EP1467048B1 - Türschlossvorrichtung für ein elektrisches Haushaltsgerät - Google Patents

Türschlossvorrichtung für ein elektrisches Haushaltsgerät Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1467048B1
EP1467048B1 EP04008426A EP04008426A EP1467048B1 EP 1467048 B1 EP1467048 B1 EP 1467048B1 EP 04008426 A EP04008426 A EP 04008426A EP 04008426 A EP04008426 A EP 04008426A EP 1467048 B1 EP1467048 B1 EP 1467048B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
locking
door
plate
locking member
housing
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP04008426A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1467048A1 (de
Inventor
Fabrizio Promutico
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
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Bitron SpA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bitron SpA filed Critical Bitron SpA
Publication of EP1467048A1 publication Critical patent/EP1467048A1/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1467048B1 publication Critical patent/EP1467048B1/de
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
    • 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
    • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
    • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
    • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a device for locking and unlocking the door of an electric household appliance such as, for example, a washing machine or a combined washing machine/drier.
  • the subject of the invention is a locking and unlocking device comprising:
  • a device for locking and unlocking the door of an electric household appliance of the type specified above is known, for example, from the Applicant's United States patent No. 6,334,637 .
  • An object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type specified above which overcomes the disadvantage outlined above.
  • a device for locking and unlocking the door of an electric household appliance of the type specified above characterized in that the second contact of the switch is mounted so as to be movable in the housing between an operative position and an inoperative position in which it can be reached and cannot be reached by the first contact carried by the first plate, respectively, and is connected to the retaining and locking means in a manner such that it can adopt the operative position solely when the retaining member is restrained in its working position, and can be arranged in the inoperative position when the retaining member returns to the rest position.
  • the second electrical contact of the switch is carried by a second plate which is made of electrically-conductive material, is mounted so as to be movable in the support housing, and is associated with a control member which can control its position in dependence on the position of the retaining member.
  • the control member is advantageously a rocker mounted pivotably in the support housing and having a first arm which can cooperate with the locking member and a second arm cooperating with the second plate.
  • a locking and unlocking device according to the invention is generally indicated 1.
  • the device comprises a support housing 2 made of electrically-insulating material (for example, a moulded plastics material), which is intended to be fixed to the structure of an electric household appliance (not shown) in the vicinity of a loading or access opening with which a door P is associated ( Figure 1 ), the door P being provided, in known manner, with a hook member A.
  • the support housing is formed by two half-shells 3 and 4 connected to one another.
  • the housing 2 of the device 1 has an opening 5 for the introduction of the hook member A carried by the door.
  • a retaining member or slide 6 is mounted slidably in the support housing 2 of the device 1 and has a window-like opening 7 through which the hook member A can extend.
  • an associated helical spring 8 keeps the retaining member 6 in a rest position in which its window 7 faces the opening 5 of the housing 2.
  • the hook member A of the door P can be introduced into the opening 5 and into the window 7 when the door is closed and, conversely, can be released from the window and from the opening when the door is opened.
  • the retaining member or slide 6 has a further opening 9 which is substantially L-shaped in the embodiment shown by way of example.
  • a locking member 11 extends so as to be translatable in that opening.
  • the arrangement is such that, when the door P is closed, the hook member A engages in the opening or window 7 of the retaining member or slide 6 and brings about a translation thereof (towards the left as seen in Figure 1 ) so as to expose the opening 10, as shown in Figure 7 .
  • a switch is disposed inside the lower half-shell 4 of the housing 2.
  • the switch comprises a first movable contact 13 carried by one end of a metal plate 14 the other end of which is disposed on top of a shaped metal member 15 ( Figures 3 , 6 , 8 and 9 ) and is restrained firmly on the support housing 2 with the member, for example, by means of a rivet 16.
  • the switch 12 further comprises a second electrical contact 17 (see, for example, Figures 3 , 6 and 9 ) carried by an end of a second metal plate 18 the other end of which is fixed to a shaped metal member 19.
  • the plate 18 extends above and spaced from the plate 14.
  • the shaped metal member 19 has an end 19a which is shaped as a flat pin which extends as a connection terminal in a recessed seat 20 of the support housing 2 ( Figures 1 to 3 ).
  • the shaped metal member 15 also has a flat pin-like end 15a which extends in the seat 20.
  • the movable electrical contacts 13 and 17 face one another and are normally spaced apart. In other words, the switch 12 is normally open.
  • the plate 14 which carries the movable contact 13 is not a simple metal plate but a bimetal plate.
  • a resistor with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), indicated 50, is disposed beneath the plate 14.
  • the resistor 50 bears on a shaped, electrically-conductive member 51, an end 51a of which is shaped as a flat pin and extends in the seat 20 for connection to a control unit of the electric household appliance.
  • the locking member 11 has a lower transverse appendage 11a.
  • this appendage cooperates with a cam profile or teeth of a toothed wheel 21 which is mounted so as to be rotatable in the support housing about a pin 21a adjacent the locking member 11.
  • the toothed wheel 21 is advantageously made of plastics material. It may be monolithic or - for ease of moulding - may be formed in two parts which are glued or otherwise fixed together.
  • the lower portion of the wheel 21 has a lower set of saw teeth 22 ( Figures 2 , 4 and 5 ).
  • the upper portion of the wheel 21 has a plurality of equiangularly spaced cams or face teeth 23 separated by gaps 24 ( Figures 2-4 ).
  • the teeth 23 have a right-angled trapezium shape of which one side or end is inclined and the other side or end is upright.
  • the wheel 21 has twelve saw teeth 22 and four upper teeth 23.
  • the width of the gaps 24 between consecutive teeth 23 is slightly less than the angular distance corresponding to two adjacent saw teeth 22.
  • the arrangement is such that, when the radial appendage 11a of the locking member 11 extends beneath a cam or tooth 23 of the wheel 21, the locking member 11 is restrained in the lowered or release position, as shown in particular in Figure 4 .
  • the wheel 21 When, on the other hand, as a result of an angular movement, the wheel 21 has the appendage 11a of the locking member 11 in a gap 24 between two consecutive teeth or cams 23, the locking member 11 can move to the extended, engagement or locking position under the thrust exerted by the plate 14, as will be described further below.
  • an electrically-operated actuator is generally indicated 25 in Figures 2 , 3 and 5 .
  • the actuator comprises a coil or solenoid 26 inside which a ferromagnetic core 27 is mounted so as to be axially translatable; a rod 28 (see Figure 5 in particular) is connected to one end of the core 27.
  • the end of the rod 28 remote from the core 27 bears against a shaped member generally indicated 29.
  • This member has, in its central portion, a slot-shaped opening 30 through which a fixed guide peg or pin 31, fixed firmly to the lower half-shell 4 of the support housing 2 of the device, extends (see Figure 5 in particular).
  • the end 29a of the member 29 remote from the actuator 25 is hooked and engages between a pair of consecutive saw teeth 22 of the toothed wheel 21 ( Figure 5 ).
  • a pawl, indicated 32, is mounted for pivoting about a fixed pin 33 and is also engaged between a pair of consecutive saw teeth 22 of the toothed wheel 21, under the thrust of a helical spring 34 which is interposed between the pawl and the end of the shaped member 29 that is adjacent the actuator 25.
  • the winding or solenoid 26 of the electromagnetic actuator 25 has its terminals connected, respectively, to a shaped electrically-conductive member 35 and to the connecting member 51, 51a by means of a conductive bridge 36 ( Figures 2 and 3 ).
  • the shaped connection member 35 may, advantageously but not necessarily, be connected to a conductor member 37 ( Figure 2 ) having an end 37a which extends in the seat 20 of the housing of the device and is shaped as a flat pin in order to act as a connection terminal.
  • a resistor with a positive temperature coefficient (PTC), indicated 38 in Figures 2 and 5 is preferably interposed between the connection members 35 and 37.
  • the resistor 38 advantageously enables the intensity of the current supplied to the coil 26 of the electromagnetic actuator 25 to be limited automatically when the duration of the supply of that current exceeds a predetermined period of time. The use of the PTC resistor 38 thus permits the use of an electromagnetic actuator 25 having a small and relatively inexpensive coil 26.
  • the end of the plate 14 which carries the movable contact 13 is engaged in a lateral seat or notch 11b of the locking member 11, as can be seen in Figure 4 .
  • the resistor 50 when the resistor 50 is heated, it can consequently cause the plate 14 to bend upwards and the end of that plate which carries the movable contact 13 consequently tends to urge the locking member 11 from the lowered or release position of Figures 1 and 6 towards the raised or engagement position shown in Figure 8 .
  • the locking member 11 protrudes partially outside the opening 10 ( Figure 7 ) and is disposed on the path of the retaining member or slide 6, preventing it from returning towards the rest position in which it allows the door P to be opened.
  • a rocker is mounted pivotably at 61 in the lower half-shell 4 of the support housing 2 of the device.
  • the rocker 60 has a first arm 60a which extends above the top of the locking member 11 and a second arm 60b cooperating with the plate 18.
  • the rocker 60 also has a third arm 60c extending in the same direction as the first arm 60a and operatively cooperating with the retaining slide 6 ( Figures 2-4 and 7 ).
  • the arrangement of the rocker 60 is such that, when the locking member 11 moves from the lowered, rest position to the raised, engagement position in which it restrains the slide 6 in the door-locking condition, the arm 60b of the rocker keeps the plate 18 and the associated movable contact 17 in a lowered, operative position shown in Figure 8 .
  • the plate 18 When the plate 18 is in that operative position, its contact 17 can be reached by the movable contact 13 carried by the plate 14 when the plate bends owing to the heating brought about by the resistor 50.
  • the rocker 60 is also such that, when the door-locking device 1 is at rest (door open - Figure 1 ), the arm 60a of the rocker extends through a portion of the opening 9 of the retaining slide 6, above the portion of the slide 6 which covers the opening 10 in which the movable locking member 11 is mounted. In this condition, a further portion of the retaining member 6 covers an opening in the upper shell 3 of the housing of the device, through which the arm 60c of the rocker can extend. This opening is in fact exposed ( Figure 7 ) when the retaining slide 6 is in the working position shown in Figure 7 in which the slide 6 also covers the opening 10 through which the locking member 11 is translatable.
  • the device described operates in the following manner.
  • the locking and unlocking device When the door P is open, the locking and unlocking device is in the condition shown in Figures 1-6 ; the locking member 11 is restrained in the retracted, release position by a trapezoidal tooth 23 of the toothed wheel 21 which bears on the radial appendage 11a of that member; the locking member 11 is also "covered” by the retaining member or slide 6.
  • a control unit of the electric household appliance brings about excitation of the actuator 25 in known manner.
  • the member 29 brings about a rotation of the toothed wheel 21 of a magnitude equal to the angular extent of one tooth 22 of that wheel.
  • the wheel is thus disposed in an angular position in which a gap 24 between two consecutive trapezoidal teeth 23 is presented to the radial appendage 11a of the locking member 11.
  • the locking member 11 consequently moves to the extended position of Figure 8 and, by acting on the rocker 60, causes the plate 18 of the associated contact 17 to be arranged in the operative position.
  • the contact 13 of the plate 14 is thus brought against the contact 17 and the closure of the switch 12 formed thereby represents an indication of the fact that the door P is closed and locked.
  • the control unit of the electric household appliance causes (for example) two successive excitation pulses to be sent to the coil 26 of the actuator 25.
  • the toothed wheel 21 is rotated through an angle corresponding to the extent of two of its saw teeth 22.
  • This rotation brings about the engagement of the radial appendage 11a of the locking member by a new trapezoidal tooth or cam 23 of the wheel.
  • the locking member 11 is thus brought back to the retracted or release position shown in Figure 4 in which it allows the retaining member or slide 6 to return to the position in which the door P is allowed to open.
  • the method of operation is similar if a locking and unlocking device 1 is installed without a locking member 11; in that case, the operating switch 12 remains open in the very first cycle, providing the control unit of the electric household appliance with the information that the door is in fact not locked.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
  • Lock And Its Accessories (AREA)

Claims (4)

  1. Vorrichtung (1) zum Verriegeln und Entriegeln der Tür (P) eines elektrischen Haushaltsgerätes, umfassend:
    ein Trägergehäuse (2) mit einer Öffnung (5) zum Einführen eines Hakenelements (A), das mit der Tür (P) verbunden ist,
    Halte- und Verriegelungsmittel (6, 11, 21-34), umfassend:
    ein Halteelement (6), das so montiert ist, dass es relativ zum Gehäuse (2) beweglich ist zwischen einer Ruheposition, in der es dem Hakenelement (A) erlaubt, in die Öffnung (5) eingeführt zu werden, und einer Arbeitsposition, in der es das Hakenelement (A), das in die Öffnung (5) eingeführt worden ist, zurückhalten kann,
    ein Verriegelungselement (11), das im Gehäuse (2) beweglich ist zwischen einer Freigabeposition und einer Eingriffsposition, in denen es die Bewegung des Halteelements (6) von der Arbeitsposition zur Ruheposition jeweils erlauben und verhindern kann,
    Steuermittel (21 bis 34), die elektrisch betätigt werden können und die Position des Verriegelungselements (11) steuern können, und
    einen Schalter (12) der einen ersten elektrischen Kontakt und einen zweiten elektrischen Kontakt (13, 17) enthält, wobei der erste elektrischen Kontakt (13) von einer ersten flexiblen Platte (14) getragen wird, die aus elektrisch leitfähigem Material gefertigt ist und im Gehäuse (2) montiert ist und mit dem Verriegelungselement (11) derart verbunden ist, dass die Platte (14) den ersten Kontakt (13) in Richtung zum zweiten elektrischen Kontakt (17) bewegen kann, wenn sich das Verriegelungselement (11) zu der Eingriffsposition bewegt, in der es das Öffnen der Tür (P) verhindert, und
    wobei die Vorrichtung dadurch gekennzeichnet ist, dass der zweite Kontakt (17) des Schalters (12) so montiert ist, dass er im Gehäuse (2) zwischen einer wirksamen Position und einer unwirksamen Position beweglich ist, in denen er von dem von der ersten Platte (14) getragenen ersten Kontakt (13) erreicht werden kann bzw. nicht erreicht werden kann, und mit dem Halte- und Verriegelungsmittel (6, 11, 21-34) verbunden ist, derart, dass er nur die wirksame Position einnehmen kann, wenn das Verriegelungselement (11) in seiner Arbeitsposition gehalten wird, und in der unwirksamen Position angeordnet sein kann, wenn das Halteelement (6) in die Ruheposition zurückkehrt.
  2. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 1, bei der der zweite Kontakt (17) des Schalters (12) von einer zweiten Platte (18) getragen wird, die aus einem elektrisch leitenden Material gefertigt ist und so montiert ist, dass sie im Trägergehäuse (2) beweglich ist, wobei diesem ein Steuerelement (60) zugeordnet ist, das seine Position in Abhängigkeit von der Position des Halteelements (6) steuern kann.
  3. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 2, bei der das Steuerelement (60) ein Kipphebel (60) ist, der schwenkbar im Trägergehäuse (2, 4) montiert ist und einen ersten Arm (60a), der mit dem Verriegelungselement (11) zusammenwirken kann, sowie einen zweiten Arm (60b) aufweist, der mit der zweiten Platte (18) zusammenwirkt.
  4. Vorrichtung nach Anspruch 3, bei der der Kipphebel (60) ferner einen dritten Arm (60c) aufweist, der sich in derselben Richtung wie der erste Arm (60a) erstreckt und mit dem Halteelement (6) zusammenwirkt.
EP04008426A 2003-04-09 2004-04-07 Türschlossvorrichtung für ein elektrisches Haushaltsgerät Expired - Lifetime EP1467048B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT000273A ITTO20030273A1 (it) 2003-04-09 2003-04-09 Dispositivo di bloccaggio e sbloccaggio del portello
ITTO20030273 2003-04-09

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1467048A1 EP1467048A1 (de) 2004-10-13
EP1467048B1 true EP1467048B1 (de) 2008-09-17

Family

ID=32866085

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP04008426A Expired - Lifetime EP1467048B1 (de) 2003-04-09 2004-04-07 Türschlossvorrichtung für ein elektrisches Haushaltsgerät

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1467048B1 (de)
DE (1) DE602004016589D1 (de)
ES (1) ES2314308T3 (de)
IT (1) ITTO20030273A1 (de)

Families Citing this family (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTO20040540A1 (it) * 2004-07-30 2004-10-30 Bitron Spa Dispositivo blocca-porta, particolarmente per un apparecchio elettrodomestico
ITTO20060026A1 (it) * 2006-01-16 2007-07-17 Bitron Spa Apparecchiatura elettrica con porta provvista di un dispositivo di bloccaggio a comando elettrico
ITTO20060912A1 (it) 2006-12-21 2008-06-22 Bitron Spa Sistema per il fissaggio senza viti di un corpo ad un pannello
ITTO20070203A1 (it) 2007-03-19 2008-09-20 Bitron Spa Dispositivo blocca-porta con sblocco di emergenza, particolarmente per elettrodomestici
ITTO20070295A1 (it) * 2007-05-03 2008-11-04 Bitron Spa Sistema blocca-porta per un apparecchio elettrodomestico
DE102008030902A1 (de) * 2008-06-30 2009-12-31 BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH Türverschließvorrichtung für ein Hausgerät, Türanordnung mit einer Türverschließvorrichtung und Verfahren zum Verschließen einer Tür eines Hausgeräts
CN102191894B (zh) * 2010-03-11 2015-07-01 东莞安联电器元件有限公司 门锁组件
IT1400623B1 (it) 2010-06-18 2013-06-14 Eltek Spa Dispositivo blocco porta per elettrodomestici con attuatore termico.
ITTO20110557A1 (it) * 2011-06-24 2012-12-25 Bitron Spa Dispositivo di bloccaggio e sbloccaggio del portello di un apparecchio elettrodomestico
ITTO20110556A1 (it) * 2011-06-24 2012-12-25 Bitron Spa Dispositivo di bloccaggio e sbloccaggio del portello di un apparecchio elettrodomestico
ITTO20110569A1 (it) * 2011-06-29 2012-12-30 Bitron Spa Dispositivo di bloccaggio e sbloccaggio del portello di un apparecchio elettrodomestico
ITTO20120469A1 (it) * 2012-05-30 2013-12-01 Illinois Tool Works Blocco porta elettromagnetico

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ITTO980511A1 (it) * 1998-06-11 1999-12-13 Bitron Spa Dispositivo di bloccaggio di un portello di un apparecchio elettrodome stico.
IT1303590B1 (it) * 1998-12-18 2000-11-14 Bitron Spa Dispositivo di bloccaggio e sbloccaggio del portello di un apparecchioelettrodomestico.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE602004016589D1 (de) 2008-10-30
ITTO20030273A1 (it) 2004-10-10
EP1467048A1 (de) 2004-10-13
ES2314308T3 (es) 2009-03-16

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