EP0669098A1 - Machine à laver, plus particulièrement machine à laver la vaisselle, à panneau frontal décoratif - Google Patents

Machine à laver, plus particulièrement machine à laver la vaisselle, à panneau frontal décoratif Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0669098A1
EP0669098A1 EP95102172A EP95102172A EP0669098A1 EP 0669098 A1 EP0669098 A1 EP 0669098A1 EP 95102172 A EP95102172 A EP 95102172A EP 95102172 A EP95102172 A EP 95102172A EP 0669098 A1 EP0669098 A1 EP 0669098A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
door
panel
machine according
washing machine
opening
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP95102172A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Giuseppe Schena
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Whirlpool EMEA SpA
Original Assignee
Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA filed Critical Merloni Elettrodomestici SpA
Publication of EP0669098A1 publication Critical patent/EP0669098A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/42—Details
    • A47L15/4251—Details of the casing
    • A47L15/4257—Details of the loading door
    • A47L15/4265—Arrangements of door covering/decoration panels or plinths, e.g. for integrated dishwashers
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L—DOMESTIC WASHING OR CLEANING; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47L15/00—Washing or rinsing machines for crockery or tableware
    • A47L15/42—Details
    • A47L15/4251—Details of the casing
    • A47L15/4257—Details of the loading door
    • A47L15/4259—Arrangements of locking or security/safety devices for doors, e.g. door latches, switch to stop operation when door is open

Definitions

  • the present invention refers to a washing-machine, particularly a household dishwashing machine, comprising a cabinet and a front loading door to which a decor-panel is associated, mainly for cosmetic purposes.
  • Dishwashing machines pertaining to the former type are usually installed after their purchase in any part of the house (kitchen or other room) independently from the other household furnishings, i.e. said machines are purchased individually and installed by the user in the most suitable place.
  • Built-in dishwashing machines are not purchased by the end user but rather by a resaler of built-in furniture to be integrated with other pieces of furniture and are usually covered by a front panel to match said furniture from a cosmetic standpoint (thus, the end user will purchase a set of said built-in pieces of furniture, including a dishwashing machine ).
  • the panel is rigidly fastened to the door so that the former cannot move in respect to the latter.
  • Other machine types have the panel fastened to the door through complex means allowing the former to move in respect to the latter during the door opening motion; said complex systems are usually obtained by means of articulated parallelogram type leverages or by hinging the decor-panel in the upper section of the door.
  • dishwashing machines of the above type are also known equipped with a control panel comprising the various machine associated controls and display devices, where said control panel is also equipped with a door opening grip, which is mechanically connected with a suitable closure latch; usually, the control panel is assembled in line with the upper section of the front loading door, below which said decor-panel is fastened.
  • a control panel as described above is known by way of example from the Italian patent application No. TO91A000374.
  • a household appliance door is particularly described comprising a front wall with an aperture closed by way of a small movable flap within which the fingers of a hand can be introduced; said aperture also has a movable edge whereby the traction exerted by the fingers on said edge causes a preliminary release of the door closing latch.
  • Said solution besides having a pleasant cosmetic result also allows a simple opening of the door through an easily accessible grip and a particularly smooth operating latch.
  • the machine front surface is entirely free and the loading door can be completely covered by the decor-panel to fully integrate the machine with the other kitchen furniture from a cosmetic standpoint.
  • the decor-panel rigidly fastened to the door has a handle, which is a simple grip to allow the user to exert a traction on the door; in such a case the door opening/closing system has a so-called "jerk" opening mechanism, comprising substantially one or more jaws suitable to flexibly lock a corresponding pin (both the jaws and pin are assembled on the door and machine cabinet respectively, or vice versa according to the various solutions).
  • the above opening/closing systems are also provided with safety means suitable to disable the machine power feed when opening the door.
  • the jerk opening system typically called for in cases of a fully integrated dishwashing machine (also used on machines of different types) is not a comfortable one as it requires a certain force to be exerted by the user and a movement being necessarily sudden; moreover, the continuous stress on the handle and consequently on the decor-panel may cause damages and failures to the panel fastening system on the dishwashing machine door.
  • Fully integrated dishwashing machines of the type described above also have the particular problem of making it rather difficult for the user to verify the phase reached by the wash-cycle. Inspection of the dishwashing machines progress is only possible, in fact, by slightly opening the door to view its upper edge where both the controls and display devices are located. However, this inevitably causes an interruption of the wash-cycle.
  • the present invention is based on the acknowledgement that said aims can be attained by equipping the washing machine with a frontal decor-panel substantially hinged on the lower half of the loading door, so as to swing in its upper section and therefore be retracted from said section of the door.
  • reference number 1 indicates a vertically assembled door hinged in its lower section to the machine cabinet;
  • reference number 2 indicates an aperture on the front side of door 1;
  • reference number 3 indicates a movable arm as detailed further on located inside the aperture 2;
  • reference number 4 indicates a lever pivoted in 4A which is a part of the door closure latch mechanism;
  • reference number 5 indicates a pin engaging a fork obtained in lever 4; pin 5 is connected through a bar 6 to the household cabinet (lever 4, bar 6 and pin 5 form the actual latch operated by the arm 3).
  • the dishwashing machine is of the fully integrated type, i.e. it is equipped with a decor-panel as best seen in 7, e.g.. made of wood, fully covering the front loading door 1; the display and control devices shown with A and B respectively are located on the upper edge of the door so as to be concealed and protected by a front projection 8 of the machine's upper worktop when door 1 is closed.
  • Reference number 9 indicates a coupling element integral to panel 7, suitable to cooperate with the end of the arm 3.
  • Reference number 10 indicates the hinged point of a lever as indicated by reference number 11 integral to movable arm 3; lever 11 has in its upper part a first approximately triangular recess 12 to which a mechanical tooth shaped projection 13 integral to the described lever 4 engages when the door is closed.
  • the lever 11 itself shows above a second recess 14 located on the right side of the previous one, which is engaged by projection 13 when the door is open, as described in the following.
  • lever 11 In its hinged point lever 11 is further equipped with a spiral spring 15, which tends to rotate the lever clockwise.
  • Reference number 16 indicates on the contrary a spiral spring tending to rotate lever 4 anticlockwise, i.e. with the latch in open position; reference number 17 indicates a fixed element provided to restrict lever 4 motion.
  • Reference numbers 18 and 19 indicate a safety push-button switch and a microswitch of a substantially known type, which are series connected to each other within the machine power feed circuit and which provide for power cut-out every time the door is opened or is being opened, as better described in the following.
  • reference number 20 indicates a handgrip integral to panel 7 which allows the user exert a traction for opening the door.
  • the fastening system of the decor-panel 7 to door 1 in a possible embodiment, better described in the following, allows panel 7 upper section to swing and consequently move away from the upper section of the door 1.
  • panel 7 is hinged at point F of door 1 near the lower edge of the latter; on an upper position in respect to said fulcrum F panel 7 is associated with door 1 through connecting means L, which also operate to limit both the panel passage and return.
  • Figures 3 and 4 show by way of an explanatory and not limiting example, a possible embodiment of the coupling system or hinging between door 1 and decor-panel 7.
  • reference number 21 indicates a small supporting bracket comprising a central pin 21A; two such brackets 21 are fastened in a usual known manner on both the right and left sides of door 1, near its lower end in a suitable recess obtained on the metal surface of the door 1; 22 indicates a hooking element, e.g. in plastic material, with a tang 23; two said hooking elements 22 are fastened in a usual known manner on the inner face of the decor-panel 7, in a position corresponding that of brackets 21 and such to allow a correct positioning of panel 7 on door 1.
  • Hinging the panel 7 to the lower section of the door 1 is obtained by coupling mutually elements 22 to brackets 21, passing over the central pins 21A, which form the system linkage (F, figure 2) with tangs 23, i.e. the decor-panel 7 on which the hooking elements 22 are fastened, approaches the door to let coupling element 9 enter aperture 2 and position itself under movable arm 3, whereas tangs 23 are inserted into brackets 21; as a result, the panel will be applied to the lower section of the door and remain supported in position by means of the brackets 21 and tangs 23.
  • bracket 21 and a pair of elements 22 a single bracket 21 and a single element 22-23 (e.g. in the form of a horizontal traverse) of suitable length may be foreseen.
  • reference number 26 indicates a small plastic cylinder inserted from inside the door 1 into a hole on the door itself.
  • a screw 27 is inserted into the small cylinder 26 and tightened on panel 7 to fasten it to door 1; as it will be seen, screw 27 is inserted into a second small cylinder or spacer 27A to avoid excessive tightening; the hole on the door will then be closed by a plastic plug 28; a second similar screw not shown in the figure, cooperating with a second small cylinder and a second plug, clamps the panel on the other side.
  • return springs are advantageously provided for, one of which can be seen under 29, interacting between the head of screws 27 and the bottom of the small cylinder 26, suitable to maintain panel 7 flexibly adjacent to door 1.
  • decor-panel 7 is coupled with door 1 in such a way to be able to separate it from the door in its upper section through a slight traction exerted by the user and move away from the door without opening the latter.
  • brackets 21 may be replaced by at least a couple of slots cut on the door 1 sheet.
  • hinging the panel on the lower side may be obtained using more complex hinge elements, with suitable flexible return elements, such as a special flat spring.
  • the user operates the handgrip 20 exerting a slight pull forward; as said decor-panel 7 is fastened in such a way to retract on the top, so that the user's pull causes a slight separation of panel 7 from door 1, which is at its maximum in the upper section of the door.
  • microswitch 19 Said displacement of panel 7 is detected by a rod 19A causing microswitch 19 to open.
  • microswitch 19 intervenes practically instantaneously within the lapse of time from separation of panel 7 and actual opening of door 1, as it intervenes faster in respect to safety switch 18 (this is possible also due to the fact that rod 19A also detects any slight motions).
  • a time margin sufficient for avoiding the above risk is attained, i.e. the displacement occurring between the decor-panel and the door allows a power feed cut-out to the machine even before the door is opened.
  • switch 18 In its downward motion lever 11 determines the pressure of push-button switch 18, which causes a further cut-out of the power circuit and warrants the required safety.
  • Switches 18 and 19 are in fact connected in series to each other: thus, the open condition of the power circuit is maintained constant by switch 18 as long as the door (or, if preferable, the latch) remains open; now, even if the user releases handgrip 20 (and consequently panel 7) causing a cut-out of microswitch 19, there will be no risk that the machine may resume operation.
  • tooth 13 is engaged in the second recess 14 maintaining lever 4 fork turned towards pin 5 and switch 15 open as mentioned; tooth 13 position in the recess 14 is maintained through the aid of spring 15 action.
  • pin 5 and lever 4 come into contact; specifically, pin 5 fits in the fork obtained in lever 4, which is forced to rotate clockwise up to its starting position; then, tooth 13 moves away from the second recess 14 to the first recess 12 and lever 11 rotates upwards under spring 15 action, releasing switch 18 and going back to the starting conditions shown in figure 1 of door 1 hooked and switch 18 closed.
  • the machine can be equipped with a simple smoothly operating open/close system without any risks for the user and avoiding the usual problems caused by the dishwashing machines equipped with a jerk opening system.
  • retracting may be greater in other embodiments.
  • figure 7 shows a dishwashing machine according to a particularly advantageous embodiment of the present invention (in said figure the same reference numbers of figure 1 are used).
  • the fully integrated type dishwashing machine shown in figure 7 has the main control devices on the upper edge of the door according to the known state of the art, whereas the machine operation display devices indicated with B are located on the front side of the door, in correspondence with its upper end or top corner.
  • the coupling between arm 3 and element 9 will be designed to have the latter cooperating with the former only upon overcoming a first part of the passage accomplished by panel 7, over which the latch may be released as described above; to this purpose it is possible to realise elements 26-29 in such a way that the tensioning of springs 29 will signal the user of the approaching limit of said passage: in such a case, so as to warrant adjacency between the door 1 and panel 7 one or more magnetic elements integral to the panel and engaging the sheet material of the door or several springs of a different type and/or tension could be provided.
  • microswitch 19 or its rod 19A can be positioned in such a way so as to intervene upon overcoming said first section of passage.
  • FIG 8 A further embodiment of a fully integrated dishwashing machine according to the present invention is shown in figure 8, which is realised by substantially using the above described hooking and coupling systems.
  • the upper section of door 1 also has a seat for an oscillating element 30, e.g. made of plastic material and with a substantially round section, whose top surface bears the display devices A to indicate the status of the wash-cycle progress, which are powered from inside the door 1.
  • an oscillating element 30 e.g. made of plastic material and with a substantially round section, whose top surface bears the display devices A to indicate the status of the wash-cycle progress, which are powered from inside the door 1.
  • the oscillating element 30 is able to take two positions :
  • the oscillating element 30 is free to take on its working position and the user can easily inspect the display devices A (figure 8, part A). It should also be mentioned that in such a case element 30 acts as a cover, concealing the free space between door and panel when viewed from above and eventually as a marker for the limit over which the door controlled release mechanism will be operated.
  • the oscillating element 30 may also be equipped with control devices of the dishwashing machine, e.g. in the form of keys, in which case the user will have the opportunity of inspecting the machine also with the door 1 closed (one of said keys, mechanical type, could eventually control the latch release); it is also clear that the oscillating element 30 itself may be associated with the open/close mechanism shown in figure 1 in order to carry out the functions of the coupling element 9; in such a case the oscillating element 30 should also be connected in use with the decor-panel 7, something of which can be obtained in a very simple and known way.
  • the present invention allows to also realise a fully integrated type dishwashing machine, wherein the display and/or control devices are normally covered by the decor-panel but can be inspected and/or operated if required without having to open the front loading door and without any risks.
  • arm 3 and element 9 may be differently shaped provide for a different coupling system.
  • both the position and shape of the microswitch 19 may differ from the ones shown in the figures.
  • the fastening system of the decor-panel to the door may be different, without prejudice to the capability of allowing upon the first retraction of such to allow for the functioning of the open/close mechanism and/or activation of the safety microswitch, and/or control of display and command devices.
  • control panel may have very small dimensions, as it would only contain machine controls B and display devices A and no longer the operating handle for the opening system. Therefore it therefore clear that in the case of machines controlled by way of keys and equipped with display lights, the part of the control panel in sight would be extremely small in size, in the order of 3 to 4 centimetres.
  • FIG 10. A further possible embodiment of the present invention applicable to a fully integrated type dishwashing machine is shown in figure 10.
  • the machine shown in figure 10 has the elements already described referring to figure 2 and its door 1 is provided with a lock/release device M comprising a latch of the controlled pre-release type (i.e. as described in Italian patent application no. TO91A000374 previously mentioned).
  • the opening action of the door 7 of the dishwashing machine is "split" in two different stages :

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  • Washing And Drying Of Tableware (AREA)
EP95102172A 1994-02-23 1995-02-16 Machine à laver, plus particulièrement machine à laver la vaisselle, à panneau frontal décoratif Withdrawn EP0669098A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ITTO940113 1994-02-23
IT94TO000113A IT1266814B1 (it) 1994-02-23 1994-02-23 Macchina di lavaggio, in particolare lavastoviglie domestica, con pannello decorativo frontale mobile.

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0669098A1 true EP0669098A1 (fr) 1995-08-30

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ID=11412185

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP95102172A Withdrawn EP0669098A1 (fr) 1994-02-23 1995-02-16 Machine à laver, plus particulièrement machine à laver la vaisselle, à panneau frontal décoratif

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EP (1) EP0669098A1 (fr)
IT (1) IT1266814B1 (fr)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0772996A3 (fr) * 1994-11-10 1998-07-15 Miele & Cie. GmbH & Co. Appareil electro-ménager, en particulier lave-vaisselle
EP1366703A1 (fr) * 2002-05-30 2003-12-03 Bonferraro S.p.A. Appareil ménager intégré avec un panneau décoratif fixé sur la porte
EP1374753A1 (fr) * 2002-06-20 2004-01-02 Bonferraro S.p.A. Appareil ménager avec un panneau décoratif appliqué sur la porte
EP1935313A1 (fr) * 2006-12-19 2008-06-25 Bonferraro S.p.A. Appareil domestique encastré avec panneau décoratif attaché sur la porte
WO2009132813A1 (fr) * 2008-04-29 2009-11-05 Miele & Cie. Kg Lave-vaisselle
CN101103890B (zh) * 2006-07-12 2010-05-19 三星电子株式会社 洗碗机
US9055851B2 (en) 2007-06-15 2015-06-16 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Locking system for a dishwasher
CN108577727A (zh) * 2018-04-12 2018-09-28 佛山市顺德区美的洗涤电器制造有限公司 水槽洗碗机
EP3881747A1 (fr) * 2020-03-16 2021-09-22 Miele & Cie. KG Appareil électroménager

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2464689A1 (fr) * 1979-09-15 1981-03-20 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Appareil menager, notamment lave-vaisselle, muni d'une porte ou d'une avant-plaque
DE9015940U1 (fr) * 1989-11-24 1991-02-07 Industrie Zanussi S.P.A., Pordenone, Udine, It
EP0514984A1 (fr) * 1991-05-21 1992-11-25 MERLONI ELETTRODOMESTICI S.p.A. Porte pour appareil ménager
EP0520963A1 (fr) * 1991-06-26 1992-12-30 SMEG S.p.A. Dispositif pour le montage d'un panneau sur la porte d'un appareil ménager, de façon glissante et pivotante

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2464689A1 (fr) * 1979-09-15 1981-03-20 Bosch Siemens Hausgeraete Appareil menager, notamment lave-vaisselle, muni d'une porte ou d'une avant-plaque
DE9015940U1 (fr) * 1989-11-24 1991-02-07 Industrie Zanussi S.P.A., Pordenone, Udine, It
EP0514984A1 (fr) * 1991-05-21 1992-11-25 MERLONI ELETTRODOMESTICI S.p.A. Porte pour appareil ménager
EP0520963A1 (fr) * 1991-06-26 1992-12-30 SMEG S.p.A. Dispositif pour le montage d'un panneau sur la porte d'un appareil ménager, de façon glissante et pivotante

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0772996A3 (fr) * 1994-11-10 1998-07-15 Miele & Cie. GmbH & Co. Appareil electro-ménager, en particulier lave-vaisselle
EP1366703A1 (fr) * 2002-05-30 2003-12-03 Bonferraro S.p.A. Appareil ménager intégré avec un panneau décoratif fixé sur la porte
EP1374753A1 (fr) * 2002-06-20 2004-01-02 Bonferraro S.p.A. Appareil ménager avec un panneau décoratif appliqué sur la porte
CN101103890B (zh) * 2006-07-12 2010-05-19 三星电子株式会社 洗碗机
EP1935313A1 (fr) * 2006-12-19 2008-06-25 Bonferraro S.p.A. Appareil domestique encastré avec panneau décoratif attaché sur la porte
US9055851B2 (en) 2007-06-15 2015-06-16 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Locking system for a dishwasher
WO2009132813A1 (fr) * 2008-04-29 2009-11-05 Miele & Cie. Kg Lave-vaisselle
US8911563B2 (en) 2008-04-29 2014-12-16 Miele & Cie, Kg Dish washer
CN108577727A (zh) * 2018-04-12 2018-09-28 佛山市顺德区美的洗涤电器制造有限公司 水槽洗碗机
CN108577727B (zh) * 2018-04-12 2023-07-28 佛山市顺德区美的洗涤电器制造有限公司 水槽洗碗机
EP3881747A1 (fr) * 2020-03-16 2021-09-22 Miele & Cie. KG Appareil électroménager

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ITTO940113A0 (it) 1994-02-23
ITTO940113A1 (it) 1995-08-23
IT1266814B1 (it) 1997-01-21

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