EP3354187B1 - Domestic dishwasher - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a domestic dishwasher.

A dishwasher has a washing compartment and at least one crockery basket that can be moved into and out of the washing compartment. The dishwasher can have several crockery baskets arranged one above the other, such as a lower basket, an upper basket and a cutlery drawer. Furthermore, the dishwasher has a door to close the washing container. When the dish rack is in a pulled-out state, the door cannot be closed properly because the door collides with the pulled-out dish rack. The crockery basket must first be moved into the washing container. Only then can the door be closed completely and without colliding with the dish rack.

The pamphlet US 3,466,105A discloses a device, for example a dishwasher or the like, which comprises a working space and a housing surrounding the working space. The workspace has an access opening provided with a door. The door is hinged for pivotal movement between a non-horizontal and fully closed position and a substantially horizontal and fully open position. Furthermore, a movement-assisted loading unit is provided which, for the purpose of its movement through the access opening, is guided on a first rail means arranged within the working space and on a second rail means arranged on the inside of the door. The device which causes the movement support of the loading unit comprises a door actuating device which causes a main section of the loading unit to be extended simultaneously when the door is opened and the loading unit to be completely retracted when the door is closed. The door operator comprises drive means which are mounted on a wall of the housing for engagement with the loading unit and which, when actuated, moves the main portion of the loading unit through the opened door. Furthermore, the door operating device comprises operating means which are mounted on the door for pivotal movement about the drive means only during the final degrees of opening and closing of the door when the first and second track means are generally horizontal.

The pamphlet EP 2 364 635 A2 discloses a dishwasher with a housing which has a washing chamber with a washing chamber opening that can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of a housing door. The washing compartment accommodates a loading unit that can be moved out of the washing compartment at least partially through the washing compartment opening, and the loading unit has a lighting device. A detection circuit for detecting the position of the loading unit inside the washing compartment can be provided. Furthermore, the housing door can also have a sensor, preferably an inclination sensor.

Against this background, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved domestic dishwasher.

Accordingly, a household dishwasher is provided with a door and a dish rack. The items to be washed are set up to move automatically as a function of a movement of the door. Furthermore, the household dishwasher includes a third sensor, which is set up to detect when the door is approaching the wash items receptacle.

Because the items to be washed move depending on the movement of the door, a user of the household dishwasher does not have to grip the items to be washed in order to cause the items to be washed to be moved. In this way, the items to be washed can be shifted simply by operating the door. This makes it easier to use a household dishwasher, since only one movement is required to move the door and the washware holder. In addition, a domestic dishwasher of this type saves time, since the items to be washed can be relocated and the door moved at the same time.

In this case, for example, a distance between an inside of the door and an outside of the washware receptacle, which faces the inside of the door when the door is closed, can be detected by the third sensor. A reduction in this distance can be interpreted as the door moving closer to the washware holder. at If the third sensor is present, a first and/or second sensor can be omitted, for example, since the third sensor can be used to detect a collision at the door.

The household dishwasher preferably includes a receiving area, also referred to as a "rinsing container" in technical circles, which accommodates one, two or three items to be washed. In this case, the door is set up to seal the receiving area in a watertight manner. When opening, the door can preferably be pivoted towards a floor on which the domestic dishwasher is standing. For example, two or three items to be washed can also be set up to move automatically as a function of the movement of the door. The items to be washed are preferably set up to be moved out of the receiving area with the aid of a rail. Such a shift can be a linear method, for example. The method takes place in particular in a plane which is arranged parallel to the floor on which the domestic dishwasher is standing (that is to say in the horizontal direction). As an alternative or in addition, the method can, for example, take place in a plane that is arranged perpendicularly to the floor on which the domestic dishwasher is standing (ie in the vertical direction), for example if the lower basket is raised. As a further alternative, the method can take place in a combination of horizontal and vertical directions, ie in a way, in particular pivoting downwards.

In the present case, "depending on a movement" means that there is a causal connection between the movement of the door and the method of picking up items to be washed. The process of picking up items to be washed can be carried out using an energy store, a motor, a magnet and/or a kinematic coupling to the door. In the present case, "automatically" means that the process of picking up items to be washed takes place without this being actuated either directly or indirectly with the aid of the user's muscle power.

According to one embodiment, the items to be washed can be moved to avoid a collision with the door. The washware holder is thus set up to avoid a collision with the door. This facilitates the handling of the domestic dishwasher. Furthermore, shocks between the door and the Avoid picking up items to be washed, so that the risk of damage to guide rails or dishes is reduced. In addition, a harmonious movement of the door can be guaranteed during the closing process.

According to one embodiment, the domestic dishwasher has a draw-in device. The retraction device is set up to move the washware receptacle from an extended position into a retracted position. This has the advantage that the items to be washed can be automatically moved into the receiving area of the household dishwasher with the aid of the draw-in device. For example, the retraction device can be referred to as a return mechanism. The extended position of the washing item holder is a position in which a collision with the door is possible. The retracted position of the washware holder is a position in which the washware holder is arranged completely within the receiving area of the domestic dishwasher, so that collision with the door is not possible. The retraction device is preferably set up to move the washware receptacle only (and not vice versa) from the extended position into the retracted position.

According to one embodiment, the retraction device is set up to move the washware receptacle from the retracted position into the extended position. This has the advantage that the items to be washed can also be moved out of the receiving area automatically by means of the retraction device. For example, the opening movement of the door triggers the washing item holder to move out.

According to one embodiment, the retraction device is set up to move the washware receptacle using spring force and/or a magnetic force. For example, a spring element can be used as an energy store. For example, spring energy or magnetic energy can be stored while the items to be washed are moved out of the receiving area of the household dishwasher. The items to be washed can then be moved into the receiving area of the domestic dishwasher using the stored energy. This has the advantage of not inevitably additional electrical energy for the method of washing items must be expended.

According to one embodiment, the retraction device comprises an actuator which is fed with energy external to the device and is set up for this purpose; the items to be washed must be moved. The actuator can comprise an electromagnet which, with the aid of an electromagnetic force, brings about the process of picking up items to be washed. Furthermore, the actuator can be designed as another motor, in particular an electric motor. This has the advantage that the user of the domestic dishwasher does not have to provide the energy himself.

According to one embodiment, the household dishwasher comprises a first sensor for detecting a position of the washware receptacle. This has the advantage that the household dishwasher can independently determine whether there is a fundamental risk of the wash item holder colliding with the door (because the wash item holder has been pulled out). For example, a corresponding sensor can be provided for each item to be washed in the domestic dishwasher.

According to one embodiment, the first sensor includes a light barrier and/or a proximity sensor. The light barrier is arranged, for example, in an opening area of the receiving area of the domestic dishwasher. The proximity sensor can be arranged, for example, on a rear wall of the receiving area of the domestic dishwasher. It can thus be ensured that the position of the washware receptacle is detected reliably.

According to one embodiment, the domestic dishwasher includes a second sensor for detecting the movement of the door. This has the advantage that the household dishwasher can independently determine whether the door is being moved. It goes without saying that the second sensor also only detects a position of the door. This means that, for example, when a change in the position of the door is detected, a movement of the door can be inferred. By evaluating the data from the first and second sensors, it is possible to conclude that a collision is imminent.

According to one embodiment, the second sensor includes a rotary encoder and/or an inclinometer. The encoder can be arranged in a door hinge, for example. Furthermore, the inclinometer can be provided in the door. For example, the inclinometer detects an opening angle of the door. The rotary encoder detects, for example, a movement, for example the acceleration of the opening angle and/or the speed of the opening angle of the door. Alternatively or additionally, the rotary encoder can also detect the opening angle of the door, for example.

According to one embodiment, the household dishwasher comprises a control device that is set up to control the method of picking up items to be washed. The retraction device, in particular the actuator and/or an energy storage device, is preferably controlled by the control device.

According to one embodiment, the control device controls the method of picking up items to be washed depending on the movement of the door detected by the second sensor. For example, the position or movement of the door can serve as an input variable for the control device, with the control device being set up to determine a change in the position of the door and to control the retraction device.

According to one embodiment, the control device controls the method of receiving items to be cleaned as a function of the position of the detected by the first sensor 5b

items to be washed. The detected position of the washware holder can thus serve as a further input variable for the control device in order to determine whether there is a risk of collision between the door and the washware holder.

According to one embodiment, the control device controls the process of the items to be washed depending on the approach of the door to the items to be washed, which is detected by the third sensor. For example, a direct detection of the approach of the door to the washing item holder as an input variable for the control device serve. On the basis of this input variable, the control device can, for example, control the retraction device, in particular the actuator and/or the energy store.

According to one embodiment, the washing item holder is designed as a crockery basket or as a cutlery basket. For example, the domestic dishwasher includes two crockery baskets and a cutlery basket.

Furthermore, a method for relocating a washware holder of a domestic dishwasher, in particular as described above, is provided. In this case, the items to be washed move automatically as a function of a movement of a door of the domestic dishwasher, in particular to avoid a collision with the door.

The embodiments and features described for the domestic dishwasher apply accordingly to the proposed method.

"Third" sensor can also be referred to as "second" or "first" sensor, depending on which or how many sensors are present.

Further possible implementations of the invention also include combinations of features or embodiments described above or below with regard to the exemplary embodiments that are not explicitly mentioned. The person skilled in the art will also add individual aspects as improvements or additions to the respective basic form of the invention.

Further advantageous refinements and aspects of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims and of the exemplary embodiments of the invention described below. The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred embodiments with reference to the enclosed figures.

Fig. 1

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht einer ersten Ausführungsform einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 2 bis 4

eine schematische Seitenansicht eines Schließvorgangs einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine;

Fig. 5

eine schematische Seitenansicht einer dritten Ausführungsform der Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine; und

Fig. 6

die schematische Seitenansicht einer vierten Ausführungsform der Haushaltsgeschirrspülmaschine.

Show it

1

a schematic perspective view of a first embodiment of a domestic dishwasher;

Figures 2 to 4

a schematic side view of a closing process of a second embodiment of a domestic dishwasher;

figure 5

a schematic side view of a third embodiment of the domestic dishwasher; and

6

the schematic side view of a fourth embodiment of the domestic dishwasher.

Elements that are the same or have the same function have been provided with the same reference symbols in the figures, unless otherwise stated.

the 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 has a receiving area 2 which can be closed by a door 3, in particular in a watertight manner. For this purpose, a sealing device can be provided between the door 3 and the receiving area 2 . The receiving area 2 can be a rinsing container in the 1 be shown household dishwasher 1. The receiving area 2 is preferably cuboid. The receiving area 2 and the door 3 can form a washing chamber 4 for washing items to be washed. The receiving area 2 can be arranged inside a housing of the domestic dishwasher 1 .

Door 3 is in the 1 shown in their open position. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3 . The receiving area 2 has a wall 6 with a floor 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the floor 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another.

The household dishwasher 1 also has at least one washware receptacle 12, 13, 14. In particular, several wash items receptacles 12, 13, 14 can be provided, and these can include a lower rack 12, an upper rack 13 and/or a cutlery drawer 14. The multiple washware receptacles 12, 13, 14 are preferably arranged one above the other in the receptacle area 2. Each washware receptacle 12, 13, 14 can be moved either into or out of the receiving area 2. In particular, each dishwashing receptacle 12, 13, 14 is in one Insertion direction E (arrow) into the receiving area 2 and against the insertion direction E (arrow) in a pull-out direction A (arrow) can be pulled out of the receiving area 2.

the 2 shows a second embodiment of the household dishwasher 1. In this case, the upper basket 13 is set up to move automatically as a function of a movement of the door 3. The upper basket 13 has an extended position in which the upper basket 13 protrudes from the washing compartment 4 . Consequently, the upper basket 13 could collide with the door 3 when closing it. In order to avoid this, the upper basket 13 is designed to avoid a collision with the door 3 . For this purpose, the domestic dishwasher 1 comprises a retraction device 15. This is set up to move the upper basket 13 from the extended position into a retracted position (as in 4 shown) to proceed. The retraction device 15 is arranged on the door 3 . The upper basket 13 can be drawn in automatically into the receiving area 2 with the aid of energy (for example spring energy, magnetic energy) that was stored while the upper basket 13 was being pulled out of the receiving area 2 .

Furthermore, the household dishwasher 1 includes a sensor 16 (here also referred to as a third sensor), which is set up to detect when the door 3 is approaching the upper rack 13 . The sensor 16 is arranged on an inner side 18 of the door, the inner side 18 of the door 3 facing the washing compartment 4 when the door 3 is in the closed state. A measurement object 17 to be detected by the sensor 16 is arranged on an outer side 19 of the upper basket 13 and connected to it or a part thereof, with the outer side 19 of the upper basket 13 facing the inner side 18 of the door 3 when the door 3 is closed. The sensor 16 is permanently connected to the door 3 . Alternatively, the sensor 16 could also be arranged on the outside 19 of the upper basket 13 and the measurement object 17 on the inside 18 of the door 3 . In any case, the sensor 16 and the measurement object 17 are arranged in such a way that they approach each other when the door 3 is closed. If a corresponding approach, in which a collision between the door 3 and the upper basket 13 is possible, is recorded or detected, then the upper basket 13 moves into the retracted position by means of the retraction device 15 . The household dishwasher 1 includes a control device 22 which is set up to control the movement of the upper basket 13 . For this purpose, the control device 22 is connected, for example, to the feed device 15 (dashed in 2 shown) and the sensor 16 coupled signaling. In this case, the door 3 does not touch the upper basket 13 .

The retraction device 15 comprises a spring element serving as an energy store. The retraction device 15 is therefore set up to move the upper basket 13 with the aid of spring force. For this purpose, the intake device 15 can be connected to the rear wall 9 (or one of the two side walls 10, 11) and, for example, an inner side 21 of the upper basket 13, with the inner side 21 of the upper basket 13 facing the rear wall 9. In the extended position of the upper basket 13, the retraction device 15 is prestressed in the direction of insertion E (arrow). Furthermore, the upper basket 13 can be locked in this extended position. The retraction device 15 can be set up so that when the door 3 closes, a lock is released, so that the upper basket 13 is pulled by the spring element in the direction of insertion E (arrow). A collision of the door 3 with the upper basket 13 is therefore prevented.

the 3 shows the domestic dishwasher 1 2 , wherein the door 3 has a smaller opening angle α than in 2 shown. This is intended to indicate the closing movement of the door 3 . It can be seen that despite a movement of the door 3 in the direction of a closed position of the same, an air gap or distance S between the sensor 16 and the measurement object 17 is maintained. The upper basket 13 moves out of the extended position (as in 2 shown) to the stowed position (as in 4 shown) without the door 3 touching the upper basket 13 and without a user of the domestic dishwasher 1 touching the upper basket 3 .

the 4 shows the domestic dishwasher 1 2 , with the upper basket 13 in the retracted position.

the figure 5 shows a third embodiment of the domestic dishwasher 1. In contrast to 2 show the figure 5 the household dishwasher 1 with a sensor 23 (here also referred to as the first sensor) for detecting a position of the upper rack 13 using a corresponding measurement object 26 on the upper rack 13. The sensor 23 is designed as a proximity sensor. This is arranged on the inside 21 of the upper basket 13 and/or on the rear wall 9 and detects, for example the distance between the inside 21 of the upper basket 13 and the rear wall 9. An extended position of the upper basket 13 can thereby be reliably detected. Furthermore, the household dishwasher 1 includes a sensor 24 (here also referred to as a second sensor) for detecting the movement of the door 3 . The sensor 24 is designed as a rotary encoder and is arranged in a hinge of the door 3 . The upper basket 13 is moved using an actuator 25 . The control device 22 controls the movement of the upper basket 13 as a function of the movement of the door 3 detected by the sensor 24. For this purpose, the control device 22 is coupled to the sensor 24 in terms of signals (in figure 5 indicated by dashed lines). Furthermore, the control device 22 controls the movement of the upper basket 13 depending on the position of the upper basket 13 detected by the sensor 23. For this purpose, the control device 22 is coupled to the sensor 23 in terms of signals (in figure 5 indicated by dashed lines). The actuator 25 is also signal-coupled to the control device 22 (in figure 5 indicated by dashed lines). If the control device 22 receives the information from the sensor 24 that the door 3 is being closed, then it can be determined by checking whether the upper basket 13 is in an extended position whether a collision situation is imminent, so that if the answer is yes, the actuator 25 is actuated , to bring the upper basket 13 into the retracted position. Correspondingly, a sensor 23 and an actuator 25 are also provided for the lower basket 12, which are signal-coupled to the control device 22 (in figure 5 indicated by dashed lines). The actuator 25 includes an electromagnet, for example. Furthermore, the actuator 25 can be designed as any motor, in particular an electric motor.

If the opening angle α falls below a threshold value, with the upper basket 13 being in an extended position at the same time, a return mechanism is automatically activated and the upper basket 13 is pulled back into the receiving area 2 before the door 3 and the upper basket 13 collide. Furthermore, the retraction device 15 is set up to move the upper basket 13 from the retracted position into the extended position. When an opening movement of the door 3 is detected, the upper basket 13 can be automatically moved out of the receiving area 2 in order to facilitate loading of the upper basket 13 .

the 6 shows a fourth embodiment of the domestic dishwasher 1. In contrast to figure 5 the sensor 24 is designed as an inclinometer. the Inclinometer 24 is arranged inside the door 3 . Furthermore, the sensor 23 includes a light barrier. The light barrier 23 is arranged within a plane B arranged parallel to the rear wall 9 . The distance between plane B and the rear wall 9 roughly corresponds to a length L of the upper basket 13. An extended position of the upper basket 13 can thus be reliably detected over the entire length L of the upper basket 13 with the aid of the light barrier 23.

It is understood that all in Figures 1 to 3 Features shown also in Fig. 5 or 6 can be formed and vice versa.

Although the present invention has been described using exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many ways.

Reference signs used

1

domestic dishwasher

2

recording area

3

door

4

washing chamber

5

pivot axis

6

wall

7

floor

8th

ceiling

9

back panel

10

Side wall

11

Side wall

12

lower basket

13

upper basket

14

cutlery drawer

15

retraction device

16

sensor

17

measurement object

18

inside

19

outside

21

inside

22

control device

23

sensor

24

sensor

25

actuator

26

measurement object

A

Extraction direction (arrow)

B

level

E

Insertion direction (arrow)

L

length

S

air gap, distance

a

opening angle

Claims (14)

1. Household dishwasher (1) with a door (3) and a receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14), wherein the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) is configured to move automatically as a function of a movement of the door (3), characterised by a third sensor (16), which is configured to detect an approach of the door (3) to the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14).
2. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) is moveable to prevent a collision with the door (3).
3. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised by a retracting apparatus (15) which is configured to move the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) from a pulled-out position into a pushed-in position.
4. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 3, characterised in that the retracting apparatus (15) is configured to move the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) from the pushed-in position into the pulled-out position.
5. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 3 or 4, characterised in that the retracting apparatus (15) is configured to move the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) with the aid of spring force and/or a magnetic force.
6. Household dishwasher (1) according to one of claims 3 to 5, characterised in that the retracting device (15) has an actuator (25) which is fed with energy external to the appliance, which is configured to move the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14).
7. Household dishwasher (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a first sensor (23) for the detection of a position of the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14).
8. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 7, characterised in that the first sensor (23) comprises a light barrier and/or a proximity sensor.
9. Household dishwasher (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a second sensor (24) for the detection of the movement of the door (3).
10. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that the second sensor (24) comprises a rotary encoder and/or a tilt angle gauge.
11. Household dishwasher (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised by a control apparatus (22), which is configured to control the moving of the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14).
12. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 9 and 11, characterised in that the control apparatus (22) controls the moving of the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) as a function of the movement of the door (3) detected by the second sensor (24).
13. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 7 and 12, characterised in that the control apparatus (22) controls the moving of the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) as a function of the position of the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) detected by the first sensor (23).
14. Household dishwasher (1) according to claim 11, characterised in that the control apparatus (22) controls the moving of the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) as a function of the approach of the door (3) to the receptacle for items to be washed (12, 13, 14) detected by the third sensor (16).

Images