Washing appliance and method

Technical Field

This invention relates to a washing method and to a washing appliance capable of implementing the method. The washing appliance might be a laundry washing machine or a dishwasher.

Prior Art

Normally, dishwashers allow the dishes placed in a washing compartment to be subjected to a chemical wash and a mechanical wash simultaneously. In effect, they use nozzles located on one or more sprayers to spray a jet of liquid under pressure against the dishes to be washed. This liquid under pressure comprises a heated mixture of water and detergent. The liquid under pressure is heated by an electrical heating element. The liquid under pressure directed at the dishes, removes dirt through a mechanical washing action while the detergent improves this washing action thanks to the surfactants and enzymes it contains .

One disadvantage of this is that it is difficult for the washing liquid to reach some parts of the dishes, especially when the washing compartment contains a large number of dishes heaped on top of each other. To overcome this disadvantage, prior art dishwashers use large amounts of water and detergent. Heating the mixture of water and detergent obviously has inherent costs, which are all the higher the greater the quantity of washing liquid to be heated is. Moreover, a higher consumption of detergent has disadvantages not only in terms of the costs of the detergent itself but also in terms of environmental pollution.

In this context, the technical purpose which forms the basis of this invention is to propose a washing appliance and a washing method that overcome the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art.

Disclosure of the Invention

■ In particular, this invention has for an aim to provide a washing appliance and a washing method that can reduce the consumption of washing liquid, in particular of the water and/or detergent used during washing.

Another aim of the invention is to provide a washing appliance and a washing method that can reduce the consumption of electricity.

A further aim of the invention is to provide a washing appliance and a washing method that can improve the measure of the cleanness of the objects to be washed (particularly of the dishes made of porous material) .

The technical purpose and aims specified are achieved by a washing appliance and a washing method comprising the technical features described in one or more of the accompanying claims.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description which follows of a preferred nonexclusive embodiment of a washing appliance illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic view of a washing appliance according to this invention;

- Figure 2 shows a detail of a washing appliance according to the invention;

- Figure 3 shows an example of a washing cycle that implements the washing method; the variable on the x-axis is time, while the variable on the y-axis is the temperature measured during the washing cycle near the articles to be washed.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments of the Invention In the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a washing appliance .

The washing appliance 1 comprises a washing compartment 2 designed to accommodate the articles to be washed. The appliance 1 also comprises washing means 3 for mechanically washing the articles. Advantageously, the washing appliance 1 comprises a dishwasher 10. In that case, the articles placed in the washing compartment 2 are "dishes", meaning by this term any article suitable for washing in a dishwasher, namely: plates, crockery, pots, pans, cutlery, glassware, etc. The washing compartment 2 comprises first means 21 for positioning the dishes. Advantageously, the first positioning means 21 comprise a first rack 210. Normally, there are second positioning means 22 located under the first positioning means 21. The second positioning means 22 comprise a second rack 220. The first and second racks 210, 220 can be pulled out from the washing compartment 2, but during the washing cycle are located inside the washing compartment 2. The washing means 3 comprise at least one first sprayer 30 which directs at least one jet of liquid under pressure at the articles to be washed in the washing compartment 2.

Advantageously, the washing means 3 also comprise a second sprayer 300 which directs at least one jet of liquid under pressure at the articles to be washed in the washing compartment 2. The first and the second sprayer 30 and 300 are usually mounted one under the first rack 210 and the other under the second rack 220. In an alternative embodiment not illustrated, the washing appliance 1 is a laundry washing machine. By "laundry washing machine" is meant a washing appliance 1 designed to wash textile items (garments, household linen, etc.) .. In that case, the washing means 3 comprise a rotary drum for receiving the articles (the textile items) to be washed. The rotary drum is located inside the washing compartment 2. As it rotates, the drum transfers motion to the laundry items it contains, thus stirring them and creating a mechanical action.

Generally speaking, the washing appliance 1 comprises means 40 for nebulizing an aqueous solution containing a chemical detergent in the washing compartment 2 (conveniently, this chemical detergent is a washing aid such as, for example, a washing powder) . In this specification, the term chemical detergent may also refer to the rinse aid used in dishwashers. In the case of a dishwasher 10 the nebulizing means 40 are mounted on the door 7 which gives the user access to the washing compartment 2. More specifically, the nebulizing means 40 might be mounted on the inner door panel, that is, the part of the door 7 that delimits the inside of the washing compartment 2.

In alternative embodiments, the nebulizing means 40 are mounted on the first or the second rack 210, 220, or on the bottom, or one of the sidewalls of, the washing compartment 2. Advantageously, safety means may be provided to prevent the door 7 from being opened when the nebulizing means 40 are active. The safety means comprise a door lock that may be activated electronically or by an electromechanical actuator.

The nebulizing means 40 comprise a high-frequency (typically ultrasound) vibration actuator 400. More specifically, the vibration actuator 400 is an ultrasound piezoelectric actuator.

The nebulizing means 40 also comprise a container 41 which holds the aqueous solution to be nebulized. The vibration actuator 400 is functionally connected to the container 41. More specifically, the vibration actuator 400 is located inside the container 41. In the preferred embodiment, the vibration actuator 400 is in contact with the aqueous solution inside the container 41 (more specifically, the vibration actuator 400 is at least partly immersed in the aqueous solution inside the container 41) .

When the vibration actuator 400 is set in high-frequency vibration it causes the aqueous solution inside the container 41 to vibrate, thereby nebulizing it.

The container 41 is fluid-dynamically connectable to the washing compartment 2 to enable the nebulized particles located in the container 41 to diffuse into the washing compartment 2.

The aqueous solution containing the chemical detergent might be obtained by placing a solid chemical detergent (powder or tablet) in contact with water (in particular water from the main household water supply) .

Advantageously, the solid chemical detergent is placed in the container 41 by a user. For this purpose, the container 41 may have an opening that can be conveniently closed by a door 420.

Conveniently, a passage 421 in the door 420 allows the fluid dynamic connection between container 41 and the washing compartment 2 even when the door 420 is closed. That means the nebulized particles can diffuse into the washing compartment 2.

The washing appliance 1 also comprises a pipe 43 for feeding a liquid into the container 41. In the preferred embodiment, the feed pipe 43 allows the container 41 to be supplied with water.

If necessary, the aqueous solution might also comprise a chemical detergent in liquid form.

The nebulizing means 40 create an aerosol that diffuses into the washing compartment 2. An aerosol is a colloid in which a liquid or a solid are dispersed in a gas. In the preferred embodiment, the aerosol is an aqueous solution dispersed in a gas and the aqueous solution contains the chemical detergent. This causes the particles of the aqueous solution containing the chemical detergent to form a suspension in the atmosphere inside the container 41. This aerosol then diffuses into the washing compartment 2.

A mist that shrouds the articles to be washed is thus formed in the washing compartment 2. In the case of the dishwasher 10, for example, that makes it possible to reach even the parts of the articles to be washed that are difficult to access by the sprayers

30, 300.

Further, the mist tends to settle on the articles to be washed

(typically on the dishes) forming a thin liquid film.

Preferably, the size of the aerosol particles is in the order of nanometres (the size of the particles falls preferably within a range of between 1 nanometre and 1 micrometre) .

This allows particularly effective washing of dishes having a porous surfaces since the extremely small size of the particles allows the particles to find their way more easily into the surface irregularities of the dishes of this type and of the encrusted dirt deposits on them.

The washing appliance 1 also comprises a rinse aid tank 44. The tank

44 can be placed in fluid communication with the container 41 in order to feed the rinse aid (usually in liquid form) into the container 41 where it can be nebulized. Advantageously, the tank 44 is adjacent to the container 41 and can be fluid dynamically connected to the container 41 through an opening that can be occluded by a valve 45. As described in more detail below, the dishwasher 10 allows the rinse aid to be supplied to the washing compartment 2 by nebulization.

Advantageously, the washing appliance 1 comprises means 5 for temporally controlling the operation of the washing means 3 and of the nebulizing means 40. The temporal control means 5 can implement a first procedure where the nebulizing means 40 are switched on after the washing means 3 have been switched off.

The control means 5 comprise an electronic control system 50 operatively connected to the washing means 3 and to the nebulizing means 40. More specifically, the electronic control system 50 controls the operation of the vibration actuator 400 and/or of a pump 6 in a hydraulic circuit 60 that enables the washing liquid to be fed under pressure to the washing means 3 and/or of a flow shutoff device 62 which allows, prevents or regulates the flow of washing liquid along the hydraulic circuit 60 (more specifically, it enables and/or regulates the flow of washing liquid to the first and/or to the second sprayer 30, 300) .

The washing appliance 1 may comprise means for heating the washing compartment 2. Advantageously, the washing appliance 1 comprises a heating element 61 that heats a washing liquid before the latter is fed into the washing compartment 2 through the washing means 3. That way, the washing compartment 2 is heated by the washing liquid (advantageously to temperatures around 40°C) . This allows the aerosol to have a more effective action, as explained in more detail below.

The present invention also relates to a washing method for washing articles placed in a washing compartment 2 of a washing appliance 1. Said method may be implemented by a washing appliance having one or more of the technical features of the washing appliance 1 described above.

More specifically, in the preferred embodiment of it, the washing appliance 1 is a dishwasher 10 (but it might also be a laundry washing machine) .

The method comprises implementing (more specifically, the method involving the implementation by the washing appliance 1 of) a first procedure comprising the steps of:

- subjecting the articles located in the washing compartment 2 to a mechanical wash (see reference A, Figure 3) ;

- applying a chemical detergent in aqueous solution in the form of a nebulized spray inside the washing compartment 2 so as to subject the articles (previously placed in the washing compartment 2) to a chemical wash.

The nebulized spray of aqueous solution is applied in the washing compartment 2 after completing the mechanical wash.

In the preferred embodiment, at least a part of the chemical wash performed through nebulization is not simultaneous with any step of mechanically washing the articles to be washed. At least two separate time steps are therefore contemplated: one of mechanical washing only and one of chemical washing only.

In the case of a dishwasher 10, the mechanical wash makes it possible to start attacking the more stubborn encrusted dirt on the dishes.

The mechanical washing step comprises the step of spraying a washing liquid under pressure against the articles to be washed. The pressure of the washing liquid therefore enables a first wash to be performed. The washing liquid also softens the encrusted dirt, facilitating its mechanical removal.

The washing liquid under pressure is advantageously sprayed by the washing means 3 (more specifically, by the first and second sprayers 30, 300) .

The washing liquid under pressure does not contain any chemical detergents to aid washing. More specifically, the washing liquid is water (in particular water from the main household water supply) . Advantageously, after being sprayed, the washing liquid falls by gravity to the bottom of the washing compartment 2 (possibly after coming into contact with the dishes) . Advantageously, during the step of spraying a washing liquid under pressure against the articles to be washed, the washing liquid that collects on the bottom of the washing compartment 2 is recycled and again sprayed against the articles to be washed. In effect, there is a pipe through which, thanks to the pump 6, the washing liquid is conveyed out of the bottom of the washing compartment 2 and pumped back to the washing means 3. All this occurs in a continuous cycle during the mechanical washing step. The pipe forms part of the hydraulic circuit 60.

Nebulization of the aqueous solution containing a chemical detergent is preceded by a step of heating the washing compartment 2 (or in any case heating the objects to be washed placed inside it) . This step of heating the washing compartment 2 permits heating of the articles to be washed. The step of heating the washing compartment 2 is carried out simultaneously with the step of mechanically washing the articles to be washed.

The step of heating the washing compartment 2 comprises bringing the washing compartment 2, at least in the part of it where the articles to be washed are located, to a temperature in a range of between 30 ⁰ C and 50°C (preferably around 4O ⁰ C) . In effect, the nebulization of the aqueous solution containing a chemical detergent determines the presence of suspended particles of detergent in the washing compartment 2. These particles of detergent comprise enzymes (in particular lytic enzymes) which break certain chemical bonds characteristic of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates. The action of these enzymes is at its optimum at temperatures in a range of between 30 ⁰ C and 5O ⁰ C, preferably around 4O ⁰ C. Heating the washing compartment 2 (or in any case the objects to be washed placed inside it) before nebulization is therefore important for activating the lytic enzymes. The mechanical washing step is performed in a predetermined time interval of between 10 and 20 minutes. Alternatively, a temperature sensor might be provided in the washing compartment 2, the mechanical washing step coming to an end when the temperature sensor detects that a predetermined temperature (for example 4O ⁰ C) has been reached.

The step of heating the washing compartment 2 comprises heating at least a first part of the washing liquid before spraying said first part of the washing liquid against the articles to be washed. The step of heating a first part of the washing liquid is at least partly simultaneous with the step of spraying at least a second part of the washing liquid in the washing compartment 2.

A particularly advantageous aspect is the fact that the heating step is performed during the mechanical washing step. That saves time and also permits heating to be performed by the customary hydraulic circuit 60 of any washing appliance 1 (in particular any dishwasher 10) . As mentioned above, the washing liquid is heated by an electrical heating element 61 . More specifically, this occurs while the washing liquid is being conveyed from the bottom of the washing compartment 2 to at least one nozzle which sprays the washing liquid at the dishes placed in the washing compartment 2. Advantageously, the at least one nozzle forms part of the washing means 3. As stated above, nebulization comprises the step of creating an aerosol from the aqueous solution containing the chemical detergent (see for example, reference B, Figure 3) . The aerosol shrouds the articles to be washed in a mist. Advantageously, the particles of chemical detergent in the aerosol diffuse into the washing compartment 2 without any forced convection. The nebulization step is accomplished by the nebulizing means 40 (in particular through the vibration actuator 400 as described below) .

The step of creating an aerosol from the aqueous solution containing the chemical detergent does not temporally overlap the step of spraying a washing liquid under pressure against the articles to be washed.

The aqueous solution to be nebulized is obtained by placing a chemical detergent in a solid or liquid state in contact with water (in particular water from the main household water supply) in a single container 41. Preferably, the washing appliance 1 comprises, as a tank for feeding in the detergent, only the container 41. The method comprises a step of a user placing a quantity of detergent in the container 41 before the washing cycle starts. During the washing cycle, before the detergent is nebulized, the method comprises feeding water into the container 41. As stated above, this may be done through the feed pipe 43. At the end of the step of creating the aerosol, a quantity of detergent may remain in the container 41. The step of creating the aerosol advantageously lasts for a time interval of between 5 and 10 minutes, with a quantity of solution to be nebulized of around 200-250ml. With larger quantities of solution, the duration of the step of creating an aerosol may advantageously be increased.

After the end of the step of creating the aerosol, the method comprises a further mechanical wash which comprises spraying the washing compartment 2 with at least one jet of liquid in which is dissolved the residual chemical detergent remaining in the container 41 (after the step of creating the aerosol) . In this regard, see for example the steps denoted by the reference characters D and E in Figure 3. During the further mechanical wash, first the liquid jet is heated by the heating element 61 (see reference D, Figure 3) , then the heating means are switched off (see reference E, Figure 3) . For the further mechanical wash, again the washing means 3, more specifically, the first and second sprayers 30, 300, are used. The further mechanical wash is advantageously performed a few minutes after the end of the step of creating the aerosol, so as to allow the aerosol to apply its action on the articles to be washed (there is thus a waiting step, denoted by the reference character C in Figure 3; the waiting step "C" is an optional step during which the aerosol nebulized during the step labelled "B" is allowed to act and the mechanical components of the dishwasher 10, more specifically, the pump 6 and the vibration actuator 400, are off) . The further mechanical wash avoids wasting the remaining detergent in the container 41. In this regard, the method according to the invention contemplates conveying the residual detergent (more specifically, the solid detergent) to the bottom of the washing compartment 2. Advantageously, the residual detergent on the bottom of the washing compartment 2 mixes with the washing liquid used during the mechanical wash and lying on the bottom of the washing compartment 2. To convey the residual detergent to the bottom of the washing compartment 2, a quantity of water is fed into the container 41 (advantageously through the pipe 43) and an outlet port 46 opens in the container 41. The quantity of water fed into the container 41 can flow out of the container 41 through the outlet port 46, carrying the residual chemical detergent with it. In an alternative embodiment not illustrated the dishwasher comprises a system of tipping the container 41. That way, the water and the residual chemical detergent fall out of the container 41 by gravity, advantageously through the at least one passage 421 made in the door 420. Once out of the container 41 the water and the residual chemical detergent are conveyed by gravity to the bottom of the washing compartment 2.

On completion of the further mechanical wash, the used washing liquid is drained out of the washing appliance 1.

In the method according to the invention, after implementing the first procedure, the washing appliance 1 might implement a second procedure. The second procedure is run when the washing appliance 1 is a dishwasher 10. The second procedure comprises the steps of: spraying a further heated liquid under pressure against the articles to be washed located in the washing compartment 2 (for example, see reference F, Figure 3) ;

- nebulizing an aqueous solution comprising a rinse aid inside the washing compartment 2 (for example, see reference G, Figure 3) ; During the second procedure, the step of nebulizing the aqueous solution comprising the rinse aid follows the step of spraying the further heated liquid under pressure.

During the second procedure, the step of spraying the further heated liquid under pressure makes it possible for the dishes to be heated. This facilitates evaporation of a thin film of liquid present on the dishes at the end of the step of nebulizing the aqueous solution comprising the rinse aid (in the second procedure, this liquid film is formed during the step of spraying the further heated liquid under pressure; during nebulization, particles of rinse aid settle on the film) .

The step of spraying the further heated liquid during the second procedure causes heating of the washing compartment 2, at least in the part of it where the articles to be washed are located, to a temperature of between 4O ⁰ C and 6O ⁰ C, preferably 5O ⁰ C. Despite the lower temperature (in other dishwashers, hot rinsing is normally carried out at around 70°C) effective evaporation can take place more quickly than in a situation where the rinse aid is fed in the traditional manner, that is to say, mixed with water and sprayed through a sprayer. That is because the liquid film that settles on the dishes during nebulization is very thin (and can therefore evaporate quickly) .

The step of nebulizing the aqueous solution comprising the rinse aid is preceded by the step of feeding the rinse aid into the container 41. In effect, the container 41 houses the vibration actuator 400 which permits nebulization of a liquid (in this case, the aqueous solution containing the rinse aid) . In this regard, the step of feeding the rinse aid into the container 41 comprises placing the rinse aid tank 44 into fluid communication with the container 41. The tank 44 is placed in fluid communication with the container 41 by opening the valve 45 (described above) .

This invention has important advantages. First of all, it allows uniform washing of the articles. Moreover, it minimizes consumption of energy and detergent.

It shall be understood that the invention described may be modified and adapted in several ways without departing from the scope of the inventive concept. Moreover, all the details of the invention may be substituted by other technically equivalent elements. In practice, all the materials used, as well as the dimensions, may be changed to meet specific needs.