Commercial dishwasher with air-drying module, method of operating dishwasher

Abstract

A commercial dishwasher has a cover which can be moved in the vertical direction between an open position and a closed position, the cover has two side walls opposite each other and a front wall connecting the side walls, and in the closed position of the cover, the side walls and the front wall of the cover delimit a treatment chamber of the dishwasher. In the open position of the cover, the side walls and the front wall of the cover are located above the upper wall and / or the top cover region, the upper wall and / or the top cover region delimits the processing chamber on the upper side and is fixedly connected with the rear wall of the processing chamber, and in the open position of the cover, the side walls and the front wall of the cover at least partially or partially delimit a gap in the side direction. According to the invention, in particular, it is proposed that the dishwasher has an air-drying module which is arranged on the upper wall region of the dishwasher and is embodied in such a way that the air-drying module is completely accommodated in an interstitial space which is delimited laterally by the side walls and the front wall of the cover in the open position of the cover.

Description

[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of industrial cleaning. In particular, the present invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a commercial dishwasher implemented as a cabinet dishwasher.

[0002] A cabinet dishwasher is a dishwasher that can be loaded and unloaded manually. A cabinet dishwasher (also called a "batch dishwasher") can be a cutlery basket sliding dishwasher, (a "hood dishwasher") or a front loading type (a "front loading dishwasher"). A front loading dishwasher can be an undercounter machine, a top-top machine or a freestanding front loading dishwasher.

[0003] Dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers usually have a treatment chamber for cleaning the laundry. A cleaning trough is usually arranged below the treatment chamber, into which liquid can flow back from the treatment chamber due to gravity. The cleaning trough contains a cleaning liquid (usually water), to which detergent can be added if necessary.

[0004] Furthermore, dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers usually have a cleaning system with a cleaning pump, a pipe system connected to the cleaning pump, and a nozzle system with at least one cleaning nozzle. The cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank can be transported to the cleaning nozzle by the cleaning pump through the pipe system and sprayed onto the laundry to be cleaned by the cleaning nozzle in the treatment chamber. The sprayed cleaning liquid then flows back to the cleaning tank.

[0005] Such a dishwasher which is designed as a cabinet dishwasher is known, for example, from DE 10 2005 023 429 A1.

[0006] The term “laundry items” as used herein is to be understood to mean in particular cutlery, cups, cutlery, cooking utensils, baking utensils and dishes.

[0007] Commercial dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers differ from domestic dishwashers in particular in that commercial dishwashers must be designed so that, depending on the selected cleaning program, program run times of between one and five minutes can be achieved, whereas domestic dishwashers usually have run times of up to 2.5 hours or more. Due to the shorter program durations required in commercial dishwashers, the technology used in domestic dishwashers cannot usually be easily transferred to commercial dishwashers.

[0008] Commercial dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers usually operate in two main process steps: a first step involving cleaning with a cleaning liquid; and a second step involving rinsing with heated fresh water and dosed rinse agent.

[0009] In order to be able to carry out these process steps, commercial dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers are usually equipped with two independent liquid systems that are completely separated from each other. One liquid system is the wash water circuit responsible for washing the items to be washed, wherein this washing is carried out with recirculated water from the washing tank of the dishwasher. The other liquid system is the fresh water system responsible for rinsing. Rinsing is carried out with fresh water, preferably fresh water from a water heater. After spraying, the fresh water is also received by the washing tank of the dishwasher.

[0010] The main purpose of rinsing is to remove the residual alkali solution on the object to be washed. In addition, the rinse water flowing into the cleaning tank in the rinsing step is used to recycle the cleaning water present in the cleaning tank.

[0011] Before fresh water is sprayed on as rinse liquid for rinsing and thus introduced into the washing tank of the dishwasher, an amount of cleaning liquid equal to the amount of fresh water is first pumped out of the washing tank.

[0012] Commercial dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers are usually equipped with several programs. The programs differ mainly in the different lengths of the program run times for the cleaning process. The operator can select a shorter cleaning program for lightly soiled laundry or a correspondingly longer cleaning program for heavily soiled laundry.

[0013] Commercial dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers and designed for loading and unloading the laundry in batches in a treatment chamber are in particular front-loading machines or basket-sliding machines. In the case of front-loading machines, the laundry is placed in a basket, which is introduced into the treatment chamber of the dishwasher through a front door and removed again through the front door after cleaning. In the case of basket-sliding machines, the cutlery basket loaded with laundry is manually pushed into the treatment chamber from the input side and removed manually from the treatment chamber from the output side after the rinsing program has ended. Front-loading machines and basket-sliding machines contain only a single treatment chamber for processing the laundry. Front-loading machines can be undercounter machines or countertop machines.

[0014] In commercial dishwashers designed as cabinet dishwashers, two drying methods are mainly used. In the first method, the laundry is removed from the machine while still hot after the rinsing process is complete and subsequently dried in the ambient air for four to ten minutes. In this method, in order to dry the laundry, the laundry is usually left in the basket in which it is placed for cleaning in the dishwasher.

[0015] According to a second method, which can be used for commercial front-loading or undercounter dishwashers, air drying is carried out in the process chamber of the dishwasher. A fresh air drying system is used here. Such a fresh air drying system for commercial front-loading or undercounter dishwashers always has a flow rate of 25 to 100 m / h. 3The dishwasher operates at high air volume flow rates in the range of 100 to 200 °C in order to be able to dry the laundry remaining in the treatment chamber in a very short time. The reason for the high air volume flow rates is the shorter drying process in the commercial sector. Compared to conventional domestic dishwasher drying, the effective drying time in commercial dishwashers is many times shorter. Domestic dishwashers have a drying program with a drying time of about 30 minutes to 2.5 hours, while in commercial applications, the drying program has a drying time of between 1.5 and 5 minutes.

[0016] During the air drying process of commercial dishwashers designed as front-loading or undercounter dishwashers, fresh air is drawn in from the outside and passed through the process chamber of the dishwasher to absorb moisture from the laundry to be dried. The moisture-laden drying air is then usually discharged as exhaust air into the space in which the dishwasher is installed.

[0017] However, this type of air drying in the treatment chamber of the dishwasher is not common for hood-type dishwashers, since hood-type dishwashers are designed to open the hood immediately after the rinsing phase and remove the laundry, which is usually contained in the rinse basket. The laundry can then be dried in the ambient air according to a first drying method.

[0018] In particular, due to the increasing demands for cleaning of reusable laundry items made of plastic, solutions are sought in particular for integrating an active drying function into the rinsing process of hood-type and / or universal dishwashers, since laundry items made of plastic have a poor self-drying effect due to their low heat capacity and therefore require an active drying step to be integrated after the washing process.

[0019] The invention is based in particular on the object of integrating a high-performance drying function into the installation space of a commercially available hood-type dishwasher, so that no additional installation space has to be provided for the drying function in addition to the machine footprint.

[0020] This object is achieved in particular by the subject matter of independent patent claim 1 , wherein advantageous developments of the solution according to the invention are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0021] The invention therefore relates in particular to a commercial dishwasher in the form of a hood-type dishwasher, in particular a hood-sliding dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher has a hood that can be moved, in particular linearly, in a vertical direction between an open position and a closed position. The hood has two side walls that are opposite to one another and a front wall that connects the side walls. In the closed position of the hood, the side walls and the front wall of the hood at least partially or partially delimit a treatment chamber of the dishwasher. In the open position of the hood, the side walls and the front wall of the hood are at least partially or partially located above an upper wall and / or a top cover area that delimits the treatment chamber above and is fixedly connected to the rear wall of the treatment chamber, and in the open position of the hood, the side walls and the front wall of the hood at least partially or partially delimit a gap.

[0022] The solution according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the dishwasher has a drying module which is arranged on a horizontal wall and / or on a cover area of ​​the dishwasher and is designed in such a way that, in the open position of the cover, the drying module is completely accommodated in a gap which is laterally delimited by the side walls and the front side of the cover.

[0023] The advantages that can be achieved with the solution according to the invention are obvious: by providing such a drying module, a hood-type dishwasher can also be equipped with a powerful drying function without increasing the structural space of a commercially available hood-type dishwasher, because the drying module is completely integrated into the necessary structural space of a commercially available hood-type dishwasher. In other words, despite the provision of the drying module, no additional structural space is required for the drying function outside the machine footprint.

[0024] Due to the vertical integration of the drying module by utilizing the available structural space, the same installation area (footprint) of the machine can be achieved compared to commercially available hood-type dishwashers without a drying module.

[0025] On the other hand, the drying module ensures a high drying performance, since the air is circulated in the closed process chamber of the hood-type dishwasher using the drying module and very high circulation rates / air volume flow rates can therefore be achieved without causing high losses in installation space.

[0026] Furthermore, with the solution according to the invention, higher drying temperatures can be set since the drying air circulates in the treatment chamber of the hood-type dishwasher.

[0027] Preferably, the drying module is implemented so that the upper wall and / or top cover area of ​​the drying module is in a horizontal plane, the vertical distance of which from the horizontal plane in which the upper edge areas of the side walls and / or front wall of the cover are located in the open position of the cover is a maximum of 30 cm, preferably a maximum of 25 cm and more preferably a maximum of 20 cm.

[0028] The upper wall and / or the cover region which delimits the treatment chamber of the dishwasher according to the invention at the top, as well as the rear wall of the treatment chamber, are in particular connected in a fixed position to the frame or base frame of the dishwasher.

[0029] In particular, it is proposed that the drying module according to the invention comprises a housing and a suction fan accommodated in the housing, in particular in the form of a radial flow fan or an axial flow fan. A fresh air inlet is provided in the housing, and preferably in the upper wall and / or cover region of the housing, through which fresh air can be sucked out of the installation space of the dishwasher and enter the housing. A drying air outlet is also provided in the housing, which is fluidically connected to the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber, and fresh air sucked into the housing of the drying module by means of the suction fan can be supplied to the treatment chamber through the drying air outlet. When the drying module is mounted on the dishwasher, the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber corresponds to the drying air outlet of the drying module.

[0030] In this embodiment variant, it is provided in particular that the effective flow cross section of a fresh air inlet arranged in the housing is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of an air vent slide assigned to the fresh air inlet.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber, which is in fluid connection with the drying air outlet of the drying module, is formed in the upper wall and / or cover area of ​​the treatment chamber, which delimits the treatment chamber from above. However, other embodiment variants are of course also conceivable here.

[0032] Preferably, it is proposed that an air nozzle system with a plurality of adjustable air nozzles is provided for the drying air outlet of the drying module or the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber which is fluidly connected to the drying air outlet of the drying module, so as to correspondingly direct the drying air to be introduced or introduced into the treatment chamber toward the laundry to be dried or to be treated.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, the dishwasher has at least one air outlet in order to provide pressure compensation in the treatment chamber when drying air is introduced into the treatment chamber. The air outlet is therefore used in particular to discharge the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber. It is particularly provided that the at least one air outlet is preferably formed at least partially or partially in an upper wall and / or a cover region of the treatment chamber, which delimits the treatment chamber from above.

[0034] According to a preferred implementation, the dishwasher has: a first air outlet for discharging a first portion of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber, for example, into an installation space of the dishwasher; and a second air outlet for discharging a second portion of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber. The second air outlet is preferably in fluid connection with an air inlet formed in a housing of the drying module.

[0035] In this regard, it is conceivable to provide the dishwasher with a heat exchanger system, to which at least a portion of the drying air discharged via the first air outlet of the dishwasher can be supplied, in particular before the drying air is discharged into the installation space of the dishwasher. In this regard, the discharge of the drying air into the installation space of the dishwasher does not have a negative impact on the indoor environment, because the water content of the air in the installation space (ambient air) is prevented from increasing due to the blowing of drying air containing moisture and drying air that is hotter than the air in the installation space. In particular, by this measure, the risk of the water content of the air in the installation space increasing to such an extent that water vapor condenses undesirably, in particular on cold surfaces in the installation space, can be prevented.

[0036] Furthermore, in the last-mentioned embodiment variant of the dishwasher according to the invention it is provided that the effective flow cross section of the first air outlet is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of an air vent slide assigned to the first air outlet.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the effective flow cross section of the second air outlet and / or of an air inlet of the drying module fluidically connected to the second air outlet is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of at least one air vent slide.

[0038] According to the implementation of the dishwasher of the present invention, the housing of the drying module is divided into a first area and a second area. The fresh air inlet of the drying module and the second air outlet to the treatment chamber of the dishwasher are in fluid connection. The air inlet leads into the first area of ​​the housing of the drying module. The drying air inlet of the treatment chamber leads into the second area of ​​the housing of the drying module.

[0039] In particular, it is provided that the suction side of the suction fan is in fluid connection with a first region of the housing of the drying module and that the pressure side of the suction fan is in fluid connection with a second region of the housing of the drying module.

[0040] According to a refinement of the last-mentioned embodiment variant of the dishwasher according to the invention, it is proposed that a particularly controllable or optionally switchable heating device is arranged in the second area of ​​the housing of the drying module for heating the air supplied to the second area of ​​the housing of the drying module via the suction blower, in particular as required.

[0041] The heating device has in particular at least one electrically actuated heating element. In addition to the heating device of the drying module, the dishwasher also has at least one further electrically actuated heating device in order to heat the treatment liquid to be sprayed during operation of the dishwasher as required.

[0042] In this context, it is advantageous if a control device is provided which is designed to control the power consumption of the heating device of the drying module as a function of the power consumption of the further electrically operated heating device, in order to ensure that the total connected load of the dishwasher is not increased compared to commercially available hood-type dishwashers despite the provision of the drying module.

[0043] Optionally, the suction blower of the drying module can be equipped with a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing of the drying module via an air inlet fluidly connected to the second air outlet of the treatment chamber and / or drying the fresh air sucked into the housing from the installation space of the dishwasher via the fresh air inlet.

[0044] According to another aspect of the invention, the dishwasher can have an air duct system, through which at least part of the fresh air sucked into the housing of the drying module by means of the suction blower can be supplied to the treatment chamber. In particular, the air is supplied laterally or from below.

[0045] According to another aspect of the present invention, the dishwasher has a device for detecting laundry, which is designed to detect the type of laundry and, in particular, the material of the laundry contained in the processing chamber of the dishwasher. The dishwasher also has a control device, which is designed to set the temperature of the drying air supplied to the processing chamber by the drying module, the amount of drying air supplied to the processing chamber per unit time, the time point for activating the drying module, and / or the duration of activating the drying module according to the detected type of laundry or the material of the laundry contained in the processing chamber of the dishwasher.

[0046] The invention also relates to a method for operating a dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher is a dishwasher of the type described above according to the invention. The method proposes the following method steps:

[0047] (i) loading the processing chamber of the dishwasher with laundry to be cleaned when the cover is in its open position;

[0048] (ii) switching the cover to its closed position;

[0049] (iii) performing a washing process in which a washing liquid is sprayed onto the laundry in a recirculating manner; and

[0050] (iv) performing a rinsing process in which a rinsing liquid is sprayed onto the laundry.

[0051] In the method according to the invention, it is particularly provided that after the end of the rinsing process, the drying module is activated in order to expose the cleaned laundry in the closed treatment chamber to air, in particular heated drying air.

[0052] Alternatively or in addition, it is conceivable to activate the drying module between method step (iii) and method step (iv), preferably for a maximum of 15 seconds, in order to apply air to the washed laundry during the so-called drainage phase between the washing phase and the rinsing phase.

[0053] The invention also relates to a drying module which is designed to be mounted, in particular, on the upper wall and / or the cover area of ​​a commercial dishwasher which is designed as a cabinet dishwasher. The commercial dishwasher can in particular be a hood-type dishwasher or a front-loading dishwasher. The drying module can in particular be retrofitted to the dishwasher.

[0054] The drying module has a housing and a suction fan accommodated in the housing, in particular in the form of a radial fan or an axial fan. A fresh air inlet is provided in the housing, and preferably in the upper wall and / or cover region of the housing of the drying module, through which fresh air can be sucked into the housing. A drying air outlet is also provided in the housing, through which fresh air sucked into the housing of the drying module by means of the suction fan can be supplied to the treatment chamber of the dishwasher. In particular, it is proposed that the effective flow cross section of the fresh air inlet provided in the housing is preferably adjustable, in particular by means of an air outlet slider assigned to the fresh air inlet.

[0055] According to a further development of the drying module of the present invention, an air inlet is formed in the housing of the drying module, through which air can be supplied from the housing to the treatment chamber of the dishwasher. In this regard, it is particularly proposed that the effective flow cross section of the air inlet of the drying module is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of at least one air vent slider.

[0056] Preferably, the housing of the drying module is divided into a first area and a second area, wherein the fresh air inlet of the drying module and the air inlet of the drying module which can be fluidically connected to the treatment chamber of the dishwasher lead into the first area, and the second area is open to the drying air inlet of the treatment chamber. Here, the suction side of the suction fan is in fluid connection with the first area, and the pressure side of the suction fan is in fluid connection with the second area.

[0057] In the second area of ​​the housing of the drying module, a heating device which is particularly controllable or optionally switchable is preferably arranged for heating the air supplied to the second area of ​​the housing of the drying module via the suction blower, particularly as required.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, it is proposed that the suction blower of the drying module is assigned a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing of the drying module via an air inlet which can be fluidically connected to the treatment chamber of the dishwasher.

[0059] Exemplary embodiments of a dishwasher according to the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0060] In the attached picture:

[0061] Figure 1A An exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher according to the invention is shown schematically and in an isometric view, more precisely with its cover in its closed position;

[0062] Figure 1B Schematically and in front view, the Figure 1A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0063] Figure 1C Schematically and in side view, the Figure 1A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0064] Figure 1D Schematically and in a top view, the Figure 1A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0065] Figure 2 Schematically and in cross-section, the Figure 1C An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0066] Figure 3 Schematically and in cross-section, the Figure 1A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0067] Figure 4A Schematically and in an isometric view, the Figure 1A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention, more precisely a state in which the cover of the dishwasher is in its open position;

[0068] Figure 4B Schematically and in front view, the Figure 4A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0069] Figure 4C Schematically and in side view, the Figure 4A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0070] Figure 4D Schematically and in a top view, the Figure 4A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0071] Figure 5 Schematically and in cross-section, the Figure 4C An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0072] Figure 6 Schematically and in cross-section, the Figure 4A An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher of the present invention.

[0073] The exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention shown in the figures is embodied as a hood-type dishwasher, which can load and unload the wash basket via the hood 2. Here, the hood 2 can be pushed upwards in the vertical direction via a handle.

[0074] Such hood-type dishwashers are designed to clean large quantities of laundry in the shortest possible time.

[0075] For example, in hood-type dishwashers from the company HOBART, the duration of a standard program typically preset for normally soiled laundry items (such as plates, bowls, china cups, mugs) is only about 70 seconds, ie a theoretical capacity of a maximum of 52 cutlery baskets per hour.

[0076] Commercial dishwashers 1 are almost exclusively equipped with a rotating washing and rinsing system. The washing and rinsing system usually consists of a washing arm and a rinsing arm. Commercial dishwashers 1 of the type considered here usually have an upper and a lower washing and rinsing system.

[0077] In operation, soapy water (cleaning liquid) is supplied from the washing tank via a pipe system to the washing arm by means of a pump. The soapy water / cleaning liquid is applied to the laundry to be cleaned by the washing arm. In this process, dirt is removed from the laundry and carried into the soapy water. The soapy water then flows back into the washing tank of the dishwasher 1 via a screen system that retains coarse dirt residues.

[0078] Furthermore, a rinsing system is provided for conveying rinsing liquid by means of a rinsing pump via a rinsing line system to rinsing nozzles, which are directed toward the area of ​​the laundry to be cleaned in the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1. The sprayed rinsing liquid falls from the treatment chamber 5 into the washing tank due to gravity. The rinsing liquid line system connects the pressure side of the rinsing pump to the rinsing nozzles.

[0079] Before the rinsing liquid is sprayed during the rinsing phase, a quantity of cleaning liquid corresponding to the rinsing liquid is pumped out of the cleaning tank by means of a drain pump, the suction side of which is connected to the tank bottom of the cleaning tank via a drain line.

[0080] If the cleaning tank is empty before the hood-type dishwasher is started for the first time, the cleaning tank must first be filled with fresh water via the fresh water line or with fresh water or another rinse or cleaning liquid by means of the rinse system and its rinse pump.

[0081] The rinse liquid can be clean water or clean water mixed with a rinse agent.

[0082] The cleaning liquid contains a cleaning agent which is dosed, preferably automatically, by a cleaning agent dosing device into the liquid contained in the cleaning tank.

[0083] As can be seen from the figures, the cover 2 of the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention can be moved in the vertical direction between an open position and a closed position. Here, the cover 2 has two side walls 3 opposite to each other and a front wall 4 connecting the side walls 3. In the closed position of the cover 2, the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the cover 2 at least partially or partially delimit the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1.

[0084] On the other hand, in the open position of the cover 2, the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the cover 2 laterally delimit the gap at least partially or partially. In the open position of the cover 2, the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the cover 2 are at least partially or partially located above the upper wall and / or the cover area 6, which delimits the process chamber 5 above and is fixedly connected to the rear wall 7 of the process chamber 5.

[0085] The drying module 8 is accommodated in the gap at least partially or partially laterally delimited by the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the cover 2 when the cover 2 is in its open position. The drying module 8 is designed to be completely accommodated in the gap laterally delimited by the side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the cover 2 when the cover 2 is in the open position.

[0086] For example, FIG. 4A to FIG. 4C As can be seen from the illustration, the drying module 8 is particularly implemented so that the upper wall and / or top cover area of ​​the drying module 8 is in a horizontal plane, the vertical distance of which from the horizontal plane in which the upper edge area of ​​the side wall 3 or the front wall 4 of the cover 2 is located when the cover 2 is in the open position is a maximum of 30 cm.

[0087] In particular, according to Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 It can be seen in the view of FIG. 1 that an upper wall and / or a cover area 6 which delimits a treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 at the top, as well as a rear wall 7 of the treatment chamber 5 are connected to a frame or base frame of the dishwasher 1 in a fixed manner.

[0088] The following especially refers to Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 The structure of the drying module 8 of the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 of the present invention is described in detail.

[0089] In detail, the drying module 8 comprises a housing 9 and a suction fan 10 accommodated in the housing 9. The suction fan 10 is, in particular, a radial flow fan or an axial flow fan.

[0090] A fresh air inlet 11 is provided in the housing 9 , and preferably in the upper wall and / or cover region of the housing 9 of the drying module 8 , through which fresh air can be drawn from the installation space of the dishwasher 1 and into the housing 9 of the drying module 8 .

[0091] A drying air outlet 12 is also provided in the housing 9 of the drying module 8 and is fluidically connected to the drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1. Fresh air sucked into the housing 9 of the drying module 8 by means of the suction blower 10 can be supplied to the treatment chamber 5 via the drying air outlet.

[0092] In the embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention shown in the figures, the drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5 corresponds to the drying air outlet 12 of the drying module 8 .

[0093] The effective flow cross section of the fresh air inlet 11 arranged in the housing 9 of the drying module 8 is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of an air vent slide assigned to the fresh air inlet 11 .

[0094] An air nozzle system 14 is assigned to the drying air outlet 12 of the drying module 8 or the drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5 which is fluidically connected to the drying air outlet 12 of the drying module 8. The air nozzle system 14 has a plurality of adjustable air nozzles, through which the drying air to be introduced or introduced into the treatment chamber 5 can be directed accordingly.

[0095] The dishwasher 1 has a first air outlet 15 for discharging at least a first portion of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber 5 into an installation space of the dishwasher 1 .

[0096] The dishwasher 1 further comprises a second air outlet 16 for discharging at least a second portion of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber 5 , wherein the second air outlet 16 is in fluid connection with an air inlet 17 formed in the housing 9 of the drying module 8 .

[0097] In the embodiment shown in the figures, the second air outlet 16 of the treatment chamber 5 of the dishwasher 1 corresponds to the air inlet 17 formed in the housing 9 of the drying module 8 .

[0098] Although not shown in the drawings, it is conceivable in principle that a heat exchanger system is provided for the dishwasher 1, to which at least a portion of the drying air discharged via the first air outlet 15 of the dishwasher 1 can be supplied, particularly preferably before the drying air is discharged into the installation space of the dishwasher 1.

[0099] In the exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher 1 according to the invention, the effective flow cross section of the first air outlet 15 is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of a vent slide assigned to the first air outlet 15 .

[0100] In the same way, the effective flow area of ​​the second air outlet 16 can preferably also be variably adjusted, in particular likewise by means of a corresponding air port slide.

[0101] From the basis Figure 2 , Figure 3 , Figure 5 and Figure 6 In particular, it can be seen in the cross-sectional view that the housing 9 of the drying module 8 is divided into a first area 19 and a second area 20, wherein the fresh air inlet 11 of the drying module 8 and the air inlet 17 which is fluidly connected to the second air outlet 16 of the treatment chamber 5 open into the first area, and the drying air inlet 13 of the treatment chamber 5 opens into the second area, wherein the suction side of the suction fan 10 is fluidly connected to the first area 19, and the pressure side of the suction fan 10 is fluidly connected to the second area 20.

[0102] In the second region 20 of the housing 9 of the drying module 8 a particularly controllable or optionally switchable heating device 21 is arranged for heating the air supplied to the second region 20 of the housing 9 of the drying module 8 via the suction blower 10 , particularly as required.

[0103] The invention also relates to the drying module 8 itself, ie without a corresponding dishwasher 1 , wherein the drying module 8 can preferably also be subsequently connected to the dishwasher 1 in order to optimize the drying function of the dishwasher 1 .

[0104] The air inlet and air outlet 11, 12, 17 of the drying module 8 or the dishwasher 1 can be adjusted as required by means of corresponding adjustable slides in order to adjust the rate of fresh air drawn in from the ambient air in the installation space during the drying process, the circulation rate circulating in a circuit within the machine 1 during the drying process and / or the discharge rate output to the environment during the drying process.

[0105] This is necessary to ensure a certain pressure balance within the process chamber 5, since otherwise not enough fresh air could be drawn in from the surroundings.

[0106] This is also necessary to keep the relative humidity of the drying air constant, i.e. during the drying process, the moisture absorbed from the air is partially discharged as exhaust air from the treatment chamber 5 in order to be replaced by fresh air with a lower relative humidity and thus accelerate the drying process.

[0107] Aspects of the invention are briefly summarized below.

[0108] The dishwasher 1 according to the invention is a single-trough (cutlery) dishwasher 1 or a cabinet dishwasher in the form of a hood-type or universal dishwasher for washing different items to be washed.

[0109] In particular, it is proposed that:

[0110] a) the dishwasher 1 is equipped with an integrated drying system in the form of a drying module 8; and / or

[0111] b) the drying system / drying module 8 is integrated into the structural space of the dishwasher 1, so that the floor space / installation area of ​​the dishwasher 1 is not changed; and / or

[0112] c) the drying system / drying module 8 is fixedly mounted on the fixed cover roof (i.e. the upper wall and / or the cover area 6), and thus the weight of the drying system does not have any negative impact on the opening and closing of the cover 2; and / or

[0113] d) the cover top (i.e. the upper wall and / or the cover area 6) is connected to the machine rear wall or the chassis of the dishwasher 1 in a fixed position, so that when the cover 2 is opened and closed, only the two side walls 3 and the front wall 4 of the cover 2 move up and down; and / or

[0114] e) the overall structure of the drying system / drying module 8 is only large enough in the vertical direction that the height of the machine is not increased when the hood 2 is open, i.e. there are no restrictions on the spatial height of the installation space compared to commercially available hood-type dishwashers; and / or

[0115] f) the drying system / drying module 8 is equipped with a fan, for example in the form of a radial fan or an axial fan, for generating a very high air volume flow rate in order to keep the required drying time as short as possible; and / or

[0116] g) the drying system / drying module 8 is equipped with a heating element, for example in the form of an electrically heated, steam heated or hot water heated heating coil, for heating the drying air; and / or

[0117] h) the drying system / drying module 8 is equipped with a plurality of adjustable air nozzles, with which the heated drying air can be applied in a targeted manner to the laundry in the treatment chamber 5; and / or

[0118] i) the drying system / drying module 8 is equipped with a plurality of air openings (including adjustable air vent slides), by means of which the fresh air rate, the circulation rate and the exhaust rate can be adjusted; and / or

[0119] j) the positioning and orientation of the air nozzles of the air nozzle system for flowing drying air into the treatment chamber 5 are oriented relative to the circulation opening and the exhaust opening so that a targeted drying air circulation movement is formed in the treatment chamber 5, which circulation movement can make it possible to: conduct the hot, dry drying air in a continuous circuit to the laundry to be dried in a targeted manner and then discharge part of the liquid-saturated exhaust air into the environment through the exhaust air opening, so as to keep the relative air humidity of the drying air constant during the drying process; and / or

[0120] k) optionally, also directing the exhaust gases through a heat exchanger in order to recover the energy contained in the exhaust gases; and / or

[0121] l) The dishwasher 1 is equipped with a device for detecting different types of laundry (e.g. plates, cups, plastic trays, cutlery, pots and pans, reusable laundry made of plastic, etc.) and can automatically adjust the drying parameters of the laundry to be dried (e.g. flow rate, temperature, drying time) as required; and / or

[0122] m) In the case of electric drying heating, the heating elements of the heating device of the drying module 8 of the drying device can be linked with the heating elements of the washing tank and / or the water heater, so that the total connected load of the machine is not increased compared with commercially available hood-type dishwashers; and / or

[0123] n) The drying system / drying module 8 can be optionally expanded with the aid of additional air channels, so that additional air nozzles can be installed laterally or below the laundry, thereby enabling air to flow directly from all directions to the laundry that is difficult to dry; and / or

[0124] o) The drying system / drying module 8 can optionally also be used as an air supply device (for example, by increasing the rotation speed of the suction fan 10 as needed) so as to blow away large residual water / water accumulation in, for example, containers to be washed (for example, plastic cups with raised bottoms) in a very short time, because in this case, drying by convection drying alone would be very time-consuming; and / or

[0125] p) Optionally, during the drainage phase between washing and rinsing, the suction blower can also be activated for 10 seconds in order to blow away soapy water residues remaining on the laundry and thereby reduce the need for fresh water in the subsequent fresh water rinse, since less soapy water remains on the laundry and has to be rinsed off by the fresh water post-rinse; and / or

[0126] q) the drying system / drying module 8 is operated in combination with an additional commercially available exhaust gas heat recovery system, so that moisture is sucked out of the treatment chamber 5 at the beginning of the drying cycle (e.g. within the first 20 seconds of the drying cycle) and the relative air humidity is reduced at the beginning of the drying cycle, so that the drying time can be reduced; and / or

[0127] r) The drying system / drying module 8 can also be integrated in commercially available general-purpose dishwashers which are not equipped with a hood 2 but are instead only equipped with a front door. In this case, the drying module 8 is also fixed to the machine cover, but in this case only the front door is opened and closed to load and unload the dishwasher 1.

[0128] The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings but rather emerges from an overview of all features disclosed in this text.

[0129] List of Reference Numerals

[0130] 1. Dishwasher

[0131] 2 Cover

[0132] 3 Side wall of cover

[0133] 4Front wall of the cover

[0134] 5. Processing Chamber

[0135] 6 Upper wall and / or roof area of ​​the dishwasher

[0136] 7. Rear wall of the processing chamber

[0137] 8 Drying modules

[0138] 9 Drying the module housing

[0139] 10 Suction fan

[0140] 11Fresh air intake

[0141] 12 Drying air outlet

[0142] 13 Drying air inlet

[0143] 14 Air Nozzle System

[0144] 15First air outlet

[0145] 16 Second air outlet

[0146] 17 Air inlet for drying module

[0147] 19 The first area of ​​the housing of the drying module

[0148] 20 The second area of ​​the housing of the drying module

[0149] 21 Heating device

Claims

1. A commercial dishwasher (1) of a hood-type dishwasher, in particular in the form of a hood-type straight-through dishwasher or a universal dishwasher, wherein the dishwasher (1) comprises a cover (2) which can be moved in a vertical direction between an open position and a closed position, in particular in a linear sliding manner, wherein the cover (2) comprises two side walls (3) opposite to each other and a front wall (4) connecting the side walls (3), wherein in the closed position of the cover (2), the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the cover (2) at least partially or partially delimit the The process chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1) is described, wherein in the open position of the cover (2), the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the cover (2) are at least partially or partially located above an upper wall and / or a top cover area (6), the upper wall and / or the top cover area (6) delimiting the process chamber (5) above and being fixedly connected to a rear wall (7) of the process chamber (5), and in the open position of the cover (2), the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the cover (2) at least partially or partially delimit a gap space in the lateral direction, It is characterized in that The dishwasher (1) has a drying module (8), which is arranged on the upper wall and / or the cover area (6) of the dishwasher (1) and is configured so that the drying module (8) is completely accommodated in the gap space which is laterally delimited by the side walls (3) and the front wall (4) of the cover (2) in the open position of the cover (2).

2. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 1, The drying module (8) is arranged so that the upper wall area of ​​the drying module (8) is in a horizontal plane which, in the open position of the cover (2), is spaced at a maximum of 30 cm, preferably at a maximum of 25 cm and more preferably at a maximum of 20 cm from the horizontal plane in which the upper edge areas of the side walls (3) and / or the front wall (4) of the cover (2) are located.

3. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 1 or 2, The upper wall and / or the cover region (6) which delimits the treatment chamber (5) above and the rear wall (7) of the treatment chamber (5) are fixedly connected to a frame or a base frame of the dishwasher (1).

4. The dishwasher (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, The drying module (8) comprises a housing (9) and a suction fan (10) accommodated in the housing (9), in particular in the form of a radial flow fan or an axial flow fan, wherein a fresh air inlet (11) is provided in the housing (9) and preferably in the upper wall area of ​​the housing (9), through which fresh air can be sucked into the housing (9) from the installation space of the dishwasher (1), wherein a drying air outlet (12) fluidically connected to a drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) is also provided in the housing (9), and the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) of the drying module (8) by means of the suction fan (10) can be supplied to the treatment chamber (5) via the drying air outlet, wherein the drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) is preferably matched with the drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8).

5. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 4, The effective flow cross section of the fresh air inlet (11) arranged in the housing (9) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of an air vent slide assigned to the fresh air inlet (11).

6. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 4 or 5, The drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) which is fluidically connected to the drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8) is formed in the upper wall and / or cover area (6) of the treatment chamber (5) which delimits the treatment chamber (5) above.

7. The dishwasher (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, The drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8) or the drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) which is fluidically connected to the drying air outlet (12) of the drying module (8) is provided with an air nozzle system (14), wherein the air nozzle system has a plurality of adjustable air nozzles for guiding the drying air to be introduced into the treatment chamber (5).

8. The dishwasher (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, The dishwasher (1) comprises at least one air outlet (15, 16) for discharging the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber (5), wherein the at least one air outlet (15, 16) is preferably formed at least partially or partially in the upper wall and / or cover area (6) of the treatment chamber (5) which delimits the treatment chamber (5) above.

9. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 8, The dishwasher (1) comprises a first air outlet (15) for discharging at least a first part of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber (5) into the installation space of the dishwasher (1), and the dishwasher (1) has a second air outlet (16) for discharging at least a second part of the drying air introduced into the treatment chamber (5), wherein the second air outlet (16) is fluidically connected to an air inlet (17) formed in the housing (9) of the drying module (8).

10. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 9, The dishwasher (1) is provided with a heat exchanger system, preferably, before the drying air is output into the installation space of the dishwasher (1), at least a portion of the drying air discharged through the first air outlet (15) of the dishwasher (1) is supplied to the heat exchanger system.

11. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the effective flow cross section of the first air outlet (15) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of an air outlet slide assigned to the first air outlet (15); and / or The effective flow cross section of the second air outlet (16) and / or the effective flow cross section of the air inlet (17) of the drying module (8) fluidically connected to the second air outlet (16) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of at least one air outlet slide.

12. The dishwasher (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, The housing (9) of the drying module (8) is divided into a first area (19) and a second area (20), wherein the fresh air inlet (11) of the drying module (8) and the air inlet (17) fluidically connected to the second air outlet (16) of the treatment chamber (5) open into the first area, and the drying air inlet (13) of the treatment chamber (5) opens into the second area, wherein the suction side of the suction fan (10) is fluidically connected to the first area (19), and the pressure side of the suction fan (10) is fluidically connected to the second area (20).

13. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 12, A particularly controllable or optionally switchable heating device (21) is arranged in the second area (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8), for heating the air supplied to the second area (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8) via the suction fan (10), in particular as required.

14. The dishwasher (1) according to claim 13, The heating device (21) of the drying module (8) comprises at least one electrically operated heating element, the dishwasher (1) further comprises at least one other electrically operated heating device for heating the treatment liquid to be sprayed during the operation of the dishwasher (1) as required, and a control device is provided, the control device being designed to control the power consumption of the heating device (21) of the drying module (8) according to the power consumption of the other electrically operated heating device.

15. The dishwasher (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 14, The suction fan (10) of the drying module (8) is provided with a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing (9) of the drying module (8) via the air inlet (17) fluidly connected to the second air outlet (16) of the treatment chamber (5) and / or drying the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) from the installation space of the dishwasher (1) via the fresh air inlet (11).

16. The dishwasher (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 15, The dishwasher (1) has an air duct system, through which at least a portion of the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) of the drying module (8) by means of the suction blower (10) can be supplied to the treatment chamber (5), in particular from the side and / or from below.

17. The dishwasher (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, The dishwasher (1) comprises a device for detecting laundry items, the device for detecting laundry items being configured to detect the type of laundry items and, in particular, the material of the laundry items contained in the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1), wherein the dishwasher (1) further comprises a control device, the control device being configured to: operate the drying module (8) according to the detected type of laundry items; and, in particular, to adjust, according to the detected type of laundry items, the temperature of the drying air supplied from the drying module (8) to the treatment chamber (5), the amount of drying air supplied to the treatment chamber (5) per unit time, the time point for activating the drying module (8) and / or the duration of activating the drying module (8).

18. A method for operating a dishwasher (1), wherein the dishwasher (1) is a dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 1 to 17, and wherein the method comprises the following method steps: (i) loading the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1) with laundry to be cleaned, in particular when the cover (2) is in its open position; (ii) switching the cover (2) to its closed position; (iii) performing a cleaning process in which cleaning liquid is sprayed onto the laundry in a recirculating manner; and (iv) performing a rinsing process, during which a rinsing liquid is sprayed onto the laundry, Once the rinsing process is completed, the drying module (8) is activated to expose the cleaned laundry in the closed treatment chamber (5) to air, in particular heated drying air.

19. The method according to claim 18, Preferably, the drying module (8) is activated for 15 seconds between the method step (iii) and the method step (iv) to expose the washed laundry to air.

20. A drying module (8), the drying module (8) being designed to be mounted on the upper wall and / or the cover area (6) of a commercial dishwasher (1), in particular in the form of a batch dishwasher, wherein the drying module (8) comprises a housing (9) and a suction fan (10), in particular in the form of a radial fan or an axial fan, which is accommodated in the housing (9), wherein a fresh air inlet (11) is provided in the housing (9) and preferably in the upper wall and / or the cover area (6) of the housing (9), through which fresh air can be drawn into the housing (9). ) is sucked into the housing (9), wherein a drying air outlet (12) is also arranged in the housing (9), and the fresh air sucked into the housing (9) of the drying module (8) by means of the suction fan (10) can be supplied to the processing chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1) via the drying air outlet (12), wherein the effective flow cross-section of the fresh air inlet (11) arranged in the housing (9) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of an air vent slide assigned to the fresh air inlet (11).

21. The drying module (8) according to claim 20, An air outlet (15, 16) is formed in the housing (9) of the drying module (8), through which air can be supplied from the housing (9) to the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1), wherein the effective flow cross section of the air outlet (15, 16) of the drying module (8) is preferably variably adjustable, in particular by means of an air outlet slide.

22. The drying module (8) according to claim 21, The housing (9) of the drying module (8) is divided into a first area (19) and a second area (20), wherein the fresh air inlet (11) of the drying module (8) and the air inlet (17) capable of establishing a fluid connection with the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1) lead into the first area, and the drying air outlet (12) is arranged in the second area, wherein the suction side of the suction fan (10) is connected to the first area (19) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8). ) is fluidly connected, and the pressure side of the suction fan (10) is fluidly connected to the second area (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8), wherein a particularly controllable or optionally switchable heating device (21) is preferably arranged in the second area (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8), for heating the air supplied to the second area (20) of the housing (9) of the drying module (8) via the suction fan (10), in particular as required; and / or The suction fan (10) of the drying module (8) is provided with a drying device for drying at least the air supplied to the housing (9) of the drying module (8) via the air inlet (17) capable of establishing a fluid connection with the treatment chamber (5) of the dishwasher (1).

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