WO2019115046A1

WO2019115046A1 - A dishwasher washing with granules

Info

Publication number: WO2019115046A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/076819
Authority: WO
Inventors: Furkan BAYAV; Yusuf Koc; Mehmet Kaya; Ozcan Hatipoglu; Meryem GUNERI ARIGUL; Zerrin YILMAZ
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-12-11
Filing date: 2018-10-02
Publication date: 2019-06-20

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2) in which washing process is performed, a chamber (3) provided on the base of the body (2), a filter (4) provided in the chamber (3), a first pump (5) enabling transferring the filtered water in the chamber (3) into the body (2), at least one spray arm (6) enabling spraying water on the items to be washed, and a multiport valve (7) enabling directing the water pumped by the first pump (5) to the spray arms (6).

Description

A DISHWASHER WASHING WITH GRANULES

The present invention relates to a dishwasher using granules enhancing mechanical washing effect.

In the dishwashers used nowadays, a washing cycle is completed by sequentially performing the cold washing, main washing, rinsing and drying steps. The washing group, one of the main parts of a dishwasher, is the section where washing is performed, comprising lower and upper basket components in which the items to be washed are placed, a cutlery basket, spray arms and filters. The upper spray arm coupled to the basket and the lower spray arm coupled to the lower region of the tub, enable transmitting water by means of the nozzles provided thereon. The position and the geometry of these nozzles are designed so as to enable the water jet to scan a larger area inside the washing unit and to thereby reach all surfaces of the dishes. In the dishwasher, the spray arm rotates as a result of the angular momentum generated by the water jet ejected from the nozzles provided thereon. Generally, the nozzles generating said momentum are positioned towards the end portions of a spray arm. The jet ejected from the nozzles are involved in removing dirt from surfaces by splashing the dirty dishes. Spraying water in a pressurized manner provide a mechanical cleaning effect along with the chemical effect provided by detergent. However, the pressure of the water transmitted from the spray arms can only be increased up to certain limits. Using granules shaped as small balls for enhancing mechanical washing effect, is known. However, such granules block the filter of domestic type dishwasher. Whereas when small-sized granules are used, the granules pass over the filter and are thus discharged, creating the need for new granules for each washing cycle.

State of the art European patent application no. EP1832218 discloses a dishwasher capable of washing with granules.

State of the art Japanese patent application no. JP2010279588 discloses a dishwasher capable of washing only with granules without requiring the use of detergent.

State of the art U.S. patent application no. US2002031989 discloses enhancing washing efficiency in a dishwasher capable of washing with granules.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a domestic type dishwasher capable of washing with granules.

The dishwasher realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the claims, comprises a second pump enabling the granules used in the washing process to be drawn from the chamber without being filtered and to be transmitted to a multiport valve enabling directing, a container coupled to the multiport valve, in which the granules are collected and a control unit enabling controlling the pumps and the multiport valve. During the washing process, the granules are drawn from within the chamber by means of the second pump without being subjected to the filtering process and are transmitted to the multiport valve, and the multiport valve enables the granules to be transmitted to a spray arm. When the washing process is completed and the granules are to be collected, the multiport valve enables collection of the granules by directing the granules transmitted by the second pump, to the container. Efficiency of the washing process is enhanced by washing with granules, and filter blockage is avoided by enabling the dirt particles on the dishes such as food remains to be broken up by means of the granules.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the container is perforated, enabling the water transmitted while collecting the granules, to flow back into the chamber and to be introduced back to the water circulation. By draining the collected granules, the dirt on the granules are also drained, enabling cleaning the granules.

In another embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the container is shaped as a cover. By this, when it is desired the granules collected in the container to reintroduce to the cycle, the cover is opened and the granules are poured into the body which is the washing region. With this embodiment, the granules are easily collected and easily reintroduced to the washing cycle. In a different version of this embodiment, the control unit controls the cover of the container, and the control unit enables opening the cover when it is desired to use the granules. Likewise, the control unit enables the cover to be brought to the closed position when the granules are to be collected.

In a different embodiment of the invention, the granules used in washing are collected in the container before the rinsing process. the granules are thus prevented from scratching the dishes during rinsing. In a version of this embodiment, during the rinsing process, the control unit enables transmitting water into the container, enabling also the granules to be rinsed and cleaned from detergent residue.

By means of the dishwasher of the invention, the granules used in enhancing washing efficiency are enabled to be easily and conveniently collected in a domestic type dishwasher, enabling the granules to be used repeatedly.

A dishwasher realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic view of the dishwasher.

The elements in the figure are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Dishwasher
Body
Chamber
Filter
First pump
Spray arm
Multiport valve
Second pump
Container
Control unit
Perforation
Cover

G. Granule

The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2) in which the washing process is performed, a chamber (3) provided on the base of the body (2), a filter (4) provided in the chamber (3), a first pump (5) enabling transferring the filtered water in the chamber (3) into the body (2), at least one spray arm (6) enabling spraying water on the items to be washed, and a multiport valve (7) enabling directing the water pumped by the first pump (5) to the spray arms (6). The items to be washed are placed into the body (2) and the washing process is started by the user. The water received from the mains in the washing and rinsing processes, is drawn from the chamber (3) by means of the first pump (5), and is transmitted to the multiport valve (7) in order to be directed to the spray arms (6). The water sprayed from the spray arms (6) cleans the items in the body (2) and is recollected in the chamber (3). Dirt such as food remains are snagged by the filter (4), and washing and rinsing cycle continues as the first pump (5) sends the water in the chamber (3) to the multiport valve (7).

The dishwasher (1) of the invention comprises a second pump (8) sending the water in the chamber (3) and the granules (G) used in washing to the multiport valve (7) without being filtered, a container (9) provided in the body (2) and coupled to the multiport valve (7), in which the granules (G) pumped by the second pump (8) are collected, and a control unit (10) enabling washing with granules (G) by controlling the pumps (5, 8) and the multiport valve (7). The granules (G) enhancing the mechanical washing effect, are loaded into the body (2) by the user. Upon the user opting for the washing process with granules (G) and starting the washing process, the control unit (10) enables the water with granules (G) in the chamber (3) to be transmitted to the multiport valve (7) without being passed through the filter (4), by using the second pump (8). The granules (G) and water mixture is transmitted to the spray arms (6) via the multiport valve (7). The size of the granules (G) are small enough to pass through the nozzles (not shown in the figures) provided on a spray arm (6). In addition to chemical cleaning provided with detergent, mechanical cleaning is performed by pumping the granules (G) from the spray arms (6) together with water. By enhancing with the granules (G) the mechanical washing effect provided by pressurized water, it becomes unnecessary to spray water with high pressure from the spray arms (6). After completion of the washing process with granules (G), the control unit (10) controls the multiport valve (7) and enables granules (G) and water mixture to be transmitted to the container (9) used in collecting the granules (G), instead of the spray arms (6). The granules (G) are thus collected in the container (9) and can be repeatedly used in later washing cycles.

In an embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the container (9) has perforations (11) of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the granules (G). Thanks to the perforations (11), the granules (G) and water mixture transmitted into the container (9), is drained and only the granules (G) are kept in the container (9) so as not to leave any water. The perforations (11) on the bottom surface of the container (9) also enable snagging the larger dirt particles released from the washed dishes, preventing them from being mixed into the water cycle. A user can clean the container (9) and the granules (G) by removing the container (9) from within the body (2).

In another embodiment of the invention, the bottom surface of the container (9) is a cover (12) which can be opened and closed. Thanks to the bottom surface of the container (9) being shaped as a cover (12), it becomes unnecessary to displace the container (9) and pour the granules (G) into the body (2) when it is required to reuse the granules(G) collected in the container (9). When it is desired to reuse the granules (G), the granules (G) are poured into the body (2) by opening the cover (12). In a version of this embodiment, the cover (12) is opened and closed by the control unit (10). Opening and closing of the cover (12) is preferably performed by means of a shaft (not shown in the figures) placed on the rotational axis of the cover (12) and an engine (not shown in the figures) rotating the shaft. The control unit (10) performs said function by using the mechanism enabling the cover (12) to be opened and closed. Depending on whether the user has opted for washing with granules (G), the control unit (10) may enable opening the cover (12) at the beginning of the washing process. The granules (G) are thus introduced into the water circulation, enabling the washing process to be performed with granules (G). When washing with granules (g) is not preferred, the control unit (10) does not open the cover (12) and enables the washing process to be performed using only the first pump (5). The control unit (10) also enables bringing the cover (12) to the closed position during collection of the granules (G) at completion of the washing process. After closing of the cover (12), the second pump (8) sends the water mixture to the multiport valve (7), and the multiport valve (7) directs said mixture to the container (9) instead of the spray arms (6).

In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit (10) enables collecting the granules (G) before the rinsing process. Using granules (G) in a rinsing cycle is not preferred. After completion of the main washing process, the control unit (10) controls the second pump (8) and the multiport valve (7) in the above disclosed manner, and enables collecting the granules (G) in the container (9) before the rinsing process begins. In a version of this embodiment, the control unit (10) enables passing water through the container (9) during the rinsing process by controlling the multiport valve (7). The control unit (10) enables circulating water through the container (9) by controlling the pumps (5, 8) and the multiport valve (7) preferably at the very beginning of the rinsing process, during heating of the water received from the mains to a rinsing temperature. The granules (G) are thus cleaned from detergent residue left thereon.

As explained in the embodiments above, the control unit (10) begins the washing process with granules (G) according to user preference. The directive for washing with granules (G) is received as the user presses the related button on the dishwasher (1), the control unit (10) enables opening the cover (12) on the bottom surface of the container (9), and water is circulated by the second pump (8). Thus, it becomes possible to send the granules (G) to the spray arms (6) without being snagged by the filter (4).

The problem of collecting granules (G) used in the washing process, is solved without using complex systems, by means of the second pump (8) and the container (9) provided in the dishwasher (1) of the invention. Reintroducing the granules (G) collected in the container (9), to the washing cycle is automatized by means of a container (9) having a cover (12) which can be opened and closed.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2) in which the washing process is performed, a chamber (3) provided on the base of the body (2), a filter (4) provided in the chamber (3), a first pump (5) enabling transferring the filtered water in the chamber (3) into the body (2), at least one spray arm (6) enabling spraying water on the items to be washed, and a multiport valve (7) enabling directing the water pumped by the first pump (5) to the spray arms (6), characterized by a second pump (8) sending the water in the chamber (3) and the granules (G) used in washing to the multiport valve (7) without being filtered, a container (9) provided in the body (2) and coupled to the multiport valve (7), in which the granules (G) pumped by the second pump (8) are collected, and by a control unit (10) enabling washing with granules (G) by controlling the pumps (5, 8) and the multiport valve (7).
A dishwasher (1) according to claim 1, characterized by the container (9) whose bottom surface has perforations (11) of a diameter smaller than the diameter of the granules (G).
A dishwasher (1) according to claim 2, characterized by the container (9) whose bottom surface is a cover (12) which can be opened and closed.
A dishwasher (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized by the cover (12) opened and closed by the control unit (10).
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (10) bringing the cover (12) to the closed position during collection of the granules (G).
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (10) enabling the granules (G) to be collected before the rinsing process.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (10) enabling passing water through the container (9) by controlling the multiport valve (7) during rinsing process.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (10) enabling washing with granules (G) according to user preference.