dishwasher

Abstract

This disclosure provides a dishwasher that can maintain a clean state inside the washing chamber by having a water reservoir that can communicate with and disconnect from the washing chamber. [Solution] The dishwasher in this disclosure comprises a washing tank provided within a housing for accommodating items to be washed, a door for opening and closing the opening of the washing tank, a water reservoir for storing wastewater used during washing by opening and closing a valve, and a drainage path equipped with a drainage pump for draining wastewater used during washing, wherein the water reservoir is provided between the washing tank and the drainage path.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a dishwasher.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a dishwasher having a water storage section communicating with a cleaning liquid tank. This dishwasher includes a cleaning tank for accommodating tableware, a water storage section provided in the cleaning tank for storing cleaning water, a lid body for opening and closing an opening of the cleaning tank, a cleaning pump for pressurizing the cleaning water, cleaning means for injecting the cleaning water pressurized by the cleaning pump, a detergent liquid tank for storing a high-concentration detergent liquid, heating means for heating the cleaning water in the water storage section, and detergent liquid scattering means for atomizing the high-concentration detergent liquid in the cleaning liquid tank and scattering it into the cleaning tank. The detergent liquid tank has a wall rising upward to divide it from the water storage section and a communication section communicating with the water storage section, and the communication section is provided on the wall facing the heating means.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The present disclosure provides a user-friendly dishwasher having a water storage section that can communicate with and be separated from the inside of the cleaning tank, and capable of maintaining a clean state inside the cleaning tank.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The dishwasher in this disclosure comprises a housing, a washing tank provided inside the housing for accommodating items to be washed, a door for opening and closing the opening of the washing tank, a water reservoir for storing wastewater used during washing by opening and closing a valve, and a drainage path equipped with a drainage pump for draining wastewater used during washing, wherein the water reservoir is provided between the washing tank and the drainage path. [Effects of the Invention]

[0006] The dishwasher in this disclosure includes a water reservoir that can communicate with and disconnect from the washing tank, and the water reservoir and the washing tank can be connected and drained by opening and closing a valve. This allows the inside of the washing tank to be kept clean. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0007] [Figure 1] Schematic side view of the dishwasher in Embodiment 1 with the dish rack pulled out from the casing. [Figure 2] A schematic longitudinal cross-sectional view of the dishwasher in Embodiment 1, when viewed from the front, cut at a position in the front-to-back direction. [Figure 3] A schematic perspective view of the dishwasher in the first embodiment with the dish rack pulled out from the casing. [Figure 4] Schematic perspective view of the dishwasher in the closed state according to Embodiment 1. [Figure 5] A schematic cross-sectional view of the dishwasher in Embodiment 1, showing a cross-section taken from the direction of the arrow when the dishwasher is cut along the line A-A. [Figure 6] Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher, cropped and enlarged within the area enclosed by the dotted line Y, with the solenoid valve and check valve closed when the washing tank is full after complete drainage. [Figure 7] This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher, showing a cropped and enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dotted line Y in Figure 5, where the washing tank is full after partial drainage, the solenoid valve is closed, and the check valve is closed. [Figure 8]This is a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher, showing a cropped and enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dotted line Y in Figure 5, where the solenoid valve and check valve are open during the draining of wash water. [Figure 9] Figure 5 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a dishwasher, cropped and enlarged, of the area enclosed by the dotted line Y, with the solenoid valve and check valve closed after the wash water has been completely drained. [Figure 10] Control flowchart for dishwasher operation from start to finish. [Figure 11] Control flowchart from water supply to washing [Figure 12] Flowchart of the water flow from water supply to washing [Figure 13] Control flowchart 1 from start to finish of drainage [Figure 14] Control flowchart 2 from start to finish of drainage [Figure 15] Flowchart of water flow from start to finish of drainage [Figure 16] Simplified diagram showing a check valve positioned vertically. [Figure 17] Simplified diagram showing a check valve positioned horizontally. [Figure 18] Schematic perspective view of the area near the drainage path downstream from the drainage pump. [Figure 19] A schematic perspective view of the area near the drainage path downstream from the drainage pump, showing the area when the drainage path is full of water. [Figure 20] Schematic perspective view of a pull-open type dishwasher [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0008] (Knowledge and other information that formed the basis of this disclosure) When the inventors came up with the present disclosure, in the configuration of the conventional washing tub, the water storage section where the washing water accumulates and the washing tub were always in communication, and the drained water and the odor of the drained water flowed back into the cabinet. Therefore, the inventors discovered the problem that it is necessary to suppress the backflow of the drained water and the odor of the drained water into the cabinet and keep the inside of the cabinet clean, and in order to solve this problem, they came to constitute the subject matter of the present disclosure.

[0009] Therefore, the present disclosure provides a dishwasher that can maintain the inside of the washing tub in a clean state by including a water storage section that can communicate with and be separated from the inside of the washing tub.

[0010] Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, a more detailed description may be omitted as necessary. For example, a detailed description of well-known matters or a redundant description of substantially the same configuration may be omitted. This is to avoid making the following description overly redundant and to facilitate the understanding of those skilled in the art.

[0011] Note that the accompanying drawings and the following description are provided for those skilled in the art to fully understand the present 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 19.

[0013] [Overall Configuration] The dishwasher 1 in Embodiment 1 is shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of the dishwasher 1 with the door body 4 in an open state. Specifically, the door body 4 is rotated forward to an open state, and the dish basket 9 is pulled out.

[0014] Also, the dishwasher of Embodiment 1 is a built-in type dishwasher installed in, for example, a system kitchen.

[0015] In Embodiment 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the opening side of the dishwasher 1 will be referred to as the front, and the rear wall side as the rear. Furthermore, the top side of the washing tub 3 of the dishwasher will be referred to as the upper side, the bottom side as the lower side, and the right side of the door body 4, as viewed from the front, will be referred to as the right, and the left side as the left.

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the dishwasher 1 of Embodiment 1 comprises a housing 2, a washing tank 3 provided inside the housing 2 for accommodating items to be washed, and a door 4 that opens and closes an opening 5 located in front of the washing tank.

[0017] The washing tank 3 has an opening 5 at its front and includes a drain 6 for draining the washing water used during washing, a residue filter 7 for collecting residue, a dish basket 9 for holding dishes 8, and a washing nozzle 10. The opening 5 is closed by a door 4 installed on the housing 2. As a result, the dish basket 9 is supported so that it can be freely moved in and out of the housing 2 in the front-to-back direction (left-to-right direction on the plane of Figure 1).

[0018] Dishes 8 are placed in the dish basket 9. The dish basket 9 is opened and then pulled forward.

[0019] Furthermore, the dishwasher 1 is equipped with a washing pump 11, a water distribution mechanism 12, a water supply unit 13, etc. (not shown). The water supply unit 13 includes a water supply valve, a water supply hose, etc. (not shown). Specifically, first, washing water such as tap water is supplied from a branch faucet on a system kitchen (not shown) to a water supply path such as a water supply hose. The supplied washing water passes through the water supply path and is supplied to the washing tank 3 to the required water level and amount by the water supply pump and water supply valve, etc.

[0020] The water supply channel is connected to a water pipe (not shown). The water supply valve is located in the water supply channel at the rear of the housing 2. When the water supply valve is opened, tap water, which will be used as cleaning water, is supplied to the cleaning tank 3.

[0021] The washing pump 11 pressurizes and pumps washing water to the washing nozzles 10. If there are multiple washing nozzles 10, the washing water is pumped from the washing pump through the water distribution mechanism 12 to each washing nozzle 10. The washing nozzles 10 rotate due to the reaction force of the pumped washing water and spray the washing water towards the dishes 8 placed on the dish basket 9. In other words, the washing pump 11 pressurizes the washing water stored in the washing tank 3 and supplies it to the washing nozzles 10. The washing water sprayed from the washing nozzles 10 collides with the dishes, removing dirt and performing the cleaning. The washing water includes a washing solution containing detergent that is sprayed onto the items to be washed, and rinsing water for rinsing the items to be washed. Furthermore, the suction side of the washing pump 11 is connected to the drain port 6, and the washing water supplied to the washing tank 3 is circulated through the circulation path and sprayed from the washing nozzles 10. The dishes 8 can then be washed with the sprayed washing water.

[0022] The drain port 6 is located at the bottom of the washing tank 3. The residue filter 7 is detachably attached to the drain port 6 and collects residue that has been washed and removed from the object being washed. The heater heats the washing water stored in the washing tank 3 during the washing process. The heater is located near the bottom of the washing tank 3 and heats the drying air inside the washing tank 3 during the drying process.

[0023] The dishwasher of Embodiment 1 is equipped with a drainage path for draining washing water from the washing tank 3. The drainage path consists of a check valve 73, a drain pump 74, a drain hose 75, etc. The dishwasher of Embodiment 1 is also equipped with a drain port 6, a food residue filter 7, a solenoid valve 71, a water reservoir 72, etc., between the bottom surface of the washing tank 3 and the drainage path. When the washing, rinsing, and drying of the dishes 8 are completed, the drain pump 74 is driven, and the washing water passes through the drain port 6 and the food residue filter 7, then through the solenoid valve 71 and the water reservoir 72, before reaching the drainage path and the drain hose 75. The water is then drained to the outside. The drainage path is also configured to allow the cleaning water in the cleaning tank 3 to be drained to a kitchen sink or the like. The drain hose 75 flexibly connects the outlet of the drain pump 74 to the drain channel 76. The drain hose 75 is made of a flexible material such as silicone rubber. The drain pump 74 is drivable when it is filled with water.

[0024] The dishwasher of Embodiment 1 is equipped with a drying fan that blows air for drying during the drying process of dishes 8 and other items to be washed. The drying fan is located near the heater. By driving the heater when the drying fan is driven, heated air can be blown onto the items to be washed, thereby accelerating drying.

[0025] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the door body 4 that opens and closes the opening 5 located at the front of the washing tub has a flat surface 42 on its front side. The flat surface 42 is covered with a surface material, and an operation unit 43 and a display unit 44 are located on the top surface of the door body 4. The operation unit 43 allows the user to set the dishwasher's washing course, power on, and off. The display unit 44 displays the washing status, operating status, time, etc.

[0026] The control unit 14, which executes the washing operation, is located inside the door body 4 on the lower right side of the washing tank 3. The control unit 14 includes a washing step for washing the dishes 8, a rinsing step for washing away detergent and residue adhering to the dishes 8, and a drying step for drying the dishes 8, and sequentially controls these steps. It may also include a pre-washing step and a heated rinsing step. Furthermore, the control unit 14 controls the washing nozzle 10, washing pump 11, water distribution mechanism 12, water supply unit 13, solenoid valve 71, drain pump 74, etc., in conjunction with these steps.

[0027] As described above, the dishwasher of Embodiment 1 is configured as described.

[0028] [Dishwasher operation] The operation and function of the dishwasher 1, configured as described above, will be explained below.

[0029] First, the user grasps the handle 41 on the door 4 and pulls the washing tank 3 out of the dishwasher housing 2. The user places the dishes 8 and other items to be washed into the dish basket 9 through the opening 5 of the washing tank 3 and adds detergent. Then, the user pushes the dish basket 9 back into the housing 2 and closes the door 4.

[0030] The user then sets the operating course using the operation unit 43 provided on the control unit 14 and starts the washing operation by, for example, operating the start button (not shown). As a result, the control unit 14 executes the washing operation based on the operating course. In the dishwasher according to this embodiment, the control unit 14 sequentially executes the pre-washing process, washing process, rinsing process, heated rinse process, and drying process.

[0031] Figure 10 shows an example of the operation flow of all the processes performed by the control unit 14 from the start to the end of operation of the dishwasher 1. This flow is explained below. When the user starts operation, the control unit 14 first supplies water and starts the pre-wash process. In the pre-wash process, the items to be washed are washed using only wash water without detergent. After this, a draining operation is basically performed to drain some of the water, and the washing process is started using the remaining water and detergent. When the items to be washed are washed in the washing process, at the end of the washing process the wash water mixed with residue is filtered through the residue filter 7, collected once, and then a draining operation is performed to drain all the water. Next, water is supplied and the items that have been washed in the washing process are rinsed in the rinsing process. At the end of the rinsing process, all the wash water used in the rinsing process is also drained. After that, water is supplied again in order to perform the heated rinse process, and the items to be washed are rinsed while being heated in the heated rinse process. At the end of the heated rinse process, all the water is drained. Then the rinsed items are... The drying process is performed by driving the drying fan and heater. During the drying process, a drainage operation is performed to collect water droplets that have dripped from the items being washed. Finally, after all the washing, rinsing, and drying processes are completed, a drainage operation is performed to collect any remaining water, and the operation of the dishwasher 1 ends. Note that the drainage operation of some water and the drainage operation of all water may be swapped or changed as appropriate. For example, only some of the washing water used in the rinsing process may be drained, and the remaining washing water may be used to start the heated rinse process. In this case, water supply before the heated rinse process is not necessary.

[0032] Next, we will explain the detailed operation of all these processes.

[0033] The control unit 14 first performs a pre-washing process without using detergent. The control unit 14 first opens the water supply valve and supplies a predetermined amount of washing water to the washing tank 3 through the water supply hose. Once the water supply is complete, it drives the washing pump 11 to pressurize the washing water and sprays it onto the items to be washed from washing nozzles 10 located near the bottom of the washing tank 3, on the inner surface, the dish basket 9, the top surface, etc. While spraying the washing water, the control unit 14 energizes the heater to heat the washing water. At this time, the control unit 14 detects the temperature of the washing water through the bottom wall of the washing tank 3 using a temperature sensor and controls the washing water to reach a predetermined temperature.

[0034] The cleaning water sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 10 cleans the dirt off the object to be cleaned, passes through the drain port 6 and the residue filter 7, and is then sucked back into the cleaning pump 11. The cleaning pump 11 pressurizes the sucked-in cleaning water and supplies it back to the cleaning nozzle 10, circulating it to perform the cleaning.

[0035] Once the pre-washing process is complete, a drainage operation is performed to drain a portion of the washing water (partial drainage). During the drainage operation, the control unit 14 opens the solenoid valve 71 to connect the drain port 6 and the water reservoir 72, and then controls the operation of the drain pump 74. Subsequently, the washing water containing dirt in the washing tank 3 is discharged to the outside of the housing 2 through the drain hose 75 and drain channel 76. Once a certain amount or a certain period of time has been completed for the partial drainage of the washing water, the control unit 14 controls the operation of the drain pump 74 to stop and close the solenoid valve 71, thereby ending the drainage operation. Note that, according to the specifications, it is also possible to drain all the water at this point instead of just a portion.

[0036] Next, the control unit 14 performs the washing process using the remaining washing water and detergent. If only a portion of the washing water has been drained at the end of the pre-washing process, no water supply is required for the washing process, and the process proceeds directly to the washing process. However, if all the water has been drained during the draining operation after the pre-washing process, the control unit 14 performs a water supply operation before the washing process, and then the control unit 14 performs the washing process. The washing operation after driving the washing pump is the same as the pre-washing process, so it is omitted from the description. Figure 11 shows the control flow of the control unit 14 from water supply to washing in the pre-washing or washing process, and Figure 12 shows the water flow.

[0037] Next, the control unit 14 performs a drainage operation to drain all the water after executing the washing process for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes). During the drainage operation, the control unit 14 opens the solenoid valve 71 to connect the drain port 6 and the water reservoir 72, and then controls the operation of the drain pump 74. After that, the washing water containing dirt in the washing tank 3 is discharged to the outside of the housing 2 through the drain hose 75 and drain channel 76. Once all the water has been drained, the control unit 14 controls the operation of the drain pump 74 to stop and close the solenoid valve 71, completing the drainage operation. The control flow of the control unit 14 for partial drainage and complete drainage is shown in Figures 13 and 14, and the water flow is shown in Figure 15. These will be explained in detail later. Note that the flow in Figures 13 to 15 is the same whether it is partial drainage or complete drainage.

[0038] Next, the rinsing process is performed following the washing process. The control unit 14 operates the water supply valve to supply a predetermined amount of new washing water to the washing tank 3. The control unit 14 performs the washing process in the same manner as in the washing process. The pump 11 is driven, and cleaning water is sprayed from the cleaning nozzle 10. This washes away any remaining detergent and residue from the object to be cleaned. During this process, the rinsing operation, including the discharge of cleaning water, rinsing, and supply of cleaning water, is repeated multiple times (for example, two to three times). At the end of the rinsing process, the control unit 14 performs a drainage operation to discharge the cleaning water used to rinse the object to be cleaned, similar to the washing process. As described above, the control unit 14 controls the solenoid valve 71 and the drain pump 74 to discharge all the wastewater, completing the drainage operation (complete drainage).

[0039] After the rinsing process, water is supplied again, and then a heated rinsing process is performed, in which the washing tank 3 is heated by a heater while the rinsing process is carried out. The heated rinsing process is the same as the rinsing process, and at the end of the heated rinsing process, a complete draining operation is performed.

[0040] Alternatively, some of the washing water used in the rinsing process may be drained, and the remaining washing water may be used to perform the heated rinsing process. In this case, the water supply operation before the heated rinsing process is unnecessary.

[0041] Then, when the rinsing process and the heated rinsing process are completed, the control unit 14 heats the air in the washing tank 3 with a heater and blows air using a fan (not shown). This dries the items to be washed. When the drying process is performed for a predetermined time (for example, 30 minutes), the control unit 14 performs the drainage operation again. During the drying process, water droplets that have adhered to the items to be washed and the inner walls of the washing chamber, as well as washing water remaining in the washing pump 11 and water distribution mechanism 12, drip down and accumulate at the drain port 6, so it is necessary to drain the water. In addition, if the system is configured to collect the dehumidifying liquid generated when the steam generated during the drying process is cooled, these are also collected at the drain port 6 as drainage at the same time. Since it takes time for water droplets to drip down and collect near the drain port 6, the drainage operation during the drying process may be performed multiple times to collect all the drainage.

[0042] Furthermore, after the drying process, the control unit 14 performs a drainage operation to collect the water that has dripped from the items being washed and accumulated in the drain port 6, just as it did during the drying process, and the washing operation ends. Thus, the drainage operation is performed not only after the washing and rinsing processes, but also during the drying process and after the washing operation has finished. By doing so, it is possible to ensure that there is almost no wastewater remaining in the washing tank 3 when the dishwasher 1 has finished operating.

[0043] As described above, the dishwasher of Embodiment 1 is controlled. Hereinafter, following the example control flow in Figure 10, we will explain that some water is drained after the pre-washing process and all water is drained after the rinsing process.

[0044] [Detailed configuration from the drain outlet to the drainage route] Next, we will explain the configuration of the dishwasher from the drain outlet 6 to the drainage path, referring to Figures 5 to 19.

[0045] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the dishwasher, showing the cross-section from the direction of the arrow when the dishwasher 1 is cut along the line A-A in Figures 3 and 4. Figures 6 to 9 are schematic cross-sectional views of the dishwasher, showing an enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dotted line Y below Figure 5. Figure 6 shows the state when the washing tank is approximately full after complete drainage and washing / rinsing, with the solenoid valve and check valve closed. Figure 7 shows the state when the washing tank is approximately full after partial drainage and washing / rinsing, with the solenoid valve and check valve closed. Figure 8 shows the state when the washing water is being drained, with the solenoid valve and check valve open. Figure 9 shows the state after complete drainage, with the solenoid valve and check valve closed.

[0046] Figure 5 shows a cross-section from the direction of the arrow when the dishwasher 1 is cut along the line A-A in Figures 3 and 4, with the area below the drain 6 enclosed by the dotted line Y. Figures 6 to 9 are enlarged views of this area enclosed by the dotted line Y. When the dishwasher 1 is cut along the line A-A, as shown in Figure 4, in Figures 5 to 9, the right side in the front view of the drawing is the rear of the dishwasher, and the left side in the front view of the drawing is the boundary with the X-axis. This is located to the left of the dishwasher. This boundary line X is shown by a dashed line. Below, we will explain each component that makes up the drain from the drain outlet to the drainage path using Figure 6.

[0047] The water flowing from the drain port 6 passes through the solenoid valve 71, water reservoir 72, check valve 73, drain pump 74, drain hose 75, etc., before being discharged outside the machine. The drain port 6 is bucket-shaped with a concave shape, that is, a recess into which the wastewater flows. The bottom surface of the recess has a space that extends further downward, called the drain port lower space 711. The drain port lower space 711 has a downward slope at its bottom surface toward the solenoid valve 71 located downstream, and serves as a path for transporting the wastewater to the solenoid valve 71 and the water reservoir 72. The drain port lower space 711 has an upstream open end 712 that is open at the top and communicates with the drain port 6, and also has a downstream open end 713 that is open on the side toward the solenoid valve 71. The opening area of ​​the upstream open end 712 of the drain port lower space 711 that communicates with the drain port 6 is smaller than the bottom surface area of ​​the recess of the drain port 6.

[0048] The solenoid valve 71 is an on-off valve that connects and disconnects the cleaning tank 3 and the water storage section 72, and opens and closes the downstream open end 713. In this disclosure, it is a cock-shaped solenoid valve controlled by the control unit 14 and moves horizontally. The solenoid valve 71 plays the role of blocking the water accumulated in the cleaning tank 3, the drain port 6, and the space below the drain port 711, or releasing it into the water storage section 72 located downstream. When the solenoid valve 71 is opened, it moves backward away from the space below the drain port 711, and the accumulated water is released through the gap between the space below the drain port 711 and the solenoid valve 71. When the solenoid valve 71 is closed, it moves forward and presses against the downstream open end 713 of the space below the drain port 711, blocking the water from flowing downstream from the space below the drain port 711. Therefore, the cleaning tank 3 and the drain port 6 and the water storage section 72 can be connected or disconnected by opening and closing the solenoid valve 71. This configuration allows for the separation of the washing tank 3 from the water storage section 72 and the downstream drainage route as needed, thereby preventing backflow of wastewater and wastewater odors.

[0049] Furthermore, since the downstream open end 713 and the solenoid valve 71 are positioned to be in contact with the side near the bottom surface of the drain port 6, which is the rear side in the diagram, when the solenoid valve 71 is opened, the water flows to the side, and the solenoid valve 71 and the flowing water are not visible to the user when viewed from directly above the inside of the washing tank 3. As a result, when the water in the space below the drain port 711 has been completely drained, there is no residual water visible on the bottom surface from inside the washing tank 3. Furthermore, let P be the vertical center point of the solenoid valve 71. In Figure 6, the vertical position of the center point P is indicated by a dotted line. Hereafter, the objects will be described as upstream and downstream, corresponding to the flow of water.

[0050] The water storage section 72 is a space capable of storing water, located directly below the drain outlet lower space 711 at the bottom of the drain outlet 6. The water storage section 72 is located between the drain outlet 6, i.e., the washing tank 3, and the drain pump 74, more specifically between the upstream solenoid valve 71 and the downstream check valve 73, and can receive and store wastewater flowing in from the drain outlet 6 and wastewater (return water) flowing back from the drainage path. The bottom surface of the water storage section 72 is sloped so that the slope becomes lower towards the vicinity of the drain pump 74, so that water collects in one place as close to the drain pump 74 as possible. When the solenoid valve 71 is opened, the wastewater moves away from the drain outlet lower space 711 and towards the rear, and the water that flows through the gap between the drain outlet lower space 711 and the solenoid valve 71 flows into the water storage section 72.

[0051] Looking at the positional relationship with respect to the solenoid valve, the drain port 6 is on the upper side and the water storage section 72 is on the lower side, dividing it into two stages, upper and lower. Therefore, when a user looks into the washing tank 3, all they can see is the space below the drain port 711. The downstream open end 713 of the space below the drain port 711 is located on the side and is closed by the solenoid valve 71. As a result, the water stored in the water storage section 72 is not visible to the user, and when the water in the space below the drain port 711 has been completely drained, there is no remaining water visible from inside the washing tank 3 at the bottom. The 72 is designed to be detachable, allowing it to be removed during maintenance, in case of malfunctions, or if something is dropped into it. To remove it, rotate the disc-shaped S-frame shown in Figure 6 and pull it downwards.

[0052] Furthermore, the water reservoir 72 is positioned such that its bottom surface is lower than that of the solenoid valve 71. As a result, when the solenoid valve 71 is opened, the wastewater accumulated in the drain port 6 falls into the water reservoir 72 by its own weight, allowing for automatic drainage up to the water reservoir 72 without the need for suction from the drain pump 74. After the drainage operation, the wastewater remains in the water reservoir 72, so from the user's perspective, there is no water in the drain port 6. The water reservoir 72 is then closed by the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73, preventing odors from rising into the washing tank 3. On the other hand, if the water reservoir 72 were positioned such that its bottom surface was higher than that of the solenoid valve 71, the space connecting the washing tank 3 and the solenoid valve 71 would be positioned lower vertically than the water reservoir 72. This would cause wastewater and its odors to backflow into the washing tank 3, thus preventing the above-mentioned effects from being achieved.

[0053] The check valve 73 is located between the water reservoir 72 and the drain pump 74 and prevents wastewater accumulated in the casing of the drain pump 74, which is further downstream from the water reservoir 72, from flowing back into the water reservoir 72 and the washing tank 3 (return water). Specifically, when draining water when there is almost no water accumulated in the washing tank 3, such as during the drying process, it prevents the water filling the area downstream from the drain pump 74 from flowing back into the washing tank 3. The check valve 73 is positioned horizontally upstream of the drain pump 74, making it less susceptible to contamination buildup. When the valve opening / closing part 731 of the check valve 73 is in an approximately vertical position and closed, the check valve 73 closes the space between the drain pump 74 and the water reservoir 72, preventing wastewater from flowing back into the water reservoir 72 and the washing tank 3. When the valve opening / closing section 731 is in an approximately horizontal position and open, the check valve 73 connects the drainage pump 74 and the water storage section 72, opening a path for drawing up the wastewater flowing into the water storage section 72. This check valve 73 is installed to rotate in the left-right direction and is opened and closed by the water flow, and is in an approximately horizontal position and open state, especially when water pressure is applied from upstream to downstream.

[0054] Furthermore, let Q be the vertical center point of the check valve 73. In the diagram in Figure 6, the vertical position of the center point Q is indicated by a dotted line. In addition, the water reservoir 72 is positioned so that its bottom surface is lower than the check valve 73. As a result, when the drain pump 74 is stationary, the water stored in the water reservoir 72 will not flow to the check valve 73 unless the water volume increases rapidly. This prevents the check valve 73 from opening due to water flow from the water reservoir 72 side when the drain pump 74 is stationary. On the other hand, on the drain pump 74 side, when the drain pump 74 is stationary, water pressure is always applied to the check valve 73 in an upstream direction due to the water accumulated between the check valve 73 and the drain pump 74. Therefore, since water pressure is applied in the opposite direction to the direction in which the check valve 73 opens, the check valve 73 is less likely to open. Therefore, the bottom surface of the water storage section 72 is positioned lower than the check valve 73, so that the check valve 73 does not open unintentionally when the drain pump 74 is stationary.

[0055] Next, we will explain the orientation of the check valve using Figures 16 and 17. First, we will explain the case where the check valve 73 is positioned vertically, that is, the water path flowing through the check valve is vertical. As shown in Figure 16, if foreign matter 732 is present above the valve opening / closing part 731 (downstream of the check valve 73 in the drainage path), even if the valve opening / closing part 731 is opened, as shown in the right-hand diagram of Figure 16, when the valve is open, the valve opening / closing part 731 is downstream of the foreign matter 732 relative to the drainage flow (left). Therefore, when the valve is opened, the foreign matter 732 is blocked by the valve opening / closing part 731 during drainage and remains in the drainage path. In this case, the valve opening / closing part 731 may become immobile due to the foreign matter sticking, causing malfunctions, or the remaining foreign matter may accumulate, leading to unsanitary conditions.

[0056] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 17, let's describe the case where the check valve 73 is arranged horizontally, that is, the water path flowing through the check valve is in the horizontal direction. When foreign matter 732 is present downstream of the check valve 73 in the drainage path, as shown in the right-hand diagram of Figure 17, when the valve is opened, the valve opening / closing part 731 does not block the movement of the foreign matter 732 in the direction of the drainage flow. Therefore, when the check valve 73 is opened, the foreign matter 732 flows away with the drainage. Thus, even if foreign matter has entered the check valve 73, malfunction of the check valve due to the foreign matter can be prevented, and since contamination does not accumulate, it is hygienic.

[0057] The drain pump 74 is located downstream of the check valve 73 and, when driven, sucks up the wastewater that has passed from the drain port 6 to the check valve 73. The discharge port 741 of the drain pump 74 is connected to the drain hose 75, which is positioned approximately vertically upward, and the sucked-up wastewater is sent to the drain hose 75. The drain pump 74 is housed in a casing. The vertical center point of the rotation axis of the drain pump 74 is denoted as R. In the diagram in Figure 6, the vertical position of the center point R is indicated by a dotted line.

[0058] The drain hose 75 carries the wastewater from the drain pump 74 to the drain channel 76. The downstream configuration from the drain hose 75 onward will be explained using Figure 18. The upstream end of the drain hose 75 is connected almost perpendicularly to the outlet 741 of the drain pump 74, and the hose itself extends straight with almost no bending, and the downstream end of the drain hose 75 is connected to the drain channel 76.

[0059] The drain channel 76 is located on the outside of the cleaning tank 3 and in contact with the side wall inside the housing 2. It extends upward from its lower end, which is connected to the drain hose 75, then bends approximately 180 degrees and extends downward again, connecting to the hose for discharge outside the machine at its other lower end. An atmospheric vent is provided at a part of the upper end to release air, and it communicates with the inside of the cleaning tank 3. Hereinafter, this atmospheric vent will be referred to as the air trap 77. Water is drawn up into the drain channel 76 and accumulates. When the water reaches the bent part at the upper end, the air present in the water is released into the cleaning tank from the air trap 77, which extends further upward from the upper end.

[0060] Meanwhile, the wastewater that has passed through the drainage channel 76 is finally sent to the external discharge hose 78 and discharged outside the machine. Here, the drainage channel 76 is designed to be longer and taller than that of conventional machines. Normally, the water accumulated in the drainage channel 76 constantly applies water pressure to the check valve 73 in the direction of upstream (backflow). Therefore, the water pressure is applied in the opposite direction to the direction in which the check valve 73 opens, making it difficult for the check valve 73 to open. However, as mentioned above, by positioning the drainage channel 76 at an even greater height, the water pressure in the direction that closes the check valve is further increased, making the closed state of the check valve more reliable.

[0061] In general, the casing of the drain pump 74 and the washing tank 3 are connected by an air vent hole, but such a configuration is unnecessary in the dishwasher described in this disclosure. In a typical dishwasher, there is no solenoid valve, and there is a check valve downstream of the drain pump, so the washing tank and the drain pump are always in communication. Therefore, once the drain pump is driven and drainage is complete, air remains in the drain pump casing. If drainage is started when a certain amount of air remains in the casing, the drain pump will run dry, so it is necessary to remove the air from the casing and draw in water (priming). In general, an air vent hole is provided that connects the washing tank and the casing, and the air in the casing escapes from the washing tank through the air vent hole. Also, water from the washing tank flows into the casing.

[0062] On the other hand, according to this disclosure, the flow of water from inside the washing tank 3 to the water storage section 72 and the drainage path is blocked by a configuration such as the solenoid valve 71, the water storage section 72, and the check valve 73, separating the washing tank 3 from the drainage path. It is possible to separate them. Specifically, the washing tank 3 and the water storage section 72 can be separated, and the water storage section 72 and the drainage path can be separated.

[0063] Furthermore, the downstream structure from the drain pump 74 is configured such that the drain hose 75 is connected to the outlet 741 of the drain pump 74 at a position where it extends directly upward (vertically upward), and the connected hose extends almost horizontally without bending, continuing to the drain channel 76 and air trap 77. Since the drain hose 75 extends vertically upward from the outlet 741, no air remains in the wastewater and floats smoothly up into the drain hose 75. Also, because the hose is not bent, air does not accumulate in the bent space of the hose. Therefore, even if air enters the casing of the drain pump 74, the air floats up into the drain hose 75, passes through the drain hose 75, and is finally released into the atmosphere from the air trap 77. In this way, the structure is configured so that no air remains in the casing.

[0064] Therefore, in the dishwasher of this disclosure, the casing of the drain pump 74 can be kept filled with water, and drainage is possible at all times. As a result, there is no need to provide an air vent hole connecting the washing tank and the casing, and the washing tank 3 and the drainage path are separated by a configuration such as the solenoid valve 71, water reservoir 72, and check valve 73. Furthermore, since an air vent hole is unnecessary, the user will not see the unpleasant condition of water in the washing tank remaining after drainage, which can occur when water in the casing flows back into the washing tank due to the air vent hole. This ensures that the washing tank remains clean after drainage, and the user will also perceive the inside of the washing tank as clean.

[0065] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 6, the check valve 73 and the drain pump 74 are positioned such that the vertical center point Q of the check valve 73 and the center point R of the rotation axis of the drain pump 74 are approximately the same in the vertical direction. As a result, when draining wastewater downstream, the water pressure is distributed in the same way between the check valve 73 and the drain pump 74, allowing for efficient drainage.

[0066] Furthermore, the water storage section 72 is positioned such that its bottom surface is lower than both the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73. As a result, on the upstream side of the water storage section 72, when the solenoid valve 71 is opened, the wastewater accumulated in the drain port 6 falls into the water storage section 72 due to its own weight, automatically draining and collecting the wastewater in the water storage section 72. On the other hand, on the downstream side of the water storage section 72, the water stored in the water storage section 72 will not flow to the check valve 73 due to the height difference unless the water volume suddenly increases. Therefore, the wastewater is stored in the water storage section 72. Thus, with these configurations, wastewater can be stored in the water storage section 72 in a manner suitable for the usage conditions.

[0067] As described above, the dishwasher consists of the drain outlet and the surrounding drainage path.

[0068] [Detailed operation of the dishwasher] Next, we will explain the detailed operation of the dishwasher from washing to draining using Figures 6 to 12. As described in [Dishwasher Operation], in the pre-wash and washing processes, the washing water sprayed from the washing nozzle 10 washes the dirt off the items to be washed, passes through the residue filter 7 and the drain port 6, and is sucked back into the washing pump 11. The washing pump 11 pressurizes the sucked-in washing water and supplies it to the washing nozzle 10, circulating it to perform the washing. The control flow up to this point is shown in Figure 11, and the water flow is shown in Figure 12.

[0069] Next, the control unit 14 executes the pre-washing and washing processes for a predetermined time, then drives the solenoid valve 71 and the drain pump 74 to discharge the cleaning water containing dirt from the cleaning tank 3 through the drain port 6 and drain channel 76 to the outside of the housing 2. Figure 13 shows the control flow from the start to the end of the drainage. Figure 15 shows the water flow in section 14. First, the control flow during drainage operation will be explained below.

[0070] When the control unit 14 starts draining, it first opens the solenoid valve 71 while the cleaning water used during cleaning is still stored in the cleaning tank 3. Next, it drives the drain pump 74. This is how draining begins. If the drain pump 74 is driven first, or if the drain pump 74 and the solenoid valve 71 are driven simultaneously, the space from the cleaning tank 3 to the drain pump 74 will not be vented to the atmosphere, causing the drain pump 74 to run idly (air blockage). Therefore, it is necessary to open the solenoid valve 71 before driving the drain pump 74.

[0071] When stopping drainage, the control unit 14 must stop the drain pump 74 and close the solenoid valve. If the drain pump 74 is stopped first, as shown in the flow diagram in Figure 13, the force that draws the drainage water from the upstream side to the downstream side is stopped. As a result, the water filling the drain pump 74, drain hose 75, and drain channel 76 flows towards the water storage section 72, which is located below them in the height direction. The force of this water causes the valve opening / closing part 731 of the check valve 73 to rotate from the horizontal position when open to the vertical position when closed, and the check valve is closed. After that, when the solenoid valve 71 is closed, the washing tank 3 and drain outlet are separated from the components from the water storage section 72 onwards. In this way, the user can visually confirm that no washing water remains in the washing tank 3, and a state is achieved in which the drainage water and its odor do not flow back into the washing tank 3.

[0072] If the solenoid valve 71 is closed first, or if the drain pump 74 is stopped at the same time as the solenoid valve 71 is closed, the movement of water from the reservoir 72 to the drain pump 74 will stop, which may make it difficult to close the check valve 73. Therefore, depending on the specifications of the opening and closing mechanism of the check valve 73, it may be necessary to stop the drain pump 74 first to ensure that the check valve 73 is closed. Also, if the solenoid valve 71 is closed first, the space upstream of the drain pump 74 will not be open to the atmosphere. After this, the drain pump 74 will be stopped, and the drain will fill the drain pump 74, the drain hose 75, and the drain channel 76. When the solenoid valve 71 is then opened for drainage during the drying process or at the end of the washing operation, the accumulated drain will flow towards the reservoir 72, which may cause the drain to backflow into the drain port 6.

[0073] On the other hand, if the solenoid valve 71 is closed first as shown in Figure 14, then the drain pump 74 is stopped, and water flows back from the drain pump 74, drain hose 75, and drain channel 76, the solenoid valve 71 has already separated the inside of the cleaning tank 3 from the water storage section 72. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wastewater that has flowed back into the water storage section 72 from flowing back into the cleaning tank 3. The order of these controls can be appropriately selected based on the amount of water flowing back from downstream after the drain pump 74, and the arrangement and opening / closing specifications of the check valve 73, so as to design the system to separate the cleaning tank 3 from the water storage section 72 and the drainage path.

[0074] Next, the water flow after the washing process has been performed for a predetermined time and the drain pump 74 has been activated will be explained using Figures 15, 19, and 6 to 9. Figures 6 to 9 are enlarged cross-sectional views obtained by cutting out the portion below the drain port 6 in Figure 5. Figures 6 and 7 show the water level when the system is full during or immediately after washing or rinsing, Figure 8 shows the water level during drainage, and Figure 9 shows the water level after complete drainage. Furthermore, Figure 19 shows the water level of the drainage path downstream from the drain pump 74 when water is sent from the drain pump 74 to the drain hose 75 and beyond. In these figures, the parts filled with water are represented in a semi-transparent gray color. The movement of water is represented by white arrows.

[0075] First, when the tank is full, such as during cleaning, the cleaning tank 3, the drain outlet 6, and the space 711 below the drain outlet are filled with cleaning water, and the solenoid valve 71 is closed. However, if the tank was completely drained during operation before the cleaning water was stored in the cleaning tank 3, the drain pump has drawn in air once during the complete draining operation, so the space between the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73 is no longer a vacuum, and water is stored during the draining process. The water that was passing between section 72 and the check valve 73 is interrupted from being sucked up and falls into the water storage section 72, where it is stored. As a result, the water level in the water storage section 72 is slightly higher due to the amount of water that fell during the drainage process (Figure 6).

[0076] If some water was drained during operation before the cleaning tank 3 was filled with cleaning water, the drain pump 74 is stopped while it is sucking in the drain water. As a result, the space between the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73 is filled with water and is in a vacuum state. Therefore, the water that had passed between the water reservoir 72 and the check valve 73 during the draining process stops at that position. Consequently, the water level in the water reservoir 72 is the same as during the draining process and is lower than in Figure 6 (Figure 7). Draining begins from the state in Figure 6 or Figure 7, where the water level near the drainage path is. However, in both the state in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the space between the check valve 73 and the drain pump 74 is filled with water.

[0077] When the drainage operation begins, the solenoid valve 71 opens first, and as shown by the arrow in Figure 8, the cleaning water flows into the reservoir 72 as it falls through the gap with the solenoid valve 71. Next, when the drainage pump 74 is driven, the drainage is sucked downstream, so the drainage accumulated in the reservoir 72 moves towards the check valve 73. This water flow pushes the check valve 73 downstream, causing it to open. The drainage then sucked into the drainage pump 74 passes through the discharge port 741 of the drainage pump 74 and is sent to the drainage hose 75.

[0078] Next, moving to Figure 19, the drainage from the drain hose 75 is sent to the drain channel 76. When the drain channel 76 is filled with water, the water reaches the vicinity of the air trap 77 located above it. As the air that was sucked in escapes from the air trap 77, the drainage itself ultimately flows through a different route than the air to the external discharge hose 78 connected below the drain channel 76, and is discharged outside the machine.

[0079] When the drainage operation in the cleaning tank 3 stops or is completed, the control unit 14 stops the drive of the drain pump 74 and closes the solenoid valve 71. At this time, as mentioned above, the check valve 73 is also closed, and the state in which the cleaning tank 3 and the drainage path, more specifically the water storage section 72 and the drainage path are separated, is completed as shown in Figure 7 or Figure 9. If the drainage operation at this time is a complete drainage and the drainage is completed, all the cleaning water at the drain port 6 has been drained, so the water is accumulated only downstream from the water storage section 72, and the water level from the drain port 6 to the drain pump 74 is as shown in Figure 9. On the other hand, if the drainage operation stops when only a portion of the water is being drained, a certain amount of cleaning water remains in the cleaning tank 3, so water remains in the area beyond the drain port 6, and the water level of the cleaning water returns to the state shown in Figure 7.

[0080] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 9, when drainage is complete, the solenoid valve 71 and the check valve 73 are closed, so there is no water flow until the next washing process. Therefore, if the next washing process starts from the state shown in Figure 9, the drainage process will start after washing water is supplied to the washing tank 3, and the drainage process will begin. The drainage flow is represented in a cycle of Figures 9, 6, 8, 9, 6... On the other hand, if partial drainage is performed midway, the drainage flow will be represented in a cycle of Figures 6, 8, 7 (partial drainage), 8, 9 (complete drainage)... The water flow during this drainage process is roughly the same regardless of when the drainage operation occurs, such as during the pre-washing process, washing process, rinsing process, heated rinsing process, drying process, or at the end of the drying process.

[0081] As described above, the dishwasher's drainage operation is performed.

[0082] [Regarding the control unit of the dishwasher] The control unit 14 is implemented by hardware such as a microcomputer, microcontroller, and integrated circuit.

[0083] The control unit 14 includes a process control unit, a detection result acquisition unit, a notification unit, a memory, and the like. The configuration is realized hardware-wise by the CPU, memory, and other LSIs of any computer, and software-wise by programs loaded into memory, but here we are depicting the functional blocks realized through the cooperation of these components. Therefore, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these functional blocks can be realized in various forms, such as hardware alone or a combination of hardware and software.

[0084] The process control unit controls the washing operation of the dishwasher 1. The process control unit receives instructions from the user via the dishwasher's control panel and controls the washing operation according to the instructions. The process control unit may execute the pre-washing process, washing process, rinsing process, heated rinse process, and drying process in sequence, or it may execute only one of the processes, or it may execute any combination of two or more processes in any order.

[0085] (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.

[0086] Therefore, other embodiments are illustrated below.

[0087] In this first embodiment, an example of an opening and closing means was described as a solenoid valve 71, which is an on-off valve controlled by the control unit. However, in reality, any opening and closing means that can open and close the gap between the washing tank 3 and the water storage section 72 during drainage is acceptable. Therefore, the opening and closing means is not limited to an on-off valve or solenoid valve 71. However, any means that can be driven manually or during drainage operations may be used, such as a valve or lid that moves or rotates in the left-right or up-down direction rather than the front-back direction, or a double-opening configuration.

[0088] In this embodiment 1, the check valve 73 was described as a specification that rotates between a horizontal position and a vertical position by the water flow. However, similar to the solenoid valve 71, the means of realizing the check valve is not limited to this example, as long as it is a means that can be driven manually or during drainage operations.

[0089] In this first embodiment, a water storage section 72 was described as an example of a water storage means. However, in reality, the water storage means only needs to be able to be separated from the washing tank 3 when the solenoid valve 71 is closed, so it is not limited to the arrangement in this embodiment. Also, although the bottom surface of the water storage section 72 is sloped so that the slope becomes lower towards the vicinity of the drainage pump 74, it is not limited to this shape. The bottom surface may be horizontal, or other measures may be taken, such as providing a water channel guide so that the drainage collects near the drainage pump 74.

[0090] In this embodiment 1, the drain hose 75 was described as having a shape that extends horizontally as an example, but it may also extend upwards from the horizontal, as long as it is at an angle that allows the drain pump to draw up the air. This makes it easier for the air inside the drain hose 75 to be transferred to the air trap 77.

[0091] In this embodiment 1, a dishwasher performing a pre-wash and heated rinse cycle is used as an example of its operation, but it is not limited to this example. For example, it may be a dishwasher that performs only a washing and rinsing cycle, or the cycles can be set as needed.

[0092] In this embodiment 1, the control flow for the entire operation process was described as partially draining during the pre-wash process and completely draining during the heated rinse process. However, from the perspective of water conservation, energy saving, and environmental considerations, the number of times partial drainage occurs in the process may be appropriately increased or modified. Depending on the circumstances, the number of times complete drainage is performed may be changed to enhance cleaning power.

[0093] Furthermore, although the dishwasher of this embodiment 1 was described as having a pull-down door 4 and a drawer-type dish basket 9, it is not limited to this configuration. For example, it can also be applied to a drawer-type dishwasher as shown in Figure 20. In Figure 20, the washing tank 16 is located inside the housing 15. The door 17 is supported by support rails 18 and slides back and forth to open and close the front opening 19 of the washing tank 16. The dish basket 20 is supported by basket rails 21 and is locked to the door 17, allowing it to slide back and forth. Of course, this embodiment can also be applied to a countertop dishwasher rather than a built-in type.

[0094] [Effects, etc., in Embodiment 1] The dishwasher according to Embodiment 1 can achieve the following effects.

[0095] The dishwasher 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure comprises a housing 2, a washing tank 3 provided inside the housing 2 for accommodating items to be washed, a door body 4 for opening and closing the opening of the washing tank 3, a water storage section 72 for storing wastewater used during washing by opening and closing a valve, and a drainage path equipped with a drainage pump 74 for draining wastewater used during washing, wherein the water storage section 72 is provided between the washing tank 3 and the drainage path.

[0096] With this configuration, when the valve is located downstream of the water storage section 72, it can receive wastewater (return water) that has flowed back from the downstream of the drainage path and store it in the water storage section 72. Furthermore, since the amount of return water from the drainage path that flows into the water storage section 72 can be limited, the water level in the water storage section 72 does not rise, and the backflow of wastewater into the drain outlet 6 can be suppressed. In addition, since water can be kept filled between the valve and the vicinity of the drain pump 74, the drain pump 74 can be driven without priming. Moreover, with this configuration, when the valve is located upstream of the water storage section 72, the backflow of wastewater and wastewater odor coming up from the drainage path downstream of the water storage section 72 can be prevented. Furthermore, when the drainage of the drain outlet 6 is complete, the valve makes it possible to realize a configuration in which the water stored in the water storage section 72 is not visible to the user.

[0097] In the dishwasher 1 according to Embodiment 1 of this disclosure, the washing tank 3 and the water storage section 72 are in communication by opening the solenoid valve 71, and the drainage path can be separated from the washing tank 3 by closing the solenoid valve 71.

[0098] With this configuration, the inside of the washing tank 3 and the drainage path from the water storage section 72 onwards are separated as needed, so that when drainage is complete, it is possible to prevent wastewater and wastewater odors from flowing back into the washing tank 3.

[0099] In the dishwasher 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, the check valve 73 prevents backflow of wastewater from the drainage path to the water storage section 72, and the check valve 73 is positioned upstream of the drainage pump 74 relative to the flow of wastewater.

[0100] This configuration prevents the wastewater accumulated in the casing of the drain pump 74 from flowing back into the water storage section 72 and the washing tank 3.

[0101] The dishwasher 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure further comprises a control unit 14 that sequentially controls the washing, rinsing, and drying processes, and when the control unit 14 terminates the drainage operation in any one of the washing, rinsing, or drying processes, it first stops the drain pump 74 and then closes the opening / closing means.

[0102] With this configuration, the water filling the drainage channel 76 flows towards the reservoir, and the force of this water reliably closes the check valve 73. Thus, the drainage path after the drainage pump 74 can be separated from the reservoir 72.

[0103] In the dishwasher 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure, the water reservoir 72 is positioned such that its bottom surface is lower than the valve.

[0104] With this configuration, on the upstream side of the water storage section 72, the wastewater accumulated in the drain outlet 6 falls into the water storage section 72 by its own weight when the solenoid valve 71 is opened, thus automatically draining the wastewater and collecting it in the water storage section 72. On the other hand, on the downstream side of the water storage section 72, the water stored in the water storage section 72 will not flow to the check valve 73 due to the height difference unless the water volume increases rapidly, so the wastewater is stored in the water storage section 72.

[0105] Although the present invention has been fully described in relation to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, various modifications and alterations will be obvious to those skilled in the art. Such modifications and alterations should be understood to be included within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims, as long as they do not fall outside that scope.

[0106] Since the embodiments described above are for illustrative purposes of the technology described herein, various modifications, substitutions, additions, omissions, etc., can be made within the claims or their equivalents. [Industrial applicability]

[0107] This disclosure is applicable to cleaning devices that can use detergents. Specifically, this disclosure is applicable to dishwashers and the like. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0108] 1 Dishwasher 2 cabinets 3. Washing tank 4 Door Body 5 Openings 6 Drain port 7. Food residue filter 8. Tableware 9 Dish basket 10 Cleaning nozzles 11. Washing pump 12. Water distribution mechanism (not shown) 13. Water supply unit (not shown) 14 Control Unit 41 Handle 42 Plane part 43 Operation section 44 Display section 70 Food residue filter 71 Solenoid valve 72 Water storage section 73 Check valve 74 Drainage pump 75 Drain hose 76 Drainage Channel 77 Air Trap 78 External discharge hose 711 Space below the drain 712 Upstream open end 713 Downstream open end 731 Valve opening and closing mechanism 732 Foreign object 741 Drain pump outlet

Claims

1. The casing and A washing tank for containing the object to be washed is provided inside the aforementioned housing, A door body that opens and closes the opening of the washing tank, A water storage section that stores the wastewater used during cleaning by opening and closing a valve, A drainage route equipped with a drainage pump for draining wastewater used during cleaning, Equipped with, The water storage unit is provided between the washing tank and the drainage path in a dishwasher.

2. The aforementioned valve is a solenoid valve, The washing tank and the water storage section are connected by opening the solenoid valve, and the drainage path can be separated from the washing tank by closing the solenoid valve. The dishwasher according to claim 1.

3. The aforementioned valve is a check valve, The aforementioned check valve prevents backflow of drainage from the drainage path to the water storage section. The dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the check valve is positioned upstream of the drain pump relative to the drainage flow.

4. The dishwasher further includes a control unit that sequentially controls the washing, rinsing, and drying processes. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the control unit, when terminating the drainage operation in any one of the washing, rinsing, and drying processes, first stops the drainage pump and then closes the solenoid valve.

5. The dishwasher according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the bottom surface of the water reservoir is positioned lower than the valve.

Images