KR20100081226A - Locking device of door for washing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A door locking device of a drum washing machine is provided to prevent a door from compulsorily opening in blackout by supporting a locked body by an auxiliary locking part with the air pressure generated by the water stored in a tub. CONSTITUTION: A door locking device of a drum washing machine is composed of an insertion part(120), a movable part(130), a locking part(140), and an auxiliary locking part. The insertion part is built in a case(40). An insertion hole(121) is formed in the insertion part. A hook is inserted into the insertion hole. The movable part is close to the insertion part. The locking part is inserted into retention hole formed at the movable part. The auxiliary locking part supports the locking part to be located on the retention hole.

Description

LOCKING DEVICE OF DOOR FOR WASHING MACHINE}

The present invention relates to a drum washing machine, and more particularly, to a drum washing machine door locking device to prevent the door from being forcibly opened even if a power failure occurs.

In general, a washing machine performs washing, rinsing, and dehydration processes to wash contaminated laundry.

The drum washing machine drops laundry as the drum inside the tub rotates, so that washing can be performed using less washing water.

1 is a view schematically showing a conventional drum washing machine.

Referring to FIG. 1, in the drum washing machine 10, a tub 12 is installed inside a case 11 forming an exterior to store laundry, and a drum 13 in which the laundry is stored inside the tub 12 is stored. It is installed to be rotatable.

A part of the case 11 is opened and the door 15 opens and closes the opened part of the case 11.

Therefore, the user opens the door 15 to draw laundry into the drum 13, and in the washing process, the door 15 is closed to prevent the washing water from flowing down.

At this time, the door 15 is provided with a hook 16, the case 11 is formed with a hook hole 17 to which the hook 16 is fixed.

Conventional drum washing machine has a problem that the wash water is discharged to the outside when the power outage during washing.

In particular, since the drum washing machine can heat the washing water, there is a problem of causing burns in addition to the electrical short in the process of discharging the heated washing water to the outside.

Therefore, there is a need for improvement.

An object of the present invention is to provide a drum washing machine door lock device which prevents the door from being opened in a state in which washing water is stored.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is inserted into the case is inserted into the insertion hole is inserted into the hook is provided in the door; A moving part which moves in contact with the insertion part and has a through hole through which the hook penetrates; A locking part positioned in an installation groove formed in the insertion part and inserted into a locking hole formed in the moving part; And an auxiliary locking part supporting the locking part so as to be positioned in the locking hole.

The locking unit is installed in the case and the heater for generating heat; A first plate deformed by the heater; A second plate coupled to the first plate and having a different thermal expansion from the first plate; And a locking body seated on an upper side of the first plate and inserted into the locking hole when the first plate is bent upward.

The heater is characterized in that the PTI heater heat is generated by the current.

The auxiliary locking portion support is located on the bottom surface of the locking body; And an operating part for horizontally moving the support.

The operating unit is coupled to the support and the air cushion is variable in size by pneumatic; An air pipe communicating with the air cushion to move air; And an air supplier for supplying or discharging air to the air pipe.

The air supply body is characterized in that the communication tube is built in the case and the tub communicates with the wash water is stored.

As described above, the drum washing machine door locking device according to the present invention has an effect of preventing the forced opening of the door because the auxiliary locking part supports the lock to limit the movement of the moving bar.

In particular, even if the power is not supplied by the power failure, the auxiliary locking portion supports the lock by pneumatic pressure generated by the wash water stored in the tub, thereby preventing the door from being forcibly opened by the power failure.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings will be described an embodiment of a drum washing machine door lock device according to the present invention.

In this process, the thickness of the lines or the size of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description.

In addition, terms to be described later are terms defined in consideration of functions in the present invention, which may vary according to a user's or operator's intention or custom.

Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout the specification.

2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between a hook of a door and a moving part of a case in a door of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the relationship between the hook of a door and the moving part of a case in a closed state.

4 is a view schematically showing a locking part and an auxiliary locking part of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a view showing an air supply part of the auxiliary locking part according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a relationship between a locking unit and an auxiliary locking unit in a washing administration state in a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a washing administration of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment, when a power failure occurs, a diagram illustrating a relationship between the locking unit and the auxiliary locking unit.

2 to 4, the drum washing machine 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is formed with an opening hole 41 through which the front surface is opened and the laundry is introduced, and forms a case 40 and a case ( A door 50 for opening and closing the opened portion of 40 is provided. The door 50 is hinged to the case 40 to open and close the opening hole 41 as it rotates.

The case 40 is provided with a tub 60 and a drum 70. Wash water is stored in the tub 60, the drum 70 is installed to be rotatable inside the tub (60). The drum 70 has a plurality of inflow holes are formed to wash water. The tub 60 and the drum 70 are opened in the front, and laundry is introduced into the drum 70 through the opening hole 41.

Door locking device 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with an insertion unit 120, the moving unit 130, the locking unit 140 and the auxiliary locking unit 150.

The insertion part 120 is embedded in the case 40 and an insertion hole 121 is formed. The hook 51 mounted on the door 50 penetrates the insertion hole 121. This hook 51 is rotated by the contact between the parts and is restored to its original position by the spring. The case 40 has a case hole 42 coincident with the insertion hole 121 so that the hook 51 can be inserted therein.

The moving part 130 is moved horizontally in proximity to the insertion part 120, and a through hole 131 corresponding to the insertion hole 121 is formed. The moving part 130 is positioned between the insertion part 120 and the guide plate 150. The guide plate 150 is fixedly installed in the case 40, and guides the moving unit 130 to move horizontally.

The moving part 130 is provided with an elastic body 135. One end of the elastic body 135 is coupled to the moving part 130 to elastically support the moving part 130. The other end of the elastic body 135 is fixed to the fixing body 125 protruding from the insertion portion 120. The fixing body 125 may extend from the case 40.

The locking unit 140 is positioned in the installation groove 123 formed in the insertion unit 120 and is inserted into and engaged with the locking hole 132 formed in the moving unit 130.

The auxiliary locking unit 150 supports the bottom surface of the locking unit 140 so that the locking unit 140 is inserted into the locking hole 132 to maintain the locked state.

The locking unit 140 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a first plate 141, a second plate 142, a heater 143, and a locking body 144.

The heater 143 is installed in the case 40 and generates heat. As the heater 143, a PTC heater which generates heat by a current supply is used.

The first plate 141 is attached to the upper side of the heater 143 and deformed by heat, and the second plate 141 is coupled to the upper side of the first plate 141.

The first plate 141 and the second plate 142 have different thermal expansion coefficients, and the end portion of the first plate 141 heated by the heater 143 is deformed upward. In one embodiment, the second plate 142 has a shape in which both ends thereof are coupled to the first plate 141 and bent (see FIG. 4).

The lock 144 is seated at the end of the first plate 141. The locking body 144 is moved upward as the first plate 141 is deformed and inserted into the locking hole 132.

Meanwhile, a first electrode 181 is provided on the first plate 141, and a second electrode 182 is provided on a portion where the first plate 141 rises and contacts the first plate 141. The second electrode 182 may be coupled to the moving unit 130 or coupled to the case 40.

When the first electrode 181 and the second electrode 182 are in contact with each other, a current is moved to supply power to electrical components such as various valves.

The auxiliary locking unit 150 according to an embodiment of the present invention is provided with a support 151 and the operation unit 152. The support 151 is located at the bottom of the lock 144, and the operation unit 152 horizontally moves the support 144. That is, the operating part 152 places the support 151 under the lock 144 when its length is increased, and moves the support 151 laterally of the lock 144 when its length is reduced.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the operation unit 152 is provided with an air cushion 153, air pipe 154 and the air supply body 155.

The air cushion 153 is changed in size by pneumatic pressure and is coupled to the support 151. The air pipe 154 communicates with the air cushion 153 to move air, and the air supplier 155 supplies air to the air cushion 153 or discharges the supplied air to the outside.

Accordingly, when air is introduced through the air supply 155, the air cushion 153 is expanded, and thus the support 151 coupled to the air cushion 153 is moved below the lock 144. When the air of the air cushion 153 is discharged, the air cushion 153 is contracted and the support 151 coupled thereto is moved in the lateral direction of the locking body 144.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the air supply 155 is a communication tube 156 is in communication with the tub (60). The communicating tube 156 has one end communicating with the tub 60 and the other end communicating with the air tube 154. The communicating tube 156 is extended to have a height corresponding to the wash water stored in the tub 60 to prevent the wash water from flowing into the air pipe (154).

Accordingly, when the wash water flows into the tub 60, the wash water flows into the communication tube 156, and the air stored in the communication tube 156 and the air tube 154 is moved to the air cushion 153 to air cushion 153. Inflate.

Then, when the wash water is discharged from the tub 60, the wash water of the communication tube 156 is also discharged, the air is moved to the communication tube 156, thereby the air cushion 153 is contracted.

Referring to the operation of the drum washing machine door lock device according to an embodiment of the present invention having the configuration as described above are as follows.

In the state in which the door 50 does not close the opening hole 41, the moving part 130 closes the installation groove 123 to block the protrusion of the locking body 122. In addition, a part of the moving part 130 covers the insertion hole 121 (see FIG. 2).

In the above state, when the door 50 closes the opening hole 41, the hook 51 passes through the insertion hole 121 and the through hole 131. At this time, the moving part 130 is moved to the left side by the surface contact with the hook 51, so that the engaging hole 132 and the through hole 131 on the straight line of the installation groove 123 and the insertion hole 121, respectively. Position (see FIG. 3).

At this time, when the user presses the washing operation button, power is applied to the heater 143 to deform the first plate 141 to contact the first electrode 181 and the second electrode 182. As a result, power is supplied to the valve to supply and drain water.

Since the locking body 144 is inserted into the locking hole 132 by the first plate 141 to limit the movement of the moving unit 130, the hook 51 is held in a locked state to limit the forced opening. This prevents the washing water from being stored in the tub 60 and opening the door 50 during the washing process.

On the other hand, if a power failure occurs during the washing process, the heater 143 is stopped and the first plate 141 is restored to its original position.

At this time, if the auxiliary locking unit 150 does not support the locking body 144, the locking body 144 is moved together with the first plate 141 so as not to be caught by the locking hole 132. As a result, the door 50 may be forcibly opened while the wash water is stored in the tub 60, and the wash water may be discharged to the outside.

In order to prevent this, the auxiliary locking unit 150 supports the lock 144 by pneumatic pressure as the washing water is stored in the tub 60.

That is, when the wash water is stored in the tub 60, the wash water flows into the communication tube 156 communicated with the tub 60, and the air present in the communication tube 156 is moved to the air tube 154 by the washing water to air cushion 153. Flows into).

Due to the air inflow, the air cushion 153 is inflated, and the support 151 coupled to the air cushion 153 is positioned under the lock 144 (see FIG. 6).

When the power failure in the above state, the power is not supplied to the heater 143, the first plate 141 is restored to its original position. At this time, since the wash water is stored in the tub 60, the support 151 coupled to the air cushion 153 inflated by pneumatic pressure is continuously positioned below the lock 144 to support the lock 144. (See FIG. 7).

Thus, the locking body 144 is maintained in the state inserted into the locking hole 132, the movement of the moving unit 130 is limited to prevent the forced opening of the door 50.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments shown in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and those skilled in the art to which the art belongs can make various modifications and other equivalent embodiments therefrom. I will understand.

Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the claims below.

1 is a view schematically showing a conventional drum washing machine.

2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between a hook of a door and a moving part of a case in a state in which a door of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened.

3 is a cross-sectional view showing the relationship between the hook of the door and the moving part of the case in the closed state of the drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

4 is a view schematically illustrating a locking part and an auxiliary locking part of a drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5 is a view showing an air supply unit of the auxiliary locking unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is a view showing a relationship between the locking unit and the auxiliary locking unit in the washing administration state in the drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a view showing a relationship between the locking unit and the auxiliary locking unit when a power failure occurs in the washing administration state of the drum washing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

40: case 50: door

60: Tub 70: Drum

120: insertion portion 121: insertion hole

130: moving unit 140: locking unit

141: first plate 142: second plate

143: heater 144: locking body

150: auxiliary locking unit 151: support

152: operating unit 153: air cushion

154: air pipe 155: air supply

Claims (6)

An insertion part embedded in the case and having an insertion hole into which a hook provided in the door is inserted; A moving part which moves in contact with the insertion part and has a through hole through which the hook penetrates; A locking part positioned in an installation groove formed in the insertion part and inserted into a locking hole formed in the moving part; And And an auxiliary locking part for supporting the locking part to be positioned in the locking hole. The method of claim 1, wherein the locking unit A heater installed in the case and generating heat; A first plate deformed by the heater; A second plate coupled to the first plate and different from the first plate in thermal expansion; And And a locking body seated on an upper side of the first plate and inserted into the locking hole when the first plate is bent upward. 3. The method of claim 2, The heater is a drum washing machine door lock device, characterized in that the heat generated by the electric heater. The method of claim 2, wherein the auxiliary locking unit A support positioned on the bottom of the lock; And Drum washing machine door lock characterized in that it comprises an operating unit for moving the support horizontally. The method of claim 4, wherein the operating unit An air cushion coupled to the support and variable in size by pneumatic pressure; An air pipe communicating with the air cushion to move air; And Drum washing machine door lock device characterized in that it comprises an air supply for supplying or discharging air to the air pipe. The method of claim 5, The air supply unit is a drum washing machine door lock device, characterized in that the communication tube is built in the case and the tub communicating with the wash water is stored.

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