JP2968197B2 - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cleaning means for cleaning an object to be cleaned installed in a cleaning layer, and a finishing agent supply means for supplying a finishing agent previously stored in a storage section to the cleaning layer. And a control means for controlling the operation of the cleaning means and the finishing agent supply means, wherein the control means sequentially executes a cleaning step of cleaning the object to be cleaned and a rinsing step to perform a series of cleaning operations. Tableware configured to control the operation of the cleaning means so as to end the operation, and to control the operation of the finishing agent supply means so as to execute the operation of supplying the finishing agent in the rinsing step. Related to washing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the above-mentioned dishwasher, as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 58-88967, when the above-mentioned series of washing operations is performed, finishing is always carried out during the rinsing step. The agent supply means operates,
The finish was configured to be supplied into the cleaning layer.

[0003]

The above-mentioned finishing agent is dried by lowering the surface tension of water and improving drainage, for example, in the case where the finishing agent is washed with water in the washing step. Substances that effectively prevent traces of water droplets from remaining on the surface of the object to be washed, and prevent clouding in transparent glass products, or cause cloudiness such as calcareous and alkaline components Is used to prevent the residual from remaining on the object to be cleaned, and to clean the finish after the cleaning. Therefore, when such a finishing agent is not used, the surface of the object to be cleaned may be clouded or clouded due to the above-described causes after the cleaning.

[0004] However, such a finishing agent is harmless to the human body and uses a special chemical substance exhibiting the above-mentioned effects, and is relatively expensive. In the configuration, when the cleaning operation is performed, the finish is always supplied, so that there is a disadvantage that the consumption of the finish is increased and the running cost is increased.

On the basis of experimental results and the like, the applicant of the present invention has found that the above-described white turbidity and cloudiness rarely occur immediately after performing only one cleaning operation. It has been found that what happens when done.

The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher capable of reducing running costs with a reasonable configuration.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dishwasher having the above-described structure, in which a washing step of washing an object to be washed and a rinsing step are sequentially performed. The number of times the cleaning operation has been performed is determined by the number-of-times determining means. The control means controls the operation of the finishing agent supply means in the rinsing step at each time when the number of times determined by the number of times determining means reaches the set value, so that the finishing agent stored in the storage section is controlled. Is supplied into the cleaning tank.

Accordingly, the supply of the finishing agent is not executed until the number of times of the series of cleaning operations reaches the set value, and the finishing agent is supplied into the cleaning tank every time the number of times reaches the set value. Will be.

As in the conventional configuration in which the finishing agent is supplied every time the cleaning operation is performed, the disadvantage that the consumption amount of the finishing agent is increased can be eliminated, and the running cost can be reduced. When the set value is reached, the finishing agent is reliably supplied, so that it is possible to suppress the occurrence of cloudiness, cloudiness, and the like, and to maintain a good cleaning finish state of the object to be cleaned.

[0010]

[0011]

[0012]

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the set value in the first aspect can be changed and set, for example, the finish condition of the object to be cleaned at the time of the previous cleaning operation. Or, by changing the frequency of supply of the finishing agent to an appropriate frequency depending on the contamination status of the object to be cleaned, etc., the cleaning agent consumption can be maintained while maintaining the cleaning finish state as good as possible. Can be suppressed to a necessary minimum amount.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the cleaning means includes a jet nozzle for jetting the cleaning water to the object to be cleaned, and a pump for supplying the jetting water to the jet nozzle. Drying means for drying the object to be cleaned is provided, and the control means is configured to control the operation of the drying means to execute the drying step after the rinsing step.

Therefore, in the cleaning step, the cleaning water supplied from the pump is jetted from the jet nozzle, and the object to be cleaned is cleaned well. Then, after the rinsing step in the state in which the finishing agent is supplied, the drying step is performed by the drying means, so that the cleaning water is quickly dried, and a series of cleaning operations can be efficiently performed. Even after the washing water is dried, it is possible to prevent cloudiness due to water droplets of the washing water and to prevent calcareous and alkaline components contained in the washing water from remaining, thereby obtaining a good finish.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a dishwasher according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. 2 and 3 show a dishwasher according to the present invention. In this dishwasher, a substantially rectangular box-shaped main body case 1 having an open front is provided with a door 2 which can swing open and close around a horizontal axis at a lower end. A cleaning tank 3 for cleaning an object to be cleaned is provided. The cleaning tank 3 has a front surface which is widely opened as an entrance / exit D for the object to be cleaned, and a door 2.
Is closed, the cleaning tank 3 is hermetically closed by the inner surface of the door 2. Then, in the washing space K formed by the washing tank 3 and closed in a hermetically closed manner, the upper and lower two net baskets 5a and 5b detachably slidably supported by the support rails 4 are provided with dishes and the like. In a state where the object to be cleaned is stored, a lower ejection nozzle 6a provided below the lower mesh basket 5a and an upper mesh basket 5b are provided.
The washing water is spouted from a large number of spouting holes 7 formed in each of a middle ejection nozzle 6b provided below the upper net basket 5b and an upper ejection nozzle 6c provided above the upper net basket 5b. It is configured to perform cleaning of a cleaning object.

In this dishwasher, as shown in FIG.
A water supply path 8 for supplying cleaning water to the cleaning tank 3; a discharge path 9 for discharging cleaning water in the cleaning tank 3 to the outside;
The cleaning water stored in the cleaning nozzles 6a, 6b,
Each of the transport paths 10 for transporting up to 6c is provided so as to be connected to the cleaning tank 3. The water supply channel 8 is connected to the inside of the washing tank 3 in a state of being opened near the middle position in the vertical direction of the washing tank 3, and a manual opening / closing valve 11 which is set to be open during operation is provided in the middle thereof. And an electromagnetic water supply valve 12. Manual open / close valve 11 and water supply valve 1
When both valves 2 are opened, water is supplied into the washing tank 3 by the water supply pressure of a water supply source such as a water supply. The discharge path 9 is
Wash water is sucked from an opening 14 formed at the bottom of the washing tank 3 by a drain pump 13 provided in the middle of the washing tank 3, and a vertical path portion for preventing backflow provided on a lateral side of the washing tank 3. The cleaning water is discharged to the outside from the discharge part 9b after passing through 9a.

A water level sensor 15 is provided for detecting whether or not the water level stored in the cleaning tank 3 when the water is supplied into the cleaning tank 3 has reached a set water level. When the water supply is detected, the water supply valve 12 is closed and the water supply is automatically stopped.

The transport path 10 is provided with a suction transport path portion 10a for sucking cleaning water stored in the cleaning tank 3 through the opening 14 by the operation of a circulation pump 16 provided in the middle of the transport path. A first transport path portion 10b for forcibly transporting the cleaning water from the lower side of the circulation pump 16 toward the lower ejection nozzle 6a, and forcibly supplying the cleaning water from the lower side of the circulation pump 16 to the upper ejection nozzle 6c. And a second transport path portion 10c to be transported. Lower jet nozzle 6a
Is configured to be rotatable around the longitudinal axis at a middle portion in the longitudinal direction with respect to the bottom surface of the washing tank 3,
The middle ejection nozzle 6b is configured to be rotatably supported around the longitudinal axis with respect to the mesh basket 5b. Each ejection nozzle 6a, 6b, 6c is configured such that each ejection hole 7 ejects washing water obliquely upward in opposite directions.
By the reaction of the jetting power of the washing water, the jet nozzle itself is configured to rotate at a low speed around the vertical axis, and the washing water is sprayed to every corner of the object to be washed, and the washing is effectively performed. It has become. The upper ejection nozzle 6c is configured to eject the washing water in a fixed state with respect to the washing tank 3, and the upper ejection nozzle 6b is attached to the middle ejection nozzle 6b.
washing water released from c is has a configuration which is supplied from the water supply unit 6b _1. Therefore, the cleaning means S is provided by the transport path 10, the circulation pump 16, and the ejection nozzles 6a, 6b, 6c.
Is configured.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a filter F is provided in the opening 14 at the bottom of the cleaning tank 3 as a collecting tool for receiving dust such as residual vegetables generated by the cleaning action. This filter F is shown in FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), a coarse filter F1 having a coarse mesh and a fine filter F2 having a fine mesh are provided.
At the time of the cleaning operation, the cleaning water is configured to pass through the fine filter F2 after the coarse filter F1, and at the time of discharge, the flow of the cleaning water is reversed, and the dust adhering to the inner surface of the fine filter F2 is removed and discharged. It is configured to: The filter F is placed and supported along the inner peripheral edge of the opening 14 and is configured to be easily removable.

As shown in FIG. 2, on the inner surface of the door 2,
A detergent for washing and a finishing agent for drying are stored in advance, and the detergent and the finishing agent are stored in the washing tank 3 at an appropriate timing.
A detergent supply unit 17 for supplying the inside and a finishing agent supply unit 18 are provided.

The construction of the detergent supply section 17 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 8, the case 38 is opened and closed by a lid 36 that closes the storage recess 34 in which the detergent is stored, and is rotatably urged to open by a torsion spring 37 via a hinge 36. It is supported by. Further, by being rotated around the axis X2 in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis X1 of the lid 35, the lid 35 is locked to the lid 35 at the closed position and resists the urging force of the torsion spring 37. A locking member 39 that can be switched between a locked state in which the locked state is maintained and a released state in which the locked state is released, and a thermal valve 40 that switches the locking member 39 between the locked state and the released state. Is provided. This thermal valve 4
Reference numeral 0 denotes a wax case 41 in which wax is sealed in a case 38, an electric heater 42 attached to the case 38, a spindle 43 that slides in accordance with expansion and contraction of the wax in the wax case 41, and the spindle 43 moves downward. The spindle 43 and the locking member 39 are provided with a coil spring 44 that urges the link 43 toward the side.
5 are interlocked and linked. When the wax case 41 is heated by energizing the electric heater 42 through the connection terminal 46, the thermal valve 40 slides against the urging force of the coil spring 44 when the wax expands and the spindle 43 slides. The link 45 and the lock 39 are operated in conjunction with each other. In the state where the electric power is not supplied to the electric heater 42, the locking member 39 is in the locked state, the lid 35 is kept in the closed state to store the detergent, and as the power is supplied, The lock 39 is switched to the release state, and the stored detergent is supplied into the cleaning tank 3.

As shown in FIG. 9, the finishing agent supply section 18 is provided with a heating valve 47 having the same structure as the above-described heating valve 40. It is configured to open and close a supply port 49 formed in the stored storage section 48. That is, the electric heater 5
0 is not energized, the coil spring 56
When the supply port 49 is closed by the packing 52 provided at the tip of the spindle 51 by the urging force of the spindle 51, the state in which the finishing agent is stored is maintained, and when the electric heater 50 is energized through the connection terminal 55, the wax case The spindle 51 slides against the urging force of the coil spring 56 when the wax in the cylinder 54 expands, and the packing 52 is opened in conjunction with the slide, whereby the finishing agent is supplied into the cleaning tank 3. Have been. In the figure, 53 is an adjusting member for adjusting the supply amount of the finishing agent,
The position is adjusted in the vertical direction in FIG. 9 by an adjustment knob (not shown) so that the supply amount can be changed and adjusted. Therefore, the thermal valve 47 in the finishing agent supply section 18 corresponds to the finishing agent supply means.

At the bottom of the washing tank 3, the washing water supplied to the washing tank 3 is heated in the washing step, and the air inside the washing tank 3 is heated in the drying step after the washing water is discharged. A heater 19 is provided. The heater 19 is configured by a hot water heater 19 that heats hot water heated by an external heat source device 20 by flowing the hot water through a hot water supply path 21.

The hot water heater 19 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), at the bottom of the washing tank 3, it is arranged substantially over the entire bottom surface of the washing tank 3, and is constituted by a pipeline having a series of flow paths bent in a meandering shape. As shown, the hot water supplied from the heat source unit 20 through the hot water supply path 21 flows through the hot water heater 19 and then circulates through the return path 22 to the heat source unit 20. 9 is provided. The hot water supplied from the heat source unit 20 is about 8
It is configured to be constant at a temperature of 0 ° C. The hot water supply path 21 is provided with an electromagnetic open / close type hot water valve 24, and the branch path 23 is provided with an electromagnetic open / close type discharge valve 25. By opening the hot water valve 24 and closing the discharge valve 25, hot water can be supplied to the hot water heater 19, and by closing the hot water valve 24 and opening the discharge valve 25, hot water can be supplied. The supply of the hot water to the heater 19 is stopped. Therefore, the heating state of the hot water heater 19 can be changed and adjusted by opening and closing the hot water valve 24 and the discharge valve 25.

A temperature sensor 26 as temperature detecting means for detecting the temperature inside the cleaning tank 3 and a door 2 are provided inside the cleaning tank 3.
Door switch 2 for detecting whether or not the door is closed
7 are provided.

A control unit 28 using a microcomputer as control means for controlling the operation of each unit as described above, and an operation unit 29 for instructing the control unit 28 with control information are provided. The operation unit 29 is provided on the upper outer surface side of the door 2 and includes a power switch 30 for instructing power on / off, and a start switch 3 for instructing start of the cleaning operation.
1. A time setting switch 32 for changing and setting the drying time, and a number-of-finishes setting switch 33 for adjusting a set value for determination for supplying the finishing agent, as described later.
Etc. are provided.

The control device 28 includes a counter 100 as a frequency discriminating means for discriminating the number of times a series of cleaning operations has been performed, in which the cleaning process for cleaning the object to be cleaned and the rinsing process are sequentially performed. Provided, this counter 10
Each time the number of times determined at 0 reaches the set value set by the number-of-times setting switch 33, the operation of the finishing agent supply unit 18 is controlled so as to supply the finishing agent. .

Next, the control operation of the control device 28 in the standard operation mode will be described with reference to the flowcharts of FIGS. Prior to the start of the cleaning operation, the door 2 is opened, tableware and the like as objects to be cleaned are stored in the net baskets 5a and 5b in the cleaning tank 3, and a dedicated detergent and a finishing agent for drying are respectively provided with the detergent. Supply unit 17, finishing agent supply unit 1
Load 8 When the door 2 is closed, the door switch 2
7 is turned on and set to a operable state (step 1). When the power switch 30 is turned on and the start switch 31 is turned on, the operation is started (steps 2 and 3). When the operation is started, first, the washing water in the washing tank 3 is discharged (step 4). That is, the drain pump 13 is activated and the water level sensor 15 is turned off.
Then, the drain pump 13 stops. Next, cleaning water is supplied into the cleaning tank 3 (step 5). That is, the water supply valve 12
Is opened, and when the water level sensor 15 is turned on to detect that the set water level has been reached, the water supply valve 12 is closed.

Next, preliminary cleaning is performed (step 6). In this pre-cleaning step, the circulation pump 16 is operated for about one minute, and the cleaning water is blown out from each of the blow-out nozzles 6a, 6b, 6c to wash out rough dirt on the cleaning object. When the preliminary cleaning is completed, the cleaning water is discharged (steps 7 and 8).

In the next main cleaning step, after water is supplied, the circulation pump 16 is operated and the hot water heater 1 is turned on.
9 through hot water of about 80 ° C (steps 9 and 1).
0). At this time, the energization of the thermal valve is started to supply the detergent from the detergent supply unit 17 (step 11).
When the cleaning is performed in this manner, the temperature sensor 26
The hot water supply state is adjusted by controlling the operation of the hot water valve 24 and the discharge valve 25 so that the detected value of the cleaning tank 3, that is, the temperature in the washing tank 3 is maintained at about 60 ° C. (step 12). Then, when the set time (about 26 minutes) elapses, the operation of the circulation pump 16 is stopped, the hot water is stopped from flowing through the hot water heater 19, and then the cleaning water is discharged (steps 13, 14, and 14).
15). In such a main cleaning process, the cleaning water jetted in the form of spray from the jet holes 7 comes into contact with the hot water heater 19 to be efficiently heated, and the cleaning is performed with the hot water. or,
As described above, the lower and middle ejection nozzles 6a, 6b
Is rotated about the axis of the vertical axis by the jetting power of the washing water, so that every corner of the object to be washed is surely washed.

Next, the operation proceeds to the rinsing washing step, and after water is supplied, the circulating pump 16 is operated for a set time (approximately 1 minute) to perform rinsing, and the operation of discharging the washing water is repeated three times. When executed (Steps 16-2
0) At the time of the fourth rinse cleaning, after water is supplied, the hot water is passed through the hot water heater 19, and the rinse cleaning with hot water is performed (steps 21, 22, 23). At this time, the heating state by hot water is adjusted and controlled so that the detection value of the temperature sensor 26 is maintained at about 70 ° C. (step 24), and such warm water rinsing is continued for a set time (about 25 minutes). If that, whether or not reached the set value CU _S the count value of the counter 100 CU (corresponding to the number of times a series of cleaning operation is executed) is set by said number setting switch 33 is determined (step 25 , 26). This counter 10
The count value CU of 0 is reset to “0” when power is supplied for the first time.
The value set in 3 is adjusted to, for example, about “3” to “5”.

If the count value CU of the counter 100 has reached the set value CU _S , the energization of the thermal valve 47 in the finishing agent supply section 18 is started to supply the finishing agent into the cleaning tank 3 and The count value CU of 100 is reset to "0" (steps 27 and 28). Also, the counter 10
If the count value CU of 0 has not reached the set value CU _S , the count value CU of the counter 100 is increased once without supplying the finishing agent (step 29). The count value CU of the counter 100 is stored in a non-volatile storage unit, and is stored without being deleted even after the power switch is turned off.

Thereafter, when a set time (about 30 minutes) has elapsed since the start of the hot water rinsing, the rinsing is completed and the cleaning water is discharged (steps 30 and 31).

Next, the process proceeds to the drying step, where the hot water is passed through the hot water heater 19, and the heating state by the hot water is adjusted and controlled so that the detection value of the temperature sensor 26 is maintained at about 70 ° C. ), The air in the cleaning tank 3 is heated to about 70 ° C., and the object to be cleaned is dried. If such a drying operation continues for a set time (about 20 minutes), hot water supply is stopped, and the drying process ends (steps 34 and 35). The set time for this drying is set by the time setting switch 32.
It can be changed to about 40 minutes. When about 10 minutes elapse after the drying step, the power switch 30 is automatically switched to the OFF state, and the operation is completed (steps 36 and 37).

Each set time in each of the above steps is not limited to the values as exemplified above, and may be changed as appropriate.

[0037] Other Embodiments (1) In the above embodiment, the setting value CU _S should finish is supplied, but was changed adjustably arranged is constituted by the number setting switch 33, this structure Instead of
A configuration in which the measurement is fixed at a predetermined value (for example, a value of about 3 to 5) may be employed.

[0038]

(2) The finishing agent supply based on the number of times discrimination in the above embodiment and the finishing agent supply based on the supply command switch may be used in combination. That is, as shown in FIG.
Supply finger instructing the operation unit 29 to supply the finishing agent
Command switch 54, and the control operation in the above embodiment.
Finishing agent after step 26 in the flowchart of
In the supply step, as shown in FIG. 11, if the supply command switch 54 is turned ON, the finishing agent is supplied and the count value CU of the counter 100 is reset to "0" (steps 26a, 27a, 28a). When the supply command switch 54 is not turned on, the counter 10
If the count value CU of 0 has reached the set value CUs, the finishing agent is supplied (29a, 27a). If the count value CU has not reached the set value CUs, the count value CU is increased without supplying the finishing agent (step 30a). ). The configuration may be such that the count value CU of the counter 100 is not reset when the finishing agent is supplied while the supply command switch 54 is ON.

(3) In the above embodiment, the cleaning means is configured to eject cleaning water from the nozzle. However, the present invention is not limited to such a configuration.
A configuration for cleaning in various forms, such as a configuration in which cleaning water is swirled and cleaned, may be used.

(4) In the above-described embodiment, the case where the drying means is constituted by a hot water heater through which hot water flows is exemplified. However, the drying means may be constituted by an electric heater for heating air by energization. It may be constituted by a ventilation fan for ventilating the air in the washing space to the outside.

(5) In the above-mentioned embodiment, the drying means is provided and the drying step is performed after the rinsing step. However, the cleaning object is dried by natural drying without providing the drying means. Is also good.

In the claims, reference numerals are provided to facilitate comparison with the drawings, but the present invention is not limited to the configuration shown in the attached drawings.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a dishwasher.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a door open state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a door closed state.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an arrangement state of a hot water heater.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a drainage part.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a control operation.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a control operation.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a detergent supply unit.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a finishing agent supply unit.

FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of another embodiment.

[Figure 11] Flow chart of the control operation of another embodiment

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Cleaning tank 6a, 6b, 6c Spout nozzle 16 Pump 19 Drying means 28 Control means 47 Finishing agent supply means 48 Storage unit 54 Command means 100 Number of times determination means S Cleaning means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (56) References JP-A-6-327608 (JP, A) JP-A-53-56863 (JP, A) JP-A-9-168500 (JP, A) 53763 (JP, U) Japanese Utility Model Showa 51-38380 (JP, U) Special Table 7-504609 (JP, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) A47L 15/42-15 / 46

Claims (3)

(57) [Claims] 1. A cleaning means (S) for cleaning an object to be cleaned installed in a cleaning tank (3) and a finishing agent previously stored in a storage section (48) to the cleaning tank (3). Finishing agent supply means (47) for supplying, and the cleaning means (S)
And a control means (28) for controlling the operation of the finishing agent supply means (47). The control means (28) sequentially executes a cleaning step of cleaning the object to be cleaned and a rinsing step. The operation of the finishing agent supply means (47) is controlled to control the operation of the cleaning means (S) so as to end a series of cleaning operations, and to execute the finishing agent supply operation in the rinsing step. A dishwasher configured to control the number of times that the series of washing operations has been performed, the number of times that the series of washing operations has been performed is provided, and the control unit (28) includes: A dishwasher configured to control the operation of the finishing agent supply means (47) so as to supply the finishing agent each time the number of times determined by the means (100) reaches a set value. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said setting value can be changed and set.
The dishwasher according to claim 1 . 3. The cleaning means (S) cleans an object to be cleaned.
Jet nozzles (6a), (6b), (6)
c) and the ejection nozzles (6a), (6b), (6c)
And a pump (16) for supplying washing water to the
And a drying unit (19) for drying the object to be cleaned is provided, and the control unit (28) is provided after the rinsing step is completed.
In order to execute a drying step, the operation of the drying means (19) is performed.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operation is controlled.
Of the dishwasher.