WO2018202368A1

WO2018202368A1 - A dishwasher comprising a basket

Info

Publication number: WO2018202368A1
Application number: PCT/EP2018/058281
Authority: WO
Inventors: Furkan BAYAV; Yusuf Koc; Mehmet Kaya; Ersin Donmez; Ayse KIZILDEMIR
Original assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
Priority date: 2017-05-03
Filing date: 2018-03-30
Publication date: 2018-11-08
Also published as: EP3618682A1; TR201706492A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a dishwasher (1) comprising a washing tub (2) and at least one basket (3) placed in the washing tub (2), on which the dishes to be washed are disposed.

Description

A DISHWASHER COMPRISING A BASKET

The present invention relates to a dishwasher comprising a basket in which the dishes to be washed are disposed.

In dishwashers, in addition to chemical washing provided with cleaning agents such as detergent, washing process is also performed by physical washing by means of hot water sprayed on the dishes. Physical washing is preformed by water ejection enabled by the spray arms or the nozzles provided in the dishwasher. The water coming from the spray arms or the nozzles hit the dishes at a constant angle and the dirt on the dishes are thus removed. Sending the water on the dishes at a constant angle hinders the washing effectiveness from being maximized. When nozzles are used facing varying directions so as to enable water to be ejected on the dishes in varying angles, the flow rate and the pressure of water decreases, and thus the washing effectiveness cannot be enhanced.

State of the art European patent application no. EP1136030 discloses a dishwasher having a basket tilted together with its spray arm provided below thereon.

State of the art European patent application no. EP2449949 discloses a dishwasher and describes the method for coupling a water line provided on a basket capable of being tilted, whose height is adjustable.

The aim of the present invention is to realize a dishwasher in which water is directed in a better manner to the dishes disposed in a basket.

The dishwasher realized to achieve the aim of the present invention and disclosed in the claims comprises a tilting mechanism enabling the basket provided in the washing tub, on which the dishes to be washed are placed, to be shifted to an inclined position with respect to the base of the washing tub by enabling the basket to be raised from at least one corner or side. The tilting mechanism enables the basket to be moved in vertical axis during washing or drying processes, by pushing it from the bottom or by raising it from top. The basket has a level position in which it is parallel to the washing tub, and an inclined position in which it is inclined. The tilting mechanism can shift the basket from the level position to the inclined position by raising it, or can shift the basket from the inclined position to the level position by lowering it. As can be seen in the below-disclosed embodiments, the basket can be tilted, swung or vibrated by means of the tilting mechanism. By moving the basket in varying axes as disclosed, the scanning area of the water sprayed on the dishes increases indirectly, or in other terms, water is enabled to reach the locations which are not reachable in cases where the basket is parallel to the base of the washing tub.

In an embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher comprises a control unit controlling the tilting mechanism and thereby enhancing the washing effectiveness by continuously swinging the basket upon beginning of the washing process, between the position in which it is inclined and the level position in which it is parallel to the base of the washing tub. In this embodiment, the mechanical washing effect provided by water is enhanced.

In another version of this embodiment, by controlling the tilting mechanism, the control unit enables two opposite sides of the basket to be raised and lowered in turns and thus the basket to be swung just like a cradle. By this, the water sprayed on the dishes is enabled to be sprayed on the dishes so as to make a positive and negative angle about the right angle, with the aim of enabling water to reach the regions which it cannot otherwise, to hit on the dishes in varying angles, and thus to enhance washing effectiveness. In this embodiment, the tilting mechanism can raise the basket from its four corners/sides independent of each other, and the control unit controls the tilting mechanism so as to enable the sprayed water to hit on the dishes in angle combinations of a far greater number than the angle combinations a nozzle with a movable head can provide, and the water to come in contact with far greater surfaces.

In another embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher comprises an elevation sensor enabling measuring the elevations of the dishes disposed on the basket with respect to a reference point, and the control unit determines the elevation to which the tilting mechanism will raise the basket according to the level of the dishes on the highest elevation by means of data received from the elevation sensor. This embodiment aims to prevent the dishes from colliding the basket or the spray arm due to raising of the basket by the tilting mechanism in cases where a second basket or spray arm is provided in the washing tub.

In another version of this embodiment, the control unit enables the dishes to be raised to the maximum elevation in which they don't collide the other basket or spray arm by controlling the tilting mechanism according to data received from the elevation sensor. The oscillation angle about the right angle made by the water sprayed on the dishes is thus maximized.

In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit enables the water on the dishes to be drained more rapidly by operating the tilting mechanism also during drying process. By this, the water collected after washing on the upper surfaces of wide dishes having a depth is also discharged.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tilting mechanism comprises a thermo-actuator enabling when energized, the springs provided within to be heated, their lengths to expand due to heating, and the pin provided at the end of a spring to be moved forwards. Since in the thermo-actuator movement is provided by expanding of the lengths of the springs due to heating, the basket can be raised smoothly, thereby preventing the dishes in the basket from making noise and from being broken as a result of this movement. Likewise, since cooling of the springs takes a relatively long time, the dishes are prevented from being damaged when the basket is being lowered.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tilting mechanism comprises a jack enabling the basket to be raised hydraulically. The movement of the basket is thus controlled in a sensitive manner, and the dishes are prevented from making noise or being broken due to rocking, as mentioned above.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tilting mechanism is positioned so as to be below the basket in the washing tub. In this embodiment, the basket is raised by being pushed from its lower portion. By this, the tilting mechanism is prevented from occupying space on the basket, making it unnecessary to reduce the volume used for the dishes

In the dishwasher of the invention, performance of both washing and drying processes is enhanced by means of the tilting mechanism enabling the basket to be moved in several ways on the vertical plane. By increasing the scanning area of the water sprayed on the dishes and making it hit on the dishes in further varying angles, the mechanical washing effect is enhanced, and the same effect is provided also with colder water, thereby saving energy.

The dishwasher realized to achieve the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial schematic view of a dishwasher.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the basket in an inclined position in an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the basket in an embodiment of the invention, with the basket completely raised.

Figure 4 is a schematic view of the basket in an embodiment of the invention, with the basket partially raised.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the basket and the tilting mechanism in an embodiment of the invention.

The elements in the figures are numbered individually and the correspondence of these numbers are given hereinafter.

Dishwasher
Washing tub
Basket
Tilting mechanism
Control unit
Level sensor
Spray arm
Water line

The dishwasher (1) comprises a washing tub (2) and at least one basket (3) placed in the washing tub (2), on which the dishes to be washed are disposed. Washing process is preformed in the washing tub (2). The dishes to be washed are placed in the basket (3). The dishwasher (1) further comprises a spray arm (7) provided in the washing tub (2) preferably on the basket (3), and a water line (8) enabling transmitting water to the spray arm (7).

The dishwasher (1) of the invention comprises a tilting mechanism (4) provided in the washing tub (2), enabling the basket (3) to rest in an angled position with respect to the base of the washing tub (2) by raising the basket (3) from at least one corner or side. The tilting mechanism (4) is preferably provided below the basket (3), and enables raising the basket (3) by moving upwards. However, in different embodiments of the invention, the tilting mechanism (4) is provided above the basket (3), and is able to enable the basket (3) to rest in an angled position with respect to the base of the washing tub (2) by pulling a side/corner of the basket (3) upwards. The tilting mechanism (4) is preferred to be below the basket (3) due to the space/volume problem arising from placement of the dishes to be washed on the basket (3) in the washing tub (2). The tilting mechanism (4) enables the basket (3) to take an inclined position by pushing/pulling the basket (3) from at least one corner or side. By this, i.e. by the basket (3) being tiltable, the water sprayed during washing process from the lower portion of the basket (3) towards the dishes, reaches also diverse portions of the dishes in the basket (3), enhancing mechanical washing performance.

In an embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a control unit (5) enabling by controlling the tilting mechanism (4), the basket (3) to be continuously tilted upon beginning of the washing process through raising and lowering the basket (3) from at least one corner/side. The control unit (5) controls the tilting mechanism (4) by sending signals, enabling the basket (3) to be raised from its side/corner, and the raised basket (3) to be brought to its earlier/initial position again. In this embodiment, upon beginning of the washing process, the tilting mechanism (4) is continuously operated by the commands of the control unit (5) for alternatingly raising and lowering the basket (3) from one corner/side, enabling the water sprayed on the dishes to reach diverse regions/locations.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tilting mechanism (4) enables the basket (3) to be raised at four corners/sides independent of each other, and the control unit (5) enables the basket (3) to be periodically tilted to the front and back or to the right and left by enabling during washing process any two opposite sides of the basket (3) to be first raised and then lowered respectively. The tilting mechanism (4) comprises members provided on the basket (3) at four corners, or preferably at the middle points of the sides, enabling the basket (3) to be raised, and the related side/corner of the basket (3) is raised by the member provided on consecutive corners pushing/pulling the basket (3) upwards, and the same side is also raised by the member provided on the middle point of said side pulling/pushing the basket (3) upwards. In this embodiment, the basket (3) is swung by being raised respectively from both opposite sides during washing process, increasing the scanning area of the water sprayed on the dishes. In addition, thanks to the tilting mechanism (4) being capable of raising the basket (3) from its four corners/sides independent of each other, the control unit (4) has numerous combinations it can perform by using the tilting mechanism (4), thereby providing the best washing performance for varieties of dishes having varying properties.

In another embodiment of the invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises an elevation sensor (6) enabling measuring the elevations of the dishes placed in the basket (3), and the control unit (5) determines the elevation to which the basket (3) will be raised by the tilting mechanism (4) according to data received from the elevation sensor (6). The elevation sensor (6) measures the highest elevation the dishes loaded in the basket (3) can reach according to a reference point such as the base of the washing tub (2), and transmits this information to the control unit (5). In cases where a second basket (3) or a spray arm (7) enabling spraying water on the dishes is provided above the basket (3) in the washing tub (2), the elevations of these components with respect to the reference point are saved to the memory of the control unit (5), and the control unit (5) determines the elevation provided by the tilting mechanism (4) such that the dishes do not collide the other basket (3) or the spray arm (7) when the basket (3) is raised by the tilting mechanism (4). For example, when the elevation of the dishes in the basket (3) with respect to the reference point is x, and the elevation of a spray arm (7) provided above the basket (3) is y, the control unit (5) enables the basket (3) to be raised by the tilting mechanism (4) up to a distance of y-x, in other terms up to the length of the space in between, thereby preventing the dishes from colliding the spray arm (7) when the basket (3) is raised.

In a version of this embodiment, the control unit (5) determines the maximum elevation to which the basket (3) can be raised by the tilting mechanism (4), according to data received from the elevation sensor (6), and enables the tilting mechanism (4) to raise the basket (3) up to the maximum elevation. With this embodiment, the basket (3) is tilted with the greatest angle possible with respect to the base of the washing tub (2), maximizing the scanning area of the water sprayed on the dishes. The sprayed water is enabled to reach almost all points of the dishes and the impact angle of the water on the dishes is varied to the maximum extent by tilting the basket (3) with the greatest angle possible.

In another embodiment of the invention, the control unit (5) enables the tilting mechanism (4) to be operated during drying process, and the basket (3) to be tilted by being raised and lowered from at least one corner/side. In this embodiment, similar to enhancing the mechanical washing effect in the washing process, the water droplets resting on the washed dishes are drained more rapidly by tilting the basket (3). In addition, water collected on the upper surfaces of dishes having depth such as pots, is removed by means of tilting process, enhancing the drying performance of the dishwasher (1).

In another embodiment of the invention, the tilting mechanism (4) comprises at least one thermo-actuator (not shown in the figures) enabling the basket (3) to be raised. By applying electrical energy to the thermo-actuator, the springs provided within are enabled to expand by being heated, and the pin provided on the end portion of the springs is pushed upwards/downwards. The end portion linearly translates by the pin being extracted forwards. The linear movement of the end portion of the thermo-actuator enables the basket (3) to be raised from its side/corner and the basket (3) to rest angled with respect to the base.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tilting mechanism (4) comprises at least one hydraulic jack (not shown in the figures) enabling the basket (3) to be raised. The linear movement of the hydraulic jack similar to that of the thermo-actuator, enables the basket (3) to become inclined with respect to the base. By using hydraulic jack in raising the basket (3) from its side/corner, the raising/lowering of the basket (3) can be performed in a sensitive manner, thereby preventing the dishes in the basket (3) from making noise and being broken by colliding each other.

In another embodiment of the invention, the tilting mechanism (4) is provided on the base of the washing tub (2). As mentioned above, with this embodiment, the tilting mechanism (4) is prevented from occupying space on the basket (3) in the volume of the washing tub (2), enabling placing more dishes on the basket (3).

In the dishwasher (1) of the invention, the basket (3) is brought to an inclined position during washing and drying processes thanks to the tilting mechanism (4), the basket (3) is enabled to swing by operating the tilting mechanism (4) intermittently, thereby increasing indirectly the scanning area of the water sprayed on the dishes, and enabling the water to reach almost all surfaces/points of the dishes, as well as varying the impact angle of the water on the dishes, enhancing the performance of the mechanical washing effect enabled by water.

Claims

A dishwasher (1) comprising a washing tub (2) and at least one basket (3) placed in the washing tub (2), on which the dishes to be washed are disposed, characterized by a tilting mechanism (4) provided in the washing tub (2), enabling the basket (3) to rest in an angled position with respect to the base of the washing tub (2) by raising the basket (3) from at least one corner or side.
A dishwasher (1) according to claim 1, characterized by a control unit (5) enabling by controlling the tilting mechanism (4), the basket (3) to be continuously tilted upon beginning of the washing process through raising and lowering the basket (3) from at least one corner/side,.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the tilting mechanism (4) enabling the basket (3) to be raised at four corners/sides independent of each other, and by the control unit (5) enabling the basket (3) to be periodically tilted to the front and back or to the right and left by enabling during washing process any two opposite sides of the basket (3) to be first raised and then lowered respectively.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by an elevation sensor (6) enabling measuring the elevations of the dishes placed in the basket (3), and by the control unit (5) determining the elevation to which the basket (3) will be raised by the tilting mechanism (4) according to data received from the elevation sensor (6).
A dishwasher (1) according to claim 4, characterized by the control unit (5) determining the maximum elevation to which the basket (3) can be raised by the tilting mechanism (4), according to data received from the elevation sensor (6), and enabling the tilting mechanism (4) to raise the basket (3) up to the maximum elevation.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the control unit (5) enabling the tilting mechanism (4) to operate during drying process, and the basket (3) to be tilted by being raised and lowered from at least one corner/side.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the tilting mechanism (4) comprising at least one thermo-actuator enabling the basket (3) to be raised.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the claims 1 to 6, characterized by the tilting mechanism (4) comprising at least one hydraulic jack enabling the basket (3) to be raised.
A dishwasher (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the tilting mechanism (4) provided on the base of the washing tub (2).