EP0431211B1 - Dishwashing machine - Google Patents

Description

• The present invention refers to a dishwashing machine of small overall dimensions.
• It is well known that besides normal dishwashing machines of considerable weight and dimensions, also dishwashing machines have been proposed having reduced dimensions, with obvious advantages in modern kitchens, where there is often lack of available room. Such reduced dimensions dishwashing machines, however, show some inconveniences; dimensions, nevertheless, do not always allow them to be located onto a service table in a kitchen where overhanging cabinets are present; stability, in particular when the pottery loading door is open, may presents problems.
• From US-A-3.176.697 and CH-A-410.309 two dishwashing machines of the described type are known, both having a lower part of reduced dimensions in respect to the upper part; these machines, which are only provided for resting on a working table, present for instance the above cited stability problem.
• It is the object of the present invention to indicate a dishwashing machine which reduces the disadvantages of the known small dimensions dishwashing machines and that, more precisely, does not interfere with the presence of overhanging cabinets and has better stability, still leaving the greater part of the underlying cabinet free for other uses.
• To attain the said object, the subject of present invention is a dishwashing machine, having an upper part and a lower part, the latter being of reduced dimensions in respect to the former, characterized in that
• the lower part has horizontal dimensions:
     width less than 550 mm and depth less than 470 mm
  and the upper part has horizontal dimensions:
     width more than 550 mm and depth more than 470 mm,
  so that it is possible to insert the lower part into an aperture of standard dimensions provided in a kitchen cooking table and the upper part rests on the cooking table and
• the machine can equally be located onto a cabinet or on the floor.
• Such a solution has, moreover, the advantage that also the safety is improved because the electric lower part of the machine may be insulated from basin water sprinkling by means of a gasket.
• Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the detailed description which follows and from the attached drawings, which are supplied only as an explanatory and not limiting example, wherein:
• figure 1 shows a reduced dimensions dishwashing machine according to the invention;
• figure 2 shows the view of a compound kitchen with the dishwashing machine of figure 1.
• In figure 1, which shows a reduced dimensions dishwashing machine according to the invention, it may be clearly seen that lower part 2 of the machine has smaller size than central and upper part 3 of the same machine. In particular dimensions of central and upper part 3 of shown machine are as follows:
• height H = 330 mm
• width W = 600 mm
• depth D = 520 mm
Dimensions of lower part 2 are instead:
• height h = 150 mm
• width w = 545 mm
• depth d = 465 mm.
• As apertures of standard cooking tables 4 of compound kitchens 5 are of following dimensions: mm 550 x 470 or mm 555 x 475, it may be seen that lower part 2 of the described dishwashing machine 1 may be easily and firmly inserted in any one of said apertures.
• Figure 2 shows in fact a reduced overall dimensions dishwashing machine 1, inserted into a standard cooking table 4 of a compound kitchen 5 (on the left side). There is also the possibility to insert dishwashing machine 1 into a small cabinet 6, located on the floor. On the right side of figure 2 there is shown the possibility of locating the dishwashing machine 1 onto a small cabinet 6, under an overhanging cabinet 7 because the sum of the heights H + h does not exceed the distance between small cabinet 6 and overhanging cabinet 7.

Claims (4)

1. Dishwashing machine (1), having an upper part (3) and a lower part (2), the latter being of reduced dimensions in respect to the former, characterized in that

   - the lower part (2) has horizontal dimensions:
      width (w) less than 550 mm and depth (d) less than 470 mm
   and the upper part (3) has horizontal dimensions:
      width (W) more than 550 mm and depth (D) more than 470 mm,
   so that it is possible to insert the lower part (2) into an aperture of standard dimensions (550 mm x 470 mm) provided in a kitchen cooking table (4) and the upper part (3) rests on the cooking table (4) and

   - the machine can equally be located onto a cabinet or on the floor.
2. Dishwashing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower part (2) of the machine may be inserted in said cooking table (4) at least for a depth of 100 mm.
3. Dishwashing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the height (H) of the machine (1), inserted into the aperture, is less than 360 mm from the supporting table.
4. Dishwashing machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dimensions of the upper part (3) of the machine (1) are greater than 555 mm (width W) and 475 mm (depth D).

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