Methods for dispensing a treating chemistry in a dishwasher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10028635-B2
Application number	US-201313869104-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 24, 2013
Priority date	Apr 24, 2013
Publication date	Jul 24, 2018
Grant date	Jul 24, 2018

Abstract

A dishwasher has a treating chamber for receiving dishes for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation and a dispensing system for storing and dispensing a treating chemistry to the treating chamber during the cycle of operation. The dishwasher may dispense a treating chemistry when a temperature of a liquid in the treating chamber satisfies a predetermined temperature threshold. The temperature of the liquid may be maintained to satisfy the predetermined temperature threshold for a predetermined period of time based on the treating chemistry.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for treating dishes in a dishwasher having a treating chamber for receiving the dishes for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation, the method comprising:
supplying liquid to the treating chamber;
sensing a temperature of the liquid;
comparing the sensed temperature of the liquid to an enzymatic temperature threshold;
adjusting the temperature of the liquid toward the enzymatic temperature threshold when the comparing indicates the sensed temperature does not satisfy the enzymatic temperature threshold;
an initial dispensing of an enzyme into the liquid when the comparing indicates the sensed temperature satisfies the enzymatic temperature threshold; and
maintaining the temperature of the liquid to satisfy the enzymatic temperature threshold.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein satisfying the enzymatic temperature threshold comprises one of the sensed temperature being above a low temperature limit, below a high temperature limit, or within a predetermined temperature range.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein adjusting the temperature of the liquid comprises at least one of raising the temperature of the liquid or lowering the temperature of the liquid.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial dispensing of the enzyme comprises one of dispensing the enzyme into the liquid as the liquid is supplied to the treating chamber, supplying the liquid to a dispenser containing the enzyme, or supplying the enzyme to the liquid in the treating chamber.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising dispensing a second enzyme into the liquid.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the initial dispensing of the enzyme comprises dispensing at least one enzyme during a wash phase of the cycle of operation.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the liquid is maintained to satisfy the enzymatic temperature threshold for a predetermined amount of time based on the enzyme dispensed into the liquid.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein raising the temperature of the liquid comprises at least one of heating the liquid with a heating element in fluid contact with at least a portion of the liquid or adding water of a temperature greater than the temperature of the liquid to the treating chamber.

9. The method of claim 3 wherein lowering the temperature of the liquid comprises at least one of recirculating the liquid through the treating chamber without additional input of heat, adding water of a temperature less than the temperature of the liquid to the treating chamber, or pausing a recirculation of the liquid.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising an initial dispensing of a first enzyme into the liquid when the comparing indicates the sensed temperature satisfies a first enzymatic temperature threshold and an initial dispensing of a second enzyme into the liquid when the comparing indicates the sensed temperature satisfies a second enzymatic temperature threshold and maintaining the temperature of the liquid to satisfy the first and second enzymatic temperature thresholds, respectively.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising draining at least a portion of the liquid from the treating chamber.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising draining at least a portion of the liquid from the treating chamber.

13. The method of claim 6 , further comprising comparing the sensed temperature of the liquid to a rinse agent temperature threshold during a rinse phase of the cycle of operation and dispensing a rinse agent when the comparing indicates the sensed temperature satisfies the rinse agent temperature threshold.

14. A method for treating dishes in a dishwasher having a treating chamber for receiving the dishes for treatment according to an automatic cycle of operation, the method consisting essentially of:
supplying liquid to the treating chamber;
sensing a temperature of the liquid;
comparing the sensed temperature of the liquid to an enzymatic temperature threshold;
adjusting the temperature of the liquid toward the enzymatic temperature threshold when the comparing indicates the sensed temperature does not satisfy the enzymatic temperature threshold;
an initial dispensing of an enzyme into the liquid when the comparing indicates the sensed temperature satisfies the enzymatic temperature threshold; and
maintaining the temperature of the liquid to satisfy the enzymatic temperature threshold.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Vanderroest Chad T

Classifications

• A47L2401/12

  Water temperature · CPC title

• B08B3/02

  Cleaning by the force of jets or sprays · CPC title

• A47L15/0055 Primary

  Metering or indication of used products, e.g. type or quantity of detergent, rinse aid or salt; for measuring or controlling the product concentration · CPC title

• B08B3/00

  Cleaning by methods involving the use or presence of liquid or steam (B08B9/00 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B08B7/04

  by a combination of operations · CPC title