For some reason I see that you've not had any responses for a relatively simple machine. The dishwasher is quite simple in that it consists of a timer, a water pump and a heating device. The timer begins the water inflow, usually for a pre-rinse. The timer then tells the water pump (under the outside of the washer) to empty the washer. Now the washer refills, the soap container opens and the water in the bottom of the washer is heated to quite a high temperature. Once again the timer tells the pump to empty the water, rinse water inflows and is emptied and the drying cycle begins. This time the device used to heat the water comes on to dry the dishes. One other device I forgot to include, is a small "grinder" that chews up particles of food to better enable them to be taken away in the rinse water. Simple enough but I hope my description is sufficient. There may be some differences in UK and US devices. I've described the operation of a US machine...