JP3356986B2 - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a dishwasher and dryer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a dishwasher of this type, a basket is housed in a washing tank arranged inside a casing, and after the dishes are placed in the basket, the basket is placed in the washing tank by a water level sensor. The tableware is washed, rinsed and dried by taking in a fixed amount of water.

As the water level sensor, a sensor using a float is widely applied. For example, JP-A-7-30
In Japanese Patent No. 3590, as shown in FIG. 9, there is provided a dishwasher / dryer in which a rising pipe 3 is provided in the middle of a drainage path 2 connected to a washing tank 1 and a float 4 is disposed in the rising pipe 3. ing. In this dishwasher / dryer, the flow at the time of drainage is caused to flow into the riser section 3, so that the gills such as oil and the like adhere to the riser section 3 and the float 4, and the float 4 floats. To prevent them from interfering.

[0004]

However, in the dishwasher / dryer, since the water at the time of drainage does not actually flow into the riser section 3 provided in the middle of the drainage path 2, the riser pipe is not used. Dirt such as oil remains in the portion 3, and the dirt may cause the float 4 to malfunction and the water level detection to be unstable. Therefore,
In the present invention, it is a main object to completely remove dirt attached to a float, and also to reliably prevent a float from malfunctioning even when it cannot be completely removed. is there.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a dishwasher according to the present invention accommodates dishes in a washing tank provided inside a casing and drains water in the washing tank. A dishwasher for washing, rinsing, and drying the dishes by taking a predetermined amount of water into the washing tank by a water level sensor having a float disposed in a drainage path, and supplying water to the washing tank. A predetermined amount of water is drained at least once during the process.

According to the dishwasher, since the float of the water level sensor for detecting the amount of water in the washing tank is provided in the drain passage, it is possible to remove dirt such as oil when draining the water. In addition to being able to, in the last rinsing step, it can be washed with clean water. Further, even if the dirt attached to the float at the time of the drainage cannot be completely removed and the float adheres to the accommodation portion of the float, a water supply step of taking water into a washing tank when the dishwasher is used next time. By draining a predetermined amount of water,
The float disposed in the drainage path is forcibly moved in the accommodation part of the float because the water pressure at the time of drainage is directly applied. As a result, no malfunction occurs when the amount of water taken into the washing tank must be detected.

In the dishwasher, the water supply step of draining the predetermined amount of water is performed only at the time of water supply for washing the dishes with a detergent, and other water supply steps (water supply steps for rinsing). In (2), it is preferable not to use extra water.

It is preferable that the water supply operation is performed at least twice in the step of draining the water in the washing tank. Specifically, it is preferable that in the draining step, the draining operation of the water is performed intermittently a plurality of times, and the water supply operation is performed between the draining operations. The drainage flow as described above is particularly preferably applied when draining washing water in the washing step. In this case, dirty water can be diluted and drained efficiently, and rinsing water can be used. Can be drained in a cleaner state. Therefore, the float and the accommodation part of the float can be more reliably washed.

[0009]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a dishwasher 10 according to the present invention.
Is shown. The dishwasher 10 includes a casing 12
Cleaning tank 13, nozzle 14 (14A, 14B),
Pump 15, heater 16 and dedicated drying heater 1
7 and a dishwasher provided with a blower fan 18, one float 20 is provided in a drainage path 21 as a water level sensor for detecting the amount of water taken into the washing tank 13. This is provided with a normal water level sensor 22 and an abnormal water level sensor 23 for detecting floating. Pump 15, heating heater 16, drying heater 1
7. The blower fan 18, the normal water level sensor 22, and the abnormal water level sensor 23 are controlled by the control board 24.

[0010] The casing 12 is a box having an upper surface opening, and has a lid 27 at an upper portion thereof for closing the opening so as to be openable and closable. Between the casing 12 and a washing tank 13 to be described later, a component accommodating portion 28 for accommodating the above-mentioned respective components is formed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, on the front side of the casing 12, a board housing portion 28 </ b> A for housing the control board 24 and the operation panel 29 is formed. Further, one corner on the back side of the casing 12 (FIG. 3)
In the middle and right back), a housing 28B for the pump 15 is provided.
Is formed. Further, at the bottom of the casing 12, the heater 16, a ventilation path 40 in which a drying heater 17 and a blower fan 18, which will be described later, are disposed, and a connection for connecting the pump 15 with the cleaning tank 13 and the nozzle 14. An accommodating portion 28C such as pipes 37A and 37B is formed. Further, on the rear side of the casing 12, a housing part 28D of a drain pipe 38, which is a drain path 21 connected to the pump 15, is formed. In the present embodiment, the lid 2 is provided in the substrate housing portion 28A.
A lock mechanism 30 that locks the openable / closable 7 is provided.

The washing tank 13 accommodates a basket (not shown) therein, and various dishes are arranged in the basket. The portions corresponding to the housing portions 28A and 28B have a shape protruding inward. A water recess 32 is formed in a lower portion of the cleaning tank 13.
A metal porous residue filter 33 is provided on the upper surface of the water recess 32. As shown in FIG. 1, a connection pipe 34 for connecting to the ventilation path 40 is formed integrally with the front of the cleaning tank 13, and the opening of the connection pipe 34 is covered with a cover 35. Have been done.

The nozzle 14 circulates and supplies the washing water and the rinsing water into the washing tank 13, and as shown in FIG. Elongate first nozzle 14A disposed at a position where it does not interfere with the pump housing 2 on the right front side
Short second nozzle 14 disposed at a position that does not interfere with 8B
B. These first nozzle 14A and second nozzle 14A
The nozzle 14 </ b> B can jet the washing water and the rinsing water by the pump 15 described later, and evenly jet the washing water into the washing tank 13 irrespective of the fact that there are portions projecting into the washing tank 13 while the peripheral speeds are different from each other. It has become. Note that a third projecting part, which is different from the first and second nozzles 14A and 14B, is also provided on the upper part of the pump housing part 28B that protrudes greatly.
A nozzle may be provided.

The pump 15 includes a motor using a winding having a lower heat-resistant temperature than a conventional dishwasher and dryer,
The motor is rotated by driving the motor, a well-known impeller provided with a cooling fan for cooling the motor, and an impeller for sucking water in the water recess 32 of the cleaning tank 13 and supplying the water to the nozzle 14 or the drain passage 21. Things. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pump 15 includes a flow path switching valve 36 in which a ball member 36a is disposed.
When the pump 15 is rotated forward, the flow path switching valve 36 flows the washing water and the rinsing water sucked from the washing tank 13 through the connection pipe 37A, and the flow of the washing water and the rinsing water flows to the drain pipe 38 which is the drain path 21. By closing and closing the connection pipe 37B side by reversing the pump 15 while circulating and supplying the cleaning water to the cleaning tank 13 via the connection pipe 37B and the nozzles 14A and 14B, the cleaning water and the rinsing water are drained from the drain pipe 38. Is what drains through.

The heater 16 is a sheath heater similar to the conventional one, and is disposed in a water recess 32 inside the cleaning tank 13. Note that this heater 16
, A temperature sensor 39 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drying heater 17 comprises a heating wire heater insulated by mica.
The blower fan 18 is a known fan that is rotated by a motor. The drying heater 17 and the blower fan 18 are arranged inside a ventilation passage 40 provided outside (below) the water recess 32 of the cleaning tank 13 so that the drying heater 17 is located on the downstream side.

The ventilation passage 40 has a cylindrical shape, the blower fan 18 is disposed in an opening 41 at one end also serving as an intake port, and the connection pipe 34 of the washing tank 13 is connected to the other end. The cooling air from the blower fan 18 is supplied into the cleaning tank 13. In addition, this ventilation path 4
0 is provided with a ventilation hole 42 for supplying air by the blower fan 18 into the component housing portion 28. The vent hole 42 is for lowering the ambient temperature in the component housing portion 28 and removing mist entering the ventilation passage 40. In the present embodiment, the vent hole 42 is provided.
It is formed so that the air discharged from the pump 15 is supplied to the pump 15. In the present embodiment, the ventilation path 4
No special sealing means is provided at the connecting portion between the connection housing 34 and the connecting conduit 34, and the connecting portion 2
8 is set so that air is supplied.

The float 20 is shown in FIG. 1, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6 (B) and FIG. 6, it is disposed inside a connection member 45 which constitutes a part of the drainage path 21 connected to the pump 15. As shown in FIG. 5, the float 20 has a guide groove 47 extending from the upper end to the lower end. Further, a permanent magnet 48 is disposed so as to face the water level sensors 22 and 23 via the side wall of the connection member 45.

The connection member 45 is used to connect a drain pipe 38 connected to the pump 15 and a hose 50 for draining water to a household sink.
Outside the cleaning tank 13, it is disposed so as to be located on the surface of a predetermined amount of water to be taken into the cleaning tank 13. The connecting member 45 is connected to the cleaning tank 13 by a communication pipe 53.
It is made to communicate with the inside. The connecting member 45 is provided with a float accommodating portion 51 having a guide convex portion 51a which is slidably engaged with the guide groove 47 of the float 20 on the side of the connecting portion 45a with the drain pipe 38. At the same time, a connection portion 45b with the communication pipe 53
A water flow chamber 52 communicating with the float storage section 51 is provided on the side. The float accommodating portion 51 and the water flow chamber 52 are connected to the hose 50 via a communication passage at the upper end.
5c.

The normal water level sensor 22 is composed of a magnetic sensor, and is disposed outside the float housing portion 51 of the connection member 45 so that a predetermined amount of water is taken into the washing tank 13 so as to be positioned on the water surface. It is arranged. The abnormal water level sensor 23 includes a magnetic sensor similar to the normal water level sensor 22, and is disposed above the normal water level sensor 22.

The control board 24 is provided with
A, which is disposed in the space A, and is disposed at a predetermined interval from the operation panel 29 disposed on the surface of the substrate accommodating portion 28A to secure a creepage distance therebetween. Also,
When the abnormal water level sensor 23 detects an abnormal water level, the control board 24 is connected to a known abnormality warning means such as a buzzer for notifying a user of the abnormality.

Next, the operation of cleaning the dishes by the control board 24 of the dishwasher 10 will be described. First,
The user arranges a basket for arranging the dishes in the washing tank 13 and arranges the dishes in the basket, thereby accommodating the dishes in the washing tank 13 and a predetermined amount of detergent. And the lid 27 is closed. Then, the user operates the operation panel 29 on the front of the casing 12 to input information such as the amount of dishes to be washed (for several persons) and then press the start switch.

Then, the control board 24 of the dishwasher 10 opens the water supply solenoid valve connected to the household faucet and takes water into the washing tank 13 as shown in FIG. At this time, the pump 15 and the normal water level sensor 22 are not operated. Here, the fact that the normal water level sensor 22 is not operated means that even if the power supply to the normal water level sensor 22 is stopped or the normal water level or the abnormal water level is detected with the power supplied, the information is excluded.

Then, after the water is substantially accumulated in the water recess 32 of the washing tank 13 (about 15 seconds), the water supply electromagnetic valve is closed once, and the operation of the abnormal water level sensor 23 is stopped. After about one second, the flow path switching valve 36 is moved from the state of FIG.
As shown in (B), the connection pipe 37B side is closed, the drainage pipe 38 side is opened, the pump 15 is operated, and a predetermined amount of water (about a small amount of
S) to drain.

Thus, the float 20 is connected to the drain passage 2
Since it is disposed inside the connecting member 45 that constitutes a part of 1, the water pressure due to drainage is applied as it is, and the water pressure is forcibly moved in the float accommodating portion 51. Therefore, when the dishwasher / dryer 10 has been used before, the float 20 and the float accommodating portion 51 are attached to the inner wall of the float accommodating portion 51 because dirt such as oil remains on the float accommodating portion 51. After this, it is possible to reliably operate.

Thereafter, the water supply solenoid valve is opened, and the washing tank 13 is opened.
Water is taken in again, and the water level sensors 22 and 23
To work.

When a predetermined amount of water accumulates in the cleaning tank 13, the water flows into the float accommodating portion 51 and the water flow chamber 52 of the connecting member 45 through a communication pipe 53 connecting the cleaning tank 13 and the connecting member 45. Water infiltrates. The float 20 rises along the guide protrusion 51a by the engagement of the guide groove 47 and the guide protrusion 51a due to the water that has entered the connection member 45.

Next, when the float 20 rises, the normal water level sensor 22 detects the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 48 disposed on the float 20, and determines that a predetermined amount of water has been taken into the cleaning tank 13. After closing the water supply electromagnetic valve, the pump 15 is operated to wash the dishes. In the present embodiment, the drain operation is performed once during the water supply step, but it goes without saying that the drain operation may be performed a plurality of times.

When washing the dishes, the pump 15 is rotated forward to connect the washing tank 13 through the connecting pipe 37A.
The water in the inside is sucked, and the flow switching valve 36 is switched to the state shown in FIG.
The nozzles 14A and 14B are circulated and supplied into the washing tank 13 while being rotated by the jetting water pressure, and the washing is performed by spraying the washing water onto the tableware at a predetermined water pressure. Further, in this state, since the washing tank 13 and the float housing portion 51 of the connection member 45 communicate with each other through the communication pipe 53, the oil component and the washing water that have fallen from the tableware are also in the float housing portion 51. Is flowing. The cleaning step may be performed while operating the heater 16 to supply cleaning water heated to a predetermined temperature.

When the cleaning process is completed, the nozzles 14A, 1
4B, the pump 15, the normal water level sensor 22 and the abnormal water level sensor 23 are stopped, and the pump 15 is reversed to switch the flow path to the state shown in FIG. Drain the wash water.

Specifically, the pump 15 is operated intermittently, and the water supply operation is performed by opening the water supply solenoid valve between each of these drainage operations. For example, as shown in FIG.
After the pump 15 is operated for 0 seconds to drain the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 13, the pump 15 is stopped for 7 seconds. Then, during the first 2.5 seconds of the 7 seconds, the water supply solenoid valve is opened to perform the water supply operation. Next, after the pump 15 is operated and drained for 5 seconds, the pump 15 is stopped for 7 seconds. Then, in the same manner as above, water is supplied by opening the solenoid valve for the first 2.5 seconds of the 7 seconds. afterwards,
Again, only the pump 15 is intermittently operated for 5 seconds to drain all the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 13.

In the washing water draining step, the water pressure when draining the washing water can be applied to the float 20 as it is in the draining operation in the water supply step. And the like are surely removed. Further, at the time of drainage, the water level sensors 22 and 23 are stopped, so that there is no inconvenience that the abnormal water level sensor 23 detects an abnormal water level at the time of drainage.

Furthermore, in the draining step of the present embodiment, the water supply operation is performed twice, so that the dirty water can be diluted and drained efficiently. As a result, dirt on the float storage portion 51 and the float 20 can be efficiently removed. Note that the water supply operation in the drainage process is not limited to two times, and can be changed to two or more desired times.

When the washing water draining step is completed, the water supply solenoid valve is opened, and water is taken in until the normal water level sensor 22 determines that a predetermined amount of water has been taken into the washing tank 13. Thereafter, the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36 is switched by rotating the pump 15 in the normal direction, and rinsing with normal water is performed.

When the rinsing with normal water is completed, the pump 15 is reversed to switch the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36, and the water in the washing tank 13 is drained through the drain path 21 in the same manner as described above. .

When the rinsing water draining step is completed, a predetermined amount of water is taken in again, the pump 15 is rotated forward, the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36 is switched, and the heater 16 is operated to discharge water. Rinse with warm water heated to a predetermined temperature.

When the rinsing water composed of hot water is completed, the pump 15 is again rotated to switch the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36, and the water in the washing tank 13 is drained through the drain path 21. In the draining process of the rinse water composed of normal water and the draining process of the rinse water composed of warm water, the drainage operation is performed intermittently as in the drainage process of the washing water, and the water supply is performed between these drainage operations. The operation may be performed.

When draining both rinsing waters, the drain pipe 3 as the drain path 21 is drained in the same manner as when draining the washing water.
8. Drained into the sink via the connecting member 45 and the hose 50. Then, the float accommodating portion 51 in the connection member 45
Similarly, the water pressure when draining the rinse water is applied to the float 20 as it is. Here, since this rinse water is efficiently diluted by the drainage process, it is in a clean water state at the time of the final rinse.

Therefore, at the time of washing, dirt such as oil adhering to the float accommodating portion 51 and the float 20 can be completely washed by rinsing water in a clean water state. Also, for some reason, float 2
When the dishwasher / dryer 10 is next used, even if the dirt attached to the float storage unit 51 cannot be completely removed and the float 20 has adhered to the float storage unit 51, the cleaning tank 13 is first removed. In the water supply process that takes water into
As described above, since the float 20 can be forcibly made operable, no malfunction occurs.

Next, when the draining step of the rinse water composed of warm water is completed, the dishes are dried. For example, fan 1
8 was operated and the ventilation path 4 generated by hot water rinsing
The vapor (mist) in 0 is removed. It should be noted that the blower fan 18 may continue to operate even when hot water rinse water is drained.

Next, after about 30 seconds from the drying step, the drying heater 17 is operated, and the air heated by the drying heater 17 is supplied into the cleaning tank 13. As described above, since the drying step is performed by the dedicated drying heater 17 without using the heating heater 16, fine control of the power supply to the heater 17 is possible, and the tableware is efficiently dried. And the working time can be shortened. Further, it is possible to prevent the residue adhering to the heater 16 from being scorched, causing a bad smell, and from burning small articles such as chopsticks to be damaged.

When the drying heater 17 and the blowing fan 18 are operated for a time corresponding to the amount of tableware, only the drying heater 17 is stopped first, and only the blowing fan 18 is operated, and after about 120 seconds, The blower fan 18 is stopped, and all the steps of washing and drying the dishes are completed.

On the other hand, when a predetermined amount of water is supplied at the time of taking water into the cleaning tank 13, the water level cannot be detected due to the failure of the normal water level sensor 22, so that the water supply solenoid valve is closed. If the instruction could not be made, or because the normal water level sensor 22 is normal, but the water supply solenoid valve or the control relay of the water supply solenoid valve has failed,
When the water supply operation is not stopped, the abnormal water level sensor 23 detects the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 48 of the float 20 by taking in a predetermined amount or more of water into the cleaning tank 13. Then, it is determined that the water supply solenoid valve has failed, the abnormality warning means is operated, and the user is notified that the abnormality has occurred, the pump 15 is reversed, and the water in the cleaning tank 13 is forcibly drained. .

[0043]

As is apparent from the above description, in the dishwasher of the present invention, since the float of the water level sensor is disposed in the drain passage, it is possible to remove dirt such as oil when draining water. In the last rinsing step, it can be washed with clean water. Also,
For some reason, the dirt attached to the float at the time of the drainage cannot be completely removed, and even if the float is attached to the accommodation part of the float, the next time the dishwasher / dryer is used, the inside of the washing tank is first used. In the water supply process that takes water into
By draining a predetermined amount of water, the float disposed in the drainage path is directly loaded with the water pressure at the time of drainage, and is forcibly moved in the accommodation part of the float. Will not occur. Therefore, reliable water level detection can always be performed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a dishwasher according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state cut at a different position from FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the inside of a cleaning tank.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing a switching valve of a pump.

5A and 5B show a connection member that is a part of a drainage path for disposing a float, wherein FIG. 5A is a sectional view and FIG. 5B is a bottom view.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the dishwasher with the bottom of the casing removed.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing an operation flow of each component in a water supply step of taking in water for performing a cleaning step.

FIG. 8 is a drawing showing an operation flow of each component in a washing water draining step.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a conventional dishwasher / dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: dishwasher, 12: casing, 13: washing tank, 14: nozzle, 15: pump, 16: heater
17 ... Drying heater, 18 ... Blow fan, 20 ... Float, 21 ... Drainage path, 22 ... Normal water level sensor, 23 ... Abnormal water level sensor, 37A, 37B ... Connection pipe, 38 ... Drainage pipe, 45 ... Connection member, 48 ... Permanent magnet, 50 ... Hose, 51 ... Float accommodation part, 53 ... Communication pipe.

Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Takaaki Isshiki 1-20-5 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Zojirushi Mahobin Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoo Inoue 1-20-5 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Zojirushi (56) References JP-A-5-211972 (JP, A) JP-A-60-83566 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47L 15 / 00-15/46

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A table for storing dishes in a washing tank provided inside a casing, and a water level sensor having a float disposed in a drainage passage for draining water in the washing tank. In a dishwasher that takes in a predetermined amount of water to wash, rinse, and dry the dishes, a predetermined amount of water is drained at least once during a water supply step of taking water into the washing tank. Dishwasher and dryer. 2. The water supply step of draining a predetermined amount of water,
Only when supplying water to wash the dishes with detergent,
The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, wherein the dishwasher / dryer is operated. 3. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, wherein a water supply operation is performed at least twice in a step of draining water in the washing tank. 4. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 3, wherein, in the draining step, a water draining operation is performed intermittently a plurality of times, and a water supply operation is performed between each draining operation.