US3861413A

US3861413A - Indicating device for a dishwasher

Info

Publication number: US3861413A
Application number: US436859A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harold L Woehler
Original assignee: Fedders Corp
Current assignee: Fedders Corp
Priority date: 1974-01-28
Filing date: 1974-01-28
Publication date: 1975-01-21
Anticipated expiration: 1992-01-21

Abstract

An automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber adapted to receive articles to be cleaned wherein electrically operated devices are provided to effect a plurality of cleaning cycles upon the articles received in the chamber. A timing device that is selectively movable to a position corresponding to the desired number of cleaning cycles is provided and is operable to connect the electrically operated devices with a source of power in a predetermined sequence to control the dishwasher through the desired number of cleaning cycles. An indicator is energized by the timing device during the desired number of cleaning cycles exclusive of the final cleaning cycle for indicating to the operator that the final cleaning cycle has not been initiated. Accordingly, articles added to the wash chamber will be subjected to at least one full cleaning cycle as long as the operator observes that the indicator is energized.

Description

United States Patent Woehler Jan. 21, 1975 INDICATING DEVICE FOR A DISHWASHER [57] ABSTRACT Inventor: Harold woehlel" Hem, An automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber [73] Assignee: Fedders Corporation, Edison, N. J. adapted to receive articles to be cleaned wherein electrically operated devices are provided to effect a plul Flledi 23, 1974 rality of cleaning cycles upon the articles received in [21] App]. No; 436,859 the chamber. A timing device that is selectively movable to a position corresponding to the desired number of cleaning cycles is provided and is operable to U-S. D, onnect the electrically operated devices a [5 l ource of power in a predetermined equence to on- [58] Fleld of Search 134/57 1158 D; 307/141; trol the dishwasher through the desired number of 137/334 cleaning cycles. An indicator is energized by the timing device during the desired number of cleaning cy- [56] References Cited cles exclusive of the final cleaning cycle for indicating UNITED STATES PATENTS to the operator that the final cleaning cycle has not 3,798,465 3/1974 Guth 307/141 been initiated- Accordingly, articles added to the Wash Primary Examiner-Henry T. Klinksiek Attorney, Agent, or FirmRyder, McAulay, Fields, Fisher & Goldstein chamber will be subjected to at least one full cleaning cycle as long as the operator observes that the indicator is energized.

13 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures FATENTEB JAN 2 1 I975 SHEET 10F 3 FIG; 2

- TYP/CAL CYCLES 50 51? may (3 WAS/#515) W 0 E )m M SW z 6 MK 5 w s M H7. 420 a v, F W 2 $0M M4 Q W a 4 M.%

H 5 M W m E z w H W w A w FIG. 3

INDICATING DEVICE FOR A DISHWASHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to an indicating device for an automatic dishwashing machine and, more particularly, pertains to an indicator that advises the operator that additional articles added to the dishwasher after a cycle of operation has been initiated will still be subjected to at least one complete cleaning cycle. (As used herein, a cleaning cycle includes at least a wash cycle and a rinse cycle).

In many instances an occasion arises wherein a housewife desires to add additional articles to an automatic dishwashing machine or dishwasher after a cycle of operation has been initiated as, for example, where dessert dishes become soiled after the dishwasher has been activated to clean the basic dinner dishes and related silverware. Usually, the operator simply opens the loading door of the dishwasher, thereby stopping it in mid-cycle by means of a door interlock switch, and inserts the additional articles in the wash chamber. The door is then closed and the dishwasher continues its cycle of operation. However, in most cases, the operator is usually unaware of the point in the cycle of operation of the dishwasher that the articles are added. As a result, many articles are added after the final cleaning cycle has begun and the articles emerge with traces of dirt and grime thereon.

Attempts have been made to eliminate this problem by providing some dishwashing machines with indicators for each sub-cycle of operation (i.e., the first wash cycle, the first rinse cycle, the second wash cycle, etc.) thereby permitting the operator to insert the additional articles prior to the final wash cycle. However, this is an extremely costly arrangement since many such indicators are required, particularly for a dishwasher having many cleaning cycles, in addition to the necessary controls for actuating each indicator at the proper time.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide an improved device for indicating that articles added to a dishwasher after a cycle of operation has been initiated will be subjected to at least one complete cleaning cycle.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide an indicator for a dishwasher that is operable during all cleaning cycles preceding the final cleaning cycle thereby to permit a visual determination by an operator that an article added to the dishwasher will be subjected to at least one complete cleaning cycle.

A further object of the present invention resides in the novel details of construction that provide an indicating device for a dishwasher of the type described that is simple in construction and economical to fabricate.

Accordingly, a dishwasher constructed according to the present invention is provided with a wash chamber adapted to receive articles to be cleaned and includes a plurality of electrically operated devices for effecting at least two cleaning cycles upon articles received in the chamber. Selectively operable timing means which is movable to select the desired number of cleaning cycles is provided for connecting the electrically operated devices in a predetermined sequence with a source of power to control the dishwasher through the desired number of cleaning cycles. Additionally, indicating means is provided which is operable by the timing which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustrating indicators thereon;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view, to enlarged scale, of the indicators shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating various types of operations that the dishwasher may perform during a complete cycle of operation;

FIG. 4 is a schematic circuit wiring diagram of the electrically operated elements of the dishwasher;

FIG. 5 is a chart showing the different programs of the dishwashing machine and the actuation of the corresponding contacts for producing the desired operations; and

FIG. 6 is a chart illustrating the sequence of opera tions of the main control timer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A dishwashing machine or dishwasher constructed according to the present invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 and comprises a cabinet 12 having a top wall 20 and a door 14 in a front wall 16 that permits access to a wash chamber 18 within the cabinet. The articles to be washed are received within the wash chamber on appropriate racks (not shown) and are positioned to be cleaned by a spray from spray arms (not shown) of conventional construction. The door 14 of the cabinet 12 includes a face plate section 22 having a plurality of controls thereon for controlling the operation of the dishwasher through desired cycles of operation.

More specifically, a sequence control timing means or timer 24 is provided, which is of known mechanical construction, to control the dishwasher through a plurality of operations in timed sequence. As noted in greater detail below, the operation of the dishwasher is effected by a plurality of electrically operated devices such as for example, a solenoid-operated water valve which controls the flow of water into the machine during a fill operation or a motor which pumps the water from the machine into a drain during a drain operation. The timer is operable to actuate the switch portions of these electrically operated elements to connect the associated device to a source of power in a predetermined sequence so that the machine performs various cycles (e.g., a wash cycle, a rinse cycle) during a complete cycle of operation.

Although the timer 24 is not shown in detail, it is of the type that comprises a rotatable shaft driven by a synchronous electric timer motor. A plurality of cams indicated diagrammatically at 41 in FIG. 4 are mounted on the shaft indicated diagrammatically at 43 and are positioned to engage and operate switches 26-40 (FIG. 4) at various times during a revolution of the shaft.

That is, the switches are adapted to contact their associated terminals which are identified with a prefix numeral corresponding to the respective switch and a letter suffix designating the particular terminal of the switch. For example, switch 34 may be operated to contact either

terminal

34A or 34B. Each one of the terminals is connected to an electrically operated device so that operation of a switch to a particular terminal will provide a current path to the device connected to that terminal as noted below. The switch and the associated device are collectively referred to as an electrically operated element.

The operation of the switches 26-40 as a function of the angular position of the timer shaft from a home or position is indicated by the timer sequence chart of FIG. 6. Thus, the sequence chart indicates diagrammatically the periods during which the switches 26-40 are connected to their respective terminals during a revolution of the timer shaft. The function which the dishwasher performs as a result of the connection of a switch with a particular terminal is indicated in the column adjacent to the Terminal Identification column. The operations or cycles performed by the dishwasher on the articles as a function of the angular position of the timer shaft is indicated at the top of the chart.

In addition to the cam operated switches, a door interlock or door-operated switch 42 (FIG. 4) is provided and is closed only when door 14 is securely closed. As shown in FIG. 4, the switch 42 is serially connected between a source of power adapted to be connected across input terminals 39 and the timer 24 so that when the door switch 42 is open, the dishwashing machine is effectively disabled.

There is also provided a program selection switch 44 having normally open contacts A, B, C and D. The switch 44 is actuated by manually depressable pushbuttons 46-52 (FIG. 1) which are mounted on the face plate 22. The program selection switch 44 is of conventional construction and is of the type wherein the respective pushbuttons 46-52 are interlocked so that depression of any one of the pushbuttons automatically results in release of a previously depressed pushbutton. Accordingly, depression of any one of the pushbuttons selects a particular program of operation of the dishwashing machine and effectively cancels any earlier selected program.

Depression of any one of the pushbuttons 46-52 closes respective ones of the contacts B-D in accordance with the specifications in the chart of FIG. 5. More specifically, a SUPER WASH program is selected by depressing button 46, whereupon contacts B, C and D are closed. A REGULAR program is selected by depressing pushbutton 48, whereupon contacts B, C and D are closed. A RINSE-HOLD program is selected by depressing pushbutton 50, whereupon only contact B closes. On the other hand, a GENTLE program is selected by depressing pushbutton 52, whereupon contacts C and D close.

In addition to the above, interlocked

pushbuttons

54 and 56 are provided on the face plate 22 and control the operation of contact A in program selection switch 44 to initiate or eliminate a so-called sani operation or cycle of the dishwasher. During the sani operation, the water used in the last cleaning cycle of the dishwasher is first heated to a predetermined temperature of, for example, 150F, before the cycle of operation continues. Thus, depression of the button 54 opens the contact A to permit a sani operation whereas depression of the pushbutton 56 closes contact A to eliminate the sani operation.

The sequence control timing means or timer 24 includes a manually rotatable knob 58 accessable on the face plate 22. The knob is connected to the end of the shaft of the timer so that rotation of the knob causes concomitant rotation of the shaft thereby causing operation of the switches 26-40 via the respective cams mounted on the shaft. The knob 58 may be rotated through a series of different arcs from its off position thereby to effect different washing operations in conjunction with the operation of the program selection switch 44. For example, as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 3, simply rotating the knob 58 from the off position to the home position will cause the dishwashing machine to execute a so-called super wash cycle wherein, in the machine under consideration, three cleaning cycles each comprising a wash cycle and at least one rinse cycle will be performed. (In the present example, the off position precedes the home position by approximately 6.) On the other hand, when a regular wash cycle (which includes two cleaning cycles each comprising a wash cycle and at least one rinse cycle) is desired, the knob 58 is rotated through approximately a arc. Reference to FIG. 6 shows that rotation of the timer through an initial 65 will eliminate the first wash and rinse cycles. I

A so-called short wash cycle comprising a wash cycle and at least one, or in the present case, two rinse cycles (FIG. 3) is obtained by initially rotating knob 58 through a arc. Reference to FIG. 6 shows that the first two wash and rinse cycles are thereby eliminated. When it is desired to simply rinse the articles in the wash chamber 18, the knob 58 is rotated through a are so that the machine only executes two rinse cycles. If it is only desired to heat the articles within the chamber 18, the knob 58 is rotated through a 252 are. Reference to FIG. 6 shows that therefore only the dry cycle will be executed by the machine. Appropriate indicia are placed on the knob 58 to indicate the position to which the knob is to be rotated when it is desired to cause the dishwasher to perform any one of the aforementioned operations.

In accordance with the present invention, appropriate indicators designated generally by the reference numeral 60 are provided on the face plate 22 to advise the operator of various machine functions. In particular, the indicators 60 comprise four lights respectively designated 62, 64, 66 and 68. The lights each may bear legends thereon as shown more particularly in FIG. 2. The light 62 may bear the legend ADD-A-DISH and is illuminated during the cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle, as indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 3. Thus, the light 62 provides a visual indication to the operator that articles added to the wash chamber 18 during the interval that the light 62 is illuminated will still be subjected to at least one full cleaning cycle (i.e., a full wash and rinse cycle). The light 64 may have the lengend WASHING-RINSING thereon and is illuminated only during the last cleaning cycle, as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. (It is to be understood that when only one cleaning cycle is performed by the dishwasher, as during a short wash cycle, the one cycle is, in effect, the last cleaning cycle.) The light 66 may be provided with the legend WATER HEATING" and is illuminated during the sani operation of the dishwasher (i.e., while the water is being heated to the predetermined temperature). The lamp 68 may bear the designation DRYING-WARMING and is illuminated during the period that the articles are being dried, as indicated in FIG. 3.

It will now be appreciated that a minimum number of indicators have been provided which supply an operator with all the necessary information for the operator to determine whether to add additional articles to the dishwasher or to advise the operator of the cycle being performed by the machine. In particular, illumination of the light 62 indicates that articles added to the dishwasher will still be subjected to a complete cleaning cycle.

Assuming that a super wash cycle is desired, the knob 58 is rotated from the off position to the home position in FIG. 6) thereby causing the cams associated with

switches

26 and 30 to connect the switches with terminals 26A and 30A, respectively. This action connects bus 72 to the power source through

switches

26 and 42; the return bus 74 is directly connected to the power source (not shown). The timer motor 70 is energized through switch 30 and remains energized as long as

switches

26 and 30 are in engagement with the respective terminals 26A and 30A.

The timer motor 70 rotates the shaft 43 and, via the cams, operates the switches 26-40 at the various times and in the manner indicated in the sequence chart of FIG. 6. For example, switch 26 will remain connected with terminal 26A from approximately 0 to 354; the latter position corresponding to the off position of the knob 58. Additionally, initially switch 40 will engage terminal 40B thereby energizing the drain winding 78 of the pump motor 80.

The motor 80 is conventional in construction and includes a main winding 79, a drain winding 78, and wash winding 88. A start relay 82, of conventional construction, is used in conjunction with the motor. The initial direction of rotation of the motor is determined by which one of the

windings

78 or 88 is initially energized. For example, it is assumed that switch 40 is engaged with terminal 408 to connect the drain winding 78 in the circuit. When switch 38 engages terminal 38B, current flows through relay coil 82A of relay 82 and main winding 79 of the motor. Relay contacts 828 close to connect the drain winding 78 between buses 72, 74. Thus, the motor 80 will rotate in a direction to cause water to be pumped out of the machine. As the motor increases speed, the current through coil 82A which is in series with main winding 79, decreases to the point where contacts 823 open and cause deenergization of winding 78. However, motor 80 continues to rotate in the same direction in the conventional manner. 0n the other hand, if switch 40 were in contact with terminal 40A, the winding 88 would be energized to cause motor 80 to rotate in the opposite direction, thereby forcing the water through the spray arms. (It is to be noted that two sets of oppositedly curved impeller blades on the motor output shaft cause the water to be forced into the drain or into the spray arms depending on the rotation of the motor.)

Switch 28 will engage terminal 28A to cause energization of the ADD-A-DISH light 62. As noted from FIG. 6, the switch 28 will remain in engagement with the terminal 28A until after the completion of the second rinse cycle in the second cleaning cycle. Thereafter, switch 28 will engage terminal 283 thereby causing illumination of the lamp 64 to indicate that the last cleaning cycle has begun. Hence, in accordance with the present invention, the lamp 62 will remain illuminated during all cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle to visually indicate that additional articles may be added to the wash chamber.

Switch 32 will contact terminal 328 thereby to cause energization of water valve solenoid 84 through the normally closed float switch 86 which, in turn, opens the wash chamber. That is, the dishwasher performs a fill operation. The switch 86 is mounted in the wash chamber and opens when the water within the chamber reaches a preselected level to prevent overflow of the wash chamber. Additionally, as is conventional, a detergent is added to the wash chamber prior to closing the door 14 so that this detergent is intimately mixed with the water during the fill and subsequent wash operation.

Switch 32 will remain in engagement with contact 32B for approximately 8 of rotation of the timer. If any program other than a GENTLE program is selected, contact B of switch 44 will also be closed. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 6, the water valve solenoid 84 will be energized through switch 34, terminals 34A and contact B of switch 44 up to approximately 1 1 of rotation of the timer.

Thereafter, switch 40 will engage terminal 40A of motor 80 thereby causing the motor to rotate in the opposite direction by energizing the wash winding 88, to force wash water through the spray arms (not shown) in the wash chamber. During this period of time, contact 36 will engage terminal 36B thereby energizing heater coil 90 to heat the wash water which is being recirculated by the motor 80. Hence, the dishwasher will execute the first wash cycle until approximately 31 of rotation of the timer shaft at which point contact 38 will be disengaged from terminal 38B. Thereupon, switch 40 will again engage terminal 408 to cause energization of the drain winding 78 of the motor. Thereafter, as indicated in FIG. 6, switch 38 will again engage terminal 383 to cause the pump motor 80 to rotate in the opposite direction and force the water within the wash chamber into the drain. After the water has been drained, the dishwasher will execute another fill operation in the manner indicated above. After the fill operation, the water will again be recirculated through the wash chamber to execute a first rinse cycle. Thereafter, a pause and the drain operations will again be executed to complete the first cleaning cycle.

The second cleaning cycle comprises substantially the same operation of the various elements as does the first cleaning cycle with the exception that switch 32 will engage terminal 32A from approximately 69 to 74 to cause energization of detergent dispenser coil 76. The detergent dispenser is of known construction and normally comprises a cavity within the wash chamber having a rotatable cover which is spring biased to the open position. The cavity is filled with a detergent and the cover is closed and locked in position by a permanent magnet. The coil 76 surrounds the magnet and, when pulsed with an electric signal, opposes the direction of the field of the magnet thereby permitting the spring to open the cover whereby the detergent is dispensed into the wash chamber. The timer operates the switches through the associated cams to repeat the prethe water valve (not shown) to permit water to enter vious operations thereby causing the dishwasher to execute the second cleaning cycle.

At the institution of the last cleaning cycle, after approximately 145 of rotation of the timer, switch 28 will engage terminal 28B thereby removing power from the ADD-A-DISH light 62 and energizing the light 64 to indicate that the last cleaning cycle has been initiated. Just prior thereto, switch 36 will engage contact 36A thereby causing detergent dispenser coil 92 and rinse dispenser coil 94 to be energized. The coil 92 controls a dispenser similar in construction to the dispenser described hereinabove. The coil 94, on the other hand, controls a plunger which, when energized, opens an outlet permitting the rinse material to enter the wash chamber. The rinse material lowers the surface tension of the water so that the water will evaporate from a thin water film from the articles in the wash chamber rather than from droplets thereon.

If a sani cycle is desired, contact A will be open. Assuming that the water has not reached the preselected temperature, thermostat 96 located adjacent to the wash chamber (on the outside of the door liner) will be open. After the wash chamber has filled, switch 30 will open thereby deenergizing the timer motor 70. However, the heater 90 will remain energized through the connection of switch 36 with terminal 36 B. Accordingly, lamp 66 will be illuminated since it will now be connected across the buses 72 and 74 through the timer motor 70. However, the resistence of the lamp 66 is sufficiently high so that practically all the voltage drop is across the lamp. Accordingly, the power available for the timer motor 70 will be insufficient to cause the timer motor to operate.

After the temperature of the water reaches the preselected temperature, the thermostat 96 will close thereby shorting out the lamp 66. Hence, motor 70 will now be energized through the thermostat 96 thereby causing the shaft to rotate and reconnect switch 30 with terminal 30A. Thereafter, the dishwasher will execute a third cleaning cycle in the manner indicated above. If it is desired to eliminate the sani cycle, contact A of switch 44 is closed by depressing pushbutton 56 so that the timer motor remains energized through the contact A even though the switch 30 is disconnected momentarily from the terminal 30A.

The third or last wash cycle is followed by two rinse cycles. Additionally, the second rinse cycle contains provisions for heating the water to the predetermined temperature if the sani operation is chosen. After the water has been drained from the wash chamber, switch 38 will engage contact 38A to energize blower motor 98 through contact D of switch 44. (Contact D will be closed for all programs except the RINSE-HOLD program.) Additionally, switch 34 will engage terminal 34B and thereby energize heater 90 through contact C of the switch 44. (Contact C will be closed for all programs except the RINSE-HOLD program.) In addition, lamp 68 which is connected in parallel with the blower motor 98 will be energized to visually indicate that the drying operation is in progress. The drying operation will continue until the timer has rotated through 354 at which point the switch 26 will disengage from the terminal 26A thereby deenergizing the timer motor.

As noted from FIG. 5, if a GENTLE program is selected, only contacts C and D of the switch 44 are closed. Hence, the water valve solenoid 84 will be energized for a shorter period of time than for the other programs so that less water will enter the chamber. Additionally, a device such as that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,702,680 may be utilized to produce a less forceful spray on the articles in the wash chamber.

During the RINSE-HOLD program, only contact B of switch 44 is closed. Hence, the water valve solenoid 84 will be energized for a longer period of time to increase the amount of water in the wash chamber.

It is to be understood that rotation of the timer shaft via the knob 58 through the various arcs described hereinabove, will eliminate various operations as will be obvious from a consideration of FIG. 6.

Accordingly, indicating devices for use in conjunction with a dishwashing machine have been described which are less complex in construction and require less equipment than heretofore and provide a visual indication to the operator that an article added to the wash chamber will be subjected to at least one full cleaning cycle.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and disclosed herein, it will be obvious that numerous omissions, changes and additions may be made in such embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber adapted to receive articles to be cleaned,

a. a plurality of electrically operated elements to perform at least two cleaning cycles upon articles received in the chamber;

b. selectively operable timing means movable to select a desired number of cleaning cycles for operating said electrically operated elements in a predetermined sequence to effect operation of said dishwasher through said desired number of cleaning cycles; and

0. indicating means operable by said timing means during all cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle for indicating that said last cleaning cycle has not been initiated, whereby additional articles may be added to said chamber prior to the start of said last cleaning cycle.

2. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 1, in which said plurality of electrically operated elements comprise at least: valve means for supplying water to the chamber, circulator means for circulating the water in the chamber, and drain means for draining the water from said chamber, said cleaning cycle comprising the operation of said valve means, circulation means and drain means in timed sequence by said timing means.

3.. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 2, in which said timing means operates said valve means, circulation means and drain means in timed sequence twice during each cleaning cycle, said first operation constituting a wash cycle and said second operation constituting a rinse cycle, and detergent means for releasing detergent during said wash cycle.

4. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 1, in which said indicating means comprises an indicator, and switch means in electric circuit connection with said indicator and being operable, when moved from a first to a second position, to connect said indicator with a source of energy to energize said indicator; said timing means comprising actuating means engageable with said switch to move said switch to the second position during the cleaning cycles preceding said last cleaning cycle and to move said switch to said first position during said last cleaning cycle.

5. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 4, in which said first position of said switch corresponds to an open state, and said second position of said switch corresponds to a closed state, said switch being in the normally open state.

6. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 5, in which said timing means comprises a rotatable shaft wherein a revolution of said shaft corresponds to a complete operational cycle of said dishwasher, and a motor for rotating said shaft, said actuating means comprising a cam mounted on said shaft and engagable with said switch to move said switch to the closed position during the portion of rotation of said shaft corresponding to the cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle.

7. An automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber adapted to receive articles to be cleaned comprising:

a. a plurality of electrically operated elements for performing at least two sequential cleaning cycles upon articles received in said chamber;

b. selectively operable timing means movable to select a desired number of cleaning cycles for connecting said electrically operated elements in a predetermined sequence with a source of power to control said dishwasher through a complete cycle of operation; and

c. a plurality of indicating means for indicating operations performed by said dishwasher,

i. a first of said plurality of indicating means being operable to indicate a cleaning cycle is being performed by said dishwasher,

ii. said first indicating means comprising operating means cooperable with said timing means for operating said first indicating means during all cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle performed by said dishwasher.

8. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 7, in which said indicating means comprises a switch corresponding to said operating means connected to an indicator to cause energization of said indicator upon operation of said switch; said timing means comprising actuating means for maintaining said switch operated during all cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle performed by said dishwasher.

9. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 8, in which said plurality of electrically operated elements comprise means for effecting a wash operation and a rinse operation of said dishwasher, said cleaning cycle comprising at least a wash operation followed by a rinse operation, a second one of said indicating means being operable to indicate the last cleaning cycle is being performed by said dishwasher, said second indicating means comprising operating means cooperable with said timing means duirng the wash and rinse operations of said last cleaning cycle for indicating the last cleaning cycle is being performed by said dishwasher.

10. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 7, in which said dishwasher comprises a cabinet having a face plate, said first indicating means comprising a lamp mounted on said face plate.

11. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 8, in which said plurality of electrically operated elements comprise respective switches connected in circuit with associated devices for controlling operations of said dishwasher, said timing means comprising a shaft rotatable from a home position, a motor for rotating said shaft, a plurality of cams on said shaft rotatable into and out of engagement with said respective switches to control the sequence of operations of said dishwasher, said plurality of cams being positioned to operate said switches to effect said desired number of cleaning cycles during rotation of said shaft from said home position, said actuating means comprising a cam rotatable with said shaft and positioned to operate said indicating means switch during rotation of said shaft from said home position through an angle corresponding to operation of said dishwasher through all cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle.

12. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 9, in which said plurality of electrically operated elements comprise means for heating water in said wash chamber to a preselected temperature, a third one of said plurality of indicating means being operable to indicate that the water is being heated, said third indicating means comprising operating means cooperable with said timing means during said water heating operation for indicating said water heating operation.

13. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 12, in which said plurality of electrically operated elements comprise means for drying the articles in said wash chamber, a fourth one of said plurality of indicating means being operable to indicate the drying operation of said dishwasher, said fourth indicating means comprising operating means cooperable with said timing means during said heating operation to indicate said heating operation is in progress.

Claims

1. An automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber adapted to receive articles to be cleaned, a. a plurality of electrically operated elements to perform at least two cleaning cycles upon articles received in the chamber; b. selectively operable timing means movable to select a desired number of cleaning cycles for operating said electrically operated elements in a predetermined sequence to effect operation of said dishwasher through said desired number of cleaning cycles; and c. indicating means operable by said timing means during all cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle for indicating that said last cleaning cycle has not been initiated, whereby additional articles may be added to said chamber prior to the start of said last cleaning cycle.

3. An automatic dishwasher as in claim 2, in which said timing means operates said valve means, circulation means and drain means in timed sequence twice during each cleaning cycle, said first operation constituting a wash cycle and said second operation constituting a rinse cycle, and detergent means for releasing detergent during said wash cycle.

7. An automatic dishwasher having a wash chamber adapted to receive articles to be cleaned comprising: a. a plurality of electrically operated elements for performing at least two sequential cleaning cycles upon articles received in said chamber; b. selectively operable timing means movable to select a desired number of cleaning cycles for connecting said electrically operated elements in a predetermined sequence with a source of power to control said dishwasher through a complete cycle of operation; and c. a plurality of indicating means for indicating operations performed by said dishwasher, i. a first of said plurality of indicating means being operable to indicate a cleaning cycle is being performed by said dishwasher, ii. said first indicating means comprising operating means cooperable with said timing means for operating said first indicating means during all cleaning cycles preceding the last cleaning cycle performed by said dishwasher.