Dishwasher

Abstract

To provide a dishwasher that can suppress the decrease in drying efficiency of the items being washed. [Solution] The dishwasher includes a main body with a washing tank for storing dishes, the main body is provided with an exhaust port for discharging gas from the washing tank to the outside of the main body, an exhaust port duct for guiding the gas from the washing tank to the exhaust port, a cooling fan for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port, an outlet for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outside of the main body, and an air guide duct for guiding the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outlet, with at least one of the exhaust port duct and the air guide duct facing the other, or at least one of at least a part of the exhaust port and at least a part of the outlet facing the other.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dishwashing and drying machine.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a dishwashing and drying machine that improves discharge performance. This dishwashing and drying machine includes a washing tank for washing an object to be washed, a main body for housing the washing tank, and a cover for covering at least a part of the outer surface of the main body. The main body includes a main body side discharge port for discharging gas from the main body. The cover includes a cover side discharge port for discharging the gas discharged from the main body side discharge port to the outside, and a partition portion for partitioning a flow path for guiding the gas discharged from the main body side discharge port to the cover side discharge port from other spaces inside the cover.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present invention provides a dishwashing and drying machine that can suppress a decrease in the drying efficiency of dishes.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The dishwasher in this disclosure comprises a main body having a washing tank for accommodating dishes, the main body being provided with an exhaust port for discharging gas from the washing tank to the outside of the main body, an exhaust port duct for guiding gas from the washing tank to the exhaust port, a cooling fan for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port, an outlet for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outside of the main body, and an air guide duct for guiding the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outlet, wherein at least one of the exhaust port duct and the air guide duct is formed toward the other, or at least one of at least a part of the exhaust port and at least a part of the outlet is formed toward the other.

[0006] The dishwasher in this disclosure comprises a main body having a washing tank for accommodating dishes, the main body being provided with an exhaust port for discharging gas from the washing tank to the outside of the main body, a cooling fan for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port, and an outlet for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outside of the main body, wherein the gas discharged from the exhaust port and the cooling air blown out from the outlet collide and mix outside the main body. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to this disclosure, it is possible to suppress the decrease in drying efficiency of the object being washed. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Perspective view of a dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present disclosure [Figure 2] Cross-sectional view in Plan II of Figure 1 [Figure 3] Block diagram of a dishwasher. [Figure 4] Perspective view of the frame [Figure 5] Perspective view of the frame [Figure 6] Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of the area indicated by VI. [Figure 7] Figure 4 shows an enlarged view of the area indicated in VII. [Figure 8] Perspective view of the frame according to Modification 1 [Figure 9] Perspective view of the frame according to modified example 2 [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) At the time the inventors conceived of this disclosure, there was a technology for a dishwasher that included a main body with a washing tank inside in which the items to be washed were placed, a blower mechanism that sends the gas inside the washing tank to the outside of the main body, and a cooling fan, and mixed the gas inside the washing tank with the air sent out by the cooling fan inside the main body and discharged it to the outside of the main body. As a result, the dishwasher was able to discharge the gas inside the washing tank to the outside of the main body with reduced humidity and temperature, and the discharge of high temperature and high humidity gas into the area around where the dishwasher was installed was suppressed.

[0010] However, the inventors discovered a problem in which, when the gas inside the cleaning tank and the air blown out by the cooling fan are mixed inside the main unit, the gas and the air blown out by the cooling fan collide inside the main unit, potentially reducing the flow rate of the gas discharged to the outside of the main unit. To solve this problem, the subject of this disclosure was established. Therefore, this disclosure provides a dishwasher that can suppress the decrease in drying efficiency of the items to be washed.

[0011] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. However, unnecessary details may be omitted. For example, detailed explanations of already well-known matters or redundant explanations of substantially identical configurations may be omitted. This is to avoid the following explanation becoming unnecessarily verbose and to facilitate understanding for those skilled in the art. The attached drawings and the following description are provided to enable those skilled in the art to fully understand this disclosure and are not intended to limit the subject matter described in the claims.

[0012] (Embodiment 1) Hereinafter, Embodiment 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7. In each figure, the symbol FR indicates the front of the dishwashing and drying machine 1 in the state of being installed on the installation surface and being normally used, the symbol UP indicates the upper side of the dishwashing and drying machine 1, and the symbol LH indicates the left side of the dishwashing and drying machine 1. In the following description, each direction is the direction along the direction of these dishwashing and drying machines 1. In the dishwashing and drying machine 1 in the installation state, the vertical direction coincides with the vertical direction, and the front-rear direction and the left-right direction coincide with the horizontal direction.

[0013] [1-1. Configuration] [1-1-1. Configuration of Dishwashing and Drying Machine] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the dishwashing and drying machine 1 in Embodiment 1. In FIG. 1, the dishwashing and drying machine 1 with the door 16 opened is shown. In FIG. 1, the flow of the gas exhausted from the inside of the washing tank 14 is indicated by an arrow A1. As shown in FIG. 1, the dishwashing and drying machine 1 is an built-in type dishwasher incorporated into a system kitchen. The dishwashing and drying machine 1 includes a main body 10. The main body 10 includes a housing 12 disposed on the upper part of the main body and a base frame 20 disposed on the lower part of the main body 10.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along plane II of FIG. 1. Plane II is a plane orthogonal to the left-right direction and intersecting the air ducting 70. In FIG. 5, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the dishwashing and drying machine 1 with the door 16 closed is shown. In FIG. 5, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the state in which the facing material 90 is attached to the dishwashing and drying machine 1 in the installation state and the edge strip 92 is arranged is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the housing 12 is formed in a box shape with an open front. A front opening 11 that communicates the inside and outside of the housing 12 is provided on the front of the housing 12. A door 16 that covers the front opening 11 is attached to the front of the housing 12 so as to be openable and closable. As shown in FIG. 2, when the dishwashing and drying machine 1 is incorporated into a system kitchen, a facing material 90 that functions as a decorative panel is attached to the front of the door 16.

[0015] As shown in FIG. 1, inside the housing 12, a washing tub 14 capable of accommodating the object to be washed D is provided. Inside the washing tub 14, a basket 18 for containing the object to be washed D is arranged. At the lower part of the washing tub 14, a washing nozzle for blowing washing water into the washing tub 14 is provided.

[0016] The housing 12 is placed on and supported by the base frame 20. The base frame 20 is formed in a box shape with an open top surface. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper part of the base frame 20 is covered by the bottom surface 12A of the housing 12 that is entirely placed on the base frame 20. The bottom surface 12A forms the bottom surface of the washing tub 14. The housing 12 is arranged such that its front end protrudes forward from the front end of the base frame 20. For this reason, the door 16 and the facing material 90 are arranged on the front side of the front end of the base frame 20.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, when the dishwashing and drying machine 1 is built into the system kitchen, a fascia board 92 may be arranged in front of the base frame 20. The fascia board 92 is provided, for example, standing up from the installation surface G of the main body 10. The fascia board 92 is arranged at a position spaced apart from the front end of the base frame 20 by a predetermined distance on the front side in the front-rear direction.

[0018] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the dishwashing and drying machine 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the dishwashing and drying machine 1 includes a control device 30 that controls each part of the dishwashing and drying machine 1. The control device 30 includes a processor 100 and a memory 110, and functions as a control unit that controls each part of the dishwashing and drying machine 1.

[0019] The processor 100 is a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPC (Micro Processing Unit). The processor 100 functions as an operation control unit 101 by reading and executing the control program 111 stored in the memory 110.

[0020] Memory 110 functions as a storage unit for storing programs and data. Memory 110 stores the control program 111 and data to be processed by the processor 100. Memory 110 has a non-volatile storage area. Alternatively, memory 110 may also have a volatile storage area and constitute the work area of ​​the processor 100.

[0021] The dishwasher 1 includes a circulation pump 31, a drain pump 32, a water supply pump 33, a wash water heater 34, a blower fan 36, a drying heater 38, a cooling fan 60, and a temperature sensor 39. The control device 30 is connected to the circulation pump 31, the drain pump 32, the water supply pump 33, the wash water heater 34, the blower fan 36, the drying heater 38, the cooling fan 60, and the temperature sensor 39. The control device 30 has an interface to which these devices and circuits are connected. Note that the devices and circuits connected to the control device 30 are not limited to these, and other devices and circuits may also be connected.

[0022] The circulation pump 31 is a pumping device that operates according to the control of the control device 30, circulating the cleaning water supplied to the cleaning tank 14 through the circulation path and spraying the cleaning water from the cleaning nozzles.

[0023] The drain pump 32 is a pumping device that is driven according to the control of the control device 30 and drains the cleaning water from inside the cleaning tank 14.

[0024] The water supply pump 33 is a pumping device that operates according to the control of the control device 30 and sprays washing water from the washing nozzles. The dishwasher 1 is equipped with a water storage tank that stores washing water supplied from outside the main body 10. The water supply pump 33 sprays the washing water supplied from this water storage tank from the washing nozzles.

[0025] The cleaning water heater 34 generates heat according to the control of the control device 30, and heats the cleaning water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 8.

[0026] The blower fan 36 is a blower that rotates according to the control of the control device 30. The blower fan 36 sends outside air into the washing tank 14 as drying air, drying the objects to be washed D set in the basket 18.

[0027] The drying heater 38 generates heat according to the control of the control device 30, and heats the air blown out by the blower fan 36.

[0028] The cooling fan 60 is a blower that rotates according to the control of the control device 30. The cooling fan 60 blows out air to cool the gas discharged from the cleaning tank 14 at a higher rotational speed or with a greater airflow than the blower fan 36.

[0029] The temperature sensor 39 is driven according to the control of the control device 30 and measures the temperature outside the main unit 10, i.e., the space in which the dishwasher 1 is installed. The temperature sensor 39 transmits the measured temperature as data to the control device 30. The temperature sensor 39 may also be configured to measure the temperature of the washing water. For example, the dishwasher 1 may also be equipped with a separate sensor for measuring the temperature of the washing water, in addition to the temperature sensor 39.

[0030] The operation control unit 101 controls the operation of the dishwasher 1. In this embodiment, the operation of the dishwasher 1 is an operation related to the washing of the items to be washed D stored inside the washing tank 14. This operation may be an operation in which the washing process, rinsing process, and drying process are performed in that order in succession, or an operation in which only one of the processes is performed, or an operation in which two or more of the processes are performed in any order.

[0031] [1-1-2. Configuration related to the exhaust of dry air] As shown in Figure 1, the housing 12 is provided with an exhaust opening 21. The exhaust opening 21 is a through-hole that connects the inside of the cleaning tank 14 to the outside of the housing 12. In this embodiment, the exhaust opening 21 is provided on one side of the housing 12.

[0032] An exhaust duct 22 is provided in the housing 12. The exhaust duct 22 is a tubular or duct-shaped component. One end of the exhaust duct 22 is connected to the exhaust opening 21. As a result, the gas inside the cleaning tank 14 flows through the exhaust duct 22. The gas inside the cleaning tank 14 is then blown out through the exhaust opening 21 by a blower fan 36. The gas inside the cleaning tank 14 is, for example, air or water vapor from the cleaning water. The exhaust duct 22 extends downward from the exhaust opening 21. The other end of the exhaust duct 22 is connected to the inside of the frame 20.

[0033] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the frame 20 from the rear. In Figure 4, arrow A1 indicates the flow of gas exhausted from inside the cleaning tank 14, and arrow A2 indicates the flow of air sent out from the cooling fan 60. In Figure 4, extension lines L1 extending along the longitudinal direction of the side surface 50A, extension line L1 extending along the longitudinal direction of the side surface 50A on the plane of the side surface 50A, and extension line L2 extending along the longitudinal direction of the air guide plate 72 on the plane of the air guide plate 72 are shown as dashed lines. As shown in Figure 4, the frame 20 is formed in a box shape with space inside. At least one of the following may be housed inside the frame 20: a circulation pump 31, a drainage pump 32, a water supply pump 33, a washing water heater 34, a blower fan 36, and a drying heater 38.

[0034] The frame 20 comprises a front panel 40 that forms the front, side panels 42 and 44 that form the left and right sides, a rear panel 46 that forms the rear, and a bottom panel 48 that forms the bottom. The bottom plate 48 is formed in a roughly rectangular shape when viewed from above and forms the bottom surface of the main body 10. The front plate 40, the side plates 42 and 44, and the rear plate 46 rise from each side of the bottom plate 48. The frame 20 is provided with an internal space S enclosed by a front panel 40, side panels 42 and 44, a rear panel 46, a bottom panel 48 forming the bottom surface, and the bottom surface of the housing 12. The internal space S may house, for example, a circulation pump 31, a drainage pump 32, a water supply pump 33, a washing water heater 34, a control device 30, a water storage tank, and the like.

[0035] Figure 5 is a perspective view of the frame 20 from the front. In Figure 5, arrow A1 indicates the flow of gas exhausted from inside the cleaning tank 14, arrow A2 indicates the flow of air sent out from the cooling fan 60, and arrow A3 indicates the mixed gas of the gas exhausted from inside the cleaning tank 14 and the air sent out from the cooling fan 60. As shown in Figure 5, the front panel 40 is provided with an exhaust port 51. The exhaust port 51 is a through-hole located at the upper end of the front panel 40, penetrating in the thickness direction of the front panel 40. In this embodiment, the exhaust port 51 is positioned close to the right end of the front panel 40.

[0036] As shown in Figure 4, an exhaust duct 50 is provided in the internal space S of the frame 20. The exhaust duct 50 is a tubular or duct-shaped component. One end of the exhaust duct 50 is connected to the exhaust port 51.

[0037] The other end of the exhaust duct 22 is connected to the exhaust port duct 50. The gas inside the washing tank 14 is blown out by the blower fan 36 through the exhaust opening 21, the exhaust duct 22, and the exhaust port duct 50, and discharged to the outside of the main body 10 through the exhaust port 51. In this way, in the dishwasher 1, the exhaust opening 21, the exhaust duct 22, the exhaust port duct 50, and the exhaust port 51 form an exhaust flow path through which the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 flows.

[0038] The exhaust duct 50 is shaped to guide the gas flowing in from the exhaust duct 22 through the exhaust port 51 toward approximately the front of the main body 10. The exhaust duct 50 is provided with a side panel 50A located on the left side. The side panel 50A is positioned opposite the side panel 42 and is formed to slope to the left as it moves from rear to front in a plan view. As a result, the exhaust air flowing from the exhaust duct 22 into the exhaust duct 50 is guided along the side panel 50A towards the left side of the main body 10 in a plan view. The exhaust duct 50 may be shaped to guide the gas flowing from the exhaust duct 22 through the exhaust port 51 to the left, right, upward, or downward of the main body 10. Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 may be equipped with a pump device, such as a fan, at any position along the exhaust passage to send the gas inside the washing tank 14 to the outside of the main body 10.

[0039] As shown in Figure 5, the front panel 40 is provided with an air outlet 53. The air outlet 53 is a through-hole that penetrates the front panel 40 in the thickness direction. The air outlet 53 is positioned approximately at the same location as the exhaust port 51 in the vertical direction. In this embodiment, the air outlet 53 is positioned close to the left end of the front panel 40. That is, the exhaust port 51 and the air outlet 53 are positioned spaced apart from each other along the left-right direction.

[0040] Figure 6 is a magnified view of the area shown in VI of Figure 4. As shown in Figures 4 and 6, a cooling fan 60 is provided in the internal space S. The cooling fan 60 is positioned on the surface of the front panel 40 facing the internal space S, at least partially overlapping with the air outlet 53, or adjacent to the air outlet 53. The cooling fan 60 in this embodiment is a blower fan. The cooling fan 60 is provided with an intake opening 61 for drawing in air when the cooling fan 60 is driven, and an outlet opening 63 for blowing out the drawn-in air. Furthermore, the cooling fan 60 may be not limited to a blower fan, but may also be various other types of air blowers such as axial fans or centrifugal fans.

[0041] The cooling fan 60 is fixed to the front panel 40 by a plurality of fixing parts 41 integrally formed with the front panel 40. In this embodiment, each of the fixing parts 41 protrudes toward the internal space S from the surface of the front panel 40 facing the internal space S, and its tip is formed in the shape of a claw. The cooling fan 60 is fixed to the front panel 40 at approximately the same height as the air outlet 53 in the vertical direction, by each of the tips of the fixing parts 41 engaging with each of the cooling fans 60. This allows the dishwasher 1 to easily position the cooling fan 60 in a location where it can blow air through the outlet 53, while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0042] When the cooling fan 60 is attached to the front panel 40 by the fixing part 41, the intake opening 61 opens into the internal space S, and the discharge opening 63 opens at a position where at least a portion overlaps with the outlet 53, or at a position adjacent to the outlet 53. The discharge opening 63 is positioned to face to the right.

[0043] Figure 7 is a magnified view of the area shown in VII of Figure 5. As shown in Figure 6, an air guide duct 70 is provided on the surface of the front panel 40 facing the internal space S. The air guide duct 70 is formed in a duct shape and is integrally provided with the front panel 40. As shown in Figure 7, one end of the air guide duct 70 covers the outlet opening 63 of the cooling fan 60. The other end of the air guide duct 70 is connected to the outlet 53. In this way, the air guide duct 70 connects the outlet opening 63 and the outlet 53. The end of the cooling fan 60 on which the outlet opening 63 is provided is exposed to the outside of the base frame 20 via the outlet 53.

[0044] The air guide duct 70 includes plate-shaped air guide plate portions 72 facing the outlet opening 63 and the outlet 53, respectively. The air guide plate portion 72 is positioned such that the end adjacent to the outlet opening 63 is spaced apart from the surface facing the internal space S of the front panel 40, along the front-rear direction. The air guide plate portion 72 is inclined so that it approaches the surface facing the internal space S of the front panel 40 as it moves from the outlet opening 63 towards the outlet 53. As a result, when the cooling fan 60 is driven, the air blown out from the outlet opening 63 is guided to the air guide plate 72 and blown out to the right from the outlet 53 to the outside of the main body 10.

[0045] In this embodiment, the air guide plate portion 72 is positioned outside the main body 10, as indicated by arrow A2 in Figure 4, at an inclination with respect to the surface facing the internal space S of the front plate 40, so that the air blown out from the outlet 53 is directed toward the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51. In this way, the cooling air sent out by the cooling fan 60 is guided by the air guide duct 70 which is integrally provided on the front panel 40. Therefore, in the dishwasher 1, it is possible to easily control the direction in which the cooling air is blown out while suppressing an increase in the number of parts. The air guide duct 70 forms a cooling air passage through which the cooling air sent out by the cooling fan 60 flows.

[0046] In the front panel 40, a plurality of airflow straightening sections 74 are provided inside the air outlet 53. The airflow straightening sections 74 are formed in a louver shape, for example, extending from the air outlet 53 to the inside of the air guide duct 70, and straighten the air blown out from the air outlet 53. In this embodiment, each of the airflow straightening sections 74 is arranged so that their planes intersect in the vertical direction. Note that the airflow straightening sections 74 may be omitted.

[0047] [1-2. Operation] The operation of the dishwasher 1, configured as described above, will be explained below. [1-2-1. Operation related to the cleaning of objects to be cleaned] As shown in Figure 2, the dishwasher 1 operates in accordance with the control of the control device 30, performing washing, rinsing, and drying processes. In the washing and rinsing processes, the control device 30 drives the washing water heater 34 to heat the washing water. The control device 30 drives the water supply pump 33 to spray the washing water supplied from the water storage tank through the washing nozzles to wash the object to be washed D. The control device 30 drives the drain pump 32 to circulate the washing water supplied to the washing tank 14 through the circulation path, spraying the washing water from the washing nozzles to wash and rinse the object to be washed D. The control device 30 drives the drain pump 32 to drain the washing water from the washing tank 14.

[0048] In the drying process, the control device 30 drives the blower fan 36, the drying heater 38, and the cooling fan 60. When the blower fan 36 is driven to rotate by the control device 30, it draws outside air from the main unit 10 into the washing tank 14. The outside air drawn into the main unit 10 is heated by the drying heater 38 midway through the flow path toward the washing tank 14, becoming drying air. The drying air is sent into the washing tank 14 to dry the objects to be washed D set in the basket 18.

[0049] The drying air sent into the cleaning tank 14 converts at least a portion of the cleaning water remaining inside the cleaning tank 14 into water vapor or steam. This water vapor or steam is mixed with the air flowing as drying air and flows through the exhaust channel as a gas discharged from the cleaning tank 14, and is discharged to the outside of the main body 10 from the exhaust port 51 toward the front of the main body 10.

[0050] Here, as shown in Figure 2, when the dishwasher 1 is built into a system kitchen, a facing panel 90 is attached to the door 16, and a baseboard 92, which is a decorative panel, may be placed in front of the base frame 20. The baseboard 92 is positioned at a predetermined distance in the front-to-back direction from the front panel 40 of the base frame 20 towards the front. Therefore, the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51 is blown towards the surface material 90, the baseboard 92, the mounting surface G located on the front side of the front panel 40, etc.

[0051] As shown in Figure 4, in the dishwasher 1 of this embodiment, the cooling fan 60 blows out cooling air to cool the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51. The cooling fan 60 draws in air from the internal space S and sends it out as cooling air. The washing tank 14 is positioned above the internal space S. When the washing, rinsing, and drying processes are performed, the internal space S is heated by the washing tank 14, which is heated by the washing water and drying air, to a temperature lower than the temperature inside the washing tank 14. Therefore, the cooling fan 60 sends out cooling air that is lower than the temperature inside the washing tank but higher than the temperature of the outside air around the main body 10.

[0052] As a result, the dishwasher 1 can cool the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51 while suppressing a rapid drop in the temperature of the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51. Therefore, the dishwasher 1 can reduce the exhaust temperature and humidity, and it is suppressed that the exhaust temperature drops below a predetermined temperature relative to the outside air of the main unit 10, thereby suppressing condensation outside the main unit 10. Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 prevents the user from coming into contact with condensation or high-temperature, high-humidity exhaust.

[0053] In the dishwasher 1 of this embodiment, the cooling air sent out by the cooling fan 60 is blown out from an outlet 53 located at a distance from the exhaust port 51. As a result, the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 is cooled outside the main body 10 by collision and mixing with the cooling air. Therefore, the cooling air does not enter the exhaust port 51 and obstruct the discharge of the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 from the exhaust port 51 inside the main body 10. As a result, the dishwasher 1 can suppress a decrease in the drying efficiency of the items to be washed D.

[0054] The cooling fan 60 delivers cooling air at a higher rotational speed or with a greater airflow than the blower fan 36. Furthermore, the cooling air passage is shorter than the exhaust passage. Therefore, the gas discharged from the cleaning tank 14 is struck by cooling air outside the main body 10.

[0055] As shown in Figure 4, on the side surface 50A, extension line L1 extending along the longitudinal direction of the side surface 50A and on the air guide plate portion 72, extension line L2 extending along the longitudinal direction of the air guide plate portion 72 are provided to intersect. The angle α between extension line L1 and extension line L2 is 60 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less in a plan view, more preferably an obtuse angle. As a result, the exhaust air guided by the side 50A and the cooling air guided by the guide plate 72 collide and mix at a point where they do not reach the baseboard 92. In this way, the exhaust from the dishwasher 1 is cooled by mixing with the cooling air, and as shown by arrow A3 in Figure 4, it changes its direction and flows from the front to the right of the main body 10.

[0056] As a result, in the dishwasher 1, the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51 is prevented from flowing towards the front of the main body 10. Therefore, in the dishwasher 1, condensation is prevented from adhering to the surface material 90, the baseboard 92, the mounting surface G located on the front side of the front panel 40, etc.

[0057] Furthermore, the cooling air can be adjusted by changing the shape and length of the cooling fan's air guide duct 70, or the inclination angle of the air guide plate 72, thereby changing the blowing angle of the cooling air blown out from the outlet opening 63. For example, if the length of the duct 70 is made longer than the length shown in Figure 3, the angle α will be larger, and if the length of the duct 70 is made shorter than the length shown in Figure 3, the angle α will be smaller.

[0058] [1-3. Effects, etc.] As described above, in this embodiment, the dishwasher 1 comprises a main body 10 in which a washing tank 14 for accommodating dishes is provided. The main body 10 is provided with an exhaust port 51 for discharging the gas in the washing tank 14 to the outside of the main body 10, a cooling fan 60 for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port 51, and an outlet 53 for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan 60 to the outside of the main body 10. The gas discharged from the exhaust port 51 and the cooling air blown out from the outlet 53 are mixed by colliding outside the main body 10. According to this, in the dishwasher 1, cooling air enters the exhaust port 51, and within the main body 10, it is suppressed that the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 is not obstructed from being discharged from the exhaust port 51. As a result, the dishwasher 1 can suppress a decrease in the drying efficiency of the items to be washed D.

[0059] As in this embodiment, the exhaust port 51 and the air outlet 53 may be located in different positions. According to this, in the dishwasher 1, cooling air enters the exhaust port 51, and within the main body 10, it is suppressed that the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 is not obstructed from being discharged from the exhaust port 51. As a result, the dishwasher 1 can suppress a decrease in the drying efficiency of the items to be washed D.

[0060] As in this embodiment, the exhaust port 51 and the air outlet 53 may be arranged on the same plane of the main body 10. According to this, in the dishwasher 1, the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51 is prevented from flowing towards the front of the main body 10. As a result, condensation is prevented from adhering to the surface material 90, the baseboard 92, the mounting surface G located on the front side of the front panel 40, etc. in the dishwasher 1.

[0061] As in this embodiment, the cooling fan 60 may draw in air from inside the main body 10 and blow it out from the outlet 53. According to this, the dishwasher 1 can cool the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51 while suppressing a rapid drop in the temperature of the gas blown out from the exhaust port 51. Therefore, the dishwasher 1 can suppress condensation from occurring outside the main body 10.

[0062] As in this embodiment, the main body 10 is provided with an internal space S separated from the cleaning tank 14, and the cooling fan 60 may draw in air from the internal space S and blow it out from the outlet 53. According to this, the dishwasher 1 can reduce the exhaust temperature and humidity, and it is possible to suppress the exhaust temperature from falling below a predetermined temperature relative to the outside air of the main unit 10, thereby suppressing condensation outside the main unit 10. Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 prevents the user from coming into contact with condensation or high-temperature, high-humidity exhaust.

[0063] As in this embodiment, the air outlet 53 may be provided integrally with the main body 10. According to this design, the cooling air blown out by the cooling fan 60 is guided by an air guide duct 70 integrated with the front panel 40. Therefore, in the dishwasher 1, it is possible to easily control the direction in which the cooling air is blown out while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0064] As in this embodiment, the main body 10 may be integrally provided with a fixing part 41 for fixing the cooling fan 60. According to this, in the dishwasher 1, the cooling fan 60 can be easily positioned in a location where air can be blown through the air outlet 53 while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0065] (Other embodiments) As described above, Embodiment 1 has been explained as an example of the technology disclosed in this application. However, the technology in this disclosure is not limited to this and can be applied to embodiments that have been modified, replaced, added, or omitted. Furthermore, it is possible to create new embodiments by combining the components described in Embodiment 1 above. Therefore, other embodiments are illustrated below.

[0066] Figure 8 is a perspective view of the frame 20 according to Modification 1, viewed from the rear. In Figure 8, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in Figure 3, and their explanations are omitted. As shown in Figure 8, the dishwasher 1 may be provided with an exhaust duct 150 instead of the exhaust duct 50. The exhaust duct 150 extends along the front-to-back direction. The exhaust duct 150 is provided with a side surface 150A located on the left side. The side surface 150A is positioned opposite and approximately parallel to the side plate 42. As a result, the exhaust air flowing from the exhaust duct 22 into the exhaust duct 150 is guided forward along the front-to-back direction.

[0067] In this modified example, the cooling air is sent out through the air guide duct 70 such that the angle between the direction in which the cooling air is sent out and the direction in which the exhaust is sent out is angle β. Angle β is between 45 degrees and 90 degrees. In this way, the exhaust from the dishwasher 1 is cooled by mixing with the cooling air and changes its course from the front to the right of the main body 10, as shown by arrow A3 in Figure 4. As a result, the cooling air collides with the exhaust at a position where it does not reach the baseboard 92 and is mixed with it.

[0068] Figure 9 is a perspective view of the frame 20 according to modified example 2, viewed from the rear. In Figure 9, the same reference numerals are used for the same parts as in Figure 3, and their explanations are omitted. As shown in Figure 9, when the dishwasher 1 is equipped with an exhaust duct 150, the air outlet 53 may be positioned adjacent to the exhaust port 51. In this case, the air guide duct 70 and the cooling fan 60 are provided adjacent to the exhaust duct 150. In this modified example, the cooling air is sent out through the air guide duct 70 such that the angle between the direction in which the cooling air is sent out and the direction in which the exhaust is sent out is angle γ. Angle γ is between 30 and 60 degrees. In this way, the exhaust from the dishwasher 1 is cooled by mixing with the cooling air and changes its course from the front to the right of the main body 10, as shown by arrow A3 in Figure 4. As a result, the cooling air collides with the exhaust at a position where it does not reach the baseboard 92 and is mixed with it.

[0069] In the embodiment described above, the dishwasher 1 includes an exhaust duct 50 having an inclined side surface 50A and an air guide duct 70 having an inclined air guide plate portion 72. However, the design is not limited to this. For example, the exhaust duct 50 and the air intake duct 70 may be formed so that their longitudinal directions extend in a substantially straight line, and they may be installed so that the angle between the extensions of their respective longitudinal directions is between 30 degrees and 180 degrees. In this case, the exhaust duct 50 and the air guide duct 70 may be arranged so that their respective downstream sides face each other in the direction of airflow, or one of them may be arranged so that the downstream side of one extends toward the other.

[0070] In the above-described embodiment, the air outlet 53 is provided with a plurality of louver-shaped flow straightening sections 74 arranged in a line such that their planes intersect in the vertical direction. However, the rectifier section 74 may be arranged inside the outlet 53 so that its plane intersects with the bottom plate 48, in other words, so that it intersects horizontally. Or it may be arranged so that it intersects vertically. In this case, the rectifier section 74 may be formed to extend from the outlet 53 into the interior of the air guide duct 70.

[0071] In this case, each of the rectifying sections 74 may be inclined in a plan view so as it moves from the inside of the air guide duct 70 towards the outlet 53, it approaches the exhaust port 51. As a result, in the dishwasher 1, the cooling air flows towards the exhaust, and collides with and mixes with the baseboard 92 at a position where it does not reach it.

[0072] In such a case, each of the rectifiers 74 may be installed such that the angle between the extension line extending along the direction in which each of the rectifiers 74 extends from the inside of the air guide duct 70 toward the outlet 53 and the extension line extending along the direction in which the exhaust port ducts 50 and 150 extend, or the extension line extending along the direction in which the left and right sides of the exhaust port ducts 50 and 150 extend, is between 30 degrees and 180 degrees.

[0073] Alternatively, for example, the rectifier 74 may be provided inside the exhaust port 51. In this case, the rectifier 74 is formed in a louver shape, for example, extending from the outlet 53 to the inside of the exhaust port ducts 50 and 150, and rectifies the air blown out from the outlet 53. Each of the rectifier sections 74 provided inside the exhaust port 51 may be inclined in a plan view so that it approaches the outlet 53 as it moves from the inside of the exhaust port ducts 50 and 150 toward the exhaust port 51. As a result, in the dishwasher 1, the exhaust flows towards the cooling air, collides with the cooling air at a position where it does not reach the baseboard 92, and is mixed with it.

[0074] In such a case, each of the rectifier units 74 may be installed such that the angle between the extension line extending from the inside of the exhaust port ducts 50, 150 toward the exhaust port 51 and the extension line extending along the direction in which the air guide duct 70 extends, or the extension line extending along the direction in which the left and right sides of the air guide duct 70 extend, is between 30 degrees and 180 degrees.

[0075] For example, in the dishwasher 1, a rectifier 74 may be provided inside both the exhaust port 51 and the air outlet 53. In this case, each of the rectifier 74 may be positioned on the plane of the rectifier 74 located inside the exhaust port 51, and the angle between the extension line extending in the direction of the exhaust flow and the extension line extending in the direction of the cooling air flow, located on the plane of the rectifier 74 located inside the air outlet 53, may be 30 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less. In this case, the exhaust ducts 50 and 150 and the air guide duct 70 may be formed and arranged so that their longitudinal direction extends along the front-to-back direction.

[0076] Furthermore, the rectifier section 74 inside the exhaust port 51 and the rectifier section 74 inside the outlet port 53 may be set at any angle of inclination, as long as the angle allows the exhaust from the exhaust port 51 and the cooling air from the outlet port 53 to collide and mix at a position where they do not reach the baseboard 92. For this reason, at least one of the rectifier section 74 inside the exhaust port 51 or the rectifier section 74 inside the outlet port 53 may be formed facing the other.

[0077] The shape of at least one of the rectifier section 74 inside the exhaust port 51 or the rectifier section 74 inside the outlet port 53, which is formed facing the other, is, for example, a shape in which one of the rectifier section 74 inside the exhaust port 51 or the rectifier section 74 inside the outlet port 53 is inclined toward the other, or a shape in which both the rectifier section 74 inside the exhaust port 51 and the rectifier section 74 inside the outlet port 53 are inclined toward each other. Furthermore, "directing to the other side" does not mean that each of the rectifier sections 74 is formed facing the other side, but rather that, in a plan view, the extension line L1 extending along the plane of the rectifier section 74 inside the exhaust port 51 and the extension line L2 extending along the plane of the rectifier section 74 inside the air outlet 53 intersect.

[0078] The control device 30 may control the rotation speed or airflow of the cooling fan 60 according to the humidity inside the washing tank 14. For example, in the dishwasher 1, at the start of the drying process, a large amount of washing water remains inside the washing tank 14, so the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 is hot and humid. In this case, the control device 30 may set the airflow of the cooling fan 60 to a predetermined value or higher. In contrast, once a predetermined time has elapsed since the start of the drying process, much of the remaining washing water has been discharged as water vapor, so the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 is less humid than at the start of the drying process. In this case, the control device 30 may set the airflow rate of the cooling fan 60 to a predetermined value or lower.

[0079] As a result, in the dishwasher 1, when the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 is highly humid, condensation outside the main body 10 can be suppressed, and when the gas discharged from the washing tank 14 is low humid, the drying efficiency of the items to be washed can be improved.

[0080] The control device 30 may control the rotation speed or airflow of the cooling fan 60 according to the value detected by the temperature sensor 39. For example, in the dishwasher 1, if the difference between the temperature of the gas discharged from the washing tub 14 and the temperature of the installation space is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the control device 30 may increase the airflow of the cooling fan 60 to a predetermined value or greater. In contrast, in the dishwasher 1, if the difference between the temperature of the gas discharged from the washing tub 14 and the temperature of the installation space is less than or equal to a predetermined value, the control device 30 may reduce the airflow of the cooling fan 60 to less than or equal to a predetermined value, or stop the rotation of the cooling fan 60.

[0081] This allows the dishwasher 1 to stop the cooling fan 60 when condensation is not likely to occur, thereby improving energy efficiency and user comfort.

[0082] In the embodiment 1 described above, a built-in dishwasher 1 was given as an example of the "dishwasher" of the present disclosure. However, the "dishwasher" of the present disclosure is not limited to this, and may also be a dishwasher placed in the kitchen sink, or a countertop dishwasher. Furthermore, for example, the "dishwasher" of the present disclosure may be a freestanding dishwasher that is placed directly on the floor near the kitchen.

[0083] The processor 100 may consist of a single processor or multiple processors. The processor 100 may also be hardware programmed to perform various operations of the dishwasher 1. That is, the processor 100 may consist of, for example, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) or an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array).

[0084] The configuration of the dishwasher 1 shown in Figure 4 is just one example, and the specific implementation is not particularly limited. In other words, it is not necessarily required that each part be individually equipped with hardware; it is also possible to have a configuration in which a single processor executes a program to realize the functions of each part. Furthermore, some of the functions realized by software in the above-described embodiment may be implemented as hardware, or some of the functions realized by hardware may be implemented as software.

[0085] The control program 111 executed by the processor 100 can also be implemented by recording the control program 111 on a portable information recording medium. Examples of information recording media include magnetic recording media such as hard disks, optical recording media such as CDs, and semiconductor storage devices such as USB (Universal Serial Bus) memory and SSDs (Solid State Drives), but other recording media can also be used.

[0086] The embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes only and may be modified, replaced, added, or omitted within the scope of the claims or equivalents thereof.

[0087] (Note) Based on the above description of embodiments, the following technologies are disclosed.

[0088] (Technical 1) A dishwasher comprising a main body having a washing tank for accommodating dishes, wherein the main body is provided with an exhaust port for discharging gas from the washing tank to the outside of the main body, an exhaust port duct for guiding gas from the washing tank to the exhaust port, a cooling fan for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port, an outlet for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outside of the main body, and an air guide duct for guiding the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outlet, wherein at least one of the exhaust port duct and the air guide duct is formed toward the other, or at least one of at least a part of the exhaust port and at least a part of the outlet is formed toward the other. According to this, in a dishwasher, cooling air enters the exhaust port, and the obstruction of gas discharged from the washing tub being expelled from the exhaust port within the main unit is suppressed. As a result, the dishwasher can suppress a decrease in the drying efficiency of the items being washed.

[0089] (Technical 2) The dishwasher according to Technical 1, wherein the exhaust duct extends from the inside of the main body and is connected to the exhaust port, and the side of the exhaust duct located on the outlet side is formed to be inclined toward the outlet side as it moves from the inside of the main body toward the exhaust port. As a result, in a dishwasher, the cooling air collides with the exhaust outside the unit and mixes with it. Therefore, in a dishwasher, the cooling air enters the exhaust port, and this prevents it from obstructing the gas discharged from the washing tub from being discharged through the exhaust port inside the unit.

[0090] (Technical 3) The dishwasher according to Technical 1, wherein the side of the exhaust duct located on the outlet side extends parallel to the opposing side of the main body from the inside of the main body toward the exhaust port. This allows the exhaust from the dishwasher to be smoothly discharged to the outside.

[0091] (Technical 4) The dishwasher according to any one of Technical 1 to 3, wherein the air guide duct extends from the inside of the main body and is connected to the outlet, and the side of the air guide duct located on the exhaust side is formed to be inclined toward the exhaust side as it moves from the inside of the main body toward the outlet. As a result, in a dishwasher, the cooling air collides with the exhaust outside the unit and mixes with it. Therefore, in a dishwasher, the cooling air enters the exhaust port, and this prevents it from obstructing the gas discharged from the washing tub from being discharged through the exhaust port inside the unit.

[0092] (Technical 5) A dishwasher according to any one of Technical 1 to Technical 4, wherein the angle between the extension line extending along the direction in which the exhaust port duct extends and the extension line extending along the direction in which the air guide duct extends is 30 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less. As a result, in a dishwasher, the exhaust is mixed with cooling air at a location where the exhaust does not hit any structures located outside the dishwasher. Therefore, condensation outside the dishwasher can be suppressed.

[0093] (Technical 6) The dishwasher according to any one of Technical 1 to Technical 5, wherein the exhaust port and the air outlet are provided at different positions on the same plane of the side surface of the main body. According to this, in a dishwasher, the flow of gas blown out from the exhaust vent towards the front of the unit is suppressed. As a result, condensation is suppressed from adhering to structures located in front of the dishwasher.

[0094] (Technical 7) The dishwasher according to Technical 6, wherein the air outlet and the exhaust port are arranged at substantially the same position in the vertical direction and spaced apart from each other along the left-right direction. As a result, in a dishwasher, the exhaust is mixed with cooling air at a position where it does not hit any structures located in front of the dishwasher. Therefore, condensation outside the dishwasher can be suppressed.

[0095] (Technical 8) The dishwasher according to any one of Technical 1 to Technical 7, wherein the cooling fan draws in air from inside the main body and blows it out from the outlet. According to this, the dishwasher can cool the gas blown out from the exhaust port while suppressing a rapid drop in the gas's temperature. As a result, condensation can be prevented from forming on the outside of the dishwasher.

[0096] (Technical 9) A dishwasher according to any one of Technical 1 to Technical 8, wherein an internal space is provided below the main body, separated from the washing tank, the cooling fan is provided in the internal space, the intake port of the cooling fan is positioned to face the internal space, and the warm air from the internal space, heated by the heat of the bottom surface of the washing tank, is drawn in and blown out from the outlet. According to this, dishwashers can reduce the exhaust temperature and humidity, and prevent the exhaust temperature from dropping below a predetermined temperature relative to the outside air, thereby suppressing condensation outside the unit. Furthermore, in dishwashers, exposure to condensation and high-temperature, high-humidity exhaust is suppressed.

[0097] (Technical 10) The dishwasher according to Technical 9, wherein the cooling fan is fixed to the side of the main body where the internal space is formed, on the side where the exhaust port is provided. This allows the cooling airflow path length inside the dishwasher to be shortened, making it easier to control the cooling airflow and reducing pressure loss.

[0098] (Technical 11) The air outlet is integrally provided with the main body, a dishwasher according to any one of Technical 1 to Technical 10. According to this design, the cooling air blown out by the cooling fan is guided by an air duct integrated into the front of the main unit. Therefore, in a dishwasher, it is possible to easily control the direction from which the cooling air is blown out while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0099] (Technical 12) The dishwasher according to any one of Technical 1 to Technical 11, wherein the main body is integrally provided with a fixing part for fixing the cooling fan. According to this, in a dishwasher, a cooling fan can be easily positioned in a location where air can be blown through the outlet, while suppressing an increase in the number of parts.

[0100] (Technical 13) A dishwasher comprising a main body having a washing tank for accommodating dishes, the main body being provided with an exhaust port for discharging gas from the washing tank to the outside of the main body, a cooling fan for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port, and an outlet for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outside of the main body, wherein the gas discharged from the exhaust port and the cooling air blown out from the outlet collide and mix outside the main body. According to this, in a dishwasher, cooling air enters the exhaust port, and the obstruction of gas discharged from the washing tub being expelled from the exhaust port within the main unit is suppressed. As a result, the dishwasher can suppress a decrease in the drying efficiency of the items being washed. [Industrial applicability]

[0101] This disclosure is applicable to dishwashers. Specifically, it is applicable to built-in dishwashers installed in system kitchens, etc. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0102] 1. Dishwasher 8. Cleaning nozzle 10 Main unit 11 Front opening 12 cabinets 12A bottom 14 Washing Tank 16 doors 18 baskets 20-unit frame 21 Exhaust opening 22 Exhaust duct 30 Control device 31 Circulation pump 32 Drainage pump 33 Water supply pump 34. Washing water heater 36. Blower fan 38 Drying heater 39 Temperature sensor 40 Front plate 41 Fixed part 42, 44 Side plate 46 Rear plate 48 Bottom plate 50, 150 exhaust duct 50A, 150A Side view 51 Exhaust vent 53 Air outlet 60 Cooling Fan 61 Intake opening 63 Outlet opening 70 Air duct 72 Wind guide plate section 74 Rectifier 90 facing material 92 Baseboard 100 processors 101 Operation Control Unit 110 memory 111 Control Program A1, A2, A3 Arrows D. Items to be washed G Installation surface L1, L2 extension line S interior space α angle β angle γ angle

Claims

1. It has a main body equipped with a washing tank for storing dishes, The main body includes, An exhaust port for discharging the gas in the cleaning tank to the outside of the main body, and an exhaust port duct for guiding the gas in the cleaning tank to the exhaust port, A cooling fan for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port, An outlet for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan out of the main body, and an air guide duct for guiding the cooling air from the cooling fan to the outlet, A system was established, At least one of the exhaust port duct and the air guide duct is formed toward the other, or, At least one of the exhaust port and at least one of the air outlet is formed facing the other. Dishwasher.

2. The exhaust duct extends from inside the main body and is connected to the exhaust port. The side of the exhaust duct located on the outlet side is formed to be inclined toward the outlet side as it moves from the inside of the main body toward the exhaust port. A dishwasher according to claim 1.

3. The side of the exhaust duct located on the outlet side extends parallel to the opposing side of the main body from the inside of the main body toward the exhaust port. A dishwasher according to claim 1.

4. The aforementioned air guide duct extends from inside the main body and is connected to the air outlet. The side of the air guide duct located on the exhaust port side is formed to be inclined toward the exhaust port side as it moves from the inside of the main body toward the air outlet. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

5. The angle between the extension line extending along the direction in which the exhaust duct extends and the extension line extending along the direction in which the air guide duct extends is 30 degrees or more and 180 degrees or less. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

6. The exhaust port and the air outlet are provided at different positions on the same plane of the side surface of the main body. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

7. The aforementioned air outlet and exhaust port are positioned at approximately the same location in the vertical direction, and at positions spaced apart from each other in the horizontal direction. The dishwasher according to claim 6.

8. The cooling fan draws in air from inside the main unit and blows it out from the outlet. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

9. Below the main body, an internal space is provided that is separated from the washing tank. The cooling fan is installed in the internal space, with its intake port facing the internal space, and draws in warm air from the internal space, which has been heated by the heat from the bottom of the cleaning tank, and blows it out from the outlet. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

10. The cooling fan is fixed to the side of the main body where the internal space is formed, specifically the side where the exhaust port is provided. The dishwasher according to claim 9.

11. The air outlet is provided integrally with the main body. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

12. The main body is integrally provided with a fixing part for securing the cooling fan. A dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

13. It has a main body equipped with a washing tank for storing dishes, The main body includes, An exhaust port for discharging the gas inside the cleaning tank to the outside of the main body, A cooling fan for cooling the gas discharged from the exhaust port, An outlet for blowing the cooling air from the cooling fan out of the main body, A system was established, The gas discharged from the exhaust port and the cooling air blown out from the outlet are mixed by colliding outside the main body. Dishwasher.

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