EP1422333A1 - Système d'ouverture du tambour pour machines à laver ou à sécher à chargement par le haut - Google Patents

Système d'ouverture du tambour pour machines à laver ou à sécher à chargement par le haut Download PDF

Info

Publication number: EP1422333A1
Authority: EP; European Patent Office
Prior art keywords: doors; opening system; cover; drum; release
Prior art date: 2002-11-22
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.): Granted

Application number

EP02425715A

Other languages

German (de)

English (en)

Other versions

EP1422333B1 (fr

Inventor

Silvano Fumagalli

Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)

Candy SpA

Original Assignee

Candy SpA

Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)

2002-11-22

Filing date

2002-11-22

Publication date

2004-05-26

2002-11-22 Application filed by Candy SpA filed Critical Candy SpA

2002-11-22 Priority to DE60208991T priority Critical patent/DE60208991T2/de

2002-11-22 Priority to ES02425715T priority patent/ES2257527T3/es

2002-11-22 Priority to EP02425715A priority patent/EP1422333B1/fr

2004-05-26 Publication of EP1422333A1 publication Critical patent/EP1422333A1/fr

2006-02-01 Application granted granted Critical

2006-02-01 Publication of EP1422333B1 publication Critical patent/EP1422333B1/fr

2022-11-22 Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

Status Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Images

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
- D06F37/02—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums
- D06F37/04—Rotary receptacles, e.g. drums adapted for rotation or oscillation about a horizontal or inclined axis
- D06F37/10—Doors; Securing means therefor
- 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 drum opening system for top-loading washing machines and/or dryers.
a drum opening system for top-loading washing machines and/or dryers.
washing machines For the sake of simplicity, reference is made below to washing machines only, but clearly the opening system is equally suitable for use in top-loading dryers and washer-dryers.
a top-loading washing machine usually comprises a supporting and containing structure having a cover which provides access to a loading aperture of a drum for the laundry.
the said drum is supported rotatably in a washing chamber located in the said supporting and containing structure.
the drum has one or more doors provided with suitable locking hooks to cover the loading aperture during the washing or drying cycle.
the drum is provided with elastic springs which push the doors, once the locking hooks have been released, into the open position, in which they do not interfere with the loading aperture.
the doors are closed and opened manually.
the user pushes them from the open position, against the force of the springs, into the closed position, and locks them there by means of the locking hooks.
the user manually releases the said locking hooks, after which the springs cause the doors to snap into the open position.
This automatic opening system only operates with a single door. Consequently, either the loading aperture is too small for convenient use, or the size of the door in its open configuration is excessive. This causes a risk of accidents due to the projection of the door beyond the profile of the washing machine housing.
this automatic opening system requires a rotation of the drum in order to open the door, and it causes the door to open whenever the drum is stopped, for example even when it is only necessary to replenish the machine with detergent. This detracts from the safety and convenience of the use of the washing machine, and obliges the user to intervene manually in certain situations to release the door hook, thus once again exposing the user's hands to the risk of injury.
the principal object of the present invention is to propose a drum opening system for top-loading washing machines and/or dryers which eliminates the said risk of injury to the user's hands.
Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a washing machine having an opening system according to the invention
Figure 2 is a sectional view of a washing machine having the opening system of Figure 1;
Figures 3a and 3b are front views of a detail of the opening system of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a plan view of a further detail of the opening system of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a plan view of a further detail of the opening system according to the invention.
a top-loading washing machine is indicated as a whole by the reference 1.
the said washing machine 1 comprises a supporting and containing structure 2 having an upper access aperture 3 which can be closed by a cover 4, preferably hinged on the said supporting and containing structure 2.
the cover 4 allows access through the said access aperture 3 to a loading aperture 5 of a drum 6 located in the supporting and containing structure 2.
the drum 6 can be an essentially waterproof container, rotatably supported by the said supporting and containing structure 2, or, preferably, it is perforated and supported rotatably, advantageously but not necessarily about an essentially horizontal axis, in a wash chamber 7.
the drum 6 comprises one or more doors 8, 8' which can be moved between a closed position, in which the said doors 8 cover the loading aperture 5, and an open position, in which they free the said loading aperture 5, so that a zone of movement of the doors 8, 8' is delimited.
the said one or more doors 8, 8' are hinged on the drum 6 and open outwards, this movement zone being delimited by the path of the edges of the doors 8, 8' opposite the edges hinged on the drum 6.
the doors are fixed slidably on the drum, and open in an essentially tangential or circumferential direction, this movement zone being delimited by the sliding paths of the whole doors.
the washing machine 1 is provided with a drum opening system, indicated as a whole by the reference 9, which comprises:
the said release means 15, 16 and, preferably, the said operating element 17 are positioned in the cover 4.
the release means 15, 16 advantageously comprise a pin 15 slidable between a rest position, outside the profile of the drum 6 with the door closed, and an operating position, in which the said pin 15 acts on the said releasable locking means 10, 11, 12 to release them.
the said pin 15 is connected to the said cover 5 in a slidable way, preferably in an essentially vertical direction, so that in its operating position it moves an actuating element 18, particularly an actuating surface formed on one of the doors 8, 8' in a position suitable for releasing the releasable locking means 10, 11, 12.
the release means 15, 16 also comprise a transmission element 16 for transmitting an actuation command from the actuating element 17 to the pin 15.
the said transmission element 16, which is advantageously connected to the supporting and containing structure 2, and in particular to the cover 4, comprises a longitudinal shaft 20 having a first end with a first transverse lever 21 acting on the said pin 15, and a second end with a second transverse lever 22 forming the said operating element 17.
the first transverse lever 21 is longer than the second transverse lever 23.
the transmission element 16 is fixed to the cover 4 so that it is movable, and preferably rotatable, in particular about the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal shaft 20, between a rest configuration, in which the said first transverse lever 21 holds the said pin 15 in the rest position, and an operating configuration, in which the said first transverse lever 21 pushes and/or pulls the said pin 15 into the operating position.
one end 23 of the transverse lever 21 can be made to bear freely on a corresponding end 24 of the pin 15, or, alternatively, the said lever 21 can be connected in an articulated way to the said pin 15 to allow the pin 15 to be moved by the transmission element 16, both into the operating position and into the rest position.
the connection of the transmission element 16 to the pin 15 provides the necessary play and relative movements to enable the rotary motion of the transmission element 16 to be converted into a longitudinal motion of the pin 15.
transmission element 16 it is possible to provide flexible cable or electrical transmission elements acting on the pin 15, by means of suitable mechanisms or electrical actuators.
return means 19 are also provided to hold the pin 15 in the rest position.
the said return means 19 consist of a return spring 19 acting on the transmission element 16 to hold it in the rest configuration.
the said return spring 19 is an elastic torsion spring supported on the cover 4 and acting on a tooth 24 of the longitudinal shaft 20. Alternatively, or additionally, it is possible to provide a return spring acting directly on the pin 15.
the washing machine 1 is also provided with an element 26 for releasing the cover 4, positioned on the outer surface of the said supporting and containing structure 2, particularly on the cover 4 itself, preferably on an edge of the cover opposite the edge hinged to the supporting and containing structure 2.
the release element 26 comprises an operating lever 26, connected rotatably to the said cover 4, and acting on hook means 27 of the cover 4, these hook means being capable of engaging with corresponding counter-hook means 43 of the supporting structure 2 to lock the cover 4 in a closed position.
the operating lever 26 is configured in such a way that the said hook means 27 can be released from the said counter-hook means 43 by lifting the operating lever 26 with respect to the cover 4.
the operating element 17 is positioned in the aforesaid release element 26 of the cover 4 and, in a further development of the invention, the said operating element 17, particularly the said second transverse lever 22, is coupled to the said release element 26, and particularly to the operating lever 26, in such a way that the operating element 17 is operated simultaneously with the release of the cover 4 by the operation of the release element 26.
the said operating element 17 can be positioned in a suitable recess 28, formed below the operating lever 26 to receive the user's hand.
the opening system 9 also comprises opposing means to prevent the operation of the release means 15, 16 during the washing and/or drying cycle.
the said opposing means comprise an opposing element controlled by a control unit (not shown in the figures) in accordance with the washing and/or drying programme, for example an opposing pin whose position is adjustable by means of an electromagnet according to electrical signals sent from the said control unit, in which the said opposing element can bear against an opposing surface formed on the said release means 15, 16.
a control unit not shown in the figures
the said opposing means comprise a first opposing surface 29 formed on the said operating element 17 or on the said transmission element 16, which can be opposed by a second opposing surface 30 formed on the said release element 26, particularly on the said operating lever 26, in which the said release element 26 can in turn be locked by a door stop device, which is known and therefore not described, controlled by the said control unit.
the first opposing surface 29 consists of a transverse lever 44 of the transmission element 16, which is designed to bear against the said second opposing surface 30, preferably formed on the lower side of the operating lever 26.
the stop means 13, 14 provided to position the drum 6 in a suitable stop position for loading and removing laundry comprise an opposing element 13 which is adjustable in accordance with the washing and/or drying programme and can engage in a recess 14 formed in the said drum 6, or advantageously on a pulley 31 of the drum 6, located outside the wash chamber 7.
the said opposing element 13 is adjustable by means of an electromagnet which receives electrical signals from the said control unit.
the said stop means can be provided by means of direct control, using the control unit, of the electric motor 32 which rotates the drum 6, for example by means of a belt transmission 33.
the drum 6 has two doors 8, 8', each of which has a rear edge 34, 34', each hinged on a different one of two opposite edges of the said loading aperture 5 and a front edge 35, 35', in which the front edge 35' of a first door 8' has a hook 11 which can engage with a locking flange 12 of the front edge 35 of a second door 8.
Both doors 8, 8' are also pushed permanently towards the open position by suitable elastic means, preferably torsion springs 36, acting between the drum 6 and the doors 8, 8' in such a way that the front edges 35, 35' of the doors 8, 8' tend to move away from each other, thus keeping the hook 11 bearing on the locking flange 12 to prevent the opening of the doors 8, 8'.
the releasable locking means can comprise push button or lever mechanisms which can be released without any movement of the doors.
the torsion springs 36 or other elastic means acting between the drum 6 and the doors 8, 8' are able to push the latter permanently towards the open position
the cover 4 has at least one stop and guide surface 37, designed to control the movement of the doors 8, 8' to the open position during the opening of the cover 4.
the said stop and guide surface 37 is formed on a lower wall of a detergent container 38 located in the cover 4.
the detergent container 38, and particularly the lower wall of the detergent container 38 comprises support and guide means 39 for the said release means 15, 16, particularly a guide 39 for the sliding of the said pin 15.
a detergent dispenser 40 which can be inserted in the said detergent container 38, is provided with a cut or slot 41 adjacent to the said release means, and in particular adjacent to the position of the pin 15, to enable the dispenser 40 to be inserted in the container 38 and removed from it despite the presence of the release means 16, 15.
the actuating element 18, in other words the actuation surface 18, has an extension and shape such that the engagement of the pin 15 is ensured even if the position of the pin 15 and that of the drum are not completely aligned with each other, for example as a result of variations in the loading of the drum.
the actuation surface 18 has a slightly hollow shape and an extension or diameter in the range from 20 mm to 60 mm, and preferably from 30 to 50 mm.
the control unit of the washing machine activates the door stop device, which prevents the movement of the control lever 26 and consequently the opening of the cover 4.
the transmission element 16 is held by the return spring 19 in its rest configuration, and, by means of the first transverse lever 21, holds the pin 15 in its rest position outside the profile of the rotating drum 6.
the lever 44 of the transmission element 16 bears against the opposing surface 30 of the control lever 26, which is locked by the door stop device. During the washing cycle, therefore, it is impossible to open the cover 4 or to activate the release means 15, 16.
the control unit switches off the motor 32 and transmits an electrical signal to the electromagnetic actuator which releases the opposing element 13, which has hitherto been held in a retracted position, and which now snaps, preferably with the support of a spring, into an extended position and engages with the recess 14 to stop the movement of the drum 6 and align it in the stop position which is suitable for loading and removing laundry.
the door stop device controlled by an electrical signal from the control unit, releases the latching system of the cover 4 and enables the control lever 26 to be operated. [0051]At this point, the user can release the cover 4 and simultaneously activate the operating element 17, using one hand only and keeping at a safe distance from the doors.
the hook means 27 of the cover 4 are disengaged from the counter-hook means 43 of the supporting and containing structure 2, thus enabling the cover 4 to be opened.
the longitudinal shaft 20, operated by the transverse lever 22 is rotated, thus moving the pin 15, against the force of the return spring 19, from the rest position to the operating position.
the pin 15 presses against the actuation surface 18 to release the hook 10 from the locking flange 12, thus releasing the doors 8, 8', which, under the pressure of the torsion springs 36, bear against the stop and guide surface 37, by which they are temporarily stopped.
the said stop and guide surface 37 follows the doors 8, 8' along their path into the open position.
the lever 17 and the handle 26 can be operated independently of each other, in such a way that the cover can be opened with the drum closed, and the drum door can be released with the cover closed. Additionally, if no detergent dispenser is associated with the cover, the guide 39 for the pin 15 is directly associated with the lower surface of the cover 4.
the opening system 9 according to the invention has numerous advantages.
Manual operations by the user are carried out at a safe distance from the doors, and in particular outside their area of movement, thus eliminating any possible risk of injury to the hand.
the doors are opened in a controlled way, simultaneously with the opening of the top cover of the washing machine, but, as has been seen, the opening system 9 also makes it possible to open the cover only, with the drum closed, or to release the drum door while the cover remains closed.
the opening system 9 advantageously makes it possible to open the drum and to open the cover without opening the drum at the same time, for example if it is simply necessary to replenish the detergent in the detergent container.
drum stopping and positioning function is independent of the drum opening function, and in particular it is also independent of the washing programme or cycle, thus making the washing machine highly versatile and convenient in use.
the opening system according to the invention is also structurally simple, requires no seals for protection against moisture or wetting, and is particularly robust and reliable.
the opening system according to the invention operates without the use of any electrical or hydraulic/pneumatic power, it is particularly suitable for the hostile environment within a washing machine, which is characterized by high corrosiveness and large temperature variations, and consequently maintenance is also reduced to a minimum.
the opening system according to the present invention also has very small overall dimensions, and, owing to the modular nature of the actuation and transmission means, in other words the pin 15 and the transmission element 16, whose dimensions can be variable, the opening system can easily be used for different types of washing machines of different sizes.
the opening system can be applied to existing washing machines and drums without troublesome adaptation operations and without increasing the overall dimensions of the cover with respect to those of known washing machines.

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

EP02425715A 2002-11-22 2002-11-22 Système d'ouverture du tambour pour machines à laver ou à sécher à chargement par le haut Expired - Lifetime EP1422333B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number	Priority Date	Filing Date	Title
DE60208991T DE60208991T2 (de)	2002-11-22	2002-11-22	Trommelöffnungssystem jfür Toplader-Waschmaschine und/oder Wäschetrockner
ES02425715T ES2257527T3 (es)	2002-11-22	2002-11-22	Sistema de apertura de tambor para secadoras y lavadoras de carga superior.
EP02425715A EP1422333B1 (fr)	2002-11-22	2002-11-22	Système d'ouverture du tambour pour machines à laver ou à sécher à chargement par le haut

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number	Priority Date	Filing Date	Title
EP02425715A EP1422333B1 (fr)	2002-11-22	2002-11-22	Système d'ouverture du tambour pour machines à laver ou à sécher à chargement par le haut

Publications (2)

Publication Number	Publication Date
EP1422333A1 true EP1422333A1 (fr)	2004-05-26
EP1422333B1 EP1422333B1 (fr)	2006-02-01

Family

ID=32187316

Family Applications (1)

Application Number	Title	Priority Date	Filing Date
EP02425715A Expired - Lifetime EP1422333B1 (fr)	2002-11-22	2002-11-22	Système d'ouverture du tambour pour machines à laver ou à sécher à chargement par le haut

Country Status (3)

Country	Link
EP (1)	EP1422333B1 (fr)
DE (1)	DE60208991T2 (fr)
ES (1)	ES2257527T3 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
FR2881444A1 (fr) *	2005-02-02	2006-08-04	Brandt Ind Sas	Dispositif et procede pour machine tournante d'ouverture automatique des portillons
EP3805442A4 (fr) *	2018-06-04	2021-04-14	Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd.	Machine à laver le linge

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
ITTO20070344A1 (it) *	2007-05-16	2008-11-17	Indesit Co Spa	Macchina di lavaggio a carica dallo alto, in particolare una lavabiancheria, e relativo metodo di funzionamento
DE102007037407B3 (de) *	2007-08-08	2008-09-18	Miele & Cie. Kg	Trommel für eine mantelbeschickbare Waschmaschine und Waschmaschine
EP3748061B1 (fr) *	2018-02-02	2024-04-10	Qingdao Haier Drum Washing Machine Co., Ltd.	Dispositif de traitement de linge à chargement par le haut, et son système d'ouverture/fermeture de couvercle

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
BE647318A (fr) *	1964-04-29	1964-08-17
DE3346427A1 (de) *	1983-12-22	1985-07-04	Miele & Cie GmbH & Co, 4830 Gütersloh	Mantelbeschickbare trommelwaschmaschine
US5398528A (en) *	1994-05-02	1995-03-21	Whirlpool Corporation	Pulley system for automatic washer
EP0926289A1 (fr) *	1997-12-23	1999-06-30	Electrolux Systèmes de Blanchisserie	Lave-linge équipé d'une porte de tambour à ouverture automatique
EP1001068A1 (fr) *	1998-11-06	2000-05-17	Ciapem	Dispositif de fermeture et ouverture du tambour d'une machine à laver ou à secher le linge à chargement par le dessus

2002
- 2002-11-22 EP EP02425715A patent/EP1422333B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-11-22 ES ES02425715T patent/ES2257527T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-11-22 DE DE60208991T patent/DE60208991T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
BE647318A (fr) *	1964-04-29	1964-08-17
DE3346427A1 (de) *	1983-12-22	1985-07-04	Miele & Cie GmbH & Co, 4830 Gütersloh	Mantelbeschickbare trommelwaschmaschine
US5398528A (en) *	1994-05-02	1995-03-21	Whirlpool Corporation	Pulley system for automatic washer
EP0926289A1 (fr) *	1997-12-23	1999-06-30	Electrolux Systèmes de Blanchisserie	Lave-linge équipé d'une porte de tambour à ouverture automatique
EP1001068A1 (fr) *	1998-11-06	2000-05-17	Ciapem	Dispositif de fermeture et ouverture du tambour d'une machine à laver ou à secher le linge à chargement par le dessus

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number	Priority date	Publication date	Assignee	Title
FR2881444A1 (fr) *	2005-02-02	2006-08-04	Brandt Ind Sas	Dispositif et procede pour machine tournante d'ouverture automatique des portillons
EP1688527A1 (fr) *	2005-02-02	2006-08-09	Brandt Industries SAS	Dispositif et procédé pour machine tournante d'ouverture automatique des portillons
EP3805442A4 (fr) *	2018-06-04	2021-04-14	Qingdao Haier Washing Machine Co., Ltd.	Machine à laver le linge

Also Published As

Publication number	Publication date
DE60208991T2 (de)	2006-09-14
DE60208991D1 (de)	2006-04-13
EP1422333B1 (fr)	2006-02-01
ES2257527T3 (es)	2006-08-01

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US11434662B2 (en)	2022-09-06	Door latch for an electrical domestic appliance
EP3119935B1 (fr)	2018-10-31	Appareil de traitement de linge
KR20100054341A (ko)	2010-05-25	의류처리장치
KR101975814B1 (ko)	2019-05-08	도어 자동 오픈을 위한 도어락 장치
EP0728861A1 (fr)	1996-08-28	Machine à laver et/ou à sécher le linge à chargement frontal avec dispositifs pour ouvrir la porte
EP1422333B1 (fr)	2006-02-01	Système d'ouverture du tambour pour machines à laver ou à sécher à chargement par le haut
EP0347393A2 (fr)	1989-12-20	Dispositif de verrouillage automatique pour arrêter le tambour de machines à laver dans une position donnée
CZ295555B6 (cs)	2005-08-17	Pračka
US5558210A (en)	1996-09-24	Microswitch
JPH0553160B2 (fr)	1993-08-09
GB2158146A (en)	1985-11-06	Interlock mechanism
US4984596A (en)	1991-01-15	Operating device for a dish-washer
EP3854928B1 (fr)	2024-05-08	Dispositif de verrouillage de porte pour appareils ménagers et appareil ménager comprenant ledit dispositif
CA1131676A (fr)	1982-09-14	Loquet de surete pour lessiveuse
JP4337601B2 (ja)	2009-09-30	脱水機
EP2348148B1 (fr)	2013-03-27	Tambour d'une machine à laver le linge à chargement par le dessus avec un dispositif de verrouillage doté d'un loquet coulissant
JP3092969B2 (ja)	2000-09-25	扉のロック機構
GB2031053A (en)	1980-04-16	Improvements in or Relating to Interlock Mechanism
JP2002282583A (ja)	2002-10-02	洗濯機の蓋開閉構造
JP2768568B2 (ja)	1998-06-25	ドラム式脱水洗濯機の扉ロック機構
JP2005287614A5 (fr)	2006-07-27
GB2071251A (en)	1981-09-16	Safety device for a rotary machine
WO2015185091A1 (fr)	2015-12-10	Appareil de traitement de linge à mécanisme d'ouverture de portière frontale amélioré
US20230175296A1 (en)	2023-06-08	Push-push door latch and domestic electrical appliance equipped therewith
JP2005287614A (ja)	2005-10-20	脱水機

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