JP5008427B2 - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dishwasher for washing and rinsing dishes.

Patent Document 1 describes a household dishwasher including a standard course and a rinse only course. In the standard course, a washing process for washing dishes with washing water containing a detergent is performed, followed by a rinsing process for rinsing dishes with clean rinsing water. In the rinsing course, only the rinsing process of rinsing dishes is performed without performing the cleaning process.
JP 2000-157480 A

  In general, a commercial dishwasher includes a cycle operation course as a course corresponding to the standard course described in Patent Document 1. The cycle operation course is a course in which continuous operation is performed with the cleaning process and the rinsing process as one cycle. In the cleaning process of the cycle operation course, the tableware is cleaned by spraying the cleaning water stored in the cleaning water tank onto the tableware stored in the cleaning chamber. The sprayed cleaning water is collected in the cleaning water tank and circulated and used for cleaning. In the rinsing process, clean rinsing water is sprayed onto the dishes to rinse the dishes. The sprayed rinse water is collected in the wash water tank and used as the next wash water.

  When the rinsing process is performed, the rinsing water is collected in the washing water tank, so that the detergent concentration of the washing water in the washing water tank is lowered. For this reason, when the cleaning process of the next cycle is performed, a new detergent is supplied into the cleaning water tank so that the detergent concentration used in the cleaning process is kept appropriate.

  However, in the dishwasher in which the rinse operation course corresponding to the rinse only course described in Patent Document 1 is set in addition to the cycle operation course, the detergent is supplied into the wash water tank when the rinse operation course is operated. Therefore, the detergent concentration in the wash water tank after the rinsing operation course operation is lower than after the cycle operation course operation. Then, even if the amount of detergent scheduled when performing the washing process is supplied into the washing water tank, the detergent concentration in the washing water tank cannot be set to an appropriate detergent concentration.

  Then, an object of this invention is to provide the dishwasher which can wash | clean with the washing water of a proper detergent density | concentration.

The present invention includes a cleaning process for cleaning dishes by supplying cleaning water from a cleaning water tank into a cleaning chamber in which dishes are stored, and a rinsing process for rinsing dishes by supplying rinsing water into the cleaning chamber. and sequentially performing cycle operation course, and a control means for controlling the detergent supply means for supplying a detergent to the wash water tank, a rinse water supplied to the washing chamber as the next washing water by recovering the washing water in the tank In the dishwasher used,
A rinsing operation course for performing only the rinsing process, and a selection means capable of selectively executing a cycle operation course and a rinsing operation course,
When it is detected that the previous operation course was the rinsing operation course when the cycle operation course is selected and executed, the control means determines that the detergent input amount supplied by the detergent supply means during the cleaning process is the cycle. and controlling the detergent supply unit as increased by Ri by detergent amount of scheduled driving courses.

  In the dishwasher of the present invention, when the cycle operation course is operated after the rinsing operation course, the cycle operation course is operated immediately after the cycle hot water is turned on and the initial hot water supply is finished after the cycle operation course is operated again after the cycle operation course. The amount of detergent input during the cleaning process is increased by a predetermined amount. By operating the rinsing operation course, the detergent concentration in the wash water tank is lower than when the cycle operation course is operated, but more detergent can be supplied. Therefore, when washing dishes, the detergent concentration of the wash water in the wash water tank can be set to an appropriate value regardless of the course operated last time.

  Preferably, a counting unit that counts the number of times of the rinsing operation course between the cycle operation courses is provided, and the control unit controls an increase amount of the detergent supplied by the detergent supply unit based on the number of times counted by the counting unit. To do.

  Accordingly, when the cycle operation course is operated, the increase amount of the detergent to be supplied is controlled based on the number of times the rinse operation course is operated after the cycle operation course is last operated. By continuously operating the rinsing operation course, the detergent concentration gradually decreases. However, when the cycle operation course is operated, a larger amount of detergent can be supplied by the reduced detergent concentration. Therefore, when performing the cleaning process, the detergent concentration of the cleaning water in the cleaning water tank can be set to an appropriate value with higher accuracy.

  According to the dishwasher of this invention, it can wash | clean with the washing water of an appropriate detergent density | concentration. Thereby, high detergency can be maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a dishwasher according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  A dishwasher 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an apparatus for washing and rinsing dishes. This dishwasher 1 has a main body case 2 made of stainless steel that is partitioned vertically. The lower side partitioned in the main body case 2 functions as a machine room 3. Housed in the machine room 3 is an electrical box 6 in which a microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as “microcomputer”) 4 for controlling the overall operation of the dishwasher 1 is incorporated. On the other hand, the upper side of the main body case 2 functions as a cleaning chamber 7, and a door (not shown) that moves up and down is attached to open and close the cleaning chamber 7.

  A rack rail (not shown) is detachably disposed in the cleaning chamber 7, and a grid-like tableware rack 8 in which dishes P such as dishes and teacups are arranged on the rack rail. Is placed. In the upper part of the cleaning chamber 7, an upper cleaning nozzle 9 consisting of three arms extending radially and an upper rinsing nozzle 11 consisting of two arms are rotatably arranged. Similarly, a lower cleaning nozzle 12 including three arms extending radially and a lower rinsing nozzle 13 including two arms are rotatably disposed below the cleaning chamber 7. Accordingly, since the cleaning water is sprayed from above and below by the cleaning nozzles 9 and 12 in the cleaning process, and the rinsing water is sprayed from above and below by the rinsing nozzles 11 and 13 in the rinsing process, Washing and rinsing of the tableware P is performed efficiently.

  A first filter 14 is detachably disposed on the bottom surface 7 a of the cleaning chamber 7 configured as described above, and a cleaning water tank for storing cleaning water is provided below the first filter 14. 15 is formed. In the cleaning water tank 15, a cleaning water heater 16 for maintaining the cleaning water as hot water at a predetermined temperature and a cleaning water temperature sensor 17 for detecting the temperature of the cleaning water are installed.

  Further, a second filter 18 having a finer mesh than the first filter 14 is detachably disposed on the bottom surface 15a of the cleaning water tank 15, and a bottom surface 15a is provided below the second filter 18. The drop part 19 is formed so that a part may fall. A drain pipe 20 is connected to the bottom surface 19 a of the drop part 19, and the drain pipe 20 passes through the cylindrical part 18 a of the second filter 18 and has an upper end located in the cleaning water tank 15. The lower end portion of the overflow pipe 21 is fitted. Accordingly, excess cleaning water flows into the pipe from the inflow hole formed in the upper end portion of the overflow pipe 21, and is discharged to the outside through the drain pipe 20. Therefore, the cleaning water in the cleaning water tank 15 is kept at a constant water level. Kept.

  A cleaning pump 23 is connected to the drop portion 19 of the cleaning water tank 15 through a cleaning water suction pipe 22. A cleaning water discharge pipe 24 is connected to the discharge port of the cleaning pump 23, and the cleaning water discharge pipe 24 branches into a first cleaning water discharge pipe 25 and a second cleaning water discharge pipe 26, and One cleaning water discharge pipe 25 is connected to the upper cleaning nozzle 9, and the second cleaning water discharge pipe 26 is connected to the lower cleaning nozzle 12.

  Further, a rinsing water tank 28 to which rinsing water is supplied from an external water heater (not shown) via a hot water supply pipe 27 is disposed in the machine room 3. In the rinsing water tank 28, a rinsing water heater 29 for maintaining the rinsing water, which is hot water, at a predetermined temperature, and a rinsing water temperature sensor 31 for detecting the temperature of the rinsing water are installed. Further, an overflow pipe 32 is provided in the rinsing water tank 28 for discharging excess rinsing water to the outside and keeping it at a constant water level. The rinsing water flowing into the pipe from the upper end thereof is drained from the drain pipe 20. It is discharged to the outside through.

  A rinsing pump 34 is connected to the rinsing water tank 28 via a rinsing water suction pipe 33. A rinsing water discharge pipe 36 is connected to the discharge port of the rinsing pump 34, and the rinsing water discharge pipe 36 is branched into a first rinsing water discharge pipe 37 and a second rinsing water discharge pipe 38. One rinsing water discharge pipe 37 is connected to the upper rinsing nozzle 11, and the second rinsing water discharge pipe 38 is connected to the lower rinsing nozzle 13.

  Further, in the machine room 3, a detergent tank 39 storing a liquid or powdery detergent W for mixing with the washing water in the washing water tank 15 is disposed. A detergent supply pump 42 is connected to the detergent tank 39 via a detergent suction pipe 41. One end of a detergent discharge pipe 43 is connected to the discharge port of the detergent supply pump 42, and the other end 43 a of the detergent discharge pipe 43 is located in the cleaning chamber 7 and opens downward.

  The dishwasher 1 configured as described above includes a cycle operation course and a rinse operation course, and includes an operation panel 44 that can selectively execute either the cycle operation course or the rinse operation course. The operation panel 44 includes a power switch 45, a cycle operation course switch 46, and a rinse operation course switch 47.

  In the cycle operation course, one cycle operation is continuously performed. In one cycle, a washing process of washing dishes with washing water containing a detergent is performed, and then a rinsing process of rinsing dishes with clean rinsing water is performed. In the rinsing operation course, the cleaning process is not performed, and only the rinsing process for rinsing dishes is performed. Usually, a cycle operation course is operated to wash dishes, and a rinsing operation is occasionally operated to rinse the tableware rack 8 and the like.

  One cycle operation of the cycle operation course is executed by the following operation of the dishwasher 1. When the power switch 45 is turned on, hot water in the rinsing water tank 28 is sprayed into the cleaning chamber 7 by the rinsing pump 34, whereby hot water is supplied into the cleaning water tank 15. Thereby, initial hot water supply is performed. Then, an amount of detergent corresponding to the initial hot water supply amount is supplied into the washing water tank 15, and the detergent concentration of the washing water in the washing water tank 15 becomes a predetermined concentration. Thereafter, when the switch 46 of the cycle operation course is turned ON, a cleaning start signal is sent from the microcomputer 4 and the cleaning pump 23 is started. Accordingly, the cleaning water stored in the cleaning water tank 15 is pumped to the upper and lower cleaning nozzles 9 and 12 through the cleaning water discharge pipe 24 and the like, and is sprayed from the cleaning nozzles 9 and 12 toward the tableware P. Is done. At this time, since each of the cleaning nozzles 9 and 12 continues to rotate due to the reaction force of the injection force, the cleaning water is uniformly applied to the tableware P, and the stains on the tableware P are efficiently washed off.

  The wash water sprayed on the tableware P is collected in the wash water tank 15 while the first vegetables 14 removed from the tableware P are removed by the first filter 14. Further, after the fine leftovers are removed by the second filter 18, the washing pump 23 circulates and supplies it again into the washing chamber 7.

  When such a cleaning process is performed for a predetermined time, a cleaning end signal is transmitted from the microcomputer 4 and the cleaning pump 23 is stopped. A rinsing start signal is transmitted from the microcomputer 4 and the rinsing pump 34 is started. Thus, the rinsing water stored in the rinsing water tank 28 is pumped to the upper and lower rinsing nozzles 11 and 13 through the rinsing water discharge pipe 36 and the like, and is sprayed from the respective rinsing nozzles 11 and 13 toward the tableware P. Is done. At this time, since each of the rinsing nozzles 11 and 13 also continues to rotate due to the reaction force of the injection force, the rinsing water is uniformly applied to the tableware P, and the tableware P is rinsed efficiently.

  The rinsing water sprayed on the tableware P is collected in the washing water tank 15 through the first filter 14 and mixed with the washing water, and used as washing water in the next washing step. When such a rinsing process is performed for a predetermined time, a rinsing end signal is sent from the microcomputer 4, the rinsing water pump 34 is stopped, and the cycle operation course of the dishwasher 1 is completed.

  Next, the operation of the rinsing operation course is executed by the following operation of the dishwasher 1. In the dishwasher 1, when the power switch 45 and the rinsing operation course switch 46 are turned on, a rinsing start signal is sent from the microcomputer 4 and the rinsing process described above is executed. When the rinsing process is performed for a predetermined time, a rinsing end signal is sent from the microcomputer 4, the rinsing water pump 23 is stopped, and the rinsing operation in the dishwasher 1 is completed.

  When the rinsing process is performed, the rinsing water is collected in the washing water tank, so that the detergent concentration of the washing water in the washing water tank is lowered. Therefore, when performing the cleaning process, it is necessary to supply a new detergent into the cleaning water tank. Therefore, when performing the cleaning process, the detergent W stored in the detergent tank 39 is pumped through the detergent discharge pipe 43 by the detergent supply pump 42, and enters the cleaning chamber 7 from the other end 43 a of the detergent discharge pipe 43. It is dripped. Since the dropped detergent W is mixed with the rinsing water and flows into the washing water tank 15, the detergent is supplied into the washing water tank.

  Further, when the rinsing operation course is operated, the detergent is not supplied into the washing water tank, so that the detergent concentration in the washing water tank after the rinsing operation course is lower than after the cycle operation course operation. Therefore, when the cycle operation course is started after the rinsing operation course is performed, even if the detergent is supplied in the cleaning process, the cycle operation course is performed again after the cycle operation course and the detergent is supplied in the cleaning process. However, the detergent concentration in the wash water tank is low. When the washing process is performed with washing water having a low concentration of detergent, the stains on the dishes become poor.

  Therefore, in order to keep the cleaning water in the cleaning water tank 15 at an appropriate detergent concentration, in the dishwasher 1, the microcomputer 4 controls the detergent supply pump 42 and adjusts the amount of detergent supplied by the detergent supply pump 42. ing.

  The operation of the dishwasher 1 including the detergent supply operation by the microcomputer 4 and the detergent supply pump 42 will be described, and a control method for adjusting the amount of detergent will be described.

  As shown in FIG. 2, when the operation is started, when the cycle operation course switch 46 is ON (YES in step S1), a washing start signal is output from the microcomputer 4 and the operation of the cycle operation course is performed. Is started (step S2).

  Then, when the cleaning process is started, the microcomputer 4 sets the detergent input amount (step S3). In setting the detergent input amount, the microcomputer 4 reads from the memory the number N of times that the rinsing operation course was performed after the previous cycle operation course was operated until the current cycle operation course was selected and executed. When the number of times N of the rinsing operation course is 0, the microcomputer 4 detects that the previous operation course is not a rinsing operation, and sets the set value of the detergent input amount to the scheduled detergent input amount A.

  When the number N is greater than 0, the microcomputer 4 detects that the previous operation course is a rinsing operation, and increases the set value of the detergent input amount by a predetermined amount α from the scheduled detergent input amount A. The predetermined amount α is an amount (a × N) obtained by multiplying the basic amount a by the number of times N of the rinsing operation course. Therefore, in this case, the set value of the detergent input amount is (A + a × N). The correspondence relationship between the number of times N of the rinsing operation course and the set value of the detergent input amount is stored in advance in the memory of the microcomputer 4 as a data table.

  The microcomputer 4 outputs a detergent supply signal to the detergent supply pump 42 for a time corresponding to the detergent supply amount so that the detergent supply amount set in this way is supplied by the detergent supply pump 42. The detergent supply pump 42 that has input this detergent supply signal supplies the set amount of detergent to the cleaning water tank 15 (step S4). As a result, a set amount of detergent is introduced during the cleaning process. When the cleaning process is completed, a rinsing process is subsequently performed, and one cycle of operation is completed (step S5). Then, the microcomputer 4 clears the operation number N of the rinsing operation course stored in the memory (step S6).

  Next, after the operation number N of the rinsing operation course is cleared, or when the switch 46 of the cycle operation course is OFF in Step 1 (NO in Step S1), the switch 47 of the rinsing operation course should be ON. If this is the case (YES in step S7), the rinsing operation course is started (step S8). When the operation of the rinsing operation course is completed (step S9), the microcomputer 4 counts the number of times N of the rinsing operation course, and stores the number of times N of the rinsing operation course in the memory (step S10).

  On the other hand, if the rinsing operation course switch 47 is OFF in step S7 (NO in step S7) and the power switch 45 is ON (YES in step S11), the process returns to step S1, and thereafter steps S1 to S11 are repeated. It is. If the power switch 45 is OFF in step 11 (NO in step S11), the operation is terminated.

  In the dishwasher 1 of the present embodiment, when the cycle operation course is operated after the rinsing operation course, the cycle operation course is operated again when the cycle operation course is operated again after the cycle operation course, or immediately after the initial hot water supply is finished after turning on the power. The amount of detergent input during the cleaning process is increased by a predetermined amount compared to the case where the operation is performed. By operating the rinsing operation course, the detergent concentration in the wash water tank is lower than when the cycle operation course is operated, but more detergent can be supplied. Therefore, when washing dishes, the detergent concentration of the wash water in the wash water tank can be set to an appropriate value regardless of the course operated last time. Therefore, high cleaning power can be maintained regardless of the course operated last time.

  Moreover, in the dishwasher 1 of this embodiment, the frequency | count N of the rinse operation course between the cycle operation courses is counted, and the detergent input amount is set based on the number N. Then, the detergent supply pump 42 is controlled so that the set detergent input amount is input. Thereby, when the cycle operation course is selected and executed, the increase amount of the detergent to be supplied is controlled based on the number of times the rinse operation course is operated after the cycle operation course is last operated. By continuously operating the rinsing operation course, the detergent concentration gradually decreases. However, when the cycle operation course is operated, a larger amount of detergent can be supplied by the reduced detergent concentration. Therefore, when performing the cleaning process, the detergent concentration of the cleaning water in the cleaning water tank can be set to an appropriate value with higher accuracy.

  By the way, in order to prevent the detergent concentration in the washing water tank from decreasing when the cycle operation course is operated by operating the rinsing operation course, the dish washing is set so that the detergent is supplied in the rinsing process. There is a conventional machine. In this case, the detergent is supplied in the same manner in both the rinsing process of the cycle operation course and the rinsing process of the rinsing operation course.

  However, in a general commercial dishwasher, excess rinsing water out of the rinsing water sprayed on the tableware in the rinsing process overflows from the washing water tank and is drained. In such a dishwasher, when a detergent is put into the washing room during the rinsing process, the detergent in the undiluted solution is drained depending on the position of the detergent inlet, or a portion having a low detergent concentration is drained. The detergent concentration is not stable.

  Furthermore, when a detergent is supplied during the rinsing process, if the undiluted solution of the detergent adheres to the tableware, the detergent cannot be rinsed out during the rinsing process, and the detergent may remain unwashed. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the detergent supplied during rinsing from adhering to the dishes. For this reason, there is a problem because the structure of the detergent supply mechanism becomes complicated. On the other hand, in the dishwasher 1 according to the present embodiment, since the detergent is introduced in the washing process, even if the detergent stock solution adheres to the dishes when the detergent is introduced, the detergent stock solution is washed away in the washing process, and the rinsing process. Thorough rinsing can be performed.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications can be made. For example, when a cycle operation course is performed after a rinsing operation course is performed without counting the number of consecutive rinsing operation courses, the detergent input amount is always simply twice the planned detergent input amount A. It may be set.

  In this case, when detecting the end of the rinsing operation course, the microcomputer 4 stores in the memory that the rinsing operation course has been executed until the next one-cycle operation of the cycle operation course is completed. When the microcomputer 4 stores the fact that the rinsing operation course is executed in the memory when the cycle operation course is performed, the detergent input amount is twice the planned detergent input amount A. The detergent supply pump 42 is controlled. Actually, since it is rare to perform the rinsing operation course twice or more in succession, the control can be simplified by doing so.

  The count of the rinsing operation course performed by the microcomputer 4 may be up to 3 times. In this case, when the rinsing operation course is continuously operated three times or more, the detergent input amount is constant (A + 3a). The detergent concentration of the washing water in the washing water tank 15 is diluted by the operation of the rinsing operation course, but the change in the degree of dilution by the third and subsequent operations is small. Therefore, by setting the detergent input amount to the maximum (A + 3a), the detergent input amount can be appropriately set.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the detergent supply mechanism containing the detergent supply pump 42 and the detergent tank 39, the detergent suction pipe 41, and the detergent discharge pipe 43 is incorporated, the detergent supply apparatus which has this detergent supply mechanism is tableware. You may comprise so that it may connect with a washing machine externally. In this case, a detergent supply signal is output from the microcomputer included in the dishwasher to the detergent supply device, and the detergent supply device supplies the amount of detergent set by the detergent supply signal to the cleaning chamber 7.

It is sectional drawing which shows one Embodiment of the dishwasher which concerns on this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the driving | operation operation | movement by the dishwasher shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Dishwasher, 4 ... Microcomputer (control means, count means), 7 ... Cleaning room, 15 ... Washing water tank, 42 ... Detergent supply pump (detergent supply means), 44 ... Operation panel (selection means), P ... tableware, W ... detergent.

Claims (3)

A washing process for washing the dishes by supplying washing water from a washing water tank into the washing room in which the dishes are stored and a rinsing process for rinsing the dishes by supplying rinsing water into the washing chamber are sequentially performed. and cycle operation course performed, and control means for controlling the detergent supply means for supplying a detergent before Symbol wash water tank, rinse water supplied to the washing chamber of the next by recovering the washing water tank In dishwashers used as washing water,
A rinsing operation course for performing only the rinsing step, and a selection means capable of selectively executing the cycle operation course and the rinsing operation course,
When the cycle operation course is selected and executed and the control means detects that the previous operation course was the rinse operation course, the control means supplies the detergent supplied by the detergent supply means during the cleaning step. input amount is dishwasher and controlling the detergent supply unit as increased by Ri by detergent amount that has been scheduled for the cycle operation course. A counting means for counting the number of times the rinsing operation course is operated between the cycle operation courses;
2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls an increase amount of the detergent supplied by the detergent supply unit based on the number of times counted by the counting unit. 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the increased amount of detergent input is twice the amount of detergent input scheduled in the cycle operation course .

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