CN1158923A

CN1158923A - Door opening/closing apparatus in washing machine and method thereof

Info

Publication number: CN1158923A
Application number: CN 96121917
Authority: CN
Inventors: 崔氏哲
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1995-11-09
Filing date: 1996-11-09
Publication date: 1997-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 2016-11-09
Also published as: CN1077626C

Abstract

A novel equipment and the method for washing machines can automatically open/close the door through simple key operation. The door opening/closing equipment comprises a door for opening and closing a washing barrel of a washing machine, a sensor for determining the door is in opening status, a sensor for determining the door is in closing status, a motor providing power to open and close the door, a device which can produce instructions of door opening/closing and is triggered through external key operation, and a controller for judging the door status according to signals provided by every sensor in the presence of door opening/closing instructions and controlling actions of the motor according to the final judgment.

Description

Washing machine on-off equipment and method thereof

The present invention relates to a kind of automatic door opening/closing apparatus and method thereof in the washing machine.

Existing vertical axis washer, promptly pulsator washing machine has exercisable lid (hereinafter note is made " door "), is positioned at casing top.This door opens and closes continually, for example puts into and take out clothing to washtub, pours washing agent or flushing into, puts into other clothing, solves unbalance rotation, checks washing procedure progress or the like constantly.Therefore, even during single wash cycle, also will open and close door continually usually.

Existing door causes very big inconvenience to the user, because will come switch with hand.And the door of the needs present model washing machine that bigger strength opens and closes with model was different in the past, because more novel washing machine size is bigger, then Men Gengda is heavier.

For addressing the above problem, the object of the invention provides a kind of on-off equipment and method thereof of door of washing machine, and this equipment can make gate open cross simple key operation and opening and closing automatically.

A kind of novel door opening/closing apparatus of washing machine comprises: as the door of the gateway of tub of washing machine; The device of detecting gate opening-wide state; The device of detecting gate closed condition; Supply with the device of the required power of door open-close; The device of the power that door open-close instructs is provided; Trigger the device that is used to produce the opening-closing door instruction with outside key operation; When having the instruction of opening-closing door, the state of the information decision gate of supplying with according to each sensor, and according to the device of judged result control force application apparatus action.

A kind ofly open and close the opening-closing door method of door automatically according to of the present invention on the other hand, comprise the step that judges whether to exist the opening-closing door instruction with motor; If have the instruction of opening-closing door then detecting gate opens wide or the step of closing state; When having the opening-closing door instruction, do not detect under the situation of its closed condition detecting its opening-wide state, CD-ROM drive motor is to cut out the step of door; Have opening-closing door when instruction, do not detect its opening-wide state and detect under the situation of its closed condition, CD-ROM drive motor is to open the step of door.

From following detailed description, can understand other purposes of the present invention and advantage with reference to accompanying drawing more fully, wherein:

Fig. 1 is the longitudinal sectional view with washing machine of opening-closing door equipment of the present invention;

The partial view of the continuous state of Fig. 2 (A)-Fig. 2 (E) expression opening and closing door operation of the present invention;

Fig. 3 is the controlling party block diagram of opening-closing door equipment of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is the physical circuit figure of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is the flow chart that shows the method for opening-closing door of the present invention;

Fig. 6 has illustrated the table that opens and closes the operation of door according to each sensor output signal.

Fig. 1 is the longitudinal sectional view with washing machine of opening-closing door equipment of the present invention.In the washing machine of relevant novel opening-closing door equipment, tubular outer bucket 2 is positioned within the shell 1.Having a plurality of holes makes water be rotatably installed in the outer bucket 2 with outer bucket 2 washtubs that are communicated with 3.The door 20 of providing inlet for washtub 3 is installed in shell 1 top, and door 20 is made of two parts: first half spare 21 and later half parts 22.

Later half parts 22 are rotatably connected on first pivot 23 that is fixed on shell 1 rear portion.The rear end of first half spare 21 links to each other with the front end of later half parts 22 pivotally by second pivot 24.Therefore when door 20 was opened, the front end of first half spare 21 can move towards the rear end of later half parts 22.

A driving/whirligig 30 that door 20 is rotated with axle clockwise or that counterclockwise limit around first pivot 23 is fixed under first pivot 23.This driving/whirligig 30 mainly is made of door motor 31 that power is provided to door 20 and the rotary part 33 that is connected on the axle of door motor 31.Rotary part 33 is made of wedge shape swivel plate 34 and first and

second boss

35,36, and described boss stretches out outside the front surface of swivel plate 34, and flushes with its side surface.

Near first pivot, 23 places cam part 50 is housed at later half parts 22 rear portions, it is made of first to the 3rd teeth 51-53.When rotary part 33 during according to the rotation of the both forward and reverse directions of door motor 31 (direction that hereinafter will open door 20 is defined as positive veer), first to the 3rd teeth 51-53 meshes with first and

second boss

35 and 36 in succession, thereby turning moment is imposed on first to the 3rd teeth 51-53.

Be used for detecting gate 20 unlimited sensors and be positioned at appropriate location, shell 1 rear portion, it is preferably realized by waterproof reed switch 28.Permanent magnet 27 is fixed on the bar 26 that extends out from later half parts 22.When being equivalent to the degree of " unlimited fully " when door 20 is open to, the contact of reed switch 28 is by the magnetic force closure of permanent magnet 27.

Be used for the front upper that sensor that detecting gate 20 closes is positioned at shell 1, preferably also realize by waterproof reed switch 65.

Permanent magnet 66 is fixed on above the first half spare 21 reed switch 65 places.When door 20 is closed to when being equivalent to the degree of " closing fully ", the contact of reed switch 65 is by the magnetic force closure of permanent magnet 66.

The switch that sends the opening-closing door instruction is positioned at the front lower of shell 1, is preferably waterproof reed switch 61.The contact of reed switch 61 is come closed by the magnetic force that is fixed on the permanent magnet 62 on the pedal 60.The tension force of flat spring 63 makes pedal 60 keep relaxed state, and this is equivalent to the state that reed switch 61 disconnects.The user makes permanent magnet 62 near reed switch 61 to the pressure of pedal 60, causes its closure.

Label 25 expression manual unlocking and close the used handle of door 20, the roller bearing of door 20 is opened and is closed in label 80 expressions sleekly, label 6 expression washing motors.

The sensor 28 that detecting gate opens wide, the sensor 65 that detecting gate is closed and open wide/close the installation site and the structure thereof of switch 61 can spirit and improvement arbitrarily in its scope according to the present invention.For example, open wide/close switch 61 and can be installed in the manual operation position to replace the foot operation position.In this case, this switch can be set in place on the control panel in shell 1 upper front (not shown go out) with other function keys.

In addition, consider the inevitable moisture characteristic of washing machine, the sensor 28 that detecting gate opens wide, the sensor 65 that detecting gate is closed and open wide/close switch 61 and all realize by the waterproof reed switch.But, each all switch replacement of available other routines in them by its contact of mechanical force switch.

Fig. 2 (A)-Fig. 2 (E) is the partial view that expression door of the present invention opens and closes the continuous state of operation.Shown in Fig. 2 (A), when door 20 was in " unlimited fully " state, first and

second boss

35 and 36 did not all have within the radius of turn of first to the 3rd teeth 51-53.As a result, door 20 can open or close with hand.

If require to open (being that the user presses pedal 60) automatically, door motor 31 is driven swivel plate 34 is rotated in the forward.First and

second boss

35,36 are successively respectively and between first and

second teeth

51,52 and the groove that forms between the second and the

3rd teeth

52,53 engagement.Shown in Fig. 2 (B) and 2 (C), this result causes the front portion of later half parts 22 to raise.Along with the continuation rotation of swivel plate 34, when first and

second boss

35,36 sequentially broke away from the groove of their engagements, later half parts rotated to 90 ° of angles (shown in Fig. 2 (D)).Door motor 31 cut off the power supply before door enters complete open position, and the impulse force of motor continues to make swivel plate 34 to revolve biography to stop at the position of Fig. 2 (E) until it.In complete open position, as complete closed position, first and

second boss

35,36 are not within the radius of turn of first to the 3rd teeth 51-53.Allow manual-lock this moment.

Door shutoff operation automatically is opposite with the unlimited operation of door.When promptly if the user presses pedal 60, door motor 31 is driven, and makes swivel plate 34 opposite spins.This just causes second boss 36 shown in Fig. 2 (D) and 53 engagements of the 3rd teeth, and the first half of later half parts 22 is reduced.Along with the rotation of swivel plate 34 and later half parts 22,

first boss

35 and 52 engagements of second teeth break away from engagement subsequently with it, shown in Fig. 2 (C) and 2 (B).This mechanism makes after door closes fully, and first boss 35 breaks away from second teeth 52 and meshes.Door motor 31 stopped to drive before door 20 is closed fully, after the inertia rotation of swivel plate 34 by door motor 31, stopped on its position in Fig. 2 (A).

Fig. 3 is the controlling party block diagram of opening-closing door equipment of the present invention, and Fig. 4 is physical circuit figure shown in Figure 3.Shown in Fig. 3 and 4, the circuit of novel opening-closing door equipment disposes substantially by forming with the lower part: send that door opens wide and the part 130 of out code; The part 110 that detecting gate 20 opens wide; The part 120 that detecting gate 20 is closed; Supply with power and make door 20 door motors that move 31; The part 142 of driving gate motor 31; Door 20 sends the drive part 150 of the buzzer that shows wrong sound when fault is arranged; With control section 100, it sends part 130 in instruction and sends and open wide or come the present state of decision gate 20 according to

test section

110 and 120 information that provided during out code, carries out necessary control then.

In the above-mentioned configuration, control section 100 is preferably the microprocessor with necessary control program.Yet control section 100 also available hardware configuration substitutes.

Test section 110,120 and instruction are sent part 130 and are comprised

reed switch

28,65,61 separately and absorb resistance R 1 and the capacitor C 1 that does not need noise, and current-limiting resistance R2.Buzzer drive part 150 comprises resistance R 3, R4, capacitor C 2, driving transistors Q1 and buzzer BZ.Door motor 31 is preferably gear-driven DC (direct current) motor, and it can rotate with low speed high torque at both direction.Motor part 142 comprises several resistance, diode and transistor.In motor part 142,, formed the closed circuit of representing with solid arrow in order to open door 20 by being rotated in the forward motor.On the other hand,, formed the closed circuit of representing with dotted arrow in order to close door 20, thus backward rotation door motor 31.

The lamp of washtub 3 inside and drive part thereof is illuminated in label 145 representatives respectively.Label 160 expressions drive the part of washing motor 6, and this motor makes washtub rotate at a high speed in dehydration.

For the reason of user security, if even door 20 is unlimited slightly during dehydration, conventional washing machine stops to drive washing motor 6 immediately.In order to carry out this function, conventional washing machine has the device of detecting gate 20 closed conditions.Use this existing door to close checkout gear and can cut down production cost greatly as the test section of wanting 120 required for the present invention.

The method of operation of the present invention together with its opening-closing door hereinafter is described.

Fig. 5 flow chart shows the method for door open-close of the present invention, and this method is carried out by microprocessor 100.The opening and closing operation that the table explanation of Fig. 6 is carried out according to each signal of sensor.

Now referring to Fig. 5, electric energy is supplied with washing machine luck start of line step S10.At step S12, control section 100 judges whether to exist the instruction of opening-closing door.Depress the closing of contact that pedal 60 makes reed switch 61, produce the low level voltage signal and be sent to the relevant input of control section 100 (hereinafter note is made microprocessor).Among the step S12, this signal is translated into the ON/OFF instruction by microprocessor.

If have the instruction of opening-closing door at step S12, program execution in step S14, whether the ON/OFF of microprocessor 100 decision gates is in operation.If at step S14 opening-closing door is in operation, program execution in step S16, the ignore instruction of opening-closing door of microprocessor 100 this moment.

If the ON/OFF of door is in operation among the step S14, program execution in step S18, this moment microprocessor judges reed switch 28 (hereinafter note makes to open wide sensors) and reed switch 65 (hereinafter note is made closure sensor) closure (" connection " state) whether.Opening wide under the situation that sensor and closure sensor all connect, the relevant input of microprocessor 100 receives low level voltage, and step S18 turns back to the "Yes" value.

It is in a faulty sensor that this state (situation 4 among Fig. 6) takes place, and program execution in step S20 sent and showed wrong sound and driving gate motor 31 not this moment.

If at least one disconnection of

sensor

28,65 in step S18, program execution in step S22, sensor 28 is opened wide in microprocessor 100 judgements this moment and whether closure sensor 65 all disconnects.The situation (situation 3 among Fig. 6) that unlimited sensor 28 and closure sensor 65 all disconnect is equivalent to 20 state that are between opening wide and closing.Therefore, program execution in step S24 sends and shows wrong sound and driving gate motor 31 not.

If one of

sensor

28,65 is connected in step S22, whether what program execution in step S26, microprocessor 100 determined connection is to open wide sensor 28 (situation 1 among Fig. 6), and it is unlimited fully that this is equivalent to door 20.If step S26 turns back to the "Yes" value, execution in step S28 then, reverse drive door motor 31 turn-offs simultaneously closure sensor 65 until unlimited sensor 28 and connects.

In step S30, whether what microprocessor 100 was judged connection is closure sensor 65 (situation 2 among Fig. 6), and this is equivalent to door 20 and closes fully.If step S30 turns back to the "Yes" value, program execution in step S32, forward drive door motor 31 is on-state closure sensor 65 shutoffs simultaneously until unlimited sensor 28.

If closure sensor 65 turn-offs in step 30, program execution in step S34 only sends and shows wrong sound and driving gate motor 31 not.

The automatic opening and closing of door so far, have been described; Yet the user often uses hand and opens and closes door 20, this automatic operation be out of order or inoperative situation under be useful.For example, when door 20 was in state between opening wide and closing, the user can carry out the automatic opening/closing operation after manually eliminating this state immediately.

The concrete condition of diagram here and narration is only as embodiment.Those skilled in the art can be used for various modifications except that described embodiment, should understand, because belong within the spirit and scope of accessory claim, so they constitute a part of the present invention.

Claims

1, a kind of on-off equipment of door of washing machine comprises:

Door as the tub of washing machine inlet;

Detect the device of described door opening-wide state;

Detect the device of described door closure state;

The device that opens and closes described door required drive is provided;

The device of the instruction of triggering for generating door by the external bond operation;

When having the instruction of opening-closing door, judge described door state and control the device that described force application apparatus moves according to judged result according to the signal that each described checkout gear provides.

2, equipment according to claim 1, wherein said each checkout gear and the device that claims comprise the switch of waterproof material encapsulation respectively.

3, equipment according to claim 2, wherein said each switch is respectively a magnetic switch.

4, equipment according to claim 1, wherein said external bond can be operated with pin.

5, equipment according to claim 1 further comprises the alarm device of the not normal operation of each sensing device.

6, a kind of ON/OFF method of door of washing machine, the available motor of door of this washing machine opens and closes automatically, and this method may further comprise the steps:

Judge whether to exist the instruction of opening-closing door;

If detecting gate opens wide and closing state when having the instruction of opening-closing door;

After sending the ON/OFF instruction, do not detect under the situation of its closed condition detecting its opening-wide state, CD-ROM drive motor is to cut out door;

After sending the ON/OFF instruction, detect under the situation of its closed condition not detecting its opening-wide state, CD-ROM drive motor is to open door.

7, door open-close method according to claim 6, wherein the preset range of door opening-wide state is to open wide from being open to part fully, the preset range of door closure state is to close from being closed to part fully.

8, door open-close method according to claim 7 further may further comprise the steps:

Whether decision gate is in the on/off operation;

If door is in the on/off operation, the ON/OFF instruction of then ignoring and existing.

9, door open-close method according to claim 8 further may further comprise the steps:

After sending ON/OFF instruction, if detect door neither open mode again during non-closed condition when door is not in the on/off operation, not normal state takes place and CD-ROM drive motor not in the warning user.

10, according to the door open-close method of claim 7, further may further comprise the steps:

After sending ON/OFF instruction, if when detecting an open mode and closed condition simultaneously, not normal state takes place and CD-ROM drive motor not in the warning user.