Patent Publication Number: US-2012043871-A1

Title: Dishwasher comprising a plurality of modules

Description:
The present invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, featuring a housing. 
     Standard household dishwashers comprise a housing, in which the essential components are accommodated, which are required for cleaning and/or drying items being washed, in particular dishes. The housing can have a supporting function and generally serves to protect the components disposed therein from dirt and damage. It also protects the user from contact with live parts. As well as a closable wash compartment for accommodating items being washed, pumps, heating facilities, valves, water switches and dosing facilities for detergents and cleaning aids for example are provided, which interact to allow the cleaning and/or drying of the items to be washed introduced into the wash compartment. 
     To ensure this interaction, dishwashers have an electrical or electronic control facility, which automatically controls the components of the dishwasher during a wash process or wash cycle according to a predesigned wash program. The configuration of the wash program here has a decisive influence on the efficiency of the dishwasher, which results from the balancing of the cleaning and drying action achieved on the one hand and the necessary use of in particular energy, water, detergents and cleaning aids on the other hand. 
     A typical wash program of a commercially available dishwasher can consist of a prewash cycle, a cleaning cycle, an intermediate rinse cycle, a final rinse cycle and a drying cycle. The described basic sequence of a typical wash cycle can be modified in many different ways. For example different time patterns or different temperature patterns can be predetermined. It is also possible to omit individual sub-cycles, such as the prewash cycle, or to perform individual sub-cycles, such as the cleaning cycle, several times one after the other. This allows the wash cycle sequence provided to be tailored to different applications. 
     In modern dishwashers it is therefore normal to provide a plurality of wash programs to control the sequence of a wash cycle. The operator is then able to select a suitable wash program depending on the application. Provision can thus be made in addition to a normal wash program for an intensive wash program for example, to achieve a more intensive cleaning action, an energy-saving wash program, to reduce the energy requirement, and/or a delicate wash program, for the more careful treatment of items being washed. A further wash program can also be provided, which is tailored to the load size and/or type of items to be washed. All the wash programs mentioned can also be used in a quick wash variant, which is intended to shorten the overall duration of the wash cycle. 
     Each of the wash programs provided is configured so that a defined cleaning and/or drying action can be achieved with maximum efficiency taking into account further parameters, such as a maximum wash cycle duration or a maximum strain on the items being washed, during a wash cycle performed on the basis of the respective wash program. 
     Rising energy and water costs and also a generally greater environmental awareness and the changing lifestyles of large groups of the population mean that there is now also a requirement for more efficient household dishwashers. 
     One disadvantage of the known dishwashers is that they no longer meet the current need for efficiency. 
     The object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher with greater efficiency. 
     With a dishwasher of the type mentioned in the introduction the object is achieved in that at least two modules are integrated in the housing, each featuring a wash compartment that is fixed to the housing and can be closed off, to accommodate items to be washed. 
     The presence of at least two modules, each comprising a wash compartment fixed to the housing, allows the efficiency of the dishwasher to be increased considerably. Particularly water-saving and/or energy-saving wash cycles are then possible, since the manner of processing the items being washed in a first wash compartment can be different from the manner of processing the items being washed in a second or further wash compartment. For example it is now possible to conduct a larger proportion of the water used for a wash cycle into the first wash compartment and a smaller proportion of the water used into the second wash compartment, so that a greater cleaning action is achieved in the first wash compartment than in the second wash compartment. This allows more heavily soiled items to be cleaned in the first wash compartment and less heavily soiled items to be cleaned in the second wash compartment, in each instance with a satisfactory cleaning result. 
     This satisfactory cleaning result can be achieved much more economically compared with a conventional dishwasher, in which more heavily soiled items and less heavily soiled items are cleaned at the same time in one wash compartment. With the conventional dishwasher the wash program has to be designed so that the cleaning action is adequate for the more heavily soiled items, which ultimately means that the less heavily soiled dishes are subjected to an excessive cleaning action. In contrast, with the inventive dishwasher both the more heavily soiled items and the less heavily soiled items can be cleaned respectively with a precisely tailored cleaning action. This means that in particular water but also energy for heating, circulating and/or pumping away the water can be saved. In many instances the quantity of detergent and/or cleaning aid to be added can also be reduced, since with a smaller quantity of water, the intended detergent and/or cleaning aid concentration can be achieved by adding less. 
     Further efficiency advantages result when only quite a small quantity of items is to be cleaned. It is then possible for the water used for washing only to be conducted into the wash compartment(s) actually required to accommodate the items to be washed. One or more wash compartments that are not required can be taken out of operation. By deactivating one or more of the wash compartments it is possible in particular to reduce the quantity of unused water, which adheres for example to the walls of the wash compartments or to facilities for positioning the items to be washed. When washing smaller quantities of items, this allows a considerable amount of water to be saved, which could not be achieved in a conventional dishwasher with just one wash compartment, even by using wash programs tailored specifically for partial loads of items to be washed. The smaller quantity of water also results in a reduction in the energy required for heating, circulating and/or pumping away the water. There are also savings in respect of detergent and/or cleaning aid. The cleaning action is not reduced in the process. 
     Since the modules are integrated in a shared housing, a simple and compact structure also results, which benefits the spatial efficiency of the dishwasher. It is also beneficial for spatial efficiency that the wash compartments of the modules are disposed in a fixed manner in relation to the housing. Compared with what are known as drawer-type dishwashers, in which the wash compartments can be pulled out of the housing in the manner of a drawer, in order that they can be loaded and unloaded outside the housing, simpler and therefore more space-saving fastening of the components delimiting the wash compartment to the housing results. This means that an inventive dishwasher with identical external dimensions can hold almost the same quantity of items to be washed as a conventional dishwasher. The shared housing also facilitates the transportation and installation of the dishwasher at the intended operating site. 
     According to one preferred development of the invention each module has a wash container fixed to the housing and largely enclosing the respective wash compartment. Such a wash container is preferably made from a stainless steel and can comprise a base trough, two side walls, a rear wall and a top wall. A movable door, for example a hinged door, can be assigned to the single open face, allowing the loading and unloading of the wash compartment formed in the interior of the wash container. In this manner the wash compartment is delimited essentially by fixed parts, allowing the inventive dishwasher to have a simple structure. Only the door(s) must be supported in a movable manner. Even though solutions are possible, in which only one wash container is used, which comprises a plurality of wash compartments, the use of one wash container per module allows further components of the dishwasher, such as pumps or water lines for example, to be disposed in a space-saving manner between the wash containers of the modules. 
     According to one advantageous development of the invention the at least two modules each have a door for closing off their wash compartments. Compared with a dishwasher in which a number of wash compartments can be closed off with a shared door, this allows the dishwasher to be used more flexibly. In particular it is possible to load or unload one of the wash compartments, while items are being cleaned and/or dried in another of the wash compartments. 
     According to one expedient development of the invention at least one rack that can be pulled out of the wash compartment is disposed in each instance in the wash compartments of the at least two modules. The rack of each module can be supported on move-out rails in such a manner that when the door is open it can be pulled essentially completely out of the wash compartment. This facilitates the loading and unloading of the respective wash compartment. The rack can be made of plastic and/or wires with corrosion protection. 
     According to one advantageous development of the invention the at least two modules are configured in each instance for the independent performance of a wash cycle to clean and/or dry items being washed. “Independent performance of a wash cycle” here means that a wash cycle in one of the modules is possible independently of the operating state of the other modules. This further increases the practical benefit of the inventive dishwasher. It is now possible for different patterns of wash cycles to be implemented at the same time in the different wash compartments. It is also possible now to perform temporally overlapping wash cycles with the same or different patterns in the different wash compartments. 
     For the independent performance of a wash cycle each module can have a separately controllable hydraulic system for applying water to the items being washed. Each hydraulic system here can comprise a circulating pump for circulating water, a heating facility for heating water and a spray system for spraying the items being washed with water. The hydraulic systems of the modules can be controlled respectively by way of their own control facility or by way of a shared control facility. 
     According to one preferred development of the invention the at least two modules each have an operating facility for inputting operating commands. If each module is assigned its own operating facility, the risk of incorrect operation is reduced. This is even more true, if the respective operating facilities are disposed spatially in such a manner that the operator can easily see which wash compartment the respective operating facilities belong to. It is particularly advantageous here to dispose the operating facilities respectively in the region of the loading opening of the respectively associated wash compartment, for example on or next to the door for closing off the respective wash compartment. The operating facilities can be a button arrangement, a switch arrangement or the like. 
     According to one preferred development of the invention a first module has a first wash compartment having a first capacity and a second module has a second wash compartment having a different capacity. The asymmetrical configuration of the capacities of the wash compartments means that it is possible also to configure smaller dishwashers so that larger elements of the items to be washed can be introduced at least into one of the wash compartments and cleaned there. Larger elements of the items to be washed, e.g. pots and pans, which are frequently particularly heavily soiled, can therefore also be put together in a larger wash compartment and cleaned together there using a special intensive program, thereby further improving the efficiency of the dishwasher. 
     According to one advantageous development of the invention a branching facility fixed to the housing is provided to supply the at least two modules with intake water. With such a configuration of the dishwasher it is possible to supply intake water that is conducted from an external water supply by way of a water supply hose, at least part of which runs outside the housing, to different modules. It is therefore not necessary to connect each module individually to the external water supply. This facilitates in particular the correct connection of the dishwasher at the operating site. Control valves can be provided in the branch or downstream of the branch to supply the individual modules with intake water independently of one another. 
     According to one preferred development of the invention a distributor facility fixed to the housing is provided to supply the at least two modules with electricity. This allows several or all the modules to be connected to an external electricity supply by way of a shared connecting cable. Those electrical consumers, for example a shared control facility, which are assigned to a plurality of modules, are also preferably connected to the distributor facility. This allows the entire dishwasher to be supplied with electricity by way of a single connecting cable. This also facilitates the correct connection of the dishwasher at the operating site. 
     According to one advantageous development of the invention a collector facility fixed to the housing is provided to discharge waste water out of the at least two modules. If the collector facility is connected by way of a water discharge hose to an external waste water disposal unit, the waste water can be discharged from several or all of the modules in a simple manner. Non-return valves can be provided in the branch or upstream thereof to prevent waste water from one module passing into another module. 
     According to one preferred development of the invention the dishwasher is configured as a built-under dishwasher to be disposed below a worktop of a row of kitchen units. This allows the dishwasher to be inserted into a recess, which is present in a lower region in many rows of kitchen units. The width, depth and overall height of the dishwasher are advantageously standard measurements to this end. The dishwasher can thus have for example a width of 45 cm or 60 cm, a depth of around 55 cm and an expediently adjustable height in the region of 81.5 cm to 87.5 cm. 
     According to one advantageous development of the invention the dishwasher is configured as a freestanding dishwasher. This allows the dishwasher to be positioned independently of any kitchen units present. Smaller freestanding dishwashers can be disposed for example on a worktop of a row of kitchen units. Larger freestanding dishwashers in contrast are advantageously positioned on the kitchen floor. The standalone dishwasher can have a tabletop on its upper face. 
     According to one advantageous development of the invention the dishwasher is configured as a built-in dishwasher to be disposed in a cabinet in a row of kitchen units. This allows the dishwasher to be disposed, for example in a tall cabinet, at a user-friendly height. To this end the dishwasher can have external measurements that correspond to the internal measurements of standard kitchen cabinets. The door(s) of the built-in dishwasher here is/are disposed so that they do not collide with the cabinet walls or cabinet bases or with the doors of adjacent cabinet compartments when opened or closed. 
     Other developments of the invention are set out in the subclaims. 
    
    
     
       The invention and its developments are described in more detail below with reference to drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic spatial diagram of a first exemplary embodiment of an inventive dishwasher; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic side view of the first exemplary embodiment of an inventive dishwasher, and 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic spatial diagram of a second exemplary embodiment of an inventive dishwasher. 
     
    
    
     In the figures which follow, corresponding parts are shown with the same reference characters. Only those components of a dishwasher necessary for an understanding of the invention are provided with reference characters and described. It goes without saying that the inventive dishwasher can comprise further parts and assemblies 
       FIG. 1  shows a schematic spatial diagram of an exemplary embodiment of an inventive dishwasher  1 . It has a housing  2 , which comprises a first side segment  3 , a second side segment  4 , a rear or rear wall segment  5 , a front segment  6 , a top segment  7  and a bottom segment  8 . The dishwasher  1  is configured as a built-under dishwasher  1  to be disposed below a worktop of a row of kitchen units. To this end it has a width B of 60 cm, which is a standard measurement of recesses in rows of kitchen units. However other measurements, for example 45 cm, are also possible. The width B could however also be tailored to the internal measurement of a kitchen cabinet so that the dishwasher  1  can be built into a kitchen cabinet. For example the dishwasher  1  with a width B of approximately 56 cm can be built into a standard cabinet with an overall width of 60 cm. A frame could be provided on the front face of the dishwasher  1 , having a width of approximately 60 cm and covering the side pieces of the cabinet. 
     On its lower face in the corner regions the dishwasher  1  has four adjustable feet  9 , only the front two of which are visible. The adjustable feet  9  are height-adjustable, so that the overall height GH can be adjusted within a range of for example 81.5 cm to 87.5 cm, allowing the dishwasher  1  to be tailored to recesses below worktops of different heights. The dishwasher  1  comprises a first module  10  and a second module  11 , the modules  10  and  11  being disposed one above the other in the housing  2 . 
     The first module  10  here has a first wash compartment  12 , which is configured to clean items to be washed therein using water. The wash compartment  12  of the first module  10  is disposed in the interior of a box-shaped wash container  13 , which has a loading opening, which can be closed off by a hinged door  14 . The wash container  13  is connected rigidly to the housing  2  and on a lower face has a pump sump  15 , in the region of which electrical components (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of a spray system assigned to the wash compartment  12  are disposed. The components of the spray system of the first module  10  can be controlled by a control facility  16  according to a wash program that can be selected by an operator to perform a wash cycle in the first wash compartment  12 . The control facility  16  is disposed in the interior of the door  14  and connected to an operating facility  17  disposed on the door  14  in such a manner that inputs by an operator at the operating facility  17  can be transmitted to the control facility  16 . This allows the operator for example to select a defined wash program for the performance of a wash cycle in the first wash compartment  12 . 
     The second module  11  has the same structure as the first module  10 . It therefore comprises a second wash compartment  18 , which is likewise configured to clean items to be washed therein using water and which is disposed in the interior of a further box-shaped wash container  19 . The further wash container  19  is also connected rigidly to the housing  2  and has a loading opening, which can be closed off by a further hinged door  20 . The wash container  19  is disposed in the housing  2  and on a lower face has a further pump sump  21 , in the region of which electrical components (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) of a second spray system assigned to the wash compartment  18  are disposed. The second module  11  also comprises a control facility  22  for controlling the components of the second spray system and a second operating facility  23  for operating the second control facility  22 . 
     In the exemplary embodiment in  FIG. 1  the wash compartment  12  of the first module  10  and the wash compartment  18  of the second module  11  have the same dimensions. The module height MH 1  of the first module  10  here can correspond to the module height MH 2  of the second module  11 . With module heights MH 1 , MH 2  of around 40 cm the capacity of the first module  10  and of the second module  11  can be for example 4 to 5 standard place settings. 
     The first module  10  and the second module  11  are each configured for the independent performance of a wash cycle to clean and/or dry items being washed. It is thus possible for example to perform one wash cycle in one of the modules  10 ,  11  while the respectively other module  10 ,  11  is inactive. It is also possible to use both modules  10 ,  11  at the same time. It is then possible to perform a wash cycle according to a first wash program, for example an intensive program, in one of the modules  10 ,  11  and a wash cycle according to another wash program, for example a delicate program, at the same time in the respectively other of the modules  10 ,  11 . 
     A shared water intake facility  24  fixed to the housing is provided to supply the modules  10 ,  11  with water. This is connected by way of a single water intake hose  25  to an external water supply WH, typically a water tap WH of a water installation installed in the building. The water tap WH can be a cold water tap or a hot water tap. Exemplary embodiments are also possible, in which the water intake facility  24  is configured to supply the modules  10 ,  11  with hot water and with cold water. Provision is then made to connect the water intake facility  24  by way of a first water intake hose to a cold water supply, for example a cold water tap, and by way of a second water intake hose to a hot water supply, for example a hot water tap. 
     A shared water discharge facility  26  fixed to the housing is also provided to dispose of the waste water from the modules  10 ,  11 , said shared water discharge facility  26  being connected by way of a water discharge hose  27  to an external waste water disposal unit A, for example a waste water pipe A installed in the building. 
     The dishwasher  1  is supplied with electrical energy by way of a single electrical connecting cable  28 , which is connected to an external electricity supply EV, for example a socket EV installed in the building. 
       FIG. 2  shows a partially sectional schematic side view of the dishwasher  1  from  FIG. 1 . Disposed in the wash compartment  12  of the first module  10  is a rack  29 , which is configured for the positioning of the items being washed in the wash compartment  12 . The rack  29  here is fastened to the wash container  13  on both sides by way of move-out rails  30 . When the door  14  is open, as shown with broken lines in  FIG. 2 , the rack  29  can be pulled in the direction of the arrow P out of the wash compartment  13 , so that it is easy to load with items to be washed or to empty. If however the rack  29  is in the illustrated position in the interior of the wash compartment  12  and the door  14  is closed, as shown with unbroken lines, a wash cycle for cleaning and/or drying items to be washed that are present in the rack is possible, with water W being applied to the items being washed in phases at least. 
     The application of water W 1  to the items being washed in the first module  10  takes place by means of a hydraulic system, which can comprise the pump sump  15 , a spray facility  31  and a heating pump  32 . The spray facility  31  comprises a rotatable spray arm  31  for example. For application to the items being washed, water W 1 , which is present in the wash compartment  13  and collects due to gravity in the pump sump  15 , is pumped by means of the heating pump  32  into the spray facility  31 , so that the water W 1  exits from nozzles on the spray arm  31  and strikes the items being washed. The hydraulic system of the first module is controlled during a wash cycle by the control facility  16  according to a wash program predetermined by the operator. In order to be able to dispose of water W 1  no longer required in the first module  10  as waste water AW, a waste water pump  33  is also provided, which is likewise controlled by the control facility  16  based on the selected wash program. 
     The second module  11  comprises a pull-out rack  34 , the purpose and mode of operation of which correspond to those of the rack  29  of the first module  10 . The rack  34  here is supported on move-out rails  35 . In the second module  11  water W 2  is applied to the items being washed by means of a hydraulic system which, as in the first module  10 , can comprise the pump sump  21 , a spray facility  36  and a heating pump  37 . The hydraulic system of the second module  11  is controlled during a wash cycle by the control facility  22  according to a wash program predetermined by the operator. The second module  11  also comprises its own waste water pump  38 , in order to be able to dispose of water W 2  that is no longer required as waste water AW. This is controlled by the control facility  22  based on the selected wash program. 
     The wash compartments  12  and  18  of the modules  10  and  11  are connected respectively by way of a line to the water intake facility  24 . This has a branching facility  39 , which has a first output to supply the first module  10  with intake water ZW and a second output to supply the second module  11  with intake water ZW. Assigned to each of the outputs of the water intake facility  24  is a control valve (not shown), with the control valve assigned to the first output being able to be controlled by the control facility  16  of the first module  10  and the control valve assigned to the second output being able to be controlled by the control facility  22  of the second module  11 . 
     The electrical connecting cable  28  is connected to an electrical distributor facility  40 , which supplies both modules  10 ,  11  with electrical energy EL by way of means that are not shown. 
     The waste water pump  33  of the first module  10  and the waste water pump  38  of the second module  11  are connected respectively by way of a line to inputs of a collector facility  41  of the waster discharge facility  26 . Non-return valves (not shown) are assigned respectively to the lines to prevent waste water AW from one of the modules  10 ,  11  being pumped into the respectively other module  10 ,  11 . 
     The configuration of the dishwasher  1  in  FIGS. 1 and 2  allows the first module  10  and the second module  11  to be operated independently of one another. Thus the first module  10  and the second module  11  are each able to perform a wash cycle for cleaning and/or drying items being washed independently. The control facility  16  thus controls all the processes required to perform a wash cycle in the first module  10 . These include in particular the taking in of intake water ZW, the application of water W 1  to the items being washed and the disposal of waste water AW. In a similar manner the control facility  22  controls all the processes required to perform a wash cycle in the second module  11 . However exemplary embodiments are also possible which provide a single control facility which is configured for the independent control of wash cycles in the first module  10  and of wash cycles in the second module  11 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a further exemplary embodiment of an inventive dishwasher  1 ′. The dishwasher  1 ′ corresponds essentially to the exemplary embodiment described with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 . However it is configured as a freestanding dishwasher  1 ′, which has a top segment  7 ′ configured as a tabletop  7 ′. 
     The dishwasher  1 ′ also has a modified housing  2 ′ with a larger overall height GH′. This is because the second module  11 ′ has a wash compartment  18 ′ of greater height so that the module height MH 2 ′ is also greater than in the previous exemplary embodiment. The wash compartment  18 ′ here can hold around 6-7 standard place settings for a module height MH 2 ′ of 60 cm for example. In this instance the dishwasher  1 ′ has an overall height GH′ of something over 100 cm. 
     It goes without saying that an inventive dishwasher can also have modules with different dimensions. Also the illustration and description of dishwashers  1 ,  1 ′ with two modules each is exemplary. It is thus possible to provide three or even more modules in an inventive dishwasher. 
     To summarize, the dishwasher can be made up of two or more wash modules in a shared housing, it being preferably possible to operate and use each wash module independently. Thus for example two compact dishwashers having different dimension variants of 55 cm×45 cm (height×width) and 55 cm×60 cm (height×width) can form a modular system, it being possible to accommodate the two module variants thereof individually or combined in any number above and/or next to one another in a shared housing. For example two wash modules of the same or different dimension types can be combined above or next to one another in a shared housing to form a “duo dishwasher”. The following module combinations in particular are possible for example: two 45 cm wide modules disposed above or next to one another; a 45 cm wide module or a 60 cm wide module disposed below or above or next to it; a 60 cm wide module and three 45 cm wide modules disposed next to it or above or below it. 
     LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS 
     
         
           1  Dishwasher 
           2  Housing 
           3  First side segment 
           4  Second side segment 
           5  Rear segment 
           6  Front segment 
           7  Top segment 
           8  Bottom segment 
           9  Foot 
           10  First module 
           11  Second module 
           12  Wash compartment of first module 
           13  Wash container of first module 
           14  Door 
           15  Pump sump 
           16  Control facility 
           17  Operating facility 
           18  Wash compartment of second module 
           19  Wash container of second module 
           20  Door 
           21  Pump sump 
           22  Control facility 
           23  Operating facility 
           24  Water intake facility 
           25  Water intake hose 
           26  Water discharge facility 
           27  Water discharge hose 
           28  Connecting cable 
           29  Rack 
           30  Move-out rail 
           31  Spray facility 
           32  Heating pump 
           33  Drain pump, waste water pump 
           34  Rack 
           35  Move-out rail 
           36  Spray facility 
           37  Heating pump 
           38  Drain pump, waste water pump 
           39  Branching facility 
           40  Distributor facility 
           41  Collector facility 
         WH Water supply, water tap 
         A Waste water disposal unit, waste water pipe 
         EV Electricity supply, socket 
         B Width 
         MH Module height 
         GH Overall height 
         W Water 
         ZW Intake water 
         EL Electricity 
         AW Waste water