EP3845113A1

EP3845113A1 - Dishwasher and control method therefor

Info

Publication number: EP3845113A1
Application number: EP19889032.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Chunjie WANG; Zongyu FENG; Chen CHENG; Deling Xiao; Lirong Xiao; Kun Wang; Xianbo WANG
Original assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Current assignee: Gree Electric Appliances Inc of Zhuhai
Priority date: 2018-11-26
Filing date: 2019-08-06
Publication date: 2021-07-07
Anticipated expiration: 2039-08-06
Also published as: WO2020107938A1; EP3845113B1; EP3845113A4

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher and a method for controlling the dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a housing and further includes a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a discharge electrode plate, a ground electrode plate, a radio-frequency power supply and an earthing power supply, a tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate, the radio-frequency power supply is connected to the discharge electrode plate, and the earthing power supply is connected to the ground electrode plate. Large-area glow plasma covering tableware is generated by selecting the appropriate power supply and designing a reasonable discharge electrode structure, thus realizing efficient sterilization and disinfection by the dishwasher through the plasma, solving the problems of low efficiency and long treatment time faced by a sterilization method of an existing dishwasher.

Description

Cross-Reference to Related Disclosure

The present disclosure claims the priority of Chinese Patent Disclosure No. 201811419584.0, filed on November 26, 2018 and entitled "Dishwasher and Method for Controlling Dishwasher", and the priority of Chinese Patent Disclosure No. 201811420522.1 , filed on the same day and entitled "Novel Dishwasher and Method for Controlling Novel Dishwasher", the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Technical Field

The present disclosure belongs to the technical field of dishwashers, and particularly relates to a dishwasher and a method for controlling the dishwasher.

Background

With improvement of an oil removal capacity, a dishwasher has been increasingly recognized by consumers, a related market has also been growing, and there has been a trend towards replacing household disinfection cabinets, which requires the dishwasher to have the characteristics of efficiency, fastness and broad-spectrum sterilization. At present, hot water sterilization (70-80°C), high temperature and high pressure sterilization, ultraviolet sterilization, ozone sterilization and other methods are often used by the dishwasher, which are inefficient and cannot effectively kill bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce efficient, rapid and environmentally-friendly sterilization means into the dishwasher.
Common sterilization methods mainly include thermal sterilization, ionizing radiation, plasma sterilization, chemical sterilization, etc. A temperature of hot water in the dishwasher is less than 100°C, which does not reach a temperature required by the thermal sterilization. Accordingly, hot water sterilization does not effectively remove bacteria in the dishwasher. The high temperature and high pressure sterilization has poor stability and is difficult to control. Space of the dishwasher is narrow, a distance between bowls is relatively small, and the blows block each other, such that ultraviolet rays can not effectively act on each bowl. If an ozone concentration in the dishwasher is too high, a hypochlorous acid and so on in tap water may be oxidized and therefore substances harmful to human health are produced.
In contrast, the plasma sterilization has the following characteristics: (1) has the broad-spectrum antibacterial property, it generally takes several minutes to reach a sterility assurance level; (2) a temperature of a plasma gas is close to a room temperature, so the plasma gas can be used to sterilize heat sensitive materials, and therefore dramatical reduction of a usage amount of disposable medical materials and medical costs are expectable; and (3) biological substances with strong resistance can be efficiently eliminated, which include super bacteria with strong drug resistance, prions with strong temperature resistance, bacterial biofilm with a group protection function, etc., and odorous gases can be effectively removed. This sterilization method is expected to solve the sterilization problem faced by an existing dishwasher, but the difficulty in generating plasma in the dishwasher is how to generate large-area plasma to cover a surface of tableware under an atmospheric pressure.
Theoretically, generation of the plasma is related to an electric field between electrodes, an electrode spacing and an initial electron number density, and therefore, large-area plasma may be generated by designing a reasonable electrode structure.

Summary

In order to solve the problem of how to generate large-area plasma under an atmospheric pressure by a dishwasher, the present disclosure provides a dishwasher and a method for controlling the dishwasher.
In order to achieve the above purpose, the technical solution used in the present disclosure is as follows: the dishwasher includes a housing and further includes a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a discharge electrode plate, a ground electrode plate, a radio-frequency power supply and an earthing power supply, a tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate, the radio-frequency power supply is connected to the discharge electrode plate, and the earthing power supply is connected to the ground electrode plate.
In some embodiments, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a plurality of discharge electrode plates and a plurality of ground electrode plates, and the discharge electrode plates and the ground electrode plates are alternatively arranged.
In some embodiments, the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are arranged parallel to each other and respectively perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the housing.
In some embodiments, a distance between the discharge electrode plate and an adjacent ground electrode plate is 30-60 mm.
In some embodiments, a distance between any two adjacent discharge electrode plates is equal to a distance between any two adjacent ground electrode plates.
In some embodiments, a distance between the discharge electrode plate and an adjacent ground electrode plate is 50 mm.
In some embodiments, the discharge electrode plate is arranged at a top inside the housing, and the ground electrode plate is arranged at a bottom inside the housing.
In some embodiments, the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are arranged parallel to each other and respectively parallel to a horizontal plane of the housing.
In some embodiments, a distance between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate is 150-250 mm.
In some embodiments, an area of the discharge electrode plate is greater than an area of the ground electrode plate.
In some embodiments, a separating apparatus is arranged in the tableware storage space and configured to separate tableware.
In some embodiments, a value of a discharge voltage of the radio-frequency power supply is 1-5 kV.
In some embodiments, the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are made of conductive materials.
The method for controlling a dishwasher is configured to control the above dishwasher and includes the following steps:

placing a tableware in a tableware storage space formed between a discharge electrode plate and a ground electrode plate, wherein the tableware serves as an insulation medium;
performing electrification for sterilization: applying a voltage to the discharge electrode plate connected to a radio-frequency power supply, to form an electric field between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate; and
ionizing air on a surface of the insulation medium, to form plasma to cover a surface of the tableware for sterilization.

In some embodiments, before performing the electrification for sterilization, further comprises: cleaning by the dishwasher, the tableware.
In some embodiments, after cleaning by the dishwasher, the tableware, the method further comprises: heating for evaporating water on the surface of the tableware.
The present disclosure provides the dishwasher. The dishwasher includes the housing and further includes the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes the discharge electrode plate, the ground electrode plate, the radio-frequency power supply and the earthing power supply, the tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate, the radio-frequency power supply is connected to the discharge electrode plate, and the earthing power supply is connected to the ground electrode plate. Large-area glow plasma covering tableware is generated by designing a reasonable discharge electrode structure, efficient sterilization and disinfection on the tableware through the plasma is realized, the problems of low efficiency and long treatment time faced by a sterilization method of an existing dishwasher are solved, and accordingly sterilization time of the dishwasher is shortened and a sterilization effect of the dishwasher is improved.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a structural schematic diagram of a dishwasher of some embodiments;
Fig. 2 is a structural schematic diagram of a dishwasher of another embodiment;
and
Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method for controlling the dishwasher.

Detailed Description of the Embodiments

The technical solutions of the present disclosure will be described below clearly and comprehensively in conjunction with accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present disclosure. Apparently, the embodiments described are merely some rather than all of the embodiments of the present disclosure.
As shown in Fig. 1, some embodiments of the present disclosure provides a dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a housing 100, and a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing 100, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a plurality of discharge electrode plates 101 and 103, a plurality of ground electrode plates 102 and 104, a radio-frequency power supply 105 and an earthing power supply 106. The discharge electrode plates 101 and 103 and the ground electrode plates 102 and 104 are made of conductive materials The discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are alternatively arranged, that is, one ground electrode plate 102 is arranged between two discharge electrode plates 101 and 103, one discharge electrode plate 103 is arranged between two ground electrode plates 102 and 104, in addition, the discharge electrode plates 101 and 103 and the ground electrode plates 102 and 104 are arranged parallel to each other and respectively perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the housing 100, and a distance between any two adjacent discharge electrode plates is equal to a distance between any two adjacent ground electrode plates. A distance between either of the discharge electrode plates 101 and 103 and an adjacent ground electrode plate of the ground electrode plates 102 and 104 is 50 mm, which is conducive to sterilization and disinfection after placement of tableware. A tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plates 101 and 103 and the ground electrode plates 102 and 104, such that it is guaranteed that the tableware is not overlapped, and generated glow plasma may cover a surface of the tableware, to sterilize and disinfect the tableware more effectively.
The radio-frequency power supply 105 is connected to the discharge electrode plates 101 and 103, and the earthing power supply 106 is connected to the ground electrode plates 102 and 104. A value of a discharge voltage of the radio-frequency power supply 105 is 1-5 kV. By selecting an appropriate voltage and designing reasonable discharge structure, the sterilization effect of the dishwasher is more efficient.
In these embodiments, metal electrodes which are alternatively arranged are designed, that is, the plurality of discharge electrode plates 101 and 103 and the plurality of ground electrode plates102 and 104 are used to replace an original rack divider in the dishwasher, such that the tableware is placed between two metal electrodes. During operation, two adjacent electrodes are connected to a radio-frequency high voltage and earthed separately, and tableware to be treated is used as an insulation medium, and large-area glow plasma is successfully generated under an atmospheric pressure. The module is installed inside the dishwasher, such that large-area glow discharge plasma is generated on a surface of the tableware inside the dishwasher, to disinfected and sterilize the tableware. Plasma sterilization is fast in speed, strong in effect and wide in range, and no secondary pollution is generated after treatment. Because of air ionization, there will be no consumable consumption, and long-term operation and low power consumption can be achieved.
As shown in Fig. 2, some other embodiments of the present disclosure provides a dishwasher. The dishwasher includes a housing 100, and a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing 100, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a discharge electrode plate 101, a ground electrode plate 104, a radio-frequency power supply 105 and an earthing power supply 106. The discharge electrode plate 101 is arranged at a top inside the housing 100, and the ground electrode plate 104 is arranged at a bottom inside the housing 101. The discharge electrode plate 101 and the ground electrode plate 104 are made of conductive materials. The discharge electrode plate 101 and the ground electrode plate 104 are arranged parallel to each other and respectively parallel to a horizontal plane of the housing 100. A distance between the discharge electrode plate 101 and the ground electrode plate 104 is 200 mm, and an area of the discharge electrode plate 101 is greater than an area of the ground electrode plate 104, such that large-area glow plasma can be generated in the dishwasher, to sterilize tableware more effectively.
A tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate 101 and the ground electrode plate 104, and a separating apparatus 107 is arranged in the tableware storage space for separate tableware, such that the tableware is sterilized more thoroughly. The radio-frequency power supply 105 is connected to the discharge electrode plate 101, and a value of a discharge voltage of the radio-frequency power supply is 1-5 kV, and the earthing power supply 106 is connected to the ground electrode plate 104. By selecting an appropriate voltage and designing a reasonable discharge structure, a sterilization effect of the dishwasher is more efficient.
In these above embodiments, by designing two plate-shaped electrodes which are opposite up and down, namely, the discharge electrode plate 101 and the ground electrode plate 104, tableware to be treated is taken as an insulation medium, and large-area glow plasma is successfully generated under an atmospheric pressure. The module is installed inside the dishwasher, such that large-area glow discharge plasma is generated on a surface of the tableware inside the dishwasher, to disinfect and sterilize the tableware. Plasma sterilization is fast in speed, strong in effect and wide in range, and no secondary pollution is generated after treatment. Because of air ionization, there will be no consumable consumption, and long-term operation and low power consumption can be achieved.
As shown in Fig. 3, an embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a method for controlling a dishwasher. The method is configured to control the dishwasher of any embodiment described above and includes the following steps:

S1: a tableware is placed in a tableware storage space formed between a discharge electrode plate and a ground electrode plate, and the tableware serves as an insulation medium;
S2: electrification for sterilization is performed: and a voltage to the discharge electrode plate connected to a radio-frequency power supply is applied, to form an electric field between the discharge pole pi ate and the ground electrode plate; and
S3: air on a surface of the insulation medium is ionized, to form plasma to cover a surface of the tableware for sterilization.

In some embodiments, the dishwasher firstly cleans the tableware before electrification for sterilization. In some other embodiments, after cleaning is completed, water on the surface of the tableware is heated for evaporating at a high temperature by the dishwasher. In steps S2 and S3, the voltage is applied to the discharge electrode plate through the radio-frequency power supply, to form a large-area high-voltage area between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate, the tableware located between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate is used as the insulation medium, and the electric field formed between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate ionizes the air on the surface of the tableware to form glow plasma, which covers the surface of the tableware serving as the insulation medium, thereby killing bacteria and viruses on the tableware and achieving the purpose of sterilization and disinfection on the tableware.
The foregoing is only the preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, but a design concept of the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Any act using this concept to immaterially modify the present disclosure should be an act infringing the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Claims

A dishwasher, comprising a housing, wherein the dishwasher further comprises a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing, wherein the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus comprises a discharge electrode plate, a ground electrode plate, a radio-frequency power supply and an earthing power supply, a tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate, the radio-frequency power supply is connected to the discharge electrode plate, and the earthing power supply is connected to the ground electrode plate.
The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus comprises a plurality of discharge electrode plates and a plurality of ground electrode plates, the discharge electrode plates and the ground electrode plates are alternatively arranged.
The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are arranged parallel to each other and respectively perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the housing.
The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein a distance between the discharge electrode plate and an adjacent ground electrode plate is 30-60 mm.
The dishwasher according to any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein a distance between any two adjacent discharge electrode plates is equal to a distance between any two adjacent ground electrode plates.
The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein a distance between the discharge electrode plate and an adjacent ground electrode plate is 50 mm.
The novel dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the discharge electrode plate is arranged at a top inside the housing, and the ground electrode plate is arranged at a bottom inside the housing.
The novel dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are arranged parallel to each other and respectively parallel to a horizontal plane of the housing.
The novel dishwasher according to claim 7 or 8, wherein a distance between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate is 150-250 mm.
The novel dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein an area of the discharge electrode plate is greater than an area of the ground electrode plate.
The novel dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein a separating apparatus is arranged in the tableware storage space and configured to separate tableware.
The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein a value of a discharge voltage of the radio-frequency power supply is 1-5 kV.
The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are respectively made of conductive materials.
A method for controlling a dishwasher, wherein the method controls the dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 13, and comprises the following steps:
placing a tableware in a tableware storage space formed between a discharge electrode plate and a ground electrode plate, wherein the tableware serves as an insulation medium;

performing electrification for sterilization: applying a voltage to the discharge electrode plate connected to a radio-frequency power supply, to form an electric field between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate; and

ionizing air on a surface of the insulation medium, to form plasma to cover a surface of the tableware for sterilization.
The method for controlling the dishwasher according to claim 14, wherein before performing the electrification for sterilization, further comprises: cleaning by the dishwasher, the tableware.
The method for controlling the dishwasher according to claim 15, wherein after cleaning by the dishwasher, the tableware, the method further comprises: heating for evaporating water on the surface of the tableware.