WO2005058122A1

WO2005058122A1 - Dishwasher with an intermediate pump mode

Info

Publication number: WO2005058122A1
Application number: PCT/EP2004/053396
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rüdiger EIERMANN; Helmut Jerg; Ernst Stickel
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2003-12-16
Filing date: 2004-12-10
Publication date: 2005-06-30
Also published as: DE10358970A1; EP1699340B1; ES2451493T3; EP1699340B2; PL1699340T3; EP1699340A1; PL1699340T5; ES2451493T5

Abstract

The invention relates to a method, wherein it is possible to operate a dishwasher in an economical manner, such that even encrusted dirt can be removed from items which are to be rinsed. According to the inventive method for the operation of a dishwasher, the lye pump is at least temporally activated during the partial program step. The advantage thereof is that during the rinsing mode, the accumulated rinsing residues are transported out of the dishwasher at a relatively early stage. As a result, the cleaning characteristics of the dishwasher are improved and the total operating time of the rinsing program is reduced, which in turn saves power required for the operation of the dishwasher.

Description

Description Dishwasher with intermediate pumping operation

[001] The invention relates to a method for operating a dishwasher with at least one rinsing container, a circulating pump for conveying rinsing liquid to at least one spraying device for loading items to be cleaned stored in the rinsing container, a rinsing pump for pumping rinsing liquid out of the dishwasher and with a flushing program composed at least of the partial program steps of pre-cleaning, cleaning, rinsing and drying. The invention is further directed to a dishwasher in which a method with intermediate pumping operation is provided for use.

Dishwashers usually have at least one washing container and arranged therein spraying devices, wherein the spraying devices are fed with the funded by a circulating pump rinsing liquid to pressurize the rinsing container stored in the washing with rinsing liquid. In the known dishwashing washing programs are usually selectable via a program control unit, which can be assembled, for example, from the partial program steps pre-cleaning, cleaning, rinsing and drying.

The items to be cleaned can also include heavily soiled pots, pans or cooking utensils made of stainless steel, enamel, jenaglas or iron, the surfaces of which are often covered with burned food residues. The burnt-in food residues usually consist of partially burnt starch, fat, protein or fiber residues or residues of food cooked in the pots and pans. Another frequently occurring type of soiling are limescale edges or limestone layers adhering to the surfaces of the items to be washed. The known methods for operating dishwashers have the disadvantage that heavy soiling of the type mentioned above is not or only insufficiently removed from the items to be washed.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide a method by which it is possible to operate a dishwasher so that even heavy dirt, for example in pots, pans and cooking utensils are removed from the dishes. A further object of the present invention is to design the rinse program sequence of a dishwasher in such a way that even at high levels of rinse residues at the end of the rinse cycle. Program the removed food particles are removed from the dishwasher.

This object is achieved by the inventive method for operating a dishwasher with the features of claim 1 and by the inventive dishwasher according to claim 10. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims 2 to 9, 11 and 12.

[006]

According to the present invention, a method is provided for operating a dishwasher with at least one rinsing container, a circulation pump for conveying rinsing liquid to at least one spraying device for loading stored in the washing, to be cleaned items, a drain pump for pumping rinsing liquid from the dishwasher and with a at least from the partial program steps pre-cleaning, cleaning, rinsing and drying composable rinse program, wherein during a partial program step, at least temporarily, the drain pump is activated.

The inventive method makes it possible, in particular during the cleaning phases of the washing program to remove the resulting rinsing residues early from the rinsing liquid and transported away from the dishwasher. As can be seen from the following description, the rinsing liquor is thereby relieved of rinsing residues, in particular in heavily soiled items, which improves the cleaning performance of the dishwasher. Furthermore, the method according to the invention causes the removed food particles to be removed from the dishwasher even in the case of heavy soiling of the items to be washed at the end of the washing program. A further advantage of the present invention is that the energy required for the operation of the dishwashing machine is reduced due to the avoidance of perturbation-related impairments in the circulation of the rinsing liquid and the reduction of the total running time of the rinsing program.

For heavily soiled items fall rinsing residues in larger quantities, which usually accumulate at the bottom of the washing. There, the rinsing residues absorb the cleaning agent dissolved in the rinsing liquid, thus reducing the content of cleaning agent in the rinsing liquid and thus reduce the cleaning power on the remaining food to be removed on dishes. Therefore, in the method according to the present invention by the at least temporary activation of the drain pump during a partial program step, an intermediate pumping carried out, wherein the accumulated in the sump at the bottom of the washing rinse residues are conveyed from the dishwasher. This reduces the amount of rinsing residues contained in the dishwasher and in the rinsing liquid and also reduces the absorption of cleaning agent from the rinsing liquid.

[010] Experience has shown that dried-on or burnt-in food particles in pots, pans or dishes have an affinity for clear water, i. a food waste surface quickly absorbs water. This creates a smooth surface that is more resistant to the action of detergents and thus complicates the removal of food particles from the dishes. In order to prevent this, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the rinsing liquid is mixed with cleaning agent or rinse aid right at the beginning of a partial program step. As a result, the food residue surface to be removed is already wetted with an alkaline solution at the beginning of the rinsing operation, before a surface resistant to cleaning agents can be formed on the food residues by absorption of clear water.

[011] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the rinsing liquid, in particular after the intermediate pumping operation of the rinsing pump, is temporarily or continuously added cleaning agent or rinse aid during a partial program step. The temporary or continuous addition of cleaning agent or rinse aid ensures that, even after the performance of an intermediate pumping operation in which the rinsing liquid is partly conveyed out of the dishwasher via the rinsing pump, a sufficient concentration of cleaning or rinsing fluid is achieved for the further course of the respective subprogram step Rinse aid is present in the rinse liquid.

A similar effect can be achieved if the cleaning agent and / or the rinse aid of the rinsing liquid is preferably added in the form of a slowly dissolving tablet or a so-called tab, so that the cleaning agent or rinse aid continuously added to the rinsing liquid during a partial program step becomes. The slow and continuous supply of cleaning agent or rinse aid ensures that after the Abpumpvorgängen the intermediate pumping in the further course of the rinse, the concentration of cleaning or rinse aid in the rinse is rebuilt.

[013] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, at least temporarily during a partial program step simultaneous operation of the circulation pump and the drain pump made. By operating the circulation pump, the spraying devices are charged with rinsing liquid on the one hand, and the rinsing residues already removed from the items to be washed are collected at the bottom of the rinsing container. By operating the drain pump, the rinsing residues are conveyed out of the dishwasher together with a part of the rinsing liquid. In this way, a kind of floating operation is performed during a part program step, in which the flushing residues are collected in the sump at the bottom of the washing and then transported through the suds pump in the intermediate pumping operation of the dishwasher.

[014] It is also possible to provide a plurality of spray devices in the washing container which are operated simultaneously or alternately during a partial program step, at least temporarily. For example, an upper sprayer for an upper rack and a lower sprayer for an upper rack may be provided. To support an efficient execution of the Schwemmbetriebs, in which the flushing residues detached from the dishes are collected at the bottom of the washing container, for example, only the lower sprayer can be operated to collect the flushing residues by targeted Spülflüssig- keitsstrahlen in the sump.

In the method according to the invention, it can also be provided that fresh water is supplied to the rinsing fluid circuit at least temporarily by opening a filling valve during a partial program step. The opening of the filling valve for the supply of fresh water can be carried out at least temporarily even during operation of the circulation pump. This can be prevented, for example, that the Spülflüssigkeitsmenge is too low in the course of the relevant part program step, especially after a Zwischenpumpbetrieb the drain pump.

[016] A particularly good rinsing result can be achieved if, after each subprogram step with rinsing liquid feed, a substantially complete rinsing liquid change is carried out. This can be accomplished, for example, by discharging the rinsing liquid essentially completely from the dishwasher via the suds pump at the end of a subprogram step and supplying fresh water at the beginning of a subsequent subprogram step with a rinsing liquid insert.

[017] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, during the operation of the drain pump, a comminution Device (food crusher) for crushing Spülrückständen activated at least temporarily. After the flushing residues have accumulated in the floating operation, as described above, in the sump, the food particles are there crushed using the crushing device and pumped through the drain pump from the dishwasher. As a result, larger flushing residues can be crushed and transported via the drain pump and the sewer line from the dishwasher. The above-mentioned objects are further achieved by a dishwashing machine capable of carrying out the method according to the invention. In this case, the dishwasher is preferably equipped with at least two spray devices that can be charged simultaneously or alternately with rinsing fluid from the circulation pump. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the dishwasher has a comminution device for comminuting flushing residues, which can be activated at least temporarily during a part program step.

[019] In the following, the present invention will be explained in more detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing the operation of the circulation pump and the Zwischenpumpbetriebs the drain pump in a method for operating a dishwasher according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of part of the method shown in FIG. 1 for operating a dishwasher according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

1 shows a diagram illustrating the operation of the circulation pump and the Zwischenpumpbetriebs the drain pump in a method for operating a dishwasher according to the present invention according to a first preferred embodiment. In the diagram of FIG. 1, the time t is plotted on the X-axis and the temperature of the rinsing liquid in ° C. on the Y-axis. The diagram of Figure 1 further includes a curve U, which represents the time course of the activity of the circulation pump in the course of the washing program according to the invention in a preferred embodiment. This curve U can also be found in the implementation of the intermediate pumping operation Z.

[023] As can be seen in FIG. 1, the washing program comprises this embodiment three sub-program steps, such as pre-cleaning, cleaning and rinsing / drying, the individual sub-program steps may be divided into several subsections. In the present exemplary embodiment, for example, the pre-cleaning subprogram step is subdivided into three subsections V, V, V and the subprogram step rinsing / drying into two subsections K and K, wherein the subprogram step cleaning comprises only one section R. The first subsection V of the preprogramming partial program step begins with the introduction of fresh water into the dishwasher, wherein the fresh water is immediately mixed with cleaning agent to produce a rinsing eye. The rinsing liquid is first heated in the course of the first subsection V to a temperature of about 50 ° C and heated in the further course of the rinse program to a temperature of up to 70 ° C. As can be seen on the curve U for the time course of the activity of the circulation pump, the circulation pump is in operation during the entire subsection V in order to supply the spray devices in the washing container of the dishwasher with pressurized rinsing liquid. The remaining subsections V, V, R, K, K 2 3 1 1 2 have a very similar to the first subsection V course and differ ι only in their duration. During each subsection V, V, V, R, K, 1 2 3 1 1 K, one or more intermediate pumping operations can be carried out by the method according to the invention. The intermediate pumping operation may take place at any time in the subsection of the subprogram step and during the operation U of the circulating pump. During the intermediate pumping operation, the suds pump is activated at least temporarily in order to convey the rinsing residues accumulated in the sump at the bottom of the rinsing container during the rinsing operation, and thus to achieve the effects described above. FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a subsection V, V, V, R, K 1 2 3 1 1 or K of the method for operating a dishwashing machine shown in FIG. 1 according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. A subsection V, V, V, R, K or K of a subprogram step is subdivided into the three 1 2 3 1 1 2 modes, Sucking mode, Intermediate pumping mode and Empty pumping mode. In the floating mode, the rinsing residues removed from the items to be washed are collected in the sump at the bottom of the rinsing container. In the intermediate pumping mode, the rinsing residues are removed from the sump by temporarily activating the suds pump from the dishwasher and emptied. pumping mode, the rinsing liquid is substantially completely pumped out of the dishwasher. In FIG. 2, the operation of the circulating pump, the drain pump, the spraying devices and the comminuting device are respectively indicated by a crossbar in the respective row of a matrix consisting of the vertical bars for subdividing the subsections mode of flow, intermediate pump mode and empty pump mode and the horizontal lines of FIG Representation of the operation of each of the circulating pump, the drain pump of the separate Sprühvor- directions and the crushing device is formed.

A bar in the line of the circulation pump characterizes the operation of the circulation pump and the length of the bar corresponds analogously to the duration of the operation of the circulation pump and thus the circulation operation during the respective subsections of the flow mode, intermediate pumping mode and empty pumping mode. A bar in the line of the drain pump indicates the operation of the drain pump and the length of the bar corresponds to the duration of the operation of the circulation pump and thus the Abpumpbetriebs during the subsections concerned intermediate pumping mode and empty pumping mode. A bar in the line of the separate spray devices identifies the operation of the spray devices and the length of the beam corresponds to the duration of operation of the separate spray devices and thus the flushing of the wash ware during the respective intermediate pump mode subsection. A bar in the line of the comminution device characterizes the operation of the comminution device and the length of the bar corresponds to the duration of the operation of the comminution device and thus the comminution of flushing residues during the respective subsections intermediate pumping mode and empty pumping mode.

As already explained in the description of FIG. 1, FIG. 2 also shows that the circulation pump is essentially continuously in operation during the subsections floating mode, intermediate pumping mode and empty pumping mode. By operating the circulating pump and thus the spraying devices, the dishwashing residues distributed in the dishwasher are gathered in the pump pot of the dishwasher during the mode of operation. During the intermediate pump mode, the circulation pump and the drain pump are at least temporarily activated simultaneously. As a result, during the circulation operation, flushing residues together with a part of the flushing liquid are conveyed out of the dishwasher via the drain pump, which brings about the advantages described above. In the intermediate pump mode subsection, the separate spray devices are separated from each other and operated alternately to assist in collecting the flushing residues in the sump at the bottom of the wash tub. Both in sub-section intermediate pumping mode and in the sub-section empty pumping mode, the comminution device is activated at least temporarily during operation of the suds pump in order to comminute the flushing residues accumulated in the sump at the bottom of the sump and thus be better able to be conveyed out of the dishwasher. Ultimately, in the last subsection empty pump mode, only the drain pump is in operation in order to convey the washing liquid completely out of the dishwasher at the end of the respective partial program step or lower section. The essentially complete replacement of the rinsing liquor between the partial program steps or between the subsections of the partial program steps improves the cleaning performance of the dishwasher.

[029] List of reference numbers

[030] V first partial program step in the pre-cleaning phase

[031] V second partial program step in the pre-cleaning phase 2

[032] V third partial program step in the pre-cleaning phase 3

[033] R first partial program step in the main cleaning phase

[034] R second partial program step in the main cleaning phase 2

[035] K first part program step in the final rinse phase

[036] K second partial program step in the final rinse phase

[037] t time

[038] T temperature curve of the rinsing liquid during the rinsing program

[039] U activity of the circulation pump

[040] Z intermediate pumping operation

Claims

Claims [001] Method for operating a dishwasher with at least one rinsing container, a circulating pump for conveying rinsing liquid to at least one spraying device for loading items to be cleaned stored in the rinsing container, a suds pump for pumping rinsing liquid out of the dishwasher and with at least one of the Partial program steps pre-cleaning (V, V, V), cleaning (R), rinsing (K, 1 2 3 1 1 K) and drying rinsing program, characterized in that during a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K ) 1 2 3 1 1 2 at least temporarily the drain pump is activated. The method of claim 1, wherein at the beginning of a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K) of the rinsing liquid detergent or rinse aid is added. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, wherein after the operation of the drain pump during a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K) of the 1 2 3 1 1 2 rinse liquid temporarily or continuously attached detergent or rinse aid becomes. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the cleaning agent and / or the rinse aid of the rinsing liquid is preferably added in the form of a slowly dissolving tablet or a tab, so that the detergent or rinse aid during a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K) of the rinsing liquid is continuously added 1 2 3 1 1 2. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K) at least temporarily a simultaneous 1 2 3 1 1 2 operation of the circulation pump and the drain pump is made. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the washing container at least two spraying devices are provided, which during a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K) at least temporarily simultaneously or 1 2 3 1 1 2 operated alternately. Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein during a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K) at least temporarily fresh water 1 2 3 1 1 2 is supplied. [008] Method according to one of the preceding claims, whereby at the end of a partial program step (V, V, V, R, K, K), the rinsing liquid substantially 1 2 3 1 1 2 completely removed from the dishwasher preferably via the drain pump.

Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a comminution device for comminution of flushing residues is activated at least temporarily during operation of the drain pump.

[010] Dishwasher, characterized in that a method according to one of the preceding claims is provided for use.

[011] Dishwasher according to claim 10, wherein at least two spray devices are provided, which can be fed simultaneously or alternately with rinsing liquid from the circulation pump.

Dishwasher according to one of claims 10 or 11, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a crushing device for crushing flushing residues, which is at least temporarily activated during a partial program step.