Dishwasher machine comprising a storage container

A dishwasher includes a treatment compartment, a storage container in the treatment compartment, and a drive for moving the storage container out of and/or into the treatment compartment.

The invention relates to a dishwasher with at least one storage container arranged in a treatment compartment for items to be washed, to which is assigned at least one drive to move said storage container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A dishwasher with a lifting device for a storage container is known from utility model DE 9314357 U1, said lifting device being located in a treatment compartment of the dishwasher. The lifting and lowering of the storage container takes place in a fully automatic manner with the aid of a simple electromechanical system which is operated by an electric motor with polarity reversal.

A serious disadvantage of this solution is that the electric motor generates a torque which only moves the storage container in a vertical direction upwards or downwards, but not in a horizontal direction. In order to load or unload the items to be washed, the user must move the storage container out of or into the treatment compartment manually, because the electric motor only moves the storage container in a vertical direction. To this end, the user must always grasp the treatment compartment while bending down, in order to move the storage container out of or into the treatment compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is thus to make the method for loading and unloading dishwashers with items to be washed, as cited at the outset, more user-friendly.

The object is achieved in accordance with the invention in that the drive is embodied such that the storage container is moved out of or into the treatment compartment.

This solution is characterized in particular in that the user can move the storage container out of or into the treatment compartment without the exertion of force. Loading and unloading is herewith more user-friendly in that a larger quantity of items to be washed can also be moved out of or into the treatment compartment without effort.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the storage container is moved out of the treatment compartment in a horizontal direction. As a result of this movement it is ensured that the items to be washed do not fall out of the storage container during the movement. The horizontal movement out of the treatment compartment prevents potential energy being consumed to overcome the height difference.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the drive is at least in part arranged outside the treatment compartment.

This arrangement offers the advantage of very low assembly effort, thus making the length of cycle on the production line shorter. Further, arranging the drive outside the treatment compartment prevents fluid from penetrating the area of the drive susceptible to moisture. The possibility of the drive being destroyed by moisture is thus excluded.

According to an alternative embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the drive is arranged at least partially behind a side wall outside the treatment compartment. This arrangement offers the advantage that the drive is arranged in the vicinity of the storage container arranged in the treatment compartment. The drive is thus more readily accessible to the engineer in the case of repair work.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the drive is at least partially arranged in the tub of the dishwasher.

The inventive dishwasher thus has the advantage that the cable leading to a control and regulation device arranged in the tub is short. The shortness of said cable keeps costs low. The tub of the dishwasher provides sufficient space in which to mount the drive.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the drive is embodied as an energy accumulator.

Energy accumulators are in particular characterized in that they can be manufactured at low cost. Furthermore, the power generated by an energy accumulator is sufficient to move the storage container out of and/or into the treatment compartment even in a very full condition.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the movement initiated by the energy accumulator is damped by means of a damping medium, at least in the final phase of the movement.

This arrangement serves to ensure that the storage container is moved into and/or out of the treatment compartment in a controlled, damped manner. The result of this damped movement is to prevent the items to be washed from falling out of the storage container into the treatment compartment or its surroundings, thus excluding the possibility of the items to be washed being destroyed or soiled.

According to an alternative embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the drive is embodied as an electric motor, to which is assigned an actuation means for propelling the storage container.

This solution is particularly characterized in that the electric motor can be manufactured at very low cost. The electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical work, so that the storage container is automatically moved by the propelling actuation means.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the actuation means is embodied as a toothed gear, which engages with a gear rack arranged on the storage container.

This solution is characterized in particular in that the toothed gear and the gear rack can be manufactured at low cost.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that a means capable of disengaging the toothed gear and the gear rack is assigned to the storage container or the electric motor.

This solution is characterized particularly in that the user has the option of moving the storage container manually or automatically. The user can further remove the storage container from the dishwasher, in order to place it in the vicinity of a drawer and/or cabinet intended for stowage of the items to be washed.

Construction is particularly simple if, according to a preferred embodiment of the subject matter of the invention, it is provided that the means is embodied as an extending facility capable of moving the toothed gear on a drive shaft of the electric motor.

According to a further alternative embodiment of the subject matter of the invention it is provided that the drive is embodied as a cable drive coupled with the electric motor, which drives the storage container.

This solution is particularly characterized in that the cable drive can be manufactured at very low cost. Further, the frictional forces arising in the case of a cable drive are very low, so that the electric motor need generate less electrical energy. This reduces the energy requirements of the dishwasher.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that the drive can be activated by a switching element arranged on the dishwasher.

A dishwasher embodied according to these features is characterized in that the user can automatically move the storage container out of or into the treatment compartment by means of the switching element. The switching element enables user friendly movement of the storage container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

FIG. 1shows an inventive dishwasher1with a rinsing container2, having an inner casing3formed from stainless steel or alternatively plastic to clad a treatment compartment4. The inner casing has on its side walls guide rails5, which are embodied as telescopic rails. A crockery basket with guide rollers7embodied as a first storage container6is fixed to the guide rails5in an extendible manner. Guide rollers7′ are assigned to a second storage container6′ for movement purposes which serve to support said storage container6′. The storage container6and the storage container6′ are driven by a drive, to which are assigned a toothed gear8, a gear rack9and a propelling actuating means20, as shown by the dashed lines inFIG. 2. The propelling actuating means20can be an electric motor coupled to the toothed gear8. Alternatively, the drive can be embodied as a cable drive coupled with the electric motor or alternatively as an energy accumulator. The toothed gear8engages with a gear rack9arranged on the storage container6,6′. An extending facility22is assigned to the electric motor (propelling actuating means20), and is capable of disengaging the toothed gear8and the gear rack9. The treatment compartment4is accessible via a door10which can be swiveled about a horizontal axis11. The door10has an internal surface12and an external surface13. On the external surface13of the door10is arranged an operating panel14, on which is arranged a switching element15for activation or deactivation of the drive. The switching element15is connected to a control and regulation electronics unit16.

FIG. 2shows the storage container6, which has a frame17, upon which are rods18, arranged perpendicularly relative to a base surface of the storage container6, which serve to provide stability of the storage container6. The gear rack9is connected to the vertically arranged rods18in a form-fit manner. The toothed gear8is connected to a drive shaft19in a form-fit manner. The drive shaft19is assigned to the electric motor, which is located outside the treatment compartment4. The electric motor is arranged immediately behind a sidewall, and connected to the control and regulation electronics unit16. Alternatively, the electric motor can also be arranged in a base. The construction of the storage container6′ is similar to that of the storage container6.

After operation of the dishwasher1, the user opens the door14by means of the actuating handle, which is not shown, via which the treatment compartment is rendered accessible to the user. In order to move the items to be washed arranged in the storage containers6,6′ out of the treatment compartment, the user actuates the switching element15. Through actuation of the switching element15, a signal is transmitted to the control and regulation electronics unit16by means of an electromechanical connection, which activates the electric motor. Through the activation of the electric motor, the drive shaft assigned to said electric motor performs a rotational movement, so that the toothed gear arranged on the drive shaft rotates. As the toothed gear8is engaged with the gear rack9, which is fixed to the drive shaft19of the storage container6,6′, said storage container6,6′ is moved out of the treatment compartment. A switching element15is assigned to each drive, so that the storage container6,6′ can be moved out of the treatment compartment4at different times. If the storage container6,6′ is moved fully out of the treatment compartment4, the electric motor is activated by the control and regulation electronics unit, and terminates the movement of the storage container6,6′. After the user has removed the items to be washed from the storage container6,6′, he can refill the latter with items to be washed and move it back into the treatment compartment4by means of the switching element15. If the storage container is once again moved back fully into the treatment compartment4, the electric motor is once again activated by the control and regulation electronics unit, and terminates the movement of the storage container6,6′. The drive is designed in such a way that in the case of items which are difficult to wash, the treatment container6,6′ can be moved into and out of the treatment compartment. If the user wishes to remove the storage container6,6′ from the dishwasher1, the user can dislodge the drive shaft19by means of the switching element15, in order to disengage the toothed gear8and the gear rack9. The storage container6,6′ is then uncoupled, and moveable by manual means.