EP3289952B1 - Dishwasher, in particular household dishwasher, and corresponding method - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an automatic dishwashing machine, in particular in the embodiment as a domestic dishwasher, with a washing compartment providing a washing compartment having a feed opening, with a, in particular about a horizontally extending pivot axis pivotally mounted Spülraumtür for fluid-tight closing of the feed opening, with one, in particular from the Spülraumtür provided metering device for the metered delivery of pourable cleaning agent, wherein the metering device has an opening into a detergent dispensing opening detergent channel, and with a, in particular from the Spülraumtür opening into the flushing chamber emptying Reinigungsmittelauslass, wherein provided for fluidic connection of detergent discharge opening and Reinigungsmittelauslass a Ausschleusungskanal bereitstellendes tube is, which is designed to be movable.

A generic dishwasher is out of the EP 2 982 288 A1 known.

The from the EP 2 982 288 A1 Previous design has proven itself in everyday practice. Nevertheless, there is the desire to improve, especially with regard to an even further increased reliability in the intended use case. Thus, it has been found, for example, that changing temperatures and / or humidities can lead to moisture in the metering device can rise with the result that it comes to detergent attachments in particular the inside of the detergent channel. An exact and reproducible dosage of a defined amount of detergent is so difficult and can even lead to a clogging of the detergent channel with a continuous accumulation of detergent. In addition, due to its low mass, the fine fraction of the cleaning agent can disadvantageously accumulate on the inner surfaces of the cleaning agent channel even without increased air humidity.

In addition, for example, in the case of vibration solving solvent adhesions uncontrolled in the metering harboring Door interspace can fall. Such a vibration may result, for example, as a result of a user-side flushing door opening or closing, as they are to be carried out at a proper loading or unloading of the dishwasher.

It is based on the above described, the object of the invention to develop a dishwasher of the generic type to the effect that the risk of failure minimized and thus the reliability is increased in the intended use case.

To solve this problem, a dishwashing machine of the type mentioned is proposed with the invention, which is characterized by a force acting on a channel wall of the detergent channel pulse generator, which cooperates with the one end portion of the movable tube.

A dishwasher of the generic type has a rinsing container providing a washing compartment, which has a charging opening, as well as a Spülraumtür. This serves for the fluid-tight closing of the feed opening. It can be mounted pivotably about a horizontally extending pivot axis. The dishwasher also has a metering device for pourable, in particular solid, preferably powdery or granular detergent. Preferably, the metering device is provided by the Spülraumtür, is therefore in particular arranged in or on the Spülraumtür. In this case, the metering device is used to bring program-controlled detergent into the washing compartment provided by the washing compartment of the machine, wherein the metering device preferably has a reservoir for storing detergent, which receives cleaning agent in an amount that is sufficient for a plurality of cleaning cycles, preferably in an amount which allows 20 to 30 rinses. Advantageously, it is thus not necessary on the user side to carry out a detergent dosing manually for each rinsing process.

In the intended metering case, detergent dispensed from the reservoir passes into the detergent channel provided by the metering device. This opens into a detergent dispensing opening, through which the originating from the reservoir detergent in the washing compartment of the Dishwasher is discharged. In this context, there is the fundamental problem that may come to the inside of the cleaning channel to Reinigungsmittelanhaftungen. In the detergent channel under certain circumstances occurring moisture can then lead to an unwanted encrustation, which in the worst case can lead to a growth of the detergent channel. The reliability of the dishwasher is adversely affected by the cleaning agent channel inside remaining detergent in a disadvantageous, which is desirable to avoid.

The embodiment of the invention provides a remedy, because provided by the construction according to the invention pulse generator ensures that there is a vibration of the detergent channel due to a mechanical application of force to at least one channel wall of the detergent channel. This concussion ensures that, under certain circumstances, detergent adhering to the inside of the detergent channel trickles out and is expelled through the detergent dispensing opening in the direction of the washing compartment of the automatic dishwasher.

The tube providing the discharge channel for the cleaning agent is designed to be movable and can be moved from a basic or starting position into a so-called metering position. In the metering position, the tube is fluidly connected to the detergent dispensing opening of the metering device so that detergent dispensed by the metering device can reach the tube and from there to the cleaning agent outlet opening into the flushing chamber and thus into the washing compartment of the automatic dishwasher. The cleaning agent outlet opening into the flushing chamber is preferably provided by the flushing chamber door, ie it is arranged on the flushing chamber door. In the starting position, however, the tube is fluidically decoupled from the detergent dispensing opening of the metering device, so that a residual moisture, which may be located in the tube, can not rise into the detergent channel of the metering device.

According to the invention it is now provided that the dosing device-side end portion of the tube cooperates with the pulse generator. By this constructive measure it is achieved that an acknowledgment of the pulse generator takes place as a result of a pivoting movement of the tube from its initial position into the metering position. The pulse generator So it is only activated when the pipe is in its dosing position. This is advantageous insofar as that as a result of a mechanical application of force by the pulse generator on the inside of the detergent channel trickling detergent can not get into the free gap space within the Spülraumtür, but flows into the pipe located in metering position. It is so constructively ensured that the dispensed by the metering detergent is completely conveyed into the discharge channel of the pipe, from where it enters the washing compartment of the dishwasher.

Advantageously, an actuation of the pulse generator can also take place independently of a metering operation of the metering device. This requires only a pivoting movement of the tube, which initializes an activation of the pulse generator. It is crucial in this context that an actuation of the pulse generator takes place by means of the pivotable tube, so that it is always ensured regardless of an actuation of the metering device that a mechanical force is applied to the detergent channel of the metering device only if the fluidically adjoining the metering tube moved into its metering position. In that regard, it is certainly avoided that cleaning agent released by trickling undesirably enters the volume space formed on the inside of the flushing door.

The pulse generator has according to a further feature of the invention, a spring which has a pivotable against abutment against the channel wall of the cleaning agent channel spring leg. In the intended pivoting of the tube cooperating with the tube spring leg of the spring is moved against the spring force, thus biased. As soon as the spring leg is then released, it snaps back due to the bias applied to it, wherein it moves against the channel wall of the cleaning agent channel to stop. As a result, it comes in already described manner to a mechanical application of force to the detergent channel, so that as a result of the associated concussion of the detergent channel any trickle located on the inside of the detergent channel detergent residues trickle, that is solved.

In support of the impact intensity is according to a further feature of the invention provided that the spring leg is equipped with a Schlaggewicht.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the tube end has a cooperating with the spring leg driver. This driver occurs in a pivoting movement of the tube in contact with the spring leg and moves it in accordance with the pivoting movement direction of the pipe. As a result of this entrainment there is a pivoting of the spring leg against the spring force acting on it, which leads to the already described above bias of the spring leg.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the metering device has a cam which serves to deflect the spring leg transversely to the direction of pivoting movement thereof. This dosing device side cam serves to lift the spring leg with reaching its biasing position on the tube-side driver, whereby the spring leg is released, so that it is allowed to spring-induced back to pivot, so as to act on the detergent channel abruptly with force.

The dosing device-side cam has a run-on slope for this purpose. Against this run-on slope of the tube driven spring leg moves and is thereby deflected transversely to the pivoting direction, preferably in the vertical direction upwards. With reaching the dosing device side cam of the spring leg so not only moves in the direction predetermined by the tube movement, but also transversely thereto. Upon reaching a certain altitude, the spring leg comes out of engagement with the tube-side driver. At this moment, the spring leg is released, so that a return of the same is made possible.

According to a further feature of the invention it is provided that the cam provides a ramp for the spring leg, wherein the upper end edge of the ramp is above the upper edge of the driver. This constructive design ensures that the spring leg with reaching its biasing position disengaged from the driver, so that in the manner described above, a spring back of the spring leg is allowed in the direction of the channel wall of the detergent channel.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the spring leg is guided by a Höhenverfahrbegrenzer. The Höhenverfahrbegrenzer ensures that unwanted emigration of the spring leg is prevented in the height direction. Thus, it is ensured in particular by means of Höhenverfahrbegrenzers that after a spring back of the spring leg of the spring leg reaches such an altitude again that it rests positionally accurate on the pipe-side driver in a repeated process of the tube.

It is provided according to a further feature of the invention that the spring has a second spring leg, which is supported against an abutment. Preferably, the spring is thus designed as a helical spring, which has two spring legs, wherein the one spring leg cooperates for the purpose of concussion of the detergent channel with the associated channel wall of the detergent channel, whereas the other spring leg rests against an abutment to form a spring bias and is supported here. The abutment may preferably be a housing part of the metering device.

With the invention, a metering device is further proposed, which has the Dosiereinrichtungsseitigen features of the type already described above. Such a metering device is for the reasons already vorerläuterten advantage.

The invention further proposes a method for operating a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, which has a metering device with a cleaning agent channel and a discharge channel for dispensing of the metering detergent supplied tube, which tube is designed to be movable, promoted in the detergent from the metering device is and then carried out by means of a pulse generator, a mechanical force acting on a channel wall of the detergent channel, wherein the pulse generator is actuated as a result of a movement of the tube.

According to the method implementation according to the invention, it is provided that after proper metering of cleaning agent into the cleaning channel provided by the metering device, cleaning thereof is effected is performed, by the fact that by means of a pulse generator a sudden application of force to a channel wall of the detergent channel. As a result of this mechanical application of force, there is a vibration of the detergent channel, as a result of which cleaning agent adhering to the inside of the detergent channel may be removed and discharged through the detergent dispensing opening of the detergent channel in the direction of the washing container provided by the automatic dishwasher. This method implementation advantageously provides the positive effect that encrustations forming on the inside of the cleaning agent channel due to undesired adherence of cleaning agent are avoided. This increases the reliability of the dishwasher according to the invention.

It is inventively provided that an actuation of the pulse generator takes place as a result of a movement of the cooperating with the metering tube. The tube provides the discharge channel for the dispensed by the metering detergent, the tube can be pivoted from a basic position into a metering position and vice versa. In the metering position, the tube is in fluidic connection to the detergent dispensing opening of the metering device, so that in the case of dispensing detergent can be promoted in the already above-described manner via the pipe located in its metering position in the washing compartment of the dishwasher.

When transferring the tube from its initial position into the metering position, the pulse generator is activated, so that a mechanical application of force to the detergent channel by the pulse generator takes place exclusively when the tube is in its metering position.

According to a further feature of the method it is provided that the pulse generator has a spring with a spring leg, which is biased by a terminal of the tube arranged driver as a result of a movement. The driver provided at the end of the tube interacts with the spring leg of the spring in such a way that when the tube moves into the metering position, the spring leg is carried along, resulting in a pivoting movement of the spring leg which builds up a spring biasing force. Once the biasing position of the spring leg is reached, the spring leg of Detached driver, so that the spring leg can snap back, on a stop against the associated channel wall of the detergent channel.

Fig. 1

in schematischer Darstellung einen Geschirrspülautomaten nach der Erfindung;

Fig. 2

in einer Draufsicht eine Spülraumtür, und zwar in Blickrichtung II nach Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

in einer schematischen Draufsicht ein Dosiergerät in einer ersten Stellung;

Fig. 4

in einer schematischen Draufsicht das Dosiergerät nach Fig. 3 in einer zweiten Stellung;

Fig. 5

in schematisch perspektivischer Ansicht den Impulsgeber nach der Erfindung in einer ersten Stellung;

Fig. 6

in schematisch perspektivischer Ansicht den Impulsgeber nach der Erfindung in einer zweiten Stellung;

Fig. 7

in schematisch perspektivischer Ansicht den Impulsgeber nach der Erfindung in einer dritten Stellung; und

Fig. 8

in schematisch perspektivischer Ansicht den Impulsgeber nach der Erfindung in einer vierten Stellung.

Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to FIGS. Showing:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a dishwasher according to the invention;

Fig. 2

in a plan view of a Spülraumtür, in the direction of II after Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

in a schematic plan view of a metering device in a first position;

Fig. 4

in a schematic plan view of the dosing device Fig. 3 in a second position;

Fig. 5

in a schematic perspective view of the pulse generator according to the invention in a first position;

Fig. 6

in a schematic perspective view of the pulse generator according to the invention in a second position;

Fig. 7

in a schematic perspective view of the pulse generator according to the invention in a third position; and

Fig. 8

in a schematic perspective view of the pulse generator according to the invention in a fourth position.

Fig. 1 can be seen in a purely schematic representation of a dishwasher 1 according to the invention. This has in a conventional manner a housing 2, which receives a washing container 3. The washing container 3 in turn provides a washing compartment 4 for receiving items to be cleaned. For loading the washing compartment 4 with items to be cleaned has the washing container 3 via a feed opening 5. This is closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a Spülraumtür 6, the Spülraumtür drehverschwenkbar about a horizontal pivot axis is stored.

Fig. 2 allows the Spülraumtür 6 recognize in a plan view of the inner door panel 20, that is looking in the direction II Fig. 1 ,

As Fig. 2 can be seen, has the Spülraumtür inside on from the prior art known per se storage compartments 9, which are closed by means of appropriate cover. The storage compartments 9 are used in a conventional manner, for example, the inclusion of detergent, rinse aid and / or the like.

The dishwashing machine 1 according to the invention has, in addition to the storage compartments 9 known per se from the prior art, a metering device 7. This metering device 7 provides a storage container 23 for storing detergent for a plurality of cleaning cycles. In the course of its intended use, the corresponding amount of cleaning agent is taken from the storage container 23 provided by the metering device 7 per wash program cycle and fed to the washing compartment 4 of the washing container 3. In this case, the supply container 23 provided by the metering device 7 is preferably dimensioned such that it can receive cleaning agent in an amount which is sufficient for completion of 20 to 30 rinsing operations.

The metering device 7 has the arrangement of the reservoir 23 via a receptacle 10 which is closed by a pivotable lid 11 when properly inserted reservoir 23.

For dispensing of the metering device 7 stemmenden cleaning agent is a cleaning agent 8. This provides an outlet 12, which is covered by a cover 13. In this case, the lid 13 does not serve the fluid-tight closing of the outlet opening 12, but rather as a splash guard to minimize penetration of food and beverage residues into the outlet opening 12 during the loading phase of the dishwasher. For this purpose, the cover 13 on the outlet opening side, for example, webs, so that the cover 13 spaced from each other at the interposition of these webs comes to rest on the peripheral edge surrounding the outlet opening 12. This results in an opening gap through which wash liquor can pass into the outlet opening 12, but only in such an amount that is required for flushing out of here befindliches cleaning agent.

The in FIG. 2 Storage tank 23, which is not shown in more detail, provides a combined labyrinth guide on the one hand and metered quantity storage on the other hand, on the detergent dispensing side. As is clear from the Figures 3 and 4 shows schematically, the reservoir 23 is rotatable by means of a drive device 19. When used as intended, the reservoir 23 performs a 360 ° movement for the introduction of cleaning agent into the washing compartment 4. As a result of this twisting movement provided by the reservoir 23 cleaning agent is conveyed out of the reservoir 23, wherein the reservoir side provided metering ensures an always equal Dosiermengenabgabe. The amount of detergent dispensed from the reservoir 23 is then discharged via the detergent outlet 8 into the washing compartment 4. It serves for the fluidic connection of Reinigungsmittelauslass 8 and provided by the metering device 7 detergent dispensing opening 14 a flexibly formed tube 16, as can be seen from the illustrations according to the Figures 3 and 4 results.

As the Figures 3 and 4 can be seen, the metering device 7 has a detergent channel 15, which opens into the detergent discharge opening 14. In the intended use case, therefore, detergent dispensed by the metering device 7 flows through the cleaning agent channel 15 to the detergent-emitting opening 14 on the metering device side.

Between the detergent dispensing opening 14 and the detergent outlet 8, a tube 16 is interposed. This tube 16 has two end portions, namely the cleaning agent outlet 8 near end portion which provides a flange 18, and an end portion 21 opposite the Reinigungsmittelauslass 8. Between the end portion 21 and the flange 18, a bending portion is formed, in which region of the tube shell wavy and because of which it is flexible.

Due to its bending section, the tube 16 is flexible and thus formed pivotable, as can be seen in particular from a synopsis of Figures 3 and 4 results. Fig. 3 shows the tube 16 in its initial position. Fig. 4 shows the tube 16 in a pivoted position, according to which the end portion 21 is pivoted in relation to the flange 18 by bending the tube 16. In this position of the tube 16, the tube 16 is fluidly connected to the detergent discharge opening 14 of the detergent channel 15 and is in its so-called metering position.

For pivoting the tube 16 is a lever 22 which is pivotable about a pivot axis. As a result of a pivoting movement of the lever 22, it comes to the already described pivoting movement of the tube 16. For the purpose of connection of the tube 16 to the lever 22 is a holder 26 in the form of, for example, a pipe clamp or clamp. This holder 26 surrounds the metering device end portion 21 of the tube 16 in the manner of a ring. This serves as a link between the lever 22 on the one hand and the tube 16 on the other. In operation, the lever 22 acts on the holder 26 and thus also on the trapped end portion 21 of the tube 16 a.

The lever 22 is driven by means of an actuator, not shown. In this case, a pivoting of the lever 22 against a return means, which is formed for example as a tension spring.

In the in Fig. 3 illustrated basic position, the cleaning agent discharge opening side pipe inlet opening of the tube 16 is closed by a closure cover 34. This closure lid 34 is pivotally mounted on the lever 22, wherein a arranged between the lever 22 and cover 34 cam device ensures that pivoting of the lever 22 also leads to a pivoting of the closure cover 34, in such a way that the tube 16 in its normal position according to Fig. 3 closed and in its metering according to Fig. 4 is open.

The metering device 7 is according to the invention equipped with a pulse generator 25 which acts in the illustrated embodiment on a channel wall 24 of the detergent channel 15. In this case, the pulse generator 25 serves to mechanically act on the channel wall 24 of the detergent channel with a force application, namely abruptly, so that there is a corresponding vibration of the detergent channel 15. As a result of such a vibration will be inside the cleaning agent channel 15 dissolved under certain circumstances adhering detergent residues and discharged. This ensures in an advantageous manner that it does not lead to an unwanted increase of detergent residues within the Reinigungsmittekanals 15.

The FIGS. 5 to 8 each show in a perspective view of the pulse generator 25 according to the invention in different positions.

The pulse generator 25 has a spring 28, which is formed in the embodiment shown as a helical spring and held by a mandrel 29. The spring 29 has two spring legs 30 and 31, wherein the spring leg 31 is supported relative to the serving as abutment housing 32 of the metering device 7. The other spring leg 30 is freely pivotable in relation to the spring leg 31, and that about an axis of rotation provided by the mandrel 29.

The spring leg 30 hits in the intended use abruptly on the channel wall 24 of the detergent channel 15. For impact force support of the spring leg is equipped with a Schlaggewicht 38, which acts in the impact case on a provided by the detergent channel on the outside counter cam 39.

Fig. 5 lets recognize the pulse generator 25 in its initial position. In this position, the impact weight 38 rests on the counter cam 39 of the detergent channel 15th

In the pivoting of the tube 16, the lever 22 and the holder 26 coupled thereto is moved. The holder 26 receives in the manner described above, the end portion 21 of the tube 16, which in the sake of clarity in the FIGS. 5 to 8 not shown separately.

The holder 26 is pulse generator side equipped with a driver 27. This end cooperates with the spring leg 30. As a result of a movement of the lever 22 and the associated holder 26 of the driver 27 runs on the spring leg 30, as in Fig. 6 shown. In a further rotational movement of the lever 22, the spring leg 30 is pivoted as it were and against its spring force acting on it, whereby it is biased. This leaves Fig. 7 recognize. As a result of a pivoting movement of the spring leg 30, this runs onto a ramp 34 of a cam 33 provided by the metering device 7. As a result, the spring leg 30 is rotated not only in the plane of the drawing counterclockwise, there is also a movement of the spring leg 30 in the height direction 35 upwards instead. This also lessened the presentation Fig. 7 recognize.

As soon as the spring leg 30 has reached its preload end position, because of its interaction with the cam 33, it is moved upward in the height direction 35 so far that it overlaps the upper end edge of the driver 27. At this moment, the spring leg 30 is released from the driver 27, so that the spring leg 30 can pivot back to its original position, wherein it springs up with spring force induced abruptly with its impact weight 38 on the counter-cam 39 of the detergent channel 15. this shows Fig. 8 ,

In order to avoid that there is an uncontrolled movement of the spring leg 30 in the height direction 35, a Höhenverfahrbegrenzer 37 is provided, which is U-shaped and accommodates the spring leg 30. By means of the Höhenverfahrbegrenzers 37 ensures that in a renewed process of the lever 22 for the purpose of biasing the spring leg 30 a proper concern of the spring leg 30 is ensured on the driver 27. <B> reference numerals </ b> 1 dishwasher 33 cam 2 casing 34 approach ramp 3 rinse tank 35 height direction 4 Wash cabinet 36 terminal edge 5 loading port 37 Höhenverfahrbegrenzer 6 rinsing chamber 38 impact weight 7 metering 39 counter-cam 8th Reinigungsmittelauslass 9 storage compartment 10 admission 11 cover 12 outlet 13 cover 14 Detergent discharge opening 15 Detergent channel 16 pipe 17 Ausschleusungskanal 18 flange 19 driving means 20 Inner door panel 21 end 22 lever 23 reservoir 24 channel wall 25 pulse 26 holder 27 takeaway 28 feather 29 mandrel 30 spring leg 31 spring leg 32 casing

Claims (9)

1. Automatic dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, comprising a washing container (3) that provides a washing chamber (4) and has a loading opening (5), a washing chamber door (6) for closing the loading opening (5) in a fluid-tight manner, and a metering device (7), in particular provided by the washing chamber door (6), for dispensing pourable detergent in a metered manner, the metering device (7) having a detergent channel that leads to a detergent dispensing opening (14), and a detergent outlet (8) that leads into the washing chamber (4), a movable tube (16) that provides a discharge channel (17) being provided for fluidically connecting the detergent dispensing opening (14) and the detergent outlet (8), characterised by a pulse generator (25) that acts on a channel wall (24) of the detergent channel (15) and interacts with an end portion (21) of the movable tube (16).
2. Automatic dishwasher according to claim 1, characterised in that the pulse generator (25) comprises a spring (28) having a spring leg (30) that can be pivoted so as to strike the channel wall (24).
3. Automatic dishwasher according to claim 2, characterised in that the spring leg (30) is equipped with a striking weight (38).
4. Automatic dishwasher according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the tube (16) comprises, on the end thereof, a catch (27) that interacts with the spring leg (30).
5. Automatic dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the metering device (7) comprises a cam (33) that deflects the spring leg (30) transversely to the pivoting direction thereof.
6. Automatic dishwasher according to claim 5, characterised in that the cam (33) provides an upward slope for the spring leg (30), the upper end edge (36) of the upward slope (34) being located above the top edge of the catch (27).
7. Automatic dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 6, characterised in that the spring leg (30) is guided by a vertical-travel limiter (27).
8. Automatic dishwasher according to any of the preceding claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the spring (28) comprises a second spring leg (31) that is supported against a brace.
9. Method for operating an automatic dishwasher that comprises a metering device (7) having a detergent channel (15) for dispensing pourable detergent in a metered manner, and a tube (16) that provides a discharge channel (17) for detergent dispensed by the metering device (7), which tube (16) is designed to be movable, in which detergent is conveyed out of the metering device (7) and a channel wall (24) of the detergent channel (15) is subsequently subjected to mechanical force by means of a pulse generator (25), wherein the pulse transmitter (25) is actuated as a result of a travelling movement of the tube (16).

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