A reusable food or beverage container washing system and method of operation automates tracking, returning, washing, and outputting of reusable food or beverage containers. A reusable food or beverage container has an identification device associated therewith. The reusable food or beverage container is used to supply a food or beverage to a customer and associated with a customer identifier. When the customer is done using the reusable food or beverage container, it is returned to a receptacle of the system, and automatically transported to a washing system where it is washed, sanitized, and dried, and then output to a stack or other organized storage structure of container.

The present invention relates to an information light system to inform users about operating status of an electronic household appliance, especially a dishwasher, without opening a door of the household appliance, and a dishwasher comprising the same. The information light system (1) is characterized by comprising an electronic board (3) which has a lighting element (3a) thereon and adapted to communicate with a control unit of the dishwasher; a chamber (2) which comprises a first wall (2a) and two second walls (2c), wherein the chamber (2) is in the form of a housing suitable for placing the electronic board (3) and enables light to be reflected onto a second surface which is opposite to the first surface; a cover (2b) which covers at least partially the chamber (2) and comprises a reflecting area (2f) which is light-transparent, has a form focusing the light emitted from the lighting element (3a), and is located such that light emitted from the lighting element (3a) can reach, wherein a light focusing element is located on the reflecting area; a connector (4) for energising the electronic board (3) and which is located at the chamber (2); and a flap (5) which is located on the first wall (2a) and at an outer surface of the first fall (2a) not facing the chamber (2) so as to be at the same side with the connector (4), and is connected from a side to the chamber (2) in an inclined manner in such a way that it can direct the liquid coming to the chamber (2) away from the first wall (2a).

A silverware pre-washing and washing system made up of a unitary basin with one to five, and preferably three, vertically movable porous baskets arranged radially around a central vertical lifting and lowering mechanism. The base with unitary basin contains a quantity of washing fluid(s) into which each of the vertically movable porous baskets may be repeatedly immersed. The base cover defines cylindrical ports through which the baskets are raised and lowered. The porous baskets include perforation arrays to allow washing fluid to flow in non-linear paths through the silverware contained in the basket, thereby washing all sides of the silverware and beneficially re-arranging the silverware in the basket as the washing process proceeds.

A domestic appliance for cleaning a load has a treatment space for accommodating a load to be cleaned, a load detecting device for detecting a load quantity in the treatment space, and a time detecting device for detecting a time value. A controller of the domestic appliance automatically starts a cleaning program when (i) the load quantity detected by the load detecting device exceeds a predetermined load limit value and (ii) the time value detected by the time detecting device exceeds a predetermined time limit value.

A domestic appliance for cleaning a load has a treatment space for accommodating a load to be cleaned, a load detecting device for detecting a load quantity in the treatment space, and a time detecting device for detecting a time value. A controller of the domestic appliance automatically starts a cleaning program when (i) the load quantity detected by the load detecting device exceeds a predetermined load limit value and (ii) the time value detected by the time detecting device exceeds a predetermined time limit value.

A sensor device for detecting the presence of an electrically conductive substance in a space region, and applications thereof. The sensor device includes a detecting circuit, including at least first and second foils or sheets of an electrically conductive material; and a control circuit coupled with said detecting circuit and having an output connected with one of the foils for applying a first electric radiofrequency signal thereto and an input connected to other one of the foils for receiving a second radiofrequency signal induced in said other foil. The control circuit generates an information signal indicative of the strength of the second signal, which varies as a function of the presence of a body or a substance on or at said other foil.

The invention proposes a cleaning device (110) for cleaning articles (116) to be cleaned. The cleaning device (110) comprises at least one cleaning chamber (114) and at least one application device (120) for applying at least one cleaning fluid to the articles (116) to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber (114). The cleaning device (110) further comprises at least one controller (157) which is designed to actuate the cleaning device (110) for carrying out at least two operating modes. The controller (157) is further designed to detect at least one utilization variable. The utilization variable characterizes a current utilization of the cleaning device (110). The controller (157) is further designed to assign at least one weighting to the at least one utilization variables. The controller (157) further has at least one counting device (170) which is designed to cumulate utilization times of the cleaning device (110) which are weighted with the weighting and to generate at least one item of use information about a use of the cleaning device (110) therefrom.

A domestic laundry-washing appliance including an optical measuring device for obtaining measured values which are representative of a spectral transmission signature of a washing liquid used during operation of the laundry-washing appliance for cleaning textiles, and a control device which is adapted to categorise a cleaning agent contained in the washing liquid in respect of its chemical properties on the basis of the spectral transmission signature obtained, and to control the operation of the laundry-washing appliance in dependence on the categorisation result. The categorisation result can indicate, for example, a distinction between a heavy-duty detergent containing bleach and another bleach-free detergent.

Provided is a method of operating a dishwasher including a heat pump circuit, wherein a condensate collection container is associated with an evaporator of the heat pump circuit. The method may include the steps of pumping a washing liquid from a sump of the dishwasher using a pump device, opening a first valve in a condensate conduit connecting the condensate collection container with a suction conduit of the pump device, pumping a condensate from the condensate collection container using the pump device. A dishwasher may also be provided.

A household appliance, such as a dishwasher, for treating an item, such as a dish, in a treating chamber according to at least one automatic cycle of operation includes multiple antennas for transmitting and receiving data with an external network. The multiple antennas can be coupled with a radio also located within the appliance.