GB2195236A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

A dishwasher comprises a wash tank 30 mounted for rocking movement on base 20, an inlet pipe 41 for supplying a detergent solution to the tank to wash dishes 31 placed therein, a drain pipe 51 for draining the solution from the tank, and a mechanism 65-67 for rocking the tank about the axis of shaft 62, the arrangement being such that the solution in the tank is agitated by the rocking movement of the tank. An automatic control system may be used to control the supply and discharge of the detergent solution and to regulate the timing of the tank's rocking movement. The tank may be pivotally mounted on a shaft adjacent its top. The dishes may be stacked on ribbed strips within the tank. A heater for heating the solution, and a dryer for drying the dishes after washing may also be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Shaking type dishwasher The present invention relates to a dishwasher, and more particularly to a shaking type dishwasher.

Generally, housewives must wash dishes every day. To save time and energy, dishwashers have been developed. However, known dishwashers generally including spraying nozzles and means for supporting rotatably the utensils, etc, are complex and expensive.

It is therefore the main object of the present invention to provide a shaking type dishwasher which is simple and inexpensive, so that it is suitable for every home.

According to the present invention, the shaking type dishwasher includes a support frame; a washing tank mounted swingably on the support frame for receiving a plurality of eating utensils and a detergent solution composed of water and a detergent therein; means for feeding the detergent solution into the tank; a drain device for drainage of the detergent solution out of the tank; and a shaking device for shaking the tank and hence the detergent solution so as to wash the utensils by impact of the shaken detergent solution toward the shaken utensils.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a front view showing a shaking type dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a side view showing the shaking type dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention; Figs. 3A and 3B are schematic views illustrating how the washing tank of the shaking type dishwhasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention is shaken; Fig. 4 is a front view showing a shaking type dishwasher according to the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 5 is a side view showing the shaking type dishwasher according to the second embodiment of the present invention;; Figs. 6A and 68 are schematic views illustrating how the washing tank of the shaking type dishwhasher according to the second embodiment of the present invention is shaken; Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, there is shown a shaking type dishwasher of the present invention. The dishwasher includes a generally rectangular housing 10, a base 20 fixed within the housing 10, and a washing tank 30 for receiving a plurality of dishes 31 and a detergent solution 32 composed of water and a detergent therein.

The base 20 includes two opposed high side walls 21, two opposed low side walls 22, and two lugs 23 each of which is secured to one of the high side walls 21. A cover 33 is mounted removably on the upper end of the tank 30.

In use, the dishes 31 may be placed into a net-shaped container 34 (see Fig. 2) which is subsequently placed into the tank 30. The detergent solution 32 is then fed into the tank 30 through an intake pipe 41 (see Fig. 2). The detergent solution 32 can be discharged from the tank 30 through a drain pipe 51 by opening the control valve 52 of the drain pipe 51.

In addition, when the detergent solution 32 rises to level with the upper opening of an overflow pipe 53, excessive detergent solution 32 will flow from the tank 30 through the overflow pipe 53 to the drain pipe 51.

Certainly, after the dishes 31 have been washed by the detergent solution 32 and after the detergent solution 32 has been discharged from the tank 30, only water is fed into the tank 30 through the intake pipe 41 to rinse the dishes 31.

Two parallel plastic strips 61 are attached rigidly to the bottom surface of the tank 30.

A first rotating shaft 62 is welded to the middle of the stips 61. The first rotating shaft 62 is journalled on the lugs 23 by two bearings 63. A first motor 64 is used to rotate a first eccentric wheel 65 having a first crankpin 651 which is connected rotatably to a first connecting rod 66. The first rotating shaft 62 is secured to a second connecting rod 67 which is connected rotatably to the first connecting rod 66.

When the first eccentric wheel 65 is driven by the motor 64 to rotate, the second connecting rod 67 will be rotated about the first rotating shaft 62 so as to rotate the first rotating shaft 62, thereby swinging the tank 30 to impact alternately on the opposite ends of the high side walls 21 of the base 20, as shown in Figs. 3A and 38. During the swinging process of the tank 30, the detergent solution 32 will impact toward the dishes 31 so that the dirts deposited on the dishes 31 will be cleared from the eating untensils 31. It is understood that the speed of washing the dishes 31 can be controlled by the first motor 64 in accordance with the quantity of the detergent.

Installed on the top of the housing 10 is a panel 70 which is provided with two rows of control push buttons 71 functionally connected to an automatic control system (not shown) so as to control the charge and discharge of the detergent solution 32, and so as to perform the timing control of the tank's swinging movement.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, there is shown another shaking type dishwasher of the present invention. Unlike the first preferred embodiment, the tank is mounted swingably on the top of the housing by means of a second rotating shaft 35. In addition, to swing the tank, a third connecting rod 81 is connected rotatably to the lower end 36 of the tank and to a second crankpin 82 of a second eccentric wheel 83 which is driven by a second motor 84.

It can be understood that the utensils contained within the tank along with the detergent solution are incapable of abruptly striking each other because of the occurence of the detergent solution between the utensils at anytime during the washing process, and because of the small amplitude of swinging the tank. However, as a safety precaution, a plurality of ribbed fixtures 91 are sized so that they can be clamped between two opposed side walls for holding dishes 92 thereon in array. Certainly, the length of the fixtures 91 is preferably perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotating shaft 62, 35 for avoiding removal- of the dishes 92 from the ribbed fixtures 91.

With the present invention thus explained, it is apparent that various modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

For example, also provided may be a dryer for drying utensils after washing, and a heater which is used to heat the detergent solution for sterilizing and for a preferred cleaning effect. Alternatively, instead of the installation of the heater, hot water may be directly introduced. It is therefore intended that the present invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims.

Claims (6)

1. A shaking type dishwasher comprising: a support frame; a washing tank swingable on said support frame for receiving a plurality of eating utensils and a detergent solution composed of water and a detergent therein; means for feeding said detergent solution into said tank; a drain device for drainage of said detergent solution out of said tank; and a shaking device for shaking said tank and hence said detergent solution so as to wash said utensils by impact of said shaken detergent solution toward said shaken utensils.

2. A shaking type dishwasher as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said shaking device comprising: a first eccentric wheel with a first crankpin secured thereto; a first connecting rod connected rotatably to said first crankpin of said first eccentric wheel at an end thereof; a second connecting rod connected rotatably to the opposite end of said first connecting rod at an end thereof; and a rotating shaft connected rigidly to a bottom surface of said tank and secured radially to-the opposite end of said second connecting rod; whereby, when said first eccentric wheel is rotated, said second connecting rod will be rotated reciprocally about said rotating shaft within a prdetermined range of angle so as to rotate said rotating shaft, thereby swinging said tank to impact alternately onto the opposite sides of said support frame.

3. A shaking type dishwasher as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said tank has an upper end portion mounted swingably on said support frame and rotatable about a horizontal axis, and wherein said shaking device includes a second eccentric wheel with a second crankpin secured thereto, and a third connecting rod having an end connected rotatably to said second crankpin and the opposite end connected rotatably to a lower end portion of said tank, whereby, when said second eccentric wheel is rotated, said tank will be driven by said third connecting rod to swing.

4. A shaking type dishwasher as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said washing tank includes means for holding and positioning said utensils in array within said tank when said tank is being shaken.

5. A shaking type dishwasher as claimed in Claim 4, wherein means for holding and positioning said utensils in array within said tank has a plurality of fixtures, each of which has a row of ribs, each of said fixture being sized so that it is inserted tightly within said tank.

6. A shaking type dishwasher as claimed in Claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.