JPH0819506A - Dish washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make operation control of a dish washing machine properly by furnishing a means to sense a change in compliance with the load variation of a pump and also a means to perform a specified control for the process on the basis of the result from sensing. CONSTITUTION:A pump control device 32 comprises a micro-controller 321, a triode AC switch 322 to control current feed to a motor for a water drain pump, and a triode AC switch 323 to control the current feed to a motor for a washing pump. A pump 10 has motor coils 11 and 12 for water drain and washing. A pump current sensing device 21 to sense the pump operating condition has diode 213 and resistances 212, 214, 215 to constitute the output smoother circuit for a current transformer 211 and A/D converter 217. The change in the pump 10 operating condition is sensed as change in the motor current, and the result is smoothed by the output smoother circuit and A/D converted by the A/D converter 217, and the output therefrom is fed back to the micro- controller 321 in the control device 32, and thereby the drain pump or washing pump is controlled.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dishwasher used for home use or business use.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A dishwasher cleans and dries soiled dishes by the following steps, for example.
First, cleaning is performed by sucking up the heated cleaning liquid stored in the bottom of the tank (cleaning tank) by supplying water and supplying detergent with a cleaning pump, spraying it from a nozzle and colliding it with dishes. Then, after removing the cleaning liquid, the water stored in the bottom of the tank by water supply is rinsed by spraying it from the nozzle with a cleaning pump and colliding it with the dishes. Be seen. After completion of heating and rinsing, drain the water used for rinsing with a drainage pump, operate a blower fan to suck in outside air into the tank to heat it, and dry the dishes by a route that discharges it outside the tank.
I am trying to finish the whole process. In each stroke of such a washing machine, the washing operation by driving the washing pump and the draining operation by driving the drainage pump are all controlled by the time by the timer.

[0003]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The conventional dishwasher is
The cleaning operation and drainage operation are all controlled by the timer. However, many dishes are bowl-shaped, and if the washing liquid or water accumulates on these dishes during the washing operation, the washing liquid and water accumulated at the bottom of the tank may decrease. In such a case, if the washing operation is performed only by controlling the time, the dishes may not be sufficiently washed. Also, in the drainage operation, if water remains in the tableware portion, there is a problem that accurate drainage may not be performed only by time control.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher capable of performing anomaly detection and recovery during a washing operation and an accurate drainage operation and capable of appropriate operation control.

[0005]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention firstly relates to a pump used for cleaning or draining, and an operating state for detecting a change in the operating state according to load fluctuation of the pump. The gist is to have a detection means and a control means for performing a predetermined control of the process including the cleaning and drainage based on the detection result of the operation state detection means.

Secondly, when the operating state of the pump detected by the operating state detecting means during the draining operation continuously fluctuates a predetermined number of times, the control means is configured to terminate the draining stroke. The main point is to become.

Thirdly, in the case where the cleaning tank has water supply control means for supplying water, and when the operation state of the pump detected by the operation state detection means during the cleaning operation continuously fluctuates a predetermined number of times, The gist is that the water supply control means is configured to supply water to the cleaning tank.

Fourthly, in the case where after the water is supplied to the cleaning tank by the water supply control means, the operation state of the pump detected by the operation state detection means continuously fluctuates a predetermined number of times, The gist is that the control means is configured to stop the cleaning operation.

Fifthly, the operating state detecting means is a pump energizing amount detecting device for detecting an energizing amount to the pump.

A sixth feature is that the operating condition detecting means is a rotation speed detecting device for detecting the rotation speed of the pump.

Seventhly, the operating state detecting means is an operating sound detecting device for detecting an operating sound of the pump.

[0012]

In the above construction, firstly, the amount of water in the washing tank may decrease during the washing operation due to the accumulation of water on the tableware or other reasons, and during the draining operation, the amount of water in the washing tank nears the end of the stroke. The amount of water decreases. In such a case, the pump comes to suck in air together with water, and a load fluctuation occurs, which causes a fluctuation in the operating state according to the load fluctuation, such as a fluctuation in the rotation speed. The operating state detecting means detects a change in the operating state, and based on the detection result, predetermined control such as ending the drainage stroke or restarting the cleaning operation after water supply during the cleaning operation is performed. This enables appropriate operation control.

Secondly, during the draining operation, the draining operation can be accurately performed by terminating the draining stroke when the fluctuation of the pump operating state is detected a predetermined number of times, for example, twice continuously. Becomes

Thirdly, during the cleaning operation, water is supplied when a fluctuation is detected a predetermined number of times, for example, two times in succession in the operating state of the pump, so as to recover from an abnormal state in which the amount of water in the cleaning tank decreases. Is possible.

Fourthly, after the water is supplied during the cleaning operation, when a fluctuation is detected in the operating state of the pump a predetermined number of times, for example, twice continuously, the required amount of water is supplied due to, for example, a failure of the water level switch. Since it is considered that the cleaning operation is not performed, the cleaning operation in the abnormal state is prevented by stopping the cleaning operation.

Fifthly, the operating state detecting means is specifically a pump energizing amount detecting device for detecting the energizing amount to the pump, so that the decrease in the amount of water in the cleaning tank can be easily and surely detected. Is possible.

Sixthly, the operating state detecting means can detect the decrease in the amount of water in the cleaning tank easily and surely, even as a rotating speed detecting device for detecting the rotating speed of the pump. .

Seventhly, the operation state detecting means, specifically as an operation sound detecting device for detecting the operation sound of the pump, can easily and surely detect the decrease in the amount of water in the cleaning tank. .

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

With reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a description will be given of components and actions relating to the drainage operation. FIG. 1 shows a device configuration that functions during drainage operation. In the figure, reference numeral 10a is a drainage pump, 20 is an operating state detecting device as an operating state detecting means for detecting an operating state of the pump 10a according to a load change, and 30 is a pump controlling device as pump controlling means. Next, the drainage operation will be described with reference to the control flowchart of FIG. Just before the end of the drainage process, the amount of water in the tank decreases, and the pump 10a sucks air together with water. At this time, the pump 10a changes its operating state such as current consumption, rotation speed, and rotation noise due to load fluctuation. When the operating state detection device 20 detects that the operating state of the pump 10a has changed, that is, air has been sucked in (step 10).
1), the pump 10a is temporarily turned on for a predetermined time (for example, 5
(Second) and stop (step 103), and perform draining operation again.
When this operation is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, twice) (YES in step 102), it is determined that the drainage is completed, and the drainage process is ended (step 104). By such an operation, it becomes possible to perform appropriate drainage control.

Next, the components and operation relating to the cleaning operation will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a device configuration that functions during the cleaning operation. In the figure, 10
Reference numeral b is a washing pump, 20 is an operation state detecting device similar to the above, 40 is a water supply valve, 41 is a water supply amount detection switch (hereinafter referred to as a water level switch), and 31 is a water supply valve / pump control device. The water level switch 41 determines whether or not there is more than a predetermined amount of water in the tank, and the water supply valve / pump control device 31 controls ON / OFF of the water supply valve 40 to supply a predetermined amount of water into the tank. It has become. The water supply valve 40, the water level switch 41, and the water supply valve control unit of the water supply valve / pump control device 31 constitute a water supply control means. Next, the cleaning operation will be described with reference to the control flowchart of FIG. During the cleaning operation, if the amount of water in the tank decreases due to water remaining on the tableware to be cleaned or other reasons, the pump 10
b comes to inhale air. At this time, the pump 10
b is the current consumption due to load fluctuation, as in the drainage operation,
Changes occur in its operating state such as rotation speed and rotation noise.
When the operating state detection device 20 detects that the operating state of the pump 10b has changed, that is, air has been sucked in (YES in step 201), the pump 10b is temporarily stopped for a predetermined time (for example, 5 seconds) (step 203), Perform the cleaning operation again. When this operation is repeated a predetermined number of times (for example, twice) (YES in step 202), it is determined that the wash water is insufficient, the water supply valve 40 is controlled, and the water level switch 41 detects the presence of water, or a predetermined time (for example, 10 times). Seconds)
After supplying water, the washing process is restarted (step 20).
5). On the other hand, when the shortage of washing water is detected again (YES in step 204), the washing operation is stopped (step 20) because the water level switch 41 may be damaged.
6). By such a control operation, it is possible to detect an abnormality during cleaning and restore it.

Next, concrete examples of respective constitutions of the operation state detecting device for detecting the operation state of the pump will be described in order. Figure 5
The pump energization amount detection apparatus which is the 1st structural example of an operating state detection apparatus is shown. In the figure, 32 is a pump control device, 321 is a microcontroller, 322 is a triac for controlling energization to a drain pump motor,
Reference numeral 323 is a triac for controlling energization of the cleaning pump motor. Reference numeral 10 is a pump, 11 is a drain pump motor coil, and 12 is a cleaning pump motor coil. In this configuration example, the drain pump operation and the cleaning pump operation are switched by the forward / reverse rotation of one motor. However, when independent motors are used, the motor and the triac are connected as shown in FIG. 21 is a pump energization amount detection device, 211 is a current transformer,
212, 214, 215 are resistors, 213 are diodes,
Reference numeral 216 is a capacitor and 217 is an A / D converter. The resistors 212, 214, 215, the diode 213 and the capacitor 216 form an output smoothing circuit for the current transformer 211. The operation of this first configuration example will be described. During the drainage operation, the microcontroller 321 turns on the triac 322, and a current flows through the drainage pump motor coil 11. While the drainage is not completed, the load is large, and a large amount of current flows through the drain pump motor. When the drainage is almost completed, the drainage pump sucks in air, the load on the motor is reduced, and the motor current is reduced.
On the other hand, during the cleaning operation, the microcontroller 321 turns on the triac 323, and a current flows through the cleaning pump motor coil 12. Then, as in the case of the drainage operation, the load of the pump is reduced and the motor current is reduced when the air is sucked in as compared with when the cleaning pump is operating normally. In this configuration example, the change in the operating state of the pump 10 is
The change is detected as the motor current. That is, the current transformer 211 is connected so as to detect the return current on the side opposite to the side connected to the triacs 322, 323 of the motor coils 11, 12. A current proportional to the current flowing in the return line is generated in the current transformer 211, and the resistance value and the current transformer 21 are generated in the resistor 212.
A voltage determined by the current generated at 1 occurs. This is smoothed by the output smoothing circuit, and A / D is converted by the A / D converter 217.
The conversion is performed and the operating state of the pump is fed back to the microcontroller 321 to control the drainage pump or the cleaning pump as described above.

FIG. 7 shows a rotation speed detecting device which is a second configuration example of the operating state detecting device. A rotary encoder 22 as a rotation speed detection device is provided on the rotation shaft portion of the pump motor. Rotary encoder 22
Generates a pulse train according to the rotation speed (rotation speed) of the pump motor. The microcontroller 321 calculates the pulse train generated from the rotary encoder 22 to detect the rotation speed of the pump motor. When the pump draws in air, the rotational speed of the pump motor increases as compared to when a steady load is applied to the pump motor. When the average rotational speed of the pump motor reaches an arbitrary speed or higher, or when it is counted that the average rotational speed of the pump motor exceeds the arbitrary rotational speed in a unit time more than an arbitrary number of times, it is determined that the pump has sucked air. After making a determination, the micro-controller 321 controls the drainage pump or the washing pump as described above.

FIG. 8 shows an operation sound detecting device which is a third example of the operation state detecting device. Operation sound detector 2
As 3, a microphone installed near the discharge part of the pump 10 or a vibration pickup provided in contact with a vibration source near the discharge part of the pump 10 is used.
The output of the operation sound detection device 23 having such a configuration is sent to the microcontroller 321 via the filter circuit 24. When the pump draws in air compared to when a steady load is applied to the pump, an abnormal noise is generated from the pump. Therefore, the output waveform of the microphone or the vibration pickup, which is the operation sound detection device 23, changes irregularly, that is, a drastic frequency fluctuation occurs within a unit time. When this irregular waveform change occurs, the microcontroller 321 is notified of the change in the operating state of the pump via the filter circuit 24, and the microcontroller 321 controls the output of the pump 10. The filter circuit 24 includes, for example, an F / V converter circuit that converts the operation sound detection oscillation output into a voltage corresponding to the frequency, and a comparator that compares the F / V converter circuit output with an arbitrary voltage value. Is input to the microcontroller 321. Then, when an abnormal operation sound is generated in the pump 10, the comparator outputs a pulse corresponding to the frequency fluctuation, so that it is detected that the air is sucked into the pump 10.

[0025]

As described above, according to the invention described in each claim, the following effects are obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the pump used for cleaning or draining, the operating state detecting means for detecting a change in the operating state according to the load fluctuation of the pump, and the detection result of the operating state detecting means. Since it is provided with a control means for performing a predetermined control of the stroke including the cleaning and drainage based on
It is possible to properly detect a decrease in the amount of water in the cleaning tank and appropriately perform predetermined control such as the end of the drainage stroke or the restart of the cleaning operation after water supply during the cleaning operation.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the operating state of the pump detected by the operating state detecting means during the draining operation continuously fluctuates a predetermined number of times, the control means performs the draining stroke. Since it is configured to end, it is possible to perform an accurate drainage operation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the cleaning tank has water supply control means for supplying water, and the operating state of the pump detected by the operating state detecting means during the cleaning operation is continuously changed a predetermined number of times. In the case of occurrence of water, the water supply control means is configured to supply water to the cleaning tank, so that it is possible to properly detect and recover from an abnormal state where the amount of water in the cleaning tank decreases during the cleaning operation. Can be done.

According to the fourth aspect of the invention, after the water supply control means supplies water to the cleaning tank, the operating state of the pump detected by the operating state detecting means is continuously changed a predetermined number of times. When it occurs, the control means is configured to stop the cleaning operation, so that the cleaning operation in an abnormal state can be reliably prevented.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the operating state detecting means is a pump energization amount detecting device for detecting the energizing amount to the pump, it is possible to easily and surely detect a decrease in the amount of water in the cleaning tank. be able to.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the operating state detecting means is a rotation speed detecting device for detecting the rotation speed of the pump. Therefore, similarly to the above, it is easy and reliable to reduce the amount of water in the cleaning tank. Can be detected.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, since the operating condition detecting means is an operating noise detecting device for detecting the operating noise of the pump, like the above, reduction of the amount of water in the cleaning tank is easy and reliable. Can be detected.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing components relating to a drainage operation in an embodiment of a dishwasher according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control flowchart for explaining the drainage operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing components relating to a cleaning operation in the above embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a control flowchart for explaining a cleaning operation of the above embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram showing a first configuration example of the operating state detection device in the above embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a modification of the first configuration example.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second configuration example of the operation state detection device in the above embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing a third configuration example of the operation state detection device in the above embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 pump 20 operating state detection device (operating state detection means) 21 pump energization amount detection device 22 rotary encoder (rotational speed detection device) 23 operation sound detection device 30, 32 pump control device (pump control means) 31 water supply valve / pump control Device 40 Water valve

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A pump used for cleaning or draining, an operating state detecting means for detecting a change in operating state according to a load change of the pump, and the cleaning and draining based on the detection result of the operating state detecting means. A dishwasher comprising: a control unit that performs a predetermined control of a stroke including the process. 2. When the operation state of the pump detected by the operation state detecting means during the draining operation changes continuously for a predetermined number of times, the control means is configured to end the draining stroke. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein: 3. The water supply control means for supplying water to the cleaning tank, and when the operating state of the pump detected by the operating state detection means during the cleaning operation continuously fluctuates a predetermined number of times, the water supply The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the control means is configured to supply water to the washing tank. 4. When water is supplied to the cleaning tank by the water supply control means, and the operating state of the pump detected by the operating state detecting means continuously changes a predetermined number of times,
4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the control means is configured to stop the cleaning operation. 5. The dishwasher according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein the operating state detecting means is a pump energization amount detecting device for detecting an energization amount to the pump. 6. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the operating state detection means is a rotation speed detection device that detects the rotation speed of the pump. 7. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the operation state detection means is an operation sound detection device that detects an operation sound of the pump.