Dishwasher

Abstract

The embodiment of the utility model provides a dish washing machine. The dish washing machine comprises a water inlet valve, a water softener, a water tank, a washing device, a steam generator and a controller. The water softener is communicated with the water inlet valve, the water tank is provided with a first containing cavity, a second containing cavity and an overflow port, the first containing cavity and the second containing cavity are communicated through the overflow port, and the first containing cavity is communicated with the water softener. The washing device is provided with a washing cavity, and the steam generator communicates with the second containing cavity and the washing cavity. Wherein the water tank and the washing device are communicated to the water outlet end of the water softener, so that water can be supplied by the water softener. According to the technical scheme, the service life of the steam generator can be prolonged while the efficiency of the dish-washing machine is improved, and the stability of the dish-washing machine is improved.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of washing equipment, in particular to a dish washing machine. BACKGROUND

[0002] Nowadays, with the upgrading of consumption, users expect a more quality and healthy life, and the dish washing machine as a kitchen luxury product is becoming more and more popular. With the development of the dish washing machine industry, consumers not only have higher and higher requirements for cleaning, but also have requirements for disinfection and sterilization. Steam washing can better clean tableware by using high-temperature steam to break down oil stains on the tableware, and can also disinfect and sterilize.

[0003] In the related art, the operation efficiency of the dish washing machine is not high, and when the water supply source to the steam generator is problematic, the steam generator waterway is easily contaminated, which can cause blockage and other conditions, shorten the service life of the steam generator, and the system stability is poor. CONTENT OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The embodiment of the present application provides a dish washing machine which can improve the efficiency of the dish washing machine, prolong the service life of the steam generator and improve the stability of the dish washing machine.

[0005] The dish washing machine provided by the embodiment of the present application comprises:

[0006] a water softener;

[0007] a water tank having a first containing cavity, a second containing cavity and an overflow port, the first containing cavity and the second containing cavity being communicated through the overflow port, and the first containing cavity being communicated with the water softener;

[0008] a washing device having a washing cavity;

[0009] a steam generator having one end communicated with the second containing cavity and the other end communicated with the washing cavity to provide steam;

[0010] The water tank and the washing device are both communicated to the water outlet end of the water softener, the water softener, the water tank, the steam generator and the washing device are sequentially communicated to form a first water supply waterway, and the water softener and the washing device are communicated to form a second water supply waterway.

[0011] In an embodiment, the washing device is provided with a water cup, the water cup has a water collecting cavity,

[0012] a three-way assembly having a first water port, a second water port and a third water port, the first water port being communicated with the water softener, and the second water port and the third water port being respectively communicated with the first containing cavity and the water cup.

[0013] In an embodiment, the water softener further comprises: a first communicating pipe, one end of which communicates with the second water outlet, and the other end of which communicates with the first containing cavity; and

[0014] a second communicating pipe, one end of which communicates with the third water outlet, and the other end of which communicates with the water collecting cavity;

[0015] wherein the inner diameter of the first communicating pipe is greater than the inner diameter of the second communicating pipe.

[0016] In an embodiment, the volume of the first containing cavity is greater than the volume of the second containing cavity.

[0017] In an embodiment, the water softener further comprises:

[0018] a base for supporting the washing device, the washing device comprising an inner container and a water cup connected below the inner container, the water softener communicating with the water cup and the water tank respectively, wherein the water tank is connected to the side wall of the inner container, and the steam generator is arranged on the base.

[0019] In an embodiment, the water tank further has a water outlet hole communicating with the second containing cavity, and the water outlet hole communicates with the steam generator.

[0020] The inner container is provided with a steam inlet communicating with the washing cavity and the steam generator, and in the height direction of the dishwasher, the water outlet hole and the steam inlet are both higher than the steam generator.

[0021] In an embodiment, the water softener further comprises:

[0022] a steam nozzle mounted on the side wall of the inner container and located at the steam inlet, the steam nozzle communicating with the steam generator and the washing cavity.

[0023] wherein the second containing cavity is provided with a preset water storage level, and in the height direction of the dishwasher, the steam nozzle is higher than the preset water storage level.

[0024] In an embodiment, the water tank further has a gas permeable hole communicating with the second containing cavity, and the gas permeable hole communicates with the washing cavity.

[0025] In the height direction of the dishwasher, the gas permeable hole is higher than the preset water storage level.

[0026] In an embodiment, the water tank comprises:

[0027] a tank body; and

[0028] a partition arranged in the tank body and dividing the space in the tank body into the first containing cavity and the second containing cavity, the partition being provided with the overflow port or the partition and the inner wall of the tank body defining the overflow port.

[0029] In one embodiment, at least the upper half of the partition is arranged in an inclined manner.

[0030] In one embodiment, the water softener further comprises:

[0031] a water inlet valve connected to the water inlet end of the water softener; and

[0032] a controller configured to close the water inlet valve when the regenerated water produced by the water softener reaches the highest water level or the maximum volume in the first containing cavity below the overflow port.

[0033] In one embodiment, the water softener has a regeneration cavity and a resin cavity connected in communication, the resin cavity is connected to the first containing cavity and the washing cavity, and the water softener further comprises:

[0034] a switching valve connected to the water inlet valve and controlled by the controller to switch the communication between the regeneration cavity and the resin cavity, when the switching valve is connected to the regeneration cavity, the resin cavity discharges the regenerated water.

[0035] In one embodiment, when the water softener produces the regenerated water, the water inlet valve, the regeneration cavity, the resin cavity, the first containing cavity, and the water cup are connected in sequence to form a first regenerated water flow path, and the water inlet valve, the regeneration cavity, the resin cavity, and the water cup are connected to form a second regenerated water flow path.

[0036] Based on the above embodiments, in this way, the water softener can supply water to the washing device through the water tank and the steam generator, and can also directly supply water to the washing device, the two water supply paths form a parallel water path, and the simultaneous water supply of the two paths can accelerate the water inflow rate when the washing device uses water, improve the working efficiency, and when one of the two water supply paths cannot be conducted, the other water supply path can also supply water, ensuring the normal operation of the dishwasher and improving the reliability of the dishwasher.

[0037] In addition, the embodiments of the present application divide the first containing cavity and the second containing cavity in the water tank, the first containing cavity and the second containing cavity are connected through the overflow port, and the first containing cavity supplements water to the second containing cavity through overflow. Therefore, if it is detected that the water supplemented into the first containing cavity is contaminated, by stopping the water supplement to the first containing cavity, the contaminated water can be prevented from entering the second containing cavity, the situation of the steam generator being blocked is reduced or avoided, the service life of the steam generator is prolonged, and the reliability and stability of the dishwasher are further improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0038] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present application or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings needed to be used in the embodiments or prior art description. Obviously, the drawings in the following description only represent some embodiments of the present application, and for those skilled in the art, other drawings can also be obtained from the structures shown in these drawings without any creative effort.

[0039] Figure 1 Structure schematic diagram of a dish washing machine according to an embodiment of the present application;

[0040] Figure 2 Structure schematic diagram of another dish washing machine according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0041] Explanation of reference numerals:

[0042] 100, dish washing machine; 10, water inlet valve; 20, water tank; 22, water outlet hole; 23, air vent hole; 24, tank body; 25, partition; 26, first containing cavity; 27, second containing cavity; 28, overflow port; 30, steam generator; 31, one-way valve; 32, steam nozzle; 40, washing device; 41, washing cavity; 43, steam inlet; 44, spraying assembly; 50, water cup; 51, water collecting cavity; 60, water softener; 61, switching valve; 62, resin cavity; 63, regeneration cavity; 70, cleaning agent box; 71, cleaning valve; 80, first communication pipe; 81, second communication pipe.

[0043] The implementation, functional features and advantages of the present application will be further described with reference to the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0044] In order to make the purpose, technical solutions and advantages of the present application more clear, the following will further describe the embodiments of the present application in combination with the drawings.

[0045] When the following description refers to the drawings, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements unless otherwise indicated. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments are not meant to represent all implementations consistent with the present application. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the appended claims.

[0046] In the description of the present application, it is understood that the terms "first", "second" and the like are only for the purpose of description and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. For those of ordinary skill in the art, the specific meanings of the above terms in the present application can be understood according to the specific circumstances. In addition, in the description of the present application, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise specified. The association relationship of the associated objects is described, which means that there can be three relationships, for example, A and / or B can mean that A exists alone, A and B exist together, and B exists alone. The character " / " generally represents an "or" relationship between the associated objects before and after it.

[0047] Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this application belongs. The terminology used in the specification of the present application is only for the purpose of describing specific embodiments and is not intended to limit the present application. The term "and / or" used herein includes any and all combinations of one or more associated listed items.

[0048] Nowadays, with the upgrading of consumption, users expect a more quality and healthy life, and dishwashers are becoming more and more popular as kitchen luxury products. The dishwasher is an intelligent product that replaces manual dishwashing. During the working process, the dishwasher will continuously spray and wash the dishes to achieve the purpose of cleaning the dishes. With the development of the dishwasher industry, consumers not only have higher and higher cleaning requirements, but also have requirements for disinfection and sterilization. Some dishwashers have steam washing function. Steam washing uses high-temperature steam to break down oil stains on dishes, which can better clean the dishes and also has the effect of disinfection and sterilization.

[0049] In the related art, the operation efficiency of the dishwasher is not high, and when the water source for supplying the steam generator is problematic, the steam generator waterway is easily contaminated, which can cause blockage and other conditions, shorten the service life of the steam generator, and the system stability is poor.

[0050] To solve the above problems, the present application provides a dishwasher 100. In combination Figures 1 to 2 The dishwasher 100 provided by the present application includes a box body 24 (not shown in the figure), a washing device 40, a water tank 20, a steam generator 30, a water inlet valve 10, a water softener 60 and a controller (not shown in the figure). The washing device 40, the water tank 20, the steam generator 30, the water inlet valve 10, the water softener 60 and the controller are all arranged in the box body 24.

[0051] The cabinet 24 constitutes a housing part of the dishwasher 100, and can provide a mounting base for the washing device 40, the water tank 20, the steam generator 30, the water inlet valve 10, the water softener 60, the controller, and the like, and plays a protection role. Meanwhile, the surface of the cabinet 24 constitutes a main appearance surface of the dishwasher 100. Optionally, a cabinet door which can be opened and closed is arranged on one side of the cabinet 24, and the user can take and place tableware by opening the cabinet door.

[0052] One end of the water inlet valve 10 is connected to a water source, and the other end is connected to the water softener 60. The controller is also used to control the water inlet valve 10, and when the water inlet valve 10 is opened, the water source supplies water to the water softener 60, and when the water inlet valve 10 is closed, the water source stops supplying water to the water softener 60. The water source can be a tap, a municipal pipeline, or a water storage device, and will not be described here.

[0053] The water outlet end of the water softener 60 is connected to the water tank 20 and the washing device 40, so as to supply water to the water tank 20 and the washing device 40. The water softener 60 can be used to remove calcium and magnesium ions in water, so as to reduce calcium and magnesium ions in water.

[0054] The water tank 20 can be connected to one side of the washing device 40, and is used to connect to an external water source, so as to store water. The material and shape of the water tank 20 are not limited here, and a first containing cavity 26, a second containing cavity 27, and an overflow port 28 are formed in the water tank 20. The first containing cavity 26 and the second containing cavity 27 are connected through the overflow port 28, the first containing cavity 26 is connected to the water softener 60, and the second containing cavity 27 is connected to the steam generator 30.

[0055] The steam generator 30 is connected to the second containing cavity 27, and is used to supply steam to the washing cavity 41. The second containing cavity 27 supplies water to the steam generator 30, the steam generator 30 heats the water to generate steam, and the steam enters the washing cavity 41 through the steam inlet 43, so as to perform sterilization and disinfection operations on tableware and the like in the washing cavity 41. Exemplarily, the steam generator 30 includes a heating cavity, and a thick-film heating plate, a PTC, a heating tube, and the like arranged in the heating cavity. The water inlet end of the heating cavity is connected to the water outlet hole 22, and the water outlet end of the heating cavity is connected to the steam inlet 43, so that the generated steam can enter the washing cavity 41.

[0056] Optionally, the washing device 40 comprises an inner tank and a spraying assembly 44. The inner tank is arranged inside the cabinet 24 and defines a washing cavity 41 for placing tableware. The washing cavity 41 can be provided with a support for placing tableware and the like. The spraying assembly 44 can be in the form of a spray head or a spraying arm and is arranged in the washing cavity 41. The spraying assembly 44 is provided with a spraying opening for spraying a jet flow to the tableware and the like for rinsing the tableware and the like. The washing device 40 is further provided with a steam inlet 43 communicating with the washing cavity 41. The steam generator 30 communicates with the steam inlet 43 to supply steam to the washing cavity 41, so as to sterilize and disinfect the tableware and the like.

[0057] The washing device 40 further comprises a water cup 50. The water cup 50 can be in the form of a half-enclosed structure in the shape of a groove or a cup. The water cup 50 is arranged below the inner tank and defines a water collecting cavity 51 communicating with the washing cavity 41. Water in the washing cavity 41 can flow to the water collecting cavity 51 under the action of gravity. The water collecting cavity 51 communicates with the spraying opening to supply water to the spraying assembly 44.

[0058] Based on the above, the dishwasher 100 has a water path 1 for supplementing the second containing cavity 27 in the water tank 20 with softened water: water - water inlet valve 10 - water softener 60 (resin cavity 62) - first containing cavity 26 - second containing cavity 27. Furthermore, there is a water path 2 of the steam generator 30: second containing cavity 27 - steam generator 30 - washing cavity 41. Understandably, when the steam generator 30 is working, steam can be supplied to the washing cavity 41 through the water path 2, and when the steam generator 30 is not working, water can be supplied to the washing cavity 41 through the water path 2. The water softener 60 communicates with the water collecting cavity 51 to supply water to the water collecting cavity 51, i.e., the dishwasher 100 has a water path 3 for supplying the water collecting cavity 51 with softened water: water - water inlet valve 10 - water softener 60 (resin cavity 62) - water cup 50.

[0059] The water path 1 and the water path 2 together constitute a first water supply path for the water softener 60 to supply water to the washing cavity 41, and the water path 3 is a second water supply path for the water softener 60 to supply water to the washing cavity 41. Understandably, the first water supply path and the second water supply path do not intersect and form parallel water paths. In this way, the water softener 60 can supply water to the washing device 40 through the first water supply path via the water tank 20 and the steam generator 30, and also directly supply water to the washing device 40 through the second water supply path. The two water supply paths can accelerate the water inflow rate when the washing device 40 uses water, improve the working efficiency, and when one of the water inflow paths cannot be conducted, the other water inflow path can be used to supply water, so as to ensure the normal operation of the dishwasher 100 and improve the reliability of the dishwasher 100.

[0060] In addition, the first accommodating cavity 26 and the second accommodating cavity 27 are arranged in the water tank 20, the first accommodating cavity 26 and the second accommodating cavity 27 are communicated through the overflow port 28, and the first accommodating cavity 26 supplements water to the second accommodating cavity 27 in an overflow manner. In this way, on the one hand, even if the water in the first accommodating cavity 26 is polluted and the like, without continuous water supplement, the water in the first accommodating cavity 26 will not affect the water in the second accommodating cavity 27, so as to avoid affecting the steam generator 30 and reducing the blockage of the steam generator 30. On the other hand, the backflow of water from the second accommodating cavity 27 can be avoided, the second accommodating cavity 27 can store water, and thus the water supply to the steam generator 30 is facilitated, and the dry burning of the steam generator 30 and the like is avoided. Therefore, if it is detected that the water supplemented into the first accommodating cavity 26 is polluted, by stopping the water supplement to the first accommodating cavity 26, the polluted water can be avoided from entering the second accommodating cavity 27, the blockage of the steam generator 30 is reduced or avoided, the service life of the steam generator 30 is prolonged, and the reliability and stability of the dishwasher 100 are further improved.

[0061] In some embodiments, the dishwasher 100 further comprises a three-way assembly, which can be a three-way pipe or a three-way joint, and has a first water port, a second water port and a third water port. The first water port is communicated with the resin cavity 62 of the water softener 60 and is used for water inlet. The second water port and the third water port are respectively communicated with the first accommodating cavity 26 and the water collecting cavity 51 and are used for water outlet. It can be understood that, without the three-way assembly, the resin cavity 62 can be connected with the water cup 50 and the water tank 20 through two interfaces. The three-way assembly adopted in the present embodiment can facilitate pipe connection, reduce the structural complexity of the water softener 60, avoid secondary design and reduce cost.

[0062] In combination with Figure 1 , the dishwasher 100 further comprises a first communicating pipe 80 and a second communicating pipe 81. One end of the first communicating pipe 80 is connected with the three-way assembly and communicated with the second water port, and the other end is communicated with the first accommodating cavity 26. One end of the second communicating pipe 81 is connected with the three-way assembly and communicated with the third water port, and the other end is communicated with the water collecting cavity 51. In the present embodiment, the inner diameter of the first communicating pipe 80 is greater than that of the second communicating pipe 81. In the case that the water flow rate of the water softener 60 is constant, the greater the inner diameter of the pipe, the more water flows through per unit time. In the present embodiment, when the water softener 60 supplies water to the washing device 40, the amount of water flowing into the water tank 20 per unit time through the first communicating pipe 80 is greater than that flowing into the water cup 50 per unit time through the second communicating pipe 81. When the water level in the first accommodating cavity 26 is higher than the overflow port 28, for example, the second accommodating cavity 27 stores water for use by the steam generator 30. In this way, by making the inner diameter of the first communicating pipe 80 greater than that of the second communicating pipe 81, the water supply efficiency to the water tank 20 is further improved, so as to preferentially fill the second accommodating cavity 27 and facilitate the steam generator 30 to generate steam.

[0063] In an embodiment, the first accommodating cavity 26 has a larger volume than the second accommodating cavity 27. The steam generator 30 uses less water for each steam generation, while the water supply device 60 supplies more water for each time. For example, the steam generator 30 needs 100ml water for each steam generation, while the water supply device 60 supplies 500ml water for each time. The first accommodating cavity 26 has a larger volume than the second accommodating cavity 27, which can store the water needed by the steam generator 30, and when the water supply of the water supply device 60 fails, the larger first accommodating cavity 26 can give sufficient buffer time, so the layout is more reasonable.

[0064] Optionally, the tank is formed with a base, and the base is used to support the washing device 40. In the embodiment of the present application, the water tank 20 is connected to the side wall of the inner container, and the steam generator 30 is arranged on the base. Thus, in the height direction of the dishwasher 100, the position of the water tank 20 is higher than that of the steam generator 30, which facilitates the flow of water in the water tank 20 to the steam generator 30, and is easy to form a communicating vessel structure.

[0065] In combination Figure 1 In an embodiment, the dishwasher 100 further comprises a one-way valve 31. The one-way valve 31 is arranged between the water tank 20 and the steam generator 30, and is used to make the fluid flow from the water outlet hole 22 to the steam generator 30 in one direction, so as to facilitate the flow of fluid along the water path 2, avoid the steam generated by the steam generator 30 from flowing backward, make the steam enter the washing cavity 41, and facilitate the water in the second accommodating cavity 27 to flow to the steam generator 30, and ensure the water supply effect of the water tank 20 to the steam generator 30.

[0066] The water tank 20 further has a water outlet hole 22 communicating with the second containing cavity 27, and the water outlet hole 22 communicates with the steam generator 30; in the height direction of the dishwasher 100, the water outlet hole 22 and the steam inlet 43 are both higher than the steam generator 30, so as to jointly form a communicating structure. Based on the communicating structure, when the water level in the second containing cavity 27 is higher than the water outlet hole 22, due to the lower height of the steam generator 30, the water in the water tank 20 can flow out to the steam generator 30 under the action of gravity and atmospheric pressure. In this way, the water can flow to the steam generator 30 without using a water pump. Thus, compared with the related art which sets a water pump to supply water to the steam generator 30, the technical solution of the embodiment of the present application does not need to set a water pump, reduces the number of parts, reduces the cost, and reduces the overall risk of part failure. In addition, when there is water in the second containing cavity 27, the communicating structure can ensure that the steam generator 30 has water flow when it is working, thereby avoiding dry burning, so as to avoid the damage or shortened service life of the steam generator 30 caused by the inactivity of the water pump, prolong the service life of the steam generator 30, and improve the overall use reliability of the dishwasher 100.

[0067] In some embodiments, the water outlet hole 22 communicates with the second containing cavity 27 at the bottom of the second containing cavity 27. Specifically, the water outlet hole 22 can be formed in the bottom wall of the tank body 24, and the pipeline communicating the water outlet hole 22 with the steam generator 30 is connected to the bottom of the tank body 24. The shape of the water outlet hole 22 is not limited in the embodiment of the present application, which can adopt a square hole or a circular hole structure. The water outlet hole 22 arranged at the bottom of the second containing cavity 27 can more facilitate the discharge of water in the second containing cavity 27, and can empty the second containing cavity 27 as much as possible, promote water circulation, and avoid that part of the water remains in the second containing cavity 27 to affect the water quality. Of course, the water outlet hole 22 can also communicate with the second containing cavity 27 from the side wall of the tank body 24, and the present application is not limited in this regard as long as water can be ensured above the water outlet hole 22.

[0068] In order to facilitate the water tank 20 to communicate with the atmosphere, the water tank 20 further has a gas permeable hole 23 communicating with the washing cavity 41. Optionally, the water tank 20 can be arranged on one side of the washing device 40, and the gas permeable hole 23 can be formed in the side wall of the water tank 20 and arranged spaced apart from the water outlet hole 22 in the height direction of the dishwasher 100. When there is too much water in the water tank 20, the gas permeable hole 23 can also be used to overflow the fluid in the second containing cavity 27 higher than the gas permeable hole 23 to the washing cavity 41, so as to keep the water level in the water tank 20 below the gas permeable hole 23, and avoid that too much water causes damage to the structure of the water tank 20.

[0069] Further, in the height direction of the dishwasher 100, the steam inlet 43 is higher than the air vent 23. It can be understood that, in the process of supplementing water to the water tank 20 to a water level higher than the air vent 23 through the steam generator 30 when the steam generator 30 is not working, the fluid in the second containing cavity 27 higher than the air vent 23 can flow into the washing cavity 41 through the steam inlet 43 based on the principle of communicating vessels in addition to overflowing into the washing cavity 41 through the air vent 23. In combination with the foregoing, when the air vent 23 maintains the water level in the second containing cavity 27 below the air vent 23, the water in the connecting pipeline between the steam generator 30 and the steam inlet 43 also maintains the same water level, avoiding water leakage. When the steam generator 30 is working, steam flows into the washing cavity 41 from the steam inlet 43, and even if the air vent 23 overflows water into the washing cavity 41 at this time, the steam flow will not be disturbed because the steam inlet 43 is higher than the air vent 23, ensuring that the steam can be smoothly discharged to the washing cavity 41.

[0070] In an embodiment, the dishwasher 100 further comprises a steam nozzle 32, which is arranged at the steam inlet 43 and connected to the side wall of the inner container. It can be understood that the steam nozzle 32 has an air inlet end and an air outlet end, the air inlet end is communicated with the steam generator 30, and the air outlet end is communicated with the washing cavity 41. When the steam generator 30 generates steam, the steam can flow into the washing cavity 41 through the steam nozzle 32. Optionally, the air outlet end of the steam nozzle 32 faces the washing cavity 41 and has a plurality of steam outlets facing different directions, so that the steam sprayed by the steam nozzle 32 can be more uniformly distributed in the washing cavity 41, ensuring the sterilization and disinfection effect.

[0071] In the embodiment of the present application, the second containing cavity 27 has a preset water storage level, and in the height direction of the dishwasher 100, the air vent 23 is higher than the preset water storage level, so as to maintain the communication between the second containing cavity and the atmosphere and maintain the communicating vessel structure. The steam nozzle 32 is also higher than the preset water storage level, and based on the communicating vessel structure, the water higher than the preset water storage level can also flow into the washing cavity 41 through the steam nozzle 32.

[0072] Please continue to combine Figure 1 In an embodiment, the water tank 20 comprises a tank body 24 and a partition 25, the partition 25 is arranged in the tank body 24 and divides the space in the tank body 24 into the first containing cavity 26 and the second containing cavity 27. Optionally, the partition 25 can be in the form of a plate to divide the space in the tank body 24 while reducing the occupation of the space in the tank body 24. Optionally, the partition 25 can be provided with an overflow port 28 by itself, or the partition 25 and the inner wall of the tank body 24 can define the overflow port 28. Of course, the water tank 20 can also adopt a nested structure that the first containing cavity 26 is located in the second containing cavity 27, which is not limited in the present application

[0073] The following explanation continues with the embodiment where the water tank 20 is equipped with a partition 25:

[0074] Optionally, along the height direction of the dishwasher 100, the overflow port 28 is located in the upper part of the water tank 20. For example, the top of the partition 25 is spaced apart from the inner top wall of the water tank 20 to define the overflow port 28 between them. Understandably, compared to the overflow port 28 located in the middle or lower part of the water tank 20, the highest water level defined by the overflow port 28 located in the upper part of the water tank 20 is also higher, the first receiving cavity 26 can hold and buffer more water, and the first receiving cavity 26 and the second receiving cavity 27 can also hold more softened water, thereby improving the utilization rate of the space inside the water tank 20.

[0075] Furthermore, combined Figure 1 In one embodiment, at least the upper half of the partition 25 is inclined. This can be achieved by the upper half of the partition 25 being inclined and the lower half extending along the height direction of the dishwasher 100, or by the partition 25 being inclined entirely. Optionally, the inclined portion of the partition 25 causes the cross-sectional area of ​​the first receiving cavity 26 to gradually increase along the direction near the top of the water tank 20, thus increasing the volume of the first receiving cavity 26, providing more buffering, and effectively preventing contaminated water from entering the second receiving cavity 27. Furthermore, the inclined partition 25 can also guide the backflow of water in the first receiving cavity 26 and make it more difficult for water to flow back into the second receiving cavity 27, thereby ensuring that the second receiving cavity 27 can retain water.

[0076] Of course, in some other embodiments, the arrangement of the partition 25 is not limited to an inclined arrangement. When it is necessary to increase the cross-sectional area of ​​the first receiving cavity 26, the partition 25 can also be arranged in a stepped bend, which will not be elaborated here.

[0077] like Figure 1 As shown, the water softener 60 has a resin chamber 62, a regeneration chamber 63, and a switching valve 61. The resin chamber 62 and the regeneration chamber 63 are connected, and both are also connected to the switching valve 61, which can be controlled by a controller. The switching valve 61 determines whether water passes through the regeneration chamber 63. When water enters the resin chamber 62 directly without passing through the regeneration chamber 63, the ion exchange resin in the resin chamber 62 removes calcium and magnesium ions from the water, reducing water hardness and forming softened water. When water passes through the regeneration chamber 63 before entering the resin chamber 62, on the one hand, the water is softened in the resin chamber 62; on the other hand, the water passing through the regeneration chamber 63 regenerates the resin in the resin chamber 62, forming regenerated water.

[0078] When the resin cavity 62 of the water softener 60 needs to be regenerated, the switching valve 61 is controlled, and the water flowing out of the water inlet valve 10 flows through the regeneration cavity 63 into the resin cavity 62 to form a regenerated water outflow. The regenerated water contains calcium and magnesium ions, and if the regenerated water is introduced into the second containing cavity 27 and then supplied to the steam generator 30 through the water path 2, the steam generator 30 is likely to be scaled and blocked, affecting the service life of the steam generator 30.

[0079] The first containing cavity 26 has a maximum volume or a highest water level below the overflow port 28. It can be understood that when the water capacity of the first containing cavity 26 is greater than the maximum volume or the water level of the first containing cavity 26 is higher than the highest water level, the water gradually flows into the second containing cavity 27 through the overflow port 28; otherwise, the water in the first containing cavity 26 does not overflow into the second containing cavity 27.

[0080] The controller in the embodiment of the present application controls the water inlet valve 10 and is configured to close the water inlet valve 10 and stop water replenishment to the first containing cavity 26 when the regenerated water generated by the water softener 60 reaches the highest water level below the overflow port 28 in the first containing cavity 26, so as to avoid the regenerated water from entering the second containing cavity 27.

[0081] The controller can determine the replenishment of the regenerated water from the water softener 60 to the first containing cavity 26 by knowing the state of the switching valve 61, that is, when the switching valve 61 is turned on to connect the water inlet valve 10 and the regeneration cavity 63, it is determined that the regenerated water is replenished; or the dishwasher 100 can also be provided with a sensor for detecting ion concentration between the water softener 60 and the first containing cavity 26, and when the ion concentration between the water softener 60 and the first containing cavity 26 is too high, it is determined that the regenerated water is replenished.

[0082] The controller can determine the volume of the regenerated water in the first containing cavity 26 by setting a flow meter. The controller stores the volume value of the highest water level part below the overflow port 28 of the first containing cavity 26, and the flow meter is arranged between the water inlet valve 10 and the first containing cavity 26 to measure the water replenished to the first containing cavity 26. By calculation, when the volume of the regenerated water replenished to the first containing cavity 26 is equal to the volume of the highest water level part below the overflow port 28, it is determined that the regenerated water is at the maximum volume. Alternatively, the water tank 20 can also be provided with a water level probe, and the controller determines whether the regenerated water is at the highest water level by the signal of the water level probe, which is not limited in the embodiment of the present application.

[0083] Thus, when the water softener 60 outputs reclaimed water, the inlet valve 10 is controlled by the controller to close when the reclaimed water reaches the highest water level in the first receiving chamber 26 below the overflow port 28, stopping the replenishment of water to the first receiving chamber 26. This prevents reclaimed water from entering the second receiving chamber 27, reduces or avoids clogging of the steam generator 30, extends the service life of the steam generator 30, and improves the reliability and stability of the dishwasher 100.

[0084] In this embodiment, the water cup 50 is further provided with a drain outlet communicating with the water collection chamber 51. The dishwasher 100 also includes a drain pump connected to the water cup 50 and selectively communicating with the drain outlet. The controller is also used to control the communication between the drain pump and the drain outlet. During drainage, the controller controls the drain pump to operate, so that the drain pump communicates with the drain outlet, thereby draining the water in the water collection chamber 51. When the dishwasher 100 is draining reclaimed water, the reclaimed water collected in the water collection chamber 51 can be discharged in a timely manner, reducing pollution and preventing waterway blockage.

[0085] That is, the dishwasher 100 also has a water channel 4 and a water channel 5 for discharging reclaimed water, wherein:

[0086] Water circuit 4: Water — Inlet valve 10 — Softener 60 (regeneration chamber 63 — resin chamber 62) — First receiving chamber 26 — Water cup 50;

[0087] Water circuit 5: Water - Inlet valve 10 - Softener 60 (regeneration chamber 63 - resin chamber 62) - Water cup 50.

[0088] If the steam generator 30 becomes clogged or contaminated, a cleaning operation is required. For example... Figure 2 As shown, in some embodiments, the dishwasher 100 also includes a detergent dispenser 70. The detergent dispenser 70 is connected to the washing unit 40 and has a storage cavity for storing detergent, which selectively communicates with a second receiving cavity 27. A controller is also used to control the communication between the storage cavity and the second receiving cavity 27 and is configured to connect the storage cavity to the second receiving cavity 27 when cleaning the steam generator 30 is required. For example, the detergent dispenser 70 is located at the top of the washing unit 40, with a cleaning valve 71 controllable by the controller between them. During cleaning, the controller controls the cleaning valve 71 to connect the storage cavity and the second receiving cavity 27, allowing detergent to flow into the second receiving cavity 27 under gravity. Of course, in some other configurations, the detergent dispenser 70 may also be located in other parts of the dishwasher 100, and the detergent may be pumped to the second receiving cavity 27.

[0089] In this way, by putting the cleaning agent into the second containing cavity 27, the cleaning agent flows along the second containing cavity 27-steam generator 30-washing cavity 41, and the steam generator 30 and the pipeline along the way are cleaned, effectively keeping the pipeline clean and sanitary, and helping to solve the problem of blockage and improve the reliability of the dishwasher 100. By providing the cleaning agent box 70, the cleaning operation can be performed multiple times for a long time after the storage cavity is filled once, reducing the user's frequent operation of adding cleaning agent to the storage cavity. Moreover, the controller of this embodiment of the present application automatically puts the cleaning agent into the second containing cavity 27, which reduces the user's labor intensity while improving the intelligent level of the dishwasher 100 and improving the user experience.

[0090] Further, the dishwasher 100 further comprises a detection device provided in the cleaning agent box 70, for detecting the amount of cleaning agent in the storage cavity, so that the user can know the current amount of cleaning agent and replenish the cleaning agent in time. Optionally, the detection device comprises at least one of a Hall detection assembly, a float type detection assembly, and an electrode type detection assembly. For example, when the detection device is an electrode type detection assembly, the electrode type detection assembly is a device for detecting the liquid level by using the conductivity of the liquid. The electrode type detection assembly comprises probes, and a plurality of probes are arranged at different liquid levels in the cleaning agent box 70. When the cleaning agent liquid surface touches the probe, the probe will send a detection signal, and different detection signals correspond to different liquid levels, so that the current liquid level of the cleaning agent can be determined.

[0091] Of course, in addition to program control, the user can also manually add cleaning agent to the water tank 20, which is convenient and fast, and the present application embodiment does not limit this.

[0092] Further, the dishwasher 100 further comprises a filter device provided in the water collecting cavity 51. The filter device is used to filter the fluid flowing from the washing cavity 41 into the water collecting cavity 51. During the operation of the dishwasher 100, by filtering the fluid, the circulation of scale and other impurities with the water flow can be reduced or avoided, pollution is reduced, and cleaning is facilitated.

[0093] The same or similar reference numerals in the drawings of the present embodiment correspond to the same or similar components; in the description of the present application, it should be understood that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "upper", "lower", "left", "right" and the like is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, and is only for the convenience of describing the present application and simplifying the description, and does not indicate or imply that the devices or elements referred to must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation. Therefore, the positional relationship described in the drawings is only used for exemplary description, and cannot be understood as a limitation on the present application. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0094] The above merely provides preferred embodiments of the present application, and is not used to limit the present application. Any modification, equivalent replacement, and improvement made in the spirit and principle of the present application shall be included in the protection scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A dishwasher, characterized in that The application relates to a water softener, a water tank, a washing device, a steam generator and a water cup. The water tank has a first accommodating cavity, a second accommodating cavity and an overflow port, the first accommodating cavity and the second accommodating cavity are communicated through the overflow port, and the first accommodating cavity is communicated with the water softener. The washing device has a washing cavity. The steam generator has one end communicated with the second accommodating cavity and the other end communicated with the washing cavity to provide steam. The water tank and the washing device are both communicated with a water outlet end of the water softener, the water softener, the water tank, the steam generator and the washing device are sequentially communicated to form a first water supply waterway, and the water softener and the washing device are communicated to form a second water supply waterway. The washing device is provided with a water cup, the water cup has a water collecting cavity, 2. The dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that A three-way assembly has a first water port communicated with the water softener, a second water port and a third water port, and the second water port and the third water port are respectively communicated with the first accommodating cavity and the water cup. The first communicating pipe has one end communicated with the second water port and the other end communicated with the first accommodating cavity. The second communicating pipe has one end communicated with the third water port and the other end communicated with the water collecting cavity.

3. The warewashing machine of claim 2, wherein, The inner diameter of the first communicating pipe is larger than that of the second communicating pipe. The volume of the first accommodating cavity is larger than that of the second accommodating cavity. The base is used for supporting the washing device, the washing device comprises an inner container and a water cup connected below the inner container, the water softener is respectively communicated with the water cup and the water tank, the water tank is connected with the side wall of the inner container, and the steam generator is arranged on the base. The water tank further has a water outlet hole communicated with the second accommodating cavity, and the water outlet hole is communicated with the steam generator. The inner container is provided with a steam inlet communicated with the washing cavity and the steam generator, and the water outlet hole and the steam inlet are both higher than the steam generator in the height direction of the dishwasher.

4. The warewashing machine of claim 3, wherein, The steam nozzle is installed on the side wall of the inner container and located at the steam inlet, and the steam nozzle is communicated with the steam generator and the washing cavity.

5. The warewashing machine of claim 1, wherein, The second accommodating cavity is provided with a preset water storage level, and the steam nozzle is higher than the preset water storage level in the height direction of the dishwasher. The water tank is further provided with a gas permeable hole communicated with the second accommodating cavity, and the gas permeable hole is communicated with the washing cavity.

6. The warewashing machine of claim 5, wherein, The gas permeable hole is higher than the preset water storage level in the height direction of the dishwasher. The water tank comprises:

7. The warewashing machine of claim 6, wherein, A tank body; and A partition arranged in the tank body and dividing the space in the tank body into the first accommodating cavity and the second accommodating cavity, the partition is provided with the overflow port or the partition and the inner wall of the tank body define the overflow port. At least the upper half of the partition is arranged in an inclined manner.

8. The warewash machine of claim 7, wherein, The water inlet valve is communicated with the water inlet end of the water softener. The controller is configured to close the water inlet valve when the regenerated water generated by the water softener reaches the highest water level or the maximum volume below the overflow port in the first accommodating cavity.

9. The warewash machine of claim 1, wherein, ​ ​ ​ 10. The warewash machine of claim 9, wherein, ​ 11. The warewash machine of any of claims 2-8, wherein, ​ ​ ​ ​ 12. The warewash machine of claim 11, wherein, The softener has a regeneration cavity and a resin cavity in communication, the resin cavity is in communication with the first containing cavity and the washing cavity, and the softener further comprises: A switching valve in communication with the water inlet valve and switching the communication between the regeneration cavity and the resin cavity under the control of the controller, when the switching valve is in communication with the regeneration cavity, the resin cavity discharges regeneration water.

13. The warewash machine of claim 12, wherein, When the softener generates regeneration water, the water inlet valve, the regeneration cavity, the resin cavity, the first containing cavity and the water cup are sequentially in communication to form a first regeneration water flow path, and the water inlet valve, the regeneration cavity, the resin cavity and the water cup are in communication to form a second regeneration water flow path.

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