WO2023048685A2

WO2023048685A2 - A dishwasher with an ultrasonic washing unit

Info

Publication number: WO2023048685A2
Application number: PCT/TR2022/051016
Authority: WO
Inventors: Omer Faruk GAZI; Gurkan OZNAZLI; Halil SAYIR; Ugur Dogan Can DALBUDAK
Original assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi Ve Ticaret Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2021-09-24
Filing date: 2022-09-20
Publication date: 2023-03-30
Also published as: WO2023048685A3

Abstract

The present invention discloses a dishwasher capable of performing ultrasonic washing. Said dishwasher comprises at least one dishwasher body (1); at least one inner compartment (1a) located in the dishwasher body (1), which is suitable for placing the utensils to be washed; at least one door (2) movably connected to the dishwasher body (1) so as to control access to said inner compartment (1a); at least one ultrasonic cleaner (3) located on the door (2).

Description

A DISHWASHER WITH AN ULTRASONIC WASHING UNIT

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a dishwasher with an ultrasonic washing unit.

Background of the Invention

Dishwashers are used to wash and clean various kitchen utensils such as plates, glasses, pots, forks, spoons or knives. Dishwashers used by home users generally comprise a body; an inner compartment located in the body; a door controlling access into the inner compartment, which is opened by rotating on the horizontal axis; at least one rack located in the inner compartment, which is suitable for placing the kitchen utensils to be washed; and a spray system for sending a washing liquid used in the washing process onto the rack. The spray system generally comprises a pump; a transmission line which is connected with the pump; and a spray arm located at an end of the transmission line. Here, the washing liquid (for example, water with detergent) used in the washing device is transmitted by the pump to the spray arm via the transmission line. The washing liquid is sprayed by means of the spray arm onto the kitchen utensils placed on the rack. Thus, it is ensured that the kitchen utensils are cleaned.

Household dishwashers are sufficient for effective cleaning of kitchen utensils. Spraying the washing liquid on the kitchen utensils can clean the dirt accumulated on the relatively large sized utensils. However, such a spraying method cannot provide cleaning of hard-to- reach areas from the outside (for example, joints of parts in appliances containing moving parts).

According to prior art applications, dishwashers with dedicated cleaning sections especially for cleaning smaller sized items such as forks, spoons or knives are used. In such applications, a larger amount of washing liquid is sprayed to said dedicated cleaning section, so that the cleaning process is carried out more effectively. However, these applications are not sufficient for cleaning the hard-to-reach areas from the outside, as well.

Brief Description of the Invention

The present invention discloses a dishwasher capable of performing ultrasonic washing. The dishwasher comprises at least one dishwasher body; at least one inner compartment located in the dishwasher body, which is suitable for placing the utensils to be washed; at least one door movably connected to the dishwasher body so as to control access to said inner compartment; at least one ultrasonic cleaner located on the door.

In the dishwasher according to the present invention, thanks to the ultrasonic cleaner, personal care products such as toothbrushes, shaving tools and make-up brushes that cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher under normal conditions, as well as sensitive products such as watches, jewelry, glasses and baby products can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Since the ultrasonic cleaner is located on the door of the dishwasher, both easy access to the ultrasonic cleaner and reliable use of the ultrasonic cleaner are provided.

Object of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher that allows cleaning of parts for which spray cleaning is not sufficient.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher which performs ultrasonic cleaning.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a reliable and practical dishwasher.

Exemplary embodiments of the dishwasher according to the present invention are illustrated in the attached drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the dishwasher according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a top perspective view of an ultrasonic cleaner used in the dishwasher according to the invention.

Figure 3 is a bottom perspective view of an ultrasonic cleaner used in the dishwasher according to the invention.

Figure 4 is a side sectional view of a door of the dishwasher according to the invention.

Figure 5 is another cross-sectional view of a door of the dishwasher according to the invention.

Figure 6 is a top view of the semi-assembled state of the dishwasher according to the invention.

All the parts illustrated in figures are individually assigned a reference numeral and the corresponding terms of these numbers are listed below:

Dishwasher body (1)

Inner compartment (1a)

Door (2)

Ultrasonic cleaner (3)

Cover (4)

Rack (5)

Separator element (6)

Ultrasonic cleaner body (7)

Chamber (8)

Fixing element (9)

First transmission line (10)

Ultrasonic wave source (11)

Transmission line connection (12)

First sealing element (13)

Second sealing element (14)

Third sealing element (15)

Valve (16)

Connecting piece (17)

Pump (18)

Second transmission line (19) Basin (20)

of the Invention

Dishwashers used for washing kitchen utensils carry out the washing process by spraying a washing liquid, such as detergent water, onto the utensils by means of a spray system. Although such a washing process performed by the spraying method can generally ensure cleaning of outer surfaces of the items being washed, it is not sufficient for cleaning the parts that are difficult to access from the outside. For this reason, the present invention provides a dishwasher capable of performing ultrasonic cleaning.

The dishwasher according to the present invention, as illustrated in figures 1-6, comprises at least one dishwasher body (1); at least one inner compartment (1a) located in the dishwasher body (1), which is suitable for placing the utensils to be washed; at least one door (2) movably connected to the dishwasher body (1) so as to control access to said inner compartment (1a); at least one ultrasonic cleaner (3) located on the door (2).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the ultrasonic cleaner (3) comprises at least one chamber (8) suitable for filling a liquid therein; at least one ultrasonic cleaner body (7) which is suitable for connecting to the chamber (8) on at least one side, and to the door (2) on at least another side; at least one rack (5) which is suitable for being located in the chamber (8); at least one cover (4) controlling access into said chamber (8); and at least one ultrasonic wave source (11) (e.g. a transducer) which is preferably located under the chamber (8) for sending ultrasonic waves into the chamber (8). In this embodiment, the dishwasher comprises at least a first sealing element (13) located between the door (2) and the ultrasonic cleaner body (7). Thanks to the first sealing element (13) preferably in the form of a gasket, the washing liquid used for the washing process in the inner compartment (1a) during the normal operation of the dishwasher is prevented from passing between the door (2) and the ultrasonic cleaner body (7) into the door (2). In this case, the dishwasher also comprises at least one fixing element (9) for connecting the ultrasonic cleaner body (7) to the door (2). Said fixing element (9) preferably pushes the ultrasonic cleaner body (7) against the door (2), so that the first sealing element (13) is compressed. Thus, better sealing is ensured. The ultrasonic cleaner (3) further comprises at least a second sealing element (14) (e.g. a gasket) located between the ultrasonic cleaner body (7) and the chamber (8). Thus, a liquid passage between the ultrasonic cleaner body (7) and the chamber (8) is prevented.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the ultrasonic cleaner (3) comprises at least one transmission line connection (12) which is connected to the chamber (8) for sending/receiving water to/from the chamber (8). Here, the ultrasonic cleaner (3) comprises at least a third sealing element (15) (e.g. a gasket) located between the transmission line connection (12) and the chamber (8). In this embodiment, the dishwasher comprises at least one pump (18); and at least a first transmission line (10) which is connected to the transmission line connection (12) on at least one side, and to the pump (18) on at least another side. The first transmission line (10) may preferably be in the form of a hose (for example, a flexible pipe). Thus, the first transmission line (10) is prevented from being damaged during the movement of the door (2). Here, the dishwasher further comprises at least one valve (16) which is preferably located on the first transmission line (10). The pump (18) and valve (16) are preferably located in a base portion of the dishwasher. Said dishwasher comprises at least one connecting piece (17) for connecting the pump (18) and/or the valve (16) to the dishwasher body (1) (for example, to the base portion). The pump (18) is preferably connected with a basin (20) located at the base of the dishwasher, and enables the water in the basin (20) to be transmitted to the chamber (8) via the first transmission line (10). Here, the dishwasher comprises at least a second transmission line (19) which is connected to the pump (18) on at least one side, and to the basin (20) on at least another side.

In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, if a user wants to clean an item using the ultrasonic cleaner (3) in the dishwasher, he/she moves the door (2) to an open position as illustrated in figure 1. The user opens the cover (4) of the ultrasonic cleaner (3) and places the items he/she wants to clean in the rack (5). Here, the user can place any utensil into the basket (5) that he wants to clean by the ultrasonic cleaning method (for example, personal care products such as toothbrushes, shaving tools, make-up brushes, as well as sensitive products such as watches, jewelry, eyeglasses or baby products). The rack (5) preferably comprises at least one separator element (6). Said separator element (6) enables the creation of different sections in the basket (5), wherein the user can place different utensils in different sections. After the items are placed in the rack (5) for ultrasonic cleaning, the cover (4) is brought back to the closed position. Here, water is filled into the chamber (8) before or after the item is placed in the rack (5). The water filling process is provided by operating the pump (18) to draw the water in the basin (20) by means of the second transmission line (19), passing the water through the transmission line connection (12) via the first transmission line (10), so that it is transmitted into the chamber (8). Here, after a sufficient amount of water is sent to the chamber (8), the operation of the pump (18) is stopped. Said valve (16) is brought to a closed position in order to prevent the water in the chamber (8) from returning through the first transmission line (10). The wave source (11) is energized while water is present in the chamber (8) and the items to be cleaned are placed in the rack (5). In this case, the ultrasonic waves produced by the wave source (11) pass through the water in the chamber (8) and reach the item to be cleaned. Here, the foreign substances on the item are vibrated by ultrasonic waves, so that said substances are removed from the item, thus cleaning the item. After the cleaning process is completed, the valve (16) comes to the open position again. In this position, the water in the chamber (8) passes through the first transmission line (10) and the second transmission line (19) and collected in the basin (20) so as to be discharged through a drainage system of the dishwasher. Transmission of the water in the chamber (8) into the basin (20) can be provided by the effect of gravity, or by rotating the pump (18) in the opposite direction to the filling process. After the water in the chamber (8) is drained, the cover (4) is opened to access the items that have been cleaned. Thus, it is ensured that different items are cleaned practically and reliably in the ultrasonic cleaner (3) located on the door (2) of the dishwasher.

In the dishwasher according to the present invention, thanks to the ultrasonic cleaner (3), personal care products such as toothbrushes, shaving tools and make-up brushes that cannot be cleaned in the dishwasher under normal conditions, as well as sensitive products such as watches, jewelry, glasses and baby products can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Since the ultrasonic cleaner (3) is located on the door (2) of the dishwasher, both easy access to the ultrasonic cleaner (3) and reliable use of the ultrasonic cleaner (3) are provided.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising at least one dishwasher body (1); at least one inner compartment (1a) located in the dishwasher body (1), which is suitable for placing the utensils to be washed; at least one door (2) movably connected to the dishwasher body (1) so as to control access to said inner compartment (1a), characterized by comprising at least one ultrasonic cleaner (3) located on the door (2).

2. A dishwasher according to claim 1 , characterized in that the ultrasonic cleaner (3) comprises at least one chamber (8) suitable for filling a liquid therein; at least one ultrasonic cleaner body (7) which is suitable for connecting to the chamber (8) on at least one side, and to the door (2) on at least another side; at least one rack (5) which is suitable for being located in the chamber (8); at least one cover (4) controlling access into said chamber (8); and at least one ultrasonic wave source (11) for sending ultrasonic waves into the chamber (8).

3. A dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that the ultrasonic wave source (11) is located under the chamber (8).

4. A dishwasher according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it comprises at least a first sealing element (13) located between the door (2) and the ultrasonic cleaner body (7).

5. A dishwasher according to any of the claims 2 to 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one fixing element (9) for connecting the ultrasonic cleaner body (7) to the door (2).

6. A dishwasher according to any of the claims 2 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least a second sealing element (14) located between the ultrasonic cleaner body (7) and the chamber (8).

7. A dishwasher according to any of the claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the ultrasonic cleaner (3) comprises at least one transmission line connection (12)

7 which is connected to the chamber (8) for sending/receiving water to/from the chamber (8). A dishwasher according to the claim 7, characterized in that the ultrasonic cleaner (3) comprises at least a third sealing element (15) located between the transmission line connection (12) and the chamber (8). A dishwasher according to the claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it comprises at least one pump (18); and at least a first transmission line (10) which is connected to the transmission line connection (12) on at least one side, and to the pump (18) on at least another side. A dishwasher according to the claim 9, characterized in that it comprises at least one valve (16). A dishwasher according to the claim 10, characterized in that the valve (16) is located on the first transmission line (10). A dishwasher according to the claim 9 or 10, characterized in that it comprises at least one connecting piece (17) for connecting the pump (18) and/or the valve (16) to the dishwasher body (1). A dishwasher according to any of the claims 9 to 12, characterized in that it comprises at least one basin (20); and at least a second transmission line (19) which is connected to the pump (18) on at least one side, and to the basin (20) on at least another side. A dishwasher according to any of the claims 2 to 13, characterized in that the rack (5) comprises at least one separator element (6).

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