EP2520210B1 - Domestic appliance with lateral casing walls secured to force receiving elements - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, having a container for receiving material to be processed, wherein the container at least in its upper region force transducer, in particular for support against a surrounding kitchen furniture or a wall in an installed state and / or for support is assigned against external forces in a stacked or raised state during transport or intermediate storage, wherein at least two arranged in the vicinity of a user facing front of the container force transducers two laterally arranged on the front outer housing walls are secured against a withdrawal force with a transverse component.

Such a household appliance is for example from the DE 10 2007 052 072 A1 known. It has at least one rinsing container accommodated in a device housing and at least two force transducers each on two opposite sides of the housing, a force-receiving element being provided for receiving a force acting on the force transducers. Furthermore, two lateral side of the front arranged outer housing side walls are secured against a withdrawal force with a transverse component at two in the vicinity of a user facing the front of the container arranged force transducers. The securing is performed by engaging an edge thickening attached to a horizontal side wall portion of the side wall into a groove formed on a horizontal surface of the adjacent force receiving member.

The DE 44 43 919 A1 discloses a domestic dishwasher with at least one washing container to which machine units, frame parts and insulation materials are positively mounted. The machine units are arranged only on one side wall of the washing container, the frame parts on two other side walls and the insulating materials on all other side walls of the washing compartment. Furthermore, a releasably mounted rear wall of a machine housing lining of the domestic dishwasher has protruding fastening elements with which the machine units are in the assembled state be pressed against the rear wall of the washing container. The protruding fastening elements of the rear wall of the machine housing lining in turn are horizontally extending, in the assembled state against the washing container protruding Klammersicken.

There are numerous household appliances known that have a container for processing of imported goods. Such a container may be, for example in a dishwasher, a washing container provided with spray arm (s) and / or spray nozzles and one or more dish racks. Such a container is often - at least in such devices, which are not only intended for installation - accommodated in a surrounding him at a distance and substantially cuboid housing, in particular held.

To distance against outer housing walls and to support the household appliance against the surrounding kitchen furniture and / or a room wall as well as resistance to deformation by external force during transport or temporary storage force transducers are provided between the housing and the container, which is too high a load prevent from housing and / or container. These are - in particular at upper corner regions of the container - mounted and are formed for example of plastic.

Anmontage for example, by screwing or clipping the load cell on the container, so that there is a tight fit is created.

It is also known to provide the lateral walls of the housing in each case with a front flange, such as a folded over a vertical axis fold, and to fix it to two screws relative to the body of the household appliance, as well as to arrange at upper housing edges brackets, about the housing can be fixed in a kitchen furniture, for example by screws. However, this makes installation difficult and requires a large number of fasteners with the screws.

The invention has for its object to provide for a household appliance of the type described above, a simple and inexpensive mounting option of the housing walls.

This object is achieved in a household appliance of the type described above according to the invention that at least at the two arranged in the vicinity of a user facing front of the container force transducers two laterally arranged on the front outer housing walls are secured against a withdrawal force with a component to the front, wherein per housing wall at least two tabs are provided, of which a tab in the engaged position to force transducer inhibits removal of the housing forward and a tab in the engaged position to the force transducer inhibits removal of the housing in the lateral direction.

Further advantages and features and further developments of the invention are specified in claims 2 to 14.

According to the invention results in a particularly reliable support of the housing walls with resistance to force in different directions when per housing at least two tabs are provided, of which a tab in the engaged position to the force transducer inhibits removal of the housing forward and another tab in the engaged position to the force transducer Pulling the housing wall in the lateral direction inhibits, in particular completely blocked.

By the invention, the housing walls of the housing can also learn by simply hooking on already existing upper load cells a backup. The assembly and material costs are significantly reduced.

Due to the fact that at least two force sensors disposed in the vicinity of a front side of the container facing the user are secured against a withdrawal force with a component towards the front and / or against a withdrawal force with a transverse component, the housing walls are secured in the upper area safely supported according to the invention. At least in the upper half of the container, any further securing of the housing walls with respect to the container can then be dispensed with, in particular if these are also supported on the aforementioned force transducers from above.

In particular, the fuse is achieved in each case by a positive connection between the housing wall and at least one of the force transducer of the respective side, so that even slipping or tilting of the fuse is not to be feared. The form-fitting can be particularly favorable, for example by guide bevels for tabs or the like on or engaging behind parts automatically adjust during assembly to minimize the possibility of errors.

For this purpose, it is helpful if each housing wall has a flange in its upper edge region-for example, a bent-over sheet metal area-which in each case engages over at least one load cell, in particular can also rest thereon.

A in the force transducer or this engaging behind tab or similar hook-like contour can then grab from this at least one almost horizontally lying flange down, with the correct position of the respective housing or side panel also automatically the tab (s) gets into its correct engagement position or arrive.

A simple production of such tabs is made possible when the edge contours of these tabs punched out of the flange and the tabs are bent downwards.

A reliable and immovable hold is given when the respective tab in the mounted position of the housing engages behind an abutment of the force transducer.

In order not to increase the height, is low for engaging at least one tab on the upper side in each front load cell at least one of a serving as an abutment stop edge recess provided in a tab can dive.

Particularly favorable for a support upwards (stackability) and towards the sides (gripping by a transport tongs) or the force transducer or are held at the upper corner regions of the container. They are preferably in a direction parallel to the height and width direction of the container of the respective household appliance level.

The load cell for supporting the housing walls can be stably formed in particular as one-piece injection molded parts, for example made of PE, and in particular be stably held on a reinforcing frame located near a door opening of the container, for example simply clipped into it in terms of assembly technology.

Such a reinforcing frame, for example of metal, is often used in such a container, which is substantially parallelepipedic and open on one side and facing a door opening. The reinforcing frame is then optimally arranged on the outside above this side facing the door opening like a portal in the form of a downwardly open U on the upper side and at least in upper lateral areas. Then, for example, up to six of these devices can be stacked on top of each other. Even during transport, two or more household appliances can be gripped simultaneously by a pair of clamping pliers.

If the reinforcing frame is U-shaped or L-shaped in cross-section and has at least one web region protruding outwardly from the outer wall of the container, it is favorable to fix or attach the front or front load cell to this at least one web region.

If each housing wall has a further flange on its front side, it can only be fastened, in particular fastened, in the lower region to only one fastening point on a section permanently connected to the container, in particular the front reinforcing frame - instead of a top section as before to need such extra attachment. Per device then two attachment points can be saved with the associated fasteners and assembly steps.

The invention can be used for household appliances with different dimensions, without the belonging to the fuse force transducer or flanges with tabs would have to change. For example, identical parts can be used for devices with different widths.

The above described and / or reproduced in the dependent claims advantageous embodiments and refinements of the invention can - except for example, in cases of clear dependencies or incompatible alternatives - individually or in any combination with each other are used.

The invention and its advantageous embodiments and further developments and advantages thereof are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Fig. 1

ein Haushaltsgerät, das hier als Geschirrspülmaschine gebildet ist, in einer Ausbildung mit hohen, einen Behälter zur Bearbeitung von einzubringendem Gut seitlich einfassenden Wänden eines umgebenden Gehäuses, in schematischer perspektivischer Ansicht von schräg vorne, der besseren Übersicht halber ohne Tür und einige weitere Elemente gezeichnet, wobei den oberen vorderen und hinteren Ecken des Behälters Kraftaufnehmer zugeordnet sind, an denen die seitlichen Wände abgestützt sind;

Fig. 2

eine ähnliche Ansicht wie Fig. 1, jedoch einer Geschirrspülmaschine mit herkömmlichen Schraubverbindungen zur Festlegung der Gehäusewandungen;

Fig. 3

eine Detailansicht des oberen Bereichs der Geschirrspülmaschine aus Fig. 1, etwa entsprechend dem Detail III, jedoch in leicht gedrehter Perspektive;

Fig. 4

einen Querschnitt etwa entsprechend der Linie IV-IV in Fig. 3; und

Fig. 5

einen Längsschnitt etwa entsprechend der Linie V-V in Fig. 3.

Each shows in a schematic schematic diagram:

Fig. 1

a household appliance, which is formed here as a dishwasher, in a training with high, a container for processing einzubringendem gut laterally enclosing walls of a surrounding housing, drawn in a schematic perspective view obliquely from the front, for the sake of clarity without a door and some more elements, wherein the upper front and rear corners of the container are associated with force sensors on which the side walls are supported;

Fig. 2

a similar view as Fig. 1 but a dishwasher with conventional screw connections for fixing the housing walls;

Fig. 3

a detailed view of the upper portion of the dishwasher Fig. 1 similar to detail III, but in a slightly rotated perspective;

Fig. 4

a cross section approximately corresponding to the line IV-IV in Fig. 3 ; and

Fig. 5

a longitudinal section approximately corresponding to the line VV in Fig. 3 ,

Elements with the same function and mode of operation are each provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

This in Fig. 1 shown, electrically operable household appliance 1 forms an example of a dishwasher. Other household appliances can according to the invention be formed, for example, washing machines, dryers, steamer, microwave ovens, built-in ovens or the like.

The illustrated dishwasher 1 comprises a container 2 for receiving material to be processed, here a washing container for receiving items to be cleaned, such as crockery, glasses, cutlery, cooking utensils or the like, the container 2 according to the drawing on its front side facing a user 3 has a loading and unloading through a door - not shown - is closed. This can, for example, swing down.

Among other things, for stacking a plurality of devices or for a transport, in particular with gripping tongs, a plurality of force transducers 4, 5, 6, 7 assigned to the upper region of the device 1 are provided, against which, inter alia, during transport and stacking, a deforming external force is counteracted.

In addition, the container 2 is held in the embodiment shown here with an outer housing with high-rising side walls 8, 9 by the force transducer 4, 5, 6, 7 at a constant distance. Likewise, on the force transducer 4, 5, 6, 7 and a top-side cover plate of the device 1 halterbar (not shown here), if the device 1 is to be used alone.

According to the drawing, both front, so the front opening 3 facing upper corner regions and rear, a rear wall of the container 2 top corner portions are each provided with force sensors 4, 5, 6, 7, both a stiffening of the container 2 and a distance bridging can cause and prevent the container 2 is deformed. Such load cells are therefore generally common in built-in appliances. Their number can vary. Depending on the container type, they can have different geometry shapes or designs. The respective load cell is preferably positioned in a plane parallel to the height and width direction of the container layer.

Unlike known force transducers, which are formed for example from Styrofoam, here at least the front load cells 4, 5 are formed as plastic injection molded parts and held independently on the container 2.

The container 2 may for example consist entirely of stainless steel or be composed of several units, for example, from a plastic floor unit and a top-mounted hood unit made of stainless steel.

Here in the exemplary embodiment is in the two front, upper corner regions of the washing compartment 2 each a force transducer 4, 5 positioned in a height direction and width direction of the container approximately parallel position plane. The respective load cell can, as in this exemplary embodiment, expediently be designed in particular as an approximately 90 ° angle part. This preferably has a first leg extending approximately parallel to the front edge of the top wall of the container, and a second leg projecting about 90 ° downwardly projecting thereon, which is approximately parallel to the respective side wall extending in the height and depth direction of the container runs. At least two force sensors 4, 5 arranged in the vicinity of a front side 3 of the container 2 facing the user are supported by the two outer housing walls 8, 9 arranged laterally of the front side 3. This support on the force transducers 4, 5 takes place according to the drawing such that the side walls 8, 9 thereby against at least one force acting at the front with a component in the direction of the arrow V withdrawal force and against at least one withdrawal force laterally, that is transverse, in particular perpendicular with respect the respective side wall 8, 9 with a component in the direction of the arrow S against the force transducer - and thus against the container 2 - are secured.

A trigger guard against force in only one of the two main directions V, S would be possible.

These fuses are each achieved by a positive connection between the side wall 8, 9 and at least one of the force transducer 4, 5 of the respective side.

In detail, for this purpose each lateral housing wall 8, 9 has in its upper edge region a flange 10, 11 which is folded over from the side wall 8, 9 about a horizontal axis by approximately 90 ° and in each case at least one force transducer 4, 6 or 5, 7 overlaps. Here are these flanges 10, 11 on the respective force transducers 4, 6 of the left side and 5, 7 of the right side up, which is not mandatory. The respective flange is preferably in a direction to the depth and width direction of the container approximately horizontal plane.

In addition, each lateral, here made of sheet metal housing wall 8, 9 at least one with a component downwardly facing tab 12, 13 on the left wall 8 and 14, 15 on the right wall on. Another, similar hook-like contour would alternatively be possible.

Here are the tabs 12, 13, 14, 15 formed as one-piece components of the respective side wall 8, 9 belonging flange 10, 11 such that the edge contour of the tab 12, 13, 14, 15 punched out of the flange 10, 11 and the Tab 12, 13, 14, 15 is bent downwards. This mechanically stable structures are created so that the tabs 12, 13 of the left side wall 8 and 14, 15 of the right side wall 9 in the mounted position an abutment 16, 17 of the left front force transducer 4 (not shown in detail) or an abutment 18, 19 of the right front load cell 5 engage behind.

In order to secure the side walls 8, 9 against forces with a component V in the forward direction as well as with a component S in the direction of the side, at least two tabs 12, 13 or 14, 15 are provided per side wall 8, 9, respectively, which are in engagement position to the respective force transducer 4, 5. It inhibits according to Fig. 5 at least one against the abutment 18 abutting tab 14 in the engaged position to the force transducer 5 a withdrawal of the side wall 9 forward, whereas the tab 15 in the engaged position to the force transducer 5 and the associated abutment 19 pulling off the side wall 9 in the lateral or lateral direction S inhibits.

For the formation of the abutments 16, 17, 18, 19 and for engaging at least one tab 13, 15 is according to Fig. 5 on the upper side in each front load cell 4 (not shown in detail) and 5 at least one of a serving as abutment 16, 18 stop edge limited recess 20 (not shown) or 21 is provided.

The conditions on the not shown in detail support the side wall 8 on the front load cell 4 can be axially symmetrical with respect to a vertical transverse center plane to the representation of the FIGS. 3 to 5 be.

According to the drawing, the container 2 is substantially parallelepiped-shaped and, in the vicinity of its open front side 3, has a reinforcing frame 22 surrounding it at least in regions. It has approximately the shape of a downwardly open U. It is attached to a front edge region of the substantially horizontally oriented top wall 89 and the two molded thereto, in the vertical direction downwardly extending side walls 8, 9 of the washing compartment 2.

The reinforcing frame 22 shown here is anyway required or at least advantageous for forming a stackability of such household appliances 1, so that it does not form an additional component. The frame member 22 is metallic, such as steel, formed and welded to the container 2 linear or at several points. For example, in dishwashers, up to six household appliances 1 reinforced with such a frame part 22 can be stacked one above the other. Domestic appliances 1 reinforced with such a frame part 22 can also be gripped and transported individually or simultaneously to several laterally within a clamping jaw.

The reinforcing frame 22 is here also in cross-section U- or L-shaped and has two parallel and viewed in the depth direction of the container spaced apart web or flange portions 22a and 22b, to which one or more front (4) 5 force transducers attached can or can be. For example, the force transducers 4, 5 can easily be fixed, in particular clipped, into the upstanding web areas 22a, 22b.

Each side wall 8, 9 has at its front another flange 23, for example, again a - this time about a vertical axis - folded over metal fold. This flange is positioned substantially in a plane parallel to the height and width direction of the container layer. By the improvement according to the invention this is according to Fig. 1 for electrical safety reasons (grounding) only at one attachment point 24 at a fixed to the container 2 connected Section, in particular the front reinforcing frame 22 fixed, in particular screwed - unlike in the prior art according to Fig. 2 , in which even more above such attachment points 24, in particular in the form of glands, were required. These disturb the uniform appearance of the manner of a frame formed front fold 23. In particular, the invention, however, the upper, front attachment points, especially in the form of screws completely unnecessary, so that the parts and the necessary assembly times can be saved.

According to the drawing, an embodiment for the support to the front force transducers 4, 5 is described. It is understood, however, that such support may additionally or alternatively also be possible on rear force transducers 6, 7.

Other forms of force transducers 4, 5, 6, 7 and open or closed recesses 20, 21 are possible.

By the here two tabs 12, 13 and 14, 15, the side walls in two directions V, S are pressed firmly against the container 2. Also, a weakened support, as mentioned above, be possible, especially for built-in appliances.

The tabs 12, 13, 14, 15 arrive during assembly of the side walls 8, 9 automatically in their engagement positions, so that no additional assembly steps are required. Possible errors, such as a tilting screwing a screw are excluded here. The number of tabs 12, 13, 14, 15 can vary.

If the electrical contact between the outer housing walls 8, 9 and the rinsing 2 is provided by other than by the screws at the lower attachment points 24 or otherwise not required, already alone securing the outer housing walls 8, 9 on the top of Rinse 2 mounted front load cell such as 4, 5 and / or rear load cell as for example 6, 7 comply with the design principle of the invention.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Household appliance, designed here as a dishwasher

2

Container, here rinsing container

3

front

4

Front load cell

5

Front load cell

6

Rear load cell

7

Rear load cell

8th

Lateral housing wall

9

Lateral housing wall

10

Upper flange

11

Upper flange

12 - 15

flap

16-19

abutment

20

recess

21

recess

22

reinforcing frame

22a

web region

22b

web region

23

Front flange

24

attachment points

89

top wall

S

direction of force

V

direction of force

III

detail

IV-IV

line

V V

line

Claims (14)

1. Domestic appliance (1), in particular dishwasher, having a container (2) for receiving an item to be processed, wherein force receiving elements (4; 5; 6; 7), in particular for support with respect to a surrounding piece of kitchen furniture or a wall in an installed state and/or for support against external forces in a stacked or raised state during the transport or a temporary storage, are assigned to the container (2) at least in its upper region, and wherein two external casing walls (8; 9) arranged laterally to the front side are secured against a pull-off force with a transverse component (S) at least on two force receiving elements (4; 5) arranged in close range of a front side (3) of the container (2) facing the user,
   characterised in that
   two external casing walls (8; 9) arranged laterally to the front side are also secured against a forward (V) pull-off force with a component at least on the two force receiving elements (4; 5) arranged in close range of a front side (3) of the container (2) facing the user, wherein per casing wall (8; 9) at least two lugs (12; 13; 14;15) are provided, of which one lug (12; 14), in the engagement position with respect to the force receiving element (4; 5), blocks a forward (V) detachment of the casing wall (8; 9) and in the engagement position with respect to the force receiving element (4; 5) a lug (13; 15) blocks a detachment of the casing wall (8; 9) in the lateral direction (S).
2. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of claims 1,
   characterised in that
   the securing is achieved in each case by a form fit between the casing wall (8; 9) and at least one of the force receiving elements (4; 5) on the respective side.
3. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterised in that
   each lateral casing wall (8; 9) has a flange (10; 11) in its upper edge region, which overlaps at least one force receiving element (4; 5; 6; 7) in each case.
4. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the flange (10, 11) is folded back out of the casing wall (8; 9) and rests on the force receiving element (4; 5).
5. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   each lateral casing wall (8; 9) has at least one lug (12; 13; 14;15) which points downwards with a component or a similar hook-type contour.
6. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 5,
   characterised in that
   the edge contour of the lug (12; 13; 14; 15) is stamped out of the flange (10; 11) and the lug (12; 13; 14; 15) is bent downwards.
7. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of claims 5 or 6,
   characterised in that
   in the assembled position of the casing wall (8; 9), the respective lug (12; 13; 14; 15) engages behind a thrust bearing (16; 17; 18; 19) of the force receiving element (4; 5).
8. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   to engage at least one lug (13; 15) at the top in each front force receiving element (4; 5), provision is made for at least one recess (20; 21) delimited by a stop edge serving as a thrust bearing (16; 18).
9. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that
   the force receiving elements (4; 5; 6; 7) are assigned to upper corner regions (13; 14; 15; 16) of the container (2).
10. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the force receiving elements (4; 5; 6; 7) are embodied as plastic injection moulded parts.
11. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    the force receiving elements (4; 5; 6; 7) are held indirectly or directly on the container (2), in particular are clipped into a cross-sectionally U-shaped reinforcement frame (22) arranged thereon.
12. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 11,
    characterised in that
    the container (2) is substantially cuboid, is facing a door opening on one side (3) and is provided with the reinforcement frame (22) on the outside above this side facing the door opening and at least in the upper lateral regions.
13. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of claims 11 or 12,
    characterised in that
    the reinforcement frame (22) has at least one web region (22a; 22b) which projects outwards from the external wall of the container (2) and the force receiving element (4; 5) can be defined at this at least one web region (22a; 22b).
14. Domestic appliance (1) according to at least one of the preceding claims,
    characterised in that
    each casing wall (8; 9) has a further flange (23) on its front side (3) and this is fixed at in each case just one fastening point to a section which is fixedly connected to the container (2), in particular the front reinforcement frame (22).

Images