US 9,661,980 B2Granted

Pre-soak option for dishwashers

AssigneesBSH Home Appliances Corporation, BSK Hausgeräte GmbH

InventorsCasey Carr, Mike Holmes, Melvin Rich

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A dishwasher includes an independent presoak system which may be activated by a user of the dishwasher. The dishwasher presoak system utilizes a storage tank, supply tubes, and set of nozzles which are independent from components used in a washing cycle such that a presoak detergent is applied to items placed within a washing compartment of the dishwasher without being diluted by a standard wash cycle. As part of the presoak system, the dishwasher features a detection system which allows the user to select an automatic presoak operating state whereby the dishwasher utilizes a sensor to determine if items placed into the washing compartment are sufficiently dirty to need a presoak cycle prior to a washing cycle. The dishwasher further relies on a control system to analyze samples taken of the dirtiness levels of items placed within the washing compartment and determine whether a presoak option is necessary or suggested.

Claims13

Dependent claims

A household appliance, comprising:

a housing, the housing having a washing compartment;
a first detergent storage tank, the first detergent storage tank being configured to contain washing detergent;
at least a first supply tube;
at least a first spraying device, the first spraying device being configured to spray the contents of the at least one supply tube into the washing compartment;
a second detergent storage tank, the second detergent storage tank being configured to contain a presoak detergent;
at least a second supply tube;
wherein the first supply tube is fluidly connected with the first detergent storage tank, and wherein the second supply tube is fluidly connected with the second detergent storage tank;
at least a second spraying device comprising a plurality of stationary sprayers, wherein the second spraying device is configured to spray the contents of the second supply tube into the washing compartment, and wherein the stationary sprayers protrude from a vertical internal wall of the appliance;
a control system including a controller configured to run a presoak cycle program prior to running a washing cycle program;
wherein the controller is configured to utilize the contents of the second detergent storage tank during the presoak cycle.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/879,115Filed 9 Oct 2015
Published: US 2017/0100013 A113 Apr 2017
Granted: 30 May 2017
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification19 codes

A47L 15/44
Details: devices for adding cleaning agents; Devices for dispensing cleaning agents, rinsing aids or deodorants
A47L 15/0007
Washing processes, i.e. machine working principles characterised by phases or operational steps: washing phases
A47L 15/0021
Controlling processes, i.e. processes to control the operation of the machine characterised by the purpose or target of the control: regulation of…
A47L 15/0028
Regulation of operational steps within the washing processes, e.g. optimisation or improvement of operational steps depending from the detergent…:…