Domestic machine comprising a system for feeding a cleaning product into the cleaning liquid

• US 20070102024A1
• Filed: 10/13/2004
• Published: 05/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Classen, Eghert
• Application Number:
  US10/575,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20070102024A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• 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 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/01 Water supply, e.g. opening or closure of the water inlet valve
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2103/22 Content of detergent or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/02 Water supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 2105/42 Detergent or additive supply
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/34 of water filling
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 33/37 of metering of detergents or additives
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 34/22 Condition of the washing liquid, e.g. turbidity

Abstract

A dishwasher machine or washing machine includes a device that takes into account the loaded state of the machine or the type of dirtiness of the items to be washed, in order to be able to determine and regulate the amount of washing-active substances required in the cleaning liquid for optimum cleaning effect. To this end, water-bearing appliance is provided with a system for feeding a cleaning product into the cleaning liquid, a sensor determines the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid during the cleaning process, and a dosing device feeds an additional cleaning product into the cleaning liquid when the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid is too low, or fresh water when the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid is too high.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. An appliance operable to carry out at least one cleaning process using cleaning liquid, the appliance comprising:

an assembly for disposing a cleaning liquid and at least one item to be cleaned into contact with one another; and

a system for supplying cleaning agent into the cleaning liquid, the system including a sensor that determines the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid during the cleaning process and a dosing device that alternately supplies additional cleaning agent to the cleaning liquid in the event that the sensed content of washing-active substances is below a predetermined lower value and supplies fresh water to the cleaning liquid in the event that the content of washing-active substances is above a predetermined upper value.

12. The appliance according to claim 11, wherein the system for supplying cleaning agent to the cleaning liquid is regulated as a function of the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid determined by the sensor by means of an electronic control.

13. The appliance according to claim 11, wherein the sensor is a tenside sensor that determines the content of tensides in the cleaning liquid by means of the bubble pressure method.

14. The appliance according to claim 13, wherein the tenside sensor in the appliance disposed to be surrounded by cleaning liquid as continuously as possible during the cleaning process.

15. A method for operating an appliance operable to carry out at least one cleaning process using cleaning liquid, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the content in a cleaning liquid of washing-active substances that are supplied thereinto via the supply of cleaning agent into the cleaning liquid by a cleaning agent supply system;

supplying additional cleaning agent to the cleaning liquid in the event that the content of washing-active substances is determined to be below a predetermined lower value; and

supplying fresh water to the cleaning liquid in the event that the content of washing-active substances is determined to be above a predetermined upper value.

16. The method for operating an appliance according to claim 15, wherein the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid is determined by a selected one of continuously determining the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid and determining the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid at short time intervals.

17. The method for operating an appliance according to claim 15, wherein determining the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid includes determining the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid via electronic means.

18. A method for operating an appliance according to claim 15, wherein determining the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid includes determining the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid via a sensor.

19. The method for operating an appliance according to claim 18, wherein at least part of the cleaning process is repeated depending on the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid via the sensor.

20. The method for operating an appliance according to claim 18, wherein a selected one of omission of at least part of the cleaning process and interruption of at least part of the cleaning process is undertaken depending on the content of washing-active substances in the cleaning liquid determined by the sensor.