Lid operating mechanism for a drawer-type dishwasher

摘要

A dishwasher includes an outer housing, a drawer having front, rear, bottom and opposing side walls that collectively define a washing tub, a lid for selectively closing the washing tub and an operating mechanism that raises and lowers the lid as the drawer is shifted into and out of the outer housing. The operating mechanism includes a lifting slider slidably mounted in the outer housing operatively coupled to a lifting spring and a compression slider, also slidably mounted in the outer housing coupled to a compression spring. The lifting slider and compression slider are provided with corresponding lifting rollers and compression rollers that engage the lid. As the drawer is withdrawn from the outer housing, the lifting spring urges the lifting slider upward raising the lid and, as the drawer is inserted into the outer housing, the compression slider forces the lid downward onto the washing tub.

主权项

1. A method of operating a drawer-type dishwasher comprising:
shifting a drawer out from an outer housing of the dishwasher to expose a washing chamber; simultaneously with shifting the drawer, urging at least one lifting slider upward to act upon a lid for the washing chamber; raising the lid above the drawer to expose the washing chamber; loading dishware into the washing chamber; shifting the drawer into the outer housing, causing a rear wall of the drawer to abut the lid, urging at least one compression slider to shift downward, and causing the lid to be urged against an upper portion of the washing chamber to establish a seal between the drawer and the lid; and activating the dishwasher to perform a washing operation in the washing chamber.