JP2009131512A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dishwasher capable of suppressing a rinse agent from being wasted. <P>SOLUTION: In the DISHWASHER 1, when a rinse agent supply signal is outputted by a microcomputer 32 to a rinse agent supply pump 39, the rinse agent is supplied into a rinsing waterway linked to a hot water storage tank 18 by the rinse agent supply pump 39. Thus, when the rinse agent supply signal is outputted while a rinse pump 28 is operating, the rinse agent is mixed with the hot water in the rinsing waterway when hot water inside the hot water storage tank 18 jets to a cleansing chamber 3 by a rinsing pump 28, and the hot water containing the rinse agent is jetted to a plate P. Timing at which the rinse agent supply signal is outputted occurs after a prescribed time has passed since a rinse step starts. Thus, in the rinse step, the rinse agent is not charged the prescribed time before its start, so that the rinse agent can be suppressed from being wasted. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dishwasher that rinses tableware with rinse water containing a rinse agent.

  In a dishwasher, the dishes contained in the washing room are washed with wash water containing detergent, and then the dishes are rinsed with clean rinse water. There is known a dishwasher for rinsing by rinsing the rinse water with an effect of coating the surface of the tableware to prevent reattachment of dirt and an effect of improving the finish of the tableware.

For example, Patent Literature 1 below describes a household dishwasher that rinses with a rinse agent when rinse water in a washing tank is heated to a predetermined temperature.
JP 2005-168523 A

  Generally, in a domestic dishwasher, tap water is supplied into a washing tub and heated to a predetermined temperature, and then a rinse agent is added to start a rinsing process with hot water at a predetermined temperature. Since the rinsing water is circulated and used, once the rinsing agent is added, the tableware can be rinsed with the rinsing water containing the rinsing agent until the end of the rinsing process.

  In contrast, a commercial dishwasher performs rinsing by spraying hot water at a predetermined temperature in a hot water storage tank onto the tableware. For this reason, since the rinsing water put into the cleaning chamber has already reached a predetermined temperature, the rinsing process using hot water is started simultaneously with the rinsing water being supplied from the hot water storage tank. The rinsing agent is put into the rinsing channel at the same time as the rinsing process is started, and is sprayed onto the tableware together with the rinsing water.

  In such a dishwasher, since the sprayed rinsing water is collected in the washing tank and used as washing water for the next washing, the rinsing water containing the rinse agent is not reused as rinsing water. Absent. For this reason, when the rinse agent supply device for charging the rinse agent is a device that starts charging at the same time as the start of the rinsing process and inputs a predetermined amount in a short time, the rinse agent is included from around the latter half of the rinsing process. Rinse the dishes with no rinse water. For this reason, since a rinse agent will be poured from tableware, the effect of a rinse agent will not be exhibited but a rinse agent will be wasted. In addition, there is a rinsing agent supply device that keeps supplying a certain amount of rinsing agent during the rinsing process, but the rinsing agent that was introduced at the beginning of the rinsing process is wasted without contributing to the final finish of the tableware. It will be.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the dishwasher which can suppress the waste of a rinse agent.

  The dishwasher of the present invention injects hot water in a hot water storage tank into the tableware stored in the cleaning chamber by a rinse pump to perform rinsing and is injected into a cleaning tank for storing cleaning water for cleaning the tableware. Control means for outputting a rinsing agent supply signal for supplying a rinsing agent to a rinsing agent supply means for supplying a rinsing agent into a rinsing water channel connected to a hot water storage tank in a dishwasher having a rinsing step for recovering hot water And the control means outputs a rinsing agent supply signal after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the rinsing process in the rinsing process.

  In the dishwasher of the present invention, when the rinse agent supply signal is output from the control means to the rinse agent supply means, the rinse agent is supplied by the rinse agent supply means into the rinse water channel connected to the hot water storage tank. Therefore, if the rinse agent supply signal is output during the operation of the rinse pump, when the warm water in the hot water storage tank is injected into the cleaning chamber by the rinse pump, the rinse agent is mixed with the warm water in the rinse water channel, and the rinse agent is removed. Containing hot water is sprayed onto the dishes. The timing at which the rinsing agent supply signal is output is after a predetermined time has elapsed from the start of the rinsing process in the rinsing process. Thereby, in the rinsing process, since the rinse agent is not charged until the predetermined time has elapsed from the start time, the waste of the rinse agent can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the rinsing agent is introduced at the end of the rinsing step in which the rinsing agent acts effectively, the effect can be exerted to rinse the tableware.

  Preferably, an initial hot water supply step of supplying hot water in the hot water storage tank to the cleaning tank by a rinse pump is provided, and the control means does not output a rinse agent supply signal in the initial hot water supply step. In this case, when the cleaning water used for cleaning is stored in the cleaning tank, no rinsing agent is supplied, so that unnecessary rinsing agent can be prevented from being charged. Moreover, the fall of the detergency by the rinse agent being contained in washing water can be prevented.

  Preferably, the timing at which the control means outputs the rinse agent supply signal in the rinsing step is calculated from the end time of the rinsing step and is a predetermined time before the end time. In this case, the timing for supplying the rinse agent is determined based on the end time of the rinsing step. As a result, even if the time of the rinsing process is changed, the rinsing agent is supplied so that the rinsing agent is introduced between the end time of the rinsing process in which the rinsing agent effectively acts and a predetermined time before. The timing to do can be set easily.

  According to the dishwasher of the present invention, the effect of the rinse agent can be exhibited to perform rinsing and waste of the rinse agent can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a dishwasher according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  A dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus for washing and rinsing dishes. The dishwasher 1 has a main body case 2. The inside of the main body case 2 functions as a cleaning chamber 3 for storing the tableware P and cleaning the tableware. The main body case 2 is provided with a door 4 for taking in and out the tableware P in the cleaning chamber 3. A rack rail (not shown) is provided in the cleaning chamber 3, and a tableware rack (not shown) on which tableware P is arranged is placed on the rack rail.

  An upper cleaning nozzle 5 consisting of three arms extending radially and an upper rinsing nozzle 6 consisting of two arms are rotatably arranged in the upper part of the cleaning chamber 3. Similarly, a lower cleaning nozzle 7 composed of three arms extending radially and a lower rinse nozzle 8 composed of two arms are rotatably arranged in the lower part of the cleaning chamber 3. Thereby, since the washing water is jetted from the upper and lower sides by the washing nozzles 5 and 7 in the washing step, and the rinsing water is jetted from the upper and lower sides by the rinsing nozzles 6 and 8 in the rinsing step, The cleaning and rinsing of the tableware P is performed efficiently.

  A tank filter 9 for collecting leftovers is disposed on the bottom surface 3 a of the cleaning chamber 3 configured as described above, and a cleaning tank 10 for storing cleaning water is disposed below the tank filter 9. Is formed. A drain pipe 11 is connected to the bottom surface 10 a of the cleaning tank 10. The drain pipe 11 has an upper end that reaches the upper part of the cleaning tank 10 and a lower end that is directed downwardly outside the cleaning tank 10. Therefore, the excess cleaning water in the cleaning tank 10 flows into the pipe through the inflow hole formed at the upper end of the drain pipe 11 and is discharged to the outside, so that the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 10 is kept at a constant water level. It is.

  A cleaning pump 14 is connected to the side surface 10 b of the cleaning tank 10 via a cleaning water suction pipe 13. A pump guard 12 is provided on the side surface 10b of the cleaning tank 10 where the cleaning water suction pipe 13 is attached. A cleaning water discharge pipe 15 is connected to the discharge port of the cleaning pump 14, and the cleaning water discharge pipe 15 branches into a first cleaning water discharge pipe 16 and a second cleaning water discharge pipe 17, and the first The cleaning water discharge pipe 16 is connected to the upper cleaning nozzle 5, and the second cleaning water discharge pipe 17 is connected to the lower cleaning nozzle 7.

  The dishwasher 1 has a hot water storage tank 18, and rinse water is supplied to the hot water storage tank 18 from an external water heater (not shown) through a hot water supply pipe 21. The hot water supply pipe 21 is provided with a strainer 19 and a water valve 20. A rinsing water heater 22 for maintaining the rinsing water, which is hot water, at a predetermined temperature, and a rinsing water temperature sensor 23 for detecting the temperature of the rinsing water are installed in the hot water storage tank 18.

  Further, a constant water level switch 24 for detecting that a predetermined water level has been reached and an overflow switch 25 for detecting an overflow water level higher than the constant water level are provided in the hot water storage tank 18. An overflow pipe 26 is provided in the hot water storage tank 18 for discharging excess rinse water to the outside when the overflow water level is exceeded. The hot water tank 18 flows into the overflow pipe 26 from the tip of the overflow pipe 26. The rinse water is discharged to the outside.

  Further, a rinse pump 28 is connected to the hot water storage tank 18 via a rinse water suction pipe 27. A rinse water discharge pipe 29 is connected to the discharge port of the rinse pump 28. The rinse water discharge pipe 29 is branched into a first rinse water discharge pipe 30 and a second rinse water discharge pipe 31, and the first rinse water discharge pipe 30 is connected to the upper rinse nozzle 6, The rinse water discharge pipe 31 is connected to the lower rinse nozzle 8.

  The dishwasher 1 is provided with an electrical box 33 in which a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) 32 for controlling the overall operation is built.

  The dishwasher 1 is provided with an external detergent supply pump 34. The detergent supply pump 34 is a bellows pump for supplying the detergent stored in the detergent tank 35 to the cleaning chamber 3. The detergent supply pump 34 is connected to a detergent discharge pipe 36 connected to the side wall of the cleaning chamber 3 and is connected to the microcomputer 32 through a signal line. The detergent supply pump 34 operates according to a signal output from the microcomputer 32, sucks the detergent in the detergent tank 35 from the connected detergent suction pipe 37, and discharges a predetermined amount of detergent to the detergent discharge pipe 36. This detergent is provided at the tip of the detergent discharge pipe 36 and is discharged into the cleaning chamber 3 from a detergent discharge port 38 connecting the cleaning chamber 3 and the detergent discharge pipe 36. Thereby, a detergent can be mixed in washing water.

  Further, the dishwasher 1 is provided with an external rinse agent supply pump (rinse agent supply means) 39. The rinse agent supply pump 39 is for supplying the rinse agent stored in the rinse agent tank 40 to the rinse water channel. The rinse agent supply pump 39 is connected to a rinse agent discharge pipe 41 that communicates with the rinse water discharge pipe 29, and is connected to the microcomputer 32 through a signal line. The rinse agent supply pump 39 operates in accordance with a signal output from the microcomputer 32, sucks the detergent in the rinse agent tank 40 from the connected rinse agent suction pipe 42, and discharges the rinse agent to the rinse agent discharge pipe 41. . The rinse agent is discharged from the rinse agent discharge pipe 41 to the rinse water passage in the rinse water discharge pipe 29 by the rinse agent supply pump 39 and mixed into the rinse water.

  Operation | movement of the dishwasher 1 comprised in this way is demonstrated. In the initial state, initial hot water supply for storing the cleaning water and the rinsing water in the cleaning tank 10 and the hot water storage tank 18 is performed. When the power is turned on, rinse water (hot water) is supplied into the hot water storage tank 18 from an external water heater (not shown). When the constant water level switch 24 detects that hot water has accumulated in the hot water storage tank 18 to a constant water level, heating is started by the rinse water heater 22. When the water temperature sensor 23 detects that the water temperature has risen to a predetermined temperature, the rinsing pump 28 is driven to inject the hot water in the hot water storage tank 18 into the cleaning chamber 3 through the rinsing water discharge pipe 29 to perform cleaning. Supply into the tank 10.

  At the time of initial hot water supply, while the rinse pump 28 is being driven, the detergent supply pump 34 is driven, and the detergent in the detergent tank 35 is discharged into the cleaning chamber 3 from the detergent discharge port 38 and mixed with the sprayed rinse water. It is supplied to the washing tank 10. When it is detected by a water level sensor (not shown) that cleaning water of a predetermined water level has been stored in the cleaning tank 10, the initial hot water supply is terminated. The operation of the rinse pump during initial hot water supply will be described later.

  Subsequently, the dishwasher 1 performs a cleaning cycle operation. In one cycle of this washing cycle operation, a washing process for washing the dishes with washing water containing a detergent is performed, and then a washing process for rinsing the dishes with clean rinse water is performed.

  When the cleaning cycle operation is started, a cleaning start signal is sent from the microcomputer 32 and the cleaning pump 14 is started. As a result, the cleaning water stored in the cleaning tank 10 is pumped to the upper and lower cleaning nozzles 5 and 7 via the first and second cleaning water discharge pipes 16 and 17, and from each of the cleaning nozzles 5 and 7. It is sprayed toward the tableware P. At this time, since the cleaning nozzles 5 and 7 continue to rotate due to the reaction force of the injection force, the cleaning water is uniformly applied to the tableware P, and the tableware P is efficiently cleaned off.

  The washing water sprayed on the tableware P is collected in the washing tank 10 while the leftovers washed off from the tableware P are removed by the tank filter 9. Then, it is circulated again into the cleaning chamber 3 by the cleaning pump 14. During this cleaning process, the detergent supply pump 34 is driven, and the detergent in the detergent tank 35 is discharged from the detergent discharge port 38 into the cleaning chamber 3 and is mixed with the sprayed cleaning water and supplied to the cleaning tank 10. The

  When such a cleaning process is performed for a predetermined time, a cleaning end signal is transmitted from the microcomputer 32, the cleaning pump 14 is stopped, a rinsing start signal is transmitted from the microcomputer 32, and the rinsing pump 28 is started. As a result, the rinse water stored in the hot water storage tank 18 is pumped to the upper and lower rinse nozzles 6 and 8 via the first and second rinse water discharge pipes 30 and 31, and from each rinse nozzle 6 and 8. It is sprayed toward the tableware P. At this time, since each of the rinsing nozzles 6 and 8 continues to rotate due to the reaction force of the injection force, the rinsing water is uniformly applied to the tableware P, and the tableware P is rinsed efficiently. In the rinsing process, the rinse agent is supplied by the rinse agent supply pump 39. The supply of the rinse agent will be described later.

  The rinse water sprayed on the tableware P is collected in the cleaning tank 10 and mixed with the cleaning water, and is used as the cleaning water in the next cleaning process. Excess cleaning water in the cleaning tank 10 is discharged from the drain pipe 11 to the outside. When such a rinsing process is performed for a predetermined time, a rinsing end signal is sent from the microcomputer 32, the rinsing pump 28 is stopped, and the operation of one cycle of the washing cycle operation in the dishwasher 1 is completed.

  In the dishwasher 1, when one cycle of the operation is completed, the next tableware to be washed is set, and one cycle of the operation is performed again. In this manner, the cleaning cycle operation is continuously performed until the main power is turned off, and the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 10 is drained by pulling out the drain pipe 11 at the end of the cleaning cycle operation. The time for the washing process and the time for the rinsing process can be changed by operating buttons on an operation panel (not shown) provided in the dishwasher 1.

  In the above-described rinsing step, the rinsing agent is coated with rinsing water to effect the effect of preventing the reattachment of dirt by coating the surface of the tableware and improving the finish of the tableware. When the microcomputer 32 outputs the rinse agent supply signal, the rinse agent supply pump 39 is driven. Thus, the rinse agent stored in the rinse agent tank 40 is pumped through the rinse agent discharge pipe 41 by the rinse agent supply pump 39 and flows into the rinse water discharge pipe 29. When the rinse agent flows into the rinse water discharge pipe 29 while the rinse pump 28 is being driven, the rinse agent is mixed with the rinse water discharged by the rinse pump 28 and injected from the rinse nozzles 6 and 8.

  At the time of initial hot water supply, as shown in FIG. 2A, a rinse pump signal for driving the rinse pump 28 is output from the microcomputer 32, and the rinse water is discharged into the rinse water discharge pipe 29 by the rinse pump 28. . During initial hot water supply, the microcomputer 32 does not output a rinse agent supply signal. For this reason, since the rinse agent is not supplied when the cleaning water used for the cleaning is stored in the cleaning tank, it is possible to prevent the use of a waste rinse agent. Further, it is possible to prevent the cleaning power from being reduced due to the fact that the rinse water is easily bubbled by the rinse agent being contained in the rinse water.

  During the cleaning cycle operation, as shown in FIG. 2B, the cleaning pump signal for operating the cleaning pump 14 rises, and after the predetermined time, the cleaning pump signal rises, and the rinsing pump signal rises. Be started. Then, the rinsing agent supply signal rises a predetermined time after the rinsing pump signal rises, and the rinsing agent supply signal falls simultaneously with the rinsing pump signal falling.

  The rinse agent supply pump 39 continues to supply a fixed amount of rinse agent until the rinse agent supply signal rises and falls. Thus, when the rinse agent supply signal is output, a certain amount of rinse agent is mixed with the rinse water and sprayed onto the tableware P. The timing of outputting the rinsing agent supply signal is set at the end or the latter half of the rinsing process so that the rinsing process is completed when the rinsing agent is uniformly sprayed to all the dishes. Thereby, in the rinsing step, since the rinse agent is not put in while a predetermined time has elapsed from the start time, the waste of the rinse agent can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the rinsing agent is introduced at the end of the rinsing step in which the rinsing agent acts effectively, the effect can be exerted to rinse the tableware.

  For example, when the rinsing process is 6 seconds, the microcomputer 32 outputs a rinse agent supply signal 4 seconds after the rinsing process is started. In this case, since the rinse water containing the rinse agent is sprayed onto the tableware P in the last 2 seconds of the rinse step, the effect of the rinse agent can be sufficiently exhibited. In addition, when the rinse agent supply signal is output in synchronization with the rinse pump signal during the rinsing process, it is necessary to add the rinse agent so that the concentration is suitable for 2 L of rinse water injected for 6 seconds. However, like the dishwasher 1 which concerns on this embodiment, when supplying a rinse agent in 2 second of a rinse process, the rinse water sprayed in 2 second 2Lx (2 second / 6 second) minutes What is necessary is just to throw in the rinse agent suitable for. That is, the supply amount of the rinse agent can be reduced to 1/3. Annual rinsing agent usage can also be reduced to 1/3.

  The microcomputer 32 calculates the timing of supplying the rinse agent based on the end time of the rinsing process so that the timing of outputting the rinse agent supply signal is a predetermined time before the end time of the rinsing process. As a result, even if the time of the rinsing process is changed, the rinsing agent is supplied so that the rinsing agent is introduced between the end time of the rinsing process in which the rinsing agent effectively acts and a predetermined time before. The timing to do can be set easily.

  For example, when the time of the rinsing process is extended from 6 seconds to 8 seconds by operating the button on the operation panel attached to the dishwasher 1, the microcomputer 32 calculates the end time of the rinsing process and calculates 2 seconds before the end time. A rinse agent supply signal is output. That is, the microcomputer 32 outputs a rinse agent supply signal 6 seconds after the rinsing process is started. As a result, even if the time of the rinsing process is changed according to the user's request, etc., it is not necessary for the user to set the timing of outputting the rinse agent supply signal, and the rinse agent supply is automatically performed at an appropriate timing. A signal can be output. Therefore, even if the rinsing time is changed, the supply amount of the rinsing agent does not change. Therefore, waste of the rinsing agent can be suppressed, and the effect can be exerted to rinse the tableware.

  Thus, in the dishwasher 1, in order to determine the timing for outputting the rinsing agent supply signal, the timing before the end time is calculated based on the end time of the rinsing process. Settings can be changed by operating the buttons on the operation panel. Thereby, according to the characteristic of a rinse agent, the timing which a user supplies a rinse agent can be set, and a rinse agent can be thrown in at an appropriate timing.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, when the timing of the rinsing agent being sprayed onto the tableware P according to the output of the rinsing agent supply signal is late due to the configuration of the rinsing water pipe or the rinsing agent supply pump, the rinsing agent supply signal in the first half of the rinsing process May be output. Further, the rinse agent supply signal may be output in the first half of the rinsing process depending on the characteristics of the rinse agent such as a rinse agent rich in the performance of rinsing the detergent.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the detergent supply pump 34, the detergent tank 35, the rinse agent supply pump 39, and the rinse agent tank 40 were used for external attachment, the dishwasher may incorporate these.

It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the dishwasher which concerns on this invention. It is a timing chart of the rinse agent supply signal output in the dishwasher shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dishwasher, 3 ... Washing room, 10 ... Washing tank, 18 ... Hot water storage tank, 28 ... Rinsing pump, 29 ... Rinsing water discharge pipe (rinsing water channel), 32 ... Microcomputer (control means), 39 ... Rinsing agent supply Pump (rinse supply means), P ... tableware.

Claims (3)

Tableware having a rinsing step in which hot water in the hot water storage tank is sprayed onto the tableware stored in the cleaning chamber by a rinsing pump and the hot water is collected in the cleaning tank for storing cleaning water for cleaning the tableware In the washing machine
Control means for outputting a rinsing agent supply signal for supplying the rinsing agent to the rinsing agent supplying means for supplying the rinsing agent into the rinsing water channel connected to the hot water storage tank;
The said control means outputs the said rinse agent supply signal in the said rinse process after predetermined time progress from the start of the said rinse process, The dishwasher characterized by the above-mentioned.   The initial hot water supply step of supplying hot water in the hot water storage tank to the cleaning tank by the rinse pump, and the control means does not output the rinse agent supply signal in the initial hot water supply step. 1. The dishwasher according to 1.   The timing at which the control unit outputs the rinse agent supply signal in the rinsing step is calculated from an end time of the rinsing step and is a predetermined time before the end time. Dishwasher.

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