Mechanism for a door of an electrical household appliance

Abstract

A mechanism for a door of an electrical household appliance includes an opener for pushing open the door, wherein the opener includes an opener housing and, accommodated therein, a pusher arranged for a linear push-open movement and an electric motor drive for the pusher, and a latch for holding the door closed, wherein the latch includes a latch housing and, accommodated therein, at least one movably arranged closing element, which is provided for engagement, holding the door closed, with a counter-body approaching the closing element when the door is closed. The opener housing and the latch housing each have a coupling section which cooperate to mechanically couple the opener housing and the latch housing. Furthermore, the opener housing has at least one first fastening means designed to fasten the mechanism to the electrical household appliance when the coupling sections of the opener housing and the latch housing are mechanically coupled.

Claims

1. A mechanism for a door of an electrical household appliance, the mechanism comprising: an opener for pushing open the door, the opener comprising an opener housing and, accommodated therein, a pusher arranged for a linear push-open movement and a drive for the pusher; and a latch for holding the door closed, wherein the latch comprises a latch housing and, accommodated therein, at least one movably arranged closing element, wherein the at least one closing element is provided for engagement, holding the door closed, with a counter-body approaching the closing element when the door is closed; wherein the opener housing and the latch housing each have a coupling portion, which cooperate to effectuate a mechanical coupling of the opener housing and the latch housing; and wherein the opener housing comprises at least a first fastening means, which is adapted to attach the mechanism to the electrical household appliance when the coupling sections of the opener housing and the latch housing are mechanically coupled.

2. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the drive is an electric motor drive.

3. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the opener housing and the latch housing are made of different materials.

4. The mechanism according to claim 3, wherein: the opener housing comprises a reinforced material; and/or the shutter housing comprises a low-friction material.

5. The mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the reinforced material comprises a glass fiber-reinforced material.

6. The mechanism according to claim 4, wherein the low-friction material comprises polyoxymethylene.

7. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the coupling sections forms an arresting means.

8. The mechanism according to claim 7, wherein the at least one of the coupling sections comprises an undercut, tab, catch, rail, and/or a clamping hook.

9. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the opener housing comprises at least a second fastening means adapted to attach the mechanism to the electrical household appliance when the coupling sections of the opener housing and the latch housing are mechanically coupled; the latch housing has at least a third fastening means, which is adapted to fasten the mechanism to the electrical household appliance when the coupling portions of the opener housing and the latch housing are mechanically coupled; and/or the opener housing and the latch housing each have a further coupling section, which cooperate to effectuate a further mechanical coupling of the opener housing and the latch housing.

10. The mechanism according to claim 1, further comprising a door sensor disposed in the opener housing, wherein the latch or the opener comprises a movable member adapted to transmit a movement of the door to a portion of the movable member cooperating with the door sensor when the door is closed.

11. The mechanism according to claim 10, wherein: the movable element comprises a rocker arm and/or a slider; and the section of the movable element cooperating with the door sensor is arranged in a region of the latch housing facing away from the door.

12. The mechanism according to claim 10, wherein the movable element comprises: a section coupled to the closing element, which is configured to mechanically transmit a movement of the closing element to the section cooperating with the door sensor when the door is closed; or a portion protruding from the latch housing adapted to mechanically transmit a movement of the door to the portion cooperating with the door sensor when the door is closed.

13. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein: the latch comprises no electrical and/or electronic components; and only the opener comprises an electrical connection.

14. The mechanism according to claim 1, wherein the latch has a function for mechanically influencing at least one movement feature of the pusher.

15. The mechanism according to claim 14, wherein in having the function for mechanically influencing at least one movement feature of the pusher, the latch has a function for mechanically releasing a movement blocking of the pusher.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] The invention is further explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They represent:

[0036] FIG. 1 a schematic of a household dishwasher,

[0037] FIG. 2a a schematic of a latch for installation in the dishwasher of FIG. 1,

[0038] FIG. 2b a schematic of an opener for installation in the dishwasher of FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 3 a schematic of a mechanism of an opener coupled with a latch, whereby the opener is shown without the housing cover,

[0040] FIG. 4 a schematic of an exploded view of the mechanism in FIG. 3,

[0041] FIG. 5 a schematic of a further mechanism consisting of an opener coupled with a shutter, the further mechanism being attached to a profile rail of the household appliance,

[0042] FIG. 6 a schematic of an exploded view of the further mechanism from FIG. 5,

[0043] FIG. 7 a schematic of the latch of the further mechanism from FIG. 5, and

[0044] FIG. 8 a schematic of the opener of the further mechanism from FIG. 5, whereby the opener is shown without the housing cover.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0045] Reference is first made to FIG. 1. The dishwasher shown there, which is intended for use in a private household, is generally labelled 10. It is an example of a household appliance in which a mechanism according to the invention, comprising an opener and a latch, can be used. However, the embodiment example shown in FIG. 1 is in no way intended to limit the field of application of mechanisms according to the invention to dishwashers. The dishwasher 10 comprises a washing tank 12 (main body of the appliance) with a tub 14 formed therein, which is accessible to a user through an access opening 16 at the front. The latter can be closed by a door 18, which is attached to the base area of the washing tank 12 so as to swivel about a horizontal swivelling axis (not shown in detail).

[0046] A door mechanism designated 26 is generally installed in the top of the washing tank 12 (designated 20), which has a closing function for keeping the door 18 closed and an opener function for mechanised (i.e., non-manual) opening of the door 18. The closing function is performed by one of the assemblies (in this respect, assembly 22 is assumed below), while the opening function is performed by the other assembly (assembly 24 is assumed below). The assembly 22 can therefore also be referred to as the latch assembly or latch for short, and the assembly 24 as the opener assembly or opener for short. When the door 18 is closed, the latch 22 interacts with a counter-body 28 arranged on the door 18, which in the example shown is in the form of a bracket and which the latch 22 grips and holds in order to keep the door 18 closed.

[0047] The door mechanism 26 is built into the tank top (body top) of the washing tank 12, designated 20. In the front of the tank top 20 (i.e., adjacent to the access opening 16), there is a profile rail (generally: reinforcing strip) 60 which extends essentially over the entire front width of the tank top 20 and serves as a stiffening structural element of the tank top 20. In the example shown, the profile rail 60 is designed as an upwardly open U-shaped profile rail. Such a U-shaped design and such an installation position of the profile rail 60 is also assumed in the following figures. However, it is understood that other profile cross-sections of the profile rail 60 and other installation positions are readily conceivable.

[0048] A wide variety of configurations of the latch assembly 22 are conceivable to fulfil the closure function. FIG. 2a schematically shows an exemplary embodiment in which the latch 22, accommodated in a latch housing 30, has a rotatably arranged rotary gripper or rotary disc 32 acting as a latching element in the sense of the invention and a latching spring 34 designed as a torsion spring in the example shown. The rotary gripper 32 has a gripper mouth 40 bounded by two jaws 36, 38, into which the counter-body 28 with a central bar 42 plunges when the door 18 is closed (along an arrow direction 44). The central bar 42 thereby abuts against a rear one of the jaws (here the jaw 38) and thereby sets the rotary gripper 32 in rotation. The rotation of the rotary gripper 32 causes the front of the jaws (here the jaw 36) to engage behind the central bar 42 of the counter-body 28, thereby holding the counter-body 28 captive in the gripper mouth 40. Further details of a latch with such a rotary gripper can be found, for example, in DE 198 37 248 A1, DE 10 2016 008 044 B4, or DE 10 2020 124 399 B3; the contents of these documents are hereby incorporated in full into the present disclosure by express reference. An alternative embodiment has an elongate closing body instead of a rotary gripper, which engages with a front gripping nose in a recess formed on the door when the door is closed (see, e.g., DE 10 2006 037 494 B4, the contents of which are hereby also incorporated in full into the present disclosure by express reference).

[0049] In the latch 22 according to FIG. 2a, after the rotary gripper 32 has rotated from its release position shown in FIG. 2a into the gripping position in which it holds the counter-body 28 captive, the latching spring 34 counteracts a return rotation of the rotary gripper 32 in the direction of the release position. To open the door 18, this resistance of the latch 22 must therefore be overcome. When opening the door 18 manually, the user must pull on the door 18 with corresponding force in order to overcome the latching force of the latching spring 34. During mechanised opening by means of the opener 24, the necessary force is applied by the opener. For this purpose, as shown in FIG. 2b, the opener 24 is designed with a pusher 50 which is accommodated in an opener housing 48 so as to move linearly (along a double arrow 46) and which, in the example shown, is designed in the form of an elongated pusher rod and is mechanically connected to a drive 52 which is also accommodated in an opener housing 48. In certain embodiments, the drive 52 is an electric motor drive with an electric motor and, if necessary, a reduction gear. In such an embodiment of the drive 52, the pusher 50 can be designed with a toothing with which a pinion on the output side of the reduction gear meshes. Alternatively, it is conceivable to design the drive 52 as an electromagnetic drive or as a spring drive, for example. In this respect, the invention is not subject to any limitation.

[0050] By actuating the drive 52, the pusher 50 can be moved from a retracted position (initial position) shown in FIG. 2b into a feed position indicated by a dashed line. When the opener 24 is installed in the dishwasher 10, such a feeding movement of the pusher 50 leads to the door 18 being pushed open when the door 18 is closed, whereby the opener 24 overcomes the closing holding force of the latch 22. In this case, the pusher 50 can press directly against the door 18 with a front rod tip, as indicated in FIG. 2b.

[0051] In the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4, which show an exemplary mechanism 26 comprising a latch 22, as shown schematically in FIG. 2a. FIG. 3 schematically shows the mechanism 26 in a state in which the latch 22 is coupled to the opener 24, wherein the opener 24 is shown without a housing cover 250, and FIG. 4 schematically shows an exploded view of the mechanism 26 and a profile rail 60 to which the mechanism 26 can be attached.

[0052] The opener housing 48 has a coupling section 442, and the latch housing 30 also has a coupling section 321, wherein the respective coupling sections 321, 442 cooperate to provide a mechanical coupling of the opener housing and the latch housing. At least one of the coupling sections 321, 442 may form an arresting means. For example, the coupling section 442 of the opener housing 48 is shown in FIG. 4 as a pair of tabs or clamping hooks into which the coupling section 321 of the shutter housing 30 can be inserted (from above in FIG. 4) and engage. This locks the latch housing 30 in at least one direction (upwards in FIG. 4).

[0053] The latch housing 30 shown also has an optional further coupling section 322, which can be arranged, for example, on a side of the latch housing 30 opposite the (first) coupling section 321. Accordingly, the opener housing 48 also has a coupling section 443 into which the coupling section 322 of the latch housing 30 can be inserted and, for example, can engage therein. The coupling section 443 of the opener housing 48 is also shown in the form of a pair of tabs or clamping hooks.

[0054] The housing 30, 48 coupled in this way are mechanically connected to each other. In other words, the latch housing 30 can only be separated from the opener housing 48 if the respective coupling sections 321, 442, 322, 443 are released from each other. This can be done, for example, by releasing the arresting means. The two housings 30, 48 thus form a structural unit and can be attached to the household appliance 10 in the pre-assembled state.

[0055] For the fastening, at least one first fastening means 243 is provided on the opener housing 48, which is set up to fasten the mechanism 26 to the electrical household appliance 10 when the coupling sections 321, 442 (322, 443) of the opener housing 48 and the latch housing 30 are mechanically coupled. The at least one first fastening means 243 can be realised, for example, by mounting feet (not explicitly shown), which can be inserted into openings in the rail material in a rail base of the profile rail 60. By way of example only, the first fastening means 243 can comprise a lug, a clamping hook and/or a resilient locking tongue, which can engage and/or snap into the aperture in the profile rail or a corresponding slat or lug 62 in the profile rail 60. Further details on the attachment of the mechanism 26 to the profile rail 60 can be found, for example, in DE 10 2022 116 999 A1; the contents of this document (in particular, the details and associated explanations contained in FIGS. 3a and 3b of this document) are hereby incorporated by express reference into the present disclosure in their entirety.

[0056] The latch housing 30 is also attached to the profile rail 60 via the first fastening means 243.

[0057] Furthermore, the opener housing 48 may comprise at least one second fastening means 422 which is adapted to attach the mechanism 26 to the electrical household appliance 10 when the coupling sections 321, 442 (322, 443) of the opener housing 48 and the latch housing 30 are mechanically coupled. The second fastening means 243 can be designed in the same way as the first fastening means.

[0058] The latch housing 30 is also attached to the profile rail 60 via the second fastening means 243. If the first fastening means 243 and the second fastening means 422 are fastened to the profile rail 60, a two-point fixation of the mechanism 26 to the profile rail 60 can be realised, which enables a secure hold of the mechanism 26.

[0059] Since the latch housing 30 can be made independently of the opener housing 48, it can be made of a different material than the opener housing 48. Thus, to avoid or at least reduce friction between the rotary gripper 32 and the corresponding portions of the latch housing 30, a low-friction material, such as polyoxymethylene (POM), as well as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) or materials filled or coated with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or molybdenum disulphide (MoS.sub.2) can be used to manufacture the latch housing 30.

[0060] On the other hand, the opener housing 48 may be made of a reinforced material, for example a glass fibre reinforced or mineral filled plastic. Such a reinforced material is suitable for absorbing high forces generated during the movement of the pusher 50. A reinforced material is particularly advantageous for accommodating the motor 52 (drive of the pusher 50), the gear unit 53 and the pusher 50.

[0061] In an advantageous embodiment, no electrical components are provided in the latch 22. This makes it possible to dispense with an electrical connection of the latch 22 and only the opener 24 has an electrical connection 249. Nevertheless, in order to be able to detect a closed state of the door 18, the opener 24 also has a door sensor 248. For example, the door sensor 248 can be arranged in the opener housing 48. In FIG. 3, for example, the door sensor 248 is shown arranged on a printed circuit board 247 for controlling the motor 52. The door sensor 248 is arranged to detect a state of the door 18, in particular whether the door 18 is in a latching position, in which the access opening 16 is tightly closed, or whether the door 18 is open (i.e., is not in the latching position). In this case, it may be sufficient for the door sensor 248 to detect an opening of the door 18 by a few millimetres or a few centimetres.

[0062] For this purpose, a movable element 427 is provided in the opener 24, which is set up to transmit a movement of the door 18 when the door 18 is closed to a section 429 of the movable element 427 cooperating with the door sensor 248. The section 429 cooperating with the door sensor 248 is shown as a projection and can, for example, cooperate with a door sensor 248 designed as a microswitch. The section 429 can, for example, switch the microswitch 248 back and forth between two positions.

[0063] In order to support this movement of the movable element 427, a spring element 428 can be provided which pushes the movable element 427 into a position which the movable element 427 can assume when the door 18 is open. If the door 18 is closed, the movable element 427 is moved (pushed) against the spring force of the spring 428 and can thus move the door sensor 248 into a position corresponding to the latching position of the door 18. For this purpose, the movable element 427 has a section coupled to the closing element 32, which is set up to mechanically transmit a movement of the closing element 32 to the section 429 cooperating with the door sensor 248 when the door 18 is closed. As shown in FIG. 2a, the closing element 32 is moved in the direction of movement 44 when the door 18 is closed. This movement can be transmitted to the movable element 427 by simple contact of the movable element 427 by the closing element 32.

[0064] The mechanism 26 also has a housing cover 250. This may in particular be associated with the opener 24. Of course, the housing cover 250 may also comprise a section covering at least part of the latch 22. The housing cover 250 can be attached to the opener housing 48 via latching tabs 251 or similar clamps.

[0065] The profile rail 60 can have further openings 61, 66 through which the pusher 50 can be moved or through which the counter-body 28 can engage with the closing element 32.

[0066] FIGS. 5 to 8 schematically show a further exemplary mechanism 26, wherein FIG. 5 schematically shows the mechanism 26 mounted in a profile rail 60, FIG. 6 schematically shows an exploded view of the mechanism 26, FIG. 7 schematically shows the latch 22, and FIG. 8 schematically shows the opener 24 with the cover 250 removed. Elements and components of the mechanism 26 which correspond to those in FIGS. 3 and 4 or are at least functionally equivalent are provided with identical reference signs. A description of these elements and components is not repeated here in order to avoid redundant explanations.

[0067] The exemplary mechanism 26 shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 has an elongate closing body 225 instead of a rotary gripper 32 (as in FIGS. 2a, 3, and 4), which engages with a front gripping nose in a recess formed on the door 18 (not explicitly shown) when the door 18 is closed. Such an elongate closing body 225 is guided within the latch housing 30. Therefore, a low-friction material for the latch housing 30 is particularly advantageous here, on the one hand to make it easier for a user to open and close the door 18, and on the other hand to make the latch 22 durable. The closing body 225, in particular its gripping nose, can be guided through an opening not shown in the figures (or not visible) in the bottom of the profile rail 60, so that the gripping nose can engage there in the recess of the door 18.

[0068] The latch 22 has at least one coupling section 221, which interacts with an associated coupling section 241 of the opener housing 48 to form a mechanical coupling. In the example shown, the coupling section 241 of the opener housing 48 is designed as a tab or catch that can engage in the coupling section 221 of the latch housing 30, which is formed as an opening or aperture. The coupling section 221 can also be arranged deeper in the latch housing 30, so that the coupling section 241 of the opener housing 48 does not protrude through the opening in the latch housing 30, but can be reached through the opening, for example to release it. The mechanical coupling thus takes place within the latch housing 30.

[0069] The opener housing 48 can optionally have a further coupling section 242, which can realise a mechanical coupling with an associated coupling section (not explicitly shown) in the latch housing 30. This can be done in the same or a similar way as between the coupling sections 221, 241.

[0070] Alternatively, or additionally, the opener housing 48 can also have a coupling section 244, which is implemented in the form of a rail. By means of a corresponding coupling section on the latch housing 30 (not visible in the figures), the latch housing 30 can be guided by a linear movement into the correct position for mechanical coupling between the latch housing 30 and the opener housing 48. Furthermore, the rail 244 allows further locking in at least one direction.

[0071] The latch housing 30 can be attached to the opener housing 48 via one or more coupling sections 221, 241 (242), so that both housings together form a pre-assembled assembly. The fastening to the profile rail 60 takes place via at least one first fastening means 243 on the opener housing 48 (see in particular FIGS. 6 and 8). This allows the mechanism 26 to be securely fastened to the electrical household appliance 10.

[0072] Furthermore, the latch housing 30 may comprise at least a third fastening means 222 which is adapted to secure the mechanism 26 to the electrical household appliance 10 when the coupling sections 221, 241 of the latch housing 30 and the opener housing 48 are mechanically coupled. If the first fastening means 243 and the third fastening means 222 are fastened to the profile rail 60, a two-point fixation of the mechanism 26 to the profile rail 60 can be achieved, which enables a secure hold of the mechanism 26.

[0073] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, no electrical components are provided in the latch 22 either. As a result, an electrical connection of the latch 22 can be dispensed with and only the opener 24 has an electrical connection 249.

[0074] Optionally, a door sensor 248 can be arranged in the opener housing 48. In FIGS. 6 and 8, the door sensor 248 is shown arranged on a printed circuit board 247 for controlling the motor 52. The door sensor 248 is set up to detect a state of the door 18, in particular whether the door 18 is in a latching position, in which the access opening 16 is tightly closed, or whether the door 18 is open (i.e., is not in the latching position). In this case, it may be sufficient for the door sensor 248 to detect an opening of the door 18 by a few millimetres or a few centimetres.

[0075] For this detection by the door sensor 248, a movable element 229 is provided in the connection 22 in this embodiment, which is set up to transmit a movement of the door 18 when the door 18 is closed to a section 229a of the movable element 229 cooperating with the door sensor 248. The section 229a cooperating with the door sensor 248 is shown as an attachment or projection and can, for example, cooperate with a door sensor 248 designed as a microswitch (e.g., magnetic microswitch), light sensor, motion sensor, touch sensor, proximity sensor, or similar element. For example, the section 229a can be moved back and forth (perform a linear movement) that changes a state of the microswitch 248. This may include a magnet forming or disposed in the section 229a and having its position detected by the door sensor 248. Of course, any other element or material can be arranged on the section 229a that enables its position to be detected by the door sensor 248.

[0076] In order to transmit this movement of the door 18 to the movable element 229 during closing, the movable element has a rocker arm 228. The rocker arm 228 can be rotatably connected to the movable element 229 by a joint 227. The rocker arm 228 is rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation (not shown separately) arranged below the joint 227. A lower end of the rocker arm 228 can protrude through an aperture or opening provided in the bottom of the profile rails 60. There, the lower end of the rocker arm 228 is located in the opening 16, where the rocker arm 228 can be touched by an upper side of the door 18. During the closing process of the door 18, the lower end of the rocker arm 228 is moved in the direction of the tub 14. The rotary movement of the rocker arm 228 is transmitted to the movable element 229 via the joint 227. For example, the movable element 229 is moved (linearly) towards the door 18 when the door 18 is closed.

[0077] When the door 18 is opened, the movable element 229 can be returned to its initial position. For this purpose, the movable element 229 can be moved back via a spring (not shown separately) (i.e., moved away from the door 18). In other words, as soon as a movement space of the free end of the rocker arm 228 is released from the door 18, the spring can move the movable element 229 and thus also the rocker arm 228 back to its initial position (corresponding to an open position of the door 18). Of course, the rocker arm 228 can also be moved back to the initial position by a spring (for example, a torsion spring) (in addition to or as an alternative to a spring moving the movable element 229).

[0078] Furthermore, the section 229a of the movable element 229 cooperating with the door sensor 248 may also be provided in the opener 24 or in the opener housing 48. For the (linear) movement of the section 229a during closing and opening of the door 18, it can cooperate mechanically with a corresponding element in the latch 22 or in the latch housing 30. For example, the movable element 229 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may be divided (in two), with one part being arranged in the latch 22 or in the latch housing 30 and the other part being arranged in the opener 24 or in the opener housing 48. Alternatively, the part of the movable element 229 arranged or held in the opener 24 or in the opener housing 48 can also extend up to the rocker arm 228 and cooperate mechanically therewith. By way of example only, the rocker arm 228 can rest against the movable element 229 (i.e., only touch it) or be coupled to it via a joint.

[0079] Irrespective of the embodiment according to FIGS. 3 and 4 or 5 to 8, a possible sequence of events during assembly of the dishwasher 10 may be that the latch 22 is first inserted into the opener 24, in particular into the opener housing 48, and is mechanically coupled there to the opener 24 via the coupling sections (241, 242, 244, 321, 322, 442, 443), and may also be locked in place. In a later phase of the assembly process, the components coupled in this way (i.e., the assembled mechanism 26) are then installed in the top 24 of the washing tank 12.