A door structure of a dishwasher, a dishwasher, and a control method

Abstract

This invention discloses a dishwasher door structure, a dishwasher, and a control method. The door structure includes: a main door with a loading / unloading opening; and a secondary door movably mounted on the main door for opening and closing the loading / unloading opening, forming an integral door structure with the main door when the opening is closed. The door structure also includes a guide structure for guiding washing water or air to the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door for rinsing. This invention, by providing a guide structure to direct washing water or air to the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door, and using water or air for rinsing and cleaning, effectively removes food residue that falls into the gap when the secondary door is opened. This maintains the flexibility and ease of use of the dishwasher door structure while reducing maintenance and cleaning costs, thus improving the user experience.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of tableware processing, specifically, it relates to a dishwasher door structure, a dishwasher, and a control method. Background Technology

[0002] In existing technology, traditional dishwashers typically use a single-door design, requiring users to fully open the door to load and unload dishes. This design excels in scenarios requiring the washing of large quantities of dishes, as it provides ample space for convenient user operation.

[0003] However, the full-door design becomes less flexible when only a small number of dishes need to be washed or when adding dishes mid-cycle. Firstly, when only the top shelf of the dishwasher is needed, the large door size requires the user to bend over to open and close it. Secondly, whether initially placing dishes or adding them mid-cycle, the user can only open the entire door, making it impossible to access shelves within the dishwasher's interior.

[0004] To address the aforementioned issues, existing technology has developed a design that divides the dishwasher door into two sections. This design typically includes a main door and a secondary door that separates from the main door at its upper or lower portion. The secondary door can open and close independently or be locked to the main door to form a single, integrated door, opening and closing together with the main door. This configuration enhances the dishwasher's usability, allowing users to choose to open the entire door or only the secondary door as needed.

[0005] However, this double-door design also presents new problems. When the secondary door is open, food residue can easily fall through the gap onto the main door below it. When the secondary door is closed, this residue gets stuck between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door, causing residue to accumulate in the gap between the two, making it difficult to clean and potentially affecting the sealing performance of the dishwasher door.

[0006] In view of this, the present invention is proposed. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to overcome the shortcomings of the prior art. The purpose is to provide a door structure for a dishwasher that, after the secondary door is closed, guides water or gas through a guiding structure to rinse away food residue remaining between the bottom and lower frame of the secondary door, thus solving the problem of difficult-to-clean residue.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a dishwasher.

[0010] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is to provide a door structure for a dishwasher, comprising:

[0011] The main door body is provided with an opening for taking out and putting in items;

[0012] The secondary door body is movably mounted on the main door body for opening and closing the retrieval opening, and forms an integral door structure with the main door body when the retrieval opening is closed;

[0013] The door structure is provided with a guide structure for guiding washing water or gas to the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door for rinsing.

[0014] Furthermore, the guide structure is disposed through the secondary door body, and the outlet end of the guide structure penetrates the bottom wall of the secondary door body.

[0015] Alternatively, the guide structure is disposed through the main door body, and the outlet end of the guide structure passes through the top of the main door body below the pick-up and drop-off opening.

[0016] Furthermore, the main door body includes a first main door body portion and a second main door body portion arranged vertically, and the retrieval opening is provided on the first main door body portion and extends downward to the top of the second main door body portion to form a lower frame.

[0017] The guiding structure includes a guiding groove that extends along the extension direction of the lower frame and penetrates the bottom wall of the sub-door or the lower frame.

[0018] Furthermore, the inlet end of the guide groove is connected to the inner wall of the sub-door body, and the outlet end extends obliquely downward to the bottom wall of the sub-door body.

[0019] Furthermore, the inlet end of the guide groove has a water inlet that penetrates the inner wall of the sub-gate. Preferably, the water inlet is provided with a grid to block impurities from entering during water intake.

[0020] Furthermore, the inlet end of the guide groove has an air inlet, which is disposed through the secondary door body or the main door body;

[0021] Preferably, the guide channel is flushed by air intake through a fan into the gap;

[0022] Preferably, the fan is disposed within the guide slot.

[0023] Furthermore, the guide groove extends downward at an angle to the outside of the door structure for a certain length, and then extends vertically downward to penetrate the bottom wall of the sub-door body.

[0024] Furthermore, the secondary door body is provided with a shielding part, and the secondary door body is rotatably mounted on the main door body. After the secondary door body is flipped open, the shielding part shields the lower frame of the retrieval and placement opening.

[0025] Preferably, the shielding part is disposed at the bottom of the sub-door body and is matched and spliced ​​with the recessed part on the lower frame, and the guide structure passes through the bottom of the shielding part or the recessed part of the lower frame;

[0026] Preferably, the shielding portion is located at the inner end of the bottom wall of the secondary door body and extends downward below the outer end of the bottom wall of the secondary door body; the two ends of the guide structure are respectively disposed through the inner side wall and the bottom wall of the shielding portion.

[0027] The present invention also provides a dishwasher, including any of the door structures described above and a washing chamber, wherein the door structure is capable of opening and closing the washing chamber.

[0028] The present invention also provides a control method for a dishwasher employing any of the above-described methods, comprising:

[0029] After the secondary door is closed, the control system uses a guide structure to flush water or inflate the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door for cleaning.

[0030] Preferably, after the secondary door and the main door are closed together, water or air is flushed into the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door through a guide structure for cleaning.

[0031] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art.

[0032] (1) This invention, by setting a guide structure on the door structure, guides washing water or air to the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door, and uses water or air for rinsing and cleaning, which can clean food residue that falls into the gap when the secondary door is opened. It can maintain the flexibility and ease of use of the dishwasher door structure, reduce the maintenance and cleaning costs of the dishwasher, and improve the user experience of the dishwasher.

[0033] (2) The guide structure, combined with the shielding part of the secondary door, can not only prevent food residue from falling, but also wash and clean the food residue that accidentally falls between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door.

[0034] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0035] The accompanying drawings, as part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0036] Figure 1 This is a front view of a door structure according to the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the inner side of a door structure according to the present invention;

[0038] Figure 3 This is the present invention. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of a secondary door in an open state;

[0039] Figure 4 This is the present invention. Figure 2 A schematic diagram of another type of secondary door in an open state;

[0040] Figure 5 This is the present invention. Figure 3 A cross-sectional view of the secondary gate when it is closed;

[0041] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to the present invention;

[0042] Figure 7 This is another schematic diagram of the dishwasher of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram of another dishwasher according to the present invention;

[0044] Figure 9 This is a schematic diagram of the secondary door of a dishwasher door structure in the open state according to the present invention;

[0045] Figure 10 This is a schematic diagram of the secondary door of a dishwasher door structure in the closed state according to the present invention;

[0046] Figure 11 and Figure 12 This is a schematic diagram of the outer structure of the dishwasher door structure in different implementations of the present invention;

[0047] Figure 13 This is a schematic diagram of the secondary door of the dishwasher in the present invention in the open state.

[0048] Figure 14 This is a schematic diagram of the upper shelf of the dishwasher in the present invention in the removed state;

[0049] Figure 15This is a schematic diagram of the lower shelf of the dishwasher in the present invention in the removed state.

[0050] In the diagram: 1. Door structure; 101. Inner side; 102. Outer side; 103. Bending part; 1031. Upper bending part; 11. Main door body; 111. Retrieval opening; 1111. Lower frame; 112. Recessed part; 113. First slide rail; 114. First main door body part; 115. Second main door body part; 12. Secondary door body; 121. Covering part; 1211. First protrusion; 1212. Two protrusions; 122, second slide rail; 1221, sliding protrusion; 1222, limiting protrusion; 123, handle; 13, hinge structure; 14, sealing strip; 16, guide structure; 161, guide groove; 18, shelf slide rail; 2, machine body; 3, washing chamber; 301, upper shelf slide rail; 302, lower shelf slide rail; 31, opening; 6, shelf; 61, upper shelf; 62, lower shelf.

[0051] It should be noted that these accompanying drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0052] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0053] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0054] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0055] like Figures 1 to 7As shown, the present invention provides a door structure 1 for a dishwasher, the door structure 1 being used to close or open the opening of the washing chamber 3 of the dishwasher, forming a closed washing chamber 3 for operation. In this embodiment of the invention, the door structure 1 is installed on the dishwasher, with the side facing the washing chamber 3 as the inner side and the side facing the user as the outer side.

[0056] The door structure 1 includes a main door 11 and a secondary door 12.

[0057] The main door body 11 is provided with a retrieval opening 111. The retrieval opening 111 is provided on a portion of the main door body 11 and extends through the inner and outer sides of the main door body 11. The secondary door body 12 is movably mounted on the main door body 11 by means of rotation or sliding, and can open or close the retrieval opening 111. When the secondary door body 12 closes the retrieval opening 111, it forms an integral door structure 1 with the main door body 11.

[0058] The secondary door 12 is rotatable. When the secondary door 12 is opened, it is placed horizontally. Users can use the open access opening 111 to directly take and put away the tableware on some shelves inside the washing chamber 3, or they can slide some shelves out of the washing chamber 3 before taking and putting away the tableware.

[0059] The main door 11 can be installed on the body 2 of the dishwasher or on the inner wall of the washing chamber 3, and is used to cooperate with the secondary door 12 to close the opening of the washing chamber 3, providing a closed working space for the dishwasher.

[0060] like Figures 2 to 5 As shown, the door structure 1 is provided with a guide structure 16, which is used to guide washing water or gas to the gap between the bottom of the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 for rinsing.

[0061] This invention, by providing a guide structure 16 on the door structure 1, directs washing water or air to the gap between the bottom of the secondary door 12 and the main door 11, using water or air for rinsing and cleaning. This effectively removes food residue that falls into the gap when the secondary door 12 is opened. This maintains the flexibility and ease of use of the dishwasher's door structure 1 while reducing maintenance and cleaning costs, thus improving the user experience.

[0062] The secondary door 12 is rotatably mounted on the main door 11 via a hinge or rotating shaft. The retrieval opening 111 is located on the upper part of the main door 11. A handle 123 is provided on the upper part of the secondary door 12, and the secondary door 12 is rotatably mounted on the lower part of the retrieval opening 111 via a hinge structure. Users can close the secondary door 12 by flipping it upwards and open it by flipping it downwards. When washing a small amount of tableware or adding tableware midway, only the secondary door 12 needs to be opened, thus reducing the space occupied during use and eliminating the need to bend over to open and close the door, improving the user experience.

[0063] The handle 123 can also be installed on the main door body 11.

[0064] After the secondary door 12 is joined to the main door 11, the inner and outer surfaces of the door structure 1 are coplanar. When the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 are locked, the user can close the opening of the dishwasher's washing chamber 3 by lifting the door structure 1 upwards.

[0065] The secondary door 12 is fixedly hinged or slidably hinged to the main door 11. Hinges found in existing household appliances can be applied to the hinge structure of the secondary door 12 of this invention. Preferably, the hinge structure is a chain hinge.

[0066] The main door body 11 includes a first main door body portion 114 and a second main door body portion 115 arranged vertically. The retrieval opening 111 is provided on the first main door body portion 114 and extends downward to the top of the second main door body portion 115 to form a lower frame 1111. The lower frame 1111 is the lower edge of the retrieval opening 111 with a certain width.

[0067] One embodiment is that the guide structure 16 is disposed through the secondary door body 12, and the guide structure 16 has a certain extension length. The outlet end of the guide structure 16 penetrates the bottom wall of the secondary door body 12.

[0068] The inlet end of the guide structure 16 can penetrate the inner wall of the secondary door 12, allowing the washing water in the dishwasher to rinse the gap. The inlet end of the guide structure 16 can also be located on the inner wall, top wall, or outer wall of the secondary door 12, corresponding to the air inside the dishwasher, the drying air duct, and the external atmosphere, allowing air to enter and rinse the gap.

[0069] The guide structure 16 includes a guide groove 161, which extends along the extension direction of the lower frame 1111 and penetrates the bottom wall of the sub-door body 12, facilitating a large-scale rinsing of the lower frame 1111.

[0070] Another option is that the guide structure 16 is disposed on the main door body 11, and the guide structure 16 has a certain extension length. The guide structure 16 extends through to the top of the main door body 11 below the retrieval opening 111.

[0071] The inlet end of the guide structure 16 can penetrate the inner wall of the main door 11, allowing the washing water in the dishwasher to rinse the gap. The inlet end of the guide structure 16 can also be located on the inner wall or top wall of the main door 11, corresponding to the air and drying duct inside the dishwasher, allowing air to enter and rinse the gap.

[0072] The guide structure 16 includes a guide groove 161, which extends through the lower frame 1111 along its extension direction (not shown in the figure), facilitating a wide-area rinsing of the lower frame 1111.

[0073] Furthermore, the inlet end of the guide groove 161 communicates with the inner wall of the sub-door body 12, and the outlet end extends obliquely downward to the bottom wall of the sub-door body 12. The portion between the inlet end and the outlet end of the guide groove 161 extends along the extension direction of the lower frame 1111. The guide groove 161 has a large width extending laterally and a small thickness extending laterally. Preferably, the guide groove 161 is in the form of a thin sheet.

[0074] One specific embodiment is that the inlet end of the guide channel 161 has a water inlet and the inlet end of the guide channel 161 has a water outlet, and the water inlet and the water outlet are elongated.

[0075] The water inlet penetrates the inner wall of the secondary door body 12 or the main door body 11, and the water outlet penetrates the bottom wall of the secondary door body 12 or the lower frame 1111. Water enters the guide groove 161 and then flushes the gap, cleaning food debris from the gap. A grid is provided in the water inlet to block impurities from entering during water intake, preventing food residue from being introduced into the gap.

[0076] Another specific solution is that the inlet end of the guide groove 161 has an air inlet and the inlet end of the guide groove 161 has an air outlet, and the air inlet and air outlet are elongated.

[0077] The air inlet is disposed through the secondary door 12 or the main door 11. It extends through the bottom wall of the secondary door 12 or the lower frame 1111 of the main door 11. The air inlet and the air outlet are elongated.

[0078] The guide channel 161 directs airflow into the gap for cleaning via a fan. Preferably, the fan is located within the guide channel 161. Alternatively, the guide channel 161 connects to the air duct of the dishwasher, and the fan is located within the air duct.

[0079] like Figure 5 As shown, the guide groove 161 extends downward at an angle to a certain length on the outer side of the door structure 1, and then extends vertically downward to the bottom wall of the sub-door 12.

[0080] Furthermore, a blocking portion 121 is provided between the secondary door body 12 and the main door body 11. After the secondary door body 12 is opened by flipping it open, the blocking portion 121 blocks the main door body 11 below the access opening 111. The blocking portion 121 is retractably disposed between the secondary door body 12 and the main door body 11. At least one end of the blocking portion 121 is rollable or foldable for storage and is installed on the main door body 11 and / or the secondary door body 12; when the secondary door body 12 is opened, the blocking portion 121 unfolds to cover the lower frame 1111.

[0081] Alternatively, the bottom of the secondary door 12 has a blocking portion 121 that matches and is spliced ​​with the recessed portion 112 on the lower frame 1111. After the secondary door 12 is flipped open, the blocking portion 121 extends inward to block the main door 11 below the retrieval opening 111.

[0082] The guide structure 16 passes through the bottom of the blocking portion 121 or the recess 112 on the lower frame 1111.

[0083] Preferably, the blocking portion 121 is located at the inner end of the bottom wall of the secondary door body 12, extending downwards below the outer end of the bottom wall of the secondary door body 12. The two ends of the guide structure 16 are respectively disposed through the inner side wall and the bottom wall of the blocking portion 121. This arrangement results in the outer side of the recessed portion 112 being higher and the inner side lower, preventing the washing water introduced into the recessed portion 112 by the guide structure 16 from overflowing to the outside of the door structure 1.

[0084] The guiding structure 16 is respectively disposed through the inner side wall and bottom wall of the shielding part 121, and is used to guide washing water or gas to the area below the shielding part 121.

[0085] The guide structure 16, combined with the shielding part 121 of the secondary door body 12, can not only prevent food residue from falling, but also wash and clean up any food residue that accidentally falls between the bottom of the secondary door body 12 and the main door body 11.

[0086] The shielding portion 121 of the secondary door 12 may be a downwardly protruding structure at the bottom of the secondary door 12, which can cover the lower frame 1111 when the secondary door 12 is opened. Alternatively, the bottom of the secondary door 12 may not protrude, but rather be arranged by the rotation of the secondary door 12, so that when the secondary door 12 is opened, the bottom of the secondary door 12 extends into the access opening 111 to cover the lower frame 1111.

[0087] The bottom wall of the secondary door body 12 is a plane or approximately a plane.

[0088] One way to configure the shielding part 121 is that the shielding part 121 extends downward at an inward angle from the outer end of the bottom wall of the sub-door body 12, and the bottom of the sub-door body 12 matches and overlaps with the lower frame 1111.

[0089] One specific arrangement is that the obstruction portion 121 extends downwards at an incline, and the bottom of the secondary door body 12 overlaps with the plane of the lower frame 1111. The angle between the incline of the obstruction portion 121 and the inner wall of the secondary door body 12 is less than 45°, such that the downward protrusion of the obstruction portion 121 is greater than the length of the recessed portion 112 of the lower frame 1111 in the inward and outward directions.

[0090] Another specific arrangement is that the blocking part 121 extends downward in an arc shape, and the arc shape protrudes upward or downward, overlapping with the arc surface of the lower frame 1111.

[0091] The angle between the line connecting the two ends of the arc-shaped surface of the blocking part 121 and the inner wall of the sub-door body 12 is less than 45°, so that the downward protrusion of the blocking part 121 is greater than the length of the recessed part 112 of the lower frame 1111 in the inner and outer directions.

[0092] The recessed portion 112 of the lower frame 1111 gradually extends inward along the inclined or arc surface to the inner wall of the main door body 11.

[0093] Another way to set the blocking part 121 is that the blocking part 121 protrudes from the inner end of the bottom wall of the sub-door body 12 and cooperates with the outer end plane of the bottom wall of the sub-door body 12 to form a stepped shape at the bottom of the sub-door body 12.

[0094] The bottom of the secondary door 12 is steppedly matched and overlapped with the lower frame 1111. This not only prevents food residue from falling onto the lower frame 1111 when the secondary door 12 is opened, but the stepped matching and overlapping also increases the contact area, thereby improving the sealing effect of the secondary door 12.

[0095] The shielding part 121 is block-shaped, with its bottom wall being a block shape with curved, arc-shaped, or inclined surfaces. The shielding part 121 is integrally formed on the secondary door body 12.

[0096] The recessed portion 112 is disposed on the top of the second main door body portion 115. The recessed portion 112 includes a first recessed portion. The first recessed portion is recessed into the inner end of the lower frame 1111. The first recessed portion extends to both ends of the extended length of the lower frame 1111.

[0097] The obstruction portion 121 includes a first protrusion 1211 extending from the bottom wall of the secondary door body 12. The first protrusion 1211 extends to both ends along the extending direction of the bottom wall of the secondary door body 12. When the secondary door body 12 is opened, the first protrusion 1211 extends inward and protrudes beyond the lower frame 1111. When the secondary door body 12 is closed, the first protrusion 1211 matches and engages with the first recessed portion.

[0098] The guide groove 161 extends through the bottom wall of the first protrusion 1211, or extends through the top wall of the first recess.

[0099] The inner sidewalls of the main door 11 and the secondary door 12 are respectively provided with a first slide rail 113 and a second slide rail 122. The first slide rail 113 and the second slide rail 122 form a shelf slide rail 18, which is used to support and guide the shelf in the washing chamber 3 to slide outward.

[0100] When the secondary door 12 is opened alone, the secondary door 12 and the second slide rail 122 are placed horizontally. The upper shelf inside the dishwasher can be pulled out to the outside of the washing chamber 3 via the second slide rail 122. When the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 are opened together, the lower shelf or the entire shelf inside the dishwasher can be pulled out to the outside of the washing chamber 3 via the shelf slide rail 18.

[0101] The first slide rail 113 is disposed on the left and right sides of the inner sidewall of the second main door body 115, and the second slide rail 122 is disposed on the left and right sides of the inner sidewall of the secondary door body 12, corresponding to the first slide rail 113 to form two vertically arranged slide rails. The tops of the left and right slide rails of the second slide rail 122 are connected to each other. The second slide rail 122 can be inserted entirely into the retrieval opening 111 to achieve a sealed connection.

[0102] The recessed portion 112 also includes a second recessed portion, which is recessed at the top of the first slide rail 113.

[0103] The blocking portion 121 further includes a second protrusion 1212, located at the bottom of the second slide rail 122. The two second protrusions 1212 are respectively located on the left and right sides of the sub-door body 12, and are connected to the inner wall of the first protrusion 1211. The bottom of the second protrusion 1212 is also lower than the inner wall of the sub-door body 12.

[0104] After the secondary door 12 is flipped open, the second protrusion 1212 extends inward and protrudes from the first slide rail 113, which can block the residue and prevent the residue from falling onto the top wall of the first slide rail 113.

[0105] After the secondary door 12 is closed, the second protrusion 1212 matches and is spliced ​​with the second recess.

[0106] The shielding part 121 of the present invention combines key components of the door structure 1, such as the main door body 11 and the secondary door body 12, the hinge structure and the shelf slide 18, to achieve comprehensive shielding of the main door body 11 below the retrieval opening 111 and prevent the accumulation of residue.

[0107] The recessed portion 112 extends with a sealing strip 14, which cooperates with the shielding portion 121 to seal and prevent water leakage after the secondary door body 12 and the main door body 11 are spliced ​​together to form the door structure 1. The sealing strip 14 on the recessed portion 112 needs to be designed to minimize its impact on the guide structure 16 for rinsing food residue.

[0108] The second slide rail 122 is also provided with a sealing strip 14, which is sealed to the pick-up and put-out opening 111.

[0109] like Figures 6 to 7 As shown, the present invention also provides a dishwasher, including any of the door structures 1 and washing chambers 3 described above, wherein the door structure 1 is used to open and close the opening of the washing chamber 3.

[0110] The dishwasher includes a body 2, and the washing chamber 3 is disposed within the body 2. The door structure 1 is rotatably disposed on the body 2 and is used to open or close the opening of the washing chamber 3.

[0111] When the secondary door 12 is opened, the upper part of the opening of the washing chamber 3 can also be opened, and the upper shelf in the washing chamber 3 can be pulled out to take out and put in tableware. When the secondary door 12 is closed, the door structure 1, which is integrated with the main door 11, works together to close the opening of the entire washing chamber 3.

[0112] The dishwasher of the present invention makes it easier for users to load and unload tableware during use, while maintaining the cleanliness and airtightness of the dishwasher.

[0113] The present invention also provides a control method for a dishwasher employing any of the above-described methods. The control method includes:

[0114] After the secondary door is closed, the system uses a guide structure to flush water or inflate the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door for cleaning.

[0115] Preferably, during the dishwasher washing process, after the secondary door is detected to be open and the secondary door and the main door are closed together, water or air is flushed into the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door through the guide structure for cleaning.

[0116] like Figures 8 to 15 As shown, the present invention also provides a dishwasher, comprising: a body 2, a washing chamber 3 inside the body 2, and an opening 31 on one side of the washing chamber 3. The opening side of the washing chamber 3 can be located in any of the following directions: up, down, left, right, front, or back. For ease of description in this embodiment, the front side of the dishwasher, which is placed vertically on the ground, is taken as the front side, and the opening 31 of the washing chamber 3 is located on the front side. At the same time, a door structure 1 is installed on the front side of the body 2, which can correspond to the opening and closing of the opening 31 of the washing chamber 3. The door structure 1 can be installed in any existing manner. For ease of description in this embodiment, the door structure 1 is installed in a way that allows it to be flipped open outward via a door hinge.

[0117] In this embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher door structure 1 includes: a main door 11, which constitutes the main body structure of the door structure 1; a portion of the main door 11 is configured as a pick-up and drop-off opening 111, which extends through the front and rear of the main door 11, allowing the user to use the open pick-up and drop-off opening 111 to pick up and drop off some shelves placed in the washing chamber 3; preferably, for ease of user operation, the main door 11 of the door structure 1 can be divided into upper and lower parts, namely a first main door part 114 and a second main door part 115, respectively. The pick-up and drop-off opening 111 is provided on the upper first main door part 114, and a secondary door 12 is correspondingly installed on the upper first main door part 114 of the door structure 1, so that after the secondary door 12 is opened, the user can easily pick up and drop off the upper shelf 61. Of course, the aforementioned secondary door 12 can also be set at any position such as the lower part, left side, or right side of the main door 11.

[0118] In this embodiment of the invention, the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 are connected by an openable and closable structure, so that the secondary door 12 can open or close the retrieval opening 111 on the main door 11. In this embodiment of the invention, for ease of description, the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 are connected by a lower hinge as an example for discussion. Of course, the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 can also be assembled using any other existing structural method.

[0119] With the above configuration, the dishwasher door structure 1 can fully or partially open the opening 31 of the washing chamber 3, so that by installing a single main door 11 on the dishwasher, some or all of the shelves 6 can be accessed and placed separately. At the same time, by installing a secondary door 12 on the main door 11 that can open and close some of the openings 31, the dishwasher can accommodate multiple access and opening / closing methods with only a single door structure 1, thereby effectively simplifying the operation steps of opening and closing the dishwasher door.

[0120] like Figures 8 to 15 As shown in the figure, this embodiment introduces a dishwasher door structure 1, including: a main door 11, used to open and close the opening 31 of the washing chamber 3 of the dishwasher; a portion of the main door 11 is configured as a pick-up and put-away opening 111, which connects the portion of the opening 31 of the washing chamber 3 to the outside; a secondary door 12 is installed on the main door 11, which is used to open and close the pick-up and put-away opening 111; a shelf slide 18 is provided on the secondary door 12, which is used to cooperate with the shelf 6 in the washing chamber 3 to slide outward when the secondary door 12 is opened.

[0121] By setting a shelf slide 18 on the secondary door body 12, when the secondary door body 12 is opened, the added shelf slide 18 can be used to guide and support the shelf 6 that is taken out and put in through the self-access opening 111. This achieves the effect of the shelf 6 entering and exiting through the self-access opening 111 being effectively supported by the secondary door body 12, thereby greatly improving the convenience for users to take out and put in some shelves through the self-access opening 111.

[0122] In this embodiment, the secondary door 12 is hinged to the main door 11 and can be flipped outward. The side of the secondary door 12 facing the washing chamber 3 is the inner side 101, and the shelf slide 18 is provided on the inner side 101. The lower side of the secondary door 12 is connected to the main door 11 via a hinge structure 13 arranged horizontally along the axis. A limiting structure is provided between the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 to keep the secondary door 12 horizontal when it is flipped outward to the open position. The shelf slide 18 is provided on the upper side of the secondary door 12 when it is in the open position. When the secondary door 12 is in the open position, the shelf slide 18 is used to support the shelf 6 that slides out of the self-access opening and guide the shelf 6 to slide in or out.

[0123] Of course, in this embodiment of the invention, the discussion is based on the example of the lower side of the secondary door 12 being hinged to the main door 11. Alternatively, the upper side, left side, or right side of the secondary door 12 can be hinged to the main door 11, so that when the secondary door 12 is flipped outward to the open position, the inner side 101 of the secondary door 12 is above, to the left, or to the right of the retrieval opening 111, and the shelf slide 18 provided on the inner side 101 of the secondary door 12 is located in the front space of the retrieval opening 111. The shelf slide 18 provided on the secondary door 12 can still be used to support and guide the shelf that slides horizontally out or into the retrieval opening 111 (not shown in the accompanying drawings).

[0124] In this embodiment, the washing chamber 3 is provided with multiple shelves 6 arranged vertically. At least the uppermost shelf 61 is opposite to the access opening 111, allowing the uppermost shelf 61 to be removed after the secondary door 12 opens the access opening 111. Alternatively, multiple shelves 6 can be positioned opposite the access opening 111, allowing the secondary door 12 to access and remove multiple shelves 6 located in the upper part of the washing chamber 3 after opening the access opening 111. The following discussion focuses on an example where the washing chamber 3 has two shelves 6, an upper shelf 61 and a lower shelf 62, with the upper shelf 61 accessed and removed through the access opening 111.

[0125] The washing chamber 3 is provided with an upper shelf slide rail 301 that supports the horizontal sliding of the upper shelf 61; such as Figure 14 As shown, when the secondary door 12 is in the open position, the upper shelf slide 301 in the washing chamber 3 is at the same height as the shelf slide 18 on the inner side 101 of the secondary door 12. This guides the upper shelf 61 to slide out of the washing chamber 3 from the retrieval opening 111, guided sequentially by the upper shelf slide 301 and the shelf slide 18. Preferably, the top surfaces of the upper shelf slide 301 and the shelf slide 18 are set to the same horizontal plane or slightly inclined downwards towards the inside of the washing chamber 3, further facilitating the support and guidance of the upper shelf 61 by the cooperation of the two slides set inside and outside the washing chamber 3.

[0126] In this embodiment, the shelf slide 18 provided on the secondary door 12 is a second slide 122. The second slide 122 includes sliding protrusions 1221 located on the left and right sides of the inner side of the secondary door 12. The two sliding protrusions 1221 are connected at the ends of the inner side 101 of the secondary door 12 away from the hinge structure 13 via limiting protrusions 1222, so that the shelf 6 in the washing chamber 3 is supported and guided by the sliding protrusions 1221 and slides smoothly out of the retrieval opening 111, and can facilitate... The limiting protrusion 1222 restricts the shelf 6 that slides out of the washing chamber 3, preventing the shelf 6 from falling off the secondary door 12 after sliding out of the washing chamber 3. In addition, the shelf slide 18 on the secondary door 12 can be used to support the shelf that slides out of the washing chamber 3, allowing the user to take the slid-out shelf 6 upwards. The shelf slide 18 on the secondary door 12 can ensure the guidance and support of the shelf 6 during the sliding process, and also avoid the shelf slide 18 restricting the taking and putting of the slid-out shelf 6.

[0127] In this embodiment, the sliding protrusion 1221 and the limiting protrusion 1222 are integrally formed to constitute the second slide rail 122. Alternatively, the second slide rail 122 can be integrally formed with the secondary door body 12 or fixedly installed. Preferably, the connection points between the sliding protrusions 1221 and the limiting protrusions 1222 on both sides of the second slide rail 122 are provided with arc-shaped transition portions, so that the second slide rail 122 extends in a "U" shape.

[0128] In this embodiment, the sliding protrusion 1221 and the limiting protrusion 1222 are composed of strip-shaped protrusions provided on the inner side surface 101 of the sub-door body 12. The upper side of the strip-shaped protrusion is in the same plane. The lower part of the shelf 6 that slides in and out from the take-up opening 111 can be placed on the upper side surface of the strip-shaped protrusion. A pulley supported on the strip-shaped protrusion can also be provided on the shelf 6. With the above structure, the shelf 6 and the shelf slide 18 can achieve a relative sliding limiting connection.

[0129] In this embodiment, the main door 11 is provided with a pick-up and put-out opening 111 on its upper part; the secondary door 12 covers the pick-up and put-out opening 111 on the upper part of the main door 11; when the secondary door 12 closes the pick-up and put-out opening 111, the outer side 102 of the main door 11 and the secondary door 12 facing away from the washing chamber 3 of the dishwasher are together in the same vertical plane, so that the outer side 102 of the entire door structure 1 of the dishwasher forms a vertical plane, thereby greatly improving the aesthetic appearance of the outer side of the door structure 1 of the dishwasher.

[0130] like Figure 10As shown, in this embodiment, the secondary door 12 is closed on the upper part of the main door 11. The secondary door 12 overlaps with the first main door portion 114 on the upper part of the main door 11. The area where the first main door portion 114 on the upper part of the main door 11 overlaps with the secondary door 12 is the door opening. The door opening has the aforementioned take-up and put-down opening 111. The side of the main door 11 facing away from the washing chamber 3 is the outer side 102. The outer side 102 of the door opening is offset towards the inside of the washing chamber 3 by a set distance relative to the outer side 102 of the other parts of the main door 11. The set distance is equal to the thickness of the remaining parts of the main door 11, so that after the secondary door 12 closes the take-up and put-down opening 111, the outer side 102 of the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 form a vertical surface, thereby effectively improving the overall aesthetics of the dishwasher door structure 1.

[0131] Meanwhile, preferably, in order to further ensure the overall aesthetics of the door structure 1, after the secondary door 12 closes the access opening 111 of the main door 11, the inner side 101 of the main door 11 and the inner side 101 of the secondary door 12 are in the same vertical plane, so that after the door structure 1 is opened outward as a whole, the inner side 101 of the side of the door structure 1 facing the user still forms an overall smooth surface.

[0132] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the inner side 101 of the lower part of the main door 11 is provided with a first slide rail 113 protruding into the washing chamber 3. The first slide rail 113 includes strip-shaped protrusions protruding into the washing chamber 3 on the left and right sides of the inner side 101 of the main door 11. The first slide rail 113 on the main door 11 is connected to the second slide rail 122 on the secondary door 12 so that after the secondary door 12 closes the take-up and take-down opening 111, the second slide rail 122 on the secondary door 12 and the first slide rail 113 on the main door 11 are connected to form a whole slide rail structure. When the main door 11 is flipped open outward, a whole horizontally extending "U"-shaped shelf slide rail 18 is formed on the upper side of the main door 11 to support and guide the lower shelf 62 as it slides out and slides in through the opening 31 of the washing chamber 3.

[0133] In this embodiment, the inner sidewalls of the main door body 11 and the secondary door body 12 are respectively provided with a first slide rail 113 and a second slide rail 122, which are spliced ​​together to form a shelf slide rail 18. Figure 13 and Figure 14 As shown, after the secondary door 12 flips open outwards, the second slide rail 122 extends horizontally to the upper shelf slide rail 301 in the washing chamber 3 or gradually slopes downwards from back to front, serving to guide and support the upper shelf 61 as it slides outwards; simultaneously, as Figure 15As shown, after the main door 11 is flipped open outward, the first slide rail 113 and the second slide rail 122 are both flush with the lower shelf slide rail 302 in the washing chamber 3 or extend downward from back to front, so as to guide and support the lower shelf 62 when it slides outward.

[0134] like Figure 15 As shown, in this embodiment, the first slide rail 113 is disposed opposite to each other on the left and right sides of the inner sidewall of the second main door body 115, and the second slide rail 122 is disposed opposite to each other on the left and right sides of the inner sidewall of the secondary door body 12, corresponding to the first slide rail 113 to form two vertically disposed slide rails; and the tops of the slide rails on the left and right sides of the second slide rail 122 are connected to each other, so that after the secondary door body 12 is opened to the horizontal position, the second slide rail 122 can form a horizontally extending "U" shaped slide rail to guide the upper shelf 61 towards The slide rails 113 and 122 provide guidance and support as the lower shelf 62 slides outward. Simultaneously, after both the secondary and main doors open to a horizontal position, the first slide rail 113 and the second slide rail 122 together form a horizontally extending "U"-shaped slide rail to guide and support the lower shelf 62 as it slides outward. Furthermore, the connecting portions on the left and right sides of the second slide rail 122 can be used to block the sliding upper shelf 61 and lower shelf 62, preventing them from sliding out excessively and causing them to detach from the slide rail. In this embodiment, the second slide rail 122 can extend entirely into the access opening 111, and the second slide rail 122 is in sealed contact with the inner circumference of the access opening 111, achieving a sealing effect at the junction of the secondary and main doors.

[0135] In this embodiment, as shown in the figure above, the upper shelf 61 and the lower shelf 62 can be pulled outwards and supported on the upper shelf slide 301 and the lower shelf slide 302 in the washing chamber 3, respectively. Alternatively, the upper shelf slide 301 and the lower shelf slide 302 can be configured as two parts that can be pulled out horizontally, with one part fixed to the washing chamber 3 and the other part supporting the upper shelf slide 301 and the lower shelf slide 302 respectively. This allows the movable part of the upper or lower shelf slide in the washing chamber 3 to be pulled out along with the upper or lower shelf 6, and the shelf slide 18 provided on the door structure 1 to support the movable part of the slide. This also achieves the effect of using the shelf slide 18 on the door structure 1 to support the pulled-out shelf 6 upwards.

[0136] like Figure 10 and Figure 13As shown, in this embodiment, when the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 are overlapped, the following configuration can be made: the outer periphery of the secondary door 12 is provided with a bent portion 103 extending towards the washing chamber 3. The bent portion 103 covers the outer periphery of the main door 11, so that the bent portion 103 of the secondary door 12 constitutes part of the outer periphery of the entire door structure 1, so that the layered structure cannot be seen when observing the outer periphery of the door structure 1, further improving the aesthetics of the dishwasher door structure 1.

[0137] Preferred, such as Figure 10 As shown, the top of the secondary door 12 is provided with an upper bending portion 1031 that bends horizontally towards the washing chamber 3. The upper bending portion 1031 covers the upper side of the main door 11. The top surface of the upper bending portion 1031 is flush with the top surface of the dishwasher body 2, so that when the dishwasher door structure 1 is closed, the top surface of the door structure 1 is flush with the body 2, so that the user cannot observe the stacked structure of the dishwasher door structure 1 from above, effectively improving the overall aesthetics of the dishwasher door structure 1.

[0138] In addition, side bending portions that bend towards the washing chamber 3 can be provided on the left and right sides of the auxiliary door body 12. The side bending portions cover the corresponding side of the upper part of the main door body 11, and the corresponding side of the lower part of the main door body 11 is flush with the side bending surfaces, so that the user still cannot observe the stacked structure of the dishwasher door structure 1 (not shown in the figure) from both sides.

[0139] like Figure 12 As shown, in this embodiment, when the secondary door 12 and the main door 11 are assembled by embedding, a groove portion recessed towards the interior of the washing chamber 3 can be provided on the upper part of the main door 11, and the retrieval opening 111 is provided at the bottom of the groove portion; the secondary door 12 is correspondingly closed on the upper part of the main door 11, and the secondary door 12 is embedded in the groove portion. The depth of the groove portion is equal to the thickness of the secondary door 12, so that when the secondary door 12 closes the retrieval opening 111, the front side of the secondary door 12 is flush with the front side of the main door 11, forming a vertical plane.

[0140] In this embodiment, to facilitate the opening and closing of the secondary door 12, a handle 123 can be provided on the outer side of the secondary door 12. The handle 123 can be a protrusion or a recess on the outer wall of the secondary door 12, allowing the user to easily insert or grasp the handle 123 to achieve the effect of pulling the secondary door 12 inward and outward, thereby greatly improving the convenience of the user in opening and closing the secondary door 12. At the same time, after the secondary door 12 is closed on the main door 11, the user can also use the handle 123 to open and close the entire door structure 1, so as to achieve the effect of opening or closing the front opening 31 of the washing chamber 3 as a whole.

[0141] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The implementation schemes in the above embodiments can also be further combined or replaced. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A door structure for a dishwasher, characterized in that, include: The main door body is provided with an opening for taking out and putting in items; The secondary door body is movably mounted on the main door body for opening and closing the retrieval opening, and forms an integral door structure with the main door body when the retrieval opening is closed; The door structure is provided with a guide structure for guiding washing water or gas to the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door for rinsing.

2. The door structure according to claim 1, characterized in that, The guide structure is disposed through the secondary door body, and the outlet end of the guide structure penetrates the bottom wall of the secondary door body. Alternatively, the guide structure is disposed through the main door body, and the outlet end of the guide structure passes through the top of the main door body below the pick-up and drop-off opening.

3. The door structure according to claim 2, characterized in that, The main door body includes a first main door body part and a second main door body part arranged vertically. The retrieval opening is provided on the first main door body part and extends downward to the top of the second main door body part to form a lower frame. The guiding structure includes a guiding groove that extends along the extension direction of the lower frame and penetrates the bottom wall of the sub-door or the lower frame.

4. The door structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The inlet end of the guide groove is connected to the inner wall of the sub-door body, and the outlet end extends downward at an angle to the bottom wall of the sub-door body.

5. The door structure according to claim 4, characterized in that, The guide channel has a water inlet at its inlet end, which penetrates the inner wall of the sub-gate. Preferably, the water inlet is provided with a grid to block impurities from entering when water is introduced.

6. The door structure according to claim 3, characterized in that, The guide groove has an air inlet at its inlet end and is disposed through the secondary door or the main door. Preferably, the guide channel is flushed by air intake through a fan into the gap; Preferably, the fan is disposed within the guide slot.

7. The door structure according to any one of claims 3-6, characterized in that, The guide groove extends downward at an angle to the outside of the door structure for a certain length, and then extends vertically downward to penetrate the bottom wall of the sub-door.

8. The door structure according to any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that, The secondary door is provided with a shielding part, and the secondary door is rotatably mounted on the main door. After the secondary door is flipped open, the shielding part blocks the lower frame of the retrieval opening. Preferably, the shielding part is disposed at the bottom of the sub-door body and is matched and spliced ​​with the recessed part on the lower frame, and the guide structure passes through the bottom of the shielding part or the recessed part of the lower frame; Preferably, the shielding portion is located at the inner end of the bottom wall of the secondary door body and extends downward below the outer end of the bottom wall of the secondary door body; the two ends of the guide structure are respectively disposed through the inner side wall and the bottom wall of the shielding portion.

9. A dishwasher, characterized in that, Includes the door structure and washing chamber as described in any one of claims 1-8, wherein the door structure can open and close the washing chamber.

10. A control method for a dishwasher according to claim 9, characterized in that, include: After the secondary door is closed, the control system uses a guide structure to flush water or inflate the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door for cleaning. Preferably, after the secondary door and the main door are closed together, water or air is flushed into the gap between the bottom of the secondary door and the main door through a guide structure for cleaning.

Images