Dish washing machine

The present invention relates to a dish washing machine, and more particularly to a dish washing machine having a structure in which a bottom surface of the dish washing machine is not wet with water. The dish washing machine includes a washing chamber (150) for washing dishes, a fan (90) for discharging air from the washing chamber (150), a housing for a space to install the fan (90), an exhaust duct (92) for guiding the air from the housing (94) to an outside of the dish washing machine, and a passage for draining water to an outside of the housing (94) whenever the water is present in the housing (94).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a dish washing machine, and more particularly to a dish washing machine having a structure in which a bottom surface of the dish washing machine is not wet with water.

BACKGROUND ART

In general, the dish washing machine automatically washes dishes by spraying washing water to the dishes placed in a washing chamber to remove foreign matters, such as food residue, from a surface of the dishes.

In general, the dish washing machine is operated by a washing step for spraying the washing water having detergent dissolved therein to the dishes to removed foreign matters from the dishes, a rinsing step for spraying the washing water only to remove foreign matters and detergent further after the washing, and a drying step for drying the dishes.

Recently, in order to enhance a washing effect further, dish washing machines are developed, in which the washing water is heated or steam is sprayed in the washing step or the rinsing step.

Referring toFIG. 1, a related art dish washing machine will be described.

The related art dish washing machine is provided with a case100which forms an exterior of the dish washing machine, and a door120for opening/closing the case100.

In the case100, there is a washing chamber150for holding and washing the dishes, and under the tub110, there is a sump200for holding the washing water.

Mounted in the tub110, i.e., in the washing chamber150, there are at least one shelf and at least one spray arm for spraying water pumped up by the pump210to the at least one shelf.

The door120has a fan90and an exhaust duct92for discharging humid air from the washing chamber150.

The exhaust duct92is extended to a lower side of the dish washing machine for guiding the air from the fan90to an outside of the dish washing machine.

FIG. 2illustrates a section of the fan and a fan housing.

The fan90is housed in the housing94. The housing94has the fan90housed therein, one side having an inlet96for drawing air from the washing chamber150, and the other side having the exhaust duct92connected thereto. The housing94also has a spiral locus substantially for maximizing a fan90suction efficiency, and a cut-off portion98in the vicinity of a portion adjacent to the exhaust duct92.

The exhaust duct92is extended to a lower end of the dish washing machine, and has a condensed water recovery passage93for returning condensed water from a predetermined portion of the exhaust duct to the washing chamber150.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Technical Problem

However, the related art dish washing machine has the following problems.

In general, though there is damper (not shown) at the inlet96of the housing94for preventing the washing water from flowing into the housing, there is cases when the washing water flows into the housing due to poor water sealing of the damper. Moreover, it is liable that high temperature humid air introduced into the housing94from the washing chamber is condensed in the housing94to form condensed water.

Referring toFIG. 2, the water introduced into or formed in the housing94gathers on a bottom of the housing94, i.e., at the cut-off portion98. Since the water held at the portion does not disappear as far as the water is dried, the water can be a cause of bad smell.

Moreover, it is liable that the water held in a lower side of the housing94overflows or sprayed by the fan90to the exhaust duct92.

If the water overflowing thus to the exhaust duct92is excessive, the water is not recovered through the condensed water recovery passage93, but is discharged through an end of the exhaust duct92, to wet the bottom of the dish washing machine.

In this case, if the condensed water recovery passage93is increased for recovering a large amount of water, loss of an exhaust air pressure caused by this portion is increased.

Moreover, referring toFIG. 2, since a circumferential edge of the exhaust duct92is placed inside of the housing94, such that water flowing along an inside wall of the housing94leaks to an outside of the exhaust duct92through a gap between the exhaust duct92and the housing94, an inside of the dish washing machine is liable to wet with the water.

Technical Solution

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a dish washing machine.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a dish washing machine includes a washing chamber for washing dishes, a fan for discharging air from the washing chamber, a housing for forming a space to install the fan, an exhaust duct for guiding the air from the housing to an outside of the dish washing machine, and a passage for draining water to an outside of the housing whenever the water is present in the housing.

The passage may be a first recovery passage for guiding the water from the housing to the washing chamber.

The first recovery passage may be in communication with a bottom of the housing.

A periphery of a portion of the housing in communication with the first recovery passage may be recessed such that water in the housing flows down and gathers.

In the meantime, the passage may include a drain passage for guiding water from the housing to the exhaust duct whenever water is introduced from the washing chamber to the housing or condensation of moisture is taken place in the housing, and a second recovery passage at the exhaust duct for recovering water flowing in the exhaust duct to the washing chamber.

The dish washing machine may further include a guide formed in the exhaust duct for guiding the water introduced to the exhaust duct through the drain passage to the second recovery passage.

Preferably, the guide is formed on an inside surface of the exhaust duct to have a step starting from a neighborhood of the drain passage to the second recovery passage.

The fan may be of a double suction type for drawing humid air from the washing chamber and external air together and discharging to the exhaust duct.

Moreover, an edge of the exhaust duct joined with the housing may surround an outside circumference of an edge of the housing which is joined with the exhaust duct.

In another aspect of the present invention, a dish washing machine includes a washing chamber for washing dishes, a fan for discharging air from the washing chamber, a housing for forming a space to install the fan, an exhaust duct for guiding the air from the housing to an outside of the dish washing machine, and a recovery passage provided separate from the exhaust duct and connected to the housing for guiding water from the housing to the washing chamber.

The housing has a cut-off portion on an inside surface and the recovery passage may be in communication with the housing at a location lower than a top of the cut-off portion.

Moreover, the recovery passage may be in communication with the housing below an inlet thereof through which humid air is drawn from the washing chamber.

Advantageous Effects

As has been described, the dish washing machine of the present invention has the following advantages.

First, since the water introduced from the washing chamber of the water condensed in the housing is recovered to the washing chamber through the first recovery passage, preventing the water from overflowing to the exhaust duct, wetting of the mounting surface of the dish washing machine is prevented.

Second, since, whenever the water is introduced to or formed therein, the water is drained to the exhaust duct along the drain passage without being held in the housing, recovering the water flowing in the exhaust duct to the washing chamber through the second drain hole and the second recovery passage entirely as a flow rate of the water introduced to the exhaust duct is not higher than capacity of the second drain hole and the second recovery passage, drain of the water from a lower side of the dish washing machine and wetting the mounting surface of the dish washing machine is prevented.

Third, because the edge of the exhaust duct joined to an underside of the outlet has an upward extension on the outside circumference of the outlet, the water flowing in the housing along the wall of the inside of the housing can not leak to an outside of the exhaust duct through a gap at the joining portion of the housing and the exhaust duct.

The present invention related to a dish washing machine having a structure in which water does not wet on a bottom surface of the dish washing machine is applicable to manufacturing of the dish washing machines.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 3is a sectional view illustrating a dish washing machine in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Referring toFIG. 3, the dish washing machine includes a case100which forms an exterior of the dish washing machine, a door120for opening/closing the case100, and a control panel130.

In the case100, there is a washing chamber150, and under the washing chamber150, there is a sump200for holding washing water.

The sump200has a pump210for pumping the washing water and a filter (not shown) for filtering the washing water. The sump200may be provided with a sump heater290for heating the washing water.

The sump200has a first water supply pipe250connected thereto for receiving fresh water from water source, and a drain pipe270connected thereto for draining the washing water from the sump200to an outside of the dish washing machine. The water supply pipe250has a first water supply valve255mounted thereto for controlling water supply to the sump200.

Mounted to an inside of the tub110, i.e., in the washing chamber150, there can be at least one shelf and at least one spray arm for spraying water pumped up by the pump210to the at least one shelf.

FIG. 3illustrates an example in which an upper shelf160and a lower shelf170are arranged at a upper portion and a lower portion of the washing chamber respectively, and an upper spray arm230and a lower spray arm220for spraying water pumped by the pump210to the upper shelf160and a lower shelf170, respectively.

In addition to this, there can be a top nozzle240mounted to a top side of the washing chamber150for spraying the water pumped by the pump210from the top side of the washing chamber150to a lower side of the washing chamber150.

In the dish washing machine of the present invention, not only the washing water is sprayed in the washing chamber150by the pump210and the spray arms230and220, but also steam is sprayed or supplied. To do this, the dish washing machine of the present invention may have a steam generator300provided separate from the sump heater290at the sump210.

Referring toFIG. 3, the steam generator300is in communication with the first water supply pipe250, and, through a steam supply pipe280, with the washing chamber150. The second water supply pipe260may have a second water supply valve265mounted thereto for controlling water supply to the steam generator300.

The steam generator300includes a steam heater310for heating water in the steam generator300, and a water level sensor320for sensing a water level of the steam generator300. The water level sensor320may be provided to sense, for an example, a high water level and a low water level.

The low water level is set for protecting the steam heater310in the steam generator300, and the high level is set for preventing the water supplied to the steam generator300from overflowing.

The steam generator may have a steam supply valve (not shown) for controlling opening/closing of the steam supply pipe280to supply the steam at a desired time.

The dish washing machine may have a turbidity sensor (not shown) for measuring turbidity of the washing water being washing the dishes. The turbidity sensor is mounted to one side of the sump for measuring the turbidity of the washing water circulating the inside of the tub.

A control unit (not shown) for controlling the dish washing machine is connected to electric operative units, such as the control panel130, the pump210, and the steam generator300for controlling operation of the dish washing machine.

Mounted to the top side of the washing chamber150, there is elements required for discharging high temperature humid air from the washing chamber150which is heated with the steam and the washing water to an outside of the dish washing machine.

FIG. 4illustrates a section of portions of elements required for discharging the air.

The elements required for discharging the air includes an exhaust fan190for drawing the high temperature humid air from the washing chamber150, and a housing194for housing the exhaust fan190, and an exhaust duct192for guiding the humid air drawn by the exhaust fan190to be discharged to an outside of the dish washing machine.

The exhaust duct192is connected to one side of the housing194such that the exhaust duct192is in communication with the housing194, and is extended to a mounting surface of the dish washing machine through an inside of the door120. The exhaust duct192may be extended such that a width thereof becomes the wider while a thickness thereof becomes the smaller.

In order to prevent water from dropping on the mounting surface of the dish washing machine from the housing194through the exhaust duct192, a passage may be provided for draining the water from the housing194to an outside of the housing194every time the water is formed in the housing194.

The water in the housing is the washing water introduced to the housing194, or water condensed from the humid air drawn into the housing194.

In the embodiment, the passage may be formed such that the water does not overflow from the housing194to the exhaust duct192.

The passage may include a first recovery passage410in communication with the housing194for guiding water from the housing194to the washing chamber150.

That is, the housing194has a first drain hole195in a bottom, and the first recovery passage410guides the water drained through the first drain hole195to the washing chamber150.

The first recovery passage410has one end in communication with the first drain hole195, and the other end in communication with the washing tub150for recovering the water from the first drain hole195to the washing chamber150.

The first recovery passage410may be a tube or a duct, and may have a space for draining other water.

It is preferable that the first drain hole195is formed in a bottom surface of the housing194where the water in the housing gathers.

In general, it is preferable that the housing194has a spiral inside circumference for maximizing efficiency of the exhaust fan190.

The housing194may have a cut-off portion198at a predetermined portion of the inside circumference, and a lowest point of the inside circumference of the housing194may be formed on a lower side of the cut-off portion198.

Accordingly, it is preferable that the first drain hole195is formed in the lowest portion of the bottom surface of the housing194.

Of course, a location of the first drain hole195is not limited to the lowest point of the housing194, but may be other points. For an example, the first drain hole195may be formed below an inlet196through which the humid air of the washing chamber150is introduced to the housing194. That is, by forming the first drain hole197and the first recovery passage412below the inlet196, an effect can be expected in which the washing water introduced through the inlet196can be drained to the washing chamber150, directly.

As described before, though the first drain hole195can be formed at a location, not limited to above example, but other than above example, preferably at a location lower than a top of the cut-off portion198.

It is preferable that periphery of the first drain hole195of the housing194is recessed so that the water in the housing194can gather well.

This is for smooth flow down of, not only the washing water from the washing chamber150, but also water condensed from humid air in the housing194, along a wall surface of the housing194to the first drain hole195.

Accordingly, since the first drain hole195is formed lower than the cut-off portion198in the housing194, enabling to recover the water in the housing194to the washing chamber150along the first drain hole195and the first recovery passage410before the water overflows to the exhaust duct192, overflowing of the water from the housing194to wet the mounting surface of the dish washing machine can be prevented.

Though the foregoing embodiment suggests an example in which the passage of the present invention includes the first drain hole195in the housing194, and the first recovery passage410in communication with the first drain hole195and the washing chamber150, an embodiment in which the passage is different from above example will be described.

The dish washing machine of the embodiment is similar to the foregoing embodiment in overall. However, of elements for exhaust, the passage is different from the foregoing embodiment. Therefore, only the passage will be described in description of the embodiment with reference toFIG. 5. Since parts other than the passage are identical to the foregoing embodiment, detailed description of the parts will be omitted.

The passage of the embodiment includes a drain passage595formed such that, whenever water is introduced from the washing chamber150to the housing594, or condensed water is formed in the housing594, the water flows down to the exhaust duct592, a second drain hole593formed in the exhaust duct592so that water flowing in the exhaust duct592is drained to an outside of the exhaust duct592, and a second recovery passage610for guiding the water drained through the second drain hole593to the washing chamber150.

The drain passage595forms a space for the water to flow down, preferably from the housing594to the exhaust duct592with a slope downwardly. The drain passage595may be a separate tube, or a bottom surface of the housing594itself sloped downwardly to the exhaust duct592.

In the meantime, the water flowing down from the housing594and the condensed water of the moisture in air flowing in the housing594can flow down along an inside wall of the exhaust duct592. The exhaust duct592may have a second drain hole formed so that the water in the exhaust duct592does not drop on the mounting surface of the dish washing machine through an edge of the exhaust duct592. The second drain hole593may be formed in one side of the exhaust duct592, preferably at a location the water in the exhaust duct592passes therethrough.

A second recovery passage610is further provided for guiding the water from the second drain hole593to the washing chamber150.

Accordingly, the water flowing in the exhaust duct592is recovered to the washing chamber150through the second drain hole593and the second recovery passage610, again.

A guide596may further be formed for guiding the water introduced to the exhaust duct592through the second recovery passage610to the second drain hole593.

FIG. 6illustrates a diagram of a guide on an inside surface of the exhaust duct.

Referring toFIG. 6, it is preferable that the guide596is formed on the inside surface of the exhaust duct592starting from a lower end of a point where the second recovery passage610and the exhaust duct592are in communication to a top side of the second drain hole593. The guide may be formed to have a step with the inside surface of the exhaust duct592, such as a groove in the inside surface of the exhaust duct592, so that the water introduced to the exhaust duct592through the second recovery passage flows along the guide596down to an upper side of the second drain hole593.

In the embodiment, since, whenever the water is introduced to or formed therein, the water is drained to the exhaust duct592along the drain passage595without being held in the housing594, recovering the water flowing in the exhaust duct592to the washing chamber150through the second drain hole593and the second recovery passage610entirely as a flow rate of the water introduced to the exhaust duct is not higher than capacity of the second drain hole593and the second recovery passage610, drain of the water from the end of the exhaust duct592is prevented. Moreover, since a case in which a large amount of water flows at a time is prevented because water is not held in the housing594, requiring no enlargement of the second drain hole593, an exhaust loss caused by the second drain hole593can be minimized.

Moreover, offensive odor or breeding of microbe which is liable to be caused by water held in the housing594can be prevented.

In the meantime, at the time a high temperature humid air is discharged from the washing chamber, it is possible to lower the temperature and humidity of the air by drawing external air to condense the moisture.

FIG. 7is a sectional view of a housing of the dish washing machine of the present invention.

For this, it is preferable that the exhaust fan190is of a double suction type, and the housing194also has a separate pass through hole199in addition to the inlet196(seeFIG. 4) which is to draw the humid air from the washing chamber150for drawing in external air.

Therefore, once the exhaust fan190is put into operation, since the high temperature humid air is drawn from the washing chamber to the housing194through the inlet196, and external low temperature air is drawn through the pass through hole199, and the high temperature humid air and the external low temperature air is mixed in the exhaust duct192(seeFIG. 4), dropping a temperature of air flowing in the exhaust duct192to drop humidity of the air as condensation of the moisture is taken place, an air temperature of the air discharged from the dish washing machine can also be dropped.

The condensed water formed in the exhaust duct192can be recovered to the washing chamber through the second drain hole593(seeFIG. 5) and the second recovery passage610(seeFIG. 5).

In the meantime, the present invention suggests a joining structure for joining the housing and the exhaust duct for preventing water from leaking between the joining portion of the housing and the exhaust duct.

FIG. 5illustrates an improved joining structure for joining the housing and the exhaust duct.

In the present invention, the joining structure will be described, taking an embodiment in which an exhaust duct is mounted to an under side of the housing as shown inFIG. 5.

The housing594has an outlet597formed to face downward for discharging air the fan drawn, and the exhaust duct592is joined to the outlet597.

In this instance, it is preferable that edges of the housing and the exhaust duct597overlap for a predetermined portions, such that the edge of the exhaust duct592which overlaps with the edge of the outlet of the housing594surrounds an outside circumference of the outlet597of the housing594.

That is, because the edge of the exhaust duct592joined to an underside of the outlet597has an upward extension on the outside circumference of the outlet597, the water flowing in the housing594along the wall of the inside of the housing594can not leak to an outside of the exhaust duct592through a gap at the joining portion of the housing594and the exhaust duct592.