JP7815904B2 - dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to dishwashers.

Patent Document 1 discloses a dishwasher having a water storage section that communicates with a washing liquid tank. This dishwasher is equipped with a washing tank that contains dishes, a water storage section that stores washing water provided in the washing tank, a lid that opens and closes the opening of the washing tank, a washing pump that pressurizes the washing water, a washing means that sprays the washing water pressurized by the washing pump, a detergent liquid tank that stores a high-concentration detergent liquid, a heating means that heats the washing water in the water storage section, and a detergent liquid scattering means that atomizes the high-concentration detergent liquid in the washing liquid tank and scatters it into the washing tank. The detergent liquid tank has an upward-rising wall that separates it from the water storage section and a communication section that communicates with the water storage section, with the communication section provided on the wall opposite the heating means.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-288776

To provide a user-friendly dishwasher in which washing water flows into a water storage section from the bottom of the drain outlet, and there is no water remaining at the bottom of the drain outlet when a user looks at the drain outlet from directly above the washing tank after draining .

The dishwasher of the present disclosure comprises a housing, a washing tub provided within the housing for containing items to be washed, a door for opening and closing the opening of the washing tub, a drain outlet for draining washing water from the washing tub, a water storage section for storing washing water from the washing tub at a position lower than the bottom of the drain outlet , a valve for opening and closing the washing tub and the water storage section, and a drain path equipped with a drain pump for draining washing water downstream of the water storage section, the water storage section being provided downstream of the drain outlet and upstream of the drain path, the bottom of the drain outlet being inclined so that washing water flows from the drain outlet into the water storage section, and the washing water from the washing tub being stored in the water storage section by opening and closing the valve .

The dishwasher disclosed herein is configured so that wash water flows into the water storage section from the bottom of the drain outlet, making it an easy-to-use dishwasher in which, when the user looks at the drain outlet from directly above the washing tank after draining, there appears to be no water remaining at the bottom of the drain outlet.

1 is a schematic side view of a dishwasher in a state where a dish basket is pulled out from a housing according to a first embodiment; 1 is a schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dishwasher according to the first embodiment cut along a position in the front-rear direction when viewed from the front; FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a dishwasher in a state where a dish basket is pulled out from a housing according to a first embodiment; 1 is a schematic perspective view of a dishwasher in a door-closed state according to a first embodiment; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to a first embodiment, showing a cross section taken along line A-A and viewed from the direction of the arrows. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dishwasher showing an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line Y in FIG. 5, in which the washing tub is full of water after complete drainage, the solenoid valve is closed, and the check valve is closed. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dishwasher showing an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line Y in FIG. 5, in which the washing tub is full of water after partial drainage, the solenoid valve is closed, and the check valve is closed. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dishwasher showing an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line Y in FIG. 5, in which the solenoid valve and the check valve are open when draining the wash water. FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dishwasher showing an enlarged view of the area surrounded by the dotted line Y in FIG. 5, in which the solenoid valve and the check valve are both closed after the washing water has been completely drained. Control flow chart from start to finish of dishwasher operation Control flow chart from water supply to cleaning Flow chart of water flow from water supply to cleaning Control flow chart 1 from start to finish of drainage Control flow chart 2 from start to finish of drainage Flow chart of water flow from start to finish of drainage Simple illustration of a check valve placed vertically Simple illustration of a check valve placed horizontally Schematic perspective view of the drainage route downstream of the drainage pump FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of the drainage path downstream of the drainage pump when the drainage path is full of water. Schematic perspective view of a pull-open dishwasher

(Findings that formed the basis of this disclosure)
When the inventors came up with the idea for this disclosure, in the configuration of a conventional washing tank, the water reservoir where washing water accumulates and the washing tank were always connected, causing wastewater and its odor to flow back into the cabinet. Therefore, the inventors discovered a problem that it was necessary to prevent wastewater and its odor from flowing back into the cabinet and keep the interior clean, and in order to solve this problem, they came up with the subject matter of this disclosure.

This disclosure provides a dishwasher that can maintain the inside of the washing tub in a clean state by having a water storage section that can be connected to and separated from the inside of the washing tub.

Embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, more detailed explanations than necessary may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of matters that are already well known or duplicate explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid making the following explanation unnecessarily redundant and to make it easier for those skilled in the art to understand.

The accompanying drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand the present disclosure, and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

[Overall configuration]
A dishwasher 1 according to the first embodiment is shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of the dishwasher 1 with the door 4 in an open state. More specifically, the door 4 has been rotated forward to be in the open state, and the dish basket 9 has been pulled out.

Furthermore, the dishwasher in embodiment 1 is a built-in dishwasher that is installed in, for example, a system kitchen.

In the following description of embodiment 1, the opening side of the dishwasher 1 will be referred to as the front, and the rear wall side as the rear, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The top side of the dishwasher's washing tub 3 will be referred to as the top, the bottom side as the bottom, and the right side of the door 4 as viewed from the front will be referred to as the right, and the left side as the left.

As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher 1 of the first embodiment includes a housing 2, a washing tub 3 provided inside the housing 2 and containing items to be washed, and a door 4 for opening and closing an opening 5 located in front of the washing tub.

The washing tub 3 has an opening 5 on the front and includes a drain port 6 for draining the washing water used during washing, a residue filter 7 for collecting residue, a dish basket 9 for storing dishes 8, and a washing nozzle 10. The opening 5 is closed by a door 4 disposed on the housing 2. This allows the dish basket 9 to be supported so that it can be freely inserted and removed from the housing 2 in the front-to-back direction (left-to-right on the plane of the paper in Figure 1).

Dishes 8 are placed in the dish basket 9. The dish basket 9 can be taken in or out by opening the door 4 and then pulling it forward.

The dishwasher 1 also includes a washing pump 11, a water distribution mechanism 12, and a water supply unit 13 (not shown). The water supply unit 13 includes a water supply valve, a water supply hose, and the like (not shown). Specifically, washing water, such as tap water, is first supplied from a branch water faucet in the system kitchen (not shown) to a water supply path, such as a water supply hose. The supplied washing water travels through the water supply path, and the required water level and amount are supplied to the washing tub 3 by the water supply pump, water supply valve, etc.

The water supply line is connected to a water pipe (not shown). The water supply valve is provided in the water supply line at the rear of the housing 2. When opened, the water supply valve supplies tap water to the cleaning tank 3 as cleaning water.

The wash pump 11 pressure-feeds wash water to the wash nozzles 10. If there are multiple wash nozzles 10, the wash water is pressure-fed from the wash pump to each wash nozzle 10 via a water distribution mechanism 12. The wash nozzles 10 rotate due to the reaction force of the pressure-fed wash water, spraying the wash water toward the dishes 8 placed in the dish basket 9. In other words, the wash pump 11 pressurizes the wash water stored in the wash tub 3 and supplies it to the wash nozzles 10. The wash water sprayed from the wash nozzles 10 hits the dishes to remove dirt and clean them. The wash water includes a detergent-containing cleaning liquid that is sprayed onto the items being washed, and rinse water for rinsing the items being washed. Furthermore, the suction side of the wash pump 11 is connected to the drain outlet 6, and the wash water supplied to the wash tub 3 is circulated through a circulation path and sprayed from the wash nozzles 10. The sprayed wash water is then used to wash the dishes 8.

The drain outlet 6 is located at the bottom of the cleaning tank 3. The residue filter 7 is detachably attached to the drain outlet 6 and collects residue washed and removed from the object being cleaned. The heater heats the cleaning water stored in the cleaning tank 3 during the washing process. The heater is located near the bottom of the cleaning tank 3 and heats the drying air in the cleaning tank 3 during the drying process.

The dishwasher of the first embodiment is equipped with a drainage path for draining wash water from the washing tub 3. The drainage path is composed of a check valve 73, a drainage pump 74, a drainage hose 75, and the like. The dishwasher of the first embodiment also includes a drain outlet 6, a residue filter 7, an electromagnetic valve 71, a water storage section 72, and the like between the bottom of the washing tub 3 and the drainage path. After washing, rinsing, and drying of the dishes 8, the drainage pump 74 is driven, and the wash water passes through the drain outlet 6 and the residue filter 7, then the electromagnetic valve 71 and the water storage section 72, before reaching the drainage path and being drained to the outside via the drainage hose 75. The drainage path is also configured to allow the wash water in the washing tub 3 to be drained into a system kitchen sink or the like. The drainage hose 75 flexibly connects the outlet of the drainage pump 74 to a drainage channel 76. The drainage hose 75 is made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber. The drainage pump 74 can be driven when filled with water.

The dishwasher of embodiment 1 is equipped with a drying fan that blows air for drying items such as dishes 8 during the process of drying the items. The drying fan is located near the heater. By driving the heater when driving the drying fan, heated air can be blown onto the items to be washed, facilitating drying.

As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the door 4, which opens and closes the opening 5 located in front of the washing tub, has a flat surface 42 on the front side. The flat surface 42 is covered with a surface material, and an operation unit 43 and a display unit 44 are disposed on the top surface of the door 4. The operation unit 43 is operated by the user to set the dishwasher's wash course, power on/off, etc. The display unit 44 shows the washing status, operating status, time, etc.

The control unit 14, which executes the wash operation, is located inside the door body 4, on the lower right side of the washing tub 3. The control unit 14 sequentially controls the following processes: a washing process for washing the dishes 8, a rinsing process for washing away detergent and residue adhering to the dishes 8, and a drying process for drying the dishes 8. The system may also include a pre-washing process and a heated rinsing process. Furthermore, the control unit 14 controls the washing nozzle 10, washing pump 11, water distribution mechanism 12, water supply unit 13, solenoid valve 71, drain pump 74, etc., in accordance with these processes.

The dishwasher of embodiment 1 is configured as described above.

[Dishwasher operation]
The operation and function of the dishwasher 1 configured as above will now be described.

First, the user grasps the handle 41 on the door 4 and pulls out the washing tub 3 from the dishwasher's housing 2. The user places the items to be washed, such as dishes 8, in the dish basket 9 through the opening 5 of the now-open washing tub 3, and pours in detergent. The user then pushes the dish basket 9 back into the housing 2 and closes the door 4.

The user then sets an operating program using the operation unit 43 provided on the control unit 14 and starts the wash operation, for example, by operating a start button (not shown). This causes the control unit 14 to execute the wash operation based on the operating program. In the dishwasher according to this embodiment, the control unit 14 sequentially executes the pre-wash process, wash process, rinse process, heated rinse process, and drying process.

FIG. 10 shows an example of the operation flow of all the steps performed by the control unit 14 from the start of operation to the end of operation of the dishwasher 1. This flow is also explained below. When the user starts operation, the control unit 14 first supplies water and starts the pre-washing step. In the pre-washing step, the items to be washed are washed using only wash water, without detergent. After this, a draining operation is performed to drain some of the water, and the washing step is started using the remaining water and detergent. After the items to be washed in the washing step, at the end of the washing step, the wash water mixed with residue is filtered through the residue filter 7 and then recovered, and a draining operation is performed to drain all the water. Next, water is supplied, and the items that were previously washed in the washing step are rinsed, and a rinsing step is performed. At the end of the rinsing step, all the wash water used in the rinsing step is also drained. After that, water is supplied again to perform the heated rinsing step, and the items are rinsed while being heated, and the heated rinsing step is performed. At the end of the heated rinsing step, all the water is drained. After rinsing, the items are then dried by driving the drying fan and heater. During the drying process, a draining operation is also performed to collect water droplets that have dripped from the items. Finally, after all the washing, rinsing, and drying processes are completed, a draining operation is performed to collect the remaining water, and the operation of the dishwasher 1 is finished. Note that the draining operation of some water and the draining operation of all water may be switched or changed as appropriate. For example, only a portion of the washing water used in the rinsing process may be drained, and the remaining washing water may be used to start the heated rinsing process. In this case, there is no need to supply water before the heated rinsing process.

Next, we will explain the detailed operation of all these processes.

The control unit 14 first performs a pre-wash process without using detergent. First, the control unit 14 opens the water supply valve and supplies a predetermined amount of wash water to the washing tub 3 through the water supply hose. Once the water supply is complete, the control unit 14 drives the wash pump 11 to pressurize the wash water, and sprays it toward the items to be washed from wash nozzles 10 located near the bottom of the washing tub 3, on the inner surface, dish basket 9, or on the top surface. While spraying the wash water, the control unit 14 energizes the heater to heat the wash water. At this time, the control unit 14 detects the temperature of the wash water through the bottom wall of the washing tub 3 using a temperature sensor, and controls the wash water to maintain the predetermined temperature.

The cleaning water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 10 cleans the dirt from the object being cleaned, passes through the drain outlet 6 and the residue filter 7, and is sucked back into the cleaning pump 11. The cleaning pump 11 pumps the sucked-in cleaning water, supplies it to the cleaning nozzle 10, and circulates it for cleaning.

Once the pre-washing process is complete, a drainage operation is performed to drain some of the wash water (partial drainage). During the drainage operation, the control unit 14 opens the solenoid valve 71 to connect the drain outlet 6 to the water storage unit 72, and then controls the drainage pump 74 to operate. The wash water containing dirt in the wash tank 3 is then discharged outside the housing 2 through the drain hose 75 and drainage channel 76. Once a certain amount of wash water has been drained or for a certain period of time, the control unit 14 controls the drainage pump 74 to stop operating and closes the solenoid valve 71, thereby ending the drainage operation. Note that, depending on the specifications, all of the water may be drained at this time rather than only partially drained.

The control unit 14 then performs the washing process using the remaining washing water and detergent. If only a portion of the washing water has been drained at the end of the pre-washing process, no water supply is required for the washing process, and the process moves directly to the washing process. However, if all the water has been drained in the draining operation after the pre-washing process, the control unit 14 performs a water supply operation before the washing process, and then the control unit 14 performs the washing process. The washing operation after driving the wash pump is the same as that of the pre-washing process, so a description will be omitted. The control flow of the control unit 14 from water supply to washing during such a pre-washing or washing process is shown in Figure 11, and the water flow in Figure 12.

Then, after the washing cycle has been performed for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes), the control unit 14 performs a draining operation to drain all the water (complete draining). During the draining operation, the control unit 14 opens the solenoid valve 71 to connect the drain outlet 6 to the water storage unit 72, and then controls the drain pump 74 to operate. The dirty cleaning water in the washing tank 3 is then drained out of the housing 2 through the drain hose 75 and drain path 76. Once all the water has been drained, the control unit 14 controls the drain pump 74 to stop operating and closes the solenoid valve 71, completing the draining operation. The control flow of the control unit 14 for partial draining and complete draining is shown in Figures 13 and 14, and the water flow is shown in Figure 15. These will be explained in more detail later. The flows in Figures 13 to 15 are the same for partial draining and complete draining.

Next, following the washing process, the rinsing process is carried out. The control unit 14 operates the water supply valve to supply a predetermined amount of new washing water to the washing tank 3. As in the washing process, the control unit 14 drives the washing pump 11 to spray washing water from the washing nozzle 10. This washes away detergent and residue remaining on the object to be washed with the washing water. At this time, the rinsing operation, including draining the washing water, rinsing, and supplying washing water, is repeated multiple times (for example, two to three times). At the end of the rinsing process, the control unit 14 also performs a draining operation to drain the washing water used to rinse the object to be washed, as in the washing process. As described above, the control unit 14 controls the solenoid valve 71 and the drain pump 74 to drain all the water and complete the draining operation (complete draining).

After the rinsing process, water is supplied again, followed by a heated rinsing process in which the inside of the cleaning tank 3 is heated by a heater while the rinsing process is carried out. The heated rinsing process also performs the same rinsing action as the rinsing process, and a complete draining operation is carried out at the end of the heated rinsing process.

It is also possible to drain some of the cleaning water used in the rinsing process and use the remaining cleaning water for the heated rinsing process. In this case, there is no need to supply water before the heated rinsing process.

Then, when the rinsing process and heated rinsing process are completed, the control unit 14 heats the air in the cleaning tank 3 with a heater and blows air with a fan (not shown). This dries the items being cleaned. The control unit 14 performs the drainage operation again when the drying process is performed for a predetermined time (e.g., 30 minutes). During the drying process, water droplets adhering to the items being cleaned and the inner walls of the cleaning chamber, as well as cleaning water remaining in the cleaning pump 11 and water distribution mechanism 12, drip and accumulate in the drain outlet 6, making it necessary to drain the water. Furthermore, if the chamber is configured to collect dehumidifying liquid generated when cooling the steam generated during the drying process, this is also collected at the drain outlet 6 as drainage. Because it takes time for water droplets to drip and collect near the drain outlet 6, the drainage operation may be performed multiple times during the drying process to collect all the wastewater.

Furthermore, after the drying process, the control unit 14 performs a draining operation to collect water that has accumulated in the drip drain outlet 6 from the items being washed, just as during the drying process, and the washing operation ends. In this way, the draining operation is performed not only after the washing process and rinsing process, but also during the drying process and after the end of the washing operation. This ensures that almost no drainage remains in the washing tub 3 when the dishwasher 1 finishes operating.

The dishwasher of embodiment 1 is controlled as described above. Below, we will explain the control flow example in Figure 10, assuming partial drainage after the pre-wash step and complete drainage after the rinse step.

[Detailed configuration from the drain outlet to the drainage path]
Next, the configuration of the dishwasher from the drain outlet 6 to the drain path and its surroundings will be described with reference to FIGS.

Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dishwasher 1 taken along line A-A in Figures 3 and 4, showing a cross section from the direction of the arrow. Figures 6 to 9 are schematic cross-sectional views of the dishwasher, showing an enlarged view of the area enclosed by dotted line Y at the bottom of Figure 5. Figure 6 is a view of the dishwasher when the washing tub is nearly full after complete draining due to washing and rinsing cycles, with the solenoid valve closed and the check valve closed. Figure 7 is a view of the washing tub when the washing tub is nearly full after partial draining due to washing and rinsing cycles, with the solenoid valve closed and the check valve closed. Figure 8 is a view of the dishwasher when the washing water is drained, with the solenoid valve open and the check valve open. Figure 9 is a view of the dishwasher when the washing water is drained completely, with the solenoid valve closed and the check valve closed.

Figure 5 shows a cross section of the dishwasher 1 taken along line A-A in Figures 3 and 4, as seen from the direction of the arrow, with the portion from the drain outlet 6 down being particularly surrounded by dotted line Y. Figures 6 to 9 are enlarged views of the area within dotted line Y. When the dishwasher 1 is cut along line A-A, as shown in Figure 4, in Figures 5 to 9, the X-axis is the boundary, and the right side of the drawing in front view is the rear of the dishwasher, and the left side of the drawing in front view is the left side of the dishwasher. This boundary line X is shown by a dashed dotted line. Below, the components that make up the drain outlet and the drainage path will be described using Figure 6.

Water flowing from the drain outlet 6 passes through the solenoid valve 71, water storage section 72, check valve 73, drain pump 74, drain hose 75, etc. before being discharged outside the machine. The drain outlet 6 is concave, i.e., bucket-shaped with a recess into which the drainage water flows, and the bottom of the recess has a space below the drain outlet 711, which is a space that extends further downward. The bottom of the space below the drain outlet 711 slopes downward toward the downstream solenoid valve 71, forming a path for transporting the drainage water to the solenoid valve 71 and water storage section 72. The space below the drain outlet 711 has an upstream open end 712 that is open at the top and communicates with the drain outlet 6, and also has a downstream open end 713 on its side that opens toward the solenoid valve 71. Note that the opening area of the upstream open end 712 of the space below the drain outlet 711 that communicates with the drain outlet 6 is smaller than the bottom area of the recessed bottom of the drain outlet 6.

The solenoid valve 71 is an on-off valve that connects and disconnects the cleaning tank 3 and the water storage section 72 and opens and closes the downstream open end 713. In this disclosure, it is a cock-shaped solenoid valve that is controlled by the control section 14 and moves horizontally. The solenoid valve 71 serves to block water accumulated in the cleaning tank 3, the drain 6, and the space below the drain 6, or to release it into the downstream water storage section 72. When the solenoid valve 71 is opened, it moves rearward, away from the space below the drain 6, and the accumulated water is released from the gap between the space below the drain 6 and the solenoid valve 71. When the solenoid valve 71 is closed, it moves forward and presses against the downstream open end 713 of the space below the drain 6, blocking water from flowing downstream from the space below the drain 6. Therefore, the cleaning tank 3 and drain outlet 6 can be connected or disconnected from the water storage section 72 by opening or closing the solenoid valve 71. This configuration allows the cleaning tank 3 to be disconnected from the water storage section 72 and the downstream drainage path as needed, preventing the backflow of wastewater and wastewater odors.

Furthermore, downstream open end 713 and solenoid valve 71 are arranged to contact the side surface near the bottom of drain outlet 6, which is the rear side surface in the drawing, so that when solenoid valve 71 is opened, water flows to the side, and solenoid valve 71 and the flowing water are not visible to the user when viewed from directly above inside cleaning tank 3. Therefore, when the water in space 711 below the drain outlet has been completely drained, there is no water remaining on the bottom surface visible from inside cleaning tank 3.
The vertical center point of the solenoid valve 71 is designated as P. The vertical position of the center point P is indicated by a dotted line in Fig. 6. Hereinafter, objects will be referred to as the upstream side and downstream side in correspondence with the water flow.

The water storage section 72 is a space that can store water and is located directly below the drain outlet space 711 at the bottom of the drain outlet 6. The water storage section 72 is located between the drain outlet 6 (i.e., the inside of the cleaning tank 3) and the drain pump 74, specifically between the upstream solenoid valve 71 and the downstream check valve 73. It can receive and store wastewater flowing in from the drain outlet 6 and wastewater (return water) that flows back from the drainage path. The bottom of the water storage section 72 is inclined downwards toward the drain pump 74 so that water collects in one place near the drain pump 74 as much as possible. When the solenoid valve 71 is opened, the wastewater moves backward, away from the drain outlet space 711, and water that flows in through the gap between the drain outlet space 711 and the solenoid valve 71 flows into the water storage section 72.

Looking at the positional relationship with the solenoid valve at the center, the drain outlet 6 is located at the top and the water storage section 72 is located at the bottom, so that when a user looks into the cleaning tub 3, they can only see the space below the drain outlet 711. The downstream open end 713 of the space below the drain outlet 711 is located on the side and is closed by the solenoid valve 71. This realizes a configuration in which the water stored in the water storage section 72 is invisible to the user, and when the water in the space below the drain outlet 711 has been completely drained, there is no water remaining on the bottom surface visible from inside the cleaning tub 3. Furthermore, the water storage section 72 is detachable, so it can be removed for maintenance, when a malfunction occurs, or if an object is dropped. To remove it, rotate the part that corresponds to the disk-shaped S-frame shown in Figure 6 and remove it downward.

The water reservoir 72 is positioned so that its bottom is lower than the solenoid valve 71. This allows wastewater collected in the drain outlet 6 to fall into the water reservoir 72 under its own weight when the solenoid valve 71 is opened, allowing automatic drainage up to the water reservoir 72 without the need for suction from the drain pump 74. After drainage, the wastewater remains in the water reservoir 72, and from the user's perspective, no water has accumulated in the drain outlet 6. The solenoid valve 71 and check valve 73 close the water reservoir 72, preventing odors from rising into the cleaning tub 3. On the other hand, if the water reservoir 72 were positioned so that its bottom is higher than the solenoid valve 71, the communicating space between the cleaning tub 3 and the solenoid valve 71 would be positioned vertically lower than the water reservoir 72, causing wastewater and its odor to flow back into the cleaning tub 3, resulting in a configuration in which the above-mentioned effect cannot be achieved.

The check valve 73 is located between the water reservoir 72 and the drainage pump 74. It prevents wastewater and other wastewater accumulated in the casing of the drainage pump 74, which is located further downstream from the water reservoir 72, from flowing back into the water reservoir 72 and the cleaning tank 3 (return water). Specifically, when draining water when there is almost no water in the cleaning tank 3, such as during the drying process, the check valve 73 prevents water accumulated downstream from the drainage pump 74 from flowing back into the cleaning tank 3. The check valve 73 is positioned horizontally upstream of the drainage pump 74, preventing contamination from accumulating. When the valve opening/closing portion 731 of the check valve 73 is closed in an approximately vertical position, the check valve 73 closes the gap between the drainage pump 74 and the water reservoir 72, preventing wastewater from flowing back into the water reservoir 72 and the cleaning tank 3. When the valve opening/closing portion 731 is open and in an approximately horizontal position, the check valve 73 connects the drainage pump 74 and the water storage section 72, opening a path for sucking up wastewater that has flowed into the water storage section 72. The check valve 73 is installed so that it can rotate left and right, and is opened and closed by the water flow; particularly when water pressure is applied from upstream to downstream, it reaches an approximately horizontal position and enters an open state.

The vertical center point of the check valve 73 is designated as Q. The vertical position of center point Q is indicated by a dotted line in Figure 6. Furthermore, the water storage section 72 is positioned so that its bottom surface is lower than the check valve 73. As a result, when the drainage pump 74 is stationary, the water stored in the water storage section 72 does not flow into the check valve 73 unless the water volume increases suddenly. This prevents the check valve 73 from being opened by water flow from the water storage section 72 when the drainage pump 74 is stationary. Meanwhile, on the drainage pump 74 side, when the drainage pump 74 is stationary, water stored between the check valve 73 and the drainage pump 74 constantly applies water pressure to the check valve 73 in the upstream direction. This water pressure is applied in the opposite direction to the check valve 73's opening, making it difficult for the check valve 73 to open. Therefore, the bottom surface of the water storage section 72 is positioned lower than the check valve 73, preventing the check valve 73 from opening accidentally when the drainage pump 74 is stationary.

Next, the orientation of the check valve will be explained using Figures 16 and 17. First, we will explain the case where the check valve 73 is arranged vertically, that is, where the path of water flowing through the check valve is vertical. As shown in Figure 16, if foreign matter 732 is present above the valve opening/closing part 731 (downstream of the check valve 73 in the drainage path), even if the valve opening/closing part 731 is opened, as shown on the right side of Figure 16, the valve opening/closing part 731 is downstream of the foreign matter 732 in the drainage flow (to the left) when the valve is open. As a result, the foreign matter 732 is blocked by the valve opening/closing part 731 when draining, and remains in the drainage path. If this happens, the valve opening/closing part 731 may become stuck and become stuck, causing malfunctions, or the remaining foreign matter may accumulate, creating an unsanitary condition.

On the other hand, as shown in Figure 17, we will explain the case where the check valve 73 is positioned horizontally, i.e., the path of the water flowing through the check valve is horizontal. If foreign matter 732 is present in the drainage path downstream of the check valve 73, as shown in the right-hand diagram of Figure 17, the valve opening/closing portion 731 does not block the movement of the foreign matter 732 in the direction of the drainage water when the valve is open, so when the check valve 73 is opened, the foreign matter 732 flows away along with the drainage water. Therefore, even if foreign matter has reached the check valve 73, malfunction of the check valve due to the foreign matter can be prevented, and contamination does not accumulate, making it hygienic.

The drain pump 74 is located downstream of the check valve 73, and when driven, it sucks up the wastewater that has passed from the drain port 6 to the check valve 73. The discharge port 741 of the drain pump 74 is connected to the drain hose 75 approximately vertically upward, and the sucked-up wastewater is sent to the drain hose 75. The drain pump 74 is housed in a casing. The vertical center point of the rotation shaft of the drain pump 74 is designated R. The vertical position of center point R is indicated by a dotted line in Figure 6.

The drain hose 75 sends the drainage water sent from the drain pump 74 to the drain channel 76. The downstream configuration after the drain hose 75 will be explained using Figure 18. The upstream end of the drain hose 75 is connected approximately perpendicular to the outlet 741 of the drain pump 74, and the hose itself extends straight with almost no bending, and the downstream end of the drain hose 75 is connected to the drain channel 76.

The drain channel 76 is located outside the cleaning tank 3 and in contact with the side wall inside the housing 2. It extends upward from its lower end, which is connected to the drain hose 75, then bends approximately 180 degrees before extending downward again, with its other lower end connected to the external discharge hose. An air vent for releasing the atmosphere is provided in part of the upper end and is connected to the inside of the cleaning tank 3. This air vent is hereinafter referred to as the air trap 77. Water sucked up into the drain channel 76 accumulates, and when it reaches the bent part at the upper end, the air present in the filled water is released into the cleaning tank from the air trap 77, which extends further upward from the upper end.

Meanwhile, the wastewater that passes through the drain channel 76 is ultimately sent to the over-the-aircraft discharge hose 78 and discharged outside the aircraft. The drain channel 76 is designed to be longer and higher than conventional aircraft. Normally, water accumulated in the drain channel 76 constantly applies water pressure to the check valve 73 in a direction toward upstream (backflow). As a result, water pressure is applied in the opposite direction to the check valve 73's opening, making it difficult for the check valve 73 to open. However, by configuring the drain channel 76 to be even higher as described above, the water pressure in the direction that closes the check valve is further increased, ensuring that the check valve remains closed more reliably.

Typically, the casing of the drain pump 74 and the washing tub 3 are connected via an air vent hole, but the dishwasher disclosed herein does not require such a configuration. Typical dishwashers do not have a solenoid valve, and instead have a check valve downstream of the drain pump, so there is constant communication between the washing tub and the drain pump. Therefore, once the drain pump is activated and drainage is complete, air remains in the drain pump casing. If an attempt is made to start drainage when there is more than a certain amount of air remaining in the casing, the drain pump will idle, making it necessary to vent the air from the casing and introduce water (priming). Therefore, an air vent hole is typically provided to connect the inside of the washing tub and the inside of the casing, and air from the casing is released from the washing tub through the air vent hole. Water from the washing tub also flows into the casing.

On the other hand, according to the present disclosure, the flow of water from inside the cleaning tank 3 to the water storage section 72 and the drainage path can be blocked by using components such as the solenoid valve 71, the water storage section 72, and the check valve 73, thereby isolating the cleaning tank 3 from the drainage path. In detail, the cleaning tank 3 can be separated from the water storage section 72, and the water storage section 72 can be separated from the drainage path.

In addition, the downstream structure from the drain pump 74 onwards is configured so that the drain hose 75 extends directly above (vertically upward) from the discharge port 741 of the drain pump 74, and the connected hose extends approximately horizontally without bending, continuing to the drain channel 76 and air trap 77. Because the drain hose 75 extends vertically upward from the discharge port 741, air in the drain does not remain but rises smoothly into the drain hose 75. Furthermore, because the hose is not bent, air does not accumulate in the bent space of the hose. Therefore, even if air enters the casing of the drain pump 74, the air will rise to the drain hose 75, pass through the drain hose 75, and ultimately be released into the atmosphere through the air trap 77. In this way, no air remains in the casing.

As a result, the dishwasher of the present disclosure can maintain a state in which the casing of the drain pump 74 is filled with water, allowing for constant drainage, eliminating the need for an air vent hole connecting the washing tub and the casing. The washing tub 3 is separated from the drainage path by components such as the solenoid valve 71, water reservoir 72, and check valve 73. Furthermore, because an air vent hole is not required, the water in the casing flows back into the washing tub when draining, eliminating the unpleasant situation for users where a small amount of water remains in the washing tub even after draining. This ensures that the washing tub remains clean after draining, and users also find the inside of the washing tub to be clean.

Also, as shown in Figure 6, the check valve 73 and the drainage pump 74 are positioned so that the vertical center point Q of the check valve 73 and the center point R of the rotation axis of the drainage pump 74 are approximately in the same position in the vertical direction. As a result, when drainage water is pumped downstream, the water pressure is distributed equally between the check valve 73 and the drainage pump 74, allowing the drainage water to be pumped up efficiently.

Furthermore, the water storage section 72 is positioned so that its bottom is lower than both the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73. As a result, on the upstream side of the water storage section 72, wastewater accumulated in the drain outlet 6 falls into the water storage section 72 due to its own weight when the solenoid valve 71 is opened, allowing the water to be automatically drained and collected in the water storage section 72. Meanwhile, on the downstream side of the water storage section 72, the water accumulated in the water storage section 72 will not flow into the check valve 73 due to its level unless the water volume increases suddenly. Therefore, the water storage section 72 is configured to store wastewater. These configurations allow the water storage section 72 to store wastewater in a state appropriate for the usage conditions.

As described above, the dishwasher is configured from the drain outlet to the drainage path.

[Detailed operation of the dishwasher]
Next, detailed operation of the dishwasher from washing to draining will be explained using Figures 6 to 12. As described in [Operation of Dishwasher], in the pre-washing and washing steps, the wash water sprayed from the washing nozzle 10 washes away dirt from the objects being washed, passes through the residue filter 7 and the drain outlet 6, and is sucked back into the washing pump 11. The washing pump 11 pumps out the sucked-in wash water and supplies it to the washing nozzle 10, circulating it and performing washing. The control flow up to this point is shown in Figure 11, and the water flow is shown in Figure 12.

Next, the control unit 14 executes the pre-washing step and the washing step for a predetermined time, and then drives the electromagnetic valve 71 and the drain pump 74 to drain the cleaning water containing the dirt from the washing tank 3 through the drain outlet 6 and the drain path 76 to the outside of the housing 2. At this time, the control flow from the start to the end of the drainage is shown in FIG.
, 14, and the flow of water is shown in Fig. 15. First, the control flow during the draining operation will be described below.

When starting drainage, the control unit 14 first opens the solenoid valve 71 while the cleaning water used during cleaning is stored in the cleaning tank 3. Then it activates the drainage pump 74. This is how drainage begins. If the drainage pump 74 is activated first, or if the drainage pump 74 and solenoid valve 71 are activated simultaneously, the space from the cleaning tank 3 to the drainage pump 74 will not be open to the atmosphere, causing the drainage pump 74 to run idle (air bubbles). For this reason, it is necessary to open the solenoid valve 71 before activating the drainage pump 74.

When draining water, the control unit 14 must stop the drain pump 74 and close the solenoid valve. If the drain pump 74 is stopped first, as shown in the flow chart in Figure 13, the force sucking the wastewater from upstream to downstream is stopped. The water filling the drain pump 74, drain hose 75, and drain channel 76 then flows toward the water reservoir 72, which is located vertically below these. The force of the water causes the valve opening/closing portion 731 of the check valve 73 to rotate from its horizontal open position to its vertical closed position, closing the check valve. Then, when the solenoid valve 71 is closed, the cleaning tank 3 and drain outlet are separated from the components following the water reservoir 72. In this way, the user can visually confirm that no cleaning water remains in the cleaning tank 3, and a state is achieved in which wastewater and its odor do not flow back into the cleaning tank 3.

If the solenoid valve 71 is closed first, or if the drain pump 74 is stopped at the same time as closing the solenoid valve 71, the movement of water from the water storage section 72 to the drain pump 74 may stop, making it difficult for the check valve 73 to close. Therefore, depending on the specifications of the check valve 73's opening and closing section, it may be necessary to stop the drain pump 74 first to ensure that the check valve 73 is closed. Furthermore, if the solenoid valve 71 is closed first, the space upstream of the drain pump 74 becomes closed to the atmosphere. After this, the drain pump 74 is stopped, and wastewater fills the drain pump 74, drain hose 75, and drain channel 76. If the solenoid valve 71 is then opened for drainage at the end of the drying process or washing operation, the previously filled wastewater will flow toward the water storage section 72, which may result in backflow into the drain outlet 6.

On the other hand, if the solenoid valve 71 is closed first as shown in Figure 14, and the drain pump 74 is then stopped, even if water flows back from the drain pump 74, drain hose 75, or drain path 76, the solenoid valve 71 has already separated the cleaning tank 3 from the water storage section 72, preventing the wastewater that has backflowed into the water storage section 72 from flowing back into the cleaning tank 3. The order of these controls can be selected as appropriate and convenient depending on the amount of water flowing back from downstream after the drain pump 74, and the placement and opening/closing specifications of the check valve 73, and can be designed so that the cleaning tank 3, water storage section 72, and drain path can be separated.

Next, the water flow after the drain pump 74 is driven after the washing cycle has been performed for a predetermined time will be explained using Figures 15, 19, and 6 to 9. Figures 6 to 9 are enlarged cross-sectional views of the portion of Figure 5 below the drain outlet 6. Figures 6 and 7 show the water level when the drain is full during or immediately after washing or rinsing, Figure 8 shows the water level during drainage, and Figure 9 shows the water level after complete drainage. Furthermore, Figure 19 shows the full water state of the drainage path downstream from the drain pump 74 when water is sent from the drain pump 74 to the drain hose 75 and beyond. In these figures, the portion filled with water is shown in a translucent gray. The movement of water is indicated by outlined arrows.

First, when the tank is full, such as during a wash, the washing tank 3, drain port 6, and space 711 below the drain port are filled with wash water, and the solenoid valve 71 is closed. If the washing tank 3 has been completely drained in the previous operating operation before washing water was stored there, the drain pump once sucked in air during the complete drain operation, so the vacuum state is no longer created between the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73, and the water that had passed between the water storage section 72 and the check valve 73 during drainage is stopped from being sucked up, and falls into the water storage section 72 to be stored there. Therefore, the water level in the water storage section 72 is slightly higher due to the water that fell during drainage (Figure 6).

If some water was drained during operation before the cleaning water was stored in the cleaning tank 3, the drain pump 74 was stopped while sucking in the drained water, leaving the space between the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73 filled with water. Because of the vacuum, the water that passed between the water storage section 72 and the check valve 73 during drainage stops in that position. Therefore, the water level in the water storage section 72 is the same as during drainage, lower than in Figure 6 (Figure 7). Drainage begins when the water level near the drainage path is in the state shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7. However, in either the state shown in Figure 6 or Figure 7, the space between the check valve 73 and the drain pump 74 is filled with water.

When the drainage operation begins, solenoid valve 71 opens first, and as the water falls through the gap with solenoid valve 71 as shown by the arrow in Figure 8, flush water flows into water storage section 72. When drainage pump 74 is then driven, the wastewater is sucked downstream, causing the wastewater accumulated in water storage section 72 to move toward check valve 73. This water flow pushes check valve 73 downstream, opening it. The wastewater sucked into drainage pump 74 then passes through drain outlet 741 of drainage pump 74 and is sent to drain hose 75.

Moving on to Figure 19, the water discharged from the drain hose 75 is sent to the drain channel 76. When the drain channel 76 is filled with water, the water reaches the area around the air trap 77 located above. The air that has been sucked in is released from the air trap 77, and the water itself ultimately flows via a different route from the air to the external discharge hose 78 connected below the drain channel 76, and is then discharged outside the aircraft.

When the drainage operation in the cleaning tank 3 has stopped or is complete, the control unit 14 stops driving the drain pump 74 and closes the solenoid valve 71. At this time, the check valve 73 is also closed as described above, completing the state in which the cleaning tank 3 and the drainage path, and more specifically, the water storage section 72 and the drainage path, are separated, as shown in Figure 7 or Figure 9. If the drainage operation at this time is a complete drainage and drainage is complete, all of the cleaning water from the drain outlet 6 will have been drained, so the wastewater will only accumulate downstream from the water storage section 72, and the water level from the drain outlet 6 to the drain pump 74 will be as shown in Figure 9. On the other hand, if the drainage operation was stopped during partial drainage, a certain amount of cleaning water will remain filled in the cleaning tank 3, so water will also fill from the drain outlet 6 onwards, and the cleaning water level will again return to the state shown in Figure 7.

Furthermore, when draining is complete as shown in Figure 9, solenoid valve 71 and check valve 73 are closed, so there is no water flow until the next washing cycle. Therefore, if the next washing cycle is started from the state shown in Figure 9, washing water is supplied to washing tub 3 and then the draining operation begins, and the draining flow is represented in a cycle of Figure 9, Figure 6, Figure 8, Figure 9, Figure 6, ... On the other hand, if partial draining is performed midway, the draining flow is represented in a cycle of Figure 6, Figure 8, Figure 7 (partial draining), Figure 8, Figure 9 (complete draining), ... This water flow during the draining operation is roughly the same regardless of the timing of the draining operation, whether it is during the pre-washing process, washing process, rinsing process, heated rinsing process, drying process, or at the end of the drying process.

This is how the dishwasher drains.

[About the dishwasher control unit]
The control unit 14 is realized by hardware such as a microcomputer, a microcontroller, an integrated circuit, or the like.

The control unit 14 includes a process control unit, a detection result acquisition unit, a notification unit, a memory, etc. These components are realized in hardware by the CPU, memory, other LSIs, etc. of any computer, and in software by programs loaded into memory, but here, functional blocks realized by the cooperation of these components are depicted. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various ways, such as by hardware alone or a combination of hardware and software.

The process control unit controls the washing operation of the dishwasher 1. The process control unit receives instructions from the user via the dishwasher's operation unit and controls the washing operation in accordance with the instructions. The process control unit may perform the pre-washing process, washing process, rinsing process, heated rinsing process, and drying process consecutively, may perform only one of the processes, or may perform a combination of two or more of the processes in any order.

(Other embodiments)
As described above, the first embodiment has been described as an example of the technology disclosed in the present application. However, the technology in the present disclosure is not limited to this, and can be applied to embodiments in which modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. are made. Furthermore, it is also possible to combine the components described in the first embodiment to create new embodiments.

Therefore, other embodiments are illustrated below.

In this first embodiment, the solenoid valve 71, which is an on-off valve controlled by the control unit, has been described as an example of the on-off means. However, in reality, the on-off means may be anything that can open and close the space between the cleaning tank 3 and the water storage section 72 when draining. Therefore, the on-off means is not limited to the on-off valve or solenoid valve 71. However, as long as it is a means that can be driven manually or during draining, a valve or lid that moves or rotates not only in the front-to-back direction but also in the left-to-right or up-to-down direction, a double-opening structure, etc. may also be used.

In this first embodiment, the check valve 73 has been described as being designed to rotate between horizontal and vertical positions due to the water flow. However, like the solenoid valve 71, the means for realizing the check valve is not limited to this example, as long as it can be driven manually or during the drainage operation.

In the first embodiment, the water storage section 72 has been described as an example of a water storage means. However, in reality, the water storage means need only be capable of being separated from the cleaning tank 3 when the solenoid valve 71 is closed, and is not limited to the arrangement shown in this embodiment. Furthermore, while the bottom surface of the water storage section 72 is inclined so that the slope becomes lower near the drain pump 74, this shape is not limited. The bottom surface may be horizontal, or other measures may be taken, such as providing a water channel guide so that wastewater collects near the drain pump 74.

In the first embodiment, the drain hose 75 is described as extending horizontally as an example, but it may extend upward from the horizontal as long as the angle allows for pumping by the drain pump. This makes it even easier for the air in the drain hose 75 to be transferred to the air trap 77.

In this first embodiment, a dishwasher that performs a pre-washing process and a heated rinsing process is used as an example of an operating operation, but this is not limited to this example. For example, the dishwasher may perform only a washing process and a rinsing process, or processes may be set as needed.

In the first embodiment, the control flow for all steps of the operation is described as performing partial drainage during the pre-wash step and complete drainage during the heated rinse step. However, from the viewpoint of water conservation, energy conservation, and environmental considerations, the number of partial drainage steps may be increased as appropriate, and the number of complete drainage steps may be changed to enhance detergency depending on the soiling level, etc.

In addition, while the dishwasher of this embodiment 1 has been described as having a pull-down door 4 and a drawer-type dish basket 9, this is not limited to this. For example, it can also be applied to a drawer-type dishwasher as shown in Figure 20. In Figure 20, a washing tub 16 is configured inside a housing 15. A door 17 is supported by a support rail 18 and slides back and forth to open and close a front opening 19 of the washing tub 16. A dish basket 20 is supported by a basket rail 21 and is engaged with the door 17 to slide back and forth. Of course, this embodiment can also be applied to a tabletop dishwasher rather than a built-in type.

[Effects of the First Embodiment]
The dishwasher according to the first embodiment can provide the following effects.

The dishwasher 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure comprises a housing 2, a washing tub 3 provided within the housing 2 and containing items to be washed, a door 4 for opening and closing the opening of the washing tub 3, a water storage section 72 for storing wastewater used during washing by opening and closing a valve, and a drainage path equipped with a drainage pump 74 for draining the wastewater used during washing, with the water storage section 72 provided between the washing tub 3 and the drainage path.

With this configuration, when the valve is located downstream of the water storage section 72, it can capture wastewater (return water) flowing back from the downstream drainage path and store it in the water storage section 72. It also limits the amount of return water from the drainage path flowing into the water storage section 72, preventing the water level in the water storage section 72 from rising and preventing wastewater from backflowing into the drain outlet 6. Furthermore, since the space between the valve and the vicinity of the drainage pump 74 can be filled with water, the drainage pump 74 can be operated without priming. With this configuration, when the valve is located upstream of the water storage section 72, it can prevent the backflow of wastewater and wastewater odors from rising up from the drainage path downstream of the water storage section 72. Furthermore, when drainage from the drain outlet 6 has been completed, the valve allows the water stored in the water storage section 72 to be hidden from the user.

In the dishwasher 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, the washing tub 3 and the water storage section 72 are connected by opening the solenoid valve 71, and the drainage path can be separated from the inside of the washing tub 3 by closing the solenoid valve 71.

This configuration allows the drainage path from the inside of the cleaning tank 3 to the water storage section 72 onwards to be separated as needed, preventing the drainage water and its odor from flowing back into the cleaning tank 3 once drainage is complete.

In the dishwasher 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, the check valve 73 prevents backflow of wastewater from the drainage path to the water reservoir 72, and the check valve 73 is located upstream of the drainage pump 74 in the flow of wastewater.

This configuration prevents wastewater accumulated in the casing of the drain pump 74 from flowing back into the water reservoir 72 and the cleaning tank 3.

The dishwasher 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure further includes a control unit 14 that sequentially controls the washing, rinsing, and drying processes. When the control unit 14 terminates the draining operation during one of the washing, rinsing, and drying processes, it first stops the drain pump 74 and then closes the opening and closing means.

With this configuration, the water filling the drainage channel 76 flows toward the water reservoir, and the force of the water reliably closes the check valve 73. This separates the drainage path from the drainage pump 74 onward from the water reservoir 72.

In the dishwasher 1 according to embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, the water reservoir 72 is positioned so that its bottom surface is lower than the valve.

With this configuration, upstream of the water storage section 72, wastewater collected in the drain outlet 6 falls into the water storage section 72 under its own weight when the solenoid valve 71 is opened, allowing the water to be automatically drained and collected in the water storage section 72. Meanwhile, downstream of the water storage section 72, the water stored in the water storage section 72 will not flow into the check valve 73 due to its height unless the water volume increases suddenly, so the wastewater will be stored in the water storage section 72.

While the present invention has been fully described in connection with preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such variations and modifications are to be understood as included within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims, unless they depart therefrom.

Note that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate the technology disclosed herein, and various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc. may be made within the scope of the claims or their equivalents.

This disclosure is applicable to cleaning devices that can use detergents. Specifically, this disclosure is applicable to dishwashers and the like.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Dishwasher 2 Housing 3 Washing tub 4 Door body 5 Opening 6 Drain outlet 7 Residue filter 8 Dishes 9 Dish basket 10 Washing nozzle 11 Washing pump 12 Water distribution mechanism (not shown)
13 Water supply section (not shown)
14 Control unit 41 Handle 42 Flat surface 43 Operation unit 44 Display unit 70 Residue filter 71 Solenoid valve 72 Water storage unit 73 Check valve 74 Drain pump 75 Drain hose 76 Drainage channel 77 Air trap 78 External discharge hose 711 Space below drain outlet 712 Upstream open end 713 Downstream open end 731 Valve opening/closing portion 732 Foreign matter 741 Drainage pump discharge outlet

Claims (5)

The housing and
a cleaning tank provided in the housing and configured to accommodate an object to be cleaned;
a door body for opening and closing the opening of the cleaning tank;
a drain outlet for draining cleaning water from the cleaning tank;
a water storage section that stores the cleaning water from the cleaning tank at a position lower than the bottom surface of the drain outlet ;
a valve for opening and closing the cleaning tank and the water storage section;
a drainage path equipped with a drainage pump that drains flush water downstream of the water storage section ;
Equipped with
the water storage section is provided downstream of the drain outlet and upstream of the drain path,
A dishwasher in which the bottom surface of the drain outlet is inclined so that wash water flows from the drain outlet into the water storage section, and wash water from the washing tank is stored in the water storage section by opening and closing the valve . the valve is a solenoid valve;
The cleaning tank and the water storage unit are connected by opening an electromagnetic valve, and the drainage path and the water storage unit can be separated from the inside of the cleaning tank by closing the electromagnetic valve.
2. The dishwasher of claim 1. A check valve is further provided downstream of the water storage section and upstream of the drainage pump ,
3. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the check valve prevents backflow of drainage water from the drain path to the water reservoir. The dishwasher further includes a control unit that sequentially controls the washing process, the rinsing process, and the drying process.
The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit, when ending a drainage operation in at least one of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the drying process, first stops the drainage pump and then closes the valve. The housing and
a cleaning tank provided in the housing and configured to accommodate an object to be cleaned;
a door body for opening and closing the opening of the cleaning tank;
a drain outlet for draining cleaning water from the cleaning tank;
a water storage section that stores the cleaning water from the cleaning tank at a position lower than the bottom surface of the drain outlet;
a drainage path equipped with a drainage pump that drains flush water downstream of the water storage section;
a control unit that sequentially controls the washing process, the rinsing process, and the drying process;
Equipped with
the water storage section is provided downstream of the drain outlet and upstream of the drain path,
The bottom surface of the drain outlet is inclined so that flush water flows into the water storage section from the drain outlet;
The dishwasher is configured such that when the control unit operates the drain pump in at least one of the washing process, the rinsing process, and the drying process to complete the draining operation, some residual water remains in the water storage section .