DISHWASHER WITH A MOTORIZED DOOR OPENING

Description

Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a dishwasher with a pivoting door. The pivoting door can pivot about a horizontal axis of rotation. The axis of rotation is located in a lower area of ​​the door. The dishwasher includes a pivot drive for pivoting the door from a first pivot position to a second pivot position using a pivoting force in the form of a pivoting movement. background

[0002] Dishwashers with a swivel drive are known. EP 0 541 974 shows a swivel drive for partially closing the dishwasher door after dishes have been loaded into the wash cabinet. The swivel drive increases the ease of use of the household appliance.

[0003] EP 2 336 469 shows a dishwasher with a pivot drive that can hold the door in a self-locking manner at least over a certain pivot angle range. The force exerted by the pivot drive on the door can be adjusted depending on the angle. In particular, the pivot drive can be calibrated so that even doors weighted with a decorative element can be reliably held in position.

[0004] EP 2 407 625 shows a dishwasher with a mechanism for locking the door.

[0005] EP 20 2020 104182U shows a motorized hinge in which the electric motor can be selectively and reversibly coupled and decoupled from an activation arm.

[0006] The self-locking mechanism works when the door is at rest. When the user pulls the door, it opens completely due to its own weight. The user must stop the door's opening movement so that it remains self-locked in position. Description of the invention

[0007] The task is to provide a dishwasher that offers increased ease of use.

[0008] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claim. Accordingly, a dishwasher comprises a pivotable door that is pivotably mounted about a horizontal axis of rotation in a lower region of the door, in particular in a lower half of the door. The dishwasher further comprises a pivot drive for pivoting the door from a first pivot position to a second pivot position by means of a pivoting force in the form of a pivoting movement.

[0009] The pivot drive is designed to bring the door to a standstill after the pivoting movement. To do this, the pivot drive exerts a braking force on the door. Specifically, the door is pivoted into a predetermined second position.

[0010] This device has the advantage that a pivot drive can pivot the door into any desired, particularly predetermined, position, and the door then remains stationary in this position. This behavior is only possible because the braking force exerted by the pivot drive brings the door to a standstill in the second pivot position. If no such braking force were acting on the door, the door would continue to move due to its weight and open completely. The door could therefore not be opened to any desired position, but only completely. Dishwashers with a self-locking function are known, but these only hold doors in position that have already come to a standstill.

[0011] If the door has a so-called "push-to-open" function, the pivot drive opens the door through a small angle of, for example, 7°. The pivot drive brakes the door at the end of the pivoting movement, bringing the door to a stop, and the user can then open the door further with their hand.

[0012] The door is closed in the first pivot position and only partially open in the second pivot position.

[0013] Advantageously, the pivot drive can have a connecting element, in particular a single connecting element, for transmitting the pivoting force and / or the braking force from a gear to the door.

[0014] The transmission of braking force and pivoting force via a common connecting element enables a simple design of the pivot drive. There is no need to provide separate systems for applying the pivoting force and the braking force to the door. The connecting element can transmit both pivoting forces, which can be used to move the door, and braking forces, which can be used to bring the door to a standstill.

[0015] In particular, the door has a coupling element to which the connecting element can be coupled, in particular positively coupled. By coupling the connecting element to the door, the pivoting and braking forces are transmitted to the door.

[0016] Coupling capability means that the connecting element can be coupled to and decoupled from the coupling element. This allows the gear and the door to be in a force-active connection only when pivoting and braking forces are exerted on the door. If the door is not being pivoted or braked by the pivot drive, the coupling between the connecting element and the door can be removed, allowing the user to move the door manually without this movement being blocked by the pivot drive. A positive-lock coupling is particularly useful for this application, in which both pivoting and braking forces, i.e. forces in different directions, are transmitted.

[0017] Advantageously, the coupling element can be arranged in a lower area, particularly in a lower half, of the door. In particular, the coupling element is rigidly connected to the door and / or is arranged on a tension arm of the door. A tension arm or a rigid coupling element allows both tensile and compressive forces to be transmitted from the pivot drive to the door.

[0018] In a further embodiment, the connecting element and the coupling element are coupled to each other at least during part of the pivoting movement. In particular, the connecting element and the coupling element coupled to one another only during the pivoting movement; and / or decoupled from one another after the pivoting movement, in particular immediately after the pivoting movement, and / or decoupled from one another before the pivoting movement, in particular immediately before the pivoting movement.

[0019] In particular, the connecting element and coupling element are only coupled when pivoting or braking forces are transmitted. When the pivot drive is not in operation, the connecting element and coupling element are decoupled, allowing the user to pivot the door manually.

[0020] In particular, the gear moves the connecting element in a rotary motion, whereby Both the pivoting force and the braking force are exerted by movement in a single direction of rotation, and / or the dishwasher is designed to operate the gear in only a single direction of rotation, and / or the rotational movement is not stopped to exert the braking force, and / or less than one complete rotation is required for the pivoting movement and the transmission of the braking force. The pivot drive can thus be designed in a particularly simple manner due to the aforementioned properties.

[0021] The dishwasher also includes a bearing pin, which is designed and arranged such that a central portion of the connecting element rests on the bearing pin during the pivoting movement. However, when the door is fully opened, the connecting element is not in contact with the bearing pin. This allows the connecting element to lift off the bearing pin when the door is fully opened.

[0022] In particular, the connecting element can transmit both tensile and compressive forces. The connecting element can be made of a rigid material. This definition excludes the possibility that the connecting element could be, for example, a cable, which can only transmit tensile forces. Common door opening mechanisms are equipped with a cable pull mechanism.

[0023] In particular, the connecting element comprises a hook which can be coupled to the coupling element of the door.

[0024] The dishwasher advantageously includes a self-locking device. This is designed to keep the door self-locked at least over a pivoting angle range, particularly in the second pivoting position. Self-locking means that the door maintains its pivoted position within a certain, not arbitrarily small, angular range when the user or the drive releases it and it has come to a standstill. The pivoting angle range is preferably at least 50°, particularly at least 80°.

[0025] The self-locking device is designed in such a way that it can only hold the door in a pivoting position when at rest, but cannot bring the door to a standstill during pivoting. The pivot drive, with its braking force, ensures that the door is brought to a standstill.

[0026] The pivoting movement advantageously occurs over a pivoting angle range of a maximum of 30°, in particular a maximum of 20°, and in particular a maximum of 10°. The pivoting angle range is correspondingly small, so that, for example, the door can be moved from a closed position to a slightly open position, allowing the user to then fully open the door.

[0027] Advantageously, the control starts the pivoting movement as soon as a dishwashing process is finished, or as soon as a sensor detects a certain process, in particular a touch or a push of the door by a user, and / or a pulling of the door by the user.

[0028] In particular, the pivoting movement lasts a maximum of three seconds, especially a maximum of two seconds, especially a maximum of one second. Due to the braking force exerted by the pivot drive, the door can be opened at a comparatively high speed. Short description of the drawings

[0029] Further embodiments, advantages, and applications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description with reference to the figures. These show: Fig. 1 a door opening mechanism when the door is closed; Fig. 2 the door opening mechanism with a door opening angle of 3°; Fig. 2a a detailed view of the Fig. 2 ; Fig. 3 the door opening mechanism with a door opening angle of 7°; Fig. 4 the door opening mechanism at a door opening angle of 7°, with the coupling element and connecting element decoupled from each other; Fig. 5 the door opening mechanism, whereby the connecting element moves back to the starting position; and Fig. 6 the door opening mechanism when the door is fully open. Way to implement the invention

[0030] The Fig. 1This image shows a side view of the hinge area of ​​a dishwasher. It depicts the lower section of the dishwasher door 1. The outer side 2 of the door 1 forms the front of the appliance. Fig. 1 shows door 1 in its first pivoted position. In this first pivoted position, door 1 is closed. A dishwashing program can be run. Removing or loading dishes into or out of the wash cabinet is not possible when door 1 is closed.

[0031] During a pivoting movement, the door 1 rotates around a horizontal axis of rotation in a lower area of ​​the door 1. The position of the axis of rotation shifts during the pivoting movement, allowing a complex movement sequence of the door. A detailed description of the hinge area of ​​such a door 1 is provided, for example, in EP 2 336 469.

[0032] In the lower area of ​​the door 1 shown, a rigid pull arm 3 is arranged. The pull arm 3 is fixedly connected to the door 1 and pivots with the door 1. A cable 5 of a cable pull mechanism 6 is connected to the free end 4 of the pull arm 3. The cable 5 is guided over pulleys, with the pulley 7 in Fig. 1 is visible. As described in EP 2 336 469, this cable 5 is connected to a tension spring (not shown). The cable pull mechanism 6 and the tension spring exert a restoring force on the door 1, which counteracts the gravity of the door 1. By appropriately controlling the cable pull mechanism 6 and the tension spring, complete self-locking of the door 1 is achieved. Self-locking means that the door 1 is held in its pivoting position, provided the door is already at rest. In other words, the door 1 does not move from a rest position due to its gravity.

[0033] On the other hand, the cable pull mechanism 6 and the tension spring are not designed to stop a moving or pivoting door. If the user pulls the door 1 and releases it during the pivoting movement, the door 1 will continue its opening movement due to its gravity until it is fully open.

[0034] The Fig. 1 a pivot drive 8. The present pivot drive 8 is designed to open the door 1 over a certain angular range.

[0035] The pivot drive 8 comprises a gear 9, which is connected to a rigid connecting element 11 via a crank 10. The crank 10 is fixedly connected to the gear 9, i.e., a complete rotation of the gear 9 corresponds to a complete rotation of the crank 10. The crank 10 engages in an elongated recess 12 of the connecting element 11, wherein the elongated recess 12 is arranged at a first end of the connecting element 11. The crank 10 can move within the elongated recess 12.

[0036] Furthermore, the connecting element 11 is supported on a bearing pin 13. The bearing pin 13 has a fixed position relative to the dishwasher housing. The support of the connecting element 11 on the bearing pin 13 takes place within a recess 14 of the connecting element 11, wherein the recess 14 has an opening so that the support between the connecting element 11 and the bearing pin 13 can be removed.

[0037] The connecting element 11 has a hook shape at its second end, thus forming a connecting hook 15. This connecting hook 15 is designed to engage with a hook of the pull arm 3, the so-called pull arm hook 16, and to transmit a motive force and a braking force to it. The pull arm hook 16 represents a coupling element with which the connecting element 11 can be coupled. The movement of the gear 9 can thus be transmitted to the door 1 via the crank 10, the connecting element 11, and the pull arm 3. For force transmission, the connecting hook 15 and the pull arm hook 16 must be in a force connection.

[0038] The function of the described arrangement is explained in more detail below. Fig. 1Door 1 is in the closed position and the pivot drive is in its home position. The home position is indicated by the crank 10 pointing upwards from the gear 9. The connecting element 11 and the pull arm 3 are not touching. There is no power transmission from the gear 9 to door 1. The pivot drive is at rest.

[0039] If the user were to open door 1 manually, the pull arm hook 16 would move over the connecting hook 15 due to the rotational movement of door 1 and pull arm 3. The pull arm hook 16 would follow arrow 17 in its movement and would not collide with the connecting hook 15 or the connecting element 11. Door 1 can thus be opened manually without obstruction.

[0040] To make opening door 1 easier for the user, the dishwasher features a so-called "push-to-open" function. If the user activates the "push-to-open" function, the pivot drive 8 opens the door motor-driven. The user can activate the "push-to-open" function, for example, by pressing on the outside 2 of door 1 or by touching the outside 2 of door 1. The pressure exerted on door 2 or the touch of the outside 2 of door 1 is detected by a sensor and transmitted to a control unit, which sets the gear 9 or the pivot drive 8 in motion. The pivot drive 8 can also be activated automatically, for example, as soon as the dishwasher has completed a cleaning program.

[0041] The swivel movement triggered by gear 9 is in the Fig. 1 to 5 presented in detail. Based on the Fig. 1From the initial position shown, which represents the first pivot position, the gear 9 moves clockwise with its crank 10. The crank 10 pulls the connecting element 11 downward at its first end. Due to the support of the connecting element 11 on the bearing pin 13, the connecting hook 15 is thereby moved upward. The connecting element 11 comes into contact with the pull arm 3. The door 1 begins to open.

[0042] Fig. 2 shows the situation in which the connecting element 11 is in contact with the pull arm 3 at the contact point 18 and the door is already opened by 3°. The contact point 18 is shown in the enlarged detailed view of the Fig. 2a clearly visible. An upper side of the connecting element 11 is in contact with a lower side of the pull arm 3 at the contact point 18. The connecting element 11 pushes the pull arm 3 upward, so that the door 1 opens and rotates about a horizontal axis.

[0043] The gear 9 continues to rotate clockwise. The connecting element 11 with the connecting hook 15 moves further upwards and the pull arm 3 pivots with the door 1 further around a horizontal axis. The clearly defined movement sequences of the connecting element 11 and the pull arm 3 result in the connecting hook 15 and the pull arm hook 16 interlocking. By the engagement of the connecting hook 15 in the pull arm hook 16, the rotational movement of the pull arm 3 and the door 1 is slowed and finally stopped. The door 1 therefore comes into the Fig. 3 shown situation, which represents the second pivot position. In the second pivot position, door 1 has an opening angle α of 7°.

[0044] By further moving the gear 9 clockwise, the connecting hook 15 moves out of the tension arm hook 16. In the Fig. 4In the situation shown, the contact between the connecting element 11 and the pull arm 3 has already been eliminated. The door 1 does not move any further but remains in its position with opening angle α. The self-locking effect exerted by the cable mechanism 6 on the pull arm 3 ensures that the door 1 does not move any further.

[0045] The Fig. 5 shows a situation in which the movement of gear 9 has progressed even further. Starting from the Fig. 5 In the situation shown, the gear 9 continues to rotate with the crank 10 until the Fig. 1 shown starting position. The gear 9 has thus rotated completely once, and door 1 would open by an angle of 7°.

[0046] Starting at an opening angle of 7°, the user can grasp the door 1 and fully open it. When fully opened, the door 1 strikes the connecting element 11 from below. The connecting element 11 therefore moves upward and loses contact with the bearing pin 13. The connecting element 11 moves in such a way that the bearing pin 13 is guided through the opening of the recess 14.

[0047] It should be noted that the swivel movements in the Fig. 1 to 5 illustrated by several of the following situations. However, the pivoting movement is fluid and smooth, meaning that the gear rotates completely once at a constant speed during the pivoting movement.

[0048] While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in this application, it is to be clearly understood that the invention is not limited thereto and may be embodied in other ways within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Dishwasher with a pivotable door (1) which is pivotable about a horizontal axis of rotation in a lower region of the door (1), wherein the dishwasher has a pivot drive (8) in order to pivot the door (1) in a motorised manner by means of a pivoting force in the form of a pivoting movement from a first pivoting position to a second pivoting position, in particular to a predetermined second pivoting position, characterised in that the pivot drive (8) is adapted to bring the door (1) to a standstill in the second pivoting position after the pivoting movement by means of a braking force, the door (1) being closed in the first pivoting position and only partially open in the second pivoting position.

2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, wherein - the pivot drive (8) has a connecting element (11), in particular a single connecting element (11), for transmitting the pivoting force and / or the braking force from a gear (9) to the door (1), and - the door (1) has a coupling element (16) to which the connecting element (22) can be coupled, in particular positively coupled.

3. Dishwasher according to claim 2, wherein the coupling element (16) is arranged in a lower region, in particular in the lower half, of the door (1).

4. Dishwasher according to claim 3, wherein the coupling element (16) is - is rigidly connected to the door (1) and / or - is arranged on a pull arm (3), in particular on a rigid pull arm (3), of the door.

5. Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 4, adapted such that the connecting element (11) and the coupling element (16) are coupled to each other at least during part of the pivoting movement.

6. Dishwasher according to claim 5, wherein the connecting element (11) and the coupling element (16) - are coupled only during the pivoting movement, in particular only during part of the pivoting movement, and / or - are decoupled after the pivoting movement, in particular immediately after the pivoting movement, and / or - are decoupled before the pivoting movement, in particular immediately before the pivoting movement.

7. Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 6, adapted such that the gear (9) moves the connecting element (11) in a rotary movement, wherein - both the pivoting force and the braking force are exerted by movement in a single direction of rotation, and / or - the dishwasher is adapted to actuate the gear (9) in only one direction of rotation, and / or - the rotary movement is not stopped to exert the braking force, and / or - less than one complete rotation is required for the pivoting movement and the transmission of the braking force.

8. Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 7, comprising a bearing bolt (13), adapted and arranged such that a region, in particular a centre region, of the connecting element (11) is supported on the bearing bolt (13) during the pivoting movement.

9. Dishwasher according to claim 8, adapted such that the connecting element (11) is not in contact with the bearing bolt (13) when the door (1) is fully open.

10. Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the connecting element (11), in particular the only connecting element (11), - can transmit both tensile and compressive forces and / or - consists of a rigid material.

11. Dishwasher according to one of claims 2 to 10, wherein the connecting element (11) has a hook (15), in particular wherein the hook (15) can be coupled to the coupling element (16) of the door (1).

12. Dishwasher according to any one of claims 2 to 11, comprising a self-locking device adapted to keep the door (1) self-locked at least over a pivot angle range, in particular in the second pivoting position, in particular wherein the self-locking device is adapted to hold the door (1) in a pivoting position only in the stationary state, but cannot bring the door (1) to a standstill in the pivoting movement.

13. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pivoting movement takes place over a pivot angle range of at most 30°, in particular at most 20°, in particular at most 10°.

14. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit adapted such that the control unit starts the pivoting movement, - as soon as a dishwashing operation is completed, or - a sensor system senses a specific process, in particular a touching or pressing of the door (1) by a user, and / or a pulling open of the door (1) by the user.

15. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, adapted such that the pivoting movement lasts a maximum of three seconds, in particular a maximum of two seconds, in particular a maximum of one second.