EP2884189A1 - Household appliance with a door that can be retracted into a stowing area and method for opening and closing a door of a domestic appliance - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (1) with a housing (2) surrounding a receiving space, and with a door (3) with which a loading opening of the receiving space can be closed and which is arranged relatively pivotable relative to the housing (2), and in opened state in a storage space (14) in the housing (2) is retractable, wherein the door (3) is coupled to a guide device (18), with which the movement is guided in and out of the storage space (14), and the guide device (14) has at least one bow-shaped bearing unit (17) which is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis (A) and on which at least two guide elements (19, 20) are arranged, wherein on a first movement part of a path between an open and a closed position the door (3) dimensioning total movement path of the door (3) a distance (a1) between a first guide element (19) and the axis of rotation (A) of the bearing unit (17) changeable is. The invention also relates to a method for opening and closing a door (3) of a domestic appliance (1).

Description

The invention relates to a household appliance with a housing which surrounds a receiving space, wherein the household appliance has a door with which a feed opening of the receiving space is closable. The door is arranged relatively pivotable to the housing. In the open state, the door is retractable into a storage space in the housing, wherein the door is coupled to a guide device, with which the movement is guided in and out of the storage space. The guide device has at least one bow-shaped bearing unit, which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and on which at least two guide elements are arranged. Moreover, the invention also relates to a method for opening and closing a door of a household appliance.

Out DE 10 2008 010 526 A1 a home appliance device with at least one door unit is known. The door unit is attached with hinges to a housing of the household appliance and can be pivoted relative thereto and in the open state can be lowered into a storage space formed below the receiving space. The hinges also include a U-shaped bracket as a hinge part, on which two rollers are rotatably mounted. The bracket is rigid in itself and pivotable about an axis of rotation.

Also from the EP 2 57 378 A1 is a household appliance with a retractable door known. Again, a hinge with a U-shaped bracket is designed as a storage unit in the form of a hinge rocker with two rollers. This hinge rocker is also rigid in itself, but rotatably arranged on a hinge housing.

The same is true of the EP 2 574 712 A1 known, wherein the design of the hinge is also a hinge housing and a rotatably arranged thereon bearing unit in the form of a U-shaped bracket, which is a hinge hook, is provided.

As a result, a so-called engineering part, which has guideways for this bearing part and receives the rollers when sinking the door, accordingly dimension. In addition, by this configuration at specific door positions, when the door is already partially open, and at the same time enters the storage space, a distance between the door leaf of the front front side upper edge, which limits the front storage space, very small. As a result, if necessary, a bumping of the door leaf during the further closing movement or during opening may occur. With regard to this vertical height, the critical points are the flange at the lower area and thus at the lower edge, as well as the intermediate floor of said technical part, which delimits the storage space from above. This intermediate floor forms in particular an upper cover of the storage space. In the known embodiments, the door at the beginning of the opening movement has a small distance from the flange or to the front edge of the false floor. From the middle to the end of the opening movement of the door, the smallest vertical distance between the door and the intermediate floor occurs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a household appliance and a method for opening and closing a door of a household appliance, in which the motion control is improved and a more efficient space design is achieved.

This object is achieved by a household appliance and a method according to the independent claims.

In a household appliance according to the invention, a housing is formed which has a receiving space for food to be cooked, such as food. The housing surrounds this receiving space. The household appliance further comprises a door with which a loading opening of the receiving space can be closed and which is arranged relatively pivotable relative to the housing. The household appliance further comprises a storage space in the housing, which is preferably arranged under the receiving space and separated from it. The door is retractable when opened in the storage space. The door is coupled to a guide device with which the movement is guided in and out of the stowage space. The guide device comprises at least one bow-shaped bearing unit, which is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis, and on which at least two guide elements are arranged.

An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in that a distance between a first guide element and the axis of rotation of the bearing unit can be changed on a first movement partial path of the door between an open and a closed position of the door. In this regard, the guide device is designed accordingly. By such a configuration, the particular position, in particular of the door leaf is formed at specific movement phases and sections of the entire movement path between the fully open and the fully closed position of the door so that the space of a technical part and thus in particular an upper cover of the storage space are dimensioned smaller can and / or an undesirable critical close approach of the door leaf to this intermediate floor or to a front flange, which surrounds the receiving space, is prevented. As a result, it is also possible to avoid any undesirable abutment of the door leaf against said components during the movement of the door.

It is preferably provided that the first movement part travel is measured starting from the closed position of the door and extends to an opening angle of less than 45 °, in particular less than 35 °. Just this angular distance of the movement allows now with the distance variation of the first guide member to the axis of rotation of the bearing unit, a specific change in position of the door, in particular of the door panel to the engineering part and the front flange, the front side forms the edge of the receiving space or limited. As a result, a corresponding greater distance configuration of the partially pivoted door to these components can also be achieved here, so that no undesired critical approach occurs here as well.

It is preferably provided that the bearing unit has a U-shaped bracket, and the axis of rotation is formed on a first bracket leg. At a second bracket leg, the guide elements are arranged, wherein the second bracket leg is pivotally mounted to the first bracket legs. This is a particularly noteworthy embodiment, since thus the bearing part or the bearing unit is deformable in itself, whereby the above requirements are met particularly well. Due to the particular scissor-like possibility of movement of the two legs to each other is very situational and needs a change in the position of the achieved first guide element to the axis of rotation of the bearing unit and thus improves the specific movement of the door movement on this first movement part path straight with regard to the position to the genanten stationary components of the engineering part and the flange.

It is preferably provided that the guide elements are rotatably arranged on the bearing unit.

In a further preferred embodiment, an axis of rotation of the two stirrup legs is the axis of rotation of a second guide element. Due to this coaxiality, the second guide element on the second stirrup leg is virtually unchanged in its position relative to the first stirrup leg. The position of the guide elements to each other and the position of the second guide element to the axis of rotation and the movement of the stirrup legs to each other are particularly advantageous.

It is preferably provided that, on the first partial movement path, the first guide element moves on a circular path whose radius is the distance of the first guide element from a second guide element. In particular, the first guide element moves in a circular path about a second guide element. As a result, the movement guidance of the door leaf and thus also of the entire door is favored with respect to the desired spacing configuration relative to the aforementioned stationary other components, and the guide is also mechanically stabilized.

It is preferably provided that a distance of a second guide element to the axis of rotation of the bearing unit on the first movement part path is unchanged. This also causes a stabilization of the motion control.

It is preferably provided that a distance between a first guide element and the axis of rotation of the bearing unit is fixed on a second movement partial path of an overall movement travel of the door between the open and the closed position of the door. As a result, the reliable and safe and stable guidance of the door in the storage space is achieved up to the local end position. An undesirable tilting or tilting is prevented.

It is preferably provided that the stirrup legs of the bearing unit are arranged in fixed position relative to one another on the second movement part path. This also reaffirms the above benefits.

It is preferably provided that the stirrup legs automatically lock at a transition of the two movement partial paths during the course of movement and thus the pivoting of the door. Again, this is a particularly noteworthy embodiment, as thus very precise and motion-dependent, the respective decoupling of the bar legs or then the desired coupling of the bar legs automatically occurs. The entire path of movement of the door is then favored by this automatism at the transition of the movement partial paths, in particular also achieved without an unwanted jerking or an undesired haptic feedback to the user.

It is preferably provided that the axis of rotation of the bearing unit remains stationary on the first movement partial path. It therefore does not move in its position relative to the tethered component, which may be in particular a hinge housing.

The bearing unit is preferably a hinge element, in particular a hinge hook.

In this above-mentioned stationary arrangement, the rotational movement of the bearing unit and, in particular, the relative mobility of the stirrup legs on this first movement partial path are then also promoted.

It is preferably provided that a second guide element remains stationary on the bearing unit on the first movement partial path. This also supports the above benefits.

It is preferably provided that retraction of the door into the stowage space is prevented on the first movement partial path. By this configuration, an undesired striking of the door leaf at the front region of the engineering part and / or at a lower edge of the flange is even better prevented.

It is preferably provided that the guide elements are rollers.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for opening and closing a door of a household appliance, which is formed with a housing which surrounds a receiving space, and with a door with which a loading opening of the receiving space is closed and which is arranged relatively pivotable relative to the housing , In the open state, the door is recessed in a storage space in the housing, wherein the door is coupled to a guide device with which the movement guide is guided in and out of the storage space. The guide device has at least one bow-shaped bearing unit, which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation and on which two guide elements are arranged. A distance between a first guide element and the axis of rotation of the bearing unit is changed on a first partial movement path of an overall movement path of the door between an open and a closed position of the door.

Advantageous embodiments of the household appliance according to the invention are to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the method according to the invention, in which context the respective components of the household appliance as well as their functional design and their mechanical interaction make it possible to carry out the then occurring processes.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the frame to leave the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, however, emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines erfindungsgemäßen Haushaltsgeräts;

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer Lagereinheit einer Führungsvorrichtung für die Tür des Haushaltsgeräts gemäß Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer teilweise geöffneten Tür mit der Lagereinheit gemäß Fig. 2 und weiteren Komponenten der Führungsvorrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine skizzenhafte Seitenansicht von Teilkomponenten im vorderen unteren Bereich des Haushaltsgeräts gemäß Fig. 1 bei teilweise geöffneter Tür; und

Fig. 5

eine Seitenansicht gemäß Fig. 4 mit einer in der vollständig geöffneten Endstellung und somit in einem Verstauraum des Haushaltsgeräts angeordneten Tür.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a perspective view of an embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a side view of an embodiment of a storage unit of a guide device for the door of the household appliance according to Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a schematic side view of a partially opened door with the storage unit according to Fig. 2 and other components of the guide device;

Fig. 4

a sketchy side view of sub-components in the front lower portion of the household appliance according to Fig. 1 with partly open door; and

Fig. 5

a side view according to Fig. 4 with a arranged in the fully open end position and thus in a storage compartment of the household appliance door.

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

In Fig. 1 is shown in a schematic perspective view of a trained as a baking oven 1 household appliance. The oven 1 comprises a housing 2, in which a limited by a muffle, not shown cooking space is formed. In the oven food can be introduced for preparation. The cooking chamber is closed at the front by a door 3, which in Fig. 1 is shown in the closed end position. At the front of the door 3, a handle 4 is formed.

In addition, the oven 1 comprises an operating device 5, which in the position and display only by way of example has a display unit 6 and operating elements 7 and 8.

In addition, cooking zones 9, 10, 11 and 12, which are shown merely by way of example in terms of position and number, are likewise shown.

The door 3 can be inserted or sunk in its lower portion 13 in the housing 2, resulting in the transfer of the door 3 of the in Fig. 1 shown closed end position in the fully open end position is the case. The door 3 is then inserted sunk into a free space of the housing 2, which is formed by this space arranged below the cooking chamber and separated by this by a corresponding partition wall storage space 14.

The door 3 is connected to exemplarily shown and marked door hinges 15 and 16 and pivotable about this and in said storage space 14 retractable and extendable.

In Fig. 2 is a side view of a bearing unit 17 is shown, which is designed as a U-shaped bracket. The hinge unit 17 represents a hinge hook of a hinge 15 or 16. The hinges 15 and 16 are of identical design and functionally identical, so that the following explanation of one of the two hinges also applies to the other.

The hinges 15 and 16 have in addition to a respectively provided storage unit 17 and a hinge housing, which is not shown here in detail. These hinges 15 and 16 are each a guide device 18 (FIG. Fig. 3 ) associated with the components and the functions. The door 3 is guided by means of these guide devices 18 and thereby coupled accordingly, so that it is in the storage space 14 in and out of the storage space 14. The bearing unit 17 comprises a fulcrum, which on an axis of rotation A, which in Fig. 2 extends perpendicular to the plane of the figure, is arranged. At this axis of rotation A, the bearing unit 17 is also connected to the hinge housing and pivotable relative to the hinge housing. The bearing unit 17 comprises two guide elements 19 and 20 which are designed as rollers and are mounted rotatably mounted on the bearing unit 17. The bearing unit 17 comprises a first bracket leg 21, which is the hinge pivot point or having the axis of rotation A. It also includes a second bracket leg 22, on which the two guide elements 19 and 20 are arranged.

An essential aspect is the fact that the bearing unit 17 is not rigid in its U-shaped bracket, but that the two bracket legs 21 and 22 relative to each other movable, in particular about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the figure, thus also parallel to the axis A. runs, can be pivoted to each other. For this purpose, it is provided in the embodiment that the two bar arms 21 and 22 are separate parts that can be pivoted to each other like a scissor and thus moved towards each other and can be moved away from each other. A particularly advantageous embodiment can be seen in that a rotation axis B about which the second guide member 20 can rotate, at the same time also represents the pivot axis about which the two bracket legs 21 and 22 can pivot relative to each other. The first guide element 19 is rotatable about an axis C, which extends parallel to the axis A and to the axis B itself.

The second bracket leg 22 can thus be pivoted back and forth along the arrow P about the axis B.

In this context, it is particularly provided that the door 3 on a first movement partial path, in particular from the vertical position and thus the closed end position to a certain opening angle, preferably less than 45 °, in particular less than 35 °, preferably between 25 ° and 35 °, a distance a1 between the rotation axis C and the hinge pivot point or the rotation axis A is variable. In this first partial movement path, which thus measures a portion of a total movement path of the door, which is dimensioned between a fully opened and a fully closed position of the door 3, such a relative movement and a change in distance between the first guide element 19 and the hinge pivot point is achieved.

By this configuration, a vertical distance and thus a dimensioned in the z-direction distance between the door 3, in particular an inner side of a door leaf, and an intermediate bottom 23 (FIG. Fig. 4 ), which limits the storage space 14 from above and / or a vertical distance between a lower edge 24 of a front flange of the cooking space limiting muffle increases.

On this first partial movement path, the first guide element 19 moves on a circular path about the second guide element 20, so that the circular path in particular has a radius r1, which corresponds to a distance of the two axes C and B.

In this first partial movement path, a distance a2, which is measured between the axes A and B, remains unchanged.

In addition, it is provided that a distance between the first guide element 19 and the axis of rotation A of the bearing unit 17 is fixed on a second partial movement path of the between the open and the closed position of the door 3 dimensioning Gesamtbewegungsweg the door 3. Thus, the in Fig. 2 shown maximum distance a1 on this second movement partial path.

The bar arms 21 and 22 are fixed in position with respect to each other on this second movement partial path.

It is provided in the context that the guide device 18 has a Verrasteinheit 25, which are the two bracket legs 21 and 22 latched and fixed in position on this second movement part path. In particular, it is provided that the stirrup legs 21 and 22 latch automatically at the transition of the two movement partial paths. Likewise, a release of this latching is provided when the door 3 is to be transferred from the fully open state to the closed state and then initially the second partial movement path is traversed. Here, too, at the transition from the second partial movement path to the first partial movement path, this latching is in particular automatically released, so that the relative movement between the two bar arms 21 and 22 can again be carried out on the first partial movement path running up to the reached end position.

In particular, it is also provided that the axis of rotation A of the bearing unit 17 stops stationary on the first movement partial path, which means that it is not able to change with respect to the hinge housing and also with respect to the housing 2. It is also provided, in particular, for the second guide element 20 to remain stationary on the bearing unit 17 on the first movement partial path and thus also for this there is essentially no change in position.

In addition, it is also provided that retraction of the door 3 into the storage space 14 is prevented on the first movement partial path. Thus, in particular, only a pivoting is performed on this first movement partial path and a movement of the storage unit 17 as a whole is seen and thus a displacement of the axis A in its position is prevented.

In Fig. 3 , which has already been mentioned, a vertical height h is shown, which represents the extension of a technical part 26, which is the guide device 18 associated. In particular, the engineering part 26 describes a component which also has a groove or a guide track 27 in which the guide elements 19 and 20 are guided into the storage space 14 when the door 3 is inserted.

For corresponding guidance, a slide carriage 28 is also provided, which slides in the guideway 27 and the guide device 18 is associated.

For further explanation will now be on Fig. 4 directed. This shows a sketchy side view of some components of the guide device 18 and the oven 1 in a lower front area. In Fig. 4 is in the partially open position of the door 3, a vertical distance a3 between the inside of the door 3 and the front lower edge of the flange 24 shown, wherein in this edge and the intermediate bottom 23 opens with its front edge and thus its front end.

By way of example, the angle α is also drawn in, which characterizes the first movement partial path. On this first movement partial path, the distance between the axis A and the axis C changes and it is traversed a circular path, the course of which is shown by a section 29. This radius of the path of the section 29 is the radius r1. The role or the guide member 19 thus moves on This first partial movement path on a circular path around the second guide member 20th

When displayed in Fig. 4 is reached a position of the door 3, which is already on the way from the fully closed position to the fully open position, as then in Fig. 5 is shown, the second movement part path is traversed. This means that the two guide elements 19 and 20 are fixed in position on their second bracket leg 22 to the first bracket leg 21 on this second movement partial path, whereby then the first guide member 19 moves on a circular path with the radius r2 about the axis A and thus the hinge pivot point ,

The entire opening movement of the door 3 from the fully closed position to the fully open position is thus composed in particular of two partial movement paths. On the first partial movement path, the distance of the first guide element 19 to the hinge pivot point and thus to the axis A is variable, thereafter and thus on the second partial movement path, this distance to the hinge pivot point is fixed. This is achieved by a stop which fixes the two bar arms 21 and 22 on the second movement part path. Thus, on the overall movement path, the first guide element 19 completes two circular paths which have different radii. The second roller or the second guide element 20 remains stationary on this first partial movement path in the vertical direction and thus in the z-direction.

Only on the second partial movement path, starting from the closed position of the door 3 towards the fully open position of the door 3, the door 3 enters the storage space 14. On this second partial movement path, the second guide member 20 then moves again on its fixed circular path and the upper guide member 19 moves on the circular path with the pivot point in the hinge pivot point constant, since the distance between the upper and the first guide member 19 to the hinge pivot point or the axis A through the stop and thus the position fixation of the two bar arms 21 and 22 to each other again is constant. This circular path is then constant for the rest of the opening movement up to the fully open end position of the door 3.

In particular, it should also be mentioned that the door closing force is composed of two forces now. A first part of this door closing force forms a return element from the hinge or hinge holder. A second part of the closing force, which is exerted in particular on the second bracket leg 22, is formed by a further return element. This force or this second part of the closing force must bring this first guide element 19 into the closed position. This second contribution to the door closing force is therefore smaller than the first contribution to the door closing force. It is thereby achieved that the second guide element 20 of a hinge stops stationary on the first movement partial path.

In Fig. 5 is the representation in Fig. 4 shown here, in which case the door 3 is then shown in the fully open position and thus retracted maximally in the storage space and sunk.

By increasing the distance a3 in comparison to designs without such a possibility of changing the distance, a space reduction is achieved, in particular in the z-direction of the engineering part 26, as a result of which, in particular, the receiving space or the cooking space can be increased.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

oven

2

casing

3

door

4

Handle

5

operating device

6

display unit

7

operating element

8th

operating element

9

cooking zone

10

cooking zone

11

cooking zone

12

cooking zone

13

Area

14

stowage

15

door hinge

16

door hinge

17

storage unit

18

guiding device

19

guide element

20

guide element

21

First hanger leg

22

Second stirrup leg

23

false floor

24

Lower edge

25

Verrasteinheit

26

technology part

27

guideway

28

setting slide

29

section

A

axis of rotation

B

axis

C

axis

P

arrow

a1

distance

a2

distance

a3

distance

r1

radius

r2

radius

α

angle

Claims (15)

Domestic appliance (1) with a housing (2) surrounding a receiving space, and with a door (3) with which a loading opening of the receiving space is closable and which is arranged relatively pivotable to the housing (2), and in the open state in a Storage space (14) in the housing (2) is retractable, wherein the door (3) is coupled to a guide device (18), with which the movement in and out of the storage space (14) is guided, and the guide device (18) at least a bow-shaped bearing unit (17) which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (A) and on which at least two guide elements (19, 20) are arranged, characterized in that on a first movement part of a path between an open and a closed position of the Door (3) dimensioning overall movement path of the door (3) a distance (a1) between a first guide element (19) and the axis of rotation (A) of the bearing unit (17) is variable. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first movement partial path, starting from the closed position of the door (3) and measures up to an opening angle less than 45 °, in particular less than 35 °, extends. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the bearing unit (17) has a U-shaped bracket, and on a first bracket leg (21), the axis of rotation (A) is formed and on a second bracket leg (22) Guide elements (19, 20) are arranged, wherein the second stirrup leg (22) is pivotally arranged to the first bracket leg (21). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide elements (19, 20) are rotatably arranged on the bearing unit (17). Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 3 and 4, characterized in that an axis of rotation (B) for pivoting the two stirrup legs (21, 22) to one another the axis of rotation (B) of a second guide element (20). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on the first partial movement path the first guide element (19) moves on a circular path whose radius (r1) is the distance of the first guide element (19) from a second guide element (20). is, in particular moves on a circular path about a second guide element (20). Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance (a2) of a second guide element (20) to the axis of rotation (A) of the bearing unit (17) on the first movement part path is unchanged. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a distance (a1) between a first guide element (19.) On a second movement partial path of between the open and the closed position of the door (3) overall movement path of the door (3) ) and the axis of rotation (A) of the bearing unit (17) is fixed. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 3 and 8, characterized in that the bar arms (21, 22) are fixed in position fixed relative to each other on the second movement partial path. Domestic appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the stirrup legs (21, 22) engage automatically at the transition of the two partial movement paths. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axis of rotation (A) of the bearing unit (17) remains stationary on the first movement partial path . Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a second guide element (20) stops stationary on the bearing unit (17) on the first movement partial path. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that retraction of the door (3) into the storage space (14) is prevented on the first partial movement path. Domestic appliance (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide elements (19, 20) are rollers. Method for opening and closing a door (3) of a household appliance (1), which is provided with a housing (2) surrounding a receiving space and with a door (3) with which a loading opening of the receiving space can be closed and which is relatively pivotable relative to Housing (2) is arranged, is formed, and in the open state in a storage space (14) in the housing (2) is retractable, wherein the door (3) with a guide device (18) is coupled, with which the movement guide in the and is guided from the storage space (14), and the guide device (18) has at least one bow-shaped bearing unit (17) which is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (A) and on which two guide elements (19, 20) are arranged, characterized in that on a first partial movement path of an overall movement path of the door (3) between an open and a closed position of the door (3) there is a distance (a1) between one first guide element (19) and the axis of rotation (A) of the bearing unit (17) is changed.

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