Water cup structure and tableware cleaning device

Abstract

The application relates to the technical field of washing equipment, and provides a water cup structure and tableware cleaning equipment, which comprises a water cup and a hot air assembly. The water cup is internally provided with a water collecting cavity, the hot air assembly is communicated with the water collecting cavity, the hot air assembly can generate hot air to dry and evaporate residual water in the water collecting cavity, the hot air assembly can generate hot air, and the hot air enters the water collecting cavity along the hot air assembly, so that the residual water in the water cup can be effectively dried, the breeding of bacteria is reduced, and the generation of peculiar smell in the cleaning equipment and the secondary pollution of the cleaned tableware are avoided.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of washing equipment technology, and in particular to a water cup structure and tableware washing equipment. Background Technology

[0002] Dishwashing equipment is a device that automatically cleans bowls, chopsticks, plates, dishes, knives, forks, and other tableware. It typically contains a water cup structure to supply water to each component. After the equipment completes the cleaning process, the water in the cup is drained through a drain pipe. However, due to structural design limitations, complete drainage is difficult, often leaving a small amount of water residue in the cup. Even after the internal heat exchange process, residual moisture may still remain at the bottom of the cup. If this residual moisture is not removed promptly, it can easily breed bacteria and produce odors, thus affecting the cleanliness and safety of the tableware. Utility Model Content

[0003] This application aims to improve at least one technical problem in the background art.

[0004] This application provides a water cup structure, which includes a water cup and a hot air assembly. The water cup has a water collection chamber inside. The hot air assembly includes a housing, a switch valve group, a fan, and a heater. The housing is connected to the water cup. The housing has an air outlet and an exhaust channel. The exhaust channel communicates with the water collection chamber through the air outlet. The fan and the heater are both located in the exhaust channel. The switch valve group is used to open or block the air outlet.

[0005] The water cup structure provided in this application has at least the following beneficial effects: the hot air component can generate hot air, and the hot air enters the water collection chamber along the hot air component, thereby effectively drying the residual water in the water cup, reducing bacterial growth, and thus avoiding the generation of odors inside the cleaning equipment and secondary contamination of the cleaned tableware.

[0006] According to some technical solutions of this application, the switch valve assembly includes a plugging head and a traction device. The housing is provided with a sliding groove on the side near the air outlet. The plugging head is movably disposed in the sliding groove. The traction device is connected to the plugging head. The traction device is used to pull the plugging head to move along the sliding groove to realize the opening or blocking of the air outlet.

[0007] According to some technical solutions of this application, the traction device includes a return spring, a traction device and a traction rope. A connecting hole is provided on the sliding groove. One end of the traction rope passes through the connecting hole and is connected to the sealing head. The other end of the traction rope is connected to the traction device. The return spring is disposed in the sliding groove and sleeved on the traction rope.

[0008] According to some technical solutions of this application, a rubber sleeve is fixed to the end of the sealing head, and the rubber sleeve is used to seal with the air outlet.

[0009] According to some technical solutions of this application, a mounting base is fixed on one side of the water cup, and the traction device is fixed on the mounting base.

[0010] According to some technical solutions of this application, the mounting base includes a folding part and a supporting part. One end of the folding part is fixedly connected to the water cup, and the other end of the folding part is connected to the supporting part. The supporting part is used to install the traction device.

[0011] According to some technical solutions of this application, the heater is a PTC heater.

[0012] According to some technical solutions of this application, a water level sensor is provided at the bottom of the water cup, and the water level sensor is used to detect whether the water at the bottom of the water cup has been drained.

[0013] The second aspect of this application provides a tableware cleaning device, which includes a drain pump, a peristaltic pump, a washing pump, and a water cup structure as described above. The water cup is also provided with multiple pipe interfaces, and the drain pump, peristaltic pump, and washing pump are respectively connected to the water collection chamber through the pipe interfaces.

[0014] According to a sub-solution of the above technical solution, the water cup is also equipped with a turbidity sensor, which is used to detect the turbidity of the water in the water cup. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the water cup structure provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the water cup structure provided in an embodiment of this application from one angle. Figure 3 A three-dimensional structural schematic diagram of the hot air assembly provided in the embodiments of this application; Figure 4 A schematic diagram of a hot air assembly provided in an embodiment of this application; Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the housing provided in an embodiment of this application.

[0016] In the attached diagram: 100-water cup; 200-hot air assembly; 110-water collection chamber; 210-housing; 230-fan; 240-heater; 250-mounting base; 260-water level sensor; 211-air outlet; 212-exhaust duct; 213-sliding groove; 214-connection hole; 221-sealing head; 2221-reset spring; 2222-traction device; 2223-traction rope; 2224-rubber sleeve. Detailed Implementation

[0017] The embodiments of this application are described in detail below. Examples of these embodiments are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0018] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the orientation descriptions, such as up, down, front, back, left, right, etc., are based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings and are only for the convenience of describing this application 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 or operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of this utility model.

[0019] In the description of this application, if there are short sentences containing multiple parallel features, the modifiers in these sentences define the closest feature. For example, "B, C, and E connected to D are set on A," means that B is set on A, E is connected to D, and C is not defined. However, modifiers indicating the relationship between features, such as "interval setting" or "circular arrangement," do not fall into this category. In sentences where the subject is omitted, the omitted subject is the subject of the preceding sentence; that is, "A has B and includes C" means that A has B and A includes C.

[0020] In the description of this application, unless otherwise expressly defined, terms such as "setup," "installation," and "connection" should be interpreted broadly, and those skilled in the art can reasonably determine the specific meaning of the above terms in this application in conjunction with the specific content of the technical solution.

[0021] The following is combined with Figures 1 to 5 The embodiments of this utility model are described below.

[0022] Under normal circumstances, tableware washing equipment operates in four stages: pre-wash, main wash, rinsing, and drying. During the drying stage, air inlets and outlets are typically located on both sides of the inner tank, with hot air entering on one side and exiting on the other. This creates air convection within the sealed inner tank, carrying away the humid air and drying both the tableware and the inner tank itself. After the equipment completes the washing process, the water in the cups is drained through the drain pipe. However, due to structural design limitations, complete drainage is difficult, often leaving a small amount of water in the cups. Even after the inner tank drying process, a certain amount of residual water remains at the bottom of the cups. This residual water easily breeds bacteria, causing not only unpleasant odors inside the washing equipment but also secondary contamination of the cleaned tableware, affecting the hygiene of stored tableware.

[0023] Based on this, this application provides a water cup structure, which includes a water cup 100 and a hot air assembly 200, wherein the water cup 100 has a water collection cavity 110 inside, the hot air assembly 200 is connected to the water collection cavity 110, and the hot air assembly 200 can generate hot air to dry and evaporate the residual water in the water collection cavity 110.

[0024] Therefore, by incorporating a hot air assembly, hot air is generated and enters the water collection chamber, effectively drying any residual water in the cup, preventing bacterial growth, avoiding odors inside the cleaning equipment, and preventing secondary contamination of cleaned tableware, thus improving the hygiene standards for tableware storage. This ensures no water residue remains after cleaning and also allows for the delivery of hot air into the cup, effectively preventing bacterial growth.

[0025] In some embodiments, the hot air assembly 200 includes a housing 210, a switch valve assembly, a fan 230, and a heater 240. The housing 210 is connected to the water cup 100. The housing 210 has an air outlet 211 and an exhaust channel 212. The exhaust channel 212 is connected to the water collection chamber 110 through the air outlet 211. The fan 230 and the heater 240 are both located in the exhaust channel 212. The switch valve assembly is used to open or block the air outlet 211.

[0026] Optionally, the heater 240 is a PTC heater 240. During assembly, the PTC heater 240 is positioned near the air outlet 211 of the fan 230. In use, the hot air assembly 200 is activated, and the fan 230 operates, sending air into the exhaust duct 212. The air is heated as it passes through the heater 240, forming hot air. The switching valve assembly controls the connection between the exhaust duct 212 and the water collection chamber 110 by blocking or opening the air outlet 211. When the air outlet 211 is open, hot air flows along the exhaust duct 212 and enters the water collection chamber 110 through the air outlet 211, thereby drying the residual water in the water collection chamber 110.

[0027] In some embodiments, the switching valve assembly includes a plugging head 221 and a traction device. A sliding groove 213 is provided on the side of the housing 210 near the air outlet 211. The plugging head 221 is movably disposed within the sliding groove 213. The traction device is connected to the plugging head 221 and is used to pull the plugging head 221 along the sliding groove 213 to open or close the air outlet 211. Thus, by moving the plugging head 221 within the sliding groove 213 via the traction device, the air outlet 211 is opened or sealed. The elasticity of the return spring 2221 allows the plugging head 221 to return to its original position, opening the air outlet 211 when drying is required and promptly closing it after drying, improving hot air utilization efficiency and preventing liquid from entering the housing 210.

[0028] Optionally, the traction device includes a return spring 2221, a puller 2222, and a traction rope 2223. A connecting hole 214 is provided on the sliding groove 213. One end of the traction rope 2223 passes through the connecting hole 214 and is connected to the sealing head 221. The other end of the traction rope 2223 is connected to the puller 2222. The return spring 2221 is located in the sliding groove 213 and sleeved on the traction rope 2223. Understandably, the puller can use an existing valve body puller or drain valve puller. The puller is generally powered by a micro motor and drives the traction rope fixed on the traction wheel to wind up through a gear reduction mechanism. After power is cut off, the stop lever is reset under the action of the stop spring, releasing the stop wheel. Under the action of the spring, the traction rope is pulled out and reset. Since the puller is not an improvement of this application, the specific principle will not be described in detail here.

[0029] Specifically, when the air outlet 211 needs to be opened, the traction device 2222 is powered on and starts, pulling the traction rope 2223. The traction rope 2223 drives the sealing head 221 to overcome the elastic force of the return spring 2221 and move along the sliding groove 213 away from the air outlet 211, thus opening the air outlet 211 and allowing hot air to enter the water collection chamber 110 through the air outlet 211. When the air outlet 211 needs to be sealed, the traction device 2222 stops working, the return spring 2221 returns to its original state, and pushes the sealing head 221 along the sliding groove 213 towards the air outlet 211. The rubber sleeve 2224 tightly seals the air outlet 211, sealing it. Thus, the air outlet 211 is opened when drying is needed and sealed promptly after drying, improving the efficiency of hot air utilization and preventing liquid from entering the hot air assembly 200. The traction rope 2223 can be a steel rope.

[0030] In addition to the aforementioned structure of the traction device, in some embodiments, the traction device can also be other forms of telescopic structure, such as a telescopic push rod motor, a combination structure of a gearbox and motor with gears and racks engaging each other, a combination structure of a wax motor and gearbox, etc. Those skilled in the art can select according to their needs to improve the reliability of the sealing head 221 in opening or sealing the air outlet 211.

[0031] In some embodiments, a rubber sleeve 2224 is fixed to the end of the sealing head 221, and the rubber sleeve 2224 is used to seal against the air outlet 211. Thus, by utilizing the elastic deformation characteristics of the rubber sleeve 2224, it can be tightly fitted to the air outlet 211 under the action of the sealing head 221, preventing liquid from passing through, thereby further improving the sealing performance of the air outlet 211.

[0032] Specifically, when it is necessary to open the air outlet 211, the actuator 2222 is activated, pulling the traction rope 2223 outward along the cup body. The traction rope 2223 drives the sealing head 221 to overcome the elastic force of the return spring 2221 and move along the sliding groove 213 away from the air outlet 211, thus opening the air outlet 211 and allowing hot air to enter the water collection chamber 110 through the air outlet 211. When it is necessary to seal the air outlet 211, the actuator 2222 stops working, the return spring 2221 returns to its original state, and pushes the sealing head 221 along the sliding groove 213 towards the air outlet 211. The rubber sleeve 2224 tightly seals the air outlet 211, sealing the air outlet 211.

[0033] Furthermore, a mounting base 250 is fixed to one side of the water cup 100, and the traction device 2222 is fixed to the mounting base 250. The position of the mounting base 250 can be set according to the position of the sliding groove 213 of the sealing head 221, so that the pulling direction of the traction rope 2223 after installation corresponds to the moving direction of the sealing head 221. Optionally, the mounting base includes a folding part and a supporting part. One end of the folding part is fixedly connected to the water cup, and the other end of the folding part is connected to the supporting part. The supporting part is used to install the traction device. For easy assembly, the folding part and the supporting part are integrally formed. During assembly, the folding part is fixed to the outside of the water cup through a connector, and the traction device 2222 is fixed to the supporting part on the mounting base 250 through screws or other connectors. This facilitates the fixation of the position of the traction device 2222, thereby reducing the displacement or loosening of the traction device 2222 caused by the vibration of the water pump or fan 230 during the operation of the tableware washing equipment, and further ensuring the reliability of the hot air assembly 200 during operation.

[0034] In some embodiments, the water cup 100 is also provided with a water level sensor 260, which is used to detect whether the water at the bottom of the water cup 100 has been drained. For example, the position of the hot air vent can be set higher than the bottom of the water cup 100. The water level sensor 260 can be electrically connected to the controller. In actual use, when the water level sensor 260 detects that there is a lot of residual water, the controller determines whether to start the hot air assembly 200 based on the received electrical signal. For example, when the controller receives a normal signal, that is, when the residual water at the bottom of the water cup 100 does not exceed a certain amount, the hot air assembly 200 is started to dry the residual water. This can effectively prevent the residual water from flowing back into the exhaust channel 212 when the vent is opened due to excessive residual water in the water cup 100.

[0035] This application also provides a tableware cleaning device, which includes a drain pump, a peristaltic pump, a washing pump, and the water cup structure described above. The water cup 100 is also provided with multiple pipe interfaces, and the drain pump, peristaltic pump, and washing pump are respectively connected to the water collection chamber 110 through the pipe interfaces. Since this tableware cleaning device adopts the water cup structure disclosed in the embodiments of this application, it also possesses the technical advantages of the water cup structure disclosed in the embodiments of this application. Optionally, a turbidity sensor is also provided inside the water cup 100, which is used to detect the turbidity of the water inside the water cup 100.

[0036] For example, in a dishwashing device, a water cup 100 is typically connected to a circulating water pump that supplies water to a rotating spray arm. The rotating spray arm generates a spray of water to rinse the surface of the dishes. During the drainage phase of the dishwashing device, water is discharged from the water cup by the drainage pump and the peristaltic pump. When a water level sensor is installed, it detects whether there is still a significant amount of liquid residue in the water cup. If the signal is normal, the hot air assembly is activated for drying. If the signal is abnormal, indicating significant liquid residue, the drainage pump and the peristaltic pump are restarted to drain the water again until a normal signal is detected. The hot air assembly is then activated after a certain delay, such as 30 seconds, to dry the dishes. This effectively reduces residual water at the bottom of the water cup to prevent water accumulation inside the device and subsequent bacterial growth.

[0037] The preferred embodiments of this application have been described in detail above, but this application is not limited to the embodiments described. Those skilled in the art can make various equivalent modifications or substitutions without departing from the spirit of this application, and these equivalent modifications or substitutions are all included within the scope defined by the claims of this disclosure.

Claims

1. A water cup structure, characterized in that: include: A water cup (100) has a water collecting cavity (110) inside. The hot air assembly (200) includes a housing (210), a switch valve assembly, a fan (230), and a heater (240). The housing (210) is connected to the water cup (100). The housing (210) has an air outlet (211) and an exhaust channel (212). The exhaust channel (212) is connected to the water collection chamber (110) through the air outlet (211). The fan (230) and the heater (240) are both located in the exhaust channel (212). The switch valve assembly is used to open or block the air outlet (211).

2. The water cup structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The switch valve assembly includes a plug head (221) and a traction device. The housing (210) has a sliding groove (213) on the side near the air outlet (211). The plug head (221) is movably disposed in the sliding groove (213). The traction device is connected to the plug head (221). The traction device is used to pull the plug head (221) along the sliding groove (213) to open or block the air outlet (211).

3. The water cup structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The traction device includes a return spring (2221), a puller (2222), and a traction rope (2223). A connecting hole (214) is provided on the sliding groove (213). One end of the traction rope (2223) passes through the connecting hole (214) and is connected to the sealing head (221). The other end of the traction rope (2223) is connected to the puller (2222). The return spring (2221) is located in the sliding groove (213) and sleeved on the traction rope (2223).

4. The water cup structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The end of the sealing head (221) is fixed with a rubber sleeve (2224), which is used to seal with the air outlet (211).

5. The water cup structure according to claim 3, characterized in that: A mounting base (250) is fixed to one side of the water cup (100), and the traction device (2222) is fixed to the mounting base (250).

6. The water cup structure according to claim 5, characterized in that: The mounting base (250) includes a folding part and a supporting part. One end of the folding part is fixedly connected to the water cup, and the other end of the folding part is connected to the supporting part. The supporting part is used to install the traction device.

7. The water cup structure according to claim 2, characterized in that: The heater (240) is a PTC heater (240).

8. The water cup structure according to claim 1, characterized in that: The water cup (100) is equipped with a water level sensor (260), which is used to detect whether the water at the bottom of the water cup (100) has been drained.

9. A tableware cleaning device, characterized in that: The system includes a drain pump, a peristaltic pump, a washing pump, and a water cup structure as described in any one of claims 1-8. The water cup (100) is also provided with multiple pipe interfaces, and the drain pump, peristaltic pump, and washing pump are respectively connected to the water collection chamber (110) through the pipe interfaces.

10. The tableware cleaning equipment according to claim 9, characterized in that: The water cup (100) is also equipped with a turbidity sensor, which is used to detect the turbidity of the water in the water cup (100).

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