EP0432281B1

EP0432281B1 - Loading system of a dishwashing machine

Info

Publication number: EP0432281B1
Application number: EP19890122646
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dino Ing. Bongini; Giuseppe Salvucci; Aurelio Boninsegni
Original assignee: Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA
Current assignee: Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Priority date: 1989-12-08
Filing date: 1989-12-08
Publication date: 1994-10-05
Anticipated expiration: 2009-12-08
Also published as: DE68918700D1; DE68918700T2; EP0432281A1

Description

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.
Dishwashers having compact design and small dimensions are known for instance from US-A-2.218.869 and GB-A-858.151, which comprise a basket for the dishes put in the inside of the machine cabinet; the access on the basket can be obtainable by swinging or removing the cabinet lid, partially or totally.
From US-A-3.220.426 is also known a compact dishwasher, whose height is smaller than the depth, having a sliding basket for the dishes and a door hinged to an horizontal axis located at the bottom edge of the door, the door having furthermore two side and an upper panels which, when the door is closed, coincide respectively with the lateral and the top surfaces of the cabinet.
Such reduced dimensions dishwashing machines, however, show some inconveniences; one of them consists in that, owing to the fact that often the height of the machine is less than depth, the access to the inside is not easy without fully extracting the basket; if the basket is fully extracted, however, it exceeds the door length, hence during loading or unloading of dishes, an annoying dripping may take place on the floor or on the underlying cabinets.
It is therefore the object of the present invention to indicate a dishwashing machine which does dot show the described disadvantage of the known small dimensions dishwashing machines and that, more precisely, allow an easy loading and unloading of dishes, yet avoiding any dripping possibility outside the machine itself.
According to the invention the said object is attained by a dishwashing machine of reduced overall dimensions, wherein the height is smaller than the depth and the cabinet has a door hinged to a horizontal axis located at the bottom edge of the door, the door having substantially the shape of an inverted L when closed, whose foot constitutes a projecting plate which, when the door is closed, substantially corresponds to the top horizontal plane of the cabinet, characterized in that, when the door is open, the projecting plate of the door constitutes a tray, horizontally hinged to said door and representing, an horizontal extension of the door itself.
Such tray is apt to collect drops when the basket is fully extracted.
Advantageously, the projecting plate may be brought, extracting the basket, against the action of a contrasting spring, in its horizontal position.
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 side view of a dishwashing machine according to the invention;

reference numeral

According to invention, to door 2 there is hinged an horizontal plate 4 in form of a tray, attached to door 2 by means of a returning spring 8. When the basket is in, spring 8 holds the tray at a right angle with the door (position 4A). Extracting basket 3, the tray is brought by the basket itself in an horizontal position, so that it avoids dripping from pottery 6, 7 directly on the floor or on an underlying cabinet.
From the above description the advantages of the subject of the present invention are clear. In particular they are represented by the fact that it is possible to load easily the machine without the inconvenience of a dripping outside the machine itself.

Claims

Dishwashing machine of reduced overall dimensions, wherein the height is smaller than the depth and the cabinet has a door hinged to a horizontal axis located at the bottom edge of the door, the door (2) having substantially the shape of an inverted L when closed, whose foot constitutes a projecting plate (4) which, when the door (2) is closed, substantially corresponds to the top horizontal plane of the cabinet, characterized in that, when the door (2) is open, the projecting plate of the door (2) constitutes a tray (4), horizontally hinged to said door (2) and representing, an horizontal extension of the door itself.
Dishwashing machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the projecting plate (4) is apt to be brought, by means of the extraction of a basket (3) and against the action of a returning spring (8), in its horizontal position.