JP7594512B2 - Dishwashers - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwasher that includes a washing tub with an open top that is stored in a machine body with an open front so that it can be pulled out forward, and a top lid that is attached to the top of the machine body and moves up and down in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the washing tub, and that closes the top of the washing tub when the washing tub is in a storage position stored in the machine body.

Conventionally, a type of dishwasher of this kind is known that includes a water supply valve located within the machine body behind the washing tub in the stored position, and a water supply hose disposed between the water supply valve and the washing tub, so that the water supply hose moves with the washing tub when it is inserted or removed (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

However, when the cleaning tank is pulled out, water droplets falling from the top lid may bounce off the upper edge of the cleaning tank and fall onto the water supply valve, causing the water droplets to adhere to the solenoid part of the water supply valve. Therefore, in order to prevent water droplets from falling onto the water supply valve, a waterproof wall that covers the water supply valve from above has been known in the past.

When the cleaning tank is pulled out, water droplets that fall from the top lid and bounce back off the upper edge of the cleaning tank may hit the water supply valve from the front. However, the above conventional example cannot prevent water droplets from hitting the water supply valve from the front. In this case, it is possible to provide a hanging wall on the waterproof wall so as to cover the water supply valve from the front. However, in this case, the water supply hose will interfere with the hanging wall, preventing the water supply hose from moving in and out of the cleaning tank.

JP 2002-315714 A

In view of the above, the present invention aims to provide a dishwasher that can prevent water droplets from hitting the water supply valve from above and from the front, and that does not interfere with the movement of the water supply hose when the washing tub is inserted or removed.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a dishwasher that includes a washing tub with an open top that is stored in a machine body with an open front so that it can be freely pulled out forward, and a top cover provided in the machine body that closes the top of the washing tub when the washing tub is in a storage position stored in the machine body, and that includes a water supply valve that is installed in the machine body and positioned rearward of the washing tub in the storage position, and a water supply hose that is arranged between the water supply valve and the washing tub, and that is configured so that the water supply hose moves with the washing tub being inserted or removed, and that includes a cover member that has an upper cover portion that covers the water supply valve from above, and a front cover portion that covers the water supply valve from the front and is connected to the upper cover portion, and that is configured so that the upper cover portion and the front cover portion are movable in accordance with the movement of the water supply hose.

According to the present invention, the water supply valve is covered from above to the front by the upper covering portion and the front covering portion of the cover member, so water droplets can be prevented from hitting the water supply valve not only from above but also from the front. Furthermore, the upper covering portion and the front covering portion of the cover member move in accordance with the accompanying movement of the water supply hose that accompanies the insertion and removal of the cleaning tank, so the accompanying movement of the water supply hose is not impeded by the cover member.

In addition, in the present invention, it is preferable that the cover member is integrally formed from a flexible resin sheet from the upper cover portion to the front cover portion. This eliminates the need for structures such as hinges that allow the upper cover portion and the front cover portion to be movable, thereby reducing costs.

1 is a cutaway side view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 2 is a rear view of the dishwasher according to the embodiment with the rear body panel partially cut away. FIG.

The dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 1 is a built-in type that is installed in a system kitchen, and has an open-topped washing tub 2 that is stored in a body 1 that has an open front and can be freely pulled out forward. A front cover 21 that closes the front of the body 1 is attached to the front of the washing tub 2. In addition, a top cover 3 that closes the top of the washing tub 2 when the washing tub 2 is in a storage position stored in the body 1 is provided at the top of the body 1 so as to move up and down in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the washing tub 2.

The washing tank 2 contains a lower basket 22 and an upper basket 23 that support items W to be washed, such as dishes, and is provided with a washing nozzle 24 that sprays washing water toward the baskets 22, 23. The washing nozzle 24 has a lower nozzle 241 that extends horizontally at the bottom of the washing tank 2 and can rotate freely around a vertical axis at the longitudinal center, and a center nozzle 242 that extends upward and is erected at the longitudinal center of the lower nozzle 241. A nozzle guard frame 221 that surrounds the center nozzle 242 is erected at the center of the lower basket 22 to prevent the items W to be washed placed therein from interfering with the center nozzle 242.

At the bottom of the washing tank 2, there is a washing water reservoir 26 that is connected to the inside of the washing tank 2 via a food residue filter 25. A washing pump 4 that is connected to the reservoir 26 is installed below the bottom of the washing tank 2. When the washing pump 4 is rotated forward, the washing water in the washing tank 2 is supplied to the washing nozzle 24 via the reservoir 26 and the washing pump 4, and when the washing pump 4 is rotated reversely, the washing water is drained from the washing tank 2. In addition, although not shown, a heater is provided at the bottom of the washing tank 2.

Referring also to Figures 2 and 3, the dishwasher further includes a water supply valve 5 installed in the machine body 1 and positioned rearward of the washing tub 2 in the storage position, a water supply hose 51 disposed between the water supply valve 5 and the washing tub 2, and a drying fan 6 attached to the rear surface of the rear wall of the washing tub 2 for blowing air into the washing tub 2 through an air supply duct 61. In this embodiment, the water supply valve 5 is attached to the inner surface of the rear plate 11 of the machine body 1. An external water supply pipe 52 extending to the outside of the machine body 1 is connected to the inlet side of the water supply valve 5. The water supply valve 5 is configured as a dual solenoid valve having two solenoid portions 5a.

In the drainage path connected to the washing pump 4, a water level detection tank 41 attached to the lower part of the rear wall of the washing tank 2 and a drain trap 42 attached to the lower part of the rear plate 11 of the machine body 1 are interposed. Inside the water level detection tank 41, there is a float 411 and a water level detection switch 412 consisting of a reed switch that is turned on by the magnetic force of a magnet (not shown) attached to the float 411 when the water level in the washing tank 2 rises to a predetermined level and the float 411 reaches a predetermined height. In addition, a first drain hose 43 is arranged between the washing pump 4 and the water level detection tank 41, and a second drain hose 44 is arranged between the water level detection tank 41 and the drain trap 42, and an external drain pipe 45 arranged outside the machine body 1 is connected to the outlet side of the drain trap 42.

When the operation switch of the dishwasher is turned on, water is first supplied to the washing tank 2 via the water supply valve 5, and detergent is mixed into this water from a detergent supply means not shown in the figure to generate washing water. Then, when the water level in the washing tank 2 rises to a predetermined level and the water level detection switch 412 is turned on, the water supply is stopped. After that, while the washing water is heated by the heater, the washing pump 4 is rotated forward to spray the washing water from the washing nozzle 24, and a washing process is performed for a predetermined time to wash the items W stored in the washing tank 2. After the washing process is completed, the washing pump 4 is rotated in the reverse direction to drain the washing water from the washing tank 2. Next, after water is supplied to the washing tank 2, the washing pump 4 is rotated forward to spray water from the washing nozzle 24, and a rinsing process is performed for a predetermined time to rinse the items W to be washed. After the rinsing process is completed, the washing pump 4 is rotated in reverse to drain the water from the washing tank 2, and then the air in the washing tank 2 is heated by a heater while the drying fan 6 is driven to blow air into the washing tank 2, and the item to be washed W is dried with the blown air for a predetermined period of time.

The water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 move together when the cleaning tank 2 is inserted or removed. Specifically, a hose clamper 27 is provided on a bracket 27a fixed to the upper rear surface of the rear wall of the cleaning tank 2, and is supported so as to be swingable in the front-to-rear direction about a support shaft 27b. The hose clamper 27 clamps a portion of the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44. The water supply valve 5 and the drain trap 42 are located below the hose clamper 27. When the cleaning tank 2 is in the storage position, the hose clamper 27 is in a horizontal position along the rear surface of the rear wall of the cleaning tank 2, and the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 are bent in a horizontal U-shape between the water supply valve 5 and the drain trap 42 and the hose clamper 27. When the cleaning tank 2 is pulled forward, the hose clamper 27 swings backward and assumes a rearward position, and the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 are extended in the front-to-rear direction between the water supply valve 5 and the drain trap 42 and the hose clamper 27. In addition, upper and lower guide ribs 28U and 28L are protruding from the rear surface of the rear wall of the cleaning tank 2 to guide the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 so that they are bent in a horizontal U-shape when the cleaning tank 2 is in the storage position.

The dishwasher of this embodiment also includes a cover member 7 to prevent water droplets falling from the top lid 3 from bouncing off the upper edge of the washing tub 2 and hitting the water supply valve 5 when the washing tub 2 is pulled out. This cover member 7 has an upper cover part 71 that covers the water supply valve 5 from above, and a front cover part 72 that is connected to the upper cover part 71 and covers the water supply valve 5 from the front. The drain trap 42 is disposed in approximately the same lateral range as the water supply valve 5, and the front cover part 72 also covers the drain trap 42 from the front. The upper cover part 71 and the front cover part 72 are configured to move in accordance with the accompanying movement of the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 that accompanies the insertion and removal of the washing tub 2.

As a result, the water supply valve 5 is covered from above to the front by the upper covering portion 71 and the front covering portion 72 of the cover member 7, preventing water droplets from hitting the water supply valve 5 not only from above but also from the front. Furthermore, since the upper covering portion 71 and the front covering portion 72 of the cover member 7 move in accordance with the accompanying movement of the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 that accompanies the insertion and removal of the cleaning tank 2, the accompanying movement of the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 is not impeded by the cover member 7.

In this embodiment, the cover member 7 is integrally formed from a flexible resin sheet from the upper cover portion 71 to the front cover portion 72. One lateral side edge of the cover member 7 reaches one lateral side plate of the aircraft body 1, and the other lateral side edge 7a reaches a portion that is a predetermined distance away in the other lateral direction from the installation portion of the water supply valve 5 and the drain trap 42. Then, at the rear side of the front cover portion 72, the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 are connected to the outlet side of the water supply valve 5 and the inlet side of the drain trap 42, respectively, and the portions of the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 that are led out from the other lateral side edge 7a of the cover member 7 to the hose clamper 27 at a position above the upper cover portion 71. In this case, the upper cover part 71 and the front cover part 72 move upward in response to the accompanying movement of the water supply hose 51 and the second drain hose 44 as the cleaning tank 2 is pulled out.

The cover member 7 has an extension portion 73 that extends upward from the upper cover portion 71 along the rear plate 11 of the aircraft body 1. The upper edge of this extension portion 73 is glued to the upper edge of the rear plate 11, thereby attaching the cover member 7 to the rear plate 11.

Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the drawings, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, it is possible to construct the upper covering portion 71 and the front covering portion 72 of the cover member 7 from hard materials, and provide a structure such as a hinge that allows the upper covering portion 71 and the front covering portion 72 to move. However, this increases costs. In contrast, if the cover member 7 is integrally formed from a flexible resin sheet from the upper covering portion 71 to the front covering portion 72 as in the above embodiment, the structure that allows the upper covering portion 71 and the front covering portion 72 to move is not necessary, and costs can be reduced.

1...body, 2...cleaning tank, 3...top cover, 5...water supply valve, 51...water supply hose, 7...cover member, 71...upper cover part, 72...front cover part.

Claims (2)

A dishwasher comprising: a washing tub with an open top that is stored in a machine body with an open front so as to be freely pulled out toward the front; and a top cover that is provided in an upper portion of the machine body and moves up and down in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the washing tub, and that closes the top of the washing tub when the washing tub is in a storage position stored in the machine body;
A cleaning device comprising: a water supply valve disposed in a machine body at a position rearward of a cleaning tank in a stored position; and a water supply hose disposed between the water supply valve and the cleaning tank, the water supply hose being moved in conjunction with the insertion and removal of the cleaning tank;
This dishwasher is characterized in that it is provided with a cover member having an upper covering part that covers the water supply valve from above, and a front covering part that covers the water supply valve from the front and is connected to the upper covering part, and the upper covering part and the front covering part are configured to move in accordance with the accompanying movement of the water supply hose. The dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover member is integrally formed from a flexible resin sheet from the upper cover portion to the front cover portion.

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