JPH041894Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed explanation of the idea] [Industrial application field]

The present invention relates to a foam cleaning machine that cleans containers such as tableware with a large amount of cleaning foam generated from a detergent solution.

[Conventional technology]

This type of washing machine has a structure known from Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 60-85723 and 60-126135, etc., which blows hot air into a detergent solution tank to remove the detergent solution. Cleaning is performed by generating foam and bringing the foam into contact with the object to be cleaned. Usually, warm air at a constant air volume and temperature is blown.

[Problem that the invention attempts to solve]

By the way, the amount of detergent solution stored in the detergent solution tank decreases over time during the cleaning process, and therefore, it is inevitable that the static pressure conditions applied to the blower change due to this influence. In other words, immediately after the start of cleaning, the washing liquid head is large, so the amount of foaming is small, and as time passes, the detergent liquid head becomes smaller, while the foam end head and foam flow resistance gradually increase, but the total head gradually becomes smaller. As a result, near the end of washing, even if the foam head and foam flow resistance are constant, the detergent liquid head becomes significantly smaller, so the total head becomes the lowest. These phenomena change the static pressure conditions of the blower, so the load on the blower usually becomes lighter over time, the air flow increases, and the amount of foaming increases, or the water level drops drastically and the air only becomes weaker. On the other hand, on the other hand, the amount of dirt adhering to dishes decreases with the passage of time, and this situation impairs the uniformity of cleaning and makes cleaning less effective. There was a problem where foam cleaning could not be performed. Furthermore, since the air blowing temperature decreases as the air volume increases, cleaning must be performed at a lower temperature than the optimum cleaning temperature, for example, 60 to 65° C., resulting in the problem that effective cleaning cannot be performed. In order to deal with such problems, the present invention has been developed to solve the disadvantages of the conventional methods.In particular, as time passes during the cleaning process, the amount and temperature of hot air sent to generate bubbles can be adjusted to appropriate values. It is an object of the present invention to ensure a substantially constant foam cleaning power from the start to the end of cleaning through control, thereby increasing the cleaning effect and saving detergent liquid.

[Means to solve the problem]

Therefore, the present invention was developed in a foam cleaning type washing machine.
A cleaning foam generating unit 3 having a detergent solution tank 11 connected to a cleaning tank 2 containing an object to be cleaned 17 is provided with a liquid level detector 8 capable of detecting the amount of detergent solution in the detergent solution tank 11. , control to reduce the amount of air blown from the blower 9 for foaming in accordance with the drop in the liquid level detected by the liquid level detector 8, and to maintain the temperature of the air blown at a constant value regardless of changes in air volume; It is characterized by having a means.

[Effect]

The present invention is capable of constantly maintaining a constant air flow and stabilizing the air temperature at an appropriate value while taking into account changes in the static pressure conditions for the blower 9, and is capable of dispensing fixed-quantity, constant-temperature cleaning foam in the cleaning process. It can be secured through the inside.

【Example】

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figures 1 and 2 are examples of foam washing machines, such as dishwashers, according to the present invention, and the one shown in Figure 1 is a washing machine that discharges and replenishes detergent solution for each cleaning process. On the other hand, in the case shown in the second figure, detergent solution equivalent to several times of washing process is stored.
This washing machine discharges the detergent liquid every time, but inside the cubic casing 1 is a washing tank for storing and washing the dishes 17, which are containers to be washed, after being mounted on a wire rack or the like. 2, a cleaning foam generating section 3 that generates foam from the detergent solution stored in the detergent solution tank 11 and sends the foam into the cleaning tank 2 from the bottom, and a cleaning foam generating section 3 that sandwiches the tableware storage part in the cleaning tank 2 and generates foam from the detergent solution stored in the detergent solution tank 11. It is provided with rinsing nozzles 4, 4 which are disposed horizontally on the tableware 17 and injects rinsing water from above and below to the tableware 17, and a water supply pipe 7 connected to both the nozzles 4, 4. The cleaning tank 2 has a foam outlet 5 opened in the upper part of the side wall.
In addition, a drain passage 6 is connected to the bottom, and a drain valve 14 is provided at the lower end of the drain passage 6 which hangs down to an appropriate length.
is attached. In the case shown in the first figure, the lowermost part of the cleaning tank 2 is formed into an integrated detergent solution tank 11, and a drainage channel 6 is vertically disposed from this tank 11 so that it can be used for each cleaning process. The solution tank 11 is emptied and a predetermined amount of new detergent solution is replenished.On the other hand, what is shown in the second figure is a drainage channel that is vertically disposed at the bottom of the cleaning tank 2. Trap tube 15 in the middle of 6
This trap pipe 15 is connected to the drain channel 6.
The structure is connected to the top of a detergent solution tank 11 provided on the side of the trap pipe 15, in which detergent solution for several times of washing is stored in the tank 11.
The drain passage 6 is formed so that bubbles can be sent through the drain passage 6 to prevent the drain liquid from flowing into the detergent solution tank 11 and contaminating it. On the other hand, the water supply pipe 7 connected to the rinsing nozzle 4 is connected to a water pipe with a water supply valve 13 interposed in the middle of the pipe. Next, the cleaning foam generating section 3 includes a blower 9, an air pipe 12 connected to the discharge port of the blower 9, and an end connected to the bottom of the air pipe 12 either directly or via a drain passage 6. It is equipped with the detergent solution tank 11 and a heater 10 interposed in the middle of the air pipe 12 so as to be able to heat the circulating air. The cleaning foam generating section 3 energizes the blower 9, energizes the heater 10 to generate heat, and replenishes a predetermined amount of detergent solution into the detergent solution tank 11, thereby blowing hot air into the tank 11. A large amount of detergent foam is generated from the detergent solution phase, which flows directly or through the drainage channel 6 to the cleaning tank 1.
It will be sent inside. The washing machine having the above-mentioned configuration includes a liquid level detector 8.
and a controller 16 as a control means for controlling the output of the blower 9 and the heater 10. The liquid level detector 8 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is enlarged in FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively.
The detector 8 is installed in a detector accommodating portion 21 provided on the side of the detergent solution tank 11. Since the bottom and top of the detector housing 21 communicate with the bottom and top of the tank 11 at the same level, the detector housing 21 always has the same level as the detergent solution in the detergent solution tank 11. Needless to say, there are detergent solutions that do this. The liquid level detector 8 installed in the housing part is constructed by loosely fitting a float 19 containing a ring-shaped magnet into a cylindrical body 18 made of a non-magnetic material and watertightly installed in the housing part 21. This is a well-known structure in which a plurality of magnetically sensitive reed switches 20, 20, . . . are housed in the cylinder body 18, arranged vertically at appropriate intervals. In the liquid level detector 8 having such a structure, as a result of the float 19 moving in accordance with the displacement of the liquid level of the detergent solution,
When the liquid level decreases, the switches move from the upper reed switch 20 toward the lower stage in order to close or open in response to magnetism, and conversely, when the liquid level rises, the switches move from the lower reed switch 20 toward the upper stage. Since the switch sequentially closes or opens in response to magnetism, it is possible to detect the detergent liquid level in steps. On the other hand, the controller 16 includes a liquid level detector 8
It is configured to operate in response to a liquid level detection signal from the air blower 9 and to provide a control output to the blower 9 and the heater 10. For example, if the liquid level in the detergent solution tank 11 is at a predetermined high position, the air blower 9 It emits an output that drives the heater 10 at the maximum speed and an output that causes the heater 10 to operate at the maximum heat generation amount, and output that causes the rotation speed of the blower 9 and the voltage applied to the heater 10 to be gradually lowered as the liquid level decreases. It is formed to emit light. When such a control operation is performed by the controller 16, the air volume from the blower 9 gradually decreases stepwise as the water level in the detergent solution tank 11 gradually decreases, while the calorific value of the heater 10 also decreases stepwise. It will decrease. Therefore, by selecting appropriate values for the rotational speed of the blower 9 and the applied voltage of the heater 10 in each stage region, it is possible to send warm air whose air volume gradually decreases at a constant temperature into the detergent solution tank 11. . In the cleaning process of the tableware 17, the washing machine configured as described above adjusts the air volume of the blower 9 to a value that matches the static pressure condition in response to the detergent liquid head, foam head, and foam flow resistance that change as the washing progresses. Since the detergent solution tank 1 is controlled so that it gradually decreases to
Since it is possible to generate a certain amount of cleaning foam from 1, and the temperature is kept constant,
The cleaning effect can be consistently and stably exhibited from the start of cleaning to the end of cleaning. Note that the temperature of the cleaning foam when it touches the tableware 17 is 60°C.
It is preferable that the temperature is about 65° C. from the viewpoint of effectively performing the cleaning action and preventing hardening of proteins. Also, as for control by the controller 16, the motor of the blower 9 may be controlled by inverter control or voltage control. Preferably, the heater 10 is suitable for voltage control.

[Effect of the idea]

The present invention is configured so that the amount of air blown from the blower 9 is reduced in response to a decrease in the liquid level in the detergent solution tank 11, while the temperature of the air blown is maintained at a constant value regardless of changes in air volume. It is now possible to consistently maintain a fixed amount and constant temperature of cleaning foam during the cleaning process, which not only improves the cleaning effect stably, but also reduces detergent consumption, which has great practical value. This is an excellent invention that can provide a washing machine.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are schematic structural diagrams of a foam cleaning machine according to each example of the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 show the portion housing the liquid level detector in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. It is an enlarged view. 2...Cleaning tank, 3...Cleaning foam generator, 8...Liquid level detector, 9...Blower, 11...Detergent solution tank, 17...Object to be cleaned.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A cleaning foam generating section 3 having a detergent solution tank 11 communicated with a cleaning tank 2 containing an object to be cleaned 17,
A liquid level detector 8 capable of detecting the amount of detergent solution in the detergent solution tank 11 is attached, and the amount of air blown from the foaming blower 9 is adjusted according to the drop in the liquid level detected by the liquid level detector 8. 1. A foam cleaning machine characterized by being provided with a control means for controlling the temperature of the blown air to a decreasing side and for maintaining the temperature of the blown air at a constant value regardless of changes in the air volume.