Abstract
A household dishwasher includes a dishwasher cavity, a door designed to close off or open the dishwasher cavity, a receptacle for an item to be washed, and a drive designed to move the receptacle in a deployment direction to at least partially open the door and/or a retraction direction to at least partially close the door.
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A household dishwasher, comprising: a dishwasher cavity; a door designed to close off or open the dishwasher cavity; a receptacle for an item to be washed; and a drive designed to move the receptacle in a deployment direction to at least partially open the door and/or a retraction direction to at least partially close the door.
17. The household dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the drive is designed to move the door in an opening movement to an open position with a predetermined opening angle at an end of the opening movement and/or at a start of a closing movement.
18. The household dishwasher of claim 17, further comprising a control unit designed to activate the drive for moving the receptacle in the deployment direction until the door has the predetermined opening angle.
19. The household dishwasher of claim 18, further comprising an input facility designed to receive a user input, said control unit designed to set the predetermined opening angle via the drive as a function of the user input.
20. The household dishwasher of claim 17, wherein the predetermined opening angle is adjustable between a first value and a second value.
21. The household dishwasher of claim 20, wherein at least one of the first and second values is adjustable by a user mechanically, pneumatically, hydraulically and/or electronically.
22. The household dishwasher of claim 20, further comprising a data memory designed to store the predetermined opening angle or at least one of the first and second values.
23. The household dishwasher of claim 20, further comprising a calculation unit designed to calculate the predetermined opening angle or at least one of the first and second values.
24. The household dishwasher of claim 23, wherein the calculation unit comprises an artificial intelligence designed to compute the predetermined opening angle or at least one of the first and second values as a function of simulated data and/or real data.
25. The household dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the receptacle comprises an upper receptacle and a lower receptacle, said drive or drives assigned to the upper and lower receptacles being designed to open the door initially via the upper receptacle up to a first opening angle, and then to open the door via the lower receptacle up to a second opening angle which is greater than the first opening angle.
26. The household dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the drive is designed to enable a movement of the receptacle in the deployment direction from a fully retracted position only when a facility of the household dishwasher initially establishes a closed state and/or an unlocked state of the door.
27. The household dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a coupling facility which, for closing the door, is designed to couple the door releasably to the receptacle.
28. The household dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the door or the receptacle comprises a damping element and/or a slider, with the damping element and/or the slider being arranged between the receptacle and the door in a closed position of the door and/or a partially open position thereof.
29. The household dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a control unit designed to activate the drive such that the drive drives the receptacle with variable acceleration.
30. The household dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the receptacle is designed for movement in a linear manner exclusively in the deployment direction and/or the retraction direction and/or the drive comprises an electric motor, a mechanism, a pneumatic system and/or a hydraulic system and/or the drive is designed to move the receptacle via a gear mechanism.
31. The household dishwasher of claim 30, wherein the gear mechanism comprises a toothed rack and a gear wheel, which engages in the toothed rack.
Description
[0047] Further advantageous embodiments and aspects of the invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims and the exemplary embodiments of the invention described hereinafter. The invention is described in more detail hereinafter by way of preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying figures.
[0048] In the figures:
[0049] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher;
[0050] FIG. 2 shows a view II-II of FIG. 1, wherein the door of the household dishwasher is in the closed state thereof;
[0051] FIG. 3 shows the view of FIG. 2, wherein the door is in the open state thereof;
[0052] FIG. 4 shows a circuit of the household dishwasher of FIGS. 1 to 3 according to one embodiment;
[0053] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view V of FIG. 2;
[0054] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view VI of FIG. 3;
[0055] FIG. 7 shows a variant relative to FIG. 6;
[0056] FIG. 8 shows a speed-time diagram of a rack of the household dishwasher; and
[0057] FIG. 9 shows a speed-time diagram according to a variant.
[0058] Elements which are the same or functionally the same have been provided in the figures with the same reference signs, unless specified otherwise.
[0059] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a dishwasher cavity 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 dishwasher cavity 2. The dishwasher cavity 2 is preferably cuboidal. The dishwasher cavity 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The dishwasher cavity 2 and the door 3 can form a dishwasher interior 4 for washing items to be washed.
[0060] The door 3 is shown in FIG. 1 in its open position. The door 3 can be closed or opened by pivoting about a pivot axis 5 provided at a lower end of the door 3. A loading opening 6 of the dishwasher cavity 2 can be closed or opened by means of the door 3. The dishwasher cavity 2 has a floor 7, a ceiling 8 arranged opposite the floor 7, a rear wall 9 arranged opposite the closed door 3 and two side walls 10, 11 arranged opposite one another. The floor 7, the ceiling 8, the rear wall 9 and the side walls 10, 11 can be produced, for example, from a stainless steel sheet. Alternatively, for example, the floor 7 can be produced from a plastics material.
[0061] The household dishwasher 1 also has at least one receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14. Preferably, a plurality of receptacles for items to be washed 12 to 14, for example three thereof, can be provided, wherein the receptacle for items to be washed 12 can be a lower receptacle for items to be washed or a lower basket, the receptacle for items to be washed 13 can be an upper receptacle for items to be washed or an upper basket and the receptacle for items to be washed 14 can be a cutlery tray. As FIG. 1 also shows, the receptacles for items to be washed 12 to 14 are arranged one on top of the other in the dishwasher cavity 2. Each receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14 is selectively displaceable into or out of the dishwasher cavity 2. In particular, each receptacle for items to be washed 12 to 14 can be inserted or retracted into the dishwasher cavity 2 in an insertion direction E (also in the present case retraction direction E; arrow) and can be pulled out or deployed from the dishwasher cavity 2 counter to the insertion direction E (arrow) in a pull-out direction A (also in the present case deployment direction A).
[0062] FIG. 2 shows a section II-II of FIG. 1. By way of example, the household dishwasher 1 has an upper basket 13 which can be deployed automatically out of the dishwasher cavity 2 in the deployment direction A (arrow) and retracted into the dishwasher cavity 2 in the retraction direction E (arrow) (also denoted as the automatic rack movement). An apparatus 15 is provided to this end. The apparatus 15 can have a drive in the form of an electric motor 16 and a gear mechanism 17. The gear mechanism 17 can drive a gearwheel or a plurality of gearwheels, not denoted in more detail, and/or a toothed rack. For example, the toothed rack can be fastened to the upper basket 13 and a gearwheel driven by the electric motor 16 engages in the toothed rack, whereby the upper basket 13 can be retracted and deployed. The upper basket 13 is held exclusively in a linearly movable manner, for example, by means of a telescoping extension rail 18 on a dishwasher cavity inner face, not denoted in more detail. The exclusively linear movement takes place in the deployment direction A (arrow) or in the retraction direction E (arrow).
[0063] In the closed position of the door 3 shown in FIG. 2, the electric motor 16 is set up to push the upper basket 13 with its front face 19 (see FIG. 3) against the door inner face 20. If the force applied to the door inner face 20 (i.e. in particular the door inner lining) exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the door 3 is opened, as can be seen in FIG. 3. The resulting opening angle ? describes how far the door 3 is opened. The opening angle ? is defined between the door inner face 20 and a dishwasher cavity edge 21 running perpendicularly. As can also be identified in FIG. 3, the door 3 opens as wide as it is pushed open by the upper basket 13. This is defined, in particular, where a lower corner 22 (see FIG. 3) on the front face 19 of the upper basket 13 loses contact with the inner face 20 of the door 3.
[0064] The opening angle ? in a household dishwasher 1 is advantageously predetermined. In embodiments, this opening angle can be set, in particular, between a first and second value ?.sub.1, ?.sub.2 (see FIG. 3).
[0065] According to a first embodiment, therefore, the household dishwasher 1 has a control unit 23 shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary circuit of the household dishwasher 1.
[0066] The control unit 23 can be configured, for example, as a microprocessor. This is particularly advantageous if the control unit 23 is provided separately from a central control device 24 (see FIG. 2) of the household dishwasher 1. For example, the controller for the pumps and valves of the household dishwasher 1 is provided on the central control device 24.
[0067] The control unit 23 can also be configured (purely) by software technology on the central control device 24. The control unit 23 is set up to activate the electric motor 16 until the door 3 has the predetermined opening angle ?. In the region of its pivot axis 5, the door 3 can be coupled by means of a brake (not shown) to the body 2 of the household dishwasher 1. This brake can be set up to prevent a further (inadvertent) pivoting open of the door 3 when the door has the predetermined opening angle ?.
[0068] Moreover the household dishwasher 1 can have an input facility 25 (see FIG. 4) for receiving a user input. The input facility 25 can be integrated, for example, in a control panel 26 on the front face or the outer face of the door 3 or on the upper narrow side thereof (see FIG. 3), also by software technology. For example washing programs of the household dishwasher 1 can be selected via the control panel 26.
[0069] A user (also denoted as the operator) can input the desired predetermined opening angle ? by means of the input facility 25. Alternatively, however, in embodiments the user can select a specific mode, for example comfort mode, for which a predetermined opening angle ? is stored in a data memory 27 (see FIG. 4). If the comfort mode is selected, the control unit 23 activates the electric motor 16 with the opening angle ? read from the data memory 27.
[0070] Moreover, it can be provided that the user can adjust the predetermined opening angle ? between a first and second value ?.sub.1 and ?.sub.2, for example for comfort reasons. For example, the angle ?.sub.1 can be an angle (basic position) already stored in the data memory 27 in the factory. If the user wishes to set a different opening angle ?.sub.2, the user can set this opening angle by means of the input facility 25. This opening angle is then also input into the data memory 27, for example. According to the exemplary embodiment, the first and second values ?.sub.1, ?.sub.2 of the predetermined opening angle ? are set electronically by the user. This could also be carried out mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically, however.
[0071] FIG. 4 shows a further embodiment in which the household dishwasher 1 has a calculation unit 28. The calculation unit 28 is set up to calculate the predetermined opening angle ? or the first value ?.sub.1 and/or the second value ?.sub.2 and optionally to store it in the data memory 27. The calculation unit 28 has an artificial intelligence 29, for example in the form of a neural network. The artificial intelligence 29 is trained with simulated data 30 (indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 4) or with real data 31 (or both types of data 30, 31). The simulated data 30 can correspond, for example, to simulated user behavior. However, the real data 31 can correspond to actual user behavior. The simulated data 30 can be provided, for example, via a public network, in particular the internet. The real data 31 is detected, for example, by means of a sensor or a plurality of sensors (not shown) in the household dishwasher 1.
[0072] Embodiments are now described by way of FIGS. 2 and 3 which can result, on the one hand, from the household dishwasher 1 having a door lock 32 without an assigned actuator (see FIG. 2). On the other hand, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3 a door lock 32 which is part of a door opening module 33 is present. The door opening module 33 comprises, in particular, a wax motor 34 (or another actuator) which activates the door lock 32 for locking or unlocking the door 3.
[0073] In the case of FIG. 2 (only one door lock 32 is present) the door 3 is opened by the electric motor 16 or the upper basket 13 overriding the door lock 32 in its locked position. As a result, this door lock is automatically unlocked. Before the upper basket 13 is actuated for opening the door 3, however, it is preferably ensured that the door 3 is also in its closed position. A sensor 35 (see FIG. 4), which detects the closed position of the door 3, is provided to this end. This reduces or avoids the risk that the upper basket 13 is deployed and, for example, squashes a hand located between its front face 19 and the door inner face 20.
[0074] In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3 (door lock 32 with, for example, a wax motor 34 or another actuator) the door opening module 33 is read by the control unit 23. This variant is indicated in dashed lines in FIG. 4. The door opening module 33 provides information about the locked or unlocked position of the door lock 32. Accordingly, in this variant it can also be provided that the door is opened by means of the upper basket 13 only when the door is actually in its closed position.
[0075] FIG. 5 shows an enlarged view V of FIG. 2. It is illustrated therein that a damping element or a plurality of damping elements 36 is/are provided between the front face 19 of the upper basket 13 and the inner face 20 of the door 3 (here by way of example three thereof, wherein a greater or lower number thereof can be provided however). One of the damping elements 36 is provided, for example, on the lower corner 22 of the upper basket 13. The damping elements 36 can comprise, for example, an elastomer. The damping elements 36 damp an impact between the upper basket 13 and the door 3. Such an impact occurs, in particular, when the door 3 is pushed open by means of the upper basket 13. For example, a manual closing of the door 3 can also result in such an impact.
[0076] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view VI of FIG. 3. In contrast to FIG. 5, no damping element 36 is provided on the lower corner 22 of the upper basket 13 but rather a first magnet 37 of two magnets 37, 38 of a coupling facility 39. The second magnet 38 of the coupling facility 39 is fastened into or onto the door 3 (in particular onto the door inner face 20). If the magnets 37, 38 come into contact with one another, the coupling facility 39 is in the coupled state and enables the door 3 to be closed by means of the upper basket 13. This is implemented, in particular, at the predetermined opening angle ?. To this end, the electric motor 16 actuates the gear mechanism 17, whereby the upper basket 13 is retracted in the retraction direction E (arrow).
[0077] FIG. 7 shows a slider 40 instead of the damping element 36 on the lower corner 22 of the upper basket 13. The slider 40 is set up to slide along the door inner face 20. As a result, a hard impact is also prevented between the upper basket 13 and the door 3 and a virtually silent sliding therebetween is ensured during the course of the opening movement.
[0078] FIG. 8 shows a first speed-time diagram for the upper basket 13, wherein the speed curve 41 is constantly linear (constant gradient). The time is denoted here by t and the speed is denoted by v. FIG. 9 shows accordingly a speed curve 41 which corresponds to a soft start.
[0079] At the point identified in each case by a cross in FIGS. 8 and 9, the upper basket 13 comes into contact with the door 3, but at a reduced speed in FIG. 9 due to the soft start. As a result, damage to the door 3, in particular the metal inner face 20 thereof, is avoided.
[0080] Alternatively or additionally, a gentle braking of the upper basket 13 could be provided, in particular before it comes into contact with the door 3.
[0081] In a further embodiment, not shown in detail, the lower basket 12 (see FIG. 3) is also provided with a drive (not shown). By means of the drive the lower basket 12 can be also deployed in the deployment direction A (arrow) or retracted in the retraction direction E (arrow). The control unit 23 is set up such that it activates the drive 16 such that the drive initially deploys the upper basket 13 until the door has an opening angle ? as can be seen in FIG. 3. Then the control unit 23 activates the drive of the lower basket 12 and pushes the door 3 fully open thereby, as illustrated by the door 3 shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3 and the maximum opening angle ?.sub.max. For example, the angle ? in this case is 450 and the angle ?.sub.maxis 90?.
[0082] While the present invention has been described by way of exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many different ways.
[0083] For example, the lower basket 12 can be pivoted upwardly out of the dishwasher cavity along a curve by means of the drive assigned thereto.
[0084] The drive 16 can have a mechanism, in particular a spring, a pneumatic system or a hydraulic system, instead of an electric motor.
REFERENCE SIGNS USED
[0085] 1 Household dishwasher [0086] 2 Dishwasher cavity [0087] 3 Door [0088] 4 Dishwasher interior [0089] 5 Pivot axis [0090] 6 Loading opening [0091] 7 Floor [0092] 8 Ceiling [0093] 9 Rear wall [0094] 10 Side wall [0095] 11 Side wall [0096] 12 Receptacle for items to be washed; lower basket [0097] 13 Receptacle for items to be washed; upper basket [0098] 14 Receptacle for items to be washed; cutlery tray [0099] 15 Apparatus [0100] 16 Electric motor [0101] 17 Gear mechanism [0102] 18 Telescopic rail [0103] 19 Front face [0104] 20 Door inner face [0105] 21 Dishwasher cavity edge [0106] 22 Corner [0107] 23 Control unit [0108] 24 Central control device [0109] 25 Input facility [0110] 26 Control panel [0111] 27 Data memory [0112] 28 Calculation unit [0113] 29 Artificial intelligence [0114] 30 Simulated data [0115] 31 Real data [0116] 32 Door lock [0117] 33 Door opening module [0118] 34 Wax motor [0119] 35 Sensor [0120] 36 Damping element [0121] 37 Magnet [0122] 38 Magnet [0123] 39 Coupling facility [0124] 40 Slider [0125] 41 Speed curve [0126] 41 Speed curve [0127] A Deployment direction (arrow) [0128] E Retraction direction (arrow) [0129] v Speed [0130] t Time [0131] ? Opening angle [0132] ?.sub.1 First value (opening angle) [0133] ?.sub.2 Second value (opening angle) [0134] ?.sub.max Second opening angle; maximum opening angle [0135] II-II View [0136] V View [0137] VI View
