FR2685927A1 - DRUM STOPPING DEVICE. - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for stopping in a predetermined position a drum (10) driven by a motor in order to perform rotational cycles about an axis integral with a frame (5). This device comprises: a movable brake (1, 3) relative to the frame; a detector lever (12) articulated on the frame; means (7, 8, 8-1) capable of bringing the brake and the detector lever into a rest position or into an active position where the brake acts on the drum or on a part integral with the drum; a finger (16) integral with the drum capable of actuating the detector lever in the active position; and means (18) cooperating with the detector lever for starting the motor in the active position and stopping it when said lever is actuated by said finger.

Description

AT

DRUM STOPPING DEVICE

  The present invention relates to washing machines and

  especially top-loading ones.

  To load or unload the drum of a

  top load wash, usually turn

  ner the drum from an initial position to a position where

  can access a drum door This rotation operation

  tion of the drum requires a certain effort to overcome the imbalance of the drum which is particularly important if the linen contained in the drum is not spun. During the unloading of the drum, it tends to regain its position

  initial and must therefore be held at the same time as it is unloaded

  ge If you accidentally let go of it during these operations, the

  drum could turn with its hatch open and some laundry

cradle at the bottom of the tank.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a device for stopping a washing machine drum in the hatch position at the top at the end or during an interruption of a

wash cycle.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide such a device making it possible to hold the drum in position

  hatch at the top during its unloading.

  These objects are achieved by a stop device comprising a shoe which is normally in a high rest position allowing a washing machine drum to freely rotate. At the end of a cycle of rotations, the shoe is lowered and pressed against the drum to rub against it at the same time as the drive motor of the

  drum is restarted The drive motor is sufficient

  powerful enough to drive the drum in rotation despite the braking forces of the shoe When the drum arrives in the hatch position at the top, a finger secured to the drum activates a mechanism that stops the motor Then the drum is found

  blocked by the shoe in the hatch position at the top.

  The present invention relates more particularly to a stop device in a predetermined position of a drum driven by a motor to perform cycles of rotation about an axis secured to a frame. This device comprises: a brake movable relative to the frame ; a detector lever articulated on the frame; means capable of bringing the brake and the detector lever into a rest position or into an active position where the brake acts on the drum or on a part secured to the drum; a finger secured to the drum capable of actuating

  the detector lever in the active position; and cooperative means

  rant with the sensor lever to start the engine in the active position and stop it when said lever is

actuated by said finger.

  According to one embodiment of the present invention, the brake is a shoe brake mounted on a lever articulated at one end on the frame and whose free end is actuated

  by a connecting rod and crank system.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, said crank comprises a cam against which is biased

  an arm of the detector lever, the cam being such that, at the posi-

  tion of rest, one arm of the lever is outside the trajectory of said finger, and that, in the active position, the arm

  is in the path of the finger.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the detector lever cooperates with a setting switch

  operation of said motor, the detector lever actuating the interrup-

tor in said active position.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the cam includes an indentation into which a heel fits

  of the sensor lever in the active position.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention,

  the cam includes a notch cooperating with a second inter-

  cam position detection switch.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, the shoe is articulated on the lever eccentrically and a

  spring is arranged between the lever and the shoe.

  These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be discussed in detail in

  the following description of particular embodiments

  made in connection with the attached figures, among which: FIGS. 1A to 1C represent in the form of a block diagram three positions of a drum stop device according to the present invention; and

  Figures 2 A to 2 C show an embodiment

  tion stop device according to the present invention in the respective positions corresponding to Figures l A to 1 C.

  Terms like "upper", "lower", "left-

  che "," droite ", are used for the sake of clarity with respect to the figures and should not be considered as limiting, the device according to the invention being able to be arranged according to any

  other orientation judged suitable by the skilled person.

  A stop device according to the present invention shown very schematically in Figures l A to 1 C comprises a

  brake consisting of a shoe 1 secured to a sensitive lever 3

  horizontal The left end of the lever 3 is articulated with respect to the frame 5 of the washing machine A rod 7 and crank 8 system acts on the right end of the lever 3 to

  whether or not to press shoe 1 on a washing machine drum 10.

  The crank 8 is in fact a circular cam supported

  yant on one, 12-1, of the arms of a lever 12 articulated on the frame near the lower part of the cam 8 The arm 12-1 Extends upwards and to the left and the lever 12 comprises another arm 12-2 extending downward and to the right up to the vicinity of the drum 10 The arm 12-1 is biased clockwise towards the cam 8 by a spring 14

  disposed between the free end of the arm 12-1 and the frame.

  The position of FIG. 1A corresponds to the rest position of the stop device according to the invention The lever 3 is in a high position and the shoe 1 does not press on the drum 10 The arm 12-1 presses on a circular part of the

  cam 8 and the arm 12-2 is in a raised position o its end

  free mite is outside the trajectory of a single finger 16

  drum 10 In this position, the drum 10 performs

freely from rotations.

  When stopping a rotation cycle, whether at the end of a cycle or during a voluntary interruption, the cam

  8 is rotated clockwise.

  By turning, this cam 8 lowers the lever 3 and presses the shoe

1 against the drum 10.

  Figure 1B corresponds to an active position of the device.

  positive stop The cam 8 has rotated 1800 with respect to the position of FIG. 1 A and has caused the drum 10 to be blocked by the shoe 1 The arm 12-1 is in abutment against a flat 8-1 of the cam 8, which caused a rotation in the direction

  clockwise lever 12 relative to the position

tion of Figure l A.

  In this position, the arm 12-1 activates an interrup-

  tor 18 and the free end of the arm 12-2 is in the path of the finger 16 The profile of the free end of the arm 12-2 is such, as shown in the figures, that the finger 16 can lift this end whatever the direction of rotation of the drum The switch 18 causes the rotation of the cam 8 to stop and starts the drum drive motor 10 clockwise or counterclockwise

  reverse The drum 10 is braked by the shoe 1 but the coeef-

  This friction shoe is chosen so that the motor can overcome the friction forces. Thus, the drum 10 starts to rotate slowly and at a given instant the finger 16 meets the free end of the arm 12-2 Then, the lever 12 is driven by the finger in an anti-clockwise direction The speed rotation

  drum is chosen slow so that the kinetic energy of the drum

  bour is low enough so that, after deactivation of the switch 18, the drum stops at an angle such that the

  finger 16 always keeps the arm 12-2 raised.

  Figure 1 C shows the stop device at an instant after the finger 16 meets the free end of the arm 12-2 By turning, the arm 12-1 of the lever 12 has moved away from the switch 18 and deactivated it. Thus, the drum drive motor 10 stops and the drum remains blocked by the shoe 1 in this position. Of course, the trap door position at the top of the

drum 10.

  When a new cycle of rotations is started, the cam 8 is rotated clockwise so that it returns to its initial position in FIG. 1 A where the drum 10 is released and the arm 12- 2 is removed from

  its finger interception position 16.

  FIGS. 2 A to 2 C represent an embodiment

  tion stop device according to the present invention in the respective positions corresponding to Figures l A to 1 C In Figures 2 A to 2 C, there are the same elements as in Figures l A to 1 C, or elements having identical functions, designated by the same references This device operates

  as described in relation to the preceding figures

  In the following description, we will not be interested

  details of the shape of the parts, not shown in Figures l A to 1 C.

  Lever 3 has a U-shaped section reversed in the illustration

  feeling of FIGS. 2 A to 2 C and it is articulated on a plate 5 integral with the frame of the washing machine The shoe 1 is articulated on the side walls of the lever 3 offset to the

  left relative to the center of the hoof which corresponds sensitive-

  lying in the center of the lever 3 A spring 20 disposed between the bottom of the lever 3 and the upper face of the shoe 1 at the level of the central part of the shoe, urges this shoe in the direction of

Clockwise.

  The upper arm 12-1 of the lever 12 comprises at its free end, as shown, a heel 12-3 extending to the right and pressing on the cam 8 This arm 12-1 also includes an extension 12-4 towards the left which

  is intended to activate the switch 18 located above

  above The lower arm 12-2 of the lever 12 comprises, at its free end, a downward projection serving as

  support zone for the finger 16 secured to the drum 10.

  Cam 8, which actuates lever 3 by means of

  diary of the connecting rod 7, is cylindrical An indentation located at the rear of the cam 8 cooperates with the heel 12-3 of the

  lever 12 and plays the role of the flat 8-1 of the preceding figures

  teeth A notch 8-2 located at the front of the cam 8 cooperates

  with a switch 22 to detect the position of this cam.

  Figure 2 A corresponds to the rest position of Figure l A The lever 3 is in the high position and the shoe 1 is not supported on the drum 10 The cam 8 is in a position such as the heel 12-3 presses on a circular part of the cam and the notch 8-2 deactivates the switch 22 The notch 8-2 cooperates with the switch 22 to detect this position

  rest in order to stop a motor, not shown, for driving

cam 8.

  Figure 2 B corresponds to the active position of Figure 1 B The cam 8 has rotated 1800 and the indentation 8-1 is located opposite the heel 12-3 of the lever 12 The lever 12 being biased in the direction of the needles of a watch by a spring not shown (such as a spiral spring disposed around the axis of articulation of the lever 12), the heel 12-3 enters the indentation 8-1 and the end 12-2 lever lowers toward

  a position where it is likely to intercept finger 16.

  The extension 12-4 of the lever 12 actuates the switch 18 which stops the motor of the cam 8 and starts the motor

drum 10.

  The pressing force of the shoe 1 on the drum 10 is obtained by the spring 20 which is compressed by the lever 3 As previously mentioned, the braking force caused by the shoe 1 is chosen to be able to be overcome by the couple of

  drum motor 10 The drum 10 therefore starts to rotate slowly

  is lying. Figure 2 C corresponds to the position of Figure 1 C o the finger 16 meets the free end of the arm 12-2 In this position, the lever 12 has rotated anti-clockwise and its extension 12 -4 deactivated the switch 18 The drum motor 10 is stopped and the

  drum remains blocked in this position by shoe 1.

  When the stop device returns to its rest position, the cam 8 is rotated until the notch

  8-2 of cam 8 deactivates switch 22.

  It has been assumed for the sake of simplicity in the foregoing that the shoe rests on the drum of the washing machine Of course, this shoe is preferably intended to press on an integral part of the drum located outside the tank in which the drum, such as pulley or drum drive belt Finger 16 is

then secured to the pulley.

  The information of the switches 18 and 22 can be used to control the drive motors of the drum and of the cam 8 by a suitable realizable programmer.

by the skilled person.

  Those skilled in the art will be able to choose the

  shoe material 1 If the shoe presses on the above strap

  tioned, it can be metallic If it presses on a metallic part, its friction surface can be coated with a

  material commonly used in brakes, such as ferodo.

  Numerous different technical solutions will appear to those skilled in the art to perform the functions described.

Claims (6)

  1 stop device in a predetermined position of a drum (10) driven by a motor to perform cycles of rotation about an axis secured to a frame (5), characterized in that it comprises: a brake movable (1, 3) relative to the frame; a detector lever (12) articulated on the frame; means (7,8, 8-1) capable of bringing the brake and the sensor lever to a rest position or to an active position where the brake acts on the drum or on a part secured to the drum; a finger (16) integral with the drum capable of actuating the detector lever in the active position; and means (18) cooperating with the sensor lever to start the engine in the active position and   stop it when said lever is actuated by said finger.   2 stop device according to claim 1, charac-   characterized in that the brake (1, 3) is a shoe brake (1) mounted on a lever (3) articulated at one end on the frame and the free end of which is actuated by a connecting rod system (7) and crank (8).   3 Stop device according to claim 2, charac-   terized in that said crank (8) comprises a cam against which is pressed an arm (12-1) of the detector lever (12), the cam being such that, in the rest position, an arm (12-2) of the lever is outside the path of said finger (16), and that, in the active position, the arm is in the finger path.   4 stop device according to claim 1, charac-   terized in that the detector lever (12) cooperates with an inter-   switch (18) for starting said motor, the detector lever   actuating the switch in said active position.   Stop device according to claim 3, characterized in that the cam (8) comprises an indentation (8-1) in which a heel (12-3) of the sensor lever (12) enters the active position.   6 Stop device according to claim 3, charac-   terized in that the cam (8) comprises a notch (8-2) cooperated   rant with a second position detection switch of the cam.   7 Stop device according to claim 2, charac-   terized in that the shoe (1) is articulated on the lever (3) eccentrically and in that a spring (20) is disposed between the lever and shoe.