Dishwasher comprising a cleaning system for a liquid/gel detergent dosing unit and a receptacle unit

• US 10,117,561 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Original Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
• Inventors: Kan, Ugur, Atabey, Orhan, Diksan, Mehmet, Unlusoy, Mete
• Primary Examiner(s): Cormier, David G
• Application Number:
  US14/904,072
• Publication Number:
  US 20160143503A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0055 Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4436 in the form of a detergent solution made by gradually dissolving a powder detergent cake or a solid detergent block
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4463 Multi-dose dispensing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention relates to dishwasher (100) comprising a dosing unit (4) that can adjust the required amount of detergent as per the selected program type and dose into the washing cabin (1), and a cleaning system (9) that implements a detergent washing cycle enabling the detergent residues left in the detergent receptacle (2) from the previous use to be washed and enables the detergent receptacle (2) and the dosing mechanism (3) to be washed.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising:

a washing cabin;

a dosing unit having a detergent receptacle containing liquid or gel detergent, and having a dosing mechanism that can dose a required amount of the detergent from the detergent receptacle into the washing cabin based on a selected washing program;

a cleaning system that implements a detergent washing cycle in which the cleaning system pumps receptacle washing water through one or more valves to the detergent receptacle by means of a circulation pump, the receptacle washing water being clean water from a water main or dish washing water from a sump disposed at a bottom of the washing cabin, the receptacle washing water that is pumped by the cleaning system providing for washing and cleaning of the detergent receptacle and the dosing mechanism such that detergent residues left in the detergent receptacle are washed away, wherein the cleaning system comprises the circulation pump and a first pipe that delivers the dish washing water to the detergent receptacle, and wherein the one or more valves include a first valve and a second valve, the first valve directing the dish washing water to the second valve, or alternatively to the washing cabin, the second valve directing the receptacle washing water to the detergent receptacle;

a detergent level sensor disposed in the dosing unit that detects a detergent level of the detergent in the detergent receptacle and generates a signal relating to the detergent level; and

a control unit that controls the cleaning system and the dosing unit, receives the signal from the detergent level sensor and starts the detergent washing cycle by activating the cleaning system depending on the signal, wherein the control unit enables the dish washing water in the sump to be directed to the detergent receptacle by the circulation pump via the first valve, the second valve, and the first pipe, and wherein the control unit stops the circulation pump for discharging the receptacle washing water collected in the detergent receptacle, keeps an outlet of the first valve or an outlet of the second valve open, and enables the receptacle washing water in the detergent receptacle to be discharged by gravity via the first pipe.

2. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the control unit enables a user to be warned using a detergent depleted warning via a control panel after receiving a detergent depleted signal from the detergent level sensor,

wherein the control unit enables the user to be warned to fill the detergent receptacle or to add tablet or powder detergent in a next operation due to the detergent receptacle being empty or not containing an amount of detergent for the selected washing program,

wherein the control unit starts the next operation of the dishwasher depending on a selection of the user and an approval of a detergent type, and

wherein the control unit starts the detergent washing cycle in a washing step following the detergent depleted signal before the detergent is filled.

3. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the control unit starts the detergent washing cycle at an end of a main washing step following the detergent level sensor delivering a detergent depleted signal to the control unit.

4. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the control unit enables the receptacle washing water pumped by the cleaning system to be the dish washing water in the sump or the clean water depending on a washing step being implemented.

5. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the control unit enables the dish washing water to be heated by actuating a heating unit in the detergent washing cycle, and enables the detergent receptacle and the dosing mechanism to be washed with the dish washing water heated by the heating unit.

6. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the control unit enables the detergent washing cycle to be repeated more than once depending on an elapsed time since a last detergent washing cycle.

7. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the control unit enables the receptacle washing water to be the clean water at an end of each detergent washing cycle.

8. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the control unit enables a syringe mechanism to be operated in the dosing mechanism, and enables the receptacle washing water in the detergent receptacle to be discharged into the washing cabin or the sump in order to prevent the receptacle washing water directed to the detergent receptacle from accumulating during the detergent washing cycle.

9. The dishwasher as in claim 1, wherein the first pipe opens into a lower side of the detergent receptacle.

10. The dishwasher as in claim 1, further comprising an air inlet opening arranged on the detergent receptacle that balances pressure inside and outside of the detergent receptacle to facilitate the receptacle washing water in the detergent receptacle to be discharged.