EP1548170A1 - Door for rotating drum for washing machine and/or laundry dryer - Google Patents

Abstract

The door has a flap (21) mounted at the level of a side (21a) in rotation around an axle (23) integrated to an edge (24) of an opening. A flap (22) is mounted at the level of a side (22a) in rotation on an opposite side (21b) of the flap (21). The two flaps are positioned at same side of the opening when the door is in open position such that inclination of the drum at side of the opening does not have flaps. The flap (22) has another opposite side that includes guiding pins to cooperate with guiding rails of a shell (11) of a drum. An independent claim is also included for a cloth washing or drying machine including a drum door.

Description

The present invention relates to a suitable rotary drum door to close an opening in the drum shell.

It also relates to a washing machine and / or dryer, equipped with such a drum door.

In general, the present invention applies to a washing or drying machine, equipped with a rotating drum with loading radial, through an opening provided in the drum shell.

Thus, the loading and the removal of the laundry from the drum are carried out at level of the perimeter of the drum, and usually from the top of the machine, the latter having in the upper plane of its body a door access to the drum.

In the vast majority of cases, this rotary drum is equipped with a double door, these wings being articulated independently respectively at two opposite edges of the opening. So classic, each wing is mounted by one of its sides in rotation around a axis integral with an edge of the opening.

The opening of these leaves is generally achieved thanks to the implementation of elastic return means mounted at the axis of rotation, and the holding in the closed position of these leaves is realized thanks to complementary closure means respectively mounted on the free edges of the leaves. The movement of these leaves is generally independent and requires the use of two hands to bring the wings together in closed position.

However, EP 1 298 242 discloses a drum a double-leaf door, the latter being connected to each other by rods. This link in movement of the leaves allows the manipulation with one hand for closing or opening the door, and facilitates the automation of the opening.

However, this type of double-leaf solution, requiring the articulation of each flap on the drum shell, makes access to the drum for loading or unloading difficult clothes. In particular, the inclination of the drum to facilitate access to the opening is not or little possible because of the presence of the leaves on both sides of the opening.

In addition, the locking and locking system of the drum is located in the center of the door, which makes it visible and unattractive.

In this respect, there are known washing machines, as described particularly in document FR 2 778 677, in which a door comprising a single leaf is mounted on the rotating drum.

Although the closing and locking system of such a door made at an edge of the opening, and thus can be hidden by the drum shell, such a single swing door is very bulky.

In particular, for an opening dimension given in the ferrule of the drum, a single swing door, coming to open on the outside of the machine, occupies a very important place compared to double solutions beating.

Thus, because of the curved shape of the ferrule and consequently the door by closing the opening, it is necessary to provide a deflection important of the door beyond its axis of rotation to release totally access to the opening of the drum.

The present invention aims to solve the disadvantages mentioned above and to propose a compact rotary drum door and allowing ergonomic access inside the drum.

For this purpose, the present invention relates to a drum door rotary valve adapted to close an opening in the drum shell comprising a first leaf mounted by a first side rotating about an axis integral with an edge of the opening.

According to the invention, this door comprises a second wing mounted by a first rotational side on a second side of the first leaf, the second side of the first flap being opposite the first side of the first beating, and the second flap comprises guiding means adapted to cooperate with complementary guiding means integral with the ferrule of the drum and adapted to guide moving the second flapping between a closed position and an open position of said door.

Thanks to the mounting of the second leaf on the first leaf, both doors are positioned on the same side of the opening when the door is in open position.

Access to the interior of the drum is thus greatly facilitated by allowing the inclination of the drum on the side of the opening not bearing the leaves.

In addition, the clutter of the door thanks to the articulation of the second beating in relation to the first leaf is limited.

The guiding means of the second leaf, driven on the move by the first flap, allow to obtain a reliable and predictable displacement of this second flap relative to the opening and the drum.

According to a preferred characteristic of the invention, in the position open door, a second side of the second wing, opposite the first side of the second leaf, is substantially adjacent to the axis integral with said edge of the opening.

Thus, the second side of the second wing is substantially adjacent on the first side of the first wing mounted on the drum shell, when the door is open.

The door is thus folded, beating against beating, in the position open, thus releasing as much as possible the opening portion in the shell of the drum.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the means of complementary guidance consist of two guide rails arranged respectively on both sides of the opening, these guide rails extending between said edge of the opening and a second opposite edge of this opening.

The second door leaf can be guided from one edge to the other the opening between its closed position and its open position.

The positioning of guide rails on both sides of the opening allows a reliable holding of the wing during its movement.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, the second flap comprises closure means mounted on a second side thereof second flap, opposite to the first side of this second flapper, and adapted to cooperate with complementary closure means integral with a second edge of the opening opposite said first edge of the opening.

The closing means of the door are thus arranged at the level the second edge of the aperture, and may be masked at least in part by the drum shell.

According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a machine for washing and / or drying laundry, comprising a rotating drum with an opening in the drum shell, this machine comprising a drum door rotary device according to the first aspect of the invention.

Such a washing machine and / or dryer has characteristics and advantages similar to those described above.

Other features or advantages of the invention will appear still in the description below.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un tambour adapté à équiper une machine à laver ou à sécher le linge conforme à un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue analogue de la porte du tambour en position semi-ouverte ;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique de côté d'une machine à laver ou à sécher le linge conforme à un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• les figures 4 à 8 sont des vues en coupe schématiques illustrant la fermeture d'une porte de tambour conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 9 est une vue agrandie du détail A de la figure 8 ; et
• les figures 10 et 11 sont des vues partielles en perspective illustrant le système de fermeture de la porte du tambour conforme à l'invention.

In the accompanying drawings, given as non-limiting examples:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a drum adapted to equip a washing machine or dryer according to one embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 2 is a similar view of the drum door in the half-open position;
• Figure 3 is a schematic side view of a washing machine or dryer according to one embodiment of the invention;
• Figures 4 to 8 are schematic sectional views illustrating the closure of a drum door according to the invention;
• Fig. 9 is an enlarged view of detail A of Fig. 8; and
• Figures 10 and 11 are partial perspective views illustrating the closure system of the drum door according to the invention.

We will first describe with reference to Figures 1 and 2 a door drum according to one embodiment of the invention.

The drum 10 as illustrated in Figure 1 is a drum intended for receive laundry either in a tumble dryer or in a washing machine or washing-drying, the drum shell being in these cases perforated.

This drum 10 is intended to be mounted in rotation inside a machine tank.

The shell 11 of the drum 10 has an opening closed by a gate 20 which is the object of the present invention.

This door 20 comprises two leaves 21, 22.

A first leaf 21 is mounted at a first side 21a of this flap rotating about an axis 23 secured to an edge 24 of the opening.

This is a classic assembly of a 21-leaf flying around of an axis 23, as commonly used for the gates of a drum of washing machine.

In order to facilitate the opening of the leaf, and the rotation of this leaf 21 around the axis 23, it is conventional to provide a spring 25 mounted in torsion to exert a rotational force on the axis 23.

The second leaf 22 of the door 20 is also rotatably mounted at one of its sides 22a on a second side 21b of the first beating.

This second side 21b of the first leaf 21 corresponds to the side opposite the first side 21a of this wing 21.

Any type of hinge can allow to realize this assembly in rotation of the wings 21 and 22 respectively along their side 21b, 22a.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, a axis 26 extends parallel to the sides 21b, 22a of the first and second wings 21, 22. Each leaf 21, 22 comprises a series of bearings 21 ', 22' intended to be mounted around the axis 26 so that the bearings 21 'of the first flap 21 are intercrossed with the bearings 22 'of the second flapper 22.

FIG. 3 illustrates such a drum mounted inside a tank 12 a washing machine or dryer, loading from above.

The drum 10 is thus mounted in rotation between the facade 12a of the tank 12 and its rear wall 12b.

When the opening 13 of the drum extends substantially under the plane upper 14 of the machine, the door consisting of the leaves 21, 22 is, in open position about the axis of rotation 23, located towards the rear of the machine so that the user is not bothered by this door to have access to the interior of the drum 11.

The opening 13 of the drum 10 thus comprises two opposite edges 24, 29 extending in the width of the machine.

Thus, the first leaf 21 is rotatably mounted about the axis 23 secured to the first edge 24 remote from the facade 12a of the machine when the opening 13 extends substantially under the upper plane of the machine.

By removing the hinge of the door on the second edge 29 of the opening, the access by the user placed at the level of the facade 12a of the tank is easy.

In addition, it is possible to rotate the drum slightly to tilt the opening towards the front 12a of the machine (according to the direction of rotation R in Figure 3) to improve access to the interior of this drum.

In order to guide the second leaf 22 in displacement between the position closed and the open position of the door 20, this second flap 22 comprises guiding means adapted to cooperate with guiding means complementary to the drum shell.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the guiding means complementary to the drum shell consist of two 27 (only one of these rails is visible in Figure 2), these rails of guiding being disposed respectively on either side of the opening.

These guide rails 27 thus extend transversely to the sides 21a, 21b, 22a of the first and second leaves 21, 22.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the second side 22b, opposite the first side 22a of the second leaf 22, comprises guide pins 28 intended to slide in the guide rails 27.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, these pins 28 are arranged respectively at the two longitudinal ends of the edge 22b of the second beating.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of one side of the opening extending along a circular contour of the shell 11 of the drum. Of course, the other side of the opening is made symmetrically.

Each guide rail 27 extends between the edge 24 of the opening to the opposite edge 29 of the opening.

As well illustrated in FIG. 6, this guide rail 27 extends following a path whose curvature is such that the contact force F exerted on the guiding pin 28 by the guide rail 27 is outside the friction cone C at any point of this guide rail 27.

In this example, the position of the door and the forces involved when closing the door.

Of course, when opening the door, the contact force F exerted on the guide pin 28 by the rail 27 is oriented downwards on the Figure 6, as well as the friction cone C.

The sliding of each guiding pin 28 in the rails 27 depends both on the coefficient of friction of each pin 28 in the rail 27 and the direction of the contact force exerted on each pawn 28 when moving the second leaf 22.

In a known manner in mechanics, the coefficient of friction of the pin 28 in the rail 27 depends mainly on the materials in contact. This coefficient of friction is characterized by a friction angle a (see Figure 6) whose base is the direction perpendicular N to the contact point of the pin 28 in the rail 27. This friction angle has shape and a friction cone around C this perpendicular direction N.

The lower the angle a , the more the sliding of the pin 28 in the rail 27 is facilitated.

To allow a good sliding and a displacement of the wing 22, it is necessary that the force F at the point of contact between the pin 28 and the rails 27 always be outside the friction cone C.

The friction cone C having the axis perpendicular direction N to the guide rails 27, its position is directly related to the orientation of the guide rails 27.

• à l'ouverture, la résultante de la force de gravité exercée au centre de gravité du second battant 22 et de la force exercée par le battant 21 au niveau de l'axe 26 sur le battant 22. La force exercée par le battant 21 est due à son propre poids et à la force de rappel du ressort 25 monté sur l'axe 23 associé à ce premier battant 21 ;
• à la fermeture, la résultante de la force de gravité exercée au centre de gravité du second battant 22, de la force exercée par l'utilisateur sur la poignée 30 et de la force exercée par le battant 21 au niveau de l'axe 26 sur le battant 22. La force exercée par le battant 21 est également due à son propre poids et à la force de rappel du ressort 25 monté sur l'axe 23 associé à ce premier battant 21.

The force F at the point of contact of the pin in the guide rail 27 is:

• at the opening, the resultant of the force of gravity exerted at the center of gravity of the second leaf 22 and the force exerted by the leaf 21 at the axis 26 on the wing 22. The force exerted by the wing 21 is due to its own weight and the return force of the spring 25 mounted on the axis 23 associated with the first leaf 21;
• at closing, the resultant of the force of gravity exerted at the center of gravity of the second flapper 22, the force exerted by the user on the handle 30 and the force exerted by the flapper 21 at the axis 26 on The force exerted by the leaf 21 is also due to its own weight and to the restoring force of the spring 25 mounted on the axis 23 associated with this first leaf 21.

Due to the articulation of the second leaf 22 on the second side 21b of the first leaf 21, the position of the second wing 22, and consequently guide pins 28 in the guide rails 27, is modified throughout the closing or opening path of the door.

As a result, the resultant force F at this guide pin 28 is constantly modified. So that this resulting force F is located in permanence outside the friction cone C, it is necessary to adapt the curvature of the trajectory of the guide rails 27 during the movement of the beating 22.

In particular, the trajectory of the guide rail 27 is such that it present at any point a radius of curvature whose center coincides with the hinge axis 26 of the second leaf 22 on the first leaf 21 so that the movement is reversible, that is to say that we can at any time reverse the movement whatever it is. Indeed, the movement always leaving the first beating 21, it is necessary that at a position of this leaf 21 corresponds only one only possible position of the second wing 22.

This particular structure guarantees the movement of the second wing 22 around the hinge axis 26 as soon as the first leaf 21 pivots around its axis of rotation 23.

Moreover, the trajectory of the guide rail 27 is such that extends, when the door is closed, above the wings 21, 22 especially in its opposite portion to the axis of rotation 23 (see in particular Figure 8).

In the configuration chosen in FIGS. 4 to 8, this trajectory of the guide rail 27 extends above the wings 21 and 22 more marked in its opposite portion to the axis of rotation 23 (on the left of Figures 4 to 8). This allows the portion of the guide rail 27 to be close to the axis of rotation 23 (on the right of FIGS. 4 to 8 and whose shape is determined as described above to ensure the smooth sliding of the guide pins 28 in the guide rail 27), is also above the wings 21 and 22 when the door is closed.

All these choices of realization lead to this embodiment of the invention that the second leaf 22 has a dimension between these two sides 22a, 22b, smaller than the dimension of the first leaf 21 between its two sides 21a, 21b.

Thus, thanks to this trajectory of the guide rail 27, in case accumulation of laundry against the drum shell, as happens frequently at the end of the spin, the opening of the second leaf 22, and the sliding guide pins 28 in the guide rail 27, are not embarrassed by the linen.

In order to allow the handling of the leaves, mainly to closing the door, a handle 30 secured to the first leaf 21 extends beyond the second side 21b of this first wing 21.

Thus, as illustrated in FIG. 4, this handle 30 protrudes beyond the axis 26 of relative rotation of the two wings 21, 22.

In contrast, in the closed position as illustrated in FIG. 8, this handle 30 extends beyond the first leaf 21 substantially parallel on the second wing 22.

A closure system 40 is provided to maintain in position closed the leaves 21, 22 on the drum shell.

This closure system 40 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 11.

In practice, the second wing 22 comprises means for closing 41 mounted on the second side 22b of the second wing 22.

These closing means 41 are adapted to cooperate with complementary closure means 42 secured to the second edge 29 of the opening.

More particularly, the second side 22b of the second wing 22 comprises a rod 43 which extends parallel to this second side 22b.

In this embodiment, the ends of this rod 43 constitute the pion-shaped guiding means 28 adapted to slide in the guide rails 27.

This rod 43 is fixed to the second side 22b of the second wing 22 by a series of brackets 44 which thus define two by two a series of openings 45 arranged between the fixing lugs 44.

Each opening 45 is thus defined between two fastening tabs 44, the rod 43 and the free edge 22'b of the second leaf 22 at the second side 22b.

In a complementary manner, the second edge 29 of the opening has at least one hook, and here a series of hooks 46 adapted to come engaged with the rod 43 at the openings 45.

Thus, in the closed position, the hooks 46 and the brackets 44 are staggered along the rod 43.

In this particular embodiment, the fastening lugs 44 are made from a folded wing forming a cylindrical opening of diameter adapted to the diameter of the rod 43.

The hooks 46 secured to the second edge 29 of the opening have also a curved shape having a semi-cylindrical inner surface corresponding to an outer surface portion of the rod 43.

This closure system 40 is supplemented further by a lever 47 rotatably mounted under the second edge 29 of the opening. This lever 47 is thus rotatably mounted about an axis 48 between a remote position and a position close to the hooks 46.

Elastic return means are adapted to move the lever from a position remote to the close position of the hooks 46.

These elastic return means can be constituted so conventional by a spring mounted in torsion on the axis of rotation 48 of the lever 47.

This lever 47 is adapted to cooperate with a portion of the rod 43 when closing the wings 21, 22.

In particular, this lever 47 comprises at least one inclined plane 49 which extends transversely to one end of a guide rail 27. This plane inclined 49 thus forms a support plane for the rod 43 when it arrives in end of travel of the guide rails 27.

In this embodiment, there are two inclined planes 49 respectively disposed at both ends of the lever 47, allowing a better distribution of the forces exerted by the rod 43 on the lever 47.

We will now describe with reference to Figures 4 to 8 the functioning in opening and closing of a compliant drum door to the invention.

When the door is in the open position as illustrated in Figure 4, the first leaf 21 is kept open above the axis 23 integral with the edge 24 of the opening. The first leaf 21 extends substantially in a plane perpendicular to the tangent to the shell of the drum at the axis 23, so to free the access to the opening inside the drum as much as possible.

With the guide rail 27 which extends to the edge 24 of the opening, the second leaf 22 is, at the end of the opening stroke, disposed of such that its second side 22b, on which are mounted the pieces of guide 28, is substantially adjacent to the axis 23 secured to the edge 24 of the opening.

Thus, the two leaves 21, 22 are folded substantially one against the other in the open position of the door and access to the interior of the drum is ease.

When closing, the user acts on the handle 30 extending projecting beyond the first leaf 21. The action on this handle 30 makes it possible to move the wing 21 to its closed position.

Thanks to the articulation of the second leaf 22 around the axis 26, to the good sliding guide pins 28 in the guide rails 27, and at the particular trajectory of the guide rails 27, the displacement of the first beating 21 causes the simultaneous movement of the second wing 22 as well illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 until the guide pins 28 are substantially at the end of travel of the guide rails 27.

Thanks to the adapted curved guide rail, it is possible to obtain a smooth translation without jamming of the second leaf 22, all by acting with one hand on the first leaf 21.

When the second wing 22 is substantially at the end of the race, the rod 43 comes into contact with the inclined planes 49 of the lever 47 and pushes this last in a position away from hooks 46.

Once this rod 43 has escaped the inclined planes 49, the lever 47 is recalled by the elastic return means in its close position hooks 46.

During this tilting movement, the rod 43 is raised in direction of the hooks 46 so that they come into engagement with this rod 43 at the openings 45 between the brackets 44.

This produces the closing of the door. Thanks to this system of closure 40, only the female part of this system, consisting of the rod 43, is visible, the male part, consisting of the hooks 46, being hidden by the ferrule 11 drum on the one hand, and by the lever 47 on the other hand. This masking of hooks 46 provides user safety when loading laundry and protects the laundry during unloading and during operation of the machine.

Thanks to the existence of a unique closure system 40 to the end of the door, it is possible to automate the opening and / or closing, and to further facilitate the locking of the door during the operation of the machine.

The opening of the drum door can also be performed with one hand by the user, pressing the second flapper 22 at level of closure system 40.

Under the action of the rod 43 of this second leaf 22, the lever 47 is pushed back and the second flap 22 escapes this lever 47 thanks to the force of elastic return exerted on the first leaf 21 by the spring 25 mounted on the axis 23 of the first leaf 21.

Of course, many changes can be made to the embodiment described above without departing from the scope of the invention.

In particular, an additional spring could be added to the level of the axis 26, to facilitate the articulation of the two wings 21, 22 one by report to the other.

In this case, the spring 25 mounted on the axis 23 of the first leaf 21 could possibly be deleted.

In addition, the closure system 40 described here for a door to double leaf 21, 22, could also be adapted on a drum door comprising only a single leaf, mounted for example sliding on the drum shell.

Claims (12)

Rotary drum door adapted to close an opening in the shell (11) of the drum (10) comprising a first leaf (21) mounted by a first side (21a) rotated about an axis (23) integral with a edge (24) of the opening, characterized in that it comprises a second leaf (22) mounted by a first side (22a) rotated on a second side (21b) of said first leaf (21), the second side ( 21 b) of said first leaf (21) being opposite the first side (21 a) of the first leaf (21), and in that said second wing (22) comprises guiding means (28) adapted to cooperate with means of complementary guides (27) integral with the ferrule (11) of the drum (10) and adapted to guide said second flapper (22) in displacement between a closed position and an open position of said door. Rotary drum door according to claim 1, characterized in that in said open position a second side (22b) of said second leaf (22) opposite said first side (22a) of the second leaf (22) is substantially adjacent to the axis (23) integral with said edge (24) of the opening. Rotary drum door according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said complementary guide means (27) consist of two guide rails (27) disposed respectively on either side of the opening, said guide rails (27) extending between said edge (24) of the opening and a second edge (29) opposite said opening. Rotary drum door according to claim 3, characterized in that said guide rails (27) extend along a path whose curvature is such that a contact force (F) exerted on said guide means (28) by said guide rails (27) is outside the friction cone (C) at any point of said guide rails (27). Rotary drum door according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that said second leaf (22) comprises closure means (41) mounted on a second side (22b) of said second wing (22), opposite said first side (22a) of said second leaf (22), and adapted to cooperate with complementary closure means (42) integral with a second edge (29) of the opening, opposite the first edge (24) of the opening . Drum door according to claim 5, characterized in that the second side (22b) of said second leaf (22) comprises a rod (43) extending substantially parallel to said second side (22b), and in that said second edge (29) of the opening comprises at least one hook (46) adapted to engage said rod (43) in said closed position of the door. Drum door according to claim 6, characterized in that said rod (43) is fixed to said second side (22b) of said second wing (22) by a series of fastening tabs (44) defining in pairs a series of openings (45) between the brackets (44), the rod (43) and a free edge of the second leaf, and in that said second edge (29) of the opening comprises a series of hooks (46) adapted to engage with said rod (43) respectively at said openings (45). Rotary drum door according to one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that a lever (47) is rotatably mounted between a remote position and a position close to said at least one hook (46), biasing means resilient being adapted to move the lever (47) from said remote position to said close position, and in that said rod (43) is adapted to move the lever (47) between said near portion and said remote position and the lever (47). ) is adapted to move said rod (43) to a position engaged with said at least one hook (46). Rotary drum door according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that the ends of the rod (43) constitute said guide means (28). Rotary drum door according to one of claims 1 9, characterized in that it further comprises a handle (30) integral with said first leaf (21) and extending beyond said second side (21b) of the first wing (21). Washing and / or drying machine, comprising a rotary drum (10) having an opening in the shell (11) of the drum (10), characterized in that it comprises a rotatable drum door according to the one of claims 1 to 10. A washing and / or drying machine according to claim 11, characterized in that said opening (13) in the shell (11) of the drum (10) has two opposite edges (24, 29) extending into the width of said machine, and in that said first leaf (21) is rotatably mounted about an axis (23) secured to one of said edges (24) remote from the front (12a) of the machine when said opening (21) 13) extends substantially below the upper plane of said machine.

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