a Spülflottenkreislaufs 10 a dishwasher with a washing compartment 12 and arranged on or in a wall 13 of the washing compartment 12 adding device 14. Inside the washing compartment 12 is a spray system 16 with individual nozzles 18. The spray system 16 is a Line 20 is connected to the pressure side of a circulation pump 22. The pressure side of the circulation pump 22 is also connected via a line 24 to a first valve 26. The first valve 26 is designed as a three-way valve, with a first connection 28 communicating via a line 32 with a spray nozzle 30 arranged in the adding device 14. A second connection 34 of the first valve 26 is connected via a line 36 to a spray nozzle 38 arranged in the washing compartment 12. In the adding device 14, a plurality of side walls 40, a bottom 42 and a ceiling element 44 form a container 46 for receiving a cleaning agent, not shown. In the bottom 42, a drain opening 48 is arranged, which communicates via a line 50 with the washing compartment 12 in connection.

At the beginning of a rinsing process, a certain amount of fresh water over a in FIG. 1 Not shown inlet valve is inserted into the washing compartment 12 of the dishwasher. This amount of water, also referred to as the amount of bath 52, is then available in the lower area of the washing compartment 12 for cleaning the items to be washed. If the amount of bath 52 is then pumped by the circulation pump 22 in the lines 20 and 24 of the circuit 10, one speaks of wash liquor. Arrows A symbolizes the flow direction of the rinsing liquor.

The circulating pump 22 sucks the rinsing liquor via an opening 54 in the bottom of the washing compartment 12 and conveys it both through the line 20 to the spray system 16, as well as through the line 24 to the first valve 26. Depending on the washing program or program flow is from a control unit 56 causes the opening or closing of the ports 28 and 34 of the first valve 26. The rinsing liquor can thereby optionally by the line 32 and the Spray nozzle 30 are conveyed into the container 46 of the adding device 14 and / or through the line 36 and the spray nozzle 38 in the washing compartment 12. Because the line 32 is completely deactivated after detergent addition, its length is as short as possible to avoid sedimentation by the wash liquor. For this purpose, the valve 26 - in deviation from the illustration according to FIG. 1 - Be arranged directly in front of the spray nozzle 30.

During the addition of detergent is the cleaning agent, which is located in the container 46, 30 supplied via the spray nozzle rinse. The detergent is dissolved in the wash liquor and rinsed with this through the drain opening 48 and the line 50 into the washing compartment 12.

After the cleaning agent has been completely rinsed out of the container, the first port 28 is closed and the second port 34 is opened. The rinsing liquor is then pumped only through the line 36 to the spray nozzle 38. With the spray nozzle 38 targeted areas of the washing compartment 12 are sprayed intensively, which are not or only insufficiently achieved by the spray system.

The control unit 56 transmits the signals necessary for controlling the valve 26. The signal line between the control unit 56 and the valve 26 is symbolized by a broken line 57. To increase the Ausspülsicherheit the connection 28 can still be kept open after the time provided for the addition of the detergent time, so that any remains of the detergent remaining in the container 46 can still be completely rinsed out of the container 46. For this purpose, the connection 28 alone or together with the connection 34 can be fully or partially open. The rinsing liquor flow is thus split in percent on the terminals 28 and 34 and thus always in the lines 24, 32 and / or 36 in motion. Longer standing wash liquor and the associated risk of the formation of deposits in the lines 24, 32 and 36 is thus avoided.

FIG. 2 shows a second to the in FIG. 1 alternative embodiment. The same parts are therefore in FIG. 2 as well as in the Figures 3 and 4 with the already off FIG. 1 provided known reference numerals.

In contrast to FIG. 1 has the in FIG. 2 shown adding device 14 a container 46 with movable bottom 42 which is pivotable by means of a hinge 43 between a container 46 downwardly closing or opening position. The direction of movement of the bottom 42 is symbolized by the arrow B. In addition, a second valve 27 is disposed in the conduit 32 between the first valve 26 and the spray nozzle 30. A sensor arranged on the swivel joint 43, like the valve 27, is connected to the control unit 56. The signal lines between the control unit 56 and the valves 26 and 27 or the sensor are symbolized by broken lines.

The sensor is a rotational position sensor, which transmits to the control unit 56 a signal which is associated with the respective pivoting position of the floor 42. The control unit 56 determines a corresponding valve position and sends a corresponding signal to the actuator of the second valve 27. Thus, the second valve 27 can be closed in the simplest case with the bottom closed 42 and opened with the bottom 42 open. The control of the second valve 27 can also take place over the entire opening path or pivoting range of the floor 42. The second valve 27 then has not only two discrete valve positions such as "open" and "closed" but a plurality of positions therebetween. The volume flow of the rinsing liquor is then adjustable over the entire pivoting range of the floor 42 by means of the valve actuator. With the beginning of the opening of the bottom 42 of the spray nozzle 30 is then already supplied to a small amount of wash liquor. If the bottom 42 continues to increase, the volume flow of the rinsing liquor also increases. When fully open bottom 42 and the second valve 27 is then fully open. The container 46 supplied amount of wash liquor always just corresponds to the amount that can also run through the open bottom 42 from the container 46 into the washing compartment 12.

In the Figures 3 and 4 a further embodiment of the adding device according to the invention is shown. Unlike the ones in the FIGS. 1 and 2 shown here is the entire container between a basic position ( FIG. 3 ) and an order ( FIG. 4 ) pivotable. In the supply position, the cleaning agent can be flushed out by one or more spray nozzles, which are arranged close to the adding device in the washing compartment.

The adding device 14 is inserted into a recess of the wall 13 of the washing compartment 12. It has a housing 17 open in the direction of the washing compartment 12. In this a container 47 is rotatably mounted. The pointing in the direction of the washing compartment 12 opening of the housing 17 is completely covered by a side wall 41 of the container 47 and liquid-tight. The detergent in the container 47 is protected from contact with the rinsing solution before the addition of detergent.

FIG. 3 shows the container 47 in the basic position in which the detergent is already filled in the container 47. A pivoting of the container 47 in the direction of the washing compartment 12 is prevented in this position by stops, not shown. In the basic position, the container 47 together with the cleaning agent lingers until the container 47 is moved in the direction of the washing compartment 12.

The thereby executed movement of the container 47 is a rotary or pivoting movement about an axis of rotation 58 around, which is indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 4 is symbolized. In the FIG. 4 shown position of the container 47 is the addition. In this position, an opening 49 of the container 47 into the washing compartment 12, whereby the detergent can be flushed out of the container 47 out into the washing compartment 12 of the dishwasher. Since the container 47 has no side walls, the detergent can be flushed in the addition position on both sides of the container 47.

The container 47 remains in the addition position until the end of the program, so that the rinsing fluid from the spray nozzle 30 can possibly completely rinse out residues of detergent remaining in the container 47. Since the addition order is the same as the filling position, the container 47 can remain in this position after the washing program has ended until it is again filled with cleaning agent for a further washing program and brought back into the basic position.

The in the FIGS. 1 and 2 have described opposite to the in the Figures 3 and 4 described the advantage that possibly arranged in front of the feeder ware can not hinder the rinsing. The containers after FIG. 1 and 2 have no moving parts or only those that do not move into the washroom inside. Conversely, in an adding device according to the Figures 3 and 4 dispensed with the spray nozzle within the device, whereby all Spülflottenleitungen are always in use during a flushing.

Finally, it is again pointed out that the preceding addition devices 14 described in detail are exemplary embodiments which can be modified by the person skilled in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention. In particular, the specific embodiments of the containers 46 and 47 and the arrangement and design of the valves 26 and 27 may be made in a different form than that described here. For the sake of completeness, it is also pointed out that the use of indefinite articles does not exclude "one" or "one", that the characteristics in question may also be present multiple times.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

- Flushing cycle

12

- Washing room

13

- wall

14

- Addition device

16

- Spray system

17

- Casing

18

- Jet

20, 24, 32, 36, 50

- Management

22

- Circulation pump

26

- first valve

27

- second valve

28

- first connection

30, 38

- Spray nozzle

34

- second connection

40, 41

- Side wall

42

- Ground

43

- swivel

44

- ceiling element

46, 47

- Container

48

- drain opening

49, 54

- opening

52

- Bath quantity

56

- Control unit

57

- Signal line

58

- rotation axis

A

- Flow direction of the wash liquor

B

- Direction of movement of the container 47

Claims (10)

A water-conducting domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, with a device (14) for adding detergent to a washing compartment (12) of the water-conducting domestic appliance which is delimited by walls and has at least one spray system (16) for cleaning items to be washed in the washing compartment (12) Rinsing space (12) arranged container (46, 47) for receiving detergent, a rinsing of the container (46) arranged Ausspülelement (30), which is supplied via a supply line (24, 32) with a rinsing liquor, characterized in that a first valve (26) for selectively activating the Ausspülelements (30) and / or the spray system (16) is formed. Water-conducting household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the first valve (26) is designed for activating an additional spray element (38) provided for cleaning items to be washed. Water-conducting household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a part (42) of the container (46) is movably mounted. Water-conducting household appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that the container (47) or the part (42) of the container (46) is pivotable from a basic position to an additional position. Water-conducting household appliance according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that in the supply line (32) a second valve (27) is arranged for controlling the volume flow of the rinsing liquor, which is in operative connection with the part (42) of the container (46). Water-conducting household appliance according to claim 5, characterized in that in the basic position of the container (46) the second valve (27) is closed and in the flushing position of the container (46), the second valve (27) is open. Water-conducting household appliance according to claim 5 or 6, characterized that the second valve (27) opens in correspondence with the pivoting movement of the part (42) of the container (46) between the basic position and the Ausspülstellung. Water-conducting household appliance according to claim 5, 6 or 7, characterized in that between the valve position of the second valve (27) and the pivotal position of the part (42) of the container (46) has a coupling. Water-conducting household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that rinsing liquor is used for rinsing of detergent. Device (14) for a water-conducting domestic appliance according to one of the preceding claims.

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