EP3151717B1

EP3151717B1 - Dishwasher comprising an elevating means

Info

Publication number: EP3151717B1
Application number: EP15712568.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mehmet MUTLUDOGAN; Osman Cengiz; Ersin Donmez; Ahmet Alptekin
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-06-06
Filing date: 2015-03-18
Publication date: 2019-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-18
Also published as: WO2015185231A1; EP3151717A1

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising an elevating means.
In dishwashers, racks are used wherein the items to be washed are placed. The user can perform the loading/unloading operation by pulling the rack forwards. In dishwashers comprising more than one rack, the lower rack, when changed to the loading/unloading position, is balanced on the door that opens forward by rotating around a horizontal axis. The user has to bend in order to perform the loading and/or unloading operation to the lower rack that is relatively at the lower position than the upper rack. This situation causes the users to be strained and to have backaches. In order to solve this problem, the state of the art elevating means are used. The elevating means comprise embodiments like switch mechanisms wherein the rack is lifted from below, suspension mechanisms wherein the rack is lifted by arms in the body, and rail mechanisms wherein the rack is lifted from the rear by the rails disposed on the side walls. In systems with sliders, retaining means are used for clasping and engaging the rack. When stationary on the slider, the retainer means can prevent the door from closing. Since the openable/closable retainer means are movable, they are not reliable. At the same time, in these systems that require user intervention, the quality perception decreases.
In WO 2005/104924 A1 a dishwasher is disclosed wherein the retaining supports that support the basket are opened and closed by being actuated with a lifting means.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2007035220 , a dishwasher is disclosed comprising a basket that is lifted by the arms engaged with the side walls by making a swinging motion.
In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2003042825 , a dishwasher is disclosed wherein the height adjustment of the rack is made by moving upwards - downwards the telescopic rail housings whereon the rack is mounted.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher wherein the rack is engaged with the elevating means without requiring user intervention.
The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body having two side walls; a rack having a washing position wherein the items to be washed are placed thereon and the rack is inside the body and a loading/unloading position wherein the rack is almost entirely outside the body, an elevating means having two sliders that enable the rack to be moved upwards/downwards when in the loading/unloading position, each disposed on one of the side walls, and at least one magnet pair or at least one magnet - ferromagnetic plate pair positioned on the rack and the slider to be opposite to one another, enabling the rack to be engaged with the elevating means. Thus, the rack is magnetically engaged with the elevating means. In this embodiment, the rack is engaged with the elevating means while in the loading/unloading position as the magnet pair or the magnet - ferromagnetic plate pair attract one another without requiring user intervention.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the different poles of the magnet pair become opposite to one another as soon as the rack is changed to the loading/unloading position. Thus, when the user changes the rack to the loading/unloading position, engagement occurs by itself and the rack becomes ready to be lifted by the elevating means.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the magnet - ferromagnetic plate pair become opposite to one another as soon as the rack is changed to the loading/unloading position. Thus, the rack is immediately engaged with the elevating means when changed to the loading/unloading position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the slider, when at the lower position, is at a lower level than the vertical level of the rack in the loading/unloading position and at this position of the rack and the slider, the like poles of the magnet pair become opposite and repel one another. When the rack is changed to the loading/unloading position, engagement does not occur, however after the elevating means is operated and the slider rises some amount, engagement is provided by the unlike poles of the magnet pair coming opposite to one another. Thus, engagement does not occur when the rack is changed to the loading/unloading position if the user does not desire to use the elevating means. Furthermore, by means of this embodiment, the user does not have to make an extra operation for dislodging the rack from the elevating means, when the slider changes to the lower position, the magnet pair repel one another and separate the rack from the elevating means.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate is fixed on the slider and the corresponding magnet or ferromagnetic plate is placed on the rack such that when they become opposite, the corresponding magnet or ferromagnetic plate moves towards the slider by the effect of the magnetic force. In this embodiment, when the magnetic pulling force is created between magnet or the ferromagnetic plate on the rack and the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate on the slider, the corresponding magnet or ferromagnetic plate moves towards the slider and sticks to the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate and engagement of the slider is accomplished.
In an embodiment of the present invention, at least one spring is used after the rack is dislodged from the elevating means so that the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate that can move on the rack is changed to the separated position from the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate on the slider. In this embodiment, preferably a spring with a low spring constant is used, and when the magnet pair or the magnet - ferromagnetic plate pair become opposite to one another, the created magnetic force is provided to exceed the force of the spring. Moreover, with the pulling force the spring exerts on the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate, the user can easily separate the rack from the elevating means.
In an embodiment of the present invention, two lugs are used, positioned oppositely on the rear wall of the rack, whereon the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate on the rack is fixed, that open to the sides, thereby enabling the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate to move towards the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate on the slider. In this embodiment, the lug moves with respect to the rack and the magnet or the ferromagnetic plate is fixed on the lug. By means of the lug, the rear wall of the rack is enabled to be strengthened and when the rack is lifted by the elevating means, warping/bending of the rack is prevented.
In an embodiment of the present invention, a retainer that is disposed on the rack and/or the slider is used that enables the rack to be carried by the slider. The magnetic engagement accomplished by the magnet pair or the magnet - ferromagnetic plate pair is enabled to be continuous by means of the retainer. Thus, when the rack is lifted up by the elevating means, the magnets are prevented from separating from each other.
In the dishwasher of the present invention, engagement of the rack, desired to be moved upwards/downwards, with the elevating means is realized by means of the magnet pair and/or the magnet - ferromagnetic plate pair automatically and without requiring user intervention. Moreover, after engagement is provided, the rack is enabled to be carried by the retainer.
The model embodiments relating to the dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a dishwasher comprising an elevating means.
Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a rack comprising a magnet pair at its rear side.
Figure 3 - is the detailed view of the rack, the slider and the magnet pair related to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 - is the detailed view of the rack, the slider and the magnet - ferromagnetic plate pair related to an embodiment of the present invention.

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher
2. Body
3. Side wall
4. Door
5. Rack
6. Elevating means
7. Slider
8. Magnet
9. Ferromagnetic plate
10. Spring
11. Lug
12. Retainer

The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2) having two side walls (3); a door (4) providing access into the body (2); a rack (5) whereon the items to be washed are placed, having a washing position wherein the rack (5) is entirely inside the body (2) and a loading/unloading position wherein the rack (5) is almost entirely taken outside the body (2) by pulling forwards, and an elevating means (6) that enables the position of the rack (5) to be changed in the vertical direction in the loading/unloading position and that has at least two sliders (7) disposed oppositely each on one of the opposite side walls (3) and that move in the vertical direction.
In the dishwasher (1), the elevating means (6) is used for the user to easily access the rack (5) in the loading/unloading position. When loading/unloading is to be performed to the rack (5), the rack (5) is changed from the washing position to the loading/unloading position manually or automatically and the vertical position is changed by the elevating means (6). The rack (5) is engaged with the elevating means (6) by means of the sliders (7). The weight of the rack (5) is carried by the sliders (7). Thus, the user is enabled to access the rack (5) that is lifted up without bending down.
The dishwasher (1) of the present invention, comprises

at least one magnet (8) pair or
at least one magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair

In the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, when unlike poles of the magnet (8) pair on the rack (5) in the loading/unloading position and the slider (7) become opposite to one another, the magnets (8) move towards one another with the effect of the magnetic attraction force and stick to each other. The magnet (8) pair that stick to one another enable the rack (5) to be engaged with the elevating means (6). When the magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair on the slider (7) and the rack (5) in the loading/unloading position become opposite to one another, the magnet (8) induces the ferromagnetic plate (9) that is opposite thereto and magnetic attraction force is created between them. The magnet (8) and the ferromagnetic plate (9) attract one another with the effect of magnetic attraction force, move towards one another and stick to each other. Thus, the rack (5) in the loading/unloading position is engaged with the elevating means (6) to be lifted up. The ferromagnetic plate (9) preferably can be an iron alloy metal plate.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the magnet (8) pair disposed on the rack (5) and the slider (7) are positioned such that unlike poles become opposite to one another when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position. In this embodiment, when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position by being pulled forwards, the unlike poles of the magnet (8) pair become opposite and pull one another and the rack (5) is enabled to be engaged with the elevating means (6). The user does not have to do an extra operation for engaging the rack (5) with the elevating means (6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair disposed on the rack (5) and the slider (7) are positioned so as to become opposite to one another when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position. In this embodiment, when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position by pulling forwards from the washing position, the magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair become opposite to one another and stick to each other. Thus, the rack (5) is engaged with the elevating means (6) when changed to the loading/unloading position.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises the slider (7) having a lower position that is lower than the vertical level of the rack (5) in the loading/unloading position, and the magnet (8) pair, the like poles of which become opposite to one another and enable the rack (5) to separate from the elevating means (6) as the slider (7) goes down to the lower position. In this embodiment, when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position, the like poles of the magnet (8) become opposite to one another. As the elevating means (6) moves the slider (7) upwards, the unlike poles of the magnet (8) pair become opposite and pull one another when the slider (7) is at the same vertical level as the rack (5). Thus, the engagement of the rack (5) with the elevating means (6) is actuated by the elevating means (6). Thus, when the user does not desire to use the elevating means (6), the rack (5) is not engaged with the elevating means (6) when changed to the loading/unloading position, for example, while the user takes out the rack (5) for cleaning, the magnet (8) pair or the magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair are prevented from sticking to each other thereby enabling the rack (5) to be easily taken out of the dishwasher (1). Moreover, as the slider (7) moves downwards and comes to the lower position when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position again, the like poles of the magnet (8) pair become opposite and repel one another thereby enabling the rack (5) to be separated from the elevating means (6). The user does not have to do an extra operation for separating the magnet (8) pair from one another.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) pair on the slider (7) are fixed on the slider (7) and the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the rack (5) can move towards the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the slider (7) with the effect of the magnetic attraction force created between the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the slider (7). In this embodiment, the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) disposed on the slider (7) is immovably fixed on the slider (7) and the magnet (8) pair on the rack (5) are placed on the rack (5) so as to move towards the slider (7) with the effect of magnetic attraction force therebetween. Therefore, the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the rack (5) has a first position wherein the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the rack (5) is separated from the pair on the slider (7) and a second position wherein the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the rack (5) sticks to the pair on the slider (7).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises at least one spring (10) disposed on the rack (5) that enables the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) to be kept on the rack (5) separate from the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the slider (7). In this embodiment, the spring (10) is connected to the rack (5) from one end and to the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) from the other end and tries to keep the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) separate from the pair on the slider (7). After separated from the pair on the slider (7), the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) changes to the position wherein the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) is separated from the pair on the slider (7) by means of the spring (10) and the rack (5) is enabled to move easily in the horizontal direction without encountering any barrier
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a lug (11) disposed on the rear wall of the rack (5), whereon the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) is fixed and that moves towards the slider (7) together with the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9). In this embodiment, the lug (11) moves towards the slider (7) on the rear wall of the rack (5) such that the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) pair is enabled to stick to one another with the effect of magnetic attraction force.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a retainer (12) that is disposed on the rack (5) and/or the slider (7) and that supports the lifted rack (5) when the slider (7) - the rack (5) is engaged via the magnet (8) pair or the magnet (8)-the ferromagnetic plate (9) pair. When the magnet (8) or the magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair stick to one another, the retainer (12), if disposed on the rack (5), sticks to the slider (7) and if disposed on the slider (7), stick to the rack (5) and thus support the weight of the rack (5). Thus, the magnets (8) are prevented from being separated while the elevating means (6) operates and the engagement of the rack (5) with the elevating means (6) is maintained.
In the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the user does not have to make an operation for engaging the rack (5) with the elevating means (6), and when the rack (5) changes to the loading/unloading position, the magnet (8) pair or the magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair that attract one another with magnetic force enable the rack (5) to be engaged.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2) having two side walls (3); a door (4) providing access into the body (2); a rack (5) whereon the items to be washed are placed, having a washing position wherein the rack (5) is entirely inside the body (2) and a loading/unloading position wherein the rack (5) is almost entirely taken outside the body (2) by pulling forwards, and an elevating means (6) that enables the position of the rack (5) to be changed in the vertical direction in the loading/unloading position and that has at least two sliders (7) disposed oppositely each on one of the opposite side walls (3) and that are designed to move in the vertical direction, characterized by
- at least one magnet (8) pair or

- at least one magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair that is positioned oppositely on the rack (5) and on the slider (7), enabling the rack (5) to be magnetically engaged with the elevating means (6).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the magnet (8) pair positioned such that the unlike poles become opposite to one another when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the magnet (8) - ferromagnetic plate (9) pair positioned so as to become opposite to one another when the rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the slider (7) having a lower position that is lower than the vertical level of the rack (5) and by the magnet (8) pair designed such that the like poles of which become opposite to one another, enabling the rack (5) to separate from the elevating means (6) as the slider (7) goes down to the lower position.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) fixed on the slider (7) and by the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) disposed on the rack (5), moving towards the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the slider (7) with the effect of the magnetic attraction force created therebetween.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by at least one spring (10) disposed on the rack (5) that enables the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) to be kept on the rack (5) in a separated position from the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) on the slider (7).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a lug (11) disposed on the rear wall of the rack (5), whereon the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) is fixed and that is designed to move towards the slider (7) together with the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a retainer (12) that is disposed on the rack (5) and/or the slider (7) and that supports the lifted rack (4) when the slider (7) and the rack (5) are engaged via the magnet (8) or the ferromagnetic plate (9) pair.