JPH0438997A - Hinge of cover of washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To gradually reduce the cover closing speed in according as the cover comes closer to the closed position from the opened position and prevent the cover from banging to a top panel due to the natural falling, by a method wherein ellipse hinge- pivots are attached on the cover and are swingably fitted in ellipse bearing holes provided on the top panel so that the long diameters of the hinge-pivots agree with those of the bearing holes when the cover is in the closed position. CONSTITUTION:Hinge-pivots 16 of a cover 15, each having an axial hollow 17 inside and an ellipse section, are elastic. Bearing holes 19 each having an ellipse section are formed on a top panel 18, and the hinge-pivots 16 of the cover 15 are swingably fitted in the bearing holes 19. The relationships of the long and short diameters (a) and (b) of the hinge pivot 16 to the long and short diameters A and B of the bearing hole 19 are A > a, and B < b. When the cover 15 is turned toward the closed position, the long diameter (a) of the hinge-pivot 16 is compressed by the short diameter B of the bearing hole 19 having an ellipse section. This compression force works as a braking force to the motion of the hinge pivots 16 and makes the cover 15 moves slowly. When the cover 15 is further turned toward the closed position, the long diameter (a) is compressed further, and finally compressed to the dimension of the short diameter B.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial applications The present invention relates to a hinge device for a lid of a washing machine.

Conventional technology The configuration of a conventional washing machine of this type is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in the figure, a washing and dehydrating tub 2 is rotatably provided in a receiving tube l, and the receiving tube 1 and washing and dehydrating tub 2 are suspended and supported by a washing machine main body 4 by a hanging rod 3. Reference numeral 5 denotes a top plate that covers the main body, and a lid 6 is mounted on a hinge 6a so that it can be opened and closed. 7 is an operation panel, 8 is a rotary blade, and 9 is a motor.

A cinch 11 made of an elastic material such as rubber is attached to the front back surface of the lid 6. The details are shown in FIG. A cylindrical cushion receiver 10 is erected on the back surface of the lid 6. The body portion 12 of the cushion 11 is fitted into the cushion receiver 1O, and the cushion 11 is attached at the same time by being bonded with an adhesive. Reference numeral 13 denotes the head of the cushion 11, which collides with the top plate 5 and cushions the impact when the lid 6 is closed or when the lid 6 falls naturally.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the conventional cushion 11 that cushions the impact when the lid is closed, as the lid is repeatedly opened and closed, the cushion 11 and the adhesive deteriorate and the cushion 11 deteriorates. There was a problem with the lid coming off and making an unpleasant impact noise when the lid was closed.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hinge device for a lid of a washing machine that does not generate impact noise when the lid is closed or when the lid falls naturally.

Means for Solving the Problems In order to achieve the above object, the present invention has a hinge shaft having a hollow oval or elliptical cross section formed on both sides of the lid, and an oval or elliptical hole bored in the top plate. a bearing hole in the shape of a shape, and when the major axis of the hinge shaft of the lid is a1, the minor axis is b1, the major axis of the bearing hole of the top plate is A, and the minor axis is B, the relationship is A>a>B>b. The hinge shaft and the bearing hole are respectively formed, and when the lid is opened, the major axis a of the hinge shaft is the major axis A of the bearing hole.
The hinge shaft is located inside the bearing hole and is rotatably attached to the bearing hole.

According to the above-described configuration, the lid body has a degree of freedom to move around the top plate due to the dimensional difference between the major axis A of the bearing hole of the top plate and the major axis a of the hinge shaft of the lid when the lid is opened. However, in the process of closing the lid, the major axis a of the hinge shaft comes into contact with the minor axis B of the bearing hole,
When the lid is closed, the long axis a of the hinge shaft is compressed into the bearing hole B, the shape of the shaft changes, and the degree of freedom of movement of the lid relative to the top plate is suppressed.

As a result, the surrounding movement of the lid is braked in the process from opening to closing, and when the lid is closed, the lid body does not come into impactful contact with the top plate, and it is possible to prevent the generation of impact noise.

EXAMPLE Hereinafter, an example of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

As shown in the figure, hinge shafts 16 are simultaneously molded on both sides of the rear portion of the lid body 16 made of resin. This hinge shaft 16 is made hollow 17 and has elasticity, so that it has a restoring force against external forces. Moreover, its cross-sectional shape is formed into an oval or an ellipse.

The top plate 18 is provided with a bearing hole 19 in which the hinge shaft 16 of the lid body 15 is rotatably mounted. The shape is oval or oval.

Here, the hinge shaft 16 of the lid body 15 and the bearing hole 19 of the top plate 18
The dimensional relationship is shown in Figure 2. When the major axis of the hinge shaft 16 is a1, the minor axis is b1, the major axis of the bearing hole 19 is A1, and the minor axis is B,
The relationship is A>a>B>b.

The hinge shaft 16 formed in this way and the bearing hole 19 are pivotally connected as follows. That is, when the lid is opened, as shown in FIG. 2, the hinge shaft 16 is pivoted so that the major axis a of the hinge shaft 16 is located within the major axis A of the bearing hole 19.

To explain the operation in the above configuration, when the lid is opened, the major axis a of the hinge shaft 16 is located within the major axis A of the bearing hole 19, so the lid body 15 has a degree of freedom to move around the top plate 18. are doing. Then, when the lid is closed, in the process, the hinge shaft 1
The major axis a of the bearing hole 19 comes into contact with the minor axis of the bearing hole 19, and the lid body 15 becomes unable to move. However, since the hinge shaft 16 is made of synthetic resin and is formed into a hollow 17 to have elasticity, the major axis a of the hinge shaft 16 is compressed along the shape (dimension) of the bearing 18. This compressive force acts as a braking force for the circumferential movement of the hinge shaft 6, so that the lid body 15 slowly circumscribes.

When the lid body 15 is further closed, the major axis a of the hinge shaft 16 is further compressed, and is finally compressed to the minor axis B of the bearing hole 19, as shown in FIG. In this state, the lid body 15 is completely closed, and the long axis a of the hinge shaft 16 is most compressed, and due to its elasticity, the braking force of the surrounding movement is acting the strongest on the hinge shaft 16.

Due to this braking force, the speed of the surrounding movement of the lid body 15 becomes gradual from the beginning to the end of closing, and the lid body 15
5 is prevented from colliding with the top plate 18 due to its natural fall, and the generation of impact noise is eliminated.

In addition, in order to prevent wear caused by the movement of the hinge shaft 16 and the bearing hole 19, collars or bearings made of polyamide resin or fluororesin with a low coefficient of friction, for example, may be attached to the hinge shaft 16 and the bearing hole 19. It's good.

Effects of the Invention As is clear from the description of the embodiments above, according to the present invention, when the lid is opened, the long axis of the oval or elliptical hinge shaft formed on the lid body is aligned with the long axis formed on the top plate. Since the lid body is positioned within the long axis of a circular or oval bearing hole and is pivoted so that it can be moved freely, the speed of the movement of the lid becomes gradual from the beginning to the end of closing, and the natural movement of the lid is maintained. Collision with the top plate due to a fall is prevented, impact noise is eliminated, and there is no need for cushions or cushion adhesives used in conventional models, reducing assembly man-hours. Can provide machine hinge device.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the main parts of a hinge device for a washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a side sectional view of the hinge shaft and bearing hole in a state in which the lid is opened, and Fig. 3 is a side sectional view of the hinge shaft and the bearing hole when the lid is closed, FIG. 4 is a schematic side sectional view of the washing machine, and FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of section A in FIG. 4, which shows the conventional example. FIG. 15... Lid body, 16... Hinge shaft, 17
...Hollow, 18...Top plate, 19...
...bearing hole, A...long diameter of bearing hole, B...
...Minor diameter of bearing hole, a...Long diameter of hinge shaft, b
・・・・・・Short diameter of hinge shaft. Name of agent: Patent attorney Shigetaka Awano and one other person

Claims (1)

[Claims] A hinge shaft having an oval or elliptical cross section with a middle chamber formed on both sides of the lid body, and a bearing hole having an oval or elliptical shape drilled in the top plate, the major axis of the hinge shaft of the lid body is a, the short axis is b, the long axis of the bearing hole of the top plate is A, and the short axis is B, then the hinge shaft and the bearing hole are respectively formed in the relationship of A>a>B>b, and the A hinge device for a lid of a washing machine, wherein the hinge shaft is movably pivoted to the bearing hole with the major axis a of the hinge shaft positioned within the major axis A of the bearing hole when the lid is opened.