JPH045450B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (1) Object of the Invention (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a washing machine for tableware, particularly one using ultrasonic waves as a washing means.

(Prior Art) In the general mechanical industry field, ultrasonic cleaners have been conventionally used to clean machine parts or units. This conventional cleaning machine puts the appropriate type of cleaning liquid into a cleaning tank depending on the object to be cleaned, and oscillates an ultrasonic vibrator in the cleaning tank. Since ultrasonic waves are irradiated from almost all directions around the area, the cleaning effect is great. However, when a large number of flat plates such as plates are put into the tank, even if the ultrasonic waves reach one plate sufficiently, they are reflected there and do not reach the plates located inside. , the cleaning effect is low. If, in order to solve this problem, a sufficient space is secured between the plates so that the ultrasonic waves can reach each plate, the cleaning tank will become extremely large and cannot be put to practical use. Due to these problems and other reasons, ultrasonic waves have not conventionally been applied to dishwashers.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) The present invention solves the above-mentioned conventional problems, and has a simple structure, high cleaning ability, miniaturization, and furthermore, ultrasonic tableware that does not require detergent and has non-polluting drainage. We provide various types of washing machines.

(2) Structure of the invention (Means for solving the problem and its effect) The present invention provides an ultrasonic generator in a metal cleaning tank, a bubble generator at the bottom of the cleaning tank, and the above-mentioned method. The bubble generator is formed by providing a bubble supply chamber at the bottom of the cleaning tank, connecting an air pump to the bubble supply chamber, and drilling a large number of small diameter holes at the bottom of the cleaning tank. The above conventional problems are solved.

The ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic generator is determined by the material of the tableware, and ranges from 15 to 50 KHz. Therefore, it is preferable to be able to select the optimum frequency within the above range depending on the material of the tableware. Further, it is desirable that the ultrasonic transducer placed in the cleaning tank has no directivity so that the ultrasonic waves are evenly propagated to the surrounding area. In the case of a directional vibrator, it is possible to propagate it all around by arranging a plurality of vibrators in each direction or by diffusely reflecting it with a reflector. This makes it possible to reduce restrictions on the shape of the cleaning tank.

The cleaning tank is made of metal to effectively reflect ultrasonic waves, but there will be no problem if the surface is coated with a thin layer of synthetic resin or the like to prevent rust. Further, the cleaning tank may have any shape.

The bubble supply device may supply air into the cleaning tank through a porous material, or may supply air to a large number of small diameter holes bored in the bottom of the cleaning tank.

Furthermore, in order to reduce the amount of water consumed by the washing machine of the present invention, the drain port and the water supply port may be connected through a filter, and water contaminated by washing may be purified and recirculated for use.

Furthermore, if the drain port and water supply port are connected via a filter, the water is purified by the filter and then recirculated and returned to the washing tank of the device for use, or the rinse water is used because no detergent is used in the present invention. It is also reused.

To wash tableware with the above-mentioned washing machine, fill the washing tank with enough water, put the tableware into it, and then turn on the ultrasonic generator and bubble generator. The sound waves reach the surface of the tableware and generate bubbles there due to the cavitation effect, and the bubbles separate and remove foreign matter (dirt) adhering to the surface of the tableware. Here, the ultrasonic waves reach the tableware directly from the ultrasonic generator and indirectly by being reflected from the inner wall of the cleaning tank. The cleaning action by this cavitation is similar to the conventional one.

If this continues, the amount of air dissolved in the water will gradually decrease when the cavitation of the ultrasonic waves occurs, and the cavitation effect, that is, the cleaning ability, will decrease, and the closer to the center of the cleaning tank the more the ultrasonic waves will reach the dishes. It is difficult to clean and the cleaning effect cannot be obtained. However, in the present invention, air bubbles are sequentially supplied into the water by the bubble supply device and some of the bubbles are dissolved in the water, so that the water is constantly replenished with air for the generation of cavitation, and the degree of occurrence of cavitation is reduced. There's nothing to do. Furthermore, as the remaining air bubbles rise through the water, they diffusely reflect the ultrasonic waves and enter the extremely narrow gaps between the plates, so that the ultrasonic waves are evenly irradiated to all tableware such as plates. . This reflection of ultrasonic waves by bubbles occurs because the acoustic impedances of water and air are significantly different.

Therefore, with the apparatus of the present invention, tableware can be loaded into the washing tank in a random manner and in an accumulated state.

The tableware that has been washed in the manner described above is rinsed and then dried by other means.

Furthermore, if a dish rack is provided in the washing tank and can be taken out freely, it becomes extremely easy to take out the dishes after washing. If the dish rack is made rotatable and removably connected to the rotary drive shaft provided in the cleaning tank by a joint, the tableware will be irradiated with ultrasonic waves in an extremely uniform state, and the cleaning effect will be even greater. improves.

(Example) Next, the embodiment shown in the drawings will be described.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a metal cleaning tank in the shape of a spherical shell with an opening at the top. Further, a metal lid 10 forming a part of a spherical shell is attached to the opening so as to be openable and closable. Further, it is desirable to provide a gasket or the like at the opening of the lid 10 or the cleaning tank 1 in order to provide watertightness when the lid is closed. In that case, if an air vent hole is provided at the top of the lid 10, water can be filled up to the vicinity of the top, improving space utilization efficiency. By making the cleaning tank nearly spherical, the ultrasonic waves reflected from the inner wall of the tank are uniformly distributed within the tank.

A large number of small diameter holes 12 are bored in the bottom surface 11 of the cleaning tank.

An ultrasonic generator 2 is provided on the bottom surface of the cleaning tank 1 near the wall, and its vibrator 21 projects upward from the bottom surface 11 of the cleaning tank 1, and is held in a watertight state by a seal 22 at the base. A housing 23 made of relatively coarse wire mesh is attached to the outer periphery of the vibrator 21. Note that the ultrasonic generator 2 can select an optimal frequency in the range of 15 to 50 KHz depending on the type of tableware using a dial (not shown).

A dish stand 5 is arranged in the center of the cleaning tank 1 so that it can be taken out freely. The dish stand 5 has a metal fence 52 radially provided at the bottom of a central support 51, and a hook bar 53 for suspending a pot or the like is radially provided at the top. The dish stand 5 is rotatably supported by a flange provided at the lower end of the column by a thrust bearing 6 provided at the center of the bottom surface of the washing tank 1, and is also attached to the bottom surface of the washing tank. It meshes with the drive shaft 71 of the motor 7 within the bearing 6. That is, the lower end surface of the support column 51 and the motor 7
By providing the upper end surface of the drive shaft 71 with radial step portions 54 and 72 that engage with each other in the circumferential direction as shown in FIG. 2, the support column 51 acts as a joint simply by inserting it into the bearing 6. In this way, the column is rotationally driven by the motor.

A bubble supply chamber 33 is formed under the cleaning tank 1 by a bottom plate 32 and covers the bottom surface of the cleaning tank. An air pump 3 is attached to the upper part of the outer periphery of the cleaning tank, and sends atmospheric air through a pipe 31 into the bubble supply chamber 33.

A drain port 15 on the bottom surface 11 of the cleaning tank 1 and a drain port 35 on the bottom surface of the bubble supply chamber 33 are both led to the switching valve 4. The valve 4 has one port connected to a drain pipe 41 so that unnecessary water can be discharged, and the other port connected to a pump 43 via a filter 42. The pump is connected to a water intake valve 44 attached to a water supply pipe 45 at a position above the outer periphery of the cleaning tank.

Note that S indicates the outline of the frame of the cleaning tank.

Next, a cleaning procedure using the apparatus of this embodiment will be explained. First, an appropriate amount of water is poured into the washing tank 1 from the water supply pipe 45 according to the amount of tableware. At this time, the valve 4 is in a closed state with respect to the pump 43.

Next, tableware to be washed is put into the washing tank 1.

When using the plate stand 5 here, the plate stand 5
Pull it out and take it out of the tank, set up a plate between the metal fences 52, and hang a pot etc. from the hook bar 53.
After that, the column 51 of the dish stand 5 is inserted into the bearing 6 and meshed with the rotating shaft 71 of the motor.

Next, the frequency of the ultrasonic generator 2 is set to a value suitable for the material of the tableware, and then the switch is turned on. Then, the ultrasonic transducer 21 emits ultrasonic waves,
A part of the ultrasonic waves passes through the mesh of the protective case 23 or is diffusely reflected there, and then directly hits the tableware.
The rest reaches the tableware after being reflected on the inner wall surface of the washing tank 1. Further, the dish rack 5 begins to rotate slowly.

On the other hand, simultaneously with or after the operation of the ultrasonic generator, the air pump 3 is also operated to suck air from the atmosphere and send it into the bubble supply chamber 33 through the pipe 31. Air is supplied from a large number of small-diameter holes 12 on the top surface of the bubble supply chamber 33 (i.e., the bottom surface 11 of the cleaning tank).
It becomes bubbles and rises in the water in the cleaning tank 1. When the bubbles rise through the water, some of them dissolve in the water, and the rest reach the upper surface of the water as bubbles. The ultrasonic waves are diffusely reflected by the rising bubbles and are spread more uniformly within the cleaning tank 1.

In such a state, the ultrasonic waves that reach the tableware generate bubbles on the surface of the tableware due to the cavitation phenomenon, and the bubbles cause dirt and foreign matter to separate from the surface of the tableware. At this time, due to cavitation, the air dissolved in the water turns into bubbles and rises, so it should gradually become difficult for bubbles to form due to cavitation, but as mentioned above, some of the bubbles from the bubble supply chamber 33 Since it is sequentially dissolved in water, the cavitation can produce bubbles constantly. In this way, dirt and foreign objects on clothing are completely removed.

Next, after stopping the ultrasonic generator 2 and the air pump 3, the valve 4 is opened to the drain pipe 41 side to completely drain the water in the cleaning tank 1 and the bubble supply chamber 33 to complete the cleaning.

Furthermore, if the dish rack 5 is rinsed with a shower or the like after being taken out, the cleaning will be more complete.

In addition, when performing the next cleaning without draining the water, switch the valve 4 to the pump 43 side, and
Start the pump. Then, the water to be drained passes through the filter 42 and is completely purified, and then is returned to the cleaning tank 1 via the valve 44 by the pump 43.
If the filter 42 is replaced appropriately, the water can be reused or used as rinsing water instead of the shower described above, thereby saving water.

(3) Effects of the invention As described above, the present invention cleans tableware using ultrasonic waves while supplying air bubbles into water, and produces the following effects.

Air bubbles cause the ultrasonic waves to be reflected diffusely, and the air bubbles penetrate into the narrow gaps between dishes, so even if the dishes are packed closely and randomly, the ultrasonic waves will reach all the dishes and clean them completely. .

Since the tableware can be randomly stacked as described above, the washing tank can be extremely miniaturized and the cost of the device can be reduced.

Since no detergent is required, it is economical and does not cause so-called wastewater pollution due to detergents. In addition, since the water quality and water temperature are not selected, the cleaning effect will not decrease with any type of water.

If a filter is used, it becomes possible to recycle water, which has a large water-saving effect in areas where water is scarce or when cleaning a large amount at one time.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view showing an outline of an ultrasonic dishwasher according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of section A in FIG. 1. 1...Cleaning tank, 11...Bottom of the cleaning tank, 2...
Ultrasonic generator, 33...Bubble supply device (bubble supply chamber), 5...Dish stand, 52, 72...Joint portion (stepped portion), 7...Drive means (motor), 71...Drive shaft.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. An ultrasonic generator is arranged in a metal cleaning tank,
A bubble generator is provided at the bottom of the cleaning tank, the bubble generator has a bubble supply chamber at the bottom of the cleaning tank, an air pump is connected to the bubble supply chamber, and a large number of small diameter holes are bored at the bottom of the cleaning tank. An ultrasonic dishwasher made of 2 The ultrasonic frequency of the ultrasonic generator is 15-50KHz
An ultrasonic dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The ultrasonic tableware washer according to claim 1, further comprising a dish rack in the washing tank. 4. The ultrasonic tableware washer according to claim 3, wherein the dish stand is rotatably supported and connected to rotational driving means. 5. The ultrasonic tableware washer according to claim 4, wherein the dish rack has a joint part that is removably connected to the drive shaft of the rotational drive means and can be taken out from the washing tank.