Domestic dishwasher and method

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic dishwasher (1) comprising: a dishwashing compartment (2); a spray arm (18) for applying washing liquor and / or fresh water (F) to items to be washed that are accommodated in the dishwashing compartment (2); a drive device (27) for actively driving the spray arm (18); a circulation pump (30) for transporting washing liquor and / or fresh water (F); and a control device (31) for controlling the drive device (27) and the circulation pump (30), wherein the control device (31) controls the circulation pump (30) during a dishwashing operation of the domestic dishwasher (1) in such a way that the washing liquor and / or the fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in a pulse-like manner.

Description

[0001] Household dishwasher and process

[0002] The present invention relates to a household dishwasher and a method for operating such a household dishwasher.

[0003] A dishwasher consists of a wash tub that holds the items to be cleaned. Often, items requiring varying degrees of cleaning are arranged within the wash tub. For example, glasses or dishes for cold dishes are often easier to clean than dishes with cooking or frying residue. To ensure adequate cleaning of all items, it is therefore necessary to achieve a particularly intensive cleaning effect at every location within the wash tub, which requires considerable energy, water, and time.

[0004] Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved household dishwasher.

[0005] Accordingly, a household dishwasher is proposed with a washing container, a spray arm for applying washing liquor and / or fresh water to items to be washed held in the washing container, a drive device for actively driving the spray arm, a circulating pump for transporting washing liquor and / or fresh water, and a control device for controlling the drive device and the circulating pump, wherein the control device controls the circulating pump during a washing operation of the household dishwasher in such a way that the washing liquor and / or the fresh water emerges from the spray arm in pulsed fashion.

[0006] The pulsed discharge of wash liquor and / or fresh water can not only increase their cleaning effect, for example, by enabling a transient impact and / or by allowing the flow of wash liquor and / or fresh water that has already been applied and may delay the pulse of "fresh" wash liquor and / or fresh water. The pulsed, particularly discontinuous, discharge can also advantageously reduce the amount of liquid required within the wash tub, since the time between the pulses allows even a small amount of liquid to flow back to a pump sump of the household dishwasher in sufficient quantity for the next pulse.Furthermore, the reduced amount of liquid can lead to a reduction in energy consumption, since the smaller amount of water can be actively heated more quickly and also passively heated more quickly on the heated dishes, so that less heat energy is extracted from the latter.

[0007] The drive device can be used to actively drive the spray arm. The spray arm therefore does not move exclusively passively, for example, due to the recoil of escaping rinse water and / or fresh water, but is actively controlled by the drive device. For this purpose, the spray arm can be moved both circumferentially and counter-circumferentially around a first axis of rotation provided on the pump housing. Several rotation speeds are conceivable, meaning the spray arm can be moved both quickly and slowly. If the spray arm has a spray arm satellite, for example, a spray arm extension carrying the spray arm satellite could be actively driven by the drive device, while the spray arm extension is recoil-driven, i.e., passively driven.

[0008] The dishwasher also includes a circulation pump for transporting wash liquor and / or fresh water. This could, for example, transport fresh water from outside the dishwasher into the wash tub, or it could circulate wash liquor from the pump chamber inside the dishwasher and apply it to the dishes before flowing back into the pump chamber due to gravity.

[0009] The household dishwasher further comprises the control device for controlling the drive device and the circulation pump. The circulation pump is controlled by the control device during a wash cycle of the household dishwasher such that the wash liquor and / or fresh water exits the spray arm at least temporarily in pulses. For this purpose, the spray arm can have spray nozzles. These can be provided, in particular, on the spray arm satellite. "Pulse-like" means that the wash liquor and / or fresh water do not exit continuously, but rather as individual and distinguishable pulses whose duration is far shorter than the duration of a program run. For example, one pulse could occur per rotation of the spray arm around the first rotation axis.If, on the other hand, the rinsing liquor and / or fresh water are not discharged in pulses, there is a continuous flow of rinsing liquor and / or fresh water which is uninterrupted over large parts of the program sequence, for example over several seconds or minutes, and thus continuously contacts the items to be washed.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the spray arm has a boom mounted so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation and a spray arm satellite mounted on the boom so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation.

[0011] In particular, the drive device serves to actively drive the boom. Preferably, the boom is mounted on a pump bowl of the household dishwasher so that it can rotate about the first axis of rotation. The pump bowl borders on a vertically lower region of the washing container, i.e. the part of the washing container that points towards the ground. The washing liquor and / or the fresh water flows back into this pump bowl automatically due to the effect of gravity. The pump bowl can simultaneously serve as a bearing point for the spray arm, in that the boom is rotatably mounted on the pump bowl at its central region so that the spray arm can rotate about the first axis of rotation. The rotational movement of the boom can take place over several complete revolutions.The boom, in turn, serves as a bearing point for the spray arm satellite, which has a plurality of spray nozzles designed to spray the washware with wash liquor and / or fresh water. The spray arm satellite is in turn rotatably mounted on the boom, so that the spray arm satellite can rotate around the second axis of rotation (even when the boom is stationary). The second axis of rotation is not fixed in one location; rather, its position is defined by the boom with which the second axis of rotation moves. If both the boom and the spray arm satellite rotate, both rotational movements superimpose themselves. This makes it possible to move the boom and the spray arm satellite independently of one another, so that the spray arm satellite can be positioned precisely within the wash container by moving the boom.On the other hand, if both rotational movements are superimposed, higher peripheral speeds can be achieved, which can have a beneficial effect on the cleaning effect. According to a further embodiment, the boom is actively driven by the drive device, and the spray arm satellite is passively driven by means of rinsing solution and / or fresh water emitted from the spray arm satellite's associated spray nozzles.

[0012] "Passively" driven specifically means recoil-driven. The spray arm satellite rotates as rinsing solution and / or fresh water exits the spray nozzles associated with the spray arm satellite. This redirects the direction of movement of the rinsing solution and / or fresh water, and the spray arm satellite is set into an opposite rotational movement due to the swirl retention. The spray arm satellite therefore moves purely passively and in response to the discharge of rinsing solution and / or fresh water. The movement, particularly the rotational speed, of the boom therefore does not specifically influence the movement of the spray arm satellite. This advantageously allows for a functional separation of the movement of the boom and the movement of the spray arm satellite.For example, the spray arm satellite can rotate and eject rinse water and / or fresh water in the horizontal directions surrounding its position without the boom having to rotate. This allows for particularly flexible cleaning program design and the targeted cleaning of specific, predetermined sectors.

[0013] According to a further embodiment, the drive device comprises a drive element and a detection device for determining an angular position of the drive element.

[0014] To drive the spray arm, in particular the boom, the drive device has the drive element. The drive element can be a motor, in particular a speed-controlled motor. The drive element is particularly preferably designed as a synchronous motor. The drive device can furthermore have a gear, in particular a gear box, with the aid of which the drive element can be coupled to the spray arm, in particular to the boom of the spray arm. The gear can have a plurality of gears. Furthermore, the drive device has the detection device for determining the angular position of the drive element. The angular position of the drive element is its rotational position with respect to a polar coordinate system whose center coincides with an axis of rotation of the drive element and whose radial directions are perpendicular to the axis of rotation.A rotational movement of the drive element can thus be detected as a temporal change in its angular position. In this case, the axis of rotation of the drive element can coincide with the first axis of rotation. However, it is also conceivable for the axis of rotation of the drive element and the first axis of rotation to be parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another. The detection device can have a signal generator for a sensor, in particular for a Hall sensor, which can be attached to one of the gears in order to determine a zero position, in particular an angular zero position, of one of the gears. The angular zero position represents a reference position which is arranged in a fixed location in the household dishwasher and describes a fixed, specific orientation of one of the gears relative to the rest of the household dishwasher.Starting from this angular zero position, one of the gears can be rotated by any desired angle of rotation. Using the angular zero position and a determination of the number of completed revolutions and / or the rotational speed of one of the gears, a position, in particular the angular position, of the drive element, in particular of one of the gears, can be determined partially mathematically. If the motor is designed as a speed-controlled motor, the position, in particular the angular position, of the drive element, in particular of one of the gears, for example away from the angular zero position, can be determined using the drive element's control signal, in particular the number of oscillations of the control signal since the angular zero position was last reached.It is also conceivable to use the angular zero position as a reference value each time the angular zero position is reached, from which the angular position of one of the gears is determined using the control signal. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to detect the angular position of one of the gears directly, in particular at each angular position, for example using an encoder connected to one of the gears with a resolution in the circumferential direction of, for example, 10°, 5°, 2°, or 1°. This advantageously allows the angular position of one of the gears to be determined particularly precisely and with minimal effort.

[0015] According to a further embodiment, the control device and the drive device are configured to determine an angular position of the boom as a function of the determined angular position of the drive element, wherein the control device controls the drive device as a function of the determined angular position of the boom in such a way that an angular position of the boom is adjustable. While the detection device is initially configured to determine the angular position of the drive element, in particular of one of the gears, the control device enables the angular position of the spray arm, in particular of the boom, to be derived from this information. In combination with the possibility of actively driving the spray arm, in particular the boom, this enables control of the angular position of the spray arm, in particular of the boom.The spray arm, in particular the boom, can be moved into a predetermined angular position by the drive device and located there, i.e. can remain stationary. The spray arm, in particular the boom, can thus be positioned specifically in the area of ​​a particular item of washware for cleaning, for example. Depending on the degree of soiling of the washware, this can be cleaned for a long time and / or intensively. In relation to the overall cleaning program, this enables a more efficient and faster cleaning process. At the same time, determining the angular position of the drive element ensures that neither the movement of the boom is influenced, nor that the measurement is affected by wash liquor, fresh water and / or dirt deposits.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, the control device is configured to control the drive device in such a way that the boom rotates and stops after a certain predefined time interval.

[0017] In this embodiment, the control device is configured to determine the angular position of one of the gears using the detection device, in particular a signal from the sensor of the detection device, and a time period that has elapsed since the signal from the detection device. In other words, the angular position of one of the gears is determined by the time since the angular position of one of the gears last coincided with the angular zero position. The control device is further configured to cause the drive device to stop as a function of this time, whereby one of the gears, and thus, for example, also the boom, stops at an angular position that correlates with time. Advantageously, this allows the boom to be brought into a specific angular position and located there without, for example, having to detect the rotational speed of the drive element.According to a further embodiment, the control device and the drive device are configured to move the boom in a circumferential direction and / or counter to the circumferential direction about the first axis of rotation at one of a plurality of different predetermined rotational speeds.

[0018] The boom can therefore be moved both clockwise and counterclockwise around the first rotation axis. This creates increased flexibility and controllability of the boom's movement, which can be specified, for example, within the scope of a cleaning program or a current section of the cleaning program. For example, the boom could move more slowly during a cleaning program section than during a rinsing program section. For example, the cleaning program section and / or the rinsing program section can be performed clockwise and counterclockwise.

[0019] According to a further embodiment, the control device is configured to control the drive device to stop the boom in a predetermined sector depending on the determined angular position of the boom and to move the boom in this sector and / or to position it in a stationary manner in time even during the discharge of rinsing liquor and / or fresh water from the spray arm.

[0020] A sector is a section of a circular area that is swept over during one rotation of the boom around the first axis of rotation. The center of this circular area lies on the first axis of rotation and, with a typical orientation of the household dishwasher, the circular area is essentially horizontal, i.e. parallel to the surface of the ground. The circular area is divided into sectors in such a way that, within the plane of the circular area, a number of straight leg lines are drawn as connections from a center of the circular area to a circumference of the circular area. A partial area of ​​the circular area delimited by two leg lines and a part of the circumference in between is then referred to as a sector. The sectors are thus arranged in the circumferential direction of the circular area around the first axis of rotation and can also be interpreted as angular ranges of the circular area.For example, the circular area could be divided into twelve or ten equal-sized sectors, but it is preferably divided into eight equal-sized sectors. Depending on a comparison with the actual angular position of the boom, the boom can be moved by the drive device into a predetermined sector and positioned there for a fixed period of time. The boom could, for example, remain in this predetermined sector even when wash solution and / or fresh water is discharged from the spray arm. In other words, the spray arm can perform cleaning "on the spot." In this way, the spray arm can not only specifically clean the washware located in a specific sector, but also, for example, clean particularly heavily soiled washware for longer than lightly soiled washware.

[0021] According to a further embodiment, the household dishwasher is designed to achieve a predetermined and symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of a cleaning intensity with respect to the first axis of rotation by means of a targeted control of the drive device for controlling a residence time of the spray arm satellite in a specific sector accumulated over a program section and / or by means of a targeted control of a power level of the circulation pump.

[0022] It is therefore possible to influence the length of time the spray arm satellite is in a specific sector during the program section. A specific, predetermined time period can be assigned to each individual sector. In addition, the domestic dishwasher is designed to specifically control the circulation pump's power level. Depending on the sector in which the arm is located, the wash liquor and / or rinse water can be ejected at a specific, predetermined circulation pump power level and thus at a specific ejection speed. Overall, this makes it possible to influence the distribution of cleaning intensity within the circular area swept by the arm.The cleaning intensity is not a physical quantity, but a qualitative measure of how intensively the dishes are cleaned. It results from the combination of the cleaning time at a specific location and the discharge speed of the wash solution and / or fresh water at that location. A predetermined cleaning intensity can be achieved by specifically controlling the drive system and thus the duration of the spray arm satellite in a specific sector and / or the performance level of the circulation pump.According to a further embodiment, the control device is designed to divide a circular area swept over during one rotation of the boom into a finite number of sectors and to assign to each sector an associated degree of cleaning intensity to be carried out with the aid of a cleaning program, wherein the control device is designed in particular to enable a user of the household dishwasher to influence the distribution of the cleaning intensity with the aid of program inputs on the household dishwasher and / or with the aid of a portable electronic terminal.

[0023] In this way, a specific, predetermined distribution of cleaning intensity can be implemented and carried out by the cleaning program, whereby this distribution can be designed both symmetrically and asymmetrically with respect to the first axis of rotation. The electronic end device can be, for example, a mobile device, a laptop, a tablet or similar. In this way, the user can adapt the cleaning program to their wishes and requirements and, for example, adapt the cleaning effect of the household dishwasher to the distribution and degree of soiling of the dishes within the household dishwasher. Advantageously, this allows the distribution of cleaning intensity to be adapted particularly precisely to the movement pattern of the boom, thus enabling more efficient cleaning that saves water, energy and time.

[0024] According to a further embodiment, the control device is designed to control the circulation pump for a repeated change between a high and a low power level to effect pulse rinsing, wherein the duration of the high and low power levels of the circulation pump is each short.

[0025] After operating the circulation pump at a low power level and a resulting low outlet velocity of the rinse liquor and / or fresh water, it is then operated at a high power level, which causes a high outlet velocity of the rinse liquor and / or fresh water, and vice versa. However, it is also conceivable to switch between a medium and a low power level, or to switch the circulation pump off completely instead of the low power level. The repeated switching between different power levels of the circulation pump therefore leads to a repeated switching between different outlet velocities of the rinse liquor and / or fresh water, which is referred to here as pulse rinsing. Operating the circulation pump at the high (or medium) power level is referred to as pulse rinsing.The durations of the various performance levels of the circulation pump are short, for example, less than 10 s, 8 s, 6 s, 4 s, 2 s, 1 s, or 0.5 s. The duration can, for example, be selected such that one or more pulses of the pulsed rinse are performed per rotation of the boom. Pulsed rinse can advantageously increase the cleaning effect of the wash liquor and / or fresh water, since, on the one hand, the washware is subjected to a "pulse-like" jet of liquid, and, on the other hand, the liquid already ejected by a previous pulse flows away from the washware, thus avoiding any possible braking effect on the liquid ejected in the subsequent pulse.

[0026] According to a further embodiment, within the duration of the high power level of the circulation pump, a volume of the rinsing liquor and / or fresh water in the pump chamber is reduced from an upper level to a lower level.

[0027] Within one pulse of the circulation pump or within the duration of a series of pulse rinsing, i.e. within several pulses, the volume of the wash liquor and / or fresh water in the pump sump is reduced from an upper level to a lower level. When the lower level is reached, the circulation pump can be stopped or operated at a lower power level, whereby the wash liquor and / or fresh water collects again in the pump sump and the volume therein is increased again to the upper level, enabling the household dishwasher to carry out another pulse or another series of pulses. By coordinating the amount of liquid in the wash tub with the pulse rinsing, the amount of liquid can be reduced to a minimum.This advantageously not only saves the required amount of fresh water, but also reduces the heating energy required to heat the liquid. Furthermore, the installation space of the washing container can be precisely adapted to the required amount of liquid and reduced accordingly. According to a further embodiment, the boom has a first arm on which the spray arm satellite is mounted for rotation about the second axis of rotation, and a second arm on which a sieve cleaning nozzle is provided. This sieve cleaning nozzle points toward the bottom of the washing container.

[0028] This first arm extends from the bearing point of the boom, with which the boom is rotatably mounted on the pump housing, to a radial end of the boom. On the side of the boom radially opposite the first arm, the boom has the second arm, on which the sieve cleaning nozzle is located. The sieve cleaning nozzle is directed towards the bottom of the washing container, i.e. vertically downwards, towards the ground. The washing solution and / or fresh water escaping from the sieve cleaning nozzle can be used to clean the bottom of the household dishwasher. If there is a sieve at the bottom of the household dishwasher, for example, this can also be cleaned using the sieve cleaning nozzle.This advantageously allows the household dishwasher to be cleaned while the items being washed are being cleaned, without the need for additional water or additional heating energy, for example.

[0029] Furthermore, a method for operating such a household dishwasher is proposed. The household dishwasher comprises a washing container, a spray arm, a drive device, and a circulation pump. The method comprises the following steps: a) performing a washing operation of the household dishwasher, wherein wash items held in the washing container are exposed to washing liquor and / or fresh water by means of the spray arm actively driven by the drive device, and b) controlling the circulation pump such that the washing liquor and / or fresh water exits the spray arm in pulses.

[0030] Particularly preferably, the household dishwasher comprises a washing compartment, a drive device with a drive element, a spray arm, and a circulation pump. The method comprises the following steps: a) carrying out a washing operation of the household dishwasher, wherein wash items held in the washing compartment are exposed to washing liquor and / or fresh water by means of the spray arm actively driven by the drive device, b) determining an angular position of the drive element, c) controlling the drive device depending on the determined angular position of the drive element such that an angular position of the spray arm is set, and d) controlling the circulation pump such that the washing liquor and / or fresh water exits the spray arm in pulses.Dividing the cleaning program into different sections enables particularly efficient cleaning through section-specific cleaning. Furthermore, by determining and controlling the angular position of the spray arm in combination with targeted control of the circulation pump, a predetermined cleaning effect can be achieved for the wash items located in specific sectors.

[0031] According to one embodiment, an angular position of a drive element of the drive device is determined, wherein the drive device is controlled as a function of the determined angular position of the drive element such that an angular position of the spray arm is set.

[0032] According to a further embodiment, the rinsing liquor and / or fresh water exits the spray arm in pulses both during a pre-rinse program section and during cleaning, intermediate rinsing and / or final rinsing program sections, with different durations of a high and low power level of the circulation pump being assigned to the different program sections.

[0033] A pulse rinse is therefore performed. In this context, "pulse rinse" specifically means that the rinse water and / or fresh water exits the spray arm in pulses. Depending on the current program section, different performance levels and / or different durations can be assigned to the various power levels of the circulation pump. For example, stronger and / or longer pulses could be performed during the cleaning program section than during the final rinse. This advantageously allows the program sequence to be adapted particularly flexibly to the task currently being performed. If, for example, only shorter pulses are required for a certain program section, these pulses can be shortened accordingly, thus limiting both energy consumption and noise emissions.According to a further embodiment, pulse rinsing is carried out both during a rotational movement of the spray arm and during a stationary location of the spray arm.

[0034] Pulse rinsing can therefore be performed both dependently and independently of the movement and / or angular position of the spray arm, especially the boom. For example, pulse rinsing could be performed whenever the spray arm is in a specific sector. This allows the items to be cleaned particularly intensively, depending on the degree of soiling, while simultaneously minimizing noise emissions.

[0035] According to a further embodiment, the drive device is controlled by the control device to control the residence time of a spray arm satellite of the spray arm in a specific sector, accumulated over a program section, and / or the power level of the circulation pump is specifically controlled by the control device in order to achieve a predetermined and symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of a cleaning intensity with respect to a first axis of rotation of the spray arm.

[0036] The control unit therefore controls the drive unit to position the spray arm satellite in a specific sector for a specific duration over a program section. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit specifically controls the power level of the circulation pump in order to operate the circulation pump at a specific power level, depending on the sector in which the spray arm satellite is located. This allows a predetermined distribution of cleaning intensity to be achieved, either symmetrical or asymmetrical with respect to the first axis of rotation. This enables the program sequence to be adapted to the distribution of the wash ware in the household dishwasher and its degree of soiling, thus ensuring particularly efficient cleaning.Overall, this not only saves water and energy, but also allows the entire cleaning process to be completed in a shorter time and results in lower overall noise emissions. According to a further embodiment, the detection device for detecting the angular position of the drive element comprises an optical, magnetic, electrical, and / or mechanical sensor device.

[0037] In this way, the angular position of the drive element can be determined particularly reliably and without influencing the rotational movement of the drive element.

[0038] According to a further embodiment, when carrying out the pulse rinsing, the duration of the various power levels of the circulation pump is selected such that the spray arm satellite rotates approximately once completely around the second axis of rotation during the duration of a high (or medium) and a low power level of the circulation pump.

[0039] In this way, each individual pulse can advantageously deliver rinsing liquid and / or fresh water to the items to be washed, which is evenly distributed in all horizontal directions relative to the spray arm satellite, whereby a particularly uniform cleaning effect can be achieved overall, in particular within a sector.

[0040] According to a further embodiment, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart laterally, i.e. in the horizontal direction.

[0041] In an advantageous manner, the movement of the spray arm satellite can be superimposed with the movement of the boom in order to achieve an extended movement pattern and thus an improved cleaning effect.

[0042] Further possible implementations of the household dishwasher and / or the method also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments, which are not explicitly mentioned. In this case, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the household dishwasher and / or the method. Further advantageous configurations and aspects of the household dishwasher and / or the method are the subject of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the household dishwasher and / or the method described below. The household dishwasher and / or the method are explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

[0043] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher;

[0044] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a lower region of the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1;

[0045] Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a spray arm for the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1;

[0046] Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a drive element for the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1;

[0047] Fig. 5 shows a non-scale representation of a power stage of a circulation pump for the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1 ; and

[0048] Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1.

[0049] In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements have been given the same reference numerals unless otherwise stated.

[0050] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 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 washing container 2. The washing container 2 is preferably cuboid-shaped. The washing container 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The washing container 2 and the door 3 can form a washing chamber 4 for washing dishes.

[0051] The door 3 is shown in its open position in Fig. 1. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3. With the help of the door 3, a loading opening 6 of the washing container 2 can be closed or opened. The washing container 2 has a base 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The base 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 can be made, for example, from a stainless steel sheet. Alternatively, the base 7 can be made, for example, from a plastic material.

[0052] The household dishwasher 1 further comprises at least one dishware holder 12 to 14. Preferably, several, for example three, dishware holders 12 to

[0053] 14 may be provided, wherein the dishware receptacle 12 may be a lower dishware receptacle or a lower basket, the dishware receptacle 13 may be an upper dishware receptacle or an upper basket, and the dishware receptacle 14 may be a cutlery drawer. As Fig. 1 further shows, the dishware receptacles 12 to 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each dishware receptacle 12 to 14 can be selectively moved into or out of the washing container 2. In particular, each dishware receptacle 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 a pull-out direction A opposite to the insertion direction E.

[0054] Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a lower area of ​​the household dishwasher 1. Vertically below the washing container 2 is a pump pot

[0055] 15, which has a sieve 16 and a base 17. Due to the effect of gravity, washing liquor and / or fresh water F collects in a lower region of the pump bowl 15, with the amount of liquid in the pump bowl 15 moving between an upper level Vo and a lower level Vu. The pump bowl 15 also serves to support a spray arm 18, which is mounted on the pump bowl 15 so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation 19. The spray arm 18 has an extension arm 20, which in turn has a first arm 21 and a second arm 22, which is arranged opposite the first arm 21. A sieve cleaning nozzle 23 can be arranged on the second arm 22, which serves to eject washing liquor and / or fresh water F vertically downwards and can thus clean the sieve 16. On the first arm 21 of the boom 20, a spray arm satellite 24 is mounted so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation 25.The first rotational axis 19 and the second rotational axis 25 are arranged parallel to each other and laterally spaced apart. The spray arm satellite 24 has spray nozzles 26 directed upwards to spray the washware with wash liquor and / or fresh water F.

[0056] The boom 20 is connected to a drive device 27, which in turn has a drive element 28 and a detection device 29. The boom 20 can be driven in a targeted and active manner by the drive element 28. The boom 20 is coupled to the drive element 28, for example, by means of a gear box of the drive device 27. The gear box has a plurality of gears. A zero angular position of the drive element 28, in particular a zero angular position of one of the gears, is detected by the detection device 29, for example, optically, magnetically, electrically, or mechanically. The spray arm satellite 24 is recoil-driven, i.e., passively driven, by the rinsing liquor and / or the fresh water F emerging from the spray nozzles 26.

[0057] A circulating pump 30 is arranged between the pump housing 15 and the spray arm 18, which circulating pump causes a pressure jump which ensures that washing liquor and / or fresh water F is transported out of the pump housing 15, through the spray arm 18 and out of the spray nozzles 26 and, if present, out of the screen cleaning nozzle 23, so that the items to be washed are exposed to washing liquor and / or fresh water F. A control device 31 serves, on the one hand, to control the circulating pump 30 and, on the other hand, to control the drive device 27. The control device 31 can, for example, determine an angular position of the drive element 28 from the zero angular position of the drive element 28, i.e. its position in the circumferential direction around the first axis of rotation 19. Furthermore, the control device 31 can, for example, control the drive element 28 as a function of the angular position of the boom 20 determined by the detection device 29 and the control device 31.

[0058] Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of the spray arm 18 and a circular area 32 swept by it during one rotation about the first axis of rotation 19. Visible are the boom 20, which is mounted in a central region for rotation about the first axis of rotation 19, and the spray arm satellite 24, which is mounted on the boom 20 for rotation about the second axis of rotation 25. An angular position 33 of the boom 20 defines an orientation of the boom 20 and thus in particular also a position of the spray arm satellite 24 in a circumferential direction U. The angular position 33 therefore describes how far the boom 20 has rotated about the first axis of rotation 19.

[0059] The circular area 32 swept over by the boom 20 during one rotation about the first axis of rotation 19 is divided into a plurality of sectors 34, 35, of which only two are provided with a reference symbol in Fig. 3. Each sector 34, 35 thus represents a partial area of ​​the circular area 32, which is bounded on two sides by straight leg lines 36, of which only one is provided with a reference symbol in Fig. 3, between a circle center of the circular area 32 and a circle circumference 37 of the circular area 32 and on a third side by an intermediate section of the circle circumference 37. A subdivision of the circular area 32 into eight sectors 34, 35 is shown. However, the circular area 32 could also be divided, for example, into six, ten or twelve sectors 34, 35. The angular position 33 of the boom 20 defines in which sector 34, 35 the spray arm satellite 24 is located.

[0060] The boom 20 rotates about the first rotation axis 19 at a rotational speed, wherein the rotational speed can be oriented both in the circumferential direction U and counterclockwise to the circumferential direction U. The boom 20 can therefore rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise about the first rotation axis 19.

[0061] Fig. 4 shows a top view of the drive element 28. An angular position 38 of the drive element 28 can be seen, indicating a position of the drive element 28 about the first axis of rotation 19. The drive element 28 can comprise a drive shaft 39 that can rotate about the first axis of rotation 19. However, the drive shaft 39 can also be arranged offset from the first axis of rotation 19. The aforementioned angular position 38 is understood to mean a rotation of the drive shaft 39 by a defined angle.

[0062] Fig. 5 shows a not-to-scale and exemplary representation of a power level L of the circulation pump 30 during an exemplary program sequence. The abscissa shown on the horizontal axis indicates the time during the program sequence, which here is divided, for example, into the program sections pre-rinse V, cleaning R, intermediate rinse Z, and final rinse K. The ordinate shown on the vertical axis indicates the power level L of the circulation pump 30, which is transmitted by the control device 31 to the circulation pump 30 as a setpoint. A high power level L results in a higher outlet velocity of the wash liquor and / or the rinse water F from the spray nozzles 26. A low power level L of the circulation pump 30 correspondingly results in a low outlet velocity.

[0063] During the pre-rinse V program section, the circulating pump 30 is at a medium power level L, and is controlled continuously. During the cleaning R program section, the circulating pump 30 is controlled by the control device 31 for pulse rinsing, i.e. for repeatedly switching between different power levels. A time period IR.H, during which the circulating pump 30 has a high power level L, and a time period IR.N, during which the circulating pump 30 has a low power level L, are of equal length during this cleaning R program section and are each approximately 2 s. During the cleaning R program section, the pulse rinsing is initially carried out between a high and a low power level L; however, as the cleaning R program section progresses, the high power level L is replaced by a medium power level L.

[0064] The cleaning intensity can therefore be varied over time during a program section, for example depending on the angular position 33 of the boom 20. During the intermediate rinse Z program section, pulse rinsing is also carried out, but now with a reduced time duration tz,H of the high (or medium) power level L and a longer time duration tz,N, during which the power level L of the circulation pump 30 is low. During the final rinse K program section, the circulation pump 30 is again operated continuously at a medium power level L. Pulse rinsing primarily occurs as a change between a high or medium and a low power level L of the circulation pump 30. However, it is also conceivable to periodically switch off the circulation pump 30 completely. Pulse rinsing would then occur as a change between a high or medium power level L and the standstill of the circulation pump 30.

[0065] Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating the household dishwasher 1. A step S1 here has the individual program sections pre-rinse V, cleaning R, intermediate rinse Z and final rinse K. Within the program section cleaning R, a step S2 for determining the angular position 33 of the boom 20 is carried out, followed by a step S3 for controlling the drive device 27 for the targeted movement and / or location of the boom 20. Finally, in a step S4, the circulation pump 30 is controlled to achieve a targeted power level L of the circulation pump 30. However, steps S2 to S4 could also be part of all program sections K, R, V, Z within step S1.

[0066] Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

[0067] Reference symbols used:

[0068] 1 household dishwasher

[0069] 2 rinsing containers

[0070] 3 Door

[0071] 4 Washing-up area

[0072] 5 swivel axis

[0073] 6 Loading opening

[0074] 7 Floor

[0075] 8 Ceiling

[0076] 9 Rear wall

[0077] 10 Side wall

[0078] 11 Side wall

[0079] 12 Dishwasher waste holder

[0080] 13 Dishwasher drawer

[0081] 14 Dishwasher drawer

[0082] 15 Pump pot

[0083] 16 Sieve

[0084] 17 Floor

[0085] 18 Spray arm

[0086] 19 axis of rotation

[0087] 20 booms

[0088] 21 Arm

[0089] 22 Arm

[0090] 23 Screen cleaning nozzle

[0091] 24 spray arm satellite

[0092] 25 axis of rotation

[0093] 26 Spray nozzle

[0094] 27 Drive device

[0095] 28 Drive element

[0096] 29 Recording device

[0097] 30 Circulation pump

[0098] 31 Control device

[0099] 32 Circular area 33 Angular position

[0100] 34 Sector

[0101] 35 Sector

[0102] 36 thigh line

[0103] 37 circumference

[0104] 38 angular position

[0105] 39 Drive shaft

[0106] A Extension direction

[0107] E Insertion direction

[0108] F Rinse solution and / or fresh water

[0109] K Rinse / Program section

[0110] L power level

[0111] R Cleaning / Program section

[0112] 51 steps

[0113] 52 steps

[0114] 53 steps

[0115] 54 Step tR,H Duration tR,N Duration tz,H Duration tz,N Duration

[0116] U circumferential direction

[0117] V Pre-wash / Program section

[0118] Vo upper measure

[0119] Vu lower dimension

[0120] Z Intermediate rinse / program section

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Household dishwasher (1) with a washing container (2), a spray arm (18) for applying washing liquor and / or fresh water (F) to items to be washed held in the washing container (2), a drive device (27) for actively driving the spray arm (18), a circulating pump (30) for transporting washing liquor and / or fresh water (F), and a control device (31) for controlling the drive device (27) and the circulating pump (30), wherein the control device (31) controls the circulating pump (30) during a washing operation of the household dishwasher (1) in such a way that the washing liquor and / or the fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in pulsed fashion.

2. Household dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray arm (18) has a boom (20) mounted so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation (19) and a spray arm satellite (24) mounted on the boom (20) so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation (25).

3. Household dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive device (27) has a drive element (28) and a detection device (29) for determining an angular position (38) of the drive element (28).

4. Household dishwasher according to claim 3, characterized in that the control device (31) and the drive device (27) are designed to determine an angular position (33) of the boom (20) as a function of the determined angular position (38) of the drive element (28), wherein the control device (31) controls the drive device (27) as a function of the determined angular position (38) of the boom (20) in such a way that an angular position (33) of the boom (20) is adjustable.

5. Household dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to control the drive device (27) in such a way to control the boom (20) to rotate and stop after a certain predefined time interval.

6. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 2 - 4, characterized in that the control device (31) and the drive device (27) are designed to move the boom (20) in a circumferential direction (U) and / or against the circumferential direction (U) about the first axis of rotation (19) at one of a plurality of different predetermined rotational speeds.

7. Household dishwasher according to claim 6, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to control the drive device (27) to stop the boom (20) in a predetermined sector (34, 35) depending on the determined angular position (33) of the boom (20) and to move the boom (20) in this sector (34, 35) and / or to position it in a stationary manner in time even during the discharge of washing liquor and / or fresh water (F) from the spray arm (18).

8. Household dishwasher according to claim 7, characterized in that the household dishwasher (1) is designed to achieve a predetermined and symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of a cleaning intensity with the aid of a targeted control of the drive device (27) for controlling a residence time of the spray arm satellite (24) in a specific sector (34, 35) accumulated over a program section and / or with the aid of a targeted control of a power level (L) of the circulating pump (30) with respect to the first axis of rotation (19).

9. Household dishwasher according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to divide a circular area (32) swept over during one rotation of the boom (20) into a finite number of sectors (34, 35) and to assign to each sector (34, 35) an associated degree of cleaning intensity to be carried out with the aid of a cleaning program, wherein the control device (31) is designed in particular to enable a user of the household dishwasher (1) to influence the distribution of the cleaning intensity with the aid of program inputs on the household dishwasher (1) and / or with the aid of a portable electronic terminal.

10. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to control the circulation pump (30) for a repeated change between a high and a low power level (L) to effect pulse rinsing, wherein the duration of the high and the low power level (L) of the circulation pump (30) is each short.

11. Household dishwasher according to claim 10, characterized in that within the duration of the high power level (L) of the circulating pump (30) a volume of the washing liquor and / or fresh water (F) located in a pump pot (15) is reduced from an upper level (Vo) to a lower level (Vu).

12. Method for operating a household dishwasher (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 - 11, wherein the household dishwasher (1) has a washing container (2), a spray arm (18), a drive device (27) and a circulating pump (30), the method comprising the following steps: a) carrying out (S1) a washing operation of the household dishwasher (1), wherein wash items held in the washing container (2) are subjected to washing liquor and / or fresh water (F) by means of the spray arm (18) actively driven by the drive device (27), and b) controlling (S4) the circulating pump (30) in such a way that the washing liquor and / or the fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in pulsed fashion.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein an angular position (38) of a drive element (28) of the drive device (27) is determined, and wherein the drive device (27) is controlled as a function of the determined angular position (38) of the drive element (28) such that an angular position (33) of the spray arm (18) is set.

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that pulse rinsing is carried out both during a rotational movement of the spray arm (18) and during a stationary location of the spray arm (18).

15. Method according to one of claims 12 - 14, characterized in that both during a pre-wash program section (V) and during cleaning (R), intermediate rinse (Z) and / or final rinse (K) program sections, the washing liquor and / or the Fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in pulses, wherein different durations of a high and low power level (L) of the circulating pump (30) are assigned to the different program sections (V, K, R, Z), and / or wherein the drive device (27) is controlled by the control device (31) to control the residence time of a spray arm satellite (24) of the spray arm (18) in a specific sector (34, 35), accumulated over a program section (V, R, Z, K), and / or the power level (L) of the circulating pump (30) is specifically controlled by the control device (31) in order to achieve a predetermined distribution of a cleaning intensity that is symmetrical or asymmetrical with respect to a first axis of rotation (19) of the spray arm (18).

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