WO2018099671A1

WO2018099671A1 - A dishwasher with improved detergent effectiveness

Info

Publication number: WO2018099671A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/077870
Authority: WO
Inventors: Doruk TURGUL; Ayla Kuran
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2016-12-01
Filing date: 2017-10-31
Publication date: 2018-06-07
Also published as: TR201617595A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a tub (2) wherein the washing process is realized; a detergent dispenser (6) that is disposed on the door (5) and wherein the detergent is disposed by the user, and a mixing unit (11) that is disposed under the detergent dispenser (6) and that enables the tablet or powder detergent put into the detergent dispenser (6) to be mixed with water at the beginning of the washing process and to be delivered into the washing environment in the tub (2) in the related washing step.

Description

A DISHWASHER WITH IMPROVED DETERGENT EFFECTIVENESS

The present invention relates to a dishwasher, wherein tablet or powder detergent is used during the washing process.

In dishwashers, tablet and powder detergents need to be melted in the washing water and mixed into the water homogeneously in order to be used effectively. In order for the activation of the detergent to be enabled, the washing water needs to be heated to a specific temperature value. Heating and circulation steps that may take a long time are added to the washing algorithm in order for the detergent to melt, to be mixed into the water homogeneously and for the activation temperature to be reached, and therefore, the washing duration and energy consumption increase. Moreover, in some cases, the detergent being not melted enough leads to performance losses during the washing and to rinsing problems, and undissolved detergent particles may remain on the washed kitchenware.

The International Patent Application No. WO2013093148 (A1) relates to a dishwasher comprising a detergent dosing unit.

The International Patent Application No. WO2013093148 (A1) relates to a washer comprising a detergent dosing unit.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher, wherein energy saving is provided and the washing performance is improved by shortening the dissolving duration of the tablet or powder detergent used in the washing process.

In the door of the dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, a mixing unit that is attached to the detergent dispenser is provided under the detergent dispenser. Tablet or powder detergent placed into the detergent dispenser by the user is delivered to the mixing unit when the dishwasher is started. By means of a mixer with propeller, the detergent is mixed with the water that is received from the outside and that is heated. The detergent-water mixture prepared in the mixing unit is delivered into the washing environment at the related washing step.

The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where,

Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the dishwasher of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is the perspective view of a detergent-water mixing unit.

Figure 3 – is the schematic view of a detergent dispenser and a mixing unit.

Figure 4 - is the schematic view of the detergent dispenser and the mixing unit at the moment the detergent is delivered.

Figure 5 - is schematic view of the detergent dispenser and the mixing unit during the mixing process.

Figure 6 – is the view of detail A in Figure 5.

Figure 7 – is the schematic view of the detergent dispenser and the mixing unit while the detergent-water mixture is delivered into the washing environment.

Figure 8 – is the view of detail B in Figure 7.

Figure 9 - is the schematic view of the detergent dispenser, mixing unit and the water supply tube in an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered as follows:

Dishwasher
Tub
Outer wall
Inner wall
Door
Detergent dispenser
Opening
Main chamber
Mixer
Water supply tube
Mixing unit
Propeller
Heater
First shutter
Auxiliary chamber
Nozzle
Second shutter
Cover

The dishwasher (1) comprises a tub (2) wherein the washing process is realized; a door (5) that provides access into the tub (2) and that has an outer wall (3) and an inner wall (4) facing the washing environment, and a detergent dispenser (6) that is disposed on the door (5) and wherein the detergent is disposed by the user.

The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a mixing unit (11) having a main chamber (8) that is disposed on the door (5) under the detergent dispenser (6), that enables the tablet or powder detergent placed into the detergent dispenser (6) to be delivered at the beginning of the washing process and that has an opening (7) in connection with the detergent dispenser (6), and a mixer (9) that is disposed in the main chamber (8) and that is driven by an electric motor, the mixing unit (11) providing that the detergent delivered into the main chamber (8) is mixed with the water provided through a water supply tube (10) from an outer water supply and delivered into the washing environment in the tub (2) during the related washing step.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the mixing unit (11) comprises at least one propeller (12) that is mounted to the mixer (9) shaft rotated by the electric motor and that mixes the detergent and the water by rotating inside the main chamber (8) (Figure 2).

The mixing unit (11) further comprises a heater (13) that is disposed in the main chamber (8) and that enables the water received inside the main chamber (8) to be heated before and/or while the water is mixed with the detergent (Figure 2).

The dishwasher (1) is started after tablet or powder detergent is disposed into the detergent dispenser (6) by the user. As the dishwasher (1) is started, first, a specific amount of water is filled into the main chamber (8) from the water supply tube (10). The amount of water filled into the main chamber (8) is controlled by the state of the art mechanisms and/or methods. After the predetermined amount of water is filled into the main chamber (8), the heater (13) or the heater (13) and the mixer (9) are activated. Thus, water temperature is brought to a suitable level before the detergent is delivered into the main chamber (8). Activating the mixer (9) at this step - before the detergent is delivered - contributes to the homogeneous heating of the water. The reaching of the water temperature to the desired level can be controlled by a temperature sensor, or can be provided by the operation of the heater (13) for a predetermined time period. After this process is completed, the detergent is delivered to the mixing unit (11) from the detergent dispenser (6). At this condition, the heater (13) may continue operating or the heating process may be halted; however, the mixer (9) continues operating so that the detergent is homogeneously mixed into the water. After the sufficient amount of time is passed for the detergent to be completely melted and homogeneously mixed into the water, the detergent-water mixture is delivered into the washing environment.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a first shutter (14) that is disposed in the detergent dispenser (6), that holds the detergent disposed by the user inside the detergent dispenser (6), and that is moved by means of a movement mechanism (not shown in the figures) when the washing process is started so as to allow the passage of the detergent into the main chamber (8) through the opening (7) (Figure 3, Figure 4).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the mixing unit (11) comprises an auxiliary chamber (15) that is disposed under the main chamber (8) and wherein the detergent-water mixture is collected, and at least one nozzle (16) that is connected to the auxiliary chamber (15), that extends from the auxiliary chamber (15) into the tub (2) and that enables the detergent-water mixture to be delivered to the washing environment.

The auxiliary chamber (15) has a tapered shape narrowing from top to bottom in the downstream direction of the detergent-water mixture. Thus, the velocity of the detergent-water mixture is increased, thus enabling the same to leave the nozzle (16) and to be effectively delivered into the washing environment in the tub (2) (Figure 6, Figure 8).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the mixing unit (11) comprises a second shutter (17) that is disposed between the main chamber (8) and the auxiliary chamber (15) and that is opened by means of a movement mechanism (not shown in the figures) so as to enable the detergent-water mixture in the main chamber (8) to be delivered into the auxiliary chamber (15). During the water intake to the main chamber (8) and the mixing of the water with the detergent, the second shutter (17) is in the closed position and does not allow the detergent-water mixture to pass into the auxiliary chamber (15) from the main chamber (8) during the mixing process. As the mixing process is completed, the second shutter (17) is opened, thus allowing the detergent-water mixture to pass into the auxiliary chamber (15). The detergent-water mixture delivered into the auxiliary chamber (15) is supplied into the tub (2) from the nozzle (16).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the water supply tube (10) has a curved shape, thus preventing the water-detergent mixture from moving back from the main chamber (8) (Figure 9).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a one-way valve (not shown in the figures) that is connected to the water supply tube (10) and that prevents the water-detergent mixture from moving back from the main chamber (8).

In another embodiment of the present invention, the detergent dispenser (6) and the mixing unit (11) are disposed between the outer wall (3) and the inner wall (4) in a concealed manner. In this embodiment, the dishwasher (1) comprises a cover (18) that is disposed at the surface of the inner wall (4) facing the washing environment in the tub (2) and that enables detergent to be disposed into the detergent dispenser (6) hidden inside the door (5), and the nozzle (16) that extends into the tub (2) from the mixing unit (11) by passing through the inner wall (4) (Figure 1).

The detergent dispenser (6) and the mixing unit (11) do not form any protrusions on the inner wall (4) and do not occupy any space in the washing environment in the tub (2). Moreover, the electrical connections of the heater (13) such as cable, connector etc. are concealed in the door (5) and do not contact with water, thus preventing malfunctions.

By means of the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the detergent is melted in a mixing unit (11) disposed under the detergent dispenser (6) and homogeneously mixed with the water, then the resulting mixture is delivered into the washing environment in the tub (2). The washing duration is shortened and energy saving is provided by canceling the heating and circulation steps in the available methods that are performed in order to melt and homogeneously mix the detergent into the washing water. Moreover, since the detergent is delivered into the washing environment in dissolved form, no undissolved solid detergent particles remain on the surfaces of the washed dishes, and mechanical effect-related deformations such as glass corrosion occurring during the washing water circulation for melting the detergent are prevented.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a tub (2) wherein the washing process is realized; a door (5) that provides access into the tub (2) and that has an outer wall (3) and an inner wall (4) facing the washing environment, and a detergent dispenser (6) that is disposed on the door (5) and wherein the detergent is disposed by the user, characterized by a mixing unit (11)

- that has a main chamber (8) disposed under the detergent dispenser (6), that enables the tablet or powder detergent placed into the detergent dispenser (6) to be delivered at the beginning of the washing process and that has an opening (7) in connection with the detergent dispenser (6), and a mixer (9) that is disposed in the main chamber (8) and that is driven by an electric motor, and

- that provides that the detergent delivered into the main chamber (8) is mixed with the water provided through a water supply tube (10) from an outer water supply and delivered into the washing environment in the tub (2) during the related washing step.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the mixing unit (11) that comprises at least one propeller (12) that is mounted to the mixer (9) shaft and that mixes the detergent and the water by rotating inside the main chamber (8).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by the mixing unit (11) that comprises a heater (13) that is disposed in the main chamber (8), and that enables the water received into the main chamber (8) to be heated.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a first shutter (14) that is disposed in the detergent dispenser (6), that holds the detergent disposed by the user inside the detergent dispenser (6), and that is moved by means of a movement mechanism when the washing process is started so as to allow the passage of the detergent into the main chamber (8) through the opening (7).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the mixing unit (11) that comprises an auxiliary chamber (15) that is disposed under the main chamber (8) and wherein the detergent-water mixture is collected, and at least one nozzle (16) that is connected to the auxiliary chamber (15), that extends from the auxiliary chamber (15) into the tub (2) and that enables the detergent-water mixture to be delivered to the washing environment.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the mixing unit (11) that comprises the auxiliary chamber (15) that has a tapered shape narrowing from top to bottom in a downstream direction of the detergent-water mixture.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 5 or 6, characterized by the mixing unit (11) that comprises a second shutter (17) that is disposed between the main chamber (8) and the auxiliary chamber (15) and that is opened by means of a movement mechanism so as to enable the detergent-water mixture in the main chamber (8) to be delivered into the auxiliary chamber (15).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the water supply tube (10) that has a curved shape, preventing the water-detergent mixture from moving back from the main chamber (8).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a one-way valve that is connected to the water supply tube (10) and that prevents the water-detergent mixture from moving back from the main chamber (8).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the detergent dispenser (6) and the mixing unit (11) that are disposed between the outer wall (3) and the inner wall (4) in a concealed manner.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by a cover (18) that is disposed at the surface of the inner wall (4) facing the washing environment in the tub (2) and that enables detergent to be disposed into the detergent dispenser (6) hidden inside the door (5), and the nozzle (16) that extends into the tub (2) from the mixing unit (11) by passing through the inner wall (4).