JPH0552740B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method of operating a dishwasher for washing dishes.

2. Description of the Related Art As shown in FIG. 2, a conventional dishwasher has a washing tank 2 provided inside a main body 1, and water or hot water is supplied into the washing tank 2 from a water supply valve 3.
At this time, the water level detection device 4 adjusts the amount of water supplied to be suitable for cleaning. A cleaning pump is provided that circulates this cleaning water and is driven by a motor 6. The cleaning water is sucked through a drain hole 7 provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank 2, and is passed through a cleaning nozzle 8 provided in the cleaning tank 2. More sprayed. Further, a heater 9 is provided to heat the cleaning water.

A drawable basket 10 in which tableware can be placed in an orderly manner is provided above the washing nozzle 8. A door 11 that can be opened and closed is provided in front of the cleaning tank 20 so that the basket 10 can be pulled out.

Here, to explain the water level detection device 4 in a little more detail using FIG. 3, a float 13 is arranged in a case 12 that communicates with the inside of the cleaning tank 2, and the float 13 moves up and down as cleaning water enters and exits. . Even with this vertical movement, the detection device 14 placed above
Detect the position of the float. This detector device 1
4, a device such as a micro switch or a reed switch is used.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the conventional configuration, the detection width of the micro switch or reed switch of the detection device 14 is relatively small, and once the water amount is detected, the detection is not performed once the cleaning process starts. I have to. This is because the cleaning pump 5 sucks in cleaning water and scatters it into the cleaning tank 2, which causes phenomena such as a drop in the water mark during cleaning and a wavy water surface. For this reason, if the water level detection device 4 is operated to control the water volume during cleaning, the detection device 14 determines that the water volume is insufficient and supplies water, which increases the water volume and prevents the appropriate water volume. Water level detection device 4
It's not working.

Therefore, during cleaning, for example, the cleaning tank 2
Even if more water leaks and the water level decreases, continue cleaning. This has caused problems in that sufficient cleaning cannot be carried out or that if the heater 9 is operated without cleaning water, the heater 9 may run dry, resulting in a very dangerous situation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to detect water leakage, notify the state of the water leakage, prevent the heater from burning out, and improve safety.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a water level detection device that detects the water level in a cleaning tank, a cleaning pump that circulates the cleaning water in the cleaning tank, and the water level detection device. and a control device that inputs an output signal of and controls the drive of the washing pump, and the control device periodically stops the washing pump during washing, and during this temporary stop period, the water level detecting device controls the washing pump. The control device detects the water level, and if the detected water level is lower than the appropriate water level, controls the water supply to the appropriate water level, and if the water supply time in the water supply control is longer than the preset maximum time required for water replenishment, the control device controls the water supply. If the number of cleaning operations exceeds a plurality of times, the cleaning operation is stopped and a water leakage alarm is issued.

Effect According to the above configuration, the washing pump is periodically stopped during washing, water is detected during this stopping period, and water is supplied when the water level is decreasing. If the time required for water replenishment is longer than the maximum time required for water replenishment, or if water replenishment is repeated many times, it is determined that a water leak has occurred, and the operation is stopped and a water leak alarm is issued. conduct.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, first, before cleaning, an appropriate amount of water for cleaning is supplied.
This is shown by the solid line A. Next, the cleaning pump 5
Washing is performed without operating the water level detection device 4 in order to avoid being affected by the suction of water, and after the washing water has sufficiently adhered to the dishes and the washing tank 2, a temporary stop is performed. At this time, the water level drops as shown by the broken line B, and the detection device 14 is reset. Therefore, at this point, water is supplied until the detection device 14 detects the detection, and the cleaning water is replenished and cleaning is performed again. Naturally, the water level detection device 4 is not operated at this time either.

Next, a method for confirming the occurrence of water leakage will be explained. The water supply time after the above-mentioned temporary stop is measured, and the presence or absence of water leakage is determined based on that time. Let T be the water supply time at this time. Next, the water level indicated by the broken line B in FIG. 1 is the lowest water level that has fallen due to adhesion of cleaning water when the highest rated tableware is placed and the tableware and washing tank 2 are completely dry. Let T ₁ be the time required to supply water to the appropriate water level A (the water level detected by the water level detection device 4) at the minimum water supply capacity. Considering the margin time t in this _T1 , set T1+t as the maximum time required for water replenishment. Then, the water supply time T for water replenishment is compared with the set maximum time T1+t, and the following judgment is made.

(1) When T≦T ₁ +t, continue cleaning by using the cleaning water as supplementary water.

(2) When T>T ₁ +t, an abnormal decrease in water has occurred, so it is determined that there is a water leak, the operation is stopped, and an abnormality alarm is issued.

In the operation cycle as described above, the water level is detected by periodically stopping during cleaning. At this time, it goes without saying that if the water level is already at the appropriate water level A, cleaning is performed immediately. Also, when O<T≦T ₁ +t, that is,
Even at a water level that requires water replenishment, if the detection is repeated several times each time the water level is detected, it can be determined that there is a water leak and a water leak abnormality can be detected.

By periodically pausing and detecting the water level during cleaning, you can always wash with the appropriate amount of water and also detect water leaks.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the above examples, the present invention has the following effects:
During cleaning, the cleaning pump is periodically stopped, the water level is detected by the water level detection device during this temporary stop period, and if the detected water level is lower than the appropriate water level, the water supply is controlled to the appropriate water level, and the water supply control If the water supply time is longer than the maximum time required for water replenishment, or if the number of water supply controls exceeds multiple times, the cleaning operation is stopped and a water leak alarm is issued, so the user can be informed of any water leak conditions. In addition, it is possible to prevent the heater from burning out due to water leakage, thereby improving safety.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram of the operating principle of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a dishwasher, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of the main part of the water level detection device. 2...Cleaning tank, 4...Water level detection device, 5...Cleaning pump, 14...Detection device.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A water level detection device that detects the water level in the cleaning tank;
It includes a cleaning pump that circulates cleaning water in the cleaning tank, and a control device that inputs an output signal of the water level detection device and controls the driving of the cleaning pump, and the control device periodically controls the cleaning pump during cleaning. The cleaning pump is temporarily stopped, the water level is detected by the water level detection device during this temporary stop period, and if the detected water level is lower than the appropriate water level, the water supply is controlled to the appropriate water level. If the time is longer than a preset maximum time required for water replenishment, or if the number of times the water supply control is performed exceeds multiple times, the dishwasher stops the washing operation and issues a water leak alarm.