DISHWASHING MACHINE

• US 20080060688A1
• Filed: 09/06/2007
• Published: 03/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Original Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
• Inventors: BUSER, JOSEF ARNOLD
• Granted Patent: US 7,850,787 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 134/56D
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4229 Water softening arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4409 by tipping containers or opening their lids, e.g. with the help of a programmer

Abstract

A dishwashing machine is capable of carrying out a normal washing program with a powder detergent as well as programs using solid detergents with additives having rinse aid properties and/or water softening properties. The machine includes a detergent dispenser having three chambers. Each chamber is adapted for a specific kind of detergent. The chambers include a sensor for detecting the presence of loaded detergent and for adjusting the washing program accordingly.

Claims

1. A dishwashing machine capable of carrying out a normal washing program with a powder detergent as well as programs using solid detergents with additives having rinse aid properties and/or water softening properties, comprising:

a detergent dispenser provided with chambers each for a specific kind of detergent, wherein,

each of the chambers being provided with a sensor for detecting the presence of loaded detergent and for adjusting the washing program accordingly.

2. The dishwashing machine according to claim 1, wherein the detergent dispenser has three chambers, one for powder detergent, the second one for a solid detergent composition having also rinse aid properties and the third one for a solid detergent composition having also rinse aid properties and water softening properties.

3. The dishwashing machine according to claim 2, wherein the three chambers have a single lid.

4. The dishwashing machine according to claim 2, wherein that each of the three chambers has its own lid.

5. The dishwashing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one wall of the chamber is made of flexible material; and

a sensor comprising a micro-switch, wherein;

the one wall can be deformed by the weight of the detergent, and

the sensor senses deformation of the wall and generates a signal indicative of the presence of the detergent in the chamber.

6. The dishwashing machine according to claim 1, wherein one of the sensors is a capacitive sensor capable of detecting the presence of detergent in the chamber.

7. The dishwashing machine according to claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a position sensor capable of detecting whether the lid of each chamber is open or closed.

8. The dishwashing machine according to claim 1, further comprising:

a means for determining water hardness value; and

a processor which stores water hardness values corresponding to different rates of resin regeneration,

wherein the processor uses the water hardness value to determine a rate of resin regeneration required to guarantee the proper softening in the machine.

9. The dishwashing machine according to claim 8, wherein the processor has a head-up table which deactivates any resin regeneration when a solid detergent composition having water softening properties is detected by one of the sensors.