Dishwasher Comprising A Sorption Drying Device, And Method For The Operation Thereof

Abstract

A dishwasher comprising at least one partial program step “drying” in which air from a washing container of the dishwasher and/or ambient air is directed through a sorption column with reversibly dehydratable material into the washing container by a fan, and humidity is removed from the air when the same is directed therethrough. The fan is operated at different rotational speeds in accordance with a main controller of the dishwasher in order to influence the adsorption process.

1 - 13 . (canceled)  
     
     
         14 . A method for treating crockery disposed in a washing container, comprising: 
 subjecting crockery to at least a washing step, a rinsing step, and a drying step, wherein air is passed by the motive force of a fan into contact with the crockery during at least one of the washing, rinsing, and drying steps and such air is thereafter guided to a sorption drying device communicated with the washing container for the passage of air between the sorption drying device and the washing container, the sorption container containing reversibly dehydratable material that operates to withdraw moisture from air during the passage of the air through the sorption drying device, crockery retained in the dishwasher being subjected to a drying step after having undergone a treatment step as a result of which moisture remains on the crockery with the drying step including passing air from the washing container through the sorption drying device, whereupon humidity is removed from the air as it is directed through the sorption drying device, and the fan is operated at different speeds with the aid of a main control system of the dishwasher.    
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the air is directed through the column by a fan that can be steplessly operated at a variable speed, wherein the speed of the fan is established according to a desired duration of the partial program step “drying”.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the speed may be pre-selected by a user of the dishwasher.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the air is heated as it passes through the sorption column and is additionally heated, if necessary, by an electric heating element.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14 , wherein the washing items to be treated are heated with washing bleach in a partial program step preceding the partial program step “drying”.  
     
     
         19 . A dishwashing machine comprising: 
 a washing container;    at least one device for washing crockery using a washing solution in accordance with a washing programme;    a heating device;    a sorption drying device communicated with the washing container for the passage of air between the sorption drying device and the washing container, the sorption drying device containing reversibly dehydratable material that operates to withdraw moisture from air during the passage of the air through the sorption drying device, air exiting from the washing container via a washing container outlet into an air duct of the sorption drying device communicated therewith and thereafter flowing along a flow path through the sorption drying device and eventually exiting the sorption drying device to return to the washing container via a washing container inlet, wherein, on the one hand the sorption drying device is used to dry crockery being handled by the dishwasher and, on the other hand, thermal energy utilized for desorption of the sorption drying device is used to at least partially heat at least one of the washing solution in the washing compartment and crockery, and the sorption drying device having a fan whose speed is controllable by a main control unit of the dishwasher.    
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher according to  claim 19 , wherein air can be directed from the washing container and ambient air through the sorption column and into the washing container during a partial program step containing washing bleach to be heated, preferably during the partial program step “drying”.  
     
     
         21 . The dishwasher according to  claim 19 , wherein the washing container has an outlet with a pipe to the sorption column, wherein the pipe preferably has a shutoff valve and, connected to it in the direction of flow, preferably an inlet valve to the ambient air, and the washing container has an inlet with a pipe from the sorption column, wherein the fan, via which at least a portion of a selected one of the air in the washing container and the ambient air can be introduced at least occasionally into the sorption column, is arranged in the pipe to the sorption column.  
     
     
         22 . The dishwasher according to  claim 19 , wherein a preferably electric heating element is arranged for desorption of the reversibly dehydratable material and for heating the air directed into the washing space.  
     
     
         23 . The dishwasher according to  claim 22 , wherein the heating element is arranged in a selected one of the reversibly dehydratable material and the pipe to the sorption column.  
     
     
         24 . The dishwasher according to  claim 23 , wherein the speed of the fan may be selected in a plurality of steps if not steplessly by a control element of the dishwasher.  
     
     
         25 . The dishwasher according to  claim 19 , wherein the thermal energy used for the desorption can be stored before being used to heat at least the washing bleach if not in addition to the items to be washed in a heat accumulator, e.g. a latent accumulator.  
     
     
         26 . The dishwasher according to  claim 19 , wherein the air is directed through the column by the fan that can be steplessly operated at a variable speed and the speed of the fan is established according to a desired duration of the partial program step “drying”.