JP2024057676A - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] A dishwasher including a washing tub 2 stored in a housing so as to be freely pulled out forward, and a front door 7 attached to the front of the washing tub 2, which prevents hot air blowing out from inside the washing tub 2 from hitting the hands or arms of a user who has their fingers hooked on a handle on the front of an upper part 71 of the front door 7 when pulling out the washing tub 2. [Solution] An upper surface rear edge 712a of an upper second part 712, which is a part laterally offset from an upper first part 711, which is a part of a predetermined lateral range including the handle of the upper part 71 of the front door 7, is located forward of an upper surface rear edge 711a of the upper first part 711. The rear surface of the upper second part 712 is formed into an inclined surface 712b that slopes downward from the upper surface rear edge 712a of the upper second part 712 toward the rear. [Selected Figure] Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a built-in dishwasher that is equipped with a housing with an open front and a washing tub with an open top that can store tableware and is stored inside the housing so that it can be freely pulled out toward the front, and is primarily intended to be installed under the countertop of a system kitchen.

Conventionally, in this type of dishwasher, a front door is attached to the front of the washing tub, which covers the front opening of the housing when the washing tub is stored inside the housing. A handle is formed on the upper front surface of the front door, which protrudes above the top surface of the washing tub, to hook the fingers when pulling the washing tub forward (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

In dishwashers, in order to obtain cleaning and disinfecting effects, the dishes are generally washed using high-temperature water of 70°C or more. As a result, the temperature inside the washing tub becomes as high as 70°C or more while the dishwasher is operating or immediately after it has stopped operating. If the washing tub is pulled out while the dishwasher is operating or immediately after it has stopped operating, the hot air inside the washing tub will blow out above the top of the front door, and the hot air may hit the hands or arms of the user with their fingers hooked on the handle, causing discomfort.

JP 2017-86796 A

In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a dishwasher that prevents hot air from hitting the user's hands and arms when pulling out the washing tub.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a dishwasher that includes a housing with an open front, a washing tub with an open top that can store tableware and is stored in the housing so that it can be freely pulled out forward, and a front door that is attached to the front of the washing tub and covers the front opening of the housing when the washing tub is stored in the housing, and a handle is formed on the front surface of the upper part of the front door that protrudes above the top surface of the washing tub, and on which fingers can be placed when the washing tub is pulled out forward. The dishwasher is characterized in that a portion of a predetermined horizontal range including the handle at the top of the front door is defined as an upper first part, and a portion laterally offset from the upper first part is defined as an upper second part, with the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper second part positioned forward of the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper first part, and the rear surface of the upper second part formed as an inclined surface that slopes downward from the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper second part toward the rear.

Here, if the dishwasher is placed under the countertop of a system kitchen, when the washing tub is pulled out, the hot air in the washing tub will be blown out to the outside when the rear edge of the top of the front door is displaced forward of the front edge of the countertop. In this invention, when the washing tub is pulled out, the rear edge of the top of the upper second part of the front door is displaced forward of the front edge of the countertop before the rear edge of the top of the upper first part. Therefore, the hot air in the washing tub will be blown out to the outside at the upper second part side that is laterally off the upper first part where the handle is located. Furthermore, in this invention, the rear surface of the upper second part is formed as a slanted surface that slopes downward to the rear, so that the hot air will be blown out with a directional component that faces forward from the upper second part side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the hot air from hitting the hands or arms of the user who has their fingers on the handle.

In addition, in the present invention, it is desirable that the rear edge of the upper surface of the end of the upper second part closer to the upper first part is formed as an inclined edge that slopes diagonally forward from the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper first part toward the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper second part other than that end, and that a step surface is formed at that end along a plane parallel to the up-down direction including the inclined edge that drops downward from this inclined edge toward the inclined surface of the rear surface of the upper second part. In this way, the step surface imparts a lateral component in the direction away from the upper first part to the hot air blowing out from the upper second part. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent hot air from hitting the hands or arms of a user with their fingers on the handle.

1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention, seen obliquely from the front. 1 is a cutaway side view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment. 2 is a perspective view of a main part of the dishwasher according to the embodiment, seen obliquely from the rear. FIG. 1 is a plan view of the essential parts of the dishwasher of the embodiment when unlocked, as seen from above the countertop. FIG.

1 and 2 show a built-in dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention that is installed under the countertop CT of a system kitchen, and includes a housing 1 with an open front, and a washing tub 2 with an open top that can store tableware and is stored within the housing 1 so that it can be freely pulled forward. A sealing lid 11 is provided at the top of the housing 1 to close the open top of the washing tub 2. The sealing lid 11 is biased diagonally forward and upward by a spring (not shown), and when the washing tub 2 is pulled out of the housing 1, it is displaced to a standby position that is forward and upward from the position shown in the figure. In addition, protrusions 21 are provided at both lateral ends of the front end of the top surface of the washing tub 2, which can abut against both lateral ends of the front edge of the sealing lid 11 from the front. When the cleaning tank 2 is stored in the housing 1, the protrusion 21 comes into contact with the front edge of the sealing lid 11, which is in the standby position, during the final stage of storage. Thereafter, the sealing lid 11 moves rearward together with the cleaning tank 2 against the biasing force of the spring, and moves downward due to the action of a cam mechanism (not shown), displacing to the position shown in the figure where it closes the top surface of the cleaning tank 2.

In the washing tank 2, a dish basket (described later) for supporting dishes is placed, and a washing nozzle 3 for spraying washing water toward the dish basket is also provided. A washing water reservoir 23 that is connected to the inside of the washing tank 2 via a food residue filter 22 is provided at the bottom of the washing tank 2. A washing pump 4 that is connected to the reservoir 23 is installed below the bottom of the washing tank 2. When the washing pump 4 is rotated forward, the washing water in the washing tank 2 is supplied to the washing nozzle 3 via the reservoir 23 and the washing pump 4, and when the washing pump 4 is rotated reversely, the washing water is drained from the washing tank 2.

The cleaning nozzle 3 has a lower nozzle 31 that extends horizontally below the cleaning tank 2 and can rotate freely around a vertical axis at the longitudinal center, and a center nozzle 32 that is erected at the longitudinal center of the lower nozzle 31 and extends upward at the center of the cleaning tank 2. The lower nozzle 31 sprays cleaning water from a nozzle hole 31a formed in it and rotates due to the reaction force of this spray. The center nozzle 32 sprays cleaning water from a nozzle hole 32a formed at its upper part.

The dish baskets include a lower basket 5 that is positioned at the bottom of the washing tub 2 and above the lower nozzle 31 to support relatively large tableware W1 such as large plates, small plates, bowls and bowls, and an upper basket 6 that is positioned at the top of the washing tub 2 and away from the rear of the center nozzle 32 to support bottomed cylindrical tableware W2 such as teacups and glasses. A nozzle guard frame 51 is erected in the center of the lower basket 5 to surround the center nozzle 32 and prevent the tableware W1 placed therein from interfering with the center nozzle 32.

A front door 7 is attached to the front of the cleaning tank 2, which covers the front opening 1a of the housing 1 when the cleaning tank 2 is stored in the housing 1. The front door 7 is attached to the front end of the mounting plate portion 24 that extends forward from both lateral sides of the front of the cleaning tank 2. In addition, a handle portion 72 is formed on the upper portion 71 of the front door 7, which protrudes above the upper surface of the cleaning tank 2, located on the front of the lateral center portion and on which a finger is hooked when the cleaning tank 2 is pulled forward. A lock piece 721 is attached to the handle portion 72. When the cleaning tank 2 is stored in the housing 1, the lock piece 721 engages with the engaged portion 12 provided on the upper edge of the front opening 1a of the housing 1, and the cleaning tank 2 is locked in the storage position. In addition, when a finger is hooked on the handle portion 72, the lock piece 721 is operated to release the lock. When the lock is released, the spring force of the sealing lid 11 causes the sealing lid 11 to move to a standby position at the upper front, and with this movement, the cleaning tank 2 is pushed through the protrusion 21 and protrudes forward by a predetermined stroke.

An extension 74 is provided on the upper part 71 of the front door 7, which extends rearward from the lower part of its rear surface at approximately the same level as the top surface of the washing tub 2. The dishwasher's operation section 75 is provided on the right side of the extension 74 when viewed from the front, and includes a plurality of operation switches 75a, including an operation switch, and a display 75b that shows the state set by the operation switches 75a.

When the operation switch is turned on and the cleaning tank 2 is stored in the housing 1, first, water is supplied to the cleaning tank 2, and detergent is mixed into this water from a detergent supply means not shown in the figure to generate cleaning water. Then, the cleaning water is heated to 70°C or higher by a heater (not shown) in the cleaning tank 2 while the cleaning pump 4 is rotated forward, and a cleaning operation in which the cleaning water is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 3 is performed for a predetermined time. After the cleaning operation is completed, the cleaning pump 4 is rotated in the reverse direction to drain the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 2. Next, after water is supplied to the cleaning tank 2 again, the cleaning pump 4 is rotated in the forward direction to perform a rinsing operation in which water is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 3 for a predetermined time, and then the cleaning pump 4 is rotated in the reverse direction to drain the water in the cleaning tank 2. The rinsing operation is performed a predetermined number of times, and the last time is a heated rinsing operation in which water is heated to 70°C or higher by the heater and sprayed. Next, a drying operation is performed for a predetermined time in which the air in the cleaning tank 2 is heated by a heater and air is blown into the cleaning tank 2 by a drying fan not shown in the figure. It is also possible to supply high-temperature water to the cleaning tank 2 from a water heater (not shown). In this case, a heater dedicated to the drying operation is provided in the cleaning tank 2 or in the air passage that connects the drying fan to the cleaning tank 2. Also, a heater that heats the cleaning water and a heater that heats the air to be blown for drying may be provided separately.

The reason for heating the water and air with the heater as described above is to enhance the cleaning, disinfecting and drying effects, and the temperature inside the washing tub 2 reaches a high temperature of 70°C or more while the dishwasher is operating or immediately after it is stopped. When the washing tub 2 is pulled out while the dishwasher is operating or immediately after it is stopped, hot air inside the washing tub 2 is blown out to the outside when the rear edge of the top surface of the upper part 71 of the front door 7 is displaced forward of the front edge of the counter top CT. If this hot air hits the hands or arms of a user with their fingers hooked on the handle 72, it causes discomfort.

Therefore, in this embodiment, the shape of the upper part 71 of the front door 7 is devised so as to prevent hot air from hitting the hands and arms of the user. Below, the shape of the upper part 71 will be described by referring to a portion of a predetermined horizontal range including the handle part ₇₂ of the upper part 71, i.e., a predetermined range in the horizontal center, as an upper first part _71-1 , and a portion laterally out of the upper first part 71-1, i.e., a portion located on both sides of the upper first part _71-1 in the horizontal direction, as an upper second part _71-2 .

3, the upper surface rear edge _712a of the upper second portion ₇₁₂ is located forward of the upper surface rear edge _711a of the upper first portion _711. The rear surface of the upper second portion ₇₁₂ is formed as an inclined surface _712b that slopes downward toward the rear from the upper surface rear edge _712a of the upper second portion _712. Most of the rear surface of the upper first portion ₇₁₁ is a surface that extends in the up-down direction.

According to this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 4, when the cleaning tank 2 is pulled out, the upper surface rear edge _712a of the upper second part ₇₁₂ of the upper part 71 of the front door 7 is displaced forward of the front edge of the counter top CT before the upper surface rear edge _711a of the upper first part _711. Therefore, the hot air in the cleaning tank 2 is blown out to the outside at the upper second part ₇₁₂ side that is laterally offset from the upper first part ₇₁₁ where the handle part 72 is present. Here, if the rear surface of the upper second part ₇₁₂ is a surface along the vertical direction, the hot air blows out upward along this rear surface, and the blown out hot air may turn around in the horizontal direction and hit the hand or arm of the user who has his fingers hooked on the handle part 72. In contrast, in this embodiment, the rear surface of the upper second part ₇₁₂ is formed as a rearwardly downwardly inclined surface _712b , so that the hot air is blown out with a directional component toward the front from the upper second part ₇₁₂ side as shown by the arrow in Fig. 4. As a result, it is possible to prevent hot air from reaching the hands or arms of the user who has his/her fingers hooked on the handle portion 72 .

In this embodiment, the rear edge of the upper surface of the end of the upper second portion 71 ₂ near the upper first portion 71 ₁ is formed as an inclined edge 71 ₂ c that is inclined diagonally forward from the rear edge 71 ₁ a of the upper first portion 71 ₁ toward the rear edge 71 ₂ a of the upper second portion 71 2 other than the end. Furthermore, a step surface 71 ₂ d is formed on the end of the upper second portion 71 ₂ near the upper first portion 71 ₁ along a plane parallel to the vertical direction including the inclined edge 71 ₂ c, which drops downward from the inclined edge 71 _{2 c} toward the inclined surface 71 ₂ b of the rear surface of the upper second portion 71 _2. According to this, the step surface 71 ₂ d gives a lateral component in the direction away from the upper first portion 71 ₁ to the hot air blowing out from the upper second portion 71 ₂ side. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the hot air from hitting the hand or arm of a user who has his/her fingers hooked on the handle portion 72.

When the cleaning tank 2 is pulled out, the lock piece 721 is first operated to release the lock, and as described above, the cleaning tank 2 protrudes forward by a predetermined stroke. This predetermined stroke is set so that only the rear edge _712a of the upper surface of the upper second part ₇₁₂ is located forward of the front edge of the counter top CT. Therefore, when the lock is released, hot air inside the cleaning tank 2 is blown out from the upper second part ₇₁₂ side to the outside. Therefore, even if the rear edge _711a of the upper surface of the upper first part ₇₁₁ is displaced forward of the front edge of the counter top CT when the cleaning tank 2 is pulled out after the lock is released, hot air will not be blown out from the upper first part ₇₁₁ side.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, in the above embodiment, the handle portion 72 is provided at the horizontal center of the upper portion 71 of the front door 7, but the handle portion 72 can be provided at a portion of the upper portion 71 of the front door 7 that is biased to one side in the horizontal direction. However, according to the above embodiment, the hot air blown out when the cleaning tank 2 is pulled out is dispersed to the left and right, so that it is advantageous that the effect is not biased even if the fingers of either the left or right hand are hung on the handle portion 72. Also, in the above embodiment, the front edge of the upper surface of the upper portion 71 of the front door 7 is a straight line aligned in the front-rear direction from the upper first portion _71-1 to the upper second portion _71-2 , but it is also possible to make the front edge of the upper surface of the upper portion 71 a shape that is not aligned in the front-rear direction, such as a curved line that is curved in the front-rear direction.

1...housing, 2...cleaning tank, 7...front door, 71...upper part, 71 ₁ ...upper first part, 71 ₁ a...rear edge of upper surface of upper first part, 71 ₂ ...upper second part, 71 ₂ a...rear edge of upper surface of upper second part, 71 ₂ b...inclined surface, 71 ₂ c...inclined edge, 71 ₂ d...step surface, 72...handle portion.

Claims (2)

A dishwasher comprising a housing with an open front, a washing tub with an open top that can store dishes and is stored in the housing so as to be freely pulled out forward, and a front door attached to the front of the washing tub and that covers the front opening of the housing when the washing tub is stored in the housing, wherein a handle is formed on the upper front surface of the front door that protrudes above the top surface of the washing tub and on which fingers can be placed when the washing tub is pulled out forward,
A dishwasher characterized in that a portion of a predetermined horizontal range including a handle portion at the top of a front door is defined as an upper first portion, and a portion laterally offset from the upper first portion is defined as an upper second portion, the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper second portion is located forward of the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper first portion, and the rear surface of the upper second portion is formed as an inclined surface that slopes downward toward the rear from the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper second portion. The dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the rear edge of the upper surface of the end of the upper second part closer to the upper first part is formed as an inclined edge that is inclined diagonally forward from the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper first part toward the rear edge of the upper surface of the upper second part other than that end, and a step surface is formed at that end along a plane parallel to the vertical direction including the inclined edge that drops downward from this inclined edge toward the inclined surface of the rear surface of the upper second part.

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