Dishwasher system with a reuse tank

Abstract

A dishwasher comprising a tub, a reuse tank, and a controller for implementing a wash cycle in the tub, the controller comprising a clock, the controller operably coupled to a recirculation pump and a drain pump, the controller configured (a) to cause the recirculation pump to supply liquid used during the wash cycle to the reuse tank, (b) to monitor via a clock a period of time that the liquid is within the reuse tank, and (c) when the period of time is greater than a predetermined period of time, (i) to cause a control valve in an outlet conduit to open and allow the liquid to flow from the reuse tank to a sump and (ii) to cause a drain pump to drain the liquid from the sump and out of the dishwasher.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A dishwasher comprising:
 a cabinet defining an interior;   a tub provided within the interior of the cabinet, the tub defining a treating chamber to receive and treat utensils according to a wash cycle;   a sump disposed within the cabinet and affixed to the tub to collect liquid used during the wash cycle;   a reuse tank for storing liquid captured during the wash cycle for later use in the wash cycle or a subsequent wash cycle after the wash cycle, the reuse tank fluidly coupled to the sump by an outlet conduit with a control valve provided in the outlet conduit to control the supply of the liquid from the reuse tank to the sump;   a recirculation pump fluidly coupled to the reuse tank and the sump;   a drain pump fluidly coupled to the sump for draining liquid collected in the sump; and   a controller for implementing the wash cycle, the controller comprising a clock, the controller operably coupled to the recirculation pump and the drain pump, the controller configured (a) to cause the recirculation pump to supply liquid used during the wash cycle to the reuse tank, (b) to monitor via the clock a period of time that the liquid is within the reuse tank, and (c) when the period of time is greater than a predetermined period of time, (i) to cause the control valve in the outlet conduit to open and allow the liquid to flow from the reuse tank to the sump, and (ii) to cause the drain pump to drain the liquid from the sump and out of the dishwasher.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the reuse tank is disposed within the cabinet. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a heater operably coupled to the controller and in thermal communication with the liquid in the sump; 
 wherein, the controller is further configured (i) to cause the control valve in the outlet conduit to open and allow the liquid to flow from the reuse tank to the sump, (ii) to the heater to provide at least 3600 Heat Equivalent Units to the liquid, and (iii) to cause the recirculation pump to resupply the liquid from the sump to the reuse tank. 
 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a pH sensor coupled to the reuse tank, operably coupled to the controller, and configured to output a signal indicative of the pH of the liquid in the reuse tank; 
 wherein, after receiving the signal from the pH sensor and determining that the pH of the liquid in the reuse tank is below a predetermined pH, the controller is further configured (i) to cause the control valve in the outlet conduit to open and allow the liquid to flow from the reuse tank to the sump, (ii) to cause a predetermined amount of detergent to be added to the tub, and (iii) to cause the recirculation pump to resupply the liquid from the sump to the reuse tank. 
 
     
     
         5 . A method of operating a dishwasher comprising:
 supplying liquid to a reuse tank of a dishwasher for subsequent use with the dishwasher;   monitoring a period of time that the liquid is within the reuse tank; and   draining the liquid from the dishwasher when the period of time is greater than a predetermined period of time.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 supplying liquid to the reuse tank comprises directing liquid from a wash cycle of the dishwasher to the reuse tank.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 supplying liquid to the reuse tank comprises directing liquid from a wash phase of a wash cycle of the dishwasher to the reuse tank; and   the liquid is a mixture of detergent and water.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 supplying liquid to the reuse tank comprises directing liquid from a wash phase of a wash cycle of the dishwasher to the reuse tank; and   the liquid contains soils washed away from utensils during the wash cycle.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 dispensing detergent from a detergent dispenser of the dishwasher into a treating chamber during a wash cycle; 
 wherein, supplying liquid to the reuse tank comprises directing liquid from the treating chamber of the dishwasher to the reuse tank; and 
 wherein, the liquid is a mixture of detergent and water. 
 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 supplying liquid to the reuse tank of the dishwasher comprises (i) collecting liquid in a sump affixed to a wash tub of the dishwasher and (ii) supplying liquid from the sump to the reuse tank.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 supplying liquid to the reuse tank comprises directing liquid from a wash cycle of the dishwasher to the reuse tank; and   the reuse tank is disposed within a cabinet of the dishwasher, and the wash cycle occurred within the cabinet of the dishwasher.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 supplying liquid to the reuse tank comprises supplying liquid premixed with water and detergent.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 supplying liquid to the reuse tank comprises supplying water to the reuse tank, supplying detergent to the reuse tank separately from the water, and recirculating the water and detergent in the reuse tank.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein
 draining the liquid from the reuse tank comprises supplying the liquid from the reuse tank to a sump affixed to a wash tub of the dishwasher and actuating a drain pump that fluidly couples the sump to a drain conduit.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 before draining the liquid from the dishwasher, providing at least 3600 Heat Equivalent Units to the liquid while the liquid is in the reuse tank. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 before draining the liquid from the dishwasher, (i) supplying the liquid from the reuse tank to a sump affixed to a wash tub of the dishwasher, (ii) providing at least 3600 Heat Equivalent Units to the liquid while the liquid is in the sump, and (iii) resupplying the liquid from the sump to the reuse tank. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising:
 before draining the liquid from the dishwasher, (i) supplying the liquid from the reuse tank to the sump, (ii) providing at least 3600 Heat Equivalent Units to the liquid while the liquid is in the sump, and (iii) resupplying the liquid from the sump to the reuse tank. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 monitoring the pH of the liquid supplied to the reuse tank; and 
 after the pH of the liquid falls below a predetermined pH, supplying the liquid from the reuse tank to a wash tub of the dishwasher, and adding detergent to the liquid, and then resupplying the liquid back to the reuse tank from the wash tub. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 5  further comprising:
 monitoring ambient air temperature; and 
 after the ambient air temperature falls below a predetermined temperature, heating the liquid. 
 
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a dishwasher comprising:
 supplying liquid to a reuse tank of a dishwasher for subsequent use with the dishwasher;   monitoring ambient air temperature; and   draining the liquid from the dishwasher when ambient air temperature falls below a predetermined threshold temperature.