Image-based object sensing is utilized in a dishwasher to configure a wash cycle and/or perform other operations in the dishwasher.

A prewashing system includes a dish recognizing unit that recognizes a dish that is an object of prewashing executed prior to main washing, a first prewashing unit that performs prewashing of the dish that is the object of prewashing by a flow of water, a second prewashing unit that performs prewashing of the dish that is the object of prewashing by a washing tool, a prewashing method deciding unit that decides a prewashing method using at least one of the first prewashing unit and the second prewashing unit, on the basis of a form of the dish that is the object of prewashing, which is recognized by the dish recognizing unit, and a prewashing executing unit that executes prewashing of the dish that is the object of prewashing, by the prewashing method decided by the prewashing method deciding unit.

A dishwasher includes a memory unit for storing a number of washing programs, a control device configured to carry out a washing program from the number of washing programs; and a communication unit configured to retrieve a specific washing program from an external device in accordance with a status information relating to an external household appliance, and to store the retrieved specific washing program in the memory unit, said control device carrying out the stored specific washing program.

A home appliance, such as a laundry appliance, includes a component assembly with a sensor and a sensor-controlled component for operating the appliance, and a cover for housing the component assembly therein. The cover has an outer surface and an inner surface. The cover includes a functionalized superhydrophobic multi-layer coating on at least one of the outer surface and inner surface. The functionalized superhydrophobic coating prevents moisture from entering the component assembly and attacking sensors housed therein, and has a water contact angle thereon of at least 145 degrees.

A warewash machine for washing wares includes a chamber for receiving wares, the chamber having an inlet side, an outlet side, multiple spray zones between the inlet side and the outlet side, and a conveyor arrangement for moving wares along a conveyance path through the multiple spray zones in a ware travel direction. A prescrapping zone is located toward the inlet side of the chamber, the prescrapping zone having a blow-off system comprising a plurality of prescrapping nozzles and a compressed air feed line for delivering compressed air to the prescrapping nozzles.

A system and method for cleaning a reusable dish, comprising: picking a dirty dish from a load module disposed to contain at least one dirty dish with a robotic arm, wherein said dirty dish is stained with material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said dirty dish from said load module to a wash module with said robotic arm; cleaning said dirty dish in said wash module having the means to transform said dirty dish into a clean dish, wherein said clean dish does not exhibit any material that needs to be removed prior to reuse; transporting said clean dish from said wash module to a store module with said robotic arm; and dropping off said clean dish in said store module, wherein said store module is disposed to contain at least one clean dish, whereby each dirty dish is cleaned thoroughly and efficiently with individual attention in real time.

A system includes a dishwasher having a receptacle for items to be washed, an image capturing facility configured to capture an image of the receptacle of the dishwasher for items to be washed, and an image processing facility configured to determine in dependence upon the captured image a map of an arrangement of the items to be washed. The map includes a division of the receptacle into a number of regions, with each region having a predetermined arrangement of items to be washed from a number of predetermined arrangements of items to be washed. An allocation unit determines a cleaning matrix including an allocation of a treatment specification to each of the regions in the map, and outputs the cleaning matrix. A control apparatus executes a wash program based on the cleaning matrix.

An on-demand glasswasher comprises a drive motor; a rotary conveyor connected to the drive motor; an ultrasonic sensor assembly positioned adjacent to the rotary conveyor; a microprocessor connected to the drive motor and the ultrasonic sensor assembly; and a memory device coupled to the microprocessor, the memory device storing processor-executable instructions which, when executed by the microprocessor, cause the microprocessor to receive, from the ultrasonic sensor assembly, ultrasonic signals; analyze the ultrasonic signals to detect the presence of one or more objects on the rotary conveyor; and responsive to detecting the presence of one or more objects on the rotary conveyor, perform operations to stop operation of the on-demand glasswasher.

A system includes a dishwasher, an image capturing device designed to capture an image of washware arranged in the washing chamber, with the image including a plurality of sub-images, each of which having different spectral information of the washware. An illumination unit illuminates the washware in the washing chamber, and an image analysis unit receives the captured image from the image capturing device and to carry out a chemical analysis of soiling on the washware based on the plurality of sub-images of the received image and to ascertain a dirt characteristic of soiling as a result of the chemical analysis. A control device carries out a washing program for washing the washware in the washing chamber. The control device receives the dirt characteristic from the image analysis unit and adapts the washing program for washing the washware as a function of the received dirt characteristic.

A dishwasher in one embodiment is provided with a spray arm, and the spray arm is provided individually with areas configured to spray water to a first spray area and a second spray area, and sprays water to the first spray area to entirely wash objects to be washed accommodated in the dishwasher and sprays water to the second spray area to wash objects to be washed with remaining contaminants by applying a great impact on the object to be washed with remaining contaminants.