Disclosed herein is a chemical dosing system for an appliance, such as a laundry washing machine or a dishwashing machine, having a water inlet, the system comprising a meter for determining the volume of water supplied to the appliance, a pump for dispensing a quantity of a chemical to the appliance and a control unit arranged to receive a signal from the meter and to cause to be dispensed to the appliance a volume of chemical that is proportional to the quantity of water supplied to the appliance. The disclosed system may enable a correct quantity of chemical to be automatically dispensed to many types of appliance, without the need to know anything about the appliance, or to derive electrical signal from the appliance.

A dishwasher includes: a tub which defines a space in which dishes are washed; a sump which accommodates washing water to be supplied into the tub; and a descaling solution supply device which supplies a descaling solution to the sump, in which the descaling solution supply device includes: a main flow path which guides washing water to be supplied to the sump; a solution accommodating unit which accommodates a descaling agent and has a solution outlet through which washing water, in which the descaling agent is dissolved, is discharged to the main flow path; a solution discharge valve which opens and closes the solution outlet; and a branch flow path which branches off from the main flow path, supplies the washing water into the solution accommodating unit, and has an atmosphere communicating port that communicates with the atmosphere.

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a body; a heat pump that is disposed inside the body and that has a first heat exchanger providing the heating of the water to be used in the washing step, a second heat exchanger transferring the heat received from the first heat exchanger to the wash water and a compressor fluidly connected to the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger, realizing the refrigerant cycle; a water collection tank that is disposed just under the first heat exchanger, wherein the water condensing on the first heat exchanger is collected, and a water softening unit that enables the water taken from the mains to be softened so as to be used in the washing step.

A pump for regenerating a decalcifying device of a dishwasher. The pump brings about a flow of regenerating brine in a chamber containing substances with water-softening properties of a decalcifying device of a dishwashing machine. The pump includes: a body (10) in which a brine inflow conduit (16) provided with a one-way valve (18) and a brine outflow conduit (12) provided with a one-way valve (14) are defined; a solenoid (20) having a longitudinal axis (24) and arranged within the body (10); and a core controlled by the solenoid (20), mobile along the axis (24), provided with return elastic means and having an upper end associated to the body (10) and a lower end connected to a centre portion of a membrane (44), whose peripheral portion is fixed to the body (10). The outflow conduit (12) has an initial portion (34) coaxial with the axis (24) so that, when the pump is not active, the mouth of the initial portion (34) is closed by the centre portion of the membrane (44) which ensures the water-tightness in both directions between the inflow and outflow conduits (16, 12).

Methods and systems for acid regeneration of ion exchange resins are disclosed. Acid resins designed for use in a variety of cleaning application using a water source use a treated, softened, acidic water source according to the invention. Various methods of using the softened acidic water generated by acid regenerate-able ion exchange resins are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.

Caustic-free detergent compositions are provided. Detergent compositions including an aminocarboxylate, water conditioning agent, non-caustic source of alkalinity and water beneficially do not require the use of additional surfactants and/or polymers to provide suitable detergency and prevent scale build-up on treated surfaces. The detergent compositions are used with a sanitizer to employ the caustic-free detergent compositions are particularly suitable for use as low temperature ware wash detergents that beneficially reduce scale build-up. Methods of employing the caustic-free detergent compositions are also provided.

A method for filling a wash tub (12) of a dishwasher (10) with water, wherein the wash tub (12) comprises a water-collecting sump pot (16) that is fixed to an opening in its bottom and said method forms part of a program cycle for the operation of the dishwasher, said method comprising the subsequent steps of: (i) opening a water inlet (13) of the dishwasher and executing a static filling of the wash tub wherein a circulation pump of the dishwasher is kept deactivated, (ii) detecting a predetermined lower water level (22) inside the sump pot (16), and (iii) starting to measure the time for the static filling when said lower water level (22) is detected.

A dishwasher and method for treating dishes according to a cycle of operation, wherein the dishwasher can include a tub at least partially defining a treating chamber, a dish rack movably received within the treating chamber and a spray system fluidly connected to the water supply. The dish rack is configured for receiving dishes or utensils for treatment during the cycle of operation. The spray system can include a set of sprayers located within the treating chamber that are configured to selectively emit spray from the water supply onto dishes or utensils on the dish rack.

Methods and systems for employing softened acidified water sources from an acid regenerated ion exchange resins are disclosed. Various methods of dispensing and/or using the softened acidic water generated by an acid regenerate-able ion exchange resin are disclosed to beneficially reduce spotting, filming and scale buildup on treated surfaces, reduce and/or eliminate the need for polymers, including water conditioning agents, threshold reagents and/or rinse aids, and using protons generated in the acidic water effluent for triggering events useful in various cleaning applications.

A water softening apparatus having an improved structure to provide a function of an air brake, a dishwasher including the same and a control method thereof, the water softening apparatus having an air brake assembly and a regeneration tank and configured to soften wash water being supplied from a tub, wherein the air brake assembly including a water supply valve allowing wash water to be introduced therethrough, an ion exchange tank to accommodate an ion exchange resin therein, and a plurality of valves installed on a first path allowing wash water being introduced through the water supply valve to flow toward the ion exchange tank, wherein the regeneration tank is connected to the air brake assembly and accommodates regeneration material configured to purify the ion exchange resin.