KR0128871Y1 - Door switch of a washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a switch for automatic opening and closing of a washing machine door, the object of which is to simplify the structure while allowing the operation by the foot.

The chamber 50 for accommodating the switch 40 is formed at the front lower end of the washing machine body 10. Switch 40 is a reed switch 51 fixed to the chamber 50, the upper end is rotatably coupled to the chamber 50 and the lower end pedal 41 is a free end protruding from the outer surface of the washing machine body 10 ), A magnet 48 installed at the lower end of the pedal to operate the reed switch 51, and springs 44 and 44 ′ to restore the operation of the pedal.

Description

Washing machine door automatic switch

1 is a perspective view of a conventional washing machine.

2 is a side cross-sectional view of a washing machine to which the present invention is applied.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the present invention showing the state before operation.

4 shows the state after the operation of FIG.

5 is a state diagram before operation of another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows the state after the operation of FIG.

7 is a perspective view of a pedal applied to the present invention.

8 is a block diagram of a switch control unit of the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of the drawings

10: body 20: door

30: drive motor 40: switch

41: Pedal 43: Magnet

44,44 ': spring 47: blocking plate

50: chamber

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly to a switch for automatically opening and closing the door of the washing machine that can automatically open and close the door.

In general, an electric washing machine has a structure in which a special water flow is generated by driving a pulsator or agitator using a motor as a power source, thereby releasing time. The fully automatic washing machine has a built-in function controlled by a program timer for washing, rinsing, and dehydration in a single container, and programs water supply to dewatering to automatically switch the series of strokes.

An example of such a conventional electric washing machine is shown in FIG. Referring to this, the washing machine body 10 includes a washing tank 11 for washing and dehydrating the washing water and the laundry, and a rotary blade 12 installed at the bottom of the washing tank 11. The washing tank 11 is opened upward, and a door 20 for opening and closing of the washing tank 11 is installed at the upper end of the main body 10. The door 20 is rotatably installed around the rear end and has a folding structure. That is, the door 20 is composed of a front end plate 21 and a rear end plate 22 which are foldably coupled to each other, and the rear end plate 22 is rotatably coupled to the main body 10. The front plate 21 is provided with a handle 25 to hold the handle 25 to perform the opening and closing operation of the door 20.

However, in such a conventional washing machine, the door is configured to be opened and closed only by manual operation, which is inconvenient in use. That is, when the user performs the opening and closing operation of the washing machine door for the input of the laundry, it is usually difficult to perform the opening and closing operation of the door with a laundry basket containing a lot of laundry. Accordingly, the laundry basket was placed on one side and the laundry was put into the washing machine with the door open. In addition, since the space where the washing machine is placed is generally small, the place where the laundry basket is placed is not suitable, and the housewife has experienced a lot of inconvenience in using the washing machine.

Accordingly, the present invention is to solve the above problems, and to provide a switch for automatically opening and closing the washing machine door that can open and close the door of the washing machine automatically, as well as very convenient operation of the switch for the automatic opening and closing of the door. .

In particular, the object of the present invention is to enable the switch for automatically opening and closing the washing machine door using a foot without using a hand.

Washing machine door automatic opening and closing switch according to the present invention for achieving this object, the washing machine body having a washing tank open to one side, the door to open and close the washing tank, the means for driving the door, the drive to open and close the door Means for controlling the means, is installed on the lower end of the washing machine main body is configured to include a switch that is electrically connected to the control means and is operable to transmit the opening and closing signal of the door to the control means.

On the other hand, the automatic switch for washing machine door according to the present invention includes the above-described components and the switch is fixed to the washing machine body, the reed switch electrically connected with the control means, the upper end is rotatable to the washing machine body Is coupled to the lower end of the free end, and includes a pedal having a magnet for operating the reed switch, and a spring for returning the operation of the pedal.

On the other hand, the washing machine door automatic opening and closing switch according to the present invention, the components of the above-described design, a chamber for accommodating the switch is formed on the front lower end of the washing machine body, the switch is fixed to the chamber Reed switch, the upper end is rotatably coupled to the chamber and the lower end is a pedal of the free end protruding from the outer surface of the washing machine body, a magnet installed at the lower end of the pedal to operate the reed switch, the operation of the pedal It is a structure characterized by including the spring which returns.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 2, the washing machine body 10 is provided with a washing tank 11 opened upwards, the bottom of the washing tank 11 is provided with a rotary blade 12 for forming a water flow. Below the washing tank 11, a washing motor 13 for driving the washing tank 11 and the rotary blade 12 is installed. Various operating buttons (not shown) are installed at the upper end of the washing machine body 10, and an upper cover 14 having a built-in microcomputer for automatically controlling a series of processes is installed. The door 20 is installed in the upper cover 14. The door 20 is composed of a front end plate 21 and a rear end plate 22 foldably coupled to each other, and the rear end plate 22 is rotatably coupled to the main body 10.

A drive motor 30 for driving the door 20 is mounted on the upper cover 14 near the rotation shaft 23 of the door 20, and a cam is mounted on the motor shaft 31 of the drive motor 30. The rotating member 32 of the shape is fixedly installed, and two projections 33 are formed in the rotating member 32. These projections 33 are spaced apart from each other by an appropriate distance and are also spaced apart from the motor shaft 31 by a predetermined distance. A plurality of locking grooves 24 are formed in the door 20 to catch the protrusions 33.

Accordingly, when the driving motor 30 is operated, the rotating member 32 rotates, and accordingly, the protrusion 33 of the rotating member 32 is caught by the locking groove 24 of the door 20, thereby opening and closing the door 20. This is done. The opening and closing operation of the door 20 is automatically performed by the driving motor 30 operating by receiving the opening and closing signal of the switch 40 to be described later.

That is, as shown in FIG. 8, the open / close signal of the switch 40 is transmitted to the control unit 60 and the output signal of the control unit 60 is transmitted to the drive motor 30 so that the drive motor 30 rotates forward. Alternatively, opening and closing of the door 20 is automatically performed by reverse rotation.

Next, the structure of the switch 40 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7. The switch 40 is installed at the front lower end of the washing machine body 10 so that the user can operate by foot. 3 and 4 show one embodiment of the switch 40, while FIG. 5 and 6 show another embodiment. First, referring to FIG. 3, a chamber 50 for installing the switch 40 is provided at the front lower end of the washing machine body 10. The chamber 50 is formed to be opened to the front, the reed switch 51 is provided on the rear wall of the chamber 50. Although not shown in detail, the reed switch 51 is a magnetically-driven switch enclosed in a tube together with an inert gas to have a suitable overlap and gap with a contact piece press-molded with a magnetic material. The reed switch 51 is molded and fixed to the rear wall of the chamber 50 by screws 52. Although the reed switch 51 is used in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and a micro switch or a non-contact switch may be used.

A pedal 41 for operating the reed switch 51 is installed in this chamber 50. Hinge shafts 42 are provided at both sides of the upper end of the pedal 41, and insertion holes 54 are formed in the chamber 50 into which the hinge shafts 42 are inserted. As shown in FIG. 7, a portion where the hinge shaft 42 is formed is cut to have elasticity, and one of the hinge shafts 42 is formed with an inclined surface 42a so that the hinge shaft 42 is disposed on the inclined surface 42a. Guide for easy insertion. The lower end of the pedal 41 is protruded slightly from the outer surface of the washing machine main body 10 to the free end and a magnet 43 for operating the reed switch 51 is inserted. When the pedal 41 is operated and is in the same state as in FIG. 4, the contact of the reed switch 51 is made by the magnet 43 of the pedal 41, and the opening / closing signal of the door 20 is transmitted to the controller 60. . In addition, the operation of the pedal 41 is restored by the spring 44, the boss 53 protrudes to a predetermined height on the rear wall of the chamber 50 for the installation of the spring 44, ribs 45 on the pedal 41 ) Is installed. The spring 44 is a leaf spring, one end of which is coupled to the boss 53 as a screw 46 and the other end of the spring 44 is installed to suppress the rib 45. In addition, the lower end of the pedal 41 is formed with a blocking plate 47 protruding to prevent foreign matter from penetrating the chamber 50.

Next, another embodiment of the switch 40 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, this embodiment uses a compression coil spring 44 'as a spring for restoring the operation of the pedal 41. As shown in FIG. In order to install the compression coil spring 44 ', the chamber 50 and the pedal 41 are provided with bosses 53' and 48 for fixing both ends of the compression coil spring 44 ', respectively. In particular, the boss 48 of the pedal 41 is formed with a groove 49 and the spring 44 is fixed to the position there is no need for a fixing member such as a separate screw. Therefore, the assembly work and the after-service work are simpler than the use of leaf springs.

Referring to the operation of the present invention configured as described above is as follows.

First, when the pedal 41 is pressed with the foot to open and close the door 20, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the pedal 41 is rotated so that the magnet 43 inserted into the pedal 41 is a reed switch. Close to 51. The contact of the reed switch 51 is made under the influence of the adjacent magnet 43, and the generated electrical signal is transmitted to the controller 60 as an opening / closing signal of the door. That is, the distance between the magnet 43 and the reed switch 51 before the pedal 41 is operated is about 31 mm, and the distance between the magnet 43 and the reed switch 51 is about 25 mm when the pedal 41 is operated. When the reed switch 51 is initially detected, the reed switch 51 is operated. In the operation completion state as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the distance between the magnet 43 and the reed switch 51 is about 12 mm. When the electrical signal is input from the reed switch 51, the control unit 60 detects the open / closed state of the door 20 to operate the driving motor 30. That is, when the opening of the door 20 is required, the driving motor 30 is operated in the direction of opening the door 20, and when the closing of the door 20 is required, the driving motor 30 is operated in the reverse direction. . By the operation of the drive motor 30, the projection 33 of the rotating member 32 is caught by the locking groove 24 of the door 20 to rotate the door 20 is opened and closed. On the other hand, the rotated pedal 41 is restored to its original state by the restoring force of the springs 44 and 44 '.

As described in detail above, according to the switch for automatic opening and closing of the washing machine door according to the present invention, the switch is installed at the bottom of the washing machine body, it is very convenient to use because it is configured to be operated using the foot. In other words, the door can be opened and closed automatically using the foot even while carrying heavy laundry.

In addition, by using a pedal with a reed switch and a magnet, its mechanical configuration is simple and disassembly and assembly work is easy. In addition, since the inclined surface is formed on the hinge shaft of the pedal, the pedal can be easily disassembled and coupled, and a blocking plate is provided at the bottom of the pedal to prevent foreign substances from being introduced.

Claims (7)

Washing machine body 10 having a washing tank 11 open to one side, a door 20 for opening and closing the washing tank 11, a means for driving the door, means for controlling the drive means to open and close the door, And a switch (40) installed at a lower end of the washing machine body and electrically connected to the control means, the switch 40 being operable to transmit an opening / closing signal of the door to the control means. The lower end of the washing machine body is formed with a chamber 50 for accommodating the switch, the switch is fixed to the chamber, the reed switch 51 is electrically connected to the control means, the upper end is A pedal (41) rotatably coupled to the chamber, a magnet (43) installed at a lower end of the pedal to operate the reed switch (51), and springs (44) (44 ') for returning the operation of the pedal; Washing machine door automatic switch to include. The switch for automatically opening and closing the washing machine door according to claim 2, wherein hinge shafts are provided at both sides of the upper end of the pedal, and insertion holes 54 are formed in the chamber. The switch for automatically opening and closing the washing machine door according to claim 3, wherein an inclined surface (42a) is formed at one of the hinge shafts so as to be easily inserted into the insertion hole (54). The switch for automatically opening and closing the washing machine door according to claim 2, wherein a blocking plate (47) is formed at a lower end of the pedal to prevent foreign matter from penetrating into the chamber (50). The switch of claim 2, wherein one end of the spring is fixed to the chamber and the other end is a leaf spring (44) installed to press the pedal. The method of claim 2, wherein the spring is a compression coil spring (44 ') and the chamber 50 and the pedal 41 is provided with a boss (53') 48 for fixing both ends of the compression coil spring, respectively Automatic switch for washing machine door, characterized in that.