Dishwasher with sterilizer BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Household dishwashers are operated in the main rinse at a temperature of 65-70 ⁰ C, which is required so that the dishwashing detergent can wash away even stubborn food and fat residues.

During the rinsing phase, the water is heated to a higher temperature, about 80 ° C, to disinfect the dishes.

This is not always necessary. There are now detergents that deliver good dishwashing results even at 40 to 50 ° C.

Even at lower temperatures germs can scarcely be found on the surfaces that are subjected to the cleaning process - i.e. the inner wall and dishes - only sporadically germs are there after flushing and the dishes will be perfectly clean.

Aside of the disadvantage of high energy consumption, high temperatures also have other disadvantages: e.g. embrittlement and milking of glasses, especially crystal glass.

Responsible for this haze on the glasses is the high temperature of the dishwasher.

Hot water loosens the molecules in the glass, while the chemicals of the dishwashing detergent move and dissolve them. Although the glass still looks smooth to the naked eye, the light breaks through the small imperfections differently than before, which makes it so dull.

Accordingly, environmental friendly programs are already flushing at low temperatures and it is a trend to lower temperatures further in order to achieve higher energy efficiency classes.

The disadvantage, however, is that a high degree of sterilization is not achievable, as necessary for baby bottles and teats, cutlery for the preparation of raw meat and fish, and for razors and surgical instruments, as well as tools for manicure and pedicure, in particular for piercings and tattoos, which today often is done in do-it-yourself manner or for extra income..

TASK OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is therefore to stearilize the items to be washed, or the parts thereof specially provided for sterilization, to be sterile at current washing temperatures below 100 ° or even lower temperatures and to maintain this over a reasonable period of time. The sterilization should also have the desired sterilization effect if the previous rinsing process was carried out using common washing-up liquid for newborns with a reduced disinfectant effect.

PRIOR ART

This has been tried several times, but mostly halfheartedly, through the use of staggered wash programs with high temperatures in the final rinsing, which again resulted in the disadvantages quoted above and thus did not lead to any finally convincing results.

However, there are numerous patents on sterilizers as single units for baby bottles (e.g., KR 1015 76045 B1 , FR 2580930A1 , FR FR264038B1 and JPH 0316 940U), but without reference to dishwashers.

In addition, there are industrial property rights to autoclaves for the sterilization of surgical instruments and hospital supplies, which are not considered here due to the expense of the necessary pressure chamber.

SOLUTION

The solution as to the present invention is to carry out the standard low-temperature rinse programs, but to place all objects to be sterilized in an extra compartment which is additionally charged with superheated steam and / or UV irradiation in or after the final rinse.

This results in the advantage over individual sterilization equipment that essential prerequisites and installations are already given by the dishwasher and the vapor emission of steam- sterilizers at opening tend to be much less violent when it discharges first into in the large, but less hot rinsing chamber when opening the set.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION ALONG TO THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 shows the arrangement of a sterilization chamber (2) in a standard dishwasher (1 ) and the items to be washed (7) contained therein as well as a separate set of rotating washing arms (8)

Fig. 2 shows a sterilization chamber (2) with the supply of rinsing water (3) and superheated steam (12).

The washing water (3) is connected to the pump of the dishwasher (not shown here) via the inlet (13) and rinses the items to be washed (7) via a separate set of outlets (8) in the separate set of rotating washing arms (9).

The superheated steam is generated with the supply of fresh water (4) in a steam generator (5), the outlet is controlled with a valve (6). The steam is supplied to the items to be sterilized (here e.g. baby bottles) via a separate set of outlets (10) in the separate set of rotating washing arms (9).

The separate set of rotating washing arms (9) (the washing arms of the basic device (1) are included in Fig. 1) rotate with the distributor head (11), which ensures both the flow of the washing water (3) and the superheated steam (12).

Washing water (3) and superheated steam (12) circulate in the sterilization chamber (2), both of which then flow into the washing circuit.