KR100444954B1 - Door lock of drum Washing machine with door-locking apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a washing machine having a door locking device, and an object thereof is to selectively restrict the operation of the latch lever caught inside the upper cover when the door is closed to prevent unauthorized operation of the door.

To this end, according to the washing machine equipped with the door locking device 20 according to the present invention, the latch 10 is selectively held through the restraining means 50 after the door 10 is kept locked by the latch lever 30. It will constrain the operation of. Therefore, since the door 10 can be opened only by releasing the restraint of the latch lever 30 from the restraining means 50, unauthorized manipulation of the door 10 is prevented, thereby preventing the safety accident. . In particular, when the door lock device 20 is applied to a washing machine capable of washing by heating the washing water in the tank directly through the electric heater, there is an effect that can significantly improve product reliability.

Description

Door lock of drum Washing machine with door-locking apparatus

The present invention relates to a washing machine, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a door lock device for keeping the hinged door locked to open and close the laundry inlet.

In general, the washing machine is programmed in the microcomputer of the washing and rinsing and drainage and dehydration stroke, and the laundry is automatically washed through a series of programmed strokes.

A conventional washing machine having such a function is provided with a suspension tank installed inside a housing and storing wash water, a rotating tank rotatably installed in the tank, and a dewatering hole perforated throughout the wall, and a pulsate disposed at the bottom of the rotating tank so as to be rotated forward and backward. And a drive device for driving the rotary tub and the pulsator simultaneously or only the pulsator.

In addition, the upper cover that covers the upper portion of the housing is provided with an inlet formed so that the laundry can be put out of the rotating tub, and a door hinged to open and close the inlet. The door is provided with a handle for easy holding. Therefore, by holding the handle to lift the door upwards, the opening can be opened to put or take out the laundry.

However, in the conventional washing machine, since the door is easily opened without any special attention, children and the like can be operated without permission during washing and dehydration administration. In particular, recently, a washing machine that implements washing by heating washing water stored in a water tank through an electric heater is commercially available, and if a door is suddenly opened without attention while the washing process is in progress, it may be burned by hot steam.

In order to solve this problem, conventionally, when the door of the washing machine is closed, a locking device for keeping the lock on the upper cover is disclosed. The locking device is provided at a handle portion of the door so as to pivot a predetermined angle, and has a latch lever with a locking jaw toward the upper cover, and an elastic member for restoring the latch lever.

Therefore, when the door is closed, the latch lever of the latch lever is caught inside the upper cover, and the door is kept closed. To open the door, the latch lever must be pulled to release the latch state.

However, the door is equipped with such a lock device also can be easily opened simply by pulling the latch lever without any notice, there is a limit to prevent the safety accident.

The present invention is to solve this problem; An object of the present invention is to selectively lock the operation of the latch lever caught in the upper cover while the door is closed, so that the door can be opened only by operating the latch lever with a great deal of attention, thereby effectively preventing a safety accident. It is to provide a washing machine equipped with a device.

1 is a cross-sectional view showing the overall structure of a washing machine according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the door lock device according to the present invention, showing the latch lever release state of the restraining means.

3 and 4 are exploded perspective view showing the front end structure and the door locking device of the door according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a rear structure of the restraining means seen from the direction “V” of FIG. 4.

6 to 9 show the operation state of the operation button according to the structure of the restraining means and the movement of the step pin according to the present invention.

Figure 10 shows the latch lever restraint state of the restraining means according to the present invention.

11 and 12 illustrate a door opening process according to the present invention.

* Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings *

1..Housing 6 .. Upper cover

6a.washing slot 6c..insertion hole

10.door 20.door lock

30. Latch lever 40. Carton member

50. Restriction 51. Case

52. Operation Button 53. Step Pin

54. Compression spring 60. Sliding groove

70..Induction Home

The present invention for achieving these objects;

A washing machine having an upper cover disposed on an upper portion of a housing and having a laundry inlet formed therein, a door hinged to one side of the upper cover to open and close the laundry inlet, and a door locking device for keeping the door closed,

The door locking device is disposed on the other side of the door, and a latching jaw is formed at the tip to catch the upper cover when the door is closed, and to keep the locking state. And a holding member elastically supporting the latch lever in the locking direction so that the jaw is locked, and restraining means for selectively restraining the latch lever operating in the unlocking direction.

In addition, the latch lever is a sliding portion which is arranged to slide back and forth within the other side of the door, a locking portion extending from one side of the sliding portion and the locking jaw is formed at the tip, and a handle extending from the other side of the sliding portion and the holding member is supported integrally It consists of

The upper cover is characterized in that the handle guide portion is formed to form a space to hold the handle of the latch lever.

In addition, the door is characterized in that the guide rail is coupled to the sliding side ends of the sliding portion is formed.

In addition, the touch member is made of a coil spring, the handle and the door of the latch lever is characterized in that the spring fixing for preventing the detachment of the touch member is provided respectively.

In addition, the restraining means is characterized in that it comprises a case provided in the other side of the door corresponding to the end of the latch lever, and the operation button for restraining or releasing the operation of the latch lever in the unlocking direction while entering into the case.

In addition, the latch lever is a sliding portion which is arranged to slide back and forth within the other side of the door, a locking portion extending from one side of the sliding portion and having a locking jaw formed at the tip, and a handle extending from the other side of the sliding portion and supporting the finger member It consists of,

The operation button is characterized in that entering and exiting the case in a direction orthogonal to the latch lever.

In addition, the operation button enters and exits the case whenever a predetermined force is applied, and is separated from the handle of the latch lever to allow the operation of the latch lever, and closes to the handle of the latch lever when protruding to restrain the operation of the latch lever.

The restraining means includes a compression spring for elastically supporting the operation button in the protruding direction, one end of which is fixed to the case side, and the other end of which is caught by the operation button side to maintain the entry and protrusion of the operation button; It is characterized in that it further comprises an induction groove formed in the operation button to induce movement.

In addition, the case is formed with a guide groove extending in the vertical direction, the operation button is provided with a moving rod slidably coupled to the guide groove, characterized in that the guide groove is formed in the moving rod.

In addition, the guide groove of the operation button is a protruding holding groove in which the free end of the step pin is positioned in the state in which the operation button is protruded, and an inlet in which the free end of the step pin is positioned in the state in which the operation button is inserted and spaced apart from the protrusion holding groove. Starting from the protruding holding groove to guide the free end movement of the step pin during the inlet of the holding groove and the operation button, the end of the holding groove is formed from the protruding holding groove to be higher and higher than the holding holding groove. The guide groove, and characterized in that it comprises a projection guide groove starting from the inlet holding groove to guide the free end movement of the step pin when the progress of the operation button protrudes.

In addition, the end portion of the compression spring is in contact with one end of the foot pin to support the operation button and at the same time characterized in that prevent the separation of the foot pin.

Hereinafter, one preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, the washing machine according to the present invention includes a housing 1 constituting an outer body, a water tank 2 installed inside the housing 1 and storing wash water, and the water tank 2. It is provided with a rotating tank 3 rotatably arranged and in which a pulsator 4 for generating washing water flows and a driving device 5 for driving the rotating tank 3 and the pulsator 4.

The housing 1 has a rectangular cylindrical shape with an open top, and has an upper cover 6 having a laundry inlet 6a formed thereon. The upper cover 6 is provided with a control panel 7 having a display portion and a plurality of operation buttons, and a water supply valve 8 for controlling water introduced from the outside. In addition, the upper cover 6 is provided with a door 10 hinged to the rear end to open and close the laundry inlet 6a. That is, the rear end of the door 10 is provided with a hinge coupling portion (see Fig. 3, 11), through which the pivot (pivot) up and down to open or close the laundry inlet (6a).

In addition, a door lock device 20 is provided inside the front end of the door 10 to keep it closed. The door lock device 20 is to open the door 10 with a great care to prevent a safety accident, the detailed structure thereof is as follows.

First, referring to FIGS. 2 to 4, a user's hand is allowed to comfortably enter the upper cover 6 corresponding to the front end of the door 10 while the door 10 is closed to operate the door locking device 20. An insertion hole 6c is formed to allow the handle guide portion 6b recessed to form a space therein and the locking jaw 31a of the latch lever 30 to be described later to enter the upper cover 6. have.

And the door locking device 20 is disposed on the lower surface of the front end of the door 10 and the latching jaw 31a is formed at the front end so that when the door 10 is closed, the latch lever 30 is operated so that it is inserted into the upper cover (6). ), A holding member 40 for elastically supporting the latch lever 30 in the locking direction so that the latching jaw 31a of the latch lever 30 is held, and the latch lever 30 in the unlocking direction. It is equipped with a restraining means 50 for restraining to operate.

The latch lever 30 includes a sliding part 32 which is slidably disposed on the bottom surface of the front end of the door 10 and extends downward from one side of the sliding part 32 and has a locking step 31a formed at the front end thereof. 31 and a handle 33 extending downward from the other side of the sliding portion 32 and on which the finger member 40 is supported, which is integrally injection molded through the plastic. In addition, both side ends 32L and 32R of the sliding portion 32 are coupled to the bottom surface of the front end of the door 10 to provide a guide rail 34 for guiding its forward and backward movement. Therefore, when the door 10 is closed and lifted upward while holding the handle 33 of the latch lever 30 through the handle guide part 6b and pulling upward, the latch lever 30 is the guide rail 34. The sliding jaw 31a comes out of the insertion hole 6c while sliding toward the front side.

In addition, the finger member 40 is composed of a pair of coil springs disposed between the front end of the door 10 and the handle 33 of the latch lever 30, one end of each of the finger member 40 is the door 10 It is contact-supported on the inner side of the tip of the other end thereof is supported by the handle (33). In order to prevent the detachment of the finger member 40, the both ends of the finger member 40 are fitted and coupled to the handle 33 of the latch lever 30 and the front end of the door 10. ) 42 are formed to protrude from each other. Therefore, in the state in which the door 10 is closed, the latch lever 30 is supported in the rear, that is, the direction in which the latching jaw 31a is held in the upper cover 6.

The restraining means 50 repeats the restraining and restraining state of the latch lever 30 whenever the user applies a predetermined force, which is the door 33 corresponding to the handle 33 of the latch lever 30. 10, a case 51 integrally formed inside the tip end, and an operation button 52 protruding and retracting from the case 51 to be in close contact with or spaced apart from the end of the handle 33 of the latch lever 30, A step pin 53 is provided to maintain the protruding and retracting state of the operation button 52.

The case 51 is formed in a box shape so that the lower side is opened to the front end of the door 10, the guide groove 51a is formed on the inner wall surface thereof to extend in the vertical direction. In addition, the operation button 52 is provided with a moving rod 52a that is protruded and retractable from the case 51 opening along the guide groove 51a. Accordingly, the operation button 52 enters and exits the case 51 in a direction orthogonal to the operation direction of the clasp lever 30 to be in contact with or spaced apart from the end of the handle 33 of the clasp lever 30.

That is, in the state in which the operation button 52 is inserted into the case 51 through the step pin 53, the end of the handle 33 of the latch lever 30 and the operation button 52 are spaced apart from each other. The restraint is released, and when the operation button 52 protrudes downward from the case 51 and contacts the handle end of the latch lever 30, the operation of the latch lever 30 is restricted. The protrusion of the operation button 52 is made elastic, for this purpose, a compression spring 54 is installed between the case 51 and the operation button 52. Accordingly, in the state in which the operation button 52 is retracted, the compression spring 54 is compressed, and when the step pin 53 moves in the protruding direction of the operation button 52, the compression spring 54 is elastically restored and the operation button ( 52) will automatically protrude.

In addition, referring to Figures 5 and 6, the step pin 53 is formed of a wire pin bent in the same direction in both ends of the "c" shape, both ends of the step pin 53, respectively, the wall surface of the case 51 The moving rod 52a of the operation button 52 is always fastened through the first through hole 51b and the second through hole 51c formed at the upper portion. To this end, the movable rod 52a of the operation button 52 is formed with a sliding groove 60 and an induction groove 70 for guiding the movement of both ends of the stepping pin 53, respectively. same.

First, the sliding groove 60 is provided in the longitudinal direction at the lower end of the moving rod 52a of the operation button 52, the first through hole 51b is formed on the wall surface of the case 51 corresponding to the sliding groove 60. Perforated Therefore, one end of the walking pin 53 is made of a fixed end 53a which is inserted into and fixed to the sliding groove 60 through the first through hole 51b, and is fixed regardless of whether the operation button 52 is operated. Will remain.

And the guide groove 70 is provided in the shape of a heart on the upper end of the moving rod (52a) of the operation button 52, the second through hole (51c) on the wall surface of the case 51 corresponding to the guide groove (70) It is formed as a long hole type that extends in the horizontal direction. Therefore, the other end of the stepping pin 53 is composed of a free end 53b that passes through the second through hole 51c and moves along the heart-shaped guide groove 70. In addition, the end of the compression spring 54 is seated at the bending end of the fixing end 53a of the walking pin 53 to prevent the separation of the walking pin 53, thereby preventing the fixing end 53a of the walking pin 53 from being made. In the first through hole 51b, the free end 53b of the stepping pin 53 passes through the second through hole 51c and is always located in the guide groove 70. In addition, it is preferable that the end thereof is treated as a spherical surface so that the free end 53b of the stepping pin 53 moves smoothly.

In addition, the guide groove 70 is spaced apart from the protruding holding groove 71 in which the free end 53b of the stepping pin 53 is positioned in the state where the operation button 52 protrudes, and is spaced apart from the protruding holding groove 71. In the state in which the operation button 52 is retracted, the free end 53b of the stepping pin 53 is composed of an inlet holding groove 72.

In addition, the guide groove 70 starts from the protruding holding groove 71 and ends at the holding holding groove 72 so as to guide the movement of the free end 53b of the step pin 53 when the operation button 52 is pulled in. The free end of the stepping pin 53 when the protruding holding groove 71 is formed so as to be formed higher and higher than the drawing holding groove 72 and the stepped guide groove 73 and the operation button 52 protrude. 53b) further includes a protruding guide groove 74 starting at the inlet holding groove 72 and ending at the protruding holding groove 71 to guide the movement.

The boundary between the inlet guide groove 73 and the inlet holding groove 72, the inlet holding groove 72 and the protrusion guide groove 74, the protrusion guide groove 74 and the protrusion holding groove 71 is formed stepped, S1, S2 and S3 show these stepped lines, respectively. That is, the inlet guide groove 73 is higher than the inlet holding groove 72 in the step S1, the inlet holding groove 72 is higher than the protruding guide groove 74 in the step S1. The inlet guide groove 73 and the protrusion guide groove 74 is formed to be substantially symmetrical, the guide groove 70 forms a heart shape as a whole.

Accordingly, each of the grooves are formed stepped with each other, and the step pin 53 is always suppressed by the compression spring 54, so each time the operation button 52 is pressed, the free end 53b of the step pin 53 is It will always move in a certain direction (arrow direction shown in FIG. 6). That is, the free end 53b of the stepping pin 53 starts from the inlet holding groove 72 and passes through the protruding guide groove 74 and the protruding holding groove 71 to reach the inlet guide groove 73.

Next will be described the operation and effect of the door lock according to the invention configured as described above.

First, when the operation button 52 of the restraining means 50 is introduced into the case 51, a constant distance from the end of the handle 33 of the latch lever 30 is maintained and at the same time, the compression spring 54 is compressed and the step pin ( The free end 53b of the 53 is located in the inlet holding groove 72 of the guide groove 70.

When the door 10 is closed in this state, as shown in FIG. 2, the latching jaw 31a of the latch lever 30 is caught inside the upper cover 6 through the insertion hole 6c and thereby the door ( 10) remains closed.

Then, when the user presses the operation button 52 once, the pressing force compresses the compression spring 54 while the free end 53b of the step pin 53 moves away from the inlet retaining groove 72 to FIGS. 7 and 8. As shown, the protrusion of the operation button 52 is advanced by the elastic restoring force of the compression spring 54 while being guided to the protrusion guide groove (74). Subsequently, when the protrusion of the operation button 52 is completed, the free end 53b of the walking pin 53 is positioned in the protruding holding groove 71.

At this time, as shown in Figure 10, the operation button 52 is in close contact with the end of the handle 33 of the latch lever 30 is restrained the front and rear operation of the latch lever 30. Accordingly, since the door 10 cannot be opened without artificially releasing the restraint of the latch lever 30, the unauthorized operation of the door 10 is prevented.

On the other hand, when the user wants to open the door 10, the restraint state of the latch lever 30 must be released from the restraining means 50. In this case, pressing the operation button 52 of the restraining means 50 again This returns to the retracted state to the case 51. That is, by pressing the operation button 52 upward again, the free end 53b of the step pin 53 is guided out of the protruding holding groove 71 as shown in FIG. When the insertion of the operation button 52 is completed, it is positioned in the inlet holding groove 72 as shown in FIG. 6.

Accordingly, a predetermined interval is maintained between the end of the handle 33 of the clasp lever 30 and the operation button 52 to release the restraint of the clasp lever 30.

In this state, as shown in FIG. 11, when the handle 33 of the latch lever 30 is slightly pulled forward (arrow A direction), the latch lever 30 slides forward along the guide rail 34, and the latch lever 30 The locking jaw 31a of the) can escape from the insertion hole (6c). Subsequently, as shown in FIG. 12, when the door 10 is lifted upward (arrow B direction), the locking jaw 31a is completely removed from the insertion hole 6c and the door 10 is opened. In this way, opening of the door 10 is impossible unless the latch lever 30 is released from the restraining means 50.

As described above in detail, according to the washing machine with the door locking device according to the present invention, after the door is kept locked through the latch lever, the restraint means selectively restrains the operation of the latch lever. Therefore, since the door can be opened only by releasing the restraint of the latch lever from the restraining means, unauthorized operation of the door can be prevented, thereby preventing the safety accident. In particular, when the door lock device is applied to a washing machine capable of washing by heating the washing water in the tank directly through the electric heater, there is an effect that can significantly improve product reliability.

Claims (10)

A washing machine having an upper cover disposed on an upper portion of a housing and having a laundry inlet, a door hinged to one side of the upper cover to open and close the laundry inlet, and a door locking device for keeping the door closed, The door lock device, A latch lever disposed on the other side of the door and having a locking jaw formed at the front end thereof so as to be locked to the upper cover when the door is closed, and to keep the locking jaw out when the door is opened; A support member elastically supporting the latch lever in the locking direction so that the latching jaw of the latch lever is kept locked; And a restraining means for selectively restraining the latch lever operating in the unlocking direction. The method of claim 1, The latch lever is a sliding portion which is slidably moved back and forth within the other side of the door, a locking portion extending from one side of the sliding portion and having a locking jaw formed at the tip, and extending from the other side of the sliding portion and supporting the finger member. The handle is made in one piece, The upper cover washing machine with a door lock device, characterized in that the handle guide to form a space to hold the handle of the latch lever. The method of claim 2, Washing machine with a door lock device characterized in that the guide rail is formed so that both side ends of the sliding slidingly coupled to the door. The method of claim 2, The finger member is made of a coil spring, Washing machine with a door lock device, characterized in that the handle and the door of the latch lever is provided with a spring fixing for preventing the separation of the finger member. The method of claim 1, The restraining means, A case provided in the other side of the door corresponding to an end of the latch lever; And an operation button for restraining or releasing the latch lever operating in the unlocking direction while entering and exiting the case. The method of claim 5, The latch lever is a sliding portion which is slidably moved back and forth within the other side of the door, a locking portion extending from one side of the sliding portion and having a locking jaw formed at the tip, and extending from the other side of the sliding portion and supporting the finger member. The handle is made in one piece, And the operation button enters and exits the case in a direction orthogonal to the latch lever. The method of claim 6, The operation button enters and exits the case whenever a predetermined force is applied, and is spaced apart from the handle of the latch lever to allow the operation of the latch lever and close contact with the handle of the latch lever when protruding to operate the latch lever. Redeemed, The restraining means includes a compression spring for elastically supporting the operation button in the protruding direction, and one end is fixed to the case side, and the other end is caught on the operation button side, and a stepping pin for maintaining the entry and protrusion of the operation button; And a guide groove formed in the operation button to guide the free end movement of the step pin. The method of claim 7, wherein The case is formed with a guide groove extending in the vertical direction, The operation button is provided with a moving rod slidably coupled to the guide groove, The guide groove is a washing machine having a door lock, characterized in that formed on the moving rod. The method according to claim 7 or 8, Induction groove of the operation button, A protruding holding groove in which the free end of the stepping pin is positioned in the state where the operation button is protruded, and an inlet holding groove in which the free end of the stepping pin is positioned in the state where the free end of the stepping pin is spaced apart from the protruding holding groove; Starting from the protruding holding groove and ending at the drawing holding groove to guide the free end movement of the step pin when the operation button is pulled in, the step height is higher than the drawing holding groove. A door locking device including a guide guide groove formed in a fork, and a protrusion guide groove starting from the pull holding groove and ending at the protrusion holding groove to guide the free end movement of the step pin when the operation button is pushed out. Equipped washing machine. The method of claim 7, wherein The end of the compression spring is in contact with one end of the foot pin to support the operation button and at the same time prevent the separation of the foot pin washing machine with a door lock device.