Dishwasher with washing tank divided into two sectors

Abstract

 A dishwasher is provided with means to divide the washing tank (1) into two sectors that can be used separately, said means including a dividing baffle (2) that physically performs the division of the tank into two independent sectors and is made of a transparent material. In this way the baffle (2) does not affect the luminosity of the tank (1) since the light coming from any direction can be fully exploited, and even in the case of artificial illumination of the tank (1) it is sufficient to provide a single lamp (3) to be able to illuminate both sectors.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to dishwashing machines, and in particular to a dishwasher for domestic use provided with means for dividing the washing tank into two sectors that can be used separately.

[0002] It is known that dishwashers for domestic use are provided with various arrangements for adapting them to the number and type of dishes to be washed, such as the setting of low-temperature, or energy-recovery, cycles or the feeding of one sprinkler only and so on. Regardless of the adopted solution, in known dishwashers the washing affects the whole tank and therefore the whole structure of the machine is heated through the contact with hot water.

[0003] As a consequence, the actual energy saving with respect to the conventional full load operation does not exceed 20%. Moreover, it is not possible to differentiate the type of washing between the two racks as to temperature, jet pressure and detergent since there is a single washing circuit fed by a single wash pump. Theoretically, a certain degree of differentiation could be achieved by changing the temperature and washing time together with the alternate feeding of the sprinklers, but this implies a more complicated circuit and a significant extension of the cycle length.

[0004] In order to overcome these drawbacks the applicant has already devised and patented with European patent n.1371319 a dishwasher provided with means for dividing the washing tank into two sectors that can operate independently one of the other. In such a dishwasher it is therefore possible to achieve a total operating differentiation between the two sectors, each of which can operate according to its own cycle with specific parameters of temperature, duration and type of detergent even in different moments with respect to the other sector. Moreover, said machine can actually operate at half load, heating only half of the machine with an energy saving close to 50%.

[0005] Among the means that allow the division of the washing tank, which is a horizontally extending tank with two racks side by side rather than one on top of the other, is a central dividing baffle, possibly removable, which physically performs the division of the tank into two independent sectors.

[0006] A drawback of this know dishwasher stems from the short height of the tank that therefore is quite dark in the rear portion, in particular due to the presence of the dividing baffle that blocks the passage of the light coming in laterally from outside.

[0007] Moreover, even in the case of illumination of the rear portion of the tank by means of a lamp, for the same reason it becomes necessary to provide two lamps to illuminate the two sectors which results in an increased cost and complexity of the dishwasher.

[0008] Therefore the object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher which overcomes the above-mentioned drawback. This object is achieved by means of a dishwasher provided with a dividing baffle of transparent material.

[0009] The clear advantage of this solution is that the baffle no longer affects the luminosity of the tank, whereby the light coming from any direction can be fully exploited.

[0010] As a consequence, even in the case of artificial illumination of the tank it is sufficient to provide a single lamp, preferably close to the baffle, to be able to illuminate both sectors.

[0011] These and other advantages and characteristics of the dishwasher according to the present invention will be clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of an embodiment thereof with reference to the only drawing, annexed as fig.1, wherein the washing tank with its relevant dividing baffle is diagrammatically illustrated.

[0012] Referring to said figure there is seen a horizontally extending washing tank 1 in which there is inserted a vertical dividing baffle 2, preferably at a central position and possibly removable.

[0013] This baffle 2 is made of a transparent material, typically glass or a plastic material, so that the light can freely pass through it to illuminate both sectors into which tank 1 is divided.

[0014] It is also possible to provide an artificial illumination by means of a lamp 3, typically arranged on the ceiling of tank 1 and preferably at a position adjacent to baffle 2 so as to achieve a proper illumination of both sectors.

[0015] It is clear that the above-described and illustrated embodiment of the dishwasher according to the invention is just an example susceptible of various modifications. In particular, the exact position of baffle 2 and/or lamp 3 can be freely changed, as well as the shape of tank 1.

Claims

1. Dishwasher provided with means to divide the washing tank (1) into two sectors that can be used separately, said means including a dividing baffle (2) that physically performs the division of the tank into two independent sectors, characterized in that said baffle (2) is made of a transparent material.

2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that said baffle (2) is made of glass.

3. Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that said baffle (2) is made of a plastic material.

4. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes a lamp (3) suitable to illuminate the washing tank (1).

5. Dishwasher according to claim 4, characterized in that said lamp (3) is arranged on the ceiling of the washing tank (1) at a position adjacent to the baffle (2).

6. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said baffle (2) is removable.

Drawing