WO2022184228A1

WO2022184228A1 - Dishwashing machine and method of operating a dishwashing machine

Info

Publication number: WO2022184228A1
Application number: PCT/EP2021/055035
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nevzat YALIN
Original assignee: Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Vestel Elektronik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2021-03-01
Filing date: 2021-03-01
Publication date: 2022-09-09
Anticipated expiration: 2023-09-01

Abstract

There is provided a dishwashing machine (100). The dishwashing machine (100) comprises a controller (134); a washing chamber (104); and a compartment (160) for receiving a mixture (162) of a water softening additive and a drying agent. The compartment (160) has a lid (164) that is controllable by the controller (134). The controller (134) is configured to cause the lid (164) of the compartment (160) to be opened at a predetermined point of a washing cycle, to expose the washing chamber (104) to the mixture (162) so that the mixture absorbs moisture from the washing chamber (104).

Description

DISHWASHING MACHINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING A DISHWASHING

MACHINE

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates to a dishwashing machine and a method of operating a dishwashing machine.

Background

Dishwashing machines (also referred to as dishwashers) are used for washing items such as crockery and cutlery. A known dishwashing machine comprises a washing chamber for holding one or more items to be washed, and a washing mechanism for washing those items. Typically, a user can select from a plurality of pre-defmed washing cycles via a user interface on a front face of the dishwashing machine.

Summary

According to a first aspect disclosed herein, there is provided a dishwashing machine comprising: a controller; a washing chamber; a compartment for receiving a mixture of a water softening additive and a drying agent, the compartment having a lid that is controllable by the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to cause the lid of the compartment to be opened at a predetermined point of a washing cycle, to expose the washing chamber to the mixture so that the mixture absorbs moisture from the washing chamber.

According to some examples, the drying agent comprises silica and the water softening additive comprises salt.

According to some examples, the mixture comprises a gel.

According to some examples the predetermined point in the washing cycle comprises an end of the washing cycle, after washing water has been drained from the washing chamber. According to some examples, the controller is configured to delay causing opening of the lid until a period of time after the washing cycle has completed.

According to some examples, the controller is configured to detect that the mixture has completed absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber.

According to some examples, the dishwashing machine comprises a weight sensor for weighing the compartment, and wherein the controller is configured to detect that the drying agent has completed absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber when it is detected that the compartment has reached a threshold weight.

According to some examples, the controller is configured to cause the lid to close once it has been detected that the drying agent has completed absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber.

According to some examples, the dishwashing machine comprises an apparatus for regenerating the mixture.

According to some examples, the apparatus for regenerating the mixture comprises a heater.

According to some examples, the apparatus for regenerating the mixture is configured to be activated once it has been detected that a washed load has been removed from the washing chamber.

According to a second aspect there is provided a method of operating a dishwashing machine comprising: placing a mixture of a water softening additive and a drying agent in a compartment of the dishwashing machine; and controlling a lid of the compartment so that the lid is opened at a predetermined point of a washing cycle, to expose the washing chamber to the mixture so that the mixture absorbs moisture from the washing chamber.

According to some examples, the mixture comprises a salt-and-silica gel.

According to some examples, the predetermined point in the washing cycle comprises an end of the washing cycle, after washing water has been drained from the washing chamber.

Brief Description of the Drawings

To assist understanding of the present disclosure and to show how embodiments may be put into effect, reference is made by way of example to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a dishwashing machine according to an example; Figure 2 schematically shows in more detail a chamber of the dishwashing machine; Figure 3 schematically shows a method according to an example.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure has applicability to dishwashing machines or dishwashers. Dishwashing machines are used to automate the washing of items including crockery such as plates, bowls, cups, mugs etc. Items to be cleaned may also include cutlery such as knives, forks, spoons, or indeed any other cooking or eating utensil. Other items that may be washed include glassware, food containers etc.

Figure 1 schematically shows an example of a dishwashing machine 100. The dishwashing machine 100 comprises a main body 102, within which there is a washing chamber 104. Washing chamber 104 may also be referred to as a washing cabinet or washing compartment. In the example of Figure 1 the washing chamber 104 comprises a lower portion 106 and an upper portion 108. The lower portion 106 comprises a tray or rack 110 for holding items to be washed. The upper portion 108 comprises a tray or rack 112 for holding items to be washed. The racks 110 and 112 can be moved in and out of the washing chamber 104 on roller assemblies.

Items to be washed are schematically shown at 114. In the example of Figure 1 the items to be washed are schematically represented by plates 116 and 118 on rack 112, and plates 120 and 122 on rack 120. Of course, there may alternatively be any other type of item to be washed or combination of items to be washed.

In the example of Figure 1 a washing mechanism 123 comprises spray arm 124 in lower portion 106, and spray arm 126 in upper portion 108. In other examples the upper spray arm 126 is omitted. Each spray arm comprises a series of outlets (such as holes or nozzles) which can spray water upwardly and/or downwardly towards the items to be washed 114, while the spray arms 124 and 126 rotate.

In the example of Figure 1 the spray arm 124 is connected to shaft 125. The shaft 125 enables rotation of spray arm 124 about a central axis of the shaft 125. The shaft 125 and spray arm 124 may be considered to be comprised in a spray arm assembly 121. In the example of Figure 1 the spray arm 126 is connected to shaft 127. The shaft 127 enables rotation of spray arm 126 about a central axis of the shaft 127. The shaft 127 and spray arm 126 may be considered to be comprised in a spray arm assembly 129.

The dishwashing machine 100 further comprises water inlet schematically shown at 128 and water outlet schematically shown at 130, for enabling water to be fed into and taken out of the dishwashing machine respectively. In some examples a heater element (not shown) is provided for heating water as necessary. In other examples hot and cold water is drawn from a building’s supply as required. A power connection is schematically shown at 132, which enables the dishwashing machine to be connected to mains electrical power for powering the dishwashing machine.

A water pump is schematically shown at 150. The water pump 150 is constructed and arranged to distribute water around the dishwashing machine 100. For example, the water pump 150 can pump water to spray arms 124 and 126. Water that has been sprayed falls back down to a base or sump 152 of the dishwashing machine 100, from where that water can be recycled (after filtering, in some examples) by the pump 150.

In some examples, rotation of the spray arms 124 and 126 is caused by a force of liquid being ejected from outlets of the spray arms. Additionally or alternatively, one or more motors, shown schematically at 148 may be provided for powering rotation of the spray arms 124 and 126. A compartment is schematically shown at 160. It may be considered that the compartment 160 is located in or adjacent to washing chamber 104. In the example of Figure 1 compartment 160 is located at the base of the washing machine. In examples, compartment 160 is constructed and arranged to receive a water softening additive or agent. For example, the water softening additive may comprise dishwasher salt. Therefore, according to some examples the compartment 160 may be considered a water softening compartment.

According to some examples, the compartment 160 is constructed and arranged to receive a drying agent or additive. According to some examples, the compartment 160 is constructed and arranged to receive a water softening additive and a drying agent. Compartment 160 is described in more detail below, with respect to Figure 2.

A controller is schematically shown at 134 for controlling operations of the dishwashing machine. The controller 134 may comprise at least one memory and at least one processor. The controller 134 can, for example, cause the dishwashing machine to operate according to one or more pre-determined washing cycles selected via a user interface 136. The available washing cycles may differ from each other by temperature and/or duration, for example. Via the user interface 136 a user may also be able to select whether the washing cycle is for a full or half load. A display 138 is also provided which can display information to a user. This may include information such as confirming a user’s washing cycle selection, as well as information such as time remaining of a washing cycle that is in progress. The controller 134 may also control other operations of the dishwashing machine 100. For example, the controller 134 may be configured to control operations of the compartment 160.

A door of the dishwashing machine 100 is schematically shown at 140. In Figure 1 the door 140 is shown in an open position enabling access to washing chamber 104.

A washing cycle generally comprises three main stages: (i) wetting; (ii) injection of detergent, (iii) rinsing. In some examples one or more of these steps may be omitted. For example, a rinse wash may include just a rinsing cycle. Whichever steps are included or not included, the washing of the washing load may be generally termed a washing cycle. In some examples the rinsing stage is followed by a drying stage.

After a washing cycle is completed, there will typically be water vapour or steam remaining withing the washing chamber 104. This water vapour may be undesirable, as it slows down the drying process, causes spots on items that have been washed, and annoys a user when the door is opened. One solution that has previously been offered is an actuator for automatically releasing the door of the dishwasing machine at the end of the washing cycle, in order to evacuate the water vapour remaining in the washing chamber 104. However, such actuators are expensive, can cause problems for electrical isolation, and are prone to electromechanical failure. Another solution is known as “cold-point", where cold water is pumped or squirted in to the washing chamber at the end of a washing cycle in order to reduce steam. The cold-point approach is slow to work however.

Some examples will now be described in more detail with respect to Figure 2, which shows compartment 160 in more detail. As previously described, the compartment is constructed and arranged to receive a water softening additive and a drying agent. According to some examples, the drying agent comprises silica. According to some examples, the water softening additive comprises salt. For example, the salt may be dishwashing salt. According to some examples, the silica and salt are comprised in a mixture as schemtically shown at 162. According to some examples, the mixture 162 comprises a gel.

According to examples, the compartment 160 comprises a lid 164. The lid 164 is movable from a closed position (shown in solid lines in Figure 2) and an open position (shown with dashed lines in Figure 2). When the lid 164 is open, the compartment 160 is in fluid communication with washing chamber 104. According to examples, the controller 134 is configured to cause opening of the lid 164. In some examples, the controller 134 is configured to cause the lid 164 of the compartment 160 to be opened at a predetermined point of a washing cycle. This causes the washing chamber 104 to be exposed to the drying agent so that the drying agent absorbs moisture from the washing chamber. According to some examples, the predetermined point in the washing cycle comprises an end of the washing cycle. According to some examples, the predetermined point in the washing cycle comprises an end of the washing cycle after washing water has been drained from the washing chamber 104. According to some examples, the controller is configured to delay causing opening of the lid 164 until a period of time after the washing cycle has completed. For example, the delay may be 5 minutes.

According to some examples, the controller 134 is configured to detect that the drying agent (or the mixture 162 comprising the drying agent) has completed, or substantially completed, absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber 104. To this end, in some examples the dishwashing machine comprises a weight sensor 166 for weighing the mixture 162. In some examples, the weight sensor 166 directly weighs the mixture 162. In some examples the weight sensor 166 weighs the compartment 160. As the moisture is absorbed from the washing chamber 104, the weight of the mixture 162 increases and consequently the weight in the compartment 160 increases. According to some examples, the controller is configured to detect that moisture absorption from the washing chamber 104 has been completed when a pre-determined or threshold weight has been reached. In some examples, the threshold weight is configurable (for example during production of the dishwashing machine). In some examples, the threshold weight is selected by the controller 104 based on one or more parameters. For example, the one or more parameters may comprise one or more of: type of washing cycle (e.g. temperature and/or duration); size of washing load (e.g. full load or half load).

According to some examples, the controller 134 is configured to cause the lid 164 to close. According to some examples, the controller 134 is configured to cause the lid 164 to close once it has been detected by the controller that the mixture has completed absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber 104. According to some examples, the controller 134 is configured to cause the lid 164 to close once it has been detected by the controller 104 that the weight of the washing compartment has reached the threshold value.

According to some examples, a powered closure and/or opening mechanism 165 is provided to enable the controller 134 to cause the opening and/or closing of the lid 164.

According to some examples, the dishwashing machine 100 comprises apparatus for regenerating the mixture 162 (and consequently regenerating the drying agent in the mixture). According to some examples, the apparatus comprises a heater 168. According to some examples, the heater 168 is placed in or adjacent to the compartment 160, so that the mixture 162 (and consequently the drying agent) can be heated and dried. According to some examples, the apparatus for regenerating is configured to be activated once it has been detected that a washed load has been removed from the washing chamber. According to some examples, the controller is configured to detect that a washed load has been removed from the washing chamber 104 in response to one or more of: detection of opening of the door 140 after a washing cycle has completed; confirmation by user input.

A method according to an example is schematically show in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 3, at SI a mixture 162 of a water softening additive and a drying agent is placed in a compartment 160 of a dishwashing machine 100.

At S2, a lid 164 of the compartment is then closed. In some examples the lid is closed manually by a user. In some examples, the lid 164 is caused to be closed automatically by controller 134.

At S3, a washing cycle is initiated and performed.

At S4, at a predetermined point of the washing cycle the lid 164 of the compartment 160 is caused to be opened by controller 134. In some examples, the predetermined point of the washing cycle comprises an end of the washing cycle, after washing water has been drained from a washing chamber 104 of the dishwashing machine. This causes the washing chamber 104 to be exposed to the mixture 162, so that the mixture 162 absorbs moisture from the washing chamber 104.

At S5, it is detected by the controller 134 that the mixture 162 has completed absorbing moisture from the washing chamber 104.

At S6, the controller 134 causes the mixture 162 to be regenerated. For example, the controller 134 causes the mixture 162 to be regenerated by activating heater 168. In some examples, the mixture 162 is regenerated only once it has been detected that a washed load has been removed from the washing chamber.

It will be appreciated that examples provide an effective dishwashing machine and method for removing water vapour from a washing chamber of a dishwashing machine after a washing cycle has completed. Utilising a single compartment for placement of the water softening additive and the drying agent minimises the number of parts required and may simplify manufacture and reduce production costs. The salt and silica mixture, which for example may be a gel, can be easily placed in and removed from the dishwashing machine by a user. For example, the mixture may need to be changed periodically. In examples, the compartment 160 is placed at or just below the base 152 of the dishwashing machine. Therefore, access to the compartment is simple. In some examples, the compartment 160 is of unitary constructions and therefore can be installed in and removed from the dishwashing machine 100 as a single unit. This may simplify manufacture or repair. In examples, no complicated ducting or piping is required, for example to exhaust air away from the drying agent. Owing to the positioning of the compartment 160 in the base of the dishwashing machine adjacent to the washing chamber 104, good exposure of the washing chamber 104 to the mixture 162 (and consequently the drying agent) is provided once the lid 164 is opened. According to examples there is no need for a fan or the like to drive air towards the drying agent, because of its proximity to the washing chamber. In examples, because the absorbed moisture is contained within the mixture 162, and because the mixture 162 is regenerated once it has been detected that the washing load has been removed, there is no need to exhaust air from the compartment 160 externally via an exhaust pipe or duct while the washing load is still in the dishwashing machine.

Although at least some aspects of the embodiments described herein with reference to the drawings comprise computer processes performed in processing systems or processors, the invention also extends to computer programs, particularly computer programs on or in a carrier, adapted for putting the invention into practice. The program may be in the form of non-transitory source code, object code, a code intermediate source and object code such as in partially compiled form, or in any other non-transitory form suitable for use in the implementation of processes according to the invention. The carrier may be any entity or device capable of carrying the program. For example, the carrier may comprise a storage medium, such as a solid-state drive (SSD) or other semiconductor-based RAM; a ROM, for example a CD ROM or a semiconductor ROM; a magnetic recording medium, for example a floppy disk or hard disk; optical memory devices in general; etc.

The examples described herein are to be understood as illustrative examples of embodiments of the invention. Further embodiments and examples are envisaged. Any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may be used alone or in combination with other features. In addition, any feature described in relation to any one example or embodiment may also be used in combination with one or more features of any other of the examples or embodiments, or any combination of any other of the examples or embodiments. Furthermore, equivalents and modifications not described herein may also be employed within the scope of the invention, which is defined in the claims.

Claims

1 A dishwashing machine comprising: a controller; a washing chamber; a compartment for receiving a mixture of a water softening additive and a drying agent, the compartment having a lid that is controllable by the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to cause the lid of the compartment to be opened at a predetermined point of a washing cycle, to expose the washing chamber to the mixture so that the mixture absorbs moisture from the washing chamber.

2. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1, wherein the drying agent comprises silica and the water softening additive comprises salt.

3. A dishwashing machine according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the mixture comprises a gel.

4. A dishwashing machine according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the predetermined point in the washing cycle comprises an end of the washing cycle, after washing water has been drained from the washing chamber.

5. A dishwashing machine according to claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to delay causing opening of the lid until a period of time after the washing cycle has completed.

6. A dishwashing machine according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the controller is configured to detect that the mixture has completed absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber.

7. A dishwashing machine according to claim 6, wherein the dishwashing machine comprises a weight sensor for weighing the compartment, and wherein the controller is configured to detect that the drying agent has completed absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber when it is detected that the compartment has reached a threshold weight.

8. A dishwashing machine according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to cause the lid to close once it has been detected that the drying agent has completed absorbing the moisture from the washing chamber.

9. A dishwashing machine according to any of claims 1 to 8, comprising apparatus for regenerating the mixture.

10. A dishwashing machine according to claim 9, wherein the apparatus for regenerating the mixture comprises a heater.

11. A dishwashing machine according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the apparatus for regenerating the mixture is configured to be activated once it has been detected that a washed load has been removed from the washing chamber.

12. A method of operating a dishwashing machine comprising: placing a mixture of a water softening additive and a drying agent in a compartment of the dishwashing machine; and controlling a lid of the compartment so that the lid is opened at a predetermined point of a washing cycle, to expose the washing chamber to the mixture so that the mixture absorbs moisture from the washing chamber.

13. A method according to claim 12, wherein the mixture comprises a salt-and-silica gel.

14. A method according to claim 12 or claim 13, wherein the predetermined point in the washing cycle comprises an end of the washing cycle, after washing water has been drained from the washing chamber.