EP-4736731-A1 - A DISHWASHER COMPRISING A CARBON FILTER

EP4736731A1EP 4736731 A1EP4736731 A1EP 4736731A1EP-4736731-A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a device body (2); a washing chamber (3) which is disposed in the device body (2); at least one drying duct (4); at least one duct inlet (5) which connects the washing chamber (3) to the drying duct (4); and at least one fan (6) which is configured to direct the air in the washing chamber (3) toward the drying duct (4). The dishwasher comprises at least one carbon filter (7); at least one filter housing (8) which supports the carbon filter (7) from at least one section of the wall thereof; a first position wherein the carbon filter (7) is positioned so as to cover the duct inlet (5) to enable the air in the washing chamber (3) to be filtered by the carbon filter (7) before entering the air duct (4); a second position wherein the carbon filter (7) is positioned so as to enable the air in the washing chamber (3) to pass through the duct inlet (5) into the air duct (4) without passing through the carbon filter (7); an actuator which is connected to the filter housing (8) and which is configured to move the carbon filter (7) between the first position and the second position; at least one VOC sensor (9) which is configured to measure the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air in the washing chamber (3); and a control unit which is configured to move the carbon filter (7) to the first position and activate the fan (6) when the VOC sensor (9) detects a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration above a selected concentration value, and to move the carbon filter (7) to the second position and deactivate the fan (6) when the volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration is measured to be below the selected concentration value.

Inventors

AKGUN GULDUR, ISIK SENA
SIR, Gokhan
CAVDAR, Nuray
HATIPOGLU, OZCAN
AKTAS, Derin

Assignees

Arçelik Anonim Sirketi

Dates

Publication Date: 20260506
Application Date: 20250730

Claims (14)

A dishwasher (1) comprising a device body (2); a washing chamber (3) which is disposed in the device body (2); at least one drying duct (4); at least one duct inlet (5) which connects the washing chamber (3) to the drying duct (4); and at least one fan (6) which is configured to direct the air in the washing chamber (3) toward the drying duct (4), characterized by at least one carbon filter (7); at least one filter housing (8) which supports the carbon filter (7) from at least one section of the wall thereof; a first position wherein the carbon filter (7) is positioned so as to cover the duct inlet (5) to enable the air in the washing chamber (3) to be filtered by the carbon filter (7) before entering the air duct (4); a second position wherein the carbon filter (7) is positioned so as to enable the air in the washing chamber (3) to pass through the duct inlet (5) into the air duct (4) without passing through the carbon filter (7); an actuator which is connected to the filter housing (8) and which is configured to move the carbon filter (7) between the first position and the second position; at least one VOC sensor (9) which is configured to measure the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air in the washing chamber (3); and a control unit which is configured to move the carbon filter (7) to the first position and activate the fan (6) when the VOC sensor (9) detects a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration above a selected concentration value, and to move the carbon filter (7) to the second position and deactivate the fan (6) when the volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration is measured to be below the selected concentration value.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the control unit which is configured to operate the fan (6) at a speed value depending on the difference between the measured volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration value and the selected concentration value.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a substantially circular duct inlet (5); at least two carbon filters (7) in a substantially semi-disk shape; the filter housing (8) which supports the carbon filters (7) at least from the straight edges thereof; at least one central rib (51) passing through the center of the duct inlet (5) and to which the filter housings (8) are rotatably connected; and the actuator which is configured to rotate each filter housing (8) in opposite directions so as to align the carbon filters (7) to form a substantially full disk form and bring the same to the first position, and to rotate each filter housing (8) in opposite directions so as to align the carbon filters (7) such that the broad surfaces thereof face and overlap each other while bringing the same to the second position.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the carbon filters (7) which extend toward the washing chamber (3) when in the second position.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the carbon filters (7) which extend toward the drying duct (4) when in the second position.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a duct frame (52) which surrounds the perimeter of the duct inlet (5).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the filter housing (8) which is in the form of a frame surrounding the perimeter of the carbon filter (7).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit which is configured to stop the fan (6) and keep the carbon filter (7) in the first position during at least a portion of a subsequent washing cycle if a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration value above the selected concentration value is measured by the VOC sensor (9) after a selected filtering period following the shifting of the carbon filter (7) to the first position and the operation of the fan (6).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by at least one air pressure sensor (10) which is provided on the side of the duct inlet (5) facing the washing chamber (3) and on the side facing the air duct (4); and the control unit which is configured to stop the fan (6) and keep the carbon filter (7) in the first position during at least a portion of a subsequent washing cycle if the pressure difference between the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor (10) provided on the side of the filter housing (8) facing the washing chamber (3) and the air pressure measured by the air pressure sensor (10) provided on the side facing the air duct (4) exceeds a selected pressure difference or if the pressure ratio exceeds a selected pressure ratio.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of Claims 8 to 9, characterized by the control unit which is configured to bring the carbon filter (7) to the second position by means of the actuator after a drying step in the washing process.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit which is configured to, when a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration value above a selected concentration value is measured by the VOC sensor (9) and the carbon filter (7) is brought to the first position and the fan (6) is operated, generate a visual and/or auditory warning on an interface located on the device body (2) or a machine door (K), or to send a notification to at least one user's mobile device via a wireless connection unit.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the control unit which is configured to, when a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration value above the selected concentration value is measured by the VOC sensor (9) and the carbon filter (7) is brought to the first position and the fan (6) is operated, lock a machine door (K), and to unlock the machine door (K) when the carbon filter (7) is brought to the second position and the fan (6) is stopped.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a heating member for heating at least the base of the washing chamber (3), and the control unit which is configured to, when a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration value below the selected concentration value is measured, begin heating the base of the washing chamber (3) by means of the heating member, and to stop heating the base of the washing chamber (3) when a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration value above the selected concentration value is measured by the VOC sensor (9).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that the selected concentration value is 50ppb.

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwasher, especially to a dishwasher comprising a carbon filter which filters bad odors. Dishwashers are machines used in places such as homes, offices, and restaurants, designed to wash dishes more quickly and economically and to improve living standards. The use of dishwashers generally consists of washing the dishes placed in the washing chamber. In environments such as homes, where a large number of dishes are not accumulated at once, the washing chamber of the dishwasher cannot be fully loaded with dishes. Fully loading the washing chamber can only occur after several eating and/or drinking activities. This situation may result in some of the dishes placed in the washing chamber remaining there for a few days. Foodstuff residues on the waiting dishes may begin to decay during the waiting period and start to generate odors in the washing chamber. This odor generation can easily reach levels which disturb the user. Therefore, the users often start the washing process without waiting, in order to prevent odor generation from occurring in the washing chamber. This means that the washing process is started before the washing chamber is fully loaded. Operating the dishwasher without utilizing its full capacity results in increased consumption of energy, water, and cleaning agents, as well as environmental pollution. Therefore, there is a need in the technique for a dishwasher wherein odors which may be generated in the washing chamber due to dishes being left to wait are eliminated. In the state of the art Chinese Utility Model Application No. CN209915908U, an odor removal device for a dishwasher is disclosed. The dishwasher body comprises a casing which is fixed to the upper surface of the body. A fan is mounted on the inner bottom surface of the casing, and an odor removal box is provided on one side of the fan. The odor removal box is fixed to the inner bottom surface of the casing. A ventilation pipe is fixed to the inlet of the fan. The fan extracts unpleasant-smelling air from the inner chamber of the dishwasher body by means of the ventilation pipe. The said air is then delivered to the odor removal box through the air delivery pipe, and the unpleasant-smelling air is adsorbed and purified by means of activated carbon in the odor removal box. The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher wherein bad odors in the washing chamber are detected, the air in the washing chamber is filtered and refreshed by means of a carbon filter when bad odor is detected, and the carbon filter is protected to extend the economic life thereof when no bad odor is detected. Another aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher wherein a carbon filter is used, it is detected whether the filtering performance of the carbon filter is below a threshold value, and the filtering performance is increased by washing the carbon filter when it is detected that the filtering performance is below the threshold value. The dishwasher of the present invention comprises a device body; a washing chamber which is disposed in the device body; at least one drying duct; at least one duct inlet which connects the washing chamber to the drying duct; and at least one fan which is configured to direct the air in the washing chamber toward the drying duct. The dishwasher of the present invention further comprises at least one carbon filter; at least one filter housing which supports the carbon filter from at least one section of the wall thereof; a first position wherein the carbon filter is positioned so as to cover the duct inlet to enable the air in the washing chamber to be filtered by the carbon filter before entering the drying duct; a second position wherein the carbon filter is positioned so as to enable the air in the washing chamber to pass through the duct inlet into the drying duct without passing through the carbon filter; an actuator which is connected to the filter housing and which is configured to move the carbon filter between the first position and the second position; at least one VOC sensor which is configured to measure the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in the air in the washing chamber; and a control unit, in other words, a processing unit, which is configured to move the carbon filter to the first position and activate the fan when the VOC sensor detects a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration above a selected concentration value, and to move the carbon filter to the second position and deactivate the fan when the volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration is measured to be below the selected concentration value. In the embodiments of the present invention, a carbon filter is provided. The carbon filter is configured to absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in the air passing therethrough. The carbon filter is supported by the filter housing. The filter housing may support the carbon filter by holding the same