Lifting device and dishwasher

Abstract

A lifting device for a receptacle for items to be washed of a dishwasher, in particular a household dishwasher is constructed to lift the receptacle from a starting position, optionally via at least one intermediate position, into an end position or to lower the washing item receptacle from the end position, optionally via at least one intermediate position, into the starting position. The lifting device includes a braking device having at least one damping element which is designed to brake a movement of the 32-receptacle in particular during the lowering process.

Claims

1. A lifting device for a receptacle for items to be washed of a dishwasher, said lifting device being constructed to lift the receptacle for items to be washed from a starting position into an end position or to lower the receptacle from the end position into the starting position, said lifting device comprising: a braking device including a damping element configured to brake a movement of the receptacle, a scissors lift configured to lift and lower the receptacle, wherein the scissors lift comprises first and second scissor arms which intersect one another and are pivotably connected to one another at a pivot point to allow lifting and lowering of the receptacle as a function of a pivot angle between the first and second scissor arms, and an actuation lever pivotably disposed at a pivot point on the receptacle and having an end segment pivotably connected to one of the first and second scissor arms of the scissors lift via an intermediate lever, the actuation lever also being operably connected to the damping element for allowing actuation of the damping element.

2. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the damping element is configured to have an adjustable damping effect.

3. The lifting device of claim 2, wherein the damping effect of the damping element is adjustable such as to brake the movement of the receptacle more significantly during lowering of the receptacle than during lifting of the receptacle.

4. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the damping element is configured so as to be activated or deactivated.

5. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the damping element is configured such that the movement of the receptacle is only braked during lowering of the receptacle and unbraked during lifting of the receptacle.

6. The lifting device of claim 1, further comprising a receptacle carrier for carrying the receptacle, said damping element being arranged in one of three ways, a first way in which the damping element is arranged between the first and second scissor arms, a second way in which the damping element is arranged between the first and second scissor arms and the receptacle carrier, a third way in which the damping element is arranged at the pivot point of the first and second scissor arms.

7. The lifting device of claim 1, wherein the scissors lift is configured such that in a retracted state thereof the lifting device is movable out of and into a dishwasher cavity of the dishwasher.

8. The lifting device of claim 1, further comprising a drive facility configured to apply a supporting force to support a manual lifting or lowering of the receptacle.

9. The lifting device of claim 8, wherein the drive facility is constructed in the form of a spring element.

10. A dishwasher, comprising: a dishwasher cavity; a receptacle for items to be washed, said receptacle being receivable in the dishwasher cavity; and a lifting device constructed to lift the receptacle from a starting position into an end position or to lower the receptacle from the end position into the starting position, said lifting device comprising: a braking device including a damping element configured to brake a movement of the receptacle, a scissors lift configured to lift and lower the receptacle, wherein the scissors lift comprises first and second scissor arms which intersect one another and are pivotably connected to one another at a pivot point to allow lifting and lowering of the receptacle as a function of a pivot angle between the first and second scissor arms, and an actuation lever pivotably disposed at a pivot point on the receptacle and having an end segment pivotably connected to one of the first and second scissor arms of the scissors lift via an intermediate lever, the actuation lever also being operably connected to the damping element for allowing actuation of the damping element.

11. The dishwasher of claim 10, constructed in the form of a household dishwasher.

12. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the damping element is configured to have an adjustable damping effect.

13. The dishwasher of claim 12, wherein the damping effect of the damping element is adjustable such as to brake the movement of the receptacle more significantly during lowering of the receptacle than during lifting of the receptacle.

14. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the damping element is configured so as to be activated or deactivated.

15. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the damping element is configured such that the movement of the receptacle is only braked during lowering of the receptacle and unbraked during lifting of the receptacle.

16. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the lifting device includes a receptacle carrier for carrying the receptacle, said damping element being arranged in one of three ways, a first way in which the damping element is arranged between the first and second scissor arms, a second way in which the damping element is arranged between the first and second scissor arms and the receptacle carrier, a third way in which the damping element is arranged at the pivot point of the first and second scissor arms.

17. The dishwasher of claim 10, wherein the scissors lift is configured such that in a retracted state thereof the lifting device is movable out of and into a dishwasher cavity of the dishwasher.

18. The dishwasher of claim 10, further comprising a drive facility configured to apply a supporting force to support a manual lifting or lowering of the receptacle.

19. The dishwasher of claim 18, wherein the drive facility is constructed in the form of a spring element.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the lifting device and/or of the dishwasher form the subject matter of the subclaims and the exemplary embodiments of the lifting device and/or of the dishwasher described below. The lifting device and/or the dishwasher are further explained in greater detail below on the basis of the preferred embodiments with reference to the appended figures, in which

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

(3) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a lifting device for the dishwasher according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a further schematic side view of the lifting device according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a damping element for the lifting device according to FIG. 2;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a damping element for the lifting device according to FIG. 2;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a further schematic side view of the damping element according to FIG. 5;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a damping element for the lifting device according to FIG. 2;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a further schematic side view of the damping element according to FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a damping element for the lifting device according to FIG. 2;

(11) FIG. 10 shows a schematic side view of a further embodiment of a lifting device for the dishwasher according to FIG. 1; and

(12) FIG. 11 shows a further schematic side view of the lifting device according to FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

(13) Elements which are the same or function the same have been provided with the same reference characters in the figures, unless specified otherwise.

(14) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a dishwasher 1. The dishwasher 1 is a household dishwasher. The dishwasher 1 has a dishwasher cavity 2 which can be closed, in particular in a water-tight manner, by a door 3. To this end a sealing facility can be provided between the door 3 and the dishwasher cavity 2. The dishwasher cavity 2 is preferably rectangular. The dishwasher cavity 2 can be arranged in a housing of the dishwasher 1. The dishwasher cavity 2 and the door 3 can form a washing chamber 4 for washing items to be washed.

(15) The door 3 is shown in its open position in FIG. 1. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3. The dishwasher cavity 2 has a base 6, a ceiling 7 arranged opposite to the base 6, a rear wall 8 arranged opposite to the door 3 and two side walls 9, 10 arranged facing one another. The base 6, the ceiling 7, the rear wall 8 and the side walls 9, 10 can be manufactured from stainless steel sheet, for instance. Alternatively, the base 6 can be manufactured from a plastic material for instance.

(16) The dishwasher 1 also has at least one receptacle for items to be washed 11 to 13. Several, for instance three, receptacles for items to be washed 11 to 13 can preferably be provided, wherein the receptacle for items to be washed 11 may be a lower receptacle for items to be washed or a bottom basket, the receptacle for items to be washed 12 may be a top receptacle for items to be washed or a top basket and the receptacle for items to be washed 13 may be a cutlery basket. As also shown in FIG. 1, the receptacles for items to be washed 11 to 13 are arranged one on top of the other in the dishwasher cavity 2. Each receptacle for items to be washed 11 to 13 can optionally be moved in or out of the dishwasher cavity. In particular, each receptacle for items to be washed 11 to 13 can be moved into the dishwasher cavity 2 in an insertion direction E and can be removed from the dishwasher cavity 2 counter to the insertion direction E in an extraction direction A. The receptacle for items to be washed 11 can also be lifted using a lifting device, to be explained in more detail below, from a starting position, optionally via at least one intermediate position, into an end position, in which it is arranged in front of the receptacle for items to be washed 12 and at the same height as this.

(17) FIG. 2 shows a schematic side view of an embodiment of a lifting device 14 for the receptacle for items to be washed 11. FIG. 2 shows the receptacle for items to be washed 11 in an end position P.sub.E, in which it is lifted to the height of the receptacle for items to be washed 12. FIG. 3 shows the receptacle for items to be washed 11 in the starting position P.sub.A. The lifting device 14 can comprise a scissors lift 15, which, when the door 3 is opened, can be moved out of the dishwasher cavity 2 together with the receptacle for items to be washed 11 in the extraction direction A and can be moved into the dishwasher cavity 2 in the insertion direction E. The scissors lift 15 is moved apart in the end position P.sub.E. The scissors lift 15 is retracted in the starting position P.sub.A. The receptacle for items to be washed 11 with the lifting device 14 can only be moved into or out of the dishwasher cavity 2 when the scissors lift 15 is in the retracted state, in other words in the starting position P.sub.A.

(18) The scissors lift 15 comprises a first scissor arm 16 and a second scissor arm 17, which can be pivoted relative to one another in order to lift and lower the receptacle for items to be washed 11. The scissor arms 16, 17 are pivotably connected to one another at a pivot point 18. The pivot point 18 is provided approximately centrally on the scissor arms 16, 17. The pivot point 18 and all pivotal points mentioned again below can comprise a bearing point, such as for instance a roller bearing or a sliding bearing. The receptacle for items to be washed 11 can be lifted and lowered as a function of a pivot angle between the scissor arms 16, 17. The pivot angle may be greater than 90 in the end position P.sub.E and amount to 0 in the starting position P.sub.A for instance, so that the scissor arms 16, 17 are arranged parallel to one another in the starting position P.sub.A. The scissors lift 15 preferably has two pairs of scissor arms 16, 17, which are arranged on both sides of the receptacle for items to be washed 11.

(19) The lifting device 14 also comprises a receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19, which supports the receptacle for items to be washed 11. The receptacle for items to be washed 11 can be suspended, screwed, clipped or riveted in the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19 for instance. The receptacle for items to be washed 11 can be designed to be removable from the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19. The second scissor arm 17 is pivotably supported at a first end segment 20 with a pivot point 21 on the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19. A second end segment 22 of the second scissor arm 17 comprises a pivot point 23, on which a wheel 24 is pivotably supported. The wheel 24 is designed to roll on the opened door 3. The wheel 24 rolls on the door 3, if the receptacle for items to be washed 11 is moved into or out of the dishwasher cavity 2 with the lifting device 14 in the starting position P.sub.A. The wheel 24 also rolls on the door 3 when the receptacle for items to be washed 11 is brought from the starting position P.sub.A into the end position P.sub.E and vice versa.

(20) A wheel 27 which can roll on a bearing surface 28 of the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19 is pivotably supported on a first end segment 25 of the first scissor arm 16 at a pivot point 26. In other words, when the scissors lift 15 is extended or retracted, the first end segment 20 of the second scissor arm 17 is fixed to the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19 and can only be rotated relative hereto and the first end segment 25 of the first scissor arm 16 can be moved linearly relative to the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19, wherein the wheel 27 rolls on the bearing surface 28. A wheel 31 is pivotably supported on a second end segment 29 of the first scissor arm 16 at a pivot point 30. The wheel 31 is designed to roll on the opened door 3 like the wheel 24. The wheel 31 rolls on the door 3, if the receptacle for items to be washed 11 is moved in or out of the dishwasher cavity 2 with the lifting device 14 in the starting position P.sub.A. The wheel 31 also rolls on the door 3 when the receptacle for items to be washed 11 is brought from the starting position P.sub.A into the end position P.sub.E and vice versa.

(21) The lifting device 14 also comprises an actuation lever 32. The actuation lever 32 is pivotably supported at a pivot point 33 on the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19. An end segment 34 of the actuation lever 32 is pivotably connected to an intermediate lever 36 at a pivot point 35. The intermediate lever 36 in turn is pivotably connected to the second scissor arm 17 at a pivot point 37. By actuating the actuation lever 32, the scissors lift 15 can be extended or retracted and the receptacle for items to be washed 11 can thus be brought from the starting position P.sub.A into the end position P.sub.E or vice versa. The lifting device 14 can also comprise a stop facility, which stops the receptacle for items to be washed 11, or the scissors lift 15, in the starting position P.sub.A and the end position P.sub.E. The stopping mechanism can be triggered by actuating the actuation lever 32.

(22) The lifting device 14 can also have a drive facility (not shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2). The drive facility can have a spring element or be embodied as a spring element. The drive facility is designed to support the lifting of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 from the starting position P.sub.A into the end position P.sub.E with a supporting force. The drive facility may also comprise an electric motor, in particular a servomotor, and/or a pneumatic or hydraulic drive element. The lifting device 14 can also have a control facility for controlling the drive facility. The control facility can be designed to control the drive facility as a function of a manual actuation force such that the supporting force is in particular directly proportional to the manual actuation force.

(23) The lifting device 14 further comprises a braking facility 38 with at least one braking or damping element 39 to 45. The number of damping elements 39 to 45 is arbitrary. In particular, the damping elements 39 to 42 are linear damping elements. For instance, the damping elements 39 to 42 are embodied as gas pressure or oil pressure dampers. The damping elements 43 to 45 are embodied as rotation dampers, for instance. A rotation damper of this type can be provided essentially at each pivot point 18, 21, 23, 26, 30, 33, 35, 37 of the lifting device 14. Furthermore, the damping elements 39 to 42 can be provided for instance between the second scissor arm 17 and the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19, between both scissor arms 16, 17 or between the first scissor arm 16 and the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19. The braking facility 38 at least has a damping element 39 to 45 of this type. In other words, the lifting device 14 can also comprise just one damping element 39 to 45.

(24) The damping elements 39 to 45 are designed to brake a movement of the receptacle for items to be washed 11, in particular during the lowering process from the end position P.sub.E into the starting position P.sub.A. This prevents the receptacle for items to be washed 11 which is loaded with items to be washed from moving in an uncontrolled manner due to its weight from the end position P.sub.E into the starting position P.sub.A. Damage to the items to be washed or injury to the user is thus ruled out. The damping elements 39 to 45 can also be designed to brake a movement of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 during the lifting process of the same, from the starting position P.sub.A into the end position P.sub.E. The damping elements 39 to 45 can preferably be regulated and/or switched, so that they have a damping or braking effect only during the lowering process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 and not during the lifting process of the same. Optionally the damping element 39 to 45 can be switched off or its braking effect can be reduced during the lifting process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11.

(25) The mode of operation of the lifting device 14 is summarized again below. When the door 3 is opened, the receptacle for items to be washed 11, which is arranged in the starting position P.sub.A, is pulled out of the dishwasher cavity 2. In such cases the wheels 24, 31 roll internally on the opened door 3. The actuation lever 32 is actuated in order to load or unload the receptacle for items to be washed 11. The receptacle for items to be washed 11 is brought from the starting position P.sub.A into the end position P.sub.E. In this regard, the drive facility assists with the lifting using a supporting force. Easy loading or unloading of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 is possible as a result of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 being arranged in the end position P.sub.E at the same height as the receptacle for items to be washed 12. After loading or unloading the receptacle for items to be washed 11, this is brought back into the starting position P.sub.A by a renewed actuation of the actuation lever 32. In this regard the receptacle for items to be washed 11 is moved on account of its dead weight and in particular on account of the weight of the items to be washed also against the supporting force of the drive facility, preferably embodied as a spring element, into the starting position. In such cases the braking facility 38 brakes the movement of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 so that an uncontrolled movement or acceleration of the same is ruled out.

(26) FIG. 4 shows a schematic sectional view of an embodiment of a linear damping element 39. The damping element 39 has a housing 46, in which a moveable piston 47 is provided, which is connected to a damper stay 48. The piston 47 can move to and fro in the housing 46, as shown in FIG. 4 with the aid of an arrow 49. The damping element 39 is a gas or oil damper, for instance. The housing 46 has a fastening section 50, which can be pivotably fastened to the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19 for instance. The damper stay 48 is pivotably fastened to the second scissor arm 17, for instance. The damping element 39 is therefore arranged between the receptacle carrier for items to be washed 19 and the second scissor arm 17.

(27) The damping element 39 can also have a throttle 51. With the aid of the throttle 51 the lowering speed of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 can be set. Furthermore, the damping element 39 can also be set with the aid of the throttle 51 such that during the lifting process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 from the starting position P.sub.A into the end position, its movement is not braked or is braked less than during the lowering process. The throttle 51 can be coupled to the actuation lever 32 such that the damping element 39 is deactivated during the lifting process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 and is activated in particular during the lowering process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11. Furthermore, the throttle 51 can also be controlled such that the damping effect of the damping element 39 is greater in particular during the lowering process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 than during the lifting process of the same.

(28) FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show a further embodiment of a linear damping element 39. A conical expansion body 52 is provided in a housing 46 of the damping element 39. The expansion element 52 can expand radially. The damping element 39 can be brought from an unactuated or deactivated state shown in FIG. 5 into an actuated or activated state shown in FIG. 6. The expansion body 52 is arranged in the unactuated state in a conical body 53. A damper stay 48 is connected to a base body 54, which is arranged between the conical body 53 and the damper stay 48. The conical body 53 is fixedly connected to the base body 54 or is embodied in one piece therewith.

(29) A spring element 55, in particular a compression spring, is received in the conical body 53 and the base body 54. An actuation element 56, in particular a steel cable, connected to the expansion element 52 is passed through the damper stay 48. The actuation element 56 can be coupled to the actuation lever 32. If the actuation element 56, as shown in FIG. 6 with the aid of an arrow 57, is moved toward the left in the orientation in FIG. 6, the expansion element 52 is released and the spring element 55 presses the expansion element 52 out of the conical body 53, so that the expansion element 52 expands and comes into contact with the housing 46. The expansion element 52 expands in the manner of a fan when moving out from the conical body 53, for instance. A damping effect is achieved by contact between the expansion element 52 and the housing 46. The damping effect of the damping element 39 can be set depending on the materials used for the expansion element 52 and the housing 46 as well as the force with which the expansion element 52 presses internally against the housing 46. The damping element 39 can be coupled to the actuation lever 32 for instance such that the damping element 39 is deactivated during the lifting process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 and in particular during the lowering process of the same. The housing 46 can be embodied to be water tight, so that the damping element 39 can be arranged in the dishwasher cavity 2.

(30) FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 show a further embodiment of a linear damping element 39. The damping element 39 comprises a housing 46, in which a linearly moveable conical body 58 is arranged, which, with the aid of a spring element 55, in particular a compression spring, is prestressed in the direction of a friction body 59. The friction body 59 can be divided completely into various segments. When displacing a damper stay 48 toward the right in the orientation in FIG. 8, as shown with the aid of an arrow 60, the conical body 58 is moved into the friction element 59, as a result of which this is pressed against an inner wall of the housing 46. The required damping effect can be set by way of the contact surface, the spring force of the spring element 55 and the friction coefficients of the various materials of the friction body 59 and the housing 46. The damping effect is preferably activated or deactivated by the damper stay 48 so that the damping element 39 is activated when the damper stay 48 is pulled out of the housing 46, in other words during the lowering process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11, and is deactivated when sliding the same in, in other words when lifting the receptacle for items to be washed 11 into the housing 46. The housing 46 can be made to be water tight.

(31) FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of a damping element 43 which is embodied as a rotation damper. For instance, the damping element 43 can be embodied as a centrifugal force brake. The damping element 42 comprises a housing 61 in which a rotatable rotor 62 is arranged. Friction elements 63 are provided on the rotor 62, which are pressed internally onto the housing 61 as a function of the rotational speed of the rotor 62. This achieves a damping effect. In order to achieve the required rotational speed of the rotor 62, a transmission facility or a gearing can be provided on a corresponding pivot point 18, 21, 23, 26, 30, 33, 35, 37 of the lifting device 14, on which the damping element 43 is provided.

(32) FIG. 10 and FIG. 11 show a further embodiment of a lifting device 14. The lifting device 14 comprises a fastening plate 64, which is arranged on one of the side walls 9, 10 of the dishwasher cavity 2. A lifting device 14 of this type is preferably provided on both sides of the receptacle for items to be washed 11. The lifting device 14 further comprises a guide facility 65, with the aid of which in the starting position P.sub.A the receptacle for items to be washed 11 can be moved out of the dishwasher cavity in the extraction direction A and can be moved into the dishwasher cavity 2 in the insertion direction E. The guide facility 65 may be what is known as a telescopic rail. The receptacle for items to be washed 11 can be suspended in the guide facility 11.

(33) The lifting device 14 comprises a first pivot arm 66 and a second pivot arm 67. The first pivot arm 66 is pivotably fastened to the fastening plate 64 at a first end segment 68 with a pivot point 69. The first pivot arm 66 is pivotably fastened on the guide facility 65 at a second end segment 70. To this end, a pivot point 71 is provided on the second end segment 70. The second pivot arm 67 is pivotably fastened to the fastening plate 64 at a first end segment 72 with a pivot point 73. At a second end segment 74, at which a pivot point 75 is provided, the second pivot arm 67 is pivotably fastened on the guide facility 65.

(34) The lifting device 14 further comprises a drive facility 76 in the form of a spring element. The spring element is in particular a tension spring. The drive facility 76 is connected to the fastening plate 64 and the second pivot arm 67. To this end, a lever arm 77 is provided at the first end segment 72 of the second pivot arm 67. A bearing point 78 for the drive facility 76 is provided on the lever arm 77. The drive facility 76 can be suspended in the bearing point 78. A corresponding bearing point 79 for the drive facility 76 is likewise provided on the fastening plate 64. The drive facility 76 is designed to support the lifting process of the receptacle for items to be washed 11 with a supporting force.

(35) Damping elements 43, 44 in the form of rotation dampers can be provided on the pivot points 69 and 75. Furthermore, damping elements 43, 44 of this type can also be provided on the pivot points 71 and 73. Further linear damping elements 39, 40, which are embodied as oil or gas pressure dampers for instance, can also be provided between the pivot arms 66, 67. Furthermore, the end segment 72 of the second pivot arm 67 can also be connected to the fastening plate 64 with the aid of a damping element 41. Moreover, a damping element 42 which is arranged between the guide facility 65 and the second pivot arm 67 can also be provided on the second end segment 74 of the second pivot arm 67. The number of damping elements 39 to 44 is arbitrary. The damping elements 39 to 44 are designed to brake the movement of the receptacle for items to be washed 11, in particular during the lowering process. The lifting device 14 can also comprise just one damping element 39 to 44.

(36) Although the present invention has been described on the basis of exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in a variety of ways.