WO2014102319A1

WO2014102319A1 - A dishwasher comprising a storage tank

Info

Publication number: WO2014102319A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/078045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pervin SAYGIN; Burcu YAKARTAS; Emine Fusun DUMAN; Gizemnur YILDIZ
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2012-12-28
Filing date: 2013-12-27
Publication date: 2014-07-03

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a washing tub (2) wherein the items to be washed are placed, a receptacle (3) disposed at the underside of the washing tub (2) wherein the water in the washing tub (2) is collected during the washing process, a pump (4) that returns the water collected in the receptacle (3) to the washing tub (2), a storage tank (5) wherein the water used in any one washing step of the washing cycle is stored to be used later, and a line (6) providing the water collected in the receptacle (3) to be transferred into the storage tank (5).

Description

A DISHWASHER COMPRISING A STORAGE TANK

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a storage tank.

In dishwashers, a washing receptacle is disposed at the underside of the washing tub, wherein the water in the washing tub is collected. The water in the washing receptacle is rotated in the washing tub by means of a pump during the washing step and is discharged at the end of the washing step by a discharge pump.

In the state of the art, embodiments are known wherein the water collected in the receptacle is not discharged but collected in a storage tank and used in the following steps of washing. Thus, the water that is used in any one step of the washing is reused and water saving is provided. However, in the course of time microorganism, moss, etc. formation is observed in the water in the storage tank, causing bad odor. Storing the water in the storage tank hygienically is important in terms of user health.

In the state of the art International Patent Application No. WO2012084492, a dishwasher is described, wherein the water accumulated in the receptacle is cleaned while being transferred into the storage tank or while being tranferred from the storage tank to the receptacle.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a storage tank wherein water is stored in more hygienic conditions.

The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the claims comprises a circulation line having an inlet that receives the water in the storage tank and an outlet that enables the water therein to be transferred to the storage tank, and a propelling means that enables the water in the storage tank to be sucked and to be pumped back into the storage tank after being circulated through the circulation line. Thus, the water is propelled in the closed cycle and the water is provided to be more efficiently cleaned by the cleaning member.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit changes the propelling means to the active state(A) depending on the washing program ('P) step. The washing program('P) comprises steps such as prewashing('P1) wherein water is sent onto the dishes, main washing('P2) wherein the dishes are washed with water and cleaning('P3) agents such as detergent, etc., rinsing wherein the dishes are rinsed with water and drying('P4) wherein dry air is sent onto the dishes. In any one of the above-mentioned washing programs('P), the propelling means is kept in the active state(A) by the control unit for a limit time(Δt) and then changed back to the passive state(P) by the control unit. By means of the propelling means that propels the water in the storage tank in the active state(A), the propelled water is effectively cleaned by the cleaning member.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit changes the propelling means to the active state(A) in the disinfection program('Pd). The dishwasher comprises washing programs('P) such as disinfection program('Pd) selected by the user or automatically by the dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher cleans itself preferably wherein the dishwasher is empty. The propelling means is kept in the active state(A) by the control unit during the disinfection program('Pd) or for a limit time(Δt).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit changes the propelling means to the active state(A) depending on the water level(L) in the storage tank. If the control unit detects by means of a sensor preferably situated in the storage tank that the water level(L) in the storage tank is lower than the limit(Ld) level predetermined by the producer, the propelling means is kept in the passive state(P). Thus, energy saving is provided.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit changes the propelling means to the active state(A) depending on the frequency of usage of the dishwasher. Comprising a time counter, the control unit determines the time(t0) when the user does not use the dishwasher, and if the said time(ʈ_o) is longer(ʈ_o> ʈ_L) than the limit time(ʈ_L) predetermined by the producer, changes the propelling means to the active state(A) and if shorter(ʈ_o< ʈ_L), changes the propelling means to the passive state(P). Thus, energy saving is provided.

In an embodiment of the present invent, the control unit changes the propelling means to the active state(A) before the main washing('P2) step and to the passive state(P) at the beginning of the main washing('P2) step. Thus, the water is cleaned before being transferred to the washing tub from the storage tank or during transfer. The storage tank is almost completely empty during the main washing('P2) step. The control unit provides energy saving by keeping the propelling means in the passive state(P) at the beginning of the main washing('P2) step.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit changes the propelling means to the active state(A) after the rinsing('P3) step. Thus, the water transferred to the storage tank after the rising('P3) step is enabled to be sterilized.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the circulation line comprises a cleaning member that is a UV lamp situated on the line so as not to obstruct the water flow. The UV lamp that is preferably situated in a container with an inlet and an outlet, is connected to the circulation line by means of the container inlet and outlet. With the UV lamp being situated on a circulation line through which the water flows, the UV lamp cleans the water more effectively.

In embodiment of the present invention, the circulation line comprises a heater that enables the water in the storage tank to be heated. Thus, microorganisms in the water passed through the circulation line are inactivated. Consequently, a dishwasher having more hygienic utilization conditions is realized.

By means of the present invention, the water used in any one step of the washing is provided to be stored under more hygienic conditions in the storage tank for reuse in the following washing steps. Consequently, not only water saving is provided but also hygienic utilization conditions are obtained for the user.

A dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figure, where:

Figure 1 – is the schematic view of a dishwasher.

The elements illustrated in the figure are numbered as follows:

Dishwasher
Washing tub
Receptacle
Pump
Storage tank
Line
Circulation line
Propelling means
Cleaning member
Control unit
Heater

The dishwasher (1) comprises

a washing tub (2) wherein the items to be washed are placed,
a receptacle (3) disposed at the underside of the washing tub (2) wherein the water in the washing tub (2) is collected during the washing process,
a pump (4) that returns the water collected in the receptacle (3) to the washing tub (2),
a storage tank (5) wherein the water used in any one washing step of the washing cycle is stored to be used later, and
a line (6) providing the water collected in the receptacle (3) to be transferred into the storage tank (5),

During washing, the water used for washing the dishes in the washing tub (2) is collected in the receptacle (3), the water collected in the receptacle (3) is sucked by means of the pump (4) and the sucked water is redirected to the washing tub (2) by means of the spray arms. During the last rinsing step, the pump (4) is stopped and the sterile water at high temperature collected in the receptacle (3) is directed to the storage tank (5) by means of the line (6). Water saving is provided with the water stored in the storage tank (5) being used in the next washing process.

The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises

a circulation line (7), the inlet and the outlet of which are connected to the storage tank (5),
a propelling means (8) situated on the circulation line (7) and enabling the water in the storage tank (5) to be propelled in the circulation line (7), and
At least one cleaning member (9) situated on the storage tank (5) and the circulation line (7)

(Figure 1).

By means of the circulation line (7) of which the inlet and the outlet are connected to the storage tank (5), the water in the storage tank (5) can be circulated in the storage tank (5) and the circulation line (7). The propelling means (8) such as pump, fan, etc., situated on the circulation line (7) propels the water in the storage tank (5) and for a certain period of time enables the whole water in the storage tank (5) to interact with at least one cleaning member (9) such as UV lamp, heater, ozonic, ionizer, electrolytic, photocatalytic, plasmatic, etc.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a control unit (10) that changes the propelling means (8) to an active state (A) where the propelling means (8) propels the water in the storage tank (5) and to a passive state (P) from the active state (A).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (10) changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) depending on the washing program (Ƥ) step. The washing program (Ƥ) comprises steps such as prewashing (Ƥ₁) wherein water is sent onto the dishes, main washing (Ƥ₂) wherein the dishes are washed with water and cleaning agents such as detergent, etc., rinsing (Ƥ₃) wherein the dishes are rinsed with water and drying (Ƥ₄) wherein dry air is sent onto the dishes. In any one of the above-mentioned washing programs, the propelling means (8) is kept in the active state (A) by the control unit (10) for a limit time (∆ʈ) and then changed back to the passive state (P) by the control unit (10). By means of the propelling means (8) that propels the water in the storage tank (5) in the active state (A), the propelled water is effectively cleaned by the cleaning member (9).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (10) changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) in the disinfection program (Ƥ_d). The dishwasher (1) comprises washing programs (Ƥ) such as disinfection (Ƥ_d) program selected by the user or automatically by the dishwasher (1), wherein the dishwasher (1) cleans itself preferably wherein the dishwasher (1) is empty. The propelling means (8) is kept in the active state (A) by the control unit (10) during the disinfection program (Ƥ_d) or for a limit time (∆ʈ).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (10) changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) depending on the water level (L) in the storage tank (5). If the control unit (10) detects by means of a sensor preferably situated in the storage tank (5) that the water level (L) in the storage tank (5) is lower than the limit (L_d) level predetermined by the producer, the propelling means (8) is kept in the passive state (P). Thus, energy saving is provided.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (10) changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) depending on the frequency of usage of the dishwasher (1). Comprising a time counter, the control unit (10) determines the time (ʈ_o) when the user does not use the dishwasher (1), and if the said time (ʈ_o) is longer (ʈ_o> ʈ_L) than the limit time (ʈ_L) predetermined by the producer, changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) and if shorter (ʈ_o< ʈ_L), changes the propelling means (8) to the passive state (P). Thus, energy saving is provided.

In an embodiment of the present invent, the control unit (10) changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) before the main washing (Ƥ₂) step and to the passive state (P) at the beginning of the main washing step (Ƥ₂). Thus, the water is cleaned before being transferred to the washing tub (2) from the storage tank (5) or during transfer. The storage tank (5) is almost completely empty during the main washing (Ƥ₂) step. The control unit (10) provides energy saving by keeping the propelling means (8) in the passive state (P) at the beginning of the main washing (Ƥ₂) step.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the control unit (10) changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) after the rinsing step (Ƥ₃). Thus, the water transferred to the storage tank (5) after the rising step (Ƥ₃) is enabled to be sterilized.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the circulation line (7) comprises a cleaning member (9) that is a UV lamp situated on the circulation line (7) so as not to obstruct the water flow. With the UV lamp being situated on a circulation line (7) through which the water flows, the UV lamp cleans the water more effectively.

In embodiment of the present invention, the circulation line (7) comprises a heater (11) that enables the water in the storage tank (5) to be heated. Thus, microorganisms in the water passed through the circulation line (7) are inactivated. Consequently, a dishwasher (1) having more hygienic utilization conditions is realized.

By means of the present invention, the water in the storage tank (5) is provided to be cleaned effectively. Thus, hygienic utilization conditions are obtained. Furthermore, water saving is provided by storing the water used in any one washing step in the storage tank (5) and reusing in the following washing steps.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising

- a washing tub (2) wherein the items to be washed are placed,

- a receptacle (3) disposed at the underside of the washing tub (2) wherein the water in the washing tub (2) is collected during the washing process,

- a pump (4) that returns the water collected in the receptacle (3) to the washing tub (2),

- a storage tank (5) wherein the water used in any one washing step of the washing cycle is stored to be used later, and

- a line (6) providing the water collected in the receptacle (3) to be transferred into the storage tank (5),

characterized by

- a circulation line (7), the inlet and the outlet of which are connected to the storage tank (5),

- a propelling means (8) situated on the circulation line (7) and enabling the water in the storage tank (5) to be propelled, and

- at least one cleaning member (9) situated on the storage tank (5) and the circulation line (7).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a control unit (10) that brings the propelling means (8) to an active state (A) where the propelling means (8) propels the water in the storage tank (5) and to a passive state (P) from the active state (A).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the control unit (10) that changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) depending on the washing program (Ƥ) step.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 2, characterized by the control unit (10) that changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) during the disinfection program (Ƥ_d).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 4, characterized by the control unit (10) that changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) depending on the water level (L) in the storage tank (5).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 5, characterized by the control unit (10) that changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) depending on the frequency of usage.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the Claims 2 to 3, characterized by the control unit (10) that changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) before the main washing (Ƥ2) step and to the passive state (P) at the beginning of the main washing step (Ƥ2).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claims 2 or 3, characterized by the control unit (10) that changes the propelling means (8) to the active state (A) after the rinsing program (Ƥ₃) step.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a cleaning member (9) that is a UV lamp situated on the circulation line (7) so as not to obstruct the water flow.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the circulation line (7) comprising a heater (11) that enables the water in the storage tank (5) to be heated.