Lifting device and dishwasher

Abstract

A lifting device for a dish receptacle of a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher, includes a drive facility configured to assist a manual raising or lowering of the dish receptacle between a start position and an end position by applying a supporting force. A control facility activates the drive facility as a function of a manual actuation force when the dish receptacle is raised or lowered manually and a sensor facility is provided to detect the manual actuation force. A transmission facility transmits the manual actuation force from a handle of the dish receptacle to the sensor facility.

Claims

1. A lifting device for a dish receptacle of a dishwasher, said lifting device comprising: a drive facility configured to assist a manual raising or lowering of the dish receptacle between a start position and an end position by applying a supporting force, a control facility configured to activate the drive facility as a function of a manual actuation force when the dish receptacle is raised or lowered manually, a sensor facility configured to detect the manual actuation force, and a transmission facility configured to transmit the manual actuation force from a handle of the dish receptacle to the sensor facility, wherein the transmission facility comprises a mechanical transmission member including a control cable, thereby to mechanically couple the handle of the dish receptacle to the sensor facility, wherein the control cable is directly coupled to the handle of the dish receptacle, and wherein the sensor facility is configured to detect a movement of the handle as the handle is acted upon by the manual actuation force.

2. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the sensor facility is arranged inside a wash container of the dishwasher.

3. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the control facility activates the drive facility in such a manner that a movement speed of the dish receptacle is proportional to the manual actuation force and/or the supporting force is proportional to the manual actuation force.

4. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the movement speed and/or the supporting force is/are directly proportional to the manual actuation force.

5. The lifting device of claim 1, further comprising a drag lever having a bearing point for support on the dish receptacle, said drag lever configured to stop the dish receptacle as it is raised or lowered by fixing the dish receptacle to the drag lever in such a manner that the bearing point of the drag lever is pivotable in relation to the dish receptacle and immobile linearly.

6. The lifting device of claim 5, wherein the drag lever has a further bearing point for support on a wash container of the dishwasher, a sensor line of the sensor facility being dimensioned such as to extend out of the wash container through the further bearing point of the drag lever.

7. The lifting device of claim 5, wherein the sensor facility is provided in or on the bearing point of the drag lever.

8. The lifting device of claim 5, wherein the sensor facility is provided on the drag lever and includes an actuation element arranged on the dish receptacle.

9. The lifting device of claim 8, wherein the actuation element is a magnetic element.

10. The lifting device of claim 5, wherein the bearing point of the drag lever includes a block mechanism which is provided on the dish receptacle, and a block counter-mechanism which is provided on the drag lever.

11. The lifting device of claim 10, wherein the block mechanism and the block counter-mechanism are rotatable into one another, when the dish receptacle is moved out of a wash container linearly in the start position.

12. The lifting device of claim 11, wherein the block mechanism and the block counter-mechanism are movable from a release state, in which the dish receptacle is movable linearly in relation to the drag lever, to a blocking state, in which the bearing point of the drag lever is pivotable in relation to the dish receptacle and immobile linearly.

13. The lifting device of claim 12, wherein the block mechanism and the block counter-mechanism are movable from the release state to the blocking state by raising the dish receptacle.

14. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the dishwasher comprises a household dishwasher.

15. A dishwasher, comprising: a wash container, a dish receptacle accommodated in the wash container and including a handle, and a lifting device comprising a drive facility configured to assist a manual raising or lowering of the dish receptacle between a start position and an end position by applying a supporting force, a control facility configured to activate the drive facility as a function of a manual actuation force when the dish receptacle is raised or lowered manually, a sensor facility configured to detect the manual actuation force, and a transmission facility configured to transmit the manual actuation force from the handle of the dish receptacle to the sensor facility, wherein the transmission facility comprises a mechanical transmission member including a control cable, thereby to mechanically couple the handle of the dish receptacle to the sensor facility, wherein the control cable is directly coupled to the handle of the dish receptacle, and wherein the sensor facility is configured to detect a movement of the handle as the handle is acted upon by the manual actuation force.

16. The dishwasher of claim 15, wherein the dishwasher comprises a household dishwasher.

17. A lifting device for a dish receptacle of a dishwasher, said lifting device comprising: a drive facility configured to assist a manual raising or lowering of the dish receptacle between a start position and an end position by applying a supporting force, a control facility configured to activate the drive facility as a function of a manual actuation force when the dish receptacle is raised or lowered manually, a sensor facility configured to detect the manual actuation force, and a transmission facility configured to transmit the manual actuation force from a handle of the dish receptacle to the sensor facility, wherein the transmission facility comprises a mechanical transmission member, thereby to mechanically couple the handle of the dish receptacle to the sensor facility, further comprising a drag lever having a bearing point for support on the dish receptacle, said drag lever configured to stop the dish receptacle as it is raised or lowered by fixing the dish receptacle to the drag lever in such a manner that the bearing point of the drag lever is pivotable in relation to the dish receptacle and immobile linearly, wherein the bearing point of the drag lever includes a block mechanism which is provided on the dish receptacle, and a block counter-mechanism which is provided on the drag lever, wherein the block mechanism and the block counter-mechanism are rotatable into one another, when the dish receptacle is moved out of a wash container linearly in the start position, and wherein the block mechanism and the block counter-mechanism are movable from a release state, in which the dish receptacle is movable linearly in relation to the drag lever, to a blocking state, in which the bearing point of the drag lever is pivotable in relation to the dish receptacle and immobile linearly.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantageous configurations and aspects of the lifting device and/or dishwasher are the subject matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the lifting device and/or dishwasher described in the following. The lifting device and/or dishwasher is/are described in more detail below based on preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a dishwasher;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further schematic sectional view of the dishwasher according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a schematic partial sectional view of the dishwasher according to FIG. 1;

(5) FIG. 4 shows an enlarged schematic view of an embodiment of a drag lever of a lifting device for the dishwasher according to FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5 shows an enlarged schematic view of an embodiment of a bearing point of the drag lever according to FIG. 4; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further enlarged schematic view of the bearing point according to FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(8) Identical elements and those of identical function are shown with the same reference characters in the figures, unless otherwise specified.

(9) FIGS. 1 and 2 each show a schematic sectional view of a preferred embodiment of a dishwasher 1. The dishwasher 1 is preferably a household dishwasher. The dishwasher 1 has a wash container 2, which can be closed by a door 3, in particular in a water-tight manner. To this end a sealing facility can be provided between the door 3 and the wash container 2. The wash container 2 and door 3 can form a wash chamber 4 of the dishwasher 1 for washing dishes. The door 3 is shown in its opened position in FIGS. 1 and 2. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis provided at a lower end of the door 3.

(10) The wash container 2 has a base 5, a top 6 arranged opposite the base 5 and a rear wall 7 arranged opposite the door 3. The wash container 2 also has two side walls 8, 9 arranged opposite one another. Only part of the side wall 9 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The wash container 2 is preferably cube-shaped. The wash container 2 is preferably made of a metal material, in particular sheet metal. For example the wash container 2 can be made of stainless steel sheet. The base 5 can also be made of a plastic material.

(11) The dishwasher 1 has at least one dish receptacle 10. The dishwasher 1 can preferably have a number of dish receptacles 10, 11. The dish receptacles 10, 11 are preferably arranged one above the other in the wash container 2. The dish receptacle 10 here can be a lower dish receptacle or lower rack and the dish receptacle 11 can be an upper dish receptacle or upper rack. The dishwasher 1 can also have a flatware drawer arranged above the dish receptacle 11. The dish receptacles 10, 11 are preferably box-shaped. Bases and walls of the dish receptacles 10, 11 are latticed. Each dish receptacle 10, 11 can be moved optionally in a push-in direction E into the wash container 2 or out of it counter to the push-in direction E in a pull-out direction A. A handle 12 can be provided on each of the dish receptacles 10, 11.

(12) The dish receptacles 10, 11 can be moved into or out of the wash container 2 with the aid of guide facilities 13. The guide facilities 13 can be configured as what are known as telescopic rails. Each dish receptacle 10, 11 is preferably assigned two such guide facilities 13, arranged on both sides of each dish receptacle 10, 11. The dish receptacles 10, 11 can be suspended from the guide facilities 13. Only one guide facility 13 of the dish receptacle 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The guide facility 13 can have a first guide rail 14, a second guide rail 15 and a running rail 16, which is arranged between the first guide rail 14 and the second guide rail 15. The dish receptacle 10 is preferably fastened to the second guide rail 15 and/or suspended therefrom. The running rail 16 can move in relation to the guide rails 14, 15.

(13) The dishwasher 1 also comprises a lifting device 17 for moving the dish receptacle 10 from a start position P.sub.A shown in FIG. 1 to an end position P.sub.E shown in FIG. 2. In particular the lifting device 17 is designed to raise the dish receptacle 10 from the start position P.sub.A to the end position P.sub.E or lower it from the end position P.sub.E to the start position P.sub.A. The lifting device 17 comprises at least one first pivot arm 18 and a second pivot arm 19 arranged at a distance from the first pivot arm 18. The pivot arms 18, 19 are each fastened pivotably to one of the side walls 8, 9 of the wash container 2 at bearing points 20, 21. In particular the bearing points 20, 21 are fixed bearings. The bearing point 20 here is arranged at the same height as the bearing point 21 in the vertical direction. The pivot arms 18, 19 are also fastened pivotably to the guide facility 13 and in particular to the first guide rail 14 at bearing points 22, 23. The pivot arms 18, 19 are positioned vertically in FIG. 1. In other words the pivot arms 18, 19 are arranged vertically when the dish receptacle 10 is in the start position P.sub.A.

(14) The lifting device 17 also comprises a drive facility 24 as shown in FIG. 3 and a control facility 25, which can be connected to the drive facility 24 by way of a control line 26. The drive facility 24 comprises or is configured as a servomotor. Power can also be supplied to the drive facility 24 by way of the control line 26. The drive facility 24 can alternatively be driven pneumatically or hydraulically. The drive facility 24 and/or control facility 25 is/are arranged in or on a side wall 27 of a housing 28 of the dishwasher 1. As shown in FIG. 3, the drive facility 24 and control facility 25 are positioned between the side wall 8 of the wash container 2 and the side wall 27 of the housing 28 of the dishwasher 1. The control facility 25 can also be integrated in the drive facility 24. This makes the lifting device 17 particularly compact in structure. In particular the control facility 25 operates autarkically. In other words it preferably operates independently of a control facility of the dishwasher 1.

(15) The drive facility 24 comprises a drive shaft 29, which is passed through the side wall 8 of the wash container 2 into the wash chamber 4. A suitable sealing facility can be provided between the drive shaft 29 and the side wall 8. The drive shaft 29 is preferably connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the first pivot arm 18 at the latter's bearing point 20, so that the drive facility 24 can apply a torque to the first pivot arm 18. Alternatively or additionally such a drive facility 24 can also be provided for the second pivot arm 19. Such drive facilities 24 can be provided on both side walls 8, 9 of the wash container. The drive facility 24 is designed to assist the movement of the dish receptacle 10 with a supporting force when said dish receptacle 10 is raised or lowered manually.

(16) Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lifting device 17 also comprises a control lever or drag lever 30. Such a drag lever 30 is preferably provided on both sides of the dish receptacle 10. The drag lever 30 is mounted rotatably on the wash container 2 and in particular on one of the side walls 8, 9 at a bearing point 31. The bearing point 31 here is arranged below the bearing points 20, 21 of the pivot arms 18, 19 in the vertical direction. The drag lever 30 is also mounted on the dish receptacle 10 at a bearing point 32. The drag lever 30 is designed to stop the dish receptacle 10 as it is raised or lowered, such that, as the dish receptacle 10 is raised or lowered, it is fixed to the drag lever 30 in such a manner that the bearing point 32 of the drag lever 30 provided on the dish receptacle 10 can be pivoted in relation to the dish receptacle 10 but cannot be moved linearly. In other words as the dish receptacle 10 is raised or lowered, the bearing point 32 can only be pivoted in relation to the dish receptacle 10. Linear movement of the bearing point 32 in relation to the dish receptacle 10 is not possible. Thus the dish receptacle 10 can only be moved into or out of the wash container 2 in the start position P.sub.A.

(17) FIG. 4 shows an enlarged view of the drag lever 30 with the bearing point 32. The bearing point 32 comprises a block mechanism 33 provided on the dish receptacle 10 and a block counter-mechanism 34 provided on the drag lever 30. The block counter-mechanism 34 is C-shaped and has a radial opening 36 in relation to a rotation axis 35 of the bearing point 32. The block mechanism 33 comprises a pin-shaped block element 37 with a flattened rear face 38 and a rounded front face 39. The pin-shaped block element 37 also comprises angled insertion points 40, 41, which facilitate insertion into the opening 36. In FIG. 4 the pin-shaped block element 37 and the block counter-mechanism 34 are shown in a release state, in which the block mechanism 33 can be twisted in relation to the block counter-mechanism 34 and the block mechanism 33 can be moved linearly in relation to the block counter-mechanism 34, so that the block mechanism 33 can be moved out of and into the block counter-mechanism 34.

(18) In a blocking state (not shown in FIG. 4) the block counter-mechanism 34 can only be pivoted in relation to the block mechanism 33 but cannot be moved out of it. In other words in the blocking state the bearing point 32 of the drag lever 30 can be pivoted in relation to the dish receptacle 10 but cannot be moved linearly. As the dish receptacle 10 is raised from the start position P.sub.A to the end position P.sub.E, the C-shaped block counter-mechanism 34 twists in relation to the pin-shaped block element 37 of the block mechanism 33, so that the C-shaped block counter-mechanism 34 encloses the pin-shaped element 37. It can then no longer be moved out of the C-shaped block counter-mechanism 34.

(19) FIGS. 5 and 6 each show a perspective view of a connecting element 42 for connecting the drag lever 30 to the dish receptacle 10. The drag lever 30 is not shown in FIG. 5. In the orientation shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 the dish receptacle 10 that is not shown is provided on the rear face of the connecting element 42. The connecting element 42 can be screwed, riveted, clipped or otherwise permanently connected to the dish receptacle 10. One such connecting element 42 is provided on each side of the dish receptacle 10. The connecting element 42 has the bearing point 32. A guide 43 is provided on the front face of the connecting element 42, the drag lever 30 being passed therein when the block mechanism 33 and the block counter-mechanism 34 are in the release state. Thus an end segment of the drag lever 30 facing the bearing point 32 is passed linearly along the connecting element 42 in the release state. The connecting element 42 also comprises the block mechanism 33, which is not shown in FIG. 5 for the sake of simplification. In the orientation in FIG. 5 the block mechanism 33 is provided on the front face. The block mechanism 33 can be configured as a single piece with the connecting element 42.

(20) FIG. 6 also shows a sensor facility 44, which is provided in or on the bearing point 32. The sensor facility 44 can be a Hall sensor for example or can have a Hall sensor. Alternatively the sensor facility 44 can comprise a strain gage strip, an optical sensor, a parameter-dependent resistor, an electric switch or the like. As shown in FIG. 6, the sensor facility 44 is integrated in the drag lever 30. A sensor line 45, for example a cable, is passed along the drag lever 30 and is preferably passed out of the wash container 2 through the bearing point 31 of the drag lever 30. For example the sensor line 45 can be passed centrally through a bearing pin of the drag lever 30 mounted rotatably at the bearing point 31. The sensor facility 44 is connected actively to the control facility 25 with the aid of the sensor line 45.

(21) An actuation element 46 is provided on the connecting element 42 or the block mechanism 33. The actuation element 46 is coupled to the handle 12 of the dish receptacle 10 by a transmission facility (described below) in such a manner that a movement of the handle 12 resulting from the actuation force F.sub.x1, F.sub.x2 is converted to a movement of the actuation element 46. The movement of the actuation element 46 can be rotational or, as shown in FIG. 5 with the aid of an arrow 47, linear. The actuation element 46 is a magnetic element, in particular a permanent magnet. The sensor facility 44 thus serves to detect the actuation force F.sub.x1, F.sub.x2. The control facility 25 activates the drive facility 24 as a function of the linear movement of the actuation element 46 detected by the sensor facility 44 in order to lower or raise the dish receptacle 10. The supporting force here can be proportional, preferably directly proportional, to the path traveled by the actuation element 46.

(22) The actuation element 46 only interacts with the sensor facility 44 when the block mechanism 33 is in the block counter-mechanism 34. As the dish receptacle 10 is raised and lowered, the block mechanism 33 and the block counter-mechanism 34 only twist in relation to one another. Linear movement of the block mechanism 33 in relation to the block counter-mechanism 34 is not possible when the latter is in the blocking state. This ensures that the actuation element 46 can activate the sensor facility 44 during the entire raising and lowering movement of the dish receptacle 10. On the other hand, when the dish receptacle 10 is moved into the wash container 2 in the start position P.sub.A and the block mechanism 33 is not engaged with the block counter-mechanism 34, it ensures that the actuation element 46 does not activate the sensor facility 44. This means that the drive facility 24 cannot be activated when the dish receptacle 10 is in the pushed in state. This prevents damage to the dishes or the dish receptacle 10 due to unwanted activation of the drive facility 24. In embodiments of the lifting device 17 that are not shown the sensor facility 44 is not provided on the drag lever 30 but for example inside or outside the wash container 2. The actuation element 46 can be dispensable, depending on the type of sensor facility 44.

(23) Returning to FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the lifting device 17 also comprises a transmission facility 48, as mentioned above, which is shown in a highly simplified manner in FIGS. 1 and 2. The transmission facility 48 transmits the actuation force F.sub.x1, F.sub.x2 mechanically or fluidically from the handle 12 to the sensor facility 44. Transmission can take place, as described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, with the aid of the actuation element 46, which is coupled mechanically to the transmission facility 48. The transmission facility 48 can be or comprise a fluid line, a control cable, a Bowden cable, a bar, a gear mechanism or the like. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the transmission facility 48 can be a Bowden cable for example, passed from the handle 12 to the bearing point 32 of the drag lever 30. The movement of the handle 12 is detected at the bearing point 32 with the aid of the sensor facility 44 and a corresponding signal is supplied to the control facility 25 with the aid of the sensor line 45. Because the handle 12 is coupled mechanically to the sensor facility 44 provided at the bearing point 32, there is no need for an electric cable or an energy storage unit on the dish receptacle 10 itself. There is also no need for complex signal transmission by radio.

(24) As the conversion of the movement of the handle 12 to the sensor signal takes place in or at the bearing point 32, there is no need for length compensation on the sensor line 45 or at the transmission facility 48 as the dish receptacle 10 is raised or lowered.

(25) In an alternative embodiment (not shown) of the lifting device 17 the transmission facility 48 is passed out of the wash container 2 through the bearing point 31 along the dish receptacle 10 and the drag lever 30, the sensor facility 44 then being arranged outside the wash container 2. The sensor facility 44 can then be embodied for example as a variable resistor. Additional mechanical locking of the handle 12 and/or the transmission facility 48 can also be provided, for example in the manner of a child-proof lock. The movement of the handle 12 can also be transmitted to the sensor facility 44 by movement of a frame of the dish receptacle 10 in relation to a base of the same.

(26) The functionality of the lifting device 17 is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. To move the dish receptacle 10 from the start position P.sub.A shown in FIG. 1 to the end position P.sub.E shown in FIG. 2 a manual actuation force F.sub.x1, in particular a tensile force, is applied to the dish receptacle 10 when it is still in the wash container 2. For example the user pulls the handle 12. This initially moves the dish receptacle 10 out of the dish receptacle 10 along the guide facility 13 in the pull-out direction A. As the block mechanism 33 is not yet engaged with the block counter-mechanism 34, the sensor facility 44 cannot yet be activated, so the drive facility 24 is deactivated as the dish receptacle 10 is pulled out of the wash container 2. As the dish receptacle 10 is pulled out, the block mechanism 33 becomes trapped in the block counter-mechanism 34 provided on the drag lever 30, so the sensor facility 44 can only be activated when the dish receptacle 10 has been pulled out of the wash container 2 completely. The sensor facility 44 can then detect the actuation force F.sub.x1 and the control facility 25 can activate the drive facility 24 to apply the supporting force.

(27) The control facility 25 can activate the drive facility 24 in such a manner that a movement speed of the dish receptacle 10 is proportional, preferably directly proportional, to the manual actuation force F.sub.x1. The lifting device 17 now raises the dish receptacle 10 from the start position P.sub.A in the direction of the end position P.sub.E. In this process the control facility 25 can activate the drive facility 24 in such a manner that the drive facility 24 is deactivated as soon as the manual actuation force F.sub.x1 stops acting on the handle 12. The lifting device 17 preferably has a brake or stop facility, which stops the dish receptacle 10 in its current position, so that it does not move back into the start position P.sub.A due to its own weight or the weight of the dishes in the dish receptacle 10. As the dish receptacle 10 is raised from the start position P.sub.A to the end position P.sub.E, the block mechanism 33 and the block counter-mechanism 34 help to prevent the dish receptacle 10 moving back along the guide facility 13 into the wash container 2. In particular the movement of the dish receptacle 10, as it is raised from the start position P.sub.A to the end position P.sub.E, is guided with the aid of the drag lever 30. The drag lever 30 can pull the dish receptacle 10 back into the wash container 2 slightly as it is raised.

(28) Conversely, to lower the dish receptacle 10 from the end position P.sub.E to the start position P.sub.A, a manual actuation force F.sub.x2 is applied to the dish receptacle 10. The force F.sub.x2 is a compressive force applied to the handle 12 of the dish receptacle 10. The sensor facility 44 determines the actuation force F.sub.x2 and the drive facility 24 is activated with the aid of the control facility 25 in such a manner that the drive facility 24 assists the movement of the dish receptacle 10 back from the end position P.sub.E to the start position P.sub.A with a supporting force. As soon as the dish receptacle 10 is back in the start position P.sub.A, the block mechanism 33 can move out of the block counter-mechanism 34 so that the dish receptacle 10 can move back into the wash container 2 in the push-in direction E. As soon as the block mechanism 33 moves out of the block counter-mechanism 34, the sensor facility 44 is deactivated again, as the actuation element 46 is a distance away from the sensor facility 44.

(29) Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many different ways.