CN113827166B

CN113827166B - Locking device for household appliances

Info

Publication number: CN113827166B
Application number: CN202010583461.1A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 乔治·施比瑟尔; 马蒂亚斯·鲍尔
Original assignee: emz Hanauer GmbH and Co KGaA
Current assignee: emz Hanauer GmbH and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2020-06-23
Filing date: 2020-06-23
Publication date: 2024-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2040-06-23
Also published as: CN113827166A

Abstract

The invention relates to a locking device for a door of a household appliance, such as a dishwasher. The locking device comprises in an embodiment a locking module (24) mounted on the appliance body of the household appliance, the locking module having a pair of locking arms (28) which, when the door is closed, hug a locking head mounted on the door. A component of an electrical switch (54) is mounted in a module housing (38) of the locking module which also accommodates the locking arm, the component of the electrical switch changing the switching state of the electrical switch when the door is closed. An actuating slide (48) is guided in the locking module in a movable manner, said actuating slide engaging a locking head outside the module in a slide end region and engaging a switching spring (58) of the electrical switch in the opposite slide end region. In certain embodiments, the operating slide is formed from an integrally manufactured component.

Description

Locking device for household appliances

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a locking device for a household appliance. In particular, the invention relates to a solution for integrating an electrical switch for identifying the closed state of a door of a household appliance into a locking module of a locking device, the purpose of which is to reduce the number of components of the locking module and to simplify the manufacture of the locking module.

Background

A conventional household appliance, such as a dishwasher, has an apparatus body (machine body) in which a working chamber is defined, the working chamber being accessible through an access opening. The access opening can be closed by a door, which is typically pivotally mounted on the device body. The working chamber is, for example, a washing chamber in a dishwasher, into which the dishes to be cleaned are placed. In order to keep the door closed, a locking device is provided, which generally comprises component parts arranged on the device body and other component parts arranged on the door. The body side component and the door side component cooperate and achieve a locking engagement when the door is closed.

In a conventional locking device for a dishwasher, the locking device comprises two locking arms pivotable relative to each other, between which the locking head enters when the door is closed, the locking head first presses the two locking arms apart, after which the locking arms finally spring back under the action of a spring force and embrace the locking head from opposite sides. In this connection, reference may be made, for example, to DE 102012016541A1. The prior art is also disclosed in DE 102011011662A1, for example, with respect to locking devices having locking arms that are pivotable relative to one another; in the latter document, the locking arms are pretensioned in a direction away from each other and are first pressed towards each other when the door is closed, after which the locking arms are pressed away from each other again after exceeding the position closest to each other due to the spring pretension of the locking arms.

Conventional locking devices for household appliances, in particular those equipped with locking arms that can pivot relative to each other, typically have an electrical switch whose function is to detect the closed door state. The starting of the operating program of the household appliance is usually premised on first closing the door. An electrical switch detects the closing of the door. As soon as the electric switch emits an electric switch signal, this indicates to the control device of the household appliance that the door is closed from this time and that the operating program can be started.

Locking devices of the type considered here are generally mass products manufactured in large quantities. The key here is a simple construction and the smallest possible number of components, so that the locking device can be produced at low cost in one piece. It has been shown that in conventional locking devices, the solution of structurally integrating the electrical switch into the locking device also offers the possibility of structural simplification and a reduction in components. It is therefore an object of the invention disclosed herein to provide a locking device, in particular arranged in a dishwasher of a household appliance, which locking device can be manufactured at relatively low cost in one piece.

Disclosure of Invention

In order to achieve this object, according to the invention, a locking device is provided for a door mounted on a device body of a household appliance, wherein the locking device comprises a locking module and a control surface system separate from the locking module. In certain embodiments, the locking module is disposed on the device body and the control surface system is disposed on the door. In other embodiments, the locking module is disposed on the door and the control surface system is disposed on the device body.

The latching module has a module housing and a pair of latching arms pivotally supported in the module housing, the latching arms being deflectable relative to each other in a first deflection direction against a spring return force from a relative rest position. The relative deflection of the locking arms in the first deflection direction may be a deflection away from each other or towards each other.

The control surface system includes a pair of arm control surfaces upon which the locking arm hits when the door of the household appliance is closed. When the door is closed, the arm control surface first effects a relative deflection of the locking arm in a first deflection direction. After exceeding the maximum relative offset condition, the arm control surface urges the return movement of the locking arm toward the relative rest position of the locking arm. The state of maximum relative deflection is the state of the two locking arms having the greatest relative spacing or the state of closest relative proximity to each other, depending on the direction of the first deflection direction.

The locking module further has an electrical switch which is accommodated in the module housing and can be switched between an electrically open switching state and an electrically closed switching state, the electrical switch having two conductor elements arranged at a distance from one another and having a spring element. The conductor element and the spring element are made of an electrically conductive material. In the electrically closed switching state, the spring element is held in mechanical contact with the two conductor elements and thereby closes an electrical circuit from one of the conductor elements to the other of the conductor elements via the spring element. In the electrically disconnected switching state, the spring element is mechanically disconnected from at least one of the conductor elements and thereby opens the electrical circuit.

The locking module further has an actuating slide which is arranged in the module housing in a movable manner relative to the module housing for actuating the electrical switch. The spring element is provided with a movably arranged spring actuating structure which mechanically cooperates with the spring element. By movement of the spring operated structure, a mechanical contact of the spring element with at least one of the conductor elements can be established and released. The control surface system forms a switch control structure which is fixedly arranged relative to the arm control surface, and the switch control structure impacts against the operating slide when the door of the household appliance is locked, and pushes the operating slide for the switching process of the electric switch. In the solution according to the invention, the spring-operated structure is connected to the operating slide in a push-resistant and tensile manner.

The connection that resists displacement and is resistant to tension can be realized simply in such a way that the spring-operated structure is an integral component of the operating slide. Alternatively, it is possible for the spring-operated structure and the operating slide to be realized by separate components on the profile, which are coupled to one another, for example, by a positive engagement, in such a way that both a pushing force and a pulling force can be transmitted from the operating slide to the spring-operated structure. The conductor element and the spring element of the electrical switch can be placed directly in the module housing on the basis of a push-resistant and tensile connection between the operating slide and the spring operating structure. A separate switch housing can be dispensed with, which can be assembled together with the conductor element, the spring element and the spring actuating structure to form a switch module which itself can be fully functional mechanically and electrically and which is inserted into the module housing or fastened thereto as such. This reduces the number of components of the locking device and simplifies assembly.

In certain embodiments, the spring element is a coil spring arranged between the two conductor elements in continuous mechanical contact with one of the conductor elements, which coil spring is urged away from the other of the conductor elements by the spring-operated structure in the switching state of the electrical switch in which the electrical switch is electrically disconnected.

In certain embodiments, the conductor element is made of wire. The solution of producing the conductor element from wire is advantageous in terms of production technology, since, for example, no stamping of the sheet material is required. It is sufficient to divide a segment of a certain length from the wire rod corresponding to each conductor element. If desired, the cut wire segments may be bent, which is generally less costly to manufacture than a suitable stamping tool. For example, for the production of the conductor element from the wire with an optionally accompanying bending process, it is advantageous if the conductor element is embodied as a conductor pin, which has a bent end section in the region of the pin end according to an L-shaped design.

In certain embodiments, the wire has a rectangular cross section, wherein, within the scope of the invention, a round or square wire cross section is of course not excluded.

In certain embodiments, the module housing comprises a one-piece housing component, on which the support structure for the locking arm, the guide surface for the operating slide and the receiving slot for the conductor element are formed.

The present invention also provides a home dishwasher, comprising: a machine body; a door pivotally mounted on the machine body; a cleaning chamber formed in the machine body and closable by a door; and locking devices of the type described above. The locking module is disposed on one of the machine body and the door, and the control surface system is disposed on the other of the machine body and the door.

Drawings

The invention is further elucidated below on the basis of the drawings. Wherein:

figure 1 shows in a highly schematic way a section of a dishwasher in the door lock area of the dishwasher,

fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a section of a door of a dishwasher, according to one embodiment, wherein a locking head of a door lock of the dishwasher is mounted on the door,

FIGS. 3a and 3b illustrate perspective views of a latch module adapted to mate with the latch head of FIG. 2, wherein a cover member of a module housing of the latch module is omitted, and

fig. 4a and 4b show perspective and sectional views of the locking module of fig. 3a, 3b in the assembled state of the cover member.

Detailed Description

Reference is first made to fig. 1. In fig. 1, a machine body 12 and a door 14 are shown in sections for a dishwasher, generally indicated at 10. A washing chamber 16 is formed in the machine body 12 in a manner known per se, into which the dishes to be cleaned are placed. The washing chamber 16 can be accessed through an access opening (no separate reference number is present here) which can be closed off by a door 14. In a common version of a household dishwasher, the door 14 is typically pivotally stopped on the machine body 12 about a horizontal pivot axis near the bottom surface. The door 14 has an inner liner 18, typically made of sheet material, on the door inner side of the door facing the cleaning chamber 16, which encloses the wet area when the door is closed. The sealing elements 20, 22 are mounted on the machine body 12, the sealing elements 20, 22 being in the example shown configured as ridge seals, and the sealing elements 20, 22 bearing against the inner liner 18 when the door 14 is closed, being compressed there and thus sealing the washing chamber 16 from the outside.

A door lock (locking device) for holding the door 14 closed includes, as essential components, a locking module 24 mounted on the machine body 12 and a locking head 26 mounted on the door 14. In other embodiments, locking module 24 and locking head 26 may be interchangeably assembled, i.e., locking module 24 may be assembled on door 14 and locking head 26 may be mounted on machine body 12. The component parts of the locking module 24 are a pair of locking arms 28, which are only schematically shown in fig. 1, which engage the locking head 26 when the door is closed and embrace the locking head on both sides in the horizontal direction in the closed state of the door.

A specific embodiment of the locking head 26 is shown in fig. 2 and a specific embodiment of the locking module 24 is shown in fig. 3a to 4 b. The locking head 26 of fig. 2 is adapted to cooperate with the locking module 24 of fig. 3a to 4 b. The locking head 26 of fig. 2 and the locking module 24 of fig. 3a to 4b together form an embodiment of a door lock of the dishwasher 10 of fig. 1. This embodiment of the door lock is further described below with reference to fig. 2 to 4 b.

In the example shown in fig. 2, the locking head 26 is fitted on a wall section 30 of the lining 18, which extends essentially perpendicularly to the door plane and points essentially vertically upwards when the door 14 is erected (i.e. when the door 14 is closed). Alternatively, the locking head 26 may be mounted on a wall section 32 of the lining 18 extending substantially parallel to the door plane, which meets the wall section 30 at right angles towards the upper door edge. The latter assembly variant is shown in the schematic diagram of fig. 1. Regardless of whether the locking head 26 is mounted to the wall segment 30 or the wall segment 32, the locking head forms a pair of arm control surfaces 34 corresponding to the locking arms 28 of the locking module 24. The locking arm 28 has a free arm end 36 that encounters the arm control surface 34 of the locking head 26 when the door 14 is closed. The locking arms 28 are each mounted in a pivoted manner in a module housing 38 of the locking module 24 on a bearing point 40 which is fixedly arranged relative to the housing and protrude from the module housing 38 with free arm ends 36 of the locking arms. The locking arms 28 are preloaded toward one another by a pretensioning spring 42, which in the example shown is configured as a coil spring, which is accommodated in the module housing 38.

The arm control surfaces 34 of the locking head 26 extend away from each other at an acute angle up to a point 44 of maximum cross-sectional width of the locking head 26. After said location, the cross-sectional width of the locking head 26 decreases again.

When door 14 is closed, the process of latch arm 28 striking against arm control surface 34 causes latch arm 28 to be squeezed apart against the force of preload spring 42. After locking arm 28 passes over portion 44 of maximum cross-sectional width, locking arms 28 may again approach each other and thereby encircle locking head 26 under the reset action of pretensioning spring 42.

A rib-shaped or bridge-shaped control projection 46 is formed on the locking head 26, which forms the switching control information according to the manner of the invention and cooperates with an actuating slide 48 guided in a linearly movable manner in the module housing 38 when the door 14 is closed. An insertion funnel defined by two funnel jaws 50 (fig. 3 b) is formed on the locking module 24, into which the control projection 46 first dips when the door 14 is closed. The introduction funnel may have a centering function for controlling the protrusion 46. The introduction funnel also prevents an unintentional or intentional manipulation of the manipulation slider 48 by the user. For this purpose, the operating slide 48 may be arranged somewhat hidden behind the bottom of the introduction funnel.

After sinking into the introduction funnel, the control projection 46 hits the front slider end of the operating slider 48 during the closing of the door 14. Continued closing movement of the door 14 causes: the control projection 46 presses the operating slider 48 rearward against the spring force of the pretensioning spring 52 accommodated in the module housing 38 pretensioning the operating slider 48 forward. As a result of this rearward movement of the operating slider 48, the electrical switch 54 (fig. 3 a) mounted in the latching module 24 changes its electrical switch state. When the door 14 is opened, the operating slide 48 is pressed forward by the pretensioning spring 52 back into the operating slide rest position when the control projection 46 is retracted from the introduction funnel. The electrical switch 54 performs the opposite switching process. By means of the electrical switching state of the switch 54, a control unit of the dishwasher 10, which is not shown in detail in the drawing, can detect: whether the door 14 is closed or open.

In the embodiment shown, the switch 54 is formed by two conductor elements 56 and one spring element 58. The conductor element 56 is made of an electrically conductive wire (e.g., having a rectangular wire cross section) by being divided by a desired length. In the example case shown, the conductor element is bent into an L-shape, wherein the conductor element has a longer L-side and a shorter L-side corresponding to the L-shape. The spring element 58 is likewise made of an electrically conductive material and in the example case shown consists of a helical spring. The two conductor elements 56 are inserted into suitable receiving slots (not separately numbered) formed in the module housing 38. In the installed state, the two conductor elements 56 are arranged with their longer L sides substantially parallel to one another at a distance from one another. The spring element 58 is inserted into the gap between the two longer L sides of the conductor elements 56 and is in continuous mechanical contact with one of the conductor elements 56 (the left one of the two conductor elements 56 in the illustration of fig. 3 a). As a result of this continuous mechanical contact, there is also continuous electrical contact between the spring element 58 and the associated conductor element 56.

The spring element 58 is mechanically and thus electrically disconnected from the other conductor element 56 by the operating slider 48 in the open state of the door 14. For this purpose, the actuating slider 48 forms, in the region of its rear slider end, a spring actuating structure 60 on which the spring element 58 is supported in the open state of the door 14 and is thus spaced apart from the other one of the conductor elements 56. Thus, when the door 14 is open, no current can flow from one of the conductor elements 56 to the other conductor element 56 via the spring element 58; the switch 54 is open. When the door 14 is closed, the control protrusion 46 presses the operating slider 48 rearward. The spring element 58 is in mechanical contact with the other of the conductor elements 56 and thus also in electrical contact therewith; switch 54 switches and closes. Based on this function, the spring element 58 may also be referred to as a switching spring.

The operating slide 48 is, for example, a one-piece injection molded body, wherein the spring operating structure 60 is a one-piece component. The spring actuating structure 60 is thus connected to the front slider end of the actuating slider 48 in a manner resistant to displacement and tensile. The component that the control projection 46 encounters when closing the door 14 is in the embodiment considered here the same component that also carries the spring operated structure 60 and keeps the spring element 58 spaced from one of the conductor elements 56 when the door 14 is opened. No separate component is required for transmitting the control movement of the control projection 46 to the spring element 58 when the door 14 is closed. For this purpose, only one component is sufficient in the embodiment under consideration.

In the embodiment under consideration, the module housing 38 is embodied in two parts and consists of a housing lower part 62 and a cover member 64. The housing lower part 62 is a component produced in one piece, for example by injection molding, into which the locking arm 28, the pretensioning spring 42, the operating slider 48, the pretensioning spring 52, the conductor element 56 and the spring element 58 are inserted when the locking module 24 is assembled. The cover member 64 is also a one-piece member manufactured, for example, by injection molding. After the elements are installed into the housing lower part 62, a cover member is placed onto the housing lower part 62, thereby closing the module housing 38. Thus, the locking arm 28, the operating slider 48 and the pretensioning springs 42, 52 on the one hand, and the conductor element 56 and the spring element 58 on the other hand are arranged in a common housing (module housing 38) in the embodiment shown. Separate switch housings (independent of the module housing 38) for the conductor elements 56 and the spring elements 58 are not necessary. This reduces the number of components of the door lock and makes the assembly of the door lock easier.

The housing lower part 62 and the cover member 64 form, in the assembled state, a socket (stepkfassung) 66 for a plug connector (not shown) by means of which the locking module 24 can be connected to a connection line leading to the main control unit of the dishwasher 10.

Claims

1. A locking device for a door mounted on an apparatus body of a home appliance, the locking device comprising:

a latching module having a module housing and a pair of latch arms pivotally supported in the module housing, the latch arms being deflectable relative to each other in a first deflection direction against a spring return force from a relative rest position;

a control surface system separate from the latching module, the control surface system having a pair of arm control surfaces against which the latch arm encounters when the door of the household appliance is closed, wherein the arm control surfaces first effect a relative deflection of the latch arm in a first deflection direction when the door is closed and permit a return movement of the latch arm toward its relative rest position when a state of maximum relative deflection is exceeded;

the locking module further has an electrical switch which is accommodated in the module housing and can be switched between an electrically open switching state and an electrically closed switching state, the electrical switch having two conductor elements arranged at a distance from one another and having a spring element;

the conductor element and the spring element are made of an electrically conductive material;

in the electrically closed switching state, the spring element is in mechanical contact with the two conductor elements and thereby closes an electrical circuit from one of the conductor elements to the other of the conductor elements via the spring element;

in an electrically disconnected switching state, the spring element is mechanically disconnected from at least one of the conductor elements and thereby opens the electrical circuit;

the locking module further has an operating slide arranged in the module housing so as to be movable relative to the module housing for operating the electrical switch;

a spring actuating structure which is mechanically matched with the spring element and can be arranged in a movable manner is provided for the spring element, and the mechanical contact between the spring element and at least one of the conductor elements can be established and released by the movement of the spring actuating structure;

the control surface system forms a switch control structure which is fixedly arranged relative to the arm control surface, and which, when the door of the household appliance is closed, strikes against the operating slider and moves the operating slider for the switching operation of the electric switch;

the spring actuating structure is connected with the actuating slide in a pushing-resistant and tensile manner.

2. A latch arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the spring operated structure is an integral component of the operating slider.

3. A latching device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring element is a helical spring arranged between the two conductor elements in continuous mechanical contact with one of the conductor elements, the helical spring being pushed away from the other of the conductor elements by a spring operated structure in the electrically open switching state of the electrical switch.

4. A locking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductor element is made of wire.

5. The lockout device of claim 4, wherein the wire has a rectangular cross-section.

6. Locking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the conductor element is embodied as a conductor pin, which in the region of the pin end has a curved end section according to an L-shaped scheme.

7. A locking device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the module housing comprises a unitary housing member on which the support structure for the locking arm, the guide surface for the operating slider and the receiving slot for the conductor element are formed.

8. A domestic dishwasher, the domestic dishwasher having: a machine body; a door pivotably mounted on the machine body; a cleaning chamber formed in the machine body and closable by a door; and a locking device according to claim 1 or 2,

wherein the locking module of the locking device is disposed on one of the machine body and the door and the control surface system is disposed on the other of the machine body and the door.