System for determining an operating state of a dishwasher and an according method

• US 9,661,977 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2012
• Issued: 05/30/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ecolab USA Incorporated (Ecolab, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kullwitz, Dirk, Nowak, Jeremy, Schepers, Freek
• Primary Examiner(s): Barr, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shahinian, Levon J
• Application Number:
  US14/413,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20150297055A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,789 Days
• Field of Search: 134 56 D, 134 57 D, 134 58 D, 134113
• 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 15/449 Metering controlling devices A47L15/4229 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/46 Devices for the automatic control of the different phases of cleaning ; Controlling devices A47L15/449 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/023 Quantity or concentration of the consumable product
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/12 Water temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/30 Variation of electrical, magnetical or optical quantities
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2401/34 Other automatic detections
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 2501/36 Other output

Abstract

A washing system for determining an operating state of a dishwasher (12) comprises a dishwasher (12), in particular wherein the dishwasher (12) comprises a dishwasher interface (14), a dispenser unit (26), in particular wherein the dispenser unit (26) comprises a dispenser interface (28), wherein the dispenser unit (26) is connected to the dishwasher (12) for dosing a detergent to the dishwasher (12), a logic unit (30), in particular wherein the logic unit (30) is connectable to the dishwasher interface (14) and the dispenser interface (28), and a current sensor (24) for measuring an electrical current consumed by the dishwasher (12), wherein the current sensor (24) is connected to the logic unit (30). By replacing costly water meters by a current sensor (24), the cost efficiency of the washing system (10) may be increased. In addition, the assembling and maintenance effort of the washing system (10) may be reduced.

Claims

1. A washing system for determining an operating state of a dishwasher, comprising:

a dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher comprises a dishwasher interface;

a dispenser unit, wherein the dispenser unit comprises a dispenser interface and the dispenser unit is connected to the dishwasher for dosing a detergent to the dishwasher;

a logic unit, wherein the logic unit is connectable to the dishwasher interface and the dispenser interface; and

a current sensor for measuring a value of a current parameter indicative of an electrical current consumed by the dishwasher, wherein the current sensor is connected to the logic unit, wherein

the logic unit receives information from the current sensor comprising the value of the current parameter and at least one other signal representative of a second parameter of the dishwasher; and

the logic unit is configured to determine the operating state of the washing system based on the received information from the current sensor and the at least one other signal representative of the second parameter.

2. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein the current sensor comprises a current clamp.

3. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein the logic unit is integrated in the dispenser unit.

4. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the logic processes the received information from the current sensor, wherein the processing comprises;

comparing the received value of the current parameter with a current reference value; and

determining the operating state of the washing system based on a result of the current comparison.

5. The wash system according to claim 4, wherein the determined operating state comprises one state selected from a group consisting of:

a high stand-by state, a normal operation state, a leaking tank state, a water volume too low state, and a temperature too high state.

6. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one other signal comprises washing temperature information comprising a value of a washing temperature parameter indicative of a washing temperature of the dishwasher;

the logic unit processes the received washing temperature information, wherein the processing comprises comparing the value of the washing temperature parameter with a washing temperature reference value; and

the determining of the operating state of the washing system by the logic unit further comprises determining the operating state based on a result of the washing temperature comparison.

7. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one other signal comprises rinsing temperature information comprising a value of a rinsing temperature parameter indicative of a rinsing temperature of the dishwasher;

the logic unit processes the received rinsing temperature information, wherein the processing comprises comparing the value of the rinsing temperature parameter with a rinsing temperature reference value; and

the determining of the operating state of the washing system by the logic unit further comprises determining the operating state based on a result of the rinsing temperature comparison.

8. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one other signal comprises a washing dosing signal indicative of a washing fluid being supplied, the detecting comprising receiving the washing dosing signal from the dishwasher interface;

the logic unit processes the detected washing dosing signal; and

the determining of the operating state of the washing system by the logic unit further comprises determining the operating state based on the detected washing dosing signal.

9. The wash system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one other signal comprises a rinsing dosing signal indicative of a rinsing fluid being supplied, the detecting comprising receiving the rinsing dosing signal from the dishwasher interface;

the logic unit processes the detected rinsing dosing signal; and

the determining of the operating state of the washing system by the logic unit further comprises determining the operating state based on the detected rinsing dosing signal.

10. The wash system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one other signal comprises a machine signal indicative of the washing system being operational, the detecting comprising receiving the machine signal from the dishwasher interface, the dispenser interface, or the logic unit;

the logic unit processes the detected machine signal; and

the determining of the operating state of the washing system by the logic unit further comprises determining the operating state based on the detected machine signal.

11. The wash system according to claim 1, wherein:

the at least one other signal comprises a dispenser dosing signal indicative of a detergent being supplied to the dishwasher, the detecting comprising receiving the dispenser dosing signal from the dispenser interface;

the logic unit processes the detected dispenser dosing signal; and

the determining of the operating state of the washing system by the logic unit further comprises determining the operating state based on the detected dispenser dosing signal.

12. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein the logic unit is integrated in the dispenser interface.

13. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein the logic unit comprises a memory module.

14. The washing system according to claim 13, wherein the memory module comprises parameters and values stored by the logic unit during and/or after operation of the washing system based on prior washing cycles of the washing system.

15. The washing system according to claim 1, wherein the logic unit comprises a processor.

16. A washing system for determining an operating state of a dishwasher, comprising:

a dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher comprises a dishwasher interface;

a dispenser unit, wherein the dispenser unit comprises a dispenser interface and the dispenser unit is connected to the dishwasher for dosing a detergent to the dishwasher;

a logic unit, wherein the logic unit is connectable to the dishwasher interface and the dispenser interface; and

a current sensor for measuring an electrical current consumed by the dishwasher, wherein the current sensor is connected to the logic unit and the logic unit is configured to;

a) receive information comprising a value of a current parameter indicative of a current consumed by the dishwasher and a second signal comprising one or more of the following;

washing temperature information comprising a value of a washing temperature parameter indicative of a washing temperature of the dishwasher;

rinsing temperature information comprising a value of a rinsing temperature parameter indicative of a rinsing temperature of the dishwasher;

a washing dosing signal indicative of a washing fluid being supplied;

a rinsing dosing signal indicative of a rinsing fluid being supplied;

a machine signal indicative of the washing system being operational; and

a dispenser dosing signal indicative of the detergent being supplied to the dishwasher; and

b) process the received information and/or signal to determine the operating state of the washing system based on both the received current parameter and the received second signal.

17. The wash system of claim 16, wherein the logic unit determines the operating state is an operating state selected from the group consisting of:

a high stand-by state, a normal operation state, a leaking tank state, a water volume too low state, and a temperature too high state.

18. The wash system of claim 17, wherein the logic unit determines that the dishwasher is in the high stand-by state if the processed received information satisfies one or more of:

a value of the current parameter that is higher or lower than a current reference value by a predefined amount;

a value of the washing temperature parameter that is within a predefined range of a washing temperature reference;

a value of the rinsing temperature parameter that is within a predefined range of a rinsing temperature reference;

detection of a machine signal;

no detection of a washing dosing signal, rinsing dosing signal, or dispenser dosing signal.

19. The wash system of claim 17, wherein the logic unit determines that the dishwasher is in the normal operation state if the processed received information satisfies one or more of:

a value of the current parameter within a predefined range of a current reference value;

a value of the washing temperature parameter that is within a predefined range of a washing temperature reference;

a value of the rinsing temperature parameter that is within a predefined range of a rinsing temperature reference;

detection of a machine signal;

detection of a washing dosing signal, rinsing dosing signal, or dispenser dosing signal.

20. The wash system of claim 17, wherein the logic unit determines that the dishwasher is in the leaking tank state if the processed received information satisfies one or more of:

a value of the current parameter that is higher than a current reference value by a predefined amount;

a value of the washing temperature parameter that is lower than a washing temperature reference by a predefined amount;

a value of the rinsing temperature parameter that is within a predefined range of a rinsing temperature reference;

no detection of a washing dosing signal or a rinsing dosing signal;

detection of a machine signal and a dispenser dosing signal.

21. The wash system of claim 17, wherein the logic unit determines that the dishwasher is in the water volume too low state if the processed received information satisfies one or more of:

a value of the current parameter that is lower than a current reference value by a predefined amount;

a value of the washing temperature parameter that is within a predefined range of a washing temperature reference;

a value of the rinsing temperature parameter that is within a predefined range of a rinsing temperature reference;

detection of a washing dosing signal, rinsing dosing signal, and machine signal;

no detection of a dispenser dosing signal.

22. The wash system of claim 17, wherein the logic unit determines that the dishwasher is in the temperature too high state if the processed received information satisfies one or more of:

a value of the current parameter that is higher than a current reference value by a predefined amount;

a value of the washing temperature parameter that is higher than a washing temperature reference by a predefined amount;

a value of the rinsing temperature parameter that is higher than a rinsing temperature reference by a predefined amount.