EP0354191A2 - Verrouillage de porte pour machine à laver ou sèche-linge - Google Patents

Verrouillage de porte pour machine à laver ou sèche-linge Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0354191A2
EP0354191A2 EP89830320A EP89830320A EP0354191A2 EP 0354191 A2 EP0354191 A2 EP 0354191A2 EP 89830320 A EP89830320 A EP 89830320A EP 89830320 A EP89830320 A EP 89830320A EP 0354191 A2 EP0354191 A2 EP 0354191A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
casing
terminal
machine
contact
switch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP89830320A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0354191B1 (fr
EP0354191A3 (en
Inventor
Mario Chioffi
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bitron SpA
Original Assignee
Bitron SpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bitron SpA filed Critical Bitron SpA
Publication of EP0354191A2 publication Critical patent/EP0354191A2/fr
Publication of EP0354191A3 publication Critical patent/EP0354191A3/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0354191B1 publication Critical patent/EP0354191B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E05—LOCKS; KEYS; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; SAFES
    • E05B—LOCKS; ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; HANDCUFFS
    • E05B47/00—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means
    • E05B47/0001—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof
    • E05B47/0009—Operating or controlling locks or other fastening devices by electric or magnetic means with electric actuators; Constructional features thereof with thermo-electric actuators, e.g. heated bimetals
    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
    • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
    • D06F37/42—Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a door lock for a washing machine or drier.
  • a lock comprising a support casing which is adapted to be fixed to the machine and has at least a first and a second terminal for connection to the electrical supply system when the machine is switched on, and a third terminal for connection to electrical devices of the machine to enable their supply; a locking slide which is movable relative to the casing and is adapted, in an operative position, to keep the door closed; a control and timing device housed in the casing and including a resistive heating element and a bimetal device which can be heated by the resistive element and deformed as a result of the supply of voltage to the first and second terminals and, in the deformed condition, can connect the third terminal to one of the first two and hold a stop peg in engagement with the locking slide to keep the latter in the operative position; a sensor for detecting the water level in the washing chamber, supported by the casing and having a movable stop member which, in use, can assume a rest position when the water in the washing chamber is below a predetermined level, and an operative
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a lock which does not have the above disadvantages and which, as well as being compact, is cheap and easy to produce.
  • this object is achieved by virtue of the fact that the sensor and the electrical switch are housed within the casing.
  • the lock has improved reliability since all its components are protected by the casing.
  • the electrical switch is preferably of the bistable resilient-blade type and includes a switching member constituted by a lever having a first end articulated to the casing and a second end in abutment with the resilient blade, the lever also having an operating portion for cooperating with a cam portion of the locking slide to close the switch when the slide slides towards its operative position.
  • the instant at which the electrical switch opens/closes upon operation of the slider can thus be determined precisely by the appropriate selection of the position of the cam portion on the locking slide.
  • a lock according to the invention is also more manageable as regards the statistical controls of the production process, to the benefit of its reliability.
  • a lock generally indicated 1, includes a support casing 2 which is adapted to be fixed to the structure of a washing machine (not illustrated).
  • a recessed guide 3 is formed in correspondence with a cover element 2a of the casing 2 and a locking slide 4 mounted for sliding therein is adapted, in an operative position, to keep the door of the washing machine closed.
  • the cover 2a has an L-shaped guide peg 5 in correspondence with the guide 3 for acting as a guide for the slide 4 in cooperation with a longitudinal slot 4a therein.
  • the slide 4 also has a slot 6 with two ends 6a and 6b for cooperating with a helical spring 7 which biases the slide into a rest position (corresponding to the position illustrated in Figure 1).
  • the slide 4 also has a front abutment edge 8, a notch 9 in correspondence with one of its lateral edges, and a shaped cam portion 10, whose respective functions will become clear from the following description.
  • a first region A houses a control and timing device which is connected to a first terminal 11, a second terminal 12, a third terminal 13 and a fourth terminal 14, all in the form of flat pins.
  • a second region B houses a bistable resilient-blade microswitch connected to a respective pair of flat pins 15 and 16.
  • the third region C of the casing 2 houses a pneumatic sensor of the type described and illustrated in the English application GB-A-8525244 filed by the Applicant.
  • the control and timing device includes a known type of bistable resilient-blade switch 17 constituted by a frame-like, resilient metal element 17a joined at 18 to a substantially rigid central limb 17b having an end which is adapted to cooperate with the frame-shaped element 17a with the interposition of a biconical spring 19.
  • the frame-like element 17a of the bistable blade switch 17 has a movable contact 20 for cooperating with a first upper fixed contact 21 and with a second lower fixed contact 22 which faces the first fixed contact 21 ( Figures 5 and 6).
  • the element 17a of the bistable resilient blade 17 is connected electrically to the first terminal 11 which is intended to be connected to one of the leads of the electrical supply line of the washing machine.
  • a metal rocker arm 24 is pivoted at 23 on the casing 2 beside the bistable resilient blade 17 and has a first end 24a for operating the bistable switch 17 and a second end 24b which is adapted to be acted upon by a bimetal device, generally indicated 25.
  • the bimetal device 25 comprises a pair of rectangular, plate-shaped bimetallic actuator elements 26 which are guided by rod-shaped projections 2c integral with the casing 2 and between which a pellet 27 of resistive material with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) is interposed.
  • the bimetallic elements 26 are arranged in contact with respective intermediate conductor elements 28a and 28b having right-angled-bridge shapes.
  • the lower intermediate conductor elements 28a (with reference to Figure 5) is interposed between one of the bimetal actuator elements 26 and a bimetallic control or compensator element 29 situated in contact with an adjustment screw 30 screwed into the base wall of the casing 2.
  • the bimetallic compensator element 29 is connected electrically to the second terminal 12 which is adapted to be connected to the other lead of the electrical supply line of the machine, whilst the fixed contact 21 connected to the third terminal 13 is intended to be connected to the electrical supply circuits of the machine.
  • the second fixed contact 22 is intended to be connected by the terminal 14 to, for example, a warning light for indicating that the washing machine is switched off.
  • the region A of the casing 2 is as shown in Figures 2 and 5, with the movable contact 20 closed onto the second fixed contact 22.
  • the fixed contact 22 for example, lights a warning light for indicating that the machine is switched off.
  • a voltage is applied to the terminals 11 and 12 so that the PTC pellet starts to heat up, causing the expansion of the bimetallic actuator elements 26 and the bimetallic compensator element 29 (see Figure 6).
  • the intermediate conductor element 28b acts on the first end 24a of the rocker arm 24 to pivot the rocker arm on its fulcrum 23 against the action of a biassing spring 31 interposed between the casing 2 and the central rigid limb 17b of the bistable resilient blade 17.
  • the rocker arm 24 causes the blade 17 to snap, bringing the movable contact 20 onto the first fixed contact 21 and enabling the supply of electricity to the circuits of the machine, for example, to the electric motor for rotating the drum.
  • a locking pin 32 is connected to the movable contact 20 and, in the operative configuration of the bimetal device 25, is adapted to project from a suitable hole in the cover 2a of the casing 2 to cooperate with the front edge 8 of the slide 4 in order to lock the latter in its operative position.
  • the presence of the bimetallic compensator element 29 enables the reduction to an acceptable time of the delay with which the stop pin 32 returns into the casing 2, allowing the door to be opened.
  • the bimetal device 25 is not affected by the increase in temperature due to the Joule effect resulting from the passage of current through the contacts associated with the bistable resilient blade 17.
  • the rocker arm 24 effectively separates the region of the PTC pellet from the region corresponding to the contacts 20 and 21, through which the current passes.
  • Figures 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the bimetal device 25 which substantially corresponds to that shown in Figures 5 and 6. It differs from the first embodiment in having intermediate bridge-shaped conductor elements 33 constituted by shaped bimetal plates which are in contact with the bimetallic actuator elements 26 at their ends 33a. As is clearly shown in Figure 8 (the operative configuration of the bimetal device) the deformation of the intermediate conductor elements 33 has the opposite effect from that of the bimetallic actuator elements 26.
  • the bridge shape of the bimetallic compensators 33 which are not affected by the ambient temperature of the device, enables the entire displacement caused by the metallic actuator elements 26 to be transmitted. This displacement causes the switching of the electrical contacts 20, 21 and the protrusion of the locking pin 32.
  • the bimetallic compensators 33 are deformed with an opposite effect so as to "subtract" a certain travel from the bimetallic actuators and place the rocker arm 24 in a condition nearer to the switching point of the bistable blade switch 17, thus reducing the delay in the opening of the contacts 20, 21 (end of cycle).
  • the microswitch housed in the region B of the casing 2 also includes a bistable resilient blade 34 defining a frame element 34a and a rigid central limb 34b.
  • the bistable resilient blade 34 is electrically connected to the terminal 16 and its frame element 34a defines a movable contact 35 which can cooperate with a fixed contact 36 connected to the terminal 15.
  • the terminals 15 and 16 are adapted for connection to devices of the washing machine for controlling their supply.
  • the bistable resilient blade 34 is provided with a switching member constituted by a plastics lever 37 having one end 37a articulated at 38 to the casing 2 and a second end 37b in contact with the central rigid limb 34b of the bistable resilient blade 34 for controlling its operation.
  • the end 37b of the lever 37 also has a portion 39 for cooperating with the cam surface 10 of the slide 4.
  • a plastics rocker-arm element 41 pivoted on the casing 2 at 42 may be used instead of the lever 37.
  • the rocker-arm element 41 has a first end 41a provided with a T-shaped peg 43 connected to the central rigid limb 34b in correspondence with an aperture 44 therein.
  • the end 41a of the rocker-arm element 41 may be connected to the central rigid limb 34b of the bistable resilient blade 34, for example, by the insertion of the T-shaped peg 43 through the aperture 44 and its subsequent rotation through about 90°.
  • the first end 41a of the rocker-arm element 41 has a portion 45 for cooperating with a first cam surface 46 of the slide 4, whilst the second end 41b of the rocker-arm element 41 has a portion 46a for cooperating with a second cam surface 47 of the slide 4.
  • This system for controlling the bistable blade switch 34 makes the movement of the slide 4 independent of the hysteresis of the switch itself, affording very reliable control of the opening/closing of the contacts 35, 36 on the part of the cam surfaces 46 and 47 of the slide.
  • the positive opening and closing of the contacts 35 and 36 enables the microswitch to be made with very wide tolerances, with a consequent reduction in cost and with an improvement in the reliability of the switch.
  • the region C of the casing 2 defines a chamber 50 which communicates by means of a connector 51, situated in the wall of the casing 2, with a tube (not illustrated) one end of which is connected to an opening of the washing chamber of the washing machine beneath the door.
  • a resilient diaphragm (not illustrated) is sealingly interposed between the cover 2a and the casing 2 and is provided with a central pin which passes through a hole in the cover 2a and is adapted to cooperate with the lateral notch 9 of the slide 4 to lock the latter in the operative position when the water in the washing chamber is above a predetermined level.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Control Of Washing Machine And Dryer (AREA)
  • Detail Structures Of Washing Machines And Dryers (AREA)
EP89830320A 1988-08-02 1989-07-11 Verrouillage de porte pour machine à laver ou sèche-linge Expired - Lifetime EP0354191B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT6773488 1988-08-02
IT67734/88A IT1223750B (it) 1988-08-02 1988-08-02 Dispositivo di bloccaggio del portello di una macchina lavatrice o lavasciuga

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0354191A2 true EP0354191A2 (fr) 1990-02-07
EP0354191A3 EP0354191A3 (en) 1990-08-08
EP0354191B1 EP0354191B1 (fr) 1996-04-10

Family

ID=11304870

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP89830320A Expired - Lifetime EP0354191B1 (fr) 1988-08-02 1989-07-11 Verrouillage de porte pour machine à laver ou sèche-linge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0354191B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE68926198T2 (fr)
ES (1) ES2085870T3 (fr)
IT (1) IT1223750B (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1113103A2 (fr) * 1999-12-29 2001-07-04 Lg Electronics Inc. Verrouillage de porte pour machine à laver à tambour
FR2811006A1 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-04 Bitron Spa Dispositif de blocage de porte, notamment destine a un appareil electromenager
EP1550759A2 (fr) * 2003-12-18 2005-07-06 ITW Metalflex d.o.o. Tolmin Dispositif de sécurité dans un appareil ménager
WO2006067367A1 (fr) * 2004-12-20 2006-06-29 Pbt (Ip) Limited Mecanisme de verrouillage polyvalent utilisant une commutation materielle active
EP1972714A1 (fr) * 2007-03-19 2008-09-24 BITRON S.p.A. Dispositif de verrouillage de porte avec relâchement d'urgence, particulièrement pour des appareils domestiques
ITTO20120469A1 (it) * 2012-05-30 2013-12-01 Illinois Tool Works Blocco porta elettromagnetico

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTO20070295A1 (it) 2007-05-03 2008-11-04 Bitron Spa Sistema blocca-porta per un apparecchio elettrodomestico

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2708086A1 (de) * 1976-03-18 1977-09-22 Texas Instruments Italia Spa Tuerblockierungsvorrichtung
EP0172331A1 (fr) * 1984-08-18 1986-02-26 Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH Dispositif de verrouillage de porte avec verrouillage immédiat et déverrouillage à retardement avec surveillance de niveau d'eau
FR2571752A3 (fr) * 1984-10-15 1986-04-18 Omp Off Meccano Plast Dispositif de blocage de la porte de machines a laver a chargement frontal, en particulier de machines lave-linge
DE3620907A1 (de) * 1985-06-24 1987-01-02 Texas Instruments Italia Spa Durch elektrische energie und/oder den wasserstand betaetigte verriegelungsvorrichtung fuer die tueren von waschmaschinen mit integrierten druckwaechterfunktionen

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2708086A1 (de) * 1976-03-18 1977-09-22 Texas Instruments Italia Spa Tuerblockierungsvorrichtung
EP0172331A1 (fr) * 1984-08-18 1986-02-26 Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH Dispositif de verrouillage de porte avec verrouillage immédiat et déverrouillage à retardement avec surveillance de niveau d'eau
FR2571752A3 (fr) * 1984-10-15 1986-04-18 Omp Off Meccano Plast Dispositif de blocage de la porte de machines a laver a chargement frontal, en particulier de machines lave-linge
DE3620907A1 (de) * 1985-06-24 1987-01-02 Texas Instruments Italia Spa Durch elektrische energie und/oder den wasserstand betaetigte verriegelungsvorrichtung fuer die tueren von waschmaschinen mit integrierten druckwaechterfunktionen

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1113103A2 (fr) * 1999-12-29 2001-07-04 Lg Electronics Inc. Verrouillage de porte pour machine à laver à tambour
EP1113103A3 (fr) * 1999-12-29 2001-09-12 Lg Electronics Inc. Verrouillage de porte pour machine à laver à tambour
FR2811006A1 (fr) * 2000-06-30 2002-01-04 Bitron Spa Dispositif de blocage de porte, notamment destine a un appareil electromenager
EP1550759A2 (fr) * 2003-12-18 2005-07-06 ITW Metalflex d.o.o. Tolmin Dispositif de sécurité dans un appareil ménager
EP1550759A3 (fr) * 2003-12-18 2009-08-26 ITW Metalflex d.o.o. Tolmin Dispositif de sécurité dans un appareil ménager
WO2006067367A1 (fr) * 2004-12-20 2006-06-29 Pbt (Ip) Limited Mecanisme de verrouillage polyvalent utilisant une commutation materielle active
EP1972714A1 (fr) * 2007-03-19 2008-09-24 BITRON S.p.A. Dispositif de verrouillage de porte avec relâchement d'urgence, particulièrement pour des appareils domestiques
ITTO20120469A1 (it) * 2012-05-30 2013-12-01 Illinois Tool Works Blocco porta elettromagnetico
WO2013181289A1 (fr) * 2012-05-30 2013-12-05 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Verrou de porte électromagnétique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IT8867734A0 (it) 1988-08-02
EP0354191B1 (fr) 1996-04-10
DE68926198D1 (de) 1996-05-15
DE68926198T2 (de) 1996-09-05
IT1223750B (it) 1990-09-29
ES2085870T3 (es) 1996-06-16
EP0354191A3 (en) 1990-08-08

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