DETECTING OPENING OF A WASHING AGENT DISPENSER LID IN A DISHWASHER

Abstract

Provided herein are a dishwasher and a method at a dishwasher for detecting opening of a washing agent dispenser lid. The dishwasher may include a dispenser accommodated in a dishwasher door and being arranged to dispose a washing agent in a compartment of the dishwasher at the opening of a dispenser lid. The dishwasher may further include at least one sensor arranged to detect a shock caused by the dispenser lid opening against the dishwasher door, and to communicate a signal in response thereto indicative of the dispenser lid opening; and may include a controller arranged to receive the signal and to determine an action to be taken on the basis of the received signal.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a dishwasher and a method at a dishwasher for detecting opening of a washing agent dispenser lid.

BACKGROUND

In dishwashers, there is a dispenser accommodated in the dishwasher door for retaining and, during operation of the dishwasher, disposing a washing agent such as detergent into the compartment when a washing programme is activated by a user. Thus, the dishwasher executes the washing programme and opens a lid of the detergent dispenser such that detergent can be disposed in the compartment.

However, if the dispenser lid gets stuck such that the detergent cannot be disposed in the compartment, or if the lid does not fully open, the goods to be cleaned in the compartment will not be exposed to detergent, or only a small amount of detergent. Thus, when the washing programme has finished, the goods will most likely still be soiled, and the washing programme must be executed a second time, wasting both energy and water in addition to rendering an inferior user experience.

SUMMARY

An object of the present invention is to solve, or at least mitigate, this problem in the art and to provide a dishwasher and a method at a dishwasher for detecting whether a detergent dispenser lid opens during dishwasher operation.

This object is achieved in a first aspect of the present invention by a dishwasher comprising a dispenser accommodated in a dishwasher door and being arranged to dispose a washing agent in a compartment of the dishwasher at the opening of a dispenser lid. The dishwasher comprises at least one sensor arranged to detect a shock caused by the dispenser lid opening against the dishwasher door, and to communicate a signal in response thereto indicative of the dispenser lid opening. Further, the dishwasher comprises a controller arranged to receive the signal of the sensor and to determine an action to be taken on the basis of the received signal.

This object is achieved in a second aspect of the present invention by a method of detecting opening of a washing agent dispenser lid in a dishwasher. The method comprises the steps of detecting whether a shock occurs caused by the dispenser lid opening against the dishwasher door, and determining an action to be taken in response to the detected shock.

Advantageously, the sensor is arranged such that it detects a shock caused by the dispenser lid opening against the dishwasher door. The sensor will in response to the detected shock caused by the lid opening communicate a signal indicating the opening of the dispenser lid to the controller. When the controller receives the signal indicative of the lid opening, an appropriate action can be taken.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the controller receives the signal indicative of the lid opening within an expected time period, thereby indicating a correct behaviour of the dispenser lid, the controller is advantageously arranged to proceed with executing the selected washing programme.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, if the controller does not receive the signal indicative of the dispenser lid opening within an expected time period, thereby indicating an incorrect behaviour of the lid such as e.g. the lid being accidentally closed by a plate leaning against it, the controller is advantageously arranged to proceed with terminating the selected washing programme.

In yet a further embodiment, the controller is advantageously arranged to communicate to a user whether the dispenser lid has opened or not via a user interface, such that the user can take further action. This can be performed visually and/or audibly via the user interface.

It is noted that the invention relates to all possible combinations of features recited in the claims. Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following description. Those skilled in the art realize that different features of the present invention can be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a dishwasher in which the present invention can be implemented.

FIG. 2a shows a cross section side view of a dishwasher door where an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2b shows a cross section side view of a dishwasher door where an embodiment of the present invention is incorporated.

FIGS. 3a and b illustrate another type of dispenser lid that can be detected according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of the method according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which certain embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of example so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description.

By the expression “process water” as used herein, is meant a liquid containing mainly water that is used in and circulates in a dishwasher. The process water is water that may contain detergent and/or rinse aid in a varying amount. The process water may also contain soil, such as food debris or other types of solid particles, as well as dissolved liquids or compounds. Process water used in a main wash cycle is sometimes referred to as the wash liquid. Process water used in a rinse cycle is sometimes referred to as cold rinse or hot rinse depending on the temperature in the rinse cycle.

FIG. 1 shows a dishwasher 10 in which the present invention can be implemented. It should be noted that dishwashers can take on many forms and include many different functionalities. The dishwasher 10 illustrated in FIG. l is thus used to explain different embodiments of the present invention and should only be seen as an example of a dishwasher in which the present application can be applied.

The dishwasher 10 comprises a washing compartment or tub 11 housing an upper basket 12, a middle basket 13 and a lower basket 14 for accommodating goods to be washed. Typically, cutlery is accommodated in the upper basket 12, while plates, drinking-glasses, trays, etc. are placed in the middle basket 13 and the lower basket 14.

A washing agent, such as rinse aid or detergent in the form of liquid, powder or tablets is dosed in a detergent compartment located on the inside of a door (not shown in FIG. 1) of the dishwasher 10 by a user, which washing agent is controllably discharged into the washing compartment 11 in accordance with a selected washing programme. The operation of the dishwasher 10 is typically controlled by processing unit/controller 40 (CPU) executing appropriate software. In the following, the washing agent will be exemplified in the form of detergent.

Fresh water is supplied to the washing compartment 11 via water inlet 15 and water supply valve 16. This fresh water is eventually collected in a so called sump 17, where the fresh water is mixed with the discharged detergent resulting in process water 18. At the bottom of the washing compartment is a filter 19 for filtering soil from the process water before the process water leaves the compartment via process water outlet 20 for subsequent re-entry into the washing compartment 11 through circulation pump 21. Thus, the process water 18 passes the filter 19 and is pumped through the circulation pump 21, which typically is driven by a brushless direct current (BLDC) motor 22, via a conduit 23 and respective process water valves 24, 25 and sprayed into the washing compartment 11 via nozzles (not shown) of a respective wash arm 26, 27, 28 associated with each basket 12,13,14. Thus, the process water 18 exits the washing compartment 11 via the filter 19 and is recirculated via the circulation pump 21 and sprayed onto the goods to be washed accommodated in the respective basket via nozzles of an upper wash arm 26, middle wash arm 27 and lower wash arm 28.

The washing compartment 11 of the dishwasher 10 is drained on process water 18 with a drain pump 29 driven by a BLDC motor 30. It should be noted that it can be envisaged that the drain pump 29 and the circulation pump 21 may be driven by one and the same motor.

FIG. 2a shows a cross section side view of a dishwasher door 32 for closing the compartment during dishwasher operation. In the door 32, a detergent dispenser 33 is accommodated for housing detergent (and possibly rinse aid) to be disposed in the process water during the execution of a selected washing programme. The detergent dispenser 33 is arranged with a lid 34 which can be closed in order to retain the detergent filled by a user in the dispenser 33 until the selected washing programme instructs the controller 40 (shown in FIG. 1), being communicatively connected to the detergent dispenser, to perform an appropriate action to open the lid 34 such that the detergent can be disposed from the dispenser 33 into the process water in the dishwasher compartment in a dose advocated by the selected washing programme. Further, the dishwasher 10 of the present invention is arranged with at least one sensor 31, such as an accelerometer, for detecting opening of the dispenser lid 34.

FIG. 2b shows a cross section side view of the dishwasher door 32 where the lid 34 of the detergent dispenser 33 has been opened such that the detergent is disposed into the dishwasher compartment. The lid 34 pivots around a hinge 35 to move into an open position. When the lid 34 is opened it will cause a shock against the compartment door 32 which will be detected by the sensor 31. In an embodiment, the sensor 31 is arranged in the door 32, and in mechanical contact with the inner face of the door 32, at a location where the detergent dispenser lid 34 opens against it. Thereby, the shock caused on the inner face of the door 32, and thus the sensor 31, will advantageously be sufficiently powerful to make a great impact on the sensor 31. As a result, the shock caused by the opening lid 34 is powerful enough not to be confused with e.g. process water splashing onto the inner face of door 32.

The sensor 31 will in response to the detected shock communicate a signal indicating the opening of the detergent dispenser lid 34 to the controller 40. When the controller 40 receives the signal indicative of the lid 34 opening, an appropriate action can be taken.

For instance, in an embodiment, when the controller 40 receives the signal indicative of the lid 34 opening within an expected time period, thereby indicating a correct behaviour of the dispenser lid 34, the controller 40 is arranged to proceed with executing the selected washing programme.

Analogously, in a further embodiment, if the controller 40 does not receive the signal indicative of the dispenser lid 34 opening within an expected time period, thereby indicating an incorrect behaviour of the lid 34 such as e.g. the lid being unintentionally closed by a plate leaning against it, the controller 40 is arranged to proceed with terminating the selected washing programme.

In a further embodiment, the controller 40 is advantageously arranged to communicate to a user whether the detergent dispenser lid 34 has opened or not via a user interface 36, such that the user can take further action. This can be performed visually and/or audibly via the user interface 36 typically located at an upper section of the dishwasher door.

FIGS. 3a and b illustrate another type of dispenser lid that can be detected according to the present invention. This type of lid moves substantially in a plane of the compartment door. It can move either horizontally or vertically depending on implementation.

FIG. 3b shows a front view of a dishwasher door 32 (from the compartment side) for closing the compartment during dishwasher operation. In the door 32, a detergent dispenser 33 is accommodated for housing detergent (and/or possibly rinse aid) to be disposed in the process water during the execution of a selected washing programme. The detergent dispenser 33 is arranged with a lid 34 which can be closed in order to retain the detergent filled by a user in the dispenser 33 until the selected washing programme instructs the controller 40 (shown in FIG. 1), being communicatively connected to the detergent dispenser, to perform an appropriate action to open the lid 34 such that the detergent can be disposed from the dispenser 33 into the process water in the dishwasher compartment in a dose advocated by the selected washing programme. Further, the dishwasher 10 of the present invention is arranged with at least one sensor 31, such as an accelerometer, for detecting opening of the dispenser lid 34.

FIG. 3b shows a view of the dishwasher door 32 where the lid 34 of the detergent dispenser 33 has been opened vertically in the plane of the door 32 such that the detergent is disposed into the dishwasher compartment. The lid 34 slides along the dishwasher door 32 to move into an open position, thus causing a shock against the compartment door 32 which will be detected by the sensor 31. In an embodiment, the sensor 31 is arranged in the door 32, and in mechanical contact with the inner face of the door 32, at a location where the detergent dispenser lid 34 opens against it. Thereby, the shock caused on the inner face of the door 32, and thus the sensor 31, will advantageously be sufficiently powerful to make a great impact on the sensor 31. As a result, the shock caused by the opening lid 34 is powerful enough not to be confused with e.g. process water splashing onto the inner face of door 32.

The sensor 31 will in response to the detected shock communicate a signal indicating the opening of the detergent dispenser lid 34 to the controller 40. When the controller 40 receives the signal indicative of the lid 34 opening, an appropriate action can be taken as previously has been described.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of an embodiment of a method of detecting opening of a detergent dispenser lid in a dishwasher according to the present invention. In a first step S101 a shock caused by the detergent dispenser lid opening against the dishwasher door is detected. Thereafter, in step S102, an action to be taken in response to the detected shock is determined.

The invention has mainly been described above with reference to a few embodiments. However, as is readily appreciated by a person skilled in the art, other embodiments than the ones disclosed above are equally possible within the scope of the invention, as defined by the appended patent claims.

Claims

1. A dishwasher comprising a dispenser accommodated in a dishwasher door and being arranged to dispose a washing agent in a compartment of the dishwasher at the opening of a dispenser lid, the dishwasher further comprising: at least one sensor arranged to detect a shock caused by the dispenser lid opening against the dishwasher door, and to communicate a signal in response thereto indicative of the dispenser lid opening; anda controller arranged to receive the signal and to determine an action to be taken on the basis of the received signal.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, the controller further being arranged to proceed with executing a selected washing program if the signal is received within a predetermined time period from activation of the selected washing program.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, the controller further being arranged to proceed with terminating a selected washing program if the signal is not received within a predetermined time period from activation of the selected washing program.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 1, the at least one sensor being arranged in the dishwasher door at a location where the dispenser lid opens against the dishwasher door.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 1, the at least one sensor comprising an accelerometer.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 1, the controller further being arranged to communicate to a user via a user interface that the dispenser lid has not opened within a predetermined time period.

7. A method of detecting opening of a washing agent dispenser lid in a dishwasher, the method comprising: detecting whether a shock occurs caused by the dispenser lid opening against the dishwasher door;determining an action to be taken in response to the detected shock.

8. The method according to claim 7, the action to be taking comprising: proceeding with terminating a selected washing program if no shock occurs within a predetermined time period from activation of the selected washing program.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising: communicating to a user if the shock has not occurred within a predetermined time period.

10. The method according to claim 7, the action to be taken comprising: proceeding with executing a selected washing program if the shock occurs within a predetermined time period from activation of the selected washing program.