A dishwasher and method utilize a thermal imaging system in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.

In embodiments, the invention includes a system, an apparatus, and a method for cleaning reusable straws. The system includes a chamber configured to contain a liquid, a siphon to drain the chamber, a transducer to deliver sonic energy to the chamber, and a plurality of straws disposed in the chamber. Each straw includes a tubular wall defining a lumen. The lumen has a length and a cross-sectional area, and the cross-sectional area is substantially constant over the length.

A dishwasher and method utilize an imaging system to perform various diagnostic operations within the dishwasher, including one or more of level sensing, filter cleaning, wash tub rinse down, foam detection, imaging system cleaning, and remote viewing. A controller may clean a filter by controllably-redirecting a controllably-movable sprayer to spray fluid onto the filter.

A dishwasher appliance includes a sump that defines a transition fill level where the cross sectional area of the sump increases. A pressure sensor is operably coupled to the sump for monitoring sump pressure and wash fluid level. A controller opens a water supply valve to provide a flow of water into the sump and monitors the sump pressure using the pressure sensor. The controller determines when the water has reached the transition fill level corresponding to a known transition fill volume. The controller determines a fill flow rate based on the amount of time needed to reach the transition fill volume and uses the fill flow rate to determine a remaining fill time needed to reach a target volume.

A system for dispensing a detergent solution from a solid detergent into a dishwasher includes a dispenser that can collect water sprayed into the dishwasher and use the collected water to produce the detergent solution by dissolving a portion of the solid detergent, controlling the amount of the detergent solution produced, and releasing the produced detergent solution between cleaning cycles. The dispenser can perform these functions automatically without being electrically powered.

A system for dispensing a detergent solution from a solid detergent into a dishwasher includes a dispenser that can collect water sprayed into the dishwasher and use the collected water to produce the detergent solution by dissolving a portion of the solid detergent, controlling the amount of the detergent solution produced, and releasing the produced detergent solution between cleaning cycles. The dispenser can perform these functions automatically without being electrically powered.

Dishwashing appliances and methods, as provided herein, may include features or steps such as performing a drain cycle; detecting a pressure (P1) during an activation period of the drain cycle; comparing the pressure to a first predetermined pressure limit; comparing the pressure to a second predetermined pressure limit; determining a target fill value based on a difference between a normal fill volume and a fluid volume corresponding to P1; and initiating a fill cycle based on the target fill value.

The present disclosure relates to a drainage device and a dishwasher having the same. The drainage device includes a drain pump including a drain port for discharging water, a drain pipe guiding discharge of water discharged from the drain pump, an air chamber in which the drain pump is connected to an upper portion thereof and the drain pipe is connected to a lower portion thereof, and an air pump configured to inject air into the air chamber, thereby more surely blocking the backflow of water to the drain pump by air injected into the air chamber through the air pump.

Proposed is ultrasonic spoon washing apparatus and method, which use ultrasonic waves generated by one or more ultrasonic oscillators provided on a vertical side wall of polygonal surfaces of a wash tub, so that spoons contained in a spoon support part rotating forward/in reverse may very efficiently and conveniently be washed while the number of revolutions changes for each washing stage, the apparatus including: a frame body; the wash tub mounted inside the frame body; one or more ultrasonic oscillators provided on an outer side of the vertical side wall; a forward/reverse rotation support part including a support shaft and a rotation support pipe; a spoon support part including a holder and a spoon accommodation container; a rinsing water supply part configured to spray the rinsing water together with a rinsing aid; and a wastewater and foreign material discharge part configured to discharge, to the outside, wastewater and foreign materials.

Ergonomic Intelligent Dishwasher comprising of closed-loop carousel system, tableware storage holder and a Wash-Pod. Individual tableware is inserted through an opening where the tableware attaches to a closed-loop, speed-adjustable carousel-system that moves the individual tableware, in a queue-fashion, through one or more wash cycle as the attached-tableware travels towards the tableware separation-mechanism. Tableware separation-mechanism is activated or deactivated for each individual tableware in the said queue on the carousel based on user-define setting or an internal quality-control process, thus, when deactivated, attached tableware on the carousel continues to travel through additional said cleaning cycle in the loop until such time when carousel-tableware separation-mechanism is activated. Once the tableware is discharged and separated from the carousel, the tableware is directed to one or more tableware storage holder. As part of the same unit, Wash-Pod is a housing within the unit with closeable lid for washing kitchenware items based on user parameters.