Dishwasher with improved flow controller assembly

A dishwasher comprising:

• a washing fluid conduit system comprising a plurality of washing fluid supply conduits each one for supplying washing fluid to at least one corresponding component of the dishwasher;
• a sump for collecting washing fluid, wherein the sump comprises a plurality of sump outlets each one for a corresponding washing fluid supply conduit of the plurality;
• a pump for pumping washing fluid from the sump to the washing fluid conduit system;
• a flow controller assembly operable for selectively enabling washing fluid flow from the sump to selected one or more washing fluid supply conduits, the flow controller assembly comprising:
• a discoidal flow diverter comprising a plurality of diverter apertures;
• a positioning system configured to rotate the flow diverter relative to the sump outlets across a plurality of predetermined diverter positions, wherein each diverter position provides for the alignment between one or more diverter apertures and one or more respective sump outlets, thereby enabling washing fluid flow from each one of the one or more sump outlets aligned with the one or more diverter apertures to the corresponding washing fluid supply conduit, wherein the positioning system comprises:
• a plurality of cam elements coupled to the flow diverter, wherein each cam element is associated with a corresponding predetermined diverter position, each cam element extending along a corresponding arc of the flow diverter, and wherein the plurality of cam elements comprises a reference cam element having an arc length different from the arc lengths of the other cam elements of the plurality;
• a motor configured to rotate the flow diverter;
• a cam follower system comprising a cam follower element configured to mechanically interact with the cam elements and interact with a detection switch so as to commute the detection switch to a first state when the cam follower element is mechanically interacting with a cam element and to commute the detection switch to a second state when the cam follower element is not mechanically interacting with a cam element;
• a control unit configured to assess a position of the flow diverter among the predetermined diverter positions and to drive the motor according to the assessed position, wherein the control unit is configured to assess the position of the flow diverter by:
• assessing a position corresponding to a reference one of the predetermined diverter positions associated with the reference cam element based on durations of interaction intervals during which the detection switch is in the first state;
• and
• assessing a position corresponding to one of the predetermined diverter positions different from the reference diverter position by counting a number of times the detection switch is commuted to a selected state between the first state and the second state after the assessment of the reference diverter position.

A method for operating a dishwasher comprising:

• selectively enabling washing fluid flow from a dishwasher sump to selected one or more washing fluid supply conduits of a dishwasher washing fluid conduit system, the selectively enabling comprising:
• rotating a discoidal flow diverter relative to sump outlets of the sump across a plurality of predetermined diverter positions, wherein each sump outlet corresponds to a corresponding washing fluid supply conduit, wherein each diverter position provides for the alignment between one or more diverter apertures on the flow diverter and one or more respective sump outlets, thereby enabling washing fluid flow from each one of the one or more sump outlets aligned with the one or more diverter apertures to the corresponding washing fluid supply conduit, wherein a plurality of cam elements is coupled to the flow diverter, wherein each cam element is associated with a corresponding predetermined diverter position, wherein each cam element extends along a corresponding arc of the flow diverter, wherein the plurality of cam elements comprise a reference cam element having an arc length different from the arc lengths of the other cam elements of the plurality;
• assessing a position of the flow diverter among the predetermined diverter positions through a cam follower system comprising a cam follower element configured to mechanically interact with the cam elements and interact with a detection switch so as to commute the detection switch to a first state when the cam follower element is mechanically interacting with a cam element and to commute the detection switch to a second state when the cam follower element is not mechanically interacting with a cam element, the assessing the position of the flow diverter comprising:
• measuring durations of one or more interaction intervals during which the detection switch is in the first state;
• assessing a position corresponding to a reference one of the predetermined diverter positions associated with the reference cam element based on the measured durations of the one or more interaction intervals;
• counting a number of times the detection switch is commuted to a selected state between the first state and the second state after the assessment of the reference diverter position, and
• assessing a position corresponding to one of the predetermined diverter positions different from the reference diverter position based on the counted a number of times.