Dishwasher Ozone Hygienization Between Wash Cycles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dishwashing machines face inefficiencies in energy and water usage due to partial loads, leading to waste and bacterial proliferation, and existing solutions for odor removal are either uneconomical or incomplete in eliminating microbes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a hygienization cycle that diffuses ozone gas during operating cycles without liquid dispensing, specifically before wash programs, to sterilize and eliminate bacteria and odors, allowing for flexible and efficient sanitizing of the tub and crockery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rinse cycles are executed on accumulated crockery in the tub, then bacteria proliferation and bad smells are reduced, but water and energy consumption increase without effectively washing the crockery
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the hygienization function from the traditional water-based rinse cycle. Instead of using water for both rinsing and sanitizing, the patent applies ozone gas specifically for the hygienization of the tub and accumulated crockery, separating the sanitizing function from the washing function and eliminating the need for water consumption during the hygienization phase.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the mechanical water spray system with a gas-based ozone generation system for hygienization purposes. The ozone generator and diffusion system substitute the water delivery mechanism, using chemical oxidation properties of ozone instead of mechanical water flow to achieve sanitization.
2Loss of energy
If users wait until the machine is fully loaded before washing, then energy and water efficiency improve, but bacteria proliferation and bad smells increase in the tub
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies preliminary hygienization action by treating the tub and accumulated crockery with ozone gas before the main wash cycle begins. This preliminary treatment eliminates bacteria and odors during the accumulation phase, allowing users to wait for full loading without hygiene concerns, thus enabling energy-efficient full-load operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Ozone gas acts as an intermediary substance that addresses the hygiene problem during the accumulation phase. The ozone diffusion system introduces this intermediary agent into the tub, which mediates between the need to accumulate dishes for efficiency and the need to maintain hygiene during the waiting period.
3Manufacturing precision
If ozone is dispensed during washing cycles with liquid dispensing, then cleaning action is enhanced, but the hygienization function is compromised due to liquid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The invention segments the washing process into distinct phases: a hygienization phase with ozone gas only (no liquid) and a washing phase with water and detergent. This segmentation ensures that ozone is applied exclusively during the hygienization phase where it can effectively sanitize without being diluted or neutralized by liquid, while the washing phase handles the actual cleaning.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention implements periodic action by alternating between hygienization cycles (ozone dispensing without liquid) and washing cycles (water and detergent dispensing). The control system manages this periodic alternation, ensuring ozone is dispensed during designated hygienization periods when no liquid is present, maximizing both hygienization effectiveness and cleaning performance.
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 effectively reduces bacterial proliferation and bad smells, conserves resources by eliminating the need for additional rinse cycles, and simplifies machine construction by maintaining humidity levels similar to the environment, ensuring thorough cleaning without water usage.
Implementation Method 1
This gas is, in fact, a strong oxidizing agent, and as such, when used in dishwashing machine, it sterilizes and oxidizes organic substances, thereby eliminating the bad smells originating from the proliferation of bacteria inside the tub of the machine.
Implementation Method 2
In order to remove bacteria and odors from inside a dishwashing machine, it is known to use Ozone.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method of hygienization of a dishwashing machine, wherein said dishwashing machine (1) carries out at least one wash cycle in which a wash liquid is dispensed into a tub (2) of said dishwashing machine (1), the method comprising a hygienization program comprising a hygienization cycle wherein an oxidizing fluid is dispensed into said tub (2), said wash cycle and said hygienization cycle being distinct from each other, said hygienization cycle is carried out during at least one interval between one wash cycle and the next wash cycle. The present invention also relates to a dishwashing machine (1).