Dishwasher, method for operating a dishwasher, and computer program product

Abstract

Dishwasher, in particular household dishwasher, with a washing compartment a control device for carrying out a washing program from a number of washing programs and with an automatic dosing device for automatically dosing a plurality of dosing quantities from a supply a cleaning agent present as a solid in the washing area, the control device for cleaning the automatic dosing device being set up to control the automatic dosing device to switch to a cleaning state and to control the automatic dosing device for cleaning the automatic Dosing device to carry out a specific wash program from the number of wash programs.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising: a washing chamber; an automatic dosing device configured to contain a supply of solid cleaning agent and to automatically dose a plurality of dosing quantities from the supply of solid cleaning agent, the automatic dosing device comprising: a cleaning opening that is openable to receive washing liquor in a cleaning state for cleaning the automatic dosing device; and a supply channel that is openable to drain the washing liquor from the automatic dosing device in the cleaning state, the cleaning opening positioned above the supply channel in the cleaning state; and a controller for running a number of washing programs, said controller being configured to run from the number of washing programs a specific washing program by which the automatic dosing device is actuated and switched to the cleaning state for cleaning the automatic dosing device using the specific washing program.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1, constructed in the form of a household dishwasher.

3. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the automatic dosing device includes a fluid-tight housing and performs dosing of cleaning agent within said housing, said housing having the cleaning opening, and wherein the cleaning opening is closable in a fluid-tight manner.

4. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the automatic dosing device includes a fluid-tight housing and is configured to receive a removeable storage container for providing the supply of the solid cleaning agent, said housing having the cleaning opening and wherein the cleaning opening is closable in a fluid-tight manner.

5. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the supply channel is closable in a fluid-tight manner, and wherein the supply channel connects the automatic dosing device to the washing chamber.

6. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the automatic dosing device includes a movable element and a drive driving the movable element for dosing the dosing quantities, said controller being designed to actuate the drive to move the movable element when the specific washing program is run.

7. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the automatic dosing device includes a sensor that detects a movement of the movable element and outputs a sensor signal as a function of the detected movement of the movable element, said controller designed to identify a blocking of the movable element as a function of the sensor signal.

8. The dishwasher of claim 6, wherein the cleaning agent is selected from a group consisting of cleaning agent powder, cleaning agent pellets, and shaped bodies of cleaning agent.

9. The dishwasher of claim 6, further comprising a user interface configured to output user information as a function of the cleaning state and/or an identified blocking of the movable element of the automatic dosing device.

10. The dishwasher of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic system for cleaning the automatic dosing device, when the specific washing program is run.

11. The dishwasher of claim 1, wherein the controller is designed to cause supply of further cleaning agent from a supply unit when the specific washing program is run.

12. A method for operating a dishwasher which includes a washing chamber, a controller for running a washing program from a number of washing programs, and an automatic dosing device configured to contain a supply of solid cleaning agent and to automatically dose a plurality of dosing quantities from the supply of solid cleaning agent, said method comprising: actuating, by the controller, the automatic dosing device to switch to a cleaning state by: opening a cleaning opening of the automatic dosing device for receiving washing liquor to remove residue from the automatic dosing device; and opening a supply channel of the automatic dosing device for draining the washing liquor and the residue from the automatic dosing device, the cleaning opening positioned above the supply channel in the cleaning state; and running a specific washing program for cleaning the automatic dosing device while the automatic dosing device is in the cleaning state such that washing liquid can enter the cleaning opening and flow through the supply channel.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the dishwasher is a household dishwasher.

14. A computer program product for operating a dishwasher, the computer program product comprising a computer program embodied in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, the computer program executable by a program-controlled device to perform the method recited by claim 12.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantageous embodiments and features of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described hereinafter. The invention is described in more detail below by means of preferred embodiments, with reference to the accompanying figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher in the cleaning state;

(4) FIG. 3 shows schematically an exemplary embodiment of an automatic dosing device; and

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(6) Elements which are identical or functionally identical have been provided in the figures with the same reference numerals, unless indicated otherwise.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a dishwasher 1 which is configured here as a household dishwasher. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 2 which is closable by a door 3, in particular in a water-tight manner. To this end, a sealing device may be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2. The washing container 2 is preferably cuboidal. The washing container 2 may be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The washing container 2 and the door 3 may form a washing chamber 4 for washing the washing items.

(8) The door 3 is shown in FIG. 1 in its open state. The door 3 may be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3. A loading opening 6 of the washing container 2 may be closed or opened by means of the door 3. The washing container 2 has a bottom 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the bottom 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The bottom 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 may be produced, for example, from stainless steel. Alternatively, the bottom 7 may be produced, for example, from a plastics material.

(9) The household dishwasher 1 further comprises at least one washing item receptacle 12 to 14. Preferably a plurality of washing item receptacles 12 to 14, for example three thereof, may be provided, wherein the washing item receptacle 12 may be a lower washing item receptacle or a lower basket, the washing item receptacle 13 may be an upper washing item receptacle or an upper basket and the washing item receptacle 14 may be a cutlery drawer. As FIG. 1 also shows, the washing item receptacles 12 to 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each washing item receptacle 12 to 14 is optionally able to be displaced into or out of the washing container 2. In particular, each washing item receptacle 12 to 14 is able to be pushed or retracted into the washing container 2 in an insertion direction E and is able to be pulled or extended out of the washing container 2 counter to the insertion direction E in an extension direction A.

(10) Furthermore a controller 100 and an automatic dosing device 110 are arranged on the door 3 of the household dishwasher 1. The controller 100 is provided for controlling, regulating and/or monitoring all of the controllable components of the household dishwasher 1, such as valves, pumps, heater, water switch, supply unit and the like, which are not shown for reasons of clarity. In particular, the controller 100 is designed to actuate the automatic dosing device 110. With a corresponding actuation by the controller 100, the automatic dosing device 110 is designed to dose one or more dosing quantities of a solid cleaning agent into the washing chamber 4. To this end, the automatic dosing device 110, for example, has a dosing unit 114 (see FIG. 3). The automatic dosing device 110 may also have further components/elements, such as a fluid-tight housing 112, a cleaning opening 113, a receiving unit 118, a supply channel 120, a sealing unit 121, a movable element 122 and/or a sensor unit 123 (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3).

(11) The controller 100 is designed to run a washing program from a number of washing programs. The number comprises, for example, a plurality of respectively different washing programs for washing the washing items, such as for example a delicate program, an intensive program, an energy-saving program, etc. Furthermore, the number comprises at least one specific washing program which is provided for cleaning the automatic dosing device 110 and has specific washing parameters therefor. Hereinafter, the specific washing program may be denoted as a cleaning program.

(12) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of a further exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher 1 which is configured once again as a household dishwasher 1 which is currently in the cleaning state. The dishwasher 1 shown, for example, may be the household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1. The household dishwasher 1 is shown here with the door 3 in the closed position. A spray arm 15 which in normal operation of the household dishwasher 1 is designed to supply the washing items in the washing chamber 4 with washing liquor is arranged on a bottom 7 of the household dishwasher 1. A specific hydraulic system 16 which may be specifically used for cleaning the automatic dosing device 110 is arranged on a ceiling 8 of the household dishwasher 1. A user interface 102 is arranged on the outer face of the door 3, said user interface in this case comprising a digital display and user information being able to be output thereby. The user information comprises, for example, a message that a movable element 122 of the automatic dosing device 110 is blocked, which is why the automatic dosing device 110 should be cleaned.

(13) The automatic dosing device 110 is arranged on the inner face of the door 3. The automatic dosing device 110 comprises a receiving unit 118 which is arranged in a fluid-tight housing 112 for receiving a removable storage container, which has been removed in the present case. The receiving unit 118 in this case is rotatable about an axis, so that in the inserted state the storage container may be rotated with the receiving unit 118. The receiving unit 118 in this case forms a movable element 122 of the automatic dosing device 110. The receiving unit 118 is accessible by means of a cleaning opening 113 which is closable by a flap 116 in a fluid-tight manner. A sensor unit 123, which is designed to detect a movement of the receiving unit 118, is arranged in the upper region of the fluid-tight housing 112. A supply channel 120, which is closable in a fluid-tight manner by a sealing element 121, adjoins the fluid-tight housing 112.

(14) The automatic dosing device 110 is shown in its cleaning state which in the present case is characterized by the flap 116 being open, the storage container being removed and the sealing element 121 being open. Thus the automatic dosing device 110 may be efficiently cleaned when the controller 100 (see FIG. 1) runs the cleaning program. During the cleaning program, in particular, the specific hydraulic system 16 is supplied at least intermittently with washing liquor.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a schematic exemplary embodiment of an automatic dosing device 110, as may be used for example in the household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. In the present case the automatic dosing device 110 comprises a receiving unit 118 for receiving a removable storage container (not shown) which in this exemplary embodiment has a round shape. In this case the receiving unit 118 is designed such that the storage container is rotatable therein, wherein the dosing or a predosing is effected by a rotation of the storage container. The receiving unit 118 is arranged in a housing 112 which is closable in a fluid-tight manner and is accessible via a cleaning opening 113. The cleaning opening 113 is closable, in particular, in a fluid-tight manner by a flap 116 (see FIG. 2). In the open state of the cleaning opening 113 the flap 116 may be flapped open by a user or even automatically. Then the storage container may be removed, for example, and the receiving unit 118 may be cleaned unhindered.

(16) A dosing unit 114 is also arranged in the fluid-tight housing 112. The dosing unit 114 monitors, for example, the dosing of the dosing quantity from the storage container into the washing chamber 4 (see FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). The dosing unit 114 is accessible via a cleaning opening 113, as is the receiving unit 118.

(17) The automatic dosing device 110 also has a supply channel 120 which, in particular, connects the dosing unit 114 in terms of flow technology to the washing chamber 4, wherein at the lower end of the supply channel 120 an outlet 119 opens into the washing chamber 4. A sealing element 121, which is designed for the fluid-tight sealing of the supply channel 120, is arranged on the supply channel 120. For example, the supply channel 120 consists of a squeezable hose and the sealing element 121 is configured in the form of a clip which is designed to squeeze the squeezable hose. The outlet 119 may be closed, for example, by an openable flap (not shown).

(18) In the cleaning state of the automatic dosing device 110, in particular, at least one of the two cleaning openings 113 is in the open state. Thus the housing 112 is not closed in a fluid-tight manner. Moreover, it may be provided that in the cleaning state of the receiving unit 118 the storage container is removed. The sealing element 121 is also open so that a connection in terms of flow technology is present between the dosing unit 114 and the washing chamber 4. In particular, the washing liquor which is dispensed so as to be directed toward the open cleaning opening 113 is able to penetrate via the respective cleaning opening 113 into the automatic dosing device 110 and release dirt and/or encrusted cleaning agent therein and thus clean the automatic dosing device 110. The penetrated washing liquor is able to drain out via the supply channel 120 back into the washing chamber 4.

(19) FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method for operating a dishwasher 1, for example the household dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2. The dishwasher 1 has a controller 100 and an automatic dosing device 110.

(20) In a first method step S1 the automatic dosing device 110 is actuated by a controller 100 of the dishwasher 1 for switching to a cleaning state. In particular, cleaning openings 113 which are present to this end (see FIG. 2 and FIG. 3) are opened so that soiled components of the automatic dosing device 110 may be cleaned.

(21) In a second method step S2 a specific washing program for cleaning the automatic dosing device 110 is run. The specific washing program may be provided, in particular, such that movable components of the automatic dosing device 110, such as for example a receiving unit 118 and/or a dosing unit 114 (see FIG. 3), are deflected or moved during the running of the specific washing program so that potentially concealed portions are also cleaned. For example, a rotatable receiving unit 118, as shown in FIG. 2 or FIG. 3, is repeatedly rotated, preferably in both rotational directions.

(22) Whilst the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it may be modified in many different ways.