JP2001252239A - Dish dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a safe dish dryer that is simple in structure and can perform reliably deodorization and disinfection. SOLUTION: A hot air generator 11 and a heat source 14 are arranged in the interior, and a drying chamber 4 is formed of a body case 1, the bottom of which functions also as a water reception plate 8, lids 2 and 3 made of a light transmitting material that are to be mounted on the upper portion of the body case 1 and a draining basket 9 to store tableware 10, and the lids 2 and 3, the water reception plate 8 and the draining basket 9 are coated with a photocatalyst 7 reactive to light, so as to generate a hydroxyl radical having strong oxidizing power when irradiated with light.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dish dryer for sterilizing and deodorizing various bacteria and odors in a drying room or tableware.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An example of a dish dryer provided with an ozone generator for sterilizing and deodorizing various germs and odors is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2-1210. Show it.

In the figure, reference numeral 51 denotes a main body of a dish dryer,
2 is a cupboard arranged at a predetermined position inside the main body 51, 53
Is an openable and closable cover arranged to cover the upper part of the main body 51. A motor 54 and a fan 55 mounted on the motor 54 are provided at a lower portion of the main body 51, and air sucked from an intake hole 57 provided on the bottom surface of the main body 51 passes through a dust filter 58. The air is heated by the heater 56 and is blown out from the discharge port 59 to the cupboard 52 by the fan 55. Reference numeral 60 denotes tableware placed on the cupboard 52, 61 denotes an exhaust hole provided at the upper part of the cover 53, 62 denotes a water tray disposed at the lower part of the cupboard 52 and can be taken out, and 63 denotes an upper part of the dust filter 58. The ozone generator is located in the.

As shown in FIG. 21, the ozone generator 63 includes a high-voltage electrode 64, a low-voltage electrode 65, a gap 66 between the high-voltage electrode 64 and the low-voltage electrode 65, and a high-voltage generator 67 for an ozone generator. . Reference numeral 68 denotes an ozonolysis filter (manganese dioxide) removably disposed inside the body 51 of the exhaust hole 61 of the cover 53.
It serves as a catalyst for decomposing and treating ozone.

[0005] In the dish dryer constructed as described above, as shown in FIG. 20, the tableware 60 is set on the cupboard 52 inside the main body 51, the cover 53 is closed, and the power switch is turned on. The motor 54 rotates and the heater 56
Heats up. The air sucked from the air inlet 57 by the fan 55 passes through the dust removing filter 58 and is heated by the heater 56 to become hot air.
From the inside of the main body 51 and adhere to the surface of the tableware 60 to evaporate. At this time, ozone flows out into the main body 51 together with air warmed by the ozone generator 63 disposed in the path from the intake hole 57 to the discharge port 59, and the ozone removes and sterilizes odor components in the main body 51. Is performed.

[0006]

In the conventional dish dryer as described above, the odor components remaining after the washing and rinsing of the dishes 60 and the germs growing inside the main body 51 are deodorized and sterilized by ozone. To prevent the generation of offensive odors and the growth of various bacteria. However, if the amount of ozone is too large, it becomes a harmful substance and affects the human body. In order to eliminate the danger, an ozone decomposition filter 68 is provided on the cover 63 as in a conventional dish dryer, but the danger cannot be completely eliminated and the structure is extremely complicated. Also,
Since high voltage is required to generate ozone,
The installation place of the dish dryer was limited, and there was also a problem with safety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and has as its object to provide a highly safe tableware dryer capable of reliably deodorizing and sterilizing with a simple structure. is there.

[0008]

A dish dryer according to the present invention comprises a main body having a heating source, a drying chamber for accommodating tableware formed by a lid having a light-transmitting material on the upper part of the main body, A photocatalyst that reacts by light is provided in the drying chamber.

In the dish dryer according to the present invention, the photocatalyst is applied to the drying chamber side of the main body or the lid.

A dish dryer according to the present invention is provided with a drainage basket coated with a photocatalyst in a drying chamber.

[0011] In the dish dryer according to the present invention, an accessory storage portion having an opening in the main body is formed, a box accommodated in the accessory storage portion is made of a light transmissive material, and a photocatalyst is coated on the surface of the box. It has been applied.

[0012]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention in cross section, and FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body case of a dish dryer, and reference numerals 2 and 3 denote a front lid and a rear lid which cover the upper part of the main body case 1 and form a lid body in which a drying chamber 4 is formed between itself and the main body case 1. , 3 are rotatably supported by penetrating bearing portions provided on both side walls into a rotating shaft 5a of a support portion 5 provided on both side surfaces of the main body case 1 so as to protrude. An exhaust port 6 is provided on the upper surface of the front cover 2, the front cover 2 and the rear cover 3 are made of a light-transmitting material, and a photocatalyst 7 such as titanium oxide is provided on the surface of the drying chamber 4. Coated. 8 is a drying room 4
A water receiving plate provided integrally with the main body case 1 at the lower portion of the housing and on which a drain basket 9 for accommodating tableware 10 is placed.
The photocatalyst 7 is coated on the surface of the drain basket 9 similarly to the front lid 2 and the rear lid 3.

Numeral 11 denotes a hot air generator comprising a blower comprising a motor 12 and a fan 13 and a heater 14, which is provided at a lower rear portion of the water receiving plate 8 and which has a hot air receiving surface. A first blower hole 15 for supplying warm air from the wind generator 11 to the drying chamber 4 is provided, and a suction hole (not shown) for sucking outside air is provided on a bottom surface of the main body case 1 which is a lower surface of the warm air generator 11. ) Is provided.

Reference numeral 16 denotes an opening 1 on the lower front surface of the main body case 1.
A box 19 in which a cooking utensil 18 such as a cutting board or a kitchen knife is stored. The hot air from the hot air generator 11 is
A second air supply hole 22 for supplying the hot air supplied to the accessory storage unit 16 to the drying chamber 4 is provided in the water receiving plate 8 serving as an upper surface of the accessory storage unit 16. Blow hole 23
Is provided. The box 19 is composed of an inner box 20 and an outer box 21 which are made of a light transmissive material and whose surfaces are coated with a photocatalyst 7 such as titanium oxide. By fitting the projection 21a provided on the outer box 21
And slides along the bottom surface of the outer box 21 to make the box 19 extendable. Reference numeral 24 denotes a water receiving portion provided on the lower front side of the main body case 1, and a water draining hole (not shown) is provided in the water receiving plate 8 facing the water receiving portion. In addition, the water receiving plate 8 is inclined so that water droplets dropped from the tableware 10 flow down to the drain holes, and the first and third water receiving plates 8 are inclined.
A cover 25 having a photocatalyst 7 coated on the surface on the drying chamber 4 side so as to cover the air blowing holes 15 and 23.
a and 25b are provided respectively.

In the first embodiment thus configured, when the tableware 10 and the cooking utensil 18 are dried,
First, the front lid 2 is opened, and the drain basket 9 in which the tableware 10 is stored is placed on the water receiving plate 8 and stored in the drying chamber 4. Then, after closing the front lid 2, the cooking utensil 1
8 is stored in the accessory storage section 16 of the main body case 1,
The switch 26 provided on the front surface of the main body case 1 is operated to drive the hot air generator 11. At this time, excess water droplets adhering to the tableware 10 fall to the water receiving plate 8 and are collected in the water receiving portion 24 through the drain hole.

When the hot air generator 11 is driven, the outside air sucked into the hot air generator 11 by the rotation of the fan 13 is heated by the heater 14 to become hot air, most of which is indicated by arrows in FIG. X, as shown in FIG.
Is blown out into the drying chamber 4 and exhausted from the exhaust port 6 while drying the tableware 10 while spreading into the drying chamber 4. On the other hand, a part of the warm air from the warm air generator 11 is supplied from the second vent hole 22 to
To dry the cooking utensil 18. Then, the warm air is supplied into the drying chamber 4 from the third blow hole 23 and is exhausted from the exhaust port 6.

During drying, when light from a light source (which may be a fluorescent lamp) for emitting the sun or ultraviolet rays hits the main body case 1,
The light passes through the front lid 2 and the rear lid 3 made of a light transmissive material, and irradiates the water receiving plate 8 and the drain basket 9 in the drying chamber 4 and further irradiates the box 19. Then, the front lid 2, the rear lid 3, the water receiving plate 8, the drain basket 9 and the box 19
In the photocatalyst 7, the holes that are excited by the irradiated light to form a trace of electrons jumping out oxidize water to produce hydroxyl radicals having strong oxidizing power. In addition, organic substances of various germs adhering to the cooking utensil 18 and the like are decomposed and sterilized. The components of the malodor accumulated in the drying chamber 4 are decomposed and deodorized by the photocatalytic reaction. In addition, other than during drying,
If the body case 1 is exposed to light, the photocatalyst 7 reacts,
The drain basket 9 and the like in the drying chamber 4 are sterilized and deodorized.

Thus, by installing the main body case 1 in a place where the sun or the light of the fluorescent lamp shines, the photocatalyst 7 reacts not only during drying but also during non-drying, and by the oxidizing power obtained by the reaction. Drying room 4 or tableware 1
Always keep 0 mag sanitary. Thereby, highly effective sterilization and deodorization can be performed with a simple structure, and a highly safe tableware dryer that is harmless to the human body can be obtained.

Embodiment 2 FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG.
6 is a top view of the main body case according to the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, the water receiving plate 8 of the first embodiment is formed in a substantially concave cross section, and has a fluorescent lamp 27 and a holder 29 for holding the fluorescent lamp 27 on the front side thereof. Lamp cover 2 provided so as to cover 27
The first and third ventilation holes 15 and 23 are provided on the rear side surface of the water receiving plate 8. As shown in 5,
Irradiation hole 30 for supplying light of fluorescent lamp 27 to attached storage section 16
Is provided. Further, the main body case 1 has an operation unit 31a for selecting a drying mode on a front surface thereof, and a fluorescent lamp 2 is provided.
A control unit 31 is provided, which is electrically connected to 7 and the like and dries the dishes 10 and the like based on the selected drying mode. The lamp cover 28 is waterproofed, and the surface on the drying chamber 4 side is coated with the photocatalyst 7. 4 or FIG.
Reference numeral 8 denotes a drain hole for allowing water droplets from the water receiving plate 8 to flow down to the water receiving portion 24.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the control section 31 detects a switch 32 for turning on or off the fluorescent lamp 27, and a temperature detecting element 33 for detecting the temperature of the air in the drying chamber 4. A microcomputer 34 for calculating the drying time based on the temperature and each selected drying mode, a driving circuit 35 for driving the motor 12 and the heater 14 based on the drying time and the drying mode,
36 and a switch 3 for turning on or off the fluorescent lamp 27
And a switch drive circuit 37 for turning on / off the fluorescent lamp 27 during drying or non-drying.
Is turned on or off at a certain cycle or timing.

In the second embodiment thus constructed, similarly to the case described in the first embodiment, the drain basket 9 containing the tableware 10 is stored in the drying chamber 4 and the cooking utensil 18 is provided. The box 19 in which the
Housed inside. Next, when the drying mode is selected by operating the operation unit 31 a provided on the main body case 1, the hot air generator 11 is driven, and the hot air heated by the heater 14 enters the drying chamber 4 and the accessory storage unit 16. The supplied tableware 10 and cooking utensil 18 are dried.

At this time, the temperature detecting element 33 detects the temperature in the drying chamber 4, and the microcomputer 34 calculates the drying time T0 based on the detected temperature and the selected drying mode. And the control unit 31
During the calculated drying time T0, the motor 12 and the heater 1
Tableware 1 by hot air by energizing the drive circuits 35 and 36 of No. 4
At the same time as drying to 0, the switch drive circuit 37 is energized to turn on / off the switch 32 and turn on or off the fluorescent lamp 27.

The time for turning on or off the fluorescent lamp 27,
Cycles or timings are shown in FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11,
As shown in FIG. 12, it corresponds to each drying mode and drying time T0. That is, the motor 12 and the fan 13
If the drying time T0 is longer than a predetermined time T in the normal hot air drying mode in which the blower and the heater 14 are turned on, as shown in FIG.
The fluorescent lamp 27 is turned on for a predetermined time T1. If the drying time T0 is shorter than the predetermined time T, the process shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, during the drying time T0, the fluorescent lamp 27 is turned on for a certain time T2. Here, the relationship between the certain time T1 and T2 is T1 <T2. On the other hand, in the air-drying mode in which the heater 14 is turned off and the blower is turned on, regardless of the length of the drying time T0, as shown in FIG. 27
Lights up.

In a normal hot air drying mode,
If the drying time T0 is longer than a predetermined time T, as shown in FIG.
May be turned on, and after the drying time T0 ends, the light may be turned on again for a fixed time T11, or as shown in FIG. 10B, after the drying time T0 ends, the light may be turned on a plurality of times for the fixed time T12. When the drying time T0 is shorter than the predetermined time T, as shown in FIG.
The fluorescent lamp 27 is turned on for a certain time T2, and the drying time T0
After the end, the light may be turned on again for a certain time T21 or, as shown in FIG. 12B, may be turned on a plurality of times for a certain time T22 after the end of the drying time T0. In the air-drying mode, as shown in FIG. 8B, after the drying time T0 and the drying time T0 are completed, the light is turned on a plurality of times for a predetermined time T31, or as shown in FIG. After the drying time T0 is over and the predetermined time T4 has elapsed, the lighting may be turned on a plurality of times for a certain time T32 and the blower may be turned on a plurality of times for a certain time T32 similarly to the fluorescent lamp 27.

Then, the photocatalyst 7 coated on the water receiving plate 8 and the like reacts with light from the outside such as the sun and the light of the fluorescent lamp 27, and the oxidizing power obtained by the reaction causes the inside of the drying chamber 4 or the dishes 10 or the like. Sterilize and deodorize.

As described above, the provision of the fluorescent lamp 27 on the water receiving plate 8 allows the light to reach not only the light from the outside of the main body case 1 but also the attached storage section 16 which is hardly irradiated with the light. Even when the light is weak, the photocatalyst 7 can be reacted with more light, and more effective and powerful sterilization and deodorization can be performed. The drying time T
The lighting time of the fluorescent lamp 27 is varied according to the length of 0, and the lighting is controlled even after the drying is completed. The lighting control is performed during or after the drying even in the case of the blast drying, so that the tableware is dried and sterilized at a high temperature. For example, a dishwasher that cannot be dried with a conventional dish dryer or that has been dried for a long time at a low temperature can also be used for drying, for example, a dishwashed dish, and is easy to use without any restrictions on the type of dish. Can be obtained.

Embodiment 3 FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of the third embodiment of the present invention, FIG.
Is a top view of the main body case according to the third embodiment, and FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along the line DD of FIG. In the third embodiment, an ultraviolet lamp 39 is provided in place of the fluorescent lamp 27 of the second embodiment, and the front lid 2, the rear lid 3 and the box 19 are made of a non-light-transmitting material. ON / OFF by opening / closing the front lid 2 or attaching / detaching the box 19 while being electrically connected and turning on the ultraviolet lamp 39
The first switch 40 and the second switch 41 are provided on the upper edge 1a of the main body case 1 and the attached storage portion 16, respectively. The exhaust port 6 provided on the front cover 2 has a structure such that light from the ultraviolet lamp 39 does not leak outside.

The ultraviolet lamp 39 has a holder 43 for holding the ultraviolet lamp 39 in the same manner as the fluorescent lamp 27. The lamp cover 42, which is waterproof and has a photocatalyst 7 coated on the surface on the drying chamber 4 side, holds the ultraviolet lamp 39. As shown in FIG. 17, it is electrically connected to the switch 32 which is turned on / off by the switch driving circuit 37 of the control unit 31, and as shown in FIG. The light is turned on or off at a constant cycle or timing as shown in 10, 11, and 12.

The first switch 40 is shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 5, the actuator of the first switch 40 which is pressed by the projection 2b of the outer edge 2a of the front lid 2 on the upper edge 1a of the main body case 1 on which the outer edge 2a of the front lid 2 is placed. Is provided so as to face upward. As shown in FIG. 16, the second switch 41 is provided at a rear portion of the accessory storage portion 16, after the outer box 21 of the box 19 stored in the accessory storage portion 16. The actuator of the second switch 41, which is pressed by the projection 19a provided on the side surface, is provided so as to face forward. The first switch 40 and the second switch 41 are connected in series to the ultraviolet lamp 39 as shown in FIG.
When the front cover 2 is opened or the box 19 is pulled out while the lamp 9 is turned on, the first switch 40 or the second switch 41 is turned off, and the ultraviolet lamp 39 is turned off.

In the third embodiment constructed as described above, similarly to the case described in the first embodiment, the drain basket 9 containing the tableware 10 is stored in the drying chamber 4 and the cooking utensil 18 is provided. The box 19 in which the
Housed inside. At this time, the first switch 40 is pressed by the protrusion 2b of the outer edge 2a of the front lid 2, and the second switch 41 is pressed by the protrusion 19a provided on the rear surface of the outer box 21 of the box 19. , The ultraviolet lamp 39 is in an energizable state. Then, when drying is started by operating the operation unit 31 a provided in the main body case 1, the hot air generation device 11 is driven, and the hot air heated by the heater 14 is supplied into the drying chamber 4 and the accessory storage unit 16. Then, the dishes 10 and the cooking utensil 18 are dried. The ultraviolet lamp 39 is also energized and turned on. And the water receiving plate 8
The photocatalyst 7 coated thereon reacts by the light of the ultraviolet lamp 39, and sterilizes and deodorizes the inside of the drying chamber 4 or the dishes 10 by the oxidizing power obtained by the reaction.

While the ultraviolet lamp 39 is turned on, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 8, when the front lid 2 is opened, the projection 2b of the front lid 2 is separated from the first switch 40, the first switch 40 is turned off, the energization of the ultraviolet lamp 39 is stopped, and the light is turned off. I do. Further, as shown in FIG.
Is pulled out of the accessory storage section 16, the projection 19a of the box 19 is separated from the second switch 41, the second switch 41 is turned off, the energization of the ultraviolet lamp 39 is stopped, and the light is turned off. Then, when the front lid 2 is closed or the box 19 is stored, the first switch 40 and the second switch 41 are pressed by the projections 2b and 19a, and both switches 40 and 41 are turned on, and the ultraviolet lamp 39 is turned on again. I do. Note that the control method described in the second embodiment can also be implemented in the third embodiment.

As described above, by using the ultraviolet lamp 39, optimum conditions for the reaction of the photocatalyst 7 can be created, and effective sterilization and deodorization can be performed under the optimum conditions. The front lid 2, the rear lid 3 and the box 19 are made of a non-light-transmitting material so that the light of the ultraviolet lamp 39 does not leak out of the dish dryer.
If the front lid 2 is accidentally opened or the box 19 is pulled out of the attached storage unit 16 while the lamp is turned on, the ultraviolet lamp 39 is turned off via the first switch 40 and the second switch 41. Therefore, a highly safe dish dryer can be obtained.

[0033]

As described above, the tableware dryer according to the present invention comprises: a main body having a heating source; a drying chamber for accommodating tableware formed by a lid having a light-transmitting material on an upper part of the main body; Since the drying room is equipped with a photocatalyst that reacts with light, it can be sterilized and deodorized in the drying room or tableware even during non-drying, regardless of whether it is drying, simply by installing it in a place exposed to the sun or other light. A dishwasher that can be obtained.

In the dish dryer according to the present invention, since the photocatalyst is applied to the drying chamber side of the main body or the lid, it is possible to obtain a dish dryer with a simple structure that can surely perform deodorization and sterilization.

In the dish dryer according to the present invention, since a drainage basket coated with a photocatalyst is provided in the drying chamber, it is possible to obtain a dish dryer capable of more effective sterilization and deodorization.

In the dish dryer according to the present invention, an accessory storage section having an opening in the main body is formed, a box accommodated in the accessory storage section is made of a light-transmitting material, and a photocatalyst is coated on the surface of the box. Since it is applied, not only the drying room or the dishes and the like but also the box and the cooking utensils and the like stored in or in the accessory storage section can be sterilized and deodorized, and a highly effective tableware dryer can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a first embodiment of the present invention in cross section.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line BB of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a main body case according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a control unit according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a timing chart of the fluorescent lamp according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention in an air drying mode.

FIG. 9 is a timing chart in a case where the drying time in the hot air drying mode of the fluorescent lamp according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is longer than a predetermined time.

FIG. 10 is a timing chart in a case where a drying time in a hot air drying mode of the fluorescent lamp according to the second embodiment of the present invention is longer than a predetermined time.

FIG. 11 is a timing chart in a case where the drying time in the hot air drying mode of the fluorescent lamp according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is shorter than a predetermined time.

FIG. 12 is a timing chart in a case where a drying time in a hot air drying mode of the fluorescent lamp according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention is shorter than a predetermined time.

FIG. 13 is an exploded perspective view of Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

14 is a sectional view taken along the line CC of FIG.

FIG. 15 is a top view of a main body case according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line DD of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of a control unit according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. 14;

FIG. 19 is an operation explanatory view of FIG. 16;

FIG. 20 is a schematic diagram of a conventional tableware dryer.

FIG. 21 is a configuration diagram of an ozone generator of a conventional tableware dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 body case, 1a upper edge, 2 front lid, 2a outer edge, 3 rear lid, 4 drying room, 7 photocatalyst, 8 water receiving plate,
9 Drain basket, 10 dishes, 11 hot air generator, 1
2 motor, 13 fan, 14 heater, 16 attached storage, 17 opening, 18 cooking utensil, 19 box, 27 fluorescent lamp, 28, 42 lamp cover, 29,
43 holder, 30 irradiation hole, 39 ultraviolet lamp,
40 first switch, 41 second switch.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A main body having a heating source, a drying chamber for accommodating tableware formed by a lid having a light-transmitting material on an upper part of the main body, and a photocatalyst responsive to light in the drying chamber. A tableware dryer characterized by that: 2. The dish dryer according to claim 1, wherein the photocatalyst is applied to the drying chamber side of the main body or the lid. 3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein a drainage basket coated with a photocatalyst is provided in the drying chamber. 4. An accessory storage portion having an opening provided in a main body, a box accommodated in the accessory storage portion is made of a light-transmitting material, and a photocatalyst is applied to a surface of the box. The dish dryer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein