A DISHWASHER COMPRISING A CLEANING SYSTEM FOR A LIQUID/GEL DETERGENT DOSING UNIT AND A RECEPTACLE UNIT

• US 20160143503A1
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Published: 05/26/2016
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,117,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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 (100) comprising a washing cabin (1) and—

a dosing unit (4) having a detergent receptacle (2) wherein liquid/gel detergent (D) can be filled and a dosing mechanism (3) that can dose the required amount of liquid/gel detergent (D) as per the selected program from the detergent receptacle (2) into the washing cabin (1),characterized by—

a cleaning system (9) that implements one or more than one detergent washing cycle enabling the detergent residues left in the detergent receptacle (2) from the previous use to be washed and that enables the detergent receptacle (2) and the dosing mechanism (3) to be washed and cleaned by pumping the clean water from the water mains or the wash water from a sump (5) disposed at the bottom of the washing cabin (1) during the detergent washing cycle by means of a circulation pump (6) and through one or more than one valve (7, 8) to the detergent receptacle (2),—

a detergent level sensor (11) that is disposed in the dosing unit (4), that detects the liquid/gel detergent level (D) in the detergent receptacle (2) and generates signals relating to the detergent level and—

a control unit (10) that provides the controlling of the cleaning system (9) and the dosing unit (4), that determines whether or not the dosing unit (4) is suitable for use depending on the detergent level signal received from the detergent level sensor (11) and that starts the detergent washing cycle by activating the cleaning system (9) depending on detergent level signal.

2. A dishwasher (100) as in claim 1, characterized by the control unit (10)—

that enables the user to be warned by the liquid/gel detergent (D) depleted warning via the control panel after the liquid/gel detergent (D) depleted signal of the detergent level sensor (11),—

that enables the user to be warned to fill the detergent receptacle (2) or to add normal tablet/powder detergent in the next operation due to the detergent receptacle (2) being empty or not containing sufficient amount of detergent,—

that starts the operation of the dishwasher (100) depending on the user'"'"'s selection and approval of the detergent type and—

that starts the detergent washing cycle in any one of the washing steps following the liquid/gel detergent (D) depleted signal before the liquid/gel detergent (D) is filled.

3. A dishwasher (100) as in claim 1, characterized by the control unit (10)—

that starts the detergent washing cycle at the end of the main washing step following the liquid/gel detergent (D) depleted signal.

4. A dishwasher (100) as in any one of the claims 1, characterized by the control unit (10)—

that enables the wash water in the sump (5) to be used or clean water to be taken in the detergent washing cycle depending on the washing step being implemented.

5. A dishwasher (100) as in any one of the claims 1, characterized by the control unit (10)—

that enables the wash water to be heated by actuating a heating unit in the detergent washing cycle and the detergent receptacle (2) and the dosing mechanism (3) to be washed with hot water.

6. A dishwasher (100) as in any one of the claims 1, characterized by the control unit (10) that enables the detergent washing cycle to be repeated more than once with cold or hot water depending on the cleanliness of the detergent receptacle (2).

7. A dishwasher (100) as in any one of the claims 1, characterized by the control unit (10)—

that enables clean water to be taken by discharging the water in the detergent receptacle (2) at the end of each detergent washing cycle.

8. A dishwasher (100) as in any one of the claims 1, characterized by the control unit (10)—

that enables a syringe mechanism (12) to be operated in the dosing mechanism (3) and the water in the detergent receptacle (2) to be discharged again into the washing cabin (1) or the sump (5) in order to prevent the water directed to the detergent receptacle (2) from accumulating in the detergent washing cycle.

9. A dishwasher (100) as in any one of the claims 1, characterized by the cleaning system (9) comprising a circulation pump (6), a first valve (7) directing the wash water, a second valve (8) directing the detergent washing water, a first pipe (13) that delivers the wash water to the detergent receptacle (2), a check valve (14), detergent receptacle washing nozzles and ducts (15) and a discharge valve (16) and the control unit (10)—

that enables the water in the sump (5) to be directed to the detergent receptacle (2) by the circulation pump (6) via the first valve (7), the second valve (8), the first pipe (13), the check valve (14) and the detergent receptacle washing nozzles and ducts (15) and—

that stops the circulation pump (6) for discharging the wash water collected in the detergent receptacle (2), opens the discharge valve (16) and directs the water collected in the detergent receptacle (2) again into the sump (5) with the effect of gravity.

10. A dishwasher (100) as in claim 9, characterized by the detergent receptacle washing nozzles and ducts (15) that open into the upper side of the detergent receptacle (2).

11. A dishwasher (100) as in any one of the claims 1, characterized by the cleaning system (9) comprising the circulation pump (6), a first valve (7) directing the wash water, a second valve (8) directing the detergent washing water and a first pipe (13) that delivers the wash water to the detergent receptacle (2) and the control unit (10)—

that enables the water in the sump (5) to be directed to the detergent receptacle (2) by the circulation pump (6) via the first valve (7), the second valve (8) and the first pipe (13) and—

that stops the circulation pump (6) for discharging the wash water collected in the detergent receptacle (2), that keeps the outlet of the first valve (7) and/or the second valve (8) open and enables the water collected in the detergent receptacle (2) to be discharged on its own with the effect of the gravity via the first pipe (13).

12. A dishwasher (100) as in claim 11, characterized by the first pipe (13) that opens into the lower side of the detergent receptacle (2).

13. A dishwasher (100) as in claim 12, characterized by an air inlet opening (21) that is arranged on the detergent receptacle (2) and that enables the water in the detergent receptacle (2) to be discharged easily.

14. A dishwasher (100) as in claim 10, characterized by the first pipe (13) reaching the detergent receptacle (2) by passing around the exterior of the washing cabin (1).

15. A dishwasher (100) as in claim 1, characterized by the cleaning system (9) comprising a second pipe (17) that opens to the detergent receptacle (2) and that is connected to the line delivering water to an upper spray arm (18) or a lower spray arm (19) enabling water to be sprayed into the washing cabin (1), and the control unit (10)—

that enables the water in the sump (5) to be directed to the detergent receptacle (2) by the circulation pump (6) via the first valve (7), the second valve (8) and the second pipe (17) and—

that stops the circulation pump (6) for discharging the wash water collected in the detergent receptacle (2), opens the discharge valve (16) and redirects the water collected in the detergent receptacle (2) into the sump (5) with the effect of gravity.