EP3223676B1 - Dishwasher comprising a suction unit - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to domestic dishwashers with a washing container whose loading opening can be closed with a door.

In some dishwashers such as the DE 100 58 188 A1 , DE 11 2005 000 920 B4 , DE 10 2007 019 298 A1 hot air and/or hot steam can be sucked out of the washing compartment via a drying fan and released into the open air in the respective wash cycle for drying items to be washed that have previously been cleaned with liquid. The surrounding area is exposed to considerable moisture as a result of the exiting hot, moisture-laden air and/or the exiting hot steam, so that the furniture surrounding the dishwasher in particular can be damaged and the user can also experience unpleasant exposure to rising steam and/or hot, moisture-laden air air can take place. In order to prevent damage to the furniture, additional steam protection plates or foils are often mounted on the furniture. In particular, a flat steam protection element is usually attached to the underside of the kitchen worktop, below which the dishwasher is set, for example in a built-in niche of a kitchen unit.

In one embodiment of the dishwasher DE 10 2006 012 217 A1 an exhaust fan near the bottom of the scavenge volume is provided therein for drawing scavenge air from that lower part of the scavenge volume and for exhausting this air to the atmosphere.

At the dishwasher DE 10 2011 003 818 A1 If necessary, in particular for dehumidification, a movable actuating element presses the door open automatically with a force to open the door that is greater than its locking force. Also the DE 10 2005 028 449 A1 only applies to a gap-by-gap, automatic door opening to support drying.

The dishwasher U.S. 3,068,877 leaves its door open during the drying phase of a dishwashing program and in doing so conveys rinsing room air from its rinsing room to a condenser or dehumidifier in a circulating air duct arranged outside of the rinsing room by means of a circulating air fan provided there.

At the dishwasher U.S. 4,064,888 a lateral labyrinth-shaped expansion opening device is provided in each case between the respective side wall of its washing compartment and the side edge of its front door associated therewith. The door remains closed during the entire dishwashing programme.

The dishwasher US 2010/0156259 A1 provides, in order to allow steam to escape at the end of the respective washing cycle, that the outer door of its front door inclines outwards relative to the inner door, which remains in its vertical closed position, and in doing so releases the outlet opening of a steam outlet channel provided between the outer door and the inner door on the upper side of the front door connected to the washroom.

the U.S. 2008/0190467 A1 relates in particular to a drawer washer. Its drawer-like washing compartment has a loading opening accessible from above for receiving and/or removing items to be washed when it is pulled out of the dishwasher. A vent flap is provided on the outside of its front wall. When the drawer-like washing compartment is in its final closed position, the ventilation flap can be tilted with its lower end obliquely outwards from its closed position into an open position in which an exhaust air duct is released, which leads from the washing chamber of the washing compartment to the outside to the outside. There is a fan in the exhaust air duct, which during the drying phase of a dishwashing program blows warm, humid washing room air out into the surroundings via the exhaust air duct. Ambient air is sucked into the washing compartment of the washing compartment via an air inlet.

The dishwasher DE 94 21 812 U1 has an exhaust duct with an exhaust fan. After the cleaning and rinsing cycles of the respective dishwashing program, the fan located under the washing compartment sucks in suction via a suction opening in one side of the washing compartment for a specified time Dishwasher housing dry fresh air into the washing compartment, which mixes with the humid air present there. This mixed air is conveyed by the blower from the washing compartment via the exhaust air duct to an outlet opening on the front of the dishwasher. After this fresh air supply by means of the blower, the door automatically opens a little for the natural convection of the residual moisture in the washing tub.

The invention is based on the problem of achieving an improvement here.

This object is achieved by the features of the dishwasher of claim 1 and by the features of the method of claim 21 considered individually.

The dishwasher according to the invention as claimed in claim 1 has a washing container whose loading opening can be closed with a door. According to the invention, at least one suction device or suction unit is provided for sucking off steam escaping from the charging opening and/or air, in particular air that is laden with moisture or has unpleasant odors. The suction device sucks such a medium flowing out of the loading opening at least partially away from the region of the loading opening in such a way that outside of the loading opening it causes far less or no undesired adverse effects, e.g neighboring furniture parts and/or a user standing in front of the dishwasher. The suction device is advantageously designed in such a way that it catches the medium flowing out of the loading opening to such an extent and transports it away from it in such a way that the medium largely avoids undesirable impairments in the external environment of the dishwasher. In particular, it reduces or prevents the respective medium flowing out of the loading opening from rising further upwards to a kitchen worktop and/or to the head area of a user standing in front of the dishwasher in a manner leading to impairments. In this way it is possible in particular to largely prevent moisture from condensing out and depositing on the area adjacent to the dishwasher Kitchen furniture, especially on the underside of a kitchen worktop that covers the top of the dishwasher. A user who is standing in front of the dishwasher is also better protected when the door is opened from rising hot steam and/or rising moisture-laden and/or odorous air.

A critical situation in which the suction device is advantageously activated is present, for example, when a user opens the door during a partial wash cycle of a dishwashing cycle, while heated washing liquid is sprayed in the interior or treatment room, ie wet room of the washing compartment by means of one or more spray devices and hot steam and/or moisture-laden, hot air, in particular plumes or vapors, are present there. Without the suction device switched on, this and/or these would escape unhindered from the door opening gap in a gushing manner. A further critical situation in which the suction device is advantageously activated occurs in particular when the door of the dishwasher is opened to assist drying during the drying cycle of a dishwashing program that concludes the wash cycle, in particular in the second half of the specified drying time period, preferably towards the end of the drying cycle. in order to selectively let out air and/or residues of steam laden with residual moisture from the washing container. For this purpose, it can be favorable to open the door, preferably automatically by means of a door opening mechanism, in order to open a predetermined gap. In the event that, for example, dirty dishes have been stored in the washing compartment with the door closed and there are unpleasant odors in the treatment room of the washing compartment, the extraction of the odor-laden air through the suction device or suction unit according to the invention can also be advantageous as soon as the door is opened. To put it in general terms, the suction device is advantageously switched on, ie activated, when and for as long as a medium leading to impairments, in particular steam and/or moisture-containing and/or odorous air, escapes unintentionally from the washing container into the external environment at the installation site of the dishwasher. This steam flowing out of the loading opening of the washing container and/or the air flowing out of the loading opening of the washing container is at least partially captured or sucked away by the suction device in good time before it can be discharged from the loading opening of the Rinsing container can flow away so far that it can lead to undesirable impairments in the area, especially on furniture and / or standing in front of the dishwasher user.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the suction device comprises one or more entry windows, which are preferably provided outside the wet area of the washing compartment, in particular in a front edge zone of the washing compartment that remains dry during the respective washing process in front of its loading opening, preferably in front of the door seal of the washing compartment that delimits the loading opening is/are. This largely prevents liquid from getting through the one or more inlet windows of the suction device into its downstream components during the washing operation of the dishwasher and causing damage there, for example to the fan or suction fan of the suction device. Special sealing measures or expensive spray water protection measures are not required for the suction device in this advantageous embodiment variant. The one or more entry windows can advantageously be in the form of simple break-through openings, e.g.

According to a further advantageous development of the invention, it can be particularly useful if the suction device has one or more entry windows at least in the upper area of the washing compartment, in particular in its top wall, possibly also in its left side wall and/or in its right side wall, and the one or more entry windows are only accessible from the inside of the washing compartment for steam and/or air escaping from the wet space of the washing compartment when the door is open. As a result, complex redesigns of the rinsing tank are largely avoided. In addition, immediately in the area where the steam and/or the air leaves the loading opening, it and/or these can be sucked off through the one or more entry windows before the steam and/or the air is too far away from the loading opening of the washing compartment flow and reach the neighboring furniture or a user standing in front of the dishwasher in an impermissible manner. In particular, it is favorable if the suction device is already switched on when the door is opened or shortly beforehand. As a result, through the initial door opening gap, hot steam escaping in surges, in particular hot steam rising upwards, and/or hot air escaping in surges, in particular rising hot air, can be extracted particularly effectively before it and/or the surrounding furniture and/or the one standing in front of the dishwasher user reached. In particular, it is advantageous to operate the suction device as long as the door opening gap is small, since hot steam escaping in a surge, in particular rising upwards, and/or hot air escaping in a surge, in particular hot air rising upwards, in a relatively concentrated form, such as through a chimney is guided through the door opening gap and can thereby be effectively restrained from exiting the upper end thereof.

It is therefore particularly expedient if the suction device is switched on at the latest as soon as the door is opened, in particular by means of an automatic door opening mechanism, and brought from its closed position into an open position in which an opening gap, in particular a narrow one, is released between the door and the washing compartment is. The suction device is advantageously brought into its suction mode from the beginning of the door opening for a predefinable period of time, in particular between 1 minute and 20 minutes, and then switched off. In particular, it can be favorable during this extraction time segment for an initial period, such as for the first minute after the beginning of the door opening, to run the extraction fan of the extraction device at a higher speed, i.e. with an associated higher extraction power, than in the subsequent remaining period of the To operate suction period. As a result, the hot steam and/or air surge that initially emerges and preferably rises upwards can be conveyed particularly effectively away from the charging opening in a direction that differs from the original outflow direction of the steam and/or air surge, which in particular is directed obliquely steeply upwards, through the door opening gap deviates through, in particular this is directed in the opposite direction.

The suction device is expediently switched on as long as the door is in a position in which the opening gap, viewed in the depth direction of the washing compartment, has a gap depth or gap width of between 2 cm and 20 cm having. This is particularly advantageous if the dishwasher according to the invention is equipped with an automatic door opening mechanism that brings the door into a door opening parking position with such a gap width.

In addition or independently of this, the suction device is advantageously switched on when the door is brought out of its, in particular approximately vertical, closed end position into a tilted forward position as a parking position with an opening angle between 2° and 10°, preferably by means of an automatic door opening device. In particular, it can be advantageous if the door is first opened into a first intermediate opening parking position with a door opening angle of between 2° and 3° compared to its closed position and the suction fan of the suction device is operated at a higher speed for between 30 seconds and about 1 minute. As a result, steam and/or hot air that wants to force its way through the narrow door opening gap in the form of a spatially concentrated air flow from the wet area or treatment area of the washing compartment upwards into the exterior of the dishwasher can escape before it leaves the upper area of the door opening gap, which is formed between the upper edge of the door and the top wall of the washing compartment, are largely held back. The door is then preferably brought into a second intermediate door opening parking position in which it assumes a door opening angle of between 5° and 10° with respect to its closed position. The suction fan of the suction device is operated at a reduced, i.e. lower speed for between 10 and 15 minutes.

According to a further advantageous development of the invention, it can be particularly advantageous for a control device to switch on the suction device when the temperature in the wet space of the washing compartment exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature, in particular around 40° C., above which steam is generated in the wet space of the washing compartment. and the impending opening of a door or the start of opening of the door is detected.

The invention relates to a domestic dishwasher with a washing container for cleaning dishes, glasses, cutlery or similar items to be washed to be cleaned, the washing container being lockable by a door that can be moved to open it, wherein at least one suction or suction opening for the air located in the washing container and a suction unit downstream of the suction opening are assigned to at least one suction device. Due to the fact that in this dishwasher according to the invention according to claim 1 the suction or suction opening transitions into a space for condensing moisture from the sucked-in air, less moisture is released into the environment. A large part of the water contained in the air can condense out in said room, so that after passing through this room there is only a small amount of residual moisture in this air. In built-in dishwashers in particular, the surrounding furniture is protected, no water can condense out there, and small amounts dry off very quickly. Additional protection for the furniture is no longer required.

If the at least one intake or suction opening is accessible for steam and/or air escaping from the wet area of the washing compartment when the door is open, this steam and/or moist air can be sucked off while the door is open, so that the steam and /or the moisture from the device neither hits the user's face nor touches a piece of furniture above it, for example a worktop.

According to the invention, the at least one suction or suction opening is only accessible for steam and/or air escaping from the wet space of the washing container when the door is open. Contact between the washing compartment on the one hand and the space for condensing out on the other hand is then initially avoided, so that the space retains a high potential for absorbing moisture and during operation, especially in a drying phase, is not yet exposed to warm, humid air from the washing compartment, but the vapor extraction can only start when the door is opened. The door can be pushed open automatically by the dishwasher a little (i.e. in a steeply upwardly inclined position), so that the intake opening(s) is or are optimally accessible and only after the steam has been extracted and the steam has largely condensed out does the door open designed to be fully opened by the user. In any case, when the door is open, the steam escaping steeply upwards through the door opening gap and/or the air escaping steeply upwards through the door opening gap is deflected by the suction by means of the suction device in such a way that it and/or its one of the original, deviating, in particular opposite, suction direction caused by natural convection. In particular, when the door is open, the exiting steam and/or exiting air is given a substantially horizontal or downward direction by the extraction, so that it can no longer rise upwards and wet the surrounding furniture. The steam and/or air is deflected via the air gap formed when the door is open and, thanks to the powerful fan, forms a closed flow of steam and/or air that leads almost completely into the intake opening(s).

In particular, the extraction unit can be switched on automatically by opening the door or at the same time or shortly beforehand, as a result of which the efficiency is optimized and steam escaping from the open door is minimized. In particular, a kitchen worktop lying above the installation location of the dishwasher is thus protected against moisture penetration and possible mold growth.

If the space is designed like a channel, it can be installed in the dishwasher in a space-saving manner with a small width and depth of typically only a few centimeters and yet a great length; this results in a large interaction surface between the moist air and the walls.

It can be expedient if the space in the dishwasher is located outside the washing container. This does not limit the volume of the washing container, but on the other hand there is no need for any parts to be installed outside the dishwasher, such as deflector plates or the like.

If the space for condensing out is located in the door of the dishwasher, a cavity that is already present between the so-called inner door and the outer door can be used to accommodate the duct. In particular, a suction opening can then be extended into this space over a large part of the door width in its upper area. This wide slit opening would also reliably prevent the steam from escaping upwards towards the furniture when the door was slightly open.

In particular, it can be expedient if one or more entry windows of the suction device is/are provided in the upper area of the inner wall of the door and is/are arranged there in an edge zone outside the collecting trough or trough of the door. When the door is closed, this edge zone with the one or more entry windows lies outside the loading opening of the washing compartment, which is delimited by the door seal mounted on the inside of the washing compartment in the area of the top wall and the two side walls of the washing compartment. It therefore remains largely dry during the respective rinsing process, during which rinsing liquid is circulated and distributed in the wet area or treatment area of the rinsing container. It is thus largely avoided that washing liquid is sprayed into the one or more inlet openings that are arranged on the outer edge of the inner door. It is also advantageous if the space tends to run downwards from the suction opening to at least one outlet opening. The suction opening is therefore preferably higher than the outlet opening of the space of the suction unit. Water that has condensed out can then run down and there, for example, run back into the washing container. Likewise, the less moisture-laden air can then escape in the lower area, either to the washing container or to the outside.

The space can be provided with a collecting area for liquid at its lower end, which is in function when the door is open, so that residual water does not have to run back until the next time the door is closed.

The suction opening may include a pattern of entry windows to thereby allow suction into the space for condensation over a large area. For example, the front frame of the washing compartment, which (when viewed from the front) is preferably located in front of the loading opening of the washing compartment and in front of the door seal that partially delimits it on the outside, can be provided with such entry windows at the top and sides.

Optionally, the outer walls of the space can also be cooled to condense out, in order to achieve a particularly high level of water separation.

During operation of the dishwasher according to the invention, the suction device is expediently switched in such a way that when the door is opened a little, such as, for example, at the end of a sub-program step for drying the items to be washed, the steam and/or the moisture-laden hot air escaping from the washing compartment is sucked off by the suction unit via an air gap formed by the door opening.

As a result, steam and/or moisture-laden air escaping steeply upwards from the door opening gap is then given a preferably horizontal movement component and is thus fed to the suction opening. The steam and/or the air can therefore no longer escape unhindered from the air gap to the outside and thereby wet the surrounding furniture, in particular a worktop lying above the dishwasher, and condense there.

The escaping steam and/or the escaping air can in particular be routed across an air gap of up to 20 centimeters between the washing container and an intake opening located opposite in the open door, effectively mixing with the drier outside air.

If the dishwasher opens the door automatically at the end of the drying process, especially after it has finished (or during the drying phase to support drying) and switches on the extraction unit at the same time or shortly before, this ensures that a lot of steam and/or moist air is extracted can escape and yet the extraction unit can work at full power immediately when the door is open and so from the start the steam and/or air is deflected from the ascending direction into a different, in particular essentially horizontal, or even opposite flow direction.

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

The advantageous constructions and developments of the invention explained above and/or reproduced in the subclaims can - apart from e.g. B. in cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives - can be used individually or in any combination with each other.

Fig. 1

eine schematisch dargestellte Geschirrspülmaschine in perspektivischer Ansicht von schräg vorne bei teilweise geöffneter Tür,

Fig. 2

den oberen Bereich des Gerätekorpus und der Tür in Ansicht von schräg hinten bei leicht geöffneter Tür und eingeschalteter Ansaugeinheit,

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung eines Raums zum Auskondensieren und einer Ansaugöffnung mit Ansaugeinheit in der Tür, von der Vorderseite her gesehen, wobei die vorderen Flächen der Tür nicht eingezeichnet sind,

Fig. 4

eine ähnliche Ansicht wie Figur 3, jedoch mit Einzeichnung einer Bedienblende im oberen Bereich der Tür,

Fig. 5

eine alternative Ausbildung eines Raums zum Auskondensieren seitlich des Spülbehälters mit Eintrittsfenstern seitlich und oberhalb des vorderen Randes des Spülbehälters.

The invention and its advantageous training and further developments as well as their advantages are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings showing exemplary embodiments. They show, each in a schematic principle sketch:

1

a schematically illustrated dishwasher in a perspective view obliquely from the front with the door partially open,

2

the upper area of the device body and the door seen from the rear at an angle with the door slightly open and the suction unit switched on,

3

a schematic representation of a space for condensing and an intake opening with intake unit in the door, seen from the front, the front surfaces of the door not being shown,

4

a similar view as figure 3 , but with drawing of a control panel in the upper area of the door,

figure 5

an alternative design of a space for condensing out on the side of the washing compartment with entry windows on the side and above the front edge of the washing compartment.

Elements with the same function and mode of operation are each provided with the same reference symbols in the figures.

In the figure 1 Dishwasher 1 shown schematically is a household dishwasher and is only shown here as a stand-alone device as an example. In particular, the invention is also of great importance for devices built into kitchen furniture.

The dishwasher shown here therefore has a body 5 which is closed on the outside, which is not essential. In the body 5 there is a washing container 2 for accommodating items to be washed, such as crockery, pots, cutlery, glasses, cooking utensils and the like. The items to be washed can, for example, be held in crockery baskets 11 and/or a cutlery drawer 10 while being washed by washing liquor, ie Washing liquid such as fresh water or mixed with cleaning or rinse aid fresh water can be applied. The washing container 2 can have an at least essentially rectangular outline with a front side V facing a user in the operating position. The front side V can form part of a kitchen front made of kitchen furniture standing next to one another or, in the case of a stand-alone appliance, can also be unrelated to other furniture.

The washing compartment 2 can be closed by a door 3 in particular on this front side V. This door 3 is in figure 1 shown in a partially open position and then at an angle to the vertical. In its closed position, however, it stands upright and, according to the drawing, can be pivoted forwards and downwards in the direction of arrow 4 to its opening around a lower horizontal axis, so that it is at least almost horizontal in the fully open position. An automatic intermediate position of the door 3 with only a small opening, for example during or after the end of a drying program step, is possible.

On its exterior and front side V, which is approximately vertical in the closed position and faces the user, the door 3 can be provided with a decorative panel 6 in order to experience a visual and/or haptic enhancement and/or an adaptation to the surrounding kitchen furniture.

The dishwasher 1 is designed as a stand-alone device or as a so-called partially integrated or fully integrated device. In the latter cases, the outer body 5 can be partially omitted.

In the exemplary embodiment according to the drawing, the movable door 3 is assigned a control panel 8 extending in the transverse direction Q in its upper region, which preferably can include an access opening 7 accessible from the front for manually opening and/or closing the door 3 .

At least one suction opening 12 (see Fig Figures 2 - 4 ) or 13 (see figure 5 ) associated with a suction device 28 for air and/or vapor located in this. The suction opening 12 is shown behind the suction device 28 figure 2 in the door 3 on its inner side, in the closed position the washing compartment facing side. The additional or alternative suction port 13 of the suction device 28 of figure 5 comprises in its representation a multiplicity of individual entry windows 14 and extends in the body 5 on the front side V associated lateral edges 15 and on an upper edge 16 of the washing compartment 2. Other arrangements are also possible. The respective suction opening can be continuous or interrupted. Likewise, several suction openings can also be provided at a distance from one another. In particular, for extracting steam and/or hot, humid air that rises through the existing door opening gap when the door is open, it may be sufficient if several entry windows 14 are only in the front edge of the top wall 33 of the washing compartment 2 and possibly in the upper area of the front edge of the two side walls 34, 35 of the washing compartment 2 are provided.

Furthermore, at least one suction unit 17, 18 is arranged downstream of the suction opening(s), for example a fan wheel or blower, as in the exemplary embodiments drawn here. The suction unit 17 ( figure 3 ) is located in door 3 and can rotate around a horizontal axis. The suction unit 18 is preferably located on the body 5 above the washing compartment 2, ie on its top wall 33, and can rotate about a vertical axis, for example. Alternatively, it can be attached to one of the side walls 34, 35 of the washing container 2 on the outside.

In any case, the at least one intake opening 12, 13 leads into a space 20, 21 for condensing out moisture in the air and/or vapor 22 sucked in from the washing compartment 2.

In the embodiment according to Figures 2 to 4 the space 20 of the suction device 28 is designed like a channel and is located outside the washing compartment 2, namely in the door 3, in an already existing cavity between the so-called. Inner door and the outer door. The channel-like space 20 (seen when the door is in the vertical closed position) only extends a few centimeters in the depth and width directions, but of a few tens of centimeters in the height direction, for example from around 30 to 50 centimeters, so that the passage through the channel 20 moving, drying air or steam 23 travels a considerable distance on which it can deliver water to the channel walls.

The suction opening 12 of the suction device 28 of the embodiment of figures 2 . 4 , which supplies the space 20 with air, is, as described above, in the door 3 on its inner side and is thereby extending in the manner of a slot opening running in the transverse direction Q over a large part of the door width in the upper region thereof. In the representation after figure 2 the suction opening 12 preferably extends over the full width of the door.

In the door 3, behind the suction opening 12, there is a transversely extending air duct 19 as a component of the suction device 28, in which air movement to the suction unit 17 takes place during suction or suction. The air conveyed through the intake unit is then conveyed downwards into the space 20 and can largely condense there. The channel-like space 20 runs downwards as far as at least one outlet opening 25. This can be aligned in the direction of the washing compartment 2, in this case towards the inside of the door 3.

In the lower area of the channel-like space 20 there is also a collecting area for liquid, so that when the door 3 is closed, the water collected there runs back into the washing container 2 .

The suction unit 17 is operated in such a way that it is switched on, e.g. to support drying during the drying phase or e.g. at the end of a sub-program step for drying the items to be washed, namely when the door 3, in particular automatically, is opened a little and thereby out of the Rinsing container 2 escaping steam and / or moisture-containing air is sucked through the suction unit 17 through an air gap formed by the door opening. As a result, escaping steam and/or air containing moisture is preferably given a horizontal movement component and is thus fed to the suction opening 12 on the door side. This is in particular very wide, for example about 40 centimeters for a 45 centimeter wide machine 1 or about 55 centimeters for a 60 centimeter wide machine 1. The vapor is thus sucked into the suction opening 12 by the suction unit 17 over its entire outlet width. The steam and/or the moisture-containing air can/can therefore no longer escape unhindered in the air gap and in the process moisten surrounding furniture, in particular a worktop above it, and condense there. the For this purpose, the intake opening 12 can have a height of several centimeters, up to about 5 centimeters.

The escaping steam and/or the moisture-laden air can be guided across an air gap of several centimeters (up to about 12 centimeters) viewed in the depth direction of the dishwasher between the washing container and a suction opening 12 located opposite, in the door 3, and thereby effectively mix with the drier outside air.

In particular, the suction unit 17, in particular a suction fan, is switched on shortly before the door opens. As soon as the door 3 opens automatically and the suction unit switches on at the same time or shortly before, it is ensured that a lot of steam and/or air containing moisture can escape and that the suction or suction unit 17 can still work at full power immediately when the door 3 is open so from the beginning the steam and/or air deflection takes place from the ascending direction to a substantially horizontal flow direction.

In addition to or independently of an automatic door opening brought about by a door opening mechanism, the suction unit 17 can be activated in particular as soon as the pending or the beginning of a door opening is detected. This is also the case, for example, when the user opens the door during a partial wash cycle with heated washing liquid, such as the cleaning cycle or rinsing cycle. Preferably, the suction unit such as 17 or 18 is connected to a control device 32 of the dishwasher, which activates the suction unit by means of a control signal upon receipt of a signal representing the opening of the door via a control line or signal line (not shown). The control device 32 is also in the figures 1 and 5 drawn in dotted lines. In the figure 5 the control, in particular the switching on and off of the suction unit 18 by the control device 32 is indicated schematically by an arrow WP.

In the embodiment after figure 5 the space 21, which belongs to the suction device 28, is also designed as a channel overall and is located outside the washing container 2, namely with a first, horizontal section above the washing container 2 on the outside of its top wall 33 and with a continuing, vertical section on the side of a vertical wall, in particular side wall 35 of the washing compartment 2. Here, too, the vertical section of the channel-like space 21 only extends a few centimeters in the depth and width directions, but of a few tens of centimeters in the height direction, for example from around 30 to 50 centimetres, so that the drying air or steam 23 moving through the channel 21 also covers a considerable distance here, on which it can deliver water to the channel walls. The space 21 is preferably formed by a flat channel. Due to the additional horizontal section on the top wall 33 of the washing container 2, the channel 21 is further extended and thus offers even more space for water to be able to condense out. At least one wall of the channel 21 can optionally be formed by walls of the washing container 2 . The other walls can be made of plastic or metal.

The suction opening of the suction device 28, designated as a whole with 13, which supplies the space 21 with suctioned vapor and/or suctioned air, is located, as described above, at the end of the washing container 2 facing the front side V and comprises a large number of small, spaced-apart individual entry windows 14 in upright edge areas 15 and in an upper edge area 16 running in the transverse direction Q. In the representation according to figure 5 the suction opening 13 is thus generally U-shaped over two front lateral edges 15 of the washing compartment and the upper edge or the cross-connection 16 of the washing compartment.

In particular, according to an advantageous embodiment variant of the invention, it may already be sufficient to provide several entry windows distributed over the width of the washing compartment or a single entry opening running across the width of the washing compartment only on the front upper edge of the cover. If need be, one or more entry windows can also be expediently provided in the upper area of the respective side wall.

These one or more entry windows preferably break through the top wall and/or the respective side wall of the washing compartment from the inside, ie in the vertical direction. This is here in the embodiment of figure 5 shown only schematically. Of course, other arrangements of the one or more entry windows are also possible.

Entry windows such as 14 in figure 5 preferably outside of the wet area such as 26 of the washing compartment such as 2, in particular in a front edge zone such as 15, 16 of the washing compartment which remains dry during the respective washing process in front of its loading opening such as 27 which is provided by a door seal fitted there such as 30 of the washing compartment is limited. As a result, these entry windows are only accessible for steam and/or air escaping from the wet space, such as 26 of the washing compartment, such as 2, when the door is open. This also largely prevents liquid from getting through the several inlet windows of the suction device such as 28 into its downstream components such as its fan or suction fan such as 18 and causing damage there during the washing operation of the dishwasher. Special sealing measures or expensive spray water protection measures are not required for the suction device in this advantageous embodiment variant. The one or more entry windows 14 are here in the embodiment of figure 5 preferably designed as simple break-through openings such as, for example, in the form of punched-out portions in the edge region of the washing compartment that protrudes forward in relation to the door seal 30 . As a result, complex redesigns of the rinsing tank are largely avoided. In addition, immediately in the area where the steam and/or the air leaves the loading opening, it and/or these can be sucked off through the one or more entry windows before the steam and/or the air is too far away from the loading opening of the washing compartment flow and reach the neighboring furniture or a user standing in front of the dishwasher in an impermissible manner.

The entry window 14 open in the embodiment of figure 5 outside of the rinsing container 2 in an air intake duct, which here preferably also has the shape of a U's open at the bottom and in which air movement to the intake unit, in particular to the intake fan 18, takes place during intake. This is on top of the top wall 33 of the washing container 2 and bundles the air moving in the air intake channel into the horizontal part of the channel-like space 21 described above. The air that has entered there is then transported downwards into the vertical part of the space 21 and can largely condense there . The channel-like space 21 runs down to at least one outlet opening 25. This can in the direction Rinse tank 2 be aligned. Alternatively or additionally, it would also be possible to blow out the largely dried air 23 to the outside. The air intake duct 21 is in the figure 5 For the sake of graphic simplicity, it is only shown schematically in three dimensions above the top wall 33, while it is omitted in the outer area of the side walls 34, 35 and only the entry windows 14 are visible there.

In the lower area of the channel-like space 21 there can also be a collection area for liquid, so that the liquid can definitely flow back into the washing container 2, even if the air 23 is blown out to the outside.

In this variant, the extraction unit 18 can also be activated in a critical period of the respective dishwashing program, when steam and/or moist air can escape through the door 3, in order to suck off this escaping steam and/or this escaping moist air.

Extraction can also only take place partially in critical areas. For the most effective possible extraction, fresh air 24 can also be supplied in a targeted manner, for example in the lower corner area. This can be sucked in from the environment or a pre-tempered area under the floor. An additional blower can be used for this.

Of course, it is also possible to provide multiple channels 20 , 21 on a dishwasher 1 . Their outer walls can be at least partially coolable for particularly effective condensation.

The suction openings 12, 13 shown in the exemplary embodiments are not accessible to steam and/or moist air from the wet area or treatment area 26 of the washing compartment during operation of the dishwasher 1 with the door 3 closed, so that the channels 20 , 21 is largely avoided. Rinsing liquor from the washing container 2 cannot then enter there. A direct connection to the washing compartment 2 only occurs when the door 3 is (slightly) open. This door opening can take place automatically during or in particular at the end of a drying program step without any action on the part of the user.

The suction unit 17, 18 can be switched on by opening the door 3 so that energy is only required when an actual benefit is associated with it. is.

By extracting the steam, it can no longer condense on the furniture, or small amounts of condensate dry off very quickly. In this way, the furniture is protected from the condensate without additional protection such as foils or metal sheets.

Viewed in general terms, at least one suction device is provided for sucking off or sucking away water vapor and/or moisture-laden air which and/or which otherwise escapes when the door is opened from the area of the resulting opening gap between the front door and the washing compartment, in particular between the upper edge of the front door and the Cover element of the rinsing tank would flow out upwards and/or forwards from the rinsing tank. The water vapor and/or the moisture-laden air is/is sucked away from the door opening gap by means of the suction device, i.e. prevented from overcoming it and escaping upwards and/or to the front into the environment. The suction means can be used to largely hold back the steam and/or the moisture-laden air from exiting the washing compartment through the opening gap between the washing compartment and the door upwards and/or forwards when the door is opened by a preferably narrow gap relative to the washing compartment becomes. The suction device or the suction means expediently comprise one or more entry windows for sucking in steam and/or air, an adjoining air duct or air space and at least one suction fan or other suction means preferably housed in the air duct or air space.

In particular, the respective suction device can comprise one or more inlet openings which are provided at the front opening edge of the washing compartment, in particular at the upper opening edge and/or at least in the upper section of the two lateral opening edges of the washing compartment. They are preferably located outside of the wet area of the washing compartment, ie outside of the interior of the washing compartment, to which washing liquid is applied when the door of the washing compartment is closed during the washing operation. The opening edge of the top wall and the two side walls of the washing compartment can preferably be reinforced on the outside by a stiffening frame attached to the front of the washing compartment. There where the If the door comes into contact on the inside with the walls of the washing compartment in its closed position, a door seal limiting the loading opening of the washing compartment is preferably provided. In front of the door seal, the one or more suction openings are expediently provided in the front edge area of the washing compartment. Before steam and/or hot, humid air can suddenly escape from the interior of the washing compartment upwards through the door gap when the door is moved by an opening gap from its closed position into an open position, it is sucked away or diverted away by means of suction. This largely prevents steam and/or hot, humid air from being able to sweep along the kitchen furniture that is colder than the interior of the washing compartment and condense out there. Reference List 1 Dishwasher, 19 transverse air duct, 2 processing tank, 20 room for condensation, 3 Door, 21 room for condensation, 4 pan direction, 22 air and/or steam, 5 body, 23 drying air or steam, 6 decorative panel, 24 fresh air, 7 access opening, 25 exhaust port, 8th control panel, 26 Treatment room or wet room 9 dish rack, 27 loading opening 10 cutlery drawer, 28 Suction device, suction unit 11 dish rack, 29 front rinsing tank edge zone 12 suction port, 30 door seal 13 suction port, 31 door gap 14 entry window, 32 control device 15 lateral edge of the rinsing tank, 33 ceiling wall 16 upper edge of the rinsing tank, 34, 35 sidewall 17 intake unit, V Front, 18 intake unit, Q transverse direction

Claims (25)

1. Household dishwasher (1) with a wash container (2) for cleaning dishes, glasses, flatware or similar items to be cleaned, wherein the wash container (2) is able to be closed by a door (3) that can be displaced to open it, wherein at least one intake opening (12, 13) for air (22) present in the wash container and a suction unit (17, 18), downstream of the intake opening (12, 13), of at least one suction apparatus (28) are assigned to the wash container, and wherein at least one intake opening (12, 13) transitions into a chamber (20, 21) present in the dishwasher (1) for condensing moisture in the air (22) taken in, wherein the at least one intake opening (12, 13) is only accessible for air and/or steam (22) exiting from the wet chamber (26) of the wash container (2) when the door (3) is open.
2. Household dishwasher according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the suction apparatus (28) comprises one or several inlet windows (14) which is/are provided outside the wet chamber (26) of the wash container (2) in a front edge zone (29) of the wash container (2) that remains dry during the respective wash process in front of its loading opening (27), preferably in front of the door seal (30) of the wash container (2) delimiting the loading opening (27).
3. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the suction apparatus (28) has one or several inlet windows (14) at least in the upper region of the wash container (2), in particular in its top wall, in its left side wall and/or in its right side wall, and the one or several inlet windows (14) is/are only accessible from the inside of the wash container (2) for steam and/or air escaping from the wet chamber (26) of the wash container (2) when the door (3) is opened.
4. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the suction apparatus (28) has one or several inlet windows (12) in the upper region of the inner wall of the door (3), which is or are arranged there in an edge zone outside the collection tray or trough in the door (3).
5. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the suction apparatus (28) is switched on as the door (3) opens.
6. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the suction apparatus (28) is switched on at the latest as soon as the door (3) is opened, in particular by means of an automatic door opening mechanism, and moved from its closed position to an open position, in which an, in particular narrow, opening gap (31) opens up between the door (3) and the wash container (2).
7. Household dishwasher according to claim 6,
   characterised in that
   the opening gap (31) has a depthwise extension of between 2 cm and 20 cm when viewed in the depthwise direction of the wash container (2).
8. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   a monitoring facility (CO) switches the suction apparatus (28) on when the temperature (T) in the wet chamber (26) of the wash container (2) exceeds a predefined threshold temperature (S), in particular around 40°C, beyond which steam is generated in the wet chamber (26) of the wash container (2), and it is detected that the door (3) is due to open or is starting to open.
9. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the suction unit (17, 18) can be switched on by a preset automated step in the program sequence or by opening the door (3).
10. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the chamber (20, 21) is configured in the manner of a duct.
11. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the chamber (20, 21) is located outside the wash container (2) in the dishwasher.
12. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the chamber (20) is located in the door (3) of the dishwasher.
13. Household dishwasher according to claim 12,
    characterised in that
    an intake opening (12) extends into this chamber (20) over a large part of the door width in its upper region.
14. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the chamber (20, 21) tends to run downward from the intake opening (12, 13) to at least one outlet opening (25).
15. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    at its lower end the chamber (20, 21) is provided with a collection region or return for liquid.
16. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the chamber has an outlet opening (25) in the direction of the wash container (2).
17. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the chamber has an outlet opening (25) in a direction outside the appliance (1).
18. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the intake opening (13) comprises a pattern of inlet windows (14).
19. Household dishwasher according to claim 18,
    characterised in that
    the pattern of inlet windows (14) has an overall width of at least 40 centimetres in the case of an in total 45-centimeter wide (Q) dishwasher (1) and at least 55 centimetres in the case of an in total 60-centimeter wide (Q) dishwasher (1).
20. Household dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the outer walls of the chamber (20, 21) can be cooled for condensing.
21. Method for operating a household dishwasher (1), in particular according to at least one of the preceding claims, with a wash container (2) for cleaning dishes, glasses, flatware or similar items to be cleaned, wherein the wash container (2) is able to be closed by a door (3) that can be displaced to open it, wherein at least one intake opening (12, 13) for steam and/or air (22) present in the wash container and a suction unit (17, 18), downstream of the intake opening (12, 13), of at least one suction apparatus (28) are assigned to the wash container, and wherein the dishwasher is operated in a sub-program step for drying the items being washed and wherein the door (3) is opened a little, in particular at the end of the sub-program step for drying the items being washed, and steam and/or, in particular moisture-laden, air exiting from the loading opening (27) of the wash container (2) by way of an air gap (31) formed by the door opening being suctioned by the suction unit (17, 18), wherein the at least one intake opening (12, 13) is only accessible for air and/or steam (22) exiting from the wet chamber (26) of the wash container (2) when the door (3) is open.
22. Method according to claim 21,
    characterised in that
    the suction apparatus (28) is switched on as the door (3) opens for a predetermined time period, in particular between one minute and 20 minutes.
23. Method according to one of claims 21 or 22,
    characterised in that
    the steam and/or, in particular moisture-laden, air exiting from the loading opening (27) is diverted or deflected by the suction unit (17, 18) in a direction away from an outflow path leading steeply upward through the air gap (31), in particular the air, in particular laden with moisture, exiting from the loading opening (27) is given a preferably horizontal movement component away from the air gap (31) by the suction unit (17, 18) and the exiting steam and/or air is thus guided to the intake opening (12, 13).
24. Method according to one of claims 21 to 23,
    characterised in that
    the exiting air and/or steam is conducted by way of an air gap of up to 20 centimetres between the wash container (2) and an intake opening (12) located opposite, in the door (3).
25. Method according to one of claims 21 to 24,
    characterised in that
    at the end of the drying process, in particular after it has been completed, the dishwasher opens the door (3) automatically, switching the suction unit (17, 18) on in the process or shortly before.

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