JP2986999B2 - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dishwasher for business use, and more particularly to a dishwasher capable of stably maintaining the cleaning power of a cleaning liquid in a cleaning tank for a long time.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a dishwasher, a washing liquid and a rinsing water pressurized by a pump are sequentially sprayed from a vertical direction onto a dirty dish provided in the washing machine to wash the dish.

As a dishwasher, there is a dishwasher disclosed in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 63-129566. FIG. 5 shows the structure of the dishwasher.

In FIG. 5, reference numeral 1 denotes a cleaning tank for storing a cleaning liquid, reference numeral 2 denotes a main cleaning nozzle for spraying the cleaning liquid onto tableware, and reference numeral 3 denotes a main cleaning nozzle for supplying the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 1 to the main cleaning nozzle 2. It is a washing pump. Reference numeral 4 denotes a water heater, reference numeral 5 denotes a booster for further heating the hot water supplied from the water heater 4 to produce high-temperature rinsing water, and reference numeral 6 denotes a rinsing nozzle 6 for rinsing the rinsing water supplied from the booster 5. Is a rinsing pump 7 to be supplied to Here, the paths from the cleaning tank 1 to the main cleaning nozzle 2 and from the water heater 4 to the rinsing nozzle 6 are all connected by a pipe 8.

[0005] Reference numeral 11 denotes a detergent supply device. This apparatus comprises a detergent pump 11b for pumping the detergent in the detergent tank 11a and a hose 11c for supplying the pumped detergent to the washing tank 1. The operating time of the detergent pump 11b is the operating time of the rinse pump 7. Is synchronized with

Reference numeral 9 denotes a drain port for discharging excess cleaning liquid and keeping the water level in the cleaning tank 1 constant.
a is open on the same plane as the appropriate water level in the washing tank 1. Reference numeral 12 denotes a filter installed at the top of the washing tank for filtering out residues such as food residues mixed in the washing liquid, and reference numeral 10 denotes a container of the dishwasher.

In the above-mentioned conventional dishwasher, a dishwashing basket (not shown) accommodating dishes is placed on a washing tank 1 and a main washing pump is operated to supply a washing liquid to a main washing nozzle 2.
The main cleaning process of spraying water from the nozzle to the tableware and the rinsing process of operating the rinsing pump 7 and rinsing water from the rinsing nozzle 6 toward the tableware are repeated at regular intervals using a method such as timer control. Automatically cleans the dishes. In this case, a certain downtime is provided between the main cleaning step and the rinsing step.

On the other hand, the concentration of the detergent in the cleaning liquid decreases due to the inflow of the rinsing water injected from the rinsing nozzle 6 during the rinsing step. As described above, the operation time of the detergent supply device 11 is shorter than the operation time of the rinsing pump 7. Because of the synchronization, the detergent supply device 11 supplies a constant amount of detergent to the washing tank 1 at every rinsing stroke of the dishwasher. As a result, the supplied detergent prevents the detergent concentration in the washing tank 1 from decreasing.

[0009]

Normally, in a dishwasher, both the washing liquid jetted from the main washing nozzle 2 and the rinsing water jetted from the rinsing nozzle 6 are collected in the washing tank 1. Since the dirt adhering to the cleaning liquid is mixed into the cleaning liquid together with the cleaning, the cleaning liquid may be gradually contaminated with the repetition of the cleaning, and the cleaning ability of the cleaning liquid may be reduced.

Therefore, in the above-mentioned conventional dishwasher, rinsing water flows into the washing tank 1 in accordance with the rinsing process as described above, and the detergent is supplied in synchronization with the rinsing process. The cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 1 is overflowed and discharged from the upper end 9a of the drain port to purify and renew the cleaning liquid.

Here, from the viewpoint of purification and renewal of the cleaning liquid, it is desirable that the wastewater discharged from the cleaning tank 1 with the inflow of the rinsing water is a cleaning liquid that has been contaminated with several uses and has a reduced cleaning ability. . However, since both the rinsing water and the detergent are supplied to the cleaning tank 1 from above, the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 1 has a higher cleaning ability because the frequency of use of the cleaning liquid nearer to the liquid level is lower. Washed liquid tends to collect at the bottom.

As a result, when the cleaning liquid is discharged by overflow from the upper end 9a of the drain port, the cleaning liquid having the highest cleaning performance near the liquid surface is directly discharged, while the cleaning liquid having the low cleaning performance collected at the bottom is discharged. There is a problem that the cleaning liquid is not always sufficiently purified and renewed.

Further, the residue mixed in the cleaning liquid during the main cleaning process is accumulated in the filter 12 provided above the cleaning tank 1. However, since the filter 12 is provided above the cleaning tank 1, When circulating the cleaning liquid during the cleaning process,
The cleaning liquid is constantly circulated through the residue layer accumulated in the filter 12, and as a result, there is a problem that the cleaning ability (alkali activity) of the cleaning liquid is reduced by a chemical reaction with the residue.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided the above technical section.
In order to solve the problem, as the first means, the main cleaning process
With the used washing liquid and the rinse water used in the rinsing process
In the washing tank as the washing liquid, and the washing liquid in the washing tank
By circulating the main cleaning line several times
Process is repeated, and during the main cleaning process,
Repeating the rinsing step using the supplied rinsing water
In a dishwasher that cleans objects to be cleaned,
Opening provided at the bottom of the washing tank for draining water, and the opening
Opening and closing means for opening and closing the section, and rinsing water supplied from other
Control the opening and closing means so that the same amount of washing liquid is drained from the washing tank.
And means for controlling opening and closing control. Further, as a second means, the cleaning liquid stored in the cleaning tank is
The main cleaning process can be repeated several times
And rinse water during this main cleaning process.
The object to be cleaned can be cleaned by repeating the rinsing process.
In a dishwasher to be washed, a washing tank is used to drain the washing liquid.
Opening at the bottom of the door and opening and closing to open and close the opening
Opening means and opening between main cleaning and rinsing strokes
Opening / closing control means for controlling the opening / closing means to be in a state.
Measures to be provided.

[0015]

According to the first means, the liquid is collected at the bottom of the washing tank.
The same amount of washing solution as washing water (washing with reduced washing power)
Liquid) is preferentially drained from the opening.

According to the second means, the main cleaning line
Between the main washing and rinsing steps
Cleaning fluid with reduced cleaning power accumulated in the area takes precedence from the opening
Drained.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of the structure of the dishwasher according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 31 denotes a cleaning tank, in which a cleaning liquid is stored. A main cleaning pump 32 is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 31, and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 31 is supplied to a main cleaning nozzle 34 through a first conduit 33 by the operation of the main cleaning pump 32.

Reference numeral 35 denotes a water source such as a water tap. Water supplied from the water source 35 is heated by a water heater 36, turned into hot water of about 60 ° C., reaches a booster 37, and is heated by the booster 37. It is further heated to a rinse water of about 90 ° C. The rinse water is further supplied to the rinse nozzle 39 by the action of the rinse pump 38. Here, the water source 35
The path from the rinsing pump 38 to the rinsing nozzle 39 is connected by a second conduit 40.

An opening 46 is formed at the bottom of the washing tank 31. The opening 46 can be opened and closed by an automatic opening / closing valve (opening / closing means) 42. As the automatic opening / closing valve 42, for example, a solenoid valve or the like is used.

One end of a flow path 41 is connected to the automatic opening / closing valve 42. At the other end of the flow path 41, for example, as shown in FIG. The filter 43 is a removable cage made of, for example, stainless steel, and has a structure that allows liquid to pass through but does not allow solids to pass. Reference numeral 43a denotes a container for supporting the filter 43, and reference numeral 47 denotes a valve for adjusting the amount of drainage from the container 43a.

The operation timing and operation time of the main cleaning pump 32, the rinsing pump 38, and the automatic on-off valve 42 are controlled by pump control means and open / close control means (neither shown) using a timer or the like, respectively. Is done.

On the other hand, reference numeral 44 denotes a detergent supply device. This detergent supply device comprises a detergent tank 44a containing detergent.
And a detergent pump 44b mounted on the detergent tank 44a.
And a hose 44c connecting the detergent pump 44b and the washing tank 31. The operation time of the detergent pump 44b is synchronized with the operation time of the rinse pump 38. Reference numeral 45 is a container that covers the periphery of the dishwasher.

Next, a washing process of dishware (object to be washed) in the dishwasher having the above-described configuration will be described below. FIG. 3 is a time chart showing a washing process in the dishwasher of the present embodiment and an operation process of each element constituting the dishwasher.

After the power of the dishwasher is turned on and a dishwashing basket (not shown) accommodating the dishes is placed on the washing tank 31,
When the dishwasher is started, first, the main cleaning pump 32 is operated by the action of the pump control means, and the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 31 is injected from the main cleaning nozzle 34 toward the tableware through the first pipe 33. Then, the dishes are washed. This is the main cleaning process. In the main cleaning step, the automatic on-off valve 42 is in a closed state.

After the end of the main cleaning step, a certain pause time is provided. In the present embodiment, the opening / closing control means operates in accordance with the pause time, and the automatic opening / closing valve 42 is opened. . As a result, the cleaning liquid is supplied to the opening 4 during the idle time.
6 is discharged to the filter 43 via the flow path 41 by gravity, and only the residue is filtered out in the filter 43. When the pause time ends, the automatic on-off valve 42 is closed again.
The discharge of the cleaning liquid from the cleaning tank 31 to the filter 43 is stopped. The residue filtered by the filter 43 is appropriately discarded.

Next, the rinsing pump 38 is operated by the action of the pump control means, and the water supplied from the water source 35 passes through the second pipe 40 and the water heater 36 and the booster 3
Heated at 7, and becomes rinse water of about 90 ° C., which is sprayed from the rinse nozzle 39 toward the tableware, and the tableware is rinsed. This is the rinsing process. As described above, since the operation time of the detergent pump 44b is synchronized with the operation time of the rinsing pump 38, the detergent pump 44b operates every rinsing stroke, and during the rinsing stroke, a certain amount of detergent connects the hose 44c. After that, it is supplied to the cleaning tank 31.

Then, the main cleaning pump 32 and the rinsing pump 38 are alternately operated by the pump control means, and the automatic opening / closing valve 4 is turned on during the idle time by the opening / closing control means.
By setting 2 to the open state, the main washing step and the rinsing step are repeated at a constant cycle with the washing liquid discharge step interposed therebetween, and the dishes are automatically washed. In the case of this embodiment, the cycle is, for example, 50 seconds for the main cleaning step, 5 seconds for the pause time, and 10 seconds for the rinsing step.

Here, the cleaning liquid jetted from the main cleaning nozzle 34 and the rinse water jetted from the rinsing nozzle 39 both flow into the cleaning tank 31 and are used again in the main cleaning step by the action of the main cleaning pump 34. You. Therefore, the concentration of the detergent in the cleaning tank 31 decreases due to the inflow of the rinsing water accompanying the rinsing process. However, as described above, a certain amount of detergent is supplied to the cleaning tank 31 during the rinsing process by the operation of the detergent supply device. Cleaning tank 3
1 is prevented from decreasing, and the detergent concentration in the washing tank 31 is always kept constant.

Further, since the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 31 is discharged through the opening of the opening 46 during the idle time,
If the inflow amount of the rinsing water during the rinsing process and the discharge amount of the cleaning liquid through the opening of the opening 46 are made to coincide with each other, the water level in the cleaning tank 1 can be constantly maintained at a constant level.

On the other hand, as described above, in the cleaning tank 31, generally, the cleaning liquid having a higher cleaning ability is closer to the liquid surface, and the cleaning liquid having a reduced cleaning ability due to contamination tends to collect at the bottom.
In the case of the dishwasher of the present invention, since the cleaning liquid is discharged from the bottom of the cleaning tank 31, the discharged cleaning liquid is mainly a cleaning liquid having a reduced cleaning ability.

Accordingly, in the cleaning tank 31, a cleaning liquid having a high cleaning ability and a high cleaning ability is supplied from above.
Dirty cleaning liquid with reduced cleaning capacity is drained from the bottom,
As a result, the cleaning liquid is sufficiently purified and renewed, and a reduction in the cleaning ability of the cleaning liquid is prevented.

Further, a filter 43 for filtering out the residue in the washing solution is provided.
Is provided at the end of the flow path 41, the residue accumulated in the filter 43 is separated from the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 31, and as a result, the cleaning ability (activity) of the cleaning liquid by a chemical reaction accompanying the contact with the residue. Alkalinity) is prevented.

In the above embodiment, the operation timing of the opening / closing control means is linked with the operation timing of the pump control means, so that the automatic opening / closing valve 42 is kept open during the idle time between the main washing step and the rinsing step. However, as the opening / closing control means, a float switch for detecting the water level of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank 31, a timer that can be set at an arbitrary time, or the like is used. The operation stroke of the on-off valve 42 may be controlled. Opening 4
Of course, it is also possible to discharge the cleaning liquid by opening 6 during the rinsing step or the main cleaning step.

[0034]

EXPERIMENTAL EXAMPLES The effects of the present invention will be described below with reference to experimental examples. Tableware was cleaned under the conditions shown in Table 1 using the two types of cleaning methods shown in A and B, respectively, and the cleaning ability (active alkalinity) of the cleaning liquid accompanying the increase in the number of times of cleaning.
Were investigated and compared. FIG. 4 shows the results.

Washing method A (when using a conventional dishwasher): A washing tank having a capacity of 60 liters was used, and excess washing liquid was overflowed and discharged. For rinsing, 6 liters of warm water was used each time.

Washing method B (in the case of using the dishwasher of the present invention): using a washing tank having a capacity of 18 liters,
/ 3 was discharged from the bottom of the washing tank as excess washing liquid every time.
For rinsing, 6 liters of warm water was used each time.

The same detergent and stain were used, and the temperature of the hot water was 60 ° C.

[0038]

[Table 1]

As shown in FIG. 4, in the case of using the cleaning method A, when the cleaning is repeated about 10 times, the activity of the detergent becomes an active alkalinity = 1.50 which is an index of the effective cleaning ability of the detergent. × 10 ^-2 % or less, and no effective cleaning can be performed. On the other hand, in the case of using the cleaning method B, the activity of the detergent becomes active alkalinity = 1.50 × even if the cleaning is repeated 16 times. It was 10 ^-2 % or more. this is,
In the cleaning method B, if the number of continuous cleanings is at least 16 or less, it indicates that effective cleaning is always performed.

Moreover, in these 16 washings, the activity of the detergent was maintained at substantially the same level. This is because, in the cleaning method B, the number of continuous cleanings is at least one.
If the number of cleanings is six or less, it indicates that stable cleaning with very little difference in cleaning degree is performed even under the same cleaning conditions.

That is, when cleaning is performed using the dishwasher of the present invention, the cleaning power of the cleaning liquid in the cleaning tank is maintained for a longer time and at a stable level than in the case of using the conventional dishwasher. Is clear from the above experimental example.

[0042]

As described above, the dishwasher of the present invention is used.
According to the method, a main cleaning step and a rinsing step are repeatedly performed.
In Ip dishwashers, the cleaning power at the bottom of the washing tank is low.
Since the dropped cleaning liquid is drained preferentially from the opening, the main cleaning
Of cleaning solution that becomes dirty due to repetition of the cleaning process and the rinsing process.
Purification and renewal can be performed more reliably.

The bottom of the washing tank adheres to the object to be washed.
The remaining residue accumulates, and this residue chemically reacts with the cleaning solution.
The cleaning solution's detergency, but the residue is removed together with the cleaning solution.
Since it is discharged from the opening provided at the bottom of the purifier,
Cleaning liquid generated by repetition of the cleaning and rinsing steps
Can be effectively suppressed from deteriorating.

[0044]

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a dishwasher according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the dishwasher showing an example of the structure of the dishwasher of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a time chart showing an example of a washing process in the dishwasher of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram comparing changes in the cleaning ability of the cleaning liquid with an increase in the number of times of cleaning when the dishwasher of the present invention and a conventional dishwasher are used.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of the structure of a conventional dishwasher.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,31 Cleaning tank 2,34 Main cleaning nozzle 3,32 Main cleaning pump 4,36 Water heater 5,37 Booster 6,39 Rinsing nozzle 7,38 Rinse pump 8 Pipe line 9 Drain 9a Top end of drain 10, 43a, 45 Vessel 11, 44 Detergent supply device 11a, 44a Detergent tank 11c, 44c Hose 11b, 44b Detergent pump 12, 43 Filter 33 First line 35 Water source 40 Second line 41 Flow path 42 Automatic opening / closing valve 46 Opening 47 valve

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning solution and a rinse used in a main cleaning step.
A washing tank using the rinsing water used in the process as the washing liquid
And by circulating and using the washing solution in the washing tank.
While repeatedly performing the main cleaning process a plurality of times,
Using rinsing water supplied by others during the main cleaning step
The object to be cleaned is cleaned by repeating the rinsing step.
A dishwasher , comprising an opening provided at a bottom of the washing tank for draining a washing liquid.
When opening and closing means for opening and closing the opening, the same amount of the cleaning liquid and the rinsing water supplied from the other cleaning dregs
Opening and closing control means for controlling the opening and closing means to drain water from
And a dishwasher comprising: 2. The circulation of the washing liquid stored in the washing tank.
The main cleaning process is repeated several times
Rinsing with rinsing water during the main cleaning process
Cleaning objects by repeatedly performing the cutting process
A dishwasher , comprising: an opening provided at a bottom of a washing tank for draining a washing liquid; opening / closing means for opening and closing the opening; and an opening in an open state between the main washing step and the rinsing step. When
A dishwasher , comprising: opening and closing control means for controlling the opening and closing means so as to perform the operation.