The present invention relates to a household dishwasher.
The intention is to make it increasingly easy to operate household dishwashers (hereinafter also “dishwashers”). One aspect in this regard is that a drive retracts and extends a receptacle for items to be washed, such as for example an upper or lower basket, into and out of the dishwasher cavity of the dishwasher for loading and unloading. During the retraction or extension, it may happen that items to be washed cause a blockage or a user wants to stop the moving receptacle for items to be washed.
Publication DE 10 2005 010 616 A1 discloses a household dishwasher with a drive, which is configured to move a receptacle for items to be washed automatically out of and into the dishwasher cavity. A user can also move the receptacle for items to be washed manually if a switching element decouples the drive from the receptacle for items to be washed.
Publications WO 2018/120924 A1 and WO 2020/124970 A1 disclose a household dishwasher with a driven receptacle for items to be washed, which is fastened to the drive by way of a magnetic apparatus. A user can stop the driven receptacle for items to be washed and move it manually.
Publication US 2008/0315739 A1 discloses an electrically driven warming drawer with a drive, which is configured to extend the warming drawer out of and retract it into a carcass. Likewise, a user can also extend the warming drawer out of the carcass.
Against this background, an object of the present invention consists in providing an improved household dishwasher.
Accordingly, a household dishwasher with a dishwasher cavity and a receptacle for items to be washed, which can be shifted into and at least partially out of the dishwasher cavity, is provided. The household dishwasher further comprises an electric motor having at least one motor parameter, wherein the electric motor, in a driving state, shifts the receptacle for items to be washed into or at least partially out of the dishwasher cavity and, in a free-running state, is decoupled from the receptacle for items to be washed and/or is disconnected from the power supply, and/or a regulating unit, which regulates the electric motor at least in the driving state as a function of at least one regulating parameter. The household dishwasher further comprises a detection unit, which is configured to detect a blockage of the receptacle for items to be washed and/or a stop request of a user as a function of the at least one regulating parameter and/or a motor parameter, and a switching unit, which is configured to switch the electric motor into the free-running state as a function of the detected blockage or the detected stop request.
One idea of the present invention is to detect a blockage of the receptacle for items to be washed with the aid of a regulating parameter and/or a motor parameter. The safety of the driven receptacle for items to be washed is thereby increased, so that a risk of possible injury to the user is reduced and items to be washed in the receptacle for items to be washed are protected against damage.
Furthermore, a request of the user to stop the receptacle for items to be washed can be detected easily. This makes it easier for the user to operate the receptacle for items to be washed.
In this context, a “stop request of a user” is to be understood to mean a request of the user to stop the receptacle for items to be washed. The request is expressed in particular by a force application of the user onto the receptacle for items to be washed, such as a force exerted by the user onto the receptacle for items to be washed. In particular, the user can indirectly or directly cause the force application onto the receptacle for items to be washed. A direct application means that the user applies force onto the receptacle for items to be washed directly with their hand or another body part. An indirect application means that one or more further components of the household dishwasher, such as for example a door, are interposed between the force application by the user and the receptacle for items to be washed.
In this context, a “stop request of a user” is also to be understood in a broader sense to mean a request of the user to change the movement of the receptacle for items to be washed. The changed movement of the receptacle for items to be washed comprises in particular the properties of movement speed and movement direction of the receptacle for items to be washed. On the one hand, a changed movement speed of the receptacle for items to be washed can mean an increase or reduction by the user of the movement speed of the receptacle for items to be washed. On the other hand, a changed movement direction of the receptacle for items to be washed can mean a reversal by the user of the movement direction of the receptacle for items to be washed. In particular, the user can also indirectly or directly cause the changed use of the receptacle for items to be washed.
A blockage of the receptacle for items to be washed can arise for example as a result of items to be washed falling around in the receptacle for items to be washed or for example as a result of food scraps or washing residues blocking a drive of the receptacle for items to be washed or parts of the drive, such as for example toothed wheels or toothed racks.
In this context, “regulating parameters” are to be understood to mean parameters which are regulated by the regulating unit, for example in a regulating loop, such as for example a position or an extension path of the receptacle for items to be washed, or which are input into the regulation.
Some embodiments dispense with the regulating unit. In this case, the electric motor is actuated by a control unit. In this case, the detection of the blockage and/or the stop request takes place only as a function of the motor parameter.
In the present context, “motor parameters” are to be understood to mean parameters for motor control, such as for example a motor current, a motor voltage or a motor rotational speed.
In the present context, a “receptacle for items to be washed” is a receptacle, in particular a basket, for receiving items to be washed, such as for example plates, cups, cutlery or bowls. In particular, it can be an upper or lower receptacle for items to be washed, also known as an upper and lower dish basket, or a cutlery drawer.
In the present context, a “dishwasher cavity” is a cavity in which one or several receptacles for items to be washed can be accommodated. The dishwasher cavity has a washing compartment, in which the items to be washed are cleaned and dried. The dishwasher cavity is preferably cuboid in shape.
According to a further embodiment, the detection unit detects the blockage and/or the stop request as a function of a comparison of the motor parameter with a threshold value.
The threshold value advantageously defines a switching condition as of which the electric motor is switched into the free-running state. The determining factor can be for example an exceeding or undershooting of the threshold value.
According to a further embodiment, the threshold value has a value which remains fixed or varies over time.
This advantageously enables variations in the motor parameter over time to be taken into consideration in the threshold value, for example on the basis of an undefined or varying loading of the receptacle for items to be washed.
According to a further embodiment, the variable value is dependent on the motor parameter, the regulating parameter, a further parameter or a derivative of one or several of these parameters.
This advantageously enables the threshold value to be adapted flexibly to circumstances which vary over time or in some other manner. The derivative is in particular a time derivative.
According to a further embodiment, the regulation of the electric motor comprises a comparison of a target value with an actual value, wherein the regulating parameter is equal to the target value or the actual value and the detection unit detects the blockage and/or the stop request as a function of the comparison.
By taking the comparison into consideration, it is possible in particular to capture a case in which the actual value no longer moves toward the target value or in which it even moves away therefrom. In this case, the regulation is clearly disturbed (the objective of the regulation is typically for the actual value to move toward the target value), which indicates an external force application, for example in the form of a blockage or a stop request. The “comparison” has in particular a difference (formation) between the target value and the actual value.
According to a further embodiment, the target value is a target position and the actual value an actual position of the receptacle for items to be washed.
As a result, the position of the receptacle for items to be washed is advantageously taken into consideration in the threshold value.
According to a further embodiment, the further parameter is determined as a function of an actual position of the receptacle for items to be washed relative to a reference position of the same.
According to a further embodiment, the reference position has a value which remains fixed or varies over time.
This advantageously enables for example the threshold value in a start-up phase of the electric motor to be increased.
According to a further embodiment, the variable value of the reference position corresponds to a respective start-up position of the receptacle for items to be washed.
This advantageously enables for example the start-up position to be taken into consideration over the entire extension length of the receptacle for items to be washed.
According to a further embodiment, one of the respective start-up positions is a half extension length.
According to a further embodiment, a machine learning unit is provided, which is configured to determine the threshold value as a function of learning data sets.
This advantageously enables the threshold value to be adapted to the behavior of the user. The machine learning unit can have for example a neural network or a deep learning algorithm.
According to a further embodiment, in the free-running state, a mechanical coupling element decouples the receptacle for items to be washed from the electric motor, or disconnects the electric motor from the power supply.
As a result, the receptacle for items to be washed can be moved manually by the user freely, in other words practically without resistance.
According to a further embodiment, the receptacle for items to be washed can be shifted into or at least partially out of the dishwasher cavity with the aid of a telescopic extension, wherein the electric motor is configured to drive an element of the telescopic extension for shifting the receptacle for items to be washed.
According to a further embodiment, the electric motor is a permanent-magnet synchronous motor.
When a permanent-magnet synchronous motor is disconnected from the power supply, it is free-running. This makes it possible to dispense with the mechanical coupling element.
According to a second aspect, a method for operating a household dishwasher is proposed. In a first step, a receptacle for items to be washed is shifted with the aid of an electric motor, which has at least one motor parameter and/or is regulated as a function of at least one regulating parameter. In the second step, a blockage of the receptacle for items to be washed or a stop request of a user is detected as a function of the motor parameter or the regulating parameter. In the third step, the electric motor is decoupled from the receptacle for items to be washed or the electric motor is disconnected from the power supply as a function of the detected blockage or the detected stop request.
The embodiments and features described for the proposed apparatus apply correspondingly to the proposed method, and vice versa.
The units described here, for example the regulating unit or detecting unit, can be implemented by way of hardware and/or software. For example, the units can be implemented on a microprocessor complete with assigned storage means. The microprocessor complete with storage means can be embodied for example on a central control device of the household dishwasher.
Further possible implementations of the invention also comprise combinations—not explicitly cited—of features or embodiments described above or below in respect of the exemplary embodiments. In this context, the person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or enhancements to the respective basic form of the invention.
Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention form the subject matter of the subclaims and of the exemplary embodiments of the invention that are described below. The invention is described in greater detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures,
in which
In the figures, elements that are identical or have the same function have been provided with the same reference characters unless otherwise stated.
The door 3 is shown in its opened position in
The household dishwasher 1 also has at least one receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14. A number of, for example three, receptacles for items to be washed 12 to 14 can preferably be provided, wherein the receptacle for items to be washed 12 can be a lower receptacle for items to be washed or a lower basket, the receptacle for items to be washed 13 can be an upper receptacle for items to be washed or an upper basket, and the receptacle for items to be washed 14 can be a cutlery drawer. As additionally shown in
As further illustrated in
In its free-running state, the electric motor 16 is not actively connected to the receptacle for items to be washed 13 in order to extend and retract the same. In the free-running state, the receptacle for items to be washed 13 can be moved manually by the user freely in the retraction direction E (arrow) and the extension direction A (arrow). A coupling element (not shown), such as for example a switchable freewheel, can be arranged between the electric motor 16 and the receptacle for items to be washed 13. The coupling element couples the electric motor 16 to the receptacle for items to be washed 13 in order to move the same. Upon detection of the blockage or the stop request, the switching unit 20 decouples the coupling element from the electric motor 16 so that the receptacle for items to be washed 13 can be moved freely. The free-running state of the electric motor 16 can also be achieved by the switching unit 20 disconnecting the electric motor 16 from the power supply, for which purpose the electric motor 16 can advantageously be embodied as a permanent-magnet synchronous motor. Disconnection from the power supply can take place for example via a relay (not shown).
Embodiments of the manner in which the blockage and the stop request of the user are determined by the detection unit 19 are now described below.
The stop request of the user is expressed for example by way of a force 21 (arrow) applied by the user onto the receptacle for items to be washed 13 when the same is extended or retracted. The force 21 (arrow) can also take effect on the receptacle for items to be washed 13 as a result of a blockage.
The case in which the receptacle for items to be washed 13 is extended is described below.
If the receptacle for items to be washed 13 is extended in the extension direction A (arrow) and becomes blocked or the user wants to stop the receptacle for items to be washed 13, the external force 21 (arrow) acts counter to the extension direction A (arrow) on the receptacle for items to be washed 13. So that the receptacle for items to be washed 13 can continue its movement in the extension direction A (arrow), the electric motor 16 must provide an additional force 22 (arrow) in order to overcome the external force 21 (arrow). To provide the force 22 (arrow), the electric motor 16 must apply a greater torque, which is achieved by an increase in a motor current I of the electric motor 16.
As can further be seen in
In a further exemplary embodiment, the threshold value 23 can for example be adapted to a load state of the receptacle for items to be washed 13. If the weight of the receptacle for items to be washed 13 is increased, a higher motor current I3′ is required in order to move the receptacle for items to be washed 13. So that the detection unit 19 does not incorrectly detect a blockage, the threshold value 23 is advantageously increased.
In a further exemplary embodiment, the threshold value 23 can have a value which is variable over time, as shown in
In a further exemplary embodiment, a regulation of the electric motor 16 comprises a position regulating loop 24, which is illustrated in
On account of the external force application 21 (arrow) from
As shown in
In a further exemplary embodiment, the dishwasher 1 has a machine learning unit (not shown) for determining the threshold value 23 as a function of learning data sets. The threshold value 23 can be defined for example once only or continuously with new data sets.
Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in numerous different ways.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2022 202 168.1 | Mar 2022 | DE | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/EP2023/050746 | 1/13/2023 | WO |