EP3376931B1 - Method for operating a dish washing machine and dish washing machine - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a method for operating a dishwasher, wherein items to be washed arranged in an interior of the dishwasher are washed during a wash program. Furthermore, the present invention relates to such a dishwasher.

To control the execution of the washing programs, the dishwasher includes a control device or a control device. Depending on an input from a user of the dishwasher, the control device is set up to select a specific wash program from a plurality of predetermined wash programs, for example quick wash program, glass cleaning program, program for cleaning heavily encrusted items to be washed, automatic program, etc. In particular, the control device also ensures that the individual program sections of the selected washing program, for example pre-wash, cleaning, final washing, rinsing or drying, are carried out in the correct order and in compliance with the desired operating parameters, such as temperature of the washing liquor, pause times in which no The wash water is circulated or discharged, cleaning agents are added, etc.

However, unwanted bacterial growth can occur inside the dishwasher, which can ultimately lead to an odor nuisance or even to a health hazard for the user of the dishwasher, especially if the dishwasher is loaded for a long time, i.e. partially or completely filled with dirty dishes , is displayed without a wash program being carried out.

Conventional dishwashers are from the documents WO 2006/082552 A , JP 2008307164A , WO 2009/083391 A , EP 2 762 052 A1 , EP 2 762 053 A1 and DE 10 2005 058 662 A1 famous.

Further prior art is provided by the document EP 0 509 328 A2 which provides an environmental monitoring method capable of detecting a minute gas component for monitoring an environment and various systems including a gas detector. In the EP 0 509 328 A2 provide a method and various systems using the same method, in which a sensor for applying ultrasonic vibration to a thin film formed on a piezoelectric substrate measures the frequency change of a surface acoustic wave and is used to detect a minute gas with high sensitivity. The change of a material in an environment can be measured by using this gas sensor.

Against this background, one object of the present invention is to improve the operation of a dishwasher.

Accordingly, a method for operating a dishwasher is proposed, in which items to be washed arranged in an interior of the dishwasher are washed during a washing program. The method comprises the steps: determining a quantity of at least one specific gas in the interior during the washing program, and starting a hygiene program and/or outputting a message to a user of the dishwasher regarding the start of the hygiene program depending on the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas gases. The dishwasher is in particular a household dishwasher.

By determining the gas or gases during the wash cycle, it is possible to start the hygiene program during the wash cycle or immediately after the wash cycle is complete. This minimizes bacterial contamination of the interior of the dishwasher and any resulting odor nuisance for the user of the dishwasher. This makes it possible to achieve a higher standard of hygiene.

Depending on the determined quantity of the specific gas or gases in the interior of the dishwasher, it is possible to determine the type of soiling and/or the degree of soiling in the interior of the determine the dishwasher. Again, it is subsequently possible, depending on the specific type of soiling and/or the specific degree of soiling, to select and execute a suitable hygiene program from a plurality of prepared hygiene programs. This further maximizes the hygiene standard. The use of the hygiene program during the wash program or immediately after the end of the wash program also results in an improved cleaning result for the items to be washed and energy savings. Examples of the specific gas are methane, ethylene and butane.

In particular, a washing program includes one or more of the following phases: pre-wash, cleaning cycle, intermediate wash, final rinse and/or drying cycle. With different washing programs, the phases can be designed differently.

According to one embodiment, the method includes an adjustment of the flushing program as a function of the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas if the determined quantity is greater than a specific threshold value.

In particular, operating parameters of the wash program, such as temperature of the wash liquor, pause times, addition of detergent, and so on, are adjusted when the wash program is adjusted. Furthermore, it is also possible to set up a new flushing program depending on the determined quantity of at least one specific gas, in particular with regard to the composition of cleaning agents, a temperature profile or the addition of bleaching agents. The specific threshold value can be set by a user, in particular using an input device.

For example, leftover mashed potatoes can be recognized as soiling. The concentration of these residues can then be evaluated and, depending on this, the enzyme amylase can be applied in order to set the optimal operating parameters, in particular with regard to pH, concentration and temperature, in order to enable optimal purification.

Furthermore, milk residues and their concentration can be detected. Depending on the concentration of the milk residues, the enzyme protease can be used to enable optimal cleaning via regulated operating parameters.

Furthermore, a concentration of tea can be detected. Depending on the detected concentration of tea, a bleaching agent, for example sodium percarbonate or tetraacetylethylenediamine, can be applied to set optimized operating parameters so that optimal bleaching is enabled.

According to a further embodiment, the method includes determining a respective quantity of a plurality of different specific gases in the interior using a plurality of different gas sensors during the flushing program.

A respective gas sensor can in particular detect a specific gas. For example, there are certain gas sensors for methane or butane.

According to another embodiment, the method includes:
taking a sample of a gas mixture present in the interior during the flushing program,
Supplying the sample of the gas mixture taken to a gas sensor container having a plurality of different gas sensors, and determining a respective quantity of a plurality of different specific gases by means of the gas sensors in the gas sensor container during the flushing program.

For example, the sample of the gas mixture is taken from the interior or washing compartment of the dishwasher using warm or hot air. The warm or hot air is generated, for example, by means of a heater and a fan. The sample of the gas mixture can then be added to a concentration tank, which is followed by the gas sensor tank with the plurality of gas sensors.

According to a further embodiment, the sample of the gas mixture located in the interior is taken during the flushing program using warm air.

According to a further embodiment, the method includes determining a spectrum using the determined quantities of the plurality of different gases determined.

According to a further embodiment, the method includes starting the hygiene program and/or issuing the instruction to the user of the dishwasher regarding the start of the hygiene program as a function of the spectrum determined.

According to a further embodiment, VOC sensors are used as gas sensors. A VOC sensor is a volatile organic compound sensor.

According to a further embodiment, the spectrum is determined by means of pattern recognition using a neural network and a reference database.

The pattern recognition can be carried out, for example, by the dishwasher's control device, which executes the neural network using the determined spectrum and the reference data from the reference database.

According to a further embodiment, determining the amount of the specific gas in the interior during the flushing program includes determining the absolute amount of the specific gas in the interior.

According to a further embodiment, determining the quantity of the specific gas in the interior during the flushing program includes determining a change over time in the absolute quantity of the specific gas in the interior.

According to a further embodiment, determining the quantity of the specific gas in the interior space during the flushing program includes determining a concentration of the specific gas in the interior space.

Furthermore, a computer program product is proposed which causes the method explained above to be carried out on a program-controlled device.

A computer program product, such as a computer program means, can be made available or supplied by a server in a network, for example, as a storage medium such as a memory card, USB stick, CD-ROM, DVD, or in the form of a downloadable file. This can be done, for example, in a wireless communication network by transferring a corresponding file with the computer program product or the computer program means.

In addition, a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, is proposed which has an interior space for receiving items to be washed and has a control device for carrying out a number of washing programs for washing the items to be washed. The dishwasher comprises a gas sensor for determining a quantity of at least one specific gas in the interior during the washing program, a start unit for starting a hygiene program depending on the determined quantity of at least one specific gas and/or an output unit for outputting a message to a user of the Dishwasher relating to a start of the hygiene program depending on the determined amount of at least one specific gas.

According to one embodiment, the dishwasher comprises a plurality of different gas sensors for determining a plurality of different specific gases in the interior.

According to a further embodiment, the dishwasher comprises a spectrometer for determining a spectrum using the determined amounts of the plurality of different gases determined.

According to a further embodiment, the starter unit is integrated in the control device.

According to a further embodiment, the output unit is integrated in the control device.

The respective unit, for example the start unit or the output unit, can be implemented in terms of hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware implementation, the respective unit can be designed as a device or as part of a device, for example as a computer or as a microprocessor or as a control computer of a vehicle. In the case of a software implementation, the respective unit can be designed as a computer program product, as a function, as a routine, as part of a program code or as an executable object.

The embodiments and features described for the proposed method apply accordingly to the proposed device.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

Fig. 1

zeigt ein erstes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Geschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 2

zeigt ein zweites Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Geschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 3

zeigt ein drittes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Geschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 4

zeigt ein viertes Ausführungsbeispiel eines Verfahrens zum Betreiben einer Geschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 5

zeigt eine Perspektivansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Geschirrspülmaschine; und

Fig. 6

zeigt ein schematisches Blockschaltbild einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer Geschirrspülmaschine.

Further advantageous refinements and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims and of the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed figures.

1

shows a first exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher;

2

shows a second exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher;

3

shows a third exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher;

4

shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher;

figure 5

shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a dishwasher; and

6

shows a schematic block diagram of a further embodiment of a dishwasher.

Elements that are the same or have the same function have been provided with the same reference symbols in the figures, unless otherwise stated.

In 1 a first exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher 1 is shown.

The dishwasher 1 is in particular a domestic dishwasher. The dishwasher 1 has an interior 2 . The interior 2 includes in particular a washing compartment. The interior 2 is set up to accommodate items to be washed. Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 includes a control device 12 which is set up to control the execution of a number of washing programs for washing the items to be washed in the washing container 2 . Examples of a dishwasher 1 are in the figure 5 and 6 shown and explained in more detail below.

The first embodiment of the method according to 1 includes steps 101 and 102:
In step 101, a quantity of at least one specific gas in the interior 2 or washing compartment of the dishwasher 1 is determined while the washing program is being carried out. Determining 101 the amount of the specific gas in the interior 2 during the flushing program includes, for example, determining the absolute amount of the specific gas in the interior 2. Alternatively or additionally, a change over time in the absolute amount of the specific gas in the interior 2 can also be determined. Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, a concentration of the specific gas in the interior 2 can also be determined.

Depending on the determined amount of at least one specific gas in the interior 2, a hygiene program is started automatically in step 102 and/or a message is output to a user of the dishwasher 1 regarding the start of the hygiene program. The automatic start of the hygiene program is preferably initiated by the control device 12 of the dishwasher 1 . In order to output the information to the user, the dishwasher 1 includes, in particular, an output unit 15 (see FIG figure 5 ) which is set up to issue the notice to the user. The output unit 15 includes in particular a screen, a touch screen and/or a loudspeaker. The notice can be output optically and/or acoustically. The note reads, for example: "Please start the hygiene program". To start the hygiene program, the dishwasher 1 can preferably include a predetermined starting means, for example a specific button or a specific switching element on a touch screen. The start of the hygiene program can also be triggered by the user of the dishwasher 1 via voice input, for example.

The hygiene program includes, for example, a cleaning section, during which the items to be washed are exposed to water or a water/cleaning agent mixture. Additionally or alternatively, a hygiene tablet and/or a hygiene powder can be added during the hygiene program. Furthermore, active oxygen can additionally or alternatively be added to the interior 2 of the dishwasher 1 during the hygiene program. Furthermore, during the hygiene program, a salt can additionally or alternatively be added to the interior space 2, which brings about the hygiene function. Furthermore, during the hygiene program, a washing liquor located in the interior 2 can additionally or alternatively be cooled, in particular frozen, or warmed, in particular heated, during the hygiene program.

2 shows a second embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher 1. The second embodiment of FIG 2 comprises steps 201, 202 and 203. Steps 201 and 202 correspond to steps 101 and 102 of FIG 1 and will not be explained again for this reason.

In step 203, the flushing program is adjusted as a function of the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas if the determined quantity is greater than a specific threshold value. This adjustment of the washing program is calculated and initiated in particular by the control device 12 of the dishwasher 1 .

In 3 a third exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher is shown.

The third embodiment of the 3 includes steps 301, 302 and 303:
In step 301, a respective quantity of a plurality of different specific gases in the interior 2 is determined by means of a plurality of different gas sensors 13 (see 6 ) determined during the washing program.

In step 302, a spectrum of the gas mixture located in the interior 2 is determined using the determined quantity of the plurality of different specific gases.

In step 303, depending on the spectrum determined, the hygiene program is started automatically and/or the user is notified of the start of the hygiene program.

In particular, VOC sensors are used as gas sensors 13 . The spectrum is determined in particular by means of pattern recognition using a neural network and a reference database. The reference database stores the predetermined reference patterns of spectra.

In 4 a fourth exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher 1 is shown.

The fourth embodiment of the 4 includes steps 401 to 405:
In step 401, a sample of a gas mixture 17 (see FIG 6 ) removed. The sample of the gas mixture 17 in the interior 2 is taken during the flushing program using warm air 16 . The warm air 16 is generated in particular by means of a heater and is supplied to the interior 2 by means of ventilation or a blower.

In step 402, the sample taken from the gas mixture 17 is supplied to a gas sensor container 19 having a plurality of different gas sensors 13 (see FIG 6 ).

In step 403, a respective quantity of a plurality of different specific gases is determined by means of the gas sensors 13 in the gas sensor container 19 during the flushing program.

In step 404, a spectrum is determined using the determined amount of the plurality of different gases. A spectrometer 21 is used for this purpose, for example (see 6 ).

In step 405, depending on the spectrum determined, the start of the hygiene program is automatically initiated and/or a message is output to the user of the dishwasher 1 regarding the start of the hygiene program. The user can then initiate the start of the hygiene program himself.

figure 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a dishwasher 1. The dishwasher 1 is in particular a domestic dishwasher. The dishwasher 1 has an interior space 2, in particular a washing tub, for accommodating items to be washed. The dishwasher 1 also has a body enclosing the washing container 2 and a door 3 . The washing container 2 and the door 3 form a washing chamber 4 for washing items to be washed. Door 3 is in 1 shown in their open position. By pivoting about a pivot axis S provided at a lower end of the door 3, the door 3 can be closed or opened.

The washing compartment 2 is cuboid, for example, and can comprise a floor 5, a cover 6 opposite the floor 5, a rear wall 7 opposite the door 3, and two side walls 8, 9 opposite one another. In particular, the side walls 8, 9 can be made of stainless steel sheet.

The dishwasher 1 also has at least one loading level 10 . The at least one loading level 10 is preferably a washware receptacle of the dishwasher 1. In particular, multiple loading levels 10 can be provided, which can include a lower basket, an upper basket and/or a cutlery drawer. The multiple loading levels 10 are preferably arranged one above the other in the washing compartment 2 . Each loading level 10 can be moved either in a push-in direction E into the washing compartment 2 or in a pull-out direction A out of it. For this purpose, a rail 11 is preferably provided on both sides of a respective loading level 10 .

A control device 12 optionally provided in the body or in the door 3 of the dishwasher 1 is set up to control the sequence of wash programs for washing items to be washed.

Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 comprises at least one gas sensor 13, a starting unit 14 and a dispensing unit 15. The starting unit 14 and the dispensing unit 15 are integrated in the control device 12 in particular. The gas sensor 13 is set up to determine a quantity of at least one specific gas in the interior 2 during the flushing program. The start unit 13 is set up to start a hygiene program depending on the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas. The output unit 15 is set up to output an indication to a user of the dishwasher regarding the start of the hygiene program as a function of the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas. In particular, the dishwasher 1 includes a plurality of different gas sensors 13 (see FIG 6 ) for determining a plurality of different specific gases in the interior 2.

In 6 a schematic block diagram of a further embodiment of a dishwasher 1 is shown.

The reference number 16 in the 6 denotes warm air, which is used to take a sample of a gas mixture 17 from the interior 2 during the flushing program. The warm air 16 is generated by means of a heater, for example, and is fed to the washing container 2 by means of a blower. The sample of the gas mixture 17 is fed to a concentration container 18 by means of the warm air 16 . The gas mixture 17 in the concentration tank 18 is then fed to a gas sensor tank 19 which contains a plurality of different gas sensors 13 . In the example of 6 includes the gas sensor container 19 nine different gas sensors 13, which are arranged in a matrix. The different gas sensors 13 analyze the complex mixture of molecules of the gas mixture 17. The output of the different gas sensors 13 are signals 20 or a signal pattern which describe the molecular composition of the gas mixture 17. These signals 20 are fed to a computing unit 21, which in particular also includes a spectrometer. The computing unit 21 determines a spectrum 23 of the gas mixture 17 based on the signals 20. For this purpose, the computing unit 21 can use reference patterns, which are stored in a reference database 22. The computing unit 21 can determine the spectrum by means of pattern recognition using a neural network and the reference database 22 .

Spectrum 23 determined is fed to control device 12 of dishwasher 1 . Depending on the spectrum 23 determined, the control device 12 can start the hygiene program automatically or cause a message to be output to the user of the dishwasher 1 . In addition, the control device 12 can adapt the flushing program depending on the spectrum 23 . This adjustment is shown as a feedback path with the reference number 24 in FIG 6 illustrated.

Reference signs used:

1

dishwasher

2

flush tank

3

door

4

washing chamber

5

floor

6

ceiling

7

back panel

8.9

side walls

10

loading level

11

rail

12

control device

13

gas sensor

14

start unit

15

output unit

16

warm air

17

gas mixture

18

concentration tank

19

Gas Sensor Container

20

signals, signal patterns

21

Computing unit, spectrometer

22

reference database

23

spectrum

24

customized wash program

Claims (15)

1. Method for operating a dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, wherein items to be washed that are arranged in an interior (2) of the dishwasher (1) are washed during a wash program, characterised by:

   determining (101, 201) a quantity of at least one specific gas in the interior (2) during the wash program and

   starting (102, 202) a hygiene program and/or outputting a notification to a user of the dishwasher (1) relating to the start of the hygiene program as a function of the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterised by:
   adjusting (203) the wash program as a function of the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas, if the determined quantity is greater than a specific threshold value.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by:
   determining (301) a respective quantity of a plurality of different specific gases in the interior (2) by means of a plurality of different gas sensors (13) during the wash program.
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by:

   taking (401) a specimen of a gas mixture (17) present in the interior (2) during the wash program,

   supplying (402) the specimen of the gas mixture (17) taken to a gas sensor container (19) holding a plurality of different gas sensors (13), and

   determining (403) a respective quantity of a plurality of different specific gases by means of the gas sensors (13) in the gas sensor container (19) during the wash program.
5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that the specimen of the gas mixture (17) present in the interior (2) is taken using warm air (16) during the wash program.
6. Method according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterised by:
   determining (302, 404) a spectrum (23) by means of the determined quantities of the plurality of different specific gases.
7. Method according to claim 6, characterised by:
   starting (303, 405) the hygiene program and/or outputting the notification to the user of the dishwasher (1) relating to the start of the hygiene program as a function of the determined quantity of the determined spectrum (23).
8. Method according to claim 7, characterised in that VOC sensors are used as the gas sensors (13).
9. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the spectrum is determined by means of pattern recognition using a neural network and a reference database (22).
10. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that determining (101, 201) the quantity of the specific gas in the interior (2) during the wash program comprises determining the absolute quantity of the specific gas in the interior (2) and/or determining a change in the absolute quantity of the specific gas in the interior (2) over time and/or determining a concentration of the specific gas in the interior (2).
11. Method according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the hygiene program (102, 202) comprises a cleaning segment, during which water or a water/detergent mixture is applied to the items being washed and/or a hygiene tablet and/or hygiene powder is used during the hygiene program and/or active oxygen is supplied to the interior (2) of the dishwasher (1) during the hygiene program and/or a salt is dispensed to the interior (2) during the hygiene program and/or a wash liquor present in the interior (2) is cooled or warmed during the hygiene program.
12. Dishwasher (1), in particular a household dishwasher, with an interior (2) for holding items to be washed and a control apparatus (12) for performing a number of wash programs to wash the items to be washed, characterised by:

    a gas sensor (13) for determining a quantity of at least one specific gas in the interior (2) during the wash program, and

    a start unit (14) for starting a hygiene program as a function of the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas and/or an output unit (15) for outputting a notification to a user of the dishwasher (1) relating to the start of the hygiene program as a function of the determined quantity of the at least one specific gas.
13. Dishwasher according to claim 12, characterised by:
    a plurality of different gas sensors (13) for determining a plurality of different specific gases in the interior (2).
14. Dishwasher according to claim 13, characterised by:
    a spectrometer (21) for determining a spectrum (23) by means of the determined quantities of the plurality of different specific gases.
15. Dishwasher according to one of claims 12 to 14, characterised in that the start unit (14) and/or the output unit (15) is/are integrated in the control apparatus (12).

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