Patent Publication Number: US-2022211246-A1

Title: Dishwasher with improved detergent dispenser

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The invention relates to a dishwasher. In particular the present invention relates to a dishwasher having a detergent dispenser. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Dishwashers typically have detergent dispensers that are arranged on the inner wall of the door of the dishwasher. The detergent dispensers are containers provided with a lid that typically is automatically opened during washing so as to output the detergent for washing crockery. 
     Detergent tablets can often be used for washing crockery. The tablet is inserted manually into the detergent dispenser and, after the lid connected to the detergent dispenser is opened, falls into a zone of the dishwasher in which the washing water dissolves the tablet to wash the crockery. 
     However, the tablet, after the lid is opened, often does not fall into a zone of the dishwasher that is suitable for the complete dissolution thereof. Thus, at the end of the washing step, the tablet is not completely dissolved, with unpleasant consequences due to the poor washing of the crockery. 
     EP2138088 describes a detergent dispenser where the tablet is prevented from falling into the dishwasher by a grille or by two vertical elements. 
     Also, other types of detergents can be used such as gel pads, powder or some other type. 
     There is a constant desire to improve the dishwashers and to make the washing in dishwashers more efficient. Hence, there is a need for a dishwasher that improves upon how detergent tablets and other types of detergents are dissolved during dishwashing in a dishwasher. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved dishwasher and in particular an improved dishwasher having a detergent dispenser. 
     These objects and or others are obtained by a detergent dispenser for a dishwasher and a dishwasher as set out in the appended claims. 
     In accordance with the present invention, a dishwasher comprising a pump for pumping water is provided. A water conduit is provided in the dishwasher connected to the water pump for distributing water in the dishwasher. The dishwasher further comprises a door for closing and opening the dishwasher. The dishwasher has a detergent dispenser located on the inside of the door and the detergent dispenser comprises a closeable cavity for receiving a detergent. The detergent dispenser comprises an outlet for draining fluid from the closable cavity. The detergent dispenser of the dishwasher further comprises a sealed dispenser water inlet configured to be detachably connected to the water conduit upon opening and closing the door. Hereby pressurized water can be directed directly to the inside of the detergent dispenser when the detergent dispenser is in a closed state. This will in turn allow the detergent to be dissolved in a shorter time and more predictably compared to existing mechanisms for emptying detergent from a detergent dispenser. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, a diffuser is located at the sealed dispenser water inlet to spray pressurized water inside the cavity. Hereby water can be directed to detergent placed inside the cavity. Also, the speed of the water can be increased using the diffuser to allow for a quicker dissolving of the detergent inside the cavity. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the water inlet is located at a level above an outlet from the cavity. Hereby water can pass through the cavity under the force of gravity. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the detergent dispenser comprises a siphon provided between the closable cavity and the outlet ( 37 ). Hereby a fluid detergent can be used in the cavity such that the fluid detergent only exits the detergent dispenser when water is flushed through the detergent dispenser. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, an overflow outlet is provided at a level above the outlet in the closable cavity. Hereby it can be ensured that water always can exit the detergent dispenser even if the outlet from the dispenser should become clogged or pressure for some other reason should rise inside the cavity. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the water inlet is provided with a sealed connector to connect to the water conduit. Hereby an easy to use connection between the water inlet and the water conduit can be implemented. 
     In accordance with one embodiment, the dishwasher further comprises a controller configured to control water supply in the dishwasher, the controller being configured to supply a dash of pressurized water to the detergent dispenser at a first washing or rinsing phase of a dishwasher program. Hereby a small amount of water can be supplied to the cavity of the detergent dispenser. The small amount of water can soak the detergent before being flushed out from the cavity. This can help dissolving the detergent and provide for a more efficient emptying of detergent from the cavity. The dash of water can be less than a pre-determined amount such as less than 50 ml. In particular, the dash of water is equal or less than the volume of the closeable cavity of the detergent dispenser. Also, the first washing or rinsing phase can be before a main washing phase of a dishwasher program. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of a dishwasher, 
         FIG. 2  is a view of an arrangement for supplying water to a detergent dispenser of a dishwasher, 
         FIGS. 3 a -3 c    are a cross-sectional views of a detergent dispenser, 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a detergent dispenser, 
         FIG. 5  is a cross sectional view of a detergent dispenser according to a second embodiment, and 
         FIGS. 6 a , 6 b  and 6 c    illustrate two different embodiments of a diffuser at the water inlet of a detergent dispenser. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. The invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. For example, like or similar components of different embodiments can be exchanged between different embodiments. Some components can be omitted from different embodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description. 
     In  FIG. 1 , a dishwasher  1  is shown. The exemplary dishwasher  1  comprises a washing compartment or tub  2 , a door  4  configured to open and also to close and seal the washing compartment  2 , a spraying system having a lower spray arm  3  and an upper spray arm  5 , a lower rack  6  and an upper rack  7 . Additionally, it may comprise a specific top rack for cutlery (not shown). A controller ii such as a microprocessor can typically be arranged in the interior of the dishwasher for controlling washing programs and water supply. The controller  11  is typically communicatively connected to an interface  8  via which a user can select washing programs. 
     The door  4  of the exemplary dishwasher  1  of  FIG. 1  is further on its inside arranged with a detergent dispenser  9 . The dispenser  9  can typically be opened and closed for placing detergent therein. When leaving the detergent dispenser  9 , the detergent will enter into the tub  2 . The detergent placed in the detergent dispenser  9  can be any type of detergent such as a detergent tablet or similar can be placed. The term detergent tablet used herein refers to any type of unit with detergent such as a detergent pad or a detergent capsule or similar. However, the invention is not limited to the use of detergent tablets, but any type of detergent such as a gel or powder could be used in the detergent dispenser  9 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , a partial view from inside the tub  2  is depicted viewing the door  4  with the detergent dispenser  9 . The detergent dispenser  9  can be supplied with water via a water conduit  21 . The water conduit  21  is connected to a water pump  22  used for distributing water in the dishwasher. The detergent dispenser  9  has a closeable cavity for receiving a detergent. The detergent dispenser  9  comprises a sealed dispenser water inlet  31  configured to be detachably connected to the water conduit  21  upon opening and closing the door. The sealed dispenser water inlet  31  is configured to provide a sealed connection to the water conduit  21  such that pressurized water can be provided directly to the inside of the detergent dispenser. In other words, the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  can connect with a sealed connection to the water conduit  21 . The sealed dispenser water inlet  31  can be located on a side of the detergent dispenser  9  facing the inside of the tub  2 . The sealed dispenser water inlet  31  can be provided with a diffuser or a nozzle to direct the pressurized water to the detergent to be dissolved. In other words, in order to boost the dissolution of the detergent, the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  can be configured to direct the water flow directly to the location where detergent is to be placed. This can be particularly advantageous when the detergent is in the form of a tablet. The water conduit  21  can in accordance with some embodiments be a dedicated water conduit  21  directly connecting the detergent dispenser with pressurized water from the water pump  22 . In another embodiment the water conduit  21  can be branched off from another water conduit  27  such a water conduit supplying water to a spray arm or some other part of the dish washer supplied with water. When a dedicated water conduit  21  is used a flow controller (not shown) can be used to determine when water is to be supplied to the detergent dispenser  9  by controlling the water supplied to the dedicated water conduit  21 . 
     When the water conduit  21  is branched off some other water conduit  27  a valve (not shown) or similar can be used to control the water supplied to the detergent dispenser  9 . In accordance with some embodiments, the valve can be omitted when the water conduit  21  is branched off another water conduit  27  water is then simply provided to the detergent dispenser when water is supplied to the water conduit from which the water conduit  21  is branched off. 
     In  FIG. 3 a   , a cross sectional side view of a detergent dispenser  9  in accordance with a first embodiment is shown. The detergent dispenser  9  in  FIG. 3 a    is shown in a closed position. The detergent dispenser  9  comprises a cavity  33  in which detergent can be placed. The cavity  33  is enclosed by a casing  32 . The cavity  33  in the casing  32  can be accessed by for example tilting the casing as is shown in  FIG. 3 b    or for example via a lid. Water can be supplied to the cavity  33  via the sealed dispenser water inlet  31 . The detergent dispenser further comprises a water outlet  37 . 
     Also, a siphon  35  can be arranged inside the detergent dispenser  9  such that water entering the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  has to pass the siphon  35  to exit the detergent dispenser  9  via the water outlet  37 . The siphon  35  can typically be a tube-like structure forcing the water, under the pull of gravity, to flow upwards and then downwards to discharge via the water outlet  37 . The use of a siphon can allow for use of liquid/gel detergent that otherwise could exit the detergent dispenser before a main washing cycle in the dishwasher. 
     Further an overflow outlet  38  can be arranged in the detergent dispenser  9 . The overflow outlet  38  will allow water not able to exit the detergent dispenser  9  via the water outlet  37  to leave the detergent dispenser  9  without building a high pressure inside the detergent dispenser  9 . The overflow outlet  38  can for example be placed on the side of the detergent dispenser facing the inside of the tub  2 . In accordance with some embodiments the overflow outlet  38  is located at a level above the top portion of the siphon  35 , when a siphon  35  is present inside the detergent dispenser  9 . 
     In  FIG. 3 b   , a cross sectional side view of a detergent dispenser  9  in accordance with the first embodiment is shown with the detergent dispenser  9  shown in an opened position. While the detergent dispenser  9  for the most time is in the closed position when the dishwasher is in use, the detergent dispenser  9  can also be opened for e.g. placing detergent in the cavity  33 . In accordance with the embodiment of  FIG. 3 b    the detergent dispenser  9  is opened by a tilting mechanism allowing access to the cavity  33  via a top opening  39 . Other mechanisms for accessing the cavity  33  can for example be provision of a lid on the detergent dispenser  9 . 
     In  FIG. 3 c   , a cross sectional side view of a detergent dispenser  9  in accordance with the first embodiment is shown illustrating the water flow in the detergent dispenser  9 . The arrows inside the detergent dispenser  9  illustrate water flow. Thus, pressurized water enters the detergent dispenser  9  at the sealed dispenser water inlet  31 . Water is then flushed inside the cavity  33  where a detergent can be placed. From the cavity  33  water can in accordance with some embodiments flow via a siphon  35  where water can be configured to upwards and then downwards. The water can then exit the detergent dispenser via a water outlet  37 . 
     In  FIG. 4  a cross-sectional front view of a detergent dispenser  9  in accordance with the first embodiment is shown. During operation of the dishwasher water can be controlled to be fed to the detergent dispenser  9 . Typically, water can be flushed into the detergent dispenser  9  during a main dishwasher cycle when detergent is to be flushed out into the tub  2  of the dishwasher  1 . To facilitate flushing the detergent into the tub  2  during the main washing cycle a dash of water can be supplied to the detergent dispenser at a first phase that typically at the start of the washing machine or at least before the start of the main cycle of the dishwasher. Hereby the detergent that can be in the form of a tablet or a gel pad will be soaked early during the operation of the dishwasher and the detergent will be easier dissolved when water is flushed into the detergent dispenser during the main cycle of the dishwasher program. The amount of water in the dash of water should be small. In particular it should be set small enough to not let any detergent into the tub before the main cycle of the dishwasher. For example, the dash of water is less than 100 ml or less than 50 ml. In accordance with some embodiments the dash of water is equal or less than the volume of the closeable cavity  33  of the detergent dispenser  9 . In accordance with some embodiment the dash of water is set to an amount such that no water exits the detergent dispenser before the main cycle dishwasher. In such an embodiment water will enter the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  and soak the detergent in the cavity  33  but all water entering the cavity will stay in the detergent dispenser due to the siphon  35  keeping some water in the detergent dispenser until more water is supplied to the detergent dispenser during the main cycle of the dishwasher. 
     In  FIG. 5  a detergent dispenser  9  in accordance with a second embodiment is depicted. The arrows in the detergent dispenser illustrate water flow inside the detergent dispenser  9  when water flows through the detergent dispenser from the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  via the cavity  33  to the siphon  35  and out via the water outlet  37 . The detergent dispenser  9  according to the second embodiment is similar to the detergent dispenser  9  according to the first embodiment. The detergent dispenser according to the second embodiment has the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  configured at a lower level such that the siphon  35  is allowed to have an upper level above the level of the sealed dispenser water inlet  31 . 
       FIGS. 6 a  and 6 b    illustrate two different embodiments of a diffuser  36  at the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  of a detergent dispenser  9 . The diffuser is configured to increase the water speed of the water entering the closed cavity of the detergent dispenser. The diffuser can also be configured to direct the pressurized water to a position inside the closable cavity where the detergent is located. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 a   , which is a cross-sectional view from the side of the detergent dispenser  9 , the diffuser  36  has a funnel-like design in order to reduce the size of the delivery tube to increase the water speed that will hit the detergent, here a detergent tablet  40 . Increasing the speed of the water directed at the detergent will improve the dissolution of the detergent. In the embodiment of  FIG. 6 a   , the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  is located at the top section of the detergent dispenser  9 . The diffuser  36  is directing the water in a downward direction to hit the detergent tablet  40 . 
       FIG. 6 b    shows an alternative embodiment of the detergent dispenser  9  in a cross-sectional view from the side. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 b   , the diffuser  36  has a cross-like design configured to split the water flow in a number of different sub-flows. Here four sub-flows are shown, but more or fewer can also be used. 
     The flows have a reduced the size to increase the water speed that will hit the detergent tablet  40 . In other words, the diffuser can be configured to increase the speed of the water at the sealed dispenser water inlet  31 . 
       FIG. 6 c    shows the embodiment shown in  FIG. 6 b    in another view. In  FIG. 6 c    the detergent dispenser  9  is shown in a front view. As can be seen, the water flow entering the dispenser via the sealed dispenser water inlet  31  will be made to pass the diffuser  36 . The diffuser  36  has a cross like-design configured to split the water flow into multiple sub-flows. Hence, the water flow entering the detergent dispenser  9  is split into multiple sub-flows where the sub-flows have an increased speed compared to the main water flow entering the detergent dispenser  9 .