Method for adapting a rinsing program in a dishwasher machine, and corresponding dishwasher machine

• US 20050126603A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Rosenbauer, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,704,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/25.200
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0021 Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent nature or from the condition of the crockery
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0049 Detection or prevention of malfunction, including accident prevention arrangements to prevent clogging of filters A47L15/4208; safety arrangements for preventing water damage A47L15/421
• 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 15/4229 Water softening arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/06 Water supply, circulation or discharge information water level A47L2401/09; water pressure or flow rate A47L2401/14
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/11 Water hardness, acidity or basicity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/30 Regulation of machine operational steps within the washing process, e.g. performing an additional rinsing phase, shortening or stopping of the drying phase, washing at decreased noise operation conditions

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a method for adapting a rinsing program in a dishwasher machine, said method enabling the rinsing program run of a dishwasher machine to be adapted in such a way that satisfactory cleaning and drying performances are achieved even when using a combination rinse aid. To this end, the rinsing program run is adapted if there is insufficient salt, if the softening device is switched off, and if the dishwasher machine is on.

Claims

1-9. -9. (canceled)

10. A method for adapting the rinsing program in a dishwasher machine, comprising:

adapting the rinsing program in response to a detection that, collectively, there is an absence of salt above a predetermined minimum quantity, the softening device is switched off, and the dishwasher machine is operating.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of adapting the rinsing program in response to a detection that no rinse aid has been added and the dishwasher machine is operating includes commencing the operation of the softening device to soften the water and, optionally, commencing the operation of a lack-of-salt display despite it being switched off.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the step of adapting the rinsing program includes detecting the absence of a salt in an associated supply container above a predetermined minimum quantity.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of adapting the rinsing program includes detecting via a sensor the absence of a salt in an associated supply container above a predetermined minimum quantity.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein the step of adapting the rinsing program includes detecting via a selected one of a pH sensor and a water hardness sensor the absence of a salt in an associated supply container above a predetermined minimum quantity.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of adapting the rinsing program in response to a detection that no salt has been added and the dishwasher machine is operating includes commencing the operation of the softening device to soften the water to a minimum value in accordance with the detected pH value and, optionally, commencing the operation of a lack-of-salt display despite it being switched off.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein commencing the operation of the softening device to soften the water to a minimum value includes commencing the operation of the softening device to soften the water to a minimum hardness of about 25°

dH.

17. A dishwasher machine, comprising:

means for adapting the rinsing program in response to a detection that, collectively, there is an absence of salt above a predetermined minimum quantity, the softening device is switched off, and the dishwasher machine is operating.

18. The dishwasher machine according to claim 17, and further comprising a selected one of a pH sensor and a water hardness sensor for measuring the properties of the rinsing solution