JPH0767824A - Tableware washing/drying machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate firm dirt such as rice adhering to a rice bowl and getting burned, etc., of gratin, etc., by generating steam in a washing tank. CONSTITUTION:This machine is provided with a steam generating means 4 for generating steam in a washing tank 1 for putting tableware in. The steam generating means 4 operates before washing is started by a controller 10 and fills the inside of the washing tank 1 with steam. The controller 10 operates a heating equipment 6, as well, and heats the steam. The steam is subjected effectively to water absorption to firm dirt adhering to the tableware and the dirt is softened. The dirt subjected to water absorption can be eliminated simply by washing water from a washing nozzle 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dishwasher / dryer used at home or in industrial use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional dishwasher / dryer includes a washing tank for storing dishes, a heating device for heating washing water and dry air, a washing nozzle for ejecting washing water to the dishes, and washing in the washing tank. A circulation pump that circulates water and injects the cleaning water from the cleaning nozzle, a drainage pump that drains the cleaning water in the cleaning bowl, a water supply device that supplies the cleaning water into the cleaning tank, and the inside of the cleaning tank. In addition, a water supply device for supplying wash water and an intake device for generating dry air were provided.

In the dishwasher having the above-mentioned structure, first, the water supply device supplies water to a predetermined level in the washing bowl, and then the circulation pump is operated to spray the washing water toward the dishes through the washing nozzle. The stains adhering to the dishes were removed by the mechanical force that collided with. In particular, in order to remove dirt efficiently, the cleaning water was heated by the heating device to warm the water during the cleaning. When cleaning was completed, the drainage pump was operated to drain the cleaning water in the cleaning tank out of the machine. Even in the next rinsing step, after supplying water, the circulation pump was operated for a predetermined time to drain water, and the detergent component adhering to dishes and the like was discharged out of the machine. When the rinsing process was completed, the heating device and the air intake device were operated, and the drying air was supplied into the cleaning tank to dry the dishes.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional structure, since only mechanical force for colliding the washing water with the dishes is used to remove the stains on the dishes, the stains firmly adhered to the dishes, for example, the tea bowl, can be stuck. There was a problem that it was not possible to sufficiently remove burnt rice and gratin attached to tableware.

The present invention is intended to solve such conventional problems, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher / dryer capable of removing stains firmly attached to dishes.

The second purpose is to remove strong dirt efficiently.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] A first means of the present invention for achieving the above first object is to provide a washing tank for storing dishes, a heating device for heating washing water and dry air, and washing water. A cleaning nozzle for ejecting the water to the tableware, a circulation pump for circulating the cleaning water in the cleaning tank, and injecting the cleaning water from the cleaning nozzle, a drainage pump for draining the cleaning water in the cleaning tank, and the cleaning A water supply device for supplying cleaning water into the tank,
It has an intake device for generating dry air and a steam generating means for generating steam in the cleaning tank.

A second means of the present invention for achieving the above second object is, in addition to the above first means, a timer means for measuring a predetermined time, and the steam generating means before the cleaning. It has a control device that operates for a predetermined time to count.

[0009]

According to the first means of the present invention, steam is generated in the washing tank for washing dishes so that the steam acts on the dirt strongly adhered to the dishes. The strongly adhered dirt absorbs moisture due to the steam function and becomes soft, and can be easily removed by the mechanical force of the wash water.

According to the second means of the present invention, the cleaning tank is filled with steam for a certain period of time before the cleaning of the dishes is started. Since the steam filled in the cleaning tank sufficiently acts on the strong dirt, it is possible to sufficiently soften the dirt and then allow the wash water to collide with the dirt.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the dishwasher / dryer of the present invention. In the figure, reference numeral 1 is a washing tank, which stores a basket 2 on which dishes are placed. Reference numeral 3 is a water supply device for supplying cleaning water into the cleaning tank 1. 5 is an intake device,
Dry air is generated in the cleaning tank 1 by taking in outside air. Reference numeral 4 denotes a steam generating means that takes in a part of the water supply from the water supply device 3 and heats this water to generate steam. The steam generating means 4 takes in a part of the air from the intake device 5 and sends the steam into the cleaning tank 1 together with this air. A heating device 6 such as a heater heats the cleaning water in the cleaning bowl 1 and the dry air from the suction device 5. A circulation pump 7 pumps up the cleaning water accumulated in the lower part of the cleaning tank 1 and sends it to the cleaning nozzle 8. The washing nozzle 8 sends the washing water sent from the circulation pump 7 toward the dishes stored in the car 2, and also rotates itself by the water pressure. A drainage pump 9 discharges the cleaning water to the outside of the cleaning tank 1. Reference numeral 10 is a control device, which is composed of a microcomputer or the like, and controls the operations of the water supply device 3, the steam generating means 4, the heating device 6, the circulation pump 7, and the drainage pump 9. 1
Reference numeral 1 is a timer means, which is built in the control device 10 and measures a predetermined time.

Next, the operation of the above configuration will be described. FIG. 2 is a process diagram showing the flow of the operation of the dishwasher. In the figure, when the operation of the main body is started, the control device 10 operates the steam generation means 4, the water supply device 3, and the intake device 5 to generate steam in the cleaning tank 1.
At the same time, the timer means 11 built in the control device 10 starts counting time. Further, the control device 10 operates the heating device 6 to raise the temperature of the cleaning tank 1 to heat the steam filled in the cleaning tank 1. The tableware placed in the basket 2 is left as it is while the cleaning tank 1 is filled with steam for a predetermined time measured by the timer means 11.
During this period, rice, gratin, and other sticky substances sticking to the dishes fill the cleaning tank 1, and the steam heated by the heating device sufficiently absorbs moisture, which is a weak mechanical force from the outside. However, it is ready to be taken.

Next, the process of washing with water and detergent is started.
The detergent is put in by the user before the start of operation. The control device 10 operates the water supply device 3 to supply water into the cleaning tank 1. When the water supply is completed, the control device 10 operates the circulation pump 7 to send the cleaning water accumulated in the lower part of the cleaning tank 1 to the cleaning nozzle 8. At this time, the washing nozzle 8 is rotated by the water pressure and hits the dishes placed in the basket 2 with water. The water blown up by the cleaning nozzle 8 falls again to the lower part of the cleaning tank 1 and is sent to the cleaning nozzle 8 again by the circulation pump 7.

Since the control device 10 operates the circulation pump 7 and simultaneously heats the water by the heating device 6, the water coming out from the washing nozzle 8 is hot water, and steam is used to cover the dishes before starting the washing. The stains are sufficiently moist so that the dishes can be easily removed. When the cleaning by the cleaning nozzle 8 is completed, the controller 10 operates the drainage pump 9 to drain the water accumulated in the lower portion of the cleaning tank 1 to the outside of the cleaning tank 1. Again, the control device 10 is the water supply device 3
And, the circulation pump 7 is operated to rinse the detergent attached to the dishes. When the rinsing is completed, the drainage pump 7 again discharges the water out of the cleaning tank 1. Next, the control device 10 operates the intake device 5 and the heating device 6 to dry the dishes.

In the above-described embodiment, the steam generating means 4 is operated to start filling the steam in the cleaning tank 1 with heating by the heating device 6 before starting cleaning, so that the steam in the cleaning tank 1 can be effectively contaminated. Can absorb water. In addition, the dish is not soaked with water in a washing tank to absorb the stains adhering to the dishes, but the stains are absorbed using steam. Compared to the above-mentioned system in which water is stored in the cleaning tank, the dissolved dirt does not adhere to the inner wall of the cleaning tank 1, and the cleaning tank 1 does not adhere to the inner wall of the cleaning tank 1. The inside can be kept hygienic.

[0017]

As described above, according to the present invention of claim 1, since the steam generating means is provided, it is possible to soften strong stains that cannot be removed only by washing with washing water, and It is possible to easily remove various stains with the wash water and prevent the stains from being melted and stain the inner wall of the wash tank.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the cleaning tank is filled with steam for a certain period of time before the washing of the dishes is started, strong dirt can be softened sufficiently, and the subsequent cleaning step is performed. If you do so, you can easily remove the cleaning water just by colliding it with dirt, and moreover, the steam is generated before cleaning to soften the dirt.
Cleaning in the next cleaning can be performed efficiently.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a dishwasher / dryer showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a process diagram showing a flow of operations of the dishwasher of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Cleaning Tank 3 Water Supply Device 4 Steam Generating Means 5 Intake Device 7 Circulation Pump 8 Cleaning Nozzle 10 Control Device 11 Timer Means

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Masafumi Sadahira, 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma-shi, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A washing tank for storing dishes, a heating device for heating washing water and dry air, a washing nozzle for ejecting washing water to the dishes, and washing water in the washing tank for circulating the washing water. A circulation pump that injects cleaning water from a nozzle, a drainage pump that drains the cleaning water in the cleaning tank, a water supply device that supplies the cleaning water into the cleaning tank, an intake device that generates dry air, and the cleaning A dishwasher and dryer having steam generating means for generating steam in the tank. 2. A washing tank for storing dishes, a heating device for heating washing water and dry air, a washing nozzle for ejecting washing water to the dishes, and circulating the washing water in the washing tank for washing. A circulation pump that injects cleaning water from a nozzle, a drainage pump that drains the cleaning water in the cleaning tank, a water supply device that supplies the cleaning water into the cleaning tank, an intake device that generates dry air, and the cleaning Steam generating means for generating steam in the tank, timer means for measuring a predetermined time, and a control device for operating the steam generating means for a predetermined time before the cleaning for a predetermined time to fill the cleaning tank with steam Dishwasher with.