DOMESTIC DISHWASHER, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A DOMESTIC DISHWASHER

Abstract

A household dishwasher includes a washing container holding a dishwasher load, and a container holding an operating material and arranged outside the washing container and accessible via an opening in an interior of the washing container when a door of the household dishwasher is open. A spray arm applies washing liquor to the dishwasher load and is actively driven by a drive entity. A detection entity is operably connected to a drive element of the drive entity for detecting an angular position of the drive element. A control device determines an angular position of the spray arm as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element and, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm, activates the drive entity to stop the spray arm within a predefined angular range that is outside an angular range defined by an access region of the opening.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the U.S. National Stage of International Application No. PCT/EP2020/070109, filed Jul. 16, 2020, which designated the United States and has been published as International Publication No. WO 2021/018611 A1 and which claims the priority of German Patent Application, Serial No. 10 2019 211 412.1, filed Jul. 31, 2019, pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a household dishwasher and a method for operating a household dishwasher.

A dishwasher comprises a washing container in which a dishwasher load that requires to be cleaned can be held. A rotating spray arm for applying washing liquor and/or fresh water to the dishwasher load can be provided within the washing container. This spray arm can be driven either by means of the pressure of washing liquor and/or fresh water emerging from spray nozzles of the spray arm, or by means of an active drive, in particular with the aid of an electric motor. When the dishwasher is switched off, an actively driven spray arm cannot be moved by hand. Therefore a problem can arise if the spray arm remains in a position at which the access to other components in the dishwasher interior is obstructed.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,220,393 B2 describes a dishwasher with an actively driven lower spray arm. A sensor detects when the spray arm is over the sensor or moves over the sensor during a rotation. The rotational movement of the spray arm can be calculated on the basis of this sensor signal. In this way, provision is made for the spray arm to be stopped in a position at which the access to the filter entity is not hampered by the spray arm.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Taking this as a point of departure, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved household dishwasher.

A household dishwasher is proposed accordingly, having a washing container, a container for holding an operating material, said container being arranged outside the washing container and being accessible via an opening in an interior of the washing container when the door of the household dishwasher is open, a spray arm for applying washing liquor to a dishwasher load that is held in the washing container, a drive entity for actively driving the spray arm, and a control device for activating the drive entity. A drive element of the drive entity is assigned a detection entity for detecting an angular position of the drive element. The control device is configured to determine an angular position of the spray arm as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element and, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm, to activate the drive entity to stop the spray arm within a predefined angular range that is outside an angular range defined by an access region of the opening.

This household dishwasher has the advantage that the position of the actively driven spray arm is known precisely at all times. This makes it possible for the spray arm to be stopped in a precisely defined region when the current wash program is interrupted or finished. It is therefore possible to prevent the actively driven spray arm from stopping in a position at which it obstructs or blocks the access to specific components of the household dishwasher. Since the position check is effected by means of a detection entity that is assigned to the drive element and said detection entity is arranged in particular in a region that is separate from the washing container or protected, e.g. outside the washing container, reliability and service life of the detection entity can be improved. Furthermore, the detection entity can be simpler in terms of construction since it need not be additionally protected against the extreme conditions in the washing container during a washing sequence. The operation of the household dishwasher therefore becomes more reliable and simpler overall.

The household dishwasher comprises a washing container which can be closed from one side in a preferably fluid-impermeable manner by means of a door that can be swung about an axis. The door can be opened for the purpose of loading the washing container with a dishwasher load. When the door is open, further components of the household dishwasher can be accessed in the interior of the washing container. For example, it is possible to access a filter arranged above a basin or sump of the household dishwasher or a salt container.

The container for holding the operating material in this case is arranged outside the washing container and has an opening that can be accessed from the interior of the washing container. The container can preferably be filled with the operating material via said opening. The operating material can be a consumable material, for example, which is used and exhausted during the course of one or more washing routines. The container is preferably configured to hold a stock of the operating material, so that the operating material suffices for a plurality of washing routines. The container can also have further openings. For example, the container may be coupled to a hydraulic system of the household dishwasher and/or have a transfer hatch for introducing or drawing off the operating material and/or other substance.

The spray arm is e.g. a lower spray arm which is arranged in the washing container and above a bottom thereof. The spray arm is in particular rotatably mounted, an axis of rotation of the spray arm running essentially perpendicular to the bottom. “Essentially perpendicular” in this context is understood to mean in particular that e.g. a slightly inclined surface of the bottom may be present, e.g. up to 25°, for draining off washing liquor. It can also be said that the spray arm is rotatably mounted in a horizontal plane.

“Applying” washing liquor to the dishwasher load is understood in this context to mean that the dishwasher load is wetted with washing liquor by means of the spray arm. “Washing liquor” can be understood in this context to mean water to which a detergent has been added or also pure drinking water. The washing liquor can also contain soiling that has become detached from the dishwasher load. The spray arm being “actively” driven is understood in this context to mean that the drive entity applies a rotational moment to the spray arm. Therefore an active drive must in particular not be understood to mean that the spray arm is caused to rotate by means of spray nozzles. In order to actively drive the spray arm, the drive entity comprises a drive element, in particular an electric motor. The drive entity can however also be actuated hydraulically.

The control device can be implemented using hardware and/or software. In the case of a hardware implementation, the control device can be designed as a computer or microprocessor, for example. In the case of a software implementation, the control device can be designed as a computer program product, a function, a routine, part of a program code or as an executable object. The control device is preferably configured to control the household dishwasher as a whole, using a plurality of wash programs. The control device activating the drive entity is understood to mean in particular that the control device causes the spray arm to rotate at a specific speed or rotational frequency, to accelerate, stop, and/or move to a specific position, in particular an angular position.

The drive entity is preferably coupled to the spray arm in a purely mechanical manner, wherein one or more drive elements may be present. For example, the drive entity transfers the rotational moment for driving the spray arm via a drive shaft. In addition, one or more cog-wheels and belts can be provided. The detection entity is assigned to a drive element, e.g. the drive shaft. The detection entity being assigned to the drive element is understood in particular to mean that the detection entity is configured to detect the angular position of the drive element by means of a direct measurement. The detection entity comprises e.g. a Hall sensor, a magnetic signature being established on the drive element. The Hall sensor is arranged in the vicinity of the drive element in such a way that it detects a change in the magnetic flux as a result of a rotation of the drive element.

The drive element to which the detection entity is assigned is preferably provided in the drive entity for the purpose of power transmission. Alternatively or additionally, the drive element can also be coupled e.g. by means of a cog-wheel, to a further drive element for power transmission. Furthermore, the detection entity can be coupled directly to the spray arm. The detection entity detects an angular position of the drive element. The angular position is understood in this context to mean a degree of rotation of the drive element relative to a reference position or zero position. The detected angular position corresponds in particular to a current or momentary angular position of the drive element. Depending on the design of the detection entity and a rotational frequency, the angular position is detected at a specific frequency or at specific time intervals. For example, the angular position is detected once, twice or even N times, where N can be any whole number, per rotation of the drive element. Between two detection time points, the angular position can be determined by interpolation.

The angular position of the drive element is preferably associated with the angular position of the spray arm by a fixed and known function. In particular, the angular position of the spray arm is proportional to the angular position of the drive element. Depending on the manner in which power is transmitted from the drive element to the spray arm, a transmission ratio can apply wherein e.g. one rotation of the drive element then corresponds to a fraction of one rotation of the spray arm or to more than one rotation of the spray arm. If the spray arm is directly coupled to the drive shaft, the angular position of the spray arm corresponds to that of the drive shaft, for example.

The control device is configured to determine the angular position of the spray arm as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element. For example, the detected angular position of the drive element corresponds exactly to an angular position of the spray arm. Accordingly, the control device “knows” the angular position of the spray arm if the angular position of the drive element has been detected. Also known is a rotational frequency of the drive element, from which the rotational frequency of the spray arm can also be derived or determined. Assuming that the rotational frequency is constant in a time period between two detection time points of the angular position of the drive element, the angular position of the spray arm is consequently known at any time point. It can be said that the angular position of the spray arm between two detection time points is determined by means of interpolation and is therefore known. This means that the control device can activate the drive unit in such a way that the spray arm is stopped in a predefined angular range. The predefined angular range lies in particular outside an angular range that is defined by an access region of the opening.

The access region of the opening is understood in this context to be in particular a region that should be available for easy, i.e. unobstructed, access to the opening. For example, the access region is defined by a spatial volume of 10 cm in each direction from an edge of the opening. If the opening is disposed at the bottom of the washing container, a region above the opening is preferably included in the access region. It is thereby ensured that the opening can be accessed with ease, in particular without obstruction by the spray arm.

The spray arm is preferably stopped in the predefined angular range when a wash program is finished and/or a current wash program is interrupted, e.g. when a user of the household dishwasher opens the door. Furthermore, the spray arm is also stopped in the predefined angular range in particular if it is not currently being used during the execution of a wash program, e.g. because only a further (e.g. upper) spray arm is active and/or because a soaking phase, heating phase or similar is included in the wash program.

According to an embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, the opening can be closed by a lid.

This is advantageous if the operating material is not intended to come into contact with the washing liquor, e.g. in order to prevent contamination by the washing liquor. The opening can preferably be closed in a fluid-impermeable manner by means of the lid.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, a water softening device is provided for adjusting a water hardness of supplied water, wherein the container comprises a salt container, which is arranged below the bottom of the washing container, for holding a stock of regeneration salt.

The regeneration salt is consumed over time by the water softening device and must therefore be refilled after a number of washing routines. This does not present a problem here, since the spray arm is stopped outside the access region of the opening for the salt container.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, the predefined angular range is specified in such a way that a longitudinal direction of the spray arm in the predefined angular range is moreover parallel to a push-in direction of a dishwasher loading rack of the household dishwasher.

The spray arm has an elongated or linear shape in particular. For example, the spray arm comprises two arm parts which extend outwards radially from the axis of rotation of the spray arm.

This embodiment variant is advantageous because it is almost impossible for items in a dishwasher load, in particular cutlery items, which protrude e.g. downwards from the dishwasher loading rack to collide with the spray arm when the dishwasher loading rack is pushed into the washing container. Only if e.g. the dishwasher load protrudes from the precisely the center of the dishwasher loading rack can a collision still occur, wherein a slight lateral adjustment of the dishwasher load prevents the collision again. This means that any risk of damage to the spray arm and/or the dishwasher load is reduced in this embodiment variant. “Parallel” in this context is understood to mean an angular range which deviates by e.g. −20° to +20° from the exact parallel direction.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, a gear set for the purpose of power transmission is arranged between the drive entity and the spray arm, the control device being configured to determine the angular position of the spray arm as a function of a transmission ratio of the gear set.

The gear set can have various transmission ratios in particular.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, the spray arm comprises a spray arm satellite which is rotatably mounted on the spray arm, wherein said spray arm satellite, in the predefined angular range of the spray arm, is situated outside the access region of the opening in any possible rotational position of the spray arm satellite.

The spray arm satellite is arranged in particular on one of the two arm parts of the spray arm and is so mounted as to be freely rotatable. The spray arm satellite is preferably driven by means of obliquely disposed spray nozzles. The satellite spray arm is caused to rotate by the repulsion of the expelled washing liquor. The spray arm satellite is connected to the spray arm by means of a fastening element, for example. The fastening element can be released in order to disassemble the spray arm, for example. The spray arm satellite preferably comprises a plurality of arms. For example, the spray arm satellite can have three arms, which are offset by an angle of 120° relative to each other. The number of arms is however unlimited in principle.

In this embodiment variant, the spray arm satellite is therefore advantageously prevented from obstructing or blocking access to the opening of the container when the spray arm is stopped.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, an axis of rotation of the spray arm and an axis of rotation of the spray arm satellite are arranged parallel to each other and at a distance from each other.

This means that the axis of rotation of the actively driven spray arm does not correspond to the axis of rotation of the spray arm satellite. The distance between the two axes of rotation can be a plurality of centimeters.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element comprises an optical, magnetic, electrical and/or mechanical sensor entity.

The sensor entity can have e.g. an LED, in particular a laser diode, a measurement scale and a photodiode. A Hall sensor and/or an electrical resistance coding can also be provided in order to detect the angular position. Mechanical elements such as a projecting part or similar can also be used as a sensor entity.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured with an accuracy of 10°, preferably 8°, more preferably 5°.

The more accurately the angular position is detected, the more accurately the angular position of the spray arm is known. It is therefore possible to control a stop position of the spray arm very accurately.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, the drive entity comprises an electric motor which is arranged outside the washing container.

According to a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher, the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured as a function of a transducer signal from a motor control of the electric motor.

This is advantageous because the control of the electric motor is already required for the operation thereof, and therefore the angular position of the spray arm is known without additional components such as an external sensor entity.

According to a further aspect, a method for operating a household dishwasher is proposed. The household dishwasher comprises a washing container, a container that is arranged outside the washing container and is provided for the purpose of holding an operating material, said container being accessible via an opening in an interior of the washing container when the door of the household dishwasher is open, a spray arm for applying washing liquor to a dishwasher load that is held in the washing container, a drive entity for actively driving the spray arm, and a control device for activating the drive entity. In a first step, an angular position of a drive element of the drive entity is detected by means of a detection entity that is assigned to the drive element. In a second step, an angular position of the spray arm is determined as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element. In a third step, the spray arm is stopped in a predefined angular range, which is outside an angular range defined by an access region of the opening, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm.

The method has the advantage that the spray arm is stopped in a position which allows unrestricted access to the opening of the container, e.g. a salt container for holding regeneration salt.

The spray arm is preferably stopped in the predefined angular range when a wash program is finished and/or a current wash program is interrupted, e.g. when a user of the household dishwasher opens the door thereof. Furthermore, the spray arm is also stopped in the predefined angular range in particular if it is not currently being used during the execution of a wash program, e.g. because only a further (e.g. upper) spray arm is active and/or because a soaking phase, heating phase or similar is included in the wash program.

The method can advantageously be used with a household dishwasher according to the first aspect.

The embodiment variants and features described in respect of the proposed household dishwasher apply correspondingly to the proposed method.

Further possible implementations of the invention comprise other combinations that are not explicitly cited of features or embodiment variants described in the foregoing or below in relation to the exemplary embodiments. In this way, a person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantageous developments and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the subclaims and of the exemplary embodiments described below in respect of the invention. The invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to preferred embodiment variants and to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment variant of a household dishwasher;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of a bottom of the household dishwasher;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic sectional view of the household dishwasher from the side;

FIG. 4 shows a schematic plan view of a bottom of the household dishwasher with a predefined angular range;

FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of a bottom of a further embodiment variant of a household dishwasher with a predefined angular range;

FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a bottom of a further embodiment variant of a household dishwasher with a predefined angular range; and

FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment variant of a method for operating a household dishwasher.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Identical or functionally identical elements are denoted by the same reference signs in the figures unless otherwise specified.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment variant of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a washing container 2 which can be closed by a door 3, in particular in a watertight manner. A sealing entity can be provided between the door 3 and the washing container 2 for this purpose. The washing container 2 is preferably cuboid. The washing container 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The washing container 2 and the door 3 can form a dishwasher interior 4 for washing a dishwasher load.

The door 3 is illustrated in its open position in FIG. 1. Closing or opening the door 3 can be achieved by swinging about a hinge axis 5 at a lower end of the door 3. A loading access 6 of the washing container 2 can be closed or opened by means of the door 3. The washing container 2 has a bottom 7, a top 8 which is arranged opposite the bottom 7, a back panel 9 which is arranged opposite the closed door 3, and two side panels 10, 11 arranged opposite each other. The bottom 7, the top 8, the back panel 9 and the side panels 10, 11 can be manufactured from a stainless steel sheet, for example. Alternatively, the bottom 7 can be manufactured from a plastic material, for example.

The household dishwasher 1 further comprises at least one dishwasher loading rack 12 to 14. A plurality of dishwasher loading racks 12 to 14 can preferably be provided, e.g. three, wherein the dishwasher loading rack 12 can be a lower dishwasher loading rack or lower basket, the dishwasher loading rack 13 can be an upper dishwasher loading rack or upper basket, and the dishwasher loading rack 14 can be a cutlery drawer. It is also evident in FIG. 1 that the dishwasher loading racks 12 to 14 are arranged one above the other in the washing container 2. Each dishwasher loading rack 12 to 14 can be moved into or out from the washing container 2. In particular, each dishwasher loading rack 12 to 14 can be pushed into or slid into the washing container 2 in a push-in direction E and pulled out or slid out from the washing container 2 in a pull-out direction A which is opposite to the push-in direction E.

The household dishwasher 1 further comprises a controlled spray arm which includes a spray arm 17 which is actively driven by a drive entity 19 (see FIG. 2 or 3) and is rotatably mounted on the bottom 7, in particular on a sump (not shown). Also indicated is an opening 22 which leads to e.g. a container 21 (see FIG. 2 or 3) and can be accessed from the interior of the washing container 2. Arranged on the door 3 of the household dishwasher 1 is a control device 23.

The control device 23 is configured to activate the drive entity 19 for the purpose of actively driving the spray arm 17, and therefore to control the movement of the spray arm 17. The control device 23 is preferably configured to control the household dishwasher 1, in particular in accordance with one of a number of wash programs.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic plan view of the bottom 7 of the household dishwasher 1 as per FIG. 1. In addition to the elements already illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 illustrates a drive entity 19, a detection entity 20 and a container 21. The drive entity 19 and the container 21 are indicated by broken lines here because they are arranged below the bottom 7 (and therefore outside the washing container 2), this being more evident in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 also shows a drive element 19′, which takes the form of a drive shaft here. The detection entity 20 is designed as an optical transducer, for example, and is configured to detect the angular position of the drive shaft 19′. In this example, the drive shaft 19′ is directly coupled to the spray arm 17 without any further gearing, such that a change in an angular position of the spray arm 17 corresponds to a change in the angular position of the drive shaft 19′.

It can also be seen that the opening 22 in the bottom 7 is closed by a lid here. The lid extends into the interior of the washing container 2 in this case. The spray arm 17 is arranged at a distance from the bottom 7 and rotates above the lid without being obstructed. When the lid of the opening 22 has to be removed or opened, e.g. in order to load salt into the container 21, the spray arm 17 should not be stopped in a region above the opening 22, since the lid and the opening 22 would otherwise be impossible or difficult to access. Therefore the control device 23 here controls the drive entity 19 in such a way that the spray arm 17 is only stopped in a predefined angular range W1 (see FIGS. 4-6). This is achieved by means of the control device 23 determining the angular position of the spray arm 17 on the basis of the angular position of the drive element 19′ as detected by the detection device 20. For example, the angular position of the spray arm is calculated by means of a function which has the angular position of the drive element 19′ as an input variable. On the basis of the thus known angular position of the spray arm 17, the latter can be braked or stopped in such a way as to come to rest in the predefined angular range W1.

In a schematic plan view of the bottom 7 of the household dishwasher 1, FIG. 4 schematically shows a predefined angular range W1 in which the spray arm 17 is allowed to come to rest, and an angular range W2 which lies in an access region of the opening 22. The angular range W2 here is excluded from the predefined angular range W1. It can also be said that the angular ranges W1 and W2 are disjunct. For example, the predefined angular range W1 is a complete circle minus the angular range W2. Since the spray arm 17 here has an elongated shape which is point-symmetrical in relation to its center of rotation, there exists a further excluded region which lies opposite the angular range W2 shown here, for example, but is not marked because it is theoretically allowed.

FIG. 5 shows a similar view to that in FIG. 4, but with a further embodiment variant of the household dishwasher 1 having all the features of the household dishwasher 1 described in FIGS. 1-4. In addition to this, the spray arm 17 has a satellite spray arm 18 which is so mounted on the spray arm 17 as to be freely rotatable. Since the satellite spray arm 18 extends laterally beyond the spray arm 17, the predefined angular range W1 is further reduced or restricted. This ensures that the satellite spray arm 18 likewise does not project into the angular range W2 of the opening 22 and thereby obstruct access to the opening 22.

It should be noted that a plurality of prohibited angular ranges W2 may be present, e.g. if there is a plurality of openings 22 whose respective access regions are to be kept clear. In particular, an opening 22 whose access region is to be kept clear can also be arranged on one of the side panels 10, 11 (see FIG. 1) or back panel 9 (see FIG. 1) of the washing container 2.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic plan view of a bottom 7 of a further embodiment variant of a household dishwasher 1 with an open door 3 and a further predefined angular range W1. This is e.g. the household dishwasher 1 that was already described with reference to FIGS. 1-3. In FIG. 6, the predefined angular range W1 is comparatively narrow, said predefined angular range W1 comprising an angle of 20°, for example. The predefined angular range W1 in FIG. 6 is selected such that the spray arm 17 is always stopped parallel to the push-in direction E and the pull-out direction A of the dishwasher loading rack 12. This prevents a dishwasher load which protrudes downwards from the dishwasher loading rack 12 from colliding with the spray arm 17 when the dishwasher loading rack 12 is pushed into the washing container 2.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic block diagram of an embodiment variant of a method for operating a household dishwasher 1, e.g. one of the household dishwashers as per FIGS. 1-6. In a first step S1, an angular position of a drive element 19′ of the drive entity 19 is detected by means of a detection entity 20 assigned to the drive element 19′. In a second step S2, an angular position of the spray arm 17 is determined as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element 19′. In a third step S3, the spray arm 17 is stopped in a predefined angular range W1, which is outside an angular range W2 defined by an access region of the opening 22, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm 17.

This method is preferably performed by one of the household dishwashers 1 illustrated in FIGS. 1-5. The stopping of the spray arm 17 as per the step S3 described above occurs e.g. if a current wash program is interrupted, e.g. if a user opens the door 3 of the household dishwasher 1 in order to add to the dishwasher load. In addition to this, the spray arm 17 is always stopped in the predefined angular range W1 when not in use.

Although the present invention is described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many different ways.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. A household dishwasher, comprising:

a washing container for holding a dishwasher load;

a container for holding an operating material, said container arranged outside the washing container and accessible via an opening in an interior of the washing container when a door of the household dishwasher is open;

a spray arm for applying washing liquor to the dishwasher load;

a drive entity for actively driving the spray arm;

a detection entity operably connected to a drive element of the drive entity for detecting an angular position of the drive element; and

a control device for activating the drive entity, said control device being configured to determine an angular position of the spray arm as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element and, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm, to activate the drive entity to stop the spray arm within a predefined angular range that is outside an angular range defined by an access region of the opening.

14. The household dishwasher of claim 13, further comprising a lid configured to close the opening.

15. The household dishwasher of claim 13, further comprising a water softening device for adjusting a water hardness of supplied water, said container comprising a salt container arranged below a bottom of the washing container for holding a stock of regeneration salt.

16. The household dishwasher of claim 13, further comprising a dishwasher loading rack, wherein the predefined angular range is specified in such a way that a longitudinal direction of the spray arm in the predefined angular range is parallel to a push-in direction of the dishwasher loading rack.

17. The household dishwasher of claim 13, further comprising a gear set arranged between the drive entity and the spray arm for power transmission, said control device being configured to determine the angular position of the spray arm as a function of a transmission ratio of the gear set.

18. The household dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the spray arm comprises a spray arm satellite which is rotatably mounted on the spray arm, said spray arm satellite, in the predefined angular range of the spray arm, being outside the access region of the opening in any possible rotational position of the spray arm satellite.

19. The household dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the spray arm is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, said spray arm satellite being mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation which is arranged parallel to and at a distance from the axis of rotation of the spray arm.

20. The household dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element comprises an optical, magnetic, electrical and/or mechanical sensor entity.

21. The household dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured with an accuracy of 10°.

22. The household dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured with an accuracy of 8°.

23. The household dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured with an accuracy of 5°.

24. The household dishwasher of claim 13, wherein the drive entity comprises an electric motor which is arranged outside the washing container.

25. The household dishwasher of claim 24, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured as a function of a transducer signal from a motor control of the electric motor.

26. A method for operating a household dishwasher which includes a drive entity for actively driving a spray arm for applying washing liquor to a dishwasher load in a washing container, and a container arranged outside the washing container and accessible via an opening in an interior of the washing container when the door of the household dishwasher is open, said method comprising:

detecting an angular position of a drive element of the drive entity by a detection entity;

determining an angular position of the spray arm as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element; and

stopping the spray arm in a predefined angular range, which is outside an angular range defined by an access region of the opening, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm.

27. A controlled spray arm for a household dishwasher having a washing container with an access opening inside an interior of the washing container, comprising:

a spray arm for applying washing liquor to a dishwasher load;

a drive entity for actively driving the spray arm;

a detection entity operably connected to a drive element of the drive entity for detecting an angular position of the drive element; and

a control device for activating the drive entity, said control device being configured to determine an angular position of the spray arm as a function of the detected angular position of the drive element and, as a function of the determined angular position of the spray arm, to activate the drive entity to stop the spray arm within a predefined angular range that is outside an angular range defined by an access region of the access opening.

28. The controlled spray arm of claim 27, further comprising a gear set arranged between the drive entity and the spray arm for power transmission, said control device being configured to determine the angular position of the spray arm as a function of a transmission ratio of the gear set.

29. The controlled spray arm of claim 27, wherein the spray arm comprises a spray arm satellite which is rotatably mounted on the spray arm, said spray arm satellite, in the predefined angular range of the spray arm, being outside the access region of the opening in any possible rotational position of the spray arm satellite.

30. The controlled spray arm of claim 29, wherein the spray arm is mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation, said spray arm satellite being mounted for rotation about an axis of rotation which is arranged parallel to and at a distance from the axis of rotation of the spray arm.

31. The controlled spray arm of claim 27, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element comprises an optical, magnetic, electrical and/or mechanical sensor entity.

33. The controlled spray arm of claim 27, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured with an accuracy of 10°.

34. The controlled spray arm of claim 27, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured with an accuracy of 8°.

35. The controlled spray arm of claim 27, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured with an accuracy of 5°.

36. The controlled spray arm of claim 27, wherein the drive entity comprises an electric motor which is arranged outside the washing container.

37. The controlled spray arm of claim 36, wherein the detection entity for detecting the angular position of the drive element is configured as a function of a transducer signal from a motor control of the electric motor.