EP4491086A1 - Commercial dishwasher with a drying module, method for operating such a dishwasher and drying module for a dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a commercial dishwasher (1) in the form of a hood-type dishwasher or in the form of a universal dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a hood (2) which can be moved in a vertical direction between an open position and a closed position, wherein the hood (2) has two opposing side walls (3) and a front wall (4) connecting the side walls (3), wherein in the closed position of the hood (2) the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the hood (2) delimit a treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1), and wherein in the open position of the hood (2) the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the hood (2) are located above an upper wall and/or ceiling region (6) which delimits the treatment chamber (5) at the top and is firmly connected to a rear wall (7) of the treatment chamber (5) and there at least partially or in some areas delimit a free space at the sides. According to the invention, it is particularly provided that the dishwasher (1) has a drying module (8) which is arranged on the upper wall region (6) of the dishwasher (1) and is designed such that it is completely accommodated in the free space laterally delimited by the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the hood (2) when the hood (2) is in the open position.

Description

The invention relates generally to the field of commercial dishwashing. In particular, the invention relates to dishwashers, in particular commercial dishwashers that are designed as programmable machines.

Programmable machines are dishwashers that can be loaded and unloaded manually. The programmed machines (also known as "box-type warewashers" or "batch dishwashers") can be pass-through dishwashers, also called hood-type warewashers, or front loader warewashers. Front loaders can be undercounter machines, top counter machines or free-standing front loaders.

A dishwasher designed as a programmer usually has a treatment chamber for cleaning the items to be washed. A wash tank is usually arranged under the treatment chamber, into which liquid from the treatment chamber can flow back by gravity. The wash tank contains wash liquid, which is usually water, to which detergent can be added if necessary.

Furthermore, a dishwasher designed as a programmed machine usually has a washing system with a washing pump, a pipe system connected to the washing pump and a large number of spray nozzles formed in at least one washing arm. The washing liquid in the washing tank can be conveyed by the washing pump via the pipe system to the washing nozzles and sprayed onto the items to be cleaned by the washing nozzles in the treatment chamber. The sprayed washing liquid then flows back into the washing tank.

Such a dishwasher designed as a programmer is known, for example, from the publication DE 10 2005 023 429 A1 known.

The term "washable items" as used herein refers in particular to dishes, glasses, cutlery, cooking utensils, baking utensils and serving trays.

A commercial dishwasher designed as a programmed machine differs from a domestic dishwasher in particular in that a commercial dishwasher must be designed in such a way that - depending on the selected cleaning programme - programme running times of between one and five minutes can be achieved, whereas domestic dishwashers usually have running times of up to 2.5 hours or more. Due to the short programme duration required for commercial dishwashers, the techniques used in domestic dishwashers cannot usually be easily transferred to commercial dishwashers.

Commercial dishwashers, which are designed as programmable machines, usually work in two main process steps: a first step, which involves washing with a washing liquid, and a second step, which involves rinsing with heated fresh water and dosed rinse aid.

In order to be able to carry out these process steps, a commercial dishwasher designed as a programmer is usually equipped with two independent liquid systems that are completely separate from each other. One liquid system is a wash water circuit, which is responsible for washing the items to be washed, with the washing being carried out using recirculated water from the dishwasher's wash tank. The other liquid system is a fresh water system, which is responsible for the final rinse. The final rinse is carried out using fresh water, preferably fresh water from a water heater. The fresh water is also collected in the dishwasher's wash tank after spraying.

The main purpose of the rinse is to remove any lye that is on the items to be washed. In addition, the water that is added to the wash tank during the rinse step flowing rinse water to regenerate the wash water in the wash tank.

Before fresh water is sprayed as rinse liquid through the final rinse and is thus fed into the wash tank of the dishwasher, an amount of wash liquid equal to the amount of fresh water is pumped out of the wash tank.

Commercial dishwashers that are designed as automatic programs are usually equipped with several programs. These programs differ mainly in the length of the program runtimes for the washing process. The operator has the option of selecting a short wash program for lightly soiled dishes or a correspondingly longer wash program for heavily soiled dishes.

Commercial dishwashers that are designed as automatic programmers and for batch loading and unloading of the treatment chamber with items to be washed are particularly front-door machines or basket-passing machines. With front-door machines, the items to be washed are placed in a basket and the basket loaded with items is placed through a front door into the treatment chamber of the dishwasher and removed again through the front door after cleaning. With basket-passing machines, the dish baskets loaded with items to be washed are manually pushed into the treatment chamber from an inlet side and manually removed from the treatment chamber from an outlet side after the end of a washing programme. Front-door machines and basket-passing machines contain only a single treatment chamber for treating the items to be washed. The front-door machines can be under-counter machines or over-counter machines.

Two drying processes are mainly used in commercial dishwashers that are designed as programmable machines. In the first process, the dishes are removed from the machine while they are still hot after the final rinse process, where they are then dried in the ambient air for four to ten minutes. In the process described above, the dishes are usually left in the baskets in which they were placed for cleaning in the dishwasher to dry.

According to the second method, which can be used for commercial front-door or under-counter dishwashers, air drying takes place within the treatment chamber of the dishwasher. Fresh air drying systems are used here. Such fresh drying systems for commercial front-door or under-counter dishwashers always work with a high air volume flow in the range of 25 to 100 m ³ per hour in order to be able to dry the dishes remaining in the treatment chamber in a very short time. The high air volume flows are due to the short drying process in the commercial sector. Compared to conventional drying in a domestic dishwasher, the active drying time of a commercial dishwasher is many times shorter. While the program run time for drying in a domestic dishwasher is around 30 minutes to 2.5 hours, the program run time for drying in commercial use is between 1.5 and 5 minutes.

When air drying is used in a commercial dishwasher designed as a front-door or under-counter dishwasher, fresh air is drawn in from outside and passed through the treatment chamber of the dishwasher to absorb moisture from the items to be dried. The moisture-laden drying air is then usually blown out as exhaust air into the room where the dishwasher is installed.

However, such air drying within the treatment chamber of the dishwasher is not common for hood-type dishwashers, as hood-type dishwashers are designed in such a way that the hood is opened immediately after the final rinse phase and the dishes, usually held in dish racks, are removed. The dishes can then dry in the ambient air according to the first drying process.

Especially due to the increasing need to clean reusable plastic dishes, solutions are being sought to integrate an active drying function into the washing process with a hood and/or universal dishwasher, since plastic dishes have a poor self-drying effect due to their low heat capacity, and it is therefore necessary to integrate an active drying step after the washing process.

The invention is based in particular on the object of integrating a powerful drying function into the installation space of a commercially available hood dishwasher, so that no additional installation space outside the machine base area is required for the drying function.

This object is achieved in particular by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1, wherein advantageous further developments of the inventive solution are specified in the dependent patent claims.

Accordingly, the invention relates in particular to a commercial dishwasher in the form of a hood-type dishwasher, in particular a hood-type pass-through dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher has a hood that can be moved, in particular linearly displaced, in a vertical direction between an open position and a closed position. The hood has two opposing side walls and a front wall connecting the side walls. In the closed position of the hood, the side walls and the front wall of the hood delimit a treatment chamber of the dishwasher at least partially or in some areas. In the open position of the hood, however, the side walls and the front wall of the hood are located at least partially or in some areas above an upper wall and/or ceiling area that delimits the treatment chamber at the top and is firmly connected to a rear wall of the treatment chamber, and delimit a free space there at least partially or in some areas.

The solution according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the dishwasher has a drying module which is arranged on the horizontal wall and/or ceiling area of the dishwasher and is designed in such a way that it is completely accommodated in the free space laterally delimited by the side walls and the front of the hood when the hood is in the open position.

The advantages that can be achieved with the solution according to the invention are obvious: by providing such a drying module, a hood-type dishwasher can also be equipped with a powerful drying function without increasing the installation space of a commercially available hood-type dishwasher, since the drying module is fully integrated into the necessary installation space of a commercially available hood-type dishwasher. In other words, despite the provision of the drying module, no additional installation space outside the machine base area is required for the drying function.

Since the drying module is integrated vertically using the available installation space, an identical installation area (base area) of the machine can be achieved compared to standard hood dishwashers without a drying module.

On the other hand, the drying module guarantees a high drying efficiency, since the drying module circulates air within the closed treatment chamber of the hood dishwasher and thus a very high circulation rate/air volume flow can be achieved without causing high losses in the installation room.

Separately, the solution according to the invention can be used to set an increased drying temperature, since the drying air is circulated within the treatment chamber of the hood-type dishwasher.

Preferably, the drying module is designed such that an upper wall and/or ceiling region of the drying module lies in a horizontal plane which is vertically spaced by a maximum of 30 cm, preferably a maximum of 25 cm and even more preferably a maximum of 20 cm from the horizontal plane in which an upper edge region of the side walls and/or the front wall of the hood lies in the open position of the hood.

The upper wall and/or ceiling area delimiting the treatment chamber of the dishwasher according to the invention at the top and the rear wall of the treatment chamber are in particular fixedly connected to a machine frame or a base frame of the dishwasher.

With regard to the drying module according to the invention, it is particularly provided that it has a housing and a suction fan accommodated in the housing, in particular in the form of a radial or axial fan. A fresh air inlet is provided in the housing and preferably in the upper wall and/or ceiling area of the housing, through which fresh air can be sucked into the housing from the installation room of the dishwasher. In the housing Furthermore, a drying air outlet is provided which is in fluid connection with a drying air inlet of the treatment chamber, via which the fresh air sucked into the housing of the drying module with the aid of the suction fan can be fed to the treatment chamber. When the drying module is mounted on the dishwasher, the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber corresponds to the drying air outlet of the drying module.

In this embodiment, it is particularly provided that an effective flow cross-section of the fresh air inlet provided in the housing is preferably variably adjustable, in particular with the aid of a ventilation slide associated with the fresh air inlet.

According to implementations of the dishwasher according to the invention, the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber, which is in fluid connection with the drying air outlet of the drying module, is formed in the upper wall and/or ceiling area of the treatment chamber that delimits the treatment chamber at the top. Of course, other design variants are also conceivable here.

Preferably, it is provided that an air nozzle system with a plurality of adjustable air nozzles is assigned to the drying air outlet of the drying module or to the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber which is in fluid communication with the drying air outlet of the drying module in order to align the drying air to be introduced or introduced into the treatment chamber accordingly with regard to the items to be dried or treated.

According to implementations of the dishwasher according to the invention, it has at least one air outlet in order to provide pressure equalization in the treatment chamber when drying air is introduced into the treatment chamber. In particular, the air outlet thus serves to discharge the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber. In this case, it is particularly suitable for the at least one air outlet to be formed at least partially or in regions, preferably in the upper wall and/or ceiling region of the treatment chamber that delimits the treatment chamber at the top.

According to preferred implementations, the dishwasher has a first air outlet for discharging a first portion of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber, for example into the installation space of the dishwasher, and a second air outlet for discharging a second portion of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber. The second air outlet is preferably in fluid communication with an air inlet formed in the housing of the drying module.

In this context, it is conceivable that the dishwasher is assigned a heat exchanger system to which at least part of the drying air discharged via the first air outlet of the dishwasher can be fed, namely before the drying air is released into the installation room of the dishwasher. In this respect, blowing the drying air out into the installation room of the dishwasher cannot have a negative impact on the room climate, since the humidity content of the air in the installation room (ambient air) is prevented from being increased by blowing out drying air that is laden with moisture and warm compared to the air in the installation room. In particular, this measure can counteract the risk of the humidity content of the air in the installation room being increased to such an extent that undesirable condensation of water vapor occurs, particularly on cool interfaces in the installation room.

Even in the last-mentioned embodiments of the dishwasher according to the invention, it is advisable that an effective flow cross-section of the first air outlet is preferably variably adjustable, in particular with the aid of a ventilation slider assigned to the first air outlet.

Alternatively or additionally, an effective flow cross-section of the second air outlet and/or an effective flow cross-section of the air inlet of the drying module that is in fluid communication with the second air outlet is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of at least one ventilation slide.

According to implementations of the dishwasher according to the invention, it is provided that the housing of the drying module is divided into a first area and a second area. The fresh air inlet of the drying module and the air outlet in fluid communication with the second air outlet of the treatment chamber of the dishwasher open into the first area of the housing of the drying module. Air inlet. The drying air inlet of the treatment chamber opens into the second area of the drying module housing.

In particular, it is provided that the suction side of the suction fan is in fluid communication with the first region of the housing of the drying module and the pressure side of the suction fan is in fluid communication with the second region of the housing of the drying module.

According to further developments of the last-mentioned embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, it is provided that a heating device, in particular one that can be regulated or optionally switched on, is arranged in the second region of the housing of the drying module in order to heat the air supplied to the second region of the housing of the drying module via the suction fan, in particular as required.

The heating device has in particular at least one electrically operated heating element. In addition to the heating device of the drying module, the dishwasher has at least one further electrically operated heating device in order to heat the treatment liquid to be sprayed during operation of the dishwasher if required.

In this context, it is advantageous that a control device is provided which is designed to control the electrical power consumption of the heating device of the drying module as a function of an electrical power consumption of the further electrically operated heating device in order to ensure that, despite the provision of the drying module, the total connected load of the dishwasher is not increased in comparison to a conventional hood dishwasher.

Optionally, the suction fan of the drying module can be assigned a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing of the drying module via the air inlet in fluid communication with the second air outlet of the treatment chamber and/or the fresh air sucked into the housing via the fresh air inlet from the installation room of the dishwasher.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the dishwasher can have an air duct system via which at least part of the fresh air sucked into the housing of the drying module with the aid of the suction fan can be fed to the treatment chamber. In particular, the air is fed in from the side or from below.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the dishwasher has a washware detection device which is designed to detect the type of washware and in particular the material of the washware held in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher. The dishwasher also has a control device which is designed to set a temperature of the drying air supplied by the drying module to the treatment chamber, an amount of drying air supplied to the treatment chamber per unit of time, a time for activating the drying module and/or a duration of activating the drying module depending on the type of washware detected or depending on the material of the washware held in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher.

1. (i) Beladen der Behandlungskammer der Spülmaschine mit zu reinigendem Spülgut, während sich die Haube in ihrer Offenposition befindet;
2. (ii) Überführen der Haube in ihre Schließposition;
3. (iii) Durchführen eines Waschprozesses, bei welchem in rezirkulierter Weise Waschflüssigkeit auf das Spülgut gesprüht wird; und
4. (iv) Durchführen eines Klarspülprozesses, bei welchem Klarspülflüssigkeit auf das Spülgut gesprüht wird.

The present invention further relates to a method for operating a dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher is a dishwasher of the type mentioned above according to the invention. The method provides the following method steps:

1. (i) loading the treatment chamber of the dishwasher with items to be cleaned while the hood is in its open position;
2. (ii) moving the hood into its closed position;
3. (iii) carrying out a washing process in which washing liquid is sprayed onto the items to be washed in a recirculated manner; and
4. (iv) Carrying out a rinse process in which rinse aid liquid is sprayed onto the items to be washed.

In the method according to the invention, it is particularly provided that after completion of the rinsing process, the drying module is activated in order to expose the cleaned items to be washed within the closed treatment chamber to air and in particular to heated drying air.

Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that between process step (iii) and process step (iv) the drying module is activated, preferably for up to 15 seconds, in order to expose the cleaned items to air during a so-called dripping phase between the washing phase and the rinsing phase.

The invention further relates to a drying module which is designed to be mounted in particular on an upper wall and/or ceiling area of a commercial dishwasher designed as a programmable automatic machine. The commercial dishwasher can in particular be a hood-type dishwasher or a front loader. The drying module can in particular be subsequently attached to the dishwasher.

The drying module has a housing and a suction fan accommodated in the housing, in particular in the form of a radial or axial fan. A fresh air inlet is provided in the housing and preferably in the upper wall and/or ceiling area of the housing of the drying module, through which fresh air can be sucked into the housing. A drying air outlet is also provided in the housing, through which the fresh air sucked into the housing of the drying module with the aid of the suction fan can be fed to the treatment chamber of a dishwasher. In particular, it is provided that an effective flow cross-section of the fresh air inlet provided in the housing can preferably be variably adjusted, in particular with the aid of a ventilation slider assigned to the fresh air inlet.

According to further developments of the drying module according to the invention, it is provided that an air inlet is formed in the housing of the drying module, via which air can be supplied from the housing to the treatment chamber of the dishwasher. In particular, it is advisable in this context that an effective flow cross-section of the air inlet of the drying module is preferably variably adjustable, in particular with the aid of at least one ventilation slide.

Preferably, the housing of the drying module is divided into a first area, in which the fresh air inlet of the drying module and an air inlet of the drying module, and into a second area in which the drying air outlet of the drying module is provided. The suction side of the suction fan is in fluid connection with the first area and the pressure side of the suction fan is in fluid connection with the second area.

In the second region of the housing of the drying module, a heating device, in particular one that can be controlled or optionally switched on, is preferably arranged for heating, in particular as required, the air supplied to the second region of the housing of the drying module via the suction fan.

Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that the suction fan of the drying module is assigned a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing of the drying module via the air inlet which can be brought into fluid communication with the treatment chamber of the dishwasher.

An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A

schematisch und in einer isometrischen Ansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine, und zwar in einem Zustand, in welchem die Haube der Spülmaschine in ihrer Schließposition vorliegt;

FIG. 1B

schematisch und in einer Ansicht auf die Vorderseite der exemplarischen Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1C

schematisch und in einer Seitenansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 1A;

FIG. 1D

schematisch und in einer Draufsicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2

schematisch und in einer Schnittansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 1C;

FIG. 3

schematisch und in einer Schnittansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 1A;

FIG. 4A

schematisch und in einer isometrischen Ansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 1A, und zwar in einem Zustand, in welchem die Haube der Spülmaschine in ihrer Offenposition vorliegt;

FIG. 4B

schematisch und in einer Frontansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4C

schematisch und in einer Seitenansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 4A;

FIG. 4D

schematisch und in einer Draufsicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 4A;

FIG. 5

schematisch und in einer Schnittansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 4C;

FIG. 6

schematisch und in einer Schnittansicht die exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Spülmaschine gemäß FIG. 4A.

They show:

FIG. 1A

schematically and in an isometric view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, in a state in which the hood of the dishwasher is in its closed position;

FIG. 1B

schematically and in a view of the front of the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 1A ;

FIG. 1C

schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 1A ;

FIG. 1D

schematically and in a plan view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 1A ;

FIG. 2

schematically and in a sectional view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 1C ;

FIG. 3

schematically and in a sectional view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 1A ;

FIG. 4A

schematically and in an isometric view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 1A , in a condition in which the hood of the dishwasher is in its open position;

FIG. 4B

schematically and in a front view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 4A ;

FIG. 4C

schematically and in a side view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 4A ;

FIG. 4D

schematically and in a plan view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 4A ;

FIG. 5

schematically and in a sectional view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 4C ;

FIG. 6

schematically and in a sectional view the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention according to FIG. 4A .

The exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings is designed as a hood-type dishwasher, which can be loaded and unloaded via a hood 2 with a washing basket. The hood 2 can be pushed upwards in a vertical direction using a handle.

Such hood dishwashers are designed to clean large quantities of dishes in the shortest possible time.

For example, in a hood dishwasher from HOBART, the duration of the preset standard program, which is usually used for normally soiled items such as plates, bowls, cups and glasses, is only about 70 seconds, which means the theoretical capacity is up to 52 dish racks per hour.

Almost without exception, commercial dishwashers 1 are equipped with rotating washing and rinsing systems. A washing and rinsing system usually consists of a washing arm and a rinsing arm. A commercial dishwasher 1 of the type considered here usually has an upper and a lower washing and rinsing system.

During operation, the washing solution (washing liquid) is fed from the washing tank to the washing arms via a pipe system using a pump. The washing solution/washing liquid is applied to the items to be cleaned via the washing arms. The dirt is removed from the items to be cleaned and introduced into the washing solution. The washing solution then flows back into the washing tank of the dishwasher 1 via a sieve system which retains coarse dirt residues.

Furthermore, a rinse system is provided for conveying rinse liquid by means of a rinse pump through a rinse line system to rinse nozzles, which are directed in the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 towards the area of the items to be cleaned. The sprayed rinse liquid falls by gravity from the treatment chamber 5 into the wash tank. The rinse liquid line system connects the pressure side of the rinse pump to the rinse nozzles.

Before rinse liquid is sprayed during the rinsing phase, an amount of washing liquid corresponding to the rinse liquid is pumped out of the washing tank by means of a drain pump, the suction side of which is connected to a sump in the washing tank via a drain line.

If the wash tank is empty before the hood-type dishwasher is started for the first time, it must first be filled with fresh water via a fresh water pipe or by means of the rinse aid system and its rinse aid pump with fresh water or another rinse aid or wash liquid.

The rinse aid liquid can be fresh water or fresh water mixed with rinse aid.

The washing liquid contains detergent, which is preferably automatically added to the liquid in the washing tank by a detergent dosing device.

As can be seen from the drawings, the hood 2 of the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention can be moved in the vertical direction between an open position and a closed position. The hood 2 has two opposing side walls 3 and a front wall 4 connecting the side walls 3. In the closed position of the hood 2, the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the hood 2 delimit the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 at least partially or in some areas.

In the open position of the hood 2, however, the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the hood 2 delimit a free space at least partially or in some areas. In the open position of the hood 2, the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the hood 2 are located at least partially or in some areas above an upper wall and/or ceiling area 6 which delimits the treatment chamber 5 at the top and is firmly connected to a rear wall 7 of the treatment chamber 5.

A drying module 8 is accommodated in the free space which is laterally delimited at least partially or in some areas by the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the hood 2 when the hood 2 is in its open position. The drying module 8 is designed in such a way that it is completely accommodated in the free space which is laterally delimited by the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the hood 2 when the hood 2 is in its open position.

As can be seen in the illustration in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C can be removed, the drying module 8 is designed in particular such that an upper wall and/or ceiling area of the drying module 8 lies in a horizontal plane which is at a maximum vertical distance of 30 cm from the horizontal plane in which an upper edge area of the side walls 3 or the front wall 4 of the hood 2 lies in the open position of the hood 2.

According to the views FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 It can be seen in particular that the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 is delimiting upper wall and/or ceiling area 6 and the rear wall 7 of the treatment chamber 5 are fixedly connected to a machine frame or a base frame of the dishwasher 1.

The following is based in particular on the representations in FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 the structure of the drying module 8 of the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention is described in more detail.

In detail, the drying module 8 has a housing 9 and a suction fan 10 accommodated in the housing 9. The suction fan 10 is in particular a radial or axial fan.

A fresh air inlet 11 is provided in the housing 9 and preferably in the upper wall and/or ceiling area of the housing 9 of the drying module 8, via which fresh air can be sucked in from the installation room of the dishwasher 1 into the housing 9 of the drying module 8.

In the housing 9 of the drying module 8, a drying air outlet 12 is also provided which is in fluid connection with a drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1, via which the fresh air sucked into the housing 9 of the drying module 8 with the aid of the suction fan 10 can be fed to the treatment chamber 5.

In the embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention shown in the drawings, the drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5 corresponds to the drying air outlet 12 of the drying module 8.

An effective flow cross-section of the fresh air inlet 11 provided in the housing 9 of the drying module 8 is preferably variably adjustable, namely by means of a ventilation slider assigned to the fresh air inlet 11.

An air nozzle system 14 is connected to the drying air outlet 12 of the drying module 8 or to the drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5 which is in fluid communication with the drying air outlet 12 of the drying module 8. with several adjustable air nozzles, via which the drying air to be introduced or introduced into the treatment chamber 5 can be directed accordingly.

The dishwasher 1 has a first air outlet 15 for discharging at least a first part of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber 5 into the installation space of the dishwasher 1.

The dishwasher 1 further comprises a second air outlet 16 for discharging at least a second portion of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber 5, wherein the second air outlet 16 is in fluid communication with an air inlet 17 formed in the housing 9 of the drying module 8.

In the embodiment shown in the drawings, the second air outlet 16 of the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 coincides with the air inlet 17 formed in the housing 9 of the drying module 8.

Although not shown in the drawings, it is fundamentally conceivable that the dishwasher 1 is assigned a heat exchanger system to which at least part of the drying air discharged via the first air outlet 15 of the dishwasher 1 can be fed, preferably before the drying air is discharged into the installation space of the dishwasher 1.

In the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, an effective flow cross-section of the first air outlet 15 is preferably variably adjustable, in particular with the aid of a ventilation slider assigned to the first air outlet 15.

In the same way, an effective flow cross-section of the second air outlet 16 is preferably variably adjustable, also with the aid of a corresponding ventilation slide.

According to the sectional views FIG. 2 , FIG. 3 , FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 It can be seen in particular that the housing 9 of the drying module 8 is divided into a first area 19, into which the fresh air inlet 11 of the drying module 8 and the air inlet 17 in fluid communication with the second air outlet 16 of the treatment chamber 5 open, and into a second area 20, in which the Drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5, wherein the suction side of the suction fan 10 is in fluid connection with the first region 19 and the pressure side of the suction fan 10 is in fluid connection with the second region 20.

In the second region 20 of the housing 9 of the drying module 8, a heating device 21, which can be controlled or optionally switched on, is arranged for heating, in particular as required, the air supplied to the second region 20 of the housing 9 of the drying module 8 via the suction fan 10.

The invention further relates to the drying module 8 per se, ie without a corresponding dishwasher 1, wherein the drying module 8 can also preferably be subsequently connected to a dishwasher 1 in order to optimize the drying function of the dishwasher 1.

The air inlets and outlets 11, 12, 17 of the drying module 8 or the dishwasher 1 can be adjusted as required via corresponding adjustable sliders in order to set the fresh air rate which is sucked in from the ambient air in the installation room during the drying process, a circulation rate which is circulated within the machine 1 during the drying process, and/or an exhaust air rate which is released into the environment during the drying process.

This is necessary to ensure a kind of pressure equalization within the treatment chamber 5, since otherwise not enough fresh air can be sucked in from the environment.

This is also necessary in order to keep the relative humidity of the drying air constant, i.e. the moisture absorbed by the air during the drying process is partially discharged as exhaust air from the treatment chamber 5 in order to replace it with fresh air with a lower relative humidity and thereby accelerate the drying process.

Aspects of the invention are briefly summarized below.

The dishwasher 1 according to the invention is a single-tank (dish)washer 1 or program machine in the form of a hood or universal dishwasher for washing different items to be washed.

1. a) dass die Spülmaschine 1 mit einem integrierten Trocknungssystem in Gestalt eines Trocknungsmoduls 8 ausgestattet ist; und/oder
2. b) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 so in den Bauraum der Spülmaschine 1 integriert ist, dass die Grundfläche / Aufstellfläche der Spülmaschine 1 nicht verändert wird; und/oder
3. c) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 ortsfest auf dem feststehenden Haubendeckel (d.h. dem oberen Wand- und/oder Deckenbereich 6) angebracht ist und sich dadurch keine negativen Auswirkungen auf Grund des Gewichts des Trocknungssystems für das Öffnen und Schließen der Haube 2 ergeben; und/oder
4. d) dass der Haubendeckel (d.h. der oberen Wand- und/oder Deckenbereich 6) ortsfest mit der Maschinenrückwand bzw. mit dem Grundgestell der Spülmaschine 1 verbunden ist, so dass sich beim Öffnen und Schließen der Haube 2 lediglich die beiden Seitenwände 3 und die Vorderwand 4 der Haube 2 nach oben und unten bewegen; und/oder
5. e) dass der Gesamtaufbau des Trocknungssystems/des Trocknungsmoduls 8 in vertikaler Richtung nur so groß ist, dass es zu keiner Vergrößerung der Maschinenhöhe bei geöffneter Haube 2 kommt, d.h. keine Einschränkung bzgl. Raumhöhe des Aufstellraums im Vergleich zu einer marktüblichen Haubenspülmaschine; und/oder
6. f) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 mit einem Gebläse, z.B. in Form von einem Radial- oder Axialgebläse, zur Erzeugung eines sehr hohen Luftvolumenstroms ausgestattet ist, um die benötigte Trocknungszeit möglichst kurz zu halten; und/oder
7. g) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 mit Heizelementen, z.B. in Form von elektrisch, dampf- oder heißwasserbeheizten Heizschlangen zur Erwärmung der Trocknungsluft ausgestattet ist; und/oder
8. h) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 mit mehrere einstellbaren Luftdüsen ausgestattet ist, mit welchen die erwärmte Trocknungsluft zielgerichtet auf das Spülgut in der Behandlungskammer 5 aufgebracht werden kann; und/oder
9. i) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 mit mehreren Luftöffnungen incl. einstellbaren Lüftungsschiebern ausgestattet ist, mit welchen die Frischluft-, Umwälz- und Abluftrate eingestellt werden kann; und/oder
10. j) dass die Positionierung und Ausrichtung der Luftdüsen des Luftdüsensystems zum Einströmen der Trocknungsluft in die Behandlungskammer 5 im Vergleich zu der Umwälz- und Abluft-Öffnung so ausgerichtet ist, dass sich innerhalb der Behandlungskammer 5 eine zielgerichtete Umwälzbewegung der Trocknungsluft einstellt, welche es ermöglicht, im kontinuierlichen Kreislauf die warme, trockene Trocknungsluft zielgerichtet über das zu trocknenden Spülgut zu leiten und danach ein Teil der mit Flüssigkeit gesättigten Abluft über die Abluftöffnung an die Umgebung abzuleiten, um dadurch die relative Luftfeuchtigkeit der Trocknungsluft während dem Trocknungsprozess konstant zu halten; und/oder
11. k) dass die Abluft optional zusätzlich über einen Wärmetauscher geleitet wird, um die in der Abluft enthaltene Energie wieder zurückzugewinnen; und/oder
12. l) dass die Spülmaschine 1 mit einer Einrichtung zur Detektion von verschiedenen Spülguttypen wie z.B. Teller, Gläser, Kunststofftabletts, Besteck, Töpfe und Utensilien, Mehrwegspülgut aus Kunststoff etc., ausgestattet ist, und die Trocknungsparameter, wie z.B. Volumenstrom, Temperatur, Trocknungszeit, automatisch bedarfsgerecht auf das zu trocknende Spülgut eingestellt werden können; und/oder
13. m) dass bei elektrischer Trocknungsbeheizung die Heizelemente der Heizinrichtung des Trocknungsmoduls 8 der Trocknung mit den Heizelementen von Waschtank und/oder Boiler verriegelbar sind, um den Gesamtanschlusswert der Maschine im Vergleich zu einer marktüblichen Haubenspülmaschine nicht zu erhöhen; und/oder
14. n) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 optional mittels zusätzlichen Luftkanälen so erweitert werden kann, dass zusätzliche Luftdüsen seitlich oder unterhalb des Spülguts angebracht werden können, um ein direktes Anströmen von schwer zu trocknendem Spülgut von allen Seiten realisieren zu können; und/oder
15. o) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 optional auch als Ausblasung verwendet werden kann (z.B. durch bedarfsgerechte Erhöhung der Drehzahl des Sauggebläses 10), um größere Wasserrückstände / Wasseransammlungen z.B. bei schöpfendem Spülgut, wie z.B. bei Kunststoffbechern mit einer Wölbung im Becherboden, in sehr kurzer Zeit auszublasen, da ein Trocknen nur mittels Konvektionstrocknung in diesem Fall sehr zeitaufwändig wäre; und/oder
16. p) dass das Sauggebläse 10 optional auch in der Abtropfphase zwischen Waschung und Spülung für einige Sekunden angesteuert werden kann, um dadurch auf dem Spülgut verbleibende Waschlaugenrückstände abzublasen und dadurch den Frischwasserbedarf bei der nachfolgenden Frischwasserklarspülung reduzieren zu können, da weniger Waschlauge auf dem Spülgut verbleibt, welche durch die Frischwassernachspülung abgespült werden muss; und/oder
17. q) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 in Kombination mit einem zusätzlichen marktüblichen Abluftwärmerückgewinnungssystem betrieben wird, um dadurch zu Beginn des Trocknungsszyklus den Wrasen innerhalb der Behandlungskammer 5 abzusaugen (z.B. innerhalb der ersten 20 Sekunden des Trocknungszyklus) und dadurch die relative Luftfeuchtigkeit zu Beginn des Trocknungszyklus zu reduzieren, um dadurch die Trocknungszeit reduzieren zu können; und/oder
18. r) dass das Trocknungssystem/das Trocknungsmodul 8 auch bei marktüblichen Universalspülmaschinen integriert werden kann, welche nicht mit einer Haube 2, sondern alternativ nur mit einer Fronttür ausgestattet sind. In diesem Fall sitzt das Trocknungsmodul 8 ebenfalls fix auf der Maschinendecke, zum Be- und Entladen der Spülmaschine 1 wird in diesem Fall jedoch nur eine Fronttür geöffnet und geschlossen

In particular, it is intended:

1. a) that the dishwasher 1 is equipped with an integrated drying system in the form of a drying module 8; and/or
2. b) that the drying system/drying module 8 is integrated into the installation space of the dishwasher 1 in such a way that the base area/installation area of the dishwasher 1 is not changed; and/or
3. c) that the drying system/drying module 8 is fixedly mounted on the fixed hood cover (ie the upper wall and/or ceiling area 6) and that this does not result in any negative effects on the opening and closing of the hood 2 due to the weight of the drying system; and/or
4. d) that the hood cover (ie the upper wall and/or ceiling area 6) is fixedly connected to the rear wall of the machine or to the base frame of the dishwasher 1, so that when the hood 2 is opened and closed, only the two side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the hood 2 move up and down; and/or
5. e) that the overall structure of the drying system/drying module 8 in the vertical direction is only so large that there is no increase in the height of the machine when the hood 2 is open, i.e. no restriction regarding the height of the installation room in comparison with a commercially available hood-type dishwasher; and/or
6. f) that the drying system/drying module 8 is equipped with a fan, e.g. in the form of a radial or axial fan, to generate a very high air volume flow in order to keep the required drying time as short as possible; and/or
7. (g) that the drying system/drying module 8 is equipped with heating elements, e.g. in the form of electrically, steam- or hot water-heated heating coils for heating the drying air; and/or
8. h) that the drying system/drying module 8 is equipped with several adjustable air nozzles with which the heated drying air can be applied in a targeted manner to the items to be washed in the treatment chamber 5; and/or
9. i) that the drying system/drying module 8 is equipped with several air openings including adjustable ventilation slides with which the fresh air, circulation and exhaust air rates can be adjusted; and/or
10. j) that the positioning and alignment of the air nozzles of the air nozzle system for the inflow of drying air into the treatment chamber 5 is aligned in relation to the circulation and exhaust air opening in such a way that a targeted circulation movement of the drying air is established within the treatment chamber 5, which makes it possible to direct the warm, dry drying air in a targeted manner over the items to be dried in a continuous circuit and then to discharge part of the liquid-saturated exhaust air to the environment via the exhaust air opening in order to keep the relative humidity of the drying air constant during the drying process; and/or
11. k) that the exhaust air is optionally additionally passed through a heat exchanger in order to recover the energy contained in the exhaust air; and/or
12. l) that the dishwasher 1 is equipped with a device for detecting different types of washware, such as plates, glasses, plastic trays, cutlery, pots and utensils, reusable washware made of plastic, etc., and the drying parameters, such as volume flow, temperature, drying time, can be automatically adjusted to the washware to be dried as required; and/or
13. m) that in the case of electrical drying heating, the heating elements of the heating device of the drying module 8 of the dryer can be locked with the heating elements of the wash tank and/or boiler in order not to increase the total connected load of the machine compared to a conventional hood-type dishwasher; and/or
14. n) that the drying system/drying module 8 can optionally be extended by means of additional air ducts so that additional air nozzles can be installed at the side or underneath the items to be washed in order to be able to achieve a direct air flow from all sides to items that are difficult to dry; and/or
15. o) that the drying system/drying module 8 can optionally also be used as a blow-out device (e.g. by increasing the speed of the suction fan 10 as required) in order to blow out larger water residues/accumulations, e.g. in the case of scooping items, such as plastic cups with a bulge in the cup base, in a very short time, since drying only by means of convection drying would be very time-consuming in this case; and/or
16. p) that the suction fan 10 can optionally also be controlled for a few seconds in the dripping phase between washing and rinsing in order to blow off any washing liquor residues remaining on the items to be washed and thus reduce the fresh water requirement for the subsequent fresh water rinsing, since less washing liquor remains on the items to be washed, which must be rinsed off by the fresh water rinsing; and/or
17. q) that the drying system/drying module 8 is operated in combination with an additional commercially available exhaust air heat recovery system in order to extract the vapours within the treatment chamber 5 at the beginning of the drying cycle (e.g. within the first 20 seconds of the drying cycle) and thereby reduce the relative humidity at the beginning of the drying cycle in order to be able to reduce the drying time; and/or
18. r) that the drying system/drying module 8 can also be integrated into commercially available universal dishwashers which are not equipped with a hood 2, but alternatively only with a front door. In this case, the drying module 8 is also fixed on the machine roof, but in this case only a front door is opened and closed to load and unload the dishwasher 1

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown in the drawings, but results from a combination of all features disclosed herein.

list of reference symbols

1

dishwasher

2

hood

3

side wall of the hood

4

front wall of the hood

5

treatment chamber

6

upper wall and/or ceiling area of the dishwasher

7

rear wall of the treatment chamber

8

drying module

9

housing of the drying module

10

suction fan

11

fresh air intake

12

drying air outlet

13

drying air inlet

14

air jet system

15

first air outlet

16

second air outlet

17

air inlet of the drying module

19

first area of the housing of the drying module

20

second area of the housing of the drying module

21

heating device

Claims (15)

Commercial dishwasher (1) in the form of a hood-type dishwasher, in particular a hood-type pass-through dishwasher, or in the form of a universal dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher (1) has a hood (2) which is movable, in particular linearly displaceable, in the vertical direction between an open position and a closed position, wherein the hood (2) has two opposite side walls (3) and a front wall (4) connecting the side walls (3), wherein in the closed position of the hood (2) the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the hood (2) at least partially or in regions delimit a treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1), and wherein in the open position of the hood (2) the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the hood (2) are at least partially or in regions above an upper wall and/or ceiling region (6) which delimits the treatment chamber (5) at the top and is firmly connected to a rear wall (7) of the treatment chamber (5) and there at least partially or in regions form a limit the free space laterally,
characterized in that
the dishwasher (1) has a drying module (8) which is arranged on the upper wall and/or ceiling area (6) of the dishwasher (1) and is designed such that it is completely accommodated in the free space laterally delimited by the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the hood (2) when the hood (2) is in the open position. Dishwasher (1) according to claim 1, wherein the drying module (8) is designed such that an upper wall region of the drying module (8) lies in a horizontal plane, which is vertically spaced by a maximum of 30 cm, preferably a maximum of 25 cm and even more preferably a maximum of 20 cm from the horizontal plane in which an upper edge region of the side walls (3) and/or the front wall (4) of the hood (2) lies in the open position of the hood (2); and/or wherein the upper wall and/or ceiling region (6) delimiting the treatment chamber (5) at the top and the rear wall (7) of the treatment chamber (5) are fixedly connected to a machine frame or a base frame of the dishwasher (1). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
wherein the drying module (8) has a housing (9) and a suction fan (10) accommodated in the housing (9), in particular in the form of a radial or axial fan, wherein a fresh air inlet (11) is provided in the housing (9) and preferably in an upper wall region of the housing (9), via which fresh air can be sucked into the housing (9) from the installation space of the dishwasher (1), wherein a drying air outlet (12) in fluid communication with a drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) is also provided in the housing (9), via which the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) of the drying module (8) with the aid of the suction fan (10) can be fed to the treatment chamber (5), wherein the drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) preferably corresponds to the drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8), wherein the dishwasher (1) preferably has an air duct system via which at least part of the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) of the drying module (8) with the aid of the suction fan (10) can be fed to the treatment chamber (5), in particular from the side and/or from below. Dishwasher (1) according to claim 3, wherein an effective flow cross-section of the fresh air inlet (11) provided in the housing (9) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of a ventilation slide associated with the fresh air inlet (11); and/or wherein the drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) which is in fluid connection with the drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8) is formed in the upper wall and/or ceiling region (6) of the treatment chamber (5) which delimits the treatment chamber (5) at the top; and/or wherein the drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8) or the drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) which is in fluid communication with the drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8) is assigned an air nozzle system (14) with a plurality of adjustable air nozzles for directing the drying air to be introduced or introduced into the treatment chamber (5). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 3 or 4
wherein the dishwasher (1) has at least one air outlet (15, 16) for discharging the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber (5), wherein the at least one air outlet (15, 16) is formed at least partially or in regions preferably in the upper wall and/or ceiling region (6) of the treatment chamber (5) delimiting the treatment chamber (5) at the top. Dishwasher (1) according to claim 5,
wherein the dishwasher (1) has a first air outlet (15) for discharging at least a first part of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber (5) into the installation space of the dishwasher (1), and wherein the dishwasher (1) has a second air outlet (16) for discharging at least a second part of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber (5), wherein the second air outlet (16) is in fluid communication with an air inlet (17) formed in the housing (9) of the drying module (8), wherein the suction fan (10) of the drying module (8) is preferably assigned a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing (9) of the drying module (8) via the air inlet (17) which is in fluid communication with the second air outlet (16) of the treatment chamber (5) and/or the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) from the installation space of the dishwasher (1) via the fresh air inlet (11). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 6, wherein the dishwasher (1) is assigned a heat exchanger system to which at least part of the drying air discharged via the first air outlet (15) of the dishwasher (1) can be fed, preferably before the drying air is discharged into the installation space of the dishwasher (1); and/or wherein an effective flow cross-section of the first air outlet (15) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular with the aid of a ventilation slide associated with the first air outlet (15); and/or wherein an effective flow cross-section of the second air outlet (16) and/or an effective flow cross-section of the air inlet (17) of the drying module (8) which is in fluid communication with the second air outlet (16) is/are preferably variably adjustable, in particular with the aid of at least one ventilation slide. Dishwasher (1) according to claim 6 or 7,
wherein the housing (9) of the drying module (8) is divided into a first region (19) into which the fresh air inlet (11) of the drying module (8) and the air inlet (17) in fluid communication with the second air outlet (16) of the treatment chamber (5) open, and into a second region (20) into which the drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) opens, wherein the suction side of the suction fan (10) is in fluid communication with the first region (19) and the pressure side of the suction fan (10) is in fluid communication with the second region (20). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 8,
wherein a heating device (21) which can be controlled or optionally switched on is arranged in the second region (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8) for heating, in particular as required, the air supplied to the second region (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8) via the suction fan (10). Dishwasher (1) according to claim 9,
wherein the heating device (21) of the drying module (8) has at least one electrically operated heating element, wherein the dishwasher (1) further has at least one further electrically operated heating device for heating the treatment liquid to be sprayed during operation of the dishwasher (1) as required, and wherein a control device is provided which is designed to control the electrical power consumption of the heating device (21) of the drying module (8) as a function of an electrical power consumption of the further electrically operated heating device. Dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10,
wherein the dishwasher (1) has a washware detection device which is designed to detect the type of washware and in particular the material of the washware received in the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1), wherein the dishwasher (1) further has a control device which is designed to control the drying module (8) depending on the detected type of washware and in particular to set a temperature of the drying air supplied from the drying module (8) to the treatment chamber (5), an amount of drying air supplied to the treatment chamber (5) per unit of time, a time for activating the drying module (8) and/or a duration of activation of the drying module (8) depending on the detected type of washware. Method for operating a dishwasher (1), wherein the dishwasher (1) is a dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, and wherein the method comprises the following method steps: (i) loading the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1) with items to be cleaned while the hood (2) is in its open position; (ii) moving the hood (2) into its closed position; (iii) carrying out a washing process in which washing liquid is sprayed onto the items to be washed in a recirculated manner; and (iv) carrying out a rinsing process in which rinsing liquid is sprayed onto the items to be washed, wherein after completion of the rinsing process, the drying module (8) is activated in order to expose the cleaned items to be washed within the closed treatment chamber (5) to air and in particular to heated drying air, wherein between process step (iii) and process step (iv) the drying module (8) is preferably activated for up to 15 seconds in order to expose the washed items to air. Drying module (8) which is designed to be mounted in particular on an upper wall and/or ceiling area (6) of a commercial dishwasher (1) designed as a programmable machine, wherein the drying module (8) has a housing (9) and a suction fan (10) accommodated in the housing (9), in particular in the form of a radial or axial fan, wherein a fresh air inlet (11) is provided in the housing (9) and preferably in the upper wall and/or ceiling area (6) of the housing (9), via which fresh air can be sucked into the housing (9), wherein a drying air outlet (12) is also provided in the housing (9), via which the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) of the drying module (8) with the aid of the suction fan (10) can be fed to the treatment chamber (5) of a dishwasher (1), wherein an effective flow cross-section of the fresh air inlet provided in the housing (9) (11) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of a ventilation slider associated with the fresh air inlet (11). Drying module (8) according to claim 13,
wherein an air outlet (15, 16) is formed in the housing (9) of the drying module (8), via which air from the housing (9) can be supplied to the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1), wherein an effective flow cross-section of the air outlet of the drying module (8) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular with the aid of a ventilation slide. Drying module (8) according to claim 14, wherein the housing (9) of the drying module (8) is divided into a first region (19), into which the fresh air inlet (11) of the drying module (8) and an air inlet (17) that can be brought into fluid communication with the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1) open, and into a second region (20), in which the drying air outlet (12) is provided, wherein the suction side of the suction fan (10) is in fluid communication with the first region (19) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8) and the pressure side of the suction fan (10) is in fluid communication with the second region (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8), wherein in the second region (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8) preferably a heating device (21) that can be controlled or optionally switched on is arranged for heating, in particular as required, the drying air that is fed to the second region via the suction fan (10). (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8); and/or wherein the suction fan (10) of the drying module (8) is assigned a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing (9) of the drying module (8) via the air inlet (17) which can be brought into fluid connection with the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1).

Images