JP4249118B2 - dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a pull-open type dishwasher that is built in under a kitchen counter or the like and draws out a dish from the main body and opens and closes the dishes.

  When you put in and out dishes in the dishwasher washing tank built in under the kitchen counter, the dish storage position in the washing tank is lower than the kitchen counter surface. It is necessary to bend down when putting in and out. In particular, when the dishwasher is installed under the sink, the position of the washing tub is low, and the degree of bending the tableware when putting in and out the dishes is very painful. Similarly, in a dishwasher in which two dishwashers are arranged in two layers to increase the processing capacity, the washing tub of the lower dishwasher is close to the floor surface, and the dishwasher is lower than the lower dishwasher. When taking things in and out, you will be forced to crouch.

A front open type that opens the front of the washing tank downward with the front of the washing tank as a door so that it can easily carry out cleaning operations such as taking in and out of dishes and a leftover filter for the washing tank at a low position. In the dishwasher, the dish basket for storing the dishes on the door body opened and leveled can be pulled out from the washing tub, and the dish basket can be raised by the lifting mechanism Has been proposed (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-179495 (pages 2 and 3, FIG. 1)

  However, in a pull-open type dishwasher that pulls out the washing tank that opens upward from the front opening of the main body and opens the upper part of the washing tank to put in and out dishes, it is possible to move the dish basket horizontally It is impossible, and it is necessary to arrange an elevating mechanism in the washing tank in order to move the tableware basket up and down. However, a cleaning nozzle that sprays cleaning water while rotating, a side dish filter, a heater, and the like are disposed on the inner bottom surface of the cleaning tank, and a water supply / drainage piping is disposed on the outer bottom surface. There is no room for installation.

  In addition, if an elevating mechanism is provided to move the tableware basket up and down, the effective use volume of the washing tub may be reduced, and the dishwasher may increase in size.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a pull-open type dishwasher capable of moving the tableware basket up and down while suppressing the reduction of the effective use volume of the washing tank as much as possible.

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a main body that opens forward, a cleaning tank that opens upward is housed in a freely retractable manner from the front opening, and a dish basket that stores tableware is mounted in the cleaning tank. A dishwasher raising / lowering driving means for raising and lowering the tableware basket to an arbitrary height position in a state in which the washing tub is pulled out from the main body , and the tableware basket raising / lowering driving means is driven by a motor. When the overload state of the tableware basket lifting / lowering driving means is detected by an overload current flowing through the motor, an overload state detecting means for stopping the tableware basket lifting / lowering operation by the tableware basket lifting / lowering driving means is provided. It is characterized by becoming.

According to the above configuration, when the washing tub is pulled out from the main body, the upper portion of the washing tub is opened, so that the tableware basket can be raised from the washing tub to an arbitrary height position by the tableware basket lifting and lowering driving means. In dishwashers installed lower than the kitchen counter, the inside of the washing tub becomes lower and often leans in and out of dishes, but when the dish basket rises, the dishes are removed from the dish basket. The workability is improved without bending the waist when taking in and out. This is particularly effective for a dishwasher installed near the floor, such as under a sink. In addition, the tableware basket can be raised and lowered, such as when fingers or foreign objects are caught in the tableware basket, the washing tank is not sufficiently pulled out of the main body, or the tableware is interfering with the main body or the washing tank. When a failure occurs, it is necessary to immediately stop the raising / lowering operation of the tableware basket. Then, when it is detected that the tableware basket raising / lowering driving means as described above is in an overload state, an overload state detecting means for stopping the tableware basket raising / lowering operation by the tableware basket raising / lowering driving means is provided.

  In the above configuration, the rise of the tableware basket needs to be limited to a state in which the washing tank is pulled out from the main body. Therefore, the tableware basket lifting / lowering drive means is configured to be operable based on the detection operation of the cleaning tank drawer detection means that detects that the cleaning tank has been pulled out to a predetermined pulling position, so that the upper side of the cleaning tank is Thus, it is possible to prevent the tableware basket from being raised and colliding with the tableware basket or the tableware stored in the table in a state where the tableware is not pulled out to the predetermined pull-out position where it is fully opened.

  In addition, if the washing tub is pushed into the main body with the tableware basket raised, the tableware basket and the tableware stored in the main body will collide with the front edge of the main body. It is effective to provide cleaning tank movement lock means for locking the movement of the cleaning tank into the main body until the tableware basket is returned to the predetermined lowered position.

  According to the present invention, the tableware is stored even when the pull-open type dishwasher in which the cleaning tank opened upward is housed in the main body opening forward so as to be freely pulled out from the front opening is installed at a low position. Since the tableware basket can be moved up and down to an arbitrary height position, an effect of facilitating the work of putting in and out the tableware with respect to the tableware basket can be obtained.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present embodiment is an example embodying the present invention, and does not limit the configuration of the present invention.

  FIG. 1 schematically shows a state in which the pull-open type dishwasher 1 according to the embodiment is built under a sink 51 provided in a kitchen counter 50, and shows a state in which the washing tub 3 is pulled out from the main body 4. Show. The dishwasher 1 is configured by housing a washing tub 3 in a main body 4 installed below the kitchen counter 50, and the washing tub 3 slides on a rail 9 and pulls forward from a front opening of the main body 4. Since the upper part is opened by this, tableware can be taken in and out of the tableware basket 5 arranged in the washing tank 3.

  When the tableware basket 5 is lifted and moved by the tableware basket lifting / lowering drive mechanism (tableware basket lifting / lowering drive means) 2 when the tableware is put in and taken out, the work for putting the tableware in and out of the tableware basket 5 becomes easy. In particular, as shown in the figure, when the dishwasher 1 is installed under the sink 51, as the installation position is lowered, it is often accompanied by the pain of bending back and forth when taking in and out the tableware from the tableware basket 5. However, raising and lowering the tableware basket 5 makes it easier to take in and out the tableware and clean the inside of the washing tub 3. Moreover, since the raising / lowering position of the tableware basket 5 by the tableware basket raising / lowering drive mechanism 2 can be arbitrarily set within the movable range, the height of the dishwasher 1 can be arbitrarily set according to the installation height position, the height and preference of the operator. Can be raised to position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tableware basket lifting / lowering drive mechanism 2 includes a pair of outer links disposed on the left and right outer surfaces of the cleaning tank 3. It is configured to be driven by the link 22. The inner link 21 is detachably mounted on a support rail (tableware basket support means) 23, and the inner link arms 24, 24 are at one end thereof as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b). The support rail 23 engaged with the roller 25 provided on the other end side of the inner link arms 24 and 24 by being driven to rotate by the outer link 22 with the side as a rotation shaft 26 is shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the tableware basket 5 supported on the support rail 23 can be moved up. In other words, the inner link arms 24 and 24 are swing arms that are rotationally driven on one end side, the pair of swing arms rotate synchronously, and the roller 25 provided on the other end side slides along the support rail 23. As a result, it moves as a parallel link, and moves up and down while maintaining the horizontal state of the support rail 23.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the rotating shaft 26 that pivotally supports one end side of each of the pair of inner link arms 24, 24 passes through the side wall 3 a of the cleaning tank 3 via the seal structure 30, and passes the outer link 22. The first and second outer link arms 27a and 27b constituting the first and second outer link arms 27a and 27b are respectively pivotally supported.

  As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the outer link 22 includes a parallel link in which a first outer link arm 27a and a second outer link arm 27b are pivotally supported by a connecting arm 28. When the drive arm 29 pivotally supported on the other end side of the first outer link arm 27a is driven forward and backward by the drive mechanism 31, the outer link 22 rotates to drive the inner link 21 to rotate.

  The drive mechanism 31 is disposed as a pair on the left and right sides of the back surface of the cleaning tank 3, converts the rotation of the motor 32 into an advancing / retreating movement that moves the piston 34 in the cylinder 33, and is joined to the tip of the piston 34. The drive arm 29 is configured to move forward and backward. The pair of left and right drive mechanisms 31 are synchronously operated by synchronously rotating the motor 32 to synchronously rotate the pair of left and right outer links 22 and synchronously drive the pair of left and right inner links 21. The tableware basket 5 can be moved up and down stably by moving up and down without causing a bias in the position. Although the pair of left and right drive mechanisms 31 are driven by the motor 32 here, the pair of drive mechanisms 31 can be interlocked by one motor 32.

  By arranging the inner links 21 on the left and right inner surfaces of the cleaning tank 3 as in this configuration, and arranging the outer links 22 on the left and right outer surfaces of the cleaning tank 3 facing this, There is no need to provide an elevating mechanism on the bottom surface of the washing tub 3 where there is no room for a leftover filter, and water supply / drainage piping, etc., and there is no obstacle to the construction of the essential components of the washing tub 3 5 up and down movements can be realized. Further, since the inner link 21 and the outer link 22 are arranged at positions facing the inside and outside of the left and right side surfaces of the cleaning tank 3, only the drive shaft 26 is passed through the left and right side walls in order to transmit the driving force. The sealing structure 30 for maintaining the sealing property of the cleaning tank 3 can be simply configured. In addition, since the inner link 21 and the outer link 22 can be configured by connecting plate members, the occupied volume is small, and the effective volume in the cleaning tank 3 is suppressed from being reduced, and the left and right components are less arranged as the cleaning tank 3. The raising / lowering mechanism of the tableware basket 5 can be constructed using both side surfaces.

  The tableware basket 5 that moves up and down by the tableware basket lifting / lowering drive mechanism 2 is fitted to the support rail 23 at a plurality of positions and is detachably mounted. The tableware basket 5 needs to be removed when cleaning the inside of the washing tank 3 such as a leftover filter so that the bottom surface of the washing tank 3 is opened. Positioning is fixed. However, as shown in FIG. 5, the support rail 23 on which the tableware basket 5 is placed slides in the inner grooves 25a of the rollers 25 and 25 provided at the tip ends of the pair of inner link arms 24 and 24, respectively. 23a is fitted so that the rollers 25 and 25 can slide freely, so that the position is maintained in the left-right direction but it is easy to move in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the tableware basket 5 placed on the support rail 23 also moves in the front-rear direction and easily comes into contact with the inner wall of the cleaning tank 3. Therefore, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, when the tableware basket 5 comes into contact with the inner wall of the cleaning tank 3, the cleaning tank 3 does not come into contact with a large area to cause resistance to the up-and-down movement. It is preferable to provide a vertical protruding guide 16 on the front and rear inner walls. Even if the tableware basket 5 comes into contact with the inner wall of the washing tub 3 due to the movement of the support rail 23 in the front-rear direction by the protruding guide 16, contact with a small area does not occur, so that no great resistance is generated against the up-and-down movement.

  Further, the position where the pair of rollers 25, 25 are fitted to the sliding portion 23a of the support rail 23 varies depending on the ascending / descending position, as shown in FIG. Therefore, when the weight of the tableware stored in the tableware basket 5 is largely biased or when a pressing force is applied to one of the tableware baskets 5, the support rail 23 is moved to the roller 25. , 25 may be off. In order to prevent this, as shown in FIG. 5, a departure prevention portion 23 b is formed below the support rail 23 by bending so as to advance to below the rollers 25, 25. The presence of the departure prevention portion 23b allows the departure prevention portion 23b to contact the roller 25 even when the support rail 23 is tilted from the horizontal direction, so that the engagement between the roller 25 and the support rail 23 is achieved. State is maintained.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the tableware basket lifting / lowering drive mechanism 2 configured as described above is operated by pressing and operating a lifting / lowering operation button (lifting / lowering operation means) 6 disposed on the front side of the upper edge of the cleaning tank 3. be able to. The upward movement of the tableware basket 5 means that the washing tank 3 is pulled out from the main body 4 at a predetermined position, that is, the drawing position where the upper opening of the washing tank 3 is sufficiently opened and there is no obstacle above the tableware basket 5. It is necessary to carry out in a state where the washing tank 3 is pulled out. Therefore, the operation for raising the tableware basket 5 by the lifting operation button 6 needs to be made possible after detecting that the washing tank 3 has been pulled out to the predetermined pulling position. Further, when the washing tub 3 is pushed into the main body 4 while the tableware basket 5 is raised, the tableware basket 5 in the raised position and the tableware stored therein are moved to the front edge of the main body 4 or the kitchen counter 50. It will be made to collide with the structure of. In order to avoid such a handling mistake, it is necessary to prevent the washing tank 3 from being pushed in when the tableware basket 5 is in the raised position.

  As shown in the control configuration of FIG. 6, the cleaning tank 3 is pulled out to a predetermined drawing position in the control unit 10 that synchronously controls the two motors 32 of the drive mechanism 31 in accordance with an operation input from the lifting operation button 6. Since the detection output of the cleaning tank drawer detection means 11 for detecting this is input, the control unit 10 does not input an operation input from the lifting operation button 6 in a state where the detection output is not input from the cleaning tank drawer detection means 11. The control that does not start the motor 32 even if an operation input is not accepted can be executed. The cleaning tank drawer detection means 11 can detect whether or not a predetermined position of the cleaning tank 3 has passed a predetermined position of the main body 4, and is simply configured by mechanical, electrical, and optical switches. Can do.

  Further, by providing the rising limit position detecting means 12 and the falling limit position detecting means 13 for detecting the lowering limit position and the rising limit position of the tableware basket 5, it is possible to detect a state where the tableware basket 5 is above the lowering limit position. When the detection output from the lower limit position detection means 13 is not input to the control section 10, the control section 10 operates the washing tank movement lock means 14 so that the tableware basket 5 is in the lower limit position, that is, for washing dishes. When the table is not returned to the position of the tableware basket 5, the operation of pushing the washing tub 3 into the main body 4 is prevented, and a handling mistake that causes the tableware basket 5 or tableware to collide with the main body 4 is avoided. can do. The ascending limit position detecting means 12 and the descending limit position detecting means 13 are mechanical means for detecting the forward / backward movement position of the drive arm 29, the piston 34, or the rotation angles of the first and second outer link arms 27a, 27b. It can be easily configured by an electrical and optical switch.

  Although the raising / lowering operation button 6 can be configured in various switch forms, a push button switch that is easy to configure in a waterproof structure is preferable, and since it can be configured with a small amount of protrusion to the surface, it is susceptible to splashing of water. It becomes a form suitable for disposing at the upper edge of the cleaning tank 3 with a small gap with the main body 4. Further, it is preferable that the ascending / descending operation button 6 is provided with the ascending button 6a and the descending button 6b separately so as to be easy to operate. When the ascending button 6a and the descending button 6b are pressed, the tableware basket raising / lowering drive mechanism 2 drives the tableware basket 5 to rise, and releasing the pressure stops the tableware basket 5 rising drive. The tableware basket 5 can be raised to a desired height position. Even when the pressing operation of the ascending button 6a or the descending button 6b is continued, it is detected by the ascending limit position detecting means 12 or the descending limit position detecting means 13 that the tableware basket 5 has reached the ascending limit position or the descending limit position. In some cases, the control unit 10 performs control so as to stop the raising and lowering of the tableware basket 5 in preference to the pressing operation of the ascending button 6a or the descending button 6b.

  The lowering button 6b is preferably configured so that the lowering operation is continued by one pressing operation, and the control unit 10 indicates that the tableware basket 5 has reached the lowering limit position by the lowering limit position detecting means 13. Since the tableware basket raising / lowering drive mechanism 2 is operated until it is detected, the tableware basket 5 can be quickly returned to the cleaning position.

  As described above, the raising / lowering operation button 6 is disposed on the upper edge portion of the cleaning tank 3 so that it can be operated only when the cleaning tank 3 is pulled out. Further, a control board or the like for controlling the operation of the dishwasher 1 is disposed in a space formed between the front side surface of the washing tank 3 and the front door body 7, and is suitable for configuring the control unit 10. It becomes space and wiring connection with the raising / lowering operation button 6 becomes easy.

  Further, by providing the lifting operation button 6 at a substantially central portion of the upper edge of the cleaning tank 3, the operation is easy even if the operator is located on either the left or right side of the drawn cleaning tank 3. However, when the worker is next to the washing tank 3 that has been pulled out, the lifting operation button 6 is obliquely behind the worker and may be difficult to operate. In order to solve this, the raising / lowering operation button 6 can be provided at a position where the operator can operate most easily, and wireless connection can be applied to any position other than a position where wiring connection with the cleaning tank 3 is possible. it can. Further, if the elevating operation button 6 is configured as a remote control terminal integrated with a transmitter and a receiving unit is provided in the washing tank 3 so that the elevating movement of the tableware basket 5 can be remotely operated, the operability is remarkably improved. .

  Regardless of the configuration, the elevating operation button 6 may be operated by a person other than the operator, for example, a child, so that there is a risk of damaging tableware in and out of the way. In order to solve this, as shown in FIG. 6, a lock button 6 c is provided in the lift operation button 6, and when the lock button 6 c is pressed, the set lift height position of the tableware basket 5 is maintained. , It can be controlled not to react to the pressing operation of the ascending button 6a or the descending button 6b.

  Further, the tableware basket 5 may be raised and lowered while the operator himself or his child is putting his fingers on the washing tub 3. Since the tableware basket 5 has a lattice-like structure, fingers are easily inserted into the tableware basket 5 in the raised position, and not only fingers but also foreign objects may be pinched. In addition, when it is not noticed that foreign matter has been dropped in the cleaning tank 3, a spoon, a fork or the like may be dropped while the tableware basket 5 is moved up and down. Such a state in which the fingers and foreign matters obstruct the up-and-down movement of the tableware basket 5 also causes the tableware basket up-and-down driving mechanism 2 to malfunction. Above all, it is necessary to prevent danger to the human body. When a state that hinders the up-and-down movement of the tableware basket 5 occurs, the tableware basket up-and-down drive mechanism 2 is overloaded, and an overload current flows through the motor 32. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, an overload state detection unit 15 for detecting the load current of the motor 32 is provided, and when an overload state in which the load current increases rapidly is detected, a detection output is input to the control unit 10. If comprised, since the control part 10 can stop the driving | operation of the motor 32 and can stop the raising / lowering movement of the tableware basket 5, it can aim at the safety | security with respect to a human body, and can prevent failure occurrence. The detection of the overload state by the overload state detection means 15 is not limited to the method of detecting the overload current of the motor 32, but the overload state is detected from the pressure applied to the support rail 23 or the like and the variation thereof. A method based on pressure detection can be applied.

  The overload state detection means 15 is also effective as a double safety function in the case where the above-described cleaning tank drawer detection means 11 and the cleaning tank movement lock means 14 do not function normally. That is, when the washing tank drawer detection means 11 does not function normally, the tableware basket 5 can be moved up and down without the washing tank 3 being pulled out to a predetermined drawing position, and the washing tank movement lock means 14 is normal. Since the operation of pushing the washing tub 3 into the main body 4 while lowering the tableware basket 5 is not possible, the tableware basket 5 or the tableware and the main body 4 interfere with each other. The tableware basket raising / lowering drive mechanism 2 is overloaded, and the overload state detecting means 15 stops the tableware basket 5 from moving up and down.

  In the configuration of the embodiment described above, the tableware basket lifting / lowering means for moving the tableware basket 5 up and down engages the inner link arms 24, 24, which are a pair of swing arms, with the support rail 23 to form the inner link. Although it is configured as 21, the support rail 23 may be moved up and down by a cam that is rotated by a rotation shaft 26 that is driven to rotate by the outer link 22. Although the tableware basket 5 can be moved up and down by a vertical drive such as a rack and pinion mechanism or an elevator structure, a vertical groove is formed on the side wall of the cleaning tank 3 to impair the sealing performance of the cleaning tank 3. Therefore, the above-described configuration in which the rotation shaft 26 penetrates the side wall is preferable.

  Further, in the embodiment, the outer link 22 is configured to be driven by the driving mechanism 31 as the lifting / lowering driving means for driving the tableware basket lifting / lowering means. However, each rotary shaft 26 is directly driven by a motor having a speed reduction mechanism. You can also By operating each motor synchronously, the horizontal state of the support rail 23 can be maintained and moved up and down. In addition, the two rotating shafts 26 can be driven in conjunction with one motor for each side surface of the cleaning tank 3. Further, the pinion fixed to each drive shaft 26 can be configured to be rotated by a rack that is driven forward and backward by the drive mechanism 31.

  As described above, according to the present invention, since the tableware basket can be moved up and down to an arbitrary height position, the operation of putting in and out the tableware with respect to the tableware basket even when the installation position of the dishwasher is at a low position. Can be configured into a dishwasher that is easy to use. In addition, it is possible to provide a highly convenient dishwasher without the volume of the washing tank being greatly reduced by the arrangement of the tableware basket raising / lowering drive mechanism for moving the tableware basket up and down, and without increasing the size of the washing tank. Can do.

The schematic diagram which shows the outline | summary structure of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment. The perspective view which shows the structure of the washing tank of a dishwasher same as the above. Sectional drawing which shows the structure operation | movement of the inner side link which comprises a tableware basket raising / lowering drive mechanism as (a) When a tableware basket descend | falls, (b) When a tableware basket raises. The side view which shows the outer link which comprises a tableware basket raising / lowering drive mechanism, and the structure operation | movement of a drive mechanism as (a) When a tableware basket descend | falls, (b) When a tableware basket raises. Sectional drawing which shows the connection structure of a support rail, an inner side link arm, and an outer side link arm. The block diagram which shows the control structure of the dishwasher which concerns on embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

1 Dishwasher 2 Tableware basket lifting drive mechanism (tableware basket lifting drive means)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 3 Washing tank 4 Main body 5 Tableware basket 6 Elevating operation button 10 Control part 11 Washing tank drawer | drawing-out detection means 14 Washing tank movement lock means 15 Overload state detection means

Claims (3)

A dishwasher in which a washing tank opened upward is accommodated in a main body opening forward so that the washing tank can be pulled out from the front opening, and a dish basket for storing dishes is mounted in the washing tank, the washing tank The tableware basket raising / lowering driving means for raising and lowering the tableware basket to an arbitrary height position in the state where the tableware is pulled out from the main body is provided , the tableware basket raising / lowering driving means is driven by a motor, and an overload current flows through the motor. A dishwasher provided with an overload state detecting means for stopping the raising / lowering operation of the tableware basket by the tableware basket lifting / lowering driving means when the overload state of the tableware basket lifting / lowering driving means is detected . 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein the dish basket raising / lowering driving means is configured to be operable based on a detection operation of the washing tank drawer detecting means for detecting that the washing tank has been pulled out to a predetermined drawing position. Machine. 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, further comprising washing tank movement lock means for locking movement of the washing tank into the main body until the dish basket moved up by the dish basket raising / lowering driving means is returned to a predetermined lowered position.

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