GB2047966A

GB2047966A - Washing machine with safety device

Info

Publication number: GB2047966A
Application number: GB8010224A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Current assignee: Industrie Zanussi SpA
Priority date: 1979-04-19
Filing date: 1980-03-26
Publication date: 1980-12-03
Also published as: FR2454476B1; FR2454476A1; IT1166229B; ES490136A0; DE3015001A1; ES8101674A1; IT7945712A0

Abstract

A clothes or dish washing machine is provided with a programmer (7) and at least one selector e.g. a thermostat (8), which are actuated by means of respective knobs (11, 21); and a main on/off switch (9) which is actuated by means of a button or key (22) which co- operates resiliently by means of a lever (23) with a rod (31) which is slidable in the longitudinal direction, in such a way that when the key (22) is moved to the off position, the rod (31) assumes a position which permits actuating movement of the knobs (11, 21), while when the key (22) is moved to the on position the rod (31) assumes an operative position of preventing movement of the knobs (11, 21) into their operative position. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Washing machine with safety device The present invention relates to a washing machine such as a clothes washing machine or a dishwasher provided with a safety device for preventing accidental operation of the means for controlling the cycle of the machine after such cycle has been set.

As is known, conventional clothes washing machines are provided with a programmer and possibly with further means for controlling the cycle (thermostats, selectors, etc.), which are actuated by means of knobs or push-buttons, by the user of the machine, in various ways, depending on the washing cycle to be carried out.

In general, the control means are independent of each other, except for the programmer which is controlled by the general electrical supply switch of the machine (often a so-called push-pull switch). One type of known control in this respect provides that, when the knob of the programmer is put into the position for closing the general cutout switch, it is not possible to actuate the set of cams which determine the washing cycle. In a known programmer, the knob is connected by means of a toothed connection to the cam set and is provided with a spring which holds the connection in a normally disengaged condition.

This represents a safety measure since actuation of the programmer requires a double operation of pushing in and rotating the knob. On the other hand, in machines provided with multiple and separate control means, such a safety device is incomplete and insufficient.

According to the present invention, there is provided a washing machine provided with control means such as a programmer and at least one seiector, which are actuable by means of respective knobs which are movable from a rest position to an operative position, and a main on/off cut-out switch which is actuated by means of a member movable between a first position in which said main on/off switch is open and a second position in which said main on/off switch is closed, wherein said member is arranged to cooperate resiliently by means of a pivotable lever with a rod which is slidable in the longitudinal direction in association with said knobs, in such a way that when, in use, said member is moved into its first position said rod assumes a rest position which permits movement of said knobs from the rest position to the operative position and viceversa, while when, in use, said member is moved into its second position said rod assumes an operative position of preventing movement of said knobs into their operative pOsition.

As will become apparent from the following, the invention can thus prevent any accidental operation performed on the various control members of the machine when the machine has been predisposed for carrying out a given washing cycle.

The invention will be further described by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of a safety device of an embodiment of the invention in the rest condition, in the state where the clothes washing machine has been rendered inoperative and has its control means in the rest position; FIGURE 2 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view corresponding to Figure 1 in the rest position, with the machine out of operation and the control means thereof in the operative position; FIGURE 3 is a diagrammatic cross-sectional view of the Figure 1 device in the operative position, with the machine in operation and the control means thereof in the rest position; and FIGURE 4 shows a partly sectional view of the knob for actuating a control means of the machine.

Referring to Figure 1, the drawing diagrammatically shows the casing of a clothes washing machine of conventional type, in the front part 6 of which are mounted, in association with the inside surface of the actual casing, a programmer 7 for setting and performing the washing cycle of the machine, a thermostat 8 for controlling the temperature of the water in the tub of the machine and a main on/off switch 9 for connecting and disconnecting the electrical circuit of the machine to and from the supply mains.

The programmer 7 is provided with an actuating shaft 10 on which is fitted a control knob 11 capable of sliding longitudinally thereon.

As can be seen in detail from Figure 4, provided on the shaft 10 of the programmer 7 is a sleeve portion 1 2 in which there is a plurality of openings 1 3 which have respective inclined surfaces forming inclined interengagement planes.

The knob 11 is also formed with a head 1 5 which is outside the casing, and a shank portion 1 6 which is provided with a through hole 1 7 for fitting onto the shaft 10 of the programmer and for receiving a compression spring 1 8 which is coiled around shaft 10.

The inward end of the shank portion 16 is provided with a series of teeth 1 9 capable of engaging into the opening 13 in the sleeve portion 12 and being of configurations corresponding to those of the openings. In this way, the knob 11 can be moved into two different positions: a first, rest position in which the spring 18 is not compressed and, bearing against the sleeve portion 12, urges the knob outwardly and thereby holds the teeth 1 9 of the knob disengaged from the corresponding openings 1 3 in the portion 12; and a second, operative position in which the knob is pressed by the user and, compressing the spring 18, causes the teeth 1 9 to come into engagement with the openings 13, whereby, by rotating the knob 11, it is possible to actuate the programmer 7 and preset the washing cycle of the machine.

Because like the corresponding openings 13, the teeth 19 have inclined surfaces 20 sloping in the direction of rotation (arrow A) of the knob 11, this arrangement provides that, when moving the knob into the second operative position described above, the provision of the inclined surface facilitates the engagement as between the teeth and the openings.

The friction between the inclined surfaces makes it possible to reduce the thrust force required for holding the teeth 1 9 in engagement with the openings 13 and the operation of selecting the washing programmes of the machine is consequently improved.

A cam (not shown) may be associated with the above-described sleeve portion 12, for carrying out particular functions of the machine, for example for controlling the intake of water into the detergent distributor.

Referring now again to Figure 1, it will be noted that the thermostat 8 is provided with a control knob 21 similar to the above-described control knob.

Obviously, the knobs 11 and 12 may also be guided in various ways, for example they may be no longer movable on the shafts of the programmer and the thermostat, but rather within guides which are provided directly in the front panel of the machine.

In turn, the main on/off switch 9 is controlled by a key or button 22 which is pressed from a rest condition (Figure 1) in which the switch is open, to an operative position (see Figure 3) in which the switch is closed.

Associated with the key 22 is a pivotable lever 23 whose fulcrum 24 is engaged in the casing or front panel of the machine, the lever being provided with two rigid arms 25 and 26 which diverge with respect to each other.

The free end 27 of the arm 25 bears against the inside surface 28 of the key 22, while the free end 29 of the other arm 26 is provided with a recess 30.

Guides (not shown) are also fixed at the inside surface of the front part 6 of the machine, and a rod 31 may slide in the longitudinal direction within said guides.

Hooked into the end 32 of the rod is a spring 33 which is secured to the casing, for the purposes of holding the rod in the rest position shown.

In addition, the above-mentioned end 32 is bent and engaged in the recess 30 in the arm 26 in such a way that, when the lever 23 rotates about its fulcrum 24 (being actuated by the key or button 22), the rod is moved in the longitudinal direction. In turn, the rod 31 is provided with openings 34, 35 and 36 which, when the rod is in the rest position, coincide with the respective actuating knobs 11 and 21 and the key 22. Since the dimensions of the openings are greater than those of the knobs and the key 22, in that position of the rod 31 it is possible to actuate the control means of the machine.

Referring now to Figure 2, it will be noted that both the knobs 11 and 21 described above have been moved into their operative position while the key or button 22 has not been actuated and therefore the main on/off switch 9 is open.

Consequently, in this condition, it is possible to set the washing cycle which the machine is to perform.

After the programmer 7, the thermostat 8 and the push buttons which may be provided have been set in position, the respective knobs 11 and 21 which are no longer pressed in are returned to the rest position by the respective springs.

It is only after this return movement has taken place that the key 22 can be pressed, to close the main on/off switch of the machine (see Figure 3).

By means of such actuation of key 22, the arm 25 of the lever 23 is moved (upwardly in the Figures), thereby causing pivotal movement of the lever which rotates in the clockwise direction.

The other arm 26 of the lever 23 then moves the rod 31 in the longitudinal direction (in the direction indicated by arrow B) by virtue of the engagement between the recess 30 of the arm 26 and the bent end 32 of the rod.

Consequently, the movement of rod 31 means that the knobs 11 and 21 can no longer be returned to the operative position insofar as the respective enlarged heads thereof bear against the rod.

On the other hand, the opening 36 in the rod 31 is of dimensions such as to permit actuation of key 22 for any position of the rod.

In this way, the rod 31 which is moved into the operative position acts as a safety device and prevents any accidental movement of the means for controlling the cycle of the machine, as long as the machine itself is operating.

In order again to be able to actuate the control means, it is necessary firstly to return the key 22 into the position in which the main on/off switch 9 of the machine is open.

Consequently, the action of the spring 33 and the interconnection between the end 32 of the rod 31 and the recess 30 in the arm 26 returns the rod 31 to the rest position (Figure 2), thus permitting actuation of the knobs 11 and 21.

The safety device according to the invention may obviously also be embodied in clothes washing machines which are provided with further operating keys or buttons andíor knobs.

In that case, it is sufficient to provide the rod 31 with further openings associated with such keys and/or knobs, in such a way as to be able to operate as described hereinbefore.

In addition it is also possible to modify the shape of the lever 23 and possibly to have the spring 33 associated directly therewith, provided that actuation of the key 22 produces a longitudinal movement of the rod 31.

Although the invention has been described with specific reference to its application to clothes washing machine it can also be applied to other domestic washing machines such as dishwashers.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A washing machine provided with control means such as a programmer and at least one selector, which are actuable by means of respective kncbs which are movable from a rest position to an operative position, and a main on/off cut-out switch which is actuated by means of a member movable between a first position in which said main on/off switch is open and a second position in which said main on/off switch is closed, wherein said member is arranged to cooperate resiliently by means of a pivotable lever with a rod which is slidable in the longitudinal direction in association with said knobs, in such a way that when, in use, said member is moved into its first position said rod assumes a rest position which permits movement of said knobs from the rest position to the operative position and viceversa, while when, in use, said member is moved into its second position said rod assumes an operative position of preventing movement of said knobs into their operative position.

2. A machine according to claim 1 wherein the rod is provided with a bent end to which is hooked a spring secured to the casing of the machine for holding said rod in the rest position, and with openings whose dimensions are larger than those of said knobs and said member respectively.

3. A machine according to claim 2 wherein the lever is pivoted in the casing of the machine and has two rigid arms which are divergent relative to each other, one of which bears against a said key and the other of which is provided with a recess in which the bent end of the said rod is engageable.

4. A machine according to claim 2 or 3 wherein each of said knobs has an enlarged head capable of abutting against said rod when said rod is in its operative position, and a shank portion which passes through the corresponding opening of said rod and which is capable of being engaged with a resilient connection with the respective control means of the machine.

5. A washing machine constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings and for the purposes set forth.