WO2024160554A1 - Domestic dishwasher and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic dishwasher (1) comprising: a dishwashing compartment (2); a spray arm (18) for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water (F) to items to be washed that are accommodated in the dishwashing compartment (2); a drive device (27) for actively driving the spray arm (18); a circulation pump (30) for transporting washing liquor and/or fresh water (F); and a control device (31) for controlling the drive device (27) and the circulation pump (30), wherein the control device (31) controls the circulation pump (30) during a dishwashing operation of the domestic dishwasher (1) in such a way that the washing liquor and/or the fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in a pulse-like manner.

Description

Domestic dishwasher and process

The present invention relates to a household dishwasher and a method for operating such a household dishwasher.

A dishwasher has a washing container in which the items to be cleaned can be placed. Often, items that require different levels of cleaning are placed in the washing container. For example, glasses or dishes for cold dishes are often easier to clean than dishes with cooking or frying residues. To ensure that all items are adequately cleaned, it is therefore necessary to achieve a particularly intensive cleaning effect at every point within the washing container, which requires a lot of energy, water and time.

Against this background, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved household dishwasher.

Accordingly, a household dishwasher is proposed with a washing container, a spray arm for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to items to be washed held in the washing container, a drive device for actively driving the spray arm, a circulation pump for transporting washing liquor and/or fresh water, and a control device for controlling the drive device and the circulation pump, wherein the control device controls the circulation pump during a washing operation of the household dishwasher in such a way that the washing liquor and/or the fresh water emerges from the spray arm in pulses.

The pulse-like discharge of rinsing liquid and/or fresh water can not only increase their cleaning effect, for example by enabling a non-stationary impact and/or by the flowing away of rinsing liquid and/or fresh water that has already been applied and may delay the pulse of "fresh" rinsing liquid and/or fresh water. The pulse-like, in particular discontinuous, discharge can also advantageously reduce the amount of liquid required within the rinsing container, since the times between the pulses allow even a small amount of liquid to be available in sufficient quantity for the next pulse. a pump pot of the household dishwasher. Furthermore, the reduced amount of liquid can lead to a reduction in energy consumption, since the smaller amount of water can be actively heated more quickly and also passively heated more quickly on the heated dishes, so that less heat energy is extracted from the latter.

The spray arm can be actively driven by the drive device. The spray arm therefore does not move exclusively passively, for example due to the recoil of escaping rinsing liquid and/or fresh water, but is actively controlled by the drive device. The spray arm can be moved both in a circumferential direction and against the circumferential direction around a first axis of rotation provided on the pump pot. Several rotation speeds are conceivable here, so the spray arm can be moved both quickly and slowly. If the spray arm has a spray arm satellite, for example, a boom of the spray arm carrying the spray arm satellite could be actively driven by the drive device, while the spray arm satellite is recoil-driven, i.e. passively driven.

The household dishwasher also includes a circulation pump for transporting washing liquid and/or fresh water. For example, fresh water could be transported from outside the household dishwasher into the washing container or washing liquid could be pumped from the pump pot inside the household dishwasher as part of a circuit and applied to the items to be washed before they flow back into the pump pot due to the effect of gravity.

The domestic dishwasher further comprises the control device for controlling the drive device and the circulation pump. The circulation pump is controlled by the control device during a washing operation of the domestic dishwasher in such a way that the washing solution and/or the fresh water exits the spray arm at least temporarily in pulses. For this purpose, the spray arm can have spray nozzles. These can be provided in particular on the spray arm satellite. "Pulse-like" means that the washing solution and/or the fresh water does not exit without interruption, but as individual and distinguishable pulses, the duration of which is far shorter than the duration of a program run. For example, one pulse could occur per revolution of the spray arm around the first axis of rotation. If, on the other hand, the rinsing solution and/or the fresh water are not discharged in pulses, there is a continuous flow of rinsing solution and/or fresh water which is not interrupted over large parts of the program sequence, for example over several seconds or minutes, and thus continuously exposes the items to be washed.

According to one embodiment, the spray arm has a boom mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation and a spray arm satellite mounted on the boom for rotation about a second axis of rotation.

In particular, the drive device serves to actively drive the boom. The boom is preferably mounted on a pump pot of the household dishwasher so that it can rotate about the first axis of rotation. The pump pot borders on a vertically lower area of the washing container, i.e. the part of the washing container that points towards the ground. The washing liquor and/or the fresh water flows back into this pump pot automatically due to the effect of gravity. The pump pot can also serve as a bearing point for the spray arm by having the boom mounted on the pump pot so that it can rotate at its middle area so that the spray arm can rotate about the first axis of rotation. The rotational movement of the boom can take place over several complete revolutions. The boom in turn serves as a bearing point for the spray arm satellite, which has a plurality of spray nozzles that are designed to spray the items to be washed with washing liquor and/or fresh water. The spray arm satellite is in turn rotatably mounted on the boom so that the spray arm satellite can rotate around the second axis of rotation (even when the boom is stationary). The second axis of rotation is not fixed in one place, but rather its position is defined by the boom with which the second axis of rotation moves. If both the boom and the spray arm satellite rotate, both rotational movements are superposed. On the one hand, this creates the possibility of moving the boom and the spray arm satellite independently of one another, so that the spray arm satellite can be positioned specifically within the rinsing container by moving the boom. On the other hand, if both rotational movements are superimposed, higher peripheral speeds can be achieved, which can have a beneficial effect on the cleaning effect. According to a further embodiment, the boom is actively driven by the drive device, and the spray arm satellite is passively driven by means of rinsing liquid and/or fresh water emerging from spray nozzles associated with the spray arm satellite.

"Passively" driven means in particular recoil driven. The spray arm satellite rotates as rinsing liquid and/or fresh water exits the spray nozzles associated with the spray arm satellite, the direction of movement of the rinsing liquid and/or fresh water is diverted and the spray arm satellite is set in an oppositely oriented rotational movement due to the preservation of the swirl. The spray arm satellite therefore moves purely passively and in response to the discharge of rinsing liquid and/or fresh water. The movement, in particular the rotational speed, of the boom therefore does not specifically influence the movement of the spray arm satellite. In this way, a functional separation of the movement of the boom and the movement of the spray arm satellite can advantageously be achieved. For example, the spray arm satellite can rotate and eject rinsing liquid and/or fresh water in the horizontal directions surrounding its position without the boom having to rotate for this purpose. This allows for a particularly flexible design of the cleaning program as well as the targeted cleaning of certain predetermined sectors.

According to a further embodiment, the drive device comprises a drive element and a detection device for determining an angular position of the drive element.

To drive the spray arm, in particular the boom, the drive device has the drive element. The drive element can be a motor, in particular a speed-controlled motor. The drive element is particularly preferably designed as a synchronous motor. The drive device can also have a gear, in particular a gear box, with the aid of which the drive element can be coupled to the spray arm, in particular to the boom of the spray arm. The gear can have several gears. The drive device also has the detection device for determining the angular position of the drive element. The angular position of the drive element is its rotational position in relation to a polar coordinate system, the center of which coincides with an axis of rotation of the drive element and whose radial directions are perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A rotational movement The drive element can thus be detected as a change in its angular position over time. The axis of rotation of the drive element can coincide with the first axis of rotation. However, it is also conceivable that the axis of rotation of the drive element and the first axis of rotation are parallel to one another and spaced apart from one another. The detection device can have a signal generator for a sensor, in particular for a Hall sensor, which can be attached to one of the gears in order to determine a zero position, in particular an angular zero position, of one of the gears. The angular zero position here represents a reference position which is arranged in a fixed position in the household dishwasher and describes a fixed, specific orientation of one of the gears relative to the rest of the household dishwasher. Starting from this angular zero position, one of the gears can be rotated by any angle of rotation. With the help of the angular zero position and a determination of the number of completed revolutions and/or the rotational speed of one of the gears, a position, in particular the angular position, of the drive element, in particular of one of the gears, can be partially determined mathematically. If the motor is designed as a speed-controlled motor, the position, in particular the angular position, of the drive element, in particular of one of the gears, for example away from the angular zero position, can be determined with the aid of the control signal of the drive element, in particular the number of oscillations of the control signal since the angular zero position was last reached. It is also conceivable to use the angular zero position as a reference value each time the angular zero position is reached, from which the angular position of one of the gears is determined with the aid of the control signal. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to record the angular position of one of the gears directly and in particular at each angular position, for example with the aid of a so-called encoder connected to one of the gears with a resolution in the circumferential direction of, for example, 10°, 5°, 2° or 1°. In this way, the angular position of one of the gears can advantageously be determined particularly precisely and with minimal effort.

According to a further embodiment, the control device and the drive device are designed to determine an angular position of the boom depending on the specific angular position of the drive element, wherein the control device controls the drive device depending on the specific angular position of the boom such that an angular position of the boom is adjustable. While the detection device is initially set up to determine the angular position of the drive element, in particular of one of the gear wheels, the control device makes it possible to derive the angular position of the spray arm, in particular of the boom, from this information. In combination with the possibility of actively driving the spray arm, in particular the boom, it is thus possible to regulate the angular position of the spray arm, in particular of the boom. The spray arm, in particular the boom, can therefore be brought into a predetermined angular position by the drive device and located there, i.e. can remain stationary there. The spray arm, in particular the boom, can thus be located in the area of a specific item of washware for cleaning, for example. Depending on the degree of soiling of the items of washware, these can be cleaned individually for a long time and/or intensively. In relation to the entire cleaning program, a more efficient and faster cleaning process can thus be made possible. At the same time, determining the angular position of the drive element ensures that neither the movement of the boom is influenced nor that the measurement is influenced by wash water, fresh water and/or dirt deposits.

According to a further embodiment, the control device is designed to control the drive device such that the boom rotates and stops after a certain predefined time interval.

In this embodiment, the control device is set up to determine the angular position of one of the gears with the aid of the detection device, in particular a signal from the sensor of the detection device, and a period of time that has elapsed since the signal from the detection device. In other words, the angular position of one of the gears is determined by the time ago the angular position of one of the gears last coincided with the angular zero position. The control device is also set up to cause the drive device to stop depending on this time, whereby one of the gears, and thus also the boom, for example, stops at an angular position that correlates with time. In an advantageous manner, this allows the boom to be brought into a specific angular position and located there without, for example, having to detect the rotational speed of the drive element. According to a further embodiment, the control device and the drive device are designed to move the boom in a circumferential direction and/or against the circumferential direction about the first axis of rotation at one of a plurality of different predetermined rotational speeds.

The boom can therefore be moved both clockwise and anti-clockwise around the first axis of rotation. This creates increased flexibility and controllability of the movement of the boom, which can be specified, for example, as part of a cleaning program or a current section of the cleaning program. For example, the boom could move more slowly during a cleaning program section than during a rinsing program section. For example, the cleaning program section and/or the rinsing program section can be carried out clockwise and anti-clockwise.

According to a further embodiment, the control device is designed to control the drive device to stop the boom in a predetermined sector depending on the determined angular position of the boom and to move the boom in this sector and/or to locate it in a stationary manner in time even during the discharge of rinsing liquid and/or fresh water from the spray arm.

A sector is a section of a circular area that is swept over when the boom rotates around the first axis of rotation. The center of this circular area lies on the first axis of rotation and, with a typical orientation of the household dishwasher, the circular area is essentially horizontal, i.e. parallel to the surface of the ground. The circular area is divided into sectors in such a way that, within the plane of the circular area, a plurality of straight leg lines are drawn as connections from a center of the circular area to a circumference of the circular area. A sector is then a partial area of the circular area delimited by two leg lines and a part of the circumference in between. The sectors are thus arranged in the circumferential direction of the circular area around the first axis of rotation and can also be interpreted as angular areas of the circular area. For example, the circular area could be divided into twelve or ten sectors of equal size. However, it is preferably divided into eight sectors of equal size. Depending on a comparison with the actual angular position of the boom, the boom can be moved by the drive device into a predetermined sector and located there in a stationary manner. The boom could, for example, remain in this predetermined sector even if washing liquid and/or fresh water is coming out of the spray arm. In other words, the spray arm can carry out cleaning "on the spot". In this way, the spray arm can not only specifically clean the wash items in a certain sector, but also, for example, clean particularly heavily soiled wash items for longer than lightly soiled wash items.

According to a further embodiment, the household dishwasher is designed to achieve a predetermined and symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of a cleaning intensity with respect to the first axis of rotation by means of a targeted control of the drive device for controlling a residence time of the spray arm satellite in a specific sector accumulated over a program section and/or by means of a targeted control of a power level of the circulation pump.

It is therefore possible to influence the length of time the spray arm satellite is in a certain sector during the program section. A specific predetermined period of time can be assigned to each individual sector. In addition, the household dishwasher is set up to specifically control the power level of the circulation pump. Depending on the sector the boom is in, the washing solution and/or the washing water can be ejected with a specific predetermined power level of the circulation pump and thus at a certain ejection speed. Overall, this makes it possible to influence the distribution of cleaning intensity within the circular area swept by the boom. The cleaning intensity is not a physical quantity, but a qualitative measure of how intensively the dishes are cleaned and is the result of a combination of the cleaning time at a certain point and the ejection speed of the washing solution and/or the fresh water at that point. By specifically controlling the drive device and thus the length of time the spray arm satellite stays in a certain sector and/or the power level of the circulation pump, a predetermined cleaning intensity can be achieved. According to a further embodiment, the control device is designed to divide a circular area swept over during one revolution of the boom into a finite number of sectors and to assign to each sector an associated level of cleaning intensity to be carried out with the aid of a cleaning program, wherein the control device is in particular designed to enable a user of the household dishwasher to influence the distribution of the cleaning intensity with the aid of program inputs on the household dishwasher and/or with the aid of a portable electronic terminal.

In this way, a certain predetermined distribution of the cleaning intensity can be implemented and carried out by the cleaning program, whereby this distribution can be designed both symmetrically and asymmetrically with respect to the first axis of rotation. The electronic end device can be, for example, a mobile phone, a laptop, a tablet or similar. In this way, the user can adapt the cleaning program to his or her wishes and requirements and, for example, adapt the cleaning effect of the household dishwasher to the distribution and degree of soiling of the items to be washed within the household dishwasher. In an advantageous manner, the distribution of the cleaning intensity can be adapted particularly precisely to the movement pattern of the boom, which can achieve more efficient cleaning that saves water, energy and time.

According to a further embodiment, the control device is designed to control the circulation pump for a repeated change between a high and a low power level to effect a pulse flush, wherein the duration of the high and the low power level of the circulation pump is each short.

After operating the circulation pump at a low power level and a resulting low discharge speed of the rinsing solution and/or fresh water, it is then operated at a high power level, which results in a high discharge speed of the rinsing solution and/or fresh water and vice versa. However, it is also conceivable to switch between a medium and a low power level or to switch off the circulation pump completely instead of the low power level. The repeated switching between different high power levels of the circulation pump leads to This means that there is a repeated change between different discharge speeds of the rinsing solution and/or fresh water, which is referred to here as pulse rinsing. A pulse is referred to here as the operation of the circulation pump at the high (or medium) power level. The durations of the various power levels of the circulation pump are each short, for example less than 10 s, 8 s, 6 s, 4 s, 2 s, 1 s or 0.5 s. The duration can be selected, for example, in such a way that one or more pulses of the pulse rinsing are carried out per revolution of the boom. The pulse rinsing can advantageously increase the cleaning effect of the rinsing solution and/or fresh water, since on the one hand the items to be washed are "shocked" with liquid and on the other hand the liquid already ejected by a previous pulse flows away from the items to be washed, thus avoiding any possible braking effect on the liquid ejected in the subsequent pulse.

According to a further embodiment, within the duration of the high power level of the circulation pump, a volume of the rinsing liquid and/or fresh water in the pump pot is reduced from an upper level to a lower level.

Within one pulse of the circulation pump or within the duration of a series of pulse rinsing, i.e. within several pulses, the volume of the rinsing liquid and/or fresh water in the pump bowl is reduced from an upper level to a lower level. At the latest when the lower level is reached, the circulation pump can be stopped or controlled with a lower power level, whereby the rinsing liquid and/or fresh water collects again in the pump bowl and the volume in it is increased again to the upper level, whereby the household dishwasher is able to carry out another pulse or another series of pulses. By coordinating the amount of liquid in the rinsing container with the pulse rinsing, the amount of liquid can be reduced to a minimum amount. This advantageously not only saves the amount of fresh water required, but also reduces the heating energy required to heat the liquid. Furthermore, the installation space of the rinsing container can be adapted exactly to the amount of liquid required and reduced accordingly. According to a further embodiment, the boom has a first arm on which the spray arm satellite is mounted so as to be rotatable about the second axis of rotation, and a second arm on which a sieve cleaning nozzle is provided, which sieve cleaning nozzle points towards a bottom of the washing container.

This first arm extends from the bearing point of the boom, with which the boom is rotatably mounted on the pump pot, to a radial end of the boom. On the side of the boom radially opposite the first arm, the boom has the second arm, on which the sieve cleaning nozzle is provided. The sieve cleaning nozzle is directed towards the bottom of the washing container, i.e. vertically downwards, towards the ground. The bottom of the domestic dishwasher can be cleaned by the washing liquid and/or fresh water escaping from the sieve cleaning nozzle. If there is a sieve on the bottom of the domestic dishwasher, for example, this can also be cleaned using the sieve cleaning nozzle. This advantageously means that the domestic dishwasher can be cleaned while the items being washed are being cleaned, without, for example, additional water or additional heating energy having to be used.

Furthermore, a method for operating such a domestic dishwasher is proposed. The domestic dishwasher has a washing container, a spray arm, a drive device and a circulation pump, the method comprising the following steps: a) carrying out a washing operation of the domestic dishwasher, wherein items to be washed in the washing container are exposed to washing liquor and/or fresh water using the spray arm actively driven using the drive device, and b) controlling the circulation pump in such a way that the washing liquor and/or the fresh water exits the spray arm in pulses.

Particularly preferably, the household dishwasher comprises a washing container, a drive device with a drive element, a spray arm and a circulation pump. The method comprises the following steps: a) carrying out a washing operation of the household dishwasher, wherein items to be washed in the washing container are exposed to washing liquor and/or fresh water with the aid of the spray arm actively driven with the aid of the drive device, b) determining an angular position of the drive element, c) controlling the drive device depending on the specific angular position of the drive element such that an angular position of the spray arm is set, and d) controlling the circulation pump such that the washing solution and/or the fresh water exits the spray arm in pulses. The division of the cleaning program into different program sections enables particularly efficient cleaning through program section-specific cleaning. Furthermore, by determining and controlling the angular position of the spray arm in combination with the targeted control of the circulation pump, a predetermined cleaning effect of the items to be washed located in certain sectors can be achieved.

According to one embodiment, an angular position of a drive element of the drive device is determined, wherein the drive device is controlled depending on the determined angular position of the drive element such that an angular position of the spray arm is set.

According to a further embodiment, the rinsing liquid and/or the fresh water emerges from the spray arm in pulses both during a pre-wash program section and during cleaning, intermediate rinsing and/or final rinsing program sections, wherein different durations of a high and low power level of the circulation pump are assigned to the different program sections.

This means that a pulse rinse is carried out. In this case, "pulse rinse" is understood to mean that the rinse water and/or the fresh water comes out of the spray arm in pulses. Depending on the current program section, different power levels and/or different time periods can be assigned to the different performance levels of the circulation pump. For example, stronger and/or longer pulses could be carried out during the cleaning program section than during the final rinse. This advantageously allows the program sequence to be adapted particularly flexibly to the task currently being carried out. If, for example, only shorter pulses are required for a certain program section, these can be shortened accordingly, thus limiting both energy consumption and noise emissions. According to a further embodiment, pulse rinsing is carried out both during a rotational movement of the spray arm and during a fixed location of the spray arm.

The pulse rinsing can therefore be carried out both dependently and independently of the movement and/or the angular position of the spray arm, in particular the boom. For example, pulse rinsing could be carried out whenever the spray arm is in a certain sector. This means that the items to be washed can be cleaned particularly intensively by the pulse rinsing, for example depending on the degree of soiling, while at the same time minimizing noise emissions.

According to a further embodiment, the drive device is controlled by the control device to control the duration of a spray arm satellite of the spray arm in a specific sector accumulated over a program section and/or the power level of the circulation pump is specifically controlled by the control device in order to achieve a predetermined and symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of a cleaning intensity with respect to a first axis of rotation of the spray arm.

The control device therefore controls the drive device to locate the spray arm satellite in a certain sector for a specific duration over a program section. Alternatively or additionally, the power level of the circulation pump is specifically controlled by the control device in order to operate the circulation pump at a specific power level depending on the sector in which the spray arm satellite is located. This makes it possible to achieve a predetermined distribution of the cleaning intensity that is symmetrical or asymmetrical with respect to the first axis of rotation. This enables the program sequence to be adapted to the distribution of the dishes in the household dishwasher and their degree of soiling, so that particularly efficient cleaning can be carried out. Overall, this not only saves water and energy, but also means that the entire cleaning process can be completed in a shorter time and causes lower overall noise emissions. According to a further embodiment, the detection device for detecting the angular position of the drive element comprises an optical, magnetic, electrical and/or mechanical sensor device.

In this way, the angular position of the drive element can be determined particularly reliably and without influencing the rotational movement of the drive element.

According to a further embodiment, when carrying out the pulse rinsing, the duration of the various power levels of the circulation pump is selected such that the spray arm satellite rotates approximately once completely around the second axis of rotation during the duration of a high (or medium) and a low power level of the circulation pump.

In this way, each individual pulse can advantageously be used to apply rinsing liquid and/or fresh water to the items to be washed, which is evenly distributed in all horizontal directions with respect to the spray arm satellite, whereby a particularly uniform cleaning effect can be achieved overall, in particular within a sector.

According to a further embodiment, the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart laterally, i.e. in the horizontal direction.

Advantageously, the movement of the spray arm satellite can be superimposed on the movement of the boom in order to achieve an extended movement pattern and thus an improved cleaning effect.

Further possible implementations of the household dishwasher and/or the method also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the household dishwasher and/or the method. Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the household dishwasher and/or the method are the subject of the subclaims and the embodiments of the household dishwasher and/or the method described below. The household dishwasher and/or the method are explained in more detail below using preferred embodiments with reference to the attached figures.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher;

Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a lower region of the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a spray arm for the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 shows a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a drive element for the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 shows a non-scale representation of a power stage of a circulation pump for the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1 ; and

Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating the household dishwasher according to Fig. 1.

In the figures, identical or functionally equivalent elements have been given the same reference numerals, unless otherwise stated.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 2, which can be closed by a door 3, in particular in a watertight manner. For this purpose, a sealing device can be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2. The washing container 2 is preferably cuboid-shaped. The washing container 2 can be in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The washing container 2 and the door 3 can form a washing chamber 4 for washing dishes.

The door 3 is shown in its open position in Fig. 1. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3. With the help of the door 3, a loading opening 6 of the washing container 2 can be closed or opened. The washing container 2 has a base 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The base 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 can be made from a stainless steel sheet, for example. Alternatively, the base 7 can be made from a plastic material, for example.

The household dishwasher 1 further comprises at least one dishware holder 12 to 14. Preferably, several, for example three, dishware holders 12 to

14 can be provided, wherein the dishware holder 12 can be a lower dishware holder or a lower basket, the dishware holder 13 can be an upper dishware holder or an upper basket and the dishware holder 14 can be a cutlery drawer. As Fig. 1 also shows, the dishware holders 12 to 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each dishware holder 12 to 14 can be optionally moved into or out of the washing container 2. In particular, each dishware holder 12 to 14 can be pushed or moved into the washing container 2 in an insertion direction E and can be pulled or moved out of the washing container 2 in a pull-out direction A against the insertion direction E.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic sectional view through a lower area of the household dishwasher 1. Vertically below the washing container 2 is a pump pot

15, which has a sieve 16 and a base 17. Due to the effect of gravity, rinsing liquid and/or fresh water F collects in a lower area of the pump pot 15, with the amount of liquid in the pump pot 15 moving between an upper level Vo and a lower level Vu. The pump pot 15 also serves to support a spray arm 18, which is mounted on the pump pot 15 so as to be rotatable about a first axis of rotation 19. The spray arm 18 has a boom 20, which in turn has a first arm 21 and a second arm 22, which is arranged opposite the first arm 21. A sieve cleaning nozzle 23 can be arranged on the second arm 22, which serves to eject washing liquid and/or fresh water F vertically downwards and can thus clean the sieve 16. A spray arm satellite 24 is mounted on the first arm 21 of the boom 20 so as to be rotatable about a second axis of rotation 25. The first axis of rotation 19 and the second axis of rotation 25 are arranged parallel to one another and laterally spaced from one another. The spray arm satellite 24 has spray nozzles 26 which are directed upwards in order to apply washing liquid and/or fresh water F to the items to be washed.

The boom 20 is connected to a drive device 27, which in turn has a drive element 28 and a detection device 29. The boom 20 can be driven in a targeted and active manner by the drive element 28. The boom 20 is coupled to the drive element 28, for example with the aid of a gear box of the drive device 27. The gear box has a plurality of gears. A zero angular position of the drive element 28, in particular a zero angular position of one of the gears, is detected by the detection device 29, for example optically, magnetically, electrically or mechanically. The spray arm satellite 24 is recoil-driven by the rinsing liquid and/or the fresh water F emerging from the spray nozzles 26, i.e. is passively driven.

A circulation pump 30 is arranged between the pump pot 15 and the spray arm 18, which causes a pressure jump which ensures that washing liquor and/or fresh water F is transported out of the pump pot 15, through the spray arm 18 and out of the spray nozzles 26 and, if present, out of the screen cleaning nozzle 23, so that the items to be washed are exposed to washing liquor and/or fresh water F. A control device 31 serves, on the one hand, to control the circulation pump 30 and, on the other hand, to control the drive device 27. The control device 31 can, for example, determine an angular position of the drive element 28 from the angular zero position of the drive element 28, i.e. its position in the circumferential direction around the first axis of rotation 19. Furthermore, the control device 31 can, for example, Drive element 28 is controlled as a function of the angular position of the boom 20 determined by the detection device 29 and the control device 31.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic top view of the spray arm 18 and a circular area 32 swept by it during one rotation about the first axis of rotation 19. The boom 20, which is mounted in a central region so as to be rotatable about the first axis of rotation 19, and the spray arm satellite 24, which is mounted on the boom 20 so as to be rotatable about the second axis of rotation 25, can be seen. An angular position 33 of the boom 20 defines an orientation of the boom 20 and thus in particular also a position of the spray arm satellite 24 in a circumferential direction U. The angular position 33 therefore describes how far the boom 20 has rotated about the first axis of rotation 19.

The circular area 32 swept over by the boom 20 during one rotation about the first axis of rotation 19 is divided into a plurality of sectors 34, 35, of which only two are provided with a reference symbol in Fig. 3. Each sector 34, 35 thus represents a partial area of the circular area 32, which is delimited on two sides by straight leg lines 36, of which only one is provided with a reference symbol in Fig. 3, between a circle center of the circular area 32 and a circle circumference 37 of the circular area 32 and on a third side by an intermediate section of the circle circumference 37. A subdivision of the circular area 32 into eight sectors 34, 35 is shown. The circular area 32 could, however, also be divided into six, ten or twelve sectors 34, 35, for example. The angular position 33 of the boom 20 defines in which sector 34, 35 the spray arm satellite 24 is located.

The boom 20 rotates about the first axis of rotation 19 at a rotational speed, wherein the rotational speed can be oriented both in the circumferential direction U and against the circumferential direction U. The boom 20 can therefore rotate both clockwise and counterclockwise about the first axis of rotation 19.

Fig. 4 shows a top view of the drive element 28. An angular position 38 of the drive element 28 can be seen to indicate a position of the drive element 28 about the first axis of rotation 19. The drive element 28 can comprise a drive shaft 39 which can rotate about the first axis of rotation 19. However, the drive shaft 39 can also be set to the first axis of rotation 19. The aforementioned angular position 38 is understood to mean a rotation of the drive shaft 39 by a defined angle.

Fig. 5 shows a non-scale and exemplary representation of a power level L of the circulation pump 30 during an exemplary program sequence. The abscissa shown on the horizontal axis indicates the point in time during the program sequence, which is divided here, for example, into the program sections pre-wash V, cleaning R, intermediate rinse Z and final rinse K. The ordinate shown on the vertical axis indicates the power level L of the circulation pump 30, which is transmitted from the control device 31 to the circulation pump 30 as a target value. A high power level L causes a higher exit speed of the washing liquor and/or the washing water F from the spray nozzles 26. A low power level L of the circulation pump 30 correspondingly causes a low exit speed.

During the pre-rinse V program section, the circulating pump 30 is at a medium power level L, and it is controlled continuously. During the clean R program section, the circulating pump 30 is controlled by the control device 31 for pulse rinsing, i.e. for repeatedly switching between different power levels. A time period IR.H, during which the circulating pump 30 has a high power level L, and a time period IR.N, during which the circulating pump 30 has a low power level L, are the same length during this clean R program section and are each approximately 2 s. During the clean R program section, the pulse rinsing is initially carried out between a high and a low power level L, but during the course of the clean R program section, the high power level L is replaced by a medium power level L.

The cleaning intensity can therefore be varied over time during a program section, for example depending on the angular position 33 of the boom 20. During the intermediate rinsing Z program section, pulse rinsing is also carried out, but now with a reduced time duration tz,H of the high (or medium) power level L and a longer time duration tz,N, during which the power level L of the circulation pump 30 is low. During the final rinsing K program section, the circulation pump 30 is again operated continuously with a medium power level L. The pulse rinsing is carried out primarily as a change between a high or medium and a low power level L of the circulation pump 30. However, it is also conceivable to switch off the circulation pump 30 completely at certain times. The pulse flushing would then take place as a change between a high or medium power level L and the standstill of the circulation pump 30.

Fig. 6 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of a method for operating the household dishwasher 1. A step S1 here has the individual program sections pre-wash V, cleaning R, intermediate rinse Z and final rinse K. Within the program section cleaning R, a step S2 of determining the angular position 33 of the boom 20 is carried out, followed by a step S3 of controlling the drive device 27 for the targeted movement and/or location of the boom 20. Finally, in a step S4, the circulation pump 30 is controlled to achieve a targeted power level L of the circulation pump 30. However, steps S2 to S4 could also be part of all program sections K, R, V, Z within step S1.

Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

Reference symbols used:

1 household dishwasher

2 rinsing containers

3 Door

4 Washing area

5 Swivel axis

6 Loading opening

7 Floor

8 Ceiling

9 Rear wall

10 Side wall

11 Side wall

12 Dishwasher holder

13 Dishwasher holder

14 Dishwasher holder

15 Pump pot

16 Sieve

17 Floor

18 Spray arm

19 Rotation axis

20 booms

21 Arm

22 Arm

23 Screen cleaning nozzle

24 Spray arm satellite

25 Rotation axis

26 Spray nozzle

27 Drive system

28 Drive element

29 Recording device

30 Circulation pump

31 Control device

32 circular area 33 Angular position

34 Sector

35 Sector

36 thigh line

37 Circumference

38 Angle position

39 Drive shaft

A Extraction direction

E Insertion direction

F Rinse water and/or fresh water

K Rinse/Program section

L Power level

R Cleaning/Program section

51 Step

52 Step

53 Step

54 Step tR,H Duration tR,N Duration tz,H Duration tz,N Duration

U circumferential direction

V Pre-wash/Program section

Vo upper dimension

Vu lower dimension

Z Intermediate rinse/program section

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Household dishwasher (1) with a washing container (2), a spray arm (18) for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water (F) to items to be washed held in the washing container (2), a drive device (27) for actively driving the spray arm (18), a circulating pump (30) for transporting washing liquor and/or fresh water (F), and a control device (31) for controlling the drive device (27) and the circulating pump (30), wherein the control device (31) controls the circulating pump (30) during a washing operation of the household dishwasher (1) such that the rinsing liquor and/or the fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in pulses. 2. Household dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the spray arm (18) has a boom (20) mounted for rotation about a first axis of rotation (19) and a spray arm satellite (24) mounted on the boom (20) for rotation about a second axis of rotation (25). 3. Household dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that the drive device (27) has a drive element (28) and a detection device (29) for determining an angular position (38) of the drive element (28). 4. Household dishwasher according to claim 3, characterized in that the control device (31) and the drive device (27) are designed to determine an angular position (33) of the boom (20) depending on the determined angular position (38) of the drive element (28), wherein the control device (31) controls the drive device (27) depending on the determined angular position (38) of the boom (20) such that an angular position (33) of the boom (20) is adjustable. 5. Household dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to control the drive device (27) in such a way to control the boom (20) to rotate and stop after a certain predefined time interval. 6. Domestic dishwasher according to one of claims 2 - 4, characterized in that the control device (31) and the drive device (27) are designed to move the boom (20) in a circumferential direction (U) and/or against the circumferential direction (U) about the first axis of rotation (19) at one of a plurality of different predetermined rotational speeds. 7. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 6, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to control the drive device (27) to stop the boom (20) in a predetermined sector (34, 35) depending on the determined angular position (33) of the boom (20) and to move the boom (20) in this sector (34, 35) and/or to locate it stationary in time even during the discharge of washing liquid and/or fresh water (F) from the spray arm (18). 8. Domestic dishwasher according to claim 7, characterized in that the domestic dishwasher (1) is designed to achieve a predetermined and symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of a cleaning intensity with respect to the first axis of rotation (19) with the aid of a targeted control of the drive device (27) for controlling a residence time of the spray arm satellite (24) in a specific sector (34, 35) accumulated over a program section and/or with the aid of a targeted control of a power level (L) of the circulation pump (30). 9. Household dishwasher according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to divide a circular area (32) swept over during one revolution of the boom (20) into a finite number of sectors (34, 35) and to assign to each sector (34, 35) an associated level of cleaning intensity to be carried out with the aid of a cleaning program, wherein the control device (31) is in particular designed to enable a user of the household dishwasher (1) to influence the distribution of the cleaning intensity with the aid of program inputs on the household dishwasher (1) and/or with the aid of a portable electronic terminal. 10. Household dishwasher according to one of claims 1 - 9, characterized in that the control device (31) is designed to control the circulation pump (30) for a repeated change between a high and a low power level (L) to effect a pulse wash, wherein the duration of the high and the low power level (L) of the circulation pump (30) is short in each case. 11. Household dishwasher according to claim 10, characterized in that within the duration of the high power level (L) of the circulation pump (30), a volume of the washing liquor and/or fresh water (F) located in a pump pot (15) is reduced from an upper level (Vo) to a lower level (Vu). 12. Method for operating a domestic dishwasher (1), in particular according to one of claims 1 - 11, wherein the domestic dishwasher (1) has a washing container (2), a spray arm (18), a drive device (27) and a circulation pump (30), wherein the method comprises the following steps: a) carrying out (S1) a washing operation of the domestic dishwasher (1), wherein items to be washed held in the washing container (2) are subjected to washing liquor and/or fresh water (F) with the aid of the spray arm (18) actively driven with the aid of the drive device (27), and b) controlling (S4) the circulation pump (30) in such a way that the washing liquor and/or the fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in pulsed fashion. 13. Method according to claim 12, wherein an angular position (38) of a drive element (28) of the drive device (27) is determined, and wherein the drive device (27) is controlled as a function of the determined angular position (38) of the drive element (28) such that an angular position (33) of the spray arm (18) is set. 14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that pulse rinsing is carried out both during a rotational movement of the spray arm (18) and during a fixed location of the spray arm (18). 15. Method according to one of claims 12 - 14, characterized in that both during a pre-wash program section (V) and during cleaning (R), intermediate rinsing (Z) and/or final rinsing (K) program sections, the washing liquor and/or the Fresh water (F) emerges from the spray arm (18) in pulses, wherein the different program sections (V, K, R, Z) are assigned different durations of a high and low power level (L) of the circulation pump (30), and/or wherein the drive device (27) is controlled by the control device (31) to control the duration of stay of a spray arm satellite (24) of the spray arm (18) in a specific sector (34, 35) accumulated over a program section (V, R, Z, K) and/or the power level (L) of the circulation pump (30) is specifically controlled by the control device (31) in order to achieve a predetermined and symmetrical or asymmetrical distribution of a cleaning intensity with respect to a first axis of rotation (19) of the spray arm (18).