Method for operating a dish washing machine and dish washing machine

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dishwashers often experience bacterial growth and odor issues due to prolonged periods of being loaded with soiled items without regular wash programs, posing health risks and hygiene concerns.

Innovation Solution

A method for operating a dishwasher that determines specific gases during a wash program, initiating a hygiene program or notifying the user, which adjusts wash program parameters and can select a suitable hygiene program based on gas concentrations, using gas sensors and pattern recognition to optimize cleaning and energy use.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If the dishwasher remains loaded with soiled items for long periods without wash programs, then the convenience of delayed washing is improved, but bacterial growth and odor problems worsen

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelayed washing convenienceVSAvoidbacterial contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of gas concentrations (ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide) in the interior of the dishwasher before a full wash program is executed. Based on the detected levels, it proactively initiates preventive hygiene programs or notifies the user, addressing potential contamination issues before they become severe problems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors the interior environment using gas sensors and provides feedback about the hygiene status. Based on the feedback from gas concentration measurements, the control unit automatically adjusts the wash program selection or initiates hygiene programs, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual conditions inside the dishwasher.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If a hygiene program is started during or after the wash program, then the hygiene standard is improved, but the energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehygiene standardVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of always executing a complete hygiene program, the system applies partial action by selecting from multiple program options based on detected needs: no program, shortened hygiene program, extended hygiene program, or intensive hygiene program. This allows the system to apply just enough cleaning action to address the detected contamination level without unnecessary energy expenditure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the hygiene program selection based on real-time gas concentration measurements. The control unit evaluates the detected gas levels and automatically selects the appropriate program intensity, making the energy consumption adaptive to the actual hygiene needs rather than following a fixed schedule.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Measurement precision

If gas sensors and pattern recognition are used to determine soiling type and degree, then the cleaning precision is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoiling detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor and control system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces complex mechanical inspection methods with gas sensing technology. By measuring chemical signatures of different food types (ammonia for proteins, hydrogen sulfide for sulfurous compounds, carbon dioxide for carbohydrates), the system achieves accurate soiling identification through chemical detection rather than physical inspection, simplifying the overall detection mechanism while maintaining high precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the measurement parameter from visual or tactile inspection to gas concentration analysis. By monitoring the types and concentrations of gases in the dishwasher interior, the control unit can infer the type and degree of soiling, transforming a complex classification problem into a series of simpler concentration measurements that can be processed algorithmically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach minimizes bacterial contamination, improves hygiene standards, enhances cleaning results, and saves energy by starting a hygiene program during or after the wash cycle, addressing odor issues and maintaining cleanliness.

Implementation Method 1

determining a quantity of at least one specific gas in the interior during a wash program

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGas detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11284772B2Method for operating a dish washing machine and dish washing machine

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 BSH HAUSGERATE GMBH

AI summary

In a method for operating a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, items to be washed arranged in an interior of the dishwasher are washed during a wash program. A quantity of a specific gas in the interior is determined during the wash program, and a hygiene program is started and/or a notification is outputted to a user of the dishwasher relating to a start of the hygiene program as a function of the determined quantity of the specific gas.