EP2317907B1 - Domestic dishwasher with a sorption drying device and corresponding method - Google Patents

Abstract

The dishwasher has a rinsing container and a sorption drying system for drying of rinsing material. The sorption drying system has a sorption container containing reversibly dehydratable sorption material (ZEO) e.g. aluminum oxide, silicon oxide, silica gel and/or zeolite. The sorption container is connected to the rinsing container by an air guiding channel for producing an air flow. The sorption material in the sorption container absorbs an amount of water between 200 and 300 milliliters. A heating device (HZ) is attached to the sorption material.

Description

The invention relates to a domestic dishwasher with a main control device and with at least one Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung.

In a household dishwasher with a Sorptionstrocknungssystem such as the DE 10 3535 77 A1 In the partial program step "drying" of the respective dishwashing program for drying dishwashing wet-hot air from the washing container of the dishwasher is continuously passed by means of a blower through the sorption of the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung. In this case, their reversibly dehydratable sorption drying material moisture is removed from the air passed through due to condensation. The thus dried air is returned to the rinsing tank, where it is reloaded with moisture from the existing moist-hot air and fed again to the circulatory system of the sorption drying device. For regeneration, ie desorption of the reversibly dehydratable sorption drying material of the sorption column for reuse in the dried state for the next drying step of a subsequent dishwashing program this is heated by means of at least one heating device to such high temperatures that stored in the sorbent water as hot water vapor can emerge as completely as possible and of the air flow generated by means of the blower can be blown into the washing container. The air heated by this desorption can additionally be used to warm up or heat up a rinsing liquor, air and / or ware in the rinsing container during at least one rinsing process and / or cleaning process of a newly started dishwashing program by the warm air flow generated during the respective desorption process. This enables energy-efficient cleaning and drying of items to be washed.

From the DE 10 2005 004 092 A1 is a dishwasher with a corresponding Sorptionstrockeneinrichtung and a method for operating the same known. The dishwasher has a control device for operating the dishwasher, including the sorption drying device.

From the DE 100 58 188 A1 a method for drying items to be washed in the washing compartment of a program-controlled dishwasher is known. The dishwasher has a device electronics and separately a blower control for a drying blower.

In such a Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung a dishwasher high demands are placed on their reliability in practice in order to ensure proper operation of the dishwasher over a desired overall product life.

The invention is based on the object of providing a way in which at least one sorption drying device of a household dishwasher can be operated in a simple manner in a largely functionally reliable manner. This object is achieved in a domestic dishwasher of the type mentioned above in that for the specific control of at least one electrical component of the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung at least one additional control unit is provided in addition to the main control device.

Characterized in that at least one additional control unit is provided in addition to the main control device of the household dishwasher specifically for the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung, it is possible to control the sorption drying device in the respective sorption and / or desorption in a functionally reliable manner or set. Because of the specially provided additional control unit for at least one electrical component of the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung specific requirements for permissible operating conditions of one or more electrical components of the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung can be monitored and / or implemented improved. In particular, with the aid of the additional control unit, the specific interaction of the one or more operating parameters of the one or more electrical components of the sorption drying device can be coordinated such that the sorption drying device can be safely operated in a desired, permissible operating range during its respective sorption process and / or desorption process.

In this way, the functional reliability and / or functionality of the sorption drying device can be maintained in a simple and reliable manner over the desired product overall service life of the domestic dishwasher during the respective sorption process and / or desorption process.

According to a first expedient development, the additional control unit may be part of the main control device. This makes it possible to ensure a high building density, so that only little space for the main control device is claimed with the additional control unit in the domestic dishwasher. In particular, it may be expedient for the additional control unit in a separate Logic module or in an existing logic module of the main controller to implement. This allows manufacturing technology simple and reliable communication connections between the logic functions of the additional control unit and the logic functions of the main control device. Since the main control device is preferably arranged at a protected installation location in the dishwasher, the additional control unit can be accommodated there in a secure manner, so that unnecessary installation effort and additional protection measures, especially against moisture or liquid contact in case of leaks of the washing or the liquid circulation system of the dishwasher, largely is avoided.

Alternatively, according to an expedient development of the invention, it can be especially advantageous that the additional control unit is designed as a separate functional component and is spatially separated from the main control device. As a result, the functional reliability for the additional control unit, which is responsible for the one or more electrical components of the sorption drying device, can advantageously be increased if there were an error in the main control device. Conversely, the main control device can be decoupled from the additional control unit so that it can continue to perform its assigned operating functions properly, even if the additional control unit fails or has some other malfunction. In particular, if the additional control unit is housed in a different location in the household dishwasher than the main control device, so can the functional reliability largely ensure both for the main control device and the auxiliary control unit.

In particular, it is expedient for the additional control unit to be arranged at a predefined minimum distance from the sorption drying device in a spatially remote manner. By means of this minimum distance to be maintained, inadmissibly high thermal stresses on the additional control unit, which could occur as a result of the thermal heating of sorption drying material in the sorption container of the sorption drying apparatus by means of at least one heating device, can be largely avoided. Their reliable operation is thus guaranteed.

In particular, it may be expedient to accommodate the main control device and / or the auxiliary control unit in a base assembly below the bottom of the washing compartment. There, a protected, in particular moisture or splash-proof, dry receiving area is present, so that impairments or damage to the main control device and / or the additional control unit are largely avoided. Furthermore, it may be expedient to accommodate the sorption container of the sorption drying device, at least one heating device associated with the sorption container, and / or fan unit likewise below the bottom of the washing container in the base module. As a result, the cabling of these various electrical components with the additional control unit and / or the main control device is simplified.

According to a further expedient development of the invention, the additional control unit is assigned to a heating device and / or a fan unit of the sorption drying device for monitoring and / or setting at least one operating parameter. In particular, a functionally reliable operation of the sorption drying device can be largely ensured during the respective sorption process and / or desorption process. The additional control unit allows, in particular, a specific control of the heating device and / or the fan unit of the sorption drying device.

It may be expedient in particular if the additional control unit for the heating device and / or the fan unit of the sorption drying device has an on / off switch function. As a result, thermal overloading of the additional control unit due to the heat development during the respective desorption process can be largely avoided if the additional control unit switches off the heating device and / or the fan unit of the sorption drying device when an error or a disruption or interruption of the communication connection between the main control device and the additional control unit occurs, and / or an upper temperature limit in the washing container and / or in the region of the sorption container is exceeded.

According to a further expedient development of the invention, the additional control unit is connected to the main control device via at least one control line, in particular a data bus. This makes it possible to provide in the additional control unit only an on and / or off function for the heating device and / or the fan unit of Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung, while the actual control functions for each Sorptionsbetrieb and / or desorption of Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung during the respective expiring Geschirrspülprogramms in the control logic the main controller are implemented. In particular, specific functions of the additional control unit can be monitored and / or checked and / or determined by the main control device in a simple and reliable manner.

According to a further expedient development of the invention, the additional control unit has a "watch-dog" monitoring logic, ie a "dead man monitoring logic", with which the functionality of the control line during the activation of the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung in each Sorptionstrocknungsvorgang and / or desorption is verifiable. Through this "watch-dog" monitoring logic can be detected in a simple and reliable manner, whether an error or a fault or even an interruption on the control line and thus the communication link between the main control device and the additional control unit is present. In the event of an error case, the additional control unit is then advantageously made possible to switch off the one or more components, such as the heating device and / or fan unit, of the sorption drying device. In particular, the additional control unit ensures that the heating device of the sorption drying device is switched off when an error situation on the control line has been detected by its "watch-dog" monitoring logic. This reaction of the additional control unit serves, in particular, to provide a thermal protection function for the sorption drying device by electrical means. Because the fact that the heating device is brought into an OFF state of the additional control unit, in particular the respective desorption can not be continued, ie a further heating of the heating device and thus a further heating of the sorption material in Sorption of Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung can be stopped automatically by the additional control unit in an advantageous manner. The additional control unit can therefore be autonomous, ie interrupted regardless of the main control device the heating of the sorbent material during desorption in the event that there is a fault or an error and / or an interruption on the control line. Because in this case it would be the main control device is no longer possible to send by means of a control signal, a shutdown command to the additional control unit via the control line, which would still properly at the additional control unit. With the aid of the additional control unit, it is thus ensured in any case that at least the heating device and possibly the associated fan unit is switched off during a desorption process or a desorption process is not started at all, if a communication error occurs on the control line of the watchdog monitoring logic of the additional control unit and / or an interruption is detected. In this way, the additional control unit provides a simple and reliable protective measure against an inadmissibly high heating of the sorption material in the sorption of the sorption drying device and / or against overheating their associated heating device ready. In this way, in particular thermal material damage or impermissible material stresses of the sorption material due to impermissibly high temperatures can be avoided. Furthermore, the heating device is protected against inadmissible thermal stresses or damage due to overheating. Furthermore, unacceptable thermal stresses or even damage to components in the vicinity of the heating device and / or the sorption of the sorption drying device are largely avoided. Finally, by the premature termination of the current desorption by switching off the heater any fire can be excluded. In addition or independently of the switching off of the heating device, it may be expedient to shut down the other components of the sorption drying device, such as the fan unit, if the "watch-dog" monitoring logic "of the additional control unit registers a fault.

In particular, it may be expedient that the "watch-dog" monitoring logic of the additional control unit for monitoring the functionality of the control line is then activated, when the heating device of the sorption is switched on to desorb their sorbent material. The same applies in an advantageous manner, possibly in the run-up to an upcoming desorption process, when the program flow logic in the main control device intends to initiate a desorption process as the next program flow step. The heating device and possibly the fan unit is then no longer turned on by the additional control electronics.

According to a further expedient development of the invention, the main control device sends to the "watch-dog" monitoring logic of the additional control unit via the control line a plurality of switch-on commands. In particular, the main control device transmits a switch-on command in cyclic repetition in a predetermined interval between pauses. As a result, it is advantageously possible to monitor the control line continuously in a checking period before the start of an upcoming desorption process and / or in particular during the desorption process itself. The "watch-dog" monitoring logic of the additional control unit expediently monitors the exceeding of a predetermined cycle time or waiting time since the detection of the respectively sent switch-on command. In particular, to this end, the "watch-dog" monitoring logic of the additional control unit has a clock or timer unit which defines an upper limit for the waiting time between the receiving clock instants of each of two consecutively transmitted switch-on commands. It can thus easily monitor whether the upper limit for the waiting time has been exceeded without receiving a next switch-on command. In particular, the additional control unit switches off at least one electrical component, in particular the heating device and / or possibly the fan unit of the sorption drying device, if it is determined by the "watch-dog" monitoring logic that the upper limit for the waiting time has been exceeded without receiving a next switch-on command ,

According to a further expedient development of the invention, the watch-dog monitoring logic of the additional control unit for monitoring the functionality of the control line is in particular activated when the heating device of the sorption drying device is switched on to desorb the sorption material thereof.

If it is determined by the watch-dog monitoring logic that the predetermined upper limit for the waiting time has been exceeded without detecting the respective switch-on command, it switches the heating device of the sorption-drying device independently, i. independently. In addition, in this case, the additional control unit can expediently also switch off the fan unit of the sorption drying device.

According to a further expedient development of the invention, it may be appropriate for the additional control unit to switch off the fan unit of the sorption drying device after the switch-off time of the heating device only after a predefinable overrun time has expired. As a result of the fact that the fan unit also continues to run for a predefinable period of time after the shut-off time of the heating device, air can be passed through the heating device and / or the sorption material in the sorption container of the sorption drying device. As a result of this continued throughput of air, heat can be removed from the heating device and / or from the sorption container so that overheating in the region of the heating device and / or the sorption container is largely avoided. This continued operation of the fan unit is particularly advantageous because the sorbent reacts during its heating process during desorbing due to its heat storage capacity and stores heat. The fan unit is therefore expediently continue to operate beyond the switch-off of the heating device that sufficient heat energy has been removed from the sorbent material and the sorption due to the continued air flow, so that material damage of the sorbent material, undue stress on the heater and the other components of the sorbent and the Sorption container surrounding components or components of the dishwasher are largely avoided. Due to the continued air circulation by means of the fan unit, a cooling of the sorption material in the sorption container and / or the heating device is ensured accelerated. Without the continuation of the fan unit, however, it could lead to a heat accumulation in the sorption, which could lead to unacceptably high temperatures.

According to a further expedient development of the invention, the main control device can also give the auxiliary control unit a switch-off command to switch off the sorption drying device, in particular its heating device and / fan unit, if a critical limit temperature in the interior of the washing container of the household dishwasher and / or in the region of the sorption container of the sorption drying device is exceeded. As a result, a further thermal protection is provided, in particular during the desorption operation of the sorption drying device. The temperature in the interior of the washing container can be determined, for example, by means of at least one temperature sensor, e.g. is attached to one of the side walls of the washing compartment of the dishwasher. In a corresponding manner, the respective temperature in the region of the sorption container can be determined with the aid of at least one temperature sensor.

According to a further expedient development of the invention, the additional control unit can switch off the sorption drying device, in particular its heating device and / or fan unit, if a critical parameter, in particular mains voltage deviation and / or mains frequency deviation of the electrical energy supply network, is in operative connection with the main control device and / or the additional control unit , is exceeded. As a result, the sorption drying device is also protected against any unacceptably high fluctuations of one or more parameters of the electrical energy supply network. In particular, this can e.g. be ensured in the event of an excessively high overvoltage that the heating device is turned off before it gives off too much heating power to the sorbent material of the sorption due to the overvoltage.

More generally, therefore, it can be ensured by the additional control unit that an inadmissibly high heating of the sorption material in the sorption of the sorption drying device is largely avoided. In particular, the exceeding of a critical limit temperature is prevented, which would lead to a material damage of the sorbent material. In this way it is ensured that the sorption material by means of the heating device only is gently heated material. In this way, an irreparable material damage is largely avoided.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling the sorption drying device of a household dishwasher, comprising a main control device, which is characterized in that at least one component of the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung is controlled by at least one additional control unit, which is provided in addition to the main control device.

Other developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

The invention and its developments and advantages thereof are explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung ein Ausführungsbeispiel einer erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Geschirrspülmaschine, die zusätzlich zur Hauptsteuerungseinrichtung eine mit dieser über mindestens eine Steuerleitung verbundene Zusatzsteuerungseinheit umfasst,

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung ein Diagramm zur Veranschaulichung der "watch-dog" Überwachung der Steuerleitung zwischen der Zusatzsteuerungseinheit und der Hauptsteuerungseinrichtung der Geschirrspülmaschine von Figur 1,

Fig. 3

in schematischer Darstellung ein Ablaufdiagramm für eine "watch-dog"- Überwachungseinheit in der Zusatzsteuerungseinheit der Figuren 1, 2, und

Fig. 4

in schematischer Darstellung ein Ein-/Ausschaltdiagramm für die Heizungseinrichtung sowie die Lüftereinheit der Sorptionstrocknungsvorrichtung der Geschirrspülmaschine von Figur 1 bei einem Fehlerfall auf der Steuerleitung zwischen der Hauptsteuerungseinrichtung und der Zusatzsteuerungseinheit.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of an embodiment of an inventively designed dishwasher, which in addition to the main control device comprises an additional control unit connected thereto via at least one control line,

Fig. 2

a schematic representation of a diagram illustrating the "watch-dog" monitoring the control line between the additional control unit and the main control device of the dishwasher of FIG. 1 .

Fig. 3

a schematic diagram of a flowchart for a "watch-dog" - monitoring unit in the additional control unit of FIGS. 1 . 2 , and

Fig. 4

in a schematic representation of an on / off diagram for the heating device and the fan unit of the sorption drying device of the dishwasher of FIG. 1 at an error on the control line between the main control device and the auxiliary control unit.

Elements with the same function and mode of action are in the FIGS. 1 4 each provided with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a household dishwasher GS as an embodiment of an inventively designed household appliance. It has as main components a rinsing container SPB, a bottom assembly BG arranged underneath, and a sorption drying apparatus STE as an air drying apparatus. The sorption drying device STE is preferably provided externally, ie outside the washing container SPB, partly on a side wall SW and partly in the bottom assembly BG. It comprises as main components at least one air duct LK with at least one fan unit inserted therein or a blower LT and at least one sorption tank SB with sorption drying material ZEO, in particular zeolite or the like. In the washing container SPB are preferably one or more grid baskets GK for receiving and rinsing items such. B. pieces of dishes housed. For spraying the to be cleaned items to be washed with a liquid, one or more spraying devices such. B. one or more rotating spray arms SA provided in the interior of the washing container SPB. Here in the embodiment, both a lower spray arm and an upper spray arm are suspended in the washing container SPB rotating.

• mindestens einen Vorspülschritt zur Entfernung grober Anschmutzungen mittelsKlarwasser und/oder ausreichend sauberem Brauchwasser,
• mindestens einen nachfolgenden Reinigungsschritt mit Reinigungsmittelzugabe zur Spülflottenflüssigkeit, insbesondere Wasser,
• mindestens einen nachfolgenden Zwischenspülschritt,
• mindestens einen nachfolgenden Klarspülschritt mit Aufbringen von mit Entspannungsmittein, insbesondere Klarspüler versetzter Flüssigkeit, insbesondere Wasser, sowie einen abschließenden Trocknungsschritt, bei dem das gereinigte Spülgut getrocknet wird.

For cleaning items to be washed, the dishwasher passes through wash programs which have a plurality of program steps. The respective rinsing program may in particular comprise at least the following individual program steps which proceed one after the other:

• at least one pre-rinsing step for removing coarse soiling by means of clear water and / or sufficiently clean service water,
• at least one subsequent cleaning step with detergent addition to the rinsing liquor liquid, in particular water,
• at least one subsequent intermediate rinse step,
• at least one subsequent rinsing step with the application of liquid mixed with a depressant, in particular a rinse aid, in particular water, and a final drying step in which the cleaned items to be washed is dried.

Depending on the rinsing process or cleaning step of a selected dishwashing program while fresh water and / or service water added with detergent z. B. applied for a cleaning process, for an intermediate rinse, and / or for a rinse on the respective items to be washed. Here in the exemplary embodiment, the liquid used in each case is referred to as a so-called rinsing liquor.

The fan unit LT and the sorption SB are here in the embodiment in the bottom assembly BG below the bottom BO of the washing container SPB housed. The air duct LK extends from an outlet opening ALA, which is provided above the bottom BO of the washing container SPB in the side wall SW, outside of this side wall SW with an inlet-side pipe section RA1 down to the fan unit LT in the bottom assembly BG. The output of the fan unit LT is connected to an inlet opening EO of the sorption container SB via an end-side connecting section VA of the air duct LK. The outlet opening ALA of the washing container SPB is provided above its bottom BO in such a height that the penetration of rinsing liquor liquid or detergent foam during the respective rinsing step or cleaning step is largely avoided.

The fan unit is preferably designed as axial fan. It serves for the forced flow of a sorption unit SE in the sorption container SB with moist-hot air LS1 from the rinsing container SPB during the respective drying process. The sorption unit SE contains reversibly dehydrogenatable sorption material ZEO, which can absorb and store moisture from the air LS2 conducted through it. The sorption SB has in the near-ceiling region of its housing on the top of an outflow opening AO, which is connected via an outlet member AU, in particular a Ausströmstutzen, through an insertion opening DG in the bottom BO of the washing compartment SPB with its interior. In this way, during the drying step of the respective dishwashing program for drying cleaned items damp hot air LS1 from the interior of the washing container SPB can be sucked through the outlet opening ALA by means of the switched-in fan unit LT in the air duct LK and the tubular Connecting portion VA between the fan unit and the sorbent container in the interior of the sorbent SB to Zwangsbeströmung the reversibly dehydratable sorbent material ZEO be transported in the sorption SE. The sorption material ZEO of the sorption unit SE extracts liquid droplets, in particular water moisture, from the moist air flowing through, so that air dried after the sorption unit SE can be blown into the interior of the rinsing container SPB via the outlet element or blow-out element AUS. In this way, a closed air circulation system is provided by this sorption drying device STE.

In the sorption container SB, at least one air heating device HZ1 for desorption and thus regeneration of the sorption material ZEO is arranged upstream of its sorption unit SE in the flow direction. The air-heating device HZ1 serves for heating air LS1, which is guided by means of the fan unit LT via the air duct LK in the sorption SB and there blown through the sorbent ZEO the sorption SE. This positively heated air LS2 absorbs stored moisture, in particular water, from the sorption material ZEO as it flows through the sorption material ZEO, which has been stored in it previously in a preceding drying step of an expired dishwasher program. This expelled from the sorbent material ZEO water is transported by the heated air through the outlet element AUS of the sorbent SB in the interior of the washing container SB. This desorption process preferably takes place when the heating or the heating of the rinsing liquid is required at the beginning of a rinsing process, in particular pre-rinsing process, and / or subsequent cleaning process of a subsequent dishwashing program. Then, advantageously, the air heated for the desorption process by the air heating device HZ1 can simultaneously be used for heating the rinsing liquid in the rinsing tank SPB, for heating its interior walls, and / or the items to be washed in the rinsing tank, which saves energy. The heating of the respective rinsing liquor liquid may possibly be effected by desorption alone with the sorption drying apparatus.

The dishwasher GS also has in the bottom BO of their washing container SPB a pump sump PS, which has a screen system. The pump sump PS serves to collect rinsing liquor, which is sprayed by the spray arms SA during the respective rinsing process. The pump sump PS is connected via a line system ZL with the upper and the lower spray arm SA. In this case, a circulation pump UP is provided in the connection area of the pump sump PS, which feeds the rinsing liquid from the pump sump PS into the supply lines of the line system ZL. Furthermore, a suction or drain pump LP is connected to the pump sump PS, with which a spent rinsing liquor liquid from the pump sump PS can be partially or completely pumped into a sewer line EL.

For heating the rinsing liquor is in the line ZL, here in the embodiment in the circulation pump UP, if necessary, a water heater DLE or a heat exchanger as additional liquid heating device for Sorptionstrocknungsvorrichtung STE provided. With it, the respective rinsing liquor liquid can be heated additionally or independently to the Desorptionsaufheizungsvorgang the Sorptionstocknungseinrichtung. The circulation pump UP and the water heater DLE are each supplied together or separately from each other via at least one electrical power supply line SVL5 of a main controller HE from electrical energy. In particular, the electrical power supply line SVL5 comprises at least a first power supply line as a live phase and at least a second power supply line as a neutral. Furthermore, the drain pump LP is connected in a manner analogous to the circulation pump UP via a power supply line SVL6 with the main control device HE. The main control device HE is connected via a connection power supply line SVL1 to the public power supply network EN. It switches the power supply line SVL5 to the water heater DLE and / or the circulation pump UP, if heating or heating of the washing liquor is required for the respective rinsing or cleaning process and switches it off if no heating of the washing liquor is required. In an analogous manner, the main control device HE switches on the suction or drain pump LP if, in a rinsing or cleaning step by the main control device HE required that a spent rinse liquor liquid from the sump PS is to be pumped partially or completely into the sewer line EL ,

In the FIG. 1 is in the base assembly BG in addition to the main control device HE an additional control device ZE is provided which serves the control or control and the power supply of the fan unit LT and the air heater HZ1 the Sorptionstrocknungsvorrichtung STE. For this purpose, the additional control device ZE is connected to the main control device HE via a power supply line SVL2. In addition, the additional control device ZE is controlled by the main control device HE via at least one bus line or signal line DB. At least one energy supply line SVL3 is led to the heating device HZ1 of the sorption container SB by the additional control device ZE. In particular, it comprises at least a first power supply line as a live phase and at least a second power supply line as a neutral. The additional control device ZE also controls the fan unit LT via a control line SLV4. In particular, a power supply line for the fan unit LT can also be integrated in the control line SLV4.

The additional control unit ZE is therefore designed here as a separate functional component and arranged spatially separated from the main control device at a distance EF. As a result, the functional reliability for the additional control unit, which is responsible for the one or more electrical components of the sorption drying device, can advantageously be increased if there were an error in the main control device. Conversely, the main control device can be decoupled from the additional control unit so that it can continue to perform its assigned operating functions properly, even if the additional control unit fails or has some other malfunction. Here in the embodiment of FIG. 1 For example, the auxiliary control unit is located at a different location in the domestic dishwasher than the main control device. As a result, the functional reliability can be largely ensured both for the main control device and for the additional control unit.

Furthermore, here the additional control unit ZE is spatially arranged at a predeterminable minimum distance MA from the sorption container SB of the sorption drying device STE. Through this minimum distance to be maintained can in a reliable manner Inadmissibly high thermal stresses of the additional control unit, which could occur by the thermal heating of Sorptionstrocknungsmaterial in the sorption of the sorption drying by means of at least one heating device, are largely avoided. Their reliable operation is thus guaranteed.

As soon as a drying process by means of the sorption drying device STE is now desired to conclude a dishwasher program, the main control device HE transmits a control signal SS1 to the auxiliary control device ZE via the control line DB in such a way that it switches on the fan unit LT via the control line SLV4, so that moist, hot air is released the rinsing container can be sucked into the air duct LK and fed to the sorption SB for drying.

As soon as a desorption process is initiated by the main control device HE, it transmits by means of the control signal SS1 to the additional control device ZE that the heating device HZ1 of the sorption container SB and the fan unit LT are to be switched on by the latter. The additional control unit ZE then switches on these two electrical components HZ1, LT of the sorption drying device STE.

In order to monitor the functionality of the control line DB, ie in particular to be able to detect a communication error / or an interruption of the control line DB, the additional control unit ZE has a kind of "dead man monitoring logic" or "watch dog" monitoring logic. This is activated in particular when a desorption process is planned by the program flow logic of the main control device HE or if a desorption process has already been started by it in particular. The main control device HE then transmits a plurality of switch-on commands at defined time intervals or pause times from one another via the control line DB to the additional control unit ZE. In particular, the main control device transmits cyclically the same switch-on command P1 at constant time intervals TZ via the signal line DB to the additional control unit ZE. This is in the FIG. 2 illustrated. The time t in seconds (sec) is plotted along the abscissa, while the ordinate represents the time profile of the control signal SS1 assigned. At time tEH detects the additional control unit ZE means of their "watch-dog" monitoring logic WD the falling edge of a first, from the main controller HE incoming power-on command P _1.0 . It then turns on the heater HZ1 to start the desorption process desired by the main controller. During this desorption process, the main control device HE transmits, at defined, constant time intervals WZ, further switch-on commands P _1,1 , P _1,2 , P _1,3 , .... P _{1, k + 1} from one another, ie the successive switch-on commands have, for example their falling edges in each case a time interval or a cycle time WZ as waiting time. The "watch-dog" monitoring logic WD of the additional control unit ZE has for this purpose a clock or timer unit TAE, which has an upper limit TG for the waiting time WZ between the receiving clock times such as tk, tk + 1 each two consecutively sent switching commands such as P _{1, k} , P _{1, k + 1} defines. Between the falling edge of the respective turn-on command such as P _{1, k} and the rising edge of the respective subsequent turn-on command P _{1, k + 1} is a predetermined pause time or dead time. As long as the "watch-dog" monitoring logic WD receives these switch-on commands P _1.0 with P _{1, k + 1} in the predetermined time trigger grid, it classifies the control line DB as functional. However, if an upper limit TG is exceeded for the given cycle time or waiting time WZ between every two successive switch-on commands, such as P _{1, k} , P _{1, k + 1} , without the switch-on command P _{1 being} detected by the watch-dog monitoring logic WD , the "watch-dog" monitoring logic interprets this as an error case, ie as a disturbance of the communication connection and / or as an interruption of the control line DB between the main control device HE and the additional control unit ZE. It can be expedient in particular to define a critical waiting time TG as the upper limit for the "watch-dog" monitoring logic WD, which is greater than the waiting time or cycle time WZ between two successive switching commands such as P _{1, k} , P ₁ , _{k + 1} is. In the FIG. 2 this upper limit TG for the waiting time TG is I times the cycle time TZ between the cyclically consecutive switch-on commands, where I> 1. If this critical waiting time TG has been exceeded without receipt of a switch-on command, this recognizes or interprets the "watch-dog" monitoring logic WD in the event of a fault and automatically switches off the heating device HZ1 of the sorption drying device STE. By this autarkic automatic shutdown the additional control unit is in any case ensures that the heater HZ1 is turned off. Because in this interruption or accident on the control line DB it would no longer be possible for the additional control unit ZE to receive a switch-off command from the main control unit HE. In this way, it is reliably avoided that the heating device HZ1 continues to heat until the sorption material ZEO would be brought to inadmissibly high heating temperatures in the sorption container SB.

FIG. 3 illustrates, with reference to a flowchart, how the control line DB between the main controller HE and the additional control unit ZE is monitored. The main control device HE transmits a switch-on command via the control line DB to the additional control unit ZE from the switch-on operation, ie from the start step S0 of the respective desorption process, at periodic time intervals WZ. Its "watch-dog" monitoring logic loads a safety timer, ie a timer, in the following step S1 and starts it in the following step S2. The "watch-dog" monitoring logic thus expects the arrival of a switch-on command, such as, for example, P1.0 with P1, k + 1 from the main control device HE at fixed intervals, ie waiting times WZ. This is in step S3 of FIG. 3 carried out. After expiration of the predetermined waiting time WZ, the "watch-dog" monitoring logic WD checks whether a switch-on command has arrived at the additional control unit ZE or not. If a switch-on command P _{1.0 has} arrived with P _{1, k + 1} , then the "watch-dog" monitoring logic WD loads and starts the time clock WZ again by the timer in steps S1 and S2 as a monitoring loop. On the other hand, if the "watch-dog" monitoring logic determines that no shutdown command has been received after the cycle time WZ has expired, it switches off the security timer in step S4. In the following step S5, it ensures that the heating device HZ1 stops heating the sorption material ZEO. For this purpose, it interrupts the power supply to the heating device HZ1.

In order to avoid that, despite the heating device HZ1 switched off, its residual heat can still lead to an inadmissibly high rise in the temperatures in the sorption material ZEO, it may be expedient to switch off the fan unit LT later than the heating device HZ1. This illustrates the state diagram of Fig. 4 , The time course of the switch - on state of the Heating device HZ1 is designated by the curve CLT, while the course of the on state of the fan unit LT is indicated by CHZ. The heater HZ1 is turned on at the time tEH to start a desorption process. As soon as the additional control unit ZE has registered a fault on the control line DB with the aid of its "watch-dog" monitoring logic, it switches off the heating device HZ1 at the switch-off time tAH, ie off. Only after expiration of a predefinable delay period NLZ the additional control unit ZE also turns off the fan unit LT. As a result of the fact that the fan unit LT continues to blow through an airflow LS2 through the sorption container SB with the sorption material ZEO even after the shutdown time tAH of the heating device, thermal energy is removed from the sorption container SB into the rinsing container SPB through this air flow rate maintained. In this way, it can be avoided that, due to the residual heat of the heating device HZ1 and / or the sorption drying material ZEO in the sorption container SB, even after the switch-off time tAH, an upper temperature limit may be exceeded, above which an inadmissible material stress of the sorption material would begin. In this way, the sorption material ZEO can also be treated gently in case of an accident.

The fan unit LT can be switched on by the additional control unit either before the switch-on time tEH for the heating device HZ1 or at the same time or slightly later. Here in the embodiment of FIG. 4 the fan unit LT is already in operation at the time tEL before the switch-on time tEH the heater HZ1.

In general, therefore, if the communication connection between the main control device HE and the additional control unit ZE is interrupted or disrupted, the heating device HZ1 will automatically be switched off by the additional control unit ZE for safety reasons, ie without further involvement of the main control unit HE. In particular, the heating device is switched off after a critical waiting time of a maximum of 180 seconds after no switch-on command has been detected at the given cycle time. This prevents that in case of failure, the heating device remains active and further heating.

Since the additional control electronics already then engages and shuts down the heating device, if an error occurs on the control line and is not waited until a critical upper temperature limit is reached, from which it would come to a material damage or unacceptable stress of the sorbent material, the sorbent material is largely gentle treated. As a result, its reversibly dehydratable material properties are largely retained over the product life of the dishwasher.

If the additional control unit ZE fails in the event of a fault and there is no shutdown of the heating device HZ1, then at least one electrical temperature protection unit SI can be provided directly on the sorption tank SB for additional safety against thermal overheating as a thermal overheat protection device. This electrical temperature protection unit is inserted in at least one power supply line of the heating device HZ1. It comprises at least one electrical thermal switch and / or a fuse. Thus, if the temperature at the housing of the sorption container SB exceeds an upper limit temperature, then the electrical temperature protection unit SI interrupts at least one power supply line of the heating device HZ1. In this way, a double protection for switching off the heating device against thermal overheating of the sorbent material is provided.

The fact that the additional control unit already switches off the heating device HZ1 when a fault occurs on the control line during a desorption process and is not waited until a critical limit temperature in the sorption tank is exceeded, which would lead to unacceptable stress or even damage to the sorption material, the original reversibly dehydratable material properties of the sorbent material are largely retained. Only then, if the additional control electronics ZE would not turn off the heater in the event of a fault, intervenes as a last resort, the electric temperature protection unit TSI on sorption SB and separates at least one power supply line for the heater HZ1. This electrical temperature protection unit thus forms the second stage of a two-stage thermal protection for the Sorptionstrocknungseinrichtung TSE.

In a similar manner as e.g. For the respective desorption process, the control line DB can also be monitored by the additional control unit during the respective sorption process. In the event of a fault, it switches off only the current fan unit LT since the heating device HZ1 is indeed switched off during sorption.

Possibly. For example, the auxiliary control unit ZE may also monitor a liquid heating device, such as e.g. of the water heater. If there is a communication error, a transmission disturbance or interruption of the signal line from the main control device HE to the additional control device ZE, then the latter in this case switches off this electrical component as well, before thermal damage can occur.

Possibly. For example, the main control device HE can send a switch-off command to the auxiliary control unit ZE in order to switch off the one or more components of the sorption drying device, in particular its heating device HZ1 and / fan unit LT, if a critical limit temperature in the interior of the washing compartment SPB of the domestic dishwasher GS and / or in the region the sorption container SB of the sorption drying device is exceeded. As a result, a further thermal protection is provided, in particular during the desorption operation of the sorption drying device STE. The temperature in the interior of the washing container SPB can be determined, for example, by means of at least one temperature sensor, which is attached, for example, to one of the side walls of the washing container SPB of the dishwasher. In the FIG. 1 a temperature sensor on the side wall of the washing container SPB is connected via a measuring line ML to the main control device HE. In a corresponding manner, in addition or independently thereof, the respective temperature in the region of the sorption container can be determined with the aid of at least one temperature sensor.

Generally speaking, the additional control unit can switch off the sorption drying device, in particular its heating device and / or fan unit, if a critical characteristic, in particular mains voltage deviation and / or mains frequency deviation of the electrical Power supply network with which the main control device and / or the additional control unit is operatively connected, is exceeded. As a result, the sorption drying device is also protected against any unacceptably high fluctuations of one or more parameters of the electrical energy supply network. In particular, this can be ensured, for example, in the case of an excessively high overvoltage that the heating device is turned off before it gives off too high heat output to the sorbent material of the sorption due to the overvoltage.

More generally, therefore, it can be ensured by the additional control unit that an inadmissibly high heating of the sorption material in the sorption container of the sorption drying apparatus is largely avoided. In particular, the exceeding of a critical limit temperature is prevented, which would lead to a material damage of the sorbent material. In this way, it is ensured that the sorption material is heated only gently by means of the heating device. In this way, an irreparable material damage is largely avoided.

Claims (17)

1. Domestic dishwasher (GS) with a main control device (HE) and with at least one sorption drying device (STE), characterised in that, for specific control of at least one electrical component (HZ1) of the sorption drying device (STE) at least one additional control unit (ZE) is provided in addition to the main control device (HE), the additional control unit (ZE) is connected to the main control device (HE) via at least one control line (DB) and the additional control unit (ZE) has watchdog supervision logic (WD) for checking the functional integrity of the control line (DB) during the activation of the sorption drying device (STE) in the respective sorption drying process and/or desorption process.
2. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) is a component of the main control device (HE).
3. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) is embodied as a separate functional component and is arranged spatially separated from the main control device (HE), especially separated by a prespecifiable spatial distance (EF).
4. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 3, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) is arranged at a minimum distance (MA) from the sorption drying device (STE).
5. Domestic dishwasher according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main control device (HE) and/or the additional control unit (ZE) are accommodated in a base module (BG) below the base (BO) of a washing container (SPB).
6. Domestic dishwasher according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sorption drying device (STE) comprises at least one sorption container (SB) with reversibly dehydratable sorption material (ZEO).
7. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 6, characterised in that the sorption drying device (STE) comprises at least one fan unit (LT) and/or at least one heating device (HZ1) assigned to the sorption container (SB) as electrical components.
8. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 7, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) is assigned to the heating device (HZ1) and/or the fan unit (LT) of the sorption drying device (STE) for the supervision and/or setting of at least one operating parameter (HL, tD, n).
9. Domestic dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main control device (HE) consecutively sends the watchdog supervision logic (WD) of the additional control unit (ZE) a plurality of switch-on commands (P1) over the control line (DB), especially cyclically repeats at least one switch-on command (P1).
10. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 9, characterised in that the watchdog supervision logic (WD) of the additional control unit (ZE) has a clock or timer unit (TAE) which defines an upper limit (TG) for the wait time (WZ) between the receive clock times (tk, tk+1) of each two switch-on commands sent consecutively (P_1,k, P_1,k+1).
11. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 10, characterised in that the watchdog supervision logic (WD) of the additional control unit (ZE) monitors whether the upper limit (TG) for the wait time (WZ) without receipt of a next switch-on command (P_1,k+1) is exceeded.
12. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 11, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) switches off at least one electrical component (HZ1, LT) of the sorption drying device (STE) if it is established by the watchdog supervision logic (WD) that the upper limit (TG) for the wait time (WZ) without receipt of a next switch-on command (P1) is exceeded.
13. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 12, characterised in that the watchdog supervision logic (WD) of the additional control unit (ZE) is switched to active for supervision of the functional integrity of the control line (DB) if the heating device (HZ1) of the sorption drying device (STE) is switched on for desorbing the sorption material (ZEO) thereof.
14. Domestic dishwasher according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) switches off the fan unit (LT) of the sorption drying device (STE) after the point in time (tAH) at which the heating device (HZ1) of the sorption drying device (STE) has been switched off only after a prespecifiable run-on time (NLZ) has elapsed.
15. Domestic dishwasher according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) switches off the sorption drying device (STE), especially its heating device (HZ1) and/or fan unit (LT), if a critical limit temperature (TK) is exceeded in the interior of the washing container (SPB) of the domestic dishwasher (GS) and/or in the area of the sorption container (SB) of the sorption drying device (STE).
16. Domestic dishwasher according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the additional control unit (ZE) switches off the sorption drying device (STE), especially its heating device (HZ1) and/or fan unit (LT), if a critical characteristic value, especially a mains voltage deviation (ΔU) and/or mains frequency deviation (Δf) of the electrical energy supply network (EN), to which the main control device (HE) and/or the additional control unit (ZE) is actively connected, is exceeded in the respective sorption and/or desorption process.
17. Method for controlling the sorption drying device (STE) of a domestic dishwasher (GS) according to one of the preceding claims.

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