Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F37/00—Details specific to washing machines covered by groups D06F21/00 - D06F25/00
  • D06F37/42—Safety arrangements, e.g. for stopping rotation of the receptacle upon opening of the casing door
• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D06—TREATMENT OF TEXTILES OR THE LIKE; LAUNDERING; FLEXIBLE MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D06F—LAUNDERING, DRYING, IRONING, PRESSING OR FOLDING TEXTILE ARTICLES
  • D06F39/00—Details of washing machines not specific to a single type of machines covered by groups D06F9/00 - D06F27/00 
  • D06F39/12—Casings; Tubs
  • D06F39/14—Doors or covers; Securing means therefor

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a washing machine and a control method thereof, and particularly to a washing machine whose door automatically opens and a control method thereof.
• a washing machine is a device in which by the action of water and detergent, in order to remove contaminants stuck to laundry such as clothes, and a quilt cover in a rotary drum, the laundry is cleaned through a series of washing procedures such as washing, cleansing, dehydration, and drying.
• a washing machine generally includes: a shell, forming the outer appearance, and formed with a laundry input mouth at one side; a washing machine door, mounted on the shell, and used for opening/closing the laundry input mouth; a tub, disposed in the washing machine body, and used for being filled with washing liquid; a rotary drum, mounted in the tub in a rotatable manner, and used for accommodating laundry; and a motor, used for rotating the drum.
• a locking switch device is further mounted on the shell and the door of the washing machine, and may lock the washing machine door when the washing machine door should not be opened when the washing machine works.
• washing machine in the prior art, laundry is input through the laundry input mouth, the washing machine door is closed, and a corresponding program such as washing, cleansing, dehydration, or drying is selected, the washing machine starts the washing machine motor or drying device according to the selected corresponding program, and the locking switch device locks the washing machine door in a working state of the washing machine, so as to prevent the washing machine door from being randomly opened.
• a corresponding program such as washing, cleansing, dehydration, or drying
• the washing machine starts the washing machine motor or drying device according to the selected corresponding program
• the locking switch device locks the washing machine door in a working state of the washing machine, so as to prevent the washing machine door from being randomly opened.
• the washing machine after running of any working program ends, if a user does not open the washing machine door in a long time, and the laundry is taken out, the laundry easily generates bacteria and a foul smell in a closed environment, so as to require performing the washing operation again.
• an objective of the present invention lies in that, after washing programs of a washing machine end, a washing machine door can automatically pop open, so as to prevent bacteria or a foul smell from being generated because laundered clothes are left in the washing machine for a long time.
• a washing machine including: a washing machine main body in which a main controller is disposed; a rotatable drum disposed in the washing machine main body and used for accommodating laundry; a washing machine door, connected to a shell of the washing machine main body, and used for closing a laundry input mouth of the rotatable drum formed on the washing machine main body shell; a hook, disposed at one of the washing machine main body shell and the washing machine door; and a door lock device, disposed at the other of the washing machine main body shell and the washing machine door, and used for locking or unlocking the washing machine door in cooperation with the hook, where the door lock device includes: a door lock sliding block, disposed with a clipping hole at one end thereof, and used for latching in cooperation with the hook; a resetting spring disposed on the door lock sliding block, and used for resetting the door lock sliding block to an initial state; and a first latching part and a second latching part used for latching the door lock sliding block, where the first latching part and the second latching part are
• a contact end face of the hook and the door lock sliding block is a smooth curve.
• the door lock device has three states as follows: a first state is an unlocking state, where neither the first latching part nor the second latching part latches the door lock sliding block, and the washing machine door is opened; a second state is a locking state, where the first latching part latches the door lock sliding block while the second latching part does not lock the door lock sliding block, and the washing machine door is closed but is capable of being manually opened; and a third state is a deadlock state, where both the first latching part and the second latching part latch the door lock sliding block, the washing machine works and the washing machine door is deadlocked.
• the first latching part includes a relay component
• the relay component has an iron core, a coil wound around the iron core and an iron core spring disposed on the iron core, a groove in cooperation with the iron core is disposed on the door lock sliding block, and when the iron core is inserted into the groove, the first latching part latches the door lock sliding block.
• a longitudinal section of a contact end of the iron core and the door lock sliding block is approximately trapezoidal, and a longitudinal section of the groove is also approximately trapezoidal.
• the second latching part includes a PTC heater, a double-metal reed disposed on the PTC heater and a locking piece disposed on the double-metal reed, a notch in cooperation with the locking piece is disposed on the door lock sliding block, and when the PTC heater is heated so that the double-metal reed is deformed and the locking piece is inserted into the notch, the second latching part latches the door lock sliding block.
• a torsional spring device is disposed on a rotating shaft of the washing machine door, and is used for applying a force popping open outward to the washing machine door after the washing machine door is unlocked.
• the present invention further provides a control method of a washing machine: after washing programs are input and the washing machine is started, the washing machine main controller controls the first latching part and the second latching part to lock the door lock sliding block; after all of the washing programs end, the washing machine main controller controls the first latching part and the second latching part to unlock the door lock sliding block, the door lock sliding block returns to the initial state by the action of the resetting spring, and the washing machine door automatically pops open.
• a preferred development of the invention is as follows: After all of the washing programs end, only through a predetermined time, the washing machine main controller controls the first latching part and the second latching part to unlock the door lock sliding block, and the washing machine door automatically pops open.
• the present invention includes beneficial effects as follows: After all the washing programs end, the washing machine can automatically open the washing machine door, so that after the washing of the laundry is completed, fresh air circulates, so as to avoid bacteria and the foul smell generated by the laundry because the washing machine door is not opened for a long time, and to be free of the trouble of performing the washing operation again.
• FIG. 1 is a three-dimensional diagram of a washing machine
• FIG. 2 shows a door lock device in an unlocking state
• FIG. 3 shows the door lock device of FIG. 2 in a locking state
• FIG. 4 shows the door lock device of FIG. 2 in a deadlock state.
• a washing machine 100 in an embodiment of the present invention includes: a washing machine main body 10 in which a main controller 13 is disposed; a rotatable drum 60 disposed in the washing machine main body 10 and used for accommodating laundry; a washing machine door 20, connected to a shell 1 1 of the washing machine main body, and used for closing a laundry input mouth 61 of the rotatable drum 60 formed on the washing machine main body shell 1 1 ; a hook 21 , disposed at one of the washing machine main body shell 1 1 and the washing machine door 20; and a door lock device 30, disposed at the other of the washing machine main body shell 1 1 and the washing machine door 20, and used for locking or unlocking the washing machine door 20 in cooperation with the hook 21 , where the door lock device 30 includes: a door lock sliding block 31 , disposed with a clipping hole 32 at one end thereof, and used for latching in cooperation with the hook 21 ; a resetting spring 35 disposed on the door lock sliding block 31 , and used for resetting
• the washing machine main body 10 includes a shell 1 1 , and the shell 1 1 includes a top face 1 1 a, a bottom face 1 1 b, two side faces 1 1 c, a back face 1 1 d, and a front face 1 1 e.
• all the faces of the shell 1 1 are made of a conductive metal material, or all other faces except the top face 1 1 a are made of a metal material. Except that the bottom face 1 1 b and the back face 1 1 d are uneasily contacted, all other faces are possibly contacted by a user.
• An operation panel area 12a, a detergent box area 12b, and a door and handle area 12c are disposed on the front face 1 1 e of the washing machine main body shell 1 1 , and the user generally performs an operation on these areas according to requirements.
• Different styles or types of washing machines differ from each other in locations and settings of the operation areas.
• operation panels of some washing machines are located on the top face
• the door and the handle for a pulsator washing machine are generally located on the top face
• some washing machines have no detergent box.
• shells of some washing machines are not of a regular hexahedron, for example a smoothly transitional curve is formed between the top face and the front face, and may further be of some other irregular three-dimensional structures.
• the operation panel area 12a in the front face 1 1 e of the washing machine main body shell 1 1 is disposed with a washing machine starting key 70 used for starting the washing machine to work, a program selection key 80 used for selecting a washing machine working program and a display panel 90 used for showing a washing machine working state.
• the detergent box area 12b in the front face 1 1 e is used for storing some washing articles such as washing powder or washing liquid.
• the door and handle area 12c in the front face 1 1 e has a laundry input mouth 61 , and meanwhile is mounted with the washing machine door 20 used for closing the laundry input mouth 61.
• a hook 21 is disposed on the washing machine door 20, and correspondingly a door lock device 30 used for locking or unlocking the hook 21 is mounted on the washing machine shell 1 1 , so that the washing machine door 20 may be closed and opened.
• the hook 21 is disposed on the washing machine shell 1 1 , while the door lock device 30is mounted on the washing machine door 20, so the effect of locking or unlocking the washing machine door 20 may be achieved likewise.
• the door lock device 30 includes: A door lock sliding block 31 , disposed with a clipping hole 32 at one end thereof, and used for latching in cooperation with the hook 21 ; a resetting spring 35 disposed on the door lock sliding block 31 , and used for resetting the door lock sliding block 31 to an initial state; and a first latching part 40 and a second latching part 50 used for latching the door lock sliding block 31 .
• a groove 33 used for accepting the first latching part 40 and a notch used for accepting the second latching part 50 are separately disposed on the door lock sliding block 31.
• One end of the resetting spring 35 is connected to the door lock sliding block 31 , and the other end is connected to the washing machine shell 1 1.
• the first latching part 40 includes a relay component, the relay component has an electromagnet 42 with a hollow passage, a coil
• the second latching part 50 includes a PTC heater 51 , a double-metal reed 52 disposed on the PTC heater 51 and a locking piece 53 disposed on the double- metal reed 52.
• the PTC heater 51 is heated so that the double-metal reed 52 is deformed and the locking piece 53 is inserted into the notch 34, the second latching part 50 latches the door lock sliding block 31 .
• the door lock device 30 includes three states as follows: a first state is an unlocking state, where as shown in FIG. 2, the iron core 41 abuts against the door lock sliding block 31 and is not inserted into the groove 33, the iron core spring 44 is in a shrinkage state, the PTC heater is not power-on, the double-metal reed 52 is not deformed, and the locking piece 53 is not inserted into the notch 34, so neither the first latching part 40 nor the second latching part 50 latches the door lock sliding block 31 , and at this time the washing machine door 20 is opened.
• a first state is an unlocking state, where as shown in FIG. 2, the iron core 41 abuts against the door lock sliding block 31 and is not inserted into the groove 33, the iron core spring 44 is in a shrinkage state, the PTC heater is not power-on, the double-metal reed 52 is not deformed, and the locking piece 53 is not inserted into the notch 34, so neither the first latching part 40 nor the second latching
• a second state is a locking state, where as shown in FIG. 3, when the washing machine door 20 is closed, the hook 21 is inserted into the clipping hole 32 and interacts with the door lock sliding block 31 , so the door lock sliding block 31 moves and compresses the resetting spring 35 to shrink the resetting spring 35; as the door lock sliding block 31 moves, the iron core 41 is slowly inserted into the groove 33, the iron core spring
• the iron core 41 is inserted into the groove 33, and at this time the first latching part 40 latches the door lock sliding block 31 while the second latching part 50 does not lock the door lock sliding block 31 , the washing machine door 20 is closed but is not deadlock, and the user may still open the washing machine door 20; a longitudinal section of a contact end of the iron core 41 and the door lock sliding block 31 is approximately trapezoidal, and a longitudinal section of the groove 33 is also approximately trapezoidal; in such design, in the state, when the washing machine door is opened with an external force, the iron core 41 is very easily separated from the groove 33, so that the washing machine door may be opened.
• a third state is a deadlock state, where as shown in FIG. 4, in a case of the second state, when the washing machine works and the washing machine main controller 13 controls the second latching part 50 to work, the PTC heater is heated so that the double- metal reed 52 is deformed, the locking piece 53 disposed on the double-metal reed 52 is inserted into the notch 34 accordingly, and at this time, both the first latching part 40 and the second latching part 50 latch the door lock sliding block 31 , the washing machine works and the washing machine door is deadlock.
• the washing machine main controller 13 controls the first latching part 40 and the second latching part 50 to unlock the door lock sliding block 31 , the iron core 41 is separated from the groove 33 by the action of an electromagnetic force, the locking piece 53 slowly quits the notch 34 as the double-metal reed 52 is restored to the original state, the door lock sliding block 31 returns to the initial state by the action of the resetting spring 35, and the washing machine door 20 automatically pops open.
• a contact end face of the hook 21 and the door lock sliding block 31 is a smooth curve, and in the procedure that the washing machine door 20 automatically pops open, the hook 21 is smoothly separated from the clipping hole 32 under the pushing of the door lock sliding block 31 , so that the washing machine door smoothly pops open.
• a torsional spring device is disposed on the rotating shaft 22 of the washing machine door, and is used for applying a force popping open outward to the washing machine door 20 after the washing machine door 20 is unlocked.
• the washing machine main controller 13 controls the first latching part 40 and the second latching part 50 to lock the door lock sliding block 31 ; after all of the washing programs end, the washing machine main controller 13 controls the first latching part 40 and the second latching part 50 to unlock the door lock sliding block 31 , the door lock sliding block 31 returns to the initial state by the action of the resetting spring 35, and the washing machine door 20 automatically pops open.
• the washing machine main controller 13 may control the first latching part 40 and the second latching part 50 to unlock the door lock sliding block 31 in a predetermined time, generally one minute, and at this time the washing machine door 20 automatically pops open.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Textile Engineering (AREA)
• Main Body Construction Of Washing Machines And Laundry Dryers (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=48446416

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Cited By (10)

Families Citing this family (13)

Citations (8)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 2012
  • 2012-04-01 CN CN201210104142.3A patent/CN103361931B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-03-22 RU RU2014139817/12A patent/RU2584110C1/ru not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2013-03-22 EP EP13723215.3A patent/EP2834403B1/fr active Active
  • 2013-03-22 PL PL13723215.3T patent/PL2834403T3/pl unknown
  • 2013-03-22 WO PCT/IB2013/052282 patent/WO2013150410A1/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (8)

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