Dec. 22, 1970 R. R.

Kerr ETAL 3,549,294

AUTOMATIC DISHWASHING MACHINE WITH SOAK CYCLE
Filed March 25, 1970

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FIG-5 PROGRAM SELECTOR SWITCH twVEwrons

ROBERT R. KERR 8.
SOAK A CD BEN J. VALLOR
RINSE-HOLD BD 141-44 (224-4,7tsely (6.71
A77OAMEYS

United States Patent Office
3,549,294
AUTOMATC DISHWASHING MACHINE
WTHSOAK CYCLE
Robert R. Kerr and Ben J. Valor, Troy, Ohio, assignors
to The Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio, a
corporation of Ohio
Filed Mar. 25, 1970, Ser. No. 22,578
nt. C. B08b 3/02
U.S. C. 134-58 10 Claims
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A tank defines a wash chamber in which racks are
positioned for supporting articles having baked-on food
soils. A motor driven timer system automatically controls
the mechanical components of the machine including a
fill valve for supplying water to the chamber, a wash pump
for recirculating and spraying the water onto the articles
and a drain pump for removing the water, according to a
plurality of selectable predetermined cycles. One of the
selectable cycles consists of a soak cycle where the water
is combined with a cleaning compound to form a cleaning
solution which is sprayed onto the articles. The wash pump
is then deenergized for approximately twelve minutes to
effect static soaking of the solution into the baked-on food
soils on the articles. Following the soak period, the wash
pump is reenergized along with the drain pump to flush
the food soils from the articles and to remove the soils
from the chamber with the solution. This soak period is
followed by pre-rinse, wash, rinse and dry periods which
may also be selected without the soak period.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In order for an automatic commercial or domestic
dishwashing machine to be used effectively for assisting
the cleaning of heavily soiled articles such as pots and
pans having baked-on food soils, it is common to preclean
each article by either manually scrubbing the article or
by soaking the article in a volume of water. After the
bulk of the baked-on foods is removed by the manual
Scrubbing or the submerged soaking operation, the auto
matic dishwashing machine is used to remove the remain
ing portions of the food soils and to sanitize the articles.
It has been determined that a variety of baked-on
food soils can be removed from food preparation and
serving articles by spraying the articles with a solution of
water and a cleaning compound and by permitting the
solution to soak into the food soils so that they can be
flushed from the surfaces of the articles. It has also been 50
found important for the articles sprayed with the cleaning
solution to be maintained in a humid environment to
prevent evaporation of the solution from the surfaces of
the articles.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an improved auto
matic dishwashing machine which provides for selecting
different washing cycles, one being a soak cycle which is
effective to remove heavy food soils which have been
baked-on food preparation and serving dishes, utensils
and other articles. In accordance with a preferred em
bodiment, the dishwasher of the invention includes an
automatic timer system and a program selector Switch
which provides for selecting either a normal cycle includ
ing pre-rinse, wash, rinse and dry periods or a soak cycle
which effects a soaking period prior to the normal cycle.
When the soak cycle is selected, the timer system actu
ates a solenoid fill valve in the hot water supply line and
also actuates the drain system to purge the supply line
and assure that a charge of hot water is supplied to the
wash chamber of the machine. A granulated cleaning
3,549,294
Patented Dec. 22, 1970
2
compound is added to the water within the chamber, and
the timer system actuates a main recirculating pump which
Sprays the Solution of water and cleaning compound onto
the soiled articles Supported by racks within the wash
chamber.
The timing system then deemergizes the recirculating
pump for a period of approximately twelve minutes to
effect static soaking of the solution into the baked-on food
Soils on the articles and causing a breakdown of the
soils. The solution is retained within the sump of the
O
wash chamber during the soaking period after which the
main recirculating pump is reenergized along with the
drain pump causing the food soils to be flushed from the
articles and to be drained from the wash chamber with
5 the cleaning solution. The soaking period is followed by
a series of wash, rinse and dry periods to complete the
cycle. If the articles to be cleaned are not soiled with
baked-on foods, the soak cycle may be bypassed simply
by Selecting the normal or full cycle causing the dish
20 Washing machine to operate through only a series of wash,
rinse and dry periods.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a front loading
dishwashing machine incorporating a timer control sys
25
tem constructed in accordance with the invention;
FIG. 2 is a Schematic wiring diagram of the timer con
trol System employed in the dishwashing machine shown
in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a chart illustrating the sequence of opera
30
tion of the main control timer;
FIG. 4 is a chart illustrating the operation of an aux
iliary timer; and
FIG. 5 is a chart showing the different cycles of the
35 dishwashing machine and the positions of the corre
sponding selector switches for producing the cycles.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
EMBODIMENT
40 FIG. 1 shows a front loading automatic dishwashing
machine including an outer cabinet 10 enclosing a tank
11 having a bottom 12 and defining a wash chamber 14.
A door 15 provides access to the wash chamber 14 and
is pivotable between a horizontal open position and a
45
vertically closed position where the door is secured by a
centrally located latch 16 such as disclosed in Pat. No.
3,328,062 which issued to the assignee of the present in
vention. A set of vertically spaced racks 17 are supported
by corresponding tracks within the chamber 14 and are
movable to positions extending over the open door 15.
The bottom 12 of the tank 11 slopes downwardly to
Ward the center so that water collecting thereon drains
into a Sump 18 in which is mounted a main recirculating
pump 20 driven by a motor 22 for recirculating the water
55 through a reaction spray arm 24 over the soiled articles
placed within the racks 17. A drain pump 25 is mounted
directly below the sump 18 and is also driven by the
motor 22. The drain pump 25 has an outlet connected
to a drain line 26 having a normally closed solenoid
60 actuated drain valve 27. A more detailed description of
the wash system is disclosed in Pat. No. 3,323,529 which
issued to the assignee of the present invention.
Referring to FIG. 2, a program selector switch 30 is
mounted within the upper portion of the door 15 on one
side of the latch 16 and includes a series of single pole,
single throw push button switches A-D which provide
for selecting either a full or normal cycle, a soak cycle
or a rinse and hold cycle as indicated on the chart of
FIG. 5. Also located within the upper portion of the door
70 15 is a main timer 35 having a series of single pole,
double throw switches E-I which are actuated by corre
sponding cams mounted on a common shaft driven by a
 3,549,294
3 4.
main timer motor 36. An interior dial 38 is also con
nected to rotate with the time shaft and is located
adjacent the upper portion of the door 15.
- Referring to FIG. 2, power is supplied to the timer
control system through power lines L1 and L2, and line
L2 is connected to one side of program selector switch
D through a door interlock switch 42 which closes in
response to actuation of the latch 16 to its closed posi
tion. The other side of program selector switch. D is con
nected to the top contact of cam actuated timer switch I
and also to one side of a line switch J which is closed in
response to axial movement of the main timer cam shaft
produced by closing of the door latch 16 and is opened
by an axial camming movement of the shaft, during the
final increment of rotation of the shaft. The other side
of line switch J and the common contact of timer switch
I are connected to one side of program selector switches
B and C. A pilot light 43 is also connected across line
L1 and the common contact of selector switches B and
C. The bottom contact of timer switch I connects with 20
the pump motor 22 and also to the bottom contact of
timer switch F by a jumper 44.
The top contact of timer switch F connects with a
blower 45 arranged in parallel with a series connection
of a thermal protector switch 46 and a heating element 48 25
located within said blower housing. In a conventional
manner, the blower 45 and the heating element 48 func
tion to provide drying of the articles within the wash
chamber by directing a flow-of warm air over the articles.
The common contact of timer switch F and the common
contacts of timer switches E and G connect to the top
contact of timer switch H and to one side of program
selector switch A. The other side of selector switch A is
connected to the common side of selector switch Band
to the main timer motor 36.
The top contact of timer switch E connects to a solenoid
fill valve 52 through a water level pressure safety switch
53. The bottom contact of timer switch E is connected
to an electrically actuated rinse agent dispenser 55
mounted within the door 15. The top contact of timer
switch G connects with an electrically actuated detergent
cup or dispenser 58, and the bottom contact of timer
switch G is connected to the solenoid drain valve 27. The
right or opposite side of program selector switch C con
nects with the common contact of timer switch H.
The top contact of timer switch H also connects with
one side of a cam actuated switch K of an auxiliary timer
60 which is located within the dishwashing machine
cabinet below the bottom 12, but may be located within
the door 15. The other side of switch Kis connected with 50 rating a timer control system constructed in accordance
the bottom contact of main timer switch Hand to a motor with the invention, provides desirable features and advan
62 for driving the camshaft of the auxiliary timer 60. As
shown in FIG. 2, line L1 is connected directly to the fill
valve 52, rinse agent dispenser 55, blower 45, detergent
dispenser 58, drain valve 27, auxiliary timer motor 62,
main pump motor 22, main timer motor 36 and the pilot
light 43.
In reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the full or normal
cycle push button is depressed, switches A, B and D close,
and the cycle of operation progresses through two pre
rinse periods, a wash period, two rinse periods and a dry
period, as shown by the time chart in FIG. 3. Since
program selector switch C remains open, timer switch H
has no effect on the operation of the dishwashing machine.
At the end of the full cycle, selector switches A, B and D
remain closed until the latch 16 is actuated to open the
door 15. The actuation of the latch 16 operates a cancel
bar within the program selector switch 30 causing switches
A, B and D to open.
When the rinse-hold push button is depressed, pro
grammed selector switches B and D close so that the main.
timer motor 36 is energized through switches D, J and B.
The fill valve. 52 and drain valve 27 are energized through
switches D, J, I and F. In addition, pump motor 22 is
energized through switches D, J and I. When timer switch 75 with the auxiliary timer 60 to provide the thirteen minute
I. opens at the end of four minutes (FIG. 3), the timer
motor 36 remains energized for four additional minutes.
The pump motor 22 and drain valve 27 are then energized
for one minute to drain the machine. Then only the timer
motor 36 remains energized until the end of the cycle
when line switch J is cammed open in response to axial
movement of the timer shaft by a pin (not shown) extend
ing through the shaft and engaging a ramp formed on the
end wall of the timer.
O In accordance with the present invention, when it is
desired to use the dishwashing machine for cleaning
articles having heavy baked-on food soils, the push button
for the soak cycle is depressed causing program selector
switches A, C and D to close and the main timer motor
5 36 to be energized through switches D, J, C, H and A.
During the first three minutes of the cycle, the fill valve
52 is energized. The drain valve 27 is energized to an
open condition for the first minute of the cycle so that
the water supply line is purged thereby assuring that only
hot water is flowing into the wash chamber before the
drain valve 27 closes.
The main recirculating pump motor 22 is also energized
during the first four minutes of the cycle causing the hot
water to be recirculated and combine with a granulated
cleaning compound supplied to the wash chamber before
the door 15 is closed. The solution of water and cleaning
compound is sprayed onto the soiled articles within the
racks 17, and at the end of four minutes of the cycle,
timer switch H deemergizes the main time motor 36 and
30 energizes the motor 62 of the auxiliary timer 60.
Referring to FIG. 4, after the motor 62 of auxiliary
timer 60 has been energized for thirteen minutes, Switch
K closes thereby reenergizing the main timer motor 36
through switches C, H and A. During this thirteen minute
35 period when only the pilot light 43 and the auxiliary timer
motor 62 are energized, the cleaning solution soaks into
or penetrates the heavy food soil on the articles and breaks
down the soil so that after the soaking period, the food
soils will be flushed from the articles and drained from
40 the wash chamber when the main recirculating pump
motor 22 is reenergized with cleaning solution or with
fresh water and the drain valve 27 is reenergized. Follow
ing the soak period, the cycle continues in the same man
ner as the full cycle and as indicated in the chart of FIG.
3. After the auxiliary timer motor 62 is energized fifteen
minutes, timer switch K opens thereby resetting the auxil
'iary timer 60 for the next soak cycle.
From the drawing and the above description, it is ap
parent that an automatic dishwashing machine incorpo
tages. For example, by incorporating a soak cycle wherein
a hot water cleaning solution is permitted to soak stati
cally into the food soils on the articles for a period of at
least three to five minutes and preferably for a period of
between ten and fifteen minutes, while the articles are
enclosed within a high humidity chamber, it has been
found that extremely heavy baked-on food soils will be
released from the articles so that a subsequent flushing
60 of a hot water cleaning articles with the solution or fresh
water is effective to remove the food soils from the
articles. Thus the automatic dishwashing machine becomes
substantially more effective in cleaning pots and pans and
other food preparation articles which commonly have
65 heavy baked-on food soils. While most of the commer
cially available detergents for automatic dishwashing ma
chines have proven satisfactory as a cleaning compound
for use during the soak cycle, an enzyme detergent man
ufactured and sold by Economics Laboratory under the
70 trademark "Pan Dandy" has proven especially effective
for releasing many food soils.
Another important feature is provided by the auxiliary
timer 60. That is, when the soak cycle is selected, and
switches A, C and D are closed, timer switch H cooperates
 3,549,294
5 6
dwell of the main timer so that the cleaning solution has
sufficient time to penetrate the heaviest of baked-on food
soils. It is to be understood, however, that the thirteen
minute dwell during the soak period may also be obtained
by a timer incorporating a rapid advance motor Such as
disclosed in Pat. No. 3,125,105 which issued to the as
signee of the present invention. That is, the main timer
could be programmed for the soak cycle including the thir
teen minute soaking period. If a cycle other than the soak
cycle was selected, the rapid advance motor would be
energized at the beginning of the soaking period for
quickly by-passing the soaking period.
While the form of dishwashing machine herein
described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the in
vention, it is to be understood that the invention is not
limited to this precise form of machine, and that changes
may be made therein without departing from the scope
of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.
For example, it is within the scope of the invention to
include a heating element in the sump of the wash cham
ber 14 and to provide control means for energizing said
heating element during the soak period to assure maximum
humidity within the chamber 14. It should be noted that it
is conventional to provide a heating element in the sump
of the wash chamber of a dishwasher for heating water
during other portions of the cycle and such conventional
element could be used in the manner just described to
assure maximum humidity during the soak period. It is
also possible to re-energize the main recirculating pump
momentarily during the soak cycle to effect flushing of a
portion of the heavy baked-on soils from the articles and
then Subsequent soaking of the remaining portion of the
soils. However, with presently available cleaning com
pounds, this interrupted soaking cycle has not been found
necessary. Moreover, it is within the scope of the inven
tion to drain the solution from the sump 18 during or at
the end of the soak period and to refill the sump 18 with
fresh Water so that when the rinse pump is re-energized
the Soil is flushed from the articles with fresh water.
What is claimed is:
1. In an automatic dishwashing machine including
a tank defining a wash chamber,
rack means within said chamber for supporting articles
having food soil thereon,
means for supplying water into said chamber for
combining with a water soluble cleaning compound
to form a cleaning solution,
means for recirculating said solution to effect spraying
of Said solution onto the articles supported by said
rack means, means for draining said solution from
said chamber,
a program timer control system having means for con
trolling said water supplying means to introduce a
predetermined volume of water within said chamber,
means for controlling said recirculating means to
Spray Said Solution onto the articles within said
chamber, and means for controlling said draining
means to drain Said solution from said chamber,
the improvement wherein said timer control system
comprises:
means for deemergizing said recirculating means after
the articles are sprayed with said solution, means for
maintaining said recirculating means deemergized for
a continuous period of at least five minutes to hold
Said solution in continuous static contact with the
articles to cause effective static soaking of said solu
tion into the food soil on the articles, means for
reenergizing said recirculating means after said period
and means for actuating said drain controlling means
for draining said cleaning solution from said
chamber.
2. A dishwashing machine as defined in claim 1 where
in Said means for maintaining said recirculating means de
energized is effective to maintain said recirculating means 75
deenergized for a continuous period of at least ten minutes
during said soaking period.
3. A dishwashing machine as defined in claim 1 in
cluding a plurality of manually actuated cycle selecting
Switches, said timer control system comprises a plural
ity of cam actuated switches, and circuit means connect
ing at least two of said manually actuated switches in
series with at least one of said cam actuated switches
during the soaking period.
O
4. A dishwashing machine as defined in claim 1 where
in said timer control system further includes a selectable
control means for bypassing said means for deenergizing
said recirculating means for at least five minutes and the
corresponding soaking period when the articles are not
heavily soiled.
5. A dishwashing machine as defined in claim 1 where
in said controlling means for said draining means is
effective to hold said solution within said chamber during
sad static soaking period to assure a humid environment
within said chamber.
20
6. In an automatic dishwashing machine including
a tank defining a wash chamber,
rack means within said chamber for supporting articles
having food soil thereon,
25 means for supplying water into said chamber for
combining with a water soluble cleaning compound
to form a cleaning solution,
means for recirculating said solution to effect spraying
of Said solution onto the articles supported by said
30 rack means, means for draining said solution from
said chamber,
a program timer control system having means for
controlling said Water Supplying means to introduce
a predetermined volume of water within said cham
ber, means for controlling said recirculating means
to spray said solution onto the articles within said
chamber, and means for controlling said draining
means to drain said solution from said chamber, and
said timer control system being effective to produce a
40 Sequence of operations including a first washing
period with said cleaning solution, a subsequent main
washing period with said cleaning solution followed
by at least one rinsing period with fresh water,
the improvement wherein said timer control system
comprises:
means for energizing said recirculating means during
Said first washing period for a time sufficient to spray
said solution on the articles, means for deemergizing
Said recirculating means during said first washing
50 period after the articles are sprayed with said solu
tion, means for maintaining said recirculating means
deenergized during said first washing period for a
total time of at least five minutes to hold said solu
tion statically on the articles to cause effective static
soaking of Said solution into the food soil on the
articles and loosening of the food soil, means for
Subsequently reenergizing said recirculating means
with said cleaning solution in said chamber to remove
loosened food soil from the articles, means for actu
60 ating said drain controlling means for draining said
cleaning solution from said chamber, and means for
subsequently effecting said rinsing period to remove
said cleaning solution and any remaining loosened
food soil from the articles.
65 7. In an automatic dishwashing machine including
a tank defining a wash chamber,
rack means within said chamber for supporting articles
having food soil thereon,
means for supplying water into said chamber for com
bining with a water soluble cleaning compound to
form a cleaning solution,
means for recirculating said solution to effect spraying
of said solution onto the articles supported by said
rack means, means for draining said solution from
said chamber,
 3,549,294
a program timer control system having means for con
trolling said water supplying means to introduce a
predetermined volume of water within said chamber,
means for controlling said recirculating means to
spray said solution onto the articles within said
chamber, and means for controlling said draining
means to drain said solution from said chamber, and
said timer control system being effective to produce
a sequence of operations including a Washing period
with said cleaning solution followed by at least one
rinsing period with fresh water,
the improvement wherein said timer control system
comprises:
means for energizing said recirculating means during
said washing period for a predetermined time suffi
cient to spray said solution on the articles, means for
deenergizing said recirculating means during said
washing period, after the articles are sprayed with
said solution, means for maintaining said recirculat
ing means deemergized during said washing period
for a continuous time greater than said predetermined
time to hold said solution statically on the articles
to cause effective static soaking of said solution into
the food soil on the articles and loosening of the
food soil, means for subsequently reenergizing said
recirculating means for a substantial time with said
cleaning solution in said chamber, to remove the
loosened food soil from the articles and means sub
sequently actuating said drain controlling means for
draining said cleaning solution from said chamber.
8. In an automatic dishwashing machine including
a tank defining a wash chamber,
rack means within said chamber for supporting articles
having food soil thereon,
means for supplying water into said chamber for
combining with a water soluble cleaning compound
to form a cleaning solution,
means for recirculating said solution to effect spray
ing of said solution onto the articles supported by
said rack means, means for draining said solution
from said chamber,
a program timer control system having means for
controlling said water supplying means to intro
duce a predetermined volume of water within said
chamber, means for controlling said recirculating
means to spray said solution onto the articles within
said chamber, and means for controlling said drain
ing means to drain said solution from said cham
ber, and
said timer control system being effective to produce
a sequence of operations including a washing period
with said cleaning solution followed by at least
one rinsing period with fresh water,
the improvement wherein said timer control system
comprises:
8
means for energizing said recirculating means during
said washing period for a predetermined time period
sufficient to spray said solution on the articles, means
for deenergizing said recirculating means during said
washing period after the articles are sprayed with
said solution, means for maintaining said recirculat
ing means deenergized during said washing period
for a total time of at least five minutes to hold Said
solution in static contact with the articles to cause
O effective static soaking of said solution into the
food soil on the articles, means for subsequently
energizing said recirculating means with said clean
ing solution in said chamber for a time period greater
than said predetermined time period and means for
5 subsequently actuating said drain controlling means
for draining said cleaning solution from said cham
ber.
9. A dishwashing machine as defined in claim 8 where
in means for maintaining said recirculating means de
20 energized is effective to maintain said recirculating means
deenergized for a continuous period of at least ten min
utes during said soaking period.
10. A dishwashing machine as defined in claim 8
wherein said timer control system comprises a main timer
25 and an auxiliary timer each having a motor, and cir
cuit means for deemergizing said motor of said main
timer and entrgizing said motor of said auxiliary timer
during said soaking period.
30 References Cited
UNITED STATES PATENTS
2,151,354 3/1939 Osuch ------------- 134-57X
2,385,264 9/1945 Ferris -------------- 134-25
35 2,600,541 6/1952 Johnson ------- 134-171X
2,664,094 12/1953 Spragins ----------- 134-95X
2,710,819 6/1955 Weber et al. -------- 134-23
3,049,133 8/1962 Jacobs ------------- 134-57
3,063,459 11/1962 Jacobs ------------- 134-58
40 3,125,105 3/1964 Geiger ------------- 13458
3,183,120 5/1965 Mori---------------- 134-7
3,456,462 7/1969 Schawerien --------- 134-57X
3,498,304 3/1970 Rumbaugh. ---------- 134-58
2,676,598 4/1954 Bowersox ------ 134-56(D)
45 3,384,098 5/1968 Swetnam ---- 134-58 (D)
FOREIGN PATENTS
1,307,875 9/1962 France ------------ 134-57
50 ROBERT L. BLEUTGE, Primary Examiner
U.S. C. X.R.
134-25,95
55
 PO-1050 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE
(5/69) CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
Patent No. 3,549,294 Dated December 22 l970
Inventor(s) Robert R. Kerr and Ben J. Vallor
It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent
and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

- Column 4, cancel lines 59-62 and rewrite as follows:

released from the articles so that a subsequent flush
ing of the articles with a hot water cleaning solution
or fresh water is effective to remove the food soils
from the articles. Thus the automatic dishwashing
machine becomes--
Column 6, line l9, "sad" should be --said.--.
Column 7 line 28, after "means' insert -- for --.
Column 8, line 27, "energizing" is misspelled.

Signed and sealed this 11th day of May 1971.

(SEAL)
Attest :
EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR. WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.
Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents