WO2018007533A1

WO2018007533A1 - Dishwasher having a sensor unit for determining a rotary movement of a spray arm

Info

Publication number: WO2018007533A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/066958
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kurt Wallerstorfer; Andreas DR. PLESCHINGER
Original assignee: Sanhua Aweco Appliance Systems Gmbh
Priority date: 2016-07-07
Filing date: 2017-07-06
Publication date: 2018-01-11
Also published as: EP3266360B1; DE102016112442A1; PL3266360T3; EP3266360A1; CN107581990A; US20180008118A1

Abstract

The invention proposes a dishwasher having an operating chamber, having at least one spray arm arranged in a rotatable manner in the operating chamber, and having a dosing device which is intended for feeding and dosing a substance, such as detergent, rinse aid, etc., into the operating chamber and is designed in the form of an insert part with a housing for insertion into a recess in an inner wall of the operating chamber, for example in the door of the operating chamber, and having a sensor unit which is intended for detecting a spray-arm movement in the operating chamber of the dishwasher and at least part of which is arranged in a housing of the dosing device, wherein the sensor unit (11) comprises at least one infrared transmitter (12) and/or an infrared receiver (13).

Description

"Dishwasher with sensor unit for determining a

Rotational movement of a spray arm "

The invention relates to a dishwasher with a

Working space and a sensor according to the generic term of

Claim 1.

Such a dishwasher is for example in the

Publication DE 10034546 AI described. In this prior art article, the interior of a

Dishwasher monitored by means of one or more radar sensors using the Doppler effect. This sensor is very expensive and therefore costly. In addition, so far no technically perfect function of such a dishwasher has been realized.

The object of the invention is, starting from a

Dishwasher according to the preamble of claim 1 to propose a dishwasher with an improved program control.

This object is solved by the characterizing features of claim 1.

Accordingly, an inventive

Dishwasher with a sensor unit for detecting a Sprüharmbewegung in the working space characterized by that they

at least one infrared transmitter and / or one

Includes infrared receiver. This sensor unit is at least partially in the housing of the device designed as an insert part, which is used for supplying and dosing a working substance such as a cleaner,

Rinse aid, etc. is used.

Hereinafter, such a device as

Dosing device called. Furthermore, the terms "dishwasher", "dishwasher" or "dishwasher" are also used in the following as synonymous terms as the terms "water jet" and "Laugenstrahl".

With the aid of a sensor unit according to the invention, it is possible to program sequences during operation

check. In particular, it can thus be detected whether and which spray arm rotates properly or exhibits a wrong behavior.

The use of infrared light is a reliable and even under the environmental conditions in the working space of a dishwasher during operation largely

trouble-free detection in particular of the movement of the

Spray arm possible. Due to the large range of an infrared beam and spray arms at a distance from the sensor unit or in an unfavorable position, for example, with regard to the angular orientation detectable.

The operating principle of the sensor unit is based on the fact that infrared light emitted from an infrared transmitter, reflected in the working space and is detected by an infrared receiver again.

For detecting a Sprüharmrotation example, an infrared beam via a stationary in the working space of

Machine reflector to the receiver, with changes in the IR beam e.g. in the

Intensity, captured by a rotating

Spray arm, a device attached to the spray arm or by a water or lye jet from the spray arm caused.

As a stationary reflector can be a separate component or an already existing device, e.g. an area of the wall of the working space can be used.

In another embodiment of the invention, a jet emitted by the IR transmitter is transmitted through the rotating spray arm or element associated therewith, e.g. an area of the spray arm wall, a separate, attached to the spray arm

Reflector element, a water or alkaline stream of a

Sprüharmdüse, etc. reflected in the receiver. These

Reflections are thus directly related to the rotation of the

Spray arm correlates.

The reflections and / or changes of reflections are to be detected significantly, especially if they take place in the vicinity of the transmitter and / or receiver,

for example, by a directly on the transmitter / and or receiver vorbeidrehenden spray arm or water jet.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, a reliably detectable reflection of the infrared light is ensured by the fact that at least one Sprüharmdüse is oriented such that the water jet or the liquor jet of the wash liquor at least partially crosses the beam path of the infrared light. The inventively desired reflections can be caused by the water or the alkali.

Preferably, in such an embodiment, the

Beam path of the infrared light so formed, for example by additional optical elements that results in a focal point or at least a focusing zone, which is illuminated by said water or alkali stream.

In another likewise advantageous embodiment of the invention, the desired reflection by the spray arm itself evoked. For this purpose, the arrangement and surface design of the spray arm can be provided accordingly. For example, a spray arm at least partially a well-reflective infrared light

Have coating. Furthermore, the beam path of the infrared light or the position of the spray arm can be arranged relative to each other such that the spray arm

at least with its reflection zone crosses the beam path. Also in this embodiment, advantageously, a beam path can be used which has a focal point or at least one focusing zone through which the spray arm is guided with its reflection zone.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spray arm with a special reflector for

Equipped with infrared light. Such reflectors can mirror surfaces and / or by refraction optionally with the additional use of optical elements so

be designed that incident infrared light

purposefully reflected. In the visible range, such reflectors are also known by the term "cat's eye" or "Lüneburg lens".

With such reflectors can in particular also a

Reflection angle are provided, the relative arrangement of the infrared receiver with respect to the infrared transmitter

considered .

Advantageously, the housing of the metering device, which includes the sensor unit, designed watertight. The accommodation of the sensor unit in the housing of anyway

existing dosing device facilitates the

Arrangement inside the working space of the dishwasher. On the one hand, this does not require an additional opening in the

Inner wall or the door of the working space are provided, since the metering device is to be arranged anyway in such a recess of the inner wall. In addition, the housing is already water and in the known metering devices Well trained. All electric controls also for the dosing device, located inside the

Dishwasher door are already in the prior art by the design of the housing in front of the

Water or the rinsing agent protected.

Thus, a sensor unit can be accommodated without major sealing problems advantageously within such a metering device, including, for example, an infrared transparent window is provided in the housing. Such a window can be easily realized by appropriate seals or by a solid connection, for example by welding or gluing reliably tight with the housing wall of the metering device.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention is further the additional arrangement of guide elements

provided to keep runoff water after passing through the spray arm of the beam path of the infrared light. Rising water could cause reflections that produce unwanted spurious signals. By

Guiding elements, for example in the form of a canopy

above the exit of the infrared light from the

Housing, for example, above a passage window can be ensured that rushing water is routed around it laterally.

In another embodiment of the invention

Such guide elements provided on the inner wall of the working space, whereby the whole that here device is protected against herrafinnendem water and thus also the infrared beam path.

Furthermore, the sensor unit, in particular the infrared transmitter and / or receiver, is preferably arranged such that it does not lie directly in a water or lye jet of a spray arm nozzle. This also prevents interference due to unwanted reflections. In a particular embodiment of the invention, the timing of the sensor signal is detected and an evaluation provided to the periodicity or frequency of the

detecting the rotating spray arm caused sensor signal.

As in the invention, the rotational movement of the spray arm to

can be monitored by a periodic or

frequency-dependent signal can be assumed. By the temporal detection of the sensor signals with subsequent

Evaluation in an electronic evaluation unit can thus be evaluated selectively according to periodic signals. By this measure, almost all non-periodically occurring interference signals are already filtered or suppressed.

By determining the frequency, the speed or speed of the spray arm can then be determined. If no periodic signal can be detected, this is a sign for a stationary, but at least for a non-rotating spray arm.

In the case of such a malfunction of the spray arm, this can for example be brought to the display for an operator or else intervene in the control of the program sequence.

In a particular embodiment of the invention, an analog evaluation circuit is provided to the periodicity or frequency caused by the rotating spray arm

Detecting sensor signal. Such a circuit can be realized, for example, using a so-called PPL (phase lock loop). So can an oscillating

Input signal in a comparator or differential amplifier are compared with the sensor signal and changes in the output voltage to conclusions on a proper rotation of a spray arm are used. Even if, for the evaluation of a sensor signal according to the invention, digital components are readily available, it is possible the use of an analog circuit under

In terms of costs, the technically more advantageous solution can be achieved with corresponding quantities. Also, the combination of an analog circuit with a digital evaluation, e.g. engages only at faulty output voltage of the analog circuit, would be conceivable.

In the case of a digital evaluation unit, various algorithms can furthermore be provided to analyze and exclude disturbing influences. Instead of or in

Combination with the use of the periodicity as stated above, for example, an integration of the signal peaks, that is, the determination of the area covered by the signal can be used to detect and exclude error peaks. This error signals can be detected and excluded, which do not follow the timing and intensity of the reflections generated by the spray arm or the water or alkali beam. Threshold analysis may also be used instead of or in addition to other methods of error detection.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail with reference to FIGS.

Show in detail

Figure 1 shows a schematic cross section through a

Dishwasher with spray arm,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the inside of the door of FIG. 8

Dishwasher,

Figure 3 is an illustration of a metering device and

FIG. 4 shows an example of a sensor signal that means. Infrared transmitter and / or infrared receiver is measurable. In Figure 1, the dishwasher 1 with rinsing chamber 2 is schematically in section. shown. In the washing chamber 2 are in dish racks 3, 4 below each of which a spray arm 5, 6 is rotatably arranged.

At the front of a dishwasher door 7 is rotatable

attached, as indicated by a rotation axis 8. In the dishwasher door 7 is a metering device 9 for adding detergent.

In the bottom of the dishwasher 1 is a sump container 10, for example, the usual filter and the

Includes water drainage.

FIG. 2 illustrates the arrangement of an infrared sensor unit 11 in the metering device 9, which has a

Infrared transmitter 12 and an infrared receiver 13 includes. The metering device 9, as already with reference to FIG. 1

described, inserted into the dishwasher door 7. The

Dosing device 9 comprises in a conventional manner a flap 14 for closing a rinsing agent chamber, a discharge opening 15 for the rinse aid dosing and a sight glass 16 and a refill opening 17 for the rinse aid.

Inside the dishwasher door and the evaluation and control unit can be arranged, as indicated in Figure 1. At the indicated in Figure 1 location of the evaluation and

Control unit 18, this can be directly connected to the required for operating the machine displays, buttons and other controls.

In Figure 3 is a metering device for installation in a

Dishwasher door according to the invention shown, wherein a memory 1 is provided for receiving detergent. This detergent is in the cleaning room for the dishes during the cleaning phase of the dishwasher

controlled feeds. In this case, a lid 2 is opened, so that the detergent from the memory 1 leak or

can be rinsed out. A roof-shaped projection 20 serves as a guide element to trickle down water or lye

redirect.

The infrared sensor unit 11 is installed by way of example on the edge of the housing 19 of the metering device.

FIG. 4 shows by way of example an infrared sensor signal in its time sequence. The horizontal axis of the diagram shows the time t while the vertical axis represents the intensity I. The sensor signal S shows various peaks PI to P5, which are arranged periodically over time. The

respective times tl to t5 are with corresponding

Arrows marked.

The diagram according to FIG. 4 shows by way of example two further peaks S1 and S2, which represent interference signals which can be caused, for example, by undesired reflections on dripping water or the like.

These interference peaks Sl and S2 can be detected and eliminated by suitable evaluation by means of the evaluation unit 18. This evaluation can for example be designed such that only periodically recurring signals PI to P5 as real sensor signals, nonperiodic signals, however, as

Interference signals are perceived. Another way to detect the noise is, for example, to integrate the corresponding signal peaks over time, which mathematically determines the area covered by the peaks. Since with regular sensor signals a

Integral value is to be expected within a certain interval, thereby other signals, such as the line-shaped interference signals Sl and S2 detected and

be excluded.

These exemplary methods or other methods for detecting interference signals, for example via thresholds in intensity or the like, may be used alone or in combination with each other.

If a malfunction, for example a standing or too slowly rotating spray arm, is detected on the basis of the sensor signal, this can be indicated in a display of the

Operator are displayed

The dishwasher according to the invention can also be controlled depending on the sensor signal. For example, the amount of water and / or the pump pressure can be varied.

Optionally, controllable nozzles with regard to the beam alignment and / or beam shape are also conceivable.

List of reference numbers:

1 dishwasher

2 rinsing chamber

3 crockery basket

4 crockery basket

5 spray arm

6 spray arm

7 dishwasher door

8 axis of rotation

9 dosing device

10 sump containers

11 infrared sensor unit

12 infrared transmitters

13 infrared receivers

14 flap

15 outlet opening

16 sight glass

17 refill opening

18 evaluation and control unit

19 housing

20 roof-shaped projection T time

I intensity

PI Peak

P2 peak

P3 peak

P4 peak

P5 peak

Tl time

T2 time

T3 time

T4 time

T5 time

51 noise peak

52 noise peak

Claims

Claims :

1. Dishwasher with a working space, with at least one rotatable in the working space arranged spray arm and with a metering device for the supply and metering of a substance, such as cleaner, rinse aid, etc. in the work space, as

Insert with a housing for insertion into a recess of an inner wall of the working space, for example, formed in the door of the working space, and with a sensor unit for detecting a Sprüharmbewegung in the working space of

Dishwasher, which is at least partially disposed in a housing of the metering device, characterized in that the sensor unit 11 comprises at least one infrared transmitter 12 and / or an infrared receiver 13.

2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray arm 5.6 and / or a water or Laugenstrahl a spray nozzle during the rotation of the spray arm the

Beam path of the infrared transmitter 12 and / or

Infrared receiver 13 crosses.

3. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spray arm 5.6 comprises a reflector for infrared light.

4. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing 19 of the

Metering 9 is formed waterproof.

5. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the housing 19 of the

Dosing device 9 has guide elements 20 to the

Beam path of the infrared light at least partially from

Keep the housing clear of running water.

6. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide elements are designed as a roof 20 on an infrared-transmitting passage of the housing 19 of the metering device 9.

7. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inner wall of the working space has guide elements to keep running water away from the beam path of the infrared light.

8. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sensor unit 11 so

it is arranged that they are not directly in one

Water jet of a Sprüharmdüse lies.

9. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that detects the timing of the sensor signal and an evaluation unit is provided to the

Periodicity or frequency of the rotating spray arm

detected sensor signal to detect.

10. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an analog evaluation circuit is provided.

11. Metering device for the supply and metering of a substance, such as cleaner, rinse aid, etc. in the working space of a

Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed as an insert with a housing for insertion into a recess of an inner wall of the working space, for example in the door of the working space, and a sensor unit for detecting a Sprüharmbewegung in the working space of the

Dishwasher comprises, at least partially in the

Housing is arranged, characterized in that

the sensor unit comprises at least one infrared transmitter and / or one infrared receiver.