PRE-SOAK OPTION FOR DISHWASHERS

• US 20170100013A1
• Filed: 10/09/2015
• Published: 04/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH), BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: BSH Hausgeraete GmbH (Robert Bosch GmbH), BSH Home Appliances Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Rich, Melvin, Carr, Casey, Holmes, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 9,661,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0007 Washing phases
• 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 15/0028 Washing phases
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/14 with stationary crockery baskets and spraying devices within the cleaning chamber for drinking glasses A47L15/0065
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/16 with rigidly-mounted spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/22 Rotary spraying devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4219 Water recirculation A47L15/0078 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4293 Arrangements for programme selection, e.g. control panels; Indication of the selected programme, programme progress or other parameters of the programme, e.g. by using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/4297 Arrangements for detecting or measuring the condition of the washing water, e.g. turbidity
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/44 Devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2301/04 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/03 Operation mode, e.g. delicate washing, economy washing, reduced time, sterilizing, water softener regenerating, odor eliminating or service
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/04 Crockery or tableware details, e.g. material, quantity, condition
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/10 Water cloudiness or dirtiness, e.g. turbidity, foaming or level of bacteria
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/07 Consumable products, e.g. detergent, rinse aids or salt
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/20 Spray nozzles or spray arms
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/26 Indication or alarm to the controlling device or to the user
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/34 Change machine operation from normal operational mode into special mode, e.g. service mode, resin regeneration mode, sterilizing mode, steam mode, odour eliminating mode or special cleaning mode to clean the hydraulic circuit

Abstract

A dishwasher includes an independent presoak system which may be activated by a user of the dishwasher. The dishwasher presoak system utilizes a storage tank, supply tubes, and set of nozzles which are independent from components used in a washing cycle such that a presoak detergent is applied to items placed within a washing compartment of the dishwasher without being diluted by a standard wash cycle. As part of the presoak system, the dishwasher features a detection system which allows the user to select an automatic presoak operating state whereby the dishwasher utilizes a sensor to determine if items placed into the washing compartment are sufficiently dirty to need a presoak cycle prior to a washing cycle. The dishwasher further relies on a control system to analyze samples taken of the dirtiness levels of items placed within the washing compartment and determine whether a presoak option is necessary or suggested.

Claims

1. A household appliance, comprising:

a housing, the housing having a washing compartment;

a first detergent storage tank, the first detergent storage tank being configured to contain washing detergent;

at least a first supply tube;

at least a first spraying device, the first spraying device being configured to spray the contents of the at least one supply tube into the washing compartment;

a second detergent storage tank, the second detergent storage tank being configured to contain a presoak detergent;

at least a second supply tube;

wherein the first supply tube is fluidly connected with the first detergent storage tank, and wherein the second supply tube is fluidly connected with the second detergent storage tank;

at least a second spraying device comprising a plurality of stationary sprayers arranged to be protruding from at least a vertical internal wall of the appliance, the second spraying device being configured to spray the contents of the second supply tube into the washing compartment;

a control system including a controller configured to run a presoak cycle program prior to running a washing cycle program;

wherein the controller is configured to utilize the contents of the second detergent storage tank during the presoak cycle.

2. The household appliance according to claim 1,

wherein the first detergent storage tank and the second detergent storage tank are fluidly independent.

3. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the control system is configured to determine whether to activate the presoak cycle.

4. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the appliance further comprises a sensor configured to detect a level of dirtiness within the washing compartment.

5. The appliance according to claim 4, wherein the control system is configured to spray the washing compartment with water before any cleaning operation and the sensor is configured to determine whether the appliance should enter the presoak cycle prior to beginning the washing cycle.

7. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second spraying device further comprises a second plurality of stationary sprayers arranged to be protruding from an upper horizontal internal wall of the appliance.

8. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second supply tube comprises an array of tubes around the housing such that the plurality of stationary sprayers comprises a plurality of stationary nozzles protruding from the array of tubes associated with the second supply tube through the housing and into the washing compartment.

10. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the appliance is configured to provide an external user control apparatus which is configured to allow a user to select a presoak cycle option as part of an operation of the appliance.

11. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the first detergent storage tank and the second detergent storage tank are arranged side-by-side within a door configured to provide access to the washing compartment.

12. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein second detergent storage tank is provided with a pumping system independent of the first detergent storage tank.

13. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of stationary sprayers is arranged as a plurality of nozzles or jets configured to dispense contents originating in the second detergent storage tank as a spray.

14. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the second spraying device is configured and arranged to spray contents originating in the second detergent storage tank into the washing compartment without intermixing with components utilized in the washing cycle.

15. The appliance according to claim 1, wherein the presoak cycle utilizes an independent water supply relative to the washing cycle.

6. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

16. A method of operating a household appliance, comprising:

sampling an environment within a washing compartment of the appliance;

analyzing a sample taken of the environment within the washing compartment of the appliance;

comparing the sample with a predetermined level of dirtiness of the environment within the washing compartment of the appliance;

determining whether to run a presoak cycle based on a comparison of the sample with the predetermined level; and

running the presoak cycle if the sample exceeds the predetermined level of dirtiness within washing compartment.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising sampling a first end sample, analyzing, comparing, and determining the environment at an end of a first presoak cycle prior to initiating a washing cycle.

18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising running a second presoak cycle if the first end sample is determined to exceed the predetermined level of dirtiness prior to initiating a washing cycle.

19. A method of operating a household appliance, comprising:

determining an operating state selected by a user of the appliance, the operating state comprising one of at least a presoak option, a washing option, and an automatic detection option;

initiating a sampling of an environment within a washing compartment of the household appliance if the automatic detection option is selected;

initiating a presoak cycle if the presoak option is selected by the user;

initiating the presoak cycle if the automatic detection state is selected and a predetermined level of dirtiness is exceeded by the sampling of the environment;

initiating a washing cycle; and

initiating a drying cycle;

wherein;

the presoak cycle comprises;

supplying a presoak detergent to a set of presoak nozzles, the presoak nozzles being independent from washing cycle nozzles;

applying the presoak detergent to items placed within the washing compartment;

providing a predetermined presoaking period during which the presoak detergent acts on dirt within the washing compartment;

rinsing the washing compartment to remove the presoak detergent; and

if the automatic detection option is selected by the user, second sampling the environment at an end of the presoak cycle to determine if the predetermined level of dirtiness is still exceeded by a second sample and rerunning the presoak cycle if the second sample exceeds the predetermined level of dirtiness prior to initiating the washing cycle.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the presoak detergent is different from a washing detergent used during the washing cycle.