Patent Description:
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 is automatically opened during washing so as to output the detergent for washing crockery.

Detergent tablets are often 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.

<CIT> describes a detergent dispenser where the tablet is prevented from falling into the dishwasher by a grille or by two vertical elements. <CIT> describes a dispensing device comprising a support body to be fixed in the surface of the door of a dishwasher which, in operation, faces the washing chamber. A cup-like receptacle is defined in the body and is adapted to receive an amount or dose of washing agent and has an opening with an associated movable cover, which can be closed manually when said door is open and can be opened under control during a washing cycle. Adjacently to the receptacle in the support body there is provided a supply conduit having an inlet for receiving a flow of water received in operation from the machine, and at least one outlet communicating with said receptacle for directing said flow of water towards the washing agent contained in this receptacle.

<CIT> describes a device for supplying washing or rinsing agents in powdery form to a dishwasher. The device comprises a storage space for the agent having a vertical side wall closable by a lid and at least partly covered by a grating which inhibits the escape of undissolved agent when the latter is flushed into the washing tub. The lid is opened at the appropriate time by a programme-controlled electromagnet or bi-metal switch.

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 the detergent tablet is dissolved.

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 other are obtained a dishwasher as set out in the appended claims.

In accordance with the present invention, a dishwasher comprises an arrangement comprising a detergent dispenser having a lid, the detergent dispenser comprising a set of tablet restraints for retaining a detergent tablet in a cavity of the detergent dispenser; wherein the dishwasher comprises a washing compartment, a door configured to close and seal the washing compartment, a spraying system having a lower spray arm and an upper spray arm, a lower rack, an upper rack and a controller for controlling washing programs and communicatively connected to an interface via which a user can select washing programs; wherein said door is on its inside arranged with said detergent dispenser, wherein in the dispenser a detergent tablet or similar can be placed; wherein the detergent dispenser is supplied with water via a water conduit, wherein a water outlet is configured to release water to a top section of the detergent dispenser, wherein the water conduit is connected to a water conduit system of the dishwasher via a coupling at the upper spray arm, wherein the water outlet is located at a top section of the detergent dispenser and the water outlet is fed with water via the water conduit.

Hereby water can be supplied to the detergent dispenser in a controlled manner. For example, when the lid of the detergent dispenser is opened, water can flow onto the detergent tablet placed in the detergent dispenser from the water outlet above the detergent dispenser, which outlet releases water onto the door or the top of the dispenser in a controlled manner. The detergent tablet can thereby be dissolved completely in a controlled manner while kept in the detergent dispenser.

In accordance with one embodiment, the tablet restraints are located at a bottom surface of the cavity in the detergent dispenser. Hereby the restraints can be made small and the detergent tablet can be easily placed in the detergent dispenser.

In accordance with one embodiment, the bottom surface has a sloped surface. Hereby the risk that the detergent tablet leaves residues in the detergent dispenser is reduced.

In accordance with one embodiment, the tablet restraints are formed as teeth provided with an upwards facing portion forming an acute angle. The upwards facing portion is adapted to form a support against which a detergent tablet can rest when placed in the cavity of the detergent dispenser. Hereby the risk that the detergent tablet leaves residues in the detergent dispenser is reduced.

In accordance with one emodiment, the tablet restraints are formed as teeth located at a bottom surface of the detergent dispenser for retaining a detergent tablet in the detergent dispenser. The teeth are provided with an upwards facing portion forming an acute angle, wherein said upwards facing portion is adapted to form a support against which a detergent tablet can rest when placed in the detergent dispenser. Hereby the risk that the detergent tablet leaves residues in the detergent dispenser is reduced.

In accordance with one embodiment, the bottom section of the detergent dispenser has a sloped surface.

In accordance with one embodiment, a top section with openings for allowing water to enter the detergent dispenser is provided in the detergent dispenser. In accordance with one embodiment, rails are located on the bottom section of the detergent dispenser.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

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.

In <FIG>, a dishwasher <NUM> is shown. The exemplary dishwasher <NUM> comprises a washing compartment or tub <NUM>, a door <NUM> configured to close and seal the washing compartment <NUM>, a spraying system having a lower spray arm <NUM> and an upper spray arm <NUM>, a lower rack <NUM> and an upper rack <NUM>. Additionally, it may comprise a specific top rack for cutlery (not shown). A controller <NUM> such as a microprocessor can typically be arranged in the interior of the dishwasher for controlling washing programs and is communicatively connected to an interface <NUM> via which a user can select washing programs.

The door <NUM> of the exemplary dishwasher <NUM> of <FIG> is further on its inside arranged with a detergent dispenser <NUM>. The dispenser <NUM> has a lid <NUM> being controllably opened and closed by the controller <NUM> for dispensing detergent from the dispenser <NUM> into the tub <NUM>. In the dispenser, 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.

In <FIG> a partial view from inside the tub <NUM> is depicted viewing the door <NUM> with the detergent dispenser <NUM>. The detergent dispenser <NUM> is supplied with water via a water conduit <NUM>. The water flow is indicated by arrow in <FIG>. The water conduit <NUM> is connected to a water conduit system of the dishwasher via a coupling at the upper spray arm <NUM>. In accordance with one embodiment, the water conduit <NUM> can be attached to the upper rack <NUM> with clips <NUM>, or other means. At the door <NUM> a water outlet <NUM> is arranged to supply water to the topside of the detergent dispenser <NUM>. The topside of the detergent dispenser typically being the upper side of the detergent dispenser when the door <NUM> is closed and the dishwasher is in use. Hereby water can be supplied to the topside of the detergent dispenser <NUM> and water can flow through the detergent dispenser <NUM>. The water outlet <NUM> can also be attached to the upper rack via clips <NUM>, or other means. In an alternative embodiment, the water outlet <NUM> is mounted on the door <NUM> and connects via a coupling to the water conduit <NUM>. The water outlet <NUM> can have multiple nozzles <NUM> arranged thereon to output water to the detergent dispenser <NUM>. This will typically increase the amount of water that flows through the detergent dispenser and also the water flow in the detergent dispenser can be better controlled and thereby the risk for residues being left in the detergent dispenser or that the detergent tablet is not fully dissolved is reduced.

In <FIG> a partial cross-sectional view from the side of the door <NUM> is shown. <FIG> shows the detergent dispenser <NUM> and the lid <NUM>. <FIG> also shows the water outlet <NUM> located at a top section of the detergent dispenser. The water outlet, which is fed with water via the water conduit <NUM>, is arranged to output water to the detergent dispenser <NUM>. The water can be released via several laterally displaced nozzles such the water will pass all across the width of the detergent dispenser. The water passing through the dispenser is generally indicated by the arrows in <FIG>. The water will dissolve a detergent tablet <NUM> placed in the detergent dispenser. The tablet <NUM> can rest against a tablet restraint <NUM> inside the detergent dispenser as will be described in more detail below. In other words, water can flow directly from a water feed of the dishwasher to the surface of the door <NUM>. The water is sprayed onto the door or released right above the detergent dispenser. The water flows down and enters the detergent cavity washing over the detergent tablet. In accordance with one exemplary embodiment the dishwasher can be controlled to start spraying water via the water outlet when the lid is opened. By spraying water for a pre-determined time and/or with a pre-determined amount via the water outlet <NUM> it can be assured that the detergent tablet is completely dissolved.

In <FIG>, a view of an exemplary detergent dispenser <NUM> is shown. In the embodiment of <FIG> the detergent dispenser <NUM> is shown with the lid open. Under the lid, a cavity <NUM> is formed to receive a detergent tablet. The cavity <NUM> has a number of tablet restraints <NUM> located therein. The tablet restraints <NUM> are configured to keep the detergent tablet in the cavity <NUM> while the detergent tablet is dissolved when water is flushed in the detergent dispenser from the water outlet <NUM> shown in <FIG>. The tablet restraints <NUM> can be located on a bottom surface <NUM> of the cavity <NUM>. The bottom surface <NUM> can be sloped such that water will exit the cavity when water is in the cavity. Also, rails <NUM> can be formed on the bottom surface. The rails <NUM> can act to facilitate detergent from leaving the cavity and also to prevent the detergent tablet to stick to the bottom surface. Also, a top section of the detergent dispenser can in some embodiments be provided with openings (not shown) for receiving water from the water outlet.

Claim 1:
A dishwasher (<NUM>) comprising an arrangement comprising:
- a detergent dispenser (<NUM>) having a lid (<NUM>), the detergent dispenser comprising a set of tablet restraints (<NUM>) for retaining a detergent tablet in a cavity (<NUM>) of the detergent dispenser;
wherein the dishwasher (<NUM>) comprises a washing compartment (<NUM>), a door (<NUM>) configured to close and seal the washing compartment (<NUM>), a spraying system having a lower spray arm (<NUM>) and an upper spray arm (<NUM>), a lower rack (<NUM>), an upper rack (<NUM>) and a controller (<NUM>) for controlling washing programs and communicatively connected to an interface (<NUM>) via which a user can select washing programs;
wherein said door (<NUM>) is on its inside arranged with said detergent dispenser (<NUM>), wherein in the dispenser a detergent tablet or similar can be placed; wherein the detergent dispenser (<NUM>) is supplied with water via a water conduit (<NUM>), characterized in that
a water outlet (<NUM>) is configured to release water to a top section of the detergent dispenser (<NUM>), so that water flows down and enters the detergent cavity (<NUM>) washing over the detergent tablet,
wherein the water conduit (<NUM>) is connected to a water conduit system of the dishwasher via a coupling at the upper spray arm (<NUM>),
wherein the water outlet (<NUM>) is located at a top section of the detergent dispenser (<NUM>) and the water outlet (<NUM>) is fed with water via the water conduit (<NUM>).