EP1696779B1 - Dish washing machine for using a combined product and associated method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dishwasher for using a combined product and with a water softening system and with at least one optimized washing program as a combination function for a combination product and an associated method.

In dishwashers are used as additives various substances, eg. As nonionic surfactants (wetting agents), phosphates (builder), soda and silicates (alkali carriers), perborate, amylase, protease (enzymes) and anti-foaming agents, softeners, fragrances, dyes, disintegrants and coatings needed. These serve in particular as cleaning, descaling and rinse aid. These substances are contained according to their effect in each case in the separate cleaning, descaling and rinse aid. In general, the cleaning agents and the rinse aid are added separately. The cleaning agents are offered in the form of free-flowing powders, to Tabs compressed powders, gels or liquids. Dishwashers usually have a water softening system, so that descaling agents usually do not have to be added. These detergents and rinse aids must be added separately, with rinse aids generally being stored in storage containers, so that they are only to be refilled at relatively long intervals and the cleaning agents must be added before each rinsing process. Similar to the rinse aid, the water softener must be treated with regenerating salt at longer intervals.

In order to increase the ease of use for users of dishwashers, so-called 3-in-1 combination products have been developed in which, in addition to detergents, rinse aids and descaling agents are also contained. In 2-in-1 Kombiproduten next to cleaning agents only rinse aid are included. This has the advantage for the user that the addition of rinse aids and the regeneration of the softener with a saline solution by the user in 3-in-1 combination products is not required. For 2-in-1 combination products, only regeneration of the water softener with salt is required. For the use of combination products, ie 2-in-1 combination products and 3-in-1 combination products, runs a special optimized program flow for individual washing programs, eg. For example, rinse programs for particularly intensive cleaning (eg Intensive 70 for particularly economical cleaning (for example ECO 50), for particularly gentle cleaning (eg soft 40) and for particularly quick and rapid cleaning (eg fast) or synonymous designations, different is aligned.

The cleaning programs in dishwashers usually have the partial program steps "pre-rinsing", "cleaning", "intermediate rinsing", "rinsing" and "drying" with different characteristics of the individual partial program steps. In combination products, detergents as well as rinse aids are included. However, the combination product is already added in the partial program step "cleaning", wherein the component rinse aid of the combination product is needed only in the partial program step "rinse". If cleaning detergent and rinse aid are added separately without using combination products, the rinse aid is added only in the partial program step in which it is required, namely during "rinsing". For this reason, the special optimized program sequence for the use of combination products must be designed so that even a part of the rinse aid contained in the combination product and, where appropriate, descaling agent, also passes into the subprogram step "rinsing". For this purpose, z. B. the sub-program step "intermediate rinse" less intensive carried out to carry out leaching. Furthermore, to improve the drying performance, the temperature during "rinsing" can be increased or in dishwashers with a water tank, which is heat-conducting connected to the washing to produce a cooled condensation surface on the washing during the Teilprogrammschrittes "drying", the water tank in addition with cool raw water is exchanged, because this additional water could be saved in the less intensive "intermediate rinsing", so that overall no higher water consumption is recorded.

The activation of these special optimized program sequences as a combination function takes place either via a combination product button on the dishwasher or through an automatic function which automatically selects the special optimized program sequence in the event of a rinsing deficiency or when a combination product is detected with sensors in the rinsing liquor. Pressing the combination product button or automatic activation due to clear rinsing causes the rinse function to stop and the water softener to be switched off. Due to the mere carryover of the descaling agent contained in the 3-in-1 combination product, which was added in sub-program step "cleaning", in subsequent Part program step, especially in the part program step "rinse", the degree of descaling in current 3-in-1 combination products in part program steps that follow the sub-program step "cleaning" is not very large. For this reason, 3-in-1 combination products for large raw water hardness, z. B. from about 22 ° dH, no longer be used because otherwise lime deposits, especially on the dishes and heating elements, is to be expected. 3-in-1 combination products are also subject to changes, so that these, for example, from other degrees of hardness, z. B. in the range from 15 ° to 30 ° dH, can no longer be used. Furthermore, 2-in-1 combination products can not be usefully used on dishwashers with combination product buttons when the combi-product button is pressed or automatic activation of the combination function due to the deactivation of the softening system and the absence of descaling agents in 2-in-1 combination products no softening is carried out at all. When using a 2-in-1 combination product in non-activated combination function, however, the drying result is deteriorated because due to the non-optimized special program flow z. B. only a very small carryover of the rinse aid from the sub-program step "cleaning" in the "rinse" takes place.

From the EP 1 362 547 A2 For example, a dishwashing machine and a method of operating a dishwasher using a multi-drug combination preparation are known. In this case, the type of combination preparation used is detected by sensors and the wash program is aligned accordingly. The disadvantage here is that when the 3in1 function is switched on, the display for the time of the regeneration process for the softener is hidden or switched off. Although it is possible that only a partial softening is performed when using a combination preparation with softening substance, which is disadvantageously carried out with a complex individual adaptation of the washing program to a combination preparation with multiple active ingredients.

From the DE 102 20 839 A1 is a dishwasher with a plurality of program-controlled, via at least one control element selectable standard Spülprogrammen containing at least by a water change separate program sections cleaning and rinsing known. In this case, rinse aid can be fed from a storage container into the washing compartment during rinsing with a dosing device. For changing the program sequence of at least one of the standard wash programs At least one additional operating element is provided, wherein the supply of rinse aid is faded into the washing compartment when operated in the program section rinsing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dishwashing machine and an associated method which makes it possible to easily use combination products even with large raw water hardnesses with good and effective drying performance.

This object is achieved by the dishwasher according to the invention having the features according to claim 1 and the associated method according to claim 5. Advantageous developments of the invention are characterized by the subclaims.

The dishwasher according to the invention for use of a 3-in-1 combination product has a water softening system and at least one optimized washing program as a combination function for a 3-in-1 combination product, wherein with the water softening system for filling the dishwasher with raw water part of the existing Raw water hardness necessary degree of softening when using the combination function is achievable in order to use 3-in-1 combination products for large raw water hardness can.

According to the combination function for selecting the optimized wash program is automatically activated with a level sensor in the reservoir for the rinse aid.

Conveniently, the part of the degree of softening achievable by the water softener is manually definable by the user, in the z. B. the water softener is set to a smaller level by the user, as needed for the existing raw water hardness without a 3-in-1 combination product.

In a supplementary embodiment, the part of the degree of softening achievable by the water softening system can be regulated automatically by means of data about the water hardness from sensors by a preferably electronic control.

In another embodiment, the data come about the water hardness z. B. from a preferably optical sensor in the wash liquor or a hardness sensor in the raw water supply in the flow direction before the water softening system.

In a method according to the invention for operating a dishwashing machine with a water softening system and for using a 3-in-1 combination product and for use with at least one optimized washing program for a 3-in-1 combination product, the water softener is used to fill the dishwasher with raw water Part of the degree of softening required for the existing raw water hardness when using the optimized rinsing program provided in order to use 3-in-1 combination products for large raw water hardness.

According to the combination function for selecting the optimized wash program is automatically activated with a level sensor in the reservoir for the rinse aid.

In a further embodiment, the part of the degree of softening provided by the water softener is manually set by the user, in which e.g. B. the water softener is set to a smaller level by the user, as needed for the existing raw water hardness without 3-in-1 combination product.

In another embodiment, the part of the degree of softening provided by the water softener is automatically controlled by means of data on the water hardness of sensors by a preferably electronic control.

Advantageously, the data come about the water hardness z. B. from a preferably optical sensor in the wash liquor or a hardness sensor in the raw water supply in the flow direction before the water softening system.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen Geschirrspülmaschine,

Fig. 2

ein schematisiertes erfindungsgemäßes Ablaufschema für eine Geschirrspülmaschine mit elektronischer Steuerung,

Fig. 3

ein schematisiertes erfindungsgemäßes Ablaufschema für eine Geschirrspülmaschine mit elektronischer Steuerung und Kalksensor im Spülbehälter und

Fig. 4

ein schematisiertes erfindungsgemäßes Ablaufschema für eine Geschirrspülmaschine mit elektronischer Steuerung und Härtesensor in der Enthärtungsanlage.

The principle of operation of the present invention will be explained by way of example with reference to an exemplary embodiment and drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of a dishwasher according to the invention,

Fig. 2

a schematic flow chart according to the invention for a dishwasher with electronic control,

Fig. 3

a schematic flowchart according to the invention for a dishwasher with electronic control and lime sensor in the washing and

Fig. 4

a schematic flowchart according to the invention for a dishwasher with electronic control and hardness sensor in the water softening system.

In Fig. 1 a dishwasher 1 according to the invention with control panel 2 is shown. The control panel preferably does not have a combination product button, because the combination function, ie the activation of the special optimized program sequence is automatically detected by a level sensor in the reservoir for rinse aid. However, it is also possible that this detection of the combination function is performed manually with a combination product button.

The inventive principle to 3-in-1 combination products, even with large raw water hardness, z. B. from about 22 ° dH, it can be seen that when activated combination function, the water softening system is not turned off, but the water softener is operated with reduced degree of softening. As a result, the degree of hardness of the raw water with a high raw water hardness is lowered to a level which allows the amount of descaling agent effective in all partial program steps in the combined product to be sufficient to achieve good cleaning and drying results. The lack of degree of softening by the 3-in-1 combination products is thus compensated by the water softening system. At the same time, a special optimized program sequence for combi products takes place, which is preferably fixed and is not complicated and individually adapted.

In Fig. 2 a schematic flowchart according to the invention is shown for a dishwasher with electronic control when using a 3-in-1 combi product. Dishwashers 1 have adjustment means, the z. B. attached to the control panel 2 to adjust the degree of descaling of the water softening system, z. B. in stages from 0 to 7, wherein 0 means a complete deactivation of the water softening system and 7 activates the maximum degree of descaling of the water softening system. In very soft water, the decalcification z. B. placed on level 1 or 2. For water with a high degree of hardness, z. B. from 22 ° dH to 30 ° dH, z. For example, level 6 is manually set by the user. At very high degrees of hardness of the raw water, z. B. from 31 ° dH to 50 ° dH, the level 7 is selected. In the case of raw water hardnesses up to 21 ° dH, the use of 3-in-1 combination products does not require activation of the water softening system because the softening agent contained in the 3-in-1 combination product is sufficient for raw water with these degrees of hardness. For large degrees of hardness of z. B. 22 ° dH to 30 ° dH, the water softener is set lower, z. B. instead of level 6 to level 4. For very large degrees of hardness, for example, instead of level 7, the level 6 is selected. Subsequently, it is determined with a level sensor in the reservoir for rinse aid (not shown), whether sufficient rinse aid is present. With the help of these data, the combination function is automatically activated in the absence of rinse aid. The program sequence can thus be automatically activated with the special optimized program flow for combi-products. Softening in the water softener is reduced to a reduced level because a lower level is manually selected.

In Fig. 3 is a schematic flowchart according to the invention for a dishwasher with electronic control and lime sensor in the washing shown using a 3-in-1 combination product. As a lime sensor z. B. an optical sensor used, which recognizes lime deposits on an optically scannable part, this part z. B. is arranged in the washing, so that the limescale resulting from the wash liquor. From this it can be concluded that the degree of hardness of the rinsing liquor. The water softener is set to the "Auto" position from a hardness of the raw water from 22 ° dH to activate the automatic function by the user. Due to the automatic detection of the degree of hardness in the rinsing liquor, the degree of softening is detected when using the 3-in-1 combi product in the rinsing liquor and the water softener is automatically switched off below 21 ° dH. Subsequently, it is determined with a level sensor in the reservoir for rinse aid (not shown), whether sufficient rinse aid is present. With the help of this data is in the absence of rinse aid The combi-function is automatically activated. This allows the program to run automatically with the special optimized program run for combi-products. Due to the indirect measurement of the hardness of the rinsing liquor by the optical sensor in the rinsing tank, only the portion of lime that has not been covered by the 3-in-1 combi product is automatically extracted from the softening unit on the basis of the data from the optical sensor. The degree of softening by the water softener is thus automatically regulated as a function of the raw water hardness.

In Fig. 4 is a schematic flowchart according to the invention for a dishwasher with electronic control and hardness sensor in the water softening system when using a 3-in-1 combination product shown. This is for hardness measurement z. B. conducted a conductance, this being done in the raw water supply before the water softening system. Thus, the hardness of the raw water is erfast. When using a 3-in-1 combination product, the water softening system is preferably set to "0" by the user even at degrees of hardness above 22 ° dH, whereby an automatic activation of the water softening system is also carried out in position "0" , Subsequently, it is determined with a level sensor in the reservoir for rinse aid (not shown), whether sufficient rinse aid is present. With the help of these data, the combination function is automatically activated in the absence of rinse aid. This means that the program sequence can be automatically activated with the special optimized program flow for combi-products. With the aid of the data from the hardness sensor, the water softening system is activated despite a manual shutdown with a reduced degree of descaling. The softening system reduces the hardness of the raw water to such an extent that the residual hardness of the raw water is handled by the 3-in-1 combination product can. For example, the raw water is decalcified to a degree of hardness of 21 ° dH.

Preferably, in all the described embodiments, despite automatic or manually activated combination function, the salt deficiency indicator for the regeneration salt of the water softener is activated, so that a lack of regenerating salt is displayed to the user. This is necessary because the softening plant - although to a lesser extent - is needed.

With the present dishwasher according to the invention for the use of a combination product and the associated method must on the one hand to the use of a Combi product in raw water hardness over 22 ° dH not be waived and on the other hand, the ease of use for the user is essentially preserved because no rinse aid is required and regeneration of the water softener with regenerating salt is required only at very long intervals, because a significant proportion of decalcification of the combined product is taken over. This applies in particular to raw water hardness with a degree of hardness which is only slightly above 21 ° dH, because here the majority of the necessary softening is taken over by the combination product. The special, existing and optimized washing programs for combination products advantageously do not have to be complicated.

Claims (8)

1. Dish washing machine (1) for using a 3-in-1 combined product, having a water softening system and at least one optimised wash program as a combined function for a 3-in-l combined product, wherein the water softening system for filling the dish washing machine (1) with raw water can be used to achieve a portion of the degree of softening needed for the existing raw water hardness when using the combined function, in order to be able to utilise 3-in-1 combined products when the raw water is very hard,
   characterised in that
   the combined function for selecting the optimised wash program can be activated automatically with the help of a level sensor in the reservoir for rinse-aid.
2. Dish washing machine (1) according to claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the portion of the degree of softening that can be provided by the water softening system can be predetermined manually by the user, in that for example the water softening system can be set by the user to a lower level than is needed for the existing water hardness without a 3-in-l combined product.
3. Dish washing machine according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   the portion of the degree of softening that can be provided by the water softening system can be adjusted automatically by an electronic controller with the help of data on the water hardness from sensors.
4. Dish washing machine (1) according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the data on the water hardness originates from an optical sensor in the rinsing liquor or a hardness sensor in the raw water supply line in the flow direction upstream of the water softening system.
5. Method for operating a dish washing machine (1) having a water softening system and for using a 3-in-l combined product and for utilising with at least one optimised wash program for a 3-in-l combined product, wherein the water softening system for filling the dish washing machine (1) with raw water is used to achieve a portion of the degree of softening needed for the existing raw water hardness when utilising the optimised wash program, in order to be able to employ 3-in-1 combined products when the raw water is very hard,
   characterised in that
   the combined function for selecting the optimised wash program is activated automatically with the help of a level sensor in the reservoir for rinse-aid.
6. Method according to claim 5,
   characterised in that the portion of the degree of softening provided by the water softening system is predetermined manually by the user, in that for example the water softening system is set by the user to a lower level than is needed for the existing water hardness without a 3-in-l combined product.
7. Method according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the portion of the degree of softening provided by the water softening system is adjusted automatically by a preferably electronic controller with the help of data on the water hardness from sensors.
8. Method according to claim 7,
   characterised in that
   the data on the water hardness originates from an optical sensor in the rinsing liquor or a hardness sensor in the raw water supply line in the flow direction upstream of the water softening system.

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