Device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food, household appliance for treating food and method for operating a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food

Abstract

A device (1) for operating a door (10) of a household appliance (100) for treating food comprising a housing (H) which is mountable in the household appliance (100); a first electric motor drive (3) being at least partly arranged in or at the housing (H); a first handling mechanism (A) for operating the door (10), wherein the first handling mechanism (A) comprises a door locking pin (19) for locking and / or unlocking the door locking pin (19) at a counterpart (21) of the door (10) from a lateral side; and / or a second handling mechanism (B) for operating the door (10), wherein the second handling mechanism (B) comprises a pusher (18) and a pusher link (13) and a pusher arm (15), and wherein the pusher link (13) is connected with the second end of the pusher arm (15) and a second end of the pusher link (13) being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive (3) and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive (3) for rotating the pusher arm (15) and thereby pulling and / or pushing the pusher (18) towards and / or from the counterpart (21).

Description

[0001] Device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food, household appliance for treating food and method for operating a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food, to a household appliance for treating food and to a method for operating a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In household appliances for treating food in which a cavity can be heated up the doors can be opened and locked or unlocked by a particular mechanism in the household appliance.

[0006] The designs of modern built-in appliances moves towards an integrated design and flush mounting. In other words some or any protruding elements, like door handles and knobs, can be omitted. Even without the door handle, a user should be able to open the doors and therefore, the door opening mechanism can be integrated in the design of the oven. Further, for microwave doors with an integrated interlock mechanism additional forces which hold the door in a closed state should be overcome when opening the door.

[0007] EP 3 324 124 A1 describes a mechanism for opening a door in a household appliance for a ordinary door design where no interlocking forces have to be overcome when opening the door.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] It is an object of the invention to provide a device and method with a closing and locking functionality of a door of a household appliance for treating food for which an unlocking and opening of a pretensioned and interlocked door can be achieved. The object is solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims.

[0010] The present invention pertains to a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food according to claim 1, to a household appliance for treating food according to claim 8 and to a method for operating a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food according to claim 12.

[0011] Preferred embodiments are subject of the dependent claims.

[0012] According to the invention a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food comprises a housing which is mountable in the household appliance; a first electric motor drive being at least partly arranged in or at the housing; a first handling mechanism for operating the door being at least partly arranged in or at the housing, wherein the first handling mechanism comprises a door locking pin being connected to a first end of a wire and the wire being mounted such in the housing that it can be rotated around an axis located between the first end and a second end of the wire (which can be fixed at the housing) and thereby locking and / or unlocking the door locking pin at a counterpart of the door from a lateral side, and the first handling mechanism further comprising a link being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive for engaging the second end of the wire inside a slot of the link and thereby rotating the wire; and / or a second handling mechanism for operating the door being at least partly arranged in or at the housing, wherein the second handling mechanism comprises a pusher and a pusher link and a pusher arm, wherein the pusher arm is rotatably fastened in a fixation point (for example at the housing) between a first and second end of the pusher arm around which the pusher arm can be rotated and wherein a first end of the pusher arm is connected to the pusher and wherein the pusher link is connected with the second end of the pusher arm and a second end of the pusher link being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive for rotating the pusher arm and thereby pulling and / or pushing the pusher towards and / or from the counterpart.

[0013] The locking of the locking pin at the counterpart can happen such that the wire can be rotated around the axis of fixation and the locking pin moved towards the counterpart from a lateral side and the unlocking can happen in a corresponding motion away from the counterpart.

[0014] The link, the pusher and the pusher link can be embodied each as an arm or bar or similar. When the second end of the wire is engaged in the slot of the link it can be pulled or pushed by reaching an end of the slot during motion of the link and then pulled or pushed together with the link.

[0015] The device enables an automatic and electronic opening of a household appliance and for example of a built-in oven door without a conventional handle. It can enable the opening of a microwave door which has an interlock safety system such that the Interlock system (doors switch on each side of doors) causes additional forces that keep the door closed and therefore an additional force to overcome the closing and a corresponding pusher can be needed.

[0016] Further, the device can also enable a user to physically open the door, for example during a power outage, without damaging the mechanism. However, this feature is not enabled during pyrolytic cycle because of the safety reasons.

[0017] The device can represent a mechanism for automatic and electronically door opening with an integrated pyrolytic door lock for pyrolytic and microwave built in ovens. The household appliance can be a household appliance with a heating cavity in general such as an oven with a microwave or just a microwave and optionally with a pyrolytic function. The device and its mechanism can be at least partly fixed inside of a body of the appliance, for example behind the control panel, and interacts with the door.

[0018] The wording of operating the door by the particular handling mechanism can contain a lock- ing / unlocking and / or opening of the door.

[0019] The pusher arm can translate a pushing motion of the pusher link to a pulling motion of the pusher and a pulling motion of the pusher link to a pushing motion of the pusher. This can be achieved due to a rotatable fixation of the pusher arm in its central region and connecting the pusher at one end region of the pusher arm and the pusher link at an opposite end of the pusher arm in relation to the axis of rotation. According to a further embodiment of the device the device further comprises a second electric motor drive being at least partly arranged in or at the housing and a locking arm being connected to and movable by the second electric motor drive and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the second electric motor drive for engaging the second end of the wire inside an aperture at a first end of the locking arm, whereby a motion of the second end of the wire parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive can be blocked and thereby the locking arm is configured to avoid motion parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive.

[0020] Furthermore, the device can also provide an integrated door safety lock, which can be used during a pyrolytic cycle for locking the doors.

[0021] The motion of the links and arms or other mechanical components towards and / or from the corresponding electric motor drive can be represented by a link / arm being pulled or pushed by a moving part of the electric motor drive, for example when rotating it which then can result in a translatoric movement towards the point where the link / arm is connected to the moving part and moved with it, for example in a particular plane and along a straight or curved line (circle).

[0022] Instead of a motion parallel to a direction towards the first electric motor drive the motion of the wire which causes the counterpart to unlock and distance from the counterpart can be blocked by the engagement. Such an additional locking can for example be provided for a pyrolytic operation of a household appliance.

[0023] According to a further embodiment of the device the second handling mechanism further comprises a compression spring connected to a first end of the pusher which is configured to push the pusher with a second end of the pusher in a direction towards and / or against the counterpart and / or the second handling mechanism having a first electrical detection device which is configured to recognize whether the pusher is in a first position at which the door is open or at a second position at which the door is closed.

[0024] By the first electrical detection device it can be recognized whether the door is open or closed. According to a further embodiment of the device the first electric motor drive is configured to provide a pulling force to the pusher link and consequently a pushing force to the pusher being strong enough to overcome a predefined closing force from an interlock at the door as present in a microwave appliance.

[0025] According to a further embodiment of the device the first electric motor drive is configured to generate a clockwise rotation of a moving part, for example as part of the first electric motor drive, in a plane of force transfer to the first handling mechanism and / or second handling mechanism and the second electric motor drive is configured to generate a clockwise and / or counterclockwise rotation of a moving part, for example as part of the second electric motor drive, in a plane of force transfer to the first handling mechanism and / or second handling mechanism.

[0026] The moving part(s) can be round and rotating parts below the particular electric motor drive.

[0027] According to a further embodiment of the device the first handling mechanism comprises a leaf spring which is connected to the wire and configured to execute a predefined pretension force to the wire such to move the door locking pin to the counterpart, for example if no or only weak other forces act on the wire.

[0028] If remaining forces on the wire or locking pin are weak or absent the locking pin can be located at the door closing position by the pretension.

[0029] According to a further embodiment of the device the door locking pin has a tapered or inclined enclosure region inside or behind which a tip region of the counterpart can be engaged or held when the door locking pin is pushed towards the counterpart from a lateral side by its movement when locking the door and wherein the door locking pin further has at least in one region an angled front face for translating a door closing force to a lateral force component laterally away from the counterpart when the tip region of the counterpart is pushed to the angled front face when closing the door.

[0030] The enclosure region can be represented by a tapered or inclined face which can be opposite the angled front face and directed towards the interior of the household appliance. The angled structure is inclined such that the pushing force from the closing door can be (when closing) translated to a lateral direction in order to push the locking pin out from the closed door position.

[0031] Therefore, for unlocking the locking pin must actively been deviated laterally by the wire. Therefore, the enclosure region can have a straight and not inclined region (parallel to the door front) towards the interior of the enclosure region.

[0032] According to the invention a household appliance for treating food comprises a cavity, for example for heating, and a door for closing the cavity; a counterpart located on a top side of the door and which is accessible from a ventilation channel from an interior of the household device; a device for operating the door according to the invention; and a controller for operating the device.

[0033] The ventilation channel can be open from a front side of the household appliance and located above the door and below the control panel of the household appliance. The controller can be used for operating the first and second electric motor drives.

[0034] According to a further embodiment the household appliance is a build-in oven, a stand-alone oven and / or a microwave appliance.

[0035] According to a further embodiment the household appliance is a microwave appliance having an interlock at the door and the first electric motor drive is configured to provide a pushing force to the pusher being strong enough to overcome a predefined closing force from the interlock at the door.

[0036] According to a further embodiment of the household appliance the device for operating the door is arranged behind a control panel of the household appliance and such that the door locking pin and / or the pusher can reach the counterpart by projecting out from the ventilation channel and / or wherein the counterpart has a tip region for being received or being engaged or held into or behind a tapered or inclined enclosure region of the door locking pin when locking the door. According to the invention a method for operating a device for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food according to the invention, comprises the steps of rotating the first electric motor drive for a first amount in a clockwise direction and thereby moving the link in a direction towards the first electric motor drive and engaging the second end of the wire inside the slot of the link and thereby rotating (for example pulling) the wire and moving the door locking pin away from the counterpart and thereby unlocking the door; and further rotating the first electric motor drive for a second amount in the clockwise direction and subsequently to the first amount and thereby moving the pusher link in a direction towards the first electric motor drive and rotating the pusher arm and pushing the pusher towards the counterpart and thereby overcoming a closing force of an interlock at the door and opening the door.

[0037] According to a further embodiment of the method the first amount and the second amount each correspond to turns of smaller or equal to 180° and after a full turn the first electric motor drive is stopped and the wire and consequently the door locking pin are pushed to a closed door position by a leaf spring which is connected to the wire.

[0038] The closed door position can be said position of the locking pin, at which the locking pin is located when the door is closed. For an open door the locking pin can also move to the closed door position and when closing the door the counterpart pushes to the locking pin and moves it laterally away from the closed door position (overcoming the leaf spring force and engaging afterwards).

[0039] According to a further embodiment of the method when the door is locked and a pyrolytic function of the household appliance is detected to be executed, the second electric motor drive is rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction (depending on the construction, both possible) and thereby the locking arm is moved towards the wire and the second end of the wire is engaged inside the aperture at the first end of the locking arm, whereby a motion of the second end of the wire parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive is blocked and thereby the locking arm avoids motion parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive, and wherein after stopping the pyrolytic function and after an opening condition for the door is reached again the engagement of the wire in the aperture is released again by rotating the second electric motor drive back to an initial position, from which an unlocking can start again. According to a further embodiment of the method for closing and locking the door and when the door locking pin is in a closed door position, the door with the counterpart and its tip region is pushed against the door locking pin and against its at least one region with an angled front face and thereby translating a door closing force to a lateral force component laterally away from the counterpart, thereby overcoming the leaf spring force and deflecting the door locking pin from the closed door position and afterwards engaging or holding the tip region of the counterpart into or behind the tapered or inclined enclosure region of the door locking pin when the door locking pin is pushed again laterally towards the counterpart by the leaf spring force on the wire after the tip region overcomes the angled front face.

[0040] The method can be characterized by the same or similar features and corresponding advantages as already mentioned in conjunction with the device and / or the household appliance and vice versa.

[0041] BRIEF DESCIRPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] The invention will be explained in greater detail with reference to exemplary embodiments depicted in the drawings as appended.

[0043] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate a comparative embodiment and embodiments of the present invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Other embodiments of the present invention and many of the intended advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as they become better understood by reference to the following detailed description. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative to each other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding similar parts.

[0044] Fig. 1a shows a perspective view of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the invention. Fig. 1 b shows a view from a bottom side of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0045] Fig. 2 shows a mechanical structure of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0046] Fig. 3 shows a mechanical structure of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0047] Fig. 4 shows a partial view on a device for operating a door of a household appliance in a household appliance according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0048] Fig. 5 shows a different view on the device of Fig. 4 inside the household appliance.

[0049] Fig. 6a, 6b and 6c show locking and unlocking steps of a door when operating the device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0050] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0051] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and / or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention. Generally, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein.

[0052] Fig. 1a shows a perspective view of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0053] The device 1 for operating a door of a household appliance for treating food comprises a housing H which is mountable in the household appliance; a first electric motor drive 3 being arranged at the housing H; a first handling mechanism which comprises a door locking pin 19 being connected to a first end of a wire 8 and the wire 8 being mounted such in the housing H that it can be rotated around an axis located between the first end and a second end of the wire 8 and thereby locking and / or unlocking the door locking pin 19 at a counterpart (not shown) of the door, and the first handling mechanism further comprising a link 12 being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive 3 and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive 3.

[0054] The device further comprises a second handling mechanism for operating the door comprising a pusher 18 and a pusher link 13 and a pusher arm, and wherein the pusher link 13 is connected with the second end of the pusher arm and a second end of the pusher link 13 being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive 3 and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive 3 for rotating the pusher arm and thereby pulling and / or pushing the pusher 18 towards and / or from the counterpart.

[0055] Fig. 1 b shows a view from a bottom side of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0056] The bottom view shows a bottom cover BC for enclosing the mechanical parts such as the wire and the pusher 18 at least partly from the bottom in the housing H. The pusher 18 and the locking pin 19 can extend over the housing H to a front direction of the device 1 and the leaf spring 17 can be mounted in the bottom side of the housing H leading to the interior of the housing H and connected there to the wire (not shown) in order to provide a pretension on it.

[0057] Fig. 2 shows a mechanical structure of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0058] The device 1 for operating a door of a household appliance comprises a first electric motor drive 3, a first handling mechanism A for operating the door, wherein the first handling mechanism A comprises a door locking pin 19 being connected to a first end of a wire 8 and the wire 8 being rotatable around an axis 8-A located between the first end and a second end of the wire 8 and thereby locking and / or unlocking the door locking pin 19 at a counterpart 21 of the door from a lateral side, and the first handling mechanism A further comprising a link 12 being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive 3 and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive 3 for engaging the second end of the wire 8 inside a slot 12-S of the link 12 and thereby rotating the wire 8. The device further comprising a second handling mechanism B for operating the door, wherein the second handling mechanism B comprises a pusher 18 and a pusher link 13 and a pusher arm 15, wherein the pusher arm 15 is rotatably fastened in a fixation point between a first and second end of the pusher arm 15 around which the pusher arm 15 can be rotated and wherein a first end of the pusher arm 15 is connected to the pusher 18 and wherein the pusher link 13 is connected with the second end of the pusher arm 15 and a second end of the pusher link 13 being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive 3 and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive 3 for rotating the pusher arm 15 and thereby pulling and / or pushing the pusher 18 towards and / or from the counterpart 21.

[0059] The second handling mechanism B can further comprise a compression spring 22 connected to a first end of the pusher 18 which is configured to push the pusher 18 with a second end of the pusher 18 in a direction towards and / or against the counterpart 21 and / or the second handling mechanism B can have a first electrical detection device 7 which is configured to recognize whether the pusher 18 is in a first position at which the door is open or at a second position at which the door is closed. A motor detector 5 can be arranged at the first electric motor drive 3 by which it can be recognized whether the rotation of the first electric motor drive 3 has exceeded a predefined position, for example if the door is already unlocked. The wire 8 can be connected to a leaf spring 17.

[0060] For opening of a microwave door the mechanism can operate in three stages:

[0061] First, the first electric motor drive 3 starts to turn in CW direction. In the first half of the turn, the wire 8 can be pulled with the help of link 12. This can move the wire 8 to the right (perspective of Fig. 2) where the locking pin 19 moves away of the counterpart 21.

[0062] In the second part of the turn, the pusher 18 can be pushed to the door with the help of the rotation part of the motor 3 and its pusher link 13, pusher arm 15 which translates the rotation into the translation and the pusher 18 is pushed out. A disc (not shown and arranged on the top of the housing of the device and linked to the pusher link and the pusher arm can move along the pusher arm 15 and helps to seal the housing).

[0063] Finally, when the locking pin 19 unlocked the door, the door can be opened. The door can start to open due to the preloaded hinges. Preloaded hinges tend to open the door all the time, they work in the opposite direction of a closing force which may be provided by the locking pin 21.

[0064] When the first electric motor drive 3 has finished a full turn, it can actuate the detector 5 which can stop the motor. A leaf spring 17 can push the wire 8 to the start position and the system is ready to repeat the opening action.

[0065] The first electric motor drive 3 is configured to generate a clockwise rotation of a moving part 3a in a plane of force transfer to the first handling mechanism A.

[0066] Fig. 3 shows a mechanical structure of a device for operating a door of a household appliance according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0067] Fig. 3 shows the device similar to Fig. 2 further having a second electric motor drive 4 and a locking arm 9 being connected to and movable by the second electric motor drive 4 and movable in a direction towards the second electric motor drive 4 for engaging the second end of the wire 8 inside an aperture 9-A at a first end of the locking arm 9, whereby a motion of the second end of the wire 8 parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive 3 can be blocked and thereby the locking arm 9 is configured to avoid motion parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive 3.

[0068] The second electric motor drive 4 is configured to generate a clockwise and / or counterclockwise rotation of a moving (rotating) part in a plane of force transfer. A link element 14 can be fixed to the moving (rotating) part of the second electric motor drive 4 and rotated with it, wherein a translatoric force can be provided to the locking arm 9 in a direction towards the wire 8 and back from it. A pin of the link element 14 can move inside a slot 9-B of the locking arm 9 and when reaching the end of the slot 9-B start pushing the locking arm 9 or pulling it when reaching the opposite end of the slot 9-B. A detection element 6 can be arranged next to the locking arm 9 and detect a predefined position of the locking arm 9 (for example by reaching or leaving a gap where a detection pin of the detection element 6 can be triggered) and the rotation when the predefined position is reached can for example be stopped. The second electric motor drive and the locking arm 9 can represent a pyrolytic closing mechanism. The device 1 can also be used for the ovens having a pyrolytic function.

[0069] An integrated pyrolytic door lock should keep the door locked during a pyrolytic cycle.

[0070] The second electric motor drive 4 can start to turn CW / CCW and with the help of arm 14 translates rotation in the translation movement so that the locking arm 9 can be pushed. Once in the end position, the locking arm 9 comes in contact with the wire 8 and disables its movement.

[0071] Fig. 4 shows a partial view on a device for operating a door of a household appliance in a household appliance according to a further embodiment of the invention.

[0072] A counterpart can be accessible by the pusher 18 and the locking pin 19 through a ventilation channel VC extending outward from an interior of the household device 100. In other words, the wire 8 and the pusher 18 can project from the device (not shown) which is mounted in the interior of the household device 100 out from the ventilation channel VC and reach the counterpart (not shown). The ventilation channel VC can be typically placed below the control panel CP of the household device 100. Consequently, no additional opening is needed in the household appliance and the existing ventilation can be used which helps to provide a smoother design of the household appliance 100.

[0073] The device can penetrate or project into the ventilation channel VC also.

[0074] Fig. 5 shows a different view on the device of Fig. 4 inside the household appliance.

[0075] The device 1 can be mounted behind the control panel CP and reaching the ventilation channel VC from top, wherein the ventilation channel VC can be guided above the cavity C and exit the housing appliance 100 at a top of the door 10. In order to lower the amount of cooling air to enter the housing of the device 1 and to seal the ventilation channel VC and face the cooling air to a minimum number of obstacles a particularly designed and smooth bottom cover 20 of the device 1 and a disc 16, for example as part of the first handling mechanism A and on a top side of it and for mechanically linking the pusher to the first electric motor drive 3 and can be used for protecting air to enter the device 1 and guiding the air out of the household appliance's 100 cooling system.

[0076] Fig. 6a, 6b and 6c show locking and unlocking steps of a door when operating the device according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0077] Figures 6a to 6c show a manual locking procedure by the user what means that the door 10 with the counterpart 21 can be pushed to close the cavity of the household appliance and the locking pin 19 can be deviated from the closed door position as shown in Fig. 6a to a lateral side as shown in Fig. 6b and afterwards engage or hold the tip region TR of the counterpart 21 into or behind the tapered or inclined enclosure region ER of the door locking pin 19, as shown in Fig. 6c. Therefore, for closing and locking the door 10 and when the door locking pin 19 is in a closed door position as shown in Fig. 6a, the door 10 with the counterpart 21 and its tip region TR is pushed against the door locking pin 19 and against its at least one region with an angled front face FF and thereby translating a door closing force to a lateral force component laterally away from the counterpart 21 as shown in Fig. 6b, thereby overcoming the leaf spring force and deflecting the door locking pin 19 from the closed door position and afterwards engaging or holding the tip region TR of the counterpart 21 into or behind the tapered or inclined enclosure region ER of the door locking pin 19 when the door locking pin 19 is pushed again laterally towards the counterpart 21 as shown in Fig. 6c by the leaf spring force on the wire after the tip region TR overcomes the angled front face FF. The counterpart 21 then comes close to the pusher 18 or reaches the pusher 18.

[0078] The door 10 can also be opened manually by the user, if the pyrolytic door lock is not activated. The user can apply force on the door 10 and with enough force, open the door 10 since the engaging of the tip region TR of the counterpart 21 into the tapered enclosure region ER of the door locking pin 19 can also be overcome again due to the inclined part of the tapered (inclined) enclosure region ER which faces the outer part of the tip region TR when engaged and viewed from the cavity. By a pulling (opening) force which can be strong enough again a lateral deviation of the locking pin 19 can be achieved (motion for opening not shown).

[0079] To hold the locking pin 19 against the lateral deviation also the friction which occurs between the counterpart 21 and the locking pin 19 has to be considered. A movement of the locking pin 19 during the closing process can be enabled by the clearance between second end of the wire (8 not shown in Fig. 6a-6c, see Fig. 2) and the link 12 inside its slot (12-S, not shown in Fig. 6a-6c, see Fig. 2).

[0080] In the foregoing detailed description, various features are grouped together in one or more examples or examples with the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. It is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Device (1) for operating a door (10) of a household appliance (100) for treating food comprising:- a housing (H) which is mountable in the household appliance (100);- a first electric motor drive (3) being at least partly arranged in or at the housing (H);- a first handling mechanism (A) for operating the door (10) being at least partly arranged in or at the housing (H), wherein the first handling mechanism (A) comprises a door locking pin (19) being connected to a first end of a wire (8) and the wire (8) being mounted such in the housing (H) that it can be rotated around an axis located between the first end and a second end of the wire (8) and thereby locking and / or unlocking the door locking pin (19) at a counterpart (21) of the door (10) from a lateral side, and the first handling mechanism (A) further comprising a link (12) being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive (3) and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive (3) for engaging the second end of the wire (8) inside a slot (12-S) of the link (12) and thereby rotating the wire (8); and / or- a second handling mechanism (B) for operating the door (10) being at least partly arranged in or at the housing (H), wherein the second handling mechanism (B) comprises a pusher (18) and a pusher link (13) and a pusher arm (15), wherein the pusher arm (15) is rotatably fastened in a fixation point between a first and second end of the pusher arm (15) around which the pusher arm (15) can be rotated and wherein a first end of the pusher arm (15) is connected to the pusher (18) and wherein the pusher link (13) is connected with the second end of the pusher arm (15) and a second end of the pusher link (13) being connected to and movable by the first electric motor drive (3) and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the first electric motor drive (3) for rotating the pusher arm (15) and thereby pulling and / or pushing the pusher (18) towards and / or from the counterpart (21).

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, further comprising a second electric motor drive (4) being at least partly arranged in or at the housing (H) and a locking arm (9) being connected to and movable by the second electric motor drive (4) and movable in a direction towards and / or away from the second electric motor drive (4) for engaging the second end of the wire (8) inside an aperture (9-A) at a first end of the locking arm (9), whereby a motion ofthe second end of the wire (8) parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive (3) can be blocked and thereby the locking arm (9) is configured to avoid motion parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive (3).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second handling mechanism (B) further comprises a compression spring (22) connected to a first end of the pusher (18) which is configured to push the pusher (18) with a second end of the pusher (18) in a direction towards and / or against the counterpart (21) and / or the second handling mechanism (B) having a first electrical detection device (7) which is configured to recognize whether the pusher (18) is in a first position at which the door (10) is open or at a second position at which the door (10) is closed.

4. Device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first electric motor drive (3) is configured to provide a pulling force to the pusher link (13) and consequently a pushing force to the pusher (18) being strong enough to overcome a predefined closing force from an interlock at the door (10) as present in a microwave appliance.

5. Device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first electric motor drive (3) is configured to generate a clockwise rotation of a moving part in a plane of force transfer to the first handling mechanism (A) and / or second handling mechanism (B) and the second electric motor drive (4) is configured to generate a clockwise and / or counterclockwise rotation of a moving part in a plane of force transfer to the first handling mechanism (A) and / or second handling mechanism (B).

6. Device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first handling mechanism (A) comprises a leaf spring (17) which is connected to the wire (8) and configured to execute a predefined pretension force to the wire (8) such to move the door locking pin (19) to the counterpart (21).

7. Device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the door locking pin (19) has a tapered or inclined enclosure region (ER) inside or behind which a tip region (TR) of the counterpart (21) can be engaged or held when the door locking pin (19) is pushed towards the counterpart (21) from a lateral side by its movement when locking the door(10) and wherein the door locking pin (19) further has at least in one region an angled front face (FF) for translating a door closing force to a lateral force component laterally away from the counterpart (21) when the tip region (TR) of the counterpart (21) is pushed to the angled front face (FF) when closing the door (10).

8. Household appliance (100) for treating food, comprising:- a cavity (C) and a door (10) for closing the cavity (C);- a counterpart (21) located on a top side of the door (10) and which is accessible from a ventilation channel (VC) from an interior of the household device (100);- a device (1) for operating the door (10) according to any of claims 1 to 7; and- a controller for operating the device (1).

9. Household appliance (100) according to claim 8, which is a build-in oven, a stand-alone oven and / or a microwave appliance.

10. Household appliance (100) according to claim 9, which is a microwave appliance having an interlock at the door (10) and the first electric motor drive (3) is configured to provide a pushing force to the pusher (18) being strong enough to overcome a predefined closing force from the interlock at the door (10).1 1. Household appliance (100) according to any of claims 8 to 10, wherein the device (1) for operating the door (10) is arranged behind a control panel of the household appliance (100) and such that the door locking pin (19) and / or the pusher (18) can reach the counterpart (21) by projecting out from the ventilation channel (VC) and / or wherein the counterpart (21) has a tip region (TR) for receiving / or being engaged or held into or at a tapered or inclined enclosure region (ER) of the door locking pin (19) when locking the door (10).

12. Method for operating a device (1) for operating a door (10) of a household appliance (100) for treating food according to any of claims 1 to 7, comprising the steps: rotating (S1) the first electric motor drive (3) for a first amount in a clockwise direction and thereby moving the link (12) in a direction towards the first electric motor drive (3) and engaging the second end of the wire (8) inside the slot (12-S) of the link (12) andthereby rotating the wire (8) and moving the door locking pin (19) away from the counterpart (21) and thereby unlocking the door (10);- further rotating (S2) the first electric motor drive (3) for a second amount in the clockwise direction and subsequently to the first amount and thereby moving the pusher link (13) in a direction towards the first electric motor drive (3) and rotating the pusher arm (15) and pushing the pusher (18) towards the counterpart (21) and thereby overcoming a closing force of an interlock at the door (10) and opening the door (10).

13. Method according to claim 12, wherein the first amount and the second amount each correspond to turns of smaller or equal to 180° and after a full turn the first electric motor drive (3) is stopped and the wire (8) and consequently the door locking pin (19) are pushed to a closed door position by a leaf spring (17) which is connected to the wire (8).

14. Method according to claim 12 or 13, wherein when the door (10) is locked and a pyrolytic function of the household appliance is detected to be executed, the second electric motor drive (4) is rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction and thereby the locking arm (9) is moved towards the wire (8) and the second end of the wire (8) is engaged inside the aperture (9-A) at the first end of the locking arm (9), whereby a motion of the second end of the wire (8) parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive(3) is blocked and thereby the locking arm (9) avoids motion parallel or in a direction towards the first electric motor drive (3), and wherein after stopping the pyrolytic function and after an opening condition for the door (10) is reached again the engagement of the wire (8) in the aperture (9-A) is released again by rotating the second electric motor drive(4) back to an initial position.

15. Method according to any of claims 12 to 14, wherein for closing and locking the door (10) and when the door locking pin (19) is in a closed door position, the door (10) with the counterpart (21) and its tip region (TR) is pushed against the door locking pin (19) and against its at least one region with an angled front face (FF) and thereby translating a door closing force to a lateral force component laterally away from the counterpart (21), thereby overcoming the leaf spring force and deflecting the door locking pin (19) from the closed door position and afterwards engaging or holding the tip region (TR) of the counterpart (21) into the tapered or inclined enclosure region (ER) of the door locking pin(19) when the door locking pin (19) is pushed again laterally towards the counterpart (21) by the leaf spring force on the wire (8) after the tip region (TR) overcomes the angled front face (FF).

Images