WO2015165606A1

WO2015165606A1 - A dishwasher comprising an elevating means

Info

Publication number: WO2015165606A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/053591
Authority: WO
Inventors: Mehmet MUTLUDOGAN; Osman Cengiz; Ersin Donmez; Emre AYAROGLU; Urfet DEMIRKAN
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2014-04-30
Filing date: 2015-02-20
Publication date: 2015-11-05

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2) having two side walls (3); a door (4) providing access into the body (2); a rack (5) whereon the items to be washed are placed, having a washing position wherein the rack (5) is entirely inside the body (2) and a loading/unloading position wherein the rack (5) is almost entirely outside the body (2), and an elevating means (6) that enables the position of the rack (5) to be changed in the vertical direction in the loading/unloading position and that has more than one slider (7), each disposed oppositely on the side walls (3), moving in the vertical direction.

Description

A DISHWASHER COMPRISING AN ELEVATING MEANS

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising an elevating means.

In dishwashers, racks are used wherein the items to be washed are placed. The user can perform the loading/unloading operation by pulling forward the rack. In dishwashers comprising more than one rack, when changed to loading/unloading position, the lower rack is balanced on the door that opens forward by rotating around a horizontal axis. The user has to bend in order to perform the loading/unloading operation to the lower rack that is relatively at the lower position. This situation causes the users to be strained and to have backaches. In order to solve this problem, the state of the art elevating means are used. The elevating means comprise embodiments like switch mechanisms wherein the rack is lifted from below, suspension mechanisms wherein the rack is lifted by arms in the body, and rail mechanisms wherein the rack is lifted from the rear by the rails disposed on the side walls. In systems with sliders, retaining means disposed on the slider are used in order for the rack to be grasped and held by the elevating means. In systems with sliders disposed on the side wall close to the door, the retaining means can prevent the door from closing. Moreover, the retaining means can be broken due to causes such as impact while the items washed/to be washed are placed or children playing and results in maintenance cost for the user.

In the state of the art European Patent Application No. EP1744656, a dishwasher is disclosed wherein the retainer supports that support the basket are opened and closed by being actuated with a lifting means.

In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2007035220, a dishwasher is disclosed comprising a basket that is lifted by the arms engaged with the side walls by making a swinging motion.

In the state of the art United States Patent Application No. US2003042825, a dishwasher is disclosed wherein the height adjustment of the rack is made by moving upwards – downwards the telescopic rail bearings whereon the rack is mounted.

The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher comprising an elevating means wherein the retaining means for holding the rack does not prevent the door from closing.

The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention, explicated in the first claim and the respective claims thereof, comprises a body having two side walls; a rack having a washing position wherein the items to be washed are placed and wherein the rack is entirely inside the body and a loading/unloading position wherein the rack is outside of the body, and an elevating means that enables the rack to move upwards/downwards vertically when in the loading/unloading position and that has more than one slider, each disposed oppositely on the side walls and moving upwards/downwards, and at least one retaining means that is disposed on the slider, having a closed position wherein it is coplanar with the side wall surface and an open position wherein it extends from the side walls into the body, holding the rack while in the open position. The retaining means holding the rack is not immobile on the slider and becomes coplanar with the side wall by being changed to the closed position when not in use. Thus, the retaining means does not prevent the user from loading/unloading the rack and the door of the dishwasher closes without problems.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the retaining means changes between the closed position and open position depending on the movement of the door. When the door is opened, the retaining member changes to the open position by being actuated by the movement of the door and the user can raise the rack vertically by attaching the rack to the retaining means. When the door is closed, the retaining means changes to the closed position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means comprises an extension that is disposed on the inner surface of the door and that extends towards the interior of the body during movement of the door, an arm that is disposed on the slider and that can move vertically upon contact by the extension and the retaining means, one end of which is connected to the arm, changing between the closed position and open position by rotating with the movement of the arm. The retaining means is connected to the arm from one end and can rotate around the point of connection. The retaining means extends parallel to the arm in the closed position and rotates to make a 90 degree angle with the arm in the open position. When the door is opened, the extension pushes the arm upwards and the retaining means rotates with effect of inertia and changes from the closed position to the open position. When the door is closed, the arm moves downwards and the retaining means changes to the closed position again.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means comprises a first pinion that is disposed on the arm and a second pinion that is disposed on the retaining means, that is rotated by the first pinion during the vertical movement of the arm and that enables the retaining means to change between the closed position and open position. When the arm moves upwards by being pushed by the extension, the retaining means rotates and changes from the closed position to the open position by means of the first pinion and the second pinion, and when the arm moves downwards, the retaining means changes from the open position to the closed position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means comprises a spring that is disposed on the slider and that enables the retaining means to remain in the closed position. The retaining means is always tried to be kept in the closed position by the spring. When the slider moves upwards upon the operation of the elevating means, when the rack is not grasped or when there is no weight on the retaining means, the spring enables the retaining means to change to the closed position and the retaining means is protected against breakage.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the spring, one end attached to the arm, the other end to the slider, enables the retaining means to remain in the closed position by pulling or pushing the arm downwards.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the spring, with one end being attached to the retaining means, the other end to the slider, enables the retaining means to be kept always in the closed position. When the slider moves upwards while the retaining means is in the open position, and when there is no weight on the retaining means, the spring changes the retaining means to the closed position by pulling.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means comprises a pusher that is disposed inside the body, that extends between the extension and the arm so as to rotate around one of its ends and that transmits the movement of the extension to the arm. The pusher is attached to the interior of the body from one end and can rotate around the point of attachment. Thanks to the pusher, the rotational movement of the extension is transmitted as a linear motion to the arm which can be configured as a straight rod.

In the dishwasher of the present invention, the retaining means holding the rack from the sides does not hinder the user by being coplanar with the side wall. In addition, the retaining means changes to the open position as the door opens and changes to the closed position when the door is closed. The elevating means is enabled to operate more safely by means of the retaining means opening and closing depending on the movement of the door.

The model embodiments relating to the dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention are illustrated in the attached figures, where:

Figure 1 – is the perspective view of a dishwasher related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 – is another perspective view of a dishwasher related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3 – is the enlarged view of detail A in Figure 2.

Figure 4 – is the perspective view of a slider related to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 5 – is the exploded view of a slider, the retaining means, the spring and the arm related to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 – is the cross-sectional view of the slider, the retaining means, the arm and the spring when the retaining means is in the closed position related to an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 7 – is the cross-sectional view of the slider, the retaining means, the arm and the spring while the retaining means changes to the open position related to an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 8 – is the cross-sectional view of the slider, the retaining means, the arm and the spring while the retaining means is in the open position related to an embodiment of the present invention

The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher

2. Body

3. Side wall

4. Door

5. Rack

6. Elevating means

7. Slider

8. Retaining means

9. Extension

10. Arm

11. First pinion

12. Second pinion

13. Spring

14. Pusher

The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2) having two side walls (3); a door (4) providing access into the body (2); a rack (5) whereon the items to be washed are placed, having a washing position wherein the rack (5) is entirely inside the body (2) and a loading/unloading position wherein the rack (5) is almost entirely outside the body (2), and an elevating means (6) that enables the position of the rack (5) to be changed in the vertical direction in the loading/unloading position and that has more than one slider (7), each disposed oppositely on the side walls (3), moving in the vertical direction.

The elevating means (6) of the present invention comprises at least one retaining means (8) that is disposed on the slider (7), that holds the rack (5) when in the open position and that has a closed position wherein it is coplanar with the side wall (3) and an open position wherein it extends from the side wall (3) to the interior of the body (2).

In the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the door (4) opens forwards by rotating so that its lower side is the rotational axis. The rack (5) is pulled forwards from the washing position and changed to the loading/unloading position wherein it is supported by the open door (4). The lowest position of the slider (7) in the vertical position is at the same level with the rack (5) in the loading/unloading position. The retaining means (8) in the open position extends into the body (2) so as to be perpendicular to the side wall (3). The rack (5), held from its sides, changes position in the vertical direction as the slider (7) is moved upwards-downwards. The rack (5) is changed to the washing position again by being changed to the loading/unloading position and then being pushed into the body (2). The retaining means (8) is prevented from breaking by the impact of any object by changing the retaining means to the closed position wherein it is coplanar with the side wall (3).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the retaining means (8) is at the closed position when the door (4) is closed and as the door (4) opens, changes from the closed position to the open position. In this embodiment, when the door (4) is opened, the retaining means (8) changes from the closed position to the open position by being actuated depending on the movement of the door (4). The rack (5) is changed to the loading/unloading position and is attached to the retaining means (8) that is changed to the open position by the driving of the door (4). The rack (5) that is held from its sides is moved in the vertical direction by the elevating means (6). When the rack (5) in the loading/unloading position is desired to be changed to the washing position, the rack (5) is pushed backwards in the horizontal axis and released from the retaining means (8). When the door (4) is closed, the retaining means (8) changes from the open position to the closed position and does not prevent the door (4) from closing. By means of this embodiment, the retaining means (8) is opened/closed by the movement of the door (4) without requiring user intervention.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means (6) comprises an extension (9) that is disposed on the inner surface of the door (4) and that moves by the movement of the door (4) and extends into the body (2), and an arm (10) that is disposed on the slider (7) and that moves in the vertical direction as the extension (9) pushes during movement of the door (10), and one end of the retaining means (8) is connected to the arm (10) and rotates around the point of connection by the movement of the arm (10) and changes between the open position and the closed position. While the slider (7) is at the lowest level, the extension (9) moves towards the interior of the body (2) as the door (4) opens, pushes the arm (10) and enables the arm (10) to move upwards in the vertical direction. While the arm (10) is at the lower level, the retaining means (8) extends in the same direction as the arm (10) and is in the closed position so as to be inside the slider (7). When the arm (10) is pushed upwards by the extension (9), the retaining means (8) rotates and changes to the open position wherein it extends into the body (2) so as to be perpendicular to the arm (10). The retaining means (8) changing to the open position enables the rack (5) to be held from the sides. While the door (4) is closed, the contact of the extension (9) with the arm (10) is interrupted, the arm (10) moves downwards by the effect of gravity and the retaining means (8) starts rotating by contacting the slider (7) from the lower side and changes to the closed position by entering into the slider (7). The retaining means (8) changes to the closed position wherein it is coplanar with the side wall (3) by rotating.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means (6) comprises a first pinion (11) that is disposed on the arm (10) and a second pinion (12) that is disposed on the retaining means (8), that rotates on the first pinion (11) during the vertical movement of the arm (10) and that enables the retaining means (8) to change between the closed position and open position. In this embodiment, the arm (10) that moves upwards with the pushing of the extension (9), changes the retaining means (8) to the open position by means of the interlocked first pinion (11) and the second pinion (12) and when the arm (10) moves downwards, the retaining means (8) changes to the closed position.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means (6) comprises a spring (13) that is disposed on the slider (7) and that enables the retaining means (8) to be kept in the closed position by pushing or pulling the arm (10) downwards. The spring (13) forces the retaining means (8) to remain in the closed position by enabling the arm (10) to be pushed or pulled downwards continuously. When the door (4) is opened and the extension (9) pushes the arm (10) upwards, the spring (13) is compressed or stretched and the retaining means (8) changes to the open position. When the slider (7) moves upwards and when the rack (5) or any other weight does not press on the retaining means (8), the spring (13) enables the retaining means (8) to change to the closed position by pulling or pushing the arm (10) downwards. When the rack (5) is held by the retaining means (8), the weight of the rack (5) exceeds the compression/stretching force of the spring (13) and the retaining means (8) remains in the open position. By means of this embodiment, when the slider (7) is changed to a position other than the lowest position, without a pressure on the retaining means (8), the retaining means (8) changes to the closed position by means of the spring (13) and is prevented from breaking due to impact of an object or playing of the children.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the spring (13) is connected to the arm (10) from one end and to the slider (7) from the other end. The spring (13) can be connected to any region of the slider (7) since it can exert force both when compressed and when stretched. The spring (13), connected to the lower side of the slider (7), pulls the arm (10) downwards by the force originating from stretching and the spring (13) connected to the upper side of the slider (7) pushes the arm (10) downwards with the force originating from compression.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the spring (13) is connected to the retaining means (8) from one end and to the slider (7) from the other end. The retaining means (8) has the tendency to always remain closed by being pulled by the spring (13). By means of the extension (9) that pushes the arm (10) upwards by the opening movement of the door (4), the spring (13) is stretched and the retaining means (8) changes to the open position from the closed position. The retaining means (8) can remain in the open position when a weight is placed on the retaining means (8) that exceeds the force exerted by the spring (13).

In an embodiment of the present invention, the elevating means (6) comprises a pusher (14) that is disposed inside the body (2), that extends between the extension (9) and the arm (10) and that transmits the movement of the extension (9) to the arm (10). While the door (4) opens by rotating, the extension (10) draws an arc by rotating. The pusher (14) extends over the extension (9) so as to rotate around a point of rotation and is in continuous contact with the extension (9) during rotation of the extension (9). While the extension (9) moves along the arc during rotation, the pusher (14) also rotates. The pusher (14) transmits the movement received from the extension (9) to the arm (10) by supporting the arm (10) from below during the rotational movement.

In the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the retaining means (8) that is coplanar with the side wall (3) when the elevating means (6) not in use, do not occupy space inside the body (2) and do not prevent the door (4) from closing. Moreover, the retaining means (8) changes to the open position as the door (4) is opened and the user does not have to intervene in the retaining means (8) when the elevating means (6) is desired to be used. By means of the retaining means (8) changing to the closed position as the door (4) is closed, food residues are prevented from accumulating thereon.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2) having two side walls (3); a door (4) providing access into the body (2); a rack (5) whereon the items to be washed are placed, having a washing position wherein the rack (5) is entirely inside the body (2) and a loading/unloading position wherein the rack (5) is almost entirely outside the body (2), and an elevating means (6) that enables the position of the rack (5) to be changed in the vertical direction in the loading/unloading position and that has more than one slider (7), each disposed oppositely on the side walls (3), moving in the vertical direction, characterized in that at least one retaining means (8) that is disposed on the slider (7), that holds the rack (5) when in the open position and that has a closed position wherein it is coplanar with the side wall (3) and an open position wherein it extends from the side wall (3) to the interior of the body (2).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means (8) that is at the closed position when the door (4) is closed and as the door (4) opens, changes from the closed position to the open position.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that an extension (9) that is disposed on the inner surface of the door (4) and that moves by the movement of the door (4) and extends into the body (2), an arm (10) that is disposed on the slider (7) and that moves in the vertical direction as the extension (9) pushes during movement of the door (10), and the retaining means (8), one end of which is connected to the arm (10) and that rotates around the point of connection by the movement of the arm (10) and changes between the open position and the closed position.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 3, characterized in that a first pinion (11) that is disposed on the arm (10) and a second pinion (12) that is disposed on the retaining means (8), that rotates on the first pinion (11) during the vertical movement of the arm (10) and that enables the retaining means (8) to change between the closed position and open position.
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that a spring (13) that is disposed on the slider (7) and that enables the retaining means (8) to be kept in the closed position.
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 5 characterized in that the spring (13), one end of which is connected to the arm (10) and the other end to the slider (7).
A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 5, characterized in that the spring (13), one end of which is connected to the retaining means (8), the other end to the slider (7).
A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above claims, characterized in that a pusher (14) that is disposed inside the body (2), that extends between the extension (9) and the arm (10) and that transmits the movement of the extension (10) to the arm (11).