Dishwasher

Abstract

A dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure comprises: a main body; the inner container is arranged in the main body; the door is used for opening and closing the front part of the liner; and the automatic cleaning agent pushing device is arranged in the door and is used for pushing the solid cleaning agent towards the inner part of the inner container. The automatic cleaning agent pushing device comprises a first storage chamber, a second storage chamber and a pushing device, wherein the first storage chamber is vertically stacked and used for loading a plurality of solid cleaning agents; the second storage chamber is separated from the first storage chamber, is vertically stacked and is used for loading a plurality of solid cleaning agents; a seating portion disposed between the first and second storage chambers, on which a piece of solid cleaning agent discharged from the first storage chamber or a piece of solid cleaning agent discharged from the second storage chamber among the plurality of solid cleaning agents is seated; the first pushing device is used for moving one piece of solid cleaning agent out of the first storage chamber, so that one of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agent is discharged to the placement part from the first storage chamber; and the second pushing device is used for moving one piece of solid cleaning agent out of the second storage chamber, so that one of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agent is discharged to the placement part from the second storage chamber.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to dishwashers, and more particularly, to dishwashers including a device configured to input detergent. Background Art

[0002] A dishwasher is a device that automatically removes food residues and the like from dishes using detergent and washing water.

[0003] The dishwasher includes a main body, a washing chamber formed by an inner tank disposed inside the main body, a storage container disposed inside the washing chamber to store dishes, and a spray unit configured to spray wash water toward the storage container.

[0004] The storage containers may be generally provided in two or three stages, and the spray units may be provided in plural and provided to correspond to the storage containers, thereby spraying wash water to each position where each storage container is provided.

[0005] The dishwasher may include a washing process, a rinsing process, and a drying process. In the washing process, the spray unit may spray washing water, and at the same time, the detergent automatic dispenser may input detergent into the inner tank. Thus, the tableware may be washed. In the rinsing process, the washing water may be sprayed to remove the detergent. In the drying process, the moisture remaining in the tableware may be removed.

[0006] The automatic detergent dispenser of the dishwasher may include a storage chamber to store various types of detergents, such as powder detergent or liquid detergent, in the storage chamber. Summary of the invention

[0007] Technical issues to be solved

[0008] Accordingly, an aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher including an improved structure configured to input a solid detergent into an inner tank during a washing process.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher capable of stacking and loading a plurality of pieces of solid detergent into an automatic detergent dispenser.

[0010] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher including an improved structure configured to input an amount of solid detergent loaded in a storage chamber of an automatic detergent dispenser into an inner tank during a washing process.

[0011] Another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a dishwasher including an improved structure configured to prevent a solid detergent loaded into a storage chamber from being damaged and to prevent the quality of the solid detergent from being deteriorated.

[0012] Additional aspects of the disclosure will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

[0013] Technical Solution

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a dishwasher may include: an inner tank; a door configured to open and close the inner tank; and an automatic detergent dispenser located on the door. The automatic detergent dispenser may include: a first storage chamber, the first storage chamber is configured to enable multiple solid detergents to be stacked in layers in the first storage chamber; a second storage chamber, the second storage chamber is spaced apart from the first storage chamber, and the second storage chamber is configured to enable multiple solid detergents to be stacked in layers in the second storage chamber; a first pusher, the first pusher is configured to move a solid detergent in the multiple solid detergents in the stack in the first storage chamber to be discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber; a second pusher, the second pusher is configured to move a solid detergent in the multiple solid detergents in the stack in the second storage chamber to be discharged to the outside of the second storage chamber; and a placement member, the placement member is located between the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber, and the placement member is configured to place the solid detergent discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber, and to place the solid detergent discharged to the outside of the second storage chamber.

[0015] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the piece of solid cleaning agent moved by the first pusher may be located at the lowest position in the stack in the first storage chamber, the first pusher may be located at the lower side of the first storage chamber, and the first storage chamber may include a first storage chamber outlet located at the lower part of the first storage chamber, and the first pusher moves the piece of solid cleaning agent through the first storage chamber outlet so as to be discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber.

[0016] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first ejector may include a cam member configured to rotate in a first rotational direction to move the piece of solid cleaning agent located at a lowest position in the stack in the first storage chamber through the first storage chamber outlet.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cam member may include a pushing portion protruding in a radial direction of the cam member, and the pushing portion may be configured to rotate along the first rotation direction so as to push the piece of solid detergent located at the lowest position in the stack in the first storage chamber in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the stack in the first storage chamber.

[0018] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, as the cam member rotates in the first rotation direction, the cam member may be configured to guide movement of the solid detergent in the stack in the first storage chamber in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the stack.

[0019] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a rotation axis of the cam member may be located inside the first storage chamber and extend longitudinally in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction of the layers in the first storage chamber.

[0020] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first pusher may further include a drive motor and a transmission component, wherein the drive motor is configured to generate a rotational force, the transmission component is configured to transmit the rotational force generated by the drive motor to the cam component, and the rotation axis of the drive motor may be perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cam component.

[0021] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the transmission member may include a worm gear located on the rotating shaft of the driving motor.

[0022] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the automatic detergent dispenser may further include a retainer, which is configured to be able to move toward the multiple blocks of solid detergent in the stack in the first storage chamber along the stacking direction of the stack in the first storage chamber to allow the multiple blocks of solid detergent in the stack to be maintained in a stacked state inside the first storage chamber.

[0023] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the holder is movable in the up-down direction along the stacking direction of the layers in the first storage chamber from the upper side of the first storage chamber.

[0024] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first pusher may be located at a lower side of the first storage chamber so as to move the solid detergent located at the lowest position in the up-down direction in the stack in the first storage chamber.

[0025] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the door can be moved to a first position and a second position, in which the door is vertical and closes the inner container, and in the second position, the door is not vertical and opens the inner container. When the door is in the first position, the retainer can be configured to squeeze the solid detergent located at the highest position among the multiple solid detergents in the stack in the first storage chamber by gravity. When the door is in the second position, the retainer can be configured to support the solid detergent located at the highest position among the multiple solid detergents in the stack in the first storage chamber.

[0026] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the placement member may include a placement member opening and a placement member door, and the placement member door is configured to open and close the placement member opening. The automatic detergent dispenser may be configured so that, in response to the placement member door opening the placement member opening, the solid detergent placed on the placement member may be input into the inner tank.

[0027] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the placement member can be arranged on one side of the first storage chamber in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the layers in the first storage chamber, and the placement member can be arranged on one side of the second storage chamber in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the layers in the second storage chamber.

[0028] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the cam member may be configured to rotate toward a direction in which the seating member may be arranged.

[0029] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the placement member opening may be configured to be open in the up-down direction, and the placement member opening may be formed at the lower end of the placement member internal space, and the solid detergent discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber or the solid detergent discharged to the outside of the second storage chamber is placed in the placement member internal space. The placement member may be configured to allow the solid detergent placed on the placement member to be discharged from the placement member internal space, and to allow the discharged solid detergent to move in a direction corresponding to the stacking direction of the stacked layers in the first storage chamber and the stacking direction of the stacked layers in the second storage chamber.

[0030] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a dishwasher may include: a main body; an inner tank, which is arranged inside the main body; a door, which is configured to open and close the front side of the inner tank; and an automatic detergent dispenser, which is arranged on the door and is configured to input solid detergent toward the interior of the inner tank; the automatic detergent dispenser may include: a storage chamber, which is configured to allow multiple pieces of solid detergent to be stacked and loaded in an up and down direction; a pusher, which is configured to move one of the multiple pieces of solid detergent to the outside of the storage chamber to allow the piece of solid detergent to be discharged from the storage chamber; and a placement member, which is configured to place the solid detergent that has been moved to the outside of the storage chamber on the placement member.

[0031] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the pusher may be configured to push the piece of solid cleaner in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaner to allow the piece of solid cleaner to be discharged to the seating member.

[0032] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the storage chamber may include a first storage chamber arranged on one side in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the multiple solid cleaners and a second storage chamber arranged on the other side in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the multiple solid cleaners, and the pusher may include a first pusher corresponding to the first storage chamber and a second pusher corresponding to the second storage chamber.

[0033] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first pusher may be configured to push a piece of solid cleaner among multiple pieces of solid cleaner loaded in the first storage chamber along a first direction to move the piece of solid cleaner from the first storage chamber to the placement member, and the second pusher may be configured to push a piece of solid cleaner among multiple pieces of solid cleaner loaded in the second storage chamber along a second direction opposite to the first direction to move the piece of solid cleaner from the second storage chamber to the placement member.

[0034] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the first pusher may include a first cam member, which is configured to move a piece of solid cleaner among multiple solid cleaners loaded in the first storage chamber to the placement member, and the second pusher may include a second cam member, which is configured to move a piece of solid cleaner among multiple solid cleaners loaded in the second storage chamber to the placement member; the first cam member can rotate in a first rotational direction to move the piece of solid cleaner among the multiple solid cleaners loaded in the first storage chamber from the first storage chamber to the placement member; the second cam member can rotate in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction to move the piece of solid cleaner among the multiple solid cleaners loaded in the second storage chamber from the second storage chamber to the placement member.

[0035] According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a dishwasher may include: a main body; an inner tank, which is arranged inside the main body; a door, which is configured to open and close the inner tank; and an automatic detergent dispenser, which is arranged on the door and is configured to input solid detergent into the interior of the inner tank; the automatic detergent dispenser may include: a storage chamber, which is configured to allow multiple solid detergents to be stacked and loaded in the up and down directions; a pusher, which is configured to move one of the multiple solid detergents to the outside of the storage chamber to allow the solid detergent to be discharged from the storage chamber; and a placement member, which is configured to place the solid detergent that has been moved to the outside of the storage chamber on the placement member, the pusher can be arranged opposite to the placement member to discharge the solid detergent to the placement member, and the pusher can be configured to push the solid detergent by rotating in a direction from the storage chamber toward a side where the placement member can be arranged.

[0036] Beneficial Effects

[0037] The automatic detergent dispenser of the dishwasher may include a storage chamber in which a plurality of pieces of solid detergent are stacked and loaded in a vertical direction when the door closes the inner tank, and thus the plurality of pieces of solid detergent may be stacked and loaded into the automatic detergent dispenser.

[0038] The automatic detergent dispenser of the dishwasher may include a pusher configured to move one solid detergent among a plurality of solid detergents loaded into a storage chamber to the outside of the storage chamber, and an amount of solid detergent may be input into the inner tank during a washing process.

[0039] Effects according to the concept of the embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects that are not mentioned may be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a door of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is opened;

[0041] Figure 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment;

[0042] Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which detergent is loaded into an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0043] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an automatic detergent dispenser for a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0044] Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic detergent dispenser of the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when viewed from another angle;

[0045] Figure 6 is a perspective view of a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are removed;

[0046] Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of some components of an automatic detergent dispenser for a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0047] Figure 8 is a view of a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are removed;

[0048] Fig. 9 The icon is loaded into Figure 8 A view of a state in which the solid detergent in the first storage chamber is discharged from the first storage chamber;

[0049] Fig.10 It is a graphic Fig. 9 A view showing a state in which a solid cleaning agent is placed on a placement member;

[0050] Fig.11 It is a graphic Fig.10 A view of a state in which a solid detergent is discharged from an automatic detergent dispenser;

[0051] Fig.12 The icon is loaded into Figure 8 A view of a state in which the solid detergent in the second storage chamber is discharged from the second storage chamber;

[0052] Fig.13 is a view illustrating a portion of a storage chamber and a holder when an automatic detergent dispenser is arranged at a first position in a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0053] Fig.14 yes Fig.13 A schematic diagram of a guide rail and a portion of a retainer;

[0054] Fig.15 is a view illustrating a portion of a storage chamber and a holder when the automatic detergent dispenser is arranged at a second position in the dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0055] Fig.16 yes Fig.15 A schematic diagram of a guide rail and a portion of a retainer;

[0056] Fig.17is a view illustrating an operation of loading a solid detergent into an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0057] Fig.18 It is shown in Fig.17 The view of the subsequent operation;

[0058] Fig.19 is a side cross-sectional view of an automatic detergent dispenser for a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0059] Fig. 20 is a view illustrating a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are removed;

[0060] Fig.21 is a view illustrating a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure are removed; and

[0061] Fig. 22 The icon has been changed from Fig.21 A view of a state in which the adjusting member of the second storage chamber is moved in a state. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0062] The various embodiments and the terms used therein are not intended to limit the technology disclosed herein to a specific form, and the present disclosure should be construed as including various modifications, equivalents, and / or alternatives to the corresponding embodiments.

[0063] In describing the drawings, like reference numerals may be used to refer to like constituent elements.

[0064] A singular expression may include a plural expression unless they are clearly distinguished in the context.

[0065] The expressions "A or B", "at least one of A or / and B" or "one or more of A or / and B", "A, B or C", "at least one of A, B or / and C" or "one or more of A, B or / and C" etc. used in this document may include any or all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

[0066] The term "and / or" includes plural combinations of related items or any one of the plural related items.

[0067] Herein, expressions “first”, “second”, “the first”, “the second”, etc. may be used simply to distinguish one element from other elements, but do not limit other aspects (importance or order) of the elements.

[0068] When one element (eg, a first element) is referred to as being “(functionally or communicatively) coupled” or “connected” to another element (eg, a second element), the first element may be connected to the second element directly (eg, wired), wirelessly, or through a third element.

[0069] In the present disclosure, the terms "including", "having", etc. are used to specify features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, factors, or a combination thereof, but do not exclude the existence or addition of one or more of the features, elements, steps, operations, elements, factors, or a combination thereof.

[0070] When an element is said to be “connected,” “coupled,” “supported” or “contacted” to another element, this includes not only the case when the element is directly connected, coupled, supported or contacted, but also the case when the element is indirectly connected, coupled, supported or contacted through a third element.

[0071] Throughout the description, when one element is 'on' another element, this includes not only a case when the element is in contact with the other element but also a case when another element exists between the two elements.

[0072] The terms "up and down direction", "height direction", "vertical direction" and the like used in the following description may refer to the vertical direction based on the vertical direction. Figure 1 The Z direction of the perspective view of the dishwasher in FIG. 1 , and the “horizontal direction” may refer to the Z direction based on Figure 1 perspective view, along any direction of the XY plane in the X direction or the Y direction.

[0073] The terms "first direction", "second direction", "third direction", etc. used in the following description are arbitrarily defined according to some standards to be described later, but are not limited thereto. In addition, the "first direction", "second direction", and "third direction" may refer to directions that completely include all "the first direction and the direction opposite to the first direction", "the second direction and the direction opposite to the second direction", and "the third direction and the direction opposite to the third direction".

[0074] In the following text, "tableware" may be used as a concept covering bowls, cups, knives and forks, and various cooking utensils.

[0075] Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

[0076] Figure 1 is a perspective view of a state in which a door of a dishwasher according to an embodiment is opened, Figure 2 is a schematic side cross-sectional view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment, and Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating a state in which detergent is loaded into an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment.

[0077] The dishwasher 1 may include a washing drum or inner tank 12 arranged inside the body 10. The inner tank 12 may be formed in a generally box-like shape. One side of the inner tank 12 may be open. The inner tank 12 may include an opening 12a. For example, the front surface of the inner tank 12 may be open toward the first direction X.

[0078] The dishwasher 1 may further include a door 20 configured to open and close the opening 12a of the inner tank 12. The door 20 may be installed in the main body 10 to open and close the opening 12a of the inner tank 12. The door 20 may be rotatably installed in the main body 10 by a member such as a hinge 25. The door 20 may be detachably installed to the main body 10.

[0079] For example, the door 20 may be rotatably hinged to the lower portion of the body 10. The rotation axis of the hinge 25 may extend in a second direction Y that is a left-right direction of the body 10 to allow the door 20 to rotate in the front-rear direction in front of the body 10.

[0080] For example, at the front side of the body 10, the door 20 may be hinged to a hinge arranged on the left or right side of the body 10 relative to the second direction Y. The door 20 may be configured to be rotated from the second direction Y to the first direction X by the hinge arranged on the left and / or right side of the body 10.

[0081] The door 20 may include an outer surface 22 that forms the exterior of the dishwasher 1 together with the body 10 , and an inner surface 21 that faces the interior of the inner container 12 when the door 20 closes the inner container 12 .

[0082] The dishwasher 1 may further include a storage container, which is arranged in the inner tank 12 for accommodating tableware. The storage container may include a plurality of baskets 51, 52 and 53.

[0083] The storage container may include a middle basket 52 positioned in the middle relative to the height direction of the dishwasher 1 and a lower basket 51 positioned in the lower part relative to the height direction of the dishwasher 1. The middle basket 52 may be configured to be supported by the middle guide bracket 13b. The lower basket 51 may be configured to be supported by the lower guide bracket 13a. The middle guide bracket 13b and the lower guide bracket 13a may be mounted on the side surface 12d of the inner tank 12 so as to be able to slide toward the opening 12a of the inner tank 12. The side surface 12d of the inner tank 12 may include the inner surface of the right wall and the inner surface of the left wall of the inner tank 12.

[0084] Relatively large tableware can be stored in the lower basket 51 and the middle basket 52. However, the types of tableware accommodated in the lower basket 51 and the middle basket 52 are not limited to relatively large tableware. That is, the plurality of baskets 51, 52, and 53 can accommodate not only relatively large tableware but also relatively small tableware.

[0085] The storage container may include an upper basket 53 positioned in the upper part relative to the height direction of the dishwasher 1. The upper basket 53 may be formed as a bracket assembly for accommodating relatively small tableware. For example, the upper basket 53 may accommodate cooking utensils such as a ladle, a knife, or a spatula, or a cutlery. In addition, the upper basket 53 may accommodate small cups such as espresso cups. However, the type of tableware accommodated in the upper basket 53 is not limited thereto.

[0086] The upper basket 53 may be configured to be supported by the upper guide bracket 13c. The upper guide bracket 13c may be mounted on the side surface 12d of the liner 12. For example, the upper basket 53 may be moved in a sliding manner by the upper guide bracket 13c and may be inserted into or withdrawn from the washing chamber C.

[0087] Storage containers are not limited to Figure 1 and Figure 2 The storage container may not include the upper basket 53, and according to the size of the liner 12. For example, the storage container may be implemented with an intermediate basket 52 and a lower basket 53.

[0088] The dishwasher 1 may include a washing chamber C, which is a space formed inside the inner tank 12. The washing chamber C may be defined as the inner space of the inner tank 12. When the door 20 closes the inner tank 12, the washing chamber C may correspond to a space surrounded by the lower surface 12b, the upper surface 12c, and the side surface 12d of the inner tank 12 and the inner surface 21 of the door 20.

[0089] The washing chamber C may refer to a space in which dishes placed in the baskets 51 , 52 , 53 are washed by wash water and dried.

[0090] The dishwasher 1 may include a spray device 40 configured to spray wash water. The spray device 40 may receive wash water from the sump assembly 70.

[0091] The spray device 40 may include a plurality of spray units 41 , 42 , and 43 .

[0092] For example, the plurality of spray units 41, 42, and 43 may include: a first spray unit 41 disposed below the lower basket 51 in the height direction of the dishwasher 1; a second spray unit 42 disposed below the middle basket 52 in the height direction of the dishwasher 1; and a third spray unit 43 disposed above the upper basket 53 in the height direction of the dishwasher 1.

[0093] Each of the plurality of spray units 41, 42, and 43 may be configured to spray wash water while rotating. Each of the first spray unit 41, the second spray unit 42, and the third spray unit 43 may be configured to spray wash water while rotating. The plurality of spray units 41, 42, and 43 may be referred to as a plurality of spray rotors. The first spray unit 41, the second spray unit 42, and the third spray unit 43 may be referred to as a first spray rotor 41, a second spray rotor 42, and a third spray rotor 43, respectively.

[0094] However, the spray device 40 can spray washing water in a manner different from the above examples. For example, unlike the second spray unit 42 and the third spray unit 43, the first spray unit 41 can be fixed to one side of the lower surface 12b of the liner 12. The first spray unit 41 can be configured to spray washing water in a substantially horizontal direction through a fixed nozzle. The direction of the washing water sprayed in a substantially horizontal direction from the nozzle of the first spray unit 41 can be changed by a conversion assembly (not shown) arranged on the first spray unit 41, and then the washing water can move upward. The conversion assembly can be mounted on a track by a retainer and can be configured to be able to move translationally along the track.

[0095] The dishwasher 1 may include a sump assembly 70 .

[0096] The sink assembly 70 may be configured to receive wash water. The sink assembly 70 may collect wash water of the washing chamber C. For example, the lower surface 12b of the inner tank 12 may be tilted downward toward the sink assembly 70 so as to smoothly collect water into the sink assembly 70. The wash water of the washing chamber C may flow along the slope of the lower surface 12b of the inner tank 12 and smoothly flow into the sink assembly 70.

[0097] The water tank assembly 70 may include a circulation pump 30 configured to pump wash water stored in the water tank assembly 70 to the spray device 40 .

[0098] The sink assembly 70 may include a drain pump 60 configured to drain wash water and foreign materials (eg, food residues) remaining in the sink assembly 70 .

[0099] The sump assembly 70 may pump the collected wash water and supply the wash water to the spray device 40. The sump assembly 70 may be connected to the spray device 40 to supply the wash water thereto.

[0100] The water tank assembly 70 may be independently connected to the first spray unit 41, the second spray unit 42, and the third spray unit 43. For example, the water tank assembly 70 may be independently connected to a connector connected to the first spray unit 41, the second spray unit 42, and the third spray unit 43. The connector may be configured in the shape of a connection port, a pipe, or the like.

[0101] For example, the second spray unit 42 and the third spray unit 43 may be provided with one connector, and in this case, the washing water supplied through the one connector may flow into the connector. The washing water flowing into the connector may be diverted during movement, and the diverted washing water may be provided to at least one of the second spray unit 42 and the third spray unit 43.

[0102] The dishwasher 1 may include an alternating device (not shown) configured to selectively supply wash water to the spray device 40. The alternating device (not shown) may be driven to selectively supply wash water to each connector connected to each spray device 41, 42, and 43. For example, the alternating device (not shown) may selectively supply wash water to at least one of a connector connected to the first spray device 41 and a connector connected to the second spray device 42.

[0103] The dishwasher 1 may include a machine room L which is a space provided below the inner tank 12. The machine room L may be a place where components for circulating wash water are arranged.

[0104] For example, at least a portion of the sink assembly 70 may be disposed in the machine chamber L. Most of the sink assembly 70 may be disposed in the machine chamber L. As for the volume of the sink assembly 70, the volume of the sink assembly 70 located in the washing chamber C may be smaller than the volume of the sink assembly 70 located in the machine chamber L. By reducing the volume of the sink assembly 70 occupying the washing chamber C, the volume of the washing chamber C may be ensured. Therefore, the capacity of the washing chamber C may be increased, and thus the storage capacity for tableware may be improved. The dishwasher 1 may include an automatic detergent dispenser 1000 configured to input a solid detergent into the liner 12.

[0105] The dishwasher 1 may include a detergent box 90 provided to be used for inputting not only solid detergent but also powder detergent or liquid detergent into the inner container 12 .

[0106] When the user inputs information related to the washing mode of the dishwasher 1 through the input device of the dishwasher 1 or through the mobile device, the control device 1900 to be described later can control the dishwasher 1 based on the user input obtained from the main control device to selectively input the detergent stored in the detergent box 90 into the inner tank 12. The information related to the washing mode may include: information related to a small amount washing mode in which a small number of dishes are washed, or information related to a quick washing mode in which the washing time is minimized.

[0107] A solid detergent refers to a solid detergent formed into a predetermined shape. The solid detergent may have an approximately block shape, and thus various terms such as detergent block and block-type detergent may be used to refer to the solid detergent. The shape of the solid detergent is not limited to a specific shape or size, and may have various shapes.

[0108] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be configured to allow loading of multiple solid detergents. The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be configured to allow input of one solid detergent from multiple solid detergents into the inner container 12 when the dishwasher 1 washes dishes.

[0109] For example, the dishwasher 1 may be configured to wash dishes through a pre-washing operation, a main washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a drying operation. The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be configured to input a solid detergent into the inner tank 12 before or at the beginning of a main washing process.

[0110] The detergent box 90 may be configured to contain powder detergent or liquid detergent. The detergent box 90 may be configured to allow detergent to be input into the inner tank 12 when the dishwasher 1 washes dishes.

[0111] The dishwasher 1 can be configured to input the detergent stored in the detergent box 90 or the solid detergent loaded into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 into the inner tank 12, and the dishwasher 1 can be configured to allow a detergent selected by a user from among the detergent stored in the detergent box 90 and the solid detergent loaded into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to be input into the inner tank 12.

[0112] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be disposed on the inner surface 21 of the door 20. The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be disposed to be coupled to the inner surface 21 of the door 20.

[0113] The detergent box 90 may be disposed on the inner surface 21 of the door 20. When the door 20 closes the inner container 12, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 and the detergent box 90 may be arranged along the third direction Z which is the vertical direction.

[0114] Since the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed on the door 20 , the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be configured to rotate together with the door 20 as the door 20 rotates.

[0115] When the position where the door 20 closes the inner container 12 is defined as the first position 20A of the door 20, and the position where the door 20 opens the inner container 12 is defined as the second position 20B of the door 20, the door 20 can be configured to open and close the inner container 12 by moving between the first position 20A and the second position 20B.

[0116] The second position 20B of the door 20 may be defined as any position in which the door 20 opens the inner pot 12, and preferably the second position 20B is a position in which the tableware stored in the inner pot 12 is allowed to be taken out to the outside of the inner pot 12. For example, the second position 20B of the door 20 may be a position in which the extension direction of the inner surface 21 of the door 20 corresponds to the first direction X.

[0117] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be interlocked with the door 20 to move between a first position 1000A corresponding to the first position 20A of the door 20 and a second position 1000B corresponding to the second position 20B of the door 20 .

[0118] When the door 20 closes the inner container 12 , the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be arranged at the first position 1000A, and when the door 20 opens the inner container 12 , the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be arranged at the second position 1000B.

[0119] like Figure 3 As shown, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the second position 1000B, the user can load a plurality of pieces of solid detergent into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 .

[0120] The user may open the storage chamber cover 1140 of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 and load a plurality of pieces of solid detergent into the storage chamber 1200 .

[0121] In the conventional manner, whenever the dishwasher washes dishes, the user must input detergent into the automatic detergent dispenser or detergent box, which causes inconvenience to the user. On the other hand, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 of the dishwasher 1 according to the embodiment can be configured to allow the user to load multiple solid detergents into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 at one time, and when the dishwasher 1 performs a washing process, one solid detergent of the multiple solid detergents can be input into the inner tank 12 at one washing process.

[0122] Since the solid detergent may remain inside the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 during the washing process of the dishwasher 1, moisture may flow into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 during the washing process, and thus pieces of the solid detergent may be broken.

[0123] As the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 moves between the first position 1000A and the second position 1000B, the plurality of pieces of solid detergent loaded in the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be separated from the storage position.

[0124] Hereinafter, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 capable of solving the above-mentioned difficulties will be described in detail.

[0125] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of an automatic detergent dispenser for a dishwasher according to an embodiment, Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the automatic detergent dispenser for the dishwasher according to the embodiment when viewed from another angle, Figure 6 is a perspective view of a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser for a dishwasher according to an embodiment are removed, Figure 7 is an enlarged perspective view of some components of an automatic detergent dispenser for a dishwasher according to an embodiment, and Figure 8 is a view of a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment are removed.

[0126] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a housing 1100 .

[0127] The housing 1100 may include a first housing 1110 forming a storage chamber 1200 which will be described later and a second housing 1120 coupled to the first housing 1110 .

[0128] The first housing 1110 may be disposed to be coupled to the inner surface 21 of the door 20 .

[0129] The second housing 1120 may be coupled to the first housing 1110 along the first direction X when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed at the first position 1000A.

[0130] The second shell 1120 may form a storage chamber 1200 together with the first shell 1110. The second shell 1120 may include a first storage chamber opening 1121 configured to allow the storage chamber 1200 to be opened to the outside. The second shell 1120 may include an inlet 1122 that communicates with a placement member 1400 to be described later, and the inlet 1122 is configured to allow solid detergent to be discharged from the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 and introduced into the inner tank 12.

[0131] The housing 1100 may include an intermediate housing 1130 disposed between the first housing 1110 and the second housing 1120 , and the intermediate housing 1130 is configured to support a pusher 1300 or the like disposed inside the housing 1100 .

[0132] For example, a component such as the ejector 1300 may be disposed on the first housing 1110 and supported by the intermediate housing 1130. Alternatively, a component such as the ejector 1300 may be disposed on the second housing 1120 and supported by the intermediate housing 1130.

[0133] For example, the intermediate housing 1130 may be integrally formed with the first housing 1110. Alternatively, the intermediate housing 1130 may be integrally formed with the second housing 1120.

[0134] The housing 1100 may include a storage chamber cover 1140 disposed on the second housing 1120 and configured to open and close the storage chamber opening 1121 .

[0135] The housing 1100 may include an inlet cover 1150 disposed on the second housing 1120 , and the inlet cover 1150 is configured to open and close the inlet 1122 .

[0136] The first shell 1110 may include a control device placement component 1111, which is arranged in a direction opposite to the direction along which the first shell 1110 is connected to the second shell 1120, and is configured to place a control device 1900 for controlling the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 on the control device placement component 1111.

[0137] For example, the control device seating member 1111 may be arranged outside the interior of the housing 1100 formed by coupling the second housing 1120 to the first housing 1110. For example, the control device seating member 1111 may be arranged inside the housing 1100 formed by coupling the second housing 1120 to the first housing 1110.

[0138] The first housing 1110 may include a control device cover 1112 that covers the control device seating member 1111 from the outside. The control device cover 1112 is not arranged in the internal space of the housing 1100 formed by combining the first housing 1110 and the second housing 1120, but is arranged outside the internal space of the housing 1100. Therefore, when the control device 1900 needs to be replaced, the control device 1900 can be easily replaced without disassembling the first housing 1110 and the second housing 1120.

[0139] The control device 1900 may control driving of the ejector 1300 and the seating member door 1410 which will be described later, and the control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 based on sensing values ​​of various sensors.

[0140] The control device 1900 may be configured to communicate with a main control device of the dishwasher 1. For example, the control device 1900 and the main control device may constitute a controller of the dishwasher 1.

[0141] The main control device may acquire a user input through an input device of the dishwasher 1 or through a mobile device, and may control the driving of the dishwasher 1 based on the acquired user input.

[0142] The main control device may transmit information about the received user input to the control device 1900. The control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 based on the information about the input received from the main control device.

[0143] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a wire W that electrically connects the control device 1900 to electronic components configured to drive the automatic detergent dispenser 1000. The wire W may electrically connect the electronic components (drive motor 1320, placement member door driver 1470, and various sensors) configured to drive the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to the control device 1900 to allow one of the multiple solid detergents loaded into the storage chambers 1200 and 1200' to be input into the inner tank 12.

[0144] For example, the wire W may electrically connect the main control device and the power supply of the dishwasher 1 to the control device 1900. For example, the wire W may be provided to electrically connect only a portion of components such as various electronic components and the control device 1900 of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 or the main control device of the dishwasher 1.

[0145] For example, various electronic components, sensors, and at least some of the control device 1900 of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 or the main control device of the dishwasher 1 may be configured to send and receive signals to each other through wireless communication without being electrically connected through the wire W.

[0146] The control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 based on the values ​​sensed by the various sensors of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000. This will be described in detail later.

[0147] like Figures 6 to 8 As shown, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a storage chamber 1200 into which a plurality of pieces of solid detergent are loaded.

[0148] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the first position 1000A, the storage chamber 1200 may be configured to allow a plurality of solid detergents to be stacked in a third direction Z corresponding to the vertical direction. For example, the storage chamber 1200 may be provided with a plurality of storage chambers 1200 and 1200'. However, for ease of description, a single storage chamber 1200 will be described.

[0149] The storage chamber 1200 may correspond to a space formed by the first shell 1110 and the second shell 1120. In order to allow a plurality of solid detergents to be stacked and loaded in the third direction Z, the storage chamber 1200 may be provided with a space including a long side 1201 extending along the third direction Z when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the first position 1000A.

[0150] For example, the storage chamber 1200 may be provided as a space formed by the first housing 1110. Alternatively, the storage chamber 1200 may be provided as a space formed by the second housing 1120.

[0151] When the storage chamber cover 1140 opens the storage chamber opening 1121, the storage chamber 1200 can be connected to the outside through the storage chamber opening 1121. Figure 3 As shown, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is located at the second position 1000B, the user may open the storage chamber cover 1140 and input a plurality of solid detergents into the storage chamber 1200 , thereby loading the plurality of solid detergents into the storage chamber 1200 .

[0152] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed on the inner surface 21 of the door 20, and thus when the door 20 is opened, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be disposed outside the washing chamber C, and thus a user may easily input detergent.

[0153] The storage chamber 1200 may have a predetermined volume or a larger volume to store multiple solid detergents. As described above, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged on the inner surface 21 of the door 20, and therefore when the volume of the storage chamber 1200 increases along the first direction X, the volume of the washing chamber C decreases. In order to prevent the volume of the storage chamber 1200 from increasing along the first direction X, the storage chamber 1200 may be configured to allow multiple solid detergents to be stacked in a third direction Z corresponding to the vertical direction when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is in the first position 1000A.

[0154] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, a plurality of solid detergents may be loaded into the storage chamber 1200 so that the plurality of solid detergents are stacked and arranged only in the third direction Z without arranging the plurality of solid detergents in the first direction X.

[0155] The storage chamber 1200 may be formed to allow a plurality of solid detergents to be stacked only in the third direction Z. Therefore, the space of the washing chamber C in the first direction X as described above can be maximized, and the space of the storage chamber 1200 of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y can be ensured.

[0156] The storage chamber 1200 may be formed to allow a plurality of solid detergents to be stacked only in the third direction Z, and thus a driving configuration (e.g., a transmission member 1330 of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000) or an electronic configuration (e.g., a control device 1900) of the pusher 1300 may be arranged in the storage chamber 1200 along the second direction Y. Therefore, the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y may be minimized.

[0157] Therefore, on the inner surface 21 of the door 20, additional components other than the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be arranged outside the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y, and thus the ratio of the volume of the internal space of the inner tank 12 to the volume of the main body 10 of the dishwasher 1 can be increased.

[0158] But not limited thereto, and when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the first position 1000A, a plurality of solid detergents may be loaded into the storage chamber 1200 to be stacked and arranged only in the second direction Y which is the left-right direction.

[0159] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a pusher 1300 configured to move one of the plurality of solid detergents loaded into the storage chamber 1200 to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 so as to be discharged from the storage chamber 1200. For example, the pusher 1300 may be provided with a plurality of pushers 1300 and 1300' corresponding to the number of the plurality of storage chambers 1200 and 1200'. However, for ease of description, the description will be based on a single pusher 1300.

[0160] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the pusher 1300 may be configured to allow a single solid detergent arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among multiple solid detergents stacked in the third direction Z to be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0161] The pusher 1300 may be arranged at one side 1201a of the long side 1201 relative to the extending direction of the long side 1201. When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the first position 1000A, the one side 1201a of the long side 1201 may be provided at the lower side in the third direction Z, and the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 may be arranged at the upper side.

[0162] The pusher 1300 may be arranged at the lower side of the storage chamber 1200 relative to the third direction Z to allow a single solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among multiple solid cleaners stacked in the third direction Z to be discharged from the storage chamber 1200 .

[0163] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the pusher 1300 may discharge the solid detergents, among the plurality of solid detergents, which are closest to the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200 to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0164] For example, the pusher 1300 may be configured to push a solid cleaner among the plurality of pieces of solid cleaners disposed on the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200. The solid cleaner disposed on the lower surface 1220 means that the solid cleaner is supported by the lower surface 1220 or the solid cleaner is placed in contact with the lower surface 1220. Therefore, the solid cleaner disposed on the lower surface 1220 means that the solid cleaner is placed at a position where the solid cleaner is pushed by the pusher 1300 and then discharged from the storage chamber 1200.

[0165] The storage chamber 1200 may include a storage chamber outlet 1210 configured to discharge a block of solid detergent to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 through the ejector 1300 .

[0166] The storage chamber outlet 1210 may be disposed in a lower portion of the storage chamber 1200 to allow one solid cleaner disposed at a lowest position in the third direction Z among a plurality of solid cleaners stacked in the third direction Z to be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0167] The storage chamber outlet 1210 and the pusher 1300 may be arranged at the lower portion / side of the storage chamber 1200 so as to discharge a piece of solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position among multiple pieces of solid cleaners stacked in the third direction Z to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0168] The storage chamber 1200 is configured to allow multiple solid cleaners to be stacked in the third direction Z, and therefore, when the lowest solid cleaner among the multiple solid cleaners is discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200, the multiple solid cleaners can move downward in the stacking direction by means of gravity.

[0169] Since the plurality of pieces of solid detergent all move downward, the solid detergent arranged directly above the solid detergent discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 can move to be adjacent to the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200, and then be arranged in the space where the discharged solid detergent is located. The solid detergent can be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 by the pusher 1300 during the next washing process of the dishwasher 1.

[0170] That is, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the storage chamber 1200 may be configured to allow a plurality of solid detergents to be stacked in the third direction Z, and the pusher 1300 may be arranged at the lower side of the storage chamber 1200. Therefore, the plurality of solid detergents may be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 in the stacking order starting from the lowest solid detergent in the third direction Z.

[0171] However, the pusher 1300 is not limited thereto, and the pusher 1300 may be configured to discharge a piece of solid detergent arranged at a highest position in the third direction Z from among a plurality of pieces of solid detergent stacked in the third direction Z from the storage chamber 1200 .

[0172] like Figure 7 As shown, when the solid cleaner D has a shape in which the horizontal length d1 and the vertical length d2 are greater than the height h, the solid cleaner D may be loaded into the storage chamber 1200 so as to be stacked in the height direction H in the storage chamber 1200 .

[0173] For the solid cleanser D described below, it is assumed that the horizontal length d1 is greater than the vertical length d2 and the height h.

[0174] For example, the solid cleaner D may be loaded into the storage chamber 1200 in such a manner that a direction formed by a minimum length among a horizontal length d1 , a vertical length d2 , and a height h of the solid cleaner D corresponds to a stacking direction of a plurality of pieces of the solid cleaner.

[0175] This can maximize the amount of the solid detergent D loaded into the storage chamber 1200 .

[0176] For example, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the solid detergent D can be loaded into the storage chamber 1200 in the following manner: the surface of the solid detergent D formed in the direction of the horizontal length d1 and the vertical length d2 corresponds to the cross-sectional area S formed in the first direction X and the second direction Y of the storage chamber 1200.

[0177] For example, a plurality of pieces of the solid detergent D may be stacked inside the storage chamber 1200 in a direction of a height h of the solid detergent D.

[0178] The solid detergent may have various sizes according to its composition, function or manufacturing company, but the volume of the solid detergent may be determined in proportion to the volume of the washing chamber of the dishwasher. Since the volume of the washing chamber is set within a predetermined range, the volume of the solid detergent may also be set within a predetermined range, and therefore, regardless of the type of the solid detergent, the horizontal length, vertical length and height of the solid detergent may be similarly designed.

[0179] The solid detergent D described below can be defined as a suitable solid detergent D that can be loaded into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 of the dishwasher 1 according to the embodiment, and the horizontal length d1, vertical length d2 and height h of the solid detergent D can be defined as the approximate values ​​of the horizontal length, vertical length and height of each block of solid detergent that can be loaded into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 of the dishwasher 1. In addition, the horizontal length d1, vertical length d2 and height h of the solid detergent D can be defined as variable values ​​within a predetermined range. For example, the vertical length can define the horizontal length d1 and the vertical length d2 based on the dimensions set along the first direction X and the second direction Y, and the horizontal length can also be defined as d2, and the vertical length can also define the vertical length as d1.

[0180] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the area S of the storage chamber 1200 in the first direction X and the second direction Y (hereinafter referred to as the cross-sectional area of ​​the storage chamber 1200) can be set to a size that is easy to load and stack the solid detergent D in the third direction Z.

[0181] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position A, the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 may be formed by a pair of sides having a horizontal length L1 extending along the second direction Y and a pair of sides having a vertical length L2 extending along the first direction X. For example, the vertical length may define the horizontal length L1 and the vertical length L2 based on the dimensions set along the first direction X and the second direction Y, and the horizontal length may also be defined as L2, and the vertical length may also be defined as L1.

[0182] The horizontal length L1 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 may be the length in the second direction Y between the right surface 1230 and the left surface 1240 of the storage chamber 1200, and the vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 may be the length in the first direction X between the inner surface 1260 of the storage chamber 1200 and the storage chamber opening 1121.

[0183] When the solid cleaner D is loaded into the storage chamber 1200, the solid cleaner D can be arranged to allow one side of the solid cleaner D with a horizontal length d1 to correspond to one side of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 with a horizontal length L1, and to allow the other side of the solid cleaner D with a vertical length d2 to correspond to one side of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 with a vertical length L2.

[0184] As described above, since the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D is formed to be smaller than the horizontal length d1, the horizontal length L1 of the cross-sectional area S can be formed to be larger than the vertical length L2. In addition, since the horizontal length d1 of the solid detergent is formed to be larger than the height h of the solid detergent D, the vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S can be formed to be larger than the height h of the solid detergent D.

[0185] The horizontal length L1 of the cross-sectional area S may be greater than the horizontal length d1 of the solid detergent D by about 10% to 30% of the horizontal length d1 of the solid detergent D.

[0186] The vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S may be greater than the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D by about 10% to 30% of the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D.

[0187] In order to allow multiple pieces of solid cleaners to be stably descended into the storage chamber 1200 while maintaining a stacked arrangement when the solid cleaners arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z are moved out of the storage chamber 1200 by the pusher 1300, the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 can be formed to have the above-mentioned value.

[0188] When the horizontal length L1 and the vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S are formed to be less than 10% of the horizontal length d1 and the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D, the pieces of solid detergent may be stuck inside the storage chamber 1200 when moving downward inside the storage chamber 1200. Therefore, it is difficult for the pieces of solid detergent to stably move downward.

[0189] For example, when a solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among a plurality of stacked solid cleaners moves downward, the solid cleaner may be stuck inside the storage chamber 1200 and may not be placed on the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200. Therefore, even when the pusher 1300 is driven, the pushing member 1312a to be described later may not easily push the solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z, and thus the solid cleaner may not be discharged from the storage chamber 1200.

[0190] When the horizontal length L1 and the vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S are formed to be greater than 30% of the horizontal length d1 and the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D, the detergent may rotate while moving downward in the storage chamber 1200, and thus the stacking arrangement of the detergent may be destroyed.

[0191] For example, since the cross-sectional area S is formed larger than the solid detergent, the solid detergent may rotate or move in an inclined direction relative to the third direction Z while moving downward, and thus the solid detergent may move in the first direction X and the second direction Y, but not in the third direction. Therefore, the stacking arrangement of a plurality of solid detergents may not be maintained.

[0192] Therefore, the horizontal length L1 and the vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S may be formed to be greater than the horizontal length d1 and the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D by about 10% to 30%.

[0193] Since the vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 is formed to be greater than the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may have a predetermined thickness in a direction in which the vertical length L2 extends.

[0194] Therefore, when the door 20 is arranged in the first position 20A, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may protrude from the door 20 toward the inside of the inner container 12 along the first direction X, and thus the inner space of the inner container 12 may be reduced.

[0195] In particular, for the lower basket 51 disposed at a height substantially corresponding to the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the third direction Z, when the door 20 is disposed in the first position 20A, the lower basket 51 may collide with the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the first direction X. In order to prevent this, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the lower basket 51 in the first direction X when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed at the first position 1000A. For example, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed at the first position 1000A, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be disposed to be spaced apart from the middle basket 52 in the first direction X.

[0196] In addition, the door 20 is arranged at the second position 20B, and thus the lower basket 51 can be drawn out toward the front of the inner tank 12 along the first direction X. When the lower basket 51 is drawn out forward, since the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 has a predetermined thickness in the extending direction of the vertical length L2, the drawing out of the lower basket 51 may be limited by the thickness of the automatic detergent dispenser 100.

[0197] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be disposed to be coupled to the inner surface 21 of the door 20. When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is coupled to the inner surface 21, at least a portion of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be inserted into the interior of the door 20 along the first direction X.

[0198] Therefore, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the first position 1000A, a predetermined separation distance between the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 and the lower basket 51 in the first direction X can be easily generated.

[0199] Therefore, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the second position 1000B, the protrusion of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be minimized in the third direction Z, and thus the lower basket 51 can be easily withdrawn in the first direction X without being restricted by the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 .

[0200] For example, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be coupled to the inner surface 21 of the door 20 in the following manner: when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the second position 1000B, the upper end of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the third direction Z is positioned at a lower position than the lower end of the lower basket 51 in the third direction Z. Therefore, when the lower basket 51 slides out of the inner tank 12 and is pulled out when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the second position 1000B, the lower basket 51 can be pulled out of the inner tank 12 without colliding with the automatic detergent dispenser 1000.

[0201] The pusher 1300 may include a pushing member 1310 configured to push a piece of solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among a plurality of pieces of solid cleaners stacked in the third direction Z and move the solid cleaner to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0202] The pressing member 1310 may include a cam member configured to rotate to press the solid detergent. Hereinafter, the pressing member 1310 will be referred to as the cam member 1310 .

[0203] The cam member 1310 may include a pressing portion 1312 a provided to protrude from a circumference of the cam member 1310 and configured to press the solid detergent while being rotated by the rotation of the cam member 1310 .

[0204] The pushing portion 1312a may rotate and move into the storage chamber 1200 according to the rotation of the cam member 1310, and is configured to push a piece of solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among a plurality of pieces of solid cleaners stacked in the third direction Z to move the solid cleaner to the outlet 1210. The cam member 1310 may move the solid cleaner by pushing the solid cleaner toward the rotation direction of the cam member 1310.

[0205] For ease of description, we will Figure 8 The state shown is used to describe the rotation direction of the cam member 1310 and the left and right sides. Figure 8 The right side of can be Figure 1 The left side of the corresponding direction, and Figure 8 The left side of the Figure 1 The right side of corresponds to the direction. Therefore, Figure 1 The left and right sides in the second direction Y can be relative to Figure 8 The left and right sides are opposite. However, for ease of description, Figure 8 The left and right sides shown in FIG.

[0206] In addition, the cam member 1310 described below will be used as Figure 8 An example in which the cam member 1310 of the ejector 1300 is shown arranged on the left side in the second direction Y is described.

[0207] The pusher 1300 may be disposed at a lower side of the storage chamber 1200, and thus when the rotation direction of the cam member 1310 is clockwise, the cam member 1310 may move the solid detergent disposed on the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200 to the right when the cam member 1310 rotates clockwise.

[0208] In order to discharge the solid detergent moved to the right side to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 , a storage chamber outlet 1210 may be disposed at a lower portion of a right surface 1230 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0209] The storage chamber 1200 may include a through portion 1221 formed on a lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200 and configured to allow the pressing portion 1312 a to move from the outside of the storage chamber 1200 to the inside of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0210] The through portion 1221 may be provided to extend not only to the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200 but also to lower sides of the right and left surfaces 1230 and 1240 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0211] The pushing portion 1312a can be rotated by the rotation of the cam member 1310, and move into the storage chamber 1200 through the lower side of the left surface 1240 and the through-portion 1221 of the lower surface 1220, and then move to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 through the lower side of the right surface 1230 and the through-portion 1221 of the lower surface 1220 according to the rotation of the cam member 1310.

[0212] The pressing portion 1312a may be configured to rotate while pressing the solid cleaner seated on the lower surface 1220, thereby allowing the solid cleaner to be moved to the right.

[0213] The through portion 1221 may be configured such that at least a portion of the lower surface 1220 is open. Figure 7 Because at least a portion of the lower surface 1220 is open, the cam member 1310 disposed at the lower side of the storage chamber 1200 can rotate, and the pushing portion 1312 a can be moved into the storage chamber 1200 through the through portion 1221 .

[0214] The through portion 1221 may be provided such that not all but at least a portion of the lower surface 1220 is open.

[0215] For example, the area of ​​the portion in which the through portion 1221 is formed in the lower surface 1220 may be smaller than the area of ​​a portion of the lower surface 1220 that is closed in the third direction Z. Hereinafter, the lower surface 1222 that is closed in the third direction Z is referred to as a support surface 1222. This is because the support surface 1222 supports the solid cleaning agent located at the lowest position in the third direction Z.

[0216] For example, the through portion 1221 may be provided to extend from the center of the lower surface 1220 with respect to the first direction X toward the second direction Y. Therefore, the front and rear sides of the through portion 1221 with respect to the first direction X may be provided as the support surface 1222 .

[0217] This is to stably position the solid cleaner located at the lowest position in the third direction Z on the lower surface 1220 when stacking multiple pieces of solid cleaners. The support surface 1222 can support the solid cleaner located at the lowest position in the third direction Z to allow the solid cleaner to be arranged adjacent to the lower surface 1220, and thus the pushing portion 1312a can easily push the solid cleaner while moving through the through portion 1221.

[0218] In particular, support surfaces 1222 may be formed in front of and behind the through portion 1221 in the first direction X, and the support surfaces 1222 may allow a piece of solid detergent arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z to be horizontally supported by the storage chamber 1200 in the third direction Z.

[0219] Therefore, when the solid detergent is moved to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 by the pushing portion 1312a, the solid detergent may be moved in the second direction Y in a substantially horizontal state with respect to the third direction Z.

[0220] For example, the support surface 1222 can guide the solid cleaning agent moving in the second direction Y to move in a horizontal state relative to the third direction Z. Figure 7 , the solid detergent D can be loaded into the storage chamber 1200 in a state where the lower surface (us) of the solid detergent D in the third direction Z contacts the support surface 1222. When the solid detergent D is pushed toward the second direction Y by the pushing portion 1312a, the lower surface (us) of the solid detergent D can be guided by the support surface 1222 and then moved to the storage chamber outlet 1210, while the solid detergent D is maintained in a substantially horizontal state relative to the third direction Z.

[0221] When the solid detergent moves in the second direction Y while being tilted with respect to the third direction Z, the solid detergent may rotate or move in another direction due to the center of gravity without moving in the second direction Y. Therefore, the solid detergent does not move toward the storage chamber outlet 1210 and is not discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200.

[0222] For the cam member 1310, the periphery of the cam member 1310 relative to the rotation direction of the cam member 1310 may include a plurality of cam regions divided along the rotation direction of the cam member 1310. When a cam region in which a periphery having the shortest radius from the rotation axis 1313 of the cam member 1310 is arranged among the plurality of cam regions is defined as a first cam region 1310A1, the first cam region 1310A1 may be arranged on the upper end of the cam member 1310 when the dishwasher 1 does not perform a washing process.

[0223] The pressing portion 1312 a may protrude to a predetermined height in a radial direction of the cam member 1310 relative to the first cam region 1310A1 .

[0224] The pressing portion 1312 a may protrude to a predetermined height in the radial direction of the cam member 1310 relative to the first cam region 1310A1 so as to allow a pressing force to be transferred to the solid detergent D, which can transfer the solid detergent D to the storage chamber outlet 1210 .

[0225] The pushing portion 1312a can protrude to a predetermined height relative to the first cam area 1310A1 in the radial direction of the cam member 1310, and therefore when the cam member 1310 rotates, the pushing portion 1312a can push the solid cleaner D arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z without pushing the solid cleaner above the solid cleaner D arranged at the lowest position.

[0226] For example, the pressing portion 1312 a may protrude by 15 mm in the radial direction of the cam member 1310 relative to the first cam region 1310A1 .

[0227] When the first cam region 1310A1 of the cam member 1310 is arranged on the upper end of the cam member 1310, the first cam region 1310A1 may be arranged at a position lower than the support surface 1222 in the third direction Z. That is, when the solid cleaner located at the lowest position among the plurality of solid cleaners is arranged on the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200, the solid cleaner is located in the storage chamber 1200 in a substantially horizontal state relative to the third direction Z, while preventing one side of the solid cleaner from being pushed upward in the third direction Z by the cam member 1310.

[0228] Relative to Figure 8 The cam member 1310' of the ejector 1300' arranged on the right side in the second direction Y shown in FIG. Figure 8 The direction shown in can be rotated counterclockwise. Therefore, the solid detergent loaded in the storage chamber 1200' and arranged on the right side can be discharged to the left side of the storage chamber 1200'. This will be described in detail later.

[0229] The rotation axis 1313 of the cam member 1310 may be arranged to extend in the first direction X when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A. The cam member 1310 may be arranged so that the radial direction of the cam member 1310 is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X, and therefore, when the cam member 1310 is arranged inside the housing 1100, the volume of the cam member 1310 may be minimized in the first direction X. As described above, this is to maximize the volume of the washing chamber C in the first direction X.

[0230] The pusher 1300 may include a drive motor 1320 configured to generate a rotational force to drive the cam member 1310. The drive motor 1320 may be arranged so that when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, a rotation axis 1321 of the drive motor 1320 extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction X. Therefore, when the drive motor 1320 is arranged inside the housing 1100, the volume of the drive motor 1320 in the first direction X may be minimized. As described above, this is to maximize the volume of the washing chamber C in the first direction X.

[0231] The ejector 1300 may include a transmission member 1330 configured to transmit a rotational force generated by the driving motor 1320 to the pushing member 1310 .

[0232] The transmission member 1330 may include a plurality of gears. Since the rotation shaft 1313 of the cam member 1310 is arranged to extend in the first direction X, and the rotation shaft of the drive motor 1320 is arranged to extend in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X, the transmission member 1330 may include a worm gear configured to vertically change the transmission direction of the driving force. For example, the transmission member 1330 may include a bevel gear.

[0233] When the transmission member 1330 includes a worm gear, it can prevent the cam member 1310 from being arbitrarily rotated by an external force.

[0234] The worm gear of the transmission member 1330 is arranged to extend in a direction perpendicular to the first direction X along which the rotation shaft 1313 of the cam member 1310 extends, and thus when the transmission member 1330 is arranged in the housing 1100, the volume of the transmission member 1330 in the first direction X can be minimized. As described above, this is to maximize the volume of the washing chamber C in the first direction X.

[0235] The transmission member 1330 may connect the cam member 1310 and the drive motor 1320 to transmit the rotational force generated by the drive motor 1320 to the cam member 1310, and at this time, the transmission member 1330 may be configured to allow the cam member 1310 to rotate at an appropriate rotational speed. For example, the transmission member 1330 may be configured to reduce the rotational speed of the rotation shaft 1321 of the drive motor 1320. The transmission member 1330 may be configured in various ways according to design factors such as the target rotational speed of the cam member 1310 and the rotational speed of the drive motor 1320.

[0236] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a retainer 1500, which is configured to allow multiple pieces of solid detergent to be maintained in a stacked state inside the storage chamber 1200 when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A or the second position 1000B, or during the movement of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 between the first position 1000A and the second position 1000B.

[0237] The holder 1500 may be moved in a direction in which the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200 extends, by guide portions formed on both side surfaces 1230 and 1240 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0238] In the storage chamber 1200, the retainer 1500 may be arranged to be movable toward the plurality of solid detergents along the direction in which the plurality of solid detergents are stacked. This is because the direction in which the plurality of solid detergents are stacked corresponds to the direction in which the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200 extends.

[0239] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed in the first position 1000A, the holder 1500 may be disposed above the plurality of pieces of solid detergent in the storage chamber 1200 .

[0240] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the holder 1500 can move from the upper side to the lower side of the storage chamber 1200. When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the holder 1500 can move downward inside the storage chamber 1200 by gravity.

[0241] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents may correspond to the third direction Z, and the holder 1500 may move by gravity along the third direction Z. Therefore, the holder 1500 may be configured to press downward the solid detergent arranged at the highest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid detergents.

[0242] The holder 1500 may include a weight member having a weight greater than a predetermined weight so as to move by gravity in the third direction Z. For example, the weight member may be provided integrally with the holder 1500. Alternatively, the weight member may be provided to be coupled to the holder 1500.

[0243] For example, the holder 1500 may be formed of a heavy material so as to have a weight greater than a predetermined weight.

[0244] The holder 1500 may be configured to have a weight greater than or equal to a predetermined weight, and the holder 1500 may be configured to press the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agents downward with respect to the third direction Z.

[0245] When the solid cleansers at the lowest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleansers are discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 by the pusher 1300, the plurality of solid cleansers may move downward by gravity along the third direction Z corresponding to the stacking direction. The holder 1500 may press the plurality of solid cleansers downward by gravity, and the holder 1500 may guide the downward movement of the plurality of solid cleansers.

[0246] For example, when one of the plurality of solid cleansers stacked in the third direction Z is separated from the stacking arrangement and thus some of the solid cleansers are supported on both side surfaces 1230 and 1240 of the storage chamber 1200, downward movement of the plurality of solid cleansers may be restricted. In this case, the holder 1500 may guide the downward movement of the plurality of solid cleansers by pressing the plurality of solid cleansers downward.

[0247] As described above, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be configured to allow multiple pieces of solid detergent to be stacked in the third direction Z when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, and thus the space efficiency of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 and the dishwasher 1 in the first direction X and the second direction Y can be improved.

[0248] Furthermore, since the plurality of solid cleaning agents are arranged in the direction of gravity, the automatic cleaning agent dispenser 1000 may be configured to allow the plurality of solid cleaning agents to be discharged easily and sequentially from the bottom in the direction of gravity.

[0249] However, when the door 20 is rotated from the first position 20A to the second position 20B to open the liner 12 or the door 20 is arranged in the second position 20B, the direction along which the pieces of solid detergent are stacked may be arranged to point in a direction different from the third direction Z.

[0250] At this time, since the stacking direction of the multiple solid cleaners points to a direction different from the gravity direction, one of the multiple solid cleaners may be separated from the stacking structure, and the stacking arrangement of the multiple solid cleaners in the third direction Z may be destroyed.

[0251] For example, as described above, the solid detergent D may be loaded into the storage chamber 1200 in such a manner that a surface of the solid detergent D formed along the horizontal length d1 direction and the vertical length d2 direction faces the cross-sectional area S formed along the first direction X and the second direction Y of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0252] For example, the surface formed along the direction of the horizontal length d1 and the direction of the vertical length d2 of the solid detergent D may be set as a curved surface rather than a flat surface. Therefore, when multiple solid detergents D are stacked, the multiple solid detergents facing each other in the stacking direction can be arranged to allow the curved surfaces of the solid detergents to face each other, and thus when the stacking direction of the multiple solid detergents points to a direction different from the gravity direction, the multiple solid detergents can be separated from the stacking arrangement.

[0253] That is, when multiple solid detergents D are stacked so that their curved surfaces face each other, it is more difficult to maintain the stacked state. Therefore, when the stacking direction corresponds to the gravity direction, the retainer 1500 can press the multiple solid detergents D toward the stacking direction, and when the stacking direction is different from the gravity direction, the retainer 1500 can support the multiple solid detergents D to maintain the arrangement of the multiple solid detergents D.

[0254] Even when the door 20 is arranged in the first position 20A again in a state where the stacking arrangement of the plurality of solid cleaners is destroyed, the movement of the plurality of solid cleaners in the direction of gravity may be restricted. In addition, the solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners may be abnormally placed on the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200, and thus the solid cleaner may not be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 by the pusher 1300.

[0255] The solid cleaner is abnormally placed on the lower surface 1220, which means a state in which the pusher 1300 cannot push the solid cleaner when the solid cleaner is placed on the lower surface 1220, or the solid cleaner is placed in a position that prevents the solid cleaner from being discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 even if the solid cleaner is pushed by the pusher 1300.

[0256] To prevent this, when the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z due to the movement of the door 20, the holder 1500 can prevent the stacking arrangement of the plurality of solid cleaners from being destroyed.

[0257] The holder 1500 may be configured to maintain the stacked arrangement of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agent when the door 20 is moved from the first position 20A to the second position 20B or even when the door 20 is arranged in the second position 20B.

[0258] When the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z, the holder 1500 may be configured to support the solid cleaner arranged at the highest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners.

[0259] When the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z, the holder 1500 may be disposed to be fixed at a position adjacent to a solid cleaner arranged at a highest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners.

[0260] When the stacking direction of multiple solid cleansers points to a direction different from the third direction Z, the movement of the solid cleansers arranged at the highest position in the third direction Z among the multiple solid cleansers can be blocked by the temporarily fixed retainer 1500, and thereby the solid cleansers arranged at the highest position in the third direction Z among the multiple solid cleansers can be prevented from being separated from the stacking arrangement.

[0261] The storage chamber 1200 may include a guide rail 1290 configured to guide movement of the holder 1500 inside the storage chamber 1200 .

[0262] The holder 1500 may be guided by the guide rail 1290 , and may translate along an extension direction of the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0263] The guide rail 1290 may be provided to allow the holder 1500 to move downward in the third direction Z when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A.

[0264] For example, the holder 1500 may include a guide protrusion inserted into the guide rail 1290. The guide protrusion of the holder 1500 may be inserted into the guide rail 1290 and move along the extending direction of the guide rail 1290.

[0265] The guide rail 1290 may be provided to extend along an extending direction of the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200. The holder 1500 may be configured to move along the extending direction of the guide rail 1290.

[0266] The guide rail 1290 may include a stopper 1293 configured to limit the movement of the holder 1500 when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is not arranged in the first position 1000A.

[0267] When the door 20 moves from the first position 20A to the second position 20B, since the movement of the guide protrusion of the holder 1500 is restricted by the stopper 1293 , the movement of the holder 1500 in the storage chamber 1200 may be restricted.

[0268] Alternatively, the holder 1500 may be configured to maintain the stacked arrangement of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agent even when the door 20 is arranged in the second position 20B.

[0269] When the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z, the holder 1500 may be configured to support the solid cleaner arranged at the highest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners.

[0270] When the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z, the holder 1500 may be configured to be fixed to a position adjacent to a solid cleaner arranged at a highest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners.

[0271] Therefore, when the stacking direction of multiple solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z, the retainer 1500 can be temporarily fixed to the interior of the storage chamber 1200 by the stopper 1293, and the movement of the solid cleaner among the multiple solid cleaners arranged at the highest position in the third direction Z can be restricted by the fixed retainer 1500.

[0272] Even when the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents points to a direction different from the third direction Z, the stacking arrangement of the plurality of solid detergents can be maintained by the retainer 1500. Therefore, even when the plurality of solid detergents are stacked in the third direction Z in a state where the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be configured to allow one of the plurality of solid detergents to be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 and then input into the liner 12.

[0273] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a seating member 1400 configured to seat a piece of solid detergent discharged from the storage chamber 1200 .

[0274] The seating member 1400 may be disposed to communicate with the storage chamber outlet 1210. The seating member 1400 may include a seating member inner space 1401 disposed to communicate with the storage chamber outlet 1210.

[0275] One solid detergent among the plurality of solid detergents may be discharged from the stored chamber 1200 through the storage chamber outlet 1210 and moved to the seating member inner space 1401 .

[0276] The seating member may include a discharge guide 1430 connected to the liner 12. The discharge guide 1430 may be provided as a space communicating to the interior space 1401 of the seating member.

[0277] For example, the seating member inner space 1401 and the discharge guide 1430 may be formed as one space, and may be partitioned by a seating member opening 1420 that is opened or closed by a seating member door 1410 to be described later.

[0278] For example, the lower end of the seating member internal space 1401 in the third direction Z may be formed as the seating member opening 1420 , and the discharge guide 1430 may be a region formed toward the lower side from the seating member opening 1420 with respect to the third direction Z.

[0279] The seating member 1400 may be configured to allow a piece of solid detergent moved to the seating member inner space 1401 to be temporarily seated on the seating member 1400 and then input into the liner 12 .

[0280] The installation member 1400 may include an installation member opening 1420 connected to a discharge guide 1430 through which the installation member inner space 1401 is connected to the inner tank 12. When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the installation member opening 1420 may be configured to be opened toward the third direction Z.

[0281] The seating member 1400 may include a seating member door 1410 configured to open and close the seating member opening 1420. When the seating member door 1410 closes the seating member opening 1420, the seating member door 1410 may be disposed to form a lower surface of the seating member inner space 1401.

[0282] The seating member door 1410 may include a seating surface 1411 on which the solid detergent is seated when the seating member door 1410 closes the seating member opening 1420. When the seating member door 1410 closes the seating member opening 1420, the seating surface 1411 may be arranged to face upward in the third direction Z.

[0283] For example, the seating member opening 1420 may be defined as a surface closed by the seating member door 1410 in the seating member internal space 1401. Therefore, an area formed above the upper surface of the seating member opening 1420 may be defined as the seating member internal space 1401, and an area formed below the lower surface of the seating member opening 1420 may be defined as the discharge guide 1430. When the seating member door 1410 closes the seating member opening 1420, the seating surface 1411 may be arranged on the seating member opening 1420, and therefore, the seating surface 1411 may be defined as the lower surface of the seating member internal space 1401.

[0284] For example, the lower surface of the seating member inner space 1401 may be defined as the seating member opening 1420 , but when the seating member door 1410 closes the seating member opening 1420 , the lower surface of the seating member inner space 1401 may be defined as the seating member door 1410 .

[0285] The placement member door 1410 may be configured to seal the placement member inner space 1401 from the outside when the placement member door 1410 closes the placement member opening 1420. In addition, when the placement member door 1410 opens the placement member opening 1420, the placement member door 1410 may connect the placement member inner space 1401 and the liner 12.

[0286] The seating member 1400 may include a seating member door driver 1470 configured to open and close the seating member door 1410 .

[0287] For example, the seating member door driver 1470 may include a driving motor and a transmission member.

[0288] For example, the transmission member of the placement member door driver 1470 may include a plurality of gears. For example, when the driving motor rotates in one direction, the plurality of gears may transmit the rotational force in one direction to the placement member door 1410. In a state where the placement member door 1410 closes the placement member opening 1420, the placement member door 1410 may rotate in one direction by the received rotational force, thereby opening the placement member opening 1420.

[0289] For example, when the driving motor rotates in the opposite direction, the plurality of gears may transmit the rotational force in the opposite direction to the seating member door 1410. In a state where the seating member door 1410 opens the seating member opening 1420, the seating member door 1410 may rotate in the opposite direction by the received rotational force, thereby closing the seating member opening 1420.

[0290] The placement member opening 1420 may be communicated with the inlet 1122 through the discharge guide 1430. A piece of solid detergent located in the placement member internal space 1401 may be discharged from the placement member internal space 1401 through the placement member opening 1420, and then discharged from the placement member opening 1420 to the outside of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 through the inlet 1122. Thus, the solid detergent may be input into the inner tank 12.

[0291] The seating member 1400 may include a discharge guide 1430 formed between the seating member opening 1420 and the inlet 1122 and configured to guide movement of the solid detergent from the seating member opening 1420 to the inlet 1122 .

[0292] A piece of solid detergent discharged from the storage chamber 1200 may be temporarily seated on the seating member 1400 , and in particular, the solid detergent may be located on a seating surface 1411 of the seating member door 1410 forming a lower surface of the seating member inner space 1401 .

[0293] The inlet 1122 may be opened and closed by the inlet cover 1150. When the solid detergent discharged along the discharge guide 1430 pushes the inlet cover 1150, the inlet cover 1150 may open the inlet 1122.

[0294] The solid cleaning agent may pass through the inlet 1120 while pushing the inlet cover 1150 , and then move to the inner container 12 .

[0295] When the seating member door 1410 opens the seating member opening 1420 , the solid detergent placed on the seating member door 1410 may move downward by gravity and then be discharged to the outside of the seating member inner space 1401 through the seating member opening 1420 .

[0296] The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be configured to allow a piece of solid detergent discharged from the storage chamber 1200 to move to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 through the seating member 1400 instead of being immediately discharged to the outside of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 .

[0297] The storage chamber 1200 may include a middle door 1250 configured to open and close the storage chamber outlet 1210. The middle door 1250 may be configured to prevent the solid detergent loaded into the storage chamber 1200 from being moved to the seating member 1400 by external force without being discharged from the storage chamber 1200 by the ejector 1300.

[0298] The middle door 1250 may be biased in a direction to close the storage chamber outlet 1210. The middle door 1250 may include an elastic member 1251, and may be biased toward the storage chamber outlet 1210 by the elastic member 1251 to allow the middle door 1250 to close the storage chamber outlet 1210.

[0299] The solid detergents among the plurality of solid detergents loaded into the storage chamber 1200, pushed by the pusher 1300 and moved to the storage chamber outlet 1210 can open the middle door 1250 by pushing the middle door 1250. When the middle door 1250 is opened, the solid detergents can move to the seating member 1400 through the storage chamber outlet 1210.

[0300] Even when the solid cleanser is moved toward the storage chamber outlet 1210 not by the push of the pusher 1300 but by external force, the solid cleanser may be blocked by the middle door 1250, and thus the solid cleanser does not pass through the storage chamber outlet 1210 and cannot be discharged from the storage chamber 1200.

[0301] When the solid cleaner is moved by the pushing portion 1312 a and collides with the middle door 1250 , the pusher 1300 may push the solid cleaner to allow the biased middle door 1250 to be opened by the pushing of the solid cleaner.

[0302] The force with which the middle door 1250 closes the storage chamber outlet 1210 by the elastic member 1251 may be set to be smaller than the force with which the solid detergent pushes the door 1250 by the pusher 1300 .

[0303] Since the seating member 1400 is formed between the storage chamber outlet 1210 and the liner 12 , the storage chamber outlet 1210 may be connected to the liner 12 through the seating member 1400 , rather than being directly connected to the liner 12 .

[0304] When the storage chamber outlet 1210 is directly connected to the liner 12, water remaining in the liner 12 may flow into the storage chamber 1200 through the storage chamber outlet 1210, and thus pieces of solid detergent loaded inside the storage chamber 1200 may be damaged or deformed by water.

[0305] To prevent this, the storage chamber outlet 1210 may be configured to bypass the inner liner 12 through the seating member 1400 instead of being directly connected to the inner liner 12 .

[0306] When solid detergent needs to be input into the inner container 12, the placement member 1400 can open the placement member opening 1420 to allow the placement member internal space 1401 to communicate with the inner container 12. In the stage where the solid detergent is not input into the inner container 12, the placement member door 1410 can close the placement member opening 1420, thereby minimizing the flow of water remaining in the inner container 12 into the placement member internal space 1401.

[0307] The seating member 1400 may include a seating member sensor 1440 configured to detect whether the solid detergent is seated on the seating member 1400 .

[0308] Since the storage chamber 1200 is provided to communicate with the seating member 1400 , it is naturally detected by the seating member sensor 1440 whether the solid detergent discharged from the storage chamber 1200 is seated on the seating member 1400 .

[0309] The installation member sensor 1440 may be provided as a position sensor. For example, the installation member sensor 1440 may include an optical sensor.

[0310] The seating member sensor 1440 may detect whether the solid detergent is located in the seating member 1400, and the control device 1900 (refer to Figure 5 ) The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may be controlled based on the value detected by the seating member sensor 1440.

[0311] The control device 1900 can receive: information related to whether the solid cleanser is loaded into the storage chamber 1200, information related to whether the solid cleanser is placed on the mounting member 1400 after the pusher 1300 is driven in a state where the solid cleanser is loaded into the storage chamber 1200, and information related to whether the solid cleanser is discharged from the mounting member 1400 after the solid cleanser is placed on the mounting member 1400, and control the automatic cleanser dispenser 1000 based on the received information.

[0312] The control device 1900 may be configured to communicate with a main control device of the dishwasher 1 and to allow the controller to control the dishwasher 1 based on the received information.

[0313] For example, the control device 1900 and the main control device can be subcomponents of the controller, and both the dishwasher 1 and the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be controlled by the controller. However, in the following description, only the control of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is targeted, assuming that the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is controlled by the control device 1900.

[0314] For example, when the installation member sensor 1440 fails to detect the solid detergent after the pusher 1300 is driven, the control device 1900 may determine that the solid detergent is not discharged from the storage chamber 1200 because the solid detergent is not loaded into the storage chamber 1200, or determine that the solid detergent is not discharged from the storage chamber 1200 due to a malfunction of the pusher 1300 even if the solid detergent is loaded into the storage chamber 1200. Based on this determination, the control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000.

[0315] For example, control device 1900 may allow pusher 1300 to be driven again to move solid detergent to seating member 1400. In addition, control device 1900 may communicate with the main control device, and the controller may control dishwasher 1 to not perform a washing process of dishwasher 1 based on the communication value.

[0316] For example, after the control device 1900 controls the pusher 1300 to be driven again, when the placement member sensor 1440 continues to fail to detect the solid detergent, the control device 1900 can communicate with the main control device, and the controller can control the dishwasher 1 based on the communication value to not perform the washing process of the dishwasher 1. In addition, the controller can control the display to inform the user that there is no solid detergent in the storage chamber 1200.

[0317] For example, the display may be implemented as a display positioned on the main body 10 of the dishwasher 1. For example, the display may be implemented as a separate device configured to communicate with the dishwasher 1.

[0318] For example, after the detection state is maintained since the seating member sensor 1440 detects the solid detergent in the seating member, when the seating member sensor 1440 fails to detect the solid detergent, the control device 1900 may determine that the solid detergent is discharged from the seating member 1400 and then input into the inner tank 12, and the control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 based on the determination. For example, the control device 1900 may communicate with the main control device, and the controller may control the dishwasher 1 based on the communication value to perform the washing process of the dishwasher 1.

[0319] Since the placement member sensor 1440 senses the position of the solid detergent in the placement member 1400, the control device 1900 can be configured to recognize all of the above situations, and thus the number of additional sensors configured to detect the position of the solid detergent can be minimized. That is, even if the position sensor configured to additionally detect the position of the solid detergent is not placed in the storage chamber 1200 or the discharge guide 1430, by placing the placement member sensor 1440 on the placement member 1400, the control device 1900 can also be configured to determine all of these situations, such as whether the solid detergent is located in the storage chamber 1200, or whether the solid detergent is located in the placement member internal space 1401, or whether the solid detergent is located outside the placement member 1400. This will be described in detail later.

[0320] As described above, the storage chamber 1200 may be provided in plural. For example, two storage chambers 1200 may be provided.

[0321] In the following, for the convenience of description, Figure 8 The storage chamber 1200 arranged on the left side in the second direction Y is defined as the first storage chamber 1200, and the storage chamber 1200' arranged on the right side is defined as the second storage chamber 1200'. In addition, the configuration of the first storage chamber 1200 is defined as the first configuration, and the configuration of the second storage chamber 1200' is defined as the second configuration. For example, the middle door 1250 of the first storage chamber 1200 is defined as the first middle door 1250, and the middle door 1250' of the second storage chamber 1200' is defined as the second middle door 1250'.

[0322] In addition, the pusher configured to discharge the solid detergent stored in the first storage chamber 1200 is defined as the first pusher 1300, and the pusher configured to discharge the solid detergent stored in the second storage chamber 1200' is defined as the second pusher 1300'. In addition, the retainer 1500 arranged inside the first storage chamber 1200 is defined as the first retainer 1500, and the retainer 1500 arranged inside the second storage chamber 1200' is defined as the second retainer 1500'.

[0323] The first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' may be arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y. The first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' respectively include long sides extending along the third direction Z when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A. Therefore, when the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' are arranged to be spaced apart from each other in the second direction Y, the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' may be effectively arranged inside the automatic detergent dispenser 1000.

[0324] Thanks to the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′, the user can load a large amount of solid detergent into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 at one time.

[0325] The mounting member 1400 may be disposed between the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ in the second direction Y. The first storage chamber 1200 may be provided to communicate with the mounting member 1400 as described above, and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ may also be provided to communicate with the mounting member 1400 .

[0326] Therefore, the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ may communicate with the liner 12 through the single seating member 1400 disposed between the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ in the second direction Y.

[0327] This is to minimize the expansion of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y because the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' share the placement member 1400. That is, when a plurality of placement members 1400 are provided to correspond to the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200', the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y may increase due to the plurality of placement members. However, with the automatic detergent dispenser 1000, the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' may be communicated with each other through the single placement member 1400 as described above, and thus the length of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y may be minimized.

[0328] based on Figure 8 , with respect to the second direction Y, the first storage chamber 1200 may be disposed on the left side of the seating member 1400 , and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ may be disposed on the right side of the seating member 1400 .

[0329] As described above, when the first cam member 1310 rotates clockwise, the first cam member 1310 can move the solid cleanser placed on the first lower surface 1220 of the first storage chamber 1200 to the right side of the first storage chamber 1200, and since the first storage chamber outlet 1210 is arranged at the lower part of the first right surface 1230 of the first storage chamber 1200, the solid cleanser can move to the placement member 1400 arranged on the right side of the first storage chamber 1200.

[0330] The first cam member 1310 may be configured to rotate in a clockwise direction by being interlocked with the first driving motor 1320 and the first transmission member 1330 .

[0331] On the contrary, the second cam member 1310 ′ may rotate counterclockwise. Unlike the first ejector 1300 , the second ejector 1300 ′ may be configured to move the solid detergent loaded into the second storage chamber 1200 ′ to the left.

[0332] The second cam member 1310 ′ may be configured to rotate in a counterclockwise direction by being interlocked with the second driving motor 1320 ′ and the second transmission member 1330 ′.

[0333] When the second cam member 1310' rotates counterclockwise, the second cam member 1310' can move the solid cleanser placed on the second lower surface 1220' of the second storage chamber 1200' to the left side of the second storage chamber 1200', and since the second storage chamber outlet 1210' is arranged at the lower part of the second left surface 1240' of the second storage chamber 1200', the solid cleanser can move to the placement member 1400 arranged on the left side of the second storage chamber 1200'.

[0334] The second storage chamber 1200' may include a second through portion 1221' formed on the second lower surface 1220' of the second storage chamber 1200' and configured to allow the second pushing portion 1312a' to move from the outside of the second storage chamber 1200' to the inside of the second storage chamber 1200'.

[0335] The second through portion 1221 ′ may be provided to extend not only to the second lower surface 1220 ′ of the second storage chamber 1200 ′ but also to lower sides of the second right surface 1230 ′ and the second left surface 1240 ′ of the second storage chamber 1200 ′.

[0336] The second pushing portion 1312a' can be rotated with the aid of the rotation of the second cam member 1310', and move into the second storage chamber 1200' through the lower side of the second right surface 1230' and the second through portion 1221' of the second lower surface 1220', and then move to the outside of the second storage chamber 1200' through the lower side of the second left surface 1240' and the second through portion 1221' of the second lower surface 1220'.

[0337] The second pressing portion 1312a' may be configured to rotate while pressing the solid cleanser seated on the second lower surface 1220', thereby allowing the solid cleanser to move to the left.

[0338] The first rotation axis 1313 of the first cam member 1310 may be disposed between the first left surface 1240 and the first right surface 1230 of the first storage chamber 1200 in the second direction Y. For example, the first rotation axis 1313 of the first cam member 1310 may be disposed at the center between the left surface 1240 and the right surface 1230 of the first storage chamber 1200 in the second direction Y.

[0339] The second rotation axis 1313' of the second cam member 1310' may be disposed between the second left surface 1240' and the second right surface 1230' of the second storage chamber 1200' in the second direction Y. For example, the second rotation axis 1313' of the second cam member 1310' may be disposed at the center between the second left surface 1240' and the second right surface 1230' of the second storage chamber 1200' in the second direction Y.

[0340] The reason why the first rotating axis 1313 of the first cam member 1310 and the second rotating axis 1313' of the second cam member 1310' as described above are respectively located at the center of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' in the second direction Y is to stably support and push the solid detergent when the first pushing portion 1312a of the first cam member 1310 and the second pushing portion 1312a' of the second cam member 1310' rotate.

[0341] When the first rotating axis 1313 of the first cam member 1310 and the second rotating axis 1313' of the second cam member 1310' are arranged outside the center of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' in the second direction Y, the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' can pass through the first through portion 1221 and the second through portion 1221' with a predetermined length or shorter length of the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a', and therefore, in the section where the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' pass through the first through portion 1221 and the second through portion 1221' by means of the rotation of the first cam member 1310 and the second cam member 1310', it is difficult for the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' to stably support the solid detergent.

[0342] In the section where the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' enter or leave the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' by passing through the first through portion 1221 and the second through portion 1221', the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' can pass through the first through portion 1221 and the second through portion 1221' with a predetermined length of the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' or a shorter length, and therefore it is difficult for the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' to stably support the solid detergent loaded into the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200'.

[0343] In order to prevent this situation, the first rotating axis 1313 of the first cam member 1310 and the second rotating axis 1313' of the second cam member 1310' can be respectively arranged at the center of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' in the second direction Y, so that in the section where the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' pass through the first through portion 1221 and the second through portion 1221' to enter or leave the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200', the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' pass through the first through portion 1221 and the second through portion 1221' with a predetermined length of the first pushing portion 1312a and the second pushing portion 1312a' or more and rotate.

[0344] When the first rotation axis 1313 of the first cam member 1310 and the second rotation axis 1313' of the second cam member 1310' are not arranged at the centers of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200', respectively, in the second direction Y, the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y may increase. Therefore, it is appropriate that the first rotation axis 1313 of the first cam member 1310 and the second rotation axis 1313' of the second cam member 1310' are arranged at the centers of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200', respectively.

[0345] The first and second ejectors 1300 and 1300 ′ may be configured to be driven in mirror-symmetrical directions with respect to the seating member 1400 in the second direction Y. The first and second cam members 1310 and 1310 ′ may be configured to rotate in opposite directions to each other so as to be mirror-symmetrical with respect to the seating member 1400 .

[0346] In order to arrange the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' on opposite sides of the mounting member 1400 relative to the second direction Y, and to move the solid cleaning agent discharged from the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' to the mounting member 1400, the first pusher 1300 and the second pusher 1300' can be arranged to be driven in a mirror-symmetrical direction relative to the mounting member 1400 in the second direction Y.

[0347] A width L1 (or referred to as a horizontal length) of the first storage chamber 1200 in the second direction Y may be substantially the same as a width L1 of the second storage chamber 1200 ′.

[0348] The width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' in the second direction Y may substantially correspond to the width L3 of the seating member 1400. When the solid detergent is discharged from the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' in a state where the width L3 of the seating member 1400 in the second direction Y is much smaller than the width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200', the solid detergent may be stuck in the seating member inner space 1401 and cannot be seated on the seating member door 1410.

[0349] On the contrary, when the width L3 of the mounting member 1400 in the second direction Y is much larger than the width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200', the volume of the mounting member 1400 in the second direction Y may increase more than necessary, and thus the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y may increase more than necessary.

[0350] Therefore, as described above, appropriately, in the second direction Y, the width L3 of the seating member 1400 may have a length corresponding to the width L1 of the first and second storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′ having the cross-sectional area S consistent with the size of the solid detergent.

[0351] Hereinafter, the operation of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 will be described in detail.

[0352] Figure 8 is a view illustrating a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment are removed, Fig. 9 The icon is loaded into Figure 8 a view of a state in which the solid detergent in the first storage chamber is discharged from the first storage chamber, Fig.10 It is a graphic Fig. 9 A view of a state in which a solid cleaning agent is placed on a placement member, Fig.11 It is a graphic Fig.10 a view of a state in which a solid detergent is discharged from an automatic detergent dispenser, and Fig.12 The icon is loaded into Figure 8 A view of a state in which the solid detergent in the second storage chamber is discharged from the second storage chamber.

[0353] like Figure 8 and Fig. 9 As shown, the control device 1900 may control the first pusher 1300 or the second pusher 1300 ′ to allow one of the plurality of solid cleaners stacked in one of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ to move to the seating member 1400 .

[0354] For example, the control device 1900 may control the first ejector 1300 to be driven. The control device 1900 may control the first ejector 1300 to be driven again or control the second ejector 1300' to be driven based on the sensed value of the seating member sensor 1440. The description thereof will be described in detail later.

[0355] By driving the first driving motor 1320 , the control device 1900 may control the first ejector 1300 to allow the first cam member 1310 to rotate clockwise.

[0356] By driving the second driving motor 1320 ′, the control device 1900 may control the second ejector 1300 ′ to allow the second cam member 1310 ′ to rotate clockwise.

[0357] The control device 1900 may control the position of the first cam member 1310 to allow the first cam region 1310A1 of the first cam member 1310 to be arranged at the upper end in the third direction Z before the first cam member 1310 rotates and the first pressing portion 1312 a moves into the storage chamber 1200 .

[0358] When the first cam region 1310A1 of the first cam member 1310 is arranged at the upper end of the first cam member 1310 in the third direction Z, the first cam region 1310A1 can be arranged below the first supporting surface 1222 of the storage chamber 1200 in the third direction Z as described above. Therefore, the solid cleaners arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners arranged in the first storage chamber 1200 can be stably placed on the first supporting surface 1222, and thus the first pushing portion 1312a can stably move the solid cleaners toward the second direction Y by the rotation of the first cam member 1310.

[0359] For example, when a portion of the first cam member 1310 passes through the first through portion 1221 and protrudes higher than the first supporting surface 1222 in the third direction Z, the solid detergent located at the lowest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid detergents loaded in the first storage chamber 1200 may not be placed horizontally in the third direction Z. Therefore, when the solid detergent moves in the second direction Y, the solid detergent may rotate or move in another direction by the center of gravity, and may not move in the second direction Y. Therefore, the solid detergent may not move toward the first storage chamber outlet 1210, and may not be discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber 1200.

[0360] Therefore, when the dishwasher 1 does not perform a washing process, the control device 1900 may control the position of the first cam member 1310 to allow the first cam area 1310A1 of the first cam member 1310 to be arranged at the upper end in the third direction Z. Thereafter, when the dishwasher 1 performs a washing process, the control device 1900 may communicate with the main control device, and the control device 1900 may control the first pusher 1300 to allow the first cam member 1310 to rotate clockwise.

[0361] The first pushing portion 1312a can be interlocked with the rotation of the first cam member 1310 and moved into the first storage chamber 1200, and therefore, the solid detergent located at the lowest position in the third direction Z can be moved to the right side relative to the second direction Y by the first pushing portion 1312a.

[0362] The solid detergent can be pushed and moved to the first storage chamber outlet 1210 by the first pushing portion 1312a, and when the solid detergent opens the first middle door 1250 configured to close the first storage chamber outlet 1210, the solid detergent can be discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber 1200 through the first storage chamber outlet 1210.

[0363] Thereafter, the solid detergent may be disposed on the mounting member 1400, in particular, on the mounting member door 1410, as shown in FIG. Fig.10 shown.

[0364] The installation member sensor 1440 can detect the position of the solid detergent, that is, whether the solid detergent is located in the installation member inner space 1401. In particular, the installation member sensor 1440 can be arranged on the installation member door 1410 in the third direction Z and configured to detect whether the solid detergent is located on the installation member door 1410.

[0365] The control device 1900 may receive information about the position of the solid detergent located on the seating member door 1410 through the seating member sensor 1440 and communicate with the main control device, and the controller may control the dishwasher 1 based on the communication value to allow the dishwasher 1 to perform a washing process.

[0366] For example, the washing process of the dishwasher 1 may be divided into a pre-washing operation, a main washing operation, a rinsing operation, and a drying operation. The controller may control the dishwasher 1 based on the communication value to allow the dishwasher 1 to perform the pre-washing operation.

[0367] For example, when the placement member sensor 1440 fails to detect the solid detergent after driving the first pusher 1300 once, the control device 1900 may send information that the solid detergent is not detected to the main control device. The controller may control the dishwasher 1 based on the communication value to allow the dishwasher 1 not to perform the pre-washing operation of the washing process. This is because, in some cases, the user may open the door 20 to load the solid detergent into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000. Therefore, when the solid detergent is not placed in the placement member 1400, the controller may control the dishwasher 1 to not start the washing process itself.

[0368] For example, when the installation member sensor 1440 fails to detect the solid detergent after the first pusher 1300 is driven once, the control device 1900 may drive the first pusher 1300 again, which is similar to Fig.10 As described above, the controller may control the dishwasher 1 to allow the dishwasher 1 not to perform the washing process.

[0369] This is for driving the first pusher 1300 again to move the solid cleaner in the second direction Y through the first pushing portion 1312a, thereby allowing the solid cleaner to be discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber 1200, when the solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among the multiple solid cleaners loaded into the first storage chamber 1200 is not stably placed on the first support surface 1222 and is moved in another direction instead of the second direction Y by the first pushing portion 1312a.

[0370] Thereafter, the control device 1900 may receive information about the position of the solid detergent located on the seating member door 1410 through the seating member sensor 1440 and communicate with the main control device, and the controller may control the dishwasher 1 based on the communication value to allow the dishwasher 1 to perform a washing process.

[0371] like Fig.11 As shown, when the dishwasher 1 performs the main washing operation of the washing process through the controller, the control device 1900 can open the seating member door 1410 to allow the solid detergent to be discharged from the seating member inner space 1401 and input into the inner tank 12 through the discharge guide 1430 .

[0372] When the seating member door 1410 opens the seating member opening 1420 , the solid detergent may move to the discharge guide 1430 through the seating member opening 1420 , and the solid detergent may be discharged from the detergent automatic dispenser 1000 through the inlet 1122 along the discharge guide 1430 .

[0373] For example, the seating member door 1410 may open the seating member opening 1420 while rotating downward, and the solid detergent placed on the seating member door 1410 may move to the discharge guide 1430 by passing through the seating member opening 1420 while the solid detergent moves downward according to the rotation of the seating member door 1410 .

[0374] The control device 1900 may rotate the seating member door 1410 to allow it to open the seating member opening 1420 , and after a predetermined time has passed, the control device 1900 may rotate the seating member door 1410 in the opposite direction to allow it to close the seating member opening 1420 again.

[0375] This is because, when the seating member opening 1420 is opened for a predetermined period of time, water may flow from the liner 12 through the seating member 1400 into the storage chamber 1200. To prevent this, the control device 1900 may control the opening and closing of the seating member door 1410.

[0376] The control device 1900 may control the seating member door driver 1470 to open and close the seating member door 1410. The seating member door driver 1470 may transmit a rotational force in one direction or the opposite direction to the seating member door 1410 under the control of the control device 1900 so as to drive the seating member door 1410 to open and close the seating member opening 1420.

[0377] When the control device 1900 receives information from the seating member sensor 1440 that no solid detergent is located in the seating member 1400 after the control device 1900 controls the seating member door 1410 to be opened and closed, the control device 1900 can communicate with the main control device, and the controller can control the dishwasher 1 based on the communication value to perform the main wash operation of the washing process.

[0378] This is to prevent the dishwasher 1 from performing the main washing operation in a state where the solid detergent is not discharged from the seating member internal space 1401 due to the solid detergent adhering to the seating member door 1410 even when the seating member door 1410 is opened and the seating member opening 1420 is closed.

[0379] After the control device 1900 controls the placement member door 1410 to be opened and closed, the control device 1900 can receive information from the placement member sensor 1440 that no solid detergent is located in the placement member 1400, and the control device 1900 can control the position of the first cam member 1310 to allow the first cam area 1310A1 of the cam member 1310 to be arranged at the upper end in the third direction Z.

[0380] Therefore, as the solid cleaner at the lowest position in the third direction Z among the multiple solid cleaners is discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber 1200, the multiple solid cleaners loaded into the first storage chamber 1200 can move downward, and the solid cleaner positioned directly above the discharged solid cleaner can be stably placed on the support surface 1222.

[0381] By repeating the above process, the control device 1900 can control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to allow the solid detergent to be automatically input into the inner tank 12 in response to the dishwasher 1 performing the washing process.

[0382] When receiving information that the seating member sensor 1440 does not detect the solid detergent after driving the first ejector 1300, the control device 1900 may drive the first ejector 1300 again and receive information whether the solid detergent is detected from the seating member sensor 1440 as described above.

[0383] When receiving information that the seating member sensor 1440 does not detect the solid detergent even after the first ejector 1300 is driven again, the control device 1900 may drive the second ejector 1300 ′ based on the information.

[0384] Since the pieces of solid detergent loaded into the first storage chamber 1200 are all discharged from the first storage chamber 1200 , the seating member sensor 1440 cannot detect the solid detergent even after the control device 1900 controls the first pusher 1300 to be driven twice.

[0385] Therefore, the control device 1900 may control the second ejector 1300' to be driven. Features of driving the second ejector 1300' by the control device 1900 are the same as features of driving the first ejector 1300 by the control device 1900, and thus description thereof will be omitted.

[0386] In addition, if Fig.10 and Fig.11 As shown, after the pushing portion 1312a pushes the solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position among the multiple solid cleaners, the pushing portion 1312a can be withdrawn to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 through the rotation of the cam member 1310, and the multiple solid cleaners can be moved downward relative to the third direction Z while being in a row in a stacked state.

[0387] The cam member 1310 may be configured to guide the plurality of solid cleansers stacked and loaded inside the storage chamber 1200 to move in parallel with the third direction Z. In particular, the cam member 1310 may be configured to guide movement in which, as the cam member 1310 rotates, the plurality of solid cleansers disposed on the periphery of the cam member 1310 gradually descend in the storage chamber according to the rotation of the cam member 1310 .

[0388] In the above description, reference has been made to Figures 1 to 12 The configuration and operation of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 of the dishwasher 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure are described. However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and the above contents are merely examples of the dishwasher and the automatic detergent dispenser according to the present disclosure.

[0389] For example, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is in the first position 1000A, a plurality of pieces of solid detergent may be stacked and loaded into the storage chamber 1200 in a direction different from the third direction Z (ie, a direction different from the vertical direction of the dishwasher 1 ).

[0390] For example, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is in the first position 1000A, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a storage chamber having a long side extending along a second direction Y, and the second direction Y is the left-right direction of the dishwasher 1. Multiple solid detergents may be stacked and loaded into the storage chamber along the second direction Y. The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a retainer configured to move multiple solid detergents stacked in the storage chamber along the second direction Y to the second direction Y. For example, the retainer may include an elastic member, and thus the retainer may move multiple solid detergents toward the cam member of the pusher along the second direction Y. The cam member may push a solid detergent in the multiple solid detergents to discharge it to the outside of the storage chamber. For example, the solid detergent may be discharged in a direction perpendicular to the second direction Y, and then moved to the lower side of the storage chamber. A solid detergent discharged to the outside of the storage chamber may be introduced into the liner 12 by placing a member, etc.

[0391] As an example, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is in the first position 1000A, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include storage chambers 1200 and 1200' in which a plurality of solid detergents are stacked and loaded along the third direction Z. Figures 1 to 12 However, Figures 1 to 12 Different from the content shown, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be arranged to allow multiple solid detergents to move upward in the storage chambers 1200 and 1200' and then be discharged. The automatic detergent dispenser 1000 may include a retainer, which is arranged inside the storage chambers 1200 and 1200' and is configured to move multiple solid detergents to the upper side. For example, the retainer may include an elastic member, and the retainer may move multiple solid detergents to the upper side. The cam of the pusher may be arranged on the upper side of the storage chambers 1200 and 1200', and a solid detergent that is arranged at the highest position among the multiple solid detergents can be moved out of the storage chamber 1200 by the cam of the pusher. A solid detergent that is moved to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 can be introduced into the liner 12 by placing components, etc.

[0392] It is illustrated that when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is in the first position 1000A, multiple solid detergents are stacked and loaded in the storage chambers 1200 and 1200' in the third direction Z which is the vertical direction. The term "third direction" refers to the direction along which multiple solid detergents are stacked and loaded in the storage chambers 1200 and 1200', and the term "third direction" is only a term for defining the stacking direction of multiple solid detergents. Therefore, the stacking direction of multiple solid detergents is not limited by the term "third direction". For example, as required, the stacking direction of multiple solid detergents can be referred to as the "first direction", and even in this case, the term "first direction" can also represent the Z direction shown in the drawings according to the embodiments of the present disclosure (assuming that the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is in the first position 1000A), etc. In the following, the retainer 1500 will be described in detail.

[0393] Fig.13 is a view illustrating a portion of a storage chamber and a holder when an automatic detergent dispenser is arranged at a first position in a dishwasher according to an embodiment, Fig.14 yes Fig.13 Schematic diagram of a part of the guide rail and the retainer, Fig.15 is a view illustrating a portion of a storage chamber and a holder when the automatic detergent dispenser is arranged at a second position in the dishwasher according to the embodiment, and Fig.16 yes Fig.15 Schematic diagram of a guide rail and a part of the retainer.

[0394] For example, the holder 1500 may be provided with a plurality of holders 1500 and 1500' in a number corresponding to the plurality of storage chambers 1200 and 1200'. However, for ease of description, a single holder 1500 will be described, such as Fig.13 shown.

[0395] As described above, the storage chamber 1200 may include a guide rail 1290 configured to guide the movement of the holder 1500 inside the storage chamber 1200 .

[0396] like Fig.13 and Fig.14 As shown, the guide track 1290 can be arranged to extend along the direction along which the multiple solid detergents are stacked. The guide track 1290 can be arranged to extend along the direction along which the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200 extends. When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the guide track 1290 can be arranged to extend along the third direction Z which is the vertical direction.

[0397] The holder 1500 may include a guide protrusion 1510 inserted into the guide rail 1290 and disposed to be movable along an extending direction of the guide rail 1290 .

[0398] For example, the guide rails 1290 may be provided in pairs by being respectively formed on the right surface 1230 and the left surface 1240 of the storage chamber 1200. For example, the guide rails 1290 may be provided to be formed on the inner surface 1260 of the storage chamber 1200.

[0399] For example, a pair of guide protrusions 1510 may be provided to correspond to a pair of guide rails 1290. The pair of guide protrusions 1510 protrude to the left and right from the holder 1500 so as to be inserted into the guide rails 1290 formed on the right surface 1230 and the guide rails 1290 formed on the left surface 1240, respectively.

[0400] The retainer 1500 may be configured to translate within the storage chamber 1200 along a direction along which the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200 extends.

[0401] Based on the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200, the pusher 1300 may be arranged on one side 1201a of the long side 1201 (refer to Figure 7 ), and the retainer 1500 can be moved from the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 to the one side 1201a of the long side 1201 along the extension direction of the long side 1201.

[0402] When the stacking direction of multiple solid cleaners corresponds to the third direction Z, the retainer 1500 can be moved toward the multiple solid cleaners from the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 by gravity, and the retainer 1500 is configured to squeeze the multiple solid cleaners toward the stacking direction of the multiple solid cleaners.

[0403] The holder 1500 is configured to press, by gravity, the solid cleaner Dh located at the highest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners. Through the holder 1500 , the plurality of solid cleaners may be subjected to an external force pressed in the stacking direction, and thus the stacking arrangement of the plurality of solid cleaners may be maintained.

[0404] The guide rail 1290 may include a first side 1291 extending in parallel with an extension direction of the guide rail 1290 and a second side 1292 spaced apart from the first side 1291 with respect to a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the guide rail 1290 .

[0405] A guide groove 1294 may be formed between the first side 1291 and the second side 1292 , and the guide protrusion 1510 may be inserted into the guide groove 1294 .

[0406] When the stacking direction of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agents points to a direction different from the third direction Z due to the opening of the door 20 , the second side 1292 may be positioned at a lower side relative to the third direction Z than the first side 1291 .

[0407] The second side 1292 may be disposed further forward than the first side 1291 in the first direction X. Therefore, the second side 1292 may be disposed lower than the first side 1291 in the third direction Z when the door 20 is opened.

[0408] The stopper 1293 may be disposed on the second side 1292. When the stacking direction of the solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z due to the opening of the door 20, the stopper 1293 may limit the movement of the holder 1500 to the stacking direction of the solid cleaners.

[0409] For example, the stopper 1293 may protrude from the second side 1292 toward the first side 1291 .

[0410] For example, the stopper 1293 may include a guide member 1293a extending obliquely with respect to the second side 1292 and a support member 1293b extending from the guide member 1293a toward the second side 1292. When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the guide member 1293a may be arranged on the upper side of the support member 1293b.

[0411] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the guide member 1293a may be provided to extend obliquely downward from the second side 1292. The support member 1293b may be provided to extend from a lower end of the guide member 1293a in the third direction Z toward the second side 1292.

[0412] The support member 1293b may be configured to extend from a lower end of the guide member 1293a in the third direction Z toward the second side 1292 to allow an inclination angle of the support member 1293b relative to the second side 1292 to be greater than an inclination angle of the guide member 1293a.

[0413] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed in the first position 1000A, the holder 1500 may move downward by gravity, and the guide protrusion 1510 may move downward along the guide groove 1294 .

[0414] For example, the guide protrusion 1510 may move downward along the guide groove 1294 without contacting the first side 1291 and the second side 1292 .

[0415] For example, when the guide protrusion 1510 moves while being biased toward the first side 1291 , the guide protrusion 1510 may be guided by the first side 1291 and move downward.

[0416] For example, when the guide protrusion 1510 moves while being biased toward the second side 1292 , the guide protrusion 1510 may be guided by the guide member 1293 a and move downward.

[0417] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the retainer 1500 can move downward from the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 along the guide track 1290 in the third direction Z, and squeeze a solid detergent Dh that is closest to the retainer 1500 among the multiple solid detergents. Therefore, the stacking arrangement of the multiple solid detergents can be maintained. In addition, even when the solid detergent arranged at the lowest position among the multiple solid detergents is discharged from the storage chamber 1200 by the pusher 1300, the retainer 1500 can continuously squeeze a solid detergent Dh that is closest to the retainer 1500, and therefore the multiple solid detergents can be moved downward while the multiple solid detergents are maintained in a stacked arrangement.

[0418] The holder 1500 may include a flange 1520 extending from one side of the holder 1500 toward the plurality of solid cleansers in a stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleansers.

[0419] The flange 1520 may be disposed to overlap a portion of a solid cleaner Dh located closest to the holder 1500 among the plurality of solid cleaners with respect to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaners.

[0420] For example, the flange 1520 may extend downward from a lower end of a side of the holder 1500 facing the inner surface 1260 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0421] The flange 1520 may be configured to contact the inner surface 1260 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0422] When the holder 1500 moves in the stacking direction of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaners, the flange 1520 may move between the solid cleaner Dh positioned closest to the holder 1500 and the inner surface 1260 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0423] The flange 1520 may be configured to allow the holder 1500 to be stably arranged in the third direction Z on the solid detergent Dh closest to the holder 1500 .

[0424] When the retainer 1500 moves, the flange 1520 can be configured to move while contacting the inner surface 1260 of the storage chamber 1200, and when the retainer 1500 moves, the flange 1520 can prevent the retainer 1500 from rotating or moving in a direction different from the stacking direction of the multiple pieces of solid cleansers.

[0425] The holder 1500 may include a handle 1530 extending from the holder 1500 toward the storage chamber outlet 1210 .

[0426] As described above, the holder 1500 may be configured to move to the lower side of the storage chamber 1200 in the third direction Z. When the pieces of solid detergent loaded into the storage chamber 1200 are all discharged, the holder 1500 may move to the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0427] The holder 1500 may move toward the lower side of the storage chamber 1200 along the third direction Z by gravity. However, unless an external force is generated by the stopper 1293 , the holder 1500 may not move toward the upper side of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0428] Therefore, when the pieces of solid cleansers loaded into the storage chamber 1200 are all discharged, the holder 1500 may be arranged on the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200 , and the position of the holder 1500 may be maintained.

[0429] When the user loads new solid cleansers into the storage chamber 1200 because the pieces of solid cleansers loaded into the storage chamber 1200 are all discharged, the user can easily move the holder 1500 to the other side 1201 b of the long side 1201 by holding the handle 1530 .

[0430] The storage chamber 1200 may include an auxiliary guide rail 1295, which is configured to guide the movement of the holder 1500 inside the storage chamber 1200 and is spaced apart from the guide rail 1290. When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the first position 1000A, the auxiliary guide rail 1295 may be spaced apart from the guide rail 1290 in the first direction X.

[0431] The auxiliary guide rail 1295 may extend in the same extending direction as the guide rail 1290. The auxiliary guide rail 1295 may be provided to extend in the extending direction of the long side 1201 of the storage chamber 1200.

[0432] The holder 1500 may include an auxiliary guide protrusion 1540 inserted into the auxiliary guide rail 1295. The auxiliary guide protrusion 1540 may be inserted into the auxiliary guide rail 1295 and move along an extending direction of the auxiliary guide rail 1295.

[0433] The auxiliary guide rail 1295 may include two sides extending parallel to an extending direction of the auxiliary guide rail 1295 and an auxiliary guide groove formed between the two sides. The auxiliary guide protrusion 1540 may be inserted into the auxiliary guide groove and guided by the auxiliary guide rail 1295 to move linearly.

[0434] The holder 1500 may include a weight member 1550 configured to have a weight greater than a predetermined weight so as to move by gravity in the third direction Z. For example, the weight member 1550 may be integrally provided with the holder 1500. Alternatively, the weight member 1550 may be provided to be coupled to the holder 1500.

[0435] For example, without including the weight member 1550, the holder 1500 may be formed of a heavy material so as to have a weight greater than a predetermined weight.

[0436] The holder 1500 may be configured to have a weight greater than or equal to a predetermined weight so as to press the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agents downward in the third direction Z.

[0437] like Fig.15 and Fig.16 As shown, when the stacking direction of multiple solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z due to the opening of the door 20, the movement of the retainer 1500 toward the stacking direction of the multiple solid cleaners can be limited by the stopper 1293, and thus the retainer 1500 can stop at a predetermined position.

[0438] Therefore, the retainer 1500 can be configured to block the movement of a solid cleaner Dh among the multiple solid cleaners that is positioned closest to the retainer 1500, and since the movement of the solid cleaner Dh located at the highest position is constrained, the solid cleaner D1 arranged at the highest position can limit the movement of other solid cleaners, and thus the stacking arrangement of the multiple solid cleaners can be maintained.

[0439] When the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaners points to a direction different from the third direction Z due to the opening of the door 20, the retainer 1500 can support the solid cleaner Dh at the highest position among the plurality of solid cleaners and maintain the stacking arrangement of the plurality of solid cleaners.

[0440] When the stacking direction of multiple pieces of solid cleansers points to a direction different from the third direction Z due to the opening of the door 20, the guide protrusion 1510 can be supported by the support member 1293b and thus can be prevented from moving to the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 due to the movement of the door 20.

[0441] The guide protrusion 1510 may be configured to move to one side 1201a of the long side 1201 by the weight of the holder 1500, and in some cases, an external force may be applied toward the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 by the rotation of the door 20. At this time, the movement of the guide protrusion 1510 toward the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 is restricted by the support member 1293b, and thus the holder 1500 may be prevented from moving toward the other side 1201b of the long side 1201.

[0442] Even when the extension direction of the long side 1201 points to a direction different from the third direction Z due to the opening of the door 20, the external force acting on the one side 1201a of the long side 1201 is continuously applied to the retainer 1500 by means of gravity, and the movement of the retainer 1500 toward the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 can be restricted. Therefore, the retainer 1500 can be maintained in a state in which the retainer 1500 stops on the upper side of the solid detergent Dh located at the highest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid detergents.

[0443] Therefore, even when external force is applied to the solid cleaner Dh located at the highest position among the multiple solid cleaners in a direction other than the side 1201a of the long side 1201 due to the opening of the door 20, the retainer 1500 can still be maintained in a state where the retainer 1500 stops on the upper side of the solid cleaner Dh in the third direction Z, and thus the solid cleaner Dh can be supported by the retainer 1500.

[0444] The holder 1500 may block movement of the solid cleaner Dh located at the highest position among the plurality of pieces of solid cleaners, thereby preventing the solid cleaner Dh from being separated from the stacked arrangement.

[0445] The solid cleaner Dh arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners may be supported by the lower surface 1220 of the storage chamber 1200, and the solid cleaner Dh arranged at the highest position among the plurality of solid cleaners may be supported by the holder 1500. Therefore, even when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is not arranged in the first position 1000A due to the opening of the door 20, the stacked arrangement of the plurality of solid cleaners may be maintained.

[0446] Hereinafter, technical features of loading a plurality of pieces of solid detergent into the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 and the storage chamber cover 1140 of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 opened for detergent loading will be described in detail.

[0447] Fig.17 is a view illustrating an operation of loading solid detergent into an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment, Fig.18 It is shown in Fig.17 The view of the subsequent operation, and Fig.19 is a side cross-sectional view of an automatic detergent dispenser for a dishwasher according to an embodiment.

[0448] like Fig.17 As shown, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged in the second position 1000B, the user may open the door 20 and load the solid detergent into the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′.

[0449] The user may open the first storage chamber cover 1140 and the second storage chamber cover 1140 ′, thereby opening the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′.

[0450] The storage chamber covers 1140 and 1140 ′ may be configured to open and close the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′.

[0451] The storage chamber covers 1140 and 1140 ′ may be configured to open the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′ in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction of the plurality of pieces of solid cleansers.

[0452] The storage chamber openings 1121 and 1121 ′ may be opened in a direction perpendicular to a stacking direction of the plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agents.

[0453] As described above, the storage chamber openings 1121 and 1121' may be formed by the housing 1100 as a component of the housing 1100, but are not limited thereto. Alternatively, the storage chamber openings 1121 and 1121' may be defined as a component of the storage chambers 1200 and 1200' configured to open the storage chambers 1200 and 1200'.

[0454] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed in the first position 1000A, the storage chamber openings 1121 and 1121 ′ may be opened toward the first direction X.

[0455] The storage chamber covers 1140 and 1140 ′ open and close the storage chamber openings 1121 and 1121 ′, and thus the storage chamber openings 1121 and 1121 ′ may be opened in the first direction X when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed in the first position 1000A.

[0456] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed in the second position 1000B, the storage chamber openings 1121 and 1121 ′ may be opened toward the third direction Z.

[0457] Therefore, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is disposed at the second position 1000B, the user can easily open the first storage chamber cover 1140 and the second storage chamber cover 1140 ′.

[0458] When the storage chamber covers 1140 and 1140 ′ close the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′, the storage chamber covers 1140 and 1140 ′ may seal the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′, thereby preventing moisture from penetrating into the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′.

[0459] The storage chamber covers 1140 and 1140 ′ may be provided in a number corresponding to the number of the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′.

[0460] When the two storage chambers 1200 and 1200' are configured to be opened and closed by a single storage chamber cover, the single storage chamber cover may be configured to cover the two storage chambers 1200 and 1200', and thus the area of ​​the storage chamber cover may increase, and therefore, the sealing area of ​​the cover may increase, and the sealing effect of the two storage chambers 1200 and 1200' may decrease.

[0461] The first storage chamber cover 1140 may be provided to open and close the first storage chamber opening 1121 of the first storage chamber 1200. The second storage chamber cover 1140' may be provided to open and close the second storage chamber opening 1121' of the second storage chamber 1200'.

[0462] The first storage chamber cover 1140 may be provided to seal the first storage chamber opening 1121. The second storage chamber cover 1140' may be provided to seal the second storage chamber opening 1121'.

[0463] As described above, when the pieces of solid cleansers loaded into the first and second storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′ are all discharged, the first and second holders 1500 and 1500 ′ may be disposed on the lower surfaces 1220 and 1220 ′ of the storage chambers 1200 and 1200 ′.

[0464] The holder 1500 can be moved to the lower side of the storage chamber 1200 along the third direction Z by gravity, but the holder 1500 will not be moved to the upper side of the storage chamber 1200 by the stopper 1293 unless an external force is generated. Therefore, the user can move the holder 1500 from one side 1201a of the long side 1201 to the other side 1201b of the long side 1201 by holding the handle 1530 of the holder 1500.

[0465] For example, a user can load multiple pieces of solid detergent into the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' by opening both the first storage chamber cover 1140 and the second storage chamber cover 1140'. For example, a user can load multiple pieces of solid detergent into one of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200' by opening one of the first storage chamber cover 1140 and the second storage chamber cover 1140'.

[0466] like Fig.18 As shown, the user may load a plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agents into the space between the first lower surface 1220 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second lower surface 1220 ′ of the second storage chamber 1200 ′ and the first holder 1500 and the second holder 1500 ′.

[0467] Thereafter, the user can close the storage chamber 1200 by closing the first storage chamber cover 1140 and the second storage chamber cover 1140', and then move the door 20 to the closed position 20A. Therefore, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be arranged in the first position 1000A again, and the retainers 1500 and 1500' can press the plurality of solid detergents toward the third direction Z so as to continuously maintain the stacked arrangement of the plurality of solid detergents.

[0468] Thereafter, even when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at a position other than the first position 1000A due to the opening of the door 20 , the plurality of pieces of solid detergent may be maintained in the stacked arrangement by the holders 1500 and 1500 ′.

[0469] Hereinafter, the storage chamber region 1141, the cover protrusion 1142, and the cover gasket 1144 of the storage chamber cover 1140 will be described. For convenience of description, the description will be based on one storage chamber 1200, one storage chamber opening 1121, and one storage chamber cover 1140.

[0470] The housing 1100 may include a cover gasket 1144 configured to maintain a seal between the storage chamber cover 1140 and the storage chamber 1200 to allow the storage chamber cover 1140 to easily seal the storage chamber 1200 .

[0471] For example, the cover gasket 1144 may be coupled to the storage chamber cover 1140. For example, the cover gasket 1144 may be coupled to the storage chamber opening perimeter 1123 forming the storage chamber opening 1121.

[0472] For example, the storage chamber cover 1140 may include a cover gasket coupling portion 1143 to which the cover gasket 1144 is coupled.

[0473] The cover gasket coupling portion 1143 may be configured to protrude from an inner surface 1140 a of the storage chamber cover 1140 toward the storage chamber 1200 when the storage chamber cover 1140 closes the storage chamber 1200 .

[0474] The cover gasket 1144 may be assembled and coupled to the cover gasket coupling portion 1143 .

[0475] The cover gasket coupling portion 1143 may protrude in one direction to allow the cover gasket 1144 to be assembled and coupled thereto, and thus the cover gasket coupling portion 1143 may be formed on the storage chamber cover 1140 to reduce the volume of the housing 1100 .

[0476] This is because, when the cover gasket coupling portion is formed in the storage chamber opening periphery 1123, the area of ​​the housing 1100 in the first direction X may increase, and thus the area of ​​the liner 12 may decrease.

[0477] The cover gasket 1144 may be configured to seal the storage chamber opening 1121 by closely contacting the storage chamber opening periphery 1123 .

[0478] The storage chamber cover 1140 may include a storage chamber area 1141 , which is located inside the cover gasket 1144 , and the storage chamber area 1141 is configured to form a surface of the storage chamber 1200 when the storage chamber cover 1140 closes the storage chamber opening 1121 .

[0479] The storage chamber area 1141 may be provided as a region of an inner surface 1140 a of the storage chamber cover 1140 .

[0480] For example, when the storage chamber cover 1140 closes the storage chamber opening 1121 , the storage chamber area 1141 may protrude toward the storage chamber 1200 instead of protruding toward the inner surface 1140 a of the storage chamber cover 1140 .

[0481] For example, the storage chamber area 1141 may be based on the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 (see Figure 7 ) sizes and highlight the various lengths.

[0482] For example, the storage chamber area 1141 may be configured to be shaped according to the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 (see Figure 7 ) in various ways.

[0483] For example, the storage chamber area 1141 may be configured according to the vertical length d2 (see Figure 7 ) protrudes to ensure the vertical length L2 of the appropriate cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200.

[0484] The storage chamber cover 1140 may include a cover protrusion 1142 which is configured to protrude from the storage chamber region 1141 toward the storage chamber 1200 when the storage chamber cover 1140 closes the storage chamber opening 1121 .

[0485] The cover protrusion 1142 may protrude from one side of the storage chamber area 1141 .

[0486] like Fig.19 As shown, when the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is located at the first position 1000A, the cover protrusion 1142 may protrude from the lower side of the storage chamber area 1141 toward the storage chamber 1200 along the third direction Z.

[0487] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is located at the first position 1000A, the cover protrusion 1142 may protrude obliquely along the third direction Z from the storage chamber area 1141 toward the storage chamber 1200 .

[0488] At this time, the cover protrusion 1142 may be configured to gradually protrude downward along the third direction Z.

[0489] A vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 defined by the storage chamber region 1141 and in the interior space of the storage chamber 1200 in which the cover protrusion 1142 is not provided along the third direction Z may be greater than a vertical length L4 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 defined by the cover protrusion 1142 and in the interior space of the storage chamber 1200 in which the cover protrusion 1142 is positioned along the third direction Z.

[0490] A vertical length L4 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 defined by the cover protrusion 1142 may be greater than a vertical length d2 of the solid detergent, and may be less than a vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 defined by the storage chamber region 1141 .

[0491] Regarding the vertical length of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 , the vertical length at the lower side relative to the third direction Z may be shorter than the vertical length at the upper side.

[0492] When the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 is arranged at the first position 1000A and the solid detergents arranged at the lowest position among the plurality of solid detergents are discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 , the plurality of solid detergents loaded into the storage chamber 1200 may move downward by gravity.

[0493] When the solid detergents move downward, the solid detergents may rotate to one side due to the difference between the vertical length L2 of the cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 set by the storage chamber area 1141 and the vertical length d2 of the solid detergents. Therefore, the stacking arrangement of the solid detergents may be destroyed.

[0494] In particular, when a solid cleaner arranged at a lowest position in the third direction Z among the plurality of solid cleaners is separated from the stacked arrangement, the pusher 1300 may not discharge the solid cleaner to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 , which may cause difficulty.

[0495] To prevent this, the cover protrusion 1142 may be disposed in the lower portion of the storage chamber region 1141 in the third direction Z, thereby reducing a vertical length L4 of a cross-sectional area S of the storage chamber 1200 at the lower portion relative to the third direction Z.

[0496] The gap between the vertical length L4 of the cross-sectional area S at the lower part of the storage chamber 1200 in the third direction Z and the vertical length ds of the solid cleaner is minimized by the cover protrusion 1142, and therefore, when the solid cleaner arranged at the lowest position in the third direction Z moves downward, the solid cleaner can move vertically without rotating to one side, and therefore the solid cleaner can be horizontally placed on the lower surface 1222 of the storage chamber 1200.

[0497] For example, the cover protrusion 1142 may be configured to gradually incline from an upper portion of the storage chamber area 1141 along a third direction Z, and a protruding length of the cover protrusion 1142 in a lower portion of the storage chamber area 1141 along the third direction Z may be greater than a protruding length of the cover protrusion 1142 in an upper portion of the storage chamber area 1141 along the third direction Z.

[0498] Hereinafter, a cross-sectional area of ​​the storage chamber 1200 according to an embodiment will be described in detail.

[0499] Fig. 20 is a view illustrating a state in which some components of the automatic detergent dispenser of the dishwasher according to the embodiment are removed.

[0500] For example, Fig. 20 As shown, a horizontal length L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 and a horizontal length L5 of the second storage chamber 1200 ′ may be different from each other.

[0501] For example, the horizontal length L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 may be set to have a predetermined length for allowing the above-mentioned solid detergent D to be stored in the storage chamber 1200. The horizontal length L5 of the second storage chamber 1200' may be smaller than the horizontal length L1 of the first storage chamber 1200.

[0502] For example, the horizontal length L5 of the second storage chamber 1200 ′ may be greater than the horizontal length L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 .

[0503] The width L4 of the seating member 1400 in the second direction Y may be substantially similar to the width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200. This is because, when the solid detergent is discharged from the first storage chamber 1200 to the seating member 1400 in a state where the width L4 of the seating member 1400 is much smaller than the width L5 of the second storage chamber 1200', the solid detergent may be stuck in the seating member inner space 1401, and may not be seated on the seating member door 1410.

[0504] On the contrary, when the width L4 of the mounting member 1400 in the second direction Y is much larger than the width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 or the width L5 of the second storage chamber 1200', the volume of the mounting member 1400 in the second direction Y will increase to a greater extent than necessary, and therefore the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the second direction Y will increase to a greater extent than necessary.

[0505] Therefore, as described above, it is appropriate that, in the second direction Y, the width L4 of the seating member 1400 may have a length similar to the width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 having the cross-sectional area S consistent with the size of the solid detergent.

[0506] When the above-mentioned solid detergent D is defined as a conventional solid detergent D having an appropriate volume for washing consistent with the capacity of the inner tank 12 of the conventional dishwasher 1 and having a predetermined horizontal length d1 consistent with the appropriate volume, the small solid detergent D' stored in the second storage chamber 1200' may be defined as a small solid detergent D' having a smaller volume than the conventional solid detergent D and thus having a horizontal length shorter than the horizontal length d1 of the solid detergent D. In addition, the small solid detergent D' may be a solid detergent D' having a shape in which the conventional solid detergent D is partially cut in the direction of the horizontal length d1.

[0507] When the user wants to wash only a small amount of dishes, a smaller amount of detergent than the conventional solid detergent D that is usually used according to the capacity of the inner tank 12 may be used to wash the small amount of dishes.

[0508] In addition to the regular solid detergent D stored in the first storage chamber 1200, the second storage chamber 1200' may also be configured to store small solid detergent D' which is different in volume from the solid detergent D. Therefore, the user can selectively use the regular solid detergent D or the small solid detergent D' to perform a washing process as desired.

[0509] The user may input information about the washing mode of the dishwasher 1 through an input device of the dishwasher 1 or through a mobile device to allow the dishwasher 1 to selectively perform one of the normal washing mode and the small amount washing mode.

[0510] The control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to drive the first ejector 1300 or the second ejector 1300 ′ based on the user input acquired from the main control device.

[0511] When the user selects the normal washing mode, the control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to allow the first pusher 1300 to be driven.

[0512] When the user selects the small amount washing mode, the control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to allow the second pusher 1300 ′ to be driven.

[0513] Hereinafter, the adjustment member 1270 configured to adjust the cross-sectional area of ​​the storage chamber 1200 according to an embodiment will be described in detail.

[0514] Fig.21 is a view illustrating a state in which some components of an automatic detergent dispenser of a dishwasher according to an embodiment are removed, and Fig. 22 It is shown in Fig.21 A view of a state in which the adjusting member of the second storage chamber is moved.

[0515] For example, Fig.21 and Fig. 22 As shown, the storage chamber 1200 may include an adjustment member 1270 configured to adjust the inner width of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0516] When the above-mentioned solid detergent D is defined as a conventional solid detergent D having an appropriate volume for washing consistent with the capacity of the inner tank 12 of a conventional dishwasher 1 and having a predetermined horizontal length d1 consistent with the appropriate volume, some solid detergents D" may have a smaller volume than the conventional solid detergent D, and therefore the width d1" of the solid detergent D" may be smaller than the width d1 of the conventional solid detergent D.

[0517] For example, when certain solid cleaners D” are stacked in a storage chamber 1200 having a width L1 corresponding to a width d1 of a conventional solid cleaner D, due to a gap between the right surface 1230 or the left surface 1240 of the storage chamber 1200 and the certain solid cleaners D” in the storage chamber 1200, the certain solid cleaners D” may move along the second direction Y, and thus the certain solid cleaners D” may be separated from the stacking arrangement of the solid cleaners D”. When the pusher 1300 is driven in a state in which certain solid cleaners D” are separated, multiple pieces of solid cleaners D” may not be moved along the third direction Y by the pusher 1300, and the certain solid cleaners D” may be stuck in the storage chamber 1200 and thus may not be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200.

[0518] For example, the storage chamber 1200 may include an adjustment member 1270 configured to adjust the width of the storage chamber 1200 in the second direction Y, and the adjustment member 1270 may be movable in the second direction Y to adjust the width of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0519] Even when the width d1” of certain solid detergents D” is smaller than the width d1 of conventional solid detergents D, the adjusting member 1270 can adjust the width L6 of the storage chamber 1200 so as to correspond to the width d1” of the certain solid detergents D”, and thus the stacking state of the solid detergents D” can be maintained in the storage chamber 1200.

[0520] The adjusting member 1270 may include a supporting wall 1271 configured to support a plurality of pieces of solid detergent and a mover 1272 connected to the supporting wall 1271 in the second direction Y to move the position of the supporting wall 1271 toward the second direction Y.

[0521] The regulating member 1270 may be disposed on the right surface 1230 or the left surface 1240 of the storage chamber 1200 .

[0522] When the support wall 1271 is disposed closest to the right surface 1230 or the left surface 1240 , the width L1 of the storage chamber 1200 may be substantially the same as the width d1 of the general solid detergent D. As shown in FIG.

[0523] The user can adjust the width of the storage chamber 1200 by pressing the support wall 1271 toward the second direction Y. For example, the user can move the support wall 1271 disposed adjacent to the right surface 1230 or the left surface 1240 toward the second direction Y to allow the width d1″ of some solid detergent D″ to correspond to the width L6 of the storage chamber 1200.

[0524] For example, the mover 1272 may extend or retract in the second direction Y to allow the support wall 1271 to move in the second direction Y inside the storage chamber 1200 .

[0525] For example, the mover 1272 may be configured to be movable along the second direction Y between the outside and the inside of the storage chamber 1200 to allow the support wall 1271 to move along the second direction Y inside the storage chamber 1200 .

[0526] For example, the user can open the storage chamber cover 1140 to open the storage chamber 1200, and move the adjustment member 1270 toward the second direction Y so that the storage chamber 1200 has a user-desired width. The user can selectively adjust the width of the storage chamber 1200 by grasping the support wall 1271 and moving the support wall 1271 toward the second direction Y to form the user-desired width of the storage chamber 1200. As the user presses the support wall 1271, the mover 1272 can extend or retract along the second direction Y.

[0527] For example, the adjusting member 1270 may be driven by the adjusting member driver through the control of the control device 1900. The user may input information about the width of the storage chamber 1200 to the dishwasher 1 through the input device of the dishwasher 1 or through the moving device, and the control device 1900 may control the adjusting member 1270 to move the mover 1272 or extend or retract the mover 1272 based on the user input obtained from the main control device, thereby allowing the adjusting member 1270 to move a predetermined distance in the second direction Y.

[0528] The holder 1500 may be disposed to move between the support wall 1271 and one of the right surface 1230 or the left surface 1240 on which the adjustment member 1270 is not disposed.

[0529] For example, a guide rail 1290 configured to guide the movement of the holder 1500 may be disposed on the support wall 1271. The holder 1500 may be translated along the third direction Z by being guided by the guide rail 1290 disposed on the support wall 1271 and a guide rail disposed on one of the right surface 1230 or the left surface 1240 on which the adjustment member 1270 is not disposed.

[0530] The retainer 1500 may be provided in a shape that retracts in the second direction Y when the support wall 1271 moves in a direction away from the right surface 1230 or the left surface 1240 .

[0531] The retainer 1500 may be configured to be retracted or extended in the second direction Y. For example, the retainer 1500 may be configured to be retractable. Therefore, when the support wall 1271 moves toward the center of the storage chamber 1200, the retainer 1500 may be folded and retracted, and when the support wall 1271 moves toward a direction opposite to the center direction of the storage chamber 1200, the retainer 1500 may be extended and extended.

[0532] The regulating member 1270 may include a first regulating member 1270 disposed inside the first storage chamber 1200 and a second regulating member 1270 ′ disposed inside the second storage chamber 1200 ′.

[0533] For example, the user may adjust the widths of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ by moving the first adjustment member 1270 and the second adjustment member 1270 ′, respectively.

[0534] For example, the user may maintain the width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ by not moving both the first adjustment member 1270 and the second adjustment member 1270 ′.

[0535] For example, the user may adjust the widths of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′ by moving one of the first adjustment member 1270 and the second adjustment member 1270 ′.

[0536] For example, the first regulating member 1270 may be disposed on the left surface 1240 of the first storage chamber 1200. The second regulating member 1270' may be disposed on the right surface 1230' of the second storage chamber 1200'.

[0537] Alternatively, the second regulating member 1270 ′ may be disposed on the left surface 1240 ′ of the second storage chamber 1200 ′ The first regulating member 1270 may be disposed on the right surface 1230 of the first storage chamber 1200 .

[0538] Alternatively, the first regulating member 1270 and the second regulating member 1270 ′ may be disposed on the left surface 1240 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the left surface 1240 ′ of the second storage chamber 1200 ′, respectively.

[0539] Alternatively, the first regulating member 1270 and the second regulating member 1270 ′ may be disposed on the right surface 1230 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the right surface 1230 ′ of the second storage chamber 1200 ′, respectively.

[0540] Alternatively, the regulating member 1270 may be provided in only one of the first storage chamber 1200 and the second storage chamber 1200 ′.

[0541] For example, Fig. 22 As shown, the adjustment member 1270 of the first storage chamber 1200 can be arranged adjacent to the left surface 1240 to allow the width L1 of the first storage chamber 1200 to correspond to the width d1 of the conventional solid detergent D, and the adjustment member 1270' of the second storage chamber 1200' can be moved from the right surface 1230' along the second direction Y to allow the width L6 of the second storage chamber 1200' to correspond to the width d1" of certain solid detergents D".

[0542] At this time, the user may load the general solid detergent D into the first storage chamber 1200 and load some solid detergent D″ into the second storage chamber 1200 ′.

[0543] The storage chamber 1200 may include an adjustment member detection sensor configured to detect the position of each of the support walls 1271 and 1271'. The adjustment member detection sensor may detect the position at which the support wall 1271 of the first storage chamber 1200 and the support wall 1271' of the second storage chamber 1200' are set, and the control device 1900 may be configured to identify the type of solid detergent loaded into the first storage chamber 1200 and the type of solid detergent loaded into the second storage chamber 1200' based on the detection value.

[0544] For example, the adjustment member detection sensor can measure the distance to the position of each of the support walls 1271 and 1271', or detect the distance to the position of each of the support walls 1271 and 1271' by detecting the distance that each of the movers 1272 and 1272' moves, extends or retracts.

[0545] The user may input information about the washing mode of the dishwasher 1 through an input device of the dishwasher 1 or through a mobile device to allow the dishwasher 1 to selectively perform one of the normal washing mode and the small amount washing mode.

[0546] The control device 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to allow the first ejector 1300 or the second ejector 1300 ′ to be driven based on the user input acquired from the main control device and the value sensed by the adjustment member detection sensor.

[0547] For example, when the user selects the normal washing mode, the controller 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to allow driving of the first pusher 1300. When the user selects the small amount washing mode, the controller 1900 may control the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 to allow driving of the second pusher 1300'.

[0548] As described above, the pusher 1300 is configured to discharge a solid detergent from the storage chamber 1200 in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents. Even when the plurality of solid detergents are stored in the automatic detergent dispenser 1000, the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be very small in the first direction by setting the moving direction of the solid detergent and the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents differently. Therefore, the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be easily mounted to the door 20.

[0549] As described above, the storage chamber outlet 1210 can be arranged at the lower side of the storage chamber to allow the solid detergents arranged at the lowest position in the vertical direction among the plurality of solid detergents to be discharged. Therefore, the plurality of solid detergents can be discharged to the outside of the storage chamber 1200 in sequence starting from the solid detergents arranged at the lowest position in the gravity direction.

[0550] As described above, the pusher 1300 may be arranged at the lower side of the storage chamber 1200 to move the solid detergent arranged at the lowest position in the vertical direction. Therefore, at the assembly position, the pusher 1300 can easily discharge the solid detergent at the lowest position in the vertical direction among the plurality of solid detergents to the outside of the storage chamber 1200.

[0551] As described above, the cam member 1310 rotates in the first rotation direction relative to the storage chamber 1200 to discharge the solid detergent located at the lowest position to the outside of the storage chamber 1200. Therefore, by the rotation of the cam member 1310, the ejector 1300 can easily discharge the solid detergent to the outside of the storage chamber 1200, and therefore, since it is not necessary to move according to the physical connection of the additional structure, the volume of the ejector 1300 can be minimized.

[0552] As described above, the pushing portion 1312a can rotate along the first rotation direction to push a solid detergent toward a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents. Therefore, the pusher 1300 can move the solid detergent toward a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction, thereby minimizing the size of the internal space of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000.

[0553] As described above, the cam member 1310 can rotate in the first rotation direction, thereby guiding the direction in which the plurality of solid cleansers are moved in a straight line to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleansers in the storage chamber 1200. When the cam member 1310 rotates to push the solid cleansers, the pushing portion 1312a can rotate, and when at least a portion of the cam member 1310 located inside the storage chamber 1200 rotates, the plurality of solid cleansers remaining inside the storage chamber 1200 can gradually move downward by virtue of the rotation of the cam member 1310.

[0554] As described above, the rotation shaft 1313 of the cam member 1310 can be arranged inside the storage chamber 1200 in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents. Therefore, when the pushing portion 1312a rotates, the solid detergents arranged inside the storage chamber 1200 can stably move in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction as the cam member 1310 rotates.

[0555] As described above, the rotation axis of the drive motor 1320 can be arranged in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis of the cam member 1310. Therefore, the main body of the drive motor 1320 can be arranged in the left-right dimension of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000, so that the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 in the front-rear direction can be minimized.

[0556] As described above, the transmission member 1330 includes a worm gear disposed on the rotation shaft of the driving motor 1320. Therefore, the rotation force generated by the driving motor 1320 may be converted into a direction perpendicular to the direction of the force.

[0557] As described above, the holder 1500 is disposed to be movable from the upper side of the storage chamber 1200 to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents relative to the vertical direction. Therefore, when the door 20 is closed, the holder 1500 can fix the plurality of solid detergents toward the gravity direction.

[0558] As described above, when the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaning agents points to a direction different from the vertical direction due to the opening of the door 20, the retainer 1500 can support the solid cleaning agent located at the highest position among the plurality of solid cleaning agents. Therefore, even when the stacking direction of the plurality of solid cleaning agents is different from the direction of gravity, the retainer 1500 can support the stacking of the plurality of solid cleaning agents.

[0559] As described above, the seating member 1400 may be disposed at one side of the storage chamber 1200 in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents. Therefore, the solid detergent moved in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents by the pusher 1300 may be easily seated on the seating member 1400.

[0560] As described above, the cam member is configured to rotate in the direction in which the seating member is disposed. Therefore, the solid detergent moved by the ejector 1300 in the direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents can be easily seated on the seating member 1400 .

[0561] As described above, the placement member opening can be set to open in the vertical direction. In addition, the placement member opening 1420 is formed at the lower end of the inner space of the placement member 1400, and the solid detergent discharged into the placement member 1400 is placed in the inner space. Therefore, the solid detergent can be moved inside the storage chamber 1200 while being in a stacked state in the vertical direction, and moved in a direction perpendicular to the vertical direction by the pusher 1300, and moved again in the vertical direction in the placement member 1400, and then discharged from the automatic detergent dispenser 1000.

[0562] As described above, the storage chamber 1200 may include a first storage chamber 1200 arranged on one side of the mounting member 1400 and a second storage chamber 1200' arranged on the other side relative to a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the plurality of solid detergents. Therefore, the internal space of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be effectively arranged, and the volume of the automatic detergent dispenser 1000 can be minimized.

[0563] Although some embodiments of the present disclosure have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the present disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising: Liner; a door configured to open and close the liner; as well as An automatic detergent dispenser, the automatic detergent dispenser being located on the door and comprising: a first storage chamber, the first storage chamber being configured such that a plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agent can be stacked in a stack in the first storage chamber, a second storage chamber, the second storage chamber being spaced apart from the first storage chamber and configured so that a plurality of pieces of solid cleaning agent can be stacked in a stack in the second storage chamber, a first ejector configured to move one of the plurality of solid detergents in the stack in the first storage chamber to be discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber, a second ejector configured to move one of the plurality of solid detergents in the stack in the second storage chamber to be discharged to the outside of the second storage chamber, and A placement member is located between the first storage chamber and the second storage chamber and is configured to place the piece of solid detergent discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber and to place the piece of solid detergent discharged to the outside of the second storage chamber.

2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein: The block of solid cleaning agent moved by the first pusher is located at the lowest position in the stack in the first storage chamber, The first ejector is located at a lower side of the first storage chamber, and The first storage chamber includes a first storage chamber outlet at a lower portion of the first storage chamber, and the first ejector moves the block of solid cleaning agent through the first storage chamber outlet to be discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber.

3. The dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein: The first ejector includes a cam member configured to rotate in a first rotational direction to move the block of solid cleaning agent located at a lowermost position in the stack in the first storage chamber through the first storage chamber outlet.

4. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein: The cam member includes a pushing portion protruding in a radial direction of the cam member, and The urging portion is configured to rotate in the first rotation direction so as to urge the piece of solid detergent located at the lowest position in the stack in the first storage chamber in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the stack in the first storage chamber.

5. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein: As the cam member rotates in the first rotational direction, the cam member is configured to guide movement of the solid detergent in the stack in the first storage chamber in a direction parallel to a stacking direction of the stack.

6. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein: The rotation axis of the cam member is located inside the first storage chamber and extends longitudinally in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the layers in the first storage chamber.

7. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein: The first pusher further includes a drive motor and a transmission member, the drive motor being configured to generate a rotational force, the transmission member being configured to transmit the rotational force generated by the drive motor to the cam member, and A rotation axis of the drive motor is perpendicular to a rotation axis of the cam member.

8. The dishwasher according to claim 7, wherein: The transmission member includes a worm gear located on the rotating shaft of the drive motor.

9. The dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein: The automatic detergent dispenser also includes: A retainer configured to be movable toward the plurality of solid cleaning agents in the stack in the first storage chamber along a stacking direction of the stack in the first storage chamber to allow the plurality of solid cleaning agents in the stack to be maintained in a stacked state inside the first storage chamber.

10. The dishwasher according to claim 9, wherein: The holder is movable in an up-down direction along a stacking direction of the stacked layers in the first storage chamber from an upper side of the first storage chamber, and The first pusher is located at a lower side of the first storage chamber so as to move the solid detergent located at the lowest position in the stack in the first storage chamber in the up-down direction.

11. The dishwasher according to claim 10, wherein: The door is movable to a first position in which the door is vertical and closes the inner container and a second position in which the door is not vertical and opens the inner container. When the door is in the first position, the holder is configured to compress the solid cleaning agent located at the highest position among the plurality of solid cleaning agents in the stack in the first storage chamber by gravity, and When the door is in the second position, the holder is configured to support a solid cleaning agent located at a highest position among the plurality of solid cleaning agents in the stack in the first storage chamber.

12. The dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein: The automatic detergent dispenser further includes a placement member opening and a placement member door, wherein the placement member door is configured to open and close the placement member opening, and The automatic detergent dispenser is configured to input the solid detergent placed on the seating member into the inner container in response to the seating member door opening the seating member opening.

13. The dishwasher according to claim 12, wherein: The placement member is arranged on one side of the first storage chamber in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the layers in the first storage chamber, and the placement member is arranged on one side of the second storage chamber in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction of the layers in the second storage chamber.

14. The dishwasher according to claim 13, wherein: The cam member is configured to rotate toward a direction in which the seating member is arranged.

15. The dishwasher according to claim 12, wherein: The placement member opening is configured to be open in the up-down direction, and the placement member opening is located at the lower end of the placement member internal space, the solid detergent discharged to the outside of the first storage chamber or the solid detergent discharged to the outside of the second storage chamber is placed in the placement member internal space, and The placement member is configured to allow the solid detergent placed on the placement member to be discharged from an internal space of the placement member and to allow the discharged solid detergent to move in a direction corresponding to a stacking direction of the stacked layers in the first storage chamber and a stacking direction of the stacked layers in the second storage chamber.

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