The present disclosure is directed to an apparatus for rinsing and disinfecting utensils, on demand, with a controller operating the components that deliver a pre-determined volume or timed flow of water, and exposure time of sanitizer(s) to the intended objects. The spray embodiment has high performance conical spray nozzle(s) controlled by a controller that reduces water usage and that may vary depending on the viscosity of the material to be eliminated. The recirculating embodiment has a recirculating water system, with a controller operating the components that recirculate water throughout the system until the turbidity exceeds a chosen threshold, and displace with fresh water until the turbidity returns to a lower threshold. The water resumes recirculation until it again exceeds the chose turbidity threshold and the water in the system is again displaced by fresh water. Both spray and recirculating embodiments can contain multiple rinse stations.

A dishwasher has a housing (10) with a wash chamber (20) and a top wall (204) with a non-planar surface (214;214) facing downwardly into the wash chamber, the surface having portions (216,218; 226,228) facing downwardly and facing in different horizontal directions (H1,H2; HX,HY,HP,HQ). Nozzles (402) mounted within the wash chamber spray a liquid upwardly within the wash chamber. The surface portions redistribute the upwardly-sprayed water in horizontal directions to provide a more uniform washing action. A portable dishwasher may have a fresh water reservoir (422) and a used water reservoir (430) mounted in the housing beneath the wash chamber. The used water reservoir may be removably mounted in the housing so that the user can remove used wash water by removing the used water reservoir. The portable dishwasher can be used at a location remote from a sink.

Methods of operating a dishwashing appliance are provided herein. A method may include measuring a temperature at a temperature sensor and identifying a runaway heat condition within a wash chamber based on the measured temperature. The method may also include directing a volume of water to the wash chamber in response to identifying the runaway heat condition and circulating the volume of water within the wash chamber for a recirculation period.

A method of diagnosing level sensor failure in a fuel cell water trap, the method may include: determining whether a water level of a level sensor is changed in a fuel cell water trap, adding an amount of charge according to an operating time and comparing the added amount of charge with a preset threshold amount of charge, according to the result of the forcibly opening a drain valve according to determining whether a channel voltage of a specific channel is abnormal as the result of the comparison, and diagnosing a failure of the level sensor according to determining whether the channel voltage of the specific cell is recovered as a normal state when the drain valve is opened.

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 cleaning device, in particular a dishwasher, includes: a cleaning container having a cleaning chamber and accommodating cleaning material to be cleaned; a heat pump device which has an evaporator arranged inside a heat storage medium tank; and an intermediate storage positioned above the heat storage medium tank, the intermediate storage receiving liquid heat storage medium displaced from the heat storage medium tank.

A method includes actuating a pump at a constant nominal flow-rate to induce liquid flow out of a vessel through an outlet duct. The outlet duct communicates with the vessel with an upper aperture at an intermediate level height, and a lower aperture at a reduced level height. Flow of liquid is detected in the outlet duct. A digital signal assumes an alternate sequence of states when the liquid level is between the intermediate and reduced levels. Each state is an air-indicating state or liquid-indicating state. The presence or absence of air bubbles is detected in the flow of liquid. The digital signal is compared with a reference signal having a predetermined sequence of air-indicating states and liquid-indicating states. Pump actuation duration is modified as a function of a difference between the digital and reference signals. An apparatus is controls the supply of a liquid level in a vessel.

A dishwasher includes: a dishwasher body including a tub that defines a washing space and a sump disposed vertically below the tub and configured to accommodate washing water; a heat pump including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion apparatus, and an evaporator; a drain storage unit connected to a drain pipe of the sump and configured to receive washing water discharged from the sump; a drain pipe open-close valve that opens and closes the drain pipe; and a controller that controls the heat pump and the drain pipe open-close valve. The evaporator is configured to exchange heat with the drain storage unit, and the controller controls the drain pipe open-close valve to open the drain pipe to move washing water of the sump to the drain storage unit when the sump is drained.

The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher having a heat pump, including a dishwasher body provided with a tub configured with a washing space therein and a sump provided at a bottom of the tub to temporarily accommodate washing water; a heat pump having a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion apparatus, and a condenser provided on an inner bottom surface of the tub to exchange heat with washing water inside the tub; and a controller that controls the heat pump to be driven to increase the temperature of the washing water inside the tub. As a result, the heating time of washing water may be shortened.

The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher having a heat pump, including a dishwasher body provided with a tub configured with a washing space therein and a sump provided at a bottom of the tub to temporarily accommodate washing water; a washing water storage unit provided in the dishwasher body to store washing water therein; a heat pump having a compressor, an evaporator, an expansion apparatus, and a condenser provided to exchange heat with the washing water of the washing water storage unit; and a controller that controls the heat pump to increase the temperature of the washing water of the washing water storage unit. As a result, a heating time of washing water may be shortened, thereby suppressing a time required for washing dishes from being prolonged.