Dish washing machine and control method thereof

Abstract

The invention provides a dish-washing machine and a control method thereof.The dish-washing machine comprises a containing cavity, a shelf and a spraying device are arranged in the containing cavity, and the spraying device communicates with the bottom of the containing cavity through a liquid circulation pipeline; the shelf is provided with an area used for containing beverages, and the liquid circulation pipeline is provided with a refrigeration module. By means of the arrangement, the dish-washing machine can effectively clean tableware, low-temperature water can be sprayed to the area, used for containing beverages, on the shelf, the beverages in the area can be rapidly refrigerated, the convenience and innovativeness of the dish-washing machine are improved, and the requirements of modern families for high efficiency and multiple functions of equipment can be better met.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of dishwasher technology, specifically relating to a dishwasher and its control method. Background Technology

[0002] Existing dishwashers are typically only used for cleaning dishes, with limited functionality, and are used infrequently in households. This results in low utilization of dishwashers, failing to fully realize their potential versatility. Furthermore, when users want to quickly cool beverages, they usually need to purchase separate cooling devices, such as refrigerators or dedicated coolers, which not only increases costs but also takes up space.

[0003] In addition, existing beverage cabinets use air cooling, which results in slow cooling of beverage bottles due to the low specific heat of air. This is especially true when demand is high, as the cooling efficiency is insufficient, and beverages placed later require a longer cooling time, affecting the user experience and increasing waiting time.

[0004] To address these issues, it's necessary to add a rapid beverage cooling function to dishwashers. This would not only increase the frequency of dishwasher use and its versatility but also save users the cost and space of purchasing additional cooling equipment, thus providing a more economical and convenient solution.

[0005] Therefore, designing a dishwasher capable of rapidly cooling beverages has become a technical challenge that urgently needs to be solved by those skilled in the art.

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

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a dishwasher that solves the problems of limited functionality in existing dishwashers and the inability of traditional beverage cabinets to quickly cool beverages by setting up a shelf on the dishwasher for placing beverages and then cooling the beverages through a refrigeration module.

[0008] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the basic concept of the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0009] A dishwasher includes a receiving cavity, a shelf and a spray device disposed within the receiving cavity, the spray device being connected to the bottom of the receiving cavity via a liquid circulation pipe; the shelf is provided with an area for placing beverages, and a refrigeration module is disposed on the liquid circulation pipe.

[0010] Furthermore, a support frame is provided in the area on the shelf for placing beverages, and the support frame is provided with a limiting groove for placing beverages;

[0011] Preferably, the limiting groove includes multiple grooves with different widths, and / or, the limiting groove is provided with a partition that can move along its width.

[0012] Furthermore, the support frame is foldably mounted inside the shelf; preferably, the support frame fits against the bottom and / or sides of the shelf when folded up; preferably, the support frame is foldably mounted inside the shelf via a hinge or rack and pinion mechanism.

[0013] Furthermore, the spraying device includes a spraying arm disposed above and / or below the shelf, the spraying area of ​​the spraying arm covering the area on the shelf used for placing beverages.

[0014] Furthermore, the spray arm includes: a fixed spray arm, wherein at least a portion of its spray area corresponds to the area on the shelf for placing beverages; and / or a rotating spray arm, wherein at least a portion of its spray area corresponds to the area on the shelf for placing beverages in a stopped position; the spray device is provided with a limiting structure for limiting the rotating spray arm in the stopped position.

[0015] Furthermore, the shelf includes multiple layers, with a spray arm installed below each layer of the shelf, and the liquid circulation pipeline is connected to each spray arm through different circulation branches; multiple circulation branches are connected to the liquid circulation pipeline through a switching device, or a switching device is installed on each circulation branch.

[0016] Preferably, spray holes are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the spray arm placed between two adjacent shelves.

[0017] Furthermore, the refrigeration module includes a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, and a condenser, a compressor, and a throttling element connected to the outer piping of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger, with the liquid circulation piping connected to the inner piping of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger.

[0018] Preferably, a water tank is provided at the bottom of the receiving cavity, and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger is attached to the outer wall of the water tank.

[0019] Furthermore, the condenser and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger are located on different sides of the water tank;

[0020] Preferably, the shell-and-tube heat exchanger and the condenser are arranged opposite each other on both sides of the water tank;

[0021] Preferably, the condenser is located on the side of the water tank away from the door and is spaced apart from the water tank.

[0022] Furthermore, a heating module is also installed on the liquid circulation pipeline, and either the heating module or the cooling module can be activated.

[0023] The present invention also provides a control method for a dishwasher, wherein when the cooling / heating beverage function is activated, a spray device sprays cold / hot water onto the beverage placed on the shelf.

[0024] By adopting the above technical solution, the present invention has the following beneficial effects compared with the prior art:

[0025] 1. This invention significantly improves the cooling efficiency of beverages by setting up an area for placing beverages on the shelf and integrating a refrigeration module into the liquid circulation pipeline, combined with the function of spraying cold water. This design not only achieves efficient cleaning of tableware, but also quickly cools beverages, significantly saving users' time and effort. Moreover, the multi-functional dishwasher with added beverage cooling function can improve the convenience and practicality of using the dishwasher and meet the diverse needs of users.

[0026] 2. This invention provides more targeted and concentrated cooling by incorporating a rotating spray arm on the spraying device and a limiting structure for stopping the rotating spray arm in a stationary position. The limiting structure ensures that the spraying area of ​​the rotating spray arm corresponds precisely to the beverage area when the rotating spray arm is in the stationary position. Furthermore, by incorporating a switching device on the liquid circulation pipeline, multiple speed settings are adjusted to allow the fixed spray arm and rotating spray arm to perform spraying operations in various cooperative modes, thereby increasing the diversity of spraying methods to meet different user needs for beverage cooling.

[0027] 3. This invention features multi-layered shelves, with a spray arm located beneath each shelf. Each spray arm is connected to a liquid circulation pipeline via an independent circulation branch. Through a switching device, the user can select to activate a specific circulation branch based on the quantity and location of the beverages, allowing cold water to flow into the corresponding spray arm to spray and cool the beverages, thus reducing water waste.

[0028] 4. By placing the condenser and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger on different sides of the water tank, the present invention avoids heat exchange between the condenser and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger, thereby avoiding any impact on the cooling effect and efficiency.

[0029] 5. This invention provides a fan between the shell-and-tube heat exchanger and the water tank. When the fan is working, the rotating blades of the fan cause airflow, which leads to a negative pressure behind the fan and generates a certain suction force. The suction force generated by the fan allows the low-temperature cold air near the shell-and-tube heat exchanger to flow with the airflow of the fan, so that the cold air passes through the water tank and then acts on the condenser, thereby cooling the water in the water tank and also helping the condenser to dissipate heat.

[0030] The specific embodiments of the present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0031] The accompanying drawings, as part of this invention, are used to provide a further understanding of the invention. The illustrative embodiments and descriptions of the invention are used to explain the invention, but do not constitute an undue limitation of the invention. Obviously, the drawings described below are merely some embodiments, and those skilled in the art can obtain other drawings based on these drawings without creative effort. In the drawings:

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the dishwasher in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0033] Description of main components in the diagram:

[0034] 1. Receiving cavity; 11. Shelf; 110. Support frame; 111. Limiting groove; 13. Water tank; 12. Spray device; 120. Spray arm; 2. Refrigeration module; 21. Shell-and-tube heat exchanger; 22. Condenser; 23. Compressor; 24. Throttling element; 3. Liquid circulation pipeline; 4. Beverage; 5. Door; 6. Heating module; 61. Heater; 7. Water pump; 8. Fan; 9. Inlet valve; 91. Flow meter; 10. Drain pump.

[0035] It should be noted that these accompanying drawings and textual descriptions are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way, but rather to illustrate the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art by referring to specific embodiments. Detailed Implementation

[0036] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions in the embodiments will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following embodiments are used to illustrate the present invention, but are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

[0037] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "rear", "left", "right", "vertical", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limiting this invention.

[0038] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "linking" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention based on the specific circumstances.

[0039] This invention discloses a dishwasher that significantly improves the cooling efficiency of the beverage 4 by providing an area for placing beverages 4 on the shelf 11 and integrating a cooling module 2 into the liquid circulation pipeline 3, combined with the function of spraying cold water by the spray device 12. This design not only achieves efficient cleaning of tableware but also quickly cools the beverage 4, significantly saving users' time and effort. Moreover, this multi-functional dishwasher with added beverage 4 cooling function enhances the convenience and practicality of using the dishwasher, meeting diverse user needs. Of course, the dishwasher can be any type and model, including but not limited to countertop dishwashers, built-in dishwashers, and cabinet dishwashers.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown in the figure, in this embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher includes a receiving cavity 1, in which a shelf 11 and a spray device 12 are provided. The spray device 12 is connected to the bottom of the receiving cavity 1 through a liquid circulation pipe 3. The shelf 11 is provided with an area for placing beverages 4, and a refrigeration module 2 is provided on the liquid circulation pipe 3. The refrigeration module 2 can be the heat pump of a heat pump dishwasher, or a heat pump can be added separately, etc., which will not be listed here. The discussion will only be based on the examples in the above figures.

[0041] In this embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher shelf 11 is provided with an area for placing beverages 4, and a cooling module 2 is provided on the liquid circulation pipe 3; the water inlet of the spray device 12 is connected to the water outlet of the liquid circulation pipe 3, spraying cold water onto the area where beverages 4 are placed, so that the cold water fully contacts the beverage bottles 4, enabling the beverages 4 to cool down quickly; the cooling module 2 cools the sprayed water by reducing the temperature of the water in the liquid circulation pipe 3, and in combination with the spray device 12, achieves efficient cooling of the beverages 4, so that beverages 4 placed later can also cool down quickly in a short time; it can simultaneously meet the user's needs for cleaning tableware and quickly cooling beverages 4, significantly improving the multifunctionality of the dishwasher and user satisfaction.

[0042] In this embodiment of the invention, a support frame 110 is provided in the area on the shelf 11 for placing beverages 4, for placing beverages 4 bottles; the support frame 110 is provided with a plurality of limiting grooves 111, each limiting groove 111 having the same width, which can make the beverages 4 bottles placed on the support frame 110 more stable, thereby keeping the beverages 4 bottles stable during the dishwasher washing dishes or the dishwasher cooling operation.

[0043] In some preferred embodiments, the support frame 110 is provided with multiple limiting grooves 111, each with a different width to accommodate beverage bottles of different diameters. Simultaneously, partitions movable along their width can be installed within the limiting grooves 111. These partitions can be mounted on both sides of the limiting grooves 111 via slide rails or other fixing devices. Users can adjust the width between the partitions according to the size of the beverage bottles to be placed, making it easier to fix beverage bottles of different sizes. This allows the dishwasher's support frame 110 to not only flexibly adapt to beverage bottles of different sizes but also prevent the beverage bottles from tilting during the spray cooling process, improving the stability and safety of the dishwasher during the cooling process.

[0044] In this embodiment of the invention, the support frame 110 is foldably mounted inside the shelf 11 via a hinge. When the support frame 110 is not in use, it is folded up via the hinge to avoid affecting the dishwasher's washing of the tableware.

[0045] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, one end of the hinge is fixed to the support frame 110, and the other end is fixed to one side of the shelf 11, so that the support frame 110 can rotate around the hinge. At the same time, the hinge can also ensure the stability of the support frame 110 in the retracted state and prevent the support frame 110 from accidentally loosening or moving. When the user does not need to cool the beverage 4, the support frame 110 can be flipped up and retracted to increase the available space of the shelf 11 for placing more or larger tableware.

[0046] Preferably, in this embodiment, when the user is not using the support frame 110, the support frame 110 can be flipped up along the hinge and then attached to the bottom or side of the shelf 11. Of course, it can also be attached to both the bottom and side of the shelf 11 at the same time. This can make better use of the space of the shelf 11, so that more or larger tableware can be placed on the shelf 11, avoiding affecting the user's experience of using the dishwasher.

[0047] In another specific embodiment, the support frame 110 is rotatably installed inside the shelf 11 via a gear and rack linkage mechanism; the gear is fixedly installed at one end of the support frame 110, and the rack is fixedly installed along the inner wall of the shelf 11, with the gear meshing with the rack; when the rack moves horizontally along the inner wall of the shelf 11, the gear is driven to rotate, thereby causing the support frame 110 to rotate around the axis of the gear.

[0048] Furthermore, during operation, the user can manually or mechanically pull the rack to flip the support frame 110 within the shelf 11. When the support frame 110 is flipped to the folded position, its surface fits against the bottom of the shelf 11, ensuring space saving when not in use and maintaining the tidiness of the shelf's interior.

[0049] In this embodiment of the invention, the spray device 12 includes a spray arm 120 disposed below the shelf 11. The spray area of ​​the spray arm 120 covers the area on the shelf 11 used for placing the beverage 4, ensuring that cold water is sprayed evenly onto the beverage 4, thereby achieving rapid cooling of the beverage 4. Alternatively, the spray arm 120 can be disposed below the shelf 11, or simultaneously above and below the shelf 11, allowing cooling water to be sprayed evenly from different angles. This ensures maximum contact between the cold water and the beverage 4, enabling sufficient heat exchange and further improving the dishwasher's cooling efficiency for the beverage 4.

[0050] When the dishwasher is in cooling mode, the cooling module 2 starts and delivers cold water to the spray arm 120 through the liquid circulation pipe 3. The spray arm 120 sprays cold water onto the surface of the beverage bottles 4 placed on the shelf 11, so that the cold water evenly covers the surface of the beverage bottles 4 and performs sufficient heat exchange with the beverage bottles 4, achieving efficient cooling of the beverage bottles 4.

[0051] In this embodiment of the invention, the spray arm 120 includes a fixed spray arm 120 and a rotating spray arm 120. The fixed spray arm 120 and the rotating spray arm 120 can perform spraying work in a variety of ways, thereby increasing the diversity of spraying methods and adapting to different user needs for beverage 4 cooling.

[0052] Specifically, in this embodiment of the invention, at least a portion of the spraying area of ​​the fixed spray arm 120 corresponds to the area on the shelf 11 used for placing the beverage 4. The fixed spray arm 120 can be positioned above or below the shelf 11 to evenly spray cold water onto the beverage 4 area, providing a stable cooling effect. The rotating spray arm 120 includes a stop position where at least a portion of the spraying area corresponds to the area on the shelf 11 used for placing the beverage 4.

[0053] More specifically, in this embodiment, the rotating spray arm 120 can be installed above or below the shelf 11, or simultaneously above and below the shelf 11. It can be driven by a motor, water flow, or other driving methods to rotate and spray cold water. Moreover, the spray device 12 is provided with a limiting structure for limiting the rotating spray arm 120 to a stop position. When the rotating spray arm 120 rotates to the stop position, the limiting structure can make the spray area of ​​the rotating spray arm 120 correspond to the beverage 4 area, providing more targeted and concentrated cooling.

[0054] In some possible embodiments, the limiting structure can be any limiting device with a limiting function, such as a buckle or baffle, installed on the spray device 12, used to fix the rotating spray arm 120 in a specific position to ensure that the spray area is accurately aligned with the beverage 4 area. When cooling the beverage 4, the user can rotate the rotating spray arm 120 to the stop position and fix it by the limiting structure, so that the cooling water can be concentrated and sprayed onto the beverage 4 bottles, improving the cooling efficiency.

[0055] In some specific embodiments, the dishwasher is equipped with both a fixed spray arm 120 and a rotating spray arm 120, and is provided with a switching device, which may be a switching valve; so that the fixed spray arm 120 and the rotating spray arm 120 can be connected to the liquid circulation pipeline 3 respectively or simultaneously, thereby controlling the spray area and spray intensity of cold water.

[0056] Furthermore, in the specific embodiments described above, the switching device is provided with at least three gears, including a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear, in order to meet the user's different cooling needs for beverage 4.

[0057] More specifically, when the switching valve is in the first position, only the rotating spray arm 120 is connected to the liquid circulation pipeline 3 and performs rotating spraying to cool the beverage 4. The cooling power of the first position is small and is generally used to keep the beverage 4 warm. In the first position, the rotating spray arm 120 can evenly spray cold water and continuously cool the beverage 4 through continuous rotation.

[0058] Furthermore, when the switching valve is in the second position, only the fixed spray arm 120 is connected to the liquid circulation pipe 3. The second position has a stronger cooling capacity and is generally used when the user does not urgently need a cold drink. In the second position, the fixed spray arm 120 can spray cold water in a concentrated manner, providing effective and more concentrated cooling for the beverage 4. Under normal circumstances, the user will directly take out the beverage 4 placed near the door 5. The fixed spray arm 120 can concentrate the cooling on the beverage 4 near the door 5, allowing the user to easily take out the beverage 4 while ensuring that the temperature of the beverage 4 placed near the door 5 is low, greatly improving the user experience.

[0059] Furthermore, when the switching valve is in the third position, the fixed spray arm 120 and the rotating spray arm 120 are connected simultaneously, and the rotating spray arm 120 is set to stop in the stop position to provide concentrated and rapid cooling for the beverage 4; the third position has the greatest cooling power and is generally used to deal with situations where the user forgets to cool the beverage 4 in advance or urgently needs a cold drink.

[0060] Furthermore, the switching device can be rotated or pressed to switch gears, allowing users to select the appropriate gear to cool beverage 4 according to their needs.

[0061] In this embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher includes multiple shelves 11, with spray arms 120 respectively provided below each shelf 11. The liquid circulation pipeline 3 is connected to each spray arm 120 through different circulation branches. Multiple circulation branches are connected to the liquid circulation pipeline 3 through a switching device, or each circulation branch is provided with a switching device, which can efficiently and uniformly cool the beverage 4.

[0062] Specifically, in this embodiment, each shelf 11 is provided with a spray arm 120 below it. Each spray arm 120 is connected to the liquid circulation pipeline 3 through an independent circulation branch. By setting a switching device on the circulation branch, the user can select to open a specific circulation branch so that cold water flows into the corresponding spray arm 120 to start spraying and cool the beverage 4.

[0063] When there are a small number of beverages 4 to be cooled on the dishwasher shelf 11, the beverages 4 can be placed together on the same shelf 11. The user can turn on the spray arm 120 below the shelf 11 where the beverages 4 are placed by switching device to start cooling the beverages 4 in a targeted manner, which can save resources and save costs for the user.

[0064] Preferably, in this embodiment, spray holes are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the spray arm 120 placed between two adjacent shelves 11; so that cold water can be sprayed from the upper and lower sides of the spray arm 120, increasing the coverage area of ​​the area where the beverage 4 is placed, thereby improving the cooling efficiency.

[0065] In this embodiment of the invention, the refrigeration module 2 includes a shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21, a condenser 22, a compressor 23, and a throttling element 24 connected to the outer layer of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21, and the liquid circulation pipeline 3 is connected to the inner layer of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21.

[0066] Specifically, in this embodiment, the outer pipe of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 is connected to the condenser 22, the compressor 23 and the throttling element 24 to form a refrigeration cycle system; the liquid circulation pipe 3 is connected to the inner pipe of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21, and heat exchange is carried out through the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 to cool the water in the liquid circulation pipe 3, thereby cooling the water that has passed through the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 and converting it into cold water for spraying and refrigerating the beverage 4.

[0067] Preferably, in this embodiment, a water tank 13 is provided at the bottom of the receiving cavity 1, which can collect and discharge the circulating water during the refrigeration process; the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 is attached to the outer wall of the water tank 13, which enables the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 to exchange heat with the water in the water tank 13, thereby improving the refrigeration efficiency; in addition, a filter screen is provided on the water tank 13, which can filter the sprayed water before it enters the water tank 13, thereby preventing the water tank 13 and the liquid circulation pipe 3 from being blocked, which would affect the refrigeration or washing effect of the dishwasher.

[0068] Furthermore, the water tank 13 is connected to a water inlet system, which includes a water inlet pipe that can be connected to a faucet, a water inlet valve 9 that controls the water inlet, and a flow meter 91 that measures the amount of water entering the tank; the water tank 13's drainage system includes a drain pipe and a drain pump 107 installed on the drain pipe, with the outlet end of the drain pipe connected to a sewer.

[0069] Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment described above, after water enters the water tank 13 through the water inlet pipe, the water in the water tank 13 exchanges heat with the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 to cool down. The water in the water tank 13 then flows through the liquid circulation pipeline 3 through the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 to undergo a second heat exchange with the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21, which greatly improves the cooling speed and allows the fully cooled cold water to be sprayed onto the beverage 4.

[0070] When the dishwasher starts its cooling function, the compressor 23 compresses the refrigerant and sends it to the condenser 22. After being cooled in the condenser 22, the refrigerant is depressurized by the throttling element 24 and enters the outer pipe of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21. The water in the liquid circulation pipe 3 passes through the inner pipe of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 and exchanges heat with the refrigerant passing through the outer pipe of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21, resulting in a lower temperature. Then, it is sprayed onto the area where beverages 4 are placed through the spray arm 120, or sprayed onto the tableware for cooling when there is a need to cool the tableware. At the same time, during the cooling process, when the water temperature reaches the set temperature, a thermostat is also provided, which can output a signal to control the compressor 23 to stop working.

[0071] In this embodiment of the invention, the condenser 22 and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 are arranged on different sides of the water tank 13 to avoid heat exchange between the condenser 22 and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21, thereby avoiding any impact on the cooling effect and efficiency.

[0072] Specifically, in this embodiment, the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 is fixed on one side of the outer wall of the water tank 13, so that the water in the liquid circulation pipeline 3 can efficiently exchange heat; at the same time, the condenser 22 is installed on the other side of the water tank 13, and there is a certain gap between it and the water tank 13, so as to avoid the heat of the condenser 22 affecting the water in the water tank 13 during the cooling process, thereby affecting the cooling speed of the spray water.

[0073] In some preferred embodiments, the refrigeration circulation pipeline of the refrigeration module 2 is arranged around the periphery of the water tank 13, the condenser 22 is arranged on the side of the water tank 13 away from the door 5, and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 is arranged on the side of the water tank 13 close to the door 5, opposite to the condenser 22 on both sides of the water tank 13, which can maximize the refrigeration effect.

[0074] In another preferred embodiment, a fan 8 is provided between the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 and the water tank 13. When the fan 8 is working, the rotating blades of the fan 8 cause airflow, which creates a negative pressure on the back of the fan 8 and generates a certain suction force. The suction force generated by the fan 8 allows the low-temperature cold air near the shell-and-tube heat exchanger 21 to flow with the airflow of the fan 8, so that the cold air passes through the water tank 13 and then acts on the condenser 22, thereby cooling the water in the water tank 13 and also helping the condenser 22 to dissipate heat.

[0075] In another preferred embodiment, the airflow of the fan 8 is directed toward the side away from the housing cavity 1, which avoids the hot air near the condenser 22 from interfering with other components in the housing cavity 1, improves the overall cooling effect of the heat pump, and extends the service life of the heat pump.

[0076] In this embodiment of the invention, a heating module 6 is also provided on the liquid circulation pipeline 3. The heating module 6 and the cooling module 2 can be selectively activated when needed to meet various user requirements.

[0077] Specifically, in this embodiment, the heating module 6 includes a heater 61, which is installed on the liquid circulation pipeline 3. When the user selects the heating function, the heating module 6 is activated, the heater 61 starts working, the water flowing through the heater 61 is heated into hot water, and the hot water is transported to the spray device 12 through the water pump 7 to heat the tableware or beverage 4.

[0078] When a user needs hot drinks, they can activate the heating module 6. Water in the liquid circulation pipe 3 is heated by the heater 61 and then sprayed onto the area where the beverage 4 is placed via the spray device 12, thus heating the beverage 4. When a user needs hot water to wash dishes with stubborn stains, the spray device 12 sprays hot water onto the dishes, improving the washing effect. Users can select to activate the heating or cooling function via the control panel as needed, greatly enhancing the user experience of the dishwasher.

[0079] The above description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention in any way. Although the present invention has been disclosed above with reference to preferred embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Any person skilled in the art can make some modifications or alterations to the above-described technical content to create equivalent embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. The implementation schemes in the above embodiments can be further combined or replaced. Any simple modifications, equivalent changes and alterations made to the above embodiments based on the technical essence of the present invention without departing from the scope of the present invention shall still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, comprising a receiving cavity (1), wherein a shelf (11) and a spray device (12) are provided in the receiving cavity (1), and the spray device (12) is connected to the bottom of the receiving cavity (1) through a liquid circulation pipe (3); Its features are, The shelf (11) has an area for placing beverages (4), and the liquid circulation pipeline (3) is equipped with a refrigeration module (2).

2. A dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that, A support frame (110) is provided in the area on the shelf (11) for placing beverages (4), and a limiting groove (111) for placing beverages (4) is provided on the support frame (110); Preferably, the limiting groove (111) includes a plurality of grooves with different widths, and / or, the limiting groove (111) is provided with a partition that can move along its width.

3. A dishwasher according to claim 2, characterized in that, The support frame (110) is rotatably mounted inside the shelf (11); Preferably, the support frame (110) fits against the bottom and / or sides of the shelf (11) when flipped up; Preferably, the support frame (110) is rotatably mounted in the shelf (11) via a hinge or rack and pinion linkage mechanism.

4. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, The spray device (12) includes a spray arm (120) disposed above and / or below the shelf (11), the spray area of ​​the spray arm (120) covering the area on the shelf (11) for placing beverages (4).

5. A dishwasher according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spray arm (120) includes: A fixed spray arm, at least a portion of which sprays an area that corresponds directly to the area on the shelf (11) where beverages (4) are placed; And / or, The rotating spray arm includes at least a portion of the spray area corresponding to a stop position on the shelf (11) for placing beverages (4); the spray device (12) is provided with a limiting structure for limiting the rotating spray arm to the stop position.

6. A dishwasher according to claim 4, characterized in that, The shelf (11) includes multiple layers, and each shelf (11) is provided with a spray arm (120) below it. The liquid circulation pipeline (3) is connected to each spray arm (120) through different circulation branches. Multiple circulation branches are connected to the liquid circulation pipeline (3) through a switching device, or a switching device is provided on each circulation branch. Preferably, spray holes are provided on both the upper and lower sides of the spray arm (120) placed between two adjacent shelves (11).

7. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, The refrigeration module (2) includes a shell-and-tube heat exchanger (21), a condenser (22), a compressor (23) and a throttling element (24) connected to the outer pipe of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger (21), and a liquid circulation pipe (3) connected to the inner pipe of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger (21). Preferably, a water tank (13) is provided at the bottom of the receiving cavity (1), and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger (21) is attached to the outer wall of the water tank (13).

8. A dishwasher according to claim 7, characterized in that, The condenser (22) and the shell-and-tube heat exchanger (21) are located on different sides of the water tank (13); Preferably, the shell-and-tube heat exchanger (21) and the condenser (22) are arranged opposite to each other on both sides of the water tank (13); Preferably, the condenser (22) is located on the side of the water tank (13) away from the door (5) and is spaced apart from the water tank (13).

9. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that, The liquid circulation pipeline (3) is also equipped with a heating module (6), and the heating module (6) and the cooling module (2) can be started at one of them.

10. A method for controlling a dishwasher, using the dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, When the cooling / heating beverage (4) function is activated, the spray device (12) sprays cold / hot water onto the beverage (4) placed on the shelf (11).

Images