EP3654818B1 - Household dishwasher machine and method for operating a household dishwasher machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a domestic dishwasher and a method for operating a domestic dishwasher.

In conventional household dishwashers, it often happens that a user adds more items to be washed after starting a washing program. This can have different consequences. On the one hand, the point in time when the dishes are refilled can be so late that it is no longer ensured that the items to be washed are completely cleaned. Furthermore, this can also lead to the items to be washed that have already been placed in the household dishwasher becoming soiled again. On the other hand, known domestic dishwashers have an addition unit for detergent and rinse aid, which, starting from an initial state, add detergent during a first activation and only add rinse aid from the second activation. If the door of the domestic dishwasher is opened to add more items to be washed, it can happen that the addition unit is reset. If the time is after the time for adding the cleaning agent, rinse aid should be added the next time it is activated. However, since the addition unit is in the initial state, no rinse aid is initially added. This therefore means that too little rinse aid is added overall during the rinse, which impairs the drying of the items to be washed.

The DE 10 2004 035 847 A1 describes a method for detecting the load of items to be washed in a dishwasher using an image detection system. DE 100 48 081 A1 discloses a dishwasher with an image recognition system with which the type and quantity of the load in the washing compartment and/or the soiling of the items to be washed are automatically detected before or at the start of washing. EP 1 192 893 discloses another conventional dishwasher with optical load detection. Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to specify an improved domestic dishwasher.

Accordingly, a household dishwasher is proposed with a control device for carrying out a washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed arranged in a washing chamber. The domestic dishwasher has an optical sensor for detecting an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber while the washing program is being carried out. It also has an evaluation unit which is set up to determine whether a user is adding items to be washed as a function of the detected optical sensor signal from the washing chamber, to determine a point in time for adding items to the wash program and, depending on the point in time at which the items are to be added and the point in time determined perform a predetermined action. The predetermined action includes outputting information to the user as to whether the current dishwashing program is continued unchanged despite the refilling, whether the user should add detergent and/or whether the current dishwashing program is adjusted to ensure a specified cleaning result, and/or an adjustment of the washing program that is currently being carried out, and the refilling includes adding more items to be washed, changing an arrangement of the items to be washed in the washing chamber and/or removing items to be washed.

Such a household dishwasher has the particular advantage that a predetermined cleaning result is guaranteed, even if the user adds items to be washed at an inappropriate time, in large quantities and/or with heavy soiling. Because the predetermined cleaning result is ensured for all items to be washed, energy, time and/or costs can also be saved since, for example, manual rinsing, drying by hand or carrying out a further run of the washing program with the same items to be washed are avoided can.

The control device can be implemented in terms of hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware implementation, the control device can be designed, for example, as a computer or as a microprocessor. In the case of a software implementation, the control device can be embodied as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code or as an executable object.

The control device is set up to carry out one washing program from a number of washing programs. The number includes, for example, different washing programs, such as an energy saving washing program, a glass gentle washing program, an intensive washing program, an automatic washing program and/or a machine cleaning washing program. The various wash programs differ in particular in a sequence of part-program steps and/or in parameter values for the individual part-program steps. Partial program steps include, in particular, a pre-wash, a cleaning, a final rinse and a drying. Parameter values include, in particular, a washing liquor temperature, an amount of fresh water supplied, a pump speed of a circulating pump, an amount of detergent dosed, a quantity of rinse aid dosed, a point in time at which the detergent and/or the clear is added detergent, a duration of a partial program step and/or activation of further support units, such as a zeolite drying device.

The rinsing chamber of the domestic dishwasher is formed in particular by a rinsing container that is closed with a door of the domestic dishwasher. The washing compartment has, for example, a bottom, a top, a rear wall and two side walls and thus forms a cuboid that is open on one side. The open side can be opened or closed by the door. In particular, at least one washware receptacle is provided in the washing chamber, which, for example, is fastened to rails and can be pulled out of the washing chamber when the door is open, so that washware can be conveniently inserted.

The optical sensor is designed in particular as an optoelectronic sensor that provides an analog electrical signal depending on an optical signal as the optical sensor signal. This offers the advantage that the optical sensor can be manufactured and used on a microchip in an integrated design and thus in a space- and material-saving and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the analog electrical signal can be converted into a digital signal with little effort, for example by means of an A/D converter, and then processed digitally.

The optical sensor is arranged in the domestic dishwasher in such a way that it detects an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber of the domestic dishwasher. This is fulfilled, for example, when there is a line of sight from the optical sensor to the washing chamber. For example, the optical sensor is arranged on the ceiling of the washing compartment, on the rear wall of the washing compartment and/or on a door of the household dishwasher, which forms the washing chamber with the washing compartment when closed. Furthermore, it can be provided that several optical sensors are used, with each optical sensor detecting an optical sensor signal of an area of the washing chamber assigned to the respective optical sensor.

The optical sensor detects the optical sensor signal while the washing program is being carried out. This means, for example, that the dishwashing program has started but has not yet ended. Even if the washing program is interrupted e.g. because the door of the household dishwasher has been opened, this falls within the specified period.

Because the optical sensor detects an optical sensor signal from the washing chamber, the optical sensor signal also includes the items to be washed that are arranged in the washing chamber. The optical sensor is advantageously arranged in such a way that, when the door of the household dishwasher is open, it also detects an area in front of the washing chamber, in particular the area in which the washware receptacle is located in the pulled-out state. The entire area covered by the optical sensor signal is also referred to below as the scanning area.

The optical sensor is set up in particular to detect the optical sensor signal over a wide spectral range that is not limited to the optical spectral range. For example, the optical sensor includes an infrared sensor. With this, a temperature of the items to be washed can be detected. Items to be washed that have been refilled have in particular a lower temperature than items to be washed that have already been heated by warm washing liquor. It is thus possible to deduce from the temperature of the items to be washed whether the items to be washed are to be refilled.

The optical sensor includes, for example, a camera, in particular a digital camera, for example with a CCD sensor (CCD: Charged Coupled Device). For example, the camera captures an image and/or a video of the scanning area.

A lighting device which illuminates the scanning area can be provided as a support. This lighting device can be designed in particular as a narrow-band light source, such as a laser. Alternatively, the lighting device can be embodied as a broadband light source, such as a light bulb and/or a flash unit.

The evaluation unit can be implemented in terms of hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware implementation, the evaluation unit can be embodied, for example, as a computer or as a microprocessor. In the case of a software implementation, the evaluation unit can be in the form of a computer program product, a function, a routine, part of a program code or an executable object be trained. The evaluation unit can in particular be designed as part of the control device.

The evaluation unit is set up to determine whether items to be washed are to be refilled as a function of the detected optical sensor signal. For example, the evaluation unit processes and/or analyzes the optical sensor signal accordingly. The evaluation unit can be set up, for example, to carry out a spectral analysis of the optical sensor signal. In particular, such an analysis of an infrared spectral range of the detected optical sensor signal can be used to determine different temperatures of the items to be washed and also chemical compounds. From the chemical compounds determined, conclusions can be drawn, for example, about a type of washware, such as plastic, porcelain, glass, metal, and about the dirt adhering to the washware, such as fats, carbohydrates, proteins and the like. Reloading means, for example, adding more items to be washed, changing the arrangement of the items to be washed in the washing chamber and/or removing items to be washed.

In particular, the evaluation unit can be set up not only to determine whether items to be washed have been added at all, but also the amount of items to be washed that have been added, what type of items to be washed are, how badly the items to be washed are soiled, for example with leftovers, and /or at which position in the washing chamber the items to be washed are arranged.

If the optical sensor is designed as a camera, then the evaluation unit can be set up in particular to carry out an image analysis of the optical sensor signal present as an image. An image analysis includes, for example, recognizing a type of item to be washed, a position of the item to be washed, soiled areas on the item to be washed and/or the type of soiling of the item to be washed.

The evaluation unit is also set up to determine the point in time when the dishwashing program is topped up. This is understood to mean, for example, that the evaluation unit determines whether an addition of the cleaning agent has already taken place, whether a pre-rinse has already been completed, whether cleaning has already been completed and/or whether a final rinse has already been started.

Depending on the ascertained replenishment and the specific point in time, the evaluation unit carries out a predetermined action.

The predetermined action includes an output of information to the user and/or an adjustment of the washing program currently being carried out.

This action is, for example, an adjustment of the washing program currently being carried out, in particular of parameter values of individual program part steps. Provision can also be made to completely replace the wash program currently being carried out by another wash program from the number and to restart it or to continue it in the middle. Furthermore, for example, individual sub-program steps can be inserted into the wash program currently being carried out.

Information can be output to the user, for example, by means of a display element, such as a display on the household dishwasher, or also as an acoustic signal by means of a corresponding loudspeaker. Provision can also be made for the information to be transmitted to a mobile device, such as a smartphone, by means of a communication unit.

In principle, any measure that contributes to achieving a specified cleaning result is possible as the predetermined action. The specified cleaning result is understood to mean, in particular, a specified cleanliness of the items to be washed with regard to macroscopic as well as microscopic soiling and a specified drying state after the end of the washing program.

According to a further embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, the evaluation unit is set up to determine the refilling of items to be washed in the washing chamber depending on opening a door of the domestic dishwasher and closing the door within a predetermined period of time during the execution of the washing program.

The opening and subsequent closing of the door of the domestic dishwasher is an indicator of whether dishes have been added. It can also be taken into account how long the door was open. For example, it can be provided that if the door was only open for less than three seconds, for example, the evaluation unit determines that no items to be washed have been added.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, it has an illumination device for illuminating the washing chamber when the optical sensor signal is detected.

The lighting device is set up in particular to illuminate the entire scanning area of the optical sensor. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because it ensures good illumination of the washing chamber, in particular of the scanning area, when the optical sensor signal is detected by the optical sensor, which means that a good signal-to-noise ratio of the detected optical sensor signal is achieved even when using a simple and inexpensive optical sensor is ensured.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the optical sensor includes a camera, the optical sensor signal including an image and/or a video of the washing chamber.

In particular, a before/after comparison of two images, the first being captured before or directly when the door is opened and the second being captured after or when the door is closed, can be used to determine relatively easily whether items to be washed have been added, an arrangement of the items to be washed in the washing chamber have been changed and/or the items to be washed have been removed.

According to a further embodiment of the domestic dishwasher, the evaluation unit is set up to carry out an image analysis of the captured image and/or the captured video in order to determine whether to add more items to be washed.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the evaluation unit is set up to carry out a spectral analysis of the detected optical sensor signal in order to determine whether to add items to be washed.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the evaluation unit is set up to determine a quantity of items to be washed, a type of items to be washed, a position of the items to be washed in the washing chamber and/or soiling of the items to be washed.

A quantity is understood to mean, for example, a number of individual washware items.

A type of washware is understood to mean, for example, a quality of the washware, in particular the materials that the washware comprises, and a shape of the washware.

The position of the items to be washed in the washing chamber relates in particular to the position when the items to be washed are pushed in.

The soiling of the items to be washed is understood to mean, for example, the amount of soiling and the type of soiling.

According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, a communication unit is provided for bidirectional communication with an external control device, the evaluation unit being set up to transmit information to the external control device and/or a control command by means of the communication unit depending on the determined replenishment and the determined time to receive from the external control device.

The communication unit is designed in particular as a modem and/or a network adapter. The external control device is, for example, a central home control system and/or a mobile device, in particular a smartphone, on which a suitable app is running.

According to the invention, it is thus possible to provide the user with detailed information, for example whether the current dishwashing program is continued unchanged despite the refilling, whether the user should add detergent, for example, and/or whether the current dishwashing program is adjusted to ensure a specified cleaning result. Furthermore, the user can initiate or carry out suitable countermeasures himself, possibly also at the suggestion of the evaluation unit. Many other embodiments are conceivable, particularly with regard to the predetermined action.

According to a further aspect, a method for operating a domestic dishwasher with a control device for carrying out a washing program from a number of washing programs for washing items to be washed arranged in a washing chamber is proposed. In a first method step, an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber is detected by means of an optical sensor while the washing program is being carried out. In a second method step, an evaluation unit is used to determine whether a user is adding more items to be washed, depending on the detected optical sensor signal. Reloading includes adding more items to be washed, changing the arrangement of the items to be washed in the washing chamber and/or removing items to be washed. In a third method step, a point in time of the ascertained replenishment in the washing program is determined. In a fourth method step, a predetermined action is carried out as a function of the determined replenishment and the specific point in time of the replenishment. The predetermined action includes outputting information to the user as to whether the current dishwashing program is continued unchanged despite the refilling, whether the user should add detergent and/or whether the current dishwashing program is adjusted to ensure a specified cleaning result, and/or an adjustment of the currently running wash program.

This method advantageously makes it possible to optimize the operation of the domestic dishwasher when items to be washed are refilled while a wash program is being carried out.

The embodiments and features described for the proposed domestic dishwasher apply accordingly to the proposed method.

In embodiments of the method can be provided, the detected optical sensor signal to a mobile device, in particular a smartphone, and / or to a server, such as for example a backend. The mobile device and/or the server are designed in particular as the evaluation unit and set up to determine the refilling as a function of the transmitted sensor signal. Can on a mobile device the determination of the refill can be carried out in particular by an app running on the mobile device.

Furthermore, a computer program product according to claim 9 is proposed.

A computer program product, such as a computer program means, can be made available or supplied by a server in a network, for example, as a storage medium such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD, or in the form of a downloadable file. This can be done, for example, in a wireless communication network by transferring a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine;
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht eines weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine; und
• Fig. 3 zeigt ein schematisches Blockschaltbild eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine.

Further advantageous refinements and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims and of the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed figures.

• 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a domestic dishwasher;
• 2 shows a schematic side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a domestic dishwasher; and
• 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a domestic dishwasher.

Elements that are the same or have the same function have been provided with the same reference symbols in the figures, unless otherwise stated.

1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 2, which can be closed by a door 3, which is in particular watertight. For this purpose, a sealing device (not shown) can be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2 . The washing compartment 2 is preferably cuboid. The washing compartment 2 can be arranged in a housing of the domestic dishwasher 1 . The washing container 2 and the door 3 can have a washing chamber 4 for washing items to be washed 15, 20 (see 2 ) form.

Door 3 is in the 1 shown in their open position. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3 . With the help of the door 3, a loading opening 6 of the washing compartment 2 can be closed or opened. The washing compartment 2 has a base 7, a cover 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The bottom 7, the top 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 can be made from a stainless steel sheet, for example. Alternatively, for example, the bottom 7 can be made of a plastic material.

The domestic dishwasher 1 also has at least one washware receptacle 12, 13, 14. Preferably, several, for example three, washware holders 12, 13, 14 can be provided, with washware holder 12 being a lower washware holder or a lower rack, washware holder 13 being an upper washware holder or an upper rack and washware holder 14 being a cutlery drawer. As the 1 further shows that the washing items receptacles 12, 13, 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing compartment 2. Each washware holder 12 to 14 can be moved either into or out of the washing compartment 2 . In particular, each washware receptacle 12, 13, 14 can be pushed into the washing compartment 2 in an insertion direction E and pulled out of the washing compartment 2 in a pull-out direction A counter to the insertion direction E.

The household dishwasher 1 also has a control device 100 and an evaluation unit 120 which are arranged on the door 3 . An optical sensor 110 designed as a camera is arranged on the ceiling 8 in such a way that it is used to detect an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber 4 and the items to be washed 15, 20 arranged in the washing chamber 4 (see 2 ) is set up. The broken lines below the camera 110 indicate a detection range of the camera 110 . It should be noted that the detection area is not limited to the rinsing chamber 4 .

The combination of the camera 110 and the evaluation unit 120 advantageously makes it possible to determine whether items to be washed 20 are being refilled in the washing chamber 4 while a washing program is being carried out. This is explained below using the 2 explained in more detail.

2 shows a schematic side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a domestic dishwasher 1, for example a variant of the domestic dishwasher 1 of FIG 1 .

In the 2 a situation is shown in which a user of the domestic dishwasher 1 puts dirty wash items 20 into a wash item receptacle 12 after a wash program has already started. The door 3 is therefore shown in a slightly open position and the wash items holder 12 , which is already loaded with items to be washed 15 , has been pulled out of the washing chamber 4 a little. The soiled items to be washed 20 that have been added, here a plate, are heavily soiled 22 .

A control device 100 and an evaluation unit 120 are arranged on the rear wall 9 of the domestic dishwasher 1 . An optical sensor 110 is arranged on a front edge of the cover 8 of the washing compartment 2 oriented towards the door 3 . A detection range of the optical sensor 110 is indicated by the dashed lines. It can be seen that the area detected by the optical sensor 110 also protrudes from the washing compartment 4 .

An arrow shows how the user moves the soiled plate 20 to the washware receptacle 12 . Here, the user moves the plate 20 by the optical Sensor 110 detected area. The optical sensor 110 thus detects an optical sensor signal from the soiled plate 20 that has been added.

The optical sensor 110 transmits the detected optical sensor signal to the evaluation unit 120. Depending on the detected optical sensor signal, the evaluation unit 120 determines that a heavily soiled plate 20 has been refilled.

The evaluation unit 120 then determines a point in time for the refilling. For example, the specific point in time is ten minutes after a part program step cleaning has started. This means that, for example, an addition unit (not shown) has already added detergent to the washing liquor. For example, it is an addition unit which, when the control device 100 is actuated for the first time, adds a single dose of cleaning agent previously metered by the user into the washing chamber 4 and, when actuated further, adds rinse aid in each case. However, such an addition unit is reset, for example, by opening the door 3, ie the first actuation after opening the door 3 corresponds to the first actuation in which only cleaning agent but no rinse aid is added. This would result in the problem that too little rinse aid is added if an appropriate countermeasure, as explained below, is not taken.

Due to the heavy soiling 22 of the plate 20 and because the addition unit is reset through the door opening, the evaluation unit 120 recognizes that adding the plate 20 has negative effects on the entire washware 15, 20 with regard to the cleaning result that can be achieved if the washing program is continued unchanged. In order to achieve a specified cleaning result despite the refilling, the evaluation unit 120 carries out the following predetermined actions. The rinsing liquor temperature during the cleaning sub-program step is increased, for example from the previous 50°C to 65°C. In addition, evaluation unit 120 extends the cleaning subprogram step by ten minutes, for example. In addition, the evaluation unit 120 sets the addition unit to add rinse aid. Furthermore, the evaluation unit 120 outputs corresponding information to the user. In particular, this includes the information that the entire rinsing process will now end ten minutes later.

It is thus ensured with these measures that a specified cleaning result is achieved for the entire washware 15, 20.

3 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a domestic dishwasher 1, such as the domestic dishwasher 1 of FIG 1 or 2 .

In a first method step S1, an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber 4 is detected by means of an optical sensor 110 while a washing program is being carried out. The optical sensor signal includes in particular items to be washed 15, 20 arranged in the washing chamber 4.

In a second method step S2, an evaluation unit 120 determines whether a user is adding items to be washed 20 as a function of the detected optical sensor signal. For example, the evaluation unit 120 carries out an image analysis of the detected optical sensor signal for this purpose.

In a third method step S3, the evaluation unit 120 determines a point in time of the ascertained replenishment in the dishwashing program.

In a fourth method step S4, the evaluation unit 120 carries out a predetermined action depending on the determined replenishment and the specific point in time. The predetermined action includes, in particular, measures that contribute to the entire washware 15, 20 having a predetermined cleaning result after the end of the current washing program.

Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

Reference signs used:

1

domestic dishwasher

2

flush tank

3

door

4

washing chamber

5

pivot axis

6

loading opening

7

Floor

8th

Ceiling

9

back panel

10

Side wall

11

Side wall

12

items to be washed

13

items to be washed

14

items to be washed

15

dishes

20

dishes

22

pollution

100

control device

110

optical sensor

120

evaluation unit

A

pull direction

E

insertion direction

S1

process step

S2

process step

S3

process step

S4

process step

Claims (9)

1. Household dishwasher (1) with a controller apparatus (100) for performing one wash program from a number of wash programs for washing items to be washed (15, 20) arranged in a washing chamber (4), an optical sensor (110) for capturing an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber (4) during a performance of the wash program and an evaluating unit (120), which is configured to ascertain a subsequent loading of items to be washed (15, 20) by a user as a function of the captured optical sensor signal of the washing chamber (4), to determine a point in time of the subsequent loading in the wash program and to perform a predetermined action as a function of the ascertained subsequent loading and the determined point in time, wherein the predetermined action comprises an output of an item of information to the user regarding whether the current wash program is being continued unaltered despite the subsequent loading, whether the user should subsequently load cleaning agent and/or whether the current wash program is adjusted in order to ensure a predefined cleaning result, and/or an adjustment of the wash program currently being performed, and wherein the subsequent loading comprises adding further items to be washed (15, 20), altering an arrangement of the items to be washed (15, 20) in the washing chamber (4) and/or removing items to be washed (15, 20).
2. Household dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the evaluating unit (120) is configured to determine the subsequent loading of items to be washed (15, 20) into the washing chamber (4) as a function of an opening of a door (3) of the household dishwasher (1) and a closing of the door (3) within a predetermined period of time while performing the wash program.
3. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 2, characterised by an illumination device (130) for illuminating the washing chamber (4) when capturing the optical sensor signal.
4. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the optical sensor signal (110) comprises a camera, wherein the optical sensor signal comprises an image and/or a video of the washing chamber (4).
5. Household dishwasher according to claim 4, characterised in that the evaluating unit (120) is configured to perform an image analysis of the captured image and/or of the captured video in order to ascertain the subsequent loading of items to be washed (20).
6. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 5, characterised in that the evaluating unit (120) is configured to perform a spectral analysis of the captured optical sensor signal in order to ascertain the subsequent loading of items to be washed (20).
7. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 6, characterised in that the evaluating unit (120) is configured to ascertain a quantity of the subsequently loaded items to be washed (20), a type of the subsequently loaded items to be washed (20), a position of the subsequently loaded items to be washed (20) in the washing chamber (4) and/or a soiling (22) of the subsequently loaded items to be washed (20) as a function of the captured optical sensor signal.
8. Method for operating a household dishwasher (1) with a controller apparatus (100) for performing one wash program from a number of wash programs for washing items to be washed (15, 20) arranged in a washing chamber (4), with:

   Capturing (S1) an optical sensor signal of the washing chamber (4) during the performance of the wash program by means of an optical sensor (110),
   Ascertaining (S2) a subsequent loading of items to be washed (20) by a user as a function of the captured optical sensor signal by means of an evaluating unit (120), wherein the subsequent loading comprises adding further items to be washed (15, 20), altering an arrangement of the items to be washed (15, 20) in the washing chamber (4) and/or removing items to be washed (15, 20),

   Determining (S3) a point in time of the ascertained subsequent loading in the wash program, and

   Performing (S4) a predetermined action as a function of the ascertained subsequent loading and the determined point in time of the subsequent loading, wherein the predetermined action comprises an output of an item of information to the user regarding whether the current wash program is being continued unaltered despite the subsequent loading, whether the user should subsequently load cleaning agent and/or whether the current wash program is adjusted in order to ensure a predefined cleaning result, and/or an adjustment of the wash program currently being performed.
9. Computer program product, which comprises commands that cause the dishwasher in claim 1 to bring about the method according to claim 8 to be performed.

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