Household treatment apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a treatment device (2) for household use, comprising a housing (4), a treatment chamber, a door (6) for closing a treatment chamber opening (8) in a closed position of the door (6) and for accessing the treatment chamber in an open position of the door (6), and a compensating device (10) connected to the door (6) in a force-transmitting manner for compensating for the weight of the door (6), wherein the compensating device (10) is designed such that the door (6) can be held in any intermediate position by means of the compensating device (10), and wherein the compensating device (10) includes a spring (12) connected to the housing (4) in a force-transmitting manner.a cable (14) connected to the spring (12) and the door (6) in a force-transmitting manner and an adjusting roller (18) adjustable relative to the spring (12) by means of an adjusting mechanism (16) of the compensating device (10) for adjusting a spring preload of the spring (12) by means of the cable (14) tensioned over the adjusting roller (18), characterized in that the spring (12) is designed as a compression spring (12) which is supported with a first end of the spring (12) facing the adjusting roller (18) against a stop (20) of the compensating device (10) and the cable (14) is attached to a second end of the compression spring (12) arranged opposite the aforementioned first end of the compression spring (12).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a treatment device for the household according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such household treatment devices are already known in a variety of embodiments and comprise a housing, a treatment chamber arranged in the housing, a door for closing a treatment chamber opening for closing the treatment chamber in a closed position of the door and for accessing the treatment chamber by means of the treatment chamber opening in an open position of the door, and a compensating device connected to the door in a force-transmitting manner for compensating for the weight of the door, wherein the compensating device is designed such that the door can be held in any intermediate position of the door between the open position and the closed position by means of the compensating device in the respective intermediate position, in particular can only be held in the respective intermediate position by means of the compensating device, and wherein the compensating device comprises a spring connected to the housing in a force-transmitting manner,a cable connected to the spring and the door for force transmission and an adjusting roller adjustable relative to the spring by means of an adjusting mechanism of the compensating device for adjusting a spring preload of the spring by means of the cable tensioned over the adjusting roller.

[0003] The invention therefore faces the problem of improving a treatment device for household use.

[0004] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a household appliance, for example a dishwasher, with the features of claim 1, characterized in that the spring is designed as a compression spring which is supported at a stop of the compensating device with a first end of the spring facing the adjusting roller, and the cable is attached to a second end of the compression spring arranged opposite the aforementioned first end of the compression spring. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described in the following dependent claims.

[0005] The advantage achievable with the invention lies particularly in the fact that a household treatment device is improved. Due to the inventive design of the treatment device, safety is significantly enhanced. Doors of household treatment devices, such as dishwasher doors, are prone to falling down too quickly due to their considerable weight, potentially injuring people or damaging the door hinges of the device, such as the dishwasher. To counteract this, a conventional method involves attaching a cable to the door, which is coupled to a tension spring.When the door is opened, the tension spring is gradually tightened, compensating for the door's own weight. With the tension adjusted using the tensioning roller, the door remains in position at any opening angle without sagging further. The spring tension must be adjusted individually for each appliance, such as a dishwasher, because the front panels of fully and semi-integrated appliances can be customized to match the surrounding kitchen design, resulting in varying door weights. However, the use of a tension spring carries the risk of it breaking under stress. This would immediately and completely eliminate the spring's tension, potentially causing the door to fall suddenly.Since this can happen completely unexpectedly and with a loud cracking noise, the user of the treatment device may well be surprised and startled by this event. Consequently, a door no longer held by a tension spring could fall and subsequently hit a customer in the leg, or, in the case of short people or children, even injure other body parts with a blow. Even if no people or animals are harmed, damage to the machine can still occur. This is especially true in applications where the door can be moved by motor, as it is no longer held manually. If the tension spring breaks, the door would therefore inevitably fall and could thus cause the aforementioned injuries to users or damage to the device.In contrast to the previous potential dangers, with motorized doors there is also the possibility that the treatment device, for example the dishwasher, could open or close unattended, thereby endangering children or pets in particular.

[0006] Compression springs, on the other hand, have the advantage that typically only one coil breaks when they fail. However, as soon as the remaining spring sections are compressed again, the compression spring can still generate a spring force, albeit a reduced one. Despite the spring breaking, a large portion of its spring action is retained. Because of this, if a compression spring breaks, the user is no longer dependent on an immediate service appointment, as they will no longer receive full spring support, but at least some residual force that continues to provide assistance. If necessary, the user can even further increase the spring preload using the adjustment mechanism for the adjusting roller.

[0007] This also applies to motorized doors, as the drive unit has to generate more power and is therefore subjected to greater stress. However, it can be assumed that the drive unit will essentially continue to operate and the door will continue to move. If this is not the case, the spring preload can also be readjusted using the adjustment mechanism to bridge the waiting time until a service technician can be called to the device. Accordingly, in addition to improving the safety concept through the use of a compression spring according to the invention, the invention also provides an adjustment option for the spring preload to compensate for the variable door weight. Furthermore, the self-help option for the user described above is provided in the event of spring failure, i.e., a breakage of the compression spring.

[0008] In principle, the treatment device according to the invention can be freely selected for household use in terms of type, function, material, and dimensions within wide suitable limits. See, for example, the explanations above. Depending on the embodiment of the invention, the force-transmitting connection between the spring and the housing can be designed as a direct or an indirect connection. Furthermore, the treatment device according to the invention is not limited to dishwashers or household appliances in general. The invention can also be advantageously used in commercial treatment devices, i.e., treatment devices for professional use.

[0009] An advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the aforementioned stop has an opening for guiding the cable through, wherein the cable can be guided through this opening and through an internal cavity of the compression spring, preferably that the stop is formed as part of the housing. In this way, a very compact and structurally and manufacturably simple design of the treatment device according to the invention is enabled. This applies in particular to the preferred embodiment of this embodiment.

[0010] A further advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the compensating device is at least partially arranged in a base of the housing; preferably, at least the compression spring, the adjusting roller, and the adjustment mechanism for adjusting the adjusting roller are arranged in the base; particularly preferably, the adjustment mechanism is arranged on the base in a way that allows access from the outside. This results in an embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention that is very well suited with regard to space requirements and available space within the device. Access to the adjustment mechanism is also simplified. This applies particularly to the preferred and especially to the particularly preferred embodiment of this embodiment. Furthermore, the particularly preferred embodiment also allows easy access to the adjustment mechanism at the point of use, i.e., at the user's location.

[0011] Another advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the compression spring is designed as a spiral spring, preferably as a helical spring. In this way, the compression spring is particularly suitable for the present application. This applies in particular to the preferred embodiment of this embodiment.

[0012] A further advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the cable has a fastening element at its end corresponding to the second end of the compression spring for attaching the cable to the compression spring. Preferably, the fastening element interacts force-transmittingly with an abutment of the compensating device that is supported at the second end of the compression spring. Particularly preferably, the fastening element is designed as a plastic overmolding of the cable and / or the abutment is designed as a plastic part. This allows the attachment of the cable to the compression spring to be implemented in a very simple manner from a design and manufacturing perspective. This applies particularly to the preferred and especially to the particularly preferred embodiment of this embodiment.

[0013] An advantageous further development of the aforementioned further development of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the abutment has a slot for threading the cable pull into the abutment. In this way, a force-transmitting connection between the abutment on one side and the cable pull on the other side can be established very easily.

[0014] A particularly advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the compression spring is arranged in a spring pocket of the treatment device in the housing, which is designed to be compatible with the compression spring, preferably that the spring pocket is designed such that the compression spring is guided along a spring axis of the compression spring by means of the spring pocket during its compression and during its relaxation, so that bulging or buckling of the compression spring, which impairs the function of the compression spring, is avoided, particularly preferably that the spring pocket is designed either by means of a half-tube that interacts with a housing wall of the housing as an outer guide for the compression spring or as a substantially closed solid tube for the outer guide for the compression spring.This ensures the proper functioning of the compression spring throughout its entire travel, particularly in the preferred embodiment of this further development. The particularly preferred embodiment also specifies how the spring pocket can be implemented in a very simple manner from both a design and manufacturing perspective. To reduce or prevent noise emission during the movement of the compression spring along its axis, it is conceivable to arrange a noise-dampening and / or friction-reducing intermediate layer between the compression spring and the spring pocket. This intermediate layer can, for example, be attached to the spring pocket.

[0015] A further particularly advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that a guide element of the compensating device is designed and arranged in an internal cavity of the compression spring for the internal guidance of the compression spring such that the compression spring is guided along a spring axis of the compression spring by means of the guide element during its compression and during its relaxation, so that bulging or buckling of the compression spring, which impairs the function of the compression spring, is avoided, preferably that the guide element is designed as the abutment for the fastening element of the cable pull, wherein the abutment for this purpose has a projection extending towards the first end of the compression spring, particularly preferably that the abutment with the projection extends at least over 15%, but preferably over 50%, of the compression spring towards the first end of the compression spring.This provides an alternative or additional method for guiding the compression spring along its axis, in addition to the aforementioned embodiment. The preferred embodiment of this embodiment significantly reduces the number of components and thus the assembly effort required to manufacture the compensating device. Furthermore, the particularly preferred embodiment of this embodiment ensures very good guidance of the compression spring along its axis. In addition, the guide element can be designed to dampen noise and / or reduce friction, so that noise emissions during the movement of the compression spring along its axis are largely avoided.

[0016] Another advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the compensating device additionally has a deflection pulley for redirecting the cable pull between the compression spring and the door. Preferably, the deflection pulley is arranged along the cable pull between the adjusting pulley and the door. Particularly preferably, the deflection pulley is arranged parallel to the spring axis of the compression spring between the adjusting pulley and the compression spring in every setting position of the adjusting pulley. This results in increased flexibility and thus adaptability of the compensating device to the structural conditions of the respective treatment device according to the invention, so that the invention can be advantageously used in a large number of structurally very different treatment devices according to the invention. This applies particularly to the preferred and especially to the particularly preferred embodiment of this embodiment.Furthermore, by means of the particularly preferred embodiment of this further development, the tension of the cable pull along the entire adjustment range of the adjustable adjusting roller is ensured in a very simple manner in terms of design and manufacturing.

[0017] Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention provides that the treatment device is designed as a dishwasher. The invention is particularly advantageous for use with dishwashers. See the above explanations regarding partially and fully integrated dishwasher doors. With such doors, the total weight of the door can, for example, amount to 26 kg, with approximately 13 kg being the weight of the actual door and 13 kg being the weight of a furniture front mounted on this door to adapt it to the furniture surrounding the built-in dishwasher.

[0018] An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in more detail below. It shows Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention in a partial perspective view, Figure 2 shows the embodiment in a partial perspective detail view in the area of ​​the compression spring, Figure 3 shows the embodiment in a further partial perspective detail view in the area of ​​the compression spring and Figure 4 shows the cable pull and the abutment of the embodiment in two partial perspective detail views in the area of ​​the second end of the compression spring.

[0019] In the Fig. 1 bis 4 An embodiment of the treatment device according to the invention for household use is shown purely as an example.

[0020] The treatment device 2, designed as a household dishwasher, comprises a housing 4, a treatment chamber (not shown) arranged in the housing 4, a door 6 for closing a treatment chamber opening 8 for closing the treatment chamber in a closed position of the door 6 (not shown) and for accessing the treatment chamber via the treatment chamber opening 8 in an open position of the door 6 (also not shown), and a compensating device 10 connected to the door 6 for compensating for the weight of the door 6, wherein the compensating device 10 is designed such that the door 6 can be held in any intermediate position of the door 6 between the open position and the closed position by means of the compensating device 10, and only by means of the compensating device 10.and wherein the compensating device 10 comprises a spring 12 connected to the housing 4 in a force-transmitting manner, a cable 14 connected to the spring 12 and the door 6 in a force-transmitting manner, and an adjusting roller 18 adjustable relative to the spring 12 by means of an adjusting mechanism 16 of the compensating device 10 for adjusting a spring preload of the spring 12 by means of the cable 14 tensioned over the adjusting roller 18. In the , Fig. 1 Door 6 is shown in a possible intermediate position.

[0021] According to the invention, the spring 12 is designed as a compression spring which is supported at a stop 20 of the compensating device 10 with one of its first ends facing the adjusting roller 18, and the cable pull 14 is attached to a second end of the compression spring 12 which is arranged opposite the aforementioned first end of the compression spring 12. The compression spring 12 is designed here as a spiral spring, namely as a helical spring made of spring steel.

[0022] The aforementioned stop 20 has an opening 22 for the passage of the cable 14, the cable 14 being passable through this opening 22 and through an internal cavity of the compression spring 12. Depending on the embodiment, the stop can be designed as part of the housing.

[0023] The cable 14 has a fastening element 24 at its end corresponding to the second end of the compression spring 12 for fastening the cable 14 to the compression spring 12, wherein the fastening element 24 interacts force-transmittingly with an abutment 26 of the compensating device 10, which is supported at the second end of the compression spring 12, such that the fastening element 24 is designed as a plastic overmolding of the cable 14 and the abutment 26 as a plastic part. The abutment 26 has a slot 28 for threading the cable 14 into the abutment 26. Fig. 4 In the upper plane of the image, the cable pull 14 with the fastening element 24 is shown individually, while in the lower plane of the image, the cable pull 14 with the fastening element 24 in conjunction with the abutment 26 is shown in the same position.

[0024] The compression spring 12 is arranged in a spring pocket 30 of the treatment device 2 in the housing 4, the spring pocket 30 being designed to fit the compression spring 12. The spring pocket 30 is designed such that the compression spring 12 is guided along a spring axis by means of the spring pocket 30 during compression and relaxation, thus preventing bulging or buckling of the compression spring 12 that would impair its function. The spring axis is located in the Fig. 2 with the section of cable 14 running through the inner cavity of the compression spring 12. In the present embodiment, the spring pocket 30 is designed as a substantially closed solid tube for the external guidance of the compression spring 12. See in particular the Fig. 3 However, in other embodiments of the invention, it is conceivable that the spring pocket is formed by means of a half-tube that interacts with a housing wall of the housing as an outer guide for the compression spring. For example, this would be the case if the Fig. 3 visible part of the aforementioned solid tube, which holds the spring pocket 30 in the image plane of the Fig. 3 The section that closes off at the bottom would be omitted, and instead a housing wall of housing 4 would run in the same place.

[0025] In addition to the aforementioned external guidance of the compression spring 12, the present embodiment provides that a guide element of the compensating device is designed and arranged in the inner cavity of the compression spring 12 for internal guidance of the compression spring 12 such that the compression spring 12 is guided along its axis by means of the guide element during compression and relaxation, thus preventing bulging or buckling of the compression spring 12 that would impair its function. Here, the guide element is designed as the abutment 26 for the fastening element 24 of the cable pull 14, wherein the abutment 26 has a projection 32 extending towards the first end of the compression spring 12, such that, when the compression spring 12 is relaxed, the abutment 26 with the projection 32 extends over at least 50% of the compression spring 12 towards its first end.

[0026] The compensating device additionally includes a deflection pulley 34 for deflecting the cable 14 between the compression spring 12 and the door 6, wherein the deflection pulley 34 is arranged along the cable 14 between the adjusting pulley 18 and the door 6, such that the deflection pulley 34 is arranged parallel to the spring axis of the compression spring 12 between the adjusting pulley 18 and the compression spring 12 in every adjustment state of the adjusting pulley 18. See the Fig. 1 Furthermore, the compensating device 10 is at least partially arranged in a base 36 of the housing 4, wherein in the present embodiment at least the compression spring 12, the adjusting roller 18 and the adjusting mechanism 16 for adjusting the adjusting roller 18 are arranged in the base 36, namely in such a way that the adjusting mechanism 16 is arranged on the base 36 in a manner accessible from the outside.

[0027] However, the invention is not limited to the present embodiment. See the relevant explanations in the introductory section of the description as well as the alternatives and options mentioned in the description section for the specific embodiment.

Claims

1. Household treatment device (2), in particular a dishwasher, comprising a housing (4), a treatment chamber arranged in the housing (4), a door (6) for closing a treatment chamber opening (8) for closing the treatment chamber in a closed position of the door (6) and for accessing the treatment chamber by means of the treatment chamber opening (8) in an open position of the door (6), and a compensating device (10) connected to the door (6) in a force-transmitting manner for compensating for a door weight of the door (6), wherein the compensating device (10) is designed such that the door (6) can be held in any intermediate position of the door (6) between the open position and the closed position by means of the compensating device (10), and wherein the compensating device (10) includes a spring (12) connected to the housing (4) in a force-transmitting manner.a cable (14) connected to the spring (12) and the door (6) in a force-transmitting manner and an adjusting roller (18) adjustable relative to the spring (12) by means of an adjusting mechanism (16) of the compensating device (10) for adjusting a spring preload of the spring (12) by means of the cable (14) tensioned over the adjusting roller (18), characterized by the fact that the spring (12) is designed as a compression spring (12) which is supported by a stop (20) of the compensating device (10) with a first end of the spring (12) facing the adjusting roller (18) and the cable pull (14) is attached to a second end of the compression spring (12) which is arranged opposite the aforementioned first end of the compression spring (12).

2. Treatment device (2) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatThe aforementioned stop (20) has an opening (22) for the passage of the cable (14), wherein the cable (14) can be passed through this opening (22) and through an internal cavity of the compression spring (12).

3. Treatment device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the stop (20) is designed as part of the housing.

4. Treatment device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the fact that the compensating device (10) is at least partially arranged in a base (36) of the housing (4), preferably that at least the compression spring (12), the adjusting roller (18) and the adjusting mechanism (16) for adjusting the adjusting roller (18) are arranged in the base (36).

5. Treatment device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by the fact that the adjustment mechanism (16) is arranged on the base (36) and is accessible from the outside.

6. Treatment device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact thatthe compression spring (12) is designed as a spiral spring, preferably as a helical spring.

7. Treatment device (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact that The cable (14) has a fastening element (24) at its end associated with the second end of the compression spring (12) for fastening the cable (14) to the compression spring (12), preferably that the fastening element (24) interacts force-transmittingly with a support (26) of the compensating device (10) which is supported on the second end of the compression spring (12), particularly preferably that the fastening element (24) is designed as a plastic overmolding of the cable (14) and / or the support (26) is designed as a plastic part.

8. Treatment device (2) according to claim 7, characterized by the fact that the fastening element (24) is designed as a plastic overmolding of the cable pull (14) and / or the abutment (26) is designed as a plastic part.

9. Treatment device (2) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized by the fact that the abutment (26) has a slot (28) for threading the cable pull (14) into the abutment (26).

10. Treatment device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by the fact that the compression spring (12) is arranged in a spring pocket (30) of the treatment device (2) in the housing (4) which is designed to fit the compression spring (12).

11. Treatment device (2) according to claim 10, characterized by the fact that the spring pocket (30) is designed such that the compression spring (12) is guided along a spring axis of the compression spring (12) by means of the spring pocket (30) during its compression and during its relaxation, so that bulging or buckling of the compression spring (12) which impairs the function of the compression spring (12) is avoided.

12. Treatment device (2) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized by the fact thatthe spring pocket (30) is designed either by means of a half-tube cooperating with a housing wall of the housing as an external guide for the compression spring or as an essentially closed solid tube for the external guide for the compression spring (12).

13. Treatment device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by the fact that In an internal cavity of the compression spring (12), a guide element of the compensating device (10) is designed and arranged such that the compression spring (12) is guided along a spring axis of the compression spring (12) by means of the guide element during compression and during relaxation, so that bulging or buckling of the compression spring (12) which impairs the function of the compression spring (12) is avoided.

14. Treatment device (2) according to claim 13, characterized by the fact thatthe guide element is designed as the abutment (26) for the fastening element (24) of the cable pull (14), wherein the abutment (26) has a projection (32) extending towards the first end of the compression spring (12), particularly preferably that the abutment (26) with the projection (32) extends at least over 50% of the compression spring (12) towards the first end of the compression spring (12) when the compression spring (12) is relaxed.

15. Treatment device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized by the fact thatthe compensating device (10) additionally has a deflection pulley (34) for deflecting the cable pull (14) between the compression spring (12) and the door (6), preferably that the deflection pulley (34) is arranged along the cable pull (14) between the adjusting pulley (18) and the door (6), particularly preferably that the deflection pulley (34) is arranged parallel to the spring axis of the compression spring (12) between the adjusting pulley (18) and the compression spring (12) in every setting state of the adjusting pulley (18).

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