WO2016142122A1

WO2016142122A1 - Household appliance for washing items of laundry comprising a specifically designed sealing sleeve

Info

Publication number: WO2016142122A1
Application number: PCT/EP2016/052980
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcel Werner; Robert Alisch; Daniel Marckardt; Jürgen Hess
Original assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
Priority date: 2015-03-11
Filing date: 2016-02-12
Publication date: 2016-09-15
Also published as: DE102015204327A1; CN107407033A; DE112016001117A5; CN107407033B

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance (I) for washing items of laundry, comprising a housing (4) and an outer tub (6) arranged therein, and comprising an annular sealing sleeve (1), which is arranged on the housing (4) and on the outer tub (6), wherein the sealing sleeve (1) has a sealing lip (19) which rests against a door (16) that, when closed, extends through an annular opening that is limited by the sealing sleeve (1), and the lip is arranged on a base body (23) of the sealing sleeve (1), wherein the sealing lip (19) has a trap guard structure (24) for an item of laundry, the structure being in a length section of a lower circumferential length half (25), with respect to the circumferential direction of the ring shape of said lip.

Description

Household appliance for the care of laundry with a specially designed gasket

The invention relates to a household appliance for the care of laundry items, with a housing and a tub disposed therein and with an annular sealing sleeve, which is arranged on the housing and the tub. The gasket has a sealing lip which bears against a door which extends through a ring hole defined by the gasket in the closed state.

Such a configuration is known for example from DE 10 2010 062 590 A1. There is a trapping of laundry between the lip seal and an outer surface of the door can be avoided by the fact that the lip seal has a first, radially inwardly facing portion, which is followed by a second section, which extends substantially in the axial direction of the gasket and in Direction extending from the second end.

In addition to pinching, items of laundry can also be designed in such a way that, when the drum rotates, these trapped items of laundry subsequently twist and thereby at least partially enclose the sealing lip of the sealing collar. In a further rotation, this sealing lip can be damaged and even partially demolished.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a household appliance for the care of laundry items, in which damage to a sealing lip can be avoided by a trapped laundry.

This object is achieved by a household appliance according to the features of claim 1.

An inventive household appliance for the care of items of laundry comprises a housing and a tub disposed in the housing. Furthermore The household appliance comprises an annular sealing sleeve which is arranged on the housing and the tub. The gasket has a sealing lip. This is arranged adjacent to a door extending through a limited by the gasket annular hole in the closed state extending door. An essential idea of the invention is to be seen in the fact that this sealing lip has a catch protection structure for a piece of laundry in a longitudinal part of a lower circumferential length half in the circumferential direction of its ring shape. Thus, the sealing lip is designed in its design characterized in that it is specifically structured in a completely defined length in the circumferential direction of their ring shape that either catching a twisting laundry is avoided or at least when catching this length of the sealing lip by a piece of laundry damaging and in particular tearing is prevented. Since it is precisely in this lower circumferential length half when filling the drum with laundry jamming can occur in closing the door, it is essential, especially in this specific length part to take precautions to avoid the above problems. It is thus formed in the direction of rotation not rotationally symmetrical sealing lip. This embodiment achieves a substantial improvement in the above-mentioned problems. The sealing lip is in particular arranged integrally on a base body of the sealing sleeve.

Preferably, it is provided that the safety guard structure forms over a longitudinal part which extends over an angle segment between 10 ° and 140 °, in particular between 60 ° and 140 °, in particular between 90 ° and 140 °, in particular between 1 10 ° and 130 °, extends in the lower circulation half length. Especially this angle sector is particularly advantageous form with a safety guard structure, since it can come to the supernatant of the laundry items in this angle segment to fill the laundry drum and thereby pinching takes place at then closing door, through which it is in particular during subsequent rotation of the drum to a corresponding Twisting the laundry items and a possible catching of the sealing lip can come and a resulting destruction of the sealing lip is prevented. Preferably, the safety guard structure is symmetrical to a vertical axis passing through a center of the annular gasket

Seal formed, in particular formed with an angular segment of up to 60 ° on both sides of the vertical axis.

It is preferably provided that the safety guard structure has a thickening of the sealing lip in comparison to the design of the sealing lip outside the safety catch structure, and thus is at least partially formed as a thickening, in particular completely formed as a thickening. By such a configuration, a substantial stiffening of the sealing lip is achieved, which then also significantly higher attack forces, in particular tensile forces or rotational forces withstands.

Particularly preferably, the thickening may be formed only at one end of the sealing lip. That the sealing lip has in its course from the end facing the base body of the gasket cuff to the opposite end to a constant thickness. In particular, the thickness of the sealing lip in the region of the base body of the sealing sleeve end facing lower than in the region of the opposite end. In such an embodiment, the sealing force caused by the sealing lip can be adapted particularly well, at the same time avoiding damage to the sealing lip by the partial thickening.

In particular, the catch protection structure is integrated into the sealing lip, so that it can be manufactured easily manufactured. In particular, the number of components is reduced by this integral design and an always consistent positional arrangement of the safety guard structure on the gasket achieved.

It is preferably provided that the above-mentioned thickening, which forms the safety catch structure, is designed to be trapezoidal in the direction of rotation. Such a configuration also achieves a non-abrupt transition between the thickenings by the catch protection structure on the one hand and that region of the sealing lip which is formed without safety catch structure, as a result of which the tightness of the entire gasket and especially also at the transitions of the catch protection structure to the other areas the gasket is reached. Preferably, it is provided that the thickening is formed void-free and thus also designed massive. The abovementioned advantages are particularly favored in this embodiment of the catch protection structure. In one embodiment according to the first alternative, a higher torsional rigidity is achieved by a local thickening of the sealing lip in a defined critical area and the capture by twisting laundry items avoided or at least a robustness created, which then avoids destruction.

It is preferably provided that the catch protection structure is formed in a section perpendicular to the direction of rotation at least partially as a bump, in particular completely formed as a bump. In this embodiment, another geometry is selected, which also leads to increased stability of the sealing lip and withstand corresponding attack forces by laundry.

It is preferably provided that the bump has a waveform. By such a continuous, in particular corner-free shape design, the snagging of laundry items can be significantly reduced again and also the mechanical stability of the safety guard structure can be increased.

It is preferably provided that a wave peak of this specific shape of the safety guard structure facing the door. As a result, the contact area between a laundry item possibly jamming between the door and the safety guard structure is reduced, so that the possibility of catching the sealing lip in this safety guard structure area and twisting is also reduced.

It is preferably provided that this hump, which forms the safety guard structure at least partially, is hollow. This means that this mountain-shaped configuration, which represents in particular the wave-shaped course of the hump, is formed quasi by a collapsed or fanned shaping of the sealing lip, which otherwise over the contour of this hump shape preferably a same cross-sectional thickness over the entire length of this waveform having. On the one hand, this design saves material and, on the other hand, nevertheless achieves high stability.

It is preferably provided that the safety catch structure at least partially has a defined foldable sealing lip, which is in particular integrally arranged on a base body of the gasket and relative to this is folded down. In particular, the main body has a receiving depression into which the sealing lip is defined embedded in the folded-over state. By such an at least partially recessed arrangement of this relatively movable sealing lip attacking and catching the sealing lip can be at least significantly reduced by a twisting laundry even in the closed state of the door. By this embedded or recessed arrangement of the folded sealing lip embracing this sealing lip can be avoided by a twisting laundry item. Preferably, the sealing lip is arranged so that it is automatically folded by closing the door at least partially in this receiving recess of the body.

In all embodiments, in addition to the increased robustness of the sealing lip against trapping by garments continue to maintain the tightness of the structure associated with low opening and closing forces. Moreover, it is advantageous that this specifically designed sealing lip has sufficient elasticity reserves to compensate for device tolerances and makes an acceptably small contribution to the opening or closing forces.

By a local shortening of the sealing lip in the defined critical area, in addition to an increased torsional stiffness, even less attack surface for capturing by means of a twisting laundry item is made possible. The reduced tolerance reserve in the vertical direction can be compensated if necessary by better guidance of the door.

It is preferably provided that a non-abrupt, and thus to some extent over a certain other length part of the direction of rotation considered steadier and continuous transition between the safety guard structure and that region of the sealing lip, which has no safety guard structure is formed. As a result, the tightness of the entire gasket is kept particularly high. A continuous transition means, for example, in the case of a thickened sealing lip, a continuously changing and thus continuous or kink-free thickness change in the transition region between the safety guard structure and that region of the sealing lip without safety guard structure. Accordingly, this also applies to the other embodiments mentioned.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of the figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description, as well as the features and combinations of features mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown alone in the figures, can be used not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations or in isolation, without the frame to leave the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are to be regarded as encompassed and disclosed, which are not explicitly shown and explained in the figures, however, emerge and can be produced by separated combinations of features from the embodiments explained.

Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to schematic drawings. Show it:

1 shows a longitudinal section through a portion of an embodiment of a household appliance according to the invention for the care of laundry items.

FIG. 2 shows a simplified axial view of an exemplary embodiment of a sealing collar of the household appliance according to FIG. 1; FIG.

3 is an enlarged view of an embodiment of a sealing lip.

4 is a perspective sectional view of a further embodiment of a sealing lip; and Fig. 5 simplified sectional views through a further embodiment of a sealing lip in two different positions.

In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference numerals.

In Fig. 1, a household appliance I is shown, which is designed for the care of laundry and, for example, may be a washing machine or a washer-dryer. The domestic appliance I comprises a substantially hollow-cylindrical and annular sealing collar 1, which encloses a loading and unloading opening 2 radially. The loading and unloading 2 thus represents an annular hole through which laundry items can be passed through. In the direction of a horizontally oriented axis A, about which a drum that can be loaded with the laundry items, is rotatable, the gasket 1 is at a first end 3 to a front housing wall 4 of a housing of the household appliance I and at a second end 5 at fixed to a tub 6. For this purpose, the front housing wall 4 on a flanging 7, which is encompassed by a first circumferential bead 8. In an adjoining region, the sealing sleeve 1 has a cylindrical course and finally merges into a bellows 9. However, this is only to be understood as an example, and the gasket 1 can be designed otherwise in this respect.

By means of this exemplary bellows 9, the sealing collar 1 is designed to be so flexible that it can compensate for the movements of the tub 6 relative to the front housing wall 4 that occur during the washing process or during the spinning process for large amounts of laundry. In addition, a second bead 1 1 is provided at the second end 5 of the gasket 1, with which the gasket 1 is fixed to peripheral edges 10 and 12 of the tub 6. Within the tub 6 a rotating during a washing process or spin cycle laundry drum 13 is arranged, which takes over the function of a centrifugal drum during a spin operation and is fed from one end face through the ring hole arranged. From the second bead 1 1 extends in the longitudinal direction and thus in the direction of the axis A of the arrangement extending sealing blade 14 and extends to a flanged edge 15 of the laundry drum thirteenth

The household appliance I shown in FIG. 1 also has a bull's-eye-shaped door 16, which, as not shown in detail hinged on one side via a hinge on the front housing wall 4 and lockable on its opposite side relative to the front housing wall 4 is. The door 16 is preferably formed in regions of transparent glass. In this case, the door 16 has a frustoconical shell 17 and a circular bottom 18.

At the first end of the sealing sleeve 9, as can be seen in Fig. 1, a sealing lip 19 is formed. This sealing lip 19 is essentially inwardly from the first bead 8 in the radial direction and, when the door 16 is closed, bears in a sealing manner against an outer circumferential surface 21 of the door with a particularly flat annular bearing 20.

This sealing lip 19 is arranged integrally on a base body 23 of the sealing sleeve 1 and opens into this with a part 22nd

In Fig. 2, the sealing sleeve 1 is shown in a view along the axis A in a schematic representation. It can be seen that the annular configuration of the sealing collar 1 is designed so that viewed in the vertical direction and thus in the y direction of the household appliance I in a lower circumferential length half 25 of the entire circulation of the sealing sleeve 1 a catch protection structure 24 integrated into the sealing lip 19th is trained. This safety guard structure 24 is formed at least over a length of this circulating-length half 25, which thus forms over the lower 180 ° of the entire 360 ° of the sealing sleeve 1. In the exemplary embodiment, it is provided that the safety guard structure 24 forms over a longitudinal part of the lower circumferential length half 25, which measures over an angular segment between 1 10 ° and 130 °, in particular 120 °. In particular, the catch protection structure 24 is formed symmetrically to a vertical axis of the sealing collar 1, wherein the vertical axis through a center of the ring shape of Gasket 1 runs. On both sides of the vertical axis, the safety guard structure 24 is formed in each case over an angular segment of 60 °. It is formed a gasket 1, which is not rotationally symmetrical about the axis A in the direction of rotation.

In Fig. 3 is an embodiment of the sealing lip 19 in this lower circumferential length half 25 is shown in a perspective sectional view. It can be seen that the sealing lip 19 is formed with a side 19 a, which has the system 20 shown in FIG. 1, on the outer circumferential surface 21 for mechanical contacting. On a side 19b opposite thereto in the illustrated embodiment, a local thickening 26 is formed, which is trapezoidal in the direction of rotation about the axis A. The thickening 26 is thus formed over the angular segment of 120 °.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the sealing lip 19 in the region of the catch protection structure 24 in a further perspective sectional view. In contrast to the embodiment according to FIG. 3, it is provided here that the catch protection structure 24 is formed hump-like in a sectional view perpendicular to the direction of rotation about the axis A (circulation direction is thus perpendicular to the cutting plane) and according to the representation in FIG. 4 in the sectional plane Represents type waveform. This embodiment also makes it possible to form a local thickening, wherein a wave peak 27 rests against the outer circumferential surface 21.

In Fig. 5 is a schematic sectional view of a sealing lip 19 is shown, which is also arranged here in one piece on the base body 23 of the gasket 1 and relative to this defined folds down, as indicated by the arrows. Adjacent to the sealing lip 19, the base body 23 on a receiving recess 28, in which according to the lower illustration in Fig. 5, the sealing lip 19 defined folds and thus at least partially recessed or embedded therein. Starting from the illustration in the upper image in Fig. 5, in which the door 16 is not yet closed, the sealing lip 19 is then automatically folded at least partially when closing the door 16 and folded into the receiving recess 28 accordingly. A completely folded sealing lip 19 is indicated in the lower image in Fig. 5. Remains now when closing the door 16 between the door 16 and the sealing lip 19 in the region of the safety guard structure 24 laundry, which is thus easily clamped, the sealing lip 19 can fold even further into the receiving recess 28. Possibly trapped between the door 16 and the gasket 1 pieces of laundry can then even with rotating drum 13 and then generating Aufdrillung the laundry this sealing lip 19 does not catch and thus not damage, as in a collapsed sealing lip 19, the plant 20 forming side 19 a the sealing lip 19 can no longer be detected by the twisting laundry. Furthermore, the laundry can be easily pulled over the folded sealing lip 19 in the drum interior. After the laundry has been drawn into the interior of the drum, for example, by the drum rotation, the sealing lip 19 at least partially folds out of the receiving recess 28 due to its restoring force and the side 19a can again form the system 20 on the door 16 in order to provide the sealing effect of the sealing lip 19 ,

The same applies to the embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 4. In particular, the catch protection structure 24 can also be formed by a combination of the region-wise thickening 26 of the sealing lip 19 and the receiving recess 28 formed in this region.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

I home appliance

1 gasket

2 loading and unloading

3 first end

4 housing wall

5 second end

6 tubs

7 beading

8 first bead

9 bellows

10 edge

1 1 second bead

12 second bead

13 washing drum

14 sealing lamella

15 flanged edge

16 door

17 coat

18 floor

19 sealing lip

19a page

19b page

20 attachment

21 outer circumferential surface

22 part

23 basic body

24 Fishing protection structure

25 lower circulation length half

26 thickening

27 wave peaks

28 receiving recess A axis

Claims

1. Household appliance (I) for the care of laundry, with a housing (4) and a tub disposed therein (6), and with an annular sealing sleeve (1) which on the housing (4) and the tub (6) is arranged in that the sealing collar (1) has a sealing lip (19) which rests against a door (16) which extends through a ring hole defined by the sealing collar (1) in the closed state and is arranged on a base body (23) of the sealing collar (1) characterized in that the sealing lip (19) has a catch protection structure (24) for a piece of laundry in a longitudinal part of a circulating length half (25) which is lower in the circumferential direction of its ring shape.

2. Household appliance (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the safety guard structure (24) forms over a longitudinal part, which is in an angular segment between 10 ° and 140 °, in particular between 1 10 ° and 130 °, in the lower half-length (25) trains.

3. Household appliance (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the safety guard structure (24) symmetrical to a through a center of the annular gasket (1) extending vertical axis of the gasket (1) is formed, in particular with an angular segment of up to 60th ° on both sides of the vertical axis is formed.

4. Household appliance (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the catch protection structure (24) has a thickening (26) of the sealing lip (19) compared to the design of the sealing lip (19) outside of the catch protection structure (24).

5. Household appliance (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the thickening (26) viewed in the circumferential direction of the annular shape of the sealing sleeve (1) to the opposite ends is formed in each case with a continuously reducing thickness, in particular is formed trapezoidal.

6. Household appliance (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the thickening (26) in its course from on the base body (23) of the sealing sleeve (1) facing the end to the opposite end has a different thickness.

7. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the thickening (24) is void-free.

8. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the catch protection structure (24) is formed in a section perpendicular to the direction of rotation of the annular shape of the sealing sleeve (1) as a bump.

9. Household appliance (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the bump has a waveform.

10. Household appliance (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that a wave peak (27) of the door (16) faces.

1 1. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 8 to 10, characterized in that the hump is hollow.

12. Household appliance (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the catch protection structure (24) is a defined foldable sealing lip (19), which is arranged on the base body (23) of the sealing sleeve (1) and can be folded relative thereto is, wherein the base body (23) has a receiving recess (28), in which the sealing lip (19) is arranged embedded in the folded state.

13. Household appliance (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the sealing lip (19) is arranged so that it by the closing of the door (16) automatically at least partially in the receiving recess (28) is folded down.