Description

Technical Field

The present invention finds application in the technical field of washing devices for domestic use and particularly has as its object a household appliance for washing and storing tableware adapted to be used both as a dishwasher and for storing tableware after washing.

State of the art

As known, common dishwashers are usually designed to be used exclusively as a household appliance for washing tableware and cookware after their use.

However, common dishwashers are used to store tableware after the wash cycle only temporarily, while it is necessary to unload the tableware in order to place them in cabinets or other compartments suitable for their storage in hygienic conditions.

Furthermore, the typical configuration of dishwashers requires them to be installed on the floor, with the consequence that, for loading and unloading, the user have continually to bend down to remove or insert the various dishes, making the operations poorly ergonomic.

A further drawback of the known solutions is represented by the need to load the detergent, whatever its form, as well as any auxiliary products such as salt or other chemical reagents, at the beginning of each washing cycle.

US3080874 discloses a typical example of a dishwasher in accordance with the preamble of claim 1 wherein the appliance is provided with a cabinet which houses at its inside a supply system of the washing liquid placed in a fixed position inside the cabinet.

W02021151660 discloses a dishwasher that provides a water collection area after washing, which area being provided with a water-repellent surface. Even in this case, however, the washing liquid supply device is fixed and the inside of the cabinet does not avoid the accumulation of water, making the appliance unsuitable for storing tableware in sufficiently hygienic conditions even for a prolonged period.

EP0573243 discloses a dishwasher designed to be suspended from a wall, but which cannot in any case be used as a cabinet for prolonged storage of tableware after washing.

Scope of the invention

The object of the present invention is to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks by providing a household appliance for washing and storing tableware adapted to be used both as a household appliance for cleaning tableware and as a cabinet for prolonged storage in highly hygienic conditions of clean tableware after washing.

A particular object is to provide a household appliance for washing and storing tableware allowing to keep clean tableware while always guaranteeing maximum decorum.

Yet another object is to provide a household appliance for washing and storing tableware which allows loading and unloading of tableware in ergonomically favorable and safe conditions.

Yet another object is to provide a household appliance for washing and storing tableware which allows a single load of detergent and any auxiliary products in quantities sufficient to carry out even more than one washing cycle.

These objects, as well as others that will appear more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a household appliance for washing and storing tableware which, according to claim 1, comprises a cabinet for containing tableware to be washed and stored, which cabinet being equipped with closing doors and houses inside a first washing water dispensing device, a second supplying device for the automatic supply of the detergent, a compartment for collecting the water after washing, one or more shelves for positioning tableware to be washed.

The cabinet has inner walls treated chemically and/or mechanically to be hydrophobic or prevent the adhesion of water and chemical agents.

Furthermore, the washing water supplying device is housed movably to move between a rest position inside a seat provided in the rear wall of the cabinet and an operational position wherein it is extracted from the seat and is arranged above at least one of the positioning shelves.

In this way, the appliance may be used both as a normal dishwasher and as a cabinet for placing tableware when not in use.

As matter of fact, at the end of the wash, the washing water supplying device will be automatically removed from the tableware washing and storage area. Furthermore, the chemical and/or mechanical treatment of the inner walls, which will thus be hydrophobic or water-repellent, will ensure that all the washing water is disposed of towards the collection compartment, from which it can be easily removed, avoiding the possibility of water stagnation, water which would be a potential source of bacterial accumulations and mold and which would not guarantee the conservation of tableware in optimal hygienic conditions.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are obtained in accordance with the dependent claims.

Brief disclosure of the drawings

Further features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent in light of the detailed description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the household appliance according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example with the aid of the attached drawing tables wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded front view of the appliance without some elements to allow viewing inside;

FIG. 2 is an exploded rear view of the appliance of Fig. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the appliance without some elements to allow viewing inside; FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the appliance according to the A-A outline of Fig. 3; FIG. 5 is a sectional side view of the appliance according to the B-B outline of Fig. 3; FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the automatic detergent dispensing device;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the inner elements of the automatic dispensing device of Fig. 6;

FIG. 8 shows some sectional views of the automatic dispensing device of Fig. 6;

FIG. 9 is a circuit diagram of the appliance.

Best modes of carrying out the invention

With reference to the attached figures, a preferred but not exclusive configuration of a household appliance for washing and storing tableware according to the invention is shown, designed to be installed both within a domestic environment and in commercial premises, such as bars, kitchens of restaurants and communities in general.

Even if in this text particular reference is made to washing tableware for simplicity, it remains understood that the appliance will also be suitable for washing and storing glasses, cutlery, pots and everything that can commonly be washed in a common dishwasher.

The appliance will be suitable to be connected both to the electricity network, for the power supply of any electrical components, and to the water network, for the supply of washing water, although in theory it will be possible to provide the cabinet with both means for autonomous electrical power supply and its own water supply tank with sufficient capacity to allow one or more washing cycles to be carried out.

In its most essential configuration, the appliance, indicated globally with 1, comprises a cabinet 2 designed to house the tableware both during washing and in the conservation or storage phase.

The cabinet 2, shown in the figures having the shape of a parallelepiped, although it may also have other configurations, may be made of any material but will preferably be made of metallic material.

The cabinet 2 is also provided with one or more closing doors, not shown, which may have a hinged and/or sliding opening, also preferably made of metal.

According to a preferred embodiment, the metal material of the cabinet 2 and the doors can be low carbon steel or aluminum alloy, so as to reduce its overall weight.

The dimensions of the cabinet 2 may vary depending on the user’s needs and the desired load capacity.

According to a preferred but not exclusive configuration, the cabinet 2 has such overall dimensions as to allow it to be suspended from a wall, so that each user may place the household appliance 1 at the height most suitable for him to carry out the loading/discharge in ergonomically correct conditions.

Preferably, the position of the appliance 1 will be such that the lower outer face 3 of the cabinet 2 is at a height between 165 and 175 cm from the ground, so as to maximize ease of use.

The problem linked to the greater installation height and the added pressure drops will be resolved by increasing the head of the hydraulic circuit feed pump, for example with an increase of 0.25 bar.

The cabinet 2 will therefore be provided with means for anchoring it to the wall, described in more detail below in their preferred form, sized to secure it stably to the wall without it being subjected to deformations.

The cabinet 2 houses inside it both at least one first supply device 4 for the washing water and a second automatic supply device 5 for the detergent.

Furthermore, the cabinet 2 is provided with a compartment or collection tray 6 for the waste water designed for drainage, which compartment 6 is made in the bottom wall

7 of the cabinet 2 or arranged thereon and is suitably provided with a drainage duct or hole, not shown.

Typically for this type of household appliances, inside the cabinet 2 there will be one or more shelves, grids, glass holders, cutlery holders and other elements for supporting tableware and/or cutlery and/or cookware during washing, generally indicated with 8. According to a particularly advantageous aspect, the inner surfaces of the cabinet 2, in particular those likely to come into contact with the washing water, are treated chemically and/or mechanically, for example by means of micromanufacturing processes, to be hydrophobic and/or water-repellent and prevent the adhesion of both water and chemical agents used in washing.

Advantageously, the cabinet 2 will house at its inside, in a position facing the doors, one or more folding curtains, not illustrated, designed to prevent splashes of water from hitting the doors themselves.

Suitably, the one or more curtains will be mechanically connected via a rack to a movement mechanism suitable for making them move, when the washing cycle is started, from a removed position wherein they do not cover the doors, making it possible, after having opened the doors, access to the shelves 8 on which the tableware is placed, to an operational position wherein they cover the doors from the inside.

According to a peculiar aspect of the invention, the first supply device 4 for washing water is movably housed inside the cabinet 2 to move between a rest position inside a proper housing 9 provided in the rear wall 10 of the cabinet 2 and an operational position wherein the first supply device 4 will be positioned above the support shelves

8 of the tableware or other items to be washed.

Preferably, inside the cabinet 2 there may also be a grid which will move at the same time as the first supply device 4 for washing water and which will retain the objects on the relevant shelf 8.

An electronic control unit will then activate the supply of washing water once the first supply device 4 is in the operational position.

Possibly, inside the cabinet 2 there may also be two or more supply devices 4 for washing water placed at different heights and both movable inside the cabinet 2 to return to a proper housing 9 at the end of the washing cycle.

The one or more first supply devices 4 may be rotatable to enter into rotation as a result of the pressure of the supplied water, in a manner substantially similar to what happens in common dishwashers.

The supply devices 4 for washing water may comprise dispensers equipped with a return spring which will be raised by the effect of the water pressure; the dispensers will be applied to a slot so that the lack of pressure causes them to stop in a position parallel to the device.

Alternatively, the washing water supply device 4 may comprise a plurality of water dispensing nozzles opposed to each other and oriented at 90° to each other and associated with a filtering system that prevents them from clogging.

According to a first variant, the movement of the first supply device 4 may be caused by a foldable hydraulic cylinder which will be filled with water coming from the hydraulic supply circuit or from the general hydraulic network to then be brought back into position, in the absence of water supply, by a return spring.

According to a further variant, the movement of the first delivery device 4 for washing water may be produced by a rack kinematic mechanism on which the supply device 4 will be mounted and which will be powered by a 24V direct current motor.

A position sensor connected to the rack will activate the part of the logic which, via switches connected to the motor, starts/stops the movement of the device 4.

A solenoid connected directly to the power supply (possibly via a switch controlled by the operating logic) will have the function of preventing the doors from opening when appliance 1 is in operation.

The bottom wall 7 of the cabinet 2 will also be provided with a water collection compartment designed to allow the exhausted water to flow by gravity towards a drainage channel or hole and in which the components of the hydraulic circuit and the electromechanical devices will also be housed.

Any electromechanical parts housed below must comply with current technical regulations. For maximum safety it will be possible to use components operating at 24V supplied by a power supply respecting the corresponding technical standards.

Preferably, the water collection compartment 6 may be flanked by a tray 11 for containing cutlery, the function of which is also to hide the drainage channel.

If the water flow rate is not sufficient, it will be necessary to provide for the presence of additional nozzles inside the cutlery tray 11.

Cabinet 2 may be provided with upper openings to speed up drying and/or additional heaters.

Preferably, the cabinet 2 will be of the self-supporting type and strengthened in the upper corners to resist tensile stresses; the anchoring means may comprise a steel plate suitable for being placed between the rear wall 10 of the cabinet 2 and the bolts fixing it to the wall.

The second automatic supply device 5 for the detergent may be composed of a main body 12, a blocking device 13 acting by means of a spring, the sliders 14 and a rear door for inserting the soap pads, to be placed bottom in the main body 12.

It is possible for the single pads to be enclosed in a single package, provided that the thickness of the coating is compatible with the respective compartment provided in the body 12 and the coating itself is water-soluble.

A slider 14 with its own spring 16 is placed above each pad. The presence of the pad locks the slider 14 in the high position, while the spring 16 moves the slider 14 to the low position if there is no pad. The locking device 13 is inserted through the rear opening of the lock, housed in the upper compartment.

When the appliance 1 starts working, the water pressure moves the locking device 13 forward, compressing the respective spring 16.

Alternatively, the locking device 13 may be moved by a 24V solenoid controlled by the control electronics.

When the slider 14 is in the low position, the locking device 13 locks the slider 14 by positioning itself above it, preventing it from rising; when the slider 14 is in the high position, the locking device 13 enters the front cavity of the slider 14 (near the hole). In this way, water flows into the device from the front hole in the first compartment. If the slider 14 is in the high position, the water is conveyed downwards from the channel 15 located on the rear side of the slider 14; if the slider 14 is in the low position the water is conveyed from the hole 17 in the upper part of the slider 14 into the next compartment 18.

Water dissolves the soap pad when meets it and then flows out through channel 15 at the bottom. The entry of water from below is prevented by the slider 14 which moves between two equilibrium positions depending on the presence or absence of the soap pad.

If the water pressure is excessive, one or more one-way valves of the ball type or Tesla type must be installed in the channels to prevent the water from invading other rooms. In this way it will be possible to use a single pad for a single wash cycle. A button must be inserted in the last compartment to signal when the pads are close to the end.

Fig. 9 shows the diagram in the Modelica environment of the household appliance 1, for convenience divided into the upper part reproducing the hydraulic section and a lower part representing the electromechanical circuit including the gears, the limit switches and the switches that regulate the working logic. In the hydraulic diagram, water is introduced through the device on the left, the pressure expands the two cylinders connected to the two control valves that connect them to the nozzles depicted on the right.

The electromechanical scheme is carried out downstream of the power supply, connected to the various switches that regulate the operating logic of the functions. The switches control the activation of the mechanics used to move the water supply devices. The electric motors for movement are connected immediately below, mechanically connected to the two racks (on the right) that move the supply devices and (possibly) the splash curtain. The bottom connection to the electric motor is instead obtained through a reduction mechanism which regulates the angle of the "rack". Downstream of this there is the angular sensor connected (as control logic) to the device that controls the switches and starts/stops their operation. The position sensor connected to the rack at the top (integral with the water supply devices) activates the part of the logic which starts/stops the movement of the devices via the switches connected to the motor.

Finally, at the bottom left, the solenoid connected directly to the power supply (possibly via a switch controlled by the operating logic) has the function of preventing the doors from opening when the appliance is in operation.