Intermediate Rinse

Abstract

The present invention relates to a home appliance, in particular a dishwasher, a washing machine or the like, and a method for controlling said home appliance. The home appliance comprises a water supply unit including a water supply port configured to be connected to a water supply for supplying water, like fresh water, to the home appliance, a water reservoir for storing water to be supplied to the home appliance by the water supply unit, a treatment space for treating objects in the home appliance, like dishes or laundry, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water supplied to the reservoir and the water discharged from the treatment space by at least one pump unit, a control unit for controlling the operation of the home appliance and a bypass device for bypassing water supplied by the water supply unit past the reservoir to the treatment space.

1 . A home appliance, in particular a dishwasher, a washing machine or the like, the home appliance comprising:
 a water supply unit including a water supply port configured to be connected to a water supply for supplying water, like fresh water, to the home appliance;   a water reservoir for storing water to be supplied to the home appliance by the water supply unit;   a treatment space for treating objects in the home appliance, like dishes or laundry;   a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water supplied to the reservoir and the water discharged from the treatment space by at least one pump unit;   a control unit for controlling the operation of the home appliance; and   a bypass device for bypassing water supplied by the water supply unit past the reservoir to the treatment space.   
     
     
         2 . The home appliance according to  claim 1 ,
 further including means for determining the volume and/or the flow rate of the water supplied by the water supply unit.   
     
     
         3 . The home appliance according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the bypass device is arranged behind the heat exchanger, when referring to the flow direction of the water supplied by the water supply unit, and in particular between the heat exchanger and the reservoir.   
     
     
         4 . The home appliance according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a water supply pipe for supplying water from the heat exchanger to the reservoir,   wherein the bypass device includes a branch pipe branching off from the water supply pipe between the heat exchanger and the reservoir.   
     
     
         5 . The home appliance according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the branch pipe branches off from the water supply pipe in a predefined distance upstream the reservoir.   
     
     
         6 . The home appliance according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the water supply pipe terminates in the reservoir.   
     
     
         7 . The home appliance according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the water supply pipe terminates in the reservoir.   
     
     
         8 . The home appliance according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a water supply pipe for supplying water from the heat exchanger to the reservoir,   wherein the water supply pipe connects the water supply unit to the treatment space, and   wherein the bypass device includes a connecting arrangement for connecting the reservoir to the water supply pipe.   
     
     
         9 . The home appliance according to  claim 2 ,
 further comprising a water supply pipe for supplying water from the heat exchanger to the reservoir,   wherein the water supply pipe connects the water supply unit to the treatment space, and   wherein the bypass device includes a connecting arrangement for connecting the reservoir to the water supply pipe.   
     
     
         10 . The home appliance according to  claim 8 ,
 wherein the connecting arrangement includes flow reduction means.   
     
     
         11 . The home appliance according to  claim 9 ,
 wherein the connecting arrangement includes flow reduction means.   
     
     
         12 . The home appliance according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein a shut-off valve is arranged downstream the reservoir.   
     
     
         13 . The home appliance according to  claim 1 ,
 further comprising a water supply pipe for supplying water from the heat exchanger to the reservoir,   wherein the bypass device includes an overflow unit.   
     
     
         14 . The home appliance according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the overflow unit is adapted to allow a flow of water supplied by the water supply unit into the reservoir or into the treatment space.   
     
     
         15 . The home appliance according to  claim 13 ,
 wherein the overflow unit includes a float valve.   
     
     
         16 . The home appliance according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein the overflow unit includes a float valve.   
     
     
         17 . A home appliance, in particular a dishwasher, a washing machine or the like, the home appliance comprising:
 a water supply unit including a water supply port configured to be connected to a water supply for supplying water, like fresh water, to the home appliance;   a water reservoir for storing water to be supplied to the home appliance by the water supply unit;   a treatment space for treating objects in the home appliance, like dishes or laundry;   a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water supplied to the reservoir and the water discharged from the treatment space by at least one pump unit;   a control unit for controlling the operation of the home appliance; and   a bypass device for bypassing water supplied by the water supply unit past the reservoir to the treatment space,   wherein the bypassing of water supplied by the water supply unit past the water reservoir to the treatment space by the bypass device may be executed without any component actively to be activated.   
     
     
         18 . A method for controlling a home appliance, in particular a dishwasher, a washing machine or the like, the home appliance comprising a water supply unit including a water supply port, configured to be connected to a water supply, for supplying water, like fresh water, to the home appliance, a water reservoir for storing water to be supplied to the home appliance by the water supply unit, a treatment space for treating objects in the home appliance, like dishes or laundry, a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the water supplied to the reservoir and the water discharged from the treatment space by at least one pump unit, and a control unit for controlling the operation of the home appliance, the method comprising the steps of:
 supplying water to the reservoir by the water supply unit; 
 exchanging heat between the water supplied to the reservoir and the water discharged from the treatment space by the heat exchanger; and 
 bypassing water supplied by the water supply unit past the reservoir to the treatment space by a bypass device, for executing a rinse process. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 18 ,
 further including the step of determining the volume and/or the flow rate of the water supplied by the water supply unit at least during the heat exchange process or the bypassing process.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 18 ,
 further including the step of interrupting the discharge of water from the treatment space during the rinse process.