Patent ID: 8459278

Claim:
A dishwasher comprising: a washing container; a device for washing crockery using a washing solution; a sorption drying device in communication with the washing container such that air passes between the washing container and the sorption drying device, wherein the sorption drying device comprises: a sorption column housing including: a housing wall; a base surface at an upstream end of the housing wall, the base surface having an air inlet for passage of the air from the washing container into the sorption drying device; a cover surface at a downstream end of the housing wall, the cover surface having an air outlet for passage of the air from the sorption drying device to the washing container; and a column of reversibly dehydratable material disposed within the housing wall, the base surface, and the cover surface, the column having a shape defined by the housing wall, the base surface, and the cover surface, the housing wall, the base surface, and the cover surface of the sorption column housing being arranged to guide the passage of the air along a flow path extending in a direction of a height of the housing wall from the air inlet through the column of reversibly dehydratable material and out of the air outlet, the column of reversibly dehydratable material withdrawing moisture from the air during the passage of the air through the sorption drying device, wherein the height of the housing wall is less than a width of the base surface to reduce a flow resistance along the flow path through the column of reversibly dehydratable material; a heating device disposed upstream of the air inlet such that the heating device heats the air prior to entering the air inlet and such that the column of reversibly dehydratable material is uniformly heated by the passage of the air along the flow path extending in the direction of the height of the housing wall from the air inlet, through the column of reversibly dehydratable material, and out of the air outlet; and a fan housing integrally formed with the sorption column housing, the fan housing having a fan disposed upstream of the air inlet of the housing of the sorption drying device and generating an air flow of the air through the sorption drying device, wherein the fan housing, the heating device, and the sorption column housing of the sorption drying device integrally form a single unit, wherein the air inlet extends entirely across the width of the base surface, and wherein the air outlet is arranged in a center of the cover surface and extends across only a portion of the cover surface.