EP2522770B1 - Rotary clothes drier - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a rotary clothes dryer with a standpipe and with a sliding joint mounted displaceably along the standpipe to open the clothes dryer, to which in particular support arms or spreader arms of the rotary clothes dryer can be articulated and in particular by actuating an elevator device from a lower position in which the rotary clothes dryer is closed is, can be transferred into an upper position in which the rotary clothes dryer is open.

Rotary clothes dryers of this type are generally familiar to the person skilled in the art and, for example, from the EP 0 649 935 A1 known. In the folded-up state of the rotary clothes dryer, the sliding joint is located at the lower end of the standpipe and the support arms are oriented essentially parallel to the standpipe or are placed against it. To open the rotary clothes dryer, the user can actuate an elevator device, for example pulling at the end of an elevator rope of a leash elevator. Due to the force exerted on the sliding joint, the sliding joint is shifted from the lower position towards the upper position until it reaches the end position in which the support arms that carry the clotheslines are properly spread apart and the sliding joint itself engages with the standpipe.

A condition for the functioning of such an elevator device is that a force acting on the sliding joint and conveying it upwards is exerted via the pull on the elevator rope. Therefore, when using a rope winding device, the elevator rope must act on the sliding joint via at least one deflection point, preferably a deflection roller. This has the consequence that the end of the elevator rope, which the user grips to operate the rope elevator, when it is folded up Rotary clothes dryer is arranged deep down on the standpipe. As a rule, this requires the user to bend over not only when gripping the end of the elevator rope to open the rotary clothes dryer, but also when closing, when the user holds the elevator rope end for the purpose of a gentle closing process until the sliding joint has reached the lower position.

From the EP 1270 792 A1 a rotary clothes dryer is known which has a sliding element connected to the elevator rope above the sliding joint and which is slidably mounted on the standpipe. Here the elevator rope is first led from the sliding joint to the sliding element arranged above, from there back to the sliding joint and then led out laterally. As a result, the sliding element for preexpreading the support arms mounted on the sliding joint can be pulled downwards in a first movement when the elevator rope is pulled, whereby the support arms are pressed together. In this solution, too, the height of the elevator cord to be gripped by the user is determined by the position of the sliding joint and is therefore very low when the rotary clothes dryer is in the closed position.

From the WO 2005 024 114 A1 a rotary clothes dryer is known in which the elevator cord is hinged to a brake arranged above the sliding joint, with the sliding joint displaceable in the elevator direction, from there to the sliding joint and then parallel to the standpipe to the upper end of the standpipe and from there in turn to a roller bearing on one of the Support arms is guided so that the user can grab them there. This requires complex guidance of the elevator cord and entails the risk that the elevator cord will tangle with the clotheslines.

The object of the invention is therefore to develop a rotary clothes dryer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that, in particular, opening the rotary clothes dryer is made more convenient for the user.

Next are the person skilled in the art from the above EP 0 649 935 A1 Rotary clothes dryers are known in which the standpipe has a functional mechanism arranged at least partially inside the standpipe, which acts on components arranged outside the standpipe through openings provided in the upper end of the standpipe. Dirt particles, moisture or small animals can easily get into the interior of the standpipe through such openings - especially when the rotary clothes dryer is open for a longer period of time and the support arms or the spreading arms do not protect themselves in front of the openings as in the closed position. This can lead to functional restrictions and moisture damage.

A further object of the invention is therefore to further develop a rotary clothes dryer of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that the risk of dirt, moisture or small animals penetrating the interior of the standpipe is reduced.

Both of the above-mentioned objects are achieved according to the invention in that a sliding element is arranged above the sliding joint which precedes the sliding joint during at least part of the opening movement.

The provision of an additional sliding element above the sliding joint makes it possible, on the one hand, to attach a deflection point for the elevator rope at this, so that the elevator rope end can be positioned at a higher point for the user than conventional rotary clothes dryers with elevator ropes. The user no longer has to reach down so far to be able to grip the end of the elevator rope.

On the other hand, a sliding element running ahead of the sliding joint during the opening movement enables openings in the standpipe wall, which are present between the sliding joint and the upper end of the standpipe when the rotary clothes dryer is open, to be covered by the sliding element even when the rotary clothes dryer is open. Because by means of the sliding element located above the sliding joint the distance from the sliding joint to the openings in the standpipe wall can be bridged so that the openings are covered by the sliding element, which is formed, for example, by a sliding sleeve.

In the case of rotary clothes dryers, in which a functional mechanism is provided in the standpipe, at least partially inside the standpipe, which acts on components arranged outside the standpipe through openings provided in the upper end of the standpipe, it is preferably provided that the sliding element is supported by a sliding joint at Opening movement leading sliding joint extension is formed, which covers the openings in the open state of the rotary clothes dryer. An extension sleeve attached to the sliding joint or only resting on the sliding joint due to the force of gravity, which extends the actual sliding joint upwards so far that the sliding element designed as an extension sleeve, the openings in the wall of the standpipe which is not covered by the sliding joint itself, is regarded as a sliding joint extension would be able to conceal. Such a sliding joint extension can of course also be designed as an integral component of the sliding joint in one piece with the sliding joint.

Regardless of the specific design of the sliding joint extension, this is preferably dimensioned so that its axial height H is greater than the axial height h of the sliding joint, in particular the axial height H of the sliding joint extension is more than twice as large as the axial height h of the sliding joint. If the sliding joint extension is an integral part of a component that combines sliding joint and sliding joint extension, the height H of the part of the component that is formed by the sliding joint extension is also greater, preferably at least twice as large as the height h of the part of the component , which makes up the sliding joint and which is used for the function of the component as a sliding joint and is to be regarded as necessary.

In order to move the elevator rope end further upwards compared to conventional constructions, it is provided that the elevator device is formed by a rope elevator and that a deflection point for an elevator rope of the rope elevator is arranged on the sliding element. The elevator rope, which still has to engage the sliding joint, will be guided further upwards to the deflection point provided on the sliding element in order to then form the rope elevator end in the area of this deflection point, which the user grabs to operate the elevator device.

It can also advantageously be provided that the deflection point is arranged above the sliding joint in the area of the upper end of the sliding joint extension and the elevator rope end to be gripped by the user is passed through, starting from the deflection point, between the spreading arms.

As an alternative to a sliding joint extension directly adjoining the actual sliding joint, it can be provided that the sliding element is formed by a sliding carriage arranged above the sliding joint, in particular by a sliding sleeve. It is therefore not absolutely necessary for the sliding element to adjoin the sliding joint directly as a sliding joint extension, to lie on it due to the force of gravity, to be fastened to it or to be formed in one piece with it. A sliding carriage, in particular a sliding carriage in the form of a sliding sleeve, arranged separately from the sliding joint and above it, can also solve the tasks set.

Such a sliding carriage can in particular also be held in any position above the sliding joint by a retaining device arranged on the standpipe, so that the height of the elevator rope end to be gripped by the user can be positioned essentially freely between the sliding joint or the upper standpipe end. The sliding carriage is therefore through when the rotary clothes dryer is closed the retaining device is held above the sliding joint and at a distance from it. The sliding carriage or the sliding sleeve rests on the retaining device, in particular due to gravity, which is formed in a simple embodiment by a stop arranged on the standpipe and, when the user operates the elevator device, is taken along by the sliding joint coming from below as soon as it is with it its upper edge rests against the lower edge of the sliding element. Thus, the sliding carriage or the sliding sleeve is only grasped by the sliding joint after a first part of the opening movement in order to hurry ahead of the sliding joint in a second part of the opening movement.

The restraint device is preferably arranged on the standpipe in such a way that it is passed over by the sliding joint during the opening movement. For this purpose, the retaining device should project radially behind the outer circumference of the standpipe or at least not protrude radially beyond it. If the retaining device protrudes radially beyond the outer circumference of the standpipe, the sliding joint should have a recess on the inside, for example a groove running longitudinally on the inside, in order to be able to drive over the retaining device during the opening movement.

Such a sliding carriage or such a sliding sleeve can of course be dimensioned in its axial dimensions in such a way that openings provided in the area of the upper end of the standpipe, which the rotary clothes dryer has, are covered by the sliding carriage in the open state of the rotary clothes dryer.

When using a sliding element arranged separately from the sliding joint, it can also be provided that when the elevator device is formed by a rope elevator, a deflection point for an elevator rope of the rope elevator is arranged on the sliding carriage. As described above, the elevator rope is preferably first deflected upwards at the sliding joint in the direction of the sliding carriage and then, after being deflected via a further deflection point, the elevator rope end to the user to operate the elevator device. However, other elevator rope guides are of course also conceivable.

In order to ensure that the alignment of the sliding carriage and the deflection point preferably arranged thereon and thus also the alignment of the elevator rope end or the end of the elevator rope guide is fixed relative to the standpipe, the slide carriage is preferably guided on the standpipe so that it cannot rotate. This can be achieved by means of a guide groove which is provided in the standpipe and runs along the standpipe and into which the sliding carriage engages. However, a web protruding radially outward is also conceivable.

If the rotary clothes dryer has cover strips on the support arms which, when the rotary clothes dryer is closed, jointly enclose the standpipe at least over a partial area, recesses are provided in the cover strips for the lift rope end to pass through. Such cover strips are preferably arranged on the generally four support arms of the rotary clothes dryer. If the rotary clothes dryer is in the folded state, each cover wing essentially covers 90 ° (a quarter) of the circumference of the standpipe. Since two adjacent cover wings serve as privacy and weather protection for the clotheslines hanging slack when folded or for a clothesline pull-in mechanism to automatically pull the clotheslines into the support arms, the remaining gap that is to be provided between two adjacent cover wings must be kept as small as possible . In order to prevent the elevator rope end from jamming in this remaining gap and to enable the user to access the elevator rope end or a handle attached to it as easily as possible, such a passage is useful in the area where the elevator rope end protrudes between the support arms.

Even if the term "standpipe" describes in particular an internally hollow extruded profile made of light metal or plastic, it goes without saying that the term “Standpipe” does not necessarily mean that it has to be a pipe with a round cross-section, nor that it has to be an object that is hollow on the inside over its length. Rather, the term standpipe also includes other cross-sectional shapes and a rod or mast made of solid material, for example made of wood or plastic. It can also be a combination of sections of different materials and cross-sectional shapes.

In addition, it should be mentioned that the shape of the sliding element, in particular that of the sliding carriage, does not necessarily have to encompass the standpipe in the manner of a sleeve. In particular, if you want to do without the closing of the openings arranged in the standpipe or if the standpipe does not even have such openings, the sliding element can also be a sliding shoe that does not encompass the standpipe, for example in a along the Standpipe extending guide groove or is guided by a correspondingly designed guide web.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims and from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1a

eine geschlossene Wäschespinne in einer Gesamtansicht,

Fig. 1b

die in Figur 1 dargestellte Wäschespinne im Schnitt B - B,

Fig. 2

eine Detailansicht der geöffneten Wäschespinne aus Figur 1a und 1b,

Fig. 3

eine geschlossene Wäschespinne gemäß einer alternativen Ausgestaltung,

Fig. 4

Einzelheit A aus Figur 3.

In the drawings shows:

Fig. 1a

a closed rotary clothes dryer in a general view,

Figure 1b

in the Figure 1 Rotary clothes dryer shown in section B - B,

Fig. 2

a detailed view of the opened rotary clothes dryer Figures 1a and 1b ,

Fig. 3

a closed rotary clothes dryer according to an alternative embodiment,

Fig. 4

Detail A off Figure 3 .

In Figure 1a is a closed rotary clothes dryer 1 in an overall view and in Figure 1b in a sectional view according to the in Figure 1a Section B - B shown. The rotary clothes dryer 1 has a standpipe 2, at the lower end of which a sliding joint 3, on which the support arms 4 of the rotary clothes dryer 1 are articulated. The support arms 4 can be moved by actuation of an elevator device, specifically in the illustrated embodiment by pulling a toggle handle 5 arranged at the end of an elevator cord 12, into the position shown in FIG Figure 2 alignments shown are transferred. In this case, the sliding joint 3 is pulled upwards by pulling on the elevator cord 12, the support arms 4 being spread apart by the spreading arms 6 engaging them.

The toggle handle 5 arranged at the end of the elevator cord 12 is arranged in a clearly elevated position relative to the sliding joint 3, which can be arranged approximately at hip height of the usual user or even above it. This arrangement, which is significantly higher than that of the sliding joint 3, is made possible by the fact that the elevator rope end or the toggle handle 5 arranged on it is not offered to the user on the sliding joint 3 itself, but on a sliding element arranged between the sliding joint 3 and the upper end of the standpipe 2, which is in Figure 1 to Figure 4 is formed by a sleeve-like sliding carriage 7.

When the toggle handle 5 is pulled, the sliding joint 3 is pulled upwards and comes into contact with the sliding carriage 7 in the course of the opening movement. The sliding joint 3 then drives the sliding carriage 7 in front of it until the opening movement is complete.

In Figure 2 a stop 8 can be seen on which the slide 7 rests due to gravity when the rotary clothes dryer 1 is closed. The stop 8 serves as a retaining device and prevents further lowering of the sliding carriage 7 during the closing movement. The stop 8 projects only minimally radially outward with respect to the outer circumference of the standpipe 2. The sliding joint 3 has a groove in the area of the inside facing the standpipe 2, so that it passes over the stop 8 during the opening and closing movement and not with the stop 8 can collide. In addition, the sliding carriage 7 engages with an inwardly directed extension 9 in a guide groove 10, which prevents the sliding carriage 7 from rotating relative to the standpipe 2 and ensures that the position of all deflection points 11 over which the elevator rope 12 is guided, during the Do not twist in use, but are always optimally aligned with one another.

In Figure 2 it can be seen that the sliding carriage 7 rests on the sliding joint 3 as a separate component from the sliding joint 3 and closes a large part of the distance between the end cap 13 arranged at the upper end of the standpipe 2 and the sliding joint 3. In particular, the sliding carriage 7 projects beyond openings provided in the wall of the standpipe 2 (not visible in the figures) into which, when the rotary clothes dryer 1 is in the closed position, the spreading extensions 14 arranged on the spreading arms 6 protrude in order to prevent the opening movement of one in the standpipe 2 arranged expanding mandrel 15 to absorb forces exerted on it to support the initial opening movement.

To facilitate the first part of the opening movement from the closed position, in addition to the expansion mechanism shown, an elevator rope guide can also be provided in such a way that it forms a block and tackle, in particular between the sliding carriage 7 and sliding joint 3 or - as in Figure 2 shown - between end cap 13 and sliding joint 3 acts.

In Figure 2 a latching mechanism 16 can also be seen, which is arranged below the sliding joint 3 and holds the sliding joint 3 in position when the rotary clothes dryer 1 is open. Of course, the latching mechanism 16 can also, as can be seen in particular from the illustration of the FIGS Figure 3 and Figure 4 The alternative embodiment shown can also be arranged above the sliding joint 3.

Next shows Figure 2 on the support arms 4 arranged cover strips 18 which protectively enclose the rotary clothes dryer 1 in the closed state. How out Figure 1a As can be seen, at the point at which the toggle handle 5 is offered to the user when the rotary clothes dryer 1 is closed, there is a recess 19 to enable the elevator rope to pass through between the cover strips 18. The same applies to the embodiment described below Figure 3 and Figure 4 .

Figure 3 and Figure 4 show an alternative embodiment of a rotary clothes dryer 1. Here, the sliding element is not formed by a sliding carriage 7 formed separately from the sliding joint 3, but by a sliding joint extension in the form of an extension sleeve 17, which in the figures is, for example, formed in one piece with the sliding joint 3, but nevertheless can also be designed as a sliding carriage 7 resting only on the sliding joint 3. In the latter case, the configuration would essentially correspond to that shown in the previous figures, with the exception that no stop 8 is provided which would limit the lowering of the sliding carriage 7.

The provision of an extension sleeve 17, which extends the sliding joint upwards as a leading sliding element, ensures that any openings in the wall of the upper end of the standpipe 2 are covered in the open position of the rotary clothes dryer 1 and that the elevator rope end to be gripped by the user is opposite the sliding joint 3 is increased. The ones in the Figures 3 and 4 However, the embodiment shown has the disadvantage that the elevator rope end compared to the variant shown in the previous figures, in which a sliding carriage 7 is used that is clearly spaced from the sliding joint 3, enables the elevator rope end to be raised less than the sliding joint 3.

In general, it is the case that the axial extent of the sliding element leading the sliding joint 3 during the opening movement, that is to say in particular the axial length of the sliding carriage 7 or that of the sliding joint extension is limited by the minimum distance to be maintained between the lower edge of the end cap 13 arranged at the upper end of the standpipe 2 and the highest permissible point of the articulation points of the support arms 4 arranged on the sliding joint 3. At the same time, coordinating the axial length of the sliding element enables effective stop protection, so that overstretching and possibly associated damage to the rotary clothes dryer 1 can be effectively avoided.

List of reference symbols

1

Rotary clothes dryer

2

Standpipe

3

Sliding joint

4th

Support arms

5

Toggle handle

6th

Spreader arms

7th

Sliding carriage

8th

attack

9

Appendix

10

Guide groove

11

Turning point

12th

Elevator cord

13th

End cap

14th

Spreading process

15th

Expanding mandrel

16

Locking mechanism

17th

Extension sleeve

18th

Cover strips

19th

Recess

Claims (12)

1. Rotary clothes dryer (1) with a stand tube (2) and with a sliding joint (3) which is supported displaceable along the stand tube (2) for opening the rotary clothes dryer (1) and which can be transferred from a lower position, in which the rotary clothes dryer (1) is closed, into an upper position, in which the rotary clothes dryer (1) is open, wherein a sliding element being arranged above the sliding joint (3) and leading the sliding joint (3) during at least part of the opening movement, wherein the rotary clothes dryer (1) comprises an uplift mechanism formed by a line driven lifting means, wherein a deflection point for a pull-up line (12) of the line driven lifting means is arranged on the sliding joint and the pull-up line (12) engaging on the sliding joint is guided from the latter further upwards to the deflection point provided on the sliding joint (3), wherein the pull-up line (12) forms in the area of the deflection point the end portion of pull-up line to be gripped by the user for actuating the uplift mechanism.
2. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the rotary clothes dryer (1) comprises openings in the region of the upper end of the stand tube (2), wherein the sliding element being formed by a sliding joint extension (17) which leads the sliding joint (3) during the opening movement and covers the openings when the rotary clothes dryer (1) is in the open state.
3. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sliding joint extension (17) is designed as an integral component of the sliding joint (3) in one piece with the sliding joint (3).
4. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to claim 2 or claim 3, characterized in that the deflection point (11) is arranged above the sliding joint (3) at the upper end of the sliding joint extension (17) and the end portion of the pull-up line to be gripped by the user is passed between the support arms (4) starting from the deflection point (11).
5. Rotary clothes dryer according to claim 1, characterized in that the sliding element is formed by a sliding sled (7) arranged above the sliding joint (3).
6. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the sliding sled (7) is engaged by the sliding joint (3) after a first part of the opening movement in order to lead the sliding joint (3) during a second part of the opening movement.
7. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterized in that the rotary clothes dryer (1) has openings in the stand tube (2) in the area of the upper end of the stand tube (2), and in that the sliding sled (7) covers the openings in the opened state of the rotary clothes dryer (1).
8. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 7, characterized in that a deflection point for a pull-up line (12) of the line driven lifting means is arranged on the sliding sled (7).
9. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 8, characterized in that the sliding sled (7) is guided on the stand tube (2) in such a way that it cannot rotate.
10. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 9, characterized in that, when the rotary clothes dryer (1) is closed, the sliding sled (7) is held above the sliding joint (3) and at a distance from the latter by a retaining device (8).
11. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that the retaining device (8) is arranged on the stand tube (2) in such a way that it is overrun by the sliding joint (3) during the opening movement.
12. Rotary clothes dryer (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that cover ledges (18) are provided on the supporting arms (4) and, when the rotary clothes dryer (1) is closed, enclose the stand tube (2) at least over a partial region, at least one cutout (19) being provided in at least one of the cover ledges (18) for the passage of the end portion of the pull-up line.

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