U.S. patent application number 10/583638 was filed with the patent office on 2007-12-06 for dishwasher with device for storage of rinsing water.
Invention is credited to Rudiger Eiermann, Caroline Heiligenmann, Helmut Jerg.
Application Number | 20070277854 10/583638 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34743230 |
Filed Date | 2007-12-06 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070277854 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Eiermann; Rudiger ; et
al. |
December 6, 2007 |
Dishwasher with Device for Storage of Rinsing Water
Abstract
A dishwasher is provided with a storage container for rinsing
water, the dishwasher being particularly simple and economical to
produce, whereby the space loss in the dishwasher is kept very low.
The storage reservoir is a flexible film bag, which may be matched
in volume to the volume of the liquid.
Inventors: |
Eiermann; Rudiger;
(Syrgenstein, DE) ; Heiligenmann; Caroline;
(Thannhausen, DE) ; Jerg; Helmut; (Giengen,
DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BSH HOME APPLIANCES CORPORATION;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DEPARTMENT
100 BOSCH BOULEVARD
NEW BERN
NC
28562
US
|
Family ID: |
34743230 |
Appl. No.: |
10/583638 |
Filed: |
December 14, 2004 |
PCT Filed: |
December 14, 2004 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP04/53452 |
371 Date: |
March 26, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
134/18 ;
134/57D |
Current CPC
Class: |
D06F 39/006 20130101;
A47L 15/4291 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
134/018 ;
134/057.00D |
International
Class: |
A47L 15/42 20060101
A47L015/42 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 23, 2003 |
DE |
10360907.5 |
Jul 23, 2004 |
DE |
102004035845.1 |
Nov 25, 2004 |
DE |
102004057017.5 |
Claims
1-21. (canceled)
22. A dishwasher which is suitable for carrying out a washing
program comprising at least one washing process using rinsing
water, comprising a program controller, a washing container for
receiving the items for be cleaned and a system for circulating the
rinsing water and a storage reservoir for rinsing water for storage
and re-use at a later time of at least a part of the rinsing water
present in the dishwasher characterised in that the storage
reservoir is embodied as a film bag which can be matched in size to
the volume of the liquid.
23. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the film bag is
formed preferably of plastic or metal.
24. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the film bag is
embodied so that it can hold several sets of rinsing water,
preferably two sets of rinsing water.
25. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the dishwasher
has a lye pump for pumping away the rinsing water from the
dishwasher and a circulating pump for acting upon the spray arms
and the film bag can be filled with rinsing water via a first
rinsing water pipe from the lye pump.
26. The dishwasher according to claim 25, wherein a water deflector
valve is provided which either opens the first rinsing water pipe
when the shut-off valve from the lye pump to the film bag is opened
or a second rinsing water pipe from the lye pump to the waste water
pipe which is preferably closed by means of a shut-off valve.
27. The dishwasher according to claim 25, wherein the rinsing water
is passed from the film bag via a third rinsing water pipe for
re-introduction of rinsing water into the rinsing water cycle of
the dishwasher, which preferably leads from the film bag into a
pump sump in the lower area of the washing container.
28. The dishwasher according to claim 25, wherein the first rinsing
water pipe and/or the second rinsing water pipe and/or the third
rinsing water pipe can each be closed by means of a shut-off
valve.
29. The dishwasher according claim 22, wherein the dishwasher has a
lye pump for pumping away the rinsing water from the dishwasher and
a circulating pump for acting upon the spray arms and the filter
bag can be filled with filtered rinsing water by means of a filter
system in the pump sump and by means of a first rinsing water pipe
from the circulating pump.
30. The dishwasher according to claim 29, wherein a first rinsing
water pipe can be closed by a shut-off valve and a water deflector
valve is provided which either releases one, both or none of the
spray arms for acting upon with water.
31. The dishwasher according to claim 29, wherein the rinsing water
from the film bag for re-introduction of rinsing water can be
passed via the first rinsing water pipe when the shut-off valve is
opened via the switched-off circulating pump into a pump sump.
32. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the operation of
the lye pump and/or the circulating pump and the actuation of the
shut-off valves is controlled by means of the preferably electronic
program controller.
33. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the film bag is
arranged between an outer wall of the dishwasher and a side wall of
a washing container of the dishwasher.
34. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the film bag is
arranged between a top wall of the dishwasher and a top wall of a
washing container.
35. The dishwasher according to claim 22, wherein the film bag has
at least one opening for introducing or removing rinsing water
which preferably opens into the first rinsing water pipe.
36. The dishwasher according to claim 25, wherein the flexible film
bag and/or the rinsing water pipes are coated on the water-guiding
side at least in part with an anti-bacterial agent, e.g. with
Agion.
37. A dishwasher which is suitable for carrying out a washing
program comprising at least one washing process using rinsing
water, comprising a program controller, a washing container for
receiving the items for be cleaned and a system for circulating the
rinsing water and a storage reservoir for rinsing water for storage
and re-use at a later time of at least a part of the rinsing water
present in the dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher has a lye pump
for pumping away the rinsing water from the dishwasher and a
circulating pump for acting upon the spray arms, characterised in
that the storage reservoir can be filled with filtered rinsing
water from the circulating pump.
38. A method for operating a dishwasher, especially comprising a
device for storing rinsing water according to one of the preceding
claims, wherein rinsing water present in the dishwasher at the end
of or during a washing process is removed at least partly from the
rinsing water circuit of the dishwasher and introduced into a
flexible film bag, which is matched in its size to the liquid
volume and before or at the beginning of a following rinsing
process is removed at least partly from the flexible film bag and
fed back to the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher.
39. The method for operating a dishwasher according to claim 38,
wherein the rinsing water present in the dishwasher at the end of
or during a clear rinse partial program step of a washing program
is removed at least partly from the rinsing water circuit of the
dishwasher and introduced into the flexible film bag, which is
matched in its size to the liquid volume and before or at the
beginning of a pre-wash partial program step of a following washing
program is removed at least partly from the flexible film bag and
fed back to the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher.
40. The method according to claim 38, wherein the rinsing water is
fed back into the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher before or
at the beginning of the intermediate rinse partial program
step.
41. The method according to claim 38, wherein the rinsing water
present in the dishwasher is removed at least partly from the pump
sump by means of the circulating pump via the filter system of the
dishwasher provided there and filtered in the film bag.
42. A method for operating a dishwasher, especially comprising a
device for storing the rinsing water wherein rinsing water present
in the dishwasher at the end of or during a washing process is at
least partly removed from the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher
and introduced into a storage reservoir and before or at the
beginning of a following rinsing process, is removed from the
storage reservoir at least in part and is fed back to the rinsing
water cycle of the dishwasher, characterised in that the storage
reservoir is filled with filtered rinsing water from the
circulating pump.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a dishwasher with a device for
storage of rinsing water and a method for storage of rinsing
water.
[0002] In a dishwasher washing processes are carried out according
to a wash program generally consisting of the partial program
steps, "pre-wash", "clean", "intermediate rinse", "clear rinse" and
"dry" in order to clean the items to be washed located in the
dishwasher. In order to achieve the best possible cleaning effect,
a pre-wash is generally provided in the washing program consisting
of several partial program steps. The coarse contaminants are first
removed from the items to be washed by means of a first rinsing
water and removed with the first rinsing water from the dishwasher
after the end of the pre-wash process. Fresh water is then supplied
to the dishwasher to carry out further partial program steps, e.g.
cleaning, using new rinsing water.
[0003] Known from DE 297 06 153 U1 is a dishwasher comprising a
water storage device and condensation drying. Heated water from the
last after-rinse is stored in a storage reservoir as a water store
and supplied subsequently to the washing chamber of the dishwasher.
The crockery is dried according to the condensation principle. Air
is sucked from the washing container by a fan via a suction pipe
and is passed via a condenser with a delivery pipe into the storage
reservoir. In the storage reservoir the air is heated again after
being cooled in the condenser and is supplied to the washing
chamber again.
[0004] Known from DE 39 13 355 A1 is a washing machine or
dishwasher comprising a device for intermediate storage of used
washing and/or rinsing solution for re-use as a later time. The
duration of the intermediate storage is registered in time and when
a preset time interval is achieved or exceeded, either a display or
a signal is triggered or the lye pump is operated by means of the
control device for conveying the intermediately stored washing
and/or rinsing solution into the outflow.
[0005] DE 42 43 605 of the application discloses a method for
operating a dishwasher and a dishwasher for carrying out the
method. At the end of the partial program step intermediate rinse
the rinsing solution is withdrawn from the washing container,
stored in a storage reservoir and returned in to the washing
container in the following wash program in the first partial
program step. A disadvantage here is that the storage reservoir
does not adapt to the spatial relationships which causes an
unnecessary loss of space. In addition, an expensive ventilation
device is required for the storage reservoir.
[0006] It is thus the object of the present invention to provide a
dishwasher and a method for operating a dishwasher wherein the
storage reservoir for the rinsing water is particularly simple and
economical to produce and on the other hand, the loss of space in
the dishwasher through the storage reservoir is kept very low
and/or the rinsing solution can be stored for a particularly long
time in the storage reservoir without substantial formation of
bacteria.
[0007] The object is solved according to the present invention by a
dishwasher having the features of claims 1 and 16 and by a method
having the features of claims 17 and 21. Advantageous further
developments of the present invention are characterised in the
dependent claims 2 to 15 and 18 to 20.
[0008] According to the invention, in a dishwasher which is
suitable for carrying out a washing program comprising at least one
washing process using rinsing water, comprising a program
controller, a washing container for receiving the items for be
cleaned and a system for circulating the rinsing water and a
storage reservoir for rinsing water for storage and re-use at a
later time of at least a part of the rinsing water present in the
dishwasher, the storage reservoir is embodied as a film bag which
can be matched in size to the volume of the liquid. As a result,
any free space in a dishwasher can advantageously be used for
storage of rinsing water. No unnecessary loss of space therefore
arises as a result of the storage of rinsing water. This type of
flexible film bag is inexpensive and simple to manufacture, and
assembly or manufacture of the dishwasher is simple.
[0009] Appropriately the film bag is formed preferably of plastic
or metal. Thus, plastic in particular is a very inexpensive
material so that the film bag according to the invention is
particularly cheap to manufacture.
[0010] The film bag is preferably embodied so that it can hold
several sets of rinsing water, preferably two sets of rinsing
water. The film bag according to the invention can thus
advantageously be used to store rinsing water for a plurality of
partial program steps within a washing program.
[0011] In a further embodiment, the dishwasher has a lye pump for
pumping away the rinsing water from the dishwasher and a
circulating pump for acting upon the spray arms and the film bag
can be filled with rinsing water via a first rinsing water pipe
from the lye pump. Thus, the lye pump can be used for filling the
film bag.
[0012] In an additional embodiment, a water deflector valve is
provided which either opens the first rinsing water pipe when the
shut-off valve from the lye pump to the film bag is opened or a
second rinsing water pipe from the lye pump to the waste water pipe
which is preferably closed by means of a shut-off valve. Thus, a
single water deflector valve can advantageously be used to control
whether the lye pump conveys rinsing water into the waste water
pipe or into the film bag.
[0013] Appropriately, the rinsing water is passed from the film bag
via a third rinsing water pipe for re-introduction of rinsing water
into the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher, which preferably
leads from the film bag into a pump sump in the lower area of the
washing container. Consequently, rinsing water can be re-introduced
from a third rinsing water pipe independently of the filling.
[0014] Appropriately, the first rinsing water pipe and/or the
second rinsing water pipe and/or the third rinsing water pipe can
each be closed by means of a shut-off valve. Thus, all the rinsing
water pipes can advantageously be opened and closed separately and
independently of one another, therefore also the filling and
emptying of the film bag and the removal of rinsing water into the
waste pipe.
[0015] In a further advantageous embodiment, the dishwasher has a
lye pump for pumping away the rinsing water from the dishwasher and
a circulating pump for acting upon the spray arms and the filter
bag can be filled with filtered rinsing water by means of a filter
system in the pump sump and by means of a first rinsing water pipe
from the circulating pump. By using the circulating pump for
filling the film bag, filtered rinsing water is introduced into the
film bag as a result of the arrangement of the suction pipe to the
circulating pump in the pump sump. As a result, fewer impurities
occurs in the rinsing water pipes and in the film bag. In addition,
less algae and bacteria growth occurs. The rinsing water can thus
be stored in the film bag over a fairly long time, e.g. a few
months.
[0016] Appropriately, a first rinsing water pipe can be closed by a
shut-off valve and a water deflector valve is provided which either
releases one, both or none of the spray arms for acting upon with
water. The filling of the film container can thereby be controlled
by the circulating pump.
[0017] Advantageously, the rinsing water from the film bag for
re-introduction of rinsing water can be passed via a first rinsing
water pipe when the shut-off valve is opened via the switched-off
circulating pump into a pump sump. Thus, advantageously only one
rinsing water pipe is required for filling and emptying the film
bag.
[0018] Appropriately, the operation of the lye pump and/or the
circulating pump and the actuation of the shut-off valves is
controlled by means of the preferably electronic program
controller.
[0019] In a further embodiment, the film bag is arranged between an
outer wall of the dishwasher and a side wall of a washing container
of the dishwasher. A free space between the outer wall and the side
wall of the washing container is therefore used for storage of
rinsing water.
[0020] Advantageously, the film bag is arranged between a top wall
of the dishwasher and a top wall of the washing container. Thus,
this free space can also be used for storage of rinsing water.
[0021] Appropriately, the film bag has at least one opening for
introducing or removing rinsing water which preferably opens into
the first rinsing water pipe.
[0022] In a further variant, the flexible film bag and/or the
rinsing water pipes are coated on the water-guiding side at least
in part with an anti-bacterial agent, e.g. with Agion. The growth
of bacteria and algae is thereby restricted so that the rinsing
water can be stored for a longer time and deposits and impurities
are prevented. The operational safety can thus be enhanced because
impurities, for example, do not impede the operation of shut-off
valves or pumps.
[0023] In another dishwasher according to the invention which is
suitable for carrying out a washing program comprising at least one
washing process using rinsing water, comprising a program
controller, a washing container for receiving the items for be
cleaned and a system for circulating the rinsing water and a
storage reservoir for rinsing water for storage and re-use of at
least a part of the rinsing water present in the dishwasher at a
later time, and the dishwasher has a lye pump for pumping away the
rinsing water from the dishwasher and a circulating pump for acting
upon the spray arms, wherein the storage reservoir can be filled
with filtered rinsing water from the circulating pump.
[0024] In a method according to the invention for operating a
dishwasher, the rinsing water present in the dishwasher at the end
of or during a washing process is removed at least partly from the
rinsing water circuit of the dishwasher and introduced into a
flexible film bag, which is matched in its size to the liquid
volume and before or at the beginning of a following rinsing
process is removed at least partly from the flexible film bag and
fed back to the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher. Thus, any
free space in a dishwasher can advantageously be used for storing
rinsing water. NO unnecessary loss of space therefore arises as a
result of the storage of rinsing water. This type of flexible film
bag is cheap and simple to manufacture and simple when assembling
or manufacturing the dishwasher.
[0025] In a further variant in a method for operating a dishwasher,
the rinsing water present in the dishwasher at the end of or during
a clear rinse partial program step of a washing program is removed
at least partly from the rinsing water circuit of the dishwasher
and introduced into the flexible film bag, which is matched in its
size to the liquid volume and before or at the beginning of a
pre-wash partial program step of a following washing program is
removed at least partly from the flexible film bag and fed back to
the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher. Thus, particularly clean
rinsing water is intermediately stored in the film bag and used in
a pre-wash partial program step in which a few impurities in the
rinsing water are of no importance.
[0026] Appropriately, the rinsing water is fed back into the
rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher before or at the beginning of
the intermediate rinse partial program step.
[0027] Appropriately, the rinsing water fed back into the rinsing
water cycle of the dishwasher from the flexible film bag is used
exclusively for cleaning the washing container of the
dishwasher.
[0028] In a further embodiment of the method, the rinsing water
present in the dishwasher is removed at least partly from the pump
sump by means of the circulating pump via the filter system of the
dishwasher provided there and filtered in the film bag. By using
the circulating pump for filling the film bag, as a result of the
arrangement of the suction pipe to the circulating pump in the pump
sump, filtered rinsing water is introduced into the film bag. As a
result, fewer impurities occur in the rinsing water pipes and in
the film bag and less growth of algae and bacteria is the
consequence. The rinsing water can thus be stored in the film bag
without any problems for a longer period, e.g. several months.
[0029] In another method according to the invention for operating a
dishwasher, the rinsing water present in the dishwasher at the end
of or during a washing process is at least partly removed from the
rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher and introduced into a storage
reservoir and before or at the beginning of a following rinsing
process, is removed from the storage reservoir at least in part and
is fed back to the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher wherein
the storage reservoir is filled with filtered rinsing water from
the circulating pump.
[0030] The present invention is explained in detail hereinafter
using preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the
appended drawings. In the figures:
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher according to
the invention, according to one embodiment of the present
invention,
[0032] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a dishwasher according to
the invention, according to a further preferred embodiment of the
present invention,
[0033] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram to show the method according
to the invention in a first embodiment of the present invention for
operating a dishwasher according to the invention and
[0034] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram to show the method according
to the invention in a second embodiment of the present invention
for operating a dishwasher according to the invention.
[0035] The dishwasher 9 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1
comprises a washing container 11 into which two crockery baskets 12
for receiving the items to be cleaned, can be slid in a drawer-like
manner. The dishwasher 9 has a hinged door 13 at its front which
can be opened out into a horizontal position for loading the
crockery baskets 12. In the operating state, the crockery baskets
12 are slid into the washing container 11 and the hinged door 13 is
closed. In this embodiment of the dishwasher 9 according to the
invention, a storage reservoir 17 for rinsing water is accommodated
between an outer wall (not shown) of the dishwasher 9 and a side
wall 14 of the washing container 11, preferably affixed to the side
wall 14 of the washing container 11.
[0036] Using the dishwasher 9 shown in FIG. 1, a method for
operating a dishwasher according to the present invention can be
carried out wherein in a first step the rinsing water present in
the dishwasher 9 during an arbitrary partial program step of a wash
program of a washing process is removed at least partly from the
rinsing water circuit of the dishwasher 9 and introduced into a
flexible film bag 17, and in a second step the rinsing water held
in the film bag 17 is removed at least partly from the flexible
film bag 17 in a following washing process before or at the
beginning of an arbitrary partial program step of the wash program
in a following washing process and is fed back to the rinsing water
cycle of the dishwasher 9. In this case, the film bag 17 clamped
between the outer wall or another limiting device, e.g. a grid (not
shown) and a side wall 14 of the washing container 11 so that the
flexible film bag 17 is optimally matched to the space between the
outer wall or another limiting device and the side wall of the
washing container 11, i.e., completely utilises said space.
[0037] The film bag 17 is filled and emptied by means of at least
one opening 15 in the film bag 17. In order to ensure that the film
bag 17 is completely filled and emptied, the opening for
introducing or removing rinsing water is provided in the lower area
of the film bag 17. In this way, any washing residues entrained in
the rinsing water which can deposit in the film bag 17 during
storage of the rinsing water can be carried away when the rinsing
water is removed from the film bag 17. The filling and possibly the
emptying of the rinsing water from the film bag 17 is accomplished
by means of a pump, preferably utilising the pumping capacity of
the circulating pump (not shown) or lye pump (not shown) of the
dishwasher 9.
[0038] The dishwasher 9 according to the invention shown in FIG. 2,
having a hinged door 13, has a film bag 17 as a store for the
rinsing water. The film bag 17 lies on the top wall 18 of the
washing container 11 and is thus located in the free space (not
shown) between the top wall 16 of the dishwasher 9 and the top wall
18 of the washing container 11. The film bag 17 generally has
holders integrated in the film bag 17 with which the film bag 17
can be affixed very simply to the dishwasher during assembly (not
shown). The film bag 17 has an opening 15. It is especially
advantageous for the use of the film bag 17 that this is very
inexpensive to manufacture and on the other hand, it can be adapted
to the spatial relationships as a result of its flexible
properties. The adaptability of the film bag 17 according to the
invention to the volume of the stored rinsing water and to the
spatial relationships preferably results from the mobility of the
film and/or the expandability of the film. The available free space
can thus be optimally utilised. Furthermore, no ventilation is
required since the flexible film bag 17 adapts to the varying
volume of rinsing water. The film bag 17 can receive several sets
of rinsing water, preferably two sets of rinsing water. The film
bag can be arranged at any location in the dishwasher with free
space, e.g below the washing container 11 or at a rear wall of the
washing container 11. The shape of the free space is also
arbitrary, the film bag 17 merely needs to have a suitably matched
shape.
[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing the method in a first
embodiment of the present invention for operating a dishwasher
according to the invention. In this embodiment of the method
according to the invention, the lye pump is used to fill the film
bag 17 with rinsing water. The film bag 17 is filled via a first
rinsing water pipe 1 from the lye pump to the film bag 17, the lye
pump receiving the rinsing water from the pump sump at the bottom
of the washing container 11.
[0040] A second rinsing water pipe 2 in FIG. 3 leads from the lye
pump to a drain pump via which rinsing way is conveyed from the
dishwasher 9. The drain pipe has a return shut-off valve 5 to
prevent any return of used rinsing water from the drain pipe into
the dishwasher 9. In order to better control the flow paths through
the rinsing water pipes 1, 2, 3, a shut-off valve 6, 7, 8 is
provided in each of the rising water pipes 1, 2, 3, which opens or
closes the relevant rinsing water pipe 1, 2, 3 as required. The
shut-off valve 7 in the first rinsing water pipe 1 between the lye
pump and the film bag 17 is used in particular to prevent any
undesired return of rinsing water from the filled film bag 17 via
the lye pump back into the pump sump. When using an intake pipe
which ends in the upper area of the storage reservoir, the shut-off
valve 7 is not required (not shown). The film bag 17 is generally
emptied into the washing container 11 or into the drain pipe 5 by
means of gravity by means of a corresponding control by at least
one shut-ff valve or a water deflector valve. The shut-off valve
can also be integrated on the continuous heater.
[0041] However, the flow paths of the rinsing water can also be
controlled by a water deflector valve 4 which either opens the
first rinsing water pipe 1 from the lye pump to the film bag 17 or
the second rinsing water pipe 2 from the lye pump to the drain
pipe. In this way, during operation of the lye pump the film bag 17
is either filled with rinsing water via the first rinsing water
pipe 1 or rising water is conveyed via the second rinsing water
line 2 from the dishwasher 9 into the drain pipe.
[0042] The rinsing water from the film bag 17 is re-introduced into
the rinsing water cycle of the dishwasher 9 via a third rinsing
water line 3 which leads from the film bag 17 to the pump sump in
the lower area of the washing container 11. In the pump sump the
rinsing water is conveyed back into the rinsing water cycle with
spray arms by a circulating pump. The operation of the lye pump,
the circulating pump and the actuation of the water deflector valve
4 and the shut-off valves 6, 7, 8 is coordinated and controlled
electronically by means of an electronic program controller (not
shown).
[0043] The schematic diagram shown in FIG. 3 to represent the
method can be modified by the film bag 17 having only one opening
and thus attaching one rinsing water pipe wherein the first rinsing
water pipe 1 and the second rinsing water pipe 2 are combined to
form one rinsing water pipe. At the end of this common rinsing
water pipe it is then necessary to have a branch to the shut-off
valves 7, 8 (not shown). Furthermore, the film bag 17 can be filled
and emptied using any other device suitable for this purpose or any
other method.
[0044] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the method in a second
embodiment of the present invention for operating a dishwasher
according to the invention. In this embodiment of the method
according to the invention, the circulating pump is used to fill
the film bag 17 with rinsing water. The film bag 17 is filled via a
first rinsing water pipe 1 when the shut-off valve 7 is open from
the circulating pump to the film bag 17, where the circulating pump
obtains the rinsing water from the pump sump at the bottom of the
washing container 11. When the shut-off valve 7 is closed, the
rinsing water is fed via the water deflector valve 4 into the spray
arms. The flow resistance of the spray arms when the shut-off valve
7 is opened is sufficient to fill the film bag 17. For this reason,
no additional shut-off valve (not shown) directly before the water
shut-off valve 4 or closure of the water deflector valve 4 is
required to fill the film bag 17.
[0045] As a result, filtered rinsing water is pumped into the film
bag 17 in a particularly advantageous manner. The rinsing water
sucked into the pump sump by the circulating pump is filtered by a
filter system normally disposed in the pump sump, generally
consists of a plurality of filters, e.g. a coarse and a fine filter
because the suction pipe of the circulating pump in the pump sump
is differently configured from the suction pipe of the lye pump. As
a result, the residence time of the rinsing water in the film bag
17 can be extended and no deposits or only very few deposits occur
in the film bag 17 and/or in the rinsing water pipe 1. Thus,
blockages caused by deposits in the rinsing water pipes 1 and/or in
the shut-off valve 7 can be avoided. In addition, the growth of
bacteria, germs and algae is substantially restricted because food
is withdrawn from these organisms. The film bag 17 is generally
emptied into the washing container 11 or into the drain pipe 5 by
gravity as a result of opening the shut-off valve 7. When the
shut-off valve 7 is open, the rinsing water runs back via the
rinsing water pipe 1 through the switched-off circulating pump back
into the pump sump preferably as a result of gravity.
[0046] The operation of the lye pump, the circulating pump and the
actuation of the water deflector valve 4 and the shut-off valve 1
is coordinated and controlled by the electronic program
controller.
[0047] In addition to being preferably used for a pre-wash process
of a following cleaning program, the rinsing water stored in the
film bag 17 can also be used for an intermediate flush (cleaning
the filter by short-term alternating operation of the lye and
circulating pump).
[0048] The film bag 17 and/or the rinsing water pipes 1, 2, 3 can
have an anti-bacterial coating on the water-guiding inner walls,
e.g. with Agion. As a result, significantly fewer bacteria or germs
deposit on the inner walls of parts 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8, 17. As a
result, the residence time of the rinsing water in the film bag 17
can be increased and blockages of the rinsing water pipes 1, 2, 3
by deposits can be avoided.
[0049] All the features of the invention specified above for a
dishwasher according to the invention and the method according to
the invention with a flexible film bag (claim 1 and 17) also apply
to a dishwasher according to the invention and the method according
to the invention with a non-flexible storage reservoir (claims 16
and 21) where the storage reservoir can be filled or is filled with
filtered rinsing water from the circulating pump.
REFERENCE LIST
[0050] 1 Rinsing water pipe between pump and storage reservoir
[0051] 2 Rinsing water pipe to drain pipe [0052] 3 Rinsing water
pipe between film bag and pump sump [0053] 4 Water deflector valve
[0054] 5 Return shut-off valve in drain pipe [0055] 6 Shut-off
valve in rinsing water pipe 2 [0056] 7 Shut-off valve in rinsing
water pipe 1 [0057] 8 Shut-off valve in rinsing water pipe 3 [0058]
9 Dishwasher [0059] 11 Washing container [0060] 12 Crockery baskets
[0061] 13 Hinged door of dishwasher 9 [0062] 14 Side wall of
washing container 11 [0063] 15 Opening in storage reservoir 10
[0064] 16 Top wall of dishwasher 9 [0065] 17 Film bag [0066] 18 Top
wall of washing container 11
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