JP3347281B2 - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a dishwasher and dryer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a dishwasher of this type, a basket is housed in a washing tank arranged inside a casing, and after the dishes are placed in the basket, the basket is placed in the washing tank by a water level sensor. The tableware is washed, rinsed and dried by taking in a fixed amount of water.

[0003] As the water level sensor, a sensor using a float is widely applied. In a conventional dishwasher and dryer, a normal water level for taking a predetermined amount of water into a washing tank, a failure of a water supply valve, and the like. In order to detect an abnormal water level due to abnormal water supply, two float sensors are provided.
However, the above-described abnormal water supply has a very high frequency because the function of detecting the abnormal water level must be provided despite its extremely low frequency. Also, it is difficult to reduce the size of the dishwasher as a whole because a space for disposing two floats must be secured at the time of design.

In view of this, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-59713 discloses a dishwasher / dryer in which a single water level sensor detects a normal water level and an abnormal water level as shown in FIG. In this dishwasher / dryer, a water basin 2 is provided on a side portion of a cleaning tub 1 for accommodating tableware so as to communicate with the cleaning tub 1, and a water level sensor 3 is provided in the water basin 2. When the water level sensor 3 continuously detects the water level for a predetermined time or more,
It is determined that the water supply is abnormal due to a failure of the water supply valve, etc., and an abnormality is detected.

In Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-303590, as shown in FIG.
There is provided a dishwasher in which a rising pipe portion 6 is provided so as to branch off, and a float 7 is disposed in the rising pipe portion 6. In this dishwasher / dryer, the flow at the time of drainage is caused to flow into the riser section 6, so that a gill such as oil or the like adheres to the riser section 6 and the float 7, and the float 7 floats. To prevent them from interfering.

[0006]

However, in the former dishwasher / dryer shown in FIG. 8, the water basin 2 communicating with the side of the cleaning tank 1 is provided. There is a problem that dirt such as residues and oils fall into the pool and adhere to the inner peripheral surface of the water reservoir 2 and the outer peripheral portion of the water level sensor 3 to inhibit the detection of the water level, resulting in malfunction. . In addition, there is a problem that it is not possible to determine an abnormality until water is injected through the nozzle.

[0007] In the latter dishwasher / dryer shown in FIG. 9, a rising pipe portion 6 branches off in the drainage path 5.
Is provided, large dirt such as residue can be separated by a residue filter disposed in the cleaning tank 1. However, dirt such as oil also enters the riser tube 6. In fact, since the water at the time of drainage does not easily flow into the riser pipe portion 3 provided in the middle of the drainage channel 5, dirt such as oil remains in the riser tube portion 3, and this Due to the contamination, the float 7 may malfunction and the water level detection may be unstable.

In view of the above, an object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher capable of reliably detecting both a normal water level and an abnormal water level with a single float and reliably preventing a malfunction of the float. Is what you do.

[0009]

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION In order to solve the above problems, a dishwasher according to the present invention accommodates dishes in a washing tank provided inside a casing, and supplies a predetermined amount of water into the washing tank. In a dishwasher for washing, rinsing and drying the dishes by taking in, a single float floated by water in the washing tank and a normal water level sensor for detecting an amount of water taken into the washing tank through the float. And an abnormal water level sensor, the float is disposed in a drainage path for draining water in the cleaning tank to the outside, and the normal water level and the abnormal water level of the water taken into the cleaning tank by one float are provided. And the drainage path is
A connection pipe connected to the cleaning tank, a pump connected to the connection pipe to suck and discharge water in the cleaning tank,
A drain pipe connected to the pump; and a connecting member for connecting the drain pipe and a hose for draining water to a sink. The float is disposed inside the connecting member, and the connecting member and the washing member are connected to the cleaning member. The tank and the tank are connected by a communication pipe, and the water in the cleaning tank enters the connection member via the communication pipe.

According to the dishwasher / dryer, the normal water level and the abnormal water level due to the water taken into the washing tank can be reliably detected by floating one float.
That is, since there is no need to dispose two floats inside the casing, the size can be reduced.

Further, since the float is disposed in the drainage path, the flow velocity of the water at the time of drainage can be directly applied to the float and the accommodation portion of the float. Therefore, dirt attached to these can be reliably removed, and in the last rinsing step, it can be completely washed with clean water.

The normal water level sensor and the abnormal water level sensor are magnetic sensors provided outside the connecting member, and a permanent magnet is provided on the float, and the magnetic force of the permanent magnet is detected by the magnetic sensor. By doing so, it is preferable to detect the normal water level and the abnormal water level.

Further, it is preferable that the water level sensor is not operated at the time of drainage. Here, not operating the water level sensor means that the power supply to the water level sensor is stopped, or even if a normal water level or an abnormal water level is detected while the power is supplied, the information is excluded when draining is performed. I do.

Furthermore, it is preferable that the water supply operation is performed at least twice in the water draining step.
Specifically, it is preferable that in the draining step, the draining operation of water is performed intermittently a plurality of times, and a water supply operation is performed between each draining operation. The drainage flow as described above is particularly preferably applied when draining cleaning water in the cleaning step. In this case, dirty water can be diluted and drained efficiently, and rinsing can be performed. Water can be drained in a cleaner state. Along with this, the float and the accommodation section of the float can be more efficiently cleaned.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a dishwasher 10 according to the present invention.
Is shown. The dishwasher 10 includes a casing 12
Cleaning tank 13, nozzle 14 (14A, 14B),
Pump 15, heater 16 and dedicated drying heater 1
7 and a dishwasher provided with a blower fan 18, one float 20 is provided in a drainage path 21 as a water level sensor for detecting the amount of water taken into the washing tank 13. This is provided with a normal water level sensor 22 and an abnormal water level sensor 23 for detecting floating. Pump 15, heating heater 16, drying heater 1
7. The blower fan 18, the normal water level sensor 22, and the abnormal water level sensor 23 are controlled by the control board 24.

The casing 12 is a box having an upper surface opening, and has a lid 27 at an upper portion thereof for closing the opening so that the opening can be opened and closed. Between the casing 12 and a washing tank 13 to be described later, a component accommodating portion 28 for accommodating the above-mentioned respective components is formed. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, on the front side of the casing 12, a board housing portion 28 </ b> A for housing the control board 24 and the operation panel 29 is formed. Further, one corner on the back side of the casing 12 (FIG. 3)
In the middle and right back), a housing 28B for the pump 15 is provided.
Is formed. Further, at the bottom of the casing 12, the heater 16, a ventilation path 40 in which a drying heater 17 and a blower fan 18, which will be described later, are disposed, and a connection for connecting the pump 15 with the cleaning tank 13 and the nozzle 14. An accommodating portion 28C such as pipes 37A and 37B is formed. Further, on the rear side of the casing 12, a housing part 28D of a drain pipe 38, which is a drain path 21 connected to the pump 15, is formed. In the present embodiment, the lid 2 is provided in the substrate housing portion 28A.
A lock mechanism 30 that locks the openable / closable 7 is provided.

The washing tank 13 accommodates a basket (not shown) therein, and various dishes are arranged in the basket. The portions corresponding to the housing portions 28A and 28B have a shape protruding inward. A water recess 32 is formed in a lower portion of the cleaning tank 13.
A metal porous residue filter 33 is provided on the upper surface of the water recess 32. As shown in FIG. 1, a connection pipe 34 for connecting to the ventilation path 40 is formed integrally with the front of the cleaning tank 13, and the opening of the connection pipe 34 is covered with a cover 35. Have been done.

The nozzle 14 circulates and supplies washing water and rinsing water into the washing tank 13. As shown in FIG. 3, at the bottom of the washing tank 13, the pump housing portion 28 Elongate first nozzle 14A disposed at a position where it does not interfere with the pump housing 2 on the right front side
Short second nozzle 14 disposed at a position that does not interfere with 8B
B. These first nozzle 14A and second nozzle 14A
The nozzle 14 </ b> B can jet the washing water and the rinsing water by the pump 15 described later, and evenly jet the washing water into the washing tank 13 irrespective of the fact that there are portions projecting into the washing tank 13 while the peripheral speeds are different from each other. It has become. Note that a third projecting part, which is different from the first and second nozzles 14A and 14B, is also provided on the upper part of the pump housing part 28B that protrudes greatly.
A nozzle may be provided.

The pump 15 includes a motor using a winding having a lower heat-resistant temperature than a conventional dishwasher and dryer,
The motor is rotated by driving the motor, a well-known impeller provided with a cooling fan for cooling the motor, and an impeller for sucking water in the water recess 32 of the cleaning tank 13 and supplying the water to the nozzle 14 or the drain passage 21. Things. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the pump 15 includes a flow path switching valve 36 in which a ball member 36a is disposed.
When the pump 15 is rotated forward, the flow path switching valve 36 flows the washing water and the rinsing water sucked from the washing tank 13 through the connection pipe 37A, and the flow of the washing water and the rinsing water flows to the drain pipe 38 which is the drain path 21. By closing and closing the connection pipe 37B side by reversing the pump 15 while circulating and supplying the cleaning water to the cleaning tank 13 via the connection pipe 37B and the nozzles 14A and 14B, the cleaning water and the rinsing water are drained from the drain pipe 38. Is what drains through.

The heater 16 is a sheath heater similar to the conventional one, and is disposed in a water recess 32 inside the cleaning tank 13. Note that this heater 16
, A temperature sensor 39 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drying heater 17 comprises a heating wire heater insulated by mica.
The blower fan 18 is a known fan that is rotated by a motor. The drying heater 17 and the blower fan 18 are arranged inside a ventilation passage 40 provided outside (below) the water recess 32 of the cleaning tank 13 so that the drying heater 17 is located on the downstream side.

The ventilation passage 40 has a tubular shape, the blower fan 18 is disposed in an opening 41 at one end also serving as an intake port, and the connection conduit 34 of the washing tank 13 is connected to the other end. The cooling air from the blower fan 18 is supplied into the cleaning tank 13. In addition, this ventilation path 4
0 is provided with a ventilation hole 42 for supplying air by the blower fan 18 into the component housing portion 28. The vent hole 42 is for lowering the ambient temperature in the component housing portion 28 and removing mist entering the ventilation passage 40. In the present embodiment, the vent hole 42 is provided.
It is formed so that the air discharged from the pump 15 is supplied to the pump 15. In the present embodiment, the ventilation path 4
No special sealing means is provided at the connecting portion between the connection housing 34 and the connecting conduit 34, and the connecting portion 2
8 is set so that air is supplied.

The float 20 is shown in FIG. 1, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 6 (B) and FIG. 6, it is disposed inside a connection member 45 which constitutes a part of the drainage path 21 connected to the pump 15. As shown in FIG. 5, the float 20 has a guide groove 47 extending from the upper end to the lower end. Further, a permanent magnet 48 is disposed so as to face the water level sensors 22 and 23 via the side wall of the connection member 45.

The connection member 45 is for connecting a drain pipe 38 connected to the pump 15 and a hose 50 for draining water to a household sink.
Outside the cleaning tank 13, it is disposed so as to be located on the surface of a predetermined amount of water to be taken into the cleaning tank 13. The connecting member 45 is connected to the cleaning tank 13 by a communication pipe 53.
It is made to communicate with the inside. The connecting member 45 is provided with a float accommodating portion 51 having a guide convex portion 51a which is slidably engaged with the guide groove 47 of the float 20 on the side of the connecting portion 45a with the drain pipe 38. At the same time, a connection portion 45b with the communication pipe 53
A water flow chamber 52 communicating with the float storage section 51 is provided on the side. The float accommodating portion 51 and the water flow chamber 52 are connected to the hose 50 via a communication passage at the upper end.
5c.

The normal water level sensor 22 is composed of a magnetic sensor, and is disposed outside the float accommodating portion 51 of the connection member 45 so that a predetermined amount of water is taken into the washing tank 13 so as to be positioned on the water surface. It is arranged. The abnormal water level sensor 23 includes a magnetic sensor similar to the normal water level sensor 22, and is disposed above the normal water level sensor 22.

The control board 24 is provided with
A, which is disposed in the space A, and is disposed at a predetermined interval from the operation panel 29 disposed on the surface of the substrate accommodating portion 28A to secure a creepage distance therebetween. Also,
When the abnormal water level sensor 23 detects an abnormal water level, the control board 24 is connected to a known abnormality warning means such as a buzzer for notifying a user of the abnormality.

Next, the operation of cleaning the dishes by the control board 24 of the dishwasher 10 will be described. First,
The user arranges a basket for arranging the dishes in the washing tank 13 and arranges the dishes in the basket, thereby accommodating the dishes in the washing tank 13 and a predetermined amount of detergent. And the lid 27 is closed. Then, the user operates the operation panel 29 on the front of the casing 12 to input information such as the amount of dishes to be washed (for several persons) and then press the start switch.

Then, the control board 24 of the dishwasher 10 opens the water supply solenoid valve connected to the household faucet and takes water into the washing tank 13.

When a predetermined amount of water accumulates in the washing tank 13, the water flows into the float accommodating portion 51 and the water flow chamber 52 of the connecting member 45 through a communication pipe 53 connecting the washing tank 13 and the connecting member 45. Water infiltrates. Then, the float 20 rises along the guide protrusion 51a by the engagement of the guide groove 47 and the guide protrusion 51a due to the water that has entered the connection member 45.

Next, the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 48 disposed on the float 20 is detected by the normal water level sensor 22, and it is determined that a predetermined amount of water has been taken into the washing tank 13. After closing, the pump 15 is operated to wash the dishes.

At the time of washing the dishes, the pump 15 is rotated in the forward direction to connect the washing tank 13 with the connecting pipe 37A.
The water in the inside is sucked, and the flow switching valve 36 is switched to the state shown in FIG.
The nozzles 14A and 14B are circulated and supplied into the washing tank 13 while being rotated by the jetting water pressure, and the washing is performed by spraying the washing water onto the tableware at a predetermined water pressure. Further, in this state, since the washing tank 13 and the float housing portion 51 of the connection member 45 communicate with each other through the communication pipe 53, the oil component and the washing water that have fallen from the tableware are also in the float housing portion 51. Is flowing. The cleaning step may be performed while operating the heater 16 to supply cleaning water heated to a predetermined temperature.

When the cleaning process is completed, the nozzles 14A, 1
4B, the operation of the pump 15, the normal water level sensor 22 and the abnormal water level sensor 23 is stopped, and the pump 15 is reversed so that the flow path switching valve 36 switches the flow path to the state shown in FIG. Drain the washing water inside. Here, stopping the operation of the water level sensors 22 and 23 means that even if the power supply to the water level sensors 22 and 23 is stopped or the normal water level or the abnormal water level is detected with the power supplied, the information is excluded. I do.

Specifically, the pump 15 is operated intermittently, and the water supply operation is performed by opening the water supply solenoid valve between each of these drainage operations. For example, as shown in FIG.
After the pump 15 is operated for 0 seconds to drain the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 13, the pump 15 is stopped for 7 seconds. Then, during the first 2.5 seconds of the 7 seconds, the water supply solenoid valve is opened to perform the water supply operation. Next, after the pump 15 is operated and drained for 5 seconds, the pump 15 is stopped for 7 seconds. Then, in the same manner as above, water is supplied by opening the solenoid valve for the first 2.5 seconds of the 7 seconds. afterwards,
Again, only the pump 15 is intermittently operated for 5 seconds to drain all the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 13.

In the washing water draining step, the washing water discharged from the pump 15 is drained to the sink via the drain pipe 38, the connecting member 45 and the hose 50. At this time, since the water pressure at the time of draining the washing water can be directly applied to the float accommodating portion 51 of the connecting member 45 and the float 20 disposed in the float accommodating portion 51, the dirt such as oil adhering thereto is applied. Is reliably removed. Further, since the water level sensors 22 and 23 are stopped at the time of drainage, there is no inconvenience that the abnormal water level sensor 23 detects an abnormal water level at the time of drainage.

Further, in the drainage process of the present embodiment,
Since the water supply operation is performed twice, dirty water can be diluted and drained efficiently. As a result, dirt on the float storage portion 51 and the float 20 can be efficiently removed. Note that the water supply operation in the drainage process is not limited to two times, and can be changed to two or more desired times.

When the washing water draining step is completed, the water supply solenoid valve is opened, and water is taken in until the normal water level sensor 22 determines that a predetermined amount of water has been taken into the washing tank 13. Thereafter, by rotating the pump 15 forward, the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36 is switched, and rinsing with normal water is performed.

When the normal rinsing with water is completed, the pump 15 is reversed to switch the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36, and the water in the washing tank 13 is drained through the drain path 21.

When the rinsing water draining step is completed, a predetermined amount of water is taken in again, the pump 15 is rotated forward, the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36 is switched, and the heater 16 is operated to discharge water. Rinse with warm water heated to a predetermined temperature.

When the rinsing water composed of warm water is completed, the pump 15 is again rotated to switch the flow path of the flow path switching valve 36, and the water in the washing tank 13 is drained through the drain path 21. In the draining process of the rinse water composed of normal water and the draining process of the rinse water composed of warm water, the drainage operation is performed intermittently as in the drainage process of the washing water, and the water supply is performed between these drainage operations. The operation may be performed.

When draining both rinsing waters, the drain pipe 3 as the drain passage 21 is drained in the same manner as when draining the washing water.
8. Drained into the sink via the connecting member 45 and the hose 50. Then, the float accommodating portion 51 in the connection member 45
Similarly, the water pressure when draining the rinse water is applied to the float 20 as it is. Here, since this rinse water is efficiently diluted by the drainage process, it is in a clean water state at the time of the final rinse. Therefore, at the time of cleaning, the float housing 51 and the float 2
Soil such as oil attached to 0 can be completely washed by the rinsing water in the clean water state.

Next, when the draining step of the rinse water composed of warm water is completed, the dishes are dried. For example, fan 1
8 was operated and the ventilation path 4 generated by hot water rinsing
The vapor (mist) in 0 is removed. It should be noted that the blower fan 18 may continue to operate even when hot water rinse water is drained.

Then, about 30 seconds after the process proceeds to the drying step, the drying heater 17 is operated, and the air heated by the drying heater 17 is supplied into the cleaning tank 13. As described above, since the drying step is performed by the dedicated drying heater 17 without using the heating heater 16, fine control of the power supply to the heater 17 is possible, and the tableware is efficiently dried. And the working time can be shortened. Further, it is possible to prevent the residue adhering to the heater 16 from being scorched, causing a bad smell, and from burning small articles such as chopsticks to be damaged.

When the drying heater 17 and the blowing fan 18 are operated for a time corresponding to the amount of tableware, only the drying heater 17 is stopped first, and only the blowing fan 18 is operated, and after about 120 seconds, The blower fan 18 is stopped, and all the steps of washing and drying the dishes are completed.

On the other hand, when a predetermined amount of water is supplied at the time of taking water into the washing tank 13, the water level cannot be detected due to a failure of the normal water level sensor 22, so that the water supply solenoid valve is closed. If the instruction could not be made, or because the normal water level sensor 22 is normal, but the water supply solenoid valve or the control relay of the water supply solenoid valve has failed,
When the water supply operation is not stopped, the abnormal water level sensor 23 detects the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 48 of the float 20 by taking in a predetermined amount or more of water into the cleaning tank 13. Then, it is determined that the water supply solenoid valve has failed, the abnormality warning means is operated, and the user is notified that the abnormality has occurred, the pump 15 is reversed, and the water in the cleaning tank 13 is forcibly drained. .

It should be noted that the dishwasher 10 of the present invention is not limited to the above configuration. For example, the normal water level sensor 22 and the abnormal water level sensor 23 are configured by a permanent magnet 48 provided on the float 20 and a magnetic sensor for detecting the magnetic force of the permanent magnet 48.
A photo sensor may be provided in the device, and the rise of the float may be detected by the photo sensor.

[0046]

As is apparent from the above description, the dishwasher of the present invention reliably detects the normal water level and the abnormal water level due to the water taken into the washing tank by floating one float. Therefore, it is not necessary to dispose two floats inside the casing, and it is possible to reduce the disposition space by that amount, so that the dishwasher itself can be downsized, Cost can be reduced.

Further, since the float is arranged in the drainage path, the flow rate of the water at the time of drainage can be directly applied to the float and the accommodation portion of the float, and as a result, dirt attached to these floats can be applied. Can be reliably removed, and can be completely washed with clean water in the final rinsing step. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the malfunction from occurring due to, for example, the float adhering to the inside of the storage unit due to dirt, and it is possible to accurately detect the water level.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a dishwasher according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state cut at a different position from FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the inside of a cleaning tank.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are cross-sectional views showing a switching valve of a pump.

5A and 5B show a connection member that is a part of a drainage path for disposing a float, wherein FIG. 5A is a sectional view and FIG. 5B is a bottom view.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the dishwasher with the bottom of the casing removed.

FIG. 7 is a drawing showing an operation flow of each component in a washing water draining step.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing a conventional dishwasher / dryer.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing another conventional dishwasher / dryer.

[Explanation of symbols]

10: dishwasher, 12: casing, 13: washing tank, 14: nozzle, 15: pump, 16: heater
17 ... Drying heater, 18 ... Blow fan, 20 ... Float, 21 ... Drainage path, 22 ... Normal water level sensor, 23 ... Abnormal water level sensor, 37A, 37B ... Connection pipe, 38 ... Drainage pipe, 45 ... Connection member, 48 ... Permanent magnet, 50 ... Hose, 51 ... Float accommodation part, 53 ... Communication pipe.

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Takaaki Isshiki 1-20-5 Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Zojirushi Mahobin Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Tomoo Inoue 1-20-5, Tenma, Kita-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka Zojirushi (56) References JP-A-4-309819 (JP, A) JP-A 64-27528 (JP, A) JP-A-6-277170 (JP, A) JP-A-5-212197 (JP, A) , A) Fully open 1979--18870 (JP, U) (58) Field surveyed (Int. Cl. ⁷ , DB name) A47L 15/00-15/46

Claims (5)

(57) [Claims] 1. A dishwasher for accommodating dishes in a washing tank provided inside a casing, washing a predetermined amount of water into the washing tank, rinsing and drying the dishes, One float floating by the water in the tank,
A normal water level sensor and an abnormal water level sensor for detecting the amount of water taken into the washing tank through the float, and disposing the float in a drain passage for draining water in the washing tank to the outside; The normal water level and the abnormal water level of the water taken into the cleaning tank by the floats are detected, and the drainage path includes a connection pipe connected to the cleaning tank,
A pump connected to the connection pipe for sucking and discharging water in the washing tank, a drain pipe connected to the pump, and a connection member for connecting a hose for draining the drain pipe and a drain, In addition to disposing the float inside the connection member, the connection member and the cleaning tank were connected by a communication pipe, and water in the cleaning tank entered the connection member via the communication pipe. A dishwasher or dryer. 2. The normal water level sensor and the abnormal water level sensor are magnetic sensors provided outside the connection member, wherein a permanent magnet is provided on the float, and a magnetic force of the permanent magnet is detected by the magnetic sensor. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, wherein the normal water level and the abnormal water level are detected. 3. The water level sensor according to claim 1, wherein the water level sensor is not operated at the time of drainage.
The dishwasher / dryer according to item 1. 4. The dishwasher / dryer according to claim 1, wherein a water supply operation is performed at least twice in the water draining step. 5. The dishwasher according to claim 4, wherein in the draining step, a water draining operation is performed intermittently a plurality of times, and a water supply operation is performed between each draining operation.