Dishwasher

Abstract

To provide a dishwasher that exerts excellent detergency and reduces an amount of water usage.SOLUTION: A dishwasher includes: a washing tank for accommodating tableware; a jet part including at least one nozzle for jetting a cleaning fluid in a continuous flow and generating droplets from the continuous flow; and a liquid feeding part for feeding the cleaning fluid to the nozzle. The dishwasher washes the tableware by running the droplets into the tableware.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, dishwashers that switch washing courses according to the degree of dirt on dishes have been proposed. For example, the dishwasher of Patent Document 1 is capable of operating in a high-concentration course that includes a high-concentration washing step in which washing is performed with a detergent concentration higher than the standard detergent concentration in the washing step of the standard course, and a standard-concentration washing step in which washing is performed with the standard detergent concentration. According to this document, in the high-concentration course, after the high-concentration washing step is completed, the washing pump is operated continuously without stopping, and a predetermined amount of water is additionally supplied while the high-concentration course is switched to the standard-concentration washing step. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2007-54506 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, the dishwasher of Patent Document 1 has a problem in that it consumes a large amount of water during washing because it continues to supply additional water even after the high-concentration washing step is completed. In other words, there was a demand for dishwashers that had high cleaning power and used less water. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] A dishwasher according to one embodiment of the present application comprises a washing tank for containing dishes, a spraying unit having at least one nozzle for spraying washing liquid in a continuous stream and generating droplets from the continuous stream, and a liquid delivery unit for delivering the washing liquid to the nozzle, and washes the dishes by colliding the droplets with the dishes. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0006] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a dishwasher according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb in FIG. 2 . [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a dishwasher. [Diagram 5] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to a second embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to a third embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a plan view of an ejection head according to a fourth embodiment. [Figure 8] FIG. 11 is a graph showing the correlation between the ejection pressure and the droplet formation distance for each nozzle diameter. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the correlation between the ejection pressure and the ejection speed for each nozzle diameter. [Figure 10] 11A and 11B are plan views of an ejection head according to a different embodiment. [Figure 11] 11A and 11B are plan views of an ejection head according to a different embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to a fifth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to a sixth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line cc in FIG. 13 . [Figure 15] FIG. 13 is a side view of an ejection head according to a seventh embodiment. [Figure 16] 11A to 11C are side views of the ejection head in different movement modes. [Figure 17] 11A to 11C are side views of the ejection head in different movement modes. [Figure 18] 11A and 11B are plan views of an ejection head according to a different embodiment. [Figure 19] 11A and 11B are plan views of an ejection head according to a different embodiment. [Figure 20] FIG. 4 is a side view of a movable nozzle according to a different embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0007] EMBODIMENT 1 *** Overview of Dishwashers *** Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to the present embodiment, Fig. 2 is a plan view of an injection head, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line bb in Fig. 2. The dishwasher 100 of this embodiment is a built-in type dishwasher that is installed in a cabinet of a unit kitchen equipped with a countertop, a sink, etc. Note that the dishwasher is not limited to the built-in type, and may be a free-standing type.

[0008] As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwasher 100 comprises a front door 91, a washing tub 80, a dish storage section 40, a water supply pipe 50, a drain pipe 71, a control device 75, and the like. Inside the washing tub 80, a dish storage section 40, which is a basket for storing dishes, is arranged. In Fig. 1, a large plate 1, a bowl 2, and a cup 3 are stored in the dish storage section 40. In a preferred embodiment, when the front door 91 is pulled out in the minus X direction, the washing tub 80 is also pulled out, allowing the insertion and removal of dishes. However, this is not limited to the above configuration, and any configuration that allows the insertion and removal of dishes may be used. For example, when the front door 91 is pulled out, only the dish storage section 40 may slide out together with the door. An operation unit 4 is provided at the upper part of the front door 91. The operation unit 4 is provided with a plurality of operation buttons including a power switch, a start button, and a cleaning course selection button.

[0009] In each drawing, the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis are illustrated as three mutually orthogonal axes. In this embodiment, the vertically upward direction is the Z-plus direction, the direction in which the front door 91 is pulled out is the X-minus direction, and the depth direction of the paper surface of FIG. 1 is the Y-plus direction. The Z-plus direction is also referred to as the upward direction, and the Z-minus direction is also referred to as the downward direction. The X-plus direction and the X-minus direction are collectively referred to as the X-axis direction. The same applies to the Y-axis and Z-axis.

[0010] An ejection head 10a is disposed on the upper surface 80a of the cleaning tank 80. An ejection head 10b is disposed on the lower surface 80b of the cleaning tank 80. In a preferred embodiment, the ejection heads 10a and 10b are the same ejection head. In the following description, when both are described in common, the sub-number will be omitted and they will be described as the ejection head 10. The spray head 10 is a spray unit and is equipped with multiple nozzles 5. Each nozzle 5 sprays a cleaning flow 8 for cleaning tableware. Multiple cleaning flows 8 are sprayed downward from the spray head 10a on the upper surface 80a of the cleaning tub 80. Multiple cleaning flows 8 are sprayed upward from the spray head 10b on the lower surface 80b. In a preferred embodiment, the cleaning flows 8 are water.

[0011] Between the water supply pipe 50 and the ejection head 10, a liquid delivery unit 51, a pipe 52, a pressure adjustment unit 53, and a pipe 54 are provided. A faucet or a water pipe (not shown) is connected to one end of the water supply pipe 50. The other end of the water supply pipe 50 is connected to a liquid delivery unit 51. In this embodiment, tap water is used as the cleaning liquid. The liquid delivery unit 51 is an electric pump. The liquid delivery unit 51 and the pressure adjustment unit 53 are connected by a pipe 52. The liquid delivery unit 51 supplies water as a cleaning liquid supplied from a water supply pipe 50 to the pressure adjustment unit 53 via the pipe 52. In other words, the liquid delivery unit 51 delivers the cleaning liquid to the nozzle 5 of the ejection head 10. The pressure adjustment unit 53 is a pressure valve, and pressurizes the cleaning liquid in the pipe 52. The pressure adjustment unit 53 and the ejection head 10 are connected by a pipe 54. The cleaning liquid pressurized by the pressure adjustment unit 53 at a predetermined pressure is supplied from the pipe 54 to the ejection head 10. The pressure adjustment unit 53 has the adjustment of the liquid supply pressure controlled by a control device 75.

[0012] As shown in FIG. 2, the ejection head 10 has a rectangular shape that is long in the X-axis direction, and includes three nozzle rows 15 arranged along the long side of a metal case body 11. For ease of explanation, the nozzle arrangement in the direction in which the X-axis extends is called a nozzle row. This may also be expressed as a nozzle row. Note that the number of rows is not limited to three, and any number of rows may be used. In the nozzle row 15, a plurality of nozzles 5 are provided at equal pitches in the direction in which the X-axis extends. The nozzles 5 are circular in plan view.

[0013] Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the nozzle 5. As shown in Fig. 3, in a preferred embodiment, the nozzle 5 is a cylindrical through-hole provided in the case body 11. The diameter d of the nozzle 5 is the same from the inlet to the outlet. However, this is not limited to the configuration, and the cross section of the nozzle 5 may be a truncated cone shape narrowing from the inlet to the outlet, as shown by the dotted line. The cleaning flow 8 ejected from the nozzle 5 is a continuous flow 8a immediately after ejection, but is broken into droplets by the surface tension of the liquid and splits into a group of droplets 8b. Here, the position where the droplets 8b are generated from the continuous flow 8a is the droplet-forming position, and the distance from the first surface 11b of the case body 11 to the droplet-forming position is the droplet-forming distance L1. In a preferred example, the diameter d of the nozzle 5 is φ0.08 mm. When the ejection pressure is about 3 MPa, the droplet-forming distance L1 is about 69 mm. However, this is not a limiting value, and the diameter d of the nozzle 5 may be in the range of φ0.03 to 0.12 mm.

[0014] Return to Figure 1. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of spray heads 10a are provided in the Y-plus direction on the upper surface 80a of the washing tank 80, so that the washing flow 8 hits the tableware in the depth direction as well. The number of nozzles 5 ranges from several tens to several hundreds. Similarly, a plurality of spray heads 10b are provided in the Y-plus direction on the lower surface 80b side. Here, the spray head 10a is set at a position where the droplets 8b in the cleaning flow 8 of a predetermined spray pressure hit the tableware. Similarly, the spray head 10b is set at a position where the droplets 8b in the cleaning flow 8 of a predetermined spray pressure hit the tableware. In other words, the droplet formation distance L1 is set to be shorter than the distance from the spray head 10 to the tableware. As a result, the droplets 8b of the cleaning flow 8 hit the tableware from above and below. When the droplets 8b hit dirt attached or fixed to the tableware, the impact pressure generated when the droplets break down promotes softening (emulsification) or destruction of the dirt, and the dirt can be washed efficiently. In other words, the dishwasher 100 comprises a washing tank 80 for containing dishes, a spraying head 10 having at least one nozzle 5 for spraying cleaning liquid in a continuous flow 8a and generating droplets 8b from the continuous flow 8a, and a liquid delivery section 51 for delivering cleaning liquid to the nozzle 5, and washes the dishes by colliding the droplets 8b with the dishes.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, the nozzle 5b of the jet head 10b is shifted by half a pitch from the nozzle 5a of the jet head 10a in the X-axis direction. This prevents the cleaning flow 8 jetted from the jet head 10a on the upper surface 80a from interfering with the cleaning flow 8 jetted from the jet head 10b on the lower surface 80b. The shift is not limited to a half pitch, but may be any amount that can prevent mutual interference. In FIG. 1, a large plate 1, a teacup 2, and a cup 3 are shown as examples of objects to be washed, but the objects are not limited to these, and any tableware can be washed, such as cups, small plates, bowls, and spoons.

[0016] ***Functional block configuration of dishwasher*** FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the dishwasher. In addition to the above-mentioned operation unit 4, liquid delivery unit 51, and pressure adjustment unit 53, the dishwasher 100 also includes an expansion function unit 95 and a control device 75. The expansion function unit 95 is a unit that performs the expansion functions of the dishwasher 100, and will be described in detail later. Each unit, including the control device 75, receives power from a power supply unit (not shown).

[0017] The control device 75 is composed of a control unit 20, a reception circuit 21, a pump drive circuit 22, a pressure adjustment circuit 23, a memory circuit 24, and the like. The control unit 20 is a control circuit configured with one or more processors, and performs overall control of the operation of the dishwasher 100 by operating according to a control program stored in a memory circuit 24. The reception circuit 21 is an operation input reception circuit, and outputs an operation signal corresponding to the operation content on the operation unit 4 to the control unit 20.

[0018] The pump drive circuit 22 is a drive circuit that drives a liquid delivery section 51 which is a pump for delivering liquid. The pressure adjustment circuit 23 is a drive adjustment circuit that adjusts the open / close state of the adjustment valve of the pressure adjustment unit 53, which is a pressure valve. In other words, the control unit 20 adjusts the open / close state of the adjustment valve of the pressure adjustment unit 53 by the pressure adjustment circuit 23, and controls the liquid supply pressure of the cleaning liquid. The memory circuit 24 is configured with a RAM (Random Access Memory) and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The RAM is used for temporary storage of various data, and the ROM stores a control program for controlling the operation of the dishwasher 100 and associated data. The control program stores a startup program that indicates the order and content of processes when starting up the dishwasher 100, and a washing program that specifies the order and content of processes for each washing course. The associated data includes a data table that specifies the spray pressure and washing time for each washing course.

[0019] ***Basic cleaning method*** Return to Figure 1. Tap water at room temperature is used as the cleaning liquid in basic cleaning by the dishwasher 100. The water is pressurized to about 3 MPa by the pressure adjustment unit 53 and supplied to the injection head 10. As a result, droplets 8b of the multiple cleaning streams 8 from the spray head 10a collide with the tableware set in the tableware storage section 40 from above, and droplets 8b of the multiple cleaning streams 8 from the spray head 10b collide with the tableware from below. When the droplets 8b collide with dirt on the tableware, the impact pressure generated when the droplets collapse promotes softening (emulsification) or destruction of the dirt, allowing the dirt to be washed away efficiently.

[0020] The washing time varies depending on the number of dishes and the degree of dirt, but is about several minutes to several tens of minutes. Even if the number of nozzles in the spray heads 10a and 10b is 300, the amount of water in the washing flow 8 sprayed from the nozzles 5 with a diameter d of φ0.08 mm is small, so even if washing is performed for several tens of minutes, the amount of water is significantly less than that of a dishwasher using a general shower head. In other words, the dishwasher 100 is equipped with a control unit 20 that controls the liquid delivery pressure of the cleaning liquid, and when the position where droplets 8b are generated from the continuous flow 8a in the cleaning flow 8 is defined as the droplet formation position and the distance from the spray head 10 to the droplet formation position is defined as the droplet formation distance L1, the control unit 20 adjusts the liquid delivery pressure using the pressure adjustment circuit 23 so that the droplet formation distance L1 is shorter than the distance from the spray head 10 to the dish.

[0021] As described above, according to the dishwasher 100 of this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. The dishwasher 100 comprises a washing tank 80 for holding dishes, a spraying head 10 having at least one nozzle 5 for spraying cleaning liquid in a continuous flow 8a and generating droplets 8b from the continuous flow 8a, and a liquid delivery section 51 for delivering the cleaning liquid to the nozzle 5, and washes the dishes by colliding the droplets 8b with the dishes.

[0022] According to this, droplets 8b of the washing flow 8 collide with the tableware. When the droplets 8b collide with dirt attached or solidified to the tableware, the impact pressure generated when the droplets break down promotes softening (emulsification) or destruction of the dirt, and the dirt can be washed efficiently. Furthermore, since the amount of water of the washing flow 8 sprayed from the nozzle 5 having a diameter d of φ0.08 mm is small, even if washing is performed for several tens of minutes, the amount of water is significantly less than that of a dishwasher using a general shower head. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dishwasher 100 that has high cleaning power and uses less water.

[0023] The dishwasher 100 also includes a control unit 20 that controls the liquid delivery pressure of the cleaning liquid. When the position where droplets 8b are generated from the continuous flow 8a in the cleaning flow 8 is defined as the droplet formation position and the distance from the spray head 10 to the droplet formation position is defined as the droplet formation distance L1, the control unit 20 adjusts the liquid delivery pressure using the pressure adjustment circuit 23 so that the droplet formation distance L1 is shorter than the distance from the spray head 10 to the dish. This allows droplets 8b of the washing flow 8 with high washing power to collide with the dishes reliably, thus providing a dishwasher 100 with high washing power and low water consumption.

[0024] EMBODIMENT 2 ***Different aspects of dishwashers*** FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to a second embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. In the above embodiment, the same ejection head 10 is provided on the upper surface 80a and the lower surface 80b of the cleaning tank 80, but this is not limited thereto, and different ejection heads may be provided on the upper and lower surfaces. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same numbers, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0025] The dishwasher 110 of this embodiment includes a washing tank 81 that is different from the washing tank 80 of Fig. 1. Since the dishwasher 110 has the same configuration as the dishwasher 100 of Fig. 1 except for the configuration inside the washing tank 81, only the configuration of the washing tank 81 is shown in Fig. 5. Inside washing tub 81, two levels of dish storage sections 41, 42 are provided. The dish storage section 41 is located at the lower part inside the washing tub 81, and is a storage section in which small dishes are placed. The dish storage section 42 is located at the upper level of the dish storage section 41, and is a storage section in which large dishes are placed. In FIG. 5, a tea bowl 2 and a cup 3 are placed in the dish storage section 41. A plurality of large plates 1 are placed in the dish storage section 42.

[0026] A spray head 28 is provided on the upper surface 81a of the cleaning tank 81. Like the spray head 10, the spray head 28 is provided with a plurality of nozzles 7, but the diameter d of the nozzles 7 is φ0.12 mm, which is larger than that of the nozzles 5. The spray head 28 is set at a position where the liquid droplets 8b in the cleaning flow 8 at a predetermined spray pressure strike the tableware in the tableware storage section 42. The diameter d of the nozzles 7 is not limited to φ0.12 mm, and may be any diameter larger than that of the nozzles 5. A spray head 12 is provided on the lower surface 81b of the washing tank 81. Like the spray head 10, the spray head 12 is provided with a plurality of nozzles 9, but the diameter d of the nozzles 9 is φ0.03 mm, which is smaller than that of the nozzles 5. The spray head 12 is set at a position where the droplets 8b in the washing flow 8 at a predetermined spray pressure strike the tableware in the tableware storage section 41. The diameter d of the nozzles 9 is not limited to φ0.03 mm, and may be any diameter smaller than that of the nozzles 5.

[0027] As described above, according to the dishwasher 110 of this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. According to the dishwasher 110, small dishes in the lower dish storage section 41 can be washed with the spray head 12 having a small nozzle diameter, and large dishes in the upper dish storage section 42 can be washed with the spray head 28 having a large nozzle diameter. Therefore, the space in the washing tub 81 can be used efficiently, and a large number of dishes can be washed efficiently. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dishwasher 110 that has high cleaning power and uses less water.

[0028] EMBODIMENT 3 ***Different forms of injection head-1*** FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to a third embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. In the above embodiment, the ejection head 10a is described as being fixed in the cleaning tank 80, but this is not limited thereto, and the ejection head 10a may be provided with a movable part that allows it to move up and down. In the following, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are given the same numbers, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0029] The dishwasher 120 of this embodiment includes a measuring unit 55 and a movable unit 56 in addition to the components of the dishwasher 100 in Fig. 1. Accordingly, a measuring circuit 25 and a drive circuit 26 are added to the control device 75. Other than these components, the dishwasher 120 is the same as the dishwasher 100 in Fig. 1. 6, a movable part 56 is provided on the upper part of the spray head 10a of the dishwasher 120. The movable part 56 is a linear actuator, and moves the spray head 10a up and down in the washing tank 80 according to a drive signal from the drive circuit 26 of the control device 75. In other words, the movable part 56 holds the spray head 10a movably.

[0030] A measuring unit 55 is provided on the lower surface of the ejection head 10a. The lower surface of the ejection head 10a is the surface on which the nozzles 5a are formed. In a preferred embodiment, the measuring unit 55 is an ultrasonic distance sensor, and includes a transmitting unit 55s and a receiving unit 55r. The measuring unit 55 transmits ultrasonic waves from the transmitting unit 55s in response to a drive signal from the measuring circuit 25 of the control device 75, and receives the ultrasonic waves reflected from the tableware by the receiving unit 55r. The control unit 20 of the control device 75 measures the distance to the tableware by measuring the time from transmission to reception of the ultrasonic waves. The measurement unit 55 is not limited to an ultrasonic distance sensor, but may be any non-contact distance sensor, such as an optical (LiDAR) distance sensor or a radio wave (Radar) distance sensor.

[0031] In the dishwasher 120, the control unit 20 of the control device 75 uses the measuring unit 55 to measure the distance L2 from the spray head 10a to the tableware, and adjusts the position of the spray head 10a using the movable unit 56 based on the measured distance L2 so that the droplet generation distance L1 (FIG. 3) is shorter than the distance L2. In other words, the spray head 10a is moved so that the droplets 8b in the cleaning flow 8 are positioned to hit the tableware. Note that since the droplet generation length can also be adjusted by the spray pressure, the pressure adjustment unit 53 may adjust the liquid delivery pressure of the cleaning liquid. In other words, the dishwasher 120 includes a movable part 56 that holds the spray head 10a in a movable position, and a measuring part 55 that measures the distance L2 from the spray head 10a to the tableware, and the control part 20 adjusts the liquid delivery pressure by the pressure adjustment part 53 based on the distance L2 from the spray head 10a to the tableware measured by the measuring part 55.

[0032] As for the spray head 10b below the cleaning tank 80, a measuring unit 55 and a movable unit 56 may be added as described above to measure the distance from the spray head 10b to the tableware, and the position of the spray head 10b may be adjusted based on the measured distance.

[0033] As described above, according to the dishwasher 120 of this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. According to the dishwasher 120, the control unit 20 of the control device 75 measures the distance L2 from the spray head 10a to the dish using the measuring unit 55, and based on the measured distance L2, moves the position of the spray head 10a using the movable unit 56 so that the droplets 8b in the cleaning flow 8 hit the dish.

[0034] According to this, droplets 8b of the washing flow 8 collide with the tableware. When the droplets 8b collide with dirt attached or solidified to the tableware, the impact pressure generated when the droplets break down promotes softening (emulsification) or destruction of the dirt, and the dirt can be washed efficiently. Furthermore, since the amount of water of the washing flow 8 sprayed from the nozzle 5 having a diameter d of φ0.08 mm is small, even if washing is performed for several tens of minutes, the amount of water is significantly less than that of a dishwasher using a general shower head. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dishwasher 120 that has high cleaning power and uses less water.

[0035] EMBODIMENT 4 ***Different forms of injection head - 2*** Fig. 7 is a plan view of a jetting head according to embodiment 4, and corresponds to Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is a graph showing the correlation between the jetting pressure and the droplet distance for each nozzle diameter. Fig. 9 is a graph showing the correlation between the jetting pressure and the jetting speed for each nozzle diameter. In the above embodiment, the ejection head 10 is described as having a plurality of nozzles of the same diameter, but this is not limited thereto, and the ejection head 10 may have nozzles of different diameters. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are given the same numbers, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 7, the ejection head 12 of this embodiment is provided on the first surface 11b of the case body 11 with three nozzle rows 14, 15, and 16 having different nozzle diameters. The nozzle row 14 is a nozzle row in which nozzles 9 having a diameter d of φ0.03 mm are arranged at equal pitches in the direction in which the X-axis extends. The nozzle row 15 is a row in which the nozzles 5, each having a diameter d of φ0.08 mm, are arranged at equal pitches in the direction in which the X-axis extends. The nozzle row 16 is a nozzle row in which nozzles 7 having a diameter d of φ0.12 mm are arranged at equal pitches in the direction extending along the X-axis. Note that these nozzle diameters are merely examples and are not limited to these values. The nozzles 9, 5, and 7 are aligned and spaced apart at equal pitches in the Y-axis direction.

[0037] In FIG. 8, the horizontal axis represents the injection pressure (MPa) and the vertical axis represents the droplet formation distance (mm). Graph 31 shows the nozzle 9 with a diameter d of φ0.03 mm. Graph 32 shows the nozzle with a diameter d of φ0.05 mm. Graph 33 shows the nozzle 5 with a diameter d of φ0.08 mm. Graph 34 shows the nozzle 7 with a diameter d of φ0.12 mm. For example, as shown in graph 33, the droplet generation distance increases as the ejection pressure increases, which is a roughly proportional relationship. Although there are differences in the slope, the same is true for graphs 31, 32, and 34 for other nozzle diameters. In other words, it can be said that the droplet generation distance increases as the ejection pressure increases, regardless of the nozzle diameter. Furthermore, at an ejection pressure of 3 MPa, the droplet formation distance in graph 31 is approximately 20 mm, the droplet formation distance in graph 32 is approximately 34 mm, the droplet formation distance in graph 33 is approximately 68 mm, and the droplet formation distance in graph 34 is approximately 125 mm. In other words, when the ejection pressure is approximately 3 MPa and the nozzle diameter d is φ0.03 to 0.12 mm, the droplet formation distance is in the range of approximately 20 to 125 mm.

[0038] In Figure 9, the horizontal axis represents the injection pressure (MPa) and the vertical axis represents the injection velocity (m / s). Graph 31b shows the nozzle 9 with a diameter d of φ0.03 mm. Graph 32b shows the nozzle with a diameter d of φ0.05 mm. Graph 33b shows the nozzle 5 with a diameter d of φ0.08 mm. Graph 34b shows the nozzle 7 with a diameter d of φ0.12 mm. For example, as shown in graph 33b, increasing the injection pressure increases the injection speed, and it can be seen that they are in a roughly proportional relationship. Graphs 31b, 32b, 33b, and 34b are roughly overlapping. In other words, since the injection speed does not change relative to the injection pressure regardless of the nozzle diameter, it can be seen that the same impact pressure can be obtained.

[0039] As shown in Fig. 6, the dishes have different shapes and sizes, such as a large plate 1, a tea bowl 2, and a cup 3, so the cleaning distance from the spray head to each dish varies, but by using a spray head 12 equipped with three rows of nozzles 14, 15, and 16 with different nozzle diameters, droplets from any of the nozzles collide with the dish at a distance equivalent to the droplet formation distance, ensuring the desired impact effect. Therefore, by using the spray head 12, the dishes can be washed without leaving any residue.

[0040] Return to Figure 7. Here, nozzle 5 corresponds to the first nozzle, and nozzle 9 corresponds to the second nozzle. In other words, the spray head 12 as a spray unit includes nozzle 5 as a first nozzle having a nozzle hole of a first diameter, and nozzle 9 as a second nozzle having a nozzle hole of a second diameter different from the first diameter. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and the distance from nozzle 5 to the tableware is longer than the distance from nozzle 9 to the tableware. Note that nozzle 7 may be the first nozzle, and nozzle 5 may be the second nozzle.

[0041] Fig. 10 is a plan view of an ejection head according to a different embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a plan view of an ejection head according to a different embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 7. The nozzles of different diameters may be arranged at a nozzle pitch that does not cause mutual interference. For example, the nozzle diameters may be alternated within an appropriate range, or may be arranged with a half-pitch shift. For example, in the ejection head 13 shown in FIG. 10, the nozzle row 17a is a set of three large diameter nozzles 7 and three small diameter nozzles 9, and this set is arranged repeatedly in the X minus direction. The nozzle row 17b is a set of three small diameter nozzles 9 and three large diameter nozzles 7, and this set is arranged repeatedly in the X minus direction. The number of nozzles in a set is not limited to three, and may be any number. The central nozzle row 15 is a nozzle row containing only medium diameter nozzles 5, but it may be an arrangement in which nozzles of different diameters are arranged alternately. Like the jet head 12, this jet head 13 can also wash dishes thoroughly without leaving any residue behind.

[0042] In addition, in the ejection head 29 shown in Fig. 11, the arrangement of the nozzles 5 in the central nozzle row 15 is shifted by half a pitch in the X-axis direction when compared to the ejection head 12 in Fig. 7. Other than this, the configuration is the same as that of the ejection head 12. This jet head 29 can also wash dishes thoroughly, similar to the jet head 12. Furthermore, the length between the nozzle 7 of the nozzle row 16 and the nozzle 5 of the nozzle row 15 can be made longer than in the arrangement of the jet head 12 of FIG. 7. Similarly, the length between the nozzle 9 of the nozzle row 14 and the nozzle 5 of the nozzle row 15 is also longer than in the arrangement of the jet head 12 of FIG. 7. This increases the distance between the nozzles, and further reduces mutual interference between the nozzles.

[0043] As described above, according to the dishwasher 100 equipped with any one of the injection heads 12, 13, 29 of the present embodiment, the following effects can be obtained in addition to the effects of the above embodiment. An ejection head 12 serving as an ejection section includes a nozzle 5 serving as a first nozzle having a nozzle hole of a first diameter, and a nozzle 9 serving as a second nozzle having a nozzle hole of a second diameter different from the first diameter.

[0044] According to this, the spray head 12 is equipped with three nozzle rows with different nozzle diameters. Since the tableware has different shapes and sizes, such as a large plate 1, a tea bowl 2, and a cup 3, there is variation in the cleaning distance from the spray head to each tableware, but by using the spray head 12 equipped with three nozzle rows 14, 15, and 16 with different nozzle diameters, the droplets from any of the nozzles collide with the tableware at a distance equivalent to the dropletization distance, so the desired impact effect can be ensured. Therefore, the dishwasher 100 equipped with the injection head 12 can wash dishes without leaving any unwashed areas. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dishwasher 100 that has high cleaning power and uses less water.

[0045] In addition, the first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and the distance from the nozzle 5 to the tableware is longer than the distance from the nozzle 9 to the tableware. According to this, the droplets from one of the nozzles collide with the tableware at a distance equivalent to the droplet formation distance, so that the desired impact effect can be ensured. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dishwasher 100 that has high cleaning power and uses less water.

[0046] EMBODIMENT 5 ***Different forms of injection head - 3*** FIG. 12 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to the fifth embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. In the above embodiment, the ejection head 10a is described as being movable up and down, but this is not limited thereto, and the ejection head 10a may be provided with a movable nozzle. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are given the same numbers, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0047] 12, in a dishwasher 130 of this embodiment, the spray head 18a itself is fixed to the upper surface 80a of the washing tub 80, but the spray head 18a is equipped with a plurality of movable nozzles 30. The movable nozzles 30 are cylindrical nozzles protruding from the spray head 18a, and are equipped with a nozzle 5 at their tips. The movable nozzle 30 is provided so as to be movable up and down in response to a drive signal from a drive circuit 26 of the control device 75. The position of the nozzle 5 of the movable nozzle 30 is adjusted so that the droplet generation distance L1 (FIG. 3) is shorter than the distance L2 from the movable nozzle 30 to the tableware. In a preferred embodiment, the adjustment is made by a movable unit 56 controlled by the control unit 20 of the control device 75, based on the distance L2 measured by a measurement unit 55.

[0048] The spray head 18b fixed to the bottom surface 80b of the washing tank 80 also includes a movable nozzle 30. The positions of the nozzles 5 of the multiple movable nozzles 30 of the spray head 18b are also adjusted so that the droplet generation distance L1 is shorter than the distance L2 from the movable nozzles 30 to the tableware. In a preferred embodiment, the multiple movable nozzles 30 move up and down in synchronization with each other, but they may also move individually. For example, in the case of a cup 3 shown in Fig. 12, which has a fixed location, the inside of the cup 3 can be efficiently washed by selectively extending the movable nozzle 30 corresponding to the location.

[0049] As described above, according to the dishwasher 130 of this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. The dishwasher 130 is equipped with a plurality of movable nozzles 30 that are vertically movable. According to this, by optimizing the position of the movable nozzle 30, the tableware can be washed efficiently. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dishwasher 130 that has high cleaning power and uses less water.

[0050] EMBODIMENT 6 ***Different forms of injection head - 4*** Fig. 13 is a schematic diagram of a dishwasher according to a sixth embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 1. Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view taken along line cc in Fig. 13. In the above embodiment, the spray heads are provided at the top and bottom of the inside of the washing tank, but this is not limited thereto, and the spray heads may be incorporated in the dish storage section. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are given the same numbers, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0051] A dishwasher 140 of this embodiment includes a washing tub 82 and a dish storage unit 43 which are different from those in Fig. 1. In Fig. 13, only the configurations of the washing tub 82 and the dish storage unit 43 are shown. In the dishwasher 140, the main frame of the dish storage section 43 functions as the spray head 44. The dish storage section 43, which is a storage basket for dishes, is composed of multiple main frames extending in the X-axis direction, multiple sub-frames extending in the Y-axis direction, and multiple support columns extending in the Z-direction. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 14, four nozzles 9 are formed on the main frame of the dish storage section 43 at the top, bottom, left and right of the circumference using pipe members, and cleaning liquid is made to flow inside to form the spray head 44. As shown in Fig. 13, the four nozzles 9 are formed at equal pitches in the X-axis direction. A pipe 54 (Fig. 1) is connected to the spray head 44, and cleaning liquid is supplied at a predetermined pressure. A cylindrical spray head such as the spray head 44 is also called a cylindrical spray head. In other words, the washing tank 82 includes the dish storage section 43 that stores dishes, and the spray head 44 as a spray section is provided in the dish storage section 43.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 13, the main frame of the dish storage section 43 is the spray head 44, so the distance between the nozzle 9 and the dishes is short. In this case, a nozzle 9 (e.g., φ0.03 mm) with a diameter d and a short droplet distance L1 should be provided. In a preferred example, multiple main frames arranged in the Y-plus direction serve as the spray head 44. With this configuration, droplets can be collided from near the dishes, so the dishes can be washed efficiently. Also, a cylindrical spray head may be provided in the center of the cleaning tank 82, standing in the Z-axis direction, and the cylindrical spray head may be rotated. This allows the tableware around the cylindrical spray head to be washed efficiently.

[0053] As described above, according to the dishwasher 140 of this embodiment, in addition to the effects of the above embodiment, the following effects can be obtained. The washing tub 82 of the dishwasher 140 includes a dish storage section 43 for storing dishes, and a spray head 44 serving as a spray section is provided in the dish storage section 43. In other words, the dishwasher 140 includes the spray head 44 incorporated in the main frame of the dish storage section 43. Therefore, the droplets can be collided from the vicinity of the dishes, so that the dishes can be washed efficiently. Therefore, it is possible to provide a dishwasher 140 that has high washing power and uses less water.

[0054] EMBODIMENT 7 ***Different forms of injection head - 5*** Fig. 15 is a side view of the ejection head according to embodiment 7, corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 16 is a side view of the ejection head in a different movement mode, corresponding to Fig. 1. Fig. 17 is a side view of the ejection head in a different movement mode, corresponding to Fig. 1. In the above embodiment, the movable part is described as moving the ejection head 10 up and down, but this is not limited thereto, and the ejection head 10 may be translated and oscillated left and right, or may be rotated and oscillated. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are given the same numbers, and duplicated explanations will be omitted.

[0055] As shown in Fig. 15, the spray head 10 may be translated and swung in the X-plus and X-minus directions in the washing tank. This allows the washing range of the dishes to be expanded. In other words, the movable part holds the spray head 10 so that it can be translated and swung. As shown in Figures 16 and 17, the spray head 10 may be rotated around the rotation center 60 between angles +θ and -θ in the washing tank. This changes the angle of the washing flow 8, so that dirt on the tableware can be washed evenly. In other words, the movable part holds the spray head 10 so that it can be rotated and swung.

[0056] Fig. 18 is a plan view of an ejection head according to a different embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 2. Fig. 19 is a plan view of an ejection head according to a different embodiment, and corresponds to Fig. 18. In the above embodiment, the ejection head 10 is described as having a rectangular shape in a plan view, but this is not limited thereto, and the ejection head may be circular. Hereinafter, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same numbers, and duplicated descriptions will be omitted. 18 is circular in plan view and includes a plurality of nozzles 5 arranged in a matrix. The spray head 19 rotates and swings around the center 61 of the circle while spraying cleaning flow from the nozzles 5 in the cleaning tank. This changes the position of the cleaning flow, so dirt on the dishes can be washed evenly.

[0057] 19, the spray head 19 may be rotated around a rotation center 62 that is eccentric from the center 61. The spray head 19 rotates around the rotation center 62 while spraying the cleaning flow from the nozzle 5 in the cleaning tank. In other words, the movable part holds the spray head 10 so that it can be rotated. This makes it possible to expand the washing range of the dishes. In the above, the ejection head is described as being provided on the upper or lower surface of the cleaning tank, but it may be provided on the inner surface of the cleaning tank, or may be provided on the side of the cleaning tank, or the ejection head may be movable as described above. Even with these configurations, the same cleaning effect as described above can be obtained. In other words, the ejection head is provided on the inner surface of the cleaning tank.

[0058] FIG. 20 is a side view of a movable nozzle according to a different embodiment, and corresponds to FIG. In the above embodiment, the movable nozzle 30 has been described as having one nozzle 5 at the tip, but this is not limited thereto, and the movable nozzle may have a plurality of nozzles. The movable nozzle 35 shown in Fig. 20 is provided with a nozzle head 36 at its tip. The nozzle head 36 has a hemispherical tip and a cylindrical body. A nozzle 5 is provided directly below the hemispherical tip, and multiple nozzles 5 that spray radially downward are provided around it. Meanwhile, multiple nozzles 9 that spray in the lateral direction are provided on the cylindrical body. In this way, by arranging a large-diameter nozzle 5 at the tip side that sprays in the depth direction of the tableware and a small-diameter nozzle 9 on the side close to the tableware, the tableware can be washed efficiently.

[0059] Return to Figure 4. Furthermore, the dishwasher 100 may include a heating unit 57 that heats the cleaning liquid. The heating unit 57 is a heater and heats the cleaning liquid. In a preferred embodiment, the heating unit 57 is provided upstream of the liquid delivery unit 51. The heating temperature of the cleaning liquid by the heating unit 57 is controlled by the temperature adjustment circuit 27. In other words, the dishwasher 100 includes a heating unit 57 that heats the cleaning liquid. Also, if the faucet connected to the water supply pipe 50 (FIG. 1) is connected to a water heater, hot water heated by the water heater may be used as the cleaning liquid. With this configuration, the heating unit 57 can be omitted. In the case of the method of colliding droplets, sufficient cleaning power can be obtained even with room temperature water, but higher cleaning power can be obtained by using warm water. For example, the washing course may be switched depending on the degree of dirt on the dishes, such as performing a pre-wash using room temperature water as the cleaning liquid and then performing a main wash for a short time using warm water as the cleaning liquid. When warm water is used, the temperature of the droplets drops after spraying with only a small diameter nozzle, so spray heads 12, 13, 29, etc. that also use a large diameter nozzle are preferable. The cleaning liquid may also contain a surfactant. The cleaning power can be improved by simply adding a small amount of a surfactant to the cleaning liquid. In other words, the cleaning liquid contains a surfactant. [Explanation of symbols]

[0060] 1...large plate, 2...tea bowl, 3...cup, 4...operation unit, 5,5a,5b...nozzle, 7...nozzle, 8...cleaning flow, 8a...continuous flow, 8b...droplet, 9...nozzle, 10...jet head, 10a,10b...jet head, 11...case body, 11b...first surface, 12...jet head, 13...jet head, 14...nozzle row, 15...nozzle row, 16...nozzle row, 17a...nozzle row, 17b...nozzle row, 18a...jet head, 18b...jet head, 19...jet head, 20...control unit, 21...reception circuit, 22...pump drive circuit, 23...pressure adjustment circuit, 24...memory circuit, 25...measurement circuit, 26...drive circuit, 27...temperature adjustment circuit, 28...jet head, 29...jet head, 30...movable nozzle, 31...graph, 31b...graph, 32...graph Rough, 32b...graph, 33...graph, 33b...graph, 34...graph, 34b...graph, 35...movable nozzle, 36...nozzle head, 40...tableware storage section, 41...tableware storage section, 42...tableware storage section, 43...tableware storage section, 44...spray head, 50...water supply piping, 51...liquid delivery section, 52...piping, 53...pressure adjustment section, 54...piping, 55...measuring section, 55r...receiving section , 55s...transmitting unit, 56...moving part, 57...heating unit, 60...center of rotation, 61...center, 62...center of rotation, 71...drainage pipe, 75...control device, 80...washing tank, 80a...upper surface, 80b...lower surface, 81...washing tank, 81a...upper surface, 81b...lower surface, 82...washing tank, 91...front door, 95...expansion function part, 100~140...dishwasher, L1...dropletization distance, L2...distance.

Claims

1. A washing tank for storing tableware; an ejection unit having at least one nozzle for ejecting a cleaning liquid in a continuous stream and generating droplets from the continuous stream; a liquid delivery unit that delivers the cleaning liquid to the nozzle, The liquid droplets are caused to collide with the dish, thereby cleaning the dish. Dishwasher.

2. A control unit is provided for controlling a liquid supply pressure of the cleaning liquid, When a position where the droplets are generated from the continuous flow is defined as a droplet generation position, and a distance from the ejection portion to the droplet generation position is defined as a droplet generation distance, The control unit adjusts the liquid sending pressure so that the droplet distance is shorter than the distance from the spray unit to the tableware.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1.

3. A measuring unit is provided to measure a distance from the spray unit to the tableware. The control unit adjusts the liquid sending pressure based on the distance from the spray unit to the tableware measured by the measurement unit.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2.

4. The injection section includes a first nozzle having a nozzle hole with a first diameter, and a second nozzle having a nozzle hole with a second diameter different from the first diameter.

2. The dishwasher of claim 1.

5. The first diameter is larger than the second diameter, and a distance from the first nozzle to the dish is longer than a distance from the second nozzle to the dish.

5. The dishwasher of claim 4.

6. The jet unit is provided on the inner surface of the cleaning tank.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2.

7. The washing tank includes a dish storage section for storing the dishes, The spray unit is provided in the tableware storage unit.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2.

8. A movable part that movably holds the ejection part is provided.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2.

9. The movable portion holds the ejection portion so as to be capable of translating and swinging.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8.

10. The movable portion holds the ejection portion so as to be rotatable and swingable.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8.

11. The movable portion holds the ejection portion so as to be pivotable and swingable.

9. The dishwasher of claim 8.

12. A heating unit for heating the cleaning liquid is provided.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2.

13. The cleaning solution contains a surfactant.

3. The dishwasher of claim 2.

Images