Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for blocking and releasing a door lock of an electrical appliance, such as e.g. a washing machine, a dishwasher or a tumble drier. In said apparatus, use is made of a blocking and release unit, which in a blocking state blocks the locked door lock in order to prevent unlocking of the door lock. In a release state the blocking and release unit enables unlocking of the door lock in that it releases the still locked door lock. Furthermore, an emergency release unit, which is constructed separately from the blocking and release unit, is used to bring the blocking and release unit automatically into the release state in an abnormal operating state of the electrical appliance, such as e.g. in the event of a power failure.

Abstract: For adjusting output voltages of a turbidity sensor which is used for measuring the turbidity of a medium by means of a radiation at least partially propagating through the medium being emitted from a sender and being received by a receiver, ohmic loads for the receiver on its output side are adjusted such that desired output voltages are obtained.

Abstract: Sensor for household appliances, in particular washing machines and dishwashers, comprising a housing 2 which comprises first and second housing fingers 8, 10 extending from a basis, a first optical element 12 being arranged in the first housing finger 8, a second optical element 14 which is arranged in the second housing finger 10 wherein a sensing beam 16 transmitted and received by the optical elements 12, 14 is propagating between the housing fingers 8, 10 external to the housing 2 for sensing of the turbidity of a cleaning medium at least partially surrounding the housing 2, and a temperature sensor 18 which is arranged in the second housing finger 10 in a greater distance from the basis 4 compared to the second optical element 14 for sensing the temperature of the cleaning medium.

Abstract: A door lock provides a restart lockout function for an electrical household appliance to prevent an automatic restart by closing the appliance door again after having been opened during operation of the appliance. The door lock comprises a locking device, which in a closed position locks the door and in an open position releases the door, and a restart lockout device, which in a release state enables operation of the appliance and in a lockout state prevents operation of the appliance. Upon a changeover from its closed position to its open position, the locking device brings the restart lockout device out of its release state into its lockout state.

Abstract: A door latching mechanism for the door of an electric household appliance, in particular a washing machine, is described. The door latching mechanism comprises an element (34) of which at least a deflection part changes its spatial position (C, D) upon a change in temperature of the element (34) and thereby operates a bar element (32) for locking and unlocking the door. The door latching mechanism further comprises an electromagnetic device (46) comprising an actuating member (48) for unlocking the door. The actuating member (48) cooperates with an extension (40A) of the bar element (32).