SINK WITH FEED CHAIN OR SPINDLE DRIVE FOR AN INSERT PLATE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT

Abstract

A sink includes a basin including a base wall and lateral walls adjoining the base wall. The basin includes a receiving area which is delimited by the base wall and the lateral walls. An insert plate separate from the basin is inserted into the receiving area. A lifting device is configured to move the insert plate relative to the basin in a height direction and includes a lifting unit with a variable length. The lifting unit includes a lifting mechanism which is embodied as a feed chain or a spindle drive.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A sink, comprising: a basin including a base wall and lateral walls adjoining the base wall, said basin including a receiving area delimited by the base wall and the lateral walls; an insert plate separate from the basin and inserted into the receiving area; and a lifting device configured to move the insert plate relative to the basin in a height direction, said lifting device including a lifting unit with a variable length, said lifting unit including a lifting mechanism embodied as a feed chain or a spindle drive.

16. The sink of claim 15, wherein the lifting unit includes a housing which circumferentially surrounds the lifting mechanism, said housing formed from multiple housing segments which are movable relative to one another in the height direction.

17. The sink of claim 16, wherein the housing segments are rigid.

18. The sink of claim 16, wherein the housing segments form a telescopic housing as the housing.

19. The sink of claim 15, wherein the spindle drive includes at least two separate spindles which are coupled to one another.

20. The sink of claim 19, wherein the at least two separate spindles are guided into one another.

21. The sink of claim 19, wherein the lifting device includes a cover, said insert plate being arranged on the cover, wherein an upper one of the at least two separate separate spindles has an upper end which is connected to the cover.

22. The sink of claim 21, wherein the cover is a cover plate.

23. The sink of claim 21, further comprising an infinite rotation unit, said upper one of the at least two separate spindles being connected in one of two ways, a first way in which the upper one of the at least two separate spindles is connected to the cover by the infinite rotation unit such that, when the lifting unit is raised in the height direction, the upper one of the at least two separate spindles is infinitely rotatable relative to the cover about an axis of rotation which is oriented in the height direction, a second way in which the upper one of the at least two separate spindles is connected to the cover in a rotationally fixed manner and the upper one of the at least two separate spindles is connected infinitely rotatably to another one of the at least two separate spindles of the spindle drive.

24. The sink of claim 23, wherein the infinite rotation unit is a ball bearing.

25. The sink of claim 15, wherein the lifting device incudes a receiving housing which is arranged underneath the base wall, said lifting device including a motor for driving the lifting mechanism, said motor being arranged in the receiving housing of the lifting device.

26. The sink of claim 25, wherein the spindle drive includes at least two separate spindles which are coupled to one another, said motor being connected to a lower one of the at least two separate spindles such that the lower one of the at least two separate spindles is movable by the motor in a rotation about an axis of rotation oriented in the height direction.

27. The sink of claim 15, wherein the base wall has an opening for passage of the lifting unit such that the lifting unit it is arranged on both sides of the opening.

28. The sink of claim 17, wherein the opening is provided in a central location of the base wall.

29. The sink of claim 15, wherein the lifting device includes a separate attenuation unit to acoustically decouple the lifting device from the base wall.

30. The sink of claim 29, wherein the attenuation unit is a rubber attenuator or an acoustic foam.

31. The sink of claim 29, wherein the lifting device includes a receiving housing arranged under the base wall, said attenuation unit resting directly on a lower surface of the base wall and connected to the receiving housing of the lifting device.

32. The sink of claim 15, wherein the insert plate has an upper surface with a surface area which is at least 80% of a surface area of the receiving area in a horizontal plane, but is less than 99% of the surface area of the receiving area.

33. The sink of claim 15, wherein the insert plate has an upper surface with a surface area which is at least 90% of a surface area of the receiving area in a horizontal plane, but is less than 99% of the surface area of the receiving area.

34. The sink of claim 15, wherein the insert plate has an upper surface with a surface area which is at least 95% of a surface area of the receiving area in a horizontal plane, but is less than 99% of the surface area of the receiving area.

Description

[0037] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in greater detail below using schematic drawings, in which:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a schematic sectional view through an exemplary embodiment of an inventive sink with an insert plate in a first position;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows the view of the sink in accordance with FIG. 2 with the insert plate in a second position different from FIG. 1;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a sink;

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a perspective partial view of an exemplary embodiment of a sink with an exemplary embodiment of a lifting device;

[0042] FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view of a subregion of the arrangement in FIG. 4 with a sealing sleeve around a lifting unit of the lifting device; and

[0043] FIG. 6 shows an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment of a lifting device.

[0044] In the figures identical or functionally identical elements are provided with the same reference characters.

[0045] FIG. 1 shows a schematic vertical sectional view (x-y plane with height direction y and width direction x) of a sink 1. The sink 1 has a basin 2. The basin 2 has a base wall 3 and lateral walls 4, 5, 6 and 7 (FIG. 3) adjoining the base wall 3 and extending upward (FIG. 3). The basin 2 is in particular embodied in one piece. It is preferably made of metal. The basin 2 has a receiving area 8. The receiving area 8 is delimited by the aforementioned walls 3 to 7. Thus the basin 2 has an upper loading opening 9. The sink 1 additionally has an insert unit. The insert unit is in particular an insert plate 10. The insert plate 10 is in particular embodied in one piece. The insert plate 10 is a component of the sink 1 separate from the basin 2. The sink 1 further has a lifting device 11. The insert plate 10 is arranged on the lifting device 11. In particular, it is arranged on the lifting device 11 so as to be non-destructibly detachable. Thanks to the lifting device 11 the insert plate 10 can be moved relative to the basin 2. In this connection a movement can take place in the height direction (y-direction) of the sink 1. Additionally or instead, a rotation about a vertical axis A of the lifting device 11 can take place. Additionally or instead, a tilting of the insert plate 10 can take place. This means that the plane of the insert plate 10 can be set at an angle to a horizontal plane. It can thus be positioned as inclined or angled. In FIG. 1 the insert plate 10 is shown in an exemplary position in the receiving area 8. In particular, this is a position moved downward. The insert plate 10 is in this respect arranged immediately adjacent to the base wall 3.

[0046] The sink 1 preferably has an interaction unit 12. The interaction unit 12 can have a display unit 13 (FIG. 3). The interaction unit 12 can have a control device 14. The control device 14 can have one or more control elements. The control elements can be pushbuttons or switches or tilt elements or rotary buttons. The control device 14 can however also additionally or instead have a touch-sensitive control panel 15. In an advantageous embodiment it can be provided that the interaction unit 12 has at least one optical detection unit 16. The optical detection unit 16 can be a camera, for example. The camera can be sensitive in the spectral range that is visible for humans. The interaction unit 12 can however also additionally or instead have an acoustic unit 17. This acoustic unit 17 can be embodied to receive and/or emit voice signals. In addition, the interaction unit 12 can have an identification unit 18. The identification unit 18 is embodied to recognize or identify a user of the sink 1. The identification unit 18 can for example also be formed by the optical detection unit 16. Additionally or instead, the identification unit 18 can however also for example have the acoustic unit 17. As a result, the user can be identified, for example by evaluation of a voice signal of a user. Additionally or instead, the identification unit 18 can be embodied as a unit for detecting and evaluating a biometric feature of a user. For example, this can be a fingerprint sensor or a sensor for the recognition of an iris pattern.

[0047] As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, the interaction unit 12 can be embodied as lateral and immediately adjacent to the basin 2. For example, a receiving housing 19 open at the top can be provided here. The receiving housing 19 can be embodied as separate from the basin 2. It can however also be formed so as to be non-destructibly non-detachable from the basin 2. In particular, the receiving housing 19 can also be integrally formed with the basin 2. The lateral wall, in the example here the lateral wall 5, directly adjoining the receiving housing 19 also forms a delimiting wall for the receiving volume 20 of the receiving housing 19.

[0048] Thus the receiving volume 20 is separated from the receiving area 8 of the basin. In FIG. 2 the view shown is in accordance with FIG. 1, but the insert plate 10 is shown in a position different from that in FIG. 1. In FIG. 2 the insert plate 10 is oriented horizontally, but moved upward. In particular, this position represents the maximum possible height. In particular, in this position an upper surface 10a of the insert plate 10 is flush with an upper edge 2a of the basin 2. In particular, in this position the insert plate 10 forms a cover or lid for the receiving area 8. This upper edge 2a can also for example be an upper surface of an installation frame or of a decorative frame, which is part of the sink 1. With the installation frame the sink 1, in particular the basin 2, can be installed in a recess of a worktop. With a decorative frame the basin 2 can be covered from above. A gap between the basin 2 and a delimiting wall in the worktop, which delimits the recess, can thus be covered from above. A decorative frame such as this in particular represents an upper visible component of the arrangement.

[0049] In particular, the sink 1 also has a control unit 21 (FIG. 3). Thanks to the control unit 21 the lifting device 11 can be operated. In particular, thanks to the control unit 21 the interaction unit 12 can also be operated.

[0050] The sink 1 can, as can be seen in the simplified plan view in FIG. 3, preferably also have a faucet 22. The faucet 22 represents a functional unit of the sink 1. Likewise the interaction unit 12, in particular the control device 14, can be regarded as a functional unit of the sink 1. A further functional unit of the sink 1 can be the insert plate 10. A further functional unit of the sink 1 can be the lifting device 11.

[0051] The lifting device 11 preferably has a lifting unit and a motor. As a result, its length and height can be changed in the direction of the vertical axis A. In addition, it can additionally or instead be rotated about the vertical axis A. As a result, a rotary movement about this vertical axis A is also enabled as a position or change in position of the insert plate 10. Last but not least, the lifting device 11 can also be adjusted such that the insert plate 10 can be adjusted so as to be angled or inclined compared to a horizontal plane.

[0052] With the interaction unit 12 an operating state of the sink 1 can be identified and/or a change in operating state of the sink 1 can be identified and/or a control action of a user operating the sink 1, in particular at least one functional unit of the sink 1, can be identified. As a function of the identification by the interaction unit 12 the lifting device 11 can be operated for the automatic change in position of the insert plate 10. FIG. 3 additionally shows a schematic view of a user's finger 23. The interaction unit 12 is preferably embodied to detect a gesture of the user, in particular of the finger 23. In particular, the gesture is a non-contact gesture. Additionally or instead however, the control device 14 can be operated directly with the finger 23. It is provided that an operating state and/or a change in operating state can be detected by the camera 16 and/or the acoustic unit 17 and/or the control device 14. An operating state can for example be a setting of the control device 14 and/or a change in the operating state can be a change in the setting of the control device 14.

[0053] A change in position of the insert plate 10 can be a function of the type and/or level and/or duration of an operating state of at least one functional unit of the sink 1 and/or a change in position can be a function of the type and/or level and/or duration of a change in operating state of at least one such functional unit of the sink 1.

[0054] The interaction unit 12 has a normal mode. In this, the actual operation of the sink 1 is also detected. In addition, the interaction unit 12 has a defining mode different from the normal mode. This can for example be set by a user. In this defining mode it is possible for at least one user to define or stipulate at least one reference position of the insert plate 10. In particular, such a reference position can in this defining mode be linked to a specific operating state of at least one functional unit of the sink 1 and/or to a defined change in operating state of at least one functional unit of the sink 1. At least one such reference position can be saved as a user profile in a memory unit 24 of the interaction unit 12.

[0055] In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the surface area shown in FIG. 3 (depth direction z and width direction x) of the upper surface 10a is at least 80 percent, in particular at least 90 percent, in particular at least 95 percent of the surface area of the receiving area 8, viewed in a horizontal plane (in FIG. 3 the plane of the figure). In particular, this surface area of the upper surface 10a is however less than 99 percent of this surface area of the receiving area 8 in the cited horizontal plane. The result is that a circumferential edge 25 of the insert plate 10 is spaced apart from the lateral walls 4, 5, 6 and 7. In particular, as a result a circumferential gap 26 is formed between the insert plate 10 and the lateral walls 4 to 7. The gap 26 can be between 3 mm and 15 mm. Preferably this gap 26 so small, at least in the horizontal position of the insert plate 10, that objects such as an item of flatware or the like cannot slip through. In this horizontal position of the insert plate 10 it is also possible to prevent a finger 23 from being trapped.

[0056] As is further shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the sink 1 has an outflow opening 27, for example a drain. This is in particular embodied in the base wall 3. Thanks to this outflow opening 27, media from the receiving area 8 can drain out of the basin 2.

[0057] FIG. 4 shows in a perspective view an exemplary embodiment of a sink 1. The lifting device 11 is shown. The lifting device 11 has a lifting unit 28. This is in particular fastened centrally to the base wall 3. The lifting unit 28 can be moved in the direction of the axis A. The travel speed is in this case preferably between 10 and 70 mm/sec., in particular preferably between 30 and 50 mm/sec. The maximum possible lifting height of the lifting unit 28 is preferably between 100 and 300 mm, particularly preferably between 120 and 250 mm. The lifting unit 28 has in this connection multiple lifting segments. In FIG. 4 the lifting unit 28 is shown in a fully retracted state. This means that it is drawn down as far as possible into the receiving area 8. This lifting unit 28 preferably has an upper lifting segment. The upper lifting segment is in particular formed by an upper housing segment 29 of a housing 40 of the lifting unit 28. A plate receiving area 31 is arranged in an upper region 30 of this upper lifting segment. The plate receiving area 31 is here a disk in the form of a flat cylinder. This plate receiving area 31 has a central web 32. Arranged on this central web 32 is a first support wing 33. In particular, the support wing 33 is mounted on the central web 32 so that it can pivot about a horizontal axis B. The integral support wing 33 rests on the plate receiving area 31 from above. An upper surface 34 of this plate receiving area 31 has upper surface regions 34a and 34b. These are moved downward compared to the central web 32. The support wing 33 rests on this upper surface region 34a. For greater clarity, a second support wing that is separate from the first support wing 33, but in particular is the same size and same shape, is arranged, but is not shown. This is mounted in the central web 32 so as to pivot about a further horizontal axis C. The horizontal axes B and C are oriented in parallel to one another. The second support wing rests on the second upper surface region 34b from above. In the horizontal basic position an upper surface 33a of the support wing 33 is flush with an upper surface 32a of the central web 32. Accordingly, this is formed with an upper surface of the second support wing.

[0058] Thanks to the central web 32 the support wing 33 and the second support wing (not shown) are arranged spaced apart from one another. They can be swiveled independently of one another about their axes B and C. Thus individual tilt positions of a support wing 33 relative to the horizontal plane can also be set. In particular, to this end the plate receiving area 31 has a leadthrough 35. Thanks to this leadthrough an actuation element can extend from below through the plate receiving area 31 and thus in this case contact and lift the second support wing from below, such that it is swiveled about its horizontal axis C. Accordingly, on the side opposite the leadthrough 35 a further leadthrough is embodied in the plate receiving area 31, which is underneath the first support wing 33. This too can then be raised accordingly, as has been explained. It is preferably provided that the leadthrough 35 is covered from above by a flexible cover 36. The flexible cover 36 enables the actuation element to project through the leadthrough 35 and to be positioned standing further up compared to the upper surface region 34b and because of the flexible deformation of the flexible cover 36 a corresponding overhang of the actuation element can be brought about. As a result, the corresponding second support wing can then also be raised.

[0059] The plate receiving area 31 with the cover 36 is embodied as a 2k injection-molded component.

[0060] FIG. 5 shows a perspective sectional view of a subregion of the arrangement in FIG. 4.

[0061] It can be seen that the plate receiving area 31 embodied as a flat cylinder rests from above on an upper surface 37 of the upper lifting segment of the lifting unit 28. This upper surface 37 is in particular an upper surface of an upper cover plate 38.

[0062] The lifting unit 28 has a lifting mechanism 39. The lifting mechanism 39 can be a spindle drive. However, it can also be a feed chain, for example. The lifting unit 28 additionally has a housing 40. The housing 40 surrounds this lifting mechanism 39 circumferentially. The housing 40 is in particular a telescopic housing. This means that it has multiple housing segments. In the exemplary embodiment these lifting segments are embodied as hollow cylinders. Embodied in the exemplary embodiment is an upper housing segment 29 in an extended state, following below this a second housing segment 41, again following below this a further housing segment 42, once again following further below this a housing segment 43, and then a lower housing segment 44. The housing segments 29, 41, 42, 43 and 44 are preferably made of plastic. They each have circumferential contours which form a reciprocal protection against twisting. FIG. 5 shows the fully retracted position of the lifting unit 28. The lifting unit 28 has thus traveled fully downward. In this state the housing 40 is fully telescoped together and is in a minimized height position. The housing segments 29 and 41 to 44 are thus fully telescoped together, as is shown in FIG. 5. If the lifting unit 28 is moved out of this downwardly traveled state, in which the insert plate 10 is then also arranged in the lowered position, and is thus moved upward, the housing segments 29 and 41 to 44 are pulled apart. The lifting mechanism 39 is arranged in an interior 45 of this housing 40. The lifting unit 28 extends through a leadthrough or through-hole 46 in the base wall 3. The lifting unit 28 is thus arranged on both sides of this base wall 3.

[0063] In addition, the lifting device 11 has a sealing sleeve 47. The sealing sleeve 47 is a separate component from the housing 40. The sealing sleeve 47 circumferentially surrounds the subregion, which extends in the receiving area 8, of the lifting unit 28. The sealing sleeve 47 is embodied as flexible. It can be embodied in one piece. It can for example be embodied as a bellows. However, other specifications are also enabled, in terms of material and geometry.

[0064] In FIG. 5 the sealing sleeve 47 is embodied as a bellows. It is shown in FIG. 5 in the fully retracted or folded state. The sealing sleeve 47 has an upper edge 48. In the exemplary embodiment shown the upper edge 48 is clamped between the plate receiving area 31 and the cover 38. In particular, this upper edge 48 is also arranged with a sealing function between the plate receiving area 31 and the cover 38. The cover 38 can also be referred to as a lift plate.

[0065] In addition, this sealing sleeve 47 has a lower end 49. This lower end 49 rests directly on the inner surface of the base wall 3. In addition, it is provided that the sink 1 has an adapter 50. This adapter 50 is preferably a separate component. The adapter 50 is preferably designed as an adapter ring embodied as circumferential and uninterrupted. The adapter 50 is placed from above on this lower edge 49 of the sealing sleeve 47. As can be seen, the lower edge 49 is clamped between this adapter 50 and the base wall 3. In particular, a clamping with a sealing action is also embodied here.

[0066] In particular, the adapter 50 is fastened to the base wall 3 so as to be non-destructibly detachable, in particular screwed with screw connections. To this end a counter bearing 51 can be arranged under the base wall 3 for example. This counter bearing 51 can be a bearing ring. At the same time the counter bearing can be embodied as an acoustic attenuation unit.

[0067] FIG. 6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a lifting device 11 in an exploded view.

[0068] The lifting unit 28 is shown. This has a lifting mechanism 39. The lifting mechanism 39 can be a feed chain. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 6 the lifting mechanism 39 is a spindle drive 52. In the exemplary embodiment the spindle drive 52 has at least two separate spindles. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment shown three spindles are provided, which are preferably made of plastic. These are a lower spindle 52, a central spindle 54 and an upper spindle 55. In the exemplary embodiment the upper spindle 55 is a trapezoid threaded spindle. The spindles 53 to 55 are rotatably connected to one another. The lifting device 11 has a longitudinal axis B. This is in particular parallel to the axis A.

[0069] The lifting unit 28 additionally has a housing 40, as has already been explained for FIG. 5. The housing 40 has the housing segments 29, 41, 42, 43 and 44. These are sealed off from one another by sealing rings 56, 57 and 58. In addition, the lifting device 11 has a receiving housing 59. This receiving housing 59 is separate from the housing 40. The receiving housing 59 is embodied as box-like. The housing 40 is formed by the housing segments 29 and 41 to 44 shown, which are each hollow cylinders. The housing 40 is embodied as a telescopic housing. The receiving housing 59 has a base plate 60. As a result, the receiving housing 59 is closed from below. The base plate 60 is a separate plate. In the installed state the receiving housing 59 is arranged completely outside the receiving area 8. It is, as can be seen in FIG. 5, arranged completely underneath the base wall 3 of the basin 2. It is fastened to the base wall 3. The receiving housing 59 extends from a lower surface of the base wall 3 in a direction pointing away therefrom by less than 150 mm, in particular less than 100 mm downward.

[0070] As can be seen in FIG. 5, the housing segment 44 connected in the exemplary embodiment preferably integrally to the receiving housing 59 extends through the opening or through-hole 46.

[0071] Furthermore, FIG. 6 shows a seal 61 and two stoppers 62 and 63. The upper spindle 55 is in particular in direct contact with this stopper 63. A mechanical connection is thus formed to the plate 38, which represents a cover. It can be provided that this upper spindle 55 is connected to this plate 38 in a rotationally fixed manner. If the spindle drive 52 is moved in the direction of the longitudinal axis B, a change in length such as this in the direction of the longitudinal axis B can be brought about by a relative movement between the spindles 53 and 54. In particular, it can be provided in this example that the spindles 54 and 55 are infinitely rotatably connected to one another. This means that if the spindles 53 and 54 move apart from one another because of their thread couplings in the direction of the longitudinal axis B, the upper spindle 55 is pushed upward, but does not move apart from the spindle 54 in the height direction.

[0072] In an alternative embodiment it can be provided that the upper spindle 55 is likewise rotated about the longitudinal axis B in the event of a change in length of the spindle drive 52. In an embodiment such as this it is provided that this upper spindle 55 is connected by an infinite rotation unit to the plate 38 in an infinitely rotatable manner. This means that in the event of a rotation of the upper spindle 55 the plate 38 is not rotated at the same time, but remains in a fixed position in the direction about the longitudinal axis B. For example, an infinite rotation unit such as this can be formed by a ball bearing. Likewise, in the case of the aforementioned first exemplary embodiment, in which an infinite rotary movement facility between the spindle 55 and the spindle 54 is enabled, an infinite rotation unit providing coupling in this respect can be embodied, in particular likewise a ball bearing can be embodied.

[0073] In addition, the seal 75 already referred to in FIG. 5 is shown.

[0074] In addition, a detector 64 is represented in FIG. 6. This detector 64 is in particular a sensor, which detects liquid media in a volume space 65 (FIG. 5) between the sealing sleeve 47 and the lifting unit 28.

[0075] In addition, a motor 66 of the lifting device 11 is shown in FIG. 6. This motor 66 is arranged in the receiving housing 59. It is provided for driving the lifting mechanism 39 and thus in the exemplary embodiment the spindle drive 52. In particular, in this connection a motor flange 67, a tooth lock washer 68 and a drive shaft 69 are shown. The drive shaft 69 is in particular coupled to the spindle drive 52, in particular the lower spindle 53. In addition, in the exemplary embodiment a toothed belt 70 is also shown. Likewise, a bearing flange 71 is represented. A further bearing flange 72 is likewise represented. In addition, a further tooth lock washer 73 and a ball bearing 74, which in particular is a grooved ball bearing, are shown.

[0076] An attenuation unit is preferably also formed by the unit 51, as shown in FIG. 5. With this the lifting device 11 is acoustically decoupled from the base wall 3. This attenuation unit can be a rubber attenuator or also an acoustic foam. The attenuation unit is in particular arranged so as to rest directly on the lower surface of the base wall 3 and thus on the outer surface of the base wall 3. In particular, this attenuation unit is connected to the receiving housing 59 of the lifting device 11.

[0077] A disassembly mode different from the normal mode of the lifting unit 28 can also be set. In this, the lifting unit 28 is set over the maximum raised position of the lifting unit 28 in the normal mode and thus also over the corresponding position of the insert plate 10 to a position that lies even higher in the height direction. In the maximum raised position in the normal mode it is in particular provided that the upper surface 10a of the insert plate 10 is flush with the upper surface of the upper edge 2a of the basin 2 or with a decorative frame or an installation frame. In the disassembly position lying higher than this the insert plate 10 is preferably positioned such that its lower surface 10b is arranged higher by a vertical distance than this upper edge 2a. In particular, this vertical distance is at least 2 cm, in particular at least 3 cm. As a result, the insert plate 10 can be gripped at its edge 25 by a hand and held securely for removal from the lifting unit 28. The disassembly position is in particular a horizontal position of the insert plate 10. The lower surface 10b of the insert plate 10 is thus positioned completely above the upper edge 2a.

List of Reference Characters

[0078] 1 Sink [0079] 2 Basin [0080] 2a Upper edge [0081] 3 Base wall [0082] 4 Lateral wall [0083] 5 Lateral wall [0084] 6 Lateral wall [0085] 7 Lateral wall [0086] 8 Receiving area [0087] 9 Loading opening [0088] 10 Insert plate [0089] 10a Upper surface [0090] 10b Lower surface [0091] 11 Lifting device [0092] 12 Interaction unit [0093] 13 Display unit [0094] 14 Control device [0095] 15 Control panel [0096] 16 Optical detection unit [0097] 17 Acoustic unit [0098] 18 Identification unit [0099] 19 Receiving housing [0100] 20 Receiving volume [0101] 21 Control unit [0102] 22 Faucet [0103] 23 Finger [0104] 24 Memory unit [0105] 25 Edge [0106] 26 Gap [0107] 27 Outflow opening [0108] 28 Lifting unit [0109] 29 Upper lifting segment [0110] 30 Upper region [0111] 31 Plate receiving area [0112] 32 Central web [0113] 32a Upper surface [0114] 33 First support wing [0115] 33a Upper surface [0116] 34 Upper surface [0117] 34a Upper surface region [0118] 34b Upper surface region [0119] 35 Leadthrough [0120] 36 Cover [0121] 37 Upper surface [0122] 38 Cover plate [0123] 39 Lifting mechanism [0124] 40 Housing [0125] 41 Housing segment [0126] 42 Housing segment [0127] 43 Housing segment [0128] 44 Housing segment [0129] 45 Interior [0130] 46 Through-hole [0131] 47 Sealing sleeve [0132] 47a Outer surface [0133] 48 Upper edge [0134] 49 Lower end [0135] 50 Adapter ring [0136] 51 Counter bearing [0137] 52 Spindle drive [0138] 53 Spindle [0139] 54 Spindle [0140] 55 Spindle [0141] 55a Upper end [0142] 56 Sealing ring [0143] 57 Sealing ring [0144] 58 Sealing ring [0145] 59 Receiving housing [0146] 60 Base plate [0147] 61 Seal [0148] 62 Stopper [0149] 63 Stopper [0150] 64 Detector [0151] 65 Volume space [0152] 66 Motor [0153] 67 Motor flange [0154] 68 Tooth lock washer [0155] 69 Drive shaft [0156] 70 Toothed belt [0157] 71 Bearing flange [0158] 72 Bearing flange [0159] 73 Tooth lock washer [0160] 74 Ball bearing [0161] 75 Seal