Dishwasher

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a washing chamber (3) arranged for holding soiled items to be washed, a filter (11), a circulation pump (37), which is operable to create a circulation flow (43) of washing liquid through the washing chamber (3), through the filter (11) and back to the washing chamber (3). The washing chamber (3) is such arranged that, when the flow (43) of washing liquid passes through the washing chamber (3), soil (31) is released from the items to be washed and caught in the flow (43). The filter (11) is such arranged that, when the flow (43) of washing liquid with soil (31) passes through the filter, soil (31) is separated from the flow (43) of washing liquid and caught at the filter (11). The dishwasher (1) further comprises a soil trap (15), which is located separate from the circulation flow (43), and a soil removing unit (25, 26) comprising a transport unit (25) for transport of the soil (31) caught at the filter (11) into the soil trap (15).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a washing chamber arranged for holding soiled items to be washed, a filter and a circulation pump. The circulation pump is operable to create a circulation flow of washing liquid through the washing chamber, through the filter and back to the washing chamber. The washing chamber is such arranged that, when the flow of washing liquid passes through the washing chamber, soil is released from the items to be washed and caught in the flow. The filter is such arranged that, when the flow of washing liquid with soil passes through the filter, soil is separated from the flow of washing liquid and caught at the filter.BACKGROUND ART A problem with dishwashers of the above mentioned type is that the filter has a tendency to clog by soil particles that are caught at the filter. Therefore, conventional dishwashers are normally equipped with two filters, i.e. a fine-mesh filter and a coarse-mesh filter. Th...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher that alleviates at least some of the above mentioned problems.

Thus, the invention is based on the insight that it would be advantageous to remove soil from the circulation flow, preferably as quickly as possible. Due to the arrangement of a soil removing unit and a soil trap according to the present invention, soil is removed from the filter, and a soil trap, located separate from the circulation flow, can store the soil particles separate from the circulation flow. The risk of clogging the filter can thus be reduced. Furthermore, with reference to prior art dishwashers described above having a coarse-mesh filter and fine-mesh filter, wherein larger soil particles are caught at the coarse-mesh filter and there stored in the circulation flow, the present invention solves the problem of such larger particles continuously generating smaller soil particles that recirculate with the circulation flow. Thus, a dishwasher according to the present invention provides a more efficient filter system.

Additionally or alternatively, the filter cleaning unit can be arranged to provide air or gas bubbles through the filter. The main part of the filter is then preferably located below the washing liquid level in the dishwasher and the filter cleaning unit comprises air or gas outlets arranged for providing bubbles through the filter in a direction opposite the direction of the circulation flow. Bubbles through the filter are advantageous also due to that the bubbles initiate vibrations to the filter, which will loosen soil from the filter.

The soil trap can further comprise a return flow inhibitor to prevent reflow of soil out of the soil trap and back into the circulation flow. The return flow inhibitor can for example be a hopper or funnel shaped trap device, downwards directed flanges, a screening sheet or a valve. The filter of the present invention can be a net, a fabric or a grating, but as the filter of the present invention is cleaned frequently, it can also, preferably, be a fine-mesh filter. In a dishwasher according to the prior art, the flow is divided to flow through a fine-mesh filter and a coarse-mesh filter, as described above in the background art section. By filtering the circulation flow only through a fine-mesh filter, and frequently or regularly remove the soil caught at the filter to prevent clogging of the filter, the recirculated washing liquid is more completely cleaned. Thus, the cleaning efficiency of the filter and the operation reliability of the dishwasher according to the invention is improved.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with dishwashers of the above mentioned type is that the filter has a tendency to clog by soil particles that are caught at the filter.

However, also in these types of conventional dishwashers the filter might clog during the dishwashing.

To achieve a desired washing result, the filter may need to be cleaned, which is cumbersome for the user.

Filter clogging could however still be a problem.

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