EP0772996B1 - Household appliance, in particular dishwasher - Google Patents

Abstract

A dishwasher, washing machine or a similar appliance has a door with a manually openable door fastener. The whole of the door surface is covered by a front plate (6). The plate (6) is fastened on the outer door sheet in such a way that it can be lifted off by the extent of a small gap (S) or shifted in relation to the appliance door (4) on the plate plane to a small extent for the purpose of locking the door (4). The front plate (6) comprises a release lever (18) or similar device on its rear side facing the door fastener.

Description

The subject matter of the invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher, Washer or dryer with an appliance door or the like. With a manual unlockable door lock is provided and the entire outer door panel of a is clad with a door handle element facing plate, which also the door lock with covers, the front panel for unlocking the door from the appliance door by one a small gap can be lifted back and secured to the outer door panel, and that the facing plate has on its back facing the door lock a release lever, which engages in the door lock in a stop-unlocking manner.

Such a household appliance is known from EP-A 0 669 098 A1. The one on the appliance door Front panel attached as door panels, which are on the bottom of the appliance door a hinge is movably attached, is intended to be a device in the front appearance Furniture doors of adjacent cabinets adapt in shape and color when the device, for example to be installed in a row of kitchen cabinets. These can usually be integrated front-loading household dishwashers. A dishwasher designed in this way according to the aforementioned state of the art on the facing cladding panel only the door handle element required to open the door. The usual ones in the upper door area Operating and display elements are concealed in the upper or side edge of the door The appliance door is misplaced and can only be accessed when the appliance door is open (see also DE-OS 32 20 981).

A household appliance designed in this way is generally known as a zipper Door lock equipped. This closure has a toggle joint mechanism that it allowed to open the lock by pulling on the appliance door. The door closes by simply pressing the door. When opening the door there are comparatively larger forces than spending on closing the door. For a zipper one with the attachment plate is sufficient connected door handle element. This corresponds in form and with the built-in device Color the handle elements of the neighboring kitchen furniture doors.

Furthermore, a dishwasher is known in which the control or switch panel is separated child-proof installed in a kitchen cupboard by the appliance (e.g. Miele dishwasher G 563 i). With this dishwasher, the door is unlocked electrically, for which in the separate switch panel a release button with a cable connection to one Lifting magnet is provided in the door lock of the device.

It is also known to equip dishwashers with so-called security door locks, in which the appliance door cannot be opened until a manual lock release has taken place beforehand. For such an unlocking, an additional unlocking handle in the form of a movable handle part, a push button or the like, which engages in the door lock mechanism, is required, which is arranged in the appliance door in the outer door panel or in the control panel body of the appliance. Such unlocking means can be combined with the zippers mentioned at the beginning (see e.g.
DE-GM 84 14 323) or elements of a closure construction that deviates from the toggle principle (see, for example, DE-OS 16 28 505, DE-OS 42 32 834). The problem with these mechanical security door locks, however, is that in the case of a fully clad appliance door for the function-triggering movable handle elements, corresponding panel cutouts or the like must be worked out in the front decorative or furniture panel (see DE-GM 79 14 618) so that these Door lock elements can be operated manually at all. Such cutouts or plate openings, however, significantly restrict the freedom of design of the front of the door.

A dishwasher is also known from German utility model 90 15 940, in the case of the front door panel corresponding to the generic EP-A 0 669 098 A1 is movably attached to the bottom of the appliance door via a joint. The faceplate or that The panel has resilient end actuators in the upper panel area, with which it can be attached to the appliance door is kept tight. On its back facing the door lock, the plate has one Release lever, which engages in the unlocking of the door lock. On the opposite A separate door handle is attached to the outside of the plate. If you pull this door handle, this spreads the attachment plate articulated to the appliance door via the separate hinge device in the area of the door lock by a predetermined angle or gap from the appliance door from. The release lever on the back of the panel takes the door lock lever with it and unlocks the appliance door. The disadvantage of this solution is that in addition to the at least the device door hinge necessary for opening and closing the device door yet another additional hinge or a suitable separate hinge device for Swiveling the front plate is necessary. On the one hand, this increases the amount of construction work involved increased and on the other hand, the household appliance more expensive. Be subject to permanently operated joint connections or hinges increased wear. Can too problems with alignment or with the separate arrangement of hinges Changing the front panel comes, especially if during assembly Screw holes were not made exactly. The invention is also intended to remedy this.

The invention has for its object to a household appliance of the type mentioned create, where already with simpler means, in particular through inclusion the construction effort on the device of existing construction or door elements is reduced becomes.

This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of independent claim 1 and by a further solution according to the features of the independent claim 9th

Advantageous developments of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

The invention also applies to mechanical or electromechanical door locks with manually operated lock releases advantageously possible, the outer door front to freely design a clad device, d. that is, uninterrupted face plates accordingly the door leaves of neighboring kitchen base cabinets can be used. Furthermore, the invention advantageously makes it possible to standardize construction elements, as for models of a household appliance series with differing installation conditions, like free-standing devices or built-in devices, each uses the same door lock principle or even the same door lock can be used. The exploitation of self-elasticity of the outer door panel for the necessary gaps to unlock the appliance door or moving the front panel on the appliance door brings the essential on the one hand Advantage that separate joints or hinge devices for the panel are unnecessary be, since only a slight deflection of the door panel is sufficient to ensure the release to be able to accomplish. This can even lead to expensive and structurally complex Spring means for pressing the facing plate on the door outer panel are dispensed with.

Figur 1

eine Küchenschrankzeile mit integrierter Haushalt-Geschirrspülmaschine, deren Gerätetür außen vollflächig mit einer Dekor- oder Möbelplatte verkleidet ist,

Figur 2

einen Türverschluß der in der Seitenansicht gezeigten Geschirrspülmaschine in vergrößerter Darstellung, bei geschlossener Gerätetür,

Figur 3

den Türverschluß bei entriegelter Gerätetür,

Figur 4

die Geschirrspülmaschine mit geöffneter Gerätetür,

Figur 5a bis 5c

jeweils in der Seitenansicht in vereinfachter Darstellung eine Verbindung zwischen Gerätetür und Vorsatzplatte bei unterschiedlich ausgebildeten Gerätetüren,

Figur 6

die von der Gerätetür nach Fig. 5b leicht abgehobene Vorsatzplatte bei der Türschloßentriegelung,

Figur 6a

die von der Gerätetür nach Fig. 5c leicht abgehobene Vorsatzplatte bei der Türschloßentriegelung,

Figur 7

ein weiteres Ausführungsbeispiel für eine Türentriegelung.

The following description serves to explain the invention, of which exemplary embodiments are shown in the drawings. Show it:

Figure 1

a row of kitchen cupboards with an integrated household dishwasher, the outside of the appliance door is completely covered with a decorative or furniture plate,

Figure 2

2 shows a door lock of the dishwasher shown in the side view in an enlarged view, with the appliance door closed,

Figure 3

the door lock when the appliance door is unlocked,

Figure 4

the dishwasher with the appliance door open,

Figure 5a to 5c

each in side view in a simplified representation of a connection between the appliance door and front panel in the case of differently designed appliance doors,

Figure 6

the facing plate slightly lifted from the appliance door according to FIG. 5b when unlocking the door lock,

Figure 6a

the facing plate slightly lifted from the appliance door according to FIG. 5c when unlocking the door lock,

Figure 7

another embodiment for a door release.

The household appliance shown in FIG. 1 in the front view is preferably one in a kitchen cabinet row (1) integrated household dishwasher (2) with one Wash cabinet (3). This washing compartment (3) is opened manually by an appliance door (4) or closed (Fig. 2 to 4). The appliance door (4) is about a bearing axis (24) on the device housing, not shown, can be swiveled and becomes one Door outer panel (10) and a door inner panel (27) connected to this. As known, these door panels each consist of relatively thin ones Sheet materials with inherent elasticity. Sh. also Fig. 5c and 6a.

The outside of the appliance door (4) is provided with an attachment plate (6) in the shape of an entire surface Decorative or furniture panel clad, which in shape and color matches the furniture doors (7) corresponds to the kitchen base cabinets adjacent to the device. The front plate (6) also covers the door lock (5) provided in the appliance door (4) with from.

The door lock (5), Fig. 2, is designed as a safety lock in which a Opening of the appliance door (4) takes place in accordance with a known lock principle can, if a manual lock release took place beforehand. For this unlocking is via a door opening (8) in itself elastic or accessible from outside spring-back door panel (10) or panel body Unlocking element (9) is provided, which in the door lock mechanism intervenes. The unlocking element (9) corresponds to the one selected here In the simplest case, the lock type is a lever which is pivotally mounted in the appliance door. The unlocking element (9) can also be used as a pivotable grip element Form a recessed grip, such as that of partially clad dishwasher doors is known here. For manual door unlocking before opening the wash cabinet (3) Instead of a lever, one that engages in the door lock mechanism straight plunger or the like.

The unlocking element (9), for example designed as a lever, is against spring force can be swiveled clockwise and with one into the door interior (11) projecting lever end (12), which according to FIGS. 2 and 3 depending on the position a locking element also pivotable against spring action (Fork latch 14) of the door lock (5) blocked or unlocked in its movement. The locking element (14) is a corresponding locking cam (15) on the device housing (16) in the closing path of the door. Is this Locking element (14) unlocked (Fig. 3 or 4), so it runs when closing the door against the locking cam (15) and swivels, controlled by the locking cam (15), in its blocked position (Fig. 2) back.

The attachment plate (6) fastened to the appliance door (4) has a front For example, screwed on door handle element (17), which also with the neighboring Furniture door (7) is inserted. The rest of the plate surface is free of Operating and / or display elements and can be designed as desired. They don't Device controls shown for program selection are, for example, how known per se, in the upper or side door edge area of the appliance door (4) misplaced and only accessible when the appliance door (4) is open. The program selector and displays can also be separated from the device in one child-proof control panel mounted under a kitchen wall cabinet become.

Around the unlocking element (9) of the door lock, which is covered by the facing plate (6) (5) Operate easily and safely from the front of the paneled door To be able, a release lever (18) or on the back of the attachment plate (6) Screwed element, for example. The release lever (18) protrudes through the door opening (8) into the appliance door (4), engages behind, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, with its angled lever end the unlocking element (9) and provides an effective connection to the unlocking element (9). The lever (18) could but can also be detachably suspended in the element (9). As mentioned at the beginning, the unlocking element (9) can also be a recessed grip.

The front plate (6) of the appliance door (4) can be replaced and by a small amount Gap (S) or by a small gap width (Fig. 3) from the outer door panel (10) superior.

According to the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 5a to 5c and FIGS. 6, 6a, the in Rest position close to the appliance door (4) or the outer door panel (10) Attachment plate (6) in the lower door area with the outer door panel (10) of the appliance door (4) rigid or solid according to the invention (but releasable, preferably by Screws 25) connected. This plate connection point or this fixed mount point 19 for the panel in the lower door area comprises a flat area (see in particular detail X, Fig. 5c and 6a) such that a movement the facing plate (6) is transferred directly to the outer door panel (10). Accordingly pulled on the front panel (6) in the upper door area to unlock the door lock, this results in a slight returning change in shape of the springback or elastic door outer panel (10) in the area of the panel connection point (19). The deflection (26), Fig. 6a, or change in shape of the Door outer plate (10) allows without the interposition of a separate Hinge or hinge between the attachment plate (6) and appliance door (4) the formation of the aforementioned gap (S) for unlocking the door. The outer door panel (10) is elastic or slightly springing back at least in the area of the plate connection point educated.

In addition to the "rigid" attachment plate connections or suspension points (19), sh. 5 to 6, in the lower appliance door area (detail X), can Upper device door area still "movable" door attachment points provided become. The mobility of the front plate (6) is so with this type of attachment hit that the attachment plate (6) against the force of one or more Spring elements (13), which between the facing plate (6) and outer door panel (10) are clamped, can be deducted. Support these spring elements (13) the inherent elasticity of the outer door panel used for the plate deflection (10). The facing plate (6), which has been removed according to the gap width (S), is after releasing the door handle element (17) accelerates against the outer door panel (10) spring back.

If the door handle element (17) is pulled while the appliance door (4) is still locked (Fig. 3, 6, 6a), the plate movement is transferred to the release lever (18), which pulls on the unlocking element (9) in the direction of the arrow (P) and the door lock (5) unlocked (Fig. 3, 4).

The lifting movement of the front plate (6) is such that the largest possible gap (S) between the outer door panel (10) and the raised facing plate (6) is a few millimeters (e.g. 5 mm). This allows the front panel (6) to move back after unlocking the door no bruising occurs. The small gap (S) can be replaced by a Limit stop (22) of the pulled unlocking element (9) in the door interior (11) or, for example, by a stop provided on the appliance door (4) for the attachment plate (6) can be fixed or limited.

The aforementioned spring elements (13) serve primarily the purpose that the Attachment plate (6) in the idle state (unlocked or opened door) tight and secure on the appliance door (4) or that the plate unlocks this position after each unlocking resumes automatically (Fig. 4). For example, as spring elements (13) spring clips hooked into the outer door panel are used When manually pulling on the fixed door handle element (17), deflect the plate (see also Fig. 2 to 4, 5a).

The aforementioned spring action can, however, according to FIGS. 5b and 6 also by the Door outer panel (10) of the appliance door (4) can be reached even if this panel For example, by a slight warp (23), a crown or a similar. Expression is trained. The aforementioned spring elements (13) could, if necessary but can also be used in addition. The sheet warp (23) is also advantageous for supporting the sheet elasticity for the Formation of the front panel gap can be used.

In the previous description it was assumed that the facing plate (6) for unlocking the door from the appliance door (4) by a small gap (S) becomes. It is also conceivable to unlock the door lock by means of a vertical one and / or lateral plate displacement, the release lever (18) this shift in the plate plane follows. This can be done by lifting, lowering or moving the plate in the plane, if necessary, to a small plate protrusion by a small amount (SW) compared to the outer edge of the appliance door. The above-mentioned solution is indicated by way of example in FIG. 7. The needed small pivoting movement (SW) of the front plate (6) can, for. B. by a staggered design of the suspension points or the rigid panel connection (19) in the lower door area and a corresponding arrangement of possibly spring elements (13) provided in the upper door area can be reached. Possible is also pulling off the front panel (6) parallel to the outer door panel (10). This could be done at the top and bottom and, if necessary, in the corners of the facing plate (6) resilient sheet metal connections are created.

If the appliance door (4) locked in FIG. 2 or 5a to 5c is to be opened, then on the door handle element (17) of the facing panel (6). The front plate (6) lifts the resulting deformation or warping (deflection 26, Fig. 6a) of the elastic door outer panel (10) in the panel connection area (Detail X) slightly from the outer door panel (10) when still locked and from the door lock (5) held on the appliance door (4) in the upper plate area (see Figs. 3, 6 and 6a). As a result, the release lever (18) is moved and pulled the unlocking element (9) up to the stop (22) to the front (Fig. 3, 4). hereby the locking element (14) is released and the door lock (5) unlocks. The facing plate (6) lies back on the outer door panel (10). The door is now released for further opening according to FIG. 4, wherein the locking element (14) from the area of the locking cam (15) swings out and remains in this position until the door closes. As well the unlocking element (9) remains in the direction directed against the stop (22) Unlocked position.

When the door is closed, the unlocked locking element (14) runs against the Locking cam (15) and swivels, controlled by the locking cam (15), back to its blocking or door locking position. In this position it is held by spring force until the next unlocking process. In the door locking position, the unlocking element (9) is released again and falls back by spring force into the starting position according to FIG. 2.

It is the same with an electrically unlockable one Door lock (5) possible, the movable attachment plate (6) itself or Release lever (18; 21) directly on the unlocking door release switch, z. B. a microswitch arranged in the appliance door act to let. The microswitch can control, for example, a solenoid, which Unlocking element (9) moves.

A simple and advantageous assembly of the front plate (6) results when the Position of the front plate (6) on the appliance door (4) preferably over one or more formed on the outer door panel (10) or separately with the outer door panel (10) connected adjustment devices (28) according to FIGS. 5c and 6a is adjustable. The attachment plate (6) can be detached from the outer door panel via the adjusting devices (28) (10) connected.

The invention comes from the desire to standardize construction elements advantageous against, because for devices of a series, however different installation conditions must meet (as free-standing devices or Built-in devices), each using the same door lock principle or even same door locks can be used.

It is understood that the invention also for built-in washing machines or tumble dryers is usable, the appliance doors or outer door panels also over the entire surface to be clad with a decorative or furniture panel. Instead of an appliance door (4) could also be the device housing cover of such a device be designed according to the invention when loading the device from above is. The invention includes such devices. Nor is it absolutely necessary that the elastic door outer panels are made of a metal material have to be. A plastic material could also be used, the Intrinsic elasticity for the plate movement can be exploited according to the invention would. The invention also includes such “sheets”.

Claims (9)

1. Domestic appliance, more especially a dishwasher, washing machine or washer-dryer, including an appliance door or the like, which is provided with a manually unlockable door fastening, and the outer sheet metal door panel of which appliance door is covered over its entire surface by an additional plate, which is provided with a door gripping means and also covers the door fastening, wherein, for the purpose of unlocking the door, the additional plate is mounted on the outer sheet metal door panel so as to be displaceable from the appliance door by a slight gap in a spring-back manner, and in that the additional plate has a release lever on its rear side facing the door fastening, which lever engages in the door fastening so as to unlock the door in a manner limited by stops, characterised in that the additional plate (6) is connected to the outer sheet metal door panel (10) of the appliance door (4), in the lower door region, in a fixed or rigid, but detachable surface-to-surface manner, and in that the outer sheet metal door panel (10) is resilient or can spring-back, at least in this region, in such a manner that the deflection (26) of the outer sheet metal door panel (10) permits the formation of the gap.
2. Domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the outer sheet metal door panel (10) is provided with a slight sheet metal distortion (23), bulge or similar sheet metal extension for the purpose of achieving the resilient effect or to aid the deflection (26) for the movement of the additional plate.
3. Domestic appliance according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that the additional plate (6) is bracket-mounted so as to lie adjacent the outer sheet metal door panel (10) of the appliance door (4) and is detachably screw-connected to the outer sheet metal door panel (10).
4. Domestic appliance according to one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the gap (S) between the outer sheet metal door panel (10) of the appliance door (4) and the displaced additional plate (6) amounts to a few millimetres at the upper end of the plate.
5. Domestic appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the door fastening (5) is electrically unlockable and has a microswitch which is disposed in the appliance door (4) and is in operative connection via the release lever (18), which is connected to the additional plate (6).
6. Domestic appliance according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the position of the additional plate (6) on the appliance door (4) is adjustable via one or more adjusting devices (28), which are preferably provided on the outer sheet metal door panel (10) or are separately connected to the outer sheet metal door panel (10).
7. Domestic appliance according to one or more of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the additional plate (6) is detachably connected to the outer sheet metal door panel (10) via the adjusting devices (28).
8. Domestic appliance according to one or more of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that, for the purpose of unlocking the door, the additional plate (6) is mounted in parallel manner on the outer sheet metal door panel (10) so as to be displaceable from the appliance door (4) by a slight gap (S).
9. Domestic appliance, more especially a dishwasher, washing machine or washer-dryer, including an appliance door or the like, which is provided with a manually unlockable door fastening, and the outer sheet metal door panel of which appliance door is covered over its entire surface by an additional plate, which is provided with a door gripping means and also covers the door fastening, wherein, for the purpose of unlocking the door, the additional plate is mounted on the outer sheet metal door panel so as to be displaceable from the appliance door by a small dimension in a spring-back manner, and in that the additional plate has a release lever on its rear side facing the door fastening, which lever engages in the door fastening so as to unlock the door in a manner limited by stops, characterised in that, for the purpose of unlocking the door, the additional plate (6) is laterally displaceable relative to the appliance door (4) in the plate plane by a small dimension (SW), and in that the additional plate (6) is connected to the outer sheet metal door panel (10) of the appliance door (4), in the lower door region, in a fixed or rigid, but detachable surface-to-surface manner, the outer sheet metal door panel (10) being resilient or being able to spring back, at least in this region, in such a manner that the deflection (26) of the outer sheet metal door panel (10) permits the formation of the gap.

Images