Dishwashing machine having a dosing device for additives and associated method

• US 20070144558A1
• Filed: 12/08/2003
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgerã¤Te GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Classen, Egbert, Jerg, Helmut
• Granted Patent: US 7,789,967 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/18
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4418 in the form of liquids A47L15/4409, A47L15/4436, A47L15/4445 take precedence

Abstract

A dish washing machine is provided having a dosing device operable to add an additive product into the dishwasher, the dosing device being operatively connected to an arrangement that separately stores the basic chemical products of an all-round additive product independent of one another. The dosing device is operable to independently add into the dishwasher one basic chemical product not used for clear rinsing of the all-round additive product, at least two, but not all, of the basic chemical products of the all-round additive product together, or at least one reaction mixture consisting of the basic chemical products of the all-round additive product.

Claims

1-17. -17. (canceled)

18. A dishwashing machine comprising:

a washing container for retaining therein items to be washed; and

a dosing device operable to add an additive product into the dishwasher, the dosing device being operatively connected to an arrangement that separately stores the basic chemical products of an all-round additive product independent of one another and the dosing device being operable to independently add into the dishwasher a selected one of at least one basic chemical product not used for clear rinsing of the all-round additive product, at least two, but not all, of the basic chemical products of the all-round additive product together, and at least one reaction mixture consisting of the basic chemical products of the all-round additive product.

19. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the basic chemical products of an all-round product can be added.

20. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein the dosing device includes a micro-reactor operable to produce a reaction mixture that is a selected one of completely a liquid mixture, completely a gas mixture, and a mixture that is not completely a liquid or a gas, the micro-reactor being operable to produce the reaction mixture at least in part by a chemical reaction.

21. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein the dosing device is operable to add into the dishwasher only those basic chemical products or reaction mixtures that are required for a process step, e.g. for cleaning.

22. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein the dosing device is operable to add in basic chemical products of an all-round additive product that are stored in at least one of refillable storage containers and exchangeable storage containers that are configured in at least one container form that is a common housing with partition walls, individual separate units, and a container form that is not a common housing with partition walls or individual separate units.

23. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein the dosing device is operable to add in basic chemical products of an all-round additive product that are one of a liquid, a gel and a selected one of a powdery solid and a granular solid, especially as concentrate.

24. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein the dosing device is operable to add in basic chemical products of an all-round additive product wherein the basic chemical products are supplied to at least one of the micro-reactor and the washing container using a conveying device, especially a micro-dosing pump, e.g. a flexible tube pump or gear pump.

25. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein the dosing device is operable to add in basic chemical products of an all-round additive product while regulating the addition parameters, time and quantity of the basic chemical products or the reaction mixture for a process step depending on the process steps and/or the actual contamination that is detected automatically using sensors or manually.

26. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18, wherein the dosing device is operable to add in basic chemical products of an all-round additive product while regulating the supply of at least one of the basic chemical products a reaction mixture by means of a monitoring device and further comprising means for producing an automatice program interruption in the event of a fault, a visual and/or audible fault indication.

27. The dishwashing machine according to claim 18 and further comprsing level sensors for measuring a filling level in the storage containers in which are stored the basic chemical products of an all-round additive product and means for visually displaying a fill level value, means for generating at least one of a visual warning and an audible warning if a level is too low.

28. The dishwashing machine according to claim 27 and further comprising an internet connection, means for automatically notifying a dispatch device concerning the filling level of the storage containers and means for dispatching, if required, basic chemical products in at least one of exchangeable storage containers and storage packs for refilling the storage containers.

29. A method for dosing additives, the method comprising:

dosing into the dishwashing machine an additive product for application of the additive product during a process performed in connection with the handling of items retained in a washing container of the dishwashing machine, the step of dosing an additive product into the dishwashing machine including dosing, from an arrangement that separately stores the basic chemical products of an all-round additive product independent of one another, a selected one of at least one basic chemical product not used for clear rinsing of the all-round additive product, at least two, but not all, of the basic chemical products of the all-round additive product together, and at least one reaction mixture consisting of the basic chemical products of the all-round additive product.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the step of dosing into the dishwashing machine an additive product includes dosing in at least a portion of the basic chemical products of an all-round product.

31. The method according to claim 29, wherein the step of dosing into the dishwashing machine an additive product includes dosing in only those basic chemical products or reaction mixtures that are required for a process step, e.g. for cleaning, using a conveying device, e.g. a micro-pump.

32. The method according to claim 29, wherein the step of dosing into the dishwashing machine an additive product includes dosing in basic chemical products of an all-round additive product that have been reacted together in a micro-reactor at least partly by a chemical reaction to form a reaction mixture that is a selected one of completely a liquid mixture, completely a gas mixture, and a mixture that is not completely a liquid or a gas.

33. The method according to claim 29, wherein the step of dosing into the dishwashing machine an additive product includes dosing in basic chemical products of an all-round additive product that have been reacted together in a micro-reactor with these basic chemical products being supplied to at least one of the micro-reactor and the washing container in a precisely metered manner by a micro-dosing pump.

34. The method according to claim 29, wherein the step of dosing into the dishwashing machine an additive product includes dosing in an additive product while regulating the addition parameters, time and quantity of the basic chemical products or the reaction mixture for a process step depending on the process steps and/or the actual contamination that is detected automatically using sensors or manually.