JP2021041250A - dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a dishwasher which is adapted to the diversified design of a kitchen system, and the dish basket of which is pulled out to a position to easily store dishes even when a door body covering the front surface of the dishwasher has neither an operation switch nor a handle.SOLUTION: A dishwasher includes a door body 40 covering a front surface opening part 32 of a housing 31; a washing tank 33 (support mechanism) supporting the door 40 to the housing 31 so as to be movable back and forth; a driving device 51 moving the door body 40 in a front direction or a rear direction; a sensor 45 installed at least on the door body 40 and detecting that a user touches it; a notification unit notifying the user of an operation state; and a control unit 44. The driving device 51 has a driving motor 52. The control unit 44 is structured so as to drive the driving motor 52 when receiving a prescribed signal from the sensor 45. The control unit 44 is structured so that when the driving motor 52 starts driving, the notification unit notifies a user to that effect.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

The present invention relates to a built-in type dishwasher that washes and dries dishes.

A conventional dishwasher is configured as shown in FIG. 11 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 11 is a side longitudinal sectional view of a conventional dishwasher. The front of the main body 14 of the dishwasher is open. A cleaning tank 15 having an upper surface opened inside the main body 1 is provided so as to be able to be pulled out forward. In FIG. 11, the alternate long and short dash line indicates the state in which the washing tank 15 is pulled out.

A washing nozzle 8, a tableware basket 4, and a heater (not shown) are provided inside the washing tank 15. A cleaning pump 7 and a water supply valve 9 are provided on the outside of the cleaning tank 15. The water supply valve 9 is connected to the tap water and introduces tap water to be the washing water into the washing tank 15. The washing pump 7 circulates the washing water stored in the washing tank 15. The cleaning nozzle 8 is rotatably provided, and the cleaning water pumped by the cleaning pump 7 is injected. The tableware basket 4 is provided so as to be removable. The tableware basket 4 holds the housed tableware 3, and is configured so that the tableware 3 is efficiently exposed to washing water. The heater heats wash water or drying air.

A slide rail 16 is provided on the outer side surface of the cleaning tank 15, and a slide rail 17 is provided on the inner side surface of the main body 1. The slide rail 16 is held by the slide rail 17 and slides. The cleaning tank 15 is supported by the main body 14 via the slide rails 16 and 17, and is configured so that it can be pulled out or pushed in from the main body 14. An inner lid 21 that closes the upper surface opening of the cleaning tank 15 is provided in the upper part of the main body 14. The inner lid 21 is configured to close the upper surface opening of the cleaning tank 15 via the packing 22 when the cleaning tank 15 is housed in the main body 14.

A door 23 is provided at the front of the cleaning tank 15. The door 23 covers the front opening of the main body 1 when the cleaning tank 15 is housed in the main body 1. A handle portion 24 and an operation switch are provided on the upper part of the front surface of the door 23. The user puts his / her hand on the handle portion 24 and pulls out the cleaning tank 15. In addition, the operation switch is operated to set the washing operation of the dishwasher in the washing process, the rinsing process, and the drying process.

Further, a rack gear 18 in which the teeth of the gear are formed in a straight line is attached to the lower part of the cleaning tank 15. The length of the rack gear 18 is longer than the stroke of the cleaning tank 15 being pulled out from the main body 1. A drive motor 19 having a reduction mechanism is fixed to the main body 14. A gear 20 that meshes with the rack gear 18 is attached to the motor shaft of the drive motor 19. The drive motor 19 is configured to be able to rotate forward or reverse. The cleaning tank 15 is driven via the rack gear 18 by the rotation of the drive motor 19.

The operation of the dishwasher configured as described above will be described. The user pulls out the washing tub 15 to set the tableware 3 in the washing tub 15. At this time, it is possible to pull out the handle portion 24 by hand, but it is also possible to pull out the cleaning tank 15 by operating the operation switch to drive the drive motor 19. When the operation switch is operated, the drive motor 19 rotates forward at a constant speed to rotate the gear 20 of the motor shaft in a predetermined direction. The gear 20 exerts a force to push out the meshed rack gear 18. As a result, the cleaning tank 15 comes out from the main body 14 to the front surface via the slide rails 16 and 17. When the tableware comes out to an arbitrarily set position such as a position where the tableware can be stored in the washing tank 15, the drive motor 19 is stopped and the washing tank 15 is stopped.

Next, the user arranges the tableware 3 in the tableware basket 4 and puts detergent into it. The tip of the drawn washing tank 15 is lowered by the weight of the tableware 3. Then, when the user operates the operation switch, the drive motor 19 rotates in the reverse direction this time. The gear 20 exerts a force so as to pull in the meshed rack gear 18. As a result, the cleaning tank 15 is pulled into the main body 14 via the slide rails 16 and 17, and is stored. At the same time, the inner lid 21 closes the upper surface opening of the washing tank 15.

Then, the user operates the operation switch to set the cleaning course and start the cleaning operation. As a result, the control device (not shown) controls the washing pump 7, the water supply valve 9, the heater, the drainage pump (not shown), and the like, and cleans the tableware 3 stored in the tableware basket 4. The control device performs a washing operation set in the order of, for example, a washing step, a rinsing step, and a drying step.

After the washing operation is completed, the user takes out the tableware 3. When the user operates the operation switch in the same manner as before the cleaning operation, the drive motor 19 rotates and the cleaning tank 15 is pulled out to a predetermined position. According to the smooth rotation of the drive motor 19, the dishes 3 housed in the washing tank 15 are treated gently without contacting each other.

A decorative panel of the same design made of the same material as the door and drawer of the system kitchen is attached to the lower part of the front surface of the door 23. With such a decorative panel, the design of the system kitchen is improved.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-345712

In the conventional configuration, the design of the system kitchen is improved by attaching a decorative panel having the same design as the door or drawer of the system kitchen to the lower part of the front surface of the door. However, the handle and operation switch were designed uniquely to the dishwasher, and could not be perfectly matched to the design of the system kitchen. In addition, among the diversifying designs of system kitchens, there are some that have a novel design in which the handle part is omitted and the drawer is driven by an electric motor or the like, and there is a problem that it is necessary to match these as well. ..

In addition to drawers such as furniture, there are those equipped with a mechanism for slightly pushing out drawers and doors of home appliances such as refrigerators with push rods and the like. However, in those configurations, the amount of opening of the drawer is small, and the user needs to pull out by hand to a desired position. Reference 1 describes that as a dishwasher, when the washing tub comes out to a set position, the drive motor stops and the washing tub stops, and the amount of drawer of the washing tub is tableware. It has been suggested that it will be fully open so that the set can be done immediately. However, Cited Document 1 does not describe how the stop position of the washing tank is set and controlled.

Further, when the washing tank is pulled out by the drive motor, there is also a problem that it needs to be controlled so as not to cause a problem when a user or other objects are present in front of the door.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, adapts to the diversifying designs of the system kitchen, and can easily accommodate the dishes in the washing tub even when the door body covering the front of the dishwasher does not have an operation switch. The purpose is to provide a dishwasher that is easy to use by pulling it out to the position.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the dishwasher of the present invention has a housing having a front opening on the front surface, a tableware basket provided in the housing and accommodating the dishes, and the front opening. A door body to be covered, a support mechanism for supporting the door body in a state where the door body can be moved back and forth, a drive device for moving the door body at least in the forward direction or the rear direction, and at least the door body are provided. A sensor that detects touch by the user, a notification unit that notifies the user of the operating status, and a control unit are provided. The drive device has a drive unit, and the control unit is predetermined from the sensor. The dishwasher is configured to drive the drive unit when the signal of the above is received, and the control unit is configured to notify by the notification unit when the drive of the drive unit is started. It is characterized by that.

With this configuration, the dishwasher allows the user to move the door without much effort. Further, even if the door body covering the front surface does not have an operation unit or a handle, the tableware basket can be pulled out to a position where tableware can be easily stored. This improves usability. It can also be adapted to the diversifying designs of system kitchens. Further, the user is notified that the door body is driven and moves, and the safety is improved.

According to the present invention, the user can pull out the tableware basket without much labor, and the tableware basket can be easily stored even if the door body covering the front surface does not have an operation unit or a handle. A good dishwasher can be provided.

Side sectional view of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Side longitudinal sectional view of the dishwasher in this embodiment Side sectional view of the dishwasher according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Side longitudinal sectional view of the dishwasher in this embodiment Side sectional view of the dishwasher according to the third embodiment of the present invention. Side sectional view of the dishwasher according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Front vertical sectional view of the dishwasher according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Enlarged view of the main part of FIG. Side sectional view of the dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present invention. Side sectional view of the dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present invention. Side profile of a conventional dishwasher

The dishwasher of the first invention has a housing having a front opening on the front surface, a tableware basket that is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out of the housing and stores dishes, a door body that covers the front opening, and the door body. A support mechanism for supporting the housing in a state where the door body can be moved back and forth, a drive device for moving the door body at least in the forward direction or the rear direction, and at least the door body provided and touched by the user. The drive device includes a sensor for detecting, a notification unit for notifying the user of an operation status, and a control unit, and the control unit has a drive unit, and the control unit receives a predetermined signal from the sensor. It is a dishwasher configured to drive a drive unit, and the control unit is configured to notify by the notification unit when the drive of the drive unit is started. With this configuration, the user is notified that the door body is driven and moves, and safety is improved.

The second invention, especially in the first invention,
The sensor is configured to detect that the user has touched the sensor, and the control unit is configured to start notification after a predetermined time T5 after detecting that the user has touched the sensor. .. This configuration makes it easier for the user to hear the notification sound.

The third invention, especially in the first or second invention,
The control unit is configured to start notification 0.1 to 0.6 seconds after detecting that the user has touched the sensor. The user is conscious of knocking, and when a sound such as knocking is generated, the sound and the first part of the notification sound overlap and are difficult to hear. With this configuration, the user can easily hear the notification sound without being disturbed by the knocked sound by himself, and does not give the impression of being delayed.

The fourth invention particularly in any one of the first to third inventions.
The control unit is configured to start notification before driving the drive unit. With this configuration, the user is notified that the door body moves before being driven, and the safety can be further improved.

The fifth invention particularly in any one of the first to fourth inventions.
A door closing detection sensor for detecting that the door body is closed is provided, and the control unit detects a signal that the door body is closed by the door closing detection sensor, or after the detection. It is configured to notify to after a predetermined time T3. With this configuration, the user can confirm that the door body is securely closed and that the subsequent cleaning operation is normally performed.

The sixth invention, especially in the fifth invention,
When the control unit detects a signal that the door body is closed by the door closing detection sensor, the user touches the sensor for a predetermined time T3 after detecting the signal of the door closing detection sensor. It is configured so that the signal from the sensor that detects this is not detected, or even if the signal of the sensor is detected, the drive of the drive unit is suspended. The shock when the door is closed causes the entire housing, including tableware, to vibrate. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of vibration when closed. In addition, a temporary stop of the drive unit can be ensured, and an excessive temperature rise of the drive unit can be prevented.

The seventh invention, especially in the fifth or sixth invention,
The control unit detects the signal that the door body is closed by the door closing detection sensor, and drives the drive unit in the front direction in which the door body is opened for a predetermined time T4 after the door body is opened. When the signal of the close detection sensor is still detected, it is configured to notify the occurrence of an abnormality. With this configuration, it is possible to determine that the door body is not moving and notify the user of the abnormality of the door body.

The eighth invention, especially in the seventh invention,
The control unit is configured to notify that an abnormality has occurred and to stop further driving when the notification that the door body is not moving is repeated a predetermined number of times. With this configuration, the lock current of the drive unit can be prevented from being repeated, and an excessive temperature rise of the drive unit can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to notify the user that it is necessary to determine the occurrence of an abnormality such as whether the door body does not move due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the drive unit or the door close detection sensor has failed.

The ninth invention, in particular in any of the fifth to eighth inventions,
The control unit drives the drive unit in the rear direction in which the door body is closed, and when the signal of the door close detection sensor is not detected even though the drive unit has detected that the drive unit has stopped, an abnormality occurs. Is configured to notify. With this configuration, it is possible to notify the user that the door body is not completely closed.

The tenth invention, especially in the ninth invention,
The control unit is configured to notify that an abnormality has occurred and to stop further driving when the notification that the door body is not completely closed is repeated a predetermined number of times. With this configuration, the lock current of the drive unit can be prevented from being repeated, and an excessive temperature rise of the drive unit can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to notify the user that it is necessary to determine the occurrence of an abnormality such as whether the door body does not close due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the drive unit or the door close detection sensor has failed. Then, it is possible to prevent the cleaning operation from being performed while the door body is not closed.

The eleventh invention, particularly in the first to tenth inventions,
The control unit is configured to stop driving when the sensor is intentionally or carelessly touched while the driving unit is being driven. With this configuration, even if a child comes into contact carelessly, the control unit stops driving to prevent the child from being injured, and problems with obstacles or people who come into contact with the moving part occur. Can be prevented.

The twelfth invention particularly in the first to eleventh inventions
The control unit is configured to drive the drive unit after a lapse of a certain period of time after notifying the user that the door body starts moving. This configuration improves safety. Further, when the washing water is sprayed from the washing nozzle in the washing process, it is possible to wait for the washing pump to stop, and it is possible to prevent the washing water from jumping out of the washing tank. Further, when the driving signal is continuously detected and the driving is repeated, a temporary stop of the driving motor can be ensured so that a large starting current does not continue, and an excessive temperature rise of the driving motor can be prevented.

The thirteenth invention, particularly in the first to twelfth inventions,
The notification unit is configured to audibly notify by a synthetic sound such as a voice or a buzzer. With this configuration, it is possible to easily notify when the user is nearby.

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

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are side longitudinal sectional views of a dishwasher in which the washing tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention is a drawer type. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is housed in the housing. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is pulled out from the inside of the housing to the fully open position. As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher is housed in the system kitchen K. The housing 31 has a front opening 32 having an entire front opening. The cleaning tank 33 is provided in the housing 31 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction, and is provided so as to be able to be taken in and out from the front opening 32. In the present embodiment, the front direction is the direction in which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out, and the rear direction is the direction in which the cleaning tank 33 is stored.

The slide rails 34 are erected inside the side surfaces on both sides of the housing 31 in a substantially horizontal direction. The cleaning tank 33 is supported by the slide rail 34 and moves along the slide rail 34. The washing tank 33 has an upper surface opening 35 having an entire upper surface open, and accommodates tableware 36 which is an object to be washed.

An inner lid 37 for closing the upper surface opening 35 and a parallel link mechanism 38 for supporting the inner lid 37.
Is provided in the upper part of the housing 31. The parallel link mechanism 38 is configured to operate the inner lid 37 up and down in pairs of left and right and two pairs in the front and rear. A seal portion 39 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the inner lid 37. The sealing portion 39 seals the upper surface opening 35 when the inner lid 37 is lowered. The parallel link mechanism 38 lifts the inner lid 37 when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out from the housing 31. As a result, the seal portion 39 does not interfere with the movement of the cleaning tank 33.

The cleaning tank 33 is provided with a door body 40 at the front portion. The door body 40 includes an operation panel 41 provided on the front surface of the cleaning tank 33 and a decorative plate 42 attached to the operation panel 41. The decorative plate 42 covers the entire front opening 32 when the cleaning tank 33 is housed in the housing 31. The veneer 42 has the same material and the same color as the veneer that is the door of the drawer of the system kitchen K or the like. Further, a handle 43 is attached to the decorative plate 42, which serves as a handle when the user pulls out the cleaning tank 33. The handle 43 is attached with the same handle 43 as the system kitchen K, and is configured so that the entire system kitchen K has a unified design. It should be noted that some system kitchens K have a design composed of only a decorative plate 42 that does not have a handle 43 on the front surface. In this configuration, the door body 40 is pulled out by the drive device, and the upper portion or the side portion of the decorative plate 42 functions as the handle 43. In the present embodiment, these are not distinguished.

In the present embodiment, the cleaning tank 33 and the slide rail 34 are exemplified as the support mechanism S that supports the door body 40 on the housing 31 in a state where the door body 40 can be moved back and forth.

The control unit 44 is provided on the back surface of the operation panel 41. The control unit 44 controls all the operations of the dishwasher and executes the washing operation. The washing operation includes a washing step, a rinsing step, and a drying step. The washing step is a step of removing stains on the tableware 36 by using a detergent or the like. The rinsing step is a step of removing the detergent. The drying step is a step of drying the cleanly washed tableware 36.

The control unit 44 has a printed circuit board (not shown). An acceleration sensor 45 is provided on the printed circuit board. The acceleration sensor 45 detects the substantial magnitude of acceleration in the three-axis directions (X-axis: front-back direction, Y-axis: left-right direction, Z-axis: up-down direction). The acceleration sensor 45 has various directions and magnitudes of acceleration generated in the dishwasher, such as acceleration due to the movement of the door body 40 and the washing tank 33 in the front-rear direction and acceleration due to vibration applied to the door body 40. Is detected. Therefore, it is desirable that the printed circuit board is mounted without any problem in terms of orientation and strength so that the acceleration sensor 45 can reliably detect the acceleration. Then, the control unit 44 controls the operation of the dishwasher according to the signal that the acceleration sensor 45 detects and outputs the direction and magnitude of the acceleration, the state of the washing tank 33, and the like.

The actual acceleration in each direction means that the acceleration sensor 45 is attached to the printed circuit board and the printed circuit board is fixed at a predetermined position in the three axial directions (if it is fixed at a predetermined angle). , Including being corrected by a predetermined angle), a reasonable mounting angle error and a degree of tilt angle of installation are acceptable. However, the vertical direction and the horizontal direction can be corrected by detecting the deviation from gravity. Further, as will be described later, the control unit 44 can be applied as a spirit level by detecting the deviation between the gravity and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction.

In the present embodiment, the user can operate the dishwasher by applying vibration to the door body 40, the washing tank 33, and the like. The method of applying this vibration may be to tap the door by hand as if knocking on the door. You may also tap it with your fingertips. You may also tap it with something you have in your hand. Also, if your hands are wet or you cannot use your hands because you are holding something, you may try to poke with your elbows or knees. In short, the vibration is not particularly limited as long as the vibration is applied so that the predetermined vibration is transmitted to the acceleration sensor 45. In many cases, vibration is applied to the door body 40 in a manner that produces sound. In the present embodiment, the door body 40 will be described as being knocked to give vibration.

A drive device 51 for moving the cleaning tank 33 at least in the forward direction or the backward direction is provided. The control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive unit when a predetermined signal is received from a sensor such as an acceleration sensor 45 or an operation unit 46 or the like. The drive device 51 (details will be described later) has a drive motor 52 as a drive unit. The sensor that outputs a signal for driving the drive motor 52 is not limited to the acceleration sensor 45, and may be a sensor that detects vibration applied to the door body 40 or the like. Further, a sensor such as an electrostatic sensor that detects that the user touches the door body 40 or the like may be used.

One of the most basic controls is illustrated. In the dishwasher, when the washing tub 33 is stored and the operation is stopped, when the user hits the door body 40 twice from the front, the washing tub 33 is automatically pulled out in the forward direction. That is, the control unit 44 determines that the door body 40 has been hit by the user by detecting a predetermined signal output by the acceleration sensor 45 by detecting the vibration applied in the same front-rear direction as the pull-out operation. Then, the control unit 44 controls to drive the drive motor 52, and moves the moving units such as the door body 40 and the cleaning tank 33 in the forward direction.

The moving unit includes the entire portion that is driven by the driving unit and moves, and differs depending on the form of the dishwasher. For example, in the first embodiment, the cleaning tank 33 is included in the moving portion, but the cleaning tank of the second embodiment is included in the housing and does not move, and is not included in the moving portion.

The operation unit 46 is provided on the front side of the upper surface opening 35 of the cleaning tank 33. The operation unit 46 is located inside the decorative plate 42, and is concealed in the housing 31 when the cleaning tank 33 is housed in the housing 31. The operation unit 46 is provided with an operation button (not shown) and a display unit (not shown) such as an LED, and the user can set the control of each process of the cleaning operation with the operation button and set the set contents. It is configured so that it can be displayed by an LED.

A tableware basket 47, a washing nozzle 48, and a heater 49 are provided inside the washing tank 33. The cleaning pump 50 is provided on the outside of the cleaning tank 33. A washing nozzle 48 is rotatably provided below the tableware basket 47. The heater 49 is arranged at the bottom of the washing tank 33, and heats the washing water stored in the washing tank 33 in the washing step and the rinsing step. Further, the heater 49 heats the air in the washing tank 33 in the drying step. The washing pump 50 circulates the washing water and injects the washing water from the washing nozzle 48 onto the tableware 36.

The cleaning tank 33 is configured so that it can be taken in and out by the drive device 51. In the first embodiment, a drive device 51 which is configured by a rack and pinion type and can be driven in the forward direction and the rear direction will be described. Further, in the second embodiment, the drive device configured by the roller type will be described. The configuration of the drive device 51 is not limited to these methods, and a method of winding the belt with a pulley, a belt conveyor method, or the like may be used. The drive unit is not limited to the drive motor. Further, the driving direction may be only the front direction or only the rear direction.

The drive device 51 includes a drive motor 52, which is a drive unit, a pinion gear 53 driven by the drive motor 52, and a rack gear 54 that meshes with the pinion gear 53. The rack gear 54 in which the gear teeth are formed in a straight line is fixed to the lower portion on the outer side surface of the cleaning tank 33. The rack gear 54 is configured to have at least a length equal to or longer than the stroke from which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The pinion gear 53 that meshes with the rack gear 54 is attached so as to be driven by the drive motor 52. The drive motor 52 includes a reduction mechanism (not shown), and is fixed inside the housing 31 at a position where the pinion gear 53 is close to the front opening 32. In FIG. 1, the rack gear 54 is configured such that the teeth are formed downward and meshes with the pinion gear 53, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the rack gear 54 is configured such that the teeth are formed upward and is oriented sideways. It may be formed and configured in.

With this configuration, the rotary motion of the drive motor 52 is converted into a linear motion, and the cleaning tank 33 can move until the upper surface opening 35 is substantially fully opened. Then, the cleaning tank 33 lowers forward as it moves in the pull-out direction, but since the vicinity of the pinion gear 53 provided in the front portion serves as a fulcrum, there is a possibility that the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 will be disengaged. Is low. Therefore, even if a configuration is provided to prevent the meshing from being disengaged, a simple configuration may be used. As a configuration for preventing the meshing from being disengaged, the drive motor 52 including the pinion gear 53 is tilted according to the tilt of the cleaning tank 33, or the pinion gear 53 is pressed against the rack gear 54. It is possible to configure it.

Further, the reduction mechanism provided in the drive motor has a gear ratio and the like configured so that the user can easily put in and take out the cleaning tank 33 manually. A clutch mechanism (not shown) or a sliding mechanism (not shown) that reduces the load on the drive motor 52 when the user manually puts it in and out of the drive device 51 from the drive motor 52 to the rack, including the reduction mechanism. ) May be provided. This allows the user to move the cleaning tank 33 in and out with less force. Further, even if the cleaning tank 33 collides with an obstacle when it is pulled out, the cleaning tank 33 easily stops and no large force is applied to the obstacle. Further, the drive motor 52 does not reach the lock and an excessive current is not generated. When the cleaning tank 33 is manually moved, the motor circuit of the drive motor 52 may be cut off in order to reduce the resistance of the drive motor 52.

The control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 so that the upper surface opening 35 is substantially fully opened when the cleaning tank 33 is moved in the pulling-out direction. In the present embodiment, substantially fully open includes a state in which the cleaning tank 33 is most pulled out and the upper surface opening 35 is most opened, and a state in which the upper surface opening 35 is opened by half or more. In short, the tableware 36 is pulled out to the extent that the user can put it in and out. For this purpose, the control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 in time. That is, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 for a set predetermined time T1 and stops.

With this configuration, the user does not need any effort to pull out the cleaning tank 33. Then, in the dishwasher, the washing tank 33 can be pulled out by the drive device 51 to a position where the tableware 36 can be easily stored even if the door body 40 covering the front surface does not have the operation unit 46 or the handle 43, and the usability is improved. .. Moreover, it can be adapted to the diversifying design of the system kitchen K.

The predetermined time T1 is set according to the control content, and is adjusted according to the moving distance and moving speed of the cleaning tank 33, the magnitude of the torque of the drive motor 52 until the moving speed is reached, and the like. The user complains that the moving speed is slow if the set time to fully open is too long. However, the faster the moving speed, the lower the safety may be. For these reasons, in the present embodiment, the standard moving speed of the cleaning tank 33 is set to 150 mm / sec to 250 mm / sec. Further, as a user's feeling, it is more preferable that the moving speed is set to 170 mm / sec to 230 mm / sec. As a result, the user does not feel dissatisfied with the movement of the washing tank 33, and the safety is maintained. The standard moving speed is a constant speed state excluding the shift state before the start and stop of movement. If there is no constant speed, it is preferable to set it as the maximum speed.

Further, in terms of safety against the case where a person is in front of the automatically moving washing tank 33 when it is pulled out, and when a person's hand or finger is pinched when it is stowed, the weight of the washing tank 33 is increased. It is effective to consider the kinetic energy due to the movement speed and the movement speed. The kinetic energy W is represented by W = (1/2) mv ² . In the present embodiment, the kinetic energy W is set to 0.5 J or less so that a problem does not occur even in these cases. The maximum weight of the washing tank 33 containing the tableware 36 and the like is 16 kg, and the moving speed is defined as 250 mm / sec. When the maximum weight of a moving object such as the tableware 36 increases, it is preferable to reduce the moving speed so that the kinetic energy W becomes 0.5 J or less. As a result, even if the cleaning tank 33 hits a person while moving or the person's hand or finger is pinched when the cleaning tank 33 is stored, the impact is alleviated.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the upper surface opening 35 is pulled out to 50% by driving for about 2 seconds including the acceleration period at the start of movement. Then, the cleaning tank 33 is set to be pulled out most by driving for about 3.5 seconds as the predetermined time T1. In this way, if the drive motor 52 is configured to be driven by the set time, the cleaning tank 33 can be stopped at an arbitrary position when it is pulled out according to the set time. That is, the set time is adjusted according to the actual usage of the user. As a result, even if the dishwasher cannot be fully pulled out, such as when the dishwasher is installed in a narrow place where there are obstacles near the front of the dishwasher, the amount of drawer can be increased by adjusting the set time. It can be set and installed.

The control unit 44 may drive the drive motor 52 with a plurality of steps of voltage. For example, a voltage higher than the standard is applied during the acceleration period at the start of movement, and a voltage lower than the standard is applied immediately before the stop to drive the drive motor 52. As a result, the torque of the drive motor 52 becomes large at the start of movement, and the acceleration period can be shortened. Further, when the movement is stopped, the housed tableware 36 is not shocked, and noise and damage due to the tableware 36 coming into contact with each other are prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the water stored in the washing tank 33 from splashing and splashing out from the washing tank 33 or the tableware 36 dried after washing from getting wet. That is, it is preferable that the vehicle is driven so that the moving speed changes smoothly in a shorter time regardless of when the movement starts and when the movement stops. The multi-step voltage also includes a state in which the voltage changes linearly or smoothly.

When the cleaning tank 33 is moving, the control unit 44 is obstructed by an obstacle or the like, and when it is stopped on the way to a predetermined position, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 when the predetermined time T1 elapses. And stop energizing. As a result, the drive motor 52 is locked in a short time, and is not locked indefinitely, so that an unreasonable load is not applied to the drive motor 52. In addition, the cleaning tank 33 also collides with an obstacle or a person for a short time, and the occurrence of a defect is prevented.

Further, in the control unit 44, some part of the moving unit including the door body 40 or the like comes into contact with something such as an obstacle or some load is applied on the way until the cleaning tank 33 reaches a predetermined position. When it is assumed that the drive motor 52 has been damaged, the drive of the drive motor 52 may be stopped immediately. As a method of assuming contact with an obstacle or a person, for example, the control unit 44 includes vibration in the moving direction of the door body 40 while driving the drive motor 52 by the acceleration sensor 45, and the control unit 44 is in any direction. When the acceleration above a predetermined threshold value or the change in acceleration is detected, the drive is stopped. With this configuration, not only when the moving part such as the door body 40 comes into contact with an obstacle, the user intentionally knocks on the door body 40, or the child carelessly touches the door body 40 from the lateral direction or the vertical direction. Even if this happens, the control unit 44 can immediately stop driving. In addition, the occurrence of problems with obstacles or people who come into contact with the moving portion is prevented.

Further, as a method of detecting that some kind of load is applied, for example, the control unit 44 monitors the acceleration in all directions by the acceleration sensor 45, and the driven door body 40 decelerates or stops. When a change in acceleration is detected, the drive of the drive motor 52 is stopped. Alternatively, when the control unit 44 monitors the current while driving the drive motor 52 and detects an increase in the current when the door body 40 decelerates or stops, or when the current of a predetermined value or more is, for example, 0. When the motor lock is detected after flowing for 5 seconds or more, the drive may be stopped. These methods can be carried out without particular limitation, and can be carried out in combination. In either method, the time from being blocked until the drive is stopped is shortened, and the occurrence of defects is prevented not only in defects such as overheating of the drive motor 52 but also in obstacles.

In addition to reliably stopping the door body 40 by detecting acceleration or current as described above, the movement of the door body 40 can be immediately stopped by the clutch mechanism or the sliding mechanism described above. These configurations are useful as a method of stopping the door body 40 when a load of a predetermined value or more is applied to the door body 40 or the drive motor 52.

Further, the control unit 44 may shut off the motor circuit when the cleaning tank 33 is stopped halfway until it reaches a predetermined position and the drive of the drive motor 52 is stopped. When the cleaning tank 33 is stopped in the middle, the user tries to manually move the cleaning tank 33 forward or backward from the stopped position. At this time, the drive motor 52 is forcibly idled to generate a counter electromotive force. However, if the circuit of the drive motor 52 is interrupted, the back electromotive force does not apply a load such that an abnormal current flows to the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44. Moreover, since no current flows, no power is generated, and the manual operation force does not increase. The control unit 44 detects a predetermined signal such as the door body 40 being closed, and then restores the motor circuit that was cut off when the signal for driving the drive motor 52 is received.

The operation and operation of the dishwasher configured as described above will be described below.

The user pulls out the washing tub 33 to accommodate the tableware 36 in the washing tub 33. At this time, it is also possible to put a hand on the handle 43 and pull it out. However, it is possible to drive the drive motor 52 and pull out the cleaning tank 33 by knocking the door body 40 twice, for example. That is, vibration is generated when the door body 40 is hit. The vibration is transmitted from the decorative plate 42 to the operation panel 41, and is transmitted to the control unit 44 fixed to the operation panel 41. Then, the acceleration sensor 45 detects the vibration transmitted to the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44 as an acceleration.

When the user knocks on the door body 40 twice, the control unit 44 detects the direction and magnitude of the acceleration from the output signal of the acceleration sensor 45. At this time, the control unit 44 determines the magnitude of the acceleration in each of the three axis directions (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis), for example, the acceleration X on the X-axis is equal to or greater than the first threshold value A, and the acceleration Y on the Y-axis. Drives the drive motor 52 only when is equal to or less than the second threshold value B and the acceleration Z on the Z axis is equal to or less than the third threshold value C. That is, the control unit 44 has at least an acceleration X of less than the first threshold value A, or an acceleration X of the first threshold value A or more but an acceleration Y of the second threshold value B or more or an acceleration Z of the third threshold value A or more. If it is equal to or higher than the threshold value C, it is determined that the vibration is not from the front. As a result, it is determined that the door body 40 has been knocked from the front by the intention of the user. That is, malfunctions that are not based on the user's intention are prevented.

Then, in the present embodiment, when it is determined by the user that the operation for pulling out the cleaning tank 33 has been added, first, a buzzer sounds 0.4 seconds later, and the door body 40 starts moving to the user. Notify that to do. Then, 0.6 seconds after the determination, the drive motor 52 is driven in a predetermined direction. The drive motor 52 moves the rack gear 54 provided in the lower part of the cleaning tank 33 forward by the pinion gear 53 provided on the rotating shaft. As a result, the cleaning tank 33 moves forward from the front opening 32 of the housing 31 via the slide rail 34 and is pulled out.

Then, when the drive motor 52 is driven for about 4 seconds, the cleaning tank 33 is adjusted so as to be pulled out most. As a result, the cleaning tank 33 comes out to a position where the upper surface opening 35 is substantially fully opened and stops. In this state, the user can easily accommodate the tableware 36 in the tableware basket 47 from the upper surface opening 35. Further, the user turns on the power switch (not shown) provided on the front side of the upper surface opening 35, and operates the operation unit 46 to set the cleaning operation. The control unit 44 is always energized regardless of the power switch, and stands by so that knock by the user can be detected.

When the user completes the storage of the tableware 36 and the setting of the washing operation, the user knocks the door body 40, for example, only once. When the control unit 44 detects one knock while the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out, the control unit 44 first notifies by a buzzer. Then, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 to move the cleaning tank 33 in the rear direction. As a result, the cleaning tank 33 is housed in the housing 31, and the door body 40 is closed. The control unit 44 performs storage time control, storage position detection, acceleration detection when the cleaning tank 33 is stored and stopped, lock current detection of the drive motor 52, and the like in determining storage completion in driving the storage. Is possible. The control unit 44 executes a set cleaning operation when the cleaning tank 33 is housed.

As a method of storing the cleaning tank 33, the user can also store the cleaning tank 33 in the housing 31 while manually pushing the front surface of the door body 40. Further, a start switch (not shown) is provided so that when the user presses the start switch instead of knocking once after the setting is completed, the cleaning tank 33 is retracted and the cleaning operation is started. You may. Further, regarding the start switch, the cleaning operation may not be started unless the start switch is pressed when the drive device 51 or the cleaning tank 33 is manually stored as a signal for the completion of the operation setting by the user. Good. As a result, the user can gradually store the dishes in the washing tank 33 after a while.

When the predetermined washing operation is completed, the user pulls out the washing tank 33 to take out the tableware 36. At this time as well, when the door body 40 is knocked twice, the washing tank 33 is pulled out to a predetermined position following the notification of the buzzer, as in the case of storing the tableware 36. After taking out the tableware 36, the user knocks the door body 40 again only once. When the control unit 44 detects one knock when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out, the operation unit 46 does not set the operation, or the start switch is not pressed, the control unit 44 moves the drive motor 52 backward. The cleaning operation is not performed, only the cleaning tank 33 is stored by being driven by the motor. This completes a series of dishwashing operations including the user's operation.

When the dishwasher is performing the washing operation, there is a possibility that the user or the like may unintentionally come into contact with the decorative plate 42 or the handle 43 of the door body 40. In such a case, it is inconvenient for the control unit 44 to detect and pull out the cleaning tank 33. Therefore, the control unit 44 may be configured not to be driven by knocking twice, which is the same as when the dishwasher is stopped, while the dishwasher is in operation. In this case, it is preferable that the operation is set to detect the intentional operation of the user, for example, the operation is paused and the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out when three knocks are detected. .. As a result, the control unit 44 can prevent the user from performing unintended control, and can have a function like a so-called child lock, which improves safety.

In this way, control can be assigned depending on the combination of the state of the cleaning tank 33 and the knock. Regarding the detection of knock by the control unit 44, it is effective to detect not only the number of times but also the intensity in order to devise the type of combination. Further, it is preferable that the user can set the combination of the detection and control operation of the acceleration sensor 45 and the setting of the predetermined position for stopping the cleaning tank 33 from the operation unit 46 or the like, and can confirm it on the display unit. That is, at least, the user can set the vibration applied to the door body 40 by the control unit 44 to drive the drive motor 52 or the operation of the drive motor 52 by the operation unit 46. It is preferable that the set value can be confirmed by the display unit provided on the operation unit 46. As a result, the user can freely set the number of knocks and the like, and can confirm the setting, which improves usability.

As described above, the configuration in which the control unit 44 performs arbitrary control according to the combination of the state of the cleaning tank 33 and the number of knocks is exemplified as follows.

a) When the washing operation is stopped, the user knocks on the door body 40 twice with the washing tank 33 housed. At this time, the control unit 44 is moved in the direction of pulling out the cleaning tank 33. (Operation preparation)
b) When the cleaning operation is not set with the cleaning tank 33 pulled out, the user knocks on the door body 40 once. At this time, the control unit 44 only stores the cleaning tank 33 and does not start the cleaning operation. (Preparation for operation or end of operation)
c) When the cleaning operation is set with the cleaning tank 33 pulled out, the user knocks on the door body 40 twice. At this time, the control unit 44 only stores the cleaning tank 33 and does not start the cleaning operation. (Operation preparation)
d) When the cleaning operation is set with the cleaning tank 33 pulled out, the user knocks on the door body 40 once. At this time, the control unit 44 houses the cleaning tank 33 and starts the set cleaning operation. (start operation)
e) During the cleaning operation, the user knocks on the door body 40 three times with the cleaning tank 33 housed. At this time, the control unit 44 temporarily stops the cleaning operation and moves the cleaning tank 33 in the pulling-out direction. (Stop operation)
As in b and c, if the washing tank 33 is only stored and the washing operation is not started, the user can interrupt the washing preparation while accommodating the tableware 36 and leave the dishwasher. .. Further, regarding b, if the user intends to start the cleaning operation, he / she can notice that the cleaning operation has not been set yet.

In the above control assignment, if necessary, a start switch or the like may be used so that all operations can be handled by knocking the same number of times. In this case, usability is improved in that the user does not have to remember the number of knocks for each operation.

Further, when the door body 40 is provided with the handle 43, the control unit 44 may be configured to cancel the drive of the drive motor 52 as a setting when the user does not use the drive device 51. ..

In the dishwasher configured as described above, the following actions and effects can be obtained.

An acceleration sensor 45 for detecting at least the vibration applied to the door body 40 is provided, and the control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 for a set time to move the cleaning tank 33 in the forward direction. There is. As a result, the washing tub 33 can be pulled out to a predetermined position even if the door body 40 covering the front surface of the dishwasher does not have the operation unit 46 or the handle 43, and the dishwasher adapts to the diversifying designs of the system kitchen K. be able to. Further, the cleaning tank 33 is controlled to stop at an arbitrary position by adjusting the set time according to the actual usage of the user.

The control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 when it receives a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that has detected a predetermined vibration applied to the door body 40. As a result, the vibration of the user knocking on the door body 40 is detected, and the cleaning tank 33 is moved forward or backward by the drive motor 52 according to the operation timing and the state of the cleaning tank 33. Can be made to.

The control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 to a position where the upper surface opening 35 of the cleaning tank 33 is substantially fully opened. As a result, the user can put in and take out the tableware 36 without requiring manual labor to pull out the washing tank 33.

The control unit 44 is configured to stop the drive motor 52 when it receives a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that has detected the acceleration generated by the stop of the cleaning tank 33. As a result, even if the door body 40 or the cleaning tank 33 collides with an obstacle and stops, it is possible to prevent the obstacle from causing a problem. Further, by providing the locking portion at the predetermined position of the drawer, the control unit 44 can stop the cleaning tank 33 at the predetermined position.

The control unit 44 is configured to shut off the motor circuit when the cleaning tank is stopped. As a result, even if the drive motor 52 is idled by the user manually moving the cleaning tank 33 to generate a counter electromotive force, the counter electromotive force is cut off and the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44 is abnormal. No current flows. Further, when the opening / closing operation is manually performed, no electrical load is generated due to the back electromotive force of the drive motor and no load is applied to the opening / closing operation. Therefore, the user can easily perform the opening / closing operation of the cleaning tank 33 manually. it can.

The drive device 51 has a drive motor 52, a pinion gear 53 driven by the drive motor 52, and a rack gear 54 that meshes with the pinion gear 53. The drive motor 52 has the pinion gear 53 located in the vicinity of the front opening 32. As described above, the rack gear 54 is fixed to the inside of the housing 31, and the rack gear 54 is fixed to the outside of the cleaning tank 33. As a result, even if the cleaning tank 33 moves in the pull-out direction and lowers forward, the vicinity of the pinion gear 53 provided in the front portion serves as a fulcrum, so that the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 may be disengaged. The configuration may be simple so that the meshing is not disengaged.

As disclosed above, the control unit 44 controls the drive device 51 and safely moves the cleaning tank 33 according to the intention of the user. For the user, the labor of manually moving the cleaning tank 33 is reduced, and the usability is improved. Further, all the operation units 46 are concealed in the housing 31, and can be adapted to the diversifying designs of the system kitchen K. The design of the system kitchen K is unified, and the design is improved.

Then, even if an obstacle exists in front of the cleaning tank 33 due to carelessness of the user or the like, the control unit 44 detects the occurrence of vibration or the change in acceleration and stops the drive of the drive motor 52. To do. As a result, obstacles and the dishwasher do not cause major problems, and safety is maintained.

(Embodiment 2)
3 and 4 are side longitudinal sectional views of a dishwasher in which the washing tank is a drawer type according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is housed in the housing. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is pulled out from the inside of the housing to the fully open position. In the present embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is the drive device. The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is incorporated.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cleaning tank 33 is configured so that it can be taken in and out by the roller pressure welding type drive device 55. The drive device 55 includes a drive motor 56, a roller 57 driven by the drive motor 56, and a pressure contact rail 58 to which the roller 57 is pressure-welded. The pressure welding rail 58 is fixed to the lower part on the outside of the side surface of the cleaning tank 33. The pressure welding rail 58 is configured to have at least a length equal to or longer than the stroke from which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The roller 57, which is pressure-welded to the pressure-welding rail 58, is attached so as to be driven by the drive motor 56. The drive motor 56 is provided with a speed reduction mechanism, and the roller 57 is fixed inside the housing 31 so that the roller 57 is located near the front opening 32. In FIG. 3, the roller 57 is pressure-welded to the pressure-welding rail 58 from the lower side, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the roller 57 may be pressure-welded from the upper side or laterally. Further, the pressure welding rail 58 may be the side surface or the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 33 itself.

With this configuration, the rotary motion of the drive motor 56 is converted into a linear motion, and the cleaning tank 33 can move until the upper surface opening 35 is substantially fully opened. When the drive motor 56 is configured to be driven by the set time, the cleaning tank 33 can be stopped at an arbitrary position when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out according to the set time. Further, if the roller 57 and the pressure welding rail 58 are combined, it is not necessary to worry about the meshing of the gears at the time of assembling, unlike the rack and pinion type, and the assembling becomes easy. The user does not need any effort to pull out the washing tank 33. Then, in the dishwasher, the washing tank 33 can be pulled out by the drive device 55 to a position where the tableware 36 can be easily stored, and the usability is improved. Moreover, it can be adapted to the diversifying design of the system kitchen K.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a side longitudinal sectional view of the dishwasher according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is the operation unit of the door body. The other configurations are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is incorporated.

As shown in FIG. 5, the door body 40 includes an operation portion 46b on the upper portion of the decorative plate 42. The operation unit 46b is provided with at least an operation switch (not shown) of the drive motor 52, which is a drive unit for moving the cleaning tank 33. This operation switch is provided so as to be able to distinguish which direction to operate in the front-rear direction.

The control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 so that the upper surface opening 35 is substantially fully opened when the cleaning tank 33 is moved in the forward direction. In the present embodiment, substantially fully open includes a state in which the cleaning tank 33 is most pulled out and the upper surface opening 35 is most opened, and a state in which the upper surface opening 35 is opened by half or more. In short, the tableware 36 is pulled out to the extent that the user can put it in and out. For this purpose, the control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 in time. That is, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 for a set predetermined time T1 and stops.

With this configuration, the user does not need labor to pull out and store the cleaning tank 33. Then, in the dishwasher, the washing tank 33 can be pulled out by the drive device 51 to a position where the tableware 36 can be easily stored, and the usability is improved. Moreover, it can be adapted to the diversifying design of the system kitchen K.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 6 is a side longitudinal sectional view of another drawer-type dishwasher according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front vertical sectional view of the dishwasher according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a main part of the slide rail portion of FIG.

In the present embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is the configuration of the washing tub of the dishwasher and the configuration of the support mechanism of the door body. In the first embodiment, the cleaning tank is pulled out from the housing in a pull-out manner, but in the present embodiment, the cleaning tank is fixed inside the housing. Due to this difference, the support mechanism for supporting the door body includes a cleaning tank to which the door body is attached and a slide rail for moving the cleaning tank in the first embodiment, but in the present embodiment, the door body is supported. Includes a support member to which the door is attached and a slide rail. Other configurations according to the present invention are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is incorporated.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the housing 71 has a front opening 72 that is fully open to the front. A cleaning tank 73 is formed inside the housing 71 provided with the front opening 72. A door body 74 that covers the front opening 72 is provided. In the washing space 75 formed by the washing tank 73 and the door body 74, the lower tableware basket 77 and the upper tableware basket 78 on which the tableware 76 is placed are provided in a state where they can be moved back and forth. These tableware baskets 77 and 78 can move together with the door body 74 if they are locked to the door body 74, and can move individually if they are unlocked.

An operation unit 79 is provided on the upper surface of the door body 74, and the user can switch the power on / off, start, pause, wash, and dry course by pressing the button of the operation unit 79. Further, in order to move the door body 74, a switch for operating a control unit (not shown) may be provided. The control unit is provided below the operation unit 79.

The door body 74 is supported by the housing 71 in a state where it can be moved back and forth by the support mechanism 80. The support mechanism 80 includes a support member 81 and a slide rail 82. The slide rail 82 is attached to the inner side surfaces on both the left and right sides of the housing 71 at the lower outer side of the cleaning tank 73. As shown in FIG. 8, the slide rail 82 is slidably mounted on the fixed rail 82a, the first movable rail 82b slidably mounted on the fixed rail 82a, and the first movable rail 82b. It is configured to include two movable rails 82c.

In the support member 81 formed of a metal plate, the front end portion 81a is fixed to the inner lower portion of the door body 74. Further, the support member 81 is fixed on the second movable rail 82c. When the door body 74 moves forward, the support member 81 and the second movable rail 82c move forward together with the first movable rail 82b while supporting the door body 74 substantially vertically. As a result, the slide rail 82 extends.

A drive device 83 for moving the door body 74 at least in the forward direction or the rearward direction is provided. The control unit is configured to drive the drive unit when a predetermined signal is received from a sensor such as an acceleration sensor 45 or an operation switch. The drive device 83 has a drive motor 84 as a drive unit.

In the present embodiment, the drive device 83 configured by the rack and pinion type will be described. The drive device 83 includes a drive motor 84, which is a drive unit, a pinion gear 85 driven by the drive motor 84, and a rack gear 86 that meshes with the pinion gear 85. The rack gear 86 in which the gear teeth are formed in a straight line is fixed in the vicinity of the support member 81. The rack gear 86 is configured to have at least a length equal to or longer than the stroke by which the door body 74 moves. The pinion gear 85 that meshes with the rack gear 86 is attached so as to be driven by the drive motor 84. The drive motor 84 includes a reduction mechanism (not shown), and is fixed inside the housing 71 at a position where the pinion gear 85 is close to the front opening 72. With this configuration, the rotary motion of the drive motor 84 is converted into a linear motion, and the door body 74 is moved in the forward direction or the rear direction. Other detailed controls are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will be omitted.

(Other embodiments)
Although the configurations of the four embodiments have been disclosed above, other embodiments will be shown for various configurations including the drive device.

A method of stopping at a predetermined position when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out will be exemplified instead of the method of controlling the drive motor 52 in time as disclosed in the first embodiment.

1. 1. As shown in FIG. 8, a position detection unit 59 for detecting a predetermined position of the cleaning tank 33 is provided in the vicinity of the front opening 32, and the control unit 44 receives a signal from the position detection unit 59 generated during movement. It may be configured to stop driving the drive motor. The position detection unit 59 may be a micro switch. The present invention is not limited to this, and a photoelectric switch may be used. Further, the position may be detected by measuring the moving distance of the cleaning tank 33 with a photoelectric sensor or the like. Even if the drive unit is composed of a stepping motor, the moving distance is detected.

2. As shown in FIG. 9, a locking portion 60 configured to stop the cleaning tank 33 at a predetermined position may be provided. The locking portion 60 includes, for example, a first protrusion 60a provided near the front opening 32 of the housing 31 and a second protrusion 60b provided at the rear of the slide rail 34 or the cleaning tank 33. However, the cleaning tank 33 is configured to collide with the drawn position at a predetermined position. The control unit 44 may be configured to stop the drive of the drive motors 52 and 56 by detecting the lock current of the drive motors 52 and 56 generated when the cleaning tank 33 is stopped by the locking unit 60. ..

3. 3. As shown in FIG. 9, a locking portion 60 configured to stop the cleaning tank 33 at a predetermined position may be provided. The locking portion 60 includes, for example, a first protrusion 60a provided near the front opening 32 of the housing 31 and a second protrusion 60b provided at the rear of the slide rail 34 or the cleaning tank 33. However, the cleaning tank 33 is configured to collide with the drawn position at a predetermined position. The control unit 44 may be configured to stop the drive motors 52 and 56 when it receives a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that detects the acceleration generated by the stop of the cleaning tank 33 by the locking unit 60.

According to these configurations, unlike the set time shown in the first embodiment, it is not necessary to determine the relationship between the set time and the withdrawal amount, and the stop position is physically set. At this time, if the position detection unit 59 or the first protrusion 60a is configured to be slid back and forth and fixed at an arbitrary position, the cleaning tank 33 is surely stopped at an arbitrary predetermined position. In addition, 2. The lock current generated in the above is short, and the drive motors 52 and 56 are not overloaded. In addition, 2. And 3. The locking portion 60 indicated by is preferably cushioned. As a result, the washing tank 33 stops smoothly and the shock is not transmitted to the stored tableware 36, and the noise of the tableware 36 coming into contact with each other and the damage of the tableware 36 are prevented. Further, it is possible to prevent the water stored in the washing tank 33 from splashing and splashing out from the washing tank 33 or the tableware 36 dried after washing from getting wet.

In the drive devices 51 and 55, the drive motors 52 and 56 may be fixed to the rear portion of the cleaning tank 33, and the rack gear 54 and the pressure contact rail 58 may be fixed to the inside of the housing 31. When a drive device is provided in a drawer of furniture or a refrigerator, it is convenient and common that the power supply of the drive unit is provided on the housing side. However, in a dishwasher in which the washing tank 33 is a drawer type, the washing tank 33 requires a power source such as a heater 49 and a washing pump 50, and a power supply line is originally provided in the washing tank 33. Therefore, according to this configuration, in the arrangement of the signal lines and the power supply lines from the control unit 44 to the drive motors 52 and 56, only the side surface of the cleaning tank 33 is required without being routed to the housing 31 side. Easy to assemble and improve maintenance workability.

In the drive device 51, the rack gear 54 may be configured such that the teeth are formed on both the upper and lower sides and are sandwiched by the two pinion gears 53 on the upper and lower sides. Further, the rack gear 54 may be configured such that the teeth are formed in any of the vertical directions and a roller is provided on the side where the teeth are not formed so as to be sandwiched between the upper and lower sides. According to these configurations, the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 are surely meshed with each other and cannot be easily disengaged.

When the washing tank 33 stopped in the middle due to an obstacle is continuously moved, the user may move the washing tank 33 by the drive devices 51 and 55 instead of manually moving the washing tank 33. At this time, it is necessary to distinguish between pulling out from the stop position and storing. As this method, the acceleration sensor 45 may detect the distinction according to the number of times the user hits the decorative plate 42. Further, the operation unit 46 may be provided with a switch that clearly indicates the moving direction so that the user can operate the switch. According to this configuration, the drive devices 51 and 55 are utilized, and the labor for the user to manually move the drive devices 51 and 55 is reduced.

Further, the control of the drive devices 51 and 55 will be exemplified.

The control unit 44 may start driving after a predetermined time T2 (for example, 0.4 seconds to 1 second) after detecting the signal for driving the drive motors 52 and 56 by the user. With this configuration, when the washing water is sprayed from the washing nozzle in the washing process, it is possible to wait for the washing pump to stop and prevent the washing water from jumping out of the washing tank. Further, when the driving signal is continuously detected and the driving is repeated, it is possible to secure a temporary stop of the driving motors 52 and 56 so that a large starting current does not continue, and the excessive temperature of the driving motors 52 and 56 can be prevented. It can prevent the rise.

Further, if it is notified that the door body 40 is driven and moves, the safety is improved. In particular, it is preferable to start the notification before the door body 40 starts moving during the predetermined time T2. If it is notified that the door body 40 moves before being driven, the safety can be further improved.

A door closing detection sensor (not shown, for example, a position detecting unit 59 shown in FIG. 6 can be substituted) for detecting that the door body 40 is closed is provided, and the control unit 44 uses the door closing detection sensor to detect the door. For a predetermined time T3 (for example, 0.5 seconds) after the body 40 detects the closed signal, the signal from the acceleration sensor 45 is not detected, or even if the signal is detected, the drive is suspended. It may be. The shock when the door body 40 is closed causes the entire housing including tableware to vibrate. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent erroneous detection of vibration when closed. Further, the temporary stop of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be ensured, and an excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be prevented.

Further, in this way, when the door closing detection sensor detects a signal that the door body 40 is closed, the user may be notified that the door body 40 is surely closed. Further, the closed signal may be notified after a predetermined time T3 when the closed signal is detected, and the user may be notified that the knock for pulling out the door body 40 can be accepted. With this configuration, the user can confirm that the door body 40 is securely closed and that the subsequent cleaning operation is normally performed.

When the control unit 44 drives the drive motors 52 and 56 in the rear direction in which the door body 40 is closed and detects that the drive motors 52 and 56 have stopped, the signal of the door close detection sensor is not detected. , The occurrence of an abnormality may be notified. This makes it possible to notify the user that the door body 40 is not completely closed.

Further, even if the user operates to close the vehicle, when this notification is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times), it may be notified as an abnormality occurrence and the driving may be stopped. With this configuration, the lock currents of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be prevented from being repeated, and an excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to notify the user that it is necessary to determine the occurrence of an abnormality such as whether the door body 40 does not close due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the drive motors 52, 56 or the door close detection sensor has failed. Then, it is possible to prevent the cleaning operation from being performed while the door body 40 is not closed.

The control unit 44 drives the drive motors 52 and 56 in the front direction in which the door body 40 is opened in a state where the door body 40 is detected by the door close detection sensor, and then T4 (for example, 2) for a predetermined time. If the signal of the door closing detection sensor remains detected for .5 seconds), the occurrence of an abnormality may be notified. With this configuration, it is possible to determine that the door body 40 is not moving and notify the user of the abnormality of the door body 40.

Further, when the door body 40 does not open even if the user knocks and this notification is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times), it may be notified as an abnormality occurrence and further driving may be stopped. .. With this configuration, the lock currents of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be prevented from being repeated, and an excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to notify the user that it is necessary to determine the occurrence of an abnormality such as whether the door body 40 does not move due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the drive motors 52, 56 or the door close detection sensor has failed.

Next, the application of the acceleration sensor 45 to other controls will be illustrated.

The accelerometer 45 may be configured to detect tilt in the dishwasher installation. Since the dishwasher uses water, if it is tilted, problems such as water leakage may occur. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm that the installation is horizontal. That is, the control unit 44 can be applied as a spirit level by detecting the deviation between gravity and acceleration in the Z-axis direction. Since the control unit 44 can detect the inclination of the dishwasher with the acceleration sensor 45, the leveling device becomes unnecessary and the workability of installation is improved. Further, in the place where the dishwasher is installed, when the installation surface is tilted due to aging, the control unit 44 can detect it, notify the user, or stop the operation. As a result, the dishwasher is used while the inclination is corrected, and the problem due to the inclination does not occur for a long period of use.

Further, the control unit 44 may control the drive motors 52 and 56 to change the moving speed of the door body 40 based on the inclination state of the installation detected by the acceleration sensor 45. Specifically, when the vehicle is tilted forward or backward below a predetermined value, the moving speed is slower than usual. If the installed inclination is large, there is a risk of water leakage and the drive device 51 may be loaded more than expected. With this configuration, when the door body 40 is installed at an inclination that does not interfere with the cleaning operation, the moving speed of the door body 40 can be slowed down to improve safety.

Further, the control unit 44 may be controlled so that it cannot be driven when the inclination detected by the acceleration sensor 45 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. With this configuration, safety can be improved by restricting operation before the problem of water leakage or an unexpected load on the drive unit occurs.

The acceleration sensor 45 may detect the vibration of the washing water colliding with the inner wall of the washing tank 33 in the washing operation. As a result, the control unit 44 determines whether the cleaning pump 50 is operating normally, the cleaning nozzle 48 is rotating normally, or a plurality of cleaning nozzles based on the direction and magnitude of the acceleration due to the vibration detected by the acceleration sensor 45. It is possible to determine which of the 48 is sprayed, how much the tableware 36 is accommodated, and the like.

When the control unit 44 outputs a signal for driving the drive motors 52 and 56 and there is no predetermined output from the acceleration sensor 45, the control unit 44 determines that the drive motors 52, 56 or the acceleration sensor 45 is out of order and has an abnormality. It may be notified. As a result, the control unit 44 can notify the user of the abnormality of the drive system.

When the control unit 44 detects an abnormality in the acceleration sensor 45, the cleaning tank 33 may be pulled out. As a result, the problem that the cleaning tank 33 cannot be pulled out because the knock cannot be detected is avoided, and the control unit 44 can notify the user of the abnormality of the acceleration sensor 45.

The operation unit 46 is provided with a notification unit that notifies when the drive device 51 operates or that an abnormality has occurred. Specifically, the notification unit may audibly notify by a synthetic sound such as a voice or a buzzer, and can be easily noticed if the user is nearby.

When the notification is made by sound, the control unit 44 may start the notification after a predetermined time T5 after detecting the vibration due to knocking or the like. The predetermined time T5 is preferably 0.1 seconds to 0.6 seconds. This is because if it is less than 0.1 seconds, the user is conscious of knocking, and when a sound such as knocking is generated, that sound and the first part of the notification sound are heard. This is because it is difficult to hear because they are heard overlapping. In addition, if it exceeds 0.6 seconds, it gives the user an impression of being delayed. Therefore, if the notification sound is started after a predetermined time T5 after detecting the vibration due to knocking or the like, the user can easily hear the notification sound without being disturbed by the knocked sound by himself / herself.

Further, the notification unit may display an error code, blink a lamp such as an LED, or combine lighting of a plurality of lamps. Further, the configuration is not limited to the acceleration sensor 45, and the cleaning tank 33 may be automatically pulled out when an abnormality occurs. This makes it possible for the user to visually notice the occurrence of an abnormality. In particular, in a configuration in which the operation unit 46 is concealed in the housing 31, it is preferable that the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out, and the user can easily confirm the error code or LED display displayed on the operation unit 46. Can be done. At this time, the cleaning tank 33 may be pulled out to the extent that the operation unit 46 can be visually recognized.

The dishwasher may be equipped with a remote controller (not shown) that transmits an operation signal. The control unit 44 receives various operation signals from the remote controller and performs control according to the various operation signals. The control unit 44 also detects a predetermined signal from the remote controller when pulling out or storing the cleaning tank 33, and drives the drive motors 52 and 56 to move the cleaning tank 33. This allows the user to operate the dishwasher from a distance from the dishwasher.

The configurations that can be combined with each of the embodiments disclosed as described above can be combined without particular limitation.

As described above, the dishwasher according to the present invention can easily pull out and operate the washing tub even if a decorative plate without an operation unit or a handle is attached in order to improve the design, so that it can be used in a system kitchen. It is used as a built-in dishwasher and is useful as a dishwasher with a unified design.

31 Housing 32 Front opening 33 Cleaning tank (support mechanism)
34 Slide rail (support mechanism)
35 Top opening 36 Tableware 37 Inner lid 38 Parallel link mechanism 39 Seal 40 Door 41 Operation panel 42 Decorative plate 43 Handle 44 Control 45 Accelerometer (sensor)
46 Operation unit 47 Tableware basket 48 Cleaning nozzle 49 Heater 50 Cleaning pump 51 Drive unit 52 Drive motor (drive unit), (drive unit)
53 Pinion gear (drive device)
54 Rack gear (drive device)
55 Drive device 56 Drive motor (drive unit), (drive device)
57 Roller (drive device)
58 Pressure welding rail (drive device)
59 Position detection part 60 Locking part 60a First protrusion 60b Second protrusion 71 Housing 72 Front opening 74 Door body 76 Tableware 77 Lower tableware basket 78 Upper tableware basket 79 Operation part 80 Support mechanism 81 Support member ( Support mechanism)
82 Slide rail (support mechanism)
83 Drive device 84 Drive motor (drive unit), (drive device)
85 Pinion gear (drive device)
86 rack gear (drive device)

Claims (13)

A housing with a front opening on the front and
A tableware basket that can be taken in and out of the housing and stores tableware,
The door body covering the front opening and
A support mechanism that supports the door body in a state where it can be moved back and forth, and
A drive device that moves the door body at least in the forward or backward direction, and
At least, a sensor provided on the door body to detect the touch by the user,
A notification unit that informs the user of the operating status,
With a control unit
The drive device has a drive unit and has a drive unit.
The control unit is a dishwasher configured to drive the drive unit when a predetermined signal is received from the sensor.
The control unit is a dishwasher configured to be notified by the notification unit when the drive of the drive unit is started. The sensor detects that the user has been touched and
The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to start notification after a predetermined time T5 after detecting that the user has touched the sensor. The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit is configured to start notification 0.1 to 0.6 seconds after detecting that the user has touched the sensor. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is configured to start notification before driving the drive unit. A door closing detection sensor for detecting that the door body has been closed is provided.
The control unit is configured to notify when the door closing detection sensor detects a signal that the door body is closed, or after a predetermined time T3 after the detection. The dishwasher according to any one of the items. When the control unit detects a signal that the door body is closed by the door closing detection sensor, the user touches the sensor for a predetermined time T3 after detecting the signal of the door closing detection sensor. The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the signal from the sensor that detects the fact is not detected, or even if the signal of the sensor is detected, the drive of the drive unit is suspended. The control unit detects the signal that the door body is closed by the door closing detection sensor, and drives the drive unit in the front direction in which the door body is opened for a predetermined time T4 after the door body is opened. The dishwashing machine according to claim 5 or 6, which is configured to notify that the door body is not moving when the signal of the closing detection sensor is still detected. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the control unit notifies that an abnormality has occurred when the notification that the door body is not moving is repeated a predetermined number of times, and stops further driving. The control unit drives the drive unit in the rear direction in which the door body is closed, and when the signal of the door close detection sensor is not detected even though the drive unit has detected that the drive unit has stopped, the door The dishwasher according to any one of claims 5 to 8, which is configured to notify that the body is not completely closed. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein when the notification that the door body is not completely closed is repeated a predetermined number of times, the control unit notifies that an abnormality has occurred and stops further driving. Machine. According to any one of claims 1 to 10, the control unit is configured to stop driving when the sensor is intentionally or carelessly touched while the drive unit is being driven. The listed dishwasher. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the drive unit after a lapse of a certain period of time after notifying the user that the door body starts moving. dishwasher. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the notification unit aurally notifies by a synthetic sound such as a voice or a buzzer.

Images