EP2387345B1 - Dishwasher comprising a box-shaped washing container and a base carrier - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher, with a washing container, which has an externally disposed flange assembly, and with a base support, which has a laterally acting guide arrangement, in which the washing compartment is inserted from above.

Relative terms such as "top" and "bottom" refer to the position that the dishwasher occupies when used as intended.

Common dishwashers have a washing container composed of sheet metal parts, which serves to receive the items to be cleaned during a rinse cycle. For example, it is known to assemble a rinsing container from a wall part formed as a rear wall and from a further wall part which forms a cover wall, a bottom wall and two side walls. The connection of the two sheet metal parts is usually carried out by means of a rear wall flange, which is formed along an edge region of the rear wall outside of the container as Stehflansch. The rear wall flange comprises mutually facing connection sections of the interconnected sheet metal parts. The pads can be connected waterproof, for example by means of seam welding or gluing.

A common washing container has on the opposite side of the rear wall to a loading opening, which is closed by a pivotally mounted door. Usually, the washing container thereby comprises a front flange which limits the loading opening at the sides and at the top. Among other things, the front flange serves to increase the stability of the washing container in the front area. A so-called rinsing container spout is usually formed on the underside of the charging opening, which prevents an escape of rinsing water in the lower region of the charging opening.

In known dishwashers, the washing container is placed from above on a so-called base support. The base support here generally has a plurality of bearing surfaces which receive the weight of the washing container. Conventionally, such a base support on a laterally acting guide arrangement which prevents by positive engagement movement of the washing container relative to the base support in the lateral direction. Such dishwashers are made, for example DE-A-10 2007 057 513 (post-published) and DE-A-44 43 918 known.

The guide arrangement is in many cases designed so that the washing container can be inserted by a straight-line movement from above into the guide arrangement. In order to connect the rinsing container and the base support so that the rinsing container can no longer be pulled upwards out of the guide arrangement, it is customary to screw the rinsing container to the rear wall flange and to the front flange with the base support. In this case corresponding screw holes are provided in the rear wall and front flange. By screwing on the outside of the rinsing container arranged flange on the one hand results in a particularly stable connection between washing and base plate, also no openings in the wall parts themselves are required, so that the required water resistance of the washing is not at risk.

A disadvantage of such dishwashers, however, is the high production costs. Thus, the assembly of such dishwashers takes place in that individual prefabricated components, such as the base carrier and the washing containers, are assembled on a conveyor belt. In order now to screw the rinsing container used in the base support, the fitter appointed on both sides of the conveyor belt must insert screws into the corresponding screw holes and then screw them in place. He must therefore at least once from the one side of the assembly line to the other side of the same over. This brings a significant loss of time during assembly of the dishwasher with it. In addition, screwing in the screws takes a comparatively long time, even if motorized screwdrivers are used for this purpose.

The object of the present invention is to provide a dishwasher in which the production is simplified.

The object is achieved in a dishwasher of the type mentioned above in that the flange has a holding portion which is bent so that it cooperates with a downwardly facing surface of the guide assembly such that the washing container is positively connected to the base support.

The shape of the base support and its guide arrangement corresponds with the shape of the washing container so that a relative movement of the washing container with respect to the base support is prevented downwards, in the direction of the rear wall side, in the direction of the charging opening and in the direction of the two side walls.

In order to prevent lifting of the washing container from the base support, a holding portion of the flange assembly relative to the position which it occupies when inserting the washing container in the guide arrangement, bent so that it comes into contact with a downwardly facing surface of the guide assembly. Such a connection, which is also called a cover flap connection, reliably prevents lifting out of the washing container from the guide arrangement, so that expensive screw connections can be dispensed with. This results in a significant simplification and acceleration of assembly, since the time required for a bending process is much lower than for a screwing.

The bending of the holding portion after insertion of the washing container in the base support can be effected in a simple manner by means of a hydraulically operated bending punch. Although it is basically possible to operate such a punch manually, nevertheless, the low complexity of the bending process allows complete automation of the control of the punch. While the previously used screwing requires at least the steps of "gripping a screw", "aligning the screw on the screw hole" and "tightening the screw", only the comparatively simple steps "rough positioning of the punch on the holding section" and "pressing the punch against the holding section "needed. The dishwasher according to the invention So allows a higher degree of automation in their installation.

Due to the now possible automation of the connection process, it is no longer necessary that the mechanic must change from one side of the conveyor belt to the other side thereof, provided that the previously required screw on at least one side of the dishwasher are replaced by Schränkverbindungen. In this way, there is a further gain of time, so that it is possible, for example, to operate the assembly line at a higher speed, which not least reduces the production costs.

Furthermore, a considerable amount of screws, washers and the like, as well as the production of the screw holes can be saved, so that the manufacture of the dishwasher further cheaper.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the flange arrangement comprises a rear wall flange for connecting a wall part designed as a rear wall to a further wall part, at least one of the holding sections being provided on the rear wall flange. In this case, recourse is made to the already existing rear wall flange for the production of the cabinet connection. So it is not specifically intended for the container connection flange required. In addition, the back wall flange is particularly stable, since the back wall flange usually has a one or multiple material doubling on a predominant part of its surface. This is due to the fact that in the region of the rear wall flange, a connection section of the rear wall and a connection section of a further wall part rest against one another. For this reason, it is possible with only a few holding sections to securely connect the back of the washing container with the base support. If the manufacture of the cabinet connections in the area of the rear wall flange is automated, it is generally no longer necessary for the installer to have to carry out assembly work on both sides of the conveyor belt. He can always stay on the side of the feed opening of the washing and perform the necessary work there, such as the insertion of the door.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the flange arrangement comprises a front flange for defining a feed opening, wherein at least one of the holding sections is provided on the front flange. The preparation of the container connection can also be done on the side of the feed opening by means of the time-saving bending process manually or automatically on an existing flange.

According to a particularly preferred development of the invention, the holding section has a first section bent around an upright edge of the guide arrangement, whose upper edge is directed against the downwardly facing surface of the guide arrangement. In this way, the bending line, on which the holding portion is bent relative to its original position, arranged substantially parallel to the forces which could lead to a withdrawal of the washing container from the guide assembly. This results in a special stability of the connection, since such forces can not lead to a bending back of the holding section. In this way, there is a secure fixation of the washing container, even if the washing container and thus the holding portion is made of relatively thin sheet metal.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the holding section has a further section, which adjoins the upper edge of the first section under a bend and bears against the downwardly facing surface. In this way prevents a sharp sheet metal edge exerts forces from the washing container on the downwardly facing surface. This can prevent damage to the downwardly facing surface, especially if it is made of plastic.

In order to simplify manufacture, provision may be made for the holding section, after insertion of the washing container, to face the guide arrangement of the upright edge about which the first section of the holding section is to be bent and a front edge of the downward facing surface. In this case, if the bending punch used for bending is pressed onto the first section of the holding section, the bend is formed around the upright edge as well the bending of the second section relative to the first section in a single operation.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the downwardly facing surface is inclined with respect to a horizontal plane, so that the further section rises starting from the upper edge of the first section. In a cupping connection formed in this way, the front edge of the downwardly facing surface extends obliquely upward starting from its inner region. This facilitates the bending operation, since the bending between the first and second section is at least at the outer region of the front edge with a lower leverage. In this way, the force to be applied by the bending punch is reduced, whereby the drive and the fixation of the punch is simplified.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the guide arrangement on a guide slot, which has a common edge with the downwardly facing surface. In this way, it is possible to position the holding portion and the downwardly facing surface exactly before the bending operation.

According to an expedient development, the guide slot has an insertion bevel. In this way, the insertion of the washing container is facilitated in the guide arrangement of the base support.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the holding section is arranged on the side facing away from the washing compartment of the guide slot. In this way, the risk of damage to the washing container is reduced during the bending of the holding portion. In this case, the part of the guide arrangement on which the guide slot is formed acts as a barrier, which prevents a slipping or badly positioned bending punch from damaging one of the wall parts of the washing compartment.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the holding section is provided at a lower corner region of the flange arrangement. In this case can the guide assembly of the base support be comparatively flat and space-saving. In addition, in many cases, the flange arrangement in the corner region of the washing container is particularly wide, since the edges of the washing container are in many cases rounded, whereas the flange itself has a true corner. In this way, the stability of the flange assembly as such is limited only slightly by the bending of the holding portion.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the guide slot is formed on a guide part of the guide arrangement, which has a hollow profile, wherein the guide slot and the downwardly facing surface are formed on a pointing to the washing container wall of the guide member. Guide parts, which have a hollow profile, have in comparison to the material use a particularly good stability. This stability is only insignificantly influenced if the guide slot is formed only on a wall facing the washing compartment. If the downwardly facing surface is also formed on the wall facing the washing container, a washing container with a comparatively narrow flange arrangement can also be fastened to the guide part.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the guide member has a recess which is arranged so that the insertion of a punch into the hollow profile and the bending of the holding portion therein in a rectilinear motion is possible. In this way, the manufacture of the dishwasher is further simplified.

According to an expedient development of the invention, the flange arrangement comprises an incision or a notch which limits the holding section at least on one side. By cutting is meant a section along a line, which ends in the flange and thus is not closed. Under a notch continues to be understood a flat recess on the flange, in which the boundary line begins and ends at the outer edge of the flange. By appropriate cuts or notches, the dimensions of the holding portion can be adapted to the structural conditions in a simple manner.

The invention advantageously enables a screwless connection between washing container and base support. The proposed connection can be made fully automatic, so that manual assembly activities, especially on the back of the dishwasher, can be avoided.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the rear wall flange of the container at its lower corners in each case a notch, so that there each of the rear wall flange can be bent over an upright and a transversely arranged edge of the base support. Thereby, a holding portion consisting of sections located in two different planes can be formed. This results in a positive connection between the rear wall flange and base support. In order to facilitate the bending of the rear wall flange, the base support has recesses, which are opposite to the still unbent holding portions. As a result, the use of a punch for the edge of the holding portions is facilitated. The invention enables an automation of the production of the connection between washing container and base support. In addition, expensive screwed connections including the screws required for this purpose can be saved.

Figur 1

eine stark schematisierte Seitenansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels einer erfindungsgemäßen Geschirrspülmaschine,

Figur 2

eine Draufsicht auf die Geschirrspülmaschine von Figur 1,

Figur 3

eine räumliche Teilansicht der Geschirrspülmaschine von Figur 1, sowie

Figur 4

eine räumliche Teilansicht der Geschirrspülmaschine von Figur 1 vor der Fertigstellung der Verbindung zwischen Basisträger und Spülbehälter.

The invention and its developments are illustrated and explained in more detail below with reference to drawings. Show it:

FIG. 1

a highly schematic side view of an embodiment of a dishwasher according to the invention,

FIG. 2

a plan view of the dishwasher of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3

a partial spatial view of the dishwasher of FIG. 1 , such as

FIG. 4

a partial spatial view of the dishwasher of FIG. 1 before the completion of the connection between the base support and the washing container.

Elements with the same function and mode of action are in the FIGS. 1 4 each provided with the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic side view of a dishwasher 1, which is designed according to the inventive design principle. There are in the FIG. 1 only those components of the dishwasher 1 are shown and provided with reference numerals, which are necessary for the understanding of the invention.

The dishwasher 1 has a box-shaped washing container 2, which is composed of a plurality of wall parts 3, 4 made of sheet metal. In the embodiment of FIG. 1 the rinsing container 2 has a first wall part 3 designed as a rear wall 3 and a further wall part 4, which forms a cover wall 5, a bottom wall 6 and two side walls 7.

The rinsing container 2 furthermore has a flange arrangement 8, 9 arranged outside on the rinsing container 2, which comprises a rear wall flange 8 and a front flange 9. The rear wall flange 8 runs along the edge of the rear wall 3 and consists of a connection section of the rear wall 3 and of a connection section of the further wall part 4, which face each other. The connection sections of the two wall parts 3, 4 serve for the watertight connection of the wall parts 3 and 4. The connection can be made for example by roll seam welding or gluing. The front flange 9 extends on the side facing away from the rear wall 3 of the dishwasher along the side walls 7 and the top wall 5. It defines a feed opening 10, which is closed by a door, not shown. On its underside, the charging opening 10 is delimited by a container spout 11, which prevents leakage of rinsing water in this area.

The washing container 2 is arranged on a base support 12 made of plastic. The base support 12 has support surfaces 13 for the washing container 2, which carry the weight of the washing container 2. At the top of the base support 12, a laterally acting guide assembly 14, 15 is formed, which is a movement of the washing 2 relative to the base support 12 prevented in the lateral direction. The guide arrangement 14, 15 comprises two rear guide parts 14 which are each arranged on a lower rear corner region of the washing container 2. Furthermore, the guide arrangement 14, 15 comprises two front-side guide parts 15, which are respectively provided at the lower corners of the feed side of the washing compartment 2. The guide assembly 14, 15 is designed so that the washing container 2 from above into the in FIG. 1 shown position can be brought.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the dishwasher 1 of FIG. 1 , The rear guide parts 14 and the front guide parts 15 each have a substantially rectangular hollow profile. The side walls 7 of the washing compartment 2 in each case bear on an inwardly facing wall of one of the rear-side guide parts 14 and on an inwardly facing wall of one of the front-side guide parts 15. As a result, a relative movement of the washing container 2 relative to the base support 2 in the direction of one of the side walls 7 is prevented. By an interaction of the flange assembly 8, 9 and the guide assembly 14, 15, a relative movement in the direction of the rear wall or the charging opening is also prevented.

The rear wall flange 8 is inserted in the region of its lower corners in each case in a guide slot of the respective rear guide member 14. In order to prevent lifting of the washing container 2 from the base support 12, a cupboard flap connection between the washing container 2 and the base support 12 is provided on each of the guide parts 14, 15. Such a cabinet flap connection is described below with reference to Figures 3 and 4 shown in detail and described. The other cabinet flap connections are constructed analogously.

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged portion of the dishwasher of Figures 1 and 2 in a spatial representation. FIG. 3 shows a corner region of the washing container 2 and a corresponding region of the base support 12th In FIG. 3 In particular, a form-fitting connection of washing container 2 and base support 12 formed in the corner region of the washing container is shown. Shown are a part of the rear wall 3, a part of the side wall 7 and a part the rear wall flange 8, which connects the rear wall 3 and the side wall 7.

From the base support 12, one of the rear guide parts 14 is shown in a partially sectioned illustration. The rear guide member 14 in this case has a hollow profile, which is formed by a pointing to the washing container wall 16 and by outer walls 17, 18 and 19. In this case, a part of the outer wall 17 and a part of the outer wall 19 is shown cut to allow an insight into the interior of the hollow profile. The wall 16 pointing to the washing container runs essentially parallel to its respective side wall 7.

At the washing container 2 facing wall 16, a slot 20 is formed with an insertion bevel 21. A corner region of the rear wall flange 8 is inserted from above into the slot 20.

Immediately at the corner of the rear wall flange 8, a holding portion 22 is provided, which has a first portion 24 which is bent from its original position after insertion into the slot 20 about an upright, in particular substantially vertically rectilinear, edge 25, which Slit 20 bounded on its inside. In this case, the first section 24 bears against the inside of the wall 16 facing the washing container 2.

The holding portion 22 acts together with a downwardly facing surface 23 of the guide member 14 so that the washing container 2 is positively connected to the base support 12. The downwardly facing surface 23 is arranged on the side facing the washing container 2 wall 16 of the guide member 14. The upper edge of the first portion 24 of the holding portion 22 is directed against the downwardly facing surface 23.

The holding section 22 has a further section 26, which is bent over the first section 24. The further section 26 prevents that forces exerted by the holding section 22 on the downwardly facing surface 23 exclusively by means of the upper edge of the lower portion 24. In particular, a formation of a sharp edge at the top of the section 24 avoided. As a result, the forces are distributed over a larger part of the surface 23. In this way, damage to the plastic-made surface 23 is avoided.

The bending of the lower portion 24 about the upstanding edge 25 prevents the portion 24 from being bent back to its original position by forces acting on the rinse container 2 against the direction of insertion into the base support 12. This is due to the fact that such forces are substantially parallel to the edge 25 and therefore to the bending line between section 24 and the remaining part of the flange assembly 8. In this way, a high load capacity of the connection between the washing container 2 and base support 12 is ensured.

FIG. 4 shows the part of the FIG. 3 during the manufacture of the dishwasher. Shown here is the state that is present after insertion of the washing container 2 in the base support 12. At this time, the holding portion 22 extends in a plane with the adjacent areas of the rear wall flange. 8

The upper edge of the holding portion 22 and a part of the inner edge of the holding portion 22 are limited by a notch 27 in the rear wall 8. The holding portion 22 abuts against the upright edge 26 and at a front edge 28 of the downwardly facing surface 23. The leading edge 28 is inclined with the downwardly facing surface 23 with respect to a horizontal plane. Surface 23 and, starting from its side facing the washing container 2, rise outward, so that a kind of overhanging wall is formed.

In order to complete the connection between the washing container 2 and the base support 12, a bending punch is introduced through the recess 29 of the guide member 14 provided for this purpose into the interior of the hollow profile. The recess 29 is designed so that the insertion of a bending punch, not shown, into the hollow profile and the bending of the holding section 22 therein by means of the punch in a rectilinear movement B is possible. The insertion direction of the punch is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rear wall flange 8. After insertion, the front end of the punch is placed on the part of the holding portion 22 which does not abut the guide member 14. The bending punch is then further pressed in a straight line with a corresponding force, so that the holding portion 22 is bent both at the edge 26 and at the edge 28. In this way, the first formed just with the remaining part of the rear wall flange 8 holding portion 22 can be folded over twice in only one step, so that the in FIG. 3 shown state arises.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

dishwasher

2

rinse tank

3

Wall part, back wall

4

another wall part

5

top wall

6

bottom wall

7

Side wall

8th

Rückwandflansch

9

front flange

10

loading port

11

container lip

12

base support

13

bearing surface

14

rear guide part

15

front guide part

16

wall pointing to the washing compartment

17

outer wall

18

outer wall

19

outer wall

20

slot

21

chamfer

22

holding section

23

down-facing surface

24

first section

25

edge

26

another section

27

notch

28

leading edge

29

recess

Claims (13)

1. Dishwasher, in particular a domestic dishwasher (1), comprising a washing container (2) which has a flange arrangement (8, 9) arranged externally thereon, and a base carrier (12) which has a laterally acting guide arrangement (14, 15) into which the washing container (2) is introduced from above, characterised in that the flange arrangement (8, 9) has a holding portion (22) which is bent so as to cooperate with a downwardly facing surface (23) of the guide arrangement (14, 15) such that the washing container (2) is connected in interlocking manner to the base carrier (12).
2. Dishwasher according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the flange arrangement (8, 9) comprises a rear wall flange (8) for connecting a wall portion (3) configured as a rear wall (3) to a further wall portion (4), wherein at least one of the holding portions (22) is embodied at the rear wall flange (8).
3. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flange arrangement (8, 9) comprises a front flange (9) for delimiting a feed opening (10) at which at least one of the holding portions (22) is provided.
4. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holding portion (22) has a first portion (24) bent round an upright edge (25) of the guide arrangement, the upper edge of said first portion being directed contrary to the downwardly facing surface (23) of the guide arrangement (14, 15).
5. Dishwasher according to claim 4, characterised in that the holding portion (22) comprises a further portion (26) which, as a result of bending, adjoins the upper edge of the first portion (24) and lies against the downwardly facing surface (23).
6. Dishwasher according to claim 5, characterised in that the downwardly facing surface (23) is arranged obliquely relative to a horizontal plane so that the further portion (26) rises from the upper edge of the first portion (24).
7. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the guide arrangement (14, 15) has a guide slit (20) which has a common edge (28) with the downwardly facing surface (23).
8. Dishwasher according to claim 7, characterised in that the guide slit (20) comprises an introducing incline (21).
9. Dishwasher according to one of claims 7 or 8, characterised in that the holding portion (22) is arranged on the side of the guide slit (20) facing away from the washing container.
10. Dishwasher according to one of claims 7 and 9, characterised in that the guide slit (20) is embodied at a guide element (14) of the guide arrangement (14, 15) which comprises a hollow profile wherein the guide slit (20) and the downwardly facing surface (23) are embodied at a wall (16) of the guide element (14) which faces toward the washing container (2).
11. Dishwasher according to claim 10, characterised in that the guide element (14) has a cutout (29) which is arranged such that the introduction of a bending punch into the hollow profile is enabled and the bending of the holding portion (22) arranged therein in a straight-line movement (B) is made possible.
12. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the flange arrangement (8, 9) comprises a notch or a recess (27) which delimits the holding portion (22) at least at one side.
13. Dishwasher according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the holding portion (22) is provided at a lower corner region of the flange arrangement (8, 9).

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