WO2016008699A1

WO2016008699A1 - Dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher with a rotatably mounted optical detection means

Info

Publication number: WO2016008699A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/064642
Authority: WO
Inventors: Peter Bosen; Markus Pfeifferer
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2014-07-17
Filing date: 2015-06-29
Publication date: 2016-01-21
Also published as: DE102014215660A1; RU2017102972A; EP3169214A1; US20170202426A1; CN106535731A; EP3169214B1; RU2017102972A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher (1), comprising a washing compartment (3) which is designed to accommodate items (17, 17a, 17b) to be washed, a container (2) delimiting the washing compartment (3), a pump (6), which is designed to circulate washing liquid in the container (2), a washing program control device (9), which is designed to execute at least one washing program and to control the pump (6), and at least one optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) connected to the washing program control device (9), said optical detection means being designed to optically detect at least one compartment section of the washing compartment (3), wherein the washing program control device (9) is designed to adjust the washing program on the basis of the state in the washing compartment (3) detected by the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c), and the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) is rotatably mounted inside the container (2) such that different compartment sections of the washing compartment (3) are detected by the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) in relation to the position and/or the location of the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c).

Description

Dishwasher, in particular

Household dishwasher with a rotatably mounted optical detection means

The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher, comprising a washing compartment, which is designed to receive items to be washed, a container delimiting the washing compartment, a pump, which is designed to circulate washing liquid in the container, a washing program control device, which Execution of at least one washing program and is designed to drive the pump, and at least one connected to the wash program control device optical detection means, which is adapted to detect at least a space portion of the washing compartment optically, wherein the washing program control device is formed, based on the optical detection means detected state in the washing compartment to adjust the wash program.

US 2012/0138092 A1 describes a method for controlling a dishwasher, comprising a washing chamber for dishes to be cleaned with a pull-out dish rack and an image pick-up device with a field of view at least on a part of the washing chamber. In this method, images of smaller portions of the washing chamber are repeatedly recorded while the dish rack is inserted into the washing chamber. The repetitive recording of images is synchronized with the movement of the crockery basket. On the basis of the repeatedly recorded images of the various sections of the washing chamber, those areas of the dishware containing dishes are determined.

The object of the invention is to provide a dishwasher, in particular household dishwasher, in which an optical detection of the washing compartment can be carried out with simple and / or cost-effective optical detection means, in particular in an improved manner. The object of the invention is achieved by a dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher, comprising a washing compartment which is designed to receive items to be washed, such as crockery and / or cutlery, a container delimiting the washing compartment, a pump for circulating washing liquid is formed in the container, a washing program control device, which is designed to execute at least one washing program and for controlling the pump, and at least one connected to the wash program control device optical detection means, which is adapted to optically detect at least one space portion of the washing compartment, wherein the rinsing program control device is adapted to adjust the rinsing program based on the state detected in the rinsing space by the optical detecting means, and the optical detecting means is rotatably supported inside the container, such that depending on d he position and / or the position of the optical detection means different space portions of the washing compartment are detected by the optical detection means.

A rinsing program can for example specify the total duration of a rinsing process and / or the execution of pre-rinsing cycles, skin rinses or drying processes. In addition, a rinse program, for example, the temperature of the rinsing liquid and / or the dosage of chemical cleaning agents, i. Control rinsing agents, such as powder or tabs and / or rinse aid, and control a regeneration of ion exchangers for softening supplied tap water. The dishwasher can in principle have several different washing programs. The various wash programs may be characterized by differently selected and / or different duration rinses performed.

The rinse program controller may have one or more rinse programs. For example, the wash program control device may include an electronic control circuit having an electronic memory in which the one or more wash programs are stored.

The optical detection means is designed to optically detect at least one space section of the washing compartment. The state detected by the optical detection means can be sent to the washing program control device, for example via an electric Connection, such as a cable or alternatively transmitted wirelessly. In the flushing program control device, the state detected by the optical detection means can be automatically evaluated. Thus, for example, the state in the washing compartment can be evaluated in terms of which quantities of items to be washed are present in the washing room. Thus, the number of crockery parts and / or cutlery parts can be estimated or even determined, in particular automatically, for example, determined by an image analysis in its number and / or position or location. Alternatively or additionally, the degree of soiling on the items to be washed can also be estimated or even determined, in particular automatically, for example determined by an image evaluation.

The various space portions of the washing compartment may in particular be sectors that are illuminated by the optical detecting means in an angular range predetermined by the type of the optical detecting means. The different space portions of the washing compartment, in particular the sectors, can be swept over due to the rotatable mounting of the optical detection means, so that a significantly larger space portion of the washing compartment is detected by the movement of the optical detection means, as with a fixed detection means. By the optical detection means is rotatably mounted within the container, such that depending on the position and / or the position of the optical detection means different space portions of the washing compartment are detected by the optical detection means, in particular the type of individual, instantaneous loading of the washing compartment with dishes and / or the degree of soiling of the individual, current items to be washed in the washing compartment can be better detected. Thus, the different room sections of the washing compartment can be detected from different directions and / or perspectives. A detection of the load and / or the degree of contamination is thus much more reliable possible. In particular, the different spatial sections of the washing compartment can be detected by means of a single optical detection means from different directions, angles and / or perspectives, where otherwise would otherwise be required several permanently installed optical detection means. In that the optical detection means is rotatably mounted within the container, such that in dependence on the position and / or the position of the optical detection means different space portions of the washing compartment are detected by the optical detection means, in particular so far necessary for this purpose, several optical detection means can be omitted. Thus, such a single rotatably mounted optical detection means can replace a plurality of permanently installed optical detection means. The inventively rotatably mounted optical detection means can thus provide a better overview than several static, ie permanently installed optical detection means.

In order to improve the cleaning of items to be washed inside the dishwasher, it is expedient to flexibly adapt at least one predetermined washing program as a function of the individual instantaneous state in the dishwasher. To optimize the washing program, in particular the type of individual, instantaneous loading of the washing compartment with items to be washed and / or the degree of soiling of the individual, instant items to be washed in the washing compartment can be used. In general, so far a user of the dishwasher appreciates the nature of the individual, momentary loading of the washing compartment with items to be washed and the degree of soiling of the individual instant items in the washroom and intuitively selects a particular wash program from a plurality of predetermined wash programs which it currently selects suitable washing program keeps. According to the invention, the rinse program should be automatic, i. without human intervention, be adapted to the nature of the individual, momentary loading of the washing compartment with items to be washed and / or on the degree of contamination of the individual, current items to be washed in the dishwasher. For automatic adaptation of the washing program, it is known to provide a permanently installed camera which optically detects the washing space.

The container may have a ceiling wall, on the ceiling wall may be rotatably mounted a ceiling flushing arm, which has at least one Spülflüssigkeits- outlet opening and which is driven in particular in response to the exiting from the at least one rinsing liquid outlet, funded by the pump rinsing liquid wherein the optical detection means is attached to the ceiling flush arm. The ceiling flushing arm can be designed and / or set up in particular to pressurize a cutlery drawer and / or an upper washing basket from above with flushing liquid. An optical detecting means rotatably mounted on the ceiling washing arm may be formed and / or arranged to detect a state of the cutlery drawer and / or the upper washing basket from above.

As an alternative or in addition to an optical detection means on the ceiling flushing arm and / or an optical detection means on a floor flushing arm, a dish rack may be mounted in the container, on the dish rack, a basket flushing arm may be rotatably mounted, the at least one rinsing liquid -Ausgangsöffnung and in particular in response to the exiting from the at least one Spülflüssigkeits- outlet, driven by the pump rinsing fluid is driven, wherein the optical detection means is attached to the basket-washing arm.

The basket-washing arm can in particular be designed and / or set up to apply an upper washing basket to washing liquid from below and / or to apply a washing liquid to a lower washing basket from above. An optical detecting means rotatably mounted on the basket washing arm may be formed and / or arranged to detect a state of the upper washing basket from below and / or a state of the lower washing basket from above.

Alternatively or in addition to an optical detection means on the ceiling flushing arm and / or to an optical detection means on the basket flushing arm, the container may have a bottom wall, in the bottom wall a bottom flushing arm to be rotatably mounted, which has at least one rinsing liquid outlet opening and driven, in particular, in response to the purge fluid delivered from the at least one purge fluid exit port and pumped by the pump, the optical detection means being attached to the bottom purge arm.

The floor-flushing arm may be designed and / or set up in particular to act on a lower washing basket from below with rinsing liquid. An optical detection means rotatably mounted on the bottom washing arm may be formed and / or arranged to detect a state of the lower washing basket from below. In all alternative or supplementary embodiments, the optical detection means may be manually detachably attached thereto by the ceiling wash arm, the basket wash arm, and / or the floor wash arm.

By manually attaching the optical detection means to the ceiling wash arm, the basket wash arm, and / or the bottom wash arm, the optical detection means can be easily removed from the dishwasher by a user. This may be particularly useful to be able to manually clean the optical detection means itself. A releasable attachment may also be used to attach the optical detection means to another rinse arm, or to attach the optical detection means to the same rinse arm at a different location on the rinse arm.

The optical detection means may comprise a housing, in particular having a liquid-tight housing and having a releasable fastening means which is connected to the housing. For example, the fastening means may be a latching device, such as a latching hook, which engages in a form-locking manner on a counter-latching device formed on the flushing arm. In another embodiment, the releasable attachment means may comprise, for example, one or more elastic loops which may be tightened about the rinse arm to releasably secure the optical detection means to the rinse arm. In particular, manual releasability of the fastener means that a user of the dishwasher can manually remove and reattach the optical detection means from the rinse arm without the need for tools. As an alternative to a manually detachable attachment, the optical detection means may be firmly connected to the ceiling flush arm, the basket flush arm and / or the bottom flush arm. The optical detection means may accordingly be permanently connected to the ceiling flush arm, the basket flush arm and / or the bottom flush arm. A permanent connection is understood to mean, in particular, that the optical detection means is connected by the ceiling flushing arm, the basket flushing arm and / or the bottom flushing arm in such a way that it can not be released manually without the use of tools. Under a permanent connection is understood in particular embodiments in particular also that the optical detection means is connected by the ceiling flushing arm, the basket flushing arm and / or the bottom flushing arm such that it can not be removed non-destructively from the ceiling flushing arm, the basket flushing arm and / or the floor flushing arm anyway. For example, in such an embodiment, the optical detection means can be positively and / or materially connected to the ceiling flushing arm, the basket flushing arm and / or the floor flushing arm and by molding the optical detection means with plastic during the production of the ceiling flushing arm, the basket wash arm and / or the floor wash arm. The ceiling flushing arm, the basket flushing arm and / or the floor flushing arm can be designed in particular as a plastic injection-molded part.

The optical detection means may comprise at least one electrical image sensor, in particular optionally comprise a camera, a digital camera, a webcam and / or a network camera. The optical detection means may be connected to the rinse program control device by means of a communication link.

In particular, the communication connection can be a wireless communication connection.

In the case of a wireless communication connection, this may comprise an inductive or capacitive interface, an optical interface, an NFC interface, a W-LAN connection, a Bluetooth radio connection and / or an HF radio connection. For example, in the case of an optical interface, a light source, such as an LED coupled to the optical detection means, wherein the optical detection means is formed and / or adapted, the detected state in the washroom after appropriate analog or digital conversion to that of the light source or to modulate the light emitted by the LED. In such an embodiment, the rinsing program control device can then have an optical receiver which receives and demodulates the light emitted by the illuminant or LED so that the state of the rinsing space detected by the optical detection means is evaluated by the rinsing program control device and the wash program can then be automatically adjusted accordingly. In general, the rinsing program control device can be designed on the basis of the condition detected by the optical detection means of a degree of soiling of dishes present in the rinsing room, such as dishes and / or cutlery, the state of a degree of soiling of the rinsing liquid, and / or the state of the type and / or the arrangement of a load of items to be washed, such as dishes and / or cutlery in a dish rack, which is arranged in the washing compartment of the dishwasher to adjust the washing program.

A concrete embodiment of the invention is explained in more detail in the following description with reference to the accompanying figures. Concrete features of this embodiment, irrespective of the context in which they are mentioned, if appropriate also individually or in combination, may represent general features of the invention. Show it:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary

Household dishwasher with inventively rotatably mounted optical detection means, and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary flushing arm in

A unique position, to which an optical detection means according to the invention is manually detachably fastened, and a schematic representation of a wireless communication connection according to the invention between the flushing program control device and the optical detection means.

1 shows schematically a domestic dishwasher 1. The domestic dishwasher 1 has a container 2. The container 2 delimits a washing compartment 3 of the household dishwasher 1. The container 2 comprises side walls, a top wall 4 and a bottom wall 5 which contains a flushing liquid sump. In the bottom wall 5, or in Spülflüssigkeitssumpf is arranged below a sieve insert 16, an electric pump 6. The pump 6 communicates with an upper feed line 7 and with a lower feed line 8 in connection. The pump 6 is connected to a wash program control device 9, so that among other things, the flow rate or the conveying speed of the washing liquid, for example, by a change in the speed of the pump 6 driving motor (not shown) can be controlled. The flushing program control device 9 can also be set up to control or regulate the pump 6, in particular in the form of a heating pump or its heating means (not shown) with regard to the temperature, in particular with regard to the temperature of the conveyed flushing liquid. The domestic dishwasher 1 also has an upper dish rack 10 and a lower dish rack 1 1. Below the upper dish rack 10 is a basket washing arm 13 and below the lower dish rack 1 1, a bottom flushing arm 14 is rotatably mounted. Furthermore, in the case of the present embodiment, a ceiling flush arm 12 is rotatably mounted on the top wall 4 of the container 2. The bottom flush arm 14 is supplied via the lower supply line 8 and the basket flush arm 13 is supplied via the upper supply line 7 with rinsing liquid.

Accordingly, the present embodiment of FIG. 1 thus shows a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher 1, which has a washing compartment 3, which is designed to receive washware 17 to be washed, such as dishes 17a and / or cutlery 17b, which has a washing compartment 3 having limiting container 2 and a pump 6, which is designed for circulating rinsing liquid in the container 2. The domestic dishwasher 1 also has a washing program control device 9, which is designed to execute at least one washing program and to control the pump 6. According to the invention, the optical detection means 15a, 15b, 15c connected to the wash program control device 9 are designed to optically detect at least one space section of the wash chamber 3, wherein the wash program control device 6 is designed on the basis of the optical detection means 15a, 15b, 15c detected states in the respective region of the washing compartment 3 to adjust the wash program. The exemplary three, shown in Fig. 1 optical detection means 15a, 5b, 15c are mounted separately rotatable within the container 2, such that, depending on the position and / or the position of the respective optical Detecting means 15a, 5b, 15c different parts, ie space portions of the washing compartment 3 by the respective optical detection means 15a, 5b, 15c are detected.

As shown in Fig. 1, in the case of the present embodiment, the container 3 on a ceiling wall 4, on which the ceiling flush arm 12 is rotatably mounted. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the ceiling flushing arm 12 has a plurality of flushing liquid outlet openings 12a. The ceiling flush arm 12 is driven in response to the flushing liquid discharged from the pump 6 from at least one of the flushing liquid outlet openings 12a, the optical detection means 15a being fixed to the ceiling flushing arm 12.

In addition, in the case of the present embodiment, the basket dishwashing arm 13 is rotatably mounted on the upper dish rack 10. The basket Spülarm 13 has in the case of the present embodiment, as shown in more detail in Fig. 2, a plurality of rinsing liquid outlet openings 13a. The basket scavenging arm 13 is driven in response to the scavenging liquid discharged from the at least one scavenging liquid discharge port 13a and conveyed by the pump 6, the optical detecting means 15b being fixed to the basket scavenging arm 13.

Furthermore, in the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the container 3 has a bottom wall 5, in which the bottom washing arm 14 is rotatably mounted. In the case of the present exemplary embodiment, the floor washing arm 14 has a plurality of rinsing liquid outlet openings 14a. The bottom scavenging arm 14 is driven in response to the scavenging liquid discharged from the pump 6 from at least one of the scavenging liquid outlets 14a, the optical detecting means 15c being fixed to the bottom scavenging arm 14.

In the case of the present embodiment, the optical detecting means 15a, 15b, 15c are manually detachably attached to the ceiling washing arm 12, the basket washing arm 13 and the bottom washing arm 14, respectively.

The optical detection means 15, 15a, 15b, 15c may respectively and optionally comprise at least one electrical image sensor, in particular a camera, a digital camera, a webcam and / or a network camera. The rinse program control device 9 is formed based on the state of a fouling amount of washware 17 present in the wash chamber 3, such as crockery 17a and / or cutlery 17b detected by the optical detection means 15, 15a-15c, the state of a rinse state of the rinse liquid, and / or the state of the type and / or the arrangement of a load of items 17, such as dishes 17a and / or cutlery 17b in a dish rack 10, 1 1, which is arranged in the washing compartment 3 of the dishwasher 1 to adjust the washing program.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary optical detection means 15 which has a liquid-tight housing 19 and, in the case of the present exemplary embodiment, two releasable fastening means 20. The fastening means 20 are connected to the housing 19. In this embodiment, the attachment means 20 have elastic loops which can be tensioned around the rinse arm 12, 13, 14 as shown in Fig. 2 to releasably secure the optical detection means 15 to the rinse arm 12, 13, 14. In particular, manual releasability of the attachment means 20 means that a user of the dishwasher can manually remove and refit the optical detection means 15 from the rinse arm 12, 13, 14 without the need for tools.

FIG. 3 shows schematically that the optical detection means 15 is connected to the wash program control device 9 by means of a communication connection 18.

In the case of the present embodiment, the communication link 18 is formed as a wireless communication link 18a.

The wireless communication link 18a may include an inductive or capacitive interface, an optical interface, an N FC interface, a W-LAN connection, a Bluetooth radio connection, and / or an RF radio link. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 household dishwasher

2 containers

3 washing compartment

4 ceiling wall

5 bottom wall

6 pump

7 upper supply line

8 lower supply line

9 wash program control device

10 upper dish rack

1 1 lower dish rack

12 ceiling flush arm

12a rinsing liquid outlet opening

13 basket wash arm

13a rinsing liquid outlet opening

14 floor washing arm

14a rinsing liquid outlet opening

15, 15a-15c optical detecting means

16 sieve insert

17 items to be washed

17a dishes

17b cutlery

18 communication connection

18a wireless communication link

19 housing

20 fasteners

Claims

Dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher (1), comprising a washing compartment (3) designed to receive items to be washed (17), a container (2) bounding the washing compartment (3), a pump (6) for circulating Rinsing liquid is formed in the container (2), a rinsing program control device (9) which is designed to execute at least one rinsing program and to drive the pump (6), and at least one optical detection means (9) connected to the rinsing program control device (9). 15, 15a-15c) configured to optically detect at least a space portion of the washing space (3), the washing program control apparatus (9) being formed based on the state detected by the optical detecting means (15, 15a-15c) in the washing compartment (3), to adapt the washing program, characterized in that the optical detecting means (15, 15a-15c) is rotatably mounted within the container (2), the art, that in dependence of the position and / or the position of the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) different space portions of the washing compartment (3) by the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) are detected.

Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the container (2) has a top wall (4), on the ceiling wall (4) a ceiling flush arm (12) is rotatably mounted, which has at least one Spülflüssigkeits- outlet opening (12a) and the in particular in response to the from the at least one rinsing liquid outlet opening (12a) exiting, funded by the pump (6) is driven rinsing liquid, and the optical detection means (15, 15a) is fixed to the ceiling flushing arm (12).

Dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that in the container (2) a dish rack (10) is mounted on the dish rack (10) a basket-Spülarm (13) is rotatably mounted, the at least one Spülflüssigkeits- outlet opening (13a ) and in particular in response to the from the at least one rinsing liquid outlet opening (13 a) exiting, of the Pump (6) is driven and the optical detection means (15, 15b) is attached to the basket flushing arm (13).

Dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the container (2) has a bottom wall (5), in the bottom wall (5) is rotatably mounted a bottom washing arm (14), the at least one rinsing liquid outlet opening (14a ) and in particular in response to the at least one rinsing liquid outlet opening (14a) exiting, funded by the pump (6) is driven rinsing liquid, and the optical detection means (15, 15c) attached to the bottom rinsing arm (14) is.

Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) of the ceiling flushing arm (12), of the basket washing arm (13) and / or of the bottom washing arm (14 ) is manually releasably attached to this.

Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) with the ceiling flushing arm (12), the basket flushing arm (13) and / or the bottom flushing arm (14) fixed , preferably non-destructively insoluble, in particular by molding of the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) with plastic in the production of the Decken-Spülarms (12), the Korb-Spülarms (13) and / or Boden-Spülarms (14) positively and / or materially connected.

Dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) comprises at least one electrical image sensor, in particular a camera, a digital camera, a webcam and / or a network camera comprises.

Dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) by means of a Communication link (18) is connected to the washing program control device (9).

9. Dishwasher according to claim 8, characterized in that the communication link (18) is a wireless communication link (18 a).

10. Dishwasher according to claim 9, characterized in that the wireless communication link (18 a) an inductive or capacitive interface, an optical interface, an NFC interface, a wireless LAN connection, a Bluetooth radio link and / or an RF radio link having.

Dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the Spülprogramm-control device (9) is formed on the basis of the detected by the optical detection means (15, 15a-15c) state of a degree of contamination in the washing compartment (3) existing items to be washed (17), such as dishes (17a) and / or cutlery (17b), the state of a degree of contamination of the washing liquid, and / or the state of the type and / or the arrangement of a load of items to be washed (17), such as dishes (17a ) and / or cutlery (17b) in a dish rack (10, 1 1), which is arranged in the washing compartment (3) of the dishwasher (1) to adapt the washing program.