Device for dispensing cleaning agents

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a device for dispensing a cleaning agent into a dishwasher, having a cover element for closing and releasing at least one opening of a store for storing the cleaning agent and/or an operating agent, at least one actuating element being provided which has an actuation path (W) for opening and/or fixing the cover element so that an accidental opening or unlocking is effectively prevented. According to the disclosure this is achieved in that the actuation path (W) is oriented away from the store and transversely to the opening.

Claims

1. In a device for dispensing detergent in a dishwasher having a detergent storage compartment and a cover element for closing the detergent storage compartment disposed vertically on a pivotal door of the dishwasher, wherein the improvement comprises a detergent storage frame having a pivotal actuation device comprising a pivotable rocker having a first end, a second end, and a pivot; wherein said pivot is common to the cover element and the pivotable rocker to open, close and lock the cover element; said second end of the pivotable rocker terminating in a first locking lug having a first flat or tapered slidable locking surface; a second locking lug disposed on the detergent storage frame having a corresponding flat or tapered mating locking surface to mate with the first flat or tapered slidable locking surface; and wherein the cover element is disposed on or adjacent to the first end of the pivotable rocker that has an actuation path oriented away from an opening in the detergent storage compartment and transverse to the an opening; and wherein the first or second locking lug is not on or does not extend through the cover element, and the pivotable rocker is pivotable around the pivot, wherein the first end of the pivotable rocker is rotatable with respect to the second end of the pivotable rocker around the pivot, and the cover element is separately moveable with respect to said pivot.

2. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an arming pin counter holder disposed on the pivotable rocker, an arming pin disposed on the detergent storage frame, and at least one spring element disposed between the arming pin and the arming pin counter holder to define a fixing position of the at least one pivotable rocker.

3. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotable rocker has a pivot shaft pivoted on the detergent storage frame for pivoting the pivotable rocker.

4. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivotable rocker has at least one detent in the first locking lug for locking/fixing the pivotable rocker.

5. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pivot of the pivotable rocker is oriented substantially parallel to the cover element.

6. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detergent storage compartment has a liquid storage unit for storing an operating liquid.

7. The device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the detergent storage frame has a final rinse storage unit.

8. The device as claimed in claim 7 further comprising a second pivotable rocker to close the final rinse storage unit.

9. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device is disposed in the dishwasher.

10. The device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an unlocking element activated by an electromagnetic coil.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pivotable rocker comprises an arming pin counter holder and a spring.

12. The device claimed in claim 1 wherein the first end of the pivotable rocker terminates at the cover element forming a smooth outside surface when the device is in a closed position.

13. The device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second end of the pivotable rocker has a cam shaped surface to slidably engage the first end of the pivotable rocker.

Description

ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

(1) An illustrative embodiment of the invention is depicted in the drawing and is explained in greater detail below with reference to the figures, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic lateral section through a first device with a first actuation element according to the invention,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic second section parallel to the section according to FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective view of the first device according to the invention, with a closed cover element with the first actuation element according to the invention,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective detail of the device according to the invention with the first actuation element and with the cover element released,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic perspective section of the first device according to the invention in a plan view,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a schematic perspective detail of a second device according to the invention with a multi-part actuation device having a second actuation element,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic section of the second device according to FIG. 6 upon opening/actuating the second actuation element according to the invention,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a schematic section of the second device according to FIG. 6 during the process of closing the cover element according to the invention, and

(10) FIG. 9 shows a schematic section of the second device according to FIG. 6, with the cover element according to the invention closed and locked.

(11) A first device for dispensing detergent into a dishwasher is shown schematically in section in FIG. 1. Here, an actuation element 1 or a rocker 1 is mounted or fixed on a cover element 3 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis 2. To manually actuate or open the cover element 3 in direction R, the rocker 1 is moved about the rotation axis 2 in direction W, within the meaning of the invention away from a storage unit 4 or an opening 5 of the storage unit 4.

(12) The opening 5 of the storage unit 4 is depicted especially in the perspective view according to FIG. 4. It will be seen from this that the opening 5, or a free cross section of the storage unit 4, is oriented substantially parallel to the plan view of the device. In devices for dispensing detergent into a dishwasher, a corresponding storage unit 4 is customarily used for the detergent powder or for a detergent tablet or the like and, for example, also as a liquid storage unit 4 for final-rinse liquid.

(13) During the cleaning operation, detergent storage units 4 of this kind are released by means of an unlocking element 6 or bolt 6, wherein the bolt 6 is pivotable about a pivot axis 7. The pivoting of the bolt 6 about the pivot axis 7 is effected by means of an actuator, preferably by means of an electromagnetic coil, which is not described in detail. However, this non-manual unlocking or actuating by means of a coil is generally known to a person skilled in the art. As an alternative or addition to this automated unlocking of the rocker 1 by means of the bolt 6 or a corresponding coil, a manual unlocking or actuating of the rocker 1 according to the invention can also take place in the direction W about the pivot axis 2.

(14) In FIG. 2, the rocker 1 is shown parallel to the section according to FIG. 1, such that a compression spring 8 is advantageously depicted which positions the rocker 1 in the fixing or locking position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. For this purpose, the rocker 1 has a detent lug 9, which is operatively connected to a second detent lug 10 of a housing of the device according to the invention.

(15) During the closure of the cover 3 counter to the direction R, the detent lug 9 locks with the detent lug 10, such that the cover and the rocker 1 are firmly fixed advantageously in the depicted position or locking position. For this purpose, the spring 8 exerts a pressing force on an arm 11 of the rocker 1, such that the detent lugs 9 and 10 are held firmly to each other in a fixed position.

(16) To generate the pressing force of the spring 8, the cover 3, for example, has a counter-holder 12. Moreover, the rocker 1 has a pin 13, which ensures centering of the spring 8 or positioning of the spring 8. With the aid of the rocker 1, which is to be pulled manually away from the storage unit 4, i.e. in direction W, it is ensured that accidental opening of the cover 3, e.g. by falling articles such as dishes or cutlery, etc., is prevented when the dishwasher door is opened. Accordingly, the operating safety is improved, and it is possible to effectively prevent operating agent/detergent from flowing or falling out of the storage unit 4 when closing the dishwasher door and/or to avoid soiling of the contents of the storage unit 4.

(17) The rocker 1 can be used not just for the detergent storage unit 4, i.e. for detergent powder or a detergent tablet, but alternatively also for a cover (not shown in detail) of a storage unit for final-rinse liquid, which cover is correspondingly to be activated likewise in the direction W. Thus, two identical rockers 1 can be provided in the detergent storage frame 15 (FIG. 3, 4) and used both for the detergent storage unit and also for the final-rinse storage unit by dividing cover 3 into separate covers 3A as a detergent storage unit and 3B as a final rinse storage unit as illustrated in FIG. 6, which on the one hand means a reduction in the number of parts, and thus cost savings, and on the other hand permits an effect that is esthetically pleasing for the user.

(18) A second device according to the invention is shown schematically in FIGS. 6 to 9. In contrast to the first variant according to FIGS. 1 to 5, it does not comprise a one-part actuation element 1 or actuation device according to the invention, but instead a three-part actuation device with a separate actuation element 1, a separate fixing element 14 and a separate rotation axis 2. These form a joint/flap hinge, such that the fixing element 14 is advantageously entrained in the opening or actuating of the actuation element 1 in the direction W according to the invention (cf. FIG. 7). During closure of the cover 3, the fixing element 14 is able to adjust or pivot/rotate relative to the actuation element 1 (cf. FIG. 8) and, with the detent lug 9, latches onto the detent lug 10 of the housing, such that the cover 3 is closed and fixed.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(19) 1 rocker 2 rotation axis 3 cover 3A detergent storage unit 3B final rinse storage unit 4 storage unit 5 opening 6 bolt 7 pivot axis 8 spring 9 lug 10 lug 11 arm 12 counter-holder 13 pin 14 fixing element 15 detergent storage frame R direction W direction