Abstract: A sensor for determining the level of the liquid in the lye container for removing foam in the lye container of a drum washing machine with a lye discharge system arranged on the floor of the lye container with a lye pump during a program step, which is provided for dehydrating the lye container. Its sensor signal P is recorded during operation of the lye pump. According to the present invention the sequence p/t of the sensor signal contains a component ?p/?t, whereof the presence indicates the presence of foam in the measuring region. Further, in the presence of the component a foam treatment measure suiting the type of component is introduced.

Abstract: The invention allows a user of a program-controlled household appliance to obtain comprehensive information concerning different working process parameters by having the appliance include a display device for acoustic signals or optical characters and a memory area of the program control device, which is configured for saving set program parameters and measurement and operational values of the actuators and sensors participating in the program that is running. For such a purpose, the display device contains a display element (field), which is activated upon completion of the working process and contains the comment “Log”, indicating the option of issuing information relating to measurement and operational values that have been saved prior to and/or during the last completed working process.

Abstract: A sensor system for a water-bearing domestic appliance for monitoring the treatment fluid in the appliance. The sensor system measures the treatment fluid parameters in a program sequence that includes alternating idle and in motion operations of the appliance. The measured treatment fluid parameters can be compared to known proper operational treatment fluid parameters.

Abstract: The fluid line between a drain opening at the bottom of the tub and an opening located at a higher level in the tub includes a line segment, which serves solely to keep the washwater in the tub in circulation between the upper opening and the drain opening. The line also has a solid pipe segment with a transparent region, at the wall of which a sensor is mounted that responds to the turbidity of the washwater. The sensor has an optical transmitter and an optical receiver. The sensor elements are built into a forked housing so as to securely mount and protect the sensor from the severe shaking during spin cycles. The forked housing embraces the pipe segment and the housing is adapted to the outer shape of the pipe segment at the faces which are in contact with the transparent region.

Abstract: A washing machine includes a perforated washing drum with a contact rpm at which items of laundry in the washing drum come to rest against a surface of the washing drum due to centrifugal force. The washing drum is intermittently driven in alternating rotary directions (reversing mode) during washing and/or rinsing, for accelerating the washing drum in one of the rotary directions to a first rpm being markedly below the contact rpm and accelerating the washing drum in the other of the rotary directions to a second rpm being markedly above the contact rpm.