CN112166215B

CN112166215B - Cover locking mechanism and washing machine using same

Info

Publication number: CN112166215B
Application number: CN201980033558.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 埜邨浩之; 林敬彦
Original assignee: Sharp Corp
Current assignee: Sharp Corp
Priority date: 2018-06-07
Filing date: 2019-02-19
Publication date: 2023-04-11
Anticipated expiration: 2039-02-19
Also published as: JP7197577B2; CN112166215A; JPWO2019234985A1; TW202001031A; TWI807037B; WO2019234985A1

Abstract

The cover locking mechanism is capable of switching between a locked state and an unlocked state of a cover (100) provided with respect to a housing (200), and includes a handle member (110) and a latch member (120) on the cover (100) side. The cover locking device includes a slide member (210) for restricting the movement of a latch member (120) on the side of a housing (200) to configure the cover locking device in a locked state. The first spring (151) biases the latch member (120) in the opening direction with respect to the handle member (110) when the user operates the handle member (110) in the opening direction (A1 direction). When the lid lock mechanism is locked, the latch member (120) is immovable by the slide member (210), and the handle member (110) is operable in the opening direction against the urging force of the first spring (151).

Description

Cover locking mechanism and washing machine using same

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a mechanism for locking a cover and a door of a washing machine during washing, and a washing machine using the cover locking mechanism.

Background

The casing of the washing machine is provided with an inlet for introducing laundry into the washing tub, and a cover (or door) for closing the inlet during washing is provided in an openable and closable manner. Further, the washing machine includes a cover locking mechanism for locking the cover so that the cover is not opened and closed during washing (for example, patent document 1).

In a conventional lid locking mechanism for a washing machine, for example, a latch provided in a lid is inserted into an opening provided in a casing, and the lid is locked by latching and engaging the latch in the opening. In the cover locking mechanism having such a configuration, the latch is provided on the cover so as to be swingable between the engagement position with the housing and the engagement release position, and the engagement position is biased by a spring or the like. The latch swings between an engagement position with the housing and an engagement release position by a user operating a handle portion provided on the cover. In addition, the lid locking mechanism can restrict the movement of the latch at the engagement position with the housing, and by restricting the movement of the latch at the engagement position, a locked state in which the user cannot open or close the lid is obtained.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese laid-open patent publication No. 2014-50468 "

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem to be solved by the invention

In the conventional lid lock mechanism, the handle portion is configured to swing integrally with the latch, and the handle portion is also stationary when movement of the latch is restricted in the locked state. However, the user may not be aware of the locked state, and the user may apply an excessive force to forcibly move the handle portion. In such a case, the component to which an excessive load exceeding the allowable value is applied may be damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cover locking mechanism and a washing machine that can prevent parts from being damaged when a handle portion is operated in a locked state.

Means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problem, a cap locking mechanism according to a first aspect of the present invention is a cap locking mechanism that can switch between a locked state and an unlocked state of a cap member provided with respect to a housing, the cap locking mechanism including: a handle member rotatably provided with respect to the cover member, and operated in an opening direction by a user in a case of opening the cover member; a latch member which is provided rotatably with respect to the handle member and which is engaged with the housing so as to be able to hold the closed state of the lid member; a restricting member that sets the cover locking mechanism to a locked state by restricting movement of the latch member in the engaged state; a first elastic member that directly or indirectly exerts an urging force between the handle member and the latch member when the handle member is operated in the opening direction by a user, and that urges the latch member in the opening direction with respect to the handle member; and a second elastic member that directly or indirectly exerts an urging force between the cover member and the handle member, and that urges the handle member in a direction opposite to the opening direction with respect to the cover member.

According to the above configuration, when the lid locking mechanism is locked, the latch member is immovable, and the handle member is operable in the opening direction against the biasing force of the first elastic member and the second elastic member. That is, even in the case where the user forcibly moves the handle member without being aware of the locked state of the lid lock mechanism, the force applied by the user is absorbed by the first spring. Therefore, even if the user operates the handle member when the mechanism is locked, the parts of the cover locking mechanism can be prevented from being damaged by an excessive load.

Further, the lid locking mechanism may have the following configuration: including an intermediate member disposed between the handle member and the latch member; the first resilient member exerts a force between the latch member and the intermediate member; the second elastic member indirectly biases the handle member via the intermediate member.

According to the above configuration, by interposing the intermediate member between the handle member and the latch member, each of the members has a simple shape, and the manufacturing of the members is facilitated or the assembly of parts is simplified, thereby enabling the reduction of the manufacturing cost.

In addition, the locking mechanism may have a structure in which: the first elastic member and the second elastic member are torsion springs.

In order to solve the above problems, a second aspect of the present invention is a washing machine including: a cover member openably and closably provided at an inlet of a washing tub for receiving laundry, and a cover locking mechanism capable of switching between a locked state and an unlocked state of the cover member; the lid locking mechanism is the lid locking mechanism described above.

Effects of the invention

The cover locking mechanism and the washing machine of the invention have the following effects: even if a user operates the handle member when the cover locking mechanism is locked, the damage caused by applying an excessive load to the components of the cover locking mechanism can be prevented.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a lid locking mechanism according to embodiment 1.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a component structure used on the cover side in the cover locking mechanism of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 (a) is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the biasing action of the cap lock mechanism of fig. 1 by the first spring, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the biasing action of the cap lock mechanism of fig. 1 by the second spring.

Fig. 4 (a) and (b) are schematic sectional views showing the operation of the lid lock mechanism of fig. 1 in an unlocked state.

Fig. 5 (a) and (b) are schematic sectional views showing the operation of the cap locking mechanism of fig. 1 in the locked state.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing another example of the configuration of components used on the cover side in the cover lock mechanism of fig. 1.

Fig. 7 (a) and (b) are schematic sectional views showing the operation of the lid lock mechanism according to embodiment 2 in the locked state.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view showing a vertical washing machine to which the cover locking mechanism of the present invention is applicable.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view showing a drum type washing machine to which the cover locking mechanism of the present invention is applicable.

Detailed Description

[ embodiment 1]

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the lid lock mechanism according to embodiment 1. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a component structure used on the cover side in the cover locking mechanism of fig. 1. The cross section in fig. 1 corresponds to the cross section of the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the component shown in fig. 2.

In a washing machine to which the cover locking mechanism of embodiment 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as this mechanism) is applied, as shown in fig. 1, an inlet 201 for introducing laundry into a washing tub is formed in a casing 200 of the washing machine, and a cover (lid member) 100 for closing the inlet 201 is provided so as to be openable and closable. This mechanism can lock the cover 100 so that the cover 100 is not opened or closed during washing.

In this mechanism, a handle member 110, a latch member 120, an intermediate member 130, a support shaft 140, a first spring (first elastic member) 151, and a second spring (second elastic member) 152 are provided on the cover 100 side. First, the component structure of the lid 100 side of the lid lock mechanism will be described.

The handle member 110, the latch member 120, and the intermediate member 130 are rotatably supported with respect to the same pivot 140. The first spring 151 acts between the latch member 120 and the intermediate member 130. The second spring 152 acts between the cover 100 and the intermediate member 130.

The handle member 110 is a portion that is operated by a user when the lid 100 in the closed state is opened. When the mechanism is unlocked, the user lifts the handle member 110 in the opening direction (direction A1 in fig. 3) to move the latch member 120 in the engagement releasing direction (direction A1 in fig. 3).

The latch member 120 includes a latch portion 121 protruding from the rotational axis of the latch member 120 in the outer circumferential direction. The latch portion 121 is disposed so as to protrude outward from the opening 111 provided in the handle member 110, and a latch claw 121A is formed at the tip of the latch portion 121. When the lid 100 is in the closed state, the latch claw 121A is inserted into the engagement hole 202 provided in the case 200, and the latch claw 121A engages with an edge of the engagement hole 202, for example, to maintain the closed state of the lid 100. Further, an engagement hole 121B (see fig. 2) may be provided on the latch portion 121 side, a protrusion 203 (see fig. 1) protruding inward may be provided on the engagement hole 202 on the case 200 side, and the engagement hole 121B may be fitted to the protrusion 203 when the cover 100 is closed. Alternatively, the closed state of the lid 100 may be maintained only by fitting (engagement) of the engagement hole 121B and the protrusion 203 (see fig. 1).

In addition, the latch member 120 includes a first abutting plate 122 that is provided to protrude from the rotational shaft of the latch member 120 in the outer circumferential direction at a position different from the latch portion 121. The first contact plate 122 comes into contact with the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130, thereby defining the positional relationship of these members.

The intermediate member 130 is interposed between the handle member 110 and the latch member 120, and includes a second abutting plate 131 protruding from the rotational axis of the intermediate member 130 in the outer circumferential direction. The second contact plate 131 can define the positional relationship of the handle member 110 and the latch member 120 by contacting these members.

Next, the arrangement and operation of the first spring 151 and the second spring 152 will be described with reference to fig. 3 (a) and (b). Fig. 3 (a) is a diagram illustrating the biasing action of the first spring 151, and is a sectional view of the arrangement position of the first spring 151. Fig. 3 (b) is a diagram illustrating the biasing action of the second spring 152, and is a sectional view of the arrangement position of the second spring 152.

As shown in fig. 3 (a), a torsion spring is used as the first spring 151, one end of the first spring 151 urges the first contact plate 122 of the latch member 120 in the A1 direction, and the other end of the first spring 151 urges the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130 in the A2 direction. At this time, since the first contact plate 122 of the latch member 120 is in contact with the A2 direction side as viewed from the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130, the contact state between the first contact plate 122 and the second contact plate 131 is maintained by the biasing force of the first spring 151.

As shown in fig. 3 (b), a torsion spring is used as the second spring 152, one end of the second spring 152 abuts against the back surface of the cover 100, and the other end of the second spring 152 biases the second abutting plate 131 of the intermediate member 130 in the A2 direction. The second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130 is in contact with the projection 112 provided on the handle member 110, and the biasing force of the second spring 152 acts on the handle member 110 via the intermediate member 130. That is, the second spring 152 indirectly biases the handle member 110 in the A2 direction.

Next, the operation of the mechanism in the unlocked state and the locked state will be described with reference to fig. 4 and 5. Fig. 4 (a) and (b) are schematic sectional views showing the operation of the mechanism in an unlocked state, and fig. 5 (a) and (b) are schematic sectional views showing the operation of the mechanism in a locked state. Although the first spring 151 is illustrated in fig. 4 and 5, the second spring 152 is not illustrated.

First, in order to switch the unlocked state and the locked state of the present mechanism, a slide member (restricting member) 210 is provided on the housing 200 side in the present mechanism. The slide member 210 is slidable in the directions B1 and B2 shown in fig. 4 and 5, and slides rearward (in the direction B1) by coming into contact with the latch claw 121A inserted into the engagement hole 202 when the lid 100 is closed. The slide member 210 can be fixed at the above position by a solenoid (solenoid) or the like (not shown) in a state of being moved in the B1 direction. In the state where the solenoid is off, the slide member 210 is biased in the direction B2 by the compression spring 220 and positioned at a predetermined position (for example, the position of the slide member 210 in fig. 4 (B)).

As shown in fig. 4 a, when the unlocked state cover 100 of the present mechanism is closed and held, as shown in fig. 4 a, the intermediate member 130 (only the second contact plate 131 is shown in fig. 4) and the handle member 110 are biased in the A2 direction by the second spring 152 (not shown in fig. 4) and positioned at a predetermined position. At this time, the latch member 120 is held in a positioned state by being abutted against the intermediate member 130 by the biasing force of the first spring 151. In this state, the latch member 120 is inserted into the engagement hole 202 of the housing 200 and engaged therewith.

When the cover 100 is opened in the unlocked state of the present mechanism, the user lifts the handle member 110 in the opening direction (A1 direction) as shown in fig. 4 (b). At this time, the intermediate member 130 is also rotated in the A1 direction as the handle member 110 is rotated. That is, the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are rotated against the urging force of the second spring 152.

When the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are rotated in the A1 direction, the latch member 120 integrated with the intermediate member 130 by the biasing force of the first spring 151 is also rotated in the A1 direction. That is, the intermediate member 130 indirectly transmits the rotational force to the latch member 120 when the handle member 110 is rotated in the A2 direction. When the latch member 120 is rotated in the A1 direction, the engagement of the latch member 120 is released and the lid 100 becomes openable. In the unlocked state of the present mechanism, the slide member 210 is not fixed at this position by an electromagnetic coil or the like, and the slide member 210 does not hinder the engagement release of the latch member 120.

On the other hand, in the locked state of the mechanism, as shown in fig. 5 (a), the slide member 210 is fixed at this position by an electromagnetic coil or the like in a state of moving in the B1 direction. Thereby, the latch member 120 is not rotatable in the A1 direction from the engagement release. In the state shown in fig. 5 (a) (the state in which the user does not operate the handle member 110 any more), the positions of the handle member 110, the latch member 120, and the intermediate member 130 are the same as those in the basic state shown in fig. 4 (a).

In the locked state of the mechanism, when the user lifts the handle member 110 in the opening direction (A1 direction), the state shown in fig. 5 (b) is achieved. At this time, the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are rotated in the A1 direction against the urging force of the second spring 152, which is the same as when unlocked.

However, even if the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are rotated in the A1 direction during locking, the rotation of the latch member 120 in the A1 direction by the slide member 210 is inhibited. As a result, the intermediate member 130 rotates in the A1 direction against the biasing force of the first spring 151, and the relative positional relationship between the intermediate member 130 and the latch member 120 changes.

Thus, even in the case where the user forcibly moves the handle member 110 without being aware that the mechanism is in the locked state, the force applied by the user is absorbed by the first spring 151. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the components of the present mechanism from being damaged by an excessive load exceeding the allowable value.

In addition, it is preferable that the spring force of the first spring 151 is designed to be greater than that of the second spring 152. In this case, since the force required to operate the handle member 110 when locked is greater than the force required to operate the handle member 110 when unlocked, the user can easily recognize that the mechanism is in the locked state.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view showing a modified example of the lid lock mechanism according to embodiment 1, and showing a component configuration used on the lid side. In the cover locking mechanism shown in fig. 2, the intermediate member 130 is formed to have a wider width in the axial direction than the latch member 120, and the latch member 120 is disposed on the inner side in the axial direction with respect to the intermediate member 130. In contrast, in the cover locking mechanism shown in fig. 6, the latch member 120 is formed to have a wider width in the axial direction than the intermediate member 130, and the intermediate member 130 is disposed on the inner side in the axial direction with respect to the latch member 120. Even in the configuration shown in fig. 6, since the biasing action of the first spring 151 and the second spring 152 is not different from that of fig. 2, the lid locking mechanism of fig. 6 can obtain the same action and effect as those of the lid locking mechanism of fig. 2.

In the above description, the structure of the cover side in the present mechanism is composed of three parts of the handle member 110, the latch member 120, and the intermediate member 130, in addition to the spring and the shaft. However, the present invention is not limited to these, and may be constituted by two parts in which the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrally formed, for example. In the operation described in fig. 4 and 5, the relative positional relationship between the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 is not changed, and this means that the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 can be integrally formed.

When the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are different members, the second spring 152 indirectly applies an urging force to the handle member 110 via the intermediate member 130. In contrast, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrated, the second spring 152 directly biases the handle member 110.

In addition, in the case where the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are different members, when the handle member 110 is rotated in the A2 direction, the rotational force is indirectly transmitted to the first spring 151 via the intermediate member 130. In contrast, in the case where the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrated, when the handle member 110 is rotated in the A2 direction, the rotational force is directly transmitted to the first spring 151. In other words, when the user operates the handle member 110 in the A1 direction, the first spring 151 directly or indirectly biases the handle member 110 and the latch member 120, and biases the latch member 120 in the A1 direction with respect to the handle member 110.

In addition, in the case where the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are different members, when the user operates the handle member 110 in the A1 direction, the rotational force of the handle member 110 is transmitted to the latch member 120 via the intermediate member 130 and the first spring 151, and in the case where the latch member 120 is rotated in the A1 direction, the rotational force of the latch member 120 is transmitted only to the intermediate member 130 and is not transmitted to the handle member 110.

However, in the case where the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrated, when the opened cover 100 is closed, the latch member 120 moves together with the handle member 110. On the other hand, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are separate members (when the intermediate member 130 is interposed between the handle member 110 and the latch member 120), the lid 100 can be closed without moving the handle member 110.

[ embodiment 2]

Although embodiment 1 exemplifies a cover locking mechanism using a first spring 151 and a second spring 152, which are torsion springs, embodiment 2 describes a cover locking mechanism using an elastic member other than a torsion spring. Fig. 7 (a) and (b) are schematic sectional views showing the lid locking mechanism using a compression spring, and showing the operation of the mechanism in the locked state.

In the present mechanism shown in fig. 7 (a) and (b), a third spring (first elastic member) 153, which is a compression spring, is used instead of the first spring 151, which is a torsion spring described in embodiment 1. In addition, the intermediate member 130 includes a spring abutting plate 132 in addition to the second abutting plate 131. The spring abutting plate 132 is provided to protrude from the rotation axis of the intermediate member 130 in the outer circumferential direction, similarly to the second abutting plate 131, and is provided on the A2 direction side as viewed from the second abutting plate 131. Further, between the second abutment plate 131 and the spring abutment plate 132, the first abutment plate 122 of the latch member 120 is disposed. The third spring 153 is disposed between the first contact plate 122 and the spring contact plate 132, and applies an urging force so as to push out between these plates.

In the locked state of the mechanism, as shown in fig. 7 (a), the slide member 120 is fixed at this position by an electromagnetic coil or the like in a state of moving in the B1 direction. Thus, the latch member 120 cannot be rotated in the A1 direction from the engagement release, as in embodiment 1. In this state, the first contact plate 122 of the latch member 120 is in contact with the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130, and is biased by the third spring 153.

In the locked state of the mechanism, when the user lifts the handle member 110 in the opening direction (A1 direction), the state is as shown in fig. 7 (b). At this time, the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are rotated in the A1 direction against the urging force of the second spring 152. On the other hand, the latch member 120 is prevented from rotating in the A1 direction by the slide member 210. As a result, the intermediate member 130 rotates in the A1 direction against the biasing force of the third spring 153, and the relative positional relationship between the intermediate member 130 and the latch member 120 changes. That is, the contact state between the first contact plate 122 and the second contact plate 131 is released, and the intermediate member 130 is rotated in the A1 direction so that the spring contact plate 132 approaches the first contact plate 122.

Thus, even in the case where the user forcibly moves the handle member 110 without being aware that the mechanism is in the locked state, the force applied by the user is absorbed by the third spring 153. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the parts of the present mechanism from being damaged by applying an excessive load exceeding the allowable value.

In embodiment 2, the spring contact plate 132 is disposed between the first contact portion 122 and the spring contact plate, and the same effect can be obtained by other elastic members such as a plate spring and foamed rubber, as well as the compression spring. Although detailed description is omitted, the second spring 152 in embodiment 1 may be replaced with an elastic member (a compression spring, a leaf spring, foam rubber, or the like) other than the torsion spring.

[ embodiment 3]

Fig. 8 and 9 illustrate a washing machine to which the lid locking mechanism of the present invention is applicable.

Fig. 8 shows a so-called vertical washing machine, in which a lid 100 is provided to open and close an upper surface of a casing 200 of the washing machine with respect to the casing 200. In this case, it is needless to say that the cover locking mechanism may be provided to the cover 100. That is, when the present invention is applied to the vertical washing machine of fig. 8, the cover 100 corresponds to the cover member described in the claims.

Fig. 9 is a so-called drum type washing machine, which is provided such that a door 100' opens and closes a front surface of a casing 200 of the washing machine. In such a drum type washing machine, the cover locking mechanism can be provided with respect to the door 100'. That is, in the case where the present invention is applied to the drum type washing machine of fig. 9, the door 100' corresponds to the cover member of the claims.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not to be construed as limiting. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is defined not by the embodiments described above but by the claims. The technical scope of the present invention includes all modifications equivalent in meaning and scope to the claims.

This international application is based on the priority claim of japanese patent application No. 2018-109526 filed on 7.6.7.2018 with the office of this patent application, the entire contents of which No. 2018-109526 are incorporated by reference into this international application.

Description of the reference numerals

100 … cover (lid part); 100' … door (cover member); 110 … a handle member; 120 … latch member; 121 … latch; 121a … latching pawls; 121B …;122 … a first abutment plate; 130 … intermediate member; 131 … a second abutment plate; 132 … spring abutment plate; 140 … fulcrum; 151 … a first spring (first elastic member); 152 … a second spring (second elastic member); 153 … a third spring (first elastic member); 200 … shell; 201 … throw-in port; 202 … snap-fit holes; 203 … protrusion; 210 … sliding member (restricting member); 220 … compresses the spring.

Claims

1. A cover locking mechanism that can switch between a locked state and an unlocked state of a cover member provided with respect to a housing, comprising:

a handle member rotatably provided with respect to the cover member, and operated in an opening direction by a user in a case of opening the cover member;

a latch member which is provided rotatably with respect to the handle member and which is engaged with the housing so as to be able to hold the closed state of the lid member;

a restricting member that sets the cover locking mechanism to a locked state by restricting movement of the latch member to the engaged state;

a first elastic member that directly or indirectly exerts an urging force between the handle member and the latch member when the handle member is operated in the opening direction by a user, and that urges the latch member in the opening direction with respect to the handle member; and

a second elastic member that directly or indirectly exerts an urging force between the lid member and the handle member and that urges the handle member in a direction opposite to the opening direction with respect to the lid member,

since the urging force of the first elastic member is larger than the urging force of the second elastic member, the force required to operate the handle member in the locked state is larger than the force required to operate the handle member in the unlocked state.

2. The lid locking mechanism of claim 1,

including an intermediate member disposed between the handle member and the latch member;

the first resilient member exerts a force between the latch member and the intermediate member;

the second elastic member indirectly biases the handle member via the intermediate member.

3. The lid locking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2,

the first elastic member and the second elastic member are torsion springs.

4. A washing machine, characterized by comprising:

a cover component which can be opened and closed and is arranged at the input opening of the washing tank for accommodating the washing articles, and a cover locking mechanism which can switch the locking state and the unlocking state of the cover component;

the lid locking mechanism is the lid locking mechanism of any one of claims 1 to 3.