Door opener for household appliances

Abstract

The invention relates to a door opener for a household appliance, having a power transmission decoupling for the household appliance, comprising an electrically powered actuator, a pusher which can be driven by means of the actuator to push open a door of the household appliance, wherein at least one gear is engaged in a rack of the pusher to convert a rotational movement into a linear movement of the pusher, and wherein the gear is connected to and driven by the actuator by means of a worm gear displaceable in an axial direction.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a door opener with power transmission decoupling for a household appliance. Background Art

[0002] Door openers for household appliances are known in various embodiments. For example, US 2019 / 0150701A1 discloses a door opener for opening a dishwasher door. The door opener includes a lever driven by an electric motor via a gear transmission mechanism. The lever is formed at the front end and engages a side-mounted door lock. By pushing and pulling the lever forward and backward, the closed door can be pushed open a wide gap. Once the lever engages the door lock, the wide-open door can be closed again. The lever is formed with longitudinal grooves, each of which is scanned by a pair of light emitters and photodetectors. The two grooves and the emitter-detector pair allow different positions of the lever to be detected. One of these positions corresponds to the so-called seal compression door position, which is achieved by the user pressing the door while it is closed, pushing it slightly further than the normally closed position. By pressing the already closed door in this way, the user can signal a request to open the door. When the seal compression position is detected, the dishwasher control activates the door opener's motor to automatically open the door.

[0003] It is often desirable for the hinged door of a dishwasher or washing machine to open at least partially automatically after the washing process is complete. In dishwashers, for example, this is to allow for a final drying process after the wash cycle by opening the door wide enough to allow hot steam to escape from the interior (e.g., the tub or drum). If, during this autonomous door opening, the opening process is interrupted by a counteracting resistance, for example, if a person is in front of the door, this opening process should be easily and individually canceled, particularly without the assistance of sensors.

[0004] It is also conceivable that such a door of the dishwasher is only slightly opened during the required closing operation and then automatically and autonomously completes the closing operation by means of a mechanism connecting the door of the dishwasher to the remaining housing. In this case, it is conceivable that such a closing operation should be automatically canceled if, for example, a part of a hand is still between the door of the dishwasher and the remaining housing.

[0005] The object of the invention is therefore to provide a door operator with power transmission decoupling for a household appliance, which automatically cancels the power transmission process during the opening and / or closing process in the event of unintentionally high resistance by means of a simple mechanical structure. Summary of the Invention

[0006] This problem is solved according to features of a door opener with decoupling of the power transmission.

[0007] According to the present invention, the door opener with power transmission decoupling for a household appliance comprises the following: - electric actuator; - a pusher, which is arranged to be drivable by means of an actuator, for pushing open a door of the household appliance; and - at least one gear wheel which engages directly or indirectly in the rack of the pusher to convert the rotary motion into a linear motion, wherein the gear wheel is connected to and driven by the actuator by means of a worm gear which can move in the axial direction.

[0008] With this assembly, the worm wheel can be rotated out of engagement with the gears due to the worm wheel's displacement when further movement along the gears by the actuator encounters high resistance. This means that the worm wheel is driven further by the actuator at a constant speed, while one or more gears of the pusher, which are not moving or only moving slowly due to a stop or deceleration, also come to a stop. The worm wheel then disengages itself from the gears, positioning the worm wheel ahead of or behind the gears through its displacement and the longitudinal torsion of the shaft on which it is mounted. At this point, the pusher can no longer be driven further in linear motion, automatically halting the opening movement.

[0009] The worm gear's displaceable longitudinal torsion axis extends along the circumference of a gear or another gear, horizontally along its gear. The worm gear, rotatably mounted on it, can be positioned before or after the gear in the direction of rotation by shifting the longitudinal torsion axis due to the possible displacement movement. This allows the worm gear to be disengaged from the gear in its arrangement or position before or after the gear, thus decoupling the power transmission between the worm gear and the gear, which is why the pusher's motion is stopped. On the other hand, by placing the worm gear directly on the gear, the worm gear meshes with the gear, thus enabling the pusher's linear motion. Crucially, in its normal position, the worm gear meshes with the gear, enabling the pusher's motion.

[0010] Only when the resistance to the pushing process becomes too great does the longitudinal torsion axis, along with the worm gear, shift relative to the gear, causing the worm gear to disengage from the gear. This decouples the power transmission between the actuator and the pusher. This automatically stops the pusher's linear motion without requiring human intervention or evaluation of sensor signals. This design is therefore simple, reliable, and therefore cost-effective.

[0011] To connect the displaceable longitudinal torsion shaft to the actuator in a rotationally locked, force-transmitting manner, the longitudinal torsion shaft comprises at least one conical or truncated-conical component at one location, which is connected to the actuator's output shaft, motor shaft, or actuator shaft in a rotationally locked manner via at least one belt. In this case, the conical component is stationary on the longitudinal torsion shaft, and at least one cylindrical spring element is located on the displaceable longitudinal torsion shaft between the conical component and the stationary component. This ensures that during normal operation, i.e., during the opening of the pusher, the displaceable longitudinal torsion shaft is held in a fixed position due to the spring force. The spring is compressed only when resistance is generated, as the worm wheel continues to rotate, forcing the displaceable longitudinal torsion shaft to move against this spring force. However, once the resistance is eliminated and no longer acts, the longitudinal torsion shaft, along with the conical component, is pushed back to its initial position by the spring force. Here, the worm wheel again meshes with the teeth of the gear.

[0012] The actuator is advantageously an electric motor with a motor shaft / output shaft having a constant speed.

[0013] According to a preferred embodiment, the output shaft is parallel to the longitudinal drive shaft, which is perpendicular to the central axis of the gear shaft or gear and perpendicular to the direction of movement of the actuator. This allows the use of a connecting belt or belt drive between the actuator output shaft and the longitudinal torsion shaft aligned parallel thereto, so that the rotational motion of the output shaft drives the longitudinal torsion shaft. Thus, the conical member is driven by one or more belts. The resulting rotation of the conical member in turn drives the longitudinal torsion shaft, which in turn causes the worm gear to rotate. As long as the worm gear does not disengage from the gear due to resistance, it will mesh with the gear.

[0014] The conical part advantageously has a series of annular recesses extending over the entire circumference of the belt for insertion. This allows the belt to be positioned using different annular recesses with different diameters, thereby achieving different operating speeds of the longitudinal torsion shaft and, consequently, different operating speeds of the worm gear, and thus different levels of power transmission. Logically, this also affects the speed of the pusher's opening process or its linear movement.

[0015] The annular recesses can be connected to each other so that they form a spiral extending around the entire conical part. The result of this is that the pusher experiences different opening speeds depending on its current position, so as to achieve a fast opening speed at the beginning of the movement and a slow opening speed at the end of the movement.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment, the door opener is arranged in an upper wall element of the dishwasher or washing machine. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A further advantageous embodiment is shown in conjunction with the following drawing. It shows:

[0018] Figure 1 A perspective view shows a front view and a top view of a dishwasher with a built-in door opener according to the invention when closed;

[0019] Figure 2 Shown in perspective Figure 1 Dishwasher shown, but with door slightly open;

[0020] Figure 3 A door opener according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown in a top view;

[0021] Figure 4 A door opener according to another embodiment is shown in a partial top view, with the worm gear in a first position;

[0022] Figure 5 yes Figure 4 a partial top view shown with the worm gear in a second position;

[0023] Figure 6 A door opener according to another embodiment of the present invention is shown in a partial top view; and

[0024] Figure 7 The top view is also shown according to Figure 6 but with the worm gear in a new position. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Figure 1 The dishwasher 1 is shown in a front and top perspective view with the door 2 closed. In the upper region 2a of the closed door there is a non-visible door lock having individual components which are not shown in greater detail and which interacts with the door opener 5 during the opening process.

[0026] The door is provided with a door handle 3 for opening the door. A door opener 5 according to the invention is arranged in the upper region of the dishwasher, ie in the upper wall element 4 .

[0027] Figure 2 Shown as Figure 1 A dishwasher is shown in a perspective view with the door open. This illustration shows that the door opener 5 has extended its pusher 6, which can be moved in a pusher movement direction 7 to slightly open the door after the wash cycle to allow steam to escape. To this end, the pusher 6 pushes the door forward in the upper area 2.

[0028] Figure 3 As can be clearly seen from this figure, the pusher 6 can be moved forward or backward in a linear motion in the pusher movement direction 7 to push the door open. Figure 2For this purpose, the pusher 6 has a toothed rack 6 a which can be driven by means of a second gear wheel 20 .

[0029] The actuator 10 may be in the form of an electric motor, which is arranged in the door opener housing 8. The actuator drives an output shaft 11, which rotates at a constant speed due to the drive of the actuator.

[0030] The output shaft 11 is in turn connected via a belt 12 to a longitudinal torsion shaft 14 which is rotatably mounted in a first bearing 15 and a second bearing 16 opposite the door opener housing 8 .

[0031] The belt engages in a channel-like recess of a plurality of recesses in a first conical part 13 which is fixed on a longitudinal torsion shaft 14 .

[0032] The helical compression spring 17 ensures that a certain distance is maintained between the first conical part 13 and the second bearing 16 which is stationary relative to the door opener housing 8, thereby keeping the worm gear 18 meshing with the first gear 19 on the outer peripheral side 19a. Figure 4 As shown, the longitudinal torsion axis 14 is displaceable in a longitudinal displacement direction 23 .

[0033] The first gear 19 and the second gear 20 are rotatably mounted according to a first rotation direction 22 and a second rotation direction 21 and can move relative to each other in a meshing manner, so that the rotation of the worm gear 18 causes the rack 6a to move back and forth via the two gears, so that the pusher 6 can push the door open by moving linearly in the pusher movement direction 7.

[0034] Figure 4 and Figure 5 A portion of a door opener according to the invention is shown in plan view, wherein the two figures differ in that the belt 12 and the worm wheel 18 are arranged in two different positions.

[0035] As previously mentioned, the longitudinal torsion shaft 14 is arranged so that it can move in the longitudinal displacement direction 23, i.e. along its axis. As a result, the longitudinal torsion shaft 14 can move even if the belt 12 continues to drive the second conical part 24 at a constant speed of the output shaft, but at the same time, the rack 6a of the pusher 6 can no longer move due to external forces acting on the pusher 6, which are not described in detail here.

[0036] Since the second conical component 24 is firmly connected to the longitudinal torsion shaft 14 as is the worm gear 18, these two components move to the right together with the longitudinal torsion shaft until the worm gear 18 is disengaged from the first gear 19 and its teeth, thereby decoupling the power transmission between the worm gear 18 and the first gear 19. Then, power is no longer transmitted from the worm gear 18 to the first gear 19 and the rack 6a, resulting in the pusher 6 no longer moving forward.

[0037] The gears are arranged such that they can rotate together with the first gear shaft 25 and the second gear shaft 26 , as indicated by the arrows, which are shown here in a first rotational direction 22 and a second rotational direction 21 .

[0038] When actuator 10 is switched on, output shaft 11 is driven. Roller 11a, mounted on the output shaft, is also driven, moving closed belt 12, thereby also driving second conical member 24. To this end, the second conical member has various second recesses 27, arranged parallel to one another and having varying diameters along their travel. This allows for varying door opening speeds by arranging belt 12 accordingly. This is because the rotational speed of longitudinal torsion shaft 14, via worm gear 18 and first and second gears 19 and 20, ultimately determines the speed of the linear movement of pusher rack 6a, and thus the speed of the entire pushing process.

[0039] When compared Figure 4 and Figure 5 , it is apparent that by selecting different second recesses 27 of the second conical member 24 to engage the belt 12 , different speeds of rotational movement of the longitudinal torsion shaft 14 can be achieved despite a constant speed of the actuator 10 .

[0040] Figure 6 and Figure 7 Another embodiment of a door opener according to the present invention is shown in cross-section and top view. In this representation, the first conical component 13 is also equipped with individual first recesses 28, but these are connected to one another so that they form a spiral. Consequently, the belt initially engages the first conical component 13 at the far right, then unwinds to the left on the first conical component due to the spiral shape of the first recesses 28, thereby slowing the speed of the pusher and the rotation of the longitudinal drive shaft 14. This results in a slower rotational motion of the longitudinal torsion shaft 14, as the diameter of the first conical component 13 increases from right to left.

[0041] Careful inspection Figure 7 In the diagram shown, it can be seen that the helical compression spring 17 is loaded with a force or pressure, i.e. the longitudinal torsion axis 14 is displaced to the right according to the longitudinal displacement direction 23. This occurs when the pusher 6 encounters resistance against its displacement direction during the pushing process, whereupon the worm gear 18 continues to be driven by the actuator 10 and the belt 12, but is displaced to the right due to the possible displacement of the longitudinal torsion axis 14 and is disengaged from the first gear 19. As a result, Figure 7 The position of the worm gear 18 shown results in a complete dynamic decoupling of the worm gear 18 from the longitudinal torsion shaft 14 on the one hand and from the gears 19, 20 and the pusher 6 on the other hand. Consequently, the pusher 6 is no longer subject to force and does not attempt to push the dishwasher door open against a resistance force not described in greater detail here.

[0042] Reference Signs List 1 dishwasher, 2 doors, 2a The upper area of ​​the door, 3 door handles, 4 Upper wall element of the dishwasher, 5 door openers, 6 pushers, 7 Pusher movement direction, 8 Door opener housing, 10 actuators, 11 output shaft, 11a Roller, 12 belts, 13 first tapered member, 14 longitudinal torsion axis, 15 first bearing, 16 Second bearing, 17 Helical compression spring, 18 turbines, 19 First gear, 20 Second gear, 21 Second direction of rotation, 22 First direction of rotation, 19a Circumferential edge area, 23 longitudinal displacement direction, 24 second tapered member, 25 first gear shaft, 26 Second gear shaft, 27 second recess, 28 First recess.

Claims

1. A door opener (5) with power transmission decoupling for a household appliance (1), comprising - an electric actuator (10), a pusher (6) arranged to be drivable by means of the actuator (10) for pushing open the door (2) of the household appliance (1), - at least one gear wheel engaged in the rack (6a) of the pusher (6) to convert the rotary motion into a linear movement of the pusher (6), It is characterized by The gear is connected to and driven by the actuator (10) by means of a worm gear (18) which is displaceable in a longitudinal displacement direction (23).

2. The door opener according to claim 1, It is characterized by The displaceable longitudinal torsion axis (14) of the worm gear (18) extends along the outer peripheral side (19a) of the second gear (20) or the other first gear (19) in the longitudinal displacement direction (23) of the gear plane, and the rotatable worm gear (18) arranged on the longitudinal torsion axis (14) can be positioned in front of, above or behind the first gear (19) or the second gear (20) by displacing the longitudinal torsion axis (14) when viewed in the first rotational direction (22) of the first gear (19) or the second rotational direction (21) of the second gear (20).

3. The door opener according to claim 1 or 2, It is characterized by At least one tapered component is arranged on a displaceable longitudinal torsion shaft (14), which is connected in a rotationally locked manner to an output shaft (11) of the actuator (10) by means of at least one belt (12).

4. The door opener according to claim 3, It is characterized by The conical part is arranged stationary on the longitudinal torsion shaft (14), and at least one cylindrical helical compression spring (17) is arranged on the displaceable longitudinal torsion shaft between the conical part and a second stationary bearing (16).

5. The door opener according to claim 3 or 4, It is characterized by The actuator (10) is an electric motor whose output shaft (11) has a constant speed.

6. The door opener according to any one of claims 3 to 5, It is characterized by The output shaft (11) is arranged parallel to the longitudinal torsion shaft (14), and the longitudinal torsion shaft (14) is arranged perpendicular to the first gear shaft (25) of the first gear (19), the second gear shaft (26) of the second gear (20), and perpendicular to the pusher moving direction (7) of the pusher (6).

7. The door opener according to any one of claims 3 to 6, It is characterized by The tapered member has full-circumference annular recesses for inserting the belt (12), and the recesses are arranged one after another.

8. The door opener according to claim 7, It is characterized by The recesses have different diameters.

9. The door opener according to claim 7 or 8, It is characterized by The first recesses (28) are connected to each other so that they as a whole form a spiral extending around the first tapered part (13).

10. Door opener according to any one of the preceding claims, It is characterized by The door opener (5) is arranged in an upper wall element (4) of a dishwasher (1) or a washing machine.

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