DOMESTIC DISHWASHER

Abstract

A household dishwasher includes a washing items receptacle and a sensor unit which is designed to generate a sensor signal as a function of a change in position of the washing items receptacle and/or a force exerted on the washing items receptacle.

Claims

1-15. (canceled)

16. A household dishwasher, comprising: a washing items receptacle; and a sensor unit designed to generate a sensor signal as a function of a change in position of the washing items receptacle and/or a force exerted on the washing items receptacle.

17. The household dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a control unit designed to recognize a user interaction by a user with the household dishwasher and/or an error state of the household dishwasher as a function of the sensor signal.

18. The household dishwasher of claim 17, further comprising: a wash container; and a door designed to close or open the wash container, wherein the user interaction is a wish to open the door and/or the error state is an overloading of the washing items receptacle.

19. The household dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising: an actuator; and a control unit designed to activate the actuator as a function of the sensor signal.

20. The household dishwasher of claim 19, further comprising a wash container, said actuator designed to move the washing items receptacle into and/or out of the wash container and/or to raise and/or lower the washing items receptacle.

21. The household dishwasher of claim 19 or 20, further comprising: a wash container; and a door designed to close or open the wash container, said actuator designed to open and/or close and/or to unlock and/or lock the door.

22. The household dishwasher of claim 21, further comprising a coupling facility designed to couple the washing items receptacle to the door so as to open and/or close the door.

23. The household dishwasher of claim 21, further comprising a damping element arranged between the washing items receptacle and the door when the door is closed and designed to dampen any impact between the door and the washing items receptacle respectively.

24. The household dishwasher of claim 19, further comprising a detection facility designed to generate a further sensor signal as a function of a user interaction, said control unit designed to activate the actuator as a function of the sensor signal and the further sensor signal.

25. The household dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising: a user interface; and a control unit designed to activate the user interface as a function of the sensor signal.

26. The household dishwasher of claim 25, wherein the user interface is designed to output an acoustic and/or visual output signal to a user of the household dishwasher, said control unit designed to activate the user interface to output the acoustic and/or visual output signal.

27. The household dishwasher of claim 16, wherein the sensor unit is designed in at least one of two ways, a first way in which the sensor unit is designed to detect the change in position of the washing items receptacle and/or the force exerted on the washing items receptacle along and/or about one, two or three axes, a second way in which the sensor unit is designed to detect the change in position of the washing items receptacle and/or the force exerted on the washing items receptacle capacitively, inductively, resistively, optically or acoustically.

28. The household dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising a wash container, said sensor unit being arranged in or on the wash container.

29. The household dishwasher of claim 19, wherein the control unit is designed to recognize a user interaction of a user with the household dishwasher and/or an error state of the household dishwasher as a function of the sensor signal during a first time period and to activate the actuator as a function of the sensor signal during a second time period.

30. The household dishwasher of claim 16, further comprising: a control device designed to prompt the household dishwasher to perform one or more wash programs; and a control unit designed to influence the one or more wash programs as a function of the sensor signal.

Description

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher;

[0053] FIG. 2 shows a section II-II from FIG. 1, with the door in its closed state;

[0054] FIG. 3 shows the view from FIG. 2, with the door in its opened state;

[0055] FIG. 4 shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electronic controller of a household dishwasher;

[0056] FIG. 5 is an enlargement of the view from FIG. 2, with a coupling facility also provided;

[0057] FIG. 6 shows the view from FIG. 3, with a weight acting on the upper washing items receptacle;

[0058] FIG. 7 shows the view from FIG. 3, with an object preventing the inward movement of the upper washing items receptacle into the wash container;

[0059] FIG. 8 shows a section corresponding to FIG. 3 of a household dishwasher according to a further embodiment; and

[0060] FIG. 9 shows a sensor signal as a function of time.

[0061] Identical elements or those of identical function are shown with the same reference characters in the figures, unless otherwise specified.

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a household dishwasher 1. The household dishwasher 1 comprises a wash container 2, which can be closed, in particular in a water-tight manner, by a door 3. To this end a sealing facility (not shown in detail here) can be provided between the door 3 and the wash container 2. The wash container 2 is preferably box-shaped. The wash container 2 can be arranged in a housing of the household dishwasher 1. The wash container 2 and door 3 can form a wash chamber 4 for washing items to be washed.

[0063] The door 3 is shown in its opened 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. A loading opening 6 of the wash container 2 can be closed or opened with the aid of the door 3. The wash container 2 has a base 7, a top 8 positioned opposite the base 7, a rear wall 9 positioned opposite the closed door 3 and two opposing side walls 10, 11. The base 7, top 8, rear wall 9 and side walls 10, 11 can be made of stainless steel sheet for example. Alternatively the base 7 for example can be made of a plastic material.

[0064] The household dishwasher 1 also has at least one washing items receptacle 12 to 14. Multiple, for example three, washing items receptacles 12 to 14 can preferably be provided, the washing items receptacle 12 being a lower washing items receptacle or lower rack, the washing items receptacle 13 an upper washing items receptacle or upper rack and the washing items receptacle 14 a flatware drawer. As also shown in FIG. 1, the washing items receptacles 12 to 14 are arranged one above the other in the wash container 2. Each washing items receptacle 12 to 14 can be moved into or out of the wash container 2 as required. In particular each washing items receptacle 12 to 14 can be pushed or moved into the wash container 2 in a push-in direction E (arrow) and be pulled or moved out of the wash container 2 in a pull-out direction A (arrow) counter to the push-in direction E (arrow).

[0065] FIGS. 2 and 3 each show a section II-II from FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 the door 3 of the household dishwasher 1 is shown in its closed position and in FIG. 3 it is shown in its opened position.

[0066] The household dishwasher 1 has an apparatus 15 for the automatic inward or outward movement (automatic rack movement, hereafter ARM) of the upper washing items receptacle 13 into or out of the wash container 2.

[0067] The apparatus 15 comprises for example a sensor unit 16, an actuator 17 and a transmission system 18. A control unit 19 (see FIG. 4) can also be part of the apparatus 15. The control unit 19 can however also be part of a central control device 20 of the household dishwasher 1.

[0068] The sensor unit 16 is set up to detect a change in position of the upper washing items receptacle 13. A change in position refers in particular to a translational movement of the upper washing items receptacle 13 in the push-in direction E (inward direction; arrow) and/or in the pull-out direction A (outward direction; arrow). The sensor unit 16 is preferably an encoder. The sensor unit 16 is connected for signal purposes to the control unit 19 shown schematically in FIG. 4. When the sensor unit 16 detects a change in position of the upper washing items receptacle 13, the sensor unit 16 generates a sensor signal S1.

[0069] The actuator 17 is preferably an electric motor and is activated by the control unit 19. The actuator 17 drives the transmission system 18. The transmission system 18 in particular drives the upper washing items receptacle 13 by way of a rack (not shown in detail here). It is supported by means of a telescopic extension 21 on the wash container 2 and can be moved into or out of this. The actuator 17 is set up either to execute automatically or to assist (power assistance) an outward and/or inward movement of the upper washing items receptacle 13 in the pull-out direction A (arrow) or in the push-in direction E (arrow).

[0070] The control unit 19 is set up in particular to recognize one or more (even different) user interactions as a function of the sensor signal S1. The user interaction can be a wish to open the door, expressed for example by the user of the household dishwasher 1 pushing the door 3. This brings about a change in position of the upper washing items receptacle 13. The control unit 19 recognizes a wish to open the door, when the change in position of the upper washing items receptacle 13 is for example between 1% and 5% of the length of pull-out movement. The length of pull-out movement here refers to the length covered as a maximum by the upper washing items receptacle 13 during the inward or outward movement (referring to the distance between the maximum inward and maximum outward position).

[0071] Recognition of the wish to open the door can be acted on in different ways by the control unit 19:

[0072] According to a first embodiment the control unit 19 activates an actuator in the form of a wax motor 23 by means of a control signal S2. The wax motor 23 unlocks a door lock 24 of the door 3, so that the door 3 opens with a wide gap subject to the action of a spring (not shown in detail here).

[0073] According to a second embodiment provision is made for the control unit 19 to activate the actuator 17 by means of the control signal S2 so that the upper washing items receptacle 13 is pushed against the inner face of the door 3. When the force exerted by the upper washing items receptacle 13 on the inner face of the door 3 exceeds a threshold value, the door 3 opens. The upper washing items receptacle 13 is then moved further out in the pull-out direction A (arrow) and the door 3 is opened further subject to the action of the upper washing items receptacle 13.

[0074] The first and second embodiments can also be combined. It is therefore possible for the door lock 24 to be unlocked first subject to the action of the wax motor 23 and for the door 3 then to be opened subject to the action of an outward movement of the upper washing items receptacle 13.

[0075] The user interaction can also be a wish to close the door. For this purpose the user moves the upper washing items receptacle 13 in the push-in direction E (arrow) from the position shown in FIG. 3. The resulting change in position is detected by the sensor unit 16. It generates a sensor signal S1, from which the control unit 19 recognizes a wish to close the door.

[0076] When the wish to close the door is recognized, the control unit 19 activates the actuator 17 so that the upper washing items receptacle 13 is moved in the push-in direction E (arrow) and thus moved inward.

[0077] The upper washing items receptacle 13 is preferably coupled mechanically to the door 3 by means of a coupling facility shown in FIG. 5 and embodied as a hook 25. The hook 25 is attached to the door 3 and latches in the upper washing items receptacle 13. The door 3 and upper washing items receptacle 13 can be uncoupled by the user by said user opening the door 3 wider, when the upper washing items receptacle 13 is moved outwardpartially or completely, depending on the embodiment. This causes the hook 25 to unlatch from the upper washing items receptacle 13. To latch the hook 25 back into the upper washing items receptacle 13, the user closes the door 3 again at least partially, in particular to the extent that the door 3 comes into contact with the upper washing items receptacle 13 (or just before this).

[0078] The hook 25 causes the upper washing items receptacle 13 to pull the door 3 with it as it moves inward. This causes the door 3 to close. When the door 3 closes, the control unit 19 activates the wax motor 23 so that the door lock 24 is locked.

[0079] The household dishwasher 1 preferably has damping elements 22. The damping elements 22 can in particular be fastened either to the upper washing items receptacle 13 or to the inner face of the door 3. They serve to dampen any impact of the door 3 against the upper washing items receptacle 13 (or vice versa) thus reducing the risk of damage to the upper washing items receptacle 13 and/or the door 3. The damping elements 22 can be made of an elastomer for example.

[0080] In a further possible embodiment the control unit 19 is set up to move the upper washing items receptacle 13 into the wash container 2 automatically or with power assistance as a function of the sensor signal S1, without closing the door 3. This is the case for example when the upper washing items receptacle 13 and door 3 are not coupled mechanically because the hook 25 is not latched in.

[0081] To create a redundant system, which is less error-prone, a detection facility embodied as a sensor 26 (see FIGS. 4 and 5) for the door lock 24 can be provided to open the door. This is set up to detect a wish to open the door. When the sensor 26 detects a wish to open the door, it generates a sensor signal S3. The control unit 19 then only opens the door 3 when it recognizes a wish to open the door as a function of the sensor signal S1 and the further sensor signal S3.

[0082] The control unit 19 can also be set up to activate a user interface as a function of the sensor signal S1. In the embodiment in FIGS. 2 and 3 a light source 27 is arranged on the top 8 of the wash container 2. When the control unit 19 recognizes a wish to open the door, the light source 27 is activated and therefore switched on by the control unit 19 by means of a control signal S4. The light source 27 can then remain switched on for a predetermined time, before it is switched off. Provision can also be made for the light source 27 to be switched on during an outward movement of the upper washing items receptacle 13 and to be switched off during an inward movement of the upper washing items receptacle 13. The light source 27 is shown in the switched on state in FIG. 3, as the upper washing items receptacle 13 has been moved out of the wash container 2 and in the switched off state in FIG. 2, as the upper washing items receptacle 13 has been moved into the wash container 2.

[0083] The control unit 19 can also activate a further acoustic and/or visual user interface, for example a smartphone. This allows information to be sent to the user of the household dishwasher 1. For example the user can learn whether the door 3 is open or closed or whether the light source 27 is switched on or off.

[0084] The control unit 19 can also be set up to recognize an error state of the household dishwasher 1. An error state is for example the overloading of the upper washing items receptacle 13.

[0085] An overload situation is shown schematically in FIG. 6. The sensor unit 16 detects a force exerted on the upper washing items receptacle 13. The force applied to the upper washing items receptacle 13 (not a change in position) is measured directly here, for example capacitively or resistively by means of a strain gauge.

[0086] If the weight of a load 28 in the upper washing items receptacle exceeds a previously determined threshold value, the control unit 19 recognizes an error state of the household dishwasher 1 and activates a warning light 29 for example.

[0087] The control unit 19 can also be set up to adjust a wash program stored on the control device 20 as a function of the sensor signal S1, which is representative of the weight of the load 28. In particular the quantity of water used during the wash can be set as a parameter of the wash program based on the detected weight.

[0088] An error state can also be where an object 30 impedes the inward movement of the upper washing items receptacle 13, as shown in FIG. 7. The sensor unit 16 here detects an actual movement pattern of the upper washing items receptacle 13. The control unit 19 compares this with a target movement pattern. The target movement pattern is representative of an inward movement of the upper washing items receptacle 13 into the wash container 2, when it is not blocked by the object 30. If the actual movement pattern and the target movement pattern are different, the control unit 19 recognizes an error state of the household dishwasher 1. The control unit 19 then activates the actuator 17 for example so that the upper washing items receptacle 13 is halted. This prevents possible injury to people and/or damage to the household dishwasher 1. The warning light 29 can also be switched on here to inform the user of the household dishwasher 1 of the error state.

[0089] The comparison of the actual and target movement patterns can also be used to recognize further error states, for example a fault in the apparatus 15, of the household dishwasher 1.

[0090] In the embodiment in FIG. 8 the sensor unit 16 detects a change in position of the lower washing items receptacle 12. This can be pivoted out and/or in (lower rack elevation or LRE) by means of an apparatus 31. The references above to the upper washing items receptacle 13 apply correspondingly.

[0091] FIG. 9 shows a sensor signal S as a function of time t. During a first time period t.sub.1 the sensor unit 16 recognizes a change in position of the upper washing items receptacle 13, brought about by a user interaction. The sensor unit 16 then generates a sensor signal S1, shown with a broken line in FIG. 9. From this the control unit 19 recognizes the wish to open the door and it activates the actuator 17 to move the upper washing items receptacle 13 accordingly. The sensor unit 16 in turn detects this movement and sends it to the control unit 19 (sensor signal S1 with solid line). The sensor signal S1 is therefore not recognized as a user interaction during the second time period t.sub.2 but is used as feedback for control of the actuator movement.

[0092] Although the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it can be modified in many different ways.

REFERENCE CHARACTERS USED

[0093] 1 Household dishwasher [0094] 2 Wash container [0095] 3 Door [0096] 4 Wash chamber [0097] 5 Pivot axis [0098] 6 Loading opening [0099] 7 Base [0100] 8 Top [0101] 9 Rear wall [0102] 10 Side wall [0103] 11 Side wall [0104] 12 Washing items receptacle; lower rack [0105] 13 Washing items receptacle; upper rack [0106] 14 Washing items receptacle; flatware drawer [0107] 15 Apparatus [0108] 16 Sensor unit [0109] 17 Actuator [0110] 18 Transmission system [0111] 19 Control unit [0112] 20 Control device [0113] 21 Telescopic extension [0114] 22 Damping element [0115] 23 Wax motor [0116] 24 Door lock [0117] 25 Hook [0118] 26 Sensor [0119] 27 Light source [0120] 28 Load [0121] 29 Warning light [0122] 30 Object [0123] 31 Apparatus [0124] A Pull-out direction (arrow) [0125] E Push-in direction (arrow) [0126] S Signal [0127] S1 Sensor signal [0128] S1 Sensor signal [0129] S2 Sensor signal [0130] S3 Sensor signal [0131] S4 Control signal [0132] t Time [0133] t.sub.1 First time period [0134] t.sub.2 Second time period