JP2005319062A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dishwasher which suppresses dripping sound itself as a noise source. <P>SOLUTION: The dishwasher houses dishes 3 in a washing chamber 1 and washes and/or rinses the dishes 3 by spraying washing water and/or rinsing water from a nozzle 9. In the dishwasher, before the washing water and/or rinsing water sprayed from the nozzle 9 falls in washing water 6 and/or rinsing water accumulated at a position below the nozzle 9 and at the bottom of the washing tub 1, a buffer member 20 (noise reduction member) receives the washing water from the nozzle 9. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a dishwashing machine that stores an object to be cleaned in a cleaning tank and injects cleaning water onto the object to be cleaned from a cleaning nozzle provided in the cleaning tank.

  In a conventional dishwasher, as a noise countermeasure such as a collision sound of washing water generated during washing and rinsing, washing and rinsing noise is generated in the air transfer path leading to the exhaust hole of the washing chamber wall where air flows out of the machine. A noise reduction mechanism that reduces noise is disposed (see, for example, Patent Document 2).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-169989 (page 1-7, FIG. 1)

  In conventional dishwashers, noise countermeasures in washing operations (washing and rinsing) are performed in various ways. And the water drop sound when the wash water sprayed from the spray nozzle falls on the water surface of the wash water collected on the bottom surface of the wash tank is the largest cause. In other words, suppressing the generation of water droplet noise itself was an important problem as a noise countermeasure.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and provides a dishwasher that suppresses the water droplet noise itself that is a noise generation source.

  The dishwasher according to the present invention stores dishware in a washing chamber and injects washing water and / or rinsing water into the tableware from the nozzle to perform washing and / or rinsing. The cleaning water and / or the rinsing water is received by the noise reduction member before dropping into the cleaning water and / or the rinsing water that is located below the nozzle and is collected at the bottom of the cleaning tank.

  The present invention provides a cushioning material in the middle of the cleaning water sprayed from the nozzle toward the dishes to the water surface of the bottom surface of the cleaning tank, so that the water droplets sprayed from the nozzle are gravity directed to the water surface and bottom surface of the bottom of the water tank. When falling, it touches the cushioning material, thus reducing the falling speed, and the cushioning material slowly and quietly causes water droplets to flow down to the bottom or water surface of the water tank. There is an effect of eliminating the generated sound of falling water droplets, and it is possible to obtain a dishwasher that performs quiet washing and rinsing.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a tableware washing machine according to Embodiment 1 for carrying out the present invention, FIG. 2 is a top view of a bottom surface of a cleaning tank, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part. is there. In the figure, a dish basket 3 on which tableware 2 is placed is housed in a washing tub 1 of the dishwasher. A water supply pipe 5 for supplying cleaning water 4 into the cleaning tank 1 is disposed at the upper side of the side surface of the cleaning tank 1, and a water supply valve 6 is provided. A circulation path 7 for the cleaning water 4 supplied into the cleaning tank 1 is disposed on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1, and a switching valve (not shown) for switching the operation between the cleaning process and the draining process is provided in the circulation path 7. And a cleaning pump 8 is provided. A nozzle 9 for injecting cleaning water 4 is provided on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1, and is connected to the circulation path 7 through the through portion 10. The nozzle 9 has an injection hole 11 through which the cleaning water 4 is injected. A heating element 14 for heating the cleaning water 4 is disposed at the bottom of the cleaning tank 1, and a filter 15 for collecting leftovers attached to the tableware 3 in the middle of the circulation path 7 is provided above the heating element 14. In addition, a buffer material 20 is disposed between the filter 15 and the nozzle 9. An exhaust hole 17 for allowing the air in the cleaning tank 1 to flow out of the apparatus is formed at the upper side of the cleaning tank 1 so that the cleaning water 4 does not jump out of the exhaust hole 17 during the cleaning and rinsing steps. A labyrinth cover 18 is provided. Note that the control circuit 16 controls each step of washing, rinsing and draining of the dishwasher.

  Next, the buffer material 20 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. The buffer material 20 is disposed between the nozzle 9 on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 and the filter 15 by legs (ribs) 21. The legs (ribs) 21 may be provided in the cleaning tank 1 or the cushioning material 20. At this time, the arrangement height of the cushioning material 20 is adjusted by the legs (ribs) 21 so that at least the upper surface portion of the cushioning material 20 is exposed on the surface of the washing water accumulated on the bottom surface of the washing tank 1. (See FIG. 3). The arrangement height of the cushioning material 20 is adjusted by the legs (ribs) 21 and the thickness so that the upper surface of the cushioning material 20 is not submerged due to the fluctuation of the level of the washing water 4 accumulated on the bottom surface of the washing tank 1 during the washing operation. . That is, since the water change varies depending on the ability of the cleaning pump 8 to be used, it is necessary to adjust the height of the legs (ribs) 21 and increase or decrease the thickness of the cushioning material 20 depending on the ability of the cleaning pump 8 to be used. For example, in the first embodiment, the thickness of the buffer material 20 is 4 mm, and the height of the legs (ribs) 21 is adjusted to the height at which the upper surface portion is exposed on the water surface.

  The buffer material 20 is composed of a member having a large number of holes (diameter or one side of 3 mm or less) smaller than the size (diameter of about 3 mm) of water droplets ejected from the nozzle 9 and falling. It is formed with a member. As shown in FIG. 4, the shape of the hole is a non-woven fabric shape, a circle (including ellipse) shape, a polygonal shape, a lattice shape, a mesh shape, or the like that allows water droplets to pass through. More specifically, regarding the relationship between the hole diameter and the thickness, if the buffer material 20 is formed with a hole-shaped member having a hole diameter smaller than 1 mm, it takes time for water droplets to pass, and the cleaning water 6 is formed on the surface of the buffer material 20. If the water 4 accumulates and the spray water 4 falls there, a water drop sound “pican” is generated on the cushioning material 20. Therefore, when the hole diameter of the buffer material 20 is small and time is required for the passage time of water droplets, the thickness of the buffer material 20 can be reduced to ensure a passage time in which the cleaning water 4 does not accumulate on the surface of the buffer material 20. Like that. For example, a hole diameter x 2 times or less is preferable.

  A cleaning operation (washing / rinsing) in the dishwasher configured as described above will be described. After the tableware basket 2 containing the tableware 3 is stored in a predetermined place in the washing tank 1, the detergent is introduced and the operation is started. When the operation is started, the water supply valve 5 is operated to start the washing process in which the cleaning water 6 is supplied from the water supply pipe 4 into the cleaning tank 1. Then, the cleaning pump 8 pressurizes the cleaning water 6, and the cleaning water 6 is sprayed from the injection holes 11 provided in the nozzle 9 together with the detergent toward the tableware 3 in the tableware basket 2. Done. At this time, the heating element 14 provided in the cleaning tank 1 is energized to heat the cleaning water 6 to the cleaning set temperature. Such a washing process is performed for a predetermined time.

  And after the washing | cleaning process as mentioned above was performed for the predetermined time, the washing water 6 containing the stain | pollution | contamination washed away from the tableware 3 drives the washing pump 8, and is discharged | emitted outside the apparatus. At this time, a valve (not shown) provided in the circulation path 7 of the cleaning water 6 of the cleaning pump 8 operates a switching valve (not shown) for cleaning and drainage to convert the operation.

  Next, the operation of the rinsing process will be described. In the same manner as the above-described washing step, the washing water 6 is supplied into the washing tank 1, and the washing water 6 is sprayed to the dishes 3 from the injection holes 11 provided in the nozzle 9, so that the detergent and the remaining The rinsing process is performed on the dishes 3 soiled with vegetables or the like. When this rinsing process is completed, the switching valve (not shown) of the cleaning pump 8 is switched, and the cleaning water 6 is discharged outside the apparatus. Such a rinsing process is repeated several times in succession. The labyrinth cover 18 prevents the cleaning water 6 sprayed from the nozzle 9 from jumping out of the machine from the exhaust hole 7 in the above-described cleaning and rinsing steps.

  Further, in the case of a dishwasher having a drying function, after such a rinsing process is completed, the process proceeds to the drying process. Note that each of the above steps is controlled by the control circuit 16.

  Next, the effect | action of the buffer material 20 for noise reduction in each said process is demonstrated based on FIG. In the washing and rinsing step, the washing water 6 is pressurized by the operation of the washing pump 8, and the washing water 6 is jetted from the injection holes 11 provided in the nozzle 9 toward the tableware 3 to perform washing and rinsing. The sprayed cleaning water 6 comes into contact with the tableware 3 and the cleaning tank 1 and falls again toward the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 by gravity. At this time, if the cleaning water 6 accumulates on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 or the bottom of the cleaning tank 1, when it falls on the surface of the water (see FIG. 5A), a water drop sound “Pochan” is continuously generated. (See FIG. 5B). A schematic diagram at this time is shown in FIG. The drop sound of a water drop becomes louder as it falls from a higher place (the higher the drop speed).

  Accordingly, the buffer material 20 is sprayed from the nozzle 9 by disposing the buffer material 20 between the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 and the nozzle 9 so that the upper surface is exposed from the water level of the cleaning water 6 accumulated on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 as described above. When the washed water 6 falls and returns to the bottom of the washing tank 1, it always comes into contact with the buffer material 20 before the water surface (the accumulated washing water 6). And the water droplet of the washing water 6 which contacted the shock absorbing material 20 is absorbed from the hole of the shock absorbing material 20, and moves slowly to the bottom part of the washing tank 1 after that. That is, the water droplets of the cleaning water 6 are deprived of speed by colliding with the buffer material 20 and can move through the holes of the buffer material 20 to the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 at a low speed. When the washing water 6 accumulates on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 or the impingement sound on the bottom surface of the water, no drop sound of “pochan” is generated. The buffer material 20 is a porous body and has flexibility. Due to this flexibility, the collision energy is mainly used for elastic deformation (diverging as heat) of the buffer material 20, and the generation of noise is very small.

  Accordingly, the buffer material 20 is disposed between the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 and the nozzle 9 so that at least the upper surface is exposed from the surface of the cleaning water 6 accumulated on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1, so that the water droplets are washed water. The water drop falling speed can be made extremely small immediately before colliding with the water surface 6 or the bottom surface of the washing tank 1, and the water drop falling sound and the water drop collision sound to the bottom of the washing tank 1 can be eliminated. Noise can be greatly reduced. Therefore, even if the washing operation is performed at night, there is no inconvenience caused by a large noise in the vicinity.

  Further, the cushioning material 20 is arranged by a simple installation operation in which a leg (rib) portion is placed on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 and placed, and the cushioning material 20 is placed by placing on the leg (rib) portion. Can be arranged at the optimum installation position (height, left and right position). Accordingly, the buffer material 20 can be easily installed and removed. In addition, even if the leg (rib) is the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1,

  In addition, the thickness of the buffer material 20 is set so that even if the water level of the cleaning water accumulated on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 fluctuates, the buffer material 20 does not submerge all of the water so that the water level of the cleaning water on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 varies. Even if this occurs, the upper surface of the cushioning material 20 can be surely exposed, and the generation of water drop sound can be prevented.

  Although the buffer material 20 of the first embodiment is arranged on the entire bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1, the size (area) of the buffer material 20 is a water droplet if arranged on the entire bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1. Although the effect of preventing the falling sound is further enhanced, it may be disposed on a part of the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1, and the effect of reducing the water drop falling sound can be obtained. Or if the buffer material 20 is arrange | positioned in the middle of the wash water falling on the water surface and returning to the circulation path 7, the magnitude | size (area) of the buffer material 20 will be determined suitably, and it is not restricted to this.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In Embodiment 1 described above, a part of the buffer material is submerged in the cleaning water on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank, and even if the water level fluctuates, at least the upper surface of the buffer material has a thickness that does not submerge. Since it is disposed on the upper surface of the filter, dirt such as dirt adhering to the tableware may be clogged in the hole of the cushioning material. Therefore, in the present second embodiment, in order to improve the cleaning performance of the buffer material, the use of a buffer material having a small thickness is used to prevent the generation of a water drop falling sound.

  6 to 8 are a perspective view of a cushioning material and a nozzle portion of a dishwasher according to Embodiment 2 for carrying out the present invention, an enlarged sectional view of an essential part, and a state explanatory diagram of the cushioning material. The structure of the main body is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the same parts are denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof is omitted. In the figure, the buffer material 30 is made as thin as possible, the frame 31 is formed along the back surface (which may be the inside or the top surface), and is disposed below the nozzle 9. As in the first embodiment, the buffer material 30 is placed on the legs (ribs) 32 provided in the cleaning tank 1 as shown in FIG. The mounting position is a position where at least the upper surface portion 30a of the buffer material 30 is not submerged in the cleaning water 6 when the water level of the cleaning water 6 accumulated on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 is generated in the cleaning process and the rinsing process. The distance A between the cleaning water 6 and the water surface is positioned so as to be.

  Next, the movement of the cleaning water 6 sprayed from the nozzle 9 during the cleaning process or the rinsing process when passing through the thin buffer material 30 will be described. Since the buffer material 30 is thin unlike the first embodiment, the buffer material 30 is disposed at a position where the buffer material 30 is not submerged at all when the water level fluctuation of the cleaning water 6 accumulated on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 is large. That is, as shown in FIG. 8, a gap space A is provided between the buffer material 30 and the surface of the cleaning water 6 on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1. For example, in the second embodiment, the gap space A between the buffer material 30 and the water surface of the cleaning water 6 is 3 to 4 mm. In this state, when the water droplet of the cleaning water 6 falls on the buffer material 30, the water droplet falls on the surface of the cleaning water 6 on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 after passing through the buffer material 30. Since it hangs down at a low speed by the buffer material 30, even if it hangs down on the surface of the cleaning water 6, almost no water drop falling sound is generated. That is, the water drop falling sound of the washing water 6 is prevented by the buffer material 30, and the water drop falling sound from the buffer material 30 to the water surface of the bottom surface of the washing tank 1 is reduced by the buffer material 21, and further the tableware Even if dirt or dust adhering to 3 enters from the hole of the buffer material 30, the buffer material 30 is thin and can be easily removed.

As described above, the thickness of the buffer material is reduced and disposed with a gap between the surface of the cleaning water and the water in the cleaning tank, so that the water drop falls at a low speed immediately before the water drops collide with the water surface or bottom surface. Therefore, almost no water drop falling noise or collision noise is generated, and operation noise during the washing and rinsing process can be greatly reduced. For this reason, it is possible to drive at night with peace of mind because it does not bother the surroundings with loud noise.
In addition, since the cushioning material is thin, there is little clogging of debris and dust, and even when clogging occurs, it can be easily removed by rubbing.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
The third embodiment shows a structure for removing the buffer material, which facilitates maintenance of the buffer material and maintains the noise reduction capability. In addition, the structure of the whole dishwasher is the same as that of Embodiment 1 and 2, The description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the buffer material and the nozzle for explaining the configuration of the buffer material 40, wherein the nozzle 9 is configured to be detachable, and the buffer material 40 is formed integrally with the frame 41. It is. When removing the cushioning material 40 by cleaning or the like, first, the nozzle 9 is removed, and the cushioning material 40 can be detached from the frame 41 integrally or separately. The cushioning material 40 configured in this way can be easily removed, and can be cleaned by scrubbing or scrubbing to remove clogged holes. Note that the frame 41 is a support when the thickness of the cushioning material is thin, and only the cushioning material may be used.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 10, you may form so that the buffer material 50 can be divided | segmented into plurality. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the cushioning material 50 and the nozzle. The cushioning material 50 can be divided like a first cushioning material 50a and a second cushioning material 50b. By dividing into 50a and the second shock absorbing material 50b, it is possible to remove only the shock absorbing material 50 without removing the nozzle 9, and it is possible to remove dirt clogged by the shock absorbing material 50 by rubbing and scrubbing. Note that the frame 51 of the cushioning material 50 may be formed integrally with the cushioning material 50 so that it can be divided into a plurality of parts, and a means for fixing the divided cushioning materials without using a frame is provided in the cushioning material itself. You may do it.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
FIGS. 11 and 12 are a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the bottom portion of the washing tub of the dishwasher in which the cushioning material and the nozzle are integrally formed, and are configured to be removable with the nozzle 9 integrally. . In the figure, the outer shape of the buffer material 60 is a shape such as a circle that can be rotated in the cleaning tank 1, and as shown in FIG. 12a, the buffer material 60 is disposed under the nozzle 9 so as to be formed integrally with the nozzle 9. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 12b, the nozzle 9 and the cushioning material 60 are integrally formed so as to be on the same surface. In the case of FIG. 12a, the distance H between the nozzle 9 and the cushioning material 60 is present. On the other hand, the direction of FIG. 12b is as short as the distance h, the height of the nozzle 9 can be made low, and the dishwasher main body can be miniaturized.

  This is because the wash water 6 sprayed and dropped from the rotary nozzle 9 is the largest in the rotation range of the nozzle 9, and therefore, only the rotation range of the nozzle 9 having the greatest amount of wash water 6 falling is buffered. Even if the material 60 is disposed, the water drop falling sound can be sufficiently reduced. That is, the noise reduction effect can also be exhibited by disposing the cushioning material 60 partially.

  If a buffer material is separately arranged on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 outside the buffer material 60, the noise reduction effect can be further improved.

Embodiment 5 FIG.
Further, if the cushioning material is formed in a lattice shape so that it can be expanded and contracted, the hole 71 is expanded by pulling the cushioning material 70 in the state of FIG. 13a as shown in FIG. It will fall off easily.

Embodiment 6 FIG.
Furthermore, you may enable it to wash | clean a buffer material in the washing tank 1 of a dishwasher. FIG. 14 shows a dishwasher that can clean the cushioning material of the first to fourth embodiments. The buffer material may be any material that expands and contracts as much as in the fourth embodiment. A tension hook 80 for fixing the cushioning material according to any of the first to fifth embodiments (here, the cushioning material 70) is provided on the wall surface of the cleaning tank 1, and the cushioning material 70 is hooked and fixed to the hook 80 while being pulled. . In other words, the hole of the cushioning material 70 is in an expanded state, and in this state, the detergent is put into the dishwasher and the washing operation is performed, so that the cushioning material can be automatically cleaned and washed by hand. Save time and effort.

  Examples of utilization of the present invention include a dishwasher and a dishwasher.

It is a cross-sectional view of the dishwasher which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a top view of the bottom face part of the dishwasher which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the tableware washing machine which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a shape figure of the buffer material of the dishwasher which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a state explanatory drawing of the buffer material of the dishwasher which shows Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the buffer material and nozzle part of the dishwasher which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a principal part expanded sectional view of the tableware washing machine which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a state explanatory drawing of the buffer material of the dishwasher which shows Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the buffer material and nozzle of a dishwasher which shows Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the buffer material and nozzle of a dishwasher which shows Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the washing tank bottom face part of the tableware washing machine which shows Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the washing tank bottom face part of the tableware washing machine which shows Embodiment 4 of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the shock absorbing material of the dishwasher which shows Embodiment 5 of this invention. It is sectional drawing of the tableware washing machine which shows Embodiment 6 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing tank, 2 Tableware basket, 3 Tableware, 4 Water supply pipe, 5 Water supply valve, 6 Washing water, 7 Circulation route, 8 Washing pump, 9 Nozzle, 10 penetration part, 11 Injection hole, 14 Heating body, 15 Leftover Filter, 16 Control circuit, 17 Exhaust hole, 18 Labyrinth cover, 20 Shock absorber, 21 Leg (rib), 30 Shock absorber, 31 frame, 32 leg (rib), 40 Shock absorber, 41 frame, 50 Shock absorber, 51 frame , 60 cushioning material, 70 cushioning material, 71 holes, 72 residues, 80 pulling hook.

Claims (9)

Tableware is stored in the cleaning chamber, and cleaning water and / or rinsing water is sprayed from the nozzle onto the tableware, and cleaning water and / or rinsing water sprayed from the nozzle is used. A dishwasher characterized in that it is received by a noise reducing member at a position below the nozzle and before falling into the washing water and / or rinsing water collected at the bottom of the washing tank. 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning material is placed on a leg provided on the bottom or side wall of the washing tank. 3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the cushioning material is disposed at a position where the upper surface of the cushioning material is not submerged in the washing water and / or the rinsing water collected on the bottom surface of the washing tank. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a frame for preventing the buffer material from being bent is inserted into or attached to the buffer material. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the cushioning material is disposed so as to surround the nozzle immediately below the nozzle, and the cushioning material can be divided into a plurality of segments. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the cushioning material can be removed integrally with the nozzle. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a thickness of the buffer material is 0.05 to 1 mm. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the buffer material is a resin film or a metal plate having a large number of holes through which washing water and rinsing water pass. The dishwasher according to claim 8, wherein the thickness of the cushioning material is at least twice the hole diameter of the cushioning material.

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