JP7499451B2 - dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a built-in type dishwasher that washes and dries tableware.

A conventional dishwasher is configured as shown in FIG. 11 (see, for example, Patent Document 1). FIG. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a conventional dishwasher. The body 14 of the dishwasher has an opening at the front. A washing tub 15 with an open top is provided inside the body 1 so that it can be pulled out forward. In FIG. 11, the dashed dotted line shows the state in which the washing tub 15 is pulled out.

The washing nozzle 8, dish basket 4, and heater (not shown) are provided inside the washing tank 15. The washing pump 7 and water supply valve 9 are provided outside the washing tank 15. The water supply valve 9 is connected to a water supply and introduces tap water, which becomes the washing water, into the washing tank 15. The washing pump 7 circulates the washing water stored in the washing tank 15. The washing nozzle 8 is provided so as to be freely rotatable, and the washing water pressurized by the washing pump 7 is sprayed. The dish basket 4 is provided so as to be detachable. The dish basket 4 holds the dishes 3 contained therein and is configured so that the washing water hits the dishes 3 efficiently. The heater heats the washing water or the drying air.

A slide rail 16 is provided on the outer side of the cleaning tank 15, and a slide rail 17 is provided on the inner side of the main body 1. The slide rail 16 is held by the slide rail 17 and slides. The cleaning tank 15 is supported by the main body 14 via the slide rails 16 and 17, and is configured so that it can be pulled out and pushed into the main body 14. An inner lid 21 that covers the top opening of the cleaning tank 15 is provided at the top inside the main body 14. The inner lid 21 is configured to close the top opening of the cleaning tank 15 via a packing 22 when the cleaning tank 15 is stored in the main body 14.

A door 23 is provided at the front of the washing tub 15. When the washing tub 15 is housed in the main body 1, the door 23 covers the front opening of the main body 1. A handle 24 and an operation switch are provided at the upper front part of the door 23. A user places a hand on the handle 24 to pull out the washing tub 15. In addition, the user operates the operation switch to set the washing operation of the dishwasher for the washing, rinsing and drying steps.

Furthermore, a rack gear 18 with gear teeth formed in a straight line is attached to the bottom of the cleaning tank 15. The length of the rack gear 18 is configured to be longer than the stroke by which the cleaning tank 15 is pulled out from the main body 1. A drive motor 19 having a reduction mechanism is fixed to the main body 14. A gear 20 that meshes with the rack gear 18 is attached to the motor shaft of the drive motor 19. The drive motor 19 is configured to be able to rotate forward or backward. The cleaning tank 15 is driven via the rack gear 18 by the rotation of the drive motor 19.

The operation of the dishwasher configured as above will now be described. The user pulls out the washing tub 15 to place dishes 3 in it. At this time, the user can pull out the washing tub 15 by placing his/her hands on the handle 24, or by operating an operation switch to drive the drive motor 19 and pull out the washing tub 15. When the operation switch is operated, the drive motor 19 rotates forward at a constant speed to rotate the gear 20 on the motor shaft in a specified direction. The gear 20 exerts a force to push out the meshed rack gear 18. As a result, the washing tub 15 comes out to the front from the main body 14 via the slide rails 16 and 17. When the washing tub 15 reaches an arbitrarily set position, such as a position where dishes 3 can be accommodated in the washing tub 15, the drive motor 19 stops and the washing tub 15 stops.

The user then places the dishes 3 in the dish basket 4 and pours in detergent. The weight of the dishes 3 causes the tip of the washing tub 15, which had been pulled out, to lower. Then, when the user operates the operation switch, the drive motor 19 rotates in reverse. The gear 20 exerts a force to retract the meshed rack gear 18. As a result, the washing tub 15 is retracted into the main body 14 via the slide rails 16, 17 and stored. At the same time, the inner lid 21 closes the top opening of the washing tub 15.

The user then operates the operation switch to set the washing course and start the washing operation. This causes the control device (not shown) to control the washing pump 7, water supply valve 9, heater, drain pump (not shown), etc., to wash the dishes 3 stored in the dish basket 4. The control device performs the washing operation in the set order of, for example, the washing process, the rinsing process, and the drying process.

After the washing operation is completed, the user removes the dishes 3. When the user operates the operation switch in the same way as before the washing operation, the drive motor 19 rotates and the washing tub 15 is pulled out to a specified position. Due to the smooth rotation of the drive motor 19, the dishes 3 contained in the washing tub 15 are handled gently without touching each other.

The lower front part of the door 23 is fitted with a decorative panel made of the same material and with the same design as the doors and drawers of the system kitchen. This decorative panel improves the design of the system kitchen.

JP 2002-345712 A

In the conventional configuration, a decorative panel with the same design as the doors and drawers of the system kitchen is attached to the lower front part of the door, improving the design of the system kitchen. However, the handle and operating switch are designed uniquely for the dishwasher, and cannot be perfectly matched to the design of the system kitchen. Furthermore, with the ever-diversifying designs of system kitchens, there are some with innovative designs that omit even the handle and drive the drawers with electric motors, etc., and there was a challenge in having to match these as well.

In addition to furniture drawers, there are also drawers and doors of home appliances such as refrigerators that are equipped with a mechanism to push them out slightly using a push rod. However, these configurations do not allow the drawer to open far enough, and the user must manually pull it out to the desired position. Cited Document 1 describes a dishwasher in which the drive motor stops and the washing tub stops when the washing tub reaches a set position, and suggests that the washing tub is pulled out far enough to allow tableware to be set immediately. However, Cited Document 1 does not describe how the stopping position of the washing tub is set and controlled.

Furthermore, when the cleaning tank is pulled out by the drive motor, there is also the issue that it needs to be controlled so that no malfunction occurs if a user or other object is in front of the door.

To solve the above-mentioned problems of the conventional art, the present invention aims to provide a user-friendly dishwasher that can be adapted to the diversifying designs of system kitchens and that can pull out the washing tub to a position where dishes can be easily stored even when there is no operation switch on the door covering the front of the dishwasher.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the dishwasher of the present invention includes a housing having a front opening on a front side, a dish basket which is provided removably within the housing and which contains dishes, a door body which covers the front opening, a support mechanism which supports the door body on the housing in a state in which the door body can move back and forth, a drive device which moves the door body at least in a forward or backward direction, an electrostatic sensor provided at least on the door body, an alarm unit which notifies a user of an operating status, and a control unit, wherein the drive device has a drive unit, and the control unit is configured, upon receiving a predetermined signal from the electrostatic sensor which detects that the user has touched the door body , to notify the user by the alarm unit that driving of the drive unit should be started, and then to drive the drive unit,
The control unit is configured to stop the drive unit when the electrostatic sensor detects that a user has touched the door body while the door body is on its way to a predetermined position after receiving the specified signal from the electrostatic sensor.

This configuration allows the dishwasher to move the door without the user having to exert much effort. Also, even if the door covering the front does not have an operating part or handle, the dish basket can be pulled out to a position where dishes can be easily stored. This improves usability and allows the device to adapt to the diversifying designs of system kitchens. Furthermore, the user is notified when the door is being driven to move, improving safety.

The present invention provides a user-friendly dishwasher that allows the user to pull out the dish basket without much effort and allows dishes to be easily placed in the dish basket even if the door covering the front does not have an operating part or handle.

FIG. 1 is a side vertical cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a side vertical cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view of a dishwasher according to a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view of a dishwasher according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a vertical sectional side view of a dishwasher according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a front vertical sectional view of a dishwasher according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Enlarged view of the main part of FIG. FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to another embodiment of the present invention. Side cross-sectional view of a conventional dishwasher

The dishwasher of the first invention comprises a housing having a front opening on the front, a dish basket that is removably installed in the housing and that stores dishes, a door body that covers the front opening, a support mechanism that supports the door body on the housing so that it can move back and forth, a drive unit that moves the door body at least forward or backward, a sensor that is installed on at least the door body and that detects touch by a user, an alarm unit that notifies the user of the operating status, and a control unit, the drive unit has a drive unit, and the control unit is configured to drive the drive unit when a predetermined signal is received from the sensor, and the control unit is configured to notify by the alarm unit when driving of the drive unit starts. With this configuration, the user is notified that the door body is being driven to move, improving safety.

The second invention, particularly in the first invention,
The sensor detects that the user has touched the sensor, and the control unit is configured to start an alarm a predetermined time T5 after detecting that the user has touched the sensor. This configuration makes it easier for the user to hear the alarm sound.

The third invention is particularly the first or second invention,
The control unit is configured to start the notification 0.1 to 0.6 seconds after it detects that the user has touched the sensor. The user is focused on performing the action of knocking, and when a sound such as a knock occurs, the sound overlaps with the beginning of the notification sound, making it difficult to hear. This configuration makes it easier for the user to hear the notification sound without being interrupted by the sound of the knock, and does not give the impression of it being drawn out.

The fourth invention is particularly in any one of the first to third inventions,
The control unit is configured to start a notification before driving the drive unit. With this configuration, the user is notified that the door body is about to move before it is driven, thereby further improving safety.

The fifth invention is particularly in any one of the first to fourth inventions,
A door closing detection sensor is provided to detect that the door is closed, and the control unit is configured to notify when the door closing detection sensor detects a signal indicating that the door is closed, or after a predetermined time T3 has elapsed since the detection. With this configuration, the user can be sure that the door is securely closed and that the subsequent washing operation will be performed normally.

The sixth invention, particularly in the fifth invention,
The control unit is configured to, when detecting a signal from the door close detection sensor that the door body is closed, not detect a signal from the sensor that detects that the user has touched the sensor for a predetermined time T3 after detecting the signal from the door close detection sensor, or to suspend driving of the drive unit even if it detects a signal from the sensor. The entire housing including tableware vibrates due to the shock caused when the door body is closed. This configuration makes it possible to prevent erroneous detection of the vibration when the door is closed. In addition, it is possible to ensure a temporary stop of the drive unit, and to prevent an excessive temperature rise in the drive unit.

The seventh invention, particularly in the fifth or sixth invention,
The control unit is configured to notify the occurrence of an abnormality if the control unit drives the drive unit in the forward direction to open the door body and the signal of the door close detection sensor is kept detected during a predetermined time T4 when the control unit detects that the door body is closed. With this configuration, the control unit can determine that the door body is not moving and notify the user of the abnormality of the door body.

The eighth invention, particularly in the seventh invention,
The control unit is configured to notify the user of the occurrence of an abnormality when the notification that the door body is not moving is repeated a predetermined number of times, and to stop further driving. This configuration can prevent the lock current of the drive unit from being repeated, and can prevent the drive unit from excessively increasing in temperature. It can also notify the user that it is necessary to determine whether an abnormality has occurred, such as whether the door body is stuck due to an obstacle or the drive unit or the door close detection sensor has broken down.

The ninth aspect of the present invention is, particularly in any one of the fifth to eighth aspects of the present invention,
The control unit is configured to drive the drive unit in the rear direction so that the door body is closed, and when the control unit detects that the drive unit has stopped but does not detect a signal from the door close detection sensor, the control unit notifies the user of the occurrence of an abnormality. With this configuration, it is possible to inform the user that the door body is not completely closed.

The tenth aspect of the present invention is, particularly in the ninth aspect,
The control unit is configured to notify the occurrence of an abnormality and stop further driving when the notification that the door body is not completely closed is repeated a predetermined number of times. This configuration can prevent the lock current of the drive unit from being repeated, and can prevent the drive unit from excessively increasing in temperature. It can also notify the user that it is necessary to determine whether an abnormality has occurred, such as whether the door body cannot be closed due to an obstacle or the drive unit or the door closing detection sensor has broken down. It can also prevent the washing operation from being performed with the door body remaining in an incompletely closed state.

The eleventh aspect of the present invention is, particularly in the first to tenth aspects of the present invention,
The control unit is configured to stop the drive when the sensor is intentionally or carelessly touched while the drive unit is operating. With this configuration, even if a child carelessly touches the sensor, the control unit stops the drive to prevent injury to the child and to prevent malfunction of an obstacle or person that comes into contact with the moving unit.

The twelfth invention is particularly in accordance with the first to eleventh inventions,
The control unit is configured to drive the drive unit after a certain time has elapsed after notifying the user that the door body will start moving. This configuration improves safety. Also, when cleaning water is being sprayed from the cleaning nozzle during the washing process, it is possible to wait for the cleaning pump to stop, and to prevent the cleaning water from splashing out of the cleaning tank. Furthermore, when the driving signal is continuously detected and driving is repeated, it is possible to ensure that the drive motor is temporarily stopped to prevent a large starting current from being continuously applied, and to prevent an excessive temperature rise in the drive motor.

The thirteenth aspect of the present invention is, particularly in the first to twelfth aspects of the present invention,
The notification unit is configured to provide an auditory notification using a synthesized sound such as a voice or a buzzer, etc. With this configuration, the user can be easily notified if he or she is nearby.

The following describes an embodiment of the present invention with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

(Embodiment 1)
1 and 2 are vertical cross-sectional side views of a dishwasher with a pull-out washing tub in embodiment 1 of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows a state in which the washing tub is stored in a housing. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the washing tub is fully pulled out from inside the housing. As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher is stored in a system kitchen K. Housing 31 has a front opening 32 whose entire front is open. Washing tub 33 is provided in housing 31 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction and is provided so as to be removable from front opening 32. In this embodiment, the front direction is the direction in which washing tub 33 is pulled out, and the rear direction is the direction in which washing tub 33 is stored.

Slide rails 34 are installed in a substantially horizontal direction on the inside of both side surfaces of the housing 31. The washing tank 33 is supported by the slide rails 34 and moves along the slide rails 34. The washing tank 33 has an upper opening 35 whose entire upper surface is open, and contains tableware 36, which is the item to be washed.

An inner lid 37 for closing the upper opening 35, and a parallel link mechanism 38 for supporting the inner lid 37
and are provided at the upper part inside the housing 31. The parallel link mechanisms 38 are arranged in two sets, one on the left and one on the front and one on the back, and are configured to move the inner lid 37 up and down. A seal portion 39 is provided on the outer periphery of the lower surface of the inner lid 37. The seal portion 39 seals the upper opening 35 when the inner lid 37 is lowered. The parallel link mechanism 38 lifts the inner lid 37 when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out of the housing 31. This prevents the seal portion 39 from interfering with the movement of the cleaning tank 33.

The washing tank 33 has a door 40 at the front. The door 40 includes an operation panel 41 provided on the front of the washing tank 33 and a decorative panel 42 attached to the operation panel 41. The decorative panel 42 covers the entire front opening 32 when the washing tank 33 is stored in the housing 31. The decorative panel 42 is made of the same material and color as the decorative panel that is the door of the drawer of the system kitchen K. Furthermore, a handle 43 is attached to the decorative panel 42, which serves as a handle when the user pulls out the washing tank 33. The handle 43 is the same as that of the system kitchen K, and is configured so that the entire system kitchen K has a unified design. Note that some system kitchens K have a design that is composed only of a decorative panel 42 without a handle 43 on the front. In this configuration, the door 40 is pulled out by a drive device, and the upper or side of the decorative panel 42 functions as the handle 43. In this embodiment, these are not distinguished from each other.

In this embodiment, the support mechanism S that supports the door body 40 on the housing 31 in a state in which the door body 40 can move back and forth is exemplified by the cleaning tank 33 and the slide rail 34.

The control unit 44 is provided on the back side of the operation panel 41. The control unit 44 controls all operations of the dishwasher and executes the washing operation. The washing operation includes a washing process, a rinsing process, and a drying process. The washing process is a process for removing dirt from the dishes 36 by using detergent or the like. The rinsing process is a process for removing the detergent. The drying process is a process for drying the dishes 36 that have been cleanly washed.

The control unit 44 has a printed circuit board (not shown). An acceleration sensor 45 is provided on the printed circuit board. The acceleration sensor 45 detects the magnitude of the effective acceleration in three axial directions (X-axis: front-rear direction, Y-axis: left-right direction, Z-axis: up-down direction). The acceleration sensor 45 detects the direction and magnitude of various accelerations that occur in the dishwasher, such as the acceleration caused by the movement of the door body 40 and the washing tank 33 in the front-rear direction, and the acceleration caused by the vibration applied to the door body 40. Therefore, it is desirable that the printed circuit board is attached in a direction and with sufficient strength so that the acceleration sensor 45 can reliably detect the acceleration. The control unit 44 controls the operation of the dishwasher based on the signal output by the acceleration sensor 45 after detecting the direction and magnitude of the acceleration, the state of the washing tank 33, etc.

Note that the actual acceleration in each direction refers to the acceleration sensor 45 being attached to a printed circuit board and fixed in a predetermined position in accordance with the three axial directions (including correction by the predetermined angle if fixed at a predetermined angle), with a reasonable degree of mounting angle error and tilt angle allowed. However, correction can be made in the vertical and horizontal directions by detecting deviations from gravity. Also, as will be described later, the control unit 44 can be used as a spirit level by detecting the deviation between gravity and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction.

In this embodiment, the user can operate the dishwasher by applying vibrations to the door body 40 and the washing tank 33. The method of applying the vibrations may be to knock on the door with a hand, tap with a fingertip, or lightly tap with an object held in the hand. When the hand is wet or the user is holding something and cannot use the hand, the user may tap with an elbow or knee. In short, the vibrations may be applied so that a predetermined vibration is transmitted to the acceleration sensor 45, and are not particularly limited. In many cases, the vibrations are applied to the door body 40 by a method that generates a sound. In this embodiment, the door body 40 is described as being subjected to vibrations by knocking.

A drive device 51 is provided to move the cleaning tank 33 at least in a forward or backward direction. The control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive unit when a predetermined signal is received from a sensor such as an acceleration sensor 45 or an operation unit 46. The drive device 51 (details will be described later) has a drive motor 52 as a drive unit. Note that the sensor that outputs a signal to drive the drive motor 52 is not limited to the acceleration sensor 45, but may be any sensor that detects vibrations applied to the door body 40 or the like. It may also be a sensor that detects that the user has touched the door body 40 or the like, such as an electrostatic sensor.

One of the most basic controls is exemplified below. When the dishwasher is in a stopped state with the washing tub 33 stored, if the user taps the door 40 twice from the front, the washing tub 33 will be automatically pulled out in the forward direction. That is, the control unit 44 determines that the door 40 has been tapped by the user by detecting a predetermined signal output by the acceleration sensor 45, which detects vibrations applied in the same forward and backward direction as the pull-out operation. The control unit 44 then controls the drive motor 52 to drive, and moves the moving parts, such as the door 40 and the washing tub 33, in the forward direction.

The moving part includes all parts that are driven and moved by the drive part, and differs depending on the type of dishwasher. For example, in the first embodiment, the washing tub 33 is included in the moving part, but in the second embodiment, the washing tub is included in the housing and does not move, so it is not included in the moving part.

The operation unit 46 is provided in front of the top opening 35 of the cleaning tank 33. The operation unit 46 is located inside the decorative panel 42, and is concealed inside the housing 31 when the cleaning tank 33 is stored inside the housing 31. The operation unit 46 is provided with operation buttons (not shown) and a display unit (not shown) such as an LED, and is configured so that the user can set the control of each step of the cleaning operation with the operation buttons and display the set contents with an LED.

A dish basket 47, a washing nozzle 48, and a heater 49 are provided inside the washing tank 33. A washing pump 50 is provided outside the washing tank 33. A washing nozzle 48 is provided rotatably below the dish basket 47. The heater 49 is disposed at the bottom of the washing tank 33, and heats the washing water stored in the washing tank 33 during the washing and rinsing processes. The heater 49 also heats the air in the washing tank 33 during the drying process. The washing pump 50 circulates the washing water and sprays it from the washing nozzle 48 onto the dishes 36.

The cleaning tank 33 is configured so that it can be moved in and out by a drive unit 51. In this embodiment 1, a rack-and-pinion drive unit 51 that can be driven in the forward and backward directions is described. In addition, in embodiment 2, a roller drive unit is described. Note that the configuration of the drive unit 51 is not limited to these types, and it may also be a type in which a belt is wound around a pulley, a belt conveyor type, or the like. The drive unit is not limited to a drive motor. Also, the drive direction may be only the forward direction or only the backward direction.

The driving device 51 includes a driving motor 52 as a driving section, a pinion gear 53 driven by the driving motor 52, and a rack gear 54 meshing with the pinion gear 53. The rack gear 54, whose teeth are formed in a straight line, is fixed to the lower part of the outer side surface of the cleaning tank 33. The rack gear 54 is configured to have a length at least equal to or greater than the stroke by which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The pinion gear 53 meshing with the rack gear 54 is attached so as to be driven by the driving motor 52. The driving motor 52 includes a speed reducing mechanism (not shown) and is fixed at a position inside the housing 31 where the pinion gear 53 is close to the front opening 32. In FIG. 1, the rack gear 54 is configured so that the teeth are formed downward to mesh with the pinion gear 53, but this is not limited thereto, and the teeth may be formed upward or sideways.

With this configuration, the rotational motion of the drive motor 52 is converted into linear motion, and the cleaning tank 33 can move until the top opening 35 is substantially fully open. As the cleaning tank 33 moves in the pull-out direction, the front of the tank 33 drops, but because the vicinity of the pinion gear 53 provided at the front serves as the fulcrum, there is a low possibility that the meshing between the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 will come loose. For this reason, even if a configuration is provided to prevent the meshing from coming loose, it may be a simple configuration. As a configuration to prevent the meshing from coming loose, a configuration in which the drive motor 52 including the pinion gear 53 is tilted in accordance with the tilt of the cleaning tank 33, or a configuration in which the pinion gear 53 is pressed against the rack gear 54, etc. are possible.

The reduction mechanism provided in the drive motor is configured with a gear ratio so that the user can easily insert and remove the cleaning tank 33 manually. The drive device 51 from the drive motor 52 to the rack, including the reduction mechanism, may be provided with a clutch mechanism (not shown) or slip mechanism (not shown) that reduces the load on the drive motor 52 when the user inserts and removes the cleaning tank 33 manually. This allows the user to insert and remove the cleaning tank 33 with less force. Even if the cleaning tank 33 collides with an obstacle when being pulled out, the cleaning tank 33 stops easily and no large force is applied to the obstacle. The drive motor 52 does not lock and no excessive current is generated. When the cleaning tank 33 is moved manually, the motor circuit of the drive motor 52 may be cut off as described below in order to reduce the resistance of the drive motor 52.

When the cleaning tub 33 is moved in the direction of being pulled out, the control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 so that the top opening 35 is substantially fully open. In this embodiment, substantially fully open includes a state in which the cleaning tub 33 is pulled out the farthest and the top opening 35 is fully open, as well as a state in which the top opening 35 is more than half open. In other words, the cleaning tub 33 is pulled out to an extent that allows the user to put in and take out dishes 36. To this end, the control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 in terms of time. That is, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 for a set predetermined time T1 and then stops it.

With this configuration, the user does not need to exert any effort to pull out the washing tub 33. Furthermore, even if the door 40 covering the front does not have an operating unit 46 or handle 43, the dishwasher can use the drive unit 51 to pull out the washing tub 33 to a position where dishes 36 can be easily stored, improving usability. In addition, the dishwasher can be adapted to the diverse designs of system kitchens K.

This predetermined time T1 is set according to the control contents, and is adjusted according to the moving distance and moving speed of the cleaning tank 33, and the magnitude of the torque of the drive motor 52 until the moving speed is reached. If the set time until full opening is too long, the user will feel dissatisfied with the moving speed being slow. However, the faster the moving speed, the lower the safety may be. For these reasons, in this embodiment, the standard moving speed of the cleaning tank 33 is set to 150 mm/sec to 250 mm/sec. From the user's perspective, it is more preferable that the moving speed be set to 170 mm/sec to 230 mm/sec. This ensures that the user will not feel dissatisfied with the movement of the cleaning tank 33 and ensures safety. The standard moving speed is a constant speed state excluding the speed change state before starting and stopping the movement. If there is no constant speed, it is preferable to set it as the maximum speed.

Furthermore, in terms of safety in the case where a person is in front when the automatically moving washing tank 33 is pulled out, and in the case where a person's hand or finger is caught when the washing tank 33 is stored, it is effective to take into consideration the kinetic energy due to the weight and moving speed of the washing tank 33. The kinetic energy W is expressed as W = (1/2) mv ^2. In this embodiment, the kinetic energy W is set to 0.5 J or less so that no malfunction occurs even in these cases. This is specified as the maximum weight of the washing tank 33 containing tableware 36 and the like being 16 kg and the moving speed being 250 mm/sec. Note that, when the maximum weight of the moving object such as the tableware 36 increases, it is preferable to reduce the moving speed so that the kinetic energy W is 0.5 J or less. This reduces the impact even if the washing tank 33 hits a person while moving, or a person's hand or finger is caught when the washing tank 33 is stored.

In this embodiment, specifically, the top opening 35 is pulled out to 50% by driving for about 2 seconds, including the acceleration period at the start of movement. The predetermined time T1 is set so that the washing tub 33 is pulled out to the fullest by driving for about 3.5 seconds. In this way, when the drive motor 52 is configured to be driven for a set time, the washing tub 33 can be stopped at any position when it is pulled out according to the set time. In other words, the set time is adjusted to match the actual usage of the user. As a result, even if the dishwasher is installed in a narrow space where there is an obstacle near the front of the dishwasher, for example, and the washing tub 33 cannot be fully pulled out, the amount of pulling out can be set by adjusting the set time, making it possible to install the dishwasher.

The control unit 44 may drive the drive motor 52 with a multi-step voltage. For example, the drive motor 52 is driven by applying a voltage higher than the standard during the acceleration period at the start of movement, and applying a voltage lower than the standard immediately before stopping. This allows the drive motor 52 to have a large torque at the start of movement and shorten the acceleration period. In addition, when the movement stops, the tableware 36 contained therein is not shocked, and noise and damage caused by the tableware 36 touching each other is prevented. In addition, the water stored in the washing tank 33 is prevented from splashing out, splashing out of the washing tank 33, and the tableware 36 dried after washing is prevented from getting wet. In other words, it is preferable to drive the motor 52 so that the movement speed changes smoothly in a shorter time, regardless of when the movement starts and when the movement stops. The multi-step voltage also includes a state in which the voltage changes linearly or smoothly.

In the unlikely event that the cleaning tank 33 is impeded by an obstacle or the like while moving and is stopped partway to a specified position, the control unit 44 stops driving the drive motor 52 and stops the flow of electricity after a specified time T1 has elapsed. As a result, the drive motor 52 is locked for a short time and will not remain locked forever, and no undue load is placed on the drive motor 52. Furthermore, if the cleaning tank 33 collides with an obstacle or person, the collision will only be for a short time, preventing the occurrence of malfunctions.

The control unit 44 may also immediately stop the drive of the drive motor 52 when it is assumed that any of the moving parts, including the door body 40, has come into contact with something such as an obstacle or that some load has been applied to it while the cleaning tank 33 is reaching a predetermined position. As a method for assuming that an obstacle or person has come into contact with the door body 40, for example, the control unit 44 stops the drive when it detects an acceleration or change in acceleration equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold value in any direction, including vibration in the moving direction of the door body 40, while the drive motor 52 is being driven, using the acceleration sensor 45. With this configuration, the control unit 44 can immediately stop the drive not only when the moving parts, such as the door body 40, come into contact with an obstacle, but also when a user intentionally knocks the door body 40 or a child carelessly comes into contact with the door body 40 from the side or up or down. In addition, the occurrence of a malfunction with respect to the obstacle or person that has come into contact with the moving part is prevented.

As a method for detecting the application of a certain load, for example, the control unit 44 monitors the acceleration in all directions by the acceleration sensor 45, and stops the driving of the drive motor 52 when it detects a change in acceleration such that the driven door body 40 decelerates or stops. Alternatively, the control unit 44 may monitor the current while the drive motor 52 is being driven, and stop the driving when it detects an increase in current when the door body 40 decelerates or stops, or when a current of a predetermined value or more flows for, for example, 0.5 seconds or more and detects a motor lock. These methods can be implemented without any particular limitation, and can also be implemented in combination. In any method, the time from obstruction to stopping the driving is shortened, and the occurrence of problems, not only in the case of overheating of the drive motor 52 but also in the case of an obstacle, is prevented.

In addition to detecting the acceleration or current as described above to reliably stop the door body 40, the movement of the door body 40 can also be immediately stopped by the clutch mechanism or slip mechanism described above. These configurations are useful as a method of stopping the door body 40 when a load greater than a predetermined value is applied to the door body 40 or the drive motor 52.

Furthermore, the control unit 44 may interrupt the motor circuit when the cleaning tank 33 is stopped midway before reaching a predetermined position and the drive motor 52 is stopped. When the cleaning tank 33 stops midway, the user manually tries to move the cleaning tank 33 forward or backward from the position where it stopped. At this time, the drive motor 52 is forced to rotate freely and generates a back electromotive force. However, if the circuit of the drive motor 52 is interrupted, the back electromotive force will not apply a load that would cause an abnormal current to flow to the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44. Furthermore, since no current flows, no electricity is generated and the manual operating force does not increase. The control unit 44 detects a predetermined signal, such as when the door body 40 is closed, and then restores the interrupted motor circuit when it receives a signal to drive the drive motor 52.

The operation and function of the dishwasher configured as above will be explained below.

The user pulls out the washing tub 33 to place the tableware 36 inside it. At this time, it is possible to pull it out by placing a hand on the handle 43. However, it is also possible to pull out the washing tub 33 by knocking the door body 40, for example, twice, to drive the drive motor 52. In other words, vibrations are generated when the door body 40 is knocked. The vibrations are transmitted from the decorative panel 42 to the operation panel 41 and then to the control unit 44 fixed to the operation panel 41. The vibrations transmitted to the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44 are then detected as acceleration by the acceleration sensor 45.

When the user knocks on the door 40 twice, the control unit 44 detects the direction and magnitude of the acceleration from the output signal of the acceleration sensor 45. At this time, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 only when, for example, the acceleration X of the X axis is equal to or greater than the first threshold A, the acceleration Y of the Y axis is equal to or less than the second threshold B, and the acceleration Z of the Z axis is equal to or less than the third threshold C, for the magnitude of the acceleration in each of the three axial directions (X axis, Y axis, and Z axis). That is, the control unit 44 determines that the vibration is not from the front at least when the acceleration X is less than the first threshold A, or when the acceleration X is equal to or greater than the first threshold A but the acceleration Y is equal to or greater than the second threshold B or the acceleration Z is equal to or greater than the third threshold C. This determines that the door 40 was knocked from the front at the user's will. That is, erroneous operation that is not based on the user's will is prevented.

In this embodiment, when it is determined that the user has performed an action to pull out the cleaning tank 33, a buzzer is sounded 0.4 seconds later to notify the user that the door body 40 will begin to move. Then, 0.6 seconds after the determination, the drive motor 52 is driven in a predetermined direction. The drive motor 52 moves a rack gear 54 provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 33 forward by means of a pinion gear 53 provided on the rotating shaft. As a result, the cleaning tank 33 moves forward through the front opening 32 of the housing 31 via the slide rails 34, and is pulled out.

The washing tub 33 is adjusted so that it is pulled out to its fullest extent when the drive motor 52 is driven for approximately four seconds. This causes the washing tub 33 to move out to a position where the top opening 35 is essentially fully open, and then to stop. In this state, the user can easily place dishes 36 in the dish basket 47 through the top opening 35. The user also turns on the power switch (not shown) located in front of the top opening 35, and operates the operation unit 46 to set the washing operation. The control unit 44 is constantly energized regardless of the power switch, and is on standby so that it can detect any knocks made by the user.

When the user has finished storing the dishes 36 and setting the washing operation, he/she knocks on the door 40, for example, once. When the control unit 44 detects a single knock while the washing tub 33 is pulled out, it first issues an alarm with a buzzer. The control unit 44 then drives the drive motor 52 to move the washing tub 33 backwards. This causes the washing tub 33 to be stored in the housing 31, and the door 40 is closed. The control unit 44 can determine when storage is complete by controlling the time until storage, detecting the storage position, detecting the acceleration when the washing tub 33 is stored and stops, and detecting the lock current of the drive motor 52. When the washing tub 33 is stored, the control unit 44 executes the set washing operation.

As a method of storing the washing tub 33, the user can store it in the housing 31 by manually pressing the front of the door body 40. A start switch (not shown) may also be provided, and the washing tub 33 may be stored and the washing operation may start when the user presses the start switch instead of knocking once after completing the settings. Furthermore, the start switch may be used as a signal that the user has completed the operation settings, and when the washing tub 33 is stored by the drive device 51 or manually, the washing operation may not start unless the start switch is pressed. This allows the user to store dishes in the washing tub 33 little by little over time.

When the specified washing operation is completed, the user pulls out the washing tub 33 to remove the dishes 36. At this time, just like when storing the dishes 36, the user knocks twice on the door 40, which causes the washing tub 33 to be pulled out to the specified position following a buzzer alarm. After removing the dishes 36, the user knocks once again on the door 40. When the control unit 44 detects a single knock with the washing tub 33 pulled out and no operation has been set by the operation unit 46 or the start switch has not been pressed, it drives the drive motor 52 backwards to store the washing tub 33, but does not perform a washing operation. This completes the series of dishwashing operations, including the user's actions.

When the dishwasher is in the wash mode, the user may unintentionally touch the decorative panel 42 or the handle 43 of the door 40. In such a case, it would be inconvenient for the control unit 44 to detect and pull out the washing tub 33. Therefore, the control unit 44 may be configured not to activate when the dishwasher is in operation and there are two or so knocks, the same as when the dishwasher is stopped. In this case, it is preferable to set the control unit 44 to detect the user's intentional action, such as pausing the operation and pulling out the washing tub 33 when three knocks are detected. This allows the control unit 44 to prevent the user from controlling the dishwasher unintentionally, and also provides a function similar to a child lock, improving safety.

In this way, it is possible to assign control according to a combination of the state of the cleaning tank 33 and the knock. When the control unit 44 detects the knock, it is effective to detect not only the number of times but also the strength in order to devise the types of combinations. In addition, it is preferable that the user can set the combination of the detection of the acceleration sensor 45 and the control operation, and the setting of the predetermined position for stopping the cleaning tank 33, etc., from the operation unit 46, etc., and can confirm it on the display unit. In other words, it is preferable that the user can set at least the setting of the vibration applied to the door body 40 by the user in order for the control unit 44 to drive the drive motor 52, or the setting of the operation of the drive motor 52, from the operation unit 46, and can confirm the set value on the display unit provided on the operation unit 46. This allows the user to freely set the number of knocks, etc., and can confirm the setting, improving usability.

As described above, the configuration in which the control unit 44 performs arbitrary control based on the combination of the state of the cleaning tank 33 and the number of knocks is exemplified as follows.

a) When the cleaning operation is stopped, the user knocks twice on the door 40 with the cleaning tank 33 stored inside. At this time, the control unit 44 moves the cleaning tank 33 in the direction to pull it out. (Preparation for operation)
b) When the cleaning operation is not set with the cleaning tank 33 pulled out, the user knocks once on the door 40. In this case, the control unit 44 simply stores the cleaning tank 33 and does not start the cleaning operation (preparation for operation or end of operation).
c) When the cleaning operation is set with the cleaning tank 33 pulled out, the user knocks twice on the door 40. At this time, the control unit 44 simply stores the cleaning tank 33 and does not start the cleaning operation. (Preparation for operation)
d) When the cleaning operation is set with the cleaning tub 33 pulled out, the user knocks once on the door 40. At this time, the control unit 44 stores the cleaning tub 33 and starts the set cleaning operation. (Start of operation)
e) During the cleaning operation, the user knocks on the door 40 three times while the cleaning tank 33 is stored. At this time, the control unit 44 temporarily stops the cleaning operation and moves the cleaning tank 33 in the direction in which it is pulled out. (Operation temporarily stopped)
As in b and c, if the washing tub 33 is simply stored and the washing operation is not started, the user can stop washing preparation and leave the dishwasher while storing the dishes 36. Also, as for b, if the user intends to start the washing operation as in d, the user can realize that the washing operation has not yet been set.

When allocating the above controls, a start switch or the like may be used as necessary so that all actions are handled by the same number of knocks. In this case, usability is improved in that the user does not need to remember the number of knocks for each action.

In addition, when a handle 43 is provided on the door body 40, the control unit 44 may be configured to be able to cancel the driving of the drive motor 52 as a setting when the user does not use the drive device 51.

The dishwasher configured as above provides the following functions and effects:

It is equipped with an acceleration sensor 45 that detects at least vibrations applied to the door body 40, and the control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 for a set time to move it forward to pull out the washing tub 33. This allows the washing tub 33 to be pulled out to a specified position even if the door body 40 covering the front of the dishwasher does not have an operating unit 46 or handle 43, and the dishwasher can be adapted to the diverse designs of system kitchens K. In addition, by adjusting the set time to suit the actual usage situation of the user, the washing tub 33 can be controlled to stop at any position.

The control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 upon receiving a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that detects a predetermined vibration applied to the door body 40. In this way, the control unit 44 can detect the vibration caused by the user knocking on the door body 40 and move the cleaning tank 33 forward or backward by the drive motor 52 depending on the operation timing and the state of the cleaning tank 33.

The control unit 44 is configured to drive the drive motor 52 to a position where the top opening 35 of the washing tub 33 is substantially fully open. This allows the user to insert or remove tableware 36 without the need for manual effort to pull out the washing tub 33.

The control unit 44 is configured to stop the drive motor 52 when it receives a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 that detects the acceleration generated by the cleaning tank 33 stopping. This prevents malfunction of the obstacle even if the door body 40 or the cleaning tank 33 collides with an obstacle and stops. In addition, a locking portion is provided at a predetermined position on the drawer, so that the control unit 44 can stop the cleaning tank 33 at the predetermined position.

The control unit 44 is configured to cut off the motor circuit when the cleaning tub is stopped. As a result, even if the user manually moves the cleaning tub 33, causing the drive motor 52 to spin freely and generating a back electromotive force, the back electromotive force is cut off and no abnormal current flows through the printed circuit board 44a of the control unit 44. In addition, since no electrical load is generated by the back electromotive force of the drive motor when opening and closing the tub manually, and no load is placed on the opening and closing operation, the user can easily insert and remove the cleaning tub 33 manually.

The drive device 51 has a drive motor 52, a pinion gear 53 driven by the drive motor 52, and a rack gear 54 that meshes with the pinion gear 53. The drive motor 52 is fixed to the inside of the housing 31 so that the pinion gear 53 is located near the front opening 32, and the rack gear 54 is fixed to the outside of the cleaning tank 33. As a result, even if the cleaning tank 33 moves in the pull-out direction and tilts forward, the vicinity of the pinion gear 53 provided at the front becomes the fulcrum, so that the meshing between the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 is unlikely to come loose, and a simple configuration can be used to prevent the meshing from coming loose.

As disclosed above, the control unit 44 controls the drive device 51 to safely move the cleaning tub 33 in accordance with the user's wishes. For the user, the effort required to manually move the cleaning tub 33 is reduced, improving usability. In addition, the operation unit 46 is entirely concealed within the housing 31, making it possible to adapt to the diversifying designs of the system kitchen K. Furthermore, the design of the system kitchen K is unified, improving designability.

Even if an obstacle is placed in front of the washing tub 33 due to carelessness on the part of the user, the control unit 44 detects the occurrence of vibrations or changes in acceleration and stops the driving of the drive motor 52. This prevents any major malfunctions from occurring in the obstacle or in the dishwasher, ensuring safety.

(Embodiment 2)
3 and 4 are side longitudinal sectional views of a dishwasher with a pull-out washing tub in embodiment 2 of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows the washing tub stored in the housing. Fig. 4 shows the washing tub fully pulled out from the housing. Note that the present embodiment differs from embodiment 1 in the drive mechanism. Other configurations are the same as embodiment 1, and embodiment 1 is used herein.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the cleaning tank 33 is configured to be inserted and removed by a roller pressure-contact type drive device 55. The drive device 55 includes a drive motor 56, a roller 57 driven by the drive motor 56, and a pressure-contact rail 58 to which the roller 57 is pressure-contacted. The pressure-contact rail 58 is fixed to the lower part of the outer side of the cleaning tank 33. The pressure-contact rail 58 is configured to have a length at least equal to or greater than the stroke by which the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The roller 57, which is pressure-contacted to the pressure-contact rail 58, is attached so as to be driven by the drive motor 56. The drive motor 56 includes a speed reduction mechanism, and is fixed inside the housing 31 so that the roller 57 is located near the front opening 32. In Fig. 3, the roller 57 is pressure-contacted to the pressure-contact rail 58 from below, but this is not limited thereto, and the roller 57 may be pressure-contacted from above or from the side. The pressure-contact rail 58 may be the side or bottom surface of the cleaning tank 33 itself.

With this configuration, the rotational motion of the drive motor 56 is converted into linear motion, and the washing tub 33 can move until the top opening 35 is substantially fully open. If the drive motor 56 is configured to be driven for a set time, the washing tub 33 can be stopped at any position when it is pulled out according to the set time. In addition, with the combination of the rollers 57 and the pressure rails 58, there is no need to worry about gear meshing during assembly, as with the rack and pinion type, making assembly easier. The user does not need to put in any effort to pull out the washing tub 33. The dishwasher can pull out the washing tub 33 by the drive unit 55 to a position where the dishes 36 can be easily stored, improving usability. In addition, it can be adapted to the diversifying designs of system kitchens K.

(Embodiment 3)
5 is a vertical cross-sectional side view of a dishwasher according to the third embodiment of the present invention. The third embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the operation part of the door. The rest of the configuration is the same as the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is used here.

As shown in FIG. 5, the door body 40 has an operating part 46b on the upper part of the decorative plate 42. The operating part 46b is provided with an operation switch (not shown) for the drive motor 52, which is the drive part that moves at least the cleaning tank 33. This operation switch is provided so that it can be distinguished whether it is operated in the forward or backward direction.

When the cleaning tub 33 is moved forward, the control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 so that the top opening 35 is substantially fully open. In this embodiment, substantially fully open includes a state in which the cleaning tub 33 is pulled out to the fullest extent and the top opening 35 is fully open, as well as a state in which the top opening 35 is more than half open. In other words, it is pulled out to an extent that allows the user to put in and take out dishes 36. To this end, the control unit 44 controls the drive motor 52 in terms of time. In other words, the control unit 44 drives the drive motor 52 for a set predetermined time T1 and then stops it.

With this configuration, the user does not need to exert any effort in pulling out or storing the washing tub 33. Furthermore, the dishwasher can pull out the washing tub 33 by the drive unit 51 to a position where the dishes 36 can be easily stored, improving usability. In addition, the device can be adapted to the diversifying designs of system kitchens K.

(Embodiment 4)
Fig. 6 is a side vertical cross-sectional view of another drawer-type dishwasher in accordance with the fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 7 is a front vertical cross-sectional view of the dishwasher in accordance with the present embodiment. Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of a main portion of the slide rail portion in Fig. 7.

The present embodiment differs from the first embodiment in the configuration of the washing tub of the dishwasher and the configuration of the support mechanism for the door body. In the first embodiment, the washing tub is configured to be pulled out and inserted from the housing, but in the present embodiment, the washing tub is configured to be fixed inside the housing. Due to this difference, the support mechanism for supporting the door body includes a support member to which the door body is attached and a slide rail for moving the washing tub in the first embodiment, but in the present embodiment, it includes a support member to which the door body is attached and a slide rail. Other configurations related to the present invention are the same as those in the first embodiment, and the first embodiment is used here.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the housing 71 has a front opening 72 that opens up the entire front. A washing tank 73 is formed inside the housing 71 with the front opening 72. A door body 74 is provided to cover the front opening 72. A lower dish basket 77 and an upper dish basket 78 on which dishes 76 are placed are provided in a state that allows them to move back and forth within the washing space 75 formed by the washing tank 73 and the door body 74. These dish baskets 77, 78 move together with the door body 74 if they are engaged with the door body 74, and can move individually if they are disengaged.

An operation unit 79 is provided on the top surface of the door body 74, and a user can press a button on the operation unit 79 to switch the power on and off, start, pause, and switch between cleaning and drying courses. In addition, a switch for operating a control unit (not shown) may be provided to move the door body 74. The control unit is provided below the operation unit 79.

The door body 74 is supported on the housing 71 by a support mechanism 80 in a state in which it can move back and forth. The support mechanism 80 includes a support member 81 and a slide rail 82. The slide rail 82 is attached to the inside surface on both the left and right sides of the housing 71 at the lower outside of the cleaning tank 73. As shown in FIG. 8, the slide rail 82 includes a fixed rail 82a, a first movable rail 82b slidably attached to the fixed rail 82a, and a second movable rail 82c slidably attached to the first movable rail 82b.

The support member 81, which is made of a metal plate, has its front end 81a fixed to the inside lower part of the door body 74. The support member 81 is also fixed on the second movable rail 82c. When the door body 74 moves forward, the support member 81 and the second movable rail 82c move forward together with the first movable rail 82b while supporting the door body 74 approximately vertically. This causes the slide rail 82 to extend.

A drive device 83 is provided to move the door body 74 at least in the forward or backward direction. The control unit is configured to drive the drive unit when it receives a predetermined signal from a sensor such as the acceleration sensor 45 or an operation switch. The drive device 83 has a drive motor 84 as a drive unit.

In this embodiment, a drive device 83 configured as a rack and pinion type will be described. The drive device 83 includes a drive motor 84 as a drive unit, a pinion gear 85 driven by the drive motor 84, and a rack gear 86 meshing with the pinion gear 85. The rack gear 86, whose gear teeth are formed in a straight line, is fixed near the support member 81. The rack gear 86 is configured to have a length at least equal to or greater than the stroke of the movement of the door body 74. The pinion gear 85 meshing with the rack gear 86 is attached so as to be driven by the drive motor 84. The drive motor 84 includes a reduction mechanism (not shown) and is fixed at a position inside the housing 71 where the pinion gear 85 is close to the front opening 72. With this configuration, the rotational motion of the drive motor 84 is converted into linear motion, and the door body 74 is moved forward or backward. Other detailed control is the same as in embodiment 1, and description thereof will be omitted.

Other Embodiments
Although the configurations of the four embodiments have been disclosed above, other embodiments will be shown for various configurations including the drive device.

As an example of a method for stopping the cleaning tank 33 at a predetermined position when it is pulled out, instead of the method in which the drive motor 52 is time-controlled as disclosed in the first embodiment, is given.

1. As shown in FIG. 8, a position detector 59 for detecting a predetermined position of the cleaning tank 33 may be provided near the front opening 32, and the control unit 44 may be configured to stop driving the drive motor in response to a signal from the position detector 59 generated during movement. The position detector 59 may be a microswitch. However, it is not limited to this, and may be a photoelectric switch. Alternatively, the position may be detected by measuring the distance traveled by the cleaning tank 33 using a photoelectric sensor or the like. The distance traveled can be detected even if the drive unit is configured as a stepping motor.

2. As shown in FIG. 9, a locking portion 60 may be provided that is configured to stop the cleaning tank 33 at a predetermined position. The locking portion 60 is configured, for example, so that a first protrusion 60a provided near the front opening 32 of the housing 31 and a second protrusion 60b provided at the rear of the slide rail 34 or the cleaning tank 33 collide with each other at a predetermined position when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The control unit 44 may be configured to stop driving the drive motors 52, 56 by detecting a lock current of the drive motors 52, 56 that is generated when the cleaning tank 33 is stopped by the locking portion 60.

3. As shown in FIG. 9, a locking portion 60 may be provided that is configured to stop the cleaning tank 33 at a predetermined position. The locking portion 60 is configured, for example, so that a first protrusion 60a provided near the front opening 32 of the housing 31 and a second protrusion 60b provided at the rear of the slide rail 34 or the cleaning tank 33 collide with each other at a predetermined position when the cleaning tank 33 is pulled out. The control unit 44 may be configured to stop the drive motors 52, 56 when it receives a signal from an acceleration sensor 45 that detects the acceleration generated by the cleaning tank 33 being stopped by the locking portion 60.

According to these configurations, unlike the setting time shown in the first embodiment, there is no need to determine the relationship between the setting time and the amount of withdrawal, and the stop position is set physically. At this time, if the position detection unit 59 or the first protrusion 60a is configured to be able to slide back and forth and be fixed at any position, the washing tank 33 will stop reliably at any predetermined position. Note that the lock current generated in 2. is short, and no excessive load is applied to the drive motors 52 and 56. In addition, it is preferable that the locking unit 60 shown in 2. and 3. has cushioning properties. This allows the washing tank 33 to stop smoothly and does not transmit shock to the tableware 36 contained therein, preventing noise caused by the tableware 36 touching each other and damage to the tableware 36. In addition, it prevents the water stored in the washing tank 33 from splashing out of the washing tank 33 and preventing the tableware 36 from getting wet after being dried after washing.

In the drive units 51 and 55, the drive motors 52 and 56 may be fixed to the rear of the washing tub 33, and the rack gear 54 and the pressure rail 58 may be fixed to the inside of the housing 31. When the drive unit is installed in a drawer of furniture or a refrigerator, it is convenient and common for the power source for the drive unit to be installed on the housing side. However, in a dishwasher with a drawer-type washing tub 33, the washing tub 33 needs a power source for the heater 49 and the washing pump 50, etc., and a power line is originally arranged. Therefore, according to this configuration, the signal line and the power line from the control unit 44 to the drive motors 52 and 56 can be arranged only on the side of the washing tub 33 without being routed to the housing 31 side, which makes design and assembly easier and improves maintenance workability.

In the driving device 51, the rack gear 54 may be configured so that teeth are formed on both the top and bottom and the rack gear 54 is sandwiched between the two pinion gears 53. Alternatively, the rack gear 54 may be configured so that teeth are formed on either the top or bottom and a roller is provided on the side where the teeth are not formed and the rack gear 54 is sandwiched between the top and bottom. With these configurations, the rack gear 54 and the pinion gear 53 mesh reliably and do not easily come off.

When the cleaning tank 33 is stopped midway due to an obstacle, it may be moved by the driving devices 51, 55 rather than by the user manually. At this time, it is necessary to distinguish whether the tank is being pulled out from the stopped position or put away. As a method for this, the number of times the user taps the decorative panel 42 may be used to distinguish, and the acceleration sensor 45 may detect this. Also, a switch indicating the direction of movement may be provided on the operating unit 46, which the user can operate. With this configuration, the driving devices 51, 55 are utilized, and the effort required for the user to move the tank manually is reduced.

Furthermore, the control of drive units 51 and 55 is illustrated.

The control unit 44 may start driving the drive motors 52, 56 a predetermined time T2 (e.g., 0.4 to 1 second) after detecting a signal from the user to drive the drive motors 52, 56. With this configuration, if cleaning water is being sprayed from the cleaning nozzle during the washing process, it is possible to wait for the cleaning pump to stop, preventing the cleaning water from splashing out of the cleaning tank. Also, when driving is repeated upon successive detection of a driving signal, it is possible to ensure a temporary stop of the drive motors 52, 56 to prevent a continuous large starting current, and to prevent an excessive temperature rise in the drive motors 52, 56.

Furthermore, safety is improved if a warning is given that the door body 40 is being driven to move. In particular, it is preferable to start the warning before the door body 40 starts to move during the specified time T2. Safety can be further improved if a warning is given that the door body 40 is moving before it is driven.

A door-closed detection sensor (not shown, but can be replaced by, for example, the position detector 59 shown in FIG. 6) is provided to detect when the door 40 is closed, and the control unit 44 may be configured not to detect a signal from the acceleration sensor 45 for a predetermined time T3 (for example, 0.5 seconds) after the door-closed detection sensor detects that the door 40 is closed, or to suspend driving even if it detects a signal. The shock caused when the door 40 is closed causes the entire housing, including the dishes, to vibrate. This configuration makes it possible to prevent the vibrations caused when the door is closed from being mistakenly detected. In addition, it is possible to ensure that the drive motors 52, 56 are temporarily stopped, and to prevent the drive motors 52, 56 from excessively increasing in temperature.

Also, in this way, an alert may be issued when the door close detection sensor detects a signal that the door body 40 is closed, to inform the user that the door body 40 is securely closed. Furthermore, an alert may be issued a predetermined time T3 after the closed signal is detected, to inform the user that a knock to pull out the door body 40 can now be received. With this configuration, the user can be sure that the door body 40 is securely closed and that the subsequent washing operation will be performed normally.

The control unit 44 drives the drive motors 52, 56 in the rearward direction to close the door body 40, and may notify the user of the occurrence of an abnormality when it detects that the drive motors 52, 56 have stopped but does not detect a signal from the door closing detection sensor. This can inform the user that the door body 40 is not completely closed.

Furthermore, even if the user operates the door to close, if this notification is repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., five times), an abnormality may be notified and further driving may be stopped. With this configuration, the lock current of the drive motors 52, 56 can be prevented from being repeated, and excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52, 56 can be prevented. Also, the user can be informed that it is necessary to determine whether an abnormality has occurred, such as whether the door body 40 cannot be closed due to an obstacle or the drive motors 52, 56 or the door closing detection sensor has broken down. This prevents the washing operation from being performed with the door body 40 remaining open.

The control unit 44 may notify the occurrence of an abnormality if the door close detection sensor detects a signal indicating that the door body 40 is closed and the signal remains detected for a predetermined time T4 (e.g., 2.5 seconds) after driving the drive motors 52, 56 in the forward direction to open the door body 40. With this configuration, it is possible to determine that the door body 40 is not moving and notify the user of an abnormality in the door body 40.

Furthermore, if the door 40 does not open even when the user knocks, and this notification is repeated a predetermined number of times (e.g., five times), an abnormality may be notified and further drive may be stopped. This configuration can prevent the lock current of the drive motors 52, 56 from being repeated, and excessive temperature rise of the drive motors 52, 56 can be prevented. It can also notify the user that it is necessary to determine whether an abnormality has occurred, such as whether the door 40 is stuck due to an obstacle or whether the drive motors 52, 56 or the door close detection sensor have broken down.

Next, examples of how the acceleration sensor 45 can be used for other controls will be given.

The acceleration sensor 45 may be configured to detect the inclination of the dishwasher when it is installed. Since the dishwasher uses water, if it is tilted, there is a risk of malfunction such as water leakage. Therefore, it is necessary to confirm that the dishwasher is in a horizontal state when it is installed. That is, the control unit 44 can be used as a level by detecting the deviation between gravity and the acceleration in the Z-axis direction. Since the control unit 44 can detect the inclination of the dishwasher using the acceleration sensor 45, a level is not required, and the workability of installation is improved. In addition, if the installation surface at the location where the dishwasher is installed becomes tilted due to aging, the control unit 44 can detect it and notify the user or stop operation. As a result, the dishwasher is used while the inclination is corrected, and malfunctions due to tilt do not occur over a long period of use.

The control unit 44 may also control the drive motors 52, 56 to change the movement speed of the door body 40 based on the tilt of the installation detected by the acceleration sensor 45. Specifically, when the door body 40 is tilted forward or backward less than a predetermined value, the movement speed is slower than normal. If the installation is tilted too much, there is a risk of water leakage and the drive unit 51 may be subjected to a load greater than expected. With this configuration, when the door body 40 is installed at an inclination that does not interfere with the washing operation, the movement speed of the door body 40 can be slowed down to improve safety.

Furthermore, the control unit 44 may perform control so that the device cannot be driven when the tilt detected by the acceleration sensor 45 is equal to or greater than a predetermined value. This configuration improves safety by restricting operation before problems occur, such as water leakage or a load greater than expected being placed on the drive device.

During the washing operation, the acceleration sensor 45 may detect vibrations caused by washing water colliding with the inner wall of the washing tank 33. This allows the control unit 44 to determine, from the direction and magnitude of the acceleration caused by the vibrations detected by the acceleration sensor 45, whether the washing pump 50 is operating normally, whether the washing nozzles 48 are rotating normally, which of the multiple washing nozzles 48 is spraying water from, how many dishes 36 are contained, etc.

When the control unit 44 outputs a signal to drive the drive motors 52, 56, and there is no predetermined output from the acceleration sensor 45, it may determine that there is a malfunction of the drive motors 52, 56 or the acceleration sensor 45, etc., and may notify the user of the abnormality. In this way, the control unit 44 can notify the user of the abnormality in the drive system.

The control unit 44 may pull out the cleaning tub 33 when it detects an abnormality in the acceleration sensor 45. This avoids a problem in which the cleaning tub 33 cannot be pulled out because a knock cannot be detected, and the control unit 44 can notify the user of the abnormality in the acceleration sensor 45.

The notification unit that notifies when the drive device 51 is operating and notifies of the occurrence of an abnormality is provided in the operation unit 46. Specifically, the notification unit may provide an auditory notification using a synthesized sound such as a voice or a buzzer, so that the user can easily become aware of the abnormality if he or she is nearby.

When the notification is by sound, it is preferable that the control unit 44 start the notification a predetermined time T5 after detecting vibrations due to a knock or the like. This predetermined time T5 is preferably 0.1 to 0.6 seconds. This is because if it is less than 0.1 seconds, the user will be conscious of performing the action of knocking, and if a sound such as a knock occurs, the sound will overlap with the beginning of the notification sound, making it difficult to hear. Also, if it exceeds 0.6 seconds, the user will have the impression that it is drawn out. Therefore, if the notification sound starts a predetermined time T5 after detecting vibrations due to a knock or the like, the user will be able to easily hear the notification sound without being interrupted by the sound of their own knocking.

The notification unit may also display an error code, or a combination of a flashing lamp such as an LED or the like, or the lighting of multiple lamps. Furthermore, the acceleration sensor 45 is not essential, and the cleaning tank 33 may be configured to be automatically pulled out when an abnormality occurs. This allows the user to visually become aware of the occurrence of an abnormality. In particular, in a configuration in which the operation unit 46 is concealed within the housing 31, it is preferable for the cleaning tank 33 to be pulled out, and the user can easily check the error code or LED display displayed on the operation unit 46. In this case, the cleaning tank 33 only needs to be pulled out to an extent that the operation unit 46 can be seen.

The dishwasher may be equipped with a remote control (not shown) that transmits operation signals. The control unit 44 receives various operation signals from the remote control and performs control accordingly. The control unit 44 also detects a specific signal from the remote control to pull out or put away the washing tub 33, and drives the drive motors 52, 56 to move the washing tub 33. This allows the user to operate the dishwasher from a distance.

As for the embodiments disclosed above, the configurations that can be combined with each other can be combined without any particular limitations.

As described above, the dishwasher of the present invention can easily pull out the washing tub and operate even when a decorative panel without an operating unit or handle is attached to improve the design, so it is useful as a dishwasher that can be built into a system kitchen and used to achieve uniformity in design.

31 Housing 32 Front opening 33 Cleaning tank (support mechanism)
34 Slide rail (support mechanism)
35 Top opening 36 Tableware 37 Inner lid 38 Parallel link mechanism 39 Sealing section 40 Door body 41 Operation panel 42 Decorative plate 43 Handle 44 Control section 45 Acceleration sensor (sensor)
46 Operation unit 47 Dish basket 48 Washing nozzle 49 Heater 50 Washing pump 51 Drive device 52 Drive motor (drive unit), (drive device)
53 Pinion gear (drive device)
54 Rack gear (drive device)
55 Drive device 56 Drive motor (drive unit), (drive device)
57 Roller (drive device)
58 Pressure rail (drive unit)
59 Position detection unit 60 Locking unit 60a First protrusion 60b Second protrusion 71 Housing 72 Front opening 74 Door body 76 Dish 77 Lower dish basket 78 Upper dish basket 79 Operation unit 80 Support mechanism 81 Support member (support mechanism)
82 Slide rail (support mechanism)
83 Drive device 84 Drive motor (drive unit), (drive device)
85 Pinion gear (drive unit)
86 Rack gear (drive unit)

Claims (12)

A housing having a front opening on a front surface thereof;
a dish basket that is retractably disposed within the housing and that stores dishes;
A door body that covers the front opening;
a support mechanism that supports the door body on the housing in a state in which the door body can move back and forth;
A drive device that moves the door body at least in a forward or backward direction;
At least an electrostatic sensor provided on the door body;
a notification unit that notifies a user of an operating status;
A control unit,
The drive device has a drive unit,
The control unit is configured to, when receiving a predetermined signal from the electrostatic sensor that detects that a user has touched the door body , notify the driver that the driver will start to drive the driver by the notification unit, and then drive the driver.
The dishwasher is configured such that, after receiving the specified signal from the electrostatic sensor, when the electrostatic sensor detects that a user has touched the door body on the way to the door body reaching a specified position, the control unit stops the drive unit. The electrostatic sensor detects that a user has touched the door body ,
2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to start an alert a predetermined time T5 after receiving a predetermined signal from the electrostatic sensor, the signal detecting that a user has touched the door body. The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the control unit is configured to start an alert 0.1 to 0.6 seconds after receiving a predetermined signal from the electrostatic sensor detecting that a user has touched the door body. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit is configured to initiate an alert before driving the drive unit. A door closing detection sensor is provided to detect when the door body is closed,
The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the control unit is configured to provide an alert when it detects a signal from the door closing detection sensor that the door body is closed, or a predetermined time T3 after the detection. 6. The dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured to, when it detects a signal from the door close detection sensor that the door body is closed, not detect a predetermined signal from the electrostatic sensor detecting that a user has touched the door body for a predetermined time T3 after detecting the signal from the door close detection sensor, or to suspend operation of the drive unit even if it detects a signal from the electrostatic sensor. The dishwasher according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the control unit is configured to notify the user that the door is not moving if the control unit detects a signal from the door close detection sensor indicating that the door is closed and the control unit drives the drive unit in the forward direction to open the door for a predetermined time T4. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein the control unit is configured to notify the occurrence of an abnormality and stop further operation when the notification that the door body is not moving is repeated a predetermined number of times. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the drive unit in a direction toward the rear of the door body so that the door body is closed, and to notify the user that the door body is not completely closed when the control unit detects that the drive unit has stopped but does not detect a signal from the door closing detection sensor. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein the control unit is configured to notify the occurrence of an abnormality and stop further operation when the notification that the door is not completely closed is repeated a predetermined number of times. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the control unit is configured to drive the drive unit after a certain time has elapsed after notifying a user that the door body will start moving. The dishwasher according to claim 1 , wherein the notification unit provides an auditory notification using a voice, a synthesized sound such as a buzzer, or the like.