Household refrigeration appliance comprising a water and/or ice-dispenser

Abstract

The invention relates to a household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) having a thermally-insulated housing ( 2 ), a door leaf ( 3 ) disposed pivotably on the housing ( 2 ) with an inner side and an outer side ( 3 a ) which, when the door leaf ( 3 ) is closed, delimit a refrigeration compartment. The household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) comprises a water and/or ice dispenser ( 7 ) with a water or ice output ( 8 ), which is disposed behind the outer side ( 3 a ) of the door leaf ( 3 ) in or on the door leaf ( 3 ), a cover ( 10 ) which is intended to cover the water or ice output ( 8 ) in a first position and to reveal the water or ice output ( 8 ) in a second position, drive means ( 15 ) coupled to the cover ( 10 ), which is configured to move the cover ( 10 ) between the two positions, and a proximity sensor ( 13 ). The household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) is configured, as a result of signals generated by the proximity sensor ( 13 ), to automatically move the cover ( 10 ) between the two positions by means of the drive means ( 15 ).

1 . A household refrigeration appliance, having a thermally-insulated housing ( 2 ), a door leaf ( 3 ) disposed pivotably on the housing ( 2 ) with an inner side and an outer side ( 3   a ) which, when the door leaf ( 3 ) is closed, delimit a refrigeration compartment, a water and/or ice dispenser ( 7 ) with a water or ice output ( 8 ), which is disposed behind the outer side ( 3   a ) of the door leaf ( 3 ) in or on the door leaf ( 3 ), a cover ( 10 ) which is intended to cover the water or ice output ( 8 ) in a first position and to reveal the water or ice output ( 8 ) in a second position and drive means ( 15 ) coupled to the cover ( 10 ), which are configured to move the cover ( 10 ) between the two positions, characterized by a proximity sensor ( 13 ), wherein the household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) is configured, as a result of signals generated by the proximity sensor ( 13 ) to automatically move the cover ( 10 ) between the two positions by means of the drive means ( 15 ). 
     
     
         2 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the proximity sensor ( 13 ) is disposed in or on the cover ( 10 ). 
     
     
         3 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the signals generated by the proximity sensor ( 13 ) are dependent on a distance of an object from the cover ( 10 ), so that the household refrigeration appliance ( 1 ) automatically moves the cover ( 10 ) by means of the drive means ( 15 ) from its first position into its second position if the distance is less than a minimum distance, and from its second position into its first position when the distance exceeds the minimum distance again. 
     
     
         4 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the surface of the outer side ( 10   a ) of the cover ( 10 ), in its first position, runs flush with the surface of the outer side ( 3   a ) of the door leaf ( 3 ). 
     
     
         5 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the materials of at least the outer sides ( 3   a,    10   a ) of the cover ( 10 ) and the door leaf ( 3 ) are the same. 
     
     
         6 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover ( 10 ) is embodied as a flap ( 10   b ), which is supported pivotably in relation to a pivot axis ( 11 ) running horizontally, especially in its lower area, and in relation to the pivot axis ( 11 ) is able to be pivoted automatically by means of the drive means ( 15 ) at least partly into the door leaf ( 3 ). 
     
     
         7 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover ( 10 ) is able to be moved automatically by means of the drive means ( 15 ), for its second position, at least approximately in parallel to the surface of the outer side ( 3   a ) of the door leaf ( 3 ), into its inner space. 
     
     
         8 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cover ( 10 ) is embodied as a sliding door, and the drive means ( 15 ) slides the sliding door sideways, upwards or downwards, so that the cover ( 10 ) embodied as a sliding door assumes its second position. 
     
     
         9 . The household refrigeration appliance as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the drive means ( 15 ) slides the cover ( 10 ) embodied as a sliding door behind the outer side ( 3   a ) of the door leaf ( 3 ), so that the cover ( 10 ) embodied as a sliding door assumes its second position.