Dishwasher, in particular household dishwasher

Abstract

The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, with a washing container (3) providing a washing chamber (4), which has a loading opening (5) that can be closed by means of a washing chamber door (6), in particular a pivotable one, with a camera (10) housed in the washing chamber door (6) which serves for visual detection of the washing chamber (4), and with an optical unit (21) cooperating with the camera (10), which divides the image detection area of ​​the camera (19) into a first section (19) and into a second section (20), wherein the washing chamber (4) can be at least partially detected by means of the first section (19) and a dosing device (14) for process chemicals housed in the washing chamber door (6) can be detected at least partially by means of the second section (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular in the embodiment of a household dishwasher, with a washing container providing a washing chamber, which has a loading opening which can be closed by means of a washing chamber door, in particular one which is pivotably mounted, with a camera accommodated by the washing chamber door, which serves for a visual detection of the washing chamber, and with an optical unit which interacts with the camera.

[0002] Dishwashers of the aforementioned type are well known in the art, so a separate written reference is not required here. Reference is therefore made only by way of example to EP 3 205 764 A1, which discloses a dishwasher that has two cameras arranged in the wash cabinet for the purpose of wash cabinet monitoring.

[0003] A dishwasher of the aforementioned type has a wash tub that provides a wash chamber. This is accessible to the user via a loading opening that can be sealed fluid-tight by means of a pivoting wash chamber door. When used as intended, the wash tub serves to hold items to be cleaned, which may include, for example, dishes, cutlery, and / or similar items.

[0004] To load a dishwasher with wash ware, a wash ware carrier is typically used. This carrier can be moved through the loading opening, either into or out of the wash cabinet, depending on the direction of travel. A dishwasher typically has two or three wash ware carriers, depending on the design. The wash ware carriers are usually designed as wash baskets. A typical design includes a lower basket, an upper basket positioned above it in the dishwasher's vertical direction, and, optionally, a cutlery drawer positioned above the upper basket.

[0005] From the aforementioned EP 3 205 764 A1, a dishwasher is known that has two cleaning cameras arranged in the wash cabinet. These cameras are used to detect soiling of the items to be cleaned arranged in wash baskets.

[0006] Instead of locating a cleaning camera inside the wash cabinet, it is also known from the prior art to install such a camera in the wash cabinet door. In this case, proper image capture can only be performed when the wash cabinet door is closed. However, locating a camera in the wash cabinet door is advantageous in that it provides a greater degree of freedom regarding the camera's position relative to the wash cabinet, enabling an optimized image capture area.

[0007] The use of a camera for load detection is also known from the prior art. For example, WO 2017 / 032629 A1 discloses a dishwasher having a camera arranged in the washing tub, which serves to detect the loading of the washing baskets with items to be cleaned. WO 2006 / 015934 A1 also discloses a dishwasher with an image capture system for detecting the load of the washing baskets.

[0008] The previously known designs have proven their worth in everyday practical use. Depending on the intended use, they allow the degree of soiling of the items to be cleaned and / or the load of the dish racks to be sensed. This allows a subsequent wash program to be specifically tailored to this and / or displays appropriate information to the user, allowing them to intervene manually before the start of a proper wash program, for example, to reload the dishes if an incorrect load is detected.

[0009] However, there is still room for improvement, particularly in terms of functionality, which is why Task The invention is to propose a dishwasher of the type mentioned at the outset, which structurally enables improved handling by a user.

[0010] To SolutionTo achieve this object, the invention proposes a dishwasher of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized in that the optical unit divides the image capture area of ​​the camera into a first section and a second section, wherein the washing chamber can be at least partially visually captured by means of the first section and a dosing device for process chemicals accommodated by the washing chamber door can be at least partially visually captured by means of the second section.

[0011] The inventive design proposes dividing the area visually captured by the camera into two separate sections. This creates a first capture area and a second capture area. This is achieved structurally by an optical unit that separates a portion of the total available image capture area, thereby achieving a division into two sections, namely the first section and the second section.

[0012] The first section of the image capture area allows visual inspection of the wash cabinet. This enables load detection and / or soiling detection in a manner known from the prior art.

[0013] Using the second section of the image capture area, a dosing device for process chemicals located behind the wash cabinet door can be at least partially visually detected. In addition to wash cabinet detection, the inventive design also allows for visual detection and thus monitoring of a dosing device located behind the wash cabinet door.

[0014] As a result, the design according to the invention enables a more comprehensive visual inspection of the dishwasher. Both the wash cabinet and a dosing device can be visually recorded and thus monitored. The design according to the invention also has the synergistic effect that a camera already provided on the wash cabinet door can be used. There is no need to adapt an existing camera on the camera side, nor is the installation or use of a second camera necessary. The optical unit provided according to the invention allows the total available image capture area to be subdivided so that it can be used to monitor different areas or sections equally. In this respect, a functional division takes place, which ultimately means that not only the wash cabinet but also the dosing device can be monitored.

[0015] Additional monitoring of the dosing device is advantageous for the following reasons.

[0016] Currently, dishwashers of this type employ inadequate measurement methods to detect the storage and / or dosing of process chemicals with sufficient accuracy. The proposed visual detection of the dosing device using the inventive design provides a remedy for this.

[0017] With regard to a dosing device, a distinction can be made between a dosing device that can accommodate detergent for carrying out only one economy program and a dosing device that can accommodate detergent for carrying out a plurality of rinsing programs.

[0018] Dosing devices that can accommodate detergent for running a wash program are usually filled manually at the start of a wash program. Typically, pourable detergent or detergent in the form of a so-called tablet is used for this purpose. However, during the wash program, it is not possible to sense whether the amount of detergent previously added to the dosing device by the user is actually being flushed out into the wash cabinet. Clumping, adhesion, and / or similar phenomena can occur, resulting in incomplete discharge of the previously dosed detergent. Using the design according to the invention, it is now possible to monitor whether the previously added amount of detergent has actually been flushed out into the wash cabinet as intended.

[0019] In the case of dosing devices that can store a quantity of detergent sufficient for a number of consecutive wash programs, the situation is further complicated by the fact that the amount remaining in the dosing device after the dosing process has been completed is unknown. While it is known from the prior art to provide dosing geometries that dispense a predetermined quantity of detergent when dosing occurs, so that it is possible to calculate back how much detergent the dosing device should still have in stock based on previous dosing processes, these methods of determination are very imprecise. This can disadvantageously result in a user being informed by the machine that detergent needs to be refilled, only for the user to then discover that there is still enough detergent in the dosing device for several wash programs. The design according to the invention also provides a remedy here.This allows for a visual check of the correct dosing of detergent into the wash cabinet. Furthermore, it is possible to sense the fill level of residual detergent in the dosing device. This allows for a very precise determination of the amount of detergent still stored in the dosing device, which then allows the machine to determine how many wash programs can still be run with the residual detergent remaining in the dosing device.

[0020] According to a further feature of the invention, the optical unit is arranged within an interior space provided by the wash cabinet door, between an inner door panel and an outer door panel. A particular advantage of this configuration is that the optical unit is arranged within the interior space provided by the wash cabinet door, protected from the wash cabinet. The optical unit is thus protected from external influences, in particular from the ingress of process chemicals and / or water. Furthermore, it is housed in a space-saving manner within the wash cabinet door, so that the optical unit does not build up and reduce the size of the wash cabinet for accommodating wash ware.

[0021] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the optical unit has a light exit on the camera side and a light entry remote from the camera, wherein a light deflection device is arranged between the light entry and the light exit.

[0022] During intended use, light enters the optical unit and exits through the light exit, i.e., the camera side. The visual connection between the light entry and exit is achieved by a light deflection device. This allows the dosing device installed in the wash cabinet door to be captured by the camera, which is also located in the wash cabinet door. The camera also visually captures the wash cabinet opposite the inner panel of the door when the wash cabinet door is closed.

[0023] According to a further feature of the invention, the light deflection device may comprise a mirror and / or optical waveguide. It may also comprise optical means for expanding the

[0024] The only essential aspect of the invention is that the area to be visually captured is visually coupled to the camera by means of the light deflection device. This allows any area of ​​the dishwasher to be captured by the camera.

[0025] According to a further feature of the invention, the light inlet is equipped with an optical lens. This allows, in particular, wide-angle capture. Alternatively, however, magnified image capture in the manner of a telephoto lens is also possible.

[0026] According to a further feature of the invention, a second optical unit is provided that interacts with the camera. The use of two optical units offers the advantage that two dosing devices or different areas of one and the same dosing device can be visually monitored simultaneously. Depending on the monitoring task to be solved, additional optical units can also be provided, for example, a third, fourth, or even a fifth.

[0027] According to a further feature of the invention, the second optical unit visually interacts with a volume provided by a storage container of a second dosing device. Accordingly, the first optical unit serves to monitor a first dosing device, and the second optical unit serves to monitor a second dosing device. It is preferred that the respective optical unit interacts with a volume provided by a storage container of the dosing device. In this way, it is possible to sense the cleaning agent stored in the storage container or its fill level in the storage container.

[0028] According to a further feature of the invention, the camera comprises a camera board, a CCD chip and a camera lens that interacts with both the rinsing chamber and an optical unit.

[0029] According to this design, the pixels provided by the CCD chip are divided into individual pixel areas. Each pixel area corresponds to a section of the camera's image capture area, with a camera lens system provided for subdividing the pixels. This lens system establishes the visual connection to the wash cabinet on the one hand and to an optical unit on the other. The camera lens system thus serves as a connection unit between the camera on the one hand and the wash cabinet or optical unit on the other. According to a further feature of the invention, the optical unit is connected to the camera lens system on the light exit side.

[0030] The invention further proposes a method for operating a dishwasher, in particular a dishwasher of the type described above, in which both the wash chamber and the volume provided by a storage container of a dosing device are visually recorded by means of the camera. This method implementation, as already described, provides the advantage that, on the one hand, the wash chamber can be sensed, for example, to detect soiling and / or load, and, on the other hand, the dosing device can be checked, for example, to determine the fill level of detergent still stored in the dosing device.

[0031] According to a further feature of the invention, it is proposed in this context that the camera image captured by the camera is evaluated for monitoring the washing chamber on the one hand and for determining a fill level in the storage container on the other hand.

[0032] As a result, according to the invention, an image is generated that is composed of two captured sections, one of which relates to the dosing device and the other to the wash cabinet. The image thus captured is evaluated according to its section division. A device present on the machine serves this purpose. The result of the evaluation provides the possibility of a corresponding inspection, either of the wash cabinet, for example, to check its load, or of the dosing device, for example, to check the detergent level in the dosing device.

[0033] Overall, the inventive design allows a camera provided by the dishwasher to perform multiple sensory tasks and / or monitoring functions simultaneously. On the one hand, the camera serves to monitor the wash cabinet during a wash cycle or when loading the dishwasher, and on the other hand, dosing devices can be detected, enabling precise fill level determination. The entire camera-sensor system is very compact, allowing cost-effective implementation since the use of individual sensors is eliminated. Furthermore, the camera can be used throughout the entire duration of the dishwasher's intended use, allowing both the wash cycle and the loading cycle to be monitored.

[0034] The dishwasher according to the invention can be a household dishwasher, but alternatively also a professional dishwashing appliance, for example for the catering sector, or a cleaning and disinfection appliance, for example for washing medical instruments or laboratory utensils.

[0035] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a camera equipped with an optical unit according to the invention according to a first embodiment; Fig. 2 shows a schematic plan view from the front, in detail, of the construction according to the invention according to Fig. 1 according to a first position; Fig. 3 in schematic plan view from the front, a section of the construction according to the invention according to Fig. 1according to a second position; Fig. 4 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a camera equipped with an optical unit according to the invention according to a second embodiment; Fig. 5 shows a schematic plan view from above of the embodiment according to Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a camera equipped with an optical unit according to the invention according to a third embodiment; Fig. 7 shows a schematic perspective view of the embodiment according to Fig. 6 ; Fig. 8 shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of a camera equipped with an optical unit according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment; Fig. 9 shows a schematic perspective view of a section of the embodiment according to Fig. 8 ; Fig. 10 in a schematic perspective view from the front a dishwasher and Fig. 11 in a schematic side view the dishwasher according to Fig. 10 .

[0036] The Fig. 10 and 11show a dishwasher 1 according to the prior art in a schematic front view and in a schematic side view.

[0037] The dishwasher 1 has a housing 2, which, among other things, houses a washing tub 3. The washing tub 3, in turn, provides a washing chamber 4, which, when used as intended, serves to hold the items 7 to be cleaned. In the illustrated embodiment, washware carriers 8, specifically in the form of washware baskets, serve to hold the items 7 to be cleaned, with a lower basket and an upper basket being provided.

[0038] The washing chamber 4 is accessible to the user through a loading opening 5. The loading opening 5 can be closed fluid-tight by means of a washing chamber door 6, wherein the washing chamber door 6 can be pivoted about a horizontal pivot axis and can be opened by the user from the Fig. 10 shown open position in the Fig. 11 shown closed position and vice versa.

[0039] The dishwasher 1 further comprises a camera 10, which is provided by the washing compartment door 6. The camera 10 is used for the visual recording of the washing compartment 4, whereby, as shown in Fig. 11 covers the image capture area 9.

[0040] The camera 10 interacts with an optical unit 21, wherein the optical unit 21 divides the image capture area 9 of the camera 10 into a first section 19 and a second section 20, wherein the first section 19 provides at least a partial visual image of the wash cabinet 4 and the second section 20 provides at least a partial visual image of a dosing device 14 for process chemicals housed in the wash cabinet door 6. This factual relationship arises from the Figures 1 to 9 using different designs.

[0041] Fig. 1shows a schematic, partially sectioned side view of the washing cabinet door 6. This door has an inner door panel 12 and an outer door panel 11, which are arranged at a distance from one another and form an interior space 13 between them.

[0042] The interior space 13 of the washing compartment door 6 houses the camera 10. This is equipped with a camera lens 17 (not shown in detail) and is directed through a viewing window 18 onto the washing compartment 4 adjoining the inside of the inner door panel 12.

[0043] The interior 13 of the wash cabinet door 6 also houses a dosing device 14. This dosing device 14 provides a storage container 15 with a volume 16 that can store detergent in sufficient quantity to allow several consecutive wash programs to be carried out.

[0044] According to the invention, the optical unit 21 is provided, which divides a sub-area from the area that can essentially be captured by the camera 10, resulting in a subdivision of the image capture area into the first section 19 and the second section 20. The first section 19 visually captures the wash chamber 4, and the second section 20 visually captures the dosing device 14.

[0045] Since the dosing device 14 and the camera 10 are located inside the wash cabinet door 6, the optical unit 21 has a light deflection device. This visually couples a light exit 30 on the camera side with a light entry 31 remote from the camera. For the purpose of light deflection, the light deflection device has mirrors and / or optical fibers.

[0046] However, what is essential to the invention is that the image capture area 9, which can essentially be captured by the camera 10, is divided into two separate sections 19 and 20 by separation, wherein in the illustrated embodiment, the optical unit 21 has a light deflection device so that the second section 20 extends into the volume 16 of the storage container 15 provided by the dosing device 14. Thus, the camera 10 not only enables monitoring of the wash chamber 4, but also allows the fill level of cleaning agent within the storage container 15 to be detected.

[0047] The detection of the filling level of a cleaning agent 22 within the storage container 15 of the dosing device 14 is in the Figures 2 and 3 As can be seen from this illustration, the second section 20 is divided by means of the optical unit 21 into a section which is arranged in a plane parallel to the plane of the drawing. Figures 2 and 3directed towards the lower section of the storage container 15. When the wash cabinet door 6 is closed, the cleaning agent 22 falls vertically downwards within the storage container 15 due to the force of gravity. The camera 10, with the interposition of the optical unit 21, can thus determine the level of cleaning agent 22 in the storage container 15. Fig. 2 a sufficiently high fill level, whereas Fig. 3 shows an almost empty reservoir 15. At a filling level as shown in Fig. 3 As shown, a warning signal can be issued to a user of the dishwasher after a corresponding detection by the camera 10.

[0048] The Figures 4 and 5 show another embodiment in different views.

[0049] According to the second embodiment, not only a first dosing device 14 is used, but also a second dosing device 24 and a third dosing device 25. These two dosing devices 24 and 25 are coupled together in a manner known per se to form a common combination device 23.

[0050] The second dosing device 24 is, for example, one that serves to hold detergent for running a dishwashing program. For this purpose, the second dosing device 24 has a storage container 26 that can be closed by means of a lid.

[0051] The third dosing device 25 serves to hold rinse aid, a liquid process chemical, for example. For this purpose, the combination device 23 has a storage container 27, which also houses the storage container 26 of the second dosing device 24.

[0052] The fill level in the respective volume spaces 45 and 46 of the storage containers 26 and 25 can be detected by the camera 10. For this purpose, a second optical unit 28 and a third optical unit 29 are provided. The second optical unit 28 interacts with the storage container 26, and the third optical unit 29 interacts with the storage container 27.

[0053] On the reservoir side, the optical units 28 and 29 are each equipped with a lens 33, each of which serves for wide-angle detection.

[0054] According to the embodiment according to the Figures 4 and 5 Thus, a fill level determination is carried out for all storage containers 15, 26, and 27. At the same time, the camera 10 also serves to sense the wash chamber 4 in the manner already described.

[0055] The Figures 6 and 7show a further embodiment. According to this embodiment, the camera 10 has, in a manner known per se, a camera board 34 and a CCD chip 35 carried thereon. Furthermore, a camera optics 36 is provided, which serves to visually connect the camera 10 to a first optical unit 21 and to a second optical unit 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the optical units 28 and 29 each have optical fibers 37 and 38. These are visually connected directly to the camera optics 36, for which purpose the camera optics 36 has corresponding connection surfaces 39 and 40.

[0056] As shown in particular in the Fig. 7As can be seen, the chip is divided into pixels. Thanks to the camera optics 36, the total available pixel area is divided into individual pixel areas 41, 42, and 43, with pixel area 41 being assigned to the wash cabinet 4, and pixel areas 42 and 43 being assigned to the optical units 28 and 29, respectively. This simultaneously provides a visual detection of the dosing devices assigned to the optical units 28 and 29, on the one hand, and of the wash cabinet 4, on the other.

[0057] Another embodiment shows Fig. 8This differs from the previously described embodiments in that the optical unit 21 is not arranged in the interior space 13 of the wash cabinet door 6. Rather, it is provided that the optical unit 21 is arranged on a wire bracket 44 of a washware carrier 8. When the wash cabinet door 6 is closed, the camera 10 is positioned precisely on the entry side of the optical unit 21, so that image capture can take place as intended in the manner already described.

[0058] Fig. 9 the representation decreases Fig. 8 in a schematic perspective view from the direction of the washing chamber 4. For the sake of clarity, the washware carrier 8 is not shown in this illustration. Reference symbol

[0059] 1 Dishwasher 2 Housing 3 Wash tub 4 Wash chamber 5 Loading opening 6 Wash chamber door 7 Dishes 8 Dish rack 9 Image capture area 10 Camera 11 Outer panel 12 Inner panel 13 Interior 14 Dosing device 15 Storage container 16 Volumetric space 17 Camera optics 18 Viewing window 19 First section 20 Second section 21 Optical unit 22 Detergent 23 Combination device 24 Second dosing device 25 Third dosing device 26 Storage container 27 Storage container 28 Second optical unit 29 Third optical unit 30 Light exit 31 Light entry 32 Deflection device 33 Lens 34 Camera board 35 CCD chip 36 Camera optics 37 Optical fiber 38 Optical fiber 39 Connection surface 40 Connection surface 41Pixel area 42Pixel area 43Pixel area 44Wire bracket 45Volume space 46Volume space

Claims

1. Dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, comprising a washing container (3), which provides a washing chamber (4) and has a loading opening (5) which can be closed by means of an in particular pivotably mounted washing chamber door (6), the dishwasher comprising a camera (10) housed by the washing chamber door (6), which camera visually captures the washing chamber (4), and the dishwasher comprising an optical unit (21) which interacts with the camera (10), characterised in that the optical unit (21) divides the image capture region of the camera (10) into a first portion (19) and a second portion (20), wherein, by means of the first portion (19), the washing chamber (4) and, by means of the second portion (20), a dosing device (14), housed by the washing chamber door (6), for process chemicals can be at least partially visually captured.

2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the optical unit (21) is arranged within an interior space (13), provided by the washing chamber door (6), between an inner door panel (12) and an outer door panel (11).

3. Dishwasher according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the optical unit (21) has a light outlet (30) on the camera side and a light inlet (31) remote from the camera, wherein a light deflection device (32) is arranged between the light inlet (31) and the light outlet (30).

4. Dishwasher according to claim 3, characterised in that the light deflection device (32) has a mirror.

5. Dishwasher according to either claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the light inlet (31) is equipped with an optical lens (33).

6. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical unit (21) visually interacts with a volume space (16) provided by a storage container (15) of a dosing device (14).

7. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by a second optical unit (28) which interacts with the camera (10).

8. Dishwasher according to claim 7, characterised in that the second optical unit (28) visually interacts with a volume space (45) provided by a storage container (26) of a second dosing device (24).

9. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the camera (10) has a camera board (34), a CCD chip (35) and a camera optics (36) that interacts with both the washing chamber (4) and an optical unit (21).

10. Dishwasher according to claim 9, characterised in that the optical unit (21) is connected to the camera optics (36) on the light outlet side.

11. Method for operating a dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 10, comprising a washing container (3), which provides a washing chamber (4) and has a loading opening (5) which can be closed by means of a washing chamber door (6), and a camera (10) housed by the washing chamber door (6), wherein both the washing chamber (4) and the volume space (16) provided by a storage container (15) of a dosing device (14) housed by the washing chamber door (6) are visually captured by means of the camera (10).

12. Method according to claim 11, in which a camera image which is captured by the camera (10) is evaluated both for monitoring the washing chamber (4) and for determining a fill level in the storage container (15).

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