JPWO2019234985A1 - Lid lock mechanism and washing machine using it - Google Patents

Abstract

The lid lock mechanism switches between the locked state and the unlocked state of the lid (100) provided for the housing (200), and the handle member (110) and the latch member (120) are on the lid (100) side. ) Is provided. The housing (200) side is provided with a slide member (210) that locks the lid lock mechanism by restricting the movement of the latch member (120). When the user operates the handle member (110) in the opening direction (A1 direction), the first spring (151) urges the latch member (120) with respect to the handle member (110) in the opening direction. When the lid lock mechanism is locked, the latch member (120) cannot be moved by the slide member (210), while the handle member (110) operates in the opening direction against the urging force of the first spring (151). It will be possible.

Description

The present invention relates to a lid lock mechanism that locks a lid and a door of a washing machine during washing, and a washing machine using the same.

The housing of the washing machine is provided with an inlet for loading laundry into the washing tub, and a lid (or door) for closing the inlet during washing is openable and closable. Further, the washing machine is provided with a lid lock mechanism for locking the lid so that the lid is not opened and closed during washing (for example, Patent Document 1).

The lid locking mechanism of a conventional washing machine has a configuration in which, for example, a latch provided on the lid is inserted into an opening provided in a housing, and the lid is locked by engaging the latch in the opening. There is. In the lid lock mechanism having such a configuration, the latch is provided on the lid so as to be swingable between the engaging position and the disengaging position with the housing, and is urged to the engaging position by a spring or the like. .. The latch swings between the engaging position and the disengaging position with the housing by the user operating the handle portion provided on the lid. In addition, the lid lock mechanism is designed so that the movement of the latch can be restricted at the engagement position with the housing, and the movement of the latch is restricted at the engagement position so that the user cannot open / close the lid. Become.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2014-50468

In the conventional lid lock mechanism, the handle portion and the latch are configured to swing integrally, and when the movement of the latch is restricted in the locked state, the handle portion also does not move. However, there is a case where the user tries to forcibly move the handle portion and applies an excessive force without noticing that the user is in such a locked state. In such a case, there is a risk that the parts to which an excessive load exceeding the permissible value is applied may be damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lid locking mechanism and a washing machine capable of preventing parts from being damaged when the handle portion is operated in the locked state.

In order to solve the above problems, the lid lock mechanism according to the first aspect of the present invention is a lid lock mechanism that can switch between the locked state and the unlocked state of the lid member provided on the housing. A handle member that is rotatably provided with respect to the lid member and operated in the opening direction by the user when the lid member is opened, and a housing that is rotatably provided with respect to the handle member. A latch member capable of holding the closed state of the lid member by engaging with the lid member, a regulating member that locks the lid lock mechanism by restricting the movement of the latch member in the engaged state, and a user. When the handle member is operated in the opening direction, a urging force is applied directly or indirectly between the handle member and the latch member, and the latch member is moved toward the handle member in the opening direction. A urging force is applied directly or indirectly between the first elastic member to be urged, the lid member and the handle member, and the handle member is placed on the lid member in a direction opposite to the opening direction. It is characterized by having a second elastic member to be urged.

According to the above configuration, when the lid lock mechanism is locked, the latch member cannot be moved, while the handle member can be operated in the opening direction against the urging force of the first elastic member and the second elastic member. Become. That is, even when the handle member is forcibly moved without the user noticing that the lid lock mechanism is in the locked state, the force applied by the user is absorbed by the first elastic member. Therefore, even if the user operates the handle member when the mechanism is locked, it is possible to prevent the parts of the lid lock mechanism from being damaged due to an excessive load.

Further, the lid lock mechanism has an intermediate member arranged between the handle member and the latch member, and the first elastic member has an urging force between the latch member and the intermediate member. The second elastic member may be configured to indirectly exert an urging force on the handle member via the intermediate member.

According to the above configuration, by interposing an intermediate member between the handle member and the latch member, each member has a simple shape, which facilitates the manufacture of parts and the assembly of parts. The manufacturing cost can be reduced.

Further, the lid lock mechanism may have a configuration in which the first elastic member and the second elastic member are torsion springs.

Further, in order to solve the above problems, the washing machine according to the second aspect of the present invention includes a lid member provided so as to be openable and closable at the inlet to the washing tub for accommodating the laundry, and the lid member. The washing machine is provided with a lid locking mechanism capable of switching between a locked state and an unlocked state, and the lid locking mechanism is the lid locking mechanism described above.

The lid lock mechanism and the washing machine of the present invention have an effect that even if the user operates the handle member when the lid lock mechanism is locked, it is possible to prevent the parts of the lid lock mechanism from being damaged due to an excessive load. ..

It is sectional drawing of the lid lock mechanism which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the component structure used on the lid side in the lid lock mechanism of FIG. (A) is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the urging action of the first spring in the lid locking mechanism of FIG. 1, and (b) is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the urging action of the second spring in the lid locking mechanism of FIG. It is a figure. (A) and (b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the unlocked state in the lid locking mechanism of FIG. (A) and (b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the locked state in the lid locking mechanism of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows another example of the component structure used on the lid side in the lid lock mechanism of FIG. (A) and (b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the locked state in the lid locking mechanism according to the second embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the vertical type washing machine to which the lid lock mechanism of this invention can be applied. It is a perspective view which shows the drum type washing machine to which the lid lock mechanism of this invention can be applied.

[Embodiment 1]
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the lid lock mechanism according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a component configuration used on the lid side in the lid lock mechanism of FIG. The cross section in FIG. 1 corresponds to the cross section of the central portion in the longitudinal direction in the component configuration of FIG.

In a washing machine to which the lid lock mechanism (hereinafter, simply referred to as this mechanism) according to the first embodiment is applied, as shown in FIG. 1, the laundry is put into the washing tub in the housing 200 of the washing machine. A loading port 201 is formed for this purpose, and a lid (lid member) 100 for closing the loading port 201 is provided so as to be openable and closable. This mechanism can lock the lid 100 so that the lid 100 is not opened and closed during washing.

In this mechanism, a handle member 110, a latch member 120, an intermediate member 130, a support shaft 140, a first spring (first elastic member) 151, and a second spring (second elastic member) 152 are provided on the lid 100 side. ing. First, the component configuration on the lid 100 side in the lid lock mechanism will be described.

The handle member 110, the latch member 120, and the intermediate member 130 are rotatably supported around the same support shaft 140. The first spring 151 exerts an urging force between the latch member 120 and the intermediate member 130. The second spring 152 exerts an urging force between the lid 100 and the intermediate member 130.

The handle member 110 is a part operated by the user when opening the closed lid 100. When the mechanism is in the unlocked state, the latch member 120 also moves in the disengagement direction (A1 direction in FIG. 3) when the user pulls up the handle member 110 in the opening direction (A1 direction in FIG. 3).

The latch member 120 has a latch portion 121 provided so as to project in the outer peripheral direction from the rotation axis of the latch member 120. The latch portion 121 is arranged so as to project outward from the opening 111 provided in the handle member 110, and a latch claw 121A is formed at the tip of the latch portion 121. When the lid 100 is in the closed state, the latch claw 121A is inserted into the engaging hole 202 provided in the housing 200, and the latch claw 121A engages with the edge of the engaging hole 202 or the like to close the lid 100. It is designed to hold the state. Further, an engaging hole 121B (see FIG. 2) is provided on the latch portion 121 side, and a protruding portion 203 (see FIG. 1) protruding inward is provided in the engaging hole 202 on the housing 200 side when the lid 100 is closed. The protrusion 203 may be fitted into the engagement hole 121B. Alternatively, the closed state of the lid 100 may be maintained only by fitting (engaging) the engaging hole 121B and the protrusion 203 (see FIG. 1).

Further, the latch member 120 has a first contact plate 122 provided at a position different from that of the latch portion 121 so as to project from the rotation axis of the latch member 120 in the outer peripheral direction. The first contact plate 122 abuts on the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130 to define the positional relationship between these members.

The intermediate member 130 is interposed between the handle member 110 and the latch member 120, and has a second contact plate 131 that projects from the rotation axis of the intermediate member 130 in the outer peripheral direction. The second contact plate 131 can define the positional relationship between the handle member 110 and the latch member 120 by contacting the second contact plate 131 with the handle member 110 and the latch member 120.

Subsequently, the arrangement and operation of the first spring 151 and the second spring 152 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B. FIG. 3A is a diagram for explaining the urging action of the first spring 151, and is a cross-sectional view at the location where the first spring 151 is arranged. FIG. 3B is a diagram for explaining the urging action of the second spring 152, and is a cross-sectional view at the location where the second spring 152 is arranged.

As shown in FIG. 3A, a torsion spring is used for the first spring 151, and one end of the first spring 151 urges the first contact plate 122 of the latch member 120 in the A1 direction to obtain a first spring 151. The other end of the 1 spring 151 urges the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130 in the A2 direction. At this time, since the first contact plate 122 of the latch member 120 is in contact with the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130 in the A2 direction, the first contact is made by the urging force of the first spring 151. The contact state between the plate 122 and the second contact plate 131 is maintained.

As shown in FIG. 3B, a torsion spring is used for the second spring 152, one end of the second spring 152 abuts on the back surface of the lid 100, and the other end of the second spring 152 is an intermediate member 130. The second contact plate 131 of the above is urged in the A2 direction. Further, the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130 is in contact with the protrusion 112 provided on the handle member 110, and the urging force of the second spring 152 acts on the handle member 110 via the intermediate member 130. .. That is, the second spring 152 indirectly urges the handle member 110 in the A2 direction.

Subsequently, the unlocked state and the operation of the locked state of this mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. 4 (a) and 4 (b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the mechanism in the unlocked state, and FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b) are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the mechanism in the locked state. .. Although the first spring 151 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the second spring 152 is not shown.

First, in order to switch between the unlocked state and the locked state of the mechanism, a slide member (regulatory member) 210 is provided on the housing 200 side of the mechanism. The slide member 210 can slide in the B1 and B2 directions shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and when the lid 100 is closed, the slide member 210 is brought into contact with the latch claw 121A inserted into the engagement hole 202 to be rearward (B1 direction). ). Further, the position of the slide member 210 can be fixed by a solenoid or the like (not shown) while the slide member 210 is moved in the B1 direction. Further, when the solenoid is off, the slide member 210 is urged in the B2 direction by the compression spring 220 and is positioned at a predetermined position (for example, the position of the slide member 210 in FIG. 4B). ing.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the lid 100 is closed and held in the unlocked state of the present mechanism, as shown in FIG. 4A, the intermediate member 130 (second contact in FIG. 4) The plate 131 (shown only) and the handle member 110 are urged in the A2 direction by the second spring 152 (not shown in FIG. 4) and are positioned at predetermined positions. At this time, the latch member 120 is held in a state of being positioned in contact with the intermediate member 130 by the urging force of the first spring 151. In this state, the latch member 120 is inserted into and engaged with the engaging hole 202 of the housing 200.

When the lid 100 is opened in the unlocked state of the present mechanism, the handle member 110 is pulled up in the opening direction (A1 direction) by the user as shown in FIG. 4 (b). At this time, as the handle member 110 rotates, the intermediate member 130 also rotates in the A1 direction. That is, the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 rotate against the urging force of the second spring 152.

Further, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 rotate in the A1 direction, the latch member 120 integrated with the intermediate member 130 also rotates in the A1 direction due to the urging force of the first spring 151. That is, when the handle member 110 rotates in the A2 direction, the intermediate member 130 indirectly transmits this rotational power to the latch member 120. When the latch member 120 rotates in the A1 direction, the latch member 120 is disengaged and the lid 100 can be opened. In the unlocked state of this mechanism, the position of the slide member 210 is not fixed by a solenoid or the like, and the slide member 210 does not hinder the disengagement of the latch member 120.

On the other hand, in the locked state of this mechanism, as shown in FIG. 5A, the position of the slide member 210 is fixed by a solenoid or the like while moving in the B1 direction. This makes it impossible for the latch member 120 to rotate in the A1 direction from the disengagement. In the state shown in FIG. 5A (the state in which the user is not operating the handle member 110), the positions of the handle member 110, the latch member 120, and the intermediate member 130 are basically shown in FIG. 4A. It is the same as the state.

In the locked state of this mechanism, when the user pulls up the handle member 110 in the opening direction (A1 direction), the state shown in FIG. 5B is obtained. At this time, the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 rotate in the A1 direction against the urging force of the second spring 152, which is the same as when unlocked.

However, at the time of locking, even if the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 rotate in the A1 direction, the latch member 120 is hindered from rotating in the A1 direction by the slide member 210. As a result, the intermediate member 130 rotates in the A1 direction against the urging force of the first spring 151, and the relative positional relationship between the intermediate member 130 and the latch member 120 changes.

In this way, even when the handle member 110 is forcibly moved without the user noticing that the mechanism is in the locked state, the force applied by the user is absorbed by the first spring 151. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the parts of the present mechanism from being damaged due to an excessive load exceeding the permissible value.

It is preferable that the spring force of the first spring 151 is larger than the spring force of the second spring 152. In this case, the force required to operate the handle member 110 at the time of locking is larger than the force required to operate the handle member 110 at the time of unlocking, so that the user must be in the locked state of this mechanism. Is easier to recognize.

FIG. 6 shows a modified example of the lid lock mechanism according to the first embodiment, and is a perspective view showing a component configuration used on the lid side. In the lid lock mechanism shown in FIG. 2, the intermediate member 130 is formed wider in the axial direction than the latch member 120, and the latch member 120 is arranged inside the intermediate member 130 in the axial direction. On the other hand, in the lid lock mechanism shown in FIG. 6, the latch member 120 is formed wider in the axial direction than the intermediate member 130, and the intermediate member 130 is arranged inside the latch member 120 in the axial direction. ing. Even with the configuration shown in FIG. 6, the urging action of the first spring 151 and the second spring 152 is the same as that of FIG. 2, so that the lid locking mechanism according to FIG. 6 is the lid locking mechanism according to FIG. The same action and effect as above can be obtained.

Further, in the above description, the lid side configuration of this mechanism is a three-part configuration of a handle member 110, a latch member 120, and an intermediate member 130, excluding the spring and the shaft. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 may be integrally formed to form a two-part configuration. In the operation described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the relative positional relationship between the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 does not change, which means that the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrally formed. It shows that it can be formed.

When the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are separate members, the second spring 152 indirectly applies an urging force to the handle member 110 via the intermediate member 130. On the other hand, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrated, the second spring 152 directly applies an urging force to the handle member 110.

Further, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are separate members, when the handle member 110 rotates in the A2 direction, this rotational power is indirectly transmitted to the first spring 151 via the intermediate member 130. .. On the other hand, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrated, when the handle member 110 rotates in the A2 direction, this rotational power is directly transmitted to the first spring 151. In other words, when the user operates the handle member 110 in the A1 direction, the first spring 151 directly or indirectly exerts an urging force between the handle member 110 and the latch member 120 to cause the latch member 120 to operate. The handle member 110 is urged in the A1 direction.

Further, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are separate members, when the user operates the handle member 110 in the A1 direction, the rotational power of the handle member 110 is latched via the intermediate member 130 and the first spring 151. Although it is transmitted to the member 120, when the latch member 120 is rotated in the A1 direction, the rotational power of the latch member 120 is transmitted only to the intermediate member 130 and not to the handle member 110.

However, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are integrated, the handle member 110 moves together with the latch member 120 when the open lid 100 is closed. On the other hand, when the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 are separate members (when the intermediate member 130 is interposed between the handle member 110 and the latch member 120), the handle member 110 is not moved and the lid is closed. 100 can be closed.

[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, the lid lock mechanism using the first spring 151 and the second spring 152 which are the torsion springs is illustrated, but in the second embodiment, the lid lock mechanism using an elastic member other than the torsion spring is used. explain. 7 (a) and 7 (b) show a lid locking mechanism having a structure using a compression spring, and are schematic cross-sectional views showing the operation of the locked state of this mechanism.

In this mechanism shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B, a third spring (first elastic member) 153, which is a compression spring, is used instead of the first spring 151, which is the torsion spring described in the first embodiment. I am using it. Further, the intermediate member 130 has a spring contact plate 132 in addition to the second contact plate 131. Like the second contact plate 131, the spring contact plate 132 is provided so as to project from the rotation axis of the intermediate member 130 in the outer peripheral direction, and is provided on the A2 direction side when viewed from the second contact plate 131. .. Further, the first contact plate 122 of the latch member 120 is arranged between the second contact plate 131 and the spring contact plate 132. The third spring 153 is arranged between the first contact plate 122 and the spring contact plate 132, and gives an urging force so as to push and expand between these plates.

In the locked state of this mechanism, as shown in FIG. 7A, the position of the slide member 210 is fixed by a solenoid or the like while moving in the B1 direction. As a result, the latch member 120 cannot rotate in the A1 direction from the disengagement as in the first embodiment. In this state, the first contact plate 122 of the latch member 120 is urged by the third spring 153 in a state of being in contact with the second contact plate 131 of the intermediate member 130.

In the locked state of this mechanism, when the user pulls up the handle member 110 in the opening direction (A1 direction), the state shown in FIG. 7B is obtained. At this time, the handle member 110 and the intermediate member 130 rotate in the A1 direction against the urging force of the second spring 152. On the other hand, the rotation of the latch member 120 in the A1 direction is hindered by the slide member 210. As a result, the intermediate member 130 rotates in the A1 direction against the urging force of the third spring 153, and the relative positional relationship between the intermediate member 130 and the latch member 120 changes. That is, the intermediate member 130 rotates in the A1 direction so that the contact state between the first contact plate 122 and the second contact plate 131 is released and the spring contact plate 132 is close to the first contact plate 122. To do.

In this way, even when the handle member 110 is forcibly moved without the user noticing that the mechanism is in the locked state, the force applied by the user is absorbed by the third spring 153. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the parts of the present mechanism from being damaged due to an excessive load exceeding the permissible value.

In the second embodiment, the arrangement between the first contact plate 122 and the spring contact plate 132 is not limited to the compression spring, and other elasticity such as leaf spring and foam rubber. The same effect can be obtained even with a member. Further, although detailed description is omitted, it is also possible to replace the second spring 152 in the first embodiment with an elastic member (compression spring, leaf spring, foam rubber, etc.) other than the torsion spring.

[Embodiment 3]
A washing machine to which the lid lock mechanism according to the present invention can be applied will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is a so-called vertical washing machine, in which a lid 100 is provided so as to open and close the upper surface of the housing 200 with respect to the housing 200 of the washing machine. In this case, of course, a lid lock mechanism can be provided on the lid 100. That is, when the present invention is applied to the vertical washing machine of FIG. 8, the lid 100 corresponds to the lid member described in the claims.

FIG. 9 is a so-called drum-type washing machine, and the door 100'is provided so as to open and close the front surface of the housing 200 with respect to the housing 200 of the washing machine. Even in such a drum type washing machine, a lid lock mechanism can be provided for the door 100'. That is, when the present invention is applied to the drum-type washing machine of FIG. 9, the door 100'corresponds to the lid member described in the claims.

The embodiments disclosed this time are examples in all respects and do not provide a basis for a limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not construed solely by the above-described embodiments, but is defined based on the description of the claims. It also includes all changes within the meaning and scope of the claims.

This international application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-109526 filed with the Japan Patent Office on June 7, 2018, and all of Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-109526. The contents will be incorporated into this international application by reference.

100 lid (lid member)
100'door (lid member)
110 Handle member 120 Latch member 121 Latch part 121A Latch claw 121B Engagement hole 122 First contact plate 130 Intermediate member 131 Second contact plate 132 Spring contact plate 140 Support shaft 151 First spring (first elastic member)
152 Second spring (second elastic member)
153 Third spring (first elastic member)
200 Housing 201 Input port 202 Engagement hole 203 Projection 210 Slide member (regulatory member)
220 compression spring

Claims (4)

A lid lock mechanism that can switch between the locked and unlocked states of the lid member provided on the housing.
A handle member that is rotatably provided with respect to the lid member and is operated in the opening direction by the user when the lid member is opened.
A latch member that is rotatably provided with respect to the handle member and can engage with the housing to hold the closed state of the lid member.
By restricting the movement of the latch member in the engaged state, the restricting member that locks the lid lock mechanism and
When the user operates the handle member in the opening direction, a urging force is applied directly or indirectly between the handle member and the latch member to open the latch member with respect to the handle member. The first elastic member that biases in the direction and
A second elastic member that directly or indirectly exerts an urging force between the lid member and the handle member and urges the handle member against the lid member in a direction opposite to the opening direction. A lid lock mechanism characterized by having. The lid locking mechanism according to claim 1.
It has an intermediate member arranged between the handle member and the latch member, and has an intermediate member.
The first elastic member exerts an urging force between the latch member and the intermediate member.
The lid lock mechanism is characterized in that the second elastic member indirectly exerts an urging force on the handle member via the intermediate member. The lid locking mechanism according to claim 1 or 2.
A lid lock mechanism, wherein the first elastic member and the second elastic member are torsion springs. It is a washing machine equipped with a lid member that can be opened and closed at an inlet to a washing tub that houses laundry, and a lid lock mechanism that can switch between a locked state and an unlocked state of the lid member.
A washing machine according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lid locking mechanism is the lid locking mechanism.

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