EP2147627B1

EP2147627B1 - Door adjustment mechanism

Info

Publication number: EP2147627B1
Application number: EP08161024A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Erkan Eroglu; Osman Alkin; Mehmet Eldem; Evren Bal; Fatih Kontas
Original assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Current assignee: Vestel Beyaz Esya Sanayi ve Ticaret AS
Priority date: 2008-07-23
Filing date: 2008-07-23
Publication date: 2010-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2028-07-23
Also published as: ATE488171T1; EP2147627A1; DE602008003567D1

Abstract

The present invention relates to an adjustment mechanism (A) for the doors of white goods, said mechanism (A) comprising a mechanism body (1) fixed to such white good or to the door of such white good; an adjustment gear (4) which is supported in a rotating manner in a slot (14) on this body (1); a positioning gear (5) which is supported in a rotating manner in another slot (15) on this body (1) and rotated by said adjustment gear (4); a worm gear (2) passing through said positioning gear (5) and moving forth and back with respect to the rotation direction of this gear (5); and a spring connection pin (3) which can move forth and back together with the worm gear (2) and of which one end is coupled to a stretching spring fixed to such white good or to the door of such white good.

Description

Technical Field

The present invention relates to mechanisms, which is mounted to the doors of built-in white goods in order to adjust the stiffness of opening and closing of such doors.

Prior Art

Covering plates made usually from wooden materials and mounted on the doors of built-in white goods are being widely used. Since such white goods of different models and functions have doors of varying sizes, and since covering plates of various weights are applied on such doors, special weight balancing mechanisms are required.
Particularly for built-in white goods such as dish washers, no aesthetical closing plate is provided on the machine as it is originally delivered out of the factory. The users supply such closing plates to be mounted onto the built-in white goods according to their own preferences. The closing plates preferred by the users, however, may be very different from each other with respect to their weights. If there is no mechanism available for tolerating this weight difference in white goods, heavy doors may quickly drop down as they are opened. On the other hand, the opening of relatively lighter doors may become more difficult. Therefore, a mechanism to compensate this weight difference becomes crucial in such white goods.
In the mechanism used for balancing the covering plate as disclosed in the published patent application US5980006 under the prior art, the tightening and loosening operations are carried out by means of a screw. The tip of the screw provided in the mechanism first contacts a roller system. When the screw is tightened, the screw tip stretches the roller and a rope connected to the roller system so as to produce a stiffer spring for heavier doors to be mounted, or a looser spring for lighter doors to be mounted in a loose manner. In another published patent application DE19548512 under the prior art, the door weight is balanced by tightening or loosening a spring directly connected to a screw by means of the screw.
In a further published patent application WO2006137039 under the prior art is disclosed a mechanism which coils a cable connected to the door's spring on a rotating element. By rotating an adjustment bar in this mechanism, the cable is coiled or loosened on a rotating element coupled to said adjustment bar. Thus the tension of the door's spring is adjusted.

Brief Description of Invention

As differing from the aforementioned examples, the door adjustment mechanism according to the present invention comprises a mechanism body, an adjustment gear which can rotate in a slot on said body; a pin positioning gear rotated by said adjustment gear; a worm gear passing through the pin positioning gear and moving forth and back according to the movement of this gear; and a spring connection pin which can move forth and back together with the worm gear and of which one end is coupled to a stretching spring.
When the mechanism is mounted, the rotation of said adjustment gear makes the positioning gear rotate around its own axis. The teeth at the adjustment gear and the positioning gear do engage to each other, such that the adjustment gear rotates the positioning gear. The rotation of the positioning gear drives the worm gear passing through the interior of said gear. The engagement of the screw thread outside the worm gear to the screw thread inside the positioning gear, and the introducing of a protrusion provided at the mechanism body into a channel on said worm gear allows the worm gear only to move back and forth.
The worm gear is supported both by the interior of the positioning gear, and by a slot in the mechanism body. By rotating the positioning gear, the forth and back moving worm gear carries the spring connection pin together with itself. For this reason the tension of the spring connected to the spring connection pin is altered. The applicability of the same mechanism on the doors of white goods of differing weights provides a simple adjustment of the tension of the door spring and of the stiffness of opening or closing the door of such white goods.

Objective of Invention

The objective of the present invention is to produce a mechanism to adjust the door opening and door closing stiffness in built-in white goods.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a mechanism which provides simple adjustment and occupies relatively less space.
A further objective of the present invention is to develop a mechanism which is capable of minimizing the loosening of door spring during use.
Still a further objective of the present invention is to produce a door adjustment mechanism, which can be quickly mounted, can be applied to any kind of white goods, and is inexpensive and reliable.

Description of Figures

An illustrative embodiment of the subject door adjustment mechanism is illustrated in annexed figures briefly described hereunder.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the adjustment mechanism.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mechanism body.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the worm gear.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the spring connection pin.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the adjustment gear.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the pin positioning gear.

The parts in said figures are individually enumerated as following.

Adjustment mechanism (A)
Mechanism body (1)
Worm gear (2)
Spring connection pin (3)
Adjustment gear (4)
Positioning gear (5)
Stopper (6)
Slot (12)
Protrusion (12a)
Slot (14)
Slot (15)
Base (16)
Screw thread (21)
Channel (22)
Hole (23)
Lower section (26)
Slot (27)
Straight surface (27a)
Hole (35)
Slot (36)
Pin head (37)
Straight surface (37a)
Teeth (41)
Pin (42)
Key slot (43)
Teeth (51)
Screw thread (52)
Pin (55)

Description of Invention

Figure 1 gives a perspective view of the door adjustment mechanism (A) according to the present invention in an assembled form. Said adjustment mechanism (A) comprises a mechanism body (1), an adjustment gear (4) which can rotate in a slot (14) on this body (1); a pin positioning gear (5) rotated by said adjustment gear (4); a worm gear (2) passing through this gear (5) and moving forth and back with respect to the rotation direction of this gear (5); and a spring connection pin (3) which can move forth and back together with the worm gear (2) and of which one end is coupled to a stretching spring (not illustrated in the figure).
Figure 2 is a perspective illustration of the mechanism body (1). The mechanism body (1) is a part fixed to a white good or to the door of such a white good. On said body (1) are provided a slot (14) wherein said adjustment gear (4) is supported in a rotating manner; another slot (15) wherein said positioning gear is supported in a rotating manner; and a further slot (12) wherein the worm gear is supported in a forth- and back-movable manner. In the internal section of said slot (12) is provided a protrusion (12a), which prevents said gear (2) from rotating in said slot (12) by entering into a channel on the worm gear (2) and guides said gear (2) so that the latter (2) is enabled only to make a forth- and back-displacement.
Figure 3 is a different perspective view of said worm gear (2). Said worm gear (2) is a rod-like piece, with a screw thread (21) provided on its exterior extending lengthwise. As for the interior of said worm gear (2), there is provided a lengthwise hole (23). Said hole (23) is embodied to have the spring connection pin (3) settled therein. Said screw thread (21) is divided into two lengthwise regions by a channel (22). The protrusion (12a) in said slot (12) is formed so as to introduce into this channel (22).
The lower section (26) of the worm gear (2) has a straight form, so that, once the mechanism (A) is mounted, it settles on the straight-surfaced body base (16). The channel (22) is located at the upper section of the worm gear (2). At one end of the worm gear (2) is provided a slot (27), into which the pin head (37) provided at one end of said spring connection pin (3) is settled.
The slot (27) and pin head (37) are formed in a mutually complementary manner so as to avoid the rotation of the pin (3). For instance, a straight section (37a) on a side of the pin head (37) leans against the straight section (27a) at the slot (27) and thus, the rotation of the spring connection pin (3) within the hole (23) in the worm gear (2) is prevented.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of said spring connection pin (3). The spring connection pin (3) is a rod-like piece, with said pin head (37) provided at one side thereof. At the other end of said pin (3) is provided a hole (35), into which (35) one end of the spring is attached (not illustrated in the Figure). A slot (36) is provided above said hole (35), wherein (36) a stopper (6) (illustrated as a screw in Figure 1) is inserted. The aim of using said stopper (6) is to prevent any unwanted dislocation of said worm gear (2). When the worm gear (2) displaces maximally towards one side, the stopper (6) piece leans against the positioning pin (5) and avoids any further displacement of the gear (2). As the worm gear (2) and pin (3) are mounted to each other, the stopper (6) piece becomes located at the end of the worm gear (2).
Figure 5 is a perspective illustration of the adjustment gear (4). Teeth (41) are provided at one end of the adjustment gear (4) so as to yield a gear. As for the pin (42) making up the central part, it is supported in said slot (14) in the mechanism body (1) so as to rotate there. At the other end of the gear (4) is provided a key slot (43), which can be rotated by means of the tip of a hand tool, such as a screwdriver, allen wrench, etc.
Figure 6 is a perspective illustration of the positioning gear (5). Teeth (51) are provided at one end of the positioning gear (5) so as to yield a gear. As for the pin (55) making up the rear part, it is supported in said slot (15) in the mechanism body (1) so as to rotate there. In the interior of the gear (5) is provided a screw thread (52), which extends lengthwise along the main axis and is complementary to the screw thread (21) on the worm gear (2).
When the mechanism (A) illustrated in Figure 1 is mounted, rotating the adjustment gear (4) by means of the wrench slot (43) brings about the rotation of the positioning gear (5) around its own axis. Since the teeth (41, 51) at the ends of the adjustment gear (4) and the positioning gear do engage to each other, the adjustment gear (4) rotates the positioning gear (5) as well.
Since the sections (41, 51) at which teeth are provided is made conically in the exemplary mechanism given in the figures, the main axes of both gears (4, 5) are perpendicular with respect to each other. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, however, the main axes of said gears (4, 5) may also be positioned at different angles with respect to each other.
The rotation of the positioning gear (5) drives the worm gear (2) passing through the interior of said gear (5). The engagement of the screw thread (21) outside the worm gear (2) to the screw thread (52) inside the positioning gear (5), and the introducing of the protrusion (12a) provided at the body into the channel (22) on said worm gear (2) allows the worm gear (2) only to move forth and back.
The worm gear (2) is supported both by the interior of the positioning gear (5), and by said slot (12) in the mechanism body (1). By rotating the positioning gear (5), the forth and back moving worm gear (2) carries the spring connection pin (3) together with itself. For this reason, the tension of the spring connected to the spring connection pin (3) is changed. The applicability of the same mechanism (A) on the doors of white goods of differing weights provides a simple adjustment of the tension of the door spring and of the stiffness of opening or closing the door of such white goods.

Claims

A door adjustment mechanism (A) for white goods, said mechanism (A) being characterized by comprising
a mechanism body (1) fixed to the white good or to the door of such white good,
an adjustment gear (4) supported by a slot (14) on the body (1) in a rotating manner;
a positioning gear (5) supported by another slot (15) on the body (1) in a rotating manner, said gear (5) being rotated by said adjustment gear (4);
a worm gear (2) passing through the interior of said positioning gear (5) and moving forth and back according to the rotation direction of said gear (5);
a spring connection pin (3), of which one end is coupled to a stretching spring connected to the white good or to the door of such white good, and which can move forth and back together with the worm gear (2).
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a screw thread (21) extending in a lengthwise manner outside of said worm gear (2), and another screw thread (52) extending within the hole in the positioning gear (5) and engaging with the former screw thread (21).
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 2, characterized by comprising a slot (12) on the body (1) whereby said worm gear (2) is supported.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 3, characterized by comprising a channel (22) dividing said screw thread (21) into two lengthwise regions, and a protrusion (12a) provided in said slot (12) to become introduced into said channel (22).
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that mutually-engaging teeth (41, 51) are provided at one end of each of said adjustment gear (4) and positioning gear.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that a wrench slot (43) is provided at the other end of said adjustment gear (4), said wrench slot (43) being embodied so as to be rotated/turned by the tip of a hand tool.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a hole (23) extending lengthwise along the interior of said worm gear (2), said spring connection pin (3) being settled into said hole (23).
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 7, characterized by comprising a slot (27) at one end of said worm gear (2), and a pin head (37) provided at one end of said spring connection pin (3) that settles into said slot (27).
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 8, characterized in that said pin head (37) is settled into said slot (27) so as to avoid the rotation of said pin (3).
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 9, characterized in that one straight surface (27a, 37a) is provided on each of such slot (27) and pin head (37), said surfaces (27a, 37a) leaning against each other.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that one end of said pin (3) is provided with a hole (35), wherein one end of the stretching spring is inserted.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a pin (42) whereby said adjustment gear (4) is supported in the said slot (14) in a rotating manner.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized by comprising a pin (55) whereby said positioning gear (5) is supported in said slot (15) in a rotating manner.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 1, characterized in that said worm gear (2) comprises a straightened lower section (26), and in that a straight-surfaced base (16) is provided on the body (1) whereon said section (26) is leaned.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 11, characterized in that a slot (36) is provided above said hole (35), into (36) which a stopper (6) piece is inserted.
A mechanism (A) according to Claim 15, characterized in that, once the worm gear (2) and the pin (3) are assembled to each other, said stopper (6) piece becomes located at the end of said worm gear (2).