Push-push door latch and household appliance equipped with the same

Abstract

A push-push type door latch for a household appliance is proposed. The door latch comprises a holder arranged so as to be adjustable between a clamping state and a release state, the holder being able to clamp a closure member for keeping a door closed in the clamping state, the closure member moving relatively closer to the holder in a closing direction upon closing of the door of the household appliance, and allowing the closure member to be free for opening the door in the release state, wherein the clamping state of the holder can be released by a relative release movement of the closure member being performed in the closing direction when the door is closed; and an electrically controllable displacement mechanism for displacing the holder under electrical control, in particular against a restoring spring force, from a retracted position into a propelled position, the propelled position corresponding to a state in which the door is closed to a relatively smaller extent than in the retracted position when the closure member is clamped.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a push-type door latch for household appliances. Background Technology

[0002] Washing machines and tumble dryers used for household purposes sometimes have door latches that operate on a push-pull principle. This requires a first push action to close the latch, where the user pushes against the door of the appliance to close it. The latch then moves to hold the door closed. To subsequently open the door manually again, a further push action is required, where the user again pushes against the door, thereby overcoming the latch's holding-close action. Unlike push-pull latches, in the case of push-pull latches, once the door has been closed, it can only be manually opened again by pulling. An example of a conventional push-pull latch is disclosed in EP 1 460 163 A2.

[0003] Household appliances conceived within the scope of this invention are typically equipped with a door seal that functions to seal the closed door relative to the appliance's body. This prevents hot steam or liquid from escaping from the access opening through which access is made to a working chamber (e.g., the interior of a washing drum) within the appliance body when the door is open. When the door is closed, the door seal is compressed. This compression is accompanied by the accumulation of an elastic restoring force, which the user must overcome when closing the door. This may still be relatively easy as long as the door seal is only slightly compressed. The more the door seal is compressed, the greater the force required to further close the door.

[0004] In the case of push-type door latches, it is necessary to match the latch to the compression behavior of the door seal when the door is closed, so that the second push action required to open the door when the door is closed and the latch is engaged can be performed by the user by applying an acceptable force. This is because if the door seal is already highly compressed when the latch is engaged, the second push action may be strenuous and require the user to apply a relatively high force. For frail individuals, such as children or frail elderly individuals, the force that must be applied may be too high.

[0005] Due to tolerances, different samples of the same model of household appliance may exhibit different force characteristics when the door is closed, making it more difficult to properly match the latch and door seal. This is due not only to manufacturing reasons during the production of individual components of the appliance, but also to tolerances that may arise during assembly (for example, during the assembly of the door or door seal). Therefore, even nominally structurally identical samples of a particular appliance model may require different levels of force to perform the initial push action for closing the door, and consequently, different levels of force to perform the second push action for opening the door. In some samples of the appliance model, this difference can be considered problematic, especially if the second push action requires unacceptably high force. This can be offset by matching the latch and door seal to each other, so that the door seal typically only needs to be compressed relatively slightly to close the door. However, this introduces a risk of leakage during the operation of the appliance. Alternatively, individual readjustment work can be performed on each individual sample of the appliance. However, this would be quite costly in terms of time and manpower.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a push-type door latch that exhibits high reliability of the sealing function of a door seal while being easy to operate. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To achieve this objective, according to a first aspect, the present invention provides a push-type door latch for a household appliance, comprising: a clamp arranged to be adjustable between a clamped state and a released state, the clamp being configured in the clamped state to clamp a closing member for holding the door closed, the closing member moving relatively closer to the clamp in a closing direction when the door of the household appliance is closed, wherein, in the released state, the clamp allows the closing member to be freed for opening the door, wherein, when the door is closed, the clamping state of the clamp can be released by a relative release movement of the closing member performed in the closing direction; and an electrically controllable displacement mechanism for electrically controlling the displacement of the clamp from a retracted position to an advanced position, the advanced position corresponding to a state in which the door is closed to a relatively smaller extent than in the retracted position when the closing member is clamped.

[0008] In the solution according to the invention, the gripper is displaceable between different positions (i.e., at least between a retracted position and an advanced position) by electrical control of the displacement mechanism. In some embodiments, the gripper is arranged to be displaceable from the retracted position to the advanced position against a restoring spring force. In the advanced position, the gripper is advanced toward the closing member compared to the retracted position. Thus, assuming the closing member is thereby gripped, that is, when the door latch is closed and the closing member is held by the gripper, the displacement of the gripper from the retracted position to the advanced position is accompanied by at least partial relaxation of the door seal of the household appliance. This facilitates a subsequent relative release movement (a second push action) of the closing member to open the door. A less compressed door seal means that a lower force is applied to perform this release movement. Even in the retracted position of the clamp, where the door seal is compressed so much that the release movement can only be performed with excessive force, pushing the clamp into the advanced position ensures that even a physically weak individual can easily perform the second pushing action. No tolerances in the manufacturing of the components of the household appliance will hinder the ease with which the second pushing action can be performed in the solution according to the invention.

[0009] According to some embodiments, the latch is configured in the advance position of the gripper to allow the gripping state of the gripper to be released by performing the release movement of the closing member when the closing member is gripped.

[0010] Some embodiments specify that the latch is configured to move the gripper from the retracted position to the advanced position by means of the displacement mechanism when the gripper is in its released state. In such an embodiment, the gripper can move to the advanced position when the door is open. The user can then close the door. Because the gripper is advanced when the door is closed, the user only needs to apply a moderate force at most to overcome the resistance of the door seal when the door is closed. It is also conceivable that the door can be closed in the advanced position of the gripper even without compressing the door seal at all, and the door seal is compressed only when the gripper is subsequently pulled back to the retracted position.

[0011] Some embodiments specify that the latch is configured to move the gripper from the retracted position to the advanced position by means of the shifting mechanism when the closing member is held by the gripper. In such an embodiment, when the door is closed, for example at the completion of a work procedure or program phase, the gripper can move from the retracted position to the advanced position to allow the user to open the door effortlessly by a second pushing action (a relative release movement of the closing member).

[0012] In some embodiments, the latch is configured to, particularly when the closing member is held by the gripper, shift the gripper from the advance position to the retracted position, achieved by the shifting mechanism or at least assisted by it. Assuming the closing member is thus held by the gripper, this measure ensures that the user must apply less force for the initial push action to close the door. If the door remains open, the gripper may have already moved to the advance position. To close the latch, that is, to establish a clamping engagement between the closing member and the gripper, the user must then overcome only any closing resistance of the latch and only the relatively low resistance of the door seal. As the gripper subsequently moves from the advance position to the retracted position, the force compressing the door seal is further applied by the shifting mechanism (and optionally additionally by the biasing spring assembly); the user is relieved of this task.

[0013] In some embodiments, the displacement of the gripper from the advance position to the retracted position by means of the shifting mechanism causes the blocking structure to function in the sense of preventing the gripper from resisting transfer to the released state. In this way, the gripper can be locked in its gripping state in the retracted position. In these embodiments, to unlock the latch, the gripper must first move back from the retracted position to the advance position. Only in the advance position is it possible to open the door (non-violently).

[0014] Some embodiments specify that the shifting mechanism is configured in the advance position of the gripper to release the gripping state of the gripper under electrical control when the closing member is gripped. This configuration of the shifting mechanism allows for an automatic opening function for the door latch. For example, automatic opening of the door latch and thus the door itself may be advantageous at the end of operation of the household appliance to allow humid air to escape from the appliance's working chamber. The possibility of manual opening (second push action) is unaffected by the described possibility of automatic opening.

[0015] According to some embodiments, the shifting mechanism includes an electrically controllable (particularly electric) actuator and a control member, the control member being drivenly connected to the actuator for controlling the position of the gripper. The control member can be adjusted to different control positions by activation of the actuator, wherein a first control position corresponds to the retracted position of the gripper, and a second control position corresponds to the advanced position of the gripper. Additionally, the control member is designed with at least one blocking structure that, in the first control position, blocks the gripper from the gripping state to the released state, and in the second control position, allows the gripper to move to the released state.

[0016] The at least one blocking structure can be a blocking structure for direct blocking cooperation with the gripper and / or a blocking structure for indirect blocking cooperation with the gripper. Direct blocking cooperation exists when the blocking action occurs through direct mechanical contact between the blocking structure in question and the gripper. In contrast, indirect blocking cooperation exists when the blocking structure in question mechanically cooperates with a component (e.g., in the form of a locking lever) that is separate from and mechanically cooperates with the gripper. Thus, it is conceivable that a biasing force acts on the gripper, biasing the gripper in the clamped state for adjustment in the direction toward the released state. A locking member separate from the gripper can be used to hold the gripper in the clamped state and thereby prevent adjustment to the released state. The locking member can be movably arranged such that by moving the locking member away, the gripper can be freed and transferred to its released state. In such an embodiment, the control member may have a blocking structure that directly cooperates with the gripper and is capable of preventing the gripper from resisting adjustment to the release state in its gripping state. Alternatively or additionally, the control member may have a blocking structure that mechanically cooperates with the locking member and is capable of preventing the locking member from resisting movement away from the device.

[0017] Some embodiments specify that the control member is adjustable to a third control position, which, when viewed from the first control position, is positioned beyond the second control position. When the control member moves from the second control position to the third control position, a release structure disposed on the control member functions in the sense of releasing the clamping state of the gripper. The adjustability of the control member to the third control position allows for the implementation of an automatic unlocking function for the latch.

[0018] The control component, for example, takes the form of a linear slider. Within the scope of this invention, movement modes other than linear sliding are not excluded for the control component.

[0019] In some embodiments, the shifting mechanism includes a gear train arranged in the force transmission path between the actuator and the control member. The control member thus has a gear system for meshing with the output gear of the gear train. A speed reduction function can be implemented using the gear train, which allows a relatively fast-rotating electric motor to be used as the actuator.

[0020] Some embodiments specify that the latch includes a clamp assembly comprising a movably arranged carrier (clamp carrier) mechanically driven to the displacement mechanism. The clamp is mounted on the carrier to be adjustable relative to the carrier between a clamped state and a released state. Additionally, a locking element is mounted on the carrier, movable relative to the clamp, and used to secure the clamp in its clamped state against movement into the released state. The clamp assembly as a unit (i.e., the carrier, clamp, and locking element together) is displaceable between the advance position and the retracted position without changing the state of the clamp, i.e., the clamped state or the released state, during or as a result of the displacement.

[0021] Some embodiments specify that the gripper is in the form of a rotary gripper with a gripping opening defined between two jaws, wherein the rotary gripper, in the gripping state, is capable of holding the closing member captured in the gripping opening. Thus, the gripping state and the release state correspond to different rotational positions of the rotary gripper, wherein the rotary gripper, in the gripping state, is spring-biased for rotation in the direction toward the release state. In such an embodiment, the rotary gripper is rotatably mounted on a movably arranged gripper carrier. A locking element is further mounted on the gripper carrier, the locking element being arranged to be movable relative to the gripper carrier and the rotary gripper, and in the gripping state of the rotary gripper, the locking element is capable of forming a locking engagement with the rotary gripper, the locking engagement locking the rotary gripper against rotation in the direction toward the release state, but which can be released by a relative release movement of the closing member. Thus, the displacement of the rotary gripper from the retracted position to the advanced position is accompanied by the displacement of the gripper carrier.

[0022] In some embodiments, the gripper carrier is spring-biased such that displacement of the rotary gripper from the retracted position to the advanced position is accompanied by displacement of the gripper carrier against the spring force. In these embodiments, the spring force acting on the carrier can be used to overcome resistance against further compression of the door seal as the rotary gripper is guided back from the advanced position to the retracted position.

[0023] The clamp carrier can be a pivotally arranged carrier lever or a linearly movable carrier slider.

[0024] Some embodiments specify that the shifting mechanism includes a control member for controlling the position of the rotary gripper, the control member being formed separately from the gripper carrier and arranged to be movable relative to the rotary gripper along the plane of rotation of the rotary gripper, particularly linearly movable, and electrically actuated. A control path-path follower structure acts between the control member and the gripper carrier and / or the rotary gripper, the control path-path follower structure having a control path and a path follower, the path follower traveling along the control path as the control member moves. The control path has different path segments, wherein a first path segment defines the retracted position of the rotary gripper, and a second path segment defines the advanced position of the rotary gripper.

[0025] According to some embodiments, the displacement mechanism includes an electric actuator, wherein the gripper carrier is engaged and driven in connection with a drive wheel driven by the actuator.

[0026] According to another aspect, the present invention provides a household laundry handling appliance, exemplified by a washing machine or a combination appliance for washing and drying clothes (so-called washer-dryer). The laundry handling appliance includes: an appliance body having a drum rotatably mounted therein for receiving clothing items to be handled; a door for closing an access opening to the drum; a door latch; and a door seal for sealing the access opening, the door seal acting between the door and the appliance body and being compressed when the door is closed. The door latch includes a clamp disposed on one of the appliance body and the door for adjustable between a clamped state and a released state, the clamp being configured in the clamped state to clamp a closing member for holding the door closed, the closing member being disposed on the other of the appliance body and the door and moving relatively closer to the clamp in a closing direction when the door is closed, wherein, in the released state, the clamp allows the closing member to be freed for opening the door. When the door is closed, the clamping state of the gripper can be released by a relative release movement of the closing member executed in the closing direction. Additionally, the door latch includes an electrically controllable displacement mechanism for electrically moving the gripper from a retracted position to an advanced position. When the closing member is clamped, the advanced position corresponds to a state where the compression of the door seal is lower than that of the retracted position.

[0027] The latch according to the invention can be used not only in laundry appliances but also in other types of household appliances. Therefore, according to another aspect, the invention provides a household dishwasher, comprising: a washing container having a washing chamber formed therein for receiving dishes to be washed; a door for closing an access opening to the washing chamber, the door being mounted on the washing container so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis near the floor; and a latch having a clamp disposed on one of the washing container and the door so as to be adjustable between a clamped state and a released state, the clamp being configured in the clamped state to clamp a closing member for holding the door closed, the closing member being disposed on the other of the washing container and the door and being relatively closer in the closing direction when the door is closed. The clamp moves, wherein the clamp, in the released state, allows the closing member to be freed for opening the door, wherein when the door is closed, the clamping state of the clamp can be released by a relative release movement of the closing member performed in the closing direction; and a door seal for sealing the access opening, the door seal acting between the door and the dish container and being compressed when the door is closed, wherein the door latch further includes an electrically controllable displacement mechanism for electrically displacing the clamp from a retracted position to an advanced position, the advanced position corresponding to a state where the compression of the door seal is lower than that of the retracted position when the closing member is clamped. Attached Figure Description

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention will be further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 Details of a household dishwasher according to an exemplary embodiment are schematically shown.

[0030] Figure 2a This shows the door latch in the open position. Figure 1 An exemplary embodiment of the dishwasher door latch, wherein the latch holder assembly is in the advanced position.

[0031] Figure 2b Showing the state in the off position Figure 2a The latch lock, wherein the clamp assembly is in the retracted position.

[0032] Figure 3 An exemplary embodiment of a household washing machine is shown schematically and in perspective.

[0033] Figure 4 This shows the state where the door latch is closed but not yet locked. Figure 3An exemplary embodiment of the door latch lock of a washing machine, wherein the latch lock's clamping assembly is in the advanced position.

[0034] Figure 5a In a stationary state with the latch closed. Figure 4 A perspective view of the latch holder assembly.

[0035] Figure 5b It shows the corresponding Figure 4 The latching state and Figure 4 The control slider of the door latch together Figure 5a The clamping assembly,

[0036] Figure 6 The closed and locked states of the door latch are shown. Figure 4 The latch control slider and clamp assembly, wherein the clamp assembly is in the retracted position.

[0037] Figure 7a and Figure 7b It is in the open state of the door latch. Figure 4 Two different views of the control slider and clamp assembly of the latch lock. Detailed Implementation

[0038] First, refer to Figure 1 The figure shows details of a dishwasher 10 intended for use in private homes, which has a washing container 12 and a door 14. In the washing container 12, Figure 1 Only the front region of the container top plate 18 is shown, which defines a wash chamber 16 at the top. A latch 20, indicated by a dashed line, is installed in the wash chamber 16, and a clamp 22, also indicated by a dashed line, is present. When the door 14 is closed, the clamp 22 cooperates with the closing member 24. In the example shown, the closing member is in the form of a closing hook and has a hole 26 defined by a hook leg 28 in the direction of the free end of the closing member 24. In the closed state of the latch 20, the clamp 22 engages with the hole 26 behind the hook leg 28, thereby securely holding the closing member 24. The clamp 22 is rotatable in the container top plate 18 about a (non-stationary) axis of rotation 30, and for this reason, it can also be referred to as a rotary clamp. In the example shown, the axis of rotation 30 is a vertical axis, meaning that the clamp 22 is arranged to rotate in a horizontal plane. If the available installation space in the container top plate 18 permits, alternatively, it is possible to accommodate the clamp 22 within the container top plate 18 so that it is rotatable about a horizontal axis. In such a case, the closing member 24 is arranged such that its hook leg 28 does not extend in the vertical direction (e.g., Figure 1(As shown in the diagram) (as seen when door 14 is upright), but extends horizontally. As an alternative to the hook-and-loop form, the closing member 24 may also have, for example, the form of a pin. Door 14 is conventionally mounted on the bottom region of the dishwashing container 12 so that it is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis, and therefore the conventional method will not be explained in more detail here.

[0039] When door 14 is closed, it is pushed against door seal 32, which is mounted on the front end face of dish container 12 and extends at least partially around dish chamber 16, which surrounds access opening 34 formed in the front of dish container 12. When door 14 is closed, door seal 32 ensures that dish chamber 16 is sealed relative to the external environment. When initial contact is established between door 14 and door seal 32, the resistance to compression of door seal 32 is still relatively low. However, if door seal 32 has been compressed to a certain extent, the strength of the resistance to further compression generally increases. The force applied by the user increases accordingly. This typical compression behavior of door seal 32 is particularly pronounced in the case of push-type latches, because a push movement (release movement) must be applied to door 14, not only to manually close the latch but also to manually open it. However, when door 14 is closed, door seal 32 is generally already compressed relatively greatly. Therefore, when door 14 is closed, the user's manual pushing action may require the user to apply a relatively high force in order to open the latch.

[0040] For this reason, the gripper 22 is forward movable from the retracted position to the advancing position in the direction away from the container top plate 18. This forward-guided horizontal displacement... Figure 1 Marked by the moving arrow 36. With the door 14 still open, the displaceability of the clamp 22 allows it to move into the advanced position. In this position, the user can close the door 14 with relatively low force. To establish a clamping engagement between the clamp 22 and the closing member 24, only relatively low (if any) compression of the door seal 32 is required if the clamp 22 has previously moved forward into its advanced position. Once the clamping engagement between the clamp 22 and the closing member 24 has been established, the clamp 22, together with the closing member 24 thus clamped (and therefore as a whole with the door 14), can move back to the retracted position, thereby fully closing the door 14. The force thus required for (further) compression of the door seal 32 does not need to be applied by the user; instead, the latch 20 contains an actuator ( Figure 1 (Not shown in detail), the actuator generates the force required to move the clamp 22 into its retracted position against the resistance of the door seal 32.

[0041] At the end of the program run of the dishwasher 10, the gripper 22 can move forward again from the retracted position to the advance position by means of the aforementioned actuator, wherein the gripping engagement between the gripper 22 and the closing member 24 is maintained. The operating program of the dishwasher 10 may contain a corresponding program routine that enables the automatic (i.e., program-controlled) forward movement of the gripper 22 to the advance position at the end of the washing program. Alternatively or additionally, the dishwasher 10 may have a control element, for example in the form of a control button, the actuation of which by the control unit of the dishwasher 10 is understood as a command to move the gripper 22 forward into the advance position.

[0042] Once the clamp 22 has been moved forward again into the push position while the closing member 24 is clamped, the user can open the latch 20 by applying a relatively low force through a manual pushing action against the door 14.

[0043] The described latch 20's ability to move the clamp 22 to the push position to allow the user to manually open the door 14 effortlessly does not preclude the possibility that the user can also open the door 14 by a manual push when the clamp 22 is in the retracted position and the door 14 is fully closed. He would then only need to apply a greater force than when the clamp 22 is in the push position. A strong individual might not mind the greater force required, but the possibility of manually opening the door when the clamp 22 is in the push position could be helpful for children or frail, elderly individuals. In the case of a dishwasher, it is occasionally desirable to briefly open the door 14 during the dishwashing program, for example, to add extra dishes. Therefore, the dishwasher 10 may be adapted to interrupt the dishwasher program in response to input of a corresponding user command (e.g., in response to the push of a corresponding control button) and to move the clamp 22 from the retracted position to the push position to allow the user to manually open the door effortlessly.

[0044] To explain the exemplary embodiment of the latch 20 in more detail, reference will now be made to further details. Figure 2a , Figure 2b The door latch 20 shown includes a latch housing 38, and a clamping assembly 40 including a clamping device 22 is housed within the latch housing 38 for use in... Figure 2a The propulsion position shown and Figure 2b The retracted positions shown are movable. The latch housing 38 is intended to be statically mounted in the container top plate 18 of the dishwashing container 12, and a suitable mounting structure is designed for this purpose, which is not shown separately in the figures but is readily known to those skilled in the art. By pushing the clamp assembly 40 forward according to... Figure 2aIn the advanced position, the gripper 22 can move relative to the latch housing 38 in the forward direction (from the perspective of a user standing in front of the dishwasher 10). Conversely, by moving the gripper assembly 40 back to the position according to... Figure 2b In the retracted position, the gripper 22 can be further displaced into the latch housing 38 (i.e., in the rearward direction).

[0045] To drive the gripper assembly 40, the latch 20 includes an electrically controllable displacement mechanism 42, which includes an actuator 44 housed in the latch housing 38 as a drive power source. In the illustrated example, the actuator 44 is in the form of an electric motor, which is drivenly connected to the gripper assembly 40 via a multi-gear train (reduction gear) 46 operating in a reduction manner. The output pinion 48 of the gear train 46 thereby engages with a gear system 50 formed on a protrusion 52 of the gripper carrier 54. The gripper carrier 54 is part of the gripper assembly 40 and serves as a carrier for the gripper 22. The gripper is mounted on the gripper carrier 54 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 30. In the illustrated example, the gripper carrier 54 is designed as a linear slider that is guided relative to the latch housing 38 for linear displacement thereon, and is formed, for example, by a plate component; it may also be referred to as a carrier slider.

[0046] The gripper 22 has a gripping opening 60 formed by two claws 56, 58, and when the door 14 is closed, the hook leg 28 of the closing member 24 is engaged in the gripping opening 60. For this purpose, the gripper 22 is rotatable relative to the gripper carrier 54 between a free rotation position (released state) and a gripping rotation position (gripping state). When the door latch 20 is open (i.e., normally when the door 14 is open), the free rotation position is determined by the gripper 22; its position is... Figure 2a As shown in the diagram. In this state, if the door 14 moves toward the latch 20, the hook leg 28 strikes the pawl 58 of the gripper 22, thereby initiating rotation of the gripper 22. During this rotation, the pawl 56 of the gripper moves into the hole 26 of the closing member 14 and thereby engages behind the hook leg 28. The hook leg is thus locked in the clamping opening 60; this indicates the closed state of the latch 20. Figure 2b The obtained clamping rotation position of the gripper 22 is shown. When the gripper 22 is in the clamping rotation position and the closing member 24 holds the gripper in place, the gripper assembly 40 can be adjusted according to the actuation of the actuator 42. Figure 2a The location of the advance and the basis Figure 2b It moves back and forth between the retracted positions. When the gripper 22 is in the position according to... Figure 2aWhen in the free-rotation position, it is also possible for the gripper assembly 40 to shift between the advance and retracted positions. Therefore, the shift of the gripper assembly 40 between the advance and retracted positions has no direct effect on the rotational position of the gripper 22; the gripper determines the same rotational position (free-rotation position or gripping rotational position) at the end of the shift as it did at the beginning of the shift. If the latch 20 is closed at the beginning of the shift of the gripper assembly 40, it will also be closed at the end of the shift. Specifically: if the latch 20 is closed at the beginning of the shift of the gripper assembly 40 from the retracted position to the advance position, the latch 20 will remain closed even when it reaches the advance position.

[0047] As explained, the latch 20 is a push-type latch, meaning that the user can manually push (a first push or a closing push) against the door 14 to close the latch 20, and then manually push (a second push or a releasing push) against the door 14 again to reopen the latch 20. Pushing against the door 14 again in this manner corresponds to a movement of the closing member 24 in the closing direction of the door 14, that is, further into the latch 20. This causes the clamp 22 to rotate beyond the specified position. Figure 2b The clamping rotation position. Therefore, according to Figure 2b The gripping rotation position of the gripper 22 is not the end rotation position; instead, the gripper 22 can be adjusted according to... Figure 2a The free rotation position rotates beyond according to Figure 2b The clamping rotation position is moved to the release rotation position. A second pushing action causes the locking element (latch) 62, which is part of the clamp assembly 40 and pivotally mounted on the clamp carrier 54, to lose its locking engagement with the clamp 22. As a result of the first pushing action, the locking element 62 moves into the locking engagement. The locking engagement prevents the clamp 22 from rotating back to the free rotation position from the clamping rotation position. When the clamp 22, which started from the closed state of the latch 20, rotates from the clamping rotation position to the release rotation position by the second pushing action, the loss of the locking engagement removes the obstruction to the clamp 22's resistance to rotation back to the free rotation position. A biasing spring (not shown in detail) acting on the clamp 22 biases the clamp 22 in the direction toward the free rotation position and assists the clamp 22 in rotating back to the free rotation position from the release rotation position. The cumulative restoring force of the aforementioned biasing spring and the door seal 32 is sufficient to slightly push the door 14 open. Additionally, the user may need to manually pull the door 14.

[0048] In the example shown, the locking element 62 is in the form of a single-arm locking lever, which is hinged to the gripper carrier 54 in a region of one of its lever ends and has an engaging lug 64 in a region of its other lever end. The engaging lug 64 is biased by another biasing spring (not shown in detail in the figures) to abut against the radial circumferential surface of the gripper 22. Therefore, as the gripper moves between a free-rotating position and a clamping rotational position, and between a clamping rotational position and a release rotational position, the engaging lug 64 slides along the circumferential surface of the gripper 22. This creates a path-defining structure on the circumferential surface of the gripper 22 along which the engaging lug 64 moves during manual closing and opening operations of the latch 20. These structures include, in particular, radial steps (not shown in detail) formed on the circumferential surface of the gripper 22. In the closed state of the latch 20, the engaging lug 64 of the locking element 62 hooks onto these radial steps, thus preventing the gripper 22 from rotating back to its free-rotating position. Furthermore, the aforementioned structures are configured such that during the user's second pushing action and / or during subsequent rotation of the gripper 22, they guide (deflect) the locking element 62, causing the engaging lug 64 to move past the aforementioned radial shoulder during rotation. Thus, the gripper 22 can return to its free-rotating position and is not stopped in the gripping rotational position by the locking element 62 during rotation. This guiding function of the aforementioned structures can be aided by the action of the bias spring of the aforementioned locking element 62.

[0049] For further details regarding the exemplary configuration of the radial circumferential surface of the gripper 22, and to define the control path for the engaging lug 64 of the locking element 62, which ensures the push-pull functionality of the aforementioned latch 20, reference may be made, for example, to DE3919458A1. The contents of that DE disclosure are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

[0050] exist Figure 2a , Figure 2b In the case of latch 20, the possibility of manually opening the latch by a second push action exists both according to Figure 2a The gripper assembly 40 is in the advance position, and also exists according to Figure 2b In the retracted position. Corresponding to Figure 2b As shown, when door 14 is fully closed, the exemplary embodiment of the described door latch 20 does not provide suppression of the possibility of manual opening. This is because, in the case of a dishwasher, it is generally expected that door 14 can be opened at any time, even during the washing operation, for example, to add other plates. A push-type door latch in which the possibility of manual opening is suppressed when door 14 is fully closed will be described below with reference to further figures. Before that, an explanation will be given. Figure 2a , Figure 2b The automatic opening function of the door latch 20.

[0051] When the dishwashing cycle is finished, it is expected that door 14 will automatically open slightly to allow hot steam to escape from the dishwashing chamber 16 and accelerate the drying process of the dishes inside. For automatic opening of the door latch 20, from... Figure 2b The gripper assembly 40, starting from the retracted position, can move forward beyond the specified distance using the shifting mechanism 42. Figure 2a The advance position is moved to the open position (not shown in detail in the accompanying drawings). The gripper assembly 40 is moved from the position according to... Figure 2a When the advance position is advanced to the aforementioned open position, the locking element 62 strikes the lifting element (shown by the dashed line at 66), which is stationary relative to the latch housing 38, for example, fixedly connected to the latch housing 38, and causes the locking element 62 to be lifted away from its abutment contact with the circumferential surface of the gripper 22. As a result of the lifting, the engaging lug 64 of the locking element 62 moves out of the range of movement of the radial step formed on the circumferential surface of the gripper 22, and the locking element 62 can therefore no longer prevent the gripper 22 from rotating back from the gripping rotation position to the free rotation position. Thus, as a result of the door 14 no longer being held closed by the door latch 20, the lifting of the locking element 62 causes the door latch 20 to change from the closed state to the open state. Once automatic opening has occurred, the control unit of the dishwasher 10 controlling the shift mechanism 42 can again move the gripper assembly 40 from the open position back to the position according to the latch 20. Figure 2a The door is then in the advanced position. Then, the latch 20 prepares the door 14 for manual closing again.

[0052] In contrast, if the latch 20 is closed at the start of the shift, the shift of the gripper assembly 40 between the advance and retracted positions has no effect on the presence of a locking engagement between the locking element 62 and the gripper 22. Because the locking element 62 moves together with the gripper 22 and the gripper carrier 54 during such shift of the gripper assembly 40, the gripping state of the gripper 22 remains unaffected. The gripper 22 only changes from a gripping state to a released state when the locking element 62 strikes the lifting element 66 during the shift of the gripper assembly 40 from the advance position to the aforementioned open position. The different positions of the gripper assembly 40 (retracted position, advance position, open position) can be detected by a suitable sensor of the latch 20 (e.g., a mechanically actuated switch). The control unit of the dishwasher 10 can control the operation of the actuator 44 based on signals from such sensors.

[0053] This invention can be used not only in dishwasher door latches but also in door latches of other types of household appliances. Exemplary embodiments of door latches that can be used in household washing machines or washer-dryers (i.e., appliances with combined washing and drying functions for clothes) will be explained below. In such machines, for safety reasons, it is generally desirable to secure the machine door against manual opening while the washing program is running. Therefore, the door latch provides not only the function of keeping the door closed but also the function of locking the door. Therefore, in Figures 4 to 7b The image shows an exemplary embodiment of a push-type door latch with a locking function, wherein... Figure 3 A front-loader washing machine is shown as an exemplary embodiment of a clothing handling appliance, in which it can be used Figures 4 to 7b The door latch. In Figures 3 to 7b In this context, elements that are identical or have the same effect are provided with the same reference numerals as those in the aforementioned figures, but with the addition of lowercase letters. Unless otherwise indicated below, reference is made to the figures... Figures 1 to 2b The aforementioned comments are used to explain such elements that are the same or have the same effect.

[0054] Figure 3 The front-loading washing machine (designated 68a) shown includes a machine body 70a, within which a washing drum 72a, indicated by a dashed line, is rotatably housed. The interior of the washing drum 72a is accessed via an access opening 74a formed on the front side of the washing machine 68a for loading and unloading clothes and other items. A door seal 32a extends on the machine body 70a around the access opening 74a and is compressed when the target door 14a of the washing machine 68a, which is designed with an observation window 76a, is closed, thereby sealing the washing chamber of the washing machine 68a relative to the external environment. To keep the door 14a closed, the washing machine 68a has a door latch 20a, which, in the example shown, is mounted on the machine body 70a and has an insertion opening 78a for a closing member 24a arranged on the door 14a. Reference will be made below. Figures 4 to 7b Details of an exemplary embodiment of the door latch 20a are explained.

[0055] and Figure 2a , Figure 2b The door latch is the same as 20. Figures 4 to 7b The exemplary embodiment of the latch 20a is a push-type latch and includes a clamp assembly 40a. The clamp carrier 54a of the clamp assembly 40a is not in the form of a linear slider, but rather in the form of a carrier lever mounted on the latch housing 38a for pivotability about a pivot axis 80a. The clamp 22a and locking element 62a are movably mounted on this carrier lever 54a; the form of the clamp 22a and locking element 62a corresponds to… Figure 2a , Figure 2b The exemplary embodiment is in the form of a gripper 22 and a locking element 62. A carrier lever 54a, together with the gripper 22a and the locking element 62a, is pivotable relative to the latch housing 38a between an advanced position and a retracted position, wherein a biasing spring 82a, supported between the carrier lever 54a and the latch housing 38a and in the form of a helical compression spring in the illustrated example, biases the carrier lever 54a in the direction toward the retracted position. This means that the shifting mechanism 42a (by means of which the gripper assembly 40a is displaceable between the advanced and retracted positions) must work against the force of the biasing spring 82a to shift the gripper assembly 40a from the retracted position in the direction toward the advanced position. Conversely, when the shifting mechanism is activated, the biasing spring 82a assists the shifting mechanism 42a to shift the gripper assembly 40a from the advanced position to the retracted position. The gripper assembly 40a in Figure 5a and Figure 6 It is in the retracted position and in Figure 4 , Figure 5b , Figure 7a and Figure 7b It is currently in the process of being advanced.

[0056] and Figure 2a , Figure 2b Unlike the exemplary embodiment, the shifting mechanism 42a does not directly engage with the gripper assembly 40a. Instead, the shifting mechanism 42a includes a control member 84a with multiple functions. As a first function, the control member 84a controls the position of the carrier lever 54a, and thus the overall position of the gripper assembly 40a. As a second function, the control member 84a locks the latch 20a in a closed state. Locking ensures that the user cannot open the latch 20a by a second pushing action. As a third function, the control member 84a automatically opens the latch 20a. In the illustrated example, the control member 84a takes the form of a control slider that is guided in a linearly movable manner relative to the latch housing 38a, and... Figure 6 The first control position shown Figure 4 and Figure 5b The second control position shown and Figure 7a , Figure 7bThe third control position shown is adjustable. In the example shown, the direction of the mobility of the control member 84a is perpendicular to the rotation axis 28a of the gripper 22a and therefore parallel to the plane of rotation of the gripper 22a. The control member 84a has a gear system 86a, and the output pinion 48a of the reduction gear 46a of the shifting mechanism 42a meshes with the gear system 86a. By actuation of the actuator 44a, the control member 84a can therefore move back and forth (depending on the drive direction of the actuator 44a) and be adjusted to the aforementioned control position. Suitable sensors may again be present in the latch 20a to detect the control position of the control member 84a and signal them to the control unit of the washing machine 68a (not shown in detail), which controls the operation of the actuator 44a.

[0057] A control path 88a is formed on the control member 84a. When the control member 84a shifts between its controlled positions, a pin 90a, protruding from the carrier lever 54a and acting as a path follower, slides on the control path 88a. The force of the bias spring 82a ensures that the pin 90a is biased into abutment on the control path 88a. The control path 88a has a ramp portion 92a that extends at an angle to the direction of movement of the control member 84a (indicated by the double arrow 94a) and is used to transfer the gripper assembly 40a between the advance position and the retracted position. The ramp portion 92a... Figure 5b , Figure 6 , Figure 7a The right end of the clamping assembly 40a defines the retracted position, while the left end of the ramp portion 92a, as shown in the aforementioned figures, defines the advanced position of the clamping assembly 40a. If the control member 84a is relative to the clamping assembly 40a in a rightward direction from... Figure 6 When the first control position is moved to the second control position, the abutment contact between pin 90a and the ramp portion 92a of control path 88a causes the carrier lever 54a and thus causes the gripper assembly 40a to pivot about pivot axis 80a into the advance position; this situation occurs in Figure 5b The text shows ( ) Figure 4 The control element 84a in its second control position is also shown.

[0058] Control path 88a in the slope section 92a Figure 5b , Figure 6 , Figure 7a The left end (which defines the second control position of the control member 84a) continues by means of a path segment 96a, which extends substantially linearly and parallel to the direction of movement 94a. This path segment 96a allows the control member 84a to... Figure 5b The second control position is transferred to according to Figure 7a , Figure 7b The third control position. Since the orientation of the aforementioned path segment 96a is substantially parallel to the direction of movement 94a, the movement of the control member 84a between the second and third control positions does not involve pivoting of the carrier lever 54a, or at least not significant pivoting of the carrier lever 54a. Therefore, the pivoting position of the carrier lever 54a in the third control position of the control member 84a, and thus the pivoting position of the gripper assembly 40a, substantially corresponds to the pivoting position in the second control position. However, in other embodiments, it is conceivable that the path segment 96a has a profile other than being linearly parallel to the direction of movement 94a, such that adjustment of the control member 84a between the second and third control positions could also result in a certain pivoting displacement of the gripper assembly 40a (e.g., to even a further advanced position).

[0059] According to Figure 4 and Figure 5b In the second control position of the control member 84a, the clamp assembly 40a has been adjusted to the advance position, wherein, in this case, the latch 20a can be manually closed and opened again by the user through a double push action (a first push action to close the latch 20a, and a second push action to open it). Due to the advance position of the clamp assembly 40a, similar to Figure 2a , Figure 2b In an exemplary embodiment, such manual closing and opening of the door latch 20a is possible when the compression (if any) of the door seal 32a is relatively low, and therefore when the force applied by the user is relatively low. Figure 5b A gripper 22a is shown in its clamping rotational position, in which the gripper 22a is blocked by a locking element 62a from rotating into a free rotational position. (As shown in...) Figure 2a , Figure 2b In an exemplary embodiment, the locking engagement between the locking element 62a and the gripper 22a can be overcome by a second pushing action, allowing the gripper 22a to rotate relative to the carrier lever 54a to a free rotation position (this free rotation position is in Figures 4 to 7b Not shown in the image; however, it corresponds to... Figure 2a (as shown in the example).

[0060] During the washing operation of the washing machine 68a, the door latch 20a should be locked, meaning that it should be impossible for the user to manually open the door latch 20a. In the exemplary embodiment shown, for this purpose, blocking structures 98a and 100a are formed on the control member 84a, which, when the control member 84a is moved from the washing machine 68a according to the washing machine 68a, is locked. Figure 4 , Figure 5b The second control position moves to according to Figure 6When the latch 20a is in the first controlled position, the blocking structure functions to lock the latch 20a. In the closed state of the latch 20a, in the first controlled position of the control member 84a, the blocking structure 98a prevents the gripper 22a from rotating from the gripping rotation position back to the free rotation position. The blocking structure 98a is configured and arranged such that when the latch 20a is closed, in the first controlled position of the control member 84a, when the user performs a second pushing action, the engaging lug 64a of the locking element 62a always again comes into contact with the radial step 102a. Therefore, the user cannot manually release the locking engagement between the locking element 62a and the gripper 22a. For this purpose, in the example shown, the blocking structure 98a prevents the locking element 62a from lateral pivoting on the circumferential surface of the gripper 22a; in this respect, the blocking structure 98a forms a stop that moves into the pivoting path of the locking element 62a in a first control position of the first control member 84a and moves out of the pivoting path of the locking element 62a in a second control position of the control member 84a.

[0061] It is conceivable that an additional blocking structure is formed on the control member 84a, which moves into the rotation path of the gripper 22a in the first control position of the control member 84a and prevents the gripper from rotating from the gripping rotation position to the free rotation position by directly blocking the gripper 22a. When the control member 84a moves from the first control position to the second control position, such an additional blocking structure will move out of the rotation path of the gripper 22a, thereby removing the obstruction to the gripper 22a.

[0062] In the first controlled position of the control member 84a, the blocking structure 100a moves below the pin 90a, thereby blocking the clamp assembly 40a from pivoting from the retracted position to the advanced position. This prevents at least partial decompression of the door seal 32a caused by the user pulling on the door 14a during the washing operation of the washing machine 68a, and thus potentially causing hot washing liquid to escape from the washing chamber of the washing machine 68a.

[0063] It is possible that the configuration of the control member 84a, which has an additional blocking structure (e.g., blocking structures 98a, 100a) that locks the closed latch 20a in the retracted position of the gripper assembly 40a, results in the control member 84a being able to disengage from the gripper assembly 40a only after the latch 20a has been closed and the gripper 22a has thus been brought into its gripping rotational position. Figure 4 , Figure 5b The second control position moves to according to Figure 6In the first controlled position. In such an embodiment, it will be possible to manually close the latch 20a only in the advanced position of the gripper assembly 40a, and not in the retracted position of the gripper assembly 40a. However, it is not excluded that the blocking structure of the control member 84a may be configured such that the gripper assembly 40a can also be transferred to the position according to the control member 84a in the open state of the latch 20a (i.e., when the gripper 22a is in the free rotation position). Figure 6 In the retracted position. In such an embodiment, it is then also possible to manually close the latch 20a in the retracted position of the clamp assembly 40a. Then, in the second control position of the control member 84a, the latch 20a can be manually closed and reopened, whereas in the first control position of the control member 84a, it can be manually closed, wherein it is then simultaneously locked and therefore cannot be manually opened. In any case, when the control member 84a is in the retracted position of the latch 20a, from according to Figure 6 The first control position is moved to according to Figure 4 , Figure 5b When in the second control position, the closed state of the latch 20a is maintained.

[0064] As mentioned, the third control position of the control member 84a is used to automatically open the latch 20a. When viewed from the first control position, the third control position is positioned beyond the second control position of the control member 84a. If the control member 84a moves from the second control position to the third control position, the release structure 104a formed on the control member 84a is activated by impacting the locking element 62a (in the illustrated example, by impacting the pin-shaped protrusion 106a formed on the locking element 62a), thereby pushing the locking element 62a laterally away from the radial step 102a. This frees the gripper 22a for rotation back to the free-rotation position. Figure 7b This shows that the locking element 62a has been pushed away from the radial step 10. 2 The effective range of a. This pushing resistance occurs due to the action of the spring 108a, which on the one hand biases the engaging lug 64a of the locking element 62a into abutment contact with the circumferential surface of the clamp 22a, and on the other hand biases the engaging lug 64a of the locking element 62a in the lateral direction (that is, in the direction toward the rotation axis 28a of the clamp 22a). If the latch 20a is in the closed state in the second control position of the control member 84a, the latch 20a can therefore be moved by moving the control member 84a according to the second control position of the control member 84a without the second pushing action of the user. Figure 7a , Figure 7b It opens automatically in the third control position.

[0065] The pin 90a of the gripper assembly 40a guided on the control path 88a need not be formed by or on the carrier lever 54a. Instead, it is conceivable that the pin 90a is part of a bearing pin by which the gripper 22a is rotatably mounted on the carrier lever 54a, and the bearing pin is pushed through a corresponding bearing hole in the carrier lever 54a.

Claims

1. A push-type door latch for household appliances, comprising: A gripper, arranged to be adjustable between a gripping state and a released state, wherein the gripper is configured to grip a closing member for holding the door closed in the gripping state, wherein, when the door of the household appliance is closed, the closing member moves in a closing direction relatively closer to the gripper, wherein, in the released state, the gripper is configured to allow the closing member to be released for opening the door, wherein, when the door is closed, the gripping state of the gripper can be released by a relative release movement of the closing member performed in the closing direction; and An electrically controllable displacement mechanism is provided for electrically displacing the gripper from a retracted position to an advanced position, wherein the advanced position corresponds to a state in which the door is closed to a relatively smaller extent than in the retracted position when the closing member is gripped. The latch includes a latch housing, and a clamping assembly including the clamp is housed within the latch housing. The clamp moves relative to the latch housing by moving the clamp to the advance position, and further displaces the clamp within the latch housing by moving the clamp to the retracted position. The electrically controllable displacement mechanism includes an electric actuator that is driven to either the gripper assembly or a control member. The control member can be adjusted to different control positions by activation of the actuator. A first control position corresponds to the retracted position of the gripper, and a second control position corresponds to the advanced position of the gripper. The control member is designed to have at least one blocking structure, which in the first control position can block the gripper to resist the transfer from the gripping state to the release state, and in the second control position allows the gripper to transfer from the gripping state to the release state.

2. The door latch lock according to claim 1, wherein, The gripper is arranged to resist the restoring spring force and move from the retracted position to the advancing position.

3. The door latch lock according to claim 1, wherein, The latch has at least one of the following functions: In the advanced position of the gripper, when the closing member is gripped, the latch allows the gripping state of the gripper to be released by performing the release movement of the closing member; When the gripper is in the released state, the latch allows the gripper to be moved from the retracted position to the advanced position by means of the shifting mechanism; When the closing member is held by the clamp, the latch allows the clamp to be moved from the retracted position to the advanced position by means of the shifting mechanism; When the closing member is held by the clamp, the latch allows the clamp to be moved from the advance position to the retracted position by the shifting mechanism or at least assisted by the shifting mechanism. In the advance position of the gripper, when the closing member is clamped, the shifting mechanism is adapted for electrically controlled release of the gripping state of the gripper.

4. The latch lock according to claim 3, wherein, The displacement of the gripper from the advance position to the retracted position, achieved or at least assisted by the displacement mechanism, causes the blocking structure to function in the sense of preventing the gripper from moving to the released state.

5. The door latch lock according to claim 1, wherein, The at least one blocking structure includes a blocking structure for direct blocking cooperation with the gripper and / or a blocking structure for indirect blocking cooperation with the gripper.

6. The latch lock according to claim 1, wherein, The control member can be adjusted to a third control position, which, when viewed from the first control position, is positioned beyond the second control position, and when the control member moves from the second control position to the third control position, the third control position enables the release structure arranged on the control member to function in the sense of releasing the clamping state of the gripper.

7. The latch lock according to claim 1, wherein, The shifting mechanism includes a gear train arranged in the force transmission path between the actuator and the control member, and the control member has a tooth system for meshing with the output wheel of the gear train.

8. The latch lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising: A gripper assembly comprising a carrier arranged in a movable manner and mechanically driven to the displacement mechanism, wherein the gripper is mounted on the carrier so as to be adjustable relative to the carrier between a gripping state and a released state, wherein a locking element is additionally mounted on the carrier, the locking element being movable relative to the gripper and the locking element fixing the gripper in the gripping state against movement into the released state, wherein the gripper assembly as a unit is displaceable between an advance position and a retracted position, and during or as a result of the displacement, the state of the gripper is not changed, that is, the gripping state or the released state is not changed.

9. The latch lock according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein, The gripper is in the form of a rotary gripper with a gripping opening defined between two jaws. In the gripping state, the rotary gripper is capable of holding the closing member within the gripping opening. The gripping state and the release state correspond to different rotational positions of the rotary gripper, and in the gripping state, the rotary gripper is spring-biased for rotation in the direction toward the release state. The rotary gripper is rotatably mounted on a gripper carrier that is arranged in a movable manner. A locking element is further mounted on the gripper carrier. The locking element is arranged to be movable relative to the gripper carrier and the rotary gripper. In the gripping state of the rotary gripper, the locking element is capable of forming a locking engagement with the rotary gripper. The locking engagement locks the rotary gripper against rotation in the direction toward the release state, but can be released by the relative release movement of the closing member. The displacement of the rotary gripper from the retracted position to the advance position is accompanied by the displacement of the gripper carrier.

10. The latch lock according to claim 9, wherein, The gripper carrier is spring-biased such that the displacement of the rotary gripper from the retracted position to the advanced position is accompanied by a displacement of the gripper carrier against the spring force.

11. The latch lock according to claim 9, wherein, The clamp carrier is a carrier lever arranged in a pivotable manner or a carrier slider arranged in a linearly movable manner.

12. The latch lock according to claim 9, wherein, The shifting mechanism includes a control component for controlling the position of the rotary gripper. The control component is formed separately from the gripper carrier, arranged to be movable relative to the rotary gripper along the plane of rotation of the rotary gripper, and is electrically actuated. Wherein, at least one of the gripper carrier and the rotary gripper acts between itself and the control member, and a control path-path follower structure is provided, the control path-path follower structure having a control path and a path follower, the path follower traveling along the control path when the control member moves, wherein the control path has different path segments, a first path segment of the different path segments defining the retracted position of the rotary gripper, and a second path segment of the different path segments defining the advancing position of the rotary gripper.

13. The latch lock according to claim 9, wherein, The displacement mechanism includes an electric actuator, and the gripper carrier is engaged with a drive wheel driven by the actuator.

14. A household laundry appliance, comprising: An electrical appliance body having a roller rotatably mounted in the electrical appliance body for receiving clothing items to be processed; A door, the door being used to close the access opening to the roller; A latch having a clamp disposed on one of the electrical body and the door, adjustable between a clamped state and a released state, wherein the clamp is configured in the clamped state to clamp a closing member for holding the door closed, the closing member being disposed on the other of the electrical body and the door, and the closing member moving in a closing direction relatively closer to the clamp when the door is closed, wherein the clamp is configured in the released state to allow the closing member to be freed for opening the door, wherein the clamping state of the clamp can be released by a relative release movement of the closing member performed in the closing direction when the door is closed; and A door seal for sealing the access opening, the door seal acting between the door and the electrical appliance body, and being compressed when the door is closed. The door latch further includes an electrically controllable displacement mechanism for moving the clamp from a retracted position to an advanced position under electrical control. When the closing member is clamped, the advanced position corresponds to the door seal being compressed below the retracted position. The latch includes a latch housing, and a clamping assembly including the clamp is housed within the latch housing. The clamp moves relative to the latch housing by moving the clamp to the advance position, and further displaces the clamp within the latch housing by moving the clamp to the retracted position. The electrically controllable displacement mechanism includes an electric actuator that is driven to either the gripper assembly or a control member. The control member can be adjusted to different control positions by activation of the actuator. A first control position corresponds to the retracted position of the gripper, and a second control position corresponds to the advanced position of the gripper. The control member is designed to have at least one blocking structure, which in the first control position can block the gripper to resist the transfer from the gripping state to the release state, and in the second control position allows the gripper to transfer from the gripping state to the release state.

15. A household dishwasher, comprising: A dishwashing container having a washing chamber formed therein for receiving dishes to be washed; A door, mounted on the dishwashing container, is pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis near the floor to close the access opening to the dishwashing chamber; A latch having a clamp disposed on one of the dish container and the door, adjustable between a clamped state and a released state, wherein the clamp is configured in the clamped state to clamp a closing member for holding the door closed, the closing member being disposed on the other of the dish container and the door, and the closing member moving in a closing direction relatively closer to the clamp when the door is closed, wherein, in the released state, the clamp allows the closing member to be freed for opening the door, wherein, when the door is closed, the clamping state of the clamp can be released by a relative release movement of the closing member performed in the closing direction; and A door seal for sealing the access opening, the door seal acting between the door and the appliance body, and being compressed when the door is closed. The door latch further includes an electrically controllable displacement mechanism for moving the clamp from a retracted position to an advanced position under electrical control. When the closing member is clamped, the advanced position corresponds to the door seal being compressed below the retracted position. The latch includes a latch housing, and a clamping assembly including the clamp is housed within the latch housing. The clamp moves relative to the latch housing by moving the clamp to the advance position, and further displaces the clamp within the latch housing by moving the clamp to the retracted position. The electrically controllable displacement mechanism includes an electric actuator that is driven to either the gripper assembly or a control member. The control member can be adjusted to different control positions by activation of the actuator. A first control position corresponds to the retracted position of the gripper, and a second control position corresponds to the advanced position of the gripper. The control member is designed to have at least one blocking structure, which in the first control position can block the gripper to resist the transfer from the gripping state to the release state, and in the second control position allows the gripper to transfer from the gripping state to the release state.

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