WO2008065066A1

WO2008065066A1 - A dishwasher

Info

Publication number: WO2008065066A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/062802
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sefa Hazir; Kadir Ceran; Sinan Selcuk; Ahmet Ferit Cosan; Deniz Karabulut; Tolga Cirak; Hakan Tatar; Levent Akdag; Firdevs Basaran
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2006-11-29
Filing date: 2007-11-26
Publication date: 2008-06-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a dish rack (2) wherein dishes to be washed are placed, lifted for loading/unloading processes by means of an elevator (3), a rail (4) for pulling the lifted dish rack (2) sideways and an upper plate (5) connected to the dish rack (2) that constitutes the ceiling of the body (7) and rises and descends together with the dish rack (2).

Description

Description A DISHWASHER

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher.

[0002] In state of the art dishwashers that are placed under the counter, the dish racks rise to the level of the counter for loading and unloading processes providing easy loading and unloading of the dishes. The rack can rise to the level of the counter after the dishwasher top lid is opened by turning, folding or pulling to the side. Before opening the lid, the items on the counter or the lid have to be picked up.

[0003] In state of the art European Patent No EP1358835, the in-sink dishwasher comprises a wash chamber and a lid covering thereof. The lid is brought to the closed position by a strike latch on the lid engaging to a catch on the machine. When the lid is desired to be opened, the strike is pressed on and the lid opens automatically then the dish rack rises upwardly to the counter.

[0004] In state of the art United States of America Patent No US6095165, a dishwasher placed under the table top is described, comprising an access door that opens by sliding to the left and to the right to allow a pair of dishwasher racks to rise upwardly to the counter. The doors open to both sides during loading and unloading processes and the dish racks rise above the counter by means of the hydraulic system drive, sliding on the door wherein one pivots to the left and one pivots to the right.

[0005] In state of the art United States of America Patent No US3207167, a dishwasher placed under the counter is described wherein the dish racks rise to the countertop by being activated with the hydraulic cylinder system and move lengthwise on the counter and a manually openable door that is mounted to the device by hinges. The door is opened manually to the sides before the loading/unloading processes and the dish racks rise to the counter level.

[0006] In state of the art Japanese Patent No JP8112231, in the automatic dishwasher placed under the counter, the door is opened from the top by folding, the dish racks rise above the counter and move freely on the counter during loading and unloading.

[0007] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher wherein the area situated at the top can be used efficiently.

[0008] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the claims.

[0009] In the dishwasher of the present invention, the dish rack and the upper plate connected to the dish rack are lifted and lowered by an elevator actuated preferably by a motor. The lifted dish rack is pulled sideways upon reaching the upper position by means of the rail for loading and unloading the dishes. In the embodiment of the present invention, the upper plate is not opened to the sides or to the front and rear before the dish rack is lifted up and maintains its horizontal position as in the closed position. [0010] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher is placed below the counter used in kitchens and the upper plate of the dishwasher is seated on an opening formed on the counter. The upper plate rises upwards leaving this opening when lifted up and the dish rack moving together with the upper plate, passes through the opening to above the counter level.

[0011] In the embodiment of the present invention, the items on the counter do not have to be picked up before the dish rack is lifted up since the upper plate maintains the horizontal position while open, being at the same level with the counter when closed, thus providing convenience and ergonomics for the user.

[0012] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0013] Figure 1 - is the schematic view of the dishwasher of the present invention wherein the upper plate is in the closed position.

[0014] Figure 2 - is the schematic view of the dishwasher of the present invention wherein the upper plate is above and the dish rack is outside.

[0015] Figure 3 - is the schematic view of an upper plate, a dish rack and an elevator.

[0016] Figure 4 - is the schematic view of a dishwasher comprising a safety lid at the center of the upper plate.

[0017] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher

2. Dish rack

3. Elevator

4. Rail

5. Upper plate

6. Lid

7. Body

[0018] The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (7), at least one dish rack (2) disposed in the body (7) wherein dishes to be washed are placed, elevated upwards for the loading/ unloading processes, an elevator (3) for lifting up the dish rack (2), at least one rail (4) for moving the lifted dish rack (2) by pulling and an upper plate (5), that constitutes the ceiling of the body (7) when in the closed and lower position, that rises and descends together with the dish rack (2) maintaining its horizontal position as when in the closed and lower position.

[0019] In the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the horizontal position as in the closed position of the upper plate (5) does not change as it moves together with the dish rack (2), rising vertically, parallel to the base without moving to the left and right sides or to the frontward-rearward.

[0020] A sealing element such as a gasket is provided between the upper plate (5) and the body (7), peripherally encircling the upper plate (5) and when the upper plate (5) is seated on the body (7), the water in the body (7) is prevented from leaking out. [0021] In the dishwasher (1) the dish rack (2) and the upper plate (5) rise and descend by means of an elevator (3) actuated by the motor drive. The chassis forming the elevator (3) is connected to the dish rack (2) and the upper plate (5), moving upwards and downwards along guides disposed in the body (7).

[0022] The dish rack (2) rising together with the upper plate (5) is pulled out from under the upper plate (5) in the elevated position by means of the rail (4), thus the upper side of the dish rack (2) is opened and the dishes can be loaded or unloaded to the dish rack (2) from the top.

[0023] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) is disposed under the counter (T).

[0024] In this embodiment, the upper plate (5) in the closed and lower position is seated on an opening (A) formed on the counter (T) and is at the same level as the counter (T).

[0025] In this embodiment, the upper plate (5) leaves the opening (A) seated on while in the closed position when lifted upwards together with the dish rack (2) and rises above the counter (T) level maintaining its horizontal position. The lifted dish rack (2) goes above the counter (T) level by passing through the opening (A). The dish rack (2) rising above the counter (T) level is pulled over the counter (T) by means of the rail (4) and the dishes can be loaded or unloaded to the dish rack (2). Thus the loss of space on the counter (T) in kitchens due to the dishwashers (1) can be prevented.

[0026] In the dishwasher (1) furthermore a lid (6) disposed at the center of the upper plate (5) is utilized for access of the user to the dish rack (2) inside the body (7) and for loading or unloading the dishes in cases when the elevator (3) malfunctions or is not used.

[0027] In the dishwasher (1), the upper plate (5) rises together with the dish rack (2) maintaining the horizontal position of the closed position without the need for picking up the items on the upper plate (5) and the dishes are unloaded from the dish rack (2) or loaded into the dish rack (2). Consequently, the loss of space in kitchens due to the dishwasher (1) is prevented.

Claims

[0001] A dishwasher (1) comprising a body (7), at least one dish rack (2) disposed in the body (7) wherein dishes to be washed are placed, elevated upwards for the loading/unloading processes, an elevator (3) for lifting up the dish rack (2), and at least one rail (4) for moving the lifted dish rack (2) by pulling and characterized by an upper plate (5) that constitutes the ceiling of the body (7) when in the lower and closed position and rising and descending together with the dish rack (2) maintaining its horizontal position as in the lower and closed position.

[0002] A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by the dish rack (2) pulling outside from under the upper plate (5) by means of the rail (4) and the dishes can be loaded or unloaded to the dish rack (2) from the top of the dish rack (2) in the lifted up position.

[0003] A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1 or 2, characterized by being disposed under the counter (T).

[0004] A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 3, characterized by the upper plate (5) that is seated on an opening (A) formed on the counter (T) in the closed and lower position and being on the same level as the counter (T).

[0005] A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 3 and 4, characterized by the dish rack (2) that goes above the counter (T) level by passing through the opening (A) and is pulled over the counter (T) in the upper level by means of the rail (4).

[0006] A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized by a sealing element disposed between the upper plate (5) and the dish rack (2) that peripherally encircles the upper plate (5).