Patent Description:
The present invention belongs to the technical field of dishwashers, and particularly relates to a dishwasher and a method for controlling the dishwasher.

With improvement of an oil removal capacity, a dishwasher has been increasingly recognized by consumers, a related market has also been growing, and there has been a trend towards replacing household disinfection cabinets, which requires the dishwasher to have the characteristics of efficiency, fastness and broad-spectrum sterilization. At present, hot water sterilization (<NUM>-<NUM>), high temperature and high pressure sterilization, ultraviolet sterilization, ozone sterilization and other methods are often used by the dishwasher, which are inefficient and cannot effectively kill bacteria. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce efficient, rapid and environmentally-friendly sterilization means into the dishwasher.

Common sterilization methods mainly include thermal sterilization, ionizing radiation, plasma sterilization, chemical sterilization, etc. A temperature of hot water in the dishwasher is less than <NUM>, which does not reach a temperature required by the thermal sterilization. Accordingly, hot water sterilization does not effectively remove bacteria in the dishwasher. The high temperature and high pressure sterilization has poor stability and is difficult to control. Space of the dishwasher is narrow, a distance between bowls is relatively small, and the blows block each other, such that ultraviolet rays can not effectively act on each bowl. If an ozone concentration in the dishwasher is too high, a hypochlorous acid and so on in tap water may be oxidized and therefore substances harmful to human health are produced.

In contrast, the plasma sterilization has the following characteristics: (<NUM>) has the broad-spectrum antibacterial property, it generally takes several minutes to reach a sterility assurance level; (<NUM>) a temperature of a plasma gas is close to a room temperature, so the plasma gas can be used to sterilize heat sensitive materials, and therefore dramatical reduction of a usage amount of disposable medical materials and medical costs are expectable; and (<NUM>) biological substances with strong resistance can be efficiently eliminated, which include super bacteria with strong drug resistance, prions with strong temperature resistance, bacterial biofilm with a group protection function, etc., and odorous gases can be effectively removed. This sterilization method is expected to solve the sterilization problem faced by an existing dishwasher, but the difficulty in generating plasma in the dishwasher is how to generate large-area plasma to cover a surface of tableware under an atmospheric pressure.

Theoretically, generation of the plasma is related to an electric field between electrodes, an electrode spacing and an initial electron number density, and therefore, large-area plasma may be generated by designing a reasonable electrode structure.

The patent application <CIT> discloses a tableware sterilizer using a plasma chip and a tableware sterilizing method to improve the sterilization effect by sterilizing the tablewares with the ions generated from a plasma chip and using an airflow generated by a fan. The tableware sterilizer using a plasma chip comprises a plasma chip generating plasma ions by the atmospheric discharge and having a fan generating an airflow for dispersing the plasma ions, an ultraviolet ray lamp radiating ultraviolet rays having sterilization function, a sterilization rack on which tablewares are placed, a nano silver filter sterilizing the air in a sterilizer, a carbon filter generating fresh oxygen by decomposing ozone, a blower fan guiding the airflow to the nano silver filter and the carbon filter, and a heater drying the tablewares and finally decomposing ozone.

The <CIT> discloses a cleaning apparatus for cleaning articles. The cleaning apparatus comprises at least one cleaning chamber for receiving the articles. The cleaning apparatus comprises, in the cleaning chamber, at least one fluid source for subjecting the articles to the action of at least one cleaning fluid. The cleaning apparatus furthermore comprises at least one plasma source, which is designed to ignite at least one plasma in at least one gas and to generate at least one reactive gas. The cleaning apparatus is designed to bring the reactive gas into contact with the articles, at least in part.

The patent application <CIT> discloses a cold plasma sterilizing device. The device has a casing with door. Anode-plates are installed on the upper and lower sides of the casing and cathode plate is installed between the anode plates. The distance between the anode plate and the cathode plate is <NUM>-<NUM>, the voltage between the anode plate and the cathode plate is <NUM>-1000V, discharging current is <NUM>-2A. A pipeline and an aeration valve are installed on the casing connecting to a vacuum pump. The pressure in the casing is <NUM> Pa-<NUM> Pa.

The <CIT> discloses a dishwasher having a washing chamber in which electrodes have been installed. Dishes to be washed are mounted between electrodes in the washing chamber. When the washing chamber is closed and sealed, a vacuum pump is started so as to reduce the pressure in the washing chamber and after reaching a prescribed vacuum degree, a prescribed volume of gas is started to flow in. At the same time, the current whose voltage is increased by a high voltage power supply is fed to the electrodes so as to excite across the electrodes into a plasma state. This constitution permits the gas present between the electrodes to become an excited state, resolves and vaporizes the dirt stuck to the surface of the dishes, and sucks and disposes the vaporized dirt in the vacuum side.

The present invention provides a dishwasher and a method for controlling the dishwasher.

The dishwasher includes a housing and further includes a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a discharge electrode plate, a ground electrode plate, a radio-frequency power supply and an earthing power supply, a tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate, the radio-frequency power supply is connected to the discharge electrode plate, and the earthing power supply is connected to the ground electrode plate, wherein the discharge electrode plate is arranged at a top inside the housing, and the ground electrode plate is arranged at a bottom inside the housing,.

In some embodiments, an area of the discharge electrode plate is greater than an area of the ground electrode plate.

In some embodiments, a separating apparatus is arranged in the tableware storage space and configured to separate tableware.

In some embodiments, a value of a discharge voltage of the radio-frequency power supply is <NUM>-<NUM> kV.

In some embodiments, the discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are made of conductive materials.

The method for controlling a dishwasher is configured to control the above dishwasher and includes the following steps:.

In some embodiments, before performing the electrification for sterilization, further comprises: cleaning the tableware by the dishwasher.

In some embodiments, after cleaning the tableware by the dishwasher, the method further comprises: heating for evaporating water on the surface of the tableware.

The technical solutions of the present invention will be described below clearly and comprehensively in conjunction with accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention.

As shown in <FIG>, (exemplary embodiment, not falling under the wording of the claims) a dishwasher is provided.

The dishwasher includes a housing <NUM>, and a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing <NUM>, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a plurality of discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM>, a plurality of ground electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM>, a radio-frequency power supply <NUM> and an earthing power supply <NUM>. The discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> and the ground electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> are made of conductive materials The discharge electrode plate and the ground electrode plate are alternatively arranged, that is, one ground electrode plate <NUM> is arranged between two discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM>, one discharge electrode plate <NUM> is arranged between two ground electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM>, in addition, the discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> and the ground electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> are arranged parallel to each other and respectively perpendicular to a horizontal plane of the housing <NUM>, and a distance between any two adjacent discharge electrode plates is equal to a distance between any two adjacent ground electrode plates. A distance between either of the discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> and an adjacent ground electrode plate of the ground electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> is <NUM>, which is conducive to sterilization and disinfection after placement of tableware. A tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> and the ground electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM>, such that it is guaranteed that the tableware is not overlapped, and generated glow plasma covers a surface of the tableware, to sterilize and disinfect the tableware more effectively.

The radio-frequency power supply <NUM> is connected to the discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM>, and the earthing power supply <NUM> is connected to the ground electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM>. A value of a discharge voltage of the radio-frequency power supply <NUM> is <NUM>-<NUM> kV. By selecting an appropriate voltage and designing reasonable discharge structure, the sterilization effect of the dishwasher is more efficient.

In these embodiments, metal electrodes which are alternatively arranged are designed, that is, the plurality of discharge electrode plates <NUM> and <NUM> and the plurality of ground electrode plates102 and <NUM> are used to replace an original rack divider in the dishwasher, such that the tableware is placed between two metal electrodes. During operation, two adjacent electrodes are connected to a radio-frequency high voltage and earthed separately, and tableware to be treated is used as an insulation medium, and large-area glow plasma is successfully generated under an atmospheric pressure. The module is installed inside the dishwasher, such that large-area glow discharge plasma is generated on a surface of the tableware inside the dishwasher, to disinfected and sterilize the tableware. Plasma sterilization is fast in speed, strong in effect and wide in range, and no secondary pollution is generated after treatment. Because of air ionization, there will be no consumable consumption, and long-term operation and low power consumption can be achieved.

As shown in <FIG>, according to the invention a dishwasher is provided. The dishwasher includes a housing <NUM>, and a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing <NUM>, the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus includes a discharge electrode plate <NUM>, a ground electrode plate <NUM>, a radio-frequency power supply <NUM> and an earthing power supply <NUM>. The discharge electrode plate <NUM> is arranged at a top inside the housing <NUM>, and the ground electrode plate <NUM> is arranged at a bottom inside the housing <NUM>. The discharge electrode plate <NUM> and the ground electrode plate <NUM> are made of conductive materials. The discharge electrode plate <NUM> and the ground electrode plate <NUM> are arranged parallel to each other and respectively parallel to a horizontal plane of the housing <NUM>. A distance between the discharge electrode plate <NUM> and the ground electrode plate <NUM> is <NUM>, and an area of the discharge electrode plate <NUM> is greater than an area of the ground electrode plate <NUM>, such that large-area glow plasma can be generated in the dishwasher, to sterilize tableware more effectively.

A tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate <NUM> and the ground electrode plate <NUM>, and a separating apparatus <NUM> is arranged in the tableware storage space for separate tableware, such that the tableware is sterilized more thoroughly. The radio-frequency power supply <NUM> is connected to the discharge electrode plate <NUM>, and a value of a discharge voltage of the radio-frequency power supply is <NUM>-<NUM> kV, and the earthing power supply <NUM> is connected to the ground electrode plate <NUM>. By selecting an appropriate voltage and designing a reasonable discharge structure, a sterilization effect of the dishwasher is more efficient.

In these above embodiments, by designing two plate-shaped electrodes which are opposite up and down, namely, the discharge electrode plate <NUM> and the ground electrode plate <NUM>, tableware to be treated is taken as an insulation medium, and large-area glow plasma is successfully generated under an atmospheric pressure. The module is installed inside the dishwasher, such that large-area glow discharge plasma is generated on a surface of the tableware inside the dishwasher, to disinfect and sterilize the tableware. Plasma sterilization is fast in speed, strong in effect and wide in range, and no secondary pollution is generated after treatment. Because of air ionization, there will be no consumable consumption, and long-term operation and low power consumption can be achieved.

As shown in <FIG>, according to the invention a method for controlling a dishwasher is provided.

The method is configured to control the dishwasher of any embodiment described above and includes the following steps:.

Claim 1:
A dishwasher, comprising a housing (<NUM>), wherein the dishwasher further comprises a plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus arranged inside the housing (<NUM>), wherein the plasma sterilization and disinfection apparatus comprises a discharge electrode plate (<NUM>), a ground electrode plate (<NUM>), a radio-frequency power supply (<NUM>) and an earthing power supply (<NUM>), a tableware storage space is formed between the discharge electrode plate (<NUM>) and the ground electrode plate (<NUM>), the radio-frequency power supply (<NUM>) is connected to the discharge electrode plate (<NUM>), and the earthing power supply (<NUM>) is connected to the ground electrode plate (<NUM>), wherein the discharge electrode plate (<NUM>) and the ground electrode plate (<NUM>) are arranged parallel to each other and respectively parallel to a horizontal plane of the housing (<NUM>),
characterized in that the discharge electrode plate (<NUM>) is arranged at a top inside the housing (<NUM>), and the ground electrode plate (<NUM>) is arranged at a bottom inside the housing (<NUM>),
wherein a distance between the discharge electrode plate (<NUM>) and the ground electrode plate (<NUM>) is <NUM>-<NUM>.