JP2007319312A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To wash tableware as objects to be washed with a prescribed noise level or lower in an appropriate washing period regardless of the quantity, the kind or the way of disposition of the tableware. <P>SOLUTION: The dishwasher comprises a motor 8 for driving a washing pump 5, a control means 21 for controlling the driving of the motor 8, and a sound volume detecting means 18 for detecting the noise. The control means 21 controls the volume of the operation detected by the sound volume detecting means 18 when the washing pump 5 is driven at a prescribed level or lower to spray washing water. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dishwasher for washing dishes.

Conventionally, this type of dishwasher has been considered to reduce noise during operation by rotating a motor that drives a washing pump at a low speed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 4-130756

  One of the major causes of dishwasher noise is the sound of the sprayed washing water directly hitting the washing tub. Depending on the amount, type, and arrangement of the dishes to be washed, The noise tends to increase as the percentage hitting the washing tank increases. It is costly to deal with this problem with soundproofing measures using a structure, and the low-noise course that drives the motor that drives the cleaning pump at a low speed is related to the amount and type of dishes to be cleaned, and how to place them. However, since the motor is driven at a low rotation speed, there is a problem that it takes time to achieve both cleaning performance and the like.

  Since the dishwasher is used when the user does not operate the device directly at the time of the meal after dinner or at night, the noise tends to hinder the appreciation of sleep, conversation, TV and the like.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention solves the above-described problems, and provides a dishwasher that performs washing with an optimum washing time with a certain noise level or less, regardless of the amount, type, and arrangement of dishes to be washed. It is intended to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, a dishwasher according to the present invention comprises a motor for driving a washing pump, a control means for controlling the driving of the motor, and a volume detection means for detecting noise, wherein the control means comprises: The cleaning water is jetted so that the volume of the operation sound detected by the volume detection means when the cleaning pump is driven is below a predetermined value.

  Thereby, it becomes possible to wash | clean with the optimal washing | cleaning time below a fixed noise, without being influenced by the quantity of the tableware used as a to-be-cleaned object, and the method of arrangement | positioning.

  The dishwasher of the present invention can be washed with an optimum washing time below a certain level of noise, regardless of the amount, type and arrangement of dishes to be washed.

  1st invention is a washing tank which accommodates to-be-washed objects, such as tableware, a washing pump which pressurizes washing water in the washing tank, and the washing water pressurized by the washing pump is injected into the washing tank A cleaning nozzle, a motor that drives the cleaning pump, a control unit that controls driving of the motor, and a volume detection unit that detects noise, and the control unit detects the volume when the cleaning pump is driven. Since the cleaning water is jetted so that the sound volume during operation detected by the above is less than or equal to a predetermined value, a certain level of noise can be obtained without being affected by the amount, type, and arrangement of dishes to be cleaned. In the following, it is possible to perform cleaning with an optimal cleaning time.

  In the second aspect of the invention, in particular, the control means of the first aspect of the invention controls the number of revolutions of the motor that drives the washing pump so as to change the quantity of washing water jetting power. It can be easily changed.

  In the third invention, in particular, a path loss increasing means is provided in a circulation path communicating the cleaning tank and the cleaning nozzle of the first or second invention, and the path loss is changed by the path loss increasing means to inject cleaning water. By changing the force, the washing water jetting force can be easily changed.

  In particular, the control means according to any one of the first to third inventions, when detecting that the volume during operation detected by the volume detection means during operation is higher than a predetermined value, By reducing the injection force so that the sound volume during operation is less than or equal to a predetermined value, it is possible to easily achieve cleaning with an optimal cleaning time below a certain level of noise.

  In the fifth aspect of the invention, in particular, the washing step for washing the object to be washed such as the tableware of any one of the first to fourth aspects includes a washing step and a plurality of rinsing steps. Alternatively, when driving in the middle of the process so that the volume during operation is less than the predetermined value, the operation is continued so that the volume during operation is kept below the predetermined value even after the next process. It is possible to always perform cleaning with a certain level of noise or less.

  In the sixth invention, in particular, the control means according to any one of the first to fifth inventions is based on the noise outside the dishwasher detected by the sound volume detecting means before the start of the driving operation or when the driving operation is stopped. The predetermined sound volume is set so that the noise during driving is less than or equal to the predetermined sound volume, so that it is possible to perform cleaning at a predetermined sound volume or less according to ambient noise.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to the present embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
1 to 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a washing tank formed in the main body 2 of the dishwasher, which is installed so as to be able to take out a tableware basket 3 for setting tableware to be washed. A water reservoir 4 for storing water is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 1. Water is supplied to the washing tank 1 through a water supply path (not shown) provided with a water supply valve (not shown) for stopping or supplying tap water, and the supplied water is kept at a predetermined water level. This is performed by a water storage amount control means (not shown) including a water level sensor (not shown) and a control circuit.

  A cleaning pump 5 pressurizes the water stored in the water storage unit 4. The rotating shaft 7 of the impeller 6 in the cleaning pump 5 and the rotating shaft 7 of the motor 8 that is a driving source of the cleaning pump 5 are concentric and substantially vertical. The cleaning pump 5 is disposed below the motor 8. Reference numeral 9 denotes a suction path through which cleaning water flows into the cleaning pump 5, which is provided between the cleaning pump 5 and the motor 8 that drives the cleaning pump 5, and is located near the center so as to surround the rotating shaft 7 of the impeller 6. A suction port 17 is formed.

  The cleaning pump 5 is a centrifugal type in which the impeller 6 can be reversed in the forward and reverse directions. During forward rotation, the cleaning water is discharged from the first discharge port 10 and supplied to the cleaning nozzle 11, and the injection port 12 enters the cleaning tank 1. Spray. The cleaning nozzle 11 is provided so as to be rotatable in the horizontal direction, and is rotated by a reaction force when the cleaning water is sprayed from the spray port 12 so that it can be sprayed over a wide range in the cleaning tank 1. Reference numeral 13 denotes a switching valve, which closes the second discharge port 14 by the flow of cleaning water generated in the cleaning pump 5 toward the first discharge port 10 when the impeller 6 rotates in the forward direction. The second discharge port 14 is opened as a result of the reverse flow of the washing water at the time of rotation. By the operation of the switching valve 13, when the cleaning pump 5 is reversely rotated, the cleaning water is discharged from the second discharge port 14 to the outside of the apparatus.

  The drainage operation can also be performed by a drainage pump (not shown) provided separately from the cleaning pump 5, and these operations are performed by the control means 21 that controls the drive of the motor 8.

  A heater 15 heats the water stored in the water storage unit 4 and heats the air supplied into the cleaning tank 1 by a blowing means (not shown) during drying. Reference numeral 16 denotes a filter that captures leftovers attached to the tableware.

  Next, the operation in the above embodiment will be described. First, tap water is supplied to the inside of the washing tank 1 by a water storage amount control means (not shown), stored in the water storage section 4 provided at the bottom of the washing tank 1, and stopped at a predetermined water level. . Next, the cleaning pump 5 rotates forward, and the cleaning water in the water storage section 4 is pressurized by the cleaning pump 5 and enters the cleaning pump 5 through the suction path 9 through the suction port 17 provided at the top of the impeller 6. Washing water is discharged from the first discharge port 10 and supplied to the cleaning nozzle 11, and cleaning is performed by spraying from the injection port 12 toward the tableware placed in the tableware basket 3 in the cleaning tank 1.

  The wash water from which the dishes have been cleaned returns to the water storage unit 4 again. The cleaning water is heated by the heater 15 and becomes a moderately high temperature set in advance to increase the cleaning power. Contaminants of the cleaning water that has been cleaned are captured by the filter 16 and circulated to the cleaning pump 5 again. To prevent the reattachment of contaminants during cleaning. When the predetermined cleaning is completed, the cleaning pump 5 is reversed and the cleaning water is discharged from the second discharge port 14 to the outside of the apparatus.

  During these cleaning steps, the volume of noise generated during driving is detected by the volume detector 18.

  As noise generated during the operation of the dishwasher, fluid sound generated in the path from the cleaning pump 5 and the suction path 9 to the cleaning nozzle 11, motor sound generated by the motor 8, and cleaning water are sprayed from the injection port 12. Spray sound, impact sound of sprayed washing water hitting tableware or washing tub 1, dripping sound generated when washing water after hitting tableware or washing tub 1 falls on the surface of water storage unit 4 or directly on washing tub 1 and so on. Among these, the collision sound that the sprayed washing water hits the tableware or the washing tub 1 increases the proportion of the sprayed washing water directly hitting the washing tub 1 depending on the amount, type, and arrangement of the tableware to be cleaned. Noise tends to increase. Moreover, the washing water which directly hits the washing tank 1 hardly contributes to washing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the control means 21 grasps the volume of noise generated by the dishwasher during operation by the volume detection means 18, and when the volume is higher than a predetermined value, the injection nozzle 12 of the washing nozzle 11. Reduce the amount of cleaning water sprayed from the top.

  The injection amount reduction means is performed by lowering the rotation speed of the motor 8 that drives the cleaning pump 5 by the control means 21.

  After the suspension of the cleaning pump 5 during the cleaning process, or when the cleaning pump 5 is switched again when the cleaning process consists of a cleaning process and a plurality of rinsing processes, the operation is performed in the first or intermediate process. When the driving is performed so that the volume of the hour becomes a predetermined value or less, the driving is continuously performed so that the volume of the driving becomes a predetermined value or less.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the control means 21 always keeps track of the volume of noise generated by the dishwasher during operation by means of the volume detection means 18, and if the volume is higher than a predetermined value, the washing nozzle 11 is stepwise. The amount of cleaning water sprayed from the nozzle 12 may be lowered.

  Further, as a means for reducing the injection amount, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, a path loss increasing means 20 using a ball valve or the like is provided in a circulation path 19 that connects the cleaning tank and the cleaning nozzle, and the path loss is reduced. A configuration may be used in which the path loss is changed by the increasing means to change the washing water injection force. The path loss increasing means 20 is configured such that the ball valve 20a is movably provided in the circulation path 19, and the ball valve 20a is moved by the retractable electromagnetic drive unit 20b to change the cross-sectional area of the circulation path 19. .

  Further, when a plurality of cleaning nozzles 11 are provided, the number of cleaning nozzles 11 to which cleaning water is simultaneously conveyed from the cleaning pump 5 may be switched by a switching valve or the like. The sound volume detection by the sound volume detection means 18 is more suitable for the time average considering the variation than the instantaneous value.

  Further, the operation time may be extended in order to ensure the cleaning performance according to the reduction of the injection amount.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 7, the control means 21 has a plurality of predetermined values corresponding to the volume of the ambient noise, and measures the volume of the ambient noise by the volume detection means 18 before driving or during a pause. Alternatively, the cleaning water may be jetted so as to be equal to or less than a predetermined value corresponding to the measured volume of ambient noise.

  After the operation is started, a predetermined value 1 is determined from the output of the ambient sound volume detection means 18 when the motor 8 is stopped until t1. The motor 8 is driven from t1 to perform cleaning. At that time, when the output of the sound volume detection means 18 during operation exceeds a predetermined value 1 due to the surrounding environment, the amount, type, arrangement, etc. of the tableware, the rotation number of the motor 8 is reduced by the control means 21, etc. Reduce the amount of cleaning water spray. As a result, the cleaning can be performed with an operation sound of t1 or less from the predetermined value 1. Since the ambient sound has decreased since t3, the output of the sound volume detection means 18 during operation decreases. Here, since the motor 8 is driven continuously, a decrease in ambient sound cannot be detected, so the motor 8 is driven at the same rotation speed.

  The motor 8 stops at t4, and a predetermined value 2 is determined from the output of the sound volume detection means 18 until t5, thereby detecting a decrease in ambient sound. Cleaning is performed by driving the motor 8 again from t5. Since the output of the sound volume detecting means 18 during operation exceeds a predetermined value 2, the control means 21 lowers the number of revolutions of the motor 8 and so on. Decrease the amount. As a result, cleaning can be performed with an operation sound of a predetermined value 2 or less from t6.

  Further, the sound volume detection means 18 may be a means for detecting sound from a microphone, or a means for detecting vibration by a vibration sensor or the like.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the control unit 21 injects the cleaning water so that the volume of the driving sound detected by the volume detection unit 18 when the cleaning pump 5 is driven is equal to or less than a predetermined value. It is possible to perform cleaning with an optimal cleaning time below a certain level of noise, regardless of the amount, type, and arrangement of tableware to be cleaned.

  As described above, the dishwasher according to the present invention can be washed with an optimal washing time with a certain level of noise or less, regardless of the amount, type, and arrangement of dishes to be cleaned. Useful as a dishwasher.

Sectional drawing of the dishwasher of Embodiment 1 of this invention Enlarged sectional view of the washing pump and motor of the dishwasher Inside plan view of the washing pump of the dishwasher Operation diagram of the dishwasher Operation explanatory diagram of another example of the dishwasher (A) Main part sectional view at the time of low pressure loss of the path loss increasing means of the dishwasher (b) Main part sectional view of the path loss increasing means at the time of high pressure loss Operation explanatory diagram of another example of the dishwasher

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing tank 5 Washing pump 8 Motor 11 Washing nozzle 18 Volume detection means 21 Control means

Claims (6)

A cleaning tank for storing objects to be cleaned such as tableware, a cleaning pump for pressurizing cleaning water in the cleaning tank, a cleaning nozzle for injecting cleaning water pressurized by the cleaning pump into the cleaning tank, A motor for driving the washing pump; a control means for controlling the driving of the motor; and a volume detection means for detecting noise. A dishwasher in which washing water is sprayed so that the volume is below a predetermined value. 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the control means changes the jetting power of the washing water by controlling the number of revolutions of a motor that drives the washing pump. 3. A dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein a path loss increasing means is provided in a circulation path communicating with the cleaning tank and the cleaning nozzle, and the path loss is changed by the path loss increasing means to vary the jetting power of the washing water. . The control means, when detecting that the sound volume during operation detected by the sound volume detection means during operation is higher than a predetermined value, reducing the jetting power of the washing water so that the sound volume during operation becomes equal to or less than the predetermined value. The dishwasher of any one of 1-3. The cleaning process for cleaning objects to be cleaned, such as tableware, has a washing process and a plurality of rinsing processes, and the control means is operated so that the sound volume during operation is reduced to a predetermined value or less in the first or intermediate process. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the operation is continued so that the sound volume during operation is not more than a predetermined value even after the next step. The control means sets the predetermined sound volume during operation according to the noise outside the dishwasher detected by the sound volume detection means before the start of the driving operation or when the driving operation is stopped, so that the noise during the operation is less than the predetermined sound volume. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 5.