EP2759244A1 - Dishwasher and method for the introduction of fresh water into a dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves supplying fresh water from a fresh water recirculating pump (11) to a dishwasher (1) and connecting the recirculating pump fluidically to a collecting pot (10) when fresh water is supplied to the dishwasher from a fresh water discharge point. The mixed water is collected at the collecting pot that is fluidly connected to a feed pump (13). The feed pump is operated time-dependently. The feed pump is operated depending on the volume and based on the amount of supplied fresh water. An independent claim is included for a dishwasher.

Description

The invention relates to a dishwashing machine, in particular in the embodiment as a domestic dishwasher, with a washing compartment providing a washing container, which opens into a collecting pot, a circulating pump and a feed pump, which are each fluidically connected to the collecting pot, and with a fresh water inlet.

The invention further relates to a method for the introduction of fresh water in a dishwasher, in particular in a domestic dishwasher, in which the fresh water is supplied to the dishwasher from a fresh water delivery point.

Dishwashers of the type mentioned are well known from the prior art, which is why it does not require a separate documentary proof at this point.

Automatic dishwashers previously known from the prior art typically have a washing container which provides a washing compartment. In the intended use case, the washing compartment takes on to be cleaned items. In this case, a feed opening provided by the washing container is provided for charging the washing compartment with items to be cleaned. This is fluid-tight manner by means of a Spülraumtür, which is preferably pivotally mounted about a horizontally extending pivot axis.

For loading of items to be cleaned with rinse liquor within the rinsing container rotatably arranged spray arms. These are typically supplied with rinsing fluid via a circulation pump. Depending on the configuration of the dishwasher, two, three or more spray arms can be provided.

At the beginning of a washing program the dishwasher is supplied with fresh water from a fresh water delivery point. The collection pot of the dishwasher has for this purpose, a fresh water inlet, which is fluidically connected to the fresh water discharge point, for example by means of a hose. Once the collecting pot is filled with sufficient fresh water for proper operation of the circulating pump, the circulation pump is put into operation, as a result of which the spray arms are charged with wash liquor. After the intended termination of a wash program and / or a wash program section, wash liquor accumulating in the collection pot can be pumped off and disposed of by means of a feed pump fluidically connected to the collection pot.

Although the above-described automatic dishwashers have proven themselves in everyday practical use, there is a need for improvement, especially with regard to a desirable way to avoid Laugenverschleppung. It is therefore an object of the invention to propose a dishwasher of the type mentioned, which is structurally further developed such that a Laugenverschleppung can be minimized. It should also be proposed a novel method for the introduction of fresh water in a dishwasher.

Device side is proposed to solve this problem, a dishwasher of the type mentioned, which is characterized in that the circulation pump has the fresh water inlet.

The method side is proposed to solve the above problem that the fresh water fed to a circulation pump of dishwashers and pumplessly introduced from there into a pump connected to the circulation pump collecting pot, said accumulating in the collecting pot mixing water from fresh and residual water by means of a collection pot fluidically connected pump is pumped out.

The dishwashing machine according to the invention is characterized in that, unlike the prior art, not the collecting pot, but the fluidically connected thereto circulation pump has the fresh water inlet. In terms of the process, this leads to the fact that the fresh water inlet takes place in contrast to the prior art via the circulation pump. As a result, it is advantageously possible to flush the flow path from the circulating pump via the collecting pot into the feed pump with fresh water before the actual Program sequence or subsequent program sections begin. From a previous program or program section in Geschirrspülautoamten remaining leftover water is displaced as a result of this fresh water discharge and can be disposed of by pumping by means of the pump. Leach and / or chloride carryover in the subsequent rinse or program section can be avoided.

The fresh water supplied to the dishwasher is typically subjected to descaling. For this purpose, a device for fresh water descaling is provided, which is upstream of the fresh water inlet of the automatic dishwasher. From time to time, regeneration of the decalcifier requires rinsing with saline solution. Depending on the degree of hardness of the fresh water, such backwashing takes place, for example, after ten to fifteen cleaning cycles completed as intended.

Due to the design remains even after a proper pumping out of wash liquor by means of the feed pump a non-recoverable remainder in the feed pump housing, the collecting pot and in the circulation pump housing, the flange and the collecting pot connection. This residual rinse liquor is strongly chloride-containing after a previous regeneration cycle of the decalcifier. If an intended washing program is then started by the introduction of fresh water, mixing with the residual rinsing liquor still present in the automatic dishwasher is the result, which leads to carryover of lye and chlorides into the started program sequence of the washing program. Adversely, it can lead to corrosion, both on the machine side components, such as heaters, pump housings and / or the like, as well as on the items to be cleaned.

In order to counteract such leaching and / or chloride carryover, it has become known from the prior art to carry out an intermediate purging after the end of a regeneration of the descaling device. For this purpose, the collecting pot is filled with fresh water and then there is a pumping by means of the feed pump, before then the actual washing program begins with the re-introduction of fresh water.

This intermediate rinsing, which is known from the prior art, can not substantially prevent leaching and / or chloride carryover. This for two reasons. On the one hand, only a dilution of the residual rinsing liquor in the vending machine takes place through the fresh water inlet into the collecting pot. An actual spreading of the residual rinse liquor does not take place. On the other hand, not all collecting points of residual rinsing liquor can be achieved by introducing fresh water into the collection pot, for example those in the circulating pump or the supply line.

The embodiment of the invention provides a remedy. Characterized in that the fresh water inlet is provided by the circulation pump, results from the circulation pump to the feed pump with the interposition of the collecting pot a continuous flow path, which is flushed with introduction of fresh water. In this case, the residual rinse liquor present in the machine is not only merely mixed with the fresh water, but there is a substantial expulsion of the residual rinse liquor by displacement. It can be achieved with relatively little fresh water, a nearly complete disposal of Restspülflotte, so that in the subsequent program step largely no lye and / or chloride residues are deported. The known from the prior art corrosion problems are thus largely eliminated.

The fresh water inlet is preferably preceded by a check valve in the inflow of fresh water. This ensures during operation of the circulation pump that rinsing water can not inadvertently flow in the direction of the water discharge point and thus in the fresh water decalcification.

The process-side introduction of fresh water for the purpose of purging takes place when the circulating pump is switched off, that is to say without a pump. The fresh water conveyed into the circulating pump flows through the circulation pump and from there via the corresponding connecting line directly to the collecting pot. From here can then take place a removal by switching on the pump. It is preferred that in a fresh water inlet via the circulation pump, a simultaneous switching of the feed pump takes place, so that a discharge of befindlichem in the machine residual rinse takes place simultaneously with the fresh water inlet. A removal of remaining in the machine residual rinse liquor is thus carried out during the introduction of fresh water, preferably the feed pump at the start of the introduction turned on by fresh water. The feed pump is preferably switched on during the predominant, in particular total or almost entire, period of time in which fresh water is introduced for flushing through.

In this case, the feed pump according to a further embodiment of the invention can be operated time-dependent, for example, for a certain, in particular predetermined or predetermined, duration. In addition to this or alternatively, the feed pump can also be operated volume-dependent. For this purpose, corresponding volume meters can be inserted into the pump inlet or outlet lines.

A volume-dependent operation of the feed pump can be done, for example, depending on the amount of supplied fresh water. Accordingly, an operation of the feed pump in dependence on the supplied fresh water amount. If the inflow volume of fresh water varies, the delivery pump is adjusted accordingly in terms of its delivery rate. Alternatively, a volume-dependent operation of the feed pump may also be dependent on the amount of mixed water conveyed away. In this case, a feed pump control takes place as a function of the amount of mixed water actually delivered by the feed pump.

The particular advantage of the method implementation according to the invention is that displaced by the introduction of fresh water in the machine residual water is displaced, which can then be pumped out and disposed of by means of the pump. In contrast to the prior art, therefore, not only is a simple dilution of the residual water present in the machine. The feed pump should be adjusted accordingly, so that as complete as possible removal of the residual water located in the machine can be achieved.

The inventive method for introducing fresh water allows, as described above, in particular an improved intermediate rinse after completion of a regeneration of the descaling device. Such is known to take place not in each standard rinse but only after several, typically ten to fifteen intended cleaning cycles.

However, the inventive method is advantageously also in a Standard rinsing program in which no regeneration of the decalcifier takes place, carried out.

A wash program typically has several program sections, in particular the program sections CLEAN and RINSE. It is known from the prior art to carry out a short program INTERMEDIATE WASHING between CLEANING and RINSING. The cleaning liquor is carried away at the end of the program section CLEANING and again introduced fresh water into the collecting pot in the INTERMEDIATE WASH section and run for several minutes in the circulation by means of the spray on the dishes, with no addition of detergent additives. The intermediate flushing can be done in particular with cold or heated water. Subsequently, the cleaning liquor is again conveyed off and fresh water is introduced again in the subsequent program section RINSING. The program section INTERMEDIATE RINSE is intended to prevent the carryover of lye and cleaner residues into the program section RINSING.

However, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, such a conventional program section INTERMEDIATE SPILLING is dispensed with. Instead, the pumping out of the cleaning liquor at the end of the program section CLEANING is followed by a program section, which is referred to below as the program section FLUSHING, in accordance with the above-described method according to the invention for introducing fresh water into the automatic dishwashing machine.

According to a further aspect, the invention thus relates to a method for operating a dishwasher with a wash program, which has a program section FLUSH between a program section CLEAN and a program section RINSE. In the program section FLUSHING the dishwasher is fed fresh water from a fresh water delivery point, the fresh water is fed to a circulation pump of the dishwasher and pumplessly introduced from there into a pump connected to the circulation pump collecting pot, said accumulating in the collecting pot mixing water from fresh and residual water means a fluidically connected to the collecting pot pump is pumped out. After the supplied fresh water is completely pumped out and thus the program section FLUSHING is completed, followed by the program section RINSING, which in turn takes place an introduction of fresh water. The program sections CLEAN, RINSE and RINSE preferably follow one another directly.

Through this design of the program section FLUSH, a considerable amount of water and / or energy can be saved in relation to a conventional program section INTERMEDIATE RINSING. In particular, a smaller amount of water is required. In addition, the circulating pump is not put into operation in the program section FLUSHING. As a result, on the one hand this program section consumes less energy, on the other hand there is no fresh water supply and thereby cooling of the items to be washed and the treatment room as in the conventional method, so that for the subsequent program section RINSING a lower compared heating power is needed.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung einen Geschirrspülautomaten nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

diagrammartig die erfindungsgemäße Verfahrensabwicklung, wobei schematisch der Ausgangsbetriebszustand dargestellt ist;

Fig. 3

diagrammartig die erfindungsgemäße Verfahrensabwicklung, wobei schematisch ein Reinigungsvorgang dargestellt ist und

Fig. 4

diagrammartig die erfindungsgemäße Verfahrensabwicklung, wobei schematisch der Start eines bestimmungsgemäßen Spülprogramms dargestellt ist.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to FIGS. Show

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a dishwasher according to the invention;

Fig. 2

diagrammatically the method according to the invention, wherein the output operating state is shown schematically;

Fig. 3

Diagrammatic process execution according to the invention, wherein a cleaning process is shown schematically and

Fig. 4

Diagrammatic process execution according to the invention, wherein schematically the start of a proper washing program is shown.

Fig. 1 can be seen in a schematic view of a dishwasher according to the invention in the particular embodiment as a household dishwasher 1.

The household dishwasher 1 has a housing 2. Within the housing 2, a washing container 3 is arranged, which provides a washing compartment 4. Of the Dish 4 is accessible via a feed opening 8, which feed opening 8 by means of a Spülraumtür 9 is fluid-tightly closed.

When used as intended, the washing compartment 4 serves to receive items to be cleaned. For the positioning of the items to be cleaned within the washing compartment 4, a washing basket 5 is used. This can be removed from the washing compartment 4 on the user side or introduced into it.

For the purpose of loading of items to be cleaned with rinse liquor is a spray used, which has spray arms 6 and 7.

The rinsing tank 3 opens into a collecting pot 10, to which a circulating pump 11 is fluidically connected via a line 12 and a delivery pump 13 is connected via a line 14.

The circulating pump 11 is used in the intended use of the circulation of the intended for charging the ware wash solution. This is discharged via the spray arms 6 and 7 in the direction of the items to be cleaned, from where it drips and accumulates on the bottom side of the washing container 3 in the collecting pot 10, from where by means of the circulation pump 11, a redistribution to the spray arms 6 and 7th can take place.

After intended continuous cleaning the rinsing liquor is carried away by means of the feed pump 13, that is disposed of by pumping.

Due to the design also remains after pumping by means of the pump 13, a non-recoverable residual liquor in the pump housing of the circulation pump and the collecting pot, the pump housing of the feed pump and optionally the lines 12 and 14th

Like the others FIGS. 2 to 4 can be seen, the domestic dishwasher 1 is connected to a fresh water discharge point 23, for example a faucet. Dishwasher side, a fresh water inlet 17 is provided, said fresh water inlet 17 is provided according to the invention of the circulation pump 11.

The fresh water inlet 17, a check valve 19 and a device for Frischwasserenthärtung 21 are upstream in the inflow of fresh water. For fluidic connection, the lines 18, 20 and 22, wherein the line 22, the fresh water discharge point 23 with the fresh water softening device 21, the line 20, the Frischwasserenthärtungseinrichtung 21 with the check valve 19 and the line 18, the check valve 19 fluidly connects the circulating pump side fresh water inlet 17 ,

Fig. 2 allows the process side to recognize the operating output status. The check valve 19 is closed and fresh water can not flow through the water inlet 17 into the circulation pump 11.

Fig. 3 lets recognize a cleaning cycle according to the method according to the invention. The Frischwasserabgabestelle 23 stemming fresh water is supplied with open check valve 19 in accordance with the arrows 24 of the circulation pump 11, from where it flows into the collecting pot 10 pumpless. Simultaneously with the fresh water discharge, the feed pump 13 is put into operation, as a result of which in accordance with the arrows 25 in the dishwasher 1 residual liquor expelled by the incoming fresh water, that is displaced and pumped by the feed pump 13 in accordance with the arrow 26 can be pumped.

By introducing the fresh water over the circulation pump 11 provided by the fresh water inlet 17 is achieved that the entire flow path from the check valve 19 is flushed through to the feed pump 13 and thus cleaned, which lye and chloride residues are not only diluted, but pumped out. Lye and chloride carryover into a next wash program can be avoided as far as possible. In particular, a flushing not only of the collecting pot but also the pump housing and supply lines takes place.

Another advantage in this context is that it requires only a relatively small amount of fresh water for flushing with fresh water according to the invention, since, in contrast to the prior art, not a dilution, but a displacement of the Restspülflotte takes place. Fresh water levels of less than 1.0 l, preferably less than 0.9 l, more preferably less than 0.8 l, and even more preferably less than 0.7 l are usually sufficient.

Due to the incoming fresh water in the circulation pump housing and a simultaneous discharge from the dishwasher 1 by the feed pump 13, there is a reversal of the watercourse to the watercourse normal in operation. As a result, particle and dirt accumulations can be solved and rinsed out in particular in the circulation pump housing. In addition, the residual alkalinity is dissolved on the typically used tubular heater and mitabgefördert. In addition, it is advantageous that through the water inlet directly to the circulation pump 11 air can be better displaced from the pump housing, which ensures an improved pump operation.

Fig. 4 Finally, a program cleaning can be seen schematically. When the feed pump 13 is switched off, fresh water is introduced via the fresh water inlet 17 provided by the circulating pump 11, from where it passes into the collecting pot 10 in correspondence with the arrows 24 and into the washing container 3 in correspondence with the arrows 27. It is filled in the machine 1 so much fresh water until operation of the circulation pump 11 is possible in the intended manner. As soon as this amount of fresh water is introduced, the check valve 19 is closed and an operation of the circulation pump 11 starts. This sucks in the rinsing tank 3 located rinse liquor and distributes them in accordance with the arrows 15 and 16 on the spray arms 6 and 7. After successful cleaning carried out in a conventional manner conveying the rinsing liquor by means of the feed pump 13. <B> LIST OF REFERENCES </ b> 1 Domestic dishwasher 18 management 2 casing 19 check valve 3 rinse tank 20 management 4 Wash cabinet 21 Frischwasserenthärtung 5 wash rack 22 management 6 spray arm 23 Fresh water discharge point 7 spray arm 24 arrow 8th loading port 25 arrow 9 door 26 arrow 10 collecting pot 27 arrow 11 circulating pump 12 management 13 feed pump 14 management 15 arrow 16 arrow 17 Fresh water inlet

Claims (8)

Method for introducing fresh water into an automatic dishwasher, in particular in a domestic dishwasher (1), wherein the fresh water is supplied to the dishwasher from a fresh water discharge point (23), characterized in that the fresh water of a circulation pump (11) of the dishwasher supplied and from there pumped into a to the circulating pump (11) fluidly connected collecting pot (10) is introduced, wherein in the collecting pot (10) accumulating mixed water of fresh and residual water by means of a collection pot (10) fluidly connected pump (13) is pumped out. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the feed pump (13) is operated time-dependent. A method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the feed pump (13) is operated volume-dependent. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the feed pump (13) is operated in dependence on the amount of supplied fresh water. A method according to claim 3, characterized in that the feed pump (13) is operated in dependence on the amount of discharged mixed water. Dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher (1), with a rinsing container (3) providing a rinsing chamber (3), which opens into a collecting pot (10), a circulation pump (11) and a delivery pump (13), which in each case flow-related to the collecting pot (10 ) are connected, and with a fresh water inlet (17), characterized in that the circulation pump (11) has the fresh water inlet (17). Dishwasher according to claim 6, characterized in that the fresh water inlet (17) in the inflow direction of the fresh water, a check valve (19) is connected upstream. Dishwasher according to claim 7, characterized in that the shut-off valve (19) in the inflow direction of the fresh water, a device for fresh water softening (21) is connected upstream.

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