Method for the drying time control in dishwashers

Abstract

A dishwasher and a method for controlling a drying time in the dishwasher. The dishwasher may comprise a washing compartment for receiving items to be washed, wherein the items to be washed are heated to a defined initial temperature which is above the temperature of a condensation surface communicating with the washing compartment. The method of the invention may include detecting a temperature gradient of a characteristic temperature during the drying of the items to be cleaned, and using the temperature gradient of the characteristic temperature to detect a property that is characteristic of the degree of evaporation of water on the surface of the items to be cleaned.

1 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . A method for regulating a drying period in a dishwasher having a washing compartment for receiving items to be washed, the items to be washed being heated to a predetermined initial temperature, which is above a temperature of a condensation surface communicating with the washing compartment, the method comprising the steps of:
 detecting a temperature gradient of a characteristic temperature during drying of the items to be washed,   using the temperature gradient of the characteristic temperature to detect a feature that is characteristic of a degree of evaporation of water from a surface of the items to be washed.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein reaching of an end temperature or a start of an asymptotic behavior of a time dependency of the characteristic temperature is detected as the feature. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein rises in the temperature gradient of the characteristic temperature are evaluated to detect the feature. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the characteristic temperature is a temperature characteristic of at least one of a temperature of the items to be washed and a temperature characteristic of the condensation surface. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , further comprising at least one of measuring a temperature characteristic of a temperature of the items to be washed and detecting a temperature gradient of the temperature characteristic of the temperature of the items to be washed. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the characteristic temperature is a differential temperature between the temperature characteristic of the temperature of the items to be washed and a temperature characteristic of the temperature of the condensation surface. 
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the dishwasher includes a water reservoir and the temperature characteristic of the temperature of the condensation surface is a temperature characteristic of the temperature of the water reservoir. 
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein at least one of a temperature characteristic of the items to be washed and a temperature characteristic of the condensation surface are detected and evaluated. 
     
     
         20 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 a washing compartment for items to be washed;   a condensation surface communicating with the washing compartment;   a heater for heating the items to be washed in the washing compartment to a predetermined initial temperature, which is above a temperature of the condensation surface;   means for detecting a time dependency of a characteristic temperature; and   means for detecting a feature of the temperature gradient of the characteristic temperature that is characteristic of a degree of evaporation of water from a surface of the items to be washed.   
     
     
         21 . The dishwasher as claimed in  claim 20 , wherein the detection means comprise at least one of:
 means for identifying that an end value is reached;   means for identifying a start of an asymptotic behavior as an end value of the characteristic temperature is approached;   means for identifying that a threshold of time dependency is reached; and   means for identifying a threshold of a derivation of the time dependency of the characteristic temperature according to time.   
     
     
         22 . The dishwasher as claimed  claim 20 , wherein the means for detecting a time dependency comprise:
 a first temperature sensor structured to detect the time dependency of the temperature characteristic of the temperature of the items to be washed; and   a second temperature sensor structured to detect the time dependency of the temperature characteristic of the condensation surface.