EP2822442B1 - Household appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a dishwasher.

By unlocking and opening the door of a conventional dishwasher, such as a dishwasher with a pull-lock, a certain amount of force on the part of the operator is connected, which is sometimes perceived as uncomfortable. Further, in the past, it has been found to be beneficial to be energy efficient and, in view of complete drying, to partially open the door of a dishwasher during the drying process.

Accordingly, in recent years, dishwashers having a device for automatically opening the door have been developed. Such a dishwasher is for example in the EP 2 394 561 A2 described.

The DE 100 38 376 A1 describes a door lock for a door of a household electrical appliance. The door lock comprises a door hook which can be locked by means of a main slide. The main slide can be locked by means of a movable with the aid of a bimetallic lock slide. For independent of the bimetal spring displacing the locking slide an electromagnetic device is still provided.

The EP 1 217 117 A1 relates to a device for locking and releasing a door lock of an electrical device. The device comprises a blocking and release element. The blocking and releasing element is displaced by an electromagnetic actuator between an open position and a blocking position.

The DE 202 16 614 U1 describes a door lock, in particular for a washing machine, in which the locking takes place by an actuator system, when this attracts a head part, whereby a hook moves to its closed position. Furthermore, the door lock comprises an emergency release by means of a Bimetallstellelements.

An object of the present invention is to provide a household appliance which is equipped with a particularly cost-effective mechanism for opening the door.

Therefore, a domestic appliance, in particular a dishwasher, is provided with a door, a thermo-actuator for opening or unlocking the door and a device. The device is configured to kinematically decouple closing or locking of the door from the thermal actuator, wherein the thermal actuator comprises a working element movable between a starting position and an opening position, in particular a working piston, wherein movement into the opening position causes the door to open; and wherein the device comprises a first and a second actuating element, which are for conditioning against each other in conditioning and for decoupling out of engagement can be brought.

In the present case, a "thermoactuator" is understood to be an actuator in which a movement results as a function of a temperature change. The "movement" includes, for example, the movement of a working element, for example a working piston, between a starting position and an opening position, wherein the movement into the opening position causes the door to open or unlock. The temperature change can be effected, for example, electrically, which can be easily implemented control technology. Thermo-actuators usually comprise an expanding material (for example oil, wax, hard paraffin or metal), which undergoes a phase change and thus a significant change in volume as a result of a temperature change, which leads to a movement from the starting position into the opening position. The distance traveled is usually proportional to the volume change of the wax. If the expansion material cools down again, the working element, in particular the working piston, is typically pushed back by a spring into the corresponding housing of the thermal actuator and in this way is moved back into its starting position. Examples of such thermoactuators are wax motors, bimetals or shape memory alloys (memory metals). Thermoactuators, in particular the mentioned wax engines, are characterized by the fact that they are particularly cost-effective. However, such thermal actuators typically have the property that they are capable of only relatively slow actuation. In particular, the return movement of the working element from the open position to the starting position takes a relatively long Period of several seconds to a few minutes to complete. This is explained below by way of example with reference to a wax motor: The wax of the wax motor can be heated relatively quickly by means of an electrical heating device so that a relatively fast movement of the working piston relative to the return movement can be achieved from the starting position to the opening position due to the expanding wax. The cooling of the wax, however, takes place more slowly than the heating, so that the return movement of the working piston from the opening position to the starting position takes place correspondingly slower.

Because of this feature, the thermoactuator can be used to easily open or unlock the door, especially when the speed of movement of the actuator from the starting position to the opening position for the desired function is not critical, such as at a desired opening or unlocking the door at the end a drying program of a dishwasher. However, if the door is to be closed or locked again immediately after opening or unlocking, the thermoactuator itself, in particular the working element itself, prevents such closing or locking from the opening position to the starting position due to the only slow speed of movement of the working element, in particular working piston. unless additional measures are envisaged. This problem basically exists with any actuator whose speed of movement during the return movement of the working element from the opening position to the starting position falls below a predefinable minimum speed, or in other words, at each Actuator in which the return movement exceeds a predefinable period of time. Such a delayed return movement may be due to the system, such as in a thermal actuator, but may also result from a special arrangement, such as electric motor with complex downstream gear mechanism.

In the present case, a corresponding additional measure is to decouple the closing or locking of the door from the actuator, in particular thermoactuator. This kinematic decoupling causes the door can be closed or locked, although the working element, in particular the working piston, at least partially extended due to its slow movement speed in the direction from the open position to the starting position. Closing or locking the door immediately after opening or unlocking the door is thus possible.
The application of the invention is particularly useful if the return movement of the working element from the open position to the starting position lasts at least one second, in particular at least five seconds. If, in fact, the door can not be closed again for such a period of time, this represents a condition restricting the operation of the household appliance, which is perceived as disturbing or at least undesirable by an operator.

In the present case, a distinction is made between opening / closing and unlocking / locking as follows: opening / closing means a movement of the door to release (open) or close (close) access to a room behind the door. Unlocking / locking the door means an actuation of a locking element which releases an opening of the door (unlocking) or blocking such an opening (locking). The opening and unlocking can also take place simultaneously, just as the closing and locking can take place simultaneously. This is the case, for example, with a door lock in which the unlocking of the door with an opening thereof and / or the locking of the door associated with a closing thereof.

According to one embodiment, the device is designed to couple the actuator with the door for opening the same or with a door lock for unlocking the door.

The coupling creates a kinematic operative connection between the actuator and the door or the door lock. This kinematic operative connection is then through the decoupling is lifted to close or lock the door immediately after opening or unlocking the same.

According to a further embodiment, the device has a first and a second actuating element, which can be brought into contact with one another for coupling and for decoupling.

Typically, the first actuator acts in a first direction against the second actuator while in abutment with each other. If the first actuating element is moved in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction, then the first and second actuating element are out of engagement. The first actuating element may be formed, for example, as a plunger. The second actuating element can be designed, for example, as a lever.

Preferably, the first and second actuating element are each adjustable between a first and second position, wherein the first layer corresponds to a closed or locked state of the door and the second layer each corresponding to an open or unlocked state of the door, wherein the first and second actuating element, if these are each in their second position, can be brought out of abutment for decoupling, whereby a return of the second actuating element is released from its second position in its position.

The first and second actuating element are thus provided in such a way that they move partly on the same path (first and second actuating element in contact) and partly on different paths (first and second actuating element out of contact). Thereby, the return of the second actuating element can be easily accomplished independently of a movement of the first actuating element.

According to a further embodiment, the disengagement comprises a displacement of the first actuating element transversely to the feed axis of the actuator.

The feed axis means the axis along which the working element, in particular the working piston, of the actuator is movable. As far as present of "transverse", "parallel" or "perpendicular" is spoken, so are preferably deviations from the transverse direction, the parallels and the perpendicular from 0 to 45 °, preferably 0 to 20 °, more preferably 0 to 10 ° or even more preferably 0 to 5 °.

According to a further embodiment, the device has a spring for displacing the actuating element.

In principle, instead of the spring (this applies to each of the presently described springs, in particular the first and second spring), a different kind of actuator, such as a permanent magnet or solenoid may be used.

According to a further embodiment, the first actuating element has a bevel against which the spring acts at least indirectly.

"At least indirectly" in the present case includes direct and indirect. "Indirect" means that the spring can act, for example by means of an intermediate plunger on the first actuator. However, a direct action of the spring - without intermediate element - on the first actuator is possible. The slope causes the spring to be increasingly tensioned as the first actuator is moved along the feed axis. In addition, the slope causes the force applied by the spring to have a component in the direction transverse to the feed axis.

According to a further embodiment, the first actuating element for the insertion and dislocation is movably provided on a closed path.

The closed path may be, for example, circular, oval, rectangular, square or oblong-shaped. Thus, the mentioned different paths of the first and second actuating element can be easily accomplished.

According to a further embodiment, the device has a link, which cooperates with a link element of the first actuating element to define the closed path.

The backdrop may be formed, for example, in the form of a slot-shaped elevation. The link element may be formed, for example in the form of a pin, which is moved along the outer contour of the slot-shaped elevation.

According to a further embodiment, the closed path has a first and a second path section, along which the first actuating element can be adjusted by means of the actuator, in particular thermoactuator.

The first and second track sections are preferably formed parallel to one another. The first web section typically corresponds to the extension of the working element, e.g. in the form of a working piston, the actuator, while the second path section corresponds to the retraction of the working piston.

According to a further embodiment, the closed track has a third and fourth track section, which connect the first and second track section to each other and along which the first actuating element is adjustable by means of one or more springs.

For example, the third and fourth track sections may each be semicircular. In this case, the third track section preferably connects the first and second track sections at their respective one ends, while the fourth track section preferably connects the first and second track sections at their respective other ends.

According to a further embodiment, the first actuating element is adjustable by means of the actuator along the first path section from the first in its second position in the feed direction of the actuator, wherein the first actuating element at least indirectly comes into contact with a first spring and the second actuating element and thereby the first spring compressed and adjusted the second actuator between the first and second position.

"In the feed direction of the actuator" means preferably the direction of the starting position of the working element, such as the working piston, in its open position. "In the feed direction of the thermal actuator" means preferably the direction along which expands the expansion of the thermal actuator. In the feed direction, the actuator, in particular the thermal actuator, or its working piston has a relatively high movement speed in comparison to the return direction (counter to the feed direction). The door can thereby be opened or unlocked quickly, for example within 45 to 60 seconds.

According to a further embodiment, the first spring adjusts the first actuating element, if this is in its second position, along the third path section in the transverse direction to the feed axis from its second position to a third position, wherein the first actuating element comes out of engagement with the second actuating element.

This results in the decoupling of the first and second actuating element from each other in a simple manner.

According to a further embodiment, the first actuating element is adjustable against the feed direction by means of the actuator along the second path section from its third position into a fourth position, wherein the first actuating element at least indirectly comes into contact with a spring and thereby compresses the second spring.

"Contrary to the feed direction" means a movement along the direction from the opening position to the starting position of the working element. For thermoactuators, this is the direction along which the expansion material of the thermal actuator typically contracts, so that the corresponding speed of movement of the thermal actuator or the working piston thereof is low.

According to a further embodiment, the second spring displaces the first actuating element, when this is in its fourth position, along the fourth track section from its fourth position into the first position counter to the transverse direction.

This results in a simple way, the closed path along which the first actuator is moved.

According to a further embodiment, the device has a stop against which the first spring abuts when the first actuating element is in its third position.

The stop prevents the first spring from counteracting the second spring as the second spring moves the first actuating member along the fourth track portion.

According to a further embodiment, the first actuating element is mounted transversely to the feed direction movable on a working piston of the actuator. For this purpose, the working piston may have an engagement element which engages displaceably in a corresponding receiving element in the actuating element. Alternatively, the first actuating element, the engagement element and the working piston having the receiving element. The engaging and receiving element may be formed according to the tongue and groove principle.

According to a further embodiment, a return spring is provided, which resets the second actuating element from its second position in its first position.

As soon as the first actuating element releases a return of the second actuating element, the second actuating element is reset by means of the return spring. As a result, the second actuating element and optionally associated with this, further actuating elements are positioned such that the door can be easily closed or locked.

According to a further embodiment, the first and second actuation elements for bringing in place have mutually corresponding bevels.

This can be achieved by a minimum offset of the first and second actuating element to each other that they can move for the return of the second actuating element past each other.

According to a further embodiment, the first spring acts by means of a plunger on the first actuating element, which has a slope which corresponds to the slope of the first actuating element.

Thereby, the movement of the first actuating element in the feed direction of the actuator can be easily converted into a movement for compressing the first spring. The springs, in particular the first and / or second spring, may be formed as compression springs, in particular spiral compression springs. Furthermore, the springs may be formed as leaf springs.

According to a further embodiment, the second actuating element is designed as a reversing lever.

As a result, the device takes up little space. Alternatively, the second actuating element can also be designed as an eccentric.

According to a further embodiment, the second actuating element acts on a door-opening ram or a locking element of the door lock.

A "door opener ram" is a ram which is moved substantially perpendicular to the door to force it therethrough. A "locking element of the door lock" is one such element which engages a recess in the door or in a frame delimiting the door opening of a housing of the household appliance to lock the door, or can be disengaged with this recess to the door unlock and thus release it for opening.

According to a further embodiment, the door lock on a striker and a lever. The striker is by means of the actuator, in particular Thermoaktuators, from a locking position in which it engages positively in the door, adjustable against a spring acting in the closing direction of the door in an unlocked position in which he releases the door for opening and against a reset is positively secured by the spring. The lever releases when closing the door on the positive engagement, whereby the spring actuates the striker in the locking position and pulls the door in the closing direction.

In this door lock unlocking the door with a slight opening of the same and the locking of the door with a slight closing of the same goes hand in hand. This type of door lock can also be referred to as a "pull-lock".

According to one embodiment, the door is formed without handles. In this case, the actuator according to the invention, in particular thermoactuator, causes any opening of the door. Such an embodiment is particularly useful when the feed rate, that is, the speed of movement of the working element from the starting position to the open position is sufficiently large.

According to another embodiment, the door is formed with a handle or a recessed grip. The actuator causes the opening of the door only when it is provided by the sequence program of the household appliance, for example, the washing program of a dishwasher. Preferably, the opening of the door takes place during or after a drying program of a dishwasher.

The opening or unlocking of the door may be triggered by a sensor connected to the actuator, e.g. the Thermoaktuator, is connected by signal technology. For example, the sensor may be in the form of a pushbutton, touch sensor, proximity sensor or optical sensor. Alternatively, the opening or unlocking of the door can be triggered by a control device.

Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims and the embodiments of the invention described below. Furthermore, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

• Figur 1: in einer schematischen Seitenansicht eine Geschirrspülmaschine;
• Figur 2: eine vergrößerte Ansicht II aus Figur 1 in teilweise ausgebrochener Darstellung, wobei sich ein Aktuatorstößel in einer ersten Lage befindet;
• Figur 3: in einer perspektivischen Ansicht einen Aktuatorstößel aus Figur 2;
• Figur 4: einen Schnitt IV-IV aus Figur 2;
• Figur 5: einen Schnitt V-V aus Figur 4;
• Figur 6: die Ansicht aus Figur 2, wobei sich der Aktuatorstößel in einer zweiten Lage befindet;
• Figur 7: die Ansicht aus Figur 5, wenn sich der Aktuatorstößel in der in Figur 6 gezeigten zweiten Lage befindet;
• Figur 8: die Ansicht aus Figur 6, wobei sich der Aktuatorstößel in einer dritten Lage befindet;
• Figur 9: die Ansicht aus Figur 8, wobei sich der Aktuatorstößel in einer vierten Lage befindet;
• Figur 10: schematisch eine geschlossene Bahn, auf welcher der Aktuatorstößel bewegt wird; und
• Figur 11: die Ansicht aus Figur 5 mit aktivem Überlastschutz.

It shows:

• FIG. 1 in a schematic side view of a dishwasher;
• FIG. 2 : an enlarged view II FIG. 1 in partially broken-away illustration, wherein a Aktuatorstößel is in a first position;
• FIG. 3 : In a perspective view of an actuator ram FIG. 2 ;
• FIG. 4 : a section IV-IV off FIG. 2 ;
• FIG. 5 : a cut VV off FIG. 4 ;
• FIG. 6 : the view off FIG. 2 with the actuator follower in a second position;
• FIG. 7 : the view off FIG. 5 when the actuator ram in the in FIG. 6 shown second layer is located;
• FIG. 8 : the view off FIG. 6 with the actuator follower in a third position;
• FIG. 9 : the view off FIG. 8 with the actuator ram in a fourth position;
• FIG. 10 schematically a closed path on which the Aktuatorstößel is moved; and
• FIG. 11 : the view off FIG. 5 with active overload protection.

In the figures, the same or functionally identical elements have been given the same reference numerals, unless stated otherwise.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a household appliance in the form of a dishwasher 1. This has a washing container 2 for receiving items to be washed. A door 3 is pivotably connected to a body 4 forming the washing container 2 by means of a joint 5. In this case, the closed position and in dashed line the open position of the door 3 is illustrated in a solid line.

The dishwasher 1 further comprises an actuator in the form of a thermo-actuator 6 (see FIG. 2 ), a door lock 7 and a device 11, which are each arranged below an upper cover 12 of the body 4.

The door lock 7 comprises a locking element 13 (see FIG. 4 ) and a recess 14 (see FIG. 1 ), in which the locking element 13 engages in the closed position of the door 3 and this in the direction of the washing container 2 against a in FIG. 2 shown seal 15 pulls. As a result, a gas- and liquid-tight closure of the washing compartment 2 in the closed position of the door 3 is achieved.

The dishwasher 1 also has a touch sensor 16, which is signal-technically coupled to a control device 17 of the dishwasher 1. If an operator presses the touch sensor 16 during operation of the dishwasher 1, that is to say while it is processing a rinse program, for example to place a forgotten cup in a dish rack (not shown) in the rinse tank 2, then the controller 17 interrupts the rinse operation and controls the thermoactuator 6 Unlocking the door 3. In this state, the device 11 couples the thermo-actuator 6 with the door lock 7. Thereafter, the thermo-actuator 6 actuates the locking element 13 from its in FIG. 4 shown in a solid line locking position in the unlocked position shown there in dashed line. After that pulls the operator person, for example by means of a recessed grip 21, the door 3 in its open position, as in FIG. 1 shown, or the door 3 falls due to its own weight in its open position. The touch sensor 16 may also be integrated into the recessed grip 21, so that a grasping by hand already leads into the recessed grip 21 for unlocking the door 3. In the open position of the door 3, for example, the forgotten cup can now be placed in the dish rack. Subsequently, the operator closes the door 3 again. With the pushing of the door 3, the locking element 13 jumps (see FIG. 4 ) again from its unlocked position into its locking position, whereby the door 3 is locked and pressed in the direction of the washing compartment 2 against the seal 15.

The opening and closing of the door 3 together with the corresponding unlocking and locking of the locking element 13 takes only a short time. As a rule, this time span is not sufficient for the thermo-actuator 6 to reset. So now the return of the locking element 13 from its unlocked position into its locking position despite not yet restored thermo-actuator 6 is possible, the device 11 decouples the locking element 13 of the thermo-actuator. 6

FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view II FIG. 1 , wherein the cover 12 is shown in broken-away view.

The thermoactuator 6 is formed, for example, as a wax engine. The thermal actuator 6 comprises a housing 22 which is filled with wax 23 which drives a working piston 24. The device 11 has a first, stationary carrier part 28, on which the housing 22 is fastened. Furthermore, a coil 25 is provided which heats the wax 23 as soon as the control device 17 (see FIG FIG. 1 ) the coil 25 is energized. The wax 23 then expands relatively quickly, wherein the working piston 24 is extended along the feed axis 26 in the feed direction V. For a retraction of the working piston 24 against the feed direction V, the thermo-actuator 6 may have a spring, not shown. The working piston 24 is along the feed axis 26 in positive connection with a first actuating element in the form of an actuator tappet 27th

FIG. 3 shows the actuator ram 27 in a perspective view.

The actuator ram 27 has a T-slot 31, in which the working piston 24 at its free end, which is formed in the form of a Ts (not shown), along the feed axis 26 positively and along a transverse axis 32 transversely to the feed direction 26 slidably engages. Furthermore, the actuator ram 27 has a link element in the form of a pin 33. The pin 33 extends perpendicular to the plane defined by the feed axis 26 and the transverse axis 32 level E.

Now returning to FIG. 2 can be seen there that the device 11 also has a backdrop in the form of a slot-shaped elevation 34. The elevation 34 is formed on a second, stationary carrier part 29 of the device 11. The support member 29 is in FIG. 2 shown transparent. The actuator ram 27 or the pin 33 is in a manner described in more detail below on a closed path 35 (see FIG. 10 ) guided around the elevation 34 along its outer contour.

The device 11 also has a first spring plunger 36, which is prestressed by a first spring 37 in the form of a helical compression spring in the transverse direction Q along the transverse axis 32. The first spring 37 is supported on the one hand on the first support member 28 and on the other hand on the first spring plunger 36 from. The spring plunger 36 has a bevel 41, which with a slope 42 (see FIG. 3 ) of the actuator ram 27 corresponds, ie, the slopes 41, 42 have the same slope and are opposite to each other. In the in FIG. 2 shown first position L1 (see FIG. 10 ) of the actuator tappet 27, the first spring tappet 36 abuts against a stop 40 in the transverse direction Q. According to the embodiment, the actuator plunger 27 and the first spring plunger 36 in the first position L1 of the actuator plunger 27 are spaced apart from each other by a gap.

If the control device 17 now energizes the coil 25, the working piston 24 displaces the actuator plunger 27 from its first position L1 along a path section 43 (see FIG. 10) in the feed direction V, whereby the actuator plunger 27 is in abutment with the bevel 41 of FIG first spring plunger 36 passes and thereafter the first spring plunger 36 against the transverse direction Q shifts and compresses the first spring 37. An adjustment of the actuator plunger 27 in the transverse direction Q is prevented by the pin 33 in cooperation with the survey 34. Subsequently, the actuator ram 27 comes into abutment with a second actuating element of the device 11 in the form of a deflection lever 44. The lever 44 is initially in its first position L1. The deflection lever 44 extends in its first position L1 along the transverse axis 32. "Along" in the present case comprises co-linear and parallel, unless indicated otherwise. The reversing lever 44 has a first and a second end 45, 46 and is pivotally mounted between the ends 45, 46 at a pivot point 47 on the second support member 29. The first end 45 comprises a bevel 51 which preferably has the same pitch as the slopes 41, 42.

If the actuator tappet 27 is now actuated further in the feed direction V, the bevel 42 of the actuator tappet 27 acts against the bevel 51 of the deflection lever 44, as a result of which the deflection lever 44 moves from its first position L1 into its second position L2 (see FIG FIG. 6 ) pivots. In FIG. 2 seen, pivots the lever thus clockwise about the pivot point 47. This finally also enters the actuator plunger 27 in its second position L2, as in FIG. 10 shown.

The second end 46 of the reversing lever 11 is formed with an example semicircular backdrop, which acts on an example T-shaped end 54 of a plunger 53. The plunger 53 passes through the first support part 28. Between the T-shaped end 54 and the first support part 28, a return spring 55 is arranged in the form of a helical compression spring. As soon as the deflection lever 44 actuates the tappet 53 counter to the feed direction V, the return spring 55 is compressed.

FIG. 5 indicates a section VV FIG. 4 ,

The plunger 53 passes through against the feed direction V positively a U-shaped bracket 56, which engages behind a pressure plate 61 at its free ends 57. Between the bracket 56 and the pressure plate 61, an overload spring 62 is arranged in the form of a spiral compression spring, which may be provided with a bias of, for example, 50 Newton. The deflection lever 44 thus acts on the pressure plate 61 by means of the plunger 53 and the overload spring 62.

The initially mentioned locking element 13 of the door lock 7 is presently designed as a striker. The striker 13 comprises two legs 63, which engage behind a spring 64 at its one end 65. The spring 64 is designed as a spiral compression spring. At its other end 66, the spring 64 is supported on a housing 67 of the door lock 7. An upper part of the housing 67 is in FIG. 5 not shown to release the view of the underlying components. The striker 13 has opposite to the legs 63 a hook 71 which extends in a direction perpendicular to the plane E.

FIG. 4 shows a section IV-IV FIG. 2 ,

The hook 71 engages in its locking position in the recess 14 (see FIG. 1 ) one. Now acts the lever 44 by means of the pressure plate 61 on the legs 63, the striker 13 from its locking position (see FIG. 5 ) in its unlocked position (see FIG. 7 ). The hook 71 is moved on the one hand against the feed direction V and on the other hand in a direction R perpendicular to the plane E. The movement in the direction R is accomplished by the door lock 7 having a step 72. In the unlocked position (dashed in FIG. 4 shown) Striker 13 locks the hook 71 positively behind the step 72. The unlocked position of the striker 13 is also in FIG. 7 shown.

The recess 14 is released in the unlocked position of the striker 13, so that the door 3 can be opened manually by the operator. Alternatively, the door 3 can also be automatically opened by a further device of the dishwasher 1. Although such a device is not shown in detail in the figures, it can be easily realized on the basis of the same principle of operation as shown above. In this case, the pressure plate 61 would act not on the door lock 7, but on a door opening plunger 73, which exemplifies in FIG. 2 is shown. The door opening plunger 73 would push the unlocked door 3 from its closed position to the open position. Furthermore, a differently functioning device for opening the door 3 could be used.

FIG. 6 shows the view FIG. 2 , wherein the actuator ram 27 and the lever 44 are each in their second position L2. The second layer L2 now lacks the support of the pin 33 in the transverse direction Q, so that the first spring tappet 36 moves the actuator tappet 27 in the transverse direction Q from the second layer along a semicircular track section 74 into a third layer L3 (see FIG FIG. 8 ) presses. As soon as the actuator tappet 27 reaches its position L3, or shortly before, the first spring tappet 36 abuts against the stop 40. As the Aktuatorstößel 27 from its second position L2, see FIG. 6 , in its third position L3, see FIG. 8 , Moves, he releases a reset of the reversing lever 44 from the second layer L2 in its first position L1 by means of the return spring 55. If the lever 44 then, as in FIG. 8 shown in its first position L1, the pressure plate 61 is spaced from the legs 63 of the striker 13.

Closes now the operator, for example, after a few seconds again the door 3 manually, so presses an unspecified door section a lever 75 of the door lock 7, which in FIG. 4 is shown. The operation of the lever 75 causes the hook 71 lifted out of its unlocked position, that is highlighted behind the stage 72, and placed on the step 72. Characterized the hitherto existing positive connection between the hook 71 and the step 72 is released, whereby the hook 71 is pulled by means of the spring 64 in its locking position. The in FIG. 8 With 76 designated distance is consumed. A feedback of the movement of the striker 13 on the Aktuatorstößel 27 does not take place.

According to a further embodiment, the first spring tappet 36, the first spring 37 and the stop 40 can be dispensed with. In this case, the bevel 51 of the reversing lever 44 acts on the slope 42 of the Aktuatorstößels 27 that the Aktuatorstößel 27 is moved to the end of its movement in the feed direction V in the third layer L3.

From the third layer L3 (see FIG. 8 ), the actuator ram 27 along a track portion 77 (see FIG. 10 ) is pulled slowly counter to the feed direction V by means of the working piston 24 of the thermal actuator 6 and thereby moved into its fourth position L4. The track section 77 is provided parallel to the track section 43. Therefore, the movement along the path portion 77 is slower than the opposite movement along the path portion 43 because the wax 23 cools and contracts more slowly as it heats and expands.

The device 11 also has a second spring tappet 81, which is supported on the second carrier part 29 via a second spring 82 in the form of a helical compression spring. As the actuator tappet 27 moves from its third L3 to its fourth position L4, it engages a bevel 83 of the spring tappet 81 and urges it against the action of the second spring 82 in the transverse direction Q.

As soon as the support of the pin 33 by the elevation 34 against the transverse direction Q is absent, pushes the second spring plunger 81, the actuator plunger 27 by means of the slope 83 against the transverse direction Q along a track portion 84 (see FIG. 10 ) back to its first position L1. Thus, now the thermo-actuator 6 and the device 11 and the door lock 7 are again in the starting position, whereupon the above-described sequence of unlocking and opening the door 3 can be repeated.

According to a further embodiment, the second spring tappet 81 and the second spring 37 can be dispensed with. In this case, acts on the second support member 29 arranged, not shown slope on the Aktuatorstößel 27 that the Aktuatorstößel 27 is moved towards the end of its movement counter to the feed direction V in the first position L1.

FIG. 11 shows the view FIG. 5 and illustrates an integrated overload protection. For example, if a child safety device is activated or an opening of the door 3 is otherwise prevented, for example, if a heavy object is in front of the door 3, the striker 13 can not be out of his in FIG. 11 move shown locking position, as this always requires a certain opening movement of the door 3 in the present construction. In order to avoid damage to the device 11 and the door lock 7, the overload spring 62 is provided. This is compressed when the striker 13 can not move from its locking position to its unlocked position and at the same time the lever 44 is actuated by means of the Aktuatorstößels 27 in its second position L2.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to embodiments, it is variously modifiable.

For example, the control device 17 may be configured to unlock the door 3 during or after a drying program of the dishwasher 1 by correspondingly activating the thermoactuator 6. The touch sensor 16 is optional in this embodiment.

Likewise, it is also conceivable to replace the thermoactuator by another actuator, which in particular, similar to a thermal actuator, only allows a slow return movement of the working element.

Used reference signs:

1

dishwasher

2

rinse tank

3

door

4

corpus

5

joint

6

actuator

7

Locks

11

Facility

12

cover

13

locking element

14

recess

15

poetry

16

sensor

17

control device

21

grip

22

casing

23

wax

24

working piston

25

Kitchen sink

26

feed axis

27

actuator rams

28

support part

29

support part

31

T-slot

32

transverse axis

33

spigot

34

survey

35

closed track

36

first spring tappet

37

first spring

40

attack

41

slope

42

slope

43

web section

44

Umlenkhebel

45

first end

46

second end

47

articulation

51

slope

52

scenery

53

tappet

54

The End

55

return spring

56

hanger

57

The End

61

printing plate

62

Overload spring

63

leg

64

feather

65

The End

66

The End

67

casing

71

hook

72

step

73

Door opening plunger

74

web section

75

lever

76

distance

77

web section

81

second spring tappet

82

second spring

83

slope

84

web section

Claims (16)

1. Household appliance (1), in particular dishwasher, with a door (3), a thermal actuator (6) for opening the door (3) and a device (11), which is embodied to uncouple a closing or locking of the door (3) from the thermal actuator (6) kinematically, wherein the thermal actuator (6) comprises an operating element (24) which can be moved between an initial position and an opening position, in particular a working piston (24'), wherein a movement into the opening position effects an opening of the door (3) and wherein the device (11) comprises a first and a second actuating element (27, 44), which can be brought into abutment with each other for the coupling and out of abutment for the uncoupling.
2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterised in that the device (11) is embodied to couple the thermal actuator (6) with a door lock (7) for opening of the door (3).
3. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that a return movement from the opening position into the initial position lasts at least one second, in particular at least five seconds.
4. Household appliance according to one of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the first and second actuating element (27, 44) are in each case transposable between a first and second location (L1, L2), wherein the first location (L1) in each case corresponds to a closed or locked status of the door (3) and the second location (L2) in each case to an opened or unlocked status of the door (3), wherein the first and second actuating element (27, 44), if these are positioned in their respective second location (L2), can be brought out of abutment for the uncoupling, by means of which a return of the second actuating element (44) from its second location (L2) into its first location (L1) is enabled.
5. Household appliance according to claim 4, characterised in that the bringing out of abutment comprises a displacement of the first actuating element (27) transversely to the feed axis (26) of the thermal actuator (6), wherein the device (11) preferably comprises a spring (37, 82) for the displacement of the first actuating element (27), wherein the first actuating element (27) further preferably comprises a bevel (42), against which the spring (37) acts, at least indirectly.
6. Household appliance according to claim 4 or 5, characterised in that the first actuating element (27) is provided in a movable manner on a closed path (35) for the bringing into and out of abutment.
7. Household appliance according to claim 6, characterised in that the device (11) comprises a crank (34), which interacts with a crank element (33) of the first actuating element (27), in order to define the closed path (35).
8. Household appliance according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the closed path (35) comprises a first and second section of path (43, 77), along which the first actuating element (27) is transposable by means of the thermal actuator (6), wherein the closed path (35) preferably comprises a third and fourth section of path (74, 84), which connect the first and second section of path (43, 77) with each other and along which the first actuating element (27) is transposable by means of one or a multiplicity of springs (37, 82).
9. Household appliance according to claim 8, characterised in that the first actuating element (27) is transposable by means of the thermal actuator (6) along the first section of path (43) from its first location (L1) into its second location (L2) in the direction of travel (V) of the thermal actuator (6), wherein the first actuating element (27) comes at least indirectly into abutment with a first spring (37) and the second actuating element (44) and thereby compresses the first spring (37) and transposes the second actuating element (44) between its first and second location (L1, L2), wherein the first spring (37) transposes the first actuating element (27), if this is positioned in its second location (L2), along the third section of path (74) in transverse direction (Q) to the direction of travel (V), from its second location (L2) into a third location (L3), wherein the first actuating element (27) comes out of abutment with the second actuating element (44), wherein the first actuating element (27) further is transposable by means of the thermal actuator (6) along the second section of path (77) from its third location (L3) into a fourth location (L4) against the direction of travel (V), wherein the first actuating element (27) preferably comes at least indirectly into abutment with a second spring (82) and thereby compresses the second spring (82), wherein the second spring (82) further transposes the first actuating element (27), if this is positioned in its fourth location (L4), along the fourth section of path (84) from its fourth location (L4) in the first location (L1), against the transverse direction (Q).
10. Household appliance according to claim 9, characterised in that the device (11) comprises a stop (40), which the first spring (37) strikes, when the first actuating element (27) is positioned in its third location (L3).
11. Household appliance according to one of claims 4 - 10, characterised in that the first actuating element (27) is mounted in a movable manner on a working piston (24) of the thermal actuator (6) transversely to direction of travel (V).
12. Household appliance according to one of claims 4 - 11, characterised in that a return spring (55) is provided, which returns the second actuating element (44) from its second location (L2) into its first location (L1).
13. Household appliance according to one of claims 4 - 12, characterised in that the first and second actuating element (27, 44) have bevels (42, 52) corresponding to each other, for bringing them into abutment.
14. Household appliance according to claim 13, characterised in that the first spring (37) acts on the first actuating element (27) by means of a plunger (36), which comprises a bevel (41), which corresponds to the bevel (42) of the first actuating element (27).
15. Household appliance according to one of claims 4 - 14, characterised in that the second actuating element (44) is embodied as a bell crank and/or the second actuating element (44) acts on a door opening plunger (73) or a locking element (13) of the door lock (6), in particular by means of an overload spring (62).
16. Household appliance according to one of claims 2 - 15, characterised in that the door lock (7) comprises a striker (13), which by means of the thermal actuator (6) is transposable from a locking position, in which it engages in the door (3) in a form-fitted manner, against a spring (64) acting in the direction of closure of the door (3), into an unlocking position, in which it releases the door (3) for an opening of the same, and is secured against a return by means of the spring (64) in a form-fitted manner, and has a lever (75), which upon closing of the door (3) releases the form fit, by means of which the spring (64) forces the striker (13) into the locking position and pulls the door (3) in the direction of closure.

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