EP3243421B1 - Dishwasher, in particular domestic dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular in the configuration of a domestic dishwasher, with a washing compartment providing a washing compartment, which has a loading opening for loading items to be washed, which can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a pivotably mounted door, with a device for automatic opening of the door in gaps and with a blower for generating an air flow, a passage opening being provided on the door side between the washing compartment and a worktop arranged on the upper side of the washing compartment for the passage of part of the air flow generated by the blower.

A dishwasher of the generic type is from the DE 102007008950 A1 respectively. EP 2 120 671 B1 known. It has a rinsing container that provides a rinsing area. This wash cabinet is accessible to the user via a loading opening which can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a pivotably mounted wash cabinet door. In the intended use, the washing container serves to hold items to be cleaned, which in the case of a domestic dishwasher can be, in particular, dishes, cutlery and / or the like.

The dishwasher has a spray device in the interior of the washing container to apply washing liquid, the so-called washing liquor, to items to be washed. This spray device generally provides rotatable spray arms, typically two or three such spray arms being provided. In the intended use, the washware to be cleaned is loaded with wash liquor by means of rotating spray arms.

The dishwasher also has a device for automatically opening the door in gaps. This device serves to automatically open the door a gap after the end of a washing program, so that vapors still in the washing area can be at least partially removed, which speeds up and / or improves the drying of the items to be washed.

The dishwasher also has a condensation drying device. This has a blower for generating a cooling air flow. The condensation drying device is used to suck in cooling air through a fan in the lower area of the dishwasher in connection with the water-carrying program sections of a washing program for drying the items to be washed, in order to then lead them past the outside of the side surfaces of the washing container. As a result, the moisture from the warm, moist process air condenses, that is, from the vapors inside the washing compartment, which then accumulates as a condensation liquid in the lower region of the washing compartment.

On the door side, a passage opening is provided between the washing compartment and a worktop arranged on the top of the washing compartment, which serves to let part of the cooling air flow generated by the blower through. As a result, according to the EP 2 120 671 B1 before and after opening the door in columns, the worktop protruding beyond the dishwasher is warmed up, which raises the dew point, which advantageously ensures that vapors emerging from the gap-open door do not condense on the underside of the worktop. The passage opening can, as in the DE 102007008950 A1 described, also be covered by the door of the dishwasher, so that the passage opening is only released when the door is opened in columns.

Although dishwashers of the type described have proven themselves in everyday practical use, there is room for improvement. It has been found that the passage opening provided for the passage of vapors between the washing container and the worktop is acoustically disadvantageous. In addition, there is no optimization between the drying performance of the fan on the one hand and preheating the worktop before opening the door on the other.

It is therefore the object of the invention to further develop a dishwasher of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that noise reduction is achieved with improved drying performance at the same time.

To solve this problem, the invention proposes a dishwasher with the features of claim 1.

In return to the prior art according to the EP 2 120 671 B1 the passage opening provided for the passage of part of the air flow generated by the blower, in particular the cooling air flow, is not permanent, that is to say permanently open. Rather, according to the invention, a seal is provided which is designed to be movable and by means of which the passage opening can be closed. There is therefore no longer any preheating of the worktop both before and after the door is opened in columns, but only when the passage opening is cleared by the seal provided according to the invention.

It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the dishwasher designed according to the invention can also be installed in a tall cabinet. A worktop in the sense of the invention is therefore also understood to be a boundary plate of a tall cabinet housing the dishwasher, which is arranged directly on the top side of the washing compartment. The difference in the installation position of the dishwasher has no significance for the invention.

The dishwasher can have a condensation drying device, and the blower generating the air flow, in particular the cooling air flow, can be part of this condensation drying device. The blower can serve in a manner known per se to draw in cooling air in the lower region of the dishwasher following the water-carrying program sections of a washing program for drying the items to be washed, in order then to lead them past the outside of the side surfaces of the washing container.

The configuration according to the invention essentially has two advantages. Before the door is opened in columns, the passage opening provided between the washing compartment and the worktop arranged on the top of the washing compartment can be closed by means of the seal provided according to the invention. This is advantageous for acoustic reasons, since the rinsing noises that arise in the interior of the rinsing container in the intended use cannot pass unhindered through the passage opening, but are dampened by the seal closing the passage opening. In addition, it is advantageous that the cooling air flow generated by the blower in the event of drying can only be used for condensation drying of the items to be washed in the washing container, since no part of the cooling air flow is discharged to the outside through the passage opening. As a result, an improved, and thus optimized drying of the wash ware can be achieved.

The embodiment according to the invention takes advantage of the knowledge that it is not absolutely necessary to preheat the worktop by warm air flow before opening the door in order to warm up the worktop in order to avoid the formation of condensate on the underside of the worktop. In order to avoid the formation of condensate, it is rather essential only to pass part of the cooling air flow generated by the blower through the passage opening located between the rinsing container and worktop at the moment the door is opened. On the one hand, the worktop is already preheated by the fact that heat is transferred from the washing container, which is warm at the end of a washing program when it is used as intended, to the worktop. On the other hand, when a portion of the cooling air flow is discharged through the passage opening, the cooling air on the one hand and the vapors leaving the washing compartment on the other hand are only mixed when the door is opened, so that the relative humidity in the vapors-cooling air mixture drops to such an extent that in combination with the worktop heated by heat conduction, the formation of condensation on the underside of the worktop is reliably ruled out or at least sufficiently reduced.

The seal provided according to the invention thus allows a method for carrying out a drying program section in a dishwasher, accordingly only before or only after opening the door a gap or at a random time a part of the cooling air flow generated by the fan along part of the underside of a worktop arranged on the upper side of the washing compartment. According to the invention, the seal is designed to be movable for this purpose, so that it can be brought into a position closing the passage opening on the one hand and into a position unblocking the passage opening on the other hand.

According to the invention, the seal is arranged on the rinsing container side and has a sealing lip which interacts with the passage opening and is designed to be pivotable.

The seal is not arranged on the door, but on the rinsing container, in particular attached. It provides a sealing lip, which in turn can be pivoted and cooperates with the passage opening. If the Sealing lip is in its release position, the passage opening is not closed. Otherwise, the sealing lip rests against the passage opening. The passage opening is therefore either released or closed depending on the position of the sealing lip.

According to a further feature of the invention, the sealing lip is arranged on a support unit with the interposition of a film hinge. The seal provided according to the invention is therefore formed in two parts according to this embodiment and has a support unit on the one hand and a sealing lip on the other. A film hinge serves as the connecting link between the support unit and the sealing lip, thereby realizing the pivotable configuration of the sealing lip. The support unit, however, serves to arrange the seal on the washing container.

In order to permit a permanent, secure arrangement of the seal on the washing container, it is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the support unit is formed from a hard plastic component. The sealing lip, however, preferably consists of a plastic soft component, so that there is a certain elasticity, which allows an improved sealing of the passage opening when the sealing lip is in the closed position.

The sealing lip preferably interacts with the door, so that when the loading opening is closed, the sealing lip bears against the door under elastic pretension and closes the passage opening. As soon as the door is brought into its open position even in gaps, the sealing lip automatically pivots into the release position due to the prestress acting on it, in which the passage opening is released for vapors to pass through. As soon as the door for closing the loading opening is moved into its closed position, the sealing lip lies against the inside of the door, which also leads to a pivoting of the sealing lip when the door is moved into the closed position, with the result that the sealing lip seals against the door Passage opening creates. According to this embodiment, a sealing of the passage opening depending on the door position is thus realized. The passage opening is also closed when the door is closed. As soon as the door is opened, if only in gaps, the sealing lip detaches from the passage opening and releases it. The door therefore acts as an abutment for the sealing lip and ensures automatic opening and closing of the door Closing and opening the passage opening. It is therefore achieved according to this design that opening of the passage opening is only achieved after opening the gap cooperating with the loading opening door.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the sealing lip is actuated by an actuator. For this purpose, it is provided that the sealing lip interacts with an actuator. According to this alternative, it is therefore not the position of the door but the position of the actuator that determines whether or not the passage opening is closed by means of the sealing lip. In contrast to the previously explained alternatives, this construction alternative therefore allows a door-independent opening or a door-independent closure of the passage opening. Depending on the actuation of the actuator, it is thus possible to open the passage opening for removing vapors even when the door is closed. It is thus permitted to open or close the passage opening either independently of the position of the door interacting with the loading opening, in particular both before and after the door is opened. The provision of an actuator therefore makes it possible to open or close the passage opening before and / or after opening the door in columns.

For the force coupling of the sealing lip to the actuator, it is provided that the sealing lip has a support section running in the longitudinal direction of the sealing lip. The actuator is effectively coupled to this support section. The design of the support section ensures that the sealing lip is pressed evenly over its entire longitudinal extent to seal the passage opening when actuated. To equalize the contact pressure, several actuators can also be used, which are preferably arranged symmetrically along the support section.

The support section preferably consists of a plastic hard component and is preferably embedded in a quasi-integral manner in the plastic soft component of the sealing lip.

The configuration according to the invention makes it possible to open the passage opening provided for the passage of vapors before and / or after opening the gap To be able to seal the door. Depending on the design alternative, an optimization between the desired acoustic properties and the prevention of condensation on the underside of the worktop can be achieved. In addition, the appearance of the upper interface between the dishwasher and worktop is significantly improved. This is particularly true with regard to loading and unloading the dishwasher, in which a user of the dishwasher is at eye level with the gap between the dishwasher and the worktop. This gap can be optically closed by means of the sealing lip.

In addition, the sealing lip provided according to the invention creates the possibility, in return for teaching according to the EP 2 120 671 B1 Only preheat the worktop either before or after opening the door in columns.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung eine Geschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 2

in einer schematischen Detailansicht eine nach der Erfindung vorgesehene Dichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform bei geschlossener Tür;

Fig. 3

in einer schematischen Detailansicht eine nach der Erfindung vorgesehene Dichtung gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform bei geöffneter Tür;

Fig. 4

in einer schematischen Detailansicht eine nach der Erfindung vorgesehene Dichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform bei geschlossener Tür, und

Fig. 5

in einer schematischen Detailansicht eine nach der Erfindung vorgesehene Dichtung gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform bei geöffneter Tür.

Further features and advantages of the invention result from the following description with reference to the figures. Show:

Fig. 1

in a schematic representation of a dishwasher;

Fig. 2

in a schematic detailed view of a seal provided according to the invention according to a first embodiment with the door closed;

Fig. 3

in a schematic detailed view of a seal provided according to the invention according to a first embodiment with the door open;

Fig. 4

in a schematic detailed view of a seal provided according to the invention according to a second embodiment with the door closed, and

Fig. 5

in a schematic detailed view of a seal provided according to the invention according to a second embodiment with the door open.

Fig. 1 can be seen in a purely schematic representation of a dishwasher 1 in the configuration of a program-controlled household dishwasher.

The dishwasher 1 has, in a manner known per se, a housing 4 which receives a washing container 2. The washing compartment 2 in turn provides a washing compartment 3 Ready to receive items to be cleaned. For loading the wash cabinet 3 with wash ware to be cleaned, the wash container 2 has a loading opening 5. This loading opening 5 can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a wash cabinet door 6, the wash cabinet door 6 being mounted so as to be pivotable about a horizontally running pivot axis.

In the final assembled state, the dishwasher 1 is in one Fig. 1 Integrated kitchen unit, not shown, so that a worktop 10 is arranged on the top of the washing compartment 2. This worktop 10 is not part of the dishwasher 1, but belongs to the furniture, in particular a kitchen unit, in which the dishwasher 1 is integrated as a built-in or built-in appliance. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the front edge of the worktop 10 projects beyond the door 6. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the worktop 10 is flush with the front of the door 6 with its front edge. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the dishwasher can also be installed in a tall cabinet, with only an upper limiting plate being provided on the top of the washing container instead of a worktop. This difference has no meaning for the invention.

The dishwasher 1 also has a condensation drying device for dehumidifying warm, moist air, which is located in the wash cabinet 3 after the execution of a water-carrying program section. For this purpose, the condensation and drying device has a fan 9 in the lower side area at least on one side of the dishwasher 1, which in operation draws cooling air through an opening in the housing 4 below the door 6 in accordance with the arrow 8 and this on the associated side wall of the rinsing container 2 passes. The generated cooling air flow according to arrow 9 is essentially blown out on the back of the dishwasher 1, but can also - as will be explained in more detail below - on the front, that is to say on the door side, through a worktop 10 arranged between the washing compartment 2 and the top of the washing compartment 2 trained passage opening 11 are discharged through, at least partially, as this corresponds to the arrow 12 in Fig. 1 is shown.

The others Figures 2 to 5 can be seen schematically in a detailed view of the dishwasher according to the invention, the passage opening 11, which according to the invention can be closed by means of a seal 20, the Figures 2 and 3rd a first embodiment and the Figures 4 and 5 show a second embodiment.

As can be seen from an overall view of Figures 2 to 5 results, the rinsing container 2 provides a loading opening 5 for the purpose of loading items to be washed, which can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of the washing compartment door 6, for which purpose the washing container 2 provides a door seal 19 against which the door 6 abuts when the loading opening 5 is closed.

For reasons of improved stabilization, a U-shaped reinforcing profile 13 is arranged on the upper edge of the washing compartment 2 on the door side and has a base 14 and two legs 15 and 16 extending therefrom. The legs 15 and 16 do not extend to the underside of the worktop 10, which creates a gap 17 which forms the passage opening 11 located between the washing container 2 and worktop 10. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the legs 15 and 16 are designed to support the worktop 10 to the underside of the worktop 10, in which case a corresponding perforation of the legs 15 and 16 is to be provided to create the passage opening 11. In any case, a passage opening 11 is provided between the washing compartment 2 on the one hand and the worktop 10 through which a part 12 of the cooling air flow 9 can be discharged on the door side, as is particularly the case in FIG Fig. 1 is shown schematically.

The passage opening 11 is designed to be closable by means of a seal 20. For this purpose, the seal 20 is designed to be movable and can be located either in a closed position closing the passage opening 11 or in a release position exposing the passage opening 11.

According to a first embodiment, which in the Figures 2 and 3rd is shown, the seal 20 is designed door operated. The Figures 4 and 5 however, show an actuator-actuated configuration of the seal 20.

According to the embodiment according to the Figures 2 and 3rd the seal 20 is designed as a two-component plastic part and has a support unit 22 and a sealing lip 21. The support unit 22 consists of a hard plastic component, whereas the sealing lip 21 is formed from a plastic soft component. The sealing lip 21 is attached to the support unit 22 with the interposition of a film hinge 23, so that the sealing lip 21 can pivot relative to the support unit 22.

According to the embodiment according to FIGS Figures 2 and 3rd with door 6 together. This means that when the door 6 is closed, the pivotable sealing lip 21 is held by the door 6 under elastic pretension in its closed position, in which the passage opening 11 is closed. In this position, the sealing lip 21 lies sealingly on the underside of the worktop 10. As soon as the door 6 is opened even in columns, as shown in Fig. 3 is shown, the sealing lip 21 pivots into its release position due to the elastic prestress acting on it, so that the passage opening 11 is open, which allows a part 12 of the air flow 9 to flow through. As soon as the door 6 is closed again, the sealing lip 21 rests on the inside of the door 6, so that moving the door 6 into the closed position automatically also closes the passage opening 11.

The Figures 4 and 5 show an embodiment according to which an actuator 26 is provided for actuating the sealing lip 21.

According to this embodiment too, the seal 20 is designed as a two-component plastic part and has a support unit 22 and a sealing lip 21. The sealing lip 21 is equipped with a support section 27, which is used for coupling to the active side of the actuator 22. The support section 27 extends in the longitudinal direction of the sealing lip 21. It is formed, for example, from a hard plastic material. This has the effect that the sealing lip 21 is evenly acted upon in the case of pivoting and is therefore also guided uniformly. To improve such a uniform guidance of the sealing lip 21, a plurality of actuators 26 can also be provided.

Fig. 4 shows the closed position with regard to the passage opening 11, whereas Fig. 5 shows an open position of the passage opening 11. The advantage of the actuator-actuated sealing lip 21 is that the opening 11 can be opened and closed by means of the sealing lip 21 independently of the position of the door 6.

According to the embodiments shown, the dishwasher 1 is designed as a full integration device, that is to say the door 6 has a pivotable wing 24 which carries a front panel 25 which is adapted to the kitchen unit. As can be seen, the configuration according to the invention is not limited to such a full integration of the dishwasher 1, since, with regard to the embodiment according to FIGS Figures 2 and 3rd only depends on an interaction of the sealing lip 21 with the wing 24 of the door 6. With regard to the actuator embodiment according to the Figures 4 and 5 even door-independent operation of the sealing lip 21 is realized.

Reference numerals

1

dishwasher

2nd

Rinsing tank

3rd

Washroom

4th

casing

5

Loading opening

6

door

7

fan

8th

Supply air flow

9

Cooling air flow

10th

Countertop

11

Passage opening

12

Part of the cooling air flow 9

13

Reinforcement profile

14

Base

15

leg

16

leg

17th

Gap space

19th

Door seal

20th

poetry

21st

Sealing lip

22

Support unit

23

Film hinge

24th

wing

25th

cover

26

Actuator

27th

Support section

Claims (8)

1. Dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, comprising a washing container (2) which provides a washing chamber (3) and has a feed opening (5) for loading items to be washed, which feed opening can be sealed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a pivotably mounted door, comprising a device for automatically partially opening the door (6) and comprising a fan (7) for generating an air flow (9), with a through-opening (11) for allowing part (12) of the air flow (9) generated by the fan (7) to pass through being provided on the door side between the washing container (2) and a worktop (10) arranged on top of the washing container (2), and comprising a seal (20) which is arranged on the washing container side and has a sealing lip (21) which interacts with the through-opening (11), characterised in that the seal (20) is movable, it being possible to seal the through-opening (11) by means of the seal (20), and the sealing lip (21) which interacts with the through-opening (11) being pivotable, the sealing lip (21) being pivotable between a sealing position in which the sealing lip (21) seals the through-opening (11) and a release position that releases the through-opening (11), the sealing lip (21) being designed to sealingly rest against the underside of the worktop (10) in the sealing position.
2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the sealing lip (21) is arranged on a support unit (22) so as to have a living hinge (23) arranged therebetween.
3. Dishwasher according to claim 2, characterised in that the support unit (22) is formed from a rigid plastics component.
4. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sealing lip (21) interacts with the door (6) and, when the feed opening (5) is closed, rests on the inside of the door (6) under resilient pretension and seals the through-opening (11).
5. Dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the sealing lip (21) is actuator-operated.
6. Dishwasher according to claim 5, characterised by an actuator (26) which interacts with the sealing lip (21), the sealing lip (21) having a supporting portion (27) extending in the longitudinal direction of the sealing lip (21).
7. Dishwasher according to claim 6, characterised in that the active side of the actuator (26) is coupled to the supporting portion (27) of the sealing lip (21).
8. Dishwasher according to either claim 6 or claim 7, characterised in that the supporting portion (27) is formed from a rigid plastics component.

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