JPH04144530A - Controller for tableware washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent stain from sticking to a tableware and to secure the washing performance even if it is left as it is for many hours until the operation is started actually after a reservation is set by executing a preliminary washing process immediately after the reservation is set. CONSTITUTION:After the reservation is set, stained tableware 10 is set in a tableware washer, but since preliminary washing is executed immediately thereafter, the stain of the tableware 10 is made wet, and also, the leftover removed simply is washed off. The stain which contains once holds a wet state for many hours, when it is set into a tableware washing machine, therefore, while waiting until an operation start time T2 comes, it can be prevented that the stain sticks to the tableware 10 and the washing performance can be secured. When the tableware is left as it is until it is washed after it becomes dirty is within one hour, a sufficient washing performance is obtained by a regular sequence. Therefore, by executing a preliminary washing process only in the case where a difference between the time T1 when a reservation is set, and the operation start time T2 exceeds one hour, sticking can be prevented only in the case of necessity.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a control device for a dishwasher used in general households.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The structure of a conventional dishwasher is shown in FIG. In the figure,
Reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of the dishwasher, 2 a washing tank installed inside the main body 1, and 3 a washing pump for circulating washing water in the washing tank 2, which is rotationally driven by a washing motor 4. The cleaning pump a is passed through the waste filter 6 arranged at the inner bottom of the cleaning tank 2.
The cleaning water sucked in is sent to the injection nozzle 7 from the discharge side of the cleaning pump 3 while being heated by the heater 6, and is sprayed from the injection hole 8. This jet of water hits the tableware 1o set on the pin 16 of the tableware basket 9 and washes the tableware. During the drying process, after the cleaning liquid is discharged to the outside of the machine, the heater 6 is intermittently energized and becomes a dry state. Further, the fan motor 12 rotates, and the casing 13
The outside air is taken into the washing tank 2 through the washing tank 2, and the steam inside the washing tank 2 is discharged outside the machine through the exhaust port 14, thereby drying the dishes. 11 is a thermistor attached to the bottom outer wall of the cleaning tank 2, and 16 is a water level detection means attached to the lower outer wall of the cleaning tank 2.

The flow from washing dishes to drying them will be explained with reference to FIG.

As shown in the figure, when the operation starts, the process moves to cleaning process B.
After removing dirt in this washing step B, the detergent is washed away in a rinsing step C, and the dishes are dried in a drying step.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention According to the above-mentioned conventional configuration, although normal dirt can be washed sufficiently, it is not sufficient to wash stubborn dirt that has been left for a long time because the washing time is constant. In some cases, proper cleaning may not be obtained. In particular, starchy stains from rice etc. become more sticky to the tableware over time, and for example, if the tableware is equipped with a reservation timer function and left for a long time, cleaning performance cannot be ensured. Ta.

In view of the above problems, the first object of the present invention is to ensure cleaning performance even if a timer function is provided to leave dirty tableware for a long time.

The second purpose is to prevent operations unnecessary to ensure cleaning performance.

The third purpose is to ensure cleaning performance even when adding tableware while the tableware is left alone.

A first means of the present invention for solving the problems and achieving the above-mentioned first object is to control the load of the cleaning pump, heater, etc. to perform cleaning.
A control means for controlling each process such as rinsing, a reserved time setting means for setting an operation start time or an operation end time, and a start time calculated from the start time or end time set by the reserved time setting means. and a reservation timer device for starting the operation of each process such as cleaning and rinsing by the control means, and the control means is configured to execute a pre-washing step immediately after the reservation is set by the reservation time setting means. be.

A second means of the present invention for achieving the second object is that the reservation timer 1 device calculates the operation start time from the end time set by the reservation time setting means, and the control means sets the reservation by the reservation time setting means. The pre-washing process is executed only when the difference between the time at which the pre-washing process is performed and the start time of the reservation timer device exceeds a predetermined time.

A third means of the present invention for achieving the third object is provided with a lid opening/closing detection means for detecting opening/closing of the lid, and the control means controls the opening/closing detection means from the lid opening/closing detection means after setting the reservation by the reservation time setting means. When detected, a pre-washing process is executed.

Effect According to the first means, by performing the pre-washing step immediately after setting the reservation, it is possible to not only moisten the dirt on the dishes set in the dishwasher but also wash away the leftovers that easily fall off. Even if it is left unused for a long time after setting up and before it actually starts operating, it can prevent dirt from sticking and ensure cleaning performance.

According to the second method, the pre-washing process is not performed when the difference between the time when the reservation is set and the start time of operation, that is, the time of leaving the room is short, and when the dirt does not become sticky due to the time of leaving it, the preliminary washing process is not performed. It is possible to prevent the user from performing inappropriate actions.

Furthermore, according to the third means, after setting the reservation,
By performing a pre-washing process every time the lid is detected to be opened or closed, even if new dishes are set while waiting for the machine to actually start operation after setting a reservation, the machine will also moisten the dirt on the dishes. It can prevent stiffness.

Examples Below, part 5 of the present invention! An example will be explained with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 2o denotes a reservation time setting means for setting the operation end time, and the operation end time from the reservation time setting means 2.degree. is outputted to the reservation timer device 21. The reservation timer device 21 calculates the operation start time by subtracting the time required for each process such as cleaning and rinsing from the operation end time, and when this operation start time is reached, it outputs an operation start signal to the control means 22, The control means 22 is a cleaning pump.

Loads 23 such as heaters are controlled to control each process such as cleaning and rinsing. The control means 22 receives a reservation time setting signal from the reservation time setting means 2o and executes a pre-washing process in which the washing pump is operated. When the difference from the start time is less than a predetermined time, the pre-washing step is not performed, and when the start time of operation is reached, normal washing, rinsing, etc. steps are performed. Further, the control means 22 receives a signal from a lid opening/closing detection means 24 that detects opening/closing of the lid, and when the lid is opened/closed and tableware is added, the control means 22 operates the load 6 to perform a pre-washing process.

According to the above configuration, the pre-washing process is executed immediately after the operation end time is set by the reserved time setting means 20, so that even if the dishes are left for a long time until the operation start time, the stains on the dishes can be cleaned. It can be easily removed and prevents dirt from building up due to being left for a long time. Also,
If the difference between the reservation setting time and the operation start time (leaving time) is short, the pre-washing process is omitted, so this is a wasteful operation when the standing time is short and the dishes do not become caked with dirt. It is economical without having to do anything.

Furthermore, the opening/closing of the lid is detected by the lid opening/closing detection means 24, but this opening/closing operation of the lid is regarded as an operation of adding dishes, and pre-washing is performed at that time, so that the added dishes may become stained. Cleaning performance can be ensured without being left unattended.

Next, a specific circuit of the dishwasher control device of the present invention is shown in FIG. That is, based on input signals from a temperature detection means 26 such as a thermistor attached to the bottom outer wall of the cleaning tank 2 and a water level detection means 26 attached to the lower outer wall of the cleaning tank 2, the microcomputer 27 controls the triacs 33 to 33.
The drive means 38 of 37 are controlled and the water supply valve 28 . Heater 2
9. Washing motor so, drainage pump motor 31. A load 39 such as a fan motor 32 is controlled. Microcomputer 27
is the reservation timer device 21. It has the function of the control means 22. Next, a flowchart from the reservation setting by the reservation time setting means 20 to washing, rinsing, and drying is shown in FIG. When a reservation is set so that the operation end time is T3 at time T1 (step 40), preliminary washing is performed immediately after the setting (step 41), and then a series of operations from washing to drying is performed from the operation end time. The process waits until the driving start time T2 calculated by subtracting the required driving time (step 42, as). At time T2, the process proceeds to a cleaning process (step 44), a rinsing process (step 46),
Following the drying step (step 46), the operation ends at time T3. Pre-washing is performed using the water level detection means 2 as shown in Figure 4.
The water supply valve 28 is controlled based on the signal No. 6 to supply water to a predetermined water level (steps 47 and 48). After that, the washing pump 3o is operated for 1 minute to wash the dishes (step 4).
9.50), and the drain pump motor 31 drains water (step 61). In the cleaning process, as shown in FIG. 6, the water supply valve 28 is controlled based on the signal from the water level detection means 26 to supply water up to the set water level (steps 62 and 53). Thereafter, the washing pump 3 is operated for one minute to perform pre-washing (steps 54, 55), and then the drainage pump 31 is operated to drain water (step 56).

Next, the water supply valve 28 is controlled to supply water to the set water level in the washing tank (step 57, sa), the heater 6 is turned on, and the washing bonder 3 is also turned on to perform main washing while heating water (step 59). This main washing is continued until the temperature detection means 25 detects 57° C. and 20 minutes have passed (step 6o), and then the water is drained (step 61).

Next, the operation after setting the reservation time will be explained with reference to FIG. After the reservation is set, the dirty dishes 1o are set in the dishwasher, but pre-washing is performed immediately after that, so that the dirt on the dishes 10 is moistened and the easily washed away leftovers are washed away. - If the dishwasher is placed in a dishwasher, soiled with water will remain moist for a long time.
It is possible to prevent the product from sticking to the surface and ensure cleaning performance.

Note that if the difference between the time T1 at which the reservation was set and the operation start time T2 is one hour or less, the preliminary step is omitted. That is, among the stains, starchy substances such as rice grains are particularly likely to stick to the tableware 1o over time. If the time from dirty dishes to washing is less than 1 hour, sufficient cleaning performance can be obtained with the normal sequence, but if it exceeds 1 hour, do not significantly extend the washing time. It becomes necessary to increase the capacity of the cleaning pump 3. The time τ when the reservation was set there
By performing the pre-washing process only when the difference between 1 and the operation start time τ2 exceeds 1 hour, it is possible to prevent staining if necessary.

Further, FIG. 7 shows an example in which a pre-washing process is performed every time opening/closing of the lid 17 is detected after setting a reservation. After setting the reservation, if a new tableware 1o is set while waiting until the time T2 when the operation actually starts, the lid 17 will necessarily be opened. ON
, is detected by the microcomputer 22 that detects OFF,
Pre-washing also moistens the stains on the dishes,
It can prevent stiffness.

In this embodiment, the reservation time setting means 2o sets the operation end time, but the operation start time may also be set.In this case, the reservation timer device 2o
1, the operation start signal may be output to the control means 22 at the operation start time. Also, to calculate the operation start time from the operation end time, the time required for each process was subtracted, but if you change the time required depending on the content to be executed, for example, washing to rinsing, washing to drying, To ensure that the operation is completed at the operation end time even if the contents to be executed are different.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above-mentioned embodiments, the dishwasher control device of the present invention has the following advantages: First, the dishwasher control device of the present invention moistens the dirty dishes set in the dishwasher by performing a prewash step immediately after setting a reservation. Not only that, but it can also wash away easily-dried leftovers, preventing dirt from sticking and ensuring cleaning performance even if the machine is left unattended for a long time after setting a reservation until it actually starts operating.

Secondly, the pre-washing step is omitted if the tableware is left for a short time and does not get dirty.
It is possible to prevent uneconomical supply of water from driving the cleaning pump, and to improve economic efficiency.

Thirdly, by performing a pre-washing process every time the lid is opened or closed after setting a reservation, even if new dishes are set while waiting for operation to start after setting a reservation. Similarly, it can moisten dirty dishes and prevent them from sticking.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a control device for a dishwasher showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a specific circuit diagram of the same, FIG. 3 is a flowchart of the same control, and FIG. Figure 6 is a flowchart of the cleaning process, Figures 6 and 7 are flowcharts of control operations showing other embodiments, Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a dishwasher, and Figure 9 is a flowchart of a conventional control device. be. 20... Reservation time setting means, 21...
Timer device, 22... Control means, 23...
...Load, 24...Lid opening/closing detection means. Name of agent: Patent attorney Akira Okaji and two others

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) A control means for controlling each process such as washing and rinsing by controlling the load of the washing pump, heater, etc., a reserved time setting means for setting the operation start time or operation end time, and this reserved time setting means. and a reservation timer device for causing the control means to start operating each process such as cleaning and rinsing at a start time calculated from a set start time or a set end time, and the control means includes the reservation time setting means. A control device for a dishwasher configured to execute a prewash process immediately after setting a reservation. (2) The reservation timer device calculates the operation start time from the end time set by the reservation time setting means, and the control means calculates the difference between the time when the reservation is set by the reservation time setting means and the operation start time of the reservation timer device. The control device for a dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the prewashing step is executed only when a predetermined time has elapsed. (3) A lid opening/closing detection means for detecting opening/closing of the lid is provided, and the control means executes the pre-washing step when detecting the opening/closing from the lid opening/closing detection means after the reservation is set by the reservation time setting means. Dishwasher control device.