Automatic dishwasher opener

Other Hardware Device Hacking
1

Hey everyone,
I have a Beko DFS28021X dishwasher. Unfortunately, it cannot open its door when the washing is done. I thought that this could be fixed using a stepper motor (and a phototransistor to detect the "program finished" light). It would be enough to slightly open it, only to let the dishes dry (and to avoid unpleasant smell).
My problem is I don't have any experience in engineering, so I don't know what would be the best way to design the opener part. I have some experience with Arduino programming, but I lack the knowledge on both electrical and mechanical engineering.
I see two options for this project:

  1. There's a small gap on the sides of the door, so maybe I could fit something there to push the door away from the body. The asymmetrically applied force might cause some damage, so optionally this should be done on both sides simultaneously.
  2. I could use the handle of the door, but here I don't know what would be a proper way to attach the mechanical parts to both the door and the main body.

The dishwasher doesn't have a locking mechanism (I can open it even when the dishwasher is still running). This is good, because I won't destroy anything by opening while it is still locked. On the other hand, if the system wrongly detects that the program is done, I might flood my kitchen.

I have an access to a 3D printer, and also I have some tools to work with wood, I don't know which one would be better.

Did anyone do anything similar? Can anyone provide me some guidance on this? (Of course if you think it's unfeasible, it is a useful feedback as well.)

2

Hello bauerd

You might clean the existing mechanic with a toothbrush first.

3

The dishwasher couldn't open the door by design, not by malfunction. Sorry if my question was unclear...

4

For someone with NO experience, the easiest addition to your washer is to add an alarm to warn you that the washer is done and then you could open the door. There must be a LED somewhere that turns on when the cycle is complete. Monitor that light and raise the alarm when it turns on.

5

You can avoid the smell by regularly cleaning the filter!

6

Some humid environments require extra measures for mo(u)ld abatement... for example, dish and clothes washers need all their ports (doors, detergent) wiped-down, dried and left open after every wash, or mo(u)ld will grow in hours. Before the next use, you ask you buddy to check for snakes.

7

To make it clearer: I would only use it when we're about to go on a longer trip. We would start a program just before leaving, knowing it would open once its done. If you leave the dishwasher closed for several days (or even a week), you would get the smell (and probably mold, as mentioned by @xfpd). Yeah, sure it would be a solution to wash every dish manually (as we do it right now), but when we're in a hurry, it would be helpful to just use the dishwasher.

8

Does the door lift on rails or swing on a hinge? (web site link is blocked by cookies)

9

When you get the mechanical design done and it works, Perhaps we can help you automate it. But right now there is no reason to design your project from the top down without knowing the mechanical opening system you will be using.

10

Hello bauerd, It's a huge amount of work to save you 15minutes of washing up the old fashioned way & the machine is likey to be using stanby power all the time it's waiting for you to come & switch it of manually.. but if you must;

I have never seen any dishwasher that has a door designed to open at the end of a cycle. Years ago I used to work on a model that had a drying cycle at the end (a fan drew out the steam at the end of a cycle).. it wasn't a popular model.

Some washing machines & tumble driers have condesate drawers.

The smell will develop in the drain hose/ system at the drain pump (& further downstream of it) as the pump cannot pump all the water uphill. Drain hoses are raised up to avoid siphoning so lowering it will give you another problem.

You could install a drain solenoid ( Hobart SOLENOID VALVE - 774683-1) at the lowest point of the drain system but the water will have to go somewhere & evaporate how & the bits of food will go where ? It would need to be opened after the drain pump stops. All this is fraught with trouble.

To open the door you need to know the force required to pull/ push it open (use a luggage weighing scale to get an idea). There's a safety (reed) switch in the door frame to stop all functions when the contact is broken so there's no need to worry about accidentally opening it & causing a flood.

A 12V actuator arm could be used to open it but your machine is likey to be fitted tight under a work surface so that's a tricky engineering option especially if you don't want to drill holes in the machine or glue things to it for mounting brakets.

You could drop a dead weight to swing & pull on the door in some Mouse Trap (the board game) / Heath Robinson/ Magiver contraption.

You could figure out a way to disengage the 2 door springs at the the bottom of the door & letting it fall forward.

You could tape a bellows / bladder/ balloon in the door frame which, when inflated, pushes the door ajar. A camping bed inflator pump & a tyre inner tube might work...or design a small, spring loaded, electromechanical device to do the same job at a set time.

Or dose an enzyme into the drain pump/hose.

Personally, I'd wash up in the sink or use disposable cutlery & plates for a day or so before you leave.

I hope this helps.
Togalosh

11

Thanks all for the input!

Actually it could be much more time to wash all, but yeah, it's definitely a possibility to wash everything manually. The machine turns off automatically after a few minutes, so that won't be a problem.

It exists, for example: AutoAirĀ® Dishwasher Technology | Bosch

Yup, I think the actuator will be the way to go. Fortunately, the dishwasher is not under a work surface, so that is possible to mount the actuator on some kind of 3D printed or wooden structure on top of it.
Thanks for the tips!

12

Hi there. A saw dishwashers with the same mechanism. Electrolux, Mieleā€¦
Electrolux uses mechanism integrated in entire door lock. You can make some kind with your 3d printer fore your Beko. Or bay Electrolux made.

13

You could use servo , Arduino and a light sensor. It won't be difficult for you .

Can you share pictures of the dishwasher where you think the servo/actuator can be mounted