JP2003235781A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve the user-friendliness and performance of a dishwasher by attaching an image sensing means to the dishwasher. <P>SOLUTION: The dishwasher is equipped with a wash tub 1 where dishes are washed and dried, a rack 2 where the dishes are loaded, a washing means 3 for washing the dishes, a drying means 4 for drying the dishes, a controlling means 5 for controlling the washing means and the drying means, the image sensing means 6, and an image processing means 7 for processing image information from the image sensing means 6. The dishwasher improves the washing performance by the controlling means 5 which controls the washing means 3 and the drying means 4 based on the information obtained from the image processing means 7. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a dishwasher / dryer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a dishwasher / dryer of this type, dishes are placed and placed in a basket in a refrigerator, and a washing means and a drying means are controlled by a control means to wash and dry the dishes. Was there.

FIG. 9 shows a conventional dishwasher / dryer. In FIG. 9, 1 is a washing cabinet, 2 is a basket, 3 is a washing means, 4
Is a drying means and 5 is a control means.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, washing and drying are performed assuming the maximum amount of dishes regardless of the amount of tableware placed in the refrigerator.
When a small amount of tableware was put in, there was a problem that it wasted power and time for further drying, even though the drying was completed.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dish washer / dryer in which washing and drying are carried out according to the amount of dishes in the refrigerator, and power and time are not wasted. .

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the dishwasher / dryer of the present invention comprises a washing cabinet for washing and drying dishes, a basket for placing the dishes, and a washing means for washing the dishes. An image processing unit that includes a drying unit that dries the dishes, a control unit that controls the washing unit and the drying unit, an image detection unit, an image processing unit that processes image information of the image detection unit, and a dish amount detection unit. The cleaning method is changed based on the information of the means.

As a result, the image detecting means fetches the amount of tableware placed in the basket in the storage as image information, and the image processing means judges the amount of tableware. The judgment result is sent to the control means, and the control means controls the washing means and the drying means according to the amount of the tableware, so that the drying time is shortened when the amount of the tableware is small, and waste of power and time is eliminated. You can

[0008]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The invention according to claim 1 is a washing cabinet for washing and drying dishes, a basket for placing the dishes, a washing means for washing the dishes, a drying means for drying the dishes, and a washing. Control means for controlling the drying means and the drying means, an image detecting means, an image processing means for processing image information of the image detecting means, and a tableware amount detecting means, and the cleaning method is changed based on the information of the image processing means. As a result, by controlling according to the amount of tableware, when the amount of tableware is small, the drying time can be shortened, and waste of power and time can be eliminated.

The invention as defined in claim 2 is particularly characterized by claim 1.
By providing a water drop detecting means for detecting water drops adhering to the tableware described in, it is possible to determine the degree of dishwashing and drying,
The drying means can be automatically stopped, and the waste of power and time can be eliminated.

The invention as defined in claim 3 is particularly defined by claim 1.
By providing an adhering matter detection means for detecting adhering matter such as mayonnaise adhering to the tableware described in, it is possible to judge the degree of dishwashing and washing, and to stop the washing means automatically, saving power and time. It can be lost.

The invention as defined in claim 4 is particularly characterized by claim 1.
By installing the water level line detection means for detecting the mark of the water level line in the dishwashing cabinet described in, it can be determined that the set water level has been reached when the water level and the water level are the same, and water is automatically supplied. Can be stopped and waste of water can be eliminated.

The invention as defined in claim 5 is particularly characterized by claim 1.
By including the tableware storage place detection means for detecting the storage place of the tableware described in, when the tableware is placed unevenly in the washing cabinet, the tableware storage place is detected and only that place is washed by the cleaning means. By doing so, waste of power and time can be eliminated.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, in particular, when tableware remains in the refrigerator even after a certain time has passed after the completion of washing and drying,
The tableware forgetting detection means for judging that the tableware has been forgotten can inform the user of the tablekeeping failure and improve the usability.

The invention as defined in claim 7 is particularly defined by claim 1.
By providing a residue notification means for detecting and notifying the presence or absence of residue in the residue receiver in the storage described in (1), if there is a residue in the storage, notify the user to keep the storage room clean and hygienic.
It is possible to improve usability.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 1, 1 is a washing cabinet in a dishwasher, 2 is a basket for loading dishes, 3 is a washing means such as a washing nozzle for washing dishes, 4 is a fan for sending hot air to dry the dishes, etc. Drying means, 5 is a control means for controlling the washing means and the drying means, 6 is an image detecting means for detecting an image attached to the upper surface of the washing cabinet of the dishwasher, and 7 is an image for processing information of the image detecting means. The processing means 15 is a tableware amount detecting means, which is connected to the output of the image processing means and the input of the control means.

The operation and action of the dishwasher having the above-mentioned structure will be described below. First, the tableware is placed in the basket 2. Then, the user turns on the control means 7. Then, the image detecting means 6 captures an image of the tableware in the basket from the upper part of the washing cabinet. The captured image information is
It is sent to the image processing means 7. The image processing means 7 processes the image and sends it to the tableware amount detecting means 15. The tableware amount detection means 15 determines the amount of tableware in the basket. The determination result is sent to the control means 3, and when the amount of dishes is large, the control means 3 increases the ejection amount from the cleaning nozzle by the cleaning means, lengthens the cleaning time, and controls the drying means to generate hot air. Increase the time to send. When the amount of dishes is small, the amount of spray from the washing nozzle is reduced by the washing means, the washing time is shortened, and the time for sending hot air by controlling the drying means is shortened.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the image detecting means 6 is attached above the washing cabinet 1 so that the amount of tableware placed on the basket 2 is determined by the tableware amount detecting means 15 and the control means 5 is used. Then, by controlling the cleaning means 3 and the drying means 4 according to the amount of tableware, when the amount of tableware is small, the cleaning / drying time can be shortened and power and time waste can be eliminated.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 2, reference numeral 8 denotes a water drop detecting means for detecting the state of water drops in the refrigerator, which is attached to a part of the basket 2.
The difference from the configuration of the first embodiment is that the water drop detection means 8 is provided. The rest is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. The operation and action of the dishwasher configured as above will be described below.

First, the tableware is placed in the basket 2. At that time, the water drop is also attached to the water drop detection means 8. Then, the user turns on the control means 7. Then, the image detecting means 6 captures an image of the tableware in the basket from the upper part of the washing cabinet. At that time, the state of the water drop of the water drop detection means 8 is also imaged. The captured image information is sent to the image processing means 7. The image processing means 7 processes the image, sees the change in the state of the water droplets of the water droplet detection means 8, and judges the end of drying when the water droplets disappear. The judgment result is sent to the control means 3, and when the control means 3 receives the judgment information that the drying is completed, the control means 3 controls the cleaning means and the drying means to stop them.

As described above, in this embodiment, when the water droplets of the water droplet detecting means 8 are exhausted, it is judged that the drying is completed,
The dishes can be dried, the washing and drying time can be controlled according to the amount of the dishes, and the waste of electricity and time can be eliminated.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

In FIG. 3, reference numeral 9 is an adhering matter detecting means 9 for detecting adhering matter such as mayonnaise adhering to the tableware in the refrigerator, which is attached to the door of the dishwasher. The difference from the configuration of the first embodiment is that the adhering matter detection means 9 is provided. The adhering matter detection means 9 has a function of detecting an image. Information on the adhering matter detection means 9 is input to the control means 5. The rest is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation and action of the dishwasher having the above-described structure will be described below. First, the tableware is placed in the basket 2. Then, the door of the dishwasher is closed. At that time, the attached matter detection means 9 attached to the door of the dishwasher can detect the attached matter of the tableware 10. Then, when the user turns on the control means 7, the cleaning starts. The adhering matter detecting means 9 takes an image of the adhering matter on the surface of the tableware during washing, and when the adhering matter disappears from the surface of the tableware 10, sends the information to the control means 5.
The control means 5 stops the cleaning when the adhered matter is removed, and performs the drying.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the adhered matter detecting means 9 determines that the dishes are no longer attached, it can be determined that the dishes have been washed, and the dishes can be dried. It is possible to control the cleaning and drying time, thus eliminating the waste of electricity and time.

(Embodiment 4) FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention as seen from above. In FIG. 4, 12 is a bottom surface in the dishwasher and 13 is a water level line indicating the water level on the bottom surface. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 11 is a water supply valve for supplying water to the inside of the refrigerator, which is controlled by the control circuit 5. The rest is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. The operation and action of the dishwasher configured as above will be described below.

First, the tableware is placed in the basket 2. Then, the user turns on the control means 7. Then, the image detecting means 6 takes in the water level line on the bottom surface as image information from the upper part of the washing cabinet. At the same time, the water supply valve 11 is controlled by the control means 5.
And the water is supplied to the tank. The image processing means 7 has a water level detecting means for judging that the water reaches the water level line 13 on the basis of the information from the image detecting means 6, and when it judges that the water has reached the water level, it sends the information to the control means 5. The control means 5 closes the water supply valve 11.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the water level can be set by the image detecting means 6, the water level line 13 and the water level detecting means on the bottom surface, and the conventional water level detecting means by the float is not necessary.

(Embodiment 5) FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 20 denotes a tableware storage location detecting means, which is an output of the image processing means and a control means. The rest is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation and action of the dishwasher having the above-mentioned structure will be described below.

First, the tableware is placed in the basket 2. Then, the user turns on the control means 7. Then, the image detecting means 6 captures an image of the tableware in the basket from the upper part of the washing cabinet. The captured image information is sent to the image processing means 7. The image processing means 7 processes the image and outputs it to the tableware storage location detection means detection means for determining the storage location of the tableware in the basket. The determination result is sent to the control means 3, and the control means 3 ejects the cleaning nozzle toward a place corresponding to the place where the tableware is placed in the basket. In addition, dry hot air is blown toward the place where the tableware is placed.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image detecting means 6 and the tableware place detecting means 20 control the washing means 3 and the drying means 4 toward the place where the tableware placed on the basket 2 is placed. When the amount of dishes is small, the washing / drying time can be shortened and the waste of electricity and time can be eliminated.

Further, since the place can be specified, a specific tableware or the like in the place can be recognized by the image, so that washing and drying can be performed finely.

(Embodiment 6) FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 21 is a tableware place detecting means, which is connected to the output of the image processing means and the input of the control means. Others are Example 1
The description is omitted because it is the same as the configuration of.

The operation and action of the dishwasher having the above-mentioned structure will be described below. First, the tableware is placed in the basket 2. Then, the user turns on the control means 7. Then, the image detecting means 6 captures an image of the inside of the washing cabinet from above. The captured image information is sent to the image processing means 7. The image processing means 7 processes the image and sends it to the tableware forgetting detection means 21. If there is tableware in the refrigerator even after a certain period of time, the tableware forgetting detection unit 21 determines that the tableware has been forgotten and sends the information to the control unit 5. Then, the control means notifies that the tableware has been forgotten.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image detecting means 6 is attached above the washing cabinet 1 and the tableware forgetting detection means 21 can prevent the user from forgetting to take the tableware.

(Embodiment 7) FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.
Reference numeral 22 denotes a residue notifying unit, which is connected to the output of the image processing unit and the input of the control unit. The rest is the same as the configuration of the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The operation and action of the dishwasher having the above-described structure will be described below.

First, the tableware is placed in the basket 2. Then, the user turns on the control means 7. Then, the image detecting means 6 captures an image of the inside of the washing cabinet from above. The captured image information is sent to the image processing means 7. The image processing means 7 processes the image, and the residue detection means 22.
Send to. The residue detection means detects the presence or absence of residue in the residue receiver in the refrigerator. The information is sent to the control means 5. Then, the control means notifies whether there is a residue.

As described above, in this embodiment, the image detecting means 6 is attached above the washing cabinet 1 and the residue detecting means 22 detects and informs the operator that the residue has not been removed. It is possible to prevent the generation of offensive odors.

[0043]

As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the amount of dishes can be recognized, and the optimum washing and drying time can be set according to the amount of dishes placed in the basket. You can do it.

According to the second aspect of the invention, the degree of drying of the tableware can be known by observing the water droplets on the tableware.
The end of drying can be detected.

According to the third aspect of the invention, mayonnaise, rice grains, etc. adhering to the tableware can be detected, it can be recognized that the adhering substances have been removed, and the end of washing can be automatically judged. You can

According to the invention described in claim 4, the water level of the dishwashing can be detected by marking the water level line in the dishwashing chamber.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, the place where the tableware is placed can be detected, the place can be washed and dried, and the tableware can be placed without selecting the place.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 6, it is possible to prevent forgetting to take the tableware by detecting and notifying the forgetting to take the tableware.

Further, according to the invention described in claim 7, it is possible to prevent generation of a bad odor or the like in the washing chamber by detecting and notifying that the leftover residue is left uncollected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a dishwasher and dryer according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the dishwasher according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a dishwasher / dryer according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a conventional dishwasher / dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

1. Washing room 2, basket 3, cleaning means 4, drying means 5. Control means 6. Image detection means 7. Image processing means

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Hisayuki Imahashi             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yu Taniguchi             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takayuki Ishihara             1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Matsushita Electric             Sangyo Co., Ltd. F term (reference) 3B082 DB00 DB02                 5B057 AA01 AA19 BA02 CA12 CA16                       DA13 DB02 DC01 DC36

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A washing cabinet for washing and drying dishes, a basket for placing the dishes, a washing means for washing the dishes, a drying means for drying the dishes, and a control means for controlling the washing means and the drying means. A dishwasher / dryer, comprising: an image detecting unit; an image processing unit for processing image information of the image detecting unit; and a dish amount detecting unit, and changing a washing method based on the information of the image processing unit. 2. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, further comprising water drop detecting means for detecting water drops adhering to the tableware. 3. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, further comprising an adhering matter detecting means for detecting adhering matter such as mayonnaise adhering to the tableware. 4. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising water level detection means for detecting a water level mark in the dishwashing cabinet. 5. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a tableware place detecting means for detecting a place where the tableware is placed. 6. Even if a certain period of time has passed after washing and drying,
The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a dishwashing forgetting detection unit that determines that the dish has been forgotten when there are dishes in the refrigerator. 7. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, further comprising a residue reporting means for detecting and reporting the presence or absence of a residue in the residue receiver in the refrigerator.