KR20050054700A - Tableware washer with sensor for detecting pollution level - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher having a contamination detection sensor, comprising: a washing main body for forming a washing space therein; a sump case disposed at a bottom region of the washing main body and collecting wash water; and disposed inside the washing main body. At least one spray nozzle for spraying the washing water, a washing water flow path formed to allow the washing water to flow between the sump case and the spray nozzle, and a pump for pumping the washing water of the sump case to be sprayed through the spray nozzle A dish washing machine comprising: a sampling channel formed to branch and flow a portion of the washing water flowing along the washing water channel; It is characterized in that it comprises a contamination detection sensor disposed in the sampling passage for detecting the contamination of the wash water flowing along the sampling passage. Thereby, the dishwasher provided with the contamination detection sensor which can improve the reliability of the contamination degree of the detected wash water is provided.

Description

Dishwasher with contamination detection sensor {TABLEWARE WASHER WITH SENSOR FOR DETECTING POLLUTION LEVEL}

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a dishwasher having a contamination detection sensor, and more particularly, to a dishwasher having a pollution detection sensor for improving the reliability of the detected degree of contamination of the washing water.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional dishwasher. As shown, the dishwasher includes a washing main body 111 that forms a washing space having a front opening therein, and a door (not shown) coupled to open and close the front opening of the washing main body 111. .

The washing body 111 has a case 112 forming an appearance and a tub 113 arranged to form a washing space inside the case 112.

The upper rack 115 and the lower rack 116 are retractably accommodated in the washing main body 111 so as to accommodate the dishes to be washed along the up and down direction, and the upper rack 115 and the lower rack 116 are disposed therein. On each lower side of the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 118 is rotatably installed so as to spray the washing water toward the dishes.

A sump case 121 is disposed at the bottom of the tub 113 to collect the washing water, and a filter 123 is provided in the sump case 121 to block the inflow of foreign substances. A pump 125 is installed at one side of the sump case 121 to pump the washing water, and a drain pump 127 and a drain pipe 128 are provided at the lower side of the sump case 121 to discharge the washing water. have.

2 is a view showing an example of a mounting state of the contamination detection sensor of the conventional dishwasher, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the contamination detection sensor of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a mounting state of the contamination detection sensor of the conventional dishwasher. Is a diagram illustrating another example. As shown in FIG. 2, one side of the sump case 121 is provided with a pump 125 to pump the washing water, and the washing water can be heated downstream of the pump 125 along the flow direction of the washing water. The heater case 131 is connected to each other so as to communicate with each other. The heater 133 is accommodated in the heater case 131.

On the other hand, the pollution degree detection sensor 135 is integrally coupled to one side of the heater case 131 to detect the pollution degree of the washing water flowing inside the heater case 131. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the pollution degree detection sensor 135 includes a light emitting unit 137 disposed to face the detection area 138 and emitting light to pass through the detection area 138, and a detection area ( The light receiving part 139 which receives the light which passed the 138 is provided.

By the way, in the conventional dishwasher, the pollution degree detection sensor 135 is installed in the flow path through which the washing water flows entirely, and the pollution degree detection sensor 135 is radiated from the light emitting unit 137 and passes through the detection area 138. By detecting the light reaching the light receiving unit 139 to detect the contamination of the wash water passing through the detection area 138, the accuracy of the contamination detected by the contamination detection sensor 135 is not only the amount of dirt in the wash water In addition, there is a problem in that it is affected by bubbles such as bubbles due to detergent in the washing water, and thus there is a limit in accurately detecting the degree of contamination of the actual washing water.

In consideration of this, as shown in FIG. 4, an expansion section 143 having an extended flow section in the flow path 141 of the washing water is formed so as to exclude the influence of bubbles of the washing water such as detergent foam. In addition, the contamination detection sensor 135 is arranged in the bottom region of the expansion section 143 that is spaced apart from the bubbles and has a relatively low flow rate of the washing water.

However, in the case described above with reference to FIG. 4, when the flow rate of the washing water is slow around the contamination detection sensor 135, congestion of the washing water occurs easily, and the use period elapses, dirt in the washing water detects the contamination degree. There is a problem that the reliability of the pollution degree detected by being deposited around the sensor 135 is impaired.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher equipped with a contamination detection sensor capable of improving the reliability of the detected contamination of the washing water.

The object is, according to the present invention, a washing main body to form a washing space therein, a sump case disposed in the bottom region of the washing main body to collect the washing water, and at least disposed inside the washing main body to spray the washing water; A dishwasher having one spray nozzle, a washing water flow path formed to allow the washing water to flow between the sump case and the spray nozzle, and a pump for pumping the washing water of the sump case to be sprayed through the spray nozzle. The sampling flow path may be configured such that a part of the washing water flowing along the washing water flow passage branches. And a pollution degree detection sensor disposed in the sampling flow path and detecting a contamination level of the washing water flowing along the sampling flow path.

Here, the washing water flow passage includes an upper flow passage extending to the inner upper region of the washing main body and a lower flow passage connected to the inner lower region of the washing main body, wherein the sampling flow passage is before branching of the upper flow passage and the lower flow passage. It is preferably formed.

It is effective that the sampling flow path is branched below the washing water flow path.

The dust container may further include a dirt case accommodated in the sump case to collect dirt therein, and the sampling flow path may be formed in the dirt case.

The contamination detection sensor may be effective to include a light emitting part for emitting light and a light receiving part for receiving light emitted from the light emitting part by being spaced apart with the light emitting part and a predetermined sensing area therebetween.

The sampling flow path is preferably formed such that the inlet flow cross section is smaller than the flow cross section of the detection zone of the contamination detection sensor.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described in detail the present invention.

5 is a cross-sectional view of the dishwasher having a contamination detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the main portion of FIG. The same and equivalent parts as those described above and shown in the drawings will be omitted for convenience of description of the drawings and will be described with reference to the same reference numerals. As shown in these drawings, the dishwasher equipped with the present contamination detection sensor includes a washing main body 111 for forming a washing space for the dishes therein and a sump disposed at the bottom of the washing main body 111 to collect washing water. The pump 121 for pumping the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 118 and the washing water of the sump case 121 are disposed in the case 121, in the upper and lower directions in the washing body 111, and spray the washing water. ), An upper flow passage 142a and a lower flow passage 142b formed to allow the washing water pumped by the pump 125 to flow into the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 118, respectively, and the upper flow passage 142a. And a sampling flow path 151 which is branched from the lower flow path 142b to return to the sump case 121, and is disposed in the sampling flow path 151 to detect the degree of contamination of the wash water flowing along the sampling flow path 151. Contamination degree detection sensor 135 is configured to include.

The washing body 111 has a case 112 forming an appearance and a tub 113 disposed inside the case 112 to form a washing space therein. Inside the tub 113, the upper rack 115 and the lower rack 116 are respectively provided to accommodate the dishes to be washed, and the washing water is sprayed to the lower sides of the upper rack 115 and the lower rack 116, respectively. The upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 118 are rotatably installed, respectively.

A sump case 121 is coupled to the bottom of the tub 113 so that the washing water can be collected, and a drain pump 127 and a drain pipe 128 are connected to one side of the sump case 121 to discharge the washing water. have. The pump 125 is installed at the other side of the sump case 121 to pump the washing water, and at the outlet side of the pump 125, the washing water flows to the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 118, respectively. The flow path 142a and the lower flow path 142b are formed, respectively.

Meanwhile, some of the washing water flowing along the upper passage 142a and the lower passage 142b flows into the upper passage 142a and the lower passage 142b so that the first passage 152a and the second passage 152b flow. Inflow sides of the sampling flow passages 151 branched to each other are formed, and the sampling flow passages 151 are joined to each other and connected to the sump case 121. The first flow path 152a and the second flow path 152b are provided with a first backflow check valve 155a and a second backflow check valve 155b to prevent backflow, respectively, and joining of the sampling flowpath 151. The area is equipped with a pollution detection sensor 135 to detect the contamination of the washing water flowing inside. The pollution detection sensor 135 is disposed to face each other with the sensing area 138 interposed therebetween, and the light reaching through the light emitting part 137 and the sensing area 138 emitting light to pass through the sensing area 138. The light receiving part 139 which detects this is provided.

Here, the inlet of the first passage 52a and the second passage 152b is formed at each lower side of the upper passage 142a and the lower passage 142b, and the first passage 152a and the second passage 152b. It is preferable that the flow cross-sectional area of is configured to be smaller than the flow cross-sectional area of the sensing region (138).

By such a configuration, the pump 125 is driven to wash water flow into at least one of the upper flow passage 142a and the lower flow passage 142b to be sprayed through the nozzles 117 and 118 to wash the dishes. Meanwhile, some of the washing water flows through any one of the first passage 152a and the second passage 152b, and the light emitted from the light emitting unit 137 passes through the washing water flowing along the sampling passage 151. The degree of contamination is detected by receiving the light on the light receiving unit 139. At this time, since the washing water passing through the sensing region 138 is returned to the sump case 121 without being stagnant, almost no accumulation of dirt occurs in the sensing region 138, thereby ensuring the reliability of the detected contamination.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view illustrating a dish washer having a contamination detection sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a plan view of the contamination detection sensor region of FIG. 7. As shown in these figures, the washing main body 111 to form a washing space for dishes therein, and the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle disposed in the up and down direction inside the washing main body 111 to spray the washing water. 118, a sump case 141 disposed at the bottom of the washing main body 111 to collect washing water, a pump 155 disposed inside the sump case 141 to pump the washing water, and a sump case 141. The waste case 171 and the washing water flow path 174 are disposed so as to collect dirt and flow the pumped washing water into the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 118, respectively. A sampling flow path 181 formed in the dirt case 171 and a sampling flow path 181 disposed in the sampling flow path 181 to allow a portion of the washing water flowing along the furnace 174 to flow. Including a pollution detection sensor 135 to detect the pollution degree There is sex.

A sump case 141 having a tubular shape upwardly opened is installed at the bottom of the tub 113 of the washing main body 111, and a drain pump 153 is provided at one side of the sump case 141 to drain the washing water. Are combined.

The upper opening region of the sump case 141 is coupled with a filter member 161 having a plurality of through holes 162 and a mesh portion 163 to suppress the inflow of foreign matter into the sump case 141. The filter member 161 is provided with a dirt case 171 having a tubular shape upwardly open to allow dirt to be collected therein.

The pump case 165 for accommodating the pump 155 in cooperation with the dirt case 171 is coupled to the lower side of the dirt case 171, and the pump case 165 may be provided with foreign substances having a predetermined size introduced therein. The screen 166 is provided to suppress it.

The lower side of the screen 166 is rotatably coupled to the crusher 167 to crush the foreign matter in the wash water, the lower side of the crusher 167 heater 168 to heat the wash water inside the sump case 141 ) Is provided.

A pump driving motor 157 having a rotating shaft 158 that is disposed to penetrate the sump case 141 along the up and down direction and rotates the pump 155 is coupled to the lower side of the sump case 141, and the sump case A valve coupling part 156 is formed at one side of the inner side 141 such that a flow path control valve 159 for adjusting the washing water flow path is coupled thereto. A valve driving motor 160 for driving the flow control valve 159 is coupled to the lower side of the valve coupling unit 156.

The filth case 171 has a tubular shape which is opened upwardly to collect filth therein, and a pump accommodating portion 172 is formed at a bottom thereof to accommodate an upper region of the pump 155 disposed below. have. One side of the pump accommodating part 172 is a washing water flow path 174 is formed to flow the washing water pumped from the pump 155, the washing water flow path 174, the flow path control valve for adjusting the flow path of the washing water ( The valve receiving portion 176 is formed to accommodate the 159. The downstream side of the valve receiving portion 176 is branched into the upper flow passage 177 and the lower flow passage 178 so that the washing water flows into the upper nozzle 117 and the lower nozzle 118, respectively.

Meanwhile, a sampling passage 181 is formed in an upstream region of the valve accommodating portion 176 along the flow direction of the washing water so that some of the washing water flows, and the sampling passage 181 detects the contamination of the washing water. Pollution degree detection sensor 135 is provided. The pollution detection sensor 135 includes a light emitting part 137 and a light receiving part 139 disposed to face each other with a detection area 138 through which washing water flows.

Here, the upstream of the sampling channel 181, that is, the inlet side is formed to branch from the lower side in the up and down direction of the washing water channel 174, the flow cross-sectional area of the inlet side of the detection area 138 of the contamination detection sensor 135 Configuring to be smaller than the flow cross-sectional area can suppress the flow of bubbles flowing along the washing water flow path 174 and can prevent the flow rate is excessively increased.

By this configuration, when the pump 155 is driven, the washing water contained in the sump case 141 is introduced into the pump case 165 and discharged into the washing water flow path 174. The discharged washing water flows along at least one of the upper flow path 177 and the lower flow path 178 by the flow path control valve 159 and is sprayed through the upper nozzle 117 and / or the lower nozzle 118 to dispose the dishes. It will be washed.

Meanwhile, some of the washing water discharged from the pump 155 flows along the sampling flow path 181 and flows into the dirt case 171 via the detection area 138 of the contamination detection sensor 135. The pollution detection sensor 135 detects the pollution of the wash water by detecting the light emitted from the light emitting unit 137 and passing through the sensing region 138 to the light receiving unit 139. At this time, the detection area 138 of the contamination detection sensor 135 is flowed without washing the washing water is not stagnant when the pump 155 is driven to prevent the accumulation of dirt in the washing water, thereby improving the reliability of the detected washing water contamination. do.

As described above, according to the present invention, by providing a sampling channel branched from the washing water channel so that some of the washing water flows, and a contamination detection sensor for detecting the contamination of the washing water flowing along the sampling channel, bubbles and dirt Unlike the conventional case where the reliability of the result of detecting the contamination level of the washing water is lowered due to the deposition of sediment, the possibility of error due to the accumulation of bubbles and dirt can be eliminated, thereby increasing the reliability of the degree of contamination of the detected washing water. A dishwasher with a sensor is provided.

1 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional dishwasher,

2 is a view showing an example of the mounting state of the contamination detection sensor of a conventional dish washing machine,

3 is a perspective view of the contamination detection sensor of FIG.

4 is a view showing another example of the mounting state of the contamination detection sensor of a conventional dish washing machine,

5 is a cross-sectional view of the dish washer having a pollution detection sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention,

6 is an enlarged view illustrating main parts of FIG. 5;

7 is a partial perspective view of the dishwasher equipped with a contamination detection sensor according to another embodiment of the present invention;

8 is a plan view of the contamination detection sensor region of FIG. 7.

Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

111: cleaning body 121: sump case

125: pump 135: contamination detection sensor

142a: upper flow path 142b: lower flow path

151: sampling euro 152a: first euro

152a: second flow passage 155a: first non-return valve

155b: 2nd non-return valve

Claims (6)

A washing main body forming a washing space therein, a sump case disposed in the bottom region of the washing main body to collect washing water, at least one spray nozzle disposed in the washing main body to spray washing water, and the sump case In the dishwasher having a washing water flow path formed so that the washing water flows between the spray nozzle and a pump for pumping the washing water of the sump case to be sprayed through the spray nozzle. A sampling channel formed such that a part of the washing water flowing along the washing water channel is branched and flows; And a contamination detection sensor disposed in the sampling flow path and detecting a pollution level of the washing water flowing along the sampling flow path. The method of claim 1, The washing water flow passage includes an upper flow passage extending to the inner upper region of the washing main body and a lower flow passage connected to the inner lower region of the washing main body, wherein the sampling flow passage is formed before branching of the upper flow passage and the lower flow passage. Dishwasher having a pollution detection sensor, characterized in that. The method of claim 1, And the sampling flow path is branched from the lower side of the washing water flow path. The method of claim 1, And a dirt case accommodated in the sump case to collect dirt therein, wherein the sampling flow path is formed in the dirt case. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The pollution detection sensor comprises a light emitting unit for emitting light, and a light receiving unit for receiving the light emitted from the light emitting portion spaced apart between the light emitting unit and a predetermined sensing region between the pollution detection sensor, Dishwasher in stock. The method of claim 5, And the sampling flow path is formed such that an inlet flow cross section is smaller than a flow cross section of the detection area of the contamination detection sensor.