Patent Abstract:
A dish washer according to the present invention comprises: a tub for holding dishes and opened an one end thereof; a door for selectively sealing the opened end of the tub, and have a depressed part with a little of depth on an inner side; and a sterilizing apparatus which is installed on the door; wherein the sterilizing apparatus includes an ultraviolet rays generating section which occurs the ultraviolet rays, a reflection member which is installed on the depressed part, and reflects the ultraviolet rays which is occurred on an ultraviolet rays generating section into the inner side of the tub, and a cover member which prevents the influx of the washing liquid into an ultraviolet rays generating section.

Full Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a dish washer, particularly, to a dish washer having a sterilizing apparatus to sterilize the bacteria on the dishes.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the related Art  
         [0004]     In general, a dish washer is a home appliance that the food remnants on the dishes are washed by wash liquid which is spouted out of an injection nozzle with a high pressure.  
         [0005]     Particularly, a dish washer includes a tub forming a washing chamber and a sump installed under the tub for storing washing liquid. The washing liquid is pushed to an injection nozzle by a washing pump installed in the sump, and then injected at a high pressure through an injection aperture formed in an end of an injection nozzle. The injected washing liquid removes dirt such as remaining food from dishes by colliding with the dishes, the removed dirt drops to a bottom of the tub.  
         [0006]     The dish washer further includes a sterilizing apparatus for sterilizing the dishes. The sterilizing apparatus is installed on the aspect part or the rear part of the tub. The ultraviolet rays are used as a means for sterilizing the dishes.  
         [0007]     However, if a sterilizing apparatus is installed on the aspect part or the rear part of the tub, it is onerous for users, because users have to go into the tub or disassemble the tub when a sterilizing apparatus gets out of order.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention is proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a dish washer that the sterilizing power toward the inner part of a tub and the dishes is improved as installing the sterilizing apparatus on the inner part of a dish washer.  
         [0009]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a dish washer which as a sterilizing apparatus is installed on a door, the users can replace and repair easily.  
         [0010]     A dish washer according to the present invention comprises: a tub for holding dishes and opened an one end thereof; a door for selectively sealing the opened end of the tub, and have a depressed part with a little of depth on an inner side; a sterilizing apparatus which is installed on the door, wherein the sterilizing apparatus includes an ultraviolet rays generating section which occurs the ultraviolet rays, a reflection member which is installed on the depressed part, and reflects the ultraviolet rays which is occurred on an ultraviolet rays generating section into the inner side of the tub, and a cover member which prevents the influx of the washing liquid into an ultraviolet rays generating section.  
         [0011]     A dish washer according to another aspect of the present invention comprises: a tub forming a sterilizing space that the dishes are sterilized; a door for selectively sealing the sterilizing space; a sterilizing apparatus provided on the inner side of the door; and a power supply section which supplies a power to the sterilizing apparatus, wherein the sterilizing apparatus includes an ultraviolet rays generating section which emits the ultraviolet rays into the sterilizing space, a reflection member which is formed on the inner side of the door as depressed with a little of depth, reflects the ultraviolet rays occurred on an ultraviolet rays generating section toward the sterilizing space, and a cover member united on the inner side of the door.  
         [0012]     A dish washer according to another aspect of the present invention comprises: a sterilizing apparatus including an ultraviolet rays generating section, a supporting section which supports an ultraviolet generating section, a reflection member which reflects the ultraviolet rays occurred on the ultraviolet rays generating section, and a cover member which covers an ultraviolet rays generating section; a door that a place that the reflection member is placed is formed as depressed with a little of depth and the cover member is joined; and a tub which is able to be open by a door.  
         [0013]     According to the present invention, it is effective that the sterilizing power of the inner part of a tub and dishes is increased as a sterilizing apparatus is placed on a door of a dish washer.  
         [0014]     Further, according to the installing of a sterilizing apparatus on a door and be capable of being stuck or being separated of a cover member, an ultra violet rays generating section is able to be fixed or replaced easily according to a user&#39;s necessity or on the breaking down. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0015]     The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view roughly showing a dish washer having a sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention.  
         [0017]      FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view roughly showing a dish washer having a sterilizing apparatus.  
         [0018]      FIG. 3  is a magnified view of the part A of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0019]     Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments that are concrete of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view roughly showing a dish washer having a sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention, and  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view roughly showing a dish washer having a sterilizing apparatus.  
         [0021]     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  2 , a dish washer  100  having a sterilizing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a case  101  forming the external shape, a tub  110  forming a washing chamber as placed on the inner side of the case  101 , a door  111  opening and closing the washing chamber as formed on the front surface of the tub  110 , and a sump  170  storing the washing liquid as formed on the low center part of the tub  110 .  
         [0022]     The dish washer  100  further comprises a washing pump  180  which is connected with the sump  170 , and pumping the washing liquid which is stored on the sump  170  with a high pressure, and a washing motor  190  which is installed on the washing pump  180 , and operating the washing pump  180 .  
         [0023]     The dish washer  100  further comprises a water guide  140  to be a flowing course for the washing liquid which is pumped on the washing pump  180 , a lower part nozzle  160  united with the upper side of the sump  170 , spouts the washing liquid out toward the upper part as formed on the low side of the washing chamber, an upper part nozzle  150  placed on the center part of the washing chamber as united perpendicular direction on the water guide  140 , a top nozzle  155  provided on the end of a side of the water guide  140 , and spouts the washing liquid downward perpendicularly.  
         [0024]     The dish washer  100  further comprises a upper part rack  120  which is installed on the high side of the upper part nozzle  150  to make the dishes washed by the upper part nozzle  150 , a lower part rack  130  which is installed on the high side of the lower part nozzle  160  to make the dishes washed by the lower part nozzle  160 .  
         [0025]     Particularly, the upper rack  120  is supported by the rail  108  which is placed on the inner side of the tub  110 , and accomplishes the back and forth movement.  
         [0026]     The door  111  is united with the tub  110  on the end part of the low side of the door  111  by a hinge(not shown), and is able to rotate toward the up and down directions with the hinge as centering by a user&#39;s operation. A detergent case  114  that a certain amount of the detergent is input little by little is formed on the inside of the door  111 , and a rinse case  116  which make the rinse supplied during the rinsing is formed on a side of the detergent case  114 .  
         [0027]     A sterilizing apparatus  200  which sterilizes the bacteria remained on the dishes after finishing the washing stroke is formed on an inner side of the door  111 .  
         [0028]     A exhaust fan  118  is formed on a prescribed state of the door  111 , so the inner part air of the tub  110  is exhausted compulsorily to the outside by the exhaust fan  118 .  
         [0029]     Hereinafter, the operations of the dish washer  100  according to the present invention will be explained.  
         [0030]     First, a user opens the door  111  of the dish washer  100 , pulls the upper part rack  120  and the lower part rack  130  toward outside of the washing chamber. And, puts the dishes on the racks  120 , 130 . Next, closes the door  111  and approves the power, then the dish washer  100  is operated.  
         [0031]     When the washing stroke is progressed as the power of the dish washer  100  is approved, the washing liquid is flew into the sump  170 , and the washing motor  190  is operated after finishing the washing liquid flowing step. And, as an impeller(not shown) which is placed on the inner part of the washing pump  170  connected with the washing motor  190  is rotated, the washing liquid is pumped into the lower part nozzle  160  and the water guide  140 .  
         [0032]     Also, the liquid which is pumped into the water guide  140  is finally flew into the top nozzle  155  and the upper part nozzle  150 , and spouted out toward the inner part of a washing chamber. And, passed through the process that the dishes accommodated on the racks  120 , 130  are washed by the jetted washing liquid.  
         [0033]     In the above-mentioned, as the top nozzle  155  spouts the washing liquid downward perpendicularly and the upper part nozzle  150  spouts the washing liquid upward perpendicularly, the dishes accommodated on the upper rack  120  are washed.  
         [0034]     As the lower part nozzle  160  spouts the washing liquid upward perpendicularly, the dishes accommodated on the lower rack  130  are washed. And, composed that the upper parts of the dishes accommodated on the lower rack  130  are washed at the same time, as a spouting outlet is formed on the lower part of the upper part nozzle  150 , and the washing liquid is spouted toward the both sides of up and down.  
         [0035]     After the washing process is finished, the foreign elements are leached out from the foul washing liquid stored on the sump  170  through a filter(not shown). The washing liquid that the foreign elements are leached out is discharged out of the dish washer  100  through a draining pump(not shown).  
         [0036]     After the washing liquid is discharged out of the dish washer  100 , the clean washing liquid is flew into the sump  170  from the outside, and spouted out through the spouting nozzles  150 , 160  as the same with the afore-mentioned washing process. And, the dishes are passed through the rinsing process by the spouted clean liquid.  
         [0037]     After the rinsing process is finished, as passed through the drying process, the washing process is completed. At this time, after finishing the drying process and the washing process, the sterilizing apparatus is operated for sterilizing the bacteria which isn&#39;t sterilized as passed through the rinsing process during the custody of the dishes.  
         [0038]     Hereinafter, the structure of the sterilizing apparatus  200  will be explained in detail.  
         [0039]      FIG. 3  is a magnified view of the part A of  FIG. 2 .  
         [0040]     Referring to  FIG. 3 , it is distinctive that the sterilizing apparatus  200  according to the present invention is installed on the door  111  as the afore-mentioned.  
         [0041]     Particularly, the sterilizing apparatus  200  comprises a ultraviolet rays generating section  210  which emits the ultraviolet rays into the inner part of the tub  110 , so the sterilizing of the dishes, etc. is progressed, a cover member  220  which prevents the inflow of the washing liquid into the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  during the washing stroke.  
         [0042]     In the above-mentioned, for the ultraviolet rays generating section  210 , an ultraviolet rays lamp which occurs the ultraviolet rays or at least one of the LED(Light-Emitting Diode) can be used.  
         [0043]     The ultraviolet rays generating section  210  applied the power as connected with a power supply section  260  by the electric wires placed on the inner side of the door  111 .  
         [0044]     The cover member  220  can be possessed as capable of taking out and sticking on the door  111  by an adhesion member  270  to make the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  replaced easily.  
         [0045]     Desirably, the cover member  220  is formed as a texture that the ultraviolet rays occurred on the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  can be transmitted easily. The cover member  220  can be formed as a quartz glass texture to improve the permeability of the emitted light.  
         [0046]     A scattering prevention section  260  can be formed as united on the inner side of the cover member  220  to prevent the scattering of the broken pieces in case that the cover member  220  is broken as being shocked. Stainless steel, iron, fiber can be used for the scattering prevention section  260 , and desirably, the scattering prevention section  260  is formed as a mashed form.  
         [0047]     A reflection member  230  is provided on the rear of the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  to improve the luminescence efficiency of the ultraviolet rays generating section  210 .  
         [0048]     That is, the reflection member  230  improves the sterilizing capacity as reflecting the ultraviolet rays which is occurred on the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  into the inner side of the tub  110 . At this part, the reflection member  230  is formed as bended toward the door  111  to increase the reflecting efficiency, and according to this, a depressed part  112  as a form opposed with the reflection member  230  is formed on the inner side of the door  111 .  
         [0049]     A fixation section  240  is placed to fix the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  on the sterilizing apparatus  200 . The fixation section  240  can be formed as covering the both sides of the ultraviolet rays lamp in case that the ultraviolet rays lamp is used as the ultraviolet rays generating section  210 .  
         [0050]     Therefore, the damage and injury are prevented when the door is opened or closed, as the shaking of the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  is prevented as being fixed by the fixation section  240 .  
         [0051]     At this part, the fixation section  240  can be formed separately with the reflection member  230  or the fixation section  240  and the refection member  230  can be formed a single body.  
         [0052]     A sealer  224  which prevents the flowing of the washing liquid into the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  is placed on the contacting part of the cover  220  and the door  111 .  
         [0053]     As giving the explanations about the operations of the sterilizing apparatus according to the above-mentioned constitution: the dish washing is started as the power is supplied to the dish washer  100 , and passed through the rinsing process after the washing operation is finished. At this time, the sterilizing operation for the dishes is progressed by the hot temperature washing liquid on the rinsing process. And, the dry process is passed through if the rinsing process is finished, then the washing stroke is completed.  
         [0054]     At this time, the sterilizing apparatus  200  is operated to sterilize the bacteria which isn&#39;t sterilized during the rinsing process for the second time after the dry process or the washing stroke is completed.  
         [0055]     Particularly, after the power is approved to the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  from the power supply section  260 , the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  emits the ultraviolet rays into the inner part of the tub  110 . At this time, a prescribed amount of the ultraviolet rays which is emitted on the ultraviolet ray generating section  210  improves the sterilizing efficiency as reflected into the inner part of the tub  110  by the reflection section  230 .  
         [0056]     On the other hand, in order to replace the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  according to a user&#39;s necessity or the obstacles, separate the cover member  220  from the door  111  for the first. And, as install the cover member  220  again after that on the door  111  after replacing the ultraviolet rays generating section  210 , the replacement of the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  is completed.  
         [0057]     As above-explained, it is advantageous that the ultraviolet rays generating section  210  is replaced easily as the sterilizing apparatus  200  is installed on the door  111  and the cover member  220  is formed as capable of attaching and separating on the door  111 .

Technology Classification (CPC): 0