Domestic dishwasher, and method for operating a domestic dishwasher

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic dishwasher (1) comprising a washing container (2), a container (21) for receiving working fluids that lies outside the washing container (2) and is accessible, with the door (3) of the domestic dishwasher (1) open, via an opening (22) in the interior of the washing container (2), a spray arm (17) for applying washing liquor to the dishwasher load held in the washing container (2), a drive system (19) for actively driving the spray arm (17), a control device (23) for controlling the drive system (19), and a detection device (20) assigned to a drive element (19') of the drive system (19), for detecting an angular position of the drive element (19'), the control device (23) being designed to determine an angular position of the spray arm (17) according to the detected angular position of the drive element (19') and to control the drive system (19) to stop the spray arm (17), according to the angular position determined for the spray arm (17), within a predefined angular range (W1) that is outside an angular range (W2) defined by an access region of the opening (22).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a household dishwasher and a method for operating a household dishwasher.

[0002] A dishwasher comprises a wash chamber in which the items to be cleaned are placed. A rotating spray arm may be provided within the wash chamber to spray the items with wash water and / or fresh water. This spray arm can be driven either by the pressure of wash water and / or fresh water exiting spray nozzles on the spray arm or by an active drive, particularly an electric motor. When the dishwasher is switched off, an actively driven spray arm cannot be moved manually. Therefore, a problem can arise if the spray arm becomes stuck in a position that obstructs access to other components within the wash chamber.

[0003] US 9,220,393 B2 describes a dishwasher with an actively driven lower spray arm. A sensor detects when the spray arm is above the sensor or moves away from the sensor during a rotation. Based on this sensor signal, the rotational movement of the spray arm can be calculated. The system is designed to stop the spray arm in a position where it does not obstruct access to the filter assembly.

[0004] WO 2013 / 132458 A1 discloses an arrangement for a dishwasher comprising a motor for driving a spray arm. The position of the spray arm can be determined based on a sensor signal. The sensor signal is output by a sensor associated with a drive shaft that drives the spray arm.

[0005] Against this background, one object of the present invention is to provide an improved household dishwasher.

[0006] Accordingly, a household dishwasher is proposed comprising a wash tub, a container located outside the wash tub for holding an operating medium (accessible through an opening in the interior of the wash tub when the dishwasher door is open), a spray arm for applying wash water to the items in the wash tub, a drive unit for actively driving the spray arm, and a control device for controlling the drive unit. A sensing device for detecting the angular position of the drive unit is associated with a drive element of the drive unit.The control device is designed to determine the angular position of the spray arm based on the detected angular position of the drive element and to control the drive unit to stop the spray arm within a predetermined angular range outside an angular range defined by an access area of ​​the opening, based on the determined angular position of the spray arm. The predetermined angular range is defined such that, furthermore, the longitudinal direction of the spray arm within this range is parallel to the insertion direction of a dishwashing basket in the household dishwasher.

[0007] This household dishwasher offers the advantage that the position of the actively driven spray arm is always precisely known. This allows the spray arm to be stopped within a precisely defined area when the current wash program is interrupted or completed. This prevents the actively driven spray arm from stopping in a position that obstructs or blocks access to certain components of the dishwasher. Because the position control is performed by a sensing device associated with the drive element, which is located in an area separate from or protected from the wash tub, for example, outside the wash tub, the reliability and lifespan of the sensing device can be improved.Furthermore, the detection system can be simpler in design, as it does not require additional protection from the extreme conditions in the wash tub during a wash cycle. Overall, this makes the operation of the household dishwasher more reliable and easier.

[0008] The household dishwasher comprises a wash tub that can be sealed, preferably fluid-tight, from one side by means of a door pivoting about an axis. The door can be opened to load the wash tub with items to be washed. When the door is open, other components of the household dishwasher inside the wash tub may be accessible. For example, a filter screen located above a sump or pump housing of the household dishwasher, or a salt container, may be accessible.

[0009] The container for holding the operating fluid is located outside the wash tank and has an opening accessible from inside the wash tank. Preferably, the container can be filled with the operating fluid through this opening. The operating fluid can, for example, be a consumable that is used and consumed during one or more wash cycles. The container is preferably designed to hold a supply of the operating fluid, sufficient for several wash cycles. The container may also have additional openings. For example, the container can be connected to a hydraulic system of the household dishwasher and / or has a feeder for introducing or removing the operating fluid and / or another substance.

[0010] The spray arm is, for example, a lower spray arm located in the wash tank and above its base. The spray arm is, in particular, rotatably mounted, with one axis of rotation of the spray arm running essentially perpendicular to the base. "Essentially perpendicular" here means, in particular, that the base may have a slight incline, for example, up to 25°, to allow for the drainage of wash water. It can also be said that the spray arm is rotatably mounted in a horizontal plane.

[0011] In this context, "spraying" the items with cleaning solution means that the items are wetted with cleaning solution by means of the spray arm. "Cleaning solution" can refer to water containing a cleaning agent or even pure drinking water. The cleaning solution may include soiling removed from the items. The term "actively driven" means that the drive unit applies torque to the spray arm. Active driving does not, in particular, refer to the rotation of the spray arm by means of spray nozzles. The drive unit for actively driving the spray arm includes a drive element, in particular an electric motor. However, the drive unit may also be hydraulically actuated.

[0012] The control device can be implemented in hardware and / or software. In a hardware implementation, the control device can, for example, be a computer or a microprocessor. In a software implementation, the control device can be a computer program, a function, a routine, part of program code, or an executable object. Preferably, the control device is configured to control the entire household dishwasher, based on one of several wash programs. The term "control device actuates the drive unit" refers in particular to the control device rotating the spray arm at a specific speed or frequency, accelerating, stopping, and / or moving it to a specific position, especially an angular position.

[0013] The drive unit is preferably coupled to the spray arm purely mechanically, and may include one or more drive elements. For example, the drive unit transmits the torque to drive the spray arm via a drive shaft. Additionally, one or more gears and belts may be provided. The sensing device is associated with a drive element, such as the drive shaft. The sensing device being associated with the drive element means, in particular, that it is configured to detect the angular position of the drive element by means of a direct measurement. For example, the sensing device includes a Hall sensor, and a magnetic signature is applied to the drive element. The Hall sensor is arranged in close proximity to the drive element in such a way that it detects a change in the magnetic flux due to a rotation of the drive element.

[0014] The drive element to which the detection device is assigned is preferably designed for power transmission within the drive unit. Alternatively or additionally, the drive element can also be coupled to another power-transmitting drive element, for example, by means of a gear. Furthermore, the detection device can be directly coupled to the spray arm. The detection device detects the angular position of the drive element. Angular position is understood here to be the degree of rotation of the drive element relative to a reference or zero position. The detected angular position corresponds, in particular, to the current angular position of the drive element. Depending on the design of the detection device and a rotational frequency, the angular position is detected at a specific frequency or at specific time intervals.For example, the angular position is recorded once, twice, or N times (where N can be any integer) per revolution of the drive element. The angular position between two recording times can be determined by interpolation.

[0015] The angular position of the drive element is preferably coupled to the angular position of the spray arm via a fixed and known function. In particular, the angular position of the spray arm is proportional to the angular position of the drive element. Depending on how force is transmitted from the drive element to the spray arm, a gear ratio may be present, whereby, for example, one revolution of the drive element corresponds to a fraction of a revolution or more than a revolution of the spray arm. In the case of a direct coupling of the spray arm to the drive shaft, for example, the angular position of the spray arm corresponds to that of the drive shaft.

[0016] The control device is configured to determine the angular position of the spray arm as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element. For example, the detected angular position of the drive element corresponds exactly to an angular position of the spray arm. Accordingly, the control device "knows" the angular position of the spray arm once the angular position of the drive element has been detected. Furthermore, the rotational frequency of the drive element is known, from which the rotational frequency of the spray arm can also be derived or determined. Assuming that the rotational frequency is constant during the period between two detection times of the angular position of the drive element, the angular position of the spray arm is thus known at every point in time. It can be said that the angular position of the spray arm between two detection times is determined by interpolation and is therefore known.Thus, the control device can actuate the drive unit so that the spray arm is stopped within a predetermined angular range. This predetermined angular range lies, in particular, outside of any angular range defined by the access area of ​​the opening.

[0017] The term "access area" for the opening refers specifically to an area that should be clear for easy, i.e., unobstructed, access to the opening. For example, the access area is defined by a volume of 10 cm in every direction from one edge of the opening. If the opening is located at the bottom of the washing tank, the access area preferably includes an area above the opening. This ensures that the opening is easily accessible, particularly without obstruction from the spray arm.

[0018] Preferably, the spray arm is stopped within the predetermined angle range when a wash program has finished and / or a running wash program is interrupted, for example, when a user of the household dishwasher opens the door. Furthermore, the spray arm is also stopped within the predetermined angle range, in particular, when it is not currently in use during a wash program, for example, because only another spray arm, such as an upper one, is active and / or because a soaking phase, heating phase, or the like is included in the wash program.

[0019] According to one embodiment of the household dishwasher, the opening can be closed with a lid.

[0020] This is advantageous if the operating fluid should not come into contact with the rinsing solution, for example, to prevent contamination. Preferably, the opening can be sealed fluid-tight with the lid.

[0021] According to another embodiment of the household dishwasher, it has a water softening device for adjusting the hardness of the supplied water, wherein the container includes a salt container arranged under a base of the wash tank for holding a supply of regeneration salt.

[0022] The water softener consumes the regeneration salt over time and therefore needs to be refilled after a certain number of rinse cycles. This is easily done in this case because the spray arm stops outside the reach of the salt container opening.

[0023] The predetermined angular range is determined in such a way that, furthermore, a longitudinal direction of the spray arm in the predetermined angular range is parallel to an insertion direction of a dishwashing basket of the household dishwasher.

[0024] The spray arm has a particularly elongated or linear shape. For example, the spray arm comprises two arm sections that extend radially outwards from the axis of rotation of the spray arm.

[0025] This embodiment is advantageous because, for example, items protruding downwards from the dish holder, particularly cutlery, are virtually prevented from colliding with the spray arm when the dish holder is inserted into the wash container. A collision can only occur if, for example, the item protrudes precisely in the center of the dish holder, and even then, a slight lateral movement of the item resolves the collision. Thus, the risk of damage to the spray arm and / or the items is reduced in this embodiment. "Parallel" here refers to an angular range that deviates, for example, from -20° to +20° from the exact parallel direction.

[0026] According to another embodiment of the household dishwasher, a gearbox for power transmission is arranged between the drive unit and the spray arm, wherein the control device is designed to determine the angular position of the spray arm as a function of a gear ratio.

[0027] The gearbox can have different gear ratios.

[0028] According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the spray arm comprises a spray arm satellite rotatably mounted on the spray arm, wherein the spray arm satellite is outside the access area of ​​the opening in the predetermined angular range of the spray arm in any arbitrary rotational position of the spray arm satellite.

[0029] The spray arm satellite is arranged, in particular, on one of the two arm sections of the spray arm and is mounted so as to rotate freely. The spray arm satellite is preferably driven by means of obliquely arranged spray nozzles. The recoil of the ejected spray solution sets the satellite spray arm in motion. The spray arm satellite is connected to the spray arm, for example, by means of a fastening element. The fastening element can be released, for example, to disassemble the spray arm. The spray arm satellite preferably comprises several arms. For example, the spray arm satellite can have three arms, each arranged at an angle of 120° to one another. However, the number of arms is, in principle, arbitrary.

[0030] In this embodiment, it is thus advantageously prevented that the spray arm satellite, when the spray arm is stopped, hinders or blocks access to the opening of the container.

[0031] According to another embodiment of the household dishwasher, a rotation axis of the spray arm and a rotation axis of the spray arm satellite are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other.

[0032] This means that the axis of rotation of the actively driven spray arm does not coincide with the axis of rotation of the spray arm satellite. The distance between the two axes of rotation can be several centimeters.

[0033] According to another embodiment of the household dishwasher, the detection device for detecting the angular position of the drive element comprises an optical, magnetic, electrical and / or mechanical sensor device.

[0034] The sensor device can, for example, include a light-emitting diode, in particular a laser diode, a measuring scale, and a photodiode. Furthermore, a Hall sensor and / or an electrical resistance encoding can be provided to detect the angular position. Mechanical elements, such as a protrusion or the like, can also be used as a sensor device.

[0035] According to a further embodiment of the household dishwasher, the detection device for detecting the angular position of the drive element is set up with an accuracy of 10°, preferably 8°, more preferably 5°.

[0036] The more accurately the angular position is measured, the more precisely the angular position of the spray arm is known. This allows for very precise control of the spray arm's stopping position.

[0037] According to another embodiment of the household dishwasher, the drive unit comprises an electric motor arranged outside the wash tub. According to another embodiment of the household dishwasher, the sensing device is configured to detect the angular position of the drive element based on a sensor signal from a motor control unit of the electric motor.

[0038] This is advantageous because the control of the electric motor is necessary for its operation anyway, so that the angular position of the spray arm is known without additional components such as an external sensor device.

[0039] According to another aspect, a method for operating a household dishwasher is proposed. The household dishwasher comprises a wash tub, a container located outside the wash tub for holding an operating medium, which is accessible via an opening in an interior of the wash tub when the dishwasher door is open, a spray arm for applying washing solution to the items in the wash tub, a drive unit for actively driving the spray arm, and a control device for controlling the drive unit. In a first step, the angular position of a drive element of the drive unit is detected by means of a sensing device associated with the drive element. In a second step, the angular position of the spray arm is determined as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element.In a third step, the spray arm is stopped within a predetermined angular range outside of an angular range defined by an access area of ​​the opening, depending on the determined angular position of the spray arm. The predetermined angular range is defined such that a longitudinal direction of the spray arm within this range is parallel to the insertion direction of a dish holder in the household dishwasher.

[0040] The method has the advantage that the spray arm is stopped in a position where unrestricted access to the opening of the container, for example a salt container for receiving regeneration salt, is possible.

[0041] Preferably, the spray arm is stopped within the predetermined angle range when a wash program has finished and / or a running wash program is interrupted, for example, when a user of the household dishwasher opens the door. Furthermore, the spray arm is also stopped within the predetermined angle range, in particular, when it is not currently in use during a wash program, for example, because only another spray arm, such as an upper one, is active and / or because a soaking phase, heating phase, or the like is included in the wash program.

[0042] The procedure can advantageously be carried out with a household dishwasher according to the first aspect.

[0043] The embodiments and features described for the proposed household dishwasher apply accordingly to the proposed method.

[0044] Other possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described previously or subsequently with regard to the exemplary embodiments, even if not explicitly mentioned. In such cases, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

[0045] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to preferred embodiments and the accompanying figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher; Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the base of a household dishwasher; Fig. 3 shows a schematic side sectional view of a household dishwasher; Fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of the base of a household dishwasher with a predetermined angle range; Fig. 5 shows a schematic top view of the base of another embodiment of a household dishwasher with a predetermined angular range; Fig. 6 shows a schematic top view of the base of another embodiment of a household dishwasher with a predetermined angular range; and Fig. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a household dishwasher.

[0046] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements have been given the same reference symbols, unless otherwise indicated.

[0047] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a wash tub 2, which can be closed by a door 3, in particular in a watertight manner. For this purpose, a sealing device can be provided between the door 3 and the wash tub 2. The wash tub 2 is preferably cuboid in shape. The wash tub 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The wash tub 2 and the door 3 can form a wash chamber 4 for washing dishes.

[0048] Door 3 is in the Fig. 1 The door 3 is shown in its open position. It can be opened or closed by pivoting it about a pivot axis 5 located at its lower end. The door 3 can be used to open or close a loading opening 6 of the wash tank 2. The wash tank 2 has a base 7, a top 8 opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 opposite the closed door 3, and two opposing side walls 10 and 11. The base 7, the top 8, the rear wall 9, and the side walls 10 and 11 can, for example, be made of stainless steel. Alternatively, the base 7 can, for example, be made of a plastic material.

[0049] The household dishwasher 1 further comprises at least one dishware holder 12 to 14. Preferably, several, for example three, dishware holders 12 to 14 can be provided, wherein the dishware holder 12 can be a lower dishware holder or a lower basket, the dishware holder 13 an upper dishware holder or an upper basket, and the dishware holder 14 a cutlery drawer. As the Fig. 1 As further shown, the dishware holders 12 to 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each dishware holder 12 to 14 can be selectively moved into or out of the washing container 2. In particular, each dishware holder 12 to 14 can be pushed or moved into the washing container 2 in an insertion direction E and pulled or moved out of the washing container 2 in an extension direction A opposite to the insertion direction E.

[0050] Furthermore, the household dishwasher 1 comprises a pump unit rotatably mounted on the base 7, in particular on a pump housing (not shown), and driven by a drive unit 19 (see Fig. 2 or 3 ) actively driven spray arm 17. An opening 22 is also indicated, which leads, for example, to a container 21 (see Fig. 2 or 3 ) and is accessible from the interior of the wash tub 2. A control device 23 is arranged on the door 3 of the household dishwasher 1.

[0051] The control device 23 is configured to actuate the drive unit 19 to actively drive the spray arm 17 and thus control the movement of the spray arm 17. Preferably, the control device 23 is configured to control the household dishwasher 1, in particular according to a wash program from a number of wash programs.

[0052] Fig. 2 shows a schematic top view of the base 7 of the household dishwasher 1 of the Fig. 1 . In the Fig. 2 are in addition to those already in Fig. 1 The elements shown also include a drive unit 19, a detection unit 20, and a container 21. The drive unit 19 and the container 21 are indicated by dashed lines because they are located below the base 7 (and thus outside the rinsing container 2), as can be seen more clearly in the Fig. 3 emerges. In the Fig. 3 A drive element 19' is also shown, which here is designed as a drive shaft. The detection device 20 is, for example, designed as an optical sensor and configured to detect the angular position of the drive shaft 19'. In this example, the drive shaft 19' is coupled directly to the spray arm 17 without any further transmission, so that the angular position of the spray arm 17 corresponds to the angular position of the drive shaft 19'.

[0053] It can also be seen that the opening 22 in the base 7 is closed by a lid. The lid protrudes into the interior of the washing tank 2. The spray arm 17 is positioned at a distance from the base 7 and rotates freely over the lid. If the lid of the opening 22 needs to be removed or opened, for example to add salt to the container 21, the spray arm 17 should not be stopped in an area above the opening 22, as the lid and the opening 22 would otherwise be inaccessible or only accessible with difficulty. Therefore, in this case, the control device 23 controls the drive unit 19 such that the spray arm 17 only rotates within a predetermined angular range W1 (see figure). Fig. 4 - 6 ) is stopped. This is achieved by the control device 23 determining the angular position of the spray arm 17 based on the angular position of the drive element 19' detected by the detection device 20. For example, the angular position of the spray arm is calculated using a function that takes the angular position of the drive element 19' as an input variable. Based on the thus known angular position of the spray arm 17, it can be braked or stopped so that it comes to rest within the predetermined angular range W1.

[0054] The Fig. 4 Figure 1 schematically shows a top view of the base 7 of the household dishwasher 1, illustrating a predetermined angular range W1 within which the spray arm 17 may come to rest, and an angular range W2 which lies within the reach of the opening 22. The angular range W2 is excluded from the predetermined angular range W1. In other words, the angular ranges W1 and W2 are disjoint from each other. For example, the predetermined angular range W1 is a full circle minus the angular range W2. Since the spray arm 17 has an elongated shape and is point-symmetrical with respect to its center of rotation, there is, for example, another excluded range compared to the angular range W2 shown here, which is not shown because it is theoretically permissible.

[0055] Fig. 5 shows a view as well as the Fig. 4 , however, with a further embodiment of the household dishwasher 1, which has all the features of the one belonging to the Fig. 1 - 4 The household dishwasher 1 described above has a spray arm 17. In addition, the spray arm 17 has a satellite spray arm 18, which is freely rotatable on the spray arm 17. Because the satellite spray arm 18 extends laterally beyond the spray arm 17, the predetermined angle range W1 is further reduced or restricted. This ensures that the satellite spray arm 18 does not protrude into the angle range W2 of the opening 22 and thus obstruct access to the opening 22.

[0056] It should be noted that several excluded angle ranges W2 may exist, for example, if there are several openings 22 whose respective access areas are to be kept clear. In particular, an opening 22 whose access area is to be kept clear may also be located on one of the side walls 10, 11 (see Fig. 1 ) or the rear wall 9 (see Fig. 1 ) of the flushing container 2.

[0057] Fig. 6 Figure 1 shows a schematic top view of a base 7 of another embodiment of a household dishwasher 1 with the door 3 open and a further predetermined angular range W1. This is, for example, the household dishwasher 1 already described in Figure 1. Fig. 1 - 3 was described. In the Fig. 6 The predetermined angle range W1 is relatively narrow; for example, the predetermined angle range W1 encompasses an angle of 20°. The predetermined angle range W1 is in the Fig. 6 The spray arm 17 is positioned such that it is always held parallel to the insertion direction E and the extension direction A of the dish holder 12. This prevents any dish protruding downwards from the dish holder 12 from colliding with the spray arm 17 when the dish holder 12 is inserted into the wash container 2.

[0058] Fig. 7 Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating a household dishwasher 1, for example one of the household dishwashers of the Fig. 1 - 6 In a first step S1, the angular position of a drive element 19' of the drive unit 19 is detected by means of a detection device 20 assigned to the drive element 19'. In a second step S2, the angular position of the spray arm 17 is determined as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element 19'. In a third step S3, the spray arm 17 is stopped within a predetermined angular range W1 outside an angular range W2 defined by an access area of ​​the opening 22, depending on the determined angular position of the spray arm 17.

[0059] This method is preferably used with one of the methods described in the Fig. 1 - 5The process is carried out on the household dishwasher 1 shown. The spray arm 17 is stopped according to the described step S3, for example, when a running wash program is interrupted, such as when a user opens the door 3 of the household dishwasher 1 to add more items. Furthermore, the spray arm 17 is always stopped within the predetermined angular range W1 whenever it is not in use.

[0060] Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways. Reference symbols used:

[0061] 1 Household dishwasher 2 Wash tub 3 Door 4 Wash chamber 5 Swivel axis 6 Loading opening 7 Floor 8 Ceiling 9 Back wall 10 Side wall 11 Side wall 12 Dishwashing compartment 13 Dishwashing compartment 14 Dishwashing compartment 17 Spray arm 18 Satellite spray arm 19 Drive unit 19 Drive element 20 Detection device 21 Tub 22 Opening 23 Control device A Extension direction E Insertion direction S1 Process step S2 Process step S3 Process step W1 Angle range W2 Angle range

Claims

1. Household dishwasher (1) having a washing container (2), a container (21) for holding an operating material, which container (21) is arranged outside the washing container (2) and is accessible via an opening (22) in an interior of the washing container (2) when a door (3) of the household dishwasher (1) is open, a spray arm (17) for applying washing liquor to a dishwasher load that is held in the washing container (2), a drive entity (19) for actively driving the spray arm (17), a control device (23) for activating the drive entity (19), and a detection entity (20), which is assigned to a drive element (19') of the drive entity (19), for detecting an angular position of the drive element (19'), wherein the control device (23) is configured to determine an angular position of the spray arm (17) as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element (19') and, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm (17), to activate the drive entity (19) to stop the spray arm (17) within a predefined angular range (W1) that is outside an angular range (W2) defined by an access region of the opening (22), wherein the predefined angular range (W1) is specified in such a way that a longitudinal direction of the spray arm (17) in the predefined angular range (W1) is also parallel to a push-in direction (E) of a dishwasher loading rack (12 - 14) of the household dishwasher (1).

2. Household dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the opening (22) can be closed by a lid.

3. Household dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the household dishwasher (1) has a water softening device for adjusting a water hardness of supplied water, wherein the container (21) comprises a salt container, which is arranged below a bottom (7) of the washing container (2), for holding a stock of regeneration salt.

4. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that a gear set for power transmission is arranged between the drive entity (19) and the spray arm (17), wherein the control device (23) is configured to determine the angular position of the spray arm (17) as a function of a transmission ratio of the gear set.

5. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the spray arm (17) comprises a spray arm satellite (18) which is rotatably mounted on the spray arm (17), wherein the spray arm satellite (18), in the predefined angular range (W1) of the spray arm (17), is outside the access region of the opening (22) in any possible rotational position of the spray arm satellite (18).

6. Household dishwasher according to claim 5, characterised in that an axis of rotation of the spray arm (17) and an axis of rotation of the spray arm satellite (18) are arranged parallel to each other and at a distance from each other.

7. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the detection entity (20) for detecting the angular position of the drive element (19') comprises an optical, magnetic, electrical and / or mechanical sensor entity.

8. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the detection entity (20) for detecting the angular position of the drive element (19') is configured with an accuracy of 10°, preferably 8°, more preferably 5°.

9. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the drive entity (19) comprises an electric motor which is arranged outside the washing container (2).

10. Household dishwasher according to claim 9, characterised in that the detection entity (20) for detecting the angular position of the drive element (19') is configured as a function of a transducer signal from a motor control of the electric motor.

11. Method for operating a household dishwasher (1) having a washing container (2), a container (21) for holding an operating material, which container (21) is arranged outside the washing container (2) and is accessible via an opening (22) in an interior of the washing container (2) when the door (3) of the household dishwasher (1) is open, a spray arm (17) for applying washing liquor to a dishwasher load that is held in the washing container (2), a drive entity (19) for actively driving the spray arm (17), and a control device (23) for activating the drive entity (19), comprising the steps: detecting an angular position of a drive element (19') of the drive entity (19) by means of a detection entity (20) which is assigned to the drive element (19'), determining an angular position of the spray arm (17) as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element (19'), and stopping the spray arm (17) in a predefined angular range (W1), which is outside an angular range (W2) defined by an access region of the opening (22), as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm (17), wherein the predefined angular range (W1) is specified in such a way that a longitudinal direction of the spray arm (17) in the predefined angular range (W1) is also parallel to a push-in direction (E) of a dishwasher loading rack (12 - 14) of the household dishwasher (1).

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