US20090320883A1

US20090320883A1 - Dishwasher with a pivoting apparatus

Info

Publication number: US20090320883A1
Application number: US12/492,551
Authority: US
Inventors: Herbert FALK
Original assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Meiko Maschinenbau GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2008-06-26
Filing date: 2009-06-26
Publication date: 2009-12-31
Also published as: EP2138085A1; CN101612027A; DE102008030356A1

Abstract

A dishwasher is provided that includes at least one cleaning chamber for subjecting tableware to the action of at least one cleaning liquid. The dishwasher optionally having a rack support for holding at least one dish rack that is loaded with tableware. The dishwasher also includes a pivoting apparatus, wherein the pivoting apparatus is designed to pivot the dish rack from at least a first position to at least a second position in the cleaning chamber.

Description

This nonprovisional application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to German Patent Application No. 10 2008 030 356.9, which was filed in Germany on Jun. 26, 2008, and which is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a dishwasher for subjecting tableware to the action of a cleaning liquid. The invention also relates to a method for cleaning tableware. Dishwashers and methods of this type can be used, in particular, in the field of commercial dishwashing, in particular in the field of large-scale kitchens in canteens, hospitals, offices, schools, care homes or similar facilities in which large amounts of tableware are generated. All types of tableware, that is to say all types of utensils which come into indirect or direct contact with foodstuffs, can be cleaned in principle, for example trays, plates, cutlery, cups or, as is particularly preferred within the scope of the present invention, glasses.
2. Description of the Background Art
For the purpose of cleaning tableware, in particular trays, cups, plates, glasses, cutlery or similar articles, dishwashers are commercially available, in which the tableware is subjected to the action of at least one cleaning liquid, for example a dishwashing liquid with and/or without added detergents, a rinsing liquid, for example water with or without added rinse aids, or other cleaning liquids, and is therefore cleaned. The present invention can be applied, in principle, to all types of dishwashers, in particular to single-chamber and/or multi-chamber dishwashers. The present invention is particularly preferably used in commercial dishwashers, that is to say in dishwashers which have more than one tank, so that, for example as early as during a cleaning process in one chamber, a rinsing process can be prepared for in a second tank, for example by heating rinsing liquid in a separate boiler or flow heater. The present invention can be used, in particular, in hood-type dishwashers in which the at least one cleaning chamber has at least one hood which can be opened.
Dish racks, for example plastic racks, in particular dish racks with partition of compartments for tableware, are used in many such dishwashers. In general, all items to be cleaned, such as glasses, bowls or plastic cases, are inserted into the dish racks for the cleaning process with their opening facing downward. The standing surface of the washware, for example the feet of the glasses, therefore usually points upward. However, in many cases, dish racks of this kind face the problem that glasses with a deep base or foot, or washware with a recess in the standing surface, may be soiled again, particularly on the outside, by cleaning liquid, in particular alkali cleaning liquid, as the dish rack is removed from the dishwasher. This may be caused, for example, by a residual quantity of washing liquor remaining in a foot of the drinking glass if the standing surface of the foot of the glass is highly concave. Even a rinsing process is generally not sufficient to neutralize this accumulation of liquor. Therefore, residues which lead to soiling of the glasses to be cleaned form in many cases when the cleaning liquid dries up. A further disadvantageous phenomenon may be that the quantity of liquid remaining in the foot of the glass is so great that it does not dry up at all and has to be manually removed with a great deal of outlay.
A similar problem occurs with washware in the form of plastic boxes, for example plastic boxes as used in butchers' shop, with dimensions of 400 mm×600 mm, in which the base is usually likewise curved so severely inward that a large quantity of washing liquor remains therein and therefore has a considerable adverse effect on the dishwashing result.
For this reason, special racks for glasses, which racks have inclined bases or inclined compartments, are used in order to minimize the residual quantity remaining in the base of the glass. However, the disadvantage of such racks for glasses is that they often cannot be stacked and therefore are not suitable, for example, for storing tableware, in particular glasses, as would be desirable, for example, for a catering service.
Furthermore, tilting devices are available which are suitable for use in dish racks with compartment partition. However, such tilting devices likewise do not meet said requirements in all cases since the dish compartments in the dish racks are generally not dimensioned in such a way that the glasses can also stand in a considerably inclined position. In addition, insertion of the tilting devices into the dish racks requires additional operational outlay.
In addition to dishwashers, other types of cleaning appliances for automatically cleaning washware are known, in principle, from the prior art. For example, cleaning installations for metal components, for example metal bulk goods, or other industrially produced parts are commercially available. For example, Höckh Metall-Reinigungsanlagen GmbH in Neuenbürg, Germany, LPW Reinigungsysteme GmbH in Riederich, Germany, Semmelroth Anlagentechnik GmbH & Co. KG in Wendelstein, Germany, Pero AG Reinigungsmaschinen und Oberflächenreinigung in Königsbrunn, Germany, Rosnik GmbH & Co. Maschinenfabrik, Nordhorn, Germany, Pilas Reinigungstechnik in Lüdenscheid, Germany, MTV Förder-und Reinigungssysteme GmbH or Dürr Aktiensgesellschaft in Stuttgart, Germany, sell such cleaning appliances. Some of these cleaning systems, which are designed for metal bulk goods in particular, for example greased screws, also have pivoting, rotating or swinging devices in order to be able to clean the bulk goods or the machine parts from different angles.
However, transferring these shaking techniques, which are known from cleaning industrial bulk goods, to dishwashing technology has neither been technically realized nor required. This can be attributed to the fact that tableware is generally inserted into the dish racks in an oriented manner, so that it is generally only necessary to subject them to the action of cleaning liquid from one direction, for example into the cavities in the glasses, in contrast, for example, to bulk goods which are not oriented. Furthermore, the rotary or shaking movement is generally technically impossible to realize or only possible to realize with great difficulty in the case of tableware since such rotary or shaking movements would in many cases damage the tableware.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher and a method for cleaning tableware, which dishwasher and method effectively avoid the above-described problem of the tableware becoming soiled, in particular by cleaning liquid accumulating in the upwardly directed standing surfaces of the washware, and which dishwasher and method nevertheless permit reliable and reproducible cleaning of the tableware.
The invention proposes a dishwasher and also a method for cleaning tableware. In this case, the method can be carried out using a dishwasher according to the invention in one or more of the embodiments described below, and the dishwasher can be designed to carry out the method according to the invention in one or more of the described embodiments. In this respect, reference may be made to the description of the dishwasher for possible refinements of the method, and vice versa.
The proposed dishwasher can be configured in accordance with the above-described dishwashers and comprises at least one cleaning chamber for subjecting the tableware to the action of at least one cleaning liquid. In this case, the dishwasher is designed to accommodate a dish rack which is loaded with tableware. The dishwasher can have, for example, a rack support for holding the dish rack. This rack support can have, for example, one or more rails for inserting one or more dish racks. The invention proposes that the dishwasher has a pivoting apparatus, wherein the pivoting apparatus is designed to pivot the dish rack from at least a first position to at least a second position, which is different from the first position, in the cleaning chamber. In particular, the pivoting apparatus can be designed to fix the dish rack in the first position and/or in the second position before or after the pivoting process.
In this case, the pivoting apparatus may be entirely or partially formed as a constituent part of the rack support. However, as an alternative or in addition, it is also possible for the entire rack support itself to be formed as a pivoting apparatus or a constituent part of the latter.
In particular, in the second position, the at least one dish rack can be tilted about a tilting angle in relation to the first position. Tilting angles of between 5° and 40°, in particular of between 10° and 30°, have proven particularly useful for the above-described draining process which serves to conduct residues of cleaning liquid off recessed surfaces.
The solution according to the invention is therefore based on the idea that if tableware generally cannot be inclined to a sufficient extent in the dish rack, the pivoting apparatus can be used to incline the entire dish rack, optionally together with the rack support, during the washing process, so that the quantity of remaining liquid residues can be minimized and therefore soiling of the items of tableware when the rack is removed can be largely prevented.
In the method according to the invention, the tableware is first inserted into at least one dish rack and, together with the dish rack, inserted into the dishwasher, for example in at least one rack support of the dishwasher. The tableware is then subjected to the action of at least one cleaning liquid in the at least one cleaning chamber of the dishwasher. The dish rack is first moved to at least a first position in the cleaning chamber, and then to at least a second position by means of the pivoting apparatus. In this case, a pivoting movement is understood to mean, in principle, a tilting movement, or a tilting movement combined with a translatory movement.
The dishwasher can comprise the at least one dish rack. Said dish rack can be designed to hold tableware, in particular in a substantially fixed manner. To this end, corresponding fixing apparatuses, for example dish compartments, can be provided for example. These fixing apparatuses can hold the tableware in an oriented manner. It is particularly preferred here when the tableware is arranged in the dish rack substantially perpendicular to a base of the dish rack. For example, glasses or cups can have an axis which is oriented substantially perpendicular to this rack base. In this case, “substantially perpendicular” can also cover deviations from the perpendicular, for example deviations of not more than 10°, preferably of not more than 5°.
The pivoting apparatus can comprise, in principle, at least one pivot shaft, in particular a substantially horizontally pivot shaft along which the dish rack can be pivoted out of the first position into the second position by rotating about the pivot shaft. In this case, the dish rack can be pivoted, for example together with the optional rack support or a part of this rack support, or the dish rack can be pivoted on its own.
The pivoting apparatus can comprise, for example, at least one of the following apparatuses: a lever, in particular a lever with a hinged joint, an eccentric, in particular an electrically operated eccentric, a spindle, a cylinder, in particular a hydraulic cylinder. However, combinations of said elements and/or other elements for carrying out a pivoting movement are feasible. In particular, the pivoting apparatus can be designed to carry out a fully automated pivoting movement, for example a pivoting movement controlled by a control device of the dishwasher, for example in a specific program step of a dishwashing or cleaning program.
The control device can be configured to carry out a dishwashing program with at least two different program steps. In this case, the pivoting apparatus is designed to fix the dish rack in the first position in at least one program step and in the second position in at least a second program step. For example, the tableware can be subjected to the action of cleaning liquid in the first position and can be at least temporarily not subjected to the action of cleaning liquid in the second position, so that a draining process and/or a drying process can take place in this position, in which draining and/or drying process a remaining residual quantity of cleaning liquid can easily run off out of recessed areas of the washware, for example, concave standing surfaces of glasses. In this way, the washware can be subjected to the action of cleaning liquid in an optimum manner by virtue of the pivoting apparatus in the first position, whereas in the second position residues of cleaning liquid can at least largely run off in an optimum manner for example in a base region of the tableware, by said pivoting apparatus pivoting into the second position.
The dish rack can be pivoted from the first position to the second position at one of the following times: during or after a rinsing process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of a rinsing liquid, in particular water with or without added rinse aid; before or during a draining process in which the tableware is not subjected to the action of a cleaning liquid; before or during a drying process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of an elevated temperature; before or during a drying process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of an air stream, for example a strong air stream of which the temperature must not be hotter than or must not be significantly hotter than the air in the other zones of the dishwasher. By way of example, the dishwasher and/or a control device of the dishwasher can be correspondingly programmed to carry out a pivoting movement of this kind at a suitable time.
The first position can be a position in which the dish rack is oriented substantially horizontally. The second position can be a position in which the dish rack is oriented such that it is tilted in relation to the horizontal.
As described above, the dishwasher can, in particular, have a hood which can be opened, in particular a hood which can be swung upward or moved upward. The dishwasher can be configured such that the dish rack can be pivoted by means of the pivoting apparatus when it is in the fully inserted position. In particular, when the dishwasher comprises a hood-type machine or is configured as a hood-type machine, the machine is designed in such a way that the dish rack can be inserted into the dishwasher when the hood is in an open position, and said dish rack can be pivoted by means of the pivoting apparatus when the hood is in a closed position. The pivoting movement can therefore be configured such that it is not prevented even by the hood being closed. However, as an alternative or in addition, the pivoting movement can also be carried out, in principle, when the hood is open.
As an alternative or in addition to a hood-type dishwasher, the dishwasher may also comprise a conveyor-type dishwasher in which the tableware is transported through at least one cleaning zone, preferably through a plurality of cleaning zones, in a continuous or intermittent manner. For example, this conveyor-type dishwasher can comprise a rack conveyor or be configured as a rack conveyor, wherein one or more racks are moved through the at least one cleaning zone in a continuous or intermittent manner. In this case, the pivoting movement can be performed fundamentally during the transportation process, for example in a draining or drying zone, between two cleaning zones (for example between a main wash zone and a rinse zone), in an outlet or at a plurality of points. However, for the purpose of carrying out the pivoting movement, for example at said points, it is preferred when the transportation movement is briefly interrupted in order to pivot at least one dish rack by means of the at least one pivoting apparatus.
However, the types of dishwashers do not, in principle, restrict the configuration of the dishwasher. Therefore, the dishwasher can, for example, also comprise, as an alternative or in addition, at least one front-loader dishwasher in which the dishwasher is charged, for example, through a flap or door in the front region of the dishwasher. Other refinements are also feasible. However, use in dishwashers in the commercial field, that is to say in commercial dishwashers in which at least two tanks which are separate from one another are provided for different liquids, is particularly preferred.
The described dishwasher and the described method therefore mean that the tableware can be cleaned in an optimum manner in the at least one first position, for example by the position of the tableware being oriented in relation to one or more spray nozzles and/or wash arms of the dishwasher in an optimum manner, for example in order to be able to spray cleaning liquid into cavities in the tableware in an optimum manner. In the second position, an optimum draining process can then be performed, in which liquid residues which have accumulated in recesses in the standing surfaces of the tableware, for example in concave feet of glasses, can be largely emptied. This prevents, for example, alkali residues. The described tilting process is easy to realize by programming and can be implemented in various ways at one or more times in a regular dishwashing program.
Further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus, are not limitive of the present invention, and wherein:

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher with a dish rack in a first position;

FIG. 1B shows the dishwasher according to FIG. 1A with the dish rack in a second position; and

FIG. 2 shows a schematic flow diagram of one possible exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate, in a highly schematic manner, one possible exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher 110 according to the invention. In this case, FIGS. 1A and 1B differ in terms of the position of a dish rack 112, as is explained in greater detail below.
The dishwasher comprises a housing 114 in which a control device 116 (only indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B) is accommodated. The dishwasher 110 further comprises a hood 118 which is illustrated in an open state in FIGS. 1A and 1B and therefore allows access to a cleaning chamber 120. The hood 118 can be displaced along a rear wall 122 in a vertical direction and sits on the housing 114 when the cleaning chamber 120 is in a closed state. A spray nozzle system 124 (which is only schematically indicated in the figures) is arranged in the cleaning chamber 120. This spray nozzle system 124 comprises, for example, spray nozzles for a prewashing and dishwashing process and also optionally a rinsing system. This spray nozzle system 124 is further connected to one or more tanks, so that said system can be supplied with corresponding cleaning liquids. For example, a separate boiler in which rinsing liquid is already heated during the prewashing and dishwashing process can also be provided for a rinsing system.
The dish rack 112 is only schematically illustrated in the figures and in this exemplary embodiment is configured, by way of example, as a dish rack for glasses 126. In order to allow dishwashing liquid from the spray nozzle system 124 to penetrate the cavities in the glasses 126 in an optimum manner when the hood 118 is in the closed state, these glasses 126 are oriented vertically in the illustrated exemplary embodiment. In order to ensure this orientation, the dish rack 112 can have, for example, a plurality of compartments 128 which are likewise merely schematically indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. These compartments 128 can be separated from one another, for example, by vertical partition walls.
When the hood 118 is in the open state, the dish rack 112 is inserted into a rack support 130 which is likewise only schematically indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B. This rack support 130 can be matched to the special features of the dish rack 112 and can comprise, for example, a holding rail for the dish rack 112 or other types of holders and/or mounts for the dish rack 112.
The problem described above is faced when the dish rack 112 in the rack support 130 is in the position illustrated in FIG. 1A. Cleaning liquid, for example liquor, can accumulate in the base region of the washware, in this case in particular in recessed standing surfaces 127 of the glasses 126, and this can lead to renewed soiling of the tableware, in this case the glasses 126, when the dish rack 112 is removed from the dishwasher 110.
The invention therefore proposes equipping the rack support 130 with a pivoting apparatus 132 which is likewise only symbolically illustrated in the figures. This pivoting apparatus 132 allows the dish rack 112 to pivot about a pivot shaft 134 which, in this exemplary embodiment, is configured parallel to the rear wall 122. In this way, the dish rack 112 can pivot by virtue of a corresponding pivoting process from a first position (illustrated in FIG. 1A and denoted by reference numeral 136), in which the dish rack 112 is oriented horizontally, to a second position (illustrated in FIG. 1B and denoted by reference numeral 138). In the second position 132, the dish rack 112 is tilted through a tilting angle α in relation to the horizontal, so that the front lower edge of the dish rack 112 is raised in relation to the pivot axis 134 by a distance X. In a departure from the illustrated example, the pivot axis can also be arranged in another way, for example close to a front edge of the cleaning chamber 120 and, for example, parallel to said front edge or else parallel to one of the sides of the cleaning chamber 120.
In this respect, reference is made to the fact that the invention can be used, in principle, for all types of tableware. It is particularly advantageous when tableware 126 is used which comprises at least one cavity in at least one standing surface 127. This is often the case with glasses 126 and/or tumblers in particular. The cavity can have, for example, a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis is oriented substantially vertically in the first position 136, and wherein, in the second position 138, the longitudinal axis is tilted through a tilting angle in relation to the vertical. However, other types of washware or tableware can be used in principle, for example washware in which the water or the dishwashing liquid accumulates in an undercut (for example an edge on a bowl) and can be emptied by virtue of the tilting movement. Similarly, a dish rack with washware without cavities or undercuts can also be tilted during the course of the program.
In this case, the tilting angle α is preferably selected in such a way that the dish rack 112 still finds space in the cleaning chamber 120 even when the hood 118 is closed, without butting against the wall of the hood 118 or against other internal components in the cleaning chamber 120. In this way, it is possible, by virtue of pivoting from the first position 136 to the second position 138, for the entire dish rack 112, together with the rack support 130, to be inclined, for example during the cleaning process, so that virtually no residues of cleaning liquid remain in the recessed standing surfaces 127 of the washware 126, and therefore soiling of the items of tableware when the dish rack 112 is removed from the dishwasher 110 is largely prevented.
The pivoting apparatus 132 can comprise, for example, a mechanical lever with a hinged joint, or can also be operated electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically, for example by an eccentric, a spindle, a cylinder or the like. In addition, as explained in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 2, a dishwashing program is possible in which the dish rack 112 is positioned differently in different program steps. In this way, inclination, for example by means of a hydraulic cylinder, can be performed only with a rinsing operation for example, so that the dish rack 112 is moved into the inclined position only in a rinsing step for example. In addition, the inclination would be possible only within a draining interval. In this case, the actual cleaning process, which precedes rinsing and/or draining, could still be performed with vertically arranged glasses 126, this increasing the cleaning effect since, in this way, the cleaning liquid from the spray nozzle system 124 can penetrate the cavities in the glasses 126 in an optimum manner.
It goes without saying that the effect of inclination could also be achieved in a manner which is more complicated in terms of handling than the pivoting apparatus 132 illustrated, for example by means of a separate rack frame which has the task of holding the dish rack 112 in an inclined position in order to be able to push it into the machine for cleaning purposes in this position. However, the disadvantage of this device would be that only slight inclination of the rack would be possible since the dish rack 112 could be mounted on guide rails of the hood 118 as it is inserted and removed. A further disadvantage is the fact that the washware, for example tall glasses, is not oriented in an optimum manner perpendicular to the spray systems 124 during the cleaning process, and this can lead to the inadequate cleaning results.
It should be noted that the hood-type dishwasher 110 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B represents only one possible exemplary embodiment of dishwashers in which the invention can be used. As an alternative or in addition, the invention can also be used, for example, in conveyor-type dishwashers or in front-loader single-chamber dishwashers, or generally in particular in dishwashers for commercial use, that is to say with at least two tanks for dishwashing liquids. However, it has been found that the described problem of soiling can play a considerable role in the case of the illustrated hood-type dishwashers in particular since the dish racks 112 are generally manually handled in such dishwashers 110, and so residual quantities of cleaning fluid which remain in the recessed standing surfaces of the washware can lead to the described soiling, in particular when the racks are handled.
FIG. 2 illustrates one possible exemplary embodiment of a method according to the invention. This method comprises a dishwashing program with a plurality of program steps. It goes without saying that other types of dishwashing programs with other types of program steps and/or another sequence of program steps can be implemented according to the invention. An order which differs from the illustrated order of program steps is also feasible, and it is feasible to carry out additional program steps which are not illustrated in FIG. 2.
In method step 210, the dish rack 112 is loaded with tableware, for example glasses 126. In method step 212, the hood 118 is open, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and the dish rack 112 is inserted into the rack support 130 in method step 214. The hood 118 is then closed in method step 216, and a dishwashing program (denoted in general by reference numeral 218 in FIG. 2) is started.
The dishwashing program is likewise illustrated only schematically and by way of example in FIG. 2. Therefore, this dishwashing program can comprise an optional prewashing step 220 and a main washing step 222. However, these two dishwashing steps 220, 222 can also be combined to form one program step.
A rinsing liquid can be heated, for example in a separate tank, for example a boiler, as early as during the dishwashing steps 220, 222, wherein water with added rinse aids is generally used. Therefore, a rinsing step can follow the dishwashing steps 220, 222 substantially without interruption. This rinsing step is divided into two substeps 224, 228 in FIG. 2, wherein a pivoting step 226 is introduced between these two substeps 224, 228, which can also follow one another without interruption in terms of time, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment.
In this pivoting step 226, the dish rack 112 is tilted out of the first position 136 (illustrated in FIG. 1A) into the second position 138 (illustrated in FIG. 1B). This pivoting operation 226 does not necessarily lead to an interruption in the rinsing steps 224, 228, and so these rinsing steps 224, 228 can also be combined to form a single rinsing step, so that the pivoting step 226 can be introduced, for example after a predefined time after the beginning of the rinsing steps, without interrupting the rinsing process. In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the first part of the rinsing step 224 can be performed with vertically arranged tableware, for example with vertically arranged glasses 126, in this way, and so optimum rinsing is ensured since the jets from the spray nozzle system 124 can penetrate the cavities in the vertically arranged glasses in an optimum manner.
During the second part of the rinsing step 228, which is performed in the pivoted state, that is to say with the dish rack 112 tilted through the tilting angle α, the above-described effect can then be achieved since the liquid residue remaining in the recessed standing surfaces 127 of the glasses 126 in the dish rack 112 and therefore soiling of the glasses 126 can then be minimized by tilting the dish rack 112.
The rinsing steps 224, 228 are then optionally followed by a draining step 230 and a drying step 232. The two method steps 230, 232 are optional and represent method steps in which the tableware, for example the glasses 126, are not subjected to the action of cleaning liquid (that is to say dishwashing liquid and/or rinsing liquid). A draining step 230 can also be introduced, for example, between the dishwashing steps 220, 222 and/or between the dishwashing steps 220, 222 and the rinsing step 224, 228. The dish rack 112 could also be inclined during the draining process in this variant.
The illustrated order, in which the pivoting step 226 takes place during the rinsing steps 224, 228, is, as illustrated above, only one exemplary embodiment of the time sequence of this pivoting step 226. As mentioned above, pivoting could also take place during the draining step 230, wherein draining could also be performed as early as with the hood 118 open again. Furthermore, the pivoting operation 226 could also be performed before the rinsing steps 224, 228 or after these rinsing steps 224, 228, or before or during the draining step 230. Multiple pivoting operations 226 during the dishwashing program 218 are also feasible, in order to achieve optimum positioning of the washware, for example, for each program step.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are to be included within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising:

at least one cleaning chamber for subjecting tableware to the action of at least one cleaning liquid;

a rack support configured to hold at least one dish rack that is configured to be loaded with tableware; and

a pivoting apparatus configured to pivot the dish rack from at least a first position to at least a second position in the cleaning chamber.

2. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher configured to fix the disk rack in the first position and/or in the second position.

3. A dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein, in the second position, the dish rack is tilted through a tilting angle in relation to the first position.

4. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 3, wherein the tilting angle is between 5° and 40° or between 10° and 30°.

5. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one dish rack is configured to fixedly hold tableware.

6. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dish rack has a plurality of fixing apparatuses or tableware compartments to hold the tableware in an oriented manner.

7. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tableware is arranged in the dish rack substantially perpendicular to a rack base of the dish rack.

8. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting apparatus comprises a pivot shaft, wherein the pivot apparatus is configured to pivot the dish rack out of the first position into the second position by rotating about the pivot shaft.

9. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pivoting apparatus comprises at least one of:

a lever;

a lever with a hinged joint;

an eccentric;

an electrically operated eccentric;

a spindle;

a cylinder; or

a hydraulic cylinder.

10. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a control device configured to carry out a dishwashing program having at least two different program steps, wherein the pivoting apparatus is configured to fix the dish rack in the first position in at least a first program step and in the second position in at least a second program step.

11. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first program step comprises a dishwashing step, and wherein the second program step comprises a rinsing step and/or a draining step and/or a drying step.

12. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first position is a position in which the dish rack is oriented substantially horizontally, and wherein the second position is a position in which the dish rack is oriented such that it is tilted in relation to the horizontal.

13. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a hood that is configured to be opened, in particular a hood that can be swung upward or moved upward, wherein the dish rack is insertable into a rack support of the dishwasher when the hood is in an open position, and wherein the dish rack is pivotable by the pivoting apparatus when the hood is in a closed position.

14. The dishwasher as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a conveyor-type dishwasher which is configured to transport the dish rack through at least one cleaning zone, wherein the pivoting apparatus is configured to protect the dish rack during the transportation process and/or during an interruption in the transportation process.

15. A method for cleaning tableware or glasses, the method comprising:

inserting the tableware into at least one dish rack;

inserting into a dishwasher the dish rack;

subjecting the tableware to at least one cleaning liquid in at least one cleaning chamber of the dishwasher;

moving the dish rack into at least a first position in the cleaning chamber; and

pivoting the dish rack into at least a second position via a pivoting apparatus configured to pivot the dish rack from the first position to the second position in the cleaning chamber.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tableware is subjected to the action of the cleaning liquid in the first position.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tableware is at least temporarily not subjected to the action of cleaning liquid in the second position.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tableware is subjected to a draining process and/or a drying process in the second position.

19. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the dish rack is pivoted from the first position to the second position at one of the following times:

during a rinsing process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of a rinsing liquid, in particular water with or without added rinse aid;

after a rinsing process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of a rinsing liquid, in particular water with or without added rinse aid;

before a draining process in which the tableware is not subjected to the action of a cleaning liquid;

during a draining process in which the tableware is not subjected to the action of a cleaning liquid;

before a drying process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of an elevated temperature;

during a drying process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of an elevated temperature;

before a drying process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of an air stream; or

during a drying process in which the tableware is subjected to the action of an air stream.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the tableware that is used comprises at least one cavity in at least one standing surface, in particular at least one glass and/or at least one tumbler with a cavity in its standing surface, wherein the cavity has a longitudinal axis, wherein the longitudinal axis is oriented substantially vertically in the first position, and wherein, in the second position, the longitudinal axis is tilted through a tilting angle in relation to the vertical.