EP3177195A1

EP3177195A1 - A dishwasher comprising an automatic door opening mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP3177195A1
Application number: EP15723730.6A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hasan DEMIRBAG; Ahmet Ufuk CUVALCI; Gozde Nur DEREBASINLIOGLU; Sukru Tugcan ERTUG; Mert DEGERLI; Murat DEGERLI; Gozde BASARA; Ilhan KONUKSEVEN; Fulya EROL
Original assignee: Arcelik AS
Current assignee: Arcelik AS
Priority date: 2014-08-04
Filing date: 2015-05-28
Publication date: 2017-06-14
Also published as: WO2016020082A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a door (3) that provides access into the body (2) and opens from the top downwards by rotating around a horizontal axis; a door latch (4) that provides the locking of the door (3); a movement generator (5) that enables the door (3) to be partially opened by being pushed at the end of the washing and drying processes so that a gap remains between the door (3) and the body (2), and a balancing mechanism (6) that is on the body (2) and that balances the weight of the door (3) by exerting force on the door (3) in the direction opposite to the opening direction of the door (3).

Description

A DISHWASHER COMPRISING AN AUTOMATIC DOOR OPENING MECHANISM

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising an automatic door opening mechanism.
In dishwashers, after the washing process, the drying process is performed. In some embodiments, at the end of the washing and drying processes, the door of the dishwasher can be partially opened automatically, the hot steam inside is discharged to the outside and the washed items are enabled to dry faster. In dishwashers wherein the door is partially opened automatically at the end of the washing and drying processes, applying less heat in the drying process is sufficient and thus, energy is saved. Opening the dishwasher door automatically, furthermore, prevents the steam getting cold from condensing and leaving stains on the washed items. In the state of the art, in order for the door to open automatically, door opening mechanisms are used, that extend from the body towards the door and enable the door to be partially opened by pushing the door with the activation of devices such as solenoid or electric motor. However, in order to effectively discharge the steam inside the dishwasher, opening only the door is not sufficient, some amount of gap should remain between the door and the body to enable discharging of the steam outside.
The state of the art European Patent No. EP1909631 discloses a spring that balances the weight of the door by applying a tensile force on the door of the dishwasher and an adjustment mechanism that adjusts the tension of the spring.
The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising a door opening mechanism that partially opens the door automatically at the end of the washing program.
In the dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, the door is enabled to be partially opened by means of the door latch that extends from the body towards the door at the end of the washing and drying processes such that a gap remains between the door and the body. The dishwasher comprises a movement generator that triggers the door latch and a balancing mechanism that exerts force in the opposite direction to the opening direction of the door and prevents the door from falling due to its own weight. The balancing mechanism comprises a spring, a connection cable connected to one end of the spring for stretching the spring and a hinge that connects the door to the body. The spring is preferably of helical type and is fixed to the body from one end.
The dishwasher furthermore comprises a triggering mechanism that lets free the balancing mechanism operated by the control unit to balance the weight of the door so that the door is opened more at the end of the washing and drying processes.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering mechanism comprises an actuator that is activated by the control unit at the end of the washing and drying processes, a triggering arm which the actuator contacts and a pulling cable that connects the triggering arm to the spring. The movement of the actuator is transferred to the balancing mechanism by means of the pulling cable and the triggering arm. By the movement of the actuator, the balancing mechanism decreases the force it exerts on the door, in the reverse direction to the opening direction of the door, thus the gap between the door and the body is increased at the end of the drying process.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering mechanism comprises at least one spool that is disposed between the triggering arm and the spring, that changes the direction of the pulling cable, and whereon the pulling cable is wound. The pulling cable can exert force on the spring in the desired direction by means of the spool.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering mechanism comprises a carrier whereon the actuator, the triggering arm and the spool are disposed. In a derivative of this embodiment, the carrier is box-shaped.
The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:
Figure 1 – is the detailed view of a dishwasher, a door latch and a movement generator.
Figure 2 – is the schematic view of a dishwasher.
Figure 3 – is the front view of a triggering mechanism.
The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

Dishwasher
Body
Door
Door latch
Movement generator
Balancing mechanism
Triggering mechanism
Actuator
Triggering arm
Pulling cable
Spool
Carrier
Connection cable
Hinge
Spring

The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2); a door (3) that provides access into the body (2) and opens from the top downwards by rotating around a horizontal axis; a door latch (4) that provides the locking of the door (3); a movement generator (5) that enables the door (3) to be partially opened by being pushed at the end of the washing and drying processes so that a gap remains between the door (3) and the body (2), and a balancing mechanism (6) that is on the body (2) and that balances the weight of the door (3) by exerting force on the door (3) in the direction opposite to the opening direction of the door (3). The movement generator (5) is preferably is a linear movement generator like a solenoid or electric motor and enables the door (3) to be opened by exerting the amount of force only sufficient for releasing the door latch (4) from its housing on the door (3).
The dishwasher (1) of the present invention comprises a triggering mechanism (7) that changes the gap between the door (3) and the body (2) by triggering the balancing mechanism (6) at the end of the washing and drying processes. The balancing mechanism (6) activated by means of the triggering mechanism (7) at the end of the washing and drying processes decreases the amount of force it exerts on the door (3) in the direction opposite to the opening direction of the door (3). Thus, the gap between the door (3) and the body (2) at the end of the drying process is increased.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the balancing mechanism (6) comprises a hinge (14) that connects the door (3) to the body (2), a spring (15) that pulls the door (3) towards the body (2) by applying pulling force on the hinge (14) and a connection cable (13), one end of which is connected to the spring (15) and the other end to the hinge (14). In this embodiment, the direction and tightness of the connection cable (13) can be adjusted by a perforated cylindrical structure along its axis.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering mechanism (7) changes the pulling force the balancing mechanism (6) applies on the door (3) by triggering the spring (15). The spring (15) that is fixed on the body (2) from one end balances the weight of the door (3) by applying pulling force on the door (3) when the door (3) opens. When the spring (15) is triggered by the triggering mechanism (7), the pulling force exerted by the balancing mechanism (6) on the door (3) is decreased. Thus, the door (3) is partially left free and the door (3) is enabled to move away from the body (2) by its own weight.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering mechanism (7) comprises an actuator (8) that is activated at the end of the washing and drying processes, a triggering arm (9) pivotally connected to the actuator (8) and a pulling cable (10), one end of which is connected to the triggering arm (9), and the other end to the balancing mechanism (6). The actuator (8) is operated at the end washing and drying processes by the control unit, pushes the triggering arm (9) it contacts and rotates the triggering arm (9).
With the rotational movement of the triggering arm (9), the pulling cable (10) mounted to the triggering arm (9) is stretched and the stretched pulling cable (10) pulls the spring (15) connected to its other end. By means of stretching of the spring (15), the balancing mechanism (6) allows the door (3) to fall by its own weight and opens the door (3) some more. Thus, the steam inside the body (2) is discharged to the outside environment easily.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering mechanism (7) comprises at least one spool (11) that is disposed between the triggering arm (9) and the spring (15), that changes the direction of the pulling cable (10) and whereon the pulling cable (10) is wound. By means of the spool (11), the force that is exerted on the pulling cable (10), independently from the position of the triggering mechanism (7) inside the body (2), is directed to the balancing mechanism (6).
In an embodiment of the present invention, the triggering mechanism (7) comprises a carrier (12) whereon the actuator (8), the triggering arm (9) and the spool (11) are disposed. By means of the carrier (12) a more compact structure is obtained and the triggering mechanism (7) occupies less space inside the body (2). In an embodiment of the present invention, the movement generator (5) opens the door (3) by applying the amount of stroke sufficient for releasing the door latch (4) from the door (3) housing. The triggering mechanism (7) enables the door (3) to become ajar after the door (3) is opened.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the balancing mechanism (6) that is activated by the operation of the triggering mechanism (7) enables the door (3), opened by energizing of the movement generator (5), to become free and become sufficiently ajar such that steam discharge is allowed. The positions of the triggering mechanism (7) and the balancing mechanism (6) inside the body (2) and/or the spring constant (k) of the spring (15) which is a part of the balancing mechanism (6) can be changed by the producer and the door (3) is enabled to be opened in the desired amount.
In the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the door (3) is opened automatically by means of the movement generator (5) and the door latch (4) at the end of the washing and drying processes. The amount of gap predetermined by the producer is enabled to remain between the door (3) and the body (2) when the balancing mechanism (6) is triggered by the triggering mechanism (7) at the end of the washing and drying processes, thereby increasing the drying effectiveness of the dishwasher (1). Furthermore, by means of the present invention, the spring (15) is compressed in situations where the user tries to close the door (3) when the door (3) is partially open and thus the door latch (4) is not strained.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a door (3) that provides access into the body (2); a door latch (4) that provides the locking of the door (3); a movement generator (5) that enables the door (3) to be partially opened by being pushed at the end of the washing and drying processes so that a gap remains between the door (3) and the body (2), and a balancing mechanism (6) that is on the body (2) and that balances the weight of the door (3) by exerting force on the door (3) in the direction opposite to the opening direction of the door (3), characterized by a triggering mechanism (7) that changes the gap between the door (3) and the body (2) by triggering the balancing mechanism (6) at the end of the washing and drying processes.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the balancing mechanism (6) comprising a hinge (14) that connects the door (3) to the body (2), a spring (15) that pulls the door (3) towards the body (2) by applying pulling force on the hinge (14) and a connection cable (13), one end of which is connected to the spring (15) and the other end to the hinge (14).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 or Claim 2, characterized by the triggering mechanism (7) that changes the pulling force applied on the door (3) by triggering the spring (15).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 2 or Claim 3, characterized by the triggering mechanism (7) comprising an actuator (8) that is activated at the end of the washing and drying processes, a triggering arm (9) connected to the actuator (8) and a pulling cable (10), one end of which is fastened to the triggering arm (9), and the other end to the spring (15).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 4, characterized by the triggering mechanism (7) comprising at least one spool (11) that is disposed between the triggering arm (9) and the spring (15), that changes the direction of the pulling cable (10), and whereon the pulling cable (10) is wound.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 5, characterized by the triggering mechanism (7) comprising a carrier (12) whereon the actuator (8), the triggering arm (9) and the spool (11) are disposed.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the movement generator (5) that enables the door (3) to be opened by exerting the amount of stroke sufficient for releasing the door latch (4) from its housing on the door (3).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the triggering mechanism (7) that enables the door (3) to become ajar after the door (3) is opened.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by the balancing mechanism (6) that is activated by the operation of the triggering mechanism (7) and that enables the door (3), opened by energizing of the movement generator (5), to become sufficiently ajar such that steam discharge is allowed..