阅读说明：本技术 电气家用设备 (Electrical household appliance ) 是由 多米尼克·瓦尔茨 任少江 乔治·施比瑟尔 阿尔伯特·迪恩贝尔格 于 2021-05-08 设计创作，主要内容包括：电气家用设备,包括：设备主体,该设备主体具有到可用腔室的访问开口,可用腔室形成在在设备主体内,以及可移动地安装在设备主体上的门,并且所述门在打开位置释放访问开口并且在关闭位置关闭访问开口。电气家用设备还包括用于将门保持为关闭在关闭位置的门闩,以及用于打开关闭的门的门开启器,其在结构上与所述门闩分离。门开启器包括可移位地布置在设备主体和门中的一个上的第一耦接结构、用于驱动第一耦接结构的可电控的驱动单元,以及布置在设备主体和门的另一个上的第二耦接结构。第一和第二耦接结构根据本发明被配置为用于彼此形成传递推力和拉力但可释放的耦接接合。在一些实施例中,第二耦接结构被弹性地安装。(Electrical household appliance comprising: an apparatus body having an access opening to an available chamber formed in the apparatus body, and a door movably mounted on the apparatus body and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position. The electric home appliance further includes a latch for holding the door closed in the closed position, and a door opener for opening the closed door, which is structurally separated from the latch. The door opener includes a first coupling structure displaceably disposed on one of the apparatus body and the door, an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the first coupling structure, and a second coupling structure disposed on the other of the apparatus body and the door. The first and second coupling structures are according to the invention configured for forming a releasable coupling engagement transmitting a pushing force and a pulling force with each other. In some embodiments, the second coupling structure is resiliently mounted.)

1. An electric home appliance comprising

-a device body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the device body,

-a door movably mounted on the device body and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position,

-a latch for holding the door closed in the closed position,

-a door opener for opening a closed door, wherein the door opener comprises a first coupling structure displaceably arranged on one of the apparatus body and the door, an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the first coupling structure, and a second coupling structure arranged on the other of the apparatus body and the door, wherein the first and second coupling structures are configured for forming a releasable coupling engagement with each other transferring a pushing force and a pulling force.

2. The domestic apparatus of claim 1 wherein the door opener is transitionable by driving the first coupling structure from a first opener state in which the door is in the closed position and the first coupling structure is in coupling engagement with the second coupling structure to a second opener state in which the door is slightly opened and the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures is maintained, wherein the door opener is transitionable back to the first opener state after being transitioned to the second opener state by again driving the first coupling structure while maintaining the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures.

3. The domestic apparatus of claim 2 wherein a transition of the door opener from the first opener state to the second opener state by actuation of the first coupling structure disconnects a force-based connection between the apparatus body and the door via the latch, wherein a return movement of the door opener from the second opener state to the first opener state by actuation of the first coupling structure while maintaining the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures reestablishes a force-based connection between the apparatus body and the door via the latch.

4. The domestic apparatus of claim 2 or 3 wherein, in the second opener state, the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures is releasable by a user pulling on the door.

5. The domestic apparatus of claim 4 wherein in the first opener state, the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures is also releasable by a user pulling on the door.

6. The household appliance according to any one of claims 2 to 5, comprising a sensor system for detecting a disconnection of the coupling engagement in the second opener state, wherein the drive unit is controlled in such a way that, depending on the detection of the disconnection of the coupling engagement in the second opener state, the first coupling structure is moved back in a direction towards a position occupied by the first coupling structure in the first opener state.

7. The household appliance according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second coupling structures can be brought into a coupling engagement transferring a pushing force and a pulling force only by moving the first and second coupling structures closer to each other, and the coupling engagement can be disengaged only by moving the first and second coupling structures away from each other.

8. The household appliance according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first and second coupling structures can be brought into a coupling engagement transferring a pushing force and a pulling force by being moved towards each other and overcoming a coupling resistance force based on a spring action, and the coupling engagement can be released by moving the first and second coupling structures away from each other and overcoming a coupling holding force based on a spring action.

9. The household appliance according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein one of the first and second coupling structures forms a coupling and the other of the first and second coupling structures forms two coupling arms which are elastically deflectable away from each other away from a relaxed position, wherein the coupling engagement can be established by relatively introducing the coupling between the coupling arms.

10. The household appliance according to claim 9, wherein the coupling arm is formed by a snap-in leg of a one-piece construction snap catch.

11. The domestic apparatus of any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the coupling engagement comprises a magnetic force based connection between the first and second coupling structures.

12. The domestic apparatus of any of claims 1 to 11 wherein the second coupling arrangement is resiliently mounted on the other of the apparatus body and the door.

13. A domestic apparatus as claimed in any of claims 1 to 12 wherein the door is pivotally mounted on the apparatus body about a pivot axis and the first or/and second coupling formations provide hinge or bending flexibility in a pivot plane orthogonal to the pivot axis.

14. Household appliance according to one of the claims 2 to 13, comprising a control unit controlling the drive unit, the control unit being arranged to control the drive unit in such a way that when the door opener is transferred from the second opener state to the first opener state maintaining a coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures, the first coupling structure is driven according to a motion profile comprising at least one temporary motion stop and/or at least one temporary motion direction reversal after leaving the second opener state and before reaching the first opener state.

15. A domestic apparatus according to claim 14 wherein the position along the drive path of the first coupling arrangement at which the movement stops and/or the position along the drive path of the first coupling arrangement at which the direction of movement reverses is predetermined.

16. Household appliance according to claim 14, wherein said control unit is arranged to perform a monitoring function of said door opener during a transition of said door opener from said second opener state to said first opener state and to temporarily stop the movement of said first coupling structure and/or temporarily reverse the direction of movement in dependence of said monitoring function detecting that a predetermined condition is fulfilled.

17. The domestic apparatus of claim 16 wherein the drive unit comprises an electric drive motor and the monitoring function comprises monitoring current consumption of the electric drive motor.

18. An electric home appliance comprising

-a device body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the device body,

-a door movably mounted on the device body and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position,

-a latch for holding the door closed in the closed position,

-a door opener for opening a closed door, wherein the door opener comprises on one of the apparatus body and the door a displaceably arranged thrust transmitting body and an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the thrust transmitting body, wherein the door opener has on the other of the apparatus body and the door a contact structure for thrust-transmitting cooperation with the thrust transmitting body, wherein the contact structure is resiliently mounted on the other of the apparatus body and the door.

19. An electric home appliance comprising

-a device body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the device body,

-a door mounted on the device body so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position.

A latch for holding the door closed in a closed position,

-a door opener for opening a closed door, wherein the door opener comprises on one of the apparatus body and the door a displaceably arranged thrust transmitting body and an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the thrust transmitting body, wherein the door opener has on the other of the apparatus body and the door a contact structure for thrust transmitting cooperation with the thrust transmitting body, wherein the thrust transmitting body or/and the contact structure provides articulation or bending flexibility in a pivot plane orthogonal to the pivot axis.

20. An electric home appliance comprising

-a device body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the device body,

-a door movably mounted on the device body and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position,

-a door opener for opening a closed door, wherein the door opener comprises an opener component adjustably provided on one of the apparatus body and the door, and an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the opener component, by driving which the door opener can be transferred from a first opener state in which the door is in a closed position to a second opener state in which the door is slightly opened, and after being transferred to the second opener state can be transferred back to the first opener state by driving the opener component again,

wherein the drive unit is controlled such that, upon transfer of the door opener from the second opener state to the first opener state, the opener component can be driven according to a motion profile comprising at least one temporary motion stop and/or at least one temporary motion direction reversal after leaving the second opener state and before reaching the first opener state.

21. The domestic apparatus of claim 20 comprising a latch for holding a closed door closed, wherein the transition of the door opener from the first opener state to the second opener state by driving the opener component has no effect on the force-based connection between the apparatus body and door by the latch.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an electric household appliance equipped with a door for closing an access opening to an available chamber of the electric household appliance. In particular, the invention relates to an electric household appliance equipped with a door opener for opening the door without user intervention, for example after an operating program of the electric household appliance is run.

Background

Many electric household appliances, such as washing machines, dishwashers, tumble dryers, microwave ovens, roaster ovens, and the like, have doors that may be held in a closed position by latches. In the closed position of the door, the access opening to the available compartment of the electric household appliance is closed. In the case of washing machines and tumble dryers, the available chamber is a clothes cleaning chamber into which the clothes to be cleaned or dried are introduced, in the case of dishwashers it is a dishwashing chamber in which the dishes to be cleaned are placed, and in the case of ovens (microwave, baking) it is a cooking chamber in which the articles to be heated or cooked are placed. At least in some of these types of electric household appliances, it is desirable at the end of the program run of the operating program to automatically open the door at least slightly, so that, for example in the case of a washing machine, a drum dryer or a dishwasher, moisture or hot steam can be discharged from the appliance more quickly. In the prior art, various mechanisms for automatically opening the door have been proposed in this regard. In WO 2015/0711157 a1, the pusher is driven forward, which pushes the door with sufficient force to overcome the closing holding force of the latch. The mechanism disclosed in EP 2210547 a1 functions in a similar manner. EP 1733675 a2 and WO2011/003714 a1 additionally disclose mechanisms specifically for dishwashers, in which a lock stirrup (Schlie β bull) as part of a conventional door latch can be moved forward and backward by a suitable drive, so that the door can be opened slightly when the door latch is closed. So that a force-based connection via the bolt persists.

Disclosure of Invention

The problem behind the invention is to provide an electric household appliance with an automatic door opening function, in which the mechanism responsible for the door opening function also meets the requirement for automatic door re-closing even after the force-based connection by the door latch has been separated.

In order to solve this problem, the present invention provides an electric home appliance including: an apparatus body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the apparatus body; a door movably mounted on the apparatus body and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position; a door latch for holding the door closed in the closed position; and a door opener for opening the closed door. The door opener has a first coupling structure and a second coupling structure. A first coupling structure is displaceably arranged on one of the apparatus body and the door, wherein there is an electrically controllable drive unit associated with the first coupling structure for driving the first coupling structure. A second coupling structure is disposed on the other of the device body and the door. The two coupling structures are configured for entering into a coupling engagement with each other that transmits pushing and pulling forces but is releasable.

In the solution according to the invention, the door opener is a mechanism that is provided in addition to the door bolt and is formed by separate (i.e. separate) parts from the parts of the door bolt that are in engagement with each other for keeping them closed when the door is closed. In some embodiments, the door opener is configured as a component structurally separate from the door latch, so that the door opener and the door latch can be installed in the household appliance independently of one another and, if desired, removed again independently of one another. However, it is not excluded within the scope of the present disclosure to integrate the mechanical and/or electromechanical components of the door opener and the door latch in a common structural unit, which can be mounted as such on the door or the device body. Even if such structural integration is established, the latch and the door opener continue to establish separate force transmission paths to transmit the locking holding force of the latch and the opening force of the door opener between the door and the apparatus body of the home appliance. The latch may be of a conventional type and upon closure of the door, a force-based connection is established which holds the door in its closed position. The bolt may be, for example, a so-called draw bolt or push-pull bolt, wherein the bolt can be brought into a closed state by closing a door (the user pushes the opened door in the direction towards its closed position), from which closed state the door can be opened simply by pulling the door (i.e. pulling the door open), and the bolt is transferred from its closed state into an open state.

The door opener allows a force-based connection to be established between the door and the apparatus body while almost avoiding the latch (that is, while bypassing/bypassing a force transmission path defined by the latch for transmitting the locking force between the door and the apparatus body). To this end, the first and second coupling structures are configured in such a way that they can be brought into a coupling engagement which allows both a pushing force and a pulling force to be transmitted between the first and second coupling structures. This allows moving the door in a controlled manner in both directions, that is to say in the closing direction and in the opening direction, when said coupling engagement is present by corresponding actuation of the drive unit. In particular, said coupling engagement transmitting the pushing and pulling forces allows the door to be closed again after it has been slightly opened for the purpose of evacuating said usable chamber. Thus, in some embodiments it is arranged to: by driving the first coupling structure, the door opener is transferable from a first opener state, in which the door is in the closed position and the first coupling structure is in coupling engagement with the second coupling structure, to a second opener state, in which the door is slightly opened and the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures is maintained, and by driving the first coupling structure again while maintaining the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures, the door opener is transferable back to the first opener state after being transferred to the second opener state.

The displaceability of the first coupling structure is, for example, a linear displaceability, wherein the first coupling structure can be moved linearly back and forth between a relatively retracted position and a relatively advanced position. In the first opener state, the first coupling structure may be in its relatively retracted position. The first coupling structure may then occupy said relatively forwardly extending position when the door opener is in its second opener state. At least in the relatively forwardly projecting position, the first coupling structure may project from an equipment part (equipment body or door) on which it is arranged. In some embodiments, it may be provided that the first coupling structure also protrudes from the relevant apparatus part in the relatively retracted position. However, it may alternatively be provided that the first coupling structure, at least in the relatively retracted position, is completely recessed in the relevant equipment part and does not protrude therefrom. It should be understood that instead of a linear displaceability of the first coupling structure, in principle also further movement patterns, such as for example pivotability, are conceivable.

In some embodiments, in the second opener state, the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures may be released by a user pulling on the door. In such an embodiment it may also be provided that in the first opener state the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures may also be released by a user pulling on the door.

It may be that in the second opener state the user tries to open the door completely by hand. To do this, he must release the coupling engagement between the two coupling structures, for example by pulling the door with sufficient force. After fully opening the door, it is advantageous to move the first coupling structure back to the position it occupied in the first opener state. This may be advantageous, in particular when in the second opener state the first coupling structure protrudes from the device body or from the door (depending on which device component the first coupling structure is arranged on), while in the first opener state the first coupling structure is retracted sufficiently into the relevant device component so that it does not pose any risk of injury to the user, nor is it itself at risk of being damaged by the user's blow. Hence, some embodiments provide a sensor system for detecting a disconnection of the coupling engagement in the second opener state, wherein the drive unit is controlled in such a way that, in dependence of the detection of the disconnection of the coupling engagement in the second opener state, the first coupling structure is moved back in a direction towards a position occupied by the first coupling structure in the first opener state.

In some embodiments, the transition of the door opener from the first opener state to the second opener state by driving the first coupling structure disconnects a force-based connection between the device body and the door via the latch, and the return movement of the door opener from the second opener state to the first opener state by driving the first coupling structure while maintaining the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures reestablishes the force-based connection between the device body and the door via the latch.

According to some embodiments, the first and second coupling structures may be brought into a coupling engagement transmitting a pushing force and a pulling force only by moving the first and second coupling structures towards each other, and the coupling engagement may be released only by moving the first and second coupling structures away from each other.

In some embodiments, the first and second coupling structures can be brought into a coupling engagement that transmits a pushing force and a pulling force by moving towards each other and overcoming a coupling resistance based on a spring action. In these embodiments, the coupling engagement can be released again by moving the first and second coupling structures away from each other and overcoming the coupling retention force based on the spring action.

In some embodiments, one of the first and second coupling structures forms a coupling and the other of the first and second coupling structures forms two connecting arms that are resiliently deflectable away from each other away from a relaxed position (Ruhestellung). Whereby said coupling engagement can be established by introducing the coupling head relatively between said coupling arms.

A structurally simple form of the second coupling structure is obtained in that the coupling arms are formed by snap legs formed as one-piece snap catches.

In some embodiments, the transfer of the pushing or/and pulling forces between the two coupling structures is ensured by interlocking or/and frictional coupling of the two coupling structures. For example, to transmit the pushing force, the coupling engagement may comprise a simple mechanical (i.e. physical) stop coupling between the two coupling structures. In some embodiments, instead of or in addition to the interlocking or/and frictional coupling, the coupling engagement comprises a magnetic force based connection between the first and second coupling structures in the coupled engagement state. The magnetic force-based connection can be used in particular to ensure the transmission of tensile forces between the two coupling structures. The magnetic-based connection can thus be strong enough to overcome the resistance which is exerted by the door seal or/and by the bolt of the household appliance and which has to be overcome in order to completely close the door (that is to say to transfer it into the closed position).

In embodiments with a magnetic force based connection between the first and second coupling structures, for example, one of the two coupling structures may be formed with a permanent magnet and the other of the two coupling structures may be formed with a metal counterpart that is capable of being attracted by the permanent magnet. The metallic counterpart may for example be an iron body or a body with another ferromagnetic material.

In order to protect the drive unit and optionally the gear assembly arranged between the drive unit and the first coupling structure from mechanical shocks, it is provided in some embodiments that the second coupling structure is resiliently mounted on the other of the apparatus body and the door. In this case, no slip clutch may be used between the first coupling structure and the drive unit.

In some embodiments where the door is mounted on the apparatus body to pivot about a pivot axis, the first and/or second coupling structures provide articulation and/or bending flexibility in a pivot plane perpendicular to the pivot axis. Due to the pivotability of the door, the coupling structure arranged on the door moves along an arc of a circle when the door moves. When the door moves, the relative orientation of the two coupling structures with respect to each other may change accordingly. This may be at least partially counteracted by a hinged or bending flexibility of at least one of the two coupling structures. Thus, the quality of the coupling engagement can be maintained regardless of the pivoting position of the door.

In some embodiments, the first coupling structure is disposed on the apparatus body together with the driving unit, and the second coupling structure is disposed on the door. It is to be understood that in other embodiments, an inverse arrangement is conceivable, according to which the first coupling structure and the drive unit are arranged on the door and the second coupling structure is arranged on the device body.

In some embodiments, the drive motor is an electric motor, in particular an electric motor that can be driven in opposite rotational directions. The motor may be combined with the first coupling structure and a reduction gear arranged in a force transmission path between the motor and the first coupling structure to form an opener module, which may be pre-assembled as a structural unit, wherein the opener module may be mounted on a superior component of the household appliance, such as an appliance body.

Some embodiments comprise a control unit controlling the drive unit, the control unit being arranged to control the drive unit in such a way that when the door opener is transferred from the second opener state to the first opener state while maintaining the coupling engagement between the first and second coupling structures, the first coupling structure is driven according to a motion profile comprising at least one temporary motion stop and/or at least one temporary motion direction reversal after leaving the second opener state and before reaching the first opener state. The position along the drive path of the first coupling structure at which the movement stops and/or the position along the drive path of the first coupling structure at which the direction of movement reverses may be predetermined. Alternatively or additionally, the control unit may be arranged to perform a monitoring function of the door opener during the transition of the door opener from the second opener state to the first opener state and to temporarily stop the movement of the first coupling structure and/or temporarily reverse the direction of movement in dependence of the monitoring function detecting that a predetermined condition is fulfilled. For example, where the drive unit comprises an electric drive motor, the monitoring function comprises monitoring the current consumption of the drive motor.

The aspect of the elastic mounting of the contact structure absorbing the pushing (which is intended and configured for the pushing force transmitting cooperation with the movably driven pushing force transmitting body of the door opener, which is separate from the door latch), is also considered to be patentable independently, that is to say independently of the two coupling structures configured for both pushing force transmission and pulling force transmission. Thus, according to another aspect, the present invention provides an electric household appliance comprising: an apparatus body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the apparatus body; a door movably mounted on the apparatus body and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position; a door latch for holding the door closed in the closed position; and a door opener for opening a closed door, the door opener being structurally separated from the door latch, wherein the door opener comprises a displaceably arranged thrust transmitting body and an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the thrust transmitting body on one of the apparatus body and the door, wherein the door opener has a contact structure on the other of the apparatus body and the door for thrust-transmitting cooperation with the thrust transmitting body, wherein the contact structure is resiliently mounted on the other of the apparatus body and the door.

The aspect of the hinge or bending flexibility of at least one of the two coupling structures is also considered to be independently patentable. Accordingly, the present invention also provides an electric household appliance comprising: an apparatus body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the apparatus body; a door that is mounted on the apparatus main body so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis, and that releases the access opening in an open position and closes the access opening in a closed position; a door latch for holding the door closed in the closed position; and a door opener for opening the closed door, the door opener being structurally separated from the door latch. The door opener comprises on one of the apparatus body and the door a displaceably arranged thrust transmitting body and an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the thrust transmitting body. The door opener has a contact structure on the other of the apparatus body and the door for thrust-transmitting cooperation with a thrust-transmitting body. The thrust transmitting body or/and the contact structure provides articulation or bending flexibility in a pivot plane orthogonal to the pivot axis.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides an electric home appliance comprising: an apparatus body having an access opening to an available chamber formed within the apparatus body; a door movably mounted on the apparatus body and releasing the access opening in an open position and closing the access opening in a closed position; a door opener for opening a closed door, wherein the door opener comprises an opener component adjustably provided on one of the apparatus body and the door, and an electrically controllable drive unit for driving the opener component, by driving which the door opener can be transferred from a first opener state in which the door is in a closed position to a second opener state in which the door is slightly opened, and after being transferred to the second opener state can be transferred back to the first opener state by driving the opener component again, wherein the drive unit is controlled such that, upon transferring the door opener from the second opener state to the first opener state, the opener component can be driven according to a motion profile, which is comprised after leaving the second opener state and after reaching the first opener state At least one temporary movement stop and/or at least one temporary reversal of the direction of movement before the state.

A temporary stopping of the movement and/or a temporary reversal of the direction of movement of the opener components may help to avoid finger injuries if the user or child still leaves fingers in the gap (which is formed between the door and the device body in the first opener state) when the door starts to close (i.e. the transition of the door opener from the second opener state to the first opener state). The cessation of motion or reversal of motion direction may give the user or child the necessary time to pull the finger out of the gap. In certain embodiments, the opener component is formed by the first coupling structure already described. However, this aspect of the invention may alternatively be used in embodiments in which the door opener operates without two coupling structures that are capable of forming a releasable, two-way force-transmitting engagement with each other.

For example, the opener component may be located in a force transmission path of a door latch for holding the door closed and comprising two locking structures which form a mutual locking engagement when the door is closed, one of the two locking structures being arranged on the door. The other is disposed on the apparatus body. Such a locking structure can be formed, for example, by a locking stirrup (Schlie β bull) and a rotary gripper which, when the door is closed, catches the locking stirrup in a gripper jaw defined by two jaws, as is shown and described, for example, in DE 19837248 a 1. For example, the opener component may form one of the locking structures or be kinematically coupled thereto, so that the door can be opened by a gap by driving the opener component without the force-based connection via the bolt being released. Thus, the locking structure of the door latch may remain unchanged in the interlocking engagement when the opener component is driven to switch the door opener to the second opener state. Thus, in such embodiments, the opener component need not necessarily be a structurally separate component from the latch; alternatively, the opener component and one locking structure may be formed by one and the same component. Thus, in its broadest understanding, the term "door opener" in the context of the present disclosure therefore mainly refers to a function of a household appliance that is separate from the locking function of a door latch, not necessarily a mechanically independent component that is structurally completely separate from such a door latch.

The invention is not only applicable but is particularly applicable to electric household appliances having a door arranged on the front side of the appliance, as is often the case in front-loading washing machines or in tumble dryers, and in dishwashers. The term door should be interpreted broadly within the scope of the present disclosure and includes any covering element that allows the access opening to the available chamber provided within the electrical household appliance to be closed when required. The term door of the present disclosure therefore covers not only a door on the front side, which is mounted on the appliance body so as to be pivotable about a vertical pivot axis, but also, for example, a door or flap which is mounted on the appliance body so as to be pivotable about a horizontal pivot axis, as is the case, for example, in a top-loading washing machine or as is customary in a dishwasher.

Drawings

The invention will be further explained with reference to the drawings, in which:

figure 1 schematically shows a front-loading domestic washing machine,

fig. 2a is a front lateral view of a front side of a front loading type washing machine according to an exemplary embodiment, in which a door is half-opened,

fig. 2b shows the washing machine of fig. 2a, seen from the rear, transversely, with the door also half-open, with the transverse casing of the body of the washing machine omitted,

figure 3a is a perspective view of a motor driven opener module of the washing machine of figures 2a, 2b according to an exemplary embodiment,

fig. 3b shows the opener module of fig. 3a in another perspective view, with the gear housing of the reduction gear of the opener module partly omitted,

fig. 4a is a perspective view of a coupling unit of the washing machine of fig. 2a, 2b, which cooperates with the opener module of fig. 3a, 3b according to an exemplary embodiment,

figure 4b is a cross-section through the coupling unit of figure 4a,

fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the cooperation of the opener module of fig. 3a, 3b with the coupling unit of fig. 4a, 4b in order to position the door of the washing machine of fig. 2a, 2b in a slightly opened position,

fig. 6a shows in a perspective view an opener module according to another exemplary embodiment, in a retracted state of the coupling joint of the opener module,

figure 6b shows the opener module of figure 6a in a forward extended state of the coupling,

fig. 7 shows a detail of a door of a dishwasher according to an exemplary embodiment, the door having a coupling unit fitted therein for cooperating with the opener module of fig. 6a, 6b,

fig. 8 shows a coupling engagement between the coupling head of the opener module of fig. 6a, 6b and the coupling unit of fig. 7 in a slightly opened position of the door.

Detailed Description

Reference will first be made to fig. 1. A washing machine appliance body (appliance body) 12, indicated as a whole with reference numeral 10, is shown in highly schematic form, in which a washing chamber is formed, which is not shown in greater detail in fig. 1, for receiving laundry to be cleaned. The washing chamber may be formed in a manner known per se in the form of a washing drum rotatably accommodated in a liquid container accommodated inside a main body casing 14, which main body casing 14 forms the visible outer surface of the machine body 12. In the front wall 16 of the body 12, an access opening 18 to the washing chamber is formed. A door 20, typically in the form of a bullseye door, is mounted on the body 12 so as to be pivotable about a vertical pivot axis and allow the access opening 18 to be closed. The access opening 18 is only shown by the dashed line in fig. 1, since it is hidden by the door 20, the door 20 being shown closed. Although not shown in more detail in fig. 1, in a washing machine of the type shown in fig. 1, a generally beaded (wultstartigie) door seal is mounted on the front wall 16 around the access opening 18, which seal is compressed when the door 20 is closed, so that when the door 20 is closed, the seal seals the washing compartment from the outside so that it is watertight.

In order to keep the door 20 closed after it has been brought into the closed position, in which the access opening 18 is closed, the washing machine 10 is equipped with a door latch 22. The latch 22 is of the type of a pull latch (type eines alfrei β verserwusses), for example, which allows a user to open the closed door 20 simply by pulling the door. In some embodiments, the user must pull door 20 with sufficient force to overcome the closing holding force of door latch 22. The closing retention force of the bolt 22 is based, for example, on at least one closing spring (not shown in greater detail), which relaxes when the door 20 is closed and has to be tensioned again (to a greater extent) in order to open the bolt 22. The relaxation of the closing spring when the door 20 is closed has the effect of pulling the door 20 closed, by which the door 20 is pulled more tightly towards the body 12 against the resistance of the mentioned door seal. Such a bolt (Aufrei. beta. Verschl. she) is also known as a push-pull bolt (Druck-Zieh-Verschl. she).

Structurally separate from the door latch 22, the washing machine 10 includes an electronically controlled door opener 24 that provides functionality for automatically opening the door 20. Automatic here means that the user does not have to pull or push the door 20 with his own hand. Activation of the door opener 24 may be under program control; it is also contemplated that the user may activate the door opener 24 by pushing an operating button as desired. The door opener 24 is formed of a member separate from that of the door latch 22. In fig. 1, the door latch 22 and the door opener 24 are shown located in close proximity to each other, wherein they are arranged substantially diametrically opposite a hinge point at which a pivot hinge (not shown in more detail) of the door 20 is provided, by means of which the door 20 is mounted on the body 12. This pattern of arrangement of the door latch 22 and the door opener 24 is, of course, purely exemplary and not limiting. An example of an alternative position of the door opener 24 is shown at 24' of fig. 1, where the position of the door opener is arranged to be angularly offset relative to the bolt 22 by approximately a quarter of a circle.

The door opener 24 is electrically controlled by a control unit, shown at 26, of the washing machine 10. For example, at the end of the operational run of the washing machine 10, the control unit 26 controls the door opener 24 under program control to slightly open the door 20 so that moist or hot steam can escape the washing chamber and the laundry in the washing chamber does not become musty. The size of the gap in which the door opener 24 opens the door 20 is defined and specified by the program of the control unit 26. Door opener 24 may establish its own bi-directional force-based connection between door 20 and body 12 independent of door latch 22. It not only allows the door 20 to be opened from its closed position to a defined slightly open position, but also allows the door 20 to be actively returned from said slightly open position to the closed position without the user needing to push the door for this purpose. Thus, the door opener 24 is able to automatically close the door 20 after it has previously opened the door 20 and brought it into a slightly open position. In the slightly open position, the force-based connection between door 20 and body 12 via latch 22 is separated, in other words, latch 22 is open. When opening the door 20, the door opener 24 must overcome a certain holding force (closing holding force) of the latch 22 that tries to keep the door 20 closed. Also when the door 20 is subsequently pulled closed from a slightly open position, the door opener 24 must overcome a certain resistance (closing resistance) of the bolt 22 against an attempt to close the door 20. Upon closing of the door 20 by the door opener 24, the door latch 22 is closed again, and the force-based connection between the door 20 and the body 12 via the door latch 22 is reestablished.

Fig. 2a to 5 show a first particular exemplary embodiment, wherein the same reference numerals as in fig. 1 have been used for the same components. Reference is made to the above comments relating to fig. 1 unless otherwise stated below.

Reference will first be made to fig. 2a and 2 b. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2a, 2b, the door latch 22 of fig. 1 is comprised of a latch assembly 28 mounted on the body 12 and a body facing lock stirrup 32 disposed on the rear side of the door 20, laterally outside of the bullseye window 30 (bullaumenfenster). The latch assembly 28 defines an access opening 34 into which the lock stirrup 32 enters when the door 20 is closed. The lock stirrup 32 has a stirrup bridge (B ü gelsteg)36, which is clamped by a clamp (not shown in greater detail here) when the door 20 is closed, which is contained in the latch assembly 28. For example, a door latch formed by the latch assembly 28 and lock stirrup 32 may be configured as shown and described in DE 19837248 a 1. The contents of the DE specification are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2a, 2b, the door opener 24 of fig. 1 is constituted by an opener module 38 mounted on the body 12 and a coupling unit 40 mounted on the door 20. The opener module 38 comprises a coupling 42, which coupling 42 forms a first coupling structure or opener component within the meaning of the present disclosure and is movable forwards and backwards in a linear direction, wherein, in the example shown, the direction of movement of the coupling 42 is substantially perpendicular to the wall plane of the front wall 16. The coupling unit 40 is configured to enter into a coupling engagement with the coupling 42 such that pushing and pulling forces can be transferred between the coupling 42 and the coupling unit 40. The possibility of a bidirectional force transmission between the coupling 42 and the coupling unit 40 makes it possible for the door opener 24 not only to open the door 20, but also to pull it closed again. Coupling 42 can therefore also be referred to as a thrust transmission body (Zugu bertragungsfunktion) with a tension transmission function)。

The coupling 42 enters the entry opening 44 of the coupling unit 40 and engages with a coupling catch (koppelklamer) contained in the coupling unit 40 and described in more detail below, which means that a coupling engagement between the coupling 42 and the coupling unit 40 is established. The displaceability of coupling 42 comprises a back-and-forth displaceability at least between a first head position and a second head position. The first head position corresponds to the closed position (first opener state) of the door 20 under the condition that the coupling engagement between the coupling head 42 and the coupling unit 40 has been established. Also in the coupled engaged condition of the coupling head 42 and the coupling unit 40, the second head position corresponds to the already mentioned slightly opened position of the door 20 (second opener state). In each of the first and second head positions, the coupling engagement between coupling 42 and coupling unit 40 can be released at any time by the user if the user pulls door 20 in the opening direction. Coupling 42 is thus slid out of the snap fit of the coupling clasp described above. In order to release the coupling engagement, the user must overcome a certain retention force of the door opener 24 (coupling retention force); the coupling retention force is based on the spring action of the coupling buckle. Conversely, in each of the first and second head positions, if the user moves the door 20 in the closing direction until the coupling 42 slides into the coupling unit 40 and is caught by the coupling catch, the coupling engagement between the coupling 42 and the coupling unit 40 can be established at any time by the user. In order to couple coupling 42 with coupling unit 40, the user will overcome a certain resistance (coupling resistance); the coupling resistance is also based on the spring action of the coupling catch.

The second head position is a position in which coupling 42-from the perspective of a user standing in front of washing machine 10-is pushed further forward than in the first head position. In some embodiments, at least in some cases in the second head position and also in the first head position, the coupling 42 may protrude from the front wall 16 of the body 12, as shown in fig. 2 a. In some embodiments, the coupling 42 may be retracted further beyond the first head position into a third head position in which the door 20 can be completely closed if the coupling 42 is not simultaneously brought into coupling engagement with the coupling unit 40. In such an embodiment, a signal from an electrically powered door switch housed in the door latch 22 (which serves as a detection device for identifying the closed state of the door 20) may cause the control unit 26 to activate the door opener 24 to move the coupling 42 forward out of the third head position and into the first head position. In such an embodiment, if the user wishes to close the door 20, he must only overcome the closing resistance of the bolt 22, not the coupling resistance of the door opener 24.

The opener module 38 is shown in fig. 3a, 3 b. It includes a motor 46 serving as a drive unit, a reduction gear 48, and a coupling 42 formed at a rod end of a rod body 52, the rod body 52 being engaged with a drive pinion (Abtriebsritzel)50 of the reduction gear 48. The opener module 38 is a component that can be pre-assembled and can be fixed on the machine body 12 in the pre-assembled component.

Reference will now be made to fig. 4a, 4b and 5. The coupling unit 40 comprises a coupling catch 54, which coupling catch 54 forms a second coupling structure within the meaning of the present disclosure, and in the example shown, two catch arms (spring legs) 56 are formed, which are resiliently deflectable away from each other and are connected together by a bridge region 58. The coupling buckle 54 is a one-piece component that may be made of a metal material or alternatively a plastic material. When the coupling engagement is established, the coupling 42 is driven between the free ends of the snap arms 56 and pushes them apart against the restoring spring force generated by the coupling snap 54 until finally the coupling 42 has been slid into the coupling snap 54 so far that the snap arms 56 engage around the coupling 42 on both sides and their free arms engage in a neck region 58 (fig. 3a) with a conical cross section of the shank 52 in a snap action, the neck region 58 being formed behind the coupling 42. Fig. 5 shows the coupling engagement between coupling 42 and coupling buckle 54. The door 20 is thus in a slightly open position.

The coupling unit 40 has a buckle housing ()60, the clasp housing 60 defining the access opening 44 and removably receiving a clasp carrier 62 therein, the clasp carrier 62 being cup-shaped in the illustrated example. The clasp carrier 62 is biased to an end position by a spring element 64, the spring element 64 being here a helical compression spring, which is also accommodated in the clasp housing 60. The buckle carrier 62 canFrom this end position, against the action of the spring element 64, is displaced into a displaced position deeper in the clasp housing 60. A coupling buckle 54 forming a contact structure for the coupling 42 within the meaning of the present disclosure, the fork being held on a buckle carrier 62; for example, it is a base member that is inserted for this purpose with its clasp arm 56 passing through the clasp carrier 62. Due to the resilient mounting of the catch carrier 62, the coupling catch 54 can be displaced backwards in a resilient manner, for example if the user tries to strongly close the door 20. This reduces the impact on the reduction gear 48 and the motor 46 of the opener module 38. The clasp housing 60 is formed with suitable mounting structure that allows the coupling unit 40 to be secured, particularly without screws, to a frame 66 (fig. 2b) of the door 20 that extends around the bullseye window 30. In the example shown, these mounting structures comprise a plurality of snap tongues 68 (fig. 4a) for inserting the coupling unit 40 in a snap action into seats (not shown in greater detail) for the coupling unit 40, which are formed in the frame 66.

The configuration of the coupling engagement, in which the catch arms 56 engage around the coupling 42 on both sides and project into the neck region 58, not only allows the door 20 to be pushed open by the coupling 42, but also allows the door 20 to be subsequently pulled closed again. The spring force of coupling clasp 54 is strong enough so that when door 20 is pulled closed, the closing resistance of door latch 22 and also the compression resistance of the door seal can be overcome without coupling 42 slipping out from between clasp arms 56 and losing coupling engagement with coupling clasp 54.

It must be considered that in the slightly open position of the door 20, the user or playing child intentionally or unintentionally extends a finger or the entire hand into the gap between the door 20 and the machine body 12. If in this case the control unit 26 actuates the door opener 24 in order to pull the door up again, without the user or child noticing this, painful hand injuries may result. To this end, the control unit 26 can be programmed such that, when the door 20 is closed, the return of the coupling 42 from the relatively forwardly projecting second head position to the relatively retracted first head position does not take place in the form of a single continuous movement stroke in the same movement direction, but rather the coupling 42 is inserted into at least one temporary movement stop and/or at least one temporary reversal of the movement direction is carried out before the coupling 42 reaches the first head position.

For example, coupling 42 may stop one or more brief movements without changing the direction of movement to a position where the remaining gap between door 20 and body 12 is still large enough to avoid finger injury, but it ensures that the user or child will be surprised and pull his hand out of the gap quickly.

The one or more stop positions may be predetermined and always accessible when the door 20 is closed, regardless of whether there is an object (e.g., a finger) in the gap. Alternatively, it is conceivable that the control unit 26 monitors the current consumption/power consumption (Stromaufnahme) of the motor 46 while the door 20 is being pulled up. An increase in power consumption may indicate the presence of an object in the gap that blocks the door 20 from being fully closed. As soon as the control unit 26 detects a significant increase in power consumption, it can temporarily stop the movement of the coupling 42 in the direction from the second head position to the first head position in order to have the opportunity to clear the blockage.

As an alternative or in addition to the temporary movement stop, the control unit 26 can temporarily reverse the direction of movement of the coupling 42 when the door 20 is closed, which either occurs by default or on condition that a jamming situation is detected, for example on the basis of the power consumption of the motor 46. For example, a possible movement pattern may be that the closing process starts with a movement of the coupling 42 in the closing direction, but after a part of the movement path until the first head position is reached, the coupling 42 swivels (possibly with a brief movement stop) and moves back slightly in the direction of the second head position or even to the second head position. This is intended to provide an opportunity to pull a finger out of the gap between the door 20 and the body 12. Subsequently, coupling 42 is moved again in the closing direction, either immediately to the first head position or before a temporary stop of movement is carried out at the same or another stop position and/or a temporary reversal of the direction of movement is carried out at the same or another reversal position.

The exemplary embodiments of fig. 6a, 6b, 7 and 8 relate, as another specific exemplary embodiment, to a door opener for automatically opening a door of a domestic dishwasher. The same or parts with the same effect are thus given the same numerals as in the previous figures, but with appended lower case letters. The foregoing comments are referred to again unless otherwise stated below.

The opener module 38a, which is shown in perspective in fig. 6a, 6b, of the door opener 24a, is configured for magnetic coupling with a coupling unit 40a arranged on the door 20 a. For this purpose, the coupling head 42a of the opener module 38a is equipped with a permanent magnet 70a, which permanent magnet 70a is capable of entering a magnetic-force-based connection with a metal body 72 of the coupling unit 40a, which metal body 72 is manufactured, for example, from a ferrous material. The magnetic force based connection allows the pulling force to be transmitted between the coupling 42a and the coupling unit 40a, so that, starting from the situation according to fig. 8, the door 20a can be pulled in from the slightly open position according to fig. 8 to the fully closed position (closed position) by pulling the coupling 42a back into the opener module 38 a. Thus, the magnetic force-based connection between the permanent magnet 70a and the metal body 72a is strong enough to compress a door seal (not shown in more detail) that acts between the door 20a and a dishwashing container (also not shown) of the dishwasher and seals the dishwashing compartment formed therein from the outside when the door 20a is closed. The strength of the magnetic-based connection is additionally sufficient to overcome the closing resistance exerted by the closing spring means of the latch (not shown in greater detail) when the door is pulled closed, the latch being structurally separated from the door opener 24a when the door 20a is pulled.

The door 20A is-as is conventional in domestic dishwashers-mounted on the dishwashing container in question so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis 74a, shown schematically in fig. 8. The pivot axis 74a extends generally horizontally and is located in the region of the dishwashing container near the floor, such that the door 20a can be pivoted downwardly from a substantially vertical position (in which the door 20a is closed), in a forward direction (from the perspective of a user standing in front of the dishwasher) into a substantially horizontal position in which the user has maximum possible access to the dishwashing compartment. Due to the pivotable mounting of the door 20a, the coupling unit 40a moves along a circular path together with the metal body 72a upon opening and closing of the door 20 a. In order not to impair the quality of the magnetic-force-based connection between the permanent magnet 70a and the metal body 72a, the coupling 42a in the example shown is held pivotably on the rod body 52a via a pivot hinge 76 a. Therefore, coupling 42a is able to perform a pivoting movement in the pivoting plane of door 20a with respect to lever body 52a and thus follow a curved path of coupling unit 40 a.

It should be understood that in a modified embodiment, coupling unit 40a may include permanent magnet 70a and metal body 72a may be included in coupling 42 a.

Fig. 6a shows coupling 42a in its first (retracted) head position. When door 20a is in its closed position, coupling 42a occupies this position. In this case, there may already be a mechanical stop contact between the coupling 42a and the coupling unit 40 a. Alternatively, it may be that there is still no physical contact between coupling 42a and coupling unit 40a when door 20a is closed and connecting head 42a is in the first head position. In the latter case, such a physical contact, which allows the pushing force to be transferred from coupling 42a to door 20a and thus allows the door to be opened, is established only when coupling 42a is moved forward in a direction towards the second head position according to fig. 6b, thus leaving said first head position according to fig. 6 a.

The door opener 24a further comprises a sensor 78a, which sensor 78a is suitably configured and positioned to identify whether the door 20a is still in the slightly opened position according to fig. 8 or has been opened further by the user in case the coupling 42a is applied (that is to say in the second head position corresponding to fig. 6 b). If the user has fully opened the door, the coupling 42a may be moved back to the opener module 38 a. This reduces the risk of the user hitting the protruding coupling 42a and thereby possibly injuring himself. It also reduces the risk of possible damage to the opener module 38 a. In the case of the exemplary embodiment of fig. 6a to 8, the sensor 78a is in the form of a hall sensor, for example, which is responsive to the magnetic field of the permanent magnet 70a fitted into the coupling 42 a. The sensor 78a is mounted on a printed circuit board 80a, the printed circuit board 80a being fitted into the door 20a as part of the coupling unit 40 a. The sensor signal generated by the sensor 78a is sent from the printed circuit board 80a to a control unit (not shown in more detail) which controls the operation of the opener module 38a in accordance with the sensor signal. In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 6a to 8, such a control unit may be arranged in the door 20 a. It should be appreciated that the control unit for the opener module 38a may alternatively be mounted within the dishwashing container.