DE102004054129B4 - Method and device for securely closing the drum of a washing machine to be loaded from above - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for locking the drum doors (10, 20) of washing machines or dryers with loading from above, wherein the doors (10, 20) open towards the inside of the drum (30), characterized in that before the normal washing or drying cycle the following Steps: a) feeding water into the washing tub to wet the laundry (40) without soaking it; b) rotating the drum (30) in one direction for a set time to allow the laundry (40) to move with it Turn the drum (30) and first previously drenched on the inner door (20) (with locking hook (21)) and then then on the outer door (10) (with latching openings (11) for the hook (21)) can fall down , and c) automatically performing the normal washing or drying cycle as soon as the above-mentioned steps (a and b) are carried out.

Description

The invention relates to a method which, at the beginning of a washing cycle, ensures the closing of the doors of a drum of washing machines or dryers loaded from above (top loader) and to an apparatus for carrying out said method.

The access door of the drum of top loaders, to which the invention relates, regularly has two closing doors, which overlap at its free end, open to the interior of the drum to return by springs in their normal closed position, wherein the doors by at least a hook is held in its firing position, which is firmly connected to one of them and engages from above into at least one opening located in the other door, into which said hook normally engages in the end position of the closing operation; The reopening of the doors can normally be done only after unlocking the lock or the hook. This is done by the user by willingly operating a dedicated device that can be operated from the outside of the door on which the above-mentioned hooks are mounted and at the same time is pressed onto the doors to the inside of the drum; the flap remains open only as long as the user maintains this pressure.

After the end of this operation and the simple retraction of the user's hands, the doors return to the outside by the springs provided for this purpose in the closed position; the locking of the doors in the closed position can then take place directly in the end position by engagement of the hook or one of the doors in the corresponding openings in the other door, which normally must be done after filling the drum with the laundry.

Starting the machine and starting the cycle corresponding to the selected program can then start automatically.

The access door is generally equipped with a locking hook and a backstop (eg a button), which prevents unintentional opening of the doors during the washing process.

However, for this system to work, all hooks must be locked in place in the holes provided in advance. However, there are situations in which full engagement does not happen, thus rendering the backstop ineffective.

• – Die FR 2 588 291 A1 beschreibt eine Waschmaschine mit Erfassung des Schließzustandes der Trommel dieser Waschmaschine oder eines Trockners, versehen mit einem Steuerkreis, der zu Beginn des Zyklus die Drehzahl des Antriebsmotors der Trommel schrittweise bis zu einem Maximum von 80 U/min. während einer Dauer von 2 bis 3 Sekunden erhöht; dabei wird die Ist-Drehzahl des Motors mit einer Solldrehzahl verglichen; während dieser Dauer wird mit offener Schleife geregelt, dann mit geschlossener Schleife wenn, am Ende der genannten Zeit, die gemessene Geschwindigkeit wenigstens gleich der Sollgeschwindigkeit ist. Im gegenteiligen Falle wird die Maschine gestoppt und der Fehler dem Benutzer angezeigt, damit er intervenieren kann (Herausnehmen von Wäsche auf dem Zwischenraum zwischen Trommel und Wanne oder erneutes Schließen der Trommeltüren, wenn diese sich im Normalfalle nach außen öffnen),
• – Die FR 2 616 814 A1 beschreibt ein Funktionssicherungssystem für Waschmaschinen mit drehender Trommel, im wesentlichen bestehend aus Riegelfingern, die sowohl das Einschalten des Antriebsmotors der Trommel bei geöffneter Trommelklappe als auch das Stillstehen der Trommel vor der Öffnung der Klappe verhindern.
• – Die FR 2 751 669 A1 beschreibt eine Waschmaschine oder einen Wäschetrockner mit Beladung von oben, mit automatischer Öffnung und Schließung der Trommel. Die Trommel hat eine Schiebetür, die mit Vorrichtungen zum Verhaken und Verriegeln im Bezug auf die Wanne versehen ist, während die Trommel weiter läuft; das Öffnen und Schließen der Trommel hängt von ihrer Drehrichtung ab.
• – Die DE 102 00 762 A1 beschreibt eine Sicherheitsverriegelung für eine Waschmaschinentrommel zum Verhindern einer unbeabsichtigten Öffnung der Beladungstüren. Im wesentlichen wird dabei auf ein System aus Haken und Schlitzen an den Türen zurückgegriffen, die mittels Druckknopf als Anschlag und mittels einer Federkraft nach außen vorgespannt wird, wobei der Druckknopf mittels wenigstens eines quer angeordneten Steges, der wiederum über eine Anlenkung mit einer Achse, die parallel zur Trommelachse verläuft, verbunden ist und dadurch zu einer sicheren Verriegelung der Türen führt.

Over time, washing machine manufacturers have tackled this problem by resorting primarily to mechanical devices that complicate the locking system and even the drive control of the drum; Here are some examples:

• - The FR 2 588 291 A1 describes a washing machine with detection of the closed state of the drum of this washing machine or a dryer, provided with a control circuit, the speed of the drive motor of the drum at the beginning of the cycle gradually up to a maximum of 80 U / min. increased during a period of 2 to 3 seconds; while the actual speed of the engine is compared with a target speed; during this period, it is controlled with an open loop, then with a closed loop if, at the end of said time, the measured speed is at least equal to the desired speed. In the opposite case, the machine is stopped and the error is displayed to the user to intervene (taking out laundry on the space between the drum and the tub or re-closing the drum doors if they normally open to the outside),
• - The FR 2 616 814 A1 describes a functional locking system for rotary drum washing machines, consisting essentially of locking fingers, which prevent both the switching on of the drive motor of the drum when the drum door is open and the standing still of the drum before the opening of the flap.
• - The FR 2 751 669 A1 describes a washing machine or a tumble dryer with loading from above, with automatic opening and closing of the drum. The drum has a sliding door provided with means for catching and locking with respect to the tub while the drum continues to run; The opening and closing of the drum depends on its direction of rotation.
• - The DE 102 00 762 A1 describes a safety latch for a washing machine drum to prevent inadvertent opening of the loading doors. Essentially, a system of hooks and slots is used on the doors, which is biased by a push button as a stop and by a spring force to the outside, wherein the push button by means of at least one transverse web, in turn via an articulation with an axis, the runs parallel to the drum axis, is connected and thereby leads to a secure locking of the doors.

As can be seen from the documents referred to, all the main methods and devices in the current state of the art are based on technical solutions relating to the washing machines in question and also to their washing machines To complicate the function, they only partially solve the problem that results from unintentionally opening the doors of the drums and can lead to the destruction of the drum.

The machines start in the cycle chosen by the user, without the locking of the doors in the closed position being tested or guaranteed; the first turn

task

The aim of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages. This invention, as it appears, solves the problem which is to define a method and to provide a device with which, on the one hand, the locking of the drum doors of top loaders at the beginning of the washing or drying cycle can be 100% secured and on the other hand this result is achieved without any modification of the machine or the locking system of the drum doors and without user intervention.

• a) Zuführung von Wasser in die Waschwanne, um die Wäsche naß zu machen, ohne sie einzuweichen,
• b) Drehung der Trommel in einer Richtung während einer festgelegten Zeit, damit die vorher naßgemachte Wäsche sich mit der Trommel drehen und auf die innere Tür (mit den Verriegelungshaken) herabfallen kann, anschließend dann auf die äußere Tür (mit den Einrastöffnungen für die Haken),
• c) danach automatisch Übergang in den normalen Waschzyklus, sobald die obengenannten Schritte (a und b) durchgeführt sind.

The method, which ensures the locking of the drum doors of washing machines or dryers with loading from above, with the doors opening to the inside of the drum, is characterized according to the invention in that before the normal washing or drying cycle the following steps are carried out:

• a) adding water to the washing tub to wet the laundry without soaking it;
• b) rotation of the drum in one direction for a set time so that the previously wet laundry can rotate with the drum and fall onto the inner door (with the locking hooks), then onto the outer door (with the catch hooks) .
• c) then automatically transition to the normal washing cycle as soon as the above steps (a and b) are performed.

Preferably, the speed of the drum is about 55 rpm. and the duration of this rotation in the selected direction is about 2 minutes. This time is required for the laundry to curl up enough to put more pressure on the doors when falling.

According to the invention, the device for applying the method consists of the electronic system of the control program of the machine itself, with no change other than the introduction of a short or mini-cycle lasting a few minutes before the normal washing or drying cycle.

Essentially, the advantages obtained by the invention are that the lock is 100% secured without any prior change to the machine by relying solely on a prior mini-cycle which is readily integrated into the machine's electronic control system can, practically for free and without the user having to worry about it.

embodiment

Further advantages will become apparent from the following description of the drum of a washing machine whose drum doors open inwardly as indicated in the accompanying drawings, of which:

shows a partial side section of the drum with closed but unlocked doors in position downwards, being exposed to the pressure of the moistened laundry;

a partial side section of the drum of with the doors fully closed and locked in the up position after repeatedly being exposed to the pressure of the previously moistened laundry.

The figures show the doors 10 and 20 a drum 30 a washing machine by springs 31 and 32 constantly to the outside of the drum 30 be retrieved; the outer door 10 has openings 11 and the inner one 20 is with hooks 21 which pivot by the action of a lever, with a push button 22 is connected, which on the outer side of the door 20 protrudes; the whole thing is the pressure of wet laundry 40 exposed.

Looking closely at the doors 10 . 20 one of which 20 against the other 10 by springs 31 and 32 located at the level of their respective joints, it will be noted that there has been an angular displacement resulting from undesired hanging, which is the snapping of the hooks 21 in the openings 11 prevent what is contrary to the locking of the whole. This closure error favors an almost complete opening of both doors 10 . 20 as soon as they reach the inside of the drum during the washing or spin phase of the wash 30 especially in the case where the drum rotates in one direction, forcing the laundry against the outer door 10 move towards its outer end before moving towards the inner door 20 (in the opposite direction to the one shown on the picture), because in this case the laundry inevitably gets caught at the end of the outer door 10 ; as a result, the entire opening is increased and as a result, laundry from the drum slips into the tub, which can lead to clogging and blocking of the machine. On the other hand, if one here the method of the invention (locking mini cycle before the beginning of the washing cycle, shown in the ), so it is enough, the laundry 40 to moisten to increase their mass and compactness and then the drum 30 to turn in one direction, which is the wet laundry 40 allowed on the inner door 20 with the hooks 21 to roll, then to the outer door 10 with the openings 11 for snapping the hooks 21 by repeated loading the immediate or progressive closing of the two doors 10 . 20 and to achieve their complete locking; the tests have shown that the choice of a speed of 55 RPM, which is maintained for a period of 2 minutes, certainly the complete closing and locking of the doors 10 . 20 brought about, as in the shown what a position of the drum flap 30 in the "up" position corresponds.

It is thus obvious that such a method requires only the introduction of a mini-cycle corresponding to the steps of the method for its realization prior to the complete washing cycle and which starts from the electronic control of the machine, without any change except a simple program change would have to be made.

The method and apparatus according to the invention are mainly intended for toploaders whose drum are provided with doors which open inwards. There is no reason, however, to develop the method also for other areas in which machines with rotating drums are used, for example in dry cleaning, subject to minor adaptations within the scope of the invention, which are obvious to the person skilled in the art ,

It is understood that when used in dryers can be dispensed with the moistening of the laundry, if this has by their water content necessary for the progressive closure weight.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Door / Drum door / outer door

20

Door / drum door / inner door

10, 20

Doors / drum doors

11

Orifices / latch seats

21

hook

22

pushbutton

30

drum

31

feather

32

feather

40

Laundry

Claims (4)

Method for locking the drum doors ( 10 . 20 ) of washing machines or dryers with loading from above, whereby the doors ( 10 . 20 ) to the inside of the drum ( 30 ), characterized in that before the normal washing or drying cycle the following steps are carried out: a) feeding water into the washing tub in order to wash the laundry ( 40 ) to wet without soaking, b) turning the drum ( 30 ) in one direction for a set period of time to allow the laundry ( 40 ) with the drum ( 30 ) and first drenched on the inner door ( 20 ) (with locking hooks ( 21 )) and then on the outer door ( 10 ) (with snap-in openings ( 11 ) for the hooks ( 21 )), and c) automatically performing the normal washing or drying cycle once the above steps (a and b) are performed. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotational speed of the drum ( 30 ) about 55 rpm. is. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the duration of this rotation corresponding to step (b) is about 2 minutes. Device for carrying out the method for securely locking the drum doors ( 10 . 20 ) of top-loading washing machines or dryers, where the drum doors ( 10 . 20 ) in accordance with claims 1 to 3 in particular in their entirety, characterized in that the electronic control program of the machine the normal washing or drying program is preceded by a mini-cycle, which corresponds to the steps of the method.

Images