EP2471432A2 - Verfahren zur Detektion eines Klarspülmittels in einer Klarspülflüssigkeit einer Waschmaschine, insbesondere eines Geschirrspülers - Google Patents

Verfahren zur Detektion eines Klarspülmittels in einer Klarspülflüssigkeit einer Waschmaschine, insbesondere eines Geschirrspülers Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2471432A2
EP2471432A2 EP11194830A EP11194830A EP2471432A2 EP 2471432 A2 EP2471432 A2 EP 2471432A2 EP 11194830 A EP11194830 A EP 11194830A EP 11194830 A EP11194830 A EP 11194830A EP 2471432 A2 EP2471432 A2 EP 2471432A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
rinse
tub
rinse liquid
turbidity
measurement
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP11194830A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP2471432B1 (de
EP2471432B9 (de
EP2471432A3 (de
Inventor
Mario Lippera
Michele Totaro
Fabio Ughetto
Tomasz Dziegiec
Gianluca Benedetto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Original Assignee
Indesit Co SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Indesit Co SpA filed Critical Indesit Co SpA
Priority to PL11194830T priority Critical patent/PL2471432T3/pl
Publication of EP2471432A2 publication Critical patent/EP2471432A2/de
Publication of EP2471432A3 publication Critical patent/EP2471432A3/de
Publication of EP2471432B1 publication Critical patent/EP2471432B1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP2471432B9 publication Critical patent/EP2471432B9/de
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/0018—Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control
    • A47L15/0055—Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2401/00—Automatic detection in controlling methods of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, e.g. information provided by sensors entered into controlling devices
    • A47L2401/10—Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
    • A47L2501/06—Water heaters
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
    • A47L2501/07—Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L2501/00—Output in controlling method of washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware, i.e. quantities or components controlled, or actions performed by the controlling device executing the controlling method
    • A47L2501/26—Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method for detecting a rinse aid agent in a rinse liquid of a washing machine for household use, in particular a dishwasher, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • the present invention also relates to a washing machine for household use, in particular a dishwasher.
  • Household washing machines in particular dishwashers, known in the art comprise a wash tub in which crockery is cleaned through washing means comprising wash liquid and a wash agent; typically said wash liquid and wash agent are sprayed onto the crockery to be washed by at least one sprayer.
  • Said household washing machines comprise means for handling and controlling the operation of the washing machine, which generally comprise an electric or electronic control system capable to implement a number of wash programs.
  • Said wash programs are predefined programs differentiated from one another by parameters such as wash temperature, water quantity and duration.
  • Each wash program of said plurality of wash programs usually comprises:
  • Each wash program of said plurality of wash programs may also comprise:
  • the senor of document no. US 5,797,409A comprises a pair of optical sensors located in the wash tub on diametrically opposed sides. Said pair comprises a luminous signal transmitter and a luminous signal receiver.
  • a luminous ray crossing a fluid undergoes effects due to interaction between the ray itself and the substances dissolved in the fluid, and said interaction essentially translates into deviation and/or absorption of the luminous ray; as a consequence, the greater the degree of turbidity of a fluid, the weaker the luminous signal received by the receiver.
  • the control system of the washing machine detects the presence of rinse aid agent in the rinse liquid.
  • the control system of the washing machine detects the absence of rinse aid agent in the rinse liquid. Once the absence of rinse aid agent in the rinse liquid has been ascertained, the control system of the washing machine increases the duration of the dish drying step.
  • the above-described household dishwasher has many drawbacks.
  • the use of a predefined fixed value for detecting the presence of rinse aid agent in the rinse liquid inevitably implies the risk that the level of limpidity of the rinse liquid is measured incorrectly after the release of the rinse aid agent, in that said measurement may be affected by and may be dependent on a number of possible system variables.
  • some of these variables may consist of different degrees of dirtiness of the crockery treated in a specific program and/or changes (especially due to time and/or food pollutants) in the optical characteristics of the materials where the measurement is taken and/or degradation of the optoelectronic components of the sensors employed, and so on.
  • a further drawback of the above-described solution is that, even if the detection of the rinse aid agent were made correctly, the choice of increasing the duration of the dish drying step would not allow to obtain an adequate energy saving.
  • rinse aid Since the presence of rinse aid is generally a regulatory performance requirement, it is a further object of the present invention to optimize the drying performance in the event of absence of rinse aid, resulting in greater user satisfaction.
  • FIG. 1 designates as a whole a washing machine for household use, in particular a dishwasher, according to the present invention.
  • the washing machine 1 comprises an electric or electronic control system SC for handling and controlling the operation of the washing machine 1, said control system SC being adapted to implement at least one rinse program.
  • the washing machine 1 further comprises a tub 2, within which crockery is cleaned by washing means including a wash liquid, in particular water, possibly added with a detergent.
  • a wash liquid in particular water, possibly added with a detergent.
  • a rinse liquid is delivered to the crockery, in particular water added with a rinse aid agent.
  • Fig. 1 shows a first sprayer 3a associated with a lower rack 4a and a second sprayer 3b associated with an upper rack 4b, said racks 4a, 4b being adapted to receive the crockery to be washed and rinsed.
  • the washing machine 1 also comprises sensing means 5a, 5b, 5c associated with said tub 2 and connected to said control system SC for detecting the degree of turbidity of the wash liquid and of the rinse liquid in the tub 2.
  • said sensing means comprise a pair of optical devices 5a, 5b associated with the tub 2.
  • the pair of optical devices 5a, 5b are positioned on the wall of a pit 6 obtained in a bottom portion of said tub 2 for collecting the wash liquid and the rinse liquid; said optical devices 5a, 5b are arranged in diametrically opposed positions, adjacent to the walls of the pit 6, and comprise a luminous signal emitter 5a and a luminous signal receiver 5b, said receiver 5b facing said emitter 5a.
  • said sensing means comprise a wiring 5c adapted to connect said pair of optical devices 5a, 5b to the control system SC of the washing machine 1.
  • the optical devices may be comprised in an integrated detector, with the emitter and the receiver arranged at different ends of said detector (see for example patent EP1335060 ).
  • Fig. 2 shows a basic diagram of the progress of a method for detecting a rinse aid agent in the rinse liquid of the washing machine for household use, in particular a dishwasher, incorporating the features of the present invention
  • the axis of abscissas shows, not in scale, the duration t of the wash cycle, in particular in the rinse program
  • the axis of ordinates shows, in scale, the values of a parameter M inversely proportional to the turbidity index and the values of a logic parameter R pertaining to the active or inactive state of a rinse aid dispenser device (not shown in the annexed drawings), and the temperatures T of said wash cycle, in particular in the rinse program.
  • said method for detecting a rinse aid agent in a rinse liquid is executed by the control system SC of the washing machine 1 and comprises the steps of:
  • the method according to the present invention allows to provide a washing machine 1 for household use, in particular a dishwasher, which allows taking a reliable and constant measurement of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid, and therefore of the presence of rinse aid agent in the rinse liquid.
  • Fig. 2 shows that the luminous signal received by the receiver 5b during the second measurement M2 is weaker than the luminous signal received by the receiver 5b during the first measurement M1; this means that the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid detected in the second measurement M2 is higher than the degree of turbidity detected in the first measurement M1 (and, as a consequence, the degree of transparency of the rinse liquid is lower in the second measurement M2 than in the first measurement M1).
  • step e) may additionally comprise a step of verifying that said predefined increase of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid (i.e. the decrease of the parameter M, which, it must be reminded, is inversely proportional to the turbidity index) between said first measurement M1 and said second measurement M2 is greater (in percentage) that a predetermined upper threshold value X%.
  • said predefined increase of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid i.e. the decrease of the parameter M, which, it must be reminded, is inversely proportional to the turbidity index
  • Said upper threshold value X% is strongly affected by the characteristics of the sensing means 5a, 5b, 5c in use; by way of example, it may be 3% or 7% or 10%. If such a condition occurs, there is certainty that there is rinse aid agent in the tub 2.
  • step e) it may further comprise a step of verifying that the difference in the values of the parameter M of the rinse liquid between said first measurement M1 and said second measurement M2 is smaller (in percentage) than a predetermined lower threshold value Y%, where Y% ⁇ X%.
  • Said lower threshold value Y% is also strongly affected by the characteristics of the sensing means 5a, 5b, 5c in use; by way of example, it may be 5% or 2% or 1 %. If such a condition occurs, there is certainty that there is little or no rinse aid agent in the tub 2.
  • step e) it may additionally comprise the detection of a condition in which the variation of the parameter M of the rinse liquid between said first measurement M1 and said second measurement M2 is comprised between Y% and X%, i.e. is within an intermediate range.
  • the detection of presence, absence or insufficiency of rinse aid may take place if the conditions of step e) occur for a finite and consecutive number of times.
  • the washing machine 1 also comprises heating means 7 adapted to warm up the wash liquid and the rinse liquid in said tub 2.
  • said heating means comprise a resistor 7 associated with the tub 2 of the washing machine 1 and connected to the control system SC of the washing machine 1 through a second wiring 7a.
  • said heating means 7 may consist of other elements known in the art, and may be associated with different elements of the washing machine 1.
  • the heating means 7 may be associated with a circuit for distributing the wash liquid and the rinse liquid in the washing machine 1; in particular, said distribution circuit may comprise a delivery duct 8 associated with a pump 9, a first valve 10a for supplying wash liquid and rinse liquid to a first pipe 11a associated with the first sprayer 3a, and a second valve 10b for supplying wash liquid and rinse liquid to a second pipe 11b associated with the second sprayer 3b.
  • said step e) is followed by a step f) of activating said heating means 7 in order to warm up said rinse liquid to a first temperature T1, lower than a reference temperature TR, in the event that said step e) has verified the existence of a predefined increase of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid in the tub 2.
  • the step f) of activating the heating means 7 to a first temperature T1 lower than a reference temperature TR allows to attain an adequate energy saving, while at the same time not altering the crockery drying performance of the washing machine 1 according to the present invention, since the rinse aid agents known in the art also have the function of facilitating the drying of the crockery.
  • the detection of rinse aid agents in the tub 2 allows activating the heating means 7 to a first temperature T1 lower than a reference temperature TR, in particular during a possible step of drying and/or rinsing the crockery following a wash cycle.
  • the heating means 7 will be activated to a temperature higher than said reference temperature TR in the event that said step e) verifies that the increase of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid between said first measurement M1 and said second measurement M2 is smaller than said predetermined lower threshold value Y%.
  • Said step e) is followed by a step g) of activating signalling means 12 in the event that said step e) has not verified the existence of a predefined increase of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid in the tub 2.
  • the activation of the signalling means 12 allows warning a user about the fact that the rinse aid agent was not actually released into the tub 2 during the release step R.
  • the step a) of taking a first measurement M1 of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid in the tub 2 may be carried out at the end of a first dish wash step.
  • a wash agent such as a detergent adapted to remove dirt from crockery, is typically added to the wash liquid supplied from the water main.
  • said step a) of taking a first measurement M1 of the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid in the tub 2 may be carried out during an intermediate rinse step to be executed between said first wash step and a second rinse aid step; said rinse aid step substantially begins with the rinse aid release step R.
  • the method for detecting a rinse aid agent according to the present invention is implemented by keeping the revolution speed of a pump 9 substantially constant; in particular, said method is implemented with a revolution speed of the pump 9 of approximately 2500 revolutions per minute (rpm).
  • Said method is preferably executed when the rinse liquid is at a temperature between 40°C and 50°C, preferably between 45°C and 48°C, more preferably at a temperature of 47°C.
  • said step of releasing R the rinse aid agent into the tub 2 may be carried out by opening a distributor device (not shown in the drawings) filled with said rinse aid agent, said distributor device being usually positioned in a door (not shown in the drawings since it is known in the art) allowing access to the tub 2.
  • Said release step R may also be carried out by using a so-called "multiphase preparation", which typically comprises an active principle adapted to aid the rinsing of the dishes, coated with a layer of protective material, usually wax, which melts optimally when a certain temperature is reached inside the tub 2.
  • multiphase preparation typically comprises an active principle adapted to aid the rinsing of the dishes, coated with a layer of protective material, usually wax, which melts optimally when a certain temperature is reached inside the tub 2.
  • the method for detecting a rinse aid agent in a rinse liquid of a washing machine 1 for household use, in particular a dishwasher, according to the present invention allows taking a reliable and constant measurement of both the degree of turbidity of the rinse liquid and of the presence of rinse aid agent in the rinse liquid.
  • the method according to the present invention allows making a detection which is not affected by or dependent on a number of possible system variables, such as the degree of dirtiness of the crockery treated in a specific program and/or changes in the optical characteristics of the materials where the measurement is taken and/or degradation of the optoelectronic components of the sensing means in use.
  • a further advantage of the method according to the present invention is that the activation of the heating means 7 to a first temperature T1 lower than a reference temperature TR allows to attain an adequate energy saving, while at the same time not altering the performance, in particular the dish drying performance, of the washing machine 1.
  • Another advantage of the method according to the present invention is that the detection of the presence of rinse aid agents in the tub 2 allows to eliminate those mechanical, electromechanical or electronic devices known in the art for detecting the rinse aid agent in the distributor device into which said rinse aid agent can be placed. This elimination inevitably implies a reduction in the costs incurred when manufacturing the washing machine 1.
  • the dishwashing machine comprises a method alternative to condensation for drying the crockery.
  • patent application WO2009/008828 describes a dishwashing machine equipped with a dedicated evaporation-type drying circuit.
  • the drying processes are controlled by taking into account the presence, absence or insufficiency of rinse aid agent following a detection made by means of a turbidity sensor.
  • One may even perform a full calibration of the drying system in use e.g. a system comprising: fan, electric resistor, hygroscopic material, etc.
  • a full calibration of the drying system in use e.g. a system comprising: fan, electric resistor, hygroscopic material, etc.

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  • Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
EP11194830.3A 2010-12-23 2011-12-21 Verfahren zur Detektion eines Klarspülmittels in einer Klarspülflüssigkeit einer Waschmaschine, insbesondere eines Geschirrspülers Not-in-force EP2471432B9 (de)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PL11194830T PL2471432T3 (pl) 2010-12-23 2011-12-21 Sposób wykrywania środka do płukania w płynie płuczącym zmywarki do użytku domowego, w szczególności zmywarki do naczyń

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT001045A ITTO20101045A1 (it) 2010-12-23 2010-12-23 Metodo per il rilevamento di un agente brillantante in un liquido di risciacquo di una macchina di lavaggio di uso domestico, in particolare una lavastoviglie, e relativa macchina di lavaggio.

Publications (4)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2471432A2 true EP2471432A2 (de) 2012-07-04
EP2471432A3 EP2471432A3 (de) 2012-10-17
EP2471432B1 EP2471432B1 (de) 2015-10-14
EP2471432B9 EP2471432B9 (de) 2016-01-06

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP11194830.3A Not-in-force EP2471432B9 (de) 2010-12-23 2011-12-21 Verfahren zur Detektion eines Klarspülmittels in einer Klarspülflüssigkeit einer Waschmaschine, insbesondere eines Geschirrspülers

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2471432B9 (de)
IT (1) ITTO20101045A1 (de)
PL (1) PL2471432T3 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10595704B2 (en) * 2016-06-10 2020-03-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Control method for dishwasher by detecting rinsing agent

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US11344176B2 (en) 2019-10-16 2022-05-31 Haier Us Appliance Solutions, Inc. Dishwasher appliances and methods for determining wash additive levels

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5797409A (en) 1995-06-08 1998-08-25 Maytag Corporation Enhanced draining and drying cycles for an automatic dishwasher
EP1335060A1 (de) 2002-01-31 2003-08-13 Elektromanufaktur Zangenstein, Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA Trübungssensor mit Temperaturerfassung für Haushaltsgeräte
WO2009008828A1 (en) 2007-07-09 2009-01-15 Asko Cylinda Ab Dish washer provided with a drying system

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
IT1392420B1 (it) * 2008-12-22 2012-03-02 Indesit Co Spa Lavastoviglie.

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5797409A (en) 1995-06-08 1998-08-25 Maytag Corporation Enhanced draining and drying cycles for an automatic dishwasher
EP1335060A1 (de) 2002-01-31 2003-08-13 Elektromanufaktur Zangenstein, Hanauer GmbH & Co. KGaA Trübungssensor mit Temperaturerfassung für Haushaltsgeräte
WO2009008828A1 (en) 2007-07-09 2009-01-15 Asko Cylinda Ab Dish washer provided with a drying system

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10595704B2 (en) * 2016-06-10 2020-03-24 Lg Electronics Inc. Control method for dishwasher by detecting rinsing agent

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP2471432B1 (de) 2015-10-14
PL2471432T3 (pl) 2016-02-29
EP2471432B9 (de) 2016-01-06
EP2471432A3 (de) 2012-10-17
ITTO20101045A1 (it) 2012-06-24

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