JP4872745B2 - Dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dishwasher having an electrostatic atomizer that generates charged fine particle water using an electrostatic atomization phenomenon.

  Conventionally, an electrostatic atomizer is provided in the circulation fan path of the dishwasher, and the charged fine particle water generated by the electrostatic atomizer is discharged into the washing cabinet through the circulation path so as to be sterilized and deodorized. This is known from Patent Document 1.

  However, the door provided in the dishwasher is usually provided with a manual lock means. When the manual lock means is manually operated and unlocked, the door can be opened regardless of the operation of the electrostatic atomizer. It has become.

Therefore, in the conventional example, the door can be opened during the operation of the electrostatic atomizer or immediately after the operation is stopped. However, the charged fine particles released into the cleaning chamber are very small and have a nanometer size, so they have excellent diffusibility and have a long flight time in the cleaning chamber. It adheres to each part of the surface to be cleaned and the inner surface of the cleaning cabinet, and exhibits sterilization and deodorization after adhesion. For this reason, when the door is opened during the operation of the electrostatic atomizer or immediately after the operation is stopped, the charged fine particle water floating in the cleaning chamber does not adhere to the object to be cleaned, and is exposed to the outside. There is a problem that it is scattered and sufficient sterilization and deodorization effects cannot be exhibited. Furthermore, a small amount of ozone is generated simultaneously when electrostatically atomized to produce charged fine particle water, and this ozone is generated outside from the opening before being decomposed. There is a problem.
JP-A-2005-192728

  The present invention was invented in view of the above-described conventional problems, and the charged fine particle water generated by the operation of the electrostatic atomizer does not scatter to the outside, so that the inner surface of the cleaning cabinet and the object to be cleaned can be used without waste. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dishwasher that can exert sterilization and deodorizing effects by adhering to the surface, and that can prevent ozone generated from being scattered in a small amount during electrostatic atomization from scattering to the outside. Is.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a dishwasher according to the present invention uses hot air heated by a heating unit 11 in a dishwasher 3 for washing an object to be cleaned 2 accommodated in the dishwasher 1. Electrostatic fog for generating charged fine particle water and discharging it into the washing cabinet 1 by electrostatically atomizing the dew condensation water generated by cooling the moisture in the air. The electrostatic atomizer 4 is provided so that the electrostatic atomizer 4 can be operated only when the door 6 provided in the opening 5 for taking the article 2 into and out of the cleaning chamber 1 is closed. 4 is provided to lock the door 6 at the same time as the start of the operation 4 so that the lock by the lock means 40 is released after a certain period of time has elapsed after the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped. 4 from the stoppage of operation 4 until the lock means 40 releases the lock. Warm air heated by using a heating unit 11 for operating during rolling were to be supplied into the wash chamber 1, the cleaning operation the dishwasher 3, to clean the object to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber 1 with cleaning water The rinsing operation for rinsing the object to be cleaned, and the drying operation for drying the object to be cleaned with warm air heated by the heating unit 11 are performed. When the drying operation is completed, the electrostatic atomizer 4 is subsequently operated. When the sterilization / deodorization operation for generating charged fine particle water and releasing it into the washing cabinet 1 is performed, the door 6 is locked by the locking means 40 and the electrostatic atomizer 4 is electrostatically activated after a certain period of time. The operation of the atomizing device 4 is stopped, the sterilization / deodorizing operation is terminated, and the operation of the electrostatic atomizing device 4 is stopped, and then the door 6 is locked by the locking means 40 and the drying operation is performed. Temperature heated using the heating unit 11 to be operated Is supplied into the wash chamber 1, after a further predetermined time has elapsed from the stop of the operation of the electrostatic atomization apparatus 4, and characterized by stopping the supply of warm air to the wash chamber 1 as well as releasing the lock by the lock means 40 To do.

As described above, in the series of operations of the dishwasher, the sterilization / deodorization operation by the electrostatic atomizer is added, and the sterilization / deodorization operation is performed by the lock means 40 after the drying operation is completed. At the same time, the charged fine particle water generated by electrostatically atomizing the dew condensation water generated by cooling the moisture in the air is discharged into the cleaning cabinet 1, so that the operation of the heating unit 11 is stopped. Then, the dew condensation water generated by cooling the moisture in the air is electrostatically atomized to generate charged fine particle water, and the charged fine particle water thus generated is used to sterilize and deodorize the cleaning chamber 1. At the same time, during the sterilization / deodorization operation, the door 6 is closed, and the charged fine particle water is prevented from being splashed outside . Moreover, since the lock means 40 which cannot open the door 6 if a certain time has not passed after the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped, even immediately after the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped, The charged fine particle water is very small at nanometer size, so there are some that are floating in the cleaning cabinet 1, but the floating charged fine particle water will fly to every corner of the cleaning chamber without splashing outside. And it adheres to each part of the to-be-cleaned object in a washing | cleaning store | warehouse | chamber, and each part of a washing | cleaning cabinet inner surface, and can exhibit sterilization and deodorizing action after adhesion. Further, when charged fine particle water is generated by electrostatic atomization, a small amount of ozone is generated. However, the electrostatic atomizer 4 cannot be operated unless the door 6 is closed, and electrostatic atomization is performed. Since the door 6 cannot be opened from the start of the operation of the device 4 until a certain time has elapsed after the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped, ozone is decomposed during that time, and there is no possibility that the ozone is scattered outside. . Moreover, since the warm air heated using the heating unit 11 operated at the time of the drying operation is supplied into the washing cabinet 1 from the stop of the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 to the unlocking by the lock means 40, A minute amount of ozone is generated when the charged fine particle water is generated by electrostatic atomization, and hot air heated using the heating unit 11 that is operated during the drying operation is supplied into the cleaning chamber to thereby generate the inside of the cleaning chamber. Can be made into a high temperature environment, and the decomposition of ozone can be promoted.

As described above, the present invention can effectively remove the charged fine particle water generated by the operation of the electrostatic atomizer and adhere to the inner surface of the cleaning chamber or the object to be cleaned, thereby exhibiting the sterilization and deodorizing effects. The sterilization and deodorizing effect of the inner surface of the chamber and the object to be cleaned is improved, and the time to decompose ozone in the cleaning chamber is ensured in a small amount during electrostatic atomization. The hot air heated using the heating unit to be operated can be supplied into the washing cabinet to make the washing cabinet a high temperature environment, which can promote the decomposition of ozone , which may cause ozone to scatter outside There is an effect that there is no.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

  The dishwasher 3 includes a washing cabinet 1 in which a dish basket 9 for storing an object to be cleaned 2 such as tableware is provided inside a dishwasher main body 8, a washing nozzle 10 for injecting washing water, a washing pump 22, A circulation water channel 13, a drainage section 14, a heating unit 11 for drying the object to be cleaned 2 such as tableware, a ventilation duct 12, and a ventilation fan 21 for ventilating the inside of the washing cabinet 1 are further provided. The cabinet 1 is provided with a door 6 for taking in and out the article 2 to be cleaned such as tableware and cutting board.

  The dishwasher 3 is provided with an electrostatic atomizer 4 for generating charged fine particle water by electrostatic atomization and discharging the charged fine particle water into the washing cabinet 1.

  The electrostatic atomizer 4 generates the discharge electrode 15, cooling means 16 for supplying water to the discharge electrode 15 by generating moisture in the air as condensed water, and static water generated on the discharge electrode 15. A high voltage application unit 17 for applying a high voltage to the discharge electrode 15 for electroatomization is provided.

  FIG. 2 shows a schematic configuration diagram of the electrostatic atomizer 4 used in the present invention. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, water is supplied to the discharge electrode 15 by cooling the moisture in the air by the cooling means 16 such as the Peltier unit 18 to generate condensed water.

  The Peltier unit 18 has a pair of Peltier circuit boards 27 each having a circuit formed on one side of an insulating plate made of alumina or aluminum nitride having high thermal conductivity, facing each other so that the circuits face each other, and arranged in multiple rows. BiTe-based thermoelectric element 28 is sandwiched between both Peltier circuit boards 27 and adjacent thermoelectric elements 28 are electrically connected by circuits on both sides, to thermoelectric element 28 made through Peltier input lead wire 29. Is configured such that heat is transferred from one Peltier circuit board 27 side toward the other Peltier circuit board 27 side. Furthermore, a cooling unit 19 is connected to the outside of the Peltier circuit board 27 on one side, and a heat dissipation unit 20 is connected to the outside of the Peltier circuit board 27 on the other side. Then, an example of a heat radiating fin is shown as the heat radiating portion 20. The cooling electrode 19 of the Peltier unit 18 is connected to the rear end of the discharge electrode 15.

  The discharge electrode 15 is surrounded by a cylinder 30 made of an insulating material, and a window 30 a that communicates the inside and outside of the cylinder 30 is provided on the peripheral wall of the cylinder 30. Further, a ring-shaped counter electrode 25 is disposed at the tip opening of the cylindrical body 30, and the center of the ring of the ring-shaped counter electrode 25 is positioned on the extension line of the axial center of the discharge electrode 15. And the counter electrode 25 are opposed to each other.

  In the electrostatic atomizer 4, when the Peltier unit 18 is energized, the cooling unit 19 is cooled, and when the cooling unit 19 is cooled, the discharge electrode 15 is cooled, and moisture in the air is condensed and discharged. Water (condensation water) is supplied to the electrode 15.

  When a high voltage is applied between the discharge electrode 15 and the counter electrode 25 in a state where water is supplied to the discharge electrode 15 in this way, the discharge electrode is caused by the high voltage applied between the discharge electrode 15 and the counter electrode 25. The Coulomb force acts between the water supplied to the tip of 15 and the counter electrode 25, and the liquid level of water locally rises in a cone shape (tailor cone). When the tailor cone is formed in this way, the electric charge concentrates on the tip of the tailor cone and the electric field strength in this portion increases, thereby increasing the Coulomb force generated in this portion and further growing the tailor cone. . When the tailor cone grows like this and the charge concentrates on the tip of the tailor cone and the density of the charge becomes high, the water at the tip of the tailor cone has a large energy (repulsive force of the charge that has become dense). In response to this, a large amount of nanometer-sized charged fine particle water charged negatively by repeating splitting and scattering (Rayleigh splitting) exceeding the surface tension is discharged into the cleaning cabinet 1.

  The electrostatic atomizer 4 can be operated only when the door 6 is closed. The electrostatic atomizer 4 is locked so that the door 6 cannot be opened when the electrostatic atomizer 4 is started. Locking means 40 that keeps the locked state during operation of the electroatomizer 4 and until a certain time elapses after the operation is stopped, and is unlocked when a certain time elapses after the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped. It is provided.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the lock means 40 includes a lock portion 40 a that can be freely inserted and removed by a drive means such as an electromagnetic solenoid, and a lock hole 40 b provided in the door 6. When the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is started in this state, the lock means 40 automatically locks the door 6 so that it cannot be opened (that is, the lock portion 40a is locked by being fitted into the lock hole 40b. ) When the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped, the lock by the lock means 40 is released after a lapse of a certain time after the stop (the lock is released by pulling out the lock portion 40a from the lock hole 40b). It is controlled by the control unit.

  Here, the washing operation by the dishwasher 3 of the present invention has, for example, at least two washing operation modes.

  In the first washing operation mode, the washing object 2 is circulated while jetting washing water from the washing nozzle 10 in a state where the detergent is introduced (washing operation), and when the washing operation is completed, the washing is continued. A new washing water is ejected from the nozzle 10 to rinse the object to be cleaned 2 (rinsing operation). When the rinsing operation is finished, the hot air heated by the heating unit 11 is continuously blown to blow the object to be cleaned 2. When the drying operation is completed, the sterilization / deodorization operation is performed in which the electrostatic atomizer 4 is operated to generate the charged fine particle water and release it into the cleaning cabinet 1 (here Then, the door 6 is locked by the locking means 40 by operating the electrostatic atomizer 4), and after a certain period of time, the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped and the sterilization / deodorizing operation is terminated. A certain time has elapsed since the electrostatic atomizer 4 was stopped. Later, by releasing the lock by the lock means 40, a mode that terminates the operation of the dishwasher 3.

  Further, in the second cleaning operation mode, the cleaning object 2 is circulated while jetting cleaning water from the cleaning nozzle 10 in a state where the detergent is introduced (cleaning operation). Then, new washing water is ejected from the washing nozzle 10 to rinse the object to be washed 2 (rinsing operation). When the rinsing operation is completed, the electrostatic atomizer 4 is subsequently operated to remove charged fine particle water. A sterilization / deodorization operation of generating and discharging into the washing cabinet 1 is performed (here, the door 6 is locked by the lock means 40 by operating the electrostatic atomizer 4), and a certain time has elapsed. The operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped, the sterilization / deodorization operation is terminated, and the lock by the lock means 40 is released after a certain time has passed since the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 was stopped. The mode of ending the operation of the dishwasher 3 A.

  The first washing operation mode and the second washing operation mode are selected by an operation unit provided in the dishwasher 3 and designate a target operation mode.

  FIG. 3 shows a flow of operation of the dishwasher 3. In cleaning, the operation is performed by designating either the first or second operation mode. In this case, the door 6 is opened, and the article to be cleaned 2 is accommodated in the tableware basket 9 in the washing cabinet 1. Next, the detergent is put into the washing cabinet 1, the door 6 is closed, and the first washing operation mode or the second washing operation mode is selected in this state. Thereafter, the set washing operation mode is selected. Driving is performed.

  As described above, after the rinsing operation or the drying operation is completed, the electrostatic atomizer 4 is operated to generate charged fine particle water, which is discharged into the cleaning chamber 1 so that the charged fine particle water floats in the cleaning chamber 1. Then, charged fine particles adhere to the object to be cleaned 2 or the wall surface of the cleaning cabinet 1 after the cleaning or drying. Since the charged fine particle water is very small with a nanometer size and has active species, it floats in the washing cabinet 1 and flies to every corner of the washing cabinet 1 so that the objects to be washed 2 and the washing cabinet 1 Sterilize and deodorize the walls.

  Here, when the electrostatic atomizer 4 is operated and the charged fine particle water is generated as described above by the electrostatic atomization action, ozone is generated although the amount is small. Since this ozone has an adverse effect on the human body, if the door 6 is opened during the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 or within a certain period of time after the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4, the ozone is discharged from the inside of the washing cabinet 1 to the outside. However, in the present invention, as described above, the electrostatic atomizer 4 cannot be operated unless the door 6 is closed, and from the start of operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4. Since the door 6 cannot be opened until a predetermined time has elapsed after the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped, ozone is decomposed during that time, and there is no possibility that the ozone will be scattered outside.

  Moreover, you may make it supply the warm air heated with the heating unit 11 in the washing | cleaning cabinet 1 until the lock | rock by the locking means 40 is cancelled | released from the operation stop of the electrostatic atomizer 4. FIG. That is, a minute amount of ozone is generated when the charged fine particle water is generated by electrostatic atomization, but decomposition of ozone can be promoted by using a high temperature environment as warm air.

  In the above embodiment, the dishwasher 3 is provided with the first washing operation mode and the second washing operation mode, and the electrostatic atomizer 4 is operated as one step in a series of washing operation modes to disinfect the bacteria. -Although the example which performs a deodorizing driving | operation was shown, you may make it operate | move the electrostatic atomizer 4 independently of washing | cleaning operation mode, and you may make it perform a disinfection and a deodorizing driving | operation, and also in this case The atomizing device 4 can be operated only when the door 6 provided in the opening 5 for taking the object 2 into and out of the cleaning chamber 1 is closed, and is locked simultaneously with the start of the operation of the electrostatic atomizing device 4. The door 6 is automatically locked by the means 40, and the lock by the lock means 40 is maintained until a certain time elapses after the operation of the electrostatic atomizer 4 is stopped, and the lock is automatically released after the certain time elapses. It may be. Since the operational effects of the sterilization / deodorizing operation and the operational effects of the lock means 40 are the same as described above, the description thereof is omitted.

  In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, an example of the electrostatic atomizer 4 that generates charged fine particle water by applying a high voltage between the discharge electrode and the counter electrode is shown. However, the counter electrode is not provided. There may be.

It is sectional drawing of one Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram of an electrostatic atomizer same as the above. It is a flowchart which shows driving | operation operation | movement same as the above. It is explanatory drawing which shows a locking means.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Washing machine 2 Object to be washed 3 Dishwasher 4 Electrostatic atomizer 6 Door 40 Locking means

Claims (1)

The dishwasher that cleans the objects to be cleaned contained in the washing cabinet is equipped with a drying operation in which hot air heated by the heating unit is blown into the washing cabinet and dried, and is generated by cooling the moisture in the air. A door provided in the opening to create and discharge the object to be cleaned in the cleaning chamber by providing electrostatic atomizing device for generating charged fine particle water by discharging the condensed water electrostatically and releasing it into the cleaning chamber The electrostatic atomizer can be operated only when the electrostatic atomizer is closed, and a lock means is provided for locking the door simultaneously with the start of the electrostatic atomizer operation. The hot air heated by the heating unit that operates during the drying operation from the stop of the operation of the electrostatic atomizer to the unlocking by the locking means is released in the washing chamber. To supply and
The dishwasher performs a washing operation for washing an object to be washed in a washing cabinet with washing water, a rinsing operation for rinsing the article to be washed, and a drying operation for drying the object to be washed with warm air heated by a heating unit. When the drying operation is completed, subsequently, the electrostatic atomizer is operated to perform the sterilization / deodorization operation to generate charged fine particle water and release it into the washing cabinet, and simultaneously lock the door by the locking means, When a certain period of time has elapsed from the start of operation of the electrostatic atomizer, the operation of the electrostatic atomizer is stopped and the sterilization / deodorization operation is terminated.
Supplying hot air heated using the heating unit operated during the drying operation in the state of maintaining the door lock by the locking means following the operation stop of the electrostatic atomizer into the washing cabinet,
A dishwasher characterized by releasing the lock by the lock means and stopping the supply of hot air to the washing cabinet after a certain period of time has elapsed since the operation of the electrostatic atomizer was stopped .

Images