JP3785298B2 - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a dishwasher having at least a dish washing process and a rinsing process.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In order to operate the tableware well, that is, to obtain effective cleaning, a small amount of detergent, and a shine when finished, it is better to use soft water with less hardness component.
[0003]
In general, soft water is most effective in a dishwasher when it is used in a rinsing process. Rinsing dishes with soft water at the time of rinsing and then drying them eliminates traces of water droplets adhering to glass cups, etc. You can get bright and clean dishes.
[0004]
This is because when the hardness of water is high, calcium and magnesium ions, which are the components of hardness, combine with the oil component of food such as tableware and glass cups, creating an invisible film, and dirt adheres to it. However, soft water from which the hardness component has been removed does not occur.
[0005]
In addition, when soft water is used in the cleaning process, metal soap (soap residue) formed by combining the detergent and the hardness component is reduced, and the detergent can be used efficiently, so that there is an advantage that the cleaning efficiency is improved.
[0006]
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-161130 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-91260 are conventional techniques related to a dishwasher using softened water.
[0007]
In JP-A-4-161130, a first rinsing process using tap water and a second rinsing process using soft water are provided so that the rinsing process can be selected in advance.
[0008]
On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-91260, an ion exchange resin is provided in a water supply pipe as a steam generator, and reclaimed water obtained by electrolysis is used for resin regeneration. Yes.
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
According to the above Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 4-161130, according to the type of the object to be cleaned, the case of using soft water during rinsing and the case of not using it are selected, and the number of times the water softener is regenerated can be reduced. But the water softener is in the dishwasher Warehouse It is not an expression but an external attachment attached in front of a water heater, and has a problem that it has a heated gas burner and a heat exchanger, and the piping system becomes complicated. Soft water is rinse water and is not used during cleaning.
[0010]
On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-91260, ion exchange resin is provided in a water supply pipe, and acid water obtained on the anode side by electrolysis is used for regeneration thereof, so that salt water is not replenished continuously. Although soft water can be supplied, all the water obtained on the cathode side by electrolysis is discarded through the drainage pipe, and there is a problem that the amount of wasted water increases. There is also concern that costs and compactness will be slightly disadvantageous.
[0011]
An object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher that efficiently prevents water droplet traces from adhering to tableware and improves the cleaning power.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the dishwasher according to the present invention is characterized by water softening means for softening water used for washing or rinsing tableware and regeneration for regenerating the water softening ability of the water softening means. And a control circuit unit regenerates the water softening ability of the water softening means with the regenerating means before performing the final rinsing step, and finally rinses the water. The water supply is softened by the water softening means regenerated by the water softening ability during the process.
[0013]
Specifically, the present invention provides the following washing machines.
The present invention includes a cleaning tank for storing tableware, a water supply pipe for supplying water to the cleaning tank for cleaning or rinsing the tableware, a circulation pipe for circulating water supplied to the cleaning tank, In a dishwasher having a control circuit unit for controlling the washing and rinsing steps, first soft water having water softening means for softening the water supply and regeneration means for regenerating the water softening ability of the water softening means Is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe in the dishwasher, and the control circuit unit regenerates the water softening ability of the water softening means by the regenerating means before performing the final rinsing step. There is provided a dishwasher characterized in that the water supply is softened by the water softening means regenerated by the water softening ability during the rinsing step.
[0014]
That is, in the dishwasher, the soft water is most effective during the final rinsing process, and when the final rinsing is performed, the tableware is rinsed with soft water and then dried to remove water droplets adhering to the glass cup or the like. Loss and you can get beautiful and brilliant tableware. For this reason, immediately before entering the final rinsing process, the water softening ability of the water softening means is regenerated by the regenerating means every time, and the most effective soft water immediately after the regeneration is used in the final rinsing process.
[0015]
And The water softening means used in the final rinsing step is held as it is, and the water supply is subsequently softened by the held water softening means in the next washing step and / or rinsing step.
[0016]
As a result, soft water can be used at the time of the cleaning process and / or the rinsing process and subsequently at the time of the final rinsing process.
[0017]
Preferably, a second water softening device for softening the circulating water is provided in the middle of the circulation pipe in the dishwasher.
[0018]
Thereby, the water circulating in the dishwasher is softened, and the soft water effect can be further enhanced.
[0019]
Preferably, the member for softening the water supply in the first water softening device is an ion exchange function material housed in a container of the first water softening device, and the second water softening device. The member for softening the circulating water is a permanent magnet mounted around the outer wall of the circulating pipe.
[0020]
That is, the first water softening device is preferably a water softening member with good water softening efficiency since the water supply passes only once, and is composed of an ion exchange function material etc. that is housed in a container connected to the pipe and the water supply directly contacts. do it. On the other hand, since the second water softening device is provided in the middle of the circulating water that passes many times, a water softening member that is hardly affected by residue and dirt is desirable even if the efficiency is slightly low, and it is installed around the outer wall of the pipe and circulated. What is necessary is just to comprise with the permanent magnet etc. which water does not contact directly.
[0021]
Preferably, the container of the first water softening device includes a second chamber in which the ion exchange functional material is stored, and a softening of the ion exchange functional material that is directly provided in an upper portion of the second chamber. And a first chamber containing a regenerant that regenerates capacity.
[0022]
Thus, the 1st room and the 2nd room are connected and integrated, without having another piping system.
[0023]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described taking a dishwasher as an example. Here, the dishwasher (dishwasher) targeted by the present invention may be a so-called “household tabletop dishwasher” placed on a home system kitchen or the like, or in the system kitchen or the like. A so-called “built-in type dishwasher” to be embedded may be used, or a “business-use dishwasher” having a larger capacity may be used.
[0024]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side sectional view of a built-in type dishwasher 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, which has a box-shaped outer frame 2 in which a washing tank 3 is arranged. The dishwasher 1 has all functions of washing / rinsing (washing machine) and drying (drying machine).
[0025]
4 is a door. A basket 5 for storing dishes is detachably disposed at the bottom of the washing tank 3. A circulation pump 8 is disposed below the cleaning tank 3, and the circulation pump 8 is driven by a motor 9. An arm nozzle 10 that rotates about the central portion is disposed at the lower portion of the tableware storage basket 5, and a plurality of small holes 10 a are provided on the upper surface thereof.
[0026]
A control panel 11 is disposed below the door 4, and a circulation pipe 13 through which cleaning water and rinsing water circulate is connected to the water reservoir 12 disposed at the bottom of the cleaning tank 3. 14 is a water supply pipe, and 15 is a faucet connected to a tap or the like of tap water. Here, 14 and 15 may be a hot water supply pipe for supplying hot water or a faucet connected to a water heater.
[0027]
Here, an outline of the washing, rinsing, and drying steps of the dishwasher 1 having the above-described configuration will be described.
[0028]
First, in the cleaning process, the electromagnetic valve is energized, the cleaning water is supplied to the cleaning tank 3 through the water supply pipe 14, the motor 9 of the pump 8 is energized while the heater is energized, and the cleaning water is supplied from the water reservoir 12. The air is sucked and heated by circulating through the circulation pipe 13 and supplied into the arm nozzle 10 from the pump discharge port.
[0029]
Then, washing water having a high pressure is directly sprayed from the arm nozzle 10 onto the tableware on the tableware storage basket 5 to remove and disperse the dirt adhering to the tableware. After washing for a certain time, the energization to the motor 9 and the heater is stopped to finish the washing process, and the drainage pump is energized to discharge the washing water in the washing tank 3 to the outside of the machine.
[0030]
In the next rinsing step, the same operation as the cleaning step is repeated several times. At this time, the rinsing is often performed continuously twice or more, and energization of the heater is performed only during the hot water rinsing process. In general, the final warm water rinse is the “final rinse step”. For this reason, in the present invention, the last rinsing step among the plurality of rinsing steps is referred to as a “final rinsing step”.
[0031]
In the final drying step, the blower unit 16 is energized to rotate the blower fan, and warm air is blown to the wash tank 3 through the blow duct and the hot air flow path disposed below the wash tank 3. Water droplets and residual water adhering to the washing tub 3 and tableware are changed to water vapor by the hot air and exhausted outside the apparatus through the exhaust port. If the drying process has been performed for a certain period of time, the series of dishwasher operations is terminated.
[0032]
Next, the structure and operation of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 1 and subsequent embodiments. First, in the structure, 17 is a first water softening device provided in the middle of the water supply pipe 14, 18 is a second water softening device provided in the middle of the circulation pipe 13, and 19 is a control circuit unit thereof. .
[0033]
The first water softening device 17 includes a water softening means 171 that softens the water supply and a regeneration means 172 that regenerates the water softening ability of the water softening means 171. The water softening means is an ion-exchange function material that is housed in a container connected to the water supply pipe 14 in the dishwasher and that directly contacts the supplied water. The second water softening device 18 is mounted around the outer wall of the circulation pipe 13. It is a permanent magnet that does not come into direct contact with circulating water. Here, the ion exchange functional material may be composed of a cation exchange resin or the like.
[0034]
FIG. 2 is a system diagram of the piping system of FIG. 1. In the piping system related to the first water softening device 17 shown in the upper part of the cleaning tank 3, 21 is a soft water valve, 22 is a regeneration valve, and 24 is Soft water 25 supplied to the washing tank represents reclaimed water. Here, the two valves 21 and 22 are composed of electromagnetic on-off valves or the like, which may be separate but may be integrated.
[0035]
FIG. 3 is a detailed sectional view of the first water softening device 17, which is divided into a water softening means 171 for softening the water supply and a regeneration means 172 for regenerating the water softening ability of the water softening means 171. Reference numeral 30 denotes a cation exchange resin accommodated in the container 100. The container 100 of the first water softening device 17 is a regenerant that regenerates the water softening ability of the cation exchange resin 30 on the second chamber 26 containing the cation exchange resin 30 and the upper part of the cation exchange resin 30. The first chamber 27 contains a certain salt 32, and the first chamber 27 and the second chamber 26 are connected and integrated without having a separate piping system.
[0036]
A filter 31 and a check valve 29 are provided in the middle of the first chamber 27 and the second chamber 26. Among the filters 31, 31 a is a salt particle leakage prevention filter, and 31 b is a mesh filter that prevents foreign matter from entering the cation exchange resin 30 and leakage of the cation exchange resin 30. The provision of spaces in the upper and lower portions of the two mesh filters 31b of the cation exchange resin 30 prevents the feed water from flowing only in a part of the cation exchange resin 30 and makes the entire cation exchange resin 30 uniform. This is because the water supply is made to flow and ions are exchanged efficiently.
[0037]
Here, as the cation exchange resin 30, a sodium type strongly acidic cation exchange resin or the like is used, and the shape may be a bead shape or a fiber shape. In order to improve the ion exchange performance, for example, the smaller the bead diameter, the larger the surface area can be obtained with the same capacity. Therefore, the diameter is most preferably about 0.1 to 0.3 mm or less. It may be about 0.5 to 1 mm or more. If the bead diameter is small, the pressure loss of water increases, so it is necessary to select the optimum bead diameter in consideration of the required surface area and pressure loss.
[0038]
In order to improve the exchange performance, the amount of resin (capacity of the beads) should naturally be large, but considering that it is built in the dishwasher 1, it cannot be so much, preferably about 50 to 200 ml, More desirably, it is about 100 milliliters. In addition, there is no problem even if there is a large capacity dishwasher installed in a built-in type in a system kitchen or the like.
[0039]
By selecting the cation exchange resin 30 in this way, for example, water supply with a hardness of 50 ppm (approximately average hardness in Japan) can be changed to soft water with a hardness of 10 ppm or less, and the hardness can be reduced to zero by adjusting the amount of water. Near ideal soft water can also be obtained. Here, the cation exchange resin 30 may be any material as long as it has an ion exchange function, and the functional material of the present invention is not particularly limited to the resin.
[0040]
FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing an example of the shape of the container 100 of the first water softening device 17, and the container 100 includes a cylindrical container 100 a and a container lid 100 b that can be easily opened and closed from the exposed surface of the dishwasher 1. Has been.
[0041]
The container lid 100b is fixed so as to fit into the cylindrical container 100a, but can be easily removed when the salt 32 is added. Here, since water pressure is not applied to the container lid 100b, a transparent member such as an acrylic resin may be used so that the remaining amount of the salt 32 inside can be easily confirmed.
[0042]
33 is a soft water inflow pipe for the soft water 24, 34 is a reclaimed water inflow pipe for the reclaimed water 25, 35 is a soft water outflow pipe, and 36 is a reclaimed water outflow pipe. Here, the container 100 does not have to be limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be a box shape or an arbitrary shape.
[0043]
FIG. 5 is an example of the water softening operation control pattern, and the principle of operation will be described using the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4. A feature of the present invention is that the cation exchange resin 30 that has been fully recovered in performance immediately after regeneration, which is most effective during the final rinsing process, is used. For this reason, basically, regeneration of the cation exchange resin 30 is always performed immediately before the final rinsing step.
[0044]
First, after installing the dishwasher 1, the user opens the lid 100 b of the cylindrical container 100 a shown in FIG. 4 and puts salt 32 as a regenerant into the first room 27. The container lid 100b can be easily removed from the outer surface, for example, the upper surface, of the dishwasher 1 shown in FIG.
[0045]
Depending on the size of the container 100, the amount of salt to be stored in the first chamber 27 may be at least one regenerated amount or several times regenerated amount. Moreover, it does not matter even if it puts in for one week or one month collectively. In the case of supplying only the amount of one-time regeneration, every time the dishwasher 1 is used, the salt is added every time, like the detergent. The amount of one-time regeneration may be about 15 to 30 g of salt.
[0046]
Next, as shown in FIG. 5, at the first cleaning time (first time; equivalent to clean-up 1 in FIG. 5), the regeneration valve 22 in FIGS. 2 and 3 is closed and the soft water valve 21 is opened at the time of the cleaning process. As a result, the soft water 24 for washing softened (softened water X1) by the new first water softening device 17 is supplied to the washing tank 3, and the dishes and the like are washed.
[0047]
The water supply in the next rinsing process is the same, and the soft water 24 for rinsing that has been softened by opening the water softening valve 21 (softened water X2) is supplied to the washing tub 3, and rinsed dishes and the like are rinsed. .
[0048]
The softening A1 (43a) at the final rinsing step, which is the last of the rinsing step, is a regeneration A (38a) performed during the rinsing step after the rinsing water is supplied to the washing tank 3 or immediately after the rinsing step is completed. Each time, the most effective cation exchange resin 30 is used for water softening during the final rinsing process.
[0049]
Furthermore, in the second (next) tableware cleaning, the cation exchange resin 30 used in the water softening A1 (43a) at the final rinsing process of the first tableware cleaning is kept as it is, and the cleaning process is performed as it is. It is used for water softening of water softening A2 (43b) and / or water softening A3 (43c) in the rinsing step.
[0050]
And immediately after water softening A3 (43c) at the time of the rinsing step, regeneration B of the water softening ability of the cation exchange resin 30 used for water softening B1 at the time of the final rinsing step is performed, and the water softening performance is sufficiently recovered. It is done.
[0051]
Thereafter, the same operation control pattern is repeated, and the first water softening device 17 having the highest efficacy immediately after the regeneration first performs water softening at the final rinsing step first, followed by the next washing step and Water softening during the rinsing process is performed sequentially. Here, in the present invention, all of the softening and regeneration other than the initial charging of the salt 32, that is, the softening and regeneration, are automatically performed by the control circuit unit 19 and the like.
[0052]
Here, in the case of water softening, as shown in FIG. 3, the water supply 14 flows into the second chamber 26 from the lower part of the container 100 of the first water softening device 17 through the water softening valve 21 and enters the second chamber 26. The cation exchange resin 30 passes through a fine gap from below to above, and the water supply is softened to become soft water 24 and supplied to the washing tank 3. At this time, the check valve 29 is pressed against the upper partition wall 28 by the water pressure of the soft water 24 and is in a “closed” state. However, when the water supply stops, the pressure returns to atmospheric pressure, so the ball constituting the check valve 29 is under its own weight. Fall and become "open".
[0053]
Softening of tap water such as tap water here means that calcium ions and magnesium ions, which are hardness components contained in the water supply, are replaced with sodium ions in the cation exchange resin 30, thereby removing calcium ions and magnesium ions from the water supply. As a result, the soft water 24 becomes so-called soft water with very few hardness components such as calcium ions and magnesium ions. In the present invention, soft water having a hardness component of zero (zero hardness) is desirably used, and more desirably, the supply flow rate of tap water is ensured from 10 to 15 liters per minute to obtain soft water having a hardness component close to zero. is there.
[0054]
And by rinsing dishes with soft water during the final rinsing process, and drying in the subsequent drying process, the water drops that adhere to glass cups (water baths, water baths, water spots, etc.) are eliminated, and brilliant clean dishes are removed. Obtainable.
[0055]
In the case of regeneration, as shown in FIG. 3, by closing the soft water valve 21 and opening the regeneration valve 22, water is supplied to the first chamber 27 in the container 100 through the water supply pipe 14, and salt 32 The salt is dissolved vigorously and supplied as reclaimed water 25. At this time, the check valve 29 drops and opens due to its own weight, and the reclaimed water 25 that has become salt water falls and flows into the cation exchange resin 30 in the second chamber 26 through the check valve 29, and then the container It drains from the lower part of 100. The waste water is connected to a drain pipe for washing water or the like, and is treated as waste water of the dishwasher 1.
[0056]
While the reclaimed water 25 passes through the cation exchange resin 30, this time, calcium ions and magnesium ions adsorbed on the cation exchange resin 30 are replaced with sodium ions in the reclaimed water 25, and the calcium ions from the cation exchange resin 30 become calcium. Ions and magnesium ions are removed and mixed with waste water and discarded. The salt 32 used for regeneration may be salt, salt, etc. used in general households.
[0057]
In the dishwasher described above, even when the washing process and the rinsing process are each performed twice or more, in the present invention, the water softening means 171 of the first water softening device 17 immediately after regeneration is used to soften the water at the final rinsing process. If the water softening means 171 is kept as it is, and the retained water softening means 171 is continuously used for water softening during the washing process and the rinsing process to be performed several times or more next time. Good.
[0058]
On the other hand, FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the second water softening device 18, 39 is circulating water, 13 is a circulation pipe, and is provided at the lower part of the cleaning tank 3 of FIG. 1. The piping system is configured as shown in the lower part of the washing tank 3 in FIG. 2, and the circulating water 39 flowing out from the washing tank 3 passes through the circulation pipe 13 by the circulation pump 8 and passes through the second water softening device 18. Then, a circulation system that flows into the washing tank 3 again is formed.
[0059]
Returning to FIG. 6, 40 and 41 are permanent magnets, which respectively constitute an N pole and an S pole, and the second water softening device 18 uses the principle of softening water by magnetization (magnetic treatment). . That is, while the circulating water 39 passes through the magnetic field of the magnets 40 and 41 as the second water softening device 18 in a vertical and vigorous manner, the water-soluble water contained in the water is generated by the magnetic field action generated in the circulating pipe 13. Calcium ions and the like are precipitated as insoluble crystals, and the water containing the crystals no longer shows properties close to soft water, and exhibits the same soft water effect as described above.
[0060]
However, in general, since magnetic treatment with a permanent magnet is inefficient in softening water, in the present invention, it is used for the circulating water 39 and gradually passes through the magnets 40 and 41 to soften the circulating water gradually. I will try to let you.
[0061]
Further, depending on the use situation, there may be a case where foreign matter such as food residue from tableware etc. flows in the circulating water 39, but in the second water softening device 18, the permanent magnets 40 and 41 are circulated. Since the magnet is not directly in contact with the internal circulating water 39 because it is mounted around the outer wall of the pipe 13, there is no problem even if foreign matter or the like is mixed in the circulating water 39.
[0062]
On the other hand, in the first water softening device 17 described above, since water directly contacts the cation exchange resin 30, problems such as clogging occur when foreign matters are mixed in the water. It cannot be used for water 39. However, since the efficiency of water softening is very excellent, sufficient water softening is performed even if water passes once. Therefore, it is most preferable to use it for water supply as in the present invention.
[0063]
Here, the first water softening device 17 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and the second water softening device 18 shown in FIG. 6 may be used separately, but both are used as shown in FIG. You may use together. This usage will be described later with reference to FIG.
[0064]
Thus, the water softened efficiently by the first water softening device 17 and / or the second water softening device 18 is used as the final rinse water, so that it adheres to the glass cup 43 as shown in the comparison of FIG. Thus, it is possible to provide a brilliant clean tableware.
[0065]
In FIG. 7, the left figure shows a glass cup 43 that has been finally rinsed with conventional tap water, and the right figure shows a glass cup 43 that has been finally rinsed with soft water of the present invention.
[0066]
FIG. 8 shows another embodiment of the second water softener 18, and the difference from FIG. 6 is that two pairs of N / S permanent magnets are formed on both sides of the circulation pipe 13. Naturally, the flow of the magnetic field differs between FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, but both affect the circulating water 39 flowing in the circulation pipe 13, and softening progresses every time the circulation is repeated.
[0067]
Thus, in the 2nd water softening apparatus 18, the pair of N / S permanent magnet may be 1 pair or 2 pairs, Furthermore, you may be comprised by 3 pairs or more. The plurality of N / S permanent magnets may be separately provided at a plurality of locations instead of being concentrated at one location of the circulation pipe 13.
[0068]
FIG. 9 shows an example of an embodiment of the control panel 11 provided below the door of the dishwasher 1, for example. The panel 11 of the present invention uses the time when the salt 32 for regeneration is added to the conventional panel. A “salt set lamp” 45 is added to teach the person.
[0069]
In general, since the amount of water used is predetermined for each model of the dishwasher 1, if the number of times of use and / or the number of final rinses of the dishwasher 1 are sequentially counted, the salt 32 previously introduced can be reduced. However, since it can be predicted, it is possible to easily notify the next salt injection timing. For this reason, the salt set lamp 45 may be lit or blinked at the time of salt addition by the control by the control circuit unit 19 or the like. At this time, a buzzer or the like may be sounded. The salt set lamp 45 is extinguished when a prescribed amount of salt is added, and after resetting, the counting of the number of times of use and the like starts again.
[0070]
FIG. 10 is a number of operation control pattern diagrams showing operation control of the present invention using the first water softening device 17 and the second water softening device 18, and shows four cases as examples. Note that the second water softening device 18 (shown as the second device in FIG. 10) using permanent magnets does not consume any power, and is always operated in the ON state here.
[0071]
Case 1 is the operation control pattern described in FIG. 5, and the first water softening device 17 (shown as the first device in FIG. 10) is operated in the ON state throughout the cleaning, rinsing, and final rinsing steps. It is supplied to the cleaning tank 3. However, the first water softening device 17 immediately after the regeneration is first used in the final rinsing process, and then the order used in the next washing and / or rinsing process is as described above.
[0072]
On the other hand, the case 2 is operated in the ON state only during the final rinsing step in which the soft water exhibits the most effect, the final rinsing water is supplied as the soft water, and is in the OFF state during the cleaning and rinsing steps.
[0073]
The case 3 is operated in the OFF state only during the cleaning process, and is operated in the ON state during both the rinsing and final rinsing processes, and the rinsing water and the final rinsing water 24 are supplied to the cleaning tank 3 as soft water. In case 3, the rinse water is also softened, so that it can be expected that a more beautiful tableware can be provided.
[0074]
Further, the case 4 is operated in the OFF state only during the rinsing process, and is operated in the ON state during both the cleaning and final rinsing processes, and the cleaning water and the final rinsing water 24 are supplied to the cleaning tank 3 as soft water. In case 4, since the washing water is softened, it can be expected to lead to an improvement in washing power.
[0075]
The four operation control patterns described above may be properly used depending on the situation.
[0076]
FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention, which is an example in which a rinsing water supply valve 20 is added to the piping system diagram shown in FIG. 2, and can be applied to case 2 and case 4 of FIG.
[0077]
In general, the rinsing water is first supplied to the washing tank 3 to accumulate a necessary amount, and after the water supply is stopped, the rinsing process is performed while circulating the water. While) a method of supplying clean water and performing a rinsing process is conceivable.
[0078]
In this case, since the rinsing water is continuously supplied during the rinsing process, the water softening means 171 of the first water softening device 17 is regenerated immediately before the final rinsing process in the embodiment of FIG. In this case, since it is necessary to enter the regeneration process after the rinsing process (continuous water supply of rinse water) is completed, an extra regeneration time is required, leading to an increase in the dish washing time.
[0079]
FIG. 11 shows a method that leads to this countermeasure. The rinse water supply valve 20 is opened, and the rinsing process is performed while continuously supplying the rinse water 23 to the cleaning tank 3. Is temporarily opened, a part of the water in the water supply pipe 14 is guided to the first water softening device 17, and the regenerated water 25 can be generated and regenerated. If comprised in this way, since a reproduction | regeneration process can be performed in parallel during a rinse process, the extra reproduction | regeneration time becomes unnecessary and the shortening of the tableware washing | cleaning time is achieved.
[0080]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, the soft water obtained in the most effective state of the water softening device immediately after regeneration is used with the highest priority during the final rinsing process, thus preventing water droplets from adhering to a transparent glass cup after drying. To do. Furthermore, since the water softening device is subsequently used in the next cleaning step and / or rinsing step, the cleaning power is improved.
[0081]
Furthermore, when softening with a permanent magnet is used in combination, the effect is further improved, and more beautiful tableware or the like can be provided.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a longitudinal side sectional view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a piping system of the dishwasher of FIG.
FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the first water softening device of FIG. 1;
4 is an external perspective view of the container of the first water softening device in FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is an operation control pattern diagram for softening water.
6 is a cross-sectional view of the second water softening device of FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 7 is a glass cup diagram comparing the prior art and the present invention.
8 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the second water softening device of FIG.
FIG. 9 is a front view of the control panel of FIG. 1;
FIG. 10 is an operational state diagram of two water softening means.
FIG. 11 is a system diagram of a piping system having a rinse water supply valve in another embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dishwasher, 2 ... Outer frame, 3 ... Washing tank, 4 ... Door, 5 ... Cage for tableware storage, 8 ... Circulation pump, 9 ... Motor, 10 ... Arm nozzle, 11 ... Control panel, 12 ... Water reservoir , 13 ... circulation piping, 14 ... water supply piping, 15 ... water faucet, 16 ... blower unit, 17 ... first water softening device, 18 ... second water softening device, 19 ... control circuit portion, 20 ... rinsing water supply 21: Soft water valve, 22 ... Regeneration valve, 23 ... Rinsing water, 24 ... Soft water, 25 ... Reclaimed water, 26 ... Second chamber, 27 ... First chamber, 28 ... Septum, 29 ... Check valve, 30 ... Cation exchange resin, 31 ... Filter, 32 ... Salt, 33 ... Soft water inflow pipe, 34 ... Reclaimed water inflow pipe, 35 ... Soft water outflow pipe, 36 ... Reclaimed water outflow pipe, 38 ... Regeneration process, 39 ... Circulating water, 40 ... Magnet N pole, 41 ... Magnet S pole, 42 ... Connection plate, 43 ... Glass cup , 44 ... water drop marks, 45 ... salt set lamp, 46 ... operation button, 171 ... water softening unit, 172 ... playback means

Claims (5)

A washing tub for storing tableware, a water supply pipe for supplying water used for washing or rinsing the tableware to the washing tub, a circulation pipe for circulating water supplied to the washing tub, and the washing and rinsing In a dishwasher having a control circuit unit for controlling the process of
A first water softening device having a water softening means for softening the water supply and a regeneration means for regenerating the water softening ability of the water softening means is provided in the middle of the water supply pipe in the dishwasher; Before the final rinsing step, the regenerating means regenerates the water softening ability of the water softening means, and the water softening means regenerates the water softening ability during the final rinsing step. And the water softening means used in the final rinsing step is held as it is, and the water is continuously softened by the held water softening means in the next washing step and / or rinsing step. A dishwasher featuring. According to claim 1, in the middle of the front Symbol circulation pipe, dishwasher, characterized in that a second water softener for softening the circulating water. 3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the member for softening the circulating water in the second water softening device is a permanent magnet mounted around the outer wall of the circulation pipe . The member for softening the water supply in the first water softening device according to claim 1, wherein the member is an ion exchange functional material housed in a container of the first water softening device. And dishwasher. 5. The container of the first water softening device according to claim 4 , wherein the container of the first water softening device is provided in the second chamber in which the ion exchange functional material is stored, and the water softening of the ion exchange functional material is provided directly on the upper portion of the second chamber. A dishwasher comprising a first chamber containing a regenerative agent for regenerating the capacity.

Images