JP2005137508A - Washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a washing machine equipped with a door body opening/closing structure which operates the opening/closing of a door body for putting in/taking out laundry. <P>SOLUTION: A door opening button 56 is provided at a position adjacent to the door body 8 which is provided on the front surface of a washing machine box body. A fastening plate 113 of an opening/closing lock section 59 is turned through an engaging spring 69 by the pressing operation of the door opening button 56 to release the fastening of a latch of the door body 8 which is fitted in a latch receiver 91, and thus the door body 8 is opened. The opened state of the door body 8 is recognized by the detection of the fastening release, and the rotation of a washing and spin-drying drum is stopped. During operation, the fastening plate 113 is prevented from turning by the locking by a solenoid 115, and the door body 8 cannot be opened. And the pressing operation of the door opening button 56 is absorbed by a displacement of the engaging spring 69, and respective sections can be prevented from being damaged by the action of a forcible force. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention accommodates a washing / dehydration tub that is rotationally driven in a washing machine casing and controls the water supply, drainage, and rotation of the washing / dehydration tub to the washing tub. The present invention relates to a washing machine that performs each process.

  For example, in a drum-type washing machine in which a washing and dewatering tub is horizontally arranged, an opening for taking in and out the laundry is formed on the front side of the washing machine housing with respect to the rotationally driven washing and dewatering tub. It can be closed freely. The door body is opened by operating the push button, locked so that it does not open during operation, and there is a risk that hands will be inserted into the washing and dewatering tub that is driven to rotate, and washing water and laundry will splash outside. It is configured so that it can be avoided.

  In order to operate the opening and closing of the door body, an opening / closing operation structure combining a mechanical structure and an electrical structure is provided, and the door body is operated depending on whether the drum-type washing machine is stopped or operating. Opening and closing is controlled. Since this control needs to be executed in response to the control operation for controlling the operation of the drum type washing machine, a delay time until the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub completely stops or according to the operation state The structure etc. which provided the lock release of the door body are implemented.

For example, when the door body is closed, the sliding member is slid by the engagement of the hook of the door body, the switch means is energized by the movement of the sliding member, and the drive means is operated by the energization operation. A structure is known in which the sliding member is held by the holding means in a state where the hook is not removed by the operation of the driving means. With this structure, it is possible to reduce the time until the door body is closed and to start operation, and to lock it securely, and to shorten the time until the door body can be opened after all operations are completed. (See Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-272293 (pages 2 to 4, FIG. 1)

  In the door opening and closing operation structure according to the prior art, there are many electrical operation parts, and the entire structure is complicated, so that there is a risk of failure or abnormality as a washing machine that handles water, and there is a problem of lack of reliability. As a door opening / closing operation structure of a washing machine, it is required to be configured so that a more reliable opening / closing operation can be performed with a simpler structure, and a structure that does not cause a failure even by a user operation contrary to the handling method. Is desired.

  An object of the present invention is to provide a washing machine having a door body opening / closing operation structure that controls an opening / closing operation of a door body corresponding to a driving state and prevents an abnormality associated with an erroneous operation. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a water tub containing a washing and dewatering tub that accommodates laundry and is driven to rotate. In a washing machine that controls the rotation of the water tub to perform washing, rinsing, and dewatering steps, an opening that is formed on the front side of the washing machine housing and allows laundry to be taken in and out of the washing and dewatering tub A door body that can be freely opened and closed, a door opening button for opening the door body, a locking member that locks the door body in a closed state, and a first member that urges the locking member in the locking direction. A first urging means, an opening / closing operation member that moves forward and backward by a pressing operation of the door opening button, and a first urging means that connects the opening / closing operation member and the locking member with a displacement intensity greater than the urging force of the first urging means. 2 biasing means, locking means for locking movement of the locking member, and locking member Characterized in that the unlocking detecting means for electrically detecting a state in which the unlocking position is provided.

  According to the above configuration, when opening the door with the opening closed in order to put the laundry in and out of the washing and dewatering tub, when the door opening button is pressed, the door is engaged through the second urging means. Since the opening / closing operation member that is engaged with the stop member and is in the advancing direction by the urging of the first urging means moves backward against the urging, the engaging member moves in the unlocking direction through the second urging means. Then, the door body is unlocked and the door body is opened. Since the operation of opening the door body is performed by a mechanical operation, it can be executed even when the power of the washing machine is off. When the washing machine is in operation, there is a risk of touching the rotating washing and dewatering tub when the door is opened, and there are obstacles such as water splashing. The movement of the stop member is locked. When the door open button is pressed during the locking, the locking member is locked, so that the door body does not open even when the opening / closing operation member moves backward, and the backward movement of the door body operating member is the second biasing force. It is absorbed by the displacement of the means. Further, since the state where the locking member is in the unlocked state and the door body is opened is electrically detected by the unlocking detection means, the control means of the washing machine to which the detection output is input does not start operation. To control.

  In the above configuration, the second biasing means is in a state in which the locking member is locked by the locking means with a displacement strength that does not displace the locking member by an operation of releasing the locking of the door body by pressing the door opening button. It is desirable to form a displacement intensity that is displaced when the door open button is pressed, and when the door open button is pressed to open the door body in the operation stop state, the movement of the opening / closing operation member is set to the locking member. Since it only has to act as a connecting member to transmit, it is not necessary to displace, and the pressing operation of the door opening button can be quickly transmitted to the locking member. When the door opening button is pressed while the locking member is locked by the locking means during operation, it is displaced by the backward movement of the opening / closing operation member so that an excessive force is not applied to the locking member in the locked state. . Therefore, the user who presses the door opening button is given an uncomfortable feeling by forcibly displacing the second biasing means having a large displacement strength, and the opening / closing operation member and the locking member are destroyed by the excessive pressing operation. This is also protected by the displacement of the second urging means.

  In addition, the door opening button is preferably configured so that the third urging means is urged between the opening and closing operation member when the pressing operation is not applied. By forming the stroke of the pressing operation to be greater than a predetermined distance against the opening and closing operation member, the door opening button is given an appropriate pressing feeling, and at the same time, the vibration due to the operation of the washing machine It is possible to prevent the door open button from being vibrated and causing abnormal noise.

  According to the present invention, the opening and closing of the door body can be locked or unlocked according to the state of the washing machine, and conversely, the operation of the washing machine can be controlled according to the state of the door body. In addition, since the pressing operation of the door opening button is transmitted to the locking member through the second biasing means having a large displacement strength, the second biasing means is not displaced when the door is opened, and the locking member is smoothly operated. Is transmitted and an unreasonable pressing pressure can be absorbed by the displacement of the second urging means when the locking member is locked.

  Here, the details will be described using a drum-type washing machine in which a washing and dewatering tub is inclined. FIG. 1 shows an external appearance of a drum-type washing machine 1 according to the embodiment, and an upward inclined surface 2a is formed on the front side upper portion of the washing machine casing 2, and a circular opening formed in the inclined surface 2a. A circular door body 8 that closes and opens the part is provided. As shown in FIG. 2, a water tub unit in which a bottomed cylindrical washing and dewatering tub 5 that is rotationally driven by a drive motor 4 is arranged in a water tub 3 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape in a washing machine casing 2. 10, the water tank unit 10 is inclined downward at an angle θ from the horizontal direction H from the front side to the back side, which is the bottom surface, due to the suspension structure (not shown). So that it is supported. Since the water tank unit 10 is inclined in the washing machine casing 2, the openings of the water tank 3 and the washing and dewatering tank 5 are in a state of facing the inclined surface 2a, and therefore the door provided on the inclined surface 2a. When the body 8 is opened, the laundry can be taken in and out of the washing and dewatering tub 5. Since the door body 8 is provided on the upward inclined surface 2a, it is possible to reduce the degree of bending when the laundry is put into and out of the washing / dehydrating tub 5, and there is room on the front side of the drum type washing machine 1. Therefore, it is possible to configure the drum-type washing machine 1 that can be installed in a narrow space such as a washroom and has good workability. Moreover, since the central part of the door body 8 is formed of a transparent body, it is possible to observe the operating state of each step of washing, rinsing and dehydrating without bending.

  The door body 8 can be opened by pressing a door opening button 56 disposed on the inclined surface 2a, the laundry is put into the washing and dehydrating tub 5, the door body 8 is closed and the operation is started. Then, the door body 8 is locked in the door closed state. The opening / closing structure of the door body 8 by the door opening button 56 and the lock structure of the door body 8 will be described below.

  FIG. 3 shows a state in which the exterior material of the inclined surface 2a is removed. The door opening button 56 and the opening / closing lock portion 59 are engaged by an engagement spring (second urging means) 69 formed as a tension spring. It is arranged in the state. The opening / closing lock portion 59 is formed with a latch receiver 91 that is fitted when a latch 90 protruding from the inside of the door body 8 closes the door body 8. Is exposed to the outside on the inclined surface 2a.

  As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the door opening button 56 is held so as to be able to rotate within a restricted range by a rotating shaft 56a, and is normally a push-up spring (third biasing means) attached inside. Reference numeral 92 is in contact with the opening / closing operation member 93 to which the engagement spring 69 is connected, and is pushed up to the upper limit position by the spring bias. When the pushing operation is performed, the pushing spring 92 is compressed and the pushing spring 92 is compressed. The pressing protrusion 94 provided in contact with the opening / closing operation member 93 rotates the opening / closing operation member 93 with the rotation shaft 93a as a rotation fulcrum, so that the engagement spring 69 whose one end engages with the opening / closing operation member 93. Exerts a pulling force on The displacement strength of the engagement spring 69 is set to be much larger than the displacement strength of the push-up spring 92 formed as a compression spring and a locking spring (first urging means) 112 formed as a compression spring described later. Therefore, the door body 8 is not displaced by a pulling force generated by opening the door body 8.

  As shown in FIG. 6, when the engagement spring 69 is pulled by the rotation of the opening / closing operation member 93, the pulling pin 111 engaged with the other end of the engagement spring 69 resists the bias of the locking spring 112. Since the advancing movement is performed and the locking plate (locking member) 113 is rotated with the support shaft 114 as a rotation fulcrum, it is inserted into the lock hole 90a of the latch 90 that has been fitted into the latch receiver 91 as shown in FIG. Since the protruding portion 113a of the locking plate 113 is pulled back and disengaged from the lock hole 90a, the door body 8 is opened by a spring bias (not shown). When the pressing of the door opening button 56 is released, the locking plate 113 is rotated by the urging force of the locking spring 112 to return to the position where the projection 113a is advanced into the latch receiver 91, and the pulling pin 111 moves backward. Since it moves, the opening / closing operation member 93 pulled by the engagement spring 69 rotates, the pressing projection 94 pushes up the door opening button 56, and the urging of the lifting spring 92 works to return the door opening button 56 to its original position. To do.

  When the operation of closing the door body 8 is performed, the protruding portion 113a is pressed by the tip of the latch 90 fitted into the latch receiver 91 and the inclined surface of the tip is pressed, so that the locking plate 113 is urged by the locking spring 112. When the latch 90 completely enters the latch receiver 91, the projection 113a enters the lock hole 90a, so that the locking plate 113 that receives the biasing force of the locking spring 112 rotates. Since the projection 113a is inserted into the lock hole 90a of the latch 90, the closed door body 8 is locked in the closed state.

  When the operation of the drum-type washing machine 1 is started, the solenoid (locking means) 115 provided in the opening / closing lock part 59 is energized for one shot by a control means (not shown), and as shown in FIG. When the locking means 116 is moved backward and then moved forward, the lock spring (locking means) 117 is brought into contact with the side surface of the locking plate 113 by the action of the lock spring (locking means) 117. Is locked and the door 8 cannot be opened even when the door opening button 56 is pressed, and the danger that the hand is inserted during the dehydration operation in which the washing and dewatering tub 5 is rotating at high speed is avoided. During operation, the door body 8 is opened to prevent water from splashing outside.

  When the door opening button 56 is pressed to open the door body 8 while the drum type washing machine 1 is in operation, the micro switch (lock release detecting means) 118 is activated by the rotation of the lock plate 113. Then, the open state of the door body 8 is detected, and the detection output is input to the control means of the drum type washing machine 1, so that the rotation of the washing and dewatering tub 5 is controlled to be stopped.

  In the above configuration, when the door opening button 56 is not pressed, the door opening button 56 is urged to the upper limit position by the push-up spring 92, and the opening / closing operation member 93 is engaged via the engagement spring 69. And is not biased by the push-up spring 92, giving an appropriate pressing feeling to the door opening button 56, and at the same time due to vibration accompanying the operation of the drum type washing machine 1. It is also possible to prevent the door open button 56 and the opening / closing operation member 93 from being vibrated and generating abnormal noise.

  In addition, the tensile displacement strength of the engagement spring 69 is much larger than the compression displacement strength of the push-up spring 92 and the locking spring 112, and is the tensile force that the opening / closing operation member 93 rotates when the door opening button 56 is pressed. Since it is transmitted to the pulling pin 111 with almost no deformation and the locking spring 112 is displaced in the compression direction, the stroke of pressing the door opening button 56 is transmitted to the locking plate 113 without waste.

  In addition, when the door opening button 56 is pressed and the door body 8 is forcibly opened when the locking plate 113 is locked by the lock plate 116 such as during a dehydrating operation, Since the combined spring 69 is displaced by applying a large tensile force, an unreasonable force is not exerted on the locking plate 113 in the locked state, and an unreasonable force is not exerted on the opening / closing operation member 93. Therefore, the user who presses the door opening button 56 is given an uncomfortable feeling by forcibly displacing the engagement spring 69 having a large displacement strength, and the opening / closing operation member 93 and the locking plate 113 cannot be pressed. Is prevented from being destroyed.

  In the drum type washing machine 1 according to the embodiment described above, the configuration in which the washing and dewatering tub 5 is inclined and the door body 8 is provided on the inclined surface 2a of the washing machine housing 2 has been described. In the configuration in which the washing and dewatering tub is horizontally arranged and the door is provided on the vertical surface of the washing machine casing, the above-described opening / closing operation structure of the door 8 can be similarly applied.

  Further, even when the drum-type washing machine 1 according to the present embodiment is provided with a drying function and configured as a drum-type washing and drying machine, the above-described opening / closing structure of the door body 8 can be applied, and during the drying operation. The door body 8 can be opened to take out the laundry. In order to make it possible to open the door body 8 during the drying, control is performed so that the locking of the locking plate 113 by the solenoid 115 is not activated during the drying operation, and when the operation of opening the door body 8 is performed. The risk of opening the door body 8 during operation can be avoided by controlling the rotation of the washing / dehydrating tub 5 by detecting the door opening operation by the micro switch 118.

  The above-described structure can be similarly applied to a fully automatic washing machine and a washing / drying machine having a pulsator at the inner bottom of the washing and dewatering tank and having a door on the upper surface.

  As described above, according to the present invention, the opening and closing of the door body can be locked or unlocked according to the state of the washing machine, and conversely, the operation of the washing machine is controlled according to the state of the door body. In addition, the danger of a hand being inserted into the washing machine that is operating to rotate the washing and dewatering tub is avoided, and water and laundry are prevented from jumping out of the washing and dehydrating tub during operation.

The perspective view which shows the external appearance of the drum type washing machine which concerns on embodiment. Sectional drawing which shows the principal part structure of a drum type washing machine same as the above. The top view which shows the structure of the door body opening / closing operation in a structure same as the above. The horizontal direction fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of a door open button. The vertical direction fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure of a door open button. The top view which shows the structure of an opening-and-closing lock part. The partial top view which shows the state which made the opening-and-closing operation part the door opening lock. The fragmentary sectional view which shows the structure which latches the door body in the closed state.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Drum type washing machine 2 Washing machine housing 3 Water tank 5 Washing / dehydration tank 8 Door body 56 Door open button 59 Open / close lock part 69 Engagement spring (second biasing means)
92 Push-up spring (third biasing means)
93 Opening / closing operation member 112 Locking spring (first biasing means)
113 Locking plate (locking member)
115 Solenoid (locking means)
116 Lock plate (locking means)
117 Lock spring (locking means)
118 Micro switch (locking state detection means)

Claims (3)

A washing tub containing a washing and dewatering tub that contains laundry and is driven in rotation is housed in a washing machine casing, and the water supply and drainage into the tub and the rotation of the washing and dehydration tub are controlled to wash and rinse. In a washing machine that performs each step of dehydration,
A door body that is formed on the front side of the washing machine casing and covers an opening for taking in and out the laundry to and from the washing and dehydrating tub, and a door opening button for opening the door body; A locking member for locking the door body in a closed state, a first biasing means for biasing the locking member in the locking direction, an opening / closing operation member that moves forward and backward by a pressing operation of the door opening button, A second biasing means for connecting the opening / closing operation member and the locking member with a displacement strength greater than the biasing force of the first biasing means, a locking means for locking the movement of the locking member, A washing machine comprising: a lock release detecting means for electrically detecting a state where the member is in the lock release position. The second urging means has a displacement strength that does not displace the locking member by an operation of releasing the locking of the door body by a pressing operation of the door opening button, and the door opening button in a state where the locking member is locked by the locking means. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the washing machine is formed to have a displacement strength that is displaced when pressed. 3. The washing machine according to claim 1, wherein the door opening button is urged by the third urging means between the opening and closing operation member in a state where the pressing operation is not applied.

Images