Washing apparatus

• US 5,601,100 A
• Filed: 10/26/1994
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha (Mitsubishi Electric Corporation)
• Inventors: Sato, Seiji, Hayashi, Akihiro, Kato, Masanori, Ogawa, Koji, Kameishi, Keiji, Morisaki, Takao, Kurahashi, Yasunori, Taguchi, Hideho, Minamikawa, Naoto, Monma, Osamu, Abou, Hirotaka, Kawakami, Kunihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Coe, Philip R.
• Application Number:
  US08/329,274
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 134/56 R, 134/56 D, 134/57 R, 134/57 D, 134/50, 134/88, 134/90, 134/95.2, 134/95.3, 134/99.1, 134/102.3, 134/103.2, 134/107, 134/198, 134/199
• US Class Current: 134/56.00R
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/0086 In-sink dishwashers
• CPC Class Codes: A47L 15/16 with rigidly-mounted spraying devices

Abstract

To obtain a washing machine capable of sanitarily effecting washing with fresh water at all times and reducing a washing time and a drying time. Tap water supplied from a water feed pipe in association with sensing means is pressurized to predetermined pressure by a pressurizing pump, supplied to water injection nozzle pipes and injected into a washing space through water injection nozzles. The user inserts tableware held by hands between the nozzles, energising the sensor mechanism. A high speed water flow injected from the nozzles collides against the tableware and washes the tableware by removing stubborn dirt from the tableware. On the other hand, an air flow from a blower passes though the air nozzle pipes and is discharged from the air nozzles to remove the drops of water attached to the tableware by forced air action.

Claims

1. A washing apparatus comprising:

a main body having an opening provided in the upper portion thereof for allowing an object to be washed to be moved therethrough into and out of said main body;

an outer vessel defining therein a washing space communicated with said opening;

an inner vessel disposed within said outer vessel with a space formed therebetween and said inner vessel having at a bottom wall thereof an opening communicated with said space between said inner and outer vessels;

first means for injecting clean water, without detergent, at a high pressure into said washing space, disposed in said inner or outer vessel;

second means for injecting water at a pressure lower than that of the water injected from said first water injection means, disposed above said first water injection means;

means for pressurizing clean water connected to said first water injection means; and

a source of clean water for supplying clean water, without detergent to said water pressurizing means.

2. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an air injection nozzle for blowing drying air into said washing space and a pressurized air supply means for supplying drying air to said air injection nozzle.

3. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air injection nozzle comprises a plurality of injection nozzles each injecting air into different directions.

4. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air injection nozzle includes holes for injecting air in radial directions to said air injection nozzle.

5. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said air injection nozzle is detachably mounted to said outer vessel.

6. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising locking means for preventing water from being injected from said water injection nozzle when air flow is generated from said air injection nozzle.

7. A washing apparatus comprising:

a main body having an opening provided in the upper portion thereof for allowing an object to be washed to be moved therethrough into and out of said main body;

an outer vessel defining therein a washing space communicated with said opening;

an inner vessel disposed within said outer vessel with a space formed therebetween and said inner vessel having at a bottom wall thereof an opening communicated with said space between said inner and outer vessels;

a longitudinal fin projecting downward and inward from the inner surface of said inner vessel, so as to prevent splashing of water out of said washing space;

first means for injecting clean water, without detergent, at a high pressure into said washing space, disposed in said inner or outer vessel;

means for pressurizing clean water connected to said first water injection means; and

a source of clean water for supplying clean water, without detergent to said water pressurizing means.

8. A washing apparatus comprising:

a main body defining therein a washing space,

a main body opening provided in said main body in communication with said washing space for moving therethrough an object to be washed into and out of said washing space;

first means for injecting clean water, without detergent, at a high pressure into said washing space;

second means for injecting water at a pressure lower than that of the water injected from said first water injection means, disposed above said first water injection means;

means for pressurizing clean water connected to both of said water injection means; and

a water source connected to said water pressurizing means, for supplying clean water, without detergent, to said water pressurizing means.

9. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means, connected between said water source and said first water injection means, for changing temperature of the water.

10. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising means for adjusting an injection angle or pressure of water injected through the water injection means.

11. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising an air injection nozzle for blowing drying air into said washing space and a pressurized air supply means for supplying drying air to said air injection nozzle.

12. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said air injection nozzle comprises a plurality of air injection nozzles each injecting air into different directions.

13. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said air injection nozzle includes holes for injecting air in radial directions to said air injection nozzle.

14. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said air nozzle is detachably mounted to said air supply means.

15. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 11, further comprising locking means for preventing water from being injected from said water injection means when air flow is generated from said air injection nozzle.

16. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a washing sensor for detecting the object to be washed presented within said washing space to inject fresh water from said water injection nozzle and a drying sensor for detecting the object to be washed presented within said washing space to generate a flow of drying air from the air injection nozzle, said washing sensor being positioned in front of said opening and said drying sensor being positioned at a point in said opening remote from said washing sensor.

17. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, said water injection means comprises a plurality of injection nozzles each injecting fresh water in different directions.

18. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a lid cover detachably mounted to said main body for opening and closing said opening.

19. The washing apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising sensor means for initiating the injection of water from said first water injection means when the object to be washed is detected, and for terminating the injection of water from said first water injection means after a predetermined time lag from the detection of the absence of the object to be washed.

20. A washing apparatus comprising:

a main body defining therein a washing space;

a main body opening provided in said main body in communication with said washing space for moving therethrough an object to be washed into and out of said washing space;

a water injection nozzle for injecting fresh water into said washing space;

a water pressurizing pump connected to said water injection nozzle for pressurizing fresh water;

a water source connected to said water pressurizing pump, for supplying fresh water to said pressurizing pump;

an air injection nozzle for injecting drying air into said washing space;

an air supply for supplying pressurized drying air to said second injection nozzle through air supply means;

a washing sensor for detecting the object to be washed presented within said washing space to inject fresh water from said water injection nozzle; and

a drying sensor for detecting the object to be washed presented within said washing space to generate a flow of air from said air injection nozzle;

wherein, upon activation of said washing sensor, fresh water is injected into said washing space with said main body opening opened, and upon activation of said drying sensor, a flow of drying air is injected into said washing space.

21. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising means, connected between said water source and said water injection nozzle, for changing temperature of the water.

22. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising means for adjusting an injection angle or pressure of water injected through said water injection nozzle.

23. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said air injection nozzle comprises a plurality of injection nozzles each injecting air into different directions.

24. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said air injection nozzle includes holes for injecting air in radial directions to said air injection nozzle.

25. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said air injection nozzle is detachably mounted to said air supply means.

26. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising locking means for preventing water from being injected from said water injection nozzle when air flow is generated from said air injection nozzle.

27. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said water injection nozzle comprises a plurality of injection nozzles each injecting water in different directions.

28. A washing apparatus as claimed in claim 20, further comprising an auxiliary water injection nozzle disposed above said water injection nozzle for injecting water at a pressure lower than that of the water injected from said water injection nozzle.