EP3071743B1 - Household appliance - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a household appliance with a household appliance door, which is fixable by means of a closing device by a frictional connection in a closed position.

The publication GB 2 075 109 A shows a washing machine comprising a door. There is provided a front panel for covering the door.

Doors, windows or lids of household appliances can be locked, for example by a positive connection. The publication EP 1420100 B1 describes, for example, a door lock for the door of a laundry treatment machine with a door-side, designed as latching hooks and a closure closure on the housing side, with a pivotally mounted on the door handle key, in which is transferred by the pivotal movement of the locking pin from a closed position to an open position.

In addition, doors of household appliances can be kept in the unlocked state by a frictional connection by means of a clamping force in the closed position. After closing the household appliance door, this can not be opened by solely manual operation of the appliance door.

It is the object underlying the invention to provide a household appliance in which a zipper with a clamping force can be opened in a simple manner.

This object is achieved by the subject matter having the features of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the figures, the description and the dependent claims.

According to one aspect of the invention, the object is achieved by a household appliance having a household appliance door which can be fixed by means of a closing device in a closed position by a force closure, in which the household appliance comprises an electromechanical door opening device for exerting a pressing force on the inside of the household appliance door overcome the force applied to the closing device. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that a simplification of a window construction and the use of existing zippers are made possible. A belching of the household appliance door can by means of a magnetic coil or other electromechanical actuators. The household appliance door is for example a window, a flap or a lid.

A household appliance is a device that is used for household management. This may be a large household appliance, such as a washing machine, a washer-dryer, a tumble dryer, a dishwasher, a cooking appliance, an extractor hood or a refrigerator, such as a refrigerator. a refrigerator, a freezer or a fridge-freezer. But this can also be a small household appliance, such as a water heater, a coffee machine, a food processor or a vacuum cleaner.

Preferably, the household appliance is a washing machine, a washer-dryer or a tumble dryer. In this case, the home appliance door preferably closes a laundry treatment room. The treatment room for laundry is in a washing machine or a washer-dryer a tub with a laundry drum and a tumble dryer a laundry drum. The household appliance door to close the treatment room is formed in these cases, for example in the form of a porthole.

In an advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the electromechanical door opening device comprises a magnetic coil for exerting the pressing force on the inside of the household appliance door. Thereby, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the pressing force can be exerted quickly and efficiently by means of a magnetic field.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the magnetic coil is arranged behind a front wall of the household appliance. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the door opening device is hidden behind the front wall.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the magnetic coil comprises a soft-magnetic metal part for guiding a magnetic field of the magnetic coil. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the pushing force can be better exerted by the guided and concentrated magnetic field lines.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the magnetic coil is a cylindrical coil. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that a highly aligned magnetic field along the axis of the magnetic coil can be generated.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the household appliance door comprises a permanent magnet for coupling to the magnetic coil. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved, for example, that repelled by the magnetic field of the coil of the permanent magnet and thus the household appliance door can be pushed open. In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the permanent magnet can be inserted into the magnetic coil. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the rejection of the appliance door can be done over a longer way.
In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the permanent magnet is integrated in the interior of the household appliance door. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the permanent magnet does not protrude from the appliance door.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the electromechanical door opening device comprises a bimetallic element for exerting the pressing force on the inside of the household appliance door. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that a strong pushing force can be exerted on the household appliance door.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the household appliance comprises a heater for heating the bimetallic element. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the bimetallic element can be electrically operated.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the bimetallic element is arranged in a chamber. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the bimetallic element can be heated efficiently.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the electromechanical door opening device comprises a displaceable plunger for pressing the household appliance door. As a result, the technical advantage is achieved, for example, that the pressing force can be transmitted to the household appliance door at a predetermined location.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the displaceable plunger comprises a magnetic or magnetizable material. This will For example, the technical advantage achieved that the plunger can be actuated by the solenoid.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance of the displaceable plunger is acted upon with an elastic element, such as an elastic spring. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the plunger is resiliently mounted at a predetermined position.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the household appliance, the displaceable plunger projects out of an opening in the front wall of the household appliance. As a result, for example, the technical advantage is achieved that the plunger can overcome the distance between household appliance and household appliance door.
Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and will be described in more detail below.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Ansicht eines Haushaltsgerätes;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Ansicht einer Türöffnungseinrichtung mit einer Magnetspule;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Ansicht einer Türöffnungseinrichtung mit einer Magnetspule und einem federbeaufschlagten verschiebbaren Stößel;

Fig. 3A

eine weitere schematische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Türöffnungseinrichtung;

Fig. 3B

eine weitere schematische Ansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Türöffnungseinrichtung;

Fig. 4

eine schematische Ansicht einer Türöffnungseinrichtung mit einem Bimetall-Element; und

Fig. 5

eine schematische Ansicht einer Türöffnungseinrichtung mit einer Magnetspule und einem Permanentmagnet in drei Ausführungsformen.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a schematic view of a household appliance;

Fig. 2

a schematic view of a door opening device with a magnetic coil;

Fig. 3

a schematic view of a door opening device with a magnetic coil and a spring-loaded displaceable plunger;

Fig. 3A

a further schematic view of another embodiment of the door opening device;

Fig. 3B

a further schematic view of another embodiment of the door opening device;

Fig. 4

a schematic view of a door opening device with a bimetallic element; and

Fig. 5

a schematic view of a door opening device with a magnetic coil and a permanent magnet in three embodiments.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of a household appliance 100. The household appliance 100 is for example a tumble dryer or a washing machine. The household appliance 100 includes a household appliance door 101 that can be opened to load, for example, the household appliance 100 with laundry. For closing the appliance door 101, a closing device 103 is provided, which exerts a locking force in the closed state of the appliance door 101.
Fig. 2 shows a schematic view of a door opening device 105 with a solenoid 105. When the home appliance door 101 is closed in the closed state 101-1 a locking force is exerted on the household appliance door 101, which prevents an automatic opening of the appliance door 101. The door opening device 105 releases the household appliance door 101 via a door opening button or a touch display of the household appliance 100 and throws it open. For this purpose, a force connection exerted by the closing device 103 is overcome by the door opening device 105.

The electrically controlled door opening can take place in the already unlocked state of the household appliance 100. In this case, an urging force is generated for belching the home appliance door 101 by means of a magnetic coil 109, which is arranged behind a front wall 113 of the household appliance 100. The solenoid 109 is, for example, a solenoid whose axis is perpendicular to the front wall 113. The plunger 111 is slidably disposed in the central space of the cylindrical solenoid.

To open the appliance door 101, the solenoid coil 109 is briefly energized and the plunger 111 is moved by the resulting magnetic field in the arrow direction, so that the household appliance door 101 is pressed and passes into the open state 101-2. The part of the plunger 111 in the solenoid 109, i. the coil core, is provided with a magnetizable or magnetic material 125, so that a force coupling of the plunger 111 takes place with the generated magnetic field.

When closed, the solenoid 109 of the door opening device 105 is not energized and the plunger 111 adapts to a position of the household appliance door 101 with respect to its position.

The door opening device 105 can be used in conjunction with series closures, which are non-positively closed in the unlocked and closed state (zip fasteners). The zippers can by force on the inside the household appliance door 101 are pushed open, such as the window frame or window glass. The electromechanical door opening device 105 serves to overcome the locking force generated by the zipper in the unlocked state during opening. The result is a door lock system that allows the opening of the inside in the unlocked state, so that a zipper with child safety function arises.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a door opening device 105 with the solenoid 109 and the plunger 111, which is acted upon by an elastic spring 115. In the de-energized state of the solenoid 109, the plunger 111 is held by the elastic spring 115 in a defined position.

Fig. 3A shows another schematic view of another embodiment of the door opening device 105. When closing the household appliance door 101, the plunger 111 shifts behind the front wall 113 and the elastic spring 115 is tensioned. When opening the appliance door 101, the tensioned elastic spring 115 supports the opening operation.

Fig. 3B shows another schematic view of another embodiment of the door opening device 105. In this embodiment, the door opening device 105 comprises two elastic springs 115-1 and 115-2. The elastic spring 115-1 is compressed when the household appliance door 101 is closed, and supports the opening operation of the appliance door 101. The elastic spring 115-2 holds the plunger 111 in the energized state of the solenoid 109 in a defined position.

Fig. 4 shows a schematic view of a door opening device 105 with a bimetallic element 123. The bimetallic element 123 is formed, for example by a metal strip of two layers of different metals, which are connected to each other cohesively or positively. If the metal strip heats up, the two metals expand in different ways and the bimetallic element 123 changes into another shape.

The bimetal element 123 is arranged in a chamber 121 and can be heated by an electric heater as a heat source, for example by a heating wire or a PTC thermistor. To overcome the exerted by the locking device 103 Conclusion, the bimetallic element 123 is heated so that it goes over to the other form and the household appliance door 101 by means of the displaceable plunger 111 presses.

Fig. 5 shows a schematic view of a door opening device 105 with the solenoid 109 and a permanent magnet 117. The household appliance door 101 is in the closed state 101-1 or in the open state 101-2. Instead of a plunger 111 which is not fixedly connected to the appliance door 101, permanent magnets 117 fixed to the appliance door 101 may be used. The permanent magnet 117 is repelled by the solenoid 109 mounted behind the front wall 113. In order to guide the magnetic field 109 generated by the magnetic coil 109, soft magnetic metal parts 119 are provided, which are arranged at appropriate locations around the magnetic coil 109 around. The soft magnetic metal parts 119 are formed by, for example, iron sheets or cores.

In all concepts, the components arranged on the door side in the figures can also be provided on the door side on the front wall side and on the front wall side, provided that a corresponding energy supply for the actuator is present in the household appliance door 101. In addition, the polarity of the permanent magnets 117 may be reversed.

By the electromechanical door opening device 105, the device requirements are met and allows a simplification of the window construction. A hook and handle mechanism can be omitted in this case. A use of previous zippers remains possible.

All features explained and shown in connection with individual embodiments of the invention may be provided in different combinations in the article according to the invention, in order to simultaneously realize their advantageous effects.

The scope of the present invention is given by the claims and is not limited by the features illustrated in the specification or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100

household appliance

101

Household appliance door

101-1

closed state

101-2

opened state

103

closing device

105

Door opening device

107

inside

109

solenoid

111

tappet

113

front wall

115

elastic spring

115-1

elastic spring

115-2

elastic spring

117

permanent magnet

119

soft magnetic metal part

121

chamber

123

Bimetallic element

125

magnetic or magnetizable material

Claims (15)

1. Household appliance (100) having a household appliance door (101), which can be secured in a closed position by a force closure by means of a closing mechanism (103), characterised in that the household appliance (100) comprises an electromechanical door opening mechanism (105) for exerting a pressing force onto the inside (107) of the household appliance door (101) in order to overcome the force closure exerted by the closing mechanism (103).
2. Household appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterised in that the electromechanical door opening mechanism (105) comprises a magnetic coil (109) for exerting the pressing force onto the inside (107) of the household appliance door (101).
3. Household appliance (100) according to claim 2, characterised in that the magnetic coil (109) is arranged behind a front wall (113) of the household appliance (100).
4. Household appliance (100) according to claim 2 or 3, characterised in that the magnetic coil (109) is a soft-magnetic metal part (119) for conducting a magnetic field of the magnetic coil (109).
5. Household appliance (100) according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that the magnetic coil (109) is a cylindrical coil.
6. Household appliance (100) according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that the household appliance door (101) comprises a permanent magnet (117) for coupling to the magnetic coil (109).
7. Household appliance (100) according to claim 6, characterised in that the permanent magnet (117) can be inserted into the magnetic coil (109).
8. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the permanent magnet (117) is integrated into the interior of the household appliance door (101).
9. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electromechanical door opening mechanism (105) comprises a bimetallic element (123) for exerting the pressing force onto the inside (107) of the household appliance door (101).
10. Household appliance (100) according to claim 9, characterised in that the household appliance (100) comprises a heater for heating up the bimetallic element (123).
11. Household appliance (100) according to claim 9 or 10, characterised in that the bimetallic element (123) is arranged in a chamber (121).
12. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the electromechanical door opening mechanism (105) comprises a displaceable push rod (111) for pressing the household appliance door (101).
13. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displaceable push rod (111) is a magnetic or magnetizable material (125).
14. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displaceable push rod (111) is loaded with an elastic element (115), so that the push rod (111) is resiliently supported at a predetermined position.
15. Household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the displaceable push rod (111) protrudes from an opening in the front wall (113) of the household appliance (100).

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