EP1055389B1 - Programmable dishwasher with device for drying the dishes - Google Patents

Abstract

The dishwasher has a device (10) for drying dishes, whereby the dishes are heated by circulated hot cleaning liquid and the moisture in the washing chamber and on the dishes is condensed during the drying process by a heat exchanger in a closed circuit with the liquid pumped out. The device has a container (11) filled with cold fresh water or regenerated flushing water during th drying process as the heat exchanger and an air channel (12) with a circulation fan (13) carrying the process air out of the was chamber (3) in a closed circuit during drying and leading past the container. At least one side wall (15) of the container acts channel wall forming a condensation surface.

Description

The invention relates to a program-controlled dishwasher with a device for drying dishes, the dishes being circulated in the water-carrying rinses Warm rinsing liquid is heated in the rinsing container and dried in the program section When the rinsing liquid is pumped out, the moisture in the rinsing tank by means of a heat exchanger and is condensed on the wash ware in a closed circuit.

They are dishwashers for installation in rows of kitchen cabinets or the like in general known, the appliance doors are clad with facing plates or decorative plates, the Door curtain door leaves each in shape, color and size of the doors of neighboring cabinet doors correspond to the row of kitchen cabinets. Here is between fully integrable devices, where the front panels cover the entire front of the device from the base to the Cover the device lid or the kitchen worktop, and differentiate between such devices, where the door trim only extends to the control panel below the worktop. The full coverage creates a visually appealing solution. Both types of dishwasher usually use the same wash program design with the usual wash programs, such as Universal 55 etc. These rinse programs to be processed by the appliance program include each separately controlled warm and cold rinse cycles, in which the in the rinse tank of the Device given washing liquid by means of the circulation pump over the dishes and back in the rinsing container is conveyed. The rinsing liquid used is at the end of each Pumped out rinsing cycle and conveyed into the drain. The hot rinse cycles are Program sections CLEAN and RINSE, in which washing liquid from the device's own Heating is provided. The cold rinse cycles can be shown or hidden as necessary Program sections, such as single or multiple PRE-RINSING and INTERMEDIATE RINSING, remain unheated per se. The end of a washing program is the program section DRYING, in which the moisture to dry the dishes from the washing container is brought out. Drying systems have become known for this, which after the air circulation or the exhaust air principle or combined with both systems.

In dishwashers with an exhaust air drying system, a rinsing room ventilation supports the drying process. The flushing room ventilation connects the flushing tank to the outside air and is formed by a ventilation duct with / without a drying fan. When drying dishes under program control, the humid air escapes from the wash cabinet through this channel. Possibly. cold ambient air is mixed into the process air. In the case of devices that are only partially clad with a front panel, the ventilation duct opens into the control panel above the device door. With the fully integrated dishwashers, the
Exhaust air drying is a problem because here the front plates, which cover the entire surface of the devices on the front, must not be broken through ventilation slots due to the optical design. It is therefore advantageous to use circulating air drying systems with such devices. In this case, the dishwasher is considered a closed system, in which the drying process can only be supported by installing additional condensation devices in the circulating air circuit. DE 37 41 652 A1 discloses a dishwasher which operates according to the circulating air drying system and has a condensation device which is designed as a heat exchanger with latent heat storage. Due to the special design of the heat exchanger as a latent heat storage, the known state of the art is complex and expensive to manufacture. Furthermore, latent heat storage for vapor condensation cannot be used optimally, since it is always necessary to influence the melt crystallization temperatures of the storage medium used, although not all temperature ranges can be covered.

The invention has for its object a device for vapor condensation in a to create according to the circulating air principle drying dishwasher, the program and is easy to implement in terms of design, requires little installation space in the device and that Drying process supported effectively. In particular, the facility is also intended for a fully integrable Device can be used.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the features specified in claim 1 solved. Advantageous refinements and developments of the invention result from the following subclaims.

Figur 1

eine Geschirrspülmaschine in der Seitenansicht in vereinfachter Ausführung mit einer Einrichtung zur Geschirrtrocknung,

Figur 2

die Einrichtung an der Geschirrspülmaschine in der Vorderansicht,

Figur 3

den Frischwasser- und Regenerierwasserlauf durch eine Enthärtungseinrichtung der Geschirrspülmaschine in Verbindung mit der vereinfacht dargestellten Einrichtung zur Geschirrtrocknung.

An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows

Figure 1

a side view of a dishwasher in a simplified version with a device for drying dishes,

Figure 2

the front view of the device on the dishwasher,

Figure 3

the fresh water and regeneration water flow through a softening device of the dishwasher in connection with the simplified device for drying dishes.

The household dishwasher (1) shown in simplified form in FIG a curtain-like decorative panel (2) on the front of the device has a rinsing container (3) on, via a cold water connection (4) in the water-bearing program sections fresh water is supplied as rinsing liquid. Such a dishwasher (1) can be fully integrated into a kitchen unit, due to the fact that it extends below the worktop Decorative plate (2) of the device from the outside of neighboring kitchen base cabinets is distinguishable in the line.

In the washing container (3) of the program-controlled dishwasher (1) are different Washing levels two crockery baskets (5, 6) for the dishes to be washed and dried or items to be washed, which, like separate cutlery baskets (not shown), in themselves known manner of spray arms, not shown, during the current washing program be flushed with rinsing liquid. In the fresh water flow of the dishwasher (1) a softening device (7) known per se is arranged to produce soft water if necessary, regenerable via a water storage pocket housed in the device housing as is known is.

The program-controlled dishwasher has a dishwasher for washing dishes and cutlery (1) the usual selectable wash programs, such as Universal 55, Universal 60, ½ load, Glass rinsing etc., which include separately controlled warm and cold rinses, in which the rinsing liquid given in each case in the rinsing container (3) of the device by means of a Circulation pump is conveyed over the dishes and back into the washing container (3). The used up Rinse liquid is pumped out of the drain pump (8) at the end of each rinse cycle and promoted in the process (9). The program sections are called warm rinse cycles CLEANING and RINSING are common, in which rinsing liquid from the device's own heater, the one in the rinsing container (3) provided tubular heater or an outside of the container in Water flow provided can be heated, is heated. The additional cold rinse cycles as program sections that can be shown or hidden, such as single or multiple PRE-RINSE as well as INTERMEDIATE RINSE remain unheated. The completion of a washing program forms the program section DRYING, in which the moisture to dry the Items to be washed are brought out of the washing container (3). According to the invention there is an after the drying system working according to the recirculation principle is provided.

According to the invention, the system comprises a device (10) with only one in the program section Drying filled with cold fresh water in the fresh water inlet (4) to the rinsing tank (3) arranged storage container (11) as a heat exchanger and one of the process air the rinsing container (3) when drying in a closed circuit leading air flow channel (12) with a circulating air blower (13). The reservoir (11) is a flat water or Kondenstasche formed between the rinse tank (3) and the outer housing wall (14) of the device, as shown schematically, can be inserted to save space. The volume (approx. 1 liter) of the storage container (11) is advantageously dimensioned such that it is used to fill the washing container (3) several water fillings of the storage container (11) are necessary.

The air flow channel (12) is guided past the storage container (11), at least one of the outer side walls of the storage container (11) as a condensation or cooling surface is trained. The side wall (15) of the storage container facing the washing compartment (3) is preferably (11) designed as a condensation surface. This condensate surface of the storage container (11) consists of a thin film (e.g. of plastic) and forms a channel wall (16) of the air flow channel (12). Due to the thin film, a quick heat exchange of the moist process air led through the duct to the cold fresh water in the tank (11) take place, the vapor condensing on the approximately 0.3 mm thick flexible film wall and down the film into a guide channel connected to the rinsing container (3) (17) flows off.

The reservoir (11) as a cold reservoir in cooperation with the air flow channel (12) as air / water heat exchanger is on the outside of the rinsing tank (3) in the device housing, however insulated at a distance from the wall of the washing compartment. Im so educated The space (18) has an airflow channel (12) that is closed on all sides, whereby its ends above and below are connected to the interior of the washing compartment (3). The Channel (12) is advantageous as separate against the film of the storage container (11) supporting component manufactured. The moist process air flows (see arrows, Fig. 1, 2) over a Intake opening (19) in the upper washing compartment area from above into the air flow channel (12) and leaves it via a blow-out opening (20) in the lower area of the Spülbehälterseitenwand. The circulating air blower (13) is also arranged in this area, which is a labyrinth system (21) with a catching and diverting device (22) Precipitation condensation is connected downstream. The maze prevents that Condensate or vapors in the process circuit can escape from the system and conduct this trapped condensed water back into the rinsing tank (3). The guide channel already mentioned (17) for condensate drainage is on the film side wall (15) of the storage container (11) in Area of the discharge opening (20) is formed. The circulating air blower (13) is a radial blower and preferably housed in an externally accessible mounting space of the device.

The storage container (11) is the softening device in the fresh water flow of the dishwasher (1) downstream. The softened fresh water is in a separate with the Interior of the reservoir (11) communicating fresh water channel (23) fed. The storage container (11) has a safety overflow (24) at the top in the washing container (3).

The fresh water channel (23) open at the bottom towards the storage container (11) is on the side of the storage container (11) up and back and has one at its upper end Suction lifter (25) on, sh. Fig. 2.

A program run begins with the cold PREWASH. Then the CLEANING follows Warm water, whereupon the INTERMEDIATE RINSE also connects with cold fresh water. The program section closes the following rinse cycle DRY as the last section of a wash program. After the wash program has been selected At the start of flushing, a solenoid valve (26) in the fresh water inlet of the device is opened. With the opening of the time and / or water volume depending on the program and / or via one Flow meter controlled solenoid valve (26) via the fresh water channel (23) and the storage container (11) softened washing liquid in the desired amount in the washing container (3) filled. When the solenoid valve (26) is switched off, the fresh water supply is switched off interrupted and the still filled reservoir (11) is the suction lifter (25) Fresh water channel (23) automatically drained. With the last filling of the storage container (11) the required amount of rinsing liquid in the rinsing tank (3) has been reached so that the pre-rinsing can start. When fully loaded, the rinsing container (3) is filled with a normal amount of rinsing liquid from about 4 to 5 liters. Then the other rinse cycles follow as usual.

After rinsing as the last water-bearing warm rinse cycle, the program section begins Dry the storage container (11) only under the siphon (25) with cold Fresh water filled so that it cannot respond. In the one with the storage container (11) communicating fresh water channel (23), the fresh water rises just as high and remains below the suction lifter (25). This causes the storage container to run empty (11) prevented when the solenoid valve (26) is switched off in the drying cycle.

The recirculation fan (13) is switched on with the DRYING program section. While In the recirculation mode, moisture is continuously removed from the process air in the circuit, that on the film as the condensation surface of the storage container filled with the cold fresh water (11) condensed. The circulated air is cooled down and into the rinsing tank (3) returned. There it warms up again on the dishes and on the washing container (3), in where the relative humidity decreases. This in turn can absorb moisture, which in the next round also on the cool condensation surface as a side wall (15) condensed, etc. At the end of the DRY section of the program, this will be in the storage container (11) water, which is now slightly warmed by the process cycle, either by briefly introducing fresh water into the tank to the level of the siphon (25) removed from the storage container (11) by the suction lifter effect, or it remains until to the next Pre-rinse a later rinsing program for reuse in the storage container (11). If necessary, the drying process can be supported by the device's own heating.

The recirculation mode in the closed system advantageously results in an unpleasant smell prevented when drying dishes. Vapor condensation outside the Avoid dishwasher (1) and a gentle temperature drop reached when drying. The device (10) used for this purpose according to the invention is not very complex in construction and by using the elements that are already used in dishwashing, like air and water, also cost-saving and easy to control.

According to FIG. 3, an advantageous development of the invention provides for condensation drying not only fresh water, but also when regenerating the softening device (7) the amount of regeneration water generated in the DRYING program section and at least a part of when rinsing or rinsing the softener after Regenerate used flushing water quantity. This can reduce the drying performance can be advantageously increased. The implementation is simple in terms of programming feasible. For this, the program steps REGENERATE and RINSE through the Softening device integrated into the program run of the dishwasher so that the water quantities led by the softener are collected in the reservoir can. The softening device (7) already mentioned in FIG. 1 is clearer according to FIG. 3 with all the necessary functional modules. In particular shows the figure the fresh water and regeneration water flow through the softening device (7) the dishwasher in connection with the device, however shown in simplified form (10) for drying dishes. The storage container already described as a heat exchanger is denoted by (11 ').

The device's own softening device (7) uses the one housed in the device housing as is known Water storage pocket (27) for storing retrievable amounts of regeneration liquid for the ion exchanger (7a) of the device, which can be regenerated with brine and in the valve-controlled fresh water path (cold water connection 4) behind the pipe Water storage pocket (27). The ion exchanger (7a) is in itself for the brine treatment known upstream of a salt container (7b) which a predetermined amount of regeneration water receives from the water storage bag (27) at the time of regeneration.

The water storage bag (27) is a back suction protection (28) in the fresh water line (Cold water connection 4) assigned, via the leak water for filling the water pocket (27) is branched off from the cold water connection (4). The leak water collected is called Regeneration water used. The water storage pocket (27) has an overflow (29) for Dishwasher rinse tank (3). The amount of regeneration water stored for brine formation In the water storage pocket (27), a program can be called up for which purpose Regeneration valve (30) in the line path (31) to the salt container (7b) is opened. Behind the Back suction protection (28) is the cold water connection (4) directly to the entrance of the ion exchanger (7a) of the softening device (7), the soft water outlet (32) on the one hand to the storage container (11 ') and on the other hand via a further back suction protection (33) with ventilation to the rinsing container (3) or to the collecting pot (34). in the Soft water outlet (32) to the rinsing tank (3) is a conduit according to FIG. 3 blocking or opening solenoid valve (35) arranged.

At the beginning of the DRYING section of the program, according to the variant according to FIG. 3, the storage container (11 ') again (if necessary only up to half) filled with cold fresh water. This will be Solenoid valve (26) of the cold water connection (4) opened time-controlled and the solenoid valve (35) behind the ion exchanger (7a) in the soft water outlet (32) to the rinsing tank (3) closed. The storage container (11 ') with cold fresh water to below of the safety overflow (24) filled. The circulating air blower (13) not shown in FIG program section DRYING is switched on and remains in operation until the end of the program. The drying process proceeds as already described in FIG. 1.

During the program run in the DRY section, the softener is regenerated then the first filling of the storage container (11 ') with fresh water, which is the circulated Process air has already cooled noticeably, drained and then the in the Water storage bag (27) stored and replenished regeneration water in the salt container (7b) embedded. To do this, the regeneration valve (30) is opened. The inflowing amount of regeneration water displaces an equal amount of brine from the salt container (7b) into the Ion exchanger (7a) and also a corresponding amount of water from the ion exchanger (7a) pressed into the storage container (11 '), whereby this is filled approximately halfway becomes.

During the contact time of the brine in the ion exchanger (7a), the displaced regeneration volume from the ion exchanger (7a) for cooling the condensation surface in the storage container (11 ') used. Then the storage container (11 ') is emptied again and the in the amount of water flowing into the rinsing tank (3) is pumped out. The respective emptying of the storage container (11 ') is, as already described, by briefly taking in fresh water introduced into the storage container (11 '), the liquid in the container (11') up to the level the suction lifter (25) or the safety overflow (24) rises, so that subsequently by The siphon effect controls the stored liquid completely from the storage container (11 ') flow into the rinsing container (3) and can be pumped out from there.

Then open the solenoid valve in the fresh water supply line (4) (26) the program step RINSE the softener in the program section DRYING controlled. The amount of water passed through the softener collects when the fan (13) is not switched off in the empty storage container (11 ') and serves the further Condensation process. The rinsing liquid remains at the end of the washing program preferably in the storage container (11 '), so that no further components containing the chlorine Liquid comes into permanent contact. During air recirculation mode, the Circulated process air continuously removes moisture from the film (duct wall 16) of the storage container (11 ') filled with the cold fresh water. At the beginning of the next washing program, the rinsing process is then continued as usual and the pre-rinsing of the new washing program is then activated.

Due to the multiple filling (an additional 1.5 times) of the storage container (11 ') with not discarded Regeneration and rinsing water further improve the drying result. The Water consumption is not increased because the amounts of water described anyway are necessary to regenerate the softener.

Claims (12)

1. Program-controlled dishwasher (1), having an apparatus (10) for drying dishes, the dishes being heated in the water-conducting washing operations by a circulated hot washing fluid in the washing chamber (3), and the moisture in the washing chamber (3) and on the items to be washed being condensed by means of a heat exchanger in a closed circuit in the DRY program step when the washing fluid has been drained, characterised in that the apparatus (10) includes a supply container (11), which serves as the heat exchanger and can be filled in the DRY program step with cold fresh water and with used regeneration and flushing water of the water-softening apparatus (7) incorporated in the appliance, as well as an airflow duct (12), which guides the process air from the washing chamber (3) during the drying process in the closed circuit and is provided with a recirculating air fan (13), which duct extends externally past the supply container (11), at least one lateral wall (15) of the supply container (11) being in the form of a wall of the airflow duct (12), which wall forms the condensation surface.
2. Program-controlled dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the supply container (11) is in the form of a flat water or condensation pocket, the lateral wall (15) of the supply container (11) being provided as the condensation surface in the airflow duct (12) and being formed from a film.
3. Program-controlled dishwasher according to claim 2, characterised in that the film, serving as the lateral wall (15) provided as the condensation surface, is formed from flexible plastics material and has a thickness of approx. 0.3 mm.
4. Program-controlled dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the supply container (11) is disposed with the airflow duct (12) in the appliance housing between the washing chamber (3) and the external housing wall (14) of the dishwasher (1) so as to be thermally insulated from the washing chamber (3).
5. Program-controlled dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the condensation surface of the supply container (11) is provided in the airflow duct (12) with a guide channel (17) for outflowing condensate, which channel terminates in the washing chamber.
6. Program-controlled dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the airflow duct (12) is provided as a separate component, which is supported against the film of the supply container (11) and has an upper intake opening (19) and a lower discharge opening (20), both openings (19, 20) corresponding with the interior of the washing chamber (3).
7. Program-controlled dishwasher according to claim 6, characterised in that the recirculating air fan (13) is disposed in the region of the lower discharge opening (20) in the airflow duct (12).
8. Program-controlled dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the recirculating air fan (13) is disposed in an assembly area which is accessible from the outside.
9. Program-controlled dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that a labyrinth system (21) is provided with an apparatus (22) for collecting and discharging condensation water in the duct region of the recirculating air fan (13).
10. Program-controlled dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the supply container (11) is provided with a safety overflow (24) and with a fresh water duct (23) which is open towards its interior and has a siphon (25), the siphon (25) being on a level with the safety overflow (24).
11. Program-controlled dishwasher according to claim 10, characterised in that the fresh water duct (23) extends laterally of the supply container (11) upwardly and again downwardly and terminates at the bottom of the washing chamber (3).
12. Program-controlled dishwasher according to claim 11, characterised in that, from the point of view of volume, the supply, container (11) is so selected that, to fill the washing chamber (3) with washing fluid, the supply container (11) needs to be filled several times.

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