A DISHWASHER WITH AUTOMATICALLY OPENING DOOR

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a dishwasher the door of which opens automatically.

[0002] In dishwashers, the body wherein the washing process is performed is closed by a door mounted such as to rotate in the horizontal axis. In state of the art, dishwashers are provided wherein the drying process is performed at low temperature and the door opens automatically after the program is completed so that the drying process is maintained to be effective and efficient. Thus, the steam inside the body is discharged out of the dishwasher preventing condensation on the washed items. The user is not harmed since the discharged steam is at a low temperature.

[0003] In some of these state of the art embodiments, the door is opened by pushing a lock latch extending from the body. In these embodiments, the fast falling of the door can both harm the door hinge and the user. In some embodiments, in order to prevent the door from falling in this way, the door is partially opened by pushing slightly the lock latch extending from the body without dislodging it from the lock housing on the door. However, in this embodiment, the door can be detected to be closed since the lock latch is still in the lock housing.

[0004] In the state of the art United States Patent Document No US5881746, a dishwasher, having a door that is partially opened by moving a closure bracket which one end of it mounted to the motor on the body and the other end to a lock on the door at the end of the program, is explained.

[0005] In the state of the art United States Patent Document No US4951693, in the disclosed dishwasher, the explanation is given for first opening the lock at the end of the program and afterwards slowly opening the door by the push of the biasing means in the door hinge.

[0006] In the state of the art German Patent Application No DE102005028448, in the disclosed dishwasher, the door is partially opened by a pin containing the latch therein moving towards the door, which is moved by the gear driven with a motor situated on the body.

[0007] Document DE-C1-4420775 discloses a dishwasher comprising a body, side walls that cover the side surfaces of the body, a door providing access into the body, a latching means borne to the body such as to move and a clamp situated on the door, which locks the door when the latching means is inserted therein, and an actuator having one end fixed to the body and the other end fixed to said latching means, for releasing said same latching means from the clamp.

[0008] The aim of the present invention is the realization of a dishwasher wherein the door is opened easily at the end of the program.

[0009] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is explicated in the first claim and the other elements in the related claims.

[0010] In the dishwasher, a clamp and a latching means which is borne on the body such as to move back and forth and which is locked by inserting into the clamp are provided on the door. In the dishwasher of the present invention, an actuator is used for dislodging the latching means from the clamp without requiring user intervention.

[0011] One end of the actuator is fixed to the body and the other end to the latching means. The actuator heats up when the electric current is supplied thereto and thus the length of the actuator changes. The latching means is dislodged from the clamp as the actuator pulls it towards the body by means of its changed length.

[0012] In an embodiment of the present invention, a pin is disposed on the end of the actuator, the length of which changes when heated.

[0013] In an embodiment of the present invention, the latching means is dislodged from the clamp by two actuators. In this embodiment, the pins contact each other and thus provide twice as much pushing distance and force.

[0014] In another embodiment of the present invention, the actuators are disposed in a housing. The housing is mounted into a slot bored on the traverse. The latching means mounted to the housing from an aperture on one side of the housing, can move forward and backward inside the aperture.

[0015] In another embodiment of the present invention, a shaft is disposed between the pins of the two actuators. The shaft is used for transferring the motion of the pins to one another. The dishwasher furthermore comprises a door partial-opener mechanism, situated on the side wall, which applies force to the door so that the door slightly moves away from the body. In an embodiment, the door partial-opener mechanism is a cam that pushes the door by being actuated with a motor.

[0016] In an embodiment of the present invention, the door partial-opener mechanism comprises a door partial opening spring and a spring trigger, with one end fixed to the door partial opening spring, the other end to the body, the length of which changes by heating up when the electric current is applied, thus releasing the door partial-opener spring so that the door separates from the body partially, and when cooled stretches the door partial-opener spring to close the door once again.

[0017] By means of the dishwasher of the present invention, the door can be opened as a result of the actuator changing dimension by heating up when the electric current supplied thereby dislodging the latching means from the clamp on the door without requiring the user intervention. After the door released, the steam inside the dishwasher can be discharged by means of the door partial-opener mechanism opening the door slightly. Thus, high temperature drying process is not required and energy savings is provided.

[0018] The dishwasher realized in order to attain the aim of the present invention is illustrated in the attached figures, where:

[0019] Figure 1 - is the perspective view of a dishwasher.

[0020] Figure 2 - is the perspective view of a door partial-opener mechanism in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0021] Figure 3 - is the perspective view of a latching means and an actuator in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0022] Figure 4 - is the perspective view of the latching means and the actuator in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 5 - is the perspective view of the latching means and two actuators in another embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 6 - is the perspective view of a traverse and the latching means in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0025] Figure 7 - is the exploded perspective view of the actuators and latching means grouped in a housing in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0026] The elements illustrated in the figures are numbered as follows:

1. Dishwasher

2. Body

3. Side wall

4. Door

5. Latching means

6. Clamp

7. ,107., 207. Actuator

8. Traverse

9. Door partial-opener mechanism

10. Pin

11. Slot

12. Aperture

13. Housing

14. Shaft

15. Door partial-opener spring

16. Spring trigger

17. Cavity

[0027] The dishwasher (1) comprises a body (2), side walls (3) that cover the side surfaces of the body (2), a door (4) providing access into the body (2), a latching means (5) borne to the body (2) such as to move, and a clamp (6) situated on the door (4) which locks the door (4) when the latching means (5) is inserted therein.

[0028] The dishwasher (1) furthermore comprises at least one actuator (7) with one end fixed to the body (2) the other end to the latching means (5), the length of which changes by heating up when the electric current is supplied, and dislodges the latching means (5) from the clamp (6) by pulling towards the body (2) (Figure 1).

[0029] The latching means (5) is locked in the clamp (6) while the door (4) is closed. After the washing process is over, the latching means (5) is released from the clamp (6) by being pulled by means of the actuator (7) without requiring user intervention. Thus, the electric line on the door (4) is interrupted. The actuator (7) is used for releasing the latching means (5) from the clamp (6) by being pulled. The actuator (7) lengthens or shortens by heating up when the electric current passes through and dislodges the latching means (5) from the clamp (6). The actuator (7) used for releasing the door (4) by pulling the latching means (5) is a low cost, simple element that occupies a small space. Moreover, the actuator (7) releases the door (4) so that the door (4) can be opened by pulling the latching means (5) in order to discharge the steam out after the washing process is completed, without requiring drying the dishes at high temperature. The actuator (7) is preferably controlled by a control unit which controls the washing process.

[0030] In an embodiment of the present invention, the actuator (7) comprises a pin (10) at one end, the length of which changes by heating up when current is supplied to the actuator (7). Electricity is supplied to the actuator (7) after the drying process and the pin (10) is provided to lengthen or shorten. For example, in an embodiment, since the pin (10) fixed to the traverse (8) cannot push the traverse (8) while lengthening, it pushes the actuator (7) fixed to the latching means (5) to move thereof away from the door (4). Thus, the actuator (7) moves the latching means (5) away from the door (4) together with itself and dislodges from the clamp (6) (Figure 3). In another embodiment, the pin (10) fixed to the rear portion of the latching means (5) shortens when heated up and pulls the latching means (5) towards the body (2) (Figure 4).

[0031] In an embodiment of the present invention, the latching means (5) is in the form of a plate and comprises a cavity (17) at its portion which bears on the body (2) wherein the actuator (7, 107) is inserted. Thus, the latching means (5) and the actuator (7 or 107) are provided to occupy less space (Figure 3 and 4).

[0032] In another embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a motion transmitter (not shown in the figures) with one end fixed to the latching means (5) such as to rotate, and the other end to the actuator (7), mounted to the body (2) such as to rotate from a point closer to the actuator (7) than the latching means (5). By means of this motion transmitter, lengthening of the actuator (7) causes a greater forward movement in the latching means (5).

[0033] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises an actuator (207) fixed to the latching means (5) and another actuator (107) fixed to the body (2) or the traverse (8). The pins (10) of the actuators (107 and 207) are in contact with one another and move the latching means (5) away from the door (4) while pushing one another when it lengthens by heating up (Figure 5).

[0034] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises at least one slot (11) situated on the vertical wall of the traverse (8) and a housing (13) in the form of a closed box, which can be mounted into the slot (11), having at least one aperture (12) on its surface facing the door (4) wherein the latching means (5) can pass, with the actuator (7 or 207) fixed on its inner wall. By means of the housing (13) which can be mounted to and dismounted from the slot (11) situated in the traverse (8), instead of mounting the actuator (7) to the traverse (8) during production, the housing (13) which is previously grouped with the actuator (7) can be mounted easily (Figure 6 and 7).

[0035] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises an actuator (207) fixed to the latching means (5) and another actuator (107) fixed in the housing (13). The pins (10) which lengthen by heating up when the electric current is supplied push one another and thus the latching means (5) moves inside the housing (13) such as to be separated from the door (4).

[0036] By means of two actuators (107, 207) pushing one another, the required pulling force for dislodging the latching means (5) from the clamp (6) is easily provided.

[0037] In an embodiment of the present invention, the dishwasher (1) comprises a shaft (14), disposed between the two actuators (107, 207), with one end mounted to the pin (10) of one, the other end to the pin (10) of the other. The shaft (14) transfers the movement of the pins (10) to one another by providing a distance as wide as the traverse (8) width between for example the actuator (107) fixed to the wider traverse (8) and the actuator (207) fixed to the latching means (5) (Figure 5).

[0038] The dishwasher (1) furthermore comprises a door partial-opener mechanism (9) disposed on the side wall (3), exerting force towards the door (4), moving the door (4) away from the side wall (3) slightly after the latching means (5) is released from the clamp (6). By means of the door (4) opening slightly after the latching means (5) is pulled, the steam remaining inside the body (2) is provided to be discharged and the dishes to be dried. In another embodiment, the door partial-opener mechanism (9) is a cam moved by a motor which is triggered after the latching means (5) is pulled. By means of the door (4) being pushed controllably by the door partial-opener mechanism (9) after the latching means (5) is pulled, the door (4) does not fall abruptly but is only opened partially. Thus, after the washing process is completed, while the door (4) is provided to be opened partially for discharging the steam, harming of the user or the hinge by falling is prevented (Figure 1 and 2).

[0039] In an embodiment of the present invention, the door partial-opener mechanism (9) comprises a door partial-opener spring (15), mounted to the surface of the side wall (3) contacting the door (4) and a spring trigger (16) disposed to the end of the door partial-opener spring (15), the length of which changes by heating up when the electric current is supplied, opening the door (4) slightly, resuming its initial length by cooling down when the electric current is cut off and allowing the door (4) to be closed. The door (4), being released after the latching means (5) is pulled, opens slightly by means of the spring trigger (16) which lengthens due to heating. The spring trigger (16) kept heated by supplying electric current during the time period required for discharging steam determined by the producer, gets cold as the current is cut off, resuming its initial state. Thus, the door (4) closes again (Figure 2).

[0040] By means of the dishwasher (1) of the present invention, the door (4) is provided to be brought to openable condition after the washing process is finished by dislodging the latching means (5) from the clamp (6) with the actuator (7) without requiring user intervention. Thereafter, the door (4) is opened slightly by pushing of the door partial-opener mechanism (9) and effective drying is provided by discharging the steam remaining inside the body (2). Thus, performing high temperature drying process is not necessary. Moreover, safety of the door (4) is provided as a result of the electric line being interrupted upon dislodging of the latching means (5) from the clamp (6) and afterwards is prevented from falling by being opened slowly and partially by means of the door partial-opener mechanism (9).

[0041] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed above and a person skilled in the art can easily introduce different embodiments.

Claims

1. A dishwasher (1) comprising a body (2), side walls (3) that cover the side surfaces of the body (2), a door (4) providing access into the body (2), a latching means (5) borne to the body (2) such as to move and a clamp (6) situated on the door (4), which locks the door (4) when the latching means (5) is inserted therein, characterized b at least one actuator (7) with one end fixed to the body (2) and the other end fixed to the latching means (5), the length of which changes by heating up when an electric current is supplied and releasing the latching means (5) from the clamp (6) by pulling said latching means (5) towards the body (2).

2. A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 1, characterized by at least one traverse (8) hung between the side walls (3) at the upper portion of the body (2) and the actuator (7) with one end fixed on the traverse (8), the other end to the latching means (5).

3. A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the actuator (7) having a pin (10) that changes length by heating up when current is supplied to the actuator (7).

4. A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by the latching means (5) in the form of a plate, having a cavity (17) at the portion borne on the body (2) wherein the actuator (7, 107) is disposed.

5. A dishwasher (1) as in Claims 2 to 4, characterized by a motion transmitter with one end fixed to the latching means (5) such as to rotate, the other end to the actuator (7), mounted to the body (2) or the traverse (8) such as to rotate from a point closer to the actuator (7) than the latching means (5).

6. A dishwasher (1) as in Claims 2 to 5, characterized by at least one slot (11) situated on the vertical wall of the traverse (8) and a housing (13) mountable inside the slot (11), in the form of a closed box, having at least one aperture (12) on its surface facing the door (4) wherein the latching means (5) can pass, with the actuator (7) fixed on its inner wall.

7. A dishwasher (1) as in Claims 2 to 6, characterized by two actuators (107, 207), one (207) fixed to the latching means (5) and the other (107) fixed to the traverse (8), their pins (10) being in contact with one another, moving the latching means (5) away from the door (4) while the pins (10) push one another when heated.

8. A dishwasher (1) as in Claims 3 to 6, characterized by two actuators (107, 207), one (207) fixed to the latching means (5) and the other (107) fixed inside the housing (13), their pins (10) being in contact with one another, moving the latching means (5) away from the door (4) while the pins (10) push one another when heated.

9. A dishwasher (1) as in Claims 7 or 8, characterized by a shaft (14) disposed between the two actuators (107, 207), with one end mounted to the pin (10) of one and the other end to the pin (10) of the other.

10. A dishwasher (1) as in any one of the above Claims, characterized by a door partial-opener mechanism (9) disposed on the side wall (3), exerting force toward the door (4), separating the door (4) from the side wall (3) slightly after the latching means (5) is released from the clamp (6).

11. A dishwasher (1) as in Claim 10, characterized by the door partial-opener mechanism (9) having a door partial-opener spring (15) mounted to the surface of the side wall (3) contacting the door (4) and a spring trigger (16) disposed at the end of the door partial-opener spring (15), the length of which changes by heating up when the electric current is supplied, opening the door (4) slightly, resuming its initial length by cooling down when the electric current is cut off and allowing the door (4) to be closed.

Ansprüche

1. Geschirrspüler (1), umfassend einen Gehäusekörper (2), Seitenwände (3), die die Seitenflächen des Grundkörpers (2) abdecken, eine Tür (4), die Zugriff auf das Innere des Gehäusekörpers (2) bietet, ein Arretierungsmittel (5), das vom Grundkörper (2) beweglich getragen wird, und eine Klammer (6), die an der Tür (4) angeordnet ist und die Tür (4) verschließt, wenn das Arretierungsmittel (5) darin eingeführt wird, gekennzeichnet durch wenigstens ein Stellglied (7), dessen eines Ende am Grundkörper (2) befestigt ist und dessen andere Ende am Arretierungsmittel (5) befestigt ist und dessen Länge sich durch Erwärmen ändert, wenn ein elektrischer Strom zugeführt wird und das Arretierungsmittel (5) aus der Klammer (6) löst, indem das Arretierungsmittel (5) zum Grundkörper (2) hin gezogen wird.

2. Geschirrspüler (1) nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch wenigstens einen Querträger (8), der zwischen den Seitenwänden (3) am oberen Abschnitt des Grundkörpers (2) aufgehängt ist, wobei das Stellglied (7) mit einem Ende am Querträger (8) befestigt ist und mit dem anderen Ende am Arretierungsmittel (5).

3. Geschirrspüler (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Stellglied (7) einen Stift (10) aufweist, dessen Länge sich durch Erwärmen verändert, wenn dem Stellglied (7) Strom zugeführt wird.

4. Geschirrspüler (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Arretierungsmittel (5) die Form einer Platte aufweist, die einen Hohlraum (17) an dem vom Grundkörper (2) getragenen Abschnitt aufweist, in dem das Stellglied (7, 107) angeordnet ist.

5. Geschirrspüler (1) nach den Ansprüchen 2 bis 4, gekennzeichnet durch einen Bewegungssender, dessen eines Ende drehend am Arretierungsmittel (5) befestigt ist und dessen anderes Ende am Stellglied (7) befestigt ist und der derart am Grundkörper (2) oder dem Querträger (8) angebracht ist, dass er sich von einer Position näher zum Stellglied (7) als zum Arretierungsmittel (5) aus dreht.

6. Geschirrspüler (1) nach den Ansprüchen 2 bis 5, gekennzeichnet durch wenigstens einen Schlitz (11), der an der vertikalen Wand des Querträgers (8) angeordnet ist, und ein Gehäuse (13), das in dem Schlitz (11) anbringbar ist, in Form eines geschlossenen Kastens mit wenigstens einer Öffnung (12) an seiner Oberfläche, die der Tür (4) zugewandt ist und in die das Arretierungsmittel (5) eintreten kann, wobei das Stellglied (7) an seiner Innenwand befestigt ist.

7. Geschirrspüler (1) nach den Ansprüchen 2 bis 6, gekennzeichnet durch zwei Stellglieder (107, 207), von denen eines (207) am Arretierungsmittel (5) befestigt ist und das andere (107) am Querträger (8) befestigt ist, wobei ihre Stifte (10) miteinander in Kontakt stehen und das Arretierungsmittel (5) von der Tür (4) fort bewegen, wenn die Stifte (10) bei Erwärmung gegeneinander drücken.

8. Geschirrspüler (1) nach den Ansprüchen 3 bis 6, gekennzeichnet durch zwei Stellglieder (107, 207), von denen eines (207) am Arretierungsmittel (5) befestigt ist und das andere (107) im Gehäuse (13) befestigt ist, wobei ihre Stifte (10) miteinander in Kontakt stehen und das Arretierungsmittel (5) von der Tür (4) fort bewegen, wenn die Stifte (10) bei Erwärmung gegeneinander drücken.

9. Geschirrspüler (1) nach den Ansprüchen 7 oder 8, gekennzeichnet durch eine Welle (14), die zwischen den zwei Stellgliedern (107, 207) angeordnet ist und deren eines Ende am Stift (10) von dem einen und deren anderes Ende am Stift (10) des anderen angebracht ist.

10. Geschirrspüler (1) nach einem der vorangehenden Ansprüche, gekennzeichnet durch einen Türteilöffnungsmechanismus (9), der an der Seitenwand (3) angeordnet ist und eine Kraft in Richtung der Tür (4) ausübt und die Tür (4) von geringfügig von der Seitenwand (3) trennt, wenn das Arretierungsmittel (5) aus der Klammer (6) gelöst wurde.

11. Geschirrspüler (1) nach Anspruch 10, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass der Türteilöffnungsmechanismus (9) eine Türteilöffnugnsfeder (15) aufweist, die an der Fläche der Seitenwand (3) angebracht ist, die in Kontakt mit der Tür (4) steht, und einen Federauslöser (16), der am Ende der Türteilöffnugnsfeder (15) angeordnet ist und dessen Länge sich bei Erwärmen ändert, wenn der elektrische Strom zugeführt wird, wodurch sich die Tür (4) geringfügig öffnet, und der durch Abkühlen seine ursprüngliche Länge zurückerlangt, wenn der elektrische Strom unterbrochen wird, so dass sich die Tür (4) schließen kann.

Revendications

1. Un lave-vaisselle (1) comprenant un corps (2), des parois latérales (3) qui couvrent les surfaces latérales du corps (2), une porte (4) permettant l'accès dans le corps (2), un moyen de verrouillage (5) placé sur le corps (2) de manière mobile et une pièce de serrage (6) située sur la porte (4) qui verrouille la porte (4) lorsque le moyen de verrouillage (5) y est inséré, caractérisé par au moins un actionneur (7) dont une extrémité est fixée au corps (2) et l'autre extrémité est fixée au moyen de verrouillage (5), dont la longueur change par chauffage lorsqu'un courant électrique est appliqué et qui lâche le moyen de verrouillage (5) de la pièce de serrage (6) en tirant ledit moyen de verrouillage (5) vers le corps (2).

2. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon la Revendication 1, caractérisé par au moins une traverse (8) suspendue entre les parois latérales (3) à la partie supérieure du corps (2) et l'actionneur (7) dont une extrémité est fixée à la traverse (8) et l'autre extrémité est fixée au moyen de verrouillage (5).

3. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par l'actionneur (7) ayant une goupille (10) dont la longueur change par chauffage lorsque le courant est appliqué à l'actionneur (7).

4. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par le moyen de verrouillage (5) en forme d'une plaque, ayant une cavité (17) à la partie supportée par le corps (2) dans laquelle l'actionneur (7, 107) est disposé.

5. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon les revendications de 2 à 4, caractérisé par un transmetteur de mouvement dont une extrémité est fixée au moyen de verrouillage (5) de manière rotative et l'autre extrémité est fixée à l'actionneur (7), qui est monté sur le corps (2) ou la traverse (8) de manière à tourner à un point plus proche de l'actionneur (7) que le moyen de verrouillage (5).

6. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon les revendications de 2 à 5, caractérisé par au moins une fente (11) située sur la paroi verticale de la traverse (8) et un logement (13) qui peut être monté dans la fente (11), en forme d'une boîte fermée, ayant au moins une ouverture (12) sur sa surface faisant face à la porte (4), à travers laquelle le moyen de verrouillage (5) peut passer, avec l'actionneur (7) fixé sur sa paroi interne.

7. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon les revendications de 2 à 6, caractérisé par deux actionneurs (107, 207), dont l'un (207) est fixé au moyen de verrouillage (5) et l'autre (107) est fixé à la traverse (8), leurs goupilles (10) étant en contact l'une avec l'autre, éloignant le moyen de verrouillage (5) de la porte (4) tandis que les goupilles (10) poussent l'une l'autre lorsqu'elles sont chauffées.

8. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon les revendications de 3 à 6, caractérisé par deux actionneurs (107, 207), dont l'un (207) est fixé au moyen de verrouillage (5) et l'autre (107) est fixé à l'intérieur du logement (13), leurs goupilles (10) étant en contact l'une avec l'autre, éloignant le moyen de verrouillage (5) de la porte (4) tandis que les goupilles (10) poussent l'une l'autre lorsqu'elles sont chauffées.

9. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon les Revendications 7 ou 8, caractérisé par un arbre (14) disposé entre les deux actionneurs (107, 207), dont une extrémité est montée à la goupille (10) de l'un de ceux-ci et l'autre extrémité est montée à la goupille (10) de l'autre.

10. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, caractérisé par un mécanisme d'entrouverture de porte (9) disposé sur la paroi latérale (3), qui applique une force vers la porte (4) et qui sépare la porte (4) de la paroi latérale (3) légèrement après que le moyen de verrouillage (5) est libéré de la pièce de serrage (6).

11. Un lave-vaisselle (1) selon la Revendication 10, caractérisé par le mécanisme d'entrouverture de porte (9) ayant un ressort d'entrouverture de porte (15) monté sur la surface de la paroi latérale (3) en contact avec la porte (4) et un déclic de ressort (16) disposé à l'extrémité du ressort d'entrouverture de porte (15), dont la longueur change par chauffage lorsque le courant électrique est appliqué, ouvrant la porte (4) légèrement, reprenant sa longueur initiale en refroidissant lorsque le courant électrique est coupé et permettant à la porte (4) d'être fermée.

Drawing