PRE-DRYING DEVICE FOR A DISHWASHER

Abstract

Provided is a pre-drying device for a dishwasher, said pre-drying device being placeable inside a housing of the dishwasher in addition to a cleaning device and a drying device. The pre-drying device of the embodiment includes at least one orientation device that allows a jet of air to be directed onto depressions in dishes in order to remove leftover rinsing liquid from the depressions in the dishes following the cleaning process.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to PCT Application No. PCT/EP2016/001707, having a filing date of Oct. 14, 2016, based on DE 10 2015 013 364.0, having a filing date of Oct. 16, 2015, the entire contents both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY

The following relates to a pre-drying device for a dishwasher, a dishwasher with a pre-drying device and a method for pre-drying dishes.

BACKGROUND

A dishwasher is used for the mechanical cleaning of dishes, in which the dishes are first cleaned and then dried. During the cleaning process, the dishes are washed with a detergent. After cleaning, the dishes must be dried. Various drying methods are familiar to us from the state of the art. One familiar drying method is condensation drying. In this, the dishes are heated with a clear rinsing liquid to a set temperature (approx. 70° C.). The heat exchanger in the side wall of the housing is then filled with cold water, so that the hot water remaining on the dishes condenses on the cool wall of the housing. Another form of condensation drying includes a fan, with which the warm, damp air is fed through a closed recirculating air condensation drying system with a heat exchanger filled with cold water, on which the moisture condenses. A zeolith drying system is also known, in which there are small mineral beads in the base of the housing. These absorb the moisture in the drying process and release it only with the next rinsing process. In another drying method, the dishwasher door opens a gap and blows the damp air outside by a fan.

The publication DE 10 2014 001 944 A1 discloses a control process for a dishwasher, for example. In this method, it is primarily a recirculating fan that is housed in a recirculation duct that is operated. The control process controls the rotational speed of a rotor on the recirculating fan. The process also includes the operation of an exhaust fan. This publication also discloses a dishwasher that is equipped, among other things, with a recirculating fan. The recirculating fan removes residual water through evaporation.

However, all these drying methods have the disadvantage that, after the drying process, there is still residual water in the curved depressions on the bottom of upturned vessels. This residual water is particularly unwelcome for the user of a dishwasher, as it demands subsequent drying by hand and can lead, among other things, to deposits or water stains.

The publication WO 2005/060 821 A1 describes a system in which heated air is blown through a lower spray arm upwards into the rinsing tank. This system will dry the dishes more quickly by the heated, moved air, but is unsuitable for removing larger deposits of residual water from depressions.

The publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,185 A describes a system in which water is removed from depressions on top of upturned dishes by air pulses. To do this, overhead rails are provided with a multiplicity of air outlets, which are fed simultaneously by a compressor with pulses of compressed air. The air pressure and the volumes of compressed air necessary to achieve a sufficiently intense air pressure at all air outlets cannot be provided with the space available for additional units inside a conventional dishwasher. In addition, according to the publication U.S. Pat. No. 6,053,185 A, the jet of air from each nozzle is distributed, which again would demand higher air pressure and an even greater volume of compressed air. The direction of the air pulses is fixed by the geometry of the air outlets, so that dishes which are not positioned ideally under the air outlets can only be dried inadequately.

SUMMARY

An aspect relates to a pre-drying device that provides efficiently clean and immediately usable dishes, for which the pre-drying device must be integrable in existing systems in a cost-effective, low maintenance, space-saving and easy manner. In addition, an easily operated dishwasher and a method are created which provide efficiently cleaned and immediately usable dishes. These problems are solved by the combinations of the features of the independent claims.

The pre-drying device according to embodiments of the invention is accommodated inside a housing of a dishwasher in addition to and/or in combination with a cleaning device and/or a drying device. For this, the drying device according to embodiments of the invention includes at least one blowing nozzle, through which a jet of air can be directed at depressions in the dishes in the dishwasher or onto positions at which there are depressions in the dishes with an intentional arrangement of the dishes. The term “can be directed” as meant by embodiments of the invention embraces on one hand a static alignment by alignment, such as alignable nozzles, which are aligned before operating the pre-drying device. In particular, the alignment can be aligned before the dishwasher is started for the first time, for example during production. “Can be directed” also embraces a dynamic alignment during operation of the pre-drying device by means of alignment or an alignment device moving during operation and/or by a dynamic control of the air jet on different paths by means of alignment that are not necessarily movable.

With at least one blower nozzle, the dishes can be treated with a jet of air, in particular with a jet of air preferably directed downwards or downwards at an angle, by which rinsing liquid remaining after the cleaning process is removed from depressions in the dishes. The jet of air from the pre-drying device is to be designed strong enough per area and/or unit of time such that the rinsing liquid in the depressions is sprayed and the majority part conveyed out of the depressions. The parameters to be set for the jet of air include air pressure, direction, speed of flow, typical distances from the blower nozzle to the dishes, flow speed out of the blower nozzle, duration and time modulation of the air flow, in particular the pulses of air in the jet and/or the divergence angle and alignment of the jet of air. The crucial factor is that the jet of air is conveyed to the rinsing liquid present in the depressions and suffices to spray the majority of the rinsing liquid over a typical height for the walls of the depressions in the dishes.

The result achieved by such a pre-drying device is that the dishes can be removed from the dishwasher ready to use, as the rinsing liquid remaining in the depressions then no longer has to be dried off by hand.

Moreover, an energy-efficient drying of the dishes can occur when using such a pre-drying device, as the rinsing liquid remaining in the depressions has been removed completely or at least to a considerable degree, and no longer has to be dried off by an energy-inefficient and therefore more expensive and less environmentally friendly heating process. As there is less water on the dishes and in the rinsing tank after the pre-drying process, the actual energy-intensive drying process can take place for a shorter time and/or at a lower temperature, so that less energy is consumed overall by the actual drying and pre-drying for the complete programme.

In conjunction with such a pre-drying device, the cleaning is also more efficient, as the rinsing liquid remaining in the depressions has been removed completely or at least to a considerable degree, which prevents the formation of deposits or water stains on the dishes. Deposits may, for example, be salts, detergent or other soluble or suspended solids in the rinsing liquid, which can be deposited after evaporation, in particular by a thermal drying of the liquid on the dishes. The spraying of rinsing liquid from depressions in the dishes according to embodiments of the invention has the advantage that materials contained in the liquid that cannot evaporate, or do so only with difficulty, are removed together with the liquid.

At least one blower nozzle can be made adjustable as alignment for aligning the jet of air. Alternatively, the jet of air can also be aligned by \ a variable control for a number of fixed blower nozzles. It is also conceivable, in areas above the dish rack, which is for example intended to house dishes of a closely defined form, to accommodate fixed nozzles, cheaper and simpler in terms of design and maintenance and/or in other areas above the dish rack, which is intended to house dishes of different and, where relevant, unknown shapes when designing the dishwasher, to accommodate movable blower nozzles, so that dishes of any shape and alignment will be dried efficiently by directing the jet of air at positions where there might be depressions containing liquid.

At least one blower nozzle can be designed to generate a directed and/or bundled jet of air. A small divergence angle of the jet of air will, for example, result in the jet of air being bundled and thus, for example, even at low air pressures, still has a sufficiently high momentum to spray on the residual water and remove it from the depressions.

An advantageous design of the pre-drying device will provide an air pressure generation device for producing a jet of air. This air pressure generating device includes, for example, a compressor and/or a fan. Advantageously, at least one air duct system is provided, which preferably has at least one blower nozzle. This air duct system is connected on one side with the air pressure generating device and on the other side with at least one blower nozzle. The air duct system can be formed at least in sections as duct, pipe, hose or as another depression body which is suitable for conducting air.

A further advantageous design stipulates that the air duct system includes at least one valve, for which each valve is upstream of a blower nozzle in the direction of the air flow. The valve opens up the path through the air duct system to the exit from the blower nozzle and treats the dishes with a jet of air, or it generates a pulsed jet of air to treat the dishes intermittently with a pulsed jet of air. The pulsed jet of air reaches a higher pressure at the blower nozzle and in the air flow, which causes a more thorough blowing out of the depressions. Thus, efficient pre-drying is achieved in an advantageous manner.

The valves used are preferably controllable via an interface such that the blower nozzles are controllable consecutively and/or in groups by a single controller. Through sequential control of the valves, powerful pulses from the jet of air are generated, even with an air pressure generation device of limited power. Sequences of pulses from a jet of air have the further advantage that, in a first phase, a pulsed jet of air can transfer a momentum to the residual rinsing water and in a second phase, a portion of the residual rinsing water can spray unhindered from the dishes in the opposite direction to that of the pulsed jet of air between two pulses of the jet of air.

In one particular construction, at least one valve is designed as a multi-path valve, which reduces the number of components used and the cost for the controller.

Advantageously, rapid-opening and/or rapid-closing valves are used to control the blower nozzles, for example electromagnetically or electropneumatically controlled valves. This allows particularly precise control of the valves and thus the pulsed jets of air, and the air pressure built up is available immediately over the entire cross-section of the line.

In one particular embodiment, a single valve can control a number of blower nozzles, for example by a slide, which is constructed such that the various blower nozzles release the air flow in a defined order.

The air duct system can include a distributor for distributing the air flow in different sections of the air duct system. The distributor has a number of compressed air outlets, to which, in each case, the duct system routing the air is connected, for example, an air guided rail or a connecting hose to a blower nozzle block. In particular, valves to control the air flow into the routing air conduction system can be placed at the distributor outputs. In an exemplary design of the air conducting rails, the distributors and the valves, can be arranged, say horizontally, so that the air conducting rails are connected directly behind the rinsing tank wall.

In one particular design, the air conducting system and, in particular, the distributor, is designed so that it also assumes the function of a compressed air tank concurrently. In this way, an adequate stock of compressed air can be provided without the need for a separate compressed air tank, which means that the pre-drying device can be designed in a particularly space-saving way.

The distributor is formed, for example as a spherical, cubic or cuboid hollow body, and can represent a part of the rinsing tank wall to save material and space.

For safety, the air duct system can include a pressure relief valve on the pressure build-up side, for example at the distributor, which can allow too high a pressure to escape from the air duct system, if need be.

In another advantageous construction, it is stipulated that a number of blower nozzles be positioned rigidly and/or a further number of blower nozzles adjustably inside the dishwasher on the air duct system, such as an air conducting plate and/or a grid, and/or the housing. An advantageous design of the air duct system includes a grid, to which several blower nozzles are fitted on the longitudinal and/or transverse sections of the grid. This has the advantage that rinsing water can run unobstructed through the grids and does not remain lying on the surface.

Depending on the design of the air duct system, it can be advantageous to provide additional blower nozzles, for example in air conducting rails on the side housing walls, by the side at the dish rack, in order to treat the dishes at the edge reliably with a jet of air, in particular under the folding shelves. In a further advantageous construction, blower jets, whose air supply is coupled by pushing the dish rack into the rear wall of the rinsing tank, are fitted directly on the underside of the folding shelves.

The blower nozzles are controllable by valves sequentially or in groups, preferably via an interface, so that air pressure is available in adequate quantities at the individual blower jets.

The movable blower nozzles can be swivelled, preferably by a suitably set angle range, for example. A movement of the blower nozzles in a given range of angles is sensible, so that the blower nozzles are matched to different alignments of the openings of depressions on the dishes to be treated and it is certain that even with different alignments, which can occur, for example, by incorrect arranging of the dishes inside the dishwasher, a blowing off of rinsing liquid from the depressions is reliably guaranteed.

The movable blower nozzles can, for example, be designed so that these are supported at the base of the nozzles in a spherical or axial joint and, for example, can be moved in one or more directions, individually or as a group, via a control element, for example a tension rod, plate, tab, a slide and/or a disk on the nozzle output side of the joint.

In a further advantageous embodiment, only the blower nozzle heads are movable. For example, a rotating nozzle head is supported by a nozzle essentially pointing downwards, such that the nozzle head continues to turn through a defined range with each air pulse, for example a quarter of a revolution, so that the jet of air can blow on to a much greater area on the dishes arranged below than with a head that does not rotate.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the air duct system is formed as a rail system with at least one rail. At this rail, blower nozzles or one, two or more blower nozzle blocks are fitted, which are moved by a drive. This rail system is arranged so that, through the blowing nozzle process, all the dishes or at least the majority (for example all glasses and cups, which typically have voluminous depressions when standing upside down and are arranged in the top rack of the dishwasher) are treated reliably by the blower nozzles with a jet of air. Depending on the design of the rail system, two or more rails can also be provided to ensure reliable blowing off of the dishes. In the simplest case, the rails are arranged from front to back as two parallel, straight rails horizontally above the dish rack. However, the rails can also be arranged in the form of a U, a circle or as a number of rails in the longitudinal and/or transverse direction. For uniform movement of the blower nozzles or blower nozzle blocks, it is advantageous to fit one or more guide rails.

By a construction of the nozzle blocks that is as flat as possible, the interior volume of the rinsing tanks is restricted only minimally, and it is guaranteed that, during the process, the nozzle blocks do not collide with the dishes. For this, the blower nozzles can advantageously be for the most part inside the blower nozzle block. Only the head of the nozzle protrudes from the blower nozzle block.

The drive for moving the blower nozzles and/or nozzle blocks works either in a stepped manner or continuously. With a stepped movement, a jet of air is directed at the dishes after every step at different positions respectively.

An advantageous construction of the drive is designed so that a friction clutch is integrated into the drive and this responds if the driven blower nozzle or the driven blower nozzle block encounters an obstacle, for example a part of the dishwasher load that is too high. The friction clutch works such that the blower nozzle or blower nozzle block dwells in front of the obstacle until it goes into reverse, and therefore there is no damage to the dishwasher or to the dishes.

The drive provided in some embodiments can concurrently be formed as a coupling point for the air flow. Among other things, the drive can be designed as a geared drive, which consists of two toothed disks engaging with each other. Both rotation axes of the toothed disks are formed as cylindrical hollow bodies, which therefore represent a part of the air duct system. The toothed disks engaging with each other also guarantees ducting of the air, as this interconnects the two air ducts of the geared drive. A rubber seal is also provided, which consists of at least one rubber ring, which is designed such that it becomes self-sealing when the toothed disks engage. In addition to a geared drive, all drives that afford the opportunity to form a coupling point are also conceivable. In addition, other means of sealing, which can act in a self-sealing manner on connecting both drive parts, are also conceivable.

In one advantageous embodiment, the drive, e.g. an electric motor, is behind the wall viewed from the rinsing tank and merely penetrates the wall with a thin shaft inside a sealed bearing. In the rinsing tank, a spindle with a worm drive is flanged to the protruding shaft, for example, and this can move forwards and backwards through the rotary movement of the blower nozzle block. The blower nozzle block is created, for example, as a hollow body on the side facing the wall and is placed in its end position via the penetration of the wall and thus also seals this during the rinsing process.

It is also conceivable that the power transfer from the drive into the rinsing tank, for example on a spindle, is carried out without penetrating the rinsing tank wall. For this, for example, a number of magnets can be connected to the drive. If the magnets are moved by the drive, this movement can be transferred by a magnetically permeable section of the rinsing tank wall, for example made from plastic, to a further number of magnets inside the rinsing tank, which are connected with a spindle, for example. In this way, no rinsing liquid can reach the drive and damage it.

In one advantageous design, the drive is a compressed air drive. This construction has the advantage that, for the drive, only one compressed air connection hose has to be fed to the inside of the rinsing tank and thus no mobile penetration of the wall, which can lead to leaks, is necessary. The compressed air drive is implemented by a compressed air technique, familiar from the state of the art and matched to the conditions. The connection hose can be fitted separately or in combination with the connecting hose for connecting the nozzle blocks.

A drive by a compressed air drive can be implemented in steps, for example by two counter-rotating geared disks which continue to turn through a defined range with each air pulse, and move the blower nozzle blocks in steps. The compressed air drive is preferably designed so that a defined number of air pulses is always released on to the drive between blowing off air pulses, in order to guarantee that the blower nozzle block covers a defined distance between the blowing off processes.

In one specimen version, the drive includes a movably borne worm drive on a threaded spindle. The compressed air drive is advantageously located at the end of the threaded spindle and moves the spindle in a defined rotary movement with each pulse of air. The worm drive thus moves the blower nozzle block in a forwards or backwards motion. The connections for the drive are, for example, integrated directly into the wall of the rinsing tank.

An alternative embodiment of the drive stipulates that the threaded spindle be fitted as a fixed component in the dishwasher and the worm drive, for example, implemented with a cylinder rotating in bearings inside the blower nozzle block. The rotating movement is implemented by the cylinder, for example by an engaging recirculating groove as actuator between cylinder and blower nozzle block in a linear movement.

The blower nozzle blocks drive and the toggle and end positions can be regulated via position sensors and/or limit switches and an interface, via which the number of air pulses are submitted to the drive, and/or regulated by a time schedule. For example, a blower nozzle block moves from a rear end position forwards to a toggling point and back into the end position. The next blower nozzle block can then move to the next area.

After the pre-drying stage, according to embodiments of the invention, you can check whether the blower nozzle blocks are in the end position. This avoids error functions caused by an incorrect start position, for example because a blower nozzle block was moved when loading the dishwasher. If the blower nozzle blocks are not in the end position after pre-drying, these can be moved into the end position, for example controlled by the interface.

In one advantageous embodiment, at least one, but ideally several, e.g. four, blower nozzles are fitted to a blower nozzle block. In another advantageous embodiment, two rows of blower nozzles are fitted to a blower nozzle block respectively. The first row of blower nozzles is, for example, directed to the left and activated during the forward movement of the blower nozzle block. The second row of blower nozzles is, for example, directed to the right and activated during the backward movement of the blower nozzle block. This could, for example, be used in a construction with two nozzle blocks, each with two rows of four nozzles. This distribution ensures that the entire surface of the dish rack is reached with a relatively low compressor output, which in each case has to supply only four blower nozzles.

Both rows of nozzles and the forward and reverse drive are controlled with this, for example, via four separate hoses that are charged sequentially with compressed air via the distributor.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the blower nozzles are fitted to the blower nozzle block so as to be movable. The nozzles can be moved continuously during the process or, for example, directed to the left during the forward movement and folded to the right on beginning the backward movement. This arrangement means or device that an area drying result is achieved with a lower number of blower nozzles.

The air outlet openings on the inside of the rinsing tank housing, as well as the air inlet openings in the drive and in the blower nozzle block are all advantageously arranged horizontally in one plane, so that the connection hoses between air outlet openings and air inlet openings have to be moved only in one horizontal plane and can thus be more easily guided without protruding into the rinsing tank area.

For simpler guidance of the connection hoses needed, according to the design of the blower nozzle blocks, these are, for example, grouped in dual or multiple hoses.

In order to counter sagging and thus a protrusion into the rinsing area, in one advantageous embodiment, a number of vertical bridges, moving horizontally, preferably made from stainless steel or from plastic, are incorporated into the connection hoses and these stabilise the horizontal movement of the connection hoses. Alternatively, a vertically configured chain, as is familiar from robot and mechanical engineering, can also prevent sagging. For example, in the lower area of the chain, lateral overhangs are fitted and these support the connection hoses.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a hose reel is fitted in the area of the blower nozzle blocks. The reel works in a similar manner to a cable drum, familiar from standard technology, and acts through the prestressed spring force or through the winding on or off coupled to the movement of the blower nozzle block to prevent the connection hoses sagging and protruding into the rinsing area. Ideally, the hose reel is designed around a vertical axis and is to be found in front of the rinsing tank rear wall or directly on the blower nozzle block, so as to take up as little space as possible.

The connection hoses can also be held by, for example, a rope kept under tension via weights or springs, so that they do not protrude into the rinsing area.

In another advantageous embodiment, the air duct system consists of at least one rotating disk, to which blower nozzles are fitted. In this design, several blower nozzles are fastened to a disk such that all the dishes to be treated are loaded adequately with a jet of air through the rotation of the disk. To ensure efficient blowing off of the depressions, the blower nozzles can be distributed on the disk so that, in a radial direction to the outer edge of the disk, there is a greater number of blower nozzles on the disk in the direction of the circumference of the disk to compensate for the shorter resting time of the outer blower nozzles over the relevant dish depressions. In addition, it can be advantageous to provide two, three or four identically designed disks inside the housing. In all these variants, the rotation of the disk can be generated optionally by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive and/or via the blower nozzles themselves and be implemented stepped or continuously. A stepped drive enables the movement of the disk to be matched advantageously to the air pulses from the blower nozzles carried by it. A possible drive is implemented via the blower nozzles, for example via the alignment of the blower nozzles such that the blowing direction is in a plane that is fundamentally at right angles to the rotational axis of the disk.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the air duct system is formed as a, particularly stepped, rotating blow-off arm, which is provided in addition to a spraying arm. In addition, in one advantageous design, at least one spraying arm of the dishwasher is formed concurrently as a blow-off arm. This offers the advantage that no additional element has to be implemented in the dishwasher. In this special design, the spraying arm ducts function as air ducts, e.g. following the cleaning process. Alternatively, a part of the air duct system and/or the blower nozzles of the pre-drying device can be fitted to at least one spraying arm. Furthermore, it is advantageous if the blow-off arm cited can be optionally made as an eccentric. Such a design of the blow-off arm offers the advantage that even dishes located in the corners of the dishwasher racks can be treated reliably with a jet of air. On all variants of the blow-off arm, at least one blower nozzle is fitted, so that all the dishes to be treated can be treated adequately with a jet of air due to the rotation of the blow-off arm. To ensure efficient blowing off of the depressions, the blower nozzles can be distributed on the blow-off arm such that there is a greater number of blower nozzles at the outer edge, in order to compensate for the shorter resting time of the outer blower nozzles over the relevant dish depressions. In all these variants, the rotation of the blow-off arm can be generated optionally by an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic drive and/or via the blower nozzles themselves. A possible drive is implemented via the blower nozzles, for example via the alignment of the blower nozzles such that the blowing direction is in a plane that is fundamentally at right angles to the rotational axis of the blow-off arm.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the air duct system is designed as a number of air rails, preferably in a longitudinal direction over the entire depth of the disk rack, which is fitted with a number of blower nozzles. These blower nozzles are preferably rigid, or designed to be movable in at least one spatial direction or relative to at least one swivelling axis. If a dish holding device, such as the top dish rack, for example, has five setting rows, then each is preferably fitted with rails, populated by blower nozzles, centrally over the relevant setting row, if the dish holding device is in a closed dishwasher. Furthermore, additional air rails populated with blower nozzles can be fitted to the housing walls or to the sides of the dish rack, in order to treat the dishes at the edge, especially under the folding shelves, reliably with a jet of air. The blower nozzles inside an air rail can also be subdivided once more into rows or groups separated in the air side. The total number of blowers is controllable by valves sequentially or in groups, preferably via an interface, so that air pressure is always available in adequate quantities at the individual blower jets. By a configuration of fixed rails populated with blower nozzles on top, with additional rails at the side populated with blower nozzles, a reliable blowing off of the dishes to be treated can be guaranteed, as the dishes can be treated reliably both from above and from the sides with a jet of air.

In a further advantageous embodiment, several air nozzle rails or in each case at least one multi-duct air rail are fitted over each setting row, with which blower nozzles showing preferably in different directions, reach a greater area of the dish rack with the jet of air and thus blow off large size dishes or dishes that are not set correctly. A multi-duct air rail can, for example, be designed as a 3-duct air rail, in which each duct is, for example, assigned four to six blower nozzles. The individual ducts or air rails can be treated sequentially with air by a distributor, so that even with a low power air device, there is always enough pressure available to blow off the dishes.

In a further advantageous construction, a sub-distributor is assigned to at least one multi-duct air rail, to which it is integrated and/or fitted. This has the advantage that only one line has to be installed to the multi-duct air rail from the main distributor and the main distributor also has to have only a manageable number of valves and/or outlets. The individual ducts of a multi-duct air rail are controlled by individual valves upstream of each duct or, for example, by a rotatable perforated disk which always releases access to a single duct. The perforated disk or another sub-distributor is adjusted, for example, with each air pulse, which is released onto the blower nozzles from the main distributor, or with a pulse of air controlled separately.

In a further advantageous design, the sub-distribution of several multi-duct air rails is controlled centrally, for example by a common slide. In addition, the same ducts are always released in parallel by all air rails, but invariably only one multi-duct air rail is treated with compressed air by the main distributor. Central control of the sub-distribution reduces the number of components to be used, as well as the cost for the controller.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the air rails are fitted in the dishwasher so as to be movable. For example, by a servo motor and/or pneumatically, the air rails are moved either individually or as a group. Preferably, the air rails are designed so that they tilt about a vertical axis to the right and/or to the left and/or can be moved forwards and/or backwards. The air rails move such that, with the jet of air, each blower nozzle reaches a greater area of the dish rack with the jet of air and thus large size dishes and/or dishes that have been set incorrectly are blown off

The embodiment is also aimed at a dishwasher that also has a pre-drying device in addition to the cleaning device and the usual drying device. The blower nozzles of the pre-drying device are arranged in the dishwasher above at least one part of the dishes and treat the dishes arranged under it with a jet of air. In this specimen embodiment, the pre-drying device is fitted on top, under the top inside surface of the rinsing tank and/or under a cutlery drawer and/or under a dish rack. This ensures that the pre-drying process is executed reliably in every level of the dishwasher. If the dishwasher includes a cutlery drawer, the blower nozzles of the pre-drying device are either connected rigidly with the rinsing tank, or a number of blower nozzles is fitted with a rear air feed coupling on the underside of the cutlery drawer. Accordingly, the pre-drying device can also be fitted in the area under the top dish rack.

An advantageous design of the dishwasher stipulates that, in the construction with integration of the air duct system in the cutlery drawer or in one of the dish racks with complete insertion of the relevant drawer or the relevant dish rack, the air feed is coupled in an airtight manner, preferably with conical rubber seals, so that the air generated by the air pressure generation device can reach up to the blower nozzles. This coupling functions in a similar way to that of the water distribution coupling points to the spray arms in conventional dishwashers.

The blower nozzles of the pre-drying device are, in one advantageous embodiment, arranged behind a height limiter, so that dishes that are set too high while the dish rack is being pushed in remain suspended at the height limiter and are placed differently or at another point. The height limiter is, for example, at the top front edge of the rinsing tank or at the bottom edge of the cutlery drawer or the upper dishwasher rack. Here, the height limiter can also be used as a grip to pull out the cutlery drawer or the dish rack. The height limiter acts to make the pre-drying device less liable to malfunctions, as the blower nozzles are not prevented from their function by contact with parts of dishes.

A further advantageous embodiment of the dishwasher provides that the air pressure generation device feeds air from the inside of the dishwasher and/or from outside the dishwasher. Hygienic criteria are also met by using filters, separators and similar add-on components. For this, the air pressure generation device can consist of a compressor and/or a fan. In addition, a compressed air tank can be stipulated, in order to provide a constant stock of compressed air. When feeding air from outside, a pressure relief valve is advantageously provided on the rinsing tank, by which excessive pressure occurring inside the rinsing tank during the blow-off process in the dishwasher environment can be discharged. Alternatively, it can be stipulated that excessive pressure be discharged through the dishwasher drainage device. To maintain the odour trap by a siphon, in this case some water can be added again after pre-drying, for example by the existing dishwasher controller.

A compressor and compressed air tank can be integrated into the dishwasher, or even provided externally and connected on the air side.

In a further advantageous design of the dishwasher, at least one dish support device is provided. This dish support device has dish housing devices, whose alignment is complementary to the alignment of the fitted blower nozzles. The dish housing device includes placement areas and/or mountings, which are arranged such that the openings of depressions pointing upwards from dishes placed against a blow-off device are aligned with at least one blower nozzle. The provision of such placement areas or mountings offers the advantage that the blower nozzles can be pre-set directly to a certain angle or to a range of angles which is ideal for treating the dishes, which produces more efficient blow-off. In addition, such dish housing devices can counter tipping over of the dishes.

The embodiment is also aimed at a method which is used for the pre-drying of dishes in a dishwasher. This method includes at least the following steps:

Arranging dishes in the dishwasher;
Treating the dishes with at least one rinsing liquid;
Generating a jet of air by an air pressure generation device;
Provision of the jet of air to at least one blower nozzle via an air duct system;
Directing the jet of air at depressions in the dishes in the dishwasher or at positions of depressions with the intended arrangement of the dishes;
Treating the dishes from above and/or from the sides with a jet of air through at least one blower nozzle.

The treatment of the dishes from above is derived from the arrangement of the pre-drying device, which is always assigned to at least one part of the dishes. It is also advantageous if the treatment is administered with a jet of air or with pulsed jets of air. By using pulsed jets of air, the dishes can be treated in pulses with a higher air pressure, which produces a more efficient blow-off

After running the pre-drying process, there is, at the beginning of the conventional drying process, no or little residual water in the curved depressions on the bottom of upturned vessels, so that the dishes are almost completely dried using the drying process familiar from the state of the art.

With a pre-drying process with a number of air rails, the method can, for example, go as follows: after the final rinse, a compressor switches on and builds up an air pressure in the compressed air tank which, for example, consists of a distributor and connection hoses. If a pre-defined pressure is reached, a first compressed air output valve on the distributor opens briefly and releases a short burst of air on to the dishes through a connected air rail in a first setting row of a dish rack. After a short pause, the compressor has again built up the required pressure in the compressed air tank and a second compressed air output valve in the distributor is opened briefly. The process continues running until all compressed air output valves of the distributor have been opened at least once. The compressor is then switched off and the conventional drying process begins. The process can run similarly with other designs of the pre-drying device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a pre-drying device according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a dishwasher according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dishwasher according to embodiments of the invention with a pre-drying device;

FIG. 5 is another advantageous embodiment of the air duct system;

FIG. 6 is another advantageous embodiment of the air duct system;

FIG. 7 is another advantageous embodiment of the air duct system;

FIG. 8 is another advantageous embodiment of the air duct system;

FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of dishes during the blow-off process;

FIG. 10 is an advantageous drive design;

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a dishwasher with another advantageous design of the air duct system;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along a sectional axis Z of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13a is a schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen arrangements of the pre-drying device in a dishwasher in a first position;

FIG. 13b is a schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen arrangements of the pre-drying device in a dishwasher in a second position;

FIG. 13c is a schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen arrangements of the pre-drying device in a dishwasher in a third position;

FIG. 13d is a schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen arrangements of the pre-drying device in a dishwasher in a fourth position;

FIG. 14a is a schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen arrangements of a height limiter in a dishwasher is a first position;

FIG. 14b is a schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen arrangements of a height limiter in a dishwasher is a second position;

FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of a specimen pre-drying device with multiple duct air rails;

FIG. 16 is a schematic perspective drawing of a multiple duct air rail;

FIG. 17a is a schematic view of a possible design for movable blower nozzles;

FIG. 17b shows a schematic view of an alternative control element in the form of a perforated strap;

FIG. 18a is a schematic view of a possible design for an air rail with movable blower nozzles;

FIG. 18b is a cross-section of FIG. 18a;

FIG. 19 is a schematic view from below a specimen pre-drying device;

FIG. 20 shows a schematic, perspective depiction of a dishwasher;

FIG. 21 is a particularly advantageous design of the dishwasher shown in FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 shows an arrangement of air rails;

FIG. 23 is an air rail connected with a drive;

FIG. 24 is a schematic sectional drawing of a dishwasher;

FIG. 25a is a schematic view of another design for a spindle drive;

FIG. 25b is an exploded view of FIG. 25a;

FIG. 26 is a schematic view of an advantageous design for a movable blower nozzle block;

FIG. 27 is a schematic view of a compressed air drive at a spindle;

FIG. 28a is a perspective schematic drawing of specimen connection hoses;

FIG. 28b is another embodiment of FIG. 28a;

FIG. 29 is a schematic view of a specimen retractor device;

FIG. 30a is a possible guide rail geometry in a schematic view;

FIG. 30b shows a U-shaped arrangement of a guide rail;

FIG. 31 is a schematic vertical section of a particularly flat blower nozzle block;

FIG. 32 is a schematic vertical section through a dishwasher with concealed integrated nozzle blocks;

FIG. 33 is a schematic view of a breakthrough-free power transfer inside a dishwasher;

FIG. 34a is a schematic view of a specimen inhibiting element; in a first position;

FIG. 34b is a schematic view of a specimen inhibiting element; in a second position; and

FIG. 34c is a schematic view of a specimen inhibiting element; in a third position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a pre-drying device 1 according to embodiments of the invention. This pre-drying device 1 is provided with at least one blower nozzle 2.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a dishwasher 100 according to embodiments of the invention, in which this dishwasher 100 is equipped with a cleaning device 112, a drying device 113, an air pressure generating device 120 and a pre-drying device 1 according to embodiments of the invention. Between the air pressure generating device 120 and the pre-drying device 1 a compressed air tank 121 is provided with at least one valve 118. Via this valve 118, which in the air duct direction is upstream of a blower nozzle 2, the dishes 3 can be treated with a jet of air or in pulses with pulsed jets of air controlled by a controller 119. If the compressed air tank 121 has a number of compressed air outputs, in particular each with a valve 118, it can also function simultaneously as distributor for the air duct system 6.

FIG. 3 shows a sectional representation of a dishwasher 100 according to embodiments of the invention with a pre-drying device 1. The dishwasher 100 includes a housing 111, which determines an interior 110 of the dishwasher 100. The pre-drying device 1 shown is above the dishes 3 and has two blower nozzles 2. The dishes 3 have a depression 5, which is filled with a rinsing liquid 10. As shown, the opening 4 of the depression 5 of the dishes 3 is aligned by a placement area 116 such that the opening 4 of the depression 5 is almost opposite the blowing direction R of the single blower nozzle 2. In addition to the placement area 116, a mounting 117 can also be provided on the dish rack 114. The placement area 116 and the mounting 117 represent dish housing devices 115 for the dish rack 114.

FIG. 4 shows an advantageous design of the air duct system 6. In this design, the air duct system 6 is designed as a plate 7. On this plate 7, a multitude of blower nozzles 2 is provided, which are configured either rigidly and/or adjustably. The blower nozzles 2 can, in this design, be controlled individually following one another and/or in pairs and/or in groups.

FIG. 5 shows a further advantageous design of the air duct system 6, which in this embodiment is formed as a rail system 11 with a spindle 24 to drive blower nozzle blocks 21 and/or blower nozzles 2. The rail system 11 also includes coupling gears 9 for the drive and at least one rail 11 on which blower nozzle blocks 21 and/or blower nozzles 2 are arranged so as to be movable.

FIG. 6 shows a further advantageous design of the air duct system 6. In addition, four identical disks 13 are provided inside the dishwasher 100. On these disks 13 are a number of blower nozzles 2, which extend at least in a radial direction outwards to the edge of the disk 13.

FIG. 7 shows a further advantageous embodiment of the air duct system 6 in a vertical and horizontal section, for which in this design the air duct system 6 is represented as a blow-off arm 14. On this blow-off arm 14, which is able to rotate about a rotating axis 16, a number of blower nozzles 2 are also provided.

FIG. 8 shows yet another advantageous embodiment of the air duct system 6, which in this version is designed as a blow-off arm 14 with eccentric 15. A number of blower nozzles 2 are fitted on this blow-off arm 14 with eccentric 15, e.g. on blower nozzle blocks 21. By designing the blow-off arm 14 as an eccentric 15, this is also moved during a rotary movement by the corners of the dish rack 114 and treats even the dishes placed here with a jet of air L.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of dishes 3 during the blowing off, in which the dishes 3 are treated by the blower nozzle 2 in the blowing direction R with a jet of air L. This treatment blows the remaining rinsing liquid 10 out of the depression 5 in the dish.

FIG. 10 shows an advantageous embodiment of a drive 8. In this, the drive 8 is designed as a geared drive, for which two toothed disks 9 are provided, engaging with each other. The rotation axes 91 of the toothed disks 9 are formed as cylindrical hollow bodies, which thus represent a part of the air duct 6. In addition, a rubber ring 92 is provided, which acts in a self-sealing manner on engaging of the toothed disks 9.

FIG. 11 shows a cross-sectional view of the dishwasher 100 with a further advantageous embodiment of the air duct system 6. In this, the air duct system 6 includes five rails 17, which are equipped with at least one blower nozzle 2 and are configured above a dish rack 114 such that these can treat the dishes 3 in the dish rack 114 reliably with a jet of air L. In addition, placement areas 116 are arranged on the dish rack 114, which are preferably formed as folding mountings 117. In addition, on the side areas adjoining or on the dish rack 114 additional blower nozzles 2 are fitted, which are preferably pointing or can be pointed or angled downwards and with which, for example, dishes 3 under the placement areas 116 can be fed from above or at an angle from above with a jet of air L. Further blower nozzles 2, as depicted on the left, can be fitted to the dish rack 114 and/or the placement areas 116 or, as depicted on the right, on a side rail 18 on a side area of the rinsing area 110.

FIG. 12 shows a cross-sectional view along a sectional axis Z, which is depicted in FIG. 11. Five rails 17, which are fitted with blower nozzles 2, can be seen in this cross-sectional view. Among other things, these rails 17 can be fitted to the housing 111 of the dishwasher 100 or to a cutlery drawer or to a dish rack 114.

FIGS. 13a and 13b show schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen configurations of the pre-drying device 1 in a dishwasher 100, which includes a housing 111, a cutlery drawer 122 and a top and a bottom dish rack 114. The door of the dishwasher 100 is on the right hand side and is not shown. The pre-drying device 1 can be fitted on the underside of the cutlery drawer 122 (FIG. 13a), above the top dish rack 114 on the housing 111, on the bottom of the top dish rack 114 (FIG. 13c) and/or under the top dish rack 114 (FIG. 13d) on the housing 111.

FIGS. 14a and 14b show schematic vertical sectional drawings of specimen configurations of a height limiter 123 in a dishwasher 100, which includes a housing 111. The door of the dishwasher 100 is on the right hand side and is not shown. The height limiter 123 is arranged in front of the pre-drying device 1, so that dishes in a dish rack that are too high (not shown) will collide when loading the dishwasher 100 with the height limiter 123 and not with the pre-drying device 1. The height limiter can be fitted to the top inside of the housing 111 (FIG. 14a), to the underside of a cutlery drawer 123 (FIG. 14b) and/or to the underside of a dish rack (not shown).

FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of a specimen pre-drying device 1 with multiple duct air rails 17. The pre-drying device 1 shown includes an air pressure generating device 120, at whose compressed air outlet is connected a distributor 30, which can also serve as a compressed air tank 121. A sub-distributor 31 is connected to each compressed air output from the distributor 30, to whose compressed air outlets the individual ducts 20 are connected respectively to a multiple duct air rail 17. The outputs from the sub-distributor 31 can be controlled by a joint actuating unit 32, so that individual ducts 20 can be opened concurrently for a number of multiple duct air rails 17. In this way, for example, differently aligned blower nozzles 2 in the multiple duct air rails 17 can be charged sequentially with compressed air, in order to align the emerging air flow on different areas under the pre-drying device 1.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic perspective drawing of a multiple duct air rail 17. In the air flow upstream of the multiple duct air rail 17, a rotatable perforated disk 29 can be arranged such that a hole 33 in the perforated disk 29 releases a duct 20 of the multiple duct air rail 17, whereas the other ducts 20 are concealed. A rotation of the perforated disk 29 (in the direction of the arrow) powered, for example, by compressed air, can position the hole 33 in front of different ducts 20. In this way, the blower nozzles 2 can deliver a pulsed jet of air to a duct 20 respectively. By inhibiting elements (not shown here), as explained in FIG. 18, the direction of rotation of the perforated disk 29 can be determined and/or its correct positioning in front of the ducts 20 be ensured.

FIGS. 17a and 17b show schematically a possible design for movable blower nozzles 2. In each case, a blower nozzle 2 is supported on a joint 40, for example a spherical or axial joint, in a movable state (in the direction of the arrow). A gripping control element 41 on the nozzle outlet side of the joint 40, for example a drawbar, allows simultaneous alignment (in the direction of the arrow) of a number of blower nozzles 2. FIG. 17a shows a schematic side view of four blower nozzles 2 connected via a drawbar. FIG. 17b shows a schematic view of an alternative control element 41 in the form of a perforated strap. Through the shape, for example elliptical, of the holes 33 in the perforated strap, which in each case can accommodate the tip of a blower nozzle 2, the tips of the blower nozzle can be moved in a right-to-left movement of the perforated strap both in a right-to-left direction and at right angles to it. In this way, with simple means, the jet of air from each blower nozzle 2 can be aligned on as great an area as possible.

FIGS. 18a and 18b show schematically a possible design for an air rail 17 with movable blower nozzles 2 in plan view (FIG. 18a) and in cross-section (FIG. 18b) along the axis A-A′. In each case, a number of blower nozzles 2 (three in the example shown) is connected rigidly to an inner nozzle head 51, which is pivoted (in the direction of the arrow) on an outer nozzle head 50. The outer nozzle head 50 is connected rigidly to the air rail 17 or as a single part to the air rail 17. The blower nozzles 2 are designed so that the emerging jet of air can rotate the inner nozzle head 51. At the border area between outer nozzle head 50 and inner nozzle head 51, inhibiting elements 53 can be fitted which, for example, in the manner of a ratchet, allow a movement of the inner nozzle head 51 in only one direction and/or end in each case in a pre-defined position. The inhibiting elements 53 can also, for example, include a sphere, supported on springs at the inner nozzle head 51, which is routed to the outer nozzle head 50 with a rotational movement of the inner nozzle head 51 via an arrangement of hollows, similar to saw teeth, with which the sphere engages in each hollow, and the saw tooth shape of the hollows allows only one movement in precisely one direction of rotation. Clearly, it is also conceivable that the sphere is supported on the outer nozzle head 50 and the hollows are fitted to the inner nozzle head 51.

FIG. 19 shows a schematic view from below a specimen pre-drying device 1. The pre-drying device 1 includes a distributor 30, which can serve simultaneously as a compressed air tank 121. At the compressed air outputs from the distributor 121, air rails 17 are connected in each case via a valve 118. The blower nozzles 2 on the air rails 17 are directed at positions where depressions in the dishes (not depicted) in a dish rack 114 can be found under the air rails 17.

FIG. 20 shows a schematic perspective drawing of a dishwasher 100. In the housing 111 of the dishwasher 100 shown are connected an air pressure generating device 120 in the form of a compressor and a distributor 30 connected to the compressed air outlet from the compressor, which can serve concurrently as a compressed air tank 121. The distributor 30 has a number of compressed air outputs, to which an air rail 17 in the inner area of the dishwasher is connected via valves 118 in each case. Both the compressed air tank 121 and the inside area 110 each have, in the example shown, a pressure relief valve 124, through which excessive air pressure in the environment of the dishwasher 100 can be discharged.

FIG. 21 shows a particularly advantageous design of the dishwasher 100 shown in FIG. 20, in which the distributor 30 forms a part of the rear wall of the inner area 110.

FIG. 22 shows an arrangement of air rails 17 which are connected to a blower nozzle grid 22.

FIG. 23 shows an air rail 17 connected with a drive 8 in the form of an actuator motor. The drive 8 can move the air rail 17 along its longitudinal axis (in the direction of the arrow) and rotate it about its longitudinal axis (in the direction of the arrow). This is how the blower nozzles 2 fitted on the air rail can be directed at a wide area.

FIG. 24 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher 100. In the housing 111 of the dishwasher 100 shown are connected an air pressure generating device 120 in the form of a compressor and a distributor 30 connected to the compressed air outlet from the compressor 25, which can serve concurrently as a compressed air tank 121. A compressed air drive 23 and a blower nozzle block 21 with blower nozzles 2 are connected via connecting hoses 26 to the two compressed air outlets from the distributor 30 shown. The compressed air drive 23 moves a movable spindle 24 (in the direction of the arrow) in rotation, whereby the blower nozzle block 21 supported by the spindle 24 is moved along the spindle 24. At least at one end of the spindle 24 is a limit switch 25, which stops the compressed air drive and/or reverses its direction of motion 20 as soon as the blower nozzle block 21 reaches the end of spindle 24.

FIGS. 25a and 25b show a schematic view of a further design for a spindle drive. Inside a blower nozzle block 21 is a drive 8 in the form of a cylinder fitted to a fixed spindle 24 with a recirculating ball 27, which engages in a groove 28 of the blower nozzle block 21. If the cylinder is moved in rotation (in the direction of the arrow), this guides the blower nozzle block 21 in a straight line along to the spindle 24. FIG. 25b is an enlargement of the blower nozzle block 21 from FIG. 25a.

FIG. 26 shows a schematic view of an advantageous embodiment of a movable blower nozzle block 21 with blower nozzles 2. The blower nozzle block 21 can be moved along a spindle 24, which can be rotated via a rotation axis 91 fed through an inside wall 110 of a dishwasher 100. The rotation axis 91 is provided at the wall orifice with a seal 92, which prevents water penetrating from the interior 110 to the drive 8 of the spindle 24, which is arranged in the housing 111 of the dishwasher. As additional protection, the blower nozzle block 21 has a cavity H, which surrounds the wall orifice in a rest position of the blower nozzle block 21 and is also sealed at the wall with a seal 92.

FIG. 27 shows a schematic view of compressed air drive 23 on a spindle 24. The compressed air drive 23 shown has a compressed air inlet E1 for the forward movement along the spindle 24 and a compressed air inlet E2 for the backward movement along the spindle 24.

FIGS. 28a and 28b show perspective schematic drawings of specimen connection hoses 26. To save space, the connection hoses 26 can be designed as a dual hose (FIG. 28a), which includes two ducts 20, or as a multiple hose (FIG. 28b), which has more than two ducts 20. In each case, a vertical bridge 34, horizontally adjustable, for example a steel tape, in the inside of the connection hoses 26 ensures that the connection hoses cannot sag and at the same time come into contact with the dishes.

FIG. 29 shows a schematic view of a specimen retractor 35, for example in the style of a cable drum. If a blower nozzle block 21 is moved along a spindle 24 (in the direction of the arrow), the retractor 35, for example by turning (in the direction of the arrow) a drum, always releases a length of connection hose 26 leading from the housing 111 of a dishwasher to the blower nozzle block 21, only large enough so that the latter does not sag. The retractor 35 can be fitted as in the example shown or to or in the housing 111 to save space and advantageously has a vertical retractor axis.

FIGS. 30a and 30b show in schematic views possible geometries of guide rails 19, on which nozzle blocks 21 in the interior 110 of a dishwasher can move. FIG. 30a shows a particularly simple linearly parallel arrangement of two guide rails 19, on each of which a blower nozzle block 21 can move (in the direction of the arrow). FIG. 30b shows a U-shaped arrangement of a guide rail 19, on which a single blower nozzle block 21 can move over a larger area (in the direction of the arrow).

FIG. 31 shows a schematic vertical section of a particularly flat blower nozzle block 21. In this way, where fundamentally only the nozzle heads 52 of the blower nozzles 2 jut out from the blower nozzle block 21, a particularly flat and space-saving construction is possible.

FIG. 32 shows a schematic vertical section through a dishwasher 100, with integrated and concealed nozzle blocks 21. The nozzle blocks 21 are arranged in hollows in the housing 111 of the dishwasher 100 at the top of the interior 110 of the dishwasher 100, in order not to reduce the volume of the interior 110. In this case, the nozzle blocks 21 can for example be moved forwards and backwards at right angles to the plane of the figure, so that the blower nozzles 2 of the nozzle blocks 21 cover the entire depth of the interior 110 with pulsed jets of air. Each blower nozzle block 21 can include differently aligned blower nozzles 2, for example down to the right and down to the left, in order to cover the entire width of the interior 110 with pulsed jets of air. For example, while a blower nozzle block 21 is moving outside the plane of the figure, the blower nozzles 2 pointing to the left can be activated and while moving inside the plane of the figure, those pointing to the right can be activated. Alternatively, the blower nozzles 2 can also fold over at the changeover point of a blower nozzle block movement into an alignment pointing to right or vice versa. A spray wheel 101 for the dishwasher 100 can be arranged between the nozzle blocks to distribute cleaning liquid.

FIG. 33 shows a schematic view of a breakthrough-free power transfer in the interior 110 of a dishwasher 100. A magnet 60, for example in the form of a magnetic disk, close to a magnetically permeable inside wall section 61, e.g. made from plastic, is moved by a drive 8, e.g. an electric motor. In the interior 110, there is a further magnet 60, which, for example, is connected with a drive spindle 24. Through the magnetic coupling of both magnets 60, a movement of the drive 8 through the unbroken inside wall can be transferred on to the spindle 24, in order, for example, to move a blower nozzle block (not shown). As the inside wall is not broken, no rinsing liquid can leak from the interior 110.

FIGS. 34a, 34b and 34c show schematically a specimen inhibiting element 53 between an outside nozzle head 50 and an inside nozzle head 51. The inhibiting element includes a sphere 54 connected with the inside nozzle head 51 via a spring-loaded connection 55. The outside nozzle head 50 has a number of hollows V, which are formed such that the sphere 54 can engage in a hollow V, and a movement of outside and inside nozzle heads against each other is possible only in one direction, as illustrated by the sequence of FIGS. 34a-34b-34c. By the spring-loaded connection 55, a movement of outside and inside nozzle heads against one another is possible advantageously without a height offset.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.

REFERENCE SIGNS

• 1 Pre-drying device
• 2 Blower nozzle
• 3 Dishes
• 4 Opening
• 5 Depression in the dishes
• 6 Air duct system
• 7 Plate
• 8 Drive
• 9 Drive coupling gears
• 10 Rinsing liquid
• 11 Air guide rails system
• 12 Spray arm
• 13 Disk
• 14 Blow-off arm
• 15 Eccentric
• 16 Rotation axis
• 17 Air rail
• 18 Side air rail
• 19 Guide rail
• 20 Duct
• 21 Blower nozzle block
• 22 Blower nozzle grid
• 23 Compressed air drive
• 24 Spindle
• 25 Limit switch
• 26 Connection hose
• 27 Ball
• 28 Groove
• 29 Perforated disk
• 30 Distributor/Main distributor
• 31 Sub-distributor
• 32 Actuator unit
• 33 Hole
• 34 Bridge
• 35 Retractor
• 40 Joint
• 41 Control element
• 50 Outside nozzle head
• 51 Inside nozzle head
• 52 Nozzle head
• 53 Inhibiting element
• 54 Sphere
• 55 Spring-loaded connection
• 60 Magnet
• 61 Inside wall section
• 91 Air guiding rotation axis
• 92 Rubber seal
• 100 Dishwasher
• 101 Spray wheel
• 110 Interior
• 111 Housing
• 112 Cleaning device
• 113 Drying device
• 114 Dish rack/dish holding device
• 115 Dish housing device
• 116 Placement area
• 117 Mounting
• 118 Valve
• 119 Controller
• 120 Air pressure generating device
• 121 Compressed air tank
• 122 Cutlery drawer
• 123 Height limiter
• 124 Pressure relief valve
• A-A′ Sectional axis

E1 Compressed air inlet for forward movement

• E2 Compressed air inlet for backward movement
• H Cavity
• R Blow-off direction
• L Jet of air
• V Hollow
• Z Sectional axis

Claims

1. A pre-drying device for a dishwasher, in which the pre-drying device is arranged inside a housing of the dishwasher in addition to a cleaning device and a drying device

wherein

the pre-drying device includes at least one alignment device, by which a jet of air can be aligned onto depressions in the dishes, in order to remove rinsing liquid remaining after the cleaning process from the depressions in the dishes.

2. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the at least one alignment device includes a movable blower nozzle for aligning the jet of air, in which the blower nozzle is designed to generate a directed and/or bundled jet of air.

3. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pre-drying device includes an air pressure generating device for generating a jet of air.

4. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim. 1, wherein the pre-drying device includes an air duct system.

5. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air duct system is equipped with at least one blower nozzle and/or at least one distributor.

6. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 1, wherein the air duct system includes at least one valve, in which each valve is upstream of at least one blower nozzle in the direction of the air flow for constant or pulsed treatment of the dishes with a jet of air,

7. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 6, wherein the valves can be controlled via an interface, such that the blower nozzles can be controlled sequentially and/or as a group by a controller.

8. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 1, wherein a number of blower nozzles are arranged rigidly and/or a further number of blower nozzles movably inside the dishwasher (in/on a dish holding device and/or a cutlery drawer of the dishwasher, the air duct system and/or the housing.

9. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the air duct system consists of a rail system, including at least one rail, on which blower nozzles or one, two or more blower nozzle blocks are arranged so that they can be moved by a drive.

10. The pre-drying in accordance with claim 4, wherein the air duct system includes at least one rotating disk, on which blower nozzles are arranged.

11. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 4, wherein

the air duct system is formed as a blow-off arm, in which a spray arm for the dishwasher rinsing liquid is also formed as a blow-off arm, or in which the blow-off arm is fitted in addition to the spray arm, and/or the blow-off arm is formed as an eccentric.

12. The pre-drying device in accordance with claim 4, wherein the air duct system is formed as a number of single or multi-duct air rails, to which is fastened a number of blower nozzles, and/or the air rails are arranged above the dishes and/or as side rails at the side of the dishes fixed and/or movably.

13. A dishwasher including a housing with an interior for housing dishes, a cleaning device for treating the dishes with a rinsing liquid and a drying device for drying the dishes,

wherein

inside the housing is at least one pre-drying device in accordance with claim 1 above at least a part of the dishes.

14. The dishwasher in accordance with claim 13, wherein the air pressure generating device

a. feeds air from the inside of the dishwasher and/or from outside the dishwasher and/or includes a compressed air tank.

15. The dishwasher in accordance with claim 13,

wherein at least one dish holding device is provided, having dish housing devices, whose alignment is complementary to the alignment of the configured blower nozzles, in which placement areas and/or mountings for the at least one dish holding device are arranged such that openings from depressions on the dishes pointing upwards on the dish housing device are aligned against a blow-off direction from at least one blower nozzle.

16. A method for pre-drying of dishes a dishwasher, embodying arranging dishes in the dishwasher; treating the dishes with at least one rinsing liquid; generating a jet of air by an air pressure generation device; providing the jet of air to at least one blower nozzle above an air duct system aligning the jet of air on depressions in the dishes; treating the dishes from above and/or at an angle with a jet of air by at least one blower nozzle in the air duct system.

the following steps:

17. The method in accordance with claim 16,

wherein the treatment is carried out with a jet of air by pulsed jets of air.