Dishwasher

Abstract

The invention relates to a dishwasher with a washing container (3) providing a washing chamber (4) for receiving items to be cleaned and a spray device (7) arranged within the washing container (3) for applying washing solution to the items to be cleaned, wherein the spray device (7) has a rotatably mounted spray arm (8, 9, 10) which is passively driven, characterized by a braking and holding device (24) arranged within the washing container (3) and cooperating with the spray arm (8, 9, 10), which is configured to brake a rotational movement of the spray arm (8, 9, 10) and to hold the spray arm (8, 9, 10) in a braked position.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a dishwasher with a washing container providing a washing chamber for receiving items to be cleaned and with a spray device arranged within the washing container for applying washing liquor to items to be cleaned, wherein the spray device has a rotatably mounted spray arm which is passively driven.

[0002] Dishwashers of this type are known from the prior art. Reference is therefore made to EP 2 893 862 B1 as an example.

[0003] A dishwasher of this type has a wash tub that provides a wash chamber. When used as intended, the wash tub serves to hold items to be cleaned, which can be, in particular, dishes and / or cutlery.

[0004] A spray device located within the wash tub is used to supply the washware to be cleaned with wash liquor, i.e., rinse liquid. This device typically has a plurality of rotatably mounted spray arms. Typically, there are two or three such spray arms within the wash tub, arranged one above the other in the vertical direction of the dishwasher.

[0005] A supply line connects one end of the spray arms and the other end to a circulation pump to supply the spray arms with wash solution. When used as intended, the circulation pump draws in wash solution accumulating in a sump or at the bottom of the wash tub and distributes it to the spray arms for feeding the washware. The spray arms are equipped with spray nozzles to ensure the targeted delivery of wash solution to the washware.

[0006] Each spray arm is provided with at least one spray nozzle, which is aligned so that the spray arm rotates when loaded with wash liquor, as a result of the spray jet emitted by this spray nozzle. A spray arm designed in this way is passively driven. "Passive" because no separate drive is provided to initiate the rotating movement of the spray arm. The rotating movement of the spray arm during use is caused solely by the pressurized application of wash liquor to the spray arm by the circulation pump.

[0007] In contrast to a "passively driven" spray arm, "actively driven" spray arms are also known from the prior art, for example, from DE 10 2021 205 923 A1. The dishwasher previously known from this document uses a spray arm driven by a separately designed electric motor drive unit. A dishwasher of this type does not have such a drive.

[0008] Although state-of-the-art dishwashers have proven themselves in everyday practical use, there is still room for improvement. In particular, it is desirable to achieve improved cleaning results so that even heavily soiled items can be cleaned as intended, preferably without the user having to select a special cleaning program beforehand. Therefore, TaskThe invention aims to further develop the design of a dishwasher of the type in question so that an improved cleaning result can be achieved when used as intended.

[0009] To Solution To achieve this object, the invention proposes a dishwasher of the type mentioned at the outset, which is characterized by a braking and holding device arranged within the washing container and cooperating with the spray arm, which is designed to brake a twisting movement of the spray arm and to hold the spray arm in its position in a braked position.

[0010] The dishwasher according to the invention has, in a conventional manner, a passively driven spray arm. According to the invention, a passively driven spray arm is understood to mean a spray arm for which no separate drive, in particular no separate motor drive, is provided to initiate a rotational movement of the spray arm. A passively driven spray arm is understood, in particular, to mean a spray arm in which the rotational movement of the spray arm, during use, is caused solely by the pressurized application of wash liquor to the spray arm by means of the circulation pump.

[0011] The dishwasher according to the invention has a braking and holding device arranged within the washing compartment, which interacts with the spray arm. This braking and holding device serves to stop the rotating movement of the spray arm, which is passively driven during normal use. In such a stopped position, the spray arm continues to dispense wash liquor as intended, but due to the lack of rotating movement, it does so in a targeted manner only in one zone provided by the wash cabinet. Consequently, the washware located in this zone is subjected to intensive cleaning, which ultimately means that even heavily soiled or heavily soiled washware can achieve the desired cleaning result.

[0012] The braking and holding device is designed according to the invention to slow down any twisting movement of the spray arm and to hold the spray arm in a braked position. This results, as already described, in zones of the wash cabinet being able to be subjected to intensive exposure to rinse water, so that items placed in these zones by the user can be subjected to particularly intensive cleaning. This advantageously makes it possible to achieve the desired cleaning results even with heavily soiled items using ECO or standard wash programs, namely by placing these heavily soiled items in the so-called intensive wash zones of the wash tub, so that these items are more intensively exposed to rinse water by a spray arm that is braked and stopped during normal use.

[0013] The inventive design makes it easy for a user to clean even heavily soiled items as desired by placing them in the designated zone of the wash cabinet. In this context, it is particularly unnecessary for the user to select special wash programs. Instead, conventional ECO or standard programs can be used, which advantageously contributes to saving resources, in particular water and / or heating energy. In this respect, the inventive design proves to be advantageous in two respects: firstly, it allows resource-efficient operation of the dishwasher, and secondly, it enables even heavily soiled items to be cleaned as desired.

[0014] A particular advantage of the invention is that the braking and holding device allows the user to specify a zone for intensive cleaning. For example, it can be provided that dishes to be cleaned by the user for the purpose of intensive cleaning do not have to be positioned in a special area of ​​the wash cabinet intended for this purpose, so that the user has free choice regarding the placement of the dishes and only after the wash cabinet has been loaded with dishes does the user determine via an input direction of the dishwasher which area or zone of the wash cabinet is to be subjected to a special intensive cleaning in the subsequent wash program. Such a development of the invention provides additional operating convenience for the user, since zones for possible intensive cleaning can be freely selected and specified by the user.However, in this case too, the design of a braking and holding device according to the invention is crucial, which is designed to brake a twisting movement of the spray arm and to hold the spray arm in its position in a braked position.

[0015] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the braking and holding device interacts with the spray arm mechanically, in particular magnetically.

[0016] The interaction according to the invention between the braking and holding device on the one hand and the spray arm on the other hand is preferably mechanical. In the simplest case, for example, a movable lever can be provided which, in a first position, allows the spray arm to rotate freely. In a second position of the lever, free rotation of the spray arm is prevented, so that in the event of rotation, the spray arm runs into a stop against the lever and pauses its rotational movement in this position until the lever is returned to its first position. The lever is transferred from the first position to the second position and vice versa by means of the braking and holding device.

[0017] It is particularly preferred, however, if the operative connection between the braking and holding device on the one hand and the spray arm on the other is magnetic. In this case—as will be explained in more detail below—magnetic bodies and counterparts are used, which allow or block any possible twisting movement of the spray arm solely through magnetic force. The magnetic operative connection is preferred because it is less prone to wear and produces less noise.

[0018] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the braking and holding device has a magnetic body arranged to be movable in relation to the spray arm.

[0019] According to this particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the braking and holding device comprises a magnetic body. When used as intended, this interacts with the spray arm, allowing the spray arm to be selectively released or stopped from rotating.

[0020] The magnetic body of the braking and holding device is designed to be movable relative to the spray arm. It can therefore be moved from a first position to a second position and vice versa. This allows the magnetic body to be moved from a position in which it is operatively connected to the spray arm to a second position in which this interaction with the spray arm does not exist. This allows the rotational movement of the spray arm to be specifically influenced by simply changing the position of the magnetic body.

[0021] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the braking and holding device has an electric motor drive that interacts with the magnetic body.

[0022] The electric motor drive enables movement of the magnetic body, allowing the magnetic body to be moved from a first position to a second position and vice versa. The electric motor drive can preferably be actuated program-controlled on the dishwasher side, so that movement of the magnetic body occurs depending on the sequence of a washing program performed by the dishwasher.

[0023] Accordingly, the movement of the spray arm interacting with the magnetic body is also determined depending on the course of a washing program carried out by a dishwasher.

[0024] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the spray arm has a plurality of wings, wherein at least one wing has a counterpart that interacts with the magnetic body of the braking and holding device.

[0025] The design, positioning, and material selection of the magnetic body and the counterpart on the spray arm side are such that they either attract or disengage depending on the position of the magnetic body. With the magnetic body positioned accordingly, it is possible to lock the spray arm in its rotating movement by attracting the counterpart carried by the spray arm to the magnetic body, thus preventing further rotating movement of the spray arm. In this case, the magnetic body is in its locked position.

[0026] As soon as the magnetic body is moved from its locked position to its so-called release position, the magnetic body and the counterpart on the spray arm side are spaced apart to such an extent that the attractive force exerted by the magnetic body is no longer sufficient to lock the counterpart on the spray arm side and thus the spray arm. The spray arm, which is loaded with rinsing solution and thus passively driven, can thus rotate as intended in the release position of the magnetic body.

[0027] Due to the magnetic interaction between the magnetic body and its counterpart, the spray arm can be braked as intended and held in its braked position by moving the magnetic body from its release position to its locked position. Conversely, the spray arm can be easily released again by moving the magnetic body from its locked position back to its release position. In this release position, the spray arm can rotate freely as intended.

[0028] According to a further feature of the invention, the magnetic body is designed to be transferable from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa by means of an electric motor drive. The first end position can be referred to as the locked position and the second end position as the released position. Since the magnetic body is transferred from one end position to the other end position and vice versa by means of the electric motor drive, it is advantageously permitted to provide for movement of the magnetic body depending on the wash program being carried out by the dishwasher. This allows the items to be cleaned to be intensively exposed to wash liquor in the intensive wash zones of the wash cabinet provided for this purpose at specific times during a wash program. This advantageously enables targeted influence on the intended cleaning of particularly heavily soiled items.

[0029] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the magnetic body is provided by a rotatably mounted lever.

[0030] According to this particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the braking and holding device has a lever that is mounted for rotation. When used as intended, a rotational movement of the lever can be effected via the device's drive.

[0031] The lever provides the magnetic body for the braking and holding device. When the lever is rotated, the position of the magnetic body also changes, so that, as a result of the lever's rotation, the magnetic body can be moved from its first end position to its second end position and vice versa. The rotatable design of a lever for moving the magnetic body represents a simple design measure that is inexpensive to implement, while remaining resistant to failure, even over the entire service life of a dishwasher.

[0032] According to a further feature of the invention, the braking and holding device provides stops for the lever. The device-side stops for the lever define the previously explained end positions of the magnetic body. As soon as the lever rests against a first stop, the first end position of the magnetic body is reached. During the rotating movement of the lever until the second stop is reached, the magnetic body is then moved from the first end position to its second end position. The advantage of the device-side stops lies in the particular fact that the magnetic body can move accurately to defined end positions.

[0033] According to a further feature of the invention, the lever interacts with the electric motor drive via the interposition of a slip clutch. The slip clutch advantageously makes it possible for the lever to be moved until it reaches a stop against one of the two stops provided on the device in order to assume a defined end position of the magnetic body. This eliminates the risk of mechanical destruction of the lever, the electric motor drive, and / or any gearing arranged between them. In the event of an overload, i.e. when the lever moves against one of the two stops provided on the device, the slip clutch interposed between the lever and the electric motor drive slips. As a result, both the lever and the electric motor drive are protected from mechanical force overload.

[0034] According to a further feature of the invention, in this context, the lever is movable in a time-controlled manner. Thus, if the lever is rotated, the lever is driven by an electric motor for a specific period of time, namely for a period of time that is reliably sufficient to move the lever until it reaches one of the two stops on the device. The slip clutch provided according to the invention ensures that upon reaching one of the two stops, the slip clutch slips while the drive continues by the electric motor, thus preventing an impermissibly high force from being applied to the lever as described above.

[0035] The combination of a slip clutch and a time-controlled lever drive advantageously eliminates the need for limit position sensors or additional control and / or regulation devices for determining the end positions of the magnet body. This also results in a simple and therefore cost-effective design for the braking and holding device according to the invention, which is robust when used as intended.

[0036] According to a further feature of the invention, the braking and holding device comprises a second movably arranged magnetic body and a second electric motor drive cooperating therewith. This configuration makes it possible to brake and hold the spray arm in a further position relative to the braking and holding device. The possible number of intensive rinsing positions that the spray arm can assume when necessary can thus be increased.

[0037] According to a further feature of the invention, in this context, it is provided that another wing of the spray arm has a counterpart that interacts with a magnetic body of the braking and holding device. This also allows the number of possible intensive rinsing positions of the spray arm to be increased. In this case, two counterparts can interact with one and the same device-side magnetic body, allowing a first orientation of the spray arm as well as a second orientation of the spray arm, with the second orientation of the spray arm differing from the first orientation of the spray arm by, for example, 180°.

[0038] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the braking and holding device has a housing which accommodates the magnetic body and the electromotive drive cooperating therewith in a watertight manner.

[0039] This design advantageously allows for retrofitting even to existing dishwashers. The braking and holding device is located inside the wash tub and housed in a waterproof housing. The housing, including the components it accommodates during normal use, can thus be retrofitted into the wash tub of an existing dishwasher. For proper operation, it is only necessary to equip the spray arm with appropriate counterparts so that an effective connection can be established with the magnetic bodies on the device.

[0040] According to a further feature of the invention, the housing is provided with a connecting piece for cable routing. In the fully assembled state, this connecting piece extends through an opening in the dishwasher's tub, through which cabling can be routed to the electric motor drive provided by the braking and holding device. Advantageously, no further assembly work is required for retrofitting.

[0041] As described above, the interaction according to the invention between the braking and holding device on the one hand and the spray arm on the other hand is preferably mechanical. According to a further exemplary embodiment, the braking and holding device can comprise a lever arranged so as to be movable relative to the spray arm. For example, the lever can be pivotable and carry a locking means arranged thereon, which can be pivoted relative to the lever into a movement path described by the spray arm. In this further exemplary embodiment, it is therefore not necessary for the braking and holding device to interact magnetically with the spray arm.

[0042] This lever can preferably be moved from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa by twisting. This twistability of the lever offers the advantage of being able to move a spray arm, which is blocked in its twisting movement, back and forth alternately, thus increasing the area of ​​the wash tub that is intensively exposed to the wash solution by the spray arm. In particular, larger items to be washed, such as pots, can be subjected to the desired intensive cleaning.

[0043] The lever is not in direct contact with the spray arm to be blocked, but rather a locking mechanism is provided, which is supported by the lever. This locking mechanism can be pivoted relative to the lever and can therefore be moved into a path of movement defined by the spray arm.

[0044] This embodiment of the invention, which is based on a pivotable lever that interacts with the spray arm to block it, has proven to be extremely robust, reliable in use, and long-lasting in operation. The lever can be rotated from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa. In the first end position, the locking means is not pivoted relative to the lever, so that there is no blocking position for the spray arm. The spray arm can therefore rotate freely in this position. In the blocking position, the lever is moved to its second end position, and the locking means is moved relative to the lever so that it is pivoted into the path of movement of the spray arm. In this position, the locking means arranged on the lever blocks any twisting movement of the spray arm, thus stopping the spray arm in its movement and securing its position.In this position, the spray arm rests against the locking device, which prevents the spray arm from rotating further without first moving the locking device back.

[0045] According to a further feature of the invention, the braking and holding device comprises an electric motor drive that interacts with the lever. The electric motor drive enables movement of the lever, which allows the lever to be moved from a first position to a second position and vice versa by means of the electric motor drive. Actuation of the electric motor drive on the dishwasher side can preferably be program-controlled, so that movement of the lever occurs depending on the sequence of a washing program performed by the dishwasher. Accordingly, the movement of the spray arm that interacts with the lever is also determined depending on the sequence of a washing program performed by the dishwasher.

[0046] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the spray arm has a plurality of wings, wherein at least one wing has a counterpart which interacts with the lever of the braking and holding device.

[0047] The lever and the counterpart on the spray arm side are designed, positioned, and made of materials such that they either lock or unlock depending on the lever position. With the lever positioned accordingly, it is possible to lock the spray arm in its rotating movement by allowing the counterpart supported by the spray arm to engage the locking device supported by the lever, thus preventing further rotating movement of the spray arm.

[0048] As soon as the lever is turned from its locked position to its release position, the spray arm is released from its rotational movement, allowing it to rotate again. The spray arm, which is loaded with rinsing solution and thus passively driven, can thus rotate as intended when the lever is in the release position.

[0049] According to a further feature of the invention, the lever is designed to be rotatable by means of the electric motor drive from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa. The first end position can be referred to as the release position and the second end position as the blocking position. Since the lever is transferred from one end position to the other end position and vice versa by means of the electric motor drive, it is advantageously permitted to provide for movement of the lever depending on the wash program being carried out by the dishwasher. This allows the items to be cleaned to be intensively exposed to wash liquor in the intensive wash zones of the wash cabinet provided for this purpose at specific times during a wash program. This advantageously enables targeted influence on the intended cleaning of particularly heavily soiled items.

[0050] According to a further feature of the invention, the braking and holding device provides stops for the lever. The device-side stops for the lever define the previously explained end positions of the lever. As soon as the lever rests against a first stop, the first end position of the lever is reached. During the twisting movement of the lever until the second stop is reached, the lever is then moved from the first end position to its second end position. The advantage of the device-side stops lies in the particular fact that the lever can be accurately approached to defined end positions.

[0051] According to a further feature of the invention, the lever interacts with the electric motor drive via the interposition of a slip clutch. The slip clutch advantageously makes it possible for the lever to be moved until it reaches a stop against one of the two stops provided on the device in order to assume a defined end position. This eliminates the risk of mechanical destruction of the lever, the electric motor drive, and / or any gearing arranged between them. In the event of an overload, i.e. when the lever moves against one of the two stops provided on the device, the slip clutch interposed between the lever and the electric motor drive slips. As a result, both the lever and the electric motor drive are protected from mechanical force overload.

[0052] According to a further feature of the invention, the lever is movable in a time-controlled manner. Thus, if the lever is rotated, the lever is driven by an electric motor for a specific period of time, namely for a period of time that is reliably sufficient to rotate the lever until it reaches one of the two stops on the device. The slip clutch provided according to the invention ensures that upon reaching one of the two stops, the slip clutch slips while the drive continues to be driven by the electric motor, thus preventing an impermissibly high force from being applied to the lever as described above.

[0053] The combination of a slip clutch and a time-controlled lever drive advantageously eliminates the need for limit position sensors or additional control and / or regulation devices for determining the lever's end positions. This also results in a simple and therefore cost-effective design for the braking and holding device according to the invention, which is robust when used as intended.

[0054] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the braking and holding device has a housing which accommodates the electric motor drive in a watertight manner.

[0055] This design advantageously allows for retrofitting even to existing dishwashers. The braking and holding device is located inside the wash tub and housed in a waterproof housing. The housing, including the components it accommodates during normal use, can thus be retrofitted into the wash tub of an existing dishwasher. For proper operation, it is only necessary to equip the spray arm with appropriate counterparts, if necessary at all.

[0056] According to a further feature of the invention, the housing is provided with a connecting piece for cable routing. In the fully assembled state, this connecting piece extends through an opening in the dishwasher's tub, through which cabling can be routed to the electric motor drive provided by the braking and holding device. Advantageously, no further assembly work is required for retrofitting.

[0057] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the housing provides a compartment which is designed to accommodate the lever in its first end position.

[0058] The lever can be moved from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa in the manner already described. The first end position of the lever is the release position, i.e., the position of the lever in which the spray arm can rotate freely due to the absence of any blockage. According to the invention, the housing has a compartment that accommodates the lever in its first end position. Thus, the lever is advantageously securely held by the compartment in the release position, in particular, protecting it from mechanical interference by any items to be washed, especially when the user is loading and / or unloading the dishwasher. The lever is thus parked in a kind of "garage" when not in use, i.e., in its release position. Due to the compartment design according to the invention, it is largely protected from unwanted external influences.

[0059] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided in this context that the compartment has a roof element covering the lever in its first position, wherein the roof element has a liquid-permeable recess.

[0060] The compartment provides a roof element that covers the lever in its first position, i.e., in its first end position, and thus protects it from unwanted external influences from above. This roof element is equipped with a liquid-permeable recess, for example, with one or more parallel slots. This ensures that the lever can be flushed with wash water even in its release position, allowing any dirt adhering to the lever and / or located in the compartment to be rinsed out. This advantageously counteracts unwanted blockage of the lever by dirt, soiling, and / or the like in the dishwasher's wash chamber.

[0061] According to a further feature of the invention, the lever has a drive pin with a coded cross-section on the slip clutch side. This coding serves, in particular, to simplify assembly and disassembly and ensures that the lever is always correctly positioned relative to the slip clutch. In particular, the coding ensures that the stops interacting with the lever, which define the first and second end positions, are maintained during a corresponding twisting movement of the lever.

[0062] According to a further feature of the invention, a seal is arranged between the slip clutch and the lever. Since the rotatable lever is arranged outside the housing of the braking and holding device according to the invention, a seal is arranged between the housing and the lever, thus reliably preventing any unwanted fluid from entering the housing of the braking and holding device.

[0063] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the lever provides a bearing pin around which the locking means is pivotably arranged.

[0064] As described above, the lever carries a pivoting locking device. The locking device can be pivoted from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa. In the first end position of the locking device, the spray arm can rotate freely, whereas the spray arm is blocked in its rotational movement as soon as the locking device is moved to its second end position, i.e., rotated into a path of movement that can be described by the spray arm.

[0065] A pivoting pin is used to position the locking mechanism on the lever. The locking mechanism pivots around this pivoting pin.

[0066] According to a further feature of the invention, the locking means can be moved from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa. A spring element is provided, with the locking means arranged on the lever between the spring element and the lever, with the locking means resting against the lever in its first end position under spring preload. The spring element, and not an electric motor drive as in the case of the lever, thus serves to move the locking means from its first end position to its second end position.

[0067] In its first end position, the locking mechanism rests against the lever under spring tension. When the lever is now moved from its first end position to its second end position, a twisting movement of the locking mechanism is released, allowing it to pivot relative to the lever under spring force and rotate into the path of movement of the spray arm. As soon as the lever is moved from its second end position to its first end position, the locking mechanism moves against a pivoting aid, which ensures that as the lever continues to rotate, the locking mechanism pivots against the spring force acting on it.

[0068] The pivoting aid is preferably the roof element of the compartment. In the first end position of the lever, i.e., when the lever is released, it is located within the compartment provided by the housing of the braking and holding device. In this position, the locking device rests against the underside of the roof element, and the entire lever, including the locking device carried by it, is arranged within the compartment, largely protected from external influences.

[0069] If the lever is now pivoted by electric motor from this release position to its locking position, i.e., its second end position, the locking mechanism pivots automatically under spring force at the moment the compartment is left and subsequently straightens. The locking mechanism pivots into the circular path described by the spray arm. In this position of the lever and locking mechanism, a locking position is achieved, which prevents any free rotation of the spray arm.

[0070] If the lever is now to be moved back to its first end position, the lever is turned towards the compartment. Shortly before reaching the compartment, the locking mechanism strikes the roof element of the compartment. With continued turning of the lever into the compartment, a pivoting movement of the locking mechanism in relation to the lever is initiated, counter to the spring force acting on the locking mechanism, as a result of which the spring is preloaded. As soon as the locking element is pivoted in as a result of further turning of the lever, the lever together with the locking element can come to rest completely within the compartment. In this position, the locking mechanism is fully pivoted in and is held in its position relative to the lever by the roof element of the compartment. In this position, the lever and locking mechanism enable the spray arm to rotate freely in the manner described above.

[0071] The design described above is structurally simple and therefore inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. Only one electric motor drive is used, namely the lever. The locking mechanism pivots automatically into its open, i.e., locked, position by spring force. The locking mechanism is moved into the retracted position, counter to the spring force, by means of the lever's electric motor drive. A pivoting aid is provided, against which the locking mechanism moves when the lever is moved into the release position, causing the locking mechanism to pivot into the release position.

[0072] As soon as the lever is outside the compartment and the locking device is extended as described above, the rotational movement of the spray arm is blocked. The spray arm rests against the locking device either by itself or with a counterpart provided for this purpose. In this position, the lever can be alternately pivoted back and forth, from the second end position to an intermediate position in which the lever has not yet returned to the compartment. Such a back-and-forth pivoting movement of the lever causes a spray arm resting against it to also move back and forth, which, in contrast to a non-back-and-forth movement, enables an enlargement of the intensive rinsing zone.In this respect, the pivotability of the lever, in contrast to the generic state of the art, also has the advantage that the spray arm is not statically blocked in a specific position, but rather that it is possible to move the spray arm back and forth at least a few degrees even in the blocked position by means of a twisting movement of the lever that blocks the spray arm in its twisting movement. This allows the intensive rinsing area supplied with rinse water by the spray arm in the blocked position to be increased, which allows the user to intensively clean larger items, even those that are larger than the originally intended intensive rinsing zone. This not only enables the cleaning of larger items, but under certain circumstances also the intensive rinsing of several items arranged next to one another.

[0073] In this context, the invention further proposes a method for operating a dishwasher of the inventive design, in which the lever is moved back and forth when the locking means is rotated into the path of movement of the spray arm.

[0074] The invention proposes a dishwasher design that allows the rotational movement of a spray arm to be slowed down if necessary, and that the spray arm can be stopped and secured in this stopped position. This results in an intensive exposure of the wash items with wash liquor, specifically those items directly associated with the stopped spray arm, i.e., those items that are directly reached by the wash liquor delivered by the spray arm during its intended use. It is permissible to provide zones within the wash cabinet that can be used as intensive wash zones, and in which the spray arm can be stopped for a predeterminable period of time, depending on the wash program being run by the dishwasher.

[0075] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the figures. Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a dishwasher according to the invention; Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a spray arm of the spray device of the dishwasher according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 in schematic detail view of the spray arm positioned in the washing chamber of the dishwasher according to Fig. 2 ; Fig. 4 in a partially sectioned perspective view of a braking and holding device according to the invention; Fig. 5 in a schematic perspective view of the braking and holding device according to the invention according to Fig. 4 ; Fig. 6 in schematic perspective view a braking and holding device arranged in the washing chamber of the dishwasher according to Fig. 5 ; Fig. 7 in schematic plan view from above, a section of the braking and holding device according to Fig. 5 ; Fig. 8 in schematic perspective view, section of the braking and holding device according to Fig. 7 ; Fig. 9 in schematic perspective view the braking and holding device according to Fig. 8 in partially assembled position; Fig. 10 in schematic top view, a section of the area of ​​the washing container of the dishwasher for arranging the braking and holding device according to Fig. 8 ; Fig. 11 in schematic perspective view, section of the braking and holding device according to Fig. 8 ; Fig. 12 in schematic sectional view the braking and holding device according to Fig. 11 ; Fig. 13 shows a schematic plan view from above of the functioning of the embodiment according to the invention, wherein the spray arm is in a first position; Fig. 14 shows a schematic representation of the functioning of the embodiment according to the invention, wherein the spray arm is in a second position; Fig. 15 shows a schematic perspective view of a spray arm from below; Fig. 16 shows a schematic representation of the spray arm in a second position according to Fig. 14 ; Fig. 17 schematic representation of the spray arm Fig. 16in a third position; Fig. 18 shows a schematic representation of a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 19 shows a schematic perspective view of a further embodiment of the braking and holding device according to the invention with a lever in a first end position; Fig. 20 shows a schematic perspective view of the braking and holding device according to Fig. 19 with a lever in a second end position; Fig. 21 in schematic perspective view the braking and holding device according to Fig. 19 in partially assembled position; Fig. 22 in a schematic exploded view of a lever according to the invention; Fig. 23 in a schematic plan view from above the washing chamber of the dishwasher with a spray arm in rotation and the braking and holding device according to Fig. 19 ; Fig. 24 in schematic plan view from above the washing chamber Fig. 23with a spray arm blocked in its rotational movement; Fig. 25 in schematic perspective view the braking and holding device according to Fig. 19 in partial section; Fig. 26 in schematic section the braking and holding device according to Fig. 19 ; Fig. 27 in a schematic perspective view from below a spray arm; Fig. 28 in a schematic perspective view the spray arm after Fig. 27 in a detail view; Fig. 29 in schematic perspective view the spray arm according Fig. 27 in a further detail view; Fig. 30 in a schematic plan view from above a reciprocating spray arm according to a first view; Fig. 31 in a schematic plan view from above the braking and holding device with a lever located in a second end position; Fig. 32 in a schematic plan view from above the braking and holding device according to Fig. 31with a lever in an intermediate position; Fig. 33 in a schematic perspective view the braking and holding device according to the invention with a lever in an intermediate position and Fig. 34 in a schematic perspective view the braking and holding device according to Fig. 33 with a lever in a second end position.

[0076] Fig. 1 shows a dishwasher 1 according to the invention in a purely schematic side view.

[0077] The dishwasher 1 comprises, in a conventional manner, a housing 2 that accommodates a washing tub 3. The washing tub 3, in turn, provides a washing chamber 4 for receiving the items to be cleaned. For loading the washing chamber 4 with items to be cleaned, the washing tub 3 has a loading opening 5. This loading opening 5 can be closed in a fluid-tight manner by means of an appliance door 6, which is mounted for rotation about a horizontally extending pivot axis.

[0078] During intended use, the items to be cleaned are exposed to rinsing liquor, also called rinsing liquid, for which purpose the dishwasher 1 is equipped with a spray device 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the spray device 7 includes three spray arms 8, 9, and 10, which are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction 11. However, fewer or more spray arms can also be provided.

[0079] Dishwashing baskets are used to hold the items to be cleaned, whereby the illustration according to Fig. 1 three washing baskets 12, 13, and 14 can be seen. These washing baskets 12, 13, and 14 are arranged one above the other in the vertical direction 11, with a lower basket 14, an upper basket 13 arranged above them in the vertical direction 11, and a cutlery drawer 12 arranged above the upper basket 13 in the vertical direction 11.

[0080] The washing baskets 12, 13 and 14 are each designed to be movable out of or into the washing chamber 4, for which purpose each washing basket 12, 13 and 14 is supported by basket guide rails. Viewed towards the loading opening 5, each washing basket 12, 13 and 14 has a left-hand basket guide rail and a right-hand basket guide rail. For better clarity, these basket guide rails are arranged in Fig. 1 not shown in detail.

[0081] Fig. 2shows in a schematic perspective view the exemplary design of the lower spray arm 10 of the spray device 7 in the vertical direction.

[0082] The spray arm 10 has a nozzle 15 for fluid connection to a wash liquor supply line. A locking nut, also called a locking ring 16, is used to arrange and fix the position of the spray arm 10 in the wash tub 3. This can be loosened by the user as required, allowing the spray arm 10 to be installed or removed.

[0083] In the embodiment shown, the spray arm 10 has two wings 17 and 18. In the intended use, these are mounted so as to be rotatable about a common axis of rotation 45, which axis of rotation 45 is defined by the nozzle 15.

[0084] According to the Fig. 2In the embodiment shown, the wing 17 of the spray arm 10 is equipped with a plurality of nozzles 19 and 20, respectively, through which, when used as intended, washing liquor is discharged from the spray arm side towards the items to be cleaned. As shown in the illustration according to Fig. 2 As can be seen in this context, a nozzle 20 of the wing 17 is designed as a drive nozzle, which, when the spray arm 10 is exposed to rinsing liquid as intended, causes it to rotate. The spray arm 10 is therefore a passively driven spray arm.

[0085] How Fig. 2As can also be seen, the wing 18 carries a satellite arm 21, which is rotatable in relation to the wing 18 and thus also in relation to the spray arm 10. The satellite arm 21 also has wings 22 and 23, which are equipped with corresponding nozzles 19 and 20, respectively, and through which the rinsing solution is dispensed when used as intended.

[0086] Fig. 3 shows a schematic view from above of the washing container 3 and its base. This illustration shows the spray arm 10, which is mounted as intended in the washing container 3. As can also be seen from this illustration, the plane provided by the base of the washing container 3 can be divided into four zones, which, according to the illustration according to Fig. 3are numbered in Roman numerals. These zones are also referred to as intensive rinsing zones. One of the zones marked is designated as an intensive rinsing zone if the spray arm 10 is stopped in a position in which the satellite arm 21, which continues to rotate, is located in this zone, as shown in Fig. 3 This is illustrated by way of example using Zone IV. In this position of the spray arm 10, the items to be washed in Zone IV are intensively sprayed with wash liquor due to the satellite arm 21 still rotating.

[0087] In order to be able to brake the spray arm 10 in its rotational movement and to hold it in its braked position, a braking and holding device 24 provided according to the invention is used, as can be seen from a summary in particular of the Figs. 4 and 5 and 7 to 12.

[0088] The braking and holding device 24 has a housing 25. This housing, in turn, has a base body 26 and a cover 27. The base body 26 is designed like a shell open on one side, which, during its intended use, is closed by the cover 27, preferably in a watertight manner.

[0089] Within the housing 25, an electric motor drive 30, a gear 31, a slip clutch 32 and a lever 28 are arranged, as can be seen in particular from a synopsis of the Figs. 7 and 8 In the intended use, the electric motor drive 30 can cause a pivoting movement of the lever 28.

[0090] As can be seen particularly from the presentation after Fig. 11The housing 25 provides two stops 38 and 39 for the lever 28. The lever 28 can be moved by the electric motor drive 30 up to the stop against these stops 38 and 39. Fig. 11 In this context, a first possible end position of the lever 28 can be seen, in which end position the lever 28 rests against the stop 38. As a result of a rotational movement of the lever 28 with respect to the plane of the drawing according to Fig. 11 To the right, i.e., counterclockwise, the lever 28 can be turned to the stop 39. In this position, the lever 28 is then in its second end position.

[0091] The lever 28 is equipped with a magnetic body 29, for example a permanent magnet, as shown in the illustrations according to the Fig. 4 and 8 can be recognized.

[0092] The spray arm 10 has on its underside at least one counterpart 48 which is designed to be magnetically connected to the magnetic body 29. According to the embodiment shown, Fig. 15 two counterparts 48 and 49 are provided.

[0093] The flange area 36 provided anyway on the dishwasher side serves to arrange the braking and holding device 24 in the washing chamber 4, which provides the washing liquor inlet pipes 37, as can be seen from a summary of the Figs. 9 and 10 The flange area 36 provides a screw connection point 35, via which a positionally secure connection of the braking and holding device 24 to the flange area 36 takes place in the intended application.

[0094] For the purpose of supplying power to the electric motor drive 30 provided by the braking and holding device 24, corresponding cables are provided which are routed through a connecting piece 33 of the housing 35. This connecting piece 33 is inserted in the final assembled state into a recess 34 on the flange side, as can be seen from a summary of the Figs. 9 and 10 results.

[0095] Due to the electric motor drive 30, a rotational movement of the lever 28 and thus also a change in the position of the magnetic body 29 carried by the lever 28 is possible. This is particularly evident from the illustration according to Fig. 13 , wherein 43 indicates a first end position of the magnetic body 29 and 44 a second end position of the magnetic body 29. These two end positions 43 and 44 are obtained by applying the lever 28 to the housing-side stops 38 and 39, as already described above with reference to Fig. 11 described.

[0096] Depending on whether a magnetic body 29 occupies the first end position 43 or the second end position 44, it comes to lie on a circular path 46 or 47 around the pivot point 45 of the spray arm 10, as can also be seen from the illustration according to Fig. 13 Thus, the magnetic body 29 is located in its first end position 43 on the circular path 46 and in its second end position 44 on the second circular path 47.

[0097] A time-controlled drive of the lever 28 is provided for a defined assumption of the end positions 43 and 44. "Time-controlled" in this sense means that the lever 28 is driven via the electric motor drive 30 for at least a period of time such that the lever 28, as a result of the twisting movement caused by the electric motor drive 30, moves far enough that, depending on the direction of rotation of the drive 30, it comes to rest securely against the associated stop 38 or 39. In order to prevent force-induced damage to the lever 28 or the electric motor drive 30 due to this time control when the lever 28 strikes one of the two stops 38 or 39, the slip clutch 32 mentioned above is provided, as can be seen in particular from the illustration according to Fig. 12 results.

[0098] The slip clutch 32 has a first clutch part 40 and a second clutch part 41. The first clutch part 40 is provided by the lever 28 and the second clutch part 41 is designed as a sleeve, which in the intended use is driven by the electric motor drive 30. The two clutch parts 40 and 41 interact via a coordinated, corresponding geometric contour, as exemplified in the form of a wave-trough geometry in Fig. 11 The second coupling part 41 is pressed against the first coupling part 40 by means of a compression spring 42 provided for this purpose. This factual connection also results in particular from the illustration according to Fig. 12 .

[0099] As long as the lever 28 is not yet in contact with one of the two stops 38 or 39, the spring force exerted by the spring 42 is sufficient to couple the two coupling parts 40, 41 together in a force-transmitting manner. In this case, a twisting movement via the drive 30 leads to a corresponding twisting movement of the lever 28. As soon as the lever 28 now comes to rest against one of the two stops 38 and 39, the geometrically interlocking coupling parts 40 and 41 snap over, thus preventing excessive force from being applied to the lever 28 or the drive 30.

[0100] The above-described design of the slip clutch 32 has the particular advantage that it does not require specially designed end-position sensors and / or a corresponding regulation or control system. Nevertheless, as a result of a rotational movement of the lever 28, the defined end positions 43 and 44 can be reliably approached by the magnetic body 29 carried by the lever 28.

[0101] The functioning of the embodiment according to the invention results in particular from a representation of the Fig. 13 and 14 and 16 and 17.

[0102] According to Fig. 13the magnetic body 29 is in its first end position 43, in the so-called release position. In this position, the magnetic body 29 is located on the circular path 46. The counterpart 48 provided by the spray arm 10 thus moves together with the spray arm 10 on the circular path 47, thus past the magnetic body 29. As a result, the spray arm 10 can rotate freely, in the illustrated embodiment according to Fig. 13 clockwise.

[0103] If a rotational movement of the spray arm 10 is to be interrupted, i.e. paused, the magnetic body 29 is transferred to its second position, i.e. its second end position 44, which can also be referred to as the locking position. In this position of the magnetic body 29, it is located on the inner circular path 47, i.e. the circular path 47 on which the counterpart 48 carried by the spray arm 10 also rotates. As a result, when the magnetic body 29 is transferred with the counterpart 48, an attraction occurs between the magnetic body 29 and the counterpart 48, which results in an immediate braking and stopping of the spray arm 10 in this position. This position is in Fig. 14shown. In this position, the magnetic interaction of the magnetic body 29 and its counterpart 48 ensures that the spray arm 10 cannot rotate any further clockwise. However, the satellite arm 21, which is freely rotatable and movably mounted on the spray arm 10, can continue to rotate, thus intensively spraying the wash items in Zone IV with wash liquor in this position of the spray arm 10.

[0104] If the spray arm 10 is equipped not only with one counterpart 48, but with two counterparts 48 and 49, as shown in Fig. 15 As shown, the spray arm 10 can also be stopped by 180° to the position according to Fig. 14 as in Fig. 17 By means of the one magnetic body 29, the two positions can be set according to the Fig. 14 or 16 on the one hand and Fig. 17 on the other hand. Fig. 16an intensive exposure of the wash items in Zone IV and according to Fig. 17 The items to be washed in Zone I are intensively exposed to washing liquor.

[0105] To distinguish between the two positions according to the Figs. 16 and 17It can be provided that the jet of washing liquor emitted by one of the spray arm nozzles is detected by a sensor. For this purpose, for example, the jet of the drive nozzle 20 or one of the other nozzles 19 provided by the spray arm 10 can be provided. It is also conceivable to use the jet of a special rinsing nozzle provided by the spray arm 10, which in another function serves to interact in a manner known per se with a dosing device of the dishwasher in order to rinse parts of the dosing device free of detergent. For this purpose, sensor devices already installed in the dishwasher can be used, which makes it possible to detect the respective position of the spray arm 10, in particular if the nozzle whose jet is detected by a sensor is formed on the wing 17 opposite the freely movable satellite arm 21.By simply counting the completed revolutions, it can be ensured by time-controlled rotation of the arm 28 that the spray arm 10 is either in the position according to . Fig. 16 or in the position after Fig. 17 is slowed down and stopped.

[0106] According to a further embodiment of the invention, a braking and holding device 24 is used, which has a second magnetic body 29 and a second electromotive drive cooperating therewith. The second magnetic body 29 can assume the end positions 50 and 51, as shown in Fig. 18shown. With such a dual design of the braking and holding device 24, it is possible to brake and hold the spray arm 10 in such a position that the satellite arm 21 can be positioned selectively in one of the zones I to IV. For example, the user can use a corresponding input device on the dishwasher to set which of the intensive rinse zones the satellite arm 21 should be positioned in in the subsequent wash program. This allows the spray arm 10 to be individually adjusted depending on the user's load of the dishwasher with items to be washed.

[0107] The inventive design is characterized in particular by its compact

[0108] Design as well as its ease of assembly and retrofitting. By means of a further embodiment of the flange area of ​​the inlet pipes with and without an additional passage, variants with and without the braking and holding device 24 according to the invention can be very easily created in the dishwasher. Furthermore, the assembly of the braking and holding device 24 is very cost-effective due to the motor-driven magnetic lever 28 and the slip clutch 32 as well as the omission of additional sensors. Using a corresponding method, the spray arm 10 can be stopped in two different zones / quadrants. By expanding / mirroring the assembly of the braking and holding device 24 with two gear motors and two magnetic levers 28, all four quadrants can be advantageously operated with the same assembly and wiring effort.

[0109] An alternative embodiment of the braking and holding device 124 is shown in the Fig. 19 to Fig. 34 shown.

[0110] Just like those in the Figures 4 to 18 As shown in the braking and holding device 24, the braking and holding device 124 has a housing 25. This in turn has a base body 26 and a cover 27. The base body 26 is designed in the manner of a shell open on one side, which is closed by the cover 27 during its intended use, preferably in a watertight manner. An electric motor drive 30, a gear 31 and a slip clutch 32 are arranged within the housing 25, as can be seen in particular from a synopsis of the Fig. 21 , 25 and 26 results.

[0111] The braking and holding device 124 further comprises a pivotable lever 128, which can be moved from a first end position 43 according to Fig. 19 into a second end position 44 according to Fig. 20and vice versa. In the intended use, a pivoting movement of the lever 128 takes place by means of the electric motor drive 30, which factual context can be seen in particular from the illustration according to Fig. 21 results.

[0112] As shown in particular in the presentation Fig. 25 As can be seen, the housing 25 provides two stops 38 and 39. The lever 128 can be rotated by means of the electric motor drive 30 until it reaches these stops 38 and 39. Fig. 19 In this context, a first possible end position 43 of the lever 128 is shown, in which end position 43 the lever 28 rests against the stop 38. As a result of a rotational movement of the lever 128 with respect to the plane of the drawing according to Fig. 19 To the left, i.e., counterclockwise, the lever 128 can be turned to the stop 39. In this position, the lever 28 is then in its second end position 44.

[0113] Fig. 22 shows an exemplary embodiment of the lever 128 in a schematic exploded view. The lever 128 has a drive pin 146. This is inserted, with the interposition of a seal 150, in the final assembled state into a correspondingly designed receptacle 147 of a coupling part 40 of the coupling 32 that interacts with the electric motor drive 30. According to the exemplary embodiment shown, the pin 146 is geometrically coded and has a triangular cross-section. This simplifies the correct alignment and assembly of the lever 128.

[0114] The lever 128 carries a locking means 129, which is plate-shaped in the illustrated embodiment. This locking means 129 is designed to be rotatable relative to the lever 128 and can be moved from a first end position to a second end position and vice versa. A joint extension 152 on the locking means side serves to pivotally arrange the locking means 129 on the lever 128. In the final assembled state, this joint extension protrudes into a correspondingly formed recess 153 in the lever 128. The joint extension 152 is equipped with a through-bore through which a bearing pin 151 arranged on the lever 128 engages. In the final assembled state, the locking means 129 can pivot about the axis of rotation provided by the bearing pin 151.

[0115] The locking means 129 is pivotably arranged on the lever 128 with the interposition of a helical spring 154. The spring 154 ensures that the locking means 129 is pivoted upwards by spring force, as for example in Fig. 21 In this upwardly pivoted position, the locking means 129 is pivoted into a movement path that can be described by the spray arm 10, so that a rotational movement of the spray arm 10 is blocked. A spray arm 10 blocked in its rotational movement is shown, for example, in the Figs. 28 and 29 . As can be seen from these figures, the lever 128 is in its second end position 44 in the event of a blockage, in which it rests against the second stop 39. In this second end position 44, the locking means 129 is pivoted upwards due to the spring 154 acting on the locking means 129, as shown in the Figs. 28 and 29The locking means 129 cooperates with a counterpart 148 or 149 provided by the spray arm 10, wherein the counterpart 148 is a projection provided by the wing 17 of the spray arm 10, as can be seen from Fig. 28 whereas the counterpart 149 is formed by a marginal edge provided by the wing 18, as this relationship is particularly evident from Fig. 29 In summary, the Figs. 28 and 29 two possible positions of the spray arm 10 in blocked position, because according to Fig. 28 the wing 17 rests against the locking means 129, whereas according to Fig. 29 the wing 18 comes to rest on the locking device 129. According to the blockage case according to Fig. 28 an intensive flushing takes place in zone IV, whereas in the case of a blockage after Fig. 29 an intensive rinse is carried out in zone I (according to the classification as per the Figures 13 and 14 or 16 to 18.

[0116] In the non-blocking position of the spray arm 10, the lever 128 is in its first end position 43, the so-called release position. In this position, the lever 128, together with the locking means 129 carried thereby, is arranged in a compartment 157 provided by the housing 25, as can be seen in particular from Fig. 19 The arrangement of the lever 128 in the compartment 157 serves in particular to protect the lever 128 and the locking means 129 carried thereby from unwanted application of force and / or mechanical influences, for example from items to be washed falling down as a result of improper handling.

[0117] How Fig. 19As can be seen, the compartment 157 provides a roof element 158, under which the lever 128, together with the locking means 129 carried thereby, is arranged in the release position. The lever 128, together with the locking means 129 carried thereby, is thus covered in the release position by the roof element 158. The roof element 158 ​​has through-openings in the form of slots 159 through which rinsing liquor can flow. This ensures that the lever 128 and the locking means 129 carried thereby are flushed away, so that any dirt and / or adhesions can be washed away, thus ensuring the functionality of the lever 128 and the locking means 129 carried thereby.

[0118] When lever 128 is transferred from the Fig. 19 shown first end position 43 into the Fig. 20In the second end position 44 shown, the locking means 129 pivots automatically due to the spring 154 acting on the locking means 129 as soon as the lever 128 leaves the receiving space provided by the compartment 157.

[0119] When the lever 128 is pivoted back from the second end position 44 to Fig. 20 to the first end position 43 after Fig. 19 the locking means 129 carried by the lever 128 moves against the front edge of the roof element 158 ​​before the lever 128 enters the receiving space provided by the compartment 157. As a result, the locking means 129 is pivoted against the spring 154 acting on the locking means 129 and takes up its Fig. 19The lever 128 continues to move until it reaches the first stop 38, whereby the locking means 129 comes to rest in the non-blocking position below the roof element 158 ​​and is held by the roof element 158 ​​in the blocking position. If the lever 128 is then pivoted again into the second end position 44 according to Fig. 20 , the locking means 129 automatically realigns in the manner already described and assumes its blocking position for the spray arm 10.

[0120] Due to the electric motor drive 30, a rotational movement of the lever 128 is possible. This is particularly evident from the illustrations according to the already explained Figs. 19 and 20 , where Fig. 19 a first end position 43 and Fig. 20 show a second end position 44 of the lever 128.

[0121] For a defined assumption of the end positions 43 and 44, a time-controlled drive of the lever 128 is also provided in this context. "Time-controlled" in this sense means that the lever 128 is driven via the electric motor drive 30 for at least a period of time such that the lever 128, as a result of the twisting movement caused by the electric motor drive 30, moves so far that, depending on the direction of rotation of the drive 30, it comes to rest securely against the associated stop 38 or 39. In order to prevent force-induced damage to the lever 128 or the electric motor drive 30 due to this time control when the lever 128 strikes one of the two stops 38 or 39, the slip clutch 32 mentioned above is provided, as can be seen in particular from the illustration according to Fig. 26 results.

[0122] The slip clutch 32 has a first clutch part 40 and a second clutch part 41. The first clutch part 40 is connected to the lever 128 in a force-transmitting manner and the second clutch part 41 is designed as a sleeve, which is driven by the electric motor drive 30 when used as intended. The two clutch parts 40 and 41 interact via a coordinated, corresponding geometric contour, as can be seen, for example, in the form of a wave-trough geometry in Fig. 25 The second coupling part 41 is pressed against the first coupling part 40 by means of a compression spring 42 provided for this purpose. This factual connection also results in particular from the illustration according to the Fig. 25 and 26 .

[0123] As long as the lever 128 is not yet in contact with one of the two stops 38 or 39, the spring force exerted by the spring 42 is sufficient to couple the two coupling parts 40 and 41 together in a force-transmitting manner. In this case, a twisting movement via the drive 30 leads to a corresponding twisting movement of the lever 128. As soon as the lever 128 now comes to rest against one of the two stops 38 and 39, the geometrically interlocking coupling parts 40 and 41 snap over, thus preventing excessive force from being applied to the lever 128 or the drive 30.

[0124] The above-described design of the slip clutch 32 has the particular advantage that it does not require specially designed end-position sensors and / or a corresponding regulation or control system. Nevertheless, the defined end positions 43 and 44 can be safely approached by the lever 128 as a result of a twisting movement of the lever 128.

[0125] The functioning of the embodiment according to the invention results in particular from a summary of the Fig. 23 and 24 on the one hand and the Fig. 30 to 34 on the other hand. Fig. 23 First of all, it shows the normal operation of the spray arm 10. This rotates in the direction of arrow 155, i.e., clockwise. The lever 128 of the braking and holding device 124 is in its release position and is received in the compartment 157 of the housing 25. In the release position of the lever 128, the movement of the spray arm 10 is not blocked. According to Fig. 24 the lever 128 is pivoted into its second end position, ie it is in its locking position. In this position, the lever 128 is pivoted out of the receiving space of the compartment 157, which leads to the locking means 29 being raised, as shown in Fig. 25In this position of lever 128 and locking means 129, a rotational movement of the spray arm 10 is blocked, since the locking means 129 is pivoted into the path of movement described by the spray arm 10. The wing 18 of the spray arm 10 rests against the locking means 129, as in Fig. 29 shown, whereby a twisting movement of the spray arm 10 is blocked, which is caused by the Fig. 24 marked by the crossed-out arrow 156.

[0126] The rotatability of the lever 128 allows the spray arm 10 to be moved alternately back and forth in the blocked position, as can be seen from a summary of the Fig. 30 to 34 The Fig. 31 to 34When viewed together, it can be seen that the lever 128 can be moved back and forth between its second end position 44 and an intermediate position 160 in accordance with the arrow 161. In both the second end position 44 and the intermediate position 160, the locking means 129 provided by the lever 128 is folded up, i.e., is in its blocking position, as is particularly evident in the Figs. 33 and 34 In this blocking position of the locking element 129, rotation of the spray arm 10 is prohibited, since rotation of the spray arm 10 past the locking element 129 is not permitted. When the locking element 129 is folded up, the lever 128 can be moved back and forth by an electric motor, as described above. Figs. 31 and 32 A back and forth movement of the lever 128 results in the spray arm 10 being able to assume two different positions, as shown in Fig. 30are identified by I and II. Position I corresponds to the intermediate position 160 of the lever 128, and position II to the second end position 44 of the lever 128. By pivoting the spray arm 10 back and forth, an enlarged intensive rinsing zone results in the superposition, as shown by the exemplary spray circles I and II of the satellite arm 21. Reference symbol

[0127] 1 Dishwasher 2 Housing 3 Washing container 4 Washing chamber 5 Loading opening 6 Appliance door 7 Spray device 8 Spray arm 9 Spray arm 10 Spray arm 11 Height direction 12 Cutlery drawer 13 Upper basket 14 Lower basket 15 Nozzle 16 Locking ring 17 Wing 18 Wing 19 Nozzle 20 Nozzle 21 Satellite arm 22 Wing 23 Wing 24 Braking and holding device 25 Housing 26 Base body 27 Cover 28 Lever 29 Magnetic body 30 Drive 31 Gearbox 32 Coupling 33 Connection nozzle 34 Recess 35 Screw connection point 36 Flange area 37 Inlet pipe 38 Stop 39 Stop 40Coupling part 41Coupling part 42Spring 43First end position 44Second end position 45Rotation axis 46Circular path 47Circular path 48Counterpiece 49Counterpiece 50Third end position 51Fourth end position 124Braking and holding device 128Lever 129Locking device 146Pin 147Receptacle 148Counterpiece 149Counterpiece 150Seal 151Bearing pin 152Articular extension 153Recess 154Spring 155Arrow 156Arrow 157Compartment 158Roof element 159Slot 160Intermediate shelf 161Arrow

Claims

1. Dishwasher with a washing container (3) providing a washing chamber (4) for receiving items to be cleaned and a spray device (7) arranged within the washing container (3) for applying washing liquor to items to be cleaned, wherein the spray device (7) has a rotatably mounted spray arm (8, 9, 10) which is passively driven, characterized by a braking and holding device (24, 124) arranged within the washing container (3) and cooperating with the spray arm (8, 9, 10), which is designed to brake a twisting movement of the spray arm (8, 9, 10) and to hold the spray arm (8, 9, 10) in its position in a braked position.

2. Dishwasher according to claim 1, characterized in that the braking and holding device (24, 124) interacts mechanically, in particular magnetically, with the spray arm (8, 9, 10).

3. Dishwasher according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in thatthe braking and holding device (24) has a magnetic body (29) arranged movably in relation to the spray arm (8, 9, 10).

4. Dishwasher according to claim 3, characterized in that the braking and holding device (24) has an electric motor drive (30) cooperating with the magnetic body (29).

5. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spray arm (8, 9, 10) has a plurality of wings (17, 18), wherein at least one wing (17, 18) has a counterpart (48, 49) cooperating with the magnetic body (29) of the braking and holding device (24).

6. Dishwasher according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the magnetic body (29) is designed to be transferable from a first end position (43) to a second end position (44) and vice versa by means of the electric motor drive (30).

7. Dishwasher according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in thatthe magnetic body (29) is provided by a rotatably mounted lever (28).

8. Dishwasher according to claim 7, characterized in that the braking and holding device (24) provides stops (38, 39) for the lever (28).

9. Dishwasher according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the lever (28) interacts with the electric motor drive (30) with the interposition of a slip clutch (32).

10. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the lever (28) can be moved in a time-controlled manner.

11. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braking and holding device (24) has a second movably arranged magnetic body and a second electromotive drive cooperating therewith.

12. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims 5 to 11, characterized in thata further wing (17, 18) of the spray arm (8, 9, 10) has a counterpart (49) cooperating with the magnetic body (29) of the braking and holding device (24).

13. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braking and holding device (24) has a housing (25) which accommodates the magnetic body (29) and the electromotive drive (30) cooperating therewith in a watertight manner.

14. Dishwasher according to claim 13, characterized in that the housing (25) has a connecting flange (33) for cable passage.

15. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe braking and holding device (24) has a lever (128) which is arranged to be movable in relation to the spray arm (10), which is designed to be pivotable and carries a locking means (129) arranged thereon, which is designed to be pivotable in relation to the lever (128) into a movement path which can be described by the spray arm (10).

Images