KR100716002B1 - Door lock of drum washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a door locking device for a drum washing machine, and an object thereof is to enable the switching means of the door locking device to be turned on at the same time as the door closing operation.

According to the door lock device of the drum washing machine according to the present invention, when the door 30 is closed to perform the washing and dehydrating stroke, the slider 44 is first operated before the locker 42 of the door lock device 40 is fully operated. It works. Accordingly, the switching means 43 is correctly turned on during the closing operation of the door 30, thereby enabling the next stroke of the washing machine to be continuously and safely executed, and improving the overall product reliability of the drum washing machine.

Description

Door lock of drum washing machine {Door lock of drum washing machine}

1 and 2 schematically show a door and a door locking device of a conventional drum washing machine.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a drum washing machine to which the present invention is applied.

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the door and the front plate structure according to the present invention.

5 and 6 are perspective views showing the initial state of the door locking device according to the present invention and its internal structure.

7 is a perspective view showing an extract of the structure of the support bar of the slider according to the present invention.

8 and 9 are perspective views showing a locked state of the door locking device according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for main parts of drawings *

30. Door 34. Latch lever

40. Door lock 41. Casing

42. Lockers 43. Switching means

44.The slider 44c.

44d..Movement Guide 45..Solenoid

The present invention relates to a drum washing machine, and more particularly, to a door washing device of the drum washing machine for maintaining the door for opening and closing the laundry inlet with a locking device.

In general, the washing machine is a washing machine is performed by the drop caused by the rotational movement of the rotating tub having a drum shape, washing and rinsing and dehydration operation is automatically performed according to a program input in advance.

A conventional drum washing machine having such a function is provided with a drum-shaped fixing tub which is suspended in a rectangular cylindrical housing and is provided with wash water, and a rotating tub which is rotatably installed in the fixing tub and has a dewatering hole perforated throughout the inner wall. It includes a shock absorbing member for buffer support.

And the front center of the housing is provided with an inlet for injecting or removing the laundry in the rotating tub, and a door hinged to open and close the inlet. In addition, the door is composed of a see-through member injection-molded with glass so that the inside of the rotating tub can be seen even when the inlet is closed, the detailed structure thereof is as follows.

Referring to FIG. 1, the door 1 is rotatably mounted on one side of the housing (not shown) and surrounds the front of the door holder 1a and the door holder 1a to which the see-through member 1b is fixed. A door cover 1c to be coupled is provided, and a locking member 1d for being held inside the housing to maintain the closed state of the door 1.                         

One end of the locking member 1d is rotatably coupled to the door holder 1a through the pin 1e, and a locking jaw 1f is formed at the other end thereof, so that the locking member 1d is caught in the housing when the door 1 is closed. In addition, a door handle 1g having one end coupled to one end of the locking member 1d together with one end of the locking member 1d to be rotatable about the locking member 1d is provided. The door handle 1g is restored through the leaf spring 1h mounted to the door holder 1a to elastically support the locking member 1d.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the door 1 having such a locking member 1d is controlled to be opened and closed through a door locking device 3 configured in the housing 2. The door locking device 3 includes a bimetal 3a, a locking rod 3b moving forward and backward by the bimetal 3a, and a locking member 1d inserted into the housing 2 by the movement of the locking rod 3b. It includes an iron plate (3c) for restraining the locking jaw (1f). The bimetal 3a operates by receiving the power 3e, and a micro switch 3d for controlling the power supply is installed between the bimetal 3a and the power 3e.

Therefore, when the user slides the door 1 toward the housing 2 side, the bimetal 3a is operated by connecting the microswitch 3d, and the locking rod 3b is advanced to prevent the movement of the iron plate 3c. The door 1 does not open during the operation of the washing machine.

When the washing is completed and the power supply is stopped, the bimetal 3a is restored to its original state within about 90 seconds so that the door 1 can be opened and closed. At this time, the opening operation of the door 1 is performed by the user pulling the door handle 1g. That is, when the door handle 1g is pulled, the locking member 1d rotates to one side while pushing the leaf spring 1h, and the locking jaw 1f is separated from the iron plate 3c, thereby opening the door 1.

However, in the door lock device 3 of the conventional drum washing machine, the microswitch 3d is turned on only when the locking jaw 1f of the locking member 1d moves the steel plate 3c completely when the door 1 is closed. The power is supplied to the bimetal 3a, which may cause the iron plate 3c not to move completely due to frictional resistance with other components such as the lock rod 3b.

Due to this phenomenon, the locking step 1f of the locking member 1d is constrained to the iron plate 3c so that the door 1 is actually closed but the microswitch 3d is kept off, so that the next stroke of the washing machine proceeds. There is a disadvantage that the overall product reliability is low.

The present invention is to solve such a problem, an object of the present invention is to configure the door locking device to respond more immediately when the door closing operation to switch the switching means of the door locking device to the ON state at the same time the door closing operation It is to provide a door lock of the drum washing machine.

The present invention for achieving these objects, the door is hinged to one side of the front plate of the housing to open and close the laundry inlet, the other side is provided with a latch lever protrudes, and is installed on the front plate to constrain the latch lever during the closing operation of the door In the drum washing machine with a door lock,                     

The door locking device is fixed in the front plate, and the casing with the inlet is formed on one side so that the latch lever is inserted when the door is closed, and is rotatably coupled to the space on one side of the casing. A locker, an elastic member disposed on the axis of the locker to elastically support the locker in a direction of releasing the latch lever, and disposed at the lower side of the rocker to be movable up and down, when the rocker is rotated in a direction to restrain the latch lever. A slider elastically supported in an upward direction to enter the locker to keep the locker rotated, a switching means disposed under the slider and switched on and off according to the vertical movement of the slider, and supplying power through the switching means And a plunger is arranged to move the slider downwards, but the switching means In the case of a swollen configuration, the sole member is provided with a solenoid member disposed on an outer circumference of the plunger so as to elastically support the slider in an upward direction.

In addition, the lower surface of the locker is provided to open the cutting groove,

The slider is disposed so as to be movable up and down in the middle of the casing, and has an installation space formed so that the solenoid is accommodated therein, and extends in the longitudinal direction from the upper side of the body to contact the lower surface of the locker when the door is opened. Is rotated in the direction of restraining the latch lever is provided with a support bar that moves upward through the cutting groove, and is provided to extend from the lower side of the body portion and the operation bar for pressing the switching means when the slider descends. .

In addition, the front end of the support bar is characterized in that the movement guide is formed in a thin thickness of the predetermined section so that the locker starts to rotate in the direction of restraining the latch lever and the slider can move upward.

In addition, the other end of the plunger is characterized in that the operating rod extending adjacent to the lower side of the body portion of the slider to move the slider when the power supply to the solenoid is characterized in that it is provided.

Hereinafter, one preferred embodiment according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. 3 and 4 show the overall structure and the door of the drum washing machine to which the present invention is applied, and FIGS. 5 to 9 show the internal configuration and operating state of the door locking device according to the present invention. will be.

The drum washing machine to which the present invention is applied, as shown in FIG. 3, has a rectangular cylindrical housing 10 forming an external appearance, and a drum-shaped fixing tank (not shown) suspended in the housing 10 to receive fresh water. It is installed in the fixed tank (not shown) spaced apart at regular intervals in the concentric circle and is provided with a rotating tank (not shown) for the rotational movement by receiving the power of the drive motor (not shown).

In addition, the front plate 11 of the housing 10 has a circular inlet 11a (see FIG. 4) for injecting laundry, a door 30 rotatably mounted to open and close the inlet 11a, and a door open button. A control panel 20 provided with a plurality of operation buttons such as 21 is provided.

Referring to FIG. 4, the door 30 has a door cover 31 having one side of the rear surface coupled to the front plate 11 through a hinge 31a, and an edge portion of the door 30 through the rear holder 33 of the door cover 31. The projection member 32 is injection-molded with a glass material so as to see the inside of the rotating tank (not shown) even when the inlet 11a is fixed and protruded to the other side of the rear surface of the door cover 31 so as to protrude. 30) the latch lever 34 for maintaining the closed state.

In addition, the front door 11 corresponding to the latch lever 34 is provided with a door lock device 40 for restraining the latch lever 34 to maintain the closed state when the door 30 is closed. A detailed structure will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5 to 9.

First, the latch lever 34 is composed of a bracket (34a) screwed to the door cover 31, the locking portion 34b provided to protrude in the "c" shape on the front of the bracket (34a).

And the door locking device 40 is fixed to the inside of the front plate 11 and the casing 41 formed with the inlet (41b) is formed so that the engaging portion 34b of the latch lever 34 when the door 30 is closed; The locker 42 is rotatably disposed in the upper space of the casing 41 and rotates according to the introduction of the latch lever 34, and the locker 42 is disposed to be able to move up and down under the locker 42. When the 42 is rotated in the direction of restraining the latch lever 34, the upper end portion of the slider 44 is elastically supported so as to enter the locker 42 to maintain the rotation state of the locker 42, casing A switching means 43 having a movable contact 43c and a fixed contact 43d, which are arranged in the lower space of the 41 and are operated on and off according to the vertical movement of the slider 44, and the slider 44 is moved up and down. With solenoids 45 through which plungers 45a are arranged to move in the direction of .

The casing 41 includes a front casing 41a in which an inlet 41b is formed at an upper side and a locker 42, a slider 44, a solenoid 45, and the like are installed, and components provided in the front casing 41a. It consists of a rear casing (41c) coupled to wrap.

The locker 42 is rotatably installed in the upper space of the front casing 41a corresponding to the inlet 41b and rotates according to the restoring force of the elastic member 42e and the inlet of the clasp member 34. To this end, shafts 42b and 42c are provided to extend up and down one side of the locker 42, which are coupled to the upper space of the front casing 41a. In addition, an elastic member 42e, which is a kind of torsion spring, is disposed on the upper shaft 42b of the locker 42. A central portion 42f wound in a coil shape is fitted to the upper shaft 42b and coupled thereto, and one end thereof 42g is provided. ) Is supported by the spring support (42i) formed to protrude on the top of the locker 42 and the other end (42h) is supported by the upper side of the casing (41). Since the locker 42 is always elastically supported in the direction of arrow A by the elastic member 42e, the locker 42 is restored when the door 30 is opened.

As a result, the locker 42 is installed to be rotatable forward and backward with respect to the shafts 42b and 42c, and the elastic member 42e is normally rotated in the front side, that is, the arrow A direction. It is provided on the upper shaft 42b so as to remain. The front surface of the locker 42 is provided with a hook-shaped hook (42a), the locker 42 is rotated in accordance with the introduction of the latch lever 34 to restrain the locking portion (34b). In addition, the lower surface of the locker 42 which is in contact with the slider 44 is formed such that the cutout groove 42d having a “V” shape is opened in the horizontal direction, which is supported by the support bar 44c of the slider 44 which will be described later. This is to make it move through.

The slider 44 is arranged to be movable up and down under the locker 42 and controls the switching means 43 according to the movement thereof. To this end, the slider 44 is disposed so as to be movable up and down in the middle of the inner space of the casing 41 and the body portion 44a in which the installation space 44b is formed so that the solenoid 45 can be fixedly disposed therein, Pressing the support bar 44c extending in the longitudinal direction from the upper side of the body portion 44a so as to abut the lower surface of the cut-off groove 42d and the adjacent locker 42, the moving contact 43c of the switching means 43 An operation bar 44e extending in the longitudinal direction from the lower side of the body portion 44a to be shorted.

The support bar 44c is in contact with the lower surface of the locker 42 while the locker 42 is rotated in the direction in which the locker 42 releases the latch lever 34 (see arrow A direction, see FIG. 5), and the latch lever 34 ) In the constraining direction (arrow B direction, see FIG. 8), the locker 42 moves the latch lever 34 by the restoring force of the elastic member 42e when the locker 42 moves upwardly through the cutting groove 42d. Do not restore in the release direction. At this time, the moving guide portion 44d is formed on the upper portion of the support bar 44c so that the contact area with the lower surface of the rocker 42 is formed in a state in which the locker 42 is rotated in the direction of releasing the latch lever 34. A predetermined section L1 (see FIG. 7) is formed. That is, the movement guide portion 44d is formed to have a thin thickness in a predetermined section L1 in the longitudinal direction, which is preferably formed by calculating the movement distance of the slider 44 and the rotation angle of the rocker 42. Therefore, if the rocker 42 rotates in the direction in which the front end surface of the movement guide portion 44d is in contact with the bottom surface of the locker 42, the movement guide portion 44d starts at the same time as the rotational movement starts. It is easily moved upward through the cutout groove 42d, which will be described in detail in the operation description below.

Reference numeral 44f is a manual lever provided to extend outside the casing 41 so that the slider 44 can be lowered by a user's manual operation.

In addition, the switching means 43 controls the power supply to the solenoid 45, and includes a moving contact 43c and a fixed contact 43d so that energization is determined according to the moving position of the slider 44. This switching means 43 is composed of a kind of seesaw switch, usually, one end 43a of the moving contact 43c is pressed by the operation bar 44e of the slider 44, so that the movable contact 43c and the fixed contact ( 43d) is kept short-circuited, and when the slider 44 is moved upward, the one end 43a rises again by the elastic support force of the return spring 43b, and the movable contact 43c and the fixed contact 43d are moved. The energized state is maintained to enable power supply to the solenoid 45.

In addition, the solenoid 45 is to form a magnetic field by receiving power through the switching means 43, and when the power is applied, the plunger 45a embedded therein interacts with the magnetic field and descends downward. That is, the plunger 45a has a support member 45d formed of a coil spring at the upper end 45b and abuts the upper portion of the body 44a in the installation space 44b of the slider 44. The lower portion of the plunger 45a extends in the longitudinal direction so that the operating rod 45c penetrates the solenoid 45 and is adjacent to the lower portion of the body portion 44a of the slider 44. Accordingly, in the usual case (when power is not supplied to the solenoid), the upper end 45b of the plunger 45a elastically supports the slider 44 upward by the support member 45d. The solenoid 45 is fixedly disposed in the front casing 41a corresponding to the installation space 44b of the slider 44 so as not to interfere with the movement of the slider 44.

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

First, when a user puts laundry into the rotating tub, closes the door 30 and operates the drum washing machine, the washing water is introduced into the fixed tub and the rotating tub together with the detergent.

In addition, washing, rinsing, and dehydration are performed according to the washing course selected by the user. In such a washing or dehydrating stroke, the door 30 is kept in the state of being locked by the door locking device 40, which will be described in more detail as follows. That is, before closing the door 30, as shown in FIG. 5, the locker 42 of the door locking device 40 rotates in the direction in which the latch lever 34 is released by the elastic member 42e (arrow A). Direction), and the slider 44 is kept in the lowered state. Accordingly, the support bar 44c abuts against the bottom surface of the locker 42, and the switching means 43 is held in a shorted state by pressing one end 43a of the movable contact 43c against the operation bar 44e.

When the user closes the door 30, as shown in FIG. 8, the locker 42 is pushed as the locking portion 34b of the latch lever 34 is inserted into the casing 41 through the inlet 41b. It is rotated in a direction to restrain it. The hook 42a restrains the locking portion 34b of the latch lever 34 by the rotation of the locker 42.

In addition, the support bar 44c is accommodated into the cutout groove 42d by the rotation of the locker 42, whereby the slider 44 is moved upward by the support member 45d of the solenoid 45, thereby operating the bar. 44e is spaced apart from the switching means 43. Accordingly, the switching means 43 is in a state capable of supplying power to the solenoid 45 by turning on, that is, energizing, the moving contact 43c and the fixed contact 43d by the elastic restoring force of the return spring 43b.

In addition, since the support bar 44c enters the locker 42 through the cutting groove 42d, the locker 42 releases the latch lever 34 even by the restoring force of the elastic member 42e. The door 30 is locked because it cannot be rotated in the direction.

At this time, the movement guide portion 44d having a small contact area at the same time as the start of the rotational movement of the locker 42 is inserted into the cutout groove 42d, whereby the upward movement of the slider 44 is immediately performed. As shown in FIG. 9, the movement guide portion 44d formed by a predetermined section L1 is easily inserted into the cutout groove 42d to form a small contact area at the same time as the rotational movement of the locker 42 starts to the rear side. Because it goes into.

As a result, the locker 42 rotates (arrow B direction) in the direction in which the latch lever 34 is restrained, and at the same time, the movement guide portion 44d of the support bar 44c is easily inserted into the cutout groove 42d, and the slider As the upper movement of the 44 is performed, the switching means 43 is immediately kept energized before the rotation operation of the locker 42 according to the closing operation of the door 30 is completed. Therefore, although the actual door 30 is locked, a kind of door locked state detection failure in which the switching means 43 is turned off does not occur.

As the switching means 43 is turned on, the control unit (not shown) that controls the entire stroke of the washing machine determines that the door 30 is correctly closed, and the washing and dehydrating stroke of the washing machine is performed.

On the other hand, when the user presses the door opening button 21 after the washing and dehydration stroke is completed, the control unit for controlling the washing machine full stroke supplies power to the solenoid 45 through the energized switching means 43. As a result, a magnetic field is formed in the solenoid 45, whereby the plunger 45a descends downward while compressing the coil spring 45d. Therefore, the operation rod 45c provided in the lower part of the plunger 45a presses down the slider 44 body part 44a in the installation space 44b, and the slider 44 also moves downward.

The support bar 44c comes out of the cutout groove 42d by the movement of the slider 44, and at the same time, the locker 42 is rotated again in the direction of releasing the latch lever 34 to lock the latch lever 34. Is released. In addition, while the operation bar 44e overcomes the elastic force of the return spring 43b, the moving contact 43c and the fixed contact 43d are shorted by pressing the one end 43a of the moving contact 43c of the switching means 43 again. , The solenoid 45 is no longer supplied with power.

As a result, the plunger 45a embedded in the solenoid 45 has the upper end 45b elastically resizing the body 44a of the slide 44 in the installation space 44b by the elastic force of the coil spring 45d. As shown in Fig. 5, the door locking device 40 is in an initial state.

In addition, even when the user presses the door open button 21 during the washing and dehydration operation, since the power supply is not made to the solenoid 45 in the control unit, the door 30 is kept locked and cannot be opened.

As described above in detail, according to the door lock device of the drum washing machine according to the present invention, the slider is operated before the locker of the door lock device is fully operated when the door is closed to execute the washing and dehydrating stroke. As a result, the switching means is accurately turned on during the closing operation of the door, so that the next stroke of the washing machine can be safely and continuously executed, and the overall product reliability of the drum washing machine is improved.

Claims (4)

A drum washing machine having one side hinged to the front plate of the housing to open and close a laundry inlet and a latch lever protruding from the other side, and a door locking device installed on the front plate to restrain the latch lever when the door is closed. To The door locking device 40 is fixed to the front plate 11 and the casing 41 formed with an inlet (41b) on one side so that the latch lever 34 is drawn in when the door 30 is closed, and A locker 42 coupled to the shafts 42b and 42c rotatably in a space of one side of the casing 41 and rotationally moving according to the introduction of the latch lever 34 to restrain the latch lever 34; An elastic member 42e disposed on the shaft 42b of the 42 to elastically support the locker 42 in a direction in which the latch lever 34 is released, and vertical movement of the locker 42 is possible. When the locker 42 is rotated in a direction constraining the latch lever 34, the upper end portion enters into the locker 42 and is elastically upward to maintain the locker 42 in a rotated state. Supported slider 44 and the lower portion of the slider 44 is disposed up and down of the slider 44 The switching means 43 which is switched on and off according to the same, and the plunger fixed in the casing 41 and supplied with power through the switching means 43 to move the slider 44 downwards ( A solenoid having a stop member 45d disposed on an outer circumference of one end 45b of the plunger 45a so as to elastically support the slider 44 in the upward direction when the switching means 43 is turned off while the switching means 43 is turned off. 45. A door lock device for a drum washing machine, characterized in that it comprises a). The method of claim 1, The lower surface of the locker 42 is provided with a cutting groove 42d open, The slider 44 is disposed so as to be movable up and down in the middle of the casing 41, and a body portion 44a having an installation space 44b formed therein so as to accommodate the solenoid 45 therein, and the body portion. When extending in the longitudinal direction from the upper side of the (44a) is provided when the door 30 is open, the locker 42 is in contact with the lower surface and the locker 42 is rotated in the direction to restrain the latch lever 34 It is provided to extend from the lower side of the support bar 44c and the body portion 44a moving upward through the cutting groove 42d and presses the switching means 43 when the slider 44 is lowered. Door lock device for a drum washing machine characterized in that it comprises an operation bar (44e). The method of claim 2, At the front end of the support bar 44c, the locker 42 starts a rotational movement in the direction of restraining the latch lever 34, and at the same time, the thickness L1 is constant so that the slider 44 can move upward. Door washing device for a drum washing machine, characterized in that the thinly formed movement guide portion (44d) is provided. The method of claim 2, The other end of the plunger 45a has an operating rod extending adjacent to the lower side of the body portion 44a of the slider 44 to move the slider 44 downward when power is supplied to the solenoid 45 ( 45c) door lock device for a drum washing machine characterized in that provided.

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