EP1997969A2 - Sink with an actuating device for a waste grinder - Google Patents

Abstract

The sink (100) has an actuating unit (144) e.g. capacitive sensor (146), for actuating a waste disintegrator (116), where the waste disintegrator stays in connection with a discharge outlet (112). The actuating unit is arranged on the sink, a work plate (130) or a cabinet, where the sink is held on the work plate, and the sink or the work plate is carried by the cabinet. The actuating unit is arranged on a lower side of the sink or on an upper side of the work plate. The actuating unit is accommodated completely or partially in a tapped blind hole (148).

Description

The present invention relates to a sink having a drain opening and having at least one actuating element for actuating a waste crusher, which communicates with the drain opening of the sink.

Such garbage crushers are used for crushing leftovers that are fed through the drainage opening of the sink in the waste crusher to be washed after crushing through a drain pipe in the public sewers.

An actuator for putting into operation such a waste crusher is usually arranged in a power supply line, via which the waste crusher is connected to the power grid.

The operation of such arranged in the power supply line actuating element of the garbage crusher is often uncomfortable.

The object of the present invention is to make the commissioning of a waste shredder associated with the drain opening of a sink more comfortable.

The object is achieved by a sink with a drain opening and with at least one actuating element for actuating a waste crusher, which communicates with the drain opening of the sink,
wherein the actuating element is arranged on the sink, on a worktop, on which the sink is held, or on a cabinet, which carries the sink or a worktop, on which the sink is held.

An actuator disposed on the sink, countertop, or cabinet is particularly light and easy to operate by a user of the sink so that the garbage chopper can be put into operation without any trouble.

Structure and operation of such a waste crusher or waste disposal per se, for example, from U.S. Patent No. 3,165,271 known.

According to the invention, at least one actuating element can be arranged, for example, on an underside of the sink.

Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that at least one actuating element is arranged on a work surface which has at least one cutout opening into which the sink is inserted.

Furthermore, at least one actuating element can be arranged on a worktop, which has one or more passage openings, at the lower edge of each of which a substructure sink is held.

At least one actuator may be disposed on an upper surface of the work surface, and preferably at a portion of the upper surface of the work surface that is substantially horizontally oriented.

Alternatively or additionally, at least one actuating element can be arranged on an underside of the worktop.

In order not to disturb the appearance of sink or worktop by the actuator, it can be provided that at least one actuating element is not visible from the top of the sink or the worktop.

At least one actuating element may comprise a capacitive sensor.

Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that at least one actuating element comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor.

Furthermore, at least one actuating element may comprise a piezoelectric sensor.

There are various possibilities for attaching the actuating element to the sink, the worktop or to the cabinet.

For example, it may be provided that at least one actuating element is partially or completely received in a blind hole formed on the sink, on the worktop or on the cabinet.

Another possibility is that at least one actuating element is partially or completely received in a formed on the sink, on the worktop or on the cabinet through hole.

Furthermore, it can be provided that at least one actuating element comprises a cover, which is arranged on the user of the sink facing side of the actuating element.

Such a cover can protect the actuator in particular from splash water or contaminants.

In particular, it can be provided that the cover closes one end of a passage opening or a blind hole in which the actuating element is partially or completely received.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the actuating element comprises a housing in which a sensor is arranged.

This housing may be held in a passage opening or in a blind hole, in particular by press-fitting, screwing, gluing or latching.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that the housing is held on a recess-free region of the sink, the worktop or the cabinet, in particular by screwing or gluing.

The sink according to the invention preferably comprises a control device for controlling the waste crusher, wherein the control device receives an actuating signal from the at least one actuating element.

In particular, it can be provided that the control device sets the waste crusher in operation when it receives an actuation signal from the at least one actuating element.

Such an actuation signal indicates that the actuator has been actuated by a user of the sink.

In a first type of activation of the waste crusher, provision may be made for the control device to put the waste crusher out of operation after a predetermined operating time has elapsed since the startup procedure.

In a second type of control, the control means keeps the waste crusher operating as long as the actuation signal received by the actuation element continues, and disables the waste shredder as soon as it no longer receives an actuation signal from the at least one actuation element.

In a third type of control, the controller keeps the garbage chopper operating even after the operation signal received from the actuator fails, and the controller shuts down the garbage chopper when it receives another actuation signal from the at least one actuator upon completion of the first operation signal.

Further features and advantages of the invention are the subject of the following description and the drawings of exemplary embodiments.

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung einer Spüle mit einer Abflussöffnung und einem mit der Abflussöffnung verbundenen Abfallzerkleinerer, wobei die Spüle in eine Ausschnittsöffnung einer Arbeitsplatte eingesetzt ist;

Fig. 2

eine schematische Vorderansicht der Spüle mit Abfallzerkleinerer aus Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht der Spüle mit Abfallzerkleinerer aus den Fig. 1 und 2 von unten;

Fig. 4

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch einen Bereich der Spüle, an dem ein Betätigungselement zur Betätigung des Abfallzerkleinerers angeordnet ist, wobei das Betätigungselement in einem Sackloch aufgenommen ist;

Fig. 5

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch einen Bereich der Spüle, an dem ein Betätigungselement zur Betätigung des Abfallzerkleinerers angeordnet ist, wobei das Betätigungselement an einer Unterseite der Spüle gehalten ist;

Fig. 6

einen schematischen Längsschnitt durch einen Bereich der Spüle, an dem ein Betätigungselement zur Betätigung des Abfallzerkleinerers gehalten ist, wobei das Betätigungselement in einer mittels einer Abdeckung verschlossenen Durchgangsöffnung aufgenommen ist;

Fig. 7

eine schematische perspektivische Darstellung einer zweiten Ausführungsform einer Spüle mit Abfallzerkleinerer, die in eine Ausschnittsöffnung einer Arbeitsplatte eingesetzt ist, wobei ein Betätigungselement zur Betätigung des Abfallzerkleinerers neben der Spüle an einer Oberseite der Arbeitsplatte angeordnet ist;

Fig. 8

eine schematische Vorderansicht der Spüle mit Abfallzerkleinerer aus Fig. 7; und

Fig. 9

eine schematische perspektivische Ansicht der Spüle mit Abfallzerkleinerer aus den Fig. 7 und 8 von unten.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a sink with a drain opening and connected to the drain opening waste crusher, the sink is inserted into a cutout opening of a countertop;

Fig. 2

a schematic front view of the sink with waste crusher Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3

a schematic perspective view of the sink with waste crusher from the Fig. 1 and 2 from underneath;

Fig. 4

a schematic longitudinal section through a portion of the sink, on which an actuating element for actuating the waste crusher is arranged, wherein the actuating element is received in a blind hole;

Fig. 5

a schematic longitudinal section through a portion of the sink, on which an actuating element for actuating the waste crusher is arranged, wherein the actuating element is held on an underside of the sink;

Fig. 6

a schematic longitudinal section through a portion of the sink, on which an actuating element is held for actuating the waste crusher, wherein the actuating element is received in a closed by a cover through opening;

Fig. 7

a schematic perspective view of a second embodiment of a sink with waste crusher, which is inserted into a cutout opening of a worktop, wherein an actuating element for actuating the waste crusher is arranged next to the sink at an upper side of the worktop;

Fig. 8

a schematic front view of the sink with waste crusher Fig. 7 ; and

Fig. 9

a schematic perspective view of the sink with waste crusher from the Fig. 7 and 8th from underneath.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in all figures.

One in the Fig. 1 to 4 illustrated as a whole with 100 designated sink comprises a substantially horizontal sink surface 102, in which a main basin 104 and a smaller and less deep additional basin 106 are arranged.

In front of and behind the additional basin 106 is in each case an elevation 108a, 108b from the sink surface 102 upwards, wherein the rear elevation 108a can serve as a battery bank for receiving a valve.

The additional basin 106 is provided at its bottom with a drain opening 110.

The main basin 104 is provided at its bottom with a drain opening 112.

The drain opening 112 of the main basin 104 is connected via a connecting flange 114 to an inlet opening of a waste crusher 116.

An outlet pipe 118 of the waste crusher 116 is connected to the public sewage system via a drainage pipe (not shown).

A drive motor for a grinding unit of the waste crusher 116 arranged in the lower part of the housing of the waste crusher 116 is connected via a power line 120 to the public power grid.

A likewise arranged in the housing of the waste crusher 116 control unit for the drive motor is connected via a signal line 122 to a central control device 124, by means of which the control unit and thus the drive motor of the waste crusher 116 can be controlled.

The control device 124 is accommodated in a housing 126 which is fixed to a lower side 128 of a worktop 130.

The worktop 130 has a central cutout opening 132 into which the sink 100 is inserted, wherein the sink is held by means of known holding devices 134 on the countertop 130, so that the sink 100 can not be lifted from an upper side 136 of the countertop 130 ,

The control device 124 is further connected via a connecting cable 138 with a (not shown) power supply, which in turn is connected to a socket of the public power grid.

The power supply transforms the voltage of the public power grid down to a safety extra-low voltage, which is provided to the control device 124.

The control device 124 comprises a microcontroller which receives signals from an actuating device 140, which is connected via a signal and power line 142 to the microcontroller of the control device 124.

The actuating device 140 comprises an actuating element 144, which is arranged, for example, on the underside of the front elevation 108b of the sink 100.

The actuating element 144 is designed in particular as a "touch-control" sensor and comprises a sensor 146, which may be designed, for example, as a capacitive sensor or as a pressure-sensitive, in particular piezoelectric, sensor.

The actuator 144 may be inserted into a matching blind hole 148 on the underside of the sink 100 or into a suitable through opening on the sink 100 or simply fixed to the substantially flat underside of the sink 100, in particular screwed or glued.

The various ways of attaching the actuator 144 to the sink 100 are in the 4 to 6 shown schematically.

When attaching to Fig. 4 the sink 100 under the control panel of the sensor 146 is reduced to a required residual thickness from the underside 154 of the sink 100 ago, whereby a blind hole 148 is formed, in which the sensor 146 and a circuit board 150 with components for driving and powering the sensor 146th be introduced.

To protect the sensor 146 against harmful environmental influences, the sensor 146 may be housed with the board 150 in a housing 152 (see FIG Fig. 3 ), which can project beyond the blind hole 148 down.

The housing 150 may be press-fitted in the blind hole 148.

Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the housing 152 is screwed or glued to the underside of the sink 100 or latched there by means of suitable latching means.

At the in Fig. 5 As shown, the sensor 146 may be attached to the lower surface 154 thereof without processing the sink 100 and detects an act of actuating the user of the sink 100 over the entire thickness of the material of the sink.

Also in this variant, the sensor 146 is preferably connected to the board 150 in a (in Fig. 5 not shown) housing housed.

This housing is fixed to the bottom 154 of the sink 100, for example, screwed or glued.

At the in Fig. 6 illustrated further possibility for attachment of the actuating element 144, the sink 100 is provided with a through hole 156 which extends from the bottom 154 of the sink 100 to the top 158 through the material of the sink 100 therethrough.

The sensor 146 is introduced together with the circuit board 150 in this passage opening 156.

The top 156 of the sink 100 facing the end of the through hole 156 is closed with a cover 160 which is inserted from above into the through hole 156.

By this cover 160, the control panel of the sensor 146 is clearly marked.

Also in this embodiment, the sensor 146 may be connected to the circuit board 150 in a (in Fig. 6 not shown) housed housing.

This housing may be fixed to the cover 160, in particular glued or screwed.

Further, it is possible that the housing and the cover 160 together form a unit which receives the sensor 146 and the board 150.

This unit can be mounted in the through-hole 156 like a conventional rotary actuator or a soap dispenser.

As passage opening 156 either an already existing at the sink 100 passage opening (which is provided for example for a remote operation) can be used, or the sink 100 is provided for receiving the sensor 146 with an additional passage opening 156.

The in the 4 to 6 illustrated alternative ways to attach the actuator 144 may also be used when the actuator 144 is not on the sink 100, but instead on the countertop 130 or on a base cabinet, which carries the sink 100 or the countertop 130 is disposed.

The mounting options according to 4 and 5 are particularly suitable for use on a sink 100 of an electrically non-conductive material, in particular of a plastic material, of a composite material or of a natural stone material, when the sensor 146 is formed as a capacitive sensor.

Such a capacitive sensor senses a change in capacitance caused by a user of the sink 100 inserting a body part, such as a finger, into the detection area of the sensor 146.

The possibility of attachment after Fig. 6 is particularly suitable for use on a sink 100 made of an electrically conductive material, in particular of a chromium-nickel stainless steel, when the sensor 146 is formed as a piezoelectric sensor, which responds to the pressure in contact with the cover 160 by a Body part, such as a finger, the user of the sink 100 is generated.

In any case, i. when using a capacitive or a piezoelectric sensor 146, the microcontroller of the controller 124 receives a signal via the signal and power line 142 when the sensor 146 of the actuator 144, depending on which of the microcontroller via the signal line 122, the drive motor of the waste crusher 116th controls.

In particular, it may be provided that the microcontroller of the control device 124 sets the drive motor of the waste crusher 116 in operation when it receives an actuation signal from the actuator 144.

In a first type of control, the microcontroller of the controller 124 resets the drive motor of the garbage chopper 116 after a predetermined period of operation of the drive motor has elapsed.

In a second type of drive, the microcontroller of the controller 124 keeps the drive motor of the garbage chopper 116 in operation as long as the actuation signal received from the actuator 144 continues, and the microcontroller of the controller 124 disables the garbage chopper 116 drive motor as soon as it is released from the actuator 144 no more actuating signal receives.

In a third type of driving, the microcontroller of the controller 124 keeps the drive motor of the garbage chopper 116 in operation after the operation signal received from the actuator 144 is completed, and the microcontroller of the controller 124 then disables the drive motor of the garbage chopper 116 when it is off the actuator 144 receives another actuation signal.

To use the garbage chopper 116, the user of the sink 100 will run water into the main basin 104 of the sink 100, which drains through the drain opening 112 into the garbage chopper 116, and at the same time feeds the food leftovers directly into the drain opening 112, from where these food remains get into the waste crusher 116.

By actuating the actuator 144, the user of the sink 100 then triggers the operation of the garbage chopper 116 whose grinder driven by the drive motor crushes the input food debris so that the shredded food remains readily through the exit tube 118 into the drainpipe and thus into the public sewer can be delivered.

In this way, any kitchen waste can be disposed of, such as leftovers of vegetables, nuts, eggshells, meat, fishbones, bones, fruits, pasta, rice and other.

The waste crusher 116 grinds these food particles and rinses them together with the supplied water in the public sewer system.

One in the Fig. 7 to 9 illustrated second embodiment of a sink 100 with waste crusher 116 differs from the first embodiment described above in that the actuator 144 with the sensor 146 not on the bottom 154 of the sink 100, but instead in a through hole 162 in the work plate 130, out of range the sink 100, is arranged, for example, in the same way as in Fig. 6 is shown.

Further, the housing 126 of the controller 124 in this embodiment is not fixed to the bottom 128 of the countertop 130, but rather to the underside of the bottom of the main basin 104 of the sink 100.

Moreover, the right in the Fig. 7 to 9 illustrated second embodiment in terms of structure and function with in the Fig. 1 to 6 illustrated in the first embodiment, reference is made to the above description in this regard.

Claims (22)

A sink having a drain port (112) and at least one actuator (144) for actuating a waste crusher (116) communicating with the drain port (112) of the sink (100), the actuator (144) on the sink (100 ), a worktop (130) on which the sink (100) is held, or a cabinet carrying the sink (100) or a worktop (130) on which the sink (100) is supported is. Sink according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) on an underside (154) of the sink (100) is arranged. Sink according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) on a work plate (130) is arranged, which has at least one cutout opening (132) into which the sink (100) is inserted. Sink according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) is arranged on an upper side of the worktop (130). Sink according to claim 4, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) is arranged in a region of the upper side of the worktop (130), which is aligned substantially horizontally. Sink according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) on an underside of the worktop (130) is arranged. Sink according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) from the top (158) of the sink (100) or the worktop (130) is not visible from. Sink according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) comprises a capacitive sensor (146). Sink according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) comprises a pressure-sensitive sensor (146). Sink according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) comprises a piezoelectric sensor (146). Sink unit according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) is partially or completely accommodated in a blind hole (148) formed on the sink (100), on the worktop (130) or on the cabinet. Sink unit according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) is partially or completely received in a passage opening (156; 162) formed on the sink (100), on the worktop (130) or on the cabinet , Sink according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that at least one actuating element (144) comprises a cover (160), which is arranged on the user of the sink (100) facing side of the actuating element (144). Sink according to claim 13, characterized in that the cover (160) closes one end of a passage opening (156; 162) or a blind hole in which the actuating element (144) is partially or completely received. Sink according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the actuating element (144) comprises a housing (152) in which a sensor (146) is arranged. Sink according to Claim 15, characterized in that the housing (152) is held in a passage opening (156; 162) or in a blind hole (148) by press-fitting, screwing, gluing or latching. Sink according to claim 15, characterized in that the housing (152) is held by screwing or gluing to a recess-free region of the sink (100), the worktop (130) or the cabinet. Sink according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the sink (100) comprises a control device (124) for driving the waste crusher (116), wherein the control device (124) receives an actuating signal from the at least one actuating element (144). A sink according to claim 18, characterized in that the control means (124) operates the waste crusher (116) when receiving an actuation signal from the at least one actuator (144). Sink according to claim 19, characterized in that the control device (124) sets the garbage disposer (116) out of operation after a predetermined period of operation has elapsed since commissioning. A sink as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that the control means (124) disables the waste crusher (116) as soon as it no longer receives an actuation signal from the at least one actuation element (144). A sink according to claim 19, characterized in that the control means (124) disables the waste crusher (116) when it receives another actuation signal from the at least one actuator (144) upon completion of a first actuation signal.

Images