Abstract:
A dishwasher includes a cleaning compartment having a front portion that can be closed by a door. The door is configured to pivot at a bottom section thereof around a horizontally running axis. An illuminating device is configured to illuminate at least one of the cleaning compartment and the front portion of the cleaning compartment. A control device switches the illuminating device on or off based on a opening position of the door. The control device includes a switching element that is actuated by a Bowden cable arranged on the door in order to compensate for the weight of the door.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims benefit to German Patent Application No. DE 10 2009 014 023.9, filed on Mar. 23, 2009, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
     FIELD 
     The invention relates to a dishwasher with a cleaning compartment whose front can be closed by a door that can pivot at its bottom section around a horizontally running axis, with a device for illuminating the cleaning compartment and/or the front portion of the cleaning compartment, and with a control device for switching the illuminating device on and/or off as a function of the closing position of the door. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Certain dishwashers with a device for illuminating the cleaning compartment and/or the front portion of the cleaning compartment are well known from the state of the art. This measure is intended to make it easier to load and unload dishes. In order to lower energy consumption, it is a known procedure for the illuminating device to only switch on when the door is open. For this purpose, the control devices used comprise microswitches that are actuated by the door. Moreover, approximation switches such as, for example, Hall sensors, are known that are actuated when the metal door is almost closed. These switches have the drawback that they are only actuated by a completely or at least almost completely closed door. If the door of the dishwasher is open by a small gap, as is commonly done, for example, at the end of the cleaning program in order to assist the drying, then the illuminating device remains switched on for a long time. This results in increased energy consumption. 
     German patent application DE 10 2005 028 449 A1 describes a motor-driven closing piston for a door closing mechanism. 
     German patent application DE 10 2004 023 509 A1 describes attachment of a tension spring and of deflection rollers to the housing of a dishwasher. 
     German patent application DE 10 2005 028 449 A1 describes an automatic door opening device. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an embodiment, the present invention provides a dishwasher including a cleaning compartment having a front portion that can be closed by a door. The door is configured to pivot at a bottom section thereof around a horizontally running axis. An illuminating device configured to illuminate at least one of the cleaning compartment and the front portion of the cleaning compartment. A control device switches the illuminating device on or off based on the opening position of the door. The control device includes a switching element that is actuated by a Bowden cable arranged on the door in order to compensate for the weight of the door. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       An embodiment of the invention is shown purely schematically in the drawings and is described in greater detail below. In the drawings: 
         FIG. 1  is a dishwasher with cleaning compartment illumination; 
         FIG. 2  is a view of the door of the dishwasher with a Bowden cable, deflection rollers and a switching element; and 
         FIG. 3   a ( 1 ) is a view illustrating the door. Bowden cable and switching element in position with the door closed; 
         FIG. 3   a ( 2 ) is a detail view of the switching element in the position of  FIG. 3   a ( 1 ); 
         FIG. 3   b ( 1 ) is a view illustrating the door, Bowden cable and switching element in another position; 
         FIG. 3   b ( 2 ) is a detail view of the switching element in the position of  FIG. 3   b ( 1 ); 
         FIG. 3   c ( 1 ) is a view illustrating the door, Bowden cable and switching element in yet another position; 
         FIG. 3   c ( 2 ) is a detail view of the switching element in the position of  FIG. 3   c ( 1 ); 
         FIG. 3   d ( 1 ) is a view illustrating the door cable and switching element in a position with the door open; and 
         FIG. 3   d ( 2 ) is a detail view of the switching element in the position of  FIG. 3   d ( 1 ). 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In an embodiment, the present invention provides a dishwasher including a device for illuminating the cleaning compartment, in which the light remains switched off, also when the door is open by a small gap. 
     Advantages that can be achieved with the invention ensue from the fact that the control device comprises a switching element that is actuated by a Bowden cable arranged on the door in order to compensate for the weight of the door. As a result, on the one hand, already present structural elements can be used, and on the other hand, it is easy to achieve that the light is only switched on once a specific door opening angle has been reached. 
     In an advantageous embodiment, the Bowden cable is arranged on the door in such a way that its swiveling causes a swiveling motion of at least one section of the Bowden cable, said motion being sufficient to actuate the switching element. This causes an uncoupling of the Bowden cable and the switching element. Here, it is advantageous for the Bowden cable to act on a spring-mounted piston that, when it is depressed, triggers the activation of a microswitch. 
     Moreover, it is advantageous for the illuminating device to be switched on once the opening angle of the door is more than approximately 10°. In this manner, in order to initially assist the drying, a sufficient air exchange is possible through the door, which is open by a small gap, without the light being switched on. 
       FIG. 1  shows a dishwasher  1  with a cleaning compartment  2  whose front can be closed by a swiveling door  3 . The door closing mechanism has a known motor-driven closing piston  4 . that is only sketched in the figure. In this manner, the door  3  can also be automatically opened by a small gap by means of the program control  5 , also in the locked state. Moreover, the dishwasher  1  has a lamp  6  for illuminating the cleaning compartment  2  and/or the front portion of the cleaning compartment. In order to allow the lamp  6  to be switched on and off as a function of the closing position of the door  3 , a switching element  7  is provided whose structure and functions are explained below. 
     The lower end of the door  3  has an angled piece  8  with an arm  9  that projects perpendicularly out of the plane of the door and into the interior of the appliance. In a recess (not visible) located at the end of the arm  9 , a Bowden cable  11  is secured by means of an eye  10 . The Bowden cable  11  is deflected over two rollers  12  and  13 , and its other end  14  is connected to a tension spring  15  (see  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d ). The entire device serves to compensate for the weight of the cladding (not shown here) that serves as a panel for the front of the door  3 , matching it to the other cabinet doors in the kitchen. The attachment of the tension spring  15  and of the deflection rollers  12  and  13  to the housing of the dishwasher  1  may be in a known matter. In  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d , it can merely be seen that the upper deflection roller  13  is mounted on the vertical leg  16  of a support  17  whose horizontal leg  18  serves to mount the door  3  so that it can swivel. Furthermore, a holding plate  19  is also attached to the leg  16 , said holding plate  19  having a microswitch  20  and an actuator  21 ; also see  FIG. 2 . The actuator  21  comprises a stamp  22 , a roller holder  23  and a pressure roller  24 . The bolt-like end  221  of the stamp is surrounded by a spring  222  and is held by the roller holder  23  in such a way that it can be moved lengthwise. In this manner, the roller holder  23  can be moved against the force of the spring  222  in the direction indicated by the double-headed arrow. The side of the roller holder  23  facing the microswitch  20  has a switching cam  231  with which the switching tappet  201  of the microswitch can be actuated. 
       FIGS. 3   a  to  3   d  show the sequence of movements during the opening of the door  3 . When the door  3  is closed ( FIG. 3   a ), the arm  9  extends horizontally, i.e. parallel to the standing plane of the dishwasher  1  and, due to the deflection roller  13 , the end of the Bowden cable  11  on the door side encloses an angle of approximately 30° relative to the imaginary parallel of the standing plane. The pressure roller  24  rests on the Bowden cable  11 , at this time, the roller  24  and the roller holder  23  are in a lower position in which the switching cam  231  is still at a distance from the switching tappet  201 .  FIG. 3   b  shows the door in a position in which it is open by about 10°. This opening angle can be established manually by the user or else automatically by an opening device. The arm  9  that also executes the swiveling motion of the door  3  pulls the Bowden cable  11  upwards, so that it is swiveled counterclockwise by about 15°. In this process, the Bowden cable  11  lifts the pressure roller  24  along with the roller holder  23  so that the switching cam  231  is moved until shortly before the switching tappet  201 . Consequently, the cleaning compartment light (lamp  6 ) is not yet switched on in this position. When the door  3  ( FIG. 3   c ) is opened further, the Bowden cable  11  is swiveled counterclockwise once again by 10°. As a result, the pressure roller  24  is raised even further and the switching cam  231  pushes the switching tappet  201  inwards. The microswitch  20  relays the triggered switching command to the program control  5 , which now switches on the lamp  6 . As an alternative, the lamp  6  can also be switched on directly by the microswitch  20 . It can be seen in  FIG. 3   d  that the switching tappet  201  is pressed inwards, also when the door  3  is completely open, and that the cleaning compartment light (lamp  6 ) thus remains switched on. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those having ordinary skill in the art that various changes may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Further, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein; reference should be had to the appended claims.