Method for operating a dishwasher

Abstract

A method for operating a dishwasher is provided. A heated fluid is at least periodically applied to items to be washed that are supported in an interior of the dishwasher. In order to heat the fluid, air is first conducted through a drying material suitable for exothermic drying. Thereafter, the air, together with the heated fluid driven out of the drying material, is conducted through an outlet opening through which the air, together with the heated fluid driven out of the drying material, enters the interior of the dishwasher. The outlet opening is cooled.

1 - 18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . A method for operating a dishwasher, the method comprising:
 at least periodically applying a heated fluid to items to be washed that are supported in an interior of the dishwasher;   in order to heat the fluid, first conducting air through a drying material suitable for exothermic drying and then conducting the air, together with the heated fluid driven out of the drying material, through an outlet opening through which the air, together with the heated fluid driven out of the drying material, enters the interior of the dishwasher; and   cooling the outlet opening.   
     
     
         20 . The dishwasher of  claim 19 , wherein the dishwasher is a household dishwasher. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the outlet opening is wet with a cooling agent in order to cool the outlet opening. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cooling agent contains water. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cooling agent is circulated in a closed circuit. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the cooling agent is circulated by a circulation pump in order to apply the heated fluid to the items to be washed. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the circulation pump is operated at a lower speed when the outlet opening is cooled than when the heated fluid is applied to the items to be washed. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the air is conducted in a closed circuit from the interior of the dishwasher through the drying material and back through the outlet opening into the interior of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the air flows through the drying material by a forced throughflow. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the forced throughflow is brought about by a fan. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the drying material is reversibly dehydratable. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the reversibly dehydratable material is zeolite. 
     
     
         31 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 means for at least periodically applying a heated fluid to items to be washed that are supported in an interior of the dishwasher; and   a drying material suitable for exothermic drying to heat the fluid;   wherein, in order to heat the fluid, air is first conducted through the drying material;   wherein the air is then conducted, together with heated fluid driven out of the drying material, through an outlet opening through which the air, together with the heated fluid driven out of the drying material, enters the interior of the dishwasher; and   wherein the outlet opening is cooled when the air, together with the fluid driven out of the drying material, enters the interior of the dishwasher.   
     
     
         32 . The dishwasher of  claim 31 , wherein the dishwasher is a household dishwasher. 
     
     
         33 . The dishwasher of  claim 31 , wherein the outlet opening is wet with a cooling agent in order to cool the outlet opening. 
     
     
         34 . The dishwasher of  claim 33 , wherein the cooling agent contains water. 
     
     
         35 . The dishwasher of  claim 33 , further comprising a closed circuit in which the cooling agent is circulated. 
     
     
         36 . The dishwasher of  claim 35 , further comprising a circulation pump to apply the heated fluid to the items to be washed, wherein the circulation pump circulates the cooling agent. 
     
     
         37 . The dishwasher of  claim 36 , wherein the circulation pump is operated at a lower speed when the outlet opening is cooled than when the heated is fluid is applied to the items to be washed. 
     
     
         38 . The dishwasher of  claim 31 , further comprising a closed circuit, in which the air from the interior of the dishwasher is conducted through the drying material and back through the outlet opening into the interior of the dishwasher. 
     
     
         39 . The dishwasher of  claim 31 , further comprising means for forcing a throughflow of the air through the drying material. 
     
     
         40 . The dishwasher of  claim 39 , wherein the means for forcing the throughflow of the air through the drying material is a fan. 
     
     
         41 . The dishwasher of  claim 31 , wherein the drying material is reversibly dehydratable. 
     
     
         42 . The dishwasher of  claim 41 , wherein the reversibly dehydratable drying material is zeolite.