EP2134232B1 - Water-conducting appliance having a cleaning agent feeding device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a domestic dishwasher according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Domestic dishwashers have a cleaning agent arranged on the inner door of the dishwasher and a rinse aid addition device which at a certain point in time dispenses all its contents. This requires that such a household dishwasher must be provided with detergent and / or rinse aid before each new rinse cycle. As an alternative to using separate cleaners and rinse aids, combination products in tablet form are known which are introduced into the washroom at the beginning of each rinse cycle. These combination agents are designed so that they release their active ingredient components, such as cleaner, rinse aid, glass protection, etc. offset in time. In domestic dishwasher dishwashing programs, which have a considerably reduced running time, for example 30 minutes, and are referred to as quick programs, all the components of such a compressed detergent can not dissolve and therefore do not develop their optimum effect due to the shortened program running time. Have glasses at the end of such flushing disturbing water spots.

From the older national application DE102006043975 a water-conducting household appliance, in particular a domestic dishwasher is known, the conduit system is in communication with a detergent feed device, which allows to feed at least one detergent in the line system. The detergent feed device has a fillable reservoir having a plurality of chambers for storing various detergent components. The chambers can be used to contain the following ingredients: alkali carriers, eg lye, complexing and dispensing substances; eg polymers; Enzymes such as amylase, protease or lipase; Bleaching agents, eg hydrogen peroxide; Bleach activator, and surfactants, such as nonionic surfactants. Furthermore, in the chambers in addition a diozidwirkende liquid be stored, such as biocides against bacteria (bactericides), against fungi (fungicides), against germs (microbicides) against viruses (virocides) and against algae (algicides), the addition of unpleasant odor , eg by biofilm formation during longer periods, prevents. To fill the Reservoirs is provided a refill pipe arranged in the flushing chamber of the water household appliance, which allows to fill all the chambers of the reservoir simultaneously with a corresponding refill. However, arranged in the washing compartment refill is difficult to reach.

From the EP 0379665 A1 is a device for filling containers for storing more than one pumpable active ingredient, preferably washing or detergent active ingredient for treating laundry or crockery, each in a container with a filler neck, which is closed by a lid, known. In this case, the lid has a locking mechanism which can be unlocked by an externally attachable key that does not fit on any of the adjacent lid. According to one embodiment, the Füllstuztzeneinheit is designed as a front pull-out drawer.

It is an object of the invention to provide a domestic dishwasher with a line system and a detergent feed device, which is designed for feeding at least one detergent into the line system of the domestic dishwasher and which has at least one reservoir to be filled with a cleaning agent, in which a simple and comfortable filling of the reservoir is possible.

The object of the invention is achieved in that a refill pipe connected to the reservoir is arranged on the door. This allows a simplification of the refilling process using a Nachfüllkörpers, since it is no longer necessary to remove before carrying out a refill, a dishwasher basket located in the wash basket and spray arm or bring in such a position, so that the refill is easily accessible, but the refill can be placed on a refill on the door without any problems.

Preferably, it is provided that the refill is arranged accessible only when the door is open for an operator. Thus, it is achieved that the refill pipe with the door closed by an operator can not be perceived and therefore the appearance of the household dishwasher not impaired. Furthermore, eliminates the effort to cover the refill by flaps or other mechanisms when not needed.

In this case, it is provided in a first embodiment of the invention that the refill is arranged on the inner door, that is, it is for example arranged in the area in which already known detergent and rinse aid devices are arranged.

In a second, alternative embodiment, it is provided that the refill nozzle is arranged on the upper edge of the door, that is to say in a region in which, for example, fully integrated domestic dishwashers have control elements, such as program selection.

In both embodiments, the refilling nozzle is arranged so that an attached refill automatically empties by gravity and the cleaning agent flow through lines automatically into the chambers of the reservoir of the detergent feed device.

Preferably, a circulating pump connected to the detergent feed device is provided, so that the amount of detergent can be metered with the circulation pump. For this purpose, valves may be provided which are closed when the cleaning agent is conveyed, or alternatively a water switch is closed. This makes it possible to determine the pressure and the volume flow and thus the amount of cleaner via the rotational speed of the circulation pump, without the need for additional pumps for metering the cleaning agent.

Further, a conductivity sensor is preferably provided, which allows to detect the added amount of cleaner by measuring the conductivity, so as to increase the dosing accuracy.

In a preferred embodiment it is provided that the household dishwasher according to the invention is designed such that a load detection device is provided for the circulation pump. For example, the load detection device fluctuations of the current consumption of the circulation pump to capture. With the load detection device of the circulation pump can be detected on the basis of load change when the circulation pump is running, whether a chamber is still filled with detergents or not. In this case, a controller of the household dishwasher can be designed such that it generates an optical and / or acoustic signal in an empty chamber, which makes an operator aware of the empty chamber.

According to the invention, it is provided that the detergent feed device is arranged in the floor pan of the domestic dishwasher. The arrangement of the Reinigungsmitteleinspeisevorrichtung in the bottom tray of a domestic dishwasher below a dishwasher has the advantage of a compact design, since in addition to the detergent feed and the circulating pump can be integrated in the floor pan and from there the cleaning agent staggered wash liquor is supplied to the spray arms.

The detergent feed device preferably has pumping means for pumping in at least one cleaning agent. This allows liquid detergents and rinse aid to be transported directly from the chambers into the washing compartment.

In a preferred embodiment, it is provided that the detergent feed device has at least one metering chamber in which the cleaning agents are mixed with the wash liquor. The metering chambers allow an improvement in the dosage and by mixing with rinsing liquor improved cleaning performance.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the detergent feed device is designed for gravity-related automatic emptying.

Finally, it can be provided that the refill nozzle is formed corresponding to a connection of a refill body.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, und

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

In the following the invention will be explained with reference to a drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a first embodiment of the invention, and

Fig. 2

in a schematic representation of a second embodiment of the invention.

It will open Fig. 1 and 2 Referenced.

Shown is a household dishwasher 2, which has a washing compartment 4 by two crockery baskets 6 are arranged one above the other. In order to pressurize dishes placed in the dishwashing baskets 6 with rinsing liquor below the two baskets 6 each a rotatable spray arm 8 is arranged, which are supplied via a line system (not shown) of the household dishwasher 2 with rinse.

Below the washing compartment 4, the household dishwasher 2 has a base tray 10, in which in addition to the circulation pump 12, a detergent feed device 18 is arranged, which allows the circulating during operation by the circulation pump 12 rinsing detergent, in particular liquid or gel-fed. For storing the cleaning agents, the detergent feed device has a reservoir 16, which has a plurality of chambers (not shown) and therefore allows to accommodate different cleaning agents with different functions. This can e.g. its alkali carrier, e.g. Caustic, complexing and dispersing agents; e.g. Polymäre; Enzymes such as amylase, protease or lipase; Bleaching agent, e.g. hydrogen peroxide; Bleach activator and surfactants such as e.g. nonionic surfactants. Furthermore, biocidal fluids may also be stored, e.g. Biozyde against bacteria (bactericides), against fungi (fungicides), against germs (microbiozyde), against viruses (Virozyde) and also against algae (algicides) the unpleasant odor development by e.g. Prevent biofilm formation during extended periods of use. In this case, the reservoir 16 is formed the chambers for receiving a quantity of detergent, which allows to perform a variety of rinses.

During operation of the domestic dishwasher 2, the circulated rinsing liquor collects in the floor area 10 of the domestic dishwasher 2 and is returned to the spray arm 8 by a circulating pump 12, which is arranged in a floor pan of the domestic dishwasher 2. To fill the two baskets 6 with dishes to be cleaned or to remove the cleaned dishes after completion of a flushing process again, a pivotable door 24 is provided.

In the first embodiment according to Fig. 1 the door 24 on its inner door 26, that is, on the side facing the washing compartment 4 on a refill 20, which is connected via a line 24 to the reservoir 16 of the cleaning feed device 18.

In the second embodiment according to FIG. 2 In contrast, the refill 20 is disposed at an upper edge 28 of the door 24 so that the refill 20 at closed door 24 is not visible to an operator and arranged unreachable.

In both embodiments according to the Fig. 1 and 2 the refill nozzle 20 is designed such that a refill body 32 can be placed, which has a plurality of chambers, which corresponds to the number of cleaning agents to be supplied. The reservoir 16 has a corresponding number of chambers and to allow simultaneous filling, the conduit 24 has a corresponding number of separate channels. They can be formed, for example, by hose lines or extruded profiles.

If the reservoir or one of the chambers of the reservoir is emptied, an operator can be made aware of this by an appropriately designed control device of the domestic dishwasher 2, so that this performs a refilling operation using a refill body 32.

For this purpose, the door 20 is brought into a half-open position, in which, for example, the door 20 is opened at an angle of about 30 to 45 degrees and then the refill body 32 on the inner door 26 arranged Nachfüllstutzen 20 or at the upper edge 28th the door 24 arranged refill is placed. In this position, the outlet opening of the refill body 32 is directed substantially in the direction of gravity downwards, so that an automatic emptying of the refill body or all chambers of the refill body 32 is ensured and the cleaning agent pass through the line 24 to the chambers of the reservoir 16. When the refill body 32 is completely emptied, the refill body 32 can be released from the spigot 20 again and the household dishwasher is ready for use again. Subsequently, it may be necessary to re-close the connection piece 20 with a suitable closure element or the connection element 20 has corresponding valve means which automatically cause a self-opening upon placement of a refill body 32 and a resealing upon removal of the refill body 32.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

Domestic dishwasher

4

Wash cabinet

6

dish rack

8th

spray arm

10

floor area

12

circulating pump

16

reservoir

18

Reinigungsmitteleinspeisevorrichtung

20

filling arm

22

management

24

door

26

interior door

28

floor pan

30

Upper edge

32

refill

Claims (10)

1. Domestic dishwashing appliance (2) with a line system and a detergent feed facility (18) especially connected to a circulation pump (18), which is embodied for supplying at least one detergent into the line system of the domestic dishwasher (2) and which has at least one reservoir (16) able to be filled with detergent, characterised in that the detergent feed facility (18) is arranged in the area of a floor pan (28) of the domestic appliance (2) and a refill fitting (20) which has a connection to the reservoir (16) is arranged on the door (24).
2. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the refill fitting (20) is arranged so as to be only accessible to an operator when the door (24) is opened.
3. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the refill fitting (20) is arranged on the inner door (26).
4. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to claim 2, characterised in that the refill fitting (20) is arranged on the upper edge (30) of the door (24).
5. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a conductivity sensor for detecting the conductivity of washing liquor.
6. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by load detection means for detection of load fluctuations of the circulation pump.
7. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the detergent feed facility (18) features pumping means for introducing at least one detergent.
8. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the detergent feed facility (18) has at least one dosing chamber.
9. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the detergent feed facility (18) is embodied for automatic gravitational emptying.
10. Domestic dishwashing appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the detergent feed facility (18) is embodied for filling by means of a refill element (32).

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