JP7153831B2 - dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a built-in type dishwasher for washing and drying tableware.

A conventional dishwasher is configured as shown in FIG. 11 (see Patent Document 1, for example). FIG. 11 is a side longitudinal sectional view of a conventional dishwasher. The main body 14 of the dishwasher is open at the front. A washing tank 15 having an open upper surface is provided inside the main body 1 so as to be able to be drawn forward. In FIG. 11, the dashed-dotted line indicates the state in which the cleaning tank 15 is pulled out.

A washing nozzle 8 , a dish basket 4 and a heater (not shown) are provided inside the washing tank 15 . A cleaning pump 7 and a water supply valve 9 are provided outside the cleaning tank 15 . The water supply valve 9 is connected to a water supply and introduces tap water as washing water into the washing tank 15 . The cleaning pump 7 circulates the cleaning water stored in the cleaning tank 15 . The washing nozzle 8 is rotatably provided and sprays washing water pressure-fed by the washing pump 7 . The dish basket 4 is detachably provided. The dish basket 4 holds the accommodated dishes 3 and is configured so that the dishes 3 are efficiently hit with washing water. The heater heats the cleaning water or the drying air.

A slide rail 16 is provided on the outer side surface of the cleaning tank 15 , and a slide rail 17 is provided on the inner side surface of the main body 1 . The slide rail 16 slides while being held by the slide rail 17 . The cleaning tank 15 is supported by the main body 14 via slide rails 16 and 17, and is constructed so as to be able to be pulled out from and pushed into the main body 14. As shown in FIG. An inner lid 21 that closes the upper opening of the cleaning tank 15 is provided in the upper part of the main body 14 . The inner lid 21 is configured to close the top opening of the cleaning tank 15 via the packing 22 when the cleaning tank 15 is accommodated in the main body 14 .

A door 23 is provided at the front of the cleaning tank 15 . The door 23 covers the front opening of the main body 1 when the cleaning tank 15 is accommodated in the main body 1. - 特許庁A handle portion 24 and an operation switch are provided on the front upper portion of the door 23 . A user pulls out the washing tank 15 by holding the handle 24 . Also, by operating the operation switch, the washing operation of the washing process, the rinsing process and the drying process of the dishwasher is set.

Further, a rack gear 18 having gear teeth formed in a straight line is attached to the lower portion of the washing tank 15 . The length of the rack gear 18 is longer than the stroke of pulling out the washing tank 15 from the main body 1 . A drive motor 19 having a reduction mechanism is fixed to the main body 14 . A gear 20 meshing with the rack gear 18 is attached to the motor shaft of the drive motor 19 . The drive motor 19 is configured to rotate forward or backward. The washing tank 15 is driven through a rack gear 18 by rotation of a driving motor 19 .

The operation of the dishwasher configured as above will be described. A user pulls out the washing tub 15 to set the tableware 3 in the washing tub 15 . At this time, it is possible to pull out the washing tank 15 by putting a hand on the grip portion 24 and by operating the operation switch to drive the drive motor 19 . When the operation switch is operated, the drive motor 19 rotates forward at a constant speed to rotate the gear 20 on the motor shaft in a predetermined direction. Gear 20 exerts a force to push out meshed rack gear 18 . As a result, the washing tank 15 comes out from the main body 14 through the slide rails 16 and 17 to the front. When the tableware 3 reaches an arbitrarily set position such as a position where the tableware 3 can be accommodated in the washing tank 15, the drive motor 19 stops, and the washing tank 15 stops.

Next, the user places the tableware 3 in the dishbasket 4 and puts in detergent. The tip of the drawn-out washing tank 15 is lowered by the weight of the tableware 3. - 特許庁Then, when the user operates the operation switch, the driving motor 19 rotates in reverse this time. Gear 20 exerts a force to retract the meshed rack gear 18 . As a result, the cleaning tank 15 is drawn into the main body 14 via the slide rails 16 and 17 and stored therein. At the same time, the inner lid 21 closes the top opening of the cleaning tank 15 .

Then, the user operates the operation switch to set the cleaning course and start the cleaning operation. Thereby, the control device (not shown) controls the washing pump 7, the water supply valve 9, the heater, the drain pump (not shown), etc., and the dishes 3 stored in the dish basket 4 are washed. For example, the control device performs a washing operation set in order of a washing process, a rinsing process, and a drying process.

After finishing the washing operation, the user takes out the tableware 3. When the user operates the operation switch in the same manner as before the cleaning operation, the driving motor 19 rotates and the cleaning tank 15 is pulled out to a predetermined position. Due to the smooth rotation of the drive motor 19, the dishes 3 stored in the washing tank 15 are gently handled without coming into contact with each other.

A decorative panel with the same design and made of the same material as the doors and drawers of the system kitchen is attached to the front lower portion of the door 23 . Such decorative panels improve the design of the system kitchen.

JP-A-2002-345712

In the above-described conventional configuration, the design of the system kitchen is improved by attaching a decorative panel having the same design as the doors and drawers of the system kitchen to the front lower portion of the door. However, the handles and operation switches were uniquely designed for dishwashers and could not perfectly match the design of the system kitchen. In addition, among the diversifying designs of system kitchens, there are some that have innovative designs that omit even the handles and that drawers are driven by electric motors, etc., and there was a problem that it was necessary to match these as well. .

In addition to the drawers of furniture, there are drawers and doors of home electric appliances such as refrigerators that are provided with a mechanism for slightly pushing them out with a push rod or the like. However, in those configurations, the opening amount of the drawer is small, and the user needs to manually pull it out to the desired position. Cited Document 1 describes that, as a dishwasher, when the washing tank comes out to a set position, the drive motor stops, and the washing tank stops. It has been suggested that the However, Document 1 does not describe how the stop position of the cleaning tank is set and controlled.

Furthermore, when the washing tank is pulled out by the drive motor, there is also the problem that it must be controlled so as not to cause problems when a user or other objects are present in front of the door.

The present invention is intended to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, adapts to the diversifying designs of system kitchens, and makes it possible to easily accommodate dishes in the washing tank even when there is no operation switch on the door covering the front of the dishwasher. To provide a dishwasher that can be pulled out to a position and is easy to use.

In order to solve the above-mentioned conventional problems, the dishwasher of the present invention comprises a housing having a front opening on the front, a dish basket which is provided in the housing so as to be able to be put in and taken out and accommodates dishes, and the front opening. a cover door, a support mechanism for supporting the door on the housing so as to be movable back and forth, a driving device for moving the door at least forward or backward, and at least the door at least. a sensor for detecting the vibration generated by the vibration, a notification unit for informing the user of the operation status, and a control unit. A dishwasher configured to detect vibration caused by knocking on the door body, wherein the control unit notifies with a notification sound 0.1 to 0.6 seconds after the vibration is detected. is started by the notification unit, and the driving unit is driven.

With this arrangement, the dishwasher allows the door to be moved without much effort by the user. In addition, even if the door body covering the front surface does not have an operation part or a handle, the dish basket can be pulled out to a position where dishes can be easily accommodated. This improves usability. In addition, it is possible to adapt to the diversified design of the system kitchen. Furthermore, the user is notified that the door is driven and moved, thereby improving safety.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention enables a user to pull out a dish basket without requiring much effort, and is easy to use and allows dishes to be easily accommodated in the dish basket even when the door body covering the front surface has no operating part or handle. A good dishwasher can be provided.

Side longitudinal sectional view of the dishwasher according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention Side longitudinal sectional view of the dishwasher according to the present embodiment Side longitudinal sectional view of a dishwasher according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention Side longitudinal sectional view of the dishwasher according to the present embodiment Side longitudinal sectional view of a dishwasher according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention Side longitudinal sectional view of a dishwasher according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention Front longitudinal sectional view of a dishwasher according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention Enlarged view of main part of Fig. 7 FIG. 11 is a side vertical cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 11 is a side vertical cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present invention; Side longitudinal sectional view of a conventional dishwasher

A dishwasher according to a first aspect of the invention comprises a housing having a front opening on the front side, a dish basket which is provided in the housing so as to be able to be put in and taken out from the housing and accommodates dishes, a door covering the front opening, and the door. a support mechanism that supports the housing so as to be movable back and forth; a driving device that moves the door at least forward or backward; a sensor that detects vibration applied to at least the door; A notification unit for notifying a user of an operating situation and a control unit, wherein the driving device has a driving unit, and the control unit drives the driving unit when a predetermined signal is received from the sensor. In the dishwasher configured as above, the control unit is configured to notify by the notification unit when starting the driving of the driving unit. With this configuration, the user is notified that the door is driven and moved, thereby improving safety.

In the second invention, particularly in the first invention,
The sensor detects the vibration applied to the door in a manner of generating sound, and the control unit starts notification after a predetermined time T5 after detecting the vibration. With this configuration, the user can easily hear the notification sound without being disturbed by the sound of knocking by the user.

The third invention is particularly in the first or second invention,
The control unit is configured to start notification 0.1 to 0.6 seconds after the vibration is detected. The user is conscious of knocking, and when a sound such as knocking is generated, the sound overlaps with the beginning of the notification sound, making it difficult to hear. With this configuration, the user can easily hear the notification sound without being disturbed by the sound of knocking by the user, and it does not give the impression that the sound is slow.

The fourth invention is, particularly in any one of the first to third inventions,
The control section is configured to start notification before driving the driving section. With this configuration, the user is notified that the door will move before it is driven, and safety can be further improved.

The fifth invention is, particularly in any one of the first to fourth inventions,
A door closing detection sensor is provided for detecting that the door is closed, and the control unit detects a signal that the door is closed by the door closing detection sensor, or after the detection. It is configured to notify after a predetermined time T3. With this configuration, the user can confirm that the door is securely closed and that subsequent cleaning operations are performed normally.

In the sixth invention, especially in the fifth invention,
When the door closing detection sensor detects a signal indicating that the door is closed, the control unit controls the control unit to detect vibration from the sensor for detecting vibration for a predetermined time T3 after detecting the signal from the door closing detection sensor. A signal is not detected, or even if a signal from the sensor is detected, driving of the drive unit is suspended. The shock generated when the door is closed vibrates the entire housing including tableware. This configuration can prevent erroneous detection of vibration when closed. In addition, it is possible to ensure the temporary stoppage of the drive unit and prevent an excessive temperature rise of the drive unit.

A seventh invention is, particularly in the fifth or sixth invention,
In a state in which the door closing detection sensor detects a signal indicating that the door is closed, the control unit drives the drive unit in a forward direction in which the door is opened, and keeps the door closed for a predetermined time T4. When the signal of the closed detection sensor continues to be detected, it is configured to notify the occurrence of an abnormality. With this configuration, it is possible to determine that the door is not moving and inform the user of the abnormality of the door.

The eighth invention is, particularly in the seventh invention,
The control unit is configured to notify that an abnormality has occurred and stop further driving when the notification that the door is not moving is repeated a predetermined number of times. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the locking current of the driving section from being repeated, thereby preventing an excessive temperature rise of the driving section. In addition, it is possible to inform the user that it is necessary to ascertain the occurrence of an abnormality, such as whether the door does not move due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the driving unit or the door closing detection sensor has failed.

The ninth invention is, particularly in any one of the fifth to eighth inventions,
The control unit drives the driving unit in a backward direction to close the door, and when the signal from the door closing detection sensor is not detected even though the driving unit has detected that the driving unit has stopped, an abnormality occurs. is configured to notify. With this configuration, the user can be notified that the door is not completely closed.

In the tenth invention, particularly in the ninth invention,
The control unit is configured to notify that an abnormality has occurred and stop further driving when the notification that the door is not completely closed is repeated a predetermined number of times. With this configuration, it is possible to prevent the locking current of the driving section from being repeated, thereby preventing an excessive temperature rise of the driving section. In addition, it is possible to inform the user that it is necessary to determine whether an abnormality has occurred, such as whether the door does not close due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the driving unit or the door closing detection sensor has failed. Further, it is possible to prevent the cleaning operation from being performed while the door is not closed.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited by this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are longitudinal cross-sectional side views of a dishwasher with a drawer-type washing tub according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is accommodated in the housing. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is pulled out from the housing to a fully open state. As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher is housed in the system kitchen K. The housing 31 has a front opening 32 whose entire front is open. The cleaning tank 33 is provided movably in the front-rear direction inside the housing 31 and is provided so as to be put in and taken out from the front opening 32 . In the present embodiment, the forward direction is the direction in which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out, and the rearward direction is the direction in which the cleaning tank 33 is accommodated.

Slide rails 34 are installed substantially horizontally inside both side surfaces of the housing 31 . The cleaning tank 33 is supported by slide rails 34 and moves along the slide rails 34 . The washing tank 33 has an upper opening 35 whose entire upper surface is open, and tableware 36, which is an object to be washed, is accommodated therein.

An inner lid 37 for closing the top opening 35 and a parallel link mechanism 38 for supporting the inner lid 37 are provided in the upper part of the housing 31 . The parallel link mechanisms 38 are configured to move the inner lid 37 up and down by two pairs of left and right pairs and front and rear pairs. A seal portion 39 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the inner lid 37 . The seal portion 39 seals the top opening 35 when the inner lid 37 is lowered. A parallel link mechanism 38 lifts the inner lid 37 when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out from the housing 31 . As a result, the seal portion 39 does not interfere with the movement of the cleaning tank 33 .

The cleaning tank 33 is provided with a door 40 at the front. The door 40 includes an operation panel 41 provided on the front surface of the cleaning tank 33 and a decorative plate 42 attached to the operation panel 41 . The decorative plate 42 covers the entire front opening 32 when the cleaning tank 33 is accommodated in the housing 31 . The decorative plate 42 is made of the same material and in the same color as the decorative plate that is the door of the drawer of the system kitchen K. Further, the decorative plate 42 is provided with a handle 43 that serves as a handle when the user pulls out the washing tank 33 . The same handle 43 as that of the system kitchen K is attached, and the system kitchen K as a whole is configured to have a unified design. It should be noted that some system kitchens K have a design in which only the decorative plate 42 without the handle 43 is provided on the front surface. In this configuration, the door 40 is pulled out by a drive, and the top or side of the decorative panel 42 functions as a handle 43 . In the present embodiment, these are not distinguished.

In the present embodiment, the cleaning tank 33 and the slide rails 34 are exemplified as the support mechanism S that supports the door 40 on the housing 31 so as to be movable back and forth.

A control unit 44 is provided on the back surface of the operation panel 41 . The control unit 44 controls all operations of the dishwasher and carries out the washing operation. The washing operation includes washing, rinsing, and drying. The washing process is a process of removing stains on the tableware 36 by using a detergent or the like. A rinsing process is a process of removing a detergent. The drying process is a process of drying the cleanly washed tableware 36 .

The control unit 44 has a printed circuit board (not shown). An acceleration sensor 45 is provided on the printed circuit board. The acceleration sensor 45 detects the magnitude of substantial acceleration in three axial directions (X-axis: longitudinal direction, Y-axis: lateral direction, Z-axis: vertical direction). The acceleration sensor 45 detects the direction and magnitude of various accelerations generated in the dishwasher, such as the acceleration due to movement of the door 40 and the washing tank 33 in the front-rear direction, and the acceleration due to the vibration applied to the door 40. to detect. Therefore, it is desirable that the printed circuit board is attached without problems in orientation and strength so that the acceleration sensor 45 can reliably detect the acceleration. The control unit 44 controls the operation of the dishwasher based on signals output by the acceleration sensor 45 after detecting the direction and magnitude of acceleration, the state of the washing tank 33, and the like.

Note that the actual acceleration in each direction means that the acceleration sensor 45 is attached to the printed circuit board, and the printed circuit board is fixed at a predetermined position along the three axial directions (if fixed at a predetermined angle, , corrected by a predetermined angle), the corresponding mounting angle error and the degree of tilting angle of installation are allowed. However, the vertical and horizontal directions can be corrected by detecting deviation from gravity. Further, as will be described later, the control unit 44 can be applied as a spirit level by detecting the deviation between the gravity and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction.

In this embodiment, the user can operate the dishwasher by vibrating the door 40, the washing tub 33, and the like. The method of applying this vibration may be by tapping a hand like knocking on a door. Alternatively, it may be tapped with a fingertip. You can also tap it lightly with something you have in your hand. Also, if you can't use your hands because your hands are wet or you are holding something, you can poke them with your elbows or knees. In short, the vibration is not particularly limited as long as the vibration is applied so that the predetermined vibration is transmitted to the acceleration sensor 45 . In many cases, vibrations will be applied to door leaf 40 in a manner that produces sound. In this embodiment, it is assumed that vibration is applied by knocking the door 40 .

A driving device 51 is provided for moving the cleaning tank 33 at least forward or backward. The control unit 44 is configured to drive the driving unit when a predetermined signal is received from a sensor such as the acceleration sensor 45 or from the operation unit 46 or the like. A drive device 51 (details of which will be described later) has a drive motor 52 as a drive unit. The sensor that outputs a signal for driving the drive motor 52 is not limited to the acceleration sensor 45, and any sensor that detects vibration applied to the door 40 or the like may be used. Alternatively, a sensor such as an electrostatic sensor that detects that the user has touched the door 40 or the like may be used.

It illustrates one of the most basic controls. In the dishwasher, when the washing tub 33 is housed and the operation is stopped, the washing tub 33 is automatically pulled forward when the user hits the door 40 twice from the front. That is, the controller 44 determines that the door 40 has been hit by the user by detecting a predetermined signal outputted by the acceleration sensor 45 detecting the vibration applied in the same longitudinal direction as the drawer operation. Then, the controller 44 controls to drive the drive motor 52 to move the moving parts such as the door 40 and the washing tank 33 forward.

Note that the moving portion includes the entire portion that is driven and moved by the driving portion, and varies depending on the form of the dishwasher. For example, in the first embodiment, the cleaning tank 33 is included in the moving part, but in the second embodiment, the cleaning tank is included in the housing and does not move, and is not included in the moving part.

An operation unit 46 is provided on the front side of the upper opening 35 of the cleaning tank 33 . The operation part 46 is located inside the decorative plate 42 and is hidden inside the housing 31 when the cleaning tank 33 is housed in the housing 31 . The operation unit 46 is provided with an operation button (not shown) and a display unit (not shown) such as an LED. It is configured so that it can be displayed with an LED.

A dish basket 47 , a washing nozzle 48 and a heater 49 are provided inside the washing tank 33 . A cleaning pump 50 is provided outside the cleaning tank 33 . A washing nozzle 48 is rotatably provided below the dish basket 47 . The heater 49 is arranged at the bottom of the washing tank 33 and heats the washing water stored in the washing tank 33 in the washing process and the rinsing process. Also, the heater 49 heats the air in the cleaning tank 33 in the drying process. The washing pump 50 circulates washing water and jets the washing water from the washing nozzle 48 to the tableware 36 .

The washing tank 33 is configured to be moved in and out by the driving device 51 . In the first embodiment, a driving device 51 configured in a rack and pinion type and capable of being driven forward and backward will be described. Further, in Embodiment 2, a driving device configured as a roller type will be described. The configuration of the driving device 51 is not limited to these methods, and may be a method of winding a belt with a pulley, a belt conveyor method, or the like. The drive unit is not limited to the drive motor. Also, the drive direction may be only forward or only backward.

The drive device 51 includes a drive motor 52 as a drive unit, a pinion gear 53 driven by the drive motor 52 , and a rack gear 54 meshing with the pinion gear 53 . A rack gear 54 having gear teeth formed in a straight line is fixed to the lower portion of the outer side of the cleaning tank 33 . The rack gear 54 is configured to have a length equal to or longer than at least the stroke by which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. A pinion gear 53 meshing with the rack gear 54 is mounted so as to be driven by the drive motor 52 . The drive motor 52 has a reduction mechanism (not shown), and is fixed inside the housing 31 at a position where the pinion gear 53 is near the front opening 32 . In FIG. 1, the rack gear 54 is configured such that the teeth are formed downward to mesh with the pinion gear 53, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be formed and configured.

With this configuration, the rotary motion of the drive motor 52 is converted into linear motion, and the cleaning tub 33 can move until the top opening 35 is substantially fully opened. As the washing tank 33 moves in the pull-out direction, the cleaning tank 33 descends forward, but since the vicinity of the pinion gear 53 provided at the front serves as a fulcrum, there is a possibility that the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 will be disengaged. is low. Therefore, even if a structure is provided to prevent disengagement, the structure may be simple. As a configuration for preventing disengagement of the mesh, a configuration in which the driving motor 52 including the pinion gear 53 is inclined in accordance with the inclination of the cleaning tank 33, or a configuration in which the pinion gear 53 is pressed against the rack gear 54. configuration, etc. are possible.

Further, the speed reduction mechanism provided in the drive motor is configured with a gear ratio and the like so that the user can easily take the washing tank 33 into and out of the washing tank 33 manually. In addition, a clutch mechanism (not shown) or a slip mechanism (not shown) for reducing the load on the drive motor 52 when the user manually inserts or withdraws the drive device 51 from the drive motor 52 to the rack including the reduction mechanism. ) may be provided. This allows the user to put in and take out the washing tank 33 with less force. Also, even if the washing tank 33 collides with an obstacle when it is pulled out, the washing tank 33 is easily stopped and a large force is not applied to the obstacle. In addition, the drive motor 52 does not lock and no excessive current is generated. When the washing tank 33 is manually moved, the motor circuit of the drive motor 52 may be cut off to reduce the resistance of the drive motor 52, as will be described later.

The controller 44 controls the drive motor 52 so that the upper surface opening 35 is substantially fully opened when moving the cleaning tank 33 in the drawing direction. In this embodiment, "substantially fully open" includes a state in which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out the most and the top opening 35 is most open, and a state in which the top opening 35 is half or more open. In short, the tableware 36 is pulled out to the extent that the user can put the tableware 36 in and out. For this purpose, the controller 44 controls the drive motor 52 with time. That is, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 for the set predetermined time T1 and then stops.

With this configuration, the user does not need to exert any effort to pull out the washing tank 33 . Even if the door 40 covering the front surface of the dishwasher does not have the operating part 46 or the handle 43, the washing tub 33 can be pulled out by the driving device 51 to a position where the tableware 36 can be easily accommodated, thereby improving usability. . In addition, it is possible to adapt to the diversified design of the system kitchen K.

This predetermined time T1 is set according to the content of control, and is adjusted according to the moving distance and moving speed of the cleaning tank 33, the magnitude of the torque of the driving motor 52 until reaching the moving speed, and the like. The user will be dissatisfied with the slow movement speed if the set time to fully open is too long. However, the faster you move, the less safe you are. For these reasons, the standard moving speed of the cleaning tank 33 is set to 150 mm/sec to 250 mm/sec in this embodiment. Further, it is more preferable for the user to set the moving speed to 170 mm/sec to 230 mm/sec. As a result, the user does not feel dissatisfied with the movement of the washing tank 33, and safety is maintained. Note that the standard movement speed is a state of constant speed excluding the shift state before movement and stop. If the constant speed does not exist, the maximum speed is preferably set.

Furthermore, in terms of safety against the case where a person is in front when the automatically moving cleaning tank 33 is pulled out and the case where a person's hand or finger is caught when the cleaning tank 33 is retracted, the weight of the cleaning tank 33 is reduced. It is useful to take into account the kinetic energy due to and the moving speed. The kinetic energy W is denoted by W=( ^1/2 )mv2. In the present embodiment, the kinetic energy W is set to 0.5 J or less so as not to cause trouble even in these cases. This is defined as a maximum weight of 16 kg and a moving speed of 250 mm/sec for the washing tank 33 containing tableware 36 and the like. In addition, when the maximum weight of the moving object such as tableware 36 increases, it is preferable to reduce the moving speed so that the kinetic energy W becomes 0.5 J or less. As a result, even if the washing tank 33 hits a person while being moved or a person's hand or fingers are pinched when the washing tank 33 is stored, the impact is mitigated.

Specifically, in the present embodiment, the upper surface opening 35 is pulled out to 50% by driving for about 2 seconds including the acceleration period at the start of movement. The predetermined time T1 is set so that the washing tank 33 is pulled out to the maximum when it is driven for about 3.5 seconds. Thus, if the drive motor 52 is configured to be driven according to the set time, it can be stopped at an arbitrary position when the washing tank 33 is pulled out according to the set time. That is, the set time is adjusted according to the actual use of the user. As a result, even if the entire washing tub 33 cannot be pulled out, such as when the dishwasher is installed in a narrow place where there are obstacles near the front of the dishwasher, the amount of pull-out can be increased by adjusting the set time. configured and ready to install.

The controller 44 may drive the drive motor 52 with voltages in multiple stages. For example, the drive motor 52 is driven by applying a voltage higher than the standard during the acceleration period at the start of movement and applying a voltage lower than the standard just before stopping. As a result, the torque of the drive motor 52 increases at the beginning of movement, and the acceleration period can be shortened. Moreover, when the movement is stopped, no shock is applied to the accommodated tableware 36, and noise and breakage due to the tableware 36 coming into contact with each other are prevented. Moreover, splashing of the water stored in the washing tank 33 and splashing out of the washing tank 33 and the wetness of the dried tableware 36 after washing are prevented. That is, it is preferable to drive so that the moving speed changes smoothly in a short time regardless of when the movement starts and when the movement stops. The multiple-step voltage also includes a state in which the voltage changes linearly or smoothly.

In the unlikely event that the movement of the cleaning tank 33 is obstructed by an obstacle while it is moving and is stopped on the way to a predetermined position, the control unit 44 will start the drive motor 52 after a predetermined time T1 has elapsed. and de-energize it. As a result, the drive motor 52 is locked only for a short period of time and never stays locked, so that the drive motor 52 is not overloaded. Also, the obstacles or people with which the washing tank 33 collides are only for a short period of time, and the occurrence of troubles is prevented.

In addition, the control unit 44 determines whether any portion of the moving unit including the door 40 comes into contact with something such as an obstacle or some kind of load is applied on the way until the cleaning tank 33 reaches a predetermined position. The driving of the drive motor 52 may be stopped immediately when it is assumed that the As a method of assuming contact with an obstacle or a person, for example, the control unit 44 uses the acceleration sensor 45 to detect vibration in any direction, including vibration in the movement direction of the door 40 while the drive motor 52 is being driven. , the drive is stopped when an acceleration exceeding a predetermined threshold value or a change in acceleration is detected. With this configuration, not only when the movable portion such as the door 40 comes into contact with an obstacle, but also when the user intentionally knocks the door 40, or when a child carelessly touches the door 40 from the lateral direction or the vertical direction. , the control unit 44 can immediately stop driving. In addition, it is possible to prevent troubles caused by obstacles or people who come into contact with the moving part.

Also, as a method of detecting that some load is applied, for example, the control unit 44 monitors the acceleration in all directions by the acceleration sensor 45, and the door body 40 being driven decelerates or stops. When a change in acceleration is detected, the driving of the drive motor 52 is stopped. Alternatively, the control unit 44 monitors the current during driving of the drive motor 52, and detects an increase in the current when the door 40 decelerates or stops, or when the current of a predetermined value or more is detected, for example, 0.00. If the motor lock is detected after 5 seconds or more, the drive may be stopped immediately. These methods can be implemented without particular limitation, and can be implemented in combination. In either method, the time from the obstruction to the stop of driving is shortened, and troubles such as overheating of the drive motor 52 as well as obstacles are prevented from occurring.

In addition to reliably stopping the door 40 by detecting acceleration or current as described above, the clutch mechanism or sliding mechanism described above can also immediately stop the movement of the door 40 . These configurations are useful as a method for stopping the door 40 when a predetermined load or more is applied to the door 40 or the drive motor 52 .

Furthermore, the control unit 44 may cut off the motor circuit when the cleaning tank 33 is stopped on the way to reach a predetermined position and the driving of the drive motor 52 is stopped. When the washing tank 33 stops halfway, the user tries to manually move the washing tank 33 forward or backward from the stopped position. At this time, the drive motor 52 is forcibly idled to generate counter electromotive force. However, if the circuit of the drive motor 52 is interrupted, the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44 will not be loaded with an abnormal current due to the back electromotive force. In addition, since current does not flow, no power is generated, and the manual operation force does not increase. The control unit 44 detects a predetermined signal such as when the door 40 is closed, and then restores the interrupted motor circuit when receiving a signal for driving the drive motor 52 .

The operation and action of the dishwasher constructed as described above will be described below.

A user pulls out the washing tub 33 to accommodate the tableware 36 in the washing tub 33 . At this time, it is also possible to put a hand on the handle 43 and pull it out. However, by knocking the door 40 twice, for example, it is possible to drive the drive motor 52 and pull out the washing tank 33 . That is, vibration occurs when the door 40 is hit. The vibration is transmitted from the decorative plate 42 to the operation panel 41 and transmitted to the control section 44 fixed to the operation panel 41 . The acceleration sensor 45 detects the vibration transmitted to the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44 as acceleration.

When the user knocks the door 40 twice, the controller 44 detects the direction and magnitude of acceleration from the output signal of the acceleration sensor 45 . At this time, the control unit 44 determines the magnitude of the acceleration in each of the three axial directions (X-axis, Y-axis, Z-axis), for example, the X-axis acceleration X is greater than or equal to the first threshold value A and the Y-axis acceleration Y is less than or equal to the second threshold value B and the acceleration Z of the Z-axis is less than or equal to the third threshold value C, the drive motor 52 is driven. That is, the control unit 44 controls at least the acceleration X to be less than the first threshold A, or even if the acceleration X is equal to or greater than the first threshold A, the acceleration Y to be equal to or greater than the second threshold B, or the acceleration Z to be equal to or greater than the third threshold. If it is equal to or greater than the threshold value C, it is determined that the vibration is not from the front. Thus, it is determined that the door 40 has been knocked from the front intentionally by the user. In other words, malfunctions that are not based on the intention of the user are prevented.

In this embodiment, when it is determined that the user has made an action to pull out the cleaning tank 33, a buzzer sounds 0.4 seconds later, and the door member 40 starts to move. inform you to do so. Then, 0.6 seconds after the determination, the drive motor 52 is driven in a predetermined direction. The driving motor 52 moves forward a rack gear 54 provided below the washing tank 33 by means of a pinion gear 53 provided on the rotating shaft. As a result, the cleaning tank 33 moves forward from the front opening 32 of the housing 31 via the slide rail 34 and is pulled out.

When the drive motor 52 is driven for about 4 seconds, the washing tank 33 is adjusted to be drawn out to the maximum. As a result, the cleaning tank 33 comes out to a position where the top opening 35 is substantially fully opened and stops. In this state, the user can easily put the dishes 36 into the dish basket 47 through the upper opening 35 . Also, the user turns on a power switch (not shown) provided on the front side of the upper opening 35 and operates the operation unit 46 to set the cleaning operation. It should be noted that the control unit 44 is always energized regardless of whether the power switch is turned on, and stands by so that it can detect knocking by the user.

When the user completes the setting of the tableware 36 and the washing operation, the user knocks the door 40 only once, for example. When the control unit 44 detects one knock while the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out, the control unit 44 first notifies with a buzzer. Then, the controller 44 drives the drive motor 52 to move the cleaning tank 33 backward. As a result, the cleaning tank 33 is housed in the housing 31 and the door 40 is closed. The control unit 44 performs control of the time until storage, detection of storage position, detection of acceleration when the cleaning tank 33 is stored and stopped, detection of lock current of the drive motor 52, and the like, in determining storage completion in driving storage. It is possible by The control unit 44 executes the set cleaning operation when the cleaning tank 33 is accommodated.

As a method for storing the cleaning tank 33 , the user can also store the cleaning tank 33 into the housing 31 while manually pushing the front surface of the door 40 . A start switch (not shown) is provided, and when the user presses the start switch instead of knocking once after the setting is completed, the cleaning tank 33 is accommodated and the cleaning operation is started. may Further, the start switch may be used as a signal for completion of the operation setting by the user, and the cleaning operation may not be started unless the start switch is pressed when the cleaning tank 33 is accommodated by the driving device 51 or manually. good. This allows the user to store the dishes in the washing tank 33 little by little at intervals.

After finishing the predetermined washing operation, the user pulls out the washing tub 33 to remove the tableware 36 . Also at this time, when the door 40 is knocked twice in the same manner as when the tableware 36 is stored, the washing tank 33 is pulled out to a predetermined position following the buzzer notification. After taking out the tableware 36, the user knocks the door 40 again only once. When the control unit 44 detects one knock in a state where the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out and there is no operation setting by the operation unit 46 or a state in which the start switch is not pressed, the control unit 44 rotates the drive motor 52 backward. The cleaning operation is not performed by driving only to store the cleaning tank 33 . This completes the series of dishwashing actions including the actions of the user.

A user or the like may unintentionally touch the decorative plate 42 of the door 40 or the handle 43 during the washing operation of the dishwasher. In such a case, it is inconvenient for the controller 44 to detect and pull out the cleaning tank 33 . Therefore, the control unit 44 may be configured so as not to be driven by knocking twice during operation of the dishwasher, which is the same as when the dishwasher is stopped. In this case, it is preferable to set so as to detect an intentional action of the user, such as suspending the operation and pulling out the washing tank 33 when three knocks are detected. . As a result, the control unit 44 can prevent unintentional control by the user, and can have a so-called child lock function, improving safety.

In this way, control can be assigned by combining the state of the cleaning tank 33 and the knock. Regarding the detection of knocking by the control unit 44, it is effective to detect not only the number of knocks but also the intensity of the knocks in order to devise the type of combination. Further, it is preferable that the user can set the combination of the detection and control operation of the acceleration sensor 45 and the setting of the predetermined position for stopping the cleaning tank 33 from the operation unit 46 or the like, and also confirm the setting on the display unit. That is, the user can set at least the vibration applied to the door 40 by the control unit 44 to drive the drive motor 52 or the operation of the drive motor 52 by the operation unit 46. It is preferable that the setting value can be confirmed by the display section provided in the operation section 46 . As a result, the user can freely set the number of times of knocking, etc., and can confirm the setting, thereby improving usability.

As described above, the configuration in which the control unit 44 performs arbitrary control based on the combination of the state of the cleaning tank 33 and the number of times of knocking is exemplified as follows.

a) When the cleaning operation is stopped, the user knocks the door 40 twice while the cleaning tank 33 is stored. At this time, the control unit 44 moves the cleaning tank 33 in the direction to pull it out. (Operation preparation)
b) When the washing tank 33 is pulled out and the washing operation is not set, the user knocks the door 40 once. At this time, the control unit 44 only accommodates the cleaning tank 33 and does not start the cleaning operation. (operation preparation or operation end)
c) When the cleaning operation is set with the cleaning tank 33 pulled out, the user knocks the door 40 twice. At this time, the control unit 44 only accommodates the cleaning tank 33 and does not start the cleaning operation. (Operation preparation)
d) When the cleaning operation is set with the cleaning tank 33 pulled out, the user knocks the door 40 once. At this time, the controller 44 accommodates the cleaning tank 33 and starts the set cleaning operation. (start operation)
e) During the cleaning operation, the user knocks the door 40 three times while the cleaning tank 33 is stored. At this time, the control unit 44 suspends the cleaning operation and moves the cleaning tank 33 in the direction to pull it out. (suspension of operation)
As shown in b and c, if the washing operation is not started after the washing tank 33 is accommodated, the user can interrupt the preparation for washing while the dishes 36 are being accommodated and leave the dishwasher. . As for b, when the user intends to start the cleaning operation at d, the user can notice that the setting for the cleaning operation has not yet been made.

In addition, in the allocation of the control described above, all operations may be handled by knocking the same number of times by using a start switch or the like as necessary. In this case, the usability is improved in that the user does not need to memorize the number of knocks for each operation.

Further, when the handle 43 is provided on the door 40, the control unit 44 may be configured to cancel the driving of the drive motor 52 as a setting when the user does not use the drive device 51. .

The dishwasher configured as described above has the following functions and effects.

Equipped with an acceleration sensor 45 for detecting vibrations applied to at least the door 40, the controller 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 for a set period of time to move the washing tank 33 in the forward direction. there is As a result, even if the door 40 covering the front surface of the dishwasher does not have the operation part 46 or the handle 43, the washing tub 33 can be pulled out to a predetermined position, and the dishwasher adapts to the diversified design of the system kitchen K. be able to. Further, by adjusting the set time according to the actual usage of the user, the cleaning tank 33 is controlled to stop at an arbitrary position.

The control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 when receiving a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that detects a predetermined vibration applied to the door 40 . As a result, the vibration caused by the user knocking on the door 40 is detected, and the driving motor 52 moves the washing tank 33 forward or backward according to the operation timing and the state of the washing tank 33. You can let

The controller 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 to a position where the top opening 35 of the cleaning tank 33 is substantially fully opened. As a result, the user can insert and remove the tableware 36 without manual effort to pull out the washing tub 33 .

The control unit 44 is configured to stop the drive motor 52 when receiving a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that detects the acceleration generated when the cleaning tank 33 stops. As a result, even if the door 40 or the cleaning tank 33 or the like collides with an obstacle and stops, the obstacle is prevented from causing trouble. Further, by providing the locking portion at a predetermined position of the drawer, the controller 44 can stop the washing tank 33 at a predetermined position.

The controller 44 is configured to cut off the motor circuit when the washing tank is stopped. As a result, even if the driving motor 52 is idly rotated by the user manually moving the washing tank 33 to generate counter electromotive force, the counter electromotive force is cut off and the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44 is not abnormal. no current flows. In addition, when the opening and closing operation is performed manually, an electrical load is not generated due to the back electromotive force of the drive motor, and no load is applied to the opening and closing operation. can.

The drive device 51 has a drive motor 52, a pinion gear 53 driven by the drive motor 52, and a rack gear 54 meshing with the pinion gear 53. The drive motor 52 has the pinion gear 53 positioned near the front opening 32. , and the rack gear 54 is fixed to the outside of the cleaning tank 33 . As a result, even if the cleaning tank 33 moves in the pull-out direction and is lowered forward, the vicinity of the pinion gear 53 provided at the front serves as a fulcrum, so there is a possibility that the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 will be disengaged. is low, and a simple configuration is sufficient to prevent disengagement.

As disclosed above, the control unit 44 controls the driving device 51 to safely move the cleaning tank 33 according to the intention of the user. For the user, the effort of manually moving the cleaning tank 33 is reduced, and usability is improved. Further, the operation unit 46 is entirely hidden within the housing 31, and can be adapted to the diversified design of the system kitchen K. The design of the system kitchen K is unified, and the design is improved.

Even if an obstacle exists in front of the cleaning tank 33 due to carelessness of the user or the like, the control unit 44 detects the occurrence of vibration or a change in acceleration, and stops driving the drive motor 52. do. This ensures safety by avoiding obstacles and major malfunctions in the dishwasher.

(Embodiment 2)
3 and 4 are longitudinal cross-sectional side views of a dishwasher with a drawer-type washing tub according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is accommodated in the housing. FIG. 4 shows a state in which the cleaning tank is pulled out from the inside of the housing to the full opening. In this embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is the driving device. The configuration other than this is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is used.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the washing tank 33 is constructed so that it can be moved in and out by a roller pressing type driving device 55 . The drive device 55 includes a drive motor 56, a roller 57 driven by the drive motor 56, and a press rail 58 with which the roller 57 is pressed. The pressure contact rail 58 is fixed to the lower portion of the outer side of the cleaning tank 33 . The pressure contact rail 58 is configured to have a length equal to or longer than at least the stroke by which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. A roller 57 that is pressed against the pressing rail 58 is mounted so as to be driven by a drive motor 56 . The drive motor 56 has a reduction mechanism, and is fixed inside the housing 31 so that the roller 57 is positioned near the front opening 32 . In FIG. 3, the roller 57 is pressed against the pressing rail 58 from below, but it is not limited to this, and may be pressed from above or laterally. Also, the pressure contact rail 58 may be the side surface or the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 33 itself.

With this configuration, the rotary motion of the drive motor 56 is converted into linear motion, and the cleaning tub 33 can move until the top opening 35 is substantially fully opened. If the drive motor 56 is configured to be driven for a set time, it can be stopped at an arbitrary position when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out according to the set time. Also, with the combination of the roller 57 and the press contact rail 58, unlike the rack and pinion type, there is no need to worry about gear meshing during assembly, which facilitates assembly. The user does not need to exert any effort to pull out the washing tank 33. - 特許庁In the dishwasher, the washing tub 33 can be pulled out by the driving device 55 to a position where the tableware 36 can be easily accommodated, thereby improving usability. In addition, it is possible to adapt to the diversified design of the system kitchen K.

(Embodiment 3)
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional side view of a dishwasher according to Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In addition, in this embodiment, the difference from the first embodiment is the operating portion of the door. The configuration other than this is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is used.

As shown in FIG. 5, the door 40 has an operation portion 46b on the top of the decorative plate 42. As shown in FIG. The operating portion 46b is provided with an operation switch (not shown) for a driving motor 52, which is a driving portion for moving at least the cleaning tank 33. As shown in FIG. This operation switch is provided so that it can be distinguished in which direction it should be operated.

When the cleaning tank 33 is moved forward, the controller 44 controls the drive motor 52 so that the top opening 35 is substantially fully opened. In this embodiment, "substantially fully open" includes a state in which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out the most and the top opening 35 is most open, and a state in which the top opening 35 is half or more open. In short, the tableware 36 is pulled out to the extent that the user can put the tableware 36 in and out. For this purpose, the controller 44 controls the drive motor 52 with time. That is, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 for the set predetermined time T1 and then stops.

With this configuration, the user does not need to exert any effort to pull out or retract the cleaning tank 33 . In the dishwasher, the washing tub 33 can be pulled out by the driving device 51 to a position where the tableware 36 can be easily accommodated, thereby improving usability. In addition, it is possible to adapt to the diversified design of the system kitchen K.

(Embodiment 4)
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional side view of another drawer-type dishwasher according to Embodiment 4 of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a front longitudinal sectional view of the dishwasher according to this embodiment. 8 is an enlarged view of a main portion of the slide rail portion of FIG. 7. FIG.

This embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the washing tub of the dishwasher and the configuration of the door supporting mechanism. In the first embodiment, the washing tank is a drawer type that can be taken in and out of the housing, but in the present embodiment, the washing tank is fixed inside the housing. Due to this difference, the support mechanism for supporting the door includes the cleaning tank to which the door is attached and the slide rail for moving the cleaning tank in the first embodiment. includes a support member to which is attached and a slide rail. The configuration related to the present invention other than this is the same as that of the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is used.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the housing 71 has a front opening 72 whose entire front is open. A cleaning tank 73 is formed inside a housing 71 provided with a front opening 72 . A door 74 is provided to cover the front opening 72 . A lower dish basket 77 and an upper dish basket 78 on which dishes 76 are placed are provided in a washing space 75 formed by the washing tank 73 and the door 74 so as to be movable back and forth. These dish baskets 77 and 78 can move together with the door 74 if they are locked with the door 74, and can move individually if they are unlocked.

An operation unit 79 is provided on the upper surface of the door 74, and the user can press a button on the operation unit 79 to turn on/off the power, start, pause, and switch between washing and drying courses. Also, a switch for operating a control unit (not shown) may be provided to move the door 74 . The control section is provided below the operation section 79 .

The door 74 is supported by the housing 71 by a support mechanism 80 so as to be movable back and forth. The support mechanism 80 includes support members 81 and slide rails 82 . The slide rails 82 are attached to the inner side surfaces on both the left and right sides of the housing 71 at the outer lower portion of the cleaning tank 73 . As shown in FIG. 8, the slide rail 82 includes a fixed rail 82a, a first movable rail 82b slidably mounted on the fixed rail 82a, and a second movable rail 82b slidably mounted on the first movable rail 82b. 2 movable rails 82c.

A support member 81 made of a metal plate has a front end portion 81 a fixed to the inner lower portion of the door 74 . Also, the support member 81 is fixed on the second movable rail 82c. When the door 74 moves forward, the support member 81 and the second movable rail 82c move forward together with the first movable rail 82b while supporting the door 74 substantially vertically. This extends the slide rail 82 .

A driving device 83 is provided for moving the door 74 at least forward or backward. The control section is configured to drive the driving section when receiving a predetermined signal from a sensor such as the acceleration sensor 45 or an operation switch. The drive device 83 has a drive motor 84 as a drive section.

In the present embodiment, a driving device 83 configured as a rack and pinion system will be described. The drive device 83 includes a drive motor 84 as a drive unit, a pinion gear 85 driven by the drive motor 84 , and a rack gear 86 meshing with the pinion gear 85 . A rack gear 86 having gear teeth formed in a straight line is fixed near the support member 81 . The rack gear 86 is configured to have a length equal to or longer than at least the stroke through which the door 74 moves. A pinion gear 85 meshing with the rack gear 86 is mounted so as to be driven by a drive motor 84 . The drive motor 84 has a reduction mechanism (not shown), and is fixed inside the housing 71 at a position where the pinion gear 85 is near the front opening 72 . With this configuration, the rotary motion of the drive motor 84 is converted into linear motion to move the door 74 forward or backward. Other detailed controls are the same as those in the first embodiment, and descriptions thereof are omitted.

(Other embodiments)
Although the configurations of the four embodiments have been disclosed above, other embodiments are shown for various configurations including the driving device.

A method of stopping at a predetermined position when the washing tank 33 is pulled out will be exemplified instead of the method of controlling the drive motor 52 according to the time disclosed in the first embodiment.

1. As shown in FIG. 8, a position detection unit 59 for detecting a predetermined position of the cleaning tank 33 is provided near the front opening 32, and the control unit 44 is controlled by a signal from the position detection unit 59 generated during movement. It may be configured to stop driving the drive motor. The position detector 59 may be a microswitch. Not limited to this, a photoelectric switch may be used. Alternatively, the position may be detected by measuring the movement distance of the cleaning tank 33 using a photoelectric sensor or the like. Even if the driving unit is composed of a stepping motor, the moving distance is detected.

2. As shown in FIG. 9, a locking portion 60 configured to stop the washing tank 33 at a predetermined position may be provided. The locking portion 60 includes, for example, a first protrusion 60a provided near the front opening 32 of the housing 31 and a second protrusion 60b provided at the rear of the slide rail 34 or the cleaning tank 33. However, it is constructed so that it collides at a predetermined position where the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The control unit 44 detects lock currents of the drive motors 52 and 56 that are generated when the cleaning tank 33 is stopped by the locking unit 60, thereby controlling the drive motors 52 and 56.
56 may be configured to stop driving.

3. As shown in FIG. 9, a locking portion 60 configured to stop the washing tank 33 at a predetermined position may be provided. The locking portion 60 includes, for example, a first protrusion 60a provided near the front opening 32 of the housing 31 and a second protrusion 60b provided at the rear of the slide rail 34 or the cleaning tank 33. However, it is constructed so that it collides at a predetermined position where the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The control unit 44 may be configured to stop the drive motors 52 and 56 when receiving a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that detects the acceleration generated by the stopping of the cleaning tank 33 by the locking unit 60 .

According to these configurations, unlike the set time shown in the first embodiment, there is no need to ascertain the relationship between the set time and the withdrawal amount, and the stop position is set physically. At this time, if the position detection portion 59 or the first projection portion 60a is slid forward and backward and can be fixed at an arbitrary position, the washing tank 33 is reliably stopped at an arbitrary predetermined position. In addition, 2. The lock current generated at is short-time, and the driving motors 52 and 56 are not overloaded. In addition, 2. and 3. It is preferable that the engaging portion 60 indicated by has a cushioning property. As a result, the washing tank 33 is stopped smoothly, shock is not transmitted to the accommodated tableware 36, and noise caused by contact between the tableware 36 and breakage of the tableware 36 are prevented. In addition, splashing of water stored in the washing tank 33 and splashing out of the washing tank 33 and getting the dried dishes 36 wet after washing are prevented.

In the drive devices 51 and 55 , the drive motors 52 and 56 may be fixed to the rear part of the cleaning tank 33 , and the rack gear 54 and pressure contact rail 58 may be fixed inside the housing 31 . When the drive device is provided in the furniture or the drawer of the refrigerator, it is convenient and common to provide the power supply for the drive unit on the housing side. However, the drawer-type dishwasher with the washing tub 33 requires a power source for the heater 49 and the washing pump 50, and the washing tub 33 is originally provided with a power line. Therefore, according to this configuration, the signal lines and power lines from the control unit 44 to the drive motors 52 and 56 need not be routed to the housing 31 side, and only the sides of the cleaning tank 33 are required. Assembly is facilitated, and maintenance workability is improved.

In the driving device 51 , the rack gear 54 may be formed with teeth on both upper and lower sides and may be configured to be sandwiched between the upper and lower pinion gears 53 . Further, the rack gear 54 may be configured such that teeth are formed in one of the upper and lower directions, and rollers are provided on the side where no teeth are formed so that the teeth are sandwiched between the upper and lower sides. According to these configurations, the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 are reliably meshed with each other and are not easily disengaged.

When continuing to move the washing tank 33 that has been stopped halfway due to an obstacle, the driving devices 51 and 55 may be used instead of being manually moved by the user. At this time, it is necessary to distinguish whether it is pulled out from the stop position or retracted. As this method, the number of times the user hits the decorative plate 42 may be discriminated and the acceleration sensor 45 may detect it. Also, a switch indicating the direction of movement may be provided in the operating portion 46 and operated by the user. According to this configuration, the driving devices 51 and 55 are utilized, and the effort of manual movement by the user is reduced.

Furthermore, the control of the drive devices 51 and 55 is illustrated.

The control unit 44 may start driving after a predetermined time T2 (for example, 0.4 seconds to 1 second) after detecting a signal for driving the driving motors 52 and 56 by the user. With this configuration, when washing water is being sprayed from the washing nozzle in the washing process, it is possible to wait for the washing pump to stop and prevent the washing water from jumping out of the washing tank. In addition, when driving signals are continuously detected and driving is repeated, temporary stoppage of the driving motors 52 and 56 can be ensured to prevent continuous large starting currents. You can prevent it from rising.

In addition, if it is notified that the door 40 is driven and moved, the safety is improved. In particular, it is preferable to start the notification before the door 40 starts moving within the predetermined time T2. If the movement is notified before the door 40 is driven, safety can be further improved.

A door closing detection sensor (not shown, but can be substituted by, for example, the position detection unit 59 shown in FIG. 6) is provided to detect that the door 40 is closed. The signal from the acceleration sensor 45 is not detected for a predetermined time T3 (for example, 0.5 seconds) after detecting the signal that the body 40 is closed, or the driving is suspended even if the signal is detected. can be The shock generated when the door 40 is closed vibrates the entire housing including tableware. This configuration can prevent erroneous detection of vibration when the door is closed. In addition, temporary stoppage of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be ensured, and excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52 and 56 can be prevented.

Further, in this way, when the door close detection sensor detects a signal that the door 40 is closed, the user may be informed that the door 40 has been securely closed. Further, the user may be informed that the knock for pulling out the door 40 can be received by announcing after a predetermined time T3 from detecting the closed signal. With this configuration, the user can confirm that the door 40 is securely closed and that subsequent cleaning operations are performed normally.

The control unit 44 drives the drive motors 52 and 56 in the backward direction to close the door 40, and when the signal from the door closing detection sensor is not detected even though it is detected that the drive motors 52 and 56 have stopped. , the occurrence of an abnormality may be notified. Thereby, the user can be informed that the door 40 is not completely closed.

Furthermore, even if the user operates to close, when this notification is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times), it may be notified that an abnormality has occurred and further driving may be stopped. With this configuration, the locking current of the drive motors 52, 56 can be prevented from being repeated, and excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52, 56 can be prevented. In addition, it is possible to inform the user that it is necessary to determine whether an abnormality has occurred, such as whether the door 40 is not closed due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the drive motors 52 and 56 or the door closing detection sensor has failed. Further, it is possible to prevent the cleaning operation from being performed while the door 40 is not closed.

The control unit 44 drives the drive motors 52 and 56 in the forward direction in which the door 40 is opened in a state in which the door close detection sensor detects a signal indicating that the door 40 is closed, and a predetermined time T4 (for example, 2 5 seconds), the occurrence of an abnormality may be notified when the signal of the door closing detection sensor remains detected. With this configuration, it is possible to notify the user of the abnormality of the door 40 by judging that the door 40 is not moving.

Furthermore, when the door 40 does not open even when the user knocks and this notification is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, 5 times), it may be notified that an abnormality has occurred and further driving may be stopped. . With this configuration, the locking current of the drive motors 52, 56 can be prevented from being repeated, and excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52, 56 can be prevented. In addition, the user can be informed that it is necessary to determine whether an abnormality has occurred, such as whether the door 40 is stuck due to an obstacle or the like, or whether the drive motors 52 and 56 or the door closing detection sensor has failed.

Next, the application of the acceleration sensor 45 to other controls will be illustrated.

The acceleration sensor 45 may be configured to detect tilt in the dishwasher installation. Dishwashers use water, so if they are tilted, problems such as water leakage may occur. Therefore, it must be confirmed that it is in a horizontal state during installation. That is, the control unit 44 can be applied as a spirit level by detecting the deviation between the gravity and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction. Since the controller 44 can detect the inclination of the dishwasher with the acceleration sensor 45, the level can be eliminated, and the workability of installation is improved. Also, in the place where the dishwasher is installed, if the installation surface is tilted due to aging, the control unit 44 can detect it and notify the user or stop the operation. As a result, the dishwasher is used while the tilt is being corrected, and problems due to the tilt do not occur over a long period of use.

Further, the control unit 44 may control the driving motors 52 and 56 to change the moving speed of the door 40 based on the installation inclination detected by the acceleration sensor 45 . Specifically, when the vehicle is tilted forward or backward by less than a predetermined value, the movement speed is made slower than normal. If the installed inclination is large, there is a risk of water leakage, and there is a risk that the drive device 51 will be loaded more than expected. With this configuration, when the door 40 is installed at an inclination that does not interfere with the washing operation, the moving speed of the door 40 can be slowed down to improve safety.

Furthermore, the control unit 44 may perform control so that the drive cannot be performed when the tilt detected by the acceleration sensor 45 is greater than or equal to a predetermined value. With this configuration, safety can be improved by regulating the operation before a problem such as water leakage or an unexpected load on the drive device occurs.

The acceleration sensor 45 may detect vibration caused by washing water colliding with the inner wall of the washing tank 33 during the washing operation. Based on the direction and magnitude of the acceleration due to the vibration detected by the acceleration sensor 45, the control unit 44 determines whether the washing pump 50 is operating normally, whether the washing nozzle 48 is rotating normally, and whether the plurality of washing nozzles are rotating. It can be determined from which of the 48 is being jetted, how much tableware 36 is contained, and the like.

If there is no predetermined output from the acceleration sensor 45 when a signal for driving the drive motors 52 and 56 is output, the control unit 44 determines that the drive motors 52 and 56 or the acceleration sensor 45 or the like is out of order. may be notified. Thereby, the control unit 44 can notify the user of the abnormality in the drive system.

The control unit 44 may pull out the cleaning tank 33 when detecting an abnormality in the acceleration sensor 45 . As a result, the problem that the cleaning tank 33 cannot be pulled out due to failure to detect knocking can be avoided, and the control unit 44 can notify the user of the abnormality of the acceleration sensor 45 .

A notification unit for notifying when the driving device 51 operates and for notifying the occurrence of an abnormality is provided in the operation unit 46 . Specifically, the notification unit may audibly notify by synthesized sound such as voice or buzzer, so that the user can easily be noticed if the user is nearby.

In addition, when the notification is given by sound, the control unit 44 may start the notification after a predetermined time T5 after detecting vibration due to knocking or the like. This predetermined time T5 is desirably 0.1 seconds to 0.6 seconds. This is because, if the duration is less than 0.1 seconds, the user's consciousness is focused on knocking, and if a sound such as knocking is generated, the sound and the first part of the notification sound will be combined. This is because it is difficult to hear because Also, if the time exceeds 0.6 seconds, the user will be given the impression of being elongated. Therefore, when the notification sound is started a predetermined time T5 after detection of vibration due to knocking or the like, the user can easily hear the notification sound without being disturbed by the sound of knocking.

Further, the notification unit may be display of an error code, blinking of a lamp such as an LED, or a combination of lighting of a plurality of lamps. Further, the structure is not limited to the acceleration sensor 45, and the cleaning tank 33 may be automatically pulled out when an abnormality occurs. This allows the user to visually notice the occurrence of an abnormality. In particular, in a configuration in which the operation unit 46 is hidden inside the housing 31, it is preferable that the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out, so that the user can easily check the error code or LED display displayed on the operation unit 46. can be done. At this time, the cleaning tank 33 may be pulled out to such an extent that the operation portion 46 can be visually recognized.

The dishwasher may be equipped with a remote control (not shown) that transmits operating signals. The control unit 44 receives various operation signals from the remote controller and performs control according to them. The control unit 44 detects a predetermined signal from the remote control and drives the driving motors 52 and 56 to move the cleaning tank 33, even when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out or retracted. This allows the user to operate the dishwasher from a distance.

The configurations that can be combined with the embodiments disclosed above can be combined without any particular limitation.

As described above, the dishwasher according to the present invention can be used in a system kitchen because the washing tank can be easily pulled out and operated even if a decorative board without an operation part or a handle is attached in order to improve the design. It is useful as a dishwasher that is used as a built-in unit and has uniformity in design.

31 housing 32 front opening 33 cleaning tank (support mechanism)
34 slide rail (support mechanism)
35 Top opening 36 Tableware 37 Inner lid 38 Parallel link mechanism 39 Seal part 40 Door body 41 Operation panel 42 Decorative plate 43 Handle 44 Control part 45 Acceleration sensor (sensor)
46 operation part 47 dish basket 48 washing nozzle 49 heater 50 washing pump 51 driving device 52 driving motor (driving part), (driving device)
53 pinion gear (driving device)
54 rack gear (drive)
55 drive device 56 drive motor (drive unit), (drive device)
57 roller (driving device)
58 pressure contact rail (drive device)
( support mechanism)
82 slide rail (support mechanism)
83 drive device 84 drive motor (drive unit), (drive device)
85 pinion gear (driving device)
86 rack gear (driving device)

Claims (9)

a housing having a front opening on the front;
A tableware basket that accommodates tableware and is provided in the housing so that it can be put in and taken out,
a door covering the front opening;
a support mechanism that supports the door body on the housing in a forward and backward movable state;
a driving device for moving the door at least forward or backward;
a sensor that detects at least the vibration applied to the door;
a notification unit that notifies the user of the operation status;
a control unit;
The drive device has a drive unit,
The sensor detects vibration caused by the user knocking on the door to the extent that a knocking sound is generated, and the control unit detects vibration 0.1 to 0.6 seconds after the vibration is detected. A dishwasher configured to start notification with a notification sound by the notification unit and to drive the driving unit. 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein when said sensor detects that said door has been knocked a plurality of times, said notification unit gives notification. 3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein said control unit is configured to start driving said driving unit 0.4 to 1.0 seconds after detecting vibration. A door closing detection sensor is provided for detecting that the door is closed,
The controller according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the control unit is configured to notify when the door close detection sensor detects a signal that the door is closed, or after a predetermined time T3 after the detection. A dishwasher according to any one of the preceding claims. When the door closing detection sensor detects a signal indicating that the door is closed, the control unit controls the control unit to detect vibration from the sensor for detecting vibration for a predetermined time T3 after detecting the signal from the door closing detection sensor. 5. The dishwasher according to claim 4 , configured so as not to detect a signal, or suspend driving of said drive unit even if a signal from said sensor is detected. In a state in which the door closing detection sensor detects a signal indicating that the door is closed, the control unit drives the drive unit in a forward direction in which the door is opened, and keeps the door closed for a predetermined time T4. 6. The dishwasher according to claim 4 or 5 , configured to notify that the door body is not moving when the signal of the close detection sensor remains detected. 7. The dishwasher according to claim 6 , wherein, when the notification that the door body is not moving is repeated a predetermined number of times, the control unit notifies that an abnormality has occurred and stops further driving. The control unit drives the drive unit in a rearward direction to close the door, and when the signal from the door closing detection sensor is not detected even though the stop of the drive unit is detected, the door closes. A dishwasher as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7 , configured to indicate that the body is not fully closed. 9. The dishwashing according to claim 8 , wherein when the notification that the door is not completely closed is repeated a predetermined number of times, the control unit notifies the occurrence of an abnormality and stops further driving. machine.

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