KR102617077B1 - Dish wash machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher with improved washing efficiency compared to a conventional dishwasher, and includes a water tank, at least one mixing unit installed on the bottom of the water tank to mix water and air and supply it into the water tank, and the water tank. It includes a water supply unit installed at the bottom to supply water to the mixing unit and an air supply unit installed at the bottom of the water tank to supply air to the mixing unit, wherein the mixing unit is connected to the water supply unit and supplies water from the water supply unit. A water pipe connection for receiving and discharging water, located at the upper part of the water pipe connection, fixed at a distance from the upper end of the water pipe connection, and having a lower cap through which a hole is formed, one end of which is inserted into the hole, and the other end of which is the air It includes an air pipe connected to a supply unit to form a flow path so that the air supplied from the air supply unit is discharged into the hall, and an upper cap formed on an upper part of the lower cap and spaced apart from the lower cap.

Description

Dish washing machine

The present invention relates to a dishwasher, and more specifically, to a dishwasher with improved cleaning efficiency compared to conventional dishwashers.

A dishwasher is a home appliance that automatically washes dishes. Dishwashers use high-pressure water and detergent to clean dishes, kitchen utensils, and cooking utensils. Dishwashers were first developed in the 1920s and became popular in the United States in the 1950s. Dishwashers have become more and more advanced over time, and now dishwashers with various functions are being released.

Dishwashers clean dishes in various ways. A vortex dishwasher is one of the devices that cleans dishes in various ways. It places dishes to be washed in a water tank and generates a vortex inside the water tank to wash food residues on the dishes. When such a vortex type dishwasher simply uses vortices of water and detergent, there is a problem in that the cleaning power is reduced.

KR 10-2017-0108747 A (publication date 2017.09.27.) KR 10-2021-0041206 A (publication date 2021.04.15.)

The present invention was developed to solve the problems described above, and the purpose of the dishwasher according to the present invention is to create a dishwasher with improved cleaning efficiency compared to a conventional dishwasher by mixing water and air to form a vortex. In providing.

A dishwasher according to the present invention for solving the technical problems described above includes a water tank, at least one mixing section installed on the bottom of the water tank to mix water and air and supply it into the water tank, and a lower part of the water tank. It includes a water supply unit installed in the water supply unit to supply water to the mixing unit, and an air supply unit installed in a lower part of the water tank to supply air to the mixing unit, wherein the mixing unit is connected to the water supply unit and supplies water from the water supply unit. A water pipe connection part for receiving and discharging, a lower cap located at the upper part of the water pipe connection part, fixed at a distance from the upper end of the water pipe connection part, and having a hole formed therethrough, one end of which is inserted into the hole, and the other end of the air supply part. It includes an air pipe connected to the air pipe to form a flow path so that the air supplied from the air supply unit is discharged into the hole, and an upper cap formed on an upper part of the lower cap and spaced apart from the lower cap.

Additionally, the cross sections of each of the lower cap and the upper cap are arc-shaped with the center located at the lower side.

Additionally, the chord length of the lower cap is greater than the chord length of the upper cap.

Additionally, the chord length of the lower cap is smaller than the chord length of the upper cap.

In addition, the water tank includes a water inlet formed on the bottom and a buffer space located below the water inlet, a first water flow path connecting the water supply unit and the mixing unit, and connecting the water supply unit and the buffer space. It includes a second water flow path, a drain flow path connected to the second water flow path, and a drain valve installed on the drain flow path to open and close the drain flow path.

In addition, the water pipe connection part includes an extension part extending in the height direction and a coupling part formed on a lower side of the extension part and connected to the water supply part.

In addition, it further includes a heater that adjusts the temperature of the water contained within the water tank.

In addition, the air pipe is configured so that the first part on the mixing part side and the remaining second part can be separated and combined with each other based on an arbitrary position of the lower end of the mixing part,

The first part has one end coupled to the hole of the lower cap, and the second part has one end configured to be coupled to and detachable from the other end of the first part, and the other end is connected to the air supply unit.

According to the dishwasher according to various embodiments of the present invention, a large amount of water and high-pressure air are quickly mixed in the mixing section, forming a strong vortex to wash the object to be washed, thereby improving washing efficiency.

In addition, according to the dishwasher according to the embodiment, a heater is installed on the bottom of the water tank to maintain the contained water at a high temperature, thereby providing an improved effect of washing objects more easily.

In addition, according to the dishwasher according to the example, by circulating the water in the water tank, no more water is used than necessary, so there is an effect of efficient use of water.

In addition, according to the dishwasher according to the embodiment, circulation and drainage of water in the water tank can be performed through a single pipe, so there is an improved effect of simple construction.

1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher according to a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
4 and 5 are perspective views of the mixing section of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing section of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing section of the dishwasher according to the second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing section of the dishwasher according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, the most preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail in order to enable those skilled in the art to easily practice the present invention. The presented configuration can be expanded to objects that have the same purpose and effect. Subconcepts of the presented structure can be viewed as inherent even if they are not directly stated.

[First Embodiment]

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a dishwasher according to a first embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 is a tableware according to a first embodiment of the present invention. This is a top plan view of the washing machine.

As shown in Figures 1 to 3, the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a water tank 100, a lower part 110, a mixing part 400, a water supply part 200, and an air supply part ( 300) and a controller 500.

The water tank 100 is a part where water and objects to be washed, such as plates or bowls, are accommodated. The water tank 100 itself may be made of a metal material that does not rust in water, for example, stainless steel. Among the above-described components, at the lower part of the water tank 100, the water supply unit 200, the air supply unit 300, and the lower part 110 where devices related thereto are accommodated are located.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lower part 110 is connected to the water tank 100, supports the water tank 100, and forms a kind of accommodation space therein. The lower part 110 may also be made of a metal material that does not rust in water, that is, the same material as the water tank 100, and may be made of a material with sufficient rigidity to withstand the load of the water contained in the water tank 100 and the load of the cleaning object. can be formed.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lower part 110 may include an external cover 111. The water supply unit 200 and the air supply unit 300 described above may be accommodated inside the outer cover 111. The drain valve 20 may be exposed to the outside of the outer cover 111. A moving part 101 is formed in the lower part of the lower part 110, so that the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention can be moved.

As shown in FIG. 2, the mixing unit 400 is installed on the bottom of the water tank 100 and is configured to mix water and air and supply them into the water tank 100. The mixing unit 400 itself is formed across the upper and lower parts based on the bottom of the water tank 100, and is connected to the water supply unit 200 and the air supply unit 300, which will be described later, to receive water and air. In this embodiment, the mixing unit 400 may be located in the center based on the bottom of the water tank 100, but the present invention limits the location of the mixing unit 400 to the center portion of the bottom of the water tank 100. This does not mean that the position of the mixing unit 400 can be freely changed on the bottom of the water tank 100 as needed, and at least one or more units can be installed. In this case, it is natural that it is extended and connected to the water supply unit 200 and the air supply unit 300 by a normal connection method.

As shown in FIG. 2, the water supply unit 200 is located inside the lower part 110 and is connected to the mixing unit 400 to supply water to the mixing unit 400. The water supply unit 200 is connected to the mixing unit 400 through the first water flow path 40, and can receive water from the outside through the external water flow path 30. An external valve 10 that is operated manually or automatically is formed in the external water flow path 30, and the external water flow path 30 can be opened and closed to determine whether to supply water from the outside, and the external valve 10 can be opened or closed according to the user's needs. (10) may be closed and water may be supplied to the water tank 100 through any method, such as a separate water valve (not shown) installed at the top of the water tank or a water hose.

The water supply unit 200 may include a motor for transporting water and an impeller that is connected to the rotation shaft of the motor and rotates. Water moving from the water supply unit 200 to the mixing unit 400 through the first water passage 40 is supplied while rotating to a certain degree through an impeller. Water supplied to the mixing unit 400 while rotating by the impeller may be discharged while rotating inside the mixing unit 400.

As shown in FIG. 2, the air supply unit 300 is located in the lower part 110 and supplies air to the mixing unit 400. For this purpose, the air supply unit 300 may be connected to the mixing unit 400 and the air pipe 50. The air supply unit 300 may include a device such as a pump or compressor for supplying air, and sucks in external air and supplies high-pressure air to the mixing unit 400 through the air pipe 50.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the controller 500 is a part for the user to operate, and can be located in a form attached to the upper part of the water tank 100, and at the same time attached to the front part of the water tank 100. So it can be installed multiple times. The controller 500 can control the operations of the water supply unit 200 and the air supply unit 300, and may be provided with a button to operate the heater, which will be described later. More specifically, the controller 500 may be provided with buttons to drive/operate the water supply unit 200, the air supply unit 300, and the heater, and may provide current status information (whether it is running, water temperature, etc.) of the dishwasher. A display display may also be provided. For the above-described operation, the controller 500 may be connected to the water supply unit 200, the air supply unit 300, and the heater wired or wirelessly, and the controller 500 generates a control signal by the user's operation and supplies water. A control signal can be transmitted to at least one of the supply unit 200, the air supply unit 300, and the heater.

As shown in FIG. 3, the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention may further include a heater 140.

In this embodiment, the heater 140 may be installed on the bottom of the water tank 100. The heater 140 controls the temperature of the water contained within the water tank 100. The reason why the heater 140 adjusts the temperature of the water contained within the water tank 100 is because high temperature water can more easily wash the cleaning object. The heater 140 may be composed of a type of heating wire.

Figures 4 and 5 are perspective views of the mixing part of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention seen from different angles, and Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing part of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 4 to 6, in this embodiment, the mixing unit 400 includes a water pipe connection part 410, a lower cap 430, a first support part 421, an upper cap 440, and a second It may include a support portion 422, and an air pipe 50 may be added as shown in FIG. 6.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the water pipe connection portion 410 has threads formed on its inner peripheral surface. The water pipe connection part 410 is a part screwed to the first water flow path 40 through a thread formed on the outer peripheral surface of the above-described first water flow path 40, and moves to the first water flow path 40 through the top. A bit of water is discharged.

The lower cap 430 is located on the upper part of the water pipe connection part 410, and is fixed and spaced apart from the upper end of the water pipe connection part 410. To this end, both ends of the first support part 421 connect the ends of the water pipe connection part 410 and the lower cap 430, respectively. The first support portion 421 has a bar shape extending to one side, and at least two or more may be provided between the water pipe connection portion 410 and the lower cap 430. In this embodiment, the first support portion ( A total of three 421) may be provided between the water pipe connection portion 410 and the lower cap 430. The three first support parts 421 may be spaced apart from each other at a predetermined angle and arranged radially with respect to the center of the water pipe connection part 410. In the present embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a total of three first supports 421 are arranged at a certain angle and spaced apart from each other. Therefore, Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view cut along the first support portion 421 at an angle of 120 degrees.

The lower cap 430 is a part for supplying water supplied through the water pipe connection part 410 in all directions. For this purpose, the cross section of the lower cap 430 may be arc-shaped with the center located at the lower side, and water that collides with the lower surface of the lower cap 430 through the water pipe connection part 410 is directed to the lower surface of the lower cap 430. Accordingly, it can be dispersed and discharged to the outside.

As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a hole 431 may be formed through the central portion of the lower cap 430. The air pipe 50 can be inserted and fixed into the hole 431, and the air supplied through the air pipe 50 is supplied between the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440, thereby forming the lower cap 430. and can be discharged into the space between the upper cap 440 and mixed with water.

The upper cap 440 may also be located on top of the lower cap 430 and may be spaced apart from the lower cap 430 to a certain degree. The upper cap 440 is a part for efficiently mixing water and air while spraying and discharging air discharged through the hole 431 in all directions. The upper cap 440 may also have an arc-shaped cross-section with the center located at the lower side, and no separate hole may be formed. A second support portion 422 is formed between the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440, thereby separating the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440. The second support portion 422 is a bar-shaped member that separates the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440, similar to the first support portion 421, and includes a plurality of lower caps 430 and upper caps ( 440) can be accessed anywhere in between.

Referring to FIG. 6, the air pipe 50 may be configured in the center of the water pipe connection portion 410. That is, this means that the air pipe 50 is inserted through the water pipe connection portion 410 or the center portion of the first water flow path 40. In addition, the air pipe 50 of the mixing unit 400 can be fitted into the hole by forming a hole in the lower cap 430,

In addition, the air pipe coming from the air supply unit 300 can be separated from the lower part of the mixing unit 400, the separated pipes can be joined by inserting each other, and the joint area is sealed to prevent air leakage. can do. The portion of the first water flow path 40 through which the air pipe 50 passes is sealed to prevent water leakage from the first water flow path 40.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6 , in this embodiment, the chord length of the upper cap 440 may be smaller than the chord length of the lower cap 430. Based on the dictionary, a chord is a line segment connecting the two ends of a circle or curved arc. Based on FIG. 6, the upper cap 440 and lower cap 430 are respectively based on the same height. The length of the string connecting the two points of the upper cap 440 is shorter than the lower cap 430. The present invention allows air to be discharged more effectively through the space between the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440 through the above-described configuration, thereby improving the mixing efficiency of water and air.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the water tank 100 includes a water inlet 120 and a buffer space 130. The water inlet 120 is formed by drilling a plurality of holes in the bottom of the water tank 100, and is used to circulate the water contained in the water tank 100 and reuse it for washing dishes located inside the water tank 100. am. As shown in FIG. 3, the water intake port 120 itself may be formed on both sides of the bottom of the water tank 100, and may be formed in a certain portion or entirely.

The buffer space 130 is a portion located below the water intake port 120. The buffer space 130 is a part to prevent the water intake port 120 itself from being blocked and the circulation flow path itself from being blocked. That is, even if some of the plurality of water intake ports 120 are blocked by contaminants, a buffer space 130 is formed in the lower part of the water intake port 120 and is therefore directly connected to the second water flow path 60 that plays a role in water circulation. Since this does not occur, the second water flow path 60 itself is not blocked.

The second water flow path 60 may be branched from the center and connected to the drain flow path 70. A drain valve 20 is additionally installed on the drain flow path 70, and can operate to determine whether water circulates and drains by opening and closing the drain flow path 70,

As shown in FIG. 1, the drain valve 20 is exposed to the outside of the lower part 110, so that the drain valve 20 can be operated more easily by a user's manipulation.

The process of washing an object to be washed using a dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described.

First, the user puts dishes and washing detergent to be washed inside the water tank 100, operates the controller 500, opens the external valve 10, and operates the water supply unit 200 and the air supply unit 300. I order it. In the above process, the drain valve 20 operates to close the drain passage 70. The water supply unit 200 is connected to the mixing unit 400 through the first water flow path 40, and can receive water from the outside through the external water flow path 30. Depending on the user's needs, the external valve 10 may be closed and water may be supplied to the water tank 100 through any method, such as a separate water valve (not shown) installed at the top of the water tank or a water hose.

When supplying water through the external water flow path 30, if it is determined that a sufficient amount of water has flowed into the water tank 100, the user operates the controller 500 or operates the external valve 10 to flow the water into the external water flow path 30. Close (30). The user can control the temperature of the water to a constant level by operating the controller 500 to operate the heater 140 as needed.

When the user operates the controller 500 for washing, water is mixed with air inside the water tank 100 and flows through the first water flow path 40, the water tank 100, the water inlet 120, and the second water flow path 60. ) while circulating through the water tank 100 to wash the cleaning object contained within the water tank 100. This method has the effect of using water efficiently because it does not use more water than necessary.

When it is determined that the dishes have been sufficiently washed while circulating water, the user operates the controller 500 to stop the operation of the water supply unit 200 and the air supply unit 300, and operates the drain valve 20 to operate the drain flow path ( 70) can be opened to discharge water. In the case of the amount of water supplied through the external water flow path 30 described above, a flow meter is installed on the external water flow path 30 to directly transmit flow rate information to the user through the controller 500 or an electronic device owned by the user. Information can be provided in such a way as:

In the above-described process, in addition to the user controlling operation by directly manipulating the controller 500 or each component, a separately programmed control device automatically controls each component (water supply unit 200, There may also be an embodiment that controls the air supply unit 300, heater 140, external valve 10, and drain valve 20. In this case, the control device may be connected wired or wirelessly to each component to apply a control signal to each component and receive status information, and the control device may be an electronic device programmed to operate as described above, or, It can be implemented as a device including electronic elements.

In the above-described cleaning process, additional members that increase the cleaning efficiency of the cleaning object, such as a cleaning ball or a piece of scrub brush, may be introduced into the water tank 100.

[Second Embodiment]

Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing section of the dishwasher according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 7, the mixing section 400 of the dishwasher according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the mixing section 400 of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, The chord length of the upper cap 440 is greater than the chord length of the lower cap 430.

That is, in this embodiment, the upper cap 440 may be formed to cover the lower cap 430. In this case, the extent to which the discharge hole is covered by the upper cap 440 is greater than in the first embodiment described above, which has the effect of doubling the vortex phenomenon by mixing water and air more irregularly.

In this embodiment, unlike the second support portion 422 of the mixing section 400 of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, the first support portion 421 is formed to extend, and the first support portion 421 ) is formed to support both the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440. However, the present invention is not limited to the method of supporting the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440 while spaced apart from the first support portion 421, which is formed as an extension, according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above. Like the mixing unit 400 of a dishwasher, a second support unit 422 that is individually configured from the first support unit 421 is provided to space and support the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440 from each other. Yes also, it can be.

[Third Embodiment]

Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the mixing section of the dishwasher according to the third embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 8, the mixing section 400 of the dishwasher according to the third embodiment of the present invention is the mixing section 400 of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment of the present invention described above, The water pipe connection part 410 is divided into an extension part 411 and a coupling part 412.

As shown in FIG. 8, the extension portion 411 is cylindrical and extends in the height direction. When the extension portion 411 is installed in the water tank 100, at least a portion of the extension portion 411 extends upward from the bottom of the water tank 100. That is, the lower cap 430 and the upper cap 440 located on the upper side of the extension portion 411 are the mixing section 400 of the dishwasher according to the first and second embodiments of the present invention described above. It is located higher up. This is to improve cleaning efficiency by increasing the amount of water and air mixed and discharged depending on the type of cleaning object or the cleaning environment.

As shown in FIG. 8, the coupling portion 412 is formed at the bottom of the extension portion 411, and may have a diameter larger than that of the extension portion 411 or may be formed to be the same. A thread is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the coupling portion 412, and the coupling portion 412 is screwed to the first water pipe connection portion 410, and the air pipe 50 of the mixing portion 400 is connected to the lower cap 430. ) can be formed into a hole and fitted into the hole. In addition, the air pipe 50 coming from the air supply unit 300 is connected to the first part and the rest on the mixing unit 400 side from the lower part of the mixing unit 400. It can be separated into a second part. More specifically, one end of the first part may be coupled to the hole 431 of the lower cap 430, and the other end may be coupled to one end of the second part. The other end of the second part may be connected to the air supply unit 300. The first part and the second part can be separated/joined in various ways, such as fitting each other, and the joined area can be sealed to prevent air leakage.

The technical idea of the present invention should not be interpreted as limited to the above-described embodiments. Not only is the scope of application diverse, but various modifications can be made at the level of those skilled in the art without departing from the gist of the present invention as claimed in the claims. Therefore, such improvements and changes fall within the scope of protection of the present invention as long as they are obvious to those skilled in the art.

10: external valve 20: drain valve
30: External water flow path 40: First water flow path
50: air pipe 60: second water flow path
70: Drainage channel 100: Water tank
101: moving part 110: lower part
111: external cover 120: water inlet
130: buffer space 140: heater
200: water supply unit 300: air supply unit
400: mixing part 410: water piping connection part
411: extension part 412: coupling part
421: first support 422: second support
430: lower cap 431: hole
440: upper cap 500: controller

Claims (8)

water tank;
At least one mixing unit installed on the bottom of the water tank to mix water and air and supply it into the water tank;
a water supply unit installed at the lower part of the water tank to supply water to the mixing unit; and
an air supply unit installed at the bottom of the water tank to supply air to the mixing unit;
Including,
The mixing part,
a water pipe connection part connected to the water supply unit to receive water from the water supply unit and discharge the water;
A lower cap located on the upper part of the water pipe connection part, fixed to be spaced apart from the upper end of the water pipe connection part, and having a hole formed therethrough;
an air pipe with one end inserted into the hole and the other end connected to the air supply unit to form a flow path so that the air supplied from the air supply unit is discharged into the hole; and
an upper cap formed on top of the lower cap and spaced apart from the lower cap;
A dishwasher comprising:
According to paragraph 1,
The cross sections of each of the lower cap and the upper cap are,
A dishwasher characterized in that it has an arc shape with its center located at the bottom.
According to paragraph 2,
The length of the chord of the lower cap is,
Dishwasher, characterized in that longer than the length of the chord of the upper cap.
According to paragraph 2,
The length of the chord of the lower cap is,
Dishwasher, characterized in that it is smaller than the length of the chord of the upper cap.
According to paragraph 1,
The tank is,
a water intake formed on the bottom; and
a buffer space located below the water inlet;
Including,
a first water flow path connecting the water supply unit and the mixing unit;
a second water flow path connecting the water supply unit and the buffer space;
a drain passage connected to the second water passage; and
a drain valve installed on the drain passage to open and close the drain passage;
A dishwasher comprising:
According to paragraph 1,
The water pipe connection is,
An extension part extending in the height direction; and
A coupling portion formed on a lower side of the extension portion and connected to the water supply portion;
A dishwasher comprising:
According to paragraph 1,
a heater that controls the temperature of water contained within the water tank;
A dishwasher further comprising:
According to paragraph 1,
The air pipe is,
The first part and the remaining second part on the mixing part are configured to be separable from and combined with each other based on an arbitrary position of the lower end of the mixing part,
One end of the first part is coupled to the hole of the lower cap,
A dishwasher, wherein one end of the second part is capable of being coupled to and detachable from the other end of the first part, and the other end is connected to the air supply unit.