Dishwasher

Abstract

A dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, includes at least one activatable circulating pump for directing liquid against food-soiled items to be cleaned, at least one activatable drain pump for discharging a minimum liquid volume of an operating liquid volume from a pump well of the dishwasher, and a filter unit for preventing soil particles contained in the liquid from reaching the circulating pump. After the drain pump has been activated for discharging the minimum liquid volume and then deactivated, the circulating pump can be activated and an operating parameter evaluated to determine whether there is a residual liquid volume remaining in the dishwasher.

1 . A dishwasher, comprising:
 at least one circulating pump for directing liquid against food-soiled items to be cleaned;   at least one drain pump for discharging a minimum liquid volume of an operating liquid volume from a pump well of the dishwasher; and   a filter unit for preventing soil particles contained in the liquid from reaching the circulating pump,   wherein after activation and deactivation of the drain pump, the circulating pump is activatable and an operating parameter of the circulation pump is evaluated to determine whether there is a residual liquid volume remaining in the dishwasher.   
     
     
         2 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , constructed in the form of a domestic dishwasher. 
     
     
         3 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a circulating pump motor driving the circulating pump, wherein the operating parameter of the circulating pump is a measured electricity consumption of the circulating pump motor. 
     
     
         4 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the circulating pump motor is embodied as a BLAC or BLDC motor. 
     
     
         5 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein the circulating pump is activated for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         6 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , wherein after each discharge of liquid by the drain pump the circulating pump is activatable and each time the operating parameter of the circulating pump is evaluated for determining a presence of residual liquid volume. 
     
     
         7 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a visual and/or audible error signal generated when the residual liquid volume exceeds a limit value. 
     
     
         8 . The dishwasher of  claim 1 , further comprising a cleaning program for cleaning the filter unit when the minimum liquid volume is exceeded. 
     
     
         9 . A method for operating a dishwasher, comprising the steps of:
 activating a circulating pump to direct liquid at least temporarily upon food-soiled items to be cleaned;   activating a drain pump to discharge a minimum liquid volume of an operating liquid volume from a pump well of the dishwasher at least temporarily;   keeping soil particles contained in the liquid away from the circulating pump by a filter unit, and   determining a residual liquid volume remaining in the dishwasher after activation and deactivation of the drain pump and subsequent activation of the circulating pump and evaluation of an operating parameter of the circulating pump.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , for operating a domestic dishwasher. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the operating parameter is a measured electricity consumption of a circulating pump motor driving the circulating pump. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the circulating pump motor is embodied as a BLAC or BLDC motor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the circulating pump is operated for a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein after discharge of liquid by the drain pump the circulating pump is activated and the operating parameter of the circulating pump is evaluated for determining a presence of residual liquid volume. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of generating a visual and/or audible error signal when the residual liquid volume exceeds a limit value. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of executing a cleaning program for cleaning the filter unit when the minimum liquid volume is exceeded.