RU2682308C1 - Household device with return element - Google Patents

Abstract

FIELD: physics.SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a household appliance (100), comprising housing (101), instrument door (105) for closing housing (101), door locking device (123) for locking instrument door (105) in the closed state, while instrument door (105) in the closed state applies return force (133) to door locking device (123), signalling device (121) for signalling and control device (119) for controlling signalling device (121). Locking device (123) contains return element (131) for registering return force (133).EFFECT: control device (119) is configured to activate signalling device (121) to give a signal if the registered return force (133) overcomes the threshold value of the return force.15 cl, 5 dwg

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a household appliance comprising a returning element.

State of the art

In ordinary household appliances, such as laundry care appliances, when loading a household appliance, it may happen that the laundry is not completely placed in the washing drum, so that the laundry indicated when closing the appliance door may be accidentally sandwiched between the closed appliance door and the cabinet. At the same time, the jammed laundry may be damaged in some circumstances, or the washing solution may leak out between the closed door and the cabinet and, in some circumstances, penetrate inside the appliance.

DE 10 2009 024 503 B3 discloses a locking device for a washing machine, which comprises a valve cooperating with a locking element on the housing.

DE 10 2009 005 781 B3 discloses a locking device for a door of a washing machine, and for locking the door on the inside of the door there is a valve controlled from the outside of the door.

Disclosure of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a household appliance in which effective locking of an appliance door is guaranteed.

This problem is solved by the object of the invention with features according to the independent claims. Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims, descriptions and drawings.

According to one aspect, the object of the present invention is solved by a household appliance comprising a housing, an appliance door for closing the enclosure, a door locking device for locking the appliance door in a closed state, wherein the appliance door in a closed state applies a restoring force to the door locking apparatus, an alarm device for signaling and a control device for controlling the signaling device, the door locking device comprising a returning element for detecting the return a growing force, wherein the control device is configured to activate a signaling device for signaling if the registered returning force overcomes the threshold value of the returning force.

In this way, a technical advantage is achieved in that the surging force overcoming the threshold value of the restoring force can be detected by the control device. Thus, the control device can detect a case of inefficient locking of the appliance door of a household appliance. In this case, the control device activates a signaling device for signaling, for example, a warning sound signal, in order to notify the user of the household appliance of the possible presence of an error when locking the instrument door by means of a door locking device.

In a conventional household appliance, such as a laundry care appliance, in some circumstances, when closing the appliance door of a household appliance, laundry may accidentally be caught between the closed appliance door and the cabinet. In doing so, the jammed laundry may be damaged, or in some circumstances, the washing solution may leak out between the closed door and the housing, or the sealing lip between the instrument door and the housing may be damaged.

In the present invention, these drawbacks can be avoided if, as a result of signaling by means of a signaling device, the washing process does not start at all, or is interrupted, or is stopped. By supplying a signal through the warning device of the user, the laundry care appliance is prompted to open the appliance door again before starting the washing process in order to remove the jammed laundry (if any), re-place it completely in the washing drum, and then close the appliance door again, to in order to enable effective locking of the door.

A household appliance is understood to mean a appliance used for housekeeping. It can be a large household appliance, such as a washing machine, tumble dryer or dishwasher. However, it can also be a small appliance, such as a water heater, an automatic coffee machine, a food processor or a carpet cleaner.

In a preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the returning element comprises a force sensor for detecting the returning force, in particular an electronic force sensor.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that, by means of a force sensor, in particular an electronic force sensor, an effective recording of the returning force is guaranteed. For example, due to the elastic deformation of the force sensor component, the restoring force of the closed instrument door can be detected, acting on the force sensor of the door locking device. The elastic deformation of the component of the force sensor can be converted into a change in the voltage of the electric circuit, and the resulting signal can be registered by the control device to obtain a registered returning force.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the returning element comprises a mechanical switch comprising an elastically deformable component for detecting the returning force and a switching element for switching the electrical control circuit of the household appliance.

In this way, a technical advantage is achieved in that the mechanical switch enables the preferred registration of the returning force. The mechanical switch comprises an elastically deformable component, in particular a spring, wherein said elastically deformable component is capable of deformation depending on the restoring force applied to the component, whereby a restoring force can be registered based on the amount of deformation of the component. The mechanical switch also contains a switching element in contact with the electrical control circuit of the household appliance and configured to switch the control circuit depending on the deformation of the component and, as a result, depending on the returning force.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the switching element is adapted to switch the switch of the electric control circuit depending on the returning force registered by the elastic deformable component.

In this way, a technical advantage is achieved in that the switch, in particular the rotary or rocker switch, of the electrical control circuit can be switched particularly efficiently by means of a switching element of a mechanical switch. With a varying returning force, the deformation of an elastically deformable component, for example a spring, changes, as a result of which the switching element of the mechanical switch is shifted relative to the switch. Due to direct contact between the switching element and the switch, the switching element can switch the switch depending on the deformation of the component.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the mechanical switch is configured to switch the electric control circuit if the returning force overcomes the threshold value of the returning force, and the control device is configured to — when switching the electric control circuit — activate the signaling device for signaling.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that by switching the electric control circuit by means of a mechanical switch, if the returning force overcomes the threshold value of the returning force, the control device, based on the switching of the electric control circuit, can detect when the signaling device is to be activated.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the door locking device comprises a movement element configured to — when the instrument door is closed — move the return element relative to the instrument door to increase the restoring force.

In this way, a technical advantage is achieved in that, by displacing the returning element relative to the instrument door, the returning force is increased. In this case, the returning element moves from the instrument door in the direction of the internal space of the household appliance. By increasing the returning force when the returning element is displaced, the distance between the individual levels of force can be increased, as a result of which, for different types of sandwiched laundry, a specific type of sandwiched laundry can be determined using a control device.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the motion element comprises a motor element, in particular an electric motor element.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that, due to the motor element, for example an electric motor, it is possible to effectively bias the returning element relative to the instrument door.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the returning element is located along the vertical axis of the instrument door, the vertical axis extending from the lower side of the instrument door to the upper side of the instrument door.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved in that the arrangement of the returning element along the vertical axis of the instrument door makes it possible to register the returning moment around the transverse axis of the instrument door with particular efficiency.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the door locking device comprises an additional returning element for detecting a returning moment about the transverse axis of the instrument door, the additional returning element being located along the transverse axis of the instrument door, the transverse axis extending from the longitudinal side of the instrument door to the additional longitudinal side of the instrument door while the control device is configured to activate the alarm device devices for signaling if the registered returning moment overcomes the threshold value of the returning moment.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that by measuring the return moment around the transverse axis of the instrument door, it is possible to distinguish particularly between the clamped laundry and the large load of the washing drum, which also acts on the instrument door. With a large load of laundry, the restoring force propagating mainly along the vertical axis of the instrument door acts on the return element, while when the laundry is clamped, a restoring moment arises around the transverse axis of the instrument door.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the household appliance comprises a load recording device for recording the weight of the laundry in the washing drum of the household appliance, the control device being configured to change the threshold value of the returning force or the threshold value of the returning moment depending on the registered weight of the laundry in the laundry drum.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that, by registering the weight of the laundry in the washing drum and the result of this change in the threshold value of the returning force or the returning moment, the improved detection of the clamped laundry by the control device is guaranteed, in particular when the load is low. Since no force components are applied to the instrument door with a small load of laundry, in this case, overcoming the threshold value of the restoring force should lead to the result of the laundry being clamped.

In a further preferred embodiment of the home appliance, the control device is configured to interrupt the home appliance program or to prevent the program from starting if the return force overcomes the threshold value of the return force.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that the control device, when the door is not effectively locked, interrupts the program of the household appliance or prevents the program from starting in order to guarantee that the appliance is not damaged, for example, as a result of leaking liquid.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the door locking device comprises a locking hook configured to engage with a receiving hole in the instrument door to lock the instrument door on the housing.

In this way, a technical advantage is achieved in that, by engaging the locking hook with the receiving hole, they guarantee effective locking of the door.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the household appliance comprises a washing drum for receiving laundry, the returning element being configured to register an increased returning force if the laundry is clamped between the appliance door and the housing when the appliance door is closed.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that by registering the increased returning force with the help of the returning element, it is ensured that the jamming of the laundry between the instrument door and the housing can be effectively detected by the control device in order to activate the signaling device for signaling.

In a further preferred embodiment of the household appliance, the alarm device is configured to provide an optical, acoustic or electrical signal.

In this way, the technical advantage is achieved that, due to the optical, acoustic or electrical signal of the user of the household appliance, they effectively warn of an inefficiently locked instrument door. An optical signal may involve activating a signal lamp or a warning message of a display element of a household appliance. An acoustic signal may mean a warning sound. An electrical signal may mean a signal, which, for example, is transmitted to a control device of a household appliance in order to, for example, change the program execution of a household appliance.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the problem is solved by a method of activating an alarm device in a household appliance, in which the household appliance comprises a housing, an appliance door for closing the housing, a door locking device for locking the appliance door in a closed state, wherein the appliance door in a closed state exerts a restoring force on the door closure a device, a signaling device for signaling and a control device for controlling a signaling device, the method comprising the steps of registering the returning force with the help of the returning element and activating the signaling device for signaling with the help of the control device if the returning force overcomes the threshold value of the returning force.

In this way, a technical advantage is achieved by using the method to guarantee an efficient signaling if the detected returning force overcomes the threshold value of the returning force, and thus the instrument door is locked inefficiently.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other embodiments are explained with reference to the attached drawings. They show:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry care appliance;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a door locking device according to one embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a door locking device according to a further embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the arising returning forces in a door locking device; and

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a laundry care method in a laundry care appliance.

The implementation of the invention

In FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a laundry care appliance as an example of a general household appliance 100, such as a washing machine. The laundry care appliance 100 with the housing 101 comprises a wash tray 103 into which laundry care substances, such as laundry detergents, can be added. The laundry care device 100 comprises an instrument door 105 for closing the cabinet 101, whereby it is possible to load the laundry care appliance 100 by the laundry. The instrument door 105 comprises a lower side 107 and an upper side 109, the vertical axis 111 extending from the lower side 107 to the upper side 109. The instrument door 105 also includes a first longitudinal side 113 and an additional longitudinal side 115, with the transverse axis 117 extending from the first longitudinal side 113 to an additional longitudinal side 115. The laundry care device 100 also includes a control device 119 for controlling the alarm device 121 of the laundry care device, and comprises not shown in FIG. 1 door locking device for locking the instrument door 105 in the closed state.

In FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a door locking device according to one embodiment. The laundry care device 100 comprises a door locking device 123 located on the instrument door 105 of the household appliance 100 for locking the instrument door 105. The door locking device 123 includes a locking hook 125 adapted to engage with a receiving hole 127 of the protrusion 129 of the instrument door 105 for locking the instrument door 105 on the housing 101. The door locking device 123 also comprises a return element 131 for detecting the return force 133, the return force 133 being applied closed by door 105 to the door locking device 123, in particular to the return element 131. The return element 131 comprises a force sensor for detecting the return force 133, in particular an electronic force sensor. The control device 119 of the laundry care appliance 100 activates the alarm device 121 if the registered return force 133 overcomes the threshold value of the return force. The control device 119 and the signaling device 121 in FIG. 2 are not shown. In the case of laundry sandwiched between the cabinet 101 and the appliance door 105, an increased return force 133 of about 19 N can be detected compared to a return force 133 of about 12 N in the case of the instrument door 105 properly closed.

In FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a door locking device according to the following embodiment. The door locking device 123 comprises a locking hook 125 adapted to engage with a receiving hole 127 of the protrusion 129 of the instrument door 105 for locking the instrument door 105 on the housing 101. The returning element 131 of the door locking device 123 comprises a mechanical switch comprising an elastically deformable component 135, in particular, a spring for detecting the returning force 133 and a switching element 137 for switching the switch 139, in particular a rotary or rocker switch, and an electric ical control circuit 141 of the household appliance 100. For example, electrical control circuit 141 may be broken biasing member 131 with restoring force 133 exceeds the threshold of the restoring force, whereby not shown in FIG. 3, the control device 119 activates not shown in FIG. 3 signaling device 121 for signaling. The user of the laundry care appliance 100 receives, for example, a message to check that the instrument door 105 is locked.

In FIG. 4 shows a schematic representation of the arising returning forces in a door locking device. In FIG. 4 shows a temporal display of the returning forces 133 in newtons, plotted along the y-axis 143 as a function of time, plotted along the abscissa-145. Shown in FIG. 4, the returning forces 133 are recognized by the returning element 131 of FIG. 2 or FIG. 3 and are caused by various kinds of laundry that are sandwiched between the housing 101 and the instrument door 105.

The first curve 147 shows the change in the return force 133 when the instrument door 105 is open. The second curve 149 shows the change in the return force 133 when the instrument door 105 is closed without the laundry being pinched. The third curve 151 shows the change in the returning force 133 when the instrument door 105 is closed with the sleeve of the laundry. The fourth curve 153 shows the change in the returning force 133 when the instrument door 105 is closed with the angle of the towel clamped. The fifth curve 155 shows the change in the returning force 133 when the instrument door 105 is closed with a towel clamped in one layer. The sixth curve 157 shows the change in the returning force 133 when the instrument door 105 is closed with a towel sandwiched in two layers.

In order to further separate individual levels of force corresponding to a normally closed instrument door 105 and various types of clamped laundry, the door locking device 123 comprises a movement element, for example an electric motor, configured to — when the instrument door 105 is closed — displace the return element 131 relative to instrument door 105. Due to this, the instrument door 105 moves closer to the housing 101, and the return force 133 increases. In this way, the strength levels for different types of sandwiched laundry are further separated from each other, and the control device 119 can recognize the jammed laundry with increased reliability.

Further, in addition to measuring the return force 133 propagating along the vertical axis 111 of the instrument door 105, an additional return force propagating along the transverse axis 117 of the instrument door 105, or an arising return moment around the transverse axis 117 can be detected. Thus, the increased return force can be distinguished. 133, or the returning moment due to the clamped laundry and the increased returning force 133 due to the large load of the washing drum. The level of the returning force 133 may vary between two possibilities. On the one hand, laundry sandwiched between the cabinet 101 and the instrument door 105 may result in increased return forces 133 in the door locking device 123. Additionally, a large drum load may exert axial force on the instrument door 105 in the longitudinal direction of the instrument door 105 and thus also cause an increased return force 133 in the door locking device 123. By measuring the additional return force along the transverse axis 117 of the instrument door 105, these two cases can be split paid. In the case of the laundry being clamped, a returning moment always acts around the transverse axis 117, and with a large load of linen, the action on the door locking device 123 of the restoring force 133 extending along the vertical axis 111 of the instrument door 105 is increased.

The registration of the return force 133 inside the door locking device 123 may be associated with the determination of the load. Due to this, with a small load, the clamped types of linen are more easily and reliably recognized by the control device 119. A small load of linen may not apply a restoring force 133 along the vertical axis 111 of the instrument door 105, so that in this case, overcoming the allowable restoring force 133 inevitably correlates with the clamped laundry.

Due to the solution according to the invention, it is possible to detect the jamming of laundry between the housing 101 and the instrument door 105. Thus, damage to the cuffs and, as a result, the involvement of customer services can be reduced. Further, large amounts of laundry may be recorded during washing, as critical loads may lead to abnormal termination of the wash or a requirement to reduce the amount of laundry. Also, the loading of the drum can be adjusted not according to the loading weight, but also according to the loading volume. With a very large axial force applied to the window, the user may be required to re-place the laundry in the drum or to put it further in the drum. Further, these types of control of the device provide the user with the ability to directly control the control device 119 of the household appliance 100.

In FIG. 5 shows a flowchart of a method 200 for activating an alarm device 121 in a household appliance 100 disclosed with reference to FIG. 1. As a first step of the method, the method comprises registering 201 a return force 133 with a return element 131. As a second step of the method, the method comprises activating 203 a signaling device 121 for supplying a signal with a control device 119 in a second time period adjacent to the first time period if the returning force 133 overcomes the threshold value of the returning force.

All disclosed and shown features of individual embodiments of the invention can be combined in various ways in the object of the present invention, in order to simultaneously realize their primary effect.

The scope of protection of the present invention is defined by the claims and is not limited to the features disclosed in the description or shown in the figures.

Reference List

100 household appliance

101 building

103 flushing tray

105 instrument door

107 the bottom side of the instrument door

109 upper side of the instrument door

111 vertical axis

113 longitudinal side of the instrument door

115 additional longitudinal side of the instrument door

117 transverse axis

119 control device

121 signaling device

123 door locking device

125 locking hook

127 inlet

129 ledge

131 returning element

133 restoring power

135 elastically deformable component

137 switching element

139 switch

141 electrical control circuit

143 ordinate axis

145 abscissa

147 first curve

149 second curve

151 third curve

153 fourth curve

155 fifth curve

157 sixth curve

200 way to activate the alarm device

201 first step of the method: registration of the returning force

203 second step of the method: activation of the alarm device

Claims (19)

1. A household appliance (100), comprising a housing (101), an instrument door (105) for closing the housing (101), a door locking device (123) for locking the instrument door (105) in the closed state, the instrument door (105) in when closed, applies a restoring force (133) to the door locking device (123), an alarm device (121) for signaling and a control device (119) for controlling the alarm device (121), characterized in that the door locking device (123) comprises a returning element (131) for detecting the returning force (133), moreover, the control device (119) is configured to activate a signaling device (121) for signaling if the registered returning force (133) overcomes the threshold value of the returning force. 2. A household appliance (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that the returning element (131) comprises a force sensor for detecting the returning force (133), in particular an electronic force sensor. 3. A household appliance (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the returning element (131) comprises a mechanical switch containing an elastically deformable component (135) for detecting the returning force (133) and a switching element (137) for switching the electrical control circuit (141) of the household appliance (100). 4. A household appliance (100) according to claim 3, characterized in that the switching element (137) is arranged to switch the switch (139) of the electric control circuit (141) depending on the returning force (133) registered by the elastic deformable component (135). 5. A household appliance (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the mechanical switch is configured to switch the electrical control circuit (141) if the returning force (133) overcomes the threshold value of the returning force, and the control device (119) is made with the possibility, when switching the electric control circuit (141), to activate the signaling device (121) for signaling. 6. A household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the door locking device (123) comprises a movement element configured to - when the instrument door (105) is closed - displace the returning element (131) relative to the instrument door (105) ) to increase the restoring force (133). 7. A household appliance (100) according to claim 6, characterized in that the movement element comprises a motor element, in particular an electric motor element. 8. A household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the returning element (131) is located along the vertical axis (111) of the instrument door (105), and the vertical axis (111) extends from the bottom side (107) of the instrument door (105) to the upper side (109) of the instrument door (105). 9. A household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the door locking device (123) comprises an additional returning element (131) for detecting a returning moment about the transverse axis (117) of the instrument door (105), the additional returning element (131) is located along the transverse axis (117) of the instrument door (105), wherein the transverse axis (117) extends from the longitudinal side (113) of the instrument door (105) to the additional longitudinal side (115) of the instrument door (105), wherein device (119) is made with possibility of activating signalizatornogo device (121) for supplying a signal if the registered restoring torque overcomes the restoring torque threshold. 10. A household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that it comprises a loading registration device for recording the weight of the laundry in the washing drum of the household appliance (100), the control device (119) being configured to change the threshold value of the returning force or threshold return torque values depending on the registered weight of the laundry in the laundry drum. 11. The household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the control device (119) is configured to interrupt the program of the household appliance (100) or prevent the program from starting if the returning force (133) overcomes the threshold value of the returning force. 12. A household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the door locking device (123) comprises a locking hook (125) configured to engage with a receiving hole (127) in the instrument door (105) for locking instrument door (105) on the housing (101). 13. A household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a washing drum for receiving laundry, wherein the returning element (131) is configured to register an increased returning force (133) if, when the instrument door (105) is closed between the appliance door (105) and the housing (101) hold the laundry. 14. A household appliance (100) according to one of the preceding paragraphs, characterized in that the signaling device (121) is configured to supply an optical, acoustic or electrical signal. 15. A method (200) for activating an alarm device (121) in a household appliance (100), in which a household appliance (100) comprises a housing (101), an instrument door (105) for closing the housing (101), a door locking device (123) for locking the instrument door (105) in the closed state, wherein the instrument door (105) in the closed state applies a restoring force (133) to the door locking device (123), an alarm device (121) for supplying a signal, and a control device (119) for controlling signaling device (121), characterized in that INH steps of register (201) returning force (133) using the returning element (131) and activating (203) a signaling device (121) for signaling with a control device (119) if the returning force (133) overcomes the threshold value of the returning force.

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