EP2494908A2 - Dishwasher with adjustable top basket - Google Patents

Abstract

A washing tank has top portion equipped with an upper basket (22) for receiving items to be washed. The upper basket has a horizontally extending bottom wall (30) and a perpendicular side wall (28). The upper basket includes a fixed portion (32) and a movable portion (34) movable relative to fixed portion. The portion (38) of the bottom wall (30) is movable between different height positions with respect to the portion (40) of the bottom wall.

Description

The invention relates to a dishwasher with an adjustable upper basket.

A dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher, has a washing container, which is generally cuboid and has at the front a door opening which can be closed by a front door. Location information such as "top", "bottom" or "front" refers to the operating position of the machine when it is ready for operation. In the upper part of the washing container an upper basket is arranged, in the lower area i.d.R. a lower basket. In the lower and upper basket, items to be washed, e.g. Pots, crockery and cutlery stored. The maximum available height space for dishes in the lower basket is limited in terms of the available height by the upper basket and its lower bottom wall. A usual maximum plate size, which can be adjusted vertically in a dishwasher, is today around 33 - 35 cm. The problem is the rinsing of higher items or larger items such. Baking trays, tall pots or oversized plates, such as pizza plates or serving plates. It is known to lay these parts across the lower basket. This wastes space for more parts to be washed. Alternatively, it is known to remove the upper basket as a whole from the washing container, which is then no longer available for loading with additional items to be washed.

From the DE 200 19 480 U1 a dishwashing machine is known, which contains in the upper region of the washing container instead of an upper basket, for example, two hinged against the wall of the washing rack shelves. Here, for example, a rack can be folded down to obtain a kind of upper basket on which items can be placed. The other rack can be folded up. The released space in the upper region of the washing container is then available for particularly large items to be washed, which can be placed in the corresponding area of the lower basket.

Alternatively, from the US 2010/0314977 A1 a top basket for a dishwasher known. A portion of the bottom wall is pivotable together with a portion of the side wall to create a gap in a portion of the upper basket. In the vacated gap can then protrude from below again large items to be washed, which are located in the lower basket. The remaining upper basket is still available for the use of items to be washed.

The aim of the present invention is to allow in a dishwasher a simultaneous rinsing of oversized dishes and / or household or cooking utensils with the usual daily amount of crockery without having to accept a very limited overall functionality of upper and lower basket in purchasing.

The object of the present invention is to specify an improved dishwasher.

The object is achieved by a dishwasher according to claim 1. This has a washing container with a arranged in the upper region of the washing container upper basket for receiving items to be washed. The upper basket has a, in particular approximately horizontally extending, bottom wall and a bordering this, upwardly projecting or projecting, in particular approximately perpendicular, side wall or dish rack bottom boundary wall. The bottom wall is in particular that portion of the dish basket that is surrounded or enclosed by its side wall. In a rectangular plan view of the dish rack, its bottom wall may preferably be enclosed on four sides by the side wall. The side wall can thus have a plurality of wall parts. The bottom and side walls of the upper basket are in this case e.g. Metal or plastic grid structures or basket mats or perforated plastic elements. "In approximately horizontal" means here that items to be washed can be placed on the bottom wall, a certain inclination, ie tilting from the horizontal can be provided here.

The upper basket has a fixed first partial area and a second, movable partial area. The first portion includes only part of the bottom wall and all or part of the side wall. The second subarea is movable between at least two positions relative to the first subarea. In all positions, the second portion forms at least a portion of the bottom wall of the upper basket. For different positions, the portion of the bottom wall assigned to the second subregion assumes different altitudes with respect to the latter Altitude of the part of the bottom wall of the first partial area. In this case, for at least one position, the section assumes an altitude above the altitude of the part of the bottom wall of the first subarea. The different elevations refer to different levels of height with respect to a vertical.

The second portion of the upper basket does not form a separate, separate from the rest of the upper basket built-in, but an integral part of the upper basket, so belongs to this. In other words, the upper basket is thus transformable between different design variants with respect to its geometry or the course of its bottom wall.

According to the invention, the entire bottom area of the upper basket is designed so that at least part of it, namely the portion of the bottom wall associated with the second partial area, can be varied with respect to its height. In at least one position, the section is raised relative to the remaining bottom wall. Thus, space is created for larger pieces of crockery to be used thereunder, but the bottom wall is at least partially preserved even in this area - above the large crockery parts. Nevertheless, above the larger pieces of dishes to be placed, the bottom wall in the second portion of the upper basket can still be used for storage of particularly flat ware, e.g. be used by cutlery.

According to the invention thus space for higher items in the lower basket is provided without having to remove the upper basket or parts of it and to waste without storage space for flat items above the particularly large items to be washed.

The locking of the second partial area in one position takes place e.g. by clips, hooks, latching, clamping devices or similar elements which may be associated with the first or second sub-area.

Such a concept disclosed for the upper basket can also be used for the lower basket in order to create, for example, engine room, similar to refrigerators, and to adapt lower baskets to different heights of the bottom of the washing compartment. So can for a dishwasher series with different bottom designs of the washing a single lower cage model can be created whose bottom wall can be moved to different positions. The space created by adjusting the lower rack can then not be used for items to be washed but for machine components. The invention can also be combined in particular with a segmented spray system, which, for example, from the EP 1 458 276 B1 is known.

Other advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, for at least one position, the section assumes an altitude that is equal to the altitude of the bottom wall of the first section. In other words, in this position, the entire bottom wall then resembles that of a conventional, non-transformable upper basket. The bottom wall is then e.g. essentially flat and extending over the entire available area between the side walls. The upper basket is then adjustable between at least two positions, namely the "normal" position just described - corresponding to a conventional upper basket - and at least one further position with a raised portion of the bottom wall - for increased items in the lower basket.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the section for at least two positions on an equal inclination with respect to the horizontal. In other words, the portion of the bottom wall between these two positions is only height adjustable, without being tilted or tilted. Thus, especially at both altitudes, the section can be used in the same way and runs z. B. always horizontally to store there cutlery. The section is thus e.g. in both positions in a horizontal orientation or is tilted for example between 10 ° and 20 ° about a longitudinal or transverse axis of the dishwasher.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the section covers in all positions together with the bottom wall of the first portion always the entire area bounded by the side wall surface. In other words, so in the bottom wall of the upper basket, regardless of the currently selected positions not unusable gaps, but the upper basket is usable in its entire base by placing ware. However, an alternative embodiment is also conceivable in which At least one position, a part of the bottom wall is recessed. The section then covers only a portion of that area of the bottom wall associated with the second portion. In other words, the upper basket then contains an opening in the bottom wall in the second partial area, which allows passage of a washing basket located in the lower basket through the upper basket or its bottom wall. In this area, the maximum height of the washing container can then be used for items located in the lower basket, without being obstructed by the upper basket.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the second partial area substantially comprises only the portion of the bottom wall. The second subarea thus does not include any subarea of the side wall. This belongs completely to the first section. In this embodiment, therefore, the second partial area is merely a height-adjustable section of the bottom wall.

In another expedient embodiment, the second portion includes a first and a second wing. First and / or second wing are connected to the first portion and / or interconnected or articulated. In each position, the first and / or second wings form the portion of the bottom wall. For example, In a first position, the first wing forms a portion of the bottom wall and the second wing forms a portion of the sidewall. In a second position, this is reversed, i. the first wing forms a portion of the sidewall and the second wing forms a portion of the bottom wall. The second subregion thus forms a double function in both positions. Namely, it forms part of the bottom wall and part of the side wall, which leads to a particularly good material utilization in the upper basket.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the second subregion is arranged in a side region of the upper basket. The upper basket is usually to the front of the dishwasher, so through the door opening out of the washing out extendable. The addressed side area is then the left or right edge region of the upper basket, which thus each adjacent to a left or right pull-out rail. So even when inserting high items to be washed in the lower basket both this and the upper basket can be inserted or removed without disturbing engagement of the items to be washed. Alternatively, however, the partial region can also be arranged, for example, on the front or rear side of the upper basket or in a middle region.

In another embodiment, a spraying device, in particular a rotatable spray arm or a top basket spray, is assigned to the upper basket in the dishwasher. This acts on the upper basket with rinsing liquor. According to the invention, the spraying device is e.g. Upper basket then the second part of the area or away from it, ie in particular in the lateral direction parallel to the door opening slidably. If, for example, in one position the section has been lowered at the level of the remaining bottom wall, the spray device, such as e.g. Upper basket shower moved to the second part of the area and thus covers substantially the entire upper basket area centrally. If the upper basket is transformed so that the section is moved upwards and stored on this only flat dishwashing, the spraying device such. Upper basket shower be moved away from the second part area and so centrally rinse the remaining area of the bottom of the upper basket in the first part area.

The above-described and / or reproduced in the subclaims advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention can thereby - except, for example. in cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives - individually or else in any combination with each other in the dishwasher according to the invention are used.

• Fig. 1 eine Geschirrspülmaschine mit erfindungsgemäß ausgebildeten Oberkorb in perspektivischer Darstellung,
• Fig. 2 den Oberkorb aus Fig. 1 im Detail,
• Fig. 3 einen alternativen Oberkorb in Frontansicht,
• Fig. 4 einen alternativen Oberkorb in Frontansicht.

The invention and its advantageous embodiments and further developments and advantages thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. They show, in each case in a schematic outline sketch:

• Fig. 1 a dishwasher with inventively designed upper basket in a perspective view,
• Fig. 2 the upper basket off Fig. 1 in detail,
• Fig. 3 an alternative upper basket in front view,
• Fig. 4 an alternative upper basket in front view.

Fig. 1 shows a dishwasher 2 with a view towards the front side 4. There is a door opening 6 in order to provide the interior of the dishwasher 2 forming rinse tank 8 with items to be washed 10b. A door 12 which closes the door opening 6 during operation is therefore indicated unfolded. The Dishwasher 2 is set up ready, ie aligned with your side walls in the direction of a vertical 14. In a lower region 16 of the washing container 8, a lower basket 18, in an upper region 20 of the washing container 8, an upper basket 22 is arranged. Upper basket 22 and lower basket 18 are held on the rinse tank 8 by means of guide rails 24 or other holding / Auszieheinrichtungen and along the double arrow 26 to the door opening 6, ie in the longitudinal direction of the dishwasher to the front 4 out pulled out. The upper basket 22 includes an approximately perpendicular side wall 28 which defines an approximately horizontally extending bottom wall 30. Both in the lower basket 18 and in the upper basket 22 ware 10 is inserted.

The upper basket 22 has a fixed first partial area 32 and a second partial area 34 that is movable relative to the first partial area 32. In the embodiment, the second portion 34 forms a - viewed in plan view from the front of the door opening 6 - right side portion 36 of the upper basket 22. This is thus the right guide rail 24 faces. However, the second portion 34 could also be arranged in an embodiment, not shown, on the opposite left side region.

Fig. 2 shows the upper basket 22 in detail. In the illustrated embodiment, the second portion 34 comprises only a portion 38 of the bottom wall 30, but no part of the side wall 28. This belongs alone to the first portion 32. The first portion 32 includes the remaining part 40 of the bottom wall 30 and all side walls 28 and a also perpendicularly extending partition wall 42. This delimits the part 40 of the bottom wall to the second portion 34 toward. The bottom wall 30 contains support structures 41 for simplified or improved storage of ware 10.

The two-part bottom wall 30 is in Fig. 2 hatched shown. Their section 38 is designed to be movable relative to the remaining part 40 or the remainder of the upper basket 22, that is to say the first partial area 32. The mobility consists here in a height adjustment in the direction of the vertical 14th Fig. 2 shows the second portion 34 shown in solid lines in a first position A. The locking of the second portion 34 and the portion 38 of the bottom wall 30 on the first portion 32, in particular the side wall 28 and the partition wall 42, in or the adjustment between the positions AC takes place by hooks, not shown, latching, Snap-on, clamped connections or similar. Thus, the section 38 can be easily changed between the positions A - C by an operator, not shown.

The section 38 has in the position A to an altitude H ₂ , which lies above an altitude H _{0 of} the remaining part 40 of the bottom wall 30. The altitudes H _0.2 refer to different positions in the direction of the vertical 14th

As in Fig. 1 can be seen, the positioning of the section 38 in the height H ₂ in the upper region 20, so in the upper basket 22 space for particularly high items to be washed 10, which is mounted in the lower basket 18. Nevertheless, the section 38 can continue to be used to 10 above the elevated items to be washed 10 further items, eg flat cutlery, store on the section 38. The space above the particularly high items to be washed 10 can therefore continue to be used for items 10.

The second portion 34 in the form of section 38 may, in Fig. 2 indicated by dashes, along the arrow 14 in positions B or C or the altitudes H ₁ or H _{0 are} spent. Then there is less height space available in the dishwasher 2 for items to be washed 10 in the lower basket 18, but more height space is available for items 10 to be deposited on the portion 38. Especially in the position C results in a nearly flat entire bottom wall 30, since now the section 38 and the remaining part 40 have the same altitude H ₀ . In this position, for example, in an alternative embodiment, the partition wall 42 can be removed. This results in a top basket 22 with approximately the same floor space for crockery as that in a conventional upper basket.

Fig. 2 also indicates an upper basket shower or a rotatably mounted spray arm as an exemplary sprayer 44, which is associated with the upper basket 22 to apply this with not shown wash liquor. The spray device 44 is preferably coupled to the underside of the fixed first portion 32 of the bottom wall 30. In order to be able to optimally adapt the rinsing result to the respectively selected position A - C of the second subarea 34, the spraying device 44 is in the direction of the arrow 46, ie in the transverse direction of the dishwasher 2 to the left or right, ie away from or onto the second subarea 34 too displaceable. This can ensure that the spraying device with respect to the fixed first Subarea 32 can be aligned, in particular, for example, on the center, when the second, movable portion 34 has been brought into an altitude with height distance to the first portion 32.

According to the in Fig. 2 In the embodiment shown, the second portion 34 in the form of the portion 38 of the bottom wall 30 is adjustable in height so that the portion 38 in each of the positions A - C respectively assumes the same inclination to a surface or horizontal 48, here always parallel to this. In alternative embodiments, the portion 38 may always occupy the same inclination relative to the horizontal in all positions AC. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable that the section 38 occupies different inclinations with respect to the horizontal 48 in different positions AC.

In the embodiment according to Fig. 1 and 2 the entire bottom wall 30, that is the section 38 and the remaining part 40 together, covers in all the positions A - C the entire base area of the upper basket 22 bounded by the side wall 28.

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of an upper basket 22 in plan view from the front side 4 ago. The second portion 34 here comprises a first wing 50a, which is attached via a pivot 52a to the bottom wall 30 of the first portion 32 and the part 40 thereof. The second portion 34 also includes a second wing 50b, which in turn is supported by a second pivot 52b on the first wing 52a. In the in Fig. 2 ₁ , the first wing 50a forms a partition 42 and the second wing 50b forms a portion 38 of the bottom wall 30 at an altitude H ₁ . The entire bottom wall 30, ie the portion 38 together with the remaining part 40 now covers in contrast to the top no longer the entire, limited by the side wall 28 base of the upper basket 22. Rather, a gap 53 remains in the second portion 34 in the upper basket 22, the allows a complete passage of items to be washed 10 through the upper basket 22.

By pivoting the two wings 50a, b in the direction of the arrow 54, they reach position B, in FIG Fig. 3 drawn dashed. Both wings 50 a, b together then form the portion 38 of the bottom wall 30, which lies at the same height H _{0 of} the remaining part 40 of the bottom wall 30. The bottom wall 30 again fills the entire space between the wall parts of the side wall 28 completely. In both positions A and B can be placed on the portion 38 of the bottom wall 30 again 10 items (not shown).

Fig. 4 shows a further alternative embodiment of an upper basket 22. Accordingly Fig. 3 Here too, the second subarea has two wings 50a, b, which, however, are connected to the first subarea 32 via a respective rotary joint 52a, b. The wings 50a, b are connected to each other, for example via a slot guide 56. Fig. 4 1 shows a position A in which the wing 50b forms a section 38 of the bottom wall 30 and the wing 50a forms a partition wall 42. By pivoting the two wings 50a, b in the direction of the arrow 58, the second portion 34 reaches the position B. The respective ends of the wings 50a, b opposite the pivot joints 52a, b are guided over the illustrated slot guide 56 during pivoting. In position B, the wings 50a, b change their roles: The wing 50a form the section 38, the wing 50b, however, no partition, but a part of the side wall 28. So both wings 50a, b fulfill a double task in both positions A, B. , In particular, here the second portion 34 includes not only a portion of the bottom wall 30, but also a portion of the side wall 28. In position A so that the partition wall 42 also simultaneously a side wall 28. In place of the slot guide may possibly also a joint or the like be appropriate.

In an alternative embodiment, the wings 50a, b are not permanently connected via a slot guide 56, but are connectable only in the positions A and B. For pivoting between the positions A, B appropriate clips, notches or the like are unhooked, the wings 50a, b pivoted along the arrow 58 and hooked together again in the position B.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

2

dishwasher

4

front

6

doorway

8th

rinse tank

10

ware

12

door

14

vertical

16

lower area

18

lower basket

20

upper area

22

upper basket

24

guide rail

26

arrow

28

Side wall

30

bottom wall

32

first subarea

34

second subarea

36

page range

38

section

40

part

41

support structure

42

partition wall

44

Spraying device, in particular rotatable spray arm or upper basket shower

46

arrow

48

horizontal

50a, b

wing

52a, b

swivel

53

gap

54

arrow

56

Slot guide

A-C

position

H _0-2

altitude

Claims (8)

Dishwasher (2) with an upper basket (22) arranged in the upper region (20) of a washing container (8) for receiving dishes (10), - wherein the upper basket (22) includes a, in particular an approximately horizontally extending, bottom wall (30) and a peripheral, upwardly projecting, in particular approximately vertically extending, side wall (28), - wherein the upper basket (22) has a fixed first portion (32) and a between at least two positions (AC) relative to the first portion (32) movable second portion (34), - Wherein the second portion (34) forms in all positions at least a portion (38) of the bottom wall (30), - wherein for different positions (AC) the portion (38) occupies different elevations (H _0-2 ) with respect to the part (40) of the bottom wall (30) of the first portion (32), - And for at least one position (AC) of the section (38) an altitude (H _1,2 ) above the altitude (H ₀ ) of the part (40) of the bottom wall (30) of the first portion (32) occupies. Dishwasher (2) according to claim 1, wherein for at least one position (AC) the section (38) occupies an altitude (H ₀ ) equal to the height (H ₀ ) of the part (40) of the bottom wall (30) of the first Subarea (32) is. A dishwasher (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portion (38) of the bottom wall (30) for at least two positions (A-C) has a same inclination with respect to a horizontal (48). A dishwasher (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portion (38) of the bottom wall in all positions (AC) together with the part (40) of the bottom wall (30) covers the entire area bounded by the side wall (28). Dishwasher (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second portion (34) substantially only the portion (38) of the bottom wall (30). Dishwasher (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the second portion (34) includes a first (50 a) and a second wing (50 b), which are connectable to the first portion (32) and / or each other, wherein in each position (AC) of the first (50a) and / or second wing (50b) form the portion (38) of the bottom wall (30). Dishwasher (2) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second portion (34) in a side region (36) of the upper basket (22) is arranged. Dishwasher (2) according to one of the preceding claims, with a the upper basket (22) associated with spray (44), in particular upper basket shower (44) which is displaceable towards the second portion (34) or away from it.

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