EP2352414A1

EP2352414A1 - Method for operating a dishwasher

Info

Publication number: EP2352414A1
Application number: EP09744114A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Michael Fauth; Helmut Jerg; Kai Paintner; Andreas Reiter; Roland Rieger
Original assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
Current assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH
Priority date: 2008-11-07
Filing date: 2009-10-16
Publication date: 2011-08-10
Anticipated expiration: 2029-10-16
Also published as: WO2010052114A1; EP2352414B1; PL2352414T3; DE102008043553A1; ES2461894T3

Abstract

The invention relates to a dishwasher, and a method for operating a dishwasher (GS), especially a household dishwasher, especially comprising a sorption drying system. According to said method, during at least one clear rinsing (K) program step, a liquid is applied to washed items, and then, in a drying (T) program step, the washed items are dried. According to the invention, a drip phase (AB) is carried out before the beginning of the drying (T) program step, at the beginning of which the liquid is no longer applied to the washed items and the liquid is drained from the washed items.

Description

Method for operating a dishwasher

The invention relates to a method for operating a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Dishwashers are known to go through wash programs comprising a plurality of program steps, such as e.g. Pre-rinsing, cleaning, rinsing, rinsing and drying the cleaned items. In this case, in the program step rinsing, the cleaned items to be washed are treated with a liquid, in particular with a liquid added with a rinse aid, and then dried in the program step of drying.

The invention has for its object to achieve a further improved drying result.

The invention is based on a method for operating a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, in which at least in one program step rinsing cleaned items to be treated with a liquid, and then in a program step drying a drying of the items.

According to the invention it is provided that prior to the start of the program step drying a dripping phase is passed, at the beginning of the loading of items to be washed is finished with the liquid and the liquid drains from the dishes. In this way, the drying performance can be increased or the duration of the program step drying can be reduced in a surprisingly simple manner and at the same time the amount of liquid stored in the desiccant of the sorption drying system can be reduced. This in turn shortens the duration of the desorption process.

According to one embodiment, it is provided that the dripping phase essentially takes between 3 and 15 minutes, in particular between 5 and 10 minutes. This allows to increase the drying performance without extending the total duration of a wash program.

For this purpose, according to a further development, it is provided that, during the program step, rinsing by means of a circulating pump, the items to be washed are mixed with the rinse aid Liquid is applied, at the end of the program step rinsing the circulation pump is stopped.

In a further development, it is provided that a forced flow of the items to be dried is carried out during the program step dry. This further improves the drying result and at the same time shortens the duration of the program step drying.

For this purpose, according to a development, the forced flow is generated by means of a fan.

For this purpose, it is provided according to a development that during the program step drying the fan for a predetermined period of time, is operated substantially between 1 and 60 minutes, in particular between 3 and 30 minutes.

In a further development, it is provided that, after stopping the circulation pump, a pumping-down operation, in particular by means of a lye pump, is carried out. As a result, the drying performance can be further increased since the liquid expired from the items to be washed is conveyed out of the dishwasher.

For this purpose, it is provided according to a development that essentially an amount between 1 and 5 liters, in particular between 2 and 4 liters, is pumped out.

In a further development, it is provided that at the end of the program step drying a pumping down, in particular by means of a lye pump, is performed. As a result, residual liquid residues are conveyed out of the dishwasher.

For this purpose, it is provided according to a development that substantially between 0.05 and 1 liter, in particular between 0.1 and 0.3 liters, are pumped.

In a further development, it is provided that, for drying the ware, moist air is passed from an interior of the dishwasher through a sorption drying system. This allows a particularly energy-efficient drying of cleaned items.

In a further development, it is provided that a reversibly dehydratable drying agent, in particular zeolite, is used for the exothermic drying. This material is characterized by a high water absorption capacity as well as a good reversible Dehydratability, wherein the drying line can be increased again without additional expenditure of energy by the exothermic drying.

Furthermore, the object of the invention by a dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher, at least formed to at least one

Program step rinse washed items to be treated with a liquid and then dried in a program step drying the items to be washed, it being provided according to the invention that before the start of the program step drying a

Draining phase is provided at the beginning of the loading of items to be washed with the liquid is completed and the liquid drains from the dishes.

Further developments of the dishwasher according to the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention and its development will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings.

Show it:

1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a dishwasher according to the invention with a sorption drying system,

Fig. 2 is a schematic representation of the temperature profile during a first

Embodiment of a Spülprogrammdurchlaufs invention,

3 shows a schematic representation of the temperature profile of a further, second exemplary embodiment of a rinsing program run according to the invention, and

4 is a schematic representation of the temperature profile of a further, third exemplary embodiment of a rinsing program run according to the invention.

Reference is first made to FIG.

A dishwasher GS designed in the present exemplary embodiment as a domestic dishwasher has an interior space IR serving as a washing container, which can be opened or closed for loading and unloading by means of a door (not shown) pivotably hinged to the dishwasher GS. By doing Interior IR of the dishwasher GS dish baskets GK are provided for receiving items to be cleaned, which can be pulled out of the interior IR of the dishwasher GS to facilitate loading and unloading.

In order to clean the items to be stored in the crockery baskets GK, means for supplying items to be washed with liquid are provided in the interior IR of the dishwasher GS as spraying arms SA, wherein the liquid may, for example, be filled with water. can act with detergents or with rinse aid added water, so as to effect a cleaning effect or streak-free drying. The liquid flowing down from the items to be washed collects in a pump sump PS, which is arranged in the bottom area of the interior IR of the dishwasher GS.

The spray arms SA are fluidly connected via a supply line ZL with a circulation pump UP, which is arranged in a floor assembly BO below the interior IR of the dishwasher GS, among other components components of the dishwasher. In operation, i. when the circulation pump UP is running, the circulation pump UP sucks the liquid accumulated in the pump sump PS and delivers it through the supply line ZL to the spray arms SA. In order to heat the liquid circulated by the operation of the circulating pump UP, the circulating pump has an integrated water heater WZ for heating the liquid. Alternatively, in addition to the circulation pump UP, a separate instantaneous water heater or another water heater may be provided. For emptying the interior IR of the dishwasher GS, a drain pump LP is provided, which is also in fluid-conducting connection with the pump sump PS and can be connected to a disposal line EL to a house-side sewage disposal network.

Furthermore, the dishwasher GS has a Sorptionstrockungssystem with which arranged in the baskets GR and cleaned items can be dried at the end of a Spülprogrammdurchlaufs. For this purpose, a sorption SB is provided in the bottom assembly BO, which is air-conductively connected via an air duct LK with an inlet El, wherein for generating a forced flow, a fan LT is provided. To reclaim the air sucked in through the inlet El and conveyed by the ventilator LT into the sorption container back into the interior IR of the dishwasher GS, an outlet opening AU is provided in the bottom area of the interior IR dishwasher GS. In order to effect a drying of cleaned items to be washed, air is sucked in from the interior IR of the dishwasher GS by the fan LT, passed through the sorption container SB and again through the discharge opening AU back into the interior IR of the dishwasher GS. In order to dry the circulated air in this case, a drying agent for carrying out an exothermic drying is provided in the sorption container SB. It is a reversible dehydratable drying material, such as zeolite, which absorbs water due to its hydroscopic property, at the same time heat energy is released. By this released heat energy heating of the circulating air is effected, which at the same time increases the moisture absorption capacity of the circulating air. At the end of a drying process, an amount of liquid is stored in the drying material ZEO.

In order to restore the capacity of the drying agent ZEO for a new wash program run, an air heater HZ is provided, which is arranged in the present embodiment in the sorption SB. However, it is also possible to arrange an air heater outside the sorbent tank SB, e.g. in the air passage LK to cause heating of the conveyed into the sorbent SB air. To drive off the amount of liquid stored in the drying material ZEO, an air flow generated by the fan LT is heated, so that the

Drying material ZEO can be heated to temperatures at which the

Drying material ZEO stored amount of water can be released again.

Reference is now additionally made to FIGS. 2 to 4.

Dishwashers GS continuous for cleaning and drying of items to be cleaned, wash programs, which consist of a plurality of program steps, which are passed through successively. Such a program may consist of the program steps pre-wash V, cleaning R, intermediate rinsing Z, rinsing K and drying T, with individual program steps such. B. the pre-rinsing V or intermediate rinsing Z can also be hidden, while it is also conceivable to pass through individual program steps repeatedly, such as the intermediate rinsing Z. During the pre-rinsing V eg. Wash ware is charged with water without the addition of detergents, this either with unheated water or with heated water by means of a heater. For this purpose, water can be used that has been stored in a water tank (not shown). Such a water tank can with the environment of the dishwasher in heat-conducting Connection, so that in the water tank cached liquid, such as water from a home-side supply system, can warm to room temperature. In the cleaning step R, cleaning of items to be washed takes place by application of detergent-added water, ie during the cleaning stage, a detergent is added. Furthermore, a heating of the liquid, so as to increase the cleaning effect of the cleaning agent. In this case, the cleaning step R is composed of a heating phase P1, P2, in which the liquid is heated in the dishwasher GS by means of heating until a predetermined maximum temperature is reached and a subsequent Nachwaschphase together, while the heater is turned off, the slowly cooling liquid by the circulating pump UP is circulated. In the intermediate rinse Z program step, liquid is applied to the items to be washed in order to convey dirt residues from the dishwasher GS. The next step in the program is rinsing K in preparation for the program step drying T, in which water mixed with rinse aid is circulated by means of the circulation pump and applied to the now cleaned items via the spray arms SA. Finally, the program step drying T, in which the ware is no longer charged with liquid, but by operation of the fan LT through the interior IR of the dishwasher GS and the sorbent SB circulating air flow is generated. A complete or at least partial fluid change can be carried out between the individual program steps, ie the dishwasher GS is emptied by means of the drain pump LP and the disposal line EL and refilled again by a supply line (not shown) making a connection to a house-side supply system.

In the wash program sequence according to FIG. 2, heating of liquid takes place only in the program step cleaning R. In this case, starting from a start temperature TO first during a first phase P1, the liquid circulated by the circulation pump UP is heated by the air heater HZ in the sorption tank SB to a maximum temperature T1, wherein the fan LT at the same time circulates through the interior IR of the dishwasher GS air flow generated. The air heater HZ heats the drying material ZEO into the sorption container SB to temperatures at which the amount of water stored in the drying material ZEO is expelled from the drying material ZEO and conveyed through the outlet opening AU into the interior IR dishwasher GS. Due to the effect of the air heater HZ this amount of liquid is heated and thus causes by mixing the already circulated with the circulation pump UP liquid heating of the total amount of liquid in the interior IR dishwasher GS. The fact that by means of the air heater HZ during the Program step cleaning R heating up to the first temperature T1, it is ensured that the dry material ZEO can be reliably and completely desorbed by the circulation of relatively cold and dry air from the interior IR dishwasher GS. Instead of a rigid rinsing program sequence in which a desorption process is carried out in a first program section, in which a heating of liquid takes place, it can also be provided in an alternative embodiment to evaluate the parameters influencing the desorption process for determining the time for performing the desorption. This can be the air temperature and the water inlet temperature. For example, a desorption process in a program step cleaning or rinsing or, if appropriate, during the program step pre-rinse done.

During desorbing by means of the air heater HZ, the blow-out opening AU is cooled in the interior IR dishwasher GS, so as to ensure that due to the heating power of the air heater HZ no excessive heating of the blow-out opening HZ with overheating damage occurs.

For this purpose, during operation of the air heater HZ, i. e.g. during the phase P1, the circulation pump UP is operated so that liquid is conveyed from the pump sump PS through the supply line to the spray arm SA by the circulation pump. As a result, the spray arms SA are set in rotation and cause by spraying the exhaust opening AU, in particular a cap covering the exhaust opening AU with liquid, a cooling thereof.

In a next phase P2 of the program step cleaning R, the amount of liquid is heated from the first temperature T1 to the second temperature T2 by means of the water heater WZ.

In order to increase the cleaning effect during the program step cleaning R, it is provided by increasing the rotational speed of the circulation pump UP to increase the spray pressure of the water jets emerging from the spray arm SA. This will be done during the

Program step Clean R during the post-wash phase NA using the

Circulation pump UP increased circulated amount of liquid by a refilling step, for example, at time t1 (see Figure 2) and then increases the speed of the circulation pump UP, e.g. continuously until the recirculation pump runs again in a run-out condition, i.e., during operation, does not draw in air bubbles, which is the capacity of the circulation pump

UP reduces and leads to an undesirable noise. This will be it possible to take into account the amount of liquid released during the desorbing, which was stored in the drying material ZEO, in the dimensioning of the amount of liquid to be replenished, and thus to reduce the total water requirement with improved cleaning performance.

Between the program step rinsing K and the program step drying T, a dripping phase AB is provided (see Figure 2), while the liquid adhering to the cleaned items to be washed, i. with rinse aid added water, can drain from the washware due to gravity and can collect in the pump sump PS of the interior IR of the dishwasher GS. As a result, the amount of liquid to be absorbed by the sorption drying system is reduced and thus the duration of the program step drying T.

Before this dripping phase AB, i. At the end of the program step rinsing K, a pumping down process takes place in which the liquid mixed with rinse aid is removed by means of the drain pump

LP is conveyed through the discharge line EL in a house-side wastewater disposal system. It follows the Abtropfphase AB, during which neither the circulation pump UP nor the drain pump LP and not the fan LT or one of the heaters mentioned

HZ, WZ are in operation. After expiration of this dripping AB, the program step drying T begins by putting the fan LT, so that a through the interior of the IR

Dishwasher and the sorbent SB circulating air flow is generated to dry the cleaned items in the baskets GK. At the end of

Program step drying T is carried out another pumping by means of the drain pump

LP, by means of which a remaining amount of liquid from the dishwasher GS is conveyed through the discharge line EL in a house-side wastewater disposal system. Alternatively, it can also be provided to perform a further pump-down process additionally or alternatively at the beginning of the program step drying T.

In the washing program according to FIGS. 3 and 4, heating of liquid takes place in the first of the program steps, the program step of prewashing V. For this purpose, by means of the

Air heating HZ liquid starting from a start temperature TO during a phase

PV heated to a temperature TV, in which as described above by means of the fan LT a through the interior IR of the dishwasher GS and the sorbent SB circulating air flow is generated. After reaching the temperature TV, the air heater HZ is deactivated. At this time, the drying material ZEO is not completely desorbed, ie in the drying material ZEO a residual amount of water is stored. To expel this amount of residual water from the ZEO drying material and thus to have a again fully water-absorbent drying material ZEO at the beginning of the program step drying T, the liquid is first heated by the air heater HZ to a temperature T1 in the subsequent program step cleaning R and then heated by operation of the water heater to the temperature T2. That is, the desorption phase of the drying agent ZEO in the sorption container SB is divided into two parts in this embodiment and is distributed over two program steps, namely the program step pre-wash V and the program step cleaning R.

In order to increase the cleaning effect by further increasing the temperature, a further phase P3 (see FIG. 3) can be provided, while the water heater WZ is used to further heat the liquid to a temperature T3.

In order to improve the drying result at the end of the program step drying T, it is provided in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 4 that the liquid is heated during the rinsing step K. For this purpose, during a phase P4 by means of the water heater WZ liquid, which is water or water mixed with rinse aid, is heated to a temperature T4. Alternatively, for this purpose, instead of the water heating and the air heater HZ be used to complete, for example, a previously not complete in the course of the program desorption. In addition, during a further phase P5, a further heating of the liquid to a temperature T5 can take place in order to improve the drying with the sorption drying system.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

AB dripping phase

AU exhaust opening

BO floor assembly

El inlet

EL disposal line

GK crockery basket

GS dishwasher

HZ air heating

IR interior

LK air duct

LP drain pump

LT fan

NA post-wash phase

P ₁ . Phase r

P1 phase 1

P2 phase 2

P3 Phase 3

P4 Phase 4

P5 Phase 5

PS pump sump

SA spray arm

SB sorption tank t1 Refill time

TO start temperature

T1 'temperature

T1 temperature

T2 temperature

T3 temperature

T4 temperature

T5 temperature

UP circulating pump

WZ water heating

ZEO drying material

ZL supply line

Claims

claims

1. A method for operating a dishwasher (GS), in particular a domestic dishwasher, wherein at least in one program step

Rinsing (K) cleaned items to be washed with a liquid, in particular with a liquid added with a rinse aid, is applied, and then in a program step drying (T) drying of the items, characterized in that before the start of the program step drying (T) a Drip phase (AB) is passed, at the beginning of the application of the liquid is stopped and the liquid drains from the dishes.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the dripping phase (AB) substantially between 3 and 15 minutes, in particular between 5 and 10 minutes, lasts.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that during the program step rinsing (K) by means of a circulation pump (UP) the ware is charged with liquid, wherein at the end of the program step rinse (K), the circulation pump (UP) is stopped.

4. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that during the program step dry (T) takes place a forced flow of the items to be dried

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that the forced flow is generated by means of a fan (LT).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that during the program step drying (T) of the fan (LT) for a predetermined period of time, is operated substantially between 1 and 60 minutes, in particular between 3 and 30 minutes.

7. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that after stopping the circulating pump (UP), a pumping down, in particular by means of a lye pump (LP), is performed.

8. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that substantially an amount between 1 and 5 liters, in particular between 2 and 4 liters, is pumped.

9. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at the end of the program step drying (T) a pumping, in particular by means of a lye pump (LP), is performed.

10. The method according to claim 7, characterized in that substantially between 0.05 and 1 liter, in particular between 0.1 and 0.3 liters, are pumped.

11. The method according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that for drying the ware moist air from an interior (IR) of the dishwasher (GS) is passed through a Sorptionstrocknungssystem.

12. The method according to claim 11, characterized in that a reversibly dehydratable drying agent (ZEO), in particular zeolite, is used for the exothermic drying.

13. Dishwasher (GS), in particular household dishwasher, at least designed to at least one program step rinse (K) cleaned items to be treated with a liquid, in particular with a liquid added with a rinse aid, and then in a program step drying (T) to dry the items to be washed, characterized in that before the start of the program step drying (T) a dripping phase (AB) is provided at the beginning of the application of liquid is completed and the liquid drains from the dishes.

14. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 13, characterized in that the dripping phase (AB) has a duration of substantially between 3 and 15 minutes, in particular between 5 and 10 minutes.

15. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that a circulating pump (UP) for applying wash ware with liquid at least during the program step rinsing (K) is provided, the dishwasher (GS) for stopping the circulation pump (UP ) is formed at the end of the program step rinsing (K).

16. Dishwasher (GS) according to at least one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that means for Zwangsbeströmung of the items to be dried are provided at least during the program step dry (T).

17. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 16, characterized in that the means for forced flow comprise a fan (LT).

18. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 17, characterized in that during the program step drying (T) of the fan (LT) for a predetermined

Duration, essentially between 1 and 60 minutes, in particular between 3 and 30 minutes is operational.

19. Dishwasher (GS) according to at least one of claims 13 to 18, characterized in that after stopping the circulating pump (UP) a

Abpumpvorgang, in particular by means of a lye pump (LP), is feasible.

20. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 19, characterized in that substantially an amount between 1 and 5 liters, in particular between 2 and 4 liters, can be pumped.

21. Dishwasher (GS) according to at least one of claims 13 to 20, characterized in that at the end of the program step drying (T) a pumping, in particular by means of a lye pump (LP), is feasible.

22. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 21, characterized in that substantially between 0.05 and 1 liter, in particular between 0.1 and 0.3 liters, can be pumped.

23. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 22, characterized in that a sorption drying system is provided for drying the ware, by the moist air from an interior (IR) of the dishwasher (GS) is durchleitbar.

24. Dishwasher (GS) according to claim 23, characterized in that the sorption drying system at least one reversibly dehydratable

Desiccant (ZEO), in particular zeolite having.