Patent Application
20190000299
The invention relates to an apparatus for dispensing detergent in a dishwasher according to the preamble of claim 1.
In dishwashers, commercially available metering apparatuses are already common, where a reservoir to store detergent as well as dishwasher powder, tabs or the like is available, wherein, normally, a storage chamber for rinsing agents is additionally provided. Usually, these metering apparatuses have a housing, which is built into the door or the inner wall of the door of the dishwasher most of the time.
After a person has inserted detergent into the reservoir, the cover is closed. During the course of the program, the previously closed cover of the reservoir for the detergent is mechanically opened so that the detergent can be conveyed into the interior space of the dishwasher. In many cases, this supports the water jet of a rotating arm that flushes out the reservoir.
Over the course of many years, flap covers which are swiveled around a rotary axis and flipped open have proven to be reliable, wherein the rotary axis is primarily oriented parallel to the door or to the installation level of the housing.
Furthermore, metering apparatuses for dishwashers which now have a sliding cover instead of a flap as a cover are known, which carries out an opening/closing movement that is primarily oriented in a linear manner, parallel to the installation level or door inner wall (c.f. EP 0 780 087 B1) and that takes place inside the contour of the housing. In comparison to a metering device with a flap, this sliding cover requires a narrowing of the storage area in dishwashers since a clearance for the swiveling movement in front of the flap required.
However, the disadvantage of apparatuses with sliding covers is that a comparably elaborate and fault-prone guiding system must be implemented for the sliding door, in particular, which tilts and gets stuck, in addition to having to provide for a relatively large metering apparatus.
In accordance with this, it is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus of the aforementioned type, which is more compact and, in particular, can be implemented with less constructive effort.
This task is achieved by the features of claim 1 based on an apparatus of the aforementioned type. Due to the measures mentioned in the subclaims, favorable embodiments and further embodiments of the invention are possible.
In accordance with this, an apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that a second distance is provided between the first guide element and the second guide element in the release position of the cover element in the direction of the adjustment path, wherein the second distance is smaller than the first distance.
That means that, when opening the cover element, the distance between the two guide elements changes or is favorably reduced when opening the cover element along the adjustment path or when releasing the reservoir, namely from the first greater distance according to the invention to the second smaller distance according to the invention. Thereby, in a favorable way, it is made possible that the cover element can protrude over the housing and over its contour at least in the open release position on the one hand. Thereby, the apparatus and the hosing can be implemented in a particularly small and compact: manner.
On the other hand, above all, in the closure position of the cover element, it is achieved that this can be held by means of the comparatively larger first distance of the guide element in a stable manner and can be positioned in a durable manner. For example, by means of this, the cover element in the closed state is favorably arranged against the (undesired) falling of dishes or he like and designed to be resistant.
In a favorable embodiment of the invention, the cover element comprises at least the first guide element to guide the cover element, wherein, in a favorable way, the first guide element is arranged on a first edge area of the cover element. Thereby, a favorably defined and stable guiding of the cover element when opening or closing the reservoir is implemented.
Preferably, at least a second guide element is provided to guide the cover element. This second guide element improves the guiding of the cover particularly when adjusting or along the adjustment path again additionally since this can be distanced from the first guide element.
Favorably, the housing comprises at least the second guide element. Thereby, the invention can be favorably implemented since the changing and decreasing distance according to the invention is implemented by means of the adjustment process and the relative motion of the cover with referent to the housing.
In a particular further embodiment of the invention, the first guide element and/or a first guide or guide surface is arranged on a first side of the reservoir and the second guide element and/or a second guide or guide surface is arranged on the second side of the reservoir, wherein the reservoir is arranged between the two sides and guides. That means that the two guides and guide elements are arranged on opposite sides with relation to the reservoir.
As an alternative or in combination with this, the first guide element or a first guide or guide surface can be lined up on the first side of the reservoir and, in addition, also the second guide element and/or a second guide or guide surface. This means that both guides and guide elements are arranged on the same side with relation to the reservoir and/or that, among other things, a first distance between the first guide element and the second guide element is provided in the closure position of the cover element in the direction of the adjustment path.
With the aid of the aforementioned favorable variant, a very stable and tilt-secure guide of the cover element during the adjustment process can be implemented, above all, in the case of a combination of the mentioned variants with at least four guide elements and guides, meaning at least two guide elements and guides on each of the two sides. For example, the cover element has a total of four guide cones, nubs or the like, which are guided or adjusted in the guide paths/grooves of the housing along the adjustment path.
In a special variant of the invention, the cover element comprises at least one support surface to support the cover element at least partly in parallel with the direction of the installation level of the housing. With the aid of this support surface, which is oriented at least partially parallel to the direction of the installation level, the cover or the cover element can be supported in direction that is transverse to the installation level. In accordance with this, supporting forces in the direction transverse to the installation level can be favorably absorbed. Consequently, for example, dishes that have not been set onto the cover element carefully or that fall down, such as a relatively heavy cooking pot or the like, can be taken on by the support surface according to the invention, without the cover element and/or the cover guide or mounting being impaired or even damaged/destroyed. In accordance with this, the apparatus according to the invention is less fault-prone and is very operationally reliable, above all with relation to everyday or undesired events when loading the dishes into the dishwasher or removing them from the dishwasher.
In the case of a favorable variant of the invention, in the release position, the cover element, as a boom, at least partially projects over a contour of the apparatus's housing oriented parallel to the installation level. That means that the cover element at least partially projects over the housing or its contour when the reservoir is open. This makes a comparably small enclosure or a relatively small housing possible, meaning a contour/cross-sectional surface with a small surface area. According to this, the apparatus can be implemented in a particularly compact manner/with a low volume.
In principle, the support surface according to the invention can be designed and/or arranged in such a way that, for example, support forces in the transverse direction to the installation level can be favorably taken on in the closed operational/closure position of the cover element. Thereby, it is of particular advantage if the guide or the mount of the cover element has a favorable tolerance or flexibility, for example, by means of a favorable sealing element or elastomer sealing element and/or a so-called play in the guide/mount, so that, when transverse forces occur or when placing a pot or the like on the cover element, the cover element buckles and can be adjusted in the transverse direction and can be supported on the housing of the apparatus or the like with the support surface.
Favorably, the apparatus is designed in such a way that the support surface or the cover element, at least in the open operating/release position, meaning in the case of an open or a released reservoir, can be supported in a favorable way. Preferably, the cover element has at least one support surface to support the cover element in the release position on the wall and/or door. Thereby, it is achieved, particularly for the variant with the cover element, which, as a boom, projects over the contour of the apparatus's housing, that the cover element abuts the wall and the door/inner wall in a favorable way so that transverse forces, which act perpendicularly to the cover element or on the cover element, cannot result in any impairment of the cover element and/or the guide unit. In this way, for example, in practice, a dish could fall out of the hand of an operator and fall on the cover element when loading or removing dishes. In this case, in a favorable way, with the aid of the support surface of the cover element, damage to the cover element and/or the guide unit is prevented. This increases the operational safety of the apparatus according to the invention.
Favorably, the support surface is arranged on an end and/or second edge area of the cover element in particular, the support surface is arranged on a second edge area of the cover element lying opposite at least to the first guide element. Thereby, a particularly large distance between the guide system/guide element and the support surface can be implemented according to the invention. Above all, with relation to the force ratios and effective levers/lever arms, this is of particular advantage and stabilizes the cover element, in particular, along the adjustment path and/or in the open release position of the cover element.
In a favorable embodiment of the invention, on the first side of the reservoir, where a first guide surface is arranged, another second guide surface opposite to the first guide surface at a first distance is provided so that the second guide surface is primarily oriented in the direction of the surface normal of the housing's installation level.
With the aid of the second guide surface arranged on the first side of the reservoir, the guide of the cover element can be designed to be considerably non-fault-prone. In this way, the distance between the first and the second guide surface is many times smaller than is the case in the most recent background art, where a first and a second guide surface are arranged on both sides opposite to the reservoir. Within the scope of extensive analyses, it could be determined that the cover element tilts and cannot thereby be adjusted any more along the guide surface or only with difficulty due to the large distance between the two guide surfaces in the case of the most recent background art. By means of this, the rinsing and emptying of the reservoir can be prevented so that the cleaning cycle is interrupted. The cover or its guide can also be damaged, which can mean an elaborate and expensive replacement of the entire apparatus.
In contrast to this, with the present invention, it is achieved that the distance of the first guide surface to the second guide surface according to the invention can be designed to be many times smaller than one length of the guide surface/guide surfaces or many times smaller than one length of the cover element and/or many times smaller than a second distance of two contact surfaces of the cover element that are arranged on the second side of the reservoir. This favorable ratio between the length of the guide/end-stop surfaces or contacts of the cover element of both guide surfaces according to the invention and, for this purpose, the very small distance between the two guide surfaces, it is achieved that a disadvantageous tilting is prevented and thereby, the adjustment movement and the cover element is not impaired/damaged, for example, in the case of manually operating/closing the cover. This leads to an increase in operational safety.
Furthermore, the constructive effort to guide the cover element is reduced by a guide, in particular, with low manufacturing tolerances, that is as exact is possible not being required or unnecessary on the second side of the reservoir or the opposite side of the reservoir. Thereby, an increase in the degree of freedom is also achieved with the constructive embodiment of the apparatus according to the invention. For example, a favorable support or end-stop on the second side of the reservoir can be implemented to support or stop the cover element adjustment path.
By definition, the surface normal within the scope of the invention is oriented perpendicularly to the installation level of the housing. The installation level of the housing is primarily oriented parallel to the door or the outer surface/inner wall of the door so that the surface normal, which is oriented perpendicular to this, is thereby primarily oriented perpendicular to the door or the wall. Thereby, the guide surface or surface normal can be exposed upwardly as well as to the side or it is even conceivably inclined to the horizontal. Preferably, the guide surface(s) is/are preliminary oriented in a vertical manner so that the cover element can be adjusted in the vertical direction. As an alternative, the cover element can also be primarily adjustable in a horizontal direction, wherein, then, the guide surfaces are oriented in a horizontal direction accordingly.
In a special further embodiment of the invention, the guide unit has at least a third contact/guide surface, which is arranged on/at a second side of the reservoir, wherein the third contact/guide surface is oriented primarily in the direction of the surface normal of the installation level of the housing. By means of this, it is achieved that a favorable supporting/resting or guiding is implemented on the opposite side or on the second side of the reservoir. This improves the stability and the guide system of the cover element along the adjustment path.
Preferably, a third contact/guide surface is arranged on the second side of the reservoir, wherein another or a fourth contact/guide surface is arranged at a second distance in a favorable way. In this way, the fourth guide surface can also primarily be oriented in the direction of the surface normal of the installation level of the housing. This additionally improves the stability and the guide system again according to the invention.
In a favorable way, at least one first guide element/rail of the guide unit is arranged between the first and the second guide surface and at least one second guide element/rail of the guide unit is arranged between the third and the fourth guide surface, wherein, in particular, a first width of the guide element, which is formed in the direction of the surface normal of the first and/or second guide surface, primarily corresponds to the first distance between the first and the second guide surface. A solid guide element or guide rail is comparably stable and considerably more resistance with reference to transverse forces etc. so that a favorable guiding of the cover element can be implemented.
In a favorable variant of the invention, viewed in the direction of the surface normal of the third and/or the fourth guide surface, a first play and/or a first unobstructed intermediate space is provided between the second guide element and the first guide surface and a second play and/or a second unobstructed intermediate space is provided between the second guide element and the second guide surface, wherein, preferably, the first play and the first unobstructed intermediate space is smaller than the second play or the second unobstructed intermediate space. Thereby, it is achieved that the guide surfaces or the first guide element primarily takes on the guide and the burden during adjustment along the adjustment path and the second guide rail or the second guide element is designed here as an end-stop or an abutment component. Due to the favorable extension of the burden or the guide onto the first guide element or the first and second guide surface on the first side of the reservoir, a tilting of the cover element on the second side is effectively prevented. This means that the cover element is guided almost as a “boom element” on the first side and on the second side and only rolled on the second side, in particular, guided or attached in the case of great transverse forces and the like. Thereby, in an effective manner, a tilting during the adjustment of the cover element along the adjustment path is prevented so that a metering apparatus according to the invention that is not prone to faults in particular can be implemented.
Preferably, the guide element comprises at least one support surface to support the cover element at least partly in parallel with the direction of the installation level of the housing. Thereby, it is achieved that, for example, forces which act on the cover element or in the direction of the installation level, in particular, a hand of the operator or the like can be supported with the aid of the support surfaces in a favorable way. In a favorable way for deflecting the cover element from a linear adjustment direction to a slightly angled adjustment direction, meaning arched with reference to the installation level, the support surface can cause a support or a deflection of the cover element along the adjustment path.
In a particular further embodiment of the invention, at least one of the guide elements and/or guide rails, preferably the first guide element or the first guide rail, has at least one back taper or a projection and/or an L-profile or a T-profile. Thereby, the cover element can at least partially implement almost a clasping of the guide element and/or the guide rail, which makes a particularly precise and stable guiding possible. In this way, the guide can be moved and concentrated even more toward the first side of the reservoir according to the invention. That means that the first side takes on the primary part or almost only the guide function for the cover and the guiding and the support on the second side of the reservoir is of subordinate or secondary significance. This counters an unfavorable tilting. In addition, the defined and favorable guide of the cover element on the guide element is made possible, stabilized and improved in all directions.
In a favorable embodiment of the invention, in the release position, the cover element at least partially projects over a contour of the apparatus's housing oriented parallel to the installation level. That means that, in the open position and in the release position, the cover element almost completely or partially projects over the apparatus or the housing, however, is located within the contour of the housing and over the reservoir in a favorable way in the closed position, particularly viewed with reference to the cross section of the housing within the installation.
Preferably, in the release position, the cover element has at least one support surface to support the cover element on the wall and/or door. Thereby, it is achieved, particularly for the variant with the cover element, which, as a boom, projects over the contour of the apparatus's housing, that the cover element abuts the wall and the door/inner wall in a favorable way so that transverse forces, which act perpendicularly to the cover element or on the cover element, cannot result in any impairment of the cover element or/or the guide unit. In this way, for example, in practice, a dish could fall out of the hand of an operator and fall on the cover element. In this case, in a favorable way, with the aid of the support surface of the cover element, damage to the cover element and/or the guide unit is hindered. This increases the operational safety of the apparatus according to the invention.
Preferably, a pressing unit and/or a fixing unit and/or a snap-on unit or the like is provided and/or the guiding apparatus is designed in such a way that the cover element is pressed on and/or fixed to the reservoir. By means of this, a sealing of the reservoir occurs in a favorable manner by means of the cover element designed as a sealing unit and having at least one favorable sealing surface.
Preferably, the sealing unit has at least a sealing surface oriented essentially perpendicular to the cross-sectional area of the opening. By means of this, a sealing can be implemented transverse or perpendicular to the cross section of the opening and of the installation level and/or transverse or perpendicular to the inner surface of the dishwasher's door, in which the apparatus according to the invention is preferably arranged. Particularly in combination with an adjustment of the cover element that is primarily parallel to the installation level/cross-sectional surface of the opening or to the inner surface of the door, by means of this a sealing is implemented where the force is preferably on the adjustment level in a favorable manner so that the transverse forces are effectively avoided.
Favorably, the reservoir has at least one edge having the sealing surface, wherein the edge is designed as a projection of a base element of the apparatus and the sealing surface is arranged on the outer side of the reservoir or the edge. Thereby, a sealing surface according to the invention can be implemented in a constructively favorable manner.
Preferably, the adjustment path of the cover element is arranged on an adjustment level that is primarily parallel to a cross-sectional surface of the opening and/or to an inner side of the door of the dishwasher. Thereby, in the operating position and when the door is closed, the interior space can be favorably taken advantage of.
In a particular further embodiment of the invention, the adjustment path of the cover element is a corrugated trajectory curve, at least in sections. Thereby, for example, with reference to the level primarily oriented parallel to the installation level and/or opening and/or to the door's inner surface, an adaptation of the adjustment path to the (outer) geometry of the apparatus according to the invention can take place and/or, with reference to the vertical level oriented transverse/perpendicular to the opening and/or to the door's inner surface, a favorable sealing of the cover element can be implemented.
In principle, according to the invention, primarily only one of the two guide rails/elements is used for guiding the cover for guiding the cover according to the invention. Thereby, on the one hand, the guide trajectory distance is reduced to the width of the permanent guide, where, with reference to the unchanged trajectory or adjustment path in accordance with the most recent background art, a ratio results that is better by several orders of magnitude. On the other hand, in the case of the plastic usually available here, a significantly greater level of precision can be achieved on the short first distance responsible for the precision of the guide than if almost the entire cover width would be required for this.
The guiding and the stability as well as a reduction in the susceptibility to faults etc. can also be further improved by means of measures, such as a greater level of play in the lateral direction on the second side, single-point guiding on the second side, a robust and low-friction design of the side, etc.
An exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawing and is explained in detail in the following based on the figure.
Individually, in the figures:
In the figures, an apparatus according to the invention is shown respectively, wherein a reservoir 1 is provided to hold detergent and has a seal 11. This detergent is metered in a controlled manner into the cleaning area for the dishes during the cleaning phase of the dishwasher. Thereby, the cover 2 is opened so that the detergent can flow out of the reservoir 1 and be rinsed. For example, for this, a snap apparatus 4 or a switch 4 or a button or the like is pressed so that a tension spring or the like causes an opening movement of the cover 2. In addition, a rinsing area 3 is provided for a fluid rinsing agent, which is not shown in more detail.
The first variant in accordance with
An installation level 14 in terms of the invention or an end-stop surface/sealing surface of the base part 15 or the housing 15 at/for a wall/door of an operating/interior space of the dishwasher is particularly evident in the cross-sectional illustration according to
However, in the profile, the guide is illustrated, particularly in the enlarged view in
In
However, in
In
Furthermore, the second guide rail 13 comprises two opposite guide surfaces facing each other, a third contact surface 9 and a fourth contact surface 10, wherein these two contact surfaces 9, 10 are oriented in the direction of the surface normal 20, meaning perpendicular to the installation level 14. However, these two guide surfaces 9, 10 have a second distance away from each other, which is greater than the guide rail 13. Thereby, there is a relatively high level of play between the cover 2 with the guide surfaces 9, 10 and the guide rail 13.
In contrast, the two contact surfaces 7, 8 have a first distance away from each other, which primarily corresponds to the width of the guide rail 13. Thereby, there is almost no play between the cover 2 with the guide surfaces 7, 8 and the guide rail 12. In accordance with this, the cover 2 is primarily led by the guide to the first side 5 or by means of the guide rail 12. The guide rail 13 has more of a resting function and a supporting function for the cover 2 on a constructional level.
The favorable ratio between the first relatively small distance of the two guide surfaces 7, 8 with reference to the relatively large lengths of the guide surfaces 7, 8 effectively prevents tilting.
Furthermore, in
In addition, in a favorable manner, the guide rails 12, 13, have a profile with a back taper and is L-shaped so that a guide can also be implemented in the direction of the surface normal 20 or in the transverse direction. This is advantageous particularly for the slightly arched guiding of the cover 2.
Also, particularly for guiding in the direction of the surface normal 20 and in the transverse direction, the cover 2 has cones 18, 19 on both sides 5, 6 respectively, which grip behind the back taper of the guide rails 12, 13, thereby making favorable guiding in the direction of the surface normal 20 and in the transverse direction possible. In addition, the cones 18, 19 hold the cover 2 on the housing 15, in particular in the locked position or the partially or fully open position.
In
The seal, on the one hand, can be an elastomer element or a rubber seal, or, on the other hand, a sealing lip, which is formed within the reservoir 1 or seals it,
Particularly also in
As can be recognized in the cross section in the open release position of the cover 2, the cover 2 projects far beyond the housing 15 and its contour/cross section. In turn, the cover 2 additionally abuts the door or the wall of the interior space of the dishwasher in a favorable way with the end-stop 21 and its support surface. By means of this, the cover 2 and its guide is also protected or protected against damage in the open or protruding position for example against unintendedly falling dishes or the like, i.e. in particular against the effects of forces transverse/perpendicular to the level 14.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2017 114 794.2 | Jul 2017 | DE | national |
