Abstract:
A dishwasher includes a housing, a dish rack movably disposed in the housing, and a first and a second roller respectively disposed on opposite sides of the dish rack. The first and second rollers are configured to movably support the dish rack on respective first and second running surfaces. A respective angle of inclination of at least a respective portion of the first and second running surfaces is adjustable so as to enable the dish rack to automatically move outward from the housing.

Description:
[0001]    Priority is claimed to German patent application DE 10 2006 037 324.3, filed Aug. 8, 2006, and which is hereby incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to a dishwasher including a housing having one or more dish racks movably disposed therein, at least one dish rack being movably supported by rollers on opposite sides on respective running surfaces, one each per side. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A dishwasher including a housing having one or more dish racks movably disposed therein is described, for example, in DE-OS 20 09 045. In the dishwasher described therein, the dish racks are manually moved for loading and unloading of dishes. Depending on the ease of movement provided by the rollers and guide members, a considerable handling effort may be required. This is also because said manual movement must be carried out while in a stooped position. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is, therefore, an aspect of the present invention to provide a dishwasher in which handling is simplified in terms of movement of the dish racks. 
         [0005]    In an embodiment, the present invention provides a dishwasher including a housing, a dish rack movably disposed in the housing, and a first and a second roller respectively disposed on opposite sides of the dish rack. The first and second rollers are configured to movably support the dish rack on respective first and second running surfaces. A respective angle of inclination of at least a respective portion of the first and second running surfaces is adjustable so as to enable the dish rack to automatically move outward from the housing. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a side view showing a dishwasher  1  of the prior art; 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a side view showing a dishwasher  1  according to the present invention, including an ejector  11 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a detail of  FIG. 2  in the region of the ejector  11 ; 
           [0010]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are side views of the inventive dishwasher  1 , showing the ejector  11  of  FIG. 2  in different operating positions; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a dishwasher  1  according to the present invention; 
           [0012]      FIGS. 7 through 13  are detail views showing ramp  8  of the dishwasher  1  of  FIG. 6  in different positions. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In accordance with the present invention, the angle of inclination of the running surfaces can be adjusted, at least in some portions, to allow the dish rack supported thereon to automatically move out. In this manner, the user no longer needs to move out the dish rack entirely manually. Rather, the dish rack can move out automatically by moving the rollers of the dish rack over the inclined track. Then, the user only needs to unload and reload the dish rack while it is supported in front of the dishwasher. 
         [0014]    In an embodiment of the present invention, the running surfaces are in the form of inclined ramps which can be mounted on flat tracks disposed in the washing tub. This, it is possible to retrofit conventional dishwashers with such ramps. 
         [0015]    The running surfaces or ramps are held to a wall or to the bottom of the dishwasher, it being possible to provide means for adjusting the angle of inclination of the entire track. These means may be disposed directly below the track or on the housing of the dishwasher. 
         [0016]    Preferably, the running surfaces or ramps have hinged segments which are adjustable in inclination. Such a mechanism may be simple in construction and can be integrated into the ramps. Thus, through the adjustment made at the rear portion of the track, it is possible to produce a traveling movement of the dish rack. Depending on the installation conditions, said traveling movement can be adjusted such that the dish rack completely, or nearly completely, moves out of the interior of the dishwasher and stops in front of it in good time. 
         [0017]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides for an actuating mechanism which can be used to move the dish rack, at least to some extent, as a door of the dishwasher is opened. The actuating mechanism may include, for example, an ejector which can be used to move the dish rack toward the extended position during or after the opening of the door. This ensures that the dish rack is only moved when the door is open. The ejector may be mechanically coupled to the door via a cable or rod. Moreover, the ejector can be mounted on the ramp. 
         [0018]    Preferably, the tracks have at least one depression in which a roller of the dish rack can be retained, so that the dish rack is held in a predetermined position, independently of an inclination of the track. Thus, the dish rack can be latched in position by the rollers resting in the depression, so that the dish rack can, for example, be held in the retracted position, and then be moved out of the depression by an impulse from an actuating mechanism, and then to a position in front of the dishwasher. 
         [0019]    It is also convenient if only the lowermost dish rack can be automatically moved out of the interior of the dishwasher during or after the opening of a door. 
         [0020]    A conventional dishwasher  1  includes a housing  2  containing a washing tub  3  having dish racks disposed therein, of which only the lower rack  4  is shown. Lower rack  4  is movably supported by rollers  5  on opposite sides on tracks  6 . Washing tub  3  of dishwasher  1  can be opened and closed by a hinged door  7 . 
         [0021]    In comparison with  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 2 and 3  show a dishwasher  1  which is designed in accordance with the present invention. In this dishwasher, rollers  5  of lower rack  4  are located on a running surface which is inclined with respect to the horizontal. For this purpose, tracks  6  have mounted thereon ramps  8  which slope downwardly toward door  7 . As is clearly shown in  FIG. 5 , the rear end of ramp  8  has a depression  9  which fixes rear roller  51  in position, thereby holding lower rack  4  in the retracted position. Further, a cable  10  is disposed between door  5  and an actuating mechanism at the rear of lower rack  4 . The actuating mechanism includes a hinged lever which serves as an ejector  11  which can be moved by cable  10 . 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 4 , dishwasher  1  is shown with door  7  partially open, so that cable  10  is slowly tensioned, but does not yet release ejector  11 . Rear roller  51  is still located in depression  9 . 
         [0023]    Only when door  7  is in the fully open position ( FIG. 5 ), cable  10  is pulled so that the ejector  11  is pivoted. Because of this, the ejector presses against the rear roller  51  of lower rack  4 , moving it out of depression  9 , so that the lower rack then moves onto open door  7  due to the inclination of ramp  8 . The inclination of ramp  8  and the force exerted by ejector  11  can be adjusted such that lower rack automatically moves entirely onto door  7 , or nearly to this position, so that the user can then immediately begin to unload or load rack  4 . 
         [0024]      FIGS. 6 through 13  are detail views of a second embodiment of a dishwasher according to the present invention, including a washing tub  3  on the bottom of which is supported a movable lower rack  4 . Lower rack  4  is provided on opposite sides with rollers  5 , which in turn travel on ramps  8  mounted onto the tracks. Ramps  8  include a hinged segment  81  in the rear portion thereof. 
         [0025]    In  FIG. 8 , ramp  8  is shown in detail. Segment  81  is disposed such that an inclined surface  82  of the ramp is in alignment with a surface  83  of segment  81 . Segment  81  includes a strip-shaped surface  83  adjacent to a slope  84 , a depression  85  being formed on a rear portion of segment  81 , said depression allowing rear roller  51  of lower rack  4  to rest therein so as to latch the lower rack in the retracted position. Moreover, an actuating mechanism may optionally be provided on ramp  8 , such as was described in the foregoing exemplary embodiment. 
         [0026]    In order to adjust the angle of inclination of segment  81 , said segment is supported on ramp  8  in such a way that it can pivot about an axis  86 , a curved guide track  87  and a slider  88  being located below segment  81  (see also  FIG. 9 ). Slider  88  includes projecting pins  89  which are able to slide along a slot  90  which is inclined with respect to the horizontal. Slider  88  further has an upwardly projecting projection  91  on which hinged segment  81  can be supported. 
         [0027]    In  FIGS. 9 ,  10  and  11 , segment  81  is shown in the folded up position, in which slider  88  can be moved along curved guide track  87  in order to adjust the angle of inclination of segment  81  in the folded down position. 
         [0028]    In  FIG. 12 , segment  81  is folded down such that surface  83  has a smaller inclination than surface  82  of the remainder of ramp  8 . In this case, the small inclination is sufficient to move lower rack  4  to the extended position when rack  4  receives an impulse from an actuating mechanism, or when the user manually pulls the dish rack across depression  85 , whereupon the dish rack automatically rolls out onto door  7  due to slope  84  and the inclined surfaces  83  and  82 . 
         [0029]    If the inclination of ramp  8  is not sufficient, the user can easily adjust the inclination of segment  81  by changing the position of slider  88 , so that segment  81  assumes the position shown in  FIG. 13 . In this position, surface  83  has a greater inclination than in the position shown in  FIG. 12 , so that after the dish rack has initially moved over depression  85 , it moves at a greater speed due to the inclinations of slope  84  and surface  83 . 
         [0030]    In the illustrated exemplary embodiments, there is shown a mechanism for adjusting segment  81 , but other embodiments are also possible. Of course, it would be possible to adjust the entire ramp  8  in inclination, or to design the larger portion of ramp  8  as a movable segment  81 . 
         [0031]    In order to overcome the retaining force caused by the positioning of roller  51  in depression  9  or  85 , dish rack  4  may be initially moved also by mechanisms other than the mechanical actuating mechanism including the cable and hinged ejector  11 . It is also possible to use electric drives, which allows for remote control. 
         [0032]    The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments described herein.