EP2558668B1 - Device for guiding the movement of a domestic-appliance door, a domestic-appliance door, a domestic appliance having a domestic-appliance door, and a method for actuating a domestic-appliance door - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for guiding the movement of a domestic appliance door, a domestic appliance door with such a device, a domestic appliance with a domestic appliance door and a method for actuating a domestic appliance door
It is off DE 10 2007 041 909 A1 a hinge housing for a household appliance, such as in particular an oven, known, in which a top damper is arranged in a receptacle of the hinge housing. Often used in home appliances damper-assisted spring systems, the spring support is used to compensate for the weight of the door. In order to allow a smooth, uniform and impact-free (or poor) closing of the door, the damper support is used, which engages near the closed position of the door and which slows down the closing movement caused by the user and / or the spring support.

Furthermore, it is off DE 103 60 385 A1 a door hinge for a door of a household appliance, which has two hinge parts. In addition, the door hinge comprises a functional part, which can also couple a damping unit at a specific position.

From the document US 2005/0212392 A1 For example, a door hinge is known which does without a damper with an actuator and a damper cylinder. Instead, a spring is used.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a way to simple, flexible, visually discreet and space-saving essay damping of household appliance doors, the damper should also be easily accessible for service purposes.

The object is achieved by a device, a domestic appliance door, a domestic appliance and a process according to the independent claims.

A device according to the invention for guiding the movement of a domestic appliance door comprises a hinge which has a rotatably mounted articulated arm and a spring-supported plunger movable relative thereto for supporting the movement of the articulated arm. The device also includes a damper for motion damping in particular the plunger and thus coupled further components of the device and the appliance door.

The damper includes an actuator and a damping cylinder, and the actuator may be mounted on the plunger. In particular, an oil or air damper is used. A damper with damping cylinder is suitable to record over a Dämpfweg of example. 5 mm significant damping forces. Since the actuator has a round cross-section of 1 mm, it is structurally easily possible to inexpensively mount a corresponding receiving bore on the plunger (or an adapter which will be described later). In addition, the structure causes the damping cylinder to include the contact surface for abutment. Since the damping cylinder is often made of a plastic material, noises are effectively damped when in contact pedaling from the damping cylinder and stop.

In an alternative embodiment, the damping cylinder is mounted on the plunger of the hinge. This structure is particularly advantageous when the diameter of the plunger and the damping cylinder are approximately equal, since then the adapter can consist of a piece of pipe in the simplest case.

The plunger is permanently connected to the damper along the entire movement path of the plunger and thus firmly connected. A decoupling between the plunger and the damper is therefore not provided along the path of movement of the plunger. Under a firm connection of the plunger with the damper is to understand only the permanent mechanical coupling. Such a solid compound may in particular be mechanically non-destructive solvable. In this case, for example, a screw connection or the like may be provided. In particular, it can also be provided that the plunger is connected directly to the damper or indirectly connected via other components.

A unit formed of the plunger and the damper is positioned relative to a stop of the device and movable. This unit is arranged so that upon reaching a first movement position of the unit along the path of movement of the damper is brought from a non-contact position to the stop in contact with the stop. In the contacted position, further movement of the plunger along the path of travel is damped.

Thus, a device is provided which allows a very precise movement pattern and provides damping only over a portion of the entire path of movement.

In particular, this device also ensures that a conventional hinge with a plunger and a compression spring can be used and can be connected to a damper. In such an embodiment, it is therefore also possible that known and conventional hinges can be retrofitted with such a damper and thus a simple and low cost, a corresponding movement damping a domestic appliance door can be achieved. This can be ensured in terms of the arrangement of the components and in particular the formation of the unit of the plunger and the damper and their related movement guide relative to the attack very advantageous.

In the device according to the invention, therefore, the damper is no longer fixedly arranged in the hinge, but connected in a motion-coupled with the plunger. As a result, a relative movement to other components of the hinge also sets itself through the entire unit, namely the plunger and the damper.

It is preferably provided that the unit for supporting and guiding the damper relative to the plunger has an adapter. In this embodiment, the adapter thus represents the link between the damper and the plunger. The damper may be surrounded by this adapter at least partially circumferentially, so that a certain protection of the damper is ensured by the adapter. It is preferably provided that the damper contacts the stop along the path of movement of the plunger and thus in particular the unit when the articulated arm has an angular position less than 30 °, in particular less than 20 ° relative to the axis of the plunger and the damper.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the stop is integrated in the hinge. Preferably, it is provided that the stopper is a part of the hinge housing, in particular integrally formed in the hinge housing.

As a result, a very component-minimized design can be created, which, moreover, can also be designed and arranged without assembly tolerances. As a result, the contacting of the damper with the stop again specified be done and to be damped motion control more accurate. In addition, can also mechanically very stable formed and positioned on such an embodiment of the stop, so that there are no signs of wear here even with vielzähliger contacting the damper with the stop. In addition, the position-safe arrangement remains guaranteed here.

In particular, the plunger, the damper and the stop are arranged in the axial direction in series.

The hinge preferably has a rail-like hollow part as a hinge housing, in which at least the plunger and the damper are received.

In particular, the stop is a wave-shaped embossing in a hinge housing of the hinge. The hinge housing is preferably formed of metal and therefore very robust and mechanically stable.

In an advantageous embodiment, it is provided that the hinge housing is a door profile, which is an elongated, hollow leg. This door profile is glued in particular to an inner side of a glass pane of the door. Specifically, this is provided in ovens as household appliances, this door then also a plurality of such glass panes, which are spaced from each other, may have.

Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for actuating a domestic appliance door according to claim 12, wherein in particular a pivoting of the appliance door is provided via a bottom hinged horizontal pivot axis. The appliance door is connected to a device according to the invention and an advantageous embodiment thereof. The device is formed with a hinge which includes a rotatably mounted articulated arm and a relatively movable, spring-assisted plunger for assisting movement of the articulated arm, and a damper. The plunger is permanently connected to the damper along the path of travel of the plunger. A device, which is formed from the plunger and the damper, is moved relative to a stop of the device. Upon reaching a first movement position of the device along its path of movement of the damper is brought from a non-contact position to the stop in contact with the stop. In the contacted position, further movement of the plunger along the path of travel is then damped.

Since just when opening and closing the door and the movement of the plunger is coupled to the movement of the articulated arm, thus transmits this damped movement of the plunger into a closed end position of the appliance door and thus a closed end position of the plunger on the articulated arm.

If the appliance door is then reopened, the damper contacted with the stop will move from the contacted position into a position dependent on a certain angular position of the articulated arm and thus also on a certain angular position of the appliance door, which in turn is coupled with a certain movement position of the ram non-contact position over. Until the complete opening of the appliance door then the damper is arranged contactless to the stop.

According to the invention, a hinge for a household appliance door is provided with a hinge arm rotatably mounted on the hinge and a spring-loaded plunger to support the movement of the articulated arm in at least a first end position, wherein the plunger is connected to a damper such that the damper in a movement of the articulated arm in the first end position can be brought into contact with a stop and thereby the said movement can be damped. An advantage of this design is the low cost compared to known embodiments, since according to the invention either a receptacle for the damper is provided on the plunger or a cost-effective adapter, such as a simple injection molded part, can be interposed. This is less expensive than the known from the prior art storage of the damper in the housing of the hinge. When removing the assembly of the male part, the compression spring and the plunger from the hinge housing, the damper is also removed. This facilitates the work in case of service.

Another advantage results from the movement of the plunger. Thus, due to the design of the ram react either with an exclusive axial movement or a combined sliding and pivoting movement on the movement of the articulated arm. Especially in the latter case, the structure described is advantageous because this ensures that acting on the damper exclusively or at least presumptuous axial forces and thus increases the life of the damper.

Another advantage results from the possibility to arrange the damper closer to the compression spring. In the application of a baking oven, it is essential not to expose the damper to high temperatures, as an oil damper usually used up to 150 ° C. is. Inadmissibly high temperatures are avoided if, with the oven door closed, the damper is arranged as far down as possible, ie directly in extension of the plunger, or in the vicinity of the spring.

In addition, an adapter is used for the storage and management of the actuator or the damping cylinder relative to the plunger. Although the adapter is an additional component, it may still be advantageous because it allows the actuator or the damping cylinder out and protected against lateral forces.

In particular, the adapter is permanently attached to the plunger of the hinge. Suitable connections are screwed connections, gluing, hiding or interference fit. Thus, practically an extension of the plunger is realized, in which the actuator or damping cylinder can be removably received.

Advantageously, in at least one angular position of the articulated arm, the distance from the plunger to the stop is sufficiently large so that the damper is manually removable and replaceable. In an alternative embodiment, in which the hinge, so in particular the male part, the compression spring and the plunger is not detachable connected to the hinge housing, ie the part which is glued to the door, a viewing cover in front of the compression spring and the damper arranged be. As will be described in detail later, at certain angles of the articulated arm to the hinge body, the distance from the plunger to the stop is increased. Thus, after removal of the visible cover and without disassembly of other components of the damper can be replaced in case of service. In addition, such a view covering brings the advantage of reducing thermal bridges.

In addition, said stop part of the hinge body, which is inseparably connected to the appliance door - preferably glued - is. Since appreciable forces can be applied to the appliance door, the support of the hinge, which is glued to the door, made of a sufficiently strong sheet metal and it is therefore possible to form the stop on this part with a simple stamping and bending operation.

In an alternative embodiment, the articulated arm can be connected to the compression spring inseparably connected to the hinge body. In this case, the stop may be part of the cover, which protects the compression spring and the plunger from the user and after removal This cover is the damper easily removable. This cover is also to be provided for design reasons and must be removed for service tasks. In order to Removal of the stop is automatically removed, the damper can be removed very easily and without an axial limit.

A household appliance door has at least one and preferably two corresponding hinges and is used with a household appliance, in particular an oven. The household appliance door is opened folding down and the damper is located in partially open angular positions above the plunger so that it can not fall out due to gravity.

It can be provided that the plunger and the damper are arranged in a hinge member which forms the first hinge arm and is secured to a door glass. The articulated arm, which represents the further hinge arm, is then attached to an oven housing. It can also be provided that the articulated arm is attached to the door glass and the plunger and the damper are connected to the oven housing.

In the following, an embodiment of a device will be described in detail.

Fig. 1

eine Schrägansicht einer Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung mit einem Gelenkarm in seiner geschlossenen Stellung und

Fig. 3

die Seitenansicht der Vorrichtung bei einer um ca. 30° geöffneten Stellung des Gelenkarms.

Show it:

Fig. 1

an oblique view of a device,

Fig. 2

a side view of the device with an articulated arm in its closed position and

Fig. 3

the side view of the device at a by about 30 ° open position of the articulated arm.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1 a partial section of a oven door 70 is shown in an oblique view. On an inner side 12 of an inner pane 13 of the oven door 70, a first device 1 for moving the oven door 70 is mounted. This device 1 is glued to this contact surface or inner side 12. The device 1 is in an analogous embodiment also parallel to the in Fig. 1 shown apparatus 1 is arranged on the other side of the inner pane 13, so that the oven door 70 is arranged and fixed by means of two such devices to other components of the oven, not shown, and is pivotable relative thereto.

The device 1 comprises a hinge 10. The hinge 10 has an articulated arm 20. The articulated arm 20 mounted in the hinge 10 (and thus the entire door) is hung in a corresponding receptacle of the oven (not shown) and locked there. According to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 For example, hinge 10 is shown in its closed position as the first end position. In such a first end position, the oven door 70 is closed. When the oven door 70 is opened, resulting in an opening angle of 30 °, the in Fig. 3 The oven door 70 is further pivoted from this intermediate position into a second end position, which corresponds to a pivoting of the articulated arm 20 by 90 °. In this second end position, the oven door 70 is placed in a horizontal, completely releasing the oven interior position and thus fully open.

The device 1 comprises a hinge housing 11 which in the exemplary embodiment additionally also has the same function as the door profile. This hinge housing 11 is an elongated, rail-like hollow profile. In the hinge housing 11, a plunger 35, a compression spring 30, an adapter 40 and a damper with a damper cylinder 50 and an actuator 52 are added.

As according to the representations in the Fig. 1 to 3 can be seen, while the components relating to the plunger 35 and the damper 50 are arranged in the axial direction in series.

The compression spring 30 spirally surrounds the plunger 35.

The plunger 35 is permanently connected to the damper over the entire actuation path of the plunger 35, so that the plunger 35 and the damper during the entire actuation path are always in contact.

The plunger 35 is axially displaceable depending on the opening angle of the oven door 70 in the hinge housing 11 and thereby biased by the compression spring 30. At the position in Fig. 1 and 2 the compression spring 30 is maximally relaxed. In an open state of the door 70 or the partially opened state as shown in FIG Fig. 3 the plunger 35 has been moved in the direction of the articulated arm 20 to the left, whereby the compression spring 30 is pressed further together. As part of the weight compensation system, it counteracts the weight force of the oven door 70 as resistance. Due to the design a pure displacement movement or a combined displacement and pivoting movement of the plunger 35 may be provided.

In the in Fig. 3 shown view, ie a door opening angle of 30 °, the plunger 35 is moved to the left and the compression spring 30 accordingly stretched more. At the end of the plunger 35, which is spaced from the articulated arm 20, an adapter 40 is provided which serves to receive the damper 50, 52, wherein the actuator 52 is mounted in the adapter 40. The damper 50, 52 is preferably an oil damper, but may also be an air damper. A spring (not shown) provided in the damper 50, 52 acts against the insertion of the actuator 52 into the damping cylinder 50.

If now the oven door 70 is moved from a partially opened position (eg 30 ° as shown in FIG Fig. 3 ) in a closed position of Fig. 2 is guided so initially moves the plunger 35 to the right, wherein the compression spring 30 is relaxed. At a certain point in time, the damping cylinder 50 comes into contact with the abutment 60. This abutment 60 is an embossment formed integrally with the hinge housing 11, which is, for example, wave-shaped.

As from the illustration in Fig. 3 can be seen, the damper and thus a unit 14, formed from the damper 50, 52 and the plunger 35, contact-free arranged to the stopper 60 and guided by movement. This relates in particular to those movement sections of the oven door 70 in which it is opened> 25 ° relative to the vertical closed position. As for example from the illustration in Fig. 3 can already be seen, is at an opening of 30 ° relative to the vertical, which also by the angular position of about 30 ° of the articulated arm 20 relative to the vertical axis of the unit 14 (in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 runs this horizontally) is formed, the damper 50, 52 already spaced and arranged without contact to the stop 60.

Along the path of movement of the plunger 35 is then in a specific movement position, which is for example at about 25 ° of the inclination between the axis of the unit 14 and the articulated arm 20, the non-contact position of the damper 50, 52 lifted to the stop 60 and the damping cylinder 50 comes in contact with the stopper 60. From this point, the damper 50, 52 causes a damping force, which counteracts the closing of the oven door 70, against the spring force of the compression spring 30 acts. As a result, the closing speed of the oven door 70 is limited and thus a soft, uniform and impact-free closing of the oven door 70 is achieved. The housing the damper 50, 52 is preferably made of plastic, so that no disturbing noise is generated in the contact contact from the damping cylinder 50 to the stop 60.

Starting from the illustration in Fig. 2 showing the fully closed state of the oven door 70, then, upon reopening the oven door 70, first the compression spring 30 is cocked and the spring provided in the damper 50, 52 causes the actuator 52 to move from the damper cylinder 50 to the in Fig. 3 shown position extends and this is done in particular on the still contacted movement section between the stopper 60 and the damping cylinder 50.

The actuator 52 is inserted with a play or slight transition fit in the adapter 40, so that preferably both parts can move freely. In case of service, the service employee can easily remove the damper in an open position of the oven door 70. For this purpose, he first removes the oven door 70 from the oven and then he opens the screw 32. Subsequently, he can the assembly of the male part 20 with the compression spring 30 and the plunger 35 to the left (see Fig. 1 ) and thus reaches the damper, which he can now easily remove. Gravity acts in the installation against an accidental displacement or falling out of the damper within the adapter. This is also prevented by the internal friction and spatial dimensions. In addition, the damper 50, 52, for example, in a transport of the oven does not fall out, since in this state, the oven door 70 is closed and thus the damper is axially braced.

As an alternative to the described embodiment, an adapter 40 is not absolutely necessary. Rather, the plunger 35 of the hinge 10 may have an axial blind hole (not shown) in which the actuator 52 of the damper is received. Also, (not shown) may be received in the adapter 40 instead of the actuator 52 of the damping cylinder 50, so that the actuator 52 comes into contact with the stopper 60.

Reference numerals:

1.

contraption

10th

hinge

11th

hinge housing

12th

inside

13th

Door inner pane

14th

unit

20th

articulated arm

30th

compression spring

32nd

screw

35th

tappet

40th

adapter

50th

damper cylinder

52nd

actuator

60th

attack

70th

Domestic appliance door / oven door

Claims (12)

1. Device (1) for guiding the movement of a domestic appliance door (70), with a hinge (10) which has a rotatably mounted articulated arm (20) and a spring-loaded plunger (35) which can be moved relative thereto and is surrounded by a pressure spring for supporting the movement of the articulated arm (20) during a closing movement of the domestic appliance door (70), and comprises a damper (50, 52), wherein the damper (50, 52) comprises an actuator (52) and a steam cylinder (50), characterised in that the plunger (35) is permanently connected to the damper (50, 52) along the movement path of the plunger (35), wherein the actuator (52) is mounted on the plunger (35) or the steam cylinder (50) is mounted on the plunger (35) and a unit (14) formed from the plunger (35) and the damper (50, 52) connected thereto can be moved relative to an end stop (60) of the device (1), and the unit (14) is arranged such that, along the movement path thereof, upon reaching a first movement position of the unit (14), the damper (50, 52) is brought into contact with the end stop (60) from a contactless position to the end stop (60), and in the contacted position the further movement of the plunger (35) along the movement path is damped.
2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the unit (14) has an adapter (40) opposite the plunger (35) for mounting and guiding the damper (50, 52).
3. Device (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that the adapter (40) is permanently fastened to the plunger (35).
4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in at least one angular position of the articulated arm (20) along the contactless movement between the unit (14) and the end stop (60), the distance from the plunger (35) to the end stop (60) is sufficiently large that the damper (50, 52) can be removed and exchanged manually.
5. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the end stop (60) is arranged on the hinge (10), in particular on a hinge housing (11).
6. Device (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that the end stop (60) is an undulating imprint in a hinge housing (11).
7. Device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the end stop (60) is arranged externally with respect to the hinge.
8. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the plunger (35), the damper (50, 52) and the end stop (60) are arranged in series with respect to one another in the axial direction.
9. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the hinge (10) has a rail-like hollow part as hinge housing (11), in which at least the plunger (35) and the damper (50, 52) are accommodated.
10. Domestic appliance door (70) with at least one device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in particular with a device (1) in which a hinge housing (11) of the hinge (10) is embodied as a door profile.
11. Domestic appliance with a domestic appliance door (70) according to claim 10, wherein the domestic appliance door (70) can be folded downward via a horizontal axis for opening.
12. Method for actuating a domestic appliance door (70), in which the domestic appliance door (70) is connected to a device (1) for guiding the movement of a domestic appliance door (70), and the device (1) is embodied with a hinge (10) which has a rotatably mounted articulated arm (20) and a spring-loaded plunger (35) which can be moved relative thereto for supporting the movement of the articulated arm (20) during a closing movement of the domestic appliance door (70), and a damper (50, 52) which comprises an actuator (52) and a steam cylinder (50), characterised in that the plunger (35) is permanently connected to the damper (50, 52) along the movement path of the plunger (35), wherein the actuator (52) is mounted on the plunger (35) or the steam cylinder (50) is mounted on the plunger (35) and a unit (14) formed from the plunger (35) and the damper (50, 52) connected thereto can be moved relative to an end stop (60) of the device (1), and, along the movement path of the unit (14), upon reaching a first movement position of the unit (14), the damper (50, 52) is brought into contact with the end stop (60) from a contactless position to the end stop (60), and in the contacted position the further movement of the plunger (35) along the movement path is damped.

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