Dishwasher and method for cleaning washware in a dishwasher

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Solution Overview

Problem

Commercial box-type dishwashers often inefficiently utilize resources and fail to provide optimal cleaning results due to the lack of automatic differentiation between types of washware, leading to unnecessary water, chemical, and energy consumption, as well as inadequate cleaning of heavily soiled items.

Innovation Solution

A dishwasher with a washware detector apparatus and program control device that automatically detects the type of washware and adjusts process parameters for optimized treatment, including the selection of predefined treatment programs for washing, final rinse, and drying phases, ensuring efficient resource use and effective cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a constant treatment program is used for all washware types, then the device is simple to operate, but resource consumption increases and cleaning efficacy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The washware detector apparatus automatically detects the type of washware and the program control device automatically selects and adjusts the treatment program, eliminating the need for manual program selection by the operator. The system serves itself by making intelligent decisions based on detected washware characteristics, thereby maintaining ease of operation while optimizing resource consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Device complexity

If a constant treatment program is used for all washware types, then the device structure is simple, but cleaning efficacy for heavily soiled items is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice complexityVSAvoidcleaning efficacy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The washware detector apparatus performs preliminary detection of washware type before the treatment process begins. Based on this preliminary information, the program control device pre-selects the appropriate treatment program and adjusts parameters in advance, ensuring that heavily soiled items receive adequate cleaning treatment from the start without requiring complex real-time adjustments during the cycle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Loss of energy

If automatic washware detection and program adjustment is implemented, then resource consumption is optimized and cleaning efficacy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The program control device serves multiple functions: it controls the basic washing cycle, detects washware type through the detector apparatus, selects appropriate treatment programs, and adjusts process parameters. By consolidating these functions into a single intelligent control system, the patent avoids the need for separate complex subsystems for each function, thereby optimizing resource consumption while limiting the increase in overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

4Reliability

If automatic washware detection and program adjustment is implemented, then cleaning efficacy is improved, but the number of components increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecleaning efficacyVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The program control device acts as an intermediary between the washware detector apparatus and the treatment execution components. It receives detection information, processes it to determine the appropriate treatment program, and then controls the washing, rinsing, and drying phases accordingly. This intermediary role allows the system to achieve improved cleaning efficacy through intelligent control without requiring a proportional increase in physical treatment components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3709858B1Dishwasher and method for cleaning washware in a dishwasher
Publication Date: 2024.10.16 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP3709858B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3709858B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3709858B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A dishwasher (1), in particular a commercial dishwasher (1), which is in the form of a box-type dishwasher and has a treatment chamber (2) which can be closed and in which washware can be treated in accordance with a predefined or predefinable treatment program, wherein a washware detector apparatus (51) is designed to detect the type of washware to be, wherein the washware detector apparatus (51) has an optical identification system, which is oriented toward the washware to be treated, and an evaluation device, wherein the optical identification system is designed to record at least a portion of the light reflected by the washware to be treated as a reflection image, and wherein the evaluation device is designed to automatically distinguish between different types of washware on the basis of the recorded reflection image, wherein the extent of the reflection provides information about the type of washware.