JP2003190691A - Washing machine with door lock system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine with a door lock system, which selectively constrains lock of a latch lever, which locks the door at the inside of an upper cover when the door is closed, thereby preventing the door from being opened forcibly. <P>SOLUTION: In the washing machine with the door lock system 20, a door 10 is kept locked by a latch lever 30, and the lock of the latch lever 30 is selectively constrained through a constraint means 50. Therefore, a door 10 can be opened only after constraint of the latch lever 30 is released from the constraint by the constraint means 50. This has an advantage that is prevents the door 10 from being opened forcibly, thereby preventing accidents. In particular, if the door lock system 20 is used in a washing machine which can do laundry with hot water obtained by directly heating washing water in the tub with an electric heater, reliability of the product can be greatly improved. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a washing machine having a door lock device for keeping a door hinged to open and close a laundry inlet in a locked state.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, in a washing machine, washing, rinsing, drainage and dehydration steps are programmed in a microcomputer of a control unit, and laundry is fully automatically washed through a series of programmed steps.

A conventional washing machine having such a function is
A water tub suspended in the housing and filled with washing water, a rotary tub rotatably provided in the water tub and having dehydration holes perforated all over the wall surface, and a forward and reverse rotatably arranged on the bottom of the rotary tub. And a driving device for driving the rotary tank and the pulsator at the same time or only the pulsator.

Further, an upper cover for covering the upper part of the housing is provided with an input port formed so that laundry can be put into and taken out from the rotary tub, and a door hinged to open and close the input port. . The door is formed with a handle so that it can be easily grasped. Therefore, when the handle is grasped and the door is lifted upward, the insertion opening is opened so that laundry can be put in or taken out.

However, since the door of the conventional washing machine is easily opened, a child may operate the laundry machine during the washing and dehydrating process. In particular, recently, there is a washing machine on the market that embodies the washing of boiling water in an aquarium by heating it with an electric heater, but if you inadvertently open the door while the washing is inadvertently hot steam May cause injury.

In order to solve such a problem, there has been disclosed a lock device for closing the door of the washing machine so that the lock is applied to the upper cover and kept in the locked state. This locking device is provided at a handle portion of a door so as to be rotatable by a predetermined angle, and includes a locking lever having a locking claw formed toward an upper cover, and an elastic member for restoring the locking lever. .

Therefore, when the door is closed, the locking claw of the locking lever engages with the inside of the upper cover to keep the door in a locked state. To open the door, the locking lever is pulled to lock the locking claw. The state should be released.

However, even a door provided with such a lock device can be easily opened only by pulling the locking lever, so there is a limit in preventing an accident.

[0009]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to selectively actuate a locking lever applied to an upper cover with a door closed. It is intended to provide a washing machine equipped with a door lock device capable of efficiently preventing an accident, since the door can be opened only when the locking lever is actuated and the locking lever is operated with sufficient caution.

[0010]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides an upper cover, which is disposed at an upper part of a housing and has a laundry inlet, and a laundry inlet having one side hinged to the upper cover. In a washing machine equipped with a door that opens and closes a mouth and a door lock device that keeps the door closed, the door lock device is arranged on the other side of the door and a locking claw is formed at the tip to close the door. When the door is opened, the lock lever keeps the lock state, and the lock lever operates so that the lock claw comes out when the door is opened, and the lock lever lock direction so that the lock lever lock claw keeps the lock state. And an elastic support member elastically supporting the lock lever, and a restraining means for selectively restraining the locking lever from operating in the unlocking direction.

The locking lever includes a sliding portion slidably arranged in the other side of the door, and a locking portion extending from one side of the sliding portion and having a locking claw formed at a tip thereof. The handle is integrally formed to extend from the other side of the sliding portion and to support the elastic supporting member.

The door is formed with guide rails to which both ends of the sliding part are slidably coupled.

Further, the elastic supporting member is composed of a coil spring, and the handle of the locking lever and the door are respectively provided with spring fixing portions for preventing separation of the elastic supporting member.

The restraint means is provided in a case provided in the other side of the door corresponding to the end of the locking lever, and the locking lever operates in the unlocking direction while moving in and out of the case. And an operation button for restraining or releasing.

The locking lever includes a sliding portion slidably arranged in the other side of the door, and a locking portion extending from one side of the sliding portion and having a locking claw formed at a tip thereof. The handle is integrally formed so as to extend from the other side of the sliding portion and to support the elastic support member, and the operation button is inserted into and removed from the case in a direction orthogonal to the locking lever.

Further, the operation button moves in and out of the case each time a predetermined force is applied, is separated from the handle of the locking lever when retracted, allows the operation of the locking lever, and is closely attached to the handle of the locking lever when projected. The operation of the locking lever is restricted, and the restriction means is a compression spring that elastically supports the operation button in the protruding direction,
One end is fixed to the case side and the other end is hooked on the operation button side to keep the operation button retracted and protruding, and a guide groove formed on the operation button to guide the free end movement of the engagement pin. It is characterized by further comprising.

A guide groove is formed in the case so as to extend in the vertical direction, a movable rod slidably connected to the guide groove is provided in the operation button, and a guide groove is formed in the movable rod. Characterize.

The guide groove of the operation button has a protrusion maintaining groove in which the free end of the retaining pin is placed when the operation button is protruded, and a retaining pin which is separated from the protrusion maintaining groove and in which the operation button is retracted. Of the free end of the operation button and the protrusion maintaining groove to guide the movement of the free end of the locking pin when the operation button is retracted. A guide groove that is higher than the groove and has a step between it and the pull-in maintaining groove, and a projecting-maintaining groove that starts from the pull-in maintaining groove so as to guide the free end movement of the locking pin when the operation button is protruding. And a projecting guide groove ending with.

Further, the end of the compression spring is in contact with one end of the locking pin to support the operation button, and at the same time prevents the locking pin from coming off.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, a washing machine according to the present invention includes a housing 1 forming an outer body, a water tub 2 suspended inside the housing 1 and filled with washing water, and rotatably arranged in the water tub 2. Rotating tub 3 with built-in pulsator 4 for generating wash water flow
And a drive device 5 for driving the rotary tank 3 and the pulsator 4.

The housing 1 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape with an open upper part, and an upper cover 6 having a laundry inlet 6a is connected to the upper part thereof. The upper cover 6 is provided with a control panel 7 having a display section and a large number of operation buttons, and a water supply valve 8 for controlling water introduced from the outside. Further, the upper cover 6 is provided with a door 10 whose rear end is hinged to open and close the laundry inlet 6a. That is, the hinge connecting part (see FIG.
11) is provided, through which the door is pivoted up and down to open and close the laundry inlet 6a.

A door lock device 20 for maintaining the closed state of the door 10 is provided inside the tip of the door 10. This door lock device 20 is for opening the door 10 with great care to prevent accidents.
The detailed structure is as follows.

First, referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, the upper cover 6 corresponding to the front end of the door 10 has the user's hand fully inserted when the door 10 is closed and the door lock device 2 is closed.
An insertion hole 6c is formed so that a guide portion 6b, which is recessed so that 0 can be operated, and a locking claw 31a of a locking lever 30, which will be described later, enter the inside of the upper cover 6.

The door lock device 20 is provided with the door 10
Of the locking lever 30, which is disposed on the lower surface of the tip of the locking lever, has a locking claw 31a formed at the front end thereof, and operates so as to be inserted into the upper cover 6 when the door 10 is closed. An elastic support member 40 for elastically supporting the locking lever 30 in the locking direction so that the locking claw 31a is kept in a locked state, and a restraining means 50 for restraining the locking lever 30 from operating in the unlocking direction. And are equipped with.

The locking lever 30 includes a sliding portion 32 which is slidably arranged in a front and rear direction on a lower surface of a front end of the door 10.
The sliding portion 32 includes a locking portion 31 that extends downward from one side and a locking claw 31a is formed at a tip thereof, and a handle 33 that extends downward from the other side of the sliding portion 32 and supports an elastic support member 40. , Which is injection molded in one piece with plastic. Further, both ends 32L and 32R of the sliding portion 32 are coupled to the lower surface of the front end of the door 10 and a guide rail 34 for guiding the forward and backward movement thereof is provided. Therefore, when the door 10 is closed and the handle 33 of the locking lever 30 is grasped through the guide groove 6b and pulled forward, the locking lever 30 slides forward along the guide rail 34. Meanwhile, the locking claw 31a comes out from the insertion hole 6c.

The elastic support member 40 is composed of a pair of coil springs arranged between the front end of the door 10 and the handle 33 of the locking lever 30. One end of each elastic support member 40 is inside the front end of the door 10. , And the other end is supported by the handle 33. In order to prevent such detachment of the elastic support member 40, elastic support member fixing portions 41 and 42, to which both ends of the elastic support member 40 are fitted, are provided inside the handle 33 of the locking lever 30 and the front end of the door 10. Each is projected. Therefore, when the door 10 is closed, the locking lever 30 is supported rearward, that is, in the direction in which the locking claw 31 a is maintained in the state of being locked inside the upper cover 6.

The restraint means 50 repeats the restraint and restraint release states of the operation of the locking lever 30 each time the user applies a predetermined force, which corresponds to the handle 33 of the locking lever 30 and the door 10. A case 51 formed integrally with the inside of the tip of the operation button 52; an operation button 52 protruding and retracted from the case 51 to be brought into close contact with or separated from the end of the handle 33 of the locking lever 30; A lock pin 53 for maintaining the retracted state is provided.

The case 51 is formed in a box shape so that the lower side is opened at the tip of the door 10, and a guide groove 51a is formed on the inner wall surface thereof so as to extend in the vertical direction. Further, the operation button 52 is provided with a moving rod 52a which is coupled along the guide groove 51a so as to project and retract from the open portion of the case 51. As a result, the operation button 52 is moved to the case 5 in the direction orthogonal to the operating direction of the locking lever 30.
It comes in and goes out of 1 and contacts with the end of the handle 33 of the locking lever 30 or is separated.

That is, the operation button 52 is the locking pin 53.
When it is pulled into the case 51 through the lock lever 3,
If the end of the handle 33 of 0 and the operation button 52 are separated from each other, the restraint of the locking lever 30 is released, and the operation button 52 projects from the lower side of the case 51 and then comes into contact with the handle end of the locking lever 30. The operation of the stop lever 30 is restricted. The projection of the operation button 52 is made elastic, so that a compression spring 54 is provided between the case 51 and the operation button 52. As a result, the compression spring 54 is compressed with the operation button 52 retracted, and if the locking pin 53 moves in the protruding direction of the operation button 52,
The operation button 52 is automatically projected while the compression spring 54 is elastically restored.

Further, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the locking pin 53 is a "U" -shaped wire pin whose both ends are bent in the same direction, and both ends 53a, 53b of the locking pin 53 are formed. Is the first formed on the wall surface of the case 51
The moving rod 52a of the operation button 52 is always locked by penetrating the through hole 51b and the second through hole 51c. Therefore, the locking pin 5 is attached to the moving rod 52a of the operation button 52.
A slide groove 60 and a guide groove 70 for guiding the movement of 3 along both ends 53a and 53b are formed, and the detailed structure thereof is as follows.

First, the sliding groove 60 is provided in the longitudinal direction on the lower end of the moving rod 52a of the operation button 52, and the first through hole 51b is bored in the wall surface of the case 51 corresponding to the sliding groove 60. . Therefore, one end of the locking pin 53 includes the fixed end 53a that penetrates the first through hole 51b and is inserted into the sliding groove 60, and maintains the fixed state regardless of the operation of the operation button 52.

The guide groove 70 is formed in a heart shape on the upper end of the moving rod 52a of the operation button 52, and the second through hole 51c is extended laterally on the wall surface of the case 51 corresponding to the guide groove 70. It is formed from a hole type. Therefore, the other end of the locking pin 53 penetrates the second through hole 51c and moves along the heart-shaped guide groove 70.
3b. The end portion of the compression spring 54 is seated on the bending portion of the fixed end 53a of the locking pin 53 to prevent the locking pin 53 from coming off.
The fixed end 53a of the locking pin 53 extends through the first through hole 51b, and the free end 53b of the locking pin 53 extends through the second through hole 51c and is always positioned in the guide groove 70. Also, the free end 53 of the locking pin 53
The end of the b is preferably treated with a spherical surface to facilitate the movement of b.

Further, the guide groove 70 is a state in which the operation button 52 is protruded, the protrusion maintaining groove 71 in which the free end 53b of the locking pin 53 is placed, and the operation button 52 is retracted apart from the protrusion maintaining groove 71. The free end 53b of the locking pin 53
Is formed in the drawing maintaining groove 72.

The guide groove 70 starts from the protrusion maintaining groove 71 and ends at the retracting maintaining groove 72 so as to guide the movement of the free end 53b of the locking pin 53 when the operation button 52 retracts.
The pull-in maintaining groove 72 is formed to be gradually higher than the projecting maintaining groove 71.
Retracting guide groove 73 formed to have a step in a higher state
Further, a protrusion guide groove 74 starting from the pull-in maintaining groove 72 and ending with the protrusion maintaining groove 71 is further provided so as to guide the movement of the free end 53b of the locking pin 53 when the operation button 52 protrudes.

Such a pull-in guide groove 73 and a pull-in maintaining groove 7
2, pull-in maintaining groove 72, protruding guide groove 74, protruding guide groove 74
The boundary between the protrusion maintaining groove 71 and the protrusion maintaining groove 71 is formed to have a step, and S1, S2, and S3 indicate these step lines. That is, the pull-in guide groove 73 is formed at the step line S1.
Is higher than the pull-in maintaining groove 72, and the pull-in maintaining groove 7 is formed at the step line S2.
2 is higher than the protruding guide groove 74. Such a guide groove 7
3 and the protruding guide groove 74 are formed substantially symmetrically, and the guide groove 70
Has a heart shape as a whole.

As a result, each groove is formed to have a step, and the locking pin 53 is always elastically pressed by the compression spring 54. Therefore, each time the operation button 52 is pressed, the free end of the locking pin 53 is pressed. 53b always moves in a fixed direction (arrow direction shown in FIG. 6). That is, the free end of the locking pin 53 starts from the pull-in maintaining groove 72, passes through the projecting guide groove 74 and the projective maintaining groove 71 in order, and reaches the pull-in guide groove 73.

Next, the operation and effect of the door lock device according to the present invention thus constructed will be described.

First, when the operation button 52 of the restraint means 50 is retracted into the case 51, a fixed distance from the end of the handle 33 of the locking lever 30 is maintained, and at the same time, the compression spring 54 is compressed and the locking pin is compressed. The free end 53 b of 53 is placed in the pull-in maintaining groove 72 of the guide groove 70.

When the door 10 is closed in this state, the locking claw 31a of the locking lever 30 is inserted into the insertion hole 6c as shown in FIG.
Through to the inside of the top cover 6, which keeps the door 10 closed.

When the user presses the operation button 53 once, this pressing force compresses the compression spring 54, and the free end 53b of the locking pin 53 is disengaged from the pull-in maintaining groove 72, as shown in FIGS. As described above, the operation button 53 is advanced by the elastic restoring force of the compression spring 54 while being guided by the projection guide groove 74. Subsequently, when the protrusion of the operation button 53 is completed, the free end 53b of the locking pin 53 is protruded to the protrusion maintaining groove 71.
Placed in.

At this time, the operation button 53 is in close contact with the end portion of the handle 33 of the locking lever 30 as shown in FIG. 10, and the forward / backward operation of the locking lever 30 is restricted. As a result, the door 10 cannot be opened without manually releasing the restraint of the locking lever 30, so that the operation of forcibly opening the door 10 is prevented.

On the other hand, when the user wants to open the door 10, the restraint means 50 should release the restraint state of the locking lever 30. In this case, if the operation button 52 of the restraint means 50 is pressed once again. , It returns to the retracted state in the case 51. That is, when the operation button 52 is pushed upward again, the free end 53b of the locking pin 53 is disengaged from the protrusion maintaining groove 71 and guided to the retracting guide groove 73 as shown in FIG. 9, and the retracting of the operating button 52 is completed. Then, it is placed in the pull-in maintaining groove 72 as shown in FIG.

Accordingly, the handle 33 of the locking lever 30
As shown in FIG. 2, a predetermined distance is maintained between the end of the lock lever 30 and the operation button 52, and the restraint of the locking lever 30 is released.

In this state, if the handle 33 of the locking lever 30 is slightly pulled forward (direction of arrow A) as shown in FIG. 11, the locking lever 30 slides forward along the guide rail 34. At the same time, the locking claw 31a of the locking lever 30 is pulled out from the insertion hole 6c. Continuing as shown in Figure 12,
When the door 10 is lifted upward (in the direction of arrow B), the locking claw 31a completely comes out of the insertion hole 6c and the door 10 is opened. In this way, from the restraint means 50 to the locking lever 30.
The door 10 cannot be opened without releasing the restraint.

[0045]

As described above, according to the washing machine having the door lock device of the present invention, after the door is kept in the locked state by the locking lever, the operation of the locking lever is selectively performed by the restraining means. Bind to. Therefore, since the door can be opened only after the restraint of the locking lever is released from the restraint means, there is an advantage that the operation of forcibly opening the door is prevented and thus an accident can be prevented. In particular, if such a door lock device is applied to a washing machine capable of washing by directly heating the washing water in the aquarium with an electric heater to boil, the product reliability can be greatly improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing the overall structure of a washing machine according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the door lock device according to the present invention, and is a view showing a lock lever restraint release state of restraint means.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a door tip end structure and a door lock device according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing a door tip end structure and a door lock device according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear structure of the restraint means as viewed from the “V” direction in FIG.

FIG. 6 is a view showing a structure of the restraint means according to the present invention and an operating state of the operation button according to a moving process of the locking pin.

FIG. 7 is a view showing the structure of the restraint means according to the present invention and the operating state of the operation button relating to the movement process of the locking pin.

FIG. 8 is a view showing the structure of the restraint means according to the present invention and the operating state of the operation button relating to the movement process of the locking pin.

FIG. 9 is a view showing the structure of the restraint means according to the present invention and the operating state of the operation button relating to the movement process of the locking pin.

FIG. 10 is a view showing a locking lever restrained state of the restraint means according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view showing a door opening process according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a view showing a door opening process according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 housing 6 Top cover 6a Laundry slot 6c insertion hole 10 doors 20 Door lock device 30 Locking lever 40 Elastic support member 50 restraint 51 cases 52 Action Button 53 Locking pin 54 Compression spring 60 sliding groove 70 Guide groove

   ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued front page    (72) Inventor Shen Long             350-34, 7-dong, Gangseo-gu, Hanseong-si, South Korea             Immun Apartment 301 F term (reference) 3B155 AA11 BA01 CA05 CB06 CB52                       DA09 MA01 MA02

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. An upper cover disposed at an upper part of a housing and having a laundry inlet, a door having one side hinged to the upper cover to open and close the laundry inlet, and the door kept closed. In the washing machine provided with a door lock device for maintaining the door lock device, the door lock device is disposed on the other side of the door and has a locking claw formed at a tip thereof, and the door lock device engages the upper cover when the door is closed. A locking lever that maintains the locked state and operates so that the locking claw comes out when the door is opened, and an elastic support of the locking lever in the locking direction so that the locking claw of the locking lever maintains the locked state. A washing machine equipped with a door lock device, comprising: an elastic supporting member for locking the locking lever; and a restraining device for selectively restraining the locking lever from operating in the unlocking direction. 2. The engaging lever includes a sliding portion slidably arranged in the other side of the door in the front and rear direction, and an engaging claw extending from one side of the sliding portion and having the engaging claw at a tip thereof. The washing machine having a door lock device according to claim 1, wherein a stop portion and a handle extending from the other side of the sliding portion and supporting the elastic supporting member are integrally formed. 3. The washing machine according to claim 2, wherein the door is formed with guide rails to which both side ends of the sliding portion are slidably coupled. 4. The elastic supporting member is formed of a coil spring, and a spring fixing portion for preventing the elastic supporting member from being detached is provided on the handle of the locking lever and the door, respectively. A washing machine equipped with the door lock device according to item 2. 5. The restraint means includes a case provided inside the other side of the door corresponding to an end portion of the locking lever, and the locking lever operates in an unlocking direction while moving in and out of the case. The washing machine provided with the door lock device according to claim 1, further comprising an operation button for restraining or releasing the operation. 6. The engaging lever includes a sliding portion slidably arranged in the other side of the door in the front and rear direction, and an engaging claw extending from one side of the sliding portion and having the engaging claw formed at a tip thereof. The stop portion and a handle extending from the other side of the sliding portion and supporting the elastic supporting member are integrated, and the operation button is inserted into and removed from the case in a direction orthogonal to the locking lever. A washing machine comprising the door lock device according to claim 5. 7. The operation button moves in and out of the case each time a predetermined force is applied, is separated from the handle of the locking lever when retracted, and allows the operation of the locking lever, and when extended, the locking lever. And a compression spring for elastically supporting the operation button in the protruding direction, the one end being fixed to the case side and the other end being applied to the operation button side. The locking pin for maintaining the retracted and projected state of the operation button, and a guide groove formed in the operation button to guide the movement of the free end of the locking pin. Washing machine with door lock device. 8. A guide groove is formed in the case so as to extend in a vertical direction, a movable rod slidably coupled to the guide groove is provided in the operation button, and the guide groove is provided in the movable rod. The washing machine having the door lock device according to claim 7, wherein the washing machine is formed. 9. The guide groove of the operation button is spaced apart from the protrusion maintaining groove in which the free end of the locking pin is placed in a state in which the operation button is protruded, and the operation button is retracted. In this state, the free end of the locking pin is placed in the pull-in maintaining groove, and the free end movement of the locking pin guides the free end movement of the lock pin when the pull-in progresses. A pull-in guide groove formed to be higher than the pull-in maintaining groove and higher than the pull-in maintaining groove so that there is a step between the pull-in maintaining groove and the pull-in maintaining groove; 9. A washing machine with a door lock device according to claim 7, further comprising a protruding guide groove that starts from the pull-in maintaining groove and ends at the protruding maintaining groove so as to guide the free end movement. 10. The door according to claim 7, wherein an end portion of the compression spring is in contact with one end of the locking pin to support the operation button and at the same time prevent the locking pin from being disengaged. Washing machine with locking device.