JP2006068234A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dishwasher capable of detecting a contamination level of wash water based on a highly reliable initial value even if performing a preset operation specifying an operation starting condition by a timer function. <P>SOLUTION: This dishwasher receives an input of a starting time of the preset operation, when receiving the input of the starting time, starts the feed of water from a water feed port before starting the preset operation, when the level of water fed to a washing tub reaches a predetermined level, allowing a means to detect the initial value of the light intensity by a turbidity sensor, compares the light intensity detected by the turbidity sensor with the initial value stored in a storage means at a predetermined time point, and calculates the contamination level of the water at the predetermined time point. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a dishwasher capable of changing an operation procedure in accordance with the degree of water contamination in a washing tank detected by a turbidity sensor.

  FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a main part viewed from the front of a conventional dishwasher. The dishwasher is provided with a cleaning tank 2 for storing tableware 20 to be cleaned inside the housing 1, and in the cleaning tank 2, a tableware holder 3 on which the tableware 20 is placed, and a bottom of the tableware receiver 3 A plurality of rotatable spray nozzles 4 and 4 which spray water toward the tableware 20 placed on the tableware holder 3 and supply pressurized water to the spray nozzles 4 and 4 via a distribution valve A pump 5 and a heater 6 for heating the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 2 are provided.

  One end of a washing water circulation path 7 is connected to the spray nozzle 4, and the other end of the washing water circulation path 7 is connected to a drain port 8 provided at the bottom of the washing tank 2. The cleaning pump 5 is provided in the middle of the cleaning water circulation path 7, and the cleaning water injected from the water supply port 9 and sprayed from the injection nozzles 4, 4 passes through the drain port 8 and the cleaning water circulation path 7, and again is the injection nozzle 4. 4 is supplied.

The degree of contamination of the washing water is detected by a turbidity sensor 10 attached to the washing water circulation path 7 up to the washing pump 5. The turbidity sensor 10 has a light emitting part 11 and a light receiving part 12 arranged so as to face each other with the washing water circulation path 7 interposed therebetween, and the washing water that is emitted from the light emitting part 11 and passes through the washing water circulation path 7 By detecting the amount of light that is transmitted and received by the light receiving unit 12, the light transmission degree of the cleaning water, that is, the degree of contamination is detected (see Patent Document 1).
JP 7-59718 A

  The turbidity sensor 10 stores the light amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 at a predetermined time as an initial value, and compares it with the light amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 at an arbitrary time. The light transmittance of water, that is, the degree of dirt is detected. Therefore, the detection accuracy of the degree of contamination of the cleaning water varies greatly depending on at which point the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 stored as the initial value is detected. Therefore, in principle, light is received by the light receiving unit 12 detected immediately before starting the cleaning of the dishes, that is, immediately after the supply of the cleaning water into the cleaning tank 2 is completed and immediately before the circulation of the cleaning water for cleaning the dishes. The amount of light to be stored was stored as an initial value.

  However, when performing a reserved operation using the timer function, for example, there is a large time gap between the operation start time set by the timer function and the time at which the operation start time is actually set. Therefore, at the time when the operation start time is set, the supply of the cleaning water into the cleaning tank 2 is started, and the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 is initialized immediately before the cleaning water circulation for cleaning the dishes is started. When stored as a value, a considerable amount of time has elapsed from the completion of the supply of cleaning water into the cleaning tank 2 until the start of circulation of cleaning water for cleaning dishes. There is a high possibility that water is contaminated, and the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 is not reliable for use as an initial value.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and even in the case of performing a reserved operation in which an operation start condition is designated by a timer function, the degree of contamination of the washing water is determined based on a highly reliable initial value. An object is to provide a dishwasher that can be detected.

  In order to achieve the above object, a dishwasher according to the present invention circulates water supplied from a water supply port in a washing tub and injects the circulated water to the tableware. Having a turbidity sensor in the cleaning tank for detecting the amount of light received by the light receiving unit, and means for receiving an input of a start time of a reserved operation, and when receiving an input of the start time by the means, Means for starting the supply of water from the water supply port before the start of the reserved operation, and when the water level of the cleaning tank reaches a predetermined water level by the supplied water, the initial value of the light amount is detected by the turbidity sensor. Means for storing the initial value detected by the means in the storage means, the amount of light detected by the turbidity sensor at a predetermined time point, and the initial value stored in the storage means, thereby comparing the predetermined value. The degree of water contamination at the time Characterized in that it comprises a means for calculating.

  In the present invention, when the input of the start time of the scheduled cleaning operation for tableware is received, the light amount detected by the turbidity sensor at the time when the supply of the cleaning water to the cleaning tank is completed before starting the cleaning is an initial value. Thereafter, the degree of contamination of the cleaning water is calculated by comparing with the amount of light detected by the turbidity sensor at a predetermined time. Thus, the amount of light received by the turbidity sensor after the clean water supply is completed is stored as an initial value, and the stored initial value is compared with the amount of light received by the turbidity sensor at a predetermined time. Therefore, even if it takes a considerable amount of time to start operation according to the cleaning start time of the received tableware, the cleaning water contamination level is accurately calculated. It becomes possible.

  Further, the dishwasher according to the present invention stores a plurality of operating procedures in the storage means, and receives other operating procedures based on the means for accepting selection of one operating procedure and the calculated degree of water contamination. And means for selecting.

  In the present invention, a plurality of operation procedures are stored in the storage means, the selection of one operation procedure is accepted, and the cleaning of the dishes is started, and other operation procedures are performed based on the calculated cleaning water contamination level. select. Thereby, the operation procedure of the dish washing can be changed based on the degree of contamination of the washing water calculated with the light quantity received by the turbidity sensor after the completion of the supply of clean water as the initial value. It becomes possible to wash dishes efficiently according to the state of dirt.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to calculate the degree of contamination of the washing water based on the amount of light received by the turbidity sensor after the supply of clean water is completed, and the operation according to the start time of the received tableware washing Even when a considerable time is required until the start of the cleaning, it is possible to calculate the degree of contamination of the cleaning water with high accuracy.

  In addition, it is possible to change the operation procedure of dishwashing based on the degree of contamination of the washing water calculated based on the amount of light received by the turbidity sensor after being supplied with clean water as the initial value. It becomes possible to wash dishes efficiently according to the state.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings illustrating embodiments thereof. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a main part configuration viewed from the right side of the dishwasher according to the embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a main part configuration viewed from the front of the dishwasher according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a configuration of a main part viewed from the top surface of the dishwasher according to the embodiment of the present invention. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the component similar to the conventional dishwasher.

  In the dishwasher according to the present embodiment, a washing tub 2 for storing tableware to be washed is provided inside the housing 1. A plurality of rotatable injection nozzles 4, 4 that are arranged on the lower side of the tool 3 and spray water toward the tableware placed on the tableware receiver 3, and pressurized water is supplied to the injection nozzles 4, 4 via a distribution valve. A cleaning pump 5 to be supplied and a heater 6 for heating the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 2 are provided.

  One end of a washing water circulation path 7 is connected to the spray nozzle 4, and the other end of the washing water circulation path 7 is connected to a drain port 8 provided at the bottom of the washing tank 2. The cleaning pump 5 is provided in the middle of the cleaning water circulation path 7, and the cleaning water injected from the water supply port 9 and sprayed from the injection nozzles 4, 4 passes through the drain port 8 and the cleaning water circulation path 7, and again is the injection nozzle 4. 4 is supplied.

  The degree of contamination of the cleaning water is detected by a turbidity sensor 10 attached in the cleaning tank 2. The turbidity sensor 10 has a light emitting unit 11 and a light receiving unit 12 disposed so as to face each other. The turbidity sensor 10 emits washing water that is emitted from the light emitting unit 11 and passes between the light emitting unit 11 and the light receiving unit 12. By detecting the amount of light that is transmitted and received by the light receiving unit 12, the light transmission degree of the cleaning water, that is, the degree of contamination is detected.

  Specifically, in the dishwasher according to the present embodiment, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 at a predetermined time is an initial value, and the difference between the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 at the time of measurement is large or small. Based on the ratio between the two, the degree of contamination of the washing water is calculated, the operation of the motor for driving the spray nozzles 4 and 4 and the heater 6 for heating the washing water are controlled, and the entire sequence such as dish washing is controlled. A control device 30 is provided.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the control device 30 of the dishwasher according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the control device 30 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 31, a ROM 32, a RAM 33, a clock 34 for measuring time, an input / output port 35, and the like, which are connected to each other by an internal bus 36. ing. Connected to the input / output port 35 are a turbidity sensor 10, a motor for driving the injection nozzles 4, 4, a heater 6 for heating cleaning water, an operation panel 15 for receiving setting input of an operation procedure, and the like.

  The CPU 31 of the control device 30 controls a sequence such as dishwashing by executing a program stored in the ROM 32 using the RAM 33 as a working area. For example, the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 of the turbidity sensor 10 is compared with the amount of light (initial value) received by the light receiving unit 12 at the time when water supply is started from the water supply port 8 stored in the RAM 33. Is calculated to determine how dirty the cleaning water is. The CPU 31 of the control device 30 switches the operation procedure set by the setting input received on the operation panel 15 to the operation procedure corresponding to the situation, depending on the degree of contamination of the cleaning water.

  The RAM 33 of the control device 30 stores operation procedures such as the cleaning time and the number of times of rinsing. The CPU 31 of the control device 33 sets the first operation procedure based on the setting input input from the operation panel 15 by the user. For example, the dish washing mode is defined in three stages of “simple mode”, “standard mode”, and “slow mode”, and the washing time and the number of times of rinsing are defined for each. FIG. 5 is an illustration of the cleaning time and the number of times of rinsing for each dish cleaning mode stored in the RAM 33. As shown in FIG. 5, the washing time and the number of times of rinsing are determined for each dish washing mode, and the CPU 31 reads such data and controls the execution time by the clock 34. When the user operates the operation panel 15 and the CPU 31 of the control device 30 receives a setting input to any of the tableware washing modes, the CPU 31 determines the tableware based on the washing time and the rinsing time read from the RAM 33. Start cleaning.

  In the present embodiment, a reservation input for the cleaning start time is received from the operation panel 15. For example, a reservation input such as accepting a setting input of a start time or starting cleaning after 30 minutes can be performed. The RAM 33 of the control device 30 that has received the reservation input for the cleaning start time executes the following processing.

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing procedure for calculating the degree of contamination of the washing water by the CPU 31 of the control device 30 for the dishwasher according to the embodiment of the present invention. The CPU 31 receives a reservation input for the cleaning start time via the operation panel 15 (step S601). Specifically, the CPU 31 accepts input of the start time of dishwashing, or accepts input of time until the start of dishwashing. CPU31 which received the reservation input of the washing | cleaning start time opens the valve for water supply (step S602), and starts the water supply of the washing water from the water supply port 9 to the washing tank 2. FIG.

  The CPU 31 determines, based on the output of a water level sensor (not shown), whether or not the level of the cleaning water accumulated in the cleaning tank 2 due to the water supply from the water supply port 9 has reached a predetermined water level at which tableware cleaning starts (step). S603). When the CPU 31 determines that the predetermined water level has been reached (step S603: YES), the CPU 31 closes the water supply valve (step S604), and uses the light amount received by the light receiving unit 12 of the turbidity sensor 10 as an initial value. It is acquired and stored in the RAM 33 (step S605).

  The CPU 31 acquires the amount of light received by the light receiving unit 12 of the turbidity sensor 10 at the time of detecting the degree of contamination of the cleaning water (step S606), and the acquired amount of light is based on the initial value stored in the RAM 33. The ratio of the amount of light is calculated (step S607), and the degree of cleaning water contamination is determined.

  Moreover, FIG. 7 is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which changes the driving | running procedure according to the dirty state of the wash water of CPU31 of the control apparatus 30 of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment of this invention. The CPU 31 can change the operation procedure according to the calculated degree of cleaning water contamination.

  Specifically, the CPU 31 acquires the calculated cleaning water contamination level (step S701), and determines whether or not the acquired cleaning water contamination level is greater than a first threshold (step S702). When the CPU 31 determines that the calculated degree of contamination is smaller than the first threshold (step S702: NO), the CPU 31 determines that the tableware is not very dirty, and the CPU 31 shortens the cleaning time or decreases the number of times of rinsing. (Step S703).

  If the CPU 31 determines that the calculated degree of dirt is greater than the first threshold (step S702: YES), the CPU 31 determines whether or not the calculated degree of dirt is greater than a second threshold that is greater than the first threshold. Is determined (step S704). When the CPU 31 determines that the calculated dirt level is greater than the second threshold (step S704: YES), the CPU 31 determines that the tableware is extremely dirty, and the CPU 31 increases the cleaning time or increases the number of times of rinsing. (Step S705).

  When the CPU 31 determines that the calculated degree of dirt is smaller than the second threshold (step S704: NO), the CPU 31 judges that the degree of dirt is normal, and the CPU 31 keeps the operation procedure according to the original setting. Dishwashing is continued (step S706).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the water permeability after being supplied with clean water is stored as an initial value, and the stored initial value and the permeability detected at a predetermined time point are stored. Therefore, even if a considerable amount of time is required until the start of operation according to the cleaning start conditions of the received tableware, the cleaning water is accurately contaminated. It is possible to calculate well.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the permeability of the cleaning water immediately after supplying clean water is stored as an initial value, but at any point in time as long as it is before the reserved operation is started, Even when the transmittance is detected, the same effect can be expected although the magnitude of the effect is large.

  In the embodiment described above, the instruction for selecting the dishwashing mode is given by an input from the operation panel 15. However, the present invention is not particularly limited to this, and the switching is performed by a hardware mechanism such as a rotary switch. Also good.

It is a schematic diagram which shows the principal part structure seen from the right side surface of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the principal part structure seen from the front of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the principal part structure seen from the top | upper surface of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control apparatus of the dishwasher which concerns on this Embodiment. It is an illustration figure of the washing time and the number of times of rinse for every dish washing mode memorized by RAM. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which calculates the dirt condition of the washing water of CPU of the control apparatus of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process sequence which changes the driving | running procedure according to the dirty condition of the washing water of CPU of the control apparatus of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic diagram which shows the principal part structure seen from the front of the conventional dishwasher.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Housing | casing 2 Cleaning tank 4 Injection nozzle 5 Cleaning pump 6 Heater 7 Washing water circulation path 10 Turbidity sensor 11 Light emission part 12 Light reception part 30 Control apparatus 31 CPU
32 ROM
33 RAM

Claims (2)

In the dishwasher that circulates the water supplied from the water supply port in the washing tank and jets the circulated water to the tableware,
A turbidity sensor that has a light emitting unit and a light receiving unit and detects the amount of light received by the light receiving unit is provided in the cleaning tank,
Means for receiving an input of the start time of the reserved operation;
Means for starting the supply of water from the water supply port before the start of the reserved operation when the input of the start time is accepted by the means;
Means for detecting an initial value of the amount of light by the turbidity sensor when the water level of the cleaning tank reaches a predetermined water level by the supplied water;
Means for storing the initial value detected by the means in a storage means;
Means for calculating the degree of water contamination at the predetermined time point by comparing the amount of light detected by the turbidity sensor at a predetermined time point with an initial value stored in the storage means. dishwasher. A plurality of operation procedures are stored in the storage means,
Means for accepting selection of one driving procedure;
The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising means for selecting another operation procedure based on the calculated degree of water contamination.

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