Household appliance, in particular aquiferous household appliance

Abstract

The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular aquiferous household appliance, comprising a container (3), which provides an appliance space (4) and which has a loading opening (5) for access to the appliance space (4), comprising an appliance door (6) mounted rotatably about a pivot axis to provide closure of the loading opening (5), comprising a motor device which is configured to transfer the appliance door (6) from an open position to a closure position that closes the loading opening (5), and comprising an actuation device operable from the user side, which is operatively connected to the motor device, wherein the actuation device is configured to distinguish between two different operating patterns, characterised in that the actuation device is further configured to effect, in accordance with a first operating pattern, either a transfer of the appliance door (6) to a closure position fully closing the loading opening (5) or a transfer of the appliance door (6) to a closure position partially closing the loading opening (5), wherein, in the case of a full closure of the loading opening (5) an appliance program that is specifiable from the user side is automatically started, and wherein, in the case of a partial closure of the loading opening (5) a selection of an appliance program to be started later when the loading opening (5) is fully closed is performed by the user or made possible.

Description

[0001] Description

[0002] Household appliance, especially water-conducting household appliance

[0003] The invention relates to a household appliance, in particular a water-conducting household appliance, such as a dishwasher, with a container providing an appliance compartment, which has a loading opening for access to the appliance compartment, with an appliance door mounted so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis for closing the loading opening, with a motor device which is designed to transfer the appliance door from an open position into a closed position closing the loading opening, and with a user-operable actuating device which is operatively connected to the motor device, wherein the actuating device is designed to distinguish between two different operating patterns.

[0004] Household appliances in general, and water-using household appliances in particular, are well known in the art, so a separate written reference is not required here. Reference is therefore made, by way of example, to EP 3 747 337 A1, which discloses a generic household appliance in the form of a dishwasher.

[0005] A household appliance within the meaning of the invention is, in particular, a water-conducting household appliance, such as a dishwasher, a washing machine, and / or a dryer. However, the term "household appliance" also includes refrigerators, ovens, steam cookers, microwaves, and / or the like.

[0006] A household appliance of this type has a container enclosed in a housing, in the case of a dishwasher also called a wash container. The container provides a compartment that is accessible to the user via a loading opening in the container.

[0007] To close the loading opening, a device door is provided, which is mounted on the container and can pivot about a pivot axis. When used as intended, the device door can be moved from an open position to a closed position, which closes the loading opening, and vice versa. A distinction can be made between a closed position that completely closes the loading opening and a closed position that partially closes the loading opening.

[0008] To simplify at least one pivoting movement of the appliance door from an open position to a closed position that closes the loading opening, the use of a motor device is known from the prior art. The motor device is operatively connected to the appliance door and allows the appliance door to be moved from an open position to a closed position that closes the loading opening after prior activation of the motor device by the user, without further manual intervention by the user.

[0009] For user-side activation of the motor device, an actuating device is provided on the device. This is operatively connected to the motor device and can be operated by the user when used as intended.

[0010] In this context, it is known from the prior art according to EP 3 747 337 A1 that the actuating device is configured to distinguish between two different operating patterns. For example, a single actuation of the actuating device can be distinguished from a double actuation of the actuating device. Alternatively, a distinction can be made with regard to the duration of the actuation by the user, and thus, for example, a comparatively short actuation duration can be distinguished from a comparatively long actuation duration, and vice versa.

[0011] The distinction between two operating patterns offers the advantage that different measures can be carried out on the appliance as a result of actuating the actuating device. For example, it is known from EP 3 747 337 A1 to trigger a complete closing of the loading opening according to a first operating pattern, whereas a second operating pattern not only completely closes the loading opening but also automatically starts a appliance program afterwards. This advantageously allows a user to either just move the appliance door into the fully closed position or, in addition, to automatically start a appliance program after the loading opening has been completely closed - in the case of a dishwasher, for example, a washing program.

[0012] Although the design previously known from EP 3 747 337 A1 has proven itself in everyday practical use, there is still room for improvement. In particular, increased ease of use is desired, which is why the object underlying the invention is to further develop the design of a household appliance of this type to enable increased ease of use for the user.

[0013] To achieve this object, the invention proposes a generic household appliance which is characterized in that the actuating device is further configured to bring about, in accordance with a first operating pattern, either a transfer of the appliance door into a closed position which completely closes the loading opening or a transfer of the appliance door into a closed position which partially closes the loading opening, wherein in the case of a complete closure of the loading opening, an automatic start of an appliance program which can be predetermined by the user takes place and wherein in the case of a partial closure of the loading opening, a selection by the user of an appliance program which is to be started subsequently when the loading opening is completely closed takes place or is enabled.

[0014] According to the state of the art, it is possible to completely close the loading opening, whereby closing the loading opening is followed by the automatic start of a device program. However, the user is not given the option of selecting the device program that starts automatically once the loading opening is completely closed. This is perceived as a disadvantage by the user because there is no influence on the device program to be carried out, meaning that it is disadvantageously not possible for the user to specifically tailor the device program to be started to the respective operating case. Therefore, if the automatically starting device program does not contain the program desired by the user or, if applicable,If the appliance program is not suitable, the loading opening, which has been closed after the appliance door has been automatically opened, must be reopened by manually opening the appliance door to interrupt the automatically started appliance program. The user can then manually specify the desired appliance program and start it by manually closing the appliance door.

[0015] This handling of a household appliance according to the prior art, which is perceived as disadvantageous by the user, is overcome by the design according to the invention, which leads to an improvement in ease of use.

[0016] The inventive design proposes two alternatives. According to a first alternative, the appliance door is moved into a closed position that completely closes the loading opening, in which case an appliance program that can be specified by the user is automatically started. According to this alternative, the loading opening is closed, followed by the appliance program starting, with the appliance program being previously specified by the user. Unlike in the prior art, there is no automatic start of a manufacturer-specified appliance program. Instead, the user has the option of selecting in advance which appliance program should be automatically started if the loading opening is completely closed.

[0017] The user-specified device program can be a device program that the user has selected as a favorite, i.e., a program that the user typically uses. Therefore, this preselected device program only needs to be deselected if, as an exception, the favorite program is not to be executed.

[0018] According to a second alternative, the appliance door is not moved into a position that completely closes the loading opening, but rather into a position that only partially closes the loading opening. In this case, the user can select a program to be started subsequently with the loading opening completely closed.

[0019] According to this alternative invention, the loading opening is initially only partially closed by the appliance door. Unlike in the fully open position, in this now only partially closed position of the appliance door, the conventional operating elements for selecting an appliance program, which are provided on the front of the appliance door, for example on the control panel on the front of the appliance door or on the front of the appliance door of a fully integrated household appliance, are easily accessible to the user. The user can therefore easily select the desired appliance program with the appliance door in this position. As soon as this has happened, the loading opening is completely closed manually or by motor, whereby the appliance program previously selected by the user is or can be started automatically.

[0020] According to the invention, it is therefore provided that a device program is selected by the user, whereby this preselected program is only carried out subsequently, namely when the loading opening is completely closed, ie after it has been moved manually or by motor from the partially open position to the completely closed position.

[0021] The inventive design offers the overall advantage of improved ease of use. This is because it allows the user to preselect the device program to be started after the loading opening is closed, i.e., to specify a device program specifically desired by the user for the application. In contrast to the prior art, this allows the user to individually influence the device program that is started automatically.In this case, either a pre-selection takes place so that the appliance door closes completely and the selected appliance program can then be started automatically, or the appliance door is only partially closed, whereby the user can still access the controls on the appliance door to select an appliance program, so that the user can still pre-select the desired appliance program before the loading opening is completely closed. Furthermore, in this only partially closed position of the appliance door, handling for further actions to be carried out by the user is simplified. For example, in the case of a dishwasher, filling of dosing devices or storage containers for detergent additives, such as cleaning agents, e.g.Powder or tablets, rinse aid, and / or salt, whose filling openings are located on the inside of the appliance door, can be added particularly conveniently in this position. In this context, it can be provided, in particular, that if a shortage of detergent additive is detected—by means of known detection means—when the actuating device is actuated, the appliance door is always simply moved to the closed position, partially closing the loading opening. The detected shortage is preferably indicated by a display device.

[0022] According to a further feature of the invention, the actuating device is configured to exclusively move the appliance door into a closed position that completely closes the loading opening, in accordance with a second or further operating pattern. In this case, no appliance program is started after the appliance door has reached the closed position. Only the loading opening is closed by the appliance door.

[0023] As a result of this further development, the user has two options. They can either initiate a door closure only according to the second movement pattern, or trigger a door closure followed by a program start according to the first movement pattern. According to the invention, a program start occurs depending on a user-specified appliance program, either before the operating device is actuated or after it is actuated, when the appliance door is in its intended closed position, which only partially closes the loading opening.

[0024] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the actuating device has an actuating element which can be operated by the user and which is arranged outside the device compartment.

[0025] According to this proposal of the invention, an actuating element is used which is designed as part of the actuating device and serves for user-side operation of the actuating device. According to this alternative embodiment of the invention, an actuating element is provided which is arranged outside the appliance compartment. According to this embodiment, a button, a switch, a lever and / or the like can be used as an actuating element. The actuating element can be arranged either on the housing or on the container of the household appliance or on the appliance door. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, in this context, the actuating element is provided by a closing edge delimiting the loading opening.In this context, the edge that borders the loading opening at the top of the appliance, i.e., the upper edge, is preferred. This is easily accessible to the user when the appliance door is only partially closed. This also increases ease of use.

[0026] According to an alternative embodiment, the actuating element comprises a sensor unit. The sensor unit enables contactless actuation by a user. The sensor unit is preferably integrated into a lighting device, for example, a lighting device used to illuminate the appliance compartment. When the appliance door is open, a lighting device used to illuminate the appliance compartment is typically switched on. The light emitted by the lighting device is detected by the sensor unit. Shading of the sensor unit by a user-side cover, for example, by placing a user's hand on the sensor unit, can be easily detected and interpreted as actuation by the control system.Different operating patterns can also be easily implemented, for example, by operating the sensor unit once rather than twice. The sensor unit can also easily record different operating times.

[0027] According to an alternative embodiment of the invention, the actuating device comprises an operating element provided by a pull-out drawer movably received in the appliance compartment. In the case of a dishwasher, such a pull-out drawer is formed, for example, by a dishware carrier, in particular by a dish rack and / or a cutlery drawer. In this case, the operating element is preferably arranged on the front side of a pull-out drawer, whereby the operating element can also be a button, a switch, a lever, and / or the like, or even a sensor unit.

[0028] According to a further feature of the invention, it is provided that the

[0029] The actuating device is designed to recognize a further operating pattern, i.e. an operating pattern that can be distinguished from the two aforementioned first and second operating patterns.

[0030] This makes it possible to have a multitude of different actions carried out on the device. For example, operations scheduled with different frequencies can be differentiated from those scheduled for different lengths of time, and vice versa. For example, a single operation can be differentiated based on the duration of the operation. A single operation can, however, be differentiated from a double operation. And even with a double operation, the individual operations can be differentiated based on their duration of operation. As a result, a multitude of distinguishable operating patterns can be specified, each of which leads to different actions that are automatically executed on the machine when actuated.

[0031] Thus, according to this embodiment, it can be provided in particular that the two alternatives according to the invention are optionally available, i.e. the first alternative is carried out, for example, as a function of a first further operating pattern, whereas the second alternative is carried out as a result of a second further operating pattern. In this respect, the design according to the invention fundamentally makes it possible to provide a corresponding operating pattern for each appliance program that can be carried out by the appliance, so that as a result of such an operating pattern applied by the user, the loading opening is completely closed, followed by an automatic start of an appliance program selected in accordance with the operating pattern. As a result, the household appliance according to the invention can be operated as simply as possible by the user.

[0032] In other words, the household appliance can be designed to distinguish between different operating patterns for at least two, preferably three or all of the following measures when the operating device is actuated and to effect the corresponding measures:

[0033] Moving the appliance door into a closed position that completely closes the loading opening

[0034] Moving the appliance door into a closed position that completely closes the loading opening followed by an automatic program start

[0035] Transferring the appliance door into a first closed position, partially closing the loading opening, with a first opening angle Transferring the appliance door into a second closed position, partially closing the loading opening, with a second opening angle which is greater than the first opening angle

[0036] The first opening angle is selected so small that the loading opening is almost closed, yet the controls located on the front of the appliance door are accessible to the user and are not covered by the edge at the top of the appliance. This position allows for particularly convenient operation of these controls. The first opening angle can, for example, be between 5 and 15°.

[0037] The second opening angle is preferably selected so that the operator can conveniently fill dosing devices or storage containers for detergent additives, such as detergents (e.g., powder or tablets), rinse aid, and / or salt, whose filling openings are located on the inside of the appliance door. The second opening angle can, for example, be between 30 and 60°.

[0038] The first and / or second opening angle can be preset and / or specified by the user and thus adapted to the respective installation position or the respective preferences.

[0039] The household appliance according to the invention is preferably a dishwasher. In this case, the appliance programs used are, in particular, wash programs, for example, those with or without a pre-wash program, with or without a drying program, and / or with or without an intensive rinse.

[0040] The invention further proposes a method for operating a household appliance according to the invention. The advantages already explained above also apply to the method according to the invention.

[0041] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the figures.

[0042] Fig. 1 shows a purely schematic representation of a household appliance according to the invention in the form of a dishwasher;

[0043] Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a household appliance according to the invention in the form of a dishwasher with the appliance door fully open;

[0044] Fig. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the dishwasher according to Fig. 2 in a detail view;

[0045] Fig. 4 shows a schematic perspective view in a further detail view of the dishwasher according to Fig. 2;

[0046] Fig. 5 shows a schematic perspective view of a household appliance according to the invention in the form of a dishwasher with a partially closed appliance door;

[0047] Fig. 6 shows a schematic perspective view of the dishwasher according to Fig. 5 in a detail view and

[0048] Fig. 7 shows a schematic detail view of an alternative embodiment compared to Fig. 6.

[0049] Fig. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a household appliance according to the invention using the example of a dishwasher 1. The dishwasher 1 has a housing 2 that houses a container 3 in the initial design of a washing container. The container 3 provides an appliance compartment 4, which is accessible via a loading opening 5.

[0050] The dishwasher 1 further comprises an appliance door 6 mounted for rotation about a pivot axis, which serves to close the loading opening 5. The appliance door 6 can be moved from a closed position, closing the loading opening 5, to an open position, and vice versa. Fig. 1 shows the appliance door 6 in a position in which the loading opening 5 is partially closed.

[0051] Fig. 2 shows a schematic perspective view of a dishwasher 1 according to the invention, specifically with the appliance door 6 fully open. In this position of the appliance door 6, a user is permitted full access through the loading opening 5 to the wash baskets of the dishwasher 1 accommodated by the container 3, wherein a lower basket 8, an upper basket 9 and a cutlery drawer 10 are provided as wash baskets. The lower basket 8, the upper basket 9 and the cutlery drawer 10 are each movably received in the appliance compartment 4 and can therefore be moved out of or into it. In the position shown in Fig. 2, the lower basket 8, the upper basket 9 and the cutlery drawer 10 are moved completely into the appliance compartment 4.

[0052] The dishwasher 1 further comprises a motor device (not shown in detail in the figures). This motor device is configured to move the appliance door 6 from the open position shown in Fig. 2 into a closed position closing the loading opening 5. The loading opening 5 can be completely or partially closed by the appliance door 6. The motor device thus allows the appliance door 6 to be moved into a closed position that only partially closes the loading opening 5, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1, or to pivot into a closed position that completely closes the loading opening 5.

[0053] The dishwasher 1 further comprises an actuating device not shown in detail in the figures. This actuating device is operatively connected to the motor device and can be operated by the user to activate the motor device. For this purpose, the actuating device comprises an actuating element 13, as will be described in more detail below.

[0054] The actuating device is configured to distinguish between two different operating patterns. The operating patterns can be entered by the user using the actuating element 13, or the actuating element 13 can be actuated by the user in accordance with the operating patterns.

[0055] According to the invention, the actuating device is configured to, in accordance with a first operating pattern, either move the appliance door 6 into a closed position that completely closes the loading opening 5 or move the appliance door 6 into a closed position that partially closes the loading opening 5. In the first case, i.e., in the case of complete closure of the loading opening 5, provision is made for an automatic start of a user-specified appliance program. According to this inventive alternative, actuation of the actuating device therefore results in both complete closure of the loading opening 5 and automatic start of a appliance program. The appliance program can be specified by a user, i.e., the appliance program can be selected by the user before actuating the actuating device.As a result, when the actuating device is actuated after the door has been closed, an appliance program previously selected by the user is automatically started, that is to say, in the case of a dishwasher 1, in particular a rinsing program.

[0056] According to the second case, i.e. in the case of a partial closure of the loading opening 5, the user selects a device program to be started subsequently when the loading opening 5 is completely closed.

[0057] According to this alternative, the appliance door 6 moves from the open position shown in Fig. 2, for example, into the intermediate position shown in Figs. 1 and 5, in which the loading opening 5 is only partially closed. The appliance door 6 remains in this intermediate position, i.e., upon reaching this position, the motor device operatively connected to the appliance door 6 is switched off, thus preventing further motorized movement of the appliance door 6.

[0058] In this intermediate position of the appliance door 6, shown in Figures 1 and 5, the user then selects the appliance program to be started next. Once the user selection is complete, the appliance door 6 is manually moved by the user into the closed position, which completely closes the loading opening 5. Upon reaching this closed position, the previously selected appliance program starts automatically.

[0059] The intermediate position of the appliance door 6 provides the particular advantage that the controls on the appliance door side for selecting the desired appliance program are particularly simple and easily accessible for the user. On the one hand, a user does not have to bend down to reach these controls, as is the case when the appliance door 6 is still in its open position as shown in Fig. 2. On the other hand, the controls on the appliance door side for selecting a appliance program are easily visible to the user in the intermediate position of the appliance door, thus facilitating selection and operation.

[0060] According to both alternatives of the invention, however, the advantage is achieved that the appliance program that starts automatically as a result of a door closing is preselected by a user, so that the washing program that the user wishes to start is also started, and not a preselected other washing or appliance program.

[0061] The actuating element 13 of the actuating device can, for example, be a switch or a control knob provided by the upper end edge 12 of the loading opening 5 in the vertical direction of the dishwasher 1, as can be seen in the embodiment according to Fig. 3. In addition to the actuating element 13, a signal generator 14 can also be provided, for example in the form of a lighting device, so that a user receives visual feedback after actuating the actuating element 13.

[0062] According to an alternative embodiment, the dish baskets of the dishwasher 1 can also be equipped with corresponding actuating elements 13, as can be seen in the embodiment according to Fig. 4. Fig. 4 shows an embodiment according to which both the cutlery drawer 10 and the upper basket 9 are each equipped with a corresponding actuating element 13 on the front.

[0063] Fig. 5 shows a schematic representation of the intermediate position of an appliance door 6 in which the loading opening 5 is only partially closed. This intermediate position of the appliance door 6 is achieved according to the second alternative of the invention when the appliance door 6, after a previous actuation of the actuating element 13, is transferred from the open position shown in Fig. 2 into a closed position partially closing the loading opening 5, as this closed position results as an intermediate position from Fig. 5. In the closed position shown in Fig. 5, the upper closing surface 15 of the appliance door 5 in the vertical direction is easily accessible to a user, as shown in the embodiments according to Figs. 6 and 7, which each show appliance doors 6 designed differently with regard to the handle 7. The closing surface 15 typically provides the elements to be actuated by a user for selecting an appliance program.As can be seen from the illustration in Figures 6 and 7, the intermediate position of the appliance door 6 allows the user particularly good access to the end surface 15 and thus also good access to the operating elements provided by the end surface 15 for selecting an appliance program.

[0064] Reference symbol

[0065] 1 household appliance (dishwasher)

[0066] 2 housings

[0067] 3 Container 4 Equipment room

[0068] 5 Loading opening

[0069] 6 Appliance door

[0070] 7 Handle

[0071] 8 Lower basket 9 Upper basket

[0072] 10 cutlery drawer

[0073] 11 Seal

[0074] 12 (upper) end edge

[0075] 13 Actuating element 14 Signal generator

[0076] 15 End surface

Claims

Patent claims 1. A household appliance, in particular a water-conducting household appliance, comprising a container (3) providing an appliance compartment (4) which has a loading opening (5) for access to the appliance compartment (4), comprising an appliance door (6) mounted so as to be rotatable about a pivot axis for closing the loading opening (5), comprising a motor device configured to move the appliance door (6) from an open position into a closed position closing the loading opening (5), and comprising a user-operable actuating device which is operatively connected to the motor device, wherein the actuating device is configured to distinguish between two different operating patterns, characterized in that the actuating device is further configured toin accordance with a first operating pattern, to effect either a transfer of the appliance door (6) into a closed position that completely closes the loading opening (5) or a transfer of the appliance door (6) into a closed position that partially closes the loading opening (5), wherein in the case of a complete closure of the loading opening (5) an automatic start of a user-specified appliance program takes place and wherein in the case of a partial closure of the loading opening (5) a user-selection of a appliance program to be started subsequently with the loading opening (5) completely closed takes place or is enabled.

2. Household appliance according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device is designed to exclusively bring about a transfer of the appliance door (6) into a closed position which completely closes the loading opening (5) in accordance with a second operating pattern.

3. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating device has a user-operable actuating element (13) which is arranged outside the appliance compartment (4).

4. Household appliance according to claim 3, characterized in that the Actuating element (13) is provided by a terminal edge (12) delimiting the loading opening (5).

5. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the actuating element (13) has a sensor unit integrated into a lighting device serving to illuminate the appliance compartment (4).

6. Household appliance according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the actuating device has an actuating element (13) which is provided by a pull-out which is movably received in the appliance compartment (4).

7. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuating device is designed to recognize one or more further operating patterns.

8. Household appliance according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is designed as a dishwasher.

9. Method for operating a household appliance according to one of the preceding claims 1 to 7, in which an actuation of the actuating device carried out by the user in accordance with a first operating pattern triggers either a transfer of the appliance door (6) into a closed position which completely closes the loading opening (5) or a transfer of the appliance door (6) into a closed position which partially closes the loading opening (5), wherein in the case of a complete closure of the loading opening (5) an automatic start of an appliance program which can be predetermined by the user takes place and wherein in the case of a partial closure of the loading opening (5) a user selection of an appliance program which is to be started subsequently when the loading opening (5) is completely closed takes place.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that an actuation of the actuating device carried out by the user in accordance with a second operating pattern exclusively triggers a transfer of the appliance door (6) into a closed position which completely closes the loading opening (5).

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